Monthly Wrap-up: February 2014

Monthly Wrap-up is where I tell you about what happened during the month,

including what I reviewed, what interesting things happened, and other random things...

Waiting on Wednesday #59 - The Inventor's Secret

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

that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating

{Weekly Craving} Feb 2014 #4

Weekly Craving is a feature where I show what's releasing this week on my TBR

{Review} Fates - Lanie Bross

Fates by Lanie Bross
Genre: YA Paranormal
Release Date: Feb 11 / 2014
Publisher: Delacorte Press

Perfect for fans of Jennifer Armentrout, Julie Kagawa, Rachel Vincent, and Sarah J. Maas, and for girls who love all things pretty, romantic and inspirational.

One moment. One foolish desire. One mistake. And Corinthe lost everything.

She fell from her tranquil life in Pyralis Terra and found herself exiled to the human world. Her punishment? To make sure people's fates unfold according to plan. Now, years later, Corinthe has one last assignment: kill Lucas Kaller. His death will be her ticket home.

But for the first time, Corinthe feels a tingle of doubt. It begins as a lump in her throat, then grows toward her heart, and suddenly she feels like she is falling all over again--this time for a boy she knows she can never have. Because it is written: one of them must live, and one of them must die. In a universe where every moment, every second, every fate has already been decided, where does love fit in?

"Different and imaginative."--Kirkus Reviews

Waiting on Wednesday #58 - Reborn

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

that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating

Reborn by C. C. Hunter
Genre: YA Paranormal
Release Date: May 20 / 2014
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Return to the beloved world of Shadow Falls, a camp that teaches supernatural teens to harness their powers—and where a vampire named Della will discover who she’s meant to be.

For Della Tsang, Shadow Falls isn't just a camp: it's home. As a vampire who's never fit in with her human family, it's the one place she can truly be herself. But when a mysterious new guy arrives at camp, Della’s whole world is thrown into turmoil. Chase is a vampire with secrets, who knows more than he’s telling. But the more time she spends with him, the more she begins to trust this attractive stranger—and feel drawn to him. But romance is the last thing she wants—as she keeps telling Steve, the hunky shapeshifter who won’t stop trying to win her heart. And if Della isn't careful, he just might succeed.　 When a new case puts everyone she cares about in danger, Della’s determined to do everything she can to save them... even if it means teaming up with Steve and Chase, who leave her more confused than ever. With their lives on the line, will Della and her friends survive—with their hearts intact?

I loved the Shadow Falls series and I was really excited when the author said she'd do a spin-off of Della, our sarcastic kickass vampire. I really can't wait to see where it goes! And it looks like we're getting ourselves another love triangle like we did with the original series. The cover looks pretty too.. though I thought Della was part Asian?

{Weekly Craving} Feb 2014 #3

Weekly Craving is a feature where I show what's newly released on my TBR list

- Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor

This is the only one on my list this week. I'll be reviewing it on my co-blog this Thursday @ The Book the Belles. I should probably start reading it soon :)

Stacking the Shelves - February 2014

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

that shows what books we hauled during the week.

{Review} Tin Star - Cecil Castellucci

Tin Star by Cecil Castellucci
Genre: YA Science Fiction / Dystopia
Release Date: Feb 25 / 2014
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

On their way to start a new life, Tula and her family travel on the Prairie Rose, a colony ship headed to a planet in the outer reaches of the galaxy. All is going well until the ship makes a stop at a remote space station, the Yertina Feray, and the colonist's leader, Brother Blue, beats Tula within an inch of her life. An alien, Heckleck, saves her and teaches her the ways of life on the space station.

When three humans crash land onto the station, Tula's desire for escape becomes irresistible, and her desire for companionship becomes unavoidable. But just as Tula begins to concoct a plan to get off the space station and kill Brother Blue, everything goes awry, and suddenly romance is the farthest thing from her mind.

{Review} Control - Lydia Kang

Control by Lydia Kang
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Release Date: Dec 26 / 2013
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

An un-putdownable thriller for fans of Uglies.

When a crash kills their father and leaves them orphaned, Zel knows she needs to protect her sister, Dyl. But before Zel has a plan, Dyl is taken by strangers using bizarre sensory weapons, and Zel finds herself in a safe house for teens who aren’t like any she’s ever seen before—teens who shouldn't even exist. Using broken-down technology, her new friends’ peculiar gifts, and her own grit, Zel must find a way to get her sister back from the kidnappers who think a powerful secret is encoded in Dyl’s DNA.

A spiraling, intense, romantic story set in 2150—in a world of automatic cars, nightclubs with auditory ecstasy drugs, and guys with four arms—this is about the human genetic “mistakes” that society wants to forget, and the way that outcasts can turn out to be heroes.

Everything about this book was pretty good. Humans that have weird super powers with genetic faults is a pretty awesome idea of a book. The writing style was interesting enough for me to bury myself in the story. I read this all in one sitting actually. I would've given this an A but unfortunately, the romance had me thinking a bit. It was instant love (which I cannot stand) and what's even worse was that their relationship didn't have much of anything except kissing scenes and a whole bunch of tension. It wasn't believable. They didn't build their relationship in any way. Don't get me wrong; I still love Zel, Cy, and the rest of the amazing crew. I just feel the need to dock off one letter grade for the horrible romance.

Waiting on Wednesday #57 - Nethergrim

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

that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly ancipating

Nethergrim by Matthew Jobin
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: Apr 8 / 2014
Publisher: Philomel

The Next Great Fantasy Epic is here! For fans of Ranger's Apprentice and the Chronicles of Narnia.

Everyone in Moorvale believes the legend: The brave knight Tristan and the famed wizard Vithric, in an epic battle decades ago, had defeated the evil Nethergrim and his minions. To this day, songs are sung and festivals held in the heroes' honor. Yet now something dark has crept over the village. First animals disappear, their only remains a pile of bones licked clean. Then something worse: children disappear. The whispers begin quietly yet soon turn into a shout: The Nethergrim has returned!

Edmund’s brother is one of the missing, and Edmund knows he must do something to save his life. But what? Though a student of magic, he struggles to cast even the simplest spell. Still, he and his friends swallow their fear and set out to battle an ancient evil whose powers none of them can imagine. They will need to come together--and work apart--in ways that will test every ounce of resolve.

In a story reminiscent of the Ranger’s Apprentice epic and the Chronicles of Narnia, Matthew Jobin weaves reality, magic, and adventure into the next great fantasy phenomenon.

I've never read the Ranger's Apprentice or the Chronicles of Narnia (which are both really famous series, I know!) but this one sounds like my type of book! I haven't read a good fantasy for a while now and hopefully this will hit the spot :)

{Review} The Tyrant's Daughter - J. C. Carleson

The Tyrant's Daughter by J. C. Carleson
Genre: YA Realistic Fiction / Contemporary
Release Date: Feb 11 / 2014
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

From a former CIA officer comes the riveting account of a royal Middle Eastern family exiled to the American suburbs.

When her father is killed in a coup, 15-year-old Laila flees from the war-torn middle east to a life of exile and anonymity in the U.S. Gradually she adjusts to a new school, new friends, and a new culture, but while Laila sees opportunity in her new life, her mother is focused on the past. She’s conspiring with CIA operatives and rebel factions to regain the throne their family lost. Laila can’t bear to stand still as an international crisis takes shape around her, but how can one girl stop a conflict that spans generations?

J.C. Carleson delivers a fascinating account of a girl—and a country—on the brink, and a rare glimpse at the personal side of international politics.

*Bonus Backmatter includes a note about the author's CIA past, and a commentary by RAND researcher and president of ARCH International, Dr. Cheryl Benard. Recommendations for further reading are also included.

{Weekly Craving} Feb 2014 #2

Weekly Craving is a feature where I show you what's newly released on my TBR

{Review} Cress - Marissa Meyer

Cress by Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #3
Genre: YA Science Fiction + Retelling
Release Date: Feb 4 / 2014
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard.

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

{Mini Review} Independent Study - Joelle Charbonneau

Independent Study by Joelle Charbonneau
Series: The Testing #2
Genre: YA Dystopian
Release Date: Jan 7 / 2014
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

In the series debut The Testing, sixteen-year-old Cia Vale was chosen by the United Commonwealth government as one of the best and brightest graduates of all the colonies... a promising leader in the effort to revitalize postwar civilization. In Independent Study, Cia is a freshman at the University in Tosu City with her hometown sweetheart, Tomas—and though the government has tried to erase her memory of the brutal horrors of The Testing, Cia remembers. Her attempts to expose the ugly truth behind the government’s murderous programs put her—and her loved ones—in a world of danger. But the future of the Commonwealth depends on her.

*spoilers for the Testing ahead*

Independent Study starts off right where the Testing left off.  Cia is now in the University and she is placed in the government / leadership program. The government had tried to erase her memories of her times in the Testing but she remembers. Even though she's in the University now, the game is still as deadly as ever with the Tosu City students. To pass the Initiation for her program, they're divided into groups to pass deadly challenges. That's probably my favourite part of the whole story. I love the challenges and how Cia has to think through all the possibilities to solve them. Now Cia is trying to expose the truths about the Testing by leading a rebellion, things are just getting better and better! I cannot wait for Graduation Day!

Waiting on Wednesday #56 - Side Effects May Vary

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

that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating

Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy
Release Date: March 18 / 2014
Publisher: Balzer + Bray

What if you’d been living your life as if you were dying—only to find out that you had your whole future ahead of you?

When sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia, her prognosis is grim. To maximize the time she does have, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs—however she sees fit. She convinces her friend Harvey, whom she knows has always had feelings for her, to help her with a crazy bucket list that’s as much about revenge (humiliating her ex-boyfriend and getting back at her arch nemesis) as it is about hope (doing something unexpectedly kind for a stranger and reliving some childhood memories). But just when Alice’s scores are settled, she goes into remission.

Now Alice is forced to face the consequences of all that she’s said and done, as well as her true feelings for Harvey. But has she done irreparable damage to the people around her, and to the one person who matters most?

Julie Murphy’s Side Effects May Vary is a fearless and moving tour de force about love, life, and facing your own mortality.

This sounds a bit like The Faults in Our Stars (which I haven't read yet) to me. I already have a copy thankfully and I'll be reviewing it where I co-blog :)

{Review} Sex & Violence - Carrie Mesrobian

Sex & Violence by Carrie Mesrobian
Genre: YA Contemporary
Release Date: Oct 1 / 2013
Publisher: Carolrhoda LAB

At first you don't see the connection.

Sex has always come without consequences for seventeen-year-old Evan Carter. He has a strategy--knows the profile of The Girl Who Would Say Yes. In each new town, each new school, he can count on plenty of action before he and his father move again. Getting down is never a problem. Until he hooks up with the wrong girl and finds himself in the wrong place at very much the wrong time.

And then you can't see anything else.

After an assault that leaves Evan bleeding and broken, his father takes him to the family cabin in rural Pearl Lake, Minnesota, so Evan's body can heal. But what about his mind?

How do you go on, when you can't think of one without the other?

Nothing seems natural to Evan anymore. Nothing seems safe. The fear--and the guilt--are inescapable. He can't sort out how he feels about anyone, least of all himself. Evan's really never known another person well, and Pearl Lake is the kind of place where people know everything about each other--where there might be other reasons to talk to a girl. It's annoying as hell. It might also be Evan's best shot to untangle sex and violence.

{Weekly Craving} Feb 2014 #1

Weekly Craving is a feature where I show what's newly released on my TBR