Review: Possession by Elana Johnson

Goodreads Summary: Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn ... and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself. But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them ... starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous - everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn. This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

My Rating: 4 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Set in a vivid and well-developed dystopian world, Elana Johnson’s Possession is a great debut with a huge dose of action along with romance and some paranormal elements, involving a satisfying cast of characters.

The protagonist is Violet (aka Vi), a smart and snarky character who you can’t help but fall in love with. She continually questions things and refuses to be told what to do. Vi’s love for breaking rules has led her to being convicted several times – seven, to be exact. When Vi is arrested for being out with Zenn, her match, and meets Jag, the bad boy with wicked hair, in prison, you just know there’s going to be a love triangle. It’s hard to pick a side for this love triangle though because Johnson has made both Jag and Zenn complex characters. They each have their secrets and just when you start rooting for one, you find out something that will change your mind and have you cheering for the other.

Despite liking the romance between Jag and Vi, I found that it developed a little too quickly; especially considering how much Vi cared for Zenn. However, Jag and Vi were sharing the same prison cell so I suppose living in close quarters is a reasonable explanation for the swift romance.

I also found that the plot was a little too fast-paced. In Possession, Jag and Vi always seemed to be on the run and in danger of being captured, leaving little time for the reader to process what was happening with them and to figure out which of the people they meet they should trust.

The ending though was incredible and made up for the frenetic pace of the novel. There’s no blatant cliffhanger but it does leave things open-ended, which means I’m crossing my fingers for a sequel.  

Possession will be released by Simon and Schuster on June 7, 2011.

                                       

Comments About the Cover: I love the pretty cover, and the blue butterfly really stands out against the white background. The butterfly trapped in ice also symbolizes the world that Johnson has created because people are unable to become free and exert their own will.

In exchange for an honest review, this ARC was received from the publisher (Simon and Schuster) for free via Galley Grab.

Waiting on Wednesday: Where She Went

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme held by Jill at Breaking the Spine to feature upcoming books that we can't wait to get our hands on. 

Title: Where She Went
Author: Gayle Forman
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Date of Release: April 5, 2011 

Goodreads Description: It's been three years since the devastating accident ... three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever. Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other. Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

Why am I waiting? I thought I had featured this one already but I was wrong apparently. Anyway, I loved If I Stay and the character of Adam, so I'm super excited that this one is from his POV and am looking forward to seeing what has been happening in Mia and Adam's lives since then. 

Author Interview: Katie Kacvinsky

As part of the A Cornucopia of Dystopia event held by Casey from The Bookish Type and Danya from A Tapestry of Words, Katie Kacvinsky, the author of Awaken, is here today to answer some of my questions. 

A bit about Katie (as quoted from Goodreads): Katie Kacvinsky worked in the entertainment industry and as a high school English teacher before deciding to write full time. She currently lives in Corvallis, Oregon. 

 
As a debut author, how long did it take to write and publish Awaken, and what was the process like?

This could be a really long winded answer, but to summarize it, it only took a couple of months to write a draft of Awaken. It was one of those books that spilled out of me; my characters took over my mind and pretty much wrote it for me. Once I had a solid draft polished, I started looking for agents. I spent almost as much time looking for agents as I did writing the manuscript! When I found representation, we pitched it to publishing houses and it took a few months and we had several rejections. I had interest from one house and even rewrote the first seven chapters and they still stalled. When Houghton Mifflin read it, they jumped on it. I remember my editor called me on a Friday to tell me how much she loved the book and they had a written offer by Monday. I was ecstatic because that’s what I wanted – a publishing house that loved my book and didn’t hesitate on signing it.   

How did you come up with the world and inventions present in Awaken?

I tried to put myself in Maddie’s shoes and see the world through her eyes. I imagined inventions that I think would be cool in the future, like cars that can drive underwater (I’m surprised they aren’t available yet).  I just extrapolated trends I’m seeing around me. 

Given a choice between living in the present or living in your world of 2060, which would you choose?

Well, since my future is a dystopia, I guess I’d prefer the present. Not to be dreadfully cynical, but I think we’re heading for a scary future. We spend more time on the computer every day. President Obama plans to make wireless internet available to 98% of households around the country. That’s great, but it also shows how digitalized we’ve become. If you’re not part of the new digital age, you might as well drop out of our culture. It’s like pushing a drug – I don’t think people realize the internet is a drug and they actually offer rehab for it now.   

Maddie has a bad habit of biting her nails. Tell us about a bad habit that you have.

I have a coffee habit but I’m in hardcore denial that it’s bad. I like to think of it as just a nice morning routine and ignore the fact that I’d probably have a migraine by noon if I didn’t get some caffeine in my system. 

Maddie's mom passes down her favourite books to Maddie. What are some of your favourite books that are worth passing on?

Oh, so many. I have a shelf full of my absolute favorites and some of them are: Cannery Row, Slaughterhouse Five, The World According to Garp, Jellicoe Road, Pride and Prejudice, The Alchemist, Fahrenheit 451, The Unforgiving Minute, Weetzie Bat, Romeo and Juliet, Blue Like Jazz …

 

Who is your favourite character from Awaken and why?

Justin is my favorite. Even though Maddie is the protagonist, I think the story is just as much Justin’s as it is hers. He has his own feelings to wake up to. He is also the foil against everything technological. More than anything I admire Justin’s perseverance. He won’t back down until he gets what he wants and I think that’s one of the most attractive traits a person can have. 

Do you have any writing projects currently planned for the future?

Yes! Houghton Mifflin Harcourt signed my next book, First Comes Love. This book rocks my world. It's young adult, but it's general teen fiction (instead of sci-fi). I hope to do a sequel for Awaken. Justin and Maddie's story has so many unresolved issues - it definitely needs to continue. Fist Comes Love is angst teen drama and the love story is ... wait for it ... legendary. (Had to steal a line from How I Met Your Mother. Thanks Barney).

A big thanks to Katie for taking the time to answer my question!

Author Interview: Angie Smibert (and Giveaway)

As part of the A Cornucopia of Dystopia event held by Casey from The Bookish Type and Danya from A Tapestry of Words, Angie Smibert, the author of Memento Nora, is here today to answer some of my questions. 

A bit about Angie (as quoted from her website): I was born in Blacksburg, a once sleepy college town in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. I grew up thinking I wanted to be a veterinarian; organic chemistry had other ideas. But I always had stories in my head. Eventually, after a few degrees and few cool jobs - including a 10-year stint at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center - I wrote some of those stories down. I’ve published many short stories, for both adults and teens. My first novel, MEMENTO NORA, will be hitting the shelves in April 1, 2011.

What was the inspiration behind Memento Nora?

The story grew out of a question (or series of questions, really). I was reading about some current research into post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). (Yes, I am a geek.) Scientists are testing drugs to help break the grip that traumatic memories have on PTSD sufferers. The drug in the study helped the memories fade into more “normal” memories. I asked myself what if the drug actually erased those memories - and what if you could get that drug as easily as you could a skinny vanilla latte. I started building the story, the world, and the characters from that point.

Art plays an important role in the lives of Nora, Micah and Winter. Do you have a background in art and what type of art is your favourite?
Nope. I’m no artist, but I’ve hung out (or worked with) many.  My favorite type? I’m fond of impressionist painters - and kinetic sculpture. Really, I like an art that speaks to you in some way.

To remember their stories, the kids all create a comic book. What do you think is the appeal of graphic novels? Oh, and if you do you read a lot of graphic novels yourself, what is your favourite book/series?
I chose for them to do a comic because underground comics have a long history of being subversive. In the 60’s and 70’s, for instance, artists and writers put out political (and other) comics just using pen, paper, and mimeograph (or other type of duplicating machine).  I think graphic novels and comics are engaging and accessible yet the powers-that-be might not take them very seriously. That allows the writer/artist to say a lot. One of my favorite graphic novels - Maus by Art Spiegelman - started out in an underground comic magazine. The graphic novel is only one ever to win a Pulitzer.

How much research did you have to do to figure out how the pill would work?
I did do a fair bit of research. In fact, Memento Nora started out as a short story that appeared in Odyssey, which is teen / tween science magazine. So I had to get the science right.

From the three characters of Nora, Winter and Micah, which one is your favourite and which one are you most like?
It’s not fair to make me pick a favorite! Okay, I will admit I have a soft spot for Winter. I wouldn’t say, though, I’m really more like one character than another. Every writer puts a little bit of themselves in each character.  However, I will say that I wouldn’t have been in Nora’s clique in high school. 

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A huge thank you to Angie for taking the time to answer my questions! Oh, and for those of you who want to read Memento Nora, I have an ARC of it to give away.

So, read the rules below, and then fill out this FORM:

1. This giveaway is US/Canada only! 
2. You do not have to be a follower to enter.
3. You must be over the age of 13.
4. This giveaway will end on April 18, 2011 at 11:59 PM.
5. I am going to be picky about making sure your entries are tallied correctly. Save me some time and you won't feel my wrath ;)

Review: Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

From Back Cover: On an otherwise glossy day, a blast goes off and a body thuds to the ground at Nora's feet. There are terrorist attacks in the city all the time, but Nora can't forget. So Nora goes with her mother to TFC - a Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic. There, she can describe her horrible memory and take the pill that will erase it. But at TFC, a chance encounter with a mysterious guy changes Nora's life. She doesn't take the pill. And when Nora learns the memory her mother has chosen to forget, she realizes that someone needs to remember. With newfound friends Micah and Winter, Nora makes a comic book of their memories call Memento. Memento is an instant hit, but it sets off a dangerous chain of events. Will Nora, Micah, and Winter be forced to take the Big Pill that will erase their memories forever?

My Rating: 3.5 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Angie Smibert’s Memento Nora is a short but tightly woven debut that will leave readers thinking about issues such as violence and terrorism, medicalization, consumerism and the role that governments and corporations play in society.

The novel is told from the perspective of three teenagers, Nora, Micah and Winter, each of whom has their own reason for collaborating on Memento. Aside from having their own unique story, the characters also had very distinctive voices, which I really liked. I would have been able to tell who the narrator was even without the heading showing whose viewpoint I was reading from.

I also thought that the ending was well-done though I was surprised by it. In hindsight however, I should have seen it coming! I definitely hope that there’s a sequel because I’d like to know what happens to Nora, Micah and Winter now.  

Memento Nora will be released on April 1, 2011 by Marshall Cavendish.

Comments About the Cover: Although it’s a little too dark to see the features of the model clearly, I like that it’s hard to see her because she becomes more indistinguishable from other girls. Memento is distributed secretly and the identities of Nora, Micah and Winter as the authors must remain hidden in the book. 

In exchange for an honest review, this ARC was received courtesy of Casey from The Bookish Type and Danya from A Tapestry of Words as part of their A Cornucopia of Dystopia event.

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For those of you who are curious: We are very far from creating a pill that can make people forget traumatic memories. Not only would this pill have to be selective for certain memories but it would also have to be able to cross the blood-brain barrier to reach the brain. Using vectors however, a group of neuroscientists have been successful at selectively ablating fear memory in mice. 

Waiting on Wednesday: Instructions for a Broken Heart

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme held by Jill at Breaking the Spine to feature upcoming books that we can't wait to get our hands on. 

Title: Instructions for a Broken Heart
Author: Kim Culbertson
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Date of Release: May 1, 2011 

Goodreads Description: Three days before her drama club's trip to Italy, Jessa Gardner discovers her boyfriend in the costume barn with another girl. Jessa is left with a care package from her best friend titled "Top Twenty Reasons He's a Slimy Jerk Bastard," instructing her to do one un-Jessa-like thing each day of the trip. At turns hilarious and heartwrenching, Instructions for a Broken Heart paints a magical Italy in which Jessa learns she must figure out life-and romance-for herself.

Why am I waiting? I love contemporary novels and this one sounds like it'll be a good but funny one. I can't wait to see what Jessa's best friend is going to make her do! Plus, it doesn't hurt that it's set abroad. I'm hoping there's going to be a hot Italian boy to drool over ;)

In My Mailbox (14)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme held by The Story Siren.

For Review: 

Dreamwalk by Sarah MacManus (thanks to Sarah MacManus)

Won:
A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford (thanks to Kari from A Good Addiction)

Waiting on Wednesday: I'm Not Her

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme held by Jill at Breaking the Spine to feature upcoming books that we can't wait to get our hands on. 

Title: I'm Not Her 
Author: Janet Gurtler
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Date of Release: May 1, 2011 

Goodreads Description: “For the first time in my life, I didn’t feel envy …” Tess is the exact opposite of her beautiful, athletic sister. And that’s okay. Kristina is the sporty one, Tess is the smart one, and they each have their place. Until Kristina is diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly Tess is the center of the popular crowd, everyone eager for updates. There are senior boys flirting with her. Yet the smiles of her picture-perfect family are cracking and her sister could be dying. Now Tess has to fill a new role: the strong one. Because if she doesn’t hold it together, who will? Janet Gurtler tests the bonds of sisterhood in this moving debut that readers of Jodi Picoult and Sarah Dessen will savor.

Why am I waiting? Sarah Dessen is one of my favourite authors and the description mentions that this one will appeal to her fans. Also, I love books that deal with disorders or diseases because I find it very inspiring when characters learn to confront the reality of having an illness and then overcome it. 

Review: The Karma Club by Jessica Brody

From Inside Jacket: Madison Kasparkova always thought she understood how Karma works. It's that mysterious, powerful force that brings harmony to the universe. You know - do good things and you will be rewarded, do something bad and Karma will make sure you get what's coming to you. A sort of cosmic balancing act. But when Mason Brooks, Maddy's boyfriend of two years, gets caught tongue-wrestling with Miss Perfect Body Heather Campbell, and absolutely nothing happens to either of them - except that they wind up the hot new couple of Colonial High School - it seems like Karma has officially left Maddy in the lurch. That's why Maddy and her best friends, Angie and Jade, decide to start the Karma Club - a secret, members-only organization whose sole purpose is to clean up the messes that the universe has been leaving behind. Whether they're modifying Heather Campbell's acne cream as part of "Operation Butter Face," or righting a few wrongs when it comes to Angie's and Jade's own slimy exes, they know they're just doing what Karma should have done in the first place. They're taking care of one another. Sometimes though, it isn't wise to meddle with the universe. Because it turns out that when you mess with Karma, Karma messes back. Now Maddy must find a way to balance her life for good, even as everything around her seems to be toppling to the ground.

My Rating: 3.5 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: The Karma Club by Jessica Brody was a light and engaging read with an original plot and a message that tells you to beware of messing with karma.

Brody did a great job with characterization because not only was Maddy a relatable protagonist but her two best friends, Angie and Jade, were solidly developed as well, and therefore each of the girls had their own distinct personality.

I also really liked the emphasis on friendship in The Karma Club. Maddy, Angie and Jade, are constantly there to support each other and when Maddy comes up with the idea of the Karma Club, she makes sure that justice isn’t only exacted on the people who have humiliated her but also on those who have hurt her friends.

It’s easy to understand why Maddy starts the Karma Club. I mean, who wants to wait around for the universe to give the person that screws you what they deserve when you could restore the balance by yourself right away? The schemes that the girls originally come up with are funny (although a little childish) but it soon felt to me as if Maddy, Angie and Jade didn’t care about what they had to do to get revenge or how their actions would affect other people’s lives.

The other thing that bothered me was that things were wrapped up a little too neatly at the end. However, Maddy is finally able to comprehend how karma works and learns that you don’t want to use karma to get back at others but to spread good in whatever way possible.        

The Karma Club was released in April 2010 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Comments About the Cover: It’s a cute cover and I like that the girl is hiding behind a book because the Karma Club is a secret and all its operations are written down in a notebook.

In My Mailbox (13)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme held by The Story Siren.

For Review (via NetGalley): 

Girl Wonder by Alexa Martin (thanks to Hyperion Book CH)

Mercy by Rebecca Lim (thanks to Hyperion Book CH) 

Hereafter by Tara Hudson (thanks to HarperTeen)

Die For Me by Amy Plum (thanks to HarperTeen)

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini (thanks to HarperTeen)

Waiting on Wednesday: Wake Unto Me

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme held by Jill at Breaking the Spine to feature upcoming books that we can't wait to get our hands on. 

Title: Wake Unto Me
Author: Lisa Cach
Publisher: Speak
Date of Release: March 31, 2011 

Goodreads Description: A haunted castle, a handsome young man dead for four hundred years, one heck of a scary portrait of a witch, and a treasure hunt - not to mention a princess for a roommate! - all await 15 year old American girl Caitlyn Monahan when she earns a scholarship to a French boarding school. There are secrets behind the stone walls of Chateau de la Fortune, buried for centuries along with the mystery of who killed Raphael, the charming ghost who visits Caitlyn at night. But as Caitlyn unearths the history of the castle, nothing scares her as badly as the secret she learns about herself, and the reason she was chosen to come to the Fortune School. And nothing breaks her heart as badly as falling in love with a dead guy.

Why am I waiting? It feels like I've been waiting forever for Wake Unto Me! This is one of the debut novels I'm most excited about because it has so many elements that I love/want in a story. Haunted castle, hot guy (who also happens to be a ghost), a French setting - check, check and check! Plus, look at the cover ...

In My Mailbox (12)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme held by The Story Siren.

For Review: 

Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut (thanks to Darby Karchut)
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter (thanks to Harlequin Teen via NetGalley) 

Bought:

Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren

Warped by Maurissa Guibord

Review: Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

From Back Cover: The small town of Cryer's Cross is rocked by tragedy when an unassuming freshman disappears without a trace. Kendall Fletcher wasn't that friendly with the missing girl, but the angst wreaks havoc on her OCD-addled brain. When a second student goes missing - someone close to Kendall's heart - the community is in an uproar. Caught in a downward spiral of fear and anxiety, Kendall's not sure she can hold it together. When she starts hearing the voices of the missing, calling out to her and pleading for help, she fears she's losing her grip on reality.. But when she finds messages scratched in a desk at school - messages that could only be from the missing student who used to sit there - Kendall decides that crazy or not, she'd never forgive herself if she didn't act on her suspicions. Something's not right in Cryer's Cross - and Kendall's about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

My Rating: 4.5 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: I was a little hesitant to start reading Cryer’s Cross by Lisa McMann since I didn’t really like Fade and especially, Gone. However, Cryer’s Cross was a quick and creepy read that was hard to put down!

The protagonist, Kendall, was very well-developed and was easy to relate to because she’s an average girl. She helps out her parents on their farm, plays soccer and aspires to get out of her small town. But, Kendall also has OCD and the reader can clearly see how it affects her daily life. What I found really interesting was that despite all the negative effects of having OCD, McMann ultimately chose to make Kendall’s OCD beneficial for her.    

To be honest, I was actually expecting Cryer’s Cross to be scary but I don’t think that’s an accurate description of it. For about half of the story, the only really frightening thing about Cryer’s Cross was that two kids had mysteriously disappeared in a very small town and the passages of “We” that were interspersed between what was happening to Kendall. The pace of the book though picks up when Kendall becomes the next target of “We” – I managed to figure out who “We” was before Kendall – and the tone becomes more ominous. In the end, chilling and disturbing are probably better words to describe Cryer’s Cross. 

Cryer's Cross was released in February 2011 by Simon Pulse.

Comments About the Cover: Call me slow, but I couldn’t figure out what the picture was initially (it’s a desk and chair – the overhead view threw me off). After figuring it out though, I love that the title is inscribed into the desk since in Kendall’s school, a desk full of messages has a very important role to play in the story. I also really like the eerie feel of the cover because of the dark colours that are used.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Hunt of the Unicorn

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme held by Jill at Breaking the Spine to feature upcoming books that we can't wait to get our hands on. 

