Book Review: Shadowlands by Kate Brian

Shadowlands by Kate Brian
Release Date: January 8, 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 336
Received: ARC from publisher
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Page

Summary

From Goodreads:

Rory Miller had one chance to fight back and she took it. Rory survived… and the serial killer who attacked her escaped. Now that the infamous Steven Nell is on the loose, Rory must enter the witness protection with her father and sister, Darcy, leaving their friends and family without so much as a goodbye.

Starting over in a new town with only each other is unimaginable for Rory and Darcy. They were inseparable as children, but now they can barely stand each other. As the sisters settle in to Juniper Landing, a picturesque vacation island, it seems like their new home may be just the fresh start they need. They fall in with a group of beautiful, carefree teens and spend their days surfing, partying on the beach, and hiking into endless sunsets. But just as they’re starting to feel safe again, one of their new friends goes missing. Is it a coincidence? Or is the nightmare beginning all over again?

Review

What I thought before I started the book

Shadowlands is a contemporary, so of course I wasn't totally sold on the idea of reading it. I mean, ok, yes, there's a serial killer on the loose, and witness protection, and other tense stuff. But I wondered if that was going to be enough to keep me hooked.

But I had nothing to fear because Shadowlands kept me hooked from page one straight through to the gut-punching end. 

What I thought before I finished the book

Shadowlands starts out with a bang, wasting no time in throwing you in right as Rory is getting attacked. That's my kind of book. Tension is kept decently high in the beginning as Rory's family deals with the police and they discover just how involved the killer was in their life (super creepy).

And then the witness protection part started. I know how much Ruby loves witness protection stories, so it's hard to admit this but I sometimes struggle with them. I know there's usually something that shatters the safety of the program (so, yay action), and I do love mentally playing with the idea of taking on a new identity, but it's the whole "protection" part of it that I don't like. I don't want my characters to be protected, all safe and snug in their new identity. I want them facing constant peril.

So I was worried I'd start to doze off as soon as Rory and her family arrived at their quaint little island refuge. And I totally would have if it hadn't been for this mysterious something that simmered just beneath the surface.

A lot of time is spent on Rory going to the island's parties and wondering which guy is more interested in Rory (because, of course, two of them are). Objectively, I didn't much care about any of this. I didn't get why either guy was interested in Rory, and neither guy was particularly appealing.

But I still couldn't tear myself away. In this case, the fact that I didn't get why the guys were interested in her was actually intriguing. I got the feeling they were interested in her for some other reason. There was something going on in that little town and I couldn't shake the feeling that nothing was what it seemed. I was 100% committed to figuring out what was really going on.

What I thought after I finished the book

I would have loved Shadowlands when I was a tween/early teen. That was during my Lois Duncan phase and this book would have fit right in. Extra points would have been given for the startling ending I never would have predicted.

But I'm not a teen anymore, and I've read enough books to have had a pretty good idea where everything would end. I had two major theories about where this was all heading, and one of them proved right (thankfully, the one I was hoping for. Seriously, I was crossing my fingers and praying they weren't a secret cult of vampires).

That's ok though. Despite my theories, Kate Brian did a good job of dropping clues at just the right points to keep me hooked and guessing until the very end.

Extras to note

The mystery hogged most of my attention, but Kate Brian does also spend a lot of time developing the relationships between Rory, her father, and her sister Darcy. I was interested in seeing how each relationship deepened and changed through the course of the book.

That might not sound like a ringing endorsement, but I'm a very issue-phobic reader (there was the specter of a dead mother here, and NOT the literal ghost kind!), so coming from me that's pretty high praise.

Bottom line

Shadowlands ends pretty neatly (though abruptly), with a few threads left dangling. When I finished the book I was under the impression it was a standalone and I was perfectly happy with how it ended. The ending again reminded me of the books I read as a teen when most books were standalones and not everything was wrapped up with a bow and a twenty page epilogue.

But Shadowlands is not a standalone. It is part one of a trilogy (series?), and I am kinda disappointed. I don't see where the series has to go at this point, but I'm curious to find out (especially in light of the Big Reveal at the end). Not personally, maybe, as I'm not sure I'll be tuning in for the sequel, but I'll at least read reviews to find out what direction it takes.

But that's mostly because character building (these were pretty thin) and fantasies are more my thing. Fans of contemporary thrillers should enjoy Shadowlands (particularly readers who didn't spend their teen years marinating in Lois Duncan thrillers). The attractive cover, short chapters, and fast-paced mystery should make Shadowlands an appealing pick for YA readers.

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

Do you have any questions about Shadowlands that I haven't addressed? 
Feel free to ask in the comments!

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Heroes in Training #1 & 2 by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom 
Poseidon and the Sea of Fury
by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams
Series: #1 and #2 in the Heroes in Training series
Release Date: August 7, 2012, December 4, 2012
Publisher: Aladdin
Pages: 112, 128
Received: Review copies from author
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

After pulling a magical thunderbolt from a stone, ten-year-old Zeus goes on the adventure of a lifetime in this thrilling start to a brand-new series!The terrible Titans—merciless giants who enjoy snacking on humans—have dominated the earth and put the world into chaos. But their rule is about to be put to the test as a group of young Olympians discover their powers and prepare to righteously rule the universe....   
-Goodreads

After gobbling down the Goddess Girls series, I was eager to try Joan and Suzanne's latest MG Greek series, Heroes in Training. Of course, I wasn't let down!

Whereas Goddess Girls are decidedly girl books, Heroes in Training will appeal to boys just as much as girls. There is definitely crossover between the two series with regard to audience age, but I think Heroes in Training dips into the younger end of MG a little more (which will delight the younger siblings of my Goddess Girls library girls who have found the Goddess Girls series tempting but a little above their level).

Compared to Goddess Girls, Heroes in Training has shorter chapters and more straightforward focus on plot over character development. As a result, I didn't fall in love with the characters as much as I did with the Goddess Girls. Actually, I didn't even have much feelings for them one way or another. There's nothing wrong with them, but the plot definitely takes precedence. Which is totally fine. The intended audience really isn't looking or ready for complex character development.

The plot is so fast and fun that it's easy to get swept up in the events of the story and focus on little else. The action starts right away and doesn't let up. Greek myths are more directly re-told than not, but all the slower bits are stripped away, diving straight into the action. It's like a lesson on Greek mythology, but told in a totally kid-friendly, cartoon-episode way. It's also pretty funny (love the oracle and her foggy glasses!).

Book one, Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom, introduced readers to Zeus and set the stage for the coming battle against the Titans.  Poseidon and the Sea of Fury picks up right where book one left off but also introduces Hera and Poseidon. The character dynamics combined with Greek myth focus strongly reminded me of the Percy Jackson series (though this series is set IN the myths, whereas Percy Jackson was set in modern times).

These vibes absolutely delighted me,  because now I have a series I can give readers who desperately want to read Percy Jackson (their older siblings read it, they liked the movie) but they are too young to actually read those books on their own. Heroes in Training fills the void perfectly and gives them a series that can be Just For Them until they're old enough to transition to Percy Jackson.

Each book ends pretty much right in the middle of the story, giving a feeling more like a serialized novel than a more traditional series. I imagine this approach would frustrate readers immensely if installments were published once per year, but thankfully Heroes in Training seem to have a rapid publishing schedule with only a few months between each book. This should keep excitement high and will guarantee avid and frequent re-reads.  Heroes in Training should be a solid purchase for libraries and personal libraries.

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key

Do you have any questions about Heroes in Training that I haven't addressed?

Feel free to ask in the comments!

Click to add to Goodreads

Click to buy on Amazon

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Book Review: Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft by Jody Gehrman

Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft by Jody Gehrman
Series: #1 in the Audrey's Guides series
Release Date: June 30, 2012
Publisher: Magic Genie Books
Pages: 293
Received: Review copy from author
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Page

Summary

From Goodreads: 

Falling in Love, baking a magical cake, fighting an evil necromancer—it’s all in a day’s work for Audrey Oliver, seventeen-year-old witch-in-training.

When her mother goes missing and her twenty-one-year-old witchy cousin shows up out of the blue, Audrey knows something’s gone horribly, dangerously wrong. Now it’s up to her to get her own magical powers up to speed before everyone she loves is destroyed by the sorcerer intricately connected to her mother’s secret past.

Review

Audrey has best friend potential

Audrey is my favorite type of main character: She's honest, real, a little insecure, not perfect, but her heart is in the right place and she always tries to do right by those she loves. Think girls like Gwen Frost from the Mythos Academy series or Mel from Crown Duel. I can instantly relate to this type of character.

The secondary characters were, for the most part, just as good as Audrey. Her love interest easily falls into the category of "nice guy" and while I usually find this kind of guy a little bland and boring, Julian's persistence and adorable attempt at cooking totally won me over.

But romance isn't the only relationship explored. I love it when authors provide MCs with non-romantic relationships, and Jody totally delivered on this front. From Audrey's best friend to her cousin to her sister, each character is fully developed and their relationships with Audrey grow and deepen throughout the book.

First time witches and magical mysteries!

While I think the strength of Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft is more in the characters than plot, I did still like the plot (even if it is a little wandering). I'm a huge sucker for the "new witch learning about her powers" topic, and Jody Gehrman gave me pretty much everything I wanted on that front (except laugh out loud humor. I was really hoping for another basketball or closet scene).

Another bonus were the witchy gadgets and spells Jody Gehrman introduced. There were a lot of, "That's so cool! I WANT IT!" things, which is half the reason I love reading books like this in the first place.

While Audrey's learning what it means to be a witch and exploring her budding romance with Julian, she's also engaging in some detective work. *sigh* I love a character who sleuths. Audrey has a few mysteries on her plate and following along as she pieced together the clues was a lot of fun (even if a few points were kinda obvious).

The only downside?

Cackling evil villain. I had a feeling this was coming, but the final climax confirmed all my suspicions. The villain had very little depth and while they had an explanation for their behavior, it still pretty much added up to, "Because I'm evil!" and that was a total bummer. I was doubly let down considering how well Jody developed her other characters.

But that's ok. Maybe it's because I'm a big fantasy fan, but I've learned to brush off mediocre villain reveals as long as the journey is worthwhile. And I definitely enjoyed the journey here.

Bottom line

I will for sure continue with Audrey's journey in the next book. I have a feeling this series is going to be another comfort read for me, and while those books aren't necessarily mind-blowing, they're always good to kick back and relax with. I'm a character girl, and these are characters I can easily spend more time with.

The big showdown happened and everything was wrapped up mostly ok, but there are definitely a few major loose ends left dangling. I don't think it's a rip-you-hair-out cliffhanger though, and the plot is simple enough that I'm not too worried about forgetting major plot points by the time the sequel comes out. I don't think it's necessary to hold off on reading until all the books in the series have been published.

Added bonus? There are recipes in this book!

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

Do you have any questions about Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft that I haven't addressed? 
Feel free to ask in the comments!

Looking for another book like this? 

You might like: 

Click on the covers to go to my reviews.

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Book Review: Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep

Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep
Series: #4 in the Mythos Academy series
Release Date: December 24, 2012
Publisher: Kensington
Pages: 384
Received: ARC from author and publisher
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Page

WARNING!

This review contains spoilers for the previous books in the series. Haven't started the series yet? Check out my spoiler-free review of the first book Touch of Frost instead!

Summary

From Goodreads (spoilers, highlight to read):


I should have known that my first official date with Logan Quinn was destined to end in disaster. If we’d gotten into a swordfight, or been ambushed by Reapers, I’d have been more prepared. But getting arrested mid-sip at the local coffee hangout? I didn’t see that one coming.

I’ve been accused of purposely helping the Reapers free Loki from his prison—and the person leading the charge against me is Linus Quinn, Logan’s dad. The worst part is that pretty much everyone at Mythos Academy thinks I’m guilty. If I’m going to get out of this mess alive, I’ll have to do it myself…

Review

Explosions of love!

I enjoyed every second of this book! I can't even put my finger on exactly why I love the Mythos Academy series so much, but I do. It's my ultimate comfort read. It's like putting on a cozy sweater, curling up on the couch, and having a marathon catch up session with my best friend.

I was happy with Crimson Frost from page one and it just kept getting better and better. Even though everything I wanted to happen didn't actually happen yet, I almost don't even care. What I got was perfect.

Are all my favorite characters back?

Well, no, because one of them is DEAD. (Do I sound upset? Who, me?). 

But, other than that, yes, everyone makes an appearance. Sadly some make less of a showing than in previous books (Daphne where were your sparkly fingers for most of the book?!) and Grandma Frost doesn't bake nearly as much as my stomach wanted her to (though my waistline thanks you, Ms Estep).

However, I forgive whatever quibbles I may have about wanting to spend more time with these characters because Vic makes up for it all. He gets ALL the points in the world!

I've always loved his snarky, bloodthirsty side, and the ante-upping of the previous book gives him a lot of opportunities to goad Gwen into enthusiastic violence. Plus, he has a rivalry with another talking sword (we hate her!) and I seriously can't get enough of their verbal sparring mixed with Vic's snide asides to Gwen.

But, as the previous book showed, Vic isn't all blood and guts. He has a softer side, and it comes out SO adorably in Crimson Frost. His relationship with Nox's little baby wolf is out-loud-awww-inducing and there is a particularly touching scene between Vic and Gwen that nearly broke my heart with bitter-sweet love. 

Is there series stretching?

No! While it does seem a little like a diverting tease because I really do want to see Gwen battle Loki already (she doesn't, not yet anyway), I can't accuse Crimson Frost of being a filler book. Stuff happens, from page one.

There's a trial and a new mythological creature and lots of bloody battles! Plus, other stuff. As per usual, there's a mystery threaded throughout the story and Gwen is up to her usual sleuthing. I love that she sleuths.

Even more importantly, I love Gwen. Crimson Frost reaffirmed why I love her so much. She's strong, resilient, inquisitive, loyal, and determined. But, she's imperfect. A lot of this book was Gwen doubting herself and wondering if she did the right thing and if she can actually do what Nike believes she can do.

Normally I'd be all, "Quit yer whining" about a character getting down on themselves, but not here. Gwen doesn't throw herself a pity party. She asks legit questions and honestly analyzes her actions. She has real reasons to doubt and I think it was important to the book and her character development for her to explore those questions. She didn't come across like a whiner at all. Her doubts only made her seem more endearing, real, and admirable.

So, much as I'd like to get to the final battle, I appreciate that Jennifer Estep isn't skipping ahead. These steps along the way are important and I think they make for a stronger series overall. 

I didn't notice the writing

My one quibble with this series has been Gwen's repetitive recapping everything. I find it endearing because it's a part of what makes Gwen, Gwen, but it was always something that stood out and pulled me out of my reading experience.

But that didn't happen in Crimson Frost!

There was just enough recapping so I knew where I was and what had happened in the previous books, despite my bad memory (it has been about seven months since I read Dark Frost), but that was it.

Bottom line

When is the next book coming out?! (Well, August 2013, so what I really mean is, why can't I have it now?!) The end is a pretty big cliffhanger. I mean, ok, fine, no one is actually dangling from a cliff and the book ends pretty much the way all the other books ended before where the main gist of the story is wrapped up but the overarching Loki storyline is still wide open and gearing up for even higher stakes.

But, I don't want to wait. I love this series.

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

Do you have any questions about Crimson Frost that I haven't addressed? 
Feel free to ask in the comments!

Looking for another book like this? 

You might like: 

Click on the covers to go to my reviews/Goodreads.

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2013 Reading Challenge Addict

3/6 challenges
Challenge Basics:  

Name: 2013 Reading Challenge Addict
Hosts : Reading Challenge Addict
Starts: January 1, 2013
Ends: December 31, 2013
Eligible Books: Complete the reading challenges I've signed up for.
Levels: Four; I am going to try for the second level: 6-10 challenges (I've signed up for 6)
Prizes? Yes, TBA
Sign up page 


Why I'm Interested:  

Well, I've already signed up for 6 challenges, so I still qualify as an addict!

Challenges Completed:

3. The Bucket List
2. YA Historical Fiction
1. Fairy Tales Retold

Have you signed up for this challenge? What level are you going for?

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2013 Fairy Tales Challenge

7/3 books

Challenge Basics:

Name: 2013 Fairy Tales Retold Challenge
Hosts : Debz Bookshelf
Starts: January 1, 2013
Ends: December 31, 2013
Eligible Books: Fairy tale retellings! Or original fairy tales.
Levels: Six; I am going to go for the first level: Read 1-3 books
Link your reviews? TBA
Prizes? Giveaways
Sign up page

Why I'm Interested:

Because I am a fairy tale addict. Also, because I like Debz and her blog. AND, because I participated in this challenge last year, and failed terribly. I'm determined to fix that in 2013.

Books Considered:

Fairy tales on my Retellings Goodeads shelf. Added bonus if I read books I already own.

Books Completed:

7. The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velde
6. East by Edith Pattou
5. Watersong by Suzanne Weyn
4. The Rose Bride by Nancy Holder
3. Far Far Away by Tom McNeal
2. The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler
1. Frogged by Vivian Vande Velde

Have you signed up for these challenges? What books are you planning on reading? Do you have any suggestions that I absolutely MUST read?

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2013 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge

2/5 books

How do you make a progress bar? 

Challenge Basics:  

Name: 2013 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge
Hosts : Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf 
Starts: January 1, 2013
Ends: December 31, 2013
Eligible Books: Any book that contains a witch as a main character or witchcraft elements.
Levels: Four; I am going to try for the first level: Read 1-5 books
Prizes? Yes! But only if you link your reviews.
Link Your Reviews: Yes, HERE
Sign up page 

Why I'm Interested:  

Because witches are awesome! But mostly because I like Melissa and her blog.

Some books I'm considering: 

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins
The Minister's Daughter by Julie Hearn

Books Completed:

5.
4. Heir to the Shadows by Anne Bishop
3. Black Dawn by L. J. Smith
2. Curses, Inc. by Vivian Vande Velde
1. Spellbinding by Maya Gold

Have you signed up for this challenge? What books are you planning on reading? Do you have any suggestions that I absolutely MUST read?

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2013 Bucket List Challenge

18/15 books

How do you make a progress bar? 

Challenge Basics:

Name: 2013 Bucket List Challenge
Hosts: None that I know, so this will be a personal challenge. Last year it was hosted by The Eclectic Bookshelf
Starts: January 1, 2013
Ends: December 31, 2013
Eligible Books: Books I have been meaning to read for a long time, but still haven't read.
Levels: N/A. I am going to set a personal goal of 15 books

Why I'm Interested:

I WANT to read these books, but I always push them aside for some reason. NO MORE!

I chose 15 books since that's my goal for the Off The Shelf challenge, but I wonder if I'm not reaching too high.

Books Considered:

Alanna, The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
The Blue Sword/The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan
The Seer and the Sword by Victoria Hanley
Everlasting by Angie Frazier

And the books mentioned in my other challenge posts other books that have been on my TBR prior to 2013

Books Completed:

18. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig
17. Raven Rise by D. J. MacHale
16. A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson
15. The Decoy Princess by Dawn Cook
14. Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl
13. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
12. The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler
11. Curses Inc by Vivian Vande Velde
10. Wintertide by Michael J. Sullivan
9. The Emerald Storm by Michael J. Sullivan
8. Nyphron Rising by Michael J. Sullivan
7. Avempartha by Michael J. Sullivan
6. The Crown Conspiracy by Michael J. Sullivan
5. Flight of the Phoenix by R. L. LaFevers
4. The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones
3. Angelfall by Susan Ee
2. The Throne of Glass Novellas by Sarah J. Maas
1. Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus by R. L. LaFevers

Have you signed up for a similar challenge? What books are you planning on reading? Do you have any suggestions that I absolutely MUST read?

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2013 Off the Shelf Challenge

6/15 books

How do you make a progress bar? 

Challenge Basics: 

Name: Off the Shelf Challenge
Hosts: Bookish Ardour
Starts: January 1, 2013
Ends: December 31, 2013
Eligible Books: Books you own prior to 2013. I will also personally count books I acquire in 2013 toward my own personal goal of making sure I read all the books I own.
Levels: 7. I'm going to try for the second level of 15 books.
Prizes? None that I see

Sign up page

Why I'm Interested:  

Because I am terrible at actually reading the books I own. I think 15 is a lofty goal and I actually don't think I'll accomplish that, but the first level of five books felt like taking the wimpy way out. Plus, I have this goal for a reason, and reading only five books doesn't really satisfy that reason.

Besides, last year I ended up reading 13 books for the challenge, so hopefully I can at least come close to replicating that. I'll be happy if I tackle at least seven previously owned books and 15 books I acquire in 2013. 

Some books I'm considering: 

Books I own and have not read, particularly:

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Haunting Violet by Alexandra Harvey
Storybound by Marissa Burt
The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
Monstrumologist

and any other books that qualify for my other challenges

Books Completed:

15.
14.
13.
12.
11.
10.
9.
8.
7. Raven Rise by D. J. MacHale
6. Haunting Violet by Alexandra Harvey
5. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
4. The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler
3. Spellbinding by Maya Gold
2. Poison by Bridget Zinn
1. Angelfall by Susan Ee

Books Acquired in 2013 Completed:

19. Daughters of the Nile by Stephanie Dray
18. Bloodstone by Gillian Philip
17. Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers
16. Confessions of Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey
15. A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson
14. A Spark Unseen by Sharon Cameron
13. The Decoy Princess by Dawn Cook
12. Midnight Frost by Jennifer Estep
11. Forevermore by Cindy Miles
10. Sidekicked by John David Anderson
9. Rebel Spirits by Lois Ruby
8. Curses Inc. by Vivian Vande Velde
7. The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy
6. Wednesdays in the Tower by Jessica Day George
5. Firebrand by Gillian Philip
4. A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan
3. The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett
2. The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen
1. The Fourth Stall Part III by Chris Rylander

Have you read any of these books? Do you have any suggestions that I absolutely MUST read? 

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2013 Court Fantasy Challenge

2/6 books

How do you make a progress bar? 

Challenge Basics: 

Name: Court Fantasy Challenge
Hosts: No one. This is a personal challenge
Starts: January 1, 2013
Ends: December 31, 2013
Eligible Books: Book recommended from YOU in the If I Like...Court Fantasy post. Feel free to add more suggestions here or on that post!
Levels: N/A. I'm going to set a personal goal of 6 books.
Prizes? No

Why I'm Interested:  

Because you all recommended such great books! I love the genre and there really is no reason I've pushed off those books for so long.

Bonus goal: I want to read books that have been on my TBR for a while.

Some books I'm considering: 

Books from the If I Like...Court Fantasy post.

I'd really like to tackle at least one of these, as they've been on my person TBR for a long time and I own most of them:

Something by Robin McKinley
The Decoy Princess by Dawn Cook
Tamora Pierce's Alanna books
The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler
Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn

Books Completed:

6.
5.
4.
3.
2. The Decoy Princess by Dawn Cook
1. The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler

Have you read any of these books? Do you have any suggestions that I absolutely MUST read? 
Anyone want to read along with me? Nothing formal or fancy!

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2013 Historical Fiction Challenge

20/6 books

How do you make a progress bar? 

Challenge Basics: 

Name: 2013 Historical Fiction Challenge
Hosts : Don't know. YA Bliss  hosted last year, but I don't know if she's doing it this year.
Starts: January 1, 2013
Ends: December 31, 2013
Eligible Books: Read YA or MG historical fiction books. I'm going to include adult books.
Levels: N/A. I'm going to set a personal goal of 6 books. 

Prizes? No
Sign up page   

Why I'm Interested:  

I seriously want to increase the number of historical fiction books I read. I love the genre, but I'm always pushing it aside in favor of fantasy and paranormal books. I ended up reading 9 books out of a goal of 15 last year, so I'm hoping I can at the very least accomplish six.

Bonus goal: I want to read historical fiction books that have been on my TBR for a while.

Some books I'm considering: 

Books from my Goodreads shelf. Even though it's sort of cheating, historical fantasy has been accepted for this challenge in the past, so I'm going to allow myself to include historical fantasy again, as long as the historical parts are strongly integrated and not just a loose backdrop. I don't want the majority of the books I read to be historical fantasy. My goal is really for straight up real historical fiction.

I'd really like to tackle at least one of these:

Something by Patrick O'Brian
Stephanie Dray's new Cleopatra Selene book
Fever 1793
The Agency by Y. S. Lee
Something by Lisa Klein
Something by Mary Hooper
Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl
The Queen's Daughter by Susan Coventry
The Devil's Queen by Jean Kalogridis
Cinders and Sapphires by Leila Rasheed (DNF'd)

Something by C. W. Gortner

Books Completed:

20. Becoming Josephine by Heather Webb
19. Daughters of the Nile by Stephanie Dray
18. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig
17. Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers
16. Palace of Spies by Sarah Zettel
15. Confessions of Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey
14. A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson
13. A Spark Unseen by Sharon Cameron
12. Delia's Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer
11. Elizabeth, Princess Bride by Barry Benenberg
10. Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow by Juliet Grey
9. Elizabeth I, Red Rose of the House of Tudor by Kathryn Lasky
8. Doomed Queen Anne by Carolyn Meyer
7. Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey
6. The Queen's Handmaiden by Jennifer Ashely
5. Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl
4. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
3. Katharine, The Virgin Widow by Jean Plaidy
2. Nine Days a Queen by Ann Rinaldi
1. The Last Queen by C. W. Gortner

Have you signed up for a historical fiction challenge? What books are you planning on reading? Do you have any suggestions that I absolutely MUST read?

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Books I got (9)

Click here to see my previous indulgences.  

For Review

Shadow Breaker

by Daniel Blythe

Goodreads Page

 All I really needed to read was,"An electrifying paranormal thriller that will have readers guessing till the end!"because I am totally up for that! I haven't heard much buzz about this title yet, and I'm not sure where it falls on the MG/YA continuum, but I have high hopes that all that swirly magic looking stuff and scared expression on the MC, combined with "action pose" means Shadow Breaker will be a lot of fun.

Requested and received from Scholastic.

Spellbinding

by Maya Gold

Goodreads Page

Witches! I loves stories about witches discovering their powers. There's a lot of room for funny mistakes as the MC learns how to harness their new powers, and it sounds like Maya Gold is going to capitalize on that potential (love spell? When do those ever go as planned?)

Plus, a blonde witch learning how to use her witchy powers never fails to make me think of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and that's always a good thing.

Requested and received from Scholastic.

The Runaway King

by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Goodreads Page

Ok, so clearly I loved the first book, so is it any wonder I'd do just about anything to get my hands on a copy of the sequel? Lucky for me, Scholastic didn't require any of the high stakes bribes I was totally ready to offer. And even though I'm a little scared to read it (this IS a sequel, after all), I'm pretty confident Jennifer A. Nielsen won't let me down.

Requested and received from Scholastic.

The Fourth Stall Part III

by Chris Rylander

Goodreads Page

The Mob meets middle grade in this hilarious series that never fails to disappoint. I'm glad to see Chris Rylander extending the series, and given the self-contained nature of each installment, I hope he continues writing many more.

Pitched and received from publisher.

Pandora the Curious

by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Goodreads Page

Goddess Girls! This is the first book about Pandora and I can't wait to see things from her perspective. She's a peripheral character, and while not as personally interesting to me as Medusa, I do love getting to see a story from a different point of view. I'm also really looking forward to seeing what hijinks happen after she opens the box!

Pitched and received from author.

Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom
Poseidon and the Sea of Fury

by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Goodreads Page

I've been waiting for this series for so long! Pitched to a slightly younger audience than Goddess Girls and seemingly attractive to both boys and girls, I have super high hopes for these books!

Pitched and received from author.

Crimson Frost
by Jennifer Estep

Goodreads Page

I consider this series my comfort read. It makes me happy and I love spending time with Gwen and her friends. The events at the end of the last book really kicked things up a notch in the peril and sadness department, and I hope things get better for Gwen in Crimson Frost. 

Pitched and received from author and publisher.

Finn Finnegan

by Darby Karchut

Goodreads Page

I liked Darby's Griffin Rising enough to want to check out what else she had to offer. Her upcoming Finn Finnegan sounded super appealing with its mentor/student relationship (Darby writes these wonderfully) and it's MC with attitude (love guys like that!). Lucky for me, I now have a copy to review!

Pitched and received from author.

Scent of Magic
by Maria V. Snyder

Goodreads Page

I adored the first book Touch of Power so, so much and I've been counting down the days until I could get my hands on a copy of the sequel. That journey was anything but smooth.

I mostly wrote off the idea of requesting an ARC because, well, because I'm shy! So I figured I'd track it down when it came into the library. BUT, then I saw it on NetGalley! But then I saw it was the UK version and I am not a UK resident. But I figured, well, why not just try requesting? I'm getting more ok with the idea of rejection anyway.

But I wasn't rejected! After making awkward noises of surprise and excitement upon opening the approval email, I quickly clicked over to NetGalley so I could drop everything and start reading. Except, there was only a Kindle button. And I don't have a Kindle. Fighting back tears (ok, not literally, but close!) and mustering up my courage, I sent an email to the publisher asking if there was another format available. And I heard nothing back.

I had pretty much given up on the idea of getting to read this book anytime soon when I decided to check the NetGalley page just one more time. SUCCESS!! There was an Adobe Digital Editions button this time!

Now, here's hoping the book is filled with as much adventure and emotional turmoil as the process of acquiring the book.

Requested and received from the publisher, via NetGalley.

Bought

Bourne and Tributary
by Lisa T. Bergren

Goodreads Page

Even though I already have both of these in e-book format, I'm a paper-copy girl. When I saw Lisa was releasing these together in hard copy, I knew I had to buy it. Added bonus? I'm blurbed on the back!!! (Another bonus? BOTH guys look fantastic).

What did you get this week? Are you interested in reading any of these books? What did you think of them if you've read them already?

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Books Read in 2013

Previous years' lists

* A book I own
** An audio book


August()
 
59. Elizabeth, the Princess Bride by Barry Benenberg

July(11)
 
58. The Reality Bug by D. J. MacHale**
57. Days of Splendor, Days of Sorry by Juliet Grey
56. Elizabeth I, Red Rose of the House of Tudor by Kathryn Lasky
55. The Rose and the Thorn by Michael J. Sullivan
54. Doomed Queen Anne by Carolyn Meyer
53. The Queen's Handmaiden by Jennifer Ashley
52. Grave Mercy by R. L. LaFevers*
51. Spartan Frost by Jennifer Estep
50. The Crown Tower by Michael J. Sullivan
49. Forevermore by Cindy Miles*
48. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

June (13)
 
47. Janes in Love by Cecil Castellucci
46. East by Edith Pattou
45. The Quillan Games by D. J. MacHale**
44. Watersong by Suzanne Weyn
43. The Rose Bride by Nancy Holder
42. Sidekicked by John David Anderson*
41. The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci
40. Far Far Away by Tom McNeal
39. Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela Macoll
38. Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey*
37. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson*
36. Outcast by Adrienne Kress
35. The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler*

May (6)
 
34. Katharine, the Virgin Widow by Jean Plaidy
33. Rebel Spirits by Lois Ruby*
32. Curses Inc. and Other Stories by Vivian Vande Velde*
31. The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy*
30. Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo**
29. Wednesdays in the Tower by Jessica Day George*
April (6)

28. The Rivers of Zadaa by D. J. MacHale**
27. Nine Days a Queen by Ann Rinaldi
26. Spellbinding by Maya Gold*
25. The Pirate's Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke
24. The Unicorn's Tale by R. L. LaFevers
23. The Last Queen by C. W. Gortner

March (10)

22. Frogged by Vivian Vande Velde
21. Poison by Bridget Zinn*
20. Firebrand by Gillian Philip*
19. The Glitter Trap by Barbara Brauner
18. The Wyvern's Treasure by R. L. LaFevers
17. Percepliquis by Michael J. Sullivan*
16. A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan*
15. Wintertide by Michael J. Sullivan*
14. The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett*
13. The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen*

February (5)

12. The Basilisk's Lair by R. L. LaFevers
11. The Emerald Storm by Michael J. Sullivan*
10. Nyphron Rising by Michael J. Sullivan*
9. Avempartha by Michael J. Sullivan*
8. The Fourth Stall, Part III by Chris Rylander *

January (7)

7. A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
6. The Crown Conspiracy by Michael J. Sullivan*
5. Flight of the Phoenix by R. L. LaFevers
4. The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones
3. Angelfall by Susan Ee *
2. Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus by R. L. LaFevers
1. Throne of Glass Novellas (2-4) by Sarah J. Maas

Did Not Finish

1. The Remarkable Life and Times of Eliza Rose by Mary Hooper (121 of 336) * Tweet

Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013!

Another year has come and gone and now it's time to look back on how things went in 2012 and set the stage for 2013! (Don't care about my 2012 challenges? Skip to the second pink header!)

So, 2012, how did I do? 

As far as challenges went, not too bad! Considering. Though this is purely coincidental because after the first few months I pretty much gave up on even thinking about them. I was way too busy and disorganized to post my reviews on any of the link ups or enter any of the monthly giveaways (or even end of the year giveaways).

I did try to keep up with at least recording things on my own blog, but that mostly happened in a few big catch up sessions after letting things build up for a few months without updates. I was also frequently confused as to whether or not a book actually counted for a particular challenge (is this a fairy tale or more of a fantasy??) I seriously over-think things too much (I'm terrible at multiple choice tests!).

So, all in all, I didn't do very well with my challenges, even though I did manage to finish a few. Though I'm particularly happy with how many books I read for the Bucket List challenge and the Off The Shelf challenge, since reading older books is an area I tend to neglect (I'm so easily distracted by all the bright, pretty new books coming out!) Of course I didn't read many of the ones I actually hoped to read, but shhh, let's just not speak of that.

You can click on the links to see the specific books I read for each challenge.


YA Mythology Challenge: Finished! 10/10
Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams made this challenge a breeze. I almost feel like I cheated on this challenge though, considering 7 of the ten books were tiny MG books. I wish I had read more varied YA.

Fairy Tales Retold: Did not finish. 4/12
I'm pretty shocked at this pitiful showing. I'm usually so into fairy tale retellings. Was this not as big a year for them, or did I just miss out on a bunch of great new books?

Bucket List Challenge: Finished! 19/8
Woohoo! I'm super happy with myself on this challenge. And surprised. Very surprised. Bigger surprise is that I actually own 14 of these books (I'm especially neglectful of my own books).

Classic Double Challenge: N/A out of 3 pairs
I totally failed this one. I recorded nine books before giving up because I only managed to read the retelling versions. I hoped this would inspire me to read originals, but clearly I'm hard to inspire (I still love the idea of this challenge!)

Just Contemporary Reading Challenge: Finished! 9/5
Wow, I'm surprised with myself! Usually I'm pretty reluctant to read contemporaries because I have a hard time believing a book can be engaging without any magic or historical features. I had mixed results with these. I think, for me, a lot has to do with the author.

The Dystopia Challenge: Finished! 8/5
I loved four out of the eight and liked the other four, so not too bad. I even managed to read all but two of the books on my goal list for this challenge (one I haven't been able to get a hold of, the other, erm, I own).

E-Book Reading Challenge: Did not finish. 13/20
Well, this one didn't work out so well. All but one were review books, which I kind of figured would end up being the case. I don't really like reading on my computer, but this challenge did make me realize that I DO like reading them when I'm blow drying my hair (hands free!) and at night when the lighting in my bedroom is dimmer.

YA/MG Fantasy Challenge: Finished! Maybe? No?
I counted 20 books for the challenge before I realized the challenge only included fantasy books released this year. So the impressive showing I thought I had (20/10!) really isn't quite so impressive. I'm not sure if I finished this or not, and after agonizing over the question of, "Is this a fantasy? Kinda? Technically no? Yes?" I decided to throw in the towel.

Finishing the Series Challenge: Finished! 3/2
I'm not sure how to calculate this one. I finished three series this year (4 books) that I had started prior to 2012, and I know those three count for the challenge and meet my goal. The others though? I don't know. I read 12 books that "completed" the series as far as published books are concerned, but the series are still technically ongoing. I also started and completed three series in 2012 (9 books). I totally failed when it came to my tentative goal books, but all in all I'm pretty happy with this.

Free Reads: Finished! 15/15 plus a lot more
I definitely did great with this challenge. I bought 12 of the books I read this year. The rest came from various free sources (library books—those don't count for the challenge, ARCs, gifts, and prizes). I feel pretty thrifty (even though I did go out and buy a lot of the books I read after I read them).

Support Your Local Library Challenge: Did not finish 10/36
What an embarrassing result. I would feel more ashamed of this if I didn't have a pretty good excuse. See, I moved this year, so for a big chunk of months I was on the road, unpacking, and then did not have a library card. I also had to play catch up with a lot of review books, so while I did physically pick up books from the library, I had to return a lot unread. 

Off the Shelf: Did not finish. 13/15
Not bad! I'm counting this as a personal win because usually my showing would be something more like 2, not thirteen. Not only that, but I managed to knock out 39 books that I acquired in 2012, and while those technically don't count for the challenge, I'm relieved they won't be fodder for next year's challenge.

2nds Challenge: Did not finish. 11/12
I was SO close! I stuck with a lot of new authors and tried and true authors of whom I've read a whole lot already, so there wasn't much room for this category. Even the few books I'm reading now and may be able to finish before the year is up are either new-to-me authors or my third+ experience with the author. So it doesn't look like I'll be able to pull this one off in time.

Sophomore Reading Challenge: Did not finish. 5/10
It would have been six if someone hadn't stolen picked up Hallowed from the library right before I could get it (I'm STILL on hold for it!) There were a few others I really wish I could have gotten a hold of (like Crown of Embers and Dreamless), but I have no excuses for why this is such a small list. On a positive note, I really enjoyed all of the second books I did read, so I'm twisting my failure here into a win for the "quality over quantity" argument.

Time Travel Reading Challenge: Did not finish. 2/6
Wow, this was a total failure! I ended up crossing off one of the potential books from my goal list due to negative reviews (or, at least reviews that made it seem like it wasn't a book for me) and another series that I own I had to leave in storage when I moved. Still, I just did straight up poorly with this one.

Witches and Witchcraft Reading Challenge: Finished! 6/6-10
I wish I had done better with this challenge, but hey, I finished on the low end! Unfortunately, a lot of the books I had planned on reading were available in my old library but not my new one. The Rachel Hawkins series IS in my new library, but I've had a heck of a time trying to get it (someone ALWAYS has book 2 checked out!). I'm also counting Beautiful Creatures for this challenge even though I know they're castors and "don't like to be called witches" because, please, they're totally witches.

YA Historical Fiction Challenge: Did not finish. 9/15
I'm SO disappointed with this! I really want to read more historical fiction, but somehow I always push it aside in favor of fantasy and paranormal books. I was hoping this challenge would help, but I guess my old habits die hard. I'm not even sure if a few of the books I did read count for the challenge (an adult book and Something Strange and Deadly).

Reading Challenge Addict : Did not finish. 7/18
Well, clearly I set the bar too high! Next year I'm definitely going to restrain myself when it comes to signing up for challenges. I do think my move and new job had a lot to do with my poor showing though. If I hadn't been so busy, then I'm confident I would have been able to knock out at least a few more challenges and I know I would have paid more attention to which challenges needed my attention.

What's ahead for 2013?

You'd think I'd have learned from last year's challenge disaster, and I have! I swear. At first I was going to abandon the idea of entering any challenges this year, but after recapping my 2012 challenges I realized I'm way too challenge addicted to do away with them completely. Plus, I really do want to accomplish some of my long-standing reading goals!

So, keep an eye out in the coming days for my challenge posts! I'm going for a targeted approach and I really, really hope 2013 is a successful challenge year.

I fully intend to carry on MY resolutions through at least March.

As far as the blog in 2013, you can expect much of the same as has happened in the latter part of 2012. Unfortunately, I'm still really busy! So my schedule will continue to be a little looser than it was before my move.

Given my time constraints, I will not be hosting a Busting the Newbie Blues this year. The event takes a ton of time and effort, and I don't have the ability to commit fully to such a project right now. I felt like I let the 2012 newbies down by not being as involved as I wanted to be, and I don't want to do that to 2013's newbies. I tossed around the idea of hosting anyway so newbies at least had a central place to link up and mingle, but I don't like doing things partway. Still, I'm on the fence. Let me know what you think?

On a brighter note, I DO fully intend to keep blogging through 2013! You can expect to see at least one post per week, though I will strive for more than one as time permits. I will be taking a page from Bookworm1858's "no frills" approach, so most posts will be reviews. I don't want to abandon my other features though, so you will see some Discussions, Spotlight Lists, Blogging Tips & Tricks, Cover reviews, If I Like..., and Review Comparisons thrown in throughout the year as well.

I would really appreciate some feedback on which posts you prefer to see, so I can direct my efforts toward your favorites. If you don't mind taking a moment to fill out THIS FORM, that would be SUPER helpful! It's anonymous, will take only two seconds, and you can select multiple options.

Thanks for sticking with my through this bumpy year! I can't even express how happy it makes me that you've stuck around and continue to read and comment on my blog. I'm so looking forward to spending 2013 with all of you!

Ready for some 2013 fun?

How did you do on your challenges?
What challenges are you signing up for 2013?

Is there anything in particular you'd like to see from Small Review in 2013?

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