Books I quitted in 2011

So I did the whole best of and my list was enormously long and required a mea culpa! I don't think this one will be as long.

Chime, Franny Billingsley

I just could not, for the life of me, get into this book.  The main character annoyed me to no end. 

I just didn't get the story.  I think I read about 140 pages before I just gave up.  

Graveminder, Melissa Marr

I just thought this was a hot mess and it was boring.  I also gave this one about 140/150 pages before I said enough.  I love Melissa's writing and this one just was not for me.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, Michelle Hodkin

Not a very original story.  I wasn't a fan of Mara, her back story was weak.  I found the writing choppy and clunky and went all over the place.  I did finish this book, but probably won't read the sequel.

So three books that didn't work for me.  Not bad for someone who read 80+ books this year (short of my 100 goal).  I had that rough patch of reading drought.  Thankfully that seems to be over!  So tell me what was your favorite or least favorite book this year.  

Mea Culpa

Yesterday I did my favorite reads of 2011 and I completely forgot some books.  My excuse is that I was exhausted from Christmas festivities with friends and family and I was rushing.  So please forgive me authors for leaving you off my list.

Beauty Queens, Libba Bray

City of Fallen Angels, Cassie Clare

The Clockwork Prince, Cassie Clare

Starcrossed, Josephine Angelini

The Flappers Series, Jillian Larkin

These books were absolutely fantastic.  Cassie Clare really hit a home run with her two books this year.  That in itself is amazing.  Libba Bray's newest was hysterically funny and I could not put it down.  I know that I always look forward to a Libba book.  Plus she andher hubby are both fantastically talented and hysterically funny!

My Favorite Reads of 2011

I'm going to do this in no particular order:

Nevermore, Kelly Creagh

Love Story, Jennifer Echolls

The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Rae Carson

All These Things That I've done, Gabrielle Zevin

Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi

Queen of the Dead, Stacey Kade

The Girl in the Steel Corset,  Kady Cross

The Chaos Walking Trilogy, Patrick Ness

The Iron Duke, Meljean Brook

Divergent, Veronica Roth

Blood Red Road, Moira Young

Bumped, Megan McCafferty

Wither, Lauren DeStefano

Demonglass, Rachel Hawkins

The Iron Queen, Julie Kagawa

Hex Hall, Rachel Hawkins

Unearthly, Cynthia Hand

Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale, Ramona Wray

Shipbreaker, Paolo Bacigalupi

Jane, April Linder

Clarity, Kim Harrington

Plague, Michael Grant

I'd like to give a shout out to another book that I read in 2011 but it doesn't come out until 2012.  This is a definitely a book to watch for.

Cinder, Marissa Meyer

Amanda Hocking's Trylle Series - Book Trailer & Photos!

About the "Trylle" Series and "Switched":

From Amanda Hocking, million-copy bestselling author and internet sensation comes the Trylle series… it all begins with Switched, available everywhere 1.3.12.  As a special gift to readers, Switched contains a new, never-before-published bonus story, “The Vittra Attacks,” set in the magical world of the Trylle.

The Trylle series continues with Torn, on-sale 2.28.12, and concludes on 4.24.12 with Ascend.

SWITCHED… at birth:



When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right.  She’s not the person she’s always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes.


Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her.  Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she’d ever admit.  But it isn’t long before he reveals the truth:  Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he’s come to take her home.   


Now Wendy’s about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that’s both beautiful and frightening.  And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she’s meant to become…

TRAILER URL 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO8LsDmw2_I

http://s1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa339/ZeitghostMediaProd/

Links
https://www.facebook.com/amandahockingtrylle

I want to wish my faithful readers a very

Happy Hanukkah!!!

&

Merry Christmas!!!!

And a very Happy 2012!!!!

Winners of Rise of Renegade X

Chelsea sent me an email of the winners of the week long The Rise of Renegade X anniversary week.  So without further ado (drumroll, please)

Annotated book: Jessica Secret

Bookmark/sticker prize packs: Liyana, Shell Flower, and Vicky.

Congratulations to the winners!!!!

I want to thank everyone for entering and making my anniversary a big success.  I want to thank Chelsea for taking her baby and creating a haven for it for a full week.  I enjoyed my time with Damien, Chelsea and all of you.  Thank you to the bloggers who allowed me to use their blurbs and thanks to those who I just randomly took either from Goodreads or Amazon.

If you want to give a great present this year, please think about purchasing The Rise of Renegade X:

Barnes & Noble

Amazon

BooksaMillion

Book Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Laini Taylor

Reading Level:     Young Adult 

Hardcover:          418 Pages 

Publisher:           LIttle Brown & Co., Sept 27, 2011

Parasols:             5



I absolutely love going into a book that I know nothing about.  It really does make my reading experience so much more pleasurable.  I've had this book since BEA '11 and it's been sitting on my bookshelf just taunting me to read.  But I didn't.  I kept reading crap after crap after crap.  Sometimes I need to listen to my books and read them when they call out to me.

Karou is a free spirit.  She's 17 years old, an art student in the magical city of Prague, Czech Republic.  Her best friend is Zuzanna.  Karou draws various creatures and tells Zuzanna stories about them, but unknown to Zu these are Karou's family in a different time and dimension.  To Zu they are a mash-up of human, animal and fairy.  To Karou they are the chimaera.  Brimstone, is a cross between a ram and a linebacker, is for all intents and purposes Karou's father figure.  Karou runs errands for Brimstone when he comes a'callin' and she goes immediately.

Brimstone dallies in teeth and wishes.  The teeth are more important and Karou still doesn't know why she must go from portal to portal to get teeth or extremely rare bull elephant tusks that she must drag through the streets of Paris.  During one of these 'errands', Karou notices black handprints on the doorway.  It looks like it's been burned into the lintel.  She keeps noticing these at all the portal doors.

It's not until Karou ends up in Marrakesh that Karou comes face-to-face with Akiva, a very dangerous enemy that will do anything to destroy Karou and what she is working for.  It's all part of the war that Karou knows nothing about.

I absolutely adored this book.  Laini Taylor weaves and knits a fantastical story that reminds me of Charles de Lint.  Her chimaera are human-like and feel the burdens of the world on their shoulders.  They are trying to protect their world from the Seraphs who think of the chimaera as demons and evil.  Until one of the seraphs falls in love with a beautiful chimaera and then two worlds collide in a blinding flash of war and death.

Karou was a strong-willed character, but there was also a bit of youth to her as well.  Her lapis lazuli hair color makes her stand out, but also brings us how young she is.  A mere 17 who has been sheltered from another world.  She also does not who she is exactly.  All she can remember is being with the chimaera.

Akiva is the downtrodden seraph who finds himself drawn to Karou when he decides that killing her is foolish.  As much as I should hate and detest Akiva, I just couldn't.  I understood that he was beautiful, it's pretty much crammed down our throats, but as a seraphim, you expect beauty and fierceness.  The slow burn of the relationship between Karou and Akiva is thrilling and I want more.

I felt the story dragged a bit with the backstory of Brimstone, Madrigal, Thiago, and Akiva.  It seemed to drone on and one, but it is extremely important.  I was reading an advance copy, so it's possible that it has been tightened up on the final copy.  I'll have to take a quick peek at a copy (which I am buying!).  I absolutely, highly recommend this book to take you away to a foreign land, foreign world and for a thrilling ride.

Rise of Renegade X Contest

Just a reminder that there is one more day to enter the contest that Chelsea has graciously allowed me to host!  If you want to be entered, just read her spectacular breaking news and follow her directions to be entered.  Go here to enter.

I just want to say that I've had a fantastic time celebrating my week long anniversary with Chelsea and I hope more people get the urge to read her fantastic book.  This is a book that I think will appeal to all - boys, girls, adults and even the odd superhero/villain!

Book Review: Clockwork Prince, Cassandra Clare

Reading Level:     Young Adult 

Hardcover:          502 Pages 

Publisher:            Margaret K. McElderry, Dec. 6, 2011

Parasols:             4

I was at BEA when the unveiling of the cover was done.  The place was packed and they weren't even giving away advance copies of the book!  That was a bit of a bummer.  I remember thinking I wasn't overly thrilled with the cover.  Everyone was buzzing that it was Jem, but I thought his hair looked too dark.  I guess I always picture more like Lucius Malfoy's color.  Anyhoo, that is such a minute point.  So I'm not a fan of the cover, let's move on.

It's what is between the cover and back that is oh-so-important.  I just have three words: I loved it!  The story takes place not too long after the events of Clockwork Angel, so we jump in headfirst.  Will is avoiding Tessa; Tessa is spending more time with Jem and Charlotte is about the lose the Institute.  Jessamine is up to something and spends a lot of time with headaches.

We lost our beloved Thomas and Agatha, so we are brought new servants who are trained to fight if the need arises.  Cyril, Thomas' brother is come as is Bridget, the lonely-ballad singing cook.  Spoiler alert: I think we need to pay attention to the songs that Bridget sings, they may be important. We learn a lot about Will and why he pushes everyone away.  In what is probably one of the most saddest reveals.  I know I just wanted to give Will Herondale a big ole hug.  Jem seems to flourish around Tessa, his disease is still there, but it takes a backseat in this installment.  Just a few of his outbursts of coughing.

Benedict Lightwood (obviously some relation to the Lightwood's in The Mortal Instrument series), has decided that a woman is not able to run the Institute so he finagles to become the leader of the London Shadowhunters.  He has asked the Consul to give Charlotte two weeks to find Axel Mortmain (aka Magister).  Of course, Lightwood knows that this a fools errand and will not be succesful.  While installing his two sons, Gideon and Gabriel, as the chief instructors of Tessa and Sophie in the art of fighting at the institute, to arguable spy on them.

Gideon takes a fancy to the beautiful, yet scarred Sophie.  While Gabriel just works with Tessa and tries to make life miserable for Will.  Will has done something to Gabriel in the past that Gabe just can't seem to let go of.  For all of the training they do, I never really saw anyone learning anything.  Some minor moves, but that's just about it.  However, what Gabe has taught Tessa will come in handy when she needs it.

The triangle is building to a slow boil.  There is a scene in which people get tangles in bedsheets and then a crash of some sorts.  We have a masquerade ball where two people are under the influence of warlock powders and have a snog fest on the balcony.

We meet Ragnor Fell, Woolsey and of course, Magnus Bane is there.  I love Magnus.  Magnus' role in CP is definitely much bigger, we see him pining for Camille and Will.  (I believe in one of the TMI books, Magnus compares Alec to Will. hmmmm...)

I find as I read these books I want to know the family tree of all of these characters, how are they related.  Jocelyn is a Fairchild (Charlotte is a Fairchild and Jocelyn is Henry's middle name). I know that Jocelyn dropped Valentine's name when she left him. Stephen Herondale and Cecile are Jace's parents.  We have the Lightwoods and we have the Waylands.  I just find the whole history and world building fascinating.  If not a bit confusing.

We still don't know what or who Tessa is.  She gathers no answers in her showdown and alas, we must wait for next year to find out anything else.  But we will see a baby and perhaps a wedding!?!

Book Review: Beautiful Days, Anna Godberson

Reading Level:     Young Adult 

Hardcover:          368 Pages 

Publisher:            Harper/Alloy Ent. , Sept. 20, 2011

Parasols:             3

I adore Anna Godberson's writing.  I love how she really takes you into the story and makes you become part of the book.  Her writing is that good.  She can take a mediocre story and still make you enjoy it for the most part.

There are things that bothered me with this installment - not enough action.  Not enough tension.  Too much talking.  Things were happening, but we weren't seeing it.  Astrid and Charlie just don't excite me.  Cordelia and Max don't excite me.  Now Cordelia and Thom, two star-crossed lovers?  They excite me.  Same with Letty and Grady.  Those two excite me as well.  I want to see good things happen to them. 

I tried to like this book, very much so.  But I have to say that Jillian Larkin's series, Flapper does a bit more with the excitement and thrill of the time period.  Max' reveal that he is bi-racial didn't really mean much to me because I'm not invested in him. It's not like the relationship between Glo and Jerome, where you know those two love each other so much, but they just can't be with each other because of the great racial divide.

I thought this book ended on a so-so ending.  It bored me.  We didn't see enough of Thom.  I really didn't care that Astrid was kidnapped.  She was grating on my nerves.  I only hope that the third book in this series is more action-packed.

SPECIAL, BREAKING NEWS!!!! Something you'll only read here!!!!

MORE SPECIAL NEWS:  CONTEST IS OPEN INTERNATIONALLY!!!! CHELSEA HAS APPROVED IT!  HOWEVER, IF WINNER IS INTERNATIONAL PRIZE MAY NOT ARRIVE BEFORE HOLIDAYS.  KEEP THAT IN MIND!


Yes, Virginia, there is a Renegade X sequel...

Or at least there will be.  That's right.  Not only is Arrested Development coming back, not only did Red Dwarf finally make their movie (that I, um, still haven't seen), and not only are we all eagerly awaiting the release of Diablo III (well, we are, aren't we?), but there's going to be a sequel to The Rise of Renegade X.

I know because I'm publishing it myself, and I couldn't be more excited about it.  Like, crazy, can't stop thinking about it, reading everything I can about self-publishing and telling anyone who will listen way more info than they wanted to hear, excited.  And all this from me, someone who honestly never thought she'd self-publish anything.

But you know what?  There's no reason not to.  Renegade X fans have been asking me about a sequel since before the book came out, and now I'm going to put on my entrepreneur hat and make that happen.

So what does this mean for readers?  Well, for one thing, it means the book will be coming out sometime in 2012.  I'm shooting for May, but that might be too tight of a schedule, depending on any contracted work I get and how much homework I have next semester.  Plus, I've never done this before, so I'm sort of playing it by ear.

The book will be available as an ebook AND as a print on demand (POD) paperback.  You'll be able to order a physical copy from Amazon like you would any other book and, while it's very unlikely the sequel will be on the shelves at your local book store, you WILL be able to walk up to the cashier there and ask them to order you a copy.  (I ordered my copy of Glamourpuss http://kittywigs.com/book.html that way and was disappointed that the cashier kept a straight face the whole time.  Even when I came to pick it up, no reaction.  Sometimes you just can't win.)

I'm going to do everything I can to make this book awesome.  It will be professionally edited.  The interior layout will be well-designed.  The price will be under $10, even for a physical copy.  And I've already got an amazing cover artist lined up.

You guys have been so supportive of me and my book, and I want to thank every single one of you who wrote to me or left me a message saying how much you loved Renegade X, or who promoted it on your blog.  It was your guys' efforts that inspired me to do this.  And now you get to be with me each step of the way of continuing Damien's story.  There will be contests.  There will be swag.  There will be the inevitable discussion on Twitter about finding the right title.  And I'll be keeping you guys up-to-date on all things sequel on my website.

“Yes, Chelsea,” you're probably saying, “that's great and all, we love you too, but OMG WHAT IS THE SEQUEL ABOUT?!?!?!”

It's about Damien enrolling at Heroesworth Academy.  It's about him trying to get comfortable with his hero side... and getting a villain power instead.

And that's all I'm saying for now.  In the meantime, I have a super special prize up for grabs.  It's a copy of The Rise of Renegade X, annotated by me.  It's loaded with behind the scenes info about how I wrote the book and tidbits you haven't heard before.  Like, did you know that for the first half of the book, I thought Gordon being named Gordon and being named the Crimson Flash was too reminiscent of Flash Gordon, so I changed his name to Herman.  I know.  Ew.  (Sorry, anyone reading this named Herman.  It's not you, it's him.  It just didn't fit.)  But he wasn't a Herman, he was a Gordon, and eventually I couldn't take it anymore, sucked it up, and changed it back.  Did you know that?  No, you didn't.  But you would if you had this annotated copy!

