Friday, April 29, 2011
Do you want to win a box of books?
To join in this fantastic giveaway, hosted by Stephanie Dray, click here: http://networkedblogs.com/h5Q8n
Book Review #54 Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Paranormalcy
by Kiersten White
Ages: 14 and up
Genre: YA Fantasy / Paranormal
Evie has been an employee of the International Paranormal Containment Agency since she was 8 years old. She has a unique talent that makes her invaluable; she can see through any paranormal's glamour. That means that she has spent the last half of her life chasing (and tasing) vampires, trolls, spirits and perhaps a hag or two. Past the supernatural-police officer part, though, she is an ordinary teenage girl who has an obsession with the color pink and animal-printed wall decor. She wants nothing quite so much as to go to high school and see a real, live, genuine locker.
Her life is thrown all sideways when a new, never-before seen paranormal (who happens to be a very cute teenage boy) breaks into the IPCA Center in search of information. He has the ability to take on any face with his glamour, and Evie is the only one who can see the real him. While he is imprisoned, she visits him frequently and they become friends. He won't say why he what he was looking for or why, but it has something to do with the mysterious murders of dozens of paranormals.
Stalked by a crazy faerie, starting to fall in love with a decidedly odd boy, and finding out that she may not be entirely human tells Evie that she is in big trouble, or perhaps she is the trouble.
I love Evie. What isn't there to like about a girl with attitude, an eccentric fashion sense and a pink taser? Despite her eerie abilities, she is so human and it is easy to sympathize with her wish for a normal life and family.
Lend is cool. Not only is he cute, but he is also sensitive, brave, and willing to put up with terrible high school soap opera tv shows. I loved how he always looked different whenever Evie went to visit him. Sometimes he was Chinese, black, pimply, old or extremely good-looking. I also liked that it didn't matter to Evie what he looked like. (Not that she didn't think he was handsome.)
Normally I avoid vampires, so one would think that the fact that you encounter a vampire on the first page would have me shutting the book forever, but I felt so sorry for the bloodsucker that I couldn't. Poor Steve, he had me laughing within thirty seconds of reading.
Though this book has many of the elements of a dark fantasy and several creepy moments, it was overall a very light-hearted story. There was joking, flirting and silliness throughout. I enjoyed this book a lot.
The sequel to Paranormalcy, Supernaturally, is coming out in July.
Content Ratings: Profanity, Sexuality, and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).
Profanity:
I give this a 2.10 in profanity for some mild swearing and quite a few bleeps.
Sexuality:
This rates a 1.10 in sexuality for some hints and innuendos as well as references to making out.
Violence:
There are multiple murders in this book, but nothing very graphic, so I give it a 5.10.
Lieder Madchen
by Kiersten White
Ages: 14 and up
Genre: YA Fantasy / Paranormal
Evie has been an employee of the International Paranormal Containment Agency since she was 8 years old. She has a unique talent that makes her invaluable; she can see through any paranormal's glamour. That means that she has spent the last half of her life chasing (and tasing) vampires, trolls, spirits and perhaps a hag or two. Past the supernatural-police officer part, though, she is an ordinary teenage girl who has an obsession with the color pink and animal-printed wall decor. She wants nothing quite so much as to go to high school and see a real, live, genuine locker.
Her life is thrown all sideways when a new, never-before seen paranormal (who happens to be a very cute teenage boy) breaks into the IPCA Center in search of information. He has the ability to take on any face with his glamour, and Evie is the only one who can see the real him. While he is imprisoned, she visits him frequently and they become friends. He won't say why he what he was looking for or why, but it has something to do with the mysterious murders of dozens of paranormals.
Stalked by a crazy faerie, starting to fall in love with a decidedly odd boy, and finding out that she may not be entirely human tells Evie that she is in big trouble, or perhaps she is the trouble.
I love Evie. What isn't there to like about a girl with attitude, an eccentric fashion sense and a pink taser? Despite her eerie abilities, she is so human and it is easy to sympathize with her wish for a normal life and family.
Lend is cool. Not only is he cute, but he is also sensitive, brave, and willing to put up with terrible high school soap opera tv shows. I loved how he always looked different whenever Evie went to visit him. Sometimes he was Chinese, black, pimply, old or extremely good-looking. I also liked that it didn't matter to Evie what he looked like. (Not that she didn't think he was handsome.)
Normally I avoid vampires, so one would think that the fact that you encounter a vampire on the first page would have me shutting the book forever, but I felt so sorry for the bloodsucker that I couldn't. Poor Steve, he had me laughing within thirty seconds of reading.
Though this book has many of the elements of a dark fantasy and several creepy moments, it was overall a very light-hearted story. There was joking, flirting and silliness throughout. I enjoyed this book a lot.
The sequel to Paranormalcy, Supernaturally, is coming out in July.
Content Ratings: Profanity, Sexuality, and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).
Profanity:
I give this a 2.10 in profanity for some mild swearing and quite a few bleeps.
Sexuality:
This rates a 1.10 in sexuality for some hints and innuendos as well as references to making out.
Violence:
There are multiple murders in this book, but nothing very graphic, so I give it a 5.10.
Lieder Madchen
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Great Giveaway!
There is a huge giveaway on Bloody Bookaholics, click here to check it out! http://bloodybookaholic.blogspot.com/2011/04/spring-cleaning-giveaway-with-over-40.html
Cindy Pon book giveaway!
Enter to win a signed copy of Silver Pheonix and Fury of the Pheonix here:
http://supernaturalunderground.blogspot.com/2011/04/fury-of-phoenix-release-giveaaway.html
Giveaway at 21pages!
Here is a great giveaway for such lovely books as, City of Fallen Angels, Divergent, and Forever. Check it out! http://21pages.muggle-born.net/2011/03/25/blogoversary-giveaway-win-cofa-divergent-where-she-went-and-more/
Book Review #53 Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn, aka The Two Pearls of Wisdom
by Alison Goodman
Genre: YA Fantasy
Ages: 14 and up
In appearance, Eon is a 12 year old cripple who hopes to be the new Dragoneye apprentice. In fact, Eon is Eona, a 16 year old girl with little choice or future. If she fails, she will have only the most miserable of existences to look forward to. If she is caught, it will be worse.
The other hopefuls are bigger, stronger, and whole in body. There is little hope for success. When the day of choosing arrives, a miracle occurs. Eon is not chosen by the ascending Rat Dragon, but rather by the Mirror Dragon, who has not been seen for centuries.
Eon is thrown into a world of intrigue and power as she becomes one of the most powerful people in the world. There are few who can help her and even fewer she can trust, and many who could destroy her.
This book is absolutely fascinating. It takes place in a world that is slightly reminiscent of China, but different in so many ways. It is harsh land, dark and full of secrets and mysteries. I soon became completely engrossed in the politics and people. This world drew me in in a way that made it impossible to escape.
Eon/Eona is a complex and wonderful character. She is so terrified that someone will discover her that she does her best to stamp out the parts of her that mark her as feminine to the point of barely knowing who she is anymore. Her desperation leads her to do reckless and dangerous things, and her very refusal to acknowledge her true self may be her undoing.
The secondary characters are very well developed. Each one has their own unique personality and problems. Lady Dela, the eunuch Ryko, and tormented Dillon are each as interesting as Eon in their own ways. Lady Dela is particularly complicated.
I was left wondering if there was going to be any romance for Eona in the future, I shall just have to see what happens in book two, Eona. Also, don't read Eon until you have Eona on hand. I had to wait for over a year and it was extremely frustrating.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy gender-benders, dragons, and dark fantasy. There are some highly disturbing elements in this book, so I would not recommend it to the squeamish.
Content Ratings:
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).
The profanity is mostly mild in this book, but one worse insult earns it a 3.10.
There are multiple sexual references and innuendos in this book, as well as an attempted rape. I rate it a 3.10.
The violence in this book is not, for the most part, graphic, but there are multiple murders, including that of an infant, and a scene of torture. I give it a 7.10.
Lieder Madchen
by Alison Goodman
Genre: YA Fantasy
Ages: 14 and up
In appearance, Eon is a 12 year old cripple who hopes to be the new Dragoneye apprentice. In fact, Eon is Eona, a 16 year old girl with little choice or future. If she fails, she will have only the most miserable of existences to look forward to. If she is caught, it will be worse.
The other hopefuls are bigger, stronger, and whole in body. There is little hope for success. When the day of choosing arrives, a miracle occurs. Eon is not chosen by the ascending Rat Dragon, but rather by the Mirror Dragon, who has not been seen for centuries.
Eon is thrown into a world of intrigue and power as she becomes one of the most powerful people in the world. There are few who can help her and even fewer she can trust, and many who could destroy her.
This book is absolutely fascinating. It takes place in a world that is slightly reminiscent of China, but different in so many ways. It is harsh land, dark and full of secrets and mysteries. I soon became completely engrossed in the politics and people. This world drew me in in a way that made it impossible to escape.
Eon/Eona is a complex and wonderful character. She is so terrified that someone will discover her that she does her best to stamp out the parts of her that mark her as feminine to the point of barely knowing who she is anymore. Her desperation leads her to do reckless and dangerous things, and her very refusal to acknowledge her true self may be her undoing.
The secondary characters are very well developed. Each one has their own unique personality and problems. Lady Dela, the eunuch Ryko, and tormented Dillon are each as interesting as Eon in their own ways. Lady Dela is particularly complicated.
I was left wondering if there was going to be any romance for Eona in the future, I shall just have to see what happens in book two, Eona. Also, don't read Eon until you have Eona on hand. I had to wait for over a year and it was extremely frustrating.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy gender-benders, dragons, and dark fantasy. There are some highly disturbing elements in this book, so I would not recommend it to the squeamish.
Content Ratings:
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).
The profanity is mostly mild in this book, but one worse insult earns it a 3.10.
There are multiple sexual references and innuendos in this book, as well as an attempted rape. I rate it a 3.10.
The violence in this book is not, for the most part, graphic, but there are multiple murders, including that of an infant, and a scene of torture. I give it a 7.10.
Lieder Madchen
Monday, April 25, 2011
Mailbox Monday (5)
My first ever ARCs arrived this week! I cannot help but feel a gleeful delight in knowing that I am reading books before they are released to the public.
Look out for my upcoming giveaway and possible interview with Marsha Altman! Ms. Altman and Ulysses Press sent me this copy for review.
I was so tickled by my cover of this one that I had to scan and post it rather than the official version. If you look closely it says that the On-Sale date is April 26! (Sorry, I shall attempt to contain my excitement.) I got my copy of The Medusa Amulet through Goodreads First Reads.
Mailbox Monday is on tour at Passages to the Past.
Lieder Madchen
Look out for my upcoming giveaway and possible interview with Marsha Altman! Ms. Altman and Ulysses Press sent me this copy for review.
I was so tickled by my cover of this one that I had to scan and post it rather than the official version. If you look closely it says that the On-Sale date is April 26! (Sorry, I shall attempt to contain my excitement.) I got my copy of The Medusa Amulet through Goodreads First Reads.
Mailbox Monday is on tour at Passages to the Past.
Lieder Madchen
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