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

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

Read from June 10 to June 12, 2012

BEAUTIFUL CREATURES
Published: December 1, 2009
Publisher: Little, Brown
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 563 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Series: Caster Chronicles, #1

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Beautiful Creatures is a whirlwind of a novel. Beautifully written and exceptionally plotted, this is a stellar debut that shines out.

Ethan and Lena are simply amazing characters. I even featured them in a Top Ten Tuesday post! The authors did a fantastic job at weaving them together; they are such easy likeable characters, and them as a duo together was awesome. And of course, I loved the other characters! Ridley is one of the best villains ever created, Macon is just a great father figure for Lena, and Link is that really cool best friend every person wants. I have no complaints about the characters! 

But I do have a complaint that knocked the book down a star for me: the beginning is a bit too slow. It does take time to explain the entire world of the Casters, but it felt a bit dragged out for me. If you haven't picked up Beautiful Creatures yet (which I definitely recommend!), give the novel at least 100 pages. After I passed the 100-page mark, the novel flew by so much, and I fell in love with it.

And the entire idea of setting the book in a very, very small town was fantastic. There were definitely lots of things in Beautiful Creatures I didn't see coming, and they really shocked me! The ending is one of the best endings I've ever read. Epic and fast-paced, the ending will totally blow your mind!

Overall, Beautiful Creatures is a must-read for paranormal and supernatural lovers. Aside from the slow beginning, I definitely recommend it!

MY RATING

Waiting on Wednesday (13): Deception by C.J. Redwine

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

This week, I'm anticipating...

Deception by C.J. Redwine

Defiance, #2

Release Date: August 27, 2013

To avoid spoilers, I'm posting the synopsis to book one, Defiance: 

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city's brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father's apprentice, Logan--the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same one who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but a fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city's top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor's impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

Oh my gosh, I cannot wait for Deception! I absolutely loved Defiance (click on the title to go to my review!), and I'm dying for the sequel. Defiance was such a great fantasy novel; I totally adored it.

PLUS??? THAT COVER IS AMAZING.

What are you waiting on this week? Leave links to your WoW post in the comments!

Brad About Books: My Very UnFairy Tale Life by Anna Staniszewski

Read on March 7, 2013

MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE

Published: November 1, 2011

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 192 pages
Source: Publisher
Series: Fairy Tale Life, #1

You know all those stories that claim fairies cry sparkle tears and elves travel by rainbow? They're lies. All lies. 
I've spent my life as an official adventurer. I travel across enchanted kingdoms saving magical creatures and fighting horrible beasts that most of you think are only myths and legends. I've never had a social life. My friends have all forgotten me. And let's not even talk about trying to do my homework. So -- I'm done!! I'm tired and I want to go back to being a normal girl. But then along comes "Prince Charming" asking for help, and, well, what's a tired girl like me supposed to do? 

My Very UnFairy Tale Life is definitely a fun and light read, but unfortunately, was a bit too juvenile for my tastes. But still, this definitely put some fun into my reading life!

Jenny was such a great protagonist! I loved getting to go on her adventures with her, and the author definitely did a great job at making the adventures epic and interesting for the MG crowd. I'm a big fairy tale fan, so getting to see some fairy tales interwoven throughout the story really appealed to me. Plus, there's a unicorn at the beginning of the book. What's not to love?

But my only complaint is that I didn't connect with the book. I noticed that if an adventure wasn't occurring, I would doze off from the story and get distracted. Not always, but sometimes. I'm not sure why though. Maybe it was too juvenile for me? Maybe I found some things a bit too girly? I'm not sure. 

That still doesn't take away from the fact that you can't read this book and not think that it was awesome. Again, the adventures were excellently crafted and masterfully plotted. Going back, I see lots of foreshadowing that I didn't catch before, and I adore that. Props to the author for doing that!

Overall, My Very UnFairy Tale Life was great; I had just had problems with a few parts in the book. If you're looking for something fun and adventurous, you must pick up this book!

Brad About Books: A Touch Morbid by Leah Clifford

Read from March 5 to March 6, 2013

A TOUCH MORBID

Published: February 28, 2012

Publisher: Greenwillow (Harper)
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 299 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Series: Touch, #2

Eden saved Az.

Eden won the battle-she saved her true love from the darkest evil. But the war has only just begun. With secrets swirling around her, powerful allies unraveling, and life-and death-as she knows it eroding, Eden and those she loves tread dangerous ground. Can she trust anyone? Will her unearthly powers be her salvation or her downfall? A sweeping, dark, and sexy paranormal romance that will haunt readers with an inventive mythology and a cinematic New York City filled with shadows and longing.

Talk about an amazing sequel. Leah Clifford's follow-up to A Touch Mortal was absolutely brilliant. Fast-paced and fantastic, A Touch Morbid is a delightful and amazing book. Definitely one of my favorites of the year!

Eden is one my favorite characters of all time. So much that I even featured her in a Top Ten Tuesday post. Clifford did an amazing job at developing her character even more. I absolutely adored seeing Eden grow ever stronger, and believe me, if you thought Eden was tough and fierce in A Touch Mortal, wait 'til you read the sequel! And of course, all the other characters are amazing. Az is just an awesome character, and I really grew to like Kristen in A Touch Morbid! Needless to say, the characters were great.

And the pacing was great as well! Non-stop action was thrown at the reader, and I couldn't believe some things that happened in this novel. Leah Clifford masterfully pulls off plot twists and making very epic things happen in a book. Because a lot of stuff in A Touch Morbid shocked me. And I couldn't get enough of it!

The whole storyline of spreading the Touch is phenomenal and unlike anything I've ever read. The stakes are raised even higher in A Touch Morbid, and the Touch became even more of a problem for our characters. I was constantly rooting for them and cheering them on. A Touch Morbid is definitely on my list for best sequels of all time.

Overall, I absolutely loved, loved, loved A Touch Morbid so much! Leah Clifford did a brilliant job with this sequel. Constantly captivating and engaging, this is easily one of my favorite series.

M Y   R A T I N G