Sometimes I’m all like, “I don’t like that. Don’t be silly.”
And then I realize I do like that. And I sit there wondering: when and how did it happen?
Through my first six or so months of book blogging, I maintained that I don’t read YA. I’m not a YA reader. I’m just NOT. It is ALL teenage angst and blah blah blah. Did I mention I like my adult books? I don’t read YA!
WRONG.
I was in denial.
I don’t read YA.
I read a lot of YA.
I’m not a fan of YA.
Some of my highest rated books are YA. The only two books I’ve rated 10 are YA.
I love YA.
What are YOU in denial about?
Flesh and Blood by Kristen Painter
(House of Comarré, #2)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format: paperback
Read: 2/3/2012 — 2/4/2012
In Six Words: Fantastic second installment in the series.
Links
Kristen Painter — Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook
Amazon — Paperback | Kindle
Add it to Goodreads
Book Order
1. Blood Rights
2. Flesh and Blood
3. Bad Blood
4. Out for Blood (Fall 2012)
5. Last Blood (Spring 2013)
Why I Started Reading This Series
I began this series on the recommendation of Tara, and after bloggers like Jenny and Felicia enjoyed the series. While I wasn’t completely bowled over with Blood Rights, the first in the series, I was definitely intrigued and interested enough to continue with Flesh and Blood — and I am glad that I did.
Summary
Those born into the comarré life produced blood in rich, pure, powerful abundance…
With the Ring of Sorrows still missing, and the covenant between othernaturals and mortals broken, Chrysabelle and Malkolm’s problems are just beginning. Chrysabelle still owes Malkolm for his help, but fulfilling that debt means returning to Corvinestri, the hidden vampire city where neither is welcome.
-from Goodreads
Thoughts on Book 2
Flesh and Blood picks up where Blood Rights left off, without bogging us down with repetitive information, but still giving us a brief reminder of what happened in Blood Rights (which I admit that I needed). The world in this series is so complex and multi-layered that the second book actually makes for a better story than the first, as it was much easier this time around to understand how the world operates. It was also important seeing as there were new elements being added as well.
At its heart, the House of Comarré series is an urban fantasy, which is at times frustrating for the part of me that wants a lot of romance and more than a few kisses between the characters. I could have also done without the love triangle, but everyone who knows me would know this. Once I moved beyond all that, it became easier to appreciate Flesh and Blood — and the previous book — for the excellent and well-crafted story that it is.
The multiple perspectives provides the story an added depth. While shifting POVs can often lead to boredom (read: the Lesser portions in the BDB books), here it is fascinating. After Blood Rights, it was easy to become attached to the side characters, so that this is more than a story about just Chrysabelle and Malkolm. Even the glimpses into Tatiana’s twistedness and cruelty are interesting in their own right; she is the type of character you love to hate, yet feel the need to observe. The depth of her madness seemingly knows few bounds.
While Flesh and Blood gets Chrysabelle and Malkolm deeper into trouble, it is obvious that the overall story arc is far FAR from being over. In fact, there are a few secrets revealed and a few questions answered from Blood Rights that actually deepen and expand the story. There was less time spent on the two than in Blood Rights, but both of their worlds are altering and changing in drastic ways. Perhaps Chrysabelle’s more than Mal’s in this story, but I am sure we can expect more changes for both of them, especially given that there are three more books in the series.
Overall, this is a fantastic second installment — I rated it higher than the first — and I can only hope that the series continues to get better.
Other Reviews
Geeky Blogger’s Book Blog
Smitten with Reading
Supernatural Snark
It’s that time again — Tuesday! — which means I give you shirtless men and you try to steal them away from me. Top Off Tuesdays was started by Felicia, Christi and me. It is where we (and you!) share the book covers that make us swoon. Head over to Felicia’s blog to share your Top Off Tuesday link or to see what everyone has posted.
I’ve got my eye on you.
Brenda spent four years trapped in an unhappy marriage. She’s so desperate to start a new life somewhere safe that she’s agreed to go to another planet with a handsome alien stranger. When he’s killed, she finds herself in the home of a Zorn warrior willing to protect her until the fallen warrior’s brother arrives to claim her.
Brenda never believed in love at first sight until she gazed into the gorgeous blue eyes of Argis Rever. He’s tall, dark, sexy…the kind of guy she’s always dreamed of finding—and already bound to another human woman. She could have lived with letting the man of her dreams slip through her fingers, except he isn’t happy—the horrid woman doesn’t even want him, and will never love him.
Brenda has lost a lot in her life but she’s not willing to lose the one chance at finding happiness with a man she’s falling in love with. She’s more than ready to start tempting Rever into finding his own happiness… with her.
-from Goodreads
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
(The Hunger Games, #1)
Genre: YA dystopian
Format: borrowed paperback
Read: 1/21/2012 — 1/22/2012
In Six Words: I see what the hype’s about.
Links
Suzanne Collins — Website
Amazon — Hardcover | Paperback | Kindle
Add it to Goodreads
Book Order
1. The Hunger Games
2. Catching Fire
3. Mockingjay
Synopsis
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister Primrose, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before — and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
-from Goodreads
Why I Started Reading This Book and Final Verdict
Back in November, it was discovered that I had not yet read any of the books in the Hunger Games series. This caused quite a stir, and I ended up starting a petition to get me to pick up the series. I had 33 (32, really) people sign it.* Even so, it took me until January to finally pick up the first in the series. Hannah from Once Upon a Time and I decided to do a joint review with a twist: an audio discussion of the book, kind of like a podcast. You can find that below. Just be aware that it does contain spoilers, so if you are one of the few remaining hold outs, don’t listen to it — just go read it.
And yes, I can fully say that I am glad that I read The Hunger Games and that I didn’t give up after the first 10 pages for a second time. I was not completely blown away (like I was with Divergent), but I can see why this is as popular as it is. And I am most certainly looking forward to the movie in March. Now I just need to find the time to continue with the series.
Audio Discussion (with spoilers!)
*Thanks to: @ksauce, @soulswallo, @gonewiththeword, @Ashley_E_Prince, @synfulsaleana99, afairytalelove, Your Mom (who was really Jess in disguise), attackthestacks, Sarah @ Saz 101, Rachel (And the plot thickens), @yrdsblib, Amy @ bookgoonie, Missie The Unread Reader, Jacinda @ The Reading Housewives (@ReadingWifeJac), PoisonRose79, @yogikai, IsaBookSoulmate, Ellief716, Ellie, Loretta / Between The Pages / @Loretta_Lynn86, @loveofbooks409, Alisbookshelf, @StoryboundGirl, Ashley (@BookLabyrinth), @gwenythlove, Smash, BooksOverBoys, mandikaye, @thebookvixen, Jenny, Hengnash, Cindy, Carrie (NewUTMommy), Danielle chaosandcoffe :)
Clock Rewinders on a Book Binge is where Tara @ 25 Hour Books and I shamelessly plug each other, share the fantastic posts, giveaways, or whatever else we’ve found and loved by other awesome bloggers (or authors!) during the week, and talk about the books we plan on reading in the coming week.
On a Book Bender Recap
- Review: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong — So many questions, so few answers.
- Top Off Tuesday — Happy Valentine’s Day!
- Kiss Me I’m Irish Read-Along Announcement — Join us! March 2nd through April 6th
On 25 Hour Books
- Audiobook Review: First Grave on the Right**** — perfect for breaking my reading slump
Around the Book Blogging Community
- Ruby filmed a vlog with a paper bag over her head JUST FOR ME.
- Jacinda had a great post on turn offs in books, which I totally loved and meant to comment, but didn’t. You all should make up for my lack of commenting by visiting and commenting for me.
- Ruby had fabulous a discussion post about feeling like you’re the only one who disliked a book.
Search Terms
i love felicia — So do I! That’s why I stalk her.
slut slave brunette — o.O
spellchecker has lead me to believe that i am a horrible speller — Well, unless you’re using a lot of jargon, you probably are a horrible speller. Or you don’t type very well.
men top fantasy — I’m not even really sure what this is for, but it sounds good.
using proper grammar perceived as stuck up — I ain’t got nothin ta say ta dat.
happy valentines suck and happy valentine’slut — So. How was Valentine’s Day for you?
remedialclass.com — I only offer a book blogger remedial class.
stalking artwork and female stlking male love interest — Really, you should visit the expert.
the mission the men and me — I will freely admit that I am sad that this is actually a book. A military book.
insect bites with a hard core — Uh…
Books I Received
Bloggers Mentioned
Ruby @ Ruby’s Reads
Bought
- Fallen by Karin Slaughter (my review)
From Ruby
- When Blood Calls by J.K. Beck
- When Pleasure Rules by J.K. Beck
- When Wicked Craves by J.K. Beck
- Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
- A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
- Night Fall by Anne Stuart
- The Dead Travel Fast by Deanna Raybourn
- Frostbite by Richelle Mead
- Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead
- Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson
Thank you, Ruby!!!
Linky
In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new dynamic duo in town, and Felicia of Geeky Blogger’s Book Blog, Missie of The Unread Reader, Ash of Smash Attack Reads!, Jen of In the Closet With a Bibliophile and I would like to introduce you to them!
Announcing the Kiss Me, I’m Irish read-along! This read-along is to celebrate the upcoming release of Tricked, the fourth book in the Iron Druid Chronicles, which comes out April 24th 2012! To prepare, we are reading/re-reading the series, starting with book one, HOUNDED by Kevin Hearne, and we’d like you to join us!
Discussion Schedule:
March 02nd: Chapters 1-5 hosted by Geeky Blogger’s Book Blog
March 09th: Chapters 6-10 hosted by On a Book Bender
March 16th: Chapters 11-15 hosted by Smash Attack Reads!
March 23rd: Chapters 16-20 hosted by In the Closet With a Bibliophile
March 30th: Chapters 21-25 + epilogue hosted by The Unread Reader
April 06th: Special interview with Kevin Hearne & announcement of winners!
Prizes:
Everyone who signs up for the read-along and participates each week will be entered for a chance to win one of three prizes. Best part: there will one winner per prize! The first name drawn will get first choice and so on. Wondering what’s up for grabs? A Third Eye Tote Bag, a Sausage Fest Pint Glass, and a personalized, signed copy of any book in the Iron Druid Chronicles.
International participants: The giveaway is open to you as well (as long as The Book Depository delivers to your country), though the prize is limited to any book in the Iron Druid Chronicles (not signed).
Wanna join us?
Visit Felicia at Geeky Blogger’s Book Blog to sign up and to grab the first set of discussion questions for week one!
About the book:
Hounded
Iron Druid Chronicles, #1
Kevin Hearne
Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, lives peacefully in Arizona, running an occult bookshop and shape-shifting in his spare time to hunt with his Irish wolfhound. His neighbors and customers think that this handsome, tattooed Irish dude is about twenty-one years old—when in actuality, he’s twenty-one centuries old. Not to mention: He draws his power from the earth, possesses a sharp wit, and wields an even sharper magical sword known as Fragarach, the Answerer.
Unfortunately, a very angry Celtic god wants that sword, and he’s hounded Atticus for centuries. Now the determined deity has tracked him down, and Atticus will need all his power—plus the help of a seductive goddess of death, his vampire and werewolf team of attorneys, a sexy bartender possessed by a Hindu witch, and some good old-fashioned luck of the Irish—to kick some Celtic arse and deliver himself from evil.
Grab a button:
It’s that time again — Tuesday! — which means I give you shirtless men and you try to steal them away from me. Top Off Tuesdays was started by Felicia, Christi and me. It is where we (and you!) share the book covers that make us swoon. Head over to Felicia’s blog to share your Top Off Tuesday link or to see what everyone has posted.
This is in no way a Valentine’s Day related cover. Other than it does have a little red in it.
Captain Wytt Sann is given the mission of a lifetime. Impersonating the notorious pirate Kirxx, Wytt must participate in a zap tournament sponsored by the pirate king. Wytt’s objective is to play the bloody game, beat the competition and win the prizes—a beautiful Glacidian woman and the coveted scarlet tear gem.
Ceyla is offered as a prize in a tournament and embroiled in the pirate king’s vengeful scheme to steal back the stone. Refusing to spend the rest of her life as a pirate’s prize, Ceyla plots her escape.
Ceyla is drawn to the handsome pirate who fights like a warrior and fires her Glacidian blood. Seducing Kirxx is the key to winning her freedom, but will she lose it all in the process? Will his true identity tear this lusty couple apart?
-from Goodreads
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
(Darkest Powers Trilogy, #1)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Format: ebook
Read: 1/17/2012 — 1/19/2012
In Six Words: So many questions, so few answers.
Links
Kelley Armstrong — Website | Twitter | Facebook
Amazon — Paperback | Kindle
Add it to Goodreads
Book Order
1. The Summoning
2. The Awakening
3. The Reckoning
Synopsis
After years of frequent moves following her mother’s death, Chloe Saunders’s life is finally settling down. She is attending art school, pursuing her dreams of becoming a director, making friends, meeting boys. Her biggest concern is that she’s not developing as fast as her friends are. But when puberty does hit, it brings more than hormone surges. Chloe starts seeing ghosts–everywhere, demanding her attention. After she suffers a breakdown, her devoted aunt Lauren gets her into a highly recommended group home.
At first, Lyle House seems a pretty okay place, except for Chloe’s small problem of fearing she might be facing a lifetime of mental illness. But as she gradually gets to know the other kids at the home–charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a “thing” for fire–Chloe begins to realize that there is something that binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual “problem kid” behaviour. And together they discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home either…
-from Goodreads
Why I Started Reading This Book and Final Verdict
I was epically and publicly dared by Ruby to read The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong, but I only have The Summoning, so that is what I read. It’s my understanding that it’s better to start with this one anyway? The Summoning was a slow build for me, but by the time things got going and unraveled, the wait was worth it.
