I'd Like A Movie Version Please

After yesterday's post about the new young adult titles that will eventually be adapted to the big screen I got to thinking about other YA faves of mine that I'd like to see in the same position. I think everyone has thought about this at one point or another and you guys know that I love my countdowns with a passion, so I'm going to use the rest of this week to showcase of few of my favorite young adult titles each day that I'd like to see turned into a movie and maybe even who I would like cast in those movies.

Which titles are you shelves would you like to see hit the big screen? Any actors or actresses in mind that you could see featured in those films? Shoot me an email or leave me a comment and let me know what you've got up your sleeve. It's always fun to speculate and cross your fingers that one day maybe these favorites of ours will be premiering at the movies just like we'd always wanted!

I'd Like A Movie Version Pick #1: Poison Study (Study, #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Choose: A quick death…Or slow poison…

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear…

Who doesn't love Maria V. Snyder's writing, right? Right! I really wouldn't mind if any and all of her books were optioned to become movies, but this was the first of hers I read and I still hold it up at the top of my list of favorite books. It's got a wonderful and exciting new world for readers to experience, characters like Yelena and Valek that you won't be able to resist, and action packed plot twists that are jammed with cliffhangers and surprises that will leave you on the edge of your seats every single time. Can some file company please get on the ball and pick these babies up? You've got the Study series, the Glass series, Insider series and now the Healer series to choose from. While I haven't read the Insider series, the others are all amazing and I have no doubt that it falls into that bracket as well. Snyder was born to write and hopefully to also have her work translated to the movies!

I'd Like A Movie Version Pick #2: Hex Hall (Hex Hall, #1) by Rachel Hawkins

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

How much fun would this book be as a movie? There would bit a little bit of everything thrown into this film don't you think? Witches, vampires, werewolves and witches, oh my! Don't forget the demons either...all in all there would be so much that could be done and dreamed up for this series in the movies that I think it would draw fans of all ages. Just like Harry Potter movies had fans salivating over all the different aspects that Rowling included in her books, much of the same can be said for Hawkins. She didn't just stop at one kind of creature from the paranormal worlds. She decided to go for the gold and just about all of them!

I'd Like A Movie Version Pick #3: Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

When Wayland North brings rain to a region that's been dry for over ten years, he's promised anything he'd like as a reward. He chooses the village elder's daughter, sixteen-year-old Sydelle Mirabel, who is a skilled weaver and has an unusual knack for repairing his magical cloaks. Though Sydelle has dreamt of escaping her home, she's hurt that her parents relinquish her so freely and finds herself awed and afraid of the slightly ragtag wizard who is unlike any of the men of magic in the tales she's heard. Still, she is drawn to this mysterious man who is fiercely protective of her and so reluctant to share his own past.

The pair rushes toward the capital, intent to stop an imminent war, pursued by Reuel Dorwan (a dark wizard who has taken a keen interest in Sydelle) and plagued by unusually wild weather. But the sudden earthquakes and freak snowstorms may not be a coincidence. As Sydelle discovers North's dark secret and the reason for his interest in her and learns to master her own mysterious power, it becomes increasingly clear that the fate of the kingdom rests in her fingertips. She will either be a savior, weaving together the frayed bonds between Saldorra and Auster, or the disastrous force that destroys both kingdoms forever.

I don't know any readers who have come across this book who wouldn't want to see Wayland North up on the big screen. There was just something about he and Sydelle that left readers only wanting more. I fell in love with him right there along Sydelle and was so happy with the way Bracken wrapped things up in this standalone. Now there are equal numbers of people who enjoy a standalone novel better than an installment in a series, just as there are a good amount of readers who crave a series or trilogy of books as opposed to only the one title. I get both sides, but I happen to usually fall into the series category. I wish Bracken had decided to expand this story into a series, but even though she didn't I consider this one of my favorites despite that fact. With all the magic and intrigue throughout these pages, I think this one would draw quite the audience as well.

I'd Like A Movie Version Pick #4: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1) by Richelle Mead

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

No matter if you're a fan of the paranormal genre or not, no matter if you prefer to read young adult titles or something different, I have yet to meet a reader or non-reader alike that has given this book and series a try and not come out the other end racing to the stores to get the next installment in the series. It's addicting, and dare I say it...I might even prefer this series to the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyers. I adore the Twilight novels, but Mead's world and characters grabbed a hold of me and refused to let go afterwards. I could not get enough and even now I couldn't be more excited to have the Bloodlines series out on the shelves, for no other reason than at least we didn't have to say goodbye to all of her characters when her final installment in the Vampire Academy series came to a close. Bring this one to the movies, and I'll be the first in line to buy a ticket! In fact, now that I've been talking about these books for the past couple of days, I think I might just go and re-read them again...I've got it bad!

I'd Like A Movie Version Pick #5: The Iron King (Iron Fey, #1) by Julie Kagawa

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

The only bad part about doing a list like this is the fact that now that I've thought about how these titles would be so great if they were adapted to film, I'm a little sad that it's not a reality. I'm still going to cross my fingers and hope that one day maybe they will be made into movies, but for now it's still fun to just think about it. Kagawa's Iron Fey series, has just about everything one could want in a fantasy novel. It's fun and witty, filled with characters both unique and endearing, and the land of the Fey is magical and awe inspiring. Not to mention a little scary. I think fun would be had by all if this were turned into a movie, don't you?

Countdown: Fantasy Edition

Ever since I was a little kid I've been a huge fan of the fantasy genre. My dad started out reading me books like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Hobbit was another of his favorites, and the list goes on. At the time, those books scared me, but not enough to keep me from wanting him to keep picking others just like them. There's just something about the creativity in this genre and the limitless possibilities that pulls me in and keeps me wanting to find others like my favorites to add to the shelves in my apartment. Add to that the fact that some of my favorite authors are huge in the genre and I just can't seem to get enough. As long as this genre keeps turning out great reads, I'm not sure I'll ever find another genre that intrigues me quite so much. Here are just a few that I'm looking forward to reading real soon.

Countdown Pick #1: The Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2) by Cassandra Clare (12/1/2011)

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends. The special Collector’s First Edition will include a never-before-seen letter from Will to his family!With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them. Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and...

Somehow Clare has found a way to grab a reader's attention and make them forget they're reading fiction. All that matters is finding out what happens next and how the characters make out. The Moral Instruments series became an overnight success and I don't see The Infernal Devices being any different. Clary and Jace may have captured the hearts of readers everywhere, but I've got to say that the characters she's come up with in this series are just as wonderful.

I was hesitant to take this series on only because I wanted to wait to start it only when I knew I would be able to give it my full attention and without bias. I didn't want to be wishing that the characters in her previous series would pop up on the pages, I wanted to be ready for the introduction to the new ones. When I finally picked up the series opener I was ready and excited to enter Clare's world of the Shadowhunters and see a little further into the past and how everything got started.

Countdown Pick #2: Crossed (Matched Trilogy, #2) by Ally Condie (11/1/2011)

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

After finishing the first book in this trilogy, Matched, I was dying to get my hands on the the sequel. Condie's world fascinated me. Dystopian novels were not overcrowding my shelves at the time, but there was no way I could walk away from this series. Still wanting to know what Ky's fate was, if Cassia could find him, and where Xander would fit into it all, November just can't get here soon enough.

Condie debuted this novel and without any previous works of hers read, my expectations were not incredibly high. I didn't know what to expect. Now I will admit the circumstances have changed. Matched was such a stellar opening that I can only hope that the intensity, action packed pages, and quick pace continues on with this trilogy. Other than The Hunger Games, this trilogy was second on my list of favorite dystopian novels. It began to change my opinion of the genre, no longer thinking of it as a one hit wonder reserved only for Suzanne Collins' works. So cross your fingers with me that the magic continues on with Crossed.

Countdown Pick #3: Destined (House of Night, #9) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (10/25/2011)

In Destined, the forces of Light and Dark collide as their epic struggle focuses on Tulsa's House of Night. Zoey is home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side and preparing to face off against Neferet. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, he and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together if Rephaim can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow.

But is Zoey really safe? Does she truly know those who are closest to her? And will love win when it is tested by the very soul of Darkness? Find out what s destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series.

The House of Night broke the mold for me when it comes to a long running series. Normally my interest wanes after too many books in one series, it all starts to seem like too much. Like the far reaching circumstances and extended scenes that in my opinion might not be integral to the overall plot begin to fill like they're just words filling up the page in order to extend the page count. Not so with this series. I'm definitely not bored, I still want to see where the story goes, and I absolutely still worry about the characters' futures. I can't wait to see where the Cast duo takes Zoey and her friends next.

