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Bloody Bookaholic's Commandment:

Thou Shall Read Till Thy Eyes Bleed

Thursday 31 May 2012

The Lost Prince (By Julie Kagawa) has a summary!!


It has a summary!! (just in case you missed the title obviously). I am so excited! I don't think I've been this excited since The Immortal Rules, and what do you know its the same author! Now now, here's the summary:

Don't look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them
That is Ethan Chase's unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he's dare to fall for. 
Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister's world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myths and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.
My name is Ethan Chase. And I may not live to see my eighteenth birthday.
Here's the pretty style summary:


And here is the back cover, not as exciting but equally pretty:


So exciting! Are you excited? I am!!

Tuesday 29 May 2012

So I started reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

"He attacked again. As quick as Karou was, she couldn't get clear of the reach of his sword. A strike aimed at her throat glanced off her scapula instead. There was no pain- that would come later, unless she was dead- only spreading head that she knew was blood. Another stike, and she parried it with her slat of wood, which split like kindling, half of it falling away so she held a mere dagger's lenght of old wood, a ridiculoud excuse for a weapon. Yet when the angel came at her again she dodged in close to him and thrust, felt the wood catch flesh sink in.
Karou has stabbed men before, and she hated it, the gruesome feeling of penetrating living flesh. She pulled back, leaving her makeshift weapon in his side. His face registered neither pain nor surprise. It was, Karou thought as he closed in, a dead face. Or rather, the living face of a dead soul. 
It was utterly terrifying. 
He had her cornered now, and they both knew she wouldn't get away. She was vaguely aware of shouts of amazement and fear up the alley and from windows, but all of her focus was on the angel. What did it even mean, angel? What had Izil said? The seraphim are here."
So one of the things that I find interesting about this book, as of right now in page 119, is that the angels seem to be the enemy. We are on the side of "evil" and the angels seem more terrifying than the demons. Soulless even. It is a nice change of pace, even though not completely new.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone is also creative in many areas. The world created in the story has it's own creatures. it's own world, it's own everything. It is very interesting to learn about it.

Another thing I find interesting is how the book has been revolving about the concept of wish granting. I like how there are different levels of wishes, like money. A scuppie does a very small wish, like making someone itch, a gavriel is like the second most powerful wish, can turn you invisible or make you fly, and then comes the bruxis, the ultimate wish granter that can only be obtained if you take out your own teeth. All of them, one by one, on your own. Definitely has the creepy and awesome factor this book. I still have no idea how teeth are involved in this whole transaction, but I find that is something among many other things that I wish soon to discover.
"I could trust you with gavriels, could I? he asked.
"Of course you could. What kind of question is that?" 
She felt his appraisal, as if he were mentally reviewing every wish she'd ever made. 
Blue hair: Frivolous 
Erasing pimples: vain 
Wishing off the light switch so she didn't have to get out of bed: lazy.
--
Making ex-boyfriend's cranny itch: vindictive."
Also, what kind of name is Karou? I dislike it. Every time I see it I cringe, and I just refer to the main character as K. K is a likable girl, though sometimes I think she is just too perfect of a character; gorgeous (tall and skinny; like a ballerina but with a kick), artistic, tough, mysterious, has money, knows karate and  lots of languages (she collects them)... Sometimes it seems its a bit too much, but hell if you are making up a character why not give her the big guns? Then again it doesn't leave much space for improvement or to make the reader connect with her. Flip a coin.

Monday 28 May 2012

Review: Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse #12) by Charlaine Harris


Title: Deadlocked
Author: Charlaine Harris
Series: Sookie Stackhouse
Book #: 12
Pages: 327
Reading Level: Adult
Book Rating: Photobucket
Goodreads Rating: 3.44
Published: May 1st, 2012


With Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada), in town, it’s the worst possible time for a body to show up in Eric Northman’s front yard—especially the body of a woman whose blood he just drank.

Now, it’s up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area Five investigator, to solve the murder. Sookie thinks that, at least this time, the dead girl’s fate has nothing to do with her. But she is wrong. She has an enemy, one far more devious than she would ever suspect, who’s out to make Sookie’s world come crashing down.

Taschima's POV:

or the amount of time it took for this book to hit the market I have to say I was expecting a bit more. It was only about 325 pages, and about 1/3 of those pages concentrate on Sookie's day to day life. Although this seems to bother some people its something that I have come to expect from the series so I wont jump up and proclaim that I am deeply dissolutioned or anything because this is just something that is integral to the Sookie Stackhouse world.

