Electrifying Reviews

Date With the Debuts #1

2012-01-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

Date With the Debuts

Welcome to the first edition of Date With the Debuts! Today, I have a bunch of authors visiting Electrifying Reviews to tell us a little about each of their 2012 debut novels.

Author: Elisa Janine Hoole

Title: Kiss the Morning Star
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Release Date: April 1, 2012
Tell Me About Your Book:

After hermother’s tragic death, Anna has no plans beyond her need to put a lot of milesbetween herself and the past. With forever friend Kat and a copy of Kerouac’sDHARMA BUMS, the girls set out on an epic road trip across the USA. It’s a journey both outward and inward--encompassingloss and lust, God and Grizzlies, and the tangled search for love andidentity. But one question haunts Anna--whatplace does Kat have in her life? Are they good friends, or somethingmore? And will Anna be able to find a way forward into a new future, a way todeclare openly all that lies inside her?

Author: Madison Louise

Title: Shadow Future
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 11th 2012
Tell Me About Your Book:

Pearl Underwood is just a normal OverShadower.

Almost.

She's the only girl OverShadower left, and it makes her role in her world evenharder. But Pearlwas fine with it, until...

Pearl knew whather future would be, the day she was born. But she didn't know it would be sohard to go through with. She didn't know she would fall in love, she didn'tknow that her powers would almost disappear, and she didn't know that herfuture would be with someone who's cruel. And she didn't know that she was moredifferent than she thought she was. But Pearlcan't get away from her future, but she still wants to make a stand forherself. Not matter what happens.

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Title: Storm (Elemental, #1)

Publisher: KTeen (Kensington Books)

Release Date: April 24, 2012
Tell Me About Your Book:

Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread lies about her, Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys—the ones she doesn’t want. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water—just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They’re powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.

When Hunter, the mysterious new kid in town, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who’s hiding the most dangerous truth of all…

Author: Zoraida Cordova

Title: The Vicious Deep
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: May 1st

Tell Me About Your Book:

When an unnatural riptide sweeps lifeguard Tristan Hart out to sea for three days and then dumps him back on the shore of Coney Island, it’s the start of the Sea Court claiming its own. Suddenly, Tristan’s girlfriend dramas and swimming championship seem like distant worries as he discovers the truth: he’s a Merman. Now Tristan must fight for his life, the lives of his friends, and his humanity (if he still wants it), while competing in a race for a throne as ancient as the gods.

Seductive and duplicitous and with an agenda of their own, these are not the mermaids you know.

Author: Dan Haring

Title: Oldsoul
Publisher: Pendrell Publishing
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Tell Me About Your Book:

Jason Gouvas doesn’t want to believe he has special abilities or that he's an Oldsoul-- a vessel for the souls of people who have passed away, but the dead girl in his mind can be very persuasive.

Her name is Erin, and through her Jason is able to access the knowledge and skills of the souls within him. And with a group of power-hungry immortals bent on destroying the Oldsouls and overthrowing humanity, he's going to need them all.

Author: Ruth Tenzer Feldman

Title: Blue Thread
Publisher: Ooligan Press
Release Date: February 1, 2012
Tell Me About Your Book:

Welcome to Portland, Oregon, 1912. In a time-travel weave of historical fiction and fantasy, Miriam, 16, strives to work in her father's print shop and campaign for a woman's right to vote. She feels trapped by the socialite life her parents have chosen for her. Miriam meets Serakh, an odd girl who asks about an ancient prayer shawl and expects her to help five sisters struggling 3,000 years ago after their father's death. Serakh insists Miriam is the perfect messenger. Perfect for what?

Author: Jaime Manning

Title: Blood Born

Publisher: Pendrell Publishing

Release Date: April 24, 2012

Tell Me About Your Book:

Waking up in a coffin hungryfor blood is only the beginning for sixteen-year-old Ava Blue. When ChanceCaldon, the hottie who dug her up, tells her that she’s half vampire, Ava’sworld really turns upside down.

Half vamp? Avacan’t believe it...she doesn't even know what that means. Not until Aldric, athousand-year-old vampire, shows up and tells her it’s true--and that he’s theone who turned her. Only then does Ava truly begin to believe what she is. Now,she has to deal with a sudden and powerful bloodlust, the desire to see Aldricdead, and her growing crush for Chance. Ava knows she's a monster now, she canfeel it; and her life is over.

But redemptionisn’t lost. Aldric is giving her a chance to regain her humanity. The price?Kill a hundred vampires, or remain a bloodsucker forever.

So Ava sets out toget her life back. But killing vampires begins a battle that could destroyeverything she is working toward. In the end, Ava's decisions will foreverchange her life and the lives of those she loves.

Author: Lynne Kelly

Title: CHAINED

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux

Release Date: May 8, 2012

Tell Me About Your Book:

Hastinleaves his village in India to work as an elephant keeper far fromhome. He expects adventure, but isn’t prepared for the cruelcircus owner. Spectators see a lively elephant who plays soccer andbalances on milk bottles, but Hastin sees Nandita as his friend,who's punished until she learns her tricks perfectly. With the helpof Ne Min, a wise old man who knows all about elephants, Hastinprotects Nandita as best as he can. Still he wonders–will they bothsurvive long enough to escape?

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Title: Shadow & Bone
Publisher: Henry Holt/Macmillan
Release Date: June 5, 2012
Tell Me About Your Book:

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near-impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life– a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha… and the secrets of her heart.

Author: Elisa Ludwig

Title: Pretty Crooked

Publisher: Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins

Release Date: March 13

Tell Me About Your Book:

Willa’ssecret plan seems simple: take from the rich kids at Valley Prep and give tothe poor ones. Yet playing Robin Hood is anything but. Bilking theGlitterati without them suspecting isn’t easy. Delivering care packages to the ostracizedscholarship girls is way more fun than she’d expected. The complicationWilla didn’t expect, though, is Aidan Murphy, VP’s most notorious ace-degenerate,whose mere existence is distracting. But when the cops start investigating the theftsat VP and the Glitterati begin to seek revenge, could Aidan wind up being theperson that Willa trusts most?

Author: Trish Doller

Title: Something Like Normal

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Release Date: June 19, 2012

Tell Me About Your Book:

When Travis comes home from Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl who has hated him since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. As he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again.

Author: Kathleen Peacock

Title: Hemlock
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins
Release: May 8th, 2012

Tell Me About Your Book:

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends--until Amy was brutally murdered by a white werewolf.

Now Mac must solve the riddle of Amy’s death before the wolf strikes again. But in a town filled with secrets, werewolves aren’t the only ones with things to hide.

Hemlock is the first in a supernatural mystery trilogy coming from Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins.

Author: Cat Hellisen

Title: When the Sea is Rising Red
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Release: February 28, 2012
Tell Me About Your Book:

After Felicita’s dearest friend Ilven kills herself to escape an
arranged marriage, Felicita chooses freedom over privilege. She fakes her own death and leaves her sheltered life as one of Pelimburg’s magical elite behind to go live in the slums. But Ilven's death has called a dangerous wild magic from the sea. Felicita must decide whether her loyalties lie with the family she ran from or with those who would twist this dark power to destroy Pelimburg's caste system, and the city along with it.

Author: Marissa Burt

Title: STORYBOUND

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's

Release Date: 4/3/12

Tell Me About Your Book:

In the land of Story, children go to school to learn to be characters: a perfect Hero, a trusty Sidekick, even the most dastardly Villain. They take classes on Outdoor Experiential Questing and Backstory, while adults search for full-time character work in stories written just for them.

In our world, twelve-year-old Una Fairchild has always felt invisible. But all that changes when she stumbles upon a mysterious book buried deep in the basement of her school library, opens the cover, and suddenly finds herself transported to the magical land of Story.

But Story is not a perfect fairy tale. Una's new friend Peter warns her about the grave danger she could face if anyone discovers her true identity. The devious Tale Keeper watches her every move. And there are whispers of a deadly secret that seems to revolve around Una herself...

With the timeless appeal of books like A Wrinkle in Time and the breathtaking action of Inkheart, Storybound has all the makings of a new classic. Brimming with fantastical creatures, magical adventure, and heart-stopping twists, Storybound will leave readers wishing they too could jump through the pages into this enchanting fairy-tale world.

Be sure to check back to hear more from these authors, and more to come! If you're a 2012 debut author and would like to participate in Date With the Debuts, email me.

In My Mailbox #103: The Only eBooks Edition

2012-01-28T12:04:00.002-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly book blog feature hosted by The Story Siren. It gives book bloggers the opportunity to share the books we get each week with other bloggers, and our followers. This week I got...

Hollyweird by Terri Clark (eARC)
Thanks to Flux

Back in Fashion (Sirenz, #2) by CharlotteBennardo & Natalie Zaman (eARC)
Thanks to Flux

I Am (Not) the Walrus by Ed Briant (eARC)
Thanks to Flux

Ferocity Summer by Alyssa Grosso (eARC)
Thanks to Flux

The Deserter by Peadar Ó Guilín (eARC)
Thanks to David Fickling Books

The Girl in the Park by MariahFredericks (eARC)
Thanks to Random House

Someone Else’s Life by Katie Dale (eARC)

Thanks to Delacorte

Slipping Reality by Emily Beaver (eARC)
Thanks to AuthorHouse

Mia Mania by Van Casey (ebook)
Thanks to Van

Fairy Metal Thunder (Songs of Magic, #1) by J.L. Bryan (ebook)
Bought

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This Week's Posts:

Monday

Embrace, by Cherie Colyer

Tuesday

Honey Badger Don't Care, by Randall

Wednesday

Future Favorites #75 | Dust Collectors #23

Thursday

Giveaway: Legions

Friday

Cover Reveals: Touch of Death, PODs, and Amarok

2012-01-27T00:01:00.000-05:00

Today I have three awesome covers to reveal to you guys, so here we go!

Title: Touch of Death

Author: Kelly Hashway

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Release Date: January 2013

Jodi Marshall isn't sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she's in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she's being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.

After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he's not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she's part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendents of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.

Jodi's deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn't difficult enough, Jodi discovers she's the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can't figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

Title: PODs

Author: Michelle Pickett

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Release Date: June 2013

Seventeen-year-old Eva is a chosen one. Chosen to live, while others meet a swift and painful death from an incurable virus so lethal, a person is dead within days of symptoms emerging. In the POD system, a series of underground habitats built by the government, she waits with the other chosen for the deadly virus to claim those above. Separated from family and friends, it's in the PODs she meets David. And while true love might not conquer all, it's a balm for the broken soul.

After a year, scientists believe the population has died, and without living hosts, so has the virus. That's the theory, anyway. But when the PODs are opened, survivors find the surface holds a vicious secret. The virus mutated, infecting those left top-side and creating... monsters.

Eva and David hide from the infected in the abandoned PODs. Together they try to build a life--a new beginning. But the infected follow and are relentless in their attacks. Leaving Eva and David to fight for survival, and pray for a cure.

And here's a cover that isn't new, but if you remember a few weeks ago, I helped reveal the cover for Amarok by Angela J. Townsend. Well, the publisher decided to give the cover a makeover, so here is the new cover...

Emma’s life has been hell since she moved from sunny California to a remote Alaskan town. Abandoned by her father and living with the guilt of causing her mother’s death, she makes a desperate dash for freedom from her abusive stepfather. But when her car skids off the icy road, her planned escape leads to further captivity in a world beyond her imagining.

Dragged across the tundra by an evil mountain man and his enormous black wolf, she learns that love can be found in the most unexpected places. Amarok, as she’s nicknamed the wolf, is a young man from the gold-rush era enslaved by an ancient shaman. Emma’s gentle touch and kind heart win his love and devotion. When a vicious madman—trapped in bear form by the same Shaman—attacks the travelers and injures Amarok, Emma must find the strength to face her fears and free the wolf she’s come to love. But that means she must face down the evil shaman, a Siberian mammoth hunter from the ice age, and he has no intention of giving up his power to her.

Title: Amarok

Author: Angela J. Townsend

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Release Date: November 2012

So, what do you think of the covers? Leave a comment below with your thoughts, and be sure to let me know which of the three is your favorite.

Giveaway: Legions

2012-01-26T14:10:00.000-05:00

Since Legions is the second book in the trilogy, I've included the description for the first book, Awakening, below...

Alone in snowy, remote Whistler village, Ana tries to build a new life since losing her parents. With a cozy condo, a sweet-faced bulldog and an evening job to leave the days free for the slopes, life slips into a great routine. If only she could shake the guilt for not remembering anything about her parents and banish the night terrors that haunt her every dream.

On a whim, Ana goes out with Athen, a guy she’s just met in the Grizzly Pub... The only problem is that she feels like she already knows him.

Within 48 hours of meeting Athen and his family, Ana’s world implodes. She falls for Athen quickly and before she knows it, a past life begins to resurface. As thrilling as the revelations appear at first, she fights against the chilling information that Athen is from the underworld. Soon she begins to struggle as her own supernatural gifts are slowly unveiled, and she realizes that the nightmares she’s been having might be premonitions and not dreams at all.

It is up to Ana to decipher between fact and fiction before it is too late, and her new love, Athen, follows in her same fate - one that is lost between two worlds.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Future Favorites #75 | Dust Collectors #23

2012-01-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

Future Favorites is an awesome blog feature here at Electrifying Reviews. Each time I do one of these, I post about a few books that are yet-to-be-released and that I can't wait to read!

●Rapture (Fallen, #4) by Lauren Kate (Delacorte: June 12, 2012)●

●Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London (HarperTeen: May 29, 2012)●

●Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins (HarperTeen: May 1, 2012)●

●Until I Die (Revenants, #2) by Amy Plum (HarperTeen: May 8, 2012)●

●The Temptation (Kindred, #1) by Alisa Valdes (HarperTeen: April 24, 2012)●

●Eve of Destruction (Dark Eden, #2) by Patrick Carman (Katherine Tegen: April 24, 2012)●

Which of these looks the best to you? What are some of your future favorites? Comment below and let me know!

~~+~+~+~~

Dust Collectors is another feature hosted here on Electrifying Reviews. The point of Dust Collectors is to highlight books that have been sitting on my bookshelves for what feels like forever, unread, and for you to leave a comment telling me which to read first.

●Dark Eden by Patrick Carman (Katherine Tegen: November 1, 2011)●

●What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen (Viking: May 10, 2011)●

Have your read either of these books? Which should I read first? Be sure to leave a comment!

Honey Badger Don't Care, by Randall

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Honey Badger Don't Care: Randall's Guide to Crazy, Nastyass Animals
Author: Randall
Publisher: Andrews McMeel
Release: January 24, 2012
Source: Publisher
Purchase: (RJ Julia | Andrews McMeel)

Sweet Jesus—a riotous wildlife book for adults! The mononymous Randall, narrator of the YouTube sensation "The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger," is the wild new voice of nature. In Honey Badger Don't Care™, Randall presents a dozen crazy, badass animals of the wild kingdom as only Randall could. Don't be stupid—buy this book!

Only after I found out about Honey Badger Don’t Care did I look up the hilarious YouTube videosthat started the phenomenon. And you bet I laughed so hard at Randall’snarration, and I couldn’t wait to read his adult, wildlife picture book!

Though I prefer the videos to the book—they are just funnier—Istill had a great time reading HoneyBadger Don’t Care. It is hilarious and informative and everything I wasexpecting it to be. I got to learn about twelve crazy, nastyass animals, whilehaving an absolutely wonderful time doing it.

If you’re a fan of The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger, or anyof Randall’s original narration videos, I dare you not to check out Honey Badger Don’t Care. Just read it,stupid!

Embrace, by Cherie Colyer

2012-01-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Embrace
Author: Cherie Colyer
Publisher: Omnific
Release: December 20, 2011
Source: Blog Tour
Purchase: (RJ Julia | Omnific)

Madison is familiar enough with change, and she hates everything about it. Change took her long-term boyfriend away from her. It caused one of her friends to suddenly hate her. It’s responsible for the death of a local along with a host of other mysterious happenings. But when Madison meets a hot new guy, she thinks her luck is about to improve. Madison is instantly drawn to the handsome and intriguing Isaac Addington. She quickly realizes he’s a guy harboring a secret, but she’s willing to risk the unknown to be with him. Her world really spins out of control, however, when her best friend becomes delusional, seeing things that aren’t there and desperately trying to escape their evil. When the doctors can’t find the answers, Madison seeks her own. Nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover.

Embrace took me bysurprise. I had absolutely no clue what it was about when I started to read it,but I got a pleasant surprise once I discovered what was inside. Soon after Istarted, I was hooked and found myself completely enjoying Embrace, and feeling satisfied when it was over.

Mystery, magic, and romance all intertwine in Embrace, and those aspects and more madeit a great reading experience. I really enjoyed the mythology Cherie Colyer hascreated, and I was satisfied by how much was explained. When it comes to booksabout witches or magic, I am very picky about how much the magic itself isexplained, and I had no problem with it in Embrace.

Cherie Coyler has a nice writing style, nothing that reallystood out to me, though. Her writing fits in with many other styles of youngadult paranormal writers, which didn’t bother me at all. I would certainly beinterested in reading more from her, especially if she decided to continue thestory of the characters from Embrace.

Madison was afine character. Again, she doesn’t really stand apart for me, but while I wasreading, I found myself liking her and wanting only good things to happen toher, and being upset myself when bad things did happen. Isaac, the loveinterest, however, wasn’t one of my favorite people. He creeped me out, and I didn’treally trust him until almost the end of the book. The other characters, thoughnot very dimensional, were developed and relatable.

Though it is not a book that stands out to me, or one that Iam likely to remember for long, I enjoyed Embracewhile I was reading it and would most definitely be interested in reading morefrom Colyer.

In My Mailbox #102: The Kindle Edition

2012-01-21T12:16:00.000-05:00

Perception (Clarity, #2) by Kim Harrington (ARC)
Thanks to Scholastic

Lenobia’s Vow (House of Night Novellas, #2) by P.C. Cast + KristinCast (hardcover)
Thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin

Vesper (Deviants, #1) by Jeff Sampson (paperback + ebook)
Thanks to Balzer + Bray & bought

Havoc (Deviants, #2) by Jeff Sampson (hardcover)
Thanks to Balzer + Bray

The Cost of the Dream (Gastien, #1) by Caddy Rowland (paperback)
Thanks to Caddy

From Dream to Destiny (Gastien, #2) by Caddy Rowland (paperback)
Thanks to Caddy

Demons at Deadnight by A&E Kirk (signed paperback)
Thanks to A&E

Zombie Tag by Hannah Moskowitz (hardcover)
Thanks to Fiktshun

Hate List by Jennifer Brown (paperback)

Bought

Kindle Touch

Thanks to my mom

On the Bright Side by S.R. Johannes (eARC)
Thanks to S.R.

Partials by Dan Wells (eARC)
Thanks to Balzer + Bray

Croak by Gina Damico (eARC)
Thanks to Harcourt

Witch’s Brew (The Spellspinners of Melas County, #1) by Heidi R. Kling (ebook)
Bought

Savor (Warm Delicacy. #1) by Megan Duncan (ebook)

Bought

Become (Desolation, #1) by Ali Cross (ebook)
Bought

The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood (ebook)
Bought

Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days, #1) by Susan Ee (ebook)
Bought

Ethereal (Celestra, #1) by Addison Moore (ebook)
Bought

The Emerald Talisman (Talisman, #1) by Brenda Pandos (ebook)
Bought

The Childe by C.A. Kunz (ebook)
Bought

Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have) by Sarah Mlynowski (ebook)
Bought

The Unidentified by Rae Mariz (ebook)
Bought

Entwined by Heather Dixon (ebook)
Bought

Exiled (Immortal Essence, #1) by RaShelle Workman (ebook)
Bought

Breathless (Jason and Azazel, #1) by V.J. Chambers (ebook)
Bought

Destined by Jessie Harrell (ebook)
Bought

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This Week's Posts:

Monday

Static, by Tawny Stokes

Tuesday

Destiny's Fire, by Trisha Wolfe (Review + Giveaway)

Wednesday

Future Favorites #74 | Dust Collectors #22

Thursday

Demon Whisperer, by Tawny Stokes

Friday

Giveaway: In Darkness

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Demon Whisperer, by Tawny Stokes

2012-01-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Demon Whisperer
Author: Tawny Stokes
Release: September 28, 2011
Source: Blog Tour

Caden’s all about the 3 Ds: demon, death and destruction... Awake a year-long coma, where he literally spent in hell, Caden Butcher, 17, developed a special power. He can speak to demons in their own language. This new trick helps him take over the family exorcism business, from his broken alcoholic father. Having to take care of the finances, Caden makes a decent income getting rid of demons. He’s known as the young whiz-kid exorcist to the stars, obtaining most of his work in Hollywood. But what others don’t know is the exorcisms are all staged with the help of his best buddy, a demon he met in hell named Dantalion (Dan). When an exorcism goes wrong, Caden discovers the demon inside a teen girl is not the run of the mill malicious entity but an adversary from down under who is hell bent on Caden’s destruction. The International Order of Exorcists, an organization that tolerates Caden at best because of his respected father, starts their own investigation because of his screw up. Now with the help of his demon buddy, and Caden’s girlfriend Aspen Spencer, a skilled necromancer, Caden must track down the rogue demon before he can expose Caden as a fraud and destroy everything that matters to him in his life, ending his reign as the one and only Demon Whisperer.

