Review of Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

LINGER (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #2)

Written by: Maggie Stiefvater

Publication date: July 13, 2010

Released in Hardcover and Paperback

4 stars

Synopsis: In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves. . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.

***CONTAINS SPOILERS***

My Review: I wish I had more to say about this book. Shiver is one of my favorite books and I anticipated this sequel from the moment Sam came out of the woods a human (at the end of Shiver). There was so much story, so much build up in this book that when something finally happened, it was barely worth the wait. All along I knew what was going to happen, I just expected it to happen sooner. I think halfway through the book, we all guessed that Grace was going to shift into a wolf. The whole time I was just waiting for it to happen, so I was disappointed that it didn't until the very end. Now we have to wait for Forever to be released. Gee, can anyone guess how that one is going to turn out? Don't get me wrong - I love a happy ending and I love Sam and Grace but already the story is a little predictable. Doesn't mean I won't still read it!

There is one thing that I did really enjoy about this book: Maggie Stiefvater's writing. The whole time I was reading Linger, I kept trying to describe how I read her writing. To me, it's like she makes novels out of poetry. Her writing is soft and musical.

Who Should Read This: Of course, if you read Shiver, I don't suggest you stop there. I believe (for the most part) in completing a series once you've started (House of Night is one series I started but just couldn't get into - so I stopped). The Wolves of Mercy Falls is a beautiful series that I would recommend to everyone.

Infinite Fallen Souls

The Fallen 2: Aerie and Reckoning (The Fallen, #3-4) by Thomas E. Sniegoski. This is the sequel to, well, The Fallen 1, obviously, which I started a couple weeks ago. I didn't finish it because something else came up, but what little bit I did read was really good and funny and I fully intend to pick it back up.

In the first one: Aaron turns 18 and starts hearing voices. Strange things start happening to him and around him every day. He meets a man who knows what's happening to him and reveals to Aaron his true heritage - half-human, half-angel! Then he gets charged with the responsibility of redeeming the Fallen. That's all I know, so far. Like I said, I had to put it down.

7 Souls by Barnabas Miller and Jordan Orlando. You should get the full synopsis by clicking on the link but I'll tell you why it caught my attention.

It's about a girl who wakes up dead on the day of her 17th birthday. Murdered. So she has to relive the day she died over and over through the eyes of 7 people who hated her enough to want her dead. Ooooo, sounds spooky!

Infinity (Chronicles of Nick, #1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon. The gist of this book reminded me of The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare (click here for its synopsis and right here for my review of it!) 

Nick Gautier, 14, thinks he knows everything. He gets the surprise of his life when he finds out that it's all just an illusion. His best friends try to kill him and the girl he's crushing on, is a vampire hunter by night! Now his classmates are turning into flesh-eating zombies and he has to fight them off all while trying not to draw any attention from his parents and the school!

Is that not a great looking cover? I've been seeing this book on the shelves for months without ever picking it up. But it's this cover that kept grabbing my attention and building my curiosity. 

So these three books were acquired on my latest trip to Borders. I buy everything I can in hardcover, if it's available. I don't like to wait for editions to be released but I don't enjoy the feel of a paperback as much. I'm always too aware of how I'm holding the book so I'm always worried about what shape it's gonna be in by the time I finish it. You ever lend a hardcover out to someone and when it comes back to you, it's all floppy because they cracked the spine so much? I HATE that! You just know that person was laying it down on its pages a lot. I'll stop there before I rant into all my quirky pet peeves!

On my most recent trip to Borders, I picked up some really great books: Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey, Sleepless by Cyn Balog and Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey.

I'm STILL reading Linger by Maggie Stiefvater. There's nothing wrong with the book. I've just been busy. So before I go into a rant about all the books I saw in the store that I want, I'm getting back to my reading now!

By the way, check out my new page - My Reviews! This way you can find all my reviews, quick and easy!

A Thank You

I had a great birthday yesterday! Thank you to all my loved ones who made it special!

A special thank you to Liz Dubelman for offering to send me a copy of What Was I Thinking? 58 Bad Boyfriend Stories for my bday. I was gifted a matching bookcase for it to go on!

Hopefuly after the craziness of this weekend I'll be able to get back to the wolves of Mercy Falls!

Tonight, my best friend (who shares my birthday - so awesome!) and I, will go out for a night of fun - and a morning of hangovers!

Here are some gorgeous covers for you guys to enjoy! Check out the eyes!

A BDay Wish

So, today is my birthday and let's just say I'm closer to 30 than I'd like to be. The wrong side of 20! So, to lift my spirits, I decided I wanted to talk about some of my favorite books and books I can't wait to read! Now, I'm not providing any links or pictures in this post for the simple fact that, well, it's my birthday and I don't wanna work that hard! Hmph.

