February 5, 2014 by EM Castellan

Waiting On Wednesday – 38

Hello gentle reader,

this week, I’m waiting on ECHO BOY by Matt Haig (expected publication: 6th February 2014 by Bodley Head Children’s Books). I loved THE RADLEYS by this author (a literary novel with vampires) and I can’t wait to read this YA Sci-Fi.

From Goodreads:

Audrey’s father taught her that to stay human in the modern world, she had to build a moat around herself; a moat of books and music, philosophy and dreams. A moat that makes Audrey different from the echoes: sophisticated, emotionless machines, built to resemble humans and to work for human masters.

Daniel is an echo – but he’s not like the others. He feels a connection with Audrey; a feeling Daniel knows he was never designed to have, and cannot explain. And when Audrey is placed in terrible danger, he’s determined to save her.

The Echo Boy is a powerful story about love, loss and what makes us truly human.

“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 Echo Boy? Is it on your TBR list? What are you waiting on this week?

January 31, 2014 by EM Castellan

Jazz Age January – 4

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 VIXEN by Jillian Larkin.

Title: Vixen (The Flappers #1)

Author: Jillian Larkin

Genre: YA Historical

Publication: 14th December 2010 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Jazz . . . Booze . . . Boys . . . It’s a dangerous combination.

Every girl wants what she can’t have. Seventeen-year-old Gloria Carmody wants the flapper lifestyle and the bobbed hair, cigarettes, and music-filled nights that go with it. Now that she’s engaged to Sebastian Grey, scion of one of Chicago’s most powerful families, Gloria’s party days are over before they’ve even begun… or are they?

Clara Knowles, Gloria’s goody-two-shoes cousin, has arrived to make sure the high-society wedding comes off without a hitch but Clara isn’t as lily-white as she appears. Seems she has some dirty little secrets of her own that she’ll do anything to keep hidden…

Lorraine Dyer, Gloria’s social-climbing best friend, is tired of living in Gloria’s shadow. When Lorraine’s envy spills over into desperate spite, no one is safe. And someone’s going to be very sorry…

From debut author Jillian Larkin, VIXEN is the first novel in the sexy, dangerous, and ridiculously romantic new series set in the Roaring Twenties… when anything goes.

What I thought:

I started reading this book in May 2012 but never finished it at the time. I thought Jazz Age January would be a good time to finally read it. Then I remembered why I had put it down.

This book isn’t a bad book. It’s well written and entertaining. But. The plot is SO SIMILAR to the Bright Young Things trilogy by Anna Godbersen (review here) that it’s very confusing. I couldn’t tell you if I liked this book or not, because all I kept thinking while I was reading it was that it felt I had read it before.

But if you haven’t read Bright Young Things, I guess you should give Vixen a try.

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

January 24, 2014 by EM Castellan

Jazz Age January – 3

Hello gentle reader,

This week, I’m reviewing THE DIVINERS by Libba Bray.

Title: The Diviners

Author: Libba Bray

Genre: YA Historical Fantasy

Publication: 18th September 2012 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.

Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.

As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret.

And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened.

What I thought:

Such. An. Amazing. Read. I loved this book and I couldn’t find anything negative to say about it. The plot is gripping, 1920s New York is wonderfully recreated on the page, the characters are all interesting and the writing is beautiful.

I can only recommend this book to everyone.

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

January 17, 2014 by EM Castellan

Jazz Age January – 2

Hello gentle reader,

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

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!

December 20, 2013 by EM Castellan

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?

The Coldest Girl In Coldtown by Holly Black

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 by Marie Rutkoski

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

Erased (Altered, #2) by Jennifer Rush

3. 2014 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

4. Series Ending You Are Most Anticipating in 2014?

Guardian (Proxy #2) by Alex London

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

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

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!

December 15, 2013 by EM Castellan

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.

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?

PROXY 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?

IMMORTAL 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 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?

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

5. Best series you discovered in 2013?

THE 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?

Bethany 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?

THE 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?

THE 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?

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

11. Most memorable character in 2013?

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

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

INSATIABLE 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?

Shortest: A DAWN MOST WICKED by Susan Dennard (150 pages)

Longest: A STORM OF SWORDS by GRR Martin (1177 pages)

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

Alexia 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 LOVELY by Susan Dennard: such a great summer book!

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

THE 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

December 11, 2013 by EM Castellan

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!

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.

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?

December 4, 2013 by EM Castellan

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!

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?

November 27, 2013 by EM Castellan

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!

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?

November 20, 2013 by EM Castellan

Waiting On Wednesday – 32

Hello gentle reader,

If you’re here for my Gratitude Giveaway 2013, please click on the image below:

This week, I’m waiting on The Madness by Alison Rattle (expected publication: 6th March 2014). It’s a YA Historical novel set in Victorian England. I really enjoyed reading The Quietness by the same author: her books always portray teenage girls in late 19th Century England, in a very realistic way.

From Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Marnie lives in the idyllic coastal village of Clevedon. Despite being crippled by a childhood exposure to polio, she seems set to follow in her mother’s footsteps, and become a ‘dipper’, escorting fragile female bathers into the sea. Her life is simple and safe. But then she meets Noah. Charming, handsome, son-of-the-local-Lord, Noah. She quickly develops a passion for him – a passion which consumes her.

As Marnie’s infatuation turns to fixation she starts to lose her grip on reality, and a harrowing and dangerous obsession develops that seems certain to end in tragedy.

Set in the early Victorian era when propriety, modesty and repression were the rule, this is a taut psychological drama in which the breakdown of a young woman’s emotional state will have a devastating impact on all those around her.

“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 The Quietness? Is The Madness on your TBR list? What are you waiting on this week?

EM Castellan

YA author, worlds builder and insatiable reader

Tag Archives: YA Books

Waiting On Wednesday – 38

Jazz Age January – 4

Jazz Age January – 3

Jazz Age January – 2

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

End of Year Book Survey – 2013 Edition!

Waiting On Wednesday – 35

Waiting On Wednesday – 34

Waiting On Wednesday – 33

Waiting On Wednesday – 32

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: