Stacking the Shelves #3

Visit Tynga's Reviews!

Well, I didn't get a bunch this week. But I did get some really exciting books!

Bought

For Review

I am looking forward to reading each of these books. In fact, I have already read Cry Devil. I loved the Selection, so I am especially looking forward to the Elite. And The Samantha Project just looks really interesting!

So what did you get this week? Leave me a link!!!

My first giveaway! *squee*

And don't forget to check out:



Newbie Blogger Diaries #1
Newbie Blogger Diaries #2
Newbie Blogger Diaries #3

Feature and Follow Friday

Q: Is there a song that reminds you of a book? Or vice versa? What is the song & the book?

Song: I'm Coming After You
Book: Poison by Bridget Zinn

I don't know why I think of these two together, some lyrics match up but most doesn't. I just felt like the tune and beat fit this funny, fast read perfectly! I will never listen to this song without thinking "Poison"! Also, both girls are on the run. And sound very feisty.

Now, tell me what you think. Link me up!

Little note: I am now on Bloglovin!

Review: Also Known As

Also Known As

 by Robin Benway

Being a 16-year-old safecracker and active-duty daughter of international spies has its moments, good and bad. Pros: Seeing the world one crime-solving adventure at a time. Having parents with super cool jobs. Cons: Never staying in one place long enough to have friends or a boyfriend. But for Maggie Silver, the biggest perk of all has been avoiding high school and the accompanying cliques, bad lunches, and frustratingly simple locker combinations.


Then Maggie and her parents are sent to New York for her first solo assignment, and all of that changes. She'll need to attend a private school, avoid the temptation to hack the school's security system, and befriend one aggravatingly cute Jesse Oliver to gain the essential information she needs to crack the case . . . all while trying not to blow her cover.

Robin Benway certainly does not disappoint in this laugh-out-loud adventure! I believe I loved Audrey, Wait! a tiny smidgen more, but then again I didn't expect AKA to outshine one of my favorite contemporaries.

This book is slightly similar to the Gallagher Girls series, although not really. Okay, maybe I'll back myself up and make more sense. The "spies" and tone are very similiar. Except the plot is totally different and a little more sophisticated. I think I may have liked it more than Gallagher Girls... and that is saying something. (Little Note: If you haven't read Gallagher Girls, you should!)

The characters are really sweet. And super funny. Not just Maggie (Who was amazing) but also her friends and family. I loved how each character had such a memoable personality.

This book was ridiculous. I mean this in a good way. Maggie is just plain quirky! I am so happy she wasn't another predictable, overused YA character. Also, some of the past spy expeditions Maggie mentions are pretty funny/ridiculous.

The synopsis mentions a lot about "Private School". I think this is bringing the focus off what most of the book is about. I mean I LOVED Maggie's experiences there. But, mostly, AKA is about making friends, afore mentioned ridiculous conversations, and learning what it means to be a spy!

Such a funny read!
4/5 bookcases

Waiting on Wednesday #6

hosted by Breaking the Spine

This Week I am Waiting On... 

Gated by Amy Christine Parker

Do the gates keep the unchosen out or the chosen in?

In Mandrodage Meadows, life seems perfect. The members of this isolated suburban community have thrived under Pioneer, the charismatic leader who saved them from their sad, damaged lives. Lyla Hamilton and her parents are original members of the flock. They moved here following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, looking to escape the evil in the world. Now seventeen, Lyla knows certain facts are not to be questioned:

Pioneer is her leader.

Will is her Intended.

The end of the world is near.

Like Noah before him, Pioneer has been told of the imminent destruction of humanity. He says his chosen must arm themselves to fight off the unchosen people, who will surely seek refuge in the compound's underground fortress--the Silo.


Lyla loves her family and friends, but given the choice, she prefers painting to target practice. And lately she'd rather think about a certain boy outside the compound than plan for married life in the Silo with Will. But with the end of days drawing near, she will have to pick up a gun, take a side, and let everyone know where she stands

Doesn't this sound so interesting? I need it now...
What are you waiting on this week?

Review: Cry Devil

Cry Devil by V.S. Ware

You are one half of a set of twins, identical from the crystal blue of your eyes right down to the deep black ink of the dream catcher tattoos at the nape of your necks. That is, until you move with your sister to the idyllic and lavish island of Vitoria. Your sister is swiftly swept up in the destructive behavior of a wild and charismatic tight-knit group of teens on the island- wading neck deep into the dark end of the popular pool. She changes over night, her blonde hair dyed lilac and lungs freshly filled with the sweet poison of cigarette smoke.

And before you know it, you’re swept up too.

There is a book without a name. . A girl burns alive and a secret binds the six of you in silence. That’s only the beginning.

But before all of that, you wake from a coma induced by a life-shattering car accident that took your father’s life and almost took yours. You know when you wake that your life will never be the same, that the darkness of the coma will hardly compare to the darkness that now surrounds your broken family. But you’ll never guess just how dark it will get… or how deadly.

So before supper, say your Grace. It might be your last.

Wow. I just finished Cry Devil (like literally 30 seconds ago)... and wow. This book was amazingly written. Although I am pretty sure not a single good thing happened throughout the whole novel... And it is not my normal type of genre. It is very addicting though!

The characters all seemed very broken, and a couple I still don't what's going on with them. I am pretty sure there is a lot happening that we don't know about yet. *cough*magic or something*cough*

This is a really hard review to write. It has been a while since a book has made my heart pound like this. Really. This book will definitely evoke feeling. Also there is that killer cliffhanger ending. There better be a second book...

The poor main character! She just does not get a break. I mean at the beginning her dad dies and it just goes from there. Another great aspect of this book was the narration. Instead of "I" or "Grace", the author uses "you". This type of unique narration really sucked me into Graces world.

The dialogue between characters flows incredibly well. In fact, the writing is flawless. Grace is very believable and the world she is in is vivid.

In this book there is the subject of Christianity. I do not know how it will come into play in the second book. It did add layers of suspense to the book.

All in all, this book was startling different and haunting. A total killer of a read! I would recommend it to older teens searching for a heart gripping read.

I do not know if the description does justice to the book. I think this book is more focused on Grace and the accident with her Dad than anything else.

Wow, this has been the hardest book to rate. It was so unique though!

4.8/5 bookcases
I'm still not sure on this rating! So conflicted... this is a really high rating for me.

*Received for free in exchange for an honest review*

Newbie Blogger Diaries #2

Today I am going to talk about how I first got readers to my blog. I don't mean to be a kill-joy here but you could have the best quality posts on Earth and it is still likely that you will never gain any readers. Because, for readers to read your work, they have to find you first.

Here are my two trustworthy ways of getting people to check out your site.

1. Comment on other blogs! Post a thoughtful comment on someone else's book review and leave a link back to your blog. I gurantee that most people are nice and will comment back on your site. The key to this: Leave a THOUGHTFUL comment. Don't just start spamming people with links because then they will then feel much less obligated to check out your blog.

This is my favorite way to gain readers because it feels more personal. But, on a busy night, it it easier to just:

2. Participate in a meme or feature. Memes (which I recently realized rhymed with streams, much to my disappointment. I had been pronouncing it with a french air, Memais, until someone burst my bubble.) or features are when a whole group of bloggers post about a certain subject. Then, you can add your url to a list and have other participators check it out. Also, you can check out their posts. Win-Win.

Here are my favorite bookish memes:
Top Ten Tuesday
Waiting on Wednesday
Feature and Follow Friday
Stacking the Shelves

Or you can make your own. However this takes a lot of time and work. It does make your posts much more unique though!

The last step it to provide entertaining and memorable content, so readers will want to come back! And, one last tip, don't be follower crazy. Every night you see three new followers don't stress out because you wanted five more than you got that night, instead smile and mentally tell those people that they are awesome, and be glad they thought your blog worth following. BE HAPPY!!!

So, this is how I gained followers and readers in the beginning. What did you do/are doing to bring a little traffic to your blog?

Review: Bewitching Season

Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle

In 1837 London, young daughters of viscounts pined for handsome, titled husbands, not careers. And certainly not careers in magic. At least, most of them didn’t.

Shy, studious Persephone Leland would far rather devote herself to her secret magic studies than enter society and look for a suitable husband. But right as the inevitable season for "coming out" is about to begin, Persy and her twin sister discover that their governess in magic has been kidnapped as part of a plot to gain control of the soon-to-be Queen Victoria. 

 Racing through Mayfair ballrooms and royal palaces, the sisters overcome bad millinery, shady royal spinsters, and a mysterious Irish wizard. And along the way, Persy learns that husband hunting isn’t such an odious task after all, if you can find the right quarry.
 

Bewitching Season is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Wow, what a fun book! Bewitching Season had everything I was looking for when I started reading reading it; magic, witty conversations, and intriguing characters! I hope to read more by Marissa Doyle in the near future.

Well, now that I am thinking about it, this review is not going to be very long. Really, this book was incredibly well done. There is nothing worth criticizing. I mean nothing  in this book was mind boggling or anything, but nothing was flat out bad. I enjoyed every little aspect of The Bewitching Season. Especially how they added Princess Victoria in. *smiles*

The characters were charming. Mostly in a cutesy way, especially Persy's younger brother. He had me laughing through out the entire book. Persy and Pen were awesome main characters too. Persys personality was not extremely original, but still lightly unique and had me rooting for her the entire time! Pen also was a great heroine. I think, in fact, I liked her as much as I liked Persy. Which is rare. In most books I prefer one sister over the other.

Ally, the governess, was also a character I liked reading about. We got several scenes from her point of view, all of which were some of my favorites. Ally is young, chipper, and smart. I felt she played a part bigger than just the missing nanny. Also, Ally's family is a constant part in Bewitching Season. I think readers will enjoy reading about all the amazingly charming characters.

The plot and story were just plain fun. Magic, misunderstandings, and disguises filled the story with light drama. This is definitely a book to smile through! Also, the London setting is very vivid.

All in all, Bewitching Season is not to be missed. I am so glad I picked it up when I did!

4/5 bookcases