The first book I need to mention (because I'm afraid people won't read the whole thing and I'd at least like people to hear about this book) is BLEEDING VIOLET by Dia Reeves! She created my most favorite character ever - Hannah! There are many names for people like Hannah: crazy, psycho, out of her flippin mind. Just to name a few. But to me? She's just funny as hell! She whacks her aunt on the head with a rolling pin and runs away to find her estranged mom. Well, mommy dearest lives in the craziest town - even Hannah's crazy mind couldn't imagine! I heart this book A LOT!

I just read HEARTS AT STAKE by Alyxandra Harvey and JESSICA'S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE by Beth Fantaskey - both were REALLY awesome. Two really romantic, funny, vampire books; they're a quick-read so they were perfect for reading back to back. Now I can't wait to read their sequels BLOOD FEUD and THE WEDDING OF ANTANASIA JESSICA PACKWOOD AND LUCIUS VALERIU VLADESCU (that's a mouthful)!

 I started reading THE FALLEN by Thomas E. Sniegoski and it was good, really good. But then I went to Borders and quite unexpectedly saw LINGER (by Maggie Stiefvater) on the shelf! I thought the release date was July 20th? Not that I'm upset about it finally being in my hands - just upset that I keep getting incorrect dates from Goodreads. Does anyone else have that problem? Anyway, I had to put the first book down to read LINGER - we've waited long enough.

I really can't wait for AFTERLIFE, the 4th book in the EVERNIGHT SERIES by Claudia Gray. These books are amazing! Young vampire-human love, fighting and beheading, surviving and sacrificing. The ultimate struggle to be with the one you love. Oh, and a spin-off series - BALTHAZAR - a great character from the all the other books. LAST SACRIFICE by Richelle Mead. Seriously, who isn't waiting for this book? CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS, the Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare. I fell so hard in love with the first 3 books, I talked about them for weeks to anyone who would listen. Unfortunately, I wasn't blogging then.

I really want to read this book WHAT WAS I THINKING? 58 BAD BOYFRIEND STORIES by Barbara Davilman. It's not YA, I know, but it looks like it might give me a few laugh-out-loud moments! I've got my own bad boyfriend stories, might be nice to laugh at someone elses!

ONCE DEAD, TWICE SHY and its sequel by Kim Harrison look good GLIMMERGLASS by Jenna Black. I'm really curious to read BLESSED by Cynthia Leitich Smith because I honestly don't care for TANTALIZE ( the 1st in the so-far trilogy) but I loved sequel ETERNAL! They were two totally different books so I wonder where BLESSED goes from there.

I'm gonna wrap this up with 99 COFFINS (David Wellington), WHISPER (Pheobe Kitanidis, BLOOD OATH by Christopher Farnsworth was awesome, THIRST 1&2 by Christopher Pike were beautifully written, great books and I'm anxiously waiting No. 3. I love the Sookie Stackhouse Series and the written TWILIGHT SAGA is flawless in my eyes! By the way, last time I counted, there are 60 books on my bookcase that I haven't read yet! I can't stop buying them! I'm addicted. And I'm pretty sure that after my birthday, I'll add a few more to that number!  Happy Birthday to ME!

RELEASED TODAY

Today, July 13, 2010,  Sleepless by Cyn Balog was finally released today! I, myself, recently finished Fairy Tale, the prequel to this book. It was awesome! I can't wait to get my hands on Sleepless! I have no doubt it will keep me up all night!

Also, stay tuned for my interview with Cyn Balog on her debuting novel Fairy Tale!

How Do You Blog?

I think I have a strange method of blogging. Maybe, maybe not. So it left me curious to know how my fellow bloggers, well, blog. Let me share with you what I mean by being the first to answer this question.

I have, by far, THE worst memory. If it wasn't for family, friends and pictures to remind of things that have happened, my memory would be non-existent altogether! So when I'm reading a book, I write my review as I go instead of when I've finished it. The reason being is, if I wait until the end, I won't be able to recall the key points of the book I enjoyed the most. I'll be thinking them as I read but I won't remember them. Especially if it takes me a little while to read the book.

So that is how I blog. I write reviews as I read the book (I even wrote out this post)! I admit, even to me, it sounds like a strange method, but it works for me!

So, How Do You Blog?

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side Review

JESSICA'S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE

Written by: Beth Fantaskey

Publication date: January 18, 2010 (1st published February 1, 2009

Released in Hardcover and Paperback

5 stars

Synopsis: Marrying a vampire definitely doesn't fit in to Jessica Packwood's senior-year "get a life" plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth and he's her long-lost-fiance. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire's Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But Jessica has never even been kissed - how can she possibly commit herself to a long-term relationship? Or an eternal relationship, for that matter?

How I Came to Read This: I have to be honest, the title really bugs me. It gives the impression that it will be corny - like a real guide for girls who think vampires really exist and how to date them! I put it off for a long time and then just decided to give it a chance.

My Review: I gotta say...the author's name, Beth Fantaskey, is the coolest pen name ever! And if that's her real name, even better. Fantaskey - it's like she wanted everyone to know that she's fantastic but didn't want to be flashy about it!

