Showing posts with label Lauren DeStefano. Show all posts

October 24, 2017

New Releases: Week of October 24, 2017

The Glass Spare (The Glass Spare #1)
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: October 24, 2017

A banished princess.
A deadly curse.
A kingdom at war.

Wil Heidle, the only daughter of the king of the world’s wealthiest nation, has grown up in the shadows. Kept hidden from the world in order to serve as a spy for her father—whose obsession with building his empire is causing a war—Wil wants nothing more than to explore the world beyond her kingdom, if only her father would give her the chance.

Until one night Wil is attacked, and she discovers a dangerous secret. Her touch turns people into gemstone. At first Wil is horrified—but as she tests its limits, she’s drawn more and more to the strange and volatile ability. When it leads to tragedy, Wil is forced to face the destructive power within her and finally leave her home to seek the truth and a cure.

But finding the key to her redemption puts her in the path of a cursed prince who has his own ideas for what to do with her power.

With a world on the brink of war and a power of ultimate destruction, can Wil find a way to help the kingdom that’s turned its back on her, or will she betray her past and her family forever?

Other New Releases:
The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand (10/24/17) [Harper Teen]

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October 07, 2017

Stacking The Shelves [#70]/Sunday Post [#1]/Mailbox Monday [#1]

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Reading Reality as a way to share all the books we got during the week!
The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. Its a weekly post to showcase what books you got, recap the week, and talk about what will be coming up this week on the blog!

 Mailbox Monday is hosted on its own site. It is there to show off the books acquired during the week!

 So over the past 2 years, since the last time I did a StS, I've acquired a fair amount of books. I'm not going to post everything, but I'll post a fair chunk so everyone can see what I've got and am working on reading! 
Bought/Gifts Part 1/3:

  • Sweet Temptation (Sweet #4) by Wendy Higgins (Goodreads)
  • Stonehenge by Bernard Cornwell (Goodreads)
  • A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1) by Sarah J. Maas (Goodreads)
  • A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2) by Sarah J. Maas (Goodreads)
  • Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) by Sarah J. Maas (Goodreads)
  • Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Maas (Goodreads)
  • Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J. Maas (Goodreads)
  • Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5) by Sarah J. Maas (Signed Copy) (Goodreads)
A lot of Sarah J. Maas. Lol. I know a lot of people love her books so I've been collecting them to read. 

Bought/ Gifts Part 2/3:
  • Blood Ravens: The Dawn of War Omnibus (Warhammer 40k) by C.S. Goto (Goodreads)
  • The Raven King (The Raven Cycle #4) by Maggie Stiefvater (Goodreads)
  • Carve The Mark (Carve The Mark #1) by Veronica Roth (Goodreads)
  • Strange The Dreamer (Strange The Dreamer #1) by Laini Taylor (Goodreads)
  • The Rose Society (The Young Elites #2) by Marie Lu (Goodreads)
  • The Midnight Star (The Young Elites #3) by Marie Lu (Goodreads)
  • Soldier (Talon #3) by Julie Kagawa (Goodreads)
  • Replica (Replica #1) by Lauren Oliver (Goodreads)
Bought/Gifts Part 3/3:
  • Until The Beginning (After The End #2) by Amy Plum (Goodreads)
  • Starbreak (Starglass #2) by Phoebe North (Goodreads)
  • Sever (The Chemical Garden #3) by Lauren DeStefano (Goodreads/Review)
  • The Shadow Cabinet (Shades of London #3) by Maureen Johnson (Goodreads)
  • Raging Star (Dustlands #3) by Moira Young (Goodreads)
  • Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1) by Cassandra Clare (Goodreads)
  • Tiger's Curse (The Tiger Saga #1) by Colleen Houck (Goodreads)
  • Tiger's Quest (The Tiger Saga #2) by Colleen Houck (Goodreads)

Weekly Recap:

Upcoming:
So I had 2 books I had read but never reviewed in 2015/2016 that I had wanted to review. So I'll be rereading them so I can finally finish my reviews and post them! YAY!

