One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake

One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake
Release Date - September 19, 2017

Publisher Website - Harper Collins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader/Frenzy
Pages - 464 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received for an honest review from publisher**

**spoilers for Three Dark Crowns**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

THE BATTLE FOR THE CROWN HAS BEGUN, BUT WHICH OF THE THREE SISTERS WILL PREVAIL?

With the unforgettable events of the Quickening behind them and the Ascension Year underway, all bets are off. Katharine, once the weak and feeble sister, is stronger than ever before. Arsinoe, after discovering the truth about her powers, must figure out how to make her secret talent work in her favor without anyone finding out. And Mirabella, once thought to be the strongest sister of all and the certain Queen Crowned, faces attacks like never before—ones that put those around her in danger she can’t seem to prevent.

In this enthralling sequel to Kendare Blake’s New York Times bestselling Three Dark Crowns, Fennbirn’s deadliest queens must face the one thing standing in their way of the crown: each other.. 

Sequels can be tricky, especially when they are middle parts to a series. A large part of them is setting up things for future installments and they can often end up feeling like a bridge between the first and final books in the series. Kendare Blake manages to both set up further installments and progress the plot in One Dark Throne. It's a perfect balance of both and a solid installment in the Three Dark Crowns series.

The cliffhanger at the end of Three Dark Crowns was one of my favourite elements from the first novel. Discovering that Arsinoe is actually the poisoner queen was a jaw dropping moment that you feel that you should have seen coming. That part of the story is only beginning to be fleshed out in this sequel but it adds another layer to this story. You really get a more clear picture of how these sisters have been manipulated since they were young children. It showcases how many people have maneuvered and kept secrets to further their own agendas with little thought to these sisters. I am looking forward to Arsinoe's real powers to be revealed because of what it probably means for Katharine and the gift she probably possesses.

My favourite Queen continues to be Katharine. Each of them have endearing and maddening qualities to them. Mirabella and Arsinoe are the more level headed sisters in this installment. Katharine's storyline, however, is the more interesting. Katharine is not the same after crawling her way back from being left for dead. She's angry and more reckless. I think there is another layer to what is driving her and I cannot wait for this part of the story, which feels more mystical or paranormal, to unravel in future installments.

The politic elements are, for me, the most compelling. Each side is scheming to get their preferred Queen on the throne, and each side is is will to make deals, and double cross when it is to their benefit. It makes it feel like a chess game, and the three sisters little more than pawns in an elaborate game they don't even know the rules for. It creates sympathy for these girls when it could perhaps to be easier to not have the reader feel that way. It makes you root for them to find a way to defy fate so that all three of them may live and experience the lives they are building for themselves.

I am not sure if the fact that this is more than a duology was well known, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this novel would not be the last in this story. I am happy to return to this world, and these characters, as I still there is still plenty to tell within this story.

Kenadare Blake has offered up an engaging story filled with complex female characters and the relationships that exist between them. It is a wonderful blend of plot and character driven and I highly recommend this to those who love books that are a mix of politics, fantasy elements, romance and stories that revolve around sisters. 

Waiting On Wednesday .... One Dark Throne

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

This week's pick is One Dark Throne

**possible spoilers for Three Dark Crowns**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

The battle for the Crown has begun, but which of the three sisters will prevail?

With the unforgettable events of the Quickening behind them and the Ascension Year underway, all bets are off. Katharine, once the weak and feeble sister, is stronger than ever before. Arsinoe, after discovering the truth about her powers, must figure out how to make her secret talent work in her favor without anyone finding out. And Mirabella, once thought to be the strongest sister of all and the certain Queen Crowned, faces attacks like never before—ones that put those around her in danger she can’t seem to prevent.

In this enthralling sequel to Kendare Blake’s New York Times bestselling Three Dark Crowns, Fennbirn’s deadliest queens must face the one thing standing in their way of the crown: each other. 

I loved Three Dark Crowns, and especially loved the set up for the sequel that happened within the final pages of the novel. It created a tension I was eager to see explored. I love all three sisters for different reasons and it is going to be tough to see them (probably) kill each other (even if Katharine is my favourite).

There isn't long at all to wait for this one to come out, but long enough to devour Three Dark Crowns if you haven't yet in preparation. 

