Top Ten Tuesday: Characters I'd Never Want to Trade Places With

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created over at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they're particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish (and who isn't?). They're all about creating new lists including a little bit of everything and I've been meaning to participate for so long but always seemed to get behind. So here we are and hopefully you'll head over to their page and check out what everyone else put up for this week's Top Ten.

I've always loved when you pick up a book and start reading and can identify with a main character right from the start.  No matter how crazy unique and sometimes outlandishly different the worlds surrounding these characters are, a lot of times there is still something down to earth or relatable about these characters that leave readers rooting for them in the end.  But even with these characters, there are still times, where I find myself finishing a book and knowing that I would never in a million years want to trade places with them, and this list lets me show all of you a few that fall into

Character Pick #1:  Katsa - Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1) by Kristin Cashore

His eyes, Katsa had never seen such eyes. One was silver, and the other, gold. They glowed in his sun-darkened face, uneven, and strange. She was surprised that they hadn't shone in the darkness of their first meeting. They didn't seem human....

Then he raised his eyebrows a hair, and his mouth shifted into the hint of a smirk. He nodded at her, just barely, and it released her from her spell.

Cocky, she thought. Cocky and arrogant, this one, and that was all there was to make of him. Whatever game he was playing, if he expected her to join him he would be disappointed.

In a world where people born with an extreme skill—called a Grace—are feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of the skill even she despises: the Grace of killing. She lives under the command of her uncle Randa, King of the Middluns, and is expected to execute his dirty work, punishing and torturing anyone who displeases him.

When she first meets Prince Po, who is Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.

She never expects to become Po's friend.

She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away...a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

 

Character Pick #2:  Annelise - Isle of Night (The Watchers, #1) by Veronica Wolff

 

Is life offering fewer and fewer options? Then join the dead.

When Annelise meets dark and seductive Ronan, he promises her a new life-if she has the courage to chance the unknown. Now, she's whisked away to a mysterious island and pitted against other female recruits to become a Watcher-girls who are partnered with vampires and assist them in their missions. To survive and become a Watcher, Annelise has to beat out every other girl, but she's determined to do so, because to fail doesn't mean dishonor-it means death.

Character Pick #3:  Beth - The Seven Rays by Jessica Bendinger

 

You are more than you think you are.

THAT IS THE ANONYMOUS MESSAGE that Beth Michaels receives right before she starts seeing things. Not just a slept-through my-alarm-clock, late-for-homeroom, haven't had-my-caffeine-fix kind of seeing things. It all starts with some dots, annoying pink dots that pop up on and over her mom and her best friend's face. But then things get out of control and Beth is seeing people's pasts, their fears, their secrets, their desires. The images are coming at Beth in hi-def streaming video and she can't stop it. Everyone thinks she's crazy and she's pretty sure she agrees with them. But crazy doesn't explain the gold envelopes that have started arriving, containing seeing keys and mysterious tarot cards. To Beth, it all seems too weird to be true. You are more than you think you are? But here's the thing: What if she is?

The creator of Bring it On, Jessica Bendiner, brings her teen savvy writing to this paranormal romance, The Seven Rays.

 

Character Pick #4:  Darri - Nightspell (Mistwood, #2) by Leah Cypess

 

Here be ghosts, the maps said, and that was all.

In this haunted kingdom, ghosts linger—not just in the deepest forests or the darkest caverns, but alongside the living, as part of a twisted palace court that revels all night and sleeps through the daylight hours.

Darri’s sister was trapped in this place of fear and shadows as a child. And now Darri has a chance to save her sister... if she agrees to a betrothal with the prince of the dead. But nothing is simple in this eerie kingdom—not her sister, who has changed beyond recognition; not her plan, which will be thrown off track almost at once; and not the undead prince, who seems more alive than anyone else.

In a court seething with the desire for vengeance, Darri holds the key to the balance between life and death. Can her warrior heart withstand the most wrenching choice of all?

 

Character Pick #5:  Ruby - Drought by Pam Bachorz

 

A young girl thirsts for love and freedom, but at what cost?

Ruby dreams of escaping the Congregation. Escape from slaver Darwin West and his cruel Overseers. Escape from the backbreaking work of gathering Water. Escape from living as if it is still 1812, the year they were all enslaved.

When Ruby meets Ford—an irresistible, kind, forbidden new Overseer—she longs to run away with him to the modern world where she could live a normal teenage life. Escape with Ford would be so simple.

But if Ruby leaves, her community is condemned to certain death. She, alone, possesses the secret ingredient that makes the Water so special—her blood—and it’s the one thing that the Congregation cannot live without.

Drought is the haunting story of one community’s thirst for life, and the dangerous struggle of the only girl who can grant it.

 

Character Pick #6:  Lily - Firespell (The Dark Elite, #1) by Chloe Neill

 

When Lily Parker's guardians decided to send her away to a fancy boarding school in Chicago, Lily was shocked. So was St. Sophia's.

As the new girl at the elite St. Sophia's boarding school, Lily is surrounded by an ultra-rich bratpack. She's pretty sure her spoiled, petty, fashion-obsessed classmates are the most monstrous things she'll have to face, and surviving them and their cruel practical jokes is proving even tougher than the homework...

But on top of being the punchline to every joke, Lily's hearing strange noises and seeing bizarre things in the shadows of the creepy building. All building have their creaks and groans - but Lily could swear that she's being watched.

The only thing keeping her sane, so far, is her roommate Scout. But something strange is going on there too - Scout keeps disappearing late at night, reappearing bruised and tired, and she won't tell Lily where's she's been... until, that is, a prank leaves Lily trapped in the catacombs beneath the school. Lost in the dark Lily hear's footsteps heading towards her - it's Scout and she's running from a real moster.

Scout is part of a group of rebel teens with unique magical talents, sworn to protect the city against demons, vampires, and Reapers: magic users who've been corrupted by their power. Much as Lily would love to help, it's too dangerous without powers of her own - especially if she'd have to go up against the firespell herself...

 

Character Pick #7:  Zoe - Glitch (Glitch, #1) by Heather Anastasiu

 

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

 

Character Pick #8:  Maya - The Gathering (The Darkness Rising, #1) by Kelley Armstrong

 

Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island.

Until now.

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . . different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet.

In The Gathering, New York Times best-selling author Kelley Armstrong brings all the supernatural thrills from her wildly successful Darkest Powers series to Darkness Rising, her scorching hot new trilogy.

Character Pick #9:  Mary - The Forest of Hands and Teeth (The Forest of Hands and Teeth, #1) by Carrie Ryan

In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

Character Pick #10:  Katla - Stork (Stork, #1) by Wendy Delsol

 

Family secrets. Lost memories. And the arrival of an ancient magical ability that will reveal everything.

Sixteen-year-old Katla LeBlanc has just moved from Los Angeles to Minnesota. As if it weren’t enough that her trendy fashion sense draws stares, Katla soon finds out that she’s a Stork, a member of a mysterious order of women tasked with a very unique duty. But Katla’s biggest challenge may be finding her flock at a new school. Between being ignored by Wade, the arrogant jock she stupidly fooled around with, and constantly arguing with gorgeous farm boy and editor-in-chief Jack, Katla is relieved when her assignment as the school paper’s fashion columnist brings with it some much-needed friendship. But as Homecoming approaches, Katla uncovers a shocking secret about her past — a secret that binds her fate to Jack’s in a way neither could have ever anticipated. With a nod to Hans Christian Andersen and inspired by Norse lore, Wendy Delsol’s debut novel introduces a hip and witty heroine who finds herself tail-feathers deep in small-town life.

Continuing On (4)

Sometimes I find myself getting so caught up counting down to new releases that I forget about some of the books and series that I'm looking forward to continuing on.  So recently I went back through and checked in with some of my favorites to see what was going on.  I'll admit I was surprised (in a good way) to find that new installments had come out within a series I'd enjoyed.  So rather than counting down in these posts, I decided to list some titles that have come out that I need to back track and read in order to catch up.  Here are just a few...

Catch Up #1:  The Calling (Darkness Rising, #2) by Kelley Armstrong

Maya Delaney's paw-print birthmark is the mark of what she truly is -a skin-walker. She can run faster, climb higher, and see better than nearly everyone else. Experiencing intense connections with the animals that roam the woods outside her home, Maya knows it's only a matter of time before she's able to Shift and become one of them. And she believes there may be others in her small town with surprising talents.

Now Maya and her friends have been forced to flee from their homes during a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set. Then they're kidnapped, and after a chilling helicopter crash, they find themselves in the Vancouver Island wilderness with nothing but their extraordinary abilities to help them get back home.

In THE CALLING, the sizzling second book in the Darkness Rising trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong pumps up the romance, danger, and suspense that left readers of THE GATHERING clamoring for more.

I shouldn't have let myself fall behind on this one!  With the third installment having come out last month I've got to get in the game so I don't miss out.  Armstrong had me on the edge of my seat with her cliffhanger in the series opener, The Gathering, and I want to dig in and see where she'll take us next.

Catch Up #2:   Override (Glitch, #2) by Heather Anastasiu

Zoe is free. She has escaped the enslavement of the Community, disconnected from the hardware that had controlled her every thought and emotion, and evaded capture by the Chancellor intent on killing her. She is finally free, but she is far from safe.

Zoe and Adrien hide themselves from detection at the Foundation, an academy that trains teen glitchers to fight in the Resistance movement. Together, Zoe and her new team of superhuman fighters must risk their lives to rescue other glitchers and humans from the Chancellor's control. Challenges abound at every turn, and Adrien, who has become silent, distant, and tormented by his visions of the future, only adds to the growing certainty of defeat. But worst of all, as Zoe's team fights against impossible odds, distrust and betrayal leads to the terrible discovery that their greatest threat could already be lurking behind the safe walls of the Foundation.

Full of high-adrenaline action and shocking twists, Heather Anastasiu's Override is an exciting continuation of this popular young adult trilogy.

This is the book that started these posts.  I went to check online for a release date for this title only to find that it's already on the shelves!  The third in the series, Shutdown will be following close on its heels in July and I'm not going to let it slip away.  I want to see if the gang can get their revolution together and bring down the bad guys!

Catch Up #3:  Accused (Ganzfield, #4) by Kate Kaynak

"We have ways of making you talk."

Who now has Isaiah's files?
Someone in the government knows about Ganzfield... and he has special reasons to target Maddie.

So its not that I forgot about this series.  I just came into discovering the Ganzfield series a little late and I'm doing my best now to get caught up as quickly as I can.  I did manage to get myself a copy of this book and have already started it and will posting a review soon.  Kaynak is a machine and has popped out Operative and Soul Mate already, with Solitary releasing this year as well.  Its a lot to get through but I'm loving this series so its no hard feat.  I'm not sure how Kaynak has managed to keep everything going, keep the material constantly exciting and interesting, not to mention coming up with all these crazy ideas for how to further the plot and keep things moving forward, but somehow she's done it and I'm hoping has no plans to stop any time soon.

Catch Up #4:  Hallowed (Unearthly, #2) by Cynthia Hand

For months Clara Gardner trained to face the fire from her visions, but she wasn't prepared for the choice she had to make that day. And in the aftermath, she discovered that nothing about being part angel is as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her love for Tucker and her complicated feelings about the roles she and Christian seem destined to play in a world that is both dangerous and beautiful, Clara struggles with a shocking revelation: Someone she loves will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

In this compelling sequel to Unearthly, Cynthia Hand captures the joy of first love, the anguish of loss, and the confusion of becoming who you are.

I don't want this series to end!  I've got this sequel on my Kindle already but was waiting for Boundless, the third and final installment in the series to come out so I could bang them out all at once.  But of course I'm slacking and now have to catch up.  From what I've heard the series ending was great but bittersweet...I'm looking forward to seeing for myself if this is true.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Characters In Fantasy

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created over at The Broke and the Bookish.  This feature was crated because they're particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish (and who isn't?).  They're all about creating new lists including a little bit of everything and I've been meaning to participate for so long but always seemed to get behind.  I've decided that's going to chance in the new year.  So here we are and hopefully you'll head over to their page and check out what everyone else put up for this week's Top Ten.

There are too many characters out there to possibly include all my favorites in a list limited to ten but in nor particular order I've listed a few below with the disclaimer that many have been left out.  It was even difficult to stick to just one genre but I did my best, and here they are...

Favorite Character Pick #1:  James - Cassandra Clare's The Internal Devices series

He's kind, mysterious, beautiful, and welcoming.  When Tessa was thrust into this crazy new reality she wasn't prepared for, James was there as an understanding buffer.  With the love triangle forming I couldn't help but get on his team and cross my fingers that she would end up with him.

Favorite Character Pick #2:  Yelena - Maria V. Snyder's Study series

While I love each and every one of Snyder's characters I had no choice by to choose Yelena.  She's got everything a female lead should have in my opinion.  She's strong, tenacious, witty and sharp, kind and honorable.  The list goes on and on.  She found herself in a bad situation that was not her fault but she didn't give up; in fact she prospered.

Favorite Character Pick #3:  Kaleb - Myra McEntire's Hourglass series

Here we have a truly pure heart and soul.  He might not seem like the type at first, but this was a character dealing with more than anyone should ever have to, and yet still tried not to put those burdens he was carrying onto anyone else.  He did his best to keep it hidden for purely selfless reasons and make it appear as if everything was fine.  But sometimes too much is too much.  He eventually reached out (reluctantly) and leaned on his friends.  It was a journey I enjoyed as a reader and would love to see more of his character in the future.

Favorite Character Pick #4:  Stark - P.C Cast & Kristin Cast's House of Night series

Stark was a breath of fresh air in the guy department for this series.  The love triangle had lost me quite frankly.  I wasn't rooting for either of the guys that were currently vying for Zoe's attention and then in walks Stark and I was hooked on the series all over again!  With a huge heart and a real protective streak where Zoe is concerned it was hard not to take a serious liking to his character.  He could do no wrong in my opinion even when things went horribly wrong for him.

Favorite Character Pick #5:  Sykes - Ednah Walters' The Guardian Legacy series

He's the funny guy!  He adds humor whenever he can and loves riling everyone up.  He keeps the situations light whenever possible, but also has many layers to him beyond his sense of humor.  Basically he's the guy you want to have around.  He's fiercely loyal to his friends and family and equally protective of them as well.  He's hard not to like...end of story.

Favorite Character Pick #6:  Miranda - Shelley Workinger's Solid series

The "mean" girl you can't help but kind of like.  In the beginning she was firmly in the box of characters that I didn't like.  Slowly but surely she won me over just as she did with the rest of the group in the series.  You just had to let her in and take her for what she was.  She kept an interesting dynamic in the group and never let the dialogue get too stagnant.  Miranda was always sure to keep things real.

Favorite Character Pick #7:  The Erlking - Jenna Black's Faeriewalker series

I know he was the "bad" guy in the series but there was more to him than that.  He was without a doubt complicated and had a lot of secrets.  I wanted to get to know him as a reader and was hoping Black would give her readers that opportunity.  When all was said and done I couldn't help but sympathize with him.  He may not be a knight in shining armor but he became a favorite of mine regardless.

Favorite Character Pick #8:  Four - Veronica Roth's Divergent series

He might go by the name Four in the series but he was my number one!  I loved how Roth allowed her readers to get to know his character right along with Tris.  He was so mysterious and hard to read but at the same time interesting to watch as the story progressed and the two came together.

Favorite Character Pick #9:  Anna - Wendy Higgins' Sweet Trilogy

How she handled the drastic reality shift she was dealt is beyond me.  Higgins developed her character in a way that had me as a reader sympathizing with her from the very first chapter.  By the end of the first book my heart was pretty much breaking for her and yet Higgins kept her strong and optimistic.  How could readers not want to see and learn more about her?

Favorite Character Pick #10:  Zoe - Heather Anastasiu's Glitch series

Can you say fighter?  This was one smart and fiercely brave character who refused to take things lying down.  She stood up to the authorities, fought for what she believed to be right and just and did everything she could to help others as well.  She wasn't content to get just herself out to safety, but wanted to try and help as many others as possible.  How could you not respect and like a character like that?  I couldn't resist.

Amazing 2012 Covers

I'm sure I'm not the only one with this opinion, but there have been some amazing covers in 2012 and we're only into September. I know we're always told not to judge a book by it's cover, but let's face it...it's the first impression more than anything else that readers have to go on outside of knowing the author or having been recommended to read the book by someone else. So with an unlimited number of talented authors out there, and more than enough titles that have readers excited and rushing to the bookstores, it's just a fact that there's got to be something that sets them apart from the others.

Everyone has their own way of sorting through their TBR pile, wending their way through the stacks of their libraries or bookstores, and if you're anything like me, half the time you want to pull your hair out or bite your nails because it can be incredibly overwhelming. What if I pick the wrong book? Pass up a great title and never come across it again? I get anxiety just thinking about all the decisions that come into play sometimes when you're looking for your next read. So for me, a cover sometimes is the only way I can decide between one read and another. It doesn't mean I'm not going to read a book if the cover isn't amazing or anything, but if a book has fantastic cover art I might read it sooner rather than later.

So here are a few of the amazing covers of 2012 that rank up there among my favorites...

Cover #1: The Selection (The Selection, #1) by Kiera Cass

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

This has definitely been the year of weddings! So when I first saw this cover I was drawn to it because it reminded me of a wedding gown with color. All the tulle and feminine flair to it had me squealing on the inside like a little girl. You can't help but want to know what it would be like to wear that dress? What's this character all dressed up for? And what fabulous place will she be going when she gets to wear it? It's colorful, eye catching, and pulls you in for a closer look which inevitably is impossible to turn away from.

Cover #2: Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #2) by Laini Taylor

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Karou must come to terms with who and what she is, and how far she’ll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, mysteries and secrets, new characters and old favorites, Days of Blood and Starlight brings the richness, color and intensity of the first book to a brand new canvas.

So to be honest this cover didn't have to be anything out of the ordinary to make me want to pick this sequel up. It was happening regardless after falling in love with the series opener. But when I got my first look at this cover I was spellbound all over again just like with the first book. There's something about this girl featured on the cover and the masks she wears. Her eyes draw you in and you hear that saying about them being the windows to one's soul, etc... You want to know her story, learn more about her and what she's got going on. Don't you want to get to know this girl and see what the author has in store for her readers?

Cover #3: Glitch (Glitch, #1) by Heather Anastasiu

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

Whether it's the colors, the depths and shadows, the fonts, or maybe the glimpse of what's going on with the female lead on the cover, regardless it's all encompassing and irresistible. I love it all! The book was fantastic too!

Cover #4: Such A Rush by Jennifer Echols

A sexy and poignant romantic tale of a young daredevil pilot caught between two brothers.

When I was fourteen, I made a decision. If I was doomed to live in a trailer park next to an airport, I could complain about the smell of the jet fuel like my mom, I could drink myself to death over the noise like everybody else, or I could learn to fly.

Heaven Beach, South Carolina, is anything but, if you live at the low-rent end of town. All her life, Leah Jones has been the grown-up in her family, while her mother moves from boyfriend to boyfriend, letting any available money slip out of her hands. At school, they may diss Leah as trash, but she’s the one who negotiates with the landlord when the rent’s not paid. At fourteen, she’s the one who gets a job at the nearby airstrip.

But there’s one way Leah can escape reality. Saving every penny she can, she begs quiet Mr. Hall, who runs an aerial banner-advertising business at the airstrip and also offers flight lessons, to take her up just once. Leaving the trailer park far beneath her and swooping out over the sea is a rush greater than anything she’s ever experienced, and when Mr. Hall offers to give her cut-rate flight lessons, she feels ready to touch the sky.

By the time she’s a high school senior, Leah has become a good enough pilot that Mr. Hall offers her a job flying a banner plane. It seems like a dream come true . . . but turns out to be just as fleeting as any dream. Mr. Hall dies suddenly, leaving everything he owned in the hands of his teenage sons: golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson. And they’re determined to keep the banner planes flying.

Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business—until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers—and the consequences could be deadly.

The title of this read says it all. When you picture things you can do to get that "rush" for me it's heights, flying, perhaps falling? Either way there's a lot of wind where these things are involved and that's what struck me about this cover. I loved seeing this girl's hair blowing all over the place and covering her face so that you're left wondering what she looks like, and what she does for a rush?

Cover #5: Something Strange and Deadly (Something Strange and Deadly, #1) by Susan Dennard

The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

You don't know what to think about this book based on the cover. I couldn't tear my eyes away from it and wanted to know more. There's definitely something dark about the cover but there's beauty there too and that throws you for a little bit of a loop. There's just nothing about this cover that I don't just love!

Countdown: February 2013

February is a short month but it seems to be packed with great new titles that will hit the shelves in that small amount of time. A few series sequels and a bunch of new titles and authors to check out and I'm excited for each one of them. For some reason outside of Valentine's Day there usually isn't much else going on with everyone in February. It's always a great time to unwind and decompress as much as possible after the holidays, and also a perfect time to get cozy at home with a few of the great books that I've gotten from friends and family.

So I'm hoping that the tradition stands this year and come February the countdown will have been worth it and I'll be able to squeeze as many books as possible into that month and to pump out as many reviews for the blog as possible. So here are just a few of the titles that come out in February that I'm looking forward to diving into.

Countdown Pick #1: Unravel Me (Shatter Me, #2) by Tahereh Mafi (02/05/2013)

tick, tick, tick, tick, tick
it's almost
time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

Oh no! Please don't tell me that this second installment is going to be chalk full of heartache and turmoil....I don't know if I can take it! I really enjoyed the series opener Mafi created and have been super anxious to see what is in store for Juliette and Adam this time around. I really felt for them in the series opener and can only hope that Warner gets what he deserves and stays far away from Juliette. I'm thinking I won't get my wish but a girl can hope right? Either way it's sure to be a great series continuation.

Countdown Pick #2: City of a Thousand Dolls by Miriam Forster (02/05/2013)

The girl with no past, and no future, may be the only one who can save their lives.

Nisha was abandoned at the gates of the City of a Thousand Dolls when she was just a child. Now sixteen, she lives on the grounds of the isolated estate, where orphan girls apprentice as musicians, healers, courtesans, and, if the rumors are true, assassins. Nisha makes her way as Matron’s assistant, her closest companions the mysterious cats that trail her shadow. Only when she begins a forbidden flirtation with the city’s handsome young courier does she let herself imagine a life outside the walls. Until one by one, girls around her start to die.

Before she becomes the next victim, Nisha decides to uncover the secrets that surround the girls’ deaths. But by getting involved, Nisha jeopardizes not only her own future in the City of a Thousand Dolls—but her own life.

So many questions and no answers until February! I love a strong female lead that has to climb her way to the top. I always have so much respect for the characters by the end of reads that you wish these characters were anything but fictional. And with a touch of romance thrown in, in the form of a "handsome young courier" who is totally off limits and you've got yourself a fan already. Why the other orphaned girls are started to die and how Nisha is going to solve these crimes is beyond me, but I'm eager to see what unfolds.

Countdown Pick #3: Pantomime by Laura Lam (02/05/2013)

R.H. Ragona’s Circus of Magic is the greatest circus of Ellada. Nestled among the glowing blue Penglass – remnants of a mysterious civilisation long gone – are wonders beyond the wildest imagination. It’s a place where anything seems possible, where if you close your eyes you can believe that the magic and knowledge of the vanished Chimaera is still there. It’s a place where anyone can hide.

Iphigenia Laurus, or Gene, the daughter of a noble family, is uncomfortable in corsets and crinoline, and prefers climbing trees to debutante balls. Micah Grey, a runaway living on the streets, joins the circus as an aerialist’s apprentice and soon becomes the circus’s rising star.

But Gene and Micah have balancing acts of their own to perform, and a secret in their blood that could unlock the mysteries of Ellada.

Don't ask me what is going on with this future release because I can't even begin to guess. But despite all that aren't you intrigued? I know I am. I'm a huge fan of the idea of the circus. Not where the animals are concerned but Cirque du Soliel has no bigger fan than this girl. So hearing about aerialists had me sold without any other details. I'm not sure what other mysteries will be unfolding within these pages but I'm thinking it's going to be quite the adventurous read.

Countdown Pick #4: The Ruining by Anna Collomore (02/07/2013)

Annie Phillips is thrilled to leave her past behind and begin a shiny new life on Belvedere Island, as a nanny for the picture-perfect Cohen family. In no time at all, she falls in love with the Cohens, especially with Libby, the beautiful young matriarch of the family. Life is better than she ever imagined. She even finds romance with the boy next door.

All too soon cracks appear in Annie's seemingly perfect world. She's blamed for mistakes she doesn't remember making. Her bedroom door comes unhinged, and she feels like she's always being watched. Libby, who once felt like a big sister, is suddenly cold and unforgiving. As she struggles to keep up with the demands of her new life, Annie's fear gives way to frightening hallucinations. Is she tumbling into madness, or is something sinister at play?

The Ruining is a complex ride through first love, chilling manipulation, and the terrifying depths of insanity.

Anyone else freaked out after reading this book's description? While I might be scared of what this read will do to my anxiety level, at the same time I can't help but be morbidly curious to see what this book is all about. Hopefully there's enough good romance and first love excitement throughout to make up for the most likely scary parts where the aforementioned manipulation and insanity comes into play. I'll probably lose sleep over this one but I'm hoping in the long run it's worth it, but only time will tell. Now I just want to see what the cover art will look like. As soon as I find a picture I'll be sure to update the post and make sure you guys aren't missing out.

Countdown Pick #5: Override (Glitch, #2) by Heather Anastasiu (02/19/2013)

Zoe is free. She has escaped the enslavement of the Community, disconnected from the hardware that had controlled her every thought and emotion, and evaded capture by the Chancellor intent on killing her. She is finally free, but she is far from safe.

Zoe and Adrien hide themselves from detection at the Foundation, an academy that trains teen glitchers to fight in the Resistance movement. Together, Zoe and her new team of superhuman fighters must risk their lives to rescue other glitchers and humans from the Chancellor's control. Challenges abound at every turn, and Adrien, who has become silent, distant, and tormented by his visions of the future, only adds to the growing certainty of defeat. But worst of all, as Zoe's team fights against impossible odds, distrust and betrayal leads to the terrible discovery that their greatest threat could already be lurking behind the safe walls of the Foundation.

Full of high-adrenaline action and shocking twists, Heather Anastasiu's Override is an exciting continuation of this popular young adult trilogy.

There are always book blurbs out there that claim amazing and surprising twists and turns that will come out of left field and readers will never see coming. Sometimes it turns out to be the case, but often times it's just wishful thinking and turns out to be more of a disappointment than anything else. Where Anastasiu's writing is concerned...there is no need to worry or doubt, she's the real deal! When I first read Glitch I couldn't believe how much was packed into one series opener. It was like with every turn of the page a new shocking reveal was laid out and just when I thought I would have gotten a handle of what was going on and was starting to think I could predict what would happen next I'd be completely blind sided. Anastasiu is one of those writers that will always throw me for a loop and no matter how hard I try I'll never be able to hope to get a step ahead of her writing.

ARC Review: Glitch (Glitch, #1) by Heather Anastasiu

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

What a whirlwind this read was for me! I'm not sure I knew what to expect going into it, but I came out really glad that I was given the chance to read this one. I've probably said this before, but I'll say it again...it's official....I'm a dystopian fan for sure! There's no doubt in my mind now when I get wind of a dystopian title that will be hitting the shelves, I immediately have to look into it. I'm not saying they're all the same and would all be to my liking, but I don't think I've come across one yet that I didn't fall in love with, this title included!

Zoe's struggle to lay low and under the radar of the Uppers and those appointed to keep an eye out for individuals who display anomalous tendencies (i.e. showing any emotions whatsoever!) is not an easy task. And for a very long time she's doing this all alone with no one to talk to. But when more "glitchers" are thrown into the mix, readers, right along with Zoe will have a very hard time trying to figure out who is really on her side and who could possibly lead her astray. It's all packed full of adventure, anxiety and stressful situations that had me flipping through the pages at a pace I had trouble keeping up with on more than one occasion. But I couldn't slow down...I had to know what would happen next!

So if you're looking for action, adventure and a little romance thrown in as well, I think this dystopian title will be right up your alley!

I gave Glitch, (Glitch, #1) 4 shamrocks!!!!

In My Mailbox (51)

This is a meme that I first heard about from Kristi over at The Story Siren and immediately wanted to jump on board. I'm always picking up new books, because I never tire of reading, but the other thing I like about this meme is that it gives everyone an opportunity to check out what other book fanatics, bloggers, etc... got for themselves. I've gotten great recommendations from this meme and hope that keeps up in the future.

Here's what I got, what did you guys get this week?

For Review:

The Forsaken (The Forsaken, #1) by Lisa M. Stasse (Thanks to Simon & Schuster)

A thought-provoking and exciting start to a riveting new dystopian trilogy.As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up.

The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.

Auracle by Gina Rosati (Thanks to Roaring Book Press)

16 year old Anna Rogan has a secret she's only shared with her best friend, Rei; she can astrally project out of her body, allowing her spirit to explore the world and the far reaches of the universe.

When there's a fatal accident and her classmate Taylor takes over Anna's body, what was an exhilarating distraction from her repressive home life threatens to become a permanent state. Faced with a future trapped in another dimension, Anna turns to Rei for help.

Now the two of them must find a way to get Anna back into her body and stop Taylor from accusing an innocent friend of murder. Together Anna and Rei form a plan but it doesn't take into account the deeper feelings that are beginning to grow between them.

Shift by Kim Curran (Thanks to Strange Chemistry)

When your average, 16-year old loser, Scott Tyler, meets the beautiful and mysterious Aubrey Jones, he learns he’s not quite so average after all. He’s a ‘Shifter’. And that means he has the power to undo any decision he’s ever made.

At first, he thinks the power to shift is pretty cool. But as his world quickly starts to unravel around him he realises that each time he uses his power, it has consequences; terrible unforeseen consequences. Shifting is going to get him killed. In a world where everything can change with a thought, Scott has to decide where he stands.

Glitch (Glitch, #1) by Heather Anastasiu (Thanks to St. Martin's Press)

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network. When Zoe starts to malfunction (or "glitch"), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse. In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

Blood of a Red Rose (The Rose Trilogy, #2) by Tish Thawer (Thanks to Tish)

Doubt blooms...

Someone bleeds...

Change is coming...time to take heed.

Book 2 in The Rose Trilogy. A paranormal romance that continues to surprise with a heroine that’s embracing her darker side, a vampire whose love starts to waver, and a vampire clan whose new Sire is filled with doubt.

~ ROSE ~
I'm Rose Reynolds. I’ve shared my secret and ruined lives.
I’m no longer welcome in my childhood home.
And, I’ve recently threatened to kill my best friend.
I warned you - I'm not as innocent as everyone thinks…

~ CHRISTIAN ~
I'm Christian and I’m worried about Rose.
She’s changed and I’m not sure that’s a good thing.
She knows my secret and loves me still.
This I know, because I’m starting to hear whispers wherever I go…

To Read:

Insurgent (Divergent, #2) by Veronica Roth

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.