2012YASSH 12/29 Stop

ooking for this, hunters? I have today's trivia questions from Fiction Fervor's 2012 YA Story Scavenger Hunt here for you. 2012YASSH challenges you with your knowledge of young adult books published this year, and if you enter, you might win a prize! Check out it here for more info. And be sure to read the rules!

Without further ado, today's questions come from The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa.

Easy: What is the disease that wiped out a large portion of the human and vampire population?
Medium: What's the name of Allie's best friend before she becomes a vampire?
Hard: What is Allie's weapon of choice?

Enter your answers in the form below!

The Immortal Circus Blog Tour Week Three: Review and Teaser

Welcome to the third week of The Immortal Circus four court blog tour.

The Immortal Circus

Release Date ~ 12/4/12

Format ~ Kindle Serial

Publisher ~ 47North

Source ~ Author

Murdered contortionists aren’t exactly what Vivienne signed up for when she ran away to join the circus. But like most things under the big top, nothing is what it seems. With a past she can't quite remember, Vivienne finds that running away forever might not be as appealing as it once sounded—especially not when she realizes the devilishly attractive ringleader Mab is the Faerie Queen of legend…and that she and the rest of the troupe are locked in an age-old rivalry between the otherworldly Courts.
Aided by her friends Kingston—a feisty stage magician whose magic is quickly stealing her heart—and his smart-ass assistant Melody, Vivienne finds herself racing against the clock to discover the culprit behind a series of deaths that should be impossible. However, the answer she seeks might reveal more about her own bloody past—and future—than she bargains for.
The show's just beginning.

Step right up…

Review

Though it has no heart-stopping moments as there were in the first installment of this serial, in the second installment, there continue to be interesting plot twists that pull you in.

The character development isn't that major in this installment, but as it's a five episode serial, that's to be expected. All the characters continue to be interesting and readable though.

Kahler's writing style is very in-depth and personal, and it really draws you in and puts you in the mindset of Vivienne. 

I feel like I can't say very much about this installment without spoiling it for anybody, as it is a serial, but I can say this: this episode continued to wow me! Very exciting and fast paced!

Teaser

Summer,” Kingston finally says. “They’re here.”
If this wasn’t clearly a serious situation, I’d make some witty comment about it being obvious it was summer, seeing as how it’s 80 degrees even after dark. He must notice I’m clueless because he doesn’t wait for me to say anything.
“The Summer Court. Mab’s rivals. They’re here. They’re interfering.”
“You think they tried to kill Jillian,” I say. Pieces are clicking together in my head.
“I think they’re trying to make a point. Which means we need Mab. Now. Before they make any more.”

 Giveaway

This tour comes with a giveaway for five prize packs! Details after the break!

Review: Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi
Release Date ~ 1/8/2013
Format ~ ARC
Publisher ~ HarperTeen
Source ~ Publisher

Purchase It!

It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the ItTides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.
Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?
In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

   The first book in Veronica Rossi's trilogy, Under the Never Sky, was one that I enjoyed but didn't love, and though I feel the same about Through the Ever Night, slightly less so though, because Rossi's has improved and matured drastically since Under the Never Sky.

   Its been a year since I read Under the Never Sky, and though I like to think I have a good memory, it's hard to remember everything that's happened. And Rossi throws you into the fray of the novel with hardly any back story. I don't need a chapter by chapter summary of the first book, but something to refresh your memory is kind of handy.

I felt like we did witness a healthy amount of character development in Through the Ever Night, which is always vital in a trilogy. Often times characters seem to come fully formed after the first book, which makes for an awful boring second and third book. Both Aria and Perry evolved, and awesome, interesting, sub-plots began involving some of the secondary characters.

   Speaking of secondary characters, Roar, a member of the tides who grew up in the borderlands, is probably one of my favorite, if not my favorite, secondary character in today's YA scene. He's loyal, complex, and very well-written. I have yet to read the novella, Roar and Liv, a novella in which he is the main character, but after Through the Ever Night that is definitely something I would like to do!

 The settings in this trilogy are one of the parts that stand out most. From ruined wastelands to spectacularly crafted realms, there's a very diverse and broad canvas landscape in Through the Ever Night that really whisks you into Rossi's world.

   Overall, Through the Ever Night was a strong second book that built up plenty of potential for the third book's finale. A trilogy to watch.

Cover Comments:

Putting a guy on a cover can be a ballsy move, and I'm glad they did it! The way it seems as though the model is walking out of the light is very cool, and the color of the text is perfect!

Merry Christmas

    From The Non Reluctant Reader to you, Merry Christmas. Its been a spectacular year full of fun for me, and you guys all mean the world to me. Merry, Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy reading.

Review: Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
Release Date ~ 2/15/11
Format ~ Hardcover
Publisher ~ Katherine Tegen Books
Source ~ Swapped

Purchase It!

First there are nightmares.Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.
Then come the memories.When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.
Now she must hunt.Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.

    I feel like the biggest black sheep in the whole world. I've been hearing good things about Angelfire for over a year and everyone in the book blogging community seems to be in love with it. But I honestly did not like it. At all.