Expected release date - September 19, 2017

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
Release Date -  September 20, 2016

Publisher Website - HarperCollins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader/Frenzy
Pages - 398 pages
My Rating - 5/5
**received from publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born—three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.

But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.

The last queen standing gets the crown.

Three Dark Crowns opens with a sinister rhyme ...

Three dark queens

are born in a glen,

sweet little triplets

will never be friends.

Three dark sisters

all fair to be seen,

two to devour

and one to be Queen. 

and with it sets the tone for the entire book. Dark, and richly crafted, Kenadre Blake has created a different kind of fairytale. One with magic, sisters who are trained to kill each other, and some deliciously doomed romances. It also happens to boast Kendare Blake's usual sharp writing, and a compelling cast of secondary characters.

The world that Kendare Blake has created is deeply fascinating. The rituals, and ceremony that go into rather brutal and tragic events does little to mask the truth, but it creates a ruling system that you cannot wait to learn more about. Each of the 'gifts' that the potential Queens have come with their own 'factions' of sorts and history. It create a really rich feeling world, that has the potential to grow as the story continues.

Each of the sisters are incredibly compelling. Katharine, the poisoner who can craft deadly poisons. Arsinoe, a naturalist capable of controlling plants and animals. Maribella, a elemental who can summon flames and cause storms. Maribella is rumoured to be the strongest of the three, and her skills are certainly more advanced that her sisters. There are more similarities between the sisters than there are differences. They each are determined, strong, smart young women who have been told they are special their whole lives and it is interesting at how similar they became while being raised very differently. Each of these sisters draws you in and I loved spending time with each of them. Their storylines are all engaging and interesting as the story builds towards the moment when all are in the same place. My only minor issue is that I wanted to see more of them together, even as I recognized why that couldn't happen at this point in the story.

There is a unique feel to the sisterhood in this story. They barely know each other since they've spent most of the lives separated from each other. Even with being torn from each other there is a bond that exists between them. They've spent their lives being trained to kill the other, and taught to fear each other. It is an interesting dynamic, particularly when each of them shares concerns over killing the others. Kendare Blake ensures we feel that sisterly bond, even with much more sinister motives are present.

Politics are a strong force within this story. We see what each faction is willing to do to ensure that their Queen wins the coveted crown. It creates even more danger because you realize that things are not what they appear at first, and that each of the potential Queens needs to be wary of not just each other, but outside influences as well.

The romances, for me, were perfect. They are filled with the kind of delicious complications that make for some interesting plot twists. There is an unexpected love triangle, betrayal, forbidden feelings, and swoon worthy declarations. I have one particular ship that I adored, and even that was fraught with complications. None of the romances overshadow the main storyline, and they were often used to further other storylines which was a refreshing. I am curious where each of these love connections lead in the next book as none of them are without heartbreak.

This novel is more character driven than plot driven but I think that needs to be the case. We need to feel the stakes. The death that is to come needs to resonate with us. We need to feel for these characters and getting us to know them is the best way for that to happen. I feel I know these sisters and what makes them tick. You come to root for all of them, and that is going to be a problem in subsequent books as only one of them is to survive.

This novel increases the tension towards the end with events happening fast and furious. It offers a breathtaking set up for the subsequent novels in this series and moves closer to the inevitable tragedy that its very premise promises. I feel the next book will be filled with action, and probably more romance, as the sister's navigate this war for the throne.

This is a story of sisterhood that has been ripped away, deceit, power, love, and the lengths people will go to for power. Kendare Blake, once again, crafts a compelling tale filled with unforgettable characters. If you like your fantasy mixed with a fairytale feel, and sharp writing be sure to pick this one up. 

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 received a bunch of goodies from the Harper Collins Canada blogger preview that happened recently. I am excited about pretty much all of these titles and cannot wait to read them.

As I Descended by Robin Talley (goodreads)
Every Hidden Thing by Kenneth Oppel (goodreads)
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake (goodreads)
Girl Mans Up by M-E Giard (goodreads)

A huge thank you to Harper Collins Canada (especially the people behind HCC Frenzy) for the afternoon of bookish fun. Be sure to check out my recap if you missed it.

What bookish items made their way into your mailbox this week?

Happy Weekend and Happy Reading!

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.

BOOK

Cover of As I Descended by Robin Talley (goodreads)

All of the Fall 2016 covers are starting to be revealed, and I am in love with this cover for Robin Talley's newest novel. It suits the synopsis perfectly.

I love the cover scheme here. The moody/atmospheric cover fits with a Macbeth retelling. This is high on my list for Fall 2016 and the cover is just pretty wrapping on an already amazing sounding story.

Cover of Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake (goodreads)

I am a fan of simplistic covers. Less is more usually. I immediately loved this cover when I saw it. It's simple, but eye catching and immediately piques your interest.

This story of three sisters who must fight for a crown is a must read for me, and this cover just makes me all the more excited to have it in my hands.

paperback cover for Anne and Henry by Dawn Ius (goodreads)

I loved this novel, and I loved the hot pink, eye catching cover that was on the hardcover, BUT this paperback cover? This paperback cover is amazing.

These models perfectly capture Dawn Ius' Anne and Henry and it has a modern feel to it that fits the updated story perfectly. It's fun, and that also fits the novel. I am excited to see this one on shelves (and there may just be a giveaway closer to release!)

TV/MOVIE

Penny Dreadful Season 3 Trailer

This trailer gave me goosebumps. From the haunting cover of 'You Don't Own Me' to Victor Frankenstein's proclamation that he wrote 'the bloody book' on sin, each and every single part of this trailer is phenomenal. 

Eva Green is a goddess and I am so excited to see what surprises her storyline has in store for us. I am so excited for more #Ethanessa goodness and my heart is already aching for my tragically doomed Victor. May cannot get here fast enough!

Sexy Outlander Photoshoot

Outlander graced the cover of Entertainment Weekly this past week. Along with a jaw droppingly sexy cover, there were some incredible photos inside.

Here is my favourite....

This photo, which again shows that I prefer the less is more approach, is one of the tamer photos from the shoot, but it's one of the sexiest in my opinion. The way they are looking at each other is sexy. The placement of their hands is sexy. Check out the entire photo shoot, but been aware that some of the shots are perhaps a little NSFW.

What are you obsessed with this week?

Cover Reveal ..... Mortal Gods by Kendare Blake

I am thrilled to be helping reveal the cover for Kendare Blake's new novel, Mortal Gods. I loved the first book in the series, Antigoddess, quite a bit. I also loved her previous series (Anna Dressed in Blood).

The Goddess War trilogy recently underwent a cover redesign. I love the original concept, but also really love the new covers as well.

Check out the cover for Mortal Gods

The lightning is awesome, and the colour scheme is also really striking! I cannot wait to see how this relates to the plot because the redesigned Antigoddess one has little elements in it that are important to the story (the feathers...*shivers*)

Be sure to add it to your Goodreads.

Here is a little about the first novel in the Goddess War series - Antigoddess

Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning.

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out.

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

You can find Kendare on Twitter, and her blog if you want more information about any of her books.

Let me know in the comments what you think of the cover!

Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

Release Date - September 10, 2013

Publisher Website - Tor Teen

Publisher Social Media - Twitter

Pages -  333 pages

My Rating - 4/5

**obtained for review from publisher via BEA**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

The Goddess War begins in Antigoddess, the first installment of the new series by acclaimed author of Anna Dressed in Blood, Kendare Blake.

Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god. 

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning. 

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out. 

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

Greek mythology done Kendare Blake style. Brutal, intense, and filled with a wicked beauty even among the blood and gore. A contemporary setting takes these larger than life gods and goddesses and brings a humanity to them that is welcome and unexpected.

With a large cast of characters, I was worried that we would not have time to grow attached, or learn about them. I was delightfully proved wrong. Kendare manages to show your their motivations, and who they are as characters effortlessly, even the 'villains'. She's taken the classic characteristics of these immortal beings, and made them fit into her vision. Each of them wants to survive, and a the war that is brewing is going to set up this series to be explosive, and deadly.

Kendare Blake is brutal. Death comes swiftly for various characters, and sometimes it's ones you care about. This is a series that is going to keep readers on their toes, because these gods are not immortal, and anyone is fair game. A stunning twist to the classic immortality allows these gods and goddesses to reflect on their very long lives. Already the reactions to their deaths have been varied, and loud. Almost none of them are going to quietly.

A dual perspective allows us to see two sides of this multi-sided story. Athena's narration was my favourite. Snarky, chilling, and at times humourous (but sarcastically so). Cassandra's narration felt a little off to me. The reaction to finding out she's THAT Cassandra happened with little freakout. Others involved in her story also barely react to this pretty major news. It rang false, and I am hoping we might get more insight into why nobody reacted in the previous novels.

Those who are not as familiar with mythology, Greek in particular, may not catch the little nuances, and nods woven throughout. It reads differently having a little bit of background to draw from, however those who are not as familiar will still enjoy the novel. The pacing is quick, taunt, and doesn't really let up once the main storyline gets started. It makes for a fast read, with total page turning appeal.

The novel ends in such a manner that sets up the remainder of the series, and the war itself. The tease of characters perhaps coming into their own, and delicious teases of romance that will hopefully pay off in the sequel, left me holding me breath.

A twist to a classic that pays homage even as the author makes it her own. Antigoddess is just unflinchingly gory, surprisingly touching, and more intense than I expected. You will never look at feathers the same way again, and these gods and goddesses may just take you by surprise. 

My 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

Cover for Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

I really like this cover. It's simple, and yet very striking. The offset of the dark colours with the white feather adn that splash of red really pop out. Super excited to read this one as the synopsis sounds amazing too!

TV

I Hunt Killers TV Show

ABC Family, the network behind the Pretty Little Liars TV show, are adapting Barry Lyga's I Hunt Killers. I am very excited, and can't wait to see how they cast as Jasper. For more info, Hollywood Crush has the details.

OTHER

DisneyWorld

I will most likely be on my way to Disney when you read this post (well possibly, I leave at 7 am on Saturday). I am going to be gone for a week, but the blog will continue as normal (some what normal anyways). If you are curious, the blog will look as follows for the week that I am gone -

Sun Dec 9 - New To My Book Closet
Mon Dec 10 - Best of 2012 - Top 5 Swoon Worthy Book Guys
Tues Dec 11 - My Top Ten Books I want turned into movies
Wed Dec 12 - Waiting on Wednesday selection for the week
Thur Dec 13 - Real Mermaids Love the Holidays Blog Tour Stop
Fri Dec 14 - Day off on the blog
Sat Dec 15 - Falling Kingdoms Blog Tour stop

I will be back on Sunday and the blog will resume regular schedule from there.

So what are you obsessed with this week?

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake
Release Date – August 7 , 2012
Publisher Website –  Tor Teen/Raincoast Books
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages -  336 pages
My Rating- 4.5/5
**received from publisher for an honest review**

**SPOILERS FOR ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on.
His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live--not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.
Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.
Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor.

Letting go of a loved one that has died can be hard. It can feel like they haunt us, and our grief can make us do irrational, impulsive things sometimes.

Cas is haunted by what happened to Anna, and is literally being haunted by her. She is appearing to him in various visions filled with torture. Cas quickly realizes that he can’t leave the ghost girl he loves to experience this hell for an eternity and sets off to rescue her. Those who loved his snark and voice will be happy to hear that they are both present in abundance in this novel. He is fiercely determined, no matter what the risk, to save Anna. At the end of it all, he’s just a guy who lost the girl he loves and is struggling with letting her go. That pain and heartbreak is something everyone can understand.

The tone of this novel is just as creepy and horrific as the first, but in a different way. The stakes for Cas and the gang feel higher, and much of that has to do with Cas himself. He is distracted, and it all comes back to Anna. The distraction makes for much more peril filled ghost hunting. I will admit that the chapters dealing with the suicide forest are some of the creepiest I have read. Kendare knows how to provide the laughs and the chills in equal measure.

Carmel's strength becomes evident in this novel. It’s easy to see why she became part of Cas and Thomas’ gang and while she may not have powers like they do, she is capable in her own right. I enjoyed her much more in this novel.

Kendare takes the characters from the first novel and had the events that happened to them actually impact them in the second. They behaved in realistic ways and changed from those experiences. It is challenging to make this feel authentic. Balancing this needed change, while still keeping the characters true to what they were presented as in the first novel is something Kendare does masterfully.

I have often read second novels where the plot is a re-packaged version of the first, but this is something different. The author not only makes it feel like one seamless story, a true continuation, but she changes everything - the location, what they are dealing with, and surprisingly, limited appearances by Anna.

