Posts By: Giselle

Monday, November 12, 2012

Book Spotlight/Giveaway: Legend by Marie Lu

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Today I am happy to be spotlighting this great series. It’s a dystopian told in dual POVs where both are as great as the either–which is rare. You can read my full review on Legend here.  

Legend 
Marie Lu
Series: Legend, #1
Publication date: November 29th 2011
by Putnam Juvenile

 

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Prodigy

Marie Lu
Series: Legend, #2
Publication date: January 29th 2013
by Putnam Juvenile
 

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—-June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

 Marie’s Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter
Marie Lu writes young adult novels, and has a special love for dystopian books. She likes food, fighter jets, afternoon tea, happy people, electronics, the interwebz, cupcakes, pianos, bright colors, rain, Christmas lights, sketches, animation, dogs, farmers’ markets, video games, and of course, books. She left Beijing for the States in 1989 and went off to college at the University of Southern California. In her past life, she was an art director in the video game industry, but now she writes full-time.

Legend Book Trailer:

So why am I spotlighting this particular series today? Well to get you all excited for the release of the sequel–Prodigy–in just a few short months! We could even say weeks at this point! And to help you get the excitement going, the lovely people at Big Honcho Media has offered a fabulous prize pack to one very lucky winner!

Giveaway
Thanks to Big Honcho Media, I have this great prize pack up for giveaway:

– A copy of Legend by Marie Lu
– A limited Edition Prodigy Flashlight
 -A limited Edition Prodigy T-Shirt

Giveaway is open to US & Canadian addresses
Ends November 26th, 2012
Use the Rafflecopter below to enter
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Xpresso Weekly: Stacking the Shelves (29)

Posted by on 11/11/2012 • 52 Comments

Xpresso Weekly is my edition of Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga’s Reviews featuring the books I got this week, and I also mention blog news/happenings of the past week. This week at Xpresso Reads

How is everyone this long weekend? I was very busy my son is starting daycare next week and we’re getting him ready. I’m actually glad because it’s not easy to work while he’s here *pulls out hair*. On zee blog this week, well first I have thsi fab new giveaway up for an ARC of Override by Heather Anastasiu! How bout that? You can also check the gorgeous cover of the third book in the series. And… that is pretty much it aside from reviews! I did share a few of cover reveals on Facebook.

Fresh Batch (November 11th – 17th)

Posted by on 11/10/2012 • 23 Comments

Exclusively titled for Xpresso Reads, Fresh Batch features the hottest releases of this upcoming week.

Flavor of the week:

RenegadeJ.A. SoudersSeries: The Elysium Chronicles #1Publication date: November 13th 2012by Tor Teen

 

Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes, all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law.

But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie. Her memories have been altered. Her mind and body aren’t under her own control. And the person she knows…

Review: False Memory by Dan Krokos

Posted by on 11/09/2012 • 27 Comments

From the very first page this book grips you with the unknown. At first it’s who is Miranda? Without her memory, she has no idea who, or what, she is. Then we move on to who is this unconventional family of hers, then who is this creator who wants to use them, and all throughout–what are we going to find out next?

As far as unreliable narrators go, Miranda is pretty darn great. She doesn’t even know who she is! I, myself, have always loved unreliable narrators. They keep you on the lookout, always deciphering and theorizing; the more you find out about Miranda’s life, the more fascinating it all becomes. Then of course, there are twists that throw what you’ve learned a little off track. I really enjoyed this…

Review: Days of Blood and Starlight

Posted by on 11/08/2012 • 32 Comments

Days of Blood and StarlightLaini TaylorSeries: Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #2Publication date: November 6th 2012by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

 

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a new way of living – one without massacres and torn throats and bonfires of the fallen, without revenants or bastard armies or children ripped from their mothers’ arms to take their turn in the killing and dying.

Once, the lovers lay entwined in the moon’s secret temple and dreamed of a world that was a like a jewel-box without a jewel – a paradise waiting for them to find it and fill it with their happiness.

This was not that world.

*A copy was provided by Hachette Book…

Waiting on Wednesday (60)

Posted by on 11/07/2012 • 38 Comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.  My pick this week:

The Fifth Wave Rick Yancey Release date: May 7th 2013 by Putnam Children’s

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may…

Review: Flash Point by Nancy Kress

Posted by on 11/06/2012 • 0 Comments

Flash PointNancy KressPublication date: November 8th 2012by Viking Juvenile

 

Reality TV meets a chillingly realistic version of America–and the fame game is on!

Amy had dreams of going to college, until the Collapse destroyed the economy and her future. Now she is desperate for any job that will help support her terminally ill grandmother and rebellious younger sister. When she finds herself in the running for a slot on a new reality TV show, she signs on the dotted line, despite her misgivings. And she’s right to have them. TLN’s Who Knows People, Baby–You? has an irresistible premise: correctly predict what the teenage cast will do in a crisis and win millions. But the network has pulled strings to make it work, using everything from 24/7 hidden…

Review: Deadline by Mira Grant

Posted by on 11/06/2012 • 27 Comments

DeadlineMira GrantSeries: Newsflesh Trilogy, #2Publication date: June 1st 2011by Orbit

 

Shaun Mason is a man without a mission. Not even running the news organization he built with his sister has the same urgency as it used to. Playing with dead things just doesn’t seem as fun when you’ve lost as much as he has.

But when a CDC researcher fakes her own death and appears on his doorstep with a ravenous pack of zombies in tow, Shaun has a newfound interest in life. Because she brings news-he may have put down the monster who attacked them, but the conspiracy is far from dead.

Now, Shaun hits the road to find what truth can be found at the end of a shotgun.

This review contains no spoilers…