Wednesday, 20 February 2013

Book Review: The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.
Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she’s been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California–tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formerly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.
But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age–old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and the sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi—the fiercest vampires, the ones who don’t die. But it’s her fear of being just that—special, magical, powerful—that scares her more than anything. Equally daunting is her new romance with Brayden, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else—someone forbidden to her.
When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney’s loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.
Should she trust the Alchemists—or her heart?
Sydney Sage is an Alchemist assigned to protect Jill Dragomir, a Moroi princess. Because of the happenings
in Bloodlines Sydney is now a praised examplary Alchemist. However, the higher Alchemists don't know the half of it. Sydney has developed a friendship with vampires, Adrian in particular... While struggling with her feelings and loyalty she also discovers a dangerous secret: vampire hunters may not be a legend after all.

The Golden Lily was a perfect, though somewhat predictable, sequel to the Bloodlines series. In Bloodlines the focus was on the Alchemists and about Sydney settling with her new 'siblings'. While there's more to learn about the Alchemists, magic and even vampire hunters in The Golden Lily, the focus is on Sydney's personality and her relationships with characters around her. Suspense, action, drama and mostly romance. It was all there. Because the novel has several entwined story lines, there was enough speed in the story. Slightly more action than in the previous book., though it might not be as much as some want. However, trusting Richelle Mead, I do think there's plenty of it in the coming books: She is a master at writing dialogue and developing characters.


"Too bad you got so bogged down in books. You've got the spirit of a warrior." Sydney is a great heroine, because she simply isn't your typical heroine. She is not exceptionally beautiful or self-confident or generally badass. She is smart and has an innocence and sincerity that you can't help but admire. I was glad to see her change thoughout this book. While she still has a bit of the Alchemist rigidity about vampires, she has started to see her companions as friends. She realises all too well she should keep her distance and should hate them, but she knows she can't.
"You need me? You yell. You want to leave? We go. I'll get you out of here, no matter what." Adrian. How I love Adrian. Ever since the VA series we've known him as an irresponsible spoiled party boy. Now, we actually see the real Adrian. He is very smart, loyal, talented and he just needs someone to believe in him. Someone like Sydney. We also get a closer look on Adrian's past, his family, which explains a lot about him and his behaviour.

"Adrian, I'm on a date. Why are you here? On my car?"
Ah, their is such tension between Sydney and Adrian. Their relationship is interesting, both Sydney and Adrian unpredictable. They are complete opposites, yet they complement each other perfectly. I am very curious to find out more about these two, especially with the Alchemist prejudice about vampires and relationships with them...

I was happy to see other characters develop too. Eddie, who is so kind and loyal. He pushes his own feelings for Jill aside, while trying to keep Angeline off his back. Jill, who shows she is maturing. She begins to take her position as the Queen's sister and realises she can't have a relationship with a human.

I must warn you: The Golden Lily ends with a terrible cliffhanger leaving the reader desperate for more. With amazing characters and intriguing developments the Bloodlines series is a series you should watch out for!




My rating of this book



Source
E-book copy.

Other links
Find this book on Goodreads
Visit Richelle Mead's website here



Monday, 18 February 2013

Infinite Sky - Memorable Monday

Provoked by a quote, delighted by a quote or perhaps you fell in love with a beautiful quote? Why not share the quote(s) with us?

 

I have just started out reading Infinite Sky by the British debut author C.J. Flood.It seems to be a very promising read and teary one by the looks of the prologue. I wanted to share a quote from the book with you guys today and some pictures of the most gorgeous cover I have seen in a long time(and I love the feel of the texture on the cover as well).
For the rest of the afternoon I lay in bed, reading Dad's book about dragonflies and drawing pictures: slashed greyhounds with bladed paws, and caravans so full of people that limbs shattered through the windows. I didn't see what the big deal was: the paddock wasn't being used, not really, except for the occasional dropping off or collecting of logs. So what?


I started out Memorable Monday's because I wanted to do a meme where I got to choose quotes freely(no random page or a set page number).

How to participate in Memorable Monday?

1. Share a quote that has captured your interest lately in a Memorable Monday post on your blog.
2. Come back here and leave the link to your post in our inlinkz widget below so that our readers may visit your blog.
3. It would be nice if you visited one or two of the other participants.
4. If you tweet your posts then feel free to use the hastag #MemorableMonday
5. Don't have a blog or don't want to write a post just now? Feel free to share in our comment section below the blog post.


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So have you read anything quotable lately?

Wednesday, 13 February 2013

Books and movies for Valentine's day

In Norway we don't really have a tradition for celebrating Valentine's Day even though it has been more focus on it the last few years. Personally I'm not really a fan of this day but I am big fan of  making lists and recommendations and although I don't always like to admit it I really enjoy a romantic movie and book once in a while. So here are my recommendations for you and I have mostly focused on the fun and cute romantic stories because that's what I prefer though there are some more dramatic ones on the list as well:

                             
                                  (Photo: Flickr : DonnaGrayson)
YA-books:
1. Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles: the second book about the Fuentes-brothers that I actually enjoyed more than the first one. The girl in this story was more likable to me than Brittany.
2. Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally:  The female protagonist in this is a bit different than I'm used to. She's a football player, tough and get's treated as one of the guys on the team but what happens when she actually falls for one of the guys?
3. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong: this paranormal trilogy has one of my favorite teen romances.
4. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson: a beautifully written and emotional story about a girl falling in love while she's grieving her sister. I have already written about this book several times because it was my favourite read last year.
5. A Match Made in High School by Kristen White: in this charming book a high school decides that every senior has to participate in a Marriage program where the students are paired up for a whole year and our main character Fiona is not happy at all with her new husband. A lot of fun dialogues and situations in this made it a very entertaining read.

                                      A Match Made in High School

A couple of adult books:
6. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding: I am a fan of Bridget. She is so clumsy and not at all behaving like she's expected to. She feels real and I think most girls can identify with her one way or another.
7. Sushi for beginners by Marian Keyes: one the leading ladies of chiclit has written a fun and cute book about three different women in Dublin in search for love, success and happiness.

                                      Bridget Jones's Diary (Bridget Jones, #1)

Movies:
1. La Vita E Bella/Life is Beautiful: a very sad but beautiful and funny love story between both a man and woman, and between a father and his son. One of my favourite movies of all times.
2. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days: this is one of my favourite chick flicks about a woman (Kate Hudson) trying to find the best tricks to make a guy break up with you for an article she's writing for a women's magazine.
3. Bridget Jones's Diary: I really liked this one both as a  movie as well as a book. It is funny and refreshing.
4. Ever After: a Cinderella Story: a movie based on the classic fairy tale but with a new take.
5. 10 things I hate about you: based on a Shakespeare play but set in a modern day high school. Prom is coming up and the younger sister Bianca only gets to go with a date if her older sister Kat does the same and she is known to have strong aversions to dating.
6. She's the man: it might sound a bit goofy about a girl pretending to be her brother so she can play on the soccer team but it's actually quite charming.



What are your  movie and book recommendations for Valentine's Day?

Author Victoria Danann Release Party and Kindle Paperwhite Contest LIVE at BittenByBooks!


Author Victoria Danann Release Party and Kindle Paperwhite Contest LIVE at bitten By Books  Here!

 In celebration of the release of A Summoner’s Tale, they have made book one My Familiar Strangerand Book two, The Witch’s DreamFREE for today!!
The Summoner’s Tale: A secret society, a witch, a psychic, vampires, modern day knights, heroes, elves, fae, assassins from another dimension, and fairytales come together where emotions intersect. Two souls, joined by a mystical bond, separated by distance, must simultaneously struggle through pain and darkness in an ultimate confrontation with character and an ultimate struggle for life proving that true love waits patiently through lifetimes and finds courage to survive. Even in the strangest places. Even when you’re least expecting it. Even when you’re far, far from home.
Erotic quotient: A little steam. No menage. No BDSM.
Books in the Black Swan Series in the order they should be read:
My Familiar Stranger
The Witch’s Dream
The Summoner’s Tale
Go here to enter

Bookish delights coming out in March


Are you ready to add some books to your wishlist? Perhaps you can add some books to my wishlist as well? In this post I'll be sharing the March YA releases I think sounds like they might just be made of awesome. I do not know when or if I get to all of these books, but I do know they all sound so, so very good.


I have just added some keywords at to what the novel is about and a link to Goodreads so you can discover more about these lovelies in peace and quiet.


Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
- a retro, contemporary love story(about first love and how much one might want it to last).
 


This is where I add that I am still together with the wonderful boy I fell in love with as a 14 year old girl, we have been a couple since I was 15(I'm turning 30 this summer!). I know it's not for everyone but we fell in love and never looked back. So far we're a proof that it might very well last for some.

Orleans by Sherri L. Smith 
- dystopian, bad hurricanes --> fever, survival, left to bring up someone elses baby.




This is cover eye candy for me and the story sounds like it brings a lot of adventure and suspense to the table.


Flowers in the Sky by Lynne Joseph
- a young adult contemporary about the hardness of moving far from all that is familiar and make a new life for oneself in a new place.



I love, love this cover and the symbolic meaning of it all!

Strands of Bronze and Gold (Strands of Bronze and Gold #1) by Jane Nickerson
- debut novel, historical, fairy tale retelling, rumors, suspense





 Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets by Evan Roskos 
- debut novel, male protagonist, domestic violence, emotional read with a dash of humor.



 Bruised by Sarah Skilton 
- debut novel, self perception, holdup, Tae Kwon Do, who do you think you are, and who are you really?




The Holders by Julianna Scott
- protecting those you love, hearing voices, a legend, forgivness, love






Sylke will be reading and reviewing The Holders for a blog tour this month and she will also be doing an author interview, so be sure to check back here for that.

 Trinkets by Kirsten Smith
- shoplifting, addiction, rehab, forming friendship, multiple perspectives



 Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt
- want to live the kind of teenage life your grandma did?, sounds like a truck load of fun,chick-litish, cheating bastard of a boyfriend, going over the top?


I am deeply in love with this VINTAGE cover!


 Dear Life, You Suck by Scott Blagden
- debut novel, crime, life down the drain, humor, the main character sounds kind of Holden Caulfield-ish, hope, love.



If I am to judge a book by its synopsis I would have to say that DEAR LIFE, YOU SUCK sounds amhhhhazing. If I were to pick just one of these March lovlies to read I think this would have to be it.


As I scan my list I find it odd that a girl who loves everything fitting under the fantasy genre as much as I do, have so many contemporaries on her list and so few in other genres. Maybe March just isn't THE MONTH for fantasy releases? For me it seems to be a month of books with a similar theme, and that is how much life sucks.


Which of the titles above would you love to get your hands on?
Please do tell me which March releases you're eagerly anticipating in the comments below. 

I am pretty sure there might be some holes in my wishlist.

Tuesday, 12 February 2013

Author Caitlin Kittredge Interview and Book Contest LIVE ay Bitten By Books


Author Caitlin Kittredge Interview and Book Contest LIVE at Bitten By Books Here

Aoife Grayson must face death to win back Dean - the love who was ripped from the Iron Lands of the living when he was shot in the arctic north. But getting to the Deadlands is something that Aoife can't do on her own. And if she can find a way there, Tremaine would surely never allow it. He has sworn to keep her in the Thorn Lands, the fairie home of her mother, Nerissa. But Aoife is determined to find her way out. And she has no trouble if that means she has to kill Tremain and his queen to do it.

Sunday, 10 February 2013

Days of Blood & Starlight - Memorable Monday



Provoked by a quote, delighted by a quote or
perhaps you fell in love with a beautiful quote?
Share the quote(s) with us in your own Memorable Monday post.

I know I shared a quote from Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor last week but I simply couldn't resist sharing one more in this weeks edition of Memorable Monday.



Laini writes some of the most memorable sentences out there in YA fantasyland, so that should be a good enough reason as any to feature her book once again.



Dead souls dream only of death. Small dreams for small men. It is life that expands to fill worlds. Life is your master, or death is
Have you read any of Laini Taylor's books? My goal is to read them all in 2013.

Join me!
How to participate in Memorable Monday?
1. Share a quote that has captured your interest lately in a Memorable Monday post on your blog. Feel free to grab my logo (download it to your computer first).
2. Come back here and leave the link to your post in our inlinkz widget.
3. It would be nice if you visited one or two of the other participants.
4. If you tweet your posts then feel free to use the hastag #MemorableMonday



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I can't wait to read your Memorable quotes this week.



Friday, 8 February 2013

Author D.N. Simmons Character Interview and $50.00 Amazon Gift Card Contest LIVE at Bitten By Books!


Author D.N. Simmons Character Interview and $50.00

 Amazon Gift Card Contest LIVE at Bitten By Books!

The Guilty Innocent is the second novel in the edgy, action-packed, sexually-charged, Knights of the Darkness Chronicles.

In this installment, Darian, the gorgeous, charismatic and charming master vampire of Chicago is framed for a crime he didn't commit, but why? His lover, Xavier, Natasha and a few others must travel halfway across the world to find out who and why before time runs out and all hell breaks loose!

Original, sexy and gritty, the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles will suck you in and take you for a ride you won't forget!

Author Susan Illene Interview and $30.00 Amazon Gift Card Contest LIVE at Bitten By Books!


Author Susan Illene Interview and $30.00 Amazon Gift Card Contest LIVE at Bitten By Books!




Book one of the Sensor Series.

Melena Sanders faced her fair share of danger with insurgents and terrorists when she served in the U.S. Army, but now she is about to go up against a new threat. Her best friend, Aniya, has disappeared while on a trip to Fairbanks, Alaska—a supernatural haven. Most humans have no idea darker races lurk amongst them. Mel knows better. If she wants to get her friend back, she’s going to have to go in alone—but not unarmed.

Melena has a few special skills the Army didn’t provide, but the odds are still against her. She’s got to come up with a plan fast that doesn’t involve her, or her friend, dying. But danger likes to play it rough. A war for power is about to rise in Fairbanks and if she wants to get Aniya back, she’s going to have to step right into the middle of it.

Book review: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

So mass murderers are obviously a fad in YA these days(or at least it was back in good ol' 2012). There is something so gruesomely fascinating about Jack the Ripper(who whas he and why was he never caught?) and he plays a big role in author Maureen Johnson's novel The Name of the Star.



Putnam Juvenile's book cover for  The Name of the Star.

Southern girl Rory moves away to England with her family. Here Rory attends a school that is located almost smack dab in the middle of the area where Jack the Ripper operated some 100 years ago. Soon after Rory is settled in at school a body is found close by and it soon becomes apparent that there is a Jack the Ripper copycat out and about in London.

A little something for everyone
Maureen Johnson has managed to write at story that will have an appeal to a wide specter of readers. Here we have supernatural elements and history in a perfect blend all set nicely together in a contemporary setting. The Name of the Star was a fun and thrilling read, at times so much so that the creaking in my house was disturbing to listen to ;) Still The Name of the Star didn't quite make it on my list of top reads; it was a nice read but nothing more. What I enjoyed most of all with the story was the times when Rory thought about her own quite eccentric family living back home in the South.

It was evident that Johnsen had done a lot of research on the Ripper, that was good because I like the history to be correct when I read a novel that contains a historical character.

I do believe that this is the first novel in a trilogy and I might just read the second book some day. In the end this book kind of reminded me of The Gallows Curse by Andrew Hammond.

The other Ripper novel I've read?
Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves - so far this is my favorite Ripper novel. It is set in London in 1888 and the city is painted in such a vivid way that you can just imagine walking the streets right along with the main character.








Monday, 4 February 2013

Winners are grinners - Memorable Monday



Provoked by a quote, delighted by a quote or
perhaps you fell in love with a beautiful quote?
Share the quote(s) with us in your own Memorable Monday post.

So the past week I have been slowly devouring Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor. I have been down(for three weeks actually - ugh) with a painful sinusitis so it was wonderful to escape from it all and into the magnificent world author Laini Taylor has made up for us.


I loved the first book in this series, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and I expected the sequel to be nothing short of awesome and to have a high quotability factor. I was not disappointed.


The language is like a beautiful dream:
I am one of billions. I am stardust gathered fleetingly into form. I will be ungathered. The stardust will go on to be other things someday and I will be free.
A conversation between some of my very favorite secondary characters:
So," he called to her back, "Just out of curiosity, you know, purely conversation and all, at what age will you be entertaining offers of marriage?"

"You think it'll be so easy?" she called back over her shoulder. "No way. There will be tasks. Like in a fairy tale."
"Sounds dangerous."
"Very, so think twice."

"No need," he said. "You're worth it.
A bit of wisdom:
You have only to begin, Lir. Mercy breeds mercy as slaughter breeds slaughter. We can’t expect the world to be better than we make it.
What did you think of my quotes this week? Do you like Laini Taylor's writing style?

Join me!
How to participate in Memorable Monday?
1. Share a quote that has captured your interest lately in a Memorable Monday post on your blog. Feel free to grab my logo (download it to your computer first).
2. Come back here and leave the link to your post in our inlinkz widget.
3. It would be nice if you visited one or two of the other participants.
4. If you tweet your posts then feel free to use the hastag #MemorableMonday


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Rafflecopter has spoken and the winners of last weeks giveaway is:
Kelly
Tanya
Brandy

Congratulations girls! *Throws confetti all over the place* Check your email for a note from me.



I can't wait to read your Memorable quotes this week.



Sunday, 3 February 2013

Sparkles and Lightning: Follower Appreciation Giveaway!

Sparkles and Lightning: Follower Appreciation Giveaway!: Hi darlings! So the other day I was thinking it's probably about time for the first follower appreciation giveaway of 2013. So, I took s...

Friday, 1 February 2013

Author Linell Jeppsen Interview and Kindle + $100.00 Amazon Gift Card Contest LIVE at Bitten By Books!


Author Linell Jeppsen Interview and Kindle + $100.00 Amazon 

Gift Card Contest LIVE at Bitten By Books!


In this modern world of science and high technology, in secret places deep under the ground and in the forest primeval, legends still walk the earth and what we think of as myth and fairy tale are all too real. 

Driving home late one night, Melody Carver, bereft and grieving after the death of her mother, sees a strange creature standing on the lonely road. This being will change her world-view forever, and open her eyes to a reality beyond her imagination. 

Melody’s chance encounter on that dark and snowy road will mark the beginning of a journey of discovery and wonder that will bring two worlds together in hope and despair. 

Can one person bridge the gap between the ancient and the modern, the mundane and the magical? 

An urban fantasy filled with adventure, romance, war, heartbreak and triumph! 

Author Jen Minkman Interview and $40.00 Amazon Gift Card Contest LIVE at Bitten By Books!


Author Jen Minkman Interview and $40.00 Amazon Gift Card Contest LIVE at Bitten By Books!

All Hannah needs is a nice and quiet vacation after her first year of teaching French at a high school. She joins her brother Ben for the summer in their mom’s log cabin in Arizona. There, she meets Josh again, Ben’s childhood friend from the Navajo reservation. The little boy from the rez has grown up fast, and Hannah can’t help but feeling more for him than just friendship.

But fate apparently has something else in store for her. And it’s not peace and quiet. Night after night, Hannah is plagued by strange nightmares about the past of Navajo Nation and terrifying shadows chasing her. They seem to come closer – and why is Josh always present in her dreams?


Sometimes, the past has a way of catching up with you.