Review of Fuse (Pure #2) by Julianna Baggott
Review of The Lives We Lost (Fallen World #2) by Megan Crewe
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December 29, 2013

Stacking The Shelves [#64]

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews as a way to share all the books we got during the week!

Christmas Presents:
Bought:
Bought for Kindle:
Library:
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April 03, 2013

Review: Sever by Lauren DeStefano

Sever (The Chemical Garden #3)
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: February 12, 2013
Pages: 371
Source: Hardcover/Library

Time is running out for Rhine in this conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Chemical Garden Trilogy.

With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered.


Review: I have to say, this book did not even remotely go how I expected it to go. But that was ok because I enjoyed the story anyways. There actually wasn't much I disliked about the book. I felt like there was a HUGE amount of character development and realization. So I shall start with Rhine. She ended up in the hospital with Linden by her side after Vaughn found her. So I really had no idea what I even wanted her to do in this book besides find Gabriel. That's all I wanted her to do. But she took it upon herself to find her brother knowing that he was still alive, especially after finding out he was bombing labs in the name of her death (which was a total and complete lie). So after Rhine was released from the hospital she stayed with Lindens uncle Reed until she was well enough to go find her brother. I really liked Reed. He was one of the few first gens that actually seemed to care about things other than the cure. He felt way more human than some people like his brother Vaughn and ended up being really protective over Rhine, Linden, Cecily and Bowen when they were all staying with him! He would not let Vaughn take them back for anything! He helped Rhine, Linden and Cecily get away when Vaughn pretty much was gonna forced them back to the mansion. He even watched Bowen when they went on the run from Vaughn which also happened to be their trip to find Rhines brother. 

 Rhine's brother Rowan. Ok. I was happy Rhine found him! But that effect quickly wore off. Come to find out, Vaughn had his hooks in Rowan since he had got his hands on Rhine! UGH!!! I really hate Vaughn! Rowan was brainwashed by him and wouldn't listen to a thing Rhine said about him. He defended Vaughn!!! I don't care that Vaughn was trying to work on the cure, he was still doing it in a very wrong way most of the time!

I definitely saw the biggest growth in Linden. Cecily grew a lot too but Linden definitely grew the most. He transformed from the brainwashed son to the son that finally knew exactly what his father was capable of! I was really proud of Lindens growth! You could really see how much in pained him realizing it too! He went from accusing Rhine of lying about his father to accepting the truth not only because Rhine told him that, but because Cecily also backed Rhine in knowing what Vaughn was capable of. I have to say, Cecily played a big part in making Linden realize and come to terms with things. I loved the growth in their relationship as well. He stopped being so infatuated with Rhine when it was clear she wasn't interested, and actually got really close to Cecily. I loved seeing the happiness and love that those two shared throughout the book! I was really sad though with what happened to Linden in the end of this book! After all the growing he did in this book just for it to end like it did (go read it to find out what happened! I'm not spoiling everything here!)... That just made me all kinds of sad. 

I did find all the info involving Rhine and Rowan and their parents very interesting! We found out the their parents really only considered them subjects. They got names only after they survived a while. And they weren't the first set of twins that their parents had. They were actually if I remember correctly, the third. They were only really concerned with finding a cure, not their children actually surviving. If Rhine and Rowan hadn't survived I bet there would have been more sets of twins. I really felt bad for Rhine having to find out all that info about her parents. 

I must say. The ending was kinda epic and not at all what I expected. Gabriel ended up being in the mansions basement the entire book because Vaughn put him in a coma after Gabriel followed Rhine back after getting sick! I was so happy when he was taken out of his induced coma! It was nice having Gabriel back! Cecily shooting someone! The cure actually working! Lindens uncle Reed taking over running the mansion! Definitely not how I saw it turning out, but yet still so good! 
4 Stars!
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March 09, 2013

Stacking The Shelves [#45]

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews as a way to share all the books we got during the week!

Library:

Bought:
Swag:
  • The Fallen World Trilogy Street Team Swag

Weekly Recap:

Cover Reveals:

Memes & Other Posts:
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June 26, 2012

Cover Reveals: The Indigo Spell & Sever

Blurb from Goodreads:
In the first two books of the Chemical Garden trilogy, Wither and Fever, Rhine struggles to escape the mansion and then to navigate the brutal world outside. Now in Sever, the third and final book, Rhine uncovers some shattering truths about the past that her parents never had the chance to tell her and the alarming implications regarding her own genes. She may be the one who can save the human race.

I'm torn between this cover. I'm not the biggest fan of the green, I mean I like the color but its more the plainish background. But I love the rest of it. I'm really excited for this! I loved Wither and Fever and I'm so excited to see what happens to Rhine in Sever. Sever's expected publication is February 12, 2013!

 No blurb yet. I haven't read the Bloodlines series yet since I haven't even finished the Vampire Academy series and I don't wanna start this one til I finish that one. But I do think this cover looks fantastic. I love the color! The Indigo Spell's expected publication is also February 12, 2013!

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March 02, 2012

Review: Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Fever (The Chemical Garden #2)
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: February 21, 2012
Pages: 341
Source: ARC from Publisher/Won on Goodreads

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

Review: I thought this was a great sequel to Wither! I really enjoyed it! It was really eye opening. We got more of a first hand look at all that was going on in the world outside. I was really interested in the Scarlet District though (the circus thing). Jenna came from a district like that so you really got a sense of what she had to do and what she went through before she became a bride in Wither. Overall though, even with learning more about how Jenna lived previous to being a wife I was still way to happy when Rhine and Gabriel got away from the Scarlet District. I thought it was just wrong with what went on there. I was so worried about Gabriel when they left though because of the drugs that Madame had put in his system. Even though it caused him pain and gave him nightmares I was glad it worked its way out of his system. I also felt really bad for Rhine, especially after she got back to New York. It felt like she was losing hope every day that went by and she didn't find her brother. Not to mention she got sick which made me feel even worse for her. :( Poor Rhine.

Vaughn!!!! UGH!!!! Do I even have to repeat what I said in my review of Wither of how much I despise Vaughn?!?!?!?!? Why cant he just leave Rhine alone???? I mean first he follows her to the Scarlet District of which she has to escape from due to him showing up and then he freakin shows up in New York! UGH!!!!! And then on top of everything we find out he's part of the reason Rhine got sick! Like seriously, I despise Vaughn so much! I hold my position on that firmly after the ending of the book. The ending! I don't know what to think about the ending! I definitely cant wait for the next book to see where it goes!

4 Stars!
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February 20, 2012

Teaser Tuesday [#28]

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! just do the following:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3. Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
4. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

1. "Aphrodisiacs are quiet potent, aren't they?" Madame says, reaching into a lantern and snuffing the flame with her finger and thumb."

2. "Yes, you can put on quite a show." She's looking at me when she adds, "Men will pay great money to see what they can't touch."

pg. 61 of ARC of "Fever" by Lauren DeStefano

1. "In three years of baking for Hurley's Homestyle Diner in Watonka, New York, I've never met a problem a proper cupcake couldn't fix."

2. "And while I haven't quite perfected the recipe to fix my father, I'm totally on the verge."

pg. 9 of "Bittersweet" by Sarah Ockler
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February 05, 2012

In My Mailbox [#26]

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share new books we bought, received, won etc.

Won:
I won this from a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.

Bought:

 Library:
So originally I was only gonna get Bittersweet since I had it on hold and it finally came in Thursday. But then I brought my friend to the library and found Eve and The Pledge which I've been trying to get my hands on for months.

 For My Kindle:

 And.... I finally got a new laptop!!!!!!!!!! :D. I really wanted to do this mailbox Vlog style but my Internets been kinda slow :/

Also, I'm sorry I haven't really been present on the blog the past two weeks. I wasn't feeling well for the first week and a half and then for the past 3 days we've been dealing with the loss of a pet. But I'm back! I promise I'll catch up. :)

What's in your mailbox?
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January 26, 2012

Review: Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Wither (The Chemical Garden #1)
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: March 22, 2011
Pages: 358
Source: Hardcover/Library

What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant she trusts, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

Review: I really enjoyed Wither! I really liked how this book was unique. Guys live until they turn 25, girls only until their 20. First of all, can I say that sucks! If that really happened I'd be a year and a half away from dying and that doesn't sound much fun to me. It must suck to be one of the girls being kidnapped and married off to bread the new generations just so they can undergo exactly what happened to the generations before them in HOPES of finding the cure. Just hope, no concrete science that might say their getting closer, just hope. I really didnt like how the girls were chosen only if they were "Good Enough" and the rest were just disposed of. The "Disposing" of the ones who werent "Good Enough" was just not right. I really felt for those girls. I also felt for Rhine. I mean yes she was good enough, but who would want to be married off? 

Linden... I really didnt like him at first because I thought he was just a massive JERK for kidnapping the girls, but then as we got to know him my opinion of him completely changed. After we found out that it was Vaughn behind all the bad stuff (like the girls being taken, what happened to Jenna, Rose...) I actually liked Linden a little. Not a lot, but a little. He wasnt as big of a villan as I originally thought. I honestly kind of felt bad for him because of how in love he was with Rose and how much he missed her. GABRIEL! I really really liked him! I loved how he was there for Rhine to talk to and he was just such a good friend to her. I hated Vaughn for sending him to work elsewhere in the mansion after he found out that they were close. I also thought it was so cute how Gabriel would sneak candies from the kitchen to bring to Rhine. I also loved how in the end Gabriel trusted Rhine enough to run away with her, and I'm ecstatic that they actually got away! And with Cecily's help as it appeared! Even though this isnt exactly my favorite book I'm definitely excited for Fever to come out. 

4 Stars!


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January 24, 2012

Waiting On Wednesday [#23]

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Fever (The Chemical Garden #2)
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Expected Publication: February 21, 2012

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

I really enjoyed Wither! I thought it was interesting and it wasn't like some of the stuff I read. I definitely cant wait to read Fever to find out what happens with Rhine and Gabriel! And guess what guys! I was just emailed early Tuesday morning saying I was one of the Winners of the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway of an ARC of Fever! EEEPPPPP!!! I was so excited to receive that email! :) 

What are you waiting on this week?

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December 19, 2011

Teaser Tuesday [#19]

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! just do the following:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3. Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
4. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

1. "For males twenty-five is the fatal age. For women it's twenty."

2. "We are all dropping like flies."

pg. 8 of "Wither" by Lauren DeStefano

1. "Later that night a crack! pulled me out of sleep."

2. "With my face mashed into my pillow, I held still, all my senses on high alert."

pg. 30 of "Hush, Hush" by Becca Fitzpatrick
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December 17, 2011

In My Mailbox [#19]

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share new books we bought, received, won etc.

Secret Santa Gifts:
  • Fateful by Claudia Gray
  • Some other fun stuff including a pad of Bookmarks (that you can write on and take notes on n stuff)
All that thanks to Cecelia at The Adventures of Cecelia Bedelia. I love your gifts! Thank you so much!

Library Haul:

















 
NetGalley:
Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin & Flux!

     My friend Shay gave me this stuff. Its so cute! Ok, so I have an obsession with sock monkey so she got me a sock monkey. And guess what it sings and dances! It sings and dances to Tik Tok by Kesha. The feather earrings have little skulls on them and the lanyard has music notes! and the thing on the side has brownie mix! :D

    **Fair warning to everyone. I will have an IMM next week but it wont be up until afternoon next sunday (which I know is a big change seeing as I usually post my IMM the night before)**

    Whats in your mailbox?
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