Waiting on Wednesday (5): Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we showcase upcoming releases we are anticipating.

Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1)

by Leigh Bardugo

Date Available: June 5, 2012

Goodreads Synopsis:

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near-impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one unlikely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life– a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha… and the secrets of her heart.

Why I want to read it:

First off, I've already heard that people loved it. Not loved but loved. See the difference? And come on?! That synopsis sounds fantastic!! Monsters, war, magical elite called the Grisha, royal courts, and a mysterious Darkling? Sounds good to me :D 

What are y'all waiting on this fine Wednesday?

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Rating System and Updates

Updates:
Hey everyone! I now have a new sister-in-law :D The wedding was beautiful and she looked absolutely stunning! Thanks for all the well wishes. 


Also, I've read Katana, Vampire Academy, Cross My Heart, The Goddess Test and am starting Goddess Interrupted so look out for those reviews once I get back! 

Rating System:
  Now onto the reason for this post. I'm thinking about doing a different rating system. Why? I just feel that the stars don't really get my true feelings across. Yes, I know that technically the actual review is supposed to get my point across, but the stars give people an idea on whether I liked it or not (especially if they don't always have time to read the entire review which sometimes I myself don't). However, I just don't feel that the stars are specific enough.


  Most of the time, each star means a certain thing. For example, 5 stars = absolutely fantastic or 1 star = not for me. However, for me, not all 5 stars are absolutely fantastic. Sometimes I was to describe them as "fan-freaking-tastic" or "epic" or something along those lines. I'm extremely indecisive and have such a hard time deciding between a 4 and a 5 or a 2 and a 3. Each book is unique and for me cannot be put into any 1 category. 


Therefore, I believe my new rating system will be words. Yes, on Goodreads I'll still rate stars (however hard it is for me to decide), but on here I'll write a few words. 


Exs. Rating: Beautiful
        Rating: meh...
        Rating: AMAZING!


  Get it? These phrases will better get my point across. For me it's just too hard to use stars because I feel as if the stars can only mean one thing. For me though, one 5 star is different than another 5 star book and it is 5 stars for a different reason and I feel the need to get the reason for the 5 stars across. I've seen other bloggers do this and I feel as if I can better get my opinion across using this new rating system. I hope it is easier for y'all if you don't have time to read the entire review, but still want to see whether I liked it or not. I know for me, personally, this is easier. I hope y'all enjoy it :D 

      
  

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Be Back Soon!!

I do have 1 scheduled post but other than that it'll probably be quiet. However, keep checking back in case I find that I have time to put up some reviews :D 

All the Best!

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Pure (Pure #1) by Julianna Baggott

Pure (Pure #1)
by Julianna Baggott
Release Date: February 8, 2012
Pages: 448
Source: Netgalley
Format: e-book
★★★★★ 


Goodreads Synopsis: 
Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet, she thinks about what is lost--how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies.


My Review: 

Wow…….that was not what I was expecting. And that’s not a bad thing.

Pure is dark. Its raw and dangerous and twisted. This has got to the one of the darkest dystopians I’ve ever read. Most other dystopian books at least have a bit of fluff, but not Pure. Its nothing but death, destruction and carnage and I loved it. Though I warn you now, if you can’t handle that stuff, do not read it. You have been warned.

 Pure takes place after a bomb, also called the Detonation, is set off in America. This harmed everyone in some way, except for those that made it to the Dome before the Detonations. This book takes place between two main POVs. There is that of Pressia who was outside the Dome, and Partridge who was inside the dome.

Those outside the dome are called wretches, someone who was fused with something because of the detonations. Yes, you read right: fused. These detonations, if they didn’t kill you, caused you to fuse with whatever you were touching at the time, whether it be an animal or a toy or even a stone. It was absolute destruction. There were even those that fused with the earth, called Dusts. However, those that were inside the Dome came away unscathed.

