If, Then for Books! Vol. 3

This series is starting to become somewhat regular on the blog! Let me know if you like it/what you think of it, because I really enjoy putting these sorts of posts together. It's time for a third If, Then, so without further ado, here are my recommendations!

If you liked The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes, then you might like Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt. 

try 

Why?

Both of these contemporaries feature girls whose relationships end unpleasantly and decide to take some old school inspiration in the aftermath. They meet interesting new characters along the way, as learning something new about themselves as well.

If you liked Legend by Marie Lu, then you might like Article 5 by Kristen Simmons.

try 

Why?

These dystopians, although they feature very different societies, follow a boy and a girl with very different roles in their respective governments, and how they grow and learn about each other and their society.

So, there is the third installment in If, Then. I hope you are enjoying this series, as it's an easy way for me to recommend books based on what you might like, and also hear from you in the comments about similar books I might enjoy!

From the paper world,
V

My Fall TBR - Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted at The Broke and the Bookish where each week is a different theme. Today is the seasonal TBR, and to be completely honest this is my favorite type of TTT to make. Because fall is one of the seasons where a ton of awesome books are coming out that I want to read, let's talk about the September, October, and November books I can't wait to pick up and read.


Ashes to Ashes by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

The Young Elites by Marie Lu 

The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Prophecy of Oz by Megan Shan

Mortal Gods by Kendare Blake

Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers

Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

Ticker by Lisa Mantchev

So, to wrap it up, that's 6 sequels that I'm wanting to read, 3 new series by authors I've read before, and 1 debut I'm curious about. If you've read any of these series or authors before, let me know, along with some debuts you're excited about that are releasing in the fall, and of course your own fall TBR!

From the paper world,

V

Ticker by Lisa Mantchev - Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Breaking the Spine, and in celebration of all the awesome new releases coming out in October, I'm showing one each week this month with a Waiting on Wednesday post. Today, similar to the first WoW of the month, I'm talking about a new book from an author who's already written a series I love. Although I read the Theatre Illuminata trilogy before I started blogging, I loved how unique the writing and concept of the story is. Lisa Mantchev is releasing another book coming out in December, 2014.

A girl with a clockwork heart makes every second count.

When Penny Farthing nearly died, the brilliant surgeon Calvin Warwick managed to implant a brass “Ticker,” transforming her into “the first of the Augmented!” But soon it was discovered that Warwick kidnapped and killed dozens of people striving to perfect another Ticker for Penny. 

The last day of Warwick’s trial, the Farthing factory is bombed, Warwick disappears, and Penny and her brother, Nic, receive a ransom demand for all of their Augmentation notes if they want to see their parents again. Who is trying to stop their work? Or to control it? Or is the motive more sinister?

Determined to solve the mystery and reunite their family, the Farthings recruit their closest friends: fiery baker Violet Nesselrode and gentleman-about-town Sebastian Stirling. Unexpectedly leading the charge is Marcus Kingsley, the young army general who has his own reasons for wanting to lift the veil between this world and the next. Wagers are placed, friends are lost, romance stages an ambush, and time is running out for the girl with the clockwork heart.

Ticker

From the paper world,

V

A Bit of a Life Update

Hello, friends! I know it's a bit of a break from the usual bookish talk, but today I just wanted to share a little bit with you all about me, and maybe why I've seemed a little more absent lately.

I just recently moved, and I'm in the midst of settling in and adapting. This was something I knew would put me behind on responding to comments and tweets, so I apologize about that with utmost sincerity. Talking with you all is the reason behind this blog, to share and discuss our love of books. So while I've been able to share new content with you, I haven't been able to interact very much, and I'm sorry about that. 

As I settle in, and even in the time before the move, I found that I wasn't picking up any books. I'm not sure if it was nerves about the upcoming changes, maybe some of you have felt that way, or some sort of slump, but hopefully my reading will be back on track and I'll be finding books I love. 

I'm definitely very busy right now, and still working on balancing blogging and life changes, but I hope that you're still enjoying the posts and I do still click around and read some wonderful posts, even if I don't have time to comment back and forth as much as I'd like. I hope you all are doing well, and I will continue to update the blog and hopefully get back on track with the commenting shortly.

From the paper world,
V

Friday Reads - September 12, 2014

Hello all! I'm back with a Friday Reads, which I haven't done in quite awhile but thought it would be fun to share with you all! However, I first want to sincerely apologize for my lack of responding to comments and being more active on the blogosphere lately. I have a post coming up with more of an explanation, but I did want to say I'm still reading along on the comments and other posts and really appreciate your thoughtfulness in commenting!
This week I'm reading a book that is by a pretty well known author- Ann Aguirre's Mortal Danger. The book is really interesting, and although I definitely, definitely have not been reading as much as I used to, I'm still enjoying it and reading along. Here's some information on the book from Goodreads.

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Edie Kramer has a score to settle with the beautiful people at Blackbriar Academy. Their cruelty drove her to the brink of despair, and four months ago, she couldn't imagine being strong enough to face her senior year. But thanks to a Faustian compact with the enigmatic Kian, she has the power to make the bullies pay. She's not supposed to think about Kian once the deal is done, but devastating pain burns behind his unearthly beauty, and he's impossible to forget.

In one short summer, her entire life changes, and she sweeps through Blackbriar, prepped to take the beautiful people down from the inside. A whisper here, a look there, and suddenly... bad things are happening. It's a heady rush, seeing her tormentors get what they deserve, but things that seem too good to be true usually are, and soon, the pranks and payback turns from delicious to deadly. Edie is alone in a world teeming with secrets and fiends lurking in the shadows. In this murky morass of devil's bargains, she isn't sure who—or what--she can trust. Not even her own mind...

Mortal Danger on Goodreads

Ann Aguirre's Website

The narration of this story is very unique, and the characters are developing along with the story, which is already turning intense and mysterious. 

What are your Friday Reads? Any good recommendations for what I should pick up next?

From the paper world,

V

The Five Star Spotlight - Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.  But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss? Visit the website of Stephanie Perkins Anna and the French Kiss on Goodreads Rating - 5 Stars Major Pros - Writing, Setting, Character Development and Interaction, Plot Development Major Cons - Minor issues with some supporting characters Continuing on with the series? Absolutely! How I Read It - Purchased Today's review is going to mainly consist of me talking about my love for this book. I struggled trying to find cons to put in the quick info above. So, before I start, let me say that Anna and the French Kiss is absolutely wonderful, creative, and sweet. I didn't put this book down. I mean that literally- I read it in one sitting, except for the last few chapters which I saved for later so I wouldn't have to say goodbye. I fell in love with this book. It completely pulled me in and I was sitting there with Anna, her group, and of course Etienne St. Clair. For me, this was one of those books that swept me away. I needed a light, happy read and this book was absolutely perfect, but it didn't read as overly cutesy with no substance. These characters were developed, and they didn't have perfect lives, which added depth to the story. Let's talk about the setting, Paris. The writing that portrayed Paris was inspiring- it didn't focus on cliche things, and it brought lifelike detail to the city. I truly loved how Paris was portrayed, and I think it was well done and expressive. The characters were also fantastic in this novel, although some of the side characters were a little stereotypical mean high schoolers without much dimension, the vast majority of the characters in this book were unique, layered, and developed. I loved how we not only knew Anna, but we got to know her friends and the people around her. There was wonderful characterization throughout, and the romance was never obnoxious. I personally don't read many contemporaries because I'm not the biggest fan of overly romantic stories, but Anna and the French Kiss was beautifully written and done. I recommend this book. That's an understatement, to be honest. I think there's something in here for everyone to enjoy, and this is a marvelous story with truly memorable characters. Reading it, I could tell that this is a novel I'll treasure and reread any time I need another heartwarming, beautiful story. From the paper world, V

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch - Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Breaking the Spine and it's an opprotunity to highlight upcoming books. Throughout the month of September, because October is going to be filled with new releases I'm excited about, I decided to post a Waiting on Wednesday every week this month to share some exciting upcoming novels. Today's book is a 2014 author debut, and so I thought it would be fun to share this exciting new high fantasy that comes out October 14, 2014.

A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

Snow Like Ashes

From the paper world,

V

My Reading - An Update

Hello again, lovely members of the paper world! I thought I'd do another more discussion type post to talk to you all today about my reading and how it's evolved. Simply put, my reading has fallen off of my list of priorities recently- I've been so busy and distracted by everything going on that suddenly taking the time to read and open up a book seemed like an impossible task that could make me lose time that I didn't even have.

My to-do list has filled up pretty quickly as of late, and while I definitely won't complain about it, this does mean that in the past few months I've read...one book. I know, I know that's very unfortunate to see, and in addition to that I don't even have a current read. That never happens to me; I honestly can't remember the last time that was true.

However, as I'm going through this change, I'm wondering if I was perhaps losing opportunities to balance out reading and my other hobbies and social life in the past. How much reading is too much reading? That's not to say I ever ignored people or had no social life, but I was always more of an introverted reader. Now, I'm definitely still of the introverted ilk, however I've become so busy that by the time I'm done with the day I want to rest and relax. And sleep. So my reading gets put to the wayside. 

I'm also trying to branch out with my reading- read cultural works, famous works that I've not yet encountered, and maybe reread a few old favorites as well. If you have any recommendations for this I am definitely interested to hear your thoughts! And, in addition, if you have any thoughts and ideas about how your reading has evolved and if you've ever been in a similar situation, please feel free to let me know your thoughts on that as well down in the comments. I hope you all are doing well, and happy reading!

From the paper world,
V

Reading Review - A Million Suns by Beth Revis

*sequel review- check out my Goodreads review of the first book, spoilers for the first book below*

Godspeed was once fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos. 

It’s been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. Everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed.

But there may be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to act on his vision—no more Phydus, no more lies.

But when Elder learns shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a mystery that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier. Their success—or failure—will determine the fate of the 2,298 passengers aboardGodspeed. But with each step, the journey becomes more perilous, the ship more chaotic, and the love between them more impossible to fight.

Beth Revis catapulted readers into the far reaches of space with her New York Times bestselling debut, Across the Universe. In A Million Suns, Beth deepens the mystery with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship.

A Million Suns on Goodreads

Beth Revis

Rating - 4 Stars

Major Pros - Elder's Character Development, World Building, Mystery

Major Cons - Some supporting characters

Continuing on with the series? Yes

How I Read It - Purchased

A Million Suns is the type of sequel I wanted to see after the ending of Across the Universe. The society aboard Godspeed is free of Phydus, and the characters are facing the aftermath of everything they'd uncovered in the first book. Elder is dealing with a society charged with tension, unrest, and problems. The society made me nervous for him, and this book saw a lot of character development for Elder. Amy had her part in the story as well, and I liked her character more in this book than in the former. She seemed more mature and contributed more to the problem solving. However, the society is one of the defining factors of this book. Beth Revis wrote a city and people on edge, ready for anything to happen. It was chilling, eerie, and intense in a way that the Phydus controlled society hadn't been.

This story is another mystery, and I was left guessing more in this book than I had been in Across the Universe. I think I appreciated this book more because there was development in this book- Elder as a leader, the society without Phydus. Amy's point of view chapters didn't stand out to me as much, but she didn't annoy me as much as she had in Across the Universe. There is a build up of impossible problems and plot twists, and this book definitely has a faster, more consistent pacing than its predecessor.

While A Million Suns still had some character flaws, this book improved upon the issues I'd had with the first book. There's still drama, but more focused on important issues, and there's character development and a mystery as well. I'm definitely going to be completing the series and seeing how the story finally unfolds in Shades of Earth. A Million Suns is a sequel that's even better than the first book, and makes me excited to see how the adventure continues in the trilogy's finale!

From the paper world,
V

The Young Elites by Marie Lu - Waiting on Wednesday

Breaking the Spine hosts Waiting on Wednesday, a weekly feature showcasing an upcoming release we're excited about. I don't do Waiting on Wednesdays often, but I thought it would be fun to do these throughout September and highlight some releases that are coming out in October, since I have quite a few books I can't wait for releasing next month. This is the first installment, featuring a new series by an author who's an old favorite. Marie Lu, the author of the Legend trilogy, is starting another new series this coming October, called The Young Elites. This book comes out October 7, 2014.

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

The Young Elites

From the paper world,

V

Book Characters That Would Be Sitting at My Lunch Table - Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted at The Broke and the Bookish, and each week is a different theme. This week is sort of back to school themed, with characters that would be sitting at my lunch table. I picked some of my favorite characters, so here's my list! I kind of cheated and put multiple characters together if they were from the same series.

From the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer - 

Cinder, Cress, Scarlet, Captain Thorne, Wolf, Kai

Morpheus from the Splintered series by A.G. Howard

Fred and George Weasley from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Sam and Anna from the Incarnate trilogy by Jodi Meadows

Sturmhond and the Darkling from the Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

Karou from the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy by Laini Taylor

Yann Margoza from The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

Amy and Roger from Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Lillia from the Burn for Burn series by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

Athena, Hermes, Cassandra, and Aidan from the Goddess War series by Kendare Blake

So there is my list of way more than ten characters I'd sit with at lunch. Hey, we'll have a big table, right? Let me know if any of my picks joined you for lunch as well, and I'll see you next time.

From the paper world,

V