Review: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Scorpio Races

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Publisher: Scholastic Press (October 16, 2011)

Source: Library

From GoodReads:

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

I loved Maggie Stiefvater's Wolves of Mercy Falls series so much. Because I loved them, I was a little hesitant to pick up something completely different from her - I still wanted to be lost in Mercy Falls, not some strange island. But, that skepticism didn't last long. The Scorpio Races is a story unlike any other. Built upon a myth about horses that comes straight from the sea and thirst for blood, The Scorpio Races is not just about the mysterious horses - it is about surivial, love and the importance of a place to call home.

Puck may be the heroine of the story, but it was Sean who I wanted to know more about. He is described as having one leg on land and another in the sea, and Stiefvater does a fantastic job of weaving Sean almost seamlessly into the mythology of her Scorpio Races. I cannot imagine living in a world like Sean and Puck's. Their world is a world where people die every year in nothing more than a horse race. And, because the horses appear, the race must be run. And, because the race is run, people die.

I felt like The Scorpio Races takes awhile to get going. Almost like the race itself, the reader must go through the paces before they get to the climactic end of the story. They have to go through the pages, learning the mythology of the island and the people who call it home. Slowly and steadily, you learn more about Sean and Puck, and you can't decide which one you want to win the race.

The Scorpio Races makes you believe in a mythology of the island. You fear the water horses. You fear the races. You fear what will happen to the winner - and the loser - of the race. The Scorpio Races is not like Maggie Stiefvater's other books. It is a completely different story, but one that is told with the same level of passion and detail as the Mercy Falls stories.

The Just-Because Giveaway: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Once in awhile, when I receive an ARC from a tour, I'm able to keep it. Doesn't happen often, but I've been at the end of a few tours recently where the owner didn't need/want the book back. That's awesome for me, for several reasons. One of them is I get to own a pretty cool book in ARC form. :D

The other day, I was told I get to keep a copy of Everneath by Brodi Ashton (review to come on release day!). Since Everneath isn't out yet, I thought it'd be cool to give it away to a lucky reader who'll get to read it before everyone else.

Soooo...here you go! The Just-Because Giveaway. :)

From GoodReads:

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever. 

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists. 

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen. 

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

Fill out the RaffleCopter below to enter to win one used (and read, many times over) copy of Everneath by Brodi Ashton. It isn't in perfect condition, but it's in pretty good used condition (pages are good, cover has some wear). Since I want to get this to the lucky winner before it's release date (January 24, 2012), this will be a short contest. You have today, tomorrow, & Friday to enter!

Good luck!

EDIT: Congratulations to SaraBara01 for winning! She must have some serious luck on her side, since she was also the winner of the TEMPEST ARC I gave away several months ago. :D


a Rafflecopter giveaway

New Year's Resolution

I consider myself a newbie when it comes to book blogging. I've been tweeting about my favorite YA books for about nine months now and only posting blog reviews for about four of those. So, yeah, pretty new.

One of the biggest problems for me is trying to figure out how to tackle the TBR pile, especially now that I receive ARCs, galleys, and review requests. Previously, I've been in the habit of always putting other people first. I receive a book for review...gotta read it now, even if that means putting a book I really want to read (and have already purchased) on hold. Now, this can't always be avoided. When I only have a week to read an ARC and I've committed to reviewing the book, it does have to be put towards the top. However, I'm starting to learn how important it is for me to read the books I want to read when I want to read them.

Sometimes, I'm just in the mood for a certain kind of book. When a different book is on the top of the TBR pile, I used to just read it. You know what? When I do that, the book is never as enjoyable as it could be and I'm not as in the mood to write that review. But, when I pick up a book I'm in the mood for, I tend to like that book even more than I might have otherwise. Aaaaand, the review practically writes itself. :)

Just like with anything else, it's good to take some ME-time. In the book blogging world, that's choosing what book to read, when I want to read it, because I want to. My New Year's Resolution is to do this more often. Sure, there will always be books I have to bump to the top. Can't change that. But, I can be more flexible on what my TBR pile looks like. This year, if I'm in the mood for book four in my pile and not book one, I'm gonna read book four. I'm gonna keep reading like crazy, but make sure I'm still reading for the fun of it and not for other people's supposed deadlines.

What kind of New Year's Resolutions have you made?

Teaser Tuesday: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Title: Hallowed

Author: Cynthia Hand

Publisher: HarperTeen (January 17, 2012)

Source: ATW ARC Tours

From GoodReads:

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. 

After finishing Unearthly by Cynthia Hand, I couldn't want to get my hands on Hallowed. Lucky for me, the ARC was already on it's way. I flew threw this book in little over a day and now I'm left wondering, what happens next?

I really enjoyed reading Hallowed, but it's also the second book in a fantasy series with a heavy dose of romance. Usually, that's when things start getting complicated...especially the romance. Unfortunately for us romance lovers, that's true for Hallowed as well. The romance becomes much trickier when Clara is trying to figure out what her true purpose was and if she can still fulfill it. Having her caught between two great guys is good, but awful. Good, because she can't really pick a bad boy. Awful because that means sooner or later some great fictional guy's heart will be broken (and so will mine if she doesn't pick who I want!).

Also true of second books in a fantasy series is that the readers learn much more about the world and backstory that wasn't previously available. I was very excited for this aspect of Hallowed, and was not disappointed by what I read. There was quite a bit of mystery in Unearthly, particularly because Clara's mom wasn't found of revealing information. In Hallowed, we get a ton more information, some of it even given from Clara's mom herself. Many questions were answered, but even more were raised. That's always the way of it, isn't it?

Overall, I enjoyed reading Hallowed and can't wait to read more from this world. The ending was very open-ended, so I'm excited to find out where Cynthia Hand decides to take the story.

Final thoughts:  If you bought Unearthly, definitely buy Hallowed. If not, borrow. 

Review: Touch by Jus Accardo

Title: Touch
Author: Jus Accardo
Publisher: Entangled Publishing (November 1, 2011)
Source: NetGalley

From GoodReads:

When a strange boy tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet, seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the opportunity to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie with ice blue eyes home.

Except there’s something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she’ll turn to dust if he touches her. It’s not until Dez’s father shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez realizes there’s more to this boy—and her father’s “law firm”—than she realized.

Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation—an organization devoted to collecting “special” kids known as Sixes and using them as weapons—his entire life. And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills. The two team up with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down Denazen before they’re caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe.

A secret Kale will kill to protect.

I was excited to read Touch by Jus Accardo because it seemed dark and sexy, two amazing qualities in a book if you ask me. ;) Unfortunately, I didn't end up liking it as much as I hoped I would.

Now, I'll preface my review by saying that I think there are readers who will really enjoy this book. There are definitely some good qualities to Touch. For example, the characters. Dez has a straightforward, tells-you-exactly-what-she's-thinking voice that helps the reader understand her immediately. The voice pulled me into the story right away. Definitely good stuff. Plus, Dez isn't a typical YA female heroine. She drinks, skateboards, and (gasp!) isn't a virgin. I love that she's different.

There were a lot of other cool characters too. Dez's cousin Brandt is another of my favorites, though he doesn't play a huge role. Alex is interesting. Can't say he's a favorite because of his relationship with Dez, but he was pretty intriguing. Anyway, I think you get the point, characters = goodness.

The plot is interesting too, even if the basics are pretty common in YA fiction. Big evil corporation/government is doing big evil things to people who happen to have special abilities. (Which, FYI, can sum up the plot for the story I'm writing too, so I clearly don't have anything against it.)

I think my biggest problem is that the story and writing didn't seem developed enough to me. I'm having a hard time being more specific than that, but I can comment on one part of this: Kale. For some reason, Kale didn't resonate as realistic (as realistic as a sheltered person who's touch kills people could be). There was just something about his character that didn't feel well-rounded. I still liked him, but it irked me that he didn't seem complete.

Overall, I'd say check out the summary, the first few pages, and some other reviews to decide whether or not Touch is for you. It wasn't my favorite book, but I wouldn't say it was bad either.

Final thoughts: Borrow, if interested.

In My Mailbox #15

IMM is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren

Over the holidays I got lots of great gifts, including some gift cards for books and receiving ARCs I'd been waiting for! Here are all the books I've received over the last few weeks:

ARCs

On The Fringe by Courtney King Walker

Fracture by Megan Miranda*

Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
Life Is But A Dream by Brian James

Galleys

Fairy Lies by E. D. Baker
The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry
Revealing Eden by Victoria Foyt

Purchased/Gifts

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

Dreaming Awake by Gwen Hayes

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski
Never to Sleep by Rachel Vincent

Forget You by Jennifer Echols*

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern*

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand*

Now, I have lots of fun stuff to read. :D 

*Have already read.

Recap: December 19 - 23

Sooo...I thought I posted this before I left for vacation. Guess not. :( Sorry for the delay. Here's your weekly round-up of twitter recommendations for the week of December 19-23:

LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR by Stephanie Perkins

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. 

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Review:  Rich characters and story with complex emotions. Felt so real!

I highly recommend LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR by Stephanie Perkins to everyone. Bonus points for fans of contemporary romance.

RADIANT SHADOWS by Melissa Marr

Hunger for nourishment.
Hunger for touch.
Hunger to belong.

Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers.

Those same appetites also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies, including Devlin. He was created as an assassin and is brother to the faeries' coolly logical High Queen and to her chaotic twin, the embodiment of War. Devlin wants to keep Ani safe from his sisters, knowing that if he fails, he will be the instrument of Ani's death.

Ani isn't one to be guarded while others fight battles for her, though. She has the courage to protect herself and the ability to alter Devlin's plans—and his life. The two are drawn together, each with reason to fear the other and to fear forone another. But as they grow closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faery realm mean losing each other?

Alluring romance, heart-stopping danger, and sinister intrigue combine in the penultimate volume of Melissa Marr's New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series.

Review:  Dark, sexy, and very different from the rest of the series.

I recommend RADIANT SHADOWS by Melissa Marr to fans of dark fantasy. Bonus points for faeries.


THE FUTURE OF US by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future. 

By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present.

Review:  Great balance of insightful commentary on society and pure teenage humor and drama.

I recommend THE FUTURE OF US by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler to fans of contemporary and literary fiction.


THE PLEDGE by Kimberley Derting

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed. 

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

Review:  Dark, intense, and creative world.

I recommend THE PLEDGE by Kimberly Derting to fans of fantasy/paranormal. Bonus points for darkness.


BLOOD PROMISE by Richelle Mead

Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same. 

The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters . . . Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa—her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess—or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved? 

Now, with everything at stake—and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend—can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

Review:  BLOOD PROMISE is my favorite book in the series!

I highly recommend BLOOD PROMISE by Richelle Mead to fans of fantasy. Bonus points for vampires and romance.


*Summaries provided by GoodReads