Now in this book we get some closure when it comes to some things, but when it comes to others we get even more headache. A lot of things happened, true, but if I were to count moments of excitement I would come up with 3 that stick out in my mind, and that includes the ending. When I remember the earlier installments of the Sookie Stackhouse series I remember constant danger, high suspense, and Sookie was almost always in the line of fire, having to be witty to get out of a situation or fight her way out. On this installment we got weepy Sookie feeling sorry for herself every other page with no constant direct danger to her persona (so most of the time there was no tension, nothing to keep you on the edge of your seat). The main problems in the installment were indirect, involving other people that weren't her, and I felt like I missed the excitement that earlier installments had. This book was bland, okay, but certainly not spectacular. It tight up some loose ends, but I swear if I have to read one more page of Eric being a douch bag I am going to vomit.

I used to love Eric. I thought him and Sookie together was the perrrfect pair. I used to swoon in his presence, but now when he is in the page I just want him to not be there. I think this is a little unfair on the author's part. I think she is either moving Sookie into a position where she is going to end up with her first love (Bill), or with a human. I think it's unfair because Eric used to be this sex magnet sort of sweetheart who showed Sookie how much he cared about her but we haven't gotten to see that Eric in a loong time. He ain't even trying anymore. Sad, but true. So instead of dragging their relationship on and on, I wish they would just make a decision, are they going to love each other or break up? Are you going to love it, or list it? I think the latter, but you never know. Fred Weasley did die after all.

There was a particular scene in this book that I loved. It was between Sookie and Bill, and I swear it just warmth my heart. I don't wanna ruin it for the people who haven't read it, but those who have know it.

Also excuse my language but where the fuck did the hot sex scenes go? This is an adult book after all. There was about 1 sex scene, and it went black. You will never know how disappointed I was. I am no perv, but I remember some greatly written sex scenes in the past Stackhouse books and as the series goes along we get less and less sex scenes. Much like the excitement the sex part of the book is loosing it's old shine and it's becoming absurdly dull. Maybe all the sex moved onto the big screen and swore to never return to the written world. I surely hope not.

The ending, it was "awww" and "uuh" and "aaw" again. I liked it. I liked how it left things for the next installments.

Next book is supposed to be the last, and I say good riddance. I have loved Sookie and her world for a long time, but after this book it seems to me that it's running out of juice. The books aren't as gripping as they used to be. Even the relationship trouble isn't enough to get it out of its hole. Instead of taking advantage of the potential it's like we are just getting the rest of the books just to get them. Charlaine Harris hung her writing cape long ago. I just want the series to end with a bit of dignity, and for Sookie, Bill, Eric, and Sam to get their respective happy endings. Here's to hoping.

Sunday 27 May 2012

Review: Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth


Insurgent (Divergent, #2)
Title: Insurgent
Author: Veronica Roth
Series: Divergent
Book #: 2
Pages: 525
Reading Level: YA
Book Rating: Photobucket
Goodreads Rating: 4.43
Published: May 1st, 2012

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

Taschima's POV:

I was between a 4.5 and a five star rating but at the end I decided that the author did a fantastic job not only with the entire story but with how she wrote Tris in grief and dealing with her emotions. I think I might like this one even more than I did Divergent!

So my main problem with Divergent, the whole reason I didn't give it a five star, was that the character's personality was all over the place and she sometimes did things that kind of went agaisnt what she preached. For example, killing Will. If you read Divergent you know it happened so I don't consider it a major spoiler if you are in this page. The nonsense of killing Will, even in the heat of battle and seconds away from him killing you, is what pissed me off about the other book (I was talking about it for days after I finished, it pissed me off real bad). I felt betrayed by someone I had come to like, even love, and it really pissed me off.

But on Insurgent the author, as well as Tris, manage to redeem herself. The way they handled the grief, and guilt, was pretty fantastic and I would have gladly read the book for that alone. But come on, we all need a little more right? So if you are not satisfied with epic story telling, how about action, suspense, romance that doesn't overwhelm the page but feels real, and betrayal? Sounds fantastic! I felt the same. Oh and the ending. THE ENDING. My emotions, my emotions! I don't consider it a cliffhanger, not really. More of a shocking ending with promise. I damn sure liked it though.

Gosh, I love how the author isn't afraid to go there. She isn't afraid to kill characters, all sorts of characters. She doesn't leave many if any strings loose and manages to spring up a new story line that makes sense and keeps the reader hooked and craving the next installment in the series. I can't wait for it really; this series cannot be a 3 book deal only right? There is soo much potential for it to go the long way.

The book is long, pretty long, but it goes by quick. Every other page there is a new obstacle to be overcomed, a new enemy, new information to be unraveled that leaves your jaw on the floor. It was just so interesting and fun! A very round book with everything you need to make it a perfect read.
Tris is more true to character this time around. I love her kick-assness. She ain't afraid to go there, and, as Peter at one point pointed out, if she wants something badly enough she gets it. But what really attracts me about her is that she is so flawed and she knows it, and tries to be a better person all the time. Four was a little more complicated this time around, you got to see the "real" Four as is, his true feelings when it came to the order of the government and other things. They have big fights, fights that make the relationship or break it. But throught the fighting I was still team Tris, cause she made more sense. Let's just say Four is battling some serious trust issues.

Issues with the book: What kind of name is Tobias really? And the entire book it kept going back and forward between Tobais and Four and I was just like "JUST GO BY FOUR!".

As a sophmore read in the series Insurgent really couldn't have been any better. It didn't let me down, it addressed some issues I had for the first book, and it open new doors for future installments. It was all that a sophmore read should be, plus so much more.

Saturday 26 May 2012

Sophmore Covers You Might Have Missed.

Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #2)
TB.Published: November 6th, 2012.

The Serpent's Kiss (the beauchamp family, #2)
TB.Published: June 12th, 2012. 

The Torn Wing (The Faerie Ring #2)
Sequel to The Faerie Ring.
TB.Published: October 2nd, 2012.

Dearly, Beloved (Gone With the Respiration #2)
Sequel to Dearly, Departed.
TB.Published: September 25th, 2012.

Fuse (Pure, #2)
Sequel to Pure.
T.B.Published: February 19th, 2013.

Days of Blood and Starlight has an amazing cover! I specially liked that they went with red for the tattoo, and I love the model's makeup, very smokie...On the other hand I didn't like the cover for Dearly, Beloved (After the first one? This one isn't even playing in the same league) or the cover for The Torn Wing (at least this cover goes with the first one though). I am so so on Fuse (I imagine the cover allures to something in the story line) and Serpent's Kiss (pretty photo, goes with with the first one, but it doesn't have the "wow" factor). I hope you enjoyed them and add these to your T.B.R. pile!





Thursday 24 May 2012

Who's Going to the Teen Author Carnival? List of Authors!

Less than a week and a half till BEA is at our doorstep, and along with it Teen Author Carnival! I remember last year. Me and my roommates went to the Teen Author Carnival, it was at a library and it was crowded!! There was pushing, there was cursing, I think a few fights might have broken out (not true). Oh but it was worth all the blood and sweat, specially if you are already attending BEA is a must on Tuesday, June 5th.     


NYC TEEN AUTHOR CARNIVAL 2012 
Tuesday, June 5th, 2012
6:30pm - 9:30pm  
@ Jefferson Market Library 


  1. Hannah Moskowitz - Gone, Gone, Gone - @hannahmosk
  2. Melissa Walker - Unbreak My Heart - Modertor - @melissacwalker
  3. Leah Clifford - A Touch Morbid - @leahclifford
  4. Scott Tracey - Demon Eyes - @scott_tracey
  5. Gretchen McNeil - Ten - @gretchenmcneil
  6. Victoria Schwab - The Near Witch - @veschwab
  7. Corrine Jackson - If I Lie - @cory_jackson
  8. Sarah Tregay - Love & Leftovers - Website
  9. K. M. Walton - Cracked - @KMWalton1
  10. Kody Keplinger - Shut Out - @kody_keplinger
  11. Tiffany Schmidt - Send Me A Sign - @tiffanyschmidt
  12. Gennifer Albin - Crewel - @genniferalbin
  13. Aimée Carter - Goddess Interrupted - @aimeecarter
  14. Hilary Weisman Graham - Reunited - @HilaryGraham
  15. Barry Lyga - I Hunt Killers - @barrylyga
  16. Jen Calonita - Belles - @jencalonita
  17. Jennifer Smith - The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight - @jenesmith
  18. Alecia Whitaker - Queen of Kentucky - @aleciawhitaker
  19. Tom Pollock - The City’s Son - @tomhpollock
  20. Crissa Jean Chappell - NARC - @crissachappell
  21. Karen Mahoney - The Iron Witch - @kazmahoney
  22. Fiona Paul - Venom - @fionawritesya
  23. Lauren Morrill - Meant To Be - @laurenemorrill
  24. Katie McGarry - Pushing The Limits - @katiemcgarry
  25. Michelle Zink - A Temptation of Angels - @michellezink
  26. Eliot Schrefer - Endangered - @eliotschrefer
  27. Courtney Allison Moulton - Wings of the Wicked - @camoulton
  28. Lenore Appelhans - Level 2 - @lenoreva
  29. Michelle Hodkin - The Evolution of Mara Dyer - @michellehodkin
  30. Rebecca Serle - When You Were Mine - @rebeccaaserle
  31. Stacy Kramer - From What I Remember @stacy_kramer
  32. Valerie Thomas - From What I Remember @val_thomas
  33. Siobhan Vivian - Burn For Burn - @siobhanvivian
  34. Lauren Oliver - Delirium, Pandemonium - @oliverbooks
  35. Lucas Klauss - Everything You Need To Survive The Apocalypse @lucas_klauss
  36. Jackson Pearce - Purity - @jacksonpearce
  37. Kieran Scott - This Is So Not Happening - @kieranscott
  38. Jeri Smith-Ready - Shine - @jsmithready

LIST SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO SCHEDULING CONFLICTS.

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS CONTACT TEENAUTHORCARNIVAL AT GMAIL DOT COM.

I am mostly going for Lauren Oliver, Michelle Hodkin, Michelle Zink, Gretchen McNeil and Aimme Carter. I cannot wait! If you are going and wish to meet leave a comment! See you guys there ;)

 

Monday 21 May 2012

Review: Timepiece (Hourglass #2) by Myra McEntire

Title: Timepiece
Author: Myra McEntire
Series: Hourglass
Book #: 2
Pages: 336
Reading Level: YA
Book Rating: Photobucket
Goodreads Rating: 4.24
T.B.Published: June 12th, 2012.

A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking...

Kaleb Ballard's relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb's powers expanding, or is something very wrong?

Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devastating results. 

Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough...

The follow-up to Hourglass, Timepiece blends the paranormal, science fiction, mystery, and suspense genres into a nonstop thrill ride where every second counts.

Taschima's POV:

More time travelling awesomeness for all of us who loved Hourglass? Hell yeah! True this one wasn't as awesome as Hourglass was in my opinion, but it was still a solid, and fast paced, sequel. No "Sophomore read lull" for this series.

The main difference in this instalment is that Kaleb Ballard is the narrator instead of Emerson. The thing is that I loved Hourglass mainly because of Emerson, she was a very kick ass heroine and having her gone as main character was a little weird and sad. The good thing is that we get a man's POV! And Kaleb is a sweet heart, a player but with a golden heart (go figure). The dialogue is hilarious. He is a good replacement if there ever was any, I just wonder if the next instalment is going to be told from a different character's POV... I think being inside Ava's mind would be very interesting for the next instalment if we don't go back to Emerson. Crossing my fingers!

The romance was steamy. Kaleb's romantic interest is very ballsy and I liked her. It was very different from Em and Michael's romance story. This one was playing more with the line between love and hate. It was great all on it's own, though it isn't something we haven't seen before.

Now the plot is as juicy, and confusing, as ever. It is fun trying to reason the time rips, and all the time related mess that is going around our characters. Emerson's actions in Hourglass have consequences, and I can't wait to see how it all pans out. I am rooting for a happy ending. In this book the characters are looking for something that is supposed to answer all their prayers and solve all their problems, an Infinity Glass. The ending is a cliff hanger type of ending, someone falls bleeding and leaves us with a creepy mysterious message in the process. Dum dum dum!

Faults with the book: I missed Emerson. I went into the book thinking that it was still her show, so it caught me off guard when Kaleb started narrating, and then I thought he was only going to narrate for a couple of chapters and then we would have Em back, but no such thing happened. What I would have liked to see is multiple points of view, that would have sent the novel to the next level. Then I think I would have given it a 5 star, maybe. And this may have been only me, probably was, but there are so many characters in this series with so many weird names that I sometimes had to do a double take on who exactly was being talked about or mentioned.

As a sequel to Hourglass this one was solid and entertaining. It didn't disappoint and it didn't bore me, which was my biggest fear. I read it in like a day, so there is hope for this series and it's next instalment still!



Saturday 19 May 2012

Review: Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test #2) by Aimee Carter



Title: Goddess Interrupted
Author: Aimee Carter
Series: Goddess Test
Book #: 2Pages: 296
Reading Level: YA
Book Rating: Photobucket
Goodreads Rating: 4.10
Published: Mar. 27th, 2012.



KATE WINTERS HAS WON IMMORTALITY.


BUT IF SHE WANTS A LIFE WITH HENRY IN THE UNDERWORLD, SHE'LL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT.


Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans. 


As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future. 


Henry's first wife, Persephone.

Taschima's POV:

Goddess Interrupted was a good sequel when it came to the story line, but the romance pissed me off and it made our main character, and her intended, less likable. Basically I liked where the story was going, but my two main concerns were Henry and Kate.

Since Kate fought tooth and nail and gave up her mortal life to be immortal and help Henry get over his sorry ass so he wouldn't fade you would think that he would appreciate her more right? But at the end it seems like nothing is enough for our darling "oh so conflicted and sad" Henry.

Look guys, I am all up for a little fighting/miscommunication to get the ball rolling, but when you have our main character pinning for a boy who won't give her the light of day and she continuously keeps making excuses for him instead of flat out confronting him and putting the cards on the table? Then we have a problem, and I am sorry but if this is going to become a pattern in this series I can honestly just rate the next one as well because this just doesn't fly with me. Kate was extremely needy and insecure in the novel (I can understand the neediness, because she is Henry's wife and he doesn't give her the time of day), and Henry just doesn't have an excuse for his behavior, not really (Ice Jerk). The relationship between Kate and Henry (which is what half the dialogue in the book concentrates on) kind of got worse, if that is even possible. I can honestly say that I cringed every time these two were together, and I just wanted them to go their own separate ways because kids this relationship just doesn't work. At all.

Other than that though this book was pretty cool. I mean, Titans vs. the Gods has been played out before true, but it is still interesting to see how each author plays it differently. There wasn't enough action because mostly everything was done "behind the curtain" aka we almost never got to see it. I liked Ava and James in the novel, and am very excited that we get to meet Persephone, that brought a lot to the story (even though I disliked her with the burning passion of a thousand suns).

By the way, I am officially Team James and there is no way I am changing my mind. Even though he has his faults (a bit of a man whore) he was the only one who showed that he cared about Kate and showed her all her options. A relationship between Kate and James I can see developing, even though it never will (they went to Greece and other places together for six months and loved it, I cannot see Kate and Henry having anything to talk about for six months... imagine just how awkward that trip would be *shudders*).

I disliked the cliffhanger, and to be completely honest I was a little confused when it came to where some major characters were supposedly placed at by the end there. Some big battles we simply didn't get to see, and how it all is set up for the next book intrigues me but at the same time I consider it to be a bad choice/move for the dynamic duo that is Kate/Henry.

BUT I still liked it, in spite of it all. In spite of it's relationship flaws, I found the story enjoyable and it moved along quite nicely. I think it could have used more work on building the Greek world and less on Kate's neurosis.

Will I read the next book? Yes, but Goddess Interrupted was definitely not a fav like The Goddess Test was.

Thursday 17 May 2012

So I started reading Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter...

"Kate," he said softly. "It has been a difficult day, and I am sorry for the worry I have put you through this afternoon. However, no matter how hard things become, no matter how much time it takes for both of us to adjust to this new life, never doubt that I want you here. You are capable and insightful, and you are better suited to stand beside me as my queen than any mortal I have ever known."
My heart sank. His reasons were rational, but had no heart. If Henry had his way, I was certain that his queen was all I would ever be to him, but there was no point in pressing the issue. He'd answered me."
 Seriously, just what exactly is wrong with this guy? The last book ended with them good with each other, supposedly loving each other, at least starting to love each other, and now it's like nothing ever happened. Does Henry have Alzheimer? It's as good an explanation as any.Then again space could make the heart forget, and they were apart for 6 months, so who knows. I am just so over Henry, seriously, I could understand you not being all touchy feely with her at the beginning of the other book, but this girl is going and has gone through heaven and hell for you, sometimes literally, and you are going to act as the new Ice Prince? (Sorry Ash, it looks like someone took your previous position.). Not cool dude.
"I swallowed. I'd already made my desicion the moment I'd married him. I loved him, and walking away and letting him fade wasn't an option, no matter what it cost me.
I could do this. I had to do this. For Henry's sake- for my mother's sake. For my sake. Because in the end, without Henry, I didn't know who I was anymore, and every night during my summer in Greece, I'd gone to sleep dreaming about what it would be like to spend the rest of my existence loving him and being loved in return. As long as Igave him a chance, this could be everything I hoped it would be. Henry was worth the risk."
Oh hell no. As soon as I read this in the book alarms started going off in my head, and not the soft kind of alarms used to wake you up in the morning, huge horrible sounding ones that are used when zombies attack. The part I put on bold is what basically bothered me. It may sound "romantic" or something to some, but really this shouldn't be a reality! You can't depend on a man to define yourself! And that Kate feels like this... she is a nice strong girl, but this leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I think our main girl should be comfortable enough in her own skin, by herself. This doesn't send the best message out there, and I hope that by the end of the book it gets rectified.

Goddess Test by Aimee Carter Those are two of the things that have bothered me about the book. Not even the references about how the gods all sleep around together bothers me (hey, they are gods and have been around for a while, things are bound to happen). I have even changed teams to Team James (he is more emotionally accessible and demonstrates that he cares about Kate). The story is still a good one, and Kate is making some very poor decisions that are bound to blow up in her face, so can't wait to see how that is going to turn out. And hey! We get to meet Persephone! Who doesn't love a blast from the past?

Tuesday 15 May 2012

Review + Giveaway: Infamous (Chronicles of Nick #3) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Title: Infamous
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Series: Chronicles of Nick
Book #: 3
Pages: 480
Reading Level: YA
Book Rating: Photobucket
Goodreads Rating: 4.36
Published: Mar. 13th, 2012.


The world has fallen in love with Nick Gautier and the Dark-Hunters. Now Nick’s saga continues in the next eagerly anticipated volume...

Go to school. Get good grades. Stay out of trouble. That’s the mandate for most kids. But Nick Gautier isn’t the average teenager. He’s a boy with a destiny not even he fully understands. And his first mandate is to stay alive while everyone, even his own father, tries to kill him.

He’s learned to annihilate zombies and raise the dead, divination and clairvoyance, so why is learning to drive such a difficulty? But that isn’t the primary skill he has to master. Survival is.

And in order to survive, his next lesson makes all the others pale in comparison. He is on the brink of becoming either the greatest hero mankind has ever known.

Or he’ll be the one who ends the world. With enemies new and old gathering forces, he will have to call on every part of himself to fight or he’ll lose everyone he cares about.

Even himself.

Taschima's POV:

I guess I officially declare myself Miss. Party-popper when it comes to Infamous, because while everybody seems to have just LOVED this installment in the series I found it a tad repetitive, and uneventful.

The devil is in the details my friends. This book is full of small steps, small details that will lead to huge events in books to come, but as for the book itself it was so full of so much that was going on that at times I felt like it was too much. Between Grim teaching Nick about his powers (that lasted about a second), to Nick getting his teeth kicked in every other page, to some weird shit with Nick's father, some other weird fighting scenes (that honestly half the time I didn't even know where they were taking place), and plus some potentially supernatural drama going on at school... it seemed like it all just didn't tie together as well as I would have liked it to. I felt like it could have been cleaner, and everything could have made more sense as a whole. At the same time when you look at the book as a whole it's like, okay, that was a very small step for humankind.

On top of that while reading the book I felt like I was being force fed lesson after lesson about life, how crappy life can get and how you just have to toughen up and kick life's ass back, and how mother's are powerful goddesses that you shouldn't mess with. These lessons? Been there, done that, bought the freaking T-shirt and wear it around my house constantly and without any trousers. I feel like it is okay to sneak up a lesson or two, but to have dialogue that goes on and on for pages about the same shit? Not cool bro. Not cool at all. Give me more dialogue that in some way makes the story move along and less after school specials. Please, I beg of you.

Another thing that bugged me about Infamous is one of it's characters. In specific, Nick's mother. If you have been reading the series then you know the woman. You know she is tough as nails, and has a great big heart. BUT, she also pisses me off when she doesn't do what she preaches. She talks about trust, but she never once trusts that her son tells her the truth or that he is in fact a good kid. She is always yelling at Nick, and nagging him, and basically making him feel like the biggest piece of trash around the block. Even worse than this? Nick takes it without even saying a 'but mom...' (God forbid he does that, that woman would eat him alive. First rule of parenting: Never hear your kid out) and in fact blames himself for all the crap that goes on around him. Boy, you are a sweetheart, and if your mother doesn't start trusting you more and yelling at you less then I am going to have to talk -or beat- some sense into that woman. Jeez. (by the end of the story there she did get a little better though, but just a little).

That's what bothered me, and here comes the good stuff. The dialogue is always creative, and hilarious. I feel like the story is moving somewhere, I just need for it to get there a bit sooner and without making so many unnecessary stops. Also, Nick is always a good character to come back to time and time again.

Sherrilyn Kenyon is a terrific author. I respect her as both an author and as a person, but terrific authors can also have their bad days, and long series are bound to have one or two books that don't live up to the expectations and feel more like fillers, and because I know this to be true I will continue with  the Chronicles of Nick, because at the end of the day this series has huge potential and the dialogue is always funny and entertaining.

If you liked the previous installments to this series, and have a soft spot for Nick and his adventures, I recommend you to read this book and continue with the series. Infamous might not have been the best installment in the Chronicles of Nick series, but I am pretty sure that it can only get better from here on out.

Giveaway Rules:

1. Follow Bloody Bookaholic

2. Leave a comment on this post answering this question: Who is your favorite character in The Chronicles of Nick series?




US only. Contest ends on May 29th.

Sunday 13 May 2012

Totally YA (Young Adult) Friendly BEA Schedule.

This weekend has been filled with BEA planning. I usually never make my BEA schedule prior to getting to NY, instead I go to the hotel and meet my roommates and then we get to the schedule comparing time and that's when I go like, uh, let me see your guys' schedules and make one myself. That unfortunate event is not occuring this year though, since I made my own schedule already!

This schedule is all YA friendly, no adult novels, and it's also mostly YA Supernatural friendly. I hope it helps you on your schedule making adventures!

Correction: Shift is from 10:30-11:30 am, schedule changed.
Ignore that it says Friday, it's actually Thursday June 7th.
If you click on the schedules to open them in another page I am sure they will get bigger and thus easier to read.

I did these schedules on Excel. The color coding idea came from one of my best blogger friends Lexie@ Poisoned Rationality (she is a genius).

Red= I really want.
Yellow/Orange= Maybe
White= If I get a chance.

To make your own schedule and more you can go to the BEA page here where you will find links that divide the autograph sections by date. You can also look by the author's name alone, etc.
For a lot of more help on how to create your BEA schedule click here for Lexie's Tips and Tricks.

Will any of you be attending BEA this year? Do you want to maybe meet? One of the best parts of attending BEA is meeting blogger friends you otherwise wouldn't get a chance to meet. I am so excited to see my BEA roommates again this year!

You can also find these schedules, and more, in the Blody Bookaholic Facebook Page.

Friday 11 May 2012

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Series: Mara Dyer
Book #: 1
Pages: 452
Reading Level: YA
Book Rating: Photobucket
Goodreads Rating: 4.03
Published: Sept. 27th, 2011.

Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.

She’s wrong.

Taschima's POV:

I do not know what to make out of this book. Do I like it? Did I not like it? I think I liked it, a lot, but it did have it's faults. It's just one of those books you really wanted to love, but ended up only liking. The whole idea of the book was pretty original though, I know some people link it to Twilight but I see no similarities at all.

I think the book left a lot to be desired. Like for example, what is going on with Mara Dyer? Who is she? I thought the book was supposed to answer these questions, but in fact it didn't! It just left us with even more questions on top of the questions we come in when we started reading. I mean, you get to know the girl, but I don't don't understand what is up with her. Or for that what is up with the supposedly oh so alluring Noah (who has a case of personality disorder).

Noah, the oh so perfect Noah. He had the potential to be charming and irresistible, and for a hot minute there he really was. But one minute he was hot and the next he was cold with no good reason and I just wanted to slap some sense into him. Plus he is supposed to be British, but he seems more American to me than anything (not much of the whole British lingo going on). I think the character was trying a bit too hard, and danced with the line between jackass and sweetheart a bit too frequently for my taste. At the end of the novel though I thought I saw a backbone starting to grow, so he might yet be redeemed if he gets his act straight and decides who he really wants to be. He is not the boy of my dreams, but he could definitely make a lot of girls swoon (I wouldn't blame you).

Mara... she is pretty cool actually. She is a cynical geek who likes sarcasm, and for that I love her. She is also a little bit, well, crazy. Through the novel we get to see her battle against hallucinations, memory blockage, and an overprotective mother who wants to commit her. I like her as a character, and you should always like your main character. At the end there she really screw things up. It was all kind of confusing, since her "power" is all kinds of confusing and I still don't know what to make out of it, but it just depends on what happens in the next book I guess when they finally give us some much needed answers that then I shall review the things that happened in this book and then decide how worthy of being the female lead she is.

Finally my favourite part of the whole book was the dialogue. I love Mara's dialogue, it was just so funny and it flowed so well. The author is a good writer, and the story plus dialogue keeps you engrossed.

But the thing about this book is that it feels like I can't really decide on anything until I read the next instalment because I need to know the base of the powers and how they work and why they work the way they work. For right now the things that happened can be seemed as terrible accidents or the makings of a serial killer. Plus the ending was a little "What the fuck!" -ish, and what ends up happening is so surprising that I can't help but want to get my hands on the next book right now.

Coverless and Fabulous (#1)


Why shouldn't upcoming books with no covers not get some love as well? I say give them all our love! I know there is nothing to immediately catch our attention, but these summaries are to die for.

Uuuuh cold!
by Melissa de la Cruz, Michael Johnston
Set in 111 C.D., one hundred and eleven years after a Catastrophic Disaster has wiped out 99% of humanity and left the earth covered in ice, this new series introduces readers to a ragtag group of friends and the dawning of a new time. The world of reason, of mathematics and science, is ending, and a new civilization is being born from the ice: a world of magic and mayhem, sorcerers and spellcraft.
Crazy lady!
by Mary Lindsey
A dark gothic young adult novel based on Edgar Allan Poe’s final poem, "Annabel Lee," pitting a pair of star-crossed lovers in a doomed struggle with forces of ancient malice and evil. 
Love me some Edgar Allan Poe! That poem is one of my favs, so to see it turned into a book... well it sounds amazing! I want it, so bad. I might even go old school and sing some Beatles to it:
I want you... I want you so bad...
It's driving me mad...

Next up, Frozen: Melissa De La Cruz is a good writer. Her Blue Bloods series is good, not my fav but still pretty good. Now she is tackling wizards? Magic? In a magical frozen post apocalyptic world?! Sign me up NOW! The last post apocalyptic interesting idea that involved the supernatural that I heard of was The Immortal Rules and that turned out pretty darn great.

Can't wait to see these books' covers! But only from the summary, wouldn't you read these?

"Coverless and Fabulous" shall be posted on Fridays and everybody who wants to join in on the fun is welcomed to!

Tuesday 8 May 2012

New Winner for The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa!


Since the first winner never replied the email I sent I was forced to choose another winner. The new winner of The Immortal Rules is Laurel!

Monday 7 May 2012

Holy Smokes! The Cover for Asunder (Newsoul #2) by Jodi Meadows has been revealed!

DARKSOULS 
Ana has always been the only one. Asunder. Apart. But after Templedark, when many residents of Heart were lost forever, some hold Ana responsible for the darksouls–and the newsouls who may be born in their place.

SHADOWS 
Many are afraid of Ana’s presence, a constant reminder of unstoppable changes and the unknown. When sylph begin behaving differently toward her and people turn violent, Ana must learn to stand up not only for herself but for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

LOVE 
Ana was told that nosouls can’t love. But newsouls? More than anything, she wants to live and love as an equal among the citizens of Heart, but even when Sam professes his deepest feelings, it seems impossible to overcome a lifetime of rejection.
In this second book in the Incarnate trilogy, Ana discovers the truth about reincarnation and will have to find a way to embrace love and make her young life meaningful. Once again, Jodi Meadows explores the extraordinary beauty and shadowed depths of the soul in a story equal parts epic romance and captivating fantasy.

I had to look up what Asunder means, and here is what google told me it means:
Apart; Divided.
Into Pieces.
Sounds very intriguing. I am sure this title must fit perfectly, if only I had read this series!

I always love how the covers for the New Soul series always play with colour. The red mixed with the blue looks beaautiful. But! I still like the cover of Incarnate more.



The cover of Asunder somehow looks like a drawing, could be for all I know. Anyways, together they both make for stunning covers. In love! Have any of you read this series? Is it any good? I wanted to read it, maybe I will soon.


Review: Black Dawn (Morganville Vampires #12) by Rachel Caine

Title: Black Dawn
Author: Rachel Caine
Series: Morganville Vampires
Book #: 12
Pages: 384
Reading Level: YA
Book Rating: Photobucket
Goodreads Rating: 4.49
Published: May. 01, 2012

In Last Breath, the rain brought a new and dire threat to Morganville and its vampires... their ancient enemies, the draug. Now, the vampires are fighting a losing war, and it will fall to the residents of the Glass House: Michael, Eve, Shane and Claire, to take the fight to an enemy who threatens to destroy the town, forever.

Lovers of Morganville, rejoice: Black Dawn takes the intrigue, romance and nail-biting suspense of the series to its highest level yet


Taschima's POV:

Another solid four star addition to The Morganville Series. This installment served to bring to a close the major plot point from it's previous installment, Last Breath, and all I have to say about this is halleluya! I wasn't a big fan of the last big bad, seemed kind of ridiculous to me as a matter of fact (what they were seemed ridiculous, what they did was deadly... I can't believe they are the vampires mortal enemies). But now that this installment, and thus the big plot line, has come to an end the big question is what can Rachel Caine possibly throw at us next? Danger from the inside of the town? What is going to be the BIG story line that is going to bring this series to an end soon? That I am dying to read.

Now braze yourself because some characters die (characters I liked and I am sure a lot of other people like as well). It isn't pretty, it's pretty bloody, and it leaves a hole that needs filling stat. Then again this was bound to happen eventually, can't have all your characters surviving (something we have learned from J.K.Rowling and Suzanne Collins). Who dies? Up to you to find that out.

What I liked about this book was that it always had something that kept the plot moving along and that was exciting (biting your fingernails exciting). There were some very heartfelt scenes with our main couples (both couples had their respective time slot in the spotlight thanks to different POVs; I have to say I am liking the different POVs more and more with each passing installment). The guy I always seem to hate is less hate-able in this installment (bordering on sweet and cute *gasp* -yes, it is Shane-) and Myrnin is well Myrnin, though in this book we get less crazy vamp Myrnin and more focused Myrnin, but that's okay, his dialogue is still hilarious

I liked how things ended overall and how the book was written, I had have some complaints when it comes to the characters consistency however. For example, Amelie. She seems to be in favor of peace and bunnies on one page and then wants to kill everything the next. I understand that vampire reasoning is supposed to be unpredictable, but the decisions that sort of take place in Black Dawn by the end seem to be contradictory to the nature of some characters and that really pissed me off. Myrnin's decisions have a same base of reasoning, even if sometimes they are very fucked up, but other vamps? No such thing.

Again I don't exactly love this series, but I really enjoy it! It's an entertaining sort-of-quick read and the characters and dialogue are a blast. A totally must get for your collection. Let's see what happens next in this crazy town of Morganville.

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