Beauty Queens

Beauty Queens
Author: Libba Bray
Series: ---
Publisher: Scholastic
How Received: tour ARC

From bestselling, Printz Award-winning author Libba Bray, the story of a plane of beauty pageant contestants that crashes on a desert island.
Teen beauty queens. A "Lost"-like island. Mysteries and dangers. No access to email. And the spirit of fierce, feral competition that lives underground in girls, a savage brutality that can only be revealed by a journey into the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Oh, the horror, the horror! Only funnier. With evening gowns. And a body count.

I want to make something very clear as you move on to the rest of the post.

This book is bloody brilliant and everybody needs to read it.

Understood? Now let me explain.

Upon finishing this book, I pronounced the fact that I wanted to marry Libba Bray on Twitter. She's a bloody genius and I absolutely adore her and will read anything she writes until she decides not to write anymore.

I mean, look at this summary. I knew it was going to be funny going into it. What I didn't expect was for it to be a commentary - a brilliant, hilarious, accurate commentary - on the world we live in today. Can you think of any debatable issue at all? Trust me, it's mentioned.

There's a reason this book made #8 on EW's list of things to watch out for this week when it was first published - it's genius. The plot, the commentary - everything is fantastic.

And the characters! Oh, what a fantastic cast of characters! I want to say Nicole is my favorite - I have a huge soft spot for her, but that may be because we share the same name. SinJin and Petra are fighting for that honor, though. My dreams of reading about an evil villain named MoMo B. ChaCha have also been satisfied.

And as much as I shall be recommending this book to everybody and their mother, it holds a special place in my heart as a YA fan because of some of the shout outs. (There's a character named after Scott Westerfeld and David Levithan ends up in one of the scripts.)

Just - I could go on forever. So, so, so much love for this book.

Overall Rating & Final Comments: It's rating is so high, it broke my rating scale. Go read it. And recommend it to all your friends. And your mother.
Cover Comments: LOVE it. Gorgeous and suits the book.

Waiting on Wednesday: Vanish

Because we all have something we're waiting for.

Vanish by Sophie Jordan

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

Publisher: HarperTeen
Series: Firelight (#2)
Release Date: September 6 2011

I adored Firelight, the first book in the series, and can't wait to see what happens next! Combine that with my love of dragons and this gorgeous cover and I need it. Now.

Giveaway: Spinning Out

This giveaway is over.
David Stahler stopped by recently to guest post and I have an interview with him that will be posted July 1; to celebrate, I'm giving away one copy of his newest novel Spinning Out.

High school senior Frenchy has little ambition beyond hanging out at the smoking rock until his best friend, the ever-witty and conniving Stewart, gets him to try out for Man of la Mancha. To everyone's surprise, the guys are a hit. But when Stewart's antics begin to grow more obsessive he wears his costume 24/7, freaks out about little details, and displays an incessant hatred of the high-tech windmills outside of town Frenchy worries that there's something deeper going on. Is Stewart spiraling into madness, just like Don Quixote? And can Frenchy battle through his own demons in time to save his friend from self-destruction before it's too late?

All you have to do to win is fill out the form below. The giveaway will run for a week, from today until July 4. Sadly, it's for people in the United States only - sorry, my lovely international folks!

Quick Recap:
[1] copy of Spinning Out by David Stahler up for grabs
[1] winner in the U.S. only
ends July4

How To Win:
[mandatory] fill out the form below

Guest Post: Dawn Metcalf

Swinging by today is Dawn Metcalf, author of Luminous, to talk about her favorite books!

As reality slips and time stands still, Consuela finds herself thrust into the world of the Flow. Removed from all she loves into this shifting world overlapping our own, Consuela quickly discovers she has the power to step out of her earthly skin and cloak herself in new ones-skins made from the world around her, crafted from water, fire, air. She is joined by other teens with extraordinary abilities, bound together to safeguard a world they can affect, but where they no longer belong.

When murder threatens to undo the Flow, the Watcher charges Consuela and elusive, attractive V to stop the killer. But the psychopath who threatens her new world may also hold the only key to Consuela's way home.

________________

I Love Stories.
I love stories, which shouldn't be a surprise, but the stories I love best are the ones that make me think, that make me question the way things are and make me consider life at a completely new angle. Whether television, movies, or a really good book, the ones that hurt my head are usually my top faves! Beloved books from my shelf include Spider Robinson's Mindkiller, William Gibson's Neuromancer, Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash and Diamond Age, Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere and American Gods and his latest, The Graveyard Book, Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife, and Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke (which reminded me a lot of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein!) and, of course, J.K.R.'s HARRY POTTER books.

Since I am a genre geek with a huge love of cult classics, I tend towards TV shows by J. Michael Straczynski and Joss Whedon, films by Tim Burton, Monty Python, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet; basically, the ones that make you say "What?!?" (often with lots of neat dialogue and twisty, unexpected endings.) Top picks would be LABYRINTH, BUCKAROO BONZAI, DONNY DARKO, THE GAME, DELICATESSEN, A FISH CALLED WANDA, SNEAKERS, AMELIE, BIG FISH, SIXTH SENSE, THE THOMAS CROWNE AFFAIR, MEMENTO, and INCEPTION. I also enjoy quirky like Kevin Smith and Terry Gilliam and as far as I'm concerned, Piers Brosnan and Johnny Depp can do no wrong! There are gorgeous period pieces, both snarky and sinister, from SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE to ORLANDO and DANGEROUS LIAISONS, to historical epics like ELIZABETH and LADY JANE (with a very young, dashing Cary Elwes who later starred in another fave movie classic, THE PRINCESS BRIDE). I'm also a sucker for animation, claymation, miniatures, and puppets which means anything by Nick Park or the Jim Henson Company has a place in my heart. But perhaps the epic that tops it all, beyond star treks and wars and spoofs of same, is Peter Jackson's LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, which had all my favorite elements in excruciating, loving detail. (Oddly enough, this same visionary that made my favorite movie also made the one I hate most...but I'll forgive him for it since I adored DISTRICT 9!)

Essentially, if you read this huge list and thought, "What?!?" you are either on the same page as me or think I'm insane. In either case, I hope you enjoy my book! It was born from a love of such head-twistiness as this.

Interview: Lisa Desrochers (& Giveaway)

This giveaway is over.

I had the opportunity to talk to Lisa Desrochers about the covers of her new book, Original Sin, the sequel to Personal Demons! (I also had the opportunity to talk to her at BookExpo America; she's super nice! Go follow her on Twitter and send your love and stuff.)

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She has spent years keeping everyone at a distance—-even her closest friends—-and it seems as if her senior year is going to be more of the same . . . until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can’t seem to stay away from him.

What she doesn’t know is that Luc is on a mission. He’s been sent from Hell itself to claim Frannie’s soul. It should be easy—-all he has to do is get her to sin, and Luc is as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance. But he has to work fast, because if the infernals are after her, the celestials can’t be far behind. And sure enough, it’s not long before the angel Gabriel shows up, willing to do anything to keep Luc from getting what he came for. It isn’t long before they find themselves fighting for more than just Frannie’s soul.

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay . . . for all of them.

Nicole: Hello again, Lisa! What was your initial reaction to seeing the cover of Personal Demons? Original Sin?
Lisa Desrochers: Honestly, I thought the Personal Demons cover looked more adult that I would have hoped, but I really liked the concept and I thought Gabe was perfect… and totally hot. Original Sin is the same models, but Frannie looks a little younger for some reason. I like how Gabe and Luc are switched on that cover, and Gabe is all protective…and totally hot—again ;p

N: I got the same vibe the first time I saw the cover! I couldn't decide if I liked it or not because of it. If you could change anything about the covers, what would you change?
LD: Again, I’d like to give them a more youthful feel. I’m also generally not a fan of full faces on covers, so I’d maybe get creative with that.

N: Personal Demons has been turned into a movie! (Well, in MY mind.) Who is being cast to match the images on the cover?
LD: I did a blog post on this last summer when my agencies movie guy asked the same question. I think Chloe Mortez would be a great Frannie. Logan Lerman could definitely pull off Luc. Lucas Till is totally perfect for Gabe.

N: If there had to be a cover without using people, what would you expect on it?
LD: I really loved the ARC cover for Personal Demons. It was simple with some flames and a halo on some of the lettering in the title. Very fun.

N: Ooo. I'd love to see a copy of that sometime. What is your favorite part about the covers?
LD: Gabe. Yummy :p



And thanks to Lisa, not only do I have an ARC of Original Sin for you guys - I have a signed copy of Personal Demons and some sweet swag that she gave me at BEA to give to you guys! Y'all have a week to enter, and one lucky winner will take home this fantastic little package. All you have to do is fill out the form below!

Quick Recap:
[1] signed copy of Personal Demons up for grabs
[1] ARC of Original Sin up for grabs
[3+] pieces of Personal Demons swag up for grabs
[1] winner in the U.S. or Canada
ends June 4

How To Win:
[mandatory] fill out the form below

Giveaway: Seventeen Ultimate Guide to Style

This giveaway is over.

I'll be honest: I'm not the most fashion conscious girl. But I do love clothes and looking good. (I have to dressers and a a closet full of them to prove it.) And as I live with a fashion forward roommate, I know that it's fun to look at books about fashion.

So why not give you guys - gals, really - the chance, too?

No brand is more trusted among teens and young women than Seventeen. The monthly magazine's more than 13 million devoted readers know it is the place to learn about what matters most to a girl—and fashion is at the top of the list! Packed with amazing clothes and indispensable style advice, Seventeen's Ultimate Guide to Style is the book readers will turn to again and again for fashion inspiration.

Seventeen's Ultimate Guide to Style is all about teaching young women to cultivate their own unique style. The book draws advice from the magazine's editors, real-girl style experts, Hollywood stylists, and celebrity fashion icons. Its chapters explore seven timeless fashion vibes: Classic, Edgy, Girly, Glam, Sporty, Artsy, and Boho. Each section breaks down all a girl needs to know about mastering the look and giving it her personal twist. Throughout its beautifully illustrated pages, the book also provides young women with endless ideas to maximize their wardrobe, stretch their dollar, and make everyday basics work in hundreds of ways. Seventeen's Ultimate Guide to Style is an indispensable resource for young fashionistas everywhere.

Thanks to Seventeen.com, I have three copies to give away to you guys! All you have to do is fill out the form below. Easy, no?

Quick Recap:
[3] copies of Seventeen Ultimate Guide to Style up for grabs
[3] winners in U.S. or Canada only
ends July 3

How To Win:
[mandatory] fill out the form below

Interview: David Stahler

Swinging by today is David Stahler, author of Spinning Out!

High school senior Frenchy has little ambition beyond hanging out at the smoking rock until his best friend, the ever-witty and conniving Stewart, gets him to try out for Man of la Mancha. To everyone's surprise, the guys are a hit. But when Stewart's antics begin to grow more obsessive he wears his costume 24/7, freaks out about little details, and displays an incessant hatred of the high-tech windmills outside of town Frenchy worries that there's something deeper going on. Is Stewart spiraling into madness, just like Don Quixote? And can Frenchy battle through his own demons in time to save his friend from self-destruction before it's too late?

Sounds good, right? Click Read More to see what David and I talked about - including indie rock and what his kids' favorite books are!

The Dark City

The Dark City
Author: Catherine Fisher
Series: Relic Masters (#1)
Publisher: Dial
How Received: review copy

Welcome to Anara, a world mysteriously crumbling to devastation, where nothing is what it seems: Ancient relics emit technologically advanced powers, members of the old Order are hunted by the governing Watch yet revered by the people, and the great energy that connects all seems to also be destroying all. The only hope for the world lies in Galen, a man of the old Order and a Keeper of relics, and his sixteen-year-old apprentice, Raffi. They know of a secret relic with great power that has been hidden for centuries. As they search for it, they will be tested beyond their limits. For there are monster - some human, some not - that also want the relic's power and will stop at nothing to get it.

Let's get my hatred of this cover out of the way.
1) We are not in the 90s. Fantasies have much better covers than the "let's stick this fantasy-esque image on the front and use really bad fonts and make it look like something nobody wants to pick up."
2) Why emblazon Relic Masters on the front and make it larger than the actual title? Why?! WHYYYY!?

That aside, The Dark City delivered what it's cover promised - it's a story with a good fantasy world and a good fantasy plot and... that's about it. The writing is bland, bordering on boring. The only interesting writing parts were diary entries written by somebody who joins Raffi and Galen on their journey, and even those were nothing spectacular; they were simply more interesting than the other things happening around them.

The characters themselves were nothing out of the ordinary - if anything, they bordered on annoying, at least for me. Characters I was supposed to feel sympathy for I hated a little bit. The only interesting character for me was the Sekoi, and I somehow doubt that he's going to play a huge part in the sequels.

I like the plot and the world. I didn't love the plot or the world like I normally with fantasies. (The fact that this is the first fantasy I've read since Mistwood doesn't help, seeing how much I loved that.) And considering the end of the novel, this could probably fall under science-fiction as well. I'm not sure anymore.

But the plot and the world were good. I wish we had seen more of how the magic worked and less randomly doing it. The bits of the world I saw I liked; I'm interested in seeing how a certain city functions - maybe we'll see more in the sequel?

Assuming, of course, I pick the sequel up.

Overall Rating & Final Comments: 5/10. A fantasy that blends in with the rest of the pile; nothing spectacular.
Incarceron or The Dark City?: Though both are by Catherine Fisher - and both have annoying characters - I loved the world of Incarceron more than I did the world of Anara.

A Tale Dark & Grimm

A Tale Dark And Grimm
Author: Adam Gidwitz
Series: ---
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
How Received: BEA10

Reader, beware.

Warlocks with dark spells, hunters with deadly aim, and bakers with ovens retro-fitted for baking children lurk within these pages.

But if you dare, follow Hansel and Gretel as they walk out of their own story and into the wilds—where magic, terror, and a little bit of humor shine like white pebbles lighting the way.

Come on in. It may be frightening, and it’s certainly bloody, but, unlike those other fairy tales you know, this one is true.

