Review: The Goddess Test, by Aimée Carter

*Received ARC through NetGalley; book to be published April 26, 2011*

From Goodreads: Every girl who has taken the test as died. Now it's Kate's turn. It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no , no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall. Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--anfriendsd if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests. Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess. If she fails..

I'm a huge fan of Greek mythology, and pretty much have them all down. It's rare for a story to come up with surprises for me, but this one did. I didn't see a lot of things coming because Ms. Carter puts such a neat and unique spin on things. Hades, in particular, has always been one of my favorite gods. Sadly, his story is always the same...see beautiful girl picking flowers, kidnap beautiful girl, trick beautiful girl into eating pomegranate seeds, keep beautiful girl trapped for eternity. I don't know, I always saw things a bit differently. This book went more towards what I've always thought, which I loved. Hades isn't the big bad wolf here. He's sensitive, thoughtful, and a tortured soul. He has feelings, weaknesses, and fears. And Kate isn't your typical YA female sellout. She sticks to her guns, and only allows her feelings to come out when she's ready. It's so not the usual 'girl-meets-beautiful-boy-falls-madly-in-love-wants-to-die-for-him-can't-live-without-him trash. I love that she's strong, yet vulnerable. I love that she puts aside her own needs to be strong for her mother, and I love that she throws her fears to the wind to try and save a friend. That's a believable character to me. As far as the plot goes, it worked seamlessly for me. I really liked where Ms. Carter went with it. It worked nicely. Things made perfect sense to me, and there weren't any plot holes. It could easily be a stand-alone book, but I understand that there is a sequel (at least one) planned. I'm very happy about that, and will definitely be picking up more books in this series. The book byline is "A fresh take on the Greek myths..." It most definitely is. Very fresh and very refreshing. I think fans of mythology, YA romance, and the supernatural will be huge fans. As for me, I loved it. I'm giving it a 'Pick me' rating.

Review: Trickster's Girl, by Hilari Bell

*Received through NetGalley* From Goodreads: In the year 2098 America isn't so different from the USA of today. But, in a post-9/11 security-obssessed world, "secured" doesn't just refer to borders between countries, it also refer to borders between states. Teenagers still think they know everything, but there is no cure for cancer, as Kelsa knows first-hand from watching her father die. The night Kelsa buries her father, a boy appears. He claims magic is responsible for the health of Earth, but human damage disrupts its flow. The planet is dying. Kelsa has the powers to reverse the damage, but first she must accept that magic exists and see beyond her own pain in order to heal the planet. I'm still not sure where I stand on this one. There are some elements that I really liked and some that kind of threw me. I'm a huge fan of the fact that even though Raven is this to-die-for bit of hotness, Kelsa doesn't fall head-over-heels for him and vow to give her life in his cause. I really like that she stays true to herself and fights the fight for her own reasons and not someone else's. I like that she can see through his hotness to the fact that HE'S NOT HUMAN. I think that's a missing element in a lot of YA fiction these days. I loved the setting, even though I'm SO not the outdoorsy type. I feel right at home in the concrete jungle, thank you very much. The book starts out in my old stomping grounds in Provo, Utah. That place will always hold a special spot in my heart. I had some good times there. I was thrilled to see Trickster's Girl start out there. Some of the locations mentioned were very familiar to me and I know I've been in the museum spoken of. That was cool. Plus, they travel through Southeastern Idaho, and that's where I'm from. So coolness to have a book set in my home area! I didn't like the ending. It was too abrupt to me, and too set up for a sequel. Mind you, I'll be reading the sequel as soon as it comes out. I *need* to know what happens to the leys, to Raven & Kelsa, and to the unsuspecting boy at the end. Plus, there's the whole messy relationship bit with Kelsa and her mom, and I'd love to see if that plays out in a sequel. I labeled it as dystopia, even though it doesn't really fit the dystopia genre bill exactly. There are definitely some elements that do (the whole controlled-to-some-extent society going on, the restrictions, etc.) So I liked that part, considering that I'm really getting into dystopian fiction now. It'll definitely appeal to YA fans, though some might be disappointed at the lack of romance. That was a breath of fresh air for me. I'm still digesting my feelings on this, and so it gets a 'Hmmm' rating. It'll be getting another read through, for sure, because I want to really dig into my feelings.

Special for Sundays, Favorite Author Edition: Bram Stoker

I can't believe it's been over a week since I posted. I've been lazy, I guess. Actually, I just haven't finished any books that I'll be reviewing here, so I've been neglectful. Anyway, today I wanted to feature one of my all-time favorite authors: Bram Stoker. He wrote one of the very best (in my opinion) horror novels of all time: Dracula. I LOVE Dracula. (Doesn't this picture totally *look* like the kind of guy who'd write horror novels? He looks a little unhinged to me.) Here's a bit of a biography from Goodreads: He was born Abraham Stoker in 1847 at 15 Marino Crescent – then as now called "The Crescent" – in Fairview, a coastal suburb of Dublin, Ireland. His parents were Abraham Stoker and the feminist Charlotte Mathilda Blake Thornely. Stoker was the third of seven children. Stoker was an invalid until he started school at the age of seven — when he made a complete and astounding recovery. Of this time, Stoker wrote, "I was naturally thoughtful, and the leisure of long illness gave opportunity for many thoughts which were fruitful according to their kind in later years." Bram Stoker died in 1912. Now, lest you think that Bram Stoker only wrote Dracula, let me provide you with a list of his other works: Novels:

1875 The Primrose Path

1890 The Snake's Pass

1895 The Watter's Mou'

1895 The Shoulder of Shasta

1897 Dracula

1898 Miss Betty

1902 The Mystery of the Sea

1903 The Jewel of Seven Stars

1905 The Man (AKA: The Gates of Life)

1908 Lady Athlyne

1909 The Lady of the Shroud

1911 Lair of the White Worm (AKA: The Garden of Evil)

Short Story Collections:

1881 Under the Sunset

1908 Snowbound

1914 Dracula's Guest

Uncollected Stories:

The Bridal of Death

Buried Treasures

The Chain of Destiny

The Crystal Cup

The Dualitists

The Fate of Fenella

The Gombeen Man

In the Valley of the Shadow

The Man from Shorrox'

Midnight Tales

The Red Stockade

The Seer

Non-Fiction

1879 The Duties of Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland

1886 A Glimpse of America

1906 Personal Reminiscences of Henry Irving

1910 Famous Impostors

One of my goals is to read all of his novels and short stories. I might pass on the non-fiction, just because that's not really my thing. I may change my mind later on. If you haven't experienced Bram Stoker yet, seriously, run, not walk, to your library/bookstore and pick something up. He's SO good. Perfect horror, in my opinion. You guessed it, Bram Stoker is so good, he makes me incoherent!

Another cool giveaway!

Want a chance to win an E-Reader of your choice?

Please check out The Bibliophilic Book Blog :)

The usual in honor of bookmark day will run until April 5th. Anyone can enter (who is over the age of 13) Please follow when you enter if you don't already...but it is NOT a requirement, Monica would just love you to return. So what can you win...let's see....AN EREADER or Gift Card of your choice from the bookstore of your choice....ereader type can not be more than $200 and GC is the same. All you have to do it fill out the form, follow (hopefully) and sit back and wait for the results...there will be extra entries given on Bookmark Day on the 15th of March (which is also the Ides of March...try not to think about that part though)! Click here to enter! Monica, you rock! Thanks for hosting such an amazing giveaway!!

Review: This Girl is Different, by JJ Johnson

*Received ARC through NetGalley. This book will be released on April 1, 2011* From Goodreads: This girl is different… That’s what Evie has always told herself—and it’s true. Home-schooled by her counter culture mom, she’s decided to see what high school is like for the first time—for her senior year. And what a year it is. As it turns out, it’s not just Evie who’s Different. Lots of people are. Many of her assumptions about others are turned on their heads as she makes friends with kids her own age for the first time, discovers what’s good and what’s bad about high school, and learns lessons about power and its abuse—both by the administration and by Evie herself. I liked the premise of this book, a girl who stands up for what she really believes in, even when no one would stand with her. Sadly, the premise didn't really come through for me. It felt rushed and too neat, if that makes sense. And really, Evie wasn't all that different. Sure, she took on The Establishment, but in some ways, it was cliche. Hippie child going against the norm? Felt too stereotyped to be realistic to me. And the whole thing with Evie and Rajas bugged me. She's supposed to be different. But she's just the same as the hormonally-crazed people she condemns. She's just as eager to get it on as any of them. I don't know. It just didn't gel for me. Please don't get me wrong. I didn't hate this book. I didn't even dislike it. I just didn't really feel it. I DID like that Evie took responsibility for her actions and faced down her accusers. The whole school, mind you, which I don't know that I buy, but it was still kind of cool. I liked that Rajas manned up and apologized publicly. I liked that he acknowledged their relationship. And for some reason, I *really* liked Dr. Folger, even though I think his character was completely unrealistic. Or, if he's realistic, then he's the coolest principal EVER. I just really liked him. I didn't particularly like this book, but I definitely didn't hate it and there will be people out there who really 'get' it. It'll definitely resonate with some. I'm giving it a 'Meh' rating.

Blog Hopping Today

I decided to Blog Hop today, with Crazy-For-Books. If you're here from the Hop, welcome! If you're not here from the Hop, welcome to you too! I hope y'all will find something you like. Pull up a chair and get comfy!

Question of the week:

"If I gave you £50 (or $80) and sent you into a bookshop right now, what would be in your basket when you finally staggered to the till?"

Oh man. I really have to choose? That's the hardest thing for me. I can never make up my mind and I'll update the contents of my basket umpteen times until I finally just force myself to check out. However. If I *had* to choose, it would be: Eona, by Alison Goodman The Forgotten Locket, by Lisa Mangum* The Death Cure, by James Dashner* Tuesdays at the Castle, by Jessica Day George* Midnight in Austenland, by Shannon Hale* Apocalypse, by Troy Denning* *These aren't released yet, so this better be a waaaaaaaaaaay future bookshop trip. I think making people *choose* among books is a form of cruel and unusual punishment. :P

Review: Outside In, by Maria V. Snyder

*Received ARC through NetGalley. Book was published March 1, 2011* From Goodreads: Me? A Leader? Okay, I did prove that there's more to Inside than we knew. That a whole world exists beyond this cube we live in. And finding that led to a major rebellion - between worker scrubs like me and the snobby uppers who rule our world. Make that ruled. Because of me, we're free. I thought that meant I was off the hook, and could go off on my own again - while still touching base with Riley, of course. He's the one upper I think I can trust. But then we learned that there's outside and then there is Outside. And something from Outside wants In. It's hard to review this book without starting with a brief explanation of Inside Out, the first in the series. Maria V. Snyder has created the nicely ordered world of Inside, where people are divided into uppers and scrubs. They're kept completely separated, and controlled by the Population Control officers, otherwise known as Pop Cops. Things generally go according to plan until Trella hears what the latest "prophet" has to say and is intrigued. Things spiral out of control, and before long, we've a revolution on our hands. Now, the revolution is over and things are going to go smoothly from here on out. There's a newly formed Committee to oversee things, and people are definitely going to do what they're needed to do. Hah. Nope. In fact, pretty much nothing goes according to plan and then it really gets interesting. I'm seriously hating that I can't really say much more about plotlines without giving away huge things. I'm just going to have to tell you to go read these two books. Because really, you should. I'm really starting to love dystopia. I started out hating it, thinking solely of things like Animal Farm and 1984 from my high school days. They really colored my perceptions for a long time. Now I'd probably read them with a different mindset and actually like them. I like reading things like this with the added bonus of a couple more decades of living. :D I somehow like knowing that our society really could degenerate to this point and I like hoping that perhaps some of the powers that be are reading the same books I am and taking notes. I know, it's probably a pipe dream, and probably really weird of me, but there it is. These books, Inside Out and Outside In, are great representatives of the genre. Freaky to the point of being nearly believable and well-written at that. I promise I'm not just being nice because Snyder is one of my favorite authors. These are seriously well done. I sometimes read dystopia with the mindset of finding plot holes and such, but there are none. None that leaped out at me and distracted me from the story, at least, which leads me to believe that there just are none. I like the characters, I like the situation, I like the struggles, and I like the independence shown. But most of all, I like it when... Wait. Can't tell that bit. O_o Okay, you get the picture. Head on out and buy a copy of both books. It'll be money well spent and you won't regret it. Both books get my 'Pick me' rating for awesomeness.

Review: The Betrayal of Maggie Blair, by Elizabeth Laird

*Received an ARC via NetGalley. This title will be released in the USA on April 18, 2011* From Goodreads: In seventeenth-century Scotland, saying the wrong thing can lead to banishment—or worse. Accused of being a witch, sixteen-year-old Maggie Blair is sentenced to be hanged. She escapes, but instead of finding shelter with her principled, patriotic uncle, she brings disaster to his door.

Betrayed by one of her own accusers, Maggie must try to save her uncle and his family from the king’s men, even if she has to risk her own life in the process.

Originally published in the UK, this book has a powerful blend of heart-stopping action and thought-provoking themes.

I wasn't too sure about this book when I requested the ARC from NetGalley, to be honest. I thought it would be just another paranormal witch book. Clearly, I didn't do my homework very well, because it wasn't just another witch book.

Maggie is unfairly accused of being a witch in her 17th century Scottish village. The horrors she must endure are enough to break one's heart. Seriously. At first, it all seems too unbelievable and too much. But then go and read some historical accounts of what accused witches went through during that time period, and you realize that perhaps Maggie got off easy.

Maggie was definitely my favorite character and her strength quickly endeared her to me. It's a hard-fought battle though, as she's something of a weakling to begin with. I love that we're able to watch her grow and come into her own.

I love the realism in this book. I'd fully expected some sort of paranormal romance, but it isn't at all. It's just plain good historical fiction. LOVE.

I love that Elizabeth Laird doesn't get bogged down in descriptions, like can happen sometimes in HF. She gives us enough to 'see' what's happening and where, and then lets our imaginations take over.

I've been wracking my brain, trying to think of something that didn't really work for me. Um. Um. Um. Okay, nada. It all worked. I seriously thought this was a beautifully written book that captured my interest and fulfilled its unspoken promises of greatness. I would recommend it to fans of historical fiction, fans of the period, and fans of true witch trial stories. I'm giving this my 'Pick me' rating.

Special for Sunday, Favorite Authors Edition: Brandon Mull

I decided to feature a newer author this week, one who has quickly become one of my very most favorite authors ever: Brandon Mull. He is the author of the Fablehaven series, which was my first introduction to his work. A little blurb from Goodreads: "Brandon Mull resides in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his wife and three children. He spent two years living in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile where he learned Spanish and juggling. He once won a pudding eating contest in the park behind his grandma’s house, earning a gold medal. Brandon is the author of the New York Times bestselling Fablehaven series and The Candy Shop War." Mull writes young adult fantasy and does it beautifully. Wow. I was hooked from go when I started Fablehaven. I've now read and/or listened to the books probably a dozen times, and each time reveals something new and interesting. I could never get tired of them. His writing is fresh, interesting, and riveting. Fablehaven introduces a world that, to my knowledge, had never been explored in depth. Maybe it has, but I'm not familiar with any similar works. I think that's saying something! How hard is it to create an entirely new world from scratch anymore when it feels like everything has been done a dozen times over?! Trust me, it's hard! And yet Mull makes it so seamless. Maybe I'll just say I ADORE FABLEHAVEN and leave this discussion at that. Because really, I could go on and on forever with my Fablehaven fangirl love. Mull also wrote The Candy Shop War, which is a delightful fantasy for a bit younger crowd. But pay no attention to that bit about the younger crowd. I'm a 30-something, and I absolutely loved it. It's the tale of four friends who discover that the neighborhood candy shop is offering up more than just sweets. SO much fun! I'm hoping for a sequel...hoping hard...crossing fingers...making a wish...still no word on a sequel. But if I hear about one, I'll be sure and pass it on. Now, the big news in the Brandon Mull world: there's a new book coming out soon. I'm SO excited!! When I got word, I did a happy dance around my room. See, Brandon Mull is one of those authors where I'll buy any book without having read reviews first. Because I just love his work so much. The new book, A World Without Heroes, is the first in a series (YAY! Series!) follows the exploits of 2 kids who are drawn from our world into a new world ravaged by an evil wizard emperor. New world! Evil wizard emperor! What's not to love?! Seriously folks, this one's gonna be great. I can feel it in my bones. It comes out March 15. Whoa, that's like SOON!!!! So yeah. Can you tell that I'm all over the Brandon Mull love bandwagon? Definitely one of my very most favorite authors EVER, and I'd recommend his stuff to anyone. I've yet to meet someone who didn't like his books. (Watch, now I'll meet someone, and then I'll have to eat my words. But I won't eat them, I won't!) If you haven't hopped on the Brandon Mull train, now's the time to do it. Seriously. He's that good. In fact, his books are so good they make me incoherent!

Review: Memento Nora, by Angie Smibert

*Won ARC through a giveaway hosted by the author. This book will be released April 28, 2011* From Goodreads: A teen struggles to hold onto her memories-and her identity-in a world that wants everyone to forget-and keep on shopping. Three dynamic teens come together to create a comic book of their memories. When I first heard about this book, I was intrigued. There have been so many dystopian books published lately, and I wondered if this one would take things in a similar direction as the recent additions. Nope. I was wrong. Flat out wrong. I finished this book in a couple of hours, couldn't put it down, and ended up with a big old WHHHAAAAAATTTTTTT going through my brain. Here's the story, in brief: in Nora's society, terrorism is commonplace. Bombings are at least a weekly occurrence and people are dying all over. A wack-job group called The Coalition claims responsibility for the bombings. The citizens are so freaked out that they take special pills to 'forget' certain memories. They live their lives in a 'glossy' state, knowing that they can always take a pill to forget what they don't want to remember. They'll just go on extra-special shopping trips to make up for it all. Sounds perfect, right? No unwanted memories and lots of shopping? Read on, my friend. Nora witnesses a bombing one day, and a body falls to the ground right at her feet. Prime candidate for forgetting, right? Nora's mom takes her to the TFC to get her first forget pill. While there, Nora makes eye contact with a boy from school just leaving. He sticks his tongue out, and the pill is there. He trashes it and mouths 'remember' to her. Nora is intrigued. She goes through the forget doctor's rhetoric and makes the decision to trash her pill as well. What follows? Well, you'll have to read the book. And you should. You definitely should. Here's the thing: I was terrified throughout this book. It's not that there were horribly graphic things going on like in The Hunger Games. It's not like Nora didn't have a choice. It's not like the big bad wolf was breathing down her neck. In fact, it was what Angie Smibert DIDN'T say that scared me the most. This is a book where you can read between the lines from the get go and it's terrifying. You'll find yourself asking questions, and you may not like the answers you come up with. I know I didn't. I thought I had things figured out. I didn't. I thought I had people pegged. I didn't. I thought there was NO way that this one character was involved. He/she was. Whaaaaaaaaaatttttt!? Mess with my brain! See, I could see our society degenerating into this very kind of behavior reeeeaaaaalllly easily. And it scares me to death. It would be SO easy to fall prey to the hyped beauty of not having to remember certain things. There are definitely things in my life that I'd rather forget about. The question is, what's the ultimate price you pay for forgetting? Do I really want to know the answer to that? And the ending?! WHHHHHAAAAAAAAATTTTTTT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! The characters were STRONG. I could never make myself remember that they were young teens. They were mature beyond their years, which would be totally expected from living in the society they live in. At the same time, they were SO vulnerable and so fragile at times. There wasn't a single unimportant character in there. Some that seemed to just flit across the page came back later and played a role. I love when that happens. Memento Nora was perfectly set to have a sequel, which I understand is in the works. I can't wait. I'll be preordering the minute it's available. (and keep in mind, this is Angie Smibert's debut novel. If the debut is this good, just wait for things to come. And I kind of feel like a fortune teller.) This really is one of the best dystopian novels I've ever read. I highly recommend it, and I give it my 'Pick Me' rating. You should preorder before you forget. And remember, "When in doubt, spit it out."

On the reading list:

I haven't done much in the way of blogging this last week, partly because I've been sick and partly because I'm currently reading 15 books. O_o Here's what I'm working on right now: 1. Revenge of the Witch, Joseph Delaney 2. Diversity Alliance, Kevin J. Anderson 3. Gingerbread Cookie Murder, JoAnne Fluke 4. The Princetta, Anne-Laure Bondoux 5. Dragondrums, Anne McCaffrey 6. Saving Erin, B.J. Hoff 7. The Betrayal of Maggie Blair, Elizabeth Laird 8. The Stonewycke Trilogy, Michael Phillips 9. The Distant Hours, Kate Morton 10. Wren's Quest, Sherwood Smith 11. The Charmed Return, Frewin Jones 12. Memento Nora, Angie Smibert 13. Hatchet, Gary Paulsen 14. Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls 15. The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Elizabeth George Speare Some of them are for my children's lit class and are rereads. Some will get reviewed and some won't. Am I completely nuts for taking on 15 books at a time!? (in my defense, some of them are super quick reads. Started Memento Nora this morning, almost finished. Loving it.)