Paper Gods #2 Rain

Presenting Paper Gods #2 Rain by Amanda Sun.

Here is the summary of the book:

American Katie Green has decided to stay in Japan. She's started to build a life in the city of Shizuoka, and she can't imagine leaving behind her friends, her aunt and especially Tomohiro, the guy she's fallen in love with. But her return is not as simple as she thought. She's flunking out of Japanese school and committing cultural faux pas wherever she goes. Tomohiro is also struggling—as a Kami, his connection to the ancient gods of Japan and his power to bring drawings to life have begun to spiral out of control.

When Tomo decides to stop drawing, the ink finds other ways to seep into his life—blackouts, threatening messages and the appearance of unexplained sketches. Unsure how to help Tomo, Katie turns to an unexpected source for help—Jun, her former friend and a Kami with an agenda of his own. But is Jun really the ally he claims to be? In order to save themselves, Katie and Tomohiro must unravel the truth about Tomo's dark ancestry, as well as Katie's, and confront on/e of the darkest gods in Japanese legend.

'Ink' opened a whole new avenue with a brilliantly portrayed and excellently depicted Japanese culture and sequel 'Rain' just follows through as an excellent next leg of the journey. Not many modern authors are able to portray the historically and mystically extensive Japanese culture into their stories but Amanda Sun's 'Paper Gods' stands tall and I am very happy I got to read and experience it.

So, Katie has decided to stay in Japan and be with Tomohiro and help deal with the Ink problem. Tomohiro on the other hand has his own problems. He may have decided not to draw anymore, to try keep the Ink at bay but it won't do and blackouts and threatening messages are just the start of it all. Of course Kami, of the likes of Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, Izanagi and Susanoo in the mix is never a sign of harmony.

Katie is your ideal heroine. She lives out of her comfort zone in Japan. She is stubborn, intuitive, always ready to help and tries to see the good in all. Japan is still new to her but she is not one to accept defeat when threatened with International school as her grasp on the language is not yet good enough.. And most of all she by no means is ready to give on Tomohiro without a fight.

Tomohiro of course compliments Katie in every way possible. Hot and Broody and quite considerate towards others. In 'Rain' we actually saw him struggle to hold onto his identity. Like all boyfriends, he gets jealous when someone or rather Jun tries to usurp his territory. But his best quality aside from his all encompassing love for Katie, is that he is level headed and not quick to be swayed to suggestion (take that Shiori.... man she was such a bitch).

But the most development we saw in Jun, or rather degradation if you will. Till now we saw in calm and collected, but in the epic climatic fight secrets are revealed and what is truly in Jun's heart and what his agenda is. And Amanda Sun portrays it all in a simplistic and easy to understand script. No 2nd book syndrome whatsoever, Rain provides an authentic and exquisite sequel with its character driven plot, the myths and cultures and of course the Ink.

"A brilliant and unputdownable page turner"

Genre :      Young Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Romance

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: 24th June, 2014

My Copy: publisher and netgalley

Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Other Books in the series (review links):
                #0.5 Shadow 
                #1 Ink

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

Manga Classics: Pride & Prejudice

Presenting Manga Classics: Pride & Prejudice by Stacy King, Po Tse, Jane Austen.

Here is the summary of the book:

Beloved by millions the world over, Pride & Prejudice is delightfully transformed in this bold, new manga adaptation. All of the joy, heartache, and romance of Jane Austen's original, perfectly illuminated by the sumptuous art of manga-ka Po Tse, and faithfully adapted by Stacy E. King.

Pride & Prejudice definitely a favorite of mine. I have read the book, seen the Keira Knightly movie and the Hindi version, the Aishwariya Rai Bachchan one 'Bride & Prejudice' and this manga version is just so GORGEOUS.  And just like I said for the manga adaptation of Les Miz, this too is a feast for the eyes and again eye-catching enough to attract the modern readers towards the classics.

Of course written and to be read in the typical manga fashion - right to left. I would definitely prefer the adaptation of Pride & Prejudice over Les Miz. As everyone of the characters and their graphic representations just brought a new integrity to the tale ad I loved every bit of it.

"A gorgeous manga adaptation of Pride & Prejudice"

Genre :      Graphic Novel, Manga, Classic 

Publisher: Udon Entertainment

Release Date: 11th August, 2014

My Copy: publisher and netgalley

Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Buy:           Amazon 

Manga Classics: Les Misérables

Presenting Manga Classics: Les Misérables by Stacy King, TszMei Lee, Victor Hugo.

Here is the summary of the book:

Adapted for stage and screen, loved by millions, Victor Hugo's classic novel of love and tragedy during the French Revolution is reborn in this manga edition!

I have not yet had the chance to read the huge tome,i.e., Les Miserables but I have seen the 1998 (Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, Uma Thurman) and the 2012 (Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway) movies. So, I knew what I was getting into. And turning it into Manga was a pretty brilliant move. Guaranteed to draw the attentions of modern and those of the reluctant ones who have no patients with the classics. Of course Graphic Novels or Manga lovers too would find this a new gem.

Manga caters more towards the graphical representation with to the point words so as a result its actually quite impossible to adapt every word for word from a huge tome like Les Miz but Stacy King and TszMei Lee have done a pretty good job of it. Thus, you get a beautiful graphic representation to this beautiful classic with all the key moments featured. While the graphics are successful in portraying the French Revolution era, the true hardship and despair faced by the characters gets lost in translation. But on the whole the author and illustrator did a great job with this, making it pleasing to the eyes.

"A brilliant manga adaptation to the Victor Hugo classic, Les Misérables"

Genre :      Graphic Novel, Manga, Classic 

Publisher: Udon Entertainment

Release Date: 12th August, 2014

My Copy: publisher and netgalley

Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Buy:           Amazon 

Jake Brigance #2 Sycamore Row

Presenting Jake Brigance #2 Sycamore Row by John Grisham.

Here is the summary of the book:

Seth Hubbard is a wealthy man dying of lung cancer. He trusts no one. Before he hangs himself from a sycamore tree, Hubbard leaves a new, handwritten, will. It is an act that drags his adult children, his black maid, and Jake into a conflict as riveting and dramatic as the murder trial that made Brigance one of Ford County's most notorious citizens, just three years earlier.

The second will raises far more questions than it answers. Why would Hubbard leave nearly all of his fortune to his maid? Had chemotherapy and painkillers affected his ability to think clearly? And what does it all have to do with a piece of land once known as Sycamore Row?

I am pretty new to the Grisham experience and the only other one I have read was the fourth Theodore Boone book, The Activist and now reading Sycamore Row has given me quite the insight into Grisham's style and his brand of courtroom drama. And I liked this so much more than the Acticist. Law is not my favorite subject at all but Grisham's writing style was enough to keep us hooked until the end.

As such I haven't read the first book in the series, A time to Kill, but these are standalones so I didn't that to read this. But Grisham sure made Will contests an interesting read with this book.

Seth Hubbard has committed suicide after battling lung cancer for so long leaving behind a holographic (handwritten) will naming Jake Brigance as the attorney of the estate, kicking his family from the inheritance and leaving the substantial amount of his estate to his black housekeeper. Naturally the family wants to contest this Will but this is a bloodbath and just every lawyer out there wants to cash in on this battle. But overall I enjoyed this book very much.

"A smart and scintillating court room drama"

Genre :      Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Legal Thriller

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Release Date: 22th October, 2013

My Copy: Hachette India

Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Other Books from Author (review links):
            Theodore Boone #4 The Activist

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

All You Need Is Kill

Presenting All You Need Is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka.

Here is the summary of the book:

There’s one thing worse than dying. It’s coming back to do it again and again… When the alien Gitai invade, Keiji Kiriya is just one of many raw recruits shoved into a suit of battle armor and sent out to kill. Keiji dies on the battlefield, only to find himself reborn each morning to fight and die again and again. On the 158th iteration though, he sees something different, something out of place: the female soldier known as the Bitch of War. Is the Bitch the key to Keiji’s escape, or to his final death?

In general I am a fan of both Manga and Anime and the Japanese Culture in its entirety. So of course when I heard that the new Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt movie, 'Edge of Tomorrow' is based on this book. So I just couldn't help myself. I have yet to see the movie so i'm happy to get to know the source material first.

Masterfully presented by Hiroshi Sakurazaka, the book itself is quite the oddity. Seeing as it is in a prose form where the manga and light novels are graphically popular. but the post-apocalyptic military sci-fi element of the genre fits quite well as a manga too and it seems that a manga adaptation has been produced too, i'll check it soon. So I am doubly glad I got to read the actual source.

Very brave of Sakurazaka-san to put his story in prose with his combination of futuristic battle suits, alien invasion and time travel. The Japanese are known for their concise use of words when it comes to story telling. Which can be accurately seen here as he presented a perfectly well balanced story in ____ pages, whereas the same story would have taken 500 pages or more to be told by a western author. And it doesn't by any means lag at all.

A great plot. A great character development. A great mix of a variety of genres, military, sci-fi, dystopia, politics, an element of mystery and very less romance. There are almost no dialogues at all but the prose and how the author presents is just all that he wants and so much more.

"Highly recommend, Hiroshi Sakurazaka's offering is a piece of sci-fi you would be loathe to miss out on"

Genre :      Sci-fi, Military, Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopia

Publisher: Haikasoru

Release Date: 21st July, 2009

My Copy: bought(ebook)

Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Buy:           Amazon (Paperback)
             (Graphic Novel) (Manga 01)    
                  
                  Book Depository (Paperback)
             (Graphic Novel)(Manga 01) 

Owl Post #17 [June & July, 2014]

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 Owl Post will have all the books that I received in June & July, 2014.

3. Also it will feature a list of recap link at the bottom of the page, which enlists all the review, interviews and tour posts 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

Netgalley

Hatsune Miku Graphics: Vocaloid Comic & Art Vol. 1

Glimpse - Kendra Leighton

Dollhouse #1 Dollhouse - Anya Allyn

Paper Gods #2 Rain - Amanda Sun

Manga Classics: Les Miserables

Manga Classics: Pride & Prejudice

World of Fire - James Lovegrove

Lockwood & Co. #2 The Whispering Skull - Jonathan Stroud

The Naturals #2 Killer Instinct - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Faerie Revolutions #1 The Last Changeling - Chelsea Pitcher

The Vault of Dreamers - Caragh M. O'Brien

Heart of Dread #1 Frozen - Melissa de la Cruz, Michael Johnston

The Chronicles of Light & Shadow #3 Sky Pirates - Liesel Schwarz

Edelweiss

The Copernicus Archives #1 Wade and the Scorpion's Claw - Tony Abbott

The Copernicus Legacy #2 The Serpent's Curse - Tony Abbott

Illusions of Fate - Kiersten White

Bhinian Empire #2 Empire of Shadows - Miriam Forster

The Lone City #1 The Jewel - Amy Ewing

Stoker & Holmes #2 The Spiritglass Charade - Colleen Gleason

Bought

Cormoran Strike #2 The Silkworm - Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)

Shatter Me #2.5 Fracture Me - Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me #3 Ignite Me - Tahereh Mafi

Bhinian Empire #1 City of a Thousand Dolls - Miriam Forster

Shadowlands #3 Endless - Kate Brian

Starcrossed #3 Goddess - Josephine Angelini

The Staff of Serapis - Rick Riordan

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A collective 2 months haul this is....

Anyways, what did you all get do comment and share your links i'll be sure to check your out too........

Dollhouse #1 Dollhouse

Presenting Dollhouse #1 Dollhouse by Anya Allyn.

Here is the summary of the book:

Dress-up turns deadly. . .

When Cassie’s best friend, Aisha, disappears during a school hike, Cassie sets off with Aisha’s boyfriend Ethan and their best friend Lacey, determined to find her. But the mist-enshrouded mountains hold many secrets, and what the three teens discover is far more disturbing than any of them imagined: beneath a rundown mansion in the woods lies an underground cavern full of life-size toys and kidnapped girls forced to dress as dolls.

Even as Cassie desperately tries to escape the Dollhouse, she finds herself torn between her forbidden feelings for Ethan, and her intense, instinctive attraction to The Provider, a man Cassie swears she has known before…

Because Cassie’s capture wasn’t accidental, and the Dollhouse is more than just a prison where her deepest fears come true—it’s a portal for the powers of darkness. And Cassie may be the only one who can stop it.

Brilliantly articulate and spookily original, Anya Allyn's Dollhouse is a great addition to the gothic thriller list. Its the attack of the clowns and the dolls and no one is safe. With a tagline of 'Dress-up turns deadly' and a gothic reworking of the cover and you have this beauty.

Starts out simple to turn uniquely thrilling quite soon. Cassie, Ethan and Lacey are searching for their missing friend Aisha who had gone missing on a trip in the mountains. The strange Fiveash Mansion is connected but as they search for their friend, they stumble upon the deadly secrets of that strange mansion. Its a race against time and Cassie and Ethan must figure out this twisted mansion, not only to gather the truth but also to find the way out in time to save themselves.

Highly and graphically imaginative, twisted and illustrious. This is the best scary gothic horror I have read so far. A little confusing sometimes but the best thing about it is that the suspense remains constant. tethering us to our seats as we can't help but keep reading till the end, building to a crescendo and ending at a cliffhanger. I really really have no patience withe cliffhangers but I'm definitely eager to read what happens next in Paper Dolls. And while the original cover to Dollhouse in quite beautiful, I must report that this one is simply exquisite and even more attractive.

"A highly imaginative and original gothic horror that will keep you occupied"

Genre :      Young Adult, Gothic, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

Publisher: The Studio, a Paper Lantern Lit imprint

Release Date: 20th May, 2014

My Copy: publisher and netgalley

Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Buy:           Amazon 

Glimpse

Presenting Glimpse by Kendra Leighton.

Here is the summary of the book:

Liz just wants to be normal. Her life is anything but.

Seven years ago Liz lost her mother and ten years' worth of memories. When she inherits the infamous Highwayman Inn, she hopes the move will be a fresh start. Then she meets Zachary. Zachary who haunts her by night and in dreams; who makes her question everything she is and wants to be; who seems scarcely real - yet makes her feel so alive.

Inspired by Alfred Noyes' classic poem 'The Highwayman', Glimpse is a ghost story, a love story, and a story of a girl fighting for her future by confronting her terrible past.

Based on the famous poem The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes, Kendra Leighton brings forth a commendable and altogether predictable but a soul searing, Gothic romance in Glimpse. I am by no means a poet neither do I have much interest in the subject but the Noyes' Highwayman is definitely one of my favorites and I liked how Leighton didn't go word for word on it but created a beautiful tale out of it.

After the terrible accident where she looses her mother and also her memory, Liz has her work cut out for her. As she inherits the old Highwayman Inn and tries to confront the past and tries to piece together her life she had and make sense of the glimpses she sees.

Liz is a very relatable character. Jaded by her situation. Bullied by school mates and by the glimpses she sees. Reserved and cautious after she moves with her father to the Inn and starts to see the truth for what it really was. Of course, the spirits deserve a mention too. Ghostly, gory, haunting, sometimes vengeful and some very good. Pointedly Ann, the jealous vengeful one and Zachary, who just wants to find his true love.

Kendra Leighton's Glimpse gives us a glimpse into an old school paranormal romance. Its heartfelt, elegant, simply brilliant and very very predictable but a story that stands on its own two feet at the end of the day.
Thats what matters and I loved every second of it.

"An authentic YA portrayal of Alfred Noyes' 'The Highwayman'"

Genre :      Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group UK

Release Date: 19th June, 2014

My Copy: publisher and netgalley

Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Buy:           Amazon  |  Book Depository 

Tourz de Codex: EXPOSED by Samantha Jacobey Book Blast (+GIVEAWAY)

Book 4 in A New Life Series

When seduction and danger are all you've ever known can you ever truly leave it behind?

When Tori walked away from a life of crime, she set forth on a path of redemption and discovery. She found a man to call her own, and a life she would give anything to keep. But love and life aren't always beautiful or kind...sometimes they are painful and traitorous.

For years, Tori's drug of choice was alcohol, but through hard work and self-determination she has learned to exist without it. Suddenly faced with her true identity, and the danger of having friends and family destroyed by the world she left behind, she finds herself once again lost in a dark world filled with sex. drugs and murder.

She thought that a life of normalcy is what she wanted most, but when she gets a small taste of the dangerous life she once lived, she is forced to face the facts...not all of the demons are found on the outside.

WARNING: GRAPHIC SCENES

This book is intended for readers 18+ and contains scenes that may cause distress to some readers: Abuse, Kidnapping, Rape and Substance Abuse are described in detail.

Available from:

Author bio:-

Anyone who knows me could tell you, I am a friendly kind of person, never met a stranger and take up conversations anywhere at any time. I work hard, and my mind never seems to shut down, as I wake up often in the middle of the night with ideas pouring out and demanding to be dealt with. Of course that means much of my books were written in the middle of the night.


I grew up and still live in the great state of Texas where everything is bigger, where we have warm weather and a central location. I love my state, my town, and my family, which includes my four sons, my significant other, and many friends as well.

I have thoroughly enjoyed writing the books that are currently available and hope you will enjoy reading them just as much. And of course, there will be many more stories to come.

Author links:
Twitter
Official Website

Trailers: Captive | Bound | Entwined

Giveaway:-

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:

The School for Good and Evil #1 The School for Good and Evil

Presenting The School for Good & Evil #1 The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani.

Here is the summary of the book:

“The first kidnappings happened two hundred years before. Some years it was two boys taken, some years two girls, sometimes one of each. But if at first the choices seemed random, soon the pattern became clear. One was always beautiful and good, the child every parent wanted as their own. The other was homely and odd, an outcast from birth. An opposing pair, plucked from youth and spirited away.”

This year, best friends Sophie and Agatha are about to discover where all the lost children go: the fabled School for Good & Evil, where ordinary boys and girls are trained to be fairy tale heroes and villains. As the most beautiful girl in Gavaldon, Sophie has dreamed of being kidnapped into an enchanted world her whole life. With her pink dresses, glass slippers, and devotion to good deeds, she knows she’ll earn top marks at the School for Good and graduate a storybook princess. Meanwhile Agatha, with her shapeless black frocks, wicked pet cat, and dislike of nearly everyone, seems a natural fit for the School for Evil.

But when the two girls are swept into the Endless Woods, they find their fortunes reversed—Sophie’s dumped in the School for Evil to take Uglification, Death Curses, and Henchmen Training, while Agatha finds herself in the School For Good, thrust amongst handsome princes and fair maidens for classes in Princess Etiquette and Animal Communication.. But what if the mistake is actually the first clue to discovering who Sophie and Agatha really are…?

The School for Good & Evil is an epic journey into a dazzling new world, where the only way out of a fairy tale is to live through one.

Fairytales are our past, present and future. We grew up on the stories of Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, Snow Queen and so much such extravaganzas. They teach us so much, the meaning of family, friendship, honesty and valor and to do what is right. This is very much true with the authors today coming up with some great re-inventions of the originals, about with the same moral but for a new and modern readership. And Soman Chainani's The School for Good and Evil succeeds in leaving said mark on its reader.

"Don't judge a book by its cover" a valuable lesson this book teaches us in plenty. Outward appearances doesn't always portray whats inside. Likewise bathed in makeup and clothes in pink also doesn't guarantee a person is good and the other sunken looking and in black doesn't always mean evil. The School for Good and Evil  as I explained it much more complex than how simple it appears it to be. Simple to understand with its exotically vivid scenery and characters, it captures your attention and it simply doesn't let go.

Agatha and Sophie's arduous journey is simply a joy to read and experience. The Painful self-discoveries. The mission to go back home. Their lives separated in the separate schools and how they survive it. A selfish Sophie and a selfless Agatha looking for a place to belong. Added a colorfully varied supporting cast and you have a never before experienced saga that you can't comprehend at least not until you yourself have a taste of Chainani's magic pen.

And this is just the first book of the series and already Universal is turning it into a movie (very excited for it). With an abundance of action. drama, romance, fantasy and magic, The School for Good and Evil from Soman Chainani is the perfect series debut. 'A World Without Princes' is next on the bucket list and I am very excited to see what Chainani deals us next.

"A riveting fairytale saga that will have you clambering for more"

Genre :      Young Adult, Fantasy, Fairytale, Romance, Paranormal, Romance

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books

Release Date: 6th June, 2013

My Copy: bought (paperback)

Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

The Camelot Code

Presenting The Camelot Code by Mari Mancusi.

Here is the summary of the book:

All fourteen-year-old gamer girl Sophie Sawyer wants to do is defeat Morgan Le Fay in her favorite Arthurian videogame. She has no idea the secret code sent via text message is actually a magical spell that will send her back in time to meet up with a real life King Arthur instead.

Of course Arthur's not king yet--he hasn't pulled the sword from the stone--and he has no idea of his illustrious destiny. And when a twist of fate sends him forward in time--to modern day high school--history is suddenly in jeopardy. Even more so when Arthur Googles himself and realizes what lies in store for him if he returns to his own time--and decides he'd rather try out for the football team instead.

Now Sophie and her best friend Stuart find themselves in a race against time--forced to use their 21st century wits to keep history on track, battle a real-life version of their favorite videogame villain, and get the once and future king back where he belongs. Or the world, as they know it, may no longer exist.

My first Mancusi book and it was hilariously and epically amazing. Legends and that too of Camelot always makes for an interesting read or worth watching if it is as a television show (like Merlin). Of course with time travel in the mix I just couldn't resist.

