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

Siobhan Vivian and Jenny Han Talk Burn for Burn



I loved Burn for Burn so much. It totally surprised me and left me wanting the sequel right away. This video is super fun, and the authors let you know a little bit about the characters and setting of the novel.

The cover for After Party by Ann Redisch Stampler

So pretty! I do not even know what this novel is about and I want it. I love the cover so much. I am excited to get a synopsis so I pine even more for this one.

The cover for The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter 

Aimee's novels always have such pretty covers, but I think I love this one the best. Very eye catching. Curious about the tag line 'Immortality or Love. You can't have both.' though. After the cliffhanger of Goddess Interrupted I am glad to hear that this one was pushed up a bit!

TV

Season 2 Once Upon A Time Promo Art

Magic is coming!!!! This makes me so excited. Emma looks bad ass, and the purple smoke from the season one finale is taking center stage. Can it please be the end of September already?!

So that's it for me this week! What are you obsessed with?

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:

Best cover? What is the best cover of a book that you've read and loved?

Easy! The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin. Loved it, and the cover is STUNNING.


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

This weeks question is

Choose Your Next Read: How do you go about choosing what you read next? Do you have a schedule you follow, or do you read whatever makes you happy at the moment?

I use Google Calendar to keep track of my schedule. I have a pretty strict schedule and only deviate if I am really caught up.

Happy Weekend!

Fathomless by Jackson Pearce

Fathomless by Jackson Pearce
Release Date – September 4, 2012
Publisher Website –  Little Brown and Company
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages -  304 pages
My Rating- 3.5/5
**obtained from publisher via BEA for an honest review**

**SPOILERS FOR SISTERS RED AND SWEETLY**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Celia Reynolds is the youngest in a set of triplets and the one with the least valuable power. Anne can see the future, and Jane can see the present, but all Celia can see is the past. And the past seems so insignificant -- until Celia meets Lo. 

Lo doesn't know who she is. Or who she was. Once a human, she is now almost entirely a creature of the sea -- a nymph, an ocean girl, a mermaid -- all terms too pretty for the soulless monster she knows she's becoming. Lo clings to shreds of her former self, fighting to remember her past, even as she's tempted to embrace her dark immortality. 

When a handsome boy named Jude falls off a pier and into the ocean, Celia and Lo work together to rescue him from the waves. The two form a friendship, but soon they find themselves competing for Jude's affection. Lo wants more than that, though. According to the ocean girls, there's only one way for Lo to earn back her humanity. She must persuade a mortal to love her . . . and steal his soul.

The ocean hides many secrets, and many dangers. Dangers camouflaged in beautiful packaging.

This novel blends the previous fairytales in this series with mermaids. We learn in Sweetly that young girls are taken by the wolves and turned into mere-creatures. This Little Mermaid retelling is dark like the original and keeps many similar themes.  The mermaids must get a mortal to love her and drown them to steal their soul. It’s the only way to regain the humanity and leave the ocean behind.

The underwater chapters were moody, creepy and yet strangely beautiful. They had a haunting quality to them and I enjoyed them the most. From the descriptions of excruciating pain when Lo walked on land, to the mermaids ability to drown someone, the mermaid components of the story chilled me. Their singular mind set and viewing themselves as a group rather than individuals added to this. It felt a little like a cult.

Some of these mermaids are desperate, and that makes them dangerous. Many of them do not remember their real names, or the lives they left behind. The ones that do remember are the most desperate of all, and even more dangerous. I thought these girls who have had everything taken from them were quite sympathetic. You can understand their motivations, even if you don’t agree with them.

The relationships in the novel were well developed. I felt I could relate to the relationship the three sisters had. They had moments of such loyalty to each other and yet were capable of hurting each other deeply. Their teasing and banter was also wonderful. They are very protective of each other. The romance between Jude and Celia was another highlight.  It was quite sweet and did not develop too quickly. They each had normal apprehensions about the other, especially given how they met. The friendship that develops between Lo and Celia was touching. Born out of each of them getting something they need from the other, a genuine friendship quickly forms.

Like in previous books in this series, I had a harder time connecting with the characters. I, however, liked a lot of these characters much more than the ones in the previous novels. Lo was the one character that really stood out. She was complex, and intriguing. Her fighting to remember who she really is, and the desire to forget. Temptation to give in is there, and she is fighting natural instincts every time she gets out of the water. The excruciating pain she feels in order to keep what is essentially her sanity made her sympathetic.

My only issue is that so much is left open ended. The ending, while unexpected, was less than satisfying for me. for a fourth book to pull all three together in a way that hasn’t happened yet.  Darkly chilling, and desperate mermaids saved this story, and made it a fine addition to the trilogy.

Waiting on Wednesday....Pivot Point

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 Pivot Point by Kasie West

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Addison Coleman's life is one big "What if?" As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It's the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie's parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with–her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the "Norms," or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it's not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school–but she never wanted to be a quarterback's girlfriend. When Addie's father is asked to consult on a murder in the compound, she's unwittingly drawn into a drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she's willing to live through...and who she can't live without.

This reminds me a little of the movie Sliding Doors which I enjoyed. I am intrigued by the thought of two different paths and having to make a choice. If given the chance I think most people would love to see what the consequences of their choices are. I can't wait to see if this is as awesome as it sounds.

Expected release date - Febuary 12, 2013

Such Wicked Intent by Kenneth Oppel

Such Wicked Intent by Kenneth Oppel
Release Date – August 28, 2012
Publisher Website – Harper Collins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader
Pages - 310 pages
My Rating- 5/5
**obtained from publisher for an honest review**

**SPOILERS FOR THIS DARK ENDEAVOUR**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Devotion turns deadly in this second Gothic thriller from Kenneth Oppel.When does obsession become madness? Tragedy has forced sixteen-year-old Victor Frankenstein to swear off alchemy forever. He burns the Dark Library. He vows he will never dabble in the dark sciences again—just as he vows he will no longer covet Elizabeth, his brother’s betrothed. 

If only these things were not so tempting. 

When he and Elizabeth discover a portal into the spirit world, they cannot resist. Together with Victor’s twin, Konrad, and their friend Henry, the four venture into a place of infinite possibilities where power and passion reign. But as they search for the knowledge to raise the dead, they unknowingly unlock a darkness from which they may never return.

Where This Dark Endeavour focused on science and alchemy, Such Wicked Intent takes a darker, more supernatural turn. Kenneth Oppel, once again, captives and chills while making you love his characters for their flaws.

Kenneth Oppel’s writing makes you turn pages late into the night. It leaves you anxiously awaiting what is going to happen to these characters. His greatest accomplishment is making Victor a conflicted, egotistical and yet, incredibly engaging and enthralling character. Victor, for all his flaws, ranks as one of the more crush worthy boys in Young Adult fiction. It’s the writing and characterization that prevents the disconnection that could happen with such a character.

Each character is greatly changed from the previous novel. I enjoyed seeing Henry’s transformation most of all. Henry’s sweet nature often masks the reality - he is Victor’s friend. He does have things in common with Victor. His more confident side shows through in this novel, as the events of the previous novel have impacted him greatly.

The romance aspect of the novel is something I tend to not like in novels. I hesitate to call it a triangle because Elizabeth’s feelings are quite clear. She is focused on Konrad, even in death. There is something captivating about the romance that does sneak in between her and Victor, and even a little deliciously sexy. The spirit world heightens any passions and the chemistry between Elizabeth and Victor is electric. Upon viewing Elizabeth in the spirit world for the first time Victor thinks

“there is absolutely nothing between my gaze and her face. It’s like I am stroking her skin. It feels almost wicked, deliciously so”. (arc page 66) .

This quote sums up how Victor views her perfectly. The relationship between Elizabeth and each brother is different. She’s different things to each brother. She’s both light and dark. Her character fascinates me because she’s so wholly complex and developed.

Victor’s motivations are thinly veiled under the guise of wanting to resurrect his brother. Part of his motivation does stem from this, but Victor’s thirst for power is what pushes him. He is a perfect example of power twisting someone and becoming their driving force. Victor is accused of thinking he is a god; this is not far off. What he, Elizabeth and Henry unleash is powerful, and addicting. Victor’s personality makes that pull even more dangerous. He becomes obsessed and pushes boundaries, even if those limits shouldn’t be pushed.

The ending leaves us with Victor that has had a taste of immense power. The dark and chilling path he is on leads to the events in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. A wonderfully detailed, twisted and compelling prequel that shines light on a descent into madness ignited by a lust for power.

The Prophet by Michael Koryta

The Prophet by Michael Koryta
Release Date – August 7, 2012
Publisher Website –  Little Brown and Company
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages -  416 pages
My Rating- 4/5
**obtained from publisher via BEA for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Adam Austin hasn't spoken to his brother in years. When they were teenagers, their sister was abducted and murdered, and their devastated family never recovered. Now Adam keeps to himself, scraping by as a bail bondsman, working so close to the town's criminal fringes that he sometimes seems a part of them. Kent Austin is the beloved coach of the local high school football team, a religious man and hero in the community. After years of near misses, Kent's team has a shot at the state championship, a welcome point of pride in a town that has had its share of hardships. Just before playoffs begin, the town and the team are thrown into shock when horrifically, impossibly, another teenage girl is found murdered. When details emerge that connect the crime to the Austin brothers, the two are forced to unite to stop a killer-and to confront their buried rage and grief before history repeats itself again.

 Faith, forgiveness, and redemption. How closely are they tied, and who should grant it? The Austin brothers are forced to examine themselves, and the death of their beloved sister when a high school student in their town is discovered murdered. This classic mystery is not filled with twist and turns but rather focuses on character development and a sound plot.

The writing in this taunt “whodunit”  keeps the reader on edge and fully invested in the characters. It could have skimped on character development in favour of the mystery but the author equally fleshes out both.  The emotional struggle each brother faces make the story more dynamic and made me care about the outcome much more. The characters are flawed, but even their negative choices are true to character. The author even made the football part of the story. A perfect backdrop to the main plot of two brothers trying to find their own way to forgive themselves for their perceived roles in events leading to not only their sister’s murder, but the recent crime as well.

The overall mystery is strung together with the idea of faith and if it can be broken. Faith not only in religion but faith in yourself. Adam and Kent each are tested in their own way. They are each dealing with the death of their sister in different ways. Kent has grieved, moved on and believes that there is no point in drudging it back up. Adam hasn’t dealt with it in the slightest and still struggles daily. The guilt each man is carrying is palpable. It was intriguing that they each blamed themselves, but part of their anger was directed at the other as well.  It made the characters more realistic as most are prone to rationalize away their guilt, or look for others to attach it to.

The bond between the brothers, even through everything they have dealt with, is believable and stronger than they think. The author manages to show that no matter what family will always be there for each other when it counts.

A novel that is so much more than your typical crime thriller. A tightly written, thought provoking murder mystery that delves a little deeper than I was expecting. A wonderful portrayal of family bonds, and how forgiving ourselves can be the hardest thing to do.

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).

Just one book for me this week. A friend finished this and passed it along as I figured I would like it.

The Virgin Cure by Ami McKay (goodreads)

Happy Sunday and Happy Reading!