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

Some pretty covers to show you this week. Super excited about all of these books!

First up we have City of A Thousand Dolls by Miriam Forster. I mentioned this one either last week or the week before in my obsessions and now we have a cover. Pretty awesome and not at all what I was expecting. If you want to learn more check out the Goodreads synopsis.

Next is what may be my favourite cover of 2012... Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr. Real fire was used to create this photograph and the result is stunning. I am SO beyond excited to get my hands on a copy of this one. If you want to learn more check out the Goodreads page.

I think the entire blogger community freaked out when this was released. It's pretty, it's eye catching and has the right feel for this series. Days of Blood and Starlight, the follow up to Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor is already on a lot of people's wish list. If you haven't added it yet, do so via Goodreads.

I love the cover for Dearly Beloved by Lia Habel. Does it match Dearly Departed? Yes and No. I am LOVING the back cover though too. It's Bram! I love the detail (the stitched lip...EPIC!) and can not wait to read this one. Check out Goodreads for synopsis info.

TV

The Following trailer

Ok, so go ahead and watch this trailer.....I'll wait.



Doesn't this show look amazing?! Press that have screened the pilot episode have been raving that it's the best pilot EVER and that has me even more excited. I love the nuance of Kevin Bacon's character not exactly being a squeaky clean detective. Did you catch the hint of a love triangle? A twisted, demented love triangle has me pretty excited. I think this is totally going to be my 'fall in love with' show of 2013. It starts in January and I am already hoping they show the pilot early somewhere.

Season Finale of Revenge

I am in love with this show. It's soapy twisty fun at it's best. If you haven't watched this season, catch up over the summer. It had one of the best season finales this year (this and Once Upon A Time rank high for me) and  I love the characters. Nolan Ross is everything that makes me happy in a TV show.

OTHER

Book Expo America

Officially 1 week away. I leave next Sunday night to head for NYC. I am super excited to be going and can't wait to share everything. I am going to break down the convention into three posts, once for each day. Look for them on Jun 12, 13 and 14.  I have blog posts planned for the Monday - Thursday while I am away so hopefully there will be no lapse in the blog. I can't wait! I have a feeling this week is going to feel VERY long.

So what you are obsessed with this week?

Follow Friday

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:

Q: Activity! Dreamcast your current read.

Since I am between books right now I am going to cast the last book I read. I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga.

I had tons of fun with this. All my choices are too old now (with the exception of my selection for Howie).

Jasper "Jazz" Dent -

He is described as good looking, clean cut. I picture a young Alex Pettyfer or something like this for the role.

Howie -

Jazz's best friend. Logan Lerman looks like how I pictured Howie. A little nerdy, but still super cute.

Billy Dent -

Ray Liotta would be amazing in the role of Jazz's dad who also happens to be a serial killer. I think he is a little too old for the role but in his younger days he would have been perfect. He is considered handsome but still has that roughness I would expect Billy to have.

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

This weeks question is

Show Me Your Cover: What are some of the worst book covers, but hold some of the best stories inside? Don't be embarrassed, show us your cover!

Hmmm....I am reading Storm right now and I am not a fan of the North America cover (the blue with all the guys on the cover), but it's sooo good. I do like the Australian cover (the one with the girl and the guy) though. Much better.

The other cover I can think of is the United Kingdom (girl in red dress) cover for Fateful by Claudia Grey. I like the North American (blue tinge) cover much better. The U.K. one looks very photo shopped together.

Happy Weekend!

Scarlet by A.C Gaughen

Scarlet by A.C Gaughen
Release Date –  February 14, 2012
Publisher Website –  Walker Childrens
Pages -  292 pages
My Rating- 3.5/5
**obtained from the publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

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.

I’m Rob’s secret declares Will Scarlet. Many of us know the tale of Robin Hood and his band of merry men. You may even be familiar with Will Scarlet, whose loyalty to Robin is well known. This novel puts a delightful twist on the age old tale by making Will Scarlet a woman. A tough, sarcastic, conflicted woman at that. This is her story, and it’s her character that kept me interested in the novel. We got to know the vulnerable side to Scarlet as well and the reader quickly learns that she is disguised in more ways than one.

The setting is perfect, and the forest Scarlet and the men in her life roam is easy to imagine. The plot itself is imaginative and well thought out.Those familiar with the tale will find that Ms Gaughen puts her own spin on the characters and keeps it entertaining. The narration was a hybrid of present and past tense that was a little jarring at first. It takes some getting used to, and it didn’t really work for me.
I had a love/dislike relationship with the romance aspect of the story. I wish Robin had been a little more developed. I didn’t really find myself invested in the romance as a result of not being attached to the characters. I wish I knew more about what really motivated Robin. I felt I got to know Scarlet, but the other characters seemed less developed.  I also wanted to scream at Robin and Scarlet to talk to each other. Misunderstandings, and lack of communication are this couples downfall. Even as truth and honesty is demanded from each other their past and own reasoning prevent them from doing it.

At the same some there are plenty of romantic scenes and stolen glances that left me giddy in anticipation for something to happen. There is a hint of a love triangle, that felt awkward to me. I didn't really think it was important to the overall story and there was enough drama to create tension without it.
The action mainly is prevalent in the latter half of the story, this tends to make some of the earlier chapters feel a little longer. The last half though rushes by with storyline reveals and fight scenes. The fight scenes in the end were some of my favourite parts of the story.

While I had some issues with the narration, and wished some characters were developed more, I enjoyed this book and would gladly read about these characters again.

Waiting on Wednesday.....Carnival of Souls

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 Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

In a city of daimons, the Carnival of Souls hosts a deadly competition. Once in a generation, every citizen can fight to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures—if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live. 

In our own world, Mallory knows that her father—and every other witch—fled the daimons’ city long ago. She trains to be lethal because it’s only a matter of time until the daimons catch up with them. 

While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans there for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence that is the Carnival of Souls. 

From Melissa Marr, bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely series, comes a brand-new tale of secrets, love, and the struggle to forge one’s own destiny.

This cover...SWOON! I love the cover. It's stunning. I am intrigued by the synopsis, the carnival and the competition itself. Very excited to get my hands on this one.

Expected release date - September 4, 2012

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga
Release Date –  April 3, 2012
Publisher Website –  Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages -  359 pages
My Rating- 4.5/5
**obtained from the publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

What if the world's worst serial killer...was your dad? 

Jasper (Jazz) Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say. 

But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could--from the criminal's point of view. 

And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod. 

In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret--could he be more like his father than anyone knows?

This novel really should come with a warning - beware when and where you read. There is a high chance of spine tingling scares if read in the right environment. Barry Lyga does not flinch from the horror, and depravity of serial killers, and he delves into the mind of them with what feels like chilling accuracy.

The writing is one of the stronger points of the novel. I liked the taunt, suspense filled chapters and the mixture of humour was a great touch. A lot of the novel is Jazz's inner dialogue and it could have ended up being predictable, and off-putting but Barry's writing makes it work.

Nature vs. Nurture is something that is often debated. What if both were a factor? Genetics, upbringing and the fundamental elements of Jazz’s childhood are all factors in making Jazz who he is today. The question Jazz is asking himself though is who exactly is he. The haunted, almost desperate way Jazz tries to cling to anything that makes him nothing like his father is heart pulling. He wants so badly to not be his father, but the urges are there, and Jazz isn’t sure he wants to fight them. Jazz’s character keeps you intrigued because you don’t know what he is going to do. You can’t predict him, and that makes for refreshing character development. I wanted to get closer to him, as much as I wanted to run away. He’s charming, chillingly so, and comparisons to Dexter Morgan are spot on. You’ll root for him, but being alone with him would set you on edge.

I adored Jazz’s friend Howie. Providing a dash of humour and someone that cares for Jazz while knowing everything makes us relate not only to Howie, but Jazz himself. Howie having hemophilia make me worry about him and hold my breath whenever he got involved. Jazz's girlfriend Connie was someone who challenged Jazz and he needed that.

The hunter vs. prey, cat and mouse game that Jazz and the serial killer play throughout the novel is fascinating, and the identity of the killer is shocking. It’ll keep you holding your breath and anticipating what is going to come next.

The ending left me wanting a sequel, as Barry Lyga sets up the next book perfectly. With plenty of childhood secrets for Jazz to unravel, and a new determination to go down a different path, to not continue Jazz’s story would be the ultimate crime. I look forward to hunting with him again, and hopefully soon.

This book will chill you, give you nightmares and leave you wanting to spend some more time with Jazz. Just make sure to read it in the daylight…

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
Release Date – May 22, 2012
Publisher Website –  Feiwel & Friends /Raincoast Books
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages -  324 pages
My Rating- 4/5
**obtained from the publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Galen, a Syrena prince, searches land for a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. It’s while Emma is on vacation at the beach that she meets Galen. Although their connection is immediate and powerful, Galen's not fully convinced that Emma's the one he's been looking for. That is, until a deadly encounter with a shark proves that Emma and her Gift may be the only thing that can save his kingdom. He needs her help--no matter what the risk.

Mermaid books and I tend to not mix very well. I am not sure what it is, but I think I have a harder time with them as the mythology tends to be something I find unrealistic.  However, Anna Banks has convinced me. I enjoyed the mermaid mythology in Of Poseidon and foud myself really enjoying the novel.

Syrena (mermaids) are divided into two “families” consisting of the Triton tribe and the Poseidon tribe. Each tribe as a special gift, and Poseidon’s is the ability to communicate with fish. Galen is searching for a Syrena who has this gift in order to cease a war and save not only his Kingdom, but all of Syrena.

Galen both bothered me and intrigued me at the same time. I had issues with his treatment of Emma. He does things “for her own good” and to “keep her safe” but they just ended up making me think he was a bit of a jerk. I did like that Emma didn’t really put up with it and challenged him. I didn’t like that he thought her saying NO and telling him not to tell her what to do was “cute” and “adorable”. However, I did like that he was there for Emma and supported her through things.

Emma was a fun character. She has a temper, is quite stubborn, and doesn’t back down. I found her “voice” to be quite amusing. The girl says “OHMYSWEETGOODNESS” which I found highly funny.

What kept me reading was Anna’s writing. It’s highly addictive, and the plot is well developed.  I enjoyed the different perspectives we got by switching the chapters between Galen and Emma’s view point. The switching for first person, to third person was a little jarring at first, but once you are used to it you barely notice. The mermaid mythology was one I very much enjoyed and am anxiously awaiting to learn more about the Poseidon and Triton tribes and the rift that happened to separate them.

There is a shark attack early in the novel that I felt was well done. I could feel the panic, and fear. It was a very intense moment and it was moments like these that made the novel really stand out.

The ending provides a killer cliffhanger that made me want to grab the second book immediately. I guessed part of the twist, but not the full extent of what was going to be revealed. I admire the subtle clues Anna hints at without making anything glaringly obvious. The mythology kept expanding and changing throughout the story. I liked that it unravelled slowly and that we learnt things as Emma did.

While I had some issues with the characters (mainly the guys) the plot, and writing more than made up for any disconnect I felt with them to provide a highly enjoyable mermaid read. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. For those who might be sceptical about mermaid books this is the perfect book to dive in with - romance, action, and mystery are all waiting for you in the deep blue ocean.

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).

I got three books for review.

From What I Remember by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas (goodreads)
Black City by Elizabeth Richards (goodreads)

from Netgalley

The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter (goodreads)

I was super excited to find Black City waiting at my door. A huge THANK YOU to Penguin Canada for sending this for me. I am super excited to read it.

Another huge THANK YOU to Hachette Group Canada for sending From What I Remember. It kind of sounds like The Hangover movies, and I am hoping it's just as funny!

I also want to think Daniel Marks author of Velveteen for sending my some AMAZING bookmarks. I LOVE them and the quote

She walks a tightrope between psychotic and smokin'

I love this quote so much! I am excited to read this novel.

I also want to give a huge THANK YOU to Harlequin Teen and Netgalley for the chance to read and review The Goddess Legacy. I am looking forward to learning more about Persephone especially.

Happy Sunday and Happy Reading!