ARC Review Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Release Date: September 6th/11.
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: Galley from publisher

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads:
To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone. 

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love? 

In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever.


My Review:


This is the second book in Sophie Jordan's A Firelight Novel series. SO IF YOU HAVEN'T READ FIRELIGHT DON'T CONTINUE READING THIS REVIEW. 


If you've read my other reviews you'll know that Firelight was my very first review on this blog- it also happened to be my favourite YA read of 2010. Vanish had a lot to live up to and it did that in spades! I flew right through this book. 


All you Will fans be warned, the crush-worthy hero is not the main focus of this installment. While Firelight built the relationship between Will and Jacinda, Vanish focuses more on the relationship between Jacinda and Cassian- and let me tell you I am a HUGE Will fan but Cassian really had me walking the line towards his side with this installment. We get to see a new, caring side to Cassian in Vanish that was absent in Firelight and we come to see just how much he truly cares for Jacinda and the lengths he's willing to go to make her happy.


The relationship between Tamra and Jacinda is a bit rocky in the beginning, but (like all sisters) they're able to meet a common ground. It helps that Tamra has finally come into her draki powers of course... while I love the thought of two vying for Jacinda's attention, I can't help but feel for Tamra (she needs someone who generally cares for her). 


And then there's Will *sigh* Will, who risks everything to be with Jacinda, but will they be able to pack up everything and runaway together despite the consequences it will each of their love ones?


The ending left me angry- angry in the sense that, I WANT MORE. Grr canNOT wait for Firelight #3 to come out next fall. Seriously, I don't know how I will make it :).


If your a fan of love triangles with a paranormal twist, you must pick up this series. You won't be disappointed. I know I wasn't!


Happy Reading!

Jill Scribbles: Interview with Brodi Ashton + EVERNEATH giveaway

Jill Scribbles: Interview with Brodi Ashton + EVERNEATH giveaway: Today I am thrilled to share an interview with fellow Balzer + Bray-er and Apocalypsie, Brodi Ashton! And there shall be a giveaway, as...

And the Reviews continue, o and there is a lot coming your way...

Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent
ARC from Publisher
Release Date: August 23/11.

Synopsis curtesy of Goodreads:

By blood, by word, by magic... 

Most can't touch the power. But Liv Warren is special – a paranormal tracker who follows the scent of blood. 

Liv makes her own rules, and the most important one is trust no one. 

But when her friend's daughter goes missing, Liv has no choice but to find the girl. Thanks to a childhood oath, Liv can't rest until the child is home safe. But that means trusting Cam Caballero, the former lover forbidden to her. 

Bound by oath and lost in desire for a man she cannot have, Liv is racing to save the child from a dark criminal underworld where secrets, lies, trauma and danger lurk around every corner...every touch...every kiss. 

And more blood will be spilled before it's over...


My Review:


When can I get the next one? Seriously, this was an AMAZING start to a new trilogy. Rachel is definitely honing her craft. BLOOD BOUND made me fall in love with Rachel's writing all over again. 


The world of BLOOD BOUND is much different from the SHIFTER series. It's set against an urban landscape and narrated between the duel voices of Cam and Liv. Cam is definitely a swoon worthy hero and a perfect counter point to the kick-ass heroine, Liv.


The action is non-stop with this novel and the world is unlike any other I've read in the urban fantasy genre. The action and somewhat muted romance will keep you turning pages til you reach the end. Then, all you'll want is MORE! 


So thank you Rachel for this amazing story and I canNOT wait to read the next one!

A Few Notes from an Absent Blogger

Hi guys,

I just want to apologize for my absence in the recent month. Truth be told, I've started a job that I absolutely love, but I've been adjusting to my new schedule and I'm exhausted when I arrive home :). However, new awesome posts will start back up again starting this Sunday with my in my mailbox, which will be huge cause it's a month's worth of stuff haha.

Giveaway winners- If you have won a contest on this blog but haven't yet received you prize please do not worry, your book is on it's way to you. Unfortunately the Canada post has been on strike for over a month now and it's put a damper on things getting mailed out in a timely manner. If you haven't received your prize I ask that you please tweet me @HayleyAG to let me know so I can figure out a way to let you know when you'll get your winnings. Again I apologize to you winners and I'm sorry you've had to wait so long for your books and I truly appreciate your patience. Until Sunday....

Happy Reading!

Myth Week Day 5- Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Don't forget to enter my contest to win an ARC of Starcrossed! Go here to enter. Today I am happy to review Starcrossed and interview Josephine Angelini

Pub Date: May 31st/11.
Publisher: HarperTeen

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads:

How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

My Review:

A compelling and unique twist on one of the oldest myths and love stories...

Helen was a complex character for me- I wasn't sure at first if I truly wanted to root for her, because I was just as conflicted as Helen was with herself. Helen couldn't begin to understand her unusual emotional and physical reactions to Lucas and his family. This proves what a great writer Angelini is, to be able to write such a complex character that can trigger such thoughtful emotions from her readers. On a side note I was rooting for Helen by about a third of the way through the book. :)

Lucas, o my, Lucas where can I even start. This is a great hero in the making. He's strong and brave, but gentle and understanding where Helen is concerned. I wouldn't mind if he wanted to take for a "ride" one night.

The romance between these two was electrifying. A pair of Starcrossed lovers you'll want to root for. The build between these two was perfect in the sense that they start out literally wanting to kill each other, but in the end, are unable to deny themselves each other. Readers beware the ending will of this novel will only leave you wanting more- So please, read at your own risk! :)

I'm happy to say the Josephine has taken the time to come visit the blog today to answer some questions on her newest release. I would like to add that I have had the pleasure of conversing with Josie over email, twitter and such, and she is one of the kindest, most appreciative, down-to-earth authors I've ever had the please to email :) Don't be afraid to tweet or leave a comment on her blog cause she is right on it and always responds! 

Now please join me in welcoming Josie to the blog today!

1. Was it hard for you to get Starcrossed published?

I know this is an annoying thing to say, but no.  It all happened so fast I was still patting myself on the back for landing a manager and agent.  I was thinking to myself, great!  If nothing else comes of this, at least I’ve taken that first major step and gotten representation.  Then, like, a week later my agent, Mollie Glick, had a preemptive offer from Harper Collins lined up, and a few days after that the team at the Foundry was getting preemptive deal overseas as well.  The thing that I kept thinking was, “how the heck did they all read it that fast?” 

I got unbelievably lucky, and I am so thankful for that.

2. You've spun so many unique twists on the myth of Helen of Troy, what
inspired your version?

Homer, Shakespeare, and John Hughes.  Haha!  Seriously, I saw a copy of Romeo and Juliet sitting next to my mom’s ancient version of The Iliad and a light bulb went off in my head.  I couldn’t think of anyone doing a modern day take of the Helen of Troy story (probably because in Homer’s version she isn’t very likable) and I wanted to try it. 

3. If you could fly away with Lucas anywhere, where would you go and what
would you do? (Let's keep this PG13 haha)

I’d ask him to take me to Cadiz, Spain.  I’d want to see where he’d lived for the last six years.  I bet he has a ton of stories he’d like to tell me about it.  Mostly, I’d like to go there with him because I bet he misses his old home. 

4. You kept some characters from the original story (Helen, Hector) why did
you decide to leave Paris out?

Did I leave Paris out?  You sure?  I didn’t leave anyone from the Iliad out.  That’s why the cast is so large, and why in the next few books it gets larger.

5. If you could be one God/Goddess, and have their abilities, who would you
be? Why?

Oh-la-la!  I thought you said you wanted to keep this PG 13? 

6. Why do you think Greek Mythology is having such a strong emergence in the
YA genre recently?

Zeitgeist.  It’s a funny thing.  When I started outlining Starcrossed the only Greek book out there that I knew of was the Percy Jackson series.  I took a different tack—instead of utilizing a mix of the Greek myths like Riordan did I focused on the Iliad, confident that my take was entirely different from his.  It was even aimed at a different age group.  But while I was writing about Greeks, so were others.  I guess we all caught the same bug at the same time, and in a way I’m glad we did.  It’s nice to know that readers will be familiar with the Greek themes and maybe get more out of my story that way. 

7. How far do you plan to take your Starcrossed series?

Three books, and that’s final.  For now.

8. Without getting too spoilery, what can readers expect from Starcrossed
#2?

The second book, Dreamless, is darker, and has more action than the first book.  Helen goes into the Underworld and grows even more as heroine as she learns to claim even more of her power.  There is a lot more danger, and a new character named Orion, who I hope everyone loves as much as I do.

9. Will Lucas and Helen make it the full mile? (I know you can't really
reveal this but it's worth a shot haha)

Actually, I don’t mind revealing this.  They both live through the trilogy.  But are they together at the end?  *sigh* 

10. Do you have any advice for those starting out in the publishing
industry?

I’m just starting out in the publishing industry!  I should be asking you for advice!  J

Myth Week Day 4- Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Hello all, today I will be discussing Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Pub Date: May 10th
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
It's a free novella guys- go here to download your own copy.

Synopsis curtesy of Goodreads:
For three years, Alexandria has lived among mortals—pretending to be like them and trying to forget the duty she'd been trained to fulfill as a child of a mortal and a demigod. At seventeen, she's pretty much accepted that she's a freak by mortal standards... and that she'll never be prepared for that duty. 

According to her mother, that’s a good thing. 

But as every descendent of the gods knows, Fate has a way of rearing her ugly head. A horrifying attack forces Alex to flee Miami and try to find her way back to the very place her mother had warned her she should never return—the Covenant. Every step that brings her closer to safety is one more step toward death… because she's being hunted by the very creatures she'd once trained to kill. 

The daimons have found her.


My Review:


Alex is kick a$$! I loved her sarcastic demeanour and the fact that she can take care of herself. She is a strong female character that doesn't let ANYONE push her around.


