In My Mailbox (83)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.


Review:
Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep eARC [Buy now]
Thanks to Jennifer Estep!

Bought:
Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris [Buy now]
Dark Descendant by Jenna Black [Buy now]
Abandon by Meg Cabot [Buy now]
Ascension by Sable Grace [Buy now]

Gift:
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin [Buy now]

Review: Clarity by Kim Harrington

Title: Clarity
Author: Kim Harrington
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 03/01/11
Buy the Book:

Summary:

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case -- but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother -- who has supernatural gifts of his own -- becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Plot: 4 Stars
I love a Young Adult who-dun-it with a paranormal twist, so this novel was fantastic. It reminded me of The Body Finder, which was one of my favorite reads of 2010. While the psychic powers of Clare and her family were a big part of the novel, it was incorporated very well into the novel. My favorite part was that Clare's mother built a family business on their powers, so it was common knowledge (even if some townspeople didn't believe). I also liked that each one of them had different powers: their mother was telepathic, Perry could get in touch with spirits, and Clare was psychometric, meaning she could learn things by touching objects. Each had their strengths and weaknesses. The paranormal and the mystery in this novel were in perfect balance.

Pace: 5 Stars
The pacing of this novel was fantastic. I read it inbetween two DNFs that were really slow (among other problems), so the pace of this novel was very refreshing. I'm glad I read it while I was off from work, because I did not want to put it down. It's not very often I try to bring a novel with me to the dinner table. Clare rushed to figure out the mystery, but the novel never felt rushed. There were no unnecessary scenes meant to throw the reader off of the scent of the killer, but I was still left guessing until the very end. The twists and turns in this novel were a bit subtle; nothing threw me upside-down, but I never knew who the cuprit was until the end.

Characters: 5 Stars
Clare was a very interesting character. She didn't have that many friends due to her family's psychic abilities, but she didn't let it bother her too much. She mostly hung out with her brother, Perry, and his best friend. Although I did enjoy when she lost it a little and dumped a drink over the mean girl's head. The tiny moment of fury made her feel more real, and also made me like her more. Their mother was a hoot. I don't feel like I we got to know Perry that much, due to the cirsumstances, and hope we get to learn more about him in future novels. Gabriel, the new sheriff's son, was a very interesting character. He had some baggage that led to him not believing in Clare's psychic powers, which made the task of them working together a great plot point. Justin, Clare's ex-boyfriend, is trying to get back in her good graces. It was interesting to learn how Clare found out about his indescretions, and her turmoil over her feelings for him and what he did felt very real.

Cover: 4 Stars
This was a very interesting cover. I used to do a lot of graphic design (self-taught), and I have a feeling I know exactly how they made the light effects on this cover. It was a trick I used on many graphics, and really enjoy. So I immediately liked this cover for it's nostalgia. I also really enjoyed the abundance of white used, which is something that stands out on the shelf in the Paranormal YA section of a bookstore because the majority of the books around it are black or other dark colors. The light blue lends itself well to the setting of the novel, which includes a beach. The cover model was a great choice. She embodied Clare in both looks and spirit. Although her wind-blown hair looks a little strange against a blank background. If there were trees or a beach in the background, the wind-blown hair would've had context and not looked as strange. But the blank white background makes me think her hair is wind-blown while she's inside.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I borrowed this novel from the local library.

Giveaway Winner: Tangled Threads by Jennifer Estep

There were a total of 31 participants in this giveaway. Using random.org, I randomized the list of entries, and then random selected the winner. The winner Tangled Threads by Jennifer Estep is...

Cat

Congratulations! Please respond to the e-mail I sent with your mailing information within 72 hours.

Didn't win? You can pick up a copy from The Book Depository and have it shipped for free!

April RAK

This was my first month taking part in Random Acts of Kindness, and cool program started by Book Soulmates. Basically, book bloggers sign up with their wish lists and other generous book bloggers can send them a gift from that wish list. I passed along a couple ARCs that were on a couple wishlists, and and received one as well.



Thanks for Michelle G. from Michelle's Book Blog, I received an ARC of Taste Me by Tamara Hogan. I'm looking forward to this book and will be reading it very soon.



I really like this program. It's a great way to share books that you've enjoyed and meet new bloggers. Don't forget to stop by the Book Soulmates if you're interested in learning more.

Review: Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

Title: Magic Under Glass
Author: Jaclyn Dolamore
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 12/22/09 (paperback: 05/24/11)
Buy the Book:

Summary:

Nimira is a music-hall girl used to dancing for pennies. So when wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to sing accompaniment to a mysterious piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it will be the start of a better life.

