Review: Deep Blue & Giveaway

Deep Blue
Author:  Jennifer Donnelly

Publication Date:  May 1st 2014       

 

 

 

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Waterfire Saga is an epic new series set in the depths of the ocean where six mermaids seek to save their world.

 

Written by Carnegie Medal winning author of A Gathering Light, Jennifer Donnelly.

When Serafina, a mermaid of the Mediterranean Sea, awakens on the morning of her betrothal, her biggest worry should be about reuniting with handsome Prince Mahdi, her childhood crush. Instead she finds herself haunted by strange dreams foretelling the return of an ancient evil, and dealing with the deaths of her parents as assassins storm the betrothal ceremony, plunging the city into chaos.

Led only by her shadowy dreams and pursued by the invading army, Serafina and her best friend Neela embark on a quest to avenge her parents' death and prevent a war between the mer nations. In the process they discover a plot that threatens their - and our - world's very existence.

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So, Mermaids don't float my boat. You know, I wasn't really all that into The Little Mermaid, and Ariel in Once Upon a Time annoys the hell out of me. So yeah, I can't say I like or read about them much. That being said, Deep Blue just had something that completely captivated me.

Review: The Break-Up Artist

The Break-Up Artist
Author:  Philip Siegel

Publication Date: April 29th 2014         

~A proof copy was provided by Harlequin Teen in exchange for an honest review~

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Some sixteen-year-olds babysit for extra cash. Some work at the Gap. Becca Williamson breaks up couples. 



After watching her sister get left at the altar, Becca knows the true damage that comes when people utter the dreaded L-word. For just $100 via paypal, she can trick and manipulate any couple into smithereens. With relationship zombies overrunning her school, and treating single girls like second class citizens, business is unfortunately booming. Even her best friend Val has resorted to outright lies to snag a boyfriend.

One night, she receives a mysterious offer to break up the homecoming king and queen, the one zombie couple to rule them all: Steve and Huxley. They are a JFK and Jackie O in training, masters of sweeping faux-mantic gestures, but if Becca can split them up, then school will be safe again for singletons. To succeed, she'll have to plan her most elaborate scheme to date and wiggle her way back into her former BFF Huxley’s life – not to mention start a few rumors, sabotage some cell phones, break into a car, and fend off the inappropriate feelings she’s having about Val’s new boyfriend. All while avoiding a past victim out to expose her true identity.

No one said being the Break-Up Artist was easy.

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I didn't expect to like the Break-Up Artist as much as I did. Yeah, I know, it's mean and I say it all the time but it applies. It was also unsolicited, and just from the synopsis you don't get much from, it's all about the content. Either way, luckily for The Break-Up Artist it's not as good as it sounds.

It's better.

Review: Tease

Tease
Author:  Amanda Maciel

Publication Date: May 1st, 2014      

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From debut author Amanda Maciel comes a provocative and unforgettable novel, inspired by real-life incidents, about a teenage girl who faces criminal charges for bullying after a classmate commits suicide.

Emma Putnam is dead, and it's all Sara Wharton's fault. At least, that's what everyone seems to think. Sara, along with her best friend and three other classmates, has been criminally charged for the bullying and harassment that led to Emma's shocking suicide. Now Sara is the one who's ostracized, already guilty according to her peers, the community, and the media. In the summer before her senior year, in between meetings with lawyers and a court-recommended therapist, Sara is forced to reflect on the events that brought her to this moment—and ultimately consider her own role in an undeniable tragedy. And she'll have to find a way to move forward, even when it feels like her own life is over.

With its powerful narrative, unconventional point of view, and strong anti-bullying theme, this coming-of-age story offers smart, insightful, and nuanced views on high school society, toxic friendships, and family relationships.

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I knew Tease was going to be a hard one to review as soon as I read the synopsis. I usually avoid books with these topics, I think the only other strong one I've read was Thirteen Reasons Why. Bullying in general is more of a taboo subject, and no matter how much campaigning and bringing things to light on bullying, I honestly don't think it makes a difference. Bullying isn't an issue. It's a human issue. It's not just a thing that kids don't understand, it's not just kids on a playground or teenagers in high school, it's adults and work places just alike. But, I do think all that campaigning and bringing to life highlights the fine line between what we think is teasing to bullying. And Tease highlights that perfectly.

Stacking the Shelves (#39) & Recap

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

So, how was everybody's week? I've had an actual-mostly-great week. So, this physical haul is over the past three weeks. (Well, I had 4-5 the first two weeks and the rest came this week.) AND DOROTHY MUST DIE IS HERE (finally Amazon.) I also finally resorted ALL THE BOOKS on my shelves...and floor. Now I can see my carpet again.

 

 

#LGBTApril, Review: A Kiss in the Dark

LGBT Month is hosted by Cayce at Fighting Dreamer and Laura at Laura Plus Books. It runs throughout April and it’s here to celebrate LGBT readers, LGBT authors and of course LGBT books!

A Kiss in the Dark
Author:  Cat Clarke

Publication Date:  April 3rd 2014      

 

 

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When Alex meets Kate the attraction is instant.

Alex is funny, good-looking, and a little shy – everything that Kate wants in a boyfriend.

Alex can’t help falling for Kate, who is pretty, charming and maybe just a little naive…

But one of them is hiding a secret, and as their love blossoms, it threatens to ruin not just their relationship, but their lives.

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-Spoiler Warning-  I did write this at first with no spoilers, and it had little impact on what I really wanted to say. So, it was impossible to write about this in a way that wouldn't spoil anything, though I'm not spoiling everything and besides, you get to know the truth within the first couple of chapters. I also wanted this to be more of a discussion review than an actual one because it's a serious issue.

This one was a hard one to get through, not because of the subject but because of the reality of it. It's relative, and that's what's fucking scary, because it shouldn't be. You know? It shouldn't be such a big ordeal, and I both hate and pity Alex for what she pretended to be because she wasn't secure in herself, and you know why that is?

Stacking the Shelves (#34) & Recap

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

I've had a crappy week, but book wise has been great, and today I had a lovely surprise.

You know you have an amazing friend/pen pal when they send you chocolate in the mail.

 

Also, mean because I'm on Lent, and therefore gave up chocolate. (I should rethink that next year)
I'm also not religious yet still do Lent. (I don't get that either.)
 

So, remember I said Bloomsbury had an Harry Potter 50% off sale?

 

Yeah. I totally bought them again just for the box, I'm not even going to lie.

ARC Review: Half Bad

Half Bad (Half Life Trilogy #1)
Author: Sally Green

Publication Date: March 3rd, 2014    

~A proof copy was provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review~

 

 

 

 

 

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A stunning, magical debut. An international sensation.

In modern-day England, witches live alongside humans: White witches, who are good; Black witches, who are evil; and fifteen-year-old Nathan, who is both. Nathan’s father is the world’s most powerful and cruel Black witch, and his mother is dead. He is hunted from all sides. Trapped in a cage, beaten and handcuffed, Nathan must escape before his sixteenth birthday, at which point he will receive three gifts from his father and come into his own as a witch—or else he will die. But how can Nathan find his father when his every action is tracked, when there is no one safe to trust—not even family, not even the girl he loves?

In the tradition of Patrick Ness and Markus Zusak, Half Bad is a gripping tale of alienation and the indomitable will to survive, a story that will grab hold of you and not let go until the very last page.

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Oh, Half Bad, you were delightfully cruel. I may love you a little. A lot.

I read quite a few "witches" in the genre last year that really just didn't do it for me, even with the ones that were supposed to be to do with witch hunts,  but ended up being about love and love triangles and all that sappy stuff  that made them fall flat.

But this. This.