Tell me your grace

Graceling (Graceling Realm #1) by Kristin Cashore

Rating: 4 out of 5 hearts
352 pages
Released: January 2009
Buy it @ book depository

In a world where people born with an exceptional skill, known as a Grace, are both feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of a skill even she despises: the Grace of killing.

Feared by the court and shunned by those her own age, the darkness of her Grace casts a heavy shadow over Katsa’s life. Yet she remains defiant: when the King of Lienid’s father is kidnapped she investigates, and stumbles across a mystery. Who would want to kidnap the old man, and why? And who was the extraordinary Graced man whose fighting abilities rivalled her own?

The only thing Katsa is sure of is that she no longer wants to kill. The intrigue around this kidnapping offers her a way out – but little does she realise, when she takes it, that something insidious and dark lurks behind the mystery. Something spreading from the shadowy figure of a one-eyed king...

Review

 

I'm a bit behind on reading this as all threee books in the trilogy have already been released, but now I can read them all without having to wait for them to be released. 

If you're a fantasy lover then you MUST read this series, I think you will really enjoy it. It was a unique and interesting story that I've never read before. As it explains in the blurb above, certain people are born with a special 'grace' and one of these people is Katsa, our main character.

Katsa is tough, she may have small flaws but overall she is strong physically and strong in mind about what is right. I became attached to her straight away, she may kill and hurt people but I thought she was a very inspirational role model. She stands up to what is right and decides that she no longer wants to do the bidding of an evil and corrupt king. 

We are introduced to Po in the beginning when he confronts Katsa and I knew right away he was going to be the love interest, I just didn't know how he was going to fit into the story. As we go on his love and fondness for Katsa slowly grows and gives you all those nice feelings. I wasn't expecting what happened to him.

I liked how there weren't any huge cliffhangers at the end, this journey has ended but everything is not right with the kingdom. I can see that there is so much more of the seven kingdoms that needs to be explored and rebuilt. I am really looking forward to finishing this series.

The next part is a bit of a spoiler if you haven't read the book but I want to mention it. I wasn't happy with how King Leck was killed, he was such a hateful and manipulative man that he deserved to die dramatically and painfully. I feel his death wasn't bad enough for him, but that's only my opinion.

 

On the cover

 

How badass does Katsa look! That weapon looks dangerous (and heavy!). The snowflakes are a great touch and this scene actually happens in the book. I don't think I would normally pick up this book based on the cover but I'm glad to have read it.

 

What I'm reading next: Legend by Marie Lu

Epic storytelling at it's best!

Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1) by Laini Taylor

Rating: 5 out of 5 hearts

418 pages

Released: September 2011

Buy it @ book depository

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

 

Review

What can I say that hasn't already been said? This is so beautifully written, I read it in about 3 sittings which could've been less but unfortunately I had to sleep and work. Laini Taylor has given a whole different take on the old fashioned feud between good and evil - Angels & demons.

Karou was such an interesting character, how can you not love someone with blue hair and able to kick anyone's butt with her mad fighting skills. She is a girl with lots of secrets, but there are also a lot of secrets going on that she doesn't know about. There's a lot of mystery shrouding Karou's birth and where she comes from. It was written really well and kept me guessing until everything was revealed.

I LOVED the backdrop of Prague - I felt like I have travelled there by the amazing way Taylor described all the different places. Anyone who has been there before may feel like they are reliving some of their moments there (sadly I've never been).

There's a bit of a cliffhanger at the end, so I have already reserved the next book at the library, The third book comes out in April next year (2014) so I won't have to wait too long to finish the trilogy -  thankfully! I'm glad I finally got round to reading this because it has lived up to all my expectations, maybe even surpassed my expectations.

On the cover

This is the cover I'm most used to seeing on the Internet, which I think is so awesome!! But I haven't actually seen it in person. I always wondered why the mask is blue but after reading I know. There are two other covers floating around that I've actually seen which is the one above and another one that looks like it has a door on the cover. All of these covers mean something to the story but I like the one of the left the best.

What I'm reading next: The Perks of being a wallflower by Stephen Chboskyc

Books I'm pining for July

"Books I'm pining for" is a feature for new and old books that I want to read. So I thought I would share with everyone these books and to find out what books you are pining for. Most of these you may notice are sequels to other books I really enjoyed.

A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty

Madeleine Tully lives in Cambridge, England, the World – a city of spires, Isaac Newton and Auntie’s Tea Shop.

Elliot Baranski lives in Bonfire, the Farms, the Kingdom of Cello – where seasons roam, the Butterfly Child sleeps in a glass jar, and bells warn of attacks from dangerous Colours.

They are worlds apart – until a crack opens up between them; a corner of white – the slim seam of a letter.

A mesmerising story of two worlds; the cracks between them, the science that binds them and the colours that infuse them.

This sounds so cool and written by an Australian. I always like to read local authors stuff.

The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White

Isadora’s family is seriously screwed up.

Of course, as the human daughter of Egyptian gods, that pretty much comes with the territory. She’s also stuck with parents who barely notice her, and a house full of relatives who can’t be bothered to remember her name. After all, they are going to be around forever—and she’s a mere mortal.

Isadora’s sick of living a life where she’s only worthy of a passing glance, and when she has the chance to move to San Diego with her brother, she jumps on it. But Isadora’s quickly finding that a “normal” life comes with plenty of its own epic complications—and that there’s no such thing as a clean break when it comes to family. Much as she wants to leave her past behind, she can’t shake the ominous dreams that foretell destruction for her entire family. When it turns out there may be truth in her nightmares, Isadora has to decide whether she can abandon her divine heritage after all.

Kiersten White is a favourite author of mine and I look forward to reading something new from her. It's also about Egyptian mythology which sounds awesome!

Just One Year by Gayle Forman

After spending an amazing day and night together in Paris, Just One Year is Willem's story, picking up where Just One Day ended. His story of their year of quiet longing and near misses is a perfect counterpoint to Allyson's own as Willem undergoes a transformative journey, questioning his path, finding love, and ultimately, redefining himself.

I really liked 'Just One Day' and it ended so abruptly that I can't wait to read from Willem's point of view.

BZRK Reloaded by Michael Grant

The entire BZRK cell--including Noah and Sadie--has been left in pieces after the last round of battle with the Armstrong Twins, conjoined brother who plot to rob mankind of its free will. Vincent's mind is shattered, and his memories hold dangerous secrets--secrets that Lear, BZRK's mysterious leader, will stop at nothing to protect.

Meanwhile, Bug Man has taken control of the President's brain, but playing with sanity is a dangerous game. The consequences can spiral way out of control, and the Armstrong Twins are not people Bug Man can afford to disappoint.

The nano is as terrifying, exhilarating, and unpredictable as ever. But the wall of secrets that surrounds it is cracking. What will it reveal? And once the dust has settled, who will be sane enough to find out?

The first book was so fast-paced and I look forward to seeing what else Michael Grant can throw at me.

Dare you to by Katie McGarry

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

I adored 'Pushing the limits' and I am hoping that Katie McGarry delivers on this companion novel.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.

This is set the year before I was born so it will be cool to see what growing up during that time will be like. I've also heard some great things about this.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

This sounds amazing! Right up my alley - thrills and mystery, maybe even some romance thrown in.

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster.

When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her.

As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself?

With such a cliffhanger at the end of the first book, it was always going to end up on my pining for list.

That's it for now, What books are you pining for?

It sure was a bloody road

Blood Red Road (Dust Lands #1) by Moira Young

Rating: 4 out of 5 hearts
459 pages
Released: June 2011
Buy it @ book depository

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back. Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

Review 

"Saba: People with this name have a deep inner desire for love and companionship, and want to work with others to achieve peace and harmony." ~ I found this on the internet and thought it suited Saba fairly accurately.

This book took me on a truly epic adventure which I didn't expect at all. It sure was a long bloody road but boy was it awesome! If you're someone who likes fantasy books but doesn't like all the boring riding through the woods scenes but loves a good battle scene then this is the book for you. It's filled to the brim with fast paced action, characters you want to fight for and a dystopian backdrop to rival all others. 

I had no idea really what to expect from this, all I knew was that it was something very special because I've read many reviews from people beaming about this book. So of course it landed on my to read list and now that I've read it I can join all those other beaming reviewers. 

What I loved about this was the main character Saba - she is stubborn, fierce and very loyal to her brother. These qualities make her the perfect person to learn to love and loathe at the same time. While Saba is loyal and has lots of respect for her slightly older twin brother Lugh, she is a truly horrible person to her little sister Emmi. At times I found myself disgusted at how she would treat Emmi, but during their forced time together Saba slowly starts to redeem herself and realise the hatred she has for her sister is really from another cause. I must admit though that Saba got a lot of help from Jack in learning how to see people in a different light.

Now Jack is another story. Enter the love interest, the one and only love interest. No love triangles in this book (unless you count the love Saba has for her brother but that's plain weird and doesn't count). Jack is brave, caring and a leader, oh and how can I forget those moonlight coloured eyes. It takes a while for us to meet Jack and a long while for Saba to get to grips with her true feelings for him. The romance is sweet and steamy at the same time, at some moments I was like "awww" and other moments I was like "phew down boy!" haha. 

Something that really bugged me though was the language and grammar used through out the book. It took me a while to get used to it and after that I found it to be one of the things I loved about the story. BUT at one stage Saba was telling everyone that she was sorry for her behaviour and how she was acting, one of the words she used to describe herself was: cantankersome.... now I had no idea whether this word even existed and here Saba is - obviously never read a book in her life as she doesn't know what words were and described them as scribbles on a page - using a word like cantankersome to explain her actions! Feels a bit off to me.

I don't mind a cliffhanger at the end of a book because it leaves you wanting more but I really liked how this book ended. I was left feeling satisfied, this chapter has ended but I knew that there is going to be more adventures to come. I'm still very much looking forward to getting the next book in the series. Hopefully I can get it on Audiobook too.

On the cover

 

This isn't the normal cover people are probably used to seeing as Audiobooks seem to have the more unknown covers but I think it's cool. It looks like a piece of art that should be hanging up in some hip gallery by some super hipster artist. I do prefer the other covers more than this one though.

What I'm listening on Audio to next: BZRK by Michael Grant

12 Favourite books of 2012

I love reading about which books have captivated people, scared them out of their pants, made them laugh, made them cry or or even feel a bit swoony. Something that I know everyone loves doing is recommending a really great book or even bagging out a book they hated. I also love all these things and what a perfect way to showcase all of that is by sharing with you twelve of my favourite books for 2012. (I thought that it would be nifty to pick 12 as that's also the year's number) I plan on showcasing some books from 2012 that I didn't enjoy all that much in another post later on.

I know I'm really late in posting this but who cares! I'm going to list them from 12 to 1 so you have to scroll down to see my ultimate favourite. Although I have to mention I've cheated a little bit with the amount of books you will see because I have mentioned series, so technically there's more than twelve but oh well!

Number 12

Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Number 11

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Number 10

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

Number 9

Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin

Number 8

Juliet by Anne Fortier

Number 7

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Number 6

Purity in Death by J.D Robb & others in the 'In Death' series

Number 5

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Number 4 

Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy

Number 3

Then by Morris Gleitzman

Number 2 

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Number 1

The Hunger Games & Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

If you click on the title it will take you to my book review.

Did you have any favourite books from 2012? I'd love to know what you loved

 

It's Coraline not Caroline!

Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
162 pages
Buy it @ bookdepository


When Coraline explores her new home, she steps through a door and into another house just like her own... except that it's different. It's a marvelous adventure until Coraline discovers that there's also another mother and another father in the house. They want Coraline to stay with them and be their little girl. They want to keep her forever!

Coraline must use all of her wits and every ounce of courage in order to save herself and return home.







Review: I saw this movie when it was released and thought it was really awesome. The whole idea of having a world where there is another mother and another father with buttons as eyes is a creepy, but unique idea. I found the book was slightly different to the movie, although it has been a long time since I saw the movie so I could've forgotten certain aspects. Coraline is so cool and quirky, It would be awesome to spend time with her. She's such an interesting girl that you can't help but get connected to her right away. Every thing her parents suggest her to do in the holidays is BORING, she wants excitement and adventure, little does she know that is exactly what she gets. The mysterious part of the story in which Coraline has to find a way to get out of the other house is interesting enough, it keeps you intrigued but is fairly simple to figure out what is going on. So in saying that I think the story is suitable for readers of all ages although some younger children may be scared of some of the themes in this book.

To sum up I gave it four stars because I was left wanting a little more. I felt like the other mother didn't get a good comeuppance for her terrible deeds. On a side note, Neil Gaman was the one narrating the audiobook and it was great! I love when an author does the narrating of their own book because you think they would know how the characters should sound.


On the cover: Obviously this is the movie cover, which funny enough I prefer to any other cover. Usually I hate the movie covers on books because most of the time they get actors to play the characters and they look nothing like how they're described in the book. I love the button for the 'O' in Coraline and the cat as the 'L'. Also, the moon is a button and the tree is a hand creeping to snatch up Coraline. This cover is creepy and interesting at the same time. Love it!

What I'm listening on Audio to next: Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

Have you seen the movie? Which did you like better?

The Skeleton Detective has done it again!

Playing with fire (Skulduggery Pleasant #2) by Derek Landy
Rating 4 out of 5 stars

"Skulduggery and Valkyrie are facing a new enemy: Baron Vengeous, who is determined to bring back the terrifying Faceless Ones and is crafting an army of evil to help him. Added to that, Vengeous is about to enlist a new ally (if he can raise it from the dead): the horrible Grotesquery, a very unlikable monster of legend.

Once Vengeous is on the loose, dead bodies and vampires start showing up all over Ireland. Now pretty much everybody is out to kill Valkyrie, and the daring detective duo faces its biggest challenge yet.

But what if the greatest threat to Valkyrie is just a little closer to home?"




Review: After listening on Audio to the first book in the ‘Skulduggery Pleasant’ series I couldn’t wait to read the second. The first book was funny, magical and full of adventure, and this one also delivers all of those things. I love the soundtrack and special effect sounds on the audio book, it really sets the scene and makes the story more exciting! In the first book there were so many laugh out loud moments but I didn’t feel like there were as many in this one. I still really love the banter between main characters, Skulduggery & Valkyrie, at times I was amazed at what kind of comebacks a 13 year old could come up with (some were hilarious!) My favourite Skulduggery quote in this book would have to be “We aren’t retreating... we’re advancing in reverse”. These books are quick and easy to read and fill the time quite easily, So if you’re looking for a book full of fun then this series is what you’re looking for. Even though it wasn’t as funny as the first I still had a great time listening to it and I look forward to continuing the adventures with Skulduggery & Valkyrie. Keep up the good work of saving the world!!

On the cover: I LOVE these covers! They are so cool, the colors are very eye-catching against the black & whites and the catch phrase at the bottom is the perfect explanation of what is to come. Doesn't Skulduggery look fly in his suit :)


To see my review of the first book in the series click here

*Picture & blurb taken from goodreads


Listening to next: Then by Morris Gleitzman

Bye for now ~ Sami X