In Parry's world, long-buried secrets are about to stir. Unsettling rumors begin to swirl about ghosts, a madwoman roaming the halls, and Parry’s involvement in a group of corrupt sorcerers for whom the rules of the living and dead are meant to be broken for greater power.

When Nimira discovers the spirit of a dashing fairy gentleman is trapped within the automaton, she is determined to break the curse. But even as the two fall into a love that seems hopeless, breaking the curse becomes a perilous race against time. Because it's not just the future of these star-crossed lovers that's at stake, but the fate of the entire magical world.

Plot: 4 Stars
The storyline behind this novel was very unique. It was a great mix of magical and paranormal elements with a touch of steampunk-esque elements. There was a lot of history between the sorcerers and the faeries, and while we did get a good amount of information, I hope it is expanded on in future novels. I really enjoyed the way the author tied singing and dancing into the novel. Nimira was a "trouser girl" who performed before she met Parry, who hired her to accompany his automation that played the piano. There were times when it seemed like Parry may have had ulterior motives, but only time (and future novels) will tell if my instincts about him are correct. When strange things start happening within the mansion, Nim keeps her head and investigates, and even figures out a way to communicate with the automaton. This novel kept me guessing throughout with it's twists and turns, and left me wanting the next novel ASAP. The world-building gave me a good feel for how the world worked, but I was a bit confused about the actual setting. It left me wondering if it was a country the author made up, or if I should be able to find it on a map. But as the story hooked me in, I stopped trying to figure it out and enjoyed the ride.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
Although this novel was a bit on the short side, it was the perfect length for this story. I could not put it down, and I finished reading in less than twenty-four hours. The events of the novel unfolded in a winding, twisty way that left me unable to put the novel down. Just when I thought I had figured an element of the plot out, everything was thrown upside-down. It was refreshing to not guess any of the plot lines, whether major or minor, beforehand.

Characters: 4 Stars
Nimira was a brave young woman. She was on her own in a new city, making a living to the best of her abilities. I was slightly worried for her when she left with Parry to live at his mansion and perform with his automaton. I grew up knowing you don't get into a vehicle with strangers. It amazed me that I was so invested in her character after only a few short chapters, that I was worried for her safety. As the story unfolded with the automaton, Nim's compassion really started to come out. All in all, she was a wonderful character. I wish we could've learned a bit more detail about her past and her family, but the details that were included painted an interesting picture. Although he played a very big role in the novel, I felt as though Parry stayed cloaked in mystery and we did not get to know him as well as we could have.

Cover: 4 Stars
This novel has had two covers in the US. For those of you who aren't aware, there was a white-washing scandal when the book first released (see cover below), and the publisher made a second cover (see beginning of review) after the story broke around the blogosphere last year. I personally have a copy of the book that has the first cover. Jaclyn is a local writer and had signed the stock at my local Borders, so I had to grab a copy. I'm not going to use this review as a place to rant about the white-washing over this cover (or any cover). If you take the cover model's skin tone out of the first cover, I think it does a good job of portraying the feel of the novel with her outfit. But the second cover is fantastic. The cover model is exactly how I had envisioned Nimira. And I loved that she was holding a key, since it is such an important part of the novel. The font choice and placement of the title work much better as well. The clockwork detail in the corner is very subtle, but a nice detail to include.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this novel for my own reading pleasure.

In My Mailbox (82)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

This was a pretty good week. Most of the books I've ordered on the internet this month arrived, so I'm only waiting on two. The gifts included are Easter gifts from my girlfriend. I know, I know... We haven't technically exchanged gifts yet, but it's not like they were gonna be a surprise. When Christen shops for me, she just lets me loose in a bookstore.


Review:
Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter ARC[Buy now]
Thanks to Angela at Dark Faerie Tales via Book It Forward ARC Tours.

Library:
Love Bites by Ellen Schreiber [Buy now]


Bought:
The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong [Buy now]
Mercy Burns by Keri Arthur [Buy now]
Red Glove by Holly Black [Buy now]
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter [Buy now]


Gifts:
The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell [Buy now]
Huntress by Malinda Lo [Buy now]
Land of the Burning Sands by Rachel Neumeier [Buy now]
Biting the Bride by Clare Willis [Buy now]

Review: Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

Title: Bleeding Violet
Author: Dia Reeves
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 01/05/10
Buy the Book:

Summary:

Love can be a dangerous thing...

