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).

An awesome mailbox again this week. A HUGE thank you to Hachette Canada and Raincoast Books for the incredible reads. I can not wait to start all of them.

Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green (goodreads)
This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E Smith (goodreads)
Icons by Margaret Stohl (goodreads)

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (goodreads)
Game by Barry Lyga (goodreads)

My cat Aria kept getting in the pictures. She especially seemed to like Marissa Meyer's Scarlet (and yes, she's the cutest cat ever).

Happy Sunday and Happy Reading!

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
Release Date –  February 5, 2013
Publisher Website - Fewiel and Friends/Raincoast Books Canada
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages -   454 pages
My Rating- 4.5/5
**Received from publisher for review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive. 

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own. 

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.

Marissa Meyer has done it again. She’s woven an enchanting fairytale that is rich in characters, and detail. She’s taken the Little Red Riding Hood tale and created something fun, and different. Part mystery, and filled with wonderful dialogue. I found myself liking this second instalment even more than Cinder.

Scarlet Benoit is to this novel what Cinder was to the first. She’s our heroine. She’s a spunky, clever, red hoodie wearing firecracker and I adored  her. Her voice is so distinct. Her quirks and habits are completely her own. Comparing her to Cinder is pointless because they are so different.

Wolf with his disheveled good looks(the better to make you swoon with) immediately piqued my interest. This is a character who spends most of the book in shades of grey. Should Scarlet trust him? Should the reader? What are his motives? I love that Marissa doesn’t have an easy answer for us. His character shows that actions speak louder than words, and I am waiting to see what he’ll do next. The mystery mainly revolves around him and what secrets he may be hiding, and unraveling them is part of the charm of this novel.

Another new character is Captain Thorne. Charming, funny, and good-looking. I love him for providing light, humorous moments. I love his banter with Cinder. I predict many readers will fall for this good natured Captain and his many charms.

The characters in the Lunar Chronicles are all amazing. They are written in such a way that each feels authentic and like they have their own voice. It’s the subtle differences that set them apart, and what makes Meyer’s novels so refreshing. Her characters seem like they drive the plot, rather than having the plot happen to them.

Cinder, Kai, and the rest of the beloved characters from the first book are in this novel. It was wonderful to continue on their journey and seeing them interact with new characters shed new light on them. As the plot moves forward, toward what can only be a war, it’s these characters that have me worried about the outcome. I’ve come to care about them, and we are still a long way off from happily ever after.

The way Scarlet and Cinder’s stories finally interconnect shows the amount of plotting, and preparation Marissa Meyer has done. It’s seamless. The ending, where we have a common goal being revealed, sent delightful shivers up my spine. This world is enormous and we are about to follow our beloved characters on a journey to somewhere I am very excited about.

The fun, and endearing tone and feel of the novel appeal to me as well. It really is a nod to the classic fairytales in every sense. They’re mostly feel good books, with lots of action and romance thrown in.

A magical retelling that interweaves with Cinder masterfully. A fairytale that will appeal to many readers, and will sweep you away. If you liked Cinder, I can happily say that you’ll fall in love with Scarlet too.

My Top Ten Books of 2012

The end of 2012 is just around the corner, and with that comes a bunch of "Best" list. I offer my own best list today. The top ten books I read in 2012.

These are in no particular order, because asking me to select my favourite from this list would really be torture. It was hard enough to keep this list to ten choices.

1. The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Steamy, sexy, and filled with Noah Shaw deliciousness. A creepy and brilliant look at a potential descent into madness. Wonderfully written with humour, scares, and STEAMY romance. 

My love affair with this series is well known. I adore Mara, Noah, and of course, the amazing Michelle for writing them.

2. Just One Day by Gayle Forman

 Yes I am teasing, but Oh My Swoon! Willem and Allyson's story had me feeling every emotion, and left me aching for more. This is easily 2013's MUST READ and more than meets expectations.

The beautiful writing, the connection I felt to Allyson, and the utter romance of this fantastic contemporary left me wanting to read Just One Year...immediately.

3. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

One of the most beautifully written books I have ever read. It made my heart hurt, and yet was filled with so much wonder. 

Getting to know the girl with the crow feather and her Peter was one of the highlights of my reading year, made all the more poignant because my love for this novel caught me by surprise. 

4. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

If I were to choose one word to describe Gone Girl that word would be twisted. Stunning reveals, an inciting game, and an uncomfortable look at falling out of love (just in the most extremely twisted way).  

Flawed characters that seem disturbingly real, and writing that makes you fly through the pages faster that you are capable of turning them. This one will keep you up late into the night, and leave you gasping at it's sad, yet unavoidable, ending.  

5.  Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

A darkly decadent read where even the air you breath can kill you. Swoon worthy guys, a flawed heroine, and the seductive Debauchery Club are all stand outs in this amazingly written novel.

The dual notion of glitz and glamour back dropped against a stark decimated city make for a compelling dynamic. I fell for this one in chapter one, and couldn't stop reading.

6. Gilt by Katherine Longshore

Tudor court glamour meets high school mean girls in this engrossing historical novel. Catherine Howard paid the ultimate price for her youthful mistakes. This portrayal paints her in a much different, and more realistic feeling light. This novel feels relevant because it shows friendships, and their complexity haven't changed over the years.

7 The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Magic meets realism in this heart grabbing novel. Blue, and her Raven Boys will work their way into your heart until you care deeply about each of them.

Maggie's writing is fantastic, but her characters draw you in and that is why it's on my list. 

8 Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Another must read when it comes out. I adored Cinder, but Scarlet surpassed all my expectations. Ruggedly swoon worthy Wolf grabbed my attention immediately, and  I adored the feisty Scarlet. The mixing of Cinder's story with Scarlet's journey is done flawlessly, and the fairytale elements I loved in Cinder are just as present in Scarlet. 

9 Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

One of the best witch stories I've ever read. A mixture of romance, suspense, and a hint of the magical storm to come leaves you under this novel's spell.

The writing flows quickly, and the characters are captivating. The witchcraft mythology that is being built has be eager to learn more. With all of this going for it, it's the bond between the sister's that shines the most. A story of sisterly love, sacrifice, jealously, and perhaps betrayal. 

10 The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This novel left me a crying mess on my couch by the end. I believe that this will make many lists this year, and it really is one of the best of the year.

Hazel and Augustus' story stays with you long after you've finished. With humour, heart, and tears it's an emotional reminder to love as deeply as possible, and to live each second to the fullest

I do have a few others that I REALLY enjoyed this year as well, and this list was seriously torture to whittle down, but those are the ones that I think impacted me the most. What novels made your Best List this year? Let me know in the comments.

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).

This week is filled with library books and an amazing title thanks to Katherine at The Lady Critic's Library.

Starting off with my library books

Savages by Don Winslow (goodreads)
Dare Me by Megan Abbott (goodreads)
The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott (goodreads)

I am curious about Savages and hope to get around to reading it. I have been hearing good things about The Dressmaker and I do enjoy anything set on the Titanic. Dare Me was a title I missed out on at BEA and was eager to pick it up when it came free at my library.

I have two other books. One I purchased and the other was lent to me by Katherine.

The Perks Of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (goodreads)
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (goodreads)

I am very excited about the movie coming out and decided to read the book before it's release. I usually do not like movie poster book covers, but I happen to LOVE this one. I am reading this right now and am almost done. Not really sure how I feel at this point, but a review will be up this coming week.

I may have squealed when I found out Katherine had a copy of this. I am reading it as soon as I catch up on one or two more books (so basically this weekend). Cinder was amazing so I am excited to see what happens next. A huge thank you to her for lending it to me!

Happy Sunday and Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday...Scarlet

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 Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive. 

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own. 

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.

Cinder is amazing and I enjoyed it so much. I am excited to meet Wolf! I can't wait to get my hands on this. Early reactions seem to be really positive and are making me even more anxious.


How gorgeous are these covers?!

Expected release date - February 5, 2013

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 Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor.This picture may not be the best quality as the original image is so tiny. I LOVE this cover. It matches Cinder beautifully and sets the tone of Scarlet's story. I am DYING to get my hands on a copy of this!

The Cage by Megan Shepherd

Megan has a trilogy starting soon called The Madman's Daughter (which sounds awesome), but has already sold a new series that intrigues me as well. Here is the brief description

THE CAGE is a TWILIGHT ZONE-esque sci-fi which follows six teens who are put in an elaborate "human zoo" by a powerful and psychic otherworldly race known as The Kindred, and one girl's attempts to escape without falling for her terrifyingly beautiful captor. 

AMAZING right? Seriously, I say it every year but 2014 looks to be even more amazing than previous years. I can't wait.

MOVIES

Magic Mike

Yes again! Still obsessed. The guys are hot, the moves are slick, and the storyline didn't suck. This movie was much darker than I was expecting it to be. The second half especially got pretty dark. It takes you into this world, and the temptations are plentiful.

Channing Tatum can dance his butt off. Seriously, I knew he could dance, but WHOA! His second solo especially was pretty mind blowing. He is great at the whole "movie flirt" thing. Alex Pettyfer played his role really well too. It also doesn't hurt that he's totally hot.

It is one of those movies I would see again for sure!

So what you are obsessed with this week?

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.

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.

Starting my IMM with the eGalley copies I got for review this week

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa (goodreads)
Dreamless by Josephine Angelini (goodreads)

Huge thanks to Harlequin Teen, and Harper Collins for the chance to review. I am a huge fan of Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series, so I am so excited to dive into this one. Starcrossed left me wanting more, so I am excited to get to read Dreamless.

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks (goodreads)
Scarlet by A C Gaughen (goodreads)

Of Poseidon was provided for review by Raincoast Books. Huge thanks to them. I obtained Scarlet from my library. I am very excited for both of these I have heard nothing but amazing things about both. Of Poseidon especially.

Happy reading everyone.