Book Review: The Last Archangel by Michael D. Young

    The Last Archangel is is a new novel from author Michael D. Young, who also wrote the Canticle Kingdom.


Cover Blurb:
Xandir has been exiled to earth until the end of time. But when his cherub trainee disappears, Xandir makes a deal with rogue angels and giants that could restore life to the mortal woman he loves and end his assignment as a destroying angel in exchange for helping them bring about the end of the world and all of mankind.


     I heard Michael Young speak at LTUE last year and have been wanting to read The Last Archangel since then.
     I really liked Xandir as the protagonist. He was witty, slightly sarcastic, and overall the under-dog I could root for. I felt his devotion to his love, Sempre, was genuine, and I could feel his pain and determination to do everything possible to get her back. The supporting characters did blur together and were sometimes hard to keep track of. But I enjoyed meeting Yearti, or as he is mistakenly called, Yeti.
Characters: 3 Stars
    The plot was a little slow at the start, but things really picked up towards the end. As Xandir's path crossed in and out of the underground the adversaries' plot slowly unfolded. It was hard to tell who he could trust and false faces were on everyone. But the last few pages finished with a bang. And, while still tying up the book, left good openings for a sequel.
Plot: 4 Stars
     Michael D. Young's The Last Archangel was a quick read It didn't require too much investment but was still interesting and a fun.
Style: 3 Stars


Rating: 3.3 Stars
Source: From Author For Review
Genre: Fantasy / Action
YA Fiction


Author Info:
Website
Twitter, @mdybyu
Goodreads

Book Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

   Cinder is the debut novel of author Marissa Meyer set in the far future.
Cover Blurb:
   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.


    I've always had a soft spot for fairy tale remakes, but I must admit Cinderella was never my favorite. However, after reading Cinder, I just might change my mind. A spectacular read!
    It always bothered me that Cinderella acted like a doormat and never stood up for herself, but Cinder (Main Character) was entirely devoid of this problem. She knew who she was and new how she should be treated. And she expressed that while not grating on the reader. Kai (Romantic Interest, Also Prince of the Commonwealth) was developed in a way that made it clear he was a person and not just a Prince Charming. And with all the main and supporting characters I could perceive the motives behind their actions.
Characters: 5 Stars
     Marissa Meyer has crafted a story in a world so filled with detail and intrigue that I found myself reading straight through. With a plague, and a looming war with the Lunar people, the basic Cinderella story was very exciting. I did guess a big secret before it was revealed, but it was still fun to see the foreshadowing build on my hunch. I'm already counting down the days for the sequel, Scarlett, in 2013.
Plot: 5 Stars
      Cinder did not read like a debut. It read like maybe the fourth or fifth bestseller from an author experienced in where she wanted her book to go and the best way to get there. Cinder takes  place in the far future of China and I loved the mixture of past and future cultures. Very realistic,and I will be eagerly awaiting future books. (like seriously, you'd better move out of the way) 
Style: 5 Stars


Rating: 5 Stars
Source: Amazon
Genre: Sci-Fi
YA Fiction

Author Info:
Marissa Meyer Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads

Book Review: Rae of Hope by W.J. May

       Rae of Hope is the debut novel of author W. J. May.
Cover Blurb:
How hard do you have to shake a family tree to find out the truth about the past?
    Fifteen-year-old Rae Kerrigan never questioned her family’s history. That is until she accepted a scholarship to Guilder Boarding School in England. Guilder is an exclusive, gifted school. Rae has no idea what she is getting herself into or that her family’s past is going to come back and taunt her.     She learns she is part of an unparalleled group of individuals who become inked with a unique tattoo (tatu) on their sixteenth birthday. The tatu enables them to have supernatural powers particular to the shape of their ink-art. Both of her parents were inked, though Rae never knew, as they passed away when she was young. Learning about her family's past, her evil father and sacrificial mother, Rae needs to decide if there is a ray of hope in her own life.


      I read the summary and was hooked, what an interesting idea! This book in no way was a disappointment.
        Rae(main character) felt very realistic, and I loved the fact that, even though she was a very strong lead, she still had several insecurities and "personal demons" that she needed to deal with. In many books the main character is usually somewhat tempted by evil, however Rae always considered the greater good and was willing to give up her life for the world. Her roommate, Molly, made a fun quirky friend, and Devon (romantic interest) was exactly what a knight in shining armor should be, while not being stuck-up about it.
Characters: 4.5 Stars
        As far as car chases and big battle scenes go, this book was rather quiet. But the plot kept my interest quite easily with Rae's self-development and the powers all students of her school receive on their sixteenth birthdays. Towards the later end of the book the story really picked up with a big twist that I had not idea was coming! For a while it was hard to tell who to trust! But I was very satisfied with the ending. It tied up nicely while still leaving openings for a sequel.
Plot: 4.3 Stars
    W. J. May's words flowed and kept the story from becoming dry. It didn't feel like scenes were thrown into the book just for the heck of it. Everything had a purpose in furthering the plot, and though this was a debut novel it didn't read like one at all.
Style: 4.7 Stars

Rating: 4.5 Stars
Source: From Author for Review
Genre: Fantasy / Paranormal
YA Fiction

Author Info-
Twitter: @wanitajump
Website: Wanita May

Saturday Snatch: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

   I apologize for the belated Saturday Snatch. My mind seems to rationalize that as long as it's still Saturday I can get away with posting late.
        This week's Saturday Snatch is Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare! I have heard many good things about this book, and have yet to read it, but it's definitely on my list.

 If you're like me, and have so many books on your TBR pile you're buried, then have fun with today's short, but sweet, excerpt!
   ~*Clockwork Prince: Excerpt*~
Tell me what you think :)

Book Review: Patriote Peril by Thomas Thorpe

   
     Patriote Peril is one of six historical mystery thrillers in the Darmon Mystery series about a couple from Kent that solves international crimes during the 1830's. These novels include: Message of the Pendant, The Fourth Contention, Patriote Peril, Fair Wind to Bahia, Desperate Crossing and Without Redemption.
      Cover Blurb:
   Following the return of an empty carriage, Elizabeth Darmon begins a harrowing pursuit of her family's kidnappers. Alone, scared on the frontier of New Brunswick, she trails the kidnappers through deplorable conditions along the St. Lawrence River to Quebec City where she finds a woman posing as Elizabeth with another William. Near the scene of the abduction, her brother-in-law, Charles, recovers from a gunshot wound and is led to the Patriote Party's fanatical element of Reformers. He is swept into a rebellion, recruiting Americans at clandestine hunting lodges. Family members cross paths attempting to unravel conspiracy and murder before a tumultuous assault on the governor's palace. Historically accurate events provide non-stop suspense.


          I hadn't read mystery for a while, and this was a good book to ease back into the genre.
          Most of the characters did seem just different shades of the same color, and I think their reactions could have been a bit stronger, but I really liked that Elizabeth (first main character) never became a washed-out pansy. Throughout the entire story she was full of daring-do and would not shirk at anything to get her family back.
Characters: 2 Stars
          I thought I saw what was coming on this one, but I wasn't close! Throughout every chapter the level of intensity kept building until the book finished with a bang. As with all good mysteries, the reader is led on with a carrot, and I can safely say this book definitely fulfilled that requirement.
Plot: 4 Stars
          The action throughout this book moved very fast, and I (as a sometimes skimming reader) liked this. At parts it felt the story was stripped to the bare basics (no descriptions and such) but it was a nice effect for a quick read.
Style: 4 Stars


Rating: 3.3 Stars
Source: From Author for Review
Genre: Historical Fiction / Mystery
YA Fiction


Author Info:
Amazon Profile

Giveaway: The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson Audio Book

     A big thanks to the generous folks over at Macmillan Audio for supporting this giveaway!!
I really enjoyed The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson, and I'm very pleased to be giving away an audio copy today.
Here's my review.

     So, who's excited?

*Giveaway*(US Only)
(Nov.23-Dec.1)

One audio copy of The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson from Macmillan Audio

-You must be a follower of this blog to enter

For extra entries:

-Tweet about this giveaway with Macmillan Audio and leave link

-Visit Macmillan Audio and tell me the two books you're most thankful for this year that they have. Is that coherent? :)

The winner we be chosen at 12:00 a.m. on Dec 2, at which point they will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Book Review: The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson

        The Alloy of Law takes place in the Mistborn world years after the end of the trilogy. And while it introduces a whole new cast of characters, Sanderson has made it known that this book isn't the start of the Modern Day Mistborn Trilogy he's promised, but rather a side novel, and could feasibly be read without knowledge of the Mistborn Trilogy.
Cover Blurb:
     Three hundred years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is on the verge of modernity, with railroads to supplement the canals, electric lighting in the streets and the homes of the wealthy, and the first steel-framed skyscrapers racing for the clouds.
     Kelsier, Vin, Elend, Sazed, Spook, and the rest are now part of history—or religion. Yet even as science and technology are reaching new heights, the old magics of Allomancy and Feruchemy continue to play a role in this reborn world. Out in the frontier lands known as the Roughs, they are crucial tools for the brave men and women attempting to establish order and justice.
     One such is Waxillium Ladrian, a rare Twinborn who can Push on metals with his Allomancy and use Feruchemy to become lighter or heavier at will. After twenty years in the Roughs, Wax has been forced by family tragedy to return to the metropolis of Elendel. Now he must reluctantly put away his guns and assume the duties and dignity incumbent upon the head of a noble house. Or so he thinks, until he learns the hard way that the mansions and elegant tree-lined streets of the city can be even more dangerous than the dusty plains of the Roughs.

        Though not the epic fantasy we've seen from Sanderson before, this book didn't disappoint!

        I loved the snap and crack dialogue between Wax (main character) and Wayne (his sidekick), and even if at some points it was taken to cheesiness, it kept the conversation lively. Wayne was an extremely quirky character. I was in snickers a great deal when reading of him. Wax was the stereotypical Knight-in-Shining-Armor and his inner demons gave depth to his actions. On top of that, Marasi (who often played the Damsel-in-Distress) wasn't a complete airhead.

Characters: 4.5 Stars

        Guns and Fantasy don't usually mix, but in the case of this book they clicked perfectly! It was exhilarating to watch a battle scene unfold in which the protagonist is firing coins using Allomancy powers and dodging bullets as he flies across the room. There was Intrigue in high levels and a crime to be uncovered, giving this read a classic Mystery feel that I rather liked. Alas :), as is so characteristic of Sanderson, the plot was mostly tied up a few pages from the end, but then (in those 

last pages) he knocked me to the floor!  It will not be out for a long, long time, but I will be one of those crazy fanatics camped outside the bookstore for a week in an attempt to get the sequel.

Plot: 5 Stars    
        Brandon Sanderson has built an entire universe for his books, and it was amazing to see how the Alloy of Law fit perfectly into a niche he had created years ago. The development was entirely natural, and I was engrossed in how it related with the Mistborn Trilogy.
Style: 5 Stars

Rating: 4.8 Stars
Source: Amazon
Genre: Fantasy
YA/Adult Fiction

Subnote: See a recent Saturday Snatch for the link to an excerpt. :)

Saturday Snatch: The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

        The Thief is a Newbery Honor book by award winning author Megan Whalen Turner and the first in a series with four books out and a fifth planned.  

            I'm actually reading this book to review right now, and I'm loving it so much I wanted to share it with all of you, my wonderful blog readers!
           First four chapters-
~*The Thief*~
 Tell me what you think! :)

Book Review: Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

           Goliath is the third and final book in the steampunk series that started with Leviathan and continued with Behemoth.
Cover Blurb:
      Alek and Deryn are on the last leg of their round-the-world quest to end World War I, reclaim    Alek’s throne as prince of Austria, and finally fall in love. The first two objectives are complicated by the fact that their ship, the Leviathan, continues to detour farther away from the heart of the war (and crown). And the love thing would be a lot easier if Alek knew Deryn was a girl. (She has to pose as a boy in order to serve in the British Air Service.) And if they weren’t technically enemies.

      The tension thickens as the Leviathan steams toward New York City with a homicidal lunatic on board: secrets suddenly unravel, characters reappear, and nothing is at it seems in this thunderous conclusion to Scott Westerfeld’s brilliant trilogy.

                 For being fifty-second on hold for this book at the library, the time sure went fast! I'm half convinced that everyone ahead of me gave up and bought the book. However, I persevered, and now I finally have it. :)
    The characters in this book kept true to how they were portrayed in both the first and second books of  trilogy. I could clearly see how Alek had developed in confidence while still clinging to the earnestness that made him so likable, while Deryn remained the cocky one of the pair and overcame every conflict courageously  Borvil, the perspicacious Loris-probably my favorite character- grew more perspicacious and quirky every day! I did feel that some of the minor characters were rather repetitive. But, overall, they blended fairly well.
Characters: 4.7 Stars
     In most series, the last book may be too late to bring in an almost completely new character and story line, but Goliath pulled it off with style. Fitting in with the theme of Leviathan and Behemoth, there was a new exciting goal to accomplish. And, spoilers withheld, I can say that a big secret is revealed to most of the characters, adding several wild ups and downs. I had some issue with the ending, as it felt that the plot line lost sight of the big goal and settled for something less the the story was capable of. But it did leave them in a good place and tied up most of the loose ends.
Characters: 4.3 Stars
      Scott Westerfeld has an enchanting style that brings his worlds to reality. I loved the phrases, such as "barking spiders" that made his characters so endearing. His alternate history was very authentic, and the steampunk spin on World War I created a setting that had me hooked!
Style: 5 Stars

Rating: 4.7
Source: Library
Genre: Steampunkish?
YA Fiction

Subnote:  Goliath is scattered with beautiful, detailed illustrations done by Keith Thompson!
Sub-subnote: See my review of Leviathan  here. :)

Book Review: The Far Side of Evil by Sylvia Engdahl

Cover Blurb:
          Elana, newly graduated from the Federation Anthropological Service Academy, is sent immediately into danger on the planet Toris-a world poised on the brink of nuclear war. She is ordered to merely observe, and must not reveal her alien origin or interfere with the planet's natural course of evolution. But how can she stand by and watch? Her fellow agent, Randil, is not properly trained to work in the field, and his compassion for the Torisians may lead him to intervene. Yet his very actions may bring about the holocaust that he is so desperately trying to prevent. Elana must make a crucial decision: side with a renegade agent, or stop him at any cost. . . .

        "[A] surprising, haunting, poetic book ...full of provocative philosophical and psychological questions as well as tense adventure and romance." -Commonweal
  
           I couldn't have said it better! Mind-blowing book!
                   Elana is such a gorgeous character for me because I can really look up to her. She was everything and more the hero is meant to be. In a few situations, she would have been completely justified in lashing out at others, but she always went for the greater good, and she didn't come across as snooty at all! Though Elana was much older in this book, I could still see the personality that I so loved in The Enchantress From the Stars. Randil and Kari were very well defined and interesting. It was possible to understand where they were coming from, and how their experiences had shaped them.
Characters: 5 Stars
               Can I just say, it took every last ounce of will in my being not to skip ahead and read the end! Riveting from the very first pages, The Far Side of Evil is pure Sci-Fi while still exploring the contours of an oppressed society. Several unexpected twist and turns. To be cliche, I was on the edge of my seat till the last pages! I do wish the ending had been a little stronger, but it tied things up quite nicely while still leaving the reader room for imagination.
Plot: 5 Stars
               This book posed so many philosophical questions that kept my mind working for some time after I finished. It reads more towards an older audience than The Enchantress From the Stars, but could possibly be classified as YA. The Far Side of Evil is written as a diary, in a style that left the future unknown. I loved it!
Style: 5 Stars

Rating: 5 Stars
Source: From Author For Review
Genre: Sci-Fi
YA/Adult Fiction

Author Site: Sylvia Engdahl Where you can learn a ton about her books!
Twitter: @SylviaEngdahl

Subnote: See my review of The Enchantress From the Stars HERE. :)
                                                                

Saturday Snatch: Supernaturally by Kierstan White

Supernaturally is the second book in the New York Times bestselling series that started with Paranormalcy.

             So umm ...I'm sorry for doing second-books two weeks in row but these books are so fun!  :)Normally I'd consider paranormal books rather dark, but this series is so happy/bouncy that I really wanted to put it on the radar for those of you who haven't read it!

Cover Blurb of Paranormalcy:

          Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.
But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.
So much for normal.

Here's the link to the first eight chapters of Supernaturally. Tell me what you think!
~*Supernaturally*~

Book Review: The Magi by Kevin Turner

          The Magi is the debut book of author Kevin Turner.
Cover blurb:
          Thirteen-year-old Elijah Hawk has been on the move ever since the night his family was murdered.  His unique sense of instinct saves his life on that horrible night, but he has the feeling that since then, he is being followed.  Suddenly, during a rather awful stay at a northern boarding school, Elijah stumbles upon a secret world.  The world of the Magi.   
          He learns that the Magi are a simple people with a very complex power.  They agree to look after Elijah and let him train with their power as long as he promises to use it only to protect others.  But when a powerful group of men storm the Magi city and demand that Elijah be handed over, who will protect him?

What an exciting book! This read gave me the same thrill and satisfaction as the first Harry Potter.
        Elijah (main character) really came to life for me. Often in fantasy books, the hero is made of iron, and only slightly affected by sadness. But when Elijah experiences his own tragedy, his grief was very realistic. I would liked to have seen Elijah's friends, Samuel and Hannah, developed a bit more, but I really enjoyed reading Paul, who was a perfectly loyal rascal. Elijah's mentor, Olivia, came across as very majestic, and I loved the Roddick's two girls. They were quirky and so cute!
Characters: 4 Stars
        From the very first page, this book catapulted me into action after action, and added a fun, new spin on an old piece of culture. The secrets promised delivered to the full extent, and throughout the whole book, I got the feeling that Turner wasn't going to take the easy way out! I'll eagerly be awaiting the sequel!
Plot: 4 Stars
        I could tell this was a first book, and sometimes it was a little hard to follow, but overall, I was very impressed! The world was very cohesive, and loose ends that may have been forgotten in other books, were neatly tied up! :)
Style: 3.9 Stars

Rating: 4 Stars
Source: From Author For Review
Genre: Fantasy/Action
YA Fiction

Author Site:   The Magi Series
Twitter:         @TheMagiSeries
Facebook:     TheMagiSeries

Subnote: The first five chapters of The Magi are offered on the Author Site, and I highly recommend you check them out! :)

Saturday Snatch: The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

    The Son of Neptune is the second book in a New York Times bestselling series that takes places after the Percy Jackson series ends. Written by Rick Riordan, it features old characters in addition to a whole new cast!
        I've read The Lost Hero, the first book, and absolutely loved it! I might even say I enjoyed it more than the Percy Jackson series!

 To give you some background-
Cover Blurb for The Lost Hero:
          Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up on a school bus holding hands with a girl. Apparently she’s his girlfriend Piper, his best friend is a kid named Leo, and they’re all students in the Wilderness School, a boarding school for “bad kids.” What he did to end up here, Jason has no idea—except that everything seems very wrong.

          Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, and her vivid nightmares reveal that he’s in terrible danger. Now her boyfriend doesn’t recognize her, and when a freak storm and strange creatures attack during a school field trip, she, Jason, and Leo are whisked away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood. What is going on?

          Leo has a way with tools. His new cabin at Camp Half-Blood is filled with them. Seriously, the place beats Wilderness School hands down, with its weapons training, monsters, and fine-looking girls. What’s troubling is the curse everyone keeps talking about, and that a camper’s gone missing. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist they are all—including Leo—related to a god.


     Today's excerpt is very short, but I hope you enjoy!        
         ~The Son of Neptune~

Let me know what you think! :)

Book Review: Enchantress From the Stars by Sylvia Louise Engdahl

Cover Blurb:
          The Federation Anthropological Service would never officially have allowed Elana to be on this mission to the medieval planet Andrecia. If Youngling peoples found out that a supremely advanced and enlightened society like the Federation existed, it would irreparably damage their evolution. Stowing away aboard her father's ship, Elana suddenly becomes the key to a dangerous plan to turn back the invasion of Andrecia by an aggressive, space-faring Youngling civilization. How can she possibly help the Andrecians, who still believe in magic and superstition, against a force armed with advanced technology -- without revealing her alien powers?
          Apprentice medical officer Jarel wishes that the planet the Imperial Exploration Corps has chosen to colonize didn't have a "humanoid" population already living on it. The invaders don't consider the Andrecians to be human, and Jarel has seen the atrocious treatment the natives get from his people. How can he make a difference, when he alone regrets the destruction that his people bring?
Georyn, youngest son of a poor Andrecian woodcutter, knows only that there is a terrible dragon on the other side of the enchanted forest, and he is prepared to do whatever it takes to defeat it. In his mind, Elana is the Enchantress from the Stars who has come to test him, to prove he is worthy of defeating the dragon and its powerful minions. Despite both Elana's and Jarel's inner turmoil, Georyn's burden is by far the heaviest. Ultimately, he must pit his innocent faith in the magic of his Enchantress from the Stars against foes who have come from a world beyond his comprehension.

          I thought the cover was beautiful, though unassuming, but after reading the blurb above, you see why I had to follow my hunch and pick up this book. Turned out, my hunch was completely right! This isn't really the type of book you rave about (however I may rave--as that is what I do with books )it's more the variety that leaves you thinking and makes a lasting impression.
          The characters were well thought through. And though I felt Elana (main character) acted a little young for her age, by the end I could see clearly how she'd matured to view life in a better way. Georyn came through as the slightly wide-eyed innocent he was meant to be. And the interactions between them felt utterly natural.
Characters: 5 Stars
           And what a wonder-full/mysterious plot! An interesting mix between Sci-Fi and Fantasy that Sylvia Engdahl pulled off marvelously! It was a cohesive story that represented a section in Elana's life. And I recognized that this was only a very small portion of something much bigger. The fate of a world did rest on her shoulders, but it was refreshing to read a story about growing better and fighting for what is right, even in the little things.
Plot: 5 Stars
           Switching between first-person POW with Elana and a classic rendition of Georyn's side of things, it was quite enjoyable to discover how they each viewed different phenomena--such as the giant machine that Georyn sees as a horrendous, fire-breathing dragon. Pushing Elana through difficulties she'd never before considered, and showing how those choices apply to life in general, was extremely thought-provoking and gave more hope for the future.
Style: 5 Stars

Rating: 5 Stars
Source: Library
Genre: Sci-Fi /Fantasy
YA Fiction

Author Site: Sylvia Engdahl

Top Ten Tuesday: Books Whose Titles or Covers Made Me Buy

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature/meme held by the fabulous people over at Broke and Bookish every Tuesday. Each week they put up a new Top Ten list, and anyone can join in!
              
       I have yet another confession to make. I know, I know, stop it with the confessions already. Right? But for the sake of the post, you have to know this one. I usually buy . . . maybe a total of three books a year, and very rarely are those books I haven't already read from the library. I'm a very picky reader. So I'm going to slightly change this list to mean Books Whose Titles or Covers Made Me Read.                                 

Books Whose Titles or Covers Made Me Buy

1. Farworld by J. Scott Savage

              Done by Brandon Dorman, this is an absolutely stunning cover of green-skinned, blue-haired water elementals, set against a roaring, white-fringed wave. I snatched it up immediately!

2. The 13th Reality by James Dashner

              Also done by Brandon Dorman, this cover was easy on the eye, but still portrayed action-packed content. I've always been interested in the theory of realities so the title really got me.

3. Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison

              Dramatically romantic. Simply beautiful cover.

4. Ice by Sarah Beth Durst

               The one-word title, and the ice-color themed cover, with the shiny silver title, really grabbed my eye!

5. The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley

                I'd heard of the Brother's Grimm, who hadn't? So the difference in this title perked my interest. I looked it up as soon as I could get to a library.

6. The Maze Runner by James Dashner*

                The view took my breathe away!

7. Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks

                The simplicity of this cover yanked my interest. I opened the book and started reading right then.

8. The King in the Window by Adam Gopnik

                 Gold gilding, and small stars dust this cover, giving it a dream-like quality.

9. Dreamquake by Elizabeth Knox

                  What a fascinating title! Instantly teases my curiosity. What in the world could a dreamquake be?

10. Betrayel by Aaron Allston

                   I do love a good Star Wars now and again, and so would have read the book in any case. But the contrast of the cover- a bright green light-saber, with a glow cast against a haunted face, had me running to read it!

      Be sure to stop by Broke and Bookish for a list of other fantastic blogs participating in Top Ten Tuesday!

*Check out my Giveaways page to enter for a signed copy of James Dashner's The Death Cure, the third book in The Maze Runner trilogy! :)

Giveaway: The Death Cure

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED*

Guys, GUYS! The Death Cure by James Dashner came out today! Aaaaaackkkkk!!!! I've been dying for this book ever since The Scorch Trials, that's almost a year!!!!! I've been bouncing around and squealing at random intervals all day. However, I am refraining from getting my copy right now so I can get a copy at the release party tonight. Yes, I'm going to the release party, and those of you in the Utah area can go to!

 This website has more info.

To those of you who live too far away (cause really, what other excuse could you have?) I weep a thousand months in commiseration.

 But I'm still so happy to be going that I will pick up an extra copy to send to one of my followers, and hopefully it will be signed :) So-

*Giveaway*

-US only-(sorry guys)

  You must be a follower to enter this giveaway.

                Just leave a comment below with your email address, telling me why you would love to win a signed copy of James Dashner's The Death Cure. If you don't feel comfortable leaving your email, go ahead and send it to pomegranatesunrise (at) gmail (dot) com. Feel free to contact me if you have any more questions :)

               The Giveaway will run until October 31st at midnight. Tell your fellow Dashner fans!

     Post with pictures from the party coming on Thursday.

  HELP GUYS! How am I going to wait a whole 3 1/2 hours?! *hyperventilates*

Book Review: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

              Leviathan is a steampunk alternate history set around the time of the World War I outbreak.
Cover Blurb:
It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and the Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet.
       Aleksandar Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men.
       Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is is constant danger of being discovered.
       With the Great War brewing, Alek's and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way . . . taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure. One that will change both their lives forever.

       What a satisfying book! This is the first steampunk book I've read, and I can safely say it definitely won't be the last!
        The characters had me hooked from the beginning! Alek was charming and brave. Though I could sense the uppitiness he held from his upbringing, he was in no way snooty and was really someone I could respect (an absolute must for me). Deryn was sharp and engaging-- a daredevil female that really spiced her side of the story up. The background characters were unique, and held depth in their own right. Very well done on characters!
Characters: 5 Stars
         The plot held just the right balance between action-packed and reflective. I felt their was time to get to know the characters and situations without falling into boredom. It was easy to follow and completely believable! (An amazing feat when considering the fabricated animals used by the Darwinists) In addition, the ending held enough answers to tie up the book, but left enough questions to have me running for the sequel.
Plot: 4.5 Stars
         I love the way Scott Westerfeld added style to this book! Leviathan switches between Alek and Deryn's stories, yet I could sense freshness on Deryn's side and determination on Alek's. It added a great deal of variety, and gave the book enough momentum to carry through to the end.
Style: 5 Stars

Rating: 4.8 Stars
Source: Library
Genre: Steampunk/Adventure/Hint of Fantasy?
YA Fiction

Subnote: Keith Thompson filled the visual version of the book with gorgeous illustrations! :)

Saturday Snatch: Awakening by Brandon Sanderson

      Guess what . . . It's Saturday!!! I LOVE Saturdays!!!! In view of that, I've decided to start a new feature on this blog called Saturday Snatch. Ever Saturday I will link to a book excerpt being offered online, either by the author or the publisher.

      To start us off in style, our first snatch will be (drum roll .....) Infinity Blade: Awakening by Brandon Sanderson! Yes, the Brandon Sanderson!

        As many of you know, he's written some of my favorite books, so when I saw he had a new one out I was sooooooooooo excited!

        Infinity Blade: Awakening is an ebook set to bridge the gap between the first and second Infinity Blade iPhone/iPad games. You can see the author's blog post about it HERE.

        And the best part is he has a big excerpt up of the entire prologue and first two chapters! But a warning, they end on such a cliffhanger you'll have to buy the book  :)
        Infinity Blade: Awakening, Prologue
        Infinity Blade:Awakening, Chapter 1
        Infinity Blade: Awakening, Chapter 2
Hope you enjoy! Be sure to leave a comment telling me what you think.

Book Review: Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison

     Tris and Izzie is modern retelling of the legend of Tristan and Iseult ending in a happily-ever-after. In the legend, two characters, Tristan and Iseult, take a magic love potion that leaves them deeply in love with each other till death, even though Iseult is already married to someone else. The different versions are unclear whether the potion was taken intentionally, or accidental, but they usually end in tragedy, with one or another of the lovers dying in unfortunate circumstances, and the other dying of heartbreak. For the Wikipedia article on the legend click HERE.
Cover Blurb:
         "I'd always thought of Mark as blond, but not compared to this guy, whose hair was white-blond. He had these amazingly blue eyes that looked like they had to be enhanced by contact lenses, because that color couldn't be real. He wasn't as tall as Mark, but he seemed taller, the way he drew attention to himself. And he had this huge, dazzling smile that was like a nuclear reactor compared to Mark's warm grin.
         "I hated that smile, and I hated that it made me compare him to Mark. Who did he think he was smiling at me like that? And why did he seem so at ease? Apparently, this was his first day at Tintagel, but he acted like he was king of the whole school. I have never liked arrogant guys. I felt hot with anger."
"Izzie, this is Tristan," said Mark.
           Izzie loves Mark. He's the perfect boyfriend: kind and loving and handsome, and he's the captain of the basketball team. Meanwhile, Izzie's friend Branna loves somebody, but she won't say who. So when a hot new guy, Tristan, shows up at school, who better for Izzie to fix up her friend with? And what better way to do it that with a love philtre?
           But love philtres are tricky, and Izzie finds she's accidentally fallen in love with Tristan herself. And that's a problem. First of all there's Mark, and second, there are the supernatural creatures that keep attacking whenever Tristan is around. It's bad enough she has two guys, and Branna has none, now Izzie has to fight for her life?

         When I saw the breathtakingly beautiful cover, and read the intriguing blurb, I made the biggest mistake of all mistakes.
            I judged a book by its cover.
            There. I admit it. But looking at the picture above you must agree that I was well justified. However, this book ended up being a big disappointment to me.
         The characters didn't really click. It probably wasn't the author's intent, but Izzie seemed to be selfish and small-minded. She was frequently rude to Mark, her boyfriend, and though she sometimes seemed to regret it in her mind, she never expressed this regret to Mark as an apology. She seemed to regret her rudeness more because it meant she must not love Mark anymore, instead of regretting it because it hurt Mark. The supporting characters' traits were fuzzy, and their reactions didn't feel real. Huge events were dismissed out of hand as the characters focused on petty subjects. I did like the loyalty Tristan, Izzie's love interest, showed his parents, but, overall, the characters were flat and unbelievable.
Characters: 1 Star
            The first chapters had a very repeatative feel to them. Most of the plot was focused on Izzie trying to hang onto Mark while her feelings were for Tristan, with only a relatively small part centered on defeating the villain. I enjoy romance, but I look forward to action as well, and this book didn't really provide that. The battles were stereotypical and dry. And the big surprises were obvious chapters in advance. However, an amazing idea to remake Tristan and Iseult. It was also interesting to see Izzie doomed to be in love with Tristan forever when she was only sixteen.
Plot: 1 Star
             I'm probably reading too much into this, but, as told in the first-person, the voice came across as just a bit arrogant. There was the slightest hint of superiority in the way Izzie viewed the world through her thoughts. Some of the analogies were very creative, and a few of the lines were honestly funny. But the descriptions sounded forced and it was hard to see the scenes being described as anything but drab.
Style: 1 Star

Rating: 1 Star
Source: Giveaway
Genre: Romance/Fantasy
YA Fiction (It might make a good Junior Fiction book, but there are a few passionate kissing scenes)

Subnote: Please Please Please, don't just take my word for it! And please don't dismiss this author out of hand! I've read the rest of her work and really enjoyed it, especially The Princess and the Hound. I highly suggest you guys give it a look.

Top Ten Tuesday: Endings That Left Me With My Mouth Hanging Open

Top Ten Tuesday is a fabulous weekly event hosted over at Broke and Bookish. Every week they have a new list of Top Tens to answer.
This week's topic is Endings That Left Me With My Mouth Hanging Open. So Voilá!

    Endings That Left Me With My Mouth Hanging Open

1. The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson 

Wow. Just wow. Completely mindblowing! I thought, 'No way will his ending be able to top the books.' I have never been so completely wrong in my life!

2. The Maze Runner by James Dashner                                                                                            Total cliffhanger at the end! I was dying until the next book came out.

3. The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

This is the final book in one of my favorite junior fiction series. The conclusion didn't skimp, and everything  ended exactly as it should.

4. The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

Ah, a beautiful ending. It had me squeaking with joy and eagerly awaiting The King of  Attolia.

5.  The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

So romantic and so charming! I've read this book over and over again, and the ending still gives me happy goosebumps!

6.  The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis                                                                                        

Sometimes I read this book just so I can get to the ending, which sounds weird, I know. But the ending is that amazing. I wouldn't change a thing. The finale of this book leaves me happy for the rest of the day.

7.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling

Of course this book is on the list. Those of you who have read it know how it goes above and beyond the other books. This ending leaves you feeling like you've just snuggled with a fuzzy blanket, or hugged a good friend.

8. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt                                                                                  

There has to be more to this book! It can't end that way! I mean, sure, It makes you think. But who wants to think, anyway?! Huh?! (leave a comment if you felt that way too)

9. The Messenger by Lois Lowry 

A bitter/sweet ending, but fitting, considering the book. Very moving.

10. The Bartimeas Trilogy by Jonathon Stroud 

Also bitter/sweet. But perfect. So perfect. Possibly my favorite.

And there you have it!

Be sure to go here and check out the other blogs participating in Top Ten Tuesday!