Having Some Computer Problems

Over the weekend, my laptop has fallen victim to a virus or two. The biggest problem is that the virus is not allowing me to open anything in Internet Explorer or other browsers. I'm hoping to have everything figured out in the next day or so, and be back to posting by the weekend. *Crosses fingers*

I have three reviews lined up for once I'm back online, so you can look forward to those. They are Changeless by Gail Carriger, Wicked Lovely: Desert Tales, Volume 1: Sanctuary by Melissa Marr, and Wicked Lovely: Desert Tales, Volume 2: Challenge by Melissa Marr.

Luckily this mishap hasn't interfered with any author visits. But Jennifer Estep will be returning on June 2nd for her next release Web of Lies, due out May 25th!

In My Mailbox (31)

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



Bought:

Ghosts & Echoes by Lyn Benedict
Elphame's Choice by P.C. Cast
The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason
Wicked Lovely: Desert Tales, Volume 2: Challenge by Melissa Marr



Used Trade-In:

Kissed by an Angel by Elizabeth Chandler
Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione

Review: Tattoo by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Title: Tattoo
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 01/09/07
Summary:

Bailey Morgan isn't the type of girl who shows a lot of skin, but somehow, she ends up in a dressing room at the mall with her friend Delia applying a temporary tattoo to her lower back. Never one to suffer fashion doubt, trendsetter Delia knows exactly where she wants her own tattoo: on her stomach, right where her shirt ends—can you say "midriff"? Annabelle, the quiet one, chooses the back of her neck, and tomboy Zo plasters hers on the top of her foot. The tattoos will last for three days, and Delia's sure that with them, the four friends will absolutely kill at the school dance.

Unfortunately, killing is just what someone has in mind, and Bailey, Delia, Annabelle, and Zo are in for the battle of their lives. Along with her tattoo, each girl receives a gift—a supernatural power to help them in their fight. As Bailey's increasingly frightening dreams reveal the nature of their enemy, it becomes clear to the girls that it's up to them to save the world. And if they can get Delia to stop using her newfound power to turn gum wrappers into Prada pumps, they might actually stand a chance.

Plot: 3 Stars
I loved the idea of tattoos giving the girls certain powers. I especially enjoyed Delia's power of transmogrification (changing objects into different objects) because I had never heard of that specific power before. The author did a great job at weaving the sidhe and the fates together with the story of the four friends -- Bailey, Zo, Annabelle, and Delia. I just felt some of the high school aspects were a bit cliched at times. But the unique twist the author put on the paranormal aspect of the story definitely made up for it.

Pace: 4 Stars
This novel was short and sweet. I finished it in a little under a day, and basically only put it down to eat and sleep. I breezed through the chapters, but the story never felt rushed. It was a fun, light read that kept me guessing until the very end. It was a little short, but I think adding to it would've slowed the plot down in a bad way, so I'm glad it was streamlined and to the point.

Characters: 4 Stars
The four best friends were an awesome group. Each was their own person, but together they became a very strong entity (even before they gain their powers). I especially liked Zo because she's the tomboy of the group and Annabelle because she was very book-smart. Delia, the fashionista and almost-mean girl of the group, could've gotten on my nerves very easily, but Jennifer wrote her in a way that she never crossed that line. Bailey made a good narrator and center focus for the group because I feel she would've faded to the background had one of the others narrated the novel.

Cover: 3 Stars
Although the cover depicts the placement of Bailey's tattoo, I feel that it's a little bland as far as covers go. I would've liked to have seen the four best friends on the cover since all four of them are main characters. It would've also been cool to have the tattoos actually represented, instead of the title being the tattoo. Had I not already known what the novel was about (I met Jennifer at one of Melissa Marr's signings last April), I may not have been interested enough to pick it up and read the back.

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Waiting on Wednesday (25)

This book blog meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Shade
Author: Jeri Smith-Ready
Genre: Young Adult
Release date: 05/04/10
Summary:

Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding--and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

Review: Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr

Title: Radiant Shadows
Author: Melissa Marr
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 04/20/10
Summary:

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 for one 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.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
Wicked Lovely will always be my favorite book of this series, but Radiant Shadows comes in a very close second. I absolutely loved the way Ani and Devlin's stories weaved together. I find all of the different faerie courts in Marr's world unique and interesting, especially how the author balances them all. The twist at the end has left me pining for the next book. It took me completely by surprise, but was better than anything I was hoping would happen.

Pace: 5 Stars
I couldn't put this novel down. I was a little worried because both Ink Exchange and Fragile Eternity were slow reads for me (they each had a bit of downtime in the middle that I had to push to get through), but this installment kept me on the edge of my seat. The author bounces between points of view with ease. It never feels disjointed and it helps the reader get a better idea of the big picture.

Characters: 4 Stars
Ever since I first read about Ani and Tish in a previous book, I've wanted to know more about them. Although I would've liked to have seen a bit more of Tish, it was great get to know Ani and her troubles of growing up half-mortal. We got to see into a side of the Dark Court that wasn't shown in earlier book. I liked seeing more about Gabriel and the Hounds. My favorite character though was Devlin; I enjoyed following him through the inner turmoil of his balancing act between order and chaos. I just wished Ash and Seth could've had slightly bigger parts because I will always love them.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
I have adored every cover in this series, and Radiant Shadows doesn't disappoint. I love how the cover models are out of focus, while a different element is in focus. It's a very unique idea. I also love the titles in this series. They are very eloquent in their opposites and are always subtlely found in the text. The detailing around the titles is another touch that ties them all together as a series. Although the cover for Radiant Shadows isn't my favorite, the color scheme is my favorite out of the four.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I won a copy of this book from a contest on Fantasy Dreamer's Ramblings.