   When I finally took the plunge into this series, from how everybody talked about it, I thought it would be rip roaring action from page one. It didn't really get interesting til about page three hundred. Which needless to say in a four hundred and fifty-some page novel is not really acceptable. And even after it got interesting, it wasn't that intense or enjoyable or exciting.

   I felt like the characters were all super weakly  and very paper-thin. It took a very long time to warm up to  the heroine, Ellie, and even then she was still hard to like. I didn't connect with her or understand her, and she was just generally irritating.  

   Though I know a lot of you are going to be mind-stabbing me right now, I could not stand Will. He was so goddamn annoying and rather pompous. I don't like the brooding, protector, "I'm sexy and I know it" guys in YA, and  that's exactly what Will is like.

   In the end, Angelifire just didn't live up to the hype for me.

Cover Comments:
I love the grays and the mist on this cover. Very well designed.

The Non Reluctant Reader Best of 2012: Top Ten Paranormal Novels

Welcome to the sixth day of The Non Reluctant Reader Best of 2012 Awards! Today's topic is...

Top Ten Paranormal Novels of 2012

10

The Torn Wing by Kiki Hamilton

Victorian England faerie novels are always a win in my book.

9

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Zombie killing with awesome characters!

8

Bewitching by Alex Flinn

I love how this story takes a few different fairy tales and wraps them all into one!

7

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

This book really rekindled my faith in a well-written werewolf book. It was so layered.

6

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

This book was perfect for what it was. A light, enjoyable paranormal romance. However, that ending killed.

5

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Vampire apocalypse books are total pieces of win especially when they come from the mastermind Julie Kagawa.

4

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Witch prosecution set in an alternate history New England is very fun to read about.

3

Destined by Aprilynne Pike

This was the perfect end to this series.

2

A Touch Morbid by Leah Clifford

Leah Clifford continues to WOW me. And I normally don't like angel books.

1

Velveteen by Daniel Marks

Everything about Velveteen is just nuts. The characters, the plot, the writing style, the setting, all are brilliant.

The Non Reluctant Reader Best of 2012 Awards: Top Five Villains of 2012

Hey guys! Welcome to the fifth day of The Non Reluctant Reader Best of 2012 Awards! Today's topic is...

Top Five Villains of 2012

5

The Darkling from Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

The darkling was just so manipulative!

4

Bonesaw from Velveteen by Daniel Marks

Bonesaw was (pardon my pun) chilling to the bone!

3

Lucien from Demon Eyes by Scott Tracey

Demons are always scary. 

2

Kade from League of Strays by L.B. Schulman

Kade was just a really creepy psychopath. 

1

 

Jude from The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Ah, creepy stalker Jude guy. So creepy and stalker-ish!

2012 YA Story Scavenger Hunt 12/22 Stop!

Looking for this, hunters? I have today's trivia questions from Fiction Fervor's 2012 YA Story Scavenger Hunt here for you. 2012YASSH challenges you with your knowledge of young adult books published this year, and if you enter, you might win a prize! Check out it here for more info. And be sure to read the rules!

Without further ado, today's questions come from Outpost by Ann Aguirre.

Easy: What do the people Topside call the Freaks?
Medium: Why is “Huntress” the only title not neutral in the enclaves?
Hard: What is Longshot’s weapon named?

Enter your answers in the form below!

The Immortal Circus Blog Tour Week Two: Guest Post

Welcome to my the second week on the A.R. Kahler's The Immortal Circus blog tour.

Murdered contortionists aren’t exactly what Vivienne signed up for when she ran away to join the circus. But like most things under the big top, nothing is what it seems. With a past she can't quite remember, Vivienne finds that running away forever might not be as appealing as it once sounded—especially not when she realizes the devilishly attractive ringleader Mab is the Faerie Queen of legend…and that she and the rest of the troupe are locked in an age-old rivalry between the otherworldly Courts.
Aided by her friends Kingston—a feisty stage magician whose magic is quickly stealing her heart—and his smart-ass assistant Melody, Vivienne finds herself racing against the clock to discover the culprit behind a series of deaths that should be impossible. However, the answer she seeks might reveal more about her own bloody past—and future—than she bargains for.
The show's just beginning.

Step right up…

The making of Tapis Noir

From Mab, Ringleader of Cirque des Immortels and Queen of the Winter Court

My lovelies,
I do hope you enjoyed the first week of our delectable tour. The fun is just beginning; it is my personal hope that you are positively titillated by the tour's end. Just two days ago, we gave you a teaser of how the Tapis Noir begins. But if you'd like to see behind the curtain, well...that's invitation-only, I'm afraid.

Oh, you know me too well. Consider this your personal invitation.

Today, I've invited Alex back to the stage to discuss his inspiration between the Black Carpet event. I indulge his delusion that he created the event, of course. I need him; he makes such a wonderful scribe. And he looks good in chains.
Or so I hear.

