August 29, 2012

Waiting On Wednesday [#53]

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

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3)

Author: Cassandra Clare
Expected Publication: March 19, 2013

In Clockwork Princess, Tessa and her companions travel all over the world as they race to stop the clockwork army before it’s too late. As Jem’s health worsens alarmingly and his friends search desperately for a cure, can Tessa choose between the two boys she loves—even if it means never seeing the other one again?

Seroiusly. Do I even have to explain why I'm excited for this?!?! I am in love with this series!!! I think I love this one just a little bit more than The Mortal Instruments! Quick question: Whose on Team Will and whose on Team Jem??? I must know! Lol. I'm seriously going nuts waiting for this!

What are you waiting on this week?

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February 20, 2012

Review: Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

Goliath (Leviathan #3)
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: September 20, 2011
Pages: 543
Source: Hardcover/Library

Alek and Deryn are aboard the Leviathan when the ship is ordered to pick up an unusual passenger. This brilliant, maniacal inventor claims to have a weapon called Goliath. it can end the war. But whose side is the inventor really on? While on their top-secret mission, Alek finally discovers Deryn's deeply kept secret. Not only is Deryn a girl disguised as a boy ... she also has feelings for Alek. The crown, true love with a commoner, and the destruction of a great city all hang on Alek's next and final move. The thunderous conclusion to Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan series.

Review: I thought this was a great ending to the series! I read this book in half a day it was so good. I cant believe the passenger they had to pick up. I was like seriously shocked when we found out who they were picking up. I mean s if they hadnt gone through enough with all that happened in the Ottoman Empire and then they have to pick up this specific passenger! I mean if I was one of the people on board the Leviathan when they found out who exactly they were picking up I could definitely seeing the words "are you kidding me" or "wth" running through their minds. Not to mention how because of him they ended up going through a bunch of stuff, like going to America, and getting attacked when they wouldn have had to if they didnt have to pick up that passenger. Who knew one guy could cause so much trouble?!?!

Alek learned Deryn's secret!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!! And he kind of figured it out on his own, with help thanks to a newspaper article. I cant believe how he handled it at first, I mean, ya, she lied about being a girl but other than that she was a great friend and mostly truthful with him. Just because she was a girl shouldnt have changed that. I was very happy closer to the end when he realized that! OMG! There was so much action at the end! Stopping Goliath from being used, stopping the Germans from an attack on Goliath!!! AHHH! Just so much happening. I must say though, I was very satisfied with the ending! Especially with what Alek decided to do about being the heir to the throne and with how things ended for him and Deryn!!

5 Stars!

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February 18, 2012

Review: Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld

Behemoth (Leviathan #2)
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: October 5, 2010
Pages: 485
Source: Hardcover/Own

The behemoth is the fiercest creature in the British navy. It can swallow enemy battleships with one bite. The Darwinists will need it, now that they are at war with the Clanker powers.

Deryn is a girl posing as a boy in the British Air Service, and Alek is the heir to an empire posing as a commoner. Finally together aboard the airship Leviathan, they hope to bring the war to a halt. But when disaster strikes the Leviathan's peacekeeping mission, they find themselves alone and hunted in enemy territory.

Alek and Deryn will need great skill, new allies, and brave hearts to face what's ahead.

Review: Amazing! I loved this! The action picked up like tons in this book! I read it literally in half the time it took me to read Leviathan. I couldn't put the book down! There was so much action going on that I couldn't put it down because I had to know what was happening. Seriously, I stopped reading to go get some breakfast and had to pick it back up immediately when I got back. Lol. First of all, the secrets, or hidden plans, or things that just weren't told! So many things! I mean it was like you'd learn one thing and then another one bigger than that would be outed and added even more drama and interest to the story. Normally I don't like lots of secrets or secret like things being revealed one after the other but it worked so well in this story. It made you want to read more and more! The way the secrets were revealed just played into the story being that much better! Not to mention, the two biggest secrets, Alek being a Prince, and Deryn being a girl were almost outed a couple of times and it kept me on my toes wondering if one of them was about to be in trouble. Ahhh! This is why Scott Westerfeld is one of my favorite authors! Just when I think his writing couldn't be any better I'm blown away by the latest thing I've read by him! I love writers than can blow you away with their work even when you think they cant get any better than they already have. :D

Now back to the book! Lol. The Ottoman Empire! I didn't know what to expect when the Leviathan got their but it wasn't what actually happened! I definitely wasnt expecting to find the Germans having way more control than people thought. I mean it was made obvious that even though they were supposed to be a neutral power who had more control. The Germans. I mean just with the way people were treating them you could tell that it wasn't as friendly to the Darwinists as they were to the Clankers. I was scared for both Deryn and Alek when they weren't aboard the Leviathan! I mean at least on the Leviathan the crew tried to be friendly with Alek and his people. The people in Istanbul were just rude to them all around! Not to mention it showed what side they were leaning towards at the end with what they had built! I'm so glad Deryn, Alek and their allies we're able to destroy what was built before it could do a lot of harm! If you liked Leviathan then I highly suggest you pick up Behemoth! :)

4 1/2 Stars!

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January 07, 2012

Review: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Leviathan (Leviathan #1)
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Illustrator: Keith Thompson
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: October 6, 2009
Pages: 440
Source: Paperback/Own

Prince Aleksander, would-be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battletorn war machine and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

With World War I brewing, Alek and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way…taking them on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure that will change both their lives forever.

Review: Despite thinking I wasn't gonna like this at first it turns out I really enjoyed it. I don't know what it is with me but I always think I'm gonna hate a Steampunk book and then I end up enjoying it. Lol. I thought this was a very well written and really interesting book. Ok, first of all it takes place during the time that is World War I. So they had the Darwinist's (Britain and its allies) against the Clanker's (Germany and its allies). I found the Darwinist's really cool because their airships and other machine were like part machine, part living animal. It made me think about how they could be possibly but hey, it added to how cool he story was. The Clanker's we're all machine so they weren't as interesting. Lol. The book starts out with Alek being on the run after his parents were killed and his own people turning on him. They take off in a Clanker from Austria trying to get to the neutral power in Switzerland. Getting there proves harder than it seems (well duh!!! there walking in lands where a war has been started. I'd assume it'd be hard to get there without trouble). They get attacked multiple times but manage somehow to get away and make it to Switzerland (though not without their Clanker taking damage). Meanwhile Deryn (Dylan) tests to be in the British Air Service. She passes and finds herself aboard the Leviathan as a middie (midshipman). What nobody knows though is that shes hiding a very big secret, shes not a boy like she claims to be (hence the Deryn(girl)/Dylan(boy) names). After picking up cargo in Britian the Leviathan comes under attack and comes crashing down in Switzerland. There, Alek comes to the aid of Deryn and the Leviathan and over a few days Alek's crew and the Leviathans crew work together to repair the Leviathan to get them out of Switzerland before the Germans can get a massive attack underway (since both of them needed to get out before the Germans could get them). 

The whole book was so intense. Alek constantly trying to outrun the people after him and Deryn being in constant alert of being called into the war. You didn't wanna put the book down because you wanted to know if either of them ever make it to safety or if the Germans get to them, especially at the end. Not to mention you wanted to know how each of them progressed in the roles they were throw into. And don't worry, aeromechaniks and war wasn't the only think going on. You also learn about the web of secrets involved with Aleks family. It was so so interesting. After reading this I'm gonna make sure not to automatically think I'm gonna hate Steampunk (because so far of what I read of it I really like it). :) Not to mention many things in this book were based on facts. It was an awesome mix of history and future. I'd definitely recommend this to others!

4 Stars! 

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