Goddess Offerings (45) / Stacking the Shelves (27)

Whew. Okay, I haven't done a Stacking the Shelves post in a loooooong time, so I'm just gonna list the books I got over the past few weeks. (There's supposed to be video but Youtube upload is taking forever, so I'll just photos instead.)

Which of these have you read? Are they good? Yes? No? Why?

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

For review:

The Three by Sarah Lotz (signed)
The Reckoning by Kerry Wilkinson
True Fire by Garry Meehan

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Soulmates by Holly Bourne
The Manifesto on How to be Interesting by Holly Bourne

The Only Thing to Fear by Caroline Tung Richmond
Bungee Cord Hair by Ching Yeung Russell
Hidden in Plain Sight by Su-Lin Ang
Not in the Stars by Pauline Loh

Asylum by Madeleine Roux
Sanctum by Madeleine Roux

Better than Perfect by Melissa Kantor
The Pretty App by Katie Sise
Sorceress by Claudia Gray

The Amazing Wilmer Dooley by Fowler DeWitt
Maid of Deception by Jennifer McGowan
Magnolia by Kristi Cook
Play Me Backwards by Adam Selzer

Bought (from the National Bookstore sale):

Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini
Etiqueete & Espionage by Gail Carriger
The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban
The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

Thanks so much Penguin Teen, Pan Macmillan Australia, Usborne, Sarah Lotz, awesome publishing friends, Simon & Schuster and Scholastic!

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Waiting on Wednesday (151): An Ember in the Ashes + A Wicked Thing

I know, I know... 2014 is not yet over, but I am so very excited because we have some amazing 2015 books! I for one can't wait to read them, so I am highlighting two 2015 books that I would love to read!

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

Title: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Release Date: April 28th 2015
Published by: Razorbill

Want? Add to your Goodreads list! 

Summary (from Goodreads):

Set in a terrifyingly brutal Rome-like world, An Ember in the Ashes is an epic fantasy debut about an orphan fighting for her family and a soldier fighting for his freedom. It’s a story that’s literally burning to be told.

LAIA is a Scholar living under the iron-fisted rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, Laia goes undercover as a slave at the empire’s greatest military academy in exchange for assistance from rebel Scholars who claim that they will help to save her brother from execution.

ELIAS is the academy’s finest soldier— and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias is considering deserting the military, but before he can, he’s ordered to participate in a ruthless contest to choose the next Martial emperor.

When Laia and Elias’s paths cross at the academy, they find that their destinies are more intertwined than either could have imagined and that their choices will change the future of the empire itself.

Vow your blood and body to the empire.
Keep your heart for yourself.

Why I'm waiting for An Ember in the Ashes:

Can someone just give me a copy of this book, please? Kidding aside, I've been hearing a lot of buzz about this book, especially during SDCC, where it was highlighted as one of the must read novels next year. The author was a former Washington Post editor, and thought the book hasn't even been released, the film rights has already been acquired by Paramount in a SEVEN FIGURE DEAL. But again, aside from those pieces of news, I think the main premise of the novel is nothing short of interesting, and I for one cannot wait to read this. it's an "echo of Rome", and having recently read and finished Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen, which this book somewhat reminds me of, I am so very intrigued to know if this book delivers what the summary promises.

Title: A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas
Release Date: February 24th 2015
Published by: Harper Teen

Want? Add to your Goodreads list!

Summary (from Goodreads):

Rhiannon Thomas's dazzling debut novel is a spellbinding reimagining of what happens after happily ever after.

One hundred years after falling asleep, Princess Aurora wakes up to the kiss of a handsome prince and a broken kingdom that has been dreaming of her return. All the books say that she should be living happily ever after. But as Aurora understands all too well, the truth is nothing like the fairy tale.

Her family is long dead. Her "true love" is a kind stranger. And her whole life has been planned out by political foes while she slept.

As Aurora struggles to make sense of her new world, she begins to fear that the curse has left its mark on her, a fiery and dangerous thing that might be as wicked as the witch who once ensnared her. With her wedding day drawing near, Aurora must make the ultimate decision on how to save her kingdom: marry the prince or run.

Why I'm waiting for A Wicked Thing:

A retelling of Sleeping Beauty? Where have you been all my life? This is why I really love retellings, and it's not just because I get to read a re-imagining of a favorite, or a fairytale I've read growing up, but because of things like this: what happens after happily ever after? This book sounds like something that I will enjoy reading, and because hey! It's Sleeping Beauty! I like how nothing's like what it was in Aurora's world... very curious to know what will happen after she wakes up.

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So what are you waiting for this week? Share your picks!

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Review: We Are the Goldens by Dana Reinhardt

I'm not too sure how to put into words what I feel for this book.

Title: We Are the Goldens by Dana Reinhardt
Release Date: May 27th 2014
Published by: Wendy Lamb Books
Source: Publisher (Thanks Ms. Jenny!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

Nell knows a secret about her perfect, beautiful sister Layla. If she tells, it could blow their world apart.

When Nell and Layla were little, Nell used to call them Nellayla. Because to Nell, there was no difference between where she started and her adored big sister ended. They're a unit; divorce made them rely on each other early on, so when one pulls away, what is the other to do? But now, Nell's a freshman in high school and Layla is changing, secretive. And then Nell discovers why. Layla is involved with one of their teachers. And even though Nell tries to support Layla, to understand that she's happy and in love, Nell struggles with her true feelings: it's wrong, and she must do something about it.

There are various reasons why I love this book, but I'm only listing two. One, obviously is because I have an older sister (and a twin brother) and I definitely know what it feels like to live in the shadow of someone who is just "more" than you think you'll ever be, and yet they're someone you virtually spend your life with. Nell grew up believing that she and Layla are the same, Nellayla. But as they grow older, Nell realized that they're not, and while Layla is the Golden sister everyone knows, and she'll always be "N. Golden", Nell still adored, looked up, idolized and believed in her older sister. But what if she's not what everyone thought she was?

As two people, Nell and Layla grow up experiencing life differently and Nell as the younger sister wanted to know everything about her sister. Nell is a complicated mix of emotions, envy, and always that nagging, lingering feeling inside her that asks 'why not her?' and 'why is it always Layla?'. I felt for her at that point, and I understand that feeling, sisterhood. You want to be there, and the way both of their feelings were portrayed were heartfelt and convincing. I was frustrated, worried, afraid and disappointed like Nell was, and surprisingly, like Layla. This was written in Nell's point of view, but I loved how I was able to also take a peek in Layla's life, see what's behind that seemingly perfect facade. It was fascinating, interesting and somewhat terrifying.

My second reason: Dana Reinhardt's masterful writing style. When I first read The Summer I Learned to Fly, it took a lot for me not to cry. The way she was able to convey what Nell feels through everything just gets to you. You're not human if you don't feel anything while reading this book. She was able to craft Nell and Layla, two sisters seemingly inseparable, as similar characters and yet different in ways that matter. Dana Reinhardt made sure both sisters navigated through teenage life the way a teenager should: they make mistakes, fall in and out of love, get confused, get hurt, get frightened, get angry, desperate. It's a painful, but amazing experience in more ways than one.

Felix deserves a special mention in this book. He's this adorable, charming guy, the perfect example of that right person you're looking for all your life, but was there in front of you all along, loving you in the way he knew how. He's funny and sarcastic and caring, a boy who's all smiles but also vulnerable and afraid of the trials life is throwing his way.

We Are the Goldens is a memorable read for me. The concept of family, sisterhood and the lengths one must go to in order to keep a secret, to preserve the fragile bonds between two people growing up, experiencing life and love and what they're willing to do to keep everything 'perfect' was written in such a simple, mysterious way, the suspense holding you off the last minute. And you wait, and wait, and wait some more until it was time to reveal everything. Until you start to wonder, what happens next? One can only guess.

That familiar pinch to the heart, that lightning quick searing pain, the bittersweet emotions welling up, gone the moment you feel it and then you find yourself saying "Ah, yes... this is how it feels when I read a Dana Reinhardt book". I loved and hated the feelings her books always make me feel right after I finish reading them. This is a good one.

Content (plot, story flow, character):

The 1 star was left off because of my frustration for Layla... she was such an idiot, blinded by love. And she was supposed to be the rational Golden, the one with the good head on her shoulders. I felt so bad for Nell because it always had to be her who lies, who keeps secrets, and what does Layla do? *sigh*

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:
The expressions on their faces tells everything you need to know about the book.

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[Teaser] Dangerous Boys by Abigail Haas

If you've been following the blog for quite a while, you know I've read Abigail Haas' Dangerous Girls (I reviewed it here!) and while I had mixed feelings for the books, I am terribly excited for Abigail's next book, Dangerous Boys!

And today, I am posting a teaser from the book days before its release, check it out:

How was it? Creepily intriguing, right?

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Dangerous Boys by Abigail Haas
Release date: August 14, 2014
Buy the book: Amazon / iBooks

From the critically-acclaimed author of DANGEROUS GIRLS comes a new dark, twisted thriller…

"It all comes down to this: Oliver, Ethan, and I."
Three teens venture into an abandoned lake house one night. Hours later, only two emerge from the burning wreckage. Chloe drags one Reznick brother to safety, unconscious and bleeding. The other is left to burn, dead in the fire. But which brother survives? And is his death a tragic accident? Desperate self-defense?
Or murder?
Chloe is the only one with the answers. As the fire rages, and police and parents demand the truth, she struggles to piece the story together - a story of jealousy, twisted passion and the darkness that lurks behind even the most beautiful faces.

Early praise:

"Dangerous Boys is a taut, compelling thriller balanced on the razor's edge of suspense. I could not put it down, and could not stop grinning wickedly as I raced through the pages." -- Leah Raeder, USA Today bestselling author of Unteachable
"Abigail Hass is a master at her craft! This is a special book and a special author. This is the kind of storytelling and writing that stick with you no matter how much time passes." -- The Book Geek Blog
"As with Dangerous Girls, the closing left me with a huge, admittedly rather twisted smile on my face. I don't know how Haas manages to turn me into such a gleefully evil creature." -- Dahlia Adler, blogger.
"Dangerous Boys was an intense, psychological read which was full of suspense and drama,...Abigail Haas has a way of writing books which reel you in and keep you there, hooked and addicted until the very last page." -- Goodreads.com

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ARC Review: Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

There are a lot of ways this book has surprised me, but in the end I know this: the book is AMAZING.

Title: The Queen of the Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling #1) by Erika Johansen
Release Date: July 8th 2014 (US) / July 17th 2014 (UK)
Published by: HarperTeen / Transworld Books
Source: Publisher
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

Kelsea Glynn is the sole heir to the throne of Tearling but has been raised in secret by foster parents after her mother - Queen Elyssa, as vain as she was stupid - was murdered for ruining her kingdom. For 18 years, the Tearling has been ruled by Kelsea's uncle in the role of Regent however he is but the debauched puppet of the Red Queen, the sorceress-tyrant of neighbouring realm of Mortmesme. On Kelsea's 19th birthday, the tattered remnants of her mother's guard - each pledged to defend the queen to the death - arrive to bring this most un-regal young woman out of hiding...

And so begins her journey back to her kingdom's heart, to claim the throne, earn the loyalty of her people, overturn her mother's legacy and redeem the Tearling from the forces of corruption and dark magic that are threatening to destroy it. But Kelsea's story is not just about her learning the true nature of her inheritance - it's about a heroine who must learn to acknowledge and live with the realities of coming of age in all its insecurities and attractions, alongside the ethical dilemmas of ruling justly and fairly while simply trying to stay alive...

A 19 year old who lived all her life in the forest, hidden, suddenly thrust into a world she has prepared for all her life but knew nothing of. Kelsey was raised strictly, in secret, and she was suddenly given a title she didn't want, a title that can get her killed as soon as she step out of the forest she grew up in. I immediately liked her. From the start it was established that Kelsey, at best, is a plain looking girl, and even though she had her own insecurities to deal with in terms of appearance, she's a girl vastly unlike her mother: witty, strong with a tough resolve and a kind heart. This is one of the books I've read in a while where the girl is not "pretty" or looking fabulous or stunningly beautiful and it's totally okay. Beauty is not an advantage for her, but what Kelsey lacks in physical appearance, her wit and intelligence makes up for. With her, you believe that appearance isn't everything. And in this book, it's not.

Queen of the Tearling had an ensemble of lively, supporting characters that helped drive the story forward and in good time. A good example is The Queen's Guard. Among them, The Mace, Lazarus, is one of my favorites. He's an unexpected ally that will make you think twice if it's alright to make him stay or let him go. He's fiercely loyal to Kelsey, and more than being a guard, he's like a mentor and adviser to her. The Mace is feared throughout Tearling, and even in Mortmesne, and with good reason. He's not the amiable, caring type. He's a fearsome warrior who has his own demons to battle with. but Lazarus had unexpected, surprise moments that endears him to a reader like me. He's the closest thing to a father Kelsey will ever have.

Another interesting character that caught my eye in this novel is The Fetch, for reasons quite similar and still somewhat different to why I liked Lazarus. He's a very mysterious character, who warrants a close, second glance. His real age, heritage and character is unknown, whose alliance with Kelsey is still somewhat unclear and undefined. Is he a friend? A foe masquerading as a knight in shining armor? He might have saved her life, but will he be the one to kill her when she fails to help her Kingdom? The Fetch hopes for a good Queen to lead the Tearling, and he expects a lot from Kelsey. He's straightforward and inscrutable, ruthless and playful, extremely clever, crafty and powerful. It's like he's born out of the assumptions and guesses of people, because there's nothing about him that seemed true. He reminds me of the Darkling! I'd also like to know what it means for Kelsey when it's time for the Fetch to get his due for saving her life. Is anyone also keeping an eye to Pen? Was it just me or is he also another potential love interest for the Queen?

I've always stressed how important world building is in a book, and sadly that is what Queen of the Tearling felt lacking for me. It's not that the author did not make an effort to build a world good enough to grasp, as the explanation of the "Crossing" helped, but the time references used added to the confusion instead of establishing it. A world where technology took a huge step backwards, where books are scarce and warfare and invading was the norm. The references to the present we have now (J.K. Rowling books, for example) didn't seem to fit the world of the Tearling, making it hard to put down the exact time the story takes place. What kind of age? Modernly backwards? Medieval? Were these Kingdoms so isolated that whatever they lost (doctors, equipments, gunpowder and other modern amenities) cannot be recovered or remade? What kind of world really is it?

But Queen of the Tearling had a good mix of intrigue and conflict, and vile villains you'd loathe in an instant. The author took time to dive into the perspectives of these characters as well. The Red Queen, ambitious, evil and heartless, with her own agendas and problems to solve in a Kingdom powerful enough to destroy everything in its path. Arlen Thorne, the scumbag with a black soul who treats the people of the Tearling as nothing but mere commodity, a tool to get rich, to name a few. The story also touched based with slavery, cruelty, the never ending struggle for power in a Kingdom slowly deteriorating, a Kingdom left to rot under incompetent hands. Even Kelsey's struggle to accept the fact that what she knew wasn't true, and that certain truths about her mother, her guardians, their roles in her life, were sometimes tough and hard to swallow, but she knew she had to move forward and strive for the best for the sake of her Kingdom.

There's a lot in this book that I loved, hated and got confused of, but it made my reading experience rich, memorable and enjoyable. From page one, I found myself being swept along by the pace and what the story has to offer. What existed for me is just the story of a girl, one filled with magic, trials and a constant battle for a Kingdom left to ruin and fall into the hands of a tyrant. How can one girl change the fate of a Kingdom that is doomed to be subservient? You have to read this book to find out how a nineteen year old girl starts her journey to become the only hope for a Kingdom she didn't know how to lead, how she grows up and becomes a force to recon with in such a delightful, fast paced, character driven story.

Still, it's obvious how much effort it took to give birth to this novel. A great start for a debut author!

Content (plot, story flow, character):

1 star off really because of the shaky world building. Is the proper term modernly medieval? The author tried to throw conflicting time references and ideas but it just muddled the world idea further, so it's hard to place things in the world of the Tearling. But the story, the characters and the conflict more than made up for it! I can truthfully say that I loved reading this book.

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

The cover for the UK edition.

Book Cover:
I prefer this cover more than the US version, because I think this one properly shows what it's like for Kelsey being the Queen.

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ARC Review: Say Her Name by James Dawson

You do not say her name. You do not call her out just for fun. If you do, then you have five days and then you disappear.

"BLEED LIKE ME."

You know how good an author is when he can make you feel goosebumps running up and down your spine with a mere sentence. That's exactly how it went when I was reading Say Her Name.

Title: Say Her Name by James Dawson
Release Date: June 5th 2014
Published by: Hot Key Books
Source: Publisher
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

Roberta 'Bobbie' Rowe is not the kind of person who believes in ghosts. A Halloween dare at her ridiculously spooky boarding school is no big deal, especially when her best friend Naya and cute local boy Caine agree to join in too. They are ordered to summon the legendary ghost of 'Bloody Mary': say her name five times in front of a candlelit mirror, and she shall appear... But, surprise surprise, nothing happens. Or does it?

Next morning, Bobbie finds a message on her bathroom mirror... five days... but what does it mean? And who left it there? Things get increasingly weird and more terrifying for Bobbie and Naya, until it becomes all too clear that Bloody Mary was indeed called from the afterlife that night, and she is definitely not a friendly ghost. Bobbie, Naya and Caine are now in a race against time before their five days are up and Mary comes for them, as she has come for countless others before...

I have to admit, my knowledge of the story of Bloody Mary isn't a lot, so I went into reading this novel very hungry to know more and curious as to what I can get out of the story. And you know what? I was thoroughly entertained, slightly frightened and hooked to the story. Come to think of it, the word I will use to describe this book isn't really that it was "scary", but "creepy". Sure there were moments that felt like it was straight out of a horror movie, but it was more of the kind where you just hold your breath and wait for things to happen and spook yourself a little in the process.

When I first read the first five pages of the book, I felt like I was transported inside a horror movie at once, and by then I knew I was going to love it. You feel that impending sense of doom right from the start, which set the tone of the novel quite easily. I never liked gore, and slasher flicks and horror stories are the enemy of my overly active imagination but I devoured Say Her Name in one sitting. Somehow the chill factor was bearable and my easily scared self enjoyed the experience instead of being scared out of my pants.

Say Her Name had an interesting mix of characters, and like when you are watching a horror movie, they were the type of characters you bring in, let them live the story out by doing foolish things you do not want them to do, watch and wait who gets to die first. Bobbie was smart, she loves to write and that made it easier for me to identify and somewhat connect with her. In a horror movie setting, she's the main female lead and her roommate Naya is the friend who'd probably get killed somewhere along the way, while Caine is the unexpected and awkward love interest that injects a little romance in the story, which is a set-up that worked perfectly.

I love how the story gradually upped the creepy, chilling factor as each day passes. When Day Five came, I'm at my own limit and I'm just there reading the story, bracing myself for any more surprises that might pop out and waiting for the puzzle pieces to make sense. Synchronized nosebleeds I can take, but once Mary started appearing on mirrors and began crawling out of puddles, I felt my eyes going wide as saucers and I am somehow hyperventilating. It's odd, but I find Mary's character to be a lot more interesting than Bobbie, Naya and Caine combined. Maybe it's because the three characters weren't scared enough, or worried enough, it felt like they were investigating something with a time limit that will ultimately lead to their disappearance. As for Mary, I was always switching between pitying her and getting scared of her and trying to deconstruct her character. A malevolent spirit who was misunderstood and mistreated when she was living, but were the things done to her really unwarranted? Doesn't she have that tendency to do "dark" things even when she was still alive? I was torn up to the end.

Say Her Name had this almost conversational style of storytelling that was funny and steady and smooth and it just made reading a horror story an enjoyable experience. I didn't think that was possible! It has a little bit of everything, a dash of romance, funny scenes injected in the right times, sassy characters with investigative tendencies, and an awkward, untimely romance all wrapped around an urban legend. One thing is for sure: I will not be looking into a mirror too closely anytime soon. And even though I had some minor issues with the book, this won't be the last James Dawson book I will read.

Content (plot, story flow, character):

First up: why tempt fate? I mean would you really do a dare like that? Most people will be scared to do it, no matter how much pressure friends put on them. Also, as mentioned, I felt like they weren't even that worried, considering that they will disappear eventually after five days. The ending, though it wrapped the story nicely, is something you'd expect the way a horror story will end. I was, admittedly, waiting for something big to happen in the end.

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:
Can you say creepy? What a perfect imagery for that moment when Bobbie and Caine visited Bridget!

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The Goddess turns a year older: A Birthday Giveaway!

Bring out the balloons and confetti, I'm a year older today!

(But don't ask how old I am, please.)

So I scoured my shelves for some books I can give away, and viola! Here's what I'm giving away. Check it out, sit tight and see how you can win them!

If you're a follower of this blog, my Twitter account or my Facebook, you know that aside from books, I am a big fan of anime and manga. So I figured, why not try to give away books while satisfying my need for manga/anime?!

Here's what you need to do:

- Find the hottest picture of Akashi Seijuro that you can find and send the link to me. (If you don't know who he is, read here.) It can be a fanart, a manga cap (spoil me, I don't mind!) or a screenshot from the DS games or anime. He can be shirtless, or looking like an Angel like the photo below. It will totally depend on what picture you think is HOT. :)

- Or if you read fanfics, give me some recommendations. Akashi + Akashi or Akashi + MiraGen or Akashi + Momoi, I don't really care as long as it's Akashi.

I will be picking 3 winners!

Another note: If you're from the Philippines, please enter giveaways 1 and 2 only. The last giveaway is for International entrants only.

Here's what you can win:

PH ONLY

Ripper by Isabel Allende (ARC)
Dark Eden by Patrick Carman (Hardback)
Born of Illusion by Teri Brown
The Cabinet of Curiosities Sampler
Love & Misadventure by Lang Leav

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A copy of Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins *

* I will be buying a finished copy of this book and I will ship it to one winner. Note that I won't get it until after release date, which is August 14th, so you'll have to wait a little while to get it.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

INTERNATIONAL

$5 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Woop woop! Go forth and join the giveaways!

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