Kisses!
Mab


Alex:

Okay. Well, that was, an, er...interesting introduction. I don't really know how to follow that.

*clears throat*

Like so many things, Tapis Noir came about one dark and stormy Scottish night. The Immortal Circus was in its initial birthing phase, and I was up chatting with Devyn Burton. We were incoherent as always, swapping ideas and pictures of cute men we could turn into characters. Then he sent me a video that changed my life.

This video, in fact:



It was love at first sight.

I watched that video no less than a hundred times. It was decided then and there that we needed an afterparty. A debaucherous afterparty. One involving fey mingling with mortals and expressing their basest of desires...

Don't look at me like that. Clearly, the base desire is to feed.
But that might be giving too much away. If you want to experience the party for yourself, you'll have to read the book.

Needless to say, I doff my hat to Spears and Manson for creating this masterpiece.

The show just wouldn't be the same without it.

The tour comes with a giveaway! Enter after the page break!

3,000 Follower Giveaway Celebration Day One

Hey guys! Well, The Non Reluctant Reader recently passed THREE THOUSAND blog followers. Seriously, I cannot believe and am so grateful I'm going to host a WEEK LONG giveaway celebration with A NEW GIVEAWAY EACH DAY. So, today's the first day and here's what I have to offer:

1 Signed ARC of Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook

Bonnie and Clyde meets IF I STAY in this addictively heart-wrenching story of two desperate teenagers on the run from their pasts.
They’re young. They’re in love. They’re on the run.
Zoe wants to save Will as much as Will wants to save Zoe. When Will turns eighteen, they decide to run away together. But they never expected their escape to be so fraught with danger....
When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can’t run fast enough.
Nobody But Us, told in alternating perspectives from Will and Zoe, is an unflinching novel, in turns heartbreaking and hopeful, about survival, choices, and love...and how having love doesn’t always mean that you get a happy ending. Described as “beautiful, heartbreaking, and exhilarating” by Kody Keplinger, author of The DUFF, Nobody But Us will prove irresistible to fans of Nina Lacour, Jenny Han, and Sara Zarr.

Enter after the page break!

The Non Reluctant Reader Best of 2012 Awards Day Four: Top Ten Covers of 2012

Welcome to the fourth day of The Non Reluctant Reader Best of 2012 Awards! Today's topic is:

Top Ten Best Covers of 2012

   Never judge a book by its cover, but a good one never hurts. And man, the cover designers at pretty much every publisher has done an amazing job this year! But let's look at the best of the best!

10

The Selection by Kiera Cass

The icy colors on this are lovely. And yes, I'm a guy and I don't mind the frilly dress.

9

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

An amazing Gothic cover design. Love the reds and blacks.

8

Defiance by C.J. Redwine

This is a book I have yet to read. That doesn't mean this cover isn't amazingly done with the forest in the background and the village in the foreground.

7

Dark Companion by Marta Acosta

Another one I'm yet to read, but the the girl walking into the woods is hauntingly beautiful.

6

Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London

I love the use of black on white with this one!

5

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Such an awesomely designed cover. I love the shape Alice is sitting inside.

4

Reached by Ally Condie

This cover matches the theme of this book perfectly.

3

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

I love the butterfly wings! So creative!

2

Once by Anna Carey

The purple in this cover is simply gorgeous. And I love how the tunnel.

1

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

I know that Penguin has since redesigned this cover, but screw it. This cover was perfect and I love it this way.

New Domain Name!

Hey guys!

Well I finally got my act together and got a real domain name. It's www.nonreluctantreader.com, and readerbenji.blogspot.com WILL redirect to that SHORTLY. The powers that be of Google are working on that. So, all new content will be posted at both address for the time being.

HOWEVER. IN ORDER TO FOLLOW VIA GFC YOU MUST BE ON THE NEW ADDRESS (TEMPORARILY)

The Non Reluctant Reader Best of 2012 Awards Day Three: Best Settings of 2012!

Welcome to the third day of The Non Reluctant Reader Best of 2012 Awards! Today's topic...

Top Ten Settings of 2012

2012 has delivered us to spectacular, amazing year that has transported us to exciting worlds! Here are the best settings!

10

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

The world of Shadow and Bone has a landscape that is both dark and beautiful!

9

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

The water-y world of Of Poseidon is simply the best. Plus, Anna Banks has the key to my heart when she throws a bit of Titanic in there for us.

8

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

The three kingdoms of Falling Kingdoms are all so grand and cool!

7

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

Nantucket, Massachusetts makes for an excellent background for a war between the gods!

6

 

Until I Die by Amy Plum

Ah, Paris... with zombie angels.

5

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

Hell... and Scotland... and hell... and Scotland... and awesome.

4

Velveteen by Daniel Marks

Velveteen's purgatory setting is so bleak and well described and masterly written.

3

Crown of Embers by Rae Carson

High fantasy kingdoms described at their best!

2

Demon Eyes by Scott Tracey

Scott Tracey takes the town where I live and make it ten times more evil. I love it.

1

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Alternate history New England makes for an beautiful haunting backdrop.