Blog Tour: Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

Today I am happy to say that Mary Lindsey the author of Shattered Souls will be joining us here. I am so excited to be a part of this book tour and I hope you guys will be sure to check out her debut novel.

 I've mentioned it a few times and can't wait to get hands on it.

Friday, August 19: Megan at A Trail of Books Left Behind (Author Book Picks)

This is the final post for the first week of the Teen Book Scene’s Shattered Souls Blog Tour. Thanks, Megan, for hosting me today.

Today’s topic is my favorite subject: books. I’ve been asked to list some of my favorites, which is much harder than I expected. I’m excluding some of the best books in the world because this has to be blog post of reasonable length. I’ve decided to just make do with some I’ve read over and over and over, and will certainly read again—comfort books, if you will. (I’m leaving out recent YA releases and ancient and classical literature. There’s no way I could limit it to ten if those were included).

In no certain order, here are ten of my favorite novels or series:

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling: Any and all of them are spectacular.

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones: Wow. Just, wow. What an imagination and flair for writing. The Hayao Miyazaki move based on the book is equally fine.

The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss: Fantasy at its absolute best. I can’t wait for the third!

The Shining by Stephen King: My first horror book crush.

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech: Laughed, cried. Love that book.

Dune by Frank Herbert: My Sci-Fi favorite. Sigh.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl: No explanation needed, probably.

The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice: “Interview” rocked my world when I read it in high school. I still love this series—the first two, especially.

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough: Such rich descriptions of a place and time unfamiliar to me. Drew me in completely. I first read it as a teen and have re-read it at least a dozen times. 

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield: A brilliantly written, spooky, intense story.

There are so many great books out there, but if you haven’t given these a try, and the genre and description fits your tastes, check them out!

Thanks, Megan, for inviting me to A Trail of Books Left Behind.

Thanks for stopping by Mary!

And be sure to check out the schedule for upcoming stops on the tour: http://theteenbookscene.weebly.com/shattered-souls.html

Mary's Website:

http://www.marylindsey.com

Shattered Souls at Penguin

http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780399256226,00.html?Shattered_Souls_Mary_Lindsey

Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9366996-shattered-souls

Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala

Don't Breathe A Word

Author: Holly Cupala
Pages: 301 pgs
Genre: YA
Release Date: January 3rd 2012
Review Source: HarperTeen ARC

Don't Breathe a Word is Holly's second novel and isn't for the faint hearted. This isn't a typical book that I read or have reviewed on here, but I figured I'd give it a try.

Joy's life is slowly draining her. Not only does she suffer from acute asthma, but her family and boyfriend all hover around her to where she feels suffocated. And since she's afraid of ruining everything for her family, Joy does the only thing she can do. She runs away.

She goes to find the boy she thought could save her, a boy that lives on the Streets of Seattle. But Joy soon learns that life on the Streets isn't easy. The friends she makes and the things she does are all to survive. They all have their secrets, but how much longer can Joy keep hers before they come looking for her.

Holly takes us on a hard look of what life is like for runaways, the everyday struggles they go through just to survive amongst the other homeless. It isn't a pretty world and isn't for the weak. We figure it out as Joy does, slowly adjusting to her new life.

This novel is about something, as well. It's also about learning to speak up. Joy has never really had to do anything for herself. Her parents and older brother were always so protective and restrictive that Joy always felt she had a leash around her neck. When her older boyfriend Asher comes into the picture, he puts a whole new restriction around her that leaves Joy terrified. For the first time she has to learn to speak up and fight for herself.

Like I said, this isn't a typical story I read and review on here, but I was definitely surprised by it. Holly didn't hold anything back and showed just how difficult life can be for a teenage girl, learning to speak and breathe.

I'm definitely interested in reading more from her in the future. To learn more about Holly and her other works (present and future) you can check out her website http://www.hollycupala.com or follow her on Twitter http://twitter.com/hollycupala.

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Carrier of the Mark
Carrier 1
Author: Leigh Fallon
Pages: 352 pgs
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Release Date: October 4th 2011
Review Source: HarperTeen ARC

This is Leigh Fallon's debut novel and one that I was really hoping to get. I wasn't really sure what to expect from this, because the summary doesn't give too much away, but I soon learned that was a good thing. It made the story even better in my opinion and this beautiful cover just added to it.

In this we follow Megan Rosenberg on her move to Kinsale Ireland from America with her father. They've moved around a lot, so it's not anything new, but things are definitely different this time around. Especially when Megan feels instantly drawn to the mysterious Adam DeRís.

He and his family have been the center of small town gossip for years, everyone trying to figure out their secret. No one has come close, at least until Adam finally gives in to the pull he feels toward Megan. Then a whole new world opens, allowing them to fulfill a destiny set in motion years ago. But, they still have obstacles to overcome and even more secrets to uncover about themselves.

Now, I'm going to be honest. I've had some trouble getting this review out and I have no idea why. I absolutely adored this book, but I don't want to give anything away. I guess that's part of the problem.

So, let's try this. Leigh Fallon's Carrier of the Mark is a wonderful blend of wit, romance, fantasy, and mythology for young adults and adults.Not only are we introduced to an interesting cast over characters and secrets, but also get to learn a bit more about Ireland. I don't know about you, but I've always been fascinated by the Irish and I loved getting to learn about it with Megan.

Everything from the land and architecture that was described to the local slang and names, we got a good idea of what life in Ireland would be like. Even meeting the other characters, including Adam's family, was fun and added even more to the story. I do have to admit that I had some trouble with a few of the names (Fionn for example) but I loved figure out how they were pronounced.

There's such a fascinating story here and I can't wait to find out what else is in store for these characters.

And after finishing this book there's still so much left unsaid that will hopefully be covered in the remaining books. I'm already anxious for book 2! So for more information about the series or anything else Leigh's working on you can check out her website http://www.leighfallon.com or you can follow her on Twitter http://twitter.com/Leigh_Fallon.

The Guys of YA

Since I've been reading so much lately I've wanted to do a post about some of my favorite male characters in young adult fiction and finally decided to sit down and write it. So here we go!

This is only my top ten list, so there are more but these are some of my absolute favorite:

10. Ron Weasley (Harry Potter)

I mean, come on, who doesn't love them a little bit of Ron and all his craziness.

9. Dimitri Belikov (Vampire Academy)

Because, even though it had to be difficult for him to fight side-by-side with the woman he loved, he still did it and never tried to stop her. He was strong and sweet.

8. Jay Heaton (The Body Finder)

I fell in love with his relationship with Violet from the very beginning and got all girly over them finally getting together and realizing that they loved each other. They reminded me of what it was like to be in high school.

7. Tucker Avery (Unearthly)

I don't even know how to describe Tucker, but anyone who's read Unearthly will know why he's here.

6. Will (Angelfire)

He knows how to fight with swords and has protected Ellie for centuries. His willingness to put aside his longings to protect her make him even more adorable.

5. Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle)

Come on. He's a dragon rider, half elf, and can fight. Need I say more.

4. Cassle Sharpe (The Curse Workers)

He's sarcastic, knows everything about cons, and yet doesn't want to really be a con artist. I just... I can't even explain it but I love him.

3.Sam Roth (The Wolves of Mercy Falls)

I fell in love with Sam from Shiver and can't say that it's changed with the other two books either. He's a guy, but he's also not embarrassed to show emotion either.

2. Jace Wayland (The Mortal Instruments)

What else can I say about Jace except that he's sarcastic and moody and that's why I love him. He was my favorite in City of Bones and is why I've continued to read the series.

1. Edward Cullen (The Twilight Saga)

He needs no other explanation. Some may be annoyed with how he was in BD, but I loved seeing how happy he was (especially with his daughter). Edward is, well, Edward.

So, these are some of my favorite guys, but who are your favorites. Let me know and maybe we can do some features on them, or even get the authors to talk a little more about them *winkwink*

Cover Reveal: Cat O' Nine Tails

Not only is this my 100th post (yay!) but I also wanted to show an absolutely beautiful cover that debut author Patricia Leever revealed early today on her blog. It's for her novel Cat O' Nine Tails coming out later this month through Omnific Publishing:

Isn't that absolutely gorgeous! Congratulations Patricia and I'm looking forward to reading this even more so now.

Friday Finds and New Reads

Friday Finds and New Reads

This is where I talk about new books that really stand out to me or sound unique, and what new books I have to read or will be getting soon.

There are just so many new titles that I've found lately, it's hard to pick just a couple to feature on here. But, let's get on with the show. First we have The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova:

 

Summary: Set against the backdrop of a Coney Island summer comes The Vicious Deep, the story of sixteen year old Tristan Hart whose life is turned upside down when the mermaids make an unscheduled return to land in search of their new king.

When a sudden storm pulls Tristan from lifeguard duty into a deadly riptide, he discovers what he really is—a prince of the Sea Court. Turns out, his girlfriend hopping and talents as a swimmer aren’t caused by his teenage prime hormones after all.

In this modern Arthurian tale with a twist, when all a guy wants to do is get The Girl and enjoy the freak show that is a Coney Island summer, Tristan has to fight for his life, the lives of his friends, and his humanity, if he still wants it, as he’s caught in a race for a throne that is as ancient as the gods.

Books about mermaids haven't always been my first choice to read, but there was just something about this particular one that drew me in. Not only does the cover look dark, but the description also lets you know that this isn't going to be much more than a fairytale. Plus, the main character is a guy which makes it even more intriguing!

Next we have Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey:

Summary: Wilde Island is in an uproar after the recent death of its king. The uneasy pact between dragons, fairies, and humans is fraying, and a bloodthirsty witch hunter with a hidden agenda whips villages into frenzies with wild accusations. Tess, a blacksmith’s daughter from a tiny hamlet near the mysterious Dragonswood, finds herself caught in the crosshairs of fate when she is accused of witchery and has to flee for her life along with her two best friends.

Not even Tess’s power to see the future can help the girls as they set off on their desperate journey, but she keeps having visions of a man wielding a sword. And when she finally meets him, Tess has no idea how to handle the magnetic attraction she feels for him, or the elusive call she hears from the heart of the Dragonswood.

In this epic romance, an ancient prophecy comes true in a way neither dragon, fairy, nor human would have predicted.

 Dragons are probably one of my favorite mythical creatures and not only does this book have them, but also fairies, romance, and adventure. What more could you possibly ask for? I definitely can't wait for this one.

 And now some new reads that I have or will be getting soon:

 

 

Blog Tour: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Mara Dyer 1
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Pages: 464 pgs
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Release Date: September 27th 2011
Review Source: Once Upon a Twilight Book Tours

First of all, let me say that I absolutely love the cover for this book. It's a little haunting, a little mysterious, and beautiful all wrapped up in one. And has been the trend for me lately, this another fabulous debut novel that I'm glad to be reviewing.

Everything in Mara Dyer's life was going just fine. She had a great best friend a boyfriend, things were looking good. At least until she went out with said friends and then woke up in the hospital the only survivor and with no memory of what happened.

Now Mara's trying to piece together the events of that horrible night in a new town. But strange things continue to happen to her even there and Mara begins to question her sanity. The only bright spot is Noah Shaw. The one boy in school the one boy in school that manages to drive her crazy and make her skin tingle at the same time. Will Mara figure out what's happening to her before it's too late?

One of my favorite things about this book was Mara's voice. She was sarcastic and real, which helped me to like her character throughout the story. Even though she was dealing with intense stress, her sarcasm and ability to find any humor seemed to fit just right.

This was also a great mystery. At one point I couldn't put the book down and had to continue reading because it had gotten to a pretty scary part, in my opinion. Just like Mara you really have no clue about what's going on with her or what really happened to her friends. Michelle does a great job of building the suspense an intrigue, while slowly introducing the paranormal twist.

I don't normally point out one particular character, but I can't write this without mentioning Noah Shaw. He was quite possibly my favorite character in the book, especially since you're not quite sure what his story is what exactly he's hiding either. He comes off at first as cocky, but I loved his relationship with Mara and how it grew throughout the story. His involvement is even more fascinating than Mara's.

And even though we have plenty of time, I'm already anxious for book 2 of this series to see just what else is in store for these characters. Especially after that ending (thank you Michelle!). I know it will be great.

So, while you're waiting for your chance to read this fabulous book (or if your like me and twiddling your thumbs for book 2) you can check out Michelle's website for more info http://www.michellehodkin.com/ or you can follow her on Twitter http://twitter.com/MichelleHodkin.