October 10, 2017

New Releases: Week of October 10, 2017

All The Crooked Saints
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: October 10, 2017

Here is a thing everyone wants:
A miracle.

Here is a thing everyone fears:
What it takes to get one.

Any visitor to Bicho Raro, Colorado is likely to find a landscape of dark saints, forbidden love, scientific dreams, miracle-mad owls, estranged affections, one or two orphans, and a sky full of watchful desert stars.

At the heart of this place you will find the Soria family, who all have the ability to perform unusual miracles. And at the heart of this family are three cousins longing to change its future: Beatriz, the girl without feelings, who wants only to be free to examine her thoughts; Daniel, the Saint of Bicho Raro, who performs miracles for everyone but himself; and Joaquin, who spends his nights running a renegade radio station under the name Diablo Diablo.

They are all looking for a miracle. But the miracles of Bicho Raro are never quite what you expect.

Turtles All The Way Down

Author: John Green

Publisher: Dutton for Young Readers

Publication Date: October 10, 2017

Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis.

Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.

Into The Bright Unknown (The Gold Seer Trilogy #3)

Author: Rae Carson

Publisher: Greenwillow

Publication Date: October 10, 2017

Leah Westfall, her fiancé Jefferson, and her friends have become rich in the California Territory, thanks to Lee’s magical ability to sense precious gold. But their fortune has made them a target, and when a dangerous billionaire sets out to destroy them, Lee and her friends decide they’ve had enough—they will fight back with all their power and talents. Lee’s magic is continuing to strengthen and grow, but someone is on to her—someone who might have a bit of magic herself. The stakes are higher than ever as Lee and her friends hatch a daring scheme that could alter the California landscape forever. With a distinctive young heroine and a unique interpretation of American history, Into the Bright Unknown strikes a rich vein of romance, magic, and adventure, bringing the Gold Seer Trilogy to its epic conclusion. Includes a map and an author’s note.

Berserker (Berserker #1)

Author: Emmy Laybourne

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Publication Date: October 10, 2017

Are Hanne's powers a gift from the old Norse gods, or a curse?

Her brother Stieg swears their powers are a gift from the old gods, but Hanne Hemstad knows she is truly cursed. It's not Stieg's fault that their father is dead, their mother has left, and their brother Knut has been accused of a crime he didn't commit.

No, the fault lies with Hanne and her inability to control her murderous "gift"--she is a Berserker. When someone she loves is threatened, she flies into a killing state. The siblings must leave Norway for the American frontier or risk being brought to justice.

Aided by a young cowboy who agrees to be their guide, Hanne and her siblings use their powers to survive the perilous trail, where blizzards, wild animals, and vicious bounty hunters await.

Will they be able to reach their uncle, the one man Hanne believes may be able to teach her how to control her drive to kill? With Berserker, Emmy Laybourne, the author of Monument 14, presents her vision of an American west studded with Viking glory.

Other New Releases:

Forest of A Thousand Lanterns (Rise of the Empress #1) by Julie C. Dao (10/10/17) [Philomel]

The Knowing (The Forgetting #2) by Sharon Cameron (10/10/17) [Scholastic]

Last Star Burning (Last Star Burning #1) by Caitlin Sangster (10/10/17) [Simon Pulse]

The Silver Mask (Magisterium #4) by Holly Black, Cassandra Clare (10/10/17) [Scholastic]

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September 01, 2012

Review: The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

The Girl Of Fire And Thorns (Fire and Thorns #1)
Author: Rae Carson
Publisher: Greenwillow
Publication Date: September 20, 2011
Pages: 424
Source: Hardcover/Library

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.
 
Elisa is the chosen one. 

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can't see how she ever will.
Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

Review: I'll admit this right out. I had no expectations for this book what so ever. I really couldn't figure out what the book was about based on the blurb (above) and that made me not really that interested in reading it. But a few of my blogger friends said I should and that it was actually good so I went to the library and got it. By the end of the book I was so happy that I listened to those friends about reading it! I loved this book! At first I was confused about the whole Godstone thing and why Elisa had to be so closely protected because of it, but I understood why after reading a few chapters. At first it was kinda slow, but even in the slower parts there was still action which made it interesting. Like the random attack on the way to Joya d'Arena, and her Husbands son (he was very bratty at the beginning). I also found how her husband wouldn't take an action to help other countries interesting and it showed how he was. Not doing anything unless absolutely necessary. But even through the slow parts this book had me hooked! Especially after Elisa was kidnapped from her room at the palace. At first I was all like what the heck is going on but then when she is taken to the village that her new country isn't helping, and she decided to help it made the book even better. She really took on her role as the chosen one and tried to help everyone she could. 

I was so interested in this story of the impending battle with Invierne! I was so curious about how they got this magical power, and how they were able to defeat everyone they fought with. It was even more interesting when Elisa, Humberto and Cosme (and others) set out to spy on the Invierne camp, especially after the Inviernes found them! I was so furious! They were pretty sneaky in getting to their hideout so it made sense that someone sold them out when it was brought up. And after said person was seen in the Invierne camp when Elisa was able to break free from her captors, I was 100% sure it was betrayal. I also loved the plan she came up with (with Humberto & Cosme's help) to make the Inviernes allies be turned against them. It was great, and it worked! I was also shocked to find out how the Invernies were getting there power. It made me question if people were being born with Godstones on both sides of the war. The ending... The ending was bittersweet for me. I was really sad about the certain someone who lost their life but I was very happy that Elisa was able to save the country from the Inviernes. I can't wait to read The Crown of Embers!

5 Stars!

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July 02, 2012

Review: Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Masque of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death #1)

Author: Bethany Griffin
Publisher: Greenwillow
Publication Date: April 24, 2012
Pages: 320
Source: Hardcover/Library

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

Review: This book wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it none the less. I wasn't expecting some of the darker scenes and definitely some of the twists and turns this book took. What I found the most sad about this book was the way the bodies of the dead (or so thought to be) we're disposed of. They were just picked up and tossed into a cart and brought to the swamps. I mean, I get it the bodies were diseased and you didn't want others to be around them and touch them but just tossing them like that... It was kinda insensitive. But hey, they did what they had to do I guess. I thought the whole thing with the masks sucked! They were kinda helpful in at least trying to not get the plague but only the rich could afford them. And those who wanted to make them available to everyone couldn't because they would have got in huge trouble, so they had to try doing it in secret. It totally wasn't fair at all. And just in general, I really didn't like the prince. He did some really mean things, especially near the end with Araby's mother and that made me really not like him. I do like Araby's parents though! Despite that they seemed over protective at times (which they kinda had every right to be) it showed how much they loved and cared about her even though she felt like they would never love her as much as they did her brother.

Will and Elliot... Lets start with Elliot. I didn't like him as a person at first. It took me a little bit to warm up to him but eventually I did find myself liking him. I thought it was so awesome what he was trying to do in secret, trying to make masks available to everyone, but then his plans got thwarted so that kinda sucked. But hey, the idea was still pretty awesome. I also liked how he did eventually start to actually care about Araby even though in the beginning he was trying so hard not to. Will... I liked Will from the start, with him the feelings are opposite of Elliot and I liked him until he did something that made me not like him as much. What he did to Araby in the end made me not like him as much though I am glad he is still ok with what was happening in the city at the end. I really liked how he really cared about his brother and sister and would do anything for them. I also liked how he cared about Araby and her well being at first and that even when he didn't have to he took care of her. But after what he did at the end I'm not sure of my feelings for him now. This book was definitely a success in regards to it being based on a Edgar Allen Poe story! I am definitely looking forward to the next book though to see where this story goes!

5 Stars!

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