Ashfall by Mike Mullin Review

Title: Ashfall (Ashfall #1)

Author: Mike Mullin

Genre: Young Adult, Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic

Page Count: 466 pages

Publish Date: October 11, 2011

Book Type: Kindle galley from Netgalley 

Publisher: Tanglewood Press

ISBN: 9781933718552

 

From Goodreads: Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.

Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.

My Review: Oh I really enjoyed this book. One thing is for certain, if I was in Alex’s situation, I would totally be dead. What he went through was absolutely awful. I cannot imagine having to go through any of that. While this was a long book, the pacing was done very well, so it never felt like a long book--if that makes sense.

I was amazed, but I guess not that surprised, at how quickly the society crumbled. In Ashfall, there were the people who completely fell apart, the people who thrived, and then everyone else who were sort of in between. It was very interesting to see how the people a greater distance away from the supervolcano were handling it. I don’t want to say too much, because I think this is one that you should read for yourself, but the character development was pretty exceptional.  

One of my favorite aspects of this book was that I felt like I was really learning some survival skills while reading. I could definitely tell that Mike Mullin did his research, so I can’t wait to see what new skills Alex and the gang learn throughout the rest of the series. [Does anyone know if this is a planned trilogy? More? Just two?]

I’m so glad I have Ashen Winter waiting for me on my Kindle - I’m not sure I could wait until fall to read it!

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter Review

Title: Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test #2)

Author: Aimee Carter @aimee_carter

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology, Paranormal

Page Count: 296 pages

Publish Date: March 27, 2012

Book Type: Kindle Galley

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

ISBN: 9780373210459

From Goodreads: KATE WINTERS HAS WON IMMORTALITY.

BUT IF SHE WANTS A LIFE WITH HENRY IN THE UNDERWORLD, SHE'LL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT.

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans. 

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future. 

Henry's first wife, Persephone.

My Review: I am not quite as fond of this cover as I was of the first, but it is still fun. The tagline, “What if immortality isn’t forever?” is pretty intriguing. The tagline on The Goddess Test was “Become immortal or die trying,” so the contrast between Book 1 and Book 2 is pretty strong. In Book 1, everything was about becoming immortal and the journey there, while Book 2 seems to suggest that immortality might not be everything Kate had expected.

I loved how we got to know more of the characters throughout Goddess Interrupted. Persephone actually played a fairly large role which created some delicious tension between Henry and Kate. It was nice to be able to see the familial interactions between Kate, Persephone, and their mother as well.

Henry and Kate drove me nuts throughout much of the book, however, it didn’t detract from the story. There was tension between the two of them, but it was a good kind of tension. I’m telling you... sometimes I just wanted to shake them. If they would just talk about the issues they are having, half of the problems wouldn’t exist!  

The ending will leave you yearning for the next book in the series. Talk about an epic cliffhanger. Jeeze. Actually, there were a few moments throughout the book where I found my jaw dropping. Aimee Carter really stepped it up with the plot twists. 

Books based on Greek mythology get a big thumbs up from me!

Thanks to Aimee Carter, NetGalley, and Harlequin Teen for this e-galley!

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross Review

Title: The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles #2)

Author: Kady Cross

Genre: Young Adult, Steampunk

Page Count: 416 pages

Publish Date: May 22, 2012

Book Type: Kindle Galley

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

ISBN: 978-0373210534

From Goodreads: In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous. 

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves. 

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.

My Review: Love this cover! That necklace/collar is crazy looking. Imagine having that thing strapped to you. The colors are also amazing.

I really enjoyed The Girl in the Steel Corset last year and was excited to enter the wonderful steampunk world again in The Girl in the Clockwork Collar. This time, the gang traveled to New York City to try to save their friend Jasper after he was arrested at the end of Book 1. Naturally, nothing goes as planned and Finley, Griffin, Jasper, Sam, and Emily find themselves in the middle of trouble.

One of my complaints from Book 1 was that I felt the characters weren’t developed enough. This all changed in this book and I got to know them much more. Finley and Jasper were the two characters that the readers will really get to know. Some new characters were also introduced and I hope we get to see a few of them again. Although mentioned quite a few times, Jack Dandy wasn’t in the book. Maybe he will be in the next one.

The relationships were fleshed out some--although Finley and Griffin still drive me crazy. Just make it work, you two crazy kids. I had wished there was more Sam and Emily, but the moments that were there were completely precious. 

While I was able to predict the answers to some of the mysteries, the very end was actually pretty surprising. I didn’t see that one coming--you’ll have to let me know if you do. Hopefully some of the consequences will play out in the next book.

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar was packed with action and adventure. It was really exciting and I had a hard time putting the book down. 

This sequel really solidified my love for steampunk and I cannot wait for the next book to come out! I’ll be glad for the trip back to London, even though I enjoyed them crossing the pond for a bit.

Thanks to NetGalley, Kady Cross and Harlequin Teen for this review copy!

The Minefields by Steven C. Eisner Review

Title: The Minefields

Author: Steven C. Eisner

Genre: Fiction, Mad Med-esque

Page Count: 320 pages

Publish Date: January 25, 2012

Book Type: Provided for review

Publisher: When Words Count Publishing

ISBN: 9781937836023

From Goodreads: From an early age, Sam Spiegel single-mindedly pursued an entrepreneurial path that prepared him to transform a small-time ad agency into a regional powerhouse with national ambitions. A couple decades later, Sam had achieved almost everything he ever dreamed possible as the ad agency's rainmaker, fountainhead, and unflappable pursuer of success. One final goal remained: To consolidate his gains by attracting an international advertising conglomerate and cash out. That's when the nation is hit with the most unthinkable tragedy, and Sam begins to take stock of his own life, finding that he is growing weary of the relentless hunt. Unsatisfied in his marriage and embroiled in a mind-boggling professional crisis, everything Sam had achieved is put at risk.

My Review: This is such a cool cover. Very appropriate for a book depicting the advertising business. The pop of color is nice, but it is really the man in a business suit on the tightrope that draws me in.

The narrator of this book has a very conversational tone, which works for the story, since it is essentially the story of his life. The language can get a bit business-y at times, but overall it was a pretty enjoyable reading experience.

It’s not too often when you can read a book that follows the main character’s life from teens throughout adulthood. It was nice to be able to watch Sam grow and go through the ups and downs in his life.

I think fans of “Mad Men” will really enjoy this one!

Here is an excerpt!

My real goal was to find the overseeing emergency room doctor to get a report on Dad’s condition and to figure out a plan. As I suspected, many of Harry’s vitals had shut down. His lungs were filling with water.

Thanks to Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. and Media Muscle for this review copy! 


You can check out the rest of the book tour here!

Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe Review

Title: Happy Birthday to Me (Birthday Trilogy #1)

Author: Brian Rowe

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Humor

Page Count: 322 pages

Publish Date: April 11, 2011

Book Type: Kindle book provided for review

Publisher: CreateSpace

ISBN: 9781461071792

ASIN: B004VF69C8

From Goodreads: Seventeen-year-old Cameron Martin has a huge problem: he’s aging a whole year of his life with each passing day! 

High school is hard enough; imagine rapidly aging from seventeen to seventy in a matter of weeks, with no logical explanation, and with prom, graduation, and the state championship basketball game all on the horizon. That’s what happens to Cameron, a popular pretty boy who's never had to face a day looking anything but perfect. 

All Cameron wants to do is go back to normal, but no one, not even the best doctors, can diagnose his condition. When he finds love with a mysterious young woman, however, he realizes his only hope for survival might be with the one person who started his condition in the first place...

My Review: This cover just really makes me want cake. Mmm.

I really liked the main character, Cameron. He was, by no means, perfect, which is what made him so likable to me. It’s always fun to read books with a male protagonist--especially ones written by a male author. Different perspectives! 

I wish some of the supporting characters had been developed a bit more, but they were fun too! Sometimes it’s hard to really get to know secondary characters when a book is in first person. I found myself becoming attached to quite a few of the characters. I’m excited to revisit them in the next book, Happy Birthday to Me Again.

Happy Birthday to Me is really a classic story, but told in a fresh way. Aging was a new tool to bring about change in the main character, which was entertaining to read. Throughout the book, the story reminded me of Beastly quite a bit and I enjoyed that. I wasn’t sure if it was going to be the same kind of deal, but I liked the similarities. 

What would you do if you started aging a year each day? It would surely be terrifying.

Thanks to Brian Rowe for this review copy!

Lovesick by Spencer Seidel Review

Title: Lovesick

Author: Spencer Seidel

Genre: Thriller, Suspense

Page Count: 376 pages

Publish Date: June 2012 in paperback, Original October 15, 2011

Book Type: ARC provided for review

Publisher: PublishingWorks, Inc.

ISBN: 9781935557692

Picture from Goodreads

From Goodreads: A teenage boy is found on Portland Maine’s Eastern Promenade Trail holding the dead body of his best friend and the murder weapon. Forensic psychologist Lisa Boyers is called in to interview the disturbed young man, and her jailhouse interviews reveal more about her troubled, violent past than she bargained for.

My Review: Love the cover! Bleeding hearts are always good. Very appropriate for February. It also makes me think of Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love." A lot. The one thing I would change would be to have the author’s name a bit smaller. However, that’s just personal preference.

I really need to start reading more thrillers. I think I say this after every thriller I read, but then I forget about it. Someone remind me. Please? The best part about thrillers is they always seem to keep me interested--they keep me wanting to turn the pages and guessing until the end. It's always fun to try to solve the big mystery. 

The best thriller authors know how to reveal just the right amount of information. They don’t reveal too little or too much. Spencer Seidel did just that in Lovesick. If Lovesick was any indication of Seidel's writing, I’m really looking forward to reading more in the future.

She wasn’t wrong about Chad. She just knew it. She was sure about him, despite his perfectly logical explanation. Lisa’s apartment on Cumberland Avenue was only fifteen or twenty minutes from USM, in Portland, almost in the East End. Her commute home took her down Forest Avenue and then left onto Cumberland. She parked in back, in her assigned spot, still feeling uneasy. She didn’t exactly have the greatest track-record with men, budding mass murderers or not. Face it, she thought. Your track-record is downright abysmal. And when your life was filled with these bad experiences, you couldn’t possibly give a kid like Chad Lamm a break. So, knowing this about herself, maybe she should? Maybe she had overreacted? She remembered a trip to the emergency room, sitting in the back seat of the family’s rattly Volkswagen Beetle, her mother in the front seat, holding a bloody kitchen towel to her lip, glaring at Lisa’s father.

To find the next excerpt, visit:  http://www.goodchoicereading.com/

To find the rest of the blogs participating in the tour, visit here.


Thank you so much to Spencer Seidel, MediaMuscle, and BookTrib for my review copy!

Hobin Luckyfeller's Fieldguide: Demoni Vankil by Jaime Buckley Review

Title: Hobin Luckyfeller’s Fieldguide: Demoni Vankil

Author: Jaime Buckley

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Page Count: 86 pages, 198 KB

Publish Date: September 21, 2011

Book Type: Ebook provided for review

Publisher: On the Fly Publications

ISBN: 9781614630067

ASIN: B005ONI5B4

Picture from Amazon

From Goodreads: An ancient puzzle box. 

Fourteen mysterious letters. 

A Council of Whispers. 

…and a clerk. 

Discover the 700 year old secret millions died to protect.

My Review: I love the font used for “Demoni Vankil.” It looks like it is scratched into the book. I also like how it looks like a leather bound book. Am I the only one who wishes that books were still made that way--with the fancy ribbon bookmark? Yeah? Probably.

I read Prelude to a Hero back in June and was very happy to be brought back into the world with Hobin Luckyfeller’s Fieldguide: Demoni Vankil. Although the characters were different, they were just as charming and I connected with them instantly. This book is set after Prelude to a Hero and is looking back on the events that happened before, during and after.  

Hobin Luckyfeller discovered a series of 14 letters that date back 700 years. During those 700 years, the accuracy of the events have gotten a little muddy and Hobin is delighted to be able to get a glimpse into the past (as was I).

Hobin was a great lead character. I loved trying to figure out the mystery and going through Eamon’s letters with him. After reading each letter, Hobin would share his thoughts and questions--I was pleased to see that I shared a lot of those thoughts and questions with him! 

I loved how each of the characters had distinct personalities. I felt like I really got to know Eamon through his letters and was racing through the book to see how his story ended. I’m fairly certain that I read this in one sitting if that is telling you anything.

This book has all of the qualities of a great mystery and a great fantasy molded together into a wonderful story. As a mystery and fantasy junkie, I couldn’t be more thrilled that those genres were combined!

Also, be sure to check out the website. A great resource for information on the series!

Thanks to Jaime Buckley for this review copy--I can’t wait to venture into this world again!

Two Moons of Sera by Pavarti K Tyler Review and Tour

Title: Two Moons of Sera

Author: Pavarti K. Tyler

Genre: Young Adult/Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Size: 162 KB

Publish Date: October 11, 2011

Book Type: ARC provided for review

Publisher: Fighting Monkey Press

ISBN: 9780983876922

Picture from Amazon

From Goodreads: In a world where water and earth teem with life, Serafay is an anomaly. The result of genetic experiments on her mother's water-borne line Serafay will have to face the very people responsible to discover who she really is. But is she the only one? 

All the Fun of YA written for Adults 

Two Moons of Sera is a Fantasy/Romance and will be released in a serial format. The first volume is just shy of 20,000 words and will be priced at $0.99. Anyone who purchases it will receive all future volumes for free. However if you wait to get it until later, the price will go up with each addition.

My Review: The cover definitely fits the story--love that she’s underwater and I love the colors.

This is a short book, but Pavarti K. Tyler has decided to take the route of manga and comic books and distribute her story in sections. It’s actually pretty interesting. 

I love the Sera is a hybrid of the land-dwelling people and the water people. Like many teenagers, she isn’t quite sure where she fits in. She is also the result of cruel experiments. This aspect of the story kind of reminded me of The Hunted of 2060 (another fun, sci-fi book!).

Not too long into the story, Sera meets another person who is the result of experiments. It was nice to see Sera with someone who had similar qualities to her. She has been isolated with her mother for so long (her mother’s people abandoned her because of Sera being a hybrid) that she has been feeling a bit lonely.

I really enjoyed Tyler’s writing style. While reading, I could tell Tyler thoroughly enjoyed the world she created. The character building was strong, which could have been difficult with the novella. 

I’m definitely looking forward to seeing the next stage of the story!

________________________________________________

A note from the author:
Order Your Copy Now

As a thank you to all of my amazing readers and supporters, I am hosting a month long rafflecopter giveaway on my blog!  Enter for your chance to win:

• A Gift Bag full of fun-tastic swag
• A $15 itunes gift card
• Ebook basket including:
• Two Moons of Sera by Pavarti K Tyler
• The Dome by Nova Sparks
• Farsighted by Emlyn Chand
• The Mumbo Jumbo Circus by Jane George
• 10,000 word critique of your manuscript
• An Advanced Readers Copy of my upcoming novel Shadow on the Wall

Farsighted by Emlyn Chand Review and Tour

Title: Farsighted

Author: Emlyn Chand

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Page Count: 218 pages

Publish Date: October 24, 2011

Book Type: ebook provided for review

Publisher: Blue Crown Press

ISBN: 9780615524689

From Goodreads: Alex Kosmitoras’s life has never been easy. The only other student who will talk to him is the school bully, his parents are dead-broke and insanely overprotective, and to complicate matters even more, he's blind. Just when he thinks he'll never have a shot at a normal life, a new girl from India moves into town. Simmi is smart, nice, and actually wants to be friends with Alex. Plus she smells like an Almond Joy bar. Yes, sophomore year might not be so bad after all. 

Unfortunately, Alex is in store for another new arrival—an unexpected and often embarrassing ability to “see” the future. Try as he may, Alex is unable to ignore his visions, especially when they begin to suggest that Simmi is in danger. With the help of the mysterious psychic next door and new friends who come bearing gifts of their own, Alex must embark on a journey to change his future.

My Review: The cover definitely depicts what is going on in the story, which is always a plus. I like that Alex has his “cool kid glasses” on! He would probably scoff at me using that term now, but I couldn’t help myself.

It was refreshing to get a different kind of main character here. 1. Alex is a boy, which is sometimes lacking in YA fiction. 2. Alex is blind, which is definitely lacking in YA fiction. I’m not sure that I’ve ever heard of another YA book with a blind protagonist. Correct me if I’m wrong, please.

Another interesting aspect of this book was that the author included a rune and corresponding prophecy at the beginning of each chapter. They acted as kind of a teaser for what was to come and it was fun to try to figure them out. For a minute, I felt like Hermione deciphering the runes in The Tales of Beedle the Bard during Deathly Hallows. 

I like how Alex comes into his gifts. It’s sort of a build up and it was fun to see him make the decisions about what to do with the things he saw. I also appreciated that romance wasn’t the main aspect of this book. Sure, it was in there, but it wasn’t the focus. Maybe this has something to do with the main character being male. Thinking back on my other YA reads with male protagonists, I don’t think their main focus is romance either. I’ll have to find more of these.

I really applaud Emlyn Chand for choosing to have a blind character. It could have been really awkward to read about, but Chand knew all of the right descriptive words to use. I’m excited for the next one!

Have you read this one? Does it sound like something you might want to read?

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THE BOOK:  Alex Kosmitoras may be blind, but he can still “see” things others can’t.  When his unwanted visions of the future begin to suggest that the girl he likes could be in danger, he has no choice but to take on destiny and demand it reconsider. Get your copy today by visiting Amazon.com’s Kindle store or the eBook retailer of your choice. The paperback edition will be available on November 24 (for the author’s birthday). 

THE CASH PRIZES:  Guess what? You could win a $100 Amazon gift card as part of this special blog tour. That’s right! Just leave a comment below saying something about the post you just read, and you’ll be entered into the raffle. I could win $100 too! Please help by voting for my blog in the traffic-breaker poll. To cast your vote, visit the official Farsighted blog tour page and scroll all the way to the bottom. Thank you for your help with that. 


THE GIVEAWAYS:  Win 1 of 10 autographed copies of Farsighted before its paperback release by entering the giveaway on GoodReads. Perhaps you’d like an autographed postcard from the author; you can request one on her site.


THE AUTHOR:  Emlyn Chand has always loved to hear and tell stories, having emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). When she’s not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm, Novel Publicity. Emlyn loves to connect with readers and is available throughout the social media interweb. Visit www.emlynchand.com for more info. Don’t forget to say “hi” to her sun conure Ducky! 

MORE FUN: There's more fun below. Watch the live action Farsighted book trailer and take the quiz to find out which character is most like you!  

 

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa Review

Title: The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

Page Count: 361 pages

Publish Date: October 25, 2011

Book Type: ARC provided for review

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

ISBN: 9780373210367

Picture from Amazon

From Goodreads: My name—my True Name—is Ashallayn'darkmyr Tallyn.

I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her.

My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl…

My Review: Once again, I just love how these covers all fit together. I also love how the blue swirls match Ash’s eyes. Very nice. “Soulless, Banished, but Never Forgotten.”

I struggled a bit through The Iron Queen. I had just praised Meghan on my review of The Iron Daughter and that was probably the kiss of death for me. The way she was treating Puck really annoyed me and I thought it took a long time for the action to start. The sappy love story was really played up and, unfortunately, that is not what I enjoy about this series. 

Needless to say, I was a bit nervous about starting The Iron Knight. I did end up enjoying it more than I had anticipated. I loved the interactions between Ash and Puck. I’m also glad that we got a little more insight into their characters. Grim will always be my favorite character in The Iron Fey series. He’s the best. It was nice to have the opportunity to see things through Ash’s eyes.

I always love the way Julie Kagawa paints a picture with her words. I can always picture everything that she is describing. That’s key to a good fantasy/paranormal novel. If I couldn’t picture the world these characters are living in, I’m sure I wouldn’t enjoy these books nearly as much as I do.

Also, it wouldn’t be a Julie Kagawa book if there weren’t some twists and turns when you least expect them. The Iron Knight did not disappoint in that department.

If you’ve read the rest of the series, this one is definitely a must read. If you haven’t started the series yet, you probably should.

Thanks to Harlequin Teen and Julie Kagawa for this review copy!