Teaser Tuesday (50)

I'm very excited to be one of the many blogs participating in Teaser Tuesdays! TT is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To participate:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"Trust. Why not ask me to do something easier, like prove the existence of God? Even God had given up on me. 'I've already lost a piece of my mind. I can't trust you with what's left.'"


p. 77 (ARC) from PUSHING THE LIMITS by Katie McGarry

Please share your teasers - post them or link to your blog!

Review: Arise by Tara Hudson

ARISE
By: Tara Hudson
Published By: HarperTeen
Release Date: June 5, 2012
Series: Hereafter (#2)
Pages: 404
Genre: Paranormal
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: ALA Midwinter
Buy the Book: Amazon

Disclaimer: This is the second book in a trilogy. To read my review of the first book, Hereafter, click here.

Goodreads Summary: Amelia—still caught between life and death—must fight for every moment of her relationship with the human boy Joshua. They can hardly even kiss without Amelia accidentally dematerializing. Looking for answers, they go to visit some of Joshua’s Seer relatives in New Orleans. But even in a city so famously steeped in the supernatural, Amelia ends up with more questions than answers…and becomes increasingly convinced that she and Joshua can never have a future together. Wandering through the French Quarter, Amelia meets other in-between ghosts, and begins to seriously consider joining them. And then she meets Gabrielle. Somehow, against impossible odds, Gaby has found a way to live a sort of half-life...a half-life for which Amelia would pay any price. Torn between two worlds, Amelia must choose carefully, before the evil spirits of the netherworld choose for her.



Hereafter was a beautiful, haunting book, and this sequel was eagerly anticipated. I was very excited to dive back into this world and see what else was in store for Amelia and Joshua.

Amelia may have begun to find answers about her life in Hereafter, but she still has many unanswered questions. As much as she would like to find the balance in her relationship with her existence and Joshua's human life, it seems impossible that she will be able to do it on her own. So when Amelia travels with Joshua to New Orleans, she takes the opportunity to ask questions to other Seers. Only Seers are not the only ones who might be able to help her. She soon learns that there are others of her kind, other ghosts, and she wonders if she belongs with them instead. But Amelia has been having visions, visions that let her know that the evil spirits of the netherworld might not be finished with her. With so much at stake, what will she choose? Where does she belong?

Hereafter was a different kind of ghost story, and because of that I was very eager for Arise. Not only was it wonderful to be back in the world, but also I loved the new setting in this book. Amelia, Joshua, and his family travel to New Orleans, and I loved wandering the city with them. In Amelia's wanderings, she meets Gaby. Gaby is just what the book needed, bringing a fresh voice and a becoming a friend to Amelia. I also enjoyed seeing the extended Mayhew family - for the most part, as certain relationships continue to be strained. Despite the new characters and the moments of levity, Arise brings more Darkness than Hereafter did. Amelia struggles to find her true place, and I could sympathize with her dilemma. My heart went out to both her and Joshua as they tried to make a seemingly doomed relationship work.

Although I loved Hereafter, for me Arise didn't quite live up to its predecessor. The vivid descriptions and beautiful writing were still present, but for some reason something seemed to be missing. However, there is no lack of excitement - stakes are high once again, and there are a few surprising twists. I still want to know what happens to Amelia and Joshua, so I will be looking forward to the last book in the trilogy.

If you are looking for a ghost story with an impossibly sweet romance and have not read Hereafter, add it to your to-read list. And if you haven't read the second installment, what are you waiting for?

It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly meme hosted by One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. Each week we will share the books we have just finished reading, are currently reading, and are planning to read.



Just Finished Reading:
For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Currently Reading:
Pushing the Limits by Katy McGarry

Planning To Read:
Spark by Amy Kathleen Ryan
My Life in Black and White by Natasha Friend



What are you reading this week?

Review: Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

SOMETHING LIKE NORMAL
By: Trish Doller
Published By: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Release Date: June 19, 2012
Series: None
Pages: 214
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Netgalley
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis’s dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero.



Some books don't live up to the hype they receive, but Something Like Normal certainly does. I knew that this book would be an emotional read, but I wasn't prepared for just how real the story would become as I read it.

Travis has returned home from Afghanistan, but he hasn't completely left the war behind him. As if it wasn't hard enough to readjust to civilian life, he is forced to relive his best friend's death in his dreams. Add to that issues at home, and Travis is really just trying to survive the month that he is on leave. One night when he is out, he runs into Harper, one of the few girls who can't stand him. But war has changed Travis, and soon he and Harper begin seeing more of each other. With her help, he is slowly able to come to terms with what happened in Afghanistan as well as what's happening at home. But will he ever be able to be normal?

Some books portray a journey; Something Like Normal, however is like a perfect snapshot. And yet there is so much packed into this snapshot. From beginning to end this book felt incredibly real. There was no powerful, defining moment, no moment that made me fall in love with this book; instead, it was a gradual progression and a slow change for Travis that was wonderful to read. Everything in this book displayed Travis' emotions so well, and I loved reading his point of view. In addition, the nightmares and flashbacks of his that were interwoven were very moving and provided a good look at PTSD. However, Travis wouldn't be the character he is without Harper. Harper is a great, strong female character and one that I enjoyed reading. Her relationship with Travis was refreshing because there was no insta-love but instead a gradual bond that formed between them.

