A.M. Bells

A day with Ash or Puck (Edit)

2011-09-01T03:14:00.000-07:00

So, this is a detailed version of the Puck day.
For one it will start at a Trick and Masks shop where we will put our stealth costumes. Puck would but a bauta (Casanova’s mask of choice) because let’s face it he could pull it off (looks at all the fan girls) and I’ll get a Kitsune mask.
With that we will go to a farm, steal some donkeys and set them free in Titania’s apartments, you know for past mistakes. (Pray to any god who will hear us that Oberon will be there too, just to be sure the prank is perfect).
After getting away from the wrath of kings and queens we would get to the woods and stuff out pockets with catnip and “hunt” for Grim. We could find him, we will find him. And we will drug me senseless and tie bells around his neck, maybe give him a belly rub and make him purr like a drunk kitten. Take pictures of course to be sure that if he comes after us all the fey see him in such inappropriate position.
To be on the safe side we will go to the mortal world, print those picture than hitch a ride to go and bungee jump from the Macau Tower, since it’s the highest jump, then get a faery path to Italy and do the Katun ride at Mirabilandia.
Of course get the pictures done and the T-shirts that we survived. And since we had enough iron we will head back the Trick shop and get a lot of glitter then go and sing a ballad to Leanan Sidhe. Maybe tick her off, because I will trust Puck to make the lyrics accordingly. We will probably steal some of her wine then head to the woods.
That would be the semi-ending: eating roasted mushrooms and apples and get pissed on Summerwine and party like it’s Samhain, dancing and laughing at the crazy pictures we took. If Grim is any wicked he will know that then will be the time to strike if he wants to get the compromising pictures.
Since we are so drunk of course we will do something Insane, as in head for the Iron Realm to sing a serenade and maybe have a Gremlin thrown at us. I always wanted a Gremlin of my own so I’ll be sure to catch it.
Perfect day with Puck, just fun and pranks and insane rides, no kissy face and no riding the Pooka, that if he doesn’t turn into a horse to run away as fast as we can. Then I will have to ride the Pooka because hey, I am no shape shifter.

********************

I would have loved a day with Ash but Puck seems like the best guy to have a whole day with if you want to have crazy fun.

So, PUCK DAY baby! Puck day!

Well, we’ll start early in the morning doing mischief in the Summer court, maybe tick off Titania a little. Could get turned into a frog or something but it would be totally worth it.
Then hunt Grim down and try to tie some bells around his neck and all the day we will call him Fuzzy Wozzy you’re so cute.
Oddly both these ideas seem to have a possibility of ending up with a enemy. And we would stuff our pockets with cat nip to see if it works on him. Maybe first drug him with cat nip and then put a cute bell around his neck. Oh yes, that would be perfect.

And then if we manage to be alive after Grim wrath, I believe in Puck to get us out of jam, we could go in the most crazy roller coaster ever and then bungee jumping. And since those two insane rides will give us a day of idiot grin on our faces we will go and dress ourselves in glitter and pay a visit to Leanan Sidhe! and sing her a ballad.

I’m guessing that from all the previous mentioned activities bungee jumping is the safest. But hell, a day to nark three “people” one after the other, sounds like the best day.

And since we will have to come to an end with the crazy day I think that just camping in the woods and roasting apples and mushrooms on fire would be the best ending. It will be bound to end up in tears of laughter.
Oh oh and pay a visit a late night visit to the Iron Realm to serenade Meghan and Ash. We would be probably be drunk by then but hey, we’ll be marry.

Yup, this is my day with Puck! \^o^/

A.M Bells signing out because of major Summer Wine hangover :))

The Iron Knight (Iron Fey volume 4 - Ash POV) by Julie Kagawa

2011-07-25T13:32:00.000-07:00

A big big thank you to those amazing people from netgalley for this. It felt like Christmas when I saw the e-mail. Now let’s get on reviewing.
I’m a sucker for books, YA in particular dealing with fairy lore and is no secret that the Iron Fey ranks up there with my favourite series. Now, we got Meghan telling us her amazing story. Then Puck pocked his way in and presented us with an –all – to – Puck – adventure and now we get Ash. I love Puck from the bottom of my heart but I am a Team Ash girl for who Meghan should end up with.

As I would have appreciated an Ultimate Sacrifice Ending as Julie herself puts it, I can’t say 'no' to a change at happy end. And if the road to that is paved with Ash’s thoughts and experiences then I cannot ask for anything more in life.
Ash has set out to find a way to me with Meghan like he vowed he would and this boy is on determined fey. The way to be with her – he needs a soul, he must become mortal. And together with Puck, the always present (except when danger is near) Grimalkin, and two new/old characters add to the company.
To “see” in Ash’s head has been quite an experience. It was something to see him as light and as dark through Meghan’s eyes, but now. Everything reached new levels. Ash is kind and was a kind prince in a way, but as I see it, Winter has a way of icing you. We get to find out cruel things Ash did (only natural as a Winter fey) and that shocks a great deal. Yet, I couldn’t find myself turning away from Ash because of that. He was young (as young goes for fey) he was Winter, and in the end he was fey. (Maybe writing a dissertation paper on Fairy Lore has made me understand more the way fey work, who knows? Or I’m just a freak for understanding cruelty as something natural.) The is a change in Ash as the novel gets to an end, and it is a very sweet change, like, for lack of better words – spring. The ice melted away slowly.

Puck, well Puck! Have I mentioned how much I love Puck? He is the same yet not. He still has his amazing one liners that he got us used to, but we can see that he is a wise fey, that he does have the age even if he acts like a child. And that he loves dearly his friends, and Meghan (even if he cannot have her the way he wishes). And his bickering with Ash is always a treat. I will miss these two together. But to this bickering duo there is another one, Grimalking of course and Wolf. I loved the insults passing between them and how Grim has kept the “Cats rule and dogs drool” thing going on. I cannot say more about the last addition to the company, because is one hell of a twist that I would have never seen coming.
Twist after twist with this one, and I loved the presence he/she/it made in the story. It also broke my heart a little.

But all things must come to an end, and the end is meant to praise the author for doing such an amazing job. It was a brilliant book and as well as series, with action, humor, a little horror, love and loss, and feelings, human feelings. Puck, Ash, Meghan, Grim, Wolf and their friends will not fade and get lost with the other Forgotten, because she has gave us their stories and we will keep them alive and ruling.

Unwind – Neal Shusterman

2011-03-19T06:35:00.000-07:00

Connor, Risa and Lev are running for their lives.
The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until the age of 13. Between the ages of 13 and 18, however, parents c an have their child “unwound,” whereby all of he child’s organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn’t technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state, is not talented enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape – and to survise. (Backcover description)

I bought this book on fluke. I had no idea what I would get but I just ordered it. I decided to order it because of a DA artist Burdge-Bug. I saw several drawings made by her and read a description on the Holy Goodreads and I thought I should give it a shot. And let me tell you, what a shot. I absolutely loved this book, and it also broke my heart and made me hope that nothing like it would happen in the future.

Unwind was definitely a book worth reading and it is without a doubt a book that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it. You will not get bored and you will find yourself engrossed in the action and cheering, or just crying for the characters, and not just the main ones: Connor, Risa and Lev.
The idea itself, the futuristic world that who knows, maybe one day our own world will turn into or not, was fantastic. It depressed me a little to think that we might turn out like this. Giving our children away to be unwound, or making them fight to the death in the Hunger Games, or who knows what other things.
I’m thinking of turning this year not only the dragon and faeries books, but also the futuristic/postacpocaliptic one. The Epic THREE.

Each and every charachter is special and in now way a 2D character , hello – goodbye. Everyone lives and breathes and makes himself/herself noticed and you get attached to them. Or you just want to punch him in the face and run away really really fast. Yeah, I am talking about Roland. Though in the end, I couldn't fully hate him. He had this tough facade but I think it was just that, and he had to keep it up because that was how he grew up. I felt sorry for him more than hate him, yet I still wanted sometimes to hit him in the face.

Connor,signed to be unwound by his parents since they felt they could not control him anymore, was not your usual lead guy. He wasn’t exceptionally handsome, charming or ohh be still my heart. He had, dare I say, more flaws than qualities at the beginning, but throughout the months of running away, he changed a lot. He discovered things he was good at, he became more protective and not as angry and prone to fighting, and he actually got a girl worth caring for and that cared enough about him.

Like Connor, Lev, the young tithe, changed a lot from the annoying kid tithe. Learned the streets, to get around by himself. He turned out to be, one hell of a kid and a fighter for the greater good, sort of.
Risa, ward of the state but not a good enough pianist to be kept alive, didn’t change very much, maybe just lowering her defense as the story progressed. She was a sweet and caring girl from the very beginning. And that never changed.

An amazing and horific dystopian world, is what the author created. I’m glad I got my hands on this book and it won’t be the last I read from Neal Shusterman.

Quotes ^_^

Emby - I gotta go to the bathroom
Hayden - You should have thought of that before you left. How many times do we have to tell you? Always use the potty before climbing into a shipping crate.

Diego - I want my fingers to go to a sculptor. So he can use them to craft something that will last forever.
Hayden - If I'm unwound,I want my eyes to go to a photographer — one who shoots supermodels. That's what I want these eyes to see.
Connor - My lips'll go to a rock star.
"These legs are definitely going to the Olympics."
"My ears to an orchestra conductor."
"My stomach to a food critic."
"My biceps to a body builder."
Emby - I wouldn't wish my sinuses on anybody."

One more for Connor's sake from the amazing Burdge-Bug

The Iron Queen - Julie Kagawa (Iron Fey #3)

2011-02-24T02:05:00.000-08:00

My name is Meghan Chase.
I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back.(via Goodreads)

Meghan - "In real life,I've changed so much I don't even recognize myself."

As she said it herself, Meghan changes a lot during her adventures. Three books and we find a new Meghan, even more determined, brave and truly in love. She is more mature and ready to stand up for what she thinks is right.
I always love it when I see visible evolution of the characters in books, and not only, same goes for when I am reading manga.
Ash has been on constant change as well since the beginning of the series. If at the start he shows only little glimpses of how he can be, now he was. He was sweet, open and oh so romantic and loving. Him and Meghan easily ranked up in my favorite lit pairs. They love each other so much that at times is heart breaking.
Dear Puck learned the way of Tomoyo: My happiness is her happiness. How can I not love and respect that, especially since an old dog like him would be hard to learn new tricks, like selflessness.

The three of them together with the amazing Grima return to the Iron Realm to prevent the NeverNever from being destroyed. Struggling with her Iron and Summer powers Meghan is a real hero, as much as Ash and Puck. You cannot put this book down and come back tomorrow to read the next chapter. Because it is like a fairy that has enchanted you, and you cannot break free until you complete your deal and finish reading it; with cheeks drenched with tears and sobbing like a baby.

The Iron Queen as the whole series, is amazing, fascinating and absolutely brilliant. And Julie Kagawa is one of my literary heroes (J.K Rowling leading them all), and I will definitely read more that comes out of her amazing "pen".

QUOTES T_T

PUCK - My, aren't we bossy today. Give a girl an army and it goes straight to her head.

- It's not everyday I get to tell someone I was attacked by a pair of flying reading glasses. Ow

MEGHAN - A little warning would’ve been nice. You couldn’t have said, ‘Hey, as part of your training today, I’m going to beat you senseless’.
- "I wished that, for once, faery tales – real faery tales, not Disney fairy tales – would have a happy ending."

ASH - “I would think you’re better suited to the task, Goodfellow,” he said without turning around. “After all, that’s what you’re best at isn’t it? Watching?”
- "Her desires are mine. Her wishes are mine. Should even the world stand against her, my blade will be at her side. And should it fail to protect her, let my own existence be forfeit."

sobbing in a corner A.M Bells

The Iron Daughter - Julie Kagawa (Iron Fey #2)

2011-01-31T12:07:00.000-08:00

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.
Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

Did I like this book? No! I LOVED IT!
Iron Daughter picks up where Winter's Passage left us...sort off.
Meagan is at the Winter Court having completed her contract with Ash. And she ain't having it easy. A Summer half-human fairy in a Winter Court where every creature from the most unimportant Red Cap to the Winter Queen herself hunts for your weaknesses so they can tear you apart. Ohh yeah!

This one was action packed from the beginning and we actually get to know better Ash's brothers: Rowan and Sage. One I hated, and one I liked. This is all I can tell. It was nice to having them active and not so 1D as they were in Iron King. But aside from the brothers, Ash had his character development. He is not just the prince of the Unseelie Court, cold and inflexible. We get to see a softer side of him, protective and capable of great sacrifices. Yes, his heart has melted, if it was ever truly frozen.

Puck, despite being a little absent in the start comes back in full power. And man does he make up for absence. I love his humor and stark, and how he is still Ash's friend even if they keep fighting to kill each other. Frenemies are they called? I'm thinking that how Ariella was the catalysis in their grudge, Meghan is the one that ties them back...more or less.

The book is full of turns and twists and surprises that had me gasping or aww'ing even sobbing near the end. And I was actually happy that I didn't know anything as I read (My spoiler inside Freak was tamed for the day).

But let us not forget the lead girl of this story. Even with her powers cut off by Queen Mab there is still something inside her. Oh, and what power! Queen Mab should have feared this power instead of the summery one. Meghan was herself and maybe a little bit more. Still determined, stubborn and ready to give it all. The novelty is her struggle with some mixed feeling. We can't have a story without a little bit of love triangle, right?

Oh. Scene that had me in stitches: The satyr at the spa Miroku. (Anyone who has ever seen Inuyasha will understand me)

Bottom point: I love this series. And I can't wait to get Iron Queen.

QUOTE TIME \^o^/

Tiaothin - "Meghan's in lo-ove," sang the phouka, making my heart stop. "Meghan's in lo-ove. Meghan and Ash, sitting in a tre--"

(I should mention that for some reason I found myself fond of Tiaothin. Hope she'll appear again.)

Puck - "You look like crap, prince. Did you miss me?"

Ash - "You're here, and the only dance I want is this one."

PS: Oh Ironhorse! Hugs Ironhorse!

A.M Bells

The Iron King + Winter's Passage by Julie Kagawa

2011-01-29T00:23:00.000-08:00

Book one and 1.5 Novella of the series "Iron Fey". Woot woot! I've been meaning to read the series for a while now. And as expected I read the first one and the novella in my spare day from exams. Ohh yeah! I go wild when I get a breathing moment from them! I READ BOOKS!
Sooo. What is it about! DUH! Faeries! This isn't the faerie year for nothing.

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart. (Via Goodreads)

This book was bound to be read in high speed roller-coaster ride. The idea of the Iron Fey is amazing and something I have not read before. It was a nice change and of course I loved the anime references ( Myself being and Otaku...faery. ) And I always love to see so much dedication for family in books. Meghan is a wonderful person and sister, and put herself in line for her little brother without a second thought.

Another surprise I had and a pleasant one at that, was Puck. Every time I imagined Puck either if he appeared in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" or "Wondrous Strange"
by Lesley Livingston I always had this image of an older man in my head. To switch from that to a foxy youngster was brilliant. I was fond of him from the very beginning.

Still, I am a TEAM ASH girl. Sorry Puck! Ash, oh Ash. Be still my heart. Thank you for making it so that when I hear Ash I won't be thinking of Pokemon. Aside from that, I was a sucker for Ash immediately. Tall, dark, icy and with silver eyes? What is not to like? And his feud with Puck was a nice twist in the story. But it takes Summer's heat to melt ice, right?

His (Prince of Winter 'Unseelie' Court) developing romance with Meghan (Half off-spring of the Summer 'Seelie' King) is sweet but yet heart reaching. Yes, it is your usual star-crossed love, but it's beautiful and not so dumb-witted as suicidal Romeo X Juliet. I have a feel these two will not give up so easily.

This series had easily made it's way on to favorite shelf.

QUOTEEEEEEES \^o^/

Meghan - “You’ve gone off the deep end. Time to cut back on the anime, Rob. There’s no such thing as faeries.”

“I’m a…an otaku faery,” I said, drawing a confused scowl from the chief and bewildered looks from the rest of the camp

Puck - “Ladies and felines,” he stated grandly, grasping the doorknob,“welcome to Tir Na Nog. Land of endless winter and shitloads of snow.”

Ash - "Touch her, and I'll freeze your testicles off and put them in a jar. Understand?"

Winter's Passage is a bridge novella between "Iron King" and "Iron Daughter". Heading for the Winter Court Megan and Ash are tracked by an ancient, powerful hunter. One that even Ash has some tough time fighting with.

We see a new side of Ash in this one in the little time he shows it. He is kind, protective. He and Meghan had a too little time to actually be together but it was sweet and emotional.

QT - Summer and Winter were not supposed to fall in love. T_T

OMG - How dare I forget about Grimalkin?

The amazing, the fantastic and clever yet adorable Cat Sìth! Whom I have to admit, at first he was a she. :D Grimalkin is a brilliant sidekick/companion/voice of reason/cat

A.M Bells

Blue Bloods Novella (Bloody Valentine) - Melissa de la Cruz

2011-01-26T06:39:00.000-08:00

Even if I say I will update more often I fail at it. College is murder in this time. My head is already screaming to stop the torture. Anyway!

Blue Bloods is not a series I am crazy about like I would be for Mortal Instruments or Morganville. I got the first book this summer when I was working in the book fair. Ironically I got it from our competition tent :)). But I just had to get something. I'm not for competition and also the ones there were actually friends and cute boys :D. So, at this moment I have all the books, for some reason, even if it's not one of the books that might ever be first in my "To buy list"

But I have to admit I really liked the novella.

It has three stories:

1. Oliver orientated one
2. Allegra orientated
3. The bonding of Jack and Schuyler

As a side note, Jack has to be one of the first lead guys that I disliked from the beginning. :)) I like a little more now. ^_^ Now that he is finally brave enough to do what he wishes.
And Mimi got in my heart a little with her love for Kingsley Martin.

So, for the first story of the novella, I have to say it was my favorite. Just because Oliver is one of the favorite characters from Blue Bloods. Suffering from de-familiarizing he finds comfort in help in Freya, a witch.
This story left me wishing for more of Oliver and Freya, and hoping. ^_^ Oliver deserves a nice witch girl who won't suck his blood and hurt him.

The second story, is how Allegra met Schuyler's father while they were still as cool. It was a nice change, to "see" Allegra up and about. And not just in comatose.I was left a little confused because of this story but I guess the future books will clear more up.

And the best for last, I guess. ( Well, not for me. My Best was the Oliver story. Yaay.) Schuyler and Jack bonding. Not going so happy at the beginning but with a very hot and sweet ending.

Yup. I really liked reading this one. Nice, short. Just what I needed after a German exam.

PS: There was a lot "bow chika wow wow"! Quite new! :D

A.M Bells

Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater

2011-01-09T08:13:00.000-08:00

WOW! Just WOW.
I had planned to read this book like a year ago, but when I began I was in such a crappy mood I couldn't enjoy it at all so I stopped.
Good thing too, with a baggage of another year of reading and new wants I read this book in a totally different way that I would have then.

Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand—one who can see faeries. Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy who enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of thin air. Trouble is, the enigmatic and gorgeous Luke turns out to be a gallowglass—a soulless faerie assassin. An equally hunky—and equally dangerous—dark faerie soldier named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. Sworn enemies, Luke and Aodhan each have a deadly assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen's sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend. Deirdre had been wishing her life weren't so dull, but getting trapped in the middle of a centuries-old faerie war isn't exactly what she had in mind . . . via Goodreads

I loved reading this book seriously. First, because it had Fairy Lore (My college diploma is on Celtic Myths :D) and secondly because it was dark in a way. YES! Faeries are not nice, they are malicious and cruel and psychopaths. Even Tink tried to kill Wendy now that I think about it. Anyhoo!

Lament is a very musical novel, no duh. And it's even more enjoyable if you read it with the right soundtrack. (How creepy was when I was reading this line: "Come away, human child, whispered the voice in breathy timbre, come away from the pain of the world." and the song that was playing in my headphones was Stolen Child sung by Loreena McKennitt).

Luke and Dee were sweet together yet I still had a hope for James because I liked him from the first line he came up. He is a good friend, protective, and funny and honest. And he can pull off a kilt and still be amazing has major scores in my book.

The end was brilliant, at least for me. It was like an Irish Ballad with heroes and such and such, you know ^_^.

*runs to read Ballad*

A.M Bells

FIRELIGHT - Sophie Jordan

2011-01-02T04:12:00.000-08:00

I’ve read my first book in the first day of the 2011. Woot! And that was Firelight by Sophie Jordan, a book with dragoooooons. Well, actually draki!
I’ve only read only one other book involving dragons and that is You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister (I’m stalling Eragon for some reason) and it was quite different from this one.
I already declared year 2011 a year of dragons and fair-folk, so even if I am going to read a lot of Debut Authors and of course books from series I’ve been following, I will concentrate a lot more on dragons and faeries. ^_^
So let’s see what’s crack-a-lackin' with Firelight.

Jacinda is a draki, a descendant of dragons and a very special one. She is a the only fire draki in centuries. She’s a special draki, but being special is not always good as she will see. So her mother takes her and her sister Tamra, and flee the pride. She hopes that the draki inside her daughter will fade and they will all live normally.
Struggling in a mortal world that fit her sister and mother perfectly, her only silver lining is Will. Or is he? From a family of dragon hunters, Will is her most feared enemy, but love has other plans. They are the mythical Romeo and Juliet. Hopefully they won’t end up the same way.

Firelight lived up to the praise it got even before the official release. With a gorgeous cover and amazing action and characters, no wonder I read it in less than a day.
I would have picked on the fact that I predicted a lot of developments, but I guess that was because I read so many books. It’s like after you read 18 of Agatha Christie books and you get a knack on figuring the killer as you read more and more. (And she has a lot of books.)
And even if it seemed rushed, the connection and the falling in love actually makes sense as you read. Can’t say the reasons but there are.

What I really liked about it was the struggle of the draki inside her. I’ve never had a draki inside of me (wished though) but I can imagine is not easy to keep in control such a being that defines everything that you are. And that struggle combined with keeping away from the boy that you want to be close...well let’s just say you empathize. It was believable and I guess that is the target of all writers. Congrats Sophie Jordan, you’ve hit your target.

Also what I also liked the straight forwardness of it. I mean is it not so complicated to say: "You want to go out?" he asks suddenly.
I blink. "As in a date?"
"Yes. That's what a guy usually means when he asks that question." A lot more effective than stalking (well, Will did his part of stalking and all, but we’ll leave him alone because that was his strike 1).
All in all, Firelight was really worth it. And the cliffhanger was a nightmare.

A.M Bells

Jealousy (Strange Angels) - Lili St. Claire

2010-12-31T07:38:00.000-08:00

I did a marathon read with this one because I really wanted to finish it before the New Year. Reading it in the same time with Stardust I did it. Just a minute before 31 Dec I finished and the line was drawn at 115 books read in the year 2010. Yaaay!

Sooo, let us begin!

Dru is finally safe in the Prima Schola, or is she?
She started to learn more about what it means to be svetocha, goes to classes, keeps close to the Broken Ash and maybe even gives a try to dating. Christophe has disappeared again and of course the only people that she can trust are Graves, Dibs and Shanks. But mostly Graves.
Lies, betrayals and jealousy, and all have at the core none other Anna.

With the first two books I said I would give them 4.5 points. But this one really deserves 5 points. It was, dare I say, amazing.
Even if Dru should have been in a safe place you feel that is an illusion as you read. There is a lot more to the safeness, as it is to Anna. And Yes, I did have a few reasons to hate her even more. But wow, I had surprises!

I am really getting excited about Ash's evolution and I really really hope he will manage to revert back in his true form. I grew quite fond of the guy.

Also together with the guys from Betrayals (Dibs and Shanks) two more have joined the wagon and I loved them. Benjamin and Leon! They were funny and cool in their way, and I was happy that they were on Dru's side.

Dru of course was herself. Kick-ass and tomboyish just as we got used to her, making guys buy her Midol and finally getting a scent as appetizing as Christophe's apple pie. Oh, and hail the hoodies and jeans. We got to glimpse a little into Graves's past ( *giggle* his full name is “Edgar Hideaki Graves.” *giggle*) but I still root for Christophe.
Speaking of Christophe there are a lot of things we discover about him as well, and not only: Dru's mum, Anna *death glare*, and August ^_^.

QUOTE TIMEEEE \^o^/

"Get me some Midol, all right?"
Benjamin all but choked. Leon studies the ceiling with a great deal of interest, a smile twitching at the corners of his thin mouth. While Benjamin looked ready to sink into the floor, Leon looked highly amused.
I decided I liked him.

"The ice," Leon said to thin air over my head, "has now officially broken."

A.M Bells

Strange Angels 1 & 2 - Lili St.Crow

2010-12-28T07:05:00.000-08:00

Ok, I will have to review two books in the same time. Just because it would have been stupid to review the second volume of Strange Angels before the actual first volume. Since that is how I read them. Why? Because the first volume got lost on the way, did a “little” detour in France and then arrived after a long month and many e-mails to the wonderful people at Bookdepository. They were amazing and patient.

So, here it goes: Strange Angels and Betrayals – Lili St.Crow
I will start by saying that I love the authors pen-name. Don’t know why, but I do.

Dru Knows that the Real World – peopled with ghosts, suckers and zombies – is a frightening place. She’s ready to kill first and ask questions later, so it’s going to take her a while to work out just who she can trust.
Dru Anderson has been “strange” for as long as she can remember. Traveling from town to town with her father to hunt down things that go bump in the night. It’s a weird life, but good one – until in an icy, broken – down town, a hungry zombie bursts through her kitchen door. Dru is going to have to use every inch of her wit and training. Can she stay alive long enough to fall for one – or both – of the guys hungry for her affections? (from the back of the cover)

Ok. First of all, in the first volume is not really clear the “hungry for affections” stuff. But anyhoo!
I loved reading this book for a couple of reasons. One, because I felt like I was reading in a way, Supernatural, where you don’t have a Dean and a Sam. You have a Dru...and Graves...and later Chris (Swoons a little. Second, because Dru is such a great character. You know how adventure books the characters that until that point were mundane and incapable and then suddenly they are freaking fighters? What’s up with that? Dru, has been fighting for most of her life, she is not incapable of throwing a good punch yet she is honestly scared when she finds herself alone and has to keep herself...alive. She is a kid, she admits it, she admits that without her dad and help she can die. For me that was believable. Seriously!

She’s no angel . . .
Poor Dru Anderson. Her parents are long gone, her best friend is a werewolf, and she’s just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn’t entirely human. (So what else is new?)

Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England School for other teens like her, and there’s a big problem— she’s the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn’t be so bad, but Dru’s killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide. . .

Can Dru survive long enough to find out who has betrayed her trust—and maybe even her heart? (from Goodreads just because I got lazy)

Also, the thing that I found brilliant: Yes, you have needs! You may be running for your life, but in that moment you have the need to pee. You don’t see this a lot in books. It’s a whole lot of running and fighting, but you never see a moment, in which the character does anything for his human needs. Cramps and all that. Not to mention shaving her legs. In “Betrayals” I was in stitches about this one. When Christophe was in her room, and she was all: Ohh, I didn’t shave my legs.
Here you are, mister gorgeous in you room, you in shorts and maybe a little unshaved. Now this is one moment, that girls can actually relate for real with the character.

Graves: Well, I have a soft spot for him. Because he is Asian. I heart Asians! I kinda felt bad for him. He had his whole life figured out, has the brains. And here comes the new chick and completely blows his plan. He’s a nice guy dealing with all the shit that Dru brought with her and nicely shares with him. Kudos to you man.

Christophe: I don't think there isn't a woman reader out there who is not swooning after this guy. I know I am. I like Graves, but Christophe is something else, I figured it must be that apple pie smell he has going on: "He smelled like smoke too, and under it was the edge of apple pies-spice and goodness. Jesus. Even after all that he smelled like a bakery." Or the danger. Girls like dangerous guys, it's a fact.

"Betrayals" new characters, great addition though I hated Anna and I know I am going to hate her even more in "Jealousy" (No duh! Title says it all). Can't wait to read that one. Hope there won't be any more France detours for my books. I never went to France and I wannaaaaaaaa.

QUOTE TIMEEEE

Strange Angels: "Better to be strong than pretty and useless."

"I guess since the groin is the center of a guy's world, he rarely guesses it isn't the center of yours."

Betrayals:"I crossed my arms over my chest. Jeez, it was cold in here all of a sudden. And had he always smelled this good? Was it a cologne? Eau de Christmas Pie?"

"My legs were on fire. All of me was burning and my back was a solid bar of pain. But it didn't matter.
What mattered was Graved next to me, also rubbing my back and laughing like he'd just found Christmas in his pants."

If I were to give points I guess Strange Angels would gather a total of 4.5 points out of 5. ^_^

PS: The shitty part of reading the second before the first was the fact that I didn't understand the lingo. Like, what in the world was a Svetocha. As well as the many pet names and words Christophe used. That didn't change even after the first book. So after Google-ing like crazy it was the amazing FORUM that cleared things for me.

And I quote: "Christophe is using a mix of Ukrainian, Russian, and Polish pet names. This is the closest translation:
kochana - beloved; love
milna - a very grown up/seductive way of saying 'sweetie'
skowroneczko moja - my pretty; my beauty
moj maly ptaszku - my little bird
moj ptaszku - my bird
moja ksiezniczko - my princess
malutka - little girl; little one
Ksiezniczka - Princess (from Strange Angels)
Other vocab:
moj boze - my God; dear God
dziekuje - thank you
Dyado Koleda - a mythical/religious character from European stories (from Strange Angels)" I think Dyado Koleda is some kind of Santa. ^_^ Awww Chris!

A.M Bells

Guillaume Musso - La Fille de papier (The Paper Girl)

2010-12-24T06:43:00.000-08:00

Tom Boyd is a famous novelist, but after an awful heartbreak he is uncapable of writing. Billie a young woman, and also a character in his novel, appears one night in his home...alive. They make a deal that she will bring back to him the woman he loves if he will write his last volume of the trilogy. But things take a turn when Tom really has to write the novel in order to save Billie’s life.

Not many words to synops this book, and it doesn’t need more. They were enough to make me read. Even if at the beginning I was a little skeptical the action immediately pulled me in. Race to find one missing book, the struggle to save Billie and not to mention the mystery of figuring out how she came from the fictional world in the real world. As a struggling writer and lover of the fictional world, what wouldn't I give to meet face to face a character of mine. I guess that is every writers dream.
The ending was shocking. I never expected it, maybe because it was my first time reading something from Guillaume Musso. But I will read more, that is for sure. It was great!
PS: I’m really thinking in participating in bookcrossing now. Amazing idea!

A.M Bells

Ghost Town - Rachel Caine

2010-11-10T07:25:00.000-08:00

Pages: 335

Other Titles in Morganville: Glass Houses, The Dead Girls’ Dance, Midnight Alley, Feast of Fools, Lord of Misrule, Carpe Corpus, Fade Out, Kiss of Death

The fragile peace between humans and vampires in Morganville is in trouble, and when Claire takes drastic action, she's put under serious pressure to re-establish the barriers that keep the town residents inside, and wipe the memories of those who leave. But working with her half-crazy vampire boss Myrnin means that things don't always turn out as planned ... and as the people of Morganville begin acting strangely, Claire and her friends must solve the mystery and try to put things right. But one by one, her allies are turning on her ... even the ones she trusts most. (Source- Goodreads)

I am such a dork over these books; I made no secret of it. So as it was natural I had preordered, received in record time and read in record time. How not to do it when for the last month I was practically biting my nails to get it and suffering withdrawal for not having Shane to read about. T_T

Naturally I loved it, what not to love? Morganville seems to be in more trouble than before, memory losses, people and vampires forgetting who they are and Clare, Shane, Michael and Eve struggle to solve it. But how long will it be till they start to forget.

I liked how Claire changed so much over the books. She’s been though a continuous development. When we met her in the first book she was just a skittish little thing and fragile, now she is brave, determined and does not take crap from anybody, especially Monica & co. I guess we have to thank Morganville for that and of course her friends that had her back all this time, and especially Shane. C’mon, clearly he is one of them who made her bloom like she did.

There were definitely some heartbreaking moments, as you can imagine. Shane’s dad stepped back into the picture and of course created a lot of commotion and yet…*sigh* Anyway. We also get to see some facets of Myrnin: kind, crazy (ok, more crazy than usual), heartbroken.

And of course the end was? A CLIFFHANGER

QUOTE TIIIIIIIIIME \^o^/

EVE - "Really? Is he running for Worst Boyfriend Ever?"
SHANE - "In the subcategory of Completely Awesome."

"Bathroom, maybe? Which is where I need to go."
"Ooh, me, too," Eve said. The boys rolled their eyes, like they'd planned it. "What? It's what girls do. Get over it."

TYGER TYGER - Kersten Hamilton

2010-11-08T11:59:00.001-08:00

So it goes like this. We have Teagan who has a great job at the zoo, is worried about her future and has no boy in that equation. Now add the amazing BFF Abby, who has dreams. Dreams that make her scared for Teagan’s fate: shape shifting creatures, goblins, all hunting for her best friend.
Enter Finn Mac Cumhaill, Irish hunk with killer accent and knee weakening smile, which also seems to know about these creatures that Abby has been dreaming, and is ready to fight them. What is his connection with Abby’s dreams, the painting of Teagan’s mother, and the legend of Fionn mac Cumhaill the mythical hunter-warrior?

Synopsis, definitely not make this book justice for some reason. I left it to luck when I ordered the book, or maybe instinct. I saw promises of Celtic myths in there and I just went on and pre-ordered it. And my instincts were right this time, because it exceeded my expectations.

I’m a sucker for Irish myths, Irish accents, Irish characters and of course Irish boys. So Tyger Tyger was right up my alley. Read it in one sitting and grrrd when I reached the last page because I wanted more. The mythology was great, the Creatures of the books ( I assume Fay some kind of Fay of the Otherworld) are not that cute and sparkly as you may think faeries and all that are. Goblins are bad, and that is that.

What I really liked for starters was the family relationship. They were just heartwarming to read about them together. The librarian dad, the artist mom, oh cute singing Aiden and Teagan who was such a great sister to him, protecting and always loving. Yes, they were hallmark family…till one point which broke my heart, but I won’t spill the beans.

Secondly, Abby! Man, I loved this girl so much. I sometimes don’t really like the BFF’s in the books, since they seem to exist there so they won’t make the lead girl be socially awkward. But Abby went straight to my heart, with her crazy Italian family not to mention the Ninja Turtles cousins ( I love the Ninja Turtles! If I ever get a car I will name it after them, but not my kids…or who knows). She had me laughing like crazy with her amazing antiques ( Mercutio was a vampire, Holly Water anyone…and the awesome Shakesrear! Thank you, Thank you very much!)

Aiden, 6 year old little sing bird afraid of Elvis Impersonators. WIN!!!! He was innocent, cute, brave and just loving.

And well, Finn. The Irish McSteamy that makes Abby overprotective about her friend. Holly Water won’t harm him, just so you know. (No vampires here so go back to your coffins or jewelry stores.) What can be best other than a boy, who is handsome, who is a fighter, protective, has an Irish accent and ready to change your plans? Tehe! I can even let it pass the fact that he is not “much for books”.
His interactions with Teagan were great, even after his ... ahh, not saying that. Just saying, he is a guy who know what he wants, from the start. And knows how to protect it, even if it might hurt him. What not to like?

Tyger Tyger is the first book from The Goblin Wars. I am pretty sure I will be pre-ordering the next one as soon as it is available.

QUOTES \^o^/

Teagan - How long has it been since you read a book that didn't have vampires in it?
Abby - They write books with no vampires? Wait...the penguins made us read that Shakesrear guy, right?
Teagan - Shakespeare
Abby - Whatever. I'm pretty sure Mercutio was a vampire. He had the attitude, you know? He just never got a chance to show his fangs.

Mr. Wylltson - When I meet someone who says they're not "much for books," I can guarantee that they haven't met the right book yet.

Finn - You're just the right size for hugging. That's nice to know.

Lazyness Lazy

2010-11-01T11:31:00.000-07:00

Yes I have been so lazy I am ashamed of myself. Buuut, I feel better to get back on track. Of course I will not be able to review all the books that I have read since my last post. There are a looooooooooot!
Like:
1. Carpe Corpus - Rachel Caine
2. Fade Out - Rachel Caine

While Working at the bookshop

3.Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis
4. Kiss of Death - Rachel Caine
5. Blue Bloods Blue Bloods (Blue Bloods, #1) by Melissa de la Cruz
6. Titha
7. Valiant
8. Ironside by Holly Black
9. Catcher in the Rye - J.D Salinger
10. Frostbite (Vampire Academy, #2) by Richelle Mead
11. Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3) by Richelle Mead

And the list goes on to the last I've read

Crescendo (Hush, Hush, #2) by Becca Fitzpatrick
Ghost Town by Rachel Caine
Misguided Angel (Blue Bloods, #5) by Melissa de la Cruz - Which I have to admit is the favorite of all the books in the series.

AAAAAAAAND WAITING ON

Smell the book. It smells like England ^_^
A.M Bells

Scarlett - Barbara Baraldi

2010-06-26T00:20:00.000-07:00

Scarlett is a normal teenager from Cremona that had to move with her family in Siena. She has to go through a new school, new friends and a new life without her old best friends. She loves reading and befriends immediately the bizarre librarian and when everything seems to be all right in her life it goes downhill.
But the mysterious Mikael, bass player in the Dead Stones, is right there for her when she needs the help more and protects her from the unnatural powers that lurk around her.

It took me longer to read this book since it was in Italian and I was as rusty as you can get. But I had great fun reading it. I really didn’t know what to think Mikael was until he actually said it. I guess I am too used with vampire books and boys who protect you from the shadows being vampires.
The love is sweet and charming between them. Mikael is kind and dolce, helping Scarlett not only fend the dark but with her family.
Her relationship with her little brother was adorable. I wanted to hug that little kid so much. XD
Overall, great story for a preteen girl and not only.

Angel Star - Jennifer Murgia

2010-06-25T13:43:00.000-07:00

Seventeen-year-old Teagan McNeel falls for captivating Garreth Adams and soon discovers that her crush has an eight-point star etched into the palm of his right hand-the mark of an angel.

But where there is light, dark follows, and she and Garreth suddenly find themselves vulnerable to a dark angel's malicious plan that could threaten not only her life, but the lives of everyone she knows, and now, she is torn between one angel's sacrifice and another angel's vicious ambition.

Divinely woven together, Angel Star takes readers on a reflective journey when one angel's sacrifice collides with another angel's vicious ambition in a way that is sure to have readers searching for their own willpower. - Goodreads

For me the description doesn't do it justice. Because the book had more to it. Maybe it is good like that. There are books that charm you when you read a small description and then disappoint you when you read them. Kinda like movie trailers.

** spoiler alert ** Yaaay! I can finally write about this. ^_^
It is very clear I loved reading it. Angels are the new Vampires and I am happy to take a break from the whole blood sucking and jump into a more innocent and whiter world of Angels.

The first thing I loved about this book is how they didn't beat around the bush with the whole "I am watching you from afar" crap. C'mon, now really. See, you can write a great book even the whole gig is out from the beginning. You save yourselves the trouble and can finally be honest with each other, aye?

The second thing I loved: Hadrian. Love at the tenth power. He was pure evil and he was so skilled in showing that Teagan is not all sweet and innocent and has a little "bad" in her like every human being.

THIRD - It was so easy to relate to Teagan from the moment she stepped in. The whole book shelf and passion and everything :)).
And awesome job with killing the best friend. Most authors try to save best friends of the lead.

My respect for that.

QUOTE TIIIIIIMEEEEE

Garreth - "I can't explain it too well. I picture myself being completely in tune with you. I breathe when you breathe. My heart beats when yours beats. I can time them perfectly to each other and then I just...slow it all down. It's really very easy."

Teagan - "What is it?"
Garreth - "No one's ever prayed for me before. I've always heard your prayers. You prayed for me to come to you when you had a bad dream. I even heard you pray for a perfect, selfless, superwonderful boy to fall in love with. But I've never heard you pray for me."

MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES Book 5 - Rachel Caine

2010-06-25T13:33:00.001-07:00

After the excruciating usual cliffhanger Morganville 5 doesn’t disappoint and takes things on a whole new level.
With Bishop in town, one of the oldest vampires around, the little harmony of the town is threatened because he is decided to take over it and revive the primordial hunger of the vampires.
And there is only one way out of the situation: swear your allegiance to him or die.

In this one the action is just set on super speed. Everything happens in just a few days, no less than a week and poor Claire, Eve, Shane and Michael are thrown in a roller coaster ride of death where they are not only threatened by the unnatural forces of the vampires but also by the natural forces of Texas. It was like viewing the revolution of ’89 but with vampires instead of communists.

Claire is as always one of the best natured people who can help even the people they dislike. And her love for Shane makes my heart jelly and fluff every time. And Shane is … well Shane. There is no hiding that he is one character I lover very much. Which is weird since I was most likely to like the vampire boy of the story. Michael is great in my book, but not like Shane. ^o^

Overall, Rachel Caine does an amazing job to keep you on your toes in this books as well. It’s just heart pumping!

QUOTE TIIIIIIMEEEEE

Hannah - "Mind if I call shotgun?"
Shane - “Since you're carrying one? Feel free."

Eve - "I could totally date somebody else, you know."
Michael - "And I could rent out your room."
Eve - "And I could put your game console on eBay."
Shane - Hey! Now you're just being mean."

MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES Book 4 - Rachel Caine

2010-06-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

This one has my favorite cover.Really! If this was the cover for the first volume I wouldn't have taken so long to read the series. This is a Michael image I approve.

See? Even Erika approves! \^o^/

Not only Claire’s parents are in town but also Mr. Bishop A.K.A El Bad Capo di Tutti Capi A.K.A Amelie’s “father”. And he has brought with him trouble. More trouble you say? Well, in Morganville there is never too much trouble.

So, Claire has to deal with this, her parents’ safety, the fact that Bishop’s girl Ysandra has her eyes on Shane and keep her duties to Amelie a priority. That is to work with Myrnin and go to college like any normal teen.

Feast of Fools starts like all the others: just a second after the last one ended. This is one great cliffhanger and what makes it so hard to read the books, well, not in order. You will have no idea what is going on.
I love how in Morganville vampires are like they should be. BAD. Even the ones that are suppose to be good are still bad, with their own agendas and everything. Caring for their kind and not for the puny little humans.
Myrnin is always a fantastic character in spite of everything. He is crazy, bipolar, did I mention crazy?
The book is as always fast paced, full of action and humor (even in the most craziest situations...dangerous too) and just thrilling.

QUOTE TIIIIIIMEEEEE

Eve - “Shirt off.”
Shane - “You only love me for my abs.”
Eve - “Shut up, loser. Shirt off.”

Shane - “Crap! Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Claire - “I’m thinking we have about fifteen vampires and no blood.Is that it?”
Shane - “No, I was thinking we’re out of chips. Of course that’s what I was thinking.”

HEX HALL - Rachel Hawkins

2010-06-22T11:29:00.000-07:00

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her. - GOODREADS

I was really looking forward to reading this book and it didn't disappoint.
Happy!!
Juvenile home for Supernaturals...excuse me Prodigium! Pretty neat!
Sophie is one hell of a character. I just love sarcastic characters, and she made my day.
Archer (Oh, how I love this name) didn't really appeal to me until the end. I actually found Cal a lot more interesting than Archer, even if Cal spoke in the book as much Kyuzo in 26 episodes of Samurai 7.
Can't wait for the next book. XD

QUOTE TIME (Just one, my favorite)

The "Holy-crap-that's-a-lot-of-pink" Zone would have been a more
accurate description.
I don't know what I was expecting a vampire's room to look like.
Maybe lots of black, a bunch of books by Camus . . . oh, and a sensitive
portrait of the only human the vamp had ever loved, who had no doubt died
of something beautiful and tragic, thus dooming the vamp to an eternity of
moping and sighing romantically.
What can I say? I read a lot of books.
But this room looked like it had been decorated by the unholy
lovechild of Barbie and Strawberry Shortcake.

MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES Book 3 - Rachel Caine

2010-06-22T02:01:00.001-07:00

Well, Claire did get more trouble than she bargained for. Go figure!
Even if her contract with Amelie was supposed to give her and her friends protection it is far from that. Claire has to study with one of the oldest vampires in Morganville, crazy sick Myrnin, who is the only one to know the secrets of the portals in the city.

But she soon realizes that that is not the only job she has to do with Myrnin, but to find a solution for a bigger problem in the city that puts the vampires in peril of extinction.

Eve’s psychopath brother turn up and he is the first suspect for a series of dead girls turning up around the Glass House.

Oh man! The author really loves tormenting Shane.
Poor guy, not only does he has to cope with the fact that he has a crazy homicidal father but now his best friend is a vampire, the thing he hates the most. Then she puts in his hospital. The only silver lining in his life is Claire.

Myrnin was a great new character. Mister Bipolar Vampire is one heck of guy.

And oh oh oh, the cliffhanger. The author really knows how to do it.
Loved it, read it, want more.
These books are like roller coaster rides. You jump from one trouble to another.

QUOTE TIIIIIIMEEEEE

Claire - "Perv."
Shane - "Male and eighteen. What's your point?"

Eve - She told me last!
Shane - Boyfriend!
Michael - Landlord!
Eve - Crap. Right. Next time you sell your soul to the devil, I get first contact!

MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES Book 2 - Rachel Caine

2010-06-22T01:36:00.000-07:00

After one amazing cliffhanger (which I must say was epic, first time I got this kind of cliffhanger) “The Dead Girls’ Dance” takes on exactly ones second where it was left off. With Shane’s crazy homicidal dad.
Like Claire didn’t have enough to deal with a town run by vampires, homicidal Queen-Bee Monica and College on top of that. Now her boyfriends’ crazy dad is in town to kill some vampires and wants Shane in the action.
This put in danger the protection Claire, Eve, Michael and Shane gained from the Founder, and when a vampire turn up dead, Shane is of course to be blamed for it.

Like “Glass Houses” this one is also action packed. Maybe even more. There is a surprise at every page that gets you gasping. Relationships are evolving between the characters, and I just love Shane x Claire together. I think they entered my top couples. Also Claire ranked up in my favorite lead-girls, there is no doubt about that.

Monica gets it and that made me happy. And it was good that the moment didn’t get her through a sudden change of heart. She remains still a biatch.

Michael was amazing in this one. Poor guy, he went through a lot, as much as Shane. Both because of Mr. Collins of course.

Blame him for the lack of Shane awesomeness on this book.

The end was also a pretty darn cliffhanger as the first, one that might get Claire in trouble, a lot more than she bargained for.

QUOTE TIIIIIIMEEEEE

Eve - "Boys. I'd turn gay if they weren't so sexy. "

Sam - "You. O Positive. How many exits?
Ian - "What?...Oh shit, did you just call me by my blood type?"

MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES Book 1 - Rachel Caine

2010-06-15T06:42:00.000-07:00

As always, the books I refuse to read turn out to be the ones I instantly fall in love with the moment I read them.
Same happened with Morganville Vampires. I just couldn’t stand the first volume cover so I said I couldn’t like this book (I know I know, don’t judge the book by its cover).

GLASS HOUSES

How is begins?
Claire is a small genius of 16 going to college at TPU in this small town Morganville. She is harassed by Monica, one of the girls from there to such extent that she even pushes Claire down the stairs and threatens her life.
So Claire can only look for a place as far from campus and Monica as possible.

Enter the Glass House.

Owner – Michael Glass, one piece of blond blue eyes beauty musician, sleeps the days, makes beautiful music in the night.

Tenants – Eve Rosser, Goth girl, barista and horrible cook  . Eve is one great girl with all her dark Goth persona.
Shane Collins – Best friend of Michael’s, the second piece of male hotness but more in the trouble maker punch your face if you piss me off kinda guy. Gamer and slacker

Also, what Claire finds out about her new town is much more then she bargained for when she came to study. The town is run by vampires!

But her new friends are right there to help her, even if it’s Monica or the vampires of the town with to many secrets and dangerous. But they also have secrets of their own, well, they are Morganville residents. How could they not?

I was thinking of taking a break from vampires this year. Yet, this turned my plans around.

My best friend told me "You know you shouldn't start reading books with unknown potential when you have exams. Amateur mistake"
Indeed it was. After reading two quotes and laughing out loud I said I will read two chapters and go back to studying. Six hours later, one Redbull, bag of chips and a pair of bloodshot eyes I was done with the first volume and wanted more.

I fall for the darnest books these days. But this one really got me. The action is so fast paced that it didn't let me have a breathe. Poor Claire is thrown into a roller coaster ride from the first beginning, and you are right there with her in the front line.

And the characters are so easy to like, and they interact so great with each other. Lately I am very peaky in terms and dialog and interactions between the characters. I hate it when they sound fake or forced. But these guys together are pure gold even if they are so different from each other (The Goth, The Slacker, The Musician, The Smartypants ^_^)

This is a great YA book and such a tease for College student away from home. Why don't out educational trips away from home turn out this way. A town of vamps, adventure, near death experiences and all that. AND SHANE <3.

QUOTE TIIIIIIMEEEEE

Michael - Scoot over, man. I don't like you that much.
Shane - Dick. That's not what you said last night.
Michael - Bite me.

Shane - Damn, Claire. Warn a guy before you do a face-plant on the floor next time. I could have looked all heroic and caught you or something.

Okay, this was kissing. Serious kissing. Not just a kiss before moving out, not a good-bye, this was Hello, sexy, and wow, she’d never even suspected that it could feel this way.

Soul Screamers 3 My Soul to Keep - Rachel Vincent

2010-06-05T02:50:00.000-07:00

The third installment of the Soul Screamers is here to give you a big kick...in a good way.

Demon’s breath - The Netherworld kind of drug. The kind that really can kill you. Somehow, the super-addictive substance has made its way to the human world. But how? Kaylee and Nash have to cut off the source and protect their friends—one of whom is already hooked.

And when the epidemic hits too close to home, Kaylee will have to risk everything to save those she loves.

Oh lord.
I read this book in one sitting and at it end I was so exhausted I slept 8 hours just to process everything and heal my eyes.
It was like and amazing and horrible roller coaster ride I swear.

Kaylee is one of my favorite lead-girls and that won't change and this book made me love her and respect her more for the power she had. She is one tough girl and one with her feet on the ground, visible in her relationship with Nash.

What Nash did, was amazing and disappointing. Amazing is how Rachel twisted the story and made him a disappointed. It was a big move and I'm sure it hurt her to do that to him, in the end he is her brain-child :(. I cried so much over this book and especially at the end because of Nash.

This was a great book that centered their relationship. we got to see that Nash is not that perfect and honestly I felt slapped at the end because of that. T_T I can't imagine (ok, I can) how Kaylee must have felt. Hey, boys are not perfect in books either. They screw up too. Go figure.

Tod has always been my top boy of the book. I love him even more than Nash just for being the way he is. Fun but in the same time one of the most faithful characters in the story. How much he cares for Addy is heartwarming and I am a little curious about his whole interest in Emma, and happy that he keeps an eye on her. Emma need an undead invisible bodyguard from time to time.

Nowww, I am really curious of this new character that is out: Alec. I love the name BTW. And I do really hope I will get to read more about him in the next book.

Overall, amazing book, worth every minute and the every moment my eyes hurt :)).

Ondine: The Summer of Shambles by Ebony McKenna

2010-05-22T01:39:00.000-07:00

This is a brilliantly witty fairy tale with a mystery that is as surreal as it is sinister. One girl. One boy. One spell to be broken. Ondine de Groot is a normal fifteen-year-old who lives with her family in the European country of Brugel. She has a pet ferret called Shambles. But Shambles is no ordinary ferret...He's Hamish McPhee, a boy cursed by a witch. A witch who happens to be related to Ondine. When Shambles turns back into Hamish temporarily, Ondine knows that she has to help him break the spell. He is the most gorgeous boy she has ever met and her one true love! He just can't remain a ferret forever. Can he? (via Goodreads)

Ohh, it has been such a long time since I actually wrote a review even though I read tons since my last. But, I just needed the book to get me ... well to put it bluntly to get me all : KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
And this amazing book made it for me.

I did cut my sleeping hours so I wouldn't have to cut the study hours (damned finals) to read this book in one sitting. And I did it. After it came on the rainiest day and after circling it with a giddy feeling in me I was lost in its pages.

Ondine was a great character to relate too and she makes it so easy, in her relationship with her family, with Hamish and even on her crush for Vincent.
And Hamish/Shambles is just pure gold with his Scottish accent and slang and curses :))

What I really loved was what a great role had the family in this book. Usually you get parents shipped in another country, killed, indifferent and completely oblivious of their child's life. But here they were there in the front lines and I loved it.

My heart is still fuwa fuwa after this read and I can't wait for a new adventure from Ebony McKenna.

Random quotes I loved
cuz if I would put them all up it would be best if I just gave the book)

"I'm nae rodent, ye bampot, I'm a ferret. Completely different." - Shambles

Bampot - Silly person, Daftie

"Pinch me, I'm dreaming. The girl lives in a pub!" - Shambles

"I need ye tae stick around and help me, because I think I'm losing my social skills" - Shambles

Fooftnote: Pure denial. Shambles lost his social skills years ago.

"Lucky we're not Catholic, or he'd have shipped us off to the nunnery." - Ondine
"Don't give him ideas. He'd convert us all in a heartbeat." - Cybelle

Footnote: How to judge parental mood by the name they call you. e.g Ondi = Ma in a good mood. Ondine = Ma is busy. Ondine de Groot = Ma is really narked. Ondine Benedicte Wilhelmina de Groot = Ma's just walked in on Ondine's standing over a dead body with a bloody knife in her hand.

Sailing my way! \^o^/

2010-05-18T01:12:00.001-07:00

I can't wait for them. Though I will be over my head with exams and I'll be able to read them barely in June. T_T

Bringing in the LOOT

2010-05-18T01:07:00.000-07:00

Been a while since my last bunch of books came in. This is the new one. From my trip, from orders and bookshops around (looks at the Spook Stories - I'm a sucker for them)
My heart is going thump thump with joy.

Waiting for ^_^

2010-04-02T03:09:00.000-07:00

March round-up

2010-04-02T02:26:00.000-07:00

Like always, even if March was a Faerie destined day I read more than Faerie related books. Also I managed to finish all the book left from Angel Month and that is Fallen.

Now, here they are:

1. Need - Carrie Jones

2. Captive - Carrie Jones

3. Wondrous Strange - Lesley Livingstone

4. Dark Light - Lesley Livingstone

5. Magic under Glass - Jackie Dolamore

6. The Awakening - Kelley Armstrong

7. Fallen - Lauren Kate

8. Beautiful Creatures - Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

9. Percy Jackson #2 - Rick Riordan

10.I heart you, You haunt me - Lisa Schroeder

11.Twenties Girl - Sophie Kinsella

12. The Flies - Jean Paul Sartre

Captivate - Carrie Jones

2010-04-02T02:17:00.001-07:00

Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town.

A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure -- despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It's her life -- and his. (Review via Goodreads - Lazy me)

Like the first volume I really enjoyed reading this book, even if my love for Nick dropped a little bit since it got redirected to Astley who I am not quite sure he is such a nice guy how he claims to be and has a trick up his Pixie sleeve or he really is a Pixie that is an exception to "Never trust Pixies".
I had a crying moment by the middle of it and a squee by the end of it. :))

Both books got a full 5 points from me since they didn't loose me on the way.

QUOTE TIME XD

"Loving you is a full-time job. It's a great job, don't get me wrong. It's the best job in the universe. But it's not easy." - NICK

"You are totally kissable. If I were a guy or gay or bi or something I would absolutely kiss you." - ZARA

Need - Carrie Jones

2010-04-02T02:04:00.000-07:00

Zara is a girl that thinks speaking out loud a fear makes that fear less frightening. She is obsessed with phobias.
Since her stepfather has died she hasn't been really her usual self reason why her mother sends her with her grandmother in the freezing Main area.
A stalked that Zara has been seeing around her house moves together with her, leaving behind a peculiar trail of gold dust.
He can't be human! He must be a pixie king. But is a pixie king following her?

I absolutely loved this book. I started reading it with an open mind, ready for everything and I enjoyed it immensely.
It was a fun and active story to read. Zara has become one of my favorite heroines I think, due to her funny open nature. I know she was swooning a lot about Nick, which I was doing as I read, but this girl didn't beat around the bush to get her man. And that is what I loved about her.
And I want a Gram like hers :))

QUOTE TIME:

"I like a lot of things that aren't good for me." -NICK

"Pixiophobia: a fear of Pixies.

I made this up, but believe me it should be a word because it sure is a legitimate fear." - ZARA

Before The Mortal Instruments

2010-03-18T10:04:00.000-07:00

There were "The Infernal Devices"

Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all. (Review via Goodreads)

And now! This wonderful prequel of the Mortal Instruments that promise so much and keeps us on the edge until it is out and hating the fact that we don't live in America so we can try and win an ARC...ranting, yeah sorry!

drumroooooooooooooool HAS A COVER

A wonderful cover by the one and only Cliff Neilson who made the covers for The Mortal Instruments. Like Jace was our leading and premiering bad boy cover hunk...now it is time for dear old bad boy hunk Will (Not so Goldie as Jace but still amazing)

And for a closer view and the bad boy cover hunk (I love saying that X3 )

Entertainment Weekly's Shelf Life has is up together with an interview with the editor Karen Wojtyla.

Darkest Powers - Kelley Armstrong

2010-03-12T10:15:00.000-08:00

After seeing a the ghost of a janitor in her school, Chloe is sent in Lyle House, a group home where she starts to understand more about her hallucinations than she expected. Chloe realizes there is something more that binds her with the kids at Lyle, and not the fact that they are “problem children”. She discovers that Lyle is not your usual group home, and that they are not usual kids.
After trying to get out, and being betrayed Chloe manages to put problems behind her with Tori and find the boys: Simon and Derek.

"If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl—someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I'm as far away from normal as it gets. A living science experiment—not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a sinister organization called the Edison Group. What does that mean? For starters, I'm a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control; I raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever.
Now I'm running for my life with three of my supernatural friends—a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch—and we have to find someone who can help us before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying."

After reading most of the Women of the Otherworld books by Kelley Armstrong I really didn't know what to expect from the Darkest Powers series.
I've read the first volume in a matter of hours practically eating up the words as I went on, like Bungaku Girl. And today the second volume got me all hyped up.
Again, this is one of the books that makes me happy for the existence of YA genre, and for the existance of Kelley Armstrong.
It got me hooked from the beginning, and loved how love had not such a major role in. These kids are really running for their lives, not stopping to snog on the way. Ok, there are some hints of like here and there and I have to admit I would rather see Derek with Chloe than Simon, simply because it's his time. Simon always had friends and girlfriends while Derek was the odd one.

QUOTE TIMEEEEE

Derek caught my arm again as I started to move--at this rate, it was going to be as sore as my injured one. "Dog," he said, jerking his chin toward the fenced yard. "It was inside earlier." Expecting to see a Doberman slavering at the fence, I followed his gaze to a little puff of white fur, the kind of dog women stick in their purses. It wasn't even barking, just staring at us, dancing in place. "Oh, my God! It's a killer Pomeranian." I glanced up at Derek. "It's a tough call, but I think you can take him."

“Undying gratitude?" Simon looked at me. "Cool. Dose that come with eternal servitude? If so, I like my eggs sunny side up."
I smiled" I’ll remember that."

Simon looked from her to me, confused, then understanding. “You guys thought…”
“That if you didn’t get your medicine in the next twenty-four hours, you’d be dead?” I said. “Not exactly, but close. You know, the old ‘upping the ante with a fatal disease that needs medication’ twist. Apparently, it still works.”
“Kind of a letdown, then, huh?”
“No kidding. Here we were, expecting to find you minutes from death. Look at you, not even gasping.”
“All right, then. Emergency medical situation, take two.”
He leaped to his feet, staggered, keeled over, then lifted his head weakly.
“Chloe? Is that you?” He coughed. “Do you have my insulin?”
I placed it in his outstretched hand.
“You saved my life,” he said. “How can I ever repay you?”
“Undying servitude sounds good. I like my eggs scrambled.”
He held up a piece of fruit. “Would you settle for a bruised apple?”
I laughed."

Waiting on

2010-03-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

When you have a card and money on that card and then you give it to me...you can be sure that money turns into a different kind of paper. Paper with stories on...BOOOOOOOKS

I've received a fair share of what I ordered and I am still waiting on for next week

Wondrous Strange - Wondrous Strange #1 and Darklight #2 - Lesley Livingston

2010-03-12T05:30:00.001-08:00

Kelley Winslow is a young 17 year old girl with nothing out of the ordinary except her love for theatre. Young actor to be on the stage is the only magic she knows, as she puts on the wings of Faerie wings of Queen Titania on a Broadway production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Well, that until she finds out she is not far from being a real Faerie Royalty.

Princess of the Otherworld, in love with the changeling guard Sonny Flannery who has secrets that even he doesn’t know about, Kelly is a constant hit target now that her identity has been revealed.

These were the first books of the Faerie Month, and oh I loved them. Books like this make me happy for the YA out there. Kudos to Maggie Stiefvater for defending the YA literature.

The Story is very good and action wise as well. I had some time I have to admit, getting used to Sonny’s name. Tall, dark and handsome by the name of Sonny. I got used to by the time I hit volume two.

Now I can’t wait for what it will come next. The ending left me heart broken and with dozens of questions. I bow to a great Fairy work and look forward to more from the author.

QUOTE TIME XD

"You're joking. You want to help me?"
"We're brothers-in-arms, Sonny." Fennrys stood and paced restlessly. "And, truth is, I'm bored out of my mind in Manhattan. Nothing to do there but jump at shadows and put up with Aaneel's pompous yapping: 'There're crack in the Gate! Remain vigilant! Protect the puny humans! Eek, a mouse!' It's tiresome."

(One thing I loved about the second volume was that we got to have more of Fennrys Wolf! XD )

"Sonny pulled Lucky up short and swung around to face Fennrys. "I'm not afraid to die. I just don't want to die surprised. And I swear to all the gods, if the last thought that goes through my mind is 'What the hell was that?' I will hunt you down in the afterlife and punch you in the face throughout eternity."

"What about the whiskey?" Jack said as they ran. "Won't it keep them out?"
"The Green Maidens don't drink anything but blood." Bob's disembodied voice floated after them. "The whiskey magick won't affect them."
"Wonderful," the old actor muttered a tremor of fear in his voice. "I should've poured a Bloody Mary.""

February wrap-up

2010-02-28T01:41:00.000-08:00

I have to admit not all the books I read this month were all angel related! ^_^ What can I say! I have one last angel book in the plan that I did not finish, so I will schedule it for March maybe…

Here they are

The Importance of Being Earnest – Oscar Wilde

The Awakening (The Vampire Diaries, #1) – L.J Smith

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1) - Richelle Mead

Living Nightmare (Cirque Du Freak, #1) - Darren Shan

Once Dead, Twice Shy (Madison Avery, #1) - Kim Harrison

Meridian - Amber Kizer

Coffeehouse Angel - Suzanne Selfors

Another Faust - Daniel Nayeri, Dina Nayeri

And my favorite of the month!

City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, #1)
by Cassandra Clare
City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments, #2)
by Cassandra Clare
City of Glass (Mortal Instruments, #3)
by Cassandra Clare

Other Angel-related Books

2010-02-28T01:24:00.000-08:00

COFFEEHOUSE ANGEL - Suzanne Selfor
When Katrina helps out what she thinks is a homeless person sleeping on her alley little does she know that her kindness brings more than she had bargained for. Malcolm is an angel and what he wants now is to make her deepest desire come true. That would be easy if Katrina knew what her deepest desire was…
This was so easy and so fun to read. It was sweet and innocent, and it didn't get on my nerves with the pointless love triangle,quadrangle or whatever. It was worth searching for this books for so long.

ONCE DEAD, TWICE SHY - Kim Harrison
Madison died on her prom night targeted by a dark reaper but somehow before he could finish the job she stole an amulet from him. Now she is stuck on Earth, dead but sort of alive – between life and death with an illusion of a human body. So she start to plan out how to regain her old life back and find out why she was targeted in the first place. This is a good start book for the series. I enjoyed reading it even if I had some holes that I guess I will have filled with the books to come. It was an always active book and the ending was priceless. I have to say my favorite character has to be Barnabas :))

MERIDIAN - Amber Kier
Poor Meridian always attracted death since she could remember. But on her sixteen birthday things change for the worst…or best. After an accident in front of her house in which her body seems to break in pain she is sent away from her parents to Auntie.
She then learns she is a Fenestra – a half human, half angel being whose job is to cross souls in the higher plane.
This was a very interesting book to read, especially with all the religion and cult-like involvement.I enjoyed it very much even if the romance developed with the speed of light. But, c'mon! It is typically teenage to think in just one week or two that you met the love of your life :)) So, yeah! I will pass that...

Cassandra Clare - City of Glass

2010-02-12T06:50:00.001-08:00

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.
As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her new found powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost?
(Review via Goodreads cuz I was to lazy to write one!) :D sowy

This last book was a roller coaster ride. I laughed, I cried, I went through chapters with my heart going “thumb thumb” in my chest with anticipation. I never felt so hyped up with a book for a long time now and I love to have the feeling back.

The characters grew up in their own way; Clary became more and more a fighter. I love her character, she needs saving but she saves too. And Alec, ohh Alec I was so happy when he finally made it. (Can’t say more, I don’t want to spoil). Woot for fighter Simon! \^o^/ He kicked ass in his own way.
I don’t have to talk about Jace! He is the one I care more about. I’m a girl, aren’t I?

I can’t wait to read “City of Fallen Angels”, and in the same time I am so scared! T_T Jace and Clary had enough suffering with believing they were siblings. I can’t imagine what Cassandra Clare will put them through again. :(

QUOTE TIME \^o^/

"You could have had anything else in the world, and you asked for me."
She smiled up at him. Filthy as he was, covered in blood and dirt, he was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. "But I don't want anything else in the world."
-Jace and Clary"

Jace - "You had to make a crazy jail friend didn't you? You couldn't just count ceiling tiles or tame a pet mouse like normal prisoners do?"

Jace - "There is no pretending," Jace said with absolute clarity. "I love you, and I will love you until I die, and if there is life after that, I'll love you then."

“Patience, grasshopper,” said Maia. “Good things come to those who wait.” “I always thought that was ‘Good things come to those who do the wave,’” said Simon. “No wonder I’ve been so confused all my life.” “’Confused’ is a nice word for it,” said Jace."

City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare

2010-02-10T01:42:00.001-08:00

Started - 8 feb 2010
Finished - 9 feb 2010

Even if Clary wants her life to go back to normal, it can never happen. Being a Shadowhunter, even if not an experienced one, Clary is dragged in a world of werewolves, vampires and faeries. She has to deal with her mother’s coma, her newfound brother and her new relationship with her best friend Simon while all around New York someone is killing Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings -- and if he is, what is he trying to do?
Jace has been accused of being Valentine’s spy and is forced to move out of the institute.
It falls on Clary and her friends to clear Jace’s name and start a battle against her own father to take back the Mortal Instruments he possesses and save her friends that he has taken as sacrifices.

This is the sequel the amazing City of Bones that brings more action and magic. We get to find more about some other characters. Get the know Isabelle and Alec’s parents and little bother Max who is a little sweetheart. Get to know more about Alec himself, and the High Warlock of Brooklyn over 800 years old Magnus Bane.
I couldn’t stop reading this and I have to say my favorite scene has to be the one at the Seelie Court. Sorry Simon, I know you were hurt there!

Again there were so many referenced to anime and manga that my otaku heart had no place in my ribcage :)). Max was trying to read Naruto! That was sweet! ^_^

QUOTE TIME

"'I don't want to be a man,' said Jace. 'I want to be an angst-ridden teenager who can't confront his own inner demons and takes it out verbally on other people instead.'

'Well,' said Luke, 'you're doing a fantastic job."

"‘Well, I’m not kissing the mundane,’ said Jace. ‘I’d rather stay down here and rot.’
‘Forever?’ said Simon. ‘Forever’s an awfully long time.’
Jace raised his eyebrows. ‘I knew it,’ he said. ‘You want to kiss me, don’t you?" (I loved this one :)) Imagine that happening!)

Jace - "No, I'm just a very naughty boy. I do all sorts of bad things. I kick kittens. I make rude gestures at nuns."

"Maybe it was true what the Seelie Queen said, after all: Love made you a liar."

City of Bones - Cassandra Clare

2010-02-08T05:59:00.000-08:00

Clary Fray is your normal is your teenage girl with a great boy best friend with a sarcastic sense of humor. One night while they are out to a club, Clary witnesses the murder of a demon by three teenagers: Jace, Alec and Isabelle; and she is the only one that can see them.

They are Shadowhunters, warriors that deal with the demons haunting every dark corner in New York. Clary finds herself pulled into the Shadowhunters world after her mother is kidnapped by demons and she herself is almost killed by one. But it is Jace’s quick thinking and intuition that saves her.

Is Clary one of them? Well, you just have to read!

I loved every moment while reading this book. The characters are amazing, and their interactions tops it. It is packed with magical creatures roaming around down town New York.

Since I am an Otaku I absolutely loved the references to anime and manga:

“Simon’s eyes flicked sideways to stare at the girl, who was industriously studying an issue of Shonen Jump."

“GAMERS DO IT BETTER, OTAKU WENCH, STILL NOT KING.”

“We could watch some Trigun, pop some corn.”

Like I said, I loved the characters and like any other girl out there that read this book I guess I speak the truth that Jace was amazing. He is truly and angel with the attitude of a jerk. But what a jerk!
Simon I guess, he is my geek twin in the book world :)). He was so refreshing and human!
Clary, oh she is so pretty in my head! And I have to say I love her stubbornness and the occasional damsel in distress. :D And her interactions with Jace: Priceless!
I can't wait to read the next books to get more of Magnus :D. I know I know, gay! The story of my life :)) I always like gay guys so sue me ^_^.

QUOTE TIME! \^o^/

Dorothea: "If you were half as funny as you think you are, you'd be twice as funny as you are now."

"'...in fact, don't touch any of my weapons without my permission.'
"Well, there goes my plan for selling them all on ebay," Clary muttered.
"Selling them on what?"
Clary smiled blandly at him, "A mythical place of great magical power."

"Jesus!" Luke exclaimed.
"Actually, it's just me," said Simon. "Although I've been told the resemblance is startling."

Jace: It means 'Shadowhunters: Looking Better in Black Than the Widows of our Enemies Since 1234.

Clary: Sarcasm is the last refuge of the imaginatively bankrupt.

[REMINDER : 18 May 2010, Angel Star is out!]

Rachel Vincent's Book Give Away

2010-02-06T09:04:00.000-08:00

Woot! People! After the French Stray giveaway, Rachel Vincent gives you the chance to get the entire series (so far) signed, and for free! *dances around*

If you don't know anything about Shifters check it out!

STRAY

I look like an all-American grad student. But I am a werecat, a shape-shifter, and I live in two worlds.

Despite reservations from my family and my Pride, I escaped the pressure to continue my species and carved out a normal life for myself. Until the night a Stray attacked.

I'd been warned about Strays -- werecats without a Pride, constantly on the lookout for someone like me: attractive, female, and fertile. I fought him off, but then learned two of my fellow tabbies had disappeared.

This brush with danger was all my Pride needed to summon me back . . . for my own protection. Yeah, right. But I'm no meek kitty. I'll take on whatever -- and whoever -- I have to in order to find my friends. Watch out, Strays -- 'cause I got claws, and I'm not afraid to use them . . .
(synopsis via Goodreads)

And if you want to know more about the other books just check out Rachel's profile where you will find also Soul Screamers XD

Btw, Shifters is not YA! Mature yes, YA no!

Soooo, if you want any of these amazing books just go HERE and sign in.
Deadline is 1:59 pm (central), Monday, February 8, 2010.

Hunger Games - covers PART 3 - German

2010-02-06T06:16:00.001-08:00

Since I am a German student I thought I would make a post only for the covers in Germany. Not that they would give me good marks in exams.

HUNGER GAMES 1

The Tributes of Panem - Deadly Games
I am always enjoying when they change the titles to sound good in their own language.
I guess that the cover tries to illustrate the idea of being in the forest, hunting, hiding behind the foliage. I do love the colors used, it really catches your eye, so I guess it does its job when dealing with people that judge the books after its cover.
Blood tricking there symbolizing deaths. Quite nice. ^_^

CATCHING FIRE

The Tributes of Panem - Dangerous Love
Keeps a foliage pattern, but this time red! I don't know why but the "Dangerous Love" really throws me off. Like I'm picking up a YA Romance. Of course, there is romance in it, but the importance should be more on The Games.

Hunger Games - covers PART 2

2010-02-05T07:06:00.000-08:00

Back with more international covers to show!
This one is again a favorite, care to guess why? RUSSIAN!

Did you realize yet why I like this cover so much? Yes yes yes! It's the boy on the cover! I am shameless shallow girl :)) I can't help it! But in my defense he is cute XD
This could be a really good illustration of the cave scene ^_^ when she had to take care of him and all. Tehe! :D Pretty pretty pretty ^_^

This is the Sweden cover ^_^. I guess this should be Katniss! I would really like to know what the designer thought when they were making this. Don't get me wrong! It is not bad! Actually way better than the Romanian one! ^_^

Hunger Games - covers

2010-02-05T06:40:00.000-08:00

Hey hey!
Hunger Games is getting bigger and bigger and taking over the world one country at a time.
Here are some covers apart from the usual one.

Drummrooooooool - ROMANIA (Well, duh!) :))

This is the cover for the first volume of Hunger Games. ^_^ I can't say I'm crazy about. They could have done a better job with it. Ehh! Very nice and colory but no trace of the Mockingjay.:(

The Cover for "Catching Fire". Again, the creativity overwhelms me.:)) Not really! "Let's throw in some fire there and if you squint your eyes a little it looks cool!" Riiiiiiiiigh!
That is life, you can't face a pretty cover in every country.

NOW! This is one of my personal favorite. And, well, duh it had to be Japan! Big Surprise there.

Ignoring Katniss's rather large boobs :)) I love this cover! The Japanese know their art (Can't say the same about the Twilight Japanese ones - They could have done a better job. They have the people)
I can't wait to see the illustrations in side and get a getter look at Peeta! XD TEAM PEETA!

END OF PART ONE! BRB
A.M Bells

Hush, Hush

2010-02-04T00:45:00.000-08:00

February is Angel month, it is set.
Reminder: Angel Star (I will have this reminder on every post about angel books till sunny day of May when it will be out)

Book of today

Mentioned in the previous post: Hush, hush – Becca Fitzpatrick
Started: December 28, 2009
Finished: December 28, 2009
Yes, I read it in a whole day, that is how much I loved it.
Major Charas – Nora Grey and Patch Cipriano (I have to admit I had a laugh at his last name since it has both Italian and Romanian connotations – Cousin named Ciprian – love you cuz )

Short synopsis: Nora Grey is your usual girl but doesn’t have a particular interest in boys. She has a sex obsessed friend  that tried to hook her up every time she has the opportunity,
It is not until Patch steppes in the scene that Nora is thrown into a roller costar ride, literally. With his cocky attitude, easy smile and eyes to die for, Nora finds herself lost between running away from him or running in his arms.
Weird things start happen, Nora is attached by a man wearing a ski mask, her friend gets hurt and everything directs to Patch.
Soon Nora finds out that angels do exist, they walk among us and have desires same as us.

The books gets you hooked from the first time you open it, and my female personal opining I give more than 50% credit to Patch that makes you weak to the knees just by reading his cocky comments.
It was packed with action and mystery and I had to really fight with my self from looking at the end to answer all the questions that arose while reading: Was Patch the sky mask guy? What’s the deal with the Elliot dude and his weird friend that well it had more too do with the story than I would have expected. (Trying hard not to spoil)

Crescendo : The sequel has already been announced and is bound to answer more questions left in Hush, hush.

Quote TIMEEE:

Patch: "Say 'provoking again. Your mouth looks provocative when you do."

Personal Favorite: "You possess other people's...bodies."
He accepted that statement with a nod.
"Do you want to possess my body?"
"I want to do a lot of things to your body, but that's not one of them"

Nora: "I don't go out with strangers," I said
Patch: "Good thing i do. I'll pick you up at five."

Angel Star

2010-02-03T10:33:00.000-08:00

Vampiri? Au expirat de mult! Noua temă în literatura YA sunt îngerii. Căzuţi, gata să îţi îndeplinească o dorinţă pentru o faptă bună, blânzi, gata să îţi ia sufletul.
Jennifer Murgia debutează cu o carte fantastică care se menţine temei. Dacă v-a plăcut "Hush, hush" cu siguranţă că v-a place şi această carte.
Se promite a fi unică în grupul cărţilor cu îngeri aşa că nu rataţi această carte: 18 Mai!
Susţine-ţi autorii în plină ascensiune!

SYNOPSIS

Seventeen-year-old Teagan McNeel falls for captivating Garreth Adams and soon discovers that her crush has an eight-point star etched into the palm of his right hand-the mark of an angel.
But where there is light, dark follows, and she and Garreth suddenly find themselves vulnerable to a dark angel's malicious plan that could threaten not only her life, but the lives of everyone she knows.
Divinely woven together, Angel Star takes readers on a reflective journey when one angel's sacrifice collides with another angel's vicious ambition in a way that is sure to have readers searching for their own willpower.

Vreţi să aflaţi mai mult despre autoare tot ce trebuie să face-ţi este să îi vizitaţi profilul pe Goodreads. Cititul nu dăunează, nu uita.

Another Another Faust ?

2009-10-22T08:14:00.001-07:00

Hey hey everyone big news!
"Dina and Daniel are happy to open the doors to their very first “retelling” contest!"

You don't know who they are yet? Only the writers of "Another Faust"!

Write your own short story, re-imagining of the Faustian Bargain! Send it to them and hope to win.
Rules and everything are here so read them carefully.

Now, here’s what you’re playing for:

A signed copy of Another Faust

A handwritten deleted scene

A featured article & interview on our website

An author’s galley of the sequel Another Pan

Win a copy of Shiver everyone

2009-06-16T02:12:00.000-07:00

Today I'm writing in English people, since my geek self has been hurling around the internet for a good book.

SHIVER

A beautiful story about a girl and a wolf, and the chance to win an ARC before the release of 1st of August.

Now a little about the book from the back cover

"For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever."

If you want to enter this crazy battle for a book which means you are a total geek (or dork) like me just go here and enter yourself in the CONTEST

GOOD LUCK
if you decide to go on this quest whose faith will be chosen randomly

AM BELLS

Clannad

2009-03-13T02:56:00.000-07:00

Odată, am refuzat complet să mă uit la acest serial. Iar azi am ajuns la ultimul episod al sezonului doi şi plâng de parcă mi-am pierdut primul născut.
Am petrecut zile întregi cu inima la gură gândindu-mă ce va urma în episodul următor, plângând când lucrurile deveneau prea triste…sau prea fericite.
Am cântat ca o apucată Dango, mi-am personalizat calculatorul în tema Clannad, telefonul mobil, am intrat în adevărate războaie on-line pentru al apăra pe Tomoya de cei care ziceau că merită toate pirderile suferite.

Ce am sa le spun acum? Ninaninanina, şi mă strâmb la voi, pentru că totul s-a terminat cu bine şi e fericit cu copilul şi soţia lui.

Gândurile mele despre
GRAFICĂ
În ceea ce priveşte grafica îi dau un mare 10 cu felicitări. Nu am mai văzut o grafică atât de bună de la filmele lui Makoto Shinkai. Totul a fost perfect şi este perfect, mai ales că îţi dă un sentiment de realitate (în afară de momentele când Kyo sparge pereţi cu dicţionare…fizic imposibil).

POVESTE
Nu poţi să crezi măcar o secundă că un anime de la Key ar avea o poveste banală. O poveste care la final să te lase cu gândul “So what?”. La fel ca şi celelalte anime-urile de la Key, Clannad are ceva ce te marchează ( Shut it voi cei care ziceţi că “desenele” sunt pentru copii şi nu au nici un sens).
Mă gândesc serios să mă uit şi la Kanon acum! ^_^

ÎNCEPUT
Clannad a început ca un anime tipic Harem ( motiv pentru care refuzam să mă uit). Mare mi-a fost surprinderea şi bucuria când am văzut că nu este chiar aşa. Da, păstrează acel vibe de harem prin prezenţa fetelor, dar în acelaşi timp se depărtează de acesta prin faptul că Tomoya este evident ataşat numai, şi numai de Nagisa. Iar comedia e absolut criminală.

SFÂRŞITUL

După ce treci printr-un sezon în care efectiv cazi de pe scaun de râs ajungi în sezonul ~After Story~ în care efectiv toţi banii tăi se duc pe serveţele şi batiste. Şi te întrebi unde a greşit Tomoya ca să treacă prin atâtea. (Ceea ce a iscat şi cele mai multe dispute pe internet)

Acum Spoiler ( oki, mai de sus era spoiler …mă rog) – Totul se termină cu bine…SHOCKER O_O cunoscând istoria de dramatici a celor de la Key >.<. Oricum plângi din cauza uşurării că totul s-a terminat cu bine.

END PART 1
(Hehe! Nu pot termina cu un singur post! Revenim cu MORE CLANNAD after the brake)

A.M. BELLS ^_^

Late Christmas spirit

2009-01-18T05:47:00.000-08:00

*Akai: Your nose is so kyut!
Lia *blush*
Akai: Your red nose is Kyut too.
Lia *blush blush*
Akai: Don't turn into Rudoph now!
Lia *slap*

courtesy of Ve ^_^

Art more or less

2008-11-25T01:29:00.000-08:00

Nu am mai postat de mult pe aci si mi-am promis ca o voi face.
Astazi m-am gandit sa fac o schimbare de la arta scrisului, nu ca am postat prea mult pe tema asta :P Dar va fi...
Astazi, voi dezvalui un talent care cam leneveste la mine.

Acesta e Asher! A fellow net friend m-a rugat sa ii desenez un personaj. Sunt mandra de cum a iesit, pentru ca l-am facut dupa doi ani de pauza. I just fell in love with him.

Laugh a day

2008-10-16T23:14:00.000-07:00

*Se da la o parte capacul cosciugului
Akai's head pops out
Esther: Pot sa-mi pun diamant in colt?
Akai: Ask your mom
*Lia's head pops out*
Lia: No
Esther: Si va intrebati cu cine seman!
Akai: O_O Are you not telling us something we're supposed to know?
Esther: Yes! Coffins are SO last season!

Lorerin copyright XD

Hakushaku to Yousei

2008-10-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

Dragă Ria! Voi scrie când voi găsi timp să visez. LEC-ul m-a distrus! SPO…SPC…

Parcă m-am întors la liceu şi trebuie să învăţ SAP, SOP, SIP, SEP (Nu mă certaţi dacă le-am măcelărit numele)

Azi pur şi simplu nu pot să nu fac un post special pentru Hakushaku to Yousei.

E nou, e full de Bishies şi o pisică tare vorbăreaţă. Dar pe noi ne interesează doar băieţii de aici....Kehe! *mad otaku girl grin*

Totul se întâmplă în Anglia Victoriană, o avem de Lidia de 17 ani, numită şi Fairy Doctor şi un harem de barbaţi Hababa! Ce fac ei? Caută o sabie.

Pentru mai multe detalii, uitaţi-vă singure.

E un serial de care am nevoie după o zi de Facultate.

And hands off, Raven e al meu! SHOTACON FOR LIFE!

Şi are cel mai tare Ending din câte am văzut! Naked men, ok…Half Naked *grin*, in bed! *grin grin*

Edgar J. C. Ashenbert! The main male!

De cum l-am văzut blond m-am gândit la Tamaki din Ouran! I iz not the only one! I’ve been asking around.

Raven! E un fel de demon...ummm^_^. I like demon guys! I repeat! HE IS MINE *muhahaha*

Kelpie! Nu am nici cea mai vagă idée cine este el…încă. Arată bine! Sper că nu este rău!

Şi aşa se termină! Insert self in place of Lidia. Eram mai interesată dacă era Raven.

A.M. Bells

So la la

2008-10-15T07:04:00.000-07:00

Şi uite aşa am ajuns şi la Facultate! x_x

Cu ce se mănâncă Facultate de Litere, Engleză-Germană ( deci vă rog)?

Sprechen sie dutch?

Ya ya! Da’ de unde…încă!

Să revenim!

Cum era natural: Engleză şi Germană.

Şi multe chestii cu denumiri de genul LEC, Lingvistică Generală, Teoria Literaturii….SPORT.

Mă dor muşchii de mor!

Şi uite aşa, pornesc frumos cu microbul sau cu maşina în zilele bune în care nu i-a picat nici o piesă în drum, la ora 8 dimineaţă, până la 16 sau 18. Bineînţeles că am şi câte o pauză nesimţită între cursuri în care nu am timp decât să vin să pup interfonul de acasă şi să plec.

În încheiere, sunt mândră să spun că Alice e pe terminate şi că încă aştept răspunsul de la Humanitas . 19 zile….41 to go! Că doar sunt cu numărul 127…parcă!

A.M. Bells

EMO

2008-06-02T10:26:00.000-07:00

Emo! Oare ce este Emo ăsta?

Dacă te îmbraci în negru eşti Emo ! Uau ! Deci bunica mea e şi ea Emo, pentru că de la moartea bunicului se îmbracă doar în negru ! Hmmm !

Dacă eşti mai imaginativ la haine şi ieşi din tiparul oamenilor « normali » esti Emo !

Pfuai de mine şi de mine ! Acum nu avem voie să ne antrenăm imaginaţia că imediat vine un « normal » şi îţi arde una între ochi pe care scrie EMOOOO !

Nu mai fiţi rataţi lamentabili care încalecă pe o idee fumată de mult pe alte meleaguri !

România a descoperit America...adică EMO.

Dar ce înseamnă EMO până la urmă? Dracu ştie ! Românul cu siguranţă nu !

A.M. Bells

ARC

2008-05-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

Advanced reading copy!

Cam aşa văd în momentul acesta “Crimson Chocolate” cu toate ca a fost publicată şi lansată.

Sunt sigură că ceva mult mai extraordinar ar putea deveni “Crimson Chocolate”, mai extraordinar decât acum (heavy pride here and narcissism XD).

Şi asta începând cu coperta. Ce ar face un photoshop manevrat de un geniu ( nu eu -_-‘)

Ehh ! Cate un pas mic, către unul mare, nu ? Că dacă sar din prima risc să cad. Şi sunt expertă la căzut ! XD

Pe data viitoare *wink*

A.M. Bells

Ploaie şi gânduri

2008-05-29T03:59:00.000-07:00

"Azi, m-a sărutat un străin!" Cam aşa începe... "Picăturile de ploaie mă loveau fără milă, dar nu m-am mişcat din locul meu. Pietrele podului pe care stăteam se udau cu fiecare picătură în plus, şi deveneau mai alunecoase sub pantofii mei. Atunci a venit un străin, fără umbrelă, la fel ca şi mine, şi m-a sărutat. El a trecut mai departe... Dar acum caut un străin ce miroase ca ploaia nemiloasă dinaintea unei sinucideri..."
Mergeam pe stradă pur şi simplu astăzi şi m-am gîndit cum ar fi să vină un străin şi sa te sărute...pur şi simplu...şi de acolo sa pornească totul. Iar acum toate s-au aşternut singure...un străin...o sinucigaşă...oare el e zeul morţii? Hehe! Mai vedem noi!

A.M Bells

A.M. Bells

A day with Ash or Puck (Edit)

The Iron Knight (Iron Fey volume 4 - Ash POV) by Julie Kagawa

Unwind – Neal Shusterman

The Iron Queen - Julie Kagawa (Iron Fey #3)

The Iron Daughter - Julie Kagawa (Iron Fey #2)

The Iron King + Winter's Passage by Julie Kagawa

Blue Bloods Novella (Bloody Valentine) - Melissa de la Cruz

Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater

FIRELIGHT - Sophie Jordan

Jealousy (Strange Angels) - Lili St. Claire

Strange Angels 1 & 2 - Lili St.Crow

Guillaume Musso - La Fille de papier (The Paper Girl)

Ghost Town - Rachel Caine

TYGER TYGER - Kersten Hamilton

Lazyness Lazy

Scarlett - Barbara Baraldi

Angel Star - Jennifer Murgia

MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES Book 5 - Rachel Caine

MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES Book 4 - Rachel Caine

HEX HALL - Rachel Hawkins

MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES Book 3 - Rachel Caine

MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES Book 2 - Rachel Caine

MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES Book 1 - Rachel Caine

Soul Screamers 3 My Soul to Keep - Rachel Vincent

Ondine: The Summer of Shambles by Ebony McKenna

Sailing my way! \^o^/

Bringing in the LOOT

Waiting for ^_^

March round-up

Captivate - Carrie Jones

Need - Carrie Jones

Before The Mortal Instruments

Darkest Powers - Kelley Armstrong

Waiting on

Wondrous Strange - Wondrous Strange #1 and Darklight #2 - Lesley Livingston

February wrap-up

Other Angel-related Books

Cassandra Clare - City of Glass

City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare

City of Bones - Cassandra Clare

Rachel Vincent's Book Give Away

Hunger Games - covers PART 3 - German

Hunger Games - covers PART 2

Hunger Games - covers

Hush, Hush

Angel Star

*Another* Another Faust ?

Win a copy of Shiver everyone

Clannad

Late Christmas spirit

Art more or less

Laugh a day

Hakushaku to Yousei

So la la

EMO

ARC

Ploaie şi gânduri

Another Another Faust ?