Review: Fairy Blues + Giveaway!

Book: Fairy Blues
Author: J.L. Bryan
Series: Songs of Magic #2
Release Date: January 20, 2012
Publisher: jlbryanbooks.com
Pages: 229 (paperback)
Source: author (Thank you so much, Jeff!!)
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Website
Stars: 4/5

The sequel to Fairy Metal Thunder.

With their enchanted instruments charming the crowds, the Assorted Zebras attract interest from record producers, and soon they’re off to cut their first album and music video. Jason and his friends don’t know they’ve just become pawns in a sinister plot by a cabal of evil fairies...

Meanwhile, Aoide and her band pursue a new strategy for regaining their stolen instruments, one that will take them into the most haunted region in Faerie.

(summary taken from Goodreads) 

MY THOUGHTS:

Three words to describe this book: fun, fantastic, and absolutely BRILLIANT. This book is exactly why I love self-published authors. Fairy Blues was just so filled with those smiling-inducing moments you love to read about, and I couldn't get enough!

Picking up where the first book left off (after the attack of a unicorn/dragon), the Assorted Zebras — just your average teenage garage band who happen to have a bunch of magical fairy instruments on their side — are back and better than ever. The fairies are still trying to retrieve their stolen instruments, but that's not exactly easy when the band keeps getting more popular by the second.

The strongest point in this series will always be how effortlessly the author crafted a cast this lovable. They're realistic and funny and easy to relate to. Not just the quirky teenage band, but the fairies too! And the sweet romance between between Jason and fellow band member, Erin, was so adorkable that I couldn't help but smile every time they were together.   

J.L. Bryan has done it again! He crafted a fun, hilarious, and extremely enchanting story that made it impossible to stop reading. I was so enamoured by the story and characters that I lost two hours of sleep before I could register that my cheeks were sore from smiling so much.    

Fairy Blues is that bright spot in a sea of darkly centered novels. There are descriptions of Ireland, and Dracula's castle, and hungry jack-o-lanterns that rocked my socks off. You will definitely finish this in one sitting. I loved every second of it! :) 

BUY or BORROW?: You really want this book on your shelf! I'm crazy in love with this adorable series, and I think you will be too!  

-Mimi 

And because J.L. Bryan is incredibly awesome, he's offering an e-copy of the first book, Fairy Metal Thunder, to one lucky winner! Trust me when I say that you want to read it! :) 

Just fill out the form below: 



Have an amazing day, you guys! ♥

Waiting on Wednesday: The Immortal Rules

Time for another amazing Wednesday! ♥ :)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by the awesome Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating! This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: 

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

You will kill. The only question is when.

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

(summary taken from Goodreads) 

Release Date: April 24, 2012
Series: Blood of Eden #1
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

I can't even begin to explain how excited I am for this book!! Julie Kagawa perfected writing about faeries with her Iron Fey series, so the fact that she's writing this new series about a dystopian vampire world is like spelling EPIC a million times! x) ♥

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU WAITING FOR? 

-Mimi

March Giveaway!!

It's almost springtime! ♥ Aren't you excited to finally get some consistent sunshine? We've been having the strangest not-winter where I live in Canada, and I know I'll be glad to be done with it! ;)

This is a new thing that I do here at my blog, which started last month! (I'm sorry it took me so long to post it this time. I almost forgot haha!) Each month, one lucky follower will get his/her choice of a book released during that month. At the end of it, I'll draw one winner!

The Rules:

1. There will be one winner. 
2. Giveaway ends on April 1, 2012 @ 11:59 p.m.
3. Be a follower (through GFC or RSS).
4. Be 13 or older.
5. Live anywhere that The Book Depository ships to (which is basically everywhere!)
6. Fill out the form.

The Prize: 

One winner will get to choose any ONE book from the list of anticipated near-March releases below! Or if you would like another book that releases around this time instead, I could definitely substitute that in as long as it's under $20 (USD). :)

Perception by Kim Harrington
Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by  Meredith Zeitlin
Illuminate by Aimee Agresti
Embrace by Jessica Shirvington
Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter
Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig
Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins
A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink
Slide by Jill Hathaway

Just fill out the form below:



I hope your March is filled with tons of reading and awesomeness in between! ♥ :)

-Mimi

Review: Switched

Book: Switched
Author: Amanda Hocking
Series: Trylle Trilogy #1
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 293
Source: KPL
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository
Stars: 4/5

When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. She’s not the person she’s always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes.

Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her. Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she’d ever admit. But it isn’t long before he reveals the truth: Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he’s come to take her home.

Now Wendy’s about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that’s both beautiful and frightening. And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she’s meant to become…

(summary taken from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS:  

When I first read the synopsis for this book, I thought it was going to be just another story about faery changelings — but it surprised me in the best possible way! Switched was still mystically beautiful in a way that was reminiscent of faeries, but it was about spellbinding trolls instead.  

These are not the wild, erratic, and live-under-a-bridge trolls you're used to — instead, they're called Trylle and they're beautiful, magical, and so incredibly fascinating!  I was captivated by the Trylle lore immediately, from their abilities to their monarchy and way of life.  

I adore Wendy. She's the perfect strong yet vulnerable, hard-willed yet completely sweet heroine that makes it so easy to connect with a book. She's far from perfect, but her imperfections are what make her real. The rest of the cast (like Rhys, and Willa, and even Queen Elora) each have their own distinct personalities that make it interesting too!  

And Finn? There's just something about those "strong and silent" types that draws girls in — I loved him so much! ♥ Tentative and sweet, their romance was one that I fell in love with the more I read. Between the fast-paced plot, unique lore, and beautiful setting, you will fly through this book in one sitting and find yourself spellbound in Amanda Hocking's world! 

Fascinating and beautiful, Switched is one refreshing story that's definitely worth the read! I can't believe it took me so long to pick it up but I'm SO glad I did. Now I'm desperately craving to find out what happens in the second book of the trilogy, Torn! :) 

BUY or BORROW?: With its gorgeous cover and original lore, why wouldn't you want this book on your shelf? I can already tell I'll be in love with this series! ;)

-Mimi

In My Mailbox #20

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, where we spotlight the books that we've received for review, swapped, or purchased that week. It's a really great idea and I'm excited to take part! :)

FOR REVIEW: 

Vamplayers by Rusty Fisher

Zombies Don't Cry by Rusty Fisher

The White Fox by James Bartholomeusz

Thank you so much to Medallion Press for sending me all these beautiful books to review! :)

BORROWED: 

Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigal Corral

Harbinger by Sara Etienne Wilson

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Graveminder by Melissa Marr

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

Switched by Amanda Hocking

Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

I love getting books — I honestly don't know what we'd do without them! x) ♥ Now I just have to wait for the gallons of books that I ordered online (and try not to bug the mail man too much until they arrive haha)! Thanks so much again to the amazing people at Medallion Press for the awesome review books! :)

WHAT'S IN YOUR MAILBOX? 

-Mimi

COVER LOVE: Stun My Socks Off Edition!

FACT: Future covers keep getting better and better! There are so many that just keep blowing my mind  with how breathtaking they are, and here are some of them:

---

Breathe by Sarah Crossan
(Breathe #1)
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Links: Goodreads | The Book Depository

Inhale. Exhale. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe . . .

The world is dead.
The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.

ALINA
has been stealing for a long time. She’s a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she’s never been caught before. If she’s careful, it’ll be easy. If she’s careful.

QUINN
should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it’s also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn’t every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.

BEA
wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they’d planned a trip together, the two of them, and she’d hoped he’d discover her out here, not another girl.

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days’ worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?

---

Black City by Elizabeth Richards
(Black City Chronicles #1)
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Links: Goodreads | The Book Depository | Amazon

A dark and tender postapocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war

In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection, that causes Ash’s long dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong. When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.

---

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda
(The Hunt #1)
Release Date: May 8, 2012
Links: Goodreads | The Book Depository | Amazon

Don’t Sweat. Don’t Laugh. Don’t draw attention to yourself. And most of all, whatever you do, do not fall in love with one of them.

Gene is different from everyone else around him. He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood. Gene is a human, and he knows the rules. Keep the truth a secret. It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood.

When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him. He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity?

---

Manufactured oxygen? A post-apocalyptic love story? A vampire-filled world where the minority of humans have to pretend to be vampires to survive? I don't know about you, but if all books in 2012 are this creative, I'm going to be book-crazy all year! ;) 

What book are you most excited for?  

-Mimi

Review: Incarnate

Book: Incarnate
Author: Jodi Meadows
Series: New Soul #1
Release Date: January 31, 2012
Publisher: Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins
Pages: 384
Source: publisher (Thank you so much, HC!)
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Website | Publisher
Stars: 4/5

New soul
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why. 

No soul
Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame? 

Heart
Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies--human and creature alike--let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all? 

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.

(summary taken by Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS:  

The gorgeous cover may have been the first thing that caught my eye, but I promise that it wasn't the only thing that kept my attention — Incarnate is more than just a pretty cover!  

My absolute favourite thing about this book has to be the world that Jodi Meadows created. Within the pages, there's a whole kingdom of souls who are reincarnated over and over again. I was constantly fascinated by how creative the author's mind was. Dragons? She's got them! Sylphs? They're in this book too! It was an endless cycle of creativity WOWs.

After being physically and mentally abused by her mother for 18 years (and shunned by her society for just as long), I adored Ana almost instantly! She's so strong for someone who's been through so much. Even though it's hard to connect with her at times because of her protective shell, Ana opens her heart a little more near the end and that's what makes me adore her even more.  

And that leads me to Sam, who is honestly the kind of sweet guy we're missing so much of in YA! He didn't care that some people called Ana a nosoul — he just loved her for being her, and I loved that about him. Their romance was so pure and sweet and "aww"-worthy.

Some things (like the fact that he'd been a girl in some previous lives!) felt strange and off at first, but it didn't bother me as much as I expected. Reincarnation is a tricky subject to approach and I thought that Jodi Meadows handled it gracefully!  

Beautifully written and wonderfully crafted, Incarnate is one outstandingly original utopian book that you won't want to miss! It ends a little rushed, but I can see so much potential in this series and I'm really excited to see where it goes! :)  

BUY or BORROW?: If you're looking for another breathtaking and unique book to add to your bookshelf (and 2012 is filled with them!), Incarnate is definitely one you need to get!  

-Mimi