Beside The Norm

No Reflection (A VAMPED Music Video)

2011-12-21T21:43:00.000-07:00

Check out this fun music video based on Lucienne Diver's Vamped series!

If you like the song, click here to download your own copy for free!

Friday Funny: My Little Pony

2011-11-25T00:00:00.002-07:00

For more giggles, check out this link.

The Norm of the Month: Bad Kitty: Catnipped (Written and Created by Michele Jaffe; Art by Lince)

2011-11-15T11:22:00.000-07:00

Description: Trouble seems to follow aspiring detective Jasmine Callihan. Or maybe it’s that Jas (who apparently never learned what Curiosity did to the Cat) follows trouble.

All Jas wants to do today is hang out with her pals (and her superfantastico boyfriend, but shh, don’t tell the Thwarter, aka her dad, who’s trying to keep her under permanent lockdown). Simple. Straightforward. But catastrophe is lurking. First Jas stumbles upon a schoolmate’s lost purse. Then there’s the jewelry store heist, the wrongly accused man, the clueless cops, the seven words that destroy her relationship, and…well, before she knows it, Jas has got a lot more than brunch on her plate.

Now it’s up to her and her mega-cool crew, Roxy, Polly, and Tom, to catch the thief. It won’t be easy—not with Jas’s cousin Alyson and her Evil Hench Twin Veronique tagging along for the ride and having to elude the Thwarter with his All-Seeing Eye. Oh, and her heart breaking into a million tiny pieces.

Trying to right wrongs and have brunch with a hot guy shouldn’t be this taxing, should it?

Why It’s Great: I must admit it: I have never read the Bad Kitty novels. However, after stumbling upon the manga sequel Catnipped, I am more than eager to now! This manga whodunit was heaps of fun to read. Although I never read its YA novel predecessors, it was still easy to follow without them for reference. The plot could be a bit predictable at times, but the humor and heart throughout the story—not to mention the quirky characters!—more than make up for that. The artwork by Lince is also very pleasing, portraying the story in a somewhat more comical manga style that is both enjoyable and suitable. It’s a shame a cliffhanger was tacked on to the story, since a sequel was never released, but the main plot wraps up satisfyingly, so anyone jonesing for a comedic whodunit that happens to be told in manga-form shouldn’t shy away from Catnipped!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

Hope you're all having a spooktastic holiday! To help celebrate, you can check out my list of creepy fantasy characters, if you haven't already, 'cause what better time is there to enjoy characters like that than Halloween? ;)

Now, to help celebrate further, here's a fun animated short of the character Sam, who's awesome Halloween self can be seen in movies like Trick 'R Treat...

Waiting on Wednesday: Eerie Cuties (Vol. 1)

2011-10-19T00:00:00.033-07:00

Title: Eerie Cuties (Vol. 1)
Creators: Gisèle Lagacé and David Lumsdon
Release Date: Mid-November 2011

Collects chapters 1 through 4 (Nov 3/10 to Oct 10/11) of the new full-page format.

Chapter 1: Girls just wanna have fun
Chapter 2: Store-bought
Chapter 3: War dance
Chapter 4: Sisterly Love

Plus includes: Datebusters - An 8-page print-exclusive bonus story.

This collection collects the first year of Eerie Cuties' new full page format, hence the start of a new volume 1 (the previous "comic strip" collection is now volume 0.) Relive all the party fun at the Delacroix's house, Layla & Tiff's blooming friendship, all the events that led to the dance AND the dance itself; and the book's closing chapter, where Nina and Layla switch bodies.

Plus read a brand new print-exclusive story "Datebusters," which follows Ace & Brooke's first date! You don't want to miss that! ;)

Why I'm Looking Forward To It: Eerie Cuties is easily one of my favorite webcomics, so of course I can't wait to own more of it in print! (I already own the comic strip collection.) The fact that this volume is going to contain a print-exclusive story of Ace and Brooke makes me squee even more, since those characters are some of my favorites in the comic! Have you yet to be exposed to the awesomeness that is Eerie Cuties? Click here to read it from the beginning!

Contest Results

2011-10-18T06:22:00.001-07:00

Due to a lack of entries, no one has won the Cirque Du Freak giveaway. I won't be extending the contest deadline since, at this point, I don't feel like anyone would enter even if I did prolong it. Thank you to the couple people who helped spread the word about this contest, despite not wanting to enter themselves. I greatly appreciate it!

Creepy Characters in Fantasy Fiction: Round 1

2011-10-15T01:32:00.001-07:00

In honor of Halloween this month, I’ve decided to make a list of characters who have left an impression on me throughout the years because of their—what else?—creepiness! With fantasy’s tendency to lean toward the horrific, this list could get real long, real fast, so I’m just going to name a few for now. Hopefully I can spotlight more creepy characters for future Octobers! Is one of your favorites a part of this list? Or have I ridiculously forgotten to list someone you think deserves a mention right now? Sound off in the comments!

Edward Cullen

“I’m essentially a selfish creature. I crave your company too much to do what I should.”

—Edward

As Seen In: The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer

Why He’s Creepy: I tried refraining from mentioning Edward in a list like this, since I know he’s not supposed to be creepy, but…come on. When he’s not being downright stalkery, he’s over-controlling and possessive. Forget vampires; this kind of monster—too easily found in the real world—is the thing that gives me nightmares.

The Fairy King

So the Fairy King reached out with his long, ghostly fingers…and ate her soul.

As Seen In: The Dreaming series by Queenie Chan

Why He’s Creepy: This entire manga is full of creepy characters, but if I have to narrow it down to just one for this list, I’m going to go with the Fairy King, since a lot of the creepiness that happens throughout the series wouldn’t have been possible without him. If you thought making a deal with the Devil was bad, wait until you make a deal with a quinkan….

Gravedigger

His face broke into a hideous grin that stretched the width of his skeletal head like a gruesome gash.

As Seen In: The Morpheus Road series by D. J. MacHale

Why He’s Creepy: Has Gravedigger inexplicably been brought to life from a stack of drawings, or is he just a figment of your imagination? Doesn’t matter, because one way or another, this thing is haunting you until he gets what he wants—in this case, your life—and nothing he does to persuade you involves something as pleasant as a “please.” (It may, however, involve a silver pick….)

Harold the Scarecrow

“There really is nothing to be afraid of,” they told one another. “After all, what can a doll do?”

As Seen In: Scary Stories Treasury by Alvin Schwartz; illustrated by Stephen Gammell

Why He’s Creepy: As a kid, Harold’s story—creatively titled “Harold”—is one that always stuck out to me when reading (and rereading!) this series. Considering how this scarecrow has no qualms skinning you and hanging your bloody hide up to dry, is it really that much of a surprise that it did?

Him

With one quick decision he could determine if they awakened tomorrow, or if they languished for hours or days on end, or if their hearts stopped suddenly, midbeat, without the slightest warning.

As Seen In: The Unseen series by Richie Tankersley Cusick

Why He’s Creepy: This supernatural stalker—from a breed so shrouded, no one has a name for them—can take the guise of anyone, as well as show up anywhere, anytime. When he sets his sights out for something—or, rather, someone—don’t expect your life to stay normal for long…if he even lets you live.

Regulators

He sensed his body bleeding into the Regulator, becoming part of her essence…

As Seen In: The Daughters of the Moon and Sons of the Dark series by Lynne Ewing

Why They’re Creepy: They can look supermodel perfect—better than supermodel perfect, even—but that’s only when they bother shapeshifting to look “normal” while traipsing through our world. Evil has deformed their true appearance, making them monstrous inside and out. But don’t worry, they won’t kill you—they’ll just absorb you into their bodies, dooming you to spend eternity seeing life through their eyes as they do their malicious deeds.

The Shadow Men

It looked down at Jenny with its crocodile eyes: ancient, pitiless, and endlessly malevolent.

As Seen In: The Forbidden Game series by L. J. Smith

Why They’re Creepy: Although born beautiful, they grow grotesque with age, to better match the evil within them. (How grotesque? Well, some can be described as looking like a “withered fetus,” for one thing….) These creatures, from a nefarious realm called the Shadow World, like bringing nightmares to life and playing games with humans. (No, not of the Monopoly variety.) What they like even more, however, is souls, and they will stop at nothing to possess yours.

Don't Forget...

2011-10-14T20:27:00.000-07:00

There's only a few days left to enter my Cirque Du Freak contest, where you can win both a book and DVD! To learn more, click here. No one has entered the contest yet, so if you do, there's a very good chance you'll end up being the winner. ;)

Waiting on Wednesday: The Space Between

2011-10-12T00:00:00.007-07:00

Title: The Space Between
Author: Brenna Yovanoff
Release Date: November 14, 2011

Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped - and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

This second novel by rising star Brenna Yovanoff is a story of identity, discovery, and a troubled love between two people struggling to find their place both in our world and theirs.

Why I’m Looking Forward To It: I have yet to read Brenna Yovanoff's first book, The Replacement--although it's in my TBR pile!--but still, I love her short stories, so I'm excited regardless for any book she may write. Plus, who can resist being excited about a premise like the one for The Space Between? Or--more superficially--a book with a cover that stunning?! I know I can't!

What books are the rest of you waiting on this Wednesday?

Teaser Tuesday: Trick or Treat

2011-10-11T10:00:00.012-07:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

*Grab your current read
*Open to a random page
*Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
*BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
*Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

So, which book am I teasing this week?

Trick or Treat by Richie Tankersley Cusick, page 15:

There was a carving knife through his head....

And as the moonlight fell across his slashed face, he grinned up at her.

Cirque Du Freak Contest

2011-10-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

I recently received a book I did not need, so guess what? I’m offering it up in a giveaway for one of you to win!

And what is that book, exactly? Cirque Du Freak: Tunnels of Blood by Darren Shan! That’s not the only prize, however: I am also giving away a copy of the DVD Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, an adaptation of the book series!

Want a chance to win both these prizes? All you have to do is…

1) Be a US resident. (Sorry, non-USians. I can only afford to ship within the US at the moment!)

2) Leave a comment on this post with your email address (so I have a way to contact you if you win) and an answer to this question: What is your favorite vampire book?

That’s it! Easy, right? But guess what: you have more opportunities to win! You can earn extra entries by…

1) Being a follower of this blog. (Earns you 1+ entry. Please be sure to mention you’re a follower in a comment on this post.)

2) Spreading the word about this contest on your blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc. (Each individual post = 1+ entry. So, a blog post = 1+ entry. A blog post AND a tweet = 2+ entries. Etc. Just be sure to link to each in a comment on this post so I can verify it!)

Now that’s it. So what are you waiting for? Enter now! The contest ends Monday, October 17, at midnight. The winner will be chosen by a random number generator and announced on this blog on the 18th, as well as contacted via email. Good luck!

Archie's Weird Mysteries

2011-10-06T19:23:00.000-07:00

Description: Everyone is used to hearing Archie tell wild stories and tall tales, especially in his “Weird Mysteries” news column. But when vampires, werewolves, aliens, and bigfoot monsters start popping up, it’s up to Archie, Betty, Veronica, Reggie and Jughead to get to the bottom of it! There’s always something strange going on…in a little town called Riverdale.

Review:

Archie’s Weird Mysteries is a collection of stories from the now-defunct comic series based on the TV show of the same name—a TV show which was based on the Archie comics franchise in general. (Mind-boggled yet?) Fantasy fans who also happen to enjoy the campy fun Archie and the gang get into will love this particular branch of comics, since it is basically Riverdale with a Sunnydale flare, and what could be more awesome than that?

Absolutely nothing, which will be more than evident once you give Archie’s Weird Mysteries a try. Eager for parodies of Scream and Scooby Doo? You’ve got it! Curious to see what it’d be like if aliens played baseball, or if bigfoot started attending high school? You’ve got that, too! You’ll even get to see beloved characters who once existed solely in the TV show, such as Dr. Beaumont and Scarlet, which is more than a delight if you’re still missing the days new episodes aired with these characters.

This omnibus collection isn’t completely flawless, however. Although Paul Castiglia’s writing is consistently funny, with Fernando Ruiz’s art more stellar than ever thanks to the extra freedom he has with the typical Archie style, I wish this collection of their work was more than just of the “best of” variety. All the stories may stand perfectly well on their own, but there is a sense sometimes that something is missing…and that something is more stories that had originally been released in between the ones collected here. Incidents and back-histories are sometimes alluded to, and while it’s not necessary to see them firsthand to understand the current story, I would have enjoyed seeing them nevertheless so this particular world Archie and the gang live in could be more fleshed out. As a result, I would have much preferred to have, instead of a “best of” collection, several collections released so anyone who missed this comic series when it first came out could now enjoy it all in graphic novel form.

Regardless of this personal preference, Archie’s Weird Mysteries is still more than worthy of checking out, whether you are looking for a dose of nostalgia as an old Archie fan or simply in the mood for some good campy fun with comics that emulate all those awesome B-horror movies of yesteryear. Even better? Once you’ve finished enjoying all the stories collected in this volume, you’ll be treated to an interview with both the writer and artist, learning behind-the-scenes info on the comic as well as the TV show! It’s already October, so what are you waiting for? Pick up this volume today to enjoy Archie and the gang’s zany, fantastical adventures that are more than perfect for Halloween!

Contest!

2011-09-25T00:09:00.000-07:00

In celebration of autumn, author Janelle Madigan is hosting a contest over at her blog! The prize? A $10 Amazon gift card! The contest ends on October 8. Check out her blog for further rules on how to enter.

Waiting on Wednesday: Vampire Knight #13

2011-09-21T01:46:00.000-07:00

Title: Vampire Knight #13
Author: Matsuri Hino
Release Date: October 4, 2011

Cross Adademy is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorm, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Day Class from the Academy's dark secret: the Night Class is full of vampires!

Yuki is attacked by another pureblood outside a graveyard for meddling in the ways of the vampire society. Injured, she returns home to Kaname, who shares with her his past memories and the truth behind the Kuran family.

Why I’m Looking Forward To It: I adore the Vampire Knight series. It is easily one of my favorites in the manga genre! Naturally, having devoured the previous books, I can't wait for the latest addition to be released!

Page to Screen: The One Season of Chloe King

2011-09-18T00:00:00.015-07:00

The Nine Lives of Chloe King--the TV adaptation of the Celia Thomson/Liz Braswell book series of the same name--has been canceled after just one season. For more details, click here.

I have yet to see this show, since I don't have cable, but I am disappointed nevertheless, since I love the books. It's sad to know that its adaptation wasn't successful enough to keep on going.

What about the rest of you? Are you fans of this show and sad to see it go? Or are you saying, "Good riddance!" at this news?

Are You a Fan of Lynne Ewing?

2011-09-17T15:38:00.000-07:00

Then you might be interested in my new Tumblr, No One Starts the Party Without Us, where I blog about anything and everything related to Lynne Ewing and her amazing books! Check it out!

After Obsession Trailer

2011-09-16T00:00:00.012-07:00

I adore anything Carrie Jones writes--so, naturally, I had to pre-order the spooky new book she co-authored, After Obsession! It was just released this month--on the 13th, to be exact--so I eagerly anticipate the day this book finally arrives in my mailbox! Until it does, you all can enjoy this amazing trailer for it with me:

Page to Screen: A Double-Dose of L. J. Smith!

2011-09-15T14:23:00.001-07:00

Tonight the third season of The Vampire Diaries--a very loose adaptation of the L. J. Smith book series by the same name--premieres!

Guess what? The Secret Circle, the latest L. J. Smith adaptation, premieres, too, right after The Vampire Diaries!

You excited? I know I am!

The Norm of the Month: Happyface by Stephen Emond

2011-09-06T15:01:00.000-07:00

Description: Cute girls dig him. He even has his own fan club.

But he wasn’t always this awesome. He used to be Mr. Comic Book, a resident of Lonelyland. So when he switched schools, he slapped on a grin and went from big nerd to big shot. Meet Happyface. This is his story.

Why It’s Great: Happyface is the fictional journal of a boy who once did little else than read comics and sketch his own, but after tragedy strikes in his family, resulting in a move and switch of schools, he reinvents himself, earning the nickname Happyface in the process. He still sketches in his journal, but chooses to keep that fact hidden, along with his past, the latter of which haunts him until the happiness he’s trying to exude finally starts to break.

Happyface is easily one of the most satisfying YA contemporaries I have read as of late. It is simultaneously hilarious and touching and heartbreaking. Even when his behavior is inexcusable, you can’t help but feel for Happyface and hope everything turns out okay for him in the end. His growth and maturity is amazing to see unfold, and even a bit painful, since it is far from an easy journey, and one that all of us can relate to in some way, I’d reckon. The art within the book—ranging from doodles to fleshed-out comics—only makes it more enticing to read. (I had actually been in the middle of reading another book, but flipping through this one and seeing all the quirky artwork compelled me to read Happyface instead, it’s that awesome.) Happyface’s world—as tragic as it can be sometimes—is one you’ll be tempted to stay in, until you realize you’ve read the entire book in one sitting and can’t stay in it anymore! Needless to say, if you’re in search of a humorous YA with heart, Stephen Emond’s Happyface is the way to go!

Help a Library!

2011-09-03T17:28:00.000-07:00

Libraries have been devastated recently because of Tropical Storm Irene. To learn how you can help compensate for the damage, check out author Kate Messner's blog. Every little bit helps!

Absolute Boyfriend #1-6 by Yuu Watase

2011-09-02T15:32:00.000-07:00

Description: Rejected way too many times by good-looking (and unattainable) guys, shy Riiko Izawa goes online and signs up for a free trial of a mysterious Nightly Lover “figure.” The very next day, a cute naked guy is delivered to her door, and he wants to be her boyfriend!

Review:

Yuu Watase’s manga series Absolute Boyfriend is not only laugh-out-loud hilarious in its six-volume run, but also—surprisingly—emotionally gripping. This is a real testament to the creator’s storytelling ability, since it is far too easy to make far-out premises such as this—in this case, a romantically (and repeatedly) rejected teenager ordering herself a robotic boyfriend—nothing but a farce.

The characters are a big reason why Yuu Watase is able to keep this series down-to-earth enough for readers to care. They are all lovably quirky, and just plain lovable, each sharing their own unique flaws that make them relatable, or at least understandable. There’s Riiko, the girl desperate enough to order herself a boyfriend; Night, the “figure” designed to love her, who—amidst his giggle-inducing naivety of the world—seems to develop feelings that are more than manufactured; Soshi, Riiko’s childhood friend who may want to be more than that; and Gaku, the salesman of Night with an uncanny ability to pop up out of nowhere—even Riiko’s closet. Having all these colorful characters interact and clash with each other is a delight to see unfold on the page, and the fact that I can care about all of them in some way by the end only makes that delight more rewarding!

One aspect that really impressed me was the love triangle. Too often in other works, it is easy to guess who the girl will pick, or even when it’s not easy, to side with a certain boy right away, incapable of being swayed from that shipping preference. Not true in Absolute Boyfriend! I was guessing till the very end over which boy Riiko would eventually pair up with, and although I did lean slightly more one way, I was utterly torn between both boys. Each were great matches for Riiko, and individually, they were just great people, period. That, in my mind, is the way love triangles should be, so I thoroughly enjoyed this rollercoaster of indecision Yuu Watase sent me on!

In the end, Absolute Boyfriend is a highly entertaining manga series that will compel you to laugh as well as cry. Not only is the story great, but the art as well, capable of molding itself to fit both the funnier and more somber moments throughout the series. It is definitely one of the best I have read so far in the shojo line. Even better, taking a chance on this series won’t be too much of a time-suck, since there are only six volumes total—easy to breeze through in just a few days' time if you’re in need of a romantic manga fix!

My New Blog

2011-08-28T21:34:00.000-07:00

If you guys enjoy all my bookish ramblings here at Beside The Norm, please consider hopping over to my new blog here, where I blog about not just books, but writing, drawing, music, TV, and anything else I feel like squeeing or grumbling about at the moment!

D. J. MacHale's Park City TV Interview

2011-08-27T00:00:00.001-07:00

Check out this interview D. J. MacHale did back in April, about his amazing Morpheus Road series!

I'm Baaaaaack!

2011-08-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

From the road trip, that is! I've actually been back since Tuesday, but I haven't had time to blog because of all the unpacking, and then I had to deal with finding a new laptop since my old one was going caput after four years of use.

But enough about that. Time to see what books I managed to read while stuck on the road for three weeks!

(Click on the covers to learn more about a specific book!)

Yes, expect reviews for these books and others to start popping up once I'm more settled in. ;)

See Ya in September!

2011-08-03T00:48:00.000-07:00

Just like last year, I'll be off on a road trip this August. I won't be back for practically a month. Because of that, blogging here will be sparse, in not nonexistent. I have plenty of reviews in progress, as well as a stash of books to read while away, so hopefully, when I return, you all will have heaps of posts to look forward to. Until then, have a happy August while I'm away!

Friday Funny: How Twilight Should Have Ended

2011-07-22T12:19:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday: After Obsession

2011-07-06T09:02:00.000-07:00

Title: After Obsession
Authors: Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel
Release Date: September 13, 2011

Aimee and Alan have secrets. Both teens have unusual pasts and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. But when they meet each other, in a cold Maine town, they can't stop their secrets from spilling out. Strange things have been happening lately, and they both feel that something--or someone--is haunting them. They're wrong. Despite their unusual history and powers, it's neither Aimee nor Alan who is truly haunted. It's Alan's cousin Courtney who, in a desperate plea to find her missing father, has invited a demon into her life--and into her body. Only together can Aimee and Alan exorcise the ghost. And they have to move quickly, before it devours not just Courtney but everything around her.

Filled with heart-pounding romance, paranormal activity, and rich teen characters to love--and introducing an exciting new YA voice, Steven Wedel--this novel is exactly what Carrie Jones fans have been waiting for. Meet your next obsession.

Why I’m Looking Forward To It: Although I have no idea what Steven E. Wedel's writing is like, I have read plenty of books by Carrie Jones. She has yet to disappoint me, whether she's writing about evil pixies or gay ex-boyfriends, so I can't wait to dig into After Obsession and see if I fall in love with it just as much!

The Ripper by D. E. Athkins

2011-07-04T11:40:00.000-07:00

Description: It all started out as a party. And then there was a game. A game of hiding and seeking. A game of hunting and weeping. And before anyone knew what was happening, someone was killed. The game was over. And the only suspects they had were each other…unless there was someone else out there. Someone who was still playing the game.

Review:

D. E. Athkins’ The Ripper is a thrilling addition to YA Horror. The Halloween atmosphere at the start of this book more than readies readers for the dark and bloody tale weaved by the author. Gathering together for a party in the cemetery, the characters dress up as everything from vampires to Dorothy (of Wizard of Oz fame), and even a psychotic, ax-wielding Santa. Each have personalities as distinct as their costumes that, in spite of the potentially confusing amount of characters, are easy to remember. Even better is the intriguingly complicated relationships they all have with each other, be it romantic, familial, etc--although it may be hard to love a character at times, that aspect makes it just as hard not to get invested with them.

It’s even harder not to get invested once the killings start--killings one of them may be causing. Killings that might not even be the result of something human.

This book may be short, not even clocking in at 200 pages, but D. E. Athkins could have written a story three times as long, and I still would have been riveted enough to read this in one sitting. The descriptions are vivid and to-the-point, with awesomely apt observations sprinkled amongst them as well. (One of my personal favorite lines was how a person’s true nature comes out while in costume.) I grew edgier and edgier while reading this novel, anticipating the next kill and the eventual reveal of the killer, both of which left me guessing till the very end. For a quick, satisfyingly spooky--and just plain satisfying--YA Horror novel, D. E. Athkins’ The Ripper is a must!

Waiting on Wednesday: Sisters of Isis

2011-06-22T03:14:00.000-07:00

Title: Sisters of Isis: Volume 1 (The Summoning & Divine One)
Author: Lynne Ewing
Release Date: December 13, 2011

Based in Egyptian mythology and set in modern-day Washington, D.C., Sisters of Isis follows the lives of Meri, Sudi, and Dalila, three fifteen-year-old girls who have just discovered they are descendants of very powerful ancestors—Egyptian pharaohs. From these ancestors they’ve inherited magical powers of transformation, the ability to cast spells from the Book of Thoth, and, as they will soon learn, the responsibility of protecting the world from the evil forces of Chaos.

Why I’m Looking Forward To It: Lynne Ewing is my all-time favorite author, so of course I'm going to look forward to anything she releases--even if that release is of a series I've read several times before, since Sisters of Isis was originally released back in 2007-2008. The first two books--The Summoning and Divine One--are now being published together for you all to enjoy in a single volume. And trust me, you will enjoy it, if you're a fan of fast-paced, well-written fantasies full of girl-power friendships and healthy doses of Egyptian mythology!

Teaser Tuesday: The Secret Circle

2011-06-21T03:25:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

*Grab your current read
*Open to a random page
*Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
*BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
*Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

So, which book am I teasing this week?

The Secret Circle: The Initiation and The Captive (Part 1) by L. J. Smith, page 72:

They were creating chaos as they went, knocking books out of people's arms and grabbing at girls' clothes. As they reached the end of the hallway, one of them caught a pretty redhead's miniskirt and deftly flipped it up to waist level.

Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon

2011-06-19T18:58:00.000-07:00

Cross-posted at OCD, Vampires, and Rants, Oh My!

Description: No one wanted Ai Ling. And deep down, she is relieved--despite the dishonor she has brought upon her family--to be unbetrothed and free, not some stranger’s subservient bride banished to the inner quarters.

But now, something is after her. Something terrifying--a force she cannot comprehend. And as pieces of the puzzle start to fit together, Ai Ling begins to understand that her journey to the Palace of Fragrant Dreams isn’t only a quest to find her beloved father but a venture with stakes larger than she could have imagined.

Bravery, intelligence, the will to fight and fight hard…she will need all of these things. Just as she will need the new and mysterious power growing within her. She will also need help.

It is Chen Yong who finds her partly submerged and barely breathing at the edge of a deep lake. There is something of unspeakable evil trying to drag her under. On a quest of his own, Chen Yong offers that help…and perhaps more.

Review:

Cindy Pon’s Silver Phoenix is a refreshing addition to the wide array of fantasies currently available in the YA genre. Ai Ling is an easily likable character as she struggles against not just the disapproval from others for not being betrothed, as is custom in her culture, but also the sudden development of paranormal abilities--which eventually ties into attacks by equally fantastical, but much more malevolent, entities--and the disappearance of her father. Naturally, fueled by an independence so frowned upon for girls, as well as the deep love she has for her father, Ai Ling goes on a journey to find him, gaining allies and enemies alike, along with a startling discovery about herself that changes her journey in ways she never once expected.

I must admit, the plot sometimes dragged, and also felt uneven at parts, but overall, I highly recommend Silver Phoenix. The inclusion of Chinese mythos is a breath of fresh air compared to many other fantasies, the rich lore made even more vivid by Cindy Pon’s lush descriptions. (Beware, she loves describing food--you may get hungry while reading!) The family element was also something I appreciated, since it is far too easy for some YA writers to disregard their importance for their teen characters. I found myself caring deeply for these characters, and it is them most of all that is making me as eager as I am for the sequel. For an enthralling YA fantasy that steps away from the ever-growing clichés of the genre, Cindy Pon’s Silver Phoenix is a must!

Friday Funny: Vampire Diaries Parody

2011-06-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

Missing The Vampire Diaries now that season 2 is over? Enjoy this parody...

Help a School Library!

2011-06-02T04:26:00.000-07:00

Author Christine Norris is in need of books for her school library. In her words...

My school is early childhood - 3,4, and 5 year olds. Pre-K and K. If you've written a book for that age and can spare a copy, that would be great. Likewise, if you have gently used picture books that are no longer being read that you'd like to donate, I'll take them. And if you aren't able to help with books, can you please boost this signal?

To learn more, such as where to send the books, please click here. (I've already sent three books!)

The Norm of the Month: Drive-By by Lynne Ewing

2011-05-31T19:28:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know, June is practically here already. But hey, since it technically isn’t yet, I figured I still have time to squeeze in a “Norm of the Month” post for May. ;)

Description: Jimmy always told me there were only two kinds of gangbangers: those who were dead and those who were going to die. Joining a gang didn’t make sense to Jimmy….

Jimmy is dead now--gunned down in front of his little sister, Mina, and his brother, Tito. And Tito is left wondering: Was Jimmy in a gang after all? Ice Breaker Joe and Lamar seem to think so. They say Jimmy was skimming their drug money. And if the missing cash isn’t returned, Tito may have to pay--with his life.

Why It’s Great: I’ve been a huge fan of Lynne Ewing for years. (She is my favorite author.) I am so glad that I finally got my hands on her contemporaries, because her debut novel, Drive-By, is an astounding addition to the Middle Grade genre! Even without an incident as tragic as the death of his brother, it is hard not to feel sympathetic toward the narrator, Tito, and the rest of the characters. They are incredibly fleshed-out and real, despite this book not even reaching 90 pages in length. You can’t help but flip through the pages to see what will happen to Tito the more he unwillingly gets mixed up in the gang-related mess his brother may or may not have left behind in his death. It all gets resolved satisfyingly in the end--an end, I must say, that left me tearing up. Whether those were sad or happy tears is up to you to find out by reading this amazing book yourself!

Friday Funny: Mice and Men

2011-05-27T02:00:00.000-07:00

This show hasn't even premiered yet, but here I am, already having fun with screen caps from The Nine Lives of Chloe King, about a girl who's descended from a race of cat-like people...

Page to Screen: The Secret Circle

2011-05-26T02:14:00.000-07:00

Check out this cool new extended trailer for the adaptation of L. J. Smith's The Secret Circle:

Waiting on Wednesday: Kitty's Greatest Hits

2011-05-25T00:00:00.003-07:00

Title: Kitty's Greatest Hits
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Release Date: August 16, 2011

The first-ever story collection from the New York Times bestselling author, including two all-new works!

Kitty Norville, star of a New York Times bestselling series, is everybody’s favorite werewolf DJ and out-of-the-closet supernatural creature. Over the course of eight books she’s fought evil vampires, were-creatures, and some serious black magic. She’s done it all with a sharp wit and the help of a memorable cast of werewolf hunters, psychics, and if-notgood- then-neutral vampires by her side. Kitty’s Greatest Hits not only gives readers some of Kitty’s further adventures, it offers longtime fans a window into the origins of some of their favorite characters.

In “Conquistador de la Noche,” we learn the origin story of Denver’s Master vampire, Rick; with “Wild Ride,” we find out how Kitty’s friend T.J. became a werewolf; and in “Life is the Teacher,” we revisit Emma, the human-turned-unwilling-vampire who serves the aloof vampire Master of Washington, D.C.

This entertaining collection includes two brand-new works: “You’re On the Air,” about one of Kitty’s callers after he hangs up the phone; and the eagerly awaited “Long Time Waiting,” the novella that finally reveals just what happened to Cormac in prison, something every Kitty fan wants to know.

Why I’m Looking Forward To It: As should be no surprise to any of you by now, I am a huge fan of the author Carrie Vaughn--particularly, her Kitty Norville series, a clever urban fantasy about a werewolf who doubles as a radio DJ. I'm always seeking out her short stories, whether or not they pertain to this series, so it'll be great to finally have the Kitty-related ones in one place for me to read and re-read!

Teaser Tuesday: All Just Glass

2011-05-24T00:00:00.002-07:00

"Even if he's not directly part of our current target, I wouldn't mind having a shot at that sadist."

Adia was occasionally worried that Zachary, so far as she could tell, wouldn't mind "having a shot at" a bunny if it were sufficiently connected to vampires.

Page to Screen: The Nine Lives of Chloe King

2011-05-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

As long-time readers of this blog should know by now, I am super-excited for the adaptation of The Nine Lives of Chloe King, premiering as soon as June 14 on ABC Family! To give you more of a taste of the show, here's a sneak peek from the pilot episode:

Already I can tell there are differences from the books--Brian bought the cat-ear cap instead of knitting it himself, WTF?--but still, compared to other adaptations I've seen, this one looks more accurate than not, which is making me even more excited! What about the rest of you? Are you just as eager to see this show as me? Do you love the books, too, or at least plan to read them now that a show version will be coming to your TV screens? Check out this action-packed promo while you think of how to answer:

Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon

2011-05-22T00:00:00.003-07:00

Description: Dear Reader,

Being trapped in a bedroom with a woman is a grand thing. Being trapped in hundreds of bedrooms over two thousand years isn’t. And being cursed into a book as a love-slave for eternity can ruin even a Spartan warrior’s day.

As a love-slave, I knew everything about women. How to touch them, how to savor them, and most of all, how to pleasure them. But when I was summoned to fulfill Grace Alexander’s sexual fantasies, I found the first woman in history who saw me as a man with a tormented past. She alone bothered to take me out of the bedroom and into the world. She taught me to love again.

But I was not born to know love. I was cursed to walk eternity alone. As a general, I had long ago accepted my sentence. Yet now I have found Grace--the one thing my wounded heart cannot survive without. Sure, love can heal all wounds, but can it break a two-thousand year-old curse?

--Julian of Macedon

Review:

Grace summons Julian, a Spartan warrior cursed to be a love-slave ages ago, as a joke. To her shock, that joke becomes reality when the summons actually works. Although Julian is meant to fulfill her sexual desires, nothing more, Grace sees the person he is beneath--the person he was before being cursed with this kind of life--and instead of bedding with him, makes it her mission to somehow free him from this curse.

I am often leery of reading romances, and that is largely because the male leads have a tendency to be cocky, insensitive jerks…yet that isn’t considered a flaw (or if it is, the female leads apparently don’t care). Luckily, this book doesn’t suffer from something so grating. Sherrilyn Kenyon makes it easy for readers to sympathize with Julian as much as Grace does. This is in part because of his tortured past, but also because he is a genuinely kind, likable guy that you can’t help but root to hook up with Grace. The relationship they develop is refreshingly sweet--and no, I do not simply mean a romantic relationship. A friendship forms between them as well, giving Grace and Julian one of the healthier, more believable relationships in the romance genre I’ve seen.

Given my love for this brand of lore, I would be a fool not to mention the Greek mythology in Fantasy Lover! Sherrilyn Kenyon ties it into the plot in an intriguing way, and I enjoyed seeing some of my favorite gods--such as Psyche and Eros--make an appearance in this novel, and with purpose! This, paired with the previously praised romance, makes this book a must read to me--if it’s not already one for you, too, then I suggest you make it one!

Page to Screen: The Secret Circle

2011-05-21T02:23:00.000-07:00

The CW has picked up The Secret Circle to air this fall, an adaptation of the L. J. Smith book series by the same name. Check out a promo for the show:

What, that's not enough? Fine, check out a couple quick scenes from the show as well:

Who here is excited for this show? Anyone already a fan of the books, or are these vids your first taste of The Secret Circle? As big of a fan as I am of L. J. Smith, this is a series of hers that I have yet to read. Nevertheless, I still plan to read it this summer, now that I have the entire series in my To Be Read pile! I'm not optimistic about a faithful adaptation, if The Vampire Diaries is any indication of how far a show can stray from its source material, but I'm still eager to see the show regardless. What about the rest of you?

Abandon Vid

2011-04-26T16:45:00.000-07:00

Check out this cool vid about Meg Cabot's Abandon:

Page to Screen: The Nine Lives of Chloe King (Promo)

2011-04-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

Re(dis)covered: Daughters of the Moon

2011-04-14T00:00:00.007-07:00

It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these posts. To reinitiate Re(dis)covered, I’m going to compare the original six covers of Lynne Ewing’s Daughters of the Moon series--the best book series ever, IMO--with the two omnibus editions currently available:

Batch 1:

Batch 2:

My Thoughts:

I think that both the originals and the re-releases are stunning. Both batches capture the essence of the series, have super-cool fonts, and are just plain pretty to look at. However, if I can only choose one batch as my favorite, it is, without a doubt, batch 1. I love how, with the early books, it is clear that the photographer made an effort to have the models’ clothes mimic what the characters actually wore within their individual stories. (That’s right: no stock photography for this series!) The crescent moon decal is also a very nifty, not to mention appropriate, addition to the series number design. The colors are so vivid, too. Overall, the originals are very eye-catching, giving readers an instant glimpse of the fun supernatural adventures within! (More effectively than those in batch 2, might I add, although those covers are certainly drool-worthy in their own right.)

What about the rest of you? Which batch of covers do you prefer?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Nine Lives of Chloe King

2011-04-13T14:38:00.001-07:00

Title: The Nine Lives of Chloe King (The Fallen; The Stolen; The Chosen)
Author: Liz Braswell
Release Date: June 7, 2011

Chloe King is a normal girl. She goes to class (most of the time), fights with her mom, and crushes on a boy…or two. But around her sixteenth birthday, Chloe finds that perhaps she isn’t so normal after all. There’s the heightened night vision, the super fast reflexes – oh, and the claws.

As she discovers who she is – and where she comes from – it is clear she is not alone. And someone is trying to get her.

Chloe has nine lives. But will nine be enough?

Why I’m Looking Forward To It: As I hoped, Celia Thomson’s The Nine Lives of Chloe King series is being re-released thanks to the television adaptation, but this time it’s as an omnibus edition, and under the author’s real name: Liz Braswell. I adored the first two books, The Fallen and The Stolen, but have never been able to find the third, The Chosen, not even at the library. I can’t wait to get my hands on this book so I can relive the fun and unique story of a *cough* catty Chloe and finally see how it continues!

Teaser Tuesday: Entice

2011-04-12T14:42:00.000-07:00

“What we need is a psychic witch moment where we create a witch finder, the way Willow and Tara did in Buffy, or a transporter homing beacon type thing, like they have in Star Trek--” Issie stops herself because she must be noticing that we are all staring pretty blankly at her. “Does anyone know what I’m talking about?”

None of us do.

The Norm of the Month: Doing It by Melvin Burgess

2011-04-06T17:29:00.001-07:00

Description: The controversial book on which the cult favorite ABC television series Life As We Know It was based, Doing It introduces us to Dino, Jon, and Ben, three teenage best friends who can’t stop thinking about, and talking about, well, doing it.

Why It’s Great: As a huge fan of the canceled-too-soon show Life As We Know It, I’ve been eager to read the book that inspired it, Doing It, for quite a while. Although a head-trip at times, because of the natural differences adaptations have, this book was still a solid read, and I’m glad my love for its TV counterpart convinced me to seek it out when I otherwise wouldn’t have. It’s shameless and raunchy, but also filled with a surprising amount of heart the more you delve into the story. I particularly enjoyed glimpsing into the first-person narratives of the characters amidst all the third-person. Even when I couldn’t agree with the characters, it helped me better understand them by so intimately seeing their thoughts. (And no, their thoughts aren’t 100% about sex, although--obviously, given the nature of the plot--that does take up a huge chunk of it!)

Abandon Trailer

2011-03-26T15:23:00.000-07:00

Check out this trailer for Abandon, Meg Cabot's YA fantasy being released this April!

L. J. Smith Fired from the Vampire Diaries

2011-02-12T15:54:00.000-07:00

As many of you have probably heard by now, L. J. Smith has been fired from writing any more books for The Vampire Diaries, as she recently confirmed over on her blog. The new trilogy will be written by a ghostwriter, since The Vampire Diaries was--and still is--a work-for-hire series that L. J. Smith technically didn't own, despite being the one to create the characters and develop the story. Although Harper Collins and Alloy are completely within their rights to do this, I still find it devastating that L. J. Smith has been forced to abandon her creation like this.

How do you guys feel about the situation? Are you also saddened that L. J. Smith won't be writing The Vampire Diaries: The Hunters and any other related trilogies that may follow? Will you still be giving these new books a chance despite that?

Friday Funny: Kaname Wants Pie!

2011-02-11T15:31:00.001-07:00

Do you love Matsuri Hino's Vampire Knight? Have you ever wished to see it spliced with South Park? Scroll down, then, to watch this hilarious vid from YouTube!

Waiting on Wednesday: Steel

2011-02-09T16:38:00.000-07:00

Title: Steel
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Release Date: March 15, 2011

It was a slender length of rusted steel, tapered to a point at one end and jagged at the other, as if it had broken. A thousand people would step over it and think it trash, but not her.

This was the tip of a rapier.

Sixteen-year-old Jill has fought in dozens of fencing tournaments, but she has never held a sharpened blade. When she finds a corroded sword piece on a Caribbean beach, she is instantly intrigued and pockets it as her own personal treasure.

The broken tip holds secrets, though, and it transports Jill through time to the deck of a pirate ship. Stranded in the past and surrounded by strangers, she is forced to sign on as crew. But a pirate's life is bloody and brief, and as Jill learns about the dark magic that brought her there, she forms a desperate scheme to get home—one that risks everything in a duel to the death with a villainous pirate captain.

Time travel, swordplay, and romance combine in an original high-seas adventure from New York Times bestseller Carrie Vaughn.

Why I’m Looking Forward To It: I'm a huge fan of Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville series, as well as her short stories, so--naturally--anything this author writes is an auto-buy for me. Even if I had never read anything by Carrie Vaughn before, though, Steel still looks like a YA full of many intriguing elements that make it impossible for me to pass up!

Page to Screen: The 10 Episodes of Chloe King

2011-02-05T00:00:00.003-07:00

ABC Family has recently ordered 10 episodes of The Nine Lives of Chloe King, a television series based off of Celia Thomson’s amazing YA books about a girl who discovers she belongs to a race of cat-like people. To learn more, click here. Also, while you’re at it, why don’t you go hop on over to the author’s blog to congratulate her?

Most of the casting choices don’t match what I envision these characters looking like, but I have no doubt that Skyler Samuels and Amy Pietz can pull off their roles. If the other actors can, too--and if their characters actually match their bookish origins (unlike The Vampire Diaries adaptation)--then the show will easily be as a great as the books!

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to watch this show when it airs, since I don’t have cable. What about you guys? Are you excited about this adaptation? Will you be watching The Nine Lives of Chloe King when it premieres, or--even better--find a way to check out the books?

Friday Funny: Magick Chicks

2011-02-04T15:00:00.000-07:00

This week, for the Friday Funny, I am going to link to a brand new fantasy webcomic that's sure to make you laugh-out-loud...

Magick Chicks

So far, there is only one strip up, but it is a spin-off of my all-time favorite webcomic Eerie Cuties, so it is sure to develop into something amazing! (See me fangirling that webcomic here.) If you've never read Eerie Cuties before, don't worry, it's not necessary for you to have read that webcomic to understand this one!

So what are you waiting for? Check it out!

Waiting on Wednesday: Fury of the Phoenix

2011-02-02T00:00:00.003-07:00

Title: Fury of the Phoenix
Author: Cindy Pon
Release Date: March 29, 2011

When Ai Ling leaves her home and family to accompany Chen Yong on his quest to find his father, haunted by the ancient evil she thought she had banished to the underworld, she must use her growing supernatural powers to save Chen Yong from the curses that follow her. Part supernatural page-turner, part love story, and altogether stirring, Fury of the Phoenix further heralds the arrival of Cindy Pon as a stellar author of paranormal romance and fantasy.

Why I’m Looking Forward To It: I enjoyed the first book in this series, Silver Phoenix, quite a bit. (Expect a review of that book to pop up here in the near future!) Naturally, I can’t wait to see what new adventures Cindy Pon has in store for Ai Ling and Chen Yong!

Friday Funny

2011-01-28T01:20:00.000-07:00

Friday Funny

2011-01-14T15:57:00.000-07:00

The Winner of the 2010 Readers' Ghosty is...

2011-01-08T00:50:00.000-07:00

…not Betwixt by Tara Bray Smith, The Fallen #1: The Fallen and Leviathan by Thomas E. Sniegoski, or Werewolf Haiku by Ryan Mecum. However, each of those books are tied for second place!

So, which book did win the 2010 Readers’ Ghosty? Maggie Stiefvater’s romantic werewolf novel Shiver!

Thank you, everyone, who voted and let their favorite book be known! Hope to see you all around for the 2011 Readers’ Ghosty!

The Last Day to Vote!

2011-01-07T00:00:00.001-07:00

Today is the last day to vote for your favorite book in the 2010 Readers' Ghosty. CLICK HERE to participate!

Waiting on Wednesday: Vesper

2011-01-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

Title: Vesper (A Deviants Novel)
Author: Jeff Sampson
Release Date: January 25, 2011

Emily Webb is a geek. And she’s happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old horror flicks, she’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for midnight parties. And she’s definitely not the kind of girl who starts fights or flirts with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that . . . the same night one of her classmates—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered.

The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing any of this. By day, she’s the same old boring Emily, but by night, she turns into a thrill seeker. With every nightfall, Emily gets wilder until it’s no longer just her personality that changes. Her body can do things it never could before: Emily is now strong, fast, and utterly fearless. And soon Emily realizes that she’s not just coming out of her shell . . . there’s something much bigger going on. Is she bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely— something not human?

As Emily hunts for answers, she finds out that she’s not the only one this is happening to—some of her classmates are changing as well. Who is turning these teens into monsters—and how many people will they kill to get what they want?

Why I’m Looking Forward To It: It sounds like such a dark, intriguing premise. I can’t wait to see if the execution is just as gripping as the summary!

Teaser Tuesday: Haunted Lily

2011-01-04T22:19:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

*Grab your current read
*Open to a random page
*Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
*BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
*Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

So, which book am I teasing this week?

Haunted Lily: The Nightmare Ball (Book One of the Ghost Memoirs) by Sidney Fox, page 27:

Gathering all his courage he stood up and walked toward the door. He held the cricket bat out in front of him trying to feel through the darkness and then cautiously placed his shaking hand on the glass opposite the disembodied hand.

Vote in the 2010 Readers' Ghosty!

2010-12-31T17:57:00.000-07:00

That's right, guys! It's time for you all to decide which book reviewed here in 2010 is your favorite! You only have until 11:59 P.M. on January 7 to do so. So what are you waiting for? Go vote in the poll!

Which book reviewed in 2010 is your favorite?
	666: The Number of the Beast (anthology)
	Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater
	Betwixt by Tara Bray Smith
	Brighid's Quest by P. C. Cast
	Crashed by Robin Wasserman
	Cupid by Julius Lester
	Dark Visions (The Strange Power; The Possessed; The Passion) by L. J. Smith
	Dead is the New Black by Marlene Perez
	Dividing Dark by Melissa Swaim
	Divine By Blood by P. C. Cast
	Divine By Choice by P. C. Cast
	Divine By Mistake by P. C. Cast
	Elphame's Choice by P. C. Cast
	The Fallen #1: The Fallen and Leviathan by Thomas E. Sniegoski
	Fate by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
	The Forbidden Game (The Hunter; The Chase; The Kill) by L. J. Smith
	House of Night #5: Hunted by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast
	Kitty's House of Horrors by Carrie Vaughn
	The Morganville Vampires #6: Carpe Corpus by Rachel Caine
	The Morganville Vampires #7: Fade Out by Rachel Caine
	The Morganville Vampires #8: Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine
	My Zombie Valentine (anthology)
	Pantheon High #1: Demigods and Debutantes written by Paul Benjamin; art by Steven and Megumi Cummings
	Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev
	The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks
	Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
	Thirteen Days to Midnight by Patrick Carman
	The Vampire Diaries: The Return #1: Nightfall by L. J. Smith
	Werewolf Haiku by Ryan Mecum
Results

Teaser Tuesday: Haunted Lily

2010-11-23T08:09:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

*Grab your current read
*Open to a random page
*Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
*BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
*Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

So, which book am I teasing this week?

Haunted Lily: The Nightmare Ball (Book One of the Ghost Memoirs) by Sidney Fox, page xi:

Once a glorious grand dame, the enormous mansion standing before her sat shamed, rotting, disgraced. Raped and beaten by time, it was now nothing more than a corpse left to decompose, having gone to seed long ago.

Friday Funny

2010-11-12T00:00:00.001-07:00

Re(dis)covered: The Reformed Vampire Support Group

2010-11-11T00:00:00.003-07:00

Today we’re going to compare the U.S. covers for Catherine Jinks’ The Reformed Vampire Support Group:

Batch 1:

Batch 2:

My Thoughts:

While the second cover is appealing--it definitely caught my eye the last time I was at a bookstore--I prefer the original a lot more. (And not just because I love the cartoony style of it!) The Reformed Vampire Support Group has a very irreverent take on vampires, one that would send diehard fans of the romanticized kind running in the opposite direction, screaming their heads off. No, that does not mean the vampires are frightening--they are, instead, sickly, with vampirism seen more as a chronic disease that is a pain to put up with. Not even the vampy protagonist can consider her kind “cool” for much of the book, so the fact that this new cover shows a girl who looks totally kick-butt is a big disservice to the story within. (Plus, one of the characters depicted on the original cover is a vampy old woman. Vampy old women trump all!)

But enough of my rambling. Which cover do you guys prefer?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group

2010-11-10T00:00:00.001-07:00

Title: The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group
Author: Catherine Jinks
Release Date: April 4, 2011

When Tobias Richard Vandevelde wakes up in a hospital with no memory of the night before, his horrified mother tells him that he was found unconscious. At Featherdale Wildlife Park. In a dingo pen. He assumes that his two best friends are somehow responsible, until the mysterious Reuben turns up, claiming that Toby has a rare and dangerous “condition.” Next thing he knows, Toby finds himself involved with a strange bunch of sickly insomniacs who seem convinced that he needs their help. It’s not until he’s kidnapped and imprisoned that he starts to believe them—and to understand what being a paranormal monster really means.

Why I’m Looking Forward To It: I was ecstatic to learn that there would be a sequel of sorts to Catherine Jinks’ The Reformed Vampire Support Group. That book had an enjoyably irreverent take on vampires, and while it did give us a glimpse of werewolves as well, I’m looking forward to seeing them explored in more depth in The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group!

Teaser Tuesday: Fantasy Lover

2010-11-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

“Why did you hit him?”

Julian gave her a droll look. “Because it gave me a great deal of pleasure.”

The Norm of the Month: Bloodthirsty by Flynn Meaney

2010-11-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

Description: Awkward and allergic to the sun, sixteen-year-old Finbar Frame never gets the girl. But when he notices that all the female students at his school are obsessed with a vampire romance novel called Bloodthirsty, Finbar decides to boldly go where no sane guy has gone before--he becomes a vampire, minus the whole bloodsucking part.

With his brooding nature and unusually pale skin, it’s surprisingly easy for Finbar to pretend to be supernatural. But when he meets the one girl who just might like him for who he really is, he discovers that life as a pseudo-vampire is more complicated than he expected.

This hilarious debut novel is for anyone who believes that sometimes even nice guys--without sharp teeth or sparkly skin--can get the girl.

Why It’s Great: I know what you guys are thinking--why am I reviewing a vampire book for the Norm of the Month? That’s because, despite Bloodthirsty being about vampires, it is not a fantasy in any way. Finbar is simply pretending to be one of the fangy undead in order to attract girls. If that concept alone hasn’t convinced you to run out and read this book, how about the fact that this is one of the funniest books I’ve read all year? I could not stop laughing as I read about Finbar’s misadventures, and couldn’t stop reading, period. Finbar’s commentary on family, high school, and love are hilariously spot-on. What I found most compelling, however, was the dissatisfaction several characters, not just Finbar, were seen to have with their lives, fueling a desire to change because, to them, being someone completely different has got to be better than who they actually are. (The book is very the-grass-is-greener that way.)

At the end of the day, not only is Bloodthirsty enjoyably clever, but relatable, too. For a YA contemporary that comments on vampire pop-culture as much as life in general--and smartly, at that--Flynn Meaney’s Bloodthirsty is a must. And if you’re having a bad day, that only gives you more reason to pick this book up. (I know it cheered me up when I was feeling depressed.) So what are you waiting for? Read Bloodthirsty now!

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T01:31:00.000-07:00

MIA

2010-10-29T03:36:00.000-07:00

Sorry about not posting entries/commenting on blogs as much as I usually do. College has been eating my brain cells lately, which caused me to slack off on Beside The Norm, and probably still will for at least another week. Hopefully, once I find a better way to juggle my responsibilities, you'll be seeing regular updates again soon!

Waiting on Wednesday: Abandon

2010-10-27T00:00:00.001-07:00

Title: Abandon
Author: Meg Cabot
Release Date: April 2011

She knows what it's like to die. Now Death wants her back.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce knows what happens to us when we die.

That's how she met John Hayden, the mysterious stranger who's made returning to normal life—or at least life as Pierce knew it before the accident—next to impossible.

Though she thought she escaped him—starting a new school in a whole new place—it turns out she was wrong. He finds her.

What does John want from her? Pierce thinks she knows... just like she knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven. But she can't stay away from him, either, especially since he's always there when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she might find herself back in the place she fears the most.

And when Pierce discovers the shocking truth, that’s exactly where John sweeps her:

The Underworld.

Why I’m Looking Forward To It: This book is a reinterpretation of the Persephone/Hades myth by Meg Cabot! Seriously, how is a combination that awesome not squee-worthy?

Yeah, I thought you’d agree. *squees*

Look! A Book Giveaway!

2010-10-23T17:34:00.000-07:00

Patricia over at Life in a Bookshelf is having a giveaway! If you enter the contest by October 30, you'll have a chance to win a copy of Nightshade by Andrea Cremer, Torment by Lauren Kate, and Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick. So what are you waiting for? Click here to learn more about this amazing contest!

Page To Screen: The Secret Circle...on the CW?!

2010-10-23T01:50:00.000-07:00

Yet another L. J. Smith book series could be coming to your TV screens when Fall 2011 rolls around. Her YA fantasy trilogy The Secret Circle is being developed for the CW by Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain. (If you're a fan of Joss Whedon shows, that pair of names is probably very familiar to you!) Read more about it here.

This is one of the few L. J. Smith series I haven't managed to read yet. I've loved almost everything else she's written, though, so I have no doubt that this series has great potential for the television screen. What about you guys? Are you excited for a potential TV show, or is it a series you would rather see left in book form?

Page-To-Screen News

2010-10-17T00:57:00.000-07:00

If you're a J. R. R. Tolkien fan, listen up, because his book The Hobbit has been greenlit to be a movie. Read more about it here.

Also, there is more casting news for the Breaking Dawn films--a whole coven's worth, in fact. Check it out here. (Lee Pace is one of the actors casted, by the way. I'm not the only one who loves him from shows like Wonderfalls and Pushing Daisies, am I?)

Werewolf Haiku by Ryan Mecum

2010-10-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

Description: Dear haiku journal,
I think I killed some people.
That was no dog bite.

This journal contains the poetic musings of a mailman who, after being bitten by what he thinks is a dog, discovers that he is actually now a werewolf. Wreaking havoc wherever he goes, he details his new life and transformation in the 5-7-5 syllable structure of haiku--his poetry of choice.

Follow along as our werewolf poet slowly turns from a mostly normal man into the hairy beast that he cannot keep trapped inside. And watch out for carnage when he changes and becomes hungry. No toenail, no entrail, no pig tail will be left behind. And talk about wreaking havoc: His newfound claws and teeth have sent his clothing budget through the roof!

He is in love with a woman on his route, but he has never had the courage to tell her. As he fights against his urges during each full moon, he discovers that succumbing to his primal instincts will not only bag him a good meal--it just might help him in his quest for love…

Or maybe not.

Review:

Read Werewolf Haiku.
It has werewolves…and haikus.
Is this redundant?

Obviously, I suck at haikus. Good thing Ryan Mecum, author of Werewolf Haiku, doesn't! In this speedy horror, a mailman finds himself transforming into a werewolf for the first time after what he thought was a mere dog bite. This transformation, as well as his attempt to adjust afterward amidst romantic pursuits (or lack thereof) of his crush Rose, are all chronicled in haiku form, and wittily at that. It was hard not to crack up on every single page of this gem of a horror, even when Werewolf Haiku got downright disturbing. (Of which the latter is far from a complaint. I love comedic horror!)

As silly as a haiku-formatted horror may seem, this book is now one of my favorite portrayals of werewolves. This is partly because Mecum came up with a lot of consequences and side-effects that, while hilarious, are also very smart and much too underutilized in the genre. Visually, this book is appealing as well, the interior not only looking journal-esque, but including everything from blood to hair and snapshots to sketches. For an inventive, enjoyably disturbing horror that won’t eat too much of your reading time, I highly recommend you go check out Ryan Mecum’s Werewolf Haiku now!

Friday Funny

2010-10-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

Re(dis)covered: Midnighters

2010-10-14T00:23:00.001-07:00

Today we’re going to compare the U.S. covers for Scott Westerfeld’s Midnighters trilogy:

Batch 1:

Batch 2:

My Thoughts:

I love both batches, but the original covers remain my favorite. While the cover faces are striking in Batch 2, enhanced further by the coloring and the squee-worthy use of the author’s own symbols, two from the core group (including Dess, the fan-favorite) will forever be excluded because of this series’ trilogy status. (Maybe it’s just me, but I find that sad!) Also, I’m pretty sure that I’ve seen the same exact photo for The Secret Hour on another book, such use of stock photography taking the fun out of the covers for me a little. (I must applaud the designer for turning that G into a clock, though. Very cool!)

I have zero complaints about Batch 1. The covers are original, dreamlike, and instantly eye-catching. Suffice it to say, these covers have more personality than Batch 2. It doesn’t hurt that Batch 1 allows readers to create their own image of the characters, even the depiction of Jess on Blue Noon not clear enough to taint one’s mental image of her!

As much as I adore, and even prefer, Batch 1, Batch 2 is still strong in its own way, so even if I hadn't been an early fan of this series, I wouldn’t mind being forced to buy the new covers. With that said, Batch 1 is still better to me. What do you guys think?

Waiting on Wednesday: Eerie Cuties

2010-10-13T00:03:00.002-07:00

Title: Eerie Cuties (The Comic Strip Collection)
Creators: Gisèle Lagacé, Dave Zero1, and Miguel Marques
Release Date: Mid-November 2010

This collection includes all the "strip size" comics done for Eerie Cuties (before we start the new full page format in November 2010.) There's a total of 152 strips (2 per page) + 8 guest strips, and "The Kissing Booth" a 6 page print-exclusive bonus story. Our main girls participate, and even Tiff shows up!

Why I’m Looking Forward To It: I’ve been reading this web-comic from the beginning and absolutely adore it. (Never heard of it? Get acquainted with the greatness here!) For a fun paranormal comic that delivers exactly what it promises--eeriness and cuteness!--this print collection is definitely worth owning.

Teaser Tuesday: Werewolf Haiku

2010-10-12T21:31:00.000-07:00

Werewolf Haiku by Ryan Mecum, page 44:

Souls go to heaven.
Bodies are just part-time homes.
Let me help you pack.

Page To Screen: Breaking Dawn Casting News

2010-10-10T00:00:00.001-07:00

*WARNING: Spoilers for Breaking Dawn below!*

Renesmee, Bella and Edward's daughter, has been cast for the movie adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's Breaking Dawn! She will be played by the nine-year-old actress Mackenzie Foy.

To read more about this casting choice, click here.

What do you guys think of Mackenzie Foy as Renesmee? Think she's a great choice for the character, or are you disappointed by the decision?

Interview: Melissa Swaim

2010-10-09T00:00:00.001-07:00

What inspired you to write Dividing Dark? In the paranormal genre in general?

There are many things that inspired me to write Dividing Dark, but I will stick to one area. I got the story idea from reading a newspaper article about how the maps to Huntsville caves were being stricken from public record without a reason. I thought why? The bat fungus that is causing caves to close? Terrorism threats? I decided on using the Annunaki legends (that Reptilians live underground) to make it more fun. The myths give it more substance.

I also wanted to write a fairy tale type love story for a friend of mine who died before her wedding, and I wanted a happily ever after to dedicate to her memory...because I wish she could have had it.

...the paranormal genre in general... because of childhood experiences in the paranormal, making me more open to it and likely to believe in ghosts and whathaveyou.

Are there any specific authors or books that influenced your writing?

Not really, but I never would have written YA if I hadn't read Twilight and realized how books in this area can really touch your heart. I wanted to offer what I thought was important if I was still that age and the type of love that we should seek, one that lifts us up as an equal.

Do you have any future book releases you’d like to mention, paranormal or otherwise?

Nothing definite.

What do you like most about the paranormal genre?

I like that fact that it gets us to look beyond what we can see or what we think we know, that all things are possible if you open your mind.

What paranormal book are you currently reading or have recently read?

As far as YA paranoramal, I read Hush Hush.

If you could visit any author’s paranormal world or characters,whose would it be?

I like the world we have and think its plenty exciting. I think we should protect the earth and value it.

Everyone knows about the cliché battle between vampires and werewolves--which side are you on?

Vampires and not just because of a real-life heat allergy (yes, its a real thing), I would side with the cold blooded because they are dark and mysterious.

Friday Funny

2010-10-08T00:00:00.001-07:00

Page To Screen: Avalon High Trailer

2010-10-07T12:00:00.001-07:00

Check out this trailer for Avalon High, the movie adaptation of Meg Cabot's YA fantasy of the same name:

Re(dis)covered: Vamped

2010-10-07T00:00:00.001-07:00

Today we are going to compare the U.S. covers for David Sosnowski’s Vamped:

Batch 1:

Batch 2:

My Thoughts:

Both of these covers are striking. However, I have to say that the original hardcover release in Batch 1 is my favorite. The blood-filled juice box gives it an irreverence that matches perfectly with this book’s tone. Although I am still partial to the second cover--in part because it’s the one I own, and also because I love how its font has more of a bloodlike quality--the first cover, to me, is still the best.

What about you guys? Which cover for David Sosnowski’s Vamped do you prefer?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Other Side of Dark

2010-10-06T00:00:00.001-07:00

Title: The Other Side of Dark
Author: Sarah Smith
Release Date: November 2, 2010

From the other side of dark they come, the ghosts of the violently dead. George Perkins, a mentally challenged boy who has been put in charge of a bloodsoaked treasure. Katie Mullens’s father who died in the Middle East. And the Others…

Law Walker, son of a famous African American professor, had a crush on Katie before she went crazy. Before her mother died. She was always a talented artist, but now her drawings have gone crazy too. They’re dark, they’re bloody—and they’re real. Katie draws what she sees. Dead people. Ghosts.

Now Katie needs Law to help the visions stop. And Law wants to help her. So what if his dad doesn’t want him dating a white girl? But Law needs Katie too, to find out what George knows about the treasure … and what Katie is going to see will be much bigger, much more shocking than anyone expected.

This powerhouse novel is about ugly histories, brave and desperate choices, and learning to see people—dead and alive—for who they really are.

Why I’m Looking Forward To It: I first heard about this book from Reading In Color and loved the sound of it right away! The Other Side of Dark looks enjoyably eerie, and not just from the summary. Read an excerpt of the book here!

Teaser Tuesday: Bayou Moon

2010-10-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

Magic pulsed from her hand. The curse clutched at the two boys, twisting the muscles in their arms.

The Norm of the Month: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

2010-10-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

Description: Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't even know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that's not safe. Because there's something she's trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, if she let it in, would blow her carefully constructed disguise to smithereens. And then she would have to speak the truth.

Why It’s Great: Most of you by now have probably heard about the controversy surrounding Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak. (You know, where that one crazy guy thought rape was the same as soft pornography? UGH.) I already posted about it over on my LiveJournal, but I figured it was about time I showcased this amazing book for Beside The Norm’s the Norm of the Month…

Speak deals with the aftermath of rape in the form of Melissa, a high school freshman who struggles to speak up about what has happened to her. Offbeat and realistic, Speak is a very honest YA contemporary that everybody needs to read, even if they can’t personally relate to Melissa’s struggles. As is obvious from the premise of this blog, I’m a fantasy junkie, but not even that scared me away from reading this book, much less others by this author after reading it in one sitting. That’s because Speak is just that amazing, and you all would be crazy not to even give this book a try.

Dividing Dark by Melissa Swaim

2010-10-03T16:41:00.000-07:00

Description: How is a 16-year-old girl with an eating disorder to reconcile the ancient wounds between the Annunaki, the Reptilian Watchers, and the human race? After Flannery “Fee” Birch loses her father in Afghanistan, she ends up in the alien land of Alabama, where she learns the art of spelunking (caving) in order to make friends. To make matters worse, Fee is afraid of caves, heights, and just about everything else…until she meets Faron Rothschild, an outcast from either world, though an emissary for both. Faron’s mixed blood kind took up the role of protecting humans, whom the Anunnaki abandoned and later warred with, while also keeping the Anunnaki secret from the world who forgot them. Not an easy task for a shape shifter who can switch between both sets of his DNA, human and Reptilian. This is a secret that must be maintained at all cost, and Fee, who once tried to disappear from life, pound by pound, must not only rectify her own life, but demand truce between light and darkness.

Review:

After her father dies, Fee finds herself relocated to a nowhere Alabama town, riddled with fears and an eating disorder that make it difficult for her to feel at ease, much less at home. When Fee agrees to go spelunking with some classmates to help her fit in, she soon realizes that she is in way over her head, since caving encompasses many of her fears. To help get over those fears, Fee decides to go on a cave tour, where she meets Faron, the tour guide who doubles as a half-Reptilian emissary for humans and Reptilians. In spite of this, Fee does not fear him or his kind, and that bravery will be put to the test the more her relationship with Faron grows….

Dividing Dark by Melissa Swaim is a fast-paced YA fantasy that manages to be both unique and similar to common tropes in the genre. Fee is the new girl in town, and human at that, while the boy she falls for has a secret supernatural side from which he tries to protect her. However, the age gap between her and Faron is only by a couple years, and seeing how that’s often a couple hundred years in fantasy, I found this welcomingly refreshing. Also, Faron doesn’t simply try to protect her from the things she fears--he tries to help her overcome them, allowing her an independence and equality I quite enjoyed seeing develop. Although Fee and Faron’s relationship definitely has its angsty moments, it is sweet as a whole, and I couldn’t help but root for them the more the book progressed.

There were other elements I loved about this book as well. One notable element is Fee’s eating disorder. Not only is it an important part of her character, but something that her mother doesn’t simply ignore--nor does Faron, once he catches whiff of it. I also like how Fee having this disorder didn’t suddenly morph Dividing Dark into an “issue” book. While it is an issue, it is not the only thing that defines Fee or this story, and as a diabetic who gets easily annoyed by certain portrayals of the diseased/disabled, I was ecstatic to see such a character not be reduced to that kind of storytelling.

The mythology of Dividing Dark was another element I enjoyed. Melissa Swaim touches on many types of lore, be it vampires or aliens, and combines them into her own distinct creation. This use of mythology not only makes her book stand out amongst many in the genre, but gives the fantastical aspects a more realistic feel, since much of it is given an underlying heritage in the world of Dividing Dark.

I must admit, the preface threw me off at first. When I first delved into chapter one, I thought that the events of the preface had occurred before it, although I quickly caught on to the fact that it was, in actuality, a sampling of events to come. However, even if it hadn’t thrown me off in that way, the preface still would have felt unnecessary to me, since all it does is make readers privy to information that they don’t need yet and discover again more organically as the plot unfolds. Also, the resolution felt a bit anticlimactic, leaving me wanting more in a bad way, but the overall book also left me wanting more in a good way, so--in the end--it all balances out.

For a romantic YA fantasy that touches on familiar tropes in unique ways, Melissa Swaim’s Dividing Dark is definitely worth checking out.

Page-To-Screen News

2010-10-02T12:00:00.003-07:00

As many of you Melissa Marr fans probably know by now, Wicked Lovely is being turned into a movie. That movie adaptation is finally becoming more of a reality, now that director Kimberly Peirce has signed on to the project. Read more about that here.

Another YA fantasy series I love is going to be brought to life on the screen--but, unlike Wicked Lovely, this will be on the television screen. Celia Thomson’s The Nine Lives of Chloe King series, about a teenage girl who dies and revives, only to discover her cat-like nature, is being made into a pilot for ABC Family. Click here to read more.

(I’m especially ecstatic about The Nine Lives of Chloe King news. I’ve only ever been able to find two of the three books in this series, and one of those two was at the library. If this show airs, there’s a good chance that the books will be re-released! *happy-dances*)

Breathless Reads Trailer

2010-10-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

Check out this amazing trailer for Kirsten Miller's The Eternal Ones, Brenna Yovanoff's The Replacement, Andrea Cremer's Nightshade, Ally Condie's Matched, and Catherine Fisher's Sapphique:

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

I told you that trailer was amazing. All the books look like they will be, too. To learn more about them, check out breathlessreads.com!

Friday Funny

2010-10-01T00:28:00.000-07:00

Re(dis)covered: Dark Visions

2010-09-30T00:00:00.006-07:00

Today we will be comparing the U.S. covers for L. J. Smith’s Dark Visions trilogy:

Batch 1:

Batch 2:

Batch 3:

My Thoughts:

Dark Visions is yet another series of L. J. Smith’s that has gotten a complete cover-overhaul as of late. For once, I’m glad for it. Except for some minor elements in The Possessed cover, it’s hard to tell that the books in Batch 1 are YA fantasies about teen psychics. Also, as much as I love the fonts for each individual book title, the first two covers look clunky, filled with images that are far from eye-catching, the one for The Passion being the only one I find appealing. (And would even own, if I could track down an original copy.) However, despite that cover’s appeal, it shares the same problem as the rest: looking like nothing more but trashy romances with a few thriller elements thrown in. (Which, okay, they kind of are, but they are also so much more than that.)

I appreciate that the omnibus edition in Batch 2 actually has a redheaded Kaitlyn, but overall this cover is just too cluttered. I would have preferred it if they’d had the eerie background be the sole piece of this cover. Those faces capture my attention right away, and give off a paranormal vibe at that, so it’s a shame that there are all these other images littering the surface of it.

Which brings me to Batch 3. Although this cover doesn’t look like how Kaitlyn is described at all--why do cover designers keep making her blond?--I like how we instantly get a psychic vibe from the model’s pose. (Even if it is disappointing that her eyes are closed, since Kaitlyn’s “witch eyes” were a big deal throughout the trilogy.) It’s subtle to the point of being generic, but when comparing it to the other flawed covers, I don’t mind it as much as I normally would. Plus, look at the starry font! How can I not forgive this cover’s genericness for that trait alone?

As you guys may have guessed, none of these covers are a *win* for me, but of these batches, the third one is my instant favorite. What do you guys think?

Waiting on Wednesday: Flip

2010-09-29T00:00:00.002-07:00

Title: Flip
Author: Martyn Bedford
Release Date: April 5, 2011

One December night, 14-year-old Alex goes to bed. He wakes up to find himself in the wrong bedroom, in an unfamiliar house, in a different part of the country, and it's the middle of June. Six months have disappeared overnight. The family at the breakfast table are total strangers.

And when he looks in the mirror, another boy's face stares back at him. A boy named Flip. Unless Alex finds out what's happened and how to get back to his own life, he may be trapped forever inside a body that belongs to someone else.

Questions of identity, the will to survive, and what you're willing to sacrifice to be alive make this extraordinary book impossible to put down.

Why I’m Looking Forward To It: I love body-switching stories. This is a body-switching story. Um…duh.

Teaser Tuesday: Silver Phoenix

2010-09-28T16:37:00.000-07:00

Her ribs felt crushed, her lungs compressed with the burning need for air. She struggled against drawing one breath, knowing there was nothing but fetid water if she did so.

The Morganville Vampires #8: Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine

2010-09-26T00:28:00.000-07:00

Description: Vampire Michael Glass just received the call he’s been waiting for all his life. His music has attracted the attention of a heavily connected music producer who wants him to cut a demo and play some dates--which means Michael will have to enter the human world.

But he won’t be alone. He’s been assigned an undead escort, which includes immortal enforcer Oliver, as well as Michael’s human friends: rebellious Eve, oft-misunderstood Claire, and courageous Shane. And with that mix of personalities, this is going to be a road trip from hell.

But what waits for them proves more perilous than they thought. Caught between humans who hate them and a savage party of traveling vampires out to create a blood-soaked feast for themselves, Michael and his friends may not make it to the show on time…or ever.

Review:

Claire and the gang are finally getting out of Morganville! Unfortunately, it isn’t a one-way departure. Michael, the lone vampire in their group of four, needs to meet with a music producer, his dreams for stardom coming closer to reality, but once that meeting is through, he and his friends must return immediately home to the nightmare that is their town. However, even Morganville is starting to seem like a more welcoming place to be when the four of them, chaperoned by the scarily formidable--and just plain scary--Oliver, face off with foes both human and undead, uncovering a secret with uncanny ties to their town that could threaten their chances of ever returning to it again.

Rachel Caine has dished out yet another solid story in the world of The Morganville Vampires. It always amazes me what kind of trouble the four of them get into on a regular basis--whether the scuffle involves vampires or, as Kiss of Death has proven to result in situations of life-or-death, ice cream. However, those troubles always crop up organically, and the fact that these characters are just as likely to find a way out of them with their smarts as well as their fists prevents those troubles from seeming over-the-top and plot-devicey. I especially enjoyed reading this book since I happened to be on a road trip like Claire and her friends when I did--which, let me tell you, made me very appreciative that any problems I faced during it were far from being as perilous as theirs!

Seeing how this is the eighth book in the series, long-time Morganville Vampires fans won’t need much convincing to pick up this book, nor will they be disappointed with it once they do. And if one of you reading this review hasn’t checked out this series yet…what is wrong with you? Start getting acquainted with Claire and the gang in the first book, Glass Houses. Although this book isn’t as confusing as previous ones to get into for new readers, it will make the twists in Kiss of Death that much more rewarding if you plunge into this world from the beginning.

Page To Screen: The Vampire Diaries ("Bad Moon Rising")

2010-09-25T00:39:00.000-07:00

Episode Review: There’s a full moon rising over at Mystic Falls--or, as the episode title claims, a bad moon rising. Too bad this causes, despite Damon’s insistence that they can’t exist, a certain local to shift into a werewolf. Worse still? That werewolf can kill a vampire with a single bite, and both Stefan and Caroline happen to be in his neck of the woods when the shift happens….

“Bad Moon Rising” is possibly the strongest episode of season 2 so far--and I am not just saying that because we got to see Stefan and Caroline’s friendship form in more depth than I could have possibly hoped for after that lovely scene between them last week. (Her line to him about being a neurotic control freak on crack is by far one of my favorites ever uttered on this show.) We finally got to see the Lockwood family secret revealed (‘bout time, considering how obvious it was), as well as the return of Alaric to our TV screens, where we got to see him and Damon and Elena read up on the lore of Mystic Falls, all the while uncovering a tome that may answer secrets about everyone’s favorite doppelganger, the Salvatore-screwing Katherine.

In the end, though, it is still Caroline who made this episode a total win for me. (Again, not because of her developing friendship with Stefan. Well, not entirely!) There was the tension between her and her best bud Bonnie; the tension (of a totally different kind) between her and her boyfriend Matt, which ultimately led to a selfless act on Caroline’s part that makes my heart break even more for her; and the sudden reappearance of Katherine in Caroline’s bedroom, who apparently had more in mind than anyone knew for this bubbly blond when she killed her in her hospital bed. Needless to say, I’m both worried and ecstatic for the potential plot turns this will all lead to next week. Thursday can’t possibly come fast enough for me!

Infinite Days Cast

2010-09-24T18:25:00.001-07:00

Rebecca Maizel is having a contest where all you have to do is cast the characters in her book Infinite Days. (Which ends tonight, even though I've known about this contest for a while. Oh, how I procrastinate!) I haven't read this book yet, although I really want to, since I've heard so many great things about it! Luckily, the author was nice enough to put up descriptions of the characters to make the casting easier...

Rhode - unknown age, could be 17, could be 25. Brunette almost black hair, the bluest eyes you've ever seen. Six foot or taller. At one time a knight with the Order of the Garter. Excellent swordsman, willing to die for Lenah.

My casting choice: Travis Caldwell
(I love him on The Gates, and he fits the description pretty well, I think.)

Lenah- 16, brunette long hair that falls well past her chest. Blue eyes but nowhere as blue as Rhode's. 5'7 thin but not too waifish - meat on the bones. When she was a vampire she would easily have killed you. Excellent sword fighter. Afterall she learned from Rhode and Vicken. She is British and her vampire aura makes her mysterious.

My casting choice: Ashley Newbrough
(This was the first actress I thought of when I read Lenah's description. I loved her on the CW show Privileged, where she played a character both tough and vulnerable. I can totally see her pulling off a vampire-turned-human persona!)

Vicken- Scottish bad boy. 19 was once a soldier, brown eyes incredible fighter, better with knives than swords. Leader of Lenah's coven. Strong jaw and lean. Not bulky.

My casting choice: Steven R. McQueen
(As much as his character Jeremy gets beat up on The Vampire Diaries, I think he'd do a pretty good job playing someone more soldier-like.)

Justin- 17. Blonde, tall, adrenaline junkie. Strong features, slim nose, athlete body. Can be reckless and have trouble with authority. A go getter with a danger streak. He's handsome but that's obvious, he's also caring and passionate.

My casting choice: Austin Butler
(He plays an athlete on Life Unexpected, so why not Infinite Days?)

In case you guys didn't notice, I really suck at casting characters. But hey, it was fun! So what about you guys? Did any of you also participate in this contest?

Friday Funny

2010-09-24T00:00:00.001-07:00

Re(dis)covered: Goddess of Partholon

2010-09-23T00:00:00.008-07:00

Today we’re going to compare the U.S. covers for the first three Divine books in P. C. Cast’s Goddess of Partholon series:

Batch 1:

Batch 2:

Batch 3:

My Thoughts:

Aw, Batch 1--so alone without its sequels, and with a slightly different title that makes it an even bigger oddball to its successors. Still, I love this cover. It does a great job of capturing the feel of Partholon. I also love the lighter coloring--all too often fantasy covers are dark nowadays to show you how “moody” the books are. I’d probably avoid reading a book with this cover in public, though, because…well, look at her top. (Or, rather, lack of one.)

(And before you guys point this out to me in the comments as a double standard…I feel just as uneasy reading books in public where the guys have their tops off. People stare at me. I don’t like being stared at. It’s a thing.)

Now, Batch 2! I love these covers, for many of the same reasons as I do Batch 1. They do a great job of depicting the overall world, and the bright coloring makes them easy standouts in the genre. They give readers a pretty good idea of what kind of stories are in store without them needing to read a single word, and I know I, for one, would pick up these books to find out more if I spotted those covers in a bookstore.

I think the covers in Batch 3 are absolutely stunning. However, I feel that the first two batches do a better job of personifying the overall series. And while these covers aren’t as generic as others are known to be, they’re still pretty typical of the genre--too typical, almost. So, although these covers are gorgeous, my favorite grouping of covers is still Batch 2 in the end. Feel free to agree or disagree with me in the comments!

Waiting on Wednesday: Entice

2010-09-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Warning: This post contains MAJOR spoilers for Carrie Jones' Captivate!

Title: Entice
Author: Carrie Jones
Release Date: December 7, 2010

Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that's not quite how things have worked out. For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he's been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it's taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla? And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there's that other small problem: Zara's been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn't turned into just any pixie. . . She's Astley's queen.

Why I’m Looking Forward To It: Carrie Jones’ Need series is one of my favorites in all of YA fantasy. It has evil pixies, were-creatures, and even Norse mythology--what’s not to love? After finishing the ARC I received of Captivate a long while ago, I have been on the edge of my seat in anticipation of the third book. You’re clinically insane if you think I’m not going to find a way to nab a copy of Entice as soon as it’s released!

Teaser Tuesday: Silver Phoenix

2010-09-21T00:00:00.003-07:00

Before she could react, he grabbed her by the wrist. He drew her spirit toward him, and Ai Ling plunged into an endless void, without life and warmth.

Which of these characters is the creepiest?
	Edward Cullen
	The Fairy King
	Gravedigger
	Harold the Scarecrow
	Him
	Regulators
	The Shadow Men

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