Try it Tuesday (5)

'Try it Tuesday' is a weekly meme hosted here at Bookaholics where each week me and Ninfa take turns to recommend a book we think you should try and why.

This weeks pick is

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Divergent book one.

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her
 
Why I’m choosing this book
With the hype of the impending release of book two, Insurgent this last couple of weeks, I couldn't not recommend Divergent to you guys this week! I'm actually currently re-reading it right now and loving it as much as the first time. The first time I read it was about six months ago and I was hooked from the first pages because it's brilliant, it has great story and great characters. It is simply one of the best Dystopias I have read.
 
Five reasons I love this book
1. Tris is a really interesting character with a dark side, she won't let anyone bully her and can stand-up for herself.
2. Four! I've read plenty of books where I've fallen in love with the love interest right alongside the protag, but when the book is finished, I forget about them, not Four though, he still sticks with me now, he's honest and is never patronising to Tris, he's confident in her abilities and would never make her hide to protect her but would have her fighting by his side.
3. The whole book is gripping, I didn't feel bored at any moment.
4. The whole idea of the factions was great, I loved Tris' journey in her new faction and learning about her old one, seeing how different each faction is.
5. It's wonderfully written and described and so imaginative.

Who I think will love this book
Certainly fans of Dystopia should enjoy this but so should anyone who likes strong female leads and exciting plot twists! I know everything is being compared to it right now but I think fans of The hunger games should love it.

I hope this inspires you to pick up the book, and if you do

Let me know what you think!

In Mists mailbox (37)

In my mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The story siren where we share the books we have gotten.

2nd Apr - 8th Apr

Books mentioned

Hide and peep Thomas - Signed by the Fat Controller!

For review

Insurgent by Veronica Roth - Soooo freakin excited! I'm also an Erudite leader for the release, go #TeamEruditeUK!!!

Swapped

Drive by by Jim Carrington

Bought

Eve by Anna Carey

Gifted

BZRK by Michael Grant

The iron thorn by Caitlin Kittredge

Under the never sky by Veronica Rossi - All three from the amazing Nat, thank you!

This week in review

Need by Carrie Jones

Captivate by Carrie Jones

Insignia by S.J. Kincaid

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

What I read in... (1)

Welcome to my newest feature, woot! So I saw people do like, end of the month wrap-up posts with the happenings of what they've been doing and I decided I wanted to show you what I've been reading each month and thus the imaginativly named 'What I read in...' was created.

Here's what I read in the month on March 2012.

Books mentioned

Links go to my reviews or to Goodreads if I didn't write one.

I am number four: The lost files: Nine's legacy by Pittacus Lore 5/5

Bites by Ninfa Hayes 5/5

Rockoholic by C.J. Skuse 4/5

Every other day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 4/5

The 13th horseman by Barry Hutchison 3/5

The son of Neptune by Rick Riordan 4/5

Crave by Melissa Darnell 2/5 -Forgot to put this one in the vid cus I swapped my copy, review coming 12th Apr.

Partials by Dan Wells 4/5

Slide by Jill Hathaway 4/5

Goddess nterrupted by Aimee Carter 4/5 - Review coming 16th Apr.

Truth or dare by P.J. Night 4/5

What did you read in March?

Insignia - Early review

Insignia by S.J. Kincaid

Insignia book one.

Available 2nd August 2012

http://www.hotkeybooks.com/

What's it about?

More than anything, Tom Raines wants to be important, though his shadowy life is anything but that. For years, Tom’s drifted from casino to casino with his unlucky gambler of a dad, gaming for their survival. Keeping a roof over their heads depends on a careful combination of skill, luck, con artistry, and staying invisible.
Then one day, Tom stops being invisible. Someone’s been watching his virtual-reality prowess, and he’s offered the incredible—a place at the Pentagonal Spire, an elite military academy. There, Tom’s instincts for combat will be put to the test, and if he passes, he’ll become a member of the Intrasolar Forces, helping to lead his country to victory in World War Three. Finally, he’ll be someone important: a superhuman war machine with the tech skills that every virtual-reality warrior dreams of. Life at the Spire holds everything that Tom’s always wanted—friends, the possibility of a girlfriend, and a life where his every action matters—but what will it cost him?

My review

I have to say, this book took a bit of getting into for me, I even set it down to read something else and then came back, but once I was into it, I enjoyed it.
The first quarter of the book has a lot about what has happened in the worlds history to cause World war three and why the war is fought in space, including an actual history lesson that actually felt like I was in a history lesson, I found it a bit boring and slightly tedious after a while but once it started getting more into the story I found myself becoming more immersed in the world and found it hard to put down.
I really loved the idea of the Pentagonal spire and the neural processors combatants have implanted into their brains, S.J. Kincaid has created a feasible futuristic setting that could very well be a world we might live in some day full of politics and intrigue. The idea that the world is at war over territory in space was also something new and exciting, because really, no one owns space, but one day someone may try to claim parts of it and this really could happen! The book really is very thought provoking in that way.
I found Tom to be an interesting character, he's desperate for a stable living and a family but he thinks differently and struggles with authority which means he's constantly risking his place at the Spire which he so desperately wants because he can't stop himself being defiant, it made for a volatile mix that I enjoyed seeing play out. I also really liked his friendship with Vik, the author did such a great job of writing the relationship of two young boys, I was actually laughing out loud at their banter.
So overall, despite a slow start, as I slid further into Insignia I found it more addicting with an easy writing style and tons of very different characters, I can't wait for the next one.

My thoughts on the cover
I really like the bright red of this cover, it's the first thing I noticed, I also like the big title and the funny little eagle thing below it. All the circuitry is what really makes it really stand out as different, I like it.

Sorry, no favourite quotes as I read an uncorrected version of the book.

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Captivate - Quickie review

Captivate by Carrie Jones
Need pixies book two.

What's it about?
Zara and her friends thought they'd solved the pixie problem. And they had - sort of. They're locked away, deep in the woods. But the king's needs grow stronger each day that he's in captivity, while his control over his people weakens. Who will fill the power vacuum? Astley. He claims he's different. He claims that it doesn't have to be violence and nastiness all the time. Zara wants to believe him...until Astley also claims that she's fated to be his queen.

There's not way Zara would ever turn pixie. And she's got good friends who'll make sure of that. But besides, she and Nick are so in love they're practically inseparable. But when the very thing Zara most wants to protect is exactly what's at risk, she's forced to make choices she never imagined.

My review

(My review for book one, Need.)

I did like this book, but not as much as the first, Zara came off as more immature than she did in the first one which got a little annoying after a while but I liked where the story is going and enjoyed everything else.
It's as wonderfully written as the first one, instead of each chapter being named after a phobia this time, they start with a 'Pixie tip' from a guide Zara and Devyn are writing, which I thought was a lot of fun.
The story took some fun twists I didn't predict and had a great ending, I'm dying to find out what happens next and I loved the introduction or Norse mythology!

My thoughts on the cover
As gorgeous as the first of course! Love the gold eye and the tear and all the pixie dust, they sit together well :)

Favourite quotes

'Losing people affects you. It is buried inside of you and becomes this big, deep hole of ache. It doesn't magically go away, even when you stop officially mourning. I do not want that hole to get any bigger. I do not want to lose anyone else.'

"You know," he says, "I really, awesomely, amazingly love you." - Nick

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The rainbow maker's tale - Cover reveal

Check out the gorgeous new cover for The rainbow maker's tale!

Here's the details of the first book if you've not heard about the series.



Hope's daughter by Melanie Cusick-Jones

For the small population of Earth survivors who live on the Space Station Hope everything they do is planned and scheduled, down to the cyclical food menus, their roles in the station, even how many children they have.

Despite rigid controls directing her life, Cassie feels more out of synch than ever and worries she won’t find a place for herself within the station community. Perhaps that’s because she’s hearing things inside her head that can’t possibly be real. Or maybe it’s the regular elopements of her peers, heading off to a romantic future in the Married Quarter of the space station, whilst she’s never even been attracted to a boy – no matter how hard her best friend Ami pushes them at her. Then there are the odd questions her work placement partner Balik keeps raising. His questions are just as troubling for her as his distracting smiles and eyes that seem to see inside her.

As Cassie draws closer to Balik she finds that everything else in her life begins to shift. He tells her things that call into question the system they live within. She can't believe he is right, but at the same time she finds it hard to deny the sincerity of his ideas. Could there be a connection between Cassie’s problems and Balik’s questions? The truth will drag them both to a terrifying and deadly conclusion beyond anything they could have imagined.

The rainbow maker's tale

Due for release in summer 2012. Book 2 in The Ambrosia Sequence.

Outwardly, Balik is an obedient member of society on Space Station Hope...he follows The Council's systems, excels at school and seems happy to follow in his parents footsteps...
But Balik's real life is filled with secrets he can share with no one. As he follows his suspicions about the space station into ever more dangerous territory it seems like his whole world will unravel around him...but he doesn't understand everything...things are wrong, he is sure of that - but why exactly, he doesn't know.
When Cassie unexpectedly comes into his life, Balik struggles to find his balance. For years he's investigated the oddities of the world he lives in, but Cassie makes him question things in a different way... Can he believe in this girl who seems so much a part of the system he distrusts? Would she put a stop to his plans to break out if she knew what he was really up to? Balik can't be sure of anything - except the fact that he can't leave her alone.

From the author:

The Rainbow Maker's Tale is the partner book to Hope's Daughter - telling the story from Balik's point of view - and so the cover reflects the artwork from there. Anyone who has read Hope's Daughter will know where the 'rainbow' idea comes from; it's only a little aside in the book, but for me it says a lot about the person Balik is and where his relationship with Cassie begins. The Rainbow Maker's Tale is due for release in Summer 2012.

Team Erudite - Grab a button

I'm extremely excited and honoured to be the leader for the Erudte faction!

I've made a few buttons for anyone that would like to add one!

I've only found two of my faction members so far and I've heard there are two leaders for each faction, so if you're in Erudite, tweet me! @BookaholicsBkCl and use the hashtags!