  What I really enjoyed about this book was the fact that it really digs into human nature. This book is a story of survival and what people are willing to do in order to live. Each character reacted to the Detonations differently. You have Pressia who is resigned to what happens and tries to see the beauty even in the destruction. Although she lost so much, she doesn’t become a savage. She does whatever it takes to take care of her grandpa. Then there is Bradwell who is a conspiracy theorist who believes that it is easier to survive when alone. However, he is incredibly intelligent, strong, tough and may just prove to be right. You have Partridge who was fed lies in the dome. Who loves his mother so much that he decides to do anything he can to find his mother who didn’t make it to the dome. El Capitan who has to carry the weight of this brother. Who is resigned and goes with the group that seems to be winning.

    Each of these characters reacts in their own way. This book really takes “survival to the fittest” to a whole new level. Its shows such a stark reality that really makes you think. We’d all like to think that we’d still be ourselves if such a thing happened but would we? Morals and values tend to disappear when your fighting for you life. People are willing to do whatever it takes to survive. Only the strong remain.  

  However, it wasn’t only the characters that were interesting, but the story itself. I can’t say to much without giving stuff away but I will say that there are parts that will shock you and there are twists. It also shows that people can be plain awful. Actually that doesn’t even do the villain justice. He’s crazy, sick, twisted, desperate…I just had a hard time believing someone could do that.

However, although I loved this book, there were a few things that bugged me.

1. where exactly did the bomb go off? I’m assuming somewhere in the middle of the US because if they were at the center, it would have disintegrated them. However, since they still lived but were still fused, I assume they were on the edge of the bombs radius.

2. Pressia, actually all of them, are rather smart for having hardly any education. The detonations happened when they were all in elementary.

3. What about the other countries? I assume they know what happened but have they sent no help? Is there any communication? Or are they part of it? I'd just like to know a bit about how the rest of the world, specifically our allies, reacted. 

4. a few other inconsitancies but nothing drastic (and at this moment I can’t think of any specifics so they must not have bothered me to much!)

However, although there are some things that bugged me, the rawness and starkness completely blew my mind making me forget about these small things. 

Pure is dark, twisted, and depressing. But it is also a story of hope. It is a story of human survival. It is both twisted and beautiful, a lethal combination. If you can handle dark stories, this is a must-read. 

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter Year 1) by J. K. Rowling

    Alright, alright. Before y’all start freaking out and going “YOU HAVEN’T READ HARRY POTTER YET?!? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!?!” let me tell you that yes, I have read Harry Potter. So take a deep breath…in…and…out. I am actually re-reading the Harry Potter series as part of the Reading Fever’s 2012 Harry Potter Reading Challenge. But guess what? The reaction that I wrote previously is the same reaction I had when I realized she had never read it!! But, since I love this series so darn much I decided to join her on her quest to read HP (or re-read in my case). So without further ado, I present Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter Year 1)
by J. K. Rowling
Release Date: September 1, 1998
Pages: 310
Source: Bought
Format: Hardback
★★★★★



Goodreads Synopsis: 
Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility.

All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley—a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry—and anyone who reads about him—will find unforgettable. For it's there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.  


My Review: 


   I forgot just how magical this story was. Between the amazing characters, the world that you can’t help but become immersed in, the fun adventures, and the amazingly delicious sounding food, this book is fantastic.

 Welcome Harry, the boy who lived. Also the boy who doesn’t know what he is. After the tragic death of his parents Harry is sent to live with his only living relatives. However, this isn’t exactly a happy life considering his Aunt, Uncle and cousin don’t treat him like family but more like a servant. However, at the age of eleven, Harry is accepted to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and embarks on a magical adventure where he learns about friendship, love, and himself.

  Harry is a great MC. He’s treated like crap, yet keeps his head high. He knows what its like to be the underdog so he doesn’t judge people but gets to know them instead. He’s kind, funny, courageous and has no shortage of nosiness. He may get into trouble a lot, but thats only because he's trying to help out. I admire that he stands up for what he believes in and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty because of it. 

  I love Ron and Hermione. They may be just the friends of “The Boy Who Lived” but they take center stage just as much as Harry. Ron is the youngest of 4 brothers and is just trying to prove himself and he doesn’t fail. He’s funny and adventuresome and knows how to play a wicked game of wizard’s chess. Hermione, the brains of the bunch, may be a bit high and mighty, but when it comes to Ron and Harry, she’s willing to do anything to keep them safe.

  The Weasly twins? Oh goodness, I loved them from the beginning! The funny pranksters are definitely a great addition to this story. Neville may get picked on often, but when its time to be brave, he definitely lives up to it. Dumbledore may be a bit “off his rocker” but he’s wise and witty and makes an awesome Headmaster. A lot of thought went into these characters to make them unique and I can definitely say that Ms. Rowling did a fantastic job.

  The writing is simple, yet beautiful. I really enjoy that the story sounded almost like someone telling a story. I could easily imagine sitting in a circle listening to someone tell this story.

  The world building was fantastic and so well thought out. Honestly, J. K. Rowling though of everything. But don’t think that you’ll be bogged down by details. She gives just enough to really let you see what its like without going overboard. She obviously put so much thought into this world and was able to create something so incredible. Also, I actually liked that I had seen the movie because as I was reading it, I was picturing the movie in my mind. I love to compare the books and movies to see what was kept in the movie and what was left out. Let me say that they did a fantastic job to bringing the book to life.

   The plot will not let you down! There is so much adventure and action and fun that is in these books. Also, since I’ve read all the books before, I’ve now realized how much thought had to go into these books. This story arc stretches across 7 books, which takes a lot of thought to keep things organized and flowing. There are references in this book that you recognize in later books and things that they talk about in this book that happen in others. Although the plot may seem simple in this book, once you read them all you’ll realize how complicated and intricate it all is.

  If you can’t tell from my long (sorry bout that btw) review, I absolutely adore this book. I want to go to Hogwarts and visit Diagon Alley thanks the wondrous descriptions given by Rowling. I want to meet Ron, Hermione, Harry, Neville and all of the other characters that I’ve fallen in love with because of reading this book. I want to eat the delicious sounding food. Harry Potter is such a great story about love and the power of friendship and I encourage all who have yet to read it get their rears in gear and head to the bookstore to buy it asap.  


Part of my 2012 Harry Potter Reading Challenge

All the Best,

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Hiatus

    Hey y'all! I just wanted to let you know that over the next 2 1/2 weeks, I most likely won't be blogging. Why? Vacation! Woot! Well, part of its a vacation. The most important part is that I'm going to my brother's wedding! I'm so excited for him and his fiancee!! She's an absolute sweet heart and I can't wait to have her as part of the family. So, we'll be headed up to NJ (never been....should be interesting. Jersey shore anyone?)  for that, then my parents and I are going to take an extra week to go to NY and visit some friends! I've never been to NY so I'm pretty darn excited :D And I get cold weather!!! Y'all have no idea how excited I am for this. After having summer year round for a few years, you start to miss the cold. 


    I do plan on putting up two reviews before I leave (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Pure) but I'm not sure how much I'll be on after I'm gone. However, I do plan on reading as much as possible. Flights, train rides, and boredom in hotel rooms allows a lot of time to read :D Though, who knows? I may find time to put reviews up. I just wanted to let y'all know in case I don't. 


    Thank you so much for staying with me this far! I really hope to get back on here asap. Definitely keep an eye out! 


All the best!

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The Silver Sea by Julia Golding

The Silver Sea 
by Julia Golding
Release Date: October 1, 2010
Pages: 334
Format: Hardback
Source: Library 
★★★★



Goodreads Synopsis: 
A raid on a Viking village leaves 16-year-old Freydis seriously injured and her older brother Toki taken prisoner by the attacking pirates. When their father returns to what is left of the village, he gives Freydis an African slave, who is called Blue Man for his blue-black skin. Freydis and Blue Man are left with a neighboring tribe while her father pursues the pirates. Toki manages to escape, but he, Freydis, and Blue Man are set on a collision course with the pirate king. This engaging historical tale features plenty of rousing adventure and some hard truths about love—both familial and romantic. There are also passages that encourage readers to be tolerant of cultures other than their own. Golding includes a brief author’s note that describes the historical facts at the root of the story and a short glossary that helps with the characters’ references to Norse mythology. This addition to the growing number of Norse and Viking tales will be enjoyed by fans of Judson Roberts’ Strongbow Saga or Tim Severin’s Odinn’s Child


My Review: 

After Freydis’ village is attacked while her father is away, she is injured and her brother is taken captive. Upon her father’s return Freydis and her newly bought slave Enno embark on a journey to save Toki. On this journey they learn about friendship, family, love and overcoming their differences.

   Freydis may seem fragile but she has a quiet strength, something I came to love. She was resourceful, admirable and had spirit, especially when it came to her father. Her father didn’t care about her at all. In fact, he was disgusted by her because he thought she wasn’t really his daughter and it didn't help that during this time period women were worthless. He only cared about his son. There were many times that I wanted to jump into the book and defend her myself! But she took it in stride and knew that there were others that cared about her.

Toki was defiant and stubborn but good-natured with an insatiable sense of curiosity. He loved his sister dearly and stuck up for her when her father wasn’t kind to her. The love between him and Freydis was incredibly touching. They would do anything for each other, including crossing the frigid seas and fighting pirates to save each other.

However, although I care about Freydis and Toki, I loved Enno! His personality and actions definitely made this book for me. Stubborn, bold, intelligent, yet kind and philosophical. A slave who doesn’t act like a slave. And his love for Freydis? Incredibly sweet. No one can control him yet he has a soft spot for Freydis. He knows what its like to be treated badly and so he feels for her when her father treats her that way. This is a level that they  connect on and this makes their love for each other blossom.

  Their journey is a hard one but one they get through together. There is action and adventure and pirates (something that always makes a book better)! While nothing incredibly new, I liked the journey. I liked going on this adventure with them, if not for the adventure itself, then for watching the characters devotion for each other.

  I also liked that this story is realistic. That ending?! I almost cried….I don’t cry during books. However, I loved the ending. Of course I want a happy ending, but I also love realistic endings. They make the book more, well….real. There was something beautiful about the book, especially the characters attitudes toward it. Yes it was heartbreaking, but beautiful.

  The Silver Sea is a beautiful story about friendship, heartbreak and family. Their journey isn’t easy, but not impossible so long as they work together. This is a great piece of historical fiction with characters that you can’t help but admire. 


P.S. Happy Valentines Day!! ♥

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Breathless Giveaway!

Guess what?!? I have another awesome giveaway to tell y'all about :D Ever heard of a book called Across the Universe? Born Wicked? Nightshade? Legend?! I know y'all have! All of these books are part of the amazing Breathless Tour.

TADA!

I can personally say that Across the Universe and Legend are absolutely fan-freaking-tastic! And I plan on reading Born Wicked and Nightshade ASAP (shame on me! I can't believe I haven't gotten my greedy little hands on these yet!). So why am I telling y'all this? Because if you head over to Beth Revis' Blog (Across the Universe) you can enter to win signed copies of these books!!! Woot!! I know I'm pretty psyched :D You can click here to see all the epic amazingness that are these books! Good luck :) 

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Review: Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

Scarlet 
by A. C. Gaughen
Release Date: February 14, 2012
Pages: 304
Format: e-book
Source: ARC via Netgalley
★★★★★







Goodreads: 
Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance. 

Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in. It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.



My Review:
*I had such a hard time trying to find the words to write this review. Why? I don't know. Perhaps I loved it so much I just couldn't find the words for it! Whatever the reason, here it is :) 


Everybody's heard the story of Robin Hood. Steals from the rich, gives to the poor. Its been done many, many times with slightly different takes. However, its never been told like this before. You know that guy Will Scarlet? Yeah, well "he" happens to be a "she" which makes for a pretty freakin awesome story! 


Characters really make the story for me and these characters were amazing. Their all loyal, honorable and noble and would do anything for each other. 


Scarlet is one kick-butt girl...literally. I would be absolutely terrified if I ever made her angry. She's a rough and tough girl a la Alanna from Tamora Pierce's Tortall Series and I absolutely loved her. I loved her independence, determination and spirit. Scarlet is living in a time when all women were good for was birthin babies and this is NOT what she wants. Therefore, she feels the need to prove herself and doesn't want to show her girl side because she thinks the men won't take her seriously.


   Although I loved her determination to prove herself, these were sometimes the instances that she bugged me. She didn't realize that the band liked her for who she was, woman or not. The band was a brotherhood that would do anything for each other, Scarlet included. However, she always tries to put on a face and prove herself and her independence, when deep down, she really cares about the band and is very honorable and incredibly loyal. I would want her to have my back any day. But she's a girl with secrets...big secrets. These secrets actually make her who she is today. I can't say to much without giving stuff away, but her past truly was heart-breaking and I felt all the emotions right along with her.


Robin....*swoon*. This guy is hot by default. He's honorable, loyal, caring, and did I mention HOT? Robin is the leader of the group, but not the dictator. He listens to others in his group and they all come up with plans together. However, perhaps one of his most honorable aspects is that he sees the good in people, especially Scarlet. Rob just wants to show her how good she is, even when she can't see it herself (which is quite often). 


The band was a brotherhood that would do anything for each other which is extremely honorable (yeah, I know I've used that word a hundred times, but whatever works, right?). They've all seen death and destruction in their lives, they've even done it themselves, and they do what they do to atone for what they've done. 


And Gisbourne?! This guy is CRAZY! I'm not even sure what words I can use to describe him. Cruel? Vile? Just plain freakin crazy? Like seriously dude? Your gonna go through all that trouble for that reason? I know your pride was hurt but come on!! (Read the book to find out what I'm talking bout :P) 


Warning now: the writing is kind of weird. As in, its not proper English. But what do you expect? They're thieves! So personally, it didn't bother me. It became second nature after a while and added to the story to make it more authentic.


I absolutely love Gaughen's interesting new take on an old tale. It was creative and brilliant. Her version of this story made me fall even more in love with the tale of Robin Hood. While definitely staying true to the heart of the story, she gave it her own dash of spice. It was both beautifully romantic and action packed at the same time. She made my emotions run high right along with the characters, which is something I truly treasure in a book. 


This book is filled with action, romance, secrets, and kick-butt but loyal and honorable characters that are all special in their own way. Not to mention a pretty crazy bad villain. This book takes an old tale and gives it a new twist that makes it even better than the original in my book. Fans of the old tale, historical fiction, and tough female characters will truly enjoy this, though I'll recommend it to anyone that will listen :) 


P.S. I LOVE that cover! 

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In My Mailbox (4)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren in which we showcase books we borrowed/bought/won in the past week.

Bought: 

Woot! So remember when my Kindle messed up? Well I just decided to go ahead an buy a new one. I love touch screens anyway :) And I must say I love it! I can finally catch up on all my Netgalley titles and it'll be good for my upcoming travels (more on that later).

Review: 

The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker (Netgalley)

Castle of Shadows by Ellen Renner (Netgalley)

The Wicked and the Just by J. Anderson Coats (Netgalley)

Well thats all for me folks! What about y'all? 

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Grave Mercy ARC giveaway from Tales of the Ravenous Reader!

Hey y'all! Guess what?!? Nancy from Tales of the Ravenous Reader is giving away a signed ARC of Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin) by Robin LaFevers! 

GoodReads Synopsis: 
Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?




Woot! And guess what else? This just happens to be the book I featured on a previous Waiting on Wednesday so you can bet that I'm signing up :) If y'all want to answer for a chance to win, click here. Good luck :)

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Matched (Matched #1) by Ally Condie

Matched (Matched #1)
by Ally Condie 
Release Date: November 30, 2010
Pages: 366
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
★★★★★





Goodreads Synopsis:
Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

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


My Review:


Absolutely amazing. Heartbreaking, wonderful...I'm honestly having a hard time trying to find words for this. 

First off, the romance? simply amazing! I can’t even do it justice with words. its so wonderful and beautiful and true. They don’t instantly fall in love, it takes time and it is a beautiful love. And don’t worry, there is no love triangle, for the love she feels for the different boys is different types of love. One the love of a friend and the other something more. Yet both are true and amazing. 

The Society think uncertainties and mistakes are what is wrong with the world and they fix that by making routines and taking away choice. This was a book about learning who you are and learning to make choices for yourself. So, in a society where are “choices” are already predicted, this is hard and something Cassia has to take the time to learn. 

All of the characters were amazing! Cassia who is learning to be true to herself and make her own choices in life. Xander, the loyal friend who would do anything for her. And Ky, who is amazingly sweet and loyal and kind. I absolutely fell in love with him. 

And the writing! So beautiful! Those words just broke my heart and made me feel these emotions right along with the characters. The only word to describe it would bebeautiful 

However, I’ll admit, Matched is slow….but deliberately slow. And honestly, it works. I think because its more realistic than most dystopias. As with most dystopias, all it takes is one action, one mistake and then all of the sudden the character goes into rebellious mode. And there’s nothing wrong with that, I actually like those books too. However, this was more realistic in the sense that her rebellion didn’t start immediately. Face it, when your raised one way, it will take a while for your ideals and thoughts to change. So, although the pacing was slow, it was because she was learningabout the wrong things in her society instead of instantly knowing. For this reason, the pace was perfect and kept me interested for I was learning right along with her. 

Matched is an amazingly sweet and true love story that will have your heart-pounding. You’ll feel the emotions and learn right alongside the characters. It is a heartbreakingly true romance that makes me want both the 2nd and 3rd books right away. I truly hope that anyone that picks up this book enjoys it just as much as I did. 

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Kindle vs. Nook-Help!!

  Alright everyone, so my Kindle just messed up...again. My warranty is up and I'm at a complete loss as to what to do. So, I decided to ask y'all! They said they could replace my Kindle (I have the keyboard) for $65. However, I could get the new Kindle touch for $99. But, I just got a $50 dollar off coupon for Nook (I'm a B&N member) so now I don't know what to do. Yes, I've had problems with the Kindle, but the first time it was my fault. I let it flat-line. This time I'm not so sure, but I really like Amazon and their customer service. While I could get the Nook Touch for $50, which is a steal, my Kindle books won't transfer over. Not to mention Netgalley isn't compatible with it yet. What to do, what to do :/ I would be forever grateful if I could get y'all's opinions! I'll definitely take them into consideration. Which do you prefer? Kindle or Nook...let the battle begin! 

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Waiting on Wednesday (4): Thief's Covenant by Ari Marmell

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we showcase upcoming releases we are anticipating.


Thief's Covenant (A Widdershins Adventure)
by Ari Marmell
Date Available: February 14, 2012

Goodreads snyopsis:

Once she was Adrienne Satti. An orphan of Davillon, she had somehow escaped destitution and climbed to the ranks of the city’s aristocracy in a rags-to-riches story straight from an ancient fairy tale. Until one horrid night, when a conspiracy of forces—human and other—stole it all away in a flurry of blood and murder.

Today she is Widdershins, a thief making her way through Davillon’s underbelly with a sharp blade, a sharper wit, and the mystical aid of Olgun, a foreign god with no other worshippers but Widdershins herself. It’s not a great life, certainly nothing compared to the one she once had, but it’s hers.

But now, in the midst of Davillon’s political turmoil, an array of hands are once again rising up against her, prepared to tear down all that she’s built. The City Guard wants her in prison. Members of her own Guild want her dead. And something horrid, something dark, something ancient is reaching out for her, a past that refuses to let her go. Widdershins and Olgun are going to find answers, and justice, for what happened to her—but only if those who almost destroyed her in those years gone by don’t finish the job first.

Why?


 Female Thief + political intrigue + gods + dark past + something horrid + action= huge amounts of awesomeness! Nuff said.

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