Title: The Hunt of the Unicorn 
Author: C.C. Humphreys
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Date of Release: March 8, 2011 

Goodreads Description: Elayne thinks the old family story that one of her ancestors stepped through a tapestry into a world of mythical beasts makes a great fireside tale. But she lives in the real world. In New York City. And she's outgrown that kind of fantasy. Until she finds herself in front of a unicorn tapestry at the Cloisters museum and sees her initials woven into the fabric. And hears a unicorn calling to her. And slips and falls - into that other world. Suddenly the line between fantasy and reality isn't so clear. But the danger is real enough. Almost before she can think, Elayne is attacked by a ferocious beast, rescued by a unicorn, and taken prisoner by a tyrant king. Each of them seems to have an idea about her - that she's a hero, a villain, dinner! But Elayne has a few ideas of her own. She wants to overthrow the king; she wants to tame the unicorn. She wants to go home! And she's willing to become both hero and villain to do it.

Why am I waiting? I'm a sucker for books with gorgeous covers and so added this one to my wishlist right away. I'm also a fan of unicorns but the fact that there's a tapestry in this one kind of reminds me of Maurissa Guibord's Warped (which I haven't read yet). Hopefully the story will be different enough. 

In My Mailbox (11)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme held by The Story Siren. 

For Review: 

Memento Nora by Angie Smibert (thanks to Casey from The Bookish Type and Danya from A Tapestry of Words)
Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott (thanks to Simon and Schuster via Galley Grab) 

Won:

Dark Mirror by M.J. Putney (thanks to Goodreads First Reads and St. Martin's Press)

Waiting on Wednesday: Between Shades of Gray

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme held by Jill at Breaking the Spine to feature upcoming books that we can't wait to get our hands on. 

Title: Between Shades of Gray 
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Publisher: Philomel Books
Date of Release: March 22, 2011

Goodreads Description: Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions. Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously - and at great risk - documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives. Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart.

Why am I waiting? History was always one of my favourite subjects growing up. But although I've read quite a few books about the plight of Jews under Nazi Germany, I actually don't know much about what happened to the people whose countries were invaded by the Soviets under Stalin's regime. So, I'm looking forward to becoming more knowledgeable about these victims and reading about their perseverance.

Review: The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell

From Inside Jacket: Damien Locke knows his destiny - attending the university for supervillains and becoming Golden City's next professional evil genius. But when Damien discovers he's the product of his supervillain mother's one-night stand with - of all people - a superhero, his best-laid plans are ruined. Now forced to live with his superhero family, Damien must prove that he's truly evil. Only he wasn't counting on a villainous plot that threatens his new relatives' safety and will make Damien choose who he really wants to be. Going to extreme lengths (and heights), The Rise of Renegade X chronicles one boy's struggles with the villainous and heroic pitfalls of growing up. 

My Rating: 4 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: The Rise of Renegade X begins with its protagonist, Damien, waiting to become sixteen and get the V on his thumb that signals he will become a supervillain. With his supervillain mother - the Mistress of Mayhem (aka Marianna Locke), - his friends and a bunch of strangers on hand at his birthday party to witness this milestone in his life, Damien eagerly waits for the clock to turn to midnight. Unfortunately, when the clock does strike twelve, Damien’s thumbprint forms a horrifying X, which basically means the inconceivable: his father is a superhero (with an H on his thumb)! Determined to find out the truth about how this could have happened, Damien asks his mother for details but she refuses to divulge anything. So, he resorts to snooping through his mother’s diary and then creates a list of potential superheroes that may be his father.

When Damien does finally meet his father, his dad manages to convince Marianna to let Damien stay with him for a while so that Damien can see what it’s like to be a superhero. Much to Damien’s shock, Marianna agrees because it’s a great opportunity for Damien to learn about the enemy (and it allows her to not have Damien underfoot as she works on her super secret nefarious project). With an X on his thumb, Damien better be prepared to work extremely hard to have it changed to a V or risk having the X become an H!

The Rise of Renegade X does a great job of looking at the power of choices. Normally those born with the “super” gene are fated to either go to Vilmore and become a supervillain or go to Heroesworth Academy and become a superhero. However, Damien has the luxury of being able to choose who he becomes because it’s ultimately his actions that will determine whether he becomes a supervillain or a superhero.

Speaking of Damien, I absolutely adored his character! He had such a snarky voice and I loved all the high jinks he got up to. For example, the girl Damien is interested in thinks he’s a supervillain and the girl who is sort of interested in him thinks he’s a superhero, and Damien doesn’t hesitate to use the situation to his advantage. Naturally, it backfires.

I also really loved the ending which was surprising (but in a good way). Sometimes tough decisions need to be made and you have to do what you consider to be right despite the fact that not everybody will be happy with your choices.

One of the things that was unclear in The Rise of Renegade X though was the genetics behind how superpowers were inherited and what triggered the H, V or X to show up on one’s thumb specifically on their sixteenth birthday. Since I’m in the science stream, that stood out for me right away but I’m not sure if most people would be putting as much thought into that.          

The Rise of Renegade X was released in May 2010 by Egmont USA.

    

Comments About the Cover: I’m not a comic book fan nor have I watched many movies revolving around Marvel’s comic characters, but I actually decided to read The Rise of Renegade X based on its cover. It’s pretty eye-catching and will definitely attract fans of comic books.

In My Mailbox (10)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme held by The Story Siren. 

For Review: 

Possession by Elana Johnson (thanks to Simon and Schuster via Galley Grab) 

Borrowed:

A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner

Waiting on Wednesday: The Liar Society

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme held by Jill at Breaking the Spine to feature upcoming books that we can't wait to get our hands on. 

Title: The Liar Society

Author: Lisa and Laura Roecker

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Date of Release: March 1, 2011

Goodreads Description: Kate Lowry didn't think dead best friends could send e-mails. But when she gets an e-mail from Grace, she’s not so sure.

To: KateLowry@pemberlybrown.edu
Sent: Sun 9/14 11:59 PM
From: GraceLee@pemberlybrown.edu
Subject: (no subject)

Kate,
I'm here…
sort of.
Find Cameron.
He knows.
I shouldn't be writing.
Don't tell.
They'll hurt you.

Now Kate has no choice but to prove once and for all that Grace’s death was more than just a tragic accident. But secrets haunt the halls of her elite private school. Secrets people will do anything to protect. Even if it means getting rid of the girl trying to solve a murder...

Why am I waiting? I love the Roecker sisters and have been following them pretty much since I started blogging. They're super funny so I have no doubt that the protagonist is going to be witty as well! Oh, and it's been a while since I read a good mystery.

Cover Reveal: Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Tera Lynn Childs recently asked for help on her blog to reveal the cover of Sweet Venom, the first book in the Medusa Girls series, which comes out in October 2011 . Since I'm a big fan of Greek mythology and enjoyed her Oh. My. Gods. series, I decided I'd participate. 

But, before I show off the cover, here's what the teaser is: Three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in a world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

Interested? Well, for more information about the story, check out the page for Sweet Venom on Tera's website. 

..................................................................................................

Now that I've finished torturing you guys, here's what the cover looks like:

Gorgeous, right? I love the font, and the hair curling at the bottom of the braid reminds me of the snakes in Medusa's head.

What do you guys think of the cover?

Review: The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

For the purposes of reducing the amount of spoilers from The Thief and The Queen of Attolia, this review may be a little vague, and where applicable, I’ve hidden anything that is spoilerish.  

From Back Cover: By scheming and theft, the Thief of Eddis has become King of Attolia. Eugenides wanted the queen, not the crown, but he finds himself trapped in a web of his own making. Then he drags a naive guard into the center of the political maelstrom. Poor Costis knows he is the victim of the king's caprice, but his contempt for Eugenides slowly turns to grudging respect. Though struggling against his fate, the newly crowned king is much more than he appears. Soon the corrupt Attolian court will learn that its subtle and dangerous intrigue is no match for Eugenides.

My Rating: 5 hearts

Thoughts on the Novel: The King of Attolia is the third book in Megan Whaler’s The Queen’s Thief series and it’s even better than The Thief and The Queen of Attolia, the first two books in the series. I finished it right after reading The Queen of Attolia – on the same day actually – but didn’t have a chance to write a review for it.

Anyway, the King of Attolia is mainly told through the perspective of Costis, a guard in the Queen’s Guard, who at the beginning of the novel is awaiting his fate for having punched Eugenides – now the king of Attolia. By some miracle, Costis is spared execution for treason and is forced to serve Eugenides as his personal lieutenant-at-large. Like pretty much all of the Attolians, Costis is full of disdain for his king who he believes has forced Attolia to accept him as her husband. On top of that, Eugenides not only doesn’t look like a king but also acts like a buffoon!

As much as Eugenides hates being in the public eye, those who have read the previous books in the series know that Eugenides isn’t a fool. He always has a scheme up his sleeve; and as poor Costis spends more time around Eugenides, he begins to realize that his king has secrets that he refuses to reveal. Slowly, the big picture will be unveiled and the Attolians will realize just how lucky they are to have a king like Eugenides!

Aside from loving the transformation of Eugenides from a clever young boy in The Thief to a man deserving of being a king, it was wonderful to see the romance continue to develop between Eugenides and the older and taller Attolia. Though they’re still haunted by what happened between them in the past, Turner also shows the reader that they love each other through their words and deeds.

The King of Attolia was released by Greenwillow Books in June 2007.

Comments About the Cover: Although you can't see Gen's face, I feel like he looks kind of young. I always imagined him a bit older. 

In My Mailbox (9)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme held by The Story Siren.

Bought:

The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

Won:
Signed copy of Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead (courtesy of Christina from Confessions of a Book Addict)

Waiting on Wednesday: Darkness Becomes Her

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme held by Jill at Breaking the Spine to feature upcoming books that we can't wait to get our hands on. 

Title: Darkness Becomes Her 
Author: Kelly Keaton 
Publisher: Simon Pulse 
Date of Release: February 22, 2011

Goodreads Description: Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is. Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued. She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very ... different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her. Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

Why am I waiting? The premise just sounds so intriguing and the cover looks awesome! Also, I've heard that there seems to be some Greek mythology incorporated into the story and I'm a big fan of Greek myths.

Follower Love Giveaway Hop

The Follower Love Giveaway Hop is being hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.

For the hop, I'll be giving away any book of your choice worth up to $10 CDN from The Book Depository. Please read the rules before filling out the form. 

Rules:

1. This giveaway is open internationally as long as The Book Depository ships to your country. Click here to see the list of countries to which shipping is available. 
2. You must be over the age of 13.  
3. You have to be a follower to enter.
4. This giveaway will end on February 13 at 11:59 PM EST. 

Quick Update

I just wanted to let everybody know that I'm having midterms - the sleep deprivation is killing me - which is why there has been a lack of posts (on my blog) and comments left on the blogs of those I normally attempt to leave a comment on. Sorry, guys! Anyway, I have a couple of posts scheduled to go up and will be back blogging by the end of this week.

Waiting on Wednesday: Chime

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme held by Jill at Breaking the Spine to feature upcoming books that we can't wait to get our hands on. 

Title: Chime   
Author: Franny Billingsley 
Publisher: Dial 
Date of Release: March 17, 2011 

Goodreads Description: Before Briony's stepmother died, she made sure Briony blamed herself for all the family's hardships. Now Briony has worn her guilt for so long it's become a second skin. She often escapes to the swamp, where she tells stories to the Old Ones, the spirits who haunt the marshes. But only witches can see the Old Ones, and in her village, witches are sentenced to death. Briony lives in fear her secret will be found out, even as she believes she deserves the worst kind of punishment. Then Eldric comes along with his golden lion eyes and mane of tawny hair. He's as natural as the sun, and treats her as if she's extraordinary. And everything starts to change. As many secrets as Briony has been holding, there are secrets even she doesn't know.

Why am I waiting? I love the paranormal genre but haven't actually read many books about witches. Also, besides rooting for a well-developed relationship between Eldric and Briony, I can't wait to find out what secrets are going to come out into the open and how they'll affect the characters.