COVER REVEAL: THE MIRROR KING BY JODI MEADOWS

NOTE: THIS COVER IS SO FREAKIN' GORGEOUS! IT GAVE ME INCARNATE FEELS! INCARNATE FANS WILL KNOW!!! :)

Wilhelmina has a hundred enemies.

HER FRIENDS HAVE TURNED. After her identity is revealed during the Inundation, Princess Wilhelmina is kept prisoner by the Indigo Kingdom, with the Ospreys lost somewhere in the devastated city. When the Ospreys’ leader emerges at the worst possible moment, leaving Wil’s biggest ally on his deathbed, she must become Black Knife to set things right. 

HER MAGIC IS UNCONTROLLABLE. Wil’s power is to animate, not to give true life, but in the wraithland she commanded a cloud of wraith mist to save herself, and later ordered it solid. Now there is a living boy made of wraith—destructive and deadly, and willing to do anything for her.

HER HEART IS TORN. Though she’s ready for her crown, declaring herself queen means war. Caught between what she wants and what is right, Wilhelmina realizes the throne might not even matter. Everyone thought the wraith was years off, but already it’s destroying Indigo Kingdom villages. If she can’t protect both kingdoms, soon there won’t be a land to rule.

In this stunning conclusion to THE ORPHAN QUEEN, Jodi Meadows follows Wilhelmina’s breathtaking and brave journey from orphaned criminal on the streets to magic-wielding queen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: JODI MEADOWS

Jodi Meadows lives and writes in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, with her husband, a Kippy*, and an alarming number of ferrets. She is a confessed book addict, and has wanted to be a writer ever since she decided against becoming an astronaut. She is the author of the INCARNATE Trilogy and the forthcoming ORPHAN QUEEN Duology (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen). Visit her at www.jodimeadows.com

*A Kippy is a cat.

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Go to this link to join Jodi Meadows' cover reveal giveaway!

YA BOOKS CENTRAL

Blog Tour (ARC) Review + Excerpt: MOIRAI by Ruth Silver

Moirai
by Ruth Silver
Series: Aberrant #2
Genre: Young Adult Dystopia
Published September 26th by Patchwork Press
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Olivia has been on the run from the government of Cabal since the marriage ceremony. Finally settling in and finding herself a place to call home, in Shadow, Olivia and Joshua are preparing for the uprising that they and the rebel alliance have been planning for months.

With new abilities and special talents, from Mindonsiphan, Olivia learns that she can do more than most ordinary eighteen year olds. Learning both to hide and perfect her skills will be one of the biggest challenges she'll be forced to face.

A constant rollercoaster of emotion and adventure await Olivia and Joshua, as they embark on a journey to the rebel city of Torv, and what was once home, Genesis.

Moirai E-book Cover

EXCERPT

My feet crunched on weeds as I pushed my way through the waist-high grasses towards the river. It was rare anyone ventured outside of Shadow. In most cases leaving wasn't permitted. Was I breaking the rules by being here? I didn't know the answer to that question and hoped I wouldn't find out. Bending down, my body hid among the grasses as I dipped my bare feet into the water. I shivered and grimaced, scrunching my nose from the sensation. As quick as my feet had dipped into the icy cold water, I pulled them out. With a slight splash I heard a rustling in the distance.

“Who's there?” My voice echoed as I stood. I wasn't afraid. Shadow was my home. Although I'd ventured from the town, it wasn't far. I glanced in the direction of Shadow and could barely make out the community. Perhaps I'd traveled further than I thought.

The grass shifted in the distance and I felt my heart skip a beat. My eyes widened as I quickly took off for town. I ran as fast as my legs would take me. Gasping for breath, I refused to slow down. Whether it was an animal or an outlaw, I wasn't waiting around to find out. Swiftly, I headed for Shadow. My knees lifted higher off the ground with each bare step I took. I didn't turn around but I could hear the pounding of weight against grass. Whoever or whatever was behind me wasn't small or light and they were gaining on me. I didn't have time to scream as I felt a large body coming down hard on top of me. My face slammed into the grass, scratching my cheek as I gasped for breath. “Help!” The words barely left my lips as my head lolled up from the ground; someone ripped at my hair and slammed me fast back into the grass. I bit my bottom lip, tasting dirt as I jammed my elbow behind me. I had to think fast. I'd spent months in Shadow training and now was the time to use it!

“Having fun yet?” the voice echoed into my ear. The whispered breath made me shudder. I didn't recognize the voice. Was I supposed to? I couldn't turn my head around, no matter how hard I tried.

MY REVIEW

(This review might contain spoilers if you haven't read the first book, Aberrant.)

Wow! Time flew so fast... Moirai's finally released!

And this time, I was intrigued by the title itself! I have to admit it was my first time to encounter the word Moirai, and I learned that it means Fate.

In Aberrant, we learned how special Olivia's existence is in the futuristic society of Cabal - she's the last woman who can conceive a child naturally.

New allies. New secrets. New revelations. 

 

Moirai brought us new characters. At the first half of the book, I don't know who to trust. I'm not sure who is with Olivia's team, and who's against them.

There's this new character that really caught my attention from the first time I met her: Adelaide, whose existense bothered me from the time she was discovered. Well, at first I pity her. But I was confused of her actions. She's just a child and brought to Shadow when she survived the attack on Thena. She didn't even freak out. She never looked for her family or friends or whoever she knows back in Thena. It wasn't stated that she had a memory loss, so why didn't she look for her family in the first place? It's just... weird. And even the people of Shadow never noticed that, when they should. Then they found her with a dead man and they didn't even bother to interrogate her about it. Why?!

However, I love how Olivia became braver this time. She didn't consider herself special just because she is different. She knew it in herself that she can help in taking down the government. Olivia grew up in this sequel and I love it! Joshua, grew up too. He became more protective and understanding. They learned more about patience and self-control, knowing they must win the war first.

I love the series even more. This is well-written, and a fast-read dystopian novel. And to mention the change of the girl's hair in the covers! From blonde to red... it really fits the story of Olivia. I am really excited to find out what will happen next, on how Olivia and Joshua, together with the other characters will end in the third book, Isaura.

MY RATING

I REALLY LIKE IT!

Don't miss the first book in the series, Aberrant

In the future dystopian society of Cabal, the government instills equality for all and offers its citizens the perfect system. There is food, shelter and jobs for everyone. The one requirement is to follow the rules without question, including the government's match in marriage and "The Day of the Chosen", a lottery that randomly selects families to conceive children as natural means hasn't existed in generations. Following her eighteenth birthday, Olivia Parker accepts her requirement to marry her childhood best friend, Joshua Warren, and is eager to start her work assignment and new life when it all comes abruptly to an end as she's arrested and thrown in prison. The only crime committed, her existence. Olivia is unlike the rest of the world born not from "The Day of the Chosen." The truth haunts the government and puts her life in grave danger as one simple fact would destroy the perfect system.

With Joshua's help, Olivia breaks free of prison and is forced on the run. Together they set out to find the promised rebel town in search of a new home and new life together. Their situation seems less than promising as they reach the town of Haven. New rules and customs must be adhered to in order to stay. Leaving would mean most certain death in the large expanse of the Gravelands. Time is running out as the government mounts an attack to destroy Olivia and bury her secret with her. Thrown into a world unlike their own, they must quickly adapt to survive.

*Read my review of Aberrant by Ruth Silver HERE*

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ruth Silver

Ruth Silver first began writing poetry as a teenager and reading heaps of fan fiction in her free time. She has written under three unique pseudo names and penned well over a hundred stories.

She attended Northern Illinois University in 2001 and graduated with a Bachelor's in Communication. While in college she spent much of her free time writing with friends she met online and penning her first novel, "Deuces are Wild", which she self-published in 2004. Her favorite class was Creative Writing senior year where she often handed in assignments longer than the professor required because she loved to write and always wanted to finish her stories.

Her love of writing, led her on an adventure in 2007 to Melbourne, Australia. Silver enjoys reading YA novels and sharing her favorite books with other readers. She runs her own book blog and also enjoys photography and traveling.

Her favorite YA genre is a mix of Dystopian and Fantasy which is evident in the upcoming release of her latest book, Aberrant. Slated for release April 2013 by Lazy Day Publishing, it is the first in a trilogy.

Author Links:

 Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Website

Book Review: SHADOWLANDS by Kate Brian

Shadowlands
by Kate Brian
Series: Shadowlands #1
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller
Format Acquired: Kindle Edition
Published January 8th 2013 by Disney Hyperion

Rory Miller had one chance to fight back and she took it. Rory survived… and the serial killer who attacked her escaped. Now she must enter the witness protection program. At first it seems like her family’s new home may be just the fresh start they need. But just as they’re starting to feel safe again, one of Rory’s new friends goes missing. Is it a coincidence? Or is the nightmare beginning all over again?

MY REVIEW

That cover.

I haven't read other books by Kate Brian since it didn't caught my interest at all. But when I requested Hereafter (Shadowlands #2) on NetGalley and got approved, I knew I had to read Shadowlands. When I read the synopsis of this book, I thought this will just be like those typical mystery books with serial killer I have read. But when I finished reading, my expectations were exceeded.

The beginning of the story made me want to read it more. I like thrillers, though I haven't read much of them. And this. THIS. What happened to Rory is traumatic. Imagine your teacher, the one you trust and consider as second parent when you're in school, is the one who has evil plans on you. Steven Nell is a smart character, considering he's been haunted down by the FBI for a decade and not even once did he allow them to catch him. And take note, he's killed 14 girls already in 10 different states. He's a psychopath. This is why Rory's family was put into a Witness Protection Program. While on their way, Steven Nell proved once again how smart he is. How brilliant he is.

"So no. It was not a physical thing at all. It was internal. Every girl he'd ever chosen was broken. . ." 

Then something happened.

Rory's family somehow ended up in an island far from where they came from. They started a new life, new names, new story. But what's strange is that there is no internet connection or reception in the island. Even newspapers or TV news. However, everyone on the island seems nice. They are friendly and approachable. It's just that Rory is still scared for her life and her family, and there are times wherein she's over reacting (I understand her, though). But strange things happen on the island and Rory was so confused, plus this new guy named Tristan has an eye for Rory, which made her more curious about what's happening around her. She needs answers from the people who can't tell her what's going on.

"I need you to say it, Tristan." I said, my voice cracking. "Just tell me. Just say it out loud. Is this what I think I am? Am I...?"

The ending. I was like "What?!". The ending surprised me. Shocked me. That revelation in the ending is a big WOW. Rory's questions were answered in the ending of the story, but made new questions, which will make you want to read the next book ASAP.

This is definitely a good read. I'm curious about the things happening, about the people on the island, about the real story behind the island of Juniper Landing.

MY RATING

I REALLY LIKED IT!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kate Brian

Kate Brian is the prolific author of many books for teens including the Private series, the new Privilege series, and Sweet 16. She lives with her husband in New Jersey. She writes under the pseudonym Kate Brian, instead of using her real name: Kieran Scott.

Author Links:
Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

"That's what she's gone to do. She's fine. In fact, she's better than fine. She's... moving forward."

Book review: EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton

Title: Everneath (Everneath #1)

Author: Brodi Ashton

Series: Everneath

Page count: 370 pages

Book blurb:
Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she's returned--to her old life, her family, her boyfriend--before she's 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 precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance--and the one person she loves more than anything. But there's just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she is 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 queen.

Everneath is a captivating story of love, loss, and immortality from debut author Brodi Ashton.

MY REVIEW

I do have a great interest in Greek mythology. I have to admit, I grabbed this book from the bookstore when I read it's a retelling of Persephone's myth. Persephone is one of my favorite mythological characters. Honestly, I swear that if ever I'd be blessed with daughters, I'd name my children Persephone and Penelope (just sharing hehe).

I felt great sympathy over Nikki. She turned to Cole made rash decisions that brought her to Cole's world, Everneath -- the world of the Everlivings. She became a Forfeit (humans where Everlivings Feed on their emotions to become immortals) and spent a century under, letting her forget about her family, her friends, her life. That is until she decided to go back to the Surface and try to fix and patch things up with the people from her past.

But she only has six months to fix things up. After that, she would be sucked down to the Tunnels, or go back to Everneath with Cole and be his queen. And on her Return, her emotions were completely gone (or is it?) but what made her survive unlike any other Forfeits who also decided to return is her endless love for Jack -- her boyfriend from the Surface.

“I dreamed of you every night. It felt so real. And when i'd wake up the next morning, it was like your disappearance was fresh. Like you'd left me all over again.”  - Jack

Jack is the kind of guy who would never give up until he finds all the answers to his questions, especially on why Nikki suddenly disappeared and returned again. In this book, he is the perfect symbol of hope.

On the other hand, Cole, who is an Everliving was quite possessive of Nikki. He, too, never wanted to give up on convincing her to go back to Everneath and be his queen. Well, I was really touched when he said:

“Sometimes... Sometimes our hearts...crack a little.” - Cole

I loved the pacing of the story. The flashbacks are perfect. Questions were immediately followed up by the answers, which made me want to dig deeper into the story. I also had a little doubt in my mind -- whether to hate Cole or not. I do love his bad boy image. I love him, and I hate him.

I also loved the twists in the story, especially how the author connected it with the myths we knew about. This is one of the best books I ever read. I truly enjoyed the characters and the story. I would definitely recommend this for book lovers out there! Next read: Neverfall (Digital Novella) all the way to the next book, Everbound! :)

My Rating:

(Rating System)

“If you're gonna leave, I wish you'd just leave. Why do you keep coming back if you're not going to stay? Because even when you're gone, you're never really gone... I won't get over it if you keep coming back. Losing you once was hard enough. And now you're here again and everything's coming back. I'm going to get screwed. And I can't do it again.”

Book review: HALLOWED by Cynthia Hand

Title: Hallowed (Unearthly, #2)

Author: Cynthia Hand

Series: Unearthly

No. of pages: 403 pages

Book blurb: 

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

MY REVIEW

    “Our purpose on this earth is not one single event, an accomplishment we can check off a list. There is no test. No passing or failing. There's only us, each moment shaping who we are, into what we will become.”

I'd consider this book as one of my top favorites. I LOVE it. I just do, no more explanations. The quote stated above is one of my favorite lines. It's not really a made-up quote for the sake of a book, rather, it's true. I strongly believe we all have our own purposes here on Earth, like Clara and the other angel-bloods. The only difference is that we don't have wings to summon whenever we need them and the glory to fight back evil.

In this book, Clara dealt with almost all the people around her, including her family. She was challenged and tested throughout the story, between love and her purpose, and on her relationship with her mom and brother. The pacing of the story is not slow, and not fast. It's just right. This is filled with friendship, love, mystery and secrets, which sums up why this is such a wonderful book to read.

    “I sneaked out to his house a couple times in the middle of the night to watch over him while he slept, just in case, I don't know, his comic book collection decided to spontaneously combust. This was dumb and admittedly creepy in an Edward Cullen kind of way” -Clara

I'm still team Tucker by the way. Christian is a sweet, kind guy but Tucker is just irresistible. I just can't help falling in love with every moment he had with Clara, even if Christian somehow made me blush. but Hallowed is not just about love and friendship; it's also about family and the most striking of all, loss. This made me cry until the end and I can't wait for the next installment: Boundless.

My Rating:

(Rating System)

 “I’ve learned that a storm isn’t always just bad weather, and a fire can be the start of something. I’ve found out that there are a lot more shades of gray in this world than I ever knew about. I’ve learned that sometimes, when you´re afraid but you keep on moving forward, that’s the biggest kind of courage there is. And finally, I’ve learned that life isn’t really about failure and success. It’s about being present, in the moment when big things happen, when everything changes, including myself.”

Book review: UNRAVEL ME by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Unravel Me (Shatter Me, #2)

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Series: Shatter Me

No. of pages: 461 pages

Book synopsis:

tick
tick
tick
tick
tick
it's almost
time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

My Review:

“Sticks and stones keep breaking my bones but these words, these words will kill me.”

Unravel Me made me speechless. I can't find the words to describe how good Tahereh Mafi's writing is. I mean I can't move on from the story. I'm still stucked in the middle of its pages, without any desire of getting out. I feel like I'm living in the world of Juliette, making me feel what she feels. As if we were one, her emotions sucked up my feelings and filled my head with her thoughts.

“It's just a whisper of a kiss but something collapses in my skull. It's a feather-light brush of his mouth against my skin in a place I can't quite see. It's my mind speaking in a thousand different languages I don't understand.”

I don't know how Tahereh did this to me by just writing. She's a very spectacular author who will never disappoint the readers "i-want-to-feel-the-same-way-the-character-feels" need. So far, this book gave me the most chills. I just can't get enough that I consider rereading Shatter Me and Unravel Me over again while waiting for the third book.

 “Books are easily destroyed. But words will live as long as people can remember them”

Aside from emotions, it's also full of surprises, excitement, and twists. While reading, I was like "What?!" and "OMG!" because of the twists. I'm expecting for more! This makes my imagination grow wider as a flip upon the pages. Plus, there are quotes everywhere which made me love the book even more!

I understand how Juliette feels; that she cannot easily adjust with here environment. But somehow, she's a tough young woman who can still manage her senses despite of being locked up away from the world for years. And I can't also decide who to choose between Adam and Warner! :">

In this book, I found  Kenji as a friendly, witty, funny, adorable and attractive guy who's always there for Juliette (even though they don't have any special relationship). I also became curious on Kenji's past. Castle told us briefly on how he met Kenji, but I really want to know how Kenji ended up joining Castle's company. I'm looking forward to the answers on these questions that lingers in my mind as of now. I can't wait for next year!

My Rating

   (Rating System)

Book review: UNEARTHLY by Cynthia Hand

Title: Unearthly

Author: Cynthia Hand

Series: Unearthly

No. of pages: 435 pages

Rating: 5 stars

Book Blurb:

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

My Review

I buy books whose cover are fascinating. And this one definitely has it to be considered 'fascinating', not only the cover, but the inside story as well. It impressed me so much that I wasn't able to track down time while reading it.

 “So often we only do what we think is expected of us, when we are capable of so much more.” 

It's about Clara, a part angel who's down to fulfilling her purpose on earth. Well, this was the first angel book I read and I'm glad I wasn't disappointed. I love the flow of the story, and the characters of course! I think I'm inloved with Tucker. He's sweet, and Christian too. But they are completely different and I don't hate Christian, I just prefer Tucker. The story has so many twists about Clara's family, her friends, and the ending? When I read the last chapters, I was like OMG!

“Tucker: "But she gave me the perfect gift."
Clara: "What?"
Tucker: "You.” 

I definitely can't wait to read the next one: Hallowed. I'm craving for more twists!

Book review: SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Series: Shatter Me
No. of pages: 340 pages
Rating: 5 stars

Book synopsis:

No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon. But Juliette has plans of her own. After a lifetime without freedom, she's finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time—and to find a future with the one boy she thought she'd lost forever.

My Review

This book is just amazing. I never read any dystopian books before except for Suzan Collin's The Hunger Games. Honestly, I bought this book because I heard that Tahereh Mafi will be having a Book signing event here in the Philippines. But when I heard her talk about the book, and how the crowd responded, it made me curious about the story. When I read the first three chapters, my wild imagination cooperated with me and then all I know is I couldn't stop reading it.

“He takes my hand. Intertwines our fingers. Offers me a smile that manages to kiss my heart.”

The case of Juliette is just unique. The fact that she cannot touch anyone made me think on how the other characters in the story would deal with her. In addition to this, being locked up alone for almost a year would definitely make me crazy! But she still has a hold of herself. Plus the romance between Juliette and Adam... and Warner(?) :3

“I peek up at his features, at the crooked grin i want to savor, at the color in his eyes i'd use to paint a million pictures.”

Although some parts of the story has similarities with The Hunger Games and Juliette's character would remind us of X-men's Rogue, it still managed to stand on its own and standout. Mafi's writing style is unique. The crossed out words are what she wanted to say, but couldn't say, the repetition of words, and the countless similes and metaphors. Some may have given negative feedbacks about this, but I the book certainly didn't disappoint me.

*I hate Warner. But some readers I met at Tahereh Mafi's book signing event told me to read Destroy Me (Shatter Me 1.5) (available as e-book only), a novella told from Warner's perspective. So I'm looking forward to reading it soon before reading the next book which is Unravel Me!

Book review: Love Bites (Vampire Kisses, #7) by Ellen Schreiber

Title: Love Bites

Author: Ellen Schreiber

Page count: 179 pages

Rating: 5 stars

Book synopsis:

As a mortal girl dating a vampire, Raven knows that love isn't always easy. Now that Alexander's parents have returned to Romania, Raven and her dreamy vampire boyfriend are happy to resume their cryptic romance.

But soon another visitor comes knocking: Sebastian, Alexander's best friend, arrives for a stay at the mansion. At first Raven is wary, then thrilled--this is the perfect chance to learn more about her darkly handsome boyfriend and his past. Raven has been wondering whether Alexander will ever bite her and make their love immortal, and Sebastian could be her guide to the love habits of Alexander and his kind. But when Sebastian falls for a particular Dullsvillian, will another mortal beat Raven to the bite?

With suspense, danger, and a fabulous vampire party, this seventh book in the bestselling Vampire Kisses series continues the exciting nocturnal romance of Raven and Alexander.

My Review

 So here goes the 7th book in the series! Wee! Introducing a new sexy vampire, Sebastian! Sebastian is Alexander's bestfriend.. Oh how I envy Raven for being with two sexy vamps... I pity Sebastian since I can feel that his feelings were real; and that tiny blood incident with Becky? I guess he just can't control himself yet, and that he really doesn't want it to happen. 

I'm hoping for another love triangle in the story including Sebastian, Becky and Matt! But I know it might spoil the series because it should only be Raven having a love affair with a vampire. But sometimes, I don't know if I'm team Alexander or Team Trevor.. I like bad guys in series, but this time, the bad guy is a mortal so I'd still be more of team Alex! Hihi. Looking forward for the next two books:)

Book review: Once in a Full Moon (Full Moon, #1) by Ellen Schreiber

Title: Once in a Full Moon

Author: Ellen Schreiber

Page Count: 292 pages

Rating: 100 STARS! XD

Book synopsis:

Beware of a kiss under the full moon. It will change your life forever.

Celeste Parker is used to hearing scary stories about werewolves—Legend's Run is famous for them. She's used to everything in the small town until Brandon Maddox moves to Legend's Run and Celeste finds herself immediately drawn to the handsome new student. But when, after an unnerving visit with a psychic, she encounters a pack of wolves and gorgeous, enigmatic Brandon, she must discover whether his transformation is more than legend or just a trick of the shadows in the moonlight.

Her best friends may never forgive her if she gives up her perfect boyfriend, Nash, for Brandon, who's from the wrong side of town. But she can't deny her attraction or the strong pull he has on her. Brandon may be Celeste's hero, or he may be the most dangerous creature she could encounter in the woods of Legend's Run.

Psychic predictions, generations-old secrets, a town divided, and the possibility of falling in love with a hot and heroic werewolf are the perfect formula for what happens . . . once in a full moon.

Book review:

This book is so................. AMAZING! One of Ellen Schreiber's best! I am speechless! Haha. I'm totally in loved with this book. This makes me crave to buy the next books.. And I'm willing to starve just to save money to buy the next book, Magic of the Moonlight and Full Moon Kisses. This is the best book about werewolves I ever read in my entire life. I love the love story between Nash, Celeste, and Brandon. Celeste is a lucky girl. She has a loving family, best friends, and perfect love life (even though it seems quite complicated for her). Nash only started to care when Celeste was no longer his, and Brandon is this hot and mysterious guy every girl would ever dream to date in her life. I don't want to include more spoilers in this review. I don't know what else to say except that this is one of the most awesome books to read before you die! :)

Book review: The Coffin Club (Vampire Kisses #5) by Ellen Scheriber

Title: The Coffin Club

Author: Ellen Schreiber

Page count: 177 pages

Rating: 5 stars

Book synopsis:

When Raven returns to Hipsterville's cryptic goth haunt, the Coffin Club, she discovers a secret door to another disco-"The Dungeon"-that is inhabited by vampires only. Raven learns that the nefarious Jagger Maxwell has welcomed the vampire clan into the club and has gained the popularity he missed in Romania. He is poised to take over Hipsterville, until a new vampire named Phoenix challenges him for control of the Coffin Club. Unbeknownst to Alexander, Raven becomes caught up in the clash, entranced by the hypnotic vampire culture of the Underworld.

Book review:

I was so excited to read this book on the series because of this new club called "The Dungeon". I love reading about mysterious places and secrets. It's like having an adventure not knowing if it is safe or not. In this book, Schreiber came with a new twist in the story where real vampires exist, partying and clubbing all night long. Plus, the new character named Phoenix is a hottie! He's a cool but mysterious biker, giving new questions and revelations to Raven about her vampire boyfriend's dark world. This book gave me the most excitement so far in the series.

Book Review: Blue Bloods by Melissa dela Cruz

Title: Blue Bloods

Author: Melissa dela Cruz

Page count: 302 pages

Rating: 4 stars

Book synopsis:

When the Mayflower set sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires. The vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue bloods of American society. 

The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapated mansion. Schuyler is a loner...and happy that way. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times. Then a popular girl from her school is found dead... drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to think, but she wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger?

Book review:

The first time I saw this book, I was very excited to buy it since its a vampire novel. And to think that the author herself is a Filipino so I thought of giving it a try to read and observe her writing styles about paranormal stuff. In this book, I learned new things about vampires, different from what I already knew about them through other books so it's quite interesting that way.

I was expecting a lot of romance but this is more focused on family, friends, and history. Maybe it's because it's the first one and it's still introducing things to the readers. One thing I like in this book is that it has many twists especially on the story of Schuyler, her mother and Jack. I was shocked to find the truth about how they were related... (I'm not giving anymore spoilers! Sorry =D ) I'm looking forward to reading the next books in this series.

Stacking the Shelves #2

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is a great way to showcase books you've recently added to your bookshelves.

Last month, I bought Thirst series (Books 1-4) by Christopher Pike

     

     

And then, my friend gave me this boxed set of Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth as Christmas gift! <3

Finally, this week, I bought this as a gift to myself: Unearthly (Unearthly, #1) by Cynthia Hand

So, what's new in your shelves? :)

-o0o-

Book Review: Royal Blood (Vampire Kisses #6) by Ellen Schreiber

Title: Royal Blood

Author: Ellen Schreiber

Page Count: 195 pages

Rating: 5 stars

Book synopsis:

Summer break is over, and Raven is hardly eager to be returning to Dullsville High. Not only does school mean daily interaction with preppy pest Trevor Mitchell, but her sleep-filled days and romantic nights with her immortal boyfriend, Alexander, must come to an end. Plus the shock of morning classes isn't the only change in store.

An unexpected letter turns up at Alexander's mansion--announcing his parents will be coming to town. And once they arrive, just about everyone has had a sighting of the macabre couple except Raven. What could be delaying Alexander from introducing Raven to them? Could Alexander be hiding something about his parents' homecoming?

When Raven is finally invited to the most thrilling dinner party of her life, the next turn of events could transform her entire future with Alexander. The sixth book in Ellen Schreiber's bestselling Vampire Kisses series takes an unusual twist in the continuing romance of Raven and Alexander.

Book review:

It's been a while since I last made a book review. I've been very busy lately, but still find time to finish this book. I totally love this book! So far, this is the best book of the Vampire Kisses novels. I can totally relate to Raven upon meeting Alexander's parents, as well as introducing her parents to him. The tension, fear, and excitement -- everything! Plus, I totally love the Sterlings! I can imagine Mrs. Sterling's fashion sense upon reading, how fierce she is, and how handsome Mr. Sterling is! Definitely amazing!