Fracture by Megan Miranda

Fracture by Megan Miranda

Genre: Young Adult – Paranormal/Mystery
Publication Date: January 17, 2012
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Age Range: Young Adult
Pages: 262
Book Source: ARC from publisher for review

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine
-despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death.

Scoot’s Review:
Fracture was an intense read.  It definitely had me glued to the pages - I couldn’t put it down because I just had to know what happened next.  However, Fracture is what I would consider a very angsty book – without enough happy to balance it out.  I don’t mind a little angst with my happy, but I felt like this book didn’t give me enough hope to make it worth all of the angst.  Regardless, it was very well written and as a reader you are quickly caught up in the emotions of the story.  The pace was great – with plenty of tension to keep you turning the pages.  The characters were well developed, but I found myself too frustrated with them to really enjoy them.  I believe Fracture is a stand alone novel and it completes its story arc well, but I can easily see where there could be another book written to follow up.  I enjoyed the bit of paranormal twist in the plot line and of course the Les Miserables references throughout the story (have I ever mentioned my absolute love of all things Les Mis!?!).  If you are up for a little angst and want a quick, consuming read be sure add Fracture to your reading list!

Notable Quotable:

“I wasn't athletic and had no desire to work out, so I watched what I ate. Correction: I ate what I wanted and felt guilty about it later.”
                           - Megan Miranda, Fracture

Grade:

 

City of Lost Souls – Chapter Reveal

Check out this awesome event from Simon & Schuster! I got an email about it yesterday and couldn't resist sharing it with you.  I STILL have to read the fourth book (oops! I way behind), but I know a lot of you are anxiously waiting for City of Lost Souls!.  Be sure to swing by all of the blogs so you can read the first chapter before the book is released!!

 

"Starting Wednesday, March 28th (Yesterday!!) visit the blogs below and piece  together the first chapter of Cassandra Clare’s next installment of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments!

	Wednesday, March 28th		CassandraClare.tumblr.com
	Thursday, March 29th		NovelNovice.com
	Friday, March 30th		EvesFanGarden.com
	Monday, April 2nd		TheStorySiren.com
	Tuesday, April 3rd		MundieMoms.com
	Wednesday, April 4th		MortalInstruments.com

This is the ONLY sneak peek you’ll get until City of Lost Souls goes on sale on May 8th! And you’ll have the chance to win a very limited edition Shadow Hunter Family Ring!"

Waiting on Wednesday (54): The Obsidian Blade & Renegade

Time for "Waiting On Wednesday" weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine! Waiting on Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!  

  Coming Soon...

The Obsidian Blade (The Klaatu Diskos #1) by Pete Hautman

To Be Published: April 1st 2012 by Candlewick Press

 

The first time his father disappeared, Tucker Feye had just turned thirteen. The Reverend Feye simply climbed on the roof to fix a shingle, let out a scream, and vanished — only to walk up the driveway an hour later, looking older and worn, with a strange girl named Lahlia in tow. In the months that followed, Tucker watched his father grow distant and his once loving mother slide into madness. But then both of his parents disappear.

Now in the care of his wild Uncle Kosh, Tucker begins to suspect that the disks of shimmering air he keeps seeing — one right on top of the roof — hold the answer to restoring his family. And when he dares to step into one, he's launched on a time-twisting journey — from a small Midwestern town to a futuristic hospital run by digitally augmented healers, from the death of an ancient prophet to a forest at the end of time. Inevitably, Tucker's actions alter the past and future, changing his world forever.

Kicking off a riveting sci-fi trilogy, National Book Award winner Pete Hautman plunges us into a world where time is a tool — and the question is, who will control it?

My Ramblings on The Obsidian Blade:  I think the synopsis on this one sounds really interesting.  I love time traveling adventures and this one sounds like it will be great! Did anyone watch that old show Sliders? For some reason this book reminds me of that... but we shall see! I am excited to get my hands on it soon. Also, I love the cover.  It is pretty fab!

 Waiting for the long haul...

Renegade (Elysium-Chronicles #1) by J.A. Souders

To Be Published:  November 13th 2012 by Tor Teen

Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law.

But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie. Her memories have been altered. Her mind and body aren’t under her own control. And the person she knows as Mother is a monster.

Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb... and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all.

 My Ramblings on Renegade:  Ohhh this one sounds pretty awesome.  Underwater utopias, surface dwellers and mind alterations.  Should be a fun one! This fall is going to be riddled with great new reads - and this one is at the top of my list.  In regards to the cover, I find it a little strange -  but perhaps once I read the book it will fit better in my head. :)

Waiting on Wednesday (53): Forgiven & Rebel Heart

Time for "Waiting On Wednesday" weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine! Waiting on Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!  

 

I have been doing WOW posts for a while and today decided to change things up a little.  Now I am going to share an really recent upcoming release (for those of us with little patience) and a release that is still soooo far away, but I am jumping at the bit for anyway!  Enjoy!

  Coming Soon...

 

Forgiven (Demon Trappers #3) by Jana Oliver

To Be Published: March 27th 2012 by St. Martin's Griffin

 

Jana Oliver's third spellbinding Demon Trappers novel - following The Demon Trapper's Daughter and Soul Thief - brings all new thrills, as Riley Blackthorne takes on demons, love... and the future of the human race.

The days are growing darker for 17-year-old demon trapper Riley Blackthorne. With her father’s reanimated body back safely, Beck barely speaking to her because of a certain hunky Fallen angel, and a freshly-made deal with Lucifer, she has enough on her hands to last a normal teenage lifetime. Though she bargained with Heaven to save his life, her ex-boyfriend Simon has told the Vatican’s Demon Hunters that she’s working with Hell. So now she’s in hiding, at the top of everyone’s most-wanted list.

But it’s becoming clear that this is bigger than Riley, and rapidly getting out of control:  something sinister is happening in Atlanta… or someone. The demons are working together for the first time ever and refusing to die, putting civilians in harm’s way. Riley thinks she might know who’s behind it all, but who’s going to believe her? Caught between her bargain with Heaven and her promise to Lucifer, Riley fears the final war is coming – and it may be closer than anyone thinks…

 

My Ramblings on Forgiven:  I  have been eagerly anticipating this one for a while now, basically since closing the last page on Soul Thief. I was surprised, and thrilled to receive a copy in the mail yesterday for review! I can't wait to get started on it during my lunch break.  As for the rest of the world that is still waiting, don't worry - just a few more days!  Who doesn't want more Riley & Beck?! Sign me up!

Check out my reviews of the previous titles in the series:

The Demon Trapper's Daughter

Soul Thief (Demon Trappers #2)

 Waiting for the long haul...

Rebel Heart (Dust Lands #2) by Moira Young

To Be Published:  October 30th 2012 by Margaret K. McElderry

The Tonton have been defeated. Lugh has been rescued.
The heartstone has brought Saba and Jack together.
Now, Saba and her family head west to meet him and start a new life. All should be well.
But shadows of the dead are stalking Saba.
And another kind of shadow is creeping over the dustlands.
Then a messenger shows up.
With news of Jack.

 My Ramblings on Rebel Heart:  I am looking forward to this one right now.  I am just really in the mood to read more about Saba & Jack and the post-apocalyptic world they live in.  Also, this cover? Love it! Yay for Jack getting his own nifty cover.  I am interested in seeing how the character dynamics will be now that Lugh is back combined with all of the drastic changes from the last book.  I want to know what happens next for all of them! October seems so far away...


Check out my review of the previous title in the series: 
Blood Red Road (Dust Lands #1)

New Releases: 3/13/2012

Happy Book Birthdays!

There are three books I am really excited about being released today!
 

Beyonders: Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull

 "The second epic installment of Brandon Mull’s #1 New York Times bestselling fantasy series! After the cliffhanger ending of A World Without Heroes, Jason is back in the world he’s always known—yet for all his efforts to get home, he finds himself itching to return to Lyrian. Jason knows that the shocking truth he learned from Maldor is precious information that all of his friends in Lyrian, including Rachel, need if they have any hope of surviving and defeating the evil emperor.Meanwhile, Rachel and the others have discovered new enemies—as well as new abilities that could turn the tide of the entire quest. And as soon as Jason succeeds in crossing over to Lyrian, he’s in more danger than ever. Once the group reunites, they strive to convince their most-needed ally to join the war and form a rebellion strong enough to triumph over Maldor. At the center of it all, Jason and Rachel realize what roles they’re meant to play—and the answers are as surprising as they are gripping"

Want to read an excerpt from Seeds of Rebellion?  Go HERE!

The Savage Grace (Dark Divine #3) by Bree Despain

 "A troubled soul. An impossible choice. A final battle.

Wrestling with the werewolf curse pulsing deep inside of her, Grace Divine was finally able to find her brother, but it nearly cost her everything.

With her boyfriend, Daniel, stuck in wolf form and Sirhan's death approaching, time is running out for Grace to stop Caleb Kalbi and his gang of demons. If she fails, her family and hometown will perish. Everything rests on Grace's shoulders.

The final installment in The Dark Divine trilogy brings Daniel and Grace's love story to a breathtaking conclusion."

If you have never read the Dark Divine series and want to get started on it cheap; for a limited time you can get The Dark Divine and The Lost Saint ebooks for less than $1.99 each! 

 Get The Dark Divine on Nook or Kindle

Get The Lost Saint on Nook or Kindle

Starters by Lissa Price

"HER WORLD IS CHANGED FOREVER

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . ."

Want to read an excerpt from Starters?  Go HERE!

Mini Reviews: Wings & Between Shades of Gray

Why are tiny things always so darn cute?!

  Mini Reviews are short reviews of books I have read for my own enjoyment and wanted to share with you. I will describe in a couple of sentences (often fragmented) my thoughts on the book.  I may or may not ever post full reviews of any of these books.  The mini-reviews might not be as cute as the mini tiger, but they are mini! Enjoy!

Wings by Aprilynne Pike  

Genre: Young Adult - Urban Fantasy
Published: April 1, 2009 by HarperCollins Children's Books
 

"Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful--too beautiful for words. 

  
Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings. 

In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever."

My thoughts:

This book was a cute read.   I liked the original twist on fairies! The author created some easily likeable characters, which was great.  BUT I am tired of love triangles.  I can totally see this book setting up for a love- struggle-fest so I am almost dreading reading the second book. Other than that, I enjoyed it.

Grade: 

 Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Genre: Young Adult - Historical Fiction
Published: March 22, 2011 by Philomel Books
 

"Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.

Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously - and at great risk - documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives. Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart."
 

 My Thoughts:

Although I was dissatisfied with the ending (mostly in the fact that I wanted more) I still really enjoyed this novel.  It was heartbreaking, yet filled with hope.  It was very well written and I simultaneously loved and hated a handful of the characters.  The story line obviously sets up for a lot of tragedy, but hope and love still managed to pull through!

Grade:

Winners!

Thanks to everyone who participated in my Leap Into Books Giveaway!

Out of 477 entries the winners have been chosen.

Congratulations to ...

Jennifer B. & Emily W. !!

The winner's have been notified via email. So if one of those names look suspiciously like your name go check your email!

Book Birthdays! 3/6/2012

YAY for new books! I am excited about a handful of books that are being released today.  I have only had a chance to read one of these, but I look forward to reading the rest soon!

Balthazar by Claudia Gray

 "Haunted by memories from his first days as a vampire, Balthazar has spent hundreds of years alone—without allies, without love. When he emerges from his isolation to help Skye Tierney, a human girl who once attended Evernight Academy, Balthazar has no idea how dangerous it will be. Skye’s psychic powers have caught the attention of Redgrave, the cruel master vampire responsible for murdering Balthazar and his family four centuries ago. Having learned of Skye’s powers and the remarkable effect her blood has on vampires, he plans to use her for his own evil purposes. As they stand together to fight the evil vampire, Balthazar realizes his lonely world could finally be changed by Skye...just as Redgrave realizes that he can destroy Balthazar once and for all by taking her for his own.

In a story filled with forbidden love and dark suspense, one of the most beloved characters in Claudia Gray’s New York Times bestselling Evernight series will captivate readers with his battle to overcome his past and follow his heart."

 The Grave Robber's Apprentice by Allan Stratton

"Hans doesn't know who he is or where he came from. When he was a baby, he washed ashore in a wooden box and was adopted by the conniving grave robber, Knobbe the Bent. Now fate has thrown him together with Angela von Schwanenberg, a young countess fleeing for her life from the evil Archduke Arnulf and his dreaded Necromancer. Together, these friends are on a daring quest to discover Hans' true identity and to save Angela's parents from the archduke.

Join Hans and Angela on their grand adventure as they ride through the depths of the great forest, sled down a mountain in a coffin, and sneak along the secret passageways of the archduke's palace. The Grave Robber's Apprentice is a world of highwaymen, hermits, and dancing bears; and of a boy separated from his family by the sea.

In this world anything is possible with luck and imagination—even for a grave robber's apprentice."

 

 Fair Game (Alpha & Omega #3) by Patricia Briggs

"They say opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and Charles Cornick, they mate. The son-and enforcer-of the leader of the North American werewolves, Charles is a dominant alpha. While Anna, an omega, has the rare ability to calm others of her kind.

Now that the werewolves have revealed themselves to humans, they can't afford any bad publicity. Infractions that could have been overlooked in the past must now be punished, and the strain of doing his father's dirty work is taking a toll on Charles.

Nevertheless, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston, when the FBI requests the pack's help on a local serial killer case. They quickly realize that not only the last two victims were werewolves-all of them were. Someone is targeting their kind. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer's sights..."

 

  Illuminate by Aimee Agresti

 "Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit.

As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel’s jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel?

Illuminate is an exciting saga of a teen’s first taste of independence, her experience in the lap of luxury, and her discovery she may possess strength greater than she ever knew."

 

The Grave Robber’s Apprentice (ARC)

The Grave Robber’s Apprentice by Allan Stratton


Genre: Mid-Grade – Fantasy/Adventure
Publication Date: March 6, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Age Range: 10+
Pages: 256
Book Source: ARC from publisher for review

Synopsis (via Amazon): Hans doesn't know who he is or where he came from. When he was a baby, he washed ashore in a wooden box and was adopted by the conniving grave robber, Knobbe the Bent. Now fate has thrown him together with Angela von Schwanenberg, a young countess fleeing for her life from the evil Archduke Arnulf and his dreaded Necromancer. Together, these friends are on a daring quest to discover Hans' true identity and to save Angela's parents from the archduke.

Join Hans and Angela on their grand adventure as they ride through the depths of the great forest, sled down a mountain in a coffin, and sneak along the secret passageways of the archduke's palace. The Grave Robber's Apprentice is a world of highwaymen, hermits, and dancing bears; and of a boy separated from his family by the sea.

In this world anything is possible with luck and imagination—even for a grave robber's apprentice.

Scoot’s Review:
The Grave Robber’s Apprentice was a fabulous mid-grade fairytale adventure. It had princesses, evil magicians, traveling performers and an unlikely hero. The pace of the story was great – it never dragged and had a lot of action while still managing to develop emotion and show character depth. It was clearly written and easy to read; I never found myself tripping over the story. The plot was interesting and had themes of family, love and true bravery - along with a lot of fun adventure. Hans and Angela were both great characters and you quickly became attached to each of them. A few well placed clues lead me to figuring out the ‘big twist’ early on, but it didn’t deter at all from my enjoyment of the book. The story wasn’t all soft and fluffy; there were some definitely creepy parts with haunting deaths and disturbing ‘weevils’. I enjoyed the fact that this was a fairytale without magic, but the tale was still magical. And for the hopelessly-romantic like me, there was even a wink of romance enfolded in the tale. Although the author wrapped up the story nicely, I would not mind reentering the world of Hans and Angela again. Be sure to add The Grave Robber’s Apprentice to your wish list!


*Notable Quotable:

“The boy had stopped crying. He looked up at Knobbe with big solemn eyes.
‘Don’t play your baby tricks on me,’ Knobbe warned.
'Your sort are all alike. Sneaky little schemers, out to make a fellow weak.’”
                       -Alan Stratton, The Grave Robber’s Apprentice

Grade:

Random Note: Want to preview the book before you buy it? Go to HarperCollins site HERE to read the first few chapters for free!
 
 *(this quote is from page 5 of the ARC of the novel. Please see the final printed edition of the novel to verify accuracy)