#TeamEruditeUK

#INSURGENTUK

<a href="" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb343/Misty_Price/Erudite-1-1-1.jpg"/></a>

<a href="" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb343/Misty_Price/Erudite.jpg"/></a>

<a href="" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb343/Misty_Price/Erudite-1.jpg"/></a>

UK vs. THE WORLD! (18)

UK vs. The world is a weekly meme I made up lol.

It's simlair to UK vs. US except the UK covers are battling it out with their foreign counterparts from all over the world, because who doesn't love judging books by their covers!

I've added a linky to the bottom, if you'd like to join in, make your own post then put the link to it there.



UK                           vs.                      Germany

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Everneath book one.

('Ewiglich die Sehnsucht' translates to 'The desire for ever' - According to Google translate.)

Mist: This isn't a hard choice, UK!! It's so gorgeous, I love the colours, the smoke, the dress! The germa cover is nice but it's nothing special.

Ninfa: Really love the UK cover. The dress made of smoke is just so beautiful! The German cover is just not for me, though I like the pomegranate in the pic cause it reminds me of the Myth of Persephone, which I think is the bases for this story.
It's a no contest though, UK all the way!



UK                          vs.                Australia

Putting Alice back together by Carol Marinelli

Mist: Having read this book I like the UK cover because I think the piano and the music note charm suit the character, but the Aus cover is lovely to, another gorgeous dress! I also really like the tagline so I think I'm gonna go with Aus.

Ninfa: The Aussie cover has the most gorgeous dress on it! In comparison the UK one looks plain and boring. I'm not a huge fan of either covers, but the dress and the pretty floral pattern definitely draw me more than the model on the UK cover.
This is an Aussie win.

Which do you prefer?

Try it Tuesday (4)

'Try it Tuesday' is a weekly meme hosted here at Bookaholics where each week me and Ninfa take turns to recommend a book we think you should try and why.

If you'd like to join in, make a post of your own and put it in the linky :)

This weeks pick is:

Sword dancer by Jennifer Roberson
Tiger and Del book one

Tiger and Del--he a sword-dancer of the South, she of the North, each privy to a private kind of magic. Together they dared the dangers of the deadly Punja, the Southron desert, on a quest to rescue Del's brother, kidnapped by slavers long ago. Together they risked bloodthirsty beasts and wizard's spells on this mission from which only the bravest, most skillful, and lucky had even the remotest hope of returning alive....

Why I'm choosing this book
I've been in love with this series since the first time I read a short story with the two main characters. Del and Tiger's interaction is absolutely fantastic to read, and the whole "Sword Dancer" series is full of twists and turns, with an engaging over arching plot, but with each book representing a stand alone book that is enjoyable and captivating.

Five reasong I love this book

1. Female writer, male Point of View. It makes for a lot of fun!

2. Incredible story setting, beautifully written world

3. Characters with depth and emotion that you can sympathize with and grow to love very quickly. Tiger is possibly my favourite male character of all time

4. A story that has a defined beginning and a very satisfying end; there are 6 books in this series and they are fast and engaging reads. You read the first book, you'll be going back for more!

5. Magic, Swords, Vengeance, Betrayal, Love...these books have it all.

Who I think would love this book

Fantasy lovers with a passion for "Sword and Sorcery" stories.

Enjoy Bookaholics! x

 

I hope this inspires you to pick up the book, and if you do

Let me know what you think!

Need - Review

Need by Carrie Jones
Need pixies book one.
Available now

What's it about?
Zara Whit suspects a freaky guy is stalking her. She memorises phobias and chants them when she's nervous. OK, she hasn't exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But moving to a freezing Maine town to stay with her grandmother is supposed to be the perfect fix - so her mum says.


Except, this plan of sending Zara away to help her stay sane? Yeah, not working. Turns out the stalker is not a figment of Zara's imagination. He's still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There's something not right - not human - in this sleepy Main town, and all signs are pointing to Zara.

My review

I bought this book when it first came out and have since collected the rest of the series, yet somehow I've never gotten around to reading them. But I'm glad I finally did, better late then never right? Since I really enjoyed it.
I loved how the chapters were name after phobias and I really liked the main character Zara, I love the way she phrases her thoughts and sentences, the book has a quirky style to it that I enjoyed and some great characters, I really really liked new friend Issie.
I liked the idea of the Pixies, it's slightly different to some faery books I've read so it felt like something new and whilst the big revelations didn't feel that big, I guessed along the lines of what was up, they were still good and I think it ended well.
I'm glad I have the rest of the series so there's no waiting, there's some advantages to saving books lol so now I'm off to pick up book two, Captivate!

My thoughts on the cover
I admit it, it was the cover that first attracted me to this book, I barely read what it was about when I picked it up lol I love the gold lips, I was definitely curious about those and the bare trees on her neck are cool to.
 
Favourite quotes

'There's a little sweat on his forehead and he wipes it off with his hand before his eyes sear into mine. That's all it takes. I'm hooked'

'His lips warm against mine. My arms wrap around his shoulders and he presses me to him. I am warm here, safe. The backs of my knees tingle and I feel absolutely the opposite of empty. I feel like my life will burst open with good.'

Find the author

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