Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Review: Icons by Margaret Stohl

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Icons
Margaret Stohl
Series: Icons #1
Genre: YA Dystopian
Publication date: May 7th 2013
by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Your heart beats only with their permission.

Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol’s family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn’t know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside — safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can’t avoid.

She’s different. She survived. Why?

When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador’s privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn’t a coincidence. It’s a conspiracy.

Within the Icon’s reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions — which they’ve always thought to be their greatest weaknesses — may actually be their greatest strengths.

-A copy was provided by Hachette Book Group Canada for review-

Review: Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield

Posted by on 04/22/2013 • 35 Comments

ChantressAmy Butler Greenfield Series: Chantress Trilogy #1Genre: YA Historical Fantasy Publication date: May 7th 2013by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Lucy’s Chantress magic will make her the most powerful—and most hunted—girl in England.

“Sing, and the darkness will find you.” This warning has haunted fifteen-year-old Lucy ever since she was eight and shipwrecked on a lonely island. Lucy’s guardian, Norrie, has lots of rules, but the most important is that Lucy must never sing. Not ever. Now it is 1667, Lucy is fifteen, and on All Hallows’ Eve, Lucy hears a tantalizing melody on the wind. She can’t help but sing—and she is swept into darkness.

When she awakes in England, Lucy hears powerful men discussing Chantresses—women who can sing magic into the world. They are hunting her,…

Xpresso Weekly: Stacking the Shelves (52)

Posted by on 04/21/2013 • 42 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

Ok guys this is going to be quick because I’m reading Hopeless and it’s so freakingly amazing that I’m doing this post in a hurry to get back to it! So blah blah blah. Kthxbye! Oh wait. I got 2 new giveaways on the blog this week don’t forget to check out zee sidebar!

Reviews on the blog this week:

Xpresso Book Tours

Tours open for sign ups:— Arrow of the Mist by Christina Mercer— Hidden by M. Lathan — Saving Ben by Ashley Farley — The Children and the Blood by Megan Joel…

Fresh Batch (April 21st – 27th)

Posted by on 04/20/2013 • 16 Comments

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

Flavor of the week:

Unbreakable Elizabeth Norris  Series: Unraveling, #1Publication date: April 23rd 2013by Balzer + Bray

Four months after Ben disappeared through the portal to his home universe, Janelle believes she’ll never see him again. Her world is still devastated, but life is finally starting to resume some kind of normalcy. Until Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay shows up. Somebody from an alternate universe is running a human trafficking ring, kidnapping people and selling them on different Earths—and Ben is the prime suspect. Now his family has been imprisoned and will be executed if Ben doesn’t turn himself over within five days.

And when Janelle learns that someone she cares about—someone from…

Book Girls Don’t Cry: The Trendy Novellas

Posted by on 04/19/2013 • 53 Comments

Inspired by Book Buzzers, Book Girls Don’t Cry is a weekly feature where we each discuss/vent/advise on the chosen weekly bookish topic. Don’t miss Jenni on Mondays, and Amy on Saturdays:  

Optional No More?

All the novellas! What is up with ALL THE NOVELLAS? I completely understand that it’s a way to keep up with the series so you don’t forget the characters or your connection to them, or even to get to know those little side characters who are often the protagonists of these novellas. I’ve even enjoyed a few of these myself. However, on the other hand I’m not sure I like how the trend is turning them into must-read novellas. Which means that if you don’t read one, you find yourself a little out of place…

Review: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Posted by on 04/18/2013 • 30 Comments

Now THIS is how you write a book, ladies and gentleman! With the slew of dystopian and post apocalyptic novels coming out you can only imagine how refreshing it is to stumble upon a truly refreshing, incredibly well created novel about an alien apocalypse. And don’t let this term fool you, aliens may not be running rampant on our planet (yet), but Yancey has succeeded in making this event just as realistic as any other world disaster. Plus, in my opinion I think it’s a little naive to believe we’re the only life form with intelligence in the universe. Could this happen to us? Absolutely! I believe it!

Told via multiple perspectives, this novel begins with the introduction of our main character; Cassie. With a lot of luck, sure, but…

Damaged Sneak Peek + Giveaway!

Posted by on 04/17/2013 • 11 Comments

Today on Xpresso Reads I have an awesome sneak peek of Damaged by H.M. Ward and a giveaway for your very own copy! 😉

DamagedH.M. Ward Series: Damaged #1Genre: NA Contemporary Publication date: April 7th 2013by Laree Bailey Press

Life sucks. And, as soon as Sidney picks up the pieces something always knocks her back onto her butt. It’s never pretty, but this time is different. This time pretty isn’t even the right word.

Peter is the personification of perfection. It’s like he fell off his angel perch in purgatory, because let’s face it–any guy that hot has got to be naughty. He was probably sent here to ruin her life.

Peter is beyond beautiful with his sexy blue eyes, dark hair, and toned body. Add in his…

Waiting on Wednesday (79)

Posted by on 04/17/2013 • 50 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 In-BetweenBarbara Stewart Genre: YA Psychological ThrillerPublication date: November 5th 2013by St. Martin’s Griffin 

When Elanor’s near-death experience opens a door to a world inhabited by bold, beautiful Madeline, she finds her life quickly spiraling out of control

Fourteen-year-old Elanor Moss has always been an outcast who fails at everything she tries—she’s even got the fine, white scars to prove it. Moving was supposed to be a chance at a fresh start, a way to leave behind all the pain and ugliness of her old life. But, when a terrible car accident changes her life forever, her near-death experience opens a…