Review - Total Eclipse

...turn around....

(That damn song has been in my head ever since the title to the final book in the Weather Warden series was announced. Sigh.)

All hell breaks loose in Total Eclipse (of the heart!) by Rachel Caine... great, now I have Misfits stuck in my head... Gyah!

...strike that... reverse it... let's start over. Non-musically.

Guest Review - Passion

Hello folks! Krys here, and I am doing something I have not done yet in the history of bibliopunkk... I have Ann from Semisweetbookblog.blogspot.com here today guest reviewing Passion, book 3 of the Fallen series by Lauren Kate. Ann was one of my winners from an ARC giveaway I hosted earlier this month. I would like to make this a regular feature on the blog for any winners who are interested in writing reviews from past (and future) giveaways. Contact me at bibliopunkk@gmail.com if you are interested in doing this.

Ok... Agenda pimped. Without any further adieu, I give you Semisweet...with as much of her original formatting as intact as possible. (I tried! I really did.)  Don't foget to check out her blog.

The Tessa Gratton Blood Magic Challenge

Earlier this year I read Tessa Gratton’s Blood Magic on a lark. I wasn’t sure what I was in the mood for but in a few pages I was hooked. I read through it, loved it, and I couldn’t wait to put it into customer’s hands… most, of which, have come back to tell me how much they enjoyed the book. It’s a wonderful book and, for me, has become the best read of the year… so much so that I am declaring it now. In June. Barring a few amazing titles (Anna Dressed in Blood, Divergent, A Touch Mortal) I have no other ardent love save this book. I think that Blood Magic is the best Young Adult book I read in 2011.

To that end, I am issuing a challenge that will feed into MY next reading goalwar madness. I know this book won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but it will do something for a lot of you. So, the challenge is simple for anyone who is interested to participate.

Review - Anna Dressed in Blood

I'm declaring it now - This is one of the best Young Adult books that will be published in 2011. There, I've called it... so mote it be. Anna Dressed in Blood was everything I wanted, and more. It's everything you have been hearing about, and more. Brava, Kendare Blake, brava.

Theseus Cassio Lowood (Cas) has a legacy handed down from his Father... he kills ghosts. When he was a child his father was murdered in Baton Rouge by a ghost who ripped him apart and bit giant chunks out of him. Cas has vowed revenge and has spent the last few years gallivanting about the United States killing ghosts for practice. His newest tip off has taken him to Thunder Bay, Ontario where he's hunting down the most terrifying and badass ghost of his career - Anna Dressed in Blood.

Review - Cape Storm

Earlier this year I made a dent in the Weather Warden books by Rachel Caine... and then I needed a break. I love these books overall, but blasting through a series begins to hurt my soul a few books in. I'm happy with this addition to Rachel Caine's phenomenal series though.

In Cape Storm Joanne's oldest enemy is wreaking havoc on the world - a violent hurricane is ravaging the southern coasts leaving the Weather Wardens only one option... to hijack a luxury cruise ship and battle it from the source... of course. (Makes perfect sense to me!) While at war Joanne is dealing with yet another old friend; a new demon mark. She makes an agreement with Lewis to kill her if the demon takes over but will he be able to do it in time?

Huge Young Adult ARC Giveaway

...and one adult romance title... sweet.

World, want my doubles? Guess the number I am thinking.

Review - Original Sin

Last September I read an ARC of Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers and fell utterly in love. The world was so fun, the story stellar, and the tone was really sexy. Recently I got the chance to meet Lisa at an author event hosted by the store I work at... so of course 2 weeks later an ARC of her upcoming sequel turned up in my hands. No autograph for me. Bollocks.

However, missing the chance to have her sign the book aside, Original Sin lived up to Personal Demons. The mood carries through to the second book and, shock of shocks, surmounts it. This book is better than the first book. Yeah, I said it. What?

ARC Giveaway - Young Adult Friendly

- Sacrifice by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz -

- Perfect by Ellen Hopkins -

-Triangles by Ellen Hopkins -

- Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay -

Once again, I have doubles of books... so I give them away... rinse, repeat.

Review - First Kill

I really enjoyed reading The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod books by Heather Brewer. There's a charm to them despite the fact that I felt a little old reading them. I looked forward to them every year and quickly devoured each new addition as the books released. I think this is going to be a similar tactic with The Slayer Chronicles.

In First Kill Joss has everything a boy could want until the night of Cecile's death. Paralyzed with fear he watched a Vampire snuff out her life... and did nothing. Wracked with guilt over his sister's death he shuts off inside... and slowly begins to plot vengeance, a task that consumes him. When he discovers that his family is part of an ancient Slaying Society that kills Vampires Joss knows he will be able to avenge Cecile's death.

Review - Crossed

Matched was one of my favourite books of 2010. Naturally I was uber geeked when I acquired a copy of Crossed. The read this time was a little less smooth than Ally Condie's first attempt.

In Crossed Cassia and Ky have been separated. Cassia is determined to find Ky and travels into the Outer Provinces in search of him. Spurning her along with little clues the book details their quest to find one another even as the world is falling apart around them. There is an uprising forming in the Provinces and Cassia and Ky find themselves pitted in revolution against the Society.

ARC Giveaway Winners

I know I've been lax in this... my bad. Life got away from me this week.

So, without any further adieu... I haz contest winners!

First copy of Passion = Christi (caldelizzi)

Second copy of Passion = Semisweet (semisweetbookblog)

Vixen & Ingenue coupling = Krystal (krystalb556)

Empire of Ruins (great book!) = Megan (xafterlifeofthepartyx)

Hades = Mandi (horselovercutie)

(wow, those colours look really girlie...oh well)

Congrats to the winners. I'll be emailing you shortly for addresses and confirmation and such. Thanks everyone for entering and do keep checking back as I always get ARCs and expect to be getting more here shortly. If any of the winners are interested I always encourage guest reviews on the blog.

Thanks again!

-BP 

Review - Forever

Last year I put a moratorium on all books werewolf save this one. There's something about the werewolf theme that bothers me when most authors try to write it - alpha dominance struggles, aggression and fighting, and running... lots and lots of running ad nauseum. If I have to read one more werewolf book where the character spends two thirds of the book riotously glorying in the run I think I will commit seppuku. Hence the moratorium.

That said, I was beyond thrilled when Forever by Maggie Stiefvater turned up this week. Thrilled and privileged. This has been one of my favourite series that the young adult world has going for it. It's bittersweet to see it end.

Review - Bloodlines

Well, that was just the palliative I needed after the birthday weekend of hell. Thanks to the fine folks at Penguin for getting this to me at just the right moment. You made my week.

So, Bloodlines by Richelle Mead picks up shortly after the events of Last Sacrifice - the final book in the original Vampire Academy series. I say "original" because this is a spin-off series (for those 5 VA fans online who have not heard yet). Bloodlines follows the misadventures of Sydney Sage and co. as they move house and home to Palm Springs, California. The company includes a motley bunch of folks - Adrian Ivashkov, Jill Dragomir, Eddie Castile, and newcomer (and Alchemist) Keith Darnell. The group is forced to take this action after it becomes obvious that there are people in the Moroi Court who are unhappy with the new Queen - Lissa Dragomir, Jill's sister. Jill is currently the only legal tie Lissa has to the throne... and there are those willing to remove said impediment in order to promote their own political agendas. 

The Perfect Storm

My stats have gone up by 4000+ views this last month.

...wow....

 

...Wow...did I get a lot of mileage out of my last post or what... I can honestly say that I feel like the debutante in the blog world that got kicked out onto the dance floor... hello world, there's far more of you reading me now than there once was. Welcome to my world.

I don't do catch up blogs that often, or "this is me in real life" updates. I mostly just whinge and gush about books... This is going to be one of those rare ones.

Reacting to Jace

There has been much speculation over the casting choices for Sony Pictures upcoming 2012 film The Mortal Instruments, from Cassandra Clare’s Young Adult series. The other night Screen Gems revealed its casting choice for Jace, a favourite character of fan girls everywhere (including this one). Jace will be played by Jamie Campbell Bower, who has had parts in Sweeney Todd, New Moon, and the final Harry Potter film… and with that simple announcement the book world that lives inside of the internet exploded.

Two days later the running opinion seems to be this… Jamie Campbell Bower is not “MY” Jace; The “MY” part, of course, being the definitive word from fangirls and boys around the world. Fans of Cassandra Clare have spent the last few days all over the internet expressing every thought from “Meh” to “disdain!!!” over this one casting choice. Of course we’re concerned, this is Jace ‘effin Wayland we’re talking about - one of the most beloved and lusted after character to hit paper in the last few years. Of course we’re sensitive and only want the best... but we, as fans, have to admit that we often put ridiculous expectations onto actors playing our favourites.

City of Bones Cating update - Jace

- Jace Wayland - 

Ladies and Gentlemen.... Jace effin' Wayland has been cast... and will be played by Jamie Campbell Bower (Sweeney Todd). Bower can be seen as Gellert Grindewald this summer in the final Harry Potter movie.

....and I don't hate it.... awesome!!!

Thoughts?

- BP