Brad About Books: Arclight by Josin L. McQuein

Read from February 3 to 7, 2013

ARCLIGHT
Expected Publication Date: April 23, 2013
Publisher: Greenwillow (Harper)
Format: ARC
Page Count: 400 pages
Source: Publisher

No one crosses the wall of light . . . except for one girl who doesn’t remember who she is, where she came from, or how she survived. A harrowing, powerful debut thriller about finding yourself and protecting your future—no matter how short and uncertain it may be. 

The Arclight is the last defense. The Fade can’t get in. Outside the Arclight’s border of high-powered beams is the Dark. And between the Light and the Dark is the Grey, a narrow, barren no-man’s-land. That’s where the rescue team finds Marina, a lone teenage girl with no memory of the horrors she faced or the family she lost. Marina is the only person who has ever survived an encounter with the Fade. She’s the first hope humanity has had in generations, but she could also be the catalyst for their final destruction. Because the Fade will stop at nothing to get her back. Marina knows it. Tobin, who’s determined to take his revenge on the Fade, knows it. Anne-Marie, who just wishes it were all over, knows it.

When one of the Fade infiltrates the Arclight and Marina recognizes it, she will begin to unlock secrets she didn’t even know she had. Who will Marina become? Who can she never be again?

Richly fascinating and deeply captivating, Arclight is a book that took over my mind. One of the highlights of the year.

You have no idea how excited I was to read Arclight. I dived immediately and found myself emerged into this world right away. The entire world in Arclight is one of my absolute favorites of all-time. The land of Light and the land of Dark fascinated me, and I loved that the author showed the reader both sides of the world. If you're looking for great world-building, Arclight is definitely the book for you.

And Marina is such a strong and fierce character. I felt for her through the entire novel, and she never once slipped up from her heroic elements. And the Fade! Wow! They are super eerie and creepy; and I'm being honest when I say that I actually had a nightmare about the Fade. Yeah. This book messed with my mind that much. And I loved every single bit of Arclight. 

And the ending. Oh my gosh, I so did not see that coming. I can't even fathom how much of an insane ending that was and how much I adored it. Josin L. McQuein's debut is one not to miss.

Overall, Arclight is a brilliant novel that enticed me and never let me go. An absolute must-read.

MY RATING

Waiting on Wednesday (14): Goddess

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine!

This week, I am eagerly anticipating...

Goddess (Starcrossed, #3) by Josephine Angelini
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 28, 2013

(no synopsis here, for risk of spoilers!)

Oh my gosh, I absolutely adore this series! These are some of my favorite books ever, and I am dying to know how it all ends! Plus the tagline gives me hope that this will be epic: She must rise, or they will fall. YES PLEASE.

Did you do a WoW post today? Leave links in the comments!

Top Ten Books Still Sitting On My Shelf!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! 

This week's topic is Books I HAD to Buy, But Are Still Unread On My Shelf.

1) Unraveling - Elizabeth Norris

When I was thinking of this book, this was the first book that came to mind. I was so, so excited to read this one, and I still haven't! But I am reading it soon, since the sequel comes out April 23!

2. The Lost Girl - Sangu Mandanna

I was so excited to read this one when I got it - I couldn't contain myself! - and yet, I still haven't read it. I'm determined to read it within the next month or so.

3. Crash and Burn - Michael Hassan

This one came out recently, so I don't feel too bad about not having read it yet, but believe me when I tell you that I intended to start this one the day I got it. But it's sitting on my shelf, unread.

4. Glimmer - Phoebe Kitanidis 

Glimmer has been out for almost a year, and I thought it sounded so different and original; I was very stoked to read it. It's still unread! Gah!

5. Starling - Lesley Livingston

This is another one that sounds so unique and fantastic, and I do plan on reading this one soon! So excited to finally dive into it!

6. Die For Me - Amy Plum 

That cover is striking, and the storyline sounds so good. Why have I not read this one already? Plus, the third book is coming out May 7, which has given me a boost to finally sit down and read this one. 

7. Arcadia Awakens - Kai Meyer

Sicily mafia book/Romeo and Juliet re-telling? Yes please.

8. Belles - Jen Calonita

I'm not a big fan of contemporary, but this one sounds good, so I'll definitely have to look into it soon!

9. Insignia - S.J. Kincaid

SPACE?! MILITARY?! FIGHTING A TECHNOLOGY WAR?! Now why in the world have I not read this yet? *kicks self*

10. Origin - Jessica Khoury 

This one also sounds fantastic, and plus, this girl is immortal living in the rainforest. I don't understand why I haven't read this either.

Did you do a TTT post today? Leave links in the comments!

Happy reading!

Brad About Books: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

Read from July 31 to August 2, 2012

WOLFSBANE
Published: July 26, 2011
Publisher: Philomel (Penguin)
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 390 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Series: Nightshade, #2

This thrilling sequel to the much-talked-about Nightshade begins just where it ended 

Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemy, and she's certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer–one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack–and the man–she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

Wolfsbane was an excellent filled with action and secrets. Andrea Cremer has done it once again!

Calla is one of my favorite characters in the YA market. She's fierce, fearless, and in general, an epic protagonist that I can root for. Every time I open up one of these books, I'm blown away at how Cremer makes Calla even more better and more awesome than the previous book. And that's not the only great character: Ren definitely redeemed himself in Wolfsbane from being a total jerk to a great hero; Shay, on the other hand, changed. He was still cool, but had some things changed about him.

And I loved how we got to see more of the Searchers! I loved getting to know more about them and their back history, and the author did a fantastic job at letting the reader know their secrets and history. And now I'm torn between which side of the Nightshade world I like best! Gah, I loved Wolfsbane. 

But I did have one complaint: the beginning was a bit confusing. I lost track of what happened in Nightshade, so when I started Wolfsbane, it took me awhile to figure out what had happened. But I eventually got past that and loved this sequel.

Overall, Wolfsbane is a brilliant sequel. Other than the little flaw, this is an explosive novel! 

M Y    R A T I N G

Brad About Books: Black City by Elizabeth Richards

Read from March 12 to March 13, 2013

BLACK CITY
Published: November 13, 2012
Publisher: Putnam (Penguin)
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 374 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Series: Black City, #1

A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war.

In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.

When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.

Addictive and pulsing, Black City is a majorly fantastic debut that I couldn't put it down. Beautifully told and exceptionally plotted, you must read this novel.

I'm basically kicking myself: why in the world did I wait so late to read this book?! It's phenomenal. It's amazing. The writing is basically gorgeous, and the way that Richards described the city played out in my mind like a movie, and I fully felt like I was emerged into this world. And I absolutely loved that part of Black City.

But that's definitely not the only thing I loved about this great book: the characters were brilliant as well. Natalie is one of the best female protagonists I've ever read about: she's determined and destined to break free from her planned life style, and the author did a fantastic job at crafting her together. But I can't forget about Ash. Ash is such a dark and epic character, and what's even better is that he's half Darkling. That's just epic in itself!

And the ending was insane! No spoilers here, but seriously, my jaw was open for the entire final thirty pages. And I mean, the very last thing that happens blew me away. One of the best endings I've ever read! And now I'm dying for Phoenix!

Overall, Black City is an absolute must-read. Original and phenomenal, Black City is stunning.

M Y   R A T I N G

(Happy St. Patrick's Day!)

Book Haul!

I uploaded a book haul today on my YouTube channel, and thought I would post it on my blog as well! 

Won in Giveaway:

The Friday Society - Adrienne Kress

(thanks Amanda!) 

RAK:

Professor Gargoyle - Charles Gilman

The Slither Sisters - Charles Gilman

(thanks Bunny!)

The Notebook of Doom: Rise of the Balloon Goons - Troy Cummings

Force Out - Tim Green

Lincoln's Grave Robbers - Steve Sheinkin 

(thanks Sarah! Just realized I said "Jen" in the video; whoops!)

For Review:

The Thorn and the Blossom - Theodora Goss

(thanks Quirk!)

My Very UnFairy Tale Life - Anna Staniszewski {Review}

My Epic Fairy Tale Fail - Anna Staniszewski

(thanks Sourcebooks Fire!)

Bruised - Sarah Skilton

(thanks Abrams!)

Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality - Elizabeth Eulberg {Review}

(thanks Scholastic!)

Eden's Root - Rachel E. Fisher

(thanks Rachel!)

Firebrand - R.M. Prioleau {Review}

The Necromancer's Apprentice - R.M. Prioleau

(thanks R.M.!)

Fields of Elysium - A.B. Whelan

(thanks A.B.!)

Bought:

Spellcaster - Claudia Gray

Requiem - Lauren Oliver

A Touch Menacing - Leah Clifford

Fragments - Dan Wells

Mila 2.0 - Debra Driza

Brad About Books: Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Read from February 18 to February 20, 2013

BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS
Published: October 12, 2010
Publisher: Little, Brown
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 503 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Series: Caster Chronicles, #2

Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.

Sometimes life-ending.

Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

I had mixed feelings with Beautiful Darkness. I still loved the world - possibly more than the first book - but the plot slowed down, and one of my favorite characters really annoyed me.

I immediately had to start the second book in this series after watching the film adaption of Beautiful Creatures (which I reviewed the book yesterday!), and the beginning of Beautiful Darkness was epic! I was emerged back into the story and felt the sense of love I felt when I read the first book. But after 80 pages, I noticed that the story began to drag. Not a lot happened, and I would catch myself skimming paragraphs. Why? I'm not entirely sure. I guess the book just didn't have as much as action as I would have liked.

And Lena? I hate to say it, but I really didn't like her in Beautiful Darkness. I understand why she acted the way she did {for the majority} after the events in the first book, but then I realized that her character just didn't seem as whole and full as it did before. Lena got on my nerves when she would come up in scenes. Why couldn't she just be with Ethan? I didn't understand a lot of her thinking, which made me feel less connected to the book.

But it doesn't mean it's not a good sequel. It takes some time getting back into the whole world, but once a certain plot-point occurs, the story skyrockets and takes off. I couldn't set the book down for the second half of the book, and the authors did a phenomenal job at the events in the last 100 pages! Wow, my mind was blown at those parts.

Overall, I was disappointed with Beautiful Darkness, but I like how it's set up to transcend into book three! I can't wait to return to Gatlin!

MY RATING