There were a lot of questions that needed to be answered, especially about the athame and it's creation. Kendare Blake handles this wonderfully, and manages to show us the answers as part of the story, rather than simply tell us.

The ending of Girl of Nightmares is quite bitter sweet, but it could not have ended any other way. It was touching, heartbreaking, and both Cas and Anna can finally be at peace. Leaving their story at this point feels right, even if it did bring some tears.

Waiting on Wednesday....Girl of Nightmares

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 Girl of Night mares by Kendare Blake

 ******************Spoilers for Anna Dressed in Blood**********************

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

In this follow-up to Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas begins seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he’s asleep, and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong. These aren’t just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn’t know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn’t deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it’s time for him to return the favor.

I am so excited for this one. Anna Dressed in Blood really surprised me and I enjoyed it immensely. I can't wait to see what is next with Cas and Anna.

Expected release date - August 7, 2012

In My Mailbox

This is a weekly meme hosted by the awesome Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives us a chance to showcase the books we got during the week.

I have a ton of books to show you this week, as I have two weeks worth of books.

First my review stash

Embrace by Jessica Shirvington (goodreads)
New Girl by Paige Harbison (goodreads) *not pictured Netgalley title.

A huge thank you to Raincoast Books, and Harlequin Teen/Netgalley for these two review copies.

My library stash

This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel (goodreads)
Shine by Lauren Myracle (goodreads)

Super excited for both of these titles. Savvy Reader has made me want to read This Dark Endeavour so bad. I have heard amazing things about Shine as well.

My Christmas gift stash

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher (goodreads)
Anna Dressed in Blood (goodreads) *not pictured as my friend Nikki took it to read!
Little Princes by Conor Grennan (goodreads)
Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose (goodreads)
A Brief History of Vampires by M.J. Trow (goodreads)

That little coffin shaped thing? Blood Hot Chocolate! My friend (and former room mate) got my the vampire book and hot chocolate for Christmas. I may have a thing for vampires, and she knows this.

I am getting my friend Nikki to read Anna Dressed in Blood. I loved it, and can't wait to see what she thinks of it.

Happy reading everyone! Have a fantastic start to your New Year!

Obsessions....this week!

The awesome Kelly at KellyVison 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.

So this week my obsessions are:

BOOKS

Trailer for Cinder by Marissa Meyer

I don't have a the video to post, but I will provide the link. This trailer is awesome. I am so excited to start this one. It looks fantastic, and I love that there are other fairytales to come in this series.

Kendare Blake's New Series

Kendare Blake announced a new three book series recently and I could not be more excited.

Kendare Blake's ANTIGODDESS series, where the ancient, perpetually teenaged Greek gods Athena and Hermes cling to life in the contemporary world, seeking the causes of their mysterious, slow deaths and gathering their allies in reincarnated form: Cassandra, an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess; Odysseus, the handsome trickster; and other fickle characters with their own secret motives; they must all band together against Hera and Poseidon who have become horrific caricatures of their former glory in their desperation to survive.

How amazing does this sound?! I am so excited to have this to look forward to once Girl of Nightmares is released. If you wish to know more you can find it on Goodreads.

MOVIE

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

This movie ended up being even more awesome than I thought it would be. The soundtrack/score is amazing. The acting by Rooney Mara was impressive. Her and Daniel Craig actually have a chemistry. She's strong, vulnerable, sensuous, and  troubled. Exactly what I expected Lisbeth to be. Her accent was quite good too. My best friend is Swedish (and lives there) and there were things in the movie that she says and does. I am looking forward to the other movies in the series now.

OTHER

Christmas

When this posts it'll be Christmas Eve, and I will be at my sister's house with three very excited little girls. My nieces are still very young and get really excited about everything so this is a huge deal to them.

I hope you all have a magical Christmas and that you get to spend it with family and loved ones.

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Release Date – August 30, 2011
Publisher – Tor Teen
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 316 pages
My Rating- 10/10
**obtained from the library**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

Kendare Blake really has created something magical. This novel sucks you in and doesn’t let go until the very last fright. It’s spooky, heart wrenching, and funny all at various times. Her writing style is face paced, page turning and you’ll want to finish this one in one sitting.

Her characters are ones that you will fall in love with. I dare anyone to read it and not fall for Cas and Anna.

