Waiting on Wednesday #9 Requiem by Lauren Oliver

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This “Waiting on Wednesday” post is about:

Requiem  (final book in the Delirium series)

by Lauren Oliver
 

Release Date: March 5, 2013

 

Pssstt…Check out my review of Delirium and Pandemonium.
 

Goodreads

 

Quite frankly, I don’t want this book, I effing NEED this book. I need it like babies need diapers, like elephants need trunks, and like clowns need to be creepy. Yes, my need is that great. Delirium and Pandemonium, they teamed up against me, man. They left me lying on the floor, reeling in agonizing suspense. Oh dear lord, I need Requiem to take me out of this misery! Gah, Alex!  Sweet, wonderful Alex! He needs me, man! I have to be there for him! I need Requiem, stat! Can anyone out there hear me?! Please! I need Requiem! Now! Please dear lord help me out here! Give me a miracle! I don’t know how I can…I just can’t…I’m going to go lock myself in the bathroom now…Oh, hey there, no I’m not back, I just got out to get ice cream, now back to being locked in the bathroom…call me once you have Requiem...

 

What book(s) are you praying for?

Please link your WoW, I want to see what you are waiting for!

If you leave a comment I will reply and visit your blog ASAP, and if you follow, I will follow you back. I promise!

Book Review: White Cat by Holly Black

Goodreads

Published May 11, 2010

“The easiest lies to tell are the ones you want to be true.”

Synopsis:

Cassel comes from a family of Curse Workers - people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all criminals. Many become mobsters and con artists. But not Cassel. He hasn't got magic, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail - he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Cassel has carefully built up a facade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his facade starts to crumble when he finds himself sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he must unravel his past and his memories. To find out the truth, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen

About the Author:

Holly Black is a best-selling author of contemporary fantasy novels for kids, teens, and adults. She is the author of the Modern Faerie Tale series (Tithe, Valiant, and Ironside), The Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi), and The Good Neighbors graphic novels (with Ted Naifeh). She is also the co-editor of three anthologies, Geektastic (with Cecil Castellucci), Zombies vs. Unicorns (with Justine Larbalestier), and Welcome to Bordertown (with Ellen Kushner). Her most recent works are The Poison Eaters and Other Stories, a collection of short fiction, and The Curse Worker series (White Cat, Red Glove, and Black Heart). She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Theo, in a house with a secret library.

Follow Holly Black on Twitter!

http://www.blackholly.com/

 My Rating:  
(5 bomb-diggity stars!)

I really, really, really like this book.Tis AMAZING! For starters it is completely original and engrossing. From the very beginning  I felt pulled into this world. The pacing is perfect for the piece-by-piece style Holly Black uses. As the story progresses you keep learning more and more until finally all the pieces come together. Holly Black has a gift for unveiling details in a way that gives you just enough to keep going, but never enough to remove your uncertainty. This woman knows how to build suspense and keep it. She hooks you and keeps your eyes glued to every single word.

I like that this book doesn’t have those summary explanations that can sometimes feel out of place. Things are explained in a realistic manner. It is easy to believe that the narrator is taking the time to think about these things and what you are reading is not just thrown in there for your benefit. Trust me, nothing is ever just thrown at you.

I like that the narrator is a guy. Holly Black really manages to capture his voice. Like all the characters in this novel, Cassel is complicated. Things are not easy for him or for those around him. Trust is not something you can give out on a whim. All of the characters are carefully crafted and realistically complex.

White Cat is not one of those happy-go-lucky novels. It is not afraid to go to a dark place and that for me made it a great read. Things are more realistic this way. I couldn’t escape the pull of the words. I read them and was hooked.

Overall, I consider this a must read. It is original, exciting, and wonderfully written.

I am so happy I decided to read it!

In conclusion, I absolutely MUST READ THE SEQUEL!!!!

Red Glove, here I come!

Red Glove was published April 5th 2011. Good, because I would not want to wait for it to come out! I need it stat.

Note: I know this review has been a cover fest, but it’s just that these books have the best covers ever! They are to die for! I want to collect them all!

Waiting on Wednesday #8 Touched by Corrine Jackson

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This “Waiting on Wednesday” post is about:

Touched by Corrine Jackson
Release Date: November 27, 2012

Goodreads

Synopsis:

Remy O’Malley heals people with touch—but every injury she cures becomes her own. Living in a household with an abusive stepfather, she has healed untold numbers of broken bones, burns,and bruises. And then one night her stepfather goes too far.

