Review The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine

The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine
Published:April 2007
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: Purchased
Look for this at Amazon / BD

About this book from goodreads:
Claire Danvers has her share of challenges---like being a genius in a school that favors beauty over brains, dealing with the homicidal girls in her dorm, and above all, finding out that her college town is overrun with vampires. On the up side, she has a great roommate (who tends to disappear at sunup) and a new boyfriend named Shane, whose vampire-hunting dad has called in backup: cycle punks who like the idea of killing just about anything.

Now a fraternity is throwing its annual Dead Girls' Dance and---surprise!---Claire and her equally outcast best friend, Eve, have been invited. When they find out why, all hell is going to break loose. Because this time both the living and the dead are coming out---and everybody's hungry for blood.

The first thing I like about this young adult (more new adult to me) book is that it keeps continuity. The Dead Girls' Dance begins where Glass Houses ends, in the same circumstances for the characters. The second thing is that it begins in frail calm and ends in frail calm as well. At the beginning they are at the house, their safe haven, without certainty about their safety. At the end, they are at the house again but this time they are certain things won't get easier.

The Dead Girls' Dance has more action and puts the characters in more danger than the first book. The story doesn't provide a moments rest for them. They are fighting and trying to work solutions for what's threatening them on this chapter of the Morganville series. Claire has to survive a town in Texas swarmed with vamps, while trying to keep good grades at college and keeping her parents at bay for their own good.

The characters are shown in a different light. Shane is passive for the majority of the book. He is the one in trouble this time and Clare, Eve and Michael are looking for a way to help him. Clare shows more security on herself, taking risks and making decisions by herself. I like Clare more in this book. Michael was more relevant to me in Glass Houses, now it seems like he diluted into the background. Only at the end he is relevant. Eve shows the same strong personality from the first book, but I have to confess, sometimes her goth self drives me into a boredom abyss.

What wasn't I happy about in this book? Amelie, this ancient vampire, seems like an ornament. Wasn't she suppose to protect them to some extent? In Morganville, if you have a vampire protector nobody can mess with you. So, that doesn't seem to apply for Claire and associates. Those poor kids had the worst moment and she was poor help. At least they could help themselves... if what they chose to do can be called helping oneself. Probably, calling their actions improvisation is more accurate. Nevertheless, Clare and her friends decision making skills is what makes Morganville series a rollercoaster surviving journey that can keep you in a no stop reading frenzy.

Overall, I can't wait to read the next one. With great setting, interesting set of circumstances and cleverly invented characters to play on her world, Rachel Caine has done a great job in this series. Let's see what awaits on Midnight Alley.

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Review Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Published: HarperCollins, Jan 2012

Rating: 5 out of 5
Source: Bought 

Look for this at Amazon / BD / Goodreads

A little about this book from goodreads:

I am officially infatuated with this world.  On top of that, I cannot stop thinking how superb this book is.  Could say I'm in love with this book and its characters.  This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for months, kept postponing reading it and now it is what populates my brain.  It has been a long time since I have read something like this, so intoxicating.  While writing this review I picture perfectly this setting, its fantastic plot and tantalizing ending.  It brings me to ask:  why are you doing this Veronica Rossi?  That ending was so awesome, clearly the beginning of a new journey.  And now I'm totally fixated in knowing what comes next.  Getting the second book has become a priority.  As Rachel at Fiktshun had mentioned in one interesting challenge post for reading that last book of a series, there are series you don't want to read the last book because you don't want to see the story end,don't want to say goodbye.  I think right know I don't want to think about an ending for Perry and Aria's story.

The story is fluid.  Never got tired of reading.  On the contrary, Rossi's style makes reading during long hours completely easy.  Even when distractions surround you, you never get sidetracked from the story.  The events are surprising.  The reading is exciting.  Under The Never Sky kept surprising me constantly.  One of my favorite aspects of a book is its potential to keep me guessing.   This title grabbed me and still have me on its electrifying cloud of Aether (Read me!!!)  The last 14 pages are so incredible and fulminating at the same time.  Incredible by its content but fulminating to me because right now I cannot help but kick myself for not getting the next book.  Well, it happens...

The dystopian element in this has various conflicting elements.

