Born Wicked (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1) by Jessica Spotswood

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship--or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with six months to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate stars scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood -- not even from each other.

Book Trailer:


Book Review:
I've been reading a lot of hype about this book. This book has everything I love...Historical fiction? Check. Strong female protagonist? Check. Hot romance? Check. Superawesome witches? Check. I'll admit, the story starts off a little slow, but it doesn't take too long before the pace quickens. The world building was very well done. I found Spotswood's descriptions easy to picture. I liked that Cate's family and character are flawed. I find flawed characters to be a bit easier to relate to. Cate's concern for her sisters is heartwarming. It's nice to find a main character who is self-sacrificing for her family. Sometimes I tend to grow wearing of the YA love-triangles, but it really worked in this case. There are so many good components to this story. I could have easily read another 300 pages! The ending just about left me breathless! I need the next book in the series like yesterday! I highly encourage YA readers to give this book a try! :)   

Favorite Quote:

“The universe has yet to take my wishes under consideration.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
I wont lie, I'm a sucker for gorgeous covers, and this one is definitely eye-catching! I love the old-timey feel it has with a touch of mystery!

Rating:

Book to screen...A Game of Thrones

Okay, so I'll admit...I have not read the series, but I have wanted to for a while. So when HBO came out with the TV series, I was over the moon happy about it. Well, the DVD release of season 1 has been released, and let me say this is one EPIC series. I am motivated now more than ever to finally pick up the series and read it for myself. Has anyone else read the series? How accurate is the TV show to the book? 

The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Book Trailer:


Book Review:
What a lovely way to end a series. Or rather, what an EPIC way to end a series. :) I really enjoyed reading from Ash's perspective. He had my emotions riding an endless roller-coaster. The cast of characters balanced each other rather nicely. Of course, I really want a Grimalkin of my very own. :) I enjoyed the overall journey, and learned a few things about Ash, as well as the supporting characters along the way. The incorporation of various mythologies was a nice touch. I thought Kagawa wrapped things up rather nicely without many loose ends hanging. If you haven't read this series, I highly encourage you to do so! I am really looking forward to Kawaga's Blood of Eden series.

Favorite Quote:

“Be careful, boy. In some tales, the hero gets eaten by the monster after all.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
I'm really a fan of all the covers for the entire series. They're beautiful, colorful, and look really nicely altogether on my shelf. :)

Rating:

Reading Reflections: February 2012

Books Read:
Abandon (Abandon Trilogy #1) by Meg Cabot
The Pledge (The Pledge #1) by Kimberly Derting
A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2) by Beth Revis
The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff
Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

Total Number of Books Read This Month: 5

Total Number of Books Read This Year: 13

Most Anticipated:
A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2) by Beth Revis

Biggest Let Down:
None!

Favorite Read:
The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

Highest Rank: 5

Lowest Rank: 4

Overall Reflection:
Overall, it's been a good, solid month of reading. I'm actually pleased to have squeezed in 5 books with heavy school and work schedules. I thought my recreational reading might drop off, and it did a little from last month, but overall, I'm rather happy with my 5 books this month. :) Abandon (Abandon Trilogy #1) by Meg Cabot was a solid beginning in a promising series. While other readers haven't quite enjoyed The Pledge (The Pledge #1) by Kimberly Derting, I adored it. It was a fantastic fictional escape. I thoroughly enjoyed A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2) by Beth Revis. Such a fab series! :) The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff was easily my favorite read of the month! Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott was a haunting story that everyone should read. Overall, a rather decent month! Hopefully March is just as kind to me! :)

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): "Once upon a time, I was a little girl who disappeared.
Once upon a time, my name was not Alice.
Once upon a time, I didn't know how lucky I was."
When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends -- her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over.
Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her.
This is Alice's story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.

Book Review:
Wowzers. Where to start...Well, I guess I'll start with the truth. I actually read a portion of this book like a year ago after reading another blogger's review. I remember I was sitting in the cafe at my local bookstore, reading, and I kept looking up and around as if to check and see if other people could actually believe the content that I was reading. It was like a train wreck...as horrifying as it was, I couldn't stop reading. About a third of the way through, I got up and put the book back on the shelf and made other purchases instead. I was actually embarrassed about reading the book. Over time, I would think back to it. I often thought of the main character. Did she make it out alive? If so, how? Did she end up dying? All these thoughts raced through my mind, and today, curiosity finally won out, and I made the purchase. This story is heart-wrenching. Parts of it make me cringe, and other parts make me angry. I like how Scott focuses on how the media often makes the victim feel guilty about not reaching out for help. Is that really the case, or do we just not pay close attention. The only thing I would like to change about this book is the ending, but ultimately, that is not my choice to make. This is a book that all readers should pick up. It has been argued that it may not be suitable for teens. Personally, I think teens are exposed to a lot. They cannot be protected from all the big bad things in the world. Knowledge is power. The more they know, the more they can protect themselves. A great review with the author can be found here.

Favorite Quote:
“I do not fall. I fell so hard so long ago there is nothing left for me to land on. I just keep falling and falling and falling.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
The cover pictured is actually not the cover of the book I have. But I like this one a lot better. It has so many components that are touched on in the book. The small white dress, the leg looming over it, the dead leaves on the ground, left to rot and decompose quietly.

Rating: