Waiting On Wednesday (39)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we can't wait to get our hands on!

This week's WoW is The Young Elites by Marie Lu.

Goodreads Synopsis:

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all. 

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen. 

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

My Thoughts:

I loved the Champion series by Marie Lu, but The Young Elites definitely sounds more like my type of book. For me, paranormal/fantasy trumps everything. Can't wait! 

Extra Information:

Release Date: October 7, 2014

Hardcover: 368 Pages

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Genre: Fantasy/Superpowers

The Young Elites:

Book One: The Young Elites

Book Two: Unknown

Book Three: Unknown

How about you? What book are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Talon by Julie Kagawa

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up
Paperback: 400 Pages
Release Date: October 28, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Narration: First Person:
Ember, Garrett, Riley
Genre: Dragons/Paranormal

The Talon Series:
Book One: Talon
Book Two: Rouge
Book Three: Unknown
Book Four: Unknown
Book Five: Unknown

Order On Amazon: Hardcover
                              Kindle
Order On Barnes and Noble:
Hardcover and Nook

Author's
Goodreads  Website  Twitter  Facebook

Goodreads Synopsis:

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.

My Review:

Talon reminded me a lot of Sophie Jordan's Firelight.

Obviously the most prominent similarity being that they both revolve around dragons, but it went much deeper than that. Like Firelight, this book sported a star-crossed romance between a dragon and a dragon slayer. Adding to that, the third person in the love triangle was another dragon. There were more parallels than that, but for the sake of spoilers, I'm going to keep them out.

Talon was a very entertaining, action-packed, humor filled read. I had high expectations for Julie Kagawa after reading her Iron Fey series, and she definitely met them. I have to admit; I'm always quite wary when it comes to having expectations before starting a book, but I should've never doubted Julie's utter epicness. She always writes books filled to the brim with seat-gripping action, swoony romance, and sarcastic humor. What else could you possibly want? Ember was a headstrong, fiery (pardon the pun), and loyal character. She had a temper and was impulsive, but not overly so. Lately, I've been having issues with reading about characters who are too set on getting their way, ignoring advice from everyone else just because they don't want to be told what to do. There's a fine line between strength and stupidity. Ember made mistakes and raged a few times, but she grounded herself with the help of her loved ones.

The love triangle wasn't technically a love triangle....but it sorta was at the same time. We have two contenders at the moment, Garrett and Cobalt. However, despite Ember's attraction to both, it's obvious that her human side has stronger feelings for Garrett. He's the one always on her mind. They gradually fell in love through surfing lessons, carnival rides, and all the other cutesy things they did. With Cobalt, it was more primal instinct than anything else. Their dragons called to each other and when they were in dragon form, they could barely resist each other. What I'm thinking right now is that she'll end up with Garrett. However, there are two major problems standing in their way. One being the obvious "He's the enemy" sort of thing, but really, what's stopped two star-crossed lovers before? In fact, in most YA novels that seems to be the key factor. Impossible lovers = Definite relationship. Though there's also the issue that he's a human...and she's a dragon, a creature that lives for hundreds of years. This isn't Twilight. She can't bite him and turn him into a dragon so they can have a happily ever after. Unless some new secret about Garrett is revealed in the upcoming books, I can't see how they can be together in the long run.

Despite the fun I had reading this, the plot wasn't exactly original. Two radical societies hell bent on the destruction of the other. Two people from each society realizing that the world isn't as black and white as it had originally seemed. Later on in the series other people probably begin to realize the same thing, which leads to some sort of revolution and ends in either the abolishment of the old systems or the epiphany that things must change in order for both sides to survive. It's a storyline we've seen thousands of times before, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of it. It still had me gripping my seat, wondering what was going to happen next.

Overall, I enjoyed Talon very much. It was fast-paced, fun, and full of humor. The writing was amazing, as Julie Kagawa's writing always is and the dragon lore that was introduced was explained well. I was never left wondering about what something meant or how something worked, but I'm looking forward to delving deeper into the history of dragons in the next novel.

Cover- 6/5 Simple, yet undeniably gorgeous!

Heroine- 4.5/5

Romance- 4.5/5

Action- 5/5

Writing- 5/5

Humor- 5/5

Overall- 4.5/5

Funny Quotes

Funny:

A

"Beautiful face. Beautiful body. Horrible attitude. It was the holy trinity of hot boys."
-Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“Why are you such an ass?" The words came out before I could think twice.
"Everyone has to excel at something, right?"
"Well, you're doing a great job.”

-Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout

“I don't think he meant to kiss me," I said finally.
"What? Did he slip and fall on your mouth? Those things are known to happen.”

-Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout

“Doesn’t he own a shirt?” I asked, grabbing a spade. “Unfortunately, I don’t think so. Not even in the winter. He’s always running around half-dressed.” She groaned. “Its disturbing that I have to see so much of his…skin. Yuck.” Yuck for her. And hot damn for me.”

-Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout

B

“The Darkling will hunt you for the rest of your days."
"Then you and I will have something in common, won't we? Besides, I like to have powerful enemies. Makes me feel important."
Mal crossed his arms and considered the privateer. "I can't decide if you're crazy or stupid."
"I have so many good qualities," Sturmhond said. "It can be hard to choose.” 
-Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

“I'm perfectly capable of being stupid on my own.” -Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

“I saw the prince when I was in Os Alta,” said Ekaterina. “He’s not bad looking.”
“Not bad looking?” said another voice. “He’s damnably handsome.”
Luchenko scowled. “Since when—”
“Brave in battle, smart as a whip.” Now the voice seemed to be coming from above us. Luchenko craned his neck, peering into the trees. “An excellent dancer,” said the voice. “Oh, and an even better shot.”
“Who—” Luchenko never got to finish. A blast rang out, and a tiny black hole appeared between his eyes.
I gasped. “Imposs—”
“Don’t say it,” muttered Mal.” 
-Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

"What's up with hotness? I wonder. He looks like someone definitely broke his crayons."

-Inescapable by Amy A Bartol

C

D

E

F

G

H

“Dear God!
I screamed and buried my face in my pillow.
"What?!" I heard him ask. "Did you see a roach?"
"Why are you naked?!" I did not dare to lift my red face.
"Huh. Is that all?" he asked. "I always sleep in the buff. I don't know how you can stand all that clothing."
"Unbelievable." I said, and without looking at him I pulled myself up and stomped to the bathroom.”
-Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

“We are far too screwed up for a goddamned love triangle.” 
-The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

I

J

K

“Touch her, and I'll freeze your testicles off and put them in a jar. Understand?” 
-The Iron King by Julie Kagawa 

“Good idea,” Puck echoed from the back of the cave. “Why don’t you take first watch, prince? You could actually be doing something that doesn’t make me want to gouge my eyes out with a spork.”
Ash’s lips curled in a smirk. “I would think you’re better suited to the task, Goodfellow,” he said without turning around. “After all, that’s what you’re best at isn’t it? Watching?”
“Oh, keep it up, ice-boy. You’re gonna have to sleep sometime.” 
-The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

L

M

“How long was I asleep?" she whispered. He didn't respond.
"How long was I asleep?" she asked again, and noticed a hint of red in his cheeks.
"You were asleep, too?"
"Until you began drooling on my shoulder.” 

-Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

“Why do you call her 'love'?" James asks. "I've heard you say that before, too. A lot. Are you in love with her? I think Adam's in love with her. Kenji's not in love with her, though. I already asked him." 
Warner blinks at him. 
"Well?" James asks. 
"Well what?" 
"Are you in love with her?" 
"Are you in love with her?" 
"What?" James blushes. "No. She's like a million years older than me." 
"Would anyone else like to take over this conversation?" Warner asks, looking around the group.” 
-Tahereh Mafi, Ignite Me

“Are you out of your goddamn mind? You think we can take on two hundred soldiers? I know I am an extremely attractive man, J, but I am not Bruce Lee.”
“Who’s Bruce Lee?”
“Who’s Bruce Lee?” Kenji asks, horrified. “Oh my God. We can’t even be friends anymore.”
“Why? Was he a friend of yours?”
“You know what,” he says, “just stop. Just—I can’t even talk to you right now.” 
-Tahereh Mafi, Ignite Me

“Hey, um, I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm looking for a friend of mine," he says. "Have you seen her? She's a tiny little thing, cries a lot, spends too much time with her feelings-"
"Shut up, Kenji!"
"Oh wait!" he says. "It is you.” 
-Tahereh Mafi, Ignite Me

“I am going to MURDER YOU—”
“No,” he says, pointing at me as he shifts backward again. “Bad Juliette. You don’t like to kill people, remember? You’re against that, remember? You like to talk about feelings and rainbows—” 
-Tahereh Mafi, Ignite Me

"I have a ninja sitting shotgun. Of course I'm tense."

-Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

N

O

P

Q

R

"On the bright side," Percy said, "both Jason and I outrank you, Octavian. So we can both tell you to shut up." -The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

“You really need to work on intonation when you use sarcasm. That way people will know when you’re being an asshole.”

-Smokeless Fire by Samantha Young

Z

Inspiring/Truthful Quotes

Inspiring/Truthful:

A

B

“What is infinite? The universe and the greed of men.” 

-Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

“Weakness is a guise. Wear it when they need to know you're human, but never when you feel it.” 
-Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

“Beauty was your armor. Fragile stuff, all show. But what's inside you? That's steel. It's brave and unbreakable. And it doesn't need fixing.”
-Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

“Na razrusha'ya. I am not ruined. E'ya razrushost. I am ruination.” 

-Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

C

"Look not at the greatness of the evil past, but the greatness of the good to follow."
-Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

"Defiance of the way things are is the only way to embrace what's coming."
-Defiance by Shelly Crane

D

"Dying isn't the hardest thing you'll ever do-it's living. There are many choices that determine the direction of your life, but death only has one outcome."

-Sterling by Dannika Dark

"I think you know better than anyone that it is not the easy road that makes us capable of great things. It is the hard journey that leads to a greater destiny, You can never rise if you never have anything to rise above."

-Sterling by Dannika Dark

"Fate brought us together for a reason; there are no accidents. Everything that happens in our lives lead us to a greater destiny, even if we don't always understand the purpose."

-Twist by Dannika Dark

"But you've got to learn how to live your own life and don't worry about what the Clann thinks, or what the vampire council thinks, or what anybody says about you. None of this changes who you are inside. That's only up to you and what you choose."

-Crave by Melissa Darnell

E

F

G

“My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations.” 

-The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” 

-The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

“That’s part of what I like about the book in some ways. It portrays death truthfully. You die in the middle of your life, in the middle of a sentence”

-The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

H

“We have to face difficulties to find out what our true strengths are. How we come back from failure is a very valuable test.”

-Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

“It doesn't matter what we are. It matters what we do.”

-The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

“Regrets are only felt by those who do not understand life's purpose.”

-Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck

I

J

K

L

"The only limits of tomorrow are the doubts we have today."

-The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

"Never lose faith in yourself, and never lose hope; remember even when this world throws its worst and then turns its back, there is still always hope."

-The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

"Every day means a new 24 hours. Each day means everything's possible again. You live in the moment , you die in the moment, you take it all one day at a time."

-Legend by Marie Lu

M

“Libraries were full of ideas–perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.” 
-Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

“Sometimes, the wicked will tell us things just to confuse us–to haunt our thoughts long after we've faced them.” 

-Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

“You could rattle the stars," she whispered. "You could do anything, if only you dared. And deep down, you know it, too. That’s what scares you most.” 
-Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

“We all bear scars,... Mine just happen to be more visible than most.” 
-Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

“Still, the image haunted his dreams throughout the night: a lovely girl gazing at the stars, and the stars who gazed back.” 
-Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

“I spent my life folded between the pages of books.
In the absence of human relationships I formed bonds with paper characters. I lived love and loss through stories threaded in history; I experienced adolescence by association. My world is one interwoven web of words, stringing limb to limb, bone to sinew, thoughts and images all together. I am a being comprised of letters, a character created by sentences, a figment of imagination formed through fiction.” 
-Tahereh Mafi, Shatter Me

“Books are easily destroyed. But words will live as long as people can remember them.” 
-Tahereh Mafi, Unravel Me

“Words, I think, are such unpredictable creatures.
No gun, no sword, no army or king will ever be more powerful than a sentence. Swords may cut and kill, but words will stab and stay, burying themselves in our bones to become corpses we carry into the future, all the time digging and failing to rip their skeletons from our flesh.” 
-Tahereh Mafi, Ignite Me

“I’m not sure. But there’s something about the darkness, the stillness of this hour, I think, that creates a language of its own. There’s a strange kind of freedom in the dark; a terrifying vulnerability we allow ourselves at exactly the wrong moment, tricked by the darkness into thinking it will keep our secrets. We forget that the blackness is not a blanket; we forget that the sun will soon rise. But in the moment, at least, we feel brave enough to say things we’d never say in the light.” 
-Tahereh Mafi, Ignite Me

"Sometimes the greatest tests of our strength are situations that don't seem so obviously dangerous. Sometimes surviving is the hardest thing of all."

-Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

"Don't worry now about what you can't change. Rest when you can so you'll be ready for tomorrow's battles."

-Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

"The brave may not live forever, but the cautious never live at all."

-Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

N

"Everyone gets scared at times. It's only the fools who won't admit it."

-The Runaway King by Jennifer Nielsen

“A person can be educated and still be stupid, and a wise man can have no education at all.” -The Runaway King by Jennifer Nielsen

O

P

Q

R

“I suppose a fire that burns that bright is not meant to last.” 

-Allegiant by Veronica Roth

“She taught me all about real sacrifice. That it should be done from love... That it should be done from necessity, not without exhausting all other options. That it should be done for people who need your strength because they don't have enough of their own.” 

-Allegiant by Veronica Roth

“I wonder if fears ever really go away, or if they just lose their power over us.” 

-Allegiant by Veronica Roth

“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” 

-Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

S

"But we've all done things we're not proud of. And we just have to live with it and move on. Our mistakes don't define us, it's what we do afterward how we grow that makes us who we are."

-The Promise by Jessica Sorensen

"Because people fear those who are different. And fear can make people do stupid things." 

-Darkness Falls by Jessica Sorensen

T

“Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there's no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most and hold it like a light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic.”

-Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

“Brimstone once told me that to stay true in the face of evil is a feat of strength.”

-Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

Romantic Quotes

Romantic:

A

B

“A moment later the boy whispered, "I don't think you're ugly."

"Shhhh!" the girl hissed. But hidden by the deep shadows of the cupboard, she smiled” 

-Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

“The problem with wanting," he whispered, his mouth trailing along my jaw until it hovered over my lips, "is that it makes us weak.” 

-Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

“I have loved you all my life, Mal," I whispered through my tears. "There is no end to our story.” -Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

C

D

E

F

G

“There are infinite numbers between 0 and 1. There's .1 and .12 and .112 and an infinite collection of others. Of course, there is a bigger infinite set of numbers between 0 and 2, or between 0 and a million. Some infinities are bigger than other infinities. A writer we used to like taught us that. There are days, many of them, when I resent the size of my unbounded set. I want more numbers than I'm likely to get, and God, I want more numbers for Augustus Waters than he got. But, Gus, my love, I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity. I wouldn't trade it for the world. You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I'm grateful.”

-The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

“You realize that trying to keep your distance from me will not lessen my affection for you. All efforts to save me from you will fail.” 

-The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

H

“You're forgetting something iadala. Love is not a consequence. Love is not a choice. Love is a thirst --- a need as vital to the soul as water is to the body.”

-Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck

I

J

K

“My name is Ashallyn'darkmyr Tallyn, third son of the Unseelie Court...Let it be known--from this day forth, I vow to protect Meghan Chase, daughter of the Summer King, with my sword, my honor, and my life. Her desires are mine. Her wishes are mine. Should even the world stand against her, my blade will be at her side. And should it fail to protect her, let my own existence be forfeit. This I swear, on my honor, my True Name, and my life. From this day on..." His voice went even softer, but I still heard it as though he whispered it into my ear. "I am yours.” 
-The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

“His forehead bumped softly against mine, his brilliant silver gaze searing into me. “I plan to keep you, from everyone, for as long as I’m alive. That includes Puck, the false king, and anyone else who would take you away.” One corner of his mouth quirked, as I struggled to catch my breath under his powerful scrutiny. “I guess I should’ve warned you that I have a slight possessive streak.” 
-The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

“You are my heart, my life, my entire existence."
-The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

L

M

“Ignite, my love. Ignite.” 

-Tahereh Mafi, Ignite Me

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

Guilt: The Blog Killer

I've been feeling this unrelenting guilt for the past few months. 

To be honest, it's been happening for close to a year. Eleventh grade man.....it was absolutely brutal. For all of you Juniors out there, I feel for you. My one bit of advice to you is to get to those SATs early; Don't procrastinate. Although it's fun to put it off at first, it bites you in the end. Of course if you're not in America, I guess you won't even know what SATs are. xD So onto the guilt portion of my post. If you've been following my blog for awhile, you might have noticed that my posts have become depressingly scarce. In 2013, I was able to write about 160 posts. In 2014, a measly 28 posts. The shame is real. In fact, I've been berating myself. I really, really don't want to let this blog run down into shambles. 

However, I now realize that the majority of bloggers go through this phase. After a period of producing an abundant amount of book reviews, blogging begins to feel more forced than the fun it used to be. But let me impart some of my meager knowledge. Blogging is supposed to be fun. It's supposed to be a way for us lovers of books to combine forces and take over the world share our thoughts and feels about everything and anything book related. It's not a contest to see who can make the prettiest designs or receive the most ARCs. It's definitely not a job. It's not something we should have to push ourselves to do. If you feel like you're indebted to your blog because your readers are expecting things from you; don't. Your readers are human too and won't banish you just because you leave for a week or a month (this being what I was afraid of). So if you're run-down, tired, irritated, or the seldom correct answer on my Calculus tests, all of the above, TAKE A BREAK! Don't make the same mistake I did. Trying to stay as active as possible by posting reviews I really wasn't feeling was one of the biggest mistakes of my blogging life. It dragged on the inevitable. It made me want to run away from my computer in terror. 



In a nutshell, I guess all I'm trying to say is don't let your guilt force you to do something you don't want to do. If you have any book reviews that you're in the middle of, finish them, give yourself a pat on the back, and take a step away from the computer. Write a little note explaining your hiatus and take a stroll through the park, enjoy a cold glass of lemonade, plant a garden, or do whatever suits your fancy. I guarantee that when you get back, you'll feel refreshed and ready to start anew. If you're in high school or college; it'll be more of a challenge. But if blogging is something you truly love doing, it'll happen either way. I am now back from my very long, unscheduled break, and hopefully now I'll be able to get more than 2 posts up a month. Not a very high expectation level; I know, but baby steps, baby steps.

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: Rebellion by J.A. Souders

Today J.A. Souders and Rockstar Book Tours are revealing the cover for REBELLION, book 3 in the Elysium Chronicles releasing in June 5, 2015! Check out the gorgeous cover and enter to win the books!

Title: REBELLION

Author: J.A. Souders

Publisher: TOR Teen

Pub. Date: June 9, 2015

Find it: Goodreads

The Elysium Chronicles
Book One: Renegade
Book Two: Revelations

About J.A. Souders 

J.A. SOUDERS is the author of the Elysium Chronicles and lives in the land of sunshine and palm trees with her husband and two children where she spends her time writing about the monsters under the bed, day dreaming about living in an underwater colony, and failing miserably at playing video games.

( Website I Blog I TwitterI Facebook I Goodreads I Pinterest )

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive physical copies of RENEGADE AND REVELATIONS plus the eNovellas. And ASK AGAIN LATER by Liz Czukas. If you have J.A.s books already, she will do an amazon or book depository gift card of the same value. International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting On Wednesday (38)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we can't wait to get our hands on!

This week's WoW is Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Though the Greek and Roman crewmembers of the Argo II have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth mother, Gaea. Her giants have risen—all of them—and they're stronger than ever. They must be stopped before the Feast of Spes, when Gaea plans to have two demigods sacrificed in Athens. She needs their blood—the blood of Olympus—in order to wake.

The demigods are having more frequent visions of a terrible battle at Camp Half-Blood. The Roman legion from Camp Jupiter, led by Octavian, is almost within striking distance. Though it is tempting to take the Athena Parthenos to Athens to use as a secret weapon, the friends know that the huge statue belongs back on Long Island, where it "might" be able to stop a war between the two camps.

The Athena Parthenos will go west; the Argo II will go east. The gods, still suffering from multiple personality disorder, are useless. How can a handful of young demigods hope to persevere against Gaea's army of powerful giants? As dangerous as it is to head to Athens, they have no other option. They have sacrificed too much already. And if Gaea wakes, it is game over.

My Thoughts:

THE END IS NIGH! THE END IS HERE! Holy crap. I grew up with Percy Jackson from 12-17. I feel like he's a part of me. That might sound a bit creepy, so let me rephrase and say he's my freaking childhood. If he dies....can't even think about it. I really do want to see how this story ends, but at the same time, it's depressing to think that after this book, he's gone. Unless these crossovers with the Kane Chronicles go anywhere. Someone we love will definitely die though. I'm not naive enough to think we'll get through this book without blood and tears. If you've read this series, which you really should have by now, who do you think will die?

Extra Information:

Release Date: October 7, 2014

Hardcover: 528 Pages

Publisher: Hyperion

Genre: Greek Mythology

The Heroes of Olympus:

Book One: The Lost Hero

Book Two: The Son of Neptune

Book Three: The Mark of Athena

Book Four: The House of Hades

Book Five: The Blood of Olympus

How about you? What book are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Stolen Songbird by Danielle Jensen

Appropriate For: Ages 12 and up
Paperback: 469 Pages
Release Date: April 1, 2014
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Narration: First Person: Cecile, Tristan
Genre: Fantasy/ Historical Setting
Paranormal Type: Trolls

The Malediction Trilogy
Book One: Stolen Songbird
Book Two: Hidden Huntress (2015)
Book Three: Untitled (2016)

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Goodreads Synopsis:

For those who have loved Seraphina and Graceling 

comes another truly fabulous fantasy...

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.

Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.

But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.

As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.

My Review:

Trolls. Trolls? My first thought: Shrek 

Is Shrek even a troll? Anywho, fortunately that wasn't what a troll looked like in Trollus, which by the way, is a horrid name. About half the trolls were beautiful and otherworldy looking, while the other half was deformed and misshapen due to inbreeding. This was interesting to me, because for the first time in forever *Breaks into Frozen song*, we don't just have a race of perfect, gorgeous people. It's not that big a deal, but to me, it stood out.

Another thing I liked was that the heroine was down to earth and overall, very normal, yet strong. Although she was prophesied to be the savior who broke the curse that trapped all the trolls under the mountain, she failed. It's not like I wanted her to fail, but for once, I wanted a heroine to not be perfect, to not be able to pull off amazing feats just because she was the big and powerful "chosen one." She made her fair share of mistakes, but she always learned from them. She was intelligent and cunning, yet she could also be stupid. She was compassionate, but she wasn't willing to throw her life away or put it in danger before she knew exactly what she was fighting for. Cecile had depth, and I enjoyed that about her.

I also very much admired Tristan, the love interest. My heart broke for him over and over again throughout the story. All his life, he's had to act like someone he's not. He's had to paint himself as the bad guy, bearing the hatred from those who didn't know him any better all in order to make the world, or more like cave, a better place for the half-bloods who are constantly being discriminated against. Ever since he was young, his father tried to instill in him a sort of ruthlessness, but Tristan always followed his own moral compass. When Cecile comes along and bonds with him, he's most afraid of her seeing through his deceptions. The only place where he's ever been allowed to be himself is in his own mind, and with the bond, that's taken away from him. Because of this, Cecile and Tristan's relationship starts off a bit rocky. There's a mistrust between them, but that mistrust turns into a reluctant friendship, which then in turn morphs into something more. The romance wasn't instant; it was gradual.

Although I really enjoyed those aspects of the story, this novel dragged a bit too. At times, I skimmed the pages just to get to the interesting stuff. The action wasn't slow persay, but it did have its moments. The writing style was average. Things were explained well and the sentences flowed. Overall, I enjoyed Stolen Songbird because of its uniqueness, not only story wise, but character and romance wise as well.

Heroine- 5/5
A special snowflake that lacks specialness. However, despite her failure, she held her head up high and lived with it.
Romance- 4.5/5
A nice change.
Action- 3.5/5 Dragged in places.
World-Building- 4/5
Unique. How many stories do we hear about trolls?
Humor- 4/5 Lots of pointed jabs between the happy couple.
Overall- 4/5

Cover Reveal: Escape From Witchwood Hollow by Jordan Elizabeth

How far into the hollow would you go?

About the Book:
After losing her parents in a terrorist attack on the Twin Towers, fifteen-year-old Honoria escapes New York City to Arnn—a farming town with more legends than residents, and a history of witchcraft and secrets best left buried.

Everyone in Arnn knows the story of Witchwood Hollow: if you venture into the whispering forest, the witch will trap your soul among the shadowed trees. In the lure of that perpetual darkness, Honoria finds hope when she should be afraid, and a past of missing children and broken promises.  To save the citizens of Arnn from becoming the witch’s next victims, she must find the truth behind the woman’s madness. How deep into Witchwood Hollow does Honoria dare venture?

About the Author:
ESCAPE FROM WITCHWOOD HOLLOW is Jordan Elizabeth’s first novel.  This young adult fantasy will be published through Curiosity Quills Press on October 29, 2014.
Jordan Elizabeth, formally Jordan Elizabeth Mierek, can’t get enough of the woods, be it splashing through a stream, sitting beneath an ancient oak, or following a path up a hill.  Some of those adventures have led to abandoned foundations.  Exploring the rocks and crumbling bricks sparked Jordan to imagine who might have lived there before, and that train of thought carried her to a wicked legend and an enchanted hollow. 

( Website ! Goodreads )

Giveaway:
You don’t have to wait for October 29th to explore Witchwood Hollow.  Jordan Elizabeth is offering up a free eArc.  To enter for your chance to win a copy of ESCAPE FROM WITCHWOOD HOLLOW, you will need to share the cover.  This can be on your blog, Facebook, Twitter… Each time you share the cover image, log it into Rafflecoper to record it.  It will give you more chances to win.  The drawing for the winner will be held on October 20th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway