Good afternoon everyone! I hope you’ve had a great week! Christmas is over and done with and it seems like life is almost getting back to normal now! haha Kristy and I had a decent week this week! I hadn’t received any books for the last couple of weeks so I have some now to share!

Stacking the Shelves is bought to you by Tynga from Tynga’s Reviews. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

 

In Mel’s mailbox this week:

17 First Kisses - Rachael Allen

Thank you to Harper Teen for the advance readers copy of this book!

No matter how many boys Claire kisses, she can’t seem to find a decent boyfriend. Someone who wouldn’t rather date her gorgeous best friend, Megan. Someone who won’t freak out when he learns about the tragedy her family still hasn’t recovered from. Someone whose kisses can carry her away from her backwoods town for one fleeting moment.

Until Claire meets Luke.

But Megan is falling for Luke, too, and if there’s one thing Claire knows for sure, it’s that Megan’s pretty much irresistible.

With true love and best friendship on the line, Claire suddenly has everything to lose. And what she learns—about her crush, her friends, and most of all herself—makes the choices even harder.

In her moving debut, Rachael Allen brilliantly captures the complexities of friendship, the struggles of self-discovery, and the difficulties of trying to find love in high school. Fans of Sarah Ockler, Susane Colasanti, and Stephanie Perkins will fall head over heels for this addictive, heartfelt, and often hilarious modern love story.

 

Side Effects May Vary - Julie Murphy

Thank you to Harper Collins for this copy.

What if you’d been living your life as if you were dying—only to find out that you had your whole future ahead of you?

When sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia, her prognosis is grim. To maximize the time she does have, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs—however she sees fit. She convinces her friend Harvey, whom she knows has always had feelings for her, to help her with a crazy bucket list that’s as much about revenge (humiliating her ex-boyfriend and getting back at her arch nemesis) as it is about hope (doing something unexpectedly kind for a stranger and reliving some childhood memories). But just when Alice’s scores are settled, she goes into remission.

Now Alice is forced to face the consequences of all that she’s said and done, as well as her true feelings for Harvey. But has she done irreparable damage to the people around her, and to the one person who matters most?

 

The Things You Kiss Goodbye - Leslie Connor

Thank you Katherine Tegen books for this copy.

Bettina Vasilis can hardly believe it when basketball star Brady Cullen asks her out, and she just about faints when her strict father actually approves of him.

But when school starts up again, Brady changes. What happened to the sweet boy she fell in love with? Then she meets a smoldering guy in his twenties, and this “cowboy” is everything Brady is not—gentle, caring, and interested in getting to know the real Bettina.

Bettina knows that breaking up with Brady would mean giving up her freedom—and that it would be inappropriate for anything to happen between her and Cowboy. Still, she can’t help that she longs for the scent of his auto shop whenever she’s anywhere else.

When tragedy strikes, Bettina must tell her family the truth—and kiss goodbye the things she thought she knew about herself and the men in her life.

Leslie Connor has written a lyrical, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful story about family, romance, and the immense power of love.

 

Backward Compatible: A Geek Love Story - Sarah Daltry & Pete Clark

I got this from Netgalley and being a geek myself I am actually pumped to read this. :)

WARNING: There is no sex in this book. Your Kindle or other device will remain at a pleasant room temperature. At no point will your panties drop. Your significant other will be allowed to snore in peace as you read.

Not too long ago, in a town that, depending on your current location, is either not super far or actually quite close…

It is a time of chaotic hormones.
Two nerdy gents home for winter break have discovered a female gamer at a midnight release.

During the break, the gamer trio manages to reveal the game’s secret boss, a hidden enemy with enough power to destroy anything in its path.

Pursued by other gamers who want to be the first to beat this boss, George and Katie race to level up, and, in so doing, restore decency and sexual activity to their personal galaxy…

 

In Kristy’s mailbox this week:

Divergent, Insurgent & Allegiant - Veronica Roth

I was given these for Christmas, but they arrived a little late - but I’m happy to finally have physical copies of the whole trilogy!

Divergent: One choice can transform you. Veronica Roth’s #1 New York Times bestselling debut is a gripping dystopian tale of electrifying choices, powerful consequences, unexpected romance, and a deeply flawed “perfect society.”

Insurgent: One choice can destroy you. Veronica Roth’s second #1 New York Times bestseller continues the dystopian thrill ride. As war surges in the factions all around her, Tris attempts to save those she loves-and herself-while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Allegiant: The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth’s #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

 

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (Between #1) - April Genevieve Tucholke

I purchased this copy as the copy I read wasn’t mine. Although I’m still undecided about the book, I cannot deny the cover is stunning.

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town… until River West comes along. River rents the guest house behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard.

Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more?

Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery… who makes you want to kiss back.

Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

 

Girl Of Nightmares (Anna #2) - Kendare Blake

I purchased this as well so I can jump straight into it after I read Anna Dressed in Blood.

It’s been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can’t move on.

His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live—not walk around half dead. He knows they’re right, but in Cas’s eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.

Now he’s seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he’s asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong…these aren’t just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn’t know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn’t deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it’s time for him to return the favor.

 

That is all from us this week, what did you receive in your mailboxes? Let me know - leave your links in the comments section below!

 

 

Release Date: May 23rd 2013 (first published May 21st 2011)
Published By: Hodder and Stoughton
Pages: 325
Goodreads: Add it to your reading list
Purchase: Click here to purchase

Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis: It’s been six weeks since the angels of the apocalypse destroyed the world as we know it. Only pockets of humanity remain.

 
Savage street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night.

When angels fly away with a helpless girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back…

Review:

Now this is a how a book about angels should be written! I utterly loved Angelfall – I enjoyed everything about it - from the post-apocalyptic world, to the descriptions of angel feathers, to the character’s personalities, to the combination of hope and horror.

Angelfall is set in post-apocalyptic world, where six weeks ago angels descended to earth and destroyed the world as we know it. Fear and destruction rule, and for Penryn this scary new existence is only the start of her journey. Right from the start Angelfall has plenty of action, with Penryn and her family finding themselves caught in the crossfire of a fight between angels. As Penryn watches in horror as an angel has his wings brutally cut off him by others of his kind, she feels the need to try to help the now wingless angel, and by doing this she aggravates the attackers, who in turn kidnaps her little sister, Paige.

As the unlikely pair of a broken warrior angel and a teenage girl set out to get Raffe’s wings back and to rescue Penryn’s sister, their relationship slowly goes from thinly veiled contempt, to reluctant acceptance, to being amused, to protecting each other. During their struggle to find food and shelter and basically just trying to survive death, war, and other unimaginable horrors along their journey, they slowly get to know each other and learn to rely on each other.

Penryn is a fantastic protagonist – she is fierce, loyal, stubborn, and realistic and is mortified with herself when she catches herself thinking about her wingless and sarcastic companion. Her loyalty to her family is astounding, and her desperate desire to protect her sister, and her struggle with, but acceptance of, her schizophrenic mother is conveyed flawlessly. Penryn has not had a simple life, but she takes it all in her stride and even thought she is has survive an apocalypse, she hasn’t let it change who she is. She is smart, funny, determined and she kick-ass.

Raffe is a perfect example as to why I think that Susan Ee is literary mastermind. Here is a character that I should have basically hated right from the start – if for nothing else, but for the fact that he is (constantly) described as an Adonis. Focus on a male characters looks, and specifically the description of an Adonis, normally drives me crazy, and it instantly makes me dislike the male lead, the female protagonist, and the book in general. However, Susan Ee didn’t make me feel any of those things – not once. The descriptions of Raffe, even “Adonis”, somehow suited the characters – and I can honestly say I never thought I would say that I like a male character constantly referred to that way (or the female character saying it). I don’t know how Susan Ee managed it, but she got me to not only overlook it, but to accept it as part of the storyline. (Bravo Susan Ee). So, all in all, I loved Raffe, I think this character is great. Sarcastic, egoistical, determined, withdrawn, dangerous, protective, and beautifully sweet. He is clearly hiding many secrets, and he doesn’t reveal things about himself unless he has to, but you can clearly see his fascination in Penryn, and the fact that his unknowingly getting drawn in. Sadly, due to spoilers, I cannot tell you the one thing I really loved, but let me say this, this one tiny little thing would have won me over if nothing else had. We find out at one stage about some of Raffe’s beliefs - and he reveals something that I thought was utter genius! For me, this is where it was confirmed that Susan Ee is a mastermind - the irony in this one detail was brilliant - I loved it!

I also loved the use of “minor” characters throughout this book, and it is clear that certain characters will develop later in the series, and may even become key players. However, you can’t exactly tell how, as the mixture of good and evil, hidden motives, secret desires and unknown plans are layered together, creating a complexity of darkness and hope.

With a darkly beautiful prose, Susan Ee has an amazing ability to write with a mix of intrigue and horror, hope and awe. She has created a world filled with action, intensity, gore, determination, loyalty and hope. This book has an amazing plot, with twists you couldn’t imagine, and it had me hooked from the very first page until the moment I put it down. I highly recommend this book! Go read it!

Due to the violence in this book, it is recommended to ages 16 and up – but if you are above this age bracket – you are in for one hell of treat!!

 

Quotes:

“You are nothing but a bird with an attitude. Okay, so you have a few muscles, I’ll grant you that. But you know, a bird is nothing but a barely evolved lizard. That’s what you are.”

“We now play a permanent game of I-am-crazier-and-scarier-than-you. And in that game, my mother is our secret weapon.”

“Asleep, he looks like a bleeding Prince Charming chained in the dungeon. When I was little, I always thought I’d be Cinderella, but I guess this makes me the wicked witch.
But then again, Cinderella didn’t live in a post-apocalyptic world invaded by avenging angels.”

“Your sense of judgement could use a dash of common sense.”

“A sense of humor is one more thing I don’t think angels should have. The fact that his sense of humor is corny makes it even more wrong.”

“I wonder which will get you killed faster—your loyalty or your stubbornness?”

“It is not the gentle kiss of a couple on a first date, nor is it the kiss of a man driven by simple lust. He kisses me with the desperation of a dying man who believes the magic of eternal life is in this kiss.”

It’s Wednesday which means it’s time to tell you what we have been up to for the past week! W..W..W.. Wednesdays is a weekly meme bought to you by MizB from Should Be Reading.

What are you currently reading?

Melissa - I’m still reading Her Dark Curiosity (The Madman’s Daughter #2) by Megan Shepherd.

Kristy - Being a school night, I haven’t started a new novel yet, but I am currently reading Fractured Fables by Jim Valentino and Kristen Koerner Simon (yes, for the Laini Taylor/Jim Di Bartolo story).

What did you recently finish reading?

Melissa - I just finished reading Batgirl Vol 3 - Death In The Family by Gail Simone. I loved this!! Not sure if I’ll review it or not, I am in two mind about comic reviews, but I think I will post more in 2014 either way. :)

Kristy - To start of my year of unique books, my first read for the year was Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine, #1) by Ransom Riggs.

 

What do you think you’ll read next?

Melissa - Crash Into You (Pushing The Limits #3) - Katie McGarry, Champion (Legend #3) - Marie Lu, Elusion - Claudia Gabel amongst others.

Kristy - To be honest, I really have no idea. I am currently debating between The Scar Boys by Len Vlahos, Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge and Uninvited by Sophie Jordan.

 

What is everyone out there reading at the moment, and more importantly is it a good read? Share your links below!

Release Date: January 7th 2014
Published By: Harper Teen
Pages: 384
Goodreads: Add it to your reading list
Purchase: Click here to purchase

Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis: Small towns are nothing if not friendly. Friendship, Wisconsin (population: 688) is no different. Around here, everyone wears a smile. And no one ever locks their doors. Until, that is, high school sweetheart Ruth Fried is found murdered. Strung up like a scarecrow in the middle of a cornfield.

Unfortunately, Friendship’s police are more adept at looking for lost pets than catching killers. So Ruth’s best friend, Kippy Bushman, armed with only her tenacious Midwestern spirit and Ruth’s secret diary (which Ruth’s mother had asked her to read in order to redact any, you know, sex parts), sets out to find the murderer. But in a quiet town like Friendship—where no one is a suspect—anyone could be the killer.

Review: How wrong was I to assume that just because this book involved a murder mystery that it would be a serious contemporary novel? This book was frigging amazing though, I can’t even word it in a professional manner. If I could be a book - this would be me. This book is dripping in sarcasm and dark humour (also Batman) and is almost satirical but written in the best of ways.

In hindsight, I feel the title of this book is perhaps too serious for it’s content - seeing as I did initially think it was going to be a serious style novel and ended up with something else. The cover is amazing. One of the best covers I’ve seen in YA, and clever too because it actually ties into Kippy’s dress sense with the knitted turtleneck jumpers that Ruth makes fun of her for wearing.

No One Else Can Have You tells the story of Kippy Bushman, who’s BFF Ruth was murdered out in the cornfields. Kippy was asked to give the eulogy, but just prior, she’s given Ruths diary by her mother and asked to redact all the “sex stuff” out of it before she reads it herself. Upon reading Ruths journal entries, she comes to realise that maybe Ruth wasn’t such a good person at all, and perhaps Ruth didn’t even like Kippy all that much either. After delivering what ends up perhaps the most awkward eulogy I’ve ever encountered and giving all the guests at the wake cookies laced in salt (instead of sugar - oops!), Kippy realises that the boy accused of Ruth’s murder is obviously innocent and goes on a hunt for the real killer.

There were parts of this book that I actually laughed out loud, which is quite the accomplishment for an author to have that effect on me. But I feel like Kathleen Hale has exactly the same sense of humour as me.

Kippy Bushman is this really quirky, odd sort of a girl who doesn’t have very many friends and she’s such an individual and not ashamed of who she is in the slightest. And this is why she’s also an extremely awesome protagonist, because she’s unapologetic about how she is. Kippy’s father Dom is a psychologist (or high school counselor), and the relationship Kippy and Dom has is quite amusing also.

There’s entire scenes of this book set in a self help group for people that are violent towards each other that had me crying from laughter, because the characters are just completely dysfunctional, and the characters trigger each other and bounce off one another. There’s also Libby, who never really knew Ruth all that well who starts up the Ruth Fried Foundation Brigade leading organised mourning sessions for Ruth every week and picketing her accused killer. She is that real stereotypical goodie two shoes with a darker side to her. I love that throughout the whole book she continues to call Kippy “Katie”. We all know someone like this. lol I also loved “Sir Albus” in the mental institute. She is a 12 year old girl who thinks she is a 40-something British male sergeant. This book has so much of the random to offer, and I loved it.

I could visually see each scene rolling through my mind like a movie - and in fact, if this book became a movie, it would make me entirely too happy to buy a ticket. Extremely entertaining. For those of you that have read the Libba Bray book Beauty Queens, it’s a very similar sense of humour to that book. Satirical and sarcastic, but a really good story line throughout. Guaranteed to entertain you.

Quotes:

“For starters, I immediately ran into some very mean insinuations about my hygene - which, even though I sometmes have chocolate around my mouth, is actually just fine thank you.”

“Your daughter’s a hoochie mama,” I blurt. “And you’re just made because Colt did it with her.”

“It’s true. I’m wearing my utility belt again. I used to wear it a lot in elementary school because I was always drawing animals back then and it was a way to have constant easy access to my markers. Also I may or may not have thought I was Batman.”

“You’re very welcome.” It comes out sounding too loud. Something about Davey makes me want to raise my voice and talk in all caps. Like, NO MATTER WHAT I’M SAYING I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW I’M HERE AND VERY EXCITED.”

“Unicorns are cool.”

What book are you most looking forward to in 2014?

Melissa - There’s a few titles I really am dying to read in 2014 - namely Lair of Dreams (The Diviners #2) by Libba Bray out in August, Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer released in February, The Forever Song (Blood of Eden #3) by Julie Kagawa released in April and Burning Kingdoms (The Internment Chronicles #2) by Lauren De Stefano which says will be released in 2014 but not sure when yet.

Kristy - I know you are going to be shocked by my answer here, but, it’s Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor. Waiting for this book is absolutely killing me!

Although, I do have an honourable mentions list: In the Shadows by Kiersten White and Jim Di Bartolo, Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover, The Darkest Minds #3 by Alexandra Bracken, Sinner and The Raven Cycle, #3 by Maggie Stiefvater and Throne of Glass #3 by Sarah J. Maas

Which book are you most scared about in 2014?

Melissa - Probably Lair of Dreams (The Diviners #2) by Libba Bray. I got SO swept up in The Diviners and I lost myself in it. I loved everything about the story, and I have really high expectations for the next one. I just hope it doesn’t disappoint!

Kristy - Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor. Yes, I know this is the one book I am dying to read, but it also scares the death out of me. I know the writing will blow me away, and I am sure that I will love it, but it’s the final in my favourite book series. And that’s scary - I want to know what happens next, but I don’t want it to end either. And there is one thing that I really want to happen in DoGaM - and if Laini doesn’t make it happen, I think I will be gutted. Basically, she holds my heart in her hand, and I don’t know if she will let it keep beating, or shatter it into a million pieces.

What do you hope for in the bookish world in 2014?

Melissa - More author meet and greets! I only just got my first taste of this in 2013 and I really enjoyed my experiences last year. So this year I’ll be on the lookout for more opportunities to meet my favourite authors and to share these experiences with you all here.

I also am hoping for some wonderful 2014 debut books! I want to be introduced to new and exciting authors and have the chance to fall in love with their writing.

Kristy - More wonderful books! I know that’s a pretty basic answer, but it is true. I want to find more books that I love, and that I connect with. And I want the same for all of you!

And I would also love for more authors to tour Australia (both Australian and international authors). I would love to see more author events, signings and launches in Australia, so that us fans can meet our favourite authors, have a chat with them, and basically have our fan-girl moments.

Have you already done pre-orders for books in 2014? If so, which books?

Melissa - I haven’t yet! As much as I hate to admit it, I am not much of a pre-order person. I am more a “I need it now” person, and so I’ll usually just go into a store and grab it off the shelves if I really want a book!

Kristy - Yes, but not as many as I should have (I will get on to that soon). So far, I have ordered: Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor (I know, you are shocked, right?), In The Shadows by Kiersten White and Jim Di Bartolo, Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover and Perfect Lies by Kiersten White.

What, as a reader or blogger, do you aim to do better in 2014?

Melissa - As a reader I am going to try and discipline myself more with reading. I haven’t been reading during the week very much due to the hours I work now, and I tent to get a little lazy and distracted on the weekends, so I’d like to be able to turn this around a bit more.

As for being a blogger, I think for me the key thing is to be more organised. I go through stages where I am really good, and then other times where I just can’t be bothered. And so my goal is to try and schedule stuff more, so when I do go through those moments where I just can’t be bothered, there’s other things I can post.

Kristy - As a reader, I want to learn to read more on “school nights”. I have always been one of those people who don’t like to put a book down until it is finished, so I don’t read much during the week. I am going to try to read more during the week this year so I can get more books read.

As a blogger, I really need to learn to use Goodreads better! I often forget to update my “currently reading” book and I rarely put books on my “want to read” shelf. I will work on that too.

As a follower, I plan to comment more on other people’s blogs. I always see posts on blogs, but I rarely comment - not for any other reason besides the fact I often look at posts from my phone. So, blogger friends - I promise I will try more in 2014!

Are you looking forward to anything bookish in particular in 2014?

Melissa - Aside from the books I mentioned earlier, I am probably most looking forward to getting my hands on more comics this year and really immerse myself in them this year. I have always been a big Batman fan, but I want to go back and read a lot of the old story arcs that I haven’t been exposed to yet. I want to become more knowledgeable and really understand the ins and outs of the DC Universe. I may post more comics reviews in 2014. :)

Kristy - I am clearly looking forward to Dreams of Gods and Monsters (even though it scares me to death), as this is my all-time favourite series.

I am also looking forward to some unique books in 2014: mainly Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover and In The Shadows by Kiersten White. Maybe Someday incorporates music into the storyline, and even has its own soundtrack, specifically written and recorded by Griffin Peterson for this novel. Also, In The Shadows sounds unique, as it has a written storyteller (Kiersten White) and an visual storyteller (Jim Di Bartolo) - this is not an illustrated novel, the illustrations help tell the story - one of my favourite authors and favourite artist in one book, I can’t wait!

I am really looking forward to The Fault in Our Stars movie as well.

And one other thing, but I can’t tell you what it is, as I don’t want to jinx it.

Which movie adaptation are you most looking forward to in 2014?

Melissa - The Fault In Our Stats by far. This is going to be the biggest movie release for YA to the big screen in 2014, I am sure of it. I am also going to be looking forward to Divergent, but I am actually looking forward to TFIOS more. I think being a contemporary type of story, there’s no major “world building” needed like Divergent (and this is where sometimes things go wrong). It seems they have done the casting really well and since John Green was on the set for the filming of this movie, I have really high hopes about how it translates on screen.

Kristy - As stated above, The Fault in Our Stars. I loved this book, and I am very excited about the movie. Usually I don’t get too excited over movie adaptations, as they are rarely as good as the book, but this movie seems so promising! The type of story it is will translate very well to screen, the actors are superb, the script seems to have stuck very closely to the book, and John Green. Yes, the author is the main reason I am looking forward to the movie! John was very involved in the production of this movie, he is very supportive of the casting and script, and I fully believe that he would “stand up” for his book if he felt the movie was veering away from the essence of the story. And he also wouldn’t be so publically supportive if he honestly didn’t feel the movie has done the book justice - John Green isn’t afraid to give his opinion, and the fact that his opinion is favourable leads me to believe I won’t be disappointed.

 

January 2014 and there are some incredible titles being released this month! All of these titles are up for grabs this month too, in our International January Giveaway - so if you’ve not entered yet, make sure you go and do that!

January 7th

No One Else Can Have You - Kathleen Hale

Small towns are nothing if not friendly. Friendship, Wisconsin (population: 688) is no different. Around here, everyone wears a smile. And no one ever locks their doors. Until, that is, high school sweetheart Ruth Fried is found murdered. Strung up like a scarecrow in the middle of a cornfield.

Unfortunately, Friendship’s police are more adept at looking for lost pets than catching killers. So Ruth’s best friend, Kippy Bushman, armed with only her tenacious Midwestern spirit and Ruth’s secret diary (which Ruth’s mother had asked her to read in order to redact any, you know, sex parts), sets out to find the murderer. But in a quiet town like Friendship—where no one is a suspect—anyone could be the killer.

 

Unhinged (Splintered #2) - A.G. Howard

Alyssa Gardner has been down the rabbit hole and faced the bandersnatch. She saved the life of Jeb, the guy she loves, and escaped the machinations of the disturbingly seductive Morpheus and the vindictive Queen Red. Now all she has to do is graduate high school and make it through prom so she can attend the prestigious art school in London she’s always dreamed of.

That would be easier without her mother, freshly released from an asylum, acting overly protective and suspicious. And it would be much simpler if the mysterious Morpheus didn’t show up for school one day to tempt her with another dangerous quest in the dark, challenging Wonderland—where she (partly) belongs.

As prom and graduation creep closer, Alyssa juggles Morpheus’s unsettling presence in her real world with trying to tell Jeb the truth about a past he’s forgotten. Glimpses of Wonderland start to bleed through her art and into her world in very disturbing ways, and Morpheus warns that Queen Red won’t be far behind.

If Alyssa stays in the human realm, she could endanger Jeb, her parents, and everyone she loves. But if she steps through the rabbit hole again, she’ll face a deadly battle that could cost more than just her head.

 

January 14th

Hollow City (Miss Peregrine #2) - Ransom Riggs

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children was the surprise best seller of 2011—an unprecedented mix of YA fantasy and vintage photography that enthralled readers and critics alike. Publishers Weekly called it “an enjoyable, eccentric read, distinguished by well-developed characters, a believable Welsh setting, and some very creepy monsters.”

This second novel begins in 1940, immediately after the first book ended. Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises.

Complete with dozens of newly discovered (and thoroughly mesmerizing) vintage photographs, this new adventure will delight readers of all ages.

 

January 21st

Evertrue (Everneath #3) - Brodi Ashton

Now that Nikki has rescued Jack, all she wants is to be with him and graduate high school. But Cole tricked Nikki into feeding off him, and she’s begun the process of turning into an Everliving herself… which means she must feed on a Forfeit soon — or die.

Terrified for her survival, Nikki and Jack begin a desperate attempt to reverse the process using any means possible. Even Cole, who they expected to fight them at every turn, has become an unlikely ally — but how long can it last? Nikki needs to feed on Cole to survive, Cole needs Nikki to gain the throne in the Everneath, Jack needs Nikki because she is everything to him — and together, they must travel back to the Underworld to undo Nikki’s fate and make her mortal once more. But Cole isn’t the only one with plans for Nikki: the Queen has not forgotten Nikki’s treachery, and she wants her destroyed for good. Will Nikki be forced to spend eternity in the Underworld, or does she have what it takes to bring down the Everneath once and for all?

In this stunning conclusion to the Everneath trilogy, Brodi Ashton evokes the resiliency of the human spirit and the indomitable power of true love.

 

January 28th

Infinite (Newsoul #3) - Jodi Meadows

DESTRUCTION
The Year of Souls begins with an earthquake—an alarming rumble from deep within the earth—and it’s only the first of greater dangers to come. The Range caldera is preparing to erupt. Ana knows that as Soul Night approaches, everything near Heart will be at risk.

FLIGHT
Ana’s exile is frightening, but it may also be fortuitous, especially if she can convince her friends to flee Heart and Range with her. They’ll go north, seeking answers and allies to stop Janan’s ascension. And with any luck, the newsouls will be safe from harm’s reach.

CHOICE
The oldsouls might have forgotten the choice they made to give themselves limitless lifetimes, but Ana knows the true cost of reincarnation. What she doesn’t know is whether she’ll have the chance to finish this one sweet life with Sam, especially if she returns to Heart to stop Janan once and for all.

With gorgeous romance and thrilling action, the final book in the Incarnate trilogy offers a brilliant conclusion to the compelling questions of this fascinating world, where one new girl is the key to the lives of millions.

 

Uninvited (Uninvited #1) - Sophie Jordan

The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report in bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s chilling new novel about a teenage girl who is ostracized when her genetic test proves she’s destined to become a murderer.

When Davy Hamilton’s tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn’t feel any different, but genes don’t lie. One day she will kill someone.

Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he’s not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

The first in a two-book series, Uninvited tackles intriguing questions about free will, identity, and human nature. Steeped in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s trademark mix of gripping action and breathless romance, this suspenseful tale is perfect for fans of James Patterson, Michelle Hodkin, and Lisa McMann.

 

Into The Still Blue (Under The Never Sky #3) - Veronica Rossi

The earth-shattering conclusion to Veronica Rossi’s “masterpiece” Under the Never Sky trilogy and sequel to the New York Times bestselling Through the Ever Night (Examiner.com).

Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it’s time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.

The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do-and they are just as determined to stay together.

Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won’t even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.

Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission-because Cinder isn’t just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he’s also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.

In this final book in her stunning Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close.

 

Her Dark Curiosity (The Madman’s Daughter #2) - Megan Shepherd

To defeat the darkness, she must first embrace it.

Months have passed since Juliet Moreau returned to civilization after escaping her father’s island—and the secrets she left behind. Now, back in London once more, she is rebuilding the life she once knew and trying to forget Dr. Moreau’s horrific legacy—though someone, or something, hasn’t forgotten her.

As people close to Juliet fall victim one by one to a murderer who leaves a macabre calling card of three clawlike slashes, Juliet fears one of her father’s creations may have also escaped the island. She is determined to find the killer before Scotland Yard does, though it means awakening sides of herself she had thought long banished, and facing loves from her past she never expected to see again.

As Juliet strives to stop a killer while searching for a serum to cure her own worsening illness, she finds herself once more in the midst of a world of scandal and danger. Her heart torn in two, past bubbling to the surface, life threatened by an obsessive killer—Juliet will be lucky to escape alive.

With inspiration from Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, this is a tantalizing mystery about the hidden natures of those we love and how far we’ll go to save them from themselves.

 

Cruel Beauty - Rosamund Hodge

Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast in this sweeping fantasy about one girl’s journey to fulfill her destiny and the monster who gets in her way-by stealing her heart.

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she’s ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex’s secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

 

The Unbound (The Archived #2) - Victoria Schwab

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books. Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Last summer, Mackenzie Bishop, a Keeper tasked with stopping violent Histories from escaping the Archive, almost lost her life to one. Now, as she starts her junior year at Hyde School, she’s struggling to get her life back. But moving on isn’t easy — not when her dreams are haunted by what happened. She knows the past is past, knows it cannot hurt her, but it feels so real, and when her nightmares begin to creep into her waking hours, she starts to wonder if she’s really safe.

Meanwhile, people are vanishing without a trace, and the only thing they seem to have in common is Mackenzie. She’s sure the Archive knows more than they are letting on, but before she can prove it, she becomes the prime suspect. And unless Mac can track down the real culprit, she’ll lose everything, not only her role as Keeper, but her memories, and even her life. Can Mackenzie untangle the mystery before she herself unravels?

With stunning prose and a captivating mixture of action, romance, and horror, The Unbound delves into a richly imagined world where no choice is easy and love and loss feel like two sides of the same coin.

 

January 30th

Minders - Michele Jaffe

A high concept, cinematic read with a surprising twist, MINDERS asks the question: who is really watching whom?

Q: If the boy you love commits a crime, would you turn him in?

Sadie Ames is a type-A teenager from the wealthy suburbs. She’s been accepted to the prestigious Mind Corps Fellowship program, where she’ll spend six weeks as an observer inside the head of Ford, a troubled boy with a passion for the crumbling architecture of the inner city. There’s just one problem: Sadie’s fallen in love with him.

Q: What if the crime is murder?

Ford Winters is haunted by the murder of his older brother, James. As Sadie falls deeper into his world, dazzled by the shimmering pinpricks of color that form images in his mind, she begins to think she knows him. Then Ford does something unthinkable.

Q: What if you saw it happen from inside his mind?

Back in her own body, Sadie is faced with the ultimate dilemma. With Ford’s life in her hands, she must decide what is right and what is wrong. And how well she can really ever know someone, even someone she loves.

2014!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW! I hope you all had a wonderful New Years celebrating it in the way you wanted to. :) I had a quiet night in and it was amazing. :) I am so excited about this giveaway for January because there are SO many huge titles coming out. I personally want to read all of these - I’ve already read No One Can Have You (Review coming next Monday) and currently reading Her Dark Curiosity! Hopefully over this month you’ll be seeing reviews of more of these titles!

This year, we’re continuing with our monthly international giveaways. They are extremely popular and we love being able to give away prizes every month. You can enter as long as The Book Depository ships to you (They ship most places, but just double check!). This giveaway will run all of January! We will have three winners this month and each winner can pick any of the following titles:

Infinite (Newsoul #3) - Jodi Meadows
Uninvited (Uninvited #1) - Sophie Jordan
Into The Still Blue (Under The Never Sky #3) - Veronica Rossi
Her Dark Curiosity (The Madman’s Daughter #2) - Megan Shepherd
Hollow City (Miss Peregrine #2) - Ransom Riggs
No One Else Can Have You - Kathleen Hale
Unhinged (Splintered #2) - A.G. Howard
The Murder Complex (The Murder Complex #1) - Lindsay Cummings
Cruel Beauty - Rosamund Hodge
The Unbound (The Archived #2) - Victoria Schwab
Evertrue (Everneath #3) - Brodi Ashton
Minders - Michele Jaffe

** Edit: Sorry, I realise that in error I’ve listed The Murder Complex as a January 14 release but it’s not out until June, so this will not be part of the giveaway (unless you’re prepared to wait!). Apologies for any inconvenience. The other 11 books are up for grabs.**

This giveaway is running all month right through to January 31st at 6pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time) when the winners will be drawn using Rafflecopter, which plucks out random winners. You all get a free entry below, and if you want to follow us or tweet about the giveaway we’ll give you some more entries. The more entries, the more chances you have to win!

Good luck! x

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Date: October 10th 2013
Published By: Macmillan Children’s Books
Pages: 288
Goodreads: Add it to your reading list
Purchase: Click here to purchase

Rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis: All her life, Elise Dembowski has been an outsider. Starting a new school, she dreams of fitting in at last – but when her best attempts at popularity fail, she almost gives up. Then she stumbles upon a secret warehouse party. There, at night, Elise can be a different person, making real friends, falling in love for the first time, and finding her true passion – DJ’ing.
But when her real and secret lives collide, she has to make a decision once and for all: just who is the real Elise?

An irresistible novel about hope, heartbreak and the power of music to bring people together.

Review: Elise is an outcast. She doesn’t have any friends, she is picked on at school, she doesn’t have anyone she can turn to for support. And after her latest attempt to reinvent herself and make friends fails, she even contemplates suicide. Elise feels that she is has no way out of her situation, and is bound to live a life as a social pariah, until she accidently meets Vicky and Pippa, who take her into an underground nightclub. It is here that Elise feels that just maybe she can make friends. And it is also here that she meets Char, and her love for DJing. And maybe, just maybe, she can be who she was meant to be.

This Song Will Save Your Life is raw and honest journey of insecurities, teenage dramas and finding your own identity. Elise has little self-value, a result of many of being “different” and bullied, of being the smart girl who prefers music over fashion, of a girl who is bogged down in insecurities that she doesn’t know how to stand up for herself, or see her true potential.

Elise is so filled with self-doubt, she second guesses peoples motives, and even her own choices, at every turn. Even when she meets Vicky, Pippa and Char, she cannot believe that they would actually want to be her friend. There are even times when starts to question if what everyone else says about her is actually true. I know that this is a part of being plagued with inner turmoil and self-doubt, but at times, I found her to be pretentiousness. And even though she detested the fact that she was constantly judged, I felt that she was also judgemental. pretentiousness I know it was all a part of the storyline of teenage insecurities, which is written with such raw honesty that it would feel wrong if some of these weren’t’ included - but I am still allowed to get a little frustrated at times :)

Elise however is determined. Determined to find herself, to find her place, and to just be herself. And that has to be respected. As Elise finds herself with the friends she has always desperately wanted, falling for a boy in a realistic but unsure manner, and finding her love for DJing, she truly shines. She finds herself - who she is, and what she loves. But there are still two sides of Elise, the outcast in high school and the latest “it” in the nightclub scene - but no one can live two very separate lives too long before they collide.

The secondary characters are also as real as the Elise. I loved watching her relationships develop with Vicky, Char, Chava and Sally. But, I have to say, my favourite is the Mel. I love this adorably protective character - and while a lot of the characters are not a focal point in the book, they are certainly a focal point in Elise’s journey. Every relationship is different, but told in a realistic manner, ranging from friendships that form due to bonding over being different, to jealousy over boys, to realistic, uncertain and complicated first loves. Each character and relationship helps Elise on her journey, no action, nor character, is irrelevant.

The ending, while not depressing, is also not filled with unrealistic happy-ever-afters. The realness of the story flows through to the very last page. It shows that people don’t change just because you want them too, it shows that forgiveness can given, it shows that true friendship is about more than yourself.

Leila sales has an unique ability to write in a completely honest way. She shows that families can be different but yet supportive, that falling for someone can be unclear and confusing, that you can want but not necessarily need someone, that high school can be a terrible experience, and that sometimes people struggle to find where they belong. This Song Will Save Your Life is a poignant, honest and heartfelt story that is a perfect example of self-doubt, finding your identity and finding your place in the world. It embodies insecurity, faith, fear wanting and courage. The ending is one that is a perfect message of hope, pride and self-awareness. This story showing that you need to find yourself, trust yourself, follow your desires - but most of all, you need to embrace life.

 

Quotes:

“Sometimes people think they know you. They know a few facts about you, and they piece you together in a way that makes sense to them. And if you don’t know yourself very well, you might even believe that they are right. But the truth is, that isn’t you. That isn’t you at all.”

“You think it’s so easy to change yourself. You think it’s so easy, but it’s not. What do you think it takes to reinvent yourself as an all-new person, a person who makes sense, who belongs? They will still see past that, see you, the girl who is still too scared, still too smart for her own good, still a beat behind, still, always, wrong. Change all you want: you can’t change that. I know, because I tried.”

“You may wonder how I managed to make these friends. Well, I will tell you: making friends is actually not that hard when you drop every single one of your standards. “

“Sometimes, when you are worn down, day after day, relentlessly, with no reprieve for years piled on years, sometimes you lose everything but the ability to cry.”

Evening everyone! Well it’s a new year and that means both our December International giveaway and our giveaway of signed copies of These Broken Stars has come to an end! I thought rather than two separate posts, I’d put it all into this one. So firstly our International December giveaway.

To recap, this giveaway ran for all of December, and three winners will be able to pick any of the following titles:

One More Day - L.S. Murphy
Ink is Thicker Than Water - Amy Spalding
Third Lie’s the Charm (The Liar Society #3) - Lisa Roecker & Laura Roecker
Racing Savannah (Hundred Oaks #4) - Miranda Kenneally
Deadly (Pretty Little Liars #14) - Sara Shepard
These Broken Stars (Starbound #1) - Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Snakeroot (Nightshade Legacy #1) - Andrea Cremer
Fireblood (Fireblood #1) - Trisha Wolfe
Fracture Me (Shatter Me #2.5) - Tahereh Mafi
Ashes to Ashes - Melissa Walker
The Promise of Amazing - Robin Constantine
The Offering (The Pledge #3) - Kimberly Derting

The three winners of our December giveaway are:

Bruna Tonella
Lea Krnjeta Carstairs
Ashley D

Congratulations! I’ll be in touch with each of you shortly to find out which book you’d like and to get your postal details.

Which brings me to our other December giveaway which to recap was three giveaway copies of These Broken Stars to giveaway to 3 very lucky Australian winners (Sorry international folks, postage costs too much).I was able to meet Amie and Meagan and asked for them to sign each of the giveaway copies! I also was able to land a free bookmark for each book as well as a bit of swag. So each winner will receive a signed copy.

And the three winners of this giveaway (providing you live in Australia) are:

Kara T
Desnica Kumar
Ellie M

Congratulations to each of you! I’ll be in touch with each of you shortly to get your postal details.

If you didn’t win this month, stay tuned - tomorrow we have a huge new international giveaway being posted! :)

It’s Wednesday which means it’s time to tell you what we have been up to for the past week! W..W..W.. Wednesdays is a weekly meme bought to you by MizB from Should Be Reading.

What are you currently reading?

Melissa - I’ve just started reading Her Dark Curiosity (The Madman’s Daughter #2) by Megan Shepherd. I’ve also got some comics happening on the side. I’m currently reading Catwoman Vol 3 - Death In The Family as well as Batgirl Vol 3 - Death In The Family.

Kristy - As I have decided that 2014 will be the year for “unique” books, I have decided to start the new year with Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine, #1) by Ransom Riggs.

What did you recently finish reading?

Melissa - I last finished reading Perfect Ruin (The Internment Chronicles #1) by Lauren De Stefano. I really enjoyed this read! I finished some audiobooks also, but as these aren’t YA I won’t be reviewing these here. I read Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight by Dr Travis Langley which I thought was absolutely fascinating. And I also read The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines by Mike Madrid which was amazing! If anyone out there has interest in female superheroes, this book is fantastic.

Kristy - Well, as it has been 2 weeks now, there have been few: This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales, which I will be posting the review for tomorrow. I listened to the audio book of The Diviners (The Diviners, #1) by Libba Bray, which I won’t be reviewing as Melissa has already done so - but I really enjoyed it! Ashes to Ashes (Ashes, #1) by Melissa C Walker which comes out this month in Australia, so I will post my review very soon. I also read Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott and Tape by Steven Camden, which are due out late January/February, so I will post my review closer to the time.

 

 

What do you think you’ll read next?

Melissa - I have a few books on my TBR that I really want to read soon because I’ve held off for a while. Crash Into You (Pushing The Limits #3) - Katie McGarry, Champion (Legend #3) - Marie Lu, Elusion - Claudia Gabel amongst others.

Kristy - Ummm, to be honest, I have no idea. I will read Fractured Fables by Jim Valentino and Kristen Koerner Simon, but I am not sure which novel I will pick up next.

 

What is everyone out there reading at the moment, and more importantly is it a good read? Share your links below!

Phew, that whirlwind known as December is done! We’re in 2014 now…. crazy! Where did 2013 go? An apology firstly that things have been quieter than normal on the blog, life has been going at full speed ahead with the holidays and eating. haha But we’re back and ready to post.

In case you missed it, here is our December recap:

Reviews

This month we reviewed the following books:

Perfect Ruin (The Internment Chronicles #1) – Lauren De Stefano
The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) – Maggie Stiefvater
Pawn (The Blackcoat Rebellion #1) – Aimee Carter
Ketchup Clouds – Annabel Pitcher
Jump (Twinmaker #1) – Sean Williams
These Broken Stars (Starbound #1) – Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Where the Stars Still Shine – Trish Doller
Antigoddess (Goddess War #1) – Kendare Blake

We discussed

Kristy and I had only a few discussions in December since it’s the silly season and we were off buying Christmas gifts!

The Book Closes on 2013
Scheduling and Time Management
Marketing Material Controversy: The Fault In Our Stars
Buying Books For Other People

 

Posts we really enjoyed from our blogging friends

There were some really great posts and discussions online this month. Here’s just some of what we enjoyed in December:

• Rachel from Parajunkee gives us 13 tips for running a successful blog
• Melissa from I Swim For Oceans predicts where YA genre trends are heading in 2014.
• Chiara from Books For A Delicate Eternity talks about giving books a second life (secondhand books).
• Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner shares with us her thoughts on what she wants to do in 2014.
• Asti from A Bookish Heart was super clever and sweet and posted The Christmas Gift of Friends.
• Bec from Ransom Reads discusses burn outs - we’ve all been there!
• Jen from The Starry-Eyed Review talks about the obligation we feel to read.
• Emz from Icy Cold Reads discusses blogging slumps.
• Charleen from Cheap Thrills compares Goodreads Vs Library Thing Vs Booklikes.
• Charlotte from Gypsy Reviews talks about when your online life and real life collide.
• Shaheen from Speculating on SpecFic showcases some amazing Australian authors.