Recap: Becca Fitzpatrick Manila Book Signing!

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Summer started in a really good way with the arrival of NYT best selling author Becca Fitzpatrick in Manila for a signing last March 29th.

Photo from Algel @ Tea-rrific Reads

I've mentioned it before, and I will say it again! The reason why book signings are so fun for me is not just because I get to meet YA authors of the fabulous books I read, but it's also the time where I get to meet my lovely book blogger friends and fangirl over anything and everything book related (and sometimes other things too!).


I had the privilege to attend the bloggers forum and ask Becca Fitzpatrick, author of the popular Hush, Hush series, a question. My question was this: Patch is a "bad boy" and Hush, Hush is a story about Patch falling from grace. How did you get the idea? Did Patch just appear in your head?

Her answer was: Patch was inspired by a guy she knows way back when she was in high school. When she wrote the first draft of Hush, Hush, Patch then was not a fallen angel at all, just a regular guy with a dark secret but she had no clue what it was at first. Becca wanted to show how he was once a good guy, at some point of his life, someone you can look up to but he fell from grace and so he became a Fallen Angel. She did say that Fallen Angels were the original bad boys!

Bloggers asking questions and recording / filming the Q&A!

Some points worth highlighting:

- Does Becca agree with people comparing Nora with Bella? Becca said it's okay to compare, but since she doesn't read reviews of her books, she had no idea that Nora was being compared to Bella. She's okay with it though, since people can say whatever they want with her books but Twilight is different from Hush, Hush and she wrote Hush, Hush before Twilight even came out.
- She didn't have a lot of fears when Hush, Hush was released because she didn't think that a lot of people will read her book.
- Becca said the story for Black Ice was inspired by a family trip she went to when she was in high school, in Wyoming. She got sick and ended up watching a horror movie and she thought what if she wrote a story but with a girl who accompanies two people down a mountain and ends up falling in love with one of them.
- Becca has two books coming out soon, Black Ice and another book called Sapphire Skies.
- We got a sneak peek of what Sapphire Skies is about! It's about a girl named Stella who's from Philadelphia and she was a witness to a brutal crime, and ends up in a witness protection program that lands her in Nebraska. Stella just wants to go home, but she was gradually falling in love with the cowboy who lives next door and ends up being torn between staying in Nebraska or moving away so the bad guys who are after her won't find her.

You can read the whole transcript of the Q&A here at The Bookaholic Blurbs! 

Becca: "Want to take a picture?" And I'm like "YES PLEASE!"

Becca was really nice! She calls herself an introvert, but you wouldn't notice because she talks passionately about her books and stories! She's also got a pretty sharp memory since she remembered a friend who was a member of her Fallen Angel street team years ago when Hush, Hush first came out! Also, Becca surprised everyone by giving each blogger a BLACK ICE ARC!


And of course we didn't pass up the chance to bond, take some photos and try our luck with our Ellen Oscar type of selfie! We really (well, I did!) try, but you still win, Ellen!

You know it's a "Kai selfie" when you see a partial shot of my face, never my whole face.

After chilling for a few minutes at Burger King (we chilled out here the last time we went to Gayle Forman's signing!), we made our way to the public signing and there were a ton of people there already!I spotted a person with sticker numbered "515" but I heard there were more than 700 people in line. Also, 3 lucky early birds received their own ARCs of Black Ice as a prize! They lined up for registration at 6 am!


So obviously, while we were there at the corner of the stage, it was time for another round of crazy photos while we try not to wreck the bookshelf that accidentally dislodged itself from the rest of the shelves before the signing started. It was not our fault!

What else can I say? Angels!

A few lucky fans got to ask Becca a question, including a rare male ultra fan of the series! Also, it's not a National Bookstore signing if the author doesn't get to have a selfie with the bookish crowd!

I had to run to the stage and join the press to snap a photo of this when it happened.
Thank you so much National Bookstore, Becca Fitzpatrick and Simon & Schuster for making such a wonderful, wonderful event possible! Becca, I hope you come back soon and I wish you had a great time in Manila!

