Waiting on Wednesday: Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights books that have not yet been released, but ones that you should pre-order today! This week's book that we are anxiously awaiting is MORTAL DANGER by Ann Aguirre.  It will be released August 5, 2014 from Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan).

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Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Edie Kramer has a score to settle with the beautiful people at Blackbriar Academy. Their cruelty drove her to the brink of despair, and four months ago, she couldn't imagine being strong enough to face her senior year. But thanks to a Faustian compact with the enigmatic Kian, she has the power to make the bullies pay. She's not supposed to think about Kian once the deal is done, but devastating pain burns behind his unearthly beauty, and he's impossible to forget.

In one short summer, her entire life changes, and she sweeps through Blackbriar, prepped to take the beautiful people down from the inside. A whisper here, a look there, and suddenly... bad things are happening. It's a heady rush, seeing her tormentors get what they deserve, but things that seem too good to be true usually are, and soon, the pranks and payback turns from delicious to deadly. Edie is alone in a world teeming with secrets and fiends lurking in the shadows. In this murky morass of devil's bargains, she isn't sure who—or what--she can trust. Not even her own mind..

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A Faustian revenge plot--sign me up!!!!  Plus, the cover is absolutely creepy and beautiful.  Can't wait for this one!

Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer and Giveaway (Scarlet Audiobook)

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

ARC received from Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan)

Release Date: 2-5-2013

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  Shocking, Salacious, and Seriously Awesome!

Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.

So, I read Cinder and Scarlet in the last few weeks, and while Cinder was good, it didn’t blow me away.  BUT Scarlet did!  It more than blew me away—It smacked me in the face with its awesomeness!!!  From Chapter 1, I was reeled into this futuristic world, and for the entire 450 pages, I didn’t want to be anywhere else.  Scarlet is mesmerizing—be prepared to enter a world dripping with malice, encounter characters laced with deceit, and discover love breaking its bonds.

Like I said in my Cinder review, I really like the world that Marissa has created.  It’s futuristic, yet it retains many similarities to our own world, so it’s easy to relate.  But the technology is what sets us apart—and this future is intricate and captivating.  I love seeing the different advances that have taken place and how they have affect society as a whole.  The androids and cyborgs create a different dimension that separates Marissa’s world from other dystopian novels.  I look forward to the next two books in the series, as they take place in separate parts of this new world.

I really liked that this book focused on Scarlet.  At first, I was kind of wary because she was completely new character, and I didn’t know how it was going to fit in with Cinder’s story, but the two plot lines merged fantastically.  The story is told in alternating perspectives, so we get to see Scarlet as she travels down her road in search for her grandmother, and on the other end, we also get to watch as Cinder travels down her own road of self-discovery.  I will admit, I enjoyed Scarlet’s story much better.  Scarlet was strong-willed and determined, but still all too human.  She falls prey to human vulnerabilities, and I liked seeing how others had to come to her aid.  She was strong, but needed help at times, and that made her open herself up to new relationships.

I absolutely loved Wolf because he’s my YA type!  Troubled and broken, broody with secrets.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—that’s the best YA guy in my opinion.  I love knowing there are secrets behind their actions because I love mystery in a guy, and there is definitely mystery surrounding Wolf.  He’s strong and over-protective, domineering and a jerk-face at times, but that just adds to the tension that he creates with Scarlet. 

In Cinder, I though the plot twists were extremely obvious, and while I still saw most of the twists in Scarlet coming, they weren’t laid out as openly.  You kind of had to stretch to see them.  Still, I’m hoping for a little less predictability in the future.

If you’re a fan of Kai (which I’m not a huge fan of), then you might be disappointed in this book.  He only shows up a handful of times, and those times are really not very lengthy.  I was perfectly fine with this because he is a bit too goody-goody, nice guy for me. 

Lastly, I will say that the blurb isn’t written the best.  It makes it sound like Scarlet and Wolf are meeting up with Cinder and that most of the book will follow them together.  This wasn’t even close to the case.  They run into each other very late in the book—the rest of the time they are on their own. 

Overall, this was a fantastic read, and I would highly recommend it to fans of dystopian worlds. 

Scarlet + Wolf = Jaw-dropping, edge of your seat fun!

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Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Published by Feiwel and Friends

On Shelves Now

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  Charming (as in Prince….hehehe), Captivating, and Cool

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.

So, I finally broke down and read Cinder because I have an ARC of Scarlet, and I needed to know what all the hoopla was about.  I really enjoyed it; however, it had been put on such a high pedestal that I don’t think it could have ever lived up to the hype for me.  I was expecting it to just blow me away, and I ended up just getting another good YA book.  (Now, Scarlet, on the other hand, did blow me away!)

I am kind of new to fairy-tale retellings, only having read a few, so I really enjoyed that part of this story.  I loved how Marissa had taken the classic characters and morphed them into something new and different, yet echoing the sentiments of the originals.  I especially loved what she did with Cinder, making her a cyborg in a world where cyborgs are looked upon as little better than scrap metal.  She was a pariah, yet she didn’t let that hold her down.  Cinder knew exactly what she wanted, and even in the face of adversity, loss, and unimaginable revelations, she kept her focus and her strength.  I found myself cheering for Cinder to succeed and win the guy.  Cinder herself was by far the best part of this book—so unique, and I really loved her personality as it shined through the pages.

Now, I’m not sure I understand the fandom behind Kai.  I remember during our Crush Tourney this past summer that so many people loved him, but I just don’t see it.  Yes, he’s this Prince Charming guy, but other than that, there wasn’t anything striking about him.  He just seemed to be this normal guy in a not so normal situation and place in society.  He seemed weak with the Lunars (although most people are I will admit), and I just wanted him to be more…confident and charismatic.  I’m hoping that in the future books he will grow into his position more, and stop worrying about what the world thinks/wants. 

I really enjoyed the world that Marissa created—futuristic in some ways, but in other ways, the same as ours.  Earth is being ravished by a deadly plague, and as a result, fear and panic are overwhelming.  I could feel the tension and the uncertainty in Marissa’s words, and her world seemed to come alive around me.  I loved the androids and technology that Marissa described, and I look forward to seeing more of it in the future.

I wish that it would have been a little less predictable.  But maybe Marissa wanted us to be able to predict what was going to happen, I don’t know.  However, I like when I am surprised by the ending or a revelation in the book, and unfortunately, I did not get a surprise in this one.  I saw everything coming, and that was without knowing anything about the book in the first place.  Here’s to hoping that the next books will leave more in the shadows.

Overall, this was a great and fun read.  Is it one that I will rush over to my friends and demand they read at once?  Not normally, but having read Scarlet and knowing what is coming, I just might do it anyway. 

Want more Cinder?  It's also available in audiobook format!  Check out a sample here

Teaser Tuesday: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading!

To participate all you have to do is:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

(make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

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Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Release Date: 2-5-2013

Published by: Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan)

 

 

"Table legs screeched against tile and then the fighter had one hand wrapped around Roland's neck, lifting him clear off the floor."  ARC, pg. 19

 

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So, I finally read Cinder because I had an ARC of Scarlet and I wanted to see what all the hoopla was about.  While I'll admit it was good and I can't wait to get further in to Scarlet, I'm not sure I'd classify it as drop down amazing.  Still, I'm glad I read it, and now with Scarlet...this Wolf guy--yum.  Mysterious.  Rebel.  Can pick up a man clear off the floor.  Ohhh, I like him already.

Of Poseidon Blog Tour and Giveaway: Character Interview with Galen

Today we have the pleasure of hosting the Of Poseidon Blog Tour!  I was so excited to be able to participate in this tour, but my excitement burst into a happy dance when I was told I get to interview Galen!!!!  Galen!!!!!  The super-hot merguy who can totally inhabit my dreams any time he wants!!!  I fell for Galen just as much as Emma did--if only I was able to assault his pecks, too--that would have made my day (or month)!!!  For those of you who have read this fantabulous book, you will be delighted to take a tour through Galen's mind, and for those of you who don't know about the book, here is a little synopsis from Goodreads.  (Even if you don't know Galen yet, read this interview and it will make you want to go straight to the bookstore and get your own copy!!)  And don't forget to fill out the Rafflecopter to win a copy!!

Galen, a Syrena prince, searches land for a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. It’s while Emma is on vacation at the beach that she meets Galen. Although their connection is immediate and powerful, Galen's not fully convinced that Emma's the one he's been looking for. That is, until a deadly encounter with a shark proves that Emma and her Gift may be the only thing that can save his kingdom. He needs her help--no matter what the risk.

So, without further ado....

YA Sisterhood:  Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Galen, the oh-so-delicious Prince of Syrena.  Thank you so much for taking the time to come and speak with me.

Galen:  Um. Sure. I guess.


YA Sisterhood:  So, Galen, why did you choose to be ambassador to humans?


Galen:  I don’t think there really was a “choice”. The humans have found new ways to invade our waters and it would be irresponsible for us not to keep an eye on you. Yes, I “asked” for the responsibility, but it had to be done and no one else was volunteering. No offense, though. I know not all humans are bad. Just most of them.

YA Sisterhood:  *Giggles hoping he thinks I'm one of the "not bad" ones*  When Emma first smacked into you, what went through your mind?

Galen:  I could see that she wasn’t paying attention and that she was going run into me but I decided to let her. I figured maybe a “chance” encounter would be best, but I also thought that if she didn’t run into me then she would brain herself on the railing.

YA Sisterhood:  *Sighs with jealousy...lucky Emma*

Galen:  I have to admit, I thought when she saw that I was a Royal she would know that she’d been caught spending time on land.  I didn’t…I didn’t expect her to stay…stuck to me for as long as she did. The tingles were definitely weird. And I’ve never seen anyone blush like that. Ever.

YA Sisterhood:  I have  feeling with what's going through my mind right now, you might be seeing another blush like that soon.  Anyway, moving on....What's your idea of a perfect date?  (Excuse the human lingo)

Galen:  Why are humans so obsessed with dating? I understand that dating leads to mating, and mating is enjoyable, but you seem to put too much thought into it. Where to go? What to do? What to wear? It’s exhausting. My idea of a perfect date would be at the beach, a private one—because you have to admit, you humans act like fools when you’re part of a big crowd, like at the movies. Plus you don’t have to worry about what to wear if you go to the beach.

YA Sisterhood:  *Wonders if its inappropriate to ask him if he would be wearing anything on the perfect date....I'm thinking...darn, inappropriate*  That is true, we humans do get a bit rowdy in a crowd.  You should try it some time!  What's the strangest thing you've ever seen in the ocean?

Galen: Toraf. Period.

YA Sisterhood:  *Giggles* Tell us something about yourself that we don't learn in Of Poseidon.

Galen:  Once, I let Rayna paint my toenails so she could practice staying in the lines. But mostly it was to get her to stop whining.


YA Sisterhood:  That sister of yours is a hoot and a half.  I'd love to meet her one day, but....let's get to the most burning question....How do you feel about "the pull" and have you ever experienced it?


Galen:  This question is hard to answer. Sometimes I think it might exist, and sometimes I think it’s just a myth. Have I experienced it? *shrugs* If I have, then that would be private. But I wouldn’t want to feel “the pull” necessarily. Somehow it means less if I call it the pull. Like it’s mechanical instead of…emotional. I wouldn’t want to feel the pull, if it was that.

Wow...that's interesting Galen.  Just a few this and that questions and I'll let you get on your way.  I know you're busy being ambassador and following around a certain girl!

When human....boxers or briefs?  You’re talking about the underwear things you have to wear underneath your jeans? Rachel buys me boxers, I think. The ones that look like shorts. Why? Is that weird?

Favorite human phrase:  For shizzle my nizzle. Seems like a lot of effort to say “I agree”. But now I can’t get Toraf to stop saying it, so it’s in danger of becoming my least favorite human phrase.

Salty or Sweet?  Sweet is disgusting. 

First kiss?  That’s private.

Blondes or brunettes?  I don’t understand this question.

Favorite thing about Emma:  Oh. Now I understand the last question. Um. Blondes. White blonde.  

Again, thank you so much Galen, and I (along with all your adoring fans) can't wait to learn even more about you in the future.

Be sure to check out my review of Of Poseidon here

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