Early Review: Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brow

Lies Beneath (Lies Beneath #1) 

by Anne Greenwood Brow

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistible good looks and charm on unsuspecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Publication Date: June 12th 2012

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Format: eARC, 303 pages 

Series: yes

Source: Netgalley
________________________________

My Review

First line: I hadn't killed anyone all winter, and I have to say I felt pretty good about that. 

Last line: The memory of her kisss was still fresh on my lips and I knew, with Lily, I was both free and imprisoned for all eternity.

Calder White is a merman. He hasn't killed anyone all winter, but he's almost literally dying to. Real merpeople are nothing like the movies and books wanted us believe. They need to feed on human emotions, and in order to do that they drag humans to the bottom of the sea and suck them dry, absorbing their 'light' into themselves.

During winter Calder prefers warmer climates, like the Bahamian and Caribbean beaches... but as the snow starts to melt in the US, he feels the need to migrate and rejoin the sisters he's always trying to avoid. Even though it's still April, they start to nag him to come home already, because they finally found the target they've looking for for 30 years. Jason Hancock.

Thirty years ago Tom Hancok was attacked by Calder's mother, but he was able to escape her and resurfaced, begging her to spare him. Not used to her prey ever surviving an attack, she offered to turn him into a merman, but he said no. She then offered to let him go, if he promised to bring his son to her. He agreed, not knowing that by doing that, he was signing a mermaid contract, binding her to him and his promise. As soon as he set foot on earth again, he grabbed his family and ran away. Calder's mother followed his car all across the shore, desperate to make him fulfill his promise, until she lost sight of him and got caught into a fishing net and died.

Now Calder and his sisters have to settle her debt. They need to kill Tom Hancock's son, Jason. And the only way to get to Jason is to approach his daughters. 

Calder gets closer to Lily, the older daughter who likes victorian poetry and weird clothes. And who doesn't seem to like him much, despite his natural predator beauty. She's not even affected by his hypnosis. 

Lily thinks he's weird. And he kind of is... he makes her skin crawl with electricity when he touches her, he always talks too much, but never says anything about himsel, nobody seems to know much about him or his family... and he stalks her, to try and find out more about her family, their secrets and how to get closer to them and lure his father into the water to find his death. He stalks her a lot. He watches her from inside her wardrobe, from inside the lake outside her house, from the hammock outside her window... he has enhanced hearing and always eavesdrops on her conversations. He doesn't feel guilty for killing humans to survive, he talks to corpses and pretends they talk back... he is very weird, indeed, for a human. And that's probably why many readers didn't like him. But that's the thing. He's not human. He's a supernatural being, and to him, his behavior is completely normal. And as I kept reading, I started to understand him better. Or at least try to.

As the story approaches its climax, Calder finds out that not everything involving his mother's death was as it seemed... that maybe the reason his mother wanted Tom Hancock's son wasn't to feed on him. And that same reason might explain why Lily appears to be so special herself.

I liked that, unlike most YA heroines, it took Lily quite a while to warm up to Calder, what with him appearing out of nowhere and wanting to get closer to her so quickly, wanting to know everything about her and her family and never telling her much about himself. She got defensive and suspicious, like a normal girl would. She made him work hard for it, and while doing that, she started to fall for him. And him, for her. When he finally realized it, he had fallen in love with the daughter of the man he wanted to kill.

And Lily, the poor thing. She not found herself in love with a mythical creature, she also discovers that his sisters would kill her in the blink of an eye, and that the only reason he got closer to her in the first place was so he could get to her father and kill him.

You see, I didn't love the book, but I did like it a lot, and I will search for the sequel when it comes out. It was a very creative, fresh read. Something different from the rest of the paranormal books. I especially liked the male POV.

If you like unusual YA books, with a strong male as the main character and a very reluctant heroine, budding romance and lots of action scenes under water, that's your book.

*I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

#FF - Feature and Follow #22

Feature and Follow is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee's View.

Q: This Sunday in the U.S. is Mother’s Day, in celebration, what are some of your favorite books with strong mother/child relationships?

It will be Mother's day here, too. :) 

You know, I can't think of many moms that really stood out in books for me. I have noticed that usually fathers are more 'present' and 'influential' to daughters in books than mothers. That's too bad...I do remember one book that made me LOL about mom and daughter relationship, though. It was Hex Hall. 

Here's one of my favorite quotes:

“Good luck explaining to God that you used to spank one of his heavenly beings." 

Mom gave a startled laugh. 

"Sophie!" 

"What? You did. I hope you like hot weather, Mom, that's all I'm saying.”

_______________________


What was your answer?
Oh, and if you're a new follower, please let me know and I'll follow back. :)

Early Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone 
(The Grisha Trilogy #1)
by Leigh Bardugo

Expected publication: June 5th 2012 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Publication Date: June 5th 2012

Publisher: BYR

Format: eARC, 368 pages 

Series: yes

Source: Netgalley

_________________________________

My Review:

After blogging for a while you start to learn not to expect much from books that create a lot of fuss and receive tons of 5 star ratings (In my case, much like The Immortal Rules and Everneath did before publication). 

So, when I saw over 150 5 star ratings for Shadow and Bone on Goodreads I was a bit afraid of what I'd think of it... 

What I came up with was:

Oh. Dear. Lawd. 

That was the best book I've read in loooong while! Definitely the best I've read this year, for sure! (This is the 99th book I have read in 2012).

I know I haven't been especially eloquent so far, but that's what usually happens when you enjoy a book this much. You love it so, SO much you can't even put it into words. 

But let's try expressing it with images:

and:

These can be translated as:

"This is so freaking awesome!" *-*, 

and: 

"NO, I can't be that close to the ending already! I only just started it! Where did the time go???" :((

Okay, enough nonsense. For now.

First line: "The servants called them malenchki, little ghosts, because they were the smallest and the youngest, and because they haunted the Duke's house like giggling phantoms, darting in and out of rooms, hiding in cupboards to eavesdrop, sneaking into the kitchen to steal the last of the summer peaches."

Last line: (too spoilery).

Favorite quote: "I'd catch myself just walking around to find you, not for any reason, just out of habit, because I'd seen something that I wanted to tell you about or because I wanted to hear your voice. And then I'd realize that you weren't there anymore, and every time, every single time, it was like having the wind knocked out of me."

Alina Starkov and Malyen Oretsev were both orphans that grew up together at a nice Duke's orphanage. When they were old enough, they left to train for their military service. Alina as a cartographer and Mal as a tracker. But their regiment had to first cross the Shadow Fold before they could get to the Sea.

Alina is completely in love with her childhood friend, but Mal hardly even seems to notice her anymore. He has become very handsome and popular with girls, and Alina... well, she's become taller, but still looks like she did as a child. Skinny, pale and ghost-like.

Along for the ride to the Shadow Fold are the Grisha, practitioners of the 'Small Science'. They are people who have special powers and are treated like royalty. They are also very attractive.

As soon as they get to the Fold and darkness engulfs them, the volcra attack. They are horrendous beasts with a thirst for human flesh. The Grisha and the soldiers try to attack them as best they can, but there are still many casualties.

When a volcra gets too close to Alina, Mal rushes over to protect her, receiving a very serious injury to the chest. Alina throws herself over him to try and shield him from the volcra hovering close by, but when the volcra reaches for her, Alina feels something inside her shift and then suddenly there is light. Brilliant, magnificent light all around them. And the volcra can't fly away fast enough. Alina passes out.

The minute she comes to she knows something is wrong. First of all, there are rifles pointed to her head. People are looking at her strangely. And the Darkling, the most powerful and oldest Grisha around wants to see her. He claims that she is a Sun Summoner. And the only hope to end the wars and destroy the Fold. No pressure, right?

Alina can't wrap her head around being Grisha. She is nothing like them! They're beautiful, she's not. They have been studying the 'Grisha ways' ever since they were 5-years-old, and she hasn't. But most importantly... she is one of a kind. Just like the Darkling.

Now Alina has to learn how to control how powers and pay very close attention to the people around her. Are they friend or foe? Should she trust them? Shouls she believe everything they say? Should she allow herself to fall for one of them? And, is Mal still alive? Does he hate her now? Does she care?

Oh, man. Now that was a good read. 

Don't you just love it when nothing is as you first expected? Leigh Bardugo is a complete genius! Her writing is enrapturing, her characters captivating, and the plot is absolutely mind-boggling! There is NEVER a boring moment. NEVER, I say!!! (Okay, I'll go easy with the iltalics and bolds from now on, I promise).  When you finally start to get things (especially the russian vocab) and like certain characters... BAM! They slap you in the face with betrayal! (Alina's face, I mean.). :P

And as you get closer to the end, you have to control yourself not to blow up from all the tension. Or pluck all your hair off. Or scream with frustration. Oh, and no matter how intense things get, you have to remember to blink. (I had to apply teardrops more times than I can count, simply because I just wanted to take everything in as fast as I could, and all the blinking was totally slowing me down. LOL.).

Really, the only thing I still have to say to you is: Go ahead and pre-order this baby right now! You will not regret it. :)

If you enjoy great books with tons of adventure, fantasy magic AND sweet romance, then the odds are: you'll go bananas over Shadow and Bone, just like I did.

* I was lucky enough to receive an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

"Waiting On" Wednesday #23

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.


Right now what I really want to read is:

Crewel 
by Gennifer Albin
Publication date: October 16th, 2012

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

_______________________________________

That sounds slightly creepy, huh? I really want to see what this Spinster thing is all about. :)

What are you waiting on this week?

Teaser Tuesday #22

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

• Grab your current read

       • Open to a random page
      • Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
      • Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others.

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles.

Lethal Rider

by Larissa Ione

Expected publication: June 1st 2012 by Piatkus Books

"Ever since he'd been cursed as the Horseman who would become Death when his Seal broke, he'd believed that his Seal was his virginity. 

He'd guarded his dick like it was the freaking Hope Diamond. 

He might have been an unínned grenade ready to blow with sexual need, but dammit, he'd kept himself all virginal and shit."

________________

You have got to love Ione's writing style. It's a LOL a minute. :)

What's your teaser this week?  

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #20

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey. 

Welcome to It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading?  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!


I'm Currently Reading:

Lethal Rider
(Isn't that the hottest cover EVER?? I must meet this magnificent Paul Marron guy. Perfect Thanatos. *-*)

Finished:

Reviews posted:

Review: Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig
Early Review: Death by Petticoat by Mary Miley

Next Reads:

The Unquiet


What are you reading this week?

Stacking the Shelves #2

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process!

This new feature is hosted by Tynga from Tynga's Reviews.

This week I got:

Going completely against my New Year's resolution and disregarding a promise to myself, I bought new books. Yup. You without sin, throw a stone first, blah, blah. LOL. :P

Strictly Taboo

Hunting Lila

For review, from Netgalley I got: 

Shift
Blackwood

Hunting Lila was very good! I'll post my gushing review soon enough. :)
And Shift and Blackwood sound fantastic, don't they?
______________________________

What did you get this week?

Early Review: Death by Petticoat by Mary Miley Theobald

Death by Petticoat: American History Myths Debunked
Mary Miley Theobald, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Every day stories from American history that are not true are repeated in museums and classrooms across the country. Some are outright fabrications; others contain a kernel of truth that has been embellished over the years. Collaborating with The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Mary Miley Theobald has uncovered the truth behind many widely repeated myth-understandings in our history including:

• Hat makers really were driven mad. They were poisoned by the mercury used in making hats from furs. Their symptoms included hallucinations, tremors, and twitching, which looked like insanity to people of the 17th and 18th centuries—and the phrase “mad as a hatter” came about.

• The idea that portrait painters gave discounts if their subjects posed with one hand inside the vest (so they didn’t have to paint fingers and leading to the saying that something “costs an arm and a leg”) is strictly myth. It isn’t likely that Napoleon, King George III, or George Washington were concerned about getting a discount from their portrait painters.

• Pregnant women secluded themselves indoors, uneven stairs were made to trip up burglars, people bathed once a year, women had tiny waists, apprenticeships lasted seven years—Death by Petticoat reveals the truth about these hysterical historical myth-understandings.

Genre: Nonfiction

Publication Date: June 5th 2012

Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing

Format: eARC, 160 pages 

Series: no

Source: Netgalley

___________________________________

My Review

First line: Burning to death sounds gruesomw, and there were some instances in which women died of burns when theur long skirts, or petticoats, came too close to hearth fires.

Last line: In the back room, women could socialize, buy takeout, or eat the popular free lunch - free, that is, with the purchase of a drink.

Favorite quote: Armchairs were an indication of status and were reserved for the head of the household or other important people.This is a very short, very funny book filled with myths and curiosities of American History. It was very interesting to read more about how people lived at that time and how many of the unfounded myths came about.

The author is highly amusing in her way to expose silly and absurd myths and the truth behind them, but it's too bad there were so little of them and such short explanations. The book made them clearer and easier to comprehend, but in the end they came out sounding a bit trivial, without very much depth into actual history. But I'm not a historian, so I had fun and learned quite a few things.

It's a great book for when you need to kill some time or just before going to bed. A very light, funny and informative read.

So, if you are wondering if men were shorter back then, if people didn't bathe, if potatoes and tomatoes were considered poisonous by early colonists, if women ate arsenic to lighten their complexions and were not allowed to use the front door of taverns or if cooks used spices to mask the flavor and odors of rotting food, this is your book to read and find out. ;)

It will make for some great conversation topics and ice-breakers.

*I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.* 

#FF - Feature and Follow #21

Feature and Follow is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee's View.

Q: What is one thing you wish you could tell your favorite author?

Dear Sherrilyn Kenyon,

I know you probably don't need money, but if that's what it takes for you to give me Acheron Parthenopaeus' real address, I promise I'll find a way.

I mean, nobody really needs two kidneys, right? Or lungs, I suppose. :P

And, even though that came out sounding very 'stalker-like', I promise to take very good care of him. My bed is really comfy and the chains are lined with velvet, so... wait, did I just write that? I meant that... that... um, how much did you say you want, again? 

_______________

What would you tell your favorite author?
Oh, and if you're a new follower, please let me know and I'll follow back. :)

Review: Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig

Blackbirds 

(Miriam Black #1)

by Chuck Wendig 

Published April 24th 2012 by Angry Robot

Miriam Black knows when you will die. She’s foreseen hundreds of car crashes, heart attacks, strokes, and suicides.

But when Miriam hitches a ride with Louis Darling and shakes his hand, she sees that in thirty days Louis will be murdered while he calls her name. Louis will die because he met her, and she will be the next victim.

No matter what she does she can’t save Louis. But if she wants to stay alive, she’ll have to try.

Genre: Adult, Supernatural

Publication Date: April 24th 2012

Publisher: Angry Robot

Format: eARC, 416 pages 

Series: yes

Source: Netgalley

__________________________________________

My Review:

First line: Car lights strobe through busted motel blinds.

Last line: "It is what it is."

Favorite quote: "Why, Paul, what do you think of me? I am the very model of chastity." He isn't buying it. She lights the cigarette and waves him off. "Dude, I discarded the key to my virginity belt long ago – just up and tossed it into a river, I did. That being said – no, Paul, I did not bang your uncle."

Once in a while I like to do this thing. That is, I see a book, fall in love with the cover and force myself to read it, regardless of the content. Sometimes, I do the opposite. I go for the blurb, without really caring for the cover. But this particular review is a case of the former.

This time, obviously, it was cover love at first sight.

Blackbirds was one of the most intense, most intriguing and, yeah, sort of the most disgustingly graphic book I've read in a while. And there was absolutely nothing wrong with that. It was exciting. It was surprising. It was crass and to-the-point and felt like a slap of reality to the face. It was glorious. And I couldn't put it down.

Sure, I enjoy my journeys to fantasy worlds, along with romantic escapades, almost-perfect heroes and even more perfect endings as much as the next girl... but once in a while, crude reality does it for me.

