Waiting on Wednesday - Nomansland

Because we all have something we're waiting for.

Sometime in the future, a lonely, windswept island is populated solely by women. Among these women is a group of teenaged Trackers—expert equestrians and archers—whose job is to protect their shores from the enemy. The enemy, they’ve been told, is men. When these girls come upon a partially buried home from the distant past, they are fascinated by the strange objects—high-heeled shoes, teen magazines, make-up—found there. What are they to make of these mysterious things? And what does it mean for their strict society where friendship is forbidden and rules must be obeyed—at all costs?

Series: ---
Publisher: Macmillan
Release Date: June 22nd 2010


Come on. How epic does this story sound? It's bound to be entertaing, to say the least. It's also a *shiny* debut author!

Originally pined for by The Story Siren.

Inside Out Trailer

Wait! I DO know what to post today!

The uber epic trailer for Maria V. Snyder's Inside Out - which, if y'all didn't know, hits shelves today.



Isn't it awesome? Though I kind of want an Inside Out video game now.

You can check out the website for the book here - it's pretty awesome, if I do say so myself, and contains chapters 1-3 of the novel. (Sneak peek!)

They also have a quiz to see where you would be placed. I was told I was too confusing, therefore an Invalid, and would be sent to the Chomper. (It's nice to see that I'm dead before I even start in their world, haha!)

What do y'all think of the trailer?

Hmm.

I didn't know what to post today.

So here.

Look at the shiny fan made Hunger Games movie poster.



You can find it here.

That is all.

Castle

So yesterday I pulled a season one marathon of Castle - I had checked it out of the library. I mean, it's about a writer shadowing a detective. How could they go wrong?

... they didn't go wrong. At all.

It's funny; it's interesting; the characters are well thought out; the casting is amazing.

If you have a chance, watch it. I LOVE it - I really need to find a way to watch the second season.

That is all.
(Oh, and James Patterson makes an appearance in the first episode. Win? I think so.)

Inside Out

Inside Out
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Series: official name unknown; Queen of the Pipes series
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
How Received: publisher ARC
Summary from Maria V. Snyder's website.

Keep Your Head Down. Don't Get Noticed. Or Else.

I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. One of thousands who work in the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. The Trava family who rules our world from their spacious Upper levels wants us to be docile and obedient, like sheep. To insure we behave, they send the Pop Cops to police us.

So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? Not like it's all that dangerous--the only neck at risk is my own.

Until a lower level prophet claims a Gateway to Outside exists. And guess who he wants to steal into the Upper levels to get the proof? You’re right. Me. I alone know every single duct, pipe, corridor, shortcut, hole and ladder of Inside. It’s suicide plain and simple. But guess who can’t let a challenge like that go unanswered? Right again. Me.

I should have just said no...

I'm not going to say I didn't enjoy reading Inside Out. Actually, I kind of loved it. The characters are interesting - Trella is your typical kick ass snarky heroine, but I always adore that. The world is rich and new, and I got sucked into the plot line.

I just kept mentally comparing it to some strange combination of City of Ember and WALL-E.

Don't get me wrong - it's a fantastic book. But the whole concept seemed some twisted combination of Maria's imagination, the basic idea from City of Ember with some WALL-E thrown in for a little spice.

However, I did enjoy reading it - the character growth was amazing. I noticed the change-in-character without the character ever losing sight of who she was. And the romantic plot line was pretty amazing. Considering most of the HarlquinTeen novels so far have been right out, for the romance part, 'Oh, look, this is the romance plot line. It's predictable. Here's an epic fantasy novel surrounding it,' it was nice to see one where I still had to guess a little on which way it would go.

I feel like this review is all over the place. XD But that's what this next section is for, isn't it?

Overall Rating & Final Comments: 9/10. WALL-E and City of Ember reminders aside, it's a fantastic novel.
City of Ember or Inside Out? I know I'm going to distinctly remember the Queen of the Pipes, whereas the characters from C.O.E. I barely remember. Inside Out for the win.

Happy reading!

~ Nicole

Final Fridays - Maria V. Snyder

This month, I have the absolute pleasure of welcoming Maria V. Snyder to WORD! Maria is the author of the upcoming YA fantasy novel Inside Out [March 30, Harlequin Teen] as well as the author of the fantastic Glass and Study series. She's also going to be a variety of places - check out her list of appearances here - including BEA this May!

Which did you have more fun writing - Inside Out, the Glass series, or the Study series?
M: I had fun writing them all. However Inside Out was a really nice break from the Study and Glass books. I had been writing the Study series and had finished Storm Glass before working on Inside Out - so I had been writing about Ixia and Sitia for 12 years and really needed something different. And Inside Out is VERY different.

I'm a bit of a cover whore. Which one of your books do you think has the best cover? What's your favorite book cover in general?
M: I love all my covers for various reasons. But my favorite book covers for the Study books are the UK YA books. The artist, Henry Steadman captured Yelena's spirit perfectly for those three covers. For the Glass books, I like the colors and designs on the USA ones, but the model on the UK covers matched what I had imagined Opal to look like. I'm also loving Inside Out's cover - that's Trella ripping through the paper - she's intense and direct and determined.

If you had to come up with a catchy slogan for reading, what would it be?
M: Reading is brain food!

What's your guilty pleasure?
M: Donuts :) I can resist chocolate, ice cream, cakes and pies, but if we have donuts in the house - I'll wait until everyone's in bed and eat them with a cup of tea! Shhh.... don't tell my family that it wasn't our dog who devoured that last dozen!

What character do you relate to most? Which was your favorite to write?
M: I relate to Opal the most. Her low self esteem and confidence reflects me when I was in middle and high school. Also I was more into art and reading and not into sports. Opal does learn how to fight - it just takes her longer to realize she needs those skills. Yelena just jumps into training wholeheartedly. I wish I was more like Yelena - she's braver than me :) My favorite character to write is Janco! I love that guy - his humor and the way he views the world, is so much fun. I had a blast writing Power Study - it's a short story from Ari and Janco's POV and it's posted on my website if anyone is interested in reading it. Here's a link: [link]

What is your favorite book to recommend to teens? Adults? Young guinea pigs?
M: This is a hard question! I'm a closet librarian and could recommend so many... Teens - I would recommend Glass Houses, by Rachel Caine - it's the first in the Morganville Vampire series and they are wonderful. The main character is 16, but smart and going to college in a town run by vampires who are not good, but aren't all evil either. Adults - I would recommend The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis - it's science fiction involving time travel back to the days of the black plague and it has humorous moments. (hard to believe, I know :) Young guinea pigs - I would recommend Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card - better than timothy hay and carrots :)

What fashions do you love? What fashions should be exiled from sight forever?
M: I live in sweat pants and comfortable tops. Exiled: Tube tops - I've never seen anyone look good in one.

If you could make a soundtrack for your ideal day, what would it be?
M: Lullabies and soothing songs - my ideal day would be in bed catching up on about 15 years of sleep deprivation! (in a strange coincidence my oldest child just turned 15 ;)

M: Thanks for having me on your blog!

And I loved having you! Okay, o'lurvely readers, don't forget to pick up Inside Out when it comes out, and check out her other books as well! Inside Out and her other books can be ordered via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Borders, or can be picked up at your local bookstore.

Bewitching Season

Bewitching Season
Author: Marissa Doyle
Series: The Seasons?
Publisher: Macmillan
How Received: library
Summary from Marissa Doyle's website.

In 1837 England, young daughters of viscounts pined for handsome, titled husbands, not careers. And certainly not careers in magic.

Twins Persephone (Persy) and Penelope (Pen) Leland are anticipating their first London season with mixed feelings. Pen can't wait for the balls and parties and crowds of handsome young men to flirt with, but Persy would far rather stay home with their governess, Ally, and continue her magic studies. The only thing drawing her to London is the prospect of seeing Princess Victoria, her and Pen's idol.

But then Ally disappears from a busy London street and the twins are drawn into searching for her...and find that her disappearance is linked to a dastardly plot to enchant the soon-to-be Queen. Persy also discovers that a good lady's maid is hard to find, that one should never cast a love spell on anyone after drinking too much brandy punch at a party, that pesky little brothers can sometimes come in handy, and that even boys who were terrible teases when they were twelve can mysteriously turn into the most perfect young men.

When I first started reading it, I couldn't quite get into it. I felt like Persy was going to annoy me throughout the entire book - a love spell? Really? (Though she did regret it.) And the plot line seemed somewhat predictable.

Thankfully, it improved.

I ended up loving all of the characters in the book - my favorite was Queen Victoria, however brief her appearance, followed by the swoon worthy Lochinvar. (Any man who discusses books, including Jane Austen books, gets top points form me.) The plot became entertaining quickly, including several twists at the end that I didn't quite expect.

I'm rather looking forward to getting my hands on Betraying Season, though as it follows Pen and not Persy, I'm not quite sure if I'll like it. After all, no Lochinvar!

Favorite quotes included:

Brothers. Just when you were ready to drown them, they said things like that to you.

She'd survived her first ball. Sort of. Now all she had to do was alienate the man she loved, keep secrets from her beloved twin sister, and find her governess without even knowing how to start.
Flying to the moon might be easier.

Overall Rating & Final Comments: A solid 8.5/10. A good read for anybody who loves witches and a bit of romance.
Would I rather read... Soulless or Bewitching Season?: I did have fun reading Bewitching Season, but it didn't suck me in the same way Soulless did. Besides, Lord Maccon would kick Lochinvar's ass any day.

Happy reading!

~ Nicole

Waiting on Wednesday: The Queen's Daughter

Because we're all waiting for something.

Joan’s mother is Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, the most beautiful woman in the world. Her father is Henry II, the king of England. She loves them both—so what can she do when she’s forced to choose between them? As her parents’ arguments grow ever more vicious, Joan begins to feel like a political pawn.

When her parents marry her off to the king of Sicily, Joan finds herself with a man ten years her senior. She doesn’t love him, and she can’t quite forget her childhood crush, the handsome Lord Raymond.

As Joan grows up, she begins to understand that her parents’ worldview is warped by their political ambitions, and hers, in turn, has been warped by theirs. Is it too late to figure out whom to trust? And, more important, whom to love?

Series:
Publisher: Macmillan
Release Date: June 8, 2010

I LOVE historical fiction. And stories that involve arranged marriages. They're always interesting. Hence why I want this. (Besides, with a dress like that on the cover, who could resist? *luff*)

Originally waited for by Carrie.

The Hunger Games Video Game

So I posted a few days ago about my project for media writing. A Hunger Games video game commercial. And guess what?

I FINISHED IT.

So here it is, oh lovely readers. Tell me what you think. Because, you know, you have nothing better to do with the next 37 seconds of your life.

Evermore

Evermore
Author: Alyson Noel
Series: The Immortals
Publisher: Macmillan
How Received: library
Summary from Alyson Noel's website.

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, Ever can see auras, hear people's thoughts, and know a person's entire life story by touch. Going out of her way to avoid human contact and suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen.

Damen Auguste is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her head—wielding a magic so intense, it's as though he can see straight into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she's left with more questions than answers. She has no idea just who he really is—or what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with him.

I wasn't able to put it down. The plot line was entrancing - well, the love one was predictable, but the sub plots were entertaining - Damen was interesting, and I was always wondering how everything tied in. The concept was lovely as well - it's not often you read about immortals, and certainly not ones that use science to make things appear. Like elephants. (You'll understand.)

Of course, for the first 160 pages, I was pretty sure Ever was a character too stupid to live.

I mean, she's noticing all the things that Damen doesn't do quite right, noticing that there's something wrong. She has ALL THE CLUES. And she never things to ask him, never things to question his behavior, never follows through with her thoughts. I mean, /really/ now!?

But, besides that, it was quite a good book, and I'm looking forward to finally reading the sequel.

Overall Rating & Final Comments: A solid 8/10. Not bad, but I wish Ever would had just caught on already.

Happy reading!

~ N

Wizard's First Rule

Wizard's First Rule
Author: Terry Goodkind
Series: Sword of Truth/Legend of the Seeker
Publisher: Tor
How Received: library
Summary from the back cover.

In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary seeking help ... and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.

In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword-- to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed ... or that their time has run out.

This is the beginning. One book. One Rule. Witness the birth of a legend.

First off, I went into this already knowing the plot line. And characters. Oh, and fight scenes. Because I had watched the entire first season of The Legend Of The Seeker.

I'm not sure whether that actually improved my reading of Wizard's First Rule or not. The show did an EXCELLENT casting job - which enhanced the already amazing characters I was reading about. It's just a fantastic interpretation of the book, in my humble opinion. But enough about the show.

The book itself is FANTASTIC. I understand why they felt the need to make it into a tv series - the scenes are easily divided, yet smooth together nicely as a book. (Did that make sense? Nicki-sense isn't always everybody else-sense.) The world is diverse and rich, fantastically created; the characters original - I swore Kahlan was going to jump off the page - and the plot faaaaantastic.

Now, let's look back at my read-by-read. (Thank you, Twitter.) These are my thoughts as I read - including some of my favorite quotes.

Reading Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind. I'm enjoying it so far.

"Sorry. I die." Oh, Shar, I wished you stayed longer than a few pages.

"Zedd was stark naked." So much better than Dumbledore.

"You're not supposed to see it! It's a Wizard's cabinet; it's invisible!" #obviousthings

Reasons I love Zedd more than Dumbledore - he tricked an entire group of men into thinking they'd been castrated.

Reading Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind. I ADORE Zedd.

About 1/3 through Wizard's First Rule. Keep thinking of Legend of the Seeker - and I want to be Kahlan. Or oogle Richard. Either or.

Oh noes. Tweet peeps, I left Wizard's First Rule in my theater class. I am bookless at the moment. :(

"Giller, I'm afraid to get my head chopped off, people say it hurts terrible bad."

"Maybe Darken Rahl wouldn't mind if Richard borrowed his dragon." I love this book.

Reasons reading in school is bad - you are always forced to stop once you get to the climax. And wait. In agony. -dies-

You know that high you get after finishing a fantastic book? I'm there.

And that, my dears, is how I roll.

Overall Rating & Final Comments: 10/10; probably one of my favorite fantasy books of all time.
Cover Comments: This one is the cover based on the TV series, and I LOVE it. Just because.

Ellen Hopkins

So the other day I got a comment on my Ellen Hopkins interview, from kitty_love_26. She said...

Did she ever live the lives of her characters?
Did she ever use herself and if so, did writing help her quit?
Is everything she writes about drugs true?
These are the questions that haunt me...

I sent Ellen an email and asked if she wanted to reply, and she very graciously took a few minutes of her time to send back answers.

Ellen: I have not lived the lives of my characters, but people close to me have. CRANK/GLASS are loosely based on my daughter's story, so our entire family has lived through addiction. Everything I write about drugs is, in fact, very true.

Friday Fronts - Rae

Wait. What is this? That name on the cover looks so familiar...

Well, it should! It's the name of one of my favorite bloggers and friend Chelsea - perhaps you know her better as The Page Flipper? This is the cover to her debut book, a memoir of her life. I'm quite excited to get a hold of it, and with this cover? Who wouldn't want to read it!?

What do you think?

And MAD PROPS to Chelsea for her first published work!

The Hunger Games Video Game

In my media writing class, we've been assigned to make a TV commercial for a fictional product.

And I have to do it.

I mean, a Hunger Games video game? How FUN could that be!?

What do you think I should include?

Waiting on Wednesday: Linger

Because we're all waiting for something.

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past... and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves... and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: July 20 2010

Maggie's first novel in the series, Shiver, was gorgeously romantic. I'm totally excited to see what happens in this novel - two romances twined together.

I also want to see if it'll break the "green covers don't sell" bit.

Jane Slayre?

I am a person who cares about what other people say. So whenever I say something negative about a book, I pray to Oz that whoever likes said book won't see it, because then I feel guilty. I pray about ten times more when I've never read said book and am simply saying something about a concept. Like, say, adaptions of classics that involve zombies or vampires or werewolves.

And then my worst nightmare happens.

The author comments.

You heard me. If you click here you'll see the comment that Sherri Browning Erwin posted about my comments on her novel Jane Slayre. True, it was clustered in with a bunch of other books that had similar concepts, but I had singled Jane Slayre out because it's an adaption of Jane Eyre.

Jane. My heroine of all heroines. Who marries Rochester. My love of all loves. In my classic of all classics. So, yes, I looked down on it a little.

And now I feel guilty. I don't want to feel guilty. I have no reason to. But she made valid points!

"...that's why I decided to do Jane Slayre, the desire to want to explore new angles of Charlotte's work but to do it in a way more in keeping with Charlotte's original tone and to keep the love between Jane and Rochester a strong focus."

"My love for the original made me want to take time and care to do it right. If I was going to add something, it wasn't going to be plunked down in the middle of Charlotte's words with no rhyme or reason just to be funny."

"I had fun and it was done with love and with proper attention to Charlotte's original."

And she said, "If you do read it and want me to come back to discuss it, I would be happy to talk with you. Drop me an email."

So maybe I will read it. I mean, I do like vampires. And Jane Eyre. (And Rochester. *swoon*) It comes out April 13. Maybe I'll pick it up after all, if I can find a copy.

And then maybe I shall take Sherri up on her offer. Maybe.

We'll see if I like it first.


Moral of this blog post: Fight feelings of guilt where they do not belong, and give things a shot.
Other moral of this blog post: Vampires and classics do not always mix.

The Pale Assassin

The Pale Assassin
Author: Patricia Elliott
Series: ---
Publisher: Holiday House
How Received: library
Summary from Barnes & Noble's website.

Spoiled, beautiful fourteen-year-old Eugénie de Boncoeur is accustomed to outrageous privilege. The French Revolution may rage around her, but Eugénie's luxurious lifestyle is only improved by visits from her brother, Armand, especially doting since the two were orphaned. What Eugénie doesn't know is that their guardian has promised her in marriage to the wealthy, vengeful Le Fantome, a revolutionary nursing a secret grudge against her family. As the Revolution becomes increasingly violent, Eugénie is shipped off to convent school. Finally, there is no place in France that is safe for her. Eugénie dusts off her lightly used brains and rises to the challenge of survival; and soon she is in the thick of turmoil and romance, confronting spies, secret agents, and double-crossing suitors in her quest to get out of France alive.

I got to page 164 - about halfway through the book - when I finally gave up trying to finish it. T'was a three week struggle to get that far.

It's not that Patricia Elliot has a bad writing style. I like the way she wrote it. It was just... the plot. And the characters. It's described as if there's action! and romance! and there's not. It's a slow read, trudging through unnecessary scenes to get a glimpse of action that ends just as abruptly as it appears. And Eugénie? She doesn't dust off her lightly used brains. In the middle of all of the turmoil floating around her, her biggest concern is when she's next going to see the man-of-her-choice.

Even Le Fantome, who I thought would be an interesting character, fell flat. He's your typical evil villain - without a background as to why he became that way. (Or, if there was, I hadn't gotten to it yet.)

I just couldn't get into it or relate to any of the characters.

Final Comments: Not worth the time, for me, anyway.
Cover Comments: I adore the dress. But don't you love the mysterious bad-Photoshop glow of the guy in the background?

Happy reading!

~ Nicole

I just don't get it.

It was funny at first.

But now, it just seems like people can't write their own stories. I'm all for parodies and monsters and adaptions what have you. But Little Vampires Women? Romeo and Juliet and Vampires? It's getting ridiculous.

What happened to coming up with your own ideas? I mean, I'm sure they're funny and entertaining. I got a kick out of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and the trailer for Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters never fails to make me laugh. But enough is enough! Let's stop turning our lovely Mr. Darcy into a vampyre. Or vampire.



And of course. They did what nobody should do.
They touched my favorite.
My love-of-all-loves.
My classic-of-all-classic.
My eternal-debate-started.



Am I missing any? (Not included on this list are Queen Victoria, Demon Hunter and Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter because both are original works of fiction. I'm also not counting Jane Bites Back, because as much as I don't like the concept, it is - again - not based on any of the Austen novels.)

And does anybody else agree?

[EDIT] Thanks to Briana for catching one I missed! And I don't think androids should be mixed in with ANY classic, thank-you-very-much.

I also just found Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Zombie Jim. Woe is me.

Skin Hunger

Skin Hunger
Author: Kathleen Duey
Series: Resurrection of Magic
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
How Received: library
Summary from Barnes & Noble's website.

Sadima lives in a world where magic has been banned, leaving poor villagers prey to fakes and charlatans. A "magician" stole her family's few valuables and left Sadima's mother to die on the day Sadima was born. But vestiges of magic are hidden in old rhymes and hearth tales and in people like Sadima, who conceals her silent communication with animals for fear of rejection and ridicule. When rumors of her gift reach Somiss, a young nobleman obsessed with restoring magic, he sends Franklin, his lifelong servant, to find her. Sadima's joy at sharing her secret becomes love for the man she shares it with. But Franklin's irrevocable bond to the brilliant and dangerous Somiss traps her, too, and she faces a heartbreaking decision.

Centuries later magic has been restored, but it is available only to the wealthy and is strictly controlled by wizards within a sequestered academy of magic. Hahp, the expendable second son of a rich merchant, is forced into the academy and finds himself paired with Gerrard, a peasant boy inexplicably admitted with nine sons of privilege and wealth. Only one of the ten students will graduate — and the first academic requirement is survival.

Sadima's and Hahp's worlds are separated by generations, but their lives are connected in surprising and powerful ways

Skin Hunger was a surprising and interesting fantasy novel set in a unique world. I liked both Sadima and Hahp's stories, though normally I don't like two different character stories that bounce back and forth during the book.

Sadima, though an interesting, seemed... weak? She gave up everything she had for Franklin - because he was the only person she had met who was like her, so I understand that - and could have just killed Somiss - but she doesn't like killing, so that's okay - and was a bit gullible in believing everything Franklin said - though I suppose it was true - and, despite defying Sommiss at different points, still seemed... weak willed. I don't know. Maybe it's just me.

I do want to read the next in the series - my interest is peeked to see what happens!

Overall Rating & Final Comments: 8.5/10. I wouldn't buy it for my collection, but I did enjoy reading it, and I do want to see what happens next.
Cover Comments: I like this cover more after reading teh book - it actually connects to the book in a few ways, which makes me happy.

~ Nicole

Friday Fronts - Blameless

Blameless is the third book in the a-mazing Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Calliger. I was going to feature this later, but once the video on how it's cover was made came out, I couldn't resist.

Here are the covers to the other two books in the series:



They're not stereotypically gorgeous, but I still ADORE them! (Besides, I want the outfits.)

Look - Gail's covers seem to be EVERYWHERE. <- Take a look! It has an early version of the Soulless cover, which is actually kind of awesome looking.

Oi Vey

I'm reading The Pale Assassin right now and I'm about halfway through. I'm trying to get through it, I really can - I like the concept of the book.

The characters-writing style-plot? Er. Not so much.

But I WILL finish it. I do kind of want to know what happens. Kind of...


Have you ever had that happen with a book?

Waiting on Wednesday: Changeless

Because we're all waiting for something.

Alexia Tarabotti, now Lady Maccon, awakens in the wee hours of the mid-afternoon to find her husband, who should be decently asleep like any normal werewolf, yelling at the top of his lungs. Then he disappears - leaving her to deal with a regiment of supernatural soldiers encamped on her doorstep, a plethora of exorcised ghosts, and an angry Queen Victoria.

But Alexia is armed with her trusty parasol, the latest fashions, and an arsenal of biting civility. Even when her investigations take her into the backwaters of ugly waistcoats, Scotland, she is prepared: upending werewolf pack dynamics as only A soulless can.

She might even find time to track down her wayward husband, if she feels like it.

Series: The Parasol Protectorate
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: March 31 2010


I absolutely adored Soulless, the first book in the series - the world Carriger has created is so vivid, and her characters are so fun to read about. From what I can get from the description of the second book? We're in for a helluva fun ride.

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland
Author: Lewis Carroll
Series: Wonderland
Publisher: A couple different ones, from what I've seen =3
How Received: library

Fall down a rabbit hole into the eccentric world of Wonderland. On her adventures, Alice shrinks, grows, meets a hookah smoking caterpillar, a Mad Hatter, a crazy March Hare, an adorable Dormouse, a baby that turns into a pig...

There's a reason it's a classic.

Love the world of Wonderland and the zany cast of characters that come with it!

That is all.

Book or movie or new movie?: I prefer the new movie - Alice is older, more easier to relate to, and the characters have much more depth to them.

Alice? The Alice?

I had the pleasure of seeing Alice in Wonderland on March 5th. The theater I went to was sold out; I went with two of my best friends (and my brother, poor dear, he gets dragged along to everything) and was prepared with Milk Duds and soda and popcorn.

And I have to say - it. was. fantastic.

The graphics were amazing, the plot line was well thought out, and the 3-D effects were absolutely wonderful. What made the movie, though, was the characters.

The casting was done perfectly. Helena makes an AMAZING Red Queen - if it weren't for the Mad characters, I'd say she stole the show. She's funny and evil and, most importantly, human. Her character is relatable.

But then you have the Mad characters - the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, and the Dormouse. They're all completely different, all raving mad, and all wonderfully lovable. JDepp as the Mad Hatter is fantastic. On the other hand, he could play a telephone and I'd think he was fantastic. But he alternated between a British accent and a Scottish brogue - the brogue came out whenever the Hatter got mad. The Dormouse was adorable. She's a spunky little thing that absolutely adores the Hatter, and I found that to be famazing. And the March Hare? I. Love. Him. He's my favorite of all the mad characters (yes! even more so than the Hatter!) because he'll just stop and stare at something for a good minute, then say what it is. It's hilarious.

I was a bit worried about the Chesire Cat and the Caterpillar, but both worked out WONDERFULLY.

Anne Hathaway made a good White Queen - she captured the character pretty well, I thought. Am I forgetting anybody? OH! Mia as Alice. A very good job, I thought - I can't picture anybody else playing the character, so that's good.

On a side note, I want all of Alice's dresses. Especially the one she wears in the Red Queen's castle.

I'm really excited to get my hands on the book version.

Have you guys seen it yet? What do you think?

The Pirate Queen

The Pirate Queen
Author: Alan Gold
Series: ---
Publisher: Penguin Group
How Received: library
Summary from Barnes & Noble's website.

Grace O'Malley commanded a dozen ships and the obedience of thousands of men. Her empire stretched from Connaught on the Irish coast to the cobalt aters of Africa. Through the daring of her piracy, Grace nearly bankrupted the English treasury-and her outright defiance brought embarrassment to Elizabeth I. Yet the lives of these two amazing women were inextricably intertwined-and their eventual meeting during the most brilliant and romantic era that Europe has ever known would shock the world.

I adore the story of Grace O'Malley, Pirate Queen. I always have. She's a fantastic historical figure-
-and I thought Alan Gold captured her perfectly.

This is one of those books I couldn't put down; it was fun to read, well written, and he managed to capture Grace's personality so wonderfully. I loved reading about all of Grace's many escapades, her trials and tribulations...

Really, it's a character driven story - if you don't like Grace, you're not going to keep reading. After all, the story is all about her.

[SPOILER ALERT] And I can't think of anybody who wouldn't like Grace. (Besides her husband, I mean.) I mean, even her and the Queen of England got along! [/SPOILER ALERT]

Overall Rating & Final Comments: 10/10. Need to buy. Love.
Do I prefer the musical The Pirate Queen or the book?: The musical The Pirate Queen is based off of the book Grania by Morgan Llywelyn - which is in my to be read pile. And while I adore Alan Gold's version, because he DOES capture Grania perfectly, I love the idea of her having a soulmate in Tiernan. Both are excellent, excellent, excellent.

Happy reading!

~ Nicole

Guest Post: Rachel Hawkins

The amazing Rachel Hakwins, author of Hex Hall, has stopped by - for a guest post!

"What's the meaning of my books, what's my inspiraaaaa-tiooooon..."

That song will be stuck in your head for the next two weeks. You're welcome, blog readers!

Inspiration or "muse" is a hot topic amongst writers, so I thought I'd talk a little but about mine today! I think sometimes people think that in over to write, you have to be inspired all the time, i.e., the fire of writing must burn brightly within you at all times. But guys? That's not always the case. I'm going to let you in on a little writing secret: Writing Is Hard.

I just blew your mind, right? I mean, NO ONE has ever suggested writing was anything but flowers and sausages!

Sarcasm aside, what I mean is that, while I knew writers had to treat writing like a job, I still thought they always loved the writing, that they always felt inspired that they always knew they had a great story. Therefore, I thought, when the writing felt super sucky and really hard and not like fun at all, it meant there was something wrong with the book (or, at the worst moments, me.)

There were so many times I nearly gave up on HEX HALL because I really felt like the story was too big, that there was too much of a "mytharc" to build. I mean, I'd never written a whole book! What was I doing trying to write an epic trilogy?

Then there were good days, great days even. Days when I was so deep into the story that I felt like my typing couldn't keep up with my brain. It's just that those days seemed pretty rare. Most of my writing days were just sitting down, doing the work until I'd done somewhere around 2,000 words. And occasionally, I had the "Oh my God, I suck so hard!" days.

But somehow, through a combination of those 3 types of days, HEX HALL got written. And I would guess that that's how pretty much all books get written. Sure, some authors do write in a frenzy of inspiration (Stephenie Meyer wrote the gargantuan Twilight over a summer. That's 3 months, people! And she has, like, a bazillion little kids!)but for the rest of us, I'd guess it's more like a really long road trip. Most of the time you're just driving, focusing on your destination. Sometimes, you get frustrated and you're just ready to be there already, dammit, and your butt falls asleep, and you have to pee, and you can't remember why you even wanted to take a road trip. And then there are the moments when you see something truly amazing, like a really beautiful sunset, or a awesome roadside stand selling something you just have to have, and the whole trip, butt fatigue and all, feels totally worth it.

So any aspiring writers, if you're about thirty pages into your novel and feeling a total lack of inspiration, power through it! If I only wrote when I was inspired, I'd write a book every five years, or something. And that would mean eating A LOT of ramen noodles. ;-)

~ Rachel Hawkins

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for Hex Hall here!

Giveaway: Hex Hall

This giveaway is over.

I told you that I'd have a giveaway for you! And I do!

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father-an elusive European warlock-only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

T-shirt: (click images to enlarge)


Hex Hall has just come out, and I've got a t-shirt and book for y'all! It's a fantastic read - check out my review of it here - and it's just come out!

Recap:
[1] copy of Hex Hall up for giveaway
[1] Hex Hall t-shirt up for giveaway (sizes either S, M, L, maybe XL)
[3] winners in the U.S. only
[3] winners announced March 19

How To Win:
[mandatory] Answer this: Which would you rather be - a witch, a fairy, or a shapeshifter?
[mandatory] comment on this post with your email
[+1] comment on the review
[+2] relink this giveaway (include location of link in comment)
[+2] relink to WORD (include location of link in comment)
[+2] tweet this contest (include location of link in comment)
[+8] follow WORD

What are you waiting for? Let me see those comments!

Hex Hall

Hex Hall
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Series: Hex Hall series? I hope.
Publisher: Hyperion
How Received: publisher

Three years ago, on her thirteenth birthday, Sophia Mercer discovered she was a witch. And now, after numerous magical mishaps, she's been exiled to Hex Hall - a reform school for witches, faeries, and shapeshifters. (Oh my!)

Of course, there's a vampire or two thrown in, too. And who does Sophie end up with for a roommate?

And now, with enemies that look like supermodels, a crush on the most desired warlck in the school, a ghost that won't leave her alone, and the most hated person in the school for a best friend - a mysterious predator starts attacking students.

What's a witch to do?

Mad props for an EXCELLENT debut novel from Rachel Hawkins!

I loved all the different creatures in Hex Hall - they were all brought together brilliantly and portrayed creatively. I loved the plot line, the characters - there had better be a sequel, because I'm excited to see what she does with this world.

There were a few predictable bits, but the overall plot line was wonderfully engaging. There were some plot twists I didn't expect at all, and I LOVED them!

Overall Rating & Final Comments: 9/10 - a fantastic fantasy read that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. Well, mostly.
Cover Comments: It's a beautiful cover to begin with, and once you've read the story, go back and look again - it connects!

Psst. Want to read this? Come back tomorrow for a super special GIVEAWAY.

Waiting on Wednesday: Mockingjay

Because we're all waiting for something.

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12.

Series: The Hunger Games
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: August 24 2010


EEK.
Just... EEK.
That is all.

Lord of the Rings

So last night I watched Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring for the first time.

Mind you, I have never read the books, or seen any of the clips - all I knew about LotR was word of mouth.

Quick observations (documented as I watched):
Frodo seems to get knocked around alot, doesn't he?
Hobbits are very, very entertaining.
Who cares about Legolas? I like my men dark and scruffy. Aragorn all the way.
Oh, Gandalf. You entertain me.
Okay, maybe Legolas is adorable, but I still prefer Aragorn.
You shall not pass.
Rather, "You shall not pass! *epic Gandalf voice*"
Why is he always Mr. Frodo? Why not just Frodo?
Elves and the plants in Avatar are exactly the same. They GLOW.
Freaky elf dark queen thing... is freaky.
Bashful dwarves are entertaining.

All in all, not a bad movie. It took me a little while to get into it, but I liked it well enough.

What do you guys think about LotR?

Also: Over 380 followers! Maybe at 400, I shall hold a SUPER SPIFFEH giveaway...

The Hunger Games

Just wanted to feature another one of the kick ass Hunger Games fanmade trailers!

You can find more on Mockingjay.