*Photos grabbed from Kate @ The Bookaholic Blurbs and Algel @ Tea-rrific Reads!

ARC Review: The Wicked We Have Done by Sarah Harian

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This book took me in a familiar but completely enjoyable ride.
That high from a particularly strong adrenaline rush thrumming through your veins?
Wow.
I feel like I was in the Compass room myself.

Title: The Wicked We Have Done (Chaos Theory #1) by Sarah Harian
Release Date: March 18th 2014
Published by: Penguin/InterMix Books
Source: Publisher
Buy: Amazon

Summary:

Evalyn Ibarra never expected to be an accused killer and experimental prison test subject. A year ago, she was a normal college student. Now she’s been sentenced to a month in the compass room—an advanced prison obstacle course designed by the government to execute justice.

If she survives, the world will know she’s innocent.

Locked up with nine notorious and potentially psychotic criminals, Evalyn must fight the prison and dismantle her past to stay alive. But the system prized for accuracy appears to be killing at random.

She doesn’t plan on making friends.

She doesn’t plan on falling in love, either.

Everyone compares this book to Lost, which I admittedly have not watched. And so on that front, I couldn't understand the similarity. But The Hunger Games? It's one of my favorite series of all time, that's why I know I have to read this. And on that front, I understand the comparison. Survival of the fittest, but on a whole new level.

I've been on my toes from the moment I've read the first page. It's almost as if I see the first scene in my mind like the start of a movie, full of mystery. It took a while for me to warm up to Evalyn, because how do you warm up to a person who went on a killing spree? A criminal? Terrorist? But Evalyn knew what she's done, and as she familiarizes herself to me through flashbacks of her life as a college student, talented, with friends and a bright future, those two parts merged and suddenly she was this person with a much more complete personality and character that made me re-evaluate what I initially thought about her. Strong, and despite the world painting her as a cold blooded killer, Evalyn presented herself as someone with conscience, kind, compassionate, and surprisingly, good deep inside. That struggle to think if she really was the monster everyone tells her she is, her life inside prison and what her life will be outside if she survives is something I looked forward to knowing throughout the book.

It was much more surprising how I liked Casey more than I liked Evalyn. Like everyone in the Compass Room, Casey took a life. He killed someone, but what Casey had done was necessary to escape hell, and instead of feeling hatred towards him, I felt sadness for what he has gone through compared to Evalyn. The scars, the nightmares. He was surprisingly gentle and naive in ways, and those moments where he was trying to make sense of how Evalyn really is inside, and how he was the one person who believed in her endeared him to me.

You will encounter the worst of the worst in this book, and like it or not, you'll see what it's like to be on the side of a killer, looking out. The Compass Room has a myriad of characters who had done unimaginable things, a rapist, a boy who enjoys torturing people before killing them. You'll take a peek on how they became like that, but as much as you see the dark side of a human being, you get to see why they did it, and not because they like to inflict pain, but for them, sometimes it's the only way. To end things, revenge, to stand up for themselves. And all these unraveled under the scrutiny and mercy of those who try to weigh whether these characters are guilty or not. But despite all of that, you won't help it, some of the characters will pique your curiosity and even if you will not like them completely, they will hold your attention enough for you to start trying to see them through everything The Compass Room has in store for them. Valerie, a complicated character that I had a lot of fun reading about, was one of these characters I'm referring to.

The Compass Room is a place where everyone's deepest and darkest fear surfaces, and I've lost count how many times I stopped and paused because I couldn't help but be as equally afraid as the characters. To relive the worst memories inside their heads, confront the person they killed and re-enact the way they were killed was such a cruel way to determine who lives and who dies, who's innocent and who's not. It was such a convoluted way of dishing out punishments, to scar these people who are already wounded in terrible ways further until there's no other choice but to die. The worst part of it was they were all a part of an experiment. And it makes you wonder how this form of giving justice is better than what was already being done.

A word to the wise: despite their supposed evilness, these characters are human. You are bound to sympathize and understand one of them in some ways, but don't let your heart get in the way. There were deaths in this book. A lot, done in horrifying ways and in the most unexpected of circumstances. You have to think and think hard while reading this book. Sarah Harian injected just the right amount of feelings in this book, enough for you to feel them in moments that matter and still leave you conflicted. But please, think hard. Is Evalyn, or any of the characters in this book, deserving of love? To form bonds of friendship? To lament for their sins? Do they deserve second chances? Do their reasons justify what they've done? What if you leave the judging in the hands of a computer program? What would happen to those in the experiments? They're humans too, aren't they? It's these types of questions where you get to weigh in what you think of what's right and wrong, punishment and justice, that makes this such a compelling read.

What a very intriguing debut for Sarah Harian, and I enjoyed reading this book in ways I didn't expect it to.

Content (plot, story flow, character):
The one star wasn't given to this book because I had issues with some of the themes presented in this book, and they were tough to swallow. It's not the LGBT theme, believe me that was one of the best parts of the book, but just that sometimes the deaths were too much for me, and it made me uncomfortable when Evalyn, Casey, Valerie, Jace and the others encountered these people. Sometimes I find it hard to believe that everything was left in the hands of a program, and that those deaths were from a mistake they did. How ridiculous does that sound? But the reasons behind it were enough for me to get back on track and think that The Compass Room IS an experiment. Also, you might need to read about Chaos theory to get a more complete picture on why Evalyn has done what she did.

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:
I am, admittedly, judging a book by its cover most of the time. I'm glad this one is as good as the cover presents it to be.

Waiting on Wednesday (144): Glory O'Brien's History of the Future + Don't Touch

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Okay, both books sounds really good. What do you think? They're awesome right?

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

Title: Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A.S. King
Release Date: October 14th 2014
Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Want? Add to Goodreads list!
Summary (from Goodreads):

WOULD YOU TRY TO CHANGE THE WORLD IF YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD NO FUTURE?

Graduating from high school is a time of limitless possibilities—but not for Glory, who has no plan for what's next. Her mother committed suicide when Glory was only four years old, and she’s never stopped wondering if she will eventually go the same way...until a transformative night when she begins to experience an astonishing new power to see a person’s infinite past and future. From ancient ancestors to many generations forward, Glory is bombarded with visions—and what she sees ahead of her is terrifying.

A tyrannical new leader raises an army. Women’s rights disappear. A violent second civil war breaks out. And young girls vanish daily, sold off or interned in camps. Glory makes it her mission to record everything she sees, hoping her notes will somehow make a difference. She may not see a future for herself, but she’ll do everything in her power to make sure this one doesn’t come to pass.

Why I'm waiting for Glory O'Brien's History of the Future:

It's a new A.S. King book. That's enough reason for me to read it, right? Seriously. I didn't even know A.S. King has a new book coming out and then I came across this book. Just... wow. If you had the power to see the past and future, what will you do? I've always been interested in a premise like this, and I love how A.S. King managed to incorporate in her book feminism, freedom, and things that matter. I'm pretty sure this going to be another compelling read.


Title: Don't Touch by Rachel M. Wilson
Release Date: September 2nd 2014
Published by: Harper Teen
Want? Add to your Goodreads list!
Summary (from Goodreads):

A powerful story of a girl who is afraid to touch another person’s skin, until the boy auditioning for Hamlet opposite her Ophelia gives her a reason to overcome her fears.

Step on a crack, break your mother’s back. Touch another person’s skin, and Dad’s gone for good.

Caddie can’t stop thinking that if she keeps from touching another person’s skin, her parents might get back together…which is why she wears full-length gloves to school and covers every inch of her skin.

It seems harmless at first, but Caddie’s obsession soon threatens her ambitions as an actress. She desperately wants to play Ophelia in her school’s production of Hamlet. But that would mean touching Peter, who’s auditioning for the title role—and kissing him. Part of Caddie would love nothing more than to kiss Peter—but the other part isn't sure she's brave enough to let herself fall.

Why I'm waiting for Don't Touch:

Okay, why is she afraid to touch another person's skin? It's a contemporary novel, so it's not because of an ability of some sort. Now that I think about it, that's what makes this book intriguing. There's a deeper reason? Why? I keep on asking these questions and it just goes to show how I'm curious and intrigued with this book. It sounds so mysterious and it gives off that vibe that it's a book that looks a lot deeper and darker than it sounds.

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Goddess Offerings (40) / Stacking the Shelves (22)

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ARC Review: Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington

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My reaction when I reached the last page: &^@%!$@#^+*~~!!!!
And then I threw my Kindle across the room.

Title: Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington
Release Date: March 11th 2014
Published by: Soho Teen
Source: Publisher
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

When Liv Bloom lands an art scholarship at Wickham Hall, it’s her ticket out of the foster system. Liv isn’t sure what to make of the school’s weird traditions and rituals, but she couldn’t be happier. For the first time ever, she has her own studio, her own supply of paints. Everything she could want.

Then she meets Malcolm Astor, a legacy student, a fellow artist, and the one person who’s ever been able to melt her defenses. Liv’s only friend at Wickham, fellow scholarship kid Gabe Nichols, warns her not to get involved, but life is finally going Liv’s way, and all she wants to do is enjoy the ride.

But Liv’s bliss is doomed. Weeks after arriving, she is viciously murdered and, in death, she discovers that she’s the latest victim of a dark conspiracy that has claimed many lives. Cursed with the ability to see the many ghosts on Wickham’s campus, Gabe is now Liv’s only link to the world of the living. To Malcolm.

Together, Liv, Gabe, and Malcolm fight to expose the terrible truth that haunts the halls of Wickham. But Liv must fight alone to come to grips with the ultimate star-crossed love.

I have never been in despair ever while reading a book as much as I was when I was reading Amy Talkington's Liv, Forever. I will not even provide a summary, just take a look at what's pasted before this review started.

I will coherently try to explain why I love this book, because I REALLY loved it. From the bottom of my heart kind of love.

From the moment I've read the first chapter, a flashback, a tale of someone's gruesome death, swift and over in an instant, I know that I'm in for a treat in this book.

As it turns out, Liv is quite the likable character. She's quirky and creative and an art junkie, quiet, artistic and passionate at what she does. She's also a little bit pessimistic when it comes to love, holding herself back because of her past. She spouts names and lines from poems and mentioned artsy people but she didn't sound pretentious at all, just someone with a deep love and appreciation of art. I detested the way she was treated in Wickham Hall though. And as for Malcolm, unlike all the other YA book male leads I've read of, I've been suspicious of him right at the start. This is a YA mystery thriller after all, and I have to admit he was my prime suspect! He's Wickham's golden boy, but as the story unfolds, I discover how him being popular and well-liked was because he had good qualities after all. He's smart and loves art like Liv. He's a bit mischievous and rash and spontaneous but he means well. That belief that sometimes border on crazy that Liv is still there, the way he was hanging on. Those moments made my heart lurch countless of times. Gabe is weird, but in a good way. I liked how he's sarcastic at times, but a really good friend to Liv. He provides the link between Liv and Malcolm, and what he does isn't easy. Despite everyone telling him he's crazy, he just really wants to make sense of what he hears and sees. He's also quite imaginative with his conspiracy theories which helped Liv and Malcolm solve the mystery in Wickham.

Liv, Forever was the kind of story that's so easy to read. I was swept in by the secrets and the truth hiding behind Wickham's halls the moment I've read the first flashback. It helped that Amy Talkington wrote this in such a way that the story flows easily, injecting the right amount of questions and answers at the right time and with great pacing! Reading Liv, Forever is like watching a movie inside my head. The way Amy Talkington writes makes me feel that way. Every single element that makes this a good mystery thriller was well placed and explained in good detail. The secret society inside Wickham, what started it and its purpose. The murders, the reason why they happen, when they happen and why those girls. Amy Talkington created a rich history that provided a great backdrop for Wickham, dark, mysterious, inviting and evil. Thinking of it now makes the hair at the back of my neck stand up.

You know what it feels like to read a book while knowing all the while that it has that spontaneous, wonderful kind of love and that it can never ever be? No? Read this book if you want to know. How do you think a love between a ghost and a boy ends? That kind of love that started in an unbelievably sweet way, full of potential, of what-ifs and maybes and endless possibilities. Liv and Malcolm had so much going on between them, and I'll always be terribly sad whenever I remember what could've been between them, cut short and separated by death. I couldn't get enough of those bittersweet moments between them, even though I feel like I'm being kicked in the gut over and over. Liv and Malcolm's love story gave meaning to the words "bitter" and "sweet". They make it sound like a once in a lifetime, enduring kind of love that was so wonderful.

Liv, Forever has this quiet, unexpected kind of charm that surprised me. It's not so much as being scared of the ghosts that was in it, but that perfect combination of murder mystery romance that captivated me. Amy Talkington is a vivid storyteller, and you can tell how her being a screenwriter helped to make Liv, Forever a really enjoyable read. All the references about art, the poems, even that playlist constructed for Liv clearly shows that Amy knows what she's talking about in this book. The romance gets to you, the mystery intrigues you, and the machinations behind all these secrets and mysteries will fascinate you until you find yourself neck deep within the story. Absolutely a memorable debut for Amy! What a novel!


My rating:

Content (plot, story flow, character):
The way it ended! I really wasn't expecting that! I felt like I was cut off as swiftly as the murders did and I was taken a back. I realized I had been craving for more of the story and that is such a good thing! My heart calls out to Malcolm and Liv, and I am genuinely happy for Gabe. That unlikely friendship of his with Malcolm, and Malcolm's eventual "freedom" from being an Astor. I'd like to think that Liv's death brought some good as well.

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!



Book Cover:
One of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen!

Waiting on Wednesday (144): The Only Thing to Fear by Caroline Tung Richmond

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Hi everyone! So I'm only highlighting one book in this WoW post, which I haven't done in years. Anyway! Check it out, I promise it's worth it. And so very interesting too!

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

Title: The Only Thing to Fear by Caroline Tung Richmond
Release Date: September 30th 2014
Published by: Scholastic Press
Want? Add to your Goodreads list!
Summary (from Goodreads):

In a stunning reimagining of history, debut author Caroline Tung Richmond weaves an incredible story of secrets and honor in a world where Hitler won World War II.

It's been nearly 80 years since the Allies lost WWII in a crushing defeat against Hitler's genetically engineered super soldiers. America has been carved up by the victors, and 16-year-old Zara lives a life of oppression in the Eastern America Territories. Under the iron rule of the Nazis, the government strives to maintain a master race, controlling everything from jobs to genetics. Despite her mixed heritage and hopeless social standing, Zara dreams of the free America she's only read about in banned books. A revolution is growing, and a rogue rebel group is plotting a deadly coup. Zara might hold the key to taking down the Führer for good, but it also might be the very thing that destroys her. Because what she has to offer the rebels is something she's spent her entire life hiding, under threat of immediate execution by the Nazis.
In this action-packed, heart-stopping novel of a terrifying reality that could have been, Zara must decide just how far she'll go for freedom.

Why I'm waiting for The Only Thing to Fear:

This isn't the first time I've heard of a re-imagining of WWII history, but I'd like to know how it's going to work in a YA setting. I just think the premise is equal parts intriguing and cool. I'm mainly excited to dive into the world and see how everything has changed because of that "what-if this happened?" premise.

Also, I'm curious to know what this Zara "has to offer" to the rebels. Some sort of power? A hidden ability? Secret plans? Overall I just find this so interesting I want to keep an eye on it and read it as well! America under Nazi rule, genetically engineered super soldiers, oppression, the search for freedom... count me in the waiting list for this novel please!

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What's your WoW pick this week? Share them with me!

Recap: Kate Evangelista's Til Death Book Launch!

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And the slew of awesome YA book signings continue with the launch of proudly Filipino author Kate Evangelista's book, Til Death, published by Entangled Teen. If you're curious to know what Til Death is all about, you can read my review to get an idea. It's good, I promise!


After a hearty meal at Shakey's with Leslie of Bibliophile Kid and Nina of The Bookish Confections, we arrived at the venue early for once! Our other book blogger buddies overslept and were still on their way so we had some time to kill. Which Leslie spent doing this:


The lovely Mina Esguerra, also an amazing Filipina author (Fairy Tail Fail, Not that Kind of Guy, Interim Goddess of Love) hosted the book launch/ signing. Mina asked a lot of questions regarding Kate's journey through publishing her novels (from Omnific to Entangled) and Kate answered questions about her writing process, querying, why she writes multiple novels at a time and how she does it. She also gave advice to future published authors. Just write that novel, people. Everything starts from there.


A quick rundown of the Q&A:

- When asked why Wyoming was the setting for Til Death, it was because Kate needed to find a place to set her story that was remote enough so it won't attract a lot of attention.
- When asked how many books she needed to write, she said 11. (Wow!)
- Also, she's a "glorified typist". Her characters just want their stories to be written!
- Kate loves having mixed reviews. At least she knows what she needs to work on. What's scary is having ALL good reviews, because if your next novel comes out and people started hating it you'll tend to ask "why? they loved my work before!" and also, you wouldn't know what you need to work on if you just keep on getting good ones.
- Query everybody. Find which path you need to take as an author. Some are satisfied with self-publishing because that's how they want to start building their platforms on.
- Write the whole novel first before you start querying!
- Rejection doesn't mean you're a bad writer. It just means that your story is not for them.
- When asked if her being a Filipina affected the reception of her books in any way, Kate said no. Because that's the beauty of the internet. It's not about where you came from, it's about your story.
- When asked if she plans on writing a book set in the Philippines, she said she's writing one already. A dystopian kind of novel, complete with robots!

A 9th grader reading Til Death chapter 2.

Kate was aware that she needs to work on the pacing of her story, and that it will be addressed in Til Death's sequel, where everything will make sense!

Photo from Kazhy at My Library in the Making
Also, Kate's momager, her ever supportive mom was there for her daughter's book launch! We talked to her a few times throughout the signing and she was such a sweetheart! Was the siomai her very own masterpiece? Because we loved it! Good food + good friends + awesome book and book launch = happy day for me.

Kate and I are both Kuroko no Basuke fans, so it was so fun just standing there talking to her about the anime (and Aomine) while she was signing my book! I even got a chance to take a (blurry) selfie with her!


The launch was also a venue for me and my book blogger friends to meet again! It was so fun to see all of these gorgeous ladies once more. I miss them all! We tried doing the Oscar selfie, but nope, it didn't happen. I failed. Twice.


Of course, because Mina was there, we couldn't pass up the chance to have our books signed by her. We had to run around NBS and buy her books in a hurry so we can have them signed! Thanks Mina for the impromptu mini-signing!


It was another awesome bookish day I spent with my friends, where we lost track of time bonding over books again even when the signing's over. I look forward to seeing these ladies again soon! The 29th! See you all there!

The obligatory group photo with Kate! Thanks to Kate at The Bookaholic Blurbs for the photo.


Thank you National Bookstore for another great event! See you soon fellow bookworms!

[Blog tour] Review: A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier + Giveaway!

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It might be your friend. Your next door neighbor. Your mom, dad, your sister.
No one is safe.

Title: A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier
Release Date: March 4th 2014
Published by: HMH Books for Young Readers
Source: Publisher / Rockstar Book Tours
Buy: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | THE BOOK DEPOSITORY | GOODREADS

Summary:

A deadly pandemic, a budding romance, and the heartache of loss make for a stunning coming-of-age teen debut about the struggle to survive during the 1918 flu.

For Cleo Berry, the people dying of the Spanish Influenza in cities like New York and Philadelphia may as well be in another country--that's how far away they feel from the safety of Portland, Oregon. And then cases start being reported in the Pacific Northwest. Schools, churches, and theaters shut down. The entire city is thrust into survival mode--and into a panic. Headstrong and foolish, seventeen-year-old Cleo is determined to ride out the pandemic in the comfort of her own home, rather than in her quarantined boarding school dorms. But when the Red Cross pleads for volunteers, she can't ignore the call. As Cleo struggles to navigate the world around her, she is surprised by how much she finds herself caring about near-strangers. Strangers like Edmund, a handsome medical student and war vet. Strangers who could be gone tomorrow. And as the bodies begin to pile up, Cleo can't help but wonder: when will her own luck run out?

There was something in the premise that struck me as interesting. Call it a morbid fascination, or it might just be me looking for a read that will rouse a powerful emotion, but I know what kind of read this was supposed to be. What else would you expect?

I was, however, initially apathetic. 10% in and I was wondering if the story was really supposed to start that way. It was an ordinary day, where Cleo was hating on the fact that she's stuck in the dormitory during vacation. That was it. It was normal. But then the threat of the Spanish Influenza was spreading like wildfire in the United States until it reaches her hometown, and Cleo, who was just a girl not liking the fact that she's spending her free time without her older brother and her sister in law, became something else in my eyes. Someone that I admire. Who better would understand what it's like to lose a loved one, to have no one come to your aid when you need it than Cleo, who've experienced it all as a child? Those moments of doubt, thinking of her safety and if she had what it takes to do the job. I liked that side of her. Better that she doubt, because that made her human and real for me. She was not doing it because she was bored, alone in her house with nothing better to do.

It's always a surprise when a book with the theme like this manage to inserts something else to look forward to, like the untimely, budding romance between Edward and Cleo. Edward had his own share of loss and reasons why a very young capable soldier like him was helping the Red Cross. He was this rock Cleo can lean on to when the deaths and the unexpected losses were to much to take. My admiration for him was as strong as with Cleo. He's tough, and the second chance he got in life he used to help others. He's one half of a pair of characters that will stuck themselves close to your heart because of the way they are. In a time of chaos and worry, they're kind and understanding.

Makiia Lucier's painted a grim story with stark clarity that gave me goosebumps throughout. You never get used to the deaths, because you see how the disease takes away people, and you see it happen through the eyes of these heroic people who chose to help when no one else wanted to, who risks their own lives so that others might live. It makes one realize just how short life is, that it can be taken away in a blink of an eye. What made me like A Death-Struck Year wasn't the romance between Cleo and Edward, it was what they've done, the selflessness and beneath that, the underlying fear that maybe they're just tempting fate, because they are. That constant emotional nudge the author gives as the Spanish Influenza gradually changes Cleo's life and everyone else around her was what made this book a memorable read. Makiia Lucier crafted a solid, riveting story that's equal parts sad and bittersweet.

Content (plot, story flow, character):
You can tell how well researched this novel is by the way Makiia Lucier captured the setting, the latter part of the 1910's, perfectly. That nagging feeling of when and if Cleo gets sick sticks to you and wrap you in a bubble of tension, waiting, as the story gets grimmer and hopeless makes this book lives up to what it's supposed to be about.

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:
Very appropriate cover that represents the theme well.

GIVEAWAY!!!!

A SIGNED COPY of A DEATH-STRUCK YEAR to one winner – US ONLY.

Giveaway ends on March 17th at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.




Makiia Lucier grew up on the Pacific island of Guam. She received a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Oregon and a master's in library studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She's had plenty of jobs, mostly in libraries, and currently lives in the small college town of Moscow, Idaho.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS



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Mar. 10th - Bookish - Interview
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ARC review: Alpha Goddess by Amalie Howard + Giveaway!

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A timeless tale of love.
A rich reimagining of the enduring story of Rama and Sita.
And more importantly, a story I enjoyed reading more than I thought I will.

Consider me pleasantly surprised by this novel.

Title: Alpha Goddess by Amalie Howard
Release Date: March 4th 2014 by
Published by: Skyhorse/ Sky Pony Press
Source: JKS Communications (Thanks Sam!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

In Serjana Caelum’s world, gods exist. So do goddesses. Sera knows this because she is one of them.

A secret long concealed by her parents, Sera is Lakshmi reborn, the human avatar of an immortal Indian goddess rumored to control all the planes of existence. Marked by the sigils of both heaven and hell, Sera’s avatar is meant to bring balance to the mortal world, but all she creates is chaos.

A chaos that Azrath, the Asura Lord of Death, hopes to use to unleash hell on earth.

Torn between reconciling her past and present, Sera must figure out how to stop Azrath before the Mortal Realm is destroyed. But trust doesn’t come easy in a world fissured by lies and betrayal. Her best friend Kyle is hiding his own dark secrets, and her mysterious new neighbor, Devendra, seems to know a lot more than he’s telling.

Struggling between her opposing halves and her attraction to the boys tied to each of them, Sera must become the goddess she was meant to be, or risk failing … sacrificing the world she was born to protect.

Sera knew she's different. At school people think of her as a freak, and she only had one friend who had questionable connections. But Sera knew something wasn't right with her, and then she started having dreams about monsters, Gods, and a girl who might or might not be her. Sera is actually a reincarnation of Lakshmi, a very powerful immortal Indian goddess. As she struggles to come into terms of her new reality, that she and her family aren't really what they seem, she's torn between what her place is in the world and the war against Good and Evil, and between a mysterious boy named Dev and her bestfriend Kyle.

I've never read anything that explores and incorporates Hindu mythology in the story as extensively as this novel did. It's quite a new, refreshing and fascinating experience that I found myself just sitting in a corner, watching as the story unfolds. Everything is interesting for me, and the way Amalie Howard spins a tale just kept me inside Sera's world in a frantic pace as one action scene to another happens until I'm breathless and it's all over.

I didn't care much for Sera at the start. She was your typical loner, a little weird and misunderstood because of her appearance and her generally quiet self. She was too stubborn for her own good, and was your typical rebellious teenager deep inside. Combine that with protective parents and you have quite a few fights, yelling and chaos within the family. But as secrets come out bit by bit, I start to appreciate Sera for being stubborn for a completely different reason. She gradually lived to her name as a reborn Goddess.

I'm still torn between Dev and Kyle. I naturally gravitate towards the bad boy, and in this case, it's Kyle, but Dev had this sort of calming, charming, mysterious personality that just draws me to him. Strong, wise and he provides the stability Sera needs in her life. It did shock me how Kyle, with all his tattoos and piercings and the I-don't-really-care attitude, left me a little bit confused and unconvinced. It feels so cliche for the girl to end up with her best friend, and it's not like Kyle doesn't have his own good points. He wants to become good when even his own mother thinks he's evil. He likes Sera for all he's worth and would do anything for her. Still in the end, I like Dev. It might say something about my preference in my YA male leads, but I find him a whole lot more interesting and agreeable in the end.

Alpha Goddess' is not your usual story. It portrays the different kinds of love, the kind that defy the odds which was evident in Sera's parents story, the one that is patient and waits like that of Micah for Sophia, one that sacrifices anything and everything like Kyle's to Sera and one that understands and let's go when they know they have to, like Lakshmi and Vishnu's. It's still something I had a hard time understanding, because those kinds of love is not something I was used to seeing in a lot of YA novels I've read, but it's beautiful in an unexpected sort of way. A different take, a different perspectives to the many facets of love and loving.  

Mythology played a very large part in this story, and I loved every second I spent reading and meeting all these Gods and Goddesses and how they are so well incorporated in the book. Amalie Howard crafted a convincing, bewitching world, carving a space for Hindu mythology to flourish in her story while doing such a good job retelling an epic love story of the Ramayana, of Rama and Sita, the battle between good and evil. It's such a familiar yet different take on myths, legends, epics, Gods and Goddesses that I can't help but let myself be swept away with the story. The gradual increase of pace until it was a full on action packed, thrilling novel makes Alpha Goddess such a good read!

Overall, Alpha Goddess made me remember why I loved Amalie Howard's writing. I fell in love with her story in an instant!

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Win the following books:





Content (plot, story flow, character):
Holding off that 1 star because it still takes me a while to digest Sera's decision at the end. As it contradicts a lot of my beliefs in love and somehow it left me feeling more confused than happy for her. I still don't like Kyle, though I adore Nate! A lot of her decisions didn't quite make sense for me, and oftentimes I felt like it drove the story in a completely different direction than what would made sense, but still it was a good story.

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:
I adore this cover!

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