Book Review / Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

As this is book 3 in a series, below is the description for book 1.  For more information on book 2, please click on the Goodreads link in the post below.

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without.

Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Published:     13th July 2011
Publisher:  Scholastic Press
Author Website:  Click here
Goodreads :  Click here
Series:  Book 3, The Wolves of Mercy Falls
Source:  Bought
Review:   1000000000000000000 out of 10



MY REVIEW

What I loved about this story...
What a perfect end to the trilogy.  Every single question that I had from the first two books were answered. There were a few twists and turns that certainly kept me on my toes and I loved it!  What made this book 3 great for me was certainly the love story aspect with the characters.  

As this is book 3 there is a lot that I cannot say but what I will say is that if you have this on your shelf waiting to be read READ IT NOW!  If you haven't bought it you need to buy it and READ IT NOW!  This trilogy has firmly lodged itself in a place in my top series/trilogies I have ever read....


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times bestselling author of The Shiver Trilogy, The Raven Cycle, and The Scorpio Races. Artist. Driver of things with wheels. Avid reader.

All of Maggie Stiefvater's life decisions have been based around her inability to be gainfully employed. Talking to yourself, staring into space, and coming to work in your pajamas are frowned upon when you're a waitress, calligraphy instructor, or technical editor (all of which she's tried), but are highly prized traits in novelists and artists. She's made her living as one or the other since she was 22. She now lives an eccentric life in the middle of nowhere, Virginia with her charmingly straight-laced husband, two kids, two neurotic dogs, and a 1973 Camaro named Loki.

Book Review / Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

As this is book 2 in a series, below is the description for book 1.  For more information on book 2, please click on the Goodreads link in the post below.

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without.

Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.


Published:     20th July 2010
Publisher:  Scholastic Press
Author Website:  Click here
Goodreads :  Click here
Series:  Book 2, The Wolves of Mercy Falls
Source:  Bought
Review:   1000000000000000000 out of 10


MY REVIEW


What I loved about this story...   
What can I say, I am absolutely loving this trilogy so far.  With this book 2, it takes the story to the next level.  I still love the romance element of this story.  This book continues to introduce me to even more about the Wolves of Mercy Falls.  I thought I had learned a lot in the first book (Shiver) but apparently I hadn't leaned enough!  There are a lot of obstacles and questions in this book that I am hoping will get answered in the final book in this trilogy.   I cannot wait to find out so much that as soon as I have finished writing this review I am going straight back and reading the final book!  

What I was not fond of with this story...
In this story there are a couple of characters who have really started to irritate me and they are Grace's parents.  In book 1 they are 'absent' parents.  Never around and when they are Grace is really the one who is the parent, even cooking for the family every day.  In this story they seem to want to get more protective and want to tell Grace what to do.  For me, that just doesn't seem right for them to play the parent card when they have been absent for so long.  We'll see what the final book does to deal with that situation, I hope it is not ignored as I would love to see some kind of resolution in the relationship between Grace and her parents. 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


 New York Times bestselling author of The Shiver Trilogy, The Raven Cycle, and The Scorpio Races. Artist. Driver of things with wheels. Avid reader.

All of Maggie Stiefvater's life decisions have been based around her inability to be gainfully employed. Talking to yourself, staring into space, and coming to work in your pajamas are frowned upon when you're a waitress, calligraphy instructor, or technical editor (all of which she's tried), but are highly prized traits in novelists and artists. She's made her living as one or the other since she was 22. She now lives an eccentric life in the middle of nowhere, Virginia with her charmingly straight-laced husband, two kids, two neurotic dogs, and a 1973 Camaro named Loki.

Waiting on Wednesday / Famous Last Words by Katie Alender

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.

Expected Release Date: 30th September 2014
(Release date obtained from Goodreads)

Goodreads link is here.

Hollywood history, mystery, murder, mayhem, and delicious romance collide in this unputdownable thriller from master storyteller Katie Alender.

Willa is freaking out. It seems like she's seeing things. Like a dead body in her swimming pool. Frantic messages on her walls. A reflection that is not her own. It's almost as if someone -- or something -- is trying to send her a message.

Meanwhile, a killer is stalking Los Angeles -- a killer who reenacts famous movie murder scenes. Could Willa's strange visions have to do with these unsolved murders? Or is she going crazy? And who can she confide in? There's Marnie, her new friend who may not be totally trustworthy. And there's Reed, who's ridiculously handsome and seems to get Willa. There's also Wyatt, who's super smart but unhealthily obsessed with the Hollywood Killer.

All Willa knows is, she has to confront the possible-ghost in her house, or she just might lose her mind . . . or her life.

Acclaimed author Katie Alender puts an unforgettable twist on this spine-chilling tale of murder, mystery, mayhem -- and the movies.

Book Review / Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without.

Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.


Published:     5th October 2009
Publisher:  Scholastic Press
Author Website:  Click here
Goodreads :  Click here
Series:  Book 1, The Wolves of Mercy Falls
Source:  Bought
Review:   1000000000000000000 out of 10



MY REVIEW

What I loved about this story...
OMG, why has it taken me so long to read this book?  As I mentioned in a previous review post, I made the goal this year that I would start reading the books that are actually on my shelf rather than the shiny brand new ones that I may buy or may want to buy.  This is one of those trilogies that I had on my list that I needed to read.  At the time of its release, there was a really big buzz about this book/trilogy that I just had to pick them up and why would I not - just look at the incredibly cover....

This book was incredible, amazing, wonderful and so many other words that I could use but it would make this review pages and pages long.    If I had to pick one thing that made this book amazing, it would have to be the love story element of this book.  For me, the heart of this book is the love story between Sam and Grace.  Watching them meet, time and time again, and watching their relationship throughout the story.    

Of course, you have the central story of the Wolves of Mercy Falls who lives in the forest by the humans.  I felt that this story really did go into great detail of their way of life and also how they interacted with each other.  I have to admit that I have not read that many wolf stories but this has definitely won me over completely and I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 New York Times bestselling author of The Shiver Trilogy, The Raven Cycle, and The Scorpio Races. Artist. Driver of things with wheels. Avid reader.

All of Maggie Stiefvater's life decisions have been based around her inability to be gainfully employed. Talking to yourself, staring into space, and coming to work in your pajamas are frowned upon when you're a waitress, calligraphy instructor, or technical editor (all of which she's tried), but are highly prized traits in novelists and artists. She's made her living as one or the other since she was 22. She now lives an eccentric life in the middle of nowhere, Virginia with her charmingly straight-laced husband, two kids, two neurotic dogs, and a 1973 Camaro named Loki.

Stacking the Shelves / 22nd June 2014

Book Review / The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray

So as not to spoil the story as this is book 2, below is the description of book 1 in the series.  There is a link below to the Goodreads page for this book two...

A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel. 


Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing.

 There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order.

The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy.

Published:     26th December 2007
Publisher:  Delacorte
Goodreads :  Click here
Series:  Book 3, Gemma Doyle Trilogy
Source:  Bought



My Review   5 out of 5


What I loved about this story...

This trilogy has become one of my favourites of the year by a long way.  As this is book 3, there is a lot of plot line etc that I won't go into.  The plot continued to be fun and suspenseful and following Gemma Doyle and her friends through what they need to do still kept me at the edge of my seat.

I loved this trilogy and would definitely re-read it over and over again in a heartbeat!


What I was not fond of with this story...

This third book in the series was over 800 pages long.  Although I enjoyed the fact that there was more story to enjoy before the end of the trilogy, I did feel that it dragged in places and could have easily been a 500 or so page book rather than 800 pages.  

That being said, I loved the trilogy in its entirety and would recommend it to everyone!

About the Author

What is it about writing an author bio that gives me that deer-in-headlights feeling? It's not exactly like I'm going to say "I was born in Alabama…" and somebody's going to jump up and snarl, "Oh yeah? Prove it!" At least I hope not.

I think what gets me feeling itchy is all that emphasis on the facts of a life, while all the juicy, relevant, human oddity stuff gets left on the cutting room floor. I could tell you the facts–I lived in Texas for most of my life; I live in New York City with my husband and six-year-old son now; I have freckles and a lopsided smile; I'm allergic to penicillin.

But that doesn't really give you much insight into me. That doesn't tell you that I stuck a bead up my nose while watching TV when I was four and thought I'd have to go to the ER and have it cut out. Or that I once sang a punk version of "Que Sera Sera" onstage in New York City. Or that I made everyone call me "Bert" in ninth grade for no reason that I can think of. See what I mean?

Waiting on Wednesday / The Bodies we Wear by Jeyn Roberts

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.

Expected Release Date: 23rd September 2014

(Release date obtained from Goodreads)

Goodreads link is here.

A streetwise girl trains to take on a gang of drug dealers and avenge her best friend’s death in this thriller for fans of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’s Lisbeth Salander.

People say when you take Heam, your body momentarily dies and you catch a glimpse of heaven. Faye was only eleven when dealers forced Heam on her and her best friend, Christian. But Faye didn’t glimpse heaven—she saw hell. And Christian died.

Now Faye spends her days hiding her secret from the kids at school, and her nights training to take revenge on the men who destroyed her life and murdered her best friend. But life never goes according to plan. When a mysterious young man named Chael appears, Faye’s life suddenly gets a lot more complicated. Love and death. Will Faye overcome her desires or will revenge consume her?

Stacking the Shelves / 14th June 2014

Waiting on Wednesday / Falls the Shadow by Stefanie Gaither

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.

Expected Release Date: 16th September 2014
(Release date obtained from Goodreads)

Goodreads link is here.

When Cate Benson was twelve, her sister died.

Two hours after the funeral, they picked up Violet’s replacement, and it was like nothing had ever happened. Because Cate’s parents are among those who decided to grant their children a sort of immortality—by cloning them at birth. So this new Violet has the same smile. The same laugh. That same perfect face. Thanks to advancements in mind-uploading technology, she even has all the same memories as the girl she replaced.

She also might have murdered the most popular girl in school.

Or at least, that’s what the paparazzi and crazy anti-cloning protesters want everyone to think: that clones are violent, unpredictable monsters. Cate is used to hearing all that, though. She’s used to standing up for her sister too, and she’s determined to prove her innocence now—at whatever the cost. But the deeper she digs for the truth, the further Cate's carefully-constructed life begins to unravel, unveiling a world filled with copies and lies, where nothing and no one—not even her sister— is completely what they seem.

In a pulse pounding debut, Stefanie Gaither takes readers on a nail-biting ride through a future that looks frighteningly similar to our own time and asks: how far are you willing to go to keep your family together?

Book Review / Rebel Angels by Libba Bray

So as not to spoil the story as this is book 2, below is the description of book 1 in the series.  There is a link below to the Goodreads page for this book two...

A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel. 


Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing.

 There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order.

The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy.

Published:     26th December 2006
Publisher:  Ember
Goodreads :  Click here
Series:  Book 2, Gemma Doyle Trilogy
Source:  Bought



MY REVIEW    (5 out of 5)

What I loved about this story...

As this is book 2 in a series there is a lot that I can't say here about the story, what I will say is that the plot was just as fun and suspenseful as book one and definitely kept me hanging on the edge of my seat right the way through until the very end of the story.  The character of Gemma Doyle just has so many layers to her that even more are revealed throughout.

A really great book two in a trilogy.  I was completely addicted to this series after reading the first book, A Great and Terrible Beauty.  Now after reading this second book, my addiction to this series has seriously gone up to possible obsession level! 


What I was not fond of this story...

Loving this series to near the point of obsession, can't wait to read the next one!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

What is it about writing an author bio that gives me that deer-in-headlights feeling? It's not exactly like I'm going to say "I was born in Alabama…" and somebody's going to jump up and snarl, "Oh yeah? Prove it!" At least I hope not.

I think what gets me feeling itchy is all that emphasis on the facts of a life, while all the juicy, relevant, human oddity stuff gets left on the cutting room floor. I could tell you the facts–I lived in Texas for most of my life; I live in New York City with my husband and six-year-old son now; I have freckles and a lopsided smile; I'm allergic to penicillin.

But that doesn't really give you much insight into me. That doesn't tell you that I stuck a bead up my nose while watching TV when I was four and thought I'd have to go to the ER and have it cut out. Or that I once sang a punk version of "Que Sera Sera" onstage in New York City. Or that I made everyone call me "Bert" in ninth grade for no reason that I can think of. See what I mean?

Waiting on Wednesday / The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.

Expected Release Date: 5th August 2014
(Release date obtained from Goodreads)

Goodreads link is here.

You may think me biased, being murdered myself. But my state of being has nothing to do with the curiosity toward my own species, if we can be called such. We do not go gentle, as your poet encourages, into that good night.

A dead girl walks the streets.

She hunts murderers. Child killers, much like the man who threw her body down a well three hundred years ago.

And when a strange boy bearing stranger tattoos moves into the neighborhood so, she discovers, does something else. And soon both will be drawn into the world of eerie doll rituals and dark Shinto exorcisms that will take them from American suburbia to the remote valleys and shrines of Aomori, Japan.

Because the boy has a terrifying secret - one that would just kill to get out.

May Reading Wrap Up and June TBR Pile (2014)

Book Review / A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.

 Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true.

Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions.

Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order.

The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order.

Published:     9th December 2003
Publisher:  Simon and Schuster
Goodreads :  Click here
Series:  Book 1, Gemma Doyle Trilogy
Source:  Bought



MY REVIEW       (5 out of 5)


What I loved about this story...

Now this is one of those books that I have had on my shelf for absolutely ages.  I actually bought this just after I first started blogging, which was in 2010 and I can't believe I have waited this long to read it.  This book was amazing.

Firstly, let's talk about the historical element to this story.  This story is set in an era where the women were second class in the community, the man came first.  It was an era where the women went to boarding school to become ladies, make the most of themselves so that they are the best catch for marriage.  Spence school is one of those places.  The ladies at Spence are expected exactly to be that, ladies.  They are meant to be proper and reserved.  That is until Gemma Doyle comes in.  There is something about her that is different.

Next, let's talk about the plot.  This first book in the series has such a great suspense build up I could not put this book down and if I had to for some reason I immediately returned to it as soon as possible.  There's something different at Spence Academy and there is something different about Gemma Doyle, figuring out what was going on is only half the story!

What am amazing read, I can't wait to get on with the rest of the trilogy.     

What I was not fond of with this story...

I loved every part of this first book in the trilogy, can't wait to read on!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
(From Goodreads)

What is it about writing an author bio that gives me that deer-in-headlights feeling? It's not exactly like I'm going to say "I was born in Alabama…" and somebody's going to jump up and snarl, "Oh yeah? Prove it!" At least I hope not.

I think what gets me feeling itchy is all that emphasis on the facts of a life, while all the juicy, relevant, human oddity stuff gets left on the cutting room floor. I could tell you the facts–I lived in Texas for most of my life; I live in New York City with my husband and six-year-old son now; I have freckles and a lopsided smile; I'm allergic to penicillin.

But that doesn't really give you much insight into me. That doesn't tell you that I stuck a bead up my nose while watching TV when I was four and thought I'd have to go to the ER and have it cut out. Or that I once sang a punk version of "Que Sera Sera" onstage in New York City. Or that I made everyone call me "Bert" in ninth grade for no reason that I can think of. See what I mean?