Winners!

The winners of my Bookdepository.com book of their choice are

Kirsten

Jeanne

The winner of my ONE DAY prize pack is:

Jackie

Please check your inboxes, emails have been sent out.

Thanks to everyone for celebrating my 2nd Blogoversary with me! It was fun to read all the favorites everyone had this past year.

Review: Fury by Elizabeth Miles

Hardcover, 352 pages

To Be Released: August 30, 2011

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Other places to find the book:
Amazon.com
Bookdepository.com
Add it to Goodreads.com

Sometimes sorry isn't enough....
It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...

Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.

On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.

In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.

Em and Chase have been chosen.

My Rating: 3.5 / 5

My Thoughts:

(I have included spoilers below but have warned you just before it starts so be prepared!)

Every year Zach hosts a party right before the school winter break, and this year strange things happen which set the stage for what is to come. First the party goers find out about a student suicide, then Em hooks up with Zach (her best friend, Gabby's, boyfriend) and finally Chase bumps into someone new girl on the way home.

Although initially shocking, Em going after Zach when Gabby is away works for this story. Gabby's actions don't make you feel that she is truly in love, this is just a high school relationship after all, and Em truly believes that her and Zach where meant to be. This is where my enjoyment of the storyline ends though.

I've come to the conclusion that making people act in a way that conflicts with their previous behaviour is a hard thing to do right. I love the idea of fate but am not sure how easy that is to write about. I adore character driven stories so having someone act out of character isn't easy to swallow for me. In this case, I had an issue with Chase. Although I did like him, he had his faults. He tries so hard to show he fits in and sadly prowls for girls who get a bit tipsy at parties. Now I know Ty is a fury but he pines for her after just meeting her and doesn't mind her seeing the 'real' him so quickly! There were also two instances where I was seeing the story go in one direction but it never took off. (****SPOLIER ALERT***) This happened when Chase drinks something given to him by Ty and when she paints both Chase and herself with red paint. Did the drink have some power that made Chase bonded to her? Not in the case, but I would have totally bought that! Although the pictures taken during the red paint instance were used against him, I thought they would have been used for a different reason, with the red paint looking like blood. I can she now that it was used to foreshadow, but for me it fell flat of it's potential.(***end spoiler***)

There were three furies and really three people making teenager mistakes. I kept waiting for the one that really deserved a smack in the face (Zach) to get his turn, I just wish it had come up sooner then the clifffhanger ending. I enjoyed the story, it had me eager to get to the end, but sorry guys it had too many gaps in the storyline for me to say it was a great book.

In My Mailbox - August 21, 2011

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren where we show what books have found a new home with us!

Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday - I love murder mysteries but have to admit I discovered this book because of  it's beautiful cover!
Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon - I'm a huge fan of fate, add in the "darkly handsome Adam DeRís" and I was sold!
Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson - "Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness. Elisa is the chosen one." In addition to fate, I'm a sucker for struggles with destiny...and from what I've heard, the world building is amazing.

Isle of Blood by Rick Yancey -the third (and NOT final) book in the Monstrumologist series.
Variant by Robison Wells - Two people at Harper said this was full of win (they did the same for Divergent), also liking that this is a male protagonist!
Goliath by Scott Westerfeld - the final book in the Leviathan trilogy, I can't wait! I am fascinated by the artwork and have already snuck a peak :D

A few classics to add to my collection. Sadly, when I was putting the books on my shelf (I'm going to read them 'one day' LOL) I realized I already have the same Dr. Jekyll & Mr Hyde! I must make a list of what I have already then see about exchanging this one.

What goodies did you get this week?

What Do You Think (4) : Book Trailers...Do You Watch Them?

Earlier this week I read an article in the Toronto Star titled Video Trailers Sell Literature to the Internet Generation and now am curious how effective you think book trailers are. I may have only watched a handful myself and now wonder if I am the odd man out here. 

For me, I like the idea of reading the synopsis of a book and visualizing the story as I read it, but with a book trailer my view of the characters or the world is given to me. I have loved books forever and while growing up the Internet was, well, not so big yet (though I spend way too much time online now!). Do people have the desire to SEE things for instant gratification or is this a way to connect with those people who may not be a regular book reader? I think trailers would make an impact on my son, who loves video games. I'm just not sure how he would come across them online so that he watches one since, honestly, he is more likely to Google game cheats then books. *sigh*

So lovely readers, how effective are book trailers? Do you seek them out or faithfully watch them? What do you like about them? How do you normally find a book to read (word of mouth, a book site, displays at a book store etc.)?

Review: The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Hardcover, 288 pages

Released: August 2, 2011

Publisher: Hyperion Books CH

ISBN: 9781423137870

Other places to find the book:

Amazon.com
Bookdepository.com
Add it to Goodreads

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.
The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.
As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.
Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

My Rating: 5 / 5

My Thoughts:

I am all for stories about witches, add in the nothing but glowing reviews and I knew I HAD to read this book! Lexi lives in the village of Near. Hundreds of years ago, a child was found dead in the local witch's garden, causing the town to create a council which exists to this day. It is also the reason the town dislikes strangers. When a child goes missing the same night a stranger was seen, all blame is placed on the stranger and the council makes it their mission to find him (and hopefully the missing children?). But Lexi, who takes after her tracking father, makes it her own mission to find the children and the real truth.

From the first line, I was taken aback by the beauty of Schwab's writing. "It starts with a crack, a sputter and spark. The match hisses to life." I almost wish I read this outside by the fire at night roasting marshmallows with friends, it truly read like a story you would share. The cast of characters were perfect,  I love seeing strong heroines. You had Lexi, the determined girl, her mother silently supporting her, two old witches providing some answers, her Uncle and council ignorant and bull-headed, and the stranger Cole a little bit broken. My favorite by far though, was the how Schwab made the wind come to life!

A truly magical story, I highly recommend you read The Near Witch. But set aside a few hours as this will be consumed all in one sitting. A brilliant debut that left me eager to read more from Schwab.