The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

The Lost Prince

Goodreads summary: Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’s dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myths and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

My name is Ethan Chase. And I may not live to see my eighteenth birthday.

Review

An eARC of this book was provided to me through Netgalley.

Every time I read one of Julie Kagawa's books it always feels like a challenge to me. It's a face off always! And I know one of us is going down!



Sigh... The Lost Prince just lost me. Again, just like The Iron King, this book is just a blend of popular books and cliche characters. There is nothing unique about this book.

It's a shame that Kagawa did not really hold my interest long enough. I really do think the first fifteen pages or so of the novel was interesting. I liked how she introduced Ethan to the readers. For a moment, I thought Ethan was going to be a unique character. But I was DEAD WRONG!

Ethan Chase

If I were to meet him, the first thing I will tell him is to piss off and be emo somewhere else. Don't contaminate me with your broody, emo vibes, you leech!

He is your typical, mysterious "bad boy". Just imagine him as Ash, only he is human and immature. And, what do we expect that happens to bad boy? He falls in love! HE EFFIN FALLS IN LOVE ALMOST INSTANTLY! Oh my glob! Isn't that the most unexpected thing, like, since ever? I didn't see that coming!

From broody, distant bad boy to I-can't-be-without-you, I'm-your-knight-in-shining-armor dude. Yep, totally unique, un-cliche, and unexpected. This was a major, major bombshell!

Kenzie

The polar opposite of Ethan Chase. She is popular, rich, and a good girl, who is bored in life and just wants to live. Yep, so far it's the most special and one-of-a-kind novel I have ever read.

I WANT THIS CHARACTER TO DIE!! 

She is almost as useful as the gunk between my toes! For me, she is a character that can't really make a story move. I think Kagawa just added this character to represent and remind the readers that there is romance in this book. I say Kagawa should throw this character away and use that other chick, Samantha, as Ethan's love interest.

Why?

I think I just made a story within this story :D Ethan said that he had a friend, Samantha, who got injured while riding a phouka when they were younger. He claimed that the phouka was after him and not his friend. The girl couldn't walk after that, though, and moved away somewhere else. I would have loved the romance of the novel more if the circumstances were like this: Ethan unexpectedly meets Samantha again in his new high school, and is surprised to see her walking again! Then, he learns that the girl bargained with the fey to have the ability to walk again. It's now up to him to save her from the crazy she just entered and find out why she can see the fey.

I think there's more gravity there than with Kenzie's. The girl can't even fight for herself!

By the way, Kenzie, your confession to Ethan wasn't a blow to me. I think Kagawa just wrote your confession without even planning it and wrote it in the spur of the moment.

Keirran and Annwyl

Useless characters. Throw them away. Please!

The Forgotten

Let me guess, Kagawa imagined you in the spur of the moment as well. Typical! Just like Stephanie Meyer. Oh well.

Brow Raising Lines

I will say it again. I. HATE. KAGAWA'S. WRITING. STYLE. I wrote like her when I was fourteen. When I presented a short story to four award-winning authors of my country with the style same as Kagawa's, you know what they said? They all agreed I had no talent! One said to me, "I'm sorry. Don't get offended, alright? But I don't like how you wrote this. This is fanfiction!" And another one said, "This is crap!" And one more said, "I think the author should read more."

- "The fairy laced his hands behind his skull." SERIOUSLY? Is this how an adult should write? Laced his hands behind his skull. Hah! What? Was he a skeleton? Did he have no hair and scalp?

- "He blew out a noisy breath." I'm sorry, but what does this mean? What do you mean by noisy? Did his breath sound like static?

- "I looked up, and she gave me a fierce smile."; "...staring at me with blackest hate.";" ...her eyes suspiciously bright." THIS IS CRAP! I can't imagine or see this fierce smile or blackest hate or eyes suspiciously bright!

Final Thoughts

This is a novel I would love to chop into pieces and then burn into ashes if I had a paperback copy of it. The plot and characters are as bad as the author's writing style. This is horribly draggy with so many unnecessary scenes to make it even more draggier. There are so many scenes here I think should be deleted because they are not significant enough and don't make the story move. One example is Ethan's fight scene with a snake-like fey. And, yes, Kagawa used another character again, Todd, to make Ethan move. Very much like how she used Ethan in the Iron King to force Meghan to go into the fey world.

