Category Archives: Readings

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Jazz Age January – 2

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Hello gentle reader,

Jazz Age January is a reading challenge hosted by Leah at Books Speak Volumes. The idea is to read books related to the Roaring Twenties during the month of January. If you want to join in the fun, read about it here.

This week, I’m reviewing BORN OF ILLUSION by Teri Brown.

born-of-illusion-teri-brown-new

Title: Born Of Illusion

Author: Teri Brown

Genre: YA Historical Fantasy

Publication: 11th June 2013 by Balzer + Bray

Blurb (from Goodreads):

A gifted illusionist, Anna assists her mother, the renowned medium Marguerite Van Housen, in her stage show and séances, easily navigating the underground world of magicians, mediums, and mentalists in 1920’s New York. As the illegitimate daughter of Harry Houdini—or so Marguerite claims—sleight of hand illusions have never been a challenge for Anna. The real trick is keeping her own gifts secret from her opportunistic mother. Because while Marguerite’s own powers may be a sham, Anna possesses a true ability to sense people’s feelings and foretell the future.

But as Anna’s powers intensify, she begins to experience frightening visions of her mother in peril, which leads her to explore the powers she’s tried so long to hide. And when a mysterious young man named Cole moves into the flat downstairs, introducing Anna to a secret society that studies people with gifts like hers, she is forced to confront her past and rethink everything she’s ever known. Is her mother truly in danger, or are Anna’s visions merely illusion? And could the great Houdini really be her father, or is it just another of Marguerite’s tricks?

From Teri Brown comes a world bursting with magic, with romance, and the temptations of Jazz Age New York—and the story of a girl about to become the mistress of her own destiny.

What I thought:

I didn’t like this book as much as I wanted to. The blurb really grabbed me (the Roaring 20s! Magic! Secrets!) but unfortunately the story itself failed to deliver the promised excitement. The main problem was that everything was told rather than shown: we’re told Anna is a gifted magician, yet we barely get to see her do any magic. We’re told the story takes place in 1920’s New York, yet we don’t get to see much of it (halfway through the book I actually had to check where the story took place, because the setting was so vague I couldn’t remember this piece of information). The last straw was during the final showdown, when the main character faints (!) and therefore we don’t get to see any of the ending firsthand. Definitely not the best 1920s book I’ve read.

What have you been reading this week? Make sure to leave me a comment below!

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Jazz Age January – 1

jaj-banner

Hello gentle reader,

Jazz Age January is a reading challenge hosted by Leah at Books Speak Volumes. The idea is to read books related to the Roaring Twenties during the month of January.If you want to join in the fun, read about it here.

This week, I’m reviewing DOLLFACE by Renee Rosen.

Dollface

Title: Dollface: A Novel of the Roaring Twenties

Author: Renee Rosen

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Publication: 5th November 2013 by NAL Trade

Blurb (from Goodreads):

America in the 1920s was a country alive with the wild fun of jazz, speakeasies, and a new kind of woman—the flapper.

Vera Abramowitz is determined to leave her gritty childhood behind and live a more exciting life, one that her mother never dreamed of. Bobbing her hair and showing her knees, the lipsticked beauty dazzles, doing the Charleston in nightclubs and earning the nickname “Dollface.”

As the ultimate flapper, Vera captures the attention of two high rollers, a handsome nightclub owner and a sexy gambler. On their arms, she gains entrée into a world filled with bootleg bourbon, wailing jazz, and money to burn. She thinks her biggest problem is choosing between them until the truth comes out. Her two lovers are really mobsters from rival gangs during Chicago’s infamous Beer Wars, a battle Al Capone refuses to lose.

The heady life she’s living is an illusion resting on a bedrock of crime and violence unlike anything the country has ever seen before. When the good times come to an end, Vera becomes entangled in everything from bootlegging to murder. And as men from both gangs fall around her, Vera must put together the pieces of her shattered life, as Chicago hurtles toward one of the most infamous days in its history, the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.

What I thought:

I really enjoyed this book. I picked it up because I read somewhere fans of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire would enjoy it, and I wasn’t disappointed. I found in this book the same atmosphere and the same kind of plot that I love in Boardwalk Empire. What I also thought very interesting was that this story is told from the point of view of the women: wives and mistresses of the mobsters.

All in all, it’s an excellent example of historical fiction set in the 1920s, and I do recommend it if you read Adult books.

What have you been reading this week? Make sure to leave me a comment below!

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Jazz Age January

Hello gentle reader and Happy New Year!

I’m starting off 2014 with a challenge: Jazz Age January hosted by Leah at Books Speak Volumes.

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The idea is to read books related to the Roaring Twenties during the month of January. “Readers are welcome to read novels written by Jazz Age authors, non-fiction about the ’20s, and contemporary fiction set during this time period.” If you want to join in the fun, you can sign up here. Each Saturday (from Jan. 11 to Feb. 8), Leah will post a link-up where participants can link to any reviews or posts they have written for this event.

Here is my reading list:

The Diviners by Libba Bray

Dollface by Renee Rosen

Born of Illusion by Teri Brown

The Flappers series by Jillian Larkin

Serena by Ron Rash

Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh

Possibly books by Virginia Woolf and Francis Scott Fitzgerald.

I hope you’ll enjoy this series of posts! And if you want to recommend books, feel free to do so below!

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End of Year Book Survey – 2013 Edition! (Part 2)

Hello gentle reader,

Last Sunday I filled in the first part of The Perpetual Page Turner’s End of Year Book Survey. Today I’m answering the “Looking Ahead” part of the survey.

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2013 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2014?

Coldest Girl In Coldtown

The Coldest Girl In Coldtown by Holly Black

The Dream Thieves

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

I know, I can’t believe I STILL haven’t read those two books either.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2014 (non-debut)?

The Winner's Curse

The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Lair of Dreams

Lair of Dreams (The Diviners, #2) by Libba Bray

Erased

Erased (Altered, #2) by Jennifer Rush

3. 2014 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

Dorothy Must Die

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

4. Series Ending You Are Most Anticipating in 2014?

Guardian

Guardian (Proxy #2) by Alex London

retribution_510x510

The Retribution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #3) by Michelle Hodkin

Ignite Me

Ignite Me (Shatter Me, #3) by Tahereh Mafi

Strange Ever After

Strange And Ever After (Something Strange and Deadly, #3) by Susan Dennard

(no cover art yet!)

The Forever Song (Blood of Eden, #3) by Julie Kagawa

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2014?

Read more books! Always read more books…

Which books are you most looking forward to reading in 2014? Feel free to leave me a comment below!

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Knights of Rilch Cover Reveal!

Hello gentle reader,

Today I’m revealing the cover for Rachel O’Laughlin’s second book, KNIGHTS OF RILCH (expected publication: 25th February 2014 by Dublin Mist Press). The cover reveal was supposed to happen over at IceyBooks but Hafsah is experiencing some technical difficulties, so I’m happy to step in!

Blurb:

Nearly a decade ago…

When Serengard rebelled and the Orion monarchy fell, former crown princess Kierstaz Orion’s love for her people became a burning desire to set things right. With a price on their heads, Kierstaz and her brother Mikel led a handful of Border Guard against the new army along the border of Dreibourge. But months of heavy bloodshed forced her small band of knights to abandon the border — and all of Serengard — to the rebels.

Nine years and a thousand betrayals later…

Kierstaz and Mikel again find themselves on the run, only this time, they’ve a boy in tow: Malcom, the son of two of the Seren rebellion’s strongest leaders. The new regime wants him dead, Mikel wants him alive, and it’s all Kierstaz can do to keep their tracks covered. Desperate to preserve the innocent life she’s sworn to protect, and afraid Mikel’s may be forfeit, Kierstaz must gamble the last thing in the world she owns — her identity. Secrets are a staple of the Orion family, and those Kierstaz keeps are as dangerous as the ones kept from her.

KNIGHTS OF RILCH is the sequel to COLDNESS OF MAREK, and the second in the SERENGARD fantasy series.

And now for the cover reveal…
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KnightsOfRilch
Original Artwork Copyright 2013 by Dan Tare
RachelOLaughlinAuthor
Rachel O’Laughlin grew up writing adventure stories in which heroines tend to get their hands dirty, bad guys sometimes win, and someone always gets kidnapped. Her passion for all things history morphed into a love for fantasy in her late teens. Lattes and The Fray are daily dwellers in her home in New England, where she lives with her husband and children.

Book Links:

KNIGHTS OF RILCH on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18372007-knights-of-rilch

Pre-Order KNIGHTS OF RILCH: http://rachelolaughlin.com/novels/knights-of-rilch/

And here is the link to the giveaway!

So what do you think? Make sure to leave a comment for Rachel below!

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End of Year Book Survey – 2013 Edition!

Hello gentle reader,

today I’m taking part in the 4th Annual End of Year Book Survey hosted by Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner.

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This year I’ve read 28 fiction books so far, which is a little more than last year. I think I read more because of my Kindle, which allowed me to buy books for a really cheap price.

There are 27 questions in the survey, and I’ve picked the ones I felt I had a good answer for…

1. Best Book You Read In 2013?

ProxyPROXY by Alex London: this book is amazing and you should read it.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

immortalbelovedukIMMORTAL BELOVED by Cate Tiernan: I loved the premise and was very disappointed by the whole plot and writing.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013?

Shatter MeSHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi: I waited a while to read this one and I’m so glad I finally did!

4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?

AlteredALTERED by Jennifer Rush: because every YA reader can find something they like in this book.

5. Best series you discovered in 2013?

Clockwork PrincessTHE INFERNAL DEVICES by Cassandra Clare: I had never read anything by Cassie Clare before picking up this series. It’s not perfect but it’s definitely enjoyable.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?

Masque of the Red DeathBethany Griffin (Author of MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH and DANCE OF THE RED DEATH): I loved her writing and her retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s story. I can’t wait for THE FALL in 2014!

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

PROXY by Alex London: I don’t usually read Sci-Fi book.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?

ETERNITY_CURE_FRONTTHE ETERNITY CURE by Julie Kagawa: great pace, great plot, great characters.

9. Book You Read In 2013 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Diviners-PB2THE DIVINERS by Libba Bray: I’ll probably read it again before LAIR OF DREAMS comes out.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?

SkylarkSKYLARK by Meagan Spooner: the book wasn’t as good as I expected, but I still love its cover.

11. Most memorable character in 2013?

dodgerterrypratchettDodger in DODGER by Terry Pratchett: a great male POV.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read?

InsatiableINSATIABLE by Meg Cabot: this vampire book came out in 2010. I can’t believe I waited 3 years to cross it off my To-Be-Read list.

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?

Dennard - A Dawn Most WickedShortest: A DAWN MOST WICKED by Susan Dennard (150 pages)

A Storm of Swords - GRR MartinLongest: A STORM OF SWORDS by GRR Martin (1177 pages)

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2013 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).

SoullessAlexia and Lord Maccon in SOULLESS by Gail Carriger: I loved them!

21. Genre You Read The Most From in 2013?

YA Historical Fantasy.

25. Book That Was The Most Fun To Read in 2013?

A Darkness Strange and LovelyA DARKNESS STRANGE AND LOVELY by Susan Dennard: such a great summer book!

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2013?

The QuietnessTHE QUIETNESS by Alison Rattle: heart-wrenching historical set in Victorian London.

That’s it for me! What were your favourite books this year? Make sure to share your thoughts below! And if you want to take part in this blog hop, here is the link.

4th Annual End of Year Book Survey
4th Annual End of Year Book Survey
4th Annual End of Year Book Survey
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Waiting On Wednesday – 35

Hello gentle reader,

this week I’m waiting on Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige (expected publication: 1st April 2014 by HarperTeen). It’s a YA Fantasy Retelling (based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, as you might have guessed). I find the cover very eye-catching and the fact that this book sounds very Wicked-like doesn’t hurt either… I’ll definitely read it when it comes out!

Dorothy Must Die

From Goodreads:

I didn’t ask for any of this. I didn’t ask to be some kind of hero.
But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I’ve read the books. I’ve seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can’t be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There’s still the yellow brick road, though—but even that’s crumbling.

What happened? Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I’m the other girl from Kansas.
I’ve been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I’ve been trained to fight.
And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman’s heart.
Steal the Scarecrow’s brain.
Take the Lion’s courage.
Then and only then—Dorothy must die!

There is a prequel to this story: an e-novella published on 12th November 2013 by HarperCollins. It’s called No Place Like Oz.

No Place Like Oz

In this digital original novella, Dorothy travels back to Oz to reunite with old friends, but her story may not have a happy ending. No Place Like Oz is a prequel to the forthcoming novel Dorothy Must Die. Perfect for fans of Alex Flinn, Marissa Meyer, and Gregory Maguire, No Place Like Oz is a dark reimagining of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Building off of its rich mythology, Danielle Paige creates an edgy, thrilling story for teens that chronicles the rise and fall of one of the literature’s most beloved characters.

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly event, hosted by book blogger Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Have you heard of Dorothy Must Die? Is it on your TBR list? Have you read No Place Like Oz yet? What are you waiting on this week?

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Waiting On Wednesday – 34

Hello gentle reader,

this week I’m waiting on Curses and Smoke: A Novel of Pompeii by Vicky Alvear Shecter (expected publication: 27th May 2014 by Arthur A. Levine Book). It’s a YA Historical novel set in Ancient Rome and it sounds awesome!

Cursesandsmoke

From Goodreads:

When your world blows apart, what will you hold onto?

TAG is a medical slave, doomed to spend his life healing his master’s injured gladiators. But his warrior’s heart yearns to fight in the gladiator ring himself and earn enough money to win his freedom.

LUCIA is the daughter of Tag’s owner, doomed by her father’s greed to marry a much older Roman man. But she loves studying the natural world around her home in Pompeii, and lately she’s been noticing some odd occurrences in the landscape: small lakes disappearing; a sulfurous smell in the air. . . .

When the two childhood friends reconnect, each with their own longings, they fall passionately in love. But as they plot their escape from the city, a patrician fighter reveals his own plans for them — to Lucia’s father, who imprisons Tag as punishment. Then an earthquake shakes Pompeii, in the first sign of the chaos to come. Will they be able to find each other again before the volcano destroys their whole world?

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly event, hosted by book blogger Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Have you heard of Curses and Smoke? Is it on your TBR list? What are you waiting on this week?

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YA New Releases – December Edition

Hello gentle reader,

this month I have decided to highlight a few novellas that I’m really looking forward to reading…

forged

Forged by Jennifer Rush (Altered #0.5)

Expected publication: 3d December 2013 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Before Anna and Sam, there was Dani and Sam.

There’s one rule that all Branch operatives must live by: No attachments. When Dani O’Brien entered the Branch, she planned to trade her freedom so that her family could have a better life. But joining up with the mysterious organization is more than she bargained for. Branch head Connor watches over her closely–too closely. The training is brutal, the experiments are secret, and the missions promise to be anything but ordinary. The only thing getting Dani through each day is the hope that she’ll run into Sam–a young man, about her age, who wears the world on his shoulders.

This short-story is the prequel to Jennifer Rush’s thrilling and suspenseful Altered series.

The Last Stand of the New York Institute

The Last Stand of the New York Institute

by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan and Maureen Johnson (The Bane Chronicles #9)

Expected publication: 17th December 2013 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Magnus meets Valentine in battle as the Circle attacks the Downworlders of New York City.

In the time of the Uprising, Valentine’s Circle goes after Downworlders in New York…and the Shadowhunters of the Institute must decide whether to join him, or fight with Magnus and his kind. This is the first time Magnus sees Jocelyn, Luke, and Stephen—but not the last. It is not long before Jocelyn seeks him out…

FractureMe

Fracture Me by Tahereh Mafi (Shatter Me #2.5)

Expected publication: 17th December 2013 by HarperCollins

In this electrifying sixty-page companion novella to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, discover the fate of the Omega Point rebels as they go up against The Reestablishment. Set during and soon after the final moments of Unravel Me, Fracture Me is told from Adam’s perspective.
Fracture Me sets the stage for Ignite Me, the explosive finale in Tahereh Mafi’s epic dystopian series.

LITTLE, BROWN BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS DANGEROUS DREAM

Dangerous Dream by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (Dangerous Creatures #0.5)

Expected publication: 17th December 2013

“Beautiful Creatures” authors Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl are going back to Gatlin for an all-new spin-off series called “Dangerous Creatures”. The series follows fan favorite characters (and on-again-off-again couple) Link and Ridley as they embark on fresh adventures. The series kicks off with the enovella “Dangerous Dream,”, followed by the release of the first book, “Dangerous Creatures,” on May 6, 2014.

Which books are you looking forward to reading this month? Let me know below!

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Waiting On Wednesday – 33

Hello gentle reader,

this week, I’m waiting on Hexed by Michelle Krys (expected publication: 10th June 2014 by Delacorte Press/Random House Children’s Books). It’s a YA Fantasy about witches. I’ve been following Michelle Krys online for a very long time, and I can’t wait to finally read her book!

Hexed

From Goodreads:

If high school is all about social status, Indigo Blackwood has it made. Sure, her quirky mom owns an occult shop, and a nerd just won’t stop trying to be her friend, but Indie is a popular cheerleader with a football-star boyfriend and a social circle powerful enough to ruin everyone at school. Who wouldn’t want to be her?

Then a guy dies right before her eyes. And the dusty old family Bible her mom is freakishly possessive of is stolen. But it’s when a frustratingly sexy stranger named Bishop enters Indie’s world that she learns her destiny involves a lot more than pom-poms and parties. If she doesn’t get the Bible back, every witch on the planet will die. And that’s seriously bad news for Indie, because according to Bishop, she’s a witch too.

Suddenly forced into a centuries-old war between witches and sorcerers, Indie’s about to uncover the many dark truths about her life—and a future unlike any she ever imagined on top of the cheer pyramid.

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly event, hosted by book blogger Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Have you heard of Hexed? Is it on your TBR list? What are you waiting on this week?