Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Review: Between the Land and the Sea by Derrolyn Anderson

Between the Land and the Sea

E-book: 261 pages
Release date: March 19th, 2011
Source: Author
Buy it on Amazon
Goodreads Summary: Something extraordinary is lurking in the deep ocean waters off the coast of Aptos, California. Just a few weeks after moving to the beach town, sixteen year-old Marina has nearly drowned twice, enchanted the hottest guy in high school, and discovered a supernatural creature. If she can manage to survive her increasingly dangerous encounters with unpredictable mermaids, she might just be able to unlock the mystery of her past and learn how to appease the mysterious forces that seem to want something from her... and maybe even find true love along the way.

Between the Land and the Sea is about a girl named Marina, a talented 16-year old artist who moved in her aunt’s home in Aptos, California to spend a year in high school. She has spent all her life being homeschooled while traveling the world with her father. When the duty called for Afghanistan, her father decided that Marina should not go with him this time and live with her aunt and cousin in Aptos to have a normal teenage life. Little did she know that Aptos will uncover the mysteries of her mother’s life, her whole identity, and unexpectedly find the love she has never felt before. 

I always thought there should be more mermaid books to be written and published. I’ve always been a huge fan of fantasy books although Contemps and Dystopias own my heart. Between the Land and the Sea would be one of the best mermaid books I’ve read. 

I really liked Marina and her way of dealing with the mean girls who are bullying her. I think it’s the coolest way possible to fight back without breaking a sweat. I also loved the minor characters especially Evie, Cruz, and Megan. And of course there’s also Ethan. I know guys like him in YA are cliché, but who cares. He’s amazing and wonderful and still my favorite character. I wish I get to know more about her father, though I guess I will on the second book. 

I have so many good things to gush about this book. I loved the plot and the characters and the way the author masterfully described things. It is very descriptive but not in a way that the readers will tend to be bored, but instead thoroughly absorb every word. The romance was absolutely fun to read. I didn’t expect the suspense and it didn’t help that I was all alone in the middle of the night. 

Aside from the romance, the mystery was what kept me reading until one in the morning. The plot was quite predictable, but there came a point when I had to stop for a full minute to grasp what I just read. I imagine this is what using crack’s like. I could hardly stop going through its pages and even chose it over memorizing my speech. Not that I regret or blame it. 

Overall, I loved this and I can’t wait to start the second book. Thanks so much to the author for providing an e-copy in exchange for an honest review. 

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Monday, October 3, 2011

Mini Challenge: Top 5 Books

I

I had a tough time narrowing down my favorites to top five. But anyways! Here are the top 5 books/series that I've read so far this year.

(In no particular order)
 Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness

On the Jellicoe RoadThe Piper's Son
On The Jellicoe Road and The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta
I know they're two different books... but they're both written by Melina Marchetta! I'm so glad I discovered her works just before graduation. I'm one of her biggest fans and I can't wait til NBS gives in and take her here in the Philippines. :DDD
Divergent (Divergent, #1)
Divergent by Veronica Roth
I'm a HUGE fan of Dystopians and this one stood out for me this year. I love it as much as I do THG and 2012 can't come soon enough!
Anna and the French Kiss
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
This is the best contemporary YA I've ever read. I finished this three times in a span of a week. I love it that much.

Where She Went (If I Stay, #2)
Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Three words: Adam freaking Wilde *swoons*

What are the top 5 books you've read this year?


Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday: Everybody Sees the Ants and Night Beach

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

Everybody Sees the Ants

Everybody Sees the Ants  by A.S. King

Hardcover: 288 pages
Release date: October 3rd, 2011
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Goodreads Summary: Lucky Linderman didn't ask for his life. He didn't ask his grandfather not to come home from the Vietnam War. He didn't ask for a father who never got over it. He didn't ask for a mother who keeps pretending their family is fine. And he certainly didn't ask to be the recipient of Nadar McMillan's relentless bullying, which has finally gone too far.

Lucky has a secret—one that helps him wade through the daily dysfunction of his life. Grandad Harry, trapped in the jungles of Laos, has been visiting Lucky in his dreams—and the dreams just might be real: an alternate reality where he can be whoever he wants to be and his life might still be worth living. But how long can Lucky remain in hiding there before reality forces its way inside?
Printz Honor recipient A. S. King's distinctive, smart, and accessible writing shines in this powerful novel about learning to cope with the shrapnel life throws at you, and then taking a stand against it.
I LOVED A.S. King's Please Ignore Vera Dietz!! It's one of my favorite books I've read this year and I'm looking forward to this one.

Night Beach

Night Beach  by Kirsty Eagar 

Hardcover: 324 pages
Release date: February, 2012
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia
Goodreads summary: For Abbie, the ocean is a refuge and the only place she feels in touch with her wilder, truer self. But when her step-cousin Kane returns from a surf trip with something to conceal, she learns that what the sea wants, the sea shall have … A page-turning gothic thriller from award-winning author Kirsty Eagar. 

"It’s about art, the ocean, and the very dark things that feed the creative process … There’s surfing in there, and a look at the idea of ownership. But mainly it’s about a girl called Abbie and a guy called Kane."
 
This one sounds compelling... And it's Kirsty Eagar's! I haven't read a book of hers but they're all getting rave reviews. I'll start with Raw Blue next week.


What are you anxiously waiting on this week? Just leave a comment of the link to your WoW post!
Don't forget to enter our First Ever Giveaway if you haven't!

Friday, September 16, 2011

Top 100 YA List


This list has been going around the blogosphere since the beginning of September. I've seen it at Down The Rabbit Hole and Reading Teen and I thought I'd join the fun to see what books in the list I've read so far. In red and bold are those I have read. Since we just started blogging, my reviews for them are on my Goodreads account
  1. Alex Finn – Beastly
  2. Alice Sebold – The Lovely Bones
  3. Ally Carter – Gallagher Girls (1, 2, 3, 4)
  4. Ally Condie – Matched
  5. Alyson Noel – The Immortals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
  6. Anastasia Hopcus – Shadow Hills
  7. Angie Sage – Septimus Heap (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
  8. Ann Brashares – The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (1, 2, 3, 4)
  9. Anna Godbersen – Luxe (1, 2, 3, 4)
  10. Anthony Horowitz – Alex Rider (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
  11. Aprilynne Pike – Wings (1, 2, 3)
  12. Becca Fitzpatrick – Hush, Hush (1, 2)
  13. Brandon Mull – Fablehaven (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
  14. Brian Selznick – The Invention of Hugo Cabret
  15. Cassandra Clare – The Mortal Instruments (1, 2, 3, 4)
  16. Carrie Jones – Need (1, 2, 3)
  17. Carrie Ryan – The Forest of Hands and Teeth (1, 2, 3, 4)
  18. Christopher Paolini – Inheritance (1, 2, 3, 4)
  19. Cinda Williams Chima – The Heir Chronicles (1, 2, 3)
  20. Colleen Houck – Tigers Saga (1, 2)
  21. Cornelia Funke – Inkheart (1, 2, 3)
  22. Ellen Hopkins – Impulse
  23. Eoin Colfer – Artemis Fowl (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
  24. Faraaz Kazi – Truly, Madly, Deeply
  25. Frank Beddor – The Looking Glass Wars (1, 2, 3)
  26. Gabrielle Zevin – Elsewhere
  27. Gail Carson Levine – Fairest
  28. Holly Black – Tithe (1, 2, 3)
  29. J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
  30. James Dashner – The Maze Runner (1, 2)
  31. James Patterson – Maximum Ride (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
  32. Jay Asher – Thirteen Reasons Why
  33. Jeanne DuPrau – Books of Ember (1, 2, 3, 4)
  34. Jeff Kinney – Diary of a Wimpy Kid (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
  35. John Boyne – The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
  36. John Green – An Abundance of Katherines
  37. John Green – Looking for Alaska
  38. John Green – Paper Towns
  39. Jonathan Stroud – Bartimaeus (1, 2, 3, 4)
  40. Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl – Caster Chronicles (1, 2)
  41. Kelley Armstrong – Darkest Powers (1, 2, 3)
  42. Kristin Cashore – The Seven Kingdoms (1, 2)
  43. Lauren Kate – Fallen (1, 2, 3)
  44. Lemony Snicket – Series of Unfortunate Events (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
  45. Libba Bray – Gemma Doyle (1, 2, 3)
  46. Lisa McMann – Dream Catcher (1, 2, 3)
  47. Louise Rennison – Confessions of Georgia Nicolson (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
  48. M.T. Anderson – Feed
  49. Maggie Stiefvater – The Wolves of Mercy Falls (1, 2, 3)
  50. Margaret Peterson Haddix – Shadow Children (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
  51. Maria V. Snyder – Study (1, 2, 3)
  52. Markus Zusak – The Book Thief
  53. Markus Zusak – I am the Messenger
  54. Mark Haddon – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
  55. Mary Ting – Crossroads
  56. Maureen Johnson – Little Blue Envelope (1, 2)
  57. Meg Cabot – All-American Girl (1, 2)
  58. Meg Cabot – The Mediator (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
  59. Meg Cabot – The Princess Diaries (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
  60. Meg Rosoff – How I Live Now
  61. Megan McCafferty – Jessica Darling (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
  62. Megan Whalen Turner – The Queen’s Thief (1, 2, 3, 4)
  63. Melina Marchetta – On the Jellicoe Road
  64. Melissa de la Cruz – Blue Bloods (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
  65. Melissa Marr – Wicked Lovely (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
  66. Michael Grant – Gone (1, 2, 3, 4)
  67. Nancy Farmer – The House of the Scorpion
  68. Neal Shusterman – Unwind
  69. Neil Gaiman – Coraline
  70. Neil Gaiman – Stardust
  71. Neil Gaiman – The Graveyard Book
  72. P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast – House of Night (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
  73. Philip Pullman – His Dark Materials (1, 2, 3)
  74. Rachel Caine – The Morganville Vampires (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
  75. Rachel Cohn & David Levithan – Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
  76. Richelle Mead – Vampire Academy (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
  77. Rick Riordan – Percy Jackson and the Olympians (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
  78. Rom LcO’Feer – Somewhere Carnal Over 40 Winks
  79. S.L. Naeole – Grace (1, 2, 3, 4)
  80. Sabrina Bryan & Julia DeVillers – Princess of Gossip
  81. Sarah Dessen – Along for the Ride
  82. Sarah Dessen – Lock and Key
  83. Sarah Dessen – The Truth about Forever
  84. Sara Shepard – Pretty Little Liars (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
  85. Scott Westerfeld – Leviathan (1, 2)
  86. Scott Westerfeld – Uglies (1, 2, 3)
  87. Shannon Hale – Books of a Thousand Days
  88. Shannon Hale – Princess Academy
  89. Shannon Hale – The Books of Bayern (1, 2, 3, 4)
  90. Sherman Alexie & Ellen Forney – The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
  91. Simone Elkeles – Perfect Chemistry (1, 2, 3)
  92. Stephenie Meyer – The Host
  93. Stephenie Meyer – Twilight Saga (1, 2, 3, 4)
  94. Sue Monk Kidd – The Secret Life of Bees
  95. Susan Beth Pfeffer – Last Survivors (1, 2, 3)
  96. Suzanne Collins – Hunger Games (1, 2, 3)
  97. Suzanne Collins – Underland Chronicles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
  98. Terry Pratchett – Tiffany Aching (1, 2, 3, 4)
  99. Tonya Hurley – Ghost Girl (1, 2, 3)
  100. Wendelin Van Draanen – Flipped
That's 20/100 or 43 books. Not so bad.. But I hope I get to catch up on reading since there's so many books in this list I'm dying to read. If you did the same list, Please feel free to leave your links  in the comments. I'd love to check them out!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Review: Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien

Prized (Birthmarked, #2)

Hardcover: 368 pages
Release date: November 8th, 2011
Publisher: Roaring Book Press
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads Summary: Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime.  In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole?

I read Birthmarked in March and couldn’t wait for Prized ever since. Imagine my delight when I saw the title on NetGalley! Everyone who knows me is fully aware that I’m a dystopian buff. Leaving whatever I was reading was such an easy decision when I found out that my request got accepted. All those months of waiting are definitely worth it! I loved Prized more than I did Birthmarked and I’m anxiously waiting for the last book in the trilogy.

Prized begins where the first book left off. After escaping from the Enclave, Gaia arrived at Sylum where the society is matriarchal and the women’s number is continuously decreasing from an unknown cause. She is forced to live within the stretch of the newfound society to be with her sister and adjust to the way the laws are enforced in Sylum.

Caragh O’brien handled everything with virtuosity. Prized held me entranced from the very first page until the last. It has everything that the first book lacked of and exceeded my expectations. The romance was fun to read, especially that it’s a love square! It’s good that Gaia doesn’t fall in love quite easily. I adored the two new guys but my heart will always be for Leon. Prized was also full of surprises and mysteries. I hardly remember every detail in the first book so I’m glad to be reminded of bits of them. In spite of having many dystopia books being released these days, this series still kept a unique identity for its readers. I’m taking Genetics this semester and I was delighted to find a little of it in Prized! Anyway, I’ve always admired Gaia for her skill in midwifery. She’s just my age but her talent is unbelievable.

Prized deals with the issues of justice, love, trust, gender egalitarianism, and leadership. I can’t say enough how much this series is a must read for people in all ages. You’re seriously missing out on something if you haven’t heard of this, especially if you love dystopians as much as I do. Now I have to wait another year for the third book! But I know it’s going to be worth the wait. J

Thank you to NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for providing an e-galley of this book! 



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Completely smitten!!


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