Review of The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore

Title/Author: The Rise of Nine (Lorien Legacies #3) by Pittacus Lore
Publisher/Date published: HarperCollins, August 21st 2012
How I got this book: received it from the publisher as an egalley

Goodreads summary: Until the day I met John Smith, Number Four, I'd been on the run alone, hiding and fighting to stay alive.

Together, we are much more powerful. But it could only last so long before we had to separate to find the others...

I went to Spain to find Seven, and I found even more, including a tenth member of the Garde who escaped from Lorien alive. Ella is younger than the rest of us, but just as brave. Now we're looking for the others - including John.

But so are they.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They caught me in New York - but I escaped.
I am Number Six.
They want to finish what they started.
But they'll have to fight us first."

**WARNING: SPOILERS LIKELY FOR BOOK 1 AND 2**

As actionpacked as The Rise of Nine was, it wasn't by any means a 'quick' read for me. I'm not sure why I've been struggling with this one and The Power of Six, cause the series does have a lot of the things in it I usually enjoy. There are just some things that annoy me as well.

I like that we're slowly getting to know all the 'numbers', I just felt that we don't really get to know the new additions, it felt superficial. Other than the fact that they're Loric, I don't know what drives them and that bugs me. I didn't really like Nine, Eight however would probably have stolen my heart if I'd gotten to know him better. He's a VERY promising character and I love the little budding crush he and Marina have going on.

To me, Six lost some of her kick-ass-ness. She really owned The Power of Six, but in The Rise of Nine, she's lost some of her spark. I still love her, but slightly less than I did in The Power of Six.
John was being a bit whiny and I strongly dislike his tendency to just go for the girl he's with and switch his affection between Six and Sarah. It's annoying and since I'm firmly Team Six, I'm not liking this one bit. And seriously, I'm still waiting to hear a GOOD explanation for Sarah turning them over to the FBI at the end of The Power of Six, cause I'm not satisfied with "But I didn't do it".

I was hoping we'd find out more about the big bad guy, but while he does appear, he's still shrouded in mystery. And he's CHEATING. I know if it'd be my life or cheating, I'd cheat, but I don't like it when the villains do it.

I think this book suffers from it being the build up to the no doubt EPIC BATTLE that will go down sometime soon. At least I hope it'll be sometime soon. I do still like the general storyline, but I just wish we'd get more information about their background and abilities and the the villain and get to know the new characters a little better. Maybe the fourth book will solve all this!

My rating: 3 stars

Review of How To Disgrace a Lady by Bronwyn Scott

Title/Author: How To Disgrace a Lady by Bronwyn Scott
Publisher/Date published: Harlequin, September 3rd 2012
How I got this book: received it from the publisher through NetGalley

Goodreads summary: "Merrick's season of outrageous scandal has taken a challenging turn. Caught in a — far less than usually — compromising situation with Lady Alixe Burke, this so-called gentleman is tasked by her father with making his daughter marriageable!

Lady Alixe, more happy in the library than the ballroom, is most definitely left-on-the-shelf material. He'll never walk away from a wager, but Merrick's expertise extends way beyond society etiquette. Never before entrusted with a woman's modesty, Merrick sets about teaching her everything he know."

Despite the fact that I seriously dislike the cover of this book, I still read it because the premise sounded interesting. And it was! I mean, a rake being forced to make a girl marriage material? Sounds like She's All That historical romance style!

Unfortunately, it didn't have all the amazing tension She's All That had for me (I'm a sap, ok? I love that movie). Our rake realized pretty soon that he was falling for the lady in question and she reciprocated, thereby not making for jealous moments and such, because there was only the treath of an unwanted suitor and that was it. I mean, except for one tiny moment, she didn't even flirt with other random men. And I so love it when they go all jealous alpha-male because of 'their' lady flirting with some other men, or their interpretation of them doing so.

But I did really like both of the main characters. Alixe was an intelligent woman, though I did kind of think she didn't have a lot of reasons for keeping herself away from men. It wasn't as if she'd loved someone and he'd only been after her money or something to make her shut herself away. I also did some eye-rolling at the notion of only a change of dress revealing her as a beauty, I mean, COME ON, most pretty girls can wear basically anything and still remain pretty.

Merrick stole my heart with his reformed rake being. He was a completely loveable scoundrel and I kinda like that! He does go from being all 'I will never be married' to 'MARRY ME! RIGHT NOW!' in the space of a day or so, which was somewhat unbelievable, but since he was directing his attentions towards a love interest that had my approval, I was somewhat ok with this. I really liked his shamelessness, strutting around naked and such.

The thing that made this only an ok book for me was that I didn't feel the tension between them. Not even when she refused to marry him. And the sexytimes weren't all that sexy. I did enjoy the moments in which they were just getting to know one another and they discovered shared interests, but I LIVE for the tension in these romance novels.

My rating: 2,5 stars

Debut Author Challenge 2013

I really missed participating in the Debut Author Challenge this year! In 2013 it's going to be hosted by Tara @ Hobbitsies and I'm really excited to be joining in again! I love supporting debut authors and discovering new ones to fangirl over is always fun :)

Also, how cute is that button designed by my amazingly talented friend Jana from That Artsy Reader Girl??? I love it!

Details about the challenge can be found here and a Goodreads list of YA and MG debuts of 2013 here.

So, without further ado, here are the books I'm already pining for to read towards this challenge:

1. Taken by Erin Bowman
2. Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans: this book sounds awesome and Lenore is such a nice person!
3. Dualed by Elsie Chapman
4. Pivot Points by Kasie West
5. Splintered by A.G. Howard: a retelling of Alice in Wonderland?? COUNT ME IN!
6. Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza
7. Prophecy by Ellen Oh
8. The Art of Wishing by Lindsay Ribar
9. The Cadet of Tildor by Alex Lidell: pitched as Tamora Pierce meets George R.R. Martin: YES PLEASE!
10. The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings
11. Poison by Bridget Zinn
12. Strand of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson: I was SO creeped out by the tale of Bluebeard as a child, I think I didn't sleep for a week. MUST READ THIS RETELLING.
13. Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield
14. Pretty Girl-13 by Liz Coley
15. Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green
16. Cinders & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed
17. Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn
18. Vengeance Bound by Justina Ireland: FURIES!
19. Belle Epoque by Elizabeth Ross
20. The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan

Yeah, I don't really think I'll have a problem getting to 12 read of these... I'll probably be adding more to the list as 2013 progresses.. Some I've pre-ordered, some I was lucky enough to receive as an egalley, EXCITEMENT!

Any of you joining in as well?

Review of The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima

Title/Author: The Crimson Crown (Seven Realms #4) by Cinda Williams Chima
Publisher/Date published: Hyperion, October 23rd 2012
How I got this book: how could I resist buying the shiny hardcover for this one?

Goodreads summary: "A thousand years ago, two young lovers were betrayed—Alger Waterlow to his death, and Hanalea, Queen of the Fells, to a life without love.

Now, once again, the Queendom of the Fells seems likely to shatter apart. For young queen Raisa ana’Marianna, maintaining peace even within her own castle walls is nearly impossible; tension between wizards and Clan has reached a fevered pitch. With surrounding kingdoms seeking to prey on the Fells’ inner turmoil, Raisa’s best hope is to unite her people against a common enemy. But that enemy might be the person with whom she's falling in love.

Through a complicated web of lies and unholy alliances, former streetlord Han Alister has become a member of the Wizard Council of the Fells. Navigating the cut-throat world of blue blood politics has never been more dangerous, and Han seems to inspire hostility among Clan and wizards alike. His only ally is the queen, and despite the perils involved, Han finds it impossible to ignore his feelings for Raisa. Before long, Han finds himself in possession of a secret believed to be lost to history, a discovery powerful enough to unite the people of the Fells. But will the secret die with him before he can use it?

A simple, devastating truth concealed by a thousand-year-old lie at last comes to light in this stunning conclusion to the Seven Realms series."

**WARNING: SPOILERS LIKELY FOR FIRST 3 BOOKS IN THE SERIES**

You guys, I just GUSHED about this series over on the Broke and the Bookish yesterday. But in case you haven't seen that, let me remind you how much I enjoyed The Demon King, The Exiled Queen and The Gray Wolfe Throne.

So, now that you're all linked up, I'll start with the actual review. Or gushing. Either.

I love this world that Cinda Williams Chima has created. I love it so much that even if it's incredibly dangerous and I'd most likely be killed, I wouldn't think twice about going there given the chance. It's so rich with different cultures and people, I just love it.

Han and Raisa cannot seem to catch a break, the odds are so against them that I was almost ready to give up hope for a happy ending. But I'm an optimist at heart, so of course I had faith in them to make it work. Even with pretty much everyone out to kill them.
I love how both have matured over the series and I loved the few scenes they had together. It's not easy, but they share a love that's true and it's enough.

This final instalment had me on the edge of my seat most of the time, there's never a time when you can rest easy, because there's always some new trouble lurking around the corner. I almost decided to cancel plans with my family in order to read on, but managed to resist. This story was in my head the whole time I WASN'T reading it and that to me is the sign of a good book and wellrounded characters, when they can exist not only in the author's imagination, but in mine as well.

I feel very passionate about this series and all of its characters, be they good guys or bad guys. I wish horrible, painful, slow deaths on the ones I consider bad guys. I really hated Micah in The Demon King, but over the books he's sort of grown on me. I still wish he were different, but I don't hate him with the same passion I do his father. His character has hidden depths and I do believe he really loves Raisa, even though he way he shows it isn't really ideal.

There were some twists and turns that surprised me, which I loved and I also really enjoyed learning more about Alger and Hanalea's story. The way their story got remade makes me wonder how history will be taught in a couple of centuries.

Basically, this series is just plain awesome and you all have to read it. Reading The Crimson Crown felt like reconnecting with old friends, I cannot believe how much I've missed the Seven Realms and its characters! I repeat the statement I made on The Broke and the Bookish yesterday: this is YA fantasy at its best and it doesn't get much better than this. Thank you Cinda Williams Chima, for sharing this amazing story!

My rating: 5+ stars

Daisy Update (24) and Book Haul (4)

So I've been working the night shift last week and as far as night shifts go, it was pretty ok. I could sleep most of the nights and only had to get up twice in the whole week and didn't even get all that many phone calls from the nurses with questions, so yay! While sleeping in the hospital isn't my favourite thing to do, I'm thankful that we at least get to sleep! I know a lot of other departments where you just have to stay up, so I consider myself lucky :)

Because I could sleep most nights, I had some free time during the day, which was nice! I caught up on blogging, saw more of the boyfriend and had more time to read! I still had to take naps in the afternoon, so I had a mostly uneventful week, but it was nice to just be at home some more.

Thursday the boyfriend and I went to a book sale, I LOVE going to book sales! Sometimes I wonder if I should go because I already buy a lot of books as it is, but when I'm there I'm just loving it! It's the only place I can buy books for about 2-3 euros each, so I came home with 16 and it only cost me like 44 euros! GOOD DEAL! I'll show you what I got soon, cause I'm just too lazy to take pictures at the moment and all them to the already pretty big book haul at the bottom of this post.

Yesterday morning I was pretty happy when my colleague arrived for the Saturday shift and I could go home! I have the week off, which means 10 whole glorious days not spent in the hospital! It's been four months since my last vacation, so I thought it was about time. I'm looking forward to just spending time with the boyfriend, reading, relaxing and just doing as little as possible :)

Book Haul

Bought
-Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson
-The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling (Yes I caved, it was on sale...)
-Defiance by C.J. Redwine (first copy arrived damaged, but The Book Depository send me a nice and shiny new one :) )
-Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink
-Sacrifice by Cayla Kluver
-Grimm Tales by Philip Pullman, I couldn't resist this pretty book when I saw it at the bookstore, I LOVE fairytales!
-Mystic City by Theo Lawrence
-The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal

For Review
-Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder (SO EXCITED!! LOVED THE FIRST BOOK!)
-Snow Whyte and the Queen of Mayhem by Melissa Lemon
-The Merlin Prophecy, Book 1: Battle of Kings by M.K. Hume
-Sacrifice by Cayla Kluver, Yes I KNOW! I was just so excited when I saw it on NetGalley I forgot I'd pre-ordered it...
-Undeadly by Michele Vail
-There's Something About Lady Mary by Sophie Barnes
-The Secret Life of Lady Lucinda by Sophie Barnes
-One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean, I LOVE Sarah MacLean's books SO much! I can't wait to read it!

Review of Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Title/Author: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Publisher/Date published: Atria Books, August 14th 2012
How I got this book: received it from the publisher through NetGalley

Goodreads summary: The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

I have all these mixed feelings about this book. From the reviews I've seen floating around the blogosphere this seems to be a book you either love with the fire of a thousand suns or dislike with the same amount of passion. While I absolutely hate some of the relationship messages this book portrays, I cannot bring myself to really hate the book.

The writing is really good. Really, really good. The writing was so engaging that even while I was cringing and wanting to put it down, I couldn't. I felt like one of those people in traffic causing a jam because they're watching the accident on the other side of the highway. Knowing you should move along, but unable to do something about it.

I never really connected to Abby and while I tend to enjoy the books in which I connect to the main character more, if I had just found it in myself to like her, I think it might not have mattered so much. I mean, I get that she's been through a lot and everything, but I just wanted to shake her and at times slap her. I mean, how do you go about being so clueless and just plain cruel?

Travis is a boy who needs therapy. Lots and lots and lots of therapy. Seriously. He made ALL the alarm bells go off when it comes to men, I wouldn't let my friends date him. I wouldn't let people I don't like very much date him.
He's got anger management issues, is insanely possesive, controlling, doesn't know boundaries and OMG, SO NEEDY and completely dependent on Abby! It was scary how he completely lost himself when they got together!

I hated how co-dependent they were and how it's used to show how much they 'love' each other. I mean, you should still be a person whether or not you're together and they just weren't. I also hated that Abby's roommate Kara, who was the only one that voiced this opinion was snubbed by both Abby and her best friend.

I thought the getting to know each other phase was pretty sweet, aside from the weirdness of them sharing a bed, but after they got together it just went downhill for me. Also, can I just say that I was constantly rolling my eyes at Travis' nickname for Abby: Pigeon. Seriously??? It was SO annoying. He used it EVERY TIME he spoke to her and while I get endearments, being named after a pretty common and pretty much the vermin among birds is just slightly wrong.

Sorry for my rant, but I had ISSUES with this book. I hope Jamie McGuire will write a book in which I can cheer for the relationship, because then I will gush and gush over it. The writing is amazing, the plot just made me cringe.

My rating: 2 stars

Review of Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

Title/Author: Blood Magic (The Blood Journals #1) by Tessa Gratton
Publisher/Date published: Random House Books for Young Readers, January 1st 2011
How I got this book: own it

Goodreads summary: "It starts off simply.

Draw a circle... place a dead leaf in the center... sprinkle some salt... recite a little Latin... add a drop of blood...

Maybe that last part isn’t exactly simple. Yet somehow it feels right to Silla Kennicott. And nothing in her life has felt remotely right since her parents’ horrific deaths. She’s willing to do anything to uncover the truth about her family — even try a few spells from the mysterious book that arrived on her doorstep ... and spill some blood.

The book isn’t the only recent arrival in Silla’s life. There’s Nick Pardee, the new guy next door who may have seen Silla casting a spell. She’s not sure what he saw and is afraid to find out. But as they spend more time together, Silla realizes this may not be Nick’s first encounter with Blood Magic. Brought together by a combination of fate and chemistry, Silla and Nick can’t deny their attraction. And they can’t ignore the dark presence lurking nearby—waiting to reclaim the book and all its power."

Guys, I have to be honest with you all: I almost DNF-ed this one.
But I didn't and in the end I'm happy I stuck with it!

I really like the idea of blood magic and having to make sacrifices for your abilities. It's kinda gory and messy and I like that because it's different from the magic systems I usually read about.

The problem I had was with the characters. Silla kinda annoyed me. And so did Nick. And them together annoyed me A LOT. I really don't want to say insta-love, but yeah, I might as well say it. I mean, I got how they had a connection due to the magic and everything, but their relationship went from not knowing each other to lurrv pretty fast.

For me, there was just too much that we didn't know for most of the book and I found myself starting to enjoy it when more was revealed and a BIG TWIST appearing that had me reeling and want to do a slow clap because I did not see that coming! I still think Silla was REALLY unstable and she continued to annoy me, but less than at first.

I'm still kinda on the fence about Blood Magic, but I'm interested enough in what happens next that I'll continue on with the sequel soon, we'll see how it goes.

My rating: 2,5 stars