Help! Recommendations needed!

I want to buy a book as a Christmas present for a friend but I have no idea what to get, so I'm hoping you guys can help me out with some recommendations. She's 35 years old but she loves reading YA. She's into supernatural stuff like vampires, and the Twilight saga is one of her favourites. I know she also liked A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. Last year I gave her Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor and while I'm not sure if she's actually read it yet, she seemed excited about it.

Can you think of a book she might like? All suggestions are more than welcome! :)

Cover Love

I just love the shiny covers of this edition of Incarceron and Sapphique by Catherine Fisher.

Thoughts on Chaos

Chaos
By Christine O'Neil

First published: August 2013
Series: Book 1 in the Kardia Chronicles

Read: 26 August - 2 September 2013

Review copy provided by the author

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Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Description
My name is Maggie Raynard. After sixteen years being just plain me, suddenly I can kill people when I lose my temper. Turns out I'm a semi-god, descended from Aphrodite. Sounds cool in theory, but when I accidentally put my ex-boyfriend in a coma, things go downhill pretty fast.

Now some new guy named Mac Finnegan has made it his mission in life to continually piss me off. I'm stuck learning how to use my new powers while also dealing with regular high school problems, and with this---annoying and super-hot---guy all up in my business, I'm about to flip out.

But it gets worse. I just learned there's this council for semis that wants me dead. They think I'm bad to the bone and when my ex suddenly dies, it's like everyone is determined to take me out. Mac might turn out to be my only salvation, but he's got secrets of his own---that may just kill us both.

My thoughts

First off I have to say I haven't read many YA books dealing with mythology, so although the theme seems to be a popular one these days, it was new to me - and I found it very interesting. I actually wouldn't have minded more info on the semis and their history, but at the same time I appreciate that there are no info dumps to slow the story down. And it is by no means a slow story - there is always something happening to move it along and it never gets boring.

In the beginning I alternated between wanting to high five Maggie and smack her across the head. She's a smart, sassy girl but like any teenager she could be a bit of a brat at times, especially towards her mother (or maybe it's just me getting old...). I would have liked a little more information on Maggie's powers earlier in the book, because I didn't understand the reasons behind some of her actions at first. But as the story progressed and I learned more about what was happening to her and why she did what she did, I understood her a lot better and really felt for her. It was great seeing how she stood up for herself and how courageous she was.

I loved the relationship between Maggie and Mac. Mac is mysterious and quite aloof; he pushes all of Maggie's buttons, and is hiding some pretty serious secrets. And he's Irish, which is never a bad thing. In fact, he ended up being my favourite character.

A few weeks ago I talked about how first person narratives aren't my favourite, but O'Neil's writing style is very entertaining and flows easily so I never had a problem with the narrative. The book is fast-paced and full of action and the last quarter was impossible to put down. I'm already looking forward to the next book so I can learn more about the mythology and see how Maggie and Mac develop further as characters.

Random thoughts:
- I don't care if he's 14 years younger than me - Mac is hot.
- Bink is so adorable and Libby is just the right amount of awesome and weird.
- I'm so glad I'm done with high school!

Bonus tip: Make sure you read the copyright notice at the beginning. It made me very curious about what was to come!

Bottom line: A fun and action-filled start to a new YA series that will appeal to fans of mythology and sassy leading ladies.

My rating:

Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Booking Through Thursday - Tragedy Or Comedy

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme about (mostly) books and reading.

This week's question is:

All other things being equal (good writing, enthralling story, etc), which would you rather read—something serious, angsty, and tragic? Or something light, fluffy, and fun? Or a blend of both? (Since, really, isn’t that how real life works?)

That of course depends on my mood, but more often than not I tend to shy away from books that are very angsty or tragic. There are enough things that drag me down in real life, so I don't need my books to make me depressed as well. That's not to say I don't appreciate a well-written book that deals with a serious subject for example, but I have to be really up for it. I like my books to have a bit of humour in them – they don't have to be laugh-out-loud funny, but something like a character with a good sense of humour or some good one-liners is always great to balance out a dramatic or action-filled story.

Cover Reveal: CHAOS by Christine O'Neil - Excerpt and Giveaway

Today Christine O’Neil and Entangled Teen Ember are revealing the cover for book 1 in The Kardia Chronicles Series, CHAOS. 

Coming out this August!

 

About the book

My name is Maggie Raynard. After sixteen years being just plain me, suddenly I can kill people when I lose my temper. Turns out I'm a semi-god, descended from Aphrodite. Sounds cool in theory, but when I accidentally put my ex-boyfriend in a coma, things go downhill pretty fast.

Now some new guy named Mac Finnegan has made it his mission in life to continually piss me off. I'm stuck learning how to use my new powers while also dealing with regular high school problems, and with this---annoying and super-hot---guy all up in my business, I'm about to flip out.

But it gets worse. I just learned there's this council for semis that wants me dead. They think I'm bad to the bone and when my ex suddenly dies, it's like everyone is determined to take me out. Mac might turn out to be my only salvation, but he's got secrets of his own---that may just kill us both.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Exclusive Excerpt

I was done with guys.

Not in that fake, I-say-that-but-deep-down-I-really-want-a-boyfriend kind of way, but in, like, the seriously-I'd-rather-eat-maggoty-cheese kind of way. No relationships. Not for me. Not now and maybe not ever. Who I am…what I am, and what I’m capable of? Everyone’s better off this way.

"I have to stop at my locker real quick," I said, veering to the right and cutting through the crush of kids heading straight like wildebeests to a watering hole. Libby followed and then stood by me as I fiddled with the lock.

"What's that?" She pointed to a white piece of paper sticking out half an inch from one of the slots in the olive metal door.

I tugged the padlock open and flicked the catch with my thumb. "Dunno." Maybe Bink had left me another note. Bink was my neighbor, bud, and—most days—my ride home. Last time I’d found a note in my locker, it was when his cell phone died and he needed to bail early. I seriously hoped this wasn’t a repeat performance.

I mentally ran down the list of people I could bug for a ride and came up empty. Libby always had to stay after for some activity or another, and I only really had two other people I could call "friends" and neither lived near me. I wrinkled my nose in anticipation of the dirty-sneakers-meets-day-old-bologna smell of a bus filled with kids who'd had last-period gym and opted not to change clothes. 

With a sigh, I pulled open the door and the white rectangle floated to the floor.

Libby bent to grab it and read it out loud. "'Dear Sad and Lonely…'" She trailed off and went quiet 

for a few seconds until her peachy complexion went hot pink, and then she gasped. "Oh my God. 

Holy… Oh, Mags, you are so not going to like this."

I snatched the paper from her, trying to ward off the growing pit in my gut.

Dear Sad and Lonely,

Since I can almost guarantee She is about to give you some seriously shite advice like she does every week, let me be the voice of reason. Your boyfriend is just like most high school guys. Cut him some slack and, even better, why not offer to learn how to play some of the games he likes? He'd probably appreciate the effort and might even take you somewhere nice after. If that doesn't work, sit him down and let him know how you're feeling so he can tell you what's going on with him. Could be that constantly calling the things he likes stupid isn't the best way to get what you want in this situation, yeah? In any case, don't let the ramblings of some bitter emo chick who's probably never had a boyfriend ruin your relationship.

Hope it helps,

He

The shock was too thick to let the anger in right away, but as stunned as I was, I knew exactly who was behind this. There was only one person in the whole school who would use the word “shite.”

Mac Finnegan.

Opinionated, annoying, hot—did I mention annoying?—Mac Finnegan, who had barely given me the time of day since he'd come to Crestwood High a couple months ago. Mac Finnegan, who thought he was soooo cool with his Irish accent and his mocking smile. Mac Finnegan, who inexplicably made me want to lick him like an ice cream cone and then immediately rinse my mouth out with acid.

How had he discovered my secret? Only Bink and Libby knew I was the girl behind “That's What She Said,” and I would have bet everything I owned that neither of them would have ratted me out.

Didn’t matter, though. One way or another, he knew. Even worse, he'd chosen to taunt me with it. Bitter emo chick who’s probably never had a boyfriend, indeed. I had a boyfriend once and it hadn’t ended well for either of us. I was in no rush to repeat the experience. Besides, what did this Irish asshat care?

Anger tightened my chest. I could feel the power rising in me, clawing to get out, roaring to be heard. The hair on my arms stood on end as I tried to breathe through it, to let the fury dissipate and flow out of my pores in harmless pings of energy, but it was no use. I pressed a hand to my locker and opened up the tiniest of escape valves, the spout of the teakettle, whistling off a stream of steam. The cheap metal instantly heated against my skin, the door buckling and warping on the spot just beneath my fingertips.

"Uh, Mags—" Libby whispered urgently, but a male voice cut her off.

"How's it going there, Libby? Maggie."

I turned around, still trying to catch my breath, and there he was, strolling by, a grin splitting his sinfully beautiful face.

Mac Finnegan, who had decided that being the new kid wasn't bad enough, so he had to actively go out of his way to make enemies. Mac Finnegan, who wanted to turn my world upside down rather than minding his own business. Mac Finnegan, who didn't know the meaning of live and let live.

Mac Finnegan, who clearly had no idea who he was fucking with.

About Christine

Christine O’Neil was born and raised in Connecticut, where she spent most of her childhood outdoors catching salamanders, frogs and colds. When she wasn't terrorizing Mother Nature, she was curled up under the covers with her nose in a book. As an adult, she's stopped stalking amphibians, but still loves books. When she isn't reading, she likes to spend her time people-watching. In fact, she's probably watching you RIGHT NOW O_O She's also pretty obsessed with writing YA books, but if she had to pick another profession she would be a ninja...or a Professor of the Dark Arts.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

 

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Booking Through Thursday - It's Personal

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme about (mostly) books and reading.

This week's question is:
Do you have a preference between "person" in the books you read? Do you prefer third-person to first-person? Or don’t you care? And … why??

I definitely prefer third person narrative. It's what I'm most used to reading, and it's also what I use when I write myself. I like how third person perspective, be it limited or omniscient, gives you the opportunity to know more about all the characters on a deeper level, not just the main character. That being said, a first person narrative isn't a deal-breaker. I've read a few books wiith this type of narrative lately and I'm getting more comfortable with it. If the author is talented, first person perspective can be very effective as you get to know the main character more intimately. However if you don't like or don't connect with the narrator, being inside their mind all the time can become very annoying indeed.

(Actually, I have a bigger issue with tense - I don't like reading in the present tense at all.)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

 

It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.

Time for a quick update on my reading. I'm still not reading as much as I would like, but here's what I've finished in the past few weeks:

READ LATELY
– Down and Dirty by Christine Bell, second in the Dare Me series. This romance novella was a quick read, and even though I'm not really into this genre, I have to admit that Christine's books are hot, hot, hot.
– The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke. I loved this children's book about a group of children living in an old abandoned cinema in Venice and their leader, a boy who calls himself the Thief Lord.
– Hammered by Kevin Hearne, third in the Iron Druid Chronicles. This urban fantasy series is a lot of fun, chock-full of mythical creatures in a modern day setting. This installment focuses on the Norse mythology, which I've been very interested in since I was a kid.
– The Bleiberg Project by David Khara (review coming soon!). Solid thriller by a French author.

CURRENTLY READING
The Orphanage of Miracles by Amy Neftzger. I'm only one chapter in but so far it's very interesting and I can't wait to see what will happen. It's been described as middle grade fantasy, but I think it will appeal to older readers as well.

WHAT'S NEXT
I'm going on holiday next week and will have plenty of time to read, so hopefully I'll be able to get through a couple of books. I don't have any particular titles lined up, but I'm taking Pickwick (my Kindle) so I'll have plenty to choose from. :)

What are you reading this week?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

 

It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.

I haven't done of these this year for the simple reason that I haven't read many books. That doesn't mean I haven't been reading though - it just means I've read one very long book. This is my books so far this year:

READ LATELY

Inspired by the movie I read The Hobbit in December, and decided to embark on a reread of The Lord of the Rings (in Norwegian) while I was still in the mood. It took me all of January and February to get through it, but I finally finished all 1000+ pages. It may have taken me two months, but it's still a lot quicker than the first time I read it 10 years ago, when I spent nearly one and a half years on it (reading other books in between, of course). I think I enjoyed it more this time around, and it didn't feel nearly as slow as I remembered. I'm happy I took the time to read it again.

After the brick I needed something light so I read The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf by Tia Nevitt (my review), which is a clever retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. On a whim, and because it had been collecting dust in my bookcase for far too long, I also picked up Enchanted Glass by Diana Wynne Jones. It's the first book by her I've read but it won't be the last.

CURRENTLY READING
I hardly ever buy a book with the intention of reading it straight away, but I did yesterday with the Kindle edition of Down and Dirty by Christine Bell. I had been struggling with deciding what to read next and I knew this one would be a hot nice and quick read.

WHAT'S NEXT
Like I said I've been having a hard time deciding on a new read since finishing LOTR. It's stupid really; I have hundreds of unread books but I can't find one that interests me enough to pick it up. Perhaps you have any suggestions? I'm looking for something not too heavy that will grab me from the first few pages.

What are you reading this week?

Thoughts on Her Majesty's Will

Her Majesty's Will
By David Blixt

First published: 23 April 2012 by Sordelet Ink

Read: 18 May – 9 June 2012
E-ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley

Goodreads | Amazon

Description

Before he was famous, he was a fugitive. 
Before he wrote of humanity, he lived it. Before he was the Bard of Avon, he was a spy.

A very poor spy.

England, 1586. Swept up in the skirts of a mysterious stranger, Will Shakespeare becomes entangled in a deadly and hilarious misadventure as he accidentally uncovers the Babington Plot, an attempt to murder Queen Elizabeth herself. Aided by the mercurial wit of Kit Marlowe, Will enters London for the first time, chased by rebels, spies, his own government, his past, and a bear. 

Through it all he demonstrates his loyalty and genius, proving himself to be - HER MAJESTY'S WILL. (Goodreads)

My thoughts

This book got off to a slow start for me. I have to admit that I was close to putting it aside thinking it wasn't for me, but as it was a review book I decided to give it a few more pages. I'm very happy I persevered, because once the story got going, it hit the ground running.

I think the main reason I had trouble getting into it at first, was the old-fashioned language. English isn't my first language and it took me a while to get used to the style. When I got past the initial barrier it didn't bother me anymore. Reading it on my Kindle where I quickly could look up words I didn't know, also made it easier. The writing is littered with puns and alliteration and Shekespearian references, which made it all the more interesting. Like this:

"Near is as good as," scowled Sir Oliver. "If a man be in the cowpie or near the cowpie, he smells it all the same, I daresay! Don't you daresay? Who dares not to say?"

"...the burly bristling brute bent his brain to the paper."

Ultimately this book was good old-fashioned fun. Kit is a marvellous character and my favourite; easy-going, witty, a scoundrel and a con artist. Will is more cautious by nature, but quickly finds himself drawn to Kit and his schemes. Their relationship develops into a great friendship as they take it upon themselves to uncover the conspiracy to murder the queen.

Bottom line: A delightful romp featuring well-known characters that will leave you turning pages long into the night.

My rating:

David Blixt online: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Thoughts on The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf

The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf
By Tia Nevitt

First published: 18 February 2013 by Carina Press
Series: Accidental Enchantments #2

Read: 15-19 Februrary 2013
E-book
E-arc received from the publisher through NetGalley

Goodreads | Amazon

Description
Prince Richard is cursed. Enslaved to a magic mirror, he must truthfully answer the evil queen when she uses it to call on him. To keep from betraying innocents, Richard wanders the countryside and avoids people.

All her life, Gretchen has been teased for being small. When she hears of a hidden farm populated by little people like her, she sets out to find it—and is welcomed by the mostly male inhabitants. Lars in particular woos her with his gentle kindness and quiet strength.

Danger looms when Gretchen meets a runaway princess and offers her shelter at the Little Farm. Wandering nearby, Richard instantly falls in love with the beautiful princess, and is later compelled to tell the queen that she is not the fairest of them all. Enraged, the queen vows to find them and destroy them.

If either Gretchen or Richard are to have their happy endings, they must team up to break the mirror's spell before the queen kills them all… (Goodreads)

My thoughts

"Richard ran."

So begins this retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and those two words were all it took to get me hooked. We are thrown straight into the story where Prince Richard, slave of the Magic Mirror, is trying to escape from always having to tell the Queen the truth. I instantly liked Richard and unlike most fairy tale princes, his character develops throughout the story, making me like him even more.

We are then introduced to Gretchen, a dwarf in her late twenties who all her life has been bullied because of her size. When she hears about a farm where there are other people like her, she decides to leave her home to find it, because she wants to be with people like herself. Gretchen is a very interesting character; strong and independent, but kind and selfless despite having met so much hostility from other people. She doesn't want a husband as much as she wants somewhere to belong. "I'm not looking for love, Mother," she says before leaving. "Just someone who will accept me. Maybe love will come in time." If I wasn't already rooting for her, I certainly was from that point on.

Naturally there is also the brave and beautiful princess and the evil queen, as well as many other elements you will recognise from the original fairy tale of Snow White. Tia Nevitt weaves it all together in a refreshing and surprising way and I was never once bored (like I always am with the original story - even the Disney film). Now, this is a fairy tale and that does of course mean we all know how it's going to end. But the journey towards that ending is quite different from what you'd expect and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

My rating:

The Accidental Enchantment Series

1. The Sevenfold Spell (2010)
2. The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf (2013)

Author online: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Top Ten Tuesday - Series I'd Like To Start

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature / weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week we make a top ten list from a given topic.

This week's topic is

Top Ten Series I Would Like To Start

I tend to start far too many series and never finish them, so what's ten more, eh? ;)

1) A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
I really want to watch the TV series Game of Thrones, but I'm weird and won't watch anything based on books until I've read the book first. I own the first book in the series so I should just get reading. But it's long and a bit intimidating and I just finished rereading The Lord of the Rings so I'm afraid I won't be picking up A Game of Thrones just yet. Thinking about it, this is true for many of the series on this list.

2) Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon
I've wanted to start this series for years, ever since I almost bought book 6 without realising it was part of a series.

3) All Souls trilogy by Deborah Harkness
A friend keeps reccommending this to me, and from what I've heard it sounds like it would be right up my alley.

4) Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series by Tess Gerritsen
Another book series I want to read before watching the TV series.

5) Cotton Malone series by Steve Berry
Turns out I've accumulated quite a few books by Steve Berry because they sound like great thrillers, but I've never actually read any of them.

6) Wyatt series by Garry Disher
What can I say, I love con artists. Plus, this one is Australian.

7) Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
With the movie coming out this year I'd love to read this series.

8) Michael St Pierre series by Richard Doetsch
Another thriller series that sounds really good.

9) Courts of the Feyre by Mike Shevdon
I bought the first book when I was in Australia 4 years ago so my copy has travelled half-way across the world - I should read it for that reason alone.

10) Kingkiller Chronicle series by Patrick Rothfuss
I've heard so many good things about this series and I just really want to read it.

So tell me, which series would you like to read?

Top Ten Tuesday: Settings I'd Like To See More

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature / weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week we make a top ten list from a given topic.

This week's topic is

Top Ten Settings I Would Like To See More Of

1) Scotland
I fell in love with Scotland through Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher and A Scottish Ferry Tale by Nancy Volkers and I've wanted to read more books set in this wonderful country ever since.

2) Theatres
I've always had a passion for acting and I love being in a theatre, both on stage and off. There is this special kind of anticipation and excitement in the air. So much could happen behind the stage and I think it would be a great setting for many different novels.

3) Gothic settings
There's just something about big old mansions with towers and secret passageways and strange inhabitants and gloomy weather.

4) Sydney, Australia
Sydney is my very favourite city in the world, and I love reading about it. After having lived there for a few months it's even more fun to read stories that are set there, because I can recognise places and picture everything much more vividly in my mind.

5) Northern Norway
The unique landscape, the rough weather and the many contrasts of this area would be an amazing setting for a mystery or thriller. Plus, it's my home and I'd love to see it through someone else's eyes.

6) Hogwarts
Because.

7) Completely original worlds
Think the prison in Catherine Fisher's Incarceron series. I love it when an author can make me believe in a whole new world I've never imagined before.

8) New England
I visited some small towns in New England last year and absolutely loved it.

9) Yorkshire
Green hills, cosy stone cottages, quirky characters and sheep - I blame the TV show Heartbeat for giving me this romantic view of the area.

10) Libraries/book stores
I think all of us book lovers like this setting, right?

What settings would you like to see more of?