ARC Review: The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

My brain, my heart and my soul isn't fully functioning a few minutes before I wrote this review. I am THAT affected by this book.

Title: The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater
Release Date: September 17th 2013
Published by: Scholastic Press
Source: Publisher (Thanks Ms. Joyce!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same.

Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life.

Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

I don't really know where to start, but this book has just made me feel so much emotion that I am not sure what to discuss, what to say, and what to feel. All I know is this, The Dream Thieves is very, very good.

After reading The Raven Boys, I have gotten used to the very slow pacing of the story, and instead I enjoyed my time reading as I discover more about the relationships and the bonds that bind each Aglionby boy to the other. Ronan has been dreaming of things, and has discovered that he can take things out of them. Gansey is still hell bent on his quest to find Glendower, Adam is slowly suffocating in the life he's leading, and Noah is flickering in and out of their lives. The prophecy surrounding Blue's doomed love life is slowly becoming a real obstacle as she struggles to figure out her feelings for at least two Aglionby boys, and lives begin to unravel in this lovely, amazing sequel.

Oh Ronan, Ronan, Ronan. How I loved you in this book. See, if you feel that The Raven Boys is (still) lacking of Ronan, then you will get so much more of him in this book to the point that you think you might just get sick of him, but you wouldn't. I just loved reading about him, the things he could dream of, the nightmares, the struggle with his own pain, anguish and longing for his family while figuring out just what he really is and what he could do. My feelings are as intense for Gansey, who was as delightful as he was in the first book and more. You get a more complete picture of the faces he keeps as Dick, the child from a wealthy, influential family, to the Gansey who was Ronan's rock and Adam's friend, the boy who only feels free when he's in Henrietta, to the boy who was slowly but surely feeling emotions he shouldn't. And Adam, which I am slowly distancing myself from. Maybe it's because of the changes he has undergone in this book, the feelings he had to deal with and the acceptance of who he needs to become. He's not unlikable, but I find myself just pitying him most of the time. And no one should forget Noah, who appeared so little in this book but is still as enjoyable to read as the other three.

I loved how the Gray Man inserted himself in Henrietta and the chaotic lives of the boys, Blue and her quirky family so easily. A man who was supposed to be invisible, unnoticeable and full of mystery. He's a character that I find very interesting, a dangerous hit man who has a dark past of his own and ghosts he's running away from, but I can't seem to bring myself to dislike him. His unfazed attitude with Maura and her sisters' abilities, and his eventual feelings for her felt so unconventional and unexpected and delightful all at the same time. I can't say he's a bad guy though he's done horrible things.

The Dream Thieves moved in a much faster pace than The Raven Boys and along with the introduction of The Gray Man and Kavinsky, secrets and clues are a lot easier to come by in this story. There were major moments in the book that will make it faster for the reader to figure out what's going on and yet with some answers come more puzzles, more questions to add to the intrigue and allure of the story and you'll just find yourself neck deep in and you just push on and read and try to know more with each turn of a page. The Dream Thieves had everything I was asking for in the first book, and I appreciated the story more because of it. More intrigue, more tension, and most importantly, more romance. Blue's rocky relationship with Adam and her inevitable realization that Adam will not be the boy she'd like to kiss was something that made my heart clench in this sequel, more than Gansey's search for Glendower, or Ronan's longing for his mother. Because we all know what the prophecy says when it comes to Blue and her feelings for the boy she will kiss, and she knew now who she wants to kiss. And along with it comes the complicated ties of friendship, the magic, the future.

The Dream Thieves is such a fantastical follow-up to an already amazing first book! I can honestly say I've enjoyed reading this book much, much more. It's magical, intriguing and a bonafide page turner. Again, hats off to Maggie Stiefvater for crafting such a story that made me feel so much and give me such a big book hangover afterwards.

My favorite quote:

She felt bigger than her body. High as the stars. He leaned towards her - her heart spun again - and pressed his cheek against hers. His lips didn't touch her skin, but she felt his breath, hot and uneven, on her face. His fingers splayed on either side of her spine. Her lips were so close to his jaw that she felt his hint of stubble at the end of them. It was mint and memories and the past and the future and she felt as if she’d done this before and already she longed to do it again.

Oh help, she thought. Help, help, help.

He pulled away. He said, "And now we never speak of it again."

My rating:

Content (plot, story flow, character):

My heart began to cry out in pain and anguish from page 360 onwards. Oh, by the gods, it was agony from then on, when I think of Blue and Gansey and all the things that surround them.

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:
Hello, Ronan!

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HarperCollins Winter 2015 Blogger Preview Event!