Once upon a time, you see, fairy tales were awesome.

I love Grimm fairy tales. I love the originals, I love most adaptions of them (yes, even the squeaky clean Disney ones) and I love them when they're mixed up and mashed up (Into the Woods? Best musical ever).

So I was bound to like this on some level or another.

I love the fact that Hansel and Gretel are the star of every one of the stories and how Gidwitz manages to thread them all together; it was a lot of fun to read. His comments as an author within the text themselves were hysterical; I think I laughed out loud just as much as I grinned at the blood and guts that Hansel and Gretel were spilling.

I think the thing I like most about it is that it manages to stay true to the original tales while making it acceptable for younger kids to read. Yes, it's a little gory and a little horrific, but at the same time it's lots of fun to read and easy for a middle grade kid to understand. And it's even fun to read as an older kid! (I shall never grow up from this stage of 'older kid.')

Overall Rating & Final Comments: 7/10. I loved the way Gidwitz weaved the tales and how he kept to the original, but I wasn't impressed by the writing itself.
Cover Comments: LOVE.

Guest Post: Gary Ghislain

Gary Ghislain, author of How I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend swings by today with a guest post - or rather, a short story! Don't forget to enter the giveaway to win a copy of your own.

___________________

The Boy who Stole Johnny Depp’s Alien Girlfriend Strikes Back
Right. My name is David. I’m 15 years old. I have a tattoo on my left arm that proves that my girlfriend is from outer space and that I’m the key to another world.
Otherwise, I’m quite an ordinary guy.

The spacegirl’s name is Zelda and she came from a planet called Vahalal. She travelled across the universe and landed in Paris, France, to find her perfect boyfriend and ruin my life in the process.

Right now, she’s snoring gently in my bedroom closet, carefully hidden behind a pile of old T-shirts and a mountain of beloved converse shoes.

There are a few things you need to know about Zelda:
a. She’s gorgeous. Tall, thin, she has dark-blond hair and she’s covered with tribal tattoos that are not really tattoos but the full recordings of all her military achievements – mostly battles she won and people she murdered without even breaking a sweat.
b. She looks like 15, 16 max! But she’s 325 years old - that’s 325 years from her planet.
c. She will never age, which is good, because I will age and eventually one day, I might even get taller and stronger then her (I’m rather small for my age but I plan to become tall, strong and incredibly handsome as soon as I turn 16).
d. She’s rather violent and will never hesitate to annihilate whatever stands on her way, including the entire French police force, buildings, and other minor obstacles like tanks and people holding bazookas.
e. Everybody on her home planet is exactly like her. Destructive. Bad tempered. Armed, dangerous and good looking. Oh, and did I mention that Vahalal is a girl only planet?

Yeah, I thought I didn’t.

‘Are you going to stop turning, twisting, and moaning, Frog? I can’t sleep when you’re thinking of Zelda. Think of something else. Think of flowers. Think of this rosy girl you used to love. What was her name? Rossette-something?’
‘Rosemarie! And I didn’t love her.’

I forgot to mention: I have another agent of destruction sleeping beside me in my bedroom: Malou, my evil sort of half sister.

‘You’re always in love, Frog. That’s your problem. You’re a hopeless romantic. Just the opposite of me. I’m never in love. I’m always in for the sex.’

Malou’s 19 and she’s trouble. She’s been emancipated since she was 17. She hates her father. She hates my mother. Otherwise, she hates about 99.99% of the world population.

She says she loves me because she has a thing for total losers.

And she loves Zelda too, because Zelda can’t cross path with a policeman or any reasonable adult without immediately cracking their heads with a baton and sending them to the emergencies. Malou can’t think of anything more inspiring.
The day breaks suddenly. It’s beautiful and tragic. Beautiful because Zelda is hiding in my closet. Tragic because it’s the first day of school.

‘Frog?’
‘Mm?’

‘You know. After all that happened between you and Zelda and the way it’s been in the news and all that, you’re life is never going to be the same at Saint-Exup.' Malou means Saint-Exupery, my private high school for the privileged.
‘You think I’m going to be popular?’

I’ve never been popular. It would be so…

‘No, I mean they’re going to eat you alive, you’d be lucky if they leave bones,’ and ten seconds later, Malou snores and Mum knock on my door.


‘You’re not wearing this,’ Mum barks when I appear in the kitchen. ‘And stop coughing! It sounds so fake!’

Mum and Edouard, Malou’s father, believe that chain smoking and black coffee constitute a healthy breakfast.

A canary would die of asphyxia in that kitchen.

‘Did you even shower?’ She blows smoke all over my hair while trying to sniff it. ‘I don’t mind bringing up a deranged son, but I can’t cope with a neglected one,’ and then she looks at her watch and she forgets all about me having to shower or change my clothes: ‘Out out out!’ she screams. ‘I’m late!’

Mum’s always late. Which doesn’t really matter because she always screams, no matter what.

She grabs her coat. Run for the door like there’s a fire in her living room.

‘Aren’t I supposed to get breakfast before school?’ I ask.

‘Oh don’t be so fussy!’ she searches her purse, jams 20 Euros in my hand. That’s supposed to cover breakfast, lunch and maternal love.

And then she puts on her coat, and… three, two, one… GO: It’s a race toward her car.

I mean, Mum’s a real rocket when she’s fuelled on nicotine and caffeine.


‘Hurry up! Get in the car!’

I get in her brand new Mercedes coupe. I close the door. I make a face like my ulcer medicine is not working anymore.

‘What!?’
‘School’s going to be trouble… after…’
‘After what!?’
‘Zelda.’

Mum’s face gets all twisted. She always gets furious whenever I mention Zelda’s name.

Nobody beside Malou and I believe Zelda’s really from outer space. For Mum, she was just a crazy girl who totally messed up our ordinary life and then disappeared.
‘I told you, I don’t want to ever hear that name again.’ She’s about to bark and bite more, but some rarefied motherly instinct suddenly surfaces. She breathes in, breathes out, yoga style. She must be mentally repeating one of her favourite mantras: don’t kill him, he’s your son after all.

‘David! Burning petrol station. Destroying buildings. Sending cops to the hospital and kidnapping celebrities, those are all SUMMER ACTIVITIES. Wake up. Summer’s gone: back to school!’

I’m glad we had this conversation.

Waiting on Wednesday: Luminous

Because we all have something we're waiting for.

Luminous by Dawn Metcalf
As reality slips and time stands still, Consuela finds herself thrust into the world of the Flow. Removed from all she loves into this shifting world overlapping our own, Consuela quickly discovers she has the power to step out of her earthly skin and cloak herself in new ones-skins made from the world around her, crafted from water, fire, air. She is joined by other teens with extraordinary abilities, bound together to safeguard a world they can affect, but where they no longer belong.

When murder threatens to undo the Flow, the Watcher charges Consuela and elusive, attractive V to stop the killer. But the psychopath who threatens her new world may also hold the only key to Consuela's way home.

Publisher: Dutton's Children
Series: ---
Release Date: July 7 2011

Fantastic summary, a fantasy novel, and a gorgeous cover?

I need it.

Miles from Ordinary

Miles from Ordinary
Author: Carol Lynch Williams
Series: ---
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
How Received: publisher ARC

Thirteen-year-old Lacey wakes to a beautiful summer morning excited to begin her new job at the library, just as her mother is supposed to start work at the grocery store. Lacey hopes that her mother's ghosts have finally been laid to rest; after all, she seems so much better these days, and they really do need the money. But as the hours tick by and memories come flooding back, a day full of hope spins terrifyingly out of control....

Carol Lynch Williams has that rare talent of being able to punch out an emotional roller coaster of a story in a small amount of pages.

I absolutely loved Miles from Ordinary. It took me a few chapters to figure out everything that was going on and Lacey's relationship with each of the characters, but that was the point; it was supposed to be confusing. Even once you had a grip on the actual relationships, you felt like Lacey felt - constantly losing your grip on reality, always afraid of falling down the spiral staircase of insanity.

I'm a character driven person; the fact that I could easily feel for Lacey without having to work for it made me love this story. I never had to worry about being bored while reading it because the emotional roller coaster that Lacey was on had me intense.

The only thing that really irritated me throughout the entire story was part of the ending where Aaron, the boy who Lacey meets at the beginning of the story, does something while he's helping Lacey with something. (This is an intentionally vague sentence to keep it spoiler free.) I don't think it was necessary; he had done enough to further the relationship in one day that it wasn't necessary for it to be in the story. There was potential for the relationship at the end of their story without having that happen.

Oh, and did I mention that the entire story takes place over the course of the day? Carol Lynch Williams is one hell of a talented author.

Overall Rating & Final Comments: 10/10. A short story with a heavy emotional punch.

Interview: Leah Cypess

I'd like to welcome Leah Cypess to WORD! Leah is the author of Mistwood and the recently released Nightspell, a companion to Mistwood.

A stand-alone companion novel to the much-acclaimed MISTWOOD. When Darri rides into Ghostland, a country where the living walk with the dead, she has only one goal: to rescue her younger sister Callie, who was sent to Ghostland as a hostage four years ago. But Callie has changed in those four years, and now has secrets of her own. In her quest to save her sister from herself, Darri will be forced to outmaneuver a handsome ghost prince, an ancient sorcerer, and a manipulative tribal warrior (who happens to be her brother). When Darri discovers the source of the spell that has kept the dead in Ghostland chained to this earth, she faces a decision that will force her to reexamine beliefs she has never before questioned - and lead her into the heart of a conspiracy that threatens the very balance of power between the living and the dead.

I got to talk to her about Keith Urban, movie star white teeth and what she thought of the cover of Mistwood - just click more to read all about it!

Married With Zombies

Married With Zombies
Author: Jesse Petersen
Series: Living With The Dead (#1)
Publisher: Orbit
How Received: BEA10

Meet Sarah and David.

Once upon a time they met and fell in love. But now they're on the verge of divorce and going to couples' counseling. On a routine trip to their counselor, they notice a few odd things - the lack of cars on the highway, the missing security guard, and the fact that their counselor, Dr. Kelly, is ripping out her previous client's throat.

Meet the Zombies.

Now, Sarah and David are fighting for survival in the middle of the zombie apocalypse. But, just because there are zombies, doesn't mean your other problems go away. If the zombies don't eat their brains, they might just kill each other.

Okay, technically, Married with Zombies is not a young adult book. In no way, shape or form is it directed towards teens. It's a quick, humorous read designed for adults.

Of course, saying that something is designed for adults has never stopped me from reading or reviewing it before, especially something that actually made me laugh out loud.

I don't really like zombies; I never have. Out of all the paranormal things to read or watch, they were the one thing I never really got into. I mean, sure, I liked Zombieland, but that's the only thing that I can remember genuinely liking involving zombies.

Maybe it was the humor. I mean, I know that's why I liked Married with Zombies. The characters were realistic but hilarious; they had me laughing out loud, even at the more somber moments - one sarcastic comment and I was giggling again. It takes a lot for any book to make me do that, and a zombie book especially, I think.

Also, the tag line - "The couple who slays together stays together" - was enough to make me love the book. It's so perfect!

Final Comments: If you like zombies - or only kind of like them - read them. You'll laugh out loud.

Giveaway: How I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend

This giveaway is over.
Gary Ghislain, author of How I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend, is swinging by to guest post in a few days.

But to help with your wait, I am hosting a giveaway of his book! Yes, you too can learn about JDepp's alien girlfriend.

David Gershwin's summer is about to take a turn for the weird. When his dad's new patient Zelda tells him she s from outer space and on a quest to take Johnny Depp back to her planet, he knows he should run away screaming. But with one look from her mean, green eyes, David's hooked, and soon he's leaping across rooftops, running from police, and stealing cars just to stay by her side. He might not be a typical hero, but David's going to get the girl even if it takes him to the ends of the earth or beyond.

All you have to do to enter is fill out the form below! One lucky American or Canadian will win a copy so long as they fill out the form by June 25. Easy peasy, right?

Quick Recap:
[1] copy of How I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend up for grabs
[1] winner in the U.S. or Canada
ends June 25

How To Win:
[mandatory] fill out the form below

Feature Friday: Bookcases (38)

Who says storage has to be boring?



A bookcase that looks like a giant snowflake? Temptation to have a winter themed library - or a library for every season! - is there.



Found at Megaodd.

Friday Fronts - The Predicteds

I love, love, love the image they used for the cover - I saw it on a poster at BEA11 and was immediately drawn to it.

I want to strangle the text and font, though. I'm a fan of the less-is-more covers. In this case, I don't think the first line of text at the top of the cover was needed, and I'm not a fan of the cursive-y font that they used.

Liz's Corner: Incarceron

Incarceron
Author: Catherine Fisher
Series: Incarceron (#1)
Publisher: Penguin
How Received: bought

See Nicole's review here.

Incarceron is a prison unlike any other: Its inmates live not only in cells, but also in metal forests, dilapidated cities, and unbounded wilderness. The prison has been sealed for centuries, and only one man, legend says, has ever escaped.

Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, can’t remember his childhood and believes he came from Outside Incarceron. He’s going to escape, even though most inmates don’t believe that Outside even exists. And then Finn finds a crystal key and through it, a girl named Claudia.

Claudia claims to live Outside—her father is the Warden of Incarceron and she’s doomed to an arranged marriage. If she helps Finn escape, she will need his help in return. But they don’t realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost far more than they know.

Because Incarceron is alive.

Incarceron was a book that had been sitting on my to-read shelf for quite some time. When I picked it up at a local book fair, I finally gave in and bought it.

I've seen reviews for it starring at mediocre to five stars. When I closed the book and put it back in my bookcase, I was somewhere in between the two. It had a really good plot, though predictable at times. It was written better than some books of that same genre, however, it wasn't the best. I also loved the characters, though some of them needed some more fleshing out.

Jared, Claudia's mentor and a Sapienti, was one of (if not my only..) favourite character. I don't know what it was about it, but I connected with him better than Claudia. In fact, Claudia got on my nerves sometimes.

Plot wise...I loved it. It could have been made a whole lot 'deeper', if you get my drift. It didn't have the details I would like to see in a plot of that magnitude. However, if it did, the book would be huge or we'd see a more books in the series.

All in all, it was good but not a favourite.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Unwanteds

Because we all have something we're waiting for.

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

Quill prevails when the strong survive. Using this notion as the core of their society, the people of Quill partake in a yearly ceremony, wherein children at the age of thirteen are divided into three categories--the Wanteds, the Necessaries, and the Unwanteds. Wanted children will move on to schooling and training to join the Quillitary and fulfill their roles in maintaining an efficient life for all, while Necessaries will take on farm work and similar duties. Any child who has shown a propensity toward emotion or creativity is deemed Unwanted, and sent for elimination. Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret--behind the mirage of the "death farm" there is instead a place called Artime, where every Unwanted child has been welcomed by a man named Mr. Today. Artime is a special place full of art, music, theater, and magic, where each child is taught to cultivate their creative abilities and learn how to use them magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it's a wondrous transformation. But it's a rare, unique occurrence for twins to be separated between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron's bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.

Publisher: Aladdin
Series: ---
Release Date: August 30 2011

I love Lisa McMann's other books, and even though this is technically MG, it sounds fantastic.

Hourglass

Hourglass
Author: Myra McEntire
Series: Hourglass (#1)
Publisher: Egmont USA
How Received: ARC

Comes out today!

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.
Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

I hate the summary of this book. It makes it sound like some cheesy paranormal romance, and - besides that being the wrong genre - Hourglass is so much more than that.

One, I classify it as science fiction. I'm not quite sure what the rules would be (I'm not a science girl m'self) but there's a definite rule set and science theory that applies to the book. I mean, come on - she might have to deal with 'ghosts', but there's theory to it. This is science fiction, and I wish there was more in YA.

Two, though there is romance, it's not the focus. Yes, her relationship with Michael is played on throughout the book - hello, what is a book without romance? - but I can't help but think that there's more to this book than that. There's stuff about good and bad and write and wrong and the fine line between that. There's humor and lines that make me laugh out loud. There's friendships and family and tension.



But once we move past the summary (and that cover! More on that later), I can tell you - if you're a fan of sci-fi or anything bordering paranormal, I recommend reading Hourglass. I've been fortunate enough to come across a lot of well developed characters lately - characters with interesting back story, who (well, Michael and Ava aside) aren't hideous, but aren't drop dead gorgeous. They've got their own brand of wit and humor about them that make them fun to read. None of them are the same.

And that, I think, is one of the reasons I like Hourglass as much as I did. Besides having an interesting plot - can she really travel in time? Can she do it without ripping the space time continuum apart!? - there were interesting characters to go with it. Anybody who reads WORD regularly knows I'm a sucker for good characters, and Hourglass delivers.

And, of course, a strong and interesting plot, witty writing, and a swoon worthy boy make this book a fantastic addition to most shelves.

Overall Rating & Final Comments: 10/10. I can't think of anything wrong with the actual story itself - and besides, I read it in one sitting. That rarely ever happens with my schedule anymore. I made room.
Cover Comments: At first glance, I liked it. At second glance, I was indifferent. At third glance, I wanted to know what the heck it had to do with the book itself. And why she was standing on a wall.

Hourglass came out today, so if you're in the mood for sci-fi, a good plot, and a swoon worthy boy, go pick it up!

Interview: Mariam Maarouf

Swinging by WORD today is Mariam Maarouf, whose new book Rosie just hit the shelves in Egypt - and the e-shelves everywhere else!

In life, nothing is the same as it seems. People create masks –identities – to hide who they really are –some for noble reasons, or nefarious ones, but only a tiny fraction because they must.

Alessandra and Damien, or Rosalie and Daniel, were once the Princess and Prince of La Pacifica until they were forced out of the beautiful island. Eight months flew by, and they finally began to settle in Alexandria, Egypt, when they found out that they didn’t leave their past behind them, and that they were both wanted urgently.

Dead.

I had a fantastic time talking to Mariam about her books, about random stuff - and about what it's like to live in Egypt!

Giveaway: Beauty Queens

This giveaway is over.
I have two copies of Libba Bray's newest novel to give away to you guys. I know I'm super excited to read it (my copy just got here the other day and I'm about to settle in with it) and I know a lot of YOU want to read it, too!

The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream Pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state-appropriate costumes and compete in front of the cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea, crashing on a desert island and leaving the survivors stranded with little food, little water, and practically no eye liner.

What’s a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program – or wrestle snakes to the ground? Get a perfect tan – or learn to run wild? And what should happen when the sexy pirates show up?

Scholastic has launched a new online community called This Is Teen to connect readers with their favorite YA authors and books. Visit their page on Facebook for all the latest news on Libba Bray and her new book Beauty Queens: www.facebook.com/thisisteen.

You can also enter the Beauty Queens contest! www.thisisteen.com/contest.htm

Ladies and gentlemen, we want to know WHAT MAKES YOU A BEAUTY QUEEN? Being a Beauty Queen like the ones in Libba Bray's new novel means being true to yourself and who you want to be. Tell us in 500 words or less what makes you a Beauty Queen, and you could win a $250 Amex Gift Card to use toward whatever makes you feel most awesome. Or you could opt for a $250 gift card to Sephora. Whatever you choose, we will also send you a signed copy of the book and your very own tiara!

To enter go to http://www.thisisteen.com/Contest.htm

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal US residents ages 13 to 18. Deadline to enter 5pm EST on July 1, 2011. Void where prohibited. For complete details and official rules go to www.ThisIsTeen.com

But back to MY giveaway. All you have to do to win is fill out the form below. Two winners will receive brand new shiny copies of Beauty Queens. The giveaway ends on June 18.

Quick Recap:
[2] copies of Beauty Queens up for grabs
[2] winners in the U.S. or Canada
ends June 18

How To Win:
[mandatory] fill out the form below

Mistwood

Mistwood
Author: Leah Cypess
Series: Mistwood (#1)
Publisher: HarperCollins
How Received: BookExpo America 2010

The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwood. But when she is needed she always comes.

Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.

Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty—because without it, she may be his greatest threat.

Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.

Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart and everything she thought she knew.

I've procrastinated reading Mistwood for a long time; in fact, I probably wouldn't have picked it up yet if this hadn't been a prescheduled review. I wasn't a fan of the cover and even though the summary sounded cool, I didn't feel a need to pick it up.

Do not make my mistake of putting off reading this.

Stop whatever you're reading if you have this in your to be read pile and pick it up. Now.

Yes, you.

I mean it. Go pick it up.

Mistwood has got to be one of the best books I have read since I started WORD - I know I said that about contemporaries and Deb Caletti's Stay, but I mean it about all the books I've read. Maybe it's because the book is fresh in my mind as I'm writing this and I haven't gone back to reread it and look for flaws, but damn, this was a good book.

I mean, let's start with the plot. You have a Shifter who doesn't remember being the Shifter; she simply knows she is. You have the intricacies of the court itself and how the Shifter has to try to protect the Prince. And you have the prince lying to her. And then you have the most fantastic plot twist at the end that made me gasp and giggle and go, "That makes sense! Why didn't I think of that!?" Each thread of the plot came together in an unexpected way that still managed to make sense. I loved it.

Then there's the characters. The Shifter (Isabel) was bloody amazing. I loved her. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed reading about somebody so thoroughly, especially in a fantasy; the characters are usually interesting but balanced with a good plot for which I prefer. But the Shifter was so decidedly unique that I loved seeing what she was thinking and how she was thinking and her development throughout the story as secret after secret came to life. The other characters - Clarisse and Daria in particular - were interesting to read about and see how they played the court and everything to their advantage. Isabel was the best, though.

Maybe it's because I'm in excessive fangirl mode at the moment - I write reviews almost immediately after reading books - but this just worked it's way onto my favorites shelf. It's been a long time since I read a fantasy, especially young adult fantasy, with such a fantastic characters and plot. (And world! I'm cutting the review short because I can ramble on for a while, but the world and the Mistwood in particular were well crafted for such a short time spent talking about them.)

Overall Rating & Final Comments: 10/10. Read it. Now.
Cover Comments: Not a fan. It suits the book really well, but I don't think it's very visually appealing.

Feature Friday: Bookcases (37)

Who said storage had to be boring?




It's a bookcase that is made of other books. (Mainly encyclopedias. And by mainly I mean entirely.)

It's kind of awesome, isn't it?



Created by the people at This Into That.

Friday Fronts - Friend Is Not A Verb

Despite my usual hatred of hands on covers - I don't know what it is; I just don't like them - I'm a fan of this cover. I think the lines have something to do with it - I love how they're angled and everything about them. I like the way the title is arranged, too, and the font is neat.

The image itself is iffy, but with the font choice and the lines it works really well, I think.

Giveaway: Ruby Red

This giveaway is over.

Because I don't have enough giveaways scheduled for this month (smell that? That's the smell of sarcasm), I'm giving away a copy of Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier.

I think I just like giving you guys free stuff. It's fun.

Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

I need to have everybody's addresses right away when I email the publisher this time, so I apologize for having the address as a required part of the form. You can only enter if you have a U.S. or Canadian address.

You guys have until June 14 to enter!



Quick Recap:
[1] copy of Ruby Red up for grabs
[1] winner in the U.S. or Canada
ends June 14

How To Win:
[mandatory] fill out the form below