| Emily's Crammed Bookshelf

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Review: Firelight

Author: Sophie Jordan

Series: Firelight #1

Pages: 323
Format: Hardcover

Release Date: September 7, 2010

Rating: 4/5
Cover Rating: 4/5 (I love the red hair and the scales around her eyes)

Summery:
A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.
Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.
Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.
Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

Review:
I was actually very impressed with Sophie Jordan in this novel.

She got right into the action on like page five, which I love, and she explained everything, like Jacinda's history and all, so that we could understand the story. It was a very complex plot, sometimes confusing.

When you are a girl falling for a guy, the guy has to be cute and likeable. I don't think Sophie Jordan did as great a job in this area. Will came across as too tough and buff and I just didn't like that. A guy should have muscle, yeah, but he should also be kind, soft, and caring, and I don't feel like Will was like that.

In the middle of the story I got a bit confused with all the drama--do I stay with Will or run away?--I'm in love with Will--Oh, I'm not anymore--Oh wait, I'm in love again. It was confusing and a bit unnecessary. I know you have to have suspense and drama, but you also have to write it so that the reader can keep up, and I just couldn't.

I feel like Will did soften up towards the end, which I like, but I can't help liking Cassian better than Will because he seems nicer.

Plus, I love this cover. The scales and glitter and red hair work perfectly together.

What are your thoughts on the book? Leave comments, I love them. (:

In My Mailbox: (#4)

Library:

Fury, by Elizabeth Miles

Halo, by Alexandra Adornetto

Forgive my Fins, by Tera Lynn Childs

XVI, by Julia Karr

Jekel Loves Hyde, by Beth Fantaskey

What's in your mailbox? (:

Waiting on Wednesday (#6): Hallowed

This is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlites upcoming new releases that we're highly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Hallowed, by Cynthia Hand

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Teaser Tuesday: (#4)

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

Anyone can do it. You just have to do is:

(1): Grab your current read.

(2): Open it to a random page.

(3): Share 1 or 2 "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!!

(4): Make sure you also mention the author and title.

Firelight, by Sophie Jordan

Dusty Reads: (#1)

Dusty Reads is a weekly meme hosted by Giselle at Xpresso Reads, where you feature a book that has been sitting unread on our bookshelf for a long time.
This is my first week so I'm really excited. :p

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.

I want to read this book so bad, it looks so good, but I just haven't had time. I must read it asap though. :p

Monday, November 7, 2011

Review: Paranormalcy

Author: Kiersten White
Series: Paranormalcy #1
Pages: 335
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: August 31, 2010
Rating: 4/5
Cover Rating: 3/5
Add this book to your to-read shelf on Goodreads
Summery:
Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

Review:
For a debut, Kiersten White did a very good job. I loved the story line, loved the writing, loved the characters.

I usually don't like book with institution-like story lines, but it worked out for this book. There were twists and turns and climaxes everywhere, and it was fast paced and funny throughout.

It's always important to have good, strong characters in a book, and I think Kiersten White did a great job in this area. She made you fall in love with them, from mermaids, to supervisors, to werewolves, you found yourselves feeling for them. And Lend--OH MY GOD DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED!! Totally swoon-worthy, and he sounds like the sweetest guy ever. Lish was so nice and sweet, and Raquel was the motherly figure Evie never had. And Evie, I LOVE Evie. She was funny, smart, care-free, cool, and didn't care what she said. I love the cast in this book, it's one of the best.

The writing was connected and flowed without a hitch, and sometimes I couldn't even tell I was reading a book, I actually thought I was there.
I can't wait for the next books in this series, and I'm sure they'll be just as good.

What are your thoughts about this book? Leave comments, I love them. (:

A Whole Lot of Cover Reveals: A Want so Wicked, Wake, Rapture, & Stunning

A Want so Wicked

by Suzanne Young

Release Date: June 26th, 2012

Number of pages: 252

Format: Hardcover

Elise is a normal seventeen-year-old girl until the afternoon she wakes up with no idea who she is—and doesn’t recognize herself at all. Since that episode, her life has taken a bizarre turn. She’s
experiencing unexpected flashes of insight into people’s lives— people she’s never met before. Strangers frighten her with          warnings about the approaching Shadows. And although Elise   has never had a boyfriend, she suddenly finds herself torn           between two handsome but very different young men: Abe, the   charming bad boy whose affect on her both seduces and
frightens her, and the mysterious Harlin, who’s new to town but with whom Elise feels an urgent, elemental connection—almost as if they are soul mates.

Now Elise begins to question everything about her life. Why do these guys both want her so             desperately? What are the Shadows? Why does the name Charlotte inspire a terrifying familiarity? And who is Elise, really?

I absolutely love this cover. I really hope that it has good content, because the first book, A Need so Beautiful, had a great cover but wasn't very good.

Other novels in this series:

Wake

by Amanda Hocking

Release Date: August 21st, 2012

Number of pages: -------

Format: -------

First in a four-book paranormal romance YA series from bestselling author, Amanda Hocking.

Although this is a simple cover, I really like it. I can't wait to see what's inside.

Other novels in this series:

Rapture

by Lauren Kate

Release Date: June 13th, 2012

Number of pages: 252

Format: Hardcover

The fourth and last book in the Fallen series.

OH MY GOSH!!! That has got to be the best cover I have ever seen. And it's definitely the best of the whole series. I didn't really like Passion or Torment, so I really hope Lauren Kate picks up her game.

Other novels in this series:

Giveaway: 1500 Followers Giveaway @ The Bookish Type

There's a great giveaway going on over at The Bookish Type. She's giving you the opportunity to win one of three great books. I've listed them below:

It ends soon so make sure you hurry and sign up. Click here to enter.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Cover Reveal: Thumped

Thumped
by Megan McCafferty
Release Date: 2012
Number of pages: ------------
Format: Hardcover

Review: Starcrossed

Book: Starcrossed
Author: Josephine Angelini
Pages: 487
Series: Starcrossed #1
Publish Date: May 31, 2011
Rating: 1/5
Cover Rating: 4/5
Add this book to your to-read shelf on Goodreads

Summery:
Heleen Hamilton has always tried to hide how different she is-no easy feat on an island as small as Nantucket, and only getting harder as she finds herself haunted by hallucinations and vivid nightmares. It's not until she crosses paths with Lucas Delos at school that Helen's true heritage is finally revealed. Yet even as Lucas helps her awaken her startling powers, they can never be together-not unless they can break free from the tragic destiny the Three Fates have in store...

Review:
To be perfectly honest, I was disappointed. It was a pretty good story line, but reminded me of the Twilight Saga, which I'm not crazy about. The writing was choppy and disconnected, and there wasn't any building to the story. There was no foreboding comments, no climax leading up to an event, it was just sudden and unexpected, and not in a good way.

I didn't like--or understand--how Helen and Lucas were one second trying to kill each other and the next deeply in love. Lucas is, however, completely swoon-worthy. He sounds so cute and like the perfect guy.

I didn't like the fact that Lucas and Helen could fly. It was a little over the top. I did, however, like that Helen was a powerful character, and I loved the lightning.
Although I like the cover, I don't like the content, and I'm really sorry I don't becuase a cover like that just has to have a great book inside it. I really hope that Josephine Angelini does better with the next book.

OTHER COVER EDITIONS: