Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Here are my obsessions this week:

BOOKS

More book deals have been announced and there are two I am excited to check out.

The Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

Here is where I admit I haven't read Sophie's over novels. They didn't really grab my attention even though I had read great reviews for them. This one however sounds amazing. Check out the Goodreads synopsis

The first in a two-book series pitched as The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report; in which a teen's perfect world unravels when mandatory genetic profiling reveals she's a carrier for HTS (Homicidal Tendency Syndrome), otherwise known as the "kill gene" and she's forced to question herself, her world, and her love.

Seriously? The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report? AWESOME. What happens to the people who are found to have HTS? Are they sent somewhere? Is the system corrupt? So many questions that come from this  brief synopsis. Looking forward to this one being released in 2013 by Harperteen.

All The Rage by Courtney Summers

I read the synopsis for this and immediately started to fangirl. This sounds amazing. Check out the Goodreads synopsis

A 17-year-old girl’s attempt to blackmail her rich classmates results in her waking up on a dirt road with no money, no memory of how she got there and a semi-erased message she left for herself the only clue as to why. When she tries to piece together the evening before and all the events leading up to it, a dark and sinister game is revealed. Likened to Brick and Veronica Mars.

This sounds amazing. A little Veronica Mars is never a bad thing, and I am intrigued to find out why she is blackmailing her classmates and how she ended up on a dirt road. St Martin Press is publishing this one in 2013 and I am so anxious to get my hands on it.

Does anyone else think 2013 is looking to be the BEST year in books? So many amazing, and UNIQUE sounding titles.

Some other titles I have come across recently that are releasing soon (THIS FALL!) and I think sound amazing.

The Dead Girls Detective Agency by Suzy Cox

The Goodreads synopsis of this sounds cute, and like it might have an interesting mystery at the heart of it

When Charlotte comes to after being pushed onto the subway tracks, she is informed by a group of teenage girls that she is dead…they all are. Meet the Dead Girls Detective Agency. With the support of these dynamic girls—including fashionable Lorna, who can’t wait to find out if the devil actually wears Prada, and nerdy Nancy, who insists on staying in limbo to help out other girls—Charlotte follows leads and tracks down clues to solve her own murder. With plenty of juicy mysteries and some pretty cute guys, readers are sure to fall in love with this fun and suspenseful page-turner!

Investigating her own murder? Creepy but awesome. I hope this is as cute, and suspenseful as I am thinking it's going to be. This comes out September 18 from HarperTeen

34 Pieces of You by Carmen Rodrigues 

The Goodreads synopsis for this one sounds a lot like Thirteen Reasons Why.

There was something about Ellie... Something dangerous. Charismatic. Broken. Jake looked out for her. Sarah followed her lead. And Jess kept her distance, and kept watch.
Now Ellie’s dead, and Jake, Sarah, and Jess are left to pick up the pieces. All they have are 34 clues she left behind. 34 strips of paper hidden in a box beneath her bed. 34 secrets of a brief and painful life.
Jake, Sarah, and Jess all feel responsible for what happened to Ellie, and all three have secrets of their own. As they begin to confront the darkest truths about themselves, they will also find out what Ellie herself had been hiding all along....

Sounds like it could be really emotional, and intense and really good. I enjoyed Thirteen Reasons Why and felt like that book should be mandatory reading in highschools. Hopefully this one is just as poignant. This comes out September 4 from Simon Pulse.

Mystic City by Theo Lawrence

A little Romeo and Juliet happening in the Goodreads synopsis.

For fans of Matched, The Hunger Games, X-Men, and Blade Runner comes a tale of a magical city divided. A political rebellion ignited. A love that was meant to last forever. 

Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City's two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents' sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud—and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below in the Depths. But Aria doesn't remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can't conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection—and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city—including herself.

So obviously there will be a love triangle, and I am curious as to why Aria has holes in her memory. I love the cover of it too, so pretty. Random House is publishing this one October 9, 2012.

TV

Once Upon A Time season finale

Crazy twists? Check. Romantic reunions? Check. Beloved (by me anyways) character seemingly dies? Check. Insane cliffhanger that will leave you gasping until the fall? CHECK. We left Storybrooke with "something bad" coming (Got to love Henry) and we are in for a intriguing second season.

OTHER

Book Expo America

TWO WEEKS!! Yes, this Sunday is the two week mark before I leave to go to NYC. My excitement level is pretty unmanageable right now and I am having fangirl freak outs on a daily basis.  Kirkus reviews released their BEA Guide. It offers their picks for what to get and the titles in there all sound amazing. I am looking forward to surrounding myself with bookish people and can't wait to share everything in blog posts when I get back.

Disney World

As some of you know I have three young nieces. They are going to be visiting Disney World for the first time this December. Yesterday, I purchased my flight to go with them! I am so looking forward to their little faces when they meet their favourite characters. I predict freak outs over Cinderella and Belle. I already can't wait to explore the most magical place on earth with my sister's family.

So what you are obsessed with this week?

Follow Friday/Book Blogger Hop

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. It's a great way to meet new blogger friends. This weeks question is:

Summer Break is upon us! What would be the perfect vacation spot for you to catch up on your reading & relax?

Hmm....well I am going to keep it local and list a real place I could actually go to here in Ottawa. I fully intend to go to this spot as soon as I have some free time and the weather is nice!

The Ottawa Canal has quite a few scenic spots along it where you can stop to read, picnic, or just enjoy the view. It turns into the world's largest skating rink. It's lovely to walk along as well. Can't wait to grab some delicious fruity drink and relax with my book. The only downside to this spot? It's popular and often filled with people, it takes an effort to find a quiet spot.

TGIF at GReads! is a weekly blog hop hosted by Ginger from GReads

This weeks question is

A Book Blogger is Born: What made you decide to start your very own book blog?

I started my blog largely due to being the "go to" book person in my group of friends. I have always been asked for book suggestions (especially from penpals) and figured this was an easy way to share what I was reading and what I enjoyed. I also had read a book called Stolen by Lucy Christopher and had to review it.

Now that I am fully part of the book blogger community I am very happy I am here. I've met great people who share my love of reading and books. It's truly been an amazing experience.

Happy Weekend!

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
Release Date –  May 8, 2012

Publisher Website –  Simon and Schuster

Publisher Social Media - Twitter

Pages - 536 pages

My Rating- 4.5/5

**purchased**

***************SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST 4 BOOKS IN THE SERIES****************

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

The Mortal Instruments series (and the Infernal Devices series too) are one of my favourite series. Cassandra Clare manages to capture humour, heartbreak, pulse pounding action and endearing characters. It's the characters that we really grow attached to. City of Lost Souls, the second to last book in this series, has us fearful and apprehensive about the fate of some of the characters. Cassandra Clare is a master at the heartbreaking scene that makes you cry and this instalment was no exception.

I love how involved Cassandra's plot is. Clues, reveals and twists are plotted well in advance and dropped when neeeded. Clare's writing really shines when you factor in that the two series compliment and shed light on the other. I have a theory that ties into both books about some of the characters and I was delighted to have more 'hints' that suggest I am correct. An author that can expand a complex plot and weave the whole story through what will total nine novels is impressive.

My favourite part of the book was the amount of time we got to spend at Magnus's apartment. This meant we got to see much more of Magnus than usual, and his relationship with Alec is given a fair share of the plot as well. I adore Magnus, he is my favourite character in this world Clare has created and I wish for more of him each book.

Simon was another highlight. I found myself liking Simon well enough in the first cycle of books, but this new set of three has really made me LOVE him. He's grown and changed. He is more weary after having been through so much, still fiercely loyal to Clary and his blossoming relationship with Izzy is wonderful to see develop. I hope Cassandra explores the relationship between Simon and Magnus. When the dust has finally settled for these characters and they've lived their lives conceivably he and Magnus will be the last two left (baring anything awful happening in the last novel). I would like to explore that and see if they could become friends.

Clary, while brave and capable, makes the worst possible decisions in this novel. I realize she does them out of fear and love, but it doesn't take away from the fact that it was infuriating to "watch" her make them. It was disappointing because I've always liked the character and felt myself really disliking her this time around. Going in I knew Jace was not going to be himself, but I was not prepared for how different Jace actually was. Fans of Jace may especially dislike this version of him.

I spent most of the book wanting to smack Alec Lightwood upside the head. He gives Clary competition in the "who makes the worst decisions" contest that is for sure. I felt awful for Magnus and was glad he stood up for himself. You get the impression that he has been around way too long to put up with much. This outcome has been building steadily in the last few books and while I was anguished over it, the outcome is realistic. Magnus has often voiced his reluctant to be the 'go to warlock' for our gang and it is really evident in this novel how much of what Magnus does is out of his love for Alec, and not out a true desire to assist the others.

Much of the plot revolves around trying to determine what Sebastian's plan is and what his motivations are. Clare has developed a villain that is anything but one dimensional and is captivating in his own right. There are glaring differences between what Sebastian wants and what Valentine wanted so it does not feel like a rehash.. Sebastian is determined and is willing to go to great lengths to obtain his goals. I found myself fearing for our beloved characters because I truly believe Sebastian when he says he wants to "burn down the world".

When Sebastian's plan is revealed and the dust from this battle has settled we are left with a sense of foreboding and unease. War is coming and it is easy to see that not all our beloved characters will make it out alive. City of Lost Souls, to me, felt like a set up of the epic showdown we are going to see in City of Heavenly Fire. A necessary step to the finale that provided the usual heartbreak, laughs and excitement I have come to expect from a Cassandra Clare novel. Saying goodbye to this series with the sixth and final book will be bittersweet.

Waiting on Wednesday....What's Left of Me

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick this week is What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t…

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable–hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet…for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

I love the cover for this. This just sounds so unique. I don't think I've read anything quite like this before, and I am looking forward to it.

Expected release date - September 18, 2012

Author Interview - Katherine Longshore

Today the lovely Katherine Longshore stops by for an interview. We're talking Tudor Court, history and research. Gilt is in stores TODAY so grab a copy. If you are interested in winning your chance to read it the Tudor Tuesday blog tour wraps up today and has 3 chances to win. Details can be found in the contest post.

1 Describe Gilt in three words

friendship passion betrayal

2 Describe your novel's Catherine Howard in three words

charismatic manipulative duplicitous

3 What drew you to write about Tudor England? And what especially drew you to Catherine Howard?

I kind of fell into Tudor England, really. My first love was late Medieval history, and Richard III in particular. I suppose I have a bit of a soft spot for the bad boys, because Henry VIII seemed to follow naturally. And when I realized I was kind of destined to write for teens, Catherine seemed an obvious choice, as she was a teenager when she became queen.

4 What sort of research did you do? Did you visit any sites in England?

I read a lot of books. I found transcripts of original documents online. And yes, my favorite part of research is to visit the places where my characters lived. And died. Hampton Court Palace is still as majestic as I’m sure it was in the middle of the 16th century. The Tower of London is just as formidable. And though some places no longer stand – even in ruins – I can learn a lot just by being able to view the world from their location.

5 During your research did you learn anything that surprised you?

It surprised me that so many historians perpetuate the assumption that Catherine Howard was birdbrained and frivolous. Yes, she made an egregious error. But who among us didn’t at some point – especially when young – do something stupid? Does that mean we are stupid? Not at all. So why should we assume Cat was?

6 If you were alive during Tudor times would you have wanted to be at Court?

Honestly? I don’t think so. My natural expectation is that people are basically good, kind and honest. And I think the Tudor court bred that out of people. As Cat says in Gilt, “The English court is beautiful and cutthroat, and anyone going there has to be both. Or at least act as if she is.” Though I would like to see it – the gowns and jewels, the tapestries on the walls, the musicians, the incredible, elaborate foods. And then, I’d probably like to go home to my own quiet space.

7 What was the easiest part of this novel to write? The hardest?

I think they’re one and the same. Stephen King coined the phrase “killing your darlings”, meaning, as a writer, having to excise some of the parts of your novel that you love the most, because they don’t work in the story structure. But it can also apply to characters. I can picture the Tower of London, the scaffold, the scant and miserable crowd at Catherine’s execution. The vision makes the words come easily. But it was difficult, emotionally, to write it.

8 Who is the first person that gets to read your writing?

My sister, Martha Longshore. She is the first writer in our family, and has an uncanny eye for whether writing works. She recently read the rough draft of Book 2 in the Royal Circle series, and when she told me she finished it in two days, I was blown away.

9 What is the last book you read that you would recommend to others?

This book won’t be coming out for a few months yet, but I’d certainly recommend that people keep an eye out for SKINNY by Donna Cooner. It is so relatable, so heartfelt, so beautifully unnerving. A must-read.

10 If you could go back in time to any time period and any place, where and when would you travel to?

I’d love to travel to the Field of Cloth of Gold. From June 7 to 24, 1520, Henry VIII met Francis I, King of France, in a field near Calais, which was part of England at the time. They built tents to look like chateaux. They covered everything in the titular cloth, and all of it gleamed in the sunlight. They had games and feasts and signed a peace treaty that was supposed to last for years (but didn’t). This is what the pageantry of the Renaissance was all about, and it would have been amazing to be a part of it.

******************************************************************************

I want to thank Katherine for stopping by!

I have a mini contest going on. I have some amazing signed bookmarks and feel like giving some away. I am going to be giving 5 in total. To win, simply comment below with the name of your favourite of King Henry's Queens and a way to contact you (Twitter handle, etc).

Also don't forget to enter the Tudor Tuesday contest to win a copy of Gilt!

Gilt by Katherine Longshore

Gilt by Katherine Longshore
Release Date –  May 15, 2012
Publisher Website –  Penguin/Viking Juvenile
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages -  398 pages
My Rating- 5/5
**obtained from the publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

When Kitty Tylney's best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII's heart and brings Kitty to court, she's thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat's shadow, Kitty's now caught between two men--the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat's meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head.

Historical Fiction has that unique aspect that most people know how the story going to end when they pick up the novel. This is even more true when reading about a historical figure, rather than just having a novel set in a particular time era. What takes a good historical fiction to a great one is the journey. It's in the process and how the author gets you to that ending. Gilt shines here. Katherine Longshore strength is the journey, taking us up to the moment we know is coming.

Catherine Howard (Cat) brought to life under Katherine Longshore’s skillful writing is exactly what I imagined her to be. History paints her as a silly, frivolous girl who was not the brightest. I see her as a young lady who made mistakes. Mistakes are part of what it means to grow up, and learn. Sadly, Catherine Howard paid the ultimate price for her mistakes. She was also much more aware and intelligent than given credit for. She became Queen. Not an easy task, and she managed it. Was Catherine fun loving, manipulative, and cunning? Absolutely. They are not crimes worthy of what happened to her.

Katherine Tylney (Kitty) is a true friend. She is someone that is supportive and understanding, even when it is undeserved. She is someone I really liked as she sticks to what she believes in.  She is loyal almost to a fault. Her connection to and willingness to do anything for Cat means their fates are intertwined and as Cat’s fortunes change, Kitty’s change as well.

The romance in the novel is almost secondary to the friendship. I did love William and his connection with Kitty. I liked that it was not overwhelming to the story, but still provided some steamy scenes. The ending is one that is honest and genuine to the story being told.

The theme of friendship and what it means is one that anyone can relate to. We have all had friendships that are pretty one sided when you look back on them. While Cat took and manipulated there are moments that shine through when you can see the genuine friendship there.

The duality of the danger in Henry’s court and the grandeur was portrayed wonderfully. We have a King that is quick tempered, makes snap decisions and changes his mind frequently. It is a little like walking on glass being part of his Court and yet the riches, wealth and splendor also exists.

The saddest part of Catherine Howard’s story is her youth and vivacious personality being silenced too soon. Katherine Longshore handles that final scene in a way that is touching, poignant and provides a different perspective in having it be from Kitty’s view point. You get to see it through someone who would be mourning her loss.

You’ll be holding your breath waiting to see what awaits Kitty and will hope she manages to escape with her head. Intrigue, secrets, romance, and a friendship that will resonate with everyone made Gilt a read that I couldn’t put down.  I am eagerly awaiting the second book in the Royal Circle series.

New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

Purchased

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare (goodreads)
Storm by Brigid Kemmerer (goodreads)
Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins (goodreads)

Library stash

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong (goodreads)

I had a very busy week with books. This week was all about City of Lost Souls! I am so happy to have it in my hands. My review will be posted sometime this coming week (Thursday I expect).

Brodie who runs the amazing blog Eleusinian Mysteries has been RAVING about Storm for months. I could not find it in any store in Ottawa so I ordered it. It finally came in and I was thrilled to find out it came with the short novella that you're supposed to read prior to Storm. I hope to get to this one soon. I ordered Sweet Evil at the same time and it just came in Friday. I love the cover of this one so much! It looks amazing "in real life".

I loved The Gathering and am so excited to jump back into this story. Hopefully I have time to get to it soon.

Happy Sunday and Happy Reading!