Book Sampler Review | Atlantia by Ally Condie

Atlantia by Ally Condie
Release Date: October 28th, 2014
Publisher: Dutton Children's
Genre: Young Adult > Dystopia
Obtained: NetGalley (Thank you Netgalley & Dutton!)
Find: Amazon | GoodReads | B&N
Summary:
Can you hear Atlantia breathing?
For as long as she can remember, Rio has dreamt of the sand and sky Above—of life beyond her underwater city of Atlantia. But in a single moment, all her plans for the future are thwarted when her twin sister, Bay, makes an unexpected decision, stranding Rio Below. Alone, ripped away from the last person who knew Rio’s true self—and the powerful siren voice she has long hidden—she has nothing left to lose.

Guided by a dangerous and unlikely mentor, Rio formulates a plan that leads to increasingly treacherous questions about her mother’s death, her own destiny, and the complex system constructed to govern the divide between land and sea. Her life and her city depend on Rio to listen to the voices of the past and to speak long-hidden truths.

Atlantia is a strange take on a dystopian world. Most people now live underwater where it's safe and the air is clean while some people sacrifice their lives to make sure the people down below have good lives by going Above. Once you reach a certain age, you're allowed to decide if you want to stay in Atlantia or serve Above where the air is pretty much toxic and the work is hard. 

Rio has always dreamed of going Above, where it would be safer for her but her twin sister Bay makes her promise to stay down in Atlantia with her, without their mother Bay didn't want to be left alone. So Rio is forced to abandon her dream of ever seeing the world Above. However when it comes to decide, Bay actually make the choice to go Above, leaving Rio to stay in Atlantia.

Since this was only a sample of the book, I'm really curious to know what Bay's intentions were and why did she do it? She knew Rio wanted to go Above, why didn't she let her? 

As the week goes on Rio searches for a letter or anything Bay may have left behind to explain her reasoning's but finds nothing. Nothing until she runs into her Aunt Maire who just so happens to be a siren and who she was warned to stay away from finds her in the market and offers cryptic advice. But who else better to help her uncover what is really going on than someone who shares her secret trait?

I'm really excited to see where this is going and I'll be anxiously awaiting for its release in October. It seems more driven than Matched, which I wasn't all that into. I've thought about re-reading it and maybe finishing the series but... maybe this will distract me from that!

*Thank you NetGalley & Dutton for the chance to read and review this title in advanced!

Book Sampler Review | Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Anna and the French Kiss #3
Release Date: August 14th, 2014
Publisher: Dutton
Genre: Young Adult > Contemporary
Obtained: NetGalley (Thank you NetGalley & Dutton!)
Find: Amazon | GoodReads | B&N
Summary:

From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.

Isla and the Happily Ever After is probably a title that 80% of the people in the book blogging community is looking forward to. We've fallen in love with Étienne St. Clair, then we fell in love with Cricket Bell and now we have this Josh fella to look forward to. And guys, he's nothing like the last two we fell in love with but I mean, he's pretty darn adorbs from the bit I was introduced to.

Luckily and sadly I was only able to get the sampler for this title. Luckily because hello who wouldn't want a sneak peek? And sadly because it was only the first five chapters. Now, I must wait. And if you know anything about Perkins you know that five chapters is like literally not even scratching the surface.

I absolutely loved the first line of this book.

Like, Isla, I love you already. You're totally gutsy for going out to eat knowing you're drugged up on Vicodin. You go girl. You get that boys attention! You say all the things you've been wanting to say! Seriously, this scene for Isla might had been one of those holy crap what have I done moments but as an outsider, I'm kinda jealous. When I got my wisdom's taken out I couldn't even get out of bed. My parents would NOT had let me leave the house though if I had, I probably would had flagged down a boy I thought was attractive and had just went for it. Whatever at this point! Amiright?! Also, I love that Josh is an artist.

Isla is back in France at the same school where we met Anna and Étienne St. Clair. Oh. I'm excited for this! More adventures in Paris? YES PLEASE! Oh, also, Josh is there too. Though I'm sure you probably already figured that one out. Along with Isla is her best friend Kurt who I kinda got a feel for. He seems very uptight, but I'm looking forward to getting to know him better once the book is released. 

So who else is excited for this one? Are you planning on re-reading Anna and the French Kiss prior? 

I think I will because really, I think I need to pay St. Clair a visit.

Waiting on Wednesday | Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern

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

Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern

Release Date: June 3rd, 2014 from HarperTeen

S u m m a r y :

I want someone who will talk to me honestly about things. You're the only person who ever has. Maybe you don't know this, but when you're disabled almost no one tells you the truth. They feel too awkward because the truth seems too sad, I guess. You were very brave to walk up to the crippled girl and say, essentially, wipe that sunny expression off your face and look at reality. That's what I want you to do next year. Tell me the truth. That's all.

Amy and Matthew didn't know each other, really. They weren't friends. Matthew remembered her, sure, but he remembered a lot of people from elementary school that he wasn't friends with now.

Matthew never planned to tell Amy what he thought of her cheerful facade, but after he does, Amy realizes she needs someone like him in her life.

As they begin to spend more time with each other, Amy learns that Matthew has his own secrets and she decides to try to help him in the same way he's helped her. And when what started out as a friendship turns into something neither of them expected, they realize that they tell each other everything—except the one thing that matters most.

 [ via Goodreads ]

Reason for waiting:

That's a pretty vague summary, right? But it sounds so interesting! And I love the cover. Really excited to see what this one's about!

What are you waiting for this week?

Review | Amber House by Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed & Larkin Reed

Amber House by Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed & Larkin Reed
Amber House #1
Release Date: October 1st, 2012
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Genre: Young Adult > Paranormal > Ghosts
Find: Amazon || GoodReads || BN
Summary:

"I was sixteen the first time my grandmother died . . ."

Sarah Parsons has never seen Amber House, the grand Maryland estate that's been in her family for three centuries. She's never walked its hedge maze nor found its secret chambers; she's never glimpsed the shades that haunt it, nor hunted for lost diamonds in its walls.

But all of that is about to change. After her grandmother passes away, Sarah and her friend Jackson decide to search for the diamonds--and the house comes alive. She discovers that she can see visions of the house's past, like the eighteenth-century sea captain who hid the jewels, or the glamorous great-grandmother driven mad by grief. She grows closer to both Jackson and a young man named Richard Hathaway, whose family histories are each deeply entwined with her own. But when the visions start to threaten the person she holds most dear, Sarah must do everything she can to get to the bottom of the house's secrets, and stop the course of history before it is cemented forever.

~*~ 

 

Can we just take a moment to admire this deliciously creepy cover? I'm sure lawn mazes were created to creep people out. 

I read Amber House for the first time last year in October as part of my Halloween Challenge and it wasn't as creepy as I thought it would be --- okay there was one or two super creepy parts but everything else was okay! I didn't have nightmares or anything! Always a good sign, right? But overall, this read fascinated me. 

There's something going on with The Amber House and Sarah's friend Jackson claims there's hidden jewels. But as they go searching for them, the house starts telling its story and things start to unravel. Secrets kept are now secrets told and piecing everything together was the fun part!

The characters were definitely ones to remember. I loved Sarah's relationship with her brother and her dad. And the friendship between her and Jackson. I didn't like Sarah's mom and how fake she was or how she never told Sarah anything about the house.

I also didn't like how unclear the ending was, I suppose it's because it's part of a series. It won't be long before the rest of the tales are uncovered!

Overall I enjoyed this read much more than I thought I would and I'm anxious to pick up the next book in the series!

Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton --- FREE this week!

In honor of the last book in Kersten Hamilton's Goblin Wars series, the first book Tyger Tyger is on a special promo price ---- FREE! 

Yes, that's right!

You can pick up the first book in the Goblin Wars series completely free from any ebook provider of your choice (assuming those choices are either Kindle, Nook or iBooks)!

Three years ago when I began book blogging, Kersten Hamiton was one of the first authors to reach out to me to review her book and I will always always think fondly of her because of that. Tyger Tyger ended up being one of my favorite reads of 2010 and it still is one of my favorite reads today! 

Purchase this book

Kindle || Nook | iBooks

This promo will run until November 5th!

Review | Hysteria by Megan Miranda

Hysteria by Megan Miranda
Release Date: Feb 5th, 2013
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Genre: Young Adult > Contemporary > Psych Thriller
Obtained: For Review (Thank you NG & Walker Childrens!)
Find: Amazon || GoodReads || B&N
Summary:

Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past.But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others.

In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again.

~*~

Hysteria is a psychological thriller about a girl named Mallory who killed her boyfriend. She doesn't remember that majority of that night so through out the book, her memory starts to slowly come back as she pieces everything that happened that night together.