Cas Lowood is our main character. He’s snarly, confident, and I couldn’t get enough. His portrayal is a shining example of a male narrative done RIGHT. He was pitch perfect. I had no issues wanting to protect him. This boy who grew up too quickly after his father was murdered. This boy who wants to avenge his father, and maybe get through high school at the same time. He heartbreakingly pushes everyone away so they do not end up tangled in his intense lifestyle. His mom is present, and tries to help. They both realize though that some bumps and bruises are par for the course once he takes over the family legacy.

Anna’s story is heartbreaking. What happened to her is so horrific, so wrong, so tragic I wanted to reach into the pages and throttle those responsible for her death. This poor girl left in a white dress covered in blood (where she gets her nickname). As a ghost she is terrifying, nightmare inducing and bad ass. She’s all dark, twisty, and powerful., yet there is a softness underneath that is begging for redemption, for relief.

The book is blurbed as being a typical “Boy meets girl story” but with bite. The relationship that develops between Cas and Anna while intense, is actually rather sweet. I was rooting for them the entire time. It’s actually quite romantic and heartbreaking underneath all the scares.

Cas meets people in Thunder Bay that really complicate things. Not only is he having warm fuzzies for a murdering, intense ghost, but he has actual friends, something he tries not to have. He can’t push these people out. They are AWESOME! Thomas and Carmel. Sigh, I want to squish them and make them be together. The subtle chemistry between them is perfect for high school crushes and I love that they are so loyal to Cas. The two of them make the perfect Scooby Gang for Cas (please watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer if you don’t get that reference. Oh, and the series, not the movie!).

I think this may be one of my favourite 2011 releases this year. It’s touching, scary, and beautiful. I can’t wait to see what is next for Anna, and Cas.

My 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.

So this week my obsessions are:

BOOKS

Anna Dressed in Blood

I just finished Anna Dressed in Blood this week. Epic!!!! My review will be posted towards the end of this coming week. However, I loved it. I love Cas. I love that it's set in Thunder Bay, Ontario of all places. I will stop gushing or I won't have anything for my review. If you haven't read it, do so immediately.

The cover for The Selection by Kiera Cass



This cover took my breath away. The synopsis also sounds amazing. I am super excited about this one, and can't wait to read it. Please read the Goodreads synopsis for more details. This is going to be a Waiting On Wednesday Post soon!

OTHER

Pina Colada Cupcakes



This great cupcake place in Ottawa called Isobel's has Pina Colada cupcakes. I've been dying to try some and I am just now able to go today. I have been thinking about them all week. They're always sold out by the time I get there after work, but since I am off today I can hopefully get some.

In My Mailbox

This is a weekly meme hosted by the awesome Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives us a chance to showcase the books we got during the week.

I had an epic book week. I got three books in total.

The first book was one that I won in a Goodreads contest. I was so excited when it showed up I scared my cat. She ran and hid under my bed. I was a little excited.



Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare (Goodreads)

I have already started reading it, and it's perfection. I am loving it so far, and Magnus Bane is forever my favourite

A huge thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for the contest.

I also got two books from the library. My stupid camera is not working right now so you will have to settle for cover pictures from Goodreads.






Anna Dressed in Blood By Kendare Blake (Goodreads)
Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead (Goodreads)

I have heard nothing but amazing things about Anna Dressed in Blood. It is going to be my next read after Clockwork Prince, and it'll fit perfectly with Halloween.

I am loving the Vampire Academy series, and can not wait to dive into this one.

What books did you get this week? Leave me a comment and I will check it out.

Happy reading everyone!

Waiting on Wednesday.....

I have been awful about updating this blog. I am going to make an honest effort to update it way more often. I have decided that I want to talk more about books, movies, etc (basically all the stuff I love) so I am going to be doing reviews, and posts on things that make me excited. I am going to start with little thing that other book bloggers do. It's called Waiting on Wednesday and it seems that it was started by the blogger at Breaking The Spine. These are books that the blogger can't wait to get their hands on. My "waiting on Wednesday" pick Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake. The publication date is - Sept 2011.

Here is the Goodreads.com official synopsis –

Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story. . . Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead. So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay. When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home. And she, for whatever reason, spares his life

The cover is striking and immediately caught my attention. It's a beautiful cover. The synopsis sounds like a unique twist on this type of tale. I am looking forward to Sept so I can read it for myself.