Immediately after reading Tawny Stokes’s debut, Static, I just had to read her sophomorenovel, Demon Whisperer. Though I knewit wasn’t related to Static, I fellin love with Tawny Stokes’s writing in her first book, and just wanted more ofit. And let me tell you, I thought Staticwas good, and was completely unprepared for how much I would enjoy Demon Whisperer.

Tawny Stokes has created a brilliant paranormal world withinour own. There are demons, witches, zombies, and all sorts of crazy creaturesthat occupy our world. The mythology Stokes has created for Demon Whisperer blew me away, and Isimply cannot wait to read more about Caden, since I want to visit this worldagain, as soon as I can!

I already knew Tawny Stokes was a great writer when I beganreading Demon Whisperer, but I had noidea how good she really was until I read the book from start to finish. Stokesis definitely an author I will be keeping an eye on, since I know how great shecan be.

Caden Butcher was such a fantastic character. Sure, he’skind of obnoxious, but that’s what makes him so much fun to read. He just doesn’tcare what anyone thinks of him, which was awesome to read. The rest of the castof characters was absolutely fantastic, and I can’t wait to read more aboutthem in America’s Next Top Zombie,their next adventure.

I wasn’t prepared for how awesome Demon Whisperer was going to be, and I was blown away when Iactually read it. Don’t pass up this awesome book that will leave you hangingon every word, and begging for more when it’s over.

Future Favorites #74 | Dust Collectors #22

2012-01-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

Future Favorites is an awesome blog feature here at Electrifying Reviews. Each time I do one of these, I post about a few books that are yet-to-be-released and that I can't wait to read!

●Oldsoul by Dan Haring (Pendrell: April 24, 2012)●

●Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris (Balzer + Bray: April 24, 2012)●

●The Selection by Kiera Cass (HarperTeen: April 24, 2012)●

●This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers (St. Martin's Griffin: June 19, 2012)●

●52 Reasons to Hate My Father by Jessica Brody (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux: July 3, 2012)●

●Stunning (Pretty Little Liars, #11) by Sara Shepard (HarperTeen: June 5, 2012)●

Which of these looks the best to you? What are some of your future favorites? Comment below and let me know!

~~+~+~+~~

●Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers (St. Martin's Griffin: December 23, 2008)●

●Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard (HarperTeen: October 1, 2006)●

Have your read either of these books? Which should I read first? Be sure to leave a comment!

Destiny's Fire, by Trisha Wolfe

2012-01-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Destiny's Fire
Author: Trisha Wolfe
Publisher: Omnific
Release: January 10, 2012
Source: A Touch of Many Reviews
Purchase: (RJ Julia | Omnific)

It’s the year 2040, and sixteen-year-old Dez Harkly is one of the last of her kind—part of a nearly extinct race of shape-shifters descended from guardians to the Egyptian pharaohs. Her home and her secret are threatened when the Council lowers the barrier, allowing the enemy race to enter the Shythe haven. As the Narcolym airships approach, Dez and her friends rebel against their Council and secretly train for battle. Not only is Dez wary of war and her growing affection for her best friend Jace, but she fears the change her birthday will bring. When Dez’s newfound power rockets out of control, it’s a Narcolym who could change her fate… if she can trust him. Dez’s guarded world crumbles when she discovers why the Narcos have really come to Haven Falls, and she's forced to choose between the race who raised her and the enemy she's feared her whole life.

I had really high expectations going into Destiny’s Fire, since all I had heardabout it before reading was full of positivity and praise. I can totally seewhere all of these people are coming from, since I did highly enjoy thispromising debut, but Destiny’s Firefell flat in a few ways, for me at least.

Destiny’s Fire isbased in a highly imaginative universe, with elements of dystopia and steampunkwoven together seamlessly. Trisha Wolfe has created interesting mythology toadd that much more to the world she has written. But here’s my biggest problemwith Destiny’s Fire: there was notenough explanation. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all for leaving out unnecessarydetail, but I think a lot of detail that would really help make the story seemeven more real was missing from Destiny’sFire.

Trisha Wolfe has a fantastic writing style, and I cannotwait to see what else she comes up with. I certainly will be reading futureworks from her, since I think she has the potential to write some fantasticstuff. Her writing is smooth and strong, and made it easy to enjoy this storyeven when other things were holding me back from doing so.

The characters in Destiny’sFire were another aspect of the novel that fell short, in my opinion. Thedepth I need to connect to characters in literary works was missing from Dez,Jace, Lana, Nick, and Reese. That really disappointed me, since I could feelthat the characters were almostthere. I am eager to see where these characters’ story leads, since I did enjoysome of their personalities. Hopefully readers will see more dimensions fromthem in the future.

Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy Destiny’s Fire, and really enjoyed Trisha Wolfe’s writing style.Maybe it’s just me, since I’ve seen tons of people who have loved this book,but I didn’t feel like Destiny’s Firewas quite there yet.

Static, by Tawny Stokes

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Static
Author: Tawny Stokes
Release: July 26, 2011
Source: Blog Tour
Purchase: (RJ Julia)

Be careful what you listen to… During the summer before her senior year, 17 year old band groupie, Salem Vale, has been following her favorite punk rockers, Malice, from gig to gig hoping that one night she might get backstage and meet the sinisterly sexy guys. She’s been saving her virginity for the lead singer Thane. One fateful evening she gets her wish. It’s a dream come true. Except the dream turns to a nightmare when she wakes up in a dumpster, tossed away like yesterday’s trash, with no memory of what happened the night before. She feels strange, different, as if something is trying to get out. Soon she realizes she’s changing…turning into something not quite human. Now a hunger deep inside claws at her to feed, to siphon energy from those around her. Before she can do just that, Trevor, the band’s roadie shows up and stops her from killing. With his help she learns to control the hunger inside, because he’s just like her. And in return he wants her help to do one little thing… Help him kill the members of Malice.

Tawny Stokes’s debut, Static,completely took my by surprise! I didn’t know if I was going to like it ornot, but once I started, I couldn’t stop reading Static, and finished it in no time.

One of the things I liked the most about Static is that isn’t censored. For ayoung adult book—especially a paranormal one, it’s pretty gritty and raw. Iloved how down to earth it all seemed. The mythology Tawny Stokes has createdfor Static was fantastic, and wasjust detailed enough to enjoy Static.

I was really surprised by how much I liked Tawny Stokes’swriting style. Sure, there are some little things I noticed, but overall she isa great writer and after reading two of her books, I know I will be checkingout more of her books in the future. Every word packs a punch, and her writingis smooth and to the point.

Salem was reallyedgy, spunky, and was a really fun character to read about. She doesn’t take crap fromanybody, and was really strong and fierce. The supporting characters were allpretty solid, except Trevor, who got on my nerves too often for me to reallylike him throughout the book. By the end, however, I did warm up to him.

If you want a quick paranormal read that will sweep you awayfor a little while, don’t hesitate to read Static.It’s a great debut, and I really enjoyed reading it.

In My Mailbox #101: The Bedhead Edition

2012-01-14T12:30:00.003-05:00

Blue Thread by Ruth Tenzer Feldman (ARC)
Thanks to Ooligan Press

Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis (ARC)
Thanks to Balzer + Bray

The Calling (Darkness Rising, #2) by Kelley Armstrong (ARC)
Thanks to Harper

Destiny and Deception (13 to Life, #4) by Shannon Delany (paperback)
Thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin

Give It to Me by Sean Wolfe (paperback)
Thanks to Kensington

The Alchemy of Forever (Incarnation, #1) by Avery Williams (hardcover)
Thanks to Simon & Schuster

Fireseed One by Catherine Stine (signedpaperback)
Thanks to Catherine

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (signed hardcover)
Thanks to Fiktshun

Triangles by Ellen Hopkins (hardcover)
Thanks to Fiktshun

Graceling by Kristin Cashore (hardcover)
Thanks to Fiktshun

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (hardcover)
Thanks to The Book Cellar

Behemoth (Leviathan, #2) by Scott Westerfeld (hardcover)
Thanks to Paper Cuts

This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel (hardcover)
Bought

Faking Faith by Julie Bloss (paperback)
Bought

Reckoning (Strange Angels, #5) by Lili St. Crow (paperback)
Bought

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler (paperback)
Bought

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson (paperback)
Bought

Spellcaster (Spellbound, #2) by Cara Lynn Shultz (eARC)
Thanks to Harlequin Teen

Goddess Interrupted (The Goddess Test, #2) by Aimée Carter (eARC)
Thanks to Harlequin Teen

Jersey Angel by Beth Ann Bauman (eARC)
Thanks to Wendy Lamb Books

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown (eARC)
Thanks to Delacorte

Starters by Lissa Price (eARC)
Thanks to Delacorte

Freshman Year & Other Natural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin (eARC)
Thanks to Putnam

Spirit Fighter (Son of Angels: Jonah Stone, #1) by Jerel Law (eARC)
Thanks to Thomas Nelson

The Obsidian Blade (The Klaatu Diskos, #1) by Pete Hautman (eARC)
Thanks to Candlewick

Golden Blood by Melissa Pearl (ebook)
Thanks to A Tale of Many Reviews

------------------------

This Week's Posts:

Monday
In Darkness, by Nick Lake

Wednesday
Future Favorites #73 | Dust Collectors #21

Future Favorites #73 | Dust Collectors #21

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

Future Favorites is an awesome blog feature here at Electrifying Reviews. Each time I do one of these, I post about a few books that are yet-to-be-released and that I can't wait to read!

●Dreamless (Starcrossed, #2) by Josephine Angelini (HarperTeen: May 29, 2012)●

●For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund (Balzer + Bray: June 12, 2012)●

●Endlessly (Paranormalcy, #3) by Kiersten White (HarperTeen: July 24, 2012)●

●Shine (Shade, #3) by Jeri Smith-Ready (Simon Pulse: May 1, 2012)●

●The Asylum (The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries, #5) by L.J. Smith (HarperTeen: January 17, 2012)●

●The Compelled (The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries, #6) by L.J. Smith (HarperTeen: March 13, 2012)●

Which of these looks the best to you? What are some of your future favorites? Comment below and let me know!

~~+~+~+~~

●Rampant by Diana Peterfreund (HarperTeen: August 25, 2009)●

●Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready (Simon Pulse: May 4, 2010)●

Have your read either of these books? Which should I read first? Be sure to leave a comment!

In Darkness, by Nick Lake

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

Title: In Darkness
Author: Nick Lake
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release: January 17, 2012
Source: Publisher @ BEA '11
Purchase: (RJ Julia | Bloomsbury)

In the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake a boy is trapped beneath the rubble of a ruined hospital: thirsty, terrified and alone. 'Shorty' is a child of the slums, a teenage boy who has seen enough violence to last a lifetime, and who has been inexorably drawn into the world of the gangsters who rule Site Soleil: men who dole out money with one hand and death with the other. But Shorty has a secret: a flame of revenge that blazes inside him and a burning wish to find the twin sister he lost five years ago. And he is marked. Marked in a way that links him with Toussaint L'Ouverture, the Haitian rebel who two-hundred years ago led the slave revolt and faced down Napoleon to force the French out of Haiti. As he grows weaker, Shorty relives the journey that took him to the hospital, a bullet wound in his arm. In his visions and memories he hopes to find the strength to survive, and perhaps then Toussaint can find a way to be free.

I really didn’t know whether or not I was going to like In Darkness. It’s not what I wouldusually pick up, but it still peaked my interest when I heard about it. Combininga recent devastating earthquake with a war of the past, In Darkness is a unique book which deals with some heavy topics,yet can still be considered a light read by some.

In Darkness wasdefinitely an eye opener for me. I had no idea how tarnished the country of Haitiwas—and is. It’s truly terrible how the people living there have to go abouttheir lives, and I am so thankful that InDarkness allowed me to learn how bad it is for them. I also loved how therewas history blended in. It’s like a historical fiction novel mixed with acontemporary!

Nick Lakeis an acclaimed author, and I am sure that this book will catch the attentionof all the bigwigs out there. I can see “Award-Winning” written all over In Darkness. Lakehas a unique writing style, especially when it comes to dialog, but I neverfound myself lost while reading InDarkness.

In Darknessswitches between the perspectives of Shorty, a gangster whose live before therecent earthquake is told, and Toussaint L’Ouverture, the slave who led Haiti’sslaves to freedom in the 1700s. I liked Shorty’s story more, it just caught myinterest more than Toussaint’s, but I still enjoyed reading about the importantpart of history that Toussaint influenced heavily.

In Darkness is aneye-opening novel that is sure to make some waves. I am very thankful to haveread it, and am definitely excited to see where this novel goes. It wasn’t necessarilya favorite of mine, but I do think InDarkness is a book almost everyone should read.

In My Mailbox #100: The Long Time No See Edition

2012-01-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

Switched (Trylle, #1) by Amanda Hocking (two paperbacks)

Thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin & Fiktshun

Slide by Jill Hathaway (twoARCs)
Thanks to Balzer + Bray

Princess of the Wild Swans by Diane Zahler (ARC)
Thanks to HarperCollins

Shine by Lauren Myracle (hardcover)
Bought

Glass (Crank, #2) by Ellen Hopkins (hardcover)
Bought

Wake by Abria Mattina (ebook)
Thanks to Abria

Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey (eARC)
Thanks to Walker

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen (eARC)
Thanks to Walker

Transcendence by C.J. Omololu (eARC)
Thanks to Walker

Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby (eARC)
Thanks to Walker

Tessa Masterson Will Go to Prom by Emily Franklin & BrendanHalpin (eARC)
Thanks to Walker

The Académie by Susanne Dunlap (eARC)
Thanks to Bloomsbury

Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker (eARC)
Thanks to Bloomsbury

The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers (eARC)
Thanks to Bloomsbury

-------------

The Past Few Weeks' Posts:

Monday

Crank, by Ellen Hopkins

Tuesday

2012 Debut Authors, Hear My Call!

Wednesday

Future Favorites #70 | Dust Collectors #18

Monday

Keegan's Chronicles Blog Tour: Coexist Excerpt

Tuesday

Where Demons Fear to Tread, by Stephanie Chong

Wednesday

Future Favorites #71 | Dust Collectors #19

Thursday

Harbinger Art Reveal

Friday

The Dead Girls' Dance, by Rachel Caine

Saturday

Top Eleven Books of 2011

Monday

Cover Uncovered: Toxic

Tuesday

Giveaway: Switched

Wednesday

Future Favorites #72 | Dust Collectors #20

Thursday

Giveaway: Beyond

Future Favorites #72 | Dust Collectors #20

2012-01-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

Future Favorites is an awesome blog feature here at Electrifying Reviews. Each time I do one of these, I post about a few books that are yet-to-be-released and that I can't wait to read!

●Touched by Cyn Balog (Delacorte: August 14, 2012)●

●Revived by Cat Patrick (Little, Brown: May 8, 2012)●

●Social Suicide (Deadly Cool, #2) by Gemma Halliday (HarperTeen: April 24, 2012)●

●The Fame Game by Lauren Conrad (HarperTeen: April 3, 2012)●

●Destined (Wings, #4) by Aprilynne Pike (HarperTeen: April 28, 2012)●

●Body & Soul (Ghost and the Goth, #3) by Stacey Kade (Hyperion: May 29, 2012)●

Which of these looks the best to you? What are some of your future favorites? Comment below and let me know!

~~+~+~+~~

●L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad (HarperCollins: June 1, 2009)●

●The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade (Hyperion: June 29, 2010)●

Have your read either of these books? Which should I read first? Be sure to leave a comment!

Cover Uncovered: Toxic

2012-01-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

Toxic (Denazen, #2)

Jus Accardo

Entangled Publishing

May 1, 2012

When a Six saved Kale’s life the night of Sumrun, she warned there would be consequences. A trade-off. Something taken for the life they gained. But Dez never imagined she’d lose the one thing she’d give anything to keep… And as if it’s not enough Dez finds her immunity to Kale fading, the Six brought in to help Kale learn to control his killer touch starts drooling on him the moment they meet. Worse than that? Jade can touch Kale. But bimbo Barbie is the least of Dez's problems.

After Dez and Kale got away at Sumrun, her father lost not only his most powerful weapon but an important piece of the Supremacy project. Forced by Denazen to remedy the situation, he poisons Dez and offers her a choice—surrender to Denazen for the cure…or die. Determined to find a solution that doesn’t involve being bagged and tagged—or losing someone she loves—Dez keeps the poison a secret. But when a rash of Denazen attacks hit a little too close to home, Dez is convinced there’s a traitor among them. Jade.

Sacrifices, broken promises, and secrets. Dez will have to lay it all on the line if there’s any hope of proving Jade’s guilt before they all end up Residents of Denazen. Or worse, dead...

So what do you think of the cover? Did you read Touched? If so, what do you think of the blurb and cover for Toxic?

Top Eleven Books of 2011

2011-12-31T06:00:00.000-05:00

It's a new year, so it's time to let you know what my favorite books from last year were. I'm going to be spotlighting my eleven favorite books I read last year. I wish I could include more; it was really hard to narrow it down to just eleven!

11. Blood Will Tell, by Samantha Young

This one was so action-packed and exciting. Samantha Young is a great writer, and has many, many books out. I've only read two of them, and both were fantastic. Blood Will Tell is loosely based on Egyptian myths, and it is so much fun to read.

10. The Goddess Test, by Aimee Carter

This one was so much fun! The Goddess Test is based on Greek myths, and Aimee Carter has a fantastic spin she puts on them. I seriously cannot wait to read more about Kate and Henry in Goddess Interrupted!

9. Deception, by Lee Nichols

Ghosts! Lee Nichols found a fantastic way to portray them in Deception, the first Haunting Emma novel. Emma and the rest of the gang are positively superb, and I am ashamed that I haven't yet read Betrayal or Surrender.

8. The Scorpio Races, by Maggie Stiefvater

This is the only Maggie Stiefvater book I've read--gasp!--and I adored it! Maggie has a way to write in such a way that I feel like I am in the story along with the characters. The Scorpio Races is so original and fresh and I would love to read it again and again.

7. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, by Michelle Hodkin

This one feels almost contemporary, but there is a paranormal twist on it that I absolutely adored. It's a mystery and uber creepy. And then end left me with so many questions! I need more!

6. Clarity, by Kim Harrington

This one is short, breezy, and so much fun! It has a family of psychics, a murderer on the loose, and a great romance. It wrapped up very well at the end of the book, but I am glad that there will be more books. I'm not ready to leave Clare just yet.

5. Die for Me, by Amy Plum

This one is a total paranormal romance. And yes, it is similar to some others out there, but this is definitely one of the best. The revenants' mythology was fantastically written, and the Paris setting is to die for... see what I did there?

4. Daughter of Smoke & Bone, by Laini Taylor

This one was so insane, in the best possible way! The concept is fantastic, and the writing is marvelous. Honestly, Laini Taylor is one of the best writers whose work I have had the privilege to read. And I loved that it was set in Prague!

3. Crank, by Ellen Hopkins

Ellen Hopkins writes about one girl's struggles with drug addiction in a way that completely messed with my mind. On one hand, of course I wanted Kristina to get treatment, but on the other I didn't want this amazing book to end. This is also the first--and only verse novel I have read!

2. Divergent, by Veronica Roth

Dystopians were big for me this year, but this was really the only one that earned a spot on this list. Veronica Roth created a brilliant futuristic world, with well-written characters and a thrilling story. Divergent rivals even The Hunger Games, and I can't wait to read what lies in store for Tris in the future!

1. Invinci ble Summer, by Hannah Moskowitz

I have loved all three of Hannah's books that I have read, but this one is my favorite. Hannah's writing style is gritty and raw and emotional, and this book was so good! I'm getting emotional just thinking about it. Seriously, you need to do yourself a favor and read this book.

So those are my favorite books I have read this year! Have you read any of them? If so, what did you think of them? Have you not read any of them? If so, what the heck are you doing? Go get them all! Oh, and let me know your top eleven books of 2011 in the comments below!

Oh, and before we go, I just wanted to thank everyone for another great year here at Electrifying Reviews. To the authors, readers, writers, and everyone who visits this blog or shares their love of books with me, I thank you.

Below is the list of all of the books I read in 2011, with links to those of which I have reviewed:

Books Read in 2011

1. Half Moon by Jordan Deen

2. Bloodlust by L.J. Smith

3. Dark Magick by Cate Tiernan

4. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
5. Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony
6. Daughters of Dracula by Kailin Gow
7. Insatiable by Meg Cabot
8. Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber
9. The Awakening by L.J. Smith
10. The Lying Game by Sara Shepard
11. The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
12. White Cat by Holly Black
13. The Possessed by L.J. Smith
14. The Passion by L.J. Smith
15. The Struggle by L.J. Smith
16. Spells by Aprilynne Pike
17. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
18. The Lost Saint by Bree Despain
19. Minder by Kate Kaynak
20. Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton
21. The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller
22. Enclave by Ann Aguire
23. The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross
24. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
25. Divergent by Veronica Roth
26. Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
27. Clarity by Kim Harrington
28. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
29. The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
30. Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris
31. Dark Mirror by M.J. Putney
32. Unnatural by Michael Griffo
33. The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan
34. Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison
35. The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
36. Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler
37. Untamed by P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast
38. Hunted by P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast
39. Nocturne by Christine Johnson
40. Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter
41. Vanish by Sophie Jordan
42. The Long Weekend by Savita Kalhan
43. Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
44. Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz
45. Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep
46. Echoes by Melinda Metz
47. The Fury by L.J. Smith
48. The Cellar by A.J. Whitten
49. Hex by Ramona Wray
50. Dark Reunion by L.J. Smith
51. Phantom Universe by Laura Kreitzer
52. But I Love Him by Amanda Grace
53. Tighter by Adele Griffin
54. Die for Me by Amy Plum
55. Illusions by Aprilynne Pike
56. Populazzi by Elise Allen
57. Nightfall by L.J. Smith
58. A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
59. Wildefire by Karsten Knight
60. Gone, Gone, Gone by Hannah Moskowitz
61. Luminous by Dawn Metcalf
62. Daughters of Darkness by L.J. Smith
63. Spellbinder by L.J. Smith
64. Possession by Elana Johnson
65. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
66. The Fallen by Liz Braswell
67. Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey
68. Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz
69. Fanfare by Renee Ahdieh
70. Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
71. Awakening by Cate Tiernan
72. Supernaturally by Kiersten White
73. Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers
74. Spellbound by Cate Tiernan
75. Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
76. Secrets and Shadows by Shannon Delany
77. Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs
78. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
79. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
80. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
81. The Initiation by L.J. Smith
82. Hunted by DJ DeSmyter
83. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
84. Haunted by Melinda Metz
85. Fury by Elizabeth Miles
86. Kiss of Night by Debbie Viguie
87. My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler
88. Wicked Woods by Kailin Gow
89. Crave by Melissa Darnell
90. Dark Angel by L.J. Smith
91. Deception by Lee Nichols
92. The Oracle Rebounds by Allison van Diepen
93. Break by Hannah Moskowitz
94. Moon Spell by Samantha Young
95. The Captive by L.J. Smith
96. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
97. Never Have I Ever by Sara Shepard
98. The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
99. Angelina's Secret by Lisa Rogers
100. Frostbite by Richelle Mead
101. Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
102. Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout
103. The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann
104. Remembrance by Michelle Madow
105. The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong
106. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
107. Lost Voices by Sarah Porter
108. The Power by L.J. Smith
109. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
110. Dirty Blood by Heather Hildenbrand
111. The Hunter by L.J. Smith
112. Blood Will Tell by Samantha Young
113. Still Waters by Emma Carlson Berne
114. Crank by Ellen Hopkins
115. Where Demons Fear to Tread by Stephanie Chong

116. The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine
117. In Darkness by Nick Lake

The Dead Girls' Dance, by Rachel Caine

2011-12-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

Title: The Dead Girls' Dance (The Morganville Vampires, #2)
Author: Rachel Caine
Publisher: NAL Jam
Release: April 3, 2007
Source: (RJ Julia | NAL)

Claire has her share of challenges. Like being a genius in a school that favors beauty over brains; homicidal girls in her dorm, and finding out that her college town is overrun with the living dead. On the up side, she has a new boyfriend with a vampire-hunting dad. But when a local fraternity throws the Dead Girls' Dance, hell is really going to break loose.

I’m even surprised that I didn’t start The Dead Girls’ Dance immediately after reading Glass Houses, the first book in the Morganville Vampires series. The endingof that one was a total shock, but I was somehow able to hold off reading The Dead Girls’ Dance for a few monthsafter reading the first book. Now I’m wondering why the heck I waited so long!

Transitioning back into the world of Morganville wassurprisingly easy. The stakes are much higher in The Dead Girls’ Dance than they were the first time around, and I wasabsolutely thrilled at how exciting this book was. There are vampire hunters,hostages, giant fires, and vampires! What more could you want?

Of course, Rachel Caine’s great writing doesn’t hurt either.She doesn’t leave any unnecessary fluff, and every word helps to move the storyalong. Her style is different than most young adult authors’, and I do seem tolike it. There were times when I felt it was a little choppy, but not veryoften.

Claire is a lot stronger in The Dead Girls’ Dance than she was in Glass Houses, and I really like where her character is going. She’snot little good girl anymore, and living in Morganville you can’t afford to belike that. The other characters don’t take as much of a spotlight as Claire,but they were all great too. There were many new characters introduced, and I’mhaving fun speculating what lies ahead for those characters.

I loved going back to Morganville with The Dead Girls’ Dance, and definitely won’t be waiting long to readMidnight Alley, and the rest of the Morganville Vampires books. Do yourselfa favor and pick these books up!

Harbinger Art Reveal

2011-12-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

When sixteen-year-old Faye arrives at Holbrook Academy, she doesn’t expect to find herself exactly where she needs to be. After years of strange waking visions and nightmares, her only comfort the bones of dead animals, Faye is afraid she’s going crazy. Fast.

But her first night at Holbrook, she feels strangely connected to the school and the island it sits on, like she’s come home. She’s even made her first real friends, but odd things keep happening to them. Every morning they wake on the floors of their dorm rooms with their hands stained red.

Faye knows she’s the reason, but what does it all mean? The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain she can’t trust him; in fact, he may be trying to kill her—and the rest of the world too.

And now for the exclusive reveal of a piece of art inspired by Harbinger...

Walk the Path! Explore the whole gallery of HARBINGER-inspired artwork at www.holbrookacademy.com/sketchbook.php.

HARBINGER by Sara Wilson Etienne debuts February 2, 2012.

Follow Sara: @wilsonetienne

Visit Sara: www.sarawilsonetienne.com

Future Favorites #71 | Dust Collectors #19

2011-12-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

Future Favorites is an awesome blog feature here at Electrifying Reviews. Each time I do one of these, I post about a few books that are yet-to-be-released and that I can't wait to read!

●Taken by Storm (Raised by Wolves, #3) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Egmont: May 22, 2012)●

●Never Enough by Denise Jaden (Simon Pulse: July 10, 2012)●

●Shadow Bound (Unbound, #2) by Rachel Vincent (Mira: June 1, 2012)●

●Blazing the Trail (The Dragon Diaries, #3) by Deborah Cooke (NAL Trade: June 5, 2012)●

●Back in Fashion (Sirenz, #2) by Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman (Flux: June 8, 2012)●

●Croak by Gina Damico (Harcourt: March 20, 2012)●

Which of these looks the best to you? What are some of your future favorites? Comment below and let me know!

~~+~+~+~~

●Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux: October 22, 1999)●

●The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking, #1) by Patrick Ness (Candlewick: September 9, 2008)●

Have your read either of these books? Which should I read first? Be sure to leave a comment!

Where Demons Fear to Tread, by Stephanie Chong

2011-12-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Where Demons Fear to Tread (The Company of Angels, #1)
Author: Stephanie Chong
Publisher: Mira
Release: August 23, 2011
Source: Publisher
Purchase: (RJ Julia | Mira)

Fledging guardian angel and yoga teacher Serena St. Clair dares enter Devil's Paradise nightclub on a mission—to retrieve the wayward Hollywood "It Boy" she's assigned to protect. But she's ambushed by the club's owner, arch demon Julian Ascher. The most powerful demonic entity in Los Angeles, Julian is handsome as sin, a master of temptation who loves nothing more than corrupting pleasure–seeking humans. He won't release the lost soul Serena is supposed to guard. Unless she accepts his dangerous wager... After the disastrous way his human life ended, Julian vowed that no woman would get the better of him again. Yet this sexy–sweet angel, smelling of fresh ocean air and happiness, triggers centuries–old feelings. Now, their high–stakes game of seduction, where angels fall from grace and where demons fear to tread, will lead them either to an eternity in hell, or a deliciously hot heaven.

I was eager to get into WhereDemons Fear to Tread because I don’t read a lot of adult books, and I wasexcited to change it up a bit. And I’m still glad I did read it, because it isdifferent from what I usually read, and it’s always good to leave your comfortzone. But I don’t think this books is all it could have been.

Stephanie Chong had a great world plotted out, and this bookhad so much potential. I know it’s about the romance more than the angels anddemons, but I would have liked to see more action and mythology rather thantension. Toward the end of the book, the pace started to kick up a notch, butmost of the book went by pretty slowly.

Stephanie Chong has a great writing style, and I think shehandled the dual perspectives very well. Her writing didn’t necessarily standout to me, but she definitely has a handle on things. I’m interested in whatelse she can come up with, in the Companyof Angels world and outside of it.

Serena and Julian were pretty flat characters, which was ashame because the book was supposed to be about how they change over the courseof the novel. And they did change, but I didn’t find myself able to connect tothem very much. I feel like I don’t knoweither of them, even after spending an entire novel with them.

Though it wasn’t what I was hoping it would be, I still didenjoy reading Where Demons Fear to Tread,and would definitely be interested in reading more from Stephanie Chong, inthis world and in others.

Keegan's Chronicles Blog Tour: Coexist Excerpt

2011-12-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

Sixteen-year-old Keegan is struggling to keep her huge secret from her friends--she's an elf, descended from a long line of elves that live in secrecy alongside humans. In elfin society, mates are predetermined but not allowed to meet until they are eighteen. Against tradition, Keegan's brother Thaddeus told her Rourk's name because his visions warned him she'd need Rourk's protection, especially since Keegan will play a key role in the coming war between the dark and light elves.

Rourk finds himself drawn to Keegan's side every time she thinks his name. He wants to talk to her but remains in the shadows, silently guarding her every time she mentally beckons him. A twist of fate thrusts the two of them together when Rourk is forced to step up his protection and make his presence known. An ancient prophecy deeply entwines Keegan's family and the future of their society. Somehow they must find a way to thwart fate and win the battle...without losing Keegan. With war brewing, and dark forces aligning, will Keegan and Rourk ever have the life together that they both desire?

And now for an excerpt of Coexist...

Keegan was standing on the rocks, the water rushing around her feet, with camera in hand as usual. One minute, she skipped across the rocks like a child and the next she would stop, a look of total concentration taking over her face. That was when she started snapping photos. Staring at her, Rourk squatted and rested his hands on his knees, wondering what she saw through her lens. He watched as she jumped from a rock and slipped, her arms flailing as she almost fell into the water. His heart lurched. A strong need to protect her filled his body, and if her laugh hadn’t echoed up to him like music, he was poised to jump in after her. But instead, her face broke into a huge grin as she steadied herself and continued to take photos. He relaxed, content to stand and watch her for hours.

Rourk didn’t even know her name, but he knew he’d never seen anything so magnificent in his life. Her wavy hair glistened in the sunlight. She had a delicate face that was round, with large blue-green eyes and full lips. With her cheeks flushed from the cold fall air, she reminded him of a porcelain doll. He knew all too well, though, that looks could be deceiving. She looked sweet and innocent, but it was her eyes that gave her away. They were bold and daring, constantly observing her surroundings. Rourk smiled to himself; she would soon belong to him. It took a lot of self-control not to approach her, but Rourk knew that would be breaking the rules. He accepted that they were in place for a reason. He had to be patient. Their time would come. Unfortunately, she was over a year younger than he, which meant he would have to wait longer than he would like. He pondered this as he watched her pack up, lovingly storing her camera away in its bag with her hair falling over her face. It wasn’t until she had disappeared down the path to her house that Rourk finally turned and left.

Julia crane is the author of the Coexist: Keegan’s Chronicles. She has a bachelors degree in criminal justice. Julia has believed in magical creatures since the day her grandmother first told her an Irish tale.

Growing up her mother greatly encouraged reading and using your imagination. Although she’s spent most of her life on the US east coast, she currently lives in Dubai with her husband and three children.

Where you can find Julia:

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Giveaway:

I have one ebook edition of Coexist to give away to one lucky reader! The giveaway is open internationally, and will end on December 30, so enter quickly!

Future Favorites #70 | Dust Collectors #18

2011-12-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

Future Favorites is an awesome blog feature here at Electrifying Reviews. Each time I do one of these, I post about a few books that are yet-to-be-released and that I can't wait to read!

●Mesmerize (Mystyx, #4) by Artist Arthur (Kimani Tru: January 24, 2012)●

●Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg (Point: April 1, 2012) ●

●Fated by Sarah Alderson (Simon & Schuster: January 5, 2012)●

●Surrender (Possession, #2) by Elana Johnson (Simon Pulse: June 5, 2012)●

●Living Violet (Cambion Chronicles, #1) by Jaime Reed (Dafina: December 27, 2011)●

●Burning Emerald (Cambion Chronicles, #2) by Jaime Reed (Dafina: May 29, 2012)●

Which of these looks the best to you? What are some of your future favorites? Comment below and let me know!

~~+~+~+~~

●Virtue by Amanda Hocking (May 27, 2011)●

●Hollowland (The Hollows, #1) by Amanda Hocking (October 5, 2010)●

Have your read either of these books? Which should I read first? Be sure to leave a comment!

2012 Debut Authors, Hear My Call!

2011-12-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

So I've decided to do an interview series for debut authors in the upcoming year. The only thing I need? Authors to interview! This is how it is going to be set up:

1) You contact me and let me you you'd like to be a part of the interview series.
2) I send you the questions, and you reply with your answers.
3) I will begin to release the interviews. There will be one question in each post, with all of the authors' responses.

I am splitting the authors into two halves, one half with books debuting in January, February, March, April, May, and June. The other half will have authors whose books debut in July, August, September, October, November, and December.

Sounds fun, right? This is a chance for readers to find out about your debut novel, and to answer some questions that will knock your socks off.

So, if you have a young adult, upper middle grade, or new adult book debuting in 2012, email me at: alexreadsbooks@gmail.com

Oh, and feel free to tell your friends if they also have debut novels coming out in 2012!

Crank, by Ellen Hopkins

2011-12-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Crank
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Release: October 5, 2004
Source: Fiktshun
Purchase: (RJ Julia | McElderry)

Kristina Georgia Snow is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. But on a trip to visit her absentee father, Kristina disappears and Bree takes her place. Bree is the exact opposite of Kristina—she's fearless. Through a boy, Bree meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul—her life.

I’ve had people telling me to read Crank, and every other Ellen Hopkins book for years now, but I didn’tgive in to pressure for the longest time. What was I thinking? After reading Crank, I am so disappointed in myselffor not reading it sooner. Perhaps it was intimidation that caused me to putoff reading it; the book is over five-hundred pages long and is written inverse. Whatever the reason, it wasn’t a good enough one for not picking up Crank sooner than I did.

Drugs are a touchy topic, and it’s hard to write about one’sdownfall from them the right way, but Ellen Hopkins got it spot on. It washeartbreaking to read Kristina’s story, but in a perhaps twisted way, I neverwanted it to end. The story was so engaging and addictive… I was hooked. Icannot wait to read the continuation of Kristina’s story in Glass and Fallout.

Like I said, Crankis written in verse. Before Crank, Ihad never read a verse novel and wasn’t sure what to expect at all. But when Istarted, after the initial “how do I go about reading this” phase that lasted afew pages, I was so absorbed that I couldn’t put the book down. Though thewriting is spectacular, the story it tells is even more so. I definitely amgoing to read another Ellen Hopkins book, probably more than one, very soon.

As a reader, you of course don’t want to agree with thedecisions Kristina makes, but not once did I get outraged at something she didin Crank. It was weird, knowing thather life is falling apart before my eyes, but Crank as a piece of literature made me want to keep reading aboutthis one girl’s downfall, and of course I wanted her to get on the right path,but at the same time I loved reading about her messed up life that I almost… didn’t.

Crank completelymessed with my emotions and opened my eyes in more ways than one. I’dcompletely recommend Crank to anyonewho wants a serious book that you can still love reading. And from what I’veheard, Crank isn’t even Hopkins’sbest book. I’m not sure if I can believe that, but I’ll definitely be lookinginto it.

In My Mailbox #99: The Two Year Edition

2011-12-17T12:19:00.003-05:00

52 Reasons to Hate My Father by Jessica Brody (ARC)
Thanks to Farrar Straus Giroux

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth (ARC)
Thanks to Farrar Straus Giroux

Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama (ARC)
Thanks to Farrar Straus Giroux

Before You Go by James Preller (ARC)
Thanks to Feiwel & Friends

The Raft by S.A.Bodeen (ARC)
Thanks to Feiwel & Friends

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks (ARC)
Thanks to Feiwel & Friends

Rae of Hope (The Chronicles of Kerrigan, #1) by W.J. May (signedpaperback)
Thanks to W.J.

Fracture (Soterians, #3) by Jacquelyn Wheeler (signed paperback)
Thanks to Jacquelyn

Slide by Jill Hathaway (eARC)
Thanks to Balzer + Bray

Supergirl Mixtapes by Meagan Brothers (eARC)
Thanks to Henry Holt

The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry (eARC)

Thanks to Amulet

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews (eARC)
Thanks to Amulet

Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe by Shelley Coriell (eARC)
Thanks to Amulet

The Fourth Eye by Meg X (ebook)
Thanks to Meg

Barefoot Heroine (Mayne Attraction, #1.5) by Ann Mauren (ebook)
Thanks to Ann

Destiny’s Fire by Trisha Wolfe (eARC)
Thanks to A Tale of Many Reviews

Under My Skin (Skinned, #1) by Judith Graves (ebook)
Thanks to Fiktshun

Promise (Soul Savers, #1) by Kristie Cook (ebook)
Bought

The Ivy Gate by A.R. Kahler (ebook)
Bought

-------------

This Week's Posts:

Sunday

Giveaway: Travel to Tomorrow

Monday

Cover Uncovered: Deity

Tuesday

Angelina's Friend, by Lisa Rogers

Wednesday

Future Favorites #69 | Dust Collectors #17

Friday

Still Waters, by Emma Carlson Berne (+ Giveaway)

Still Waters, by Emma Carlson Berne

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Still Waters
Author: Emma Carlson Berne
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release: December 20, 2011
Source: Publisher
Purchase: (RJ Julia | Simon Pulse)

Hannah can't wait to sneak off for a romantic weekend with her boyfriend, Colin. He’s leaving for college soon, and Hannah wants their trip to the lake house to be one they’ll never forget. But once Hannah and Colin get there, things start to seem a bit...off. They can't find the town on any map. The house they are staying in looks as if someone's been living there, even though it's been deserted for years. And Colin doesn’t seem quite himself. As he grows more unstable, Hannah worries about Colin’s dark side, and her own safety. Nothing is as perfect as it seems, and what lies beneath may haunt her forever.

I knew when I first read the description of Still Waters that I wanted to read it.Those few paragraphs on the back of the book let me know that Still Waters would be one creepy book,and wow was I right.

Still Waters takesa while to actually get scary, and for the majority of the book is adescriptive story of two teenagers on a getaway to a cryptic old cabin. Buteventually, the pace of Still Waterscrescendos and is from there on out un-put-down-able. I haven’t read manythrillers or horror books in the young adult realm, but after reading Still Waters I would definitely like tosee more.

Emma Carlson Berne’s writing style doesn’t particularlystand out to me, though I did quite enjoy it. It’s descriptive without beingoverly so, and really makes me feel like I’m living in the story. Berne’swriting definitely made Still Watersthat much more enjoyable, even if it didn’t stand out much to me.

The characters featured in Still Waters were definitely my least favorite part of the book. I didn’tagree with most of their choices, and really had a hard time connecting tothem. Hannah is a little too innocent, and isn’t strong when I wish she wouldbe. Oh, let me just say the way she reacted at the very end of the book wasjust… let’s just say, I don’t see how anyone could make that choice. Colin Ijust flat-out disliked. Even when we first meet him, I didn’t find anythinglikable about him, and of course from there on out he just gets worse. Ofcourse, Hannah and Colin being the way that they are made Still Waters what it is, and it definitely would not be the samebook with a stronger heroine and a more charming love interest.

Still Waters was athrilling, creepy book that was enjoyable and might even be giving menightmares. Even though I didn’t like all aspects of it, I am glad I read it,especially since it was something very different than the books I usually read.

Future Favorites #69 | Dust Collectors #17

2011-12-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

Future Favorites is an awesome blog feature here at Electrifying Reviews. Each time I do one of these, I post about a few books that are yet-to-be-released and that I can't wait to read!

●Buried (Goth Girl Mystery, #1) by Linda Joy Singleton (Flux: March 8, 2012)●

●Dust Girl (American Fairy, #1) by Sarah Zettel (Random House: June 26, 2012)●

●Whisper (Riley Bloom, #4) by Alyson Noel (Square Fish: April 24, 2012)●

●Team Human by Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan (HarperTeen: July 3, 2012)●

●Waiting by Carol Lynch Williams (Paula Wiseman: May 1, 2012)●

●Survive by Alex Morel (Razorbill: August 2, 2012)●

Which of these looks the best to you? What are some of your future favorites? Comment below and let me know!

~~+~+~+~~

●Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (Philomel: October 19, 2010)●

●Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen (Harlequin Teen: September 1, 2010)●

Have your read either of these books? Which should I read first? Be sure to leave a comment!

Angelina's Friend, by Lisa Rogers

2011-12-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Angelina's Friend (Angelina's Secret, #0.5)
Author: Lisa Rogers
Publisher: Spencer Hill
Release: November 8, 2011
Source: Publisher *
Free Download: Click Here

Turns out, Angelina's imaginary friend isn't so imaginary after all... Angelina's Friend is a short story that shows the conflict from Angelina's childhood that comes out in her high school years in the novel Angelina's Secret.

I read Angelina’sFriend after reading the book it prequels, Angelina’s Secret, so I already knew what was going to happen inthe future. However, I really enjoyed being able to get a peek into Josie andAngelina’s past, and reading about the events that led to Angelina’scounseling.

Angelina’s Friendspotlights Josie, and how she reacted with Angelina when Angelina was a child. Angelina’s Friend is just a glimpse intothe two characters’ lives, but it gives readers lots of information withoutslowing down the pace, and if I had read Angelina’sFriend before reading Angelina’sSecret, I know I would definitely want to read the book to see what happensnext.

Whether you’ve read Angelina’sSecret or not, check out the short prequel story, Angelina’s Friend today. It gives you a peek back into Angelina’schildhood, and will definitely leave you wanting more, and will give a taste ofLisa Roger’s writing style.

*Though I intern for Spencer Hill, my review was not swayed in any way. The thoughts portrayed in this review are my own honest opinions.

In My Mailbox #98: The Musical Edition

2011-12-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

Initiation (Bonfire Academy, #1) by Imogen Rose (signed paperback)
Thanks to Imogen

Lord of Rage (Royal House of Shadows, #2) by Jill Monroe (paperback)
Thanks to Harlequin Nocturne

Bespelling Jane Austen by Mary Balogh (paperback)
Thanks to HQN

Sweep, Vol. 5 (Reckoning; Full Circle; Night’s Child) by Cate Tiernan (paperback)

Thanks to Fiktshun

Pieces of Us by Margie Gelbwasser (eARC)
Thanks to Flux

Katana by Cole Gibsen (eARC)
Thanks to Flux

Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves (eARC)
Thanks to Flux

Never Enough by Denise Jaden (eARC)
Thanks to Simon Pulse

Crazy by Amy Reed (eARC)
Thanks to Simon Pulse

Beautiful Code (The Start-Up, #3) by Sadie Hayes (eARC)
Thanks to Sadie

Blood Born (Blood Prophecy, #1) by Jamie Manning (eARC)

Thanks to Jamie

Blood Past (Warriors of Ankh, #2) by Samantha Young (ebook)
Thanks to Samantha

Shades of Blood (Warriors of Ankh, #3) by Samantha Young (ebook)
Thanks to Samantha

Happy Birthday to You (Birthday Trilogy, #3) by Brian Rowe (ebook)
Thanks to Brian

Sleight (AVRA-K, #1) by Jennifer Sommersby (ebook)
Thanks to Fiktshun

Significance by Shelly Crane (ebook)
Thanks to Fiktshun

Tomorrow is Today (Tempest, #0.5) by Julie Cross (ebook)
Bought

Haunted Destiny (Midnight Dragonfly, #0.5) by Ellie James (ebook)

Bought

Tortured (Birthmarked, #1.5) by Caragh M. O’Brien (ebook)
Bought

Impulse Control (Talent Chronicles, #0.5) by Susan Bischoff (ebook)
Bought

PinPoint (Hunted, #0.5) by Cheryl Rainfield (ebook)
Bought

-------------

This Week's Posts

Monday

Cover Uncovered: Onyx

Hushed Blog Tour: Guest Post from Kelley York

Tuesday

Obsidian, by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Wednesday

Future Favorites #68 | Dust Collectors #16

Thursday

The Hunter, by L.J. Smith

Friday

Blood Will Tell, by Samantha Young

2011-12-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Blood Will Tell (Warriors of Ankh, #1)
Author: Samantha Young
Release: July 1, 2011
Source: Author

Eden is a Soul Eater. While that hasn’t meant much to her in the past, she’s pretty sure any minute now she’s going to go all "Carrie" on her eleventh grade class. Noah is an Ankh. As an immortal Warrior, his purpose in life is to hunt down and kill Soul Eaters. Eden is Noah’s next assignment. Problem is… this is an assignment with a difference. Eden’s not your average, run of the mill, Soul Eater. Noah’s job? To test Eden for possible redemption. It’s a risky business. Especially if Noah awakens Eden’s inner monster. It would be kind of hard for Eden to listen to the angel on her shoulder when the devil on the other is telling her, her new best friend is a lying, scheming, immortal enemy...betrayal is such a bitch. So is Eden when you get on her bad side.

When I read Moon Spellby Samantha Young, I immediately became enthralled in her ability to createsuch a wellthought out world with characters that are easy to connect to and,of course, her great writing. So, I decided that I’d read the first book inanother of her series, Blood Will Tell,and let me tell you, it was awesome.

Blood Will Tell isspilling over with mythology that derives its source from the Egyptian myths,something you don’t read about often in YA. I loved the mythology about theBlessed and the Warriors of Neith and Ankh. Oh, did I mention theheart-pounding action yet? No? Well, there is a ton of that!

Samantha Young has a great writing style, and I have yet tobe disappointed by one of her books. Of course, I’ve only read two, but Ienjoyed them both so very much! I cannot wait to dive into the rest of herbooks, and am already anticipating her upcoming releases. If you’re looking fora fantastic paranormal YA author, look no further than Samantha Young.

Eden, the maincharacter of Blood Will Tell is atotal bitch. No really, she knows it and isn’t ashamed. But behind the façade,she’s actually a really connectable character that has troubles like everyoneelse. Of course, not everyone is betrothed to their cousin, or has to takehuman souls to survive. The other characters in Blood Will Tell were all believable as well, and I especially likedNoah. I enjoyed that he isn’t who Edenthinks he is, and I liked reading about his devious acts behind the scenes.

Blood Will Tell isanother fantastic book from Samantha Young. I guess I can officially callmyself a fan of hers, since I haven’t read a book of hers I haven’t liked. Ican’t wait to get my hands on the next books in the Warriors of Ankh series!

The Hunter, by L.J. Smith

2011-12-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Title: The Hunter (The Forbidden Game, #1)
Author: L.J. Smith
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release: March 1, 1994
Source: Publisher
Purchase: (RJ Julia | Simon Pulse)

He sold her the game, and Jenny Thornton walked out mesmerized by Julian, the gorgeous cyber-punk with electric blue eyes and frost-white hair. When she and her friends open the plain white box at her boyfriend Tom’s birthday party, she chills to the warning: “Entering the Shadow World can be deadly. Do so at your own risk.” Spellbound, they piece together the rooms with their darkest nightmares. Suddenly the game is real! They’re in the house of horrors, running from The Shadow Man Julian himself, who forces them to confront their worst nightmares or be lost in a private hell. It’s Julian’s game, and Jenny is the prize he’s stalked for years. He’ll do anything to win her as she bargains desperately for her body and soul . . .

Being a huge fan of L.J. Smith, I was eager to discover aseries of hers I hadn’t yet read: TheForbidden Game. So, loving L.J. Smith’s writing and ability to createamazing stories, I jumped right into TheHunter. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed.

I can enjoy books with paranormal or fantasy elements. Themajority of what I read has paranormal aspects, but I just couldn’t buy The Hunter. The whole idea of the Gameseemed too outlandish for me. I couldn’t visualize the Shadow World clearly,and I had a hard time connecting to the story. I was so let down by this,because I’ve never had a problem like this with any of L.J. Smith’s books, andall of them involve fantasy or paranormal.

L.J. Smith’s writing even seemed different in The Hunter. It was a lot choppier than I’mused to with her work, and it was like she didn’t even write it. I am hopingthat it was just this one book of hers that I’ll have trouble with, because Isincerely love her other books, and hopefully this was just a fluke.

Jenny, and the rest of the characters in The Hunter were barely relatable to me.They don’t really have their own personalities, and they all sort of blendtogether. I’m sure if there were less characters all in the spotlight, I wouldconnect to them more. I think a big part of why I didn’t connect to thesecharacters was because The Hunter isvery episodic. The characters are introduced one at a time basically, and theyonly get a little bit of time where they are in the center.

Despite adoring L.J. Smith’s other books, I just didn’t clickwith The Hunter. I will continue toread the Forbidden Game series,though, because this has been the only letdown for me when it comes to Smith,and I am hoping I just wasn’t in the mood for this one.

Future Favorites #68 | Dust Collectors #16

2011-12-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

Future Favorites is an awesome blog feature here at Electrifying Reviews. Each time I do one of these, I post about a few books that are yet-to-be-released and that I can't wait to read!

●Wishful Thinking (Sophie's Mixed-Up Magic, #1) by Amanda Ashby (Puffin: June 14, 2012)●

●Under a Spell (Sophie's Mixed-Up Magic, #2) by Amanda Ashby (Puffin: June 14, 2012)●

●Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin (Greenwillow: April 24, 2012)●

●Diva (The Flappers, #3) by Jillian Larkin (Delacorte: July 10, 2012)●

●Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti (Viking: June 14, 2012)●

●Timepiece (Hourglass, #2) by Myra McEntire (Egmont: June 12, 2012)●

Which of these looks the best to you? What are some of your future favorites? Comment below and let me know!

~~+~+~+~~

●Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda (Hyperion: September 1, 2009)●

●Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck (Splinter: January 1, 2011)●

Have your read either of these books? Which should I read first? Be sure to leave a comment!

Obsidian, by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2011-12-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Obsidian (Lux, #1)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Entangled
Release: December 6, 2011
Source: Publisher *
Purchase: (RJ Julia | Entangled)

Starting over sucks. When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up. And then he opened his mouth. Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens. The hot alien living next door marks me. You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. If I don’t kill him first, that is.

When I found out about Obsidian,I was more than excited to read it. In fact, the day I got the book I startedreading it. And soon after, I was swept into a completely unique world, and couldn’tstand to be parted with this compelling novel from a very talented new authorin young adult literature.

I haven’t read many books about aliens, and that is one ofthe main reasons I wanted to read Obsidian.I didn’t know what to expect, but what I found within the pages of Obsidian I will not soon forget. Theworld created by Jennifer L. Armentrout in Obsidianis one I would love to get lost in any day.

Jennifer L. Armentrout just may be one of my new favoriteauthors. Before reading Obsidian, Ihad read a novella by Armentrout, but that was where my experience with herwork ended. Thankfully, I adored her writing style even more in Obsidian than in the novella I had readpreviously. She gives everything life, and has a refreshing, addictive writingstyle. I cannot wait to read more of her books!

Not only does Obsidianfeature an imaginative world and fantastic writing, it also has a cast ofbelievable, multi-dimensional characters. Katy was a quirky, no-nonsenseprotagonist that I immediately related with… and not just because she is a bookblogger. Dee, Katy’s newfound friend was likeable, but I felt like she acted alittle immature at times. Oh, and let’s not forget Daemon. It’s kind of embarrassingto admit, but when we are introduced to Daemon, even I swooned. He’s a great character and will no doubt have an EdwardCullen-like effect on those who read Obsidian.

I had high hopes for Obsidian,and I am pleased to report that not only were my hopes met, they were exceeded.Obsidian is out of this world…literally! If you’re looking for a refreshing young adult novel by an authorwho has the potential to be the next big thing, don’t miss Obsidian.

*I intern for Entangled Publishing, but this in no way affected my review. The thoughts portrayed in this review are my own, and they are honest.

Hushed Blog Tour: Guest Post from Kelley York

2011-12-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

He's saved her. He's loved her. He's killed for her.

Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn't protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he's never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn't matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another - Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed.

Then along comes Evan, the only person who's ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is.

But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer's committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn't get what she wants...And what she wants is Evan's death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

Author Bio:

Kelley was born and raised in central California, where she still resides with her lovely wife, daughter, and an abundance of pets. (Although she does fantasize about moving across the globe to Ireland.) She has a fascination with bells, adores all things furry - be them squeaky, barky or meow-y - is a lover of video games, manga and anime, and likes to pretend she's a decent photographer. Her life goal is to find a real unicorn. Or maybe a mermaid.

Within young adult, she enjoys writing and reading a variety of genres from contemporary with a unique twist, psychological thrillers, paranormal/urban fantasy and horror. She loves stories where character development takes center stage.

Kelley's website: http://www.kelley-york.com/blog

Character Description

I have this thing where, as I create characters, I ‘cast’ them. I choose someone (usually an actor/actress) to portray that character in my head. I do it not only because I like having a physical description in mind, but because it also serves a valuable purpose for me: it helps me visualize how this character speaks, the tone of their voice, even the way they walk.

One of my stories, for instance—the main character is a girl who’s full of lazy sarcasm and dramatics. She’s very flamboyant in the way she moves and speaks. She isn’t drop-dead gorgeous in the traditional sense, but there’s something so adorable and quirky about her. The second I created her, I had the perfect actress in mind. (Points if you can guess who the actress is.) It really helped me in writing this girl, because I could visualize in my head everything about her.

(Awhile back, I also posted on my blog about <a href=”http://www.kelley-york.com/2011/11/15/dark-ya-blogfest-3-casting-music/” target=”away”>who I ‘casted’ for HUSHED.</a>)

This also serves another purpose: it means I don’t delve into a lot of description about my characters. Now, I like an author giving me a little bit of info. Is the person skinny, curvy, long hair, short hair, curly-haired, have a certain nationality? I like having something to go off of...

But I’ll admit, I get really bored when every other paragraph is going on about so-and-so’s dreamy eyes or smooth, pale skin. These details can add flavor in small doses, but often they’re overdone and eyeroll-inducing.

I want to avoid falling into that trap myself. I find when I cast characters, it brings me back down to earth a little. These are real people with real faces and, sure, they might be attractive...but they aren’t flawless like so many books describe. (In fact...I think I have the opposite issue now.

Sometimes I don’t describe characters enough because I know how they look so clearly that I forget my readers won’t.)

I guess if I want this to have a point or a lesson...make sure you aren’t going overboard with your descriptions. Give us readers some flavorful details to chew on, but don’t cram ‘em down our throats.

Maybe it would be nice if all guys/girls out there had those take my breath away eyes and smiles.

But when you fall in love with someone, everything about them will leave you breathless.

In My Mailbox #97: The Indie Awesomeness Edition

2011-12-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

Don’t Let Me Go by J.H. Trumble (paperback)
Thanks to Kensington

Concealed by Sang Kromah (signedpaperback)
Thanks to Sang

Rogue (Shifters, #2) by Rachel Vincent (paperback)

Bought

North of Need (Hearts of the Anemoi, #1) by Laura Kaye (ebook)
Thanks to Entangled

The Dead of Winter by Chris Priestly (eARC)
Thanks to Bloomsbury

Eye of the Storm by Kate Messner (eARC)
Thanks to Walker

The Scarlet Dagger (The Red Sector Chronicles, #1) by Krystle Jones(ebook)
Thanks to Krystle

When Copper Suns Fall by KaSonndra Leigh (eARC)
Thanks to KaSonndra

Destiny Binds (Timber Wolves, #1) by Tammy Blackwell (ebook)
Thanks to Fiktshun

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire (ebook)
Thanks to Fiktshun

Love is Darkness (Valerie Dearborn, #1) by Caroline Hanson (ebook)
Thanks to Fiktshun

The Deepest Cut (MacKinnon Curse, #1) by J.A. Templeton (ebook)
Thanks to Fiktshun

Haven (The Willows, #1) by Hope Collier (ebook)
Thanks to Fiktshun

PineLight by Jillian Peery (ebook)
Thanks to Fiktshun

Insider Information (Possession, #1.5) by Elana Johnson (ebook)
Bought

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This Week's Posts:

Sunday

Dirty Blood, by Heather Hildenbrand

Wednesday

Future Favorites #67 | Dust Collectors #15

Thursday

New Release from Imogen Rose + Giveaway

Friday

Cover Uncovered: Amarok

Future Favorites #67 | Dust Collectors #15

2011-11-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

Future Favorites is an awesome blog feature here at Electrifying Reviews. Each time I do one of these, I post about a few books that are yet-to-be-released and that I can't wait to read!

●The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long (Dial: August 16, 2012)●

●Innocent Darkness (The Aether Chronicles, #1) by Suzanne Lazear (Flux: August 8, 2012)●

●The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Dutton: January 10, 2012)●

●On a Dark Wing by Jordan Dane (Harlequin Teen: December 27, 2011)●

●BZRK by Michael Grant (Egmont: February 28, 2012)●

●Partners in Crime (Sleuth or Dare, #1) by Kim Harrington (Scholastic: May 1, 2012)●

Which of these looks the best to you? What are some books you're looking forward to? Comment below and let me know!

~~+~+~+~~

●Revenge of the Witch (The Last Apprentice, #1) by Joseph Delaney (Greenwillow: September 6, 2005)●

●Graceling (The Seven Kingdoms, #1) by Kristin Cashore (Harcourt: October 1, 2008)●

Have your read either of these books? Which should I read first? Be sure to leave a comment!

Dirty Blood, by Heather Hildenbrand

2011-11-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Dirty Blood

Author: Heather Hildenbrand

Publisher: Accendo

Release: April 2, 2011

Source: Author

Purchase: (RJ Julia | Accendo)

I killed a girl last night. I did it with my bare hands and an old piece of pipe I found lying next to the dumpster. But that’s not the part that got me. The part that scared me, the part I can’t seem to wrap my head around and still has me reeling, was that when she charged me, her body shifted – and then she was a wolf. All snapping teeth and extended claws. But by the time I stood over her lifeless body, she was a girl again. That’s about the time I went into shock… And that was the moment he showed up. Now, all I can do is accept the truths that are staring me in the face. One, Werewolves do exist. And two, I was born to kill them.

Dirty Blood caughtmy attention long ago, but only recently did I decide to read it. Thisheart-pumping novel starts off with a bang, and the action is steady andfast-paced from there on out. And after that ending—complete with a cliffhanger—Iam dying for more.

The werewolf mythology in Dirty Blood isn’t elaborated on much, so I am hoping to see more ofthat in the rest of this series. I did like that there were both Hunters andWerewolves, and that each was an actual species that you were born in, and hadno control over. I did enjoy reading DirtyBlood, it was good, great even, but it wasn’t really anything that I haven’tcome across before. If you’re a fan of action-filled paranormal romance, Idefinitely think Dirty Blood is afantastic choice to add to your collection.

Heather Hildenbrand has a simple writing style, and shecertainly knows how to weave an addictive story. I cannot wait to see what’s instore for Tara and Wes in the rest of the DirtyBlood books, as well as meeting new characters from her in her futureworks. She is an author to watch, and I am glad I have had the chance to read Dirty Blood.

Tara was a strong-willed heroine, butI thought she fell flat in some areas. Overall, however, she was a character manya teen can relate with, and I enjoyed reading Dirty Blood from her perspective. Wes… yeah, I am not a fan of him.He’s very hot and cold, and not in a way that appeals to me. But who knows,perhaps I will come to like him more as this series goes on. The rest of thecharacters didn’t stand out much to me, but that doesn’t mean I am not eager toread about the rest of their adventures.

Dirty Blood is notcompletely innovative or unique, but it is an action-packed novel that fans ofparanormal romance will no doubt covet. I very much enjoyed Heather Hildenbrand’sdebut, and cannot wait for more.