Being sent to live with her estranged father offers a clean start and she is eager to take it. Enter Asher Blackwell. Once a Protector of Healers, Asher sacrificed his senses to become immortal. Only by killing a Healer can a Protector recover their human senses. Falling in love is against the rules between these two enemies. Because Remy has the power to make Protectors human again, and when they find out, they’ll becoming for her—if Asher doesn’t kill her first.

This is Book One in the Touched trilogy.

Why do I want this book?

I came across this book through WoW posts and I was immediately intrigued. I think it sounds dark and exciting. It has a great deal of potential. I haven’t read anything by Corrine Jackson, so I have no idea what to expect, but I hope I will be impressed and amazed. Plus look at that cover! I like very much!

I want to read this book as much as a banana wants to be pealed. I think that says it all.

What book(s) are you waiting to read with the eagerness of a banana waiting to be pealed?

Please link your WoW, I want to see what you are waiting for!

If you leave a comment I will reply and visit your blog ASAP, and if you follow, I will follow you back. That is my promise!

Book Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Publication date: 6/5/2012

Synopsis from Goodreads

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

About the Author (from Goodreads):

Leigh Bardugo was born in Jerusalem, raised in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University. These days, she hides out in Hollywood and indulges her fondness for glamour, ghouls, and costuming in her other life as makeup artist L.B. Benson.

Her debut novel, Shadow & Bone (Holt Children's/Macmillan) is now a New York Times Best Seller.

She would be delighted if you followed her on Twitter, elated if you visited her web site, and downright giddy if you liked Shadow & Bone on Facebook.

My Rating of Shadow and Bone:  
(Translation: This book is so effing awesome it makes me sqee!)

SQUEEE!!!!!!

I remember browsing Goodreads and stumbling upon Veronica Roth’s review of Shadow and Bone. Immediately, I knew I had to get my paws on this book. It sounded original, which it is, it sounded exciting, which it is, and it sounded AMAZING, which it is!

Leigh Bardugo shines in her ability to weave an intricate and unique story. Time and time again I was left feeling breathless as I was struck by the beauty and effectiveness of her writing. Due to the uniqueness of the story, I felt like every page was portal taking me deeper and deeper into an unknown and utterly fascinating world. The characters are well developed and believable. The progression of the plot is smooth and engrossing. The love story develops naturally and realistically. Everything comes together wonderfully and effectively. Shadow and Bone  is one of those books that never really makes it to my shelf because I like to have it near for when I get the urge to reread it. I am eagerly awaiting the next book. I have no trouble believing that Leigh Bardugo will deliver an outstanding, fantastic, and mind-blowing sequel. I’m getting the tingles just thinking about it!

At this point in my review, I would like to point out that I have maintained my composure long enough and will now proceed to the fangirling portion of the review. I appreciate your understanding.

I effing love this book! eff yea!

Happy dance!

If this book were a fieldtrip, it would be a trip to Disneyland, no DisneyWORLD.

If it were a smell, it would be the new car smell, better yet, it would be the smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls (hmmm).

If it were an element it would be helium.

If it were a dessert, it would be a chocolate molten lava cake with ice cream and whip cream on top.

If it were a guy, I’d hit that.

 

I cannot effing wait for the next installment in this series!

Siege and Storm (The Grisha #2) 
Expected publication: 2013

I think you should go read this book, the sooner the better…now’s good…what are you still doing here?! go read it! …still here!? go!…don’t look at me like that, just go! …I should probably stop typing…did it work?…hello? anyone there? Where did everyone go?!

Rude!

Music to My Books: “Bookish Music Monday” Post #5

“Bookish Music Monday” is a new, fun, weekly meme hosted by Parafantasy. To join, find a song that has lyrics or a music video that reminds you of a book or just share music that you like to listen to while you read!

The Song: “The Enemy” by Mumford and Sons

The Book: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

The Enemy was written for the the new Wuthering Heights film adaptation. I heard this song while watching the trailer and was immediately in love with it. It goes perfectly with Emily Bronte’s novel. Mumford and Sons perfectly captured the emotions evoked by Catherine and Heathcliff’s more than tumultuous relationship.