My Thoughts
I spent my time reading swinging between being completely engrossed in the story and being completely frustrated with the lack of answers (or rather, the slow pace at which some questions were answered). In some ways, it is a psychological thriller, as there is so much going on here that neither we as readers nor Chloe understand. What is Chloe? What is real? What’s up with the Lyle House? Even as the book finishes, there are still questions to be answered. It’s not really a cliffhanger, but it’s obvious that the story is far far from over.
Chloe was a good main character. She was the right mix of doubt and humor. While wading through the millions of questions that she had, I felt myself doubting Chloe right along with her. But what I appreciated was that through all the niggling doubt, it never turned into simpering despair or wallowing on everything that was going wrong. Any doubts that Chloe had pushed her to answer the questions she had. If she began to spiral too far downward, she pulled herself out with humor or by turning life into a movie. The supporting characters (Simon, Derek, Tori, Rae) were an odd mix, but the
The strength of The Summoning really comes in the final quarter of the book. Up until then, I had been intrigued, but not overly impressed or falling all over myself to finish the book. Once everything in the plot started to come together, I began to understand why so many people (*cough*RubyandKelly*cough*) have told me to read this series. The ending left me scrambling to add The Awakening to my wishlist, and this is definitely one of those books that you will want to read with the second book close by.
Other Reviews
Smash Attack Reads!
Nyx Book Reviews
Clock Rewinders on a Book Binge is where Tara @ 25 Hour Books and I shamelessly plug each other, share the fantastic posts, giveaways, or whatever else we’ve found and loved by other awesome bloggers (or authors!) during the week, and talk about the books we plan on reading in the coming week.
On a Book Bender Recap
- Mini Review: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson — A great introduction to Maureen Johnson!
- Top Off Tuesday — Ahoy!
- Mini Review: Blood Rights by Kristen Painter — An intriguing take on vampire world.
- Joint Review with Ruby’s Reads: Half-Blood by Jennifer Armentrout
On 25 Hour Books
Around the Book Blogging Community
- Smash needs help! She is looking for a person (or two) to help her with her book blog. I wish I could help, but alas, I am struggling too (which is why I’ve got Kelly doing a few guest reviews for me in the coming weeks).
Search Terms
huggle sluts — I’m still waiting to be inducted into the huggle slut harem.
black shirtless demon lovers — Kind of specific, here.
topic about should we belive on amulate or on magicion? — *stares*
i was on a bender — I do hope it was a book bender.
too vampire darking sex — *stares some more*
vampires sex video — *raises eyebrow*
touching tuesdays — *giggles*
sexy man demon — We all want one of these, don’t we?
Books I Received
Bloggers Mentioned
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
The Nieceling
Books
Dark Side of the Moon by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Devil May Cry by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Dream Warrior by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward
Link Up
Note: This review contains points that are spoiler-ish.
Half-Blood by Jennifer Armentrout
(Covenant, #1)
Genre: YA Paranormal
Format: ebook
Read: 1/19/2012 — 1/25/2012
Links
Jennifer Armentrout — Website | Blog | Twitter
Amazon — Paperback | Kindle
Add it to Goodreads
Book Order
1. Half-Blood
2. Pure
3. Deity
4. Apollyon
Summary
The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1: Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she’s crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn’t her biggest problem–staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.
Why I Started Reading This Book and Final Verdict
I think Half-Blood is one of those that Tara recommended to me as a book I might like (even though she hasn’t read it herself?). When Ruby and I were deciding what book to jointly review next, we chose Half-Blood. I don’t know that I had many expectations going into the book, but I was never overly impressed by it. It was certainly enjoyable, but there was nothing that set it apart from other teen paranormal books.
Our Thoughts
Amanda: Is it just me or are there a lot of similarities between Half-Blood and Vampire Academy? At first, I was all, “BUFFY!” with how the daimons died, but by the third, fourth, and fifth chapters I was getting serious Vampire Academy vibes. I’m also not the biggest fan of Alex, but that’s mainly because I just want to shake her and tell her to get a
grip and focus on what’s important. And I’m still waiting for Aiden to impress me, besides his arms, of course. I think his arms are very impressive.
Ruby: This was exactly my feeling. In fact, I think our review should be titled: Vampire Academy 2: This Time, with Daimons. Because:
- Both heroines get dragged back to their special school for mystical creatures after leaving under “mysterious circumstances.”
- Both heroines are half of something–and therefore lesser. Yet, their half-blood status makes them wonderful fighters.
- Both heroines are kick ass chicks. Their missing time at the academy doesn’t detract from their kickassiness.
- Both have older, hot, famously kickass mentor love interests who are off-limits.
- Potential, attainable love interest who will be really nice, but not be the hot, unattainable guy and therefore will not win the heroine. Also, I bet he’ll die.–Totally wrong on this score.
- The world-building is startlingly similar. A lot of the “rules” remind me of the rules from the Vampire Academy books, but with minor twists.
I’m starting to get frustrated with books that introduce uber-heroes merely as a way to foreshadow that the MC is going to be said uber-hero. Why does every book do this? Am I the only one who is tired of stories where the MC is “The One” with some kind of mystical destiny? This isn’t a criticism of Half-Blood in particularly, more a comment on the genre as a whole. And I’m not just talking YA–it happens in PNR and UF all the time, too. I think it’s part of why I’ve been wanting to take a break from books with paranormal elements.
Amanda: I agree that there are a lot of over done paranormal elements in this story. Well, especially since there was so many Vampire Academy parallels. I, too, have noticed so many paranormal books using the “The One” story line. I think that while it’s over done, it’s only bad if it’s noticeably that way. If that makes sense? Books that pull you in and make you forget all your likes and dislikes and just make you READ, those are the ones that don’t matter if they have used something that EVERY OTHER BOOK has used, because it seems unique and special and AWESOME.
Ruby: I’m also really tired of the “second best love triangle” phenomenon.
Anyone who reads this book would be able to tell and Alex and Aiden are “The Couple.” There’s no tension in having a third party–Seth–because we know Alex won’t end up with him in the end. And since there’s no tension, I see little reason for the love triangle to exist. It would be far more compelling to have the story be about Alex and Aiden trying to have a relationship and trying to deal with the fact that Alex was mystically tied to Seth in a complex way. But noooooo. Can’t have that!
Amanda: The love triangle really annoys me in this book. Of course, love triangles annoy me in most books, but I don’t really see a reason for it here, especially after Alex and Aiden nearly consummated their relationship. I just kind of want to yell at Seth to get out of the way, so things can happen, romance wise.
Ruby: Having finished the book, I’m yet more frustrated by the way Alex and Aiden’s romance is set to play out. It wings me all the way back into Vampire Academy territory.
Amanda: I just finished Half-Blood. Yay! Oddly enough, I think my favorite character in this book was Seth.
Ruby: I was thinking about how you said that Seth was your favorite character in this book and it made me realize that I didn’t connect with ANY of the characters. I didn’t particularly like Alex, Aiden or Caleb–none of the characters ran very deep. Complex they were not. Most of them felt like cliches. Caleb was the loyal best guy friend, Aiden was the hot, kick-ass love interest with emotional baggage, Lena was the mean girl who is somewhat redeemed by tragedy.
Also, I don’t think this book ever recovered from the similarities to Vampire Academy. It did develop a little in its own direction, but not enough to distinguish it. The biggest flaw of this book was that it wasn’t bad, it was so mediocre as to make me care little about it. There was nothing in it to surprise or delight me. It was just blah.
Amanda: Yes. I definitely agree that a lot of characters felt like cliches, and this is probably why I connected with Seth the most. We didn’t really learn a lot about him, but I found him intriguing, more so than any other character. What we do know of him made me think that a) there’s a lot more to his story, b) there’s a lot more to him than just being the Apollyon, and c) I want to know more about him. I could take or leave the rest of the characters.
The similarities to Vampire Academy were so strong that something amazing would have had to have happened (say THAT three times fast) in order for it to move beyond the label of a Vampire Academy-like book. There also seemed to be a lot of foreshadowing, but so much so that it was obvious what was coming next. In some ways, that made it less enjoyable because it was easy to figure out what happened next.
Ruby: Oh, right! The first time the story of the two Apollyons was related it was obvious what the deal was going to be. But I think I was too busy drawing similarities between the Vampire Academy books to appreciate Seth. I kept picturing him as Adrian–and the heroine’s other, appealing–but obviously not first choice–option in the love triangle.
Amanda: Oh. I haven’t met Adrian in the VA series yet so I was perhaps able to see Seth as his own character. I also think that if this particular love triangle continues into the next book (and beyond), I would get really annoyed with it. With Half-Blood, Aiden was the obvious choice, and though Seth was in the picture, he wasn’t really an actual option. But I also suspect that that will change with the next book. And that makes me hesitant to read it.
Other Reviews
Supernatural Snark
Reading Angel
