The Time Will Come #18

The Time Will Come is a weekly meme hosted by Jodie at Books For Company where we can spotlight books that we have had sitting on our bookshelves for too long. Books that we really want to read but never get around to reading.

This week my book is Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton. I got given this for Christmas, and I think it looks great, and really interesting. It's paranormal, it's got a romance, it looks like something a little different, but it's still just sitting on my shelf because I have way too many books to read at the moment. I have a stack of newly published books from the library that I have to get through, plus review titles that I need to read as a first priority. But one day I'll get round to reading this I hope!

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.



Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming.

Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

If I Stay by Gayle Forman


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


You know how, when you're watching a soap opera or a drama on the TV, and one of the characters says something like "I love you- isn't everything just perfect?" or "can life get any better?", you just know that someone's gonna die, or some massive tragedy is about to happen? This is exactly the feeling you get with this book. Chapter one starts off showing us a window into a perfect family, planning their perfect day... followed by the car accident that will change everything. Mia wakes up outside the car watching herself critically wounded be lifted from the wreck of the car.


The rest of the story is told over 24 hours from Mia's bedside in Intensive Care. Mia is badly wounded and in a coma, her family is gone. Unseen by everyone Mia watches over her body as her extended family and friends wait at the hospital for news of her progress. The narrative is peppered with memories from Mia's past- her memories of the birth of her baby brother, summer camp, the first date with boyfriend Adam. In showing us Mia's life, the author just highlights everything that she has lost. If she chooses to stay we can see how her life will change dramatically.


I loved reading about how close Mia was with her parents- the stories that they told, and little anecdotes. Her funny little brother. How Mia and Adam grew close through their shared love of music, and the choices that they faced with Mia on the verge of picking a college. The relationship between Mia and Adam is so sweet, and felt so real. By the end of the book, I really felt that I knew Mia and Adam in real life.


I absolutely loved this book- it was just perfect. I spent Sunday morning reading this and absolutely bawling my eyes out. If I'd had the next book Where She Went I would have started reading it then and there. This book will change your attitude toward life and your ambitions, and the story will stay with you for a very long time- I know it will for me. Moving, heartbreaking, sweet, and brilliant.




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In My Mailbox 5th June 2011

In My Mailbox is a weekly event hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren, where book bloggers can talk about the books they've gotten the past week- whether bought, borrowed, swapped or given for review. This feature was started to increase interaction between bloggers and increase our awareness of all the new books coming out.

This week I bought 2 books-

• Nightspell by Leah Cypess- I thought that this was a sequel to Mistwood (which I have but still haven't read yet). It's actually a stand-alone companion novel to Mistwood. But I don't really mind- I'm just drawn to that gorgeous cover! A few words from the cover stand out to me "warrior Princess", "haunted kingdom", "vengeance". I'm intrigued.
• Trial By Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes- sequel to Raised By Wolves which I read recently and really liked. Book 2 in YA werewolf series.

Those were the books that I got this week- what did you get?

Happy reading!



The Time Will Come #17 sequels edition!

The Time Will Come is weekly Thursday meme hosted by Jodie at Books For Company where we can spotlight those books that we've had sitting on our shelves for too long. Books that we really want to read but never seem to get around to reading.

Sequels!

Ok- I have a really bad habit of reading the first book in the series, loving it, buying the others, and then never getting round to reading them! It's a kind of book 2 block! It seems like once I've had a taster of the series I'm happy and then easily distracted by something else. I really enjoyed the first book, and really want to read the others, but suddenly the rest of the series doesn't seem as interesting as this brand new series I've found! Actually most of the books on my to-read list or wishlist are book 1 of a series. Why do I do this? Wouldn't it make more sense to finish a series and THEN start a new series? I don't know.

These are SOME of my book 2s- all where I have really enjoyed the first one.



               

Book 2 in the Parasol Protectorate series



Book 2 in the Gone series         

Book 2 in the Theatre Illuminata series



Book 2 in the Wondrous Strange series



Book 2 in the Immortals series



Book 2 in the Hollow Kingdom Trilogy-

I've had this one for about 3 years!



Book 2 in the Millenium Trilogy



Book 2 in the Gallagher Girls series



I'm sure I will get round to reading some of these books... eventually!

Does anybody else suffer from book 2 block?!

Review: Ultraviolet by R.J Anderson

Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The setting of this book is a mental institution and told from the point of view of Alison, who wakes up institutionalised after the mysterious death of one of her classmates. I loved the style of the narration, because in every word you can really feel Alison's fear, despair, resignation, confusion and her uncertainty. You just feel that she has just given up and now wants to hide away from everyone. She is reluctant to get close to anybody else after being unsure what happened on that day, and will not tell anybody what she experiences through her fear of being disbelieved and being thought of a freak.


Alison has always seen the world differently- for instance, seeing noises as colours, or associating words with emotions or tastes. She remembers becoming overwhelmed by an increase in her senses after an intense argument with popular girl Tori, and seeing Tori just appear to disintegrate in front of her eyes. Tori hasn't been seen or heard from since, and Alison cannot rationally explain to the police or the doctors what happened to her. Amongst the harsh doctors and unstable patients, Alison grows close to new psychologist Doctor Faraday, who not only listens to her and believes her, he provides an explanation for her unusual way of seeing the world, and encourages her. Doctor Faraday is different, he has violet eyes and Alison hears his voice as chocolatey. But he is also kind to her, and listens to her story without judging her.


You get a sense of the monotony of the passing days but without it ever feeling boring or like there is nothing happening. It is just a really compelling read, and I found myself constantly wanting to keep going to find out exactly what happened when Tori disappeared, as you just know that there must be something more to it than what troubled Alison dimly remembers, and something more to Doctor Faraday than first meets the eye. The reveal is shocking and absolutely the very last thing you would expect! The book is split into 3 parts and part three feels like a completely different novel, it's just bizarre! I give five stars to parts one and two and 3-4 stars for part 3 of the book.


What can I say about this book- it's emotional, creepy, heartwarming, mysterious and great!

ARC thanks to Lerner Publishing and Netgalley.com



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