What's new on my shelves...

Hello everyone :)
I hope you all had a great christmas! I got a lot of books and could fill the whole post with them, but let's talk about other news on my shelves by answering some questions...

What are you reading currently?
I started reading two books this week. The first one is a newer version of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin by Tolkien, edited together by his son. I love it! Middle earth has such a strong mythology and the old stories help understanding that a lot.
I watched The Hobbit movie, too this week (All I'm saying is: Fangirl Heaven!) and when they found the swords Gandalf said that they were made by the elves of the first century while I was sitting in the cinema screaming "In Gondolin!". Nothing is better than convincing a whole cinema of your nerdness.

The second one is The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark which I got through Net Galley. So a huge thank you goes to the Random House Publishing Group for accepting my request. I already went through half of the book and I really like it so far! It has the perfect theme for me centering on fairy tales and old gothic lit.

What is new on your shelf?
Well I got many new books for christmas but the one I look most forward too would be a Sneak Peek of The Archived by Victoria Schwab. The book sounds really amazing and I can't wait to start reading it!

What have you just finished on your shelf?
The last "book" I finished was actually a manga, I have a lot of catching up to do with the One Piece series. I did start a lot of books lately but never get to finish them... Well I should change that more than fast!

What is the most anticipated book you want to read next?
That's a tough one! There are so many upcoming books I would love to get!
I would die to get my hands on Mind Games by Kiersten White. The synopsis just sounds so interesting:

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future. 

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways… or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

How yould you answer those questions? What did you change on your shelves this week?
Leave a comment and tell me about your books, I would love to hear from you :D
Love and words
KJ

Summary and Cover taken from Goodreads

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

Yes, I said I wouldn't do another Waiting on Wednesday post because of various reasons. BUT I need to share this book with you so desperately... What better way than to share it on a Wednesday?

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post that highlights upcoming books bloggers are excited about to read. It is hosted at Breaking the Spine.

So here is the story: I was just browsing a post over at The Lucky 13s wich featured a list of 68 opening lines from books debuting in 2013.
And there it was:

List compiled by Cat Winters, author of In the Shadow of Blackbirds, a World War I-era YA ghost tale coming April 2, 2013, from Amulet Books/ABRAMS.

I thought that this book sounded very interesting. I love historical settings, especially from the early 19th century (Seriously, look at the dresses! ;D) and ghost stories are always something to enjoy. Therefore I went over to Goodreads and searched for the book. I read the summary. I. Can. Not. Wait. It sounds so awesome!
Here is the summary:

In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. During her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?

Featuring haunting archival early-twentieth-century photographs, this is a tense, romantic story set in a past that is eerily like our own time.

So let us sum up, why I want this book: First of all the setting sounds great and interesting. After all I loved All Quiet on the Western Front And the protagonist is named Mary Shelley... You mean like THE Mary Shelley who wrote Frankenstein? I want that name, too! :D
Than there seems to be a tragic love story, which I always like. And don't forget the haunting pictures!
This sounds like the perfect book for me! So why can't it be April already? Seriously, if the world goes down on Friday (which will definitely so not happen!) I'll be really mad, because I didn't get to read all those amazing books I'm still waiting on!

What do you think of this story? Does it sound as interesting to you as it sounds to me?
Share your Waiting on Wednesday picks in the comments :)
Love and words
KJ

Cover and Summary  as usually taken from Goodreads 

12 books of 2012

Aloha friends and foes
What are you up to this week?

Well, I recently read a blog post by J.R. Johansson author of the upcoming novel Insomnia (check it out!) about her 12 favourite books.
And I thought I'd do the same. So here is a list of the 12 books I read in 2012 and loved. They are in no particular order, and the links lead you to the reviews:

1. Matched by Ally Condie
Isn't it funny that I cannot find the words to express how much I enjoyed a book where words were so important for the story? My favourite scene was definitely the one where Cassia read the poem for the first time. It showed how much power and energy words can have, one of the many reasons I love poems. The scene was beautifully writtten and like a poem itself, really poetic. 

2. The Eagle Of The Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff
Rosemary Sutcliff has a really great writing style. She delivers a beautiful image of ancienct Britain and the people living in it, so vivid that you fear and wish the scene comes to life between the pages.
I cannot even pick a scene I liked the most, since there were so many with big symbolism or pure epicness (yes, I have to call it "epicness") in it.

3. A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
Whenever I think this world can not get bigger, better or more epic I read the next installment and it comes bigger, better, and more epic. I love the series and I loved this book simply for the great characters and vivid and interesting world they're fighting for.

4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I had a bet with a friend going on that I would be able to finish this book within two days. I did. And I could finish this review within two seconds: AWESOME!
But even the Antagonists in this book are awesome. I can emphathize with everyone and I shared the thrill with all of them. 

5. The Heroine's Bookshelf by Erin Blakemore
The chapters of this book work like mirrors, because they capture so many nuances and different states of life. This book feels like a journey to myself and to the person I want to become one day, a true heroine, no matter if I ever "safe the world". It's enough, if I save my own day. Erin Blakemore shows that amazingly. 

6. The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
How can you write about something when the only thing that comes to your mind is "I freakin' love this!"Charlie is in my opinion one of the nicest characters I ever read about. He is introverted and he does not quite participate in life. But because of that he sees things differently and asks questions about life most people would never think of. This gives a phylosophical touch to the entire novel. 

7. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
I loved the characters and I feared for them like I don't do often. It was an amazing journey back to a world I loved visiting the first time. If you thought the capitol can't get any meaner, read this books!

8. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
If you read between the lines this book can make you sad as well as unbelievable happy. It is a great book for children and even more for adults. Because it shows you what really matters in life and what is terrible wrong with us today. 

9. The First Truth by Dawn Cook
When i started this book I wanted to set sales and leave home, for a journey into distant countries full with magic, fantasy, and a lot of words.Dawn Cook, who you might know as Kim Harrison is able to write a book in this genre without making the reader think "Oh, we already had that", half a dozen times. This plot seems to be new and thrilling. 

10. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
Cassandra Clare wrote a fulminate third book to a wonderful series. If I remember right The Mortal Instruments was planned as a trilogy and this book would have been a perfect ending. She creates a wonderful world that lives through its details. The world of the shadowhunters is rich with myths, beliefs and traditions. But the little details got me even more.

11. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
How far is science allowed to go? Should humanity arise over the rules of nature and become its’ own god? Those questions were important back when Stevenson wrote his novel and today, were new technically devices and a growing medicine are part of our everyday life, have become even more important.

12. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
The story of Katniss has a hidden meaning and tells the reader something. The book teaches something about war, how to protect, how to loose, and something about human cruelty. 
There are not many contemporary books that have a message. Normally you find those messages just in old classics by Schiller or Goethe who tried to teach the people something. But the Hunger Games trilogy is different, there is a message hidden in every book. And you do not even need to read between the lines, it is right there in the open. 

I know I'm not posting a lot lately, but I do not have a lot of time to read. If you still want to stay updated with bookish news and my reading goals follow me on twitter, I'm a little more present there these days (there's supposed to be a button somewhere under the contact section, so just click that :D)

What were you're 12 favourite books of 2012?
Love and words
KJ

Cassandra Giovanni's books

So many covers...

Hello :)

Many many authors revealed covers for new books during the last week, and instead of posting each and every one of them I thought I show you which three I like the most and for which books I'm most excited for.
Over on epicreads they did a summary of all covers that were revealed by HarperCollins authors last week, which were eleven covers. To see all of them visit the site.

It was really hard to pick just three covers, they were all beautiful and amazing! So go and check them out and even more important check out all those awesome authors!

Wendy Higgins revealed the cover for Sweet Peril which will be the sequel to her story Sweet Evil. Here is the summary taken from Goodreads: (If you did not read the first one, beware of spoilers!)

Anna Whitt, daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a claim. She’d been naive about a lot of things. 

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

MTV developing Unraveling

So here is the news:

The Hollywood Reporter just announced that MTV wants to turn Elizabeth Norris' novel Unraveling into a series! With Awkward and Teen Wolf MTV has two very well working scripted series and it seems that they want to add another to the list.
For more infos on the deal, for example who will be producing it visit this site.
A huge "Congratulations!" to Elizabeth Norris for this awesome step, it is great that her debut novel has such a great chance.

And to all fans of the series: This does not mean that the series will definitely happen. It is just a project right now, there will be a pilot and than we'll see...
And for those of you who do not know the book:

"Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed--as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows--with every fiber of her being--that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something--but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened--the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life--points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets--and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl's fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming."

Are you excited for this series?
Love and Words

Summary and Cover taken from Goodreads

Matched by Ally Condie

Matched by Ally Condie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: Book one in the Matched series
Summary (taken from Goodreads): Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

This book is a great story and I really enjoyed reading it. Please beware that the following review is full with words like "wonderful", "great", "love",... Isn't it funny that I cannot find the words to express how much I enjoyed a book where words were so important for the story?

Let's start with my favourite quote:

Is falling in love with someone's story the same thing as falling in love with the person himself?

What I liked the most: The society. Yes, you read that right. I liked the dystopian society the most. The society is everything I never want to happen. You are not allowed to think for yourselves, make your own choices or create something new.
The society, every part of it, and most of all the people in it were was well and completey thought through. The feelings Cassia had for the society, her doubts, and her hopes were understandable and I felt for her and with her through the entire book. She went through a great character development and I cannot wait to see were her ways will lead her in the next installment.

But my favourite character would be Ky. In a world that was so bad to him, where no one knew his true story he was still able to keep faith and stay who he truly was.

My favourite scene was definitely the one where Cassia read the poem for the first time. It showed how much power and energy words can have, one of the many reasons I love poems. The scene was beautifully writtten and like a poem itself, really poetic.

