Whittier Warriors

HarperCollins – April 28, 2009

Reading book 1 in this trilogy, THE SUMMONING, is recommended before reading THE AWAKENING.

Chloe Saunders can see ghosts.  She can also raise the dead – mostly without meaning to.  After being sent to Lyle House because her dad thought she was unstable (see THE SUMMONING), she found out that it was just a front for the Edison Group – a corporation that studies paranormal activity.  Chloe, Derek, Simon, and Rae escape in hopes of finding Derek and Simon’s dad and putting a stop to the Edison Group’s evil plans.  Freedom doesn’t last long though.  Chloe is captured and forced to reveal the location of Simon and Derek when THE AWAKENING begins.

After regaining her freedom and being reunited with her friends, Chloe begins to learn more about her powers while staying one step ahead of the Edison Group.  Simon, Derek, and Chloe learn some very disturbing information about their genetic makeup and struggle to come up with a plan to bring down the people responsible.  In addition to the struggles she is already dealing with, Chloe is faced with a massive betrayal. 

With the help of an unexpected ally, Chloe and her friends move one step closer to taking down the Edison group.  She realizes there is no way she will ever be able to return to her old life and that she is going to have to find a way to make this new one work.  Chloe’s relationship with Derek becomes stronger, but it is still unclear what is going on with her and Simon.  It will be interesting to see if there is a romantic element in the future and how the brothers will handle it if there is.

THE RECKONING is the third and final book in the Darkest Powers  Trilogy.  Readers will be clamoring for it to find out how everything turns out for Chloe and her friends.

Visit “Chloe’s” blog for a free novella about Simon and Derek and events leading up to their arrival at Lyle House.  It is being written in serial form.  Kelley Armstrong is posting a section on the 1st and 15th of every month.  When it is complete it will be transferred to the locker section of “Chloe’s” website. 

The Summoning
(Darkest Powers, Book 1)

The Awakening
(Darkest Powers, Book 2)

While browsing the Borders website, I saw something curious in the sidebar.  They are providing a .pdf download of THE ALCHEMYST for free.  Click HERE to read it for yourself.

Well, another week has come and gone.  Last week I was lucky enough to get my WOW pick and have already read it.  I loved INTERTWINED by Gena Showalter.  Be sure to come back soon for my review.

This week I find myself

Waiting and

Waiting and

Waiting for…

BLOOD PROMISE

by Richelle Mead

Visit the website for a description soon.  The first chapter will be posted on the website in July.

The release date is August 25, 2009 from Penguin Razorbill.

Sometimes after I finish a book and it is time to choose my next one, I am tempted to go back and reread one of my favorites.  I’m always torn though.  There are so many new books out there that I haven’t read so how can I justify rereading something I’ve already read.  I feel like I’m not using my time wisely.  Basically, I feel guilty.

I have a friend that rereads books all the time.  In fact, her goal this year is to reread many books and series she loves.  When I asked her how she feels about rereading her old favorites as opposed to reading something new her response was, “It is like comfort food.  Whenever I have a lot going on in my life, I know I can return to my favorites and get a little down time.”

I’ve decided to devote this post to the books that I want to reread.  I’m sure I’ll leave some out, but this will at least be a good start.  I’m hoping to reread a couple of books this year, but I think I’m going to have to force myself to do it.  I know once I start it won’t be a problem because I’ll love it, but taking that initial step is going to be hard.

Here is what I want to reread:

1. FREAK SHOW by James St. James
2. CITY OF BONES by Cassandra Clare
3. CITY OF ASHES by Cassandra Clare
4. CITY OF GLASS by Cassandra Clare
5. SHADOW KISS by Richelle Mead
6. GLASS HOUSE by Rachel Caine (and the others in the series)
7. HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins
8. JESSICA’S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE by Beth Fantasky
9. THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX by Mary E. Pearson
10. FAIRY TALE by Cyn Balog
11. WONDROUS STRANGE by Lesley Livingston
12. KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO by Patrick Ness
13. FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH by Carrie Ryan
14. EVERNIGHT by Claudia Gray
15. STARGAZER by Claudia Gray
16. SWOON by Nina Malkin
17. SEA CHANGE by Aimee Friedman
18. WINGS by Aprilynn Pike
19. COFFEEHOUSE ANGEL by Suzanne Selfors
20. INTERTWINED by Gena Showalter
21. UNWIND by Neal Shusterman
22. UGLIES by Scott Westerfeld

See what I mean?  Right now I read about 10 – 11 books a month so my rereading list consists of 2 months of my year.  How can I justify that?  Grrrrr.

I’m interested in hearing what everyone else thinks about the issue of rereading.  Please leave a comment and share your thoughts.

HarperTeen – June 1, 2009

What comes to mind when you think of unicorns? Flowing, curling, pastel manes?  A single, glittery horn?  A kind and magical creature?  Well, you’d be wrong.  Unicorns are vicious, man-eating creatures.  Their teeth are razor sharp, they are faster than a sports car, and their ability to track prey is eerie.  To make matters worse, unicorns can only be killed by female warriors that are direct descendants of Alexander the Great – and oh yeah – the female warriors must be virgins.  

Astrid has grown up with her mother’s stories of evil unicorns and how her ancestors were some of the fiercest unicorn hunters in history.  When Astrid’s friends enjoyed the fairy tale versions of these creatures, she was always a little creeped out by them.  Astrid also had to come to terms with the fact that her mother might be crazy since all she talked about and researched was man-eating unicorns.

Astrid loses control of her life after witnessing a unicorn attack.  It, coupled with reports of  mysterious “wild animal” attacks around the world, leads Astrid’s mother to believe that this is proof of the beginning of a reemergence of the unicorns.  Astrid is immediately shipped off to Rome to begin training to be a warrior – against her will.

Astrid experiences a lot during her time in Rome.  She learns about her family’s history and their role in unicorn hunting.  She experiences some of the local culture and meets a handsome young man.   Most importantly, she comes face-to-face with unicorns and is forced to see if she has what it takes to be a warrior.

RAMPANT is a unique story.  Never before have I read or even heard of killer unicorns.  Astrid is a strong, female character and extremely likable and her strong relationship with her cousin, Phil, adds a lot to the story.  Rome’s romantic atmosphere provides an interesting backdrop for bloody unicorn battles and adds to the mysterious feeling of the book.  Romance is scattered throughout the tale, but it doesn’t dominate or take away from the action.  The way the story ends, it seems possible that Astrid’s story could continue, but the ending is satisfying enough as it is that it definitely works as a stand-alone.

Rampant

The “In My Mailbox” meme was first brought to my attention from The Story Siren’s blog.  She got the idea from Alea’s Mailbox Monday, so I thought I’d mention her too.  Both blogs are great so go visit them.

I had an excellent week.  Here is my haul:

ROAWR! by Barbara Joosse

TROLL’S EYE VIEW: A BOOK OF VILLAINOUS TALES edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling

TMI by Sarah Quigley

SIMON BLOOM: THE GRAVITY KEEPER by Michael Reisman

MONSTER PROOF by Richard Lewis (ARC)

WICKED LOVELY: DESERT TALES: SANCTUARY by Melissa Marr (Graphic Novel)

INTERTWINED by Gena Showalter (ARC)

MY SOUL TO TAKE by Rachel Vincent (ARC)

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

So, color me happy.  What about everyone else?

“Say It Again” Saturday was created because…Sometimes when I’m reading a book there are lines that just jump out at me.  They make me want to laugh, cry, or just sit and think for a minute.  Sometimes the lines are just beautifully written.  They are the kind of lines that you want to stop reading, find someone close by, and read the line or passage aloud to them so they can share it with you.  

This week I’m going back to a book I read last October.  HOW TO DITCH YOUR FAIRY is a wonderful combination of fantasy, humor, and romance. 

Here are some of my favorite passages:

My spoffs looked funny in the top, which is odd because my spoffs are tiny.  I pulled the top up and tried to push them back where they belonged.  Didn’t work.  Somehow the top was pushing my right spoff under my armpit and my left toward my neck. (p. 1)

I snuck another pee, at the irksome twosome.  He was smiling at her in a soft, wet, gooshy way and she was staring down shy and overwhelmed.  It seemed unlikely they were merely hiding the pain of a breakup.  If only Basu would five them multiple demerits. (p.67)

Microseconds later my alarm went off: six a.m.  I pried my eyes open with my fingers; they were glued shut with sleep.  If the gunk in the corner of my eyes was bad fairy aura, then I was in for a vastly horrendous day.  I rolled out of bed and into the shower before I realized I hadn’t taken my pajamas off.  I’d worked off three demerits last night at public service.  It was not enough. (p.82)

Does anyone else have any great lines this week?  If so, share them with us.

Point – May 13, 2008

Em Watts is smart, confident, and happy with who she is – even if she doesn’t fit into the popular crowd at school.  She is content to spend time with her best friend, Christopher, and play Journeyquest until the wee hours of the morning.  She doesn’t pay much attention to fashion or pop culture unless her little sister is shoving it down her face in her latest ramble of “why Em is such a dork.” 

Everything changes on the day Em takes her little sister to the grand opening of a mega-store where the latest music sensation will be singing and signing autographs.  One freak accident later and Em isn’t Em anymore.

Without any time to adjust, Em is thrust into the world of beauty and fashion.  Where how she looks determines if people keep their jobs.  Who knew being beautiful was so much work?  How will Em survive without her usual comforts – especially Christopher?

AIRHEAD was a nice surprise.  Meg Cabot did a great job of weaving in the story of family and friendship.  This is a great choice if you are looking for a tame version of SKINNED by Robin Wasserman and it could even be paired with THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX – both deal with medical ethics.  What would you be willing to do in order to stay alive?

Airhead

Last week a friend of mine loaned me the Maggie Quinn: Girl v. Evil series.  Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop.  They are funny and interesting.

Delacorte Books for Young Readers – March 13, 2007

Maggie Quinn is a high school senior who spends her time taking photos for the yearbook and writing stories for the school’s newspaper.  She is completely content with staying under the radar in order to avoid coming into contact with the Jocks and the Jessicas (the girls that seem to run the school).  Everything is working out just fine until she snaps some incriminating pictures of the Jocks bullying one of the bigger geeks of the school. 

Soon, after her creative photo rescue, Maggie starts having disturbing dreams.  She has ignored her dreams for a long time and has tried to forget the fact that she has psychic abilities.  But with someone or something picking off the Jocks and the Jessicas one-by-one, she is going to have to start tapping into her mojo.  With the help of her Grandmother and a new friend named Justin, Maggie starts to put her powers to work to solve the mystery.

Maggie Quinn is a delightful main character.  She is quick witted, sarcastic, and cynical and her one-liners will have you rolling.  Check out a couple of entries back for my “Say It Again” Saturday post where I listed a few of my favorite lines from PROM DATES FROM HELL.  You’ll want to pick up the sequel as soon as you finish.  Also, there is a Buffy the Vampire Slayer connection –  The Prom where Buffy saves the prom from the devil dogs has a similar feel.

Delacorte Books for Young People – August 26, 2008

Maggie made it out of high school alive so what does she decide to take on next?  Sororities!  Maggie decides to go through Rush, undercover, in order to get her foot in the door at the college newspaper.

With the hectic schedule of a new college freshman, participating in Rush, and trying to figure out what is going on with her sort-of boyfriend Justin, Maggie is burning the candle at both ends.  But it isn’t until she realizes that she is losing time that she starts to worry that something of an evil nature is at work. 

Maggie was lucky enough to survive high school and the prom, but can she survive a sorority? 

HELL WEEK is an interesting story, but it lacks some of the humor that was so enjoyable in PROM DATES FROM HELL.  If you watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer and liked the episode, Reptile Boy, where Buffy goes to a frat party with Cordelia and gets chained in the basement to be sacraficed to the lizard demon, then you’ll like HELL WEEK.

Delacorte Press – March 10, 2009

Maggie and her best friend, Lisa, decide to head to South Padre Island for a normal Spring Break.  Just because they battle demons and save the world on a regular basis doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to have some normal teenager time, right?  Wrong!

On the way, on a dark and lonely highway, they run over a dead cow that is laying in the middle of the road.  The fuel tank on Maggie’s Jeep is ripped open which leaves her and Lisa stranded in the middle of nowhere.  Luckily, a nice cowboy drives by and gives them a lift to the nearest town to get some sleep and find a mechanic to tow her Jeep in the next day.

Once settled in Dulcina, TX, Maggie realizes that the cow she ran over isn’t the only animal that has been killed lately.  Dogs, goats, calves, and now cows are being torn apart by unknown predators.  Some people say its because of the drought and the coyotes getting more bold, but others say it is the el chupacabra – a creature with blood red eyes, scales on its back, and razor-sharp teeth.

As long as they are stuck there anyway, Maggie and Lisa decide they may as well see if they can figure out what is going on in the sleepy town.  As they research the history of the town and meet some of its founding members, it becomes clear that the big “E” is at work again and this time Maggie needs the help of the “big gun” if they are going to make it out alive. 

HIGHWAY TO HELL is just as good as the others in the series, but like HELL WEEK, it doesn’t have the same amount of humor as PROM DATES FROM HELL.  Rosemary Clement-Moore did a great job of creating the side characters in Dulcina.  She makes it so easy to picture the locals in your mind. 

For up-to-date information, visit Rosemary’s website.

Prom Dates from Hell
(Maggie Quinn:
Girl vs Evil, Book 1)

Hell Week
(Maggie Quinn:
Girl vs Evil, Book 2)

Highway to Hell
(Maggie Quinn:
Girl Vs Evil)

Well, I’ve made it to another Wednesday.  The way I’ve been feeling lately, I’m a little surprised.  Anyway, on to happy things – BOOKS.  This week I’m…

Waiting and

Waiting and

Waiting for…

INTERTWINED

by Gena Showalter

There’s something about the new guy at Crossroads High . . .

Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him:

One can time-travel.
One can raise the dead.
One can tell the future.
And one can possess another human.

With no other family and a life spent in and out of institutions, Aden and the souls have become friends. But now, they’re causing him all kinds of trouble.

Like, he’ll blink and suddenly he’s a younger Aden, reliving the past. One wrong move, and he’ll change the future. Or, he’ll walk past a total stranger and know how and when she’s going to die.

He’s so over it. All he wants is peace.

And then he meets a girl who quiets the voices. Well, for as long as he’s with her. Why? Mary Ann Gray is his total opposite. He’s a loner; she has friends. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks; she tries to make everyone happy. And while he attracts the paranormal, she repels it. For her sake, he should stay away. But it’s too late. . .

Somehow, they share an inexplicable bond of friendship. A bond about to be tested by a werewolf shape-shifter who wants Mary Ann for his own and a vampire princess Aden can’t resist. Two romances, both forbidden. . . doomed. Still, the four will enter a dark underworld of intrigue and danger. . . but not everyone will come out alive. . .

Visit the website to read about the story, the author, and see a preview of the book.

If you happen to have a copy of INTERTWINED and want to loan it out or trade for something else, please email me.