After the awesome book signing last weekend (which I think I still have a hangover of), here's another one. I'm lucky enough to receive a surprise email from HarperCollins International's publicist, Sarah, inviting me to attend a preview night for HarperCollins' 2015 Winter YA book line up. Needless to say, I was over the moon with excitement! Mostly because of the books I'll get to see, but also the chance to finally see Sarah who I've been talking to for years.

We never, I repeat, never get events like this in the Philippines. So it came as a surprise and shock to me that we're having preview nights like those done in the US, Canada and UK.

Sarah Woodruff discussing the Winter 2015 books she was about to present.

We were told that there will be games, so we came prepared and ready to have fun, of course. Our team (Team I Do Not Know) almost won. *Ahem Jesselle of The Life Long Bookworm* :) The questions were mostly about HarperCollins' YA titles and they tested our knowledge of their books. You should've seen us trying to come up with names and titles while we try to be competitive and write really fast.

And then it was time to present the books that HarperCollins will highlight for Winter 2015.

Sarah: Raise your hand if you're excited for Red Queen! Me: *flails* OMG YESSSSSS!

There were a ton of titles presented and every single one of them were interesting and intriguing. There were quite a few titles that I am familiar with (Red Queen, Orphan Queen, Playlist for the Dead), and some I haven't heard of (Twisted Fate, Lies I Told) and also a few without covers just yet. Quite a few of us were cheering for the titles we're excited to read, and Sarah gladly brought some for us. I was sitting beside the pile and I kept on eyeing the dust jacket for Red Queen and Vanishing Girls. As a rundown, here are the titles Sarah presented:

2014:
- Falling into Place by Kat Zhang
- Endgame: The Calling by James Frey
- A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray
- Transcendent: A Starling Novel by Lesley Livingston (December 23, 2014)

2015:

- Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (February 10, 2015) *
- Selection Stories by Kiera Cass: The Queen and The Favorite (March 3, 2015)
- The Heir by Kiera Cass (May 5, 2015)
- Twisted Fate by Norah Olson (January 20, 2015) *
- My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga (February 10, 2015) *
- Better than Perfect by Melissa Kantor (February 17, 2015)
- Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver (March 10, 2015) *
- The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige (March 31, 2015)
- 99 Days by Katie Cotugno (April 21, 2015) *
- Everything That Makes You by Moriah McStay (March 17, 2015) *
- Willowgrove by Kathleen Peacock (January 6, 2015)
- The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows (March 10, 2015) *
- The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand (February 10, 2015) *
- The Pretty App by Katie Sise (April 14, 2015)
- Playlist for the Dead by Michelle Falkoff (January 27, 2015) *
- Blackbird Fly by Erin Entrada Kelly (March 24, 2015)
- A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas (February 24, 2015) *
- Secrets of Attraction by Robin Constantine (April 28, 2015) *
- Forged by Erin Bowman (April 14, 2015)
- Lies I Told by Michelle Zink (April 7, 2015) *
- Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley (April 28, 2015) *
- Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider (May 26, 2015) *

* These are the ones I'm REALLY excited to read!

Twisted Fate was pitched as a book that has the same feel as We Were Liars, so obviously I am excited for that because I loved We Were Liars! Vanishing Girls is Lauren Oliver's newest YA novel, which is a suspense thriller. Everything That Makes You is about a girl who has "two" stories, one where she had an accident and had half of her face scarred, while the other story is what happens when that accident didn't happen. Interesting, right? Blackbird Fly is an MG book written by a fellow Filipina who is already based in the US.

After the preview was over, we got a chance to ask Sarah questions, and we were able to get an insight on what her job entails, what she does, and how publicity (at least for the International sales team) works for HarperCollins. It's not just about giving away galleys to bloggers and reviewers, it's also about blurbs and thinking of catchy one liners for books, planning, marketing, pitching ideas on how to better create a buzz for a book, communicating with sales and estimating if a book will sell or not, setting targets, what happens when a book "under sells" or if it becomes a big title, how changing covers can help boost a book's sales, and deciding which titles should be promoted extensively to readers.

We were told that we can grab a galley or two from the pile that was on the table, and we descended at it like we're all on a mission. I was able to grab two which I really liked, and I left everyone to wrestle amongst each other for the copies.

In between the presentation, we were eating. I mean it! Sarah brought with her chips, cookies, chocolates and soft drinks and we were just going back and forth to the table and eating when we have breaks. And then we decided that pizza is in order and we want mojos (potatoes!), so we ate that after the presentation while we chat with everyone. I mean look at us:

And as if we didn't just see each other a few days before, we spent the rest of the time chatting and catching up in the two days we didn't see each other. Plus, taking selfies of course.

What else can I say? The night was just amazing and I am glad it's another opportunity to spend time with my book blogger friends, discuss about the books we love while we get to know more about books we are excited to read in the coming months. Again, I feel very lucky, accomplished and honored to have been able to get to attend events like this. Thank you so much, HarperCollins International, Sarah, and National Bookstore!

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Signing recap: Claudia Gray and Madeleine Roux PH Book signing! #GrayandRouxinPH

I am nursing a really good (bad?) bookish hangover. I know it's only been a day but I'm wishing I can experience it all over again!

I have been to a handful of signings, each one more enjoyable than the previous but I am still amazed at how each  book signing has something different to offer and it feels like I am attending it for the very first time over and over. And as always, I am plagued by sleeplessness because of my over-excitement at the fact that I am meeting fabulous authors the next day.

That shock when you see the authors whose books you just read, and see them walking in front of you, smiling and waving for the very first time never gets old, really.

Both authors were there early! We started on time, and the questions started rolling and both Claudia and Madeleine gave such witty, elaborate answers to the questions each blogger asked. I've read Spellcaster (which I reviewed here) so I knew my question will be about that particular Claudia Gray series, so when it was my turn to ask, my question was this:

The witchcraft in your Spellcaster series is new for me in a sense that a caster needs to also summon a memory to cast a spell. Can you tell us more about how you were able to build this kind of witchcraft? And what can we expect in Sorceress, the 3rd book in the Spellcaster series?

In Spellcaster, a witch has to ground herself with an element (necklace, magic jewelries) and call forth a memory in order to cast a spell. Why is memory needed? Because Claudia wanted the story to have an "emotional" component. While Claudia was writing the book, she didn't realize that this kind of set-up will allow her to delve into the back stories of the characters, especially Elizabeth. When you think about it, Nadia is 16 and Elizabeth is 400. Memories are the fuel for the magic, and the longer you live the more varied memories one will have, so you'll have more power and finesse to place in a spell. Claudia wanted it to be clear from the beginning that Nadia is not going to be stronger than Elizabeth, but she has to be smarter, and has to see possibilities that Elizabeth, being locked up for so long, doesn't see. What to look forward to in Sorceress? One word: Asa. He was introduced in Spellcaster and Claudia knew he'll be needed in the next books, and it's a lot of fun playing with him and with the role that he plays.

Listen to the whole thing below:


- Madeleine got her amazing hairstyle by using a beard trimmer. She does it herself and put designs on the sides. She didn't have time to make one during the blogger's event though.

Speaking of Madeleine, a blogger asked if she ever got creeped out by what she was writing?

Her answer: Yes. That's when she knows it's good, when she gets nervous. It doesn't happen often though. When she re-reads and try to get immersed in the story, that's when she feels it. She tries to make each book scarier than the 1st one. Her third book (which she's finishing while she's here in Manila) has a lot of really scary scenes. Unfortunately, there aren't scenes in Manila in the book, but she might include a name of a ride or a street name. The setting of her new book is in New Orleans.

If Bianca, Nadia and Marguerite were chosen as Tributes in the Hunger Games, who would win the competition?

Tough question. Bianca has a connection to the undead that gives her a serious edge, and she can't be killed, which is what you have to be if you're in the Hunger Games. Nadia will be the best competitor because she has magic, but she might not be a tribute because she might cast something so she wouldn't be chosen. Marguerite will be a better fighter though. But in the end it'll be Bianca.

- You can call Madeleine Roux Maddie or Madeleine, either way is fine with her.

 As a gamer, was Madeleine able to insert situations in the games she play in her novels?

What she loves in games are the strong supporting cast. When their stories are interesting and rich, and they might not get much time to develop their stories, but that's something she hopes get into her work. You'd want to know more about them even though they're not the main character and it's something she hopes get across in her writing.

- If Claudia is to blurb A Thousand Pieces of You, for her it's Orphan Black meets Cloud Atlas! She likes the idea of people fated to meet but the outcome isn't fated. There's a thousand possibilities for every single encounter.

Has Madeleine ever thought of writing a collab novel with another author?

She has to get someone to agree with it first, and if it's like that then it would have to be a good friend of hers and fellow YA author Michelle Gagnon (Don't Turn Around!). Their styles will work really well together as they both like writing fast paced thrillers.

- If Claudia thinks about traveling with the Firebird, she doesn't think of ending up anywhere. She'll just keep going. But if she has to choose any of the universes in ATPoY, it's the Russiaverse.

- For Madeleine: haunted asylum or creepy carnival? She doesn't like clowns (and the dark), so she'd go with asylum because it tends to be empty.

The most difficult part of Claudia's writing process?

It varies from book to book. You have to learn how to write each one. The super easy part in one might be what trips you in the next book. For ATPoY, it's figuring out how the Firebird will work, the things it could and couldn't do, things that could go wrong.

- How does she figure out which one to write first? The ideas choose Claudia and wrestles her down.

- Madeleine didn't get to visit any asylums while she was writing Asylum. Her research was done online and her college school had a lot of old buildings, places where she can feel its history.

- The photos in Madeleine's books were chosen through a collaborative process with her publisher. They either have shoots to recreate the scenes in her book or find photos they can manipulate.

- If Claudia was born sometime in the 19th century and transported to the 21st century, she'd want to learn about how far women have come and wonder why we haven't come even farther.

The hardest part of being a writer that most people don't know about?

For Madeleine it's two things. One, how much junk she has to do all the time. The things you don't realize you need to do when you become a published author and the things you don't realize that comes with the job. While it's fun, some days she just wants to write. Two: how guilty you feel when you don't write. It's not a 9 to 5 job, so you're constantly thinking about what you're working on. It's tough.

The future of Young Adult fiction:

Madeleine: A lot of blending of genres, less straight up fantasies, sci-fi. (Vampires in space with unicorns!) You can get away with it in YA, unlike in adult fiction. Madeleine hopes to see more diversity as well.

Claudia: Diversity in YA. Many people have wised up about it and people are starting to jump in on it as well. Fewer people going "what is this crazy fad and trend"? A little less of "what is this thing people are doing"? and YA being more an accepted area, with it comes a little bit less of "flavor of the month" pressure. There will also be less pressure to fit in the mold as YA becomes more established.

- Claudia can't talk about the new projects she's thinking of right now, but she loves sci-fi fiction and she hopes to write more in the genre. She will never say never to anything.

What sparked both authors' interest in reading and when did they realize they wanted to write?

Madeleine has always been into reading. She started with American girl doll companion books. She was reading things that she should not have been reading yet, but she just wanted to read so badly. She'd read her brothers books and encyclopedias. Jane Austen ignited her passion for reading, Shakespeare and Anne Rice as a teen, and then Tolkien and Harry Potter. Madeleine was doing creative writing in college and was just reading masterpieces, figuring out how they did it and then one day, she was writing a historical piece which got her so tired because she was researching a lot of things. And then she decided she'd write for fun and ended up writing a zombie book, which got her so invested and she enjoyed writing that she thinks it's better than her scholarly piece. That's when she realized she can do it as a job because she liked it, and it's not constant research.

Claudia was a very enthusiastic and early reader. She's not a discriminating reader too. She'd read anything she can get her hands on. She'd read MG books and then read John Steinbeck, all of it was interesting and fascinating to her. She always knew she wanted to write and enjoy writing. Claudia watched Superman when she was 8 or 9 and she kept thinking up sequels inside her head. She never considered being a novelist professionally before, but it's because of her lack of confidence. She wrote so much fanfiction! Her first novel length idea was fanfiction, and writing it was a huge education for her. The first moment Claudia knew writing is in her future was when she published the last chapter of a fanfic, met up with her friends and when she checked her email, she had 500 emails in response to her story. It was still a good 5 years before she tried to write seriously.

And then they signed our books and it was a magical ride from then on.

Guys, Madeleine Roux was such a rock star. While Claudia Gray was busy signing a ton of books and Madeleine ran out of books (and postcards!) to sign, we were sneakily trying to take a selfie with her, but she noticed us and told us we should take one with her in it. We tried fitting all of us in the frame and doing it was a hilarious thing! And Claudia Gray was such a chatterbox. I asked her if she had gone shopping and she told me about her holding off because she'll be visiting a friend in Singapore and will shop there too.

Also, I had a complete trilogy proof of the Spellcaster series and I was so surprised when Claudia gushed over how it was the first complete proof she will ever sign and the first proof of Sorceress she will also sign. WOW.

PH YA Book bloggers with Claudia Gray and Madeleine Roux. And yes, that's Madeleine doing a peace sign on my head!

Afterwards, we went to the public signing and had more fun there! In the dizzying chaos of the signing event, we checked out each other's books and a staff from a cable company noticed us and decided to interview us as a group, which gave us an opportunity to talk about Claudia's and Madeleine's books on cam. You'll probably see us in a cable feature soon. And the fabulous Nicole Lim, nail art goddess and one half of The Twins Read, got interviewed as well!

We also got to meet Sarah Woodruff of Harper Collins International! She arrived that morning and was considerably jetlagged, so we only got to chat with her for a few minutes, where she asked us what food recommendations we can give her. There's balut, yema, ensaymada, adobo. You should've seen us when we were explaining to her what balut was. :)

To say it was a fun event is an understatement. It was all sorts of awesome and I am still reeling from the experience. Once again, thank you very much National Bookstore for making all of this possible! And for all the other things we got to experience as we get to live a life of a bookworm. It was amazing. Amazing!!!

And a bonus! Here's a video message from Claudia and Madeleine for Filipino readers.


See you next month, fellow bookworms!

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Review: Linked by Imogen Howson

A thrilling sci-fi read that swept me off my feet!

Title: Linked (Linked #1) by Imogen Howson
Release Date: August 1st 2013
Published by: Quercus
Source: Publisher
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

For years, Elissa has suffered nightmarish visions and unexplained bruises. Finally, she's promised a cure, and an operation is scheduled. But on the eve of the procedure, Elissa discovers the truth: she's seeing the world through another girl's eyes. A world filled with wires, machines and pain. Elissa follows her visions, only to find a battered, broken girl. A girl who looks exactly like her. A twin she never knew existed. Elissa and her twin Lin go on the run, but even after changing their looks and clothes, they're barely a step ahead of the government agents who are ruthlessly tracking them down. For Lin and Elissa are too valuable to let go, and the dark truth at the heart of it all is too shocking to risk exposing...

I have a twin, I am a twin myself so anything written that features twins will always be fascinating to me. How will they put a different spin on the fact that they're two children, born on the same day, might not be on the same time and might also not be of the same gender? And yet in Imogen Howson's Linked, the concept of twins is foreign. Wrong. Abnormal. And that in itself is what made this book so interesting.

Elissa had a condition where she had nightmares, faints, feels pain and she didn't know what caused it. And so when a doctor finally came up with a solution for her ailment, she was willing to go under the knife to make it stop. But what happens when Elissa's hallucinations turn out to be real? I love how everything in this story is mysterious from the get go, and you'll start wondering from page one what was happening to Elissa. And when you finally make a connection, it doesn't stop there. Who is this other person who looks just like her? Why was she locked away?

The contrast between the twins is very obvious. Elissa pushes Lin and Lin needed Elissa to push her. Elissa leads on and Lin follows, but by no means is she weaker than her twin. Though I hate the fact that Lin had to feel inferior all her life because she's a spare, Elissa's reaction, worries and fear felt genuine. She felt confused, scared, pitied Lin, but I love how she tried to understand her. How she gradually accepted her. And how, in her eyes, Lin is just like her, a human who deserves to be treated rightly and with respect.

The world building is solid for Linked, and it's easy for me to imagine what kind of world Elissa lives in. Planets terraforming, with technologies far advanced than what we have, all of these were explained by the author in great detail. Imogen Howson, aside from the solid world building, managed to showcase what it's like to live in Sekoia. It might be a high tech world, but the way society reacted to Elissa's condition and Lin being a Spare, something people do not readily understand, is still the same as the present. Everyone thought Elissa was an attention seeker, and Lin was treated as nothing more than dirt, even by her own mother. No matter how much civilization has progressed, humanity can still be cruel and judgmental to the things that are foreign to them.

Imogen Howson managed to write a novel balanced with just the right amount of thrill, suspense and a shot of unexpected romance set in a highly developed world. I have to say, I wasn't expecting the surprise the twins found out inside Phoenix. I also liked how unusual Cadan and Elissa's relationship was. That underlying current of romance amidst their prejudice and initial judgment of each other. I like Cadan because he's not the type of male lead you'll immediately swoon over. I was mostly irritated with him until the last 80 pages of the book. But he, along with Lin and Elissa, grew up and changed for the better.

Unlikely bonds, sisterly love leading to unpredicted discoveries, untimely romance, unexpected allies, conspiracies and sinister experiments all wrapped up in a neatly, nicely paced story. I breezed through Linked in a matter of hours! What a page turner! I randomly picked this book up from my shelf and I am just pleasantly surprised. Now I am craving to read the sequel!

Content (plot, story flow, character):

The one star off was: My initial dislike for Lin. I'm glad her behavior gradually got better but she was so unstable at times. Gradually recognizing that she too was human was something I liked and hated at the same time in this book. It was a painful process for her. Also, the timing for when Cadan and Elissa's feelings finally connected with each other? I thought that wasn't possible given the circumstances they were in. Will you really bother confessing when you're about to die? I thought that was out of character for both of them. But I'm a sucker for happy endings, so I'm okay with it. And when Lin finally met her father for the first time? That almost made me cry.

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:
The illustration of the twins on the cover helped me form a likeness for Lissa and Lin in my mind! Nice imagery for the twins!

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Goddess Offerings (47) / Stacking the Shelves (29)

Amazing book haul this week! There are quite a few books I am excited to read and I am so glad I got them! Thank you to my wonderful book fairy for these!

Stacking the Shelves hosted is by Tynga's reviews! So leave a comment below and share your own haul!

For review:
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton
King Dork Approximately by Frank Portman
The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

Borrowed:
Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios

Won:
Endsinger by Jay Kristoff (Signed ARC)

Shade series by Jeri Smith-Ready (signed)

Bought:
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Thank you Louisse of The Soul Sisters, Random House Teen, Penguin Australia and Jay Kristoff!

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ARC Review: Poisoned Apples by Christine Heppermann

Once in a while I get to read a book full of poems that has just the right amount of kick, sass and bite. This time it's a book called Poisoned Apples, and for good reason.

Title: Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty by Christine Heppermann
Release Date: September 23rd 2014
Published by: Greenwillow Books
Source: Edelweiss
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

Every little girl goes through her princess phase, whether she wants to be Snow White or Cinderella, Belle or Ariel. But then we grow up. And life is not a fairy tale.

Christine Heppermann's collection of fifty poems puts the ideals of fairy tales right beside the life of the modern teenage girl. With piercing truths reminiscent of Laurie Halse Anderson and Ellen Hopkins, this is a powerful and provocative book for every young woman. E. Lockhart, author of We Were Liars, calls it "a bloody poetic attack on the beauty myth that's caustic, funny, and heartbreaking."

Cruelties come not just from wicked stepmothers, but also from ourselves. There are expectations, pressures, judgment, and criticism. Self-doubt and self-confidence. But there are also friends, and sisters, and a whole hell of a lot of power there for the taking. In fifty poems, Christine Heppermann confronts society head on. Using fairy tale characters and tropes, Poisoned Apples explores how girls are taught to think about themselves, their bodies, and their friends. The poems range from contemporary retellings to first-person accounts set within the original tales, and from deadly funny to deadly serious. Complemented throughout with black-and-white photographs from up-and-coming artists, this is a stunning and sophisticated book to be treasured, shared, and paged through again and again.

This book, filled with a collection of fifty poems, had an author's note towards the end. And I was struck hard by the first sentence. "If you find the dividing line between fairy tales and reality, let me know." Can you? Christine Heppermann has uniquely spun fifty poems that tackle such complex, dark and heavy themes like sex, bullying, eating disorders, body image and our society's standards of beauty thrown in a dizzying mix of fairy tales and classic stories.

What's noticeable about this is that heady combination of make believe and fairy tales that always calls out to our childhood and the biting, dark charm of the truths peppered in each and every poem the book has. It's not something you usually read. It's not something that is usually written about. The author bravely talks about things that not everyone wants to talk about, and it cuts right through you with each poem you read.

Christine Heppermann managed to shed light to a lot of important issues prevalent in our world right now, and she presents it as it is: harsh, ugly, biting, stone cold truths for everyone to read tucked inside various retellings of classic fairy tales and stories we've all grown up with. There is bound to be at least one poem which will call out to a reader in this wonderful, hard hitting collection of poems. Imagine all of those carefully constructed words paired with exquisite imagery? It gives the book such a haunting quality.

I can't say anything else as you have to read the poems for yourself, but you have to stop and think what it means to you and how fitting it is in the world we live in right now. It's such a marvel how much impact such short compositions can give to a reader. And to that, I say bravo the author.

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Not everyone might be comfortable with a poem or two in the book, some are so dark and gritty, others made me feel conflicted and most make me feel funny, conflicted and sad inside. My favorites are: Photoshopped Poem, Gingerbread and Nature Lesson.

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:
Perfect cover. It really conveys the book's message to the readers.

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Interview with Caroline Tung Richmond, author of The Only Thing to Fear + Giveaway! (US & PH)

Today I have the awesome Caroline Tung Richmond on the blog and we'll talk about her inspiration for writing her very, very interesting debut novel, The Only Thing to Fear! And yes, I did ask if there's a sequel in the works.

Wanna know her answer? Check the interview below!

Twitter pitch: Describe your novel in 140 characters!
Whew, this is tough! But here goes nothin':

Set in a world where Hitler won WWII and colonized the US, a Virginian farm girl starts a revolution to overthrow the Fuhrer.

Share with us your writing process... where did the inspiration for The Only Thing to Fear came from? What made you write this story?

The inspiration for this book came to me in 2011, right after I read The Aquariums of Pyongyang, which is a memoir by a North Korean refugee. That book really stuck with me, and I started wondering what it would be like to grow up in such a harsh and controlling regime. My imagination took over and an idea struck me—of a teen girl being raised by her uncle and who desperately wants to fight against her oppressive government. Then I brainstormed some more and added in the alternate history angle, and voila!

Another reason why I wanted to tell this story is because I've always envisioned my protagonist Zara as biracial. As a mom of a biracial daughter, it was really important to me to write a character who looks like what my kid looks like.

The Only Thing to Fear is a re-imagining of World War II history, but I'm curious... how much research did you do for this novel? How did you go about with it?

I did quite a bit of research! I read a lot of books about Germany during WWII, particularly how they treated the populations they conquered. I'd ask myself: What was life like in Occupied France versus Poland? Or the Netherlands? The Nazis had varying policies for each country, and I used that research to help me craft what a Nazi-occupied America would look like.

What's the most challenging thing you had to face/tackle while writing this book?

It took me a LONG time to write this novel! I'm a notoriously slow writer but the first draft of TOTtF poured out of me in a few months, which is a miracle in it of itself. Admittedly, I was feeling a little smug about it—like, ha! I can write quickly!—but…my agent sort of hated it. Haha. But he really liked the premise so I went back and rewrote the novel from first present tense to third past, at his recommendation. Then after that massive rewrite, I revised the book heavily three times more before it was ready to go out on submission. This novel nearly did me in but I'm so happy that it's now out in the world!

Lastly, will there be a sequel for this book? (Please I need to know what happens after! Was the revolution successful? What happens to Zara and Bastian?)

Alas, there is no planned sequel right now! But maybe one day? I actually have a sequel mapped out in my mind so we shall see!

And just because I couldn't resist, an extra question for fun: If you were an anomaly (or a double anomaly), what kind of powers would you like to have?

Oh, this is a fun question to think about! I grew up rabidly watching the X-Men cartoon with my brother, and we'd debate this for hours. Ultimately, I think I'd like to be telekinetic. It'd be super cool to be able to move big stuff like cars and downed trees with a flick of a wrist. And let's be honest---wouldn't it be nice not to have to get up from the sofa to reach the remote? :)

About Caroline:

Caroline grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and, after stints in London and North Carolina, is proud to call DC her home again. (National Gallery! Cherry blossoms! Georgetown Cupcake!) She likes to read awesome books in her free time, fiddle with her DSLR, plot ways to get more stamps in her passport, and hang out with her wonderful husband and daughter (aka the Baby Overlord).

She doesn't not like pancakes, waffles, or any other foods smothered in maple syrup.

Follow Caroline on: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

The Only Thing to Fear by Caroline Tung Richmond
Published on September 30th 2014 by Scholastic Press

Buy: Amazon | Book Depository


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.

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Before He Was Famous by Becky Wicks: Excerpt + Giveaway!

You know I've been hearing a lot of good things about this novel, and now I get the chance to share an excerpt with you all! Check it out!

Title: Before He Was Famous by Becky Wicks
Release Date: May 29th 2014
Buy: Amazon

Summary:

One guy, one girl. One in the spotlight. One in the shadows.

Falling in love with your best friend isn’t always a great idea, especially when he’s Noah Lockton - the sexiest, most famous new talent on the planet. When 21-year-old small-town photographer Chloe Campbell is offered the chance of a lifetime – to join her celebrity childhood friend Noah on tour as an exclusive blogger for a New York magazine – she’s certain both have put what happened four years ago behind them. But his eyes still burn; his voice is still a jackhammer to her heartstrings; all his songs are about her. Is it possible that that night still haunts them both?

The music industry is a machine, spinning hype and rumors as much as his records. It’s not just Noah’s girlfriends who’ve got it in for Chloe (there’s no stopping the Twitter-obsessed, cat-loving pop-star Courtney Lentini for starters). Pretty soon, the jealousy and media frenzy surrounding these so-called-friends takes a life-changing turn and it seems making love means making enemies at every turn. When tragedy threatens to pull the final curtain on their relationship, both Chloe and Noah must make a choice. As much as this world leaves them starstruck, is living their dream really worth living without each other?

A story of lifelong friendships, love and hope, set in a world of celebrity, fame and social media gone very, very wrong.

Excerpt 2: Noah. Chapter 21

I study her face; the gashes, the bruises darkening her skin. I reach for her Tinker-Bell necklace, run my fingers over the tiny silver wings. Our eyes meet and I don't look away and neither does Chloe.

I get another flashback, from out of nowhere, of when we were kids at aunt Madeline's house in The Bronx. A huge thunderstorm kept us up in the middle of the night and I crept into her room to find her lying there, eyes wide open, raindrops thrashing at the huge brown-house windows. I knew she was waiting for me to arrive because without me she was too scared to get out of that bed. That house is so old and creaky. We switched places without speaking and she started trying to capture the lightning with her camera.