Hanna simply wants to be loved. With a head plagued by hallucinations, a medicine cabinet full of pills, and a closet stuffed with frilly, violet dresses, Hanna’s tired of being the outcast, the weird girl, the freak. So she runs away to Portero, Texas in search of a new home.

But Portero is a stranger town than Hanna expects. As she tries to make a place for herself, she discovers dark secrets that would terrify any normal soul. Good thing for Hanna, she’s far from normal. As this crazy girl meets an even crazier town, only two things are certain: Anything can happen and no one is safe.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
This novel was strangely twisted, in a great way. I've never read a novel before in which the main character had a mental illness. Hanna has bipolar disorder which leads to mood swings and hallucinations, and in my opinion, the author did a very good job describing her illness and it's symptoms without making Hanna seem so "crazy" that it was unbelievable. The town of Portero and its residents made Hanna seem almost normal. Everyone wears black except for the Mortmaine, who wear green, and Hanna, who only wears purple. There are monsters called lures lurking, and doors that open to portals, and keys that residents are given to protect. The paranormal elements of this novel are like nothing I've ever read before.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
This novel was on the longer side, but you wouldn't know it while reading. Chapter after chapter flew by, leaving me on the edge of my seat. It was so strange and twisted, I couldn't put it down. Hanna was impossible to predict, which made the twists and turns in this novel even more mysterious and surprising. Although she went on a few tangents along the way, they always tied into the plot, even if you didn't realize it until much later.

Characters: 4 Stars
Hanna was a great main character. Although she has bipolar disorder which leads to hallucinations and mood swings, the author never let it define her. The mental illness shaped her as a person and affected her desires and decisions, but her world didn't revolve around her symptoms and her pills. It did make her a very unpredictable character, but in a town like Portero, she fit right in. Wyatt was also an interesting character. As a member of the Mortmaine, he helped protect the town of Portero from lures and other dangers. The relationship between Wyatt and Hanna has as many twists and turns as the rest of the novel, and felt very real. Hanna's mother was not what I expected, and her actions were sometimes more shocking than her daughter's. Hanna's father and step-mother didn't have large roles, but there could've been a little more detail given about their characters.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
The cover model for this novel is perfect! Her skin tone is exactly how I imagined Hanna's would be, and it's wonderful to see that instead of a white model that would possibly "sell better." There have been quite a few white-washing cover scandals over the past year or so, and this cover is a great example of portraying the main character's race. The purple that is rippled across the cover is very eye-catching. Plus, it's the only color Hanna will wear because it was her father's favorite. The purple of the cover also looked like fabric, which Hanna had plenty of because she made all of her own clothes. The red little touches of red work well with the purple, plus it was a color she associated with her mother during the book. The font choice for the title works very well. The script looks like it could be Hanna's handwriting, plus it flows well with the purple ripples on the cover.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this novel for my own reading pleasure.

Great Deals (April 22)

I was browsing the Book Depository today and found some great deals on some recent releases. Contemplating ordering a couple for myself.

Young Adult:

Title: Abandon
Author: Meg Cabot
Price: $9.50 (47% off)
Release Date: 04/26/11
But the Book:





Title: Bite Club
Author: Rachel Caine
Price: $13.49 (25% off)
Release Date: 05/03/11
But the Book:





Title: Blood Magic
Author: Tesa Gratton
Price: $13.49 (25% off)
Release Date: 05/24/11
But the Book:





Title: The Gathering
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Price: $10.49 (41% off)
Release Date: available
But the Book:





Title: The Goddess Test
Author: Aimee Carter
Price: $8.99 (10% off)
Release Date: available
But the Book:





Title: Illusions
Author: Aprilynne Pike
Price: $12.74 (25% off)
Release Date: 05/03/11
But the Book:





Title: Shift
Author: Jeri Smith-Ready
Price: $13.49 (25% off)
Release Date: 05/03/11
But the Book:





Title: Through Her Eyes
Author: Jennifer Archer
Price: $13.30 (21% off)
Release Date: available
But the Book:





Urban Fantasy:

Title: After the Golden Age
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Price: $13.99 (44% off)
Release Date: available
But the Book:





Title: Dead Reckoning
Author: Charlaine Harris
Price: $20.96 (25% off)
Release Date: 05/03/11
But the Book:





Title: Hard Bitten
Author: Chloe Neill
Price: $10.00 (33% off)
Release Date: 05/03/11
But the Book: