Waiting on Wednesday (10): The Fury by Alexander Gordon Smith

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

This week, I'm eagerly anticipating...

The Fury

by Alexander Gordon Smith

Expected Publication Date: July 23, 2013

Page Count: 688 pages

From the creator of the Escape from Furnace series, a ferocious epic of supernatural terror, perfect for Stephen King fans 

Imagine if one day, without warning, the entire human race turns against you, if every person you know, every person you meet becomes a bloodthirsty, mindless savage . . . That’s the horrifying reality for Cal, Brick, and Daisy. Friends, family, even moms and dads, are out to get them. Their world has the Fury. It will not rest until they are dead.

In Alexander Gordon Smith’s adrenaline-fueled saga, Cal and the others must uncover the truth about what is happening before it destroys them all. But survival comes at a cost. In their search for answers, what they discover will launch them into battle with an enemy of unimaginable power.

This one sounds EPIC! I love the idea of some kind of unknown supernatural cause sending the world into a frenzy. And it sounds super awesome and action-packed, and I can't wait to see where Alexander Gordon Smith takes this one! Plus, isn't that cover terrifying?

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

Happy reading!

Top Ten Tuesday (2): Favorite Romances in Books

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

I have to admit, this topic was hard for me. I don't pay attention a whole lot to romances, but for this post, I decided to go back through my books and look back through the romances that were excellent in YA.

Here are my picks in no particular order!

1. Elder and Amy - Across the Universe by Beth Revis

The circumstances that they are facing in the novel, and yet, how they're love grew as the series progressed really stood out to me. Even if they can both have their bratty moments, Elder and Amy are awesome.

2. Cinder and Prince Kai - Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Technically, they're not a couple, but they sure did flirt quite a bit in CINDER. I honestly feel like they were made for each other (and not even counting that they are Cinderella and Prince Charming). They work so good together and compliment each other. WHY, Marissa Meyer, must you make us feel all the feels?

3. Clara and Tucker - Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Clara is one of my favorite females in YA, and Tucker seems like a really cool guy. And they balance each other so great in this book, they simply had to be on my list.

4. Sam and Astrid - Gone by Michael Grant

Sam and Astrid are great together! They each have a very heavy responsibility in the FAYZ, but the way that they still make time for each other and deeply care for each other really sparked my hope of love back into YA. 

5. Caine and Diana - Gone (more specifically Hunger) by Michael Grant

Evil and evil paired together have never been better. They are both so wicked, brutal, evil, monstrous (literally), and twisted, but gosh, they are so good as a couple.

6. Sam and Ana - Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

My favorite book of all time has to be on this list, right? I love how they both play music and play instruments together, drawing them closer together and sparking more love towards each other.

7. Alina and Mal - Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Alina is another one of my absolute favorite characters! And she was best friends with Mal as kids. FINALLY, a best friend becomes a love interest. You have no idea how happy I was when that happened. But still, they both have their ways of making the other smile, and Leigh Bardugo did an amazing job at crafting their relationship together.

8. Daniel and Harper - Watersong (specifically Tidal) by Amanda Hocking

They have that weird, awkward relationship where they both sit in silence, not knowing what to talk about, but when they are together and feel something, they are unstoppable. This pairing is brilliant.

9. Ren and Kelsey - Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

Kelsey really annoyed me at some parts, and Ren annoyed me at some parts, but they are great together. They honestly love each other and will go to the end of time to save each other. That's why they're both on this list.

10. Lucy and Ryder - Crash by Nicole Williams

Insta-love alert here, bookworms, but I really loved their chemistry between each other. They would tease and poke at each other. And the tension between them, how they knew that they shouldn't and couldn't be together, was outstanding. I adored this book, and the relationship was great.

Did you do a Top Ten Tuesday post today? I would love to see it; link it to me in the comments! Happy reading! 

Brad About Books: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

SHATTER ME
Published: November 15, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 338 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Series: Shatter Me, #1

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war– and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now. Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

SHATTER ME  is a mind-bending and mind-blowing read that made me think of what a difference a person can make in a life and how fighting back is always worth it. I loved it. I adored it.

I fell in love with Juliette from the very first page. Her situation that she was in made me connect with her instantly, and I felt so bad for her. It was one of the moments where I actually wanted to reach into the book and be her friend. Then again, I don't want to die. Sorry, Juliette. But still, Tahereh Mafi did a fantastic job at making Juliette a strong, yet broken (in a good way), character.

The writing style was brilliant and one of a kind! Never before have I seen strikethroughs in a book. What's unique about them being in SHATTER ME is that the strikethroughs represent either what Juliette is thinking or what she wishes she could have said. It's really cool. It's extremely amazing.

And the way that Juliette evolved into a more fiercer and stronger person as the book progressed stunned me, simply because she becomes that strong. What's up with Warner? He's such an evil and twisted human being, and I don't understand why in the world some people really like him. I would absolutely hate to be Warner. Adam is also a really cool character and one I could see being that awesome best friend that everybody needs.

The entire storyline of Juliette's lethal touch was epic too. This is also another case of something I have never seen done in a YA novel before, and I have to give huge props to the author for making such an original novel. Tired of reading the same stuff that's been done over and over again? Then SHATTER ME is a must read.

Overall, SHATTER ME is fantastic in every way possible and has landed on my favorite books list. It's amazing. IT'S GENIUS.

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BookishDays: Sunday's Sneaky Snakes!

If you don't know, I'm apart of a bookish collaboration channel on YouTube called BookishDays, and since I'm posting every day on this blog, I thought it would be great to put my videos that I upload on here every Sunday too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLPF3mZ1cXw (Click here to go to the video!)

Happy reading! 

Brad About Books: The Diviners by Libba Bray

THE DIVINERS
Published: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Little, Brown
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 592 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Series: Diviners, #1

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 an eerie and outstanding readers that will keep readers enthralled by the fun and fluffy era of the '20's that Libba Bray captured, but also terrify them late into the night with the haunting moments of terror and Naughty John.

Evie! Oh my, she is just a ball of fun! She made me fall in love with the story right from page one, simply because the way she acts and speaks is lighthearted and filled with joy. But Evie does have her moments where she can throw tantrums or even worse, can let the dark side of her show its true colors. And believe me, Evie definitely develops and progresses throughout the entire book. 

Speaking of dark characters, can we talk about Naughty John? Be prepared to feel shivers crawl up your skin and your head start spinning when you first meet Naughty John. Libba Bray did a fantastic job at creating this villain. Things I look for in villains in YA are very particular, and for the majority of the time, those expectations aren't met. I look for someone who is plain scary - a villain whose chapters I don't look forward to, yet continue to read on; I also look for someone with a unique background/backstory that makes them even more terrifying. Don't even get me started on villains being love interests. That is a simple no from me.

And Naughty John met all of those expectations. I was scared of him from the first moment we meet him, and all the way up to the end scene, he continued to get scarier and scarier. Which how is that even possible? It's because Libba Bray is a master at historical fiction and excellent villains. And THE DIVINERS is proof of that.

Two words: Warehouse scene.

Wait till you read that scene. 

I guarantee nightmares.

My slight problem with THE DIVINERS would have to be a few scenes with some particular characters that sometimes didn't capture me. Memphis was one that I thought was great at some times, then really whiny in other parts. But that would have to be my only complaint, because other than that, THE DIVINERS stands out from any other book. I felt as if I was in 1926 with these characters - although, I wouldn't ever go into this world. There are some insane things that happen in THE DIVINERS.

And don't be intimidated by the length of this book! 592 pages does seem like a lot, but it goes by so, so fast. 

Overall, THE DIVINERS is a great read that I would recommend reading on a sunny day in the park or by candlelight in the dead of night. Other than my one problem with the book, THE DIVINERS is one not to be missed.

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Brad About Books: Crash by Nicole Williams

CRASH
Published: December 18, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 384 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Series: Crash, #1

Jude Ryder and Lucy Larson are this generation's Romeo and Juliet: Explosive. Sizzling. Tragic.

A steamy summer encounter with bad boy Jude means trouble for Lucy. Her sights are set on becoming a ballerina, and she won't let anything get in her way . . . except Jude.

He's got a rap sheet, dangerous mood swings, and a name that's been sighed, shouted, and cursed by who knows how many girls.

Jude's a cancer, the kind of guy who's fated to ruin the lives of girls like Lucy—and he tells her so.

But as rumors run rampant and reputations are destroyed, Lucy's not listening to Jude's warning. Is tragedy waiting in the wings? This racy romance is hot, hot, hot!

CRASH is a fast-paced and definitely not what I expected kind of read. Readers will be intrigued by the love between these starcrossed teenagers! 

Let me say this: Contemporary? Not a big fan. Now there are some contemporary books I do enjoy (Cracked, Take a Bow), but when I read, I like to be taken to a fantastical world that I know could never exist. Which is why I don't really read contemporary. But oh man, I was blown away by CRASH! It has some element in it that made it... addictive. I wanted to know more about Lucy and Jude and was very interested to see if there relationship would bloom! 

The writing style has a very casual tone to it; I felt that the author captured the feeling of being a teenager very well. The emotions, the scandals, the heartbreak, everything that a teen protagonist is expected to be put through in a YA contemporary can be found in CRASH.

And I can see what drove Lucy wild about Jude. It seems like all the girls in YA fiction (and some in reality too) fall for the bad boy, which I honestly don't understand. But I do have to say that CRASH does have a bit of insta-love in it, so be cautious about it. But I did love both of the characters and the entire ensemble of characters -except Lucy's mom. She pushed it a couple of times for me to bare.

The ending doesn't leave on a cliffhanger, but there is a CRAZY scene that made my jaw fall open. And now I definitely have to get to CLASH sometime soon!

Overall, CRASH is one of my absolute favorite contemporary novels (which isn't saying a whole lot, since I don't read many). Addictive and heart-pulsing, CRASH will make your heart soar and your world come tumbling down.

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Brad About Books: Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

WARM BODIES
Published: April 26, 2011
Publisher: Atria Books
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 239 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Series: Warm Bodies, #1

R is a young man with an existential crisis--he is a zombie. He shuffles through an America destroyed by war, social collapse, and the mindless hunger of his undead comrades, but he craves something more than blood and brains. He can speak just a few grunted syllables, but his inner life is deep, full of wonder and longing. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse. Just dreams. 

After experiencing a teenage boy's memories while consuming his brain, R makes an unexpected choice that begins a tense, awkward, and strangely sweet relationship with the victim's human girlfriend. Julie is a burst of vibrant color in the otherwise dreary and gray landscape that R lives in. His decision to protect her will transform not only R, but his fellow Dead, and perhaps their whole lifeless world. Scary, funny, and surprisingly poignant, Warm Bodies is about being alive, being dead and the blurry line in between.

I read WARM BODIES for the YT Book Club; want to hear our thoughts? Here's the video!

WARM BODIES is a one of a kind book. Filled with a beautiful prose and an interesting take on the undead, WARM BODIES will fill your heart up with warm and make you think about what it truly means to be alive.

R is such an interesting and different hero! I didn't expect to feel much sympathy for a zombie, to be honest, but I did! I felt sorrow deep inside me for him having to be undead and not getting to experience the wonders of life. But then again, he is a zombie, so there's some things that you cannot feel sorry for. But gosh, he is a great hero! He is such a likeable and easy-going character and a great character to root for.

WARM BODIES was inspired by a few elements of Romeo and Juliet, and some parts were great (I love the character's names and how they represent some of the characters), but other parts were... cheesy. The balcony scene? Very fun, but kind of predictable. A part that I did very much enjoy about this novel was R's home - an abandoned airplane. It was so interesting to see him protect Julie and finally start to regain his heart and humanity.

And the writing style? Gah, it was fantastic. There are some great quotes that can be found in this book, and the way that the author made words string along together and made you think absolutely blew me away. And I loved being inside R's head! He was very original and unique, boosting up his hero-status even more.

But I do have to mention that the ending knocked this book down a star for me. No spoilers here (absolutely none of my reviews contain spoilers for the book I'm reviewing), but everything just sort of... happens without explanation. It was all very confusing and totally let me down.

Overall, WARM BODIES is a very enjoyable reader with some really awesome YA crossovers in this adult novel. Want to know what it means to be human? Read this book!

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