• Population cannot live life freely. True freedom doesn't exist on the pods.
• An artificial world mainly computerized has been created to maintain contentment and safety.
• Genome have been manipulated to a point where population is easily affected by environment.

Now about the characters. At first, I didn't know how to picture Perry.  He seemed a wild thing.  Then the events guide you into his journey and you get to know his true self.  He is more organic and follows his gut filling, something Aria is not used to.  Aria is an interesting heroine.  She becomes a complex character while traveling with Perry.  I liked she changing into something entirely new.  Plus, I like their names, really suit them.

Always thinking about covers, I liked the covers for this book.  My edition's  cover is gorgeous.  It takes into consideration the setting.  Aria is on the cover and it seems she is walking in an Aether storm.  The colors look fantastic.

Overall, this book is a 5.  I recommend this to YA readers, NA readers, dystopian lovers and well readers in general who just want to read something new strong in unique creative story building. Oh and if you are into Sci Fi grab this book.

Here is a task for you, after you read this listen to A White Demon's Love Song by The Killers. I would use this song  to tell Aria and Perry's journey.  This is officially one of my favorite books.  Would love to see this into a movie.

Cover Reveal: The Forgotten Ones by Laura Howard

The Forgotten Ones
Author: Laura Howard
Genre: NA Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Expected release date: May 15, 2013
Age Group: New Adult
Cover Designer: Stephanie Mooney 

Book Description:

Allison O'Malley just graduated from college. Her life's plan is to get a job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She doesn't have room for friends or even Ethan, who clearly wants more. 

When Allison's long-lost father shows up, he claims he can bring her mother back from the dark place her mind has sent her. He reveals legends of a race of people long forgotten, the Tuatha de Danaan, along with the truth about why he abandoned her mother.

Laura Howard | Facebook | Twitter

Share on Facebook and/or Twitter and you could win a $50 Amazon (or B&N) Gift card!

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Review Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

In the past years, each time I saw the cover of this book, simply decided on another title. I have to confess not even the summary drew my attention.  One December day, decided to read it and now I feel like I waited too long. Cover love is sometimes a scary thing.

Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Look for this at Amazon / BD

About this book from goodreads

From the author of the popular Weather Warden series comes the debut of an exciting new series set in Morganville, Texas, where you would be well advised to avoid being out after dark.

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.

First, the story pacing kept me reading. It is almost addictive what Rachel Caine writes. The characters are likable and seem like people we can find any day. Story-wise, the book seems predictable but it has unexpected twists that compensate for this; for example Michael's storyline achieves this purpose.

Of all the characters, Claire is my favorite after all. She is innocent and studious, probably had been sheltered by her parents, but when arrives at Morganville she adapts. She uses her qualities to survive. She is immature and naive to a point to endanger her life but, she is a character that surely will thrive on that vampire infested environment.

Great ending in Glass House. Can't wait to read the next book. Want to know what happens next.

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The Forever Girl Anniversary Tour

This is The Forever Girl Anniversary and author Rebecca Hamilton is doing a big celebration.  From January 14th to January 25th follow the tour and meet her characters.  At the end of this post you can find the tour stops and also a giveaway of an ebook copy of The Forever Girl, that will be kindly provided by Rebecca.
I read The Forever Girl and Her Sweetest Downfall and am waiting for her next book.  Have you read any of her stories?

Read a little about The Forever Girl: Sophia's Journey (Image and blurb)

"Whatever you do, fight."

Sophia's family has skeletons, but they aren't in their graves.

At twenty-two, practicing Wiccan Sophia Parsons is scratching out a living waiting tables in her Rocky Mountain hometown, a pariah after a string of unsolved murders with only one thing in common: her.

Sophia can imagine lots of ways to improve her life, but she'd settle for just getting rid of the buzzing noise in her head. When the spell she casts goes wrong, the static turns into voices. Her personal demons get company, and the newcomers are dangerous.

One of them is a man named Charles, who Sophia falls for despite her better judgment. He has connections that might help her unveil the mystery surrounding her ancestor's hanging, but she gets more than she bargains for when she finally decides to trust him.

Survival in his world, she learns, means not asking questions and staying out of the immortal council's way. It's a line she crossed long ago. If Sophia wants to survive the council and save the people she loves, she must accept who she is, perform dark magic, and fight to the death for her freedom.

Follow the characters.  These are the Tour Stops!
Meet Valeria
January 14 Jennifer Sosniak Books - Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Shimmer Dust, NARS lip
gloss, and NARS eye shadow

Meet Circe
January 15 Megan Likes Books - Blood Transfusion Mason Jar Sippy, BUXOM eye shadow, and Rainbow Skull Bracelet.

Meet Lauren
January 16 Bookish Things and More - Vera Bradley Purse, SkullCandy Headphones, and an iTunes Gift Card.

Meet Calista
January 17 Rainy of the Dark - Bram Stocker Quote Necklace, Metal Headband, and a Leather Bound Journal.

Meet Red
January 18 Girl who reads - Bird Themed Earrings, Bird Eggs in Nest Necklace, Bird Eggs in Nest Ring, and Bird-Themed Purse.

Meet Ophelia
January 21 Sweet and Sassy Reviewz - Forever Girl Soy Candle, Black Romance Bracelet, and a Bull Skull Necklace

Meet Thalia
January 22 A Life Among The Pages - Vampire Blood Mason Jar Sippy, Love Spell Body Spray by Victoria’s Secret, and Steampunk Lace Gloves.

Meet Ivory
January 23 Lindsey R Louck's Blog- Smashbox Icon Eye Shadow Kit, Wave Magnetic Polish in Metallic Raspberry, NARS lip gloss.

Meet Sophia
January 24 Ja Citam, A Ti?/I’m a Reader, What about You? - Vera Bradley Purse, Organic Blue Eye Shadow, and Organic Midnight Blue Nail Polish.

Meet Paloma
January 25 Apocalypse Mama - Mystic Dreamer Tarot Cards and Book, Dream Catcher Bracelet, and a Whimsical Metal Headband.

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Bout of Books 3.0 Wrap Up!

This is the end of this Bout of Books Read-a-thon.  This is a retelling of an epic journey of long reading hours, the happiness of reading a last page and the sorrow of not been available to complete the challenge because sometimes a cold can be stronger.  Let's  read a little a bout what we have been doing.

Official Blurb

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 7th and runs through Sunday, January 13th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 6.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. -From the Bout of Books 6.0 team

My Reading Updates

Read-a thon results:
I read: 3 complete books
Books: Revival, The Dead Girls' Dance and Under The Never Sky
Books in progress: Two and Twenty Dark Tales / Scarlet Woods
Total Pages read: 962

This is the first time I participate on a read-a-thon.  Definitely I look forward to this kind of activity and of course, look forward to a next Bout of Books Read-a-thon.  It is amazing how bloggers get together and do this kind of things, therefore promoting more interaction in this big community.  Keep the good work Bout of Books.

Graphic Saturday: Revival by Tim Seeley & Mike Norton

Revival, Vol. 1: You're Among Friends by Tim Seeley
Illustrators: Mike Norton, Mark Englert
Published: December 2012, Image comics
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
More about Revival
Look for this at Amazon / BD

Let me ask you something: when is the next volume out? This is one of those stories that grab your attention from the get go.  We could say it's about zombies, but also it could be about miracles.  It is a new POV on undead creatures.  Imagine a neighbor returns to the community after dying, what would you do? Sincerely I wouldn't know. After too  many Romero's movies and the seasons of The Walking Dead I have been predisposed to be a zombie exterminating machine in theory.

In this comic, people revive and seem normal, just disoriented.  Then they become confuse and aggressive. A task force is created to work these cases, where Dana one of the main characters will see how things unfold on this crisis.  Her sister Martha, will be crucial on this volume and probably will be relevant in future volumes of the story.  This volume has a surprising ending that gave me a glance to some clues about the mysteries that have been presented up to this point in the comic.

This comic made a big impression on me. The story is grabbing and certainly challenging in content for the author.  It requires ingenuity to create novelty in the zombie idea.  This author achieved this.  It works an infinitely used idea, people returning from the dead, and a interesting idea is born. What if people return and behave just as they used to before dying? Should we be welcoming? Are they a threat? The story has lots of possibilities, all in the hands of this author. I read this, already thinking about the next volume now because it is that amazing. It has amazing art to match it. Colors are really nice and the drawing style is exiting, never boring.

Reading on my tablet!
This comic is Mike Norton, Mark Englert and Jenny Frison's awesome work

I recommend this comic to all comic readers but also to those who haven't read a comic yet. This is the kind of book that surely will make you a comic reader. Thanks to Image and Netgalley for providing me this for an honest review.





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Children Playground: Knees by Vanita Oelschlager

Knees: The mixed up world of a boy with dyslexia by Vanita Oelschlager

Illustrated: Joe Rossi

Publisher: Vanita Books, 2012

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Source: Provided by Vanita Books via Netgalley and Edelweiss for honest review

Look for this at Amazon/ BD

A little about this book (from goodreads):

Knees shows the ups and downs of life with dyslexia. We have done this book in the style and size of a chapter book so that younger children and older children at low reading levels can read what seems to be an older child's book.

We cover dyslexia’s symptoms and the reasons school can be hard for dyslexics. We talk about some famous people who had or have dyslexia.

The book is endorsed by the head master of a school where many of the children have dyslexia. He has dyslexia himself.

This book uses simple letter style and design to show the challenges a person with dyslexia experiences. The circumstances are presented as told by a kid. He let us know about his daily life is impacted by this. The pages doesn't look busy or distracting, so kids don't feel overwhelmed.

Art is drawn in pencil and uses light colored paper as a visual aid for kids. The character, Louis The Third reminds me of Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes. I like how he shares with the reader about his life. He doesn't see dyslexia as an obstacle, but as a way to push harder and improve himself.

The only thing I can see as an opportunity for improvement is the story's title. I know it has meaning in the story, but I don't find it that appealing.

View all my reviews

To learn how to use this book visit link at Vanita Books.

Recommend this book for educators and parents as a learning tool.  Children from Pre- K can enjoy this learning experience.

Bout of Books Challenge 3.0

 

I've been thinking in ways to make progress on my reading, since this year I expect to read more this year.  Today, while reading Angela's Anxious life I found about the Bout of Books read-a-thon and what a great surprise.  I decided to participate and if you want to be part of this too, just visit Bout of Books and sign up. They have many helpful links and whether your are a read-a-thon rookie like me or an expert, all the info will be really useful.  Here's some general info of the event provided by the team of Bout of Books:

  

Official Blurb

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 7th and runs through Sunday, January 13th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 6.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. -From the Bout of Books 6.0 team

One more thing, remember to decide wh ere you are going to post your updates.  I' ll be updating on my twitter using the hashtag #boutofbooks.  Also, I'll update on my blog using this template (below) kindly provided by the Bout of Books team.  You can follow them at twitter: @boutofbooks  

TIME DEVOTED TO READING
I'll be reading three hours each day.  Friday, I think the time will be reduce to one hour.  

MY GOALS
I want to read four books and if I can add one more the better!

BOOKS TO READ
Two and Twenty Dark Tales
Revival
Under The Never Sky
Scarlet Woods

And If I can
The Dead Girls' Dance
Dance of Shadows

UPDATES
Monday 
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 0
Books: Under The Never Sky
Total pages I've read: 100

Tuesday
Number of books I've read today: 3
Total number of books I've read: 1
Books: The Dead Girls' Dance (completed) / Under The Never Sky (in progress) / Revival (in progress)
Total pages I've read: 380 / 123 / 37 = 540

Wednesday
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 2
Books: The Dead Girls'Dance (completed) /Revival (completed) / Under The Never Sky (in progress)
Total pages I've read: 380 / 129 /123 = 632

Thursday
Number of books I've read today: 2
Total number of books I've read: 2
Books:  Under The Never Sky (in progress)/ Scarlet Woods (in progress)
Total pages I've read: 632 (until Wednesday) + 52 = 684

Friday
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 2
Books: Under The Never Sky (in progress)
Total pages I've read: 684 (until Thursday) +101 = 785

Saturday
Number of books I've read today: 2
Total number of books I've read:3
Books: Under the never sky (completed) Two and twenty dark tales (in progress) / Scarlet Woods (in progress)

Sunday 
Number of books I've read today: 0
Total number of books I've read:
Books: none

Graphic Saturday: True Blood Vol.1

True Blood Volume 1 by Ann Nocenti
Illustrator: Michael Gaydos
Publisher: IDW Publishing, Jan 2013
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Source: Provided by Netgalley for honest review
Look for this at Amazon / BD

This is the first volume of True Blood's graphic novel. In this volume the first five numbers have been put together to show us more about Sookie from the TV series. The comic books are not based on the books and I wish that would have been the case.

We get to know more about the vampire's mainstreaming on this volume. Remus, a vamp from Eric and Bill's past appears disrupting everything during Coffin Day celebrations. A series of flashbacks let us see Remus, Eric and Bill in their respective roles when mainstreaming was about to happen. These flashbacks are intertwined with events of the three of them in the present day. Remus is the character who connects the stories. In a way this volume is about him.

Overall, the story is interesting. The art is good but I'm not crazy about. Nevertheless, I plan on continuing the volumes. I think this comic has something to offer to the Sookie Stackhouse's world.

About the 5 numbers:
My favorites are #1 and #5.  Why? Book #1 has a strong ending and it is the one that provokes questions in the reader.  The #5 is about Russell Edginton and I love his macabre doings.  He is one of those characters who are catalysts for the story.

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Feature and Follow Friday

It is Friday again at Jessy's Bookends.  Today we are having Feature and Follow, a weekly event hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read.  Want to participate? Visit their blogs, read the rules and be nice and follow.

I would appreciate if you leave me a comment, so I can know how you followed and your FF link.  That way I can pay you a quick visit to say hello and follow back.

Q: What New Years Blogging or Writing resolution have you placed on yourself?

This is my list of resolutions for 2013:

1. Visit more blogs - As I have said, it is important to know your neighbors in the blogging community.
2. More comments - I have as a goal to answer comments more quickly and to actually comment more while visiting other blogs.
3. Shave at list 27 books of the TBR.
4. Complete all the challenges I entered.
5. Reading Harry Potter series - at least one book!
6. Understand that spreadsheets can be potentially my best ally while organizing my bookish activities.

Children Playground: Flood by Alvaro Villa

Flood by Alvaro F Vila
Published: Capstone Young Readers, Feb 2013
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Look for this :  Amazon / BN / BD
(To see an image of this picture book visit amazon link)
Source: Provided by Netgalley for honest review

Outstanding Picture book. Gorgeous colors used in such a way that surely depict nature's rage in a way kids can understand and assimilate. The story presents the process any family could pass if there is an emergency in their home towns. The family on this story will try to save their home but at the end it only will depend on nature's course.

This wordless picture book provides a way to teach kids to continue. The family experienced destruction, but they decided to rebuild because it was their home. Kids can learn the seriousness of a strong atmospheric event through the images on this book.

Colors are beautiful and embody emotions. Images are drawn carefully and in detail. My favorite element of this book is the images during the hurricane. They show such a fury and intensity, that immediately I felt empathy toward the family depicted in the storybook. This book doesn't need words. Words would be useless in this book, for what the author wants to say is clearly shown to us by his art.

Recommended for children all ages.




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2013 Challenges: What am I going to read?

This year I plan on doing various challenges. Last year I participated in three challenges and it help me to read 15 more books than what I expected. As part of my New Year's resolutions, making time to visit more blogs has been relevant. It is important to get to know your neighbors in the bookish community. During this time I have found all these cool challenges, that I plan to follow and that I hope all of you visit and decide to be part of.

Visit

The goal of this challenge is to try reading 24 Dystopian books. There is four levels and each time you achieve a milestone you get a badge. These are some of the books I plan to read:

• Crossed by Ally Condie
• The Maze Runner by James Dashner
• Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Visit

For the TBR pile challenge no 2013 books can be read, so the beautiful ARCs can be part of this. The challenge has five levels, from 1 to 50 books. I have to say, reading 50 from my tbr would be amazing. Some of the titles I plan to read:

• Switched / Torn / Ascend, three books by Amanda Hocking
• The Replacement by Brenna Yonavoff
• Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk

Visit

The rules are simple. Read as many sequels as you can. Don't read Prequels, they don't count. Some of the books I plan to read:

• From Dead To Worse / Dead and Gone, both by Charlaine Harris
• Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz
• The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan

Visit

I don't know what I'm going to read but I plan to tackle my TBR finally!

Visit

Don't know what I will read yet, but I plan to going for a Level green. That's 20 books.