Sunday, June 30, 2013

Stacking the Shelves {22}


Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we get to share the books we've bought, been gifted, or received for review!

How was everybody's week? I had a good one! :)

For review:

Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky
Anatomy of a Single Girl by Daria Snadowsky
Solstice by P.J. Hoover

Parasite by Mira Grant (via Netgalley)

A big, big thanks to Daria Snadowsky, Tor Teen, and Orbit Books for these! I can't wait to read them. :)

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Tuesday - I teased from The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith.
Wednesay - I helped promote Disneylanders by Kate Abbott with a blast and giveaway.
Friday - I reviewed Dance of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin.
Saturday - I hosted a stop on the Solstice blog tour with an interview with P.J. Hoover.

Books I read this week:
Insurgent by Veronica Roth (reread, audiobook)
Dance of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

I'm currently reading:
The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett
Matched by Ally Condie (reread, audiobook)

So that's been my week! I have my last 3 days of my internship this week, then I'm FREEEE! (I can't believe 8 weeks went by so quickly!) That means I'll have lots and lots of reading time! :) Anyways, I'd love to see what y'all got, so leave me links! I'll be visiting about in just a little while. :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Solstice Blog Tour: Interview with P.J. Hoover


I am so excited to have P.J. Hoover here today for an interview as part of the blog tour for Solstice! This book has been on my radar forever, and for good reason. Have you heard of another book to combine dystopia and mythology? Have you?? And you know you desperately want to read one. :)

About the book:

Piper's world is dying.

Each day brings hotter temperatures and heat bubbles that threaten to destroy the earth. Amid this global heating crisis, Piper lives under the oppressive rule of her mother, who suffocates her even more than the weather does. Everything changes on her eighteenth birthday, when her mother is called away on a mysterious errand and Piper seizes her first opportunity for freedom.

Piper discovers a universe she never knew existed—a sphere of gods and monsters—and realizes that her world is not the only one in crisis. While gods battle for control of the Underworld, Piper’s life spirals out of control as she struggles to find the answer to the secret that has been kept from her since birth.
Since Solstice is based within mythology and I've read how Edith Hamilton's Mythology had a big impact on you, I'm curious. What is your favorite mythological story?
I've always been partial to the Cupid and Psyche story. I loved the betrayal and the romance and all the other emotions that are captured so perfectly. Plus, it's Cupid! Woot!

Mixing dystopia and mythology (definitely two of my favorites!) is such an interesting and exciting thing to do. How did you come up with the idea? Was it something that just happened or a conscious decision?
It actually was not completely planned out before. It more happened as I was writing the first chapter of the first draft of Solstice. All of a sudden, I found my main character in a dystopian world, and I ran with it!

What are some of your favorite books, or books that influenced you as a writer?
I loved the world of Middle Earth that Tolkien created above all others! There is so much to be learned from this world, from the languages to the people to the mythology. As for dystopian books, I fell in love with Brave New World back in high school, and the idea of a crazy futuristic society always stuck with me. And of course there was Logan's Run.

How has it been going from self-publishing Solstice into traditional publishing?
It's been a really fun journey! As much as I adore the world of self-publishing, I love the access to school libraries that traditional publishing provides. Libraries are so key in getting books into reader's hands, and I'm enjoying every minute of it!

I read that you worked as an electrical engineer for quite a while before turning to writing. How do you think your time as an engineer affected your writing?
Engineering (and the school required for it) taught me a lot of discipline. Writing, just like engineering, benefits hugely from this discipline. Being able to stick to a schedule, keep at a project through revisions, and treat the business as a profession are all things I learned in the engineering world previously and use in the writing world today.

And just for fun, can you tell us one random fact about yourself?
I am scared of roller coasters. They seriously make me want to pee my pants. And I love Disney World more than any place in the world. Okay, so that is two.


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About the author:

P. J. Hoover first fell in love with Greek mythology in sixth grade thanks to the book Mythology by Edith Hamilton. After a fifteen year bout as an electrical engineer designing computer chips for a living, P. J. decided to take her own stab at mythology and started writing books for kids and teens. When not writing, P. J. spends time with her husband and two kids and enjoys practicing kung fu, solving Rubik's cubes, and watching Star Trek. Her first novel for teens, Solstice (Tor Teen, June 2013), takes place in a global warming future and explores the parallel world of mythology beside our own. Her middle grade novel, Tut (Tor Children's, 2014), tells the story of a young immortal King Tut, who's been stuck in middle school for over 3,000 years and must defeat an ancient enemy with the help of a dorky kid from school, a mysterious Egyptian princess, and a one-eyed cat. For more information about P. J. (Tricia) Hoover, please visit her website www.pjhoover.com.
As part of the blog tour, there are 25 finished copies of Solstice being given away! Enter below! Also, be sure to check out the EPIC giveaway P.J. is having on her blog in celebration of the book's release; she's giving away 6 sets of 7 books!
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Friday, June 28, 2013

Dance of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death #2) by Bethany Griffin

Release date: June 11, 2013
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 336
Format: Egalley
Source: Publisher provided through Edelweiss
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository
In Dance of the Red Death, Araby’s world is in shambles—betrayal, death, disease, and evil forces surround her. She has no one to trust. But she finds herself and discovers that she will fight for the people she loves, and for her city.

Her revenge will take place at the menacing masked ball, though it could destroy her and everyone she loves…or it could turn her into a hero.

With a nod to Edgar Allan Poe, Bethany Griffin concludes her tragic and mysterious Red Death series with a heroine that young adult readers will never forget.
Let's start bluntly. Dance of the Red Death was a bit underwhelming for me. After such an interesting and promising start in Masque of the Red Death I had very high hopes for this sequel. While certain aspects did live up, others fell a bit flat.

As in the first book, Bethany Griffin's world is vividly imagined and lushly described. One can see the damp, dirty streets and almost smell the rotting bodies of the Weeping Sickness and Red Death's victims. It was still a world to rival Edgar Allan Poe's own and one that would do him proud.

But unlike the first book, certain plot elements were lacking. First, I found myself absolutely dragging through  most of the book and had to force myself to read it. It felt to me like everyone was rushing around the city with a purpose, but very little was actually happening until the end. Then, when we reach the end, Prospero's comeuppance is rushed and unsatisfying. There are also quite a few questions left completely unanswered.

Luckily for us, Araby has become a much more compelling protagonist than she was in the first book. She doesn't sit around and let the big strong men take control. Instead, she stands up and works toward her goals, generally completely defying said men. Watching Araby be strong, defiant, brave, and loyal is what kept me reading, even when I wanted to just quit this book.

While I really enjoyed Masque of the Red Death, I can't say I feel so excited about Dance of the Red Death. But, the world Bethany Griffin has imagined and expanded from Edgar Allan Poe's short story is an awesome one and definitely the highlight of the book.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

{Book Blast + Giveaway} Disneylanders by Kate Abbott

I'm super excited to be helping out with the book blast for Disneylanders by Kate Abbott! If you know me at all, you know I LOVE ALL THINGS DISNEY. Needless to say, when I heard about this book, I knew it was just the book for me! Hence the excitement. :)

About the book:

In Disneylanders, 14-year-old Casey Allison, on the brink of starting high school, struggles to find a new identity on her family’s annual summer vacation, but with the help of an outgoing boy she meets while waiting in line, she discovers that Disneyland is the one place where her overprotective parents let her have the freedom to grow up.

You can watch the book trailer here!!


Buy the ebook from Amazon for only $3.99!!

And now for the giveaway! :)

One lucky winner will get this awesome Disney themed gift pack from Kate Abbott, including:
Note card set
Mickey Bookmark
A copy of Disneylanders
Must be 13+ to Enter
US Shipping Only
No PO Boxes

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 About the author:

Disneylanders is Kate Abbott's first novel. She received an MFA in creative writing from UC Riverside, Palm Desert. Kate lives in Northern California with her husband, son, terrier, and tiny parrots.
Find Kate online: Twitter | Goodreads 



Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Teaser Tuesday: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith {28}

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Title: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Release date: January 2, 2013
Publisher: Poppy/Little Brown
Pages: 236
Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row.

A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?

Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.
My teaser, from p. 224 in the ebook:
He approaches slowly, his dark suit nearly lost to the surrounding shadows until he steps into the pool of light cast by the hotel lanterns.

"Hi," he says when he's close enough, and for the second time this evening, Hadley begins to cry.
By the time this post goes up, I'll definitely have this one done, but I'm really enjoying it! It's exactly the quick read I needed after slugging through my last couple of books. :)

If you leave me a link to your post I am definitely going to be visiting back, it just won't be until late in the day today since I'll be at work till 5. Have a lovely Tuesday!

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Stacking the Shelves {21}


Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we get to share the books we've bought, been gifted, or received for review!

How was everybody's week? I had a good one! :)

For review:

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon, to be released August 20, 2013 by Bloomsbury (Netgalley) The Truth About You and Me by Amanda Grace, to be released September 8, 2013 by Flux (Netgalley)
The Weight of Souls by Bryony Pearce, to be released by August 6, 2013 by Strange Chemistry (Netgalley)

A big, big thanks to Bloomsbury, Flux, and Strange Chemistry for these! I can't wait to read them. :)

Library:


Insurgent by Veronica Roth (audiobook)

Trade:


Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry (signed ARC)

Thanks so much to Bekka from Pretty Deadly Reviews! :)

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Monday - I reviewed Prodigy (Legend #2) by Marie Lu.
Tuesday - I teased from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell.
Thursday - I reviewed the audiobook of The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen.

Books I read this week:
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (reread, audiobook)

I'm currently reading:
Dance of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

So that's been my week! I've got about and week and half left on my internship, so I hope I'll get more reading done after that. I'm finding that after I spend my entire day reading things I'm not super excited about I have much less interest in spending my little bit of free time reading as well. Anyways, I'd love to see what y'all got, so leave me links! I'll be visiting about in just a little while. :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Audiobook Review: The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Release date: April 1, 2012
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Scholastic Audio Books
Format: Audio CD
Source: Library
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository
In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.

As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.
Prior to listening to this audiobook, I'd not heard much about The False Prince. I picked it up because I was in the mood for fantasy, which this really doesn't qualify as. There's nothing fantastical about it past the fact that it's a made-up kingdom in a made-up land, which doesn't fit my definition of fantasy. (The sequel seems to have some mention of magic, though!) Despite the entertaining and very strong voice of Sage, The False Prince suffers from a distinct lack of place.

Yes, the world is imaginary, but there's nothing distinct about it. Carthya is a generic land in a vulnerable position. Its position is a little interesting in that its king, queen, and crown prince have all been assassinated and the lords are faced with the position of choosing a new monarch. Even so, the country could have been replaced with any other from any fantasy novel and we wouldn't miss anything; in fact, we might have gained something. I can only hope the world gains some depth with the next books.

Luckily, Sage is such an entertaining character that he saves the book all by himself. He is always several steps ahead of both the reader and Conner. He's always got a witty comeback and makes decisions that look rash at the time but always seem to put him in a better position. It's fun to read about such a smart character; he's never making choices that make you want to smash your head against a wall.

As for the narrator, he was kind of meh to me. When he was speaking in his normal voice, all was well, but when he diverged into the different character's voices I was bit turned off. Also, what was with the mix of American, British, and French accents, even though all of the characters were supposed to be from the same country? That cannot be the only way they could be differentiated. Absolutely not.

All in all, for me, The False Prince was mildly entertaining if a little generic. I have hope for its sequels, though, simply because Sage is so entertaining.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Teaser Tuesday: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell {27}

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Title: Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Release date: September 10, 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 448
In Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl, Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to. Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?
My teaser, from 28% in the egalley:
"It is distracting..." Levi giggled. (Did guys "giggle" or "chuckle"? Cath hated the word "chuckle.")

"The whole point of fanfiction," she said, "is that you get to play inside somebody else's universe. Rewrite the rules. Or bend them. The story doesn't have to end when Gemma Leslie gets tired of it. You can stay in this world, this world you love, as long as you want, as long as you keep thinking of new stories--"
I'm starting this one next! I've become all about contemporaries recently and really enjoyed Eleanor & Park, so I'm looking forward to Rainbow Rowell's next book. :)

If you leave me a link to your post I am definitely going to be visiting back, it just won't be until late in the day today since I'll be at work till 5. Have a lovely Tuesday!

Monday, June 17, 2013

Prodigy (Legend #2) by Marie Lu

Release date: January 29, 2013
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Putnam
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 371
Source: Won
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository
June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?
I knew there was a reason I was so looking forward to this book! Where Legend excited and thrilled me to my core, Prodigy kept me on the edge of my seat and broke my heart.

June and Day are on the run. The public may half believe Day is dead, but the Republic knows better. With rumors flying, the two escape to Vegas, only to find that the Elector has died and his son Anden has taken his place. In order to save Day's brother and themselves, June and Day join the Patriots and the plot to assassinate the new Elector and start a revolution. Soon, though, June sees that Anden is different. He wishes for change, change that will help the people. Is it possible that the government could be good--without a revolution?

I was sold on Legend because it had been touted as a recreation of the Valjean and Javert relationship in Les Miserables (Fun fact: I'm listening to Les Mis as I write this.) I kept reading because I was fascinated by the world and the characters. I was able to look past any problems because I had such fun reading the book. With Prodigy, though, I was already invested, and deeply. Marie Lu clearly took advantage of this, drawing me in quickly and not letting go until the final sentence. Even then, I was a blubbering mess. With this book, I was more than enthralled.

While Legend suffered a bit (when I was able to look critically) from a general lack of worldbuilding, Prodigy kicks that idea to the curb. By the end of the book, I felt like I had a fantastic understanding of the world. I especially liked seeing the Colonies, since they had been much spoken of--and they didn't disappoint.

Not only is Prodigy action-packed and in a fully realized world, but June and Day really step into their own as characters. Each faces tougher and tougher decisions; neither treats them flippantly, but neither steps down either. They seem to understand the weight of who they are and how their decisions affect others. June is able to listen to her instincts, instead of completely logically. Day is forced to reconsider his deep set view of the world.

Prodigy is a more than worthy sequel to a good book; in fact, I daresay it's better. It was satisfying and exciting, but left me absolutely dying for Champion.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Stacking the Shelves {20}


Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we get to share the books we've bought, been gifted, or received for review!

How was everybody's week? I had a good one! :)

For review:


Indelible by Dawn Metcalf, to be released July 30, 2013 by Harlequin Teen (Netgalley)
Rebel Spirits by Lois Ruby, released June 1, 2013 by Point (Hardcover)

A big, big thanks to Harlequin Teen and Scholastic for these! I can't wait to read them. :)

Library:

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (audiobook)
Matched by Ally Condie (audiobook)

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Tuesday - I teased from Dance of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin.
Wednesday - I reviewed the audiobook of The Diviners by Libba Bray.
Thursday - I helped unveil the cover and giveaway for The Sound of Letting Go.

Books I read this week:
Prodigy (Legend #2) by Marie Lu
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

I'm currently reading:
Dance of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

So that's been my week! I was a little lazy and didn't post as much as I should've... Oops. I am completely obsessed with audiobooks right now, though, and I love my library for having them. :) Anyways, I'd love to see what y'all got, so leave me links! I'll be visiting about in just a little while. :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: The Sound of Letting Go by Stasia Ward Kehoe

Today I am super excited to be helping reveal the beautiful cover for Stasia Ward Kehoe's new novel, The Sound of Letting Go! With my newfound love of contemporaries, I will definitely be looking forward to this one. :)

Title: The Sound of Letting Go
Author: Stasia Ward Kehoe
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Release date: February 1, 2014
Publisher: Viking/Penguin
For sixteen years, Daisy has been good. A good daughter, helping out with her autistic younger brother uncomplainingly. A good friend, even when her best friend makes her feel like a third wheel. When her parents announce they’re sending her brother to an institution—without consulting her—Daisy’s furious, and decides the best way to be a good sister is to start being bad. She quits jazz band and orchestra, slacks in school, and falls for bad-boy Dave.

But one person won’t let Daisy forget who she used to be: Irish exchange student and brilliant musician Cal. Does she want the bad boy or the prodigy? Should she side with her parents or protect her brother? How do you know when to hold on and when—and how—to let go?
Now, in addition to celebrating the cover reveal, Stasia is hosting a giveaway! Up for grabs are a signed cover of her previous novel, Audition, and ARC of The Sound of Letting Go, and a swag pack. Make sure to enter, eh? :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Audiobook Review: The Diviners by Libba Bray

Release date: September 25, 2012
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Little, Brown / Listening Library
Format: Digital audiobook
Source: Library
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository
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-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.
The Diviners is one of those books that I was excited about yet I never seemed to be excited enough about to read it. I wouldn't have read it had my library not had the audiobook for me to download. Luckily for me, they did and I got to read (listen to!) an astoundingly good book.

I've read Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle series, but not her two other books. They didn't particularly appeal to me, though I may rethink them now that I remember how much I like her writing. She knows how to set a distinct scene with words, and her ability to write the creep factor is fantastic. There were times where I was shivering from what I was hearing, be it traditionally creepy like the Naughty John song or subtly creeping like with the woman describing eugenics.

I couldn't get over how much thought and research was obviously put into this book. It's obvious that Libba Bray did more than just check out a few resources when she began writing this one. The characters use phrases that are not your typical flapper lingo and allude to certain aspects that most people don't talk about from that time period. A distinct advantage to listening to the audiobook was definitely that the narrator, January LaVoy, did such a good job in (firstly) speaking very distinctly for each character and (second) had such a good accent and ability to make the turns of phrase believable. Had the narrator not been so talented, the audiobook would have been unlistenable (Is that a word? You totally understand what I mean if it's not, right?)

Beyond the research and writing, I especially enjoyed Evie. I couldn't wait to see what she did or said next. Her vivacity kept the book from getting too dark and her imperfections made her lovable. The only problem with Evie being so appealing was that she made many of the other characters quite dim in comparison. I couldn't find myself caring much about Memphis or Theta, especially since their stories really take a backseat to the main action of the book--though I expect that will change with the sequel and that what we learn in this book will be quite crucial. Even so, when the story wasn't following Evie or Jericho, I was kind of uninterested. I will be interested to see where the concept of the diviners goes, however, in the next book.

Anyways, if you're considering reading The Diviners, I assure you it's more than "jake" and that you'll be happy you did. (Also, I quite recommend the audiobook. Listening to someone sing all the different little song samples if worth it in and of itself, and the dialect is probably better heard than read anyways.)

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Teaser Tuesday: Dance of the Red Death {26}

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Title: Dance of the Red Death
Author: Bethany Griffin
Release date: June 11, 2013
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 336
In Dance of the Red Death, Araby’s world is in shambles—betrayal, death, disease, and evil forces surround her. She has no one to trust. But she finds herself and discovers that she will fight for the people she loves, and for her city.

Her revenge will take place at the menacing masked ball, though it could destroy her and everyone she loves…or it could turn her into a hero.

With a nod to Edgar Allan Poe, Bethany Griffin concludes her tragic and mysterious Red Death series with a heroine that young adult readers will never forget.
My teaser, from 37% in the egalley:
How much harm could I bring myself to inflict? Do I want to know how best to do it?

He's watching me closely. "Do you think you could kill someone?"

"If I had to," I say.

"It gets easier over time."
Ooh, I didn't even see who she's speaking to! As soon as I finish Prodigy I will be starting this, which is on sale today! I'm so very excited for it. :)

If you leave me a link to your post I am definitely going to be visiting back, it just won't be until late in the day today since I'll be at work till 5. Have a lovely Tuesday!

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Stacking the Shelves {19}


Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we get to share the books we've bought, been gifted, or received for review!

How was everybody's week? I had a good one! :)

For review:

Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) by Sarah J. Maas, to be released August 27, 2013 by Bloomsbury (Netgalley)

Library:

The Diviners by Libba Bray  (audiobook)

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Monday - I reviewed the audiobook of The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater.
Tuesday - I teased from Seraphina by Rachel Hartman.
Wednesday - I was waiting on Shadows by Robin McKinley.
Thursday - I reviewed Towering by Alex Flinn.
Saturday - I reviewed my reread of Divergent.

Books I read this week:
Divergent by Veronica Roth (reread)
Towering by Alex Flinn

I'm currently reading:
Prodigy (Legend #2) by Marie Lu

So that's been my week! Not much, but I did a little dance when I got the email about Crown of Midnight! I'm also deeply enjoying listening to The Diviners. The narrator does the 20's lingo very well. :) Anyways, I'd love to see what y'all got, so leave me links! I'll be visiting about in just a little while. :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!

Saturday, June 8, 2013

A Second Opinion: My Reread of DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth

Release date: May 3, 2011
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Katherine Tegen books
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
Technically, this wasn't a reread, since I listened to the audiobook, but close enough! When I originally read Divergent, sometime around its release, I liked it, but I didn't think it was terribly extraordinary. THEN everyone began to wax poetic about it and I just didn't get it. For the past couple of years, that is how I've thought. But, with the movie coming out in the next year or so, I decided it was time to re-evaluate the book. Here we go!

I had very little recollection of Divergent going in. I didn't remember who most of the characters were or details of the plot. As I listened, certain things came back, but it was almost a new experience, which was good. I absolutely did not remember how fast-paced and action-packed it was. I also didn't remember enjoying the interplay between the initiates so much, and I didn't remember liking Four and Tris together as much as I did.

When I originally read the book, I was not reviewing books like I do now, nor did I read as much as I do. I hadn't read the slew of dystopians that I have now either. I can now identify the problems I had previously. They're the same I have now, and, really, the same others have. The world-building is lacking and there are holes everywhere. I'm not one to complain about either on the regular, but they're noticeable even to me.

To keep this short, Divergent absolutely exceeded my expectations. It is heart-poundingly fun to listen to (and, I expect, read) and I am now excessively excited for the movie (and Allegiant!) I'll be rereading Insurgent next. :)

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Towering by Alex Flinn


Release date: May 14, 2013
Author info: Website | Facebook
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 293
Format: Egalley
Source: Publisher provided through Edelweiss
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository
At first, I merely saw his face, his hands on the window ledge. Then, his whole body as he swung himself through the window. Only I could not see what he swung on.

Until, one day, I told my dream self to look down. And it was then that I saw. He had climbed on a rope. I knew without asking that the rope had been one of my own tying.

Rachel is trapped in a tower, held hostage by a woman she’s always called Mama. Her golden hair is growing rapidly, and to pass the time, she watches the snow fall and sings songs from her childhood, hoping someone, anyone, will hear her.

Wyatt needs time to reflect or, better yet, forget about what happened to his best friend, Tyler. That’s why he’s been shipped off to the Adirondacks in the dead of winter to live with the oldest lady in town. Either that, or no one he knows ever wants to see him again.

Dani disappeared seventeen years ago without a trace, but she left behind a journal that’s never been read, not even by her overbearing mother…until now.
I've read a lot of fairy tale retellings, but I'm not sure if any have disappointed me as much as Towering. I have read all of Alex Flinn's previous retellings and generally enjoyed them--though not Cloaked all that much--but I just don't know. There was a lot of promise at the beginning, but Towering suffered from too little plot and, frankly, not enough imagination.

Rachel has been locked away in a tower for half of her life. The only person she's ever met is "Mama", who isn't even her real mother. She spends her days reading and singing, imagining the world outside her small tower. She knows she is destined to great things, but she doesn't know what they are. When Wyatt comes to town, he starts to hear a girl's voice, one that no one else can hear. At first he thinks he's crazy, but soon he learns of weird disappearances in the town and starts to draw conclusions. When his and Rachel's worlds collide, the two begin to pull the pieces together and unravel a mystery that's been plaguing the town for thirty years.

Towering has such a promising start. It's got a great eerie, gothicy feel, which works perfectly for Wyatt's arrival and his first night in town. I loved the Wuthering Heights references and knew his experience in Danielle's room was pulled from it before it was mentioned. Sadly, the tone is not sustained.

The book quickly loses the feel that pulled me in originally and never gains it back. It becomes sloggish (which is a word I just made up) and ordinary, with Wyatt going into town and asking too many questions of suspicious people and Rachel moping about in her tower. Once it lost that hook, I was really uninterested and had to force myself to finish the book. I honestly didn't pick it up for days, and I considered just not finishing it

Another problem I had was that certain aspects just reminded me too much of Disney's movie Tangled. The description of Rachel, her personality, how she spends her time, and her "magical powers" were just all too similar. I kept wishing that I was watching the movie, rather than reading the book.

I hate writing reviews like this, but I found it hard to like much of anything in Towering. At times I liked Rachel and her way of speaking, but I also thought she never appropriately reacted to anything. I liked Wyatt when he told Rachel about his best friend Tyler, but aside from that he's uninteresting. And HOLY INSTALOVE. If you don't like instalove, absolutely steer clear of this one. I wish I had better things to say, but if you're looking for a fairy tale retelling, look to almost any of Alex Flinn's others, Juliet Marillier's excellent Daughter of the Forest (adult, based on the not-so-well-known Seven Swans story), or Marissa Meyer's Cinder.

This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday: Shadows by Robin McKinley {2}

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly awaiting!!

Title: Shadows
Author: Robin McKinley
Release date: September 26, 2013
Maggie knows something’s off about Val, her mom’s new husband. Val is from Oldworld, where they still use magic, and he won’t have any tech in his office-shed behind the house. But—more importantly—what are the huge, horrible, jagged, jumpy shadows following him around? Magic is illegal in Newworld, which is all about science. The magic-carrying gene was disabled two generations ago, back when Maggie’s great-grandmother was a notable magician. But that was a long time ago.

Then Maggie meets Casimir, the most beautiful boy she has ever seen. He’s from Oldworld too—and he’s heard of Maggie’s stepfather, and has a guess about Val’s shadows. Maggie doesn’t want to know . . . until earth-shattering events force her to depend on Val and his shadows. And perhaps on her own heritage.

In this dangerously unstable world, neither science nor magic has the necessary answers, but a truce between them is impossible. And although the two are supposed to be incompatible, Maggie’s discovering the world will need both to survive.
Basically, if you've read my blog before, you know Robin McKinley is kind of akin to a god in my mind. The woman does no wrong. I've read all but two of her books--both of which I own--and adore them all. I've loved her for years and years, so anything she writes is going to be at the top of my list. Easy as that! Plus, this reminds me more of her old books than her newer ones. Her older books--The Hero and the Crown, Rose Daughter for example--are my favorites, so yay!

So what are you guys waiting on this week?

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Teaser Tuesday: Seraphina {25}

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Title: Seraphina
Author: Rachel Hartman
Release date: July 10, 2012
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Pages: 451
Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

In her exquisitely written fantasy debut, Rachel Hartman creates a rich, complex, and utterly original world. Seraphina's tortuous journey to self-acceptance is one readers will remember long after they've turned the final page.
My teaser, from page 153 in the hardcover:
I clapped a hand to my mouth, horrified. I had felt the shot coming; I hadn't realized the bow was loaded with this very quarrel, perfectly calibrated to hit him hardest. What part of me had been studying him, stockpiling knowledge as ammunition?
I bought this one a month or so ago and have been wanting to read it since. I think it's going to happen once I finish trudging through Towering. Doesn't that teaser make you want to as well?

If you leave me a link to your post I am definitely going to be visiting back, it just won't be until late in the day today since I'll be at work till 5. Have a lovely Tuesday!

Monday, June 3, 2013

Audiobook Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Release date: September 18, 2012
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Scholastic Audio Books
Length: 11 hours
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository
“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. >br />
But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.
I've never been one to listen to a lot of audiobooks. In fact, I think I can count on one hand the books I've listened to completely. But, with my internship being on the opposite side of New Orleans from where I'm living, I'm finding myself in the car for about an hour and a half every day. That is precious time, and I realized how productive I could be if I listened to audiobooks! (Plus my library has the thing online where you can download them, so they're free!) Anyways...

I love me some Maggie Stiefvater writing. That is a given when I come to one of her books. She's only disappointed me once (Forever, anyone?) and that didn't have to do with the writing itself. It's lyrical and there's an almost magical feeling to it. Maggie knows how to write a story. Hands down, her writing style is one of my favorite that I've ever read.

At first, listening to the audiobook, I was not a fan of the narrator's voice. I don't know what it was, but he quickly won me over. Previously, I had begun listening to the audiobook of Silver Linings Playbook but stopped because I couldn't stand how the narrator did the women's voices. Here, though, the narrator brings his timbre up just a little bit, but really differentiates characters by the style in which he speaks, not the tone. This was infinitely preferable, and by the third chapter or so, I loved his narration--apart from his pronunciation of "human" without the h.

Aside from the audiobook itself--which, by the way, includes the music Maggie wrote for the book, which is beautiful--I quickly became obsessed with the story. I needed to find the ley lines and Owen Glendower just as badly as Gansey and company. I loved how everything tied together, how each character clearly had their own motive towards all they did. I also just loved the wide cast of characters! From Persephone to Ronan to Noah to Callah (I'm guessing at that spelling, since I've not seen the name in print), there's such a fun and intriguing mix of personalities.

Sometimes there are characters you just attach to. I am not guilty of this very often (It's the same with people, actually.) but I absolutely and wholeheartedly fell in love with Gansey almost instantly. He was easily the highlight of the book for me and I waited for him to show up when he wasn't around. I loved him for his deeply hidden vulnerability that only appeared when he thought no one was looking. I loved him for his attachment to those who needed a friend, someone to guide them and let them know someone cares for them. I loved that he needed those friends as much as they needed him. There's something to be said for someone who is given everything they could need and want but who still has that deeply rooted drive to do something worthwhile.

The absolute most compelling part of this novel lies within the characters relationships with one another. The romance aspect--normally what I focus on--really takes a backseat to the dynamics and intricacies of relationships in a family and in a friendship. Gansey's relationships with Ronan, Adam, and Noah are so complex and so integral to their characters that one can't separate them from that friendship. I like the idea of Gansey's choosing his friends and the odd choices he made, since there's that saying, "You can't choose your family but you can choose your friends." The repercussions of Ronan's interactions with his brother and Adam's situation with his parents are both interesting to look at in contrast to Blue's home life, to see both the good and the bad sides of family.

If you can't tell, I adored The Raven Boys. I've loved a few books already this year, but I don't think I've loved any as much as this one. This is one of those occasions where you need a distinction higher than five stars, but you don't have one. Suffice it to say, The Raven Boys will most likely be one of my favorite, if not my favorite book of the year and will probably remain a favorite for a long time to come.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Stacking the Shelves {18}


Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we get to share the books we've bought, been gifted, or received for review!

How was everybody's week? I had a good one! :)

For review:

 Three (Legends of the Duskwalker #1) by Jay Posey, to be released July 30, 2013 by Angry Robot (ARC)
The Lives of Tao by Wesley Chu, released April 30, 2013 by Angry Robot (ARC)
The Age Atomic by Adam Christopher, released March 26, 2013 by Angry Robot (ARC)

Library:


 The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater  (audiobook)
Divergent by Veronica Roth (audiobook)

Purchased:

Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Monday - I reviewed The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey.
Tuesday - I teased from Towering by Alex Flinn.
Wednesday - Was my 2 year blogoversary! To celebrate, I'm hosting a giveaway for a book of your choice.
Friday - I reviewed Suddenly Royal. by Nichole Chase.
Saturday - I discussed my internship more and how I got it.

Books I read this week:
Suddenly Royal by Nichole Chase
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (Technically, I listened to it!)

I'm currently reading:
Towering by Alex Flinn

So that's been my week! I got a mystery package this week, which is where the ARCs came from. I loooove mystery packages! Thanks to Osprey Publishing for them! The library at school also has an online database of ebooks and audiobooks and I raided that this week, and I'm completely in love with it. :) Anyways, I'd love to see what y'all got, so leave me links! I'll be visiting about in just a little while. :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!