Books Unbound

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday (87)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. This is one of my favorite memes because not only is my TBR pile so much bigger at the end of the night but also the covers are always amazing!

Title: Where the Stars Still Shine
Author: Trish Doller
Hitting the Shelves: September 24, 2013

Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She's never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love--even with someone who seems an improbable choice--is more than just a possibility.

What are you waiting for?

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Review: Defiance

Title: Defiance
Author: CJ Redwine
Series: Defiance #1
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Source: ARC from Publisher

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city's brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father's apprentice, Logan--the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same one who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but a fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city's top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor's impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

My thoughts:

I have only just discovered that I really love fantasy about last year when I read The Girl of Fire and Thorns and it literally blew my mind. I've been on the hunt for other fantastic fantasy novels ever since because I seem to have this thirst that only really great fantasy novels can quench! The cover of Defiance just screams epic adventure and I knew it was going to be a must read for me!

Defiance is not really the typical fantasy novel in the fact that it takes place many, many years in the future when the world has become a barren wasteland instead of taking place in an alternate world. But it almost seems like it takes place in a completely different world because of how much the world has changed. Instead of towns and cities, there are only these little settlements that have rulers who don't really like each other very much. People who live there have reverted back to a very old fashioned way of living. And in the miles between these settlements there are a lot of barren wastelands that are plagued by some very vicious creatures called the dark ones.

There is just something so appealing about the male hero and protector in fantasy novels! Maybe because they're almost like a throwback to Arthurian times and they're these iconic knights in shining armor characters. They just twist my heart and make me fall hard! Logan is definitely worthy of being one of the Knights of the Round Table! He is protective, fiercely loyal, strong and compassionate all while being hot and irresistible! And then Rachel is a rare female character who doesn't annoy me. I see her as this woman with two sides. She plays the good little girl while she's in public but while she's at home her father has taught her to be a fierce warrior and how to take care of herself! And she's not a whiner! She rises up to become Logan's equal instead of someone she has to depend on.

Defiance was definitely one of my favorite reads of 2012. It's an adventure with twists and turns around every corner. And that passionate love story had me on the edge of my seat just waiting for them to take their relationship to the next level! If you love fantasy and you have not read Defiance yet, DO IT!!!! So good!

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Waiting on Wendesday (86)

Title: The Unbound
Author: Victoria Schwab
Series: The Archived #2
Hitting the Shelves: January 28, 2014

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books. Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Last summer, Mackenzie Bishop, a Keeper tasked with stopping violent Histories from escaping the Archive, almost lost her life to one. Now, as she starts her junior year at Hyde School, she's struggling to get her life back. But moving on isn't easy -- not when her dreams are haunted by what happened. She knows the past is past, knows it cannot hurt her, but it feels so real, and when her nightmares begin to creep into her waking hours, she starts to wonder if she's really safe.

Meanwhile, people are vanishing without a trace, and the only thing they seem to have in common is Mackenzie. She's sure the Archive knows more than they are letting on, but before she can prove it, she becomes the prime suspect. And unless Mac can track down the real culprit, she'll lose everything, not only her role as Keeper, but her memories, and even her life. Can Mackenzie untangle the mystery before she herself unravels?

With stunning prose and a captivating mixture of action, romance, and horror, The Unbound delves into a richly imagined world where no choice is easy and love and loss feel like two sides of the same coin.

What are you waiting for?

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Series I'd Like to Start but Haven't Yet!

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and it's a meme of lists.

As I'm sitting here thinking about my list, I've realized that a lot of them are werewolf books! I haven't been feeling werewolf books for a really long time which is probably why I haven't started some of these series yet.

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

The Blood Journals by Tessa Gratton

Sweep by Cate Tiernan

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Medusa Girls by Tera Lynn Childs

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

Monday, March 4, 2013

Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Title: Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #1
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Purchased

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

My thoughts:

When I bought this book, Marissa was on her book tour and Cinder and just been released. I knew there was a lot of hype surrounding Cinder but for some really it just didn't appeal to me. I had never read anything dealing with cyborgs and honestly I thought the was weird-striking-but weird, nonetheless. So I bought the book in April of last year and I'm telling you, it sat on my shelf for a least 6 months and my blogger friends kept asking me if I had read it yet! I pretty sure I read it just so that I could say yes when they asked me again. Even though I wish I had read it earlier and that I hadn't waited so long, I'm glad I read it later because it was really fresh in my mind for when I read Scarlet!

I cannot believe how completely involved I got into Cinder! I loved the futuristic setting, the mystery of the moon colony and the Lunars' powers, the part cyborg people, the cultural Chinese elements mixed in with a heart warming boy meets girl story. Cinder is a very exciting adventure that had me turning pages until the very last chapter!

I can honestly say that I liked, if not loved all the characters. Cinder in very endearing and charming in the way that she is somewhat an airhead and a tomboy with a little sarcastic wit. She is so likable and one of those characters that I wish was a close friend in real life. Kai is definitely the embodiment of prince charming; he is a swoon worthy gentleman! But above all my favorite character is Cinder's bot personality Iko! She was definitely the comic relief and had me rolling with her blunt statements!

Cinder was a true highlight of 2012 and had me anxiously awaiting the release of Scarlet! It's really a very unique novel in a sea of YA novels that tend to feel the same. If you're reading this review and you STILL haven't read Cinder, read it right now! Right this minute!

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Win a Couple of Books by Kate Ellison!

Rules:

US and Canada ONLY!
No cheating! I will find out and you will be disqualified.
Must be 13 years or older to enter.
Winner will be contacted by email and given 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
Giveaway provided by Egmont.
Elegantly Bound Books and Egmont are not responsible for any books that are lost or stolen in the mail.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Stacking the Shelves (27)

Hey there! Welcome to this week's Stacking the Shelves! This awesome meme is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and we get to show each other the books we acquired this week whether bought, from the library or for review!

I've had a very exciting week and I hope you guys got some great books as well!