Because of this.... accident, her parents decide to send her to Monroe, a fancy prep school her father attended back in his day. Of course people at this school hears things and some really crazy stuff goes down. Including the fact that Mallory finds herself face to face with Reid. Reid she grew up with. Reid who brushed her off and now years later she still holds some strange grudge about. But Reid, who knows her, Reid who always makes time for her, Reid who cares about her. 

If I could word this read it would be awkward. Like, everything that was happening, I just found to be awkward. The events didn't really seem to flow together and some of the stuff happening didn't really make any sense. Like bumping into Dylan again and why Mallory's best friend showed up and just vanished. Like, what was the point in that? The drama that was really going on at Monroe. The ending was a little unsatisfying since you don't get a real answer to your questions.

I always feel like with psychological thrillers it always ends up really creepy and good or just awkward. Unfortunately Hysteria fell into the awkward category.

Waiting on Wednesday | Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

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

Dorothy Must Die (Dorothy Must Die #1) by Danielle Paige

Release Date: April 1st 2014 from HarperTeen

S u m m a r y :

I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.
But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.
What happened?
Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman's heart.
Steal the Scarecrow's brain.
Take the Lion's courage.
Then and only then—Dorothy must die!

 [ via Goodreads ]

Reason for waiting:

If you know me AT ALL you know I don't have to say anything about why I chose this title for Waiting on Wednesday. YA hasn't seen a Wizard of Oz retelling in... well, ever so this is pretty exciting! I'm totally excited for this to release!

What are you waiting for this week?

Review | Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton

Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton
Some Quiet Place #1
Release Date: July 8th, 2013
Publisher: Flux
Genre: Young Adult > Paranormal
Obtained: NetGalley for review
Find: Amazon || GoodReads || B&N
Summary:

I can’t weep. I can’t fear. I’ve grown talented at pretending.

Elizabeth Caldwell doesn’t feel emotions . . . she sees them. Longing, Shame, and Courage materialize around her classmates. Fury and Resentment appear in her dysfunctional home. They’ve all given up on Elizabeth because she doesn’t succumb to their touch. All, that is, save one—Fear. He’s intrigued by her, as desperate to understand the accident that changed Elizabeth’s life as she is herself.

Elizabeth and Fear both sense that the key to her past is hidden in the dream paintings she hides in the family barn. But a shadowy menace has begun to stalk her, and try as she might, Elizabeth can barely avoid the brutality of her life long enough to uncover the truth about herself. When it matters most, will she be able to rely on Fear to save her?

 ~*~

Can we just take a minute to admire this really amazingly creepy cover? I mean just look at it! If that doesn't make you curious, I don't know what will.

Some Quiet Place is about a girl named Elizabeth. Elizabeth is incapable of feeling emotions. She can't feel them but she can see them. Strange right? Her life at home has been rough since "the accident" and her parents act like they don't know who she is anymore which is strange considering the accident happened when she was four and now she's in her teens. Her mother is the quiet submissive type while her father is a drunken abusive bastard and her brother just doesn't want to be bothered by any of it so he tends to stay away from home.

Elizabeth isn't the coolest kid in school, in fact she's tormented everyday by someone who use to be her best friend and honestly, if someone who use to be my best friend treated me the way she treated Elizabeth she would be losing a handful of hair, just sayin. But because Elizabeth can't "feel" anything, none of that really matters to her. Until Joshua. He makes her feel things and she can't figure out why or how. All she knows is that she wants it to stop.

Did I mention she hangs around a particular emotion way too frequently named Fear? Fear is obsessed with tasting Elizabeth's terror because her whole life she managed to block him out. But now that Joshua is cracking her little by little... well that changes things. But not in the way you would think. Fear loves Elizabeth as he loved someone else once before.

I took forever reading this book mostly because the way the author described each emotion and element from their personality to their appearance was completely and utterly fascinating! I wanted to know everything! I wanted to know Elizabeth's past, I wanted to know why she was having strange dreams and visions, I wanted to know why Fear was so obsessed with her, I wanted to know what the heck was going on! And it was such a thrilling and emotional ride that I wanted to savor every single word.

Some Quiet Place is a uniquely written story about a girl who can't feel who has a very very big secret. It's captivating and gripping and it makes you feel things even though Elizabeth can't. I absolutely enjoyed this read!

~*~

"Oh fabulous," Fear mutters, stalking to the window. "Another human that can see me. That's just wonderful. You know, my ego can't take much more of this."

*Thank you to Flux & NetGalley for providing me with a copy for review in exchange for my honest view