In My Maillbox (25)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. For the last couple of weeks I didn't get any books but thankfully this week was different.

Won:

Plus by Veronica Chambers

It's just not something that I would normally read so I'm glad that I got a chance to read it.

Accomplice by Eireann Corrigan

I've seen this one around but I wasn't sure what it was about but I'm looking forward to reading it.

Thanks to Lori from Pure Imagination!

Book Blogger Hop (24)

Book Blogger Hop is a fun meme hosted by Crazy For Books. Enter your link and go hop around other blogs that are out there, ready to be discovered!


I've been trying to enjoy my last week of summer without school. Next week I'll be going back to school and I'll also be starting high school. I've been really busy this week so I haven't read as much as I would have liked to but I'll make sure to read much more next week.
 
Wish to know more about me? Then just click here.
 
This week's question: I do use a rating system for my reviews. It goes from 1-5, 1 being the worst and 5 being the best. This helps me out to tell others how much I liked the book. To check it out look on the left sidebar.
 
If you're visiting from the hop make sure you leave your link and I'll make sure to visit your blog!

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron King
Author: Julie Kagawa
Published: January 2010
Pages: 363
Rating: 4/5
Summary: Meghan Chase has never fit in at her small-town high school, and now, on the eve of her 16th birthday, she discovers why. When her half brother is kidnapped, Meghan is drawn into a fantastical world she never imagined--the world of Faery, where anything you see may try to eat you, and Meghan is the daughter of the summer faery king. Now she will journey into the depths of Faery to face an unknown enemy . . . and beg the help of a winter prince who might as soon kill her as let her touch his icy heart. The Iron King is the first book in the Iron Fey series.

Review: The story begins with Meghan who will turn sixteen. On her birthday she starts to see things differently than she normally does.  She finds out things that turn her world upside down and she must go on a journey to complete what she set out to do.

Meghan was a good character. She wanted to save her brother and she was willing to do anything to rescue him, even willing to give up her own life for him. She went through many things and she had to make many choices that at times I didn't agree with.

I enjoyed reading about both Puck and Ash, though I did like Ash much more. Puck was always there when he was needed and at other times too. I really liked Ash. He seemed to be someone great and nice but he was also someone who had gone through some tough times .

I will surely read the next books in this trilogy. I really want to know what happens next in the story and what other obstacles the main characters have to go through.

Nourishing the Need (8)

Nourishing the Need is a blog feature that will be posted here every other week. It will feature Book Finds and will also give me an opportunity to let me talk anything about books!

Book Finds:

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

I've heard many good things about this book that now I really want to read it! Even if it's about werewolves I think it's different.

The Julian Game by Adele Griffin

I read the summary and I thought it sounded interesting. Plus that cover looks very different and interesting.

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

This one sounds different to what I've read before. And I've seen this one around a bit and heard good things about it.

Radiance by Alyson Noel

I'm interested in seeing how Noel makes a story of Riley in the afterlife. Plus, I think that having a job in the afterlife and all that stuff will be different from The Immortals series.

Book Blogger Hop (23)

Book Blogger Hop is a fun meme hosted by Crazy For Books. Enter your link and go hop around other blogs that are out there, ready to be discovered!

Thanks to all the people who helped me pick a book to read last week! It really helped me out and I'm enjoying the book. This week I started going to golf practice for school and I'm excited for the golf season to start!

This week's question: I follow about 50 blogs but I try to find new blogs each week.

If you're visiting from the hop make sure you leave your link and I'll make sure to visit your blog!

Mary, Bloody Mary by Carolyn Meyer

Title: Mary, Bloody Mary
Author: Carolyn Meyer
Published: 1999
Pages: 227
Rating: 4/5
Summary: The story of Mary Tudor's childhood is a classic fairy tale: A princess who is to inherit the throne of England is separated from her mother; abused by an evil stepmother who has enchanted her father; stripped of her title; and forced to care for her baby stepsister, who inherits Mary's rights to the throne. Believe it or not, it's all true.
Told in the voice of the young Mary, this novel explores the history and intrigue of the dramatic rule of Henry VIII, his outrageous affair with and marriage to the bewitching Anne Boleyn, and the consequences of that relationship for his firstborn daughter.

Review: The thing that made me want to read this book was that I've been wanting to read more historical books and thought this was a great way to know more.

The story start with Mary as a young girl who lives a happy life near her parent. She has everything that she could possibly want when things start to change. All of a sudden she can see that things are changing and soon she leaves the life she had to one that she couldn't possibly imagine.

I really liked the Mary that Meyer showed the reader. I could feel the way she felt when she had to go through everything that she was put through. Even though at times I didn't like the choices she made during and after the book, I could understand why she acted that way.

The book covered all her life up until her father decided to be with someone else that wasn't Anne Boleyn. At times it was sad to see how she was treated but I think she did good while she could. I know we don't live in those times anymore so I still have a hard time imagining all this happen. It was a good book that I would recommend to others.

The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima

Title: The Demon King

Author: Cinda Williams Chima

Published: 2009

Pages: 512
Rating: 5/5
Summary: Times are hard in the mountain city of Fellsmarch. Reformed thief Han Alister will do almost anything to eke out a living for his family. The only thing of value he has is something he can't sell--the thick silver cuffs he's worn since birth. They're clearly magicked-as he grows, they grow, and he's never been able to get them off.

One day, Han and his Clan friend, Dancer, confront three young wizards setting fire to the sacred mountain of Hanalea. Han takes an amulet from Micah Bayar, son of the High Wizard, to keep from using it against them. Soon Han learns that the amulet has an evil history-it once belonged to the Demon King, the wizard who nearly destroyed the world a millennium ago. With a magical piece that powerful at stake, Han knows that the Bayars will stop at nothing to get it back.

Meanwhile, Raisa ana'Marianna, Princess Heir of the Fells, has her own battles to fight. She's just returned to court after three years of relative freedom in the mountains--riding, hunting, and working the famous Clan markets. Raisa wants to be more than an ornament in a glittering cage. She aspires to be like Hanalea-the legendary warrior queen who killed the Demon King and saved the world. But her mother has other plans for her--including marriage to a suitor who goes against everything the Queendom stands for.

Review: I've read two other books by Cinda and I really liked them so I decided to give this new series a try!

The book starts off with Han Alister and his friend, Fire Dancer. They're out hunting when they encounter some wizards. This sets the whole story out and from the very beginning the reader starts seeing some mysterious things that will make you want to read more.

One of the many things that I liked about the book was the characters. You have Han who is also known as Cuffs Alister. He's out of the life he used to have but the authorities still seem to blame him for everything bad that happens. And just his luck, the amulet he took seems to belong to very powerful people who want it back, no matter the cost.

Then you have Raisa ana'Mariana who's Princess Heir of the Fells. She lives a court life but wishes she could live a life like the clans. She's very determined and knows she will need people in who to trust so she could rule the Queendom. She soon finds that the Queendom she lives in is not as she imagined and it may be in danger.

There are so many other characters but these were the main ones. The book changes perspective from Han and Raisa and in a couple of times with soldier who's very close to the princess. Many of the characters have hidden secrets, even ones that they may not even know about.

I really enjoyed this book and can't wait until I read the second one. I really want to know what happens next after all that the characters went through and find out. I just really love books that are fantasy!

Book Blogger Hop (22)

Book Blogger Hop is a fun meme hosted by Crazy For Books. Enter your link and go hop around other blogs that are out there, ready to be discovered!

As the days go by I can see school coming and I'm not happy about that. Also, throughout the whole week I've been trying to decide what book to read but I can't seem to make up my mind. So if you like you can tell me which book to read I'd be extremely glad!

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Dark Flame by Alyson Noel

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Oh and if you want to know a little more about me then just click here. Sometimes I wish I could say more!

This week's question: I have about 14 books in my to-read pile. I have no idea when I'll read them but I know I will.

If you're visiting from the hop make sure you leave your link and I'll make sure to visit your blog!

The Sorcerer of the North by John Flanagan

Title: The Sorcerer of the North
Author: John Flanagan
Published:
Pages: 295
Rating: 4/5
Summary: Several years have passed since the apprentice and his master, Will and Halt, let the Skandians to victory against invaders, and Will is finally a full-fledged Ranger with his own fief to look after. The fief seems sleepy--boring even--until Lord Syron, master of a castle far in the north, is struck down by a mysterious illness. Joined by his friend Alyss, Will is suddenly thrown headfirst into an extraordinary adventure, investigating fears of sorcery and trying to determine who is loyal to Lord Syron... and who is planning to betray him.
Will and Alyss must battle growing hysteria, traitors, and most of all, time. Lord Syron is fading, but when Alyss is taken hostage, Will is forced to make a desperate choice between loyalty to his mission and loyalty to his friend....

Review: The Sorcerer of the North followed the journey of Will after he has become a full Ranger and has his own fief. Halt and the chief of the rangers ask him to go on a mission to find out what is happening in the North. Throughout his journey he goes through many hardships and must learn who to trust and who and who are the traitors.

After reading four books I felt I knew Will. He's had to make tough choices before and I was glad to see that he had to kept doing it to find out things I was also glad that we got to see more of Alyss and of who she really is. They helped each other out and at the end she also had to make some tough choices.

I've noticed that each problem takes two books to resolve and I have to say that I like that. The first book introduces you to the problem and the last one solves it. I also like how they are small books and easy to read. I know there are more books than five so I can't wait to see what happens.

The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King

Title: The Dust of 100 Dogs
Author: A.S. King
Published: January 2009
Pages: 320
Rating: 4/5
Summary: In the late seventeenth century, famed teenage pirate Emer Morrisey was on the cusp of escaping the pirate life with her true love and unfathomable riches when she was slain and cursed with the dust of one hundred dogs, dooming her to one hundred lives as a dog before returning to a human body--with her memories intact.
Now she's a contemporary American teenager and all she needs is a shovel and a ride to Jamaica.

Review: It had been a while since I wanted to read this book so when I saw it in the library I just grabbed it.

The book follows the story of Saffron Adams who was once Emer Morrisey. After years of living as a dog she has finally returned to a human life and wants to recover her buried treasure. To do this she has to wait until she's eighteen and has to go through the tough times of being a contemporary teenager.

Something that I liked about this book was how it switched time periods. The reader will get to know Saffron Adams while also discovering the life of Emer Morrisey. The life of Saffron is what you would expect with someone living in this time. Since she's considered a genius her parents rely on her more than she would like them to.

The life of Emer is as different as you can imagine. She's living in a a whole different century and as it's to be expected life is different. War is still something that is going on to gain more land and women don't have much say to anything. After losing much of what she had goes on a journey that isn't always great but that will make her the way she will become.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I've always had something for pirates and reading this book made me be more fascinated about them, especially women pirates. I must say that I really enjoy the ending, especially since how some events turned out. This is a book that I would reccommend others to read!

In My Mailbox (24)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. This week I only got one book.

Bought:

Night by Elie Wiesel

I've seen this book a couple of times I just don't really know what it's about. I have to read this for school so I think it will be good.

So what did you get?

Nourishing the Need (7)

Nourishing the Need is a blog feature that will be posted here every other week. It will feature Book Finds and will also give me an opportunity to let me talk anything about books!

Book Finds:

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

I've seen this one everywhere so I decided to check it out and I have to say that now I really want to read it! It sounds different to all those books that are out there right now so I'm excited for it.

Kindred by Tammar Stein

Another angel story but this one sounds different. I like the idea of the main character having a mission and have her accomplish it.

Vixen by Lila Fine

I started liking a lot of books that weren't from this century and more the books like historical fiction. When I saw this book I just knew I had to read it. Plus, I really like the cover!

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

What can I say about this book? I loved the first one so was excited when I saw the cover of the second book. I can't wait to see what happens between Grace and Daniel. And, don't you just love that blue color?!

Book Blogger Hop (21)

Book Blogger Hop is a fun meme hosted by Crazy For Books. Enter your link and go hop around other blogs that are out there, ready to be discovered!

I've been a lot more productive this week for which I'm glad. I got more reviews written which means now I just have to post them and I also started to read more books. Want to know more about me? Then just click here.

This week's question: I do listen to music while I read. I can listen to anything while I'm reading. It just has to be music.

If you're visiting from the hop make sure you leave your link and I'll make sure to visit your blog!

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

Title: The City of Ember
Author: Jeanne DuPrau
Published: 2003
Pages: 270
Rating: 4/5
Summary: The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, the great lamps that light the city are beginning to flicker. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, she’s sure it holds a secret that will save the city. She and her friend Doon must decipher the message before the lights go out on Ember forever! This stunning debut novel offers refreshingly clear writing and fascinating, original characters.

Review: Several of my friends had read this book and every time I asked them for a book to read they told me this one so I decided to read it.

The City of Ember was a great story to read that really got me thinking. Everything seems fine until Lina finds a box with a piece of paper inside. Soon after Lina and Doon find themselves in an adventure in which they will find many secrets about the place the call home.

I thought the characters were great to read about. Lina lived with her grandmother and her sister. I liked that she loved her family so much and took care of them. She worked to help her grandmother and at the end she didn't want to leave her sister alone.

Doon was also a good character. He helped Lina solve the puzzle they had and was with her when she needed it. He wanted to make his home a better place but he found out stuff that he wouldn't have imagined. I liked how he tried to know everything that was happening even if he didn't like it.

This book was so different to much of what read so I really enjoyed it. At times some of the characters would say some stuff that were so common that at times it made me laugh. Reading about how they lived made me thankful of what I have. This was a great book to read and I will sure keep reading the rest of the books.

Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

Title: Only the Good Spy Young
Author: Ally Carter
Published: June 2010
Pages: 265
Rating: 5/5
Summary: When Cammie Morgan enrolled at the Gallagher Academy, she knew she was preparing for the dangerous life of a spy. What she didn't know was that serious, real-life danger would start as soon as her junior year. But that's exactly what happened two months ago when she faced off against an ancient terrorist organization dead set on kidnapping her.
Now the danger follows her everywhere, and even Cammie "The Chameleon" can't hide. When a terrifying encounter in London reveals that one of her most trusted allies is actually a rogue double agent, Cammie no longer knows if she can trust her own heart.

Review: I had read the other books in the series and I really liked them so when I read this one I wasn't disappointed.

Only the Good Spy Young continues the story of Cammie. She's on vacation and guarded a all times by the parents of Bex when something happens that leaves her shocked. After this incident Cammie must know what is happening and who she can trust.

I can understand how Cammie reacted to the things she found out and that she kept finding out. After trying to find answers to her questions, the answers that she gets aren't the ones that she expected. I was surprised at some of the things that the reader found out and how this played a role in the series.

I was really happy that we got to know more about Zach and of his school, even though I was surprised at some of the things. He was always mysterious and at times I didn't know whether to trust him or not. At the end of the book I was surprised to find out who he was and what he did and some other things.

I can't wait to read the next book in the Gallagher Girls series and see what happens next. I loved the book and all the answers that we got even though we got even more questions.

In My Mailbox (23)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. I didn't have any books throughout the whole week but then I went to the library and got 3 books!

Library:

The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King

For a while now I've been wanting to read this book so when I saw at the library I didn't stop to think about it and I just grabbed it.

Devoured by Amanda Marrone

I've seen this one around so I decided to give it a try. It sound interesting so I hope it's good!

Frozen Fire by Tim Bowler

This one sounds kind of mysterious so I wanted to see what was going on. I like the cover too! I'm hoping it's a good book.

Swag:

The Tension of Opposites postcard and bookmark

Forget-Her-Nots postcard

Linger bookmark

Everlasting bookmark and pin

I Heart You, You Haunt Me bookmark

Shadow Hills bookmark

I won this from Lori at Pure Imagination for participating in the Once Upon A Read-a-Thon. Thank You!

So what did you get this week?