Ally Condie has a lovely writting style and I really liked the pictures she created and how she interwined the past of her characters with the present.

The book really got me thinking about a lot of thinks. Not many YA books were able to do that lately. I thought about how important choices are for us. In the society they seem to live a great and healthy life, but aren't the bad experiences we make, all the heart break, and all the pain important for who we are and who we are going to be, too? Aren't they an important part of life, too?

Fun fact: A fun fact about Matched would, for me, be the colors of the three books. There are free important tablets in the society that everyone need to cary around with them. A green one, a blue one, and a red one. And the book covers are green, red, and blue.
So while I wait here until I can get my hands on book two, I try to make predicitions on the future of Cassia based on what the tablets do to you. :D

Philosophic, romantic, and poetic, a wonderful dystopian novel.
Love and Words
KJ

View all my reviews

Divergent Casting Rumor!

Aloha :)

There are a lot of rumors or fan suggestions around the internet about who should play who in the Divergent movie. The newest rumor:

Shailene Woodley may play Tris.

The movie will be directed by Neil Burger for Summit Entertainment and is based on Veronica Roth's Divergent.
Tris is the 16 year old protagonist of the book

"In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her."

What do you think about that may-be casting choice? I haven't read the book (but plan on doing so) so I'm not sure if she fits the role, but I like her as an actress.
For more infos on the rumor visit this site and for more infos on the book visit Goodreads.

Love and Words
KJ

Source for the picture, copyright by Just Jared, no copyright infrigment intended.  Summary taken from Goodreads

Some news about the blog...

Hello everyone :)

So I changed a few things around here and just wanted to give you a quick update:
First of all there is now a "Upcoming Releases" where you can find out which book releases when. There are still many books missing and while I try to catch up on that I would like to ask you: "What upcoming book are you most excited about?"
Also I updated the "Reviews" page, where you can find all the reviews I did for this blog.
And there is a "Contact" page now:

You can contact me over my new twitter account where I chat with other readers and authors or tweet about the latest news in book world.
Also I have now an email adress extra for this blog, so if you have any recommendations or questions email me at bookbreath[at]gmx.net.

Stay tuned for infos on Divergent casting rumors, the new cover of Natalie Whipple's Transparent or my review of Ally Condie's Matched (which I loved!)

And of course I ask you (as always) to tell me in the comments what you think about my little blog :)

Love and Words
KJ

New Born Wicked Cover! (+Contest)

Hey there :)

Penguin decided to change the look of the Cahill Witch Chronicles by Jessica Spotswood. The first book in the series Born Wicked was already released in hardcover so only the paperback edition, which comes out in january will have the new cover.
I personally don't like it when a cover changes from edition to edition. I really like it when books from a series have matching covers so you can recognize them as one. But on the other hand this gives us one more pretty cover: (The left one is the old, the right one the new)

Summary:
"Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word...especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other"

I haven't read Born Wicked yet (but after reading the summary I might add will definitely add the paperback version to my TBR later in January.) So I cannot say wich cover matches the story better. But I can definitely voice my opinion on wich would attract me in a bookstore more:

I think both are really gorgeous. The first one has a more romantic flair, and is enchanting. I love the smooth brown of the cover and the little details left and right of the series name.
The new one is more mysterious, more darker, more witch than fairy. It definitely looks more like a paranormal fantasy book than a romance story. I love the crows (or ravens??) and the moon.
Though the new one is more appealing I would, when in a store, prefer the old one. It says clearly witch part of the series the book is and not just that it it part of a series. I once bought the second book of a series before the first one by mistake so now I'm always careful with bying a series I do not know. But that of course is just my opinion :)

Visit the author's blog to read more about the book and the new cover. AND to enter a contest to win: an ARC of Marie Lu's Prodigy, an ARC of Elizabeth Richard's Black City, an ARC of Fiona Paul's Venom, and a Born Wicked swag pack. :)
Which one is your favourite? Have you read Born Wicked?
Love and Words
KJ

Summary taken from  the official site.

Amityville Horrible - New Kelley Armstrong Novella!

Hey everyone :)

Kelley Armstrong is releasing a new novella on Subterranean Press:
The book will be called Amityville Horrible and the ebook will be released by the end of the year with the hardcover edition following in January next year. The novella will only be available as a signed limited edition with 1500 copies, so if you really want the book you should probably hurry over and pre-order it!
Large online stores won't have the titel so you better make sure to order it directly from the publisher :) For more information on the titel and the publisher visit their official site.

Here is the summary:

“I don’t run from ghosts.”
His voice, right at my ear. “You will.”

Jaime Vegas—spiritualist, entertainer and, unbeknownst to her audience, real-life necromancer—swore she’d never do another reality ghost show after the last fiasco. But when she’s railroaded into a charity gig, she finds herself back on the set, this time with a cast of photogenic college kids, an up-and¬-coming Russian spiritualist, and a tale of missing girls and murder in New England. It’s cheesy, but that’s show business. With her werewolf Alpha lover, Jeremy Danvers, along to keep her nights interesting, it’s not so bad really. Until the bloody ghosts show up. Jaime has never faced spirits like these, and no matter how hard she tries, they won’t be ignored."

The summary sounds really good and spooky. I adore her writing and the cover is just amazing! I love the hands in the back and the blood red print on Jaime's arm.
Have you read any of Kelley Armstrong's books? Are you eager to get this one?
I loved her Darkest Powers series, especially the protagonist Chloe who is a necromancer as well. So I'll probably check this one out, too :)
Love and Words
KJ

Cover and Summary taken from this site.

Can't wait for... Valkyrie Rising

Hello everyone :)

You know I have a huge pile of books I still need to read lying around my room. And I seriously don't know where to put them anymore. The shelves are overflowing and everywhere are books. It's like a family disease, there is no room in our entire house to put up one more shelf. I remember a conversation between my parents once:

My dad said: "I went to the bookstore today. There were so many great books! If I ever win a lot of money I will spend it entirely on new books."
And my mom answered: "If I ever win a bunch of money I'll add a new room to our house for all your pretty books!"

Why am I telling you this, you may be asking yourselves now. The reason is simple: I was a bad bad girl.
I got a new book earlier this month wich I haven't even started yet and since I'm getting one book per month through a subscription I promised myself, my mom, and my wallet I would not buy another book until my TBR here at home is as half as big as now... Yeah... Let's not talk about that anymore because I wanted to go bookshopping! Ever watched the movie Shopaholic? I'm like her, except I go for books and not for clothes. Well at least I planned to do that. But destiny had other plans...

So I went over to my favourite online book store and wanted to buy some English books (Don't be afraid I'm buying most of my books directly in store, to support them)
And here is the one I can't wait for:

Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson

"Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there. 

What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them."

Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age.

I read the summary a few weeks ago and thought "Norway, valkyries? I love old norse legends and this sounds like a good book. This goes definitely on my TBR" and that was the whole story of it... until tonight. Pitch Dark Books posted something over at their blog called Hot guys of Pitch Dark 1: Tucker Halloway from Valkyrie Rising and an exclusive prequel story by Ingrid Paulson called Valkyrie Symptoms which is set a day before the book.
I read it, I loved it, I need more!
The characters are great, the writing is clear and funny and the summary of the book sounds amazing. I especially liked the character of Tuck who is the love interest for the protagonist. I can't remember the last time I fall for a character that fast (Oh wait, that must have been with Jace Wayland in TMI) and he went right on top of my Fictional Crushes list. I can't wait for the next Annual YA-Sisterhood Crushin' Tournament, so I can vote for him. And I haven't even read the book yet! He seems smart, funny, and arrogant, the perfect mix :)

Another plus for Valkyrie Rising: It is a stand alone. I read and started to many series lately I feel like I will never finish any of them. A stand alone is a very welcome change from that.

And guess what happened: They don't have Valkyrie Rising in store! What am I supposed to do now? I'm like two minutes away from bording a flight to the U.S so I can get my hands on that book!
Where you ever that desperate for a book?
Love and Words
KJ

PS: I'm going to search every other big european book store with an online portal right now to get that book! Wish me luck!
You can find the post about Tuck here and the free short story here. Summary as always taken from Goodreads

Indigo Spell Teaser Quotes

Hey everyone :)

The team of Penguin Teen Australia just started reading The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead. While they go along they tweet spoiler free comments on twitter. So everyone who is excited for the book should check out their twitter account.

They also released teaser quotes wich can be found on their side.

Indigo Spell will be published in february next year. It is the third book in Richelle Mead's Bloodlines series, a follow up to her bestselling Vampire Academy series. Here is the summary taken from Goodreads (beware of spoilers for previous books):

"In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.


Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood."

Have you read Richelle Meads previous books? Are you excited for this one? Tell me all about it in the comments.

New Hidden Book Trailer

Hello everyone :)

There is a new book trailer for Hidden the next installment in the House of Night series by PC and Kristen Cast.

Summary (There may be Spoilers for the previous books in the series) taken from Goodreads:

Neferet’s true nature has been revealed to the Vampyre High Council, so Zoey and the gang might finally get some help in defending themselves and their beloved school against a gathering evil that grows stronger every day. And they’ll need it, because Neferet’s not going down without a fight. Chaos reigns at the House of Night

Hidden had it's book birthday two days ago. Congratulations to the authors on releasing a new book.
 Find out more about the books and the authors behind them on PC's official blog.

I really like the concept of the trailer with the girl opening the book and the world within it comint to life. That's a really good idea and the tattoos look just gorgeous

Are you going to read this one? Personally I stopped reading the series after book two, don't ask me why, maybe I will continue reading it sometime... It just dragged on and I wanted to read so many books more desperately than this series...

Love and words
KJ

Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea

Hello folks :)

I have awesome news for you! Remember when I told you about the Friday the Thirteeners blog, where YA authors that have their debut in 2013 take truths and dares? I told you about three of their books I can't wait to read. And guess what? They just revealed the cover for one of those three!
And it is... breathtaking! I loved the titel, I loved the summary, and I was sure that I would read the book, but after seeing that cover I cannot wait for the book! I really have no words for that one. It is just amazing :D
Yes, I am talking about Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke. Remember what I said about it earlier?

Seriously, a dark and mysterious boy the girl falls in love with? My YA-heart is beating faster. The devil is in town? Sounds perfect for me. And the boy is called River! That's a uncommon but beautiful name there.

I have a lot to add to that paragraph now. Why I love the cover? It evokes a great dark atmosphere, the setting is just magical with the water and the cliffs. The title looks great with the read focus on Devil and the blue. And I think it is really great that they did not put the boy and girl in the middle of the picture. This way it is still focused on them but has a more mysterious touch to it. Does that make any sense to you at all?
And here is the new summary for the book:

"You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch."

Gothic horror? I haven't read a good gothic book in a while, that is just one more point on the pro list for this one. I seriously cannot wait for the release!
The cover and the summary are taken from the offivial Friday The Thirteeners blog. Head over there to find out more about this book and a lot more amazing stories! And be sure to mark the 15th august 2013 for Devil will finally hit the shelves on that day!

Whose debut can't you wait for? What exciting books are on your list?
Do you love the cover as much as I do? Come on, I know you do!

Love and words
KJ

The Eagle Of The Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff

The Eagle Of The Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Normaly I read a book before I watch the movie based on it. But when I watched "The Eagle" I didn't know there was a book out there. I loved the movie so when I heard about the book I was pretty sure I would like it, too.

And I loved it! I know I did a lot of 5 star reviews lately, but this one really deserved it!

"The Eagle of the ninth" is set in Roman Britain. 12 years ago the ninth legion marched into the mists of Caledonia to battle an uprising. No one ever heard anything from them. Now Marcus Aquila, son of the legion's commander, follows his fathers tracks into the enemy land to find the precious eagle. The standard of the legion and symbol of Rome. He's acompanied only by his slave Esca as they both explore the boundaries of friendship, loyalty, and honor.

So where do I start with my review? There was a lot I loved about the book that was better than the movie (Cottia to name just one), and there were some moments I liked the movie better than the books (Escas Gladtiator scene, for example)...

Rosemary Sutcliff has a really great writing style. She delivers a beautiful image of ancienct Britain and the people living in it, so vivid that you fear and wish the scene comes to life between the pages.
I cannot even pick a scene I liked the most, since there were so many with big symbolism or pure epicness (yes, I have to call it "epicness") in it.

Beautiful Creatures/ The Hobbit Trailer...

Hello everyone :)
There is a lot going on in the books-to-movies world lately, here are some quick updates:

As some of you may already know the first Beautiful Creatures trailer was published a few days ago:
But what is Beautiful Creatures? It is a movie based on a book by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. It's the first one in the Caster Chronicles series.

There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

And in other news:
There is a new Hobbit trailer! And new fotos! I'm so hyper excited over here! I was really obsessed with the Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit is one of my favourite books ever. I can't wait to see the film. (And I guess I don't need to tell you anything about the book ... but I'll do anyway :D)

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, who wrote it for his own children, is (in my opinion) one of the best fantasy novels ever written. It's a magical fairytale that will take viewers and readers back to middle-earth. The book tells the story of Bilbo Beggins before The Lord Of The Rings: 

And finally I found out that the official date for the first episode of Game Of Thrones Season 3 is the third March 2013. That means a lot of waiting for me that I will gladly spend with reading the books... again :D
What book-to-movie do you eager anitcipate the most these days? Have you read any of the these books?
Tell me about it in the comments :)

Love and Words
KJ

All covers and summaries taken from Goodreads for advertising puspose only.

Mari Mancusi signs a new book deal!

Hey everyone :)
Here are some news for you:

Mari Mancusi, author of the Blood Coven series just announced today that she signed a new deal with Sourcebooks Fire!
She describes the new novel, which will be the begining of a trilogy as more action packed and darker than the Blood Coven books. It centers around sixteen year old Trinity Brown who get's a Dragonegg which is destined to either save or destroy the world. Here is the summary taken from Mari's Blog:

An Author Interview: Cassandra Giovanni

Hey everyone ;)

This is the first interview with an actual real author I ever did, and I'm super excited right now :) So thanks again to the amazing Cassandra Giovanni who answered some questions for me!
Cassandra Giovanni is the author of In Between Seasons which I really liked and reviewed a few days ago.
Here is the whole interview (including a sneek peak on her new novel :) )

1. Why did you choose independent publishing over being wrapped up by a publisher?
My original plan was to get an agent, and then get onto a label with a large publisher. I did look at smaller indie presses, but when I started to think about self-publishing I felt that doing it "my" way was the best choice. It was very important to me that I be able to use my photography for the book covers, and marketing pieces, but as I looked at larger presses, and even the smaller presses I realized that I would not have this sort of say. I started looking into my self-publishing options, and then I took the dive. I made some wonderful author friends along the way, and even ended up with a mentor who guides me through this unknown but beautiful world. I like being self-published because I get to be me, and I get to make the choices of how my books will be me.

2. How important are, in your opinion, social networks like Goodreads or Facebook for todays publishing world?
I think that social media is something that authors do have to embrace, but must choose to embrace in their own way. I do not utilize facebook on my own account, but on occasion I have my friends "blow up facebook" with information on my books, and I encourage my readers to "talk me up" on facebook. I enjoy Goodreads because it feels like a facebook that is focused on bringing authors and readers together. As for the growing "twitterdom", I am clueless, and don't do that either. I feel that authors should keep in mind that with social media they can easily become "spammers". A author should always genuinely care about their readership, and spamming doesn't demonstrate this. I try my best to get to know those that I friend, or friend me, but with a growing friend list, and fan list (I can't believe it my self) it is hard. I still personally log onto each person that becomes my friend, look at their blog if they have one, and try to personalize a comment on their page. 

3. What inspired you to write In Between Seasons?
What's funny about this question, is that I get asked this a lot, and surprisingly each time I have to think about it. There are two main things that inspired it, one being the building on the cover of the novel. I drove past this for days, months, even a year possibly, and each time I did, I wanted badly to photograph it. Then came the dream. It was very vivid. I was Kate, and my husband was Hunter. The dream felt rushed and clipped, but the emotions were so clear. It began with me running to a house, and closing the door behind me, as I did the glass shattered and an arm pulled me out the door and dragged me through the woods. Then the scene skipped to the invasion, and I remember the feeling that I HAD to save "him", and breaking into the basement and stealing the guns. Then it went to a scene where we were running down a hill through a forest of trees. It skipped again and there we were at the ocean front. You read the book, so that scene is exactly as I felt it and saw it. Even though Hunter was my husband in the dream, I felt as Kate did, as if when he grabbed my arm it was the first time I had seen him. 

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

Hey folks :)
So here is my review of The Perks Of Being A Wallflower! It is the first one in my 50in1 yearly challenge (yay only 49 to go! :D) and I finished it just before I posted the challenge, update.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is going to be a really hard review to write. How can you write about something when the only thing that comes to your mind is "I freakin' love this!"

I so a trailer for this book a few weeks ago and since I adore Logan Lerman I thought "Hey, I need to watch that movie!" But I always love reading books before watching the movies based on them. What is more fun than sitting in the theatre an screaming "They ruined the book!" at the begining of the ending credits?
I told my best friend about it, she read bought the book and finished it within two days comanding me to definitely read it "like just now"!
So I read it.
And damn, that's a good book!

The story is told through letters freshman Charlie writes to an unknown person. Charlie is really introverted and does not have a lot of friends outside his family. Last year his best friend died and he still needs to figure everything out about that. In his first year in high school he meets Sam, the in his opinion most beautiful girl in the world, and her stepbrother Patrick. They include him in their circle of friends and he becaomes part of their life. Together the new friends discover themselves and their place in this world through what you could call "sex, drugs and rock'n'roll".
Charlie telly the reader about his problems in life as a wallflower and he has a unique view on everyone else in the story.

Charlie is in my opinion one of the nicest characters I ever read about. He is introverted and he does not quite participate in life. But because of that he sees things differently and asks questions about life most people would never think of. This gives a phylosophical touch to the entire novel.
Charlie's awkwardness around other people, mostly girls, makes him unbelievable cute. I really wanted him to have his happy ending and to finally get over the things that trouble him. One more reason for the greatness of this novel is the fact that, in his letters, Charlie never quite explains what "messed him up" because he doesn't really now it himself. The reader needs to read between the lines and put the pieces of the puzzle together himself (until you finally learn the truth at the end)
My favourite scene was the brownie scene in the first part of the book. Charlie was indeed really naive and "the milkshake dialogoue" was unbelievable funny. That's one more great thing about the book: It is really tragic and funny in the same time. I cried my eyes out for Charlie, more than once, because he made me love so hard and because it was a really sad story after all.
And now the things I didn't like: There was actually just one thing I did not like about the book: There was not one character in there, that was reallly deeply happy. Through all that heart break, growing up, and finding your self it would have been nice if someone would have been happy at least a little while. And though I know there are no real happy endings in live it would have been nice to see just a little tiny one in this book.

A little Off topic that isn't quite off: I started watching Squaresville over on Youtube a few weeks ago. It's a really funny webseries following the lifes of two teenagers that don't quite fit in and really don't want to anyway. Seriously check it out if you don't know it by now! As I started reading "The perks" I was reminded of these characters. A crossover of those two stories would probably unbelievable cute and funny (and I would definitely ship Charlie and Zelda as a couple. We could call them "Charda" XD)
So all in all I have to say: I have a Charlie-esque crush on this book!

What Rachel thinks of it: "Awesome" Well that's a long review, but thanks for the input anyway :D

View all my reviews
So looking back now I don't think the trailer looks that great. I don't think he captures the tragedy of the book. But I still hope the movie will be great! If it is not than it aachieved at last one thing: It got a lot of people to read the book. And I will never regret reading it :)
Have you read the book? What are your predictions on the movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower?
Love and Words
KJ

50 books in 1 year aka she went insane... again!

Hey folks :)
And yeah, I'm well aware that I suck at posting regualry... But I'll try harder. I need to try harder. Here is the reason why:


So I asked myself what I could do in my free time to get myself back into reading and blogging more. Inspired by a Sparknotes post series (which you can find here) I made a bet with one of my friends (you all know her, it's the amazing Rachel Shelley!) that I would be able to read 50 books within a year (so from last week until my next birthday) and write a review for each... So wish me luck, I hope I will be able to do that, because right now Rachel is using her demonic mastermind to find a dare for me to do when I don't get to the finish line of this bet.

Update: So Rachel found something...something evil. Something I would never ever do freely. If I'm not able to finish 50 books and reviews within the next year I have to visit the Irish Pub with her and sing karaoke all alone. In front of everyone... That does not sound mean? Have you ever heard me sing? That would be the most embarassing thing ever and I will probably get sued for torturing the other guests.
Oh, and did I mention: If I not at least read 30 books Rachel will tape it so you can all watch it on youtube. Yay, for the evil mastermind!
So internet you are my witness: I will read or sing!

And I already started praying that it will be the first one. Because when I start to think about it now, fifty books are a lot...

Love and words
KJ

Edit 1: So I decided I'll post my updates directly under this post so I (, you, and Rachel) can keep track of my progress:
Time to finish: 4 months and 0 week
Books finished and reviewd:

1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
2. The Eagle of the ninth
3. A Clash of Kings (no review planned)
4. Matched (also used in the Dystopian Challenge)
5. Valkyrie Symptoms
6. The Demon Lover
7. Tuor and The Fall of Gondolin
8. A Storm of Swords
9. The Hobbit Official Movie Guide 
10. Danton's Death
11. Pretty Dark Nothing
12. Demonic Dora
13. Ruby Red
14. The Weather Factor (no review because this ain't a fiction book)
15. Masque of the Red Death (maybe a future review, 3 out of 5 stars)
16. LA Candy (no review because this book good 1 out of 5 stars)
17. Labyrinth
18. The Valkyrie Profiles
19. Persephone
20. Cypher, the mountain giant
21. Children of Ymir
22. Terrible Tudors
23. Slimy Stuarts
24. The White Queen
25. Shifter
26. Love Exactly

At my current pace I will: desperately fail...

In Between Seasons by Cassandra Giovanni

Oh my gosh!
When was the last time I posted anything? Feels like ages ago! I'm so sorry for the long silence but right now I'm not sure if I will keep up this blog in general. A lot of things are getting in the way and I feel like I become more and more lazy with each passing day...
But anyway here is my review for In Between Seasons:

In Between Seasons by Cassandra Giovanni
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of „In between Seasons“by Cassandra Giovanni (who is not just really talented but really nice, too :D) through a Read and Review program on Goodreads. And here is what I thought about the book:

The story takes place in a dystopian version of North America set in the near future and follows the protagonist Kate Eriksson.
The world is at war. Kate is 18 years old and lives with her family somewhere in the middle of nowhere. All she knows is that something is very wrong with the world she lives in and all her parents tell her is a lie. One day she meets Hunter and he gives her the chance to learn something about the truth. But Hunter is not who he seems to be. They both find something in each other they would have never expected.

What I liked the most about this book was the clueless ness of the main protagonist Kate and that she knows not much about her world. The story is told from her point of view and is therefore really mysterious. The reader does not find out what exactly happened to the world. I needed to think about the book while I was reading it and to put the parts of the puzzle together while Kate was doing that, too. It was not too easy as in other books but on the other hand not too confusing. This really turns the book into something new and unique in the wave of dystopian/ post-apocalyptic stories that become more and more mainstream these days. And I always love it when a book starts with some action and you don't need to fight your way through a dozen chapters before something finally happens.
Everything Kate ever thought to know or not know crumbles around her as she learns the truth about her family. Cassandra Giovanni gives Kate a unique voice and her actions, even more important her feelings and thoughts are understandable and don’t seem to come out of no where.
Hunter on the other side is mysterious and dark but gives Kate and with that the reader the chance to see him from a different side. I really liked how everything turned out with them.
Both, protagonists and supporting characters are three dimensional. The author knows what she is doing and has a nice easy-to-read writing style.
Every character seems to hide a secret or pretend to be something he isn’t. There is a lot of mysteries going on and a lot of truth to be unfolded, but that never distracted me from the romance. The author is able to connect the storylines perfectly, one of the main reasons I liked this book so much. I never needed to think about the book as much as I thought about this one to be able to write a review. There is something mysterious about the story that just keeps you reading and reading. As desperately as Kate struggles to find the truth and deal with it, I wanted to find out what was going on and raced from chapter to chapter.
Sometimes the story slowed down a little, but it was never so much that I would call it a negative aspect.

I didn’t like the ending that much, but I can’t tell you a lot about why I didn’t like it, since I don’t want to spoil anything. It was a good ending, but it was just not my type of thing :D
Because of the fact that the ending was the only negative thing about this book the positive things outweigh and the story convinced me completely.
All in all I recommend this book to fans of the genre and everyone who wants to try something new. It is a book that makes you think but can still count as a light read.

And I’m pretty sure that we will hear some more from Cassandra Giovanni in the future. If her next book is like this I will definitely check it out.

Guess what? I'll be posting an interview with Cassandra Giovanni in a few days (or weeks, don't nail me down on that). So if you have any questions for her feel free to ask them :)

Love and Words
KJ

View all my reviews

Waiting on Wednesday (3)

So it is time for another round of Waiting on Wednesday:
Since I started participating in this my TBR gets bigger with every week. At least I don't need to be afraid I will run out of books to read anymore ;)
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post that highlights upcoming books bloggers are excited about to read. It is hosted at Breaking the Spine.
This week I'm really excited about:

Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School 1) by Gail Carriger

It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to finishing school.
Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is the bane of her mother's existence. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper etiquette at tea--and god forbid anyone see her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. She enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.
But little do Sophronia or her mother know that this is a school where ingenious young girls learn to finish, all right--but it's a different kind of finishing. Mademoiselle Geraldine's certainly trains young ladies in the finer arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but also in the other kinds of finishing: the fine arts of death, diversion, deceit, espionage, and the modern weaponries. Sophronia and her friends are going to have a rousing first year at school.

Expected publication: February 5th, 2013
I know, I shouldn't start another series, but have you read the synopsis? It sounds just great! And the cover! I love boarding school-stories, I love assassins, and I'm really praying that this book will not disappont me. 
What are you excited about this week? I can't wait to read about it in the comments :D
Love and Words
KJ

Books to Movies: The Hunger Games edition

Hello everyone :)

So I finally saw the Hunger Games movie a few days ago - I know, I'm like the last person on freaking earth that had not seen it before :D - and I could easily call this post "How awesome got even more awesome".
You all know that I love the Hunger Games trilogy. Seriously after finishing the last book I was like "Oh no, why did you read it? Now every other book will be a dissappointment for you!"
But watching a movie based on a book you read is always a different story. Of course we all enter the cinema knowing that the movie will not be as the book, that they cut things out because no one wants to watch a four hour movie, and that you may be disappointed. Telling a story in a movie is always different than telling a story in a book.
I started watching this movie prepared for anything. Would I love it? Would I hate it screaming "They ruined the damn thing!"
And what did I did? I freaking loved it.
Here is why:

1. The actors were just amazing. I could see every feeling on the screen coming to life. Every aspects of the characters. Especially Jennifer Lawrence did - in my opinion- a great job as Katniss. The last scene, when they were doing that last interview I could read all the things going to Katniss mind in her face. She was glad she survived and still she was uneasy because of the treat dangling in front of her. (And before I forget: Team Haymitch and Evie over here! :D) And the other tributes were great, too.

2. The setting. District 12 was not like I imagined it, but the desperation was transported in a really great way. I loved the capitol and the looks of the people. A wonderful use of picture language

3. The last scene of Seneca Crane. No words for that besides: Genius!

4. Anyway I loved that they showed what was going on in the capitol since the books were just from Katniss point of view and left that out. It was a great addition to the story.

And here is what I didn't like about the movie: 

1. I understand that they needed to cut out things because the movie would have been too long otherwhise. But I didn't like that they cut out so much of Rue and Katniss. Her end could have been a lot sadder if the viewer saw more of her background and the relationship between her and Katniss.

2. Peetas and Katniss relationship. I think it wasn't as clear as in the books who loved who and who was just pretending. My friend for example got totally confused.

3. The Mockingjay. I didn't like that Katniss got her mockingjay on the hob. This way it lost, in my opinion, some of its meaning. It was still a gift but not as a sign of friendship. Anyway Katniss does not seem like someone who's attention is caught by jewelery.

But all in all this was just a great movie! I loved every second and I may rewatch it a dozen times until Catching Fire hits theaters next November.
Talking 'bout Catching Fire: They just casted Glimmer and Gloss, yay! :) And there are a lot of rumors that Sam Claffin would play Finnick Odair. Don't get me wrong: I really liked the actor (And I liked him in the Pillars of the Earth, before Snow White and the Huntsman! XD) but I just can't imagine him with blond hair...

Are you as excited as I am for Catching Fire? Tell me about it in the comments :) What is your favourite book-based movie?
I just hope the world won't go down in December, the end of 2013 is filled with so many movies I need to watch... The next part of The Hobbit, Catching Fire, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones...

Love and Words
KJ