And if you don't want it for yourself, it would make a great gift for the Renegade X lover or the aspiring writer in your life.  All you have to do to enter to win is comment here.  For extra entries, tweet or blog about why you loved The Rise of Renegade X, or tell me what your superhero/villain name would be and why.  (If you tweet, use the hashtag #RenegadeX, and if you blog, post a link in the comments so I know to count your entries.)  The contest will run until December 11^th, so be sure to get your entries in by then.

One grand prize winner will get the annotated copy.  When I contact you, you can tell me how you want the book personalized and where you want me to send it.  It will arrive by Christmas, and I will even gift wrap it for you if it's a present, though I promise no aesthetic miracles. ;)

Three runners up will each get Renegade X swag packs with signed bookmarks and embossed H, V, and X stickers.

I hope you guys are as excited about all this as I am!

--Chelsea M. Campbell

Marked-up first page of The Rise of Renegade X

Swag Pack

ANNIVERSARY!!!!

Well today is my fourth year of blogging.  It's been a memorable four years--some good, some not so good.  I've met some wonderful bloggers and authors and publishers and publicists, editors, agents, etc.  The writing community is a tight-knit, much loved community that I am proud to say that I am a member of.  I may not be published or a New York Times bestseller, but sometimes I feel like one.   I want to thank all the authors who have allowed me to be with their babies and understand the difficulty it is as a reviewer.  Because we all want to like every book we read.  However that is not entirely possible and as a reviewer, we straddle that fine line of completely alienating the author who has allowed us into their world and read their creation.

I thank all the authors and publicists and publishers for enabling my reading addiction with some terrific books.  I look forward to another year of great books, good friends and interesting conversations.

I just love this cover.  I bet you all figured out what book it was! 

And like I promised I have a very special guest.  Damien Locke has taken time out to answer some of my questions and boy does he have a lot to say!


Laura's Review Bookshelf (LRB):  How surprised were you when you realized that you had a Superhero for a dad?  And have you reconciled the idea that he’s a good guy?


Damien Locke (DL):  Surprised doesn't even begin to cover it.  How about mortified?  Or maybe just nauseated.  Things like this aren't supposed to happen to, you know, me.  They're not even supposed to happen to other people--they're not supposed to happen at all.


Am I okay with him being a good guy?  It's not the fact that he's "good" that gets me, it's that  he's too good. Like, saving kittens out of trees?  Who does that?  For a living?  The more I think about it, the more I'm not surprised he did it in some dirty subway bathroom with my mad scientist mom.  If you ask me, someone as unnaturally squeaky clean as the Crimson Flash had it coming.  No one can be that on the up-and-up all the time.


LRB:  Do you think you’ll have the X on your thumb forever? 


DL:  No way.  I'm getting rid of this thing as soon as possible.  Believe me when I say nobody wants to have an X.  It's worse than having no letter at all, because at least with no letter there are tons of people out there who also have no letter.  Even if I never get a V--not that I'm saying I won't, 'cause I will, but, you know, if I don't--an H would still be better than an X.  Having an X is like a big sign to the rest of the world that you don't fit in anywhere.  I might be one of a kind, but that doesn't mean I don't want to know where I belong.  After all, it's hard to defy the rules if you don't even know which ones you're supposed to be following.


LRB: Are you oblivious to girls?


DL: Um, have you met me?  Girls are the last thing I'm oblivious to.  Some of my best friends  are girls.  And okay, maybe all of my friends are girls, but that just goes to show how not oblivious I am.  Or how lacking I am in the friend department, but give me a break--my whole world just got turned upside down.  A lot of my old friends aren't even talking to me, or at least they probably wouldn't be if I wasn't afraid to tell them I didn't get my V.  Of course, the news is probably all over Golden City by now, and if it's not, it will be next year when everyone goes to Vilmore without me.


LRB:  If there was a kitten stuck in a tree would you save it?


DL: Seriously, what is with all these people letting their kittens go outside and get stuck in trees?  Maybe instead of more superheroes what this city needs is more responsible pet owners.  And don't tell my dad, but, yeah, of course I'd save a kitten in a tree.  But just so we're clear, I'd save it using only my villain skills.  None of that flying crap that Gordon would do.  A guy has to have limits, you know?


LRB:  Obviously you have more stories to delve into, do you think your audience will ever get to read more?


DL: I have a team of highly trained monkeys working on it right now.  At the rate they're typing,           they're bound to come up with something cool any day now.  I mean, you know, something true.  They're not, like, making this stuff up.  I want only the highest quality, non-exaggerated stories for my readers.  Not that I would ever need to exaggerate about my exploits.  That would be like adding ketchup to a fancy steak at a restaurant.  Which is a really fun thing to do if the chef is watching.  But, anyway, my point is you are so wrong if you think you've heard the last of me.

Wow, Damien, I'm really surprised by some of your answers!  Thank you for being a guest on my blog.  You're my first guest character!  I know that Chelsea loves you bunches!

I know I said I'd post my review last night, but things happened so it will go up later today.  Also, just comment here and you're entered to win a special copy of The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea M. Campbell.  She will be mailing the book out to the winner.

Thank you to Chelsea for allowing me to promote her book all week, it really is a fantastic read and I know that I am looking forward to more Damien Locke and his X.

This is US/CA contest only.  

Anniversary Trivia #7

Slow cover reveal #5.  I think this is really obvious now!

"Rethink your view of good and evil in this modern-day delightful and unusual novel. Amazing characters, superpowers, super heroes, super villains... what more can you ask for? "--Sab (Ya Bliss) (taken from Goodreads)

"I had heard awesome things about this book last year and I never got around to reading it. I won a copy a while back and was glad to finally have time to pick it up. I knew it was about heroes and villians when starting it and found it engaging me from the first page."--Kristen (taken from Goodreads) 

Author Triva!!!

Q:  Did you always want to write novels?

A:  Pretty much.  I remember a brief period before I could read when I thought I wanted to be an acrobat, but I also remember making my mom join my books clubs I made.  The only catch was I couldn't actually read yet, so I had to ask her how to spell every word in the books I was writing, which is really kind of a spoiler.

Q:  Was D's name always D?

A:  Yes!  And... no.  When I first started working on the book, I did a lot of prewriting, where basically I was just writing nonsense and whatever I felt like--kind of like journal entries from the MC's perspective--until I got a feel for the world and characters.  For most of that writing (about 35k), Damien had no name at all.  It seems crazy now that there's that big a chunk of writing somewhere on my hard drive where he's nameless.

Tomorrow I have a special guest will be taking over the blog and I really think you'll enjoy what he has to say!  Remember the special prize is a marked-up, SIGNED copy of the mystery sent by the terrific author!  Can you guess who the author is?  Do you have any questions for said author?  Post them here today and I will get them to the author!  Also tomorrow is my 4th year of blogging!  I can't believe how fast the time has gone.  I've read some great and not so great books.  I also have a great time letting you know what's on my mind and talking books, of course!

Anniversary Trivia #6

Cover slow reveal #4. I think it's a bit obvious now, no? 

"Overall, I absolutely loved this book, and I really wish there would be a sequel. It's funny, original and fantastic, and you shouldn't miss it." --Gaby (taken from Amazon.com)

"This is such a fantastic and original story, you can't help but to be glued to the book to the very last page, and wanting more. The author has a unique writing style."--Reacher Creature (taken from Amazon.com)

Author Trivia!

Q:  Where did you come up with the name "Damien"?  Did you name him after that kid in the Omen?

A:  He's actually named after Damien Vryce from C. S. Friedman's The Coldfire Trilogy.  I wanted a good name that started with D, and I was reading the first book in the trilogy at the time and totally in love with all the characters.  So, ironically--and fittingly--enough, he's actual named after a paladin, not a demon child.

Q:  How long did it take redacted to get published?

A:  It took about a year and a half to find a publisher and another year and a half for it to come out, so total it was three years from the time I wrote it to the time it hit the shelves.