Owl Post #1 [MAY+JUNE+JULY]

Guys, today I'm doing something new on my blog....been coming on for a long time. This meme, called Owl Post is created by Brodie of Eleusinian Mysteries inspired by In My Mailbox by The Story Siren. Been meaning to do this since forever and I just love this idea. I'm being a Ravenclaw since at the age of eleven and couldn't seem to remember to do this....kudos to Brodie for thinking about this!

Before you all proceed further, let me make something clear:-

1. Just like my IMM posts, this will not be done every Sunday but on the last Sunday of each month... the reason why you'll see a lot more books in here than normal.

2. This first Owl Post will have all the books that I received in May, June & July, I forgot to post last 2 month so i'm combining this one.

3. Also it will feature a list of review links at the bottom of the page, which enlists all the review I have done that particular month. Now I expect you all to visit each link and give out a comment here and there(would very much appreciate it) and you all can link your reviews too, i'd love to comment.

4. You are all welcome to share what you all got in the comment section below....i'd love to visit....

For Review

From Author

Transcend Time Saga #1 Remembrance - Michelle Madow 

Transcend Time Saga #1.5 Vengeance - Michelle Madow 

Pulse It (Simon & Schuester reading group)

Wrecked - Anna Davies 

When you were mine - Rebecca Serle 

The Order of Darkness #1 Changeling - Philippa Gregory 

Netgalley

Goddess Test #2.5 The Goddess Legacy - Aimee Carter 

Dark Companion - Maria Acosta

Darkest London #2 Moonglow - Kristen Callihan
Once Upon A Time Machine - Lee Nordling, Jason Rodriguez, Tara Alexander
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures Vol 1 - Dave Garcia
The Clann #2 Covet - Melissa Darnell
The Demon Catchers of Milan - Kat Beyer
Ironskin #1 Ironskin - Tina Connolly

Edelweiss

The Asylum Tales #1 Angel's Ink - Jocelynn Drake

Journey to Wudang #1 Earth to Hell - Kylie Chan

Journey to Wudang #1 Hell to Heaven - Kylie Chan

From Random House India

Fallen #4 Rapture - Lauren Kate 

Bought

The Iron Druid Chronicles #4 Tricked - Kevin Hearne 

Nikki Glass #2 Deadly Descendant - Jenna Black 

The Body Finder #3 The Last Echo - Kimberly Derting 

Masque of the Red Death #1 Masque of the Red Death - Bethany Griffin 

Kane Chronicles #3 The Serpent's Shadow - Rick Riordan 

The Mortal Instruments #5 City of Lost Souls - Cassandra Clare 

Bloodlines #2 The Golden Lily - Richelle Mead 

Hourglass #2 Timepiece - Myra McEntire 

GIVEAWAY WON

Nightshade #1 Nightshade - Andrea Cremer (thanks to Book Enslaved)
Divergent #2 Insurgent - Veronica Roth (thanks to Book Enslaved)
Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1 Daughter of Smoke & Bone - Laini Taylor (thanks to Book Enslaved)
Lunar Chronicles #1 Cinder -  Marissa Meyer (thanks to Kindred Dreamheart)


There should be one more book but I haven't gotten it yet hopefully it will be soon

REVIEW LINKS

Links to all the reviews done in MAY, JUNE & JULY

The Atlanteans #1 The Lost Code - Kevin Emerson

Stracrossed #1 Starcrossed - Josephine Angelini

Hereafter #1 Hereafter - Tara Hudson

Juliet Immortal #1 Juliet Immortal - Stacey Jay

Starcrossed #2 Dreamless - Jesephine Angelini

Shatter me #1 Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi

Nightwatchers #1 Dark Kiss - Michelle Rowen

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - Seth Grahame-Smith

Hereafter #2 Arise - Tara Hudson

Wreaked - Anna Davies

Hourglass #1 Hourglass - Myra McEntire

The Wardstone Chronicles #8 The Spook's Destiny - Joseph Delaney
When You Were Mine - Rebecca Serle
Kane Chronicles #3 The Serpent's Shadow - Rick Riordan
The Iron Druid Chronicles #4 Tricked - Kevin Hearne
Goddess Test #2.5 The Goddess Legacy - Aimee Carter
Ashfall #1 Ashfall - Mike Mullin
Insignia #1 Insignia - S.J. Kincaid
The Mortal Instruments #5 City of Lost Souls - Cassandra Clare
The Body Finder #3 The Last Echo - Kimberly Derting
Nikki Glass #2 Deadly Descendant - Jenna Black
Fallen #4 Rapture - Lauren Kate
Masque of the Red Death #1 Masque of the Red Death - Bethany Griffin
Hourglass #2 Timepiece - Myra McEntire 
The Faerie Ring #1 The Faerie Ring - Kiki Hamilton
Mara Dyer #1 The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin




Be Sure to add your Owl Post links too in the comment section so I can check them out and comment!

