The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Published by Macmillan

Available Now

Reviewed by YA Sisterhood's Mom

The Sister's Say:  Wonderful and Exciting

A princess must find her place in a reborn world.

She flees on her wedding day.

She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.

She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.

She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.

The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.

Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.

Two young men—the Assassin and the Prince. Both are chasing Lia—the prince because she injured his pride by fleeing their arranged marriage and the assassin to make sure she doesn’t return. When Lia meets them in her new life, she is attracted to both. Of course, the exciting part is that she knows who neither is. The excitement is doubled when neither man can follow through with their vengeance against Lia, but instead finds himself falling in love.

What a wonderful search for what love is! I was a little leery of the comments I had read about the love triangle, but I think these readers totally missed the truth of the relationships in this book.  It is so much more than a love triangle, but more about the friendship of those who loved and were tossed aside and those who have never loved at all. The enlightenment is that love isn’t always perfect, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t real love.

Pearson describes this journey to discovery with beautiful language, and she has created a blend of the past and future into a fantasy world made up of three powerful nations: Venda, Dalbreck, and Morrighan. Among these nations she draws together a native of each, who share a cultural hatred of each other, yet they are drawn together as friends. The war between attraction and hatred makes for a wonderful page turner.

Amid these colorful characters and fantastic plot, Pearson shares some poignant truths about life: “It can take years to mold a dream.  It takes only a fraction of a second for it to be shattered.”

I am also stealing her beautiful bedtime prayer (altered it just a bit): “May God grant you a still heart, heavy eyes, and angels guarding your door.”

And if you aren’t hooked with all these things, the beautiful ending will blow you away. I don’t want to reveal any spoilers, but let me just say that I know the most perfect words to melt a woman’s heart are “In the farthest corner…I will find you.” (Swallow, swallow, tear, tear, heart thump)

Now I am sitting here waiting for the next book of their journey, and when it makes its way to the shelves, wherever it is…in the farthest corner…I will find it!

Teaser Tuesday: Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre

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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"'We'll be okay,' I whispered.  How I wished I believed that.  It felt like I'd fallen down a well rapidly filling with dark water.  As I wrapped my arms around Kian's back, I felt the tremor that ran through him and wondered how long I could hold my breath."  ARC, pg 151

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This is one of those books that I had been waiting on for what felt like forever!!!  So glad I now have it in my hands!!!!

Blog Tour/Giveaway and Character Interview: Of Neptune by Anna Banks + Toraf Interview!!!

Today we have the pleasure of hosting the Blog Tour for Of Neptune by Anna Banks.  We love this series so much, and we were so excited to get to interview Toraf, our favorite comedic merman!

Emma and Galen’s kingdom and their love is threatened by long-lost Syrena in the brilliant conclusion to Anna Banks bestselling trilogy.

Emma, half human and half Syrena, and her Syrena love, Galen, need time together alone. Away from the kingdoms of Poseidon and Triton. Emma’s grandfather, the Poseidon king, suggests the two visit a small town called Neptune.

Neptune is home to both Syrena and Half-Breeds alike. But Emma and Galen didn’t sign up to be peacemakers between the ocean and the land-dwelling, freshwater Syrena. They didn’t bargain for meeting a charming Half-Breed named Reed, who can barely disguise his feelings for Emma. And they especially didn’t expect to find themselves in the middle of a power struggle that threatens not only their love but their ocean kingdoms.

In this stunning conclusion to her bestselling Syrena Legacy, Anna Banks thrills fans with more action and romance than ever

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And now.....let's get to that interview!!!!

1.)  Toraf, we at the YA Sisterhood love your sense of humor.  How has it helped you with a certain mermaid girl (who we are all jealous of)?

Mermaid girl? Oh you mean Rayna. I don’t know. Sometimes she calls me immature and she never laughs at my jokes unless I’m making fun of Galen. Mostly she doesn’t like me. Sometimes she does.

2.)  If you could go anywhere on land, where would you go?

I would go where the real Tartessos used to be so that I can imagine the huge waves that pulled it into the sea. Plus, there’s got to be some keepsakes still hiding under the sand there that Rayna would like for her human treasure collection. Or something valuable Galen could sell for me so I can get one of those car things that he has. When I learn how to drive.

3.) Tell us a secret no one else knows about you. :)

Okay look. I’ve been teaching myself how to drive while Galen’s asleep. I’ve only hit three things so far and one of them wasn’t even alive.

4.) What's your greatest fear?

I always have nightmares that Rayna will unseal us. And there’s this one lionfish that I tormented when I was just a fingerling. I always have dreams that he found me again only he’s bigger and…I don’t want to talk about it anymore.

5.)  Ok, last quick question...to make us swoon.  What's the most romantic thing you've ever done?

One time Rayna was looking for some pretty shells to put on her…on her…I think you call them breasts…She searched for days and days and couldn’t find any that fit quite right and then I found some. I knew they would fit right away because of the way they felt in my hand—uh, they seemed to the perfect shape, I meant. So I brought them to her. She was really surprised at first—she actually didn’t say anything. Then she got mad for some reason and snatched them out of my hand. But I knew she liked them because she wore them the next day. 

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Author Links/Info

• Learn more about Of Poseidon.
• Learn more about Of Triton.
• Learn more about Girls Day Out.
• Join in on social media with #OfNeptune.
• Add Of Neptune to your to-read list on Goodreads.
• See Anna Banks on the Spring 2014 Fierce Reads tour!
• Visit Anna’s website, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Of Triton by Anna Banks

Of Triton by Anna Banks

ARC received  from Macmillan

On Shelves Now

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  Good story, but kind of a let down after the first book

In this sequel to OF POSEIDON, Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half- Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?

I was so excited to read Of Triton because I was completely blown away by Of Poseidon.  I was so blown away that I did a special Top Ten review of it!  Sadly, this sequel did not live up to my expectations.  That doesn’t mean it was bad, I actually enjoyed it.  However, the things that were so good in Of Poseidon were missing if Of Triton.

I’ll start with what I liked:  the plot.  Anna started the story up right where the last book left off, and there was little time for boredom.  The pacing was well done, and I never felt like I needed to put the book down to get some distance, even when I was disappointed in parts.  I do wish the book would have been a little longer, spending more time in the ocean because I love seeing beneath the surface! 

The thing I really missed the most was the humor.  In Of Poseidon, I found myself laughing out loud over and over again.  Emma’s voice was much more flat in the sequel, and I felt like we just didn’t see her originality flow from the dialogue.  Furthermore, I didn’t see the humor from Toraf, either, and he was one of my favorite characters from the first book.  I’m hoping we see the humor come back in the final book.

I also missed the romance aspect.  It was there, but it just wasn’t prevalent like it was in the first book.  There was always something in the way, and I wanted Emma and Galen just to say “Screw it,” to the world and let go in an amazing kiss.  But that never happened.  The romance was a kiss here, a hug there; but there was no immediacy to it—no passion.

The final thing that bugged me was the switch from Emma’s first person to Galen’s third person—drove me nuts!!!!!  It might be because I was an English teacher, but I just couldn’t get past the fact that we could see inside Emma’s thoughts, but not Galen’s.  I think it needed to be first person from both of them or third person from both.  I just felt disconnected from Galen.

Overall, it was a good storyline, and I’m happy with the progression of the gifts and the tension.  It just fell flat in the little details that made the first book so unique and impressive.

Unremembered by Jessica Brody

Unremembered by Jessica Brody

ARC received from Macmillan Kids

On Shelves Now

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  First Half:  Exhilarating  Last Half:   Disappointing

When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find survivors. Which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage—alive—is making headlines across the globe.

Even more strange is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period. No one knows how she survived. No one knows why she wasn’t on the passenger manifest. And no one can explain why her DNA and fingerprints can’t be found in a single database in the world.

Crippled by a world she doesn’t know, plagued by abilities she doesn’t understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue only comes more questions. And she’s running out of time to answer them.

Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget?

From popular young adult author Jessica Brody comes a compelling and suspenseful new sci-fi series, set in a world where science knows no boundaries, memories are manipulated, and true love can never be forgotten.

I was so happy when I got my ARC of Unremembered—a plane crash, an unknown girl with amnesia, and an alluring boy with all the answers.  It had so much going for it, and I was sure I was going to love it.  Unfortunately, by the end of the book, I found myself sorely disappointed.  There was so much potential, and it started out so great, but once answers started revealing themselves, it just fell flat for me.

This book starts out with a bang, and I was immediately hooked.  We see “Violet,” who has been rescued from a plane crash.  She is in a hospital for amnesia, but otherwise, she is perfectly fine.  Not a scratch on her.  Add to the fact that she can’t be identified by anyone and we have the makings of a perfect mystery thriller.  I really enjoyed the parts where Seraphina (her true name) is trying to find out who is she and where she came from.  I loved how the puzzle pieces just weren’t adding up, and the only one with answers is the strange boy, Zen.  These parts were full of mystery, and I found myself really enjoying them.  Seraphina was strong and, although broken and lost, she was still full of a strange type of confidence.  I really enjoyed this side to her. 

And then there’s Zen.  He didn’t really blow me away, but I still enjoyed him.  He truly cared about Sera, and you could see how much he wanted her to remember him.  You could see the love written all over his face.  Plus, there’s a mystery behind him, too, and I enjoyed trying to figure it out.  So, overall, I enjoyed the characters, although I doubt they will be memorable to me in a few months.

So what bugged me?

I really can’t pinpoint what it was that turned me off, but about half-way through I just lost interest.  The answers were starting to unravel, and I just didn’t like where the plot went from there.  I can’t say much about it because of spoilers, but I just felt like there was so much potential.  She could have been anyone, and I had high hopes that she would be more than what she ended up being.

I wanted for there to be some amazing explanation for the amnesia and Zen, but it just seemed like it wasn’t original.  I’m really struggling with pinpointing what it was that made me lose interest!

I also wanted more romance.  It felt dry and unbelievable to me, almost like Sera couldn’t feel.  I wanted to hear how her heart was aching for him, even though she didn’t know who he was, but I never got that emotion from her.  She was strong and kick butt, but everything else about her felt off.

From the reviews I’ve read, I’m in the minority.  Lots of people are loving the twists and turns, but I guess this book just wasn’t for me.   Sorry for the lack of eloquence in this review!

Overall, the first half was great.  I was immediately hooked and I couldn’t wait to find out all the answers, but somewhere along the way, the action slowed down, the mystery and romance dwindled, and the truth became a bit boring for me.

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 TRITON by Anna Banks Cover Reveal and Giveaway!

Hey everyone!!!!  We were so excited to be asked to host the cover reveal for Of Triton because we LOVED Of Poseidon! 

How excited were we?  This excited...

It was the first mermaid book I had ever read, and it remains, to this day, the best!  And I have read quite a few since Of Poseidon kind of made me obsessed!

What made this even better is that Macmillan Kids is offering a galley copy for Of Triton to 2 lucky winners!  So be sure to enter the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post!

Drum Roll Please!!!!

 

What do you think?  We love it!  I love the shimmery blue--makes it look like someone threw a box of diamonds into the ocean around them.  Plus, that kiss!!!  Whew!

 

Now, we just have to relax (if possible) and wait for the blurb!!

 

You can check out my review for Of Poseidon here

 

Need more Of Poseidon?  Check out our interview with GALEN here

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway