Title: I.D. Author: Emma Rios Publisher: Image Comics Publication Date: June 28th 2016 Format:eARC Genre: Dystopia, Comic My Rating :3/5 stars Blurb:
A dystopian tale that analyzes the conflict between perception and identity through the struggle of three people who consider a 'body transplant' as a solution to their lives. My Review: I received an eARC of I.D. from Image Comics via NetGalley in exchange with an honest review. This Comic is about 3 people who are considering to have a body transplant to escape a specific aspect of their lives. The whole point of this transplant is to offer a new life to each individual, but it isn't 100% safe. We get a peak on why each person wants to undergo this surgery, and see their lives after they body transplant. The ending was a major down-fall for me because so far, this is a standalone . So much is still to be uncovered in this story. The illustration was accurate and beautiful, but a bit unclear. The drawing being in only black and orang-brown was a bit tiring to the eyes. I give it 3/5 stars.
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Title: King #1 Author: Joshua Hale Fialkov Illustrator: Marcelo Maiolo Publisher: Jet City Comics Publication Date: August 19th , 2016 Genre: Sci-Fi, Comics Format: e ARC My Rating: 3/ 5 stars Blurb :
From critically acclaimed comic book writer Joshua Hale Fialkov (The Bunker, Echoes, and I, Vampire) and superstar artists Bernard Chang and Marcelo Maiolo (Green Lantern Corps, Batman Beyond) comes a postapocalyptic action/adventure comedy. King just wants what anybody wants: not to get fired, eaten, or forced to mate with a cheetah lady. For Earth’s sole human survivor after the apocalypse, life among Los Angeles’s strange new populace ain’t easy. Working for the LA Department of Reclamation, King gets a lot of crappy jobs going on quests and searching for artifacts from the “old world,” which can range from the mythical (Excalibur!) to the absurd (an iPod shuffle—which, let’s be honest, was a terrible, terrible invention). The commute can be a real pain in the asphalt, too; the 405 freeway is filled with mutants, monsters, mayhem, and tentacled Elder Gods. And that’s all before you hit the horrors of the San Fernando Valley. As the world’s freakish inhabitants battle for supremacy, King searches for the “seed of life,” which may give Earth the second chance it probably doesn’t even deserve. My Review: This comic is about King, the last human alive after LA was destroyed. He lives with mutants, and other weird beings that are not human. His quest is to find a way to restart life again. I enjoyed reading this post- apocalyptic comic; the story and the creatures are very creative concepts that I enjoyed learning about. The illustration were perfect in this comic. I am definitely going to keep an eye for the next issue. I give it 3/5 stars.
Title: The Coupling (The Letting #2)
Author: Cathrine Goldstein Publication Date: February 15th 2016 Publisher: The Wild Rose Press Genre: YA, Dystopia My Rating: 3.25/5 stars The Letting on Goodreads Buy Links: Amazon│Barnes & Noble│The Wild Rose Press│Kobo Blurb: In Ronnie Billings’ dystopian world, surviving the Letting and breaking free of a corrupt government is less of a surprise than falling in love with Phoenix Day, the leader of the Peaceful Revolution… When the government sentences Ronnie to a Coupling under the guise of producing a coveted blood type, Ronnie discovers the one she’s slated to Couple with expects even more. Prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to save those she loves most, Ronnie devastates Phoenix with her impossible decision. Whisked away from her rebel life to another world ravaged by despair, Ronnie meets her greatest nemesis...her biological father. Steeling her nerves against the dangers of escape, she embarks on the perilous journey back. She is convinced she belongs with Phoenix and his revolution, but will her friends, and especially Phoenix, be ready to accept her when she returns? Because this time, evil is in her blood... My review: I received an eARC of The Coupling in exchange with an honest review. I have been anticipating this book ever since I have read The Letting ( Click here to read my review of book 1) , so once The Coupling blog tour was announced, I knew that I had to be a part of it. The book starts with the best prologue ever. It made me wonder about how the story will twist and turn for the characters to end up right there,since the 1st few chapters and the blurb makes it seem impossible. I was disappointed with the how some characters acted during the beginning of the book; it made the writing and the character building flake out a bit. However, the story's plot continues to intrigue me. Catherine has created a novel concept, with events that will keep you flipping through the pages. I will be waiting for the 3rd book in the series to see what happens next ! I give it 3.25 /5 stars Enter the Giveaway !
About the Author:
Given my love for cities and all that is gritty, my new obsession with trees really has me stumped. (Sorry.) Maybe it's because trees are the inspiration behind my new YA/NA novel, THE LETTING. Whatever the reason for my new infatuation, some things remain constant -- like my love for: coffee (although sadly, it's now decaf); yoga; Luna bars (I am petitioning for them to bring back Chocolate Raspberry!); running in my neighborhood; Hemingway; Bukowski... and, above all, my husband and my girls. I am the author of the bestselling novel, Sleeping With Mortals: The Story of a New York Mistress, and I'm also a playwright. I have my B.A. in English and my M.A. in Theatre. Author Links: Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook Blog Tour : Book Review + Giveaway of Never Be Younger ( A Shakespeare YA Retelling Anthology )6/22/2015
Title: Never Be Younger ( A Shakespeare, YA Anthology)
Authors: Rachel Bateman, Jessica L. Pierce(, S.M. Johnston, Adrianne James , E.L. Wicker , Olivia Hinebaugh, Cortney Pearson,Christina June (Goodreads , and Nicole Zoltack Publisher: Metamorphosis Books Publication Date: June 9th, 2015 Genre: YA, Retellings Format: e- ARC My rating : 3/5 stars Blurb: Classic story meets the modern world...and out of this world. From the halls of a high school to hip night clubs to the depths of space, Never Be Younger gives Shakespeare's classic plays and sonnets a fresh spin for a new audience. Nine authors pay tribute to the Bard by taking his timeless tales to new heights, entrancing readers all over again. A Shakespeare story by any other name still reads as sweet. All proceeds from the sales of Never Be Younger go to United Through Reading, a charity dedicated to uniting military families through reading. My Review: I received an e ARC of Never Be younger from one of the authors, in exchange with an honest review. Star Cross Lovers : I liked the modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet. There is a better reason for the feud between both families, and the highlights of the play are present in this short story. The Scarf: I loved the 1st few pages of this story; they were adorable and funny ( I loved how the scarf had a twitter account ). Although the plot was kind of predictable, yet it was enjoyable. There were parts that were a bit unrealistic for me, but it was still one of my favorite stories. A Day of Errors: This story had a plot hole that kind of made me change my thoughts of the story. It was an okay read, until the last few pages. Any Way the Wind Blows: One of the best stories in this anthology. From the plot to the characters, everything was well written . I was really intrigued by the mystery in this story. To Undreamed Shores: This story was really good. The plot flowed extremely well, and the story was very entertaining. A Witches life: This was the most creative story in the entire Anthology . The author was able to build a paranormal world, and create characters in which I loved, in a story that is only 20 something pages long. I wasn't impressed with the ending, a lot was left unsolved. Mark the Music: The retelling of the Merchant of Vince was interesting. Although I had some trouble liking the characters at first, I ended up liking how the author was able to retell one of my favorite plays. A Gargoyle's Prom Nightmare: The main plot in this story was interesting, but in some parts, I would get totally lost in what was happening This Anthology had a lot of mistakes. I understand that this was an ARC, but it still had many mistakes. There were plots that I really loved, and others that were uninteresting. I haven't read all of the plays that this anthology retell-ed, but I don't think this was why I disliked some stories . I liked some Retelling of plays that i haven't even heard about. If you like Shakespeare, give this book a go. There are some great stories in this anthology that deserve to be read. I give this Anthology 3/5 stars. About the Authors Rachel Bateman: Editor Rachel Bateman is a writer and editor who spends too much time thinking she can out bake the Cake Boss. (Spoiler: She can’t.) She lives in the middle of Montana, but dreams of the South. Rachel is the owner of Metamorphosis Books, an author services company offering formatting and interior layout for independent authors. When not writing, editing, or reading books, she can be found playing with her husband, young son, and small zoo of pets. You can find Rachel on Twitter, and her website. S.M. Johnston: Star Crossed Lovers & A Gargoyle's Prom Nightmare S.M. Johnston is a writer of weird fiction and soulful contemporaries from sunny Queensland, Australia. Her family includes a husband, two sons and a number of fur babies of the feline and cavy variety. You can find Sharon on Twitter, and her website. Jessica L Pierce: A Day of Errors Jessica is a somewhat crazy – yet loving – blond. She lives in Green Bay, WI, hates the cold, and loves her completely awesome camo coat. She is passionate about football, baseball, photography and writing, and won’t go near cooked peas. (Raw peapods are fine.) She is a student at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, and will graduate in December 2015 with a degree in Communication with emphasis in Journalism. She is a sports photographer and her work can be found at: www.studio52photos.com You can also find Jessica on Twitter.Cortney Pearson: The Undreamed Shores Cortney Pearson is the author of Phobic and Such a Secret Place, a mother, musician, and a lover of pink and sparkles. You can find Cortney on Twitter, and her website. E.L. Wicker: Star Crossed Lovers & A Gargoyle's Prom Nightmare E.L. Wicker lives in Hampshire, England with her husband and two children. Fueled by the bossy voices in her head, she writes New Adult fiction with a side of romance. You can find E.L. on Twitter, and her website.Nicole Zoltack: Any Way the Wind Blows Nicole Zoltack loves to write in many genres, especially romance, whether fantasy, paranromal, or regency. When she's not writing about knights, superheroes or zombies, she loves to spend time with her loving husband and three energetic young boys, with another little one on the way. She enjoyes horse riding (pretending they're unicorns, of course!) and going to the PA Renaissance Faire, dressed in garb. She'll also read anything she can get her hands on. Her current favorite TV show is The Walking Dead. You can find Nicole on Twitter, and her website. Olivia Hinebaugh: Mark The Music Olivia Hinebaugh spends her free time writing. Obviously. The rest of her time is spent playing and reading with her two young children. She also loves: watching Sia's music videos, quoting Mean Girls, and folding laundry. She actually really does. You can find Olivia on Twitter, and her website.Adrianne James: A Witch's Life Growing up Adrianne James couldn't get her hands on enough books to satisfy her need for the make believe. If she finished a novel and didn't have a new one ready and waiting for her, she began to create her own tales of magic and wonder. Now, as an adult, books still make up the majority of her free time, and now her tales get written down to be shared with the world. During the day, Adrianne uses her camera to capture life's stories for clients of all ages and at night, after her two children are tucked up in bed; she devotes herself to her written work. Adrianne is living the life she always wanted, surrounded by art and beauty, the written word and a loving family. As a New Adult Paranormal (and sometimes contemporary) author, Adrianne James writes strong women, powerful magic, and love that lasts a lifetime. You can find Adrianne on Twitter, and her website. Christina June: The Scarf Christina June writes young adult contemporary fiction when she’s not writing college recommendation letters during her day job as a school counselor. She loves the little moments in life that help someone discover who they’re meant to become – whether it’s her students or her characters. Christina is a voracious reader, loves to travel, eats too many cupcakes, and hopes to one day be bicoastal – the east coast of the US and the east coast of Scotland. She lives just outside Washington DC with her husband and the world’s most rambunctious four-year-old. You can find Christina on Twitter, and her website. To celebrate the release we have a wonderful giveaway. a Rafflecopter giveawayTitle: Catch Me When I Fall ( Dreamcatcher #1) Author: Vicki Leigh Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press Publication Date: October 23, 2014 Format: e ARC Genre: YA, Paranormal, Fantasy My rating: 3/5 stars ( C+) Blurb: Recruited at his death to be a Protector of the Night, seventeen-year-old Daniel Graham has spent two-hundred years fighting Nightmares and guarding humans from the clawed, red-eyed creatures that feed off people’s fears. Each night, he risks his eternal life, having given up his chance at an afterlife when he chose to become a Protector. That doesn’t stop a burnt-out Daniel from risking daring maneuvers during each battle. He’s become one of the best, but he wants nothing more than to stop. Then he’s given an assignment to watch over sixteen-year-old Kayla Bartlett, a clinically depressed patient in a psychiatric ward. Nightmares love a human with a tortured past. Yet, when they take a deep interest in her, appearing in unprecedented numbers, the job becomes more dangerous than any Daniel’s ever experienced. My Review: I received an e ARC copy of Catch me When I fall from Curiosity Quills Press via NetGalley in exchange with an honest Review . This book is a perfect read for The Mortal Instruments fans. You will be blown away with the world building and the fighting scenes. The concept of there are people who weave dreams and fight away nightmares got me all hooked up on the story. There were times were I got a bit confused. How could Kayla, who have gone through certain devastating events in the past have these frequent bursts of bravery and trust? I started the book with great interest, fell a bit uncertain if I am going to like or not, then ended up liking it again. Overall, I really recommend this to all of Cassandra Clare readers; you will love it. I personally can't wait for book 2 in this amazing series. I give it 3/5 stars and a C+ according to my own rating scale. Title: Footprints Author: Duncan Wills Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd Publication Date: August 29, 2014 Genre: Middle Grade, fantasy Format: e ARC My Rating: 3/5 stars ( C+) Blurb: It’s the 1950’s. Sammy is a quiet loner who has recently suffered personal tragedy. At the bottom of a wardrobe he finds a dusty old book which his dad brought back from the war. Unbeknown to him it is an ancient magical book possessing massive powers. Also unknown to him evil people in far off lands are searching for the book. My Review: I received Footprints from Troubador Publishing LTD via Netgalley in exchange with an honest review . This was magical middle grade read, where we observe Sammy's story with encountering a old magical book . The book seems to hold onto all kind of secrets and knowledge about the world and in the wrong hands, the consequences might be lethal. Sammy's life literally changes once he finds this old book, which is really interesting to read. However, 80% of the entire story was absolutely predictable for me, so I was not that affected by the story. I still think it a pretty fine Middle grade read; something young children might really enjoy reading. I give Footprints 3/5 stars and a C+ according to my own review scale! Title: Order of the Dimensions Author: Irene Helenowiski Publisher: self-published Publication Date: September 14th, 2012 Format: Paperback My Rating : 3/5 stars ( C-) Blurb: When Jane Kremowski first began her graduate studies in physics at Madison State University in Wisconsin, little did she know where her work would take her. Now, she is embroiled in a multitude of dimensions all leading to different outcomes. She and her colleagues therefore must act wisely in order to take and keep away the Order of Dimension from falling into the wrong hands for the sake of her loved ones. My Review: I received a copy of Order of the Dimensions from the author in exchange with an honest review. This book is the first in the Order of the Dimensions Trilogy. This book took me to another world, where all my fantasies of seeing what happen in alter universes/dimensions came true during the days I was reading it. Imagine that there is a device that can transport you to another dimension, a place were you gain control of not losing a family member, or a place where you rule the WORLD. Yes, It gets dangerous when the device falls in the wrong hands. Which happens, a lot ! You get to see what happens in many dimensions, which is shaped according to what the one in controls wants. Although , the premise of the story is way more than just appealing, I had some problems with the writing style. The author seems to be into describing the way the conversation is going instead of how the characters are dealing with the situation. The Emotions in this book play a huge part, but being described in just a single or couple of words does not serve it any good. There is a thing that was a bit confusing, like when does the person remember if he/she was from another dimension. However, this was such an interesting read that I was barely able to put it down.I am looking forward to start book 2 soon . Irene told me that the writing style is different in the last two books, which is great because the series has such a great premise and the the writing style will add up to the entire book quality I give this book 3/5 stars and a C- according to my own rating scale. Title: War Kids Author: Hayley J Lawson Publisher: Unknown Publication Date: August 20, 2014 Genre: War, Fiction My Rating: 3/5 stars (C+) Blurb: When fourteen-year-old Jada wakes up in a hospital, the last thing she thinks is that her life has completely changed forever. But when the very real civil war forces her to flee from every open space, she must use the firearm skills her father taught her to reunite with him and protect herself. Armed with a single gun and a key to an unknown locker, Jada crosses Syria on a journey with a group of children called the Fearless Freedom Fighters. With the leader, Zak, they mount a plan to rescue their fathers while they try to cope with the merciless murders of their families. As Jada and Zak lead the group together, love blossoms, but with soldiers hot on their tail, they need to stay vigilant in the face of war. My Review: I received an eARC copy of this book directly from the author in return of an honest review . This book is a great magnifying glass on what children in war witness and go through. When one of them loses a family member and shed a tear, I also shed a tear. This is great to raise awareness on what kids are going through in countries with wars. A lot of people would not consider researching what injustice is happening outside their own country I loved how the author has showed how children, no matter what they go through, try to be happy even if it is after a great loss, even if it lasts only for a few moments. The book is told from different point of views and sometimes we get an old memory of one of those characters;however, Jada dominates the story , as in, it basically revolves around her. I believe that this is a work of fiction, as only few would go and do all of these things. I think that there should be at least on group of people who are willing to find the bad guy. Perhaps the freedom fighters could be this group, but I was looking for people who were not seeking a safe place. Someone to fight the bad guy, even if they are few, or if they end up dead . The start of the story was the strongest part in this book. In my opinion, it was more important to show the world the concepts of tragic loss. I am not sure if the book has a sequel, but it would be great if it did. The ending was very interesting and I would be looking forward to read it if it did. The profit of this book will go to helping kids in Syria, so buy purchasing this book, you enjoy a great read and support a huge cause. I gave this book 3/5 stars, and C+ according to my rating scale. |
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