NEWS: Lauren Oliver debuts with adult novel!

We all know Lauren Oliver as the author of the fabulous young adult novels Before I Fall, Delirium, Pandemonium and the MG novel Liesl & Po and now she is currently working on her adult debut novel. 

HarperCollins is the lucky publisher who recently bought the rights to Lauren Oliver's debut adult novel. The novel is titled Rooms and will be out Fall 2014. I can't wait! Lauren Oliver is an amazing author and I'm sure this book will be just as good as her previous novels! Here is a short quote about the novel from nytimes:

Lee Boudreaux, who will edit the book, said it was “as instantly gripping as it was elegantly written, filled with characters and predicaments I still can’t get out of my head a week later.”

Oh and I cannot believe that Lauren Oliver is only 29 years old and already has all these amazing novels to her pen! That is quite the accomplishment. Wouldn't you agree?

 

Book Review: Slide by Jill Hathaway

Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

My thoughts:

As soon as I read the summary of Slide I knew I was going to like Vee and her weird ability to slide into other people's minds, and I was right. I always feel like abilities like this balance a fine line between believable and cheesy, but I loved the explanations of how Vee's sliding works, and it really seemed like something that could happen. We didn't get to know much about why she has this ability, but I am sure that will be explored further in the sequel.

From the moment Vee slides into an unknown mind and sees Sophie lying bloody on her bed, the hunt is on. Who killed Sophie, and why? And now that there's a killer on the loose, is anyone really safe? I love mysteries like this, and I kept thinking I had it all figured out, only to find my jaw dropping at the end when everything is revealed. So not what I was expecting!

Vee was a great character, and I really felt like I could understand how it was to deal with an ability like that. She did make some stupid choices, but only the same ones I would have made in her situation. I really wished she would have confided in her best friend Rollins, or at least asked him straight out about why he was acting so weird, instead of just kinda giving up on their friendship, but I can see how it was hard for her to trust anyone. Zane was great, and I really liked what he added to the story.

The murder mystery, Vee's special ability and her relationships to both Rollins and Zee (as well as that to her former best "friend") all made Slide a thrilling read that will leave you guessing until the very last chapter.

Cover:

I think the picture with that tagline, "Sometimes you can't look away" gives a deer-caught-in-headlights kind of feeling. I like it!

My rating of this book:

Want to know more?

Add Slide to your Goodreads wish list

Visit Jill Hathaway's website
Read Jill's blog
Follow Jill on Twitter

Full disclosure:
ARC received from NetGalley

This book can be purchased from a number of local retailers and online book stores like Amazon and The Book Depository (I'm not an affiliate of either). The latter store has free shipping to about 100 countries.

Book Review: Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic

I had the dream again. The one where I’m running. I don’t know what from or where to, but I’m scared, terrified really.

Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. But in the short time he has left there’s one thing he can do: He can try to help the people he loves live—even though he never will.

It’s probably hopeless.

But he has to try.

My thoughts:

I knew I was setting myself up when I requested this book. You see, I'm a crier. The girl you see crying on the bus, at Starbucks or wherever else she can sneak in a few more pages. So to read a book about a boy who is dying? Yeah, I was setting myself up, but I am so glad I did.

Never Eighteen is told from a male point of view. I don't have much experience with this in YA outside of John Green's books, but I really came to love Austin's voice. He has come to terms with the fact that he doesn't have long left to live, but instead of trying to make the most out of his time left for his own good, Austin has decided to do his very best to improve the lives of the people he loves. I just loved his noble intentions, and every time he talked to someone new, trying to give them advice or just the little push they needed to change their lives around, my respect for him grew even more.

There is something so simple and real about Megan Bostic's writing. There are no unnecessarily long descriptions, nothing is said if it doesn't improve the story, and I really liked this style of writing. There were times when I wished there had been more, especially in the conversations between Austin and his best friend Kaylee, but at the same time that minimalism made me see how effortless of a friendship they had.

And then comes the ending. I really don't know what to say, other than that I had to take a break from reading to locate a box of Kleenex before continuing. It was so heartbreaking and emotional, but even as I was crying there were things that made me laugh and smile, and it really was the perfect ending.

Cover:

Simple, but I love the colors, especially the different colored letters in the title.

My rating of this book:

Want to know more?

Add Never Eighteen to your Goodreads wish list

Visit Megan Bostic's website
Read Megan's blog
Follow Megan on Twitter

Full disclosure:
ARC from Debut Author Challenge ARC Tours

This book can be purchased from a number of local retailers and online book stores like Amazon and The Book Depository (I'm not an affiliate of either). The latter store has free shipping to about 100 countries.

Book Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

My thoughts:

Another 2012 debut novel with a gorgeous cover, and a story to match! I made the mistake of starting to read Everneath right before bedtime one day. Big mistake. Seriously, this book will suck you in from the very start, and there's nothing to do about it but continue to read!

Everneath tells Nikki's story from the before and the after, and I loved how this let us see exactly what lead to her decision to join Cole in the Everneath, as well as how much had changed in the months she was gone. I could feel her desperation, her fear and anger, and even after getting to know the consequences, I could actually understand why she would make such a horrible decision. Because who of us haven't gone through times where the promise of feeling nothing - no hurt, no betrayal - would be very tempting?

Cole. Ugh, how I hated him. He has got to be one of the most manipulating characters of all time, and I just wanted Nikki to stay away from him. Or kill him, but the whole "immortal" thing makes that a little harder. And yet he's incredibly charming, sincere despite all the omissions of the truth he keeps making, and you can tell he's trying so hard to understand why Nikki wouldn't want to join him for all eternity.

I think my favorite part of Everneath, aside from the amazing use of old mythology in a new setting, was the relationship between Nikki and Jack. You can tell they have a history way beyond what's spelled out for us, and they are both so very willing to fight for what they have. Unlike many unhealthy YA romances, this is one I would happily let my (future) teenage daughter read about, as it shows true love, kindness and a connection beyond mere attractiveness.

Everneath is an amazing debut novel, one I'm sure will be getting many more five star reviews in the weeks to come, and I can't wait to read the yet unnamed sequel, as well as anything else Brodi Ashton might write in the future.

Cover:

So pretty! I'm a little tired of the girls in pretty dresses, but I still love this cover!

My rating of this book:

Want to know more?

Add Everneath to your Goodreads wish list

Visit Jodi Meadows' website
Read Jodi's blog
Follow Jodi on Twitter

Full disclosure:
ARC received from NetGalley

This book can be purchased from a number of local retailers and online book stores like Amazon and The Book Depository (I'm not an affiliate of either). The latter store has free shipping to about 100 countries.

Book Review: The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue.

An evil presence is growing within Europe's royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina's strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar's standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina's help to safeguard Russia, even if he's repelled by her secret, and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn.

The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart?

My thoughts:

My first impression of The Gathering Storm was a little overwhelming, because there are a lot of names and titles to keep straight. Most of the characters are at different times addressed by their double first name, their nickname, their last name and their title, and this was a little confusing at first. But don't worry, you'll get into it!

I absolutely loved the St. Petersburg setting! The snow and icy winds contrast perfectly to the warm ballrooms, and the descriptions made me feel like I was really there. I am impressed by how accurate all the details seemed (I am no expert on Russian history, but everything was very believable), and I let myself get carried away by all the gallant gentlemen, the sparkling diamonds, the colorful balls and the paranormal aspects that lie beneath it all.

Katerina was a great lead character. She was so strong, always trying to protect everyone around her, yet also questioning herself and her power. She does make some stupid decisions, but only the kind that any teenage girl would have made in her situation. I loved her determination, and felt myself cheering for her to find a way out of the mess she was in. I also liked her relationships with George Alexandrovich and Prince Danilo, two very, very different young men. Let's just say that they both of them have their own secrets, and their own reasons for wanting Katerina.

The Gathering Storm is a very promising debut from Robin Bridges, and a wonderful start to a new series. I am excited to see what comes next!

Cover:

It matches well with the story, even if the girl on the cover looks nothing like what I imagined Katerina to look like. 

My rating of this book:

Want to know more?

Add The Gathering Storm to your Goodreads wish list

Visit Robin Bridges' website
Follow Robin on Twitter

Full disclosure:
ARC received from NetGalley

This book can be purchased from a number of local retailers and online book stores like Amazon and The Book Depository (I'm not an affiliate of either). The latter store has free shipping to about 100 countries.

Book Review: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

My thoughts:

First of all, how gorgeous is that cover?! I am not ashamed to admit that beautiful covers draw me in, but in Incarnate the story was just as beautiful. If only every YA fantasy was as exciting, original and well written as Incarnate, but it really is the butterfly of its genre. I can already tell that Incarnate will be on my Top 10 of 2012 lists, and I'm saying that in January!

Ana is incredible. For the first eighteen years of her life, she has been taught that she is a nosoul, unworthy of love, happiness and life itself. And like I am sure many of you know; if you're told something often enough, you start believing it. I felt so bad for her, and was really rooting for her to find the truth about who she really is. I really enjoyed discovering the small pleasures of life alongside her, and seeing her regain faith in herself, and trust in the world around her.

Sam. Wow. I think I'm in love with him. He was such a kind, gentle soul, showing Ana the kind of friendship and love she had never known before. It was really interesting to see how he deals with being over five thousand years old, to carry all that knowledge and pain from past lives into the future. When he talked of his past lives and deaths I could feel the pain as if it was my own, and I really got to see what a blessing and curse reincarnation was for him. And his love for music was so beautiful!

The story is perfectly paced, with excitement well mixed in with Ana's daily life. I never felt like anything was rushing or going to slow, but was happy for the story to take me where it wanted to go. And wow - that twist toward the end had me crying out in anger! Still the ending itself came together perfectly, with just enough unanswered questions to make me want the sequel, yet without any of the cliffhangers that just make me frustrated.

I really don't feel like anything I say can do this beautiful, beautiful book justice, so please just pre-order a copy and see for yourself! Incarnate is a new favorite for me, and I can't wait to read more of what Jodi Meadows writes in the future.

Cover:

GORGEOUS! And so fitting to the story!

My rating of this book:

Want to know more?

Add Incarnate to your Goodreads wish list

Visit Jodi Meadows' website
Read Jodi's blog
Follow Jodi on Twitter

Full disclosure:
ARC received from NetGalley

This book can be purchased from a number of local retailers and online book stores like Amazon and The Book Depository (I'm not an affiliate of either). The latter store has free shipping to about 100 countries.

Book Review: Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Eighteen year old Saba has lived her entire life in Silverlake, her life is  all about surviving the hash life there. Dangerous sandstorms and drought is a part of everyday life, still Saba likes her life as long as her twin, Lugh, is there by her side.

One day everything changes, out of a big sandstorm a group of riders emerge and they take Lugh, by force, with them. Saba swears that she won't stop searching until she finds her brother again. To find Lugh Saba has to go out into a very unsafe world and if that wasn't hard enough in itself her little sister Emmi insists on tagging along.

My thoughts:

Blood Red Road nearly took my breath away, it was that good. The first few pages was kind of a struggle because the entire story is written in dialect, but that was so easy to forget. I might add that the whole dialect aspect brings another dimension to the whole world author Moira Young has created in this novel, it shows how the people lack education. These people have a lot more pressing matters to tend to than learning how to read and write. When I had the time to sit down and enjoy this novel I devoured the pages(just almost literally LOL), I was sucked into the story and didn't want to close the book until I made it to the final page.

In Blood Red Road we travel with Saba through her adventures journey towards freeing her brother, Lough, from captivity. What I really loved about this story was that the whole quest was about so much more than one initially was lead to believe. Saba is in no way a one dimensional character, she feels genuine, she is though and not always the nicest kind of person. Saba can behave in a way that tugs at your heartstrings, still you have no other choice but to root for her.

I would like to add that this is a most excellent and well thought through debut novel I've read in quite awhile. This was a fabulous dystopian YA novel that I wholeheartedly recommend others to read. Blood Red Road can work as a stand alone but it seems to be a sequel in the making. I hope Moira Young can pull it off with that difficult second book, one which I'm longing for already.

Book trailer:

The cover:
I actually think it depicts the harsh conditions in which Saba lives quite accurately(at least how I imagine it to be).

My rating of this book:

- this is one awesome dystopian!

Want a second opinion?:
Presenting Lenore 
holes in my brain
Emily's Reading Room

Want to know more?
Add Blood Red Road to your Goodreads wish list
Visit Blood Red Road's homepage
Full disclosure: Review copy from the Norwegian publisher.

This book can be purchased from a number of local retailers and on-line book stores such as Amazon or The Book Depository (I'm not an affiliate of either). The latter store does by the way have free shipping to about 100 countries.