I'll admit to being a little less worried going into this installment as I was with some of the previous installments. With the end of Awakened, I was somewhat content with the way things were working out. I had some ideas and hopes of how this installment and future ones in the series would go, but I'm content to sit back and crack open this book and just see where the pages take readers next.

Countdown Pick #4: Frost (Stork, #2) by Wendy Delsol (10/1/2011)

In this sequel to STORK, Katla Leblanc has to employ her grit, spirit, and special gifts to rescue the boy she loves.

After the drama of finding out that she’s a Stork, a member of an ancient and mystical order of women, and that her boyfriend, Jack, is a descendent of the Winter People able to control the weather, Katla Leblanc is delighted when all signs point to a busy and peaceful Christmas. That is, until the snowstorm Jack summons as a gift to Katla turns into the storm of the century, attracting Brigid, a gorgeous scientist who, in turn, attracts Jack. Between the school play, a bedridden, pregnant mother’s to-do lists, and keeping an eye on her aging grandfather, Katla doesn’t have time to question Brigid’s motives or deal with Jack’s increasingly cold behavior. But Katla’s suspicions mount when Jack joins Brigid on a research expedition to Greenland, and when the two of them go missing, it becomes clear that Katla is the only one who can save her beloved Jack from the Snow Queen who holds him prisoner. Adventure, romance, and myth combine in this winter escapade for teens who like a bit of fire with their ice.

I've always loved a good romance, and while I like to see the happily-ever-afters happen for my favorite couples, I don't mind it when it takes them a while to get there. It's nice to know that they earned it sometimes. Too many times have I read a novel where the characters are not altogether all that nice and in my opinion deserving of these great guys or these great girls and yet somehow the author still ends the book with the two together, whether they're nice characters or not. While that may be realistic, sometimes I want to read to get away from how things are in real life, and see that on the fictional pages of some books, only the nice guys get the great girls, and vice versa.

In this sequel it seems Katla and Jack will have their work cut out for them if they want the fairy tale ending. I'm anxious for October reads and will be crossing my fingers as always that Katla and Jack can work things out. Are you with me?

Countdown Pick #5: Spell Bound (Hex Hall, #3) by Rachel Hawkins (3/13/2012)

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

Hex Hall became one of those series that hit my funny bone and had me laughing and enjoying myself throughout the entire book. Hawkins keeps it light and fun with Sophie and her friends. With this third installment it sounds like it may be taking a turn for the more series side. The second book most definitely had darker edge to it with the newly discovered demons and the way things were left off at the end, but I've got the feeling that Hawkins will take it even further with her next book. Sophie's without her powers and there's a war right around the corner that she will of course play a big role in. Can things go right for Sophie? Will Archer and Cal be by her side? As friends or more? So many questions and I can't wait to get some answers.

Review: Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2) by Rachel Hawkins

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

After everything Sophie went through in her first year at Hex Hall I wasn't sure what to expect in this second installment. A smooth and carefree existence is most certainly not in the cards for her. Despite such a dramatic closing I was mainly wondering how things would pan out for Sophie and Archer. I know I wasn't alone in that curiosity either.

Hawkins did not disappoint. With Sophie now wanting to go through the removal process, all the stakes were raised. Starting with...wait for it...Sophie and her dad don't seem to be the only demons as she first thought. Yikes! So along with her father, Jenna, the Heccate Hall grounds keeper Cal, the journey begins as they venture to London and trouble of course follows. While all the original characters I cam to really like were involved, Cal quickly grabbed my attention and held it. So many questions surround him and I was fascinated.

Demonglass really was a great follow up to Hex Hall and proved Hawkins anything but a one hit wonder. She's got a fun and exciting series on her hands and with yet another huge cliffhanger at the end of this installment, the third in this series, Spell Bound (Hex Hall, #3) due out March 13, 2012 seems oh so very far away!

I gave Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2) 4 shamrocks!!!!

Hitting the Shelves Soon!!!

Now that April is wrapping up, everyone (including me) is getting super excited for the new releases we've been anxiously awaiting to hit the shelves in May, but most readers already have their lists of what they're hopping to snag in May ready and raring to go.  What readers might not have is a list of what's coming out in June, so I wanted to share a few June releases that I can't wait to get my hands on!

Here's my top five June releases:

The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood (6/1/2010)

Jessamine Luxson lives with her father, Thomas, an apothecary, in an isolated cottage near Alnwick Castle. Thomas’s pride and obsession is his locked garden full of dangerous plants, which Jessamine is forbidden to enter. 

When a traveler brings an orphan to their cottage, he claims the boy has special gifts that Thomas might value. Jessamine is drawn to the strange but intriguing boy, called Weed. Soon their friendship deepens into love. Finally, Weed shares his secret: He can communicate with plants. For him they have distinct personalities—and some are even murderous. From the locked garden the poisonous plants call to Weed, luring him with promises of deadly power.

When Jessamine falls inexplicably ill, only Weed’s relationship with the Poisons can save her. But Thomas is determined to exploit Weed’s abilities, even if it risks Jessamine’s life—or drives Weed to the brink of madness.…

Everlasting by Angie Frazier (6/1/2010)

Sailing aboard her father’s trade ship is all seventeen-year-old Camille Rowen has ever wanted. But as a girl of society in 1855 San Francisco, her future is set: marry a man she doesn’t love, or condemn herself and her father to poverty. 

On her final voyage before the wedding, the stormy arms of the Tasman Sea claim her father, and a terrible family secret is revealed. A secret intertwined with a fabled map, the mother Camille has long believed dead, and an ancient stone that wields a dangerous—and alluring—magic.

The only person Camille can depend on is Oscar, a handsome young sailor whom she is undeniably drawn to. Torn between trusting her instincts and keeping her promises to her father, Camille embarks on a perilous quest into the Australian wilderness to find the enchanted stone. As she and Oscar elude murderous bushrangers and unravel Camille’s father’s lies, they come closer to making the ultimate decision of who—and what—matters most.

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce (6/7/2010)

Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris-- the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead. 

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts fiercely alongside her. Now Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves and finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax-- but loving him means betraying her sister and has the potential to destroy all they've worked for.

13 to Life: A Werewolf's Tale by Shannon Delany (6/22/2010)

Something strange is stalking the small town of Junction… 

When junior Jess Gillmansen gets called out of class by Guidance, she can only presume it’s for one of two reasons. Either they’ve finally figured out who wrote the scathing anti-jock editorial in the school newspaper or they’re hosting yet another intervention for her about her mom. Although far from expecting it, she’s relieved to discover Guidance just wants her to show a new student around—but he comes with issues of his own including a police escort.

The newest member of Junction High, Pietr Rusakova has secrets to hide--secrets that will bring big trouble to the small town of Junction—secrets including dramatic changes he’s undergoing that will surely end his life early.

Blue Bloods: Keys to the Repository by Melissa de la Cruz (6/29/2010)

Lavish parties. Passionate meetings in the night. Bone-chilling murders. Midterms. The day-to-day life of Schuyler Van Alen and her Blue Bloods friends (and enemies) is never boring. But there's oh-so-much more to know about these beautiful and powerful teens.Below the streets of Manhattan, within the walls of the Repository, exists a wealth of revealing information about the vampire elite that dates back before the Mayflower.

In a series of short stories, journal entries, and never-before-seen letters, New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz gives her hungry fans the keys to the Repository and an even more in-depth look into the secret world of the Blue Bloods. Won't you come inside?

Don't these just sound great?  I can't wait...they've been on my TBR list for so long and June always felt like it was so far away but it's been creeping up on me and hopefully will be here before I know it!

Speaking of books everyone is anxiously awaiting...Rachel Hawkins announced the title to her new book, the Hex Hall sequel, drum roll please......Demonglass!  Spooky right?   Check out Rachel's full post here.

And don't forget to enter the contest I'm running...it ends May 21st...who would pass up a chance to win free books right?  Click here check it out!

Happy Reading!!!!!

Quote of the Week (5)

"Books are the most quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers." 

-- Charles W. Eliot

The cover of Becca Fitzpatrick's Crescendo has been revealed!

Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

I'm so excited for this book to come out so I can see what happens next in Nora's story and the cover reveal has only amped up my excitement!  

In other news Rachel Hawkins updated her blog with a post which includes some FAQs regarding Hex Hall and it's future sequels.  Careful of spoilers if you haven't read Hex Hall, but if you have she may answer some questions that have been on the brain, click here to see her post.

I managed to finish not one but two of the books I've been reading this weekend so be sure to check back to see my reviews later this week for Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater and The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima.  

And just as a friendly reminder...don't forget to be on the lookout for these new releases coming soon!

The Light (Morpheus Road, #1) by D.J. MacHale (4/20)

Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr (4/20)

The Necromancer (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, #4) by Michael Scott(4/27)

Mistwood by Leah Cypess (4/27)

Rules of Attraction (Perfect Chemistry Trilogy, #2) by Simone Elkeles (4/27) 

Burned by P.C. & Kristin Cast (4/27)

       

     

In My Mailbox (1)

This is a meme that I first heard about from Kristi over at The Story Siren and immediately wanted to jump on board. Every week we’ll post about what books we have received (whether they’re bought/borrowed, etc… you get the idea). This is generally done on Sunday, but I’m told that it’s really whatever day works for you; I’m going to do my best to stick with Sunday (although this weekend I won't be around so I'm jumping the gun).
Everyone participating will try and visit other lists to comment and possibly pine for the new arrivals everyone’s talking about. I’ve learned that it’s a great idea to really try and stop by at least two or three lists because I’m constantly finding out about new books that I’ve later added to my TBR list.

Happy Reading!

This week I’ve added the following to my collection:

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (See my review below)

Firespell by Chloe Neill

Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger

Two out of three of these book are on my 2010 YA Debut Author Challenge so hopefully I'll be able to cross them off my list real soon!

If you're looking to increase what you get in your mailbox maybe you should check out this giveaway over at BookHounds, look here for more information on the contest and good luck!

Review: Hex Hall (Hex Hall, #1) by Rachel Hawkins

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

If I had to pick one word to describe Rachel Hawkins’ new book Hex Hall it would be AMAZING! The story was fast paced, the characters intriguing, and her new spin on the paranormal genre was refreshing, and not to mention addicting…I couldn’t put the book down.
The protagonist Sophie Mercer was so easy to relate to that I didn’t even realize how easily I connected to her character until I found myself shouting in outrage when she was picked on, or crossing my fingers that she gets the oh-so-dreamy heartthrob and holding out hope that she can make friends in a place where she finally doesn’t have to feel like an outsider. Hawkins created characters that fit the stereotypical outline but yet go beyond the normal limitations. Sophie's fellow witches, for example are not just your normal beautiful, popular, catty mean girls; they’re taken a step further when Hawkins gives them dark powers. Sophie and the readers are not sure what exactly they’re capable of, or how dangerous they really are. I was constantly on the edge of my seat wondering how far they were really willing to go in order to meet their goal, not to mention that I was dying to know what exactly their “goal” really was. Were the rumors at Hecate really true or are these girls just bluffing?

The murder mystery taking place at the Hecate school, affectionately known by the students as Hex Hall will have readers staying up late into the night to see if Sophie can discover who’s behind all these strange attacks, or will she be too late? Will it turn out to be the obvious suspect or someone she least expects? My lips are sealed, if you want to know what happens, you’ll just have to read the book to find out, you won’t regret it. I wasn’t disappointed in the least, but I was left craving for more. So now there is yet another sequel’s release that I’ll be hoping comes out sooner rather than later…these authors will be the death of me with their cliffhangers, and far away release dates. Hex Hall was AMAZING, the series is sure to be a success, and Hawkins has only given us a preview of the amazing writing she’s capable of and we’ll definitely see more of in the future.

I gave Hex Hall (Hex Hall, #1) 5 shamrocks!

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

When Sophie Mercer turned thirteen, she discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-Gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hecate Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward prodigium, a.k.a. witches, fae, and shapeshifters. 

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard. Three powerful enemies who look like supermodels; a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock; a creepy, tag-along ghost; and a new roommate, who happens to be the most-hated person and only vampire on campus. Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her friend Jenna is the number one suspect.

Meanwhile, Sophie has a more personal shock to grapple with. Not only is her father the head of the prodigium council, he's the most powerful warlock in the world, and Sophie is his heir. As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all prodigium, especially her.

Review Coming Soon!!