And yeah, this book was pretty fantastic from the beginning! Jessica struggles with wanting to be a normal 17 yr old and falling for a vampires once in a lifetime offer. It's a game of cat chases mouse then, watch out - PLOT TWIST - and now it's mouse chases cat! It's a great love story, too! I'm kicking myself now for not reading this sooner because I couldn't put it down.

This one had great characters: Lucius is a male character a reader could definitely fall for! Dark, mysterious, royal and self-sacrificing. Being born to fulfill a pact, yet struggling with emotions, he claims he does not and cannot feel - he is a vampire at war with himself.

Jessica is a rational thinker. Refuses to believe that vampires even exist let alone the fact that she is one and destined to rule over millions of them! She loves the life she has and was just getting into the swing of things when Lucius throws her for a loop with the whole marriage thing. Now Jessica has to decide whether to keep her old life or give it up for a life she never could have imagined.

There's still the high school drama in this book that I can't seem to escape, but I guess I never will because I love the young adult genre so much! It makes me feel old though, what with my own first high school reunion fast approaching!

This book gave definite closure and I liked that! Sometimes an author leaves the ending open for you to imagine what happens next, after the story ends. But I love that this one provided a pretty detailed ending.

Who Should Read This: Ignore the lame title and dive into this romantic-comedy! You won't regret it!

You can find more of Jess and Lucius in The Wedding of Antanasia Jessica Packwood and Lucius Valeriu Vladescu!

Hearts at Stake Review

HEARTS AT STAKE

Written by: Alyxandra Harvey

Publication date: May 23, 2010 (1st published December 22, 2010

Released in Paperback

5 stars

Synopsis: A ROMANCE YOU CAN REALLY SINK YOUR TEETH INTO!

Solange Drake always knew she was destined to become a vampire queen. And as the only female vampire ever born, not made, she is surrounded by danger on all sides - from vampire suitors who want to join with her lineage to bounty hunters who are set on destroying her and her family. When she is kidnapped, it's up to her older brother Nicholas and her human best friend, Lucy, to save her. But can Lucy save herself from Nicholas, who tempts her with his every look? And what will be Solange's own fate if she surrenders her heart to the vampire hunter helping her survive the deadly intrigue at the royal court?

How I Came to Read This: I was trying to decide between 3 books which one I wanted to read next. I picked this one up first to test the first coupla pages and I didn't put it down! I never even looked at the other books!

My Review: Can we talk about the cover for moment? I'm digging the font of the title - all pointy and dangerous. The model however, ruined it for me. Before I read the book, it didn't  bother me because I just assumed that she resembled the main character. And she probably does, just an older version of her. And where are the ice blue eyes? There's an overall lack of color on the cover and without that dark hair, she'd blend right into the background.

As the saying goes, "Don't judge a book by it's cover." This book is about strong friendships and building relationships. This book gets straight to the good stuff. No wasting time on fluff. Everything you need to know will be explained as the battle rages on!

I always enjoy a nice change of pace when I read a book where the narrators switch between characters. However, I DO NOT enjoy a book with a whole bunch of words I can't pronounce. Like Cwn Mamau. Why make things complicated? This guy can make these kinds of vampires and those vampire can make these vampires but only if they're half buried on the 3rd Tuesday of a month ending in Y! Phew! Hey, I appreciate variations in mythical creatures as much as the next reader, but simplify it!

Still, this book was amazing! It caught my attention right away and I couldn't put it down! It has a lot of great characters but Lucy and Nicholas very quickly became my favorite. Lucy and Solange are BFFs and Solange has 7 older brothers (one of them Nicholas), but it's Solange whom the prophecy predicted would be the vampire princess. Now that she's coming of age, the mature vamps are flocking to her like moths to a flame!

Lucy is tough. Take no crap and a comeback for everything. She's also fiercely loyal to the Drakes. Nicholas is equally protective of Lucy and his sister. He's the knight in shining armor with a warm creamy center! Solange is fixed on being a normal teen but gets swept up in the madness that her coming of age causes other vampires to feel. An unexpected hero saves the day but the change is inevitable.

There's action, romance, suspense and humor! Don't mistake this book for being predictable. It has great plot twists and an ending that assures you the sequel is a must-read!

Who Should Read This: Any YA fan! Great fun and easy read.

For those who have already read this: Did anyone else notice the punctuation?? The periods aren't circles, they're like tiny little crosses! How cool is that, huh? Nice touch!

Vampire Academy...the movie??

Late last night while cruising around the web, I found on out Richelle Mead's blog that Vampire Academy has been optioned for film by Preger Entertainment!

This is really exciting news but Mead warns us not to get too worked up about it. It could take years to become a movie, IF it ever does. It could also mean that things are already in the works!

So, let's keep our fingers crossed!  And by the way, once the rights to the books have been sold, the author has no control over where the story goes from there or who gets casted for what part. Congrats to Richelle Mead!