To this novel, I give it the finger. And to make everything short, I shall describe this book in two words: It SUCKS.

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Inbetween Trailer!

Yay! You guys know Tara Fuller and how much I want her book, right? Here's its awesome trailer for you guys to understand why I love it so much and why you guys should too!

[youtube=http://youtu.be/RyKcAyxrTnQ]

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Wynne Channing (Author Interview + Giveaway!)

The Author

Wynne Channing is a national newspaper reporter and award-winning young adult novelist. Wynne loves telling stories and as a journalist, she has interviewed everyone from Daniel Radcliffe and Hugh Jackman to the president of the Maldives and Duchess Sarah Ferguson. The closest she has come to interviewing a vampire is sitting down with True Blood‘s Alexander Skarsgard (he didn’t bite). She briefly considered calling her debut novel “Well” so then everyone would say: “Well written by Wynne Channing.”

Connect with Wynne

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

What Kills Me

Summary: An ancient prophecy warns of a girl destined to cause the extinction of the vampire race. So when 17-year-old Axelia falls into a sacred well filled with blood and emerges a vampire, the immortal empire believes she is this legendary destroyer. Hunted by soldiers and mercenaries, Axelia and her reluctant ally, the vampire bladesmith Lucas, must battle to survive. How will she convince the empire that she is just an innocent teenager-turned bloodsucker and not a creature of destruction? And if she cannot, can a vampire who is afraid of bugs summon the courage to fight a nation of immortals?

What Kills Me Links

Goodreads | Wynne Channing’s Website

Buy What Kills Me

Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | Kobo | iTunes

Interview

Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Sure! I’m a newspaper journalist and young adult novelist. I like pajamas and gherkins. Not necessarily together.

How did you come up with the idea to write What Kills Me?
One night in my mind, I saw a girl climbing out of a well covered in blood. Freaked me right out and I decided to base my first novel on this image.

Did you experience writer's block?
Most writers will tell you that they experience writer’s block. When I am staring at a blank page, it’s usually because I feel pressure to write something amazing and then I get intimidated. Being a newspaper reporter helps because if I stare too long, I’ll miss my deadlines. But to be honest, I didn’t experience much writer’s block with What Kills me. I vividly imagined many of the key moments and I was just so excited to get there.

Are there any characters in your book who are like you in any way?
Every character is a piece of you. Well, maybe not the evil ones ;) But my heroine, Zee, is the person I wish I could’ve been when I was 17. She is a cooler, funnier and braver me.

You told us before that there is a second book. What's the title of the second book?
At this moment, Book Two is untitled. Do you have any suggestions? What Kills Me More? The Other Thing That Kills Me? Just joking.

Will there be new characters in the second book?
Oh yes, there will be new characters. And you’ll get to meet figures merely mentioned in the first novel such as Lucas’s brother and the rebels, for example. You’ll also learn more about the characters you thought you knew.

Can you give us a little teaser for book two?
It’s hard to talk about without spoiling the end of What Kills Me. But at the end of Book One, a huge revelation changes everything. Zee and the vampire empire will have to figure out how to deal with this new world. Zee and Lucas’s relationship will continue to evolve. You’ll learn more about the legend, the first vampires. Of course, there will be more blood, humor and twists!

Do you have any advice or tips for aspiring writers?
Keep writing. Read everything. Finish your novel. And make sure it’s the best darn story that it can be. Above all, don’t give up. (Giving up would be like turning the heat off just before the water boils.)

What would you do in a zombie apocalypse?
As soon as I heard that people were biting people, I would go to the store across the street and stock up on food, water, weapons, etc. Then I would barricade myself in the safety of my apartment. While everyone else is running around getting themselves killed in the streets, I would wait the initial panic out. Chill out. Read some good books. Then reassess.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
I’m not the biggest fan of ice cream. I know. I’m an alien. (Probably from a planet far far away that is entirely made out of chips and where the only food source is nachos.) But if I had to choose, I’d go with Oreo or any kind of sorbet.

Do you know how to speak French? If you do, can you teach me?
I read better than I speak so I could teach you some important words, mostly about shopping and bathrooms (maybe some profanity) so you could visit France!

Any dating tips you would like to share?
Find someone who you can be yourself with.

Countries you would like to visit someday?
Oh my God. So many! I’d love to see Palawan in the Philippines. (I recently interviewed the director of The Bourne Legacy and he said it was AMAZING.) I’d love to visit anywhere in India.

What is the difference between the Canadian accent and the American accent? (Please enlighten this girl from the Ring of Fire, who can't seem to differentiate the two)
The accents are very similar. We just pronounce some words slightly differently. I can never remember which ones :)

Do you watch any Bollywood films?
I do! Love the dancing.

Giveaway

I love Wynne Channing and What Kills Me! See? It's even in my Recommendations post! I gave it five stars on my review!  Enter the GIVEAWAY CONTEST to win an ecopy of this awesome novel!

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Waiting on Wednesday #2

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It features each blogger’s most anticipated books.

I haven't posted anything for days! I had a retreat (a Catholic school thing) where my classmates and I were banned from using the internet and gadgets. Just imagine how heartbroken I was when I couldn't read a single book from my kindle.  But that didn't stop me from thinking of books. For this week my picks are:

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Goodreads summary: “There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

Expected publication: September 18, 2012

The Archived by Victoria Schwab

Goodreads summary: Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn't just dangerous—it's a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da's death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.

Expected publication: January 22. 2013

 

 

 

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Recommendations!

Before I officially got hook on YA novels, I read some Adult and Children's fiction as well. I still do read them. I just can't seem to find a particular subgenre of Adult fiction I do like. So, in no particular order, I would recommend you guys to read some of these awesome Children, Adult,  and YA novels I have read since I was like, uh, eleven.

Click on the image to read the summary.

One author who has influenced me is Martine Leavitt. I fell in love with her writing style and could not forget it. I think I am using her style while writing my novel. I could not finish reading A Child Called "It" because it was too cruel. Belle was the first book I read by Lesley Pearse. I enjoyed the book very much and when I learned there was a sequel I screamed my head off and just had to have it. Yes, I have an ecopy of the sequel, The Promise. Howl's Moving Castle, I think, is the only book I've read for about five to seven times. I can never get over it. I am selling my paperback copy of Chinese Cinderella. If you are interested in buying it, please contact me.

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Stacking the Shelves #2

Stacking the Shelves is a new meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews, which is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Yey! Month of August, you are torturing me. I received another set of great books from Netgalley for review.

Confessions of an Angry Girl by Louise Rozett (ebook)

The Twisted Window by Lois Duncan (ebook)

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry (ebook)

And I received an ebook directly from the author for an honest review.

Taste by Kate Evangelista

A review of Julie Kagawa's The Lost Prince will also be on the way. So far I am not liking what I am reading. And I wonder if The Twisted Window will be like Antonia Michaelis' The Storyteller.

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Rape Girl by Alina Klein

Rape Girl

Goodreads summary: "Hey, look. It’s that girl. That rape girl, right?"

Valerie always wanted to be the smart girl. The pretty girl. The popular girl.

But not the rape girl.

That’s who she is now. Rape Girl. Because everyone seems to think they know the truth about what happened with Adam that day, and they don’t think Valerie’s telling it.

Before, she had a best friend, a crush, and a close-knit family. After, she has a court case, a support group, and a house full of strangers.

The real truth is, nothing will ever be the same.

RAPE GIRL is the compelling story of a survivor who does the right thing and suffers for it. It is also the story of a young woman’s struggle to find the strength in herself to fight back.

Review

I received a copy of Rape Girl through Netgalley for an honest review.

This book made me frustrated at everything that happened, which is a good sign because it means I connected with the characters and plot, made me feel something. The writing style was good. I liked how it flowed and how it didn't use too many adjectives, unlike most YA novels.

Valerie is a refreshing voice in the YA world plagued by cliche, overbearing, airhead protagonists. I was struggling with her when she was struggling with her so called "friends", her family, her schoolmates, and how people treated her. While I was reading, I really wished that her rapist and her "friends" just died! I was disheartened to learn what happened on the case against her rapist and just wanted to smash my kindle into bits! Valerie's transition was slow, but I rooted her all the way and wished she could get pass this crisis.

I had a problem with the ending. It didn't satisfy me enough because the rapist didn't really feel any remorse or guilt. And it just ended abruptly. I wanted to read more on what Valerie was going to do now she had confronted her rapist and what her rapist would do after

What I learned on Rape Girl?

Even "nice guys" can turn into rapists.

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Waiting on Wednesday #1

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It features each blogger’s most anticipated books.

For this week (and maybe the next), my picks are:

Thorns by Kate Avery Ellison

Goodreads summary: Lia Weaver went against everything she’d ever known when she risked her life to help a Farther fugitive named Gabe escape from the Aeralian soldiers, and her life changed forever. And the Frost changed, too—the Farthers have taken over her village, a new group of vigilantes calling themselves the Blackcoats are making plans to overthrow the Farther occupiers, and the Thorns are seeking for her to join them.

Lia seeks to fight back against the evil and injustice that has swallowed up her home, but danger lurks at every turn. The monsters that dwell in the deepest regions of the Frost are growing bolder and more dangerous every day, a Farther noble takes up residence in the village on a mysterious mission, and Lia discovers that her parents were harboring even more secrets.

As the frozen world of the Frost grows even more perilous, can Lia survive

Expected publication: August 31, 2012

Flawed by Kate Avelynn

Goodreads summary: Sarah O’Brien is alive because of the pact she and her brother made twelve years ago — James will protect her from their violent father if she promises to never leave him. For years, she’s watched James destroy his life to save hers. If all he asks for in return is her affection, she’ll give it freely.

Until, with a tiny kiss and a broken mind, he asks for more than she can give.

Sam Donavon has been James’ best friend — and the boy Sarah’s had a crush on — for as long as she can remember. As their forbidden relationship deepens, Sarah knows she’s in trouble. Quiet, serious Sam has decided he’s going to save her. Neither of them realize James is far more unstable than her father ever was, or that he’s not about to let Sarah forget her half of the pact . . .

Expected publication: October 9, 2012

Luminosity by Stephanie Thomas

Goodreads summary: Beatrice, whose Visions are clearer than those of the other Seers, trains to defend the Institution and the City from the Dreamcatchers. As the City prepares for an invasion, a Dreamcatcher named Echo tells Beatrice that war is imminent, and they must save each other in order to survive. Beatrice keeps this information from her best friend, Gabe, jeopardizing her allegiance to him and the Seers. Now, threatened by both the Seers and the Dreamcatchers, Beatrice must learn who she can trust, and make decisions that may cause her to lose Gabe or Echo forever.

Expected publication: November 13, 2012

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Stacking the Shelves #1

Stacking the Shelves is a new meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews, which is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Month of August sure is awesome for me. I received some great books from Netgalley for review.

The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa (ebook)

Dearly, Beloved by Lia Habel (ebook)

Frozen by Mary Casanova (ebook)

Rape Girl by Alina Klein (ebook)

And one more book I had to have, but I received this around July. Just wanted to show it off.

The Girl With Borrowed Wings by Rinsai Rossetti (ebook)

So, what's new in your bookshelves?

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Crushed (The Witch-Game #1) by K.C. Blake

Crushed

Goodreads summary: The Noah sisters rule Titan High with their beauty, brains, and magical powers. Each year they play a secret game: Crushed. The girls pick their targets carefully and blow enchanted dust into the boy’s faces, charming them, but this year Kristen makes a grave mistake. She chooses the wrong boy and almost dies that same day. Coincidence? Maybe. But something isn’t quite right about Zach Bevian. He doesn’t behave like a boy who’s been Crushed. He goes from hot to cold, from looking at her with contempt to asking her out on a date. She doesn’t know what to think. Does he hate her or is he truly falling for her? Is he trying to kill her, or is he trying to save her?

Review

I would like to thank the author for giving me a copy of Crushed for an honest review.

I had a lot of WTH moments while reading Crush. Why?

1.) Unconvincing - Evil witch? Uh, no. Psychopathic witch? Mm, no. Hot guy and hot girl? *rolls eyes* Whatever. I was not convinced and I did not clearly see or understand the reasons behind everything that happened in the book. It was like every situation the character comes across, she will welcome it with wide open arms without providing the reader a logical sense or reason to any of it. Even if she did, it was probably a shallow reason that only a seven-year -old could appreciate.

2.) Confusing - Some scenes in Crushed confused me and some reasons confused me even more. I had no idea who was chasing who, what reason was what, and what was really going on.

What was going on inside my head?

I thought bleep was going to do this to bleep for bleeping her. And then, I suddenly read that it wasn't bleep, but it was bleep for bleeping this. Wait! So it's not bleep but BLEEP? Huh? No? But I thought bleep's reason was bleep? It isn't? WHAT?

3.) Characters - Cardboard-ish and thinly imagined.

4.) Romance - Fast-paced and a wee bit disturbing. They are only in high school! Why are they talking as if they are about to get married? It's creepy!

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Kate Avery Ellison (Author Interview + Giveaway!)

Frost

Goodreads summary: In the icy, monster-plagued world of the Frost, one wrong move and a person could end up dead—and Lia Weaver knows this better than anyone. After monsters kill her parents, she must keep the family farm running despite the freezing cold and threat of monster attacks or risk losing her siblings to reassignment by the village Elders. With dangers on all sides and failure just one wrong step away, she can’t afford to let her emotions lead her astray. So when her sister finds a fugitive bleeding to death in the forest—a young stranger named Gabe—Lia surprises herself and does the unthinkable.

She saves his life.

Giving shelter to the fugitive could get her in trouble. The Elders have always described the advanced society of people beyond the Frost, the “Farthers,” as ruthless and cruel. But Lia is startled to find that Gabe is empathetic and intelligent…and handsome. She might even be falling in love with him.

But time is running out. The monsters from the forest circle the farm at night. The village leader is starting to ask questions. Farther soldiers are searching for Gabe. Lia must locate a secret organization called the Thorns to help Gabe escape to safety, but every move she makes puts her in more danger.

Is compassion—and love—worth the risk?

The Author

I've been making up stories since I was five years old, and now I'm thrilled to be able to do it as a full-time job. I have an obsession with dark fantasy, dystopian futures, and Pride and Prejudice-style love stories full of witty banter and sizzling, unspoken feelings. When I'm not writing, I'm creating digital art, reading funny blogs, or watching my favorite shows (which include TVD and BSG). I live with my geeky husband and our two bad cats in Atlanta, GA.

Check out her blog to see what she has been up to: http://thesouthernscrawl.blogspot.com/

If you have read my review for Frost, then you guys must know how much I adore Kate Avery Ellison and her books. I was so happy when she said yes to an interview and giveaway!

Interview

Tell us a little bit about yourself when you were younger and wanted to be an author.

Well, I've wanted to be an author since I was about six years old and my mother explained to me that some people wrote books for their job. I've always loved stories, and I was making them up before I knew how to read or write. I used to tell them out loud to myself or my brothers. So being able to write books full time is a dream come true.

 
What gave you the idea to write the Frost Chronicles?

Frost started out as a short story about an injured angel-like creature that a farm girl finds and hides in her barn. Different, I know! The Watchers were originally creatures that hunted the angel creatures. Lia originally only had a brother. And so on. The story slowly changed and morphed into something completely different as I decided I wanted to go a non-paranormal, more sci fi/dystopian direction with it. The story itself went through about six phases and eventually it ended up the way it is now. But I do plan to write that angel story, too. It's on my list. :)

 
Are there any scenes in the book based on real-life experiences?

Maybe, in the sense that I've been afraid before, and I've been in love, and so forth. I've also had a few instances in my life where I realized that something I'd been told all my life wasn't quite the way I thought it was, so in that way I can really relate to Lia Weaver.

 
Can you give us some teasers for the upcoming second book of the Frost Chronicles?

In Thorns, Lia's village is going through some serious changes. It turns out Gabe was just the beginning of a huge shift in the lives of the Frost dwellers, and we'll begin to see just how everything is going to play out. Loyalties will be tested, friendships will change, and a new group will be formed in opposition to the Farthers, a group who isn't working with the Thorns.

 
What's the toughest critique you have received yet?

As far as critique partners go, I have one writer friend who just tears manuscripts apart (but in a good way) when she's editing them. It's always valuable to have a friend like that when you're working on a draft. As far as reviewers or bloggers go, almost everybody I've ever worked with has been truly awesome. I really can't complain. :)

 
Any words of wisdom for aspiring authors?

Read everything you can, and write incessantly. Remember--the first draft WILL be crappy, but you can't fix it until you've written it, so push through and finish and then revise, revise, revise. Also, never stop trying to learn more and improve your craft through exercises, feedback, and books about writing.

 

If you were any kind of mythological creature, what would it be and why?

Interesting question! Hmmm. I think there are some perks to being a vampire or some other immortal creature, but the blood-drinking thing could be problematic for me. I think I'd like to be any kind of mythical creature that has the ability to teleport, freeze time, and forgo sleeping for writing if necessary. :)

 
Do you sometimes wish your characters were real?

Every author has a different relationship with his or her characters. I feel like I "inhabit" the skin of every character I write, so sometimes it's hard to picture them existing without me being the one seeing the world through their eyes, if that makes any sense (even though my characters are often very, very different from me personality-wise). But there are a couple of my characters who I'd love to have around.

 
Would you want to be like Wonder Woman?

She definitely has a lot of useful talents! But I always feel really sorry for characters like that--they have a lot of responsibilities and they always struggle to have a family life or normal existence while still taking care of the world and justice and fighting evil, ya know? I'd never want to be a celebrity or the president, either.

 
Do you listen to K-pop songs?

I don't...sadly, I haven't had a lot of exposure to Korean music.

 
Favorite actor?

My favorite male actor is Ian Somerhalder, not only because he's super hot and an amazing actor on The Vampire Diaries (and he was great on Lost, too), but because he's a very kind and genuine person who works tirelessly to help others. My favorite female actor is probably Emma Thompson. I love her in everything she does.

Giveaway

Two (2) ecopies of her wonderful book, Frost! Enter the giveaway contest, guys! This is open to both US and international residents!

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Five (Elemental Enmity #1) by Christie Rich

Five

Goodreads summary: Rayla Tate’s life is about to turn vertical…again. As if it wasn’t bad enough her mother disappeared under questionable circumstances leaving Rayla to be raised by her aunt in a horrendously small town. Her overprotective guardian is determined to ruin Rayla’s life. She refuses to let Rayla out of her sight or out of the state. Provincial living might be what her aunt demands of her purposely sheltered niece; but, Rayla has other ideas. In a desperate attempt to follow her dreams she flees the safety of her home and runs away to college with her best friend toward a bright future in the art world.

However, excitement over her newfound freedom turns into terror when she is chased by a mysterious stranger on her way to school. When his motorcycle suddenly morphs into a fire-breathing pegasus, Rayla questions her sanity. Worse, the man riding next to her stirs a burning desire in her soul she has never known or could have ever imagined. Using all the will she owns, she manages to resist the compulsion she feels; yet, as he disappears into the night, she is certain he hasn't gone far.

Rayla quickly dismisses the encounter to her overactive imagination. She is determined to settle into her new life, yet the images and feelings of that night still haunt her. To make matters worse, her aunt seems to be in on the act, insisting that Rayla will soon be hunted by a pack of fae lords for a power over the elements she never knew she possessed—a power that could change the world. Quicker than she ever thought possible, she finds herself surrounded by stunning men that all seem determined to win her heart. Why does she feel drawn to each one of them? More importantly, what dark power do they hold over her? Rayla must quickly learn to fend off these beautiful and seductive pursuers using whatever means necessary or find herself lost to the fae world forever.

Review

I would love to thank the author for giving me a free copy of her book for an honest review.

I haven't read so much flirting in a book before! And the flirting in Five wasn't the shy, slow type of flirting. It was the I'll-get-into-your-pants-within-five-seconds type of flirting!

What I thought of Five?

Wow... this is hard to explain. Five was just WOW in a semi-bad way. I enjoyed the parts about the Fae and the Fae world, since I am not familiar with fairies and Western mythological creatures. I can even say that Five is very original with its prophecies and legends, which were very interesting.

Rayla is a character I would love to befriend in the real life. She's funny, strong-willed, a nasty cat if you make her angry. But, I feel the author failed to flesh Rayla out, as if she weren't human enough for me. I had a problem with the secondary characters as well, like they were thinly imagined. I know they're just secondary, but I needed to feel their presence, to convince me they were human. The Fae lords: Zach, Jett, Luke, Taylor, Finn, I think, weren't planned out enough. I had a difficult time picturing out their features and what their personalities really were. I can't see what and who they are  in their dialogue or in their actions. So this really bothered me. I'd describe the men in one word: cardboard. They felt and seemed like cardboard.

Falling in love in a matter of a week or in a few hours? Hmm, I know you get this "pull" whenever the guy is around, but seriously? The romance felt rushed and unconvincing. The guy just did something (like smiled, or shared a little about himself) and Rayla concluded and felt like they knew each other for an eternity! No! No! NO! You cannot just tell the reader that you are in love because of something like that!

Overall, Five is a fun read and I would love to read the sequel. But it had a few lapses because there were scenes that jumped to a different type of scene, which only confused me and had to get over it and read without understanding what really was going on. So, I did have some difficulties reading this. But still, had a great time reading Five!

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A Strange Fire by L.H. Cosway

A Strange Fire

Goodreads summary: Flo has always had problems. Her stammer prevents her speech and her dad’s abuse makes her life a living hell. Not to mention she sees colours other people don’t.

When her dad decides to ship her off to live with her grandma in the sleepy town of Chesterport, Flo thinks that this is her chance for a better life. But on her very first day at her new school she is ridiculed and laughed at for having a stammer. One student sticks up for her and his name is Frank.

Frank’s body is surrounded by an aura of fire, but Flo is the only one who can see it. He lives in a foster home for troubled teenagers. Flo is drawn to him because he’s different and so is she.

Things are about to get scary, because Chesterport is not your ordinary suburban town. It’s infested by a coven of dark witches who prey on the young and the elderly. Soon Flo discovers that she’s next on their list of victims, and finds herself fighting a battle she never would have imagined possible.

Review!

Before I start with my review, I would love to thank the author for providing me a free copy for an honest review.

Hmm... A Strange Fire, hm, where shall I start?



I could not read this book in one sitting. I just could not! I'm actually surprised it took me two weeks to read it. I think it's both my fault and the book's. Why my fault? 1.) Exam week! 2.) Assignments, quizzes, projects, case studies 3.) Sleep! 4.) Fiesta week preparations. Why the book's fault? 1.) It didn't capture my interest right away. 2.) Shut up, Flo!

The creep factor in this book is a 4/10 for me. Yes, there was cannibalism, effing witches, and mysterious murders, but none of them really made me feel any goose pimples or the shakes.

Mystery factor? 7/10! But when the mystery was revealed, I felt too much info was dumped on me that the mystery became less fun and I started not caring anymore.

I did not like how the author described the characters to the reader. Once, I thought it was part of Flo's powers, but I realized it wasn't. Info dump much? The author described the character's by their facial features, which is alright, but then she also added the age and whatnot, which seemed out of place at times and just set the mood off of the story. So yeah, too much info can really lead to awkwardness. Try to tame the description a little, okay?

The story?

I... I.... really have nothing to say much about A Strange Fire. I mean, it is unique with all the mood-detecting-power and cannibal witches, but it just did not suck me in from the first page to the last. When it ended, I thought, "Um, okay, uh, how am I going to review this?" The story didn't really stick to my mind, like it was just another book that I will surely forget and not bother to remember.

The characters?

Flo is just really awkward and kind of whiny. But if she were real, I wouldn't mind befriending her. Is she a strong type of character? Uh, I think, I guess, maybe? I think she's trying to be too strong that it seems like she is a weak character.

Frank is a very good-looking, horny teen. As in horny with a capital H, O, R, N, and Y! It's like he's always ready to jump on Flo. If I were left in a room alone with Frank, I think I should be very afraid and be on guard all the time. I would not want him to be my boyfriend, maybe just a friend, but not a boyfriend. What I liked about him is that he genuinely cares for Flo and really protects her. One thing I liked about this book is that it's the boy who's head over heels in love and stalker-ish, and not the other way around.

Overall thought?

Uh, it's okay. I would recommend it, but not recommend it like I'm some sort of advertiser or promoter. But I really thought, from the moment I read the summary, that I was going to have fun and an adventure. The book disappointed me a little. Flo didn't like discussing her feelings, which hindered me from having any emotional connection with her.

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