Sporting a story for a young audience but can be enjoyed by everyone, The Camelot Code provides for an entertaining easy read. Ingrained in with the values of friendship, doing whats right and the woes of first love (evidently the book is a part of Mari Mancusi's standalone series 'First Kiss Club'), its very interesting to see two best friend gamers Sophie and Stu as they discover that the Legendary Camelot and all of its mythological figures are very much real. And for Merlin, Arthur, Guinevere and Morgan la Fae to experience the 21st Century. Ray-bans, pizzas, the computer (magic box) and Google to name a few.

Full of witty trivia and your usual teen drama with a major hike of the paranormal and the mythical, 'The Camelot Code' was a memorable experience and I'm totally checking out her other books now.

"Time-travel, Camelot and the 21st Century. All the ingredients needed to create a fantabulously exciting tale"

Genre :      Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology, Romance, Paranormal, Romance

Publisher: NLA Digital LLC

Release Date: 16th April, 2014

My Copy: publisher and netgalley

Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Buy:           Amazon 

In the After #2 In the End

Presenting In the After #2 In the End by Demitria Lunetta.

Here is the summary of the book:

The thrilling conclusion to In the After, the survival story of Amy and Baby, set in a near future where Earth has been overrun by vicious, predatory creatures.

It’s been three months since Amy escaped New Hope, and she’s been surviving on her own, like she did in the After. Until one day, her former fellow Guardian’s voice rings out in her earpiece. And in a desperate tone, Kay utters the four words Amy had hoped she would never hear: Dr. Reynolds has Baby.

Now it’s a race against time, for Baby is in imminent danger, her life threatened by the malevolent doctor who had helped start the end of the world. In order to save Baby, Amy must make her way to Fort Black, a prison-turned-survivor-colony, where she will need to find Ken, Kay’s brother. He alone holds the key to Baby’s survival.

One small slip-up on this quest could spark a downward spiral that would not only cost Baby and Amy their lives, but threaten the very survival of the people in the After.

A hope laden end to the duology that is In The After. And while Demitria Lunetta vowed us with is the elegant way in which she put the first book 'In the After' before us, the concluding story 'In the End' fell short of that creativity a bit. And it dragged too just a little bit.

So Amy has run away from New Hope and is alone again in the wilderness but things change when she gets the news that Baby has been taken by Dr. Reynolds and now she must head to Fort Black to find Kay's twin brother Ken, who might be her only hope of saving baby from the clutches of the doctor.

I think I loved Amy more in this. She is one of those that faces challenges head long. Which is something good and something bad because she does tend to get herself in some very dangerous situations very often. And with sometimes narrow-minded and a one track mind, Amy is your typical danger magnet. But her meeting with Jack was a much needed reprieve. He literally balanced her out.

He knows next to nothing about her but still helps her out. Come on that is definitely good isn't it. You just can't help not love him, I mean I liked him more than Rice, so that's something and his rapport with Amy was a relief among the dark, dingy and dangerous that was Fort Black and its inmates.

And while I liked how Lunetta brought all of them together and put forth an ending laden with hope for the future of humanity I felt that it was a bit rushed and left a few things unresolved but overall i'm very happy with how things turned out. Dystopia or post-apocalyptic fiction for that matter are abound with death and devastation and while instant happy endings are not warranted but rightfully gradually is what we prefer. Excited to see what Lunetta works up next.

"A hopeful conclusion to a gritty post-apocalyptic saga"

Genre :      Young Adult, Sci-fi, Romance, Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: 24th June, 2014

My Copy: publisher and edelweiss

Rate:              3/5 (Liked It)

Books in the series (review links):
              #1 In The After

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

After Eden #2 Chasing Stars

Presenting After Eden #2 Chasing Stars by Helen Douglas.

Here is the summary of the book:

The boy Eden loves just saved her life. Now she must save his. To do so she must make a huge sacrifice. Eden can never see her friends or family again, as she travels a hundred years into the future. But the dangerous risk Ryan took to rescue Eden has been uncovered, and now Ryan faces an exile ...which will leave Eden separated from him - the one person she can't live without - and stuck in the future. She must fight to save both of them.

The mesmerising sequel to the author's wonderful debut, After Eden.

After Eden, the first book of the duology was in itself a complete story and according to my opinions 'Chasing Stars' wasn't needed at all. But then I saw it on netgalley (this is the e-arc review) and I thought, why not? Lets see where Douglas goes with this because I absolutely loved After Eden. But this finale disappointed me a bit.

Eden and Ryan are separated for majority of the story when another cleaner comes and blackmails them both into going back to the future. But there Ryan is arrested and Eden is sent off free into this future. I liked that Douglas explored this sci-fi and very unique future. The only thing that I liked about this book was the future and its many facets..... And then Eden meets Ryan's friends but only Pegasus is fleshed out and evolves throughout while the others serve only as mentions.

For someone as resourceful as Eden, she comes across slightly as an idiot this time. Boyfriend is facing a major trial, that would very much decide his life and she is getting drunk and partying with his friends almost every time. And only springs into action when the bad happens to whisk Ryan out of jail and run away. And there they go running away and we really don't get to see what happens to the others in their attempted escape. So no I was disappointed because it lacked what After Eden had and of course the presence of so many loose ends.

"A slightly disappointing escape to the future"

Genre :      Young Adult, Sci-fi, Romance, Dystopia

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Release Date: 5th June, 2014

My Copy: publisher and netgalley

Rate:              3/5 (Liked It)

Books in the series (review links):
              #1 After Eden

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

Hatsune Miku Graphics: Vocaloid Comic & Art Volume 1

Presenting Hatsune Miku Graphics: Vocaloid Comic & Art Volume 1.

Here is the summary of the book:

Superstar Japanese idol Hatsune Miku and her fellow Vocaloids return in an all-new artwork and story collection! Hatsune Miku Graphics: Vocaloid Comic & Art Volume 1 collects oodles of wonderful tribute artwork devoted to these virtual idols, including exclusive new pieces from some of the hottest names in manga. All this, plus three exciting manga short stories featuring Miku and friends!

Netgalley categorized it as a graphic novel but aptly it is more of a compendium of Vocaloid artwork, comics, backgrounds and song information on Hatsune Miku. A popular virtual humanoid pop star voiced by musical singing synthesizer.

A virtual treasure trove for fans of Hatsune Miku, The volume features a variety of artwork by artists & fans alike. Character synopsis. Lyrics pages. Comics, some long some short. And different styled outfits for the characters. Fans will definitely enjoy this compendium.

"For fans of Hatsune Miku and the vocaloids"

Genre :      Tie-in, Graphic Novel

Publisher: Udon Entertainment

Release Date: 1st April, 2014

My Copy: publisher and netgalley 

Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository

The Fault in Our Stars

Presenting The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

Here is the summary of the book:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

My first John Green book and I am mighty pleased with how the experience turned out for me. Definitely did not expect a YA cancer tragedy story to be funny or even possess an ounce of humor. But this oddball of a perfection had it in leaps and bounds. Green's spellbinding rich narrative is enough to make us dive into its turbulent sea of words. An experience never to be forgotten.

Literally speechless at Green's fantastic creations. You don't expect teenagers to sport an intellectual outlook towards life nor do you expect them to be insight-fully verbose like Hazel & Augustus (or Gus). Such traits tend to make a person squeamish but Green made these two fun to get to know and want to befriend.

Awe-inspiring. Hazel's was a great character. She is headstrong, witty, outspoken, charming and sarcastic. Through the authors pen, Hazel comes fluidly alive. The empathy, the logical workings of her mind and how she chooses to deal with her predicament is a heart felt joy to experience. With Hazel's pessimistic attitude to life, we see the opposite along in the optimistically charismatic Gus. He was so otherworldly. Sweet and Funny, and despite his disability, he just wins over us by simply being himself.

Cancer changes people. It changes the way they function and behave but I loved the way John Green dealt with that issue with his two amazing protagonists. Of course the way that their words flow is enough to cement my statement, with its rich diction and the ingenious way of presentation. A heartbreaking conclusion involving lots and lots of tears, The Fault in Our Stars teaches us the value of life, living through by the moment because 'some infinities are bigger than other infinities'.... Heart breakingly beautiful, John Green you have made a fan out of me.

"A heart stopping tale of infinities"

Genre :      Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Publisher: Dutton

Release Date: 10th January, 2012

My Copy: Bought (ebook)

Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository

The Longest Ride

Presenting The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks.

Here is the summary of the book:

In the tradition of his beloved first novel, The Notebook, bestselling author Nicholas Sparks returns with an epic story of two couples whose parallel love stories intersect in profound and surprising ways.

Ninety-one year old Ira Levinson is in trouble. Struggling to stay conscious after a car crash, an image of his long-dead wife Ruth appears. Urging him to hang on, she lovingly recounts the joys and sorrows of their life together.

Recovering from a break-up, college student Sophia Danko meets the young, rugged Luke and is thrown into a world far removed from her privileged school life. Sophia sees a new and tantalising future for herself, but Luke has a secret which threatens to break it all apart.

My first Nicholas Sparks book. And frankly I am quite happy with how it turned out for me. The only other ones I am ware of are the Notebook and Dear John movies, so 'The Longest Ride' is my first Nicholas Sparks read and I liked the sublimity of the experience.

Two love stories interwoven in the most deepest way imaginable. One told through flashbacks of an older couple, Ira & Ruth. The other, a much younger couple, happening in the present, Sophia & Luke. Ira reminiscing about the good old days with the love of his life, his (late) wife, Ruth. While Sophie & Luke, going through the throws of their young and blissful love. Of course both couple have their ups and downs and both go through their differences and have their happy ever after or as the case maybe.....

A lot of readers gave this one not so much of a favorable review but for judging it on par as a first book I read from Sparks, so i'll give this a much more favorable review. While I found a few places slow but overall I love this and will check out others from Sparks as soon as I can.

"A beautiful journey through the longest ride, i.e., Life"

Genre :      Romance, Contemporary

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Release Date: 24th September, 2013

My Copy: Hachette India

Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository

Born of Illusion #2 Born of Deception

Presenting Born of Illusion #2 Born of Deception by Teri Brown.

Here is the summary of the book:

Budding illusionist Anna Van Housen is on top of the world: after scoring a spot on a prestigious European vaudeville tour, she has moved to London to chase her dream and to join an underground society for people like her with psychic abilities. Along with her handsome beau, Cole Archer, Anna is prepared to take the city by storm.

But when Anna arrives in London, she finds the group in turmoil. Sensitives are disappearing and, without a suspect, the group’s members are turning on one another. Could the kidnapper be someone within the society itself—or has the nefarious Dr. Boyle followed them to London?

As Cole and Anna begin to unravel the case and secrets about the society are revealed, they find themselves at odds, their plans for romance in London having vanished. Her life in danger and her relationship fizzling, can Anna find a way to track down the killer before he makes her his next victim—or will she have to pay the ultimate price for her powers?

Set in Jazz-Age London, this alluring sequel to Born of Illusion comes alive with sparkling romance, deadly intrigue, and daring magic.

Circa 1920. Highly anticipated sequel to Born of Illusion. Born of Deception follows Anna Van Housen to London with its mysteries, the steampunk, a chance for her to perform her own magic show and a chance to meet other sensitives life herself. Of course, Cole, the love of her life is there too, so its double perk.

But life it seems is not sunshine and roses for Anna, as she alights on English soil in the middle of a major predicament. Something treacherous and evil is afoot. Other sensitives are going missing, A murder and blood-letting and Anna has to make some pretty serious decisions about her life and regarding her safety.

Teri Brown does a good job, shaping this sequel. Suffers a little bit on melodrama but the intrigue and trill of the first book can still be found here. Anna still remains the strong, stubborn and independent girl we saw in the first. A danger magnet if you will, one of the redeeming qualities about her? She is not perfect, makes a lot of foolish mistakes but at the end of the day she is a human and everything is acceptable if you learn from your actions.

Cole, adorable and frustrating. He is like the epitome of a gentleman beau of said era. He doesn't know how to express his feelings well but come the time for being affectionate towards Anna, he is your guy. Dependable and helpful, he is the overprotective one who tries to help everyone in need and protects his loved ones with all his power. And seeing his relationship with Anna gradually grow was he highlight to this story.

I had a few issues with the story, First there was actually no need for an apparent love triangle this time and the way they approached the culprit behind the disappearances and murders was too sudden and very predictable. Although I appreciated the action that followed but I had hoped that they could have spent more time going through the clues instead of the angst that was there between Cole and Anna throughout, But I liked how it ended and i'll say this again like I said in my review of the first book, there is actually no need for a sequel since both the books are complete in their own bounds but I will definitely check it out if another book follows next.

"Thrilling and enticingly dramatic"

Genre :      Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Romance

Publisher: Balzer+Bray

Release Date: 10th June, 2014

My Copy: publisher and edelweiss

Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Books in the series (review links):
              #1 Born if Illusion

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository