Good evening! I hope you’ve all had a great week in reading! I got some books I am really excited about this week and Kristy got a book also!

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:

Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) - Tahereh Mafi

Thank you to Allen & Unwin for this book! The Australian cover for this is terrible…. :( But I am so so soooooooo excited for the content within.

The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, called “a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love”

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she’ll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

The Last Shot (The Last Girl #2) - Michael Adams

YAY! Thanks to Allen & Unwin for this one too. We love Michael Adam’s here, and he’s been a really good supporter of our blog with signed giveaways in the past. I am really looking forward to reading this, the sequel to The Last Girl!

I glance at my fellow fugitives in the glow of the fire: black-streaked, white-eyed, faces fearful but fierce. Whoever any of us were a week ago, we’ve now become people we could never have imagined.

After facing the heartbreaking truth in Shadow Valley, Danby is determined to have her revenge on Jack.

With Jack dead, her little brother Evan and hundreds of other Minions will be free of his control. With Jack dead, she and her friend Nathan will be able to revive thousands more from the millions of catatonic Goners.

But what if she’s wrong - about everything?

After Danby confronts Jack on a dying stretch of highway, all of her beliefs are turned inside out. Not only are his feelings for her real, he’s working against the clock to save lives and rebuild society. To Danby’s horror, it’s Nathan who appears to threaten the new order.

With her emotions raging and blood on her hands, Danby has to take a side in a deadly battle that’ll decide the future of the world. And as allies become enemies and foes turn into friends, she’ll have to embrace methods so dark that the price of survival may be her very soul ..

In Kristy’s mailbox this week:

Prince of Shadows - Rachel Caine

Thank you Penguin Australia for a copy of this book. I have yet to read any of Rachel Caine’s books (I have some of the Morganville series - I just haven’t read them yet) and I think a Romeo and Juliet retelling is the prefect book to start a new author with :)

A thrilling retelling of the star-crossed tale of Romeo and Juliet, from the New York Times bestselling author of the Morganville Vampires series.

In the Houses of Montague and Capulet, there is only one goal: power. The boys are born to fight and die for honor and—if they survive—marry for influence and money, not love. The girls are assets, to be spent wisely. Their wishes are of no import. Their fates are written on the day they are born.

Benvolio Montague, cousin to Romeo, knows all this. He expects to die for his cousin, for his house, but a spark of rebellion still lives inside him. At night, he is the Prince of Shadows, the greatest thief in Verona—and he risks all as he steals from House Capulet. In doing so, he sets eyes on convent-bound Rosaline, and a terrible curse begins that will claim the lives of many in Verona…

…And will rewrite all their fates, forever.

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!

It’s ACTUALLY Saturday, and I am really sorry for the late post guys! But Kristy and I had a really good discussion this week and so even though I am late I wanted to share this post still.

This week, we’re talking about reading books that take us out of our comfort zone:

Kristy’s say:

Comfort zones are funny things aren’t they? We create reading comfort zones because we think it will ensure that we read things we will enjoy - but in fact, it restricts us from reading things that we may really enjoy. But even knowing this, it doesn’t mean it is easy to leave our comfort zones. My comfort zone was always speculative fiction. I love escapism; I love the fact that you can incorporate paranormal or fantasy elements into a storyline set in this world, or in a completely different world. I love the magical elements to paranormal and fantasy, something that is not possible, but yet, somehow seems possible. I love being transported into a world that is different to the one I live in, where my imagination can soar and I can dream of a different world.

So when one of my best friends recommended Hopeless by Colleen Hoover, I was hesitant. Contemporary books were not within my comfort zone, and at the point I didn’t want to read something that wouldn’t transport me into another world. Plus, at that time it was also a self-published title, and I had no experience with self-published books. But something about it intrigued me, and I picked it up - and absolutely loved it! And when another of my best friends insisted that I read The Fault in Our Stars, it was so far out of my comfort zone that I didn’t want to read it. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust my friend’s judgement, it was more to the fact that contemporary books were not within my comfort zone, and one involving cancer was so far out of my comfort zone, that it had its own postcode. And even though it took me a while, I did read it, and wow - what a fantastic book this is (as most of you know)!

By stepping outside my comfort zone, I not only found two fantastic books, but I found books that proved to me that stories that seemed “too sad” or “too real”, can be just as enjoyable as any other book. Although they do create a completely different reading experience, this doesn’t mean they don’t transport you into their world, it just means that you are transported into a world with a different view. I found these stories can be magical, without “magic”.

Since then, I will admit that contemporary has become a permanent part of my comfort zone. I continue to read contemporary, and I actually find that these are a nice escape from my escape to paranormal/fantasy worlds. I like to mix it up a bit more now - this keeps stories with similar elements “fresh” and I don’t get fatigued by the abundance of magic, angels, ghosts, dragons, witches/wizards, faeries, demons, wolves, vampires, special abilities etc.

I continue to try to expand my comfort zone. I am trying to incorporate genres/sub-genres that I have always thought that I didn’t enjoy. I think the trick is to find that “element” that you enjoy. If a book in a different genre has an element that appeals to you, then there is a chance that you can enjoy it. For example, if you like romance, that doesn’t mean you won’t like sci-fi books. If you like humour, then does not mean you won’t like dystopian books. You just need to find that “thing” that will enable you to connect to the story.

My advice? Don’t focus on genres. Genres are not only restrictive, but they are getting more and more confusing with sub-genres and such (and what others believe fits in each category). You should just focus on the elements that appeal to you. Elements cross genre - romance, strong protagonists, supernatural creatures, action etc, can be found in many genres - and if you can find an appealing element in a book, then no matter what the genre or sub-genre, you may well find a new favourite.

Melissa’s say:

Some of the best books I have read have been books that have taken me outside of my comfort zone. In particular, I remember being THAT person who used to say that I didn’t enjoy sci-fi in general. Really tried my best to stay away from any books that even remotely looked like sci-fi because I guess I had a preconceived notion of what I was going to get when I read it, and I was bored just thinking about it.

And then there was Across The Universe by Beth Revis. Sooooo many people were talking about how incredible this book was. I held off reading it for the longest time, until someone told me I had to read it. I tried the stock standard “Oh I don’t do sci-fi…” and it really wasn’t until I was challenged really hard to read this book that I finally thought “Fine I’ll just do it to get them off my back”. And chapter 1 down, I was hooked!

By telling ourselves that we’re only into certain types of genres, we limit ourselves to some amazing stories that really open our minds and challenge our thinking.

I also used to do this with fantasy books. And then I read Incarnate by Jodi Meadows and was blown away. It even had dragons in it. And I hate dragons normally. I even liked them in this book. So just because you’ve not liked things in the past, I don’t think it’s a good enough reason to continue carrying on this way.

This is why I read comics, and sometimes post reviews of them (I’d like to post more this year). So many people say “I don’t like comics” and then I ask them what they’ve read to make them feel that way. You’d perhaps be surprised by the amount of people who turn around after saying that to tell me they’ve never read one. Then how do you know you don’t like them? Comics (or graphic novels if you wanna get technical) have story lines that are just as rich and involved as the books we love in YA (sometimes moreso). They’re just accompanied with images. Which I love. It’s something different, and if you pick up the right comic, it can have a really profound effect on you by reaching out to you in a way that sometimes novels can’t.

I still think it’s okay to have a favourite genre. Nothing wrong with that. I like dystopian and contemporary books the best. But every now and then I need something different. A different flavour if you will. I have stopped limiting myself. In actual fact, 2014 is the year that Kristy and I continue to challenge ourselves by reaching out for books we would not normally pick.

This year, I read my first ever Independent release (I always swore I would only read published books) in Backwards Compatible: A Geek Love Story by Sarah Daltry and Pete Clark. It was great!!

I also read It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini, which was recommended to me, and not something I would normally reach out to read. Again, fantastic storyline and a book that I really enjoyed all the way through.

Maybe in 2014, you can challenge yourself to pick some books that you’d not normally reach out to read as well?

What book did you read that took you out of your comfort zone, and did you enjoy it? Let us know in your comments below!

Release Date: November 21st 2013
Published By: Hodder & Stoughton
Pages: 439
Goodreads: Add it to your reading list
Purchase: Click here to purchase

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Synopsis: In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what’s left of the modern world.
When a group of people capture Penryn’s sister Paige, thinking she’s a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels’ secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can’t rejoin the angels, can’t take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose

Review: Warning: This review contains spoilers for Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days #1)

After reading and loving Angelfall, I was actually a little bit worried about reading World After. Not because I didn’t like Angelfall, in fact it was the exact opposite - I loved Angelfall - and I was worried that the sequel wouldn’t live up to the its predecessor. Although not quite as good (second books rarely are), I found World After to be a wonderful sequel, filled with the same superb writing that takes you on an intense and action-packed journey.

World After picks up where Angelfall left off. The apocalypse has come, and the world is suffering due to the destruction caused by the angels. Raffe has wings of a demon and his sword has rejected him and Penryn has been stung by a scorpion hybrid experiment. And as Raffe flew away believing Penryn is dead, and as Penryn watched Raffe fly away with his new wings, we just knew that these two will reunite. But, I will let you know right up front, this doesn’t immediately in World After - in fact, it is quite a fair way into the book before it happens. As much as I love Raffe, I actually liked the fact this reunion didn’t happen early on, as it shows that Penryn’s story, her character and her journey are interesting in itself and not solely reliant on romance. But, the romance, oh how we all want that between these two brave and wonderful characters - although this will not come easily. It is clear that Raffe and Penryn have a strong connection, but sadly, I cannot say that I am certain that this blossoming romance will fully develop - they have so many obstacles in their way; murderous angels, a dying world and of course, the fact that a relationship is forbidden … not to mention that even though Raffe clearly has feelings for Penryn, and even though he starts show his more vulnerable side, he is an honourable angel and does not want to put Penryn at risk by allowing her to get too close. But, while I still hold onto hope that Susan Ee will not disappoint us and rip these two amazing characters apart, I will continue to love the chemistry between these two - the sarcasm, the respect, the bewilderment.

And speaking of Raffe, I must mention his beloved sword, which also plays a much bigger role than you would expect. To me, this aspect of the storyline shows that Susan Ee is an amazing storyteller, finding creative ways to tell a story in new and exciting way. Without giving too much away, after Raffe’s sword rejects him due to his demon wings, he leaves the sword with Penryn - who soon finds out that this amazing sword has feelings, and the ability to help her in ways she never thought possible. Oh, and Penryn names Raffe’s sword something completely inappropriate for such an ancient and dangerous weapon, and Raffe’s reaction to this was highly entertaining!

As with Angelfall, World After creates disturbing imagery filled with angel wings, metal teeth, blood, war and destruction. The horror and gore is stepped a notch in World After, but it does not go too far. As far as angel mythology goes, what I love about this series is that there is enough familiarity for those who have read books involving this mythology before; such as some of the more well-known angels, and the Nephilim. However, I love (and respect) is the fact that the angles are the bad guys. They are dangerous and they think nothing more of humans than they would any other animal. The angel’s lack of empathy towards humans creates a dark and scary tone to the storyline, which is something that is rather unique when it comes to books based on angel mythology in YA. Oh, and Raffe being agnositic?? I still think that is utter genius.

Penryn’s relationship with her family becomes more of a focus in World After. In Angelfall we followed Penryn as she tried to save Paige - however it did not result in the happy-ever-after one would expect. Yes, she did save her little sister, but her sister is now a monster - and while Penryn does not outright treat Paige as terribly as others around them, she cannot bring herself to comfort, or even touch, Paige. This disconnect to her sister is quite sad, and heart wrenching at time - but it shows that Penryn is human, she is scared and she is doing the best she can under the circumstances she finds herself in. We learn a lot more about what Paige went through in during Angelfall, and it truly heartbreaking what this little girl went through, and continues to go through now that she escaped. But don’t underestimate this little girl - she is neither as innocent, nor as scary, as people believe. Her mother also plays a larger part in this book. I love the fact that her mother is unstable - she has done some outright crazy things - but is she really as crazy as she seems? I am not saying she doesn’t have issues, she clearly does, but is it possible that some things she says are dismissed too easily as those around mark it up to psychotic ranting? I find her mother a fascinating character, and a great addition to this storyline.

Lots of other characters return in World After, and what I love about Susan Ee’s writing is that nothing is irrelevant. The plotline for this series is amazingly well thought out - creating an intense and chilling world, with every single event, and every character, playing an important role to create a complex and amazing storyline. Susan Ee gives us just the right amount of information and intrigue to completely suck you into this world, while keeping you interested and wondering what exactly will happen next. I cannot wait for the next instalment in this series to see what will happen in this amazingly crafted and unique world.

Quotes:

“Don’t talk. You’ll just spoil my fantasy of rescuing an innocent damsel in distress as soon as you open your mouth.”

“It’s amazing how many times we need to go against our survival instincts to survive.”

“It is painful to see that people prefer a bad guy who looks like an angel to a good guy who looks like a demon.”

“Raffe looks over at the bloody knife in my hand. “If I still had any doubts that it was you, that would do it”.”

“From everything I’ve heard, that would just make me more sexy to you Daughters of Men. What is it that you all see in bad boys?”

“The world going crazy doesn’t mean your mother isn’t still crazy too.”

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 am currently reading Confessions: The Private School Girl Murders by James Patterson and also Batman Vol 1 by Scott Snyder.

Kristy - Teen Spirit by Francesca Lia Block. Although I haven’t really started it yet as I have been feeling “blah” - but I will get into it soon :)

What did you recently finish reading?

Melissa - I last finished reading It’s Kind Of A Funny Story by Ned Vizzini which I really enjoyed! The review was posted last week.

Kristy - Due to having visitors last week (who left Monday) I haven’t had any time to read a novel, but I read a few of the stories from the anthology: The Kiss: An Anthology of Love and Other Close Encounters by C.A. Newsome

What do you think you’ll read next?

Melissa - Not too sure at the moment! Taking each book as they come right now! haha

Kristy - Me Since You by Laura Wiess

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

Fans of Daughter of Smoke and Bone of have been dying to see the UK cover of the final instalment of this amazing trilogy, and over the weekend Hodder & Stoughton finally gave us fans what we have wanted (and more).

Here is the UK cover for DREAMS OF GODS AND MONSTERS!!!

Synopsis: By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.

Common enemy, common cause.

When Jael’s brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.

And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.

But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz … something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.

What power can bruise the sky?

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.

At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?”

Release Date: April 17th 2014
Published By: Hodder & Stoughton
Goodreads: Add it to your reading list
Purchase: Click here to purchase

Thoughts: We all know I love the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy, that is a proven fact - so yes, I am biased. But, I think this cover compliments both Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Days of Blood and Starlight covers beautifully.

I have openly told people that it was the beautiful UK cover of Daughter of Smoke and Bone that initially drew me into this series, but I will admit that I also found the US cover of Days of Blood and Starlight quite striking. Although the US cover for DoBaS is beautiful, I still preferred the UK cover as it had more relevance to the storyline (the US one did represent the fierceness and bloodshed of this story quite nicely). Then the US cover for Dreams of Gods and Monsters came out, and I will admit, that I fell in love with this one - I can already tell this cover represents the storyline of the trilogy better than its predecessors… but naturally I had to wait to see the UK cover before declaring my favourite for DoGaM. So, now that it is out, what is my verdict? Well, I still don’t know. I really need to read it to decide if I feel the UK or the US cover is more fitting. But both are gorgeous!

But wait, there’s more: Yes, there is more, and not only is this something that will probably ultimately make me declare the UK covers my favourite, but this… is HUGE! Hodder & Stoughton have said that the first 3000 UK hardcovers of Dreams of Gods and Monsters will have the title page signed and illustrated by Laini Taylor!

Yes, SIGNED AND ILLUSTRATED! Don’t believe me? Here… look…

And Laini also posted about it here.

Isn’t that awesome??? So, here are the facts: the first 3000 of the UK only hardcovers will be illustrated and hand-signed by Laini Taylor. So, to get your hands on one of these amazing books, your best bet is to pre-order it. At this point it is unconfirmed if The Book Depository will be getting these amazing editions, I am waiting on confirmation from Hodder & Stoughton regarding that (I will update this post with that information as soon as possible). And as of 31 January the pre-orders were still under 3000 so you may still be in with a chance of being able to order on of these amazing copies.

So my thoughts on the signed and illustrated title page? Well, it was initially something like this JGNIERKNMGFIPERMGIPERJGPIERMFSRMNGTNRMSAGKMRFSGPRP!!!!!!!!!!!!. Then when I calmed down (a little) and could breath (a little) I decided that I needed to get my hands on one! So I have now pre-ordered another copy (yes, that will be the third edition of DoGaM that I have pre-ordered - I am not ashamed!). So after all that, I calmed down a little more and realised what a massive thing this is… for Hodder & Stoughton to do this, but more importantly, for Laini to sign 3000 title pages is huge - and I would sincerely like to thank Laini for all the work she put into doing this for her fans! And to Hodder & Stoughton for making this happen!

Thanks Laini!!!

Thanks Hodder & Stoughton!!!

And for all you fans who want to re-read Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Days of Blood and Starlight before this sure to be epic conclusions comes out, or you would like to read them for the first time, why not join Hodder & Stoughton and Little Brown at the The Great Daughter of Smoke and Bone re-read on Goodreads. You can join the teams and fans as they re-read through this series, chat with others re-reading the series and talk about your favourite parts of the series. Also, there will be giveways (US and UK only so far) and Laini Taylor will also be doing Q&A sessions in the group!

What do you think of the UK cover? Do you prefer the US or UK covers for the series? Will you pre-order Dreams of Gods and Monsters hoping you will receive a signed and illustrated one? Let us know in the comments below!

It’s February 2014 already! I am so so excited about the books coming out this month. Some books that I want to get on release day and others I’ve been hanging to read! All of these titles are up for grabs this month too, in our International February Giveaway - so if you’ve not entered yet, make sure you go and do that!

February 4th

Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) - Marissa Meyer

Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard.

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) - Tahereh Mafi

The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, called “a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love”

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she’ll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

In Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi created a captivating and original story that combined the best of dystopian and paranormal and was praised by Publishers Weekly as “a gripping read from an author who’s not afraid to take risks.” The sequel, Unravel Me, blew readers away with heart-racing twists and turns, and New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia said it was “dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense.” Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and climactic end.

Something Real - Heather Demetrios

Seventeen-year-old Bonnie™ Baker has grown up on TV—she and her twelve siblings are the stars of one-time hit reality show Baker’s Dozen. Since the show’s cancellation, Bonnie™ has tried to live a normal life, under the radar and out of the spotlight. But it’s about to fall apart . . . because Baker’s Dozen is going back on the air. Bonnie™’s mom and the show’s producers won’t let her quit and soon the life that she has so carefully built for herself, with real friends (and maybe even a real boyfriend), is in danger of being destroyed by the show. Bonnie™ needs to do something drastic if her life is ever going to be her own—even if it means being more exposed than ever before.

Teen Spirit - Francesca Lia Block

Francesca Lia Block, critically acclaimed author of Weetzie Bat, brings this eerie and redemptive ghost story to life with her signature, poetic prose. It’s perfect for fans of supernatural stories with a touch of romance like the Beautiful Creatures series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.

After Julie’s grandmother passes away, she is forced to move across town to the not-so-fancy end of Beverly Hills and start over at a new school. The only silver lining to the perpetual dark cloud that seems to be following her? Clark—a die-hard fan of Buffy and all things Joss Whedon, who is just as awkward and damaged as she is. Her kindred spirit.

When the two try to contact Julie’s grandmother with a Ouija board, they make contact with a different spirit altogether. The real kind. And this ghost will do whatever it takes to come back to the world of the living.

February 6th

The Sound of Letting Go - Stasia Ward Kehoe

For sixteen years, Daisy has been good. A good daughter, helping out with her autistic younger brother uncomplainingly. A good friend, even when her best friend makes her feel like a third wheel. When her parents announce they’re sending her brother to an institution—without consulting her—Daisy’s furious, and decides the best way to be a good sister is to start being bad. She quits jazz band and orchestra, slacks in school, and falls for bad-boy Dave.

But one person won’t let Daisy forget who she used to be: Irish exchange student and brilliant musician Cal. Does she want the bad boy or the prodigy? Should she side with her parents or protect her brother? How can she know when to hold on and when—and how—to let go?

February 11th

Split Second (Pivot Point #2) - Kasie West

Life can change in a split second.

Addie hardly recognizes her life since her parents divorced. Her boyfriend used her. Her best friend betrayed her. She can’t believe this is the future she chose. On top of that, her ability is acting up. She’s always been able to Search the future when presented with a choice. Now she can manipulate and slow down time, too . . . but not without a price.

When Addie’s dad invites her to spend her winter break with him, she jumps at the chance to escape into the Norm world of Dallas, Texas. There she meets the handsome and achingly familiar Trevor. He’s a virtual stranger to her, so why does her heart do a funny flip every time she sees him? But after witnessing secrets that were supposed to stay hidden, Trevor quickly seems more suspicious of Addie than interested in her. And she has an inexplicable desire to change that.

Meanwhile, her best friend, Laila, has a secret of her own: she can restore Addie’s memories . . . once she learns how. But there are powerful people who don’t want to see this happen. Desperate, Laila tries to manipulate Connor, a brooding bad boy from school—but he seems to be the only boy in the Compound immune to her charms. And the only one who can help her.

As Addie and Laila frantically attempt to retrieve the lost memories, Addie must piece together a world she thought she knew before she loses the love she nearly forgot . . . and a future that could change everything.

White Space (Dark Passages #1) - Ilsa J. Bick

In the tradition of Memento and Inception comes a thrilling and scary young adult novel about blurred reality where characters in a story find that a deadly and horrifying world exists in the space between the written lines.

Seventeen-year-old Emma Lindsay has problems: a head full of metal, no parents, a crazy artist for a guardian whom a stroke has turned into a vegetable, and all those times when she blinks away, dropping into other lives so ghostly and surreal it’s as if the story of her life bleeds into theirs. But one thing Emma has never doubted is that she’s real.

Then she writes “White Space,” a story about these kids stranded in a spooky house during a blizzard.

Unfortunately, “White Space” turns out to be a dead ringer for part of an unfinished novel by a long-dead writer. The manuscript, which she’s never seen, is a loopy Matrix meets Inkheart story in which characters fall out of different books and jump off the page. Thing is, when Emma blinks, she might be doing the same and, before long, she’s dropped into the very story she thought she’d written. Trapped in a weird, snow-choked valley, Emma meets other kids with dark secrets and strange abilities: Eric, Casey, Bode, Rima, and a very special little girl, Lizzie. What they discover is that they-and Emma-may be nothing more than characters written into being from an alternative universe for a very specific purpose.

Now what they must uncover is why they’ve been brought to this place-a world between the lines where parallel realities are created and destroyed and nightmares are written-before someone pens their end.

The Worlds We Make (Fallen World #3) - Megan Crewe

The virus has taken away Kaelyn’s friends, her family, her home.

And now a deadly enemy threatens to take the one hope she has left: THE CURE.

When Kaelyn and her friends reached Toronto with a vaccine for the virus that has ravaged the population, they thought their journey was over. But now they’re being tracked by the Wardens, a band of survivors as lethal as the virus who are intent on stealing the vaccine no matter what the cost.

Forced onto the road again, Kaelyn and her companions discover the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta is their best hope for finding scientists who can reproduce the vaccine. But with the virus already spreading among them, the Wardens hot on their trail, and hundreds of miles to cross, Kaelyn finds herself compromising her morals to keep her group alive. Her conscience seems a small price to pay if protects them and their precious cargo. Unless even that is not enough…

In the final installment in Megan Crewe’s captivating the Fallen World trilogy, Kaelyn is on the run from her biggest adversaries yet. While she continues to face horrific loss, her resolve is still strong. But to survive this shattered world, will she have to sacrifice all that’s left of the girl she was?

February 18th

Perfect Lies (Mind Games #2) - Kiersten White

Annie and Fia are ready to fight back.

The sisters have been manipulated and controlled by the Keane Foundation for years, trapped in a never ending battle for survival. Now they have found allies who can help them truly escape. After faking her own death, Annie has joined a group that is plotting to destroy the Foundation. And Fia is working with James Keane to bring his father down from the inside.

But Annie’s visions of the future can’t show her who to trust in the present. And though James is Fia’s first love, Fia knows he’s hiding something. The sisters can rely only on each other - but that may not be enough to save them.

February 25th

Faking Normal - Courtney C. Stevens

An edgy, realistic, and utterly captivating novel from an exciting new voice in teen fiction.

Alexi Littrell hasn’t told anyone what happened to her over the summer. Ashamed and embarrassed, she hides in her closet and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does.

When Bodee Lennox, the quiet and awkward boy next door, comes to live with the Littrells, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend in “the Kool-Aid Kid,” who has secrets of his own. As they lean on each other for support, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her find the courage to finally face the truth.

A searing, poignant book, Faking Normal is the extraordinary debut novel from an exciting new author-Courtney C. Stevens.

Unforgotten (Unremembered #2) - Jessica Brody

Some memories are better left forgotten…

After a daring escape from the scientists at Diotech who created her, Seraphina believes she is finally safe from the horrors of her past. But new threats await Sera and her boyfriend, Zen, at every turn as Zen falls prey to a mysterious illness and Sera’s extraordinary abilities make it more and more difficult to stay hidden. Meanwhile, Diotech has developed a dangerous new weapon designed to apprehend her. A weapon that even Sera will be powerless to stop. Her only hope of saving Zen’s life and defeating the company that made her is a secret buried deep within her mind. A secret that Diotech will kill to protect. And it won’t stay forgotten for long.

Packed with mystery, suspense, and romance, this riveting second installment of Jessica Brody’s Unremembered trilogy delivers more heart-pounding action as loyalties are tested, love becomes a weapon, and no one’s memories are safe.

Better off Friends - Elizabeth Eulberg

For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can’t be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan’s friends. They are platonic and happy that way.

Eventually they realize they’re best friends — which wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t keep getting in each other’s way. Guys won’t ask Macallan out because they think she’s with Levi, and Levi spends too much time joking around with Macallan, and maybe not enough time with his date. They can’t help but wonder . . . are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated?

From romantic comedy superstar Elizabeth Eulberg comes a fresh, fun examination of a question for the ages: Can guys and girls ever really be just friends? Or are they always one fight away from not speaking again — and one kiss away from true love?

February is here, and we have a new giveaway to announce! I am so so excited about February’s YA releases! There’s some epic books coming out this month, and we’re really happy to be giving three of our readers one of the books below!

This giveaway will run all of February! You can enter as long as The Book Depository ships to you (They ship most places, but just double check!). We will have three winners this month and each winner can pick any of the following titles:

Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) - Marissa Meyer
Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) - Tahereh Mafi
Something Real - Heather Demetrios
Teen Spirit - Francesca Lia Block
The Sound of Letting Go - Stasia Ward Kehoe
Split Second (Pivot Point #2) - Kasie West
White Space (Dark Passages #1) - Ilsa J. Bick
The Worlds We Make (Fallen World #3) - Megan Crewe
Perfect Lies (Mind Games #2) - Kiersten White
Faking Normal - Courtney C. Stevens
Unforgotten (Unremembered #2) - Jessica Brody
Better off Friends - Elizabeth Eulberg

This giveaway is running all month right through to February 28th 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

Good afternoon readers! Sorry for the late post, life has been absolutely hectic right now. But I wanted to stop by to announce the winners of our January giveaway!

To recap, this giveaway ran for all of January and there are 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.**

The three winners are:

Jessa Escoton
Isabel Gomez
Charlee Alsup

Congratulations! I’ll be emailing each of you in the next few days to see what book you’d like and to get your postal details! Our new giveaway for February is coming later today and is EPIC!!!!! So many huge February releases! I am excited. Stay tuned for that!

Good morning! I hope you’ve all had a great week in reading! This week it’s just Kristy who received some books. I had a super quiet week, which is good because I have plenty to still read! haha

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 Kristy’s mailbox this week:

The Twin’s Daughter - Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Thank you to Bloomsbury for this book!! :)

Lucy is stunned when her mother’s identical twin sister shows up at the front door. Separated at birth, the twins have led dramatically different lives and Lucy’s mother, Aliese, will do anything to make it up to Helen. But Lucy soon suspects that Helen enjoys being mistaken for her mother a bit too much. Then, on New Year’s Day, Lucy finds her mother and aunt tied to chairs in the parlor. One has been brutally murdered-but which twin has died?

The Kiss: An Anthology of Love and Other Close Encounters - C.A. Newsome

A kiss is a simple communication. It can also be an exchange, a betrayal, an assault, a promise, a hope…or it could be a goodbye. The intimacy of a kiss cannot be denied. Whether shared, stolen or simply dreamed of, its recipient will be affected. Thirty-one stories by authors from around the world will tease your imagination as you anticipate ‘The Kiss’ in each weird or wonderful tale.

This cross-genre anthology contains stories by Kate Aaron, Saxon Andrew, Jacques Antoine, Alison Blake, E. B. Boggs, Shirley Bourget, Ben Cassidy, Jason Deas, Sharon Delarose, Meghan Ciana Doidge, Suzy Stewart Dubot, Corrie Fischer, Brandon Hale, Traci Tyne Hilton, Colleen Hoover, Mona Ingram, J. L. Jarvis, Elizabeth Jasper, Anna J. McIntyre, Jess Mountifield, C. A. Newsome, S. Patrick O’Connell, Suzie O’Connell, Jeanette Raleigh, J. R. C. Salter, Molly Snow, Holli Marie Spaulding, Cleve Sylcox, Robert Thomas, Chris Ward and George Wier.

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!