There has been much online buzz over Armentrout's Covenant series, and after reading Daimon I can honestly say that she deserves all the praise she has received. Her writing is so fluid- and the world she builds around Alex is so conceivable and enjoyable- I wanted to join Alex on her journey.


Alex not only faces physical road blocks, but emotional ones as well. I enjoyed the relationship between Alex and her mother. The bond these two share is realistic and heartwarming. 


The action in this novella was non-stop and this combined with Armentrout's dialogue, makes for a quick and intense read. Once you've finished this story you will dying for more- I know I am!

The free download comes with an excerpt from Armentrout's upcoming release Half-blood the first full-length novel in the Covenant series. And can I just say Aiden = Yum- MORE PLEASE JENNIFER!

Jennifer is holding a giveaway of an ARC of Half-blood on her blog to enter go here









Jennifer has been kind enough to stop by and answer some burning questions about her upcoming and latest release. Please join me in welcoming Jennifer to the blog today!

Have you read Daimon yet? Are you planning to? Leave a comment and earn extra entry points in the Starcrossed ARC contest. Haven't entered yet? Enter here.


Happy Reading Everyone!

1. Was it hard to get Half-blood published?

Breaking into the publishing business is not easy, and I think every writer has a different experience. I actually started writing Half-Blood (under a different title) in 2008 and i thought it was great. It was actually really lame, like most first drafts of novels are. But I didn't know any better. It took about 60 rejections to realize I needed to do an overhaul. Many rejections and requests later, I finally got THAT call. Everything pretty much moved fast after that. The funny thing is that I had shelf'd Half-Blood when I got the call, so it almost never made it.

2. Daimon was an AMAZING novella! Did you originally write Daimon before or after Half-blood?

Thank you! I actually wrote Daimon at the beginning of this year. I always had in mind what happened leading up to the situation Alex found herself in at the beginning of Half-Blood so it was really easy to write. I pitched the idea of a free novella to the publisher and they loved it. 

3. What is your favourite Greek Myth?

Oh my, there are so many. I always loved the one with Cupid and Psyche. Then there is Hades and Persephone (Aimee!!), and all the poor mortals that Apollo got turned into trees or flowers. The actual myth of Medusa is also very interesting, and very little people know the actual story behind how she turned into a gorgon. 

4. If you could be one God/Goddess and have their powers, which would you be? Why?

Artemis. Mainly because she was a kick ass hunter. No one messes with Artemis. 

5. What can readers expect from Half-blood? 

Adventure, a twist on the demigod myth, romance (been told it's sizzling), humor and a few people have cried. You can expect a stratified society, modeled after Ancient Greek and the gods in Half-Blood do not bring the warm and fuzzies. I think one thing that has surprised people about Half-Blood is the plot twists and the recreation of two major myths. I can't really give anymore details than that, 'tis spoilery. 

6. What inspired the character, Alexandria?

I love snarky heroines that are flawed. And Alex has one heck of a snarky internal dialogue going on, which was really fun to write. But as far as to what inspired her? I really don't know. She is polar opposites from my very first draft of Half-Blood, but if I had to pick any fictional character, I'd go with Buffy. 

7. If you could cast one actor to play Aiden, who would it be? Why?

Oh Geez, I've asked myself that question and really can't pick one. Aiden is such a complicated character who can come off as standoffish but has a really sweet personality and a sense of humor once you get to know him. The actor would have to be able to pull that off. I always picture a young Ian Somerhalder in my head. It's the eyes. 

8. Why do you think that Greek Mythology has had such a strong emergent the Young Adult genre?

I think it's something new to readers right now, especially after all the vamp, werewolves, and angel books. But everything is a cycle. What's popular two years ago will be popular again in another two years. I personally love the vamp and angel books. I also think there is so much you can do with the Greek Mythology, from retelling old myths to creating new ones. There's a lot of versatility there. 

9. Do you have any advice for those starting out in the industry?

Don't give up. Prepare yourself for rejection at every level of the game, but if you don't give up, you'll make it. Read. I cannot stress that enough. Reading can teach you how to write.

Thank you so much Jennifer for stopping by the blog, I can't wait to devour Half-blood.

Thank you for having me!!

Myth Week Day 3- Wildfire by Karsten Knight

I still have two author interviews and books reviews left to post, but those will come tomorrow and Friday so please stay tuned... but for now let me tell you some exciting news I got yesterday- A NEW GALLEY!

I received a galley yesterday for another book centered around the theme of Gods and Goddesses. Simon and Schuster sent it to me and when I read the synopsis for it I KNEW it was something I would have to mention during MYTH WEEK- I'm so sorry I can't review here in this post (but I only just got it :))

Ok here it is:

Wildfire By Karsten Knight

Pub Date: July 26th/11

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing

Synopsis curtesy of Amazon:

Every flame begins with a spark...

           Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. 

           When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. 

            Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.

What do you guys think? I can't wait to start devouring this one! Be sure to leave a comment to earn points for the Starcrossed ARC giveaway. Haven't entered yet? Click here to enter.