New Arrivals

As you know, everyone has been buzzing about the new release of the spin-off of The Selection, which is called The Heir. I have linked the book name to Kiera Cass' website, where you can look at this new book and all of her old ones concerning The Selection series. In addition to just talking about this specific book, I am also showing you the release dates of some new books from a bunch of my other personal favorite series. Not all of them I have written about, but here they are . . .

The 13th Reality Book 4: The Void of Mist and Thunder
- comes out on 7/3/2015 (on eBook; it will come out in other formats soon after)



The Waterfire Saga Book 3: Dark Tide
- comes out on 10/13/2015



The Ever Afters Book 4: Of Enemies and Endings
- comes out on 6/30/2015




The School For Good and Evil Book 3: The Last Ever After
- comes out 7/21/2015



The Finishing School Series Book 4: Manners and Mutiny
- comes out 11/3/2015



So be on the lookout!

Graceling

* * * * */ Five Stars

Genre: Action, Adventure, Mystery, (mild) Humor, Suspense, Intrigue, Fantasy, (some slight) Romance

In this whimsical novel by Kristin Cashore, there are many realms and some 'extra special' (but highly discriminated against) people with eyes that are differently colored. They are called 'the graced'. The Gracelings can develop their talents at any age or stage in their life, and when they do, it is quite obvious what they are graced at. For example, if the first time you ever dance you may do so as if you were a professional, you are graced with dancing. The same is true for cooking, cleaning, sword-fighting, and anything else you can possibly imagine. When young Katsa punches her cousin in the face as a little girl to such effect that it breaks his nose, everyone, including herself, assumes her grace is fighting. Her uncle (the king), instead of sending her away, appoints her to be his own personal thug. Sent on missions to torture, collect info, fight in battles, and so much more, Katsa barely has much of any say in her destiny and is beginning to wonder what she wants. Then, one fateful day, she meets Prince Po, another royal from another realm that claims that he too shares this gift. As they become friends, her suspicious rise, and the flames fan around her kingdom. What will happen to her? And what secrets are yet to be uncovered?
I adored this 'colorful' and imaginative book. However, this book is probably more for a mature and developed audience. Anyways, I recommend it to any member of an older mental crowd that loves mystical worlds, pirates, magical beasts, and a taste for the extraordinary!

The Selection

* * * */ Four Stars (almost five)

Genre: Action, Adventure, Romance, Humor, Futuristic, Suspense

America Singer and her family are fives; aristocrats, all of them working in 'the arts'. They are 3 caste levels up from the worst caste, an eight. In a world where the USA has long since crumbled and a new kingdom has risen from the ashes, China is a superpower, and World Wars 3 and 4 have already been fought, the 'one' caste remains; the royal family. Whenever a prince born of the royal family comes of age, 35 eligible girls from any caste are selected to compete for his hand and for the crown. America doesn't want to enter the Selection, since she is happy with her boyfriend back at home. But, at his urging, her mother's pleas, and the chance to earn money for her poor family and friends, America enters. Unexpectedly, she is chosen, and her world gets flipped upside down. Now immersed in a world of luxury and lies, America Singer must fight out the Selection while confused about who and what she wants. Will she continue on and choose to be with the prince? Or will she be eliminated and go back home?
I really liked this incredible book by Kiera Cass. The distopian world and America's fiery courage throughout the book had me hanging on to the last words! I recommend this book to anyone wanting a 'modern Cinderella' story and an interesting romance.



(Above are all 3 main books in the trilogy)

Etiquette and Espionage

* * * * */ Five Stars

Genre: Action, Adventure, Humor, Mystery, Suspense, Intrigue, Fantasy

In this amazing book by Gail Carriger, you meet the lovable and humorous Sophronia, a girl living in the 1800s. She isn't like her many older sisters; she enjoys climbing elevator shafts, playing in the mud with her brothers, and annoying her mother. When her family is recommended by their neighbor to Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing School, Sophronia's mother jumps at the opportunity to send her there. At first, Sophronia is dreading the experience, thinking it to be a boring school that will teach her manners and curtsies all day, but she is in for quite the surprise; at this school, all the girls learn to finish . . . everything. From eyelash fluttering to knife throwing, Sophronia soon realizes that this school has it all. Is she ready to be thrown into this wacky world of tea parties AND assassinations, or will her adventures there prove that she can't handle the weight of this extraordinary profession?
I love the crazy steam-punk universe that the author has created. This book is crafted with humor, adventure, the supernatural and so much more, which will make it an instant hit with anyone who reads it!

Fever, 1793

* * * * */ Five Stars

Genre: Action, Adventure, Historical Fiction, Humor, Suspense, (and the slightest bit of) Romance

In this intriguing book by Laurie Halse Anderson, you meet Mattie (Matilda, in full) Cook and her lovable family. A teenager with a want for more in a world after the terrible war, a mother with a will as hard as nails and a spirit strong, and a grandfather both amusing and completely serious about the protection of his family. The small group live together at a coffee house that they run in Philadelphia, the capital. They have a nice life, running their business, gossiping about the town, and interacting with friends and relations. Then disaster strikes the city. The dreaded yellow fever epidemic of 1793 hits hard, first taking the life of Mattie's dearest friend, Polly, then grasping her mother, and finally getting nearly everyone in town sick. As the sickness closes in and her mother continues to get worse, the biggest question of all arises; in a world filled with fever, will Mattie and her family make it out alive?
I really enjoyed this enchanting novel. I recommend it to anyone wanting a good book that hosts some truth. It will defiantly become an addition to my bookshelf!



Also, sorry for taking so long to post anything. The same for Imagine Works and History Mystery. I promise - and so do the owners of the other blogs I collaborate with - to pick up my blogging. I feel bad for not posting anything for a while. I will try to be better about that.

New Blog!

I am writing this post to spread awareness about a new blog; History Mystery. It is just starting out, and it is a cool blog that kind-of goes along with this one; every month, the bloggers at History Mystery will be reading a new historical fiction novel and comparing it to an actual historical account of reference, to see how accurately the author represented the time period. I will pitch in by occasionally writing a review on this blog about the book they are looking at for the month.

Here is the link to the blog: amahistorymystery.blogspot.com.

I will write the review on their book, 'Fever, 1793' sometime this week. Keep a lookout and check that blog out sometime!

'The Book Thief' Trailer

Here is the book trailer for the popular Holocaust book, 'The Book Thief'. Enjoy!

(WARNING: this may be a spoiler!)