She spent more than an hour in the window, working silently, determined, clicking the camera over and over. Something about her was mesmerizing. I watched her from the bed and wrote a song in my head about how she lit up every time the lightning struck, and when she climbed in beside me she was wriggling under my skin as much as the covers. Chloe became the lightning then, for me at least, lighting up every room. And so began the storm in my head.

-----

Author Bio

Becky Wicks is a HarperCollins author going indie! Itchy feet has led her to live and work all over the world since leaving England at age 21, including NYC, Sydney, Bali, South America and Dubai. Right now she’s scribbling the second book in the HotFlush series in Vietnam.

Becky has also written three funny travel books about her time in Dubai, Bali and South America (HarperCollins). Her first book, Burqalicious - The Dubai Diaries, her second book, Balilicious - The Bali Diaries and her third, Latinalicious -The South America Diaries are out now as ebooks.

Becky has also written a comedy romance with author Sarah Alderson under the name Lola Salt, called The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft (not Croft) which should raise a giggle or two... think Bridget Jones if Jackie Collins had written it!

Follow her: Twitter, Blog, Facebook, Goodreads, Google+.

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ARC Review: The Only Thing to Fear by Caroline Tung Richmond

When an imaginative mind takes the what ifs and the possibilities and spin an amazing story out of it? Even better. This is why I love alternate universes.

Title: The Only Thing to Fear by Caroline Tung Richmond
Release Date: September 30th 2014
Published by: Scholastic Press
Source: Publisher (Thanks Ms. Joyce!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

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.

The premise of the story was: "What if Hitler won World War II?". History used to be one of my favorite subjects back in high school, so this book immediately piqued my interest. What if THAT is our reality? Can you imagine a world where the Axis Powers took control of what's left of the world after they destroyed the Allies?

Zara lives in a world ruled by the German Empire. Life is hard for those left after the war has ended, it's even harder for Zara who is half-English but has half of Japanese blood running through her veins. She's a lesser person because she's a half, and the rest of the populace scorn and torment her for being a daughter of an Axis soldier. But Zara's mother died fighting for freedom which was still beyond reach, and she too wants to be free. It's easy for me to sympathize with Zara, for how she's treated and for what she sees in the world she lives in. I never once pitied her though, because right from the start you'll see a girl who wants to fight and use her abilities however she can to help achieve her dream of a free world, and be treated equally, no matter how dire the circumstances were for her.

I genuinely liked Bastian. It's quite a novelty to see him, a shy, awkward and awfully kind German boy, the son of a powerful military official, because he's the total opposite of how the world thinks he should be. He betrays expectations, and for good reason. I like how contrary he is, and with the way this novel is painted, he's such a welcome contrast. It's like he's the perfect representation of a small hope that not everyone is unkind. Though I would have liked him to be a bit more of a fighter, Bastian does good in saving Zara in his own way.

Caroline Tung Richmond immediately plunged me into a world permanently scarred by the war, torn into strategic lands ruled by the winners. The Germans rule, and they're a vicious master. You see the disparity of the life between the upper class and the Untermensch, the Mischlings. The world is built upon the cruelty of the German rule and their relentless, savage treatment of the populace. And then there's also the political unrest amidst the rulers themselves. It's a very grim world, and it was equal parts fascinating and terrifying to see the world reduced to that point.


There are characters in this book that you will immediately love, and I did, and the author just managed to break my heart for doing things to them. The short bursts of chaos turning into a full scale rebellion made my heart race and I enjoyed every minute as everything escalates into something big. Caroline Tung Richmond managed to inject just the right amount of suspense, tension and intrigue to an action packed storyline!

One of the biggest reasons why I love this book, aside from the solid re-imagining of an alternative world, is the romance. I must admit, I find myself wanting more than what transpired towards the end. Hopeful, yes, but I was thinking that both Bastian and Zara deserved something better than what they had. But maybe that's just one of the realities of war, a touch of realness added towards the end. The fight for freedom will not end just because they were both in love.

Caroline Tung Richmond fashioned a convincing, fascinating history of her own in The Only Thing to Fear. Zara's tale is an engrossing read from page one! She doesn't disappoint. What a strong debut for Caroline! I will definitely be on the look out for her new books!

Content (plot, story flow, character):

I am desperate for a sequel for this book. Open endings are a treasure trove of possibilities for the story, but I want for Zara, Bastian and their quest for the freedom they want to continue! And I still feel a little bit underwhelmed with the romance.

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:
Amazing cover!

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