Monthly Wrap-up: November 2013

Monthly Wrap-up is a monthly feature on my blog where I keep you up to date on everything that happened during the month. It's time for the November version :D

{Novella Review} Trust in Me - J. Lynn

Trust in Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Wait for You #1.5
Genre: NA Contemporary
Release Date: Oct 22 / 2013
Publisher: Greenwillow Books

It’s Wait for You as you’ve never seen it. Trust in Me lets you in on Cam’s side of the #1 New York Times Bestselling story.

Cameron Hamilton is used to getting what he wants, especially when it comes to women. But when Avery Morgansten comes crashing into his life – literally – he finally meets the one person who can resist his soulful baby blues. But Cam’s not ready to give up. He can’t get the feisty and intriguing girl out of his head.

Avery has secrets, secrets that keep her from admitting the feelings Cam knows she has for him. Will persistence (and some delicious homemade cookies) help him break down her barriers and gain her trust? Or will he be shut out of Avery's life, losing his first real shot at the kind of love that lasts forever?

Trust in Me has the same story as Wait for You but it is in our beloved Cam's point of view. Just because of that, I had to pick it up. Who wouldn't want to be inside a sexy boy's head? I forgot most of what happened in Wait for You but even if I did remember, I'm sure I would've enjoyed it as well. I would recommend not reading right after reading the first book. This novella contained a lot of scenes that Avery wasn't in but the scenes that were in the first book played out a bit differently in Cam's perspective. Even though this novella is the same story written in a different view, I would say this book is definitely worth picking up while you're waiting on Be With Me. 

Waiting on Wednesday #50 - Defy

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating

Defy by Sara B. Larson
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: Jan 7 / 2014
Publisher: Scholastic

A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

Seriously, I need another fantasy book to read and this sounds very promising. I'm kinda scared about the love triangle because if it isn't done right, then I'll hate the book. What are you waiting on this week?

{Review} Pawn - Aimee Carter

Pawn by Aimee Carter
Genre: YA Dystopia
Series: The Blackcoat Rebellion #1
Release Date: Nov 26 / 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

You can be a VII. If you give up everything.

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

{Review} Crash into You - Katie McGarry

Crash into You by Katie McGarry
Series: Pushing the Limits #3
Genre: YA Contemporary
Release Date: Nov 26 / 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane.

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

{Review} The Bone Season - Samantha Shannon

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: Aug 20 / 2013
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

It is the year 2059. Several major world cities are under the control of a security force called Scion. Paige Mahoney works in the criminal underworld of Scion London, part of a secret cell known as the Seven Seals. The work she does is unusual: scouting for information by breaking into others’ minds. Paige is a dreamwalker, a rare kind of clairvoyant, and in this world, the voyants commit treason simply by breathing.

But when Paige is captured and arrested, she encounters a power more sinister even than Scion. The voyant prison is a separate city—Oxford, erased from the map two centuries ago and now controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. These creatures, the Rephaim, value the voyants highly—as soldiers in their army.

Paige is assigned to a Rephaite keeper, Warden, who will be in charge of her care and training. He is her master. Her natural enemy. But if she wants to regain her freedom, Paige will have to learn something of his mind and his own mysterious motives.

The Bone Season introduces a compelling heroine—a young woman learning to harness her powers in a world where everything has been taken from her. It also introduces an extraordinary young writer, with huge ambition and a teeming imagination. Samantha Shannon has created a bold new reality in this riveting debut.

I loved this book a lot. The Seven Seals were something exciting to read about and I truly enjoyed all the world-building and the supernatural element of this book. We get to learn about the voyants, the Scion, and the Rephaim. Everything was action-packed with our strong heroine, Paige. She's a special kind of voyant called a dreamwalker. When she gets kidnapped, she meets Warden who is her new master. I seriously cannot describe how amazing this book is and it's definitely not over hyped.  This book is unique and the plot was fast-paced. The romance was well-written and every aspect of this book was enjoyable. I would recommend everyone to read this!

Waiting on Wednesday #49 - Heartbeat

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating

Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott
Genre: YA Contemporary
Release Date: Jan 28 / 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Life. Death. And...Love?

Emma would give anything to talk to her mother one last time. Tell her about her slipping grades, her anger with her stepfather, and the boy with the bad reputation who might be the only one Emma can be herself with.

But Emma can't tell her mother anything. Because her mother is brain-dead and being kept alive by machines for the baby growing inside her.

Meeting bad-boy Caleb Harrison wouldn't have interested Old Emma. But New Emma-the one who exists in a fog of grief, who no longer cares about school, whose only social outlet is her best friend Olivia-New Emma is startled by the connection she and Caleb forge.

Feeling her own heart beat again wakes Emma from the grief that has grayed her existence. Is there hope for life after death-and maybe, for love?

This sounds like any other contemporary but the one part about the mother kind of intrigues me. I feel like there could be character development that interests me or it would just turn out like any other contemporary. Plus, I'm more in a contemporary mood lately instead of reading my usual genres.

{Weekly Craving} Nov 2013 #3

Weekly Craving is a weekly feature where I show you all the new releases on my TBR

- The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines #4) by Richelle Mead

- World After (Penryn & the End of Days #2) by Susan Ee

OMG I'm dying for the Fiery Heart! It just shipped yesterday and I can't wait for it to get to my house! I'm really excited for the World After too because DAYM look at that gorgeous cover. Can't wait to see how Penryn and Ralph do :) Tell me what you think in the comments and if you've already finished either books, WAS IT GOOD?

Stacking the Shelves #46 - A Way Overdue Gigantic Haul

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews

that showcases what you got in your haul every week

{Review} The Burning Sky - Sherry Thomas

The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: Sept 17 / 2013
Publisher: Balzer + Bray

It all began with a ruined elixir and an accidental bolt of lightning...

Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she's being told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of The Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the greatest mage tyrant the world has ever known. A suicide task for anyone let alone a sixteen-year-old girl with no training, facing a prophecy that foretells a fiery clash to the death.

Prince Titus of Elberon has sworn to protect Iolanthe at all costs but he's also a powerful mage committed to obliterating the Bane to avenge the death of his family—even if he must sacrifice both Iolanthe and himself to achieve his goal.

But Titus makes the terrifying mistake of falling in love with the girl who should have been only a means to an end. Now, with the servants of the Bane closing in, he must choose between his mission and her life.

{Mini Anime Review} Fate / Kaleid Liner Prisma☆Illya

Fate / Kaleid Liner Prisma☆Illya!
Fate / Kaleid Liner プリズマ☆イリヤ
Genre: Magic, Comedy, Action
Adaptation: Manga
Aired: Jun 22 / 2013 - Sept 7 / 2013

Illyasviel von Einzbern is an ordinary middle school student who becomes a magical girl when the magical Kaleidostick Ruby deems her a more suitable master than the sorceress, Rin Tosaka. Rin, who had been tasked by the wizard Zelretch to collect the seven Class Cards containing the spirits of Heroic Spirits from legend, finds that she is unable to change Ruby's mind and must supervise Illya in completing the task of collecting the Class Cards. During Illya's adventures, she receives a friend and rival in a girl named Miyu, the contracted master of the Kaleidostick Sapphire, which similarly abandoned its original master and Rin's rival, Luvia Edelfelt.

Fate Kaleid is one of those typical anime about mahou shoujous. (I definitely spelled that wrong). What really made this anime interesting was all the action and the fights against the Heroic Spirits. Conquering those took a lot of work and training and team work. I really liked seeing Illya and Miyu's friendship develop because Miyu is a really shy girl. Illya was nice to try and reach out to her. All the action scenes were really good and I really liked how everything played out.

Waiting on Wednesday #48 - Avalon

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating

Avalon by Mindee Arnett
Genre: YA Sci-fi
Release Date: Jan 21 / 2014
Publisher: Balzer + Bray

A ragtag group of teenage mercenaries who crew the spaceship Avalon stumble upon a conspiracy that could threaten the entire galaxy in this fascinating and fast-paced sci-fi adventure from author Mindee Arnett.

Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth-and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.

Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.

Avalon is the perfect fit for teens new to sci-fi as well as seasoned sci-fi readers looking for more books in the YA space-and a great match for fans of Joss Whedon's cult hit show Firefly.

I really loved Mindee Arnett's novel, the Nightmare Affair. This cover looks so cool and I can't wait to read this! Plus, it's about space! I haven't read a good sci-fi in a while either. What are you waiting on this week? Tell me or link me up to your own post :)

{Review} The Testing - Joelle Charbonneau

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
Genre: YA Dystopia
Release Date: Jun 4 / 2013
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

{Weekly Craving} Nov 2013 #2

Weekly Craving is a feature where I show you all the new releases on my TBR

- Fault Line by Christa Desir

This is the only book I have for this week. The lighter on the cover seems interesting and I might pick this up a bit later. Are there other interesting releases I missed this week? Lemme know!

{Review} Countdown - Michelle Rowen

Countdown by Michelle Rowen
Genre: YA Dystopia
Release Date: Oct 1 / 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

3 seconds left to live. Once the countdown starts, it cannot be stopped.

2 pawns thrown into a brutal underground reality game.

Kira Jordan survived her family's murder and months on plague-devastated city streets with hard-won savvy and a low-level psi ability. She figures she can handle anything. Until she wakes up in a barren room, chained next to the notorious Rogan Ellis.

1 reason Kira will never, ever trust Rogan. Even though both their lives depend on it.

Their every move is controlled and televised for a vicious exclusive audience. And as Kira's psi skill unexpectedly grows and Rogan's secrets prove evermore deadly, Kira's only chance of survival is to risk trusting him as much as her instincts. Even if that means running head-on into the one trap she can't escape.

GAME OVER.

{Anime Review} Free! Iwatobi Swim Club

Free! Iwatobi Swim Club
Genre: Comedy, Sports, Slice of Life
Aired: Jul 4 / 2013 - Sept 25 / 2013

The story revolves around Nanase Haruka, a boy who has always loved to be immersed in water, and to swim in it. Before graduating from elementary school, he participated in a swimming tournament along with his fellow swimming club members, Tachibana Makoto, Hazuki Nagisa, and Matsuoka Rin. After achieving victory, each of the boys went their separate ways.

Time passed, and in the middle of their uneventful high school lives Rin appears and challenges Haruka to a match, showing Haruka his overwhelming power. Not wanting it to end like this, Haruka, gathers together Makoto and Nagisa once again and brings a new member named Rei Ryugazaki to create the Iwatobi High School Swimming Club in order to defeat Rin.

Waiting on Wednesday #47 - No One Else Can Have You

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating

No One Else Can Have You by Kathleen Hale
Release Date: Jan 07 / 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen

Small towns are nothing if not friendly. Friendship, Wisconsin (population: 688) is no different. Around here, everyone wears a smile. And no one ever locks their doors. Until, that is, high school sweetheart Ruth Fried is found murdered. Strung up like a scarecrow in the middle of a cornfield.

Unfortunately, Friendship’s police are more adept at looking for lost pets than catching killers. So Ruth’s best friend, Kippy Bushman, armed with only her tenacious Midwestern spirit and Ruth’s secret diary (which Ruth’s mother had asked her to read in order to redact any, you know, sex parts), sets out to find the murderer. But in a quiet town like Friendship—where no one is a suspect—anyone could be the killer.

Isn't the cover just so cute? MOOSE.. Canadian pride lol. But y'know, murder mystery.. I'm so in!

{Review} Origin - Jennifer L. Armentrout

Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Lux #4
Genre: YA Paranormal
Release Date: Aug 27 / 2013
Publisher: Entangled Teen

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

And will they even be together?

{Weekly Craving} Nov 2013 #1

Weekly Craving is a feature where I show the new releases on my TBR

{Bookish Survey} Cast a Harry Potter Spell! Part 1

This bookish survey is taken from Flip That Page and all the graphics belong to her as well. Why did I decide to take this survey? Well, I'm bored.. and it looked quite fun! I'll also link up my reviews of books mentioned if I've written them. Since this is quite a long bookish survey, I've divided it into two parts. Here we go :D