Mind Games by Kiersten White Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Harper Teen 
Source: Bought
First book in the Mind Games series
Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.
Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.
In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.


Review
The only thing I didn't like about this book was when it ended! Amazing doesn't even begin to describe this book. 

This tells the story of two sisters. Annie is blind but able to see the future. Fia is quite the mystery with flawless instincts. The two are trapped in a school fighting for freedom and each other's lives. 

Fia and Annie were both amazing characters. I ended up enjoying Fia a little more because her story was so exciting. She was a little firecracker. I wouldn't want to run into her on the streets. Annie had a softer personality but was still strong. I liked how she thought things through. I loved how much the two cared for each other. I also really loved James. He was the perfect bad boy. I loved that he did what he had to do but still cared about Fia. We didn't really see a lot of Adam. I hope we get to see tons of Annie and Adam in the next book.

I did have some trouble getting into this story. It alternated perspective and last and present day. I had trouble keeping up. I enjoyed it from page one though. It had a very fast paced and unique concept. Once I got into it I couldn't out it down this was a one sitting read. Overall I was very impressed with this story. I loved it with all my heart and I cannot wait to continue the series.

 

Waiting on Wednesday: Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****

My pick this week is:



Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott
Expected release date: February 25th, 2014
from Scholastic Press

A modern day thrill ride, where a teen girl and her animal companion must participate in a breathtaking race to save her brother's life—and her own.

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her b...moreA modern day thrill ride, where a teen girl and her animal companion must participate in a breathtaking race to save her brother's life—and her own.

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

 

It's by Victoria Scott, how could I not want to read it?? Victoria is as lovely as the books she writes so of course I cannot wait to read this. It sounds so different and almost Hunger Games-ey. Advance copies of this have been pretty hard to get ahold of, but I'm determined.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Top Ten Tuesday (36)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!
 
This weeks topic is Top Ten Books To Read During Halloween. I love Halloween and creepy things so this was a fun topic.

1. The Possession of Cassie Quinn by Kathryn Knutson-This is probably the creepiest book I've ever read. It was like reading a scary movie. There was this one part with a sheet *shivers* It still scares me sometimes. So it's perfect for Halloween, right?
2. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs-I just read this one to get into the Halloween spirit (you can read my review here) and I loved it. Spooky and original. With pictures!
3. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson-If Jack the Ripper doesn't already creep you out, he will after reading this. I read it a while ago and I still remember how scary it was.
4. The Series of Unfortunate Events-I don't know what it is, but these books remind me of Halloween. They just have that vibe, you know? Creepy and dark and weird, but kind of fascinating at the same time.
5. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting-This is one of my favorite series. It's got so many great things about it, but one of the main things is parts in the killers point of view. It makes it all that much more scary. It freaks me out.
6. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab-This is the kind of scary I would have loved when I was younger. Dark and spooky and mysterious. Almost Tim Burton-ey.
7. Of Light and Darkness 1 and 2 by Shayne Leighton-These are vampire books, but they are freaking creepy vampire books. Vampires don't normally scare me, but dang. And vampires are the good guys in this book. Sort of. There's all kinds of other creepy crawlies in it, too.
8. Beautifully Broken by Sherry Soule-This book had a creepy small town, mysterious boy, evil ghosts, and a huge, creaky, haunted house. Pretty much the whole shebang.

So that's my list! Now I feel all into the Halloween mood-and kind of creeped out. What are some of your favorite scary books? Let me know in the comments.

Happy Halloween, lovelies!

Icons by Margaret Stohl Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Little Brown
Source: Conference
First book in the Icons series
Your heart beats only with their permission.
Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.
Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.
She's different. She survived. Why?
When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy.
Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths.
Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts -- in order to save the future.

Review
I was very impressed by this book. I've seen some mixed reviews so I wasn't sure what to expect. I really enjoyed it! It was very well done. 

This tells the story of Dol and Ro. They were living a perfectly normal life until the were captured and taken to the Embassy. They were thrown into the world with Lucas and Tima. Now they must hunt for information and stay alive. 

Dol was my favorite out of the four. I loved her personality. I loved that she was always calm and thought things through. I liked her strong side even though it was rare. I liked Ro but I wasn't find of his personality. He was very demanding of Dol. The best part about him was his strength. Lucas I loved so much! He was sweet but still strong. The love triangle hints don't make me happy. Tima was great and I can't wait to learn more about her! I actually can't wait to learn more about all these characters. 

I got into this story very quick. I never wanted to put it down. It has a very suspenseful plot. It wasn't loaded with action but there was a good amount. I loved the science and history. We spent the whole book learning new things about the icons and the world. It did take awhile to fully understand everything. The ending seemed very closed so I'm not sure what to expect next. I do have high hopes for a sequel because I really loved this story! 

Waiting on Wednesday: The One by Kiera Cass

****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****

 

My pick this week is:

The One by Kiera Cass

Expected publication: May 6th 2014 by HarperTeen

The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. And now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen.
America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.
From the very first page of The Selection, this #1 New York Times bestselling series has captured readers' hearts and swept them away on a captivating journey... Now, in The One, Kiera Cass delivers a satisfying and unforgettable conclusion that will keep readers sighing over this electrifying fairy-tale long after the final page is turned.

 

Let me just take a second to pet this pretty on my screen! Isn't that cover absolutely amazing?! Guys I am so excited for this book! I'm dying to know who America is going to pick and how it will all play out. If your not waiting on this one too you should fix that!

 

Top Ten Tuesday (35)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!
 
This weeks topic is Top Ten Character Names I Love. This is a pretty fun topic so I should be able to get all ten! I'm going to do half girl half boy!  

1. Noah. I love this name so much! I think its super cute!
2. Benson. This is such a unique adorable name!
3. Vane. I've only seen this name once but I love it!
4. Lincoln. This is like a more mature name.
5. Ronan. This is another incredibly unique name!
6. Blue. This is such cute name! I would love it if my name was Blue.
7. Fia. Another incredibly unique name!
8. Echo. Another name you don't see a lot!
9. Audra. This is such a cute name and has a super cool meaning as well!
10. Tavia. This is another name I've only seen once but love!

So there's my picks for this week! Let me know in the comments what you would pick <3 font="">

Waiting on Wednesday: What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick

****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****

My pick this week is:



What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Expected release date: April 15th, 2014
from Dial Books for Young Readers

From the author of My Life Next Door comes a swoony summertime romance full of expectation and regret, humor and hard questions.
Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her Nantucket-esque island this summer. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.

A magnetic, push-me-pull-me romance with depth, this is for fans of Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, and Deb Caletti.

I read this authors debut novel My Life Next Door last year and I absolutely adored it. There was so many amazing things about it. So of course I'll read whatever else she writes. I'm super excited for this one. It sounds like a summer read, but with heart. Plus the cover is gorgeous.

What are you waiting on this week?

Towering by Alex Flinn Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: Conference
Stand Alone
At first, I merely saw his face, his hands on the window ledge. Then, his whole body as he swung himself through the window. Only I could not see what he swung on.
Until, one day, I told my dream self to look down. And it was then that I saw. He had climbed on a rope. I knew without asking that the rope had been one of my own tying.
Rachel is trapped in a tower, held hostage by a woman she’s always called Mama. Her golden hair is growing rapidly, and to pass the time, she watches the snow fall and sings songs from her childhood, hoping someone, anyone, will hear her.
Wyatt needs time to reflect or, better yet, forget about what happened to his best friend, Tyler. That’s why he’s been shipped off to the Adirondacks in the dead of winter to live with the oldest lady in town. Either that, or no one he knows ever wants to see him again.
Dani disappeared seventeen years ago without a trace, but she left behind a journal that’s never been read, not even by her overbearing mother…until now.
A #1 New York Times bestselling author, Alex Flinn knows her fairy tales, and Towering is her most mind-bending interpretation yet. Dark and mysterious, this reimagining of Rapunzel will have readers on the edge of their seats wondering where Alex will take them next

Review
I love this author! I've never read a Rapunzel story. This surprised me. It was very well done and I really enjoyed it. 

This tells the story of Rachel and Wyatt. After a tragic accident Wyatt has been shipped to the middle of nowhere. He's living with the oldest lady in town and hearing voices in his head. Rachel is locked in a tower but is unsure why. 

I loved Wyatt. He has such a good personality. I loved how determined he was. I loved Rachel too. I loved her unique personality. She was very proper. I loved her adventurous side. I enjoyed Rachel and Wyatt's relationship but it was very fast! 

I had some trouble getting into this story. Things took awhile to get going. It was pretty mysterious. I didn't see any of the twists coming. It wasn't incredibly fast paced but there was lots of suspense. There was a fair share of action. I think this did Rapunzel justice. It stuck to the story while still being original. If your a fan of fairytales, this one is for you!


 

Life After Theft by Aprilynne Pike Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: Conference
Stand Alone
Moving to a new high school sucks. Especially a rich-kid private school. With uniforms. But nothing is worse than finding out the first girl you meet is dead. And a klepto.
No one can see or hear Kimberlee except Jeff, so--in hopes of bringing an end to the snarkiest haunting in history--he agrees to help her complete her "unfinished business." But when the enmity between Kimberlee and Jeff's new crush, Sera, manages to continue posthumously, Jeff wonders if he's made the right choice.
Clash meets sass in this uproarious modern-day retelling of Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel.


Review
Man this one surprised me. It was amazing from page one. I loved it to pieces! 

This tells the story of Jeff. He's moved into a new school and runs into someone only he can see. Kimberlee has unfinished business. She's determined to right her wrongs and move on. 

I love that this is told from a boys perspective. Jeff was amazing! I loved that he stood up for himself but still cared about Kimberlee. I loved how true he was to himself and what he thought was right. I will admit Kimberlee was a brat. But I still really enjoyed her character. I loved how complex she was. I loved that she owned up to her flaws. I also liked that we had to wait to get her full story. 

This was such a unique story. I've never read anything like it. I loved all the different stolen items. This wasn't too fast paced but I couldn't put it down. I read it in one sitting in just a few hours. I thought it was incredibly well done. I'm so glad I got the chance to read it. I think anyone would love this book so you guys should check it out! 

Faelorhn by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Self Published
Source: Author
First book in The Otherworld series
*This was gifted to me by author for review*
I never heard him come after me and even as I climbed the slope and stumbled onto our shaded back lawn, I didn’t look back. It was like the day the gnomes chased me all over again, but this time I was not escaping some horrible little creatures, I was fleeing from an incredibly good-looking guy who could very well understand me completely. I was either saving myself from that serial killer I always imagined lived down in the swamp, or I had finally gone over the deep end . . .
Meghan Elam has been strange her entire life: her eyes have this odd habit of changing color and she sees and hears things no one else does. When the visions and voices in her head start to get worse, she is convinced that her parents will want to drag her off to another psychiatrist. That is, until the mysterious Cade MacRoich shows up out of nowhere with an explanation of his own.
Cade brings her news of another realm where goblins and gnomes are the norm, a place where whispering spirits exist in the very earth, and a world where Meghan just might find the answers she has always sought.


Review
This was only okay for me. It had amazing potential but didn't quite meet the mark for me. 

This tells the story of Meghan. She's always had strange dreams. Things start to get crazy and she doesn't know why. Cade mysteriously shows up with some answers she didn't know she needed. 

Meghan wasn't the best main character. I didn't really connect with her. I didn't like how much she let Cade affect her. More towards the end. She not only jumped to conclusions she also totally ignored the logical things she had been told. I mean if your in danger you would think you would be more careful. I liked Cade's character but we didn't see a lot of him. I wished he played a bigger role. 

I think this had a super cool concept. We didn't get too see much of it though. It took me more than half the book to get into it. It was very slow. Most of the action took place at the end. We honestly spent most of the book listening to Meghan pine over Cade. There just wasn't enough story to keep me entertained. I do hope there is a sequel because it did have some good potential. It just needed a little work! 

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Source: Bought
Second book in the His Fair Assasins series
Sybella arrives at the convent’s doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. The convent views Sybella, naturally skilled in the arts of both death and seduction, as one of their most dangerous weapons. But those assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?



Review
I don't remember much about Grave Mercy but I know it was nothing like this! This was like nothing I've ever read. It was very dark and mysterious. 

This tells the story of Sybella. She's been placed in her fathers home on orders. She discovers an ally and is forced to reconsider her way of living. All the while a life changing war is raging. 

I absolutely adored Sybella. I loved getting to know her. I loved how complex she was. Her story was very dark. Her life has been anything but easy. I loved her strength and determination. I loved Beast as well. He was so unique! I loved how it took some time for Beast and Sybella to get used to each other. Together they made an amazing team. I also loved getting to see Ismae and Duvall again. These characters were amazing and I loved them to pieces. 

The best thing about this story is how unique it is. I mean assassins? That's such a cool concept. One thing I really liked was the purpose behind everything. Everyone has their God and it was their motivation. This was pretty fast paced. There was lots of action and suspense. Overall I really enjoyed this one. I loved the darkness. You don't see books like this very often. This met me expectations easily and I cannot wait for the next book! 

Waiting on Wednesday: Just One Year by Gayle Forman

****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****

 

My pick this week is:

Just One Year by Gayle Forman

Expected publication: October 10th 2013 by Dutton Children's

The heartrending conclusion—from Willem’s POV—to the romantic duet of novels that began with Allyson’s story in Just One Day
After spending an amazing day and night together in Paris, Just One Year is Willem’s story, picking up where Just One Day ended. His story of their year of quiet longing and near misses is a perfect counterpoint to Allyson’s own as Willem undergoes a transformative journey, questioning his path, finding love, and ultimately, redefining himself.

 

 

I need more Gayle Forman in my life. I haven't actually read Just One Day. I'm glad this one is out soon. Reading them back to back means I don't have to wait! What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday (34)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

 
 
 
 
This week's topic is Top Ten Best/Worst endings. I'm probably not going to have a lot of worst but that's okay!
 
 

1. The Iron Knight by Julie Kawaga. It's told from Ash's perspective how could it not be amazing?
2. Elegy by Tara Hudson. This may not have been all wrapped up and it may have made me bawl my eyes out. But, I really just loved this ending!
3. Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. This is a only okay ending for me. I really love this series but this one just didn't really fit for me. It was still a fabulous read. It was just a little off for the series!
4. Requiem by Lauren Oliver. I actually really loved this ending. I may be the only one but that's okay!
5. Tigers Destiny by Colleen Houck. Now there are rumors for another book. But it will be awhile. I thought this wrapped it up perfect. I don't really want to think about this series ending though.
6. Hidden by Sophie Jordan. I thought I would include an older read! I really miss this series guys :(
7. Boundless by Cynthia Hand. I was expecting to not like this and I ended up loving it!
8. Endlessly by Kiersten White. Man I miss this series too!
9. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore. We will probably see more of Bitterblue in the future but I just loved the way this one ended!
10. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick. I had to include a contemporary!

That's it for me! If you haven't heard of some of these books, you have got to check them out! Leave me links to your top ten or leave me your picks in the comments <3 font=""> 

September Monthly Wrap Up

Here we are again for another wrap up and to be read. Much earlier than last months, luckily.

Marissa's wrap up

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Jasmine's wrap up

Austin Teen Book Festival 2013 Wrap Up

Austin Teen Book Festival was this past weekend! We were both lucky enough to attend. This was our first festival together so it was very exciting. This was Marissa's third festival but Jasmine's first. We had such amazing luck with the lines. We got to meet just about everyone we hoped to meet. We may have almost got the lights turned out on us but that's okay! This festival had some really amazing authors and some even more amazing people running it! We give a huge thank you to everyone who came out and all the work that was put into it!

We have become pros at changing in the bathroom after super long car rides.

Us with Maggie Stiefvater! We may have nagged her just a little about a The Scorpio Races sequel. What can we say we're determined!

Jasmine with Snarkles from Epic Reads Tea Time. She may or may not have screamed OMG the Epic Reads girls and did a happy dance. Marissa is still mad she didn't get a picture.

Jasmine with Lauren Myracle! Jasmine had the biggest fangirl over this book even though she knows nothing about it. It's honestly just that pretty!

Marissa with Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian who were so incredibly sweet!

Jasmine and Suzanne Young!

Us with the amazing Julie Murphy! We made her a deal to take a picture with her every time we see her until her book comes out! So you'll be seeing a lot of her .

Us with Leila Howland! Look below for a Nantucket Blue giveaway!

Jasmine with April Genevieve Tucholke!

Us with the amazingly sweet Victoria Scott!

(who looks like she could be in the Capitol with her fancy chair)

Us with Madeline Roux!

Us with Sherry Thomas!

Jasmine with the amazing Rae Carson for the second time this year!

Jasmine with Leila Sales! Leila wasn't sitting at her table anymore but Jasmine was lucky enough to find her and get her book signed :)

 
 



We also got to meet the lovely, blue haired Holly Black. We didn't get a picture with her, but we were all leaving at the same time so we got to creepily walk behind her and her publicist (who is also the publicist for Cassandra Clare) so that was a hold in your fangirl moment of epic proportions. 

This was one of the best events we went to this year. It's so much fun to be in a building with a ton of book lovers and authors. There was plenty of OMG moments when we spotted an author walking around in general population. We even saw one of the authors when were at a restaurant for lunch. We can't wait to go back next year.

GIVEAWAY!

We have two signed ARC's of Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland to giveaway! Check out the rafflecopter below! US only! Please no cheating <3 font="">


http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/29e2b517/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway