Until July 1st

Cover Analysis will be up and running with frequent blog posts on July first. Until then, have fun looking around.

Waiting on Wednesday (#24)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

What is this blogger highly anticipating?

VORTEX

by S.J. Kincaid

Released Date:

July 2nd, 2013

Add to on Goodreads here.

The impossible was just the beginning. Now in their second year as superhuman government weapons-in-training at the Pentagonal Spire, Tom Raines and his friends are mid-level cadets in the elite combat corps known as the Intrasolar Forces. But as training intensifies and a moment arrives that could make or break his entire career, Tom’s loyalties are again put to the test.
Encouraged to betray his ideals and friendships for the sake of his country, Tom is convinced there must be another way. And the more aware he becomes of the corruption surrounding him, the more determined he becomes to fight it, even if he sabotages his own future in the process.
Drawn into a power struggle more dramatic than he has ever faced before, Tom stays a hyperintelligent step ahead of everyone, like the exceptional gamer he is—or so he believes. But when he learns that he and his friends have unwittingly made the most grievous error imaginable, Tom must find a way to outwit an enemy so nefarious that victory seems hopeless. Will his idealism and bravado cost him everything—and everyone that matters to him?
Filled with action and intelligence, camaraderie and humor, the second book in S.J. Kincaid’s futuristic World War III Insignia trilogy continues to explore fascinating and timely questions about power, politics, technology, loyalty, and friendship.

Why the Anticipation, Monica?

My question is how can anyone read the first book, Insignia and not anticipate the sequel? I literally just finished Insignia about a week ago and I am still reeling. It was really refreshing to have a new kind of person to read about. I really loved Tom's perspective and I want to continue his journey at the Pentagonal Spire. This dystopian isn't just about the government but about how Tom handles and starts to understand World War III and his role in it. 

Waiting on Wednesday (#23)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

What is this blogger highly anticipating?

DON'T LOOK NOW

by Michelle Gagnon

Released Date:

August 27th, 2013

Add to Goodreads here.

The jaw-dropping sequel to breakout YA thriller Don't Turn Around, which Kirkus Reviews named a Best Book of the Year, calling it "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for teens, a surefire hit"Noa Torsen is on the run. Having outsmarted the sinister corporation Pike & Dolan, Noa and her friend Zeke now move stealthily across the country, protecting runaways before they become test subjects for P&D's horrific experiments. Noa knows all too well what that feels like: Whatever they did to her has left her exhausted and scared.
Back in Boston, Peter anxiously follows Noa's movements from his computer, using his hacker skills to feed her the information she needs to stay alive. But he's desperate to do something more, especially when he learns what P&D has done to his ex-girlfriend Amanda.
Then, in an explosive confrontation, Noa and her team are trapped in the one place they thought was safe. It will take everything Noa and Peter have to bring down the corporation before it gets them first. And with no one to trust and enemies hiding at every turn, they may be the only people alive who can.
This stunning second book in the critically acclaimed Don't Turn Around trilogy raises the stakes to their absolute limit and will leave readers begging for the exciting conclusion, Don't Let Go.

Why the Anticipation, Monica?

Don't Look Now is the sequel to Don't Turn Around and it was pitched as "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo for teens" and naturally I picked it up thinking it'd be awesome because I tried reading Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and just no so I figured this is the closest I'll get. Turns out it. Was. Amazing. Right after I finsihed I checked Goodreads for the sequel and no news! I had a mini-panic attack because

A) This plot line can go in so many directions that I want to see where it goes.

B) I didn't get enough Noa and Peter action

And C) It's about hackers. It does not get better than this. 

I really can't wait because it seems Noa and Peter are set to take the corporation down that experiments on kids who won't be missed on the streets. It's about to go down. 

TBR List (April Edition)

It's been some time since I did one of these. After these things called midterms and, yanno, actual work. I haven't had much time to read and I'm behind on my Goodreads goal.

Let's do this thang. 

I'm going to finish Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan and Insignia by S.J. Kincaid after that well ....

• Nobody But Us by Kristen Halbrook (Thank you to Rachel who got me this for Christmas <3)
• The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress (Steampunk for the freaking win)
• Prophecy by Ellen Oh (I have to read this before Kristen kills me)
• Elemental by Anthony John (Same as above)
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Set in the 1920's and the movie is coming out, need I say more?
• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month)

That's my list. Will I read them all? I will try my best because I feel like reading has taken a backseat in my life right now. It's great because you know, a life outside of my book bubble would be nice.

What do you plan on reading?


DISCLAIMER:
The Blogger Interviews shall commence once again next May 6th!

Waiting on Wednesday (#22)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

What is this blogger highly anticipating?

TEARDROP

by Lauren Kate

Add it on Goodreads here.

Released Date:

October 22nd 2013

Never, ever cry. . . . Eureka Boudreaux's mother drilled that rule into her daughter years ago. But now her mother is gone, and everywhere Eureka goes he is there: Ander, the tall, pale blond boy who seems to know things he shouldn't, who tells Eureka she is in grave danger, who comes closer to making her cry than anyone has before.
But Ander doesn't know Eureka's darkest secret: ever since her mother drowned in a freak accident, Eureka wishes she were dead, too. She has little left that she cares about, just her oldest friend, Brooks, and a strange inheritance—a locket, a letter, a mysterious stone, and an ancient book no one understands. The book contains a haunting tale about a girl who got her heart broken and cried an entire continent into the sea. Eureka is about to discover that the ancient tale is more than a story, that Ander might be telling the truth . . . and that her life has far darker undercurrents than she ever imagined. From Lauren Kate comes an epic saga of heart-stopping romance, devastating secrets, and dark magic . . . a world where everything you love can be washed away.

Why the Anticipation, Monica?

       I read Lauren Kate's Fallen series and The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove and I can say with complete conviction that they were amazing. Her writing, her ideas and characters, all of it is amazing. What makes me love Lauren Kate's books even more is the breath-taking covers. Eureka's true nature is not even known by herself but Anden, the mysterious boy, does know. She shouldn't ever cry and her mother drowned in a freak accident. Did Eureka somehow break the "Don't cry" rule and cause it? I have no idea but I feel this will be the beginning of an enthralling series.

P.S. The prologue was released on Entertainment Weekly!

Splintered Update! (Chapters 8-14)

SPOILERS FROM CHAPTERS 1 TO 14. 

Ohmysweetgoodness.

I kid you not, I finished chapter 14 and I just wanted to keep reading BUT I didn't so you should be very proud of me. Everything is being heightened. The suspense, the consequences and even Al's relationship with Jeb and Morpheus. You don't who to trust and everything you think you know about Wonderland is a lie. Of course, there is truth in Carroll's version but it doesn't compare to the dark and mysterious Howard's version. Chapter 14 leaves you with a jaw-dropping moment ...YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND I NEED TO BE MONDAY (which it is be the time this post goes up). 

*sigh* The curse seems to have been broken but I haven't, and neither has Jeb, forgotten about the mention of these hardships being "tests". Whats' really going on here? Is it prove that she really is Alice's descendant or something much greater? Alyssa's transformation as to what seems a netherling is progressing. I honestly don't know what to expect next. 

Kristen's has a Wrap-Up post of chapters 1-7 is here and I thought it would be fun to answer some of her questions. 

Why do you think that Alison, Alyssa's mother, is keeping up that act at the asylum? 

To protect Alyssa! A mother will go through anything to protect her child and what Alyssa's doing now jeopardizes everything if she doesn't do it time! Everything Alison has done would have been in vain. 

What do you think of Jeb so far? Do we ship him with Alyssa? 

I think it's safe to say I really love Jeb. I definitely ship him with Alyssa. He's a great guy caught up with a responsibility he thinks he has when he really doesn't. Now is the time we see go after what he wants. *waggles eyebrows* *coughs* Alyssa *coughs* 

Why do you think Alyssa calls her mother Alison instead of Mom? 

Actually, I found this very ..not surprising. I think it's because the way her mother distanced herself to protect Alyssa. Maybe she doesn't feel that close? Or maybe she's always been an Alison instead of Mom? 

Do you think that this skater punk style that Alyssa has going on is the real her or is it part of her act to not be like her mother? 

I think it is her to some extent. She gets Jeb's artistic pieces and she even has own morbid pieces too and I think it does suit her but I think that side of her is magnified with trying not to act/look like her mother. 

Now with a few questions of my own, 

• What do you think are Morpheus' real motives? 
• For his own win by using her or does he really care about Alyssa? 
• What do you think these "tests" mean? Is all of this just a ploy? 
• Do you really think they have broken the curse? 
• Jeb or Morpheus? Who's lying and who's telling the truth? 
• Why do you think Alyssa is becoming a netherling?

Splintered Read-A-Thon!

HUGE THANK YOU TO EILEEN FOR THIS AMAZING BANNER. *pets it* 

You: Splintered? Oh that Alice in Wonderland re-telling? With the cool green cover? By A.G. Howard?

Me: MM-HMM. THAT'S THE ONE.

You: And you're having a readathon?

Me: Well ...just not me. In fact, it was my friend's, Kristen (from Millie D's Words) idea and we decided to team up and tackle this readathon thing together.

You: Oh okay. So when does it start?

Me: Signs up will be up until the day of the Twitter party (more on that later) and reading starts as soon as Monday! We're planning on reading 7 (since there's 21 in total) chapters a week for three weeks to make sure those can get the book and take their time.

You: That sounds fair. So ...where can I sign up?

Me: You're not going to ask if anything else is planned like a cool Twitter hash tag or giveaway?

You: Oh yeah. Sure. Go on.

Me: At the end of the read-a-thon which is March 29th, we'll have a huge Twitter party to discuss everything that's happened in the book. Of course, we'll have to be spoiler free but c'mon, we always refer to things on Twitter as you-know-what or "the thing HE did" --I dunno, I haven't read it either so I'll be reading along with you guys!-- and we'll pick two winners and one of them will win a an Audio Book of Splintered and the other, a Splintered Swag Pack! All from Anita, the author, herself. *smiles*

You: What about tweeting does that count as more chances to win?

Me: *winks* Maybe ..maybe not but we will be picking winners the day of the Twitter party, March 29th. Oh and *smacks forehead* I almost forgot. In order to be eligible to win, you'll have to sign up. Of course, you can participate but you won't be eligible to win unless you sign up.

You: Sounds pretty good wait. And the hashtag?

Me: Okay, don't laugh. We needed something short and sweet. Something people would remember.

You: *cautiously* Okay .  . . what is it?

Me: #SplintRAT

You: *holds in laughter* Splint *sputters* RAT?

Me: HEY! SPLINT FOR AN ABBREVIATION OF THE TITLE AND RAT FOR READ-A-THON.

You: Okay, okay. *holds hands up* Got it. I think I've got it. So ...where can I sign up?

Me: The sign up form is below! Encourage your friends to take part and tweet as much as you'll like! I'll be checking in from time to time and retweeting. The funniest, quirkest or something-est tweets will be included in the wrap up post. :) Doesn't matter if you read it already either. Re-read it for fun!

You: *starts to sign up* WAIT.

Me: *turns back* Yes?

You: Does it matter if I sign up here or at Millie D's Words?

Me: No not at all! Sign up wherever you'd like! :)

You: K. Thanks.

Me: *mutters things to self about hating "K" responses*


Quick Recap

• Readathon starts this Monday!
• Signs up will be open until March 29th, the day of the Twitter Party
• Hashtag is #SplintRAT
• Giveaway winners (2) will announced after Twitter Party
• Prizes; one winner will get an Audio Book of Splintered and another will get a Splintered Swag Pack
• 7 chapters each week!
• That's it. JUST HAVE FUN!

Do you need to purchase one? Gotcha covered!

Amazon/Barnes & Noble/The Book Depository/Indiebound