Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine

Book Summery:
Vampire musician Michael Glass has attracted the attention of a big- time producer who wants to cut a demo and play some gigs-which means Michael will have to enter the human world. For this, he's been assigned escorts that include both a dangerous immortal as well as Micheal's all-too-human friends. And with that mix of personalities, this is going to be a road trip from hell... -goodreads.com
Book Review:
Now, any of you that have followed my blog for the past year or so know how much I LOVE Rachel Caine. She is easily one of my top favorite authors. However, with that in mind, I would have to say that Kiss of Death seemed to be a last ditch effort...like, she needed to write something for her publisher and/or fans, and just slapped something together. It might have been better had she taken more time between books. She has several coming out this year. It didn't seem to fit the storyline that Caine has set up in the rest of the series. Further more, it didn't flow as smoothly as her other books. The relationships between the characters just seemed off, save for Clare and Shane's relationship. Perhaps I'll understand the method to her madness in the upcoming books. Another thing that bothered me was that Caine was trying too hard to identify with "YA readers." She used a lot of slang and emotions, that just seemed overkill and detracted from the overall story. I don't know if she is getting pressure to do this from her editor or what, but I haven't seen this since the beginning of the series. It also could be that I had high expectations going into this one...perhaps a little too high? Either way, I will still continue to read the series, and look forward to the release of Ghost Town in October. Morganville fans will (hopefully) enjoy this book, despite it's downfalls.

Favorite Quote:
"You are kidding."

"Hey, you were the one who had to have ice cream. Look what kind of trouble we got ourselves into. At least this way we're safe in a room with a door that locks. And the sign says they have HBO."

"Which stands for Horrible Bloody Ohmygood," Eve said. "Which is the way they kill you. When you think you're safe." (p. 90)

Cover Art Commentary:
I really love this one. The contrast of black, gray, and pink is just lovely. It took me a while to figure out who is on the cover, but it really is fitting. Curious? Read the book! :P

Overall Rating:

Fire by Kristin Cashore

Book Summery:
Fire, Graceling's prequel-ish companion book, takes place across the mountains to the east of the seven kingdoms, in a rocky, war-torn land called the Dells. Beautiful creatures called monsters live in the Dells. Monsters have the shape of normal animals: mountain lions, dragonflies, horses, fish. But the hair or scales or feathers of monsters are gorgeously colored-- fuchsia, turquoise, sparkly bronze, iridescent green-- and their minds have the power to control the minds of humans. Seventeen-year-old Fire is the last remaining human-shaped monster in the Dells. Gorgeously monstrous in body and mind but with a human appreciation of right and wrong, she is hated and mistrusted by just about everyone, and this book is her story. -goodreads.com

Book Trailer:



Book Review:
Cashore has captured my heart with both of her books, Fire and Graceling. Fire takes place roughly about 30 years before Graceling, in a country called the Dells. I love this new world Cashore has created. The Dells boasts home to beautiful and frightening creatures known simply as monsters. They are more stunning in beauty and more vicious in their intentions. Enter our protagonist, Fire, a rare, human-monster who caries the emotions of the world in her heart. Fire is truly one-of-kind in appearance and in spirit. What I think enhances Fire's character most are her interactions with other characters, and what a beautiful and vivid cast of characters they are.

Archer has good intentions, but his emotions get the best of him at times. Brocker, the kindhearted father Fire never had, who hidess a deep secret. King Nash, a sweet, but overly emotional man. Roen, the once Queen who holds wisdom and secrets of her own. Brigan, Nash's younger brother who is intense and quiet, but wonderfully fair and kind. Cansrel, Fire's overbearing, cold-hearted father, who holds a soft spot for Fire alone. Little Hannah who is precious, but not easily deceptive. These are just a few of the vibrant characters that inhabit the Dells.

Cashore has deepened her writing in this companion novel. Fire is rich with politics, relationships, friendships, secrets, and discoveries. There is also an appearance by a sole character from Graceling, who is unmistakable in his description alone. I highly recommend this book to everyone. It truly is a novel that everyone should read at least once in their life. I plan to re-read it again in the future.

Favorite Quote:

"It did not surprise Fire that the man in the forest shot her. What surprised her was that he shot her by accident." (p. 19)

Cover Art Commentary:
I really do love the cover's of Cashore's books. I love the boldness and simplicity of the colors and the items used to represent the story. Fire looks gorgeous next to Graceling.

Overall Rating:

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of you wonderful blogging mothers out there! I hope you have a special and wonderful day today! :D

(Awesome) Book Bundle

Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine

Vampire musician Michael Glass has attracted the attention of a big- time producer who wants to cut a demo and play some gigs-which means Michael will have to enter the human world. For this, he's been assigned escorts that include both a dangerous immortal as well as Michael's all-too-human friends. And with that mix of personalities, this is going to be a road trip from hell... -goodreads.com

Sunshine by Robin McKinley

Rae Seddon, nicknamed Sunshine, lives a quiet life working at her stepfather's bakery. One night, she goes out to the lake for some peace and quiet. Big mistake. She is set upon by vampires, who take her to an old mansion. They chain her to the wall and leave her with another vampire, who is also chained. But the vampire, Constantine, doesn't try to eat her. Instead, he implores her to tell him stories to keep them both sane. Realizing she will have to save herself, Sunshine calls on the long-forgotten powers her grandmother began to cultivate in her when she was a child. She transforms her pocketknife into a key and unchains herself--and Constantine. Surprised, he agrees to flee with her when she offers to protect him from the sun with magic. They escape back to town, but Constantine knows his enemies won't be far behind, which means that he and Sunshine will have to face them together. A luminous, entrancing novel with an enthralling pair of characters at its heart. -goodreads.com

The Alchemy of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia

Mattie, an intelligent automaton skilled in the use of alchemy, finds herself caught in the middle of a conflict between gargoyles, the Mechanics, and the Alchemists. With the old order quickly giving way to the new, Mattie discovers powerful and dangerous secrets - secrets that can completely alter the balance of power in the city of Ayona. However, this doesn't sit well with Loharri, the Mechanic who created Mattie and still has the key to her heart - literally! -goodreads.com

White Cat (The Curse Workers #1) by HollyBlack

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.
Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a facade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his facade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the con-men. -goodreads.com

Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn

On one side of the border lies the modern world: the internet, homecoming dances, cell phones. On the other side dwell the ancient monsters who spark humanity's deepest fears: dragons.

Seventeen-year-old Kay Wyatt knows she's breaking the law by rock climbing near the border, but she'd rather have an adventure than follow the rules. When the dragon Artegal unexpectedly saves her life, the rules are abruptly shattered, and a secret friendship grows between them.

But suspicion and terror are the legacy of human and dragon inter­actions, and the fragile truce that has maintained peace between the species is unraveling. As tensions mount and battles begin, Kay and Artegal are caught in the middle. Can their friendship change the course of a war? -goodreads.com

Morpheus Road: The Light by D. J. MacHale

Marshall Seaver is being haunted. In the first installment of this chillingly compelling trilogy, sixteen-year-old Marshall discovers that something beyond our world is after him. The eerie clues pile up quickly, and when people start dying, it's clear whatever this is - it's huge.

Marshall has no idea what's happening to him, but he's soon convinced that it has something to do with his best friend Cooper, who's been missing for over a week. Together with Coop's sister, Marsh searches for the truth about what happened to his friend, ultimately uncovering something bigger than he could ever have imagined. -goodreads.com

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Set initially in a future shanty town in America's Gulf Coast region, where grounded oil tankers are being dissembled for parts by a rag tag group of workers, we meet Nailer, a teenage boy working the light crew, searching for copper wiring to make quota and live another day. The harsh realities of this life, from his abusive father, to his hand to mouth existence, echo the worst poverty in the present day third world. When an accident leads Nailer to discover an exquisite clipper ship beached during a recent hurricane, and the lone survivor, a beautiful and wealthy girl, Nailer finds himself at a crossroads. Should he strip the ship and live a life of relative wealth, or rescue the girl, Nita, at great risk to himself and hope she'll lead him to a better life. This is a novel that illuminates a world where oil has been replaced by necessity, and where the gap between the haves and have-nots is now an abyss. Yet amidst the shadows of degradation, hope lies ahead. -goodreads.com

Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis

Joy is used to hearing Whispers. She’s used to walking down the street and instantly knowing people’s deepest, darkest desires. She uses this talent for good, to make people happy and give them what they want. But for her older sister, Jessica, the family gift is a curse, and she uses it to make people’s lives—especially Joy’s—miserable. Still, when Joy Hears a frightening whisper from Jessica's own mind, she knows she has to save her sister, even if it means deserting her friends, stealing a car and running away with a boy she barely knows—a boy who may have a dark secret of his own. -goodreads.com

Source:
The Alchemy of Stone was bought at B&N at a discounted price. The rest were purchased at my local indie bookstore! :)

Most Anticipated:

Well...of course I am looking forward to Caine's Kiss of Death! That's a given! :P I bought the majority of these based on book reviews I've read! :D I did purchase Sunshine and Whisper solely based on the author reviews on their covers. Neil Gaiman recommended Sunshine and Kim Harrison recommended Whisper. So we shall see how those rec's pan out! Overall, I am really happy with this particular bundle! (I did use a portion of my tax refund money to purchase them.) Besides Kiss of Death, I am looking forward to The Alchemy of Stone, White Cat, Voices of Dragons, and Ship Breaker. So....pretty much the entire bundle! :P

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Book Summery:
Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug. She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po. She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace—or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone. -Book Cover

Book Trailer:



Book Review:
Words cannot express how much I loved this book. Cashore has created an enchanting world, where the unexpected arises. The main character, Katsa, is a beautifully written heroin. She is fierce, loyal, brave, and kind, as well as compelling. Po, her male counterpart is an equally lovely character. He compliments Katsa well, and adds more to character, rather than detracts. Bitterblue is a wonderful surprise. I enjoyed watching her character evolve very much. Dear Raffin is another wonderful supporting character as well. I hope we learn more about him, as well as Bitterblue in the upcoming third novel, named after the very character Bitterblue. The world that holds these characters is equally spellbinding. Cashore wrote of the atmosphere so vividly, I almost wish I could see it for myself! I will definitely re-read this book in the futures, something I rarely do. Also, I absolutely cannot wait to start Fire, the companion novel to Graceling.

Two other wonderful reviews of Graceling can be found at Jawas Read, Too! and Book Love Affair. I also highly recommend that you check out Kristen Cashore's official website.



Favorite Quote:

"Skye kissed her forehead. 'You saved my life.'

Katsa smiled. 'You Lienid are very outward in your affection.'

'I am going to name my first born child after you.'

Katsa laughed at that. 'For the child's sake, wait for a girl. Or even better, wait until all your children are older and give my name to whichever is the most trhoublesome and obstinate.' " (p. 433-434)

Cover Art Commentary:Just. Gorgeous. I can honestly say that the cover was the main reason that I picked up this novel in the first place. Simple, yet elegant, just like the story it contains. I love how you can see part of Katsa's reflection in the blade.

Overall Rating: