In My Mailbox #8

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by Kristi from The Story Siren as a way to share the books you received over the past week whether for review, purchase, or borrow.

Purchased:

Divergent - by Veronica Roth

I had put off reading Divergent for far too long and this week I kept seeing the ARC’s of Insurgent surfacing and the cool promotion with the factions and faction leaders. I felt like I was really missing out on something amazing so I gave in and bought it.

So, that’s really the only thing I got. Super quick and simple ‘In My Mailbox’ post this week! 

What’s in your Mailbox?

Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne

Title: Harbinger

Author: Sara Wilson Etienne

Pages: 309

Release: February 2^nd, 2012

Synopsis:(from Goodreads)Plagued by waking visions and nightmares, inexplicably drawn to the bones of dead animals, Faye thinks she's going crazy. Fast. Her parents beleive Holbrook Academy might just be the solution. Dr. Mordoch tells her it's the only answer. But Faye knows that something's not quite right about Dr. Mordoch and her creepy, prisonlike school for disturbed teenagers.
What's wrong with Holbrook goes beyond the Takers, sadistic guards who threaten the student body with Tasers and pepper spray; or Nurse, who doles out pills at bedtime and doses of solitary confinement when kids step out of line; or Rita, the strange girl who delivers ominous messages to Faye that never seem to make any sense. What's wrong with Holbrook begins and ends with Faye's red hands; she and her newfound friends--her Holbrook "family"--wake up every morning with their hands stained the terrible brown of dried blood. Faye has no idea what it means but fears she may be the cause.
Because despite the strangeness of Holbrook and the island on which it sits, Faye feels oddly connected to the place; she feels especially linked to the handsome Kel, who helps her unravel the mystery. There's just one problem: Faye's certain Kel's trying to kill her--and maybe the rest of the world, too.
A rich and tautly told psychological thriller, Harbinger heralds the arrival of an exciting new voice in young adult fiction.

My Thoughts:

I won this book from a giveaway and I remember that when I got it in the mail, I was so excited! Not just for the story, but for some superficial reasons too. First off, the cover has a different texture than most hardcover jackets and it made the book look unique and feel nice! Secondly, the author included this nice pamphlet from Holbrook Academy and that really got me psyched about entering into this world she created and lastly, it was the first book I had ever gotten signed! I was so excited that I wanted to dance(which is a little ironic if you’ve read the book).

So, you know from all that, that my expectations were high. Were they fulfilled? Mostly. You see Harbinger is unlike any book I have ever read before in that it is paranormal, but in a completely untouched way. It’s kind of dystopian, but that’s not the central idea in the plot. A lot of it has to do with prophecy and tarot cards. I have never read a book before that comes even close to this. It was so intricately woven and had such detail that occasionally it was even a little too much for me and I felt lost. I also found the characters to be fascinating and while I did not relate to them very much, I was always eager to unravel more of the mystery in this book.

I would say that in the long run, it was a very interesting read and I am glad I read it because it truly was a very unique book, but even after finishing it, I feel kind of confused and like I might need to read the last 100 pages over again. So, I would say if it’s something that interests you, then give it a shot. It’s definitely a quality standalone novel.

In Short:

Rating: 4/5

Purchase or Check Out?: Check Out

Would I read it again?: Maybe

Waiting on Wednesday #6

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Revived - by Cat Patrick

Release Date: May 8th, 2012

As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life. 

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger — and more sinister — than she ever imagined.

I am fascinated! A girl that can cheat death and is constantly starting her life over. Sounds like a recipe for a great action-packed book! I can’t wait!
What are you waiting on?

Top Ten Tuesday #4

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme started by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week’s topic is Top Ten Books I’d Play Hooky With:

10. The Selection 

This is exactly the kind of book I would play hooky for! I have been excited for The Selection for months now and it is even in talks for a TV show now? It’s just too amazing! I can’t wait!

9. The Peculiars

I feel about the exact same way about The Peculiars as I do The Selection, but oddly enough I only ever saw mention of this book on one other blog. I’ve never read a review about it and besides the synopsis I don’t know much. I guess the mystery draws me in perhaps.

8. The Diviners

Libba Bray is one of my favorite authors of all time, so obviously, like with any of my other favorite authors, I pine away for her new books. You add 20’s flappers and some supernatural into that mix and I am practically on the edge of my seat before even picking it up. 

7. The Immortal Rules

This book has so much hype around it that I don’t know how anyone couldn’t already have a day set aside to go MIA to read this. Unfortunately for me, although I totally would skip everything to read this, I probably won’t be able to as it comes out the week before my final exams. 

6. What’s Left of Me

When I think of this book, I am always reminded of The Host by Stephenie Meyer, which I read in one sitting and if I remember right, I skipped some afterschool activity in high school to finish it. I would totally do the same for this book! It doesn’t come out until September and I am already ready to have it!

5. Goddess Interrupted

I read The Goddess Test in one day last fall. I skipped all my classes and a couple meals to read it because of how much I loved it. I realize that this book is already out and I probably should have already taken a skip day to read it but I just haven’t gotten there yet. I WILL THOUGH, and when I do I probably won’t go to class or eat once again.

4. Wither

Let me tell you all, I am so close to reading Wither it’s not even funny. Everywhere I look, people say “Read Wither, it’s great!” So I finally am going to read it and I feel like when I do, I will have one of those ‘D’oh!’ moments where I realize I was stupid for waiting so long and then I forget I have obligations to the outside world so I stay inside and read all day.

3. Divergent

This is pretty much the same situation as Wither. I need to read it, I know I need to read it, but for some ungodly reason, I just haven’t done it. I know I will love it and I know I will read it in one sitting and possibly forget about everything else, but I am being slow. 

2. City of Lost Souls

I’ve said it before, I will say it a thousand times: Cassandra Clare is my absolute favorite author. I have an alert on my phone reminding me when her new books come out and when they do come out, I skip class and go straight to the store, purchase it, and go back to my room and read it until I am finished. I do NOT take breaks, I do NOT talk to other people, and I do NOT care what’s happening in the outside world. For when a new Cassie Clare book is in my hands, I am a shadowhunter for a day. 

1. Untitled

The best way to describe my feelings about this book is to click that link I posted and scroll through the several .GIFs that were posted by the other zillion fans who lost their mind when it was announced that J.K. Rowling was writing a new book. I’m pretty sure she could be writing about the life of a dust bunny and I would still read it. I will most definitely be skipping whatever obligations I have in order to read this once it’s released. I’d honestly probably skip class just to find out the title of this anticipated book!

What books would you play hooky with?

In My Mailbox #7

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by Kristi from The Story Siren as a way to share the books you received over the past week whether for review, purchase, or borrow.

Purchased:

Unearthly - by Cynthia Hand

Entwined - by Heather Dixon

They were both .99 eBooks on my nook! I couldn’t resist, especially since I have heard several great things about Unearthly! 

What’s in your mailbox?

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Test

Author: Aimee Carter

Pages: 293

Release: April 19^th, 2011

Synopsis:(from Goodreads)It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

My Thoughts:

We’ve all experienced that moment when you finish a book and you feel so awestruck that you don’t even know what you could possibly read next that would top it, right? Well, that was my reaction upon finishing The Goddess Test.

When you think of the traditional story of Hades and Persephone, you think of a cruel God kidnapping a woman and forcing her to stay in the underworld. I always think of him as heartless and evil. Well, in this book that is simply not the case. In fact, all bets are off with Gods and Goddesses; just throw out all of the stereotypes you have spent years learning about through mythology. It’s such a creative and fun book to read and I was surprised at every turn throughout the entire thing!

I will admit that at the end I got a little emotional. I won’t give anything away and if you have any sort of control over your emotions when reading, you probably won’t have the same reaction that I did, but just in case…be prepared! It’s such a great book with likeable characters, some interesting twists on traditional mythology, and the ever sexy Henry who is close to the top of my sexy YA men list!

In Short:

Rating: 5/5

Purchase or Check Out?: Purchase

Would I read it again?: Yes

Waiting on Wednesday #5

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
Release Date: April 24th, 2012

Everything is in ruins. A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them. So what does Araby Worth have to live for? Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all. But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does. And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

This book sounds so so good! It’s based from something written by Edgar Allan Poe and in high school I really enjoyed reading his poetry so this should be a cool twist. Plus, this plot line just sounds so delicious...it’s like a historical dystopian. I have heard so many great reviews on this book already, so now I am just waiting for it’s release!
What are you waiting on?