Mara Dyer #1 The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

A beautiful cover, a mysterious plot, the synopsis not revealing anything at all....a sure sign of a thrilling read to the fullest.....Presenting Mara Dyer #1 The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin.

Here is the summary of the book:

Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.

She’s wrong.

The thrilling and complex, the more difficult it is to write a review for. Seriously this book was SO GOOD that I can't even find the words to aptly sum up my views that I had to re-write my review at least thrice to get it right.....lets see how it goes like.....

Introducing Mara Dyer...our protagonist....a not so perfect girl.....rather messed up....the sole survivor of a freak building crash....and only she knows how it happened. See as she braves a new school and a new place. Not to mention her PTSD and the hallucinations they induced are making it very hard to keep reality and dream separate. Mara Dyer is just another broken and messed up soul who wants to be nothing more than normal. She also has an acute sense of humor and with all her perfections and imperfections.....you will find her situation very much relatable. You can not help but feel empathy with her.

Now, introducing Noah...the love interest. Oh! Noah, he is everything you would want in a boy.....he has a bad boy reputation....the good looks....and there is the factor of an accent too. Bu the best thing? This is no love at first sight....there is definitely an attraction there....an intense and unbelievable attraction that builds slowly over time....It is very much clear that Noah cares for Mara and would do anything for her....even that much is enough to make you swoon with a smoldering intensity (*sigh*)....Ms. Hodkin you have definitely won me over with this level of intense romantics...surely the best and the most relatable I have read so far.

The plot...there is no word for it......WOW...dark and very mysterious....and hair-raising.....So much happens....so much that it is impossible for me to elaborate without axing the purpose of a review......but I would say that the pace and the idea behind it was simply amazing. A compelling and an engrossing page turner and the vague synopsis and the setting is enough for us readers to want to read it to know what is in store for us within its pages.  A marvelous debut by Michelle Hodkin....counting the dates fervently for the next one.

"No other word for it but just ....WOW"

Genre :       Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance


Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publising


Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

The Faerie Ring #1 The Faerie Ring

Medieval England and the Fae folk....definitely a very good combination indeed. Presenting The Faerie Ring #1 The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton.

Here is the summary of the book:

Debut novelist Kiki Hamilton takes readers from the gritty slums and glittering ballrooms of Victorian London to the beguiling but menacing Otherworld of the Fey in this spellbinding tale of romance, suspense, and danger. The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood. Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist. Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…

Set in Medieval, foggy and carriage-drawn London and among the streets and alleys of pick pockets. Tikki and her gang of pickpockets scourge pockets and steal whatever they can do to survive everyday and every hour. Somehow while on one of her excursions gets inside the royal palace and unknowingly steels a shiny ring....the biggest mistake of her life. A ring of great importance, it was the one thing that ensured the peace between the humans and the Fae folk. Now that it is stolen both factions are clamoring to get it back before a full blown war breaks out. As the enemies start closing it is upto Tikki to get the ring back into the Buckingham Palace and under the royal's guard before major catastrophe happens.

Tikki is the protagonist and she is a pick pocket. Very stubborn and righteous she takes care of the ones in her group and is rather very famous with her heist adventures but still there is more to her than meets the eye.....she is much more connected to the human and the fae folk than she ever realized. Then there is her counterpart, another pick pocket named Rieker. At first he seems to be just a pestering presence. Face it no pick pocket trust their competitions. But Reiker while suspects that Tikki had something to do with the disappearance of the ring seems to genuinely help her and really care for her. Then there are the two princes William and Leopold, and the other orphans. All of them provide a myriad variety of characters that push the story forward and give it an alluring feel.

I've been hearing so many great things about this book that I knew I couldn't resist not reading it any longer. And it was the best thing that I ever did. A quick read Ms. Hamilton's story takes us from the fog filled alleys to the high society masquerade balls, spinning a fantasy so grounded in reality that it takes you in from the first page till the end making you come out different and hungry for the next one. 

"Historical and fantastical - Ms. Hamilton's book is sure to suck you in its engrossing pages"

Genre :       Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy


Publisher: Tor Teen


Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Hourglass #2 Timepiece

A change of perspective and raised stakes....oh YAY!! Presenting Hourglass #2 Timepiece by Myra McEntire.

Here is the summary of the book:

A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking...Kaleb Ballard's relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb's powers expanding, or is something very wrong? Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devastating results. Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough...The follow-up to Hourglass, Timepiece blends the paranormal, science fiction, mystery, and suspense genres into a nonstop thrill ride where every second counts.

Hourglass had come out of the blue and sucked me in.....now Timepiece sucks me in much more further. Time is one paradox that no one has yet understood what it truly is. One can not truly predict what will happen in the near future based on what you did in the present.....because dabbling with time is dangerous.....and there are consequences to be paid. And this is where our story gets interesting.

In Hourglass, Emerson changes time by saving Michael now in Timepiece, things are escalating out of proportions. With the drastic change in time, time rip.....full scenes are appearing everywhere and its even harder  to get rid of them this time. On top of that the head honchos, the Chronos has given them an ultimatum, find Jack Landers or suffer the consequences where time will reverse back to how it should have originally happened. Now they are on a time sensitive mission to find Jack but end up finding out much more than they had hoped for.....it is up to them now to avert major catastrophe because the treachery and deceit runs much deeper than they had realized.

Were in Hourglass the story was introduced to us in Emerson's perspective, in Timepiece, we get the next chapter of the Hourglass series in Kaleb's POV, the player. It is a rather disorienting change but when the dust settles down it is rather an interesting nonetheless. We see very less of Em and Michael in here, was really sad about that but it was still very interesting to see the world in Kaleb's view. Em's best friend, Lily also gets a major part in here. And it is interesting to see Kaleb and Lily interact....and their cat and mouse game in the art of irritating each other and gradually their feeling coming out front. Their chemistry was simply amazing.

Then , there is Chronos, time keeper organization......while it is still not clear how the organization works but if any mythological reference is to go by the  it can be fairly certain that as the titan Chronos was the lord of time so is the organization the master of time.

At last, time sensitive and alluring, Myra McEntire gives us an adrenaline rush with Timepiece, as the characters race against time itself to put a stop to apocalypse from happening. You definitely will not be able to leave it in the middle at all. The characters, the plot, the mission, the events and the clues.....oh! Ms. McEntire paints a picture of a perfect sci-fi saga. Totally counting the days to the release of Infinityglass.

"An Adrenaline rush till the very end"

Genre :       Young Adult, Sci-fi


Publisher: EgmontUSA


Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Masque of the Red Death #1 Masque of the Red Death

A steampunk retake of the original of the same name by Edgar Allen Poe (well I have to read that to make a head or tail of what it entails before I go about comparing)..... Presenting in all it glory (well the cover beauty to be exact) Masque of the Red Death #1 Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin.

Here is the summary of the book:

Everything is in ruins. A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them. So what does Araby Worth have to live for? Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all. But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does. And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

Now as I have stated above I have not read Edgar Allen Poe's work by the same name, so I can't be sure of what it all entails.....so my views will be entirely on Ms. Griffin's book. Red death, is the plague  that has swept the land, killing millions in its wake. The only protection is the expensive face masks.....expensive in the sense that it is produced by a private company and not easily available to the general masses. Only the rich can afford such a luxury and the poor are left to their state. It is in these post apocalyptic, steampunk era that the story is based in. Araby Worth has some issues (in fact in the face of the plague everyone has major issues). The only one of the siblings still left, Araby has turned rather complacent and not very differentiated to life. Only the routine visits to the Debauchery Club with her friend April to just forget and drown in her grief.

It is in these club visits that Araby meets April's brother Elliot, the Prince's nephew and one of the club's workers, Will. She feels an attraction to both, that's when things start to complicate. Prince Prospero is not a person to be trifled with but he is also not someone you will want as a ruler too. Elliot is planning a rebellion but he needs Araby for that. Both Elliot and Will are truly not what they seem and maybe Araby will finally have something worth living for again.

As far as the cover is concerned, it actually and aptly summarizes the gothic and steampunk feel of the book very beautifully. The synopsis definitely doesn't give away much about the book and that is how I prefer it because then you'll get more out of it as you read through. The characters in here are all some wide varieties. Araby is the protagonist and she has big guilt issues, she is also very righteous and very stubborn, Elliot and his sister April, the nephew and niece of the Prince are the ones with the agenda here, they want to uproot their tyrant uncle, a noble goal. Then there is Will, although seem to be the only one with no agenda (we'll see what part he plays in the later book I hope) here feels like the one unwantedly caught in the crossfire.

It is visible enough that while Elliot, April and Araby are covertly pursuing their goal their is a certain attraction between Elliot and Araby, he seems to really care for her. But Araby seems to be attracted towards Will too....I seriously don't like William though (don't know why though!). Since this is just the first book and the author had written the beginning so beautifully that there are no jarring cliffhangers or info dumps....kudos to the author for that.

This is not a simple post-apocalyptic steampunk but with the added stuff is a story of a political struggle and of going against the norm to create a better world. I'm definitely counting looking forward for the next one now.

"Dark and engrossing......Bethany Griffin provides a tale that breaches all boundary"

Genre :       Young Adult, Steampunk, 


Publisher: Greenwillow Books


Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Fallen #4 Rapture

A beautiful cover and a highly anticipating conclusion. Presenting Fallen #4 Rapture by Lauren Kate.

Here is the summary of the book:

The sky is dark with wings . . . And time is running out for Luce and Daniel. In order to stop Lucifer from erasing the past, they must find the place where the Fall began. Only Luce can break the curse, and it is her choice alone that will decide all of their fates. But as Dark Forces gather, great sacrifices will have to be made in this final, epic struggle . . . In the fight for Luce, and for Love, who will win? The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can't wait any longer.

My history with the Fallen series - loved the first book, didn't think much about the second or the third book, loved the novella and the finale was totally the best. Rapture, was absolutely a great ending to this series, all the loose ends are tied up and a beautiful and a fitting ending too. So, Luce, Daniel, Cam, Roland, Molly, and the others are on a time sensitive mission. Fallen Angels and Demons have come together to put a stop to Lucifer's mechanization......nobody wants to take the headlong dangerous fall twice and Luce is at the center of it all....by the end of it things definitely become much more clearer than ever......about the curse...about Luce's inability to remember her past lives before and what had really happened with Daniel and why Luce is the one on whom it all depended........definitely a great read.

There is  definitely a surreal awakening among the characters this time. Luce knows what to look for now after her run-ins with her past incarnations, she now knows what Daniel means to her. Daniel on the other hand is as steadfast as ever and a constant support and comfort to Luce whenever she doubts herself. The others provide a constant secondary support towards the flow of the story....all of them necessary in order to maintain the length and the mood.

As far as the religion concept is the series.....well i'm not Christian and i'm don't really prefer religion concepts but since there is angelogy involved (I find the topic......the myths.....the history and the folklore about Angels very fascinating) so I couldn't resist it.

As far as the plot is considered, Lauren Kate exceeds expectations with this marvelous finale. Without making it a huge info dump, she pens a perfect conclusion to this wonder. Every details, every aspects, how the characters go through all the trouble to stop Lucifer in his infernal plans and break the curse. The climax sure gave it a surreal feel of a job well done. A fitting end to the Fallen saga.

"Lauren Kate exceeds expectation - A fitting and an exhilarating end to the Fallen Saga"

Genre :      Young Adult, Mythology, Romance


Publisher: Random House


My Copy: Random House India


Rate:              5/5 (It was Awesome)

Nikki Glass #2 Deadly Descendants

Mythology and folklore are rich rich topics and so wide that if you know what you are doing, you could wip up such great stories...... *swoons* ..... Presenting Nikki Glass #2 Deadly Descendants by Jenna Black.

Here is the summary of the book:

The second novel in a unique and action-packed urban fantasy series from the acclaimed author of the "Morgan Kingsley" series Once, Nikki Glass was an ordinary private investigator, running her own business in Washington, D.C. Then, her world turned upside down when she accidentally stole the immortality of a descendant of Hades. Now immortal herself, Nikki is plunged into the world of the Liberi Deorum, descendants of the ancient gods, discovering that she is descended from the goddess Artemis and has new supernatural abilities. While she still longs for the normal life she left behind, Nikki is now part of a team of immortals, led by the mysterious Anderson Kane, bent on making the world a better place. Which would be a lot easier if it weren't for the Olympians, a rival group of immortals who exploit their powers for their own benefit. In a strange twist of fate, the Olympians come to Anderson to ask for his--and Nikki's--help. The Oracle, a descendant of Apollo who is Olympian to the bone, has had a disturbing vision of a man with a jackal's head being captured by the government. This vision coincides with a rash of wild dog attacks that are terrorizing the city, and the Oracle believes her vision means these killings were perpetrated by a descendant of Anubis, the Egyptian god of death. It's up to Nikki and the rest of Anderson's team to track down and stop this serial killer before the authorities do. But the more Nikki investigates the crimes, the more she comes to suspect that the Olympians haven't told the whole truth, and the more terrifying the killer becomes.....

Book 1 of the series layered the groundwork for the proceeding books. This time for Nikki Glass and the descendants under Anderson Kane, it is not the Olympians who are causing trouble but rather an enemy of the Olympians. When a descendant of Apollo in cohorts with the Olympians comes to ask their help with the matter of dealing with this new threat....since the person appears to be a psychopath and in particular appears to be a descendant of the Egyptian death God, Anubis, it is upto Nikki now to get her hunter skills to the up and find the descendant before he does more damage than needed....after all she is the descendant of Artemis.

Deadly Descendants while being the second book of the series is a great work in its own right. For one thing it is a standalone in its own right and fully functional as well. Nikki Glass, our protagonist is as stubborn as ever. Here she is starting to discover her powers and trying to put them to good use. The descendants under Anderson are as strong as ever with their varied members.....but the most nuisance proved to be Anderson's wife, Emma. In the first book Nikki had saved her from the Olympians but turns out she is a total trainwreck. It is understandable that she must have changed after her terrible ordeal with Konstantin but it still doesn't excuse her behavior towards Nikki.

Then there is NIKKI & JAMAAL.....while it was a little unexpected but definitely welcome. There can never be a more opposite pair than this. One is lively and the other sulks around. One is the descendant of Artemis and the other of Kaali. But somehow they make it work.....oh there is some hot stuffs in there......after all it was a long time coming.

As far as the story is considered - it is as solid as ever. The plot with a steady flow remains coherent till the very end.....fitting characters......and hair raising action.....and not to forget the palpable chemistry of NIKKI&JAMAAL.....Jenna Black does it again.....I seriously want to know what the next one is called and when it will come out.

"Solid plot and characters, hair-raising action and the ever elusive myths......Deadly Descendant is a must read"

Genre :       Urban Fantasy, Paranormal


Publisher: Pocket Books


Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

I'M PARTICIPATING - Fiction Freak: Fall Into Summer Giveaway

I'M PARTICIPATING - Fiction Freak: Fall Into Summer Giveaway:  


So I was going to do something similar to this when I reached 300 followers, but I decided that if I waited too long then it wouldn't be techincally the start of Summer anymore, would it? Think of this as my giant giveaway of the year. Who knows? I might do one next year too.

What's Up for Grabs:
Any book that's released from August 16 to November 31. Techincally August isn't a Fall month, but a lot of awesome books are being released. I wouldn't want you to miss out on that! I'm not that mean.

Rules:

13+ or must have parent's permission
One set of entries per household! I'll be chacking IP Addresses
One winner at 300 followers, and another winner every 100 followers from there.
The book MUST be released from Aug. 16-Nov. 31 if you didn't see it earlier.
This giveaway ends on the first day of Winter. Which is a loooonnnngggg ways off so that should give you a lot of time to get extra entries is you want!
Please keep the price under 15$. I'm not rich
INTERNATIONAL if the Book Depository ships to you. Remember, under 15$ people.

The Body Finder #3 The Last Echo

It gets deadlier by the second for Violet.....can she save herself before it is too late.... Presenting The Body Finder #3 The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting.

Here is the summary of the book:

In the end, all that’s left is an echo. Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet’s talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it’s Violet’s job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by “the girlfriend collector” she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new “relationship” and Violet may have caught his eye....

After the events of the second book, it seems that Violet Ambrose has finally found a level ground, a rag-tag group of people with abilities just like her own. And this time its another psychopath on the horizon......called the girlfriend collector.....Violet has caught his eye....the situation doesn't look good at all.....it is upto Violet to keep her abilities in check, keep her secret work and school apart and keep her feelings in order all the while keeping herself safe.

Violet plays a major part in this book since here it is about her adjusting to the work and more knowledge of and about her strange abilities. We don't see much of Jay in here and while we only see him here and there, he forms a firm rock or the pillar of support for Violet which she strictly needs (*swoons* wouldn't it be wonderful if all of them were just like that *swoons*) ..... and every character who brings a new spice to this book were also a pleasure to read about.

Another masterpiece by Kimberly Derting. The Last Echo perfectly captures the mood of a teenager facing the major decision of her own, a psychotic loner looking for love in the wrong way and the mind set of his victims all the while making sure to keep it all grounded in reality. She keeps the pattern of her chapters as before, incorporating short chapters in the antagonist's point of view after four or five chapters. The writing is again very simple, easy to understand and very engrosssing. So looking forward to the next book of the series.

"Thrilling and very engaging - un-put-down-able till the end"  

Genre :       Young Adult, Paranormal


Publisher: Harper Collins


Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR: Saving Mary: The Possession

I'm pleased to say that I'm hosting the author of SAVING MARY: THE POSSESSION by DEIDRE HAVRELOCK, as her book goes on a virtual tour with Tourz de Codex.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Deidre D Havrelock grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada where she eventually met her husband to be, DJ. It was DJ who initially noticed Deidre’s dark state and worked to seek out someone willing to perform her exorcism. Eventually, the newlyweds found their way to the southern hot spot of Brooks, AB where Deidre began writing. From there the family trekked across eastern Canada to Moncton, NB where they learned to love French fries with cheese curds and gravy. Currently nestled in the hills of Kennewick, Washington, Deidre has two horses, one dog, three cats and too many rabbits…and let’s not forget her wonderful husband and three energetic daughters. Her memoir, Saving Mary: The Possession chronicles her dark childhood and the path that led to her demonic possession. She is currently working to finish book two of her spiritual memoir, Saving Mary: The Deliverance.

ABOUT THE BOOK

If you’re a fan of supernatural fiction then you will be captivated by this true story about a spiritually sensitive girl and the path that led to her possession. Part one of a two-part series, Saving Mary is the story of a modern-day Mary Magdalene—the woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons.

Deidre Daily is drawn to anything seemingly spiritual, desperately seeking a spiritual existence. But inside this vibrant girl hides a terrified child who sincerely believes she has married the devil. Through a series of spiritual encounters her fear turns into reality, and she ends up possessed.

Deidre’s fascinating spiritual memoir relays her story from childhood to adolescence: invisible eyes leering at her from the corner of her bedroom, horrible nightmares tormenting her, and her desperate attempt to find God—only to end up possessed. It is a candid account of possession from a first-person perspective. This dark memoir brings to light an intricate world of deceitful spirits hell-bent on manipulating and damaging an innocent girl’s life, not only through her dreams, but also through seemingly every-day encounters.

Travel with Deidre into the mysterious world of spirits, ghosts and demons. Awaken yourself to a world that isn’t supposed to exist; a world that’s as intriguing as it is sinister. And then emerge as a new person—invigorated, aware and intent on living in the light. Saving Mary; Not just another story about a girl and her exorcist.

Watch for book two, Saving Mary: The Deliverance.

FROM THE WRITER'S DESK:  A Reader or a writer, which would you rather be?

When I first started writing, I went to a weekend writing retreat that was held on the prairies up in the Cypress Hills of Alberta. This workshop was led by a Canadian cowboy writer by the name of Guy Vanderhaeghe. He wrote a book called The Englishman’s Boy (which was later turned into a film). One of the first questions he asked us all was, “Tell me now, how many books have you read this year?” (To which I internally responded, One! Don’t judge me!) The thing is, even though I wanted to be a writer, I hadn’t yet even become a reader. Guy told us, his little herd of wanna-be writers, what we desperately needed to hear, that we simply could not become writers without being readers first. (So I bought his book.) Anyway, this was the year I became a reader. I think I read fifty books that year. (Which is pretty good, considering I had only read a handful of short gothic romances up until this point.) After reading Guy’s book, The Englishman’s  Boy, I exclaimed: “Holy-moly, this guy is a great writer!” (I mean he is super great…Margaret Atwood kind of great, except he writes cowboy type historical fiction). I was over the moon. How did this rather shy guy write this amazing book? I mean, just listen to his voice and syntax…“The other horses trickled down the slope after them, filling the coulee as water fills the bed of a river. One by one they dropped from sight, tails switching, heads bobbing, ghostly gleaming horses running back into the earth like shining, strengthening water.”

I was convinced. I couldn’t be a writer without being a reader. So I read and read and read. I read all kinds of books—every type of genre. And then the inevitable happened. After all, when you’re a reader eventually you start to think, “I really could write something like this.” And when I hit the genre of memoir I knew this was it…this was the type of book I wanted to write. I wanted to write a memoir using the voice of a kid and the voice of a teenager.

So in regards to who I would rather be—writer or reader, my answer is both. Reading is great…escaping into someone’s life, learning about abstract ideas all while being entertained, seeing yourself in someone’s fictional character, learning how to handle tragedy or how to find courage through someone else’s words. All this comes from reading. But writing is great too…pushing yourself to finish a manuscript, editing until you wanna puke, reworking structure, learning to control voice, dreaming up characters, or crafting a real person into a character. This is writing. And it’s great.

SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A NOVEL?

If You enjoyed this then please then please visit the tour page to read some interesting posts in regards to this book and the tour - link

The Mortal Instruments #5 City of Lost Souls

I blame circumstances for making me wait to read this beauty....but goodness me it was worth the wait. Presenting The Mortal Instruments #5 City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare.

Here is the summary of the book:

The New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments continues—and so do the thrills and danger for Jace, Clary, and Simon.Can the lost be reclaimed? What price is too high to pay for love? Who can be trusted when sin and salvation collide? Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.


The book begins just where City of Fallen Angels ended. Jace is still connected to Sebastian and all Clary had done had been for naught. But hope is still there that somewhere inside the new Jace the old Jace still lives and Clary will do all she can to get him back even if it means breaking the Clave rules. It is now upto Clary to get to Jace and Sebastian before it is too late....and for Team Good find out a way to severe the unholy connection before it is too late.....because a war is coming upon Raziel's children....a war they simply cannot loose.

My first thoughts after finishing this book was....."OMG! TOTAL AWESOMENESS" and "THANK GOD THIS DOES NOT END IN A CLIFFHANGER". To tell the truth including the gorgeous cover I definitely liked this book better than City of Fallen Angels. That book felt like a bridge between the first three and this where slowly things are getting unveiled and the true stakes are realized.

The characters are as strong as ever. Jace and Clary remain to be the best characters of the lot and it is strange to see the difference in Jace from strong and quick witted one to this someone who follows Sebastian without question. And while his love for Clary still remains the same it is still rather jarrimg to see this all played out. Clary on the other hand is as determined as ever to see her Jace back and literally  goes to the end of the world to do just that(now that is devotion). While Simon, Maia, Jordan, Izzy, Alec and Magus, while secondary characters, deal with problems of their own all the while trying with all their might to prevent apocalypse.

But the most gruesome part? is Sebastian who is point to be noted a great villain (don't flame me its just an observation.....a certain Tom Riddle still occupies the position of the greatest villain)....he is convincing, rather very persuasive and very ruthless. MY GOD!! Ms. Clare sure has some great characters here and maintains the same while positing her chapters with the changes in perspective. Now after finishing this goodness.....I so want to get my hands on the next book and I definitely can't wait to get it (also so excited to see how the movie will come out as!)

"Intense, aggresive and passionate...Ms Clare spins the penultimate story with the utmost perfection as always"

Genre :       Urban Fantasy, Paranormal


Publisher: Margaret K McElderry


Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Insignia #1 Insignia

Its a futuristic read and its one of a kind. Presenting Insignia #1 Insignia by S.J. Kincaid.

Here is the summary of the book:

More than anything, Tom Raines wants to be important, though his shadowy life is anything but that. For years, Tom’s drifted from casino to casino with his unlucky gambler of a dad, gaming for their survival. Keeping a roof over their heads depends on a careful combination of skill, luck, con artistry, and staying invisible. Then one day, Tom stops being invisible. Someone’s been watching his virtual-reality prowess, and he’s offered the incredible—a place at the Pentagonal Spire, an elite military academy. There, Tom’s instincts for combat will be put to the test, and if he passes, he’ll become a member of the Intrasolar Forces, helping to lead his country to victory in World War Three. Finally, he’ll be someone important: a superhuman war machine with the tech skills that every virtual-reality warrior dreams of. Life at the Spire holds everything that Tom’s always wanted—friends, the possibility of a girlfriend, and a life where his every action matters—but what will it cost him? Gripping and provocative, S. J. Kincaid’s futuristic thrill ride of a debut crackles with memorable characters, tremendous wit, and a vision of the future that asks startling, timely questions about the melding of humanity and technology.

Its greed, its treachery and its the inevitable war that the world has been waiting for, WWIII. Its in the future and its the machinic-era battle, the only plus point here is that the humans don't do the actual gunning and stuffs but they are the ones controlling the machines that do the fighting. It is in this era that the story is based on. Tom Raines is a young, clever gamer who has the VR simulations managed down to a T and just wants to matter to his father and to everyone around him and then the opportunity raises itself, the US Army comes calling....but what it entails is not something he had envisioned. This war is much more than just the intrasolar battle between nations....its the battle of companies......its the battle of the greedy and only those survive who know what they want and choose right....

I know this summary from me above doesn't really say much but Insignia is so unique and so interesting and exciting and hilarious to read about that it is literally very difficult to summarize in a few sentences.....kudos to S.J. Kincaid for penning such an interesting and innovative tale. The characters here are some of the best I have read so far. Tom is the protagonist and is really one of a kind....the one with the killer instincts. He is immensely loyal to his friends and to all those he cares about and does all he can to prove himself and his worth.....sometimes that leads him to major trouble. His close friends are all but one a kind too.....Vik, Wyatt, Yuri.....they all form this tight knit group that all their interactions in the book are but the best parts of the book.

So all in all an innovative plot, some hugely compelling characters and a coherent and un-put-down-able book with the perfect sequence, with the perfect balance between the plot and the futuristic world building, S.J. Kincaid's story provides for an exciting adventure for the characters and readers alike......GOD so glad that this is just the first book of the trilogy, so excited for what comes next.

I have also heard that the 20th Century Fox is going to turn this into a movie......YAY!! so excited to know how that will come around.....

"Exciting and un-put-down-able .... Insignia proves to be a milestone in the futuristic sci-fi genre"

Genre :      Young Adult, Sci-fi, Dystopia


Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books


My Copy: Publisher and edelweiss


Rate:              5/5 (It was Awesome)

Ashfall #1 Ashfall

Presenting Ashfall #1 Ashfall by Mike Mullin.

Here is the summary of the book:

Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet. Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.

Ashfall is definitely different from the ones I have read before. Its contemporary, its sci-fi and its very much post apocalyptic. A very big and massive volcanic explosion and its definitely not pretty. The volcano under the yellow stone park exploded with massive consequences....destroying everything in its wake, spewing ashes far and wide and destroying life. It is in this ashfall that our protagonist Alex sets out to find his family.....skiing all th away to Warren, Illinois. This is one journey that Alex will never forget, meeting friends and foes alike, fighting for survival and for what is right, walking miles into the ashfall....a soul jarring experience. Maybe its true that it is our experiences that make us who we are not how and where we are born.

Ashfall is definitely a wonder.... an easy and an engrossing read. Mike Mullin cleverly weaves the story of a scared and alone teenager as he braves the volcanic ash in search for his family and the geographic  setting of the eruption and the post eruption proverbial ashfall. Alex is the typical American teenager whose life takes on a new turn with the resulting disaster and he chooses to brave it in search for his family. Mike Mullin paces the story nicely giving us and the characters a chance to breathe and the situation to play out on its own. I'm definitely attacking the netgalley a-arc of the second book as soon as possible.

"Drastic and scaringly adventurous, Ashfall gives us a haunting glimpse of a psot volcanic eruption world and its so not pretty"

Genre :      Young Adult, Dystopia, Post Apocalyptic


Publisher: Tanglewood Press


My Copy: Publisher


Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Goddess Test #2.5 The Goddess Legacy

Greek Mythology is always a treat and miss Aimee Carter is always a pleasure. Presenting Goddess Test #2.5 The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter.

Here is the summary of the book:

For millennia we've caught only glimpses of the lives and loves of the gods and goddesses on Olympus. Now Aimé e Carter pulls back the curtain on how they became the powerful, petty, loving and dangerous immortals that Kate Winters knows. Calliope/Hera represented constancy and yet had a husband who never matched her faithfulness... Ava/Aphrodite was the goddess of love and yet commitment was a totally different deal... Persephone was urged to marry one man, yet longed for another... James/Hermes loved to make trouble for others-but never knew true loss before... Henry/Hades's solitary existence had grown too wearisome to continue. But meeting Kate Winters gave him a new hope... Five original novellas of love, loss and longing and the will to survive throughout the ages.

After reading about all the exploits of Kate Winters as Hades/Henry's new wife in the underworld and an ending that horrible and tantalizing cliffhanger, its time to get some background on the Gods. So enters this anthology of novellas, The Goddess Legacy, giving us explicit knowledge as to how the Gods came to the position as we see them in The Goddess Test and in Goddess Interrupted.

The book consists of five novellas focussing on Calliope, Ava, Persephone, James and Henry. Showcasing how Calliope does what she does, how Persephone repeatedly breaks Henry's heart, how Ava decides commitment does not come easily when your the Goddess of love, how James learns what true loss really means and what Henry felt after Persephone decides to forgo immortality for Adonis. Wherever we are and whatever we do, be it for a human or a God there is only one thing that matters and only one thing that decides what our future us going to be like - its the choices we make in the present that decides it all.

Calliope's situation arose because of her own pride and her inability to let go of a love that was never meant to be (for Henry). For Ava's story, it gives us the understanding of how her mind works, how she learns to commit herself to Hephaestus/Nicholas and is honest about her affairs to her husband even if they are so wrong... which we definitely we can't say about Persephone who thinks she is far above from Ava. For Persephone and her loveless marriage to Henry - it can be seen that her mother only wanted Henry's and her happiness but she (Persephone) was never bold enough to voice her thoughts in regards to her betrothal. Maybe then the centuries long disaster would have been avoided. Here again the point of choices appears. Persephone made some bad decisions regarding Henry, regarding the way she conducted her life. Because in Demeter/Diana's words both Happiness and Misery are a choice and Persephone chose misery......Sorry i'm rambling right now but I have this constant tiff with Persephone for causing Henry so much pain and to Calliope for poking her nose where it is not needed.

Overall, The Goddess Legacy us a rare treat into the history of the Greek Gods and explicitly and beautifully written by Miss Carter also the gorgeous setting of the God's life centuries ago. I am ready for The Goddess Inheritance now..... GOD april, 2013 is so far away....

"Its a rare and intricate look to the life of the Gods before Kate came into into their lives"   

Genre :      Young Adult, Romance, Mythology


Publisher: Harlequin Teen


My Copy: Publisher and netgalley


Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)