A few weeks back I began to tell you about that amazing time that I met Laini Taylor. And while I got to tell you all about the amazing lead up to this event, and the great Q&A with Laini Taylor and Lauren Owen and how I was just as excited to meet Jim Di Bartolo, I didn’t actually get to the part where I actually met Laini Taylor and Jim Di Bartolo!

I made no secret of the fact that I was super excited about meeting Laini (and for the few that knew, about meeting Jim as well). I also didn’t try to hide the fact that I would probably make an absolute idiot of myself. I had absolutely no idea how I would react to this situation - I am one of those people who have no control over their emotions. I had been excited about this for months, but honestly as I was equally as scared as I was excited. I had no idea if I would cry, become a blubbering mess, become completely mute, if I would squeal, if I would totally fangirl and make an absolute embarrassment of myself - and if you want the truth - I was totally prepared for all of these things to happen. Not that I like public embarrassment, but meeting Laini and Jim was going to be totally worth it! I had prepared myself for people to come to conclusion that I was crazy, for Laini and Jim to run away scared, for Asti to laugh at me, and for my friend Carolyn to do something to capture evidence of the most amazing and embarrassing moment of my life (she was already threatened about not distributing such evidence).

So, how did I go? Did I cry? Did I blabber uncontrollably and incoherently? Did I squeal like a 5 year old girl being kissed by a boy in the playground? Well… surprisingly no. I totally kept it together - and I cannot be more surprised. And by saying I kept it together, I mean that my stomach was knots, and I have no idea if I sounded like an idiot, but I didn’t make anyone run away, I didn’t cry or squeal and I could talk in sentences (although I am not going to say that were good sentences - I probably sounded like an idiot, but a coherent one at least). I went rather quiet early on, even before the Q&A, but I was keeping it together - but internally I was yelling things like “OH. MY. GOD!!!” and “THAT IS LAINI TAYLOR” and “AND JIM DI BARTOLO” and “OMG - THAT IS LAINI AND JIM!!!!!”.

Internally I was squealing and squeeing and totally fangirlling.

As I had a lot of things for Laini to sign, I had already decided to wait until most of people had their things signed - and since it was so hot in the room where the event was I decided to go out and get some fresh air. As I was walking out, I was telling my friend how disappointed I was that Jim had left half way through the Q&A with Laini’s and Jim’s daughter. Although I understood if he needed to leave for his child, I was still massively disappointed that I wasn’t going to get the chance to meet him. But, as I was walking out, I saw Jim sitting in the foyer section with his sleeping daughter. After a minute or so (or maybe 10 seconds or 10 minutes - I didn’t have any concept of time), I decided to go say hello to Jim (whispering). This isn’t something I would normally think about doing as I didn’t want to interrupt him or wake his daughter, but I had spoken with Jim prior to this event and I told him that I was going, so I wanted to at least say hello and introduce myself. My plan was to go over, say hi, not cry or faint and then hopefully walk away with some dignity.

So somehow I got the courage to go over to Jim. I don’t know how, but I did. I was shaking, and my heart was going a million miles an hour, but I did manage to walk over and talk. Like I said, I had planned on quick hello and then leave - after all, it is a little rude to interrupt someone when they are with their child. Thankfully Jim didn’t mind - and although I felt bad about the whole situation (yes I blame my craziness/fangirlling) I was still giddy with joy that Jim was okay with me saying hello. And then, I was totally blown away… Jim offered to sign all my books - which was ridiculously generous considering he had an adorable bundle of sleeping joy in his lap at the time.

I think I kept it together - but I am not completely sure.

I was internally flipping out, and I was actually in shock about how sweet and kind Jim was to offer to sign my books considering I had rudely gone over to him while he was trying to get away from everyone. But, on the upside, if I did say anything stupid, I was whispering and hopefully Jim didn’t catch my idiotic rambling :)

After Jim ever-so-graciously had signed my books, I was packing up to leave (yes, I had that much I had to “pack up”) and Laini came out to check on Jim and Clementine. I was internally freaking out while Jim introduced me to Laini, and Laini gave me a hug! She knew who I was - and I was surprised that by this time I was still actually standing! I couldn’t believe it… not only was Jim sweet enough to sign all my books, but I had a “private” meeting with Laini! It was quick, I will admit, but who cares - I met Laini!!! Laini thanked me for coming to see her, and I explained that I had a lot of things to sign so that I would wait towards the end and then I left so Jim and Laini could do what they needed to do before Laini went back inside to meet other attendees and sign their books.

All the books I took to be signed - and yes, all but DOGAM came with me from Australia

After finally going outside for some fresh air, and to calm down, I ventured back inside to wait to get all my things signed by Laini. When I was near the end of the line there was no one moving forward and Laini said to come over - so I did. Now, don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t jumping the line… I was just going over to start unpacking the 1000kg worth of books and getting them ready for Laini to sign (by this time, it really did feel like 1000kg). Between meeting other attendee’s and signing books, Laini and I chatted - about her possible upcoming trip to Australia, my trip to Prague, and her ability to sign so many books without her hand getting sore. I was kind of in shock that I was standing next to Laini Taylor, and that she was talking to me! (I hope I was making sense lol). I gave Laini some chocolates I had taken over for her (I mean who doesn’t want chocolate kangaroos from Australia) and a set of bookmarks made by one of my friends who makes bookmarks and jewellery. Laini made jokes about the bookmarks not being able to go in her carry-on luggage as they looked like weapons, and that she thought it was awesome that I gave her chocolate and weapons. After Laini finished signing my many books, I was lucky enough to get a photo taken with her! EEEEEEK!

By this point I was starting to wonder if I was hallucinating.

Did all of that really happen? And did I really keep my cool during all of it? Apparently it had all really happened and apparently I didn’t lose it. Somehow I was still standing and seemingly handling it quite well. But inwardly, I was still totally freaking out!!!! Actually I was flipping out so much that if one more thing had of happened, there was no way I would have been able to keep from totally, and publicly, losing it and fangirling all over the place. So we grabbed our amazing goodie bags and headed home. All the way back to the hotel, I was still in a state of shock. Constantly saying things like “oh my god, I met Laini and Jim”. It all felt so surreal. And even on the way back to the hotel when I had to reflect back on the evening, I really couldn’t get over how utterly fantastic the night was and the fact that I kept it together. I’m not saying I was normal, I possibly sounded like I had lost a fair few brain cells, but I didn’t do anything embarrassing (that I remember). My friend was even commenting on how impressed she was that I actually kept it together.

And then I got back to the room and had internet connection again, and found a tweet from Jim. And this nearly undid me! Seriously, he nearly broke me with this tweet! Can you believe how amazingly sweet he is?

Jim’s tweet that nearly undid all my cool

At this event I only took my books for signing - as I had so much. But I had already planned to get other things signed later - I had left some things with Laini for her to sign and I was going to pick them up from her at an event she had just out of the city. I had also arranged with the bookstore where the event was being held to keep a few copies of Daughter of Smoke and Bone aside so that I could purchase them when I get there. So yes, I had great plans for a fantastic giveway. BUT… this is where my trip to London all fell apart. The day I was going to the event that was only 1 hour outside of London, the trains were not running due to construction so the trip would now consist of 4 buses and would take 3 hours. But that’s okay - still doable. But the universe was conspiring against me - and there was an issue with our hotel room (long story, but basically it involved the bathroom and us being unable to use it) and we had to change rooms. So by the time we sorted everything out with the hotel and packed up all our things, we had worked out there was no room to actually move to, so we had to wait for one, blah blah blah. So basically, due to everything the universe threw at us, we missed our chance to get there on time (thanks stupid trains and hotel rooms). We even looked into hiring a car and driving - but we couldn’t get one in time to get to the event on time either. So not only was I upset (and angry and frustrated and disappointed) that I wouldn’t be meeting Laini or Jim again, but I was also saddened that I couldn’t get any books signed for a giveaway, or the items I had left with Laini for a giveaway.

My time in London was limited after this terrible day, and I was unable to get anywhere to pick up the items from Laini. But after a few conversations (which trust me is hard in London when you don’t have your own internet connection), Laini has offered to get the bookmarks, pics and bookplates back to me. So, sadly I won’t be able to offer any signed books just yet - but there is still hope for a giveaway for some other cool things! (how amazing is Laini for arranging to get them back to me???!!!!)

So, even though the second time I was going to meet Laini turned out to be a complete schmozzle - the first time was mind blowing!!! I could not have possibly have dreamt up a better scenario if I tried. Meeting your favourite author (and artist as well in this case) is always extremely exciting, but still a little scary. Not only is there the chance you will react like a crazy person (well in my case this was a real possibility), but I’ve also known people to feel a little “let down” after meeting someone they admire so much. Maybe it’s because they build their expectations up so high, or because these events can be so rushed. And yes, my expectations were very high, but I wasn’t worried about being disappointed as I knew going into this that both Laini and Jim are wonderful, down-to-earth people. But I could not have even hoped for them to be as amazing as really are!

I just cannot tell you how wonderful, amazing, sweet, generous and genuine both Laini and Jim are. Any dreams I had of meeting them could not match the experience they actually gave me - basically they made all the dreams I never had come true :)

Me and Laini Taylor

 

Thank you Laini and Jim for being you, and for giving me the most amazing experience of my life!

 

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 currently reading Locke & Key Volume 2 by Joe Hill at the moment which is a haunted house themed graphic novel. I loved the first one and this one is pretty good. Very original!!

Kristy - I haven’t started anything new this week.

 

What did you recently finish reading?

Melissa - Batgirl Volumes 1 & 2 (of the 2009-2011 series) which has Stephanie Brown as Batgirl. Really entertaining! 8 more issues and I will have finished the entire series.

Kristy - Dangerous Creatures (Dangerous Creatures, #1) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. And Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Maas.

 

What do you think you’ll read next?

Melissa - Probably more of the graphic novels I have here. I have gone off novels for a bit at the moment unfortunately but will be trying to incorporate more comic reads here too, while Kristy is doing the YA reads. I am looking at Ghostbusters Volume 1 next.

Kristy - Maybe Solitaire by Alice Oseman or maybe even Splintered (Splintered, #1) by A.G. Howard.

 

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

Hi again! Here is some more unique bookshelf bliss for you to admire!

Hi everyone! This week’s Stacking the Shelves is going to be another big one, as it is all the books Melissa and I have added to our shelves in the last 2 weeks.

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:

A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1) - Claudia Grey

Thanks so much to Harper Teen for this copy.

Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer—her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite can’t let the man who destroyed her family go free, and she races after Paul through different universes, where their lives entangle in increasingly familiar ways. With each encounter she begins to question Paul’s guilt—and her own heart. Soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is more sinister than she ever could have imagined.

A Thousand Pieces of You explores a reality where we witness the countless other lives we might lead in an amazingly intricate multiverse, and ask whether, amid infinite possibilities, one love can endure.

 

No Place To Fall - Jaye Robin Brown

Thanks so much to Harper Teen for this copy!

Amber Vaughn is a good girl. She sings solos at church, babysits her nephew after school, and spends every Friday night hanging out at her best friend Devon’s house. It’s only when Amber goes exploring in the woods near her home, singing camp songs with the hikers she meets on the Appalachian Trail, that she feels free—and when the bigger world feels just a little bit more in reach.

When Amber learns about an audition at the North Carolina School of the Arts, she decides that her dream—to sing on bigger stages—could also be her ticket to a new life. Devon’s older (and unavailable) brother, Will, helps Amber prepare for her one chance to try out for the hypercompetitive arts school. But the more time Will and Amber spend together, the more complicated their relationship becomes . . . and Amber starts to wonder if she’s such a good girl, after all.

Then, in an afternoon, the bottom drops out of her family’s world—and Amber is faced with an impossible choice between her promise as an artist and the people she loves. Amber always thought she knew what a good girl would do. But between “right” and “wrong,” there’s a whole world of possibilities.

 

Batgirl Volume 4: Wanted - Gail Simone

I bought this while I was in Sydney last week and I’ve read it already!

Batgirl struggles to continue fighting crime after being emotionally drained by the death of her brother, James, Jr. With her relationships with Batman and her father strained, Batgirl face one of Batman’s most ruthless villains, The Ventriloquist, alone.

Collects Batgirl issues #19-25, Ventriliquist #1.

 

 

In Kristy’s mailbox:

A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1) - Claudia Gray

I received this e-ARC via Edelweiss

Every Day meets Cloud Atlas in this heart-racing, space- and time-bending, epic new trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray.

Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer—her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite can’t let the man who destroyed her family go free, and she races after Paul through different universes, where their lives entangle in increasingly familiar ways. With each encounter she begins to question Paul’s guilt—and her own heart. Soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is more sinister than she ever could have imagined.

A Thousand Pieces of You explores a reality where we witness the countless other lives we might lead in an amazingly intricate multiverse, and ask whether, amid infinite possibilities, one love can endure..

 

Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3) - Sarah J. Maas

I got this e-ARC from Netgalley! And I am ridiculously excited about it!

Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy.

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

 

Rain (Paper Gods #2) - Amanda Sun

I also received this e-ARC from Netgalley.

American Katie Green has decided to stay in Japan. She’s started to build a life in the city of Shizuoka, and she can’t imagine leaving behind her friends, her aunt and especially Tomohiro, the guy she’s fallen in love with. But her return is not as simple as she thought. She’s flunking out of Japanese school and committing cultural faux pas wherever she goes. Tomohiro is also struggling—as a Kami, his connection to the ancient gods of Japan and his power to bring drawings to life have begun to spiral out of control.

When Tomo decides to stop drawing, the ink finds other ways to seep into his life—blackouts, threatening messages and the appearance of unexplained sketches. Unsure how to help Tomo, Katie turns to an unexpected source for help—Jun, her former friend and a Kami with an agenda of his own. But is Jun really the ally he claims to be? In order to save themselves, Katie and Tomohiro must unravel the truth about Tomo’s dark ancestry, as well as Katie’s, and confront one of the darkest gods in Japanese legend.

 

The Diviners (The Diviners #1) - Libba Bray

I purchased this SIGNED copy while I was in Sydney!

Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.

Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.

As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened.

 

Splintered (Splintered, #1) - A.G. Howard

And I could no longer resist this beauty while I was shopping in Sydney.

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.
When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.l . .

 

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

And I certainly couldn’t the sequel sitting on the shelf :)

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.

 

Solitaire - Alice Oseman

I received this proof thanks to Harper Collins Australia

In case you’re wondering, this is not a love story.

My name is Tori Spring. I like to sleep and I like to blog. Last year – before all that stuff with Charlie and before I had to face the harsh realities of A-Levels and university applications and the fact that one day I really will have to start talking to people – I had friends. Things were very different, I guess, but that’s all over now.

Now there’s Solitaire. And Michael Holden.

I don’t know what Solitaire are trying to do, and I don’t care about Michael Holden.

I really don’t.

This incredible debut novel by outstanding young author Alice Oseman is perfect for fans of John Green, Rainbow Rowell and all unflinchingly honest writers.

 

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

 

 

It’s Wednesday which means it’s time to tell you what we have been up to for the past week! Melissa is currently living it up in Sydney (and from the looks of things, she is having a great time), so this week you will just be hearing from me. W..W..W.. Wednesdays is a weekly meme bought to you by MizB from Should Be Reading.

 

What are you currently reading?

Kristy - Dangerous Creatures (Dangerous Creatures, #1) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. I have read the Beautiful Creatures series, and that one was a little hit and miss for me, but Dangerous Creatures is about my favourite characters from the previous series, so I have hopes that I will enjoy this one more.

 

What did you recently finish reading?

Kristy - City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments, #6) by Cassandra Clare. I have some mixed feelings about this one, which you will find out about more in my upcoming review.

 

What do you think you’ll read next?

Kristy - Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Maas. I just cannot wait any longer to read this one!!!

 

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

Release Date: April 29th 2014
Published By: Scholastic Press
Pages: 384
Goodreads: Add it to your reading list
Purchase: Click here to purchase

Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis: From the remarkable imagination of acclaimed artist Jim Di Bartolo and the exquisite pen of bestselling author Kiersten White comes a spellbinding story of love, mystery, and dark conspiracy, told in an alternating narrative of words and pictures.

Cora and Minnie are sisters living in a small, stifling town where strange and mysterious things occur. Their mother runs the local boarding house. Their father is gone. The woman up the hill may or may not be a witch.

Thomas and Charles are brothers who’ve been exiled to the boarding house so Thomas can tame his ways and Charles can fight an illness that is killing him with increasing speed. Their family history is one of sorrow and guilt. They think they can escape from it . . . but they can’t.

Review: I made it no secret that I was extremely excited about this book! I even spent hours trying to find a way to get my hands of this book while I was overseas (this a US title, and I was in Europe when it was released) but sadly I failed. But, on the upside, it was waiting for me in my mailbox when I arrived back home :)

If you are wondering why I was so excited, well, it was for two reasons. Firstly, I adore Kiersten White’s writing, and secondly, I am HUGE fan of Jim Di Bartolo. So this book, a collaboration of words by Kiersten and illustrations by Jim, resulted in some major fangirling! But to make it even better, this book was going to be different… it isn’t a novel with some illustrations, nor is it a graphic novel; it is a story with both text and art. The artwork was to tell a story in itself, and the text would tell another story. Some people may be confused or concerned by this concept, but I was ridiculously excited (see my post here). Not only did I have full faith in Kiersten’s ability to write a wonderful story, but I also knew that Jim had the talent to provide us with a full and rich story through his art.

Through words, Kiersten tells us the story of how after an encounter with a witch, Cora and Minnie find themselves without a father and a new mysterious relative named Arthur living with them. Meanwhile in New York, Thomas overhears a conversation between his tough, unmoveable father and a mystery person. His father sounds afraid, and all Thomas can decipher is it has to do with an unpaid debt and a sacrifice has to be made. He is unsure what the conversation was about, but before gets to find out, he and his brother Charles is shipped off to a boarding house in Maine, with the excuse that it will help Charles’ with his illness.

Thomas and Charles find themselves boarding with Cora and Minnie - and their shadow Arthur. It isn’t too long before strange things start occurring, and the boys find themselves unable to escape their family’s guilt, Arthur struggles to keep his secrets hidden, and the girls find themselves fighting for those they love.

Through powerful and striking art, Jim shows us a story of a man searching and chasing, looking for something, or someone, across the world and across a large span of time. The amazing detail in the artwork is filled with historical accuracy, beautiful representation of many places around the world and with characters whose emotion, desperation and determination leap off the page.

In this amazing full-coloured book you get to glide between the two stories being told - between words that flow beautifully to art that mesmerises you. Whether through the written word, or the amazingly beautiful illustrations, this is a story with depth, heart, great characters and an intriguing storyline.

Although I already knew that Jim is an incredibly gifted artist, I think he even outdone himself with In the Shadows. I have always been a fan of his artwork, and I have always respected his ability to encapsulate so much within one picture - but WOW! The art in this book is phenomenal! His ability to tell a powerful story without the use of a single word is astounding - the artwork is certainly beautiful in itself, but it is so much more than just pictures; it captures the emotion, the atmosphere, the power, the truth. If at all possible, I fell more in love with Jim’s art through this book.

And let’s not forget Kiersten’s ability to write a fantastic story as well! Her characters were well developed and interesting, and you quickly became attached to them. And even though the storyline was fast-pasted, her characters did not suffer for it and the plot remained strong. Kiersten’s writing is precise, filled with secrets, devotion, strength and courage.

The two stories are told independently of each other - and I think you must remember that when you read this book. This is not like other illustrated YA books that you might have read. The artwork is not there to support the story you are reading - they are two separate stories. These are two exciting and beautiful journeys: Kiersten’s written story provides us with wonderful characters who take us on exciting and heartbreaking journey while Jim’s astonishing art provides us with another story filled with mystery, determination and heartache. Finally, these two wonderful stories do intertwine to create a wonderful, heartfelt, beautiful and perfect conclusion.

In the Shadows is an experience! It is original. It is stunning - in art, in text, in concept. It is a powerful blend of words and art - and I cannot recommend it enough! Sadly this book has only been picked up in the US so far, so if you are outside the US you will not find it in a bookstore… but it is available at The Book Depository for those of you who would like to experience this wonderful, darkly intriguing, beautiful, full-colour journey of storytelling at it’s best!

 

Quotes:

“He’s always tried not to be seen. She’d always seen him”

“It is the sharpest, deepest cut of all isn’t it? I wouldn’t wish love on anyone. It carves a hole in you that can never be filled”

“At least my destruction is one of peace and rest. Unlike yours”

“It’s worth it to me”

 

Samples:

Samples borrowed from Jim Di Bartolo’s site

 

It’s June!! Here are 12 of the releases this month that we’re the most excited about!

June 1st

The Girl Who Never Was (Otherworld #1) - Skylar Dorset

The Girl Who Never Was is the story of Selkie Stewart, who thinks she’s a totally normal teenager growing up in Boston. Sure, her father is in an insane asylum, her mother left her on his doorstep—literally—when she was a baby, and she’s being raised by two ancient aunts who spend their time hunting gnomes in their Beacon Hill townhouse. But other than that her life is totally normal! She’s got an adventurous best friend who’s always got her back and an unrequited crush on an older boy named Ben. Just like any other teenager, right?

When Selkie goes in search of the mother she’s never known, she gets more than she bargained for. It turns out that her mother is faerie royalty, which would make Selkie a faerie princess—except for the part where her father is an ogre, which makes her only half of anything. Even more confusing, there’s a prophecy that Selkie is going to destroy the tyrannical Seelie Court, which is why her mother actually wants to kill her. Selkie has been kept hidden all her life by her adoring aunts, with the help of a Salem wizard named Will. And Ben. Because the boy she thinks she’s in love with turns out to be a faerie whose enchantment has kept her alive, but also kept her in the dark about her own life.

Now, with enchantments dissolved and prophecies swinging into action, Selkie finds herself on a series of mad quests to save the people she’s always loved and a life she’s learning to love. But in a supernatural world of increasingly complex alliances and distressingly complicated deceptions, it’s so hard to know who to trust. Does her mother really wish to kill her? Would Will sacrifice her for the sake of the prophecy? And does Ben really love her or is it all an elaborate ruse? In order to survive, Selkie realizes that the key is learning—and accepting—who she really is.

 

June 3rd

The Truth About Alice - Jennifer Mathieu

Everyone has a lot to say about Alice Franklin, and it’s stopped mattering whether it’s true. The rumors started at a party when Alice supposedly had sex with two guys in one night. When school starts everyone almost forgets about Alice until one of those guys, super-popular Brandon, dies in a car wreck that was allegedly all Alice’s fault. Now the only friend she has is a boy who may be the only other person who knows the truth, but is too afraid to admit it. Told from the perspectives of popular girl Elaine, football star Josh, former outcast Kelsie, and shy genius Kurt, we see how everyone has a motive to bring – and keep – Alice down.

 

June 10th

Born Of Deception (Born Of Illusion #2) - Teri Brown

Budding illusionist Anna Van Housen is on top of the world: after scoring a spot on a prestigious European vaudeville tour, she has moved to London to chase her dream and to join an underground society for people like her with psychic abilities. Along with her handsome beau, Cole Archer, Anna is prepared to take the city by storm.

But when Anna arrives in London, she finds the group in turmoil. Sensitives are disappearing and, without a suspect, the group’s members are turning on one another. Could the kidnapper be someone within the society itself—or has the nefarious Dr. Boyle followed them to London?

As Cole and Anna begin to unravel the case and secrets about the society are revealed, they find themselves at odds, their plans for romance in London having vanished. Her life in danger and her relationship fizzling, can Anna find a way to track down the killer before he makes her his next victim—or will she have to pay the ultimate price for her powers?

Set in Jazz-Age London, this alluring sequel to Born of Illusion comes alive with sparkling romance, deadly intrigue, and daring magic.

 

Don’t You Forget About Me - Kate Karyus Quinn

Welcome to Gardnerville.

A place where no one gets sick. And no one ever dies.

Except…
There’s a price to pay for paradise. Every fourth year, the strange power that fuels the town exacts its payment by infecting teens with deadly urges. In a normal year in Gardnerville, teens might stop talking to their best friends. In a fourth year, they’d kill them.

Four years ago, Skylar’s sister, Piper, was locked away after leading sixteen of her classmates to a watery grave. Since then, Skylar has lived in a numb haze, struggling to forget her past and dull the pain of losing her sister. But the secrets and memories Piper left behind keep taunting Skylar—whispering that the only way to get her sister back is to stop Gardnerville’s murderous cycle once and for all.

 

Hexed (The Witch Hunter #1) - Michelle Krys

If high school is all about social status, Indigo Blackwood has it made. Sure, her quirky mom owns an occult shop, and a nerd just won’t stop trying to be her friend, but Indie is a popular cheerleader with a football-star boyfriend and a social circle powerful enough to ruin everyone at school. Who wouldn’t want to be her?

Then a guy dies right before her eyes. And the dusty old family Bible her mom is freakishly possessive of is stolen. But it’s when a frustratingly sexy stranger named Bishop enters Indie’s world that she learns her destiny involves a lot more than pom-poms and parties. If she doesn’t get the Bible back, every witch on the planet will die. And that’s seriously bad news for Indie, because according to Bishop, she’s a witch too.

Suddenly forced into a centuries-old war between witches and sorcerers, Indie’s about to uncover the many dark truths about her life—and a future unlike any she ever imagined on top of the cheer pyramid.

 

The Murder Complex (The Murder Complex #1) - Lindsay Cummings

An action-packed, blood-soaked, futuristic debut thriller set in a world where the murder rate is higher than the birthrate. For fans of Moira Young’s Dust Lands series, La Femme Nikita, and the movie Hanna.

Meadow Woodson, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been trained by her father to fight, to kill, and to survive in any situation, lives with her family on a houseboat in Florida. The state is controlled by The Murder Complex, an organization that tracks the population with precision.

The plot starts to thicken when Meadow meets Zephyr James, who is—although he doesn’t know it—one of the MC’s programmed assassins. Is their meeting a coincidence? Destiny? Or part of a terrifying strategy? And will Zephyr keep Meadow from discovering the haunting truth about her family?

Action-packed, blood-soaked, and chilling, this is a dark and compelling debut novel by Lindsay Cummings.

 

June 12th

Inland - Kat Rosenfield

The psychological labyrinth of a young woman’s insidious connection to the sea, from the Edgar Award nominated author of Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone.

Callie Morgan has long lived choked by the failure of her own lungs, the result of an elusive pulmonary illness that has plagued her since childhood. A childhood marked early by the drowning death of her mother—a death to which Callie was the sole witness. Her father has moved them inland, away from the memories of the California coast her mother loved so much and toward promises of recovery—and the escape of denial—in arid, landlocked air.

But after years of running away, the promise of a life-changing job for her father brings Callie and him back to the coast, to Florida, where Callie’s symptoms miraculously disappear. For once, life seems delightfully normal. But the ocean’s edge offers more than healing air … it holds a magnetic pull, drawing Callie closer and closer to the chilly, watery embrace that claimed her mother. Returned to the ocean, Callie comes of age and comes into a family destiny that holds generations of secrets and very few happy endings.

 

June 17th

Otherbound - Corinne Duyvis

Amara is never alone. Not when she’s protecting the cursed princess she unwillingly serves. Not when they’re fleeing across dunes and islands and seas to stay alive. Not when she’s punished, ordered around, or neglected.

She can’t be alone, because a boy from another world experiences all that alongside her, looking through her eyes.

Nolan longs for a life uninterrupted. Every time he blinks, he’s yanked from his Arizona town into Amara’s mind, a world away, which makes even simple things like hobbies and homework impossible. He’s spent years as a powerless observer of Amara’s life. Amara has no idea . . . until he learns to control her, and they communicate for the first time. Amara is terrified. Then, she’s furious.

All Amara and Nolan want is to be free of each other. But Nolan’s breakthrough has dangerous consequences. Now, they’ll have to work together to survive-and discover the truth about their connection.

 

Dark Metropolis (Dark Metropolis #1) - Jaclyn Dolamore

Cabaret meets Cassandra Clare-a haunting magical thriller set in a riveting 1930s-esque world.

Sixteen-year-old Thea Holder’s mother is cursed with a spell that’s driving her mad, and whenever they touch, Thea is chilled by the magic, too. With no one else to contribute, Thea must make a living for both of them in a sinister city, where danger lurks and greed rules.
Thea spends her nights waitressing at the decadent Telephone Club attending to the glitzy clientele. But when her best friend, Nan, vanishes, Thea is compelled to find her. She meets Freddy, a young, magnetic patron at the club, and he agrees to help her uncover the city’s secrets-even while he hides secrets of his own.

Together, they find a whole new side of the city. Unrest is brewing behind closed doors as whispers of a gruesome magic spread. And if they’re not careful, the heartless masterminds behind the growing disappearances will be after them, too.

Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, this is a chilling thriller with a touch of magic where the dead don’t always seem to stay that way.

 

Ruin & Rising (The Grisha #3) - Leigh Bardugo

The capital has fallen. The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation’s fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova’s amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling’s secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

 

Fan Art - Sarah Tregay

When the picture tells the story…

Senior year is almost over, and Jamie Peterson has a big problem. Not college—that’s all set. Not prom—he’ll find a date somehow. No, it’s the worst problem of all: he’s fallen for his best friend.

As much as Jamie tries to keep it under wraps, everyone seems to know where his affections lie, and the giggling girls in art class are determined to help Jamie get together with Mason. But Jamie isn’t sure if that’s what he wants—because as much as Jamie would like to come clean to Mason, what if the truth ruins everything? What if there are no more road trips, taco dinners, or movie nights? Does he dare risk a childhood friendship for romance?

This book is about what happens when a picture reveals what we can’t say, when art is truer than life, and how falling in love is easy, except when it’s not. Fan Art explores the joys and pains of friendship, of pressing boundaries, and how facing our worst fears can sometimes lead us to what we want most.

 

June 24th

Rain (Paper Gods #2) - Amanda Sun

American Katie Green has decided to stay in Japan. She’s started to build a life in the city of Shizuoka, and she can’t imagine leaving behind her friends, her aunt and especially Tomohiro, the guy she’s fallen in love with. But her return is not as simple as she thought. She’s flunking out of Japanese school and committing cultural faux pas wherever she goes. Tomohiro is also struggling—as a Kami, his connection to the ancient gods of Japan and his power to bring drawings to life have begun to spiral out of control.

When Tomo decides to stop drawing, the ink finds other ways to seep into his life—blackouts, threatening messages and the appearance of unexplained sketches. Unsure how to help Tomo, Katie turns to an unexpected source for help—Jun, her former friend and a Kami with an agenda of his own. But is Jun really the ally he claims to be? In order to save themselves, Katie and Tomohiro must unravel the truth about Tomo’s dark ancestry, as well as Katie’s, and confront one of the darkest gods in Japanese legend.

 

Hello readers! Wow so June is here, and that means we have some May winners to announce for our international giveaway! To remind you all, last month we hosted a giveaway with the below books. There are three winners and each winner can pick any of the following titles below:

The One (The Selection #3) - Kiera Cass Everything Leads to You - Nina LaCour We Were Liars - E. Lockhart After The End (After The End #1) - Amy Plum Free to Fall - Lauren Miller Since You’ve Been Gone - Morgan Matson Losing Logan (Losing Logan #1) - Sherry D. Ficklin Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend (Broken Hearts & Revenge #1) - Katie Finn Biggest Flirts (Superlatives #1) - Jennifer Echols The Girl with the Windup Heart (Steampunk Chronicles #4) - Kady Cross Guy in Real Life - Steve Brezenoff Deep Blue (Waterfire Saga #1) - Jennifer Donnelly

This month, a huge congratulations goes to our three winners:

Alyssa Edradan

Bruna Tonella

Adriana Cabrera

I’ll be emailing each of you shortly in regards to your prize! Bare with me as I am flying to Sydney tomorrow for a week, so there will be a delay in shipping, but you each can have one of the above books. :D

Hi everyone! April and May where very hectic for both Melissa and I, so we actually missed our April in Review post, so I thought I would combine both our April and May links here. I went on my wonderful holiday mid-April to mid-May, and since I have been back I have been run off my feet with various things. Melissa has been very busy with work and everyday life as well. I would like to thank Melissa for keeping things while I was away (physically and mentally).

So here is our April and May recap!

 

Book Reviews

Sea of Tranquility – Katja Millay
When Mr Dog Bites – Brian Conaghan
Tape – Steven Camden
Cruel Beauty – Rosamund Hodge
Half Bad (Half Bad #1) – Sally Green
Fangirl – Rainbow Rowell
Maybe Someday – Colleen Hoover
Disruption (Disruption #1) – Jessica Shirvington
Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #3) – Laini Taylor

 

Comic Reviews

Chew Volume One – Taster’s Choice – John Layman & Rob Guillory

 

Other bookish posts

Bookshelf Bliss #1
Bookshelf Bliss #2
Bookshelf Bliss #3
Bookshelf Bliss #4
Divergent Movie Featurettes
That awkward moment when I dump you for Laini Taylor
That amazing time that I met Laini Taylor – Part 1

 

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 March:

• Cait from Notebook Sisters asks bloggers and publishers about negative reviews
• Asti from Oh The Books! talks about illustrated YA
• Shaheen from Speculating on SpecFic talks about how she reads so much
  
• Jamie from The Perpetual Page Turner shares an interview with John Green
• Chiara from Delicate Eternity talks about why she loves fan fiction
• Chasm of Books shares some series for kids
• Jeann from Happy Indulgence shares a publisher Q&A for bloggers & reviewers
• Kelly from Diva Book Nerd makes a blogger pledge