Miriam is damaged goods. She had a traumatic childhood and youth... and she can tell how and and when you'll die as soon as her skin brushes yours. She keeps a notebook with info of some of the people she's touched and have dies, and keeps notes on when others will die. Why? Because a girl needs to eat and dead people don't need their money anymore.

One night, after grabbing a few bucks from a woman beater who died from an epileptic attack after giving her a pretty shiner, she's out in the highway, looking for a ride. A ride to anywhere, as long as it's far away from where she is.

After a brief encounter with a couple of idiot frat boys (who really regretted messing with her, I must add), she jumps in Louis' truck. The interior of his truck is so clean and shiny, and he's so nice that Miriam quickly assumes that this Frankenstein, I mean, Louis is a rapist/murderer/ and/or psycho. Surprisingly enough, he isn't. However, what is even more surprising is what she sees when she touches him. He will die, like we all will. But not from old age or an accident or even suicide. No. He will be murdered. And he'll call her name right before he dies. 

Miriam freaks out and can't jump off his truck fats enough, not accepting his pity and offer of monetary help, but she does listen to him when he tells her there's a bar and motel just a few minutes ahead. Really could use a drink. Or ten. In the bar, she meets pretty boy Ashley, with his feminine name and big smile. But in no time she'll regret ever meeting him.

She knows that it's useless to try and change the future. She's tried before. Countless times. To no avail. And, once again, fate is laughing at her. The more she tries to run from Louis and try to avoid his death, the closer she gets to him. And the date of his death. Which will be her fault. Can she make it in time? Can she stop it? Can she, for once in her life, do something good and useful?

Oh, man. Miriam talks. A lot. Most of it nonsense and usually at the wrong time. And hell if I didn't love her for that. That girl just loved to hear herself talking. She was also a heavy smoker and constant liar. She ate like a lumberjack. And she drank like the world was going to end in the blink of an eye. But she had a hard life (and that's putting it mildly), and those actions fit her perfectly. She was a broken girl with no hope for life or her future, and I loved her. I just wanted her to find some kind of happiness somehow. There was so much wrongness within her, and still I cheered for her.

The entire book was roller coaster ride. That's the only way I can describe it. It kept me on edge the whole time. 'What's going to happen next?', 'Show me more of her past!', 'How is he/she going to die?', 'Will she make it?'. Just... wow. The only thing that still bugs me a bit is that it wasn't very clear how she got that ability. Maybe after that very traumatic episode with the red shovel? Not sure... but I still loved the characters and the story. Sad and bittersweet, as it was. We'll probably find out more about all that in the next book. I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel, Mockingbird. :)

If you like intense books that ensnare you, leaving you unblinking and attentive until the ride is over, and then stick with you even after you're done with it, then run and grab yourself a copy of this crazy good tale.

* I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

"Waiting On" Wednesday #22

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.


Right now what I really want to read is:



Lethal Rider
by Larissa Ione

Expected publication: June 1st 2012 by Piatkus Books

Thanatos, the most deadly Horseman of the Apocalypse, has endured thousands of years of celibacy to prevent the end of days. But just one night with the wickedly sexy Aegis Guardian, Regan Cooper, shatters centuries of resolve. Yet their passion comes with a price. And Thanatos must face a truth more terrifying than an apocalypse-he's about to become a father.
Demon-slayer Regan Cooper never imagined herself the maternal type, but with the fate of the world hanging in the balance she had no choice but to seduce Thanatos and bear his child. Now, as the final battle draws closer and his rage at being betrayed is overshadowed by an undeniable passion for the mother of his child, Thanatos has a life-shattering realization: To save the world, he must sacrifice the only thing he's ever wanted-a family.
___________________________________

I am DYING to read Lethal Rider!!!
Thanatos, my love!!! Wait for me!!!! *-*

What are you waiting on this week?

Teaser Tuesday #21

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

• Grab your current read

       • Open to a random page
      • Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
      • Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others.

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles.

' "(...) Keeping the rest of us as drones while they let themselves do and feel anything they want."

"But if they can feel, they know how much it is to lose! It's..." '

Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

_________________


This book is getting better as it goes. :)

What's your teaser this week?