EARC Review: Uninvited

Uninvited
Author: Sophie Jordan

Publication Date: January 28th 2014
~A copy was provided by HarperTeen via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review~

 

 

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The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report in bestselling author Sophie Jordan's chilling new novel about a teenage girl who is ostracized when her genetic test proves she's destined to become a murderer.

When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.

Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

The first in a two-book series, Uninvited tackles intriguing questions about free will, identity, and human nature. Steeped in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's trademark mix of gripping action and breathless romance, this suspenseful tale is perfect for fans of James Patterson, Michelle Hodkin, and Lisa McMann

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In the beginning Davy was a character who had her head in the clouds, she was happy with where she was, her friends, her boyfriend, her options, she was a prodigy after all. She's popular, and likable. She's kind of a fuzzy character though, neither here or there. She's nice but not too nice, she's pretty, but not too pretty, she's not mean, she's modest but knows her talents. She's also rich, and just so, she's a little judgemental. She doesn't know herself. But testing positive for the Killer gene changed that. At first, she's in denial that anything will change. and then it changes, slowly at first, and then all at once and there's no control. The girl who never thought or questioned anything, accepted things the way they were...she's gone.

Stacking the Shelves (#25) & Recap

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.


Firstly, and most importantly, you guys, the Veronica Mars trailer, that's what I'm talking about.

 I've added 7 books to my shelf since my last StS, (3 I bought, 3 gifts.(including my Secret Santa from the amazing Allie that I finally opened) and a surprise in the mail that's going to have to wait until next week because I'm re-organizing, fun.

But, though there's no pictures yet, I had an awesome Secret Santa gift from Allie over at Little Birdie Books, that included Ghost Flower by Michele Jaffe that I've wanted to read for ages, a dolphin holographic bookmark (because I love dolphins) a Deathly Hallows necklace (which I've been wanting to get for a while, but was always pushed back for more books) which I may have fangirled over :D. So thank you so much Allie!


 For review:
 

 

Paranoia, The Truth Against the World, Royally Lost and I finally caved and picked up Life by Committee and The Last Best Kiss.

(Thanks to Flux, and Netgalley, Harperteen, Katherine Tegen Books and Edelweiss)

 

   



 A recap of posts this week

 

• Monday I reviewed  Red by Alison Cherry
• Tuesday I done the End of Year Book Survey
• Waiting on Wednesday: Steadfast by Claudia Gray
• Thursday I reviewed Splintered by A.G. Howard
• Friday I reviewed Unhinged by A.G. Howard

Since my last StS, I have read:

 
• Anything to Have You by Paige Harbison
• Red by Alison Cherry
• Splintered (Splintered, #1) by A.G. Howard
• Unhinged (Splintered, #2) by A.G. Howard
• And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard          
  

   

   

ARC Review: Unhinged

Unhinged
Author: A.G. Howard

Publication Date: January 7th 2014    (Also Jan 13th) 
~An Advance Readers Copy was provided by Amulet/Abrams & Chronicle in exchange for an honest review~

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Alyssa Gardner has been down the rabbit hole and faced the bandersnatch. She saved the life of Jeb, the guy she loves, and escaped the machinations of the disturbingly seductive Morpheus and the vindictive Queen Red. Now all she has to do is graduate high school and make it through prom so she can attend the prestigious art school in London she's always dreamed of.

That would be easier without her mother, freshly released from an asylum, acting overly protective and suspicious. And it would be much simpler if the mysterious Morpheus didn’t show up for school one day to tempt her with another dangerous quest in the dark, challenging Wonderland—where she (partly) belongs.

As prom and graduation creep closer, Alyssa juggles Morpheus’s unsettling presence in her real world with trying to tell Jeb the truth about a past he’s forgotten. Glimpses of Wonderland start to bleed through her art and into her world in very disturbing ways, and Morpheus warns that Queen Red won’t be far behind.

If Alyssa stays in the human realm, she could endanger Jeb, her parents, and everyone she loves. But if she steps through the rabbit hole again, she'll face a deadly battle that could cost more than just her head.
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Following the events in Wonderland, Unhinged starts off almost a year after Splintered's events. Alyssa's been down the rabbit hole, defeated Queen Red, taken her rightful crown and came out the other end a survivor-and intent on staying human, and to live a life with a now clueless Jeb, her Mother home and keeping her hands out of Wonderlands antic's. But, a certain Moth isn't ready to let go just yet..

Review: Splintered

Splintered
Author: A.G. Howard

Publication Date: January 1st 2013        
Publisher: Amulet Books

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Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family.

She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.
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I was hesitant to pick up Splintered the first time I read it, because I wasn't really into retellings. How wrong was I? I loved it, and now, the second time around I love it even more. Even if a certain moth drives me crazy at times.

I think with retellings, why I was hesitant to read any was because I thought you basically know the outcome, and the whole setup, but the clever thing about Splintered is that it takes everything from Alice in Wonderland- from a child's mind- and re-imagined every bit from an adults mind and twists it. The tale from Alice in Wonderland is a sweet version, those little things that weren't quite right were turned innocent in her head, and it takes that, and uses it to it's advantage to re-imagine what you thought you knew about wonderland. A Wonderland that although is familiar, completely new.

Waiting on Wednesday (#25)

 "Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

 

Steadfast by Claudia Gray

Expected publication: March 4th 2014 by HarperTeen

 

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Nadia, Mateo, and Verlaine have saved Captive's Sound from the dark Sorceress Elizabeth...or so they thought. Despite their best efforts, a crack opened and a new, greater evil seeped through. With Mateo as her Steadfast, Nadia's magic is magnified and she is more powerful than ever. But there is still so much she doesn't know about the craft, leaving her open and vulnerable to a darker magic...which has begun to call Nadia's name

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I really enjoyed Spellcaster, so can't wait to see what happens next.

 

 

What're you waiting on? :)



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End of Year Book Survey, 2013

I'm back! How was everyone's holidays?  It's been a crazy week, things didn't turn out exactly like I planned or wanted, but when does it ever? So, it was okay, and I've actually missed blogging, and it was only a week. The years almost over, and I'm up for the challenges that 2014 bring. Since it's the last day until then, I thought I'd do the End of Year Book Survey hosted by Jamie over at Perpetual Page Turner.

 

 1. Best Book You Read In 2013? (If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2013 release vs. backlist)

 Of course I have to cheat, what kind of question is that? Too many books this year, waaaay too many.

 

Contemporary YA –I've broadened my horizons this year, and read a few, but I can't just pick one, so I'm going to pick two. I'm not cheating that much. So, shh.

 

The Fault in Our Stars  by John Green

Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott

 

Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic – Going on a first in a series, and not a sequel, The 5th Wave (The 5th Wave, #1) by Rick Yancey        

 

Historical Fiction – Maid of Secrets by Jennifer McGowan

 

Paranormal — Hands down The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

 

Science Fiction — Uninvited  by Sophie Jordan (Though I will be reading These Broken Stars soon, so that might change.)

 

            Fantasy- Splintered, and Unhinged by A.G. Howard          

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
 

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

 

There's two for me that I was really looking forward to reading because they sounded like it had everything I love in a book...

 

Unbreakable by Kami Garcia   (Hello, Supernatural)

This Wicked Game by Michelle Zink (Voodoo & New Orleans)

 

They fell flat.
 

 3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013? 

Fake ID by Lamar Giles and Prep-School Confidential by Kara Taylor

 

4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?

No doubt, All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

 

 5. Best series you discovered in 2013?

Confessions series by James Patterson and  Maxine Paetro
 

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?

I can't just stick to one here, it's impossible.

 

John Green

   A.G. Howard    

 

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

I purposely stay away from books out of my comfort zone, but as I said above, Contemporary was a new one for me this year, I mean it's not like I hadn't read any before, but only a handful, but I've read more this year.

 

And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard  
 

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?

Top 5, because I can't pick one, I've tried.

In order of (even if I knew it would rip my heart out and stamp on it.)

 

The Fault in Our Stars  by John Green

Antigoddess (Goddess War, #1) by Kendare Blake  

Unhinged  by  A.G. Howard    

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa (That ending was just plain mean)
 

 9. Book You Read In 2013 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

All of #8. 

 

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?

This is just mean. I absolutely adore  Splintered, and Unhinged cover's, but I'm going to have to go with...

 

 

 

11. Most memorable character in 2013?

Can I cry now? I'm not even going to apologize for cheating this time. 
 

 

Hazel Grace Lancaster & Augustus Waters in The Fault in Our Stars 

Ignifex in Cruel Beauty 

Jebediah "Jeb" Holt and  Morpheus in Splintered

Finn in All Our Yesterdays 

Yes, I know, but I ship these books hard, okay?
 

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?

 

Okay, okay, uhm I'm going to go with feelings on this one.

 

The Fault in Our Stars  by John Green

Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott

 

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013? 

If it can make me cry, it's a winner. Life was not the same after reading it.

 

The Fault in Our Stars 
 

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read? 

Yay, finally, an easy one.

Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter         

 

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2013? 

 

 

 

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?

 

Longest- White Space (Dark Passages, #1 by Ilsa J. Bick 560 pages (seemed a lot longer, and this was an accomplishment since I wanted to stab the damn thing.) 

 

Shortest-Empty Roads & Broken Bottles; in search for The Great Perhaps by Charlotte Eriksson  120 pages.

 

 17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It?

 

Unhinged: Chapter 23, Sting. Page 349 in arc (345 in hardback)

You know, just a little squee! moment before that.

 

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2013?

 

Nyx and Ignifex in Cruel Beauty . I can't even. It's just...kind of reminds me of Rose and Dimitri in VA, the whole intense/sarcastic/attraction/just clicks type.

 

And of course,

Allison  and Zeke  from Julie Kagawa's (Blood of Eden) series. 

 

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2013 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Antigoddess (Goddess War, #1) by Kendare Blake  

 

I loved the Anna series, and I love mythology, and the interactions between the characters were just perfect, and that ending killed me.

 

20. Best Book You Read In 2013 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else

 

Pawn (The Blackcoat Rebellion, #1) by Aimee Carter

 

21. Genre You Read The Most From in 2013?

Mythology/Fantasy

 

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?  

Instead of the usual suspects I'll go with...

 

Sebastian in the Gods & Monsters series.

  

23. Best 2013 debut you read?

Since, I'm using one for the next question I'm going with...

 

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

 

24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?

Easy.

 Splintered by A.G. Howard       
     

25. Book That Was The Most Fun To Read in 2013?

A Breath of Frost by Alyxandra Harvey

 

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2013?

No surprise here.

 

The Fault in Our Stars 

 

Book You Read in 2013 That You Think Got Overlooked This Year Or When It Came Out?

Darkness Becomes Her  (Gods & Monsters) series by Kelly Keaton

 

 

 

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2013 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in
2014?

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

 

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2014 (non-debut)?

 

Okay, way too many but I'm going for...

 

The Forever Song (Blood of Eden #3) by Julie Kagawa

 

3. 2014 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

I have only one answer for this (shocker), I'm sure if I looked through my list there would be more, but the one that's flashing in my head right now is...

 

 Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell

 

 4. Series Ending You Are Most Anticipating in 2014?

  

The Forever Song (Blood of Eden #3) by Julie Kagawa

 

  

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2014?

1. Try reading some books I wouldn't usually pick for myself.

2. Re-read the Vampire Academy series before the movie. (Yeah, like that's going to happen, so at least the first.)

 3. Read and review 150 books. (We'll see).