In my Mailbox (35)

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

TITLES LINK TO GOODREADS

For review:

Tempest by Julie Cross

I hear this book is really good, it has time travel, and a GUY main character! YAY!

Pure by Julianna Baggott

This one looks DARK, and like a kick-ass dystopian! 

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

This book takes place in a world where a million souls are reincarnated over and over? Totally unique!

Bought:

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

I've already bought a kindle edition, but I wanted a paperback edition too. Hopefully I'll get around to reading it... 

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

This book looks amazing... another book I've been meaning to read for a while.

This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel

I love Mary Shelly's classic so obviously is going to rock! I had one of Kenneth Oppel's other books, but haven't gotten around to read it yet...

Gifted:

Dearly Departed by Lia Habel

Zombies, Victorian, Dystopian, Steampunk romance? Like YEAH!

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

I know, I know. I must be the only person alive not to read this book! Now, I have it!

Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver

This one looks so cute! Plus it has beautiful illustrations.  I'm sure it will warm my heart!

So that's what I got in my mailbox! What about you, my lovely? Tell me in the comments! And leave me a link and I'll come check it out!

Happy New Year 2012 Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my stop on the Happy New Year 2012 Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Bab's Book Bistro

It's almost the new year! Why not ring it in with new books, such as this one...

A SIGNED COPY OF A TOUCH MORTAL BY LEAH CLIFFORD

Eden didn’t expect Az. 

Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings. 

Yeah. 

So long happily-ever-after. 

Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven. 

She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else’s game. Her heart is her own. 

And that’s only the beginning of the end.

But before I let you fill out the form, I'm going to be incredibly mean and give you some terms of the giveaway.

• Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST, Jan 3, 2012
• Open Internationally. Note: If you live internationally you will not get a signed copy.
• For more info, check my policy page

Now, go fill out the form after that there page break! 

Cinder: More Then A Retelling by Marissa Meyer (Guest Post)

I am very pleased to welcome, Marissa Meyer to The Non Reluctant Reader, Marissa is the author of the fabulous debut novel, Cinder!

Here's a little bit about Cinder:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . 

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. 

And here's a little bit about Marissa:

I live in Tacoma, Washington, with my fiancé and our two cats. In addition to my slight obsession with books and writing, I'm big on road-tripping, wine-tasting, and hunting for antiques. I'm represented by Jill Grinberg. 

CINDER, my debut novel, is a futuristic re-envisioning of Cinderella in which Cinder is a cyborg mechanic. Release date: 3 Jan 2012.

CINDER VS CINDERELLA: THE DIFFERENCES

Cinder: More Than a Retelling

By Marissa Meyer

When Benji asked if I could write a guest blog post for The Non-Reluctant Reader talking about the main difference between the fairy tale “Cinderella” and my debut novel, Cinder, it was easy to jump to the obvious: Cinder is set in the far-future. A world in which hover cars and androids are the norm, and Earth has been conglomerated down into six peaceful nations, and people conduct business by scanning the identity chips in their wrists.

And it is a big difference, this futuristic world, as compared to one with magic and fairy godmothers and a pumpkin carriage—although those iconic things are still represented in the book.

But I don’t think setting Cinderella hundreds of years in the future makes for the biggest difference between the classic tale and my novel. Rather, I think the biggest difference is its scope.

In the tale you have a beginning, a middle, and an end. A Happily Ever After, even.

But Cinder is the first in a four-book series, so while there is a beginning and a middle and an end, it is not the ending that readers will be used to from the beloved tale, and there is very little Happily Ever After-ing. The book is also filled with hints for what’s to come next—new evils and dangers and risks our heroine must take, new mysteries to uncover, new battles to fight and companions to side with. Attentive readers will catch allusions to the three tales that will make up the rest of The Lunar Chronicles dropped down in the middle of this Cinderella retellings—Little Red Riding Hood (Book Two: Scarlet), Rapunzel (Book Three: Cress), and Snow White (Book Four: Winter).

So yes, changing the settings and filling it with technology and an otherworldly villain do make Cinder a very different story from the fairy tale we grew up with.

But those things pale in comparison to the overall plan, which began with four familiar tales and has since developed into a story of its own.

And this fairy tale has only just begun.

Marissa Meyer’s first novel, CINDER: Book One of The Lunar Chronicles, can be ordered at bn.com, Amazon, or your local bookstore. Follow Marissa on Twitter (@marissa_meyer) or become a fan at http://www.facebook.com/marissameyerauthor.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at  Break the Spine.

The Selection by Keira Cass

Release Date ~ 4/24/12

Publisher ~ HarperTeen

Summary: For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon. 

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks. 

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Like whoa! This dystopian looks like amazing and totally insane (in the best way possible)! And ohmygod, just look at that pretty thing that is the cover. The blue and white go perfectly together. It looks like something out of Narnia. Me had a need to read & have this book with speed! 

Top 10 Tuesday (2)

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

TOP 10 BOOKS OF 2011

10

 A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford

Someone say AWESOME, WICKED, COOL, with a dash of MYSTERY!? Hmm... they must of been talking about A Touch Mortal!

9

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Kate and Hades: One of my favorite couples of 2011! This book had me on the edge of my seat!

8

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

This ain't your mama's dystopian! The world created was so unique!

7

Fateful by Claudia Gray

I guess it was my fate to fall in love with Fateful, I am a Titanic buff and I love paranormal books, and this was the best of both!

6

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Killer horses? Now that is original! Stiefvater continues to amaze me with her writing!
5

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
"Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story" This book is one of the scariest I've ever read, the suspense Blake added made me pull half my hair out!
4

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
This series has the HARDEST love triangle. One minute I'm team Puck, the next Team Ash! Please help me decide!! This book also has a really epic ending!
3

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
This book is an excellente spin-off and opens you to the mind of Ash. I appreciate his character so much more after reading this book. An excellent way for the series to end!
2

Wither by Lauren Destefano
This book is dystopian at it's best! A world where women only live to age 20, men to 25, genius! Lauren Destefano is a genius!
1

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Mitchelle Hodkin
This book was amazing. Pure and simple. One minute it had me laughing like a madman, the next sobbing on the floor. It deserves this place in my list, and I promise I will guard my copy with my life (and your's, for that matter).

Best of 2011 Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my stop on the Best of 2011 Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not a Writer.

The end is near, my friends *cue dramatic music* and it's time to honor our favorite books of 2011! What better way to honor them, then to share them with our lovely followers... here's what's up for grabs:

A SIGNED copy of Delirium by Lauren Oliver

 "Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. 

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love."

(read my 5-star review here) 

I know, I know, you want it, but guess what I'm going to be really mean and give out some details first! 

• This giveaway is open internationally. Note: If you live internationally you will NOT get a signed copy.
• This giveaway runs till 11:59 pm EST on December 31
• Must be a GFC follower to enter!

Now, fill out the form after the page break.

Merry Christmas!

To all of my lovely followers, you are the best present I could ever dream of. Hope you get everything on your list!

In my Mailbox (34) - The One Where HarperTeen Rocks

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

TITLES LINK TO GOODREADS

For review:

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Onmygosh, yes, I do have Pandemonium. Jealous much? I'm currently reading this one and it's GREAT! The trilogy began with Delirium, read my five star review.

Slide by Jill Hathaway

This book sounds really interesting and unique. I started chatting with Jill and she sounds super nice!

Partials by Dan Wells

"The only hope for humanity isn't human" like, yeah, this sounds awesome. Plus it's a monster, almost 500 pages. 

Balthazar by Claudia Gray

I haven't read the Evernight Academy books, but I LOVED Fateful and apparently this book can be read as a stand a lone.

Thank you HarperTeen for that A-M-A-Z-I-N-G package!

On A Dark Wing by Jordan Dane

A tale of love between a mortal girl and... death.

Thanks netgalley!

A Touch Mortal

A Touch Mortal (Touch Trilogy, Book One) by Leah Clifford
Release Date ~ 2/2/11
Format ~ Hardcover
Publisher ~ Greenwillow Books
Source ~ Gifred
Rating ~ 5/5
 Eden didn’t expect Az.

Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.

Yeah.

So long happily-ever-after.

Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.

She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else’s game. Her heart is her own.

And that’s only the beginning of the end.

My review: I am very wary of angel books. I loved the Halo trilogy, but most angel books are just basically the same: some angel comes down to earth, falls in love with a mortal, upstairs throws a hissy fit and says he'll become a fallen angel if he doesn't ditch the human, but he won't. That's basically the setup for EVERY god dang angel book. But A Touch Mortal looked different and I was interested to see the mythology surrounding what happened in the afterlife for someone who did suicide. And boy, am I glad I did!


The main thing that R-O-C-K-E-D for me was the characters. Especially Eden. She was so flippin' awesome. Though I've said I don't like sarcasm, for her it was perfect. It was the cherry on the sundae, the icing on the cake. It made her perfect. Her wit was unbelievably funny, and outrageous, in a book that's very depressing otherwise, it added so much comic relief!


The one thing that could improve was how fast we were receiving information. It made me feel sorta like this:



Yeah. That was me. I was like whoa! What the #@%& is happening? Maybe I'm just slow on the uptake, but I found my head spinning. Like at a million miles per hour. It seemed like all the things I had to keep track of to follow the story were coming in little spurts which didn't allow me to get all the juicy details needed to follow the plot line.

The villain in this is so incredibly well portrayed! I was like... OMG, this guy is pure evil! I loved all the plot twists, one minute this guy is on your side, the next they want to kill you!

A Touch Mortal was a fas-in-at-ing debut. I was like "me needs more" when this book ended. Purely sensational!

5/5

Cover Comments: Is this this a new trend of only show one half of the model's face? I really like the colors on the this cover though!

Delirium

Delirium (Delirium, Book One) by Lauren Oliver
Release Date ~ 2/1/11
Format ~ Hardcover
Publisher ~ HarperTeen
Source ~ The Tattered Cover
Rating 5/5
Summary: Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. 

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

My review: Delirium gave me a strong dose of armor deliria nevervosa. Translation: I loved it to bits! 

   Before I go total fanboy, lemme just get my one complaint about Delirium out. The first 75 pages weren't that great. The world set-up was intriguing, but I found it impossible to connect with Lena. She just seemed boring. But then Alex came into the fray, and the whole book was two giant thumbs from there on out!

    Like I mentioned above, I loved the world-building! The idea that love had turned into a decease was like really freaky but thought provoking and the same time. Does a world without love also means a world without hate? And even if it does, is it worth it? There. That's my wisdom of the day. Back to the awesome thing that is Delirium (you'd think I'd be done establishing that by now). Besides the outlaw of laws, there were also some major changes, such as the US locking down it's border from all other countries (you can always count on good ol' America, eh?) which added some more pondering on my part: in other countries in love banned? Are there even other countries left? I hope we get those questions answered in the following books! 

    The relationship between Alex and Lena was so sweet! Lena was a little hopeless when it came to relationships (thank you, captain obvious) but Alex took the reigns and helped her from stumbling along.

So now, GO BUY IT (if you haven't done so already), now, my ARC of Pandemonium awaits!

5/5

Cover Comments: This cover is a little lame, I like the special edition cover much better!

Happy Winter!

Happy winter everybody, it's officially the season to curl up with a good book by the fire :-)

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at  Break the Spine.

A Touch Morbid (Touch Trilogy, Book Two) by Leah Clifford
Release Date ~ 2/28/12
Publisher ~ Greenwillow
Summary: Eden won the battle-she saved her true love from the darkest evil. But the war has only just begun. With secrets swirling around her, powerful allies unraveling, and life-and death-as she knows it eroding, Eden and those she loves tread dangerous ground. Can she trust anyone? Will her unearthly powers be her salvation or her downfall? A sweeping, dark, and sexy paranormal romance that will haunt readers with an inventive mythology and a cinematic New York City filled with shadows and longing.

I just finished A Touch Mortal and it was wickedly wicked (yes I DID just say that) and just purely insane (in a good way).


I need to get myself an ARC of this one, or else I will die, please, Greenwillow!

Under the Never Sky

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Release Date ~ 1/3/12
Publisher ~ HarperTeen
Format ~ Egalley
Source ~ Netgalley
Rating ~ 4/5
Summary: Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction. 

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions. 

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY.

My review: Under the Never Sky blew me away. In the beginning, at least. For the first 100 pages it was all nonstop action that had me engaged and on the edge of my seat! But then... it slowed down. Drastically, and what do you know, a romance between Aria and the outsider started! Surprise, surprise, it's not like we've ever seen that happen in dystopian novels, oh no! But seriously, I don't mind forbidden romance, but this has just gotten old! 
    The world development in Under the Never Sky was a-maz-ing! This book had one of the best worlds I've ever read, and since I read a ton of dystopian, that's pretty high praise! I loved the concept of the realms, it reminded me sorta like those virtual world game thingies online, but much more sophisticated, and well, awesome. 
    I thought the transformations that happened to Aria and Perry were both really nice, and unlike many book's (transformation) was actually believable! It was really nice to see them change throughout the story.
    I thought Rossi's writing style was missing something, it just was a little choppy and lacked elegance. She had a wonderful plot line, but her writing needs to improve to keep readers entertained and enjoyed! 

  Overall, Under the Never Sky was a very good dystopian debut, did it need a teeny bit more, yes... did it satisfy me? Yes!

4/5

Cover Comments: I love this cover. The model looks so determined!

Mid-Winters Eve Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my stop on The Mid-Winters Eve Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and Oasis For YA.

Winter is here, and now all we want to do is curl up next to the fire with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate. Unfortunately, I can't provide the hot chocolate, but I can provide the book! 

Here's what's up for grabs:

"When her boyfriend breaks up with her on the first day of sophomore year, Lucy has no idea how she’s going to make it through homeroom, let alone the rest of her life. Enter three stunning girls with a magical offer Lucy can’t refuse. All she has to do is get a guy to fall in love with her in the next seven days, and then…break his heart and collect one of his brokenhearted tears. As the girls teach Lucy how to hook a guy (with the help of a little magic), she quickly discovers how far she is willing to go—and who she is willing to cross—to get what she wants.

Fans of Lauren Myracle, Jodi Lynn Anderson, and Meg Cabot will love this tale of breakups, friendship, new crushes, and magic. Told with wit and charm, The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers is sure to be one of this winter’s most irresistible reads!"

This book was quite good, read my review here. And my interview with Lynn here. 

Thanks to Lynn and HarperTeen for providing me with a copy to giveaway!

Lynn has also given me some Secret Sisterhood of Heartbrekers tattoos to giveaway along with the book! 

Enter the form after the pagebreak. 

Top 10 Tuesday (1)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP 10 BOOKS I HOPE SANTA BRINGS

#10

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

I've been waiting to read this book forever. It has zombies, and a dystopian world, with a dash of Steampunk victorian era in the mix. Yes, please!

#9

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnston

Jack the Ripper-like murders are going on in London and Louisiana native, Rory is the only witness! Plus this book has a paranormal department of British Intelligence!

#8

Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver

A middle grade fiction novel from the author of Delirium, Liesl lives alone inside a tiny attic and then she meets a ghost, Po. This one is sure going to melt my heart! A little bird told me my aunt and uncle got this one for me, I have my fingers crossed!

#7

Palace of the Damned (The Saga of Larten Crepsley) by Darren Shan

The third book in this series, Darren Shan writes the best vampire books. Period! I hear this one's more romantic then his other ones... ;-)

#6

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher 

I know... I know... I'm probably the only person alive who hasn't read Thirteen Reasons Why but I just haven't gotten to buying it yet!

#5

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

This looks a little more sci-fi then what I usually read, but hey, I loved Half-Blood so I'll probably like this one. It sounds like it has an interesting concept!

#4

The Hunger Games: Deluxe Edition by Suzanne Collins

I LOVE THE HUNGER GAMES!!! It's probably my favorite book ever. And this one has a velvet slipcase and original mokingjay prints! 

#3

Wondestruck by Brian Selznick

Selznick combines words and pictures wonderfully. I'm going to see Hugo soon, so this would make a certain 12 year old book blogger very,  very happy!

#2

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Another book that I've been meaning to read forever. This one looks like it will be an emotional roller-coaster so I hope Santa includes a tissue box!

#1

A Touch Morbid by Leah Clifford

This book isn't actually out to February, but I'm reading A Touch Mortal right now, and I NEED to get my hands on this. I hope Santa has an ARC ;-)