I wish that I could say more about this book, but its emotional nature is one that has to be read and experienced firsthand. My only complaint about this book is that it is too short. And yet, perhaps that is also what makes it so moving - that this only captures a brief moment in time and the rest is left to our imagination.

Something Like Normal is a fantastic debut novel from Trish Doller and one that you will not regret reading. I can't wait to see what she writes next!

"Waiting on" Wednesday

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



This week's selection is:

THE BRIDES OF ROLLROCK ISLAND
By: Margo Lanagan
Published By: Random House Children's Books
Release Date: Sept. 11, 2012
Preorder the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: On remote Rollrock Island, men go to sea to make their livings—and to catch their wives.

The witch Misskaella knows the way of drawing a girl from the heart of a seal, of luring the beauty out of the beast. And for a price a man may buy himself a lovely sea-wife. He may have and hold and keep her. And he will tell himself that he is her master. But from his first look into those wide, questioning, liquid eyes, he will be just as transformed as she. He will be equally ensnared. And the witch will have her true payment.

Margo Lanagan weaves an extraordinary tale of desire, despair, and transformation. With devastatingly beautiful prose, she reveals characters capable of unspeakable cruelty, but also unspoken love.



Why it's wanted:
This book sounds like it could be both creepy and romantic...I'm intrigued!

Teaser Tuesday (49)

I'm very excited to be one of the many blogs participating in Teaser Tuesdays! TT is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To participate:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"Yes, she would go - to Rifthold, to anywhere, even through the Gates of the Wyrd and into Hell itself, if it meant freedom.

After all, you aren't Ardalan's Assassin for nothing."


p. 19 (ARC) from THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J. Maas

Please share your teasers - post them or link to your blog!

Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
By: John Green
Published By: Dutton Books
Release Date: Jan. 10, 2012
Series: None
Pages: 336
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Bought
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.



I think I may be one of the last to read this book, but even still, I have to offer my thoughts. This might not be a "typical" review as far as my reviews are concerned, but then again, TFIOS isn't a typical book.

There are books that make you think. There are books that make you laugh and cry. There are books that make you want to scream. And then there is TFiOS, which makes you do all of those things and so, so much more. I haven't read a book like this one in a long time. That's not to say that I haven't read other amazing books that made me think/laugh/cry/scream/etc. But this book is different from most, at least for me. And this is why. You can take this book at face value - as a book about two cancer survivors who are star-crossed lovers, who have what might actually be a perfect romance if it weren't for the cancer complication, who are both wonderful, smart, quirky characters in their own right and are even better together. You could read this book on that level and be perfectly satisfied with the story.

But to me, what sets this book apart from so many others isn't the snappy dialogue, or the swoonworthy boy, or the fact that even though the book is sad you can't put it down, or anything else that one would typically gush over in a review. No, to me it is the philosophy, the language, the way that I had to reread sentences just to appreciate and ponder them again. It's the metaphors, the postulated thoughts, the way that this book calls into question your fundamental views on life and mortality and then offers new ones. Above everything else wonderful about this book, the language is what really made me fall in love with it and is what will bring me back to this book to read it again.

This was the first book I've read by John Green, but it will certainly not be my last. After this book I know that he will be one of my auto-read authors in the future, and I will be reading his other published books soon. If you haven't read TFiOS, go straight to your bookstore (or Nook or Kindle store) and get it. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. You won't regret it.

It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly meme hosted by One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. Each week we will share the books we have just finished reading, are currently reading, and are planning to read.



Just Finished Reading:
Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan
Rift by Andrea Cremer
Speechless by Hannah Harrington

Currently Reading:
For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Planning To Read:
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Pushing the Limits by Katy McGarry



What are you reading this week?

First Blogoversary Giveaway

I can't believe Portrait of a Book is a year old already! It seems like just yesterday that I was scheduling the first posts. This past year has been such a great time - I have read some fantastic books and met even more fantastic people in the blogging world. I've had the opportunity to attend signings and conferences, and I have had a wonderful time at all of them.

But none of that would have been possible without the support of my friends, fellow bloggers, and followers. From the friends who are always my sounding board for every blogging question to my friend who whips up graphics, from the bloggers who are always glad to dissect the latest release to those of you who read and comment on this blog, I am grateful to each and every one of you. All of the support that I've received has been invaluable and is what gives me the motivation to keep blogging when things seem overwhelming.

That being said, no blogoversary would be complete without a giveaway! Keep reading for more details.


~GIVEAWAY~

Because this is a celebration, I have lots of prizes to offer! Here they are:

Prize Pack 1:
Signed copy of City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
Signed copy of Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

Prize Pack 2:
ARC of Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
ARC of Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan
ARC of Soulbound (Legacy of Tril) by Heather Brewer
ARC of The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry
ARC of Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

Prize Pack 3:
ARC of Between the Lines by Jodi Picout and Samantha van Leer
ARC of Bitter End by Jennifer Brown
ARC of Deadly Pink by Vivian Vande Velde
ARC of All These Lives by Sarah Wylie
ARC of This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

Prize Pack 4: International Followers Only
A book of your choice (up to $15) from The Book Depository

The first three prize packs are open to US residents only; the book from Book Depository is open to international followers only. Must be 13 to enter. Please see my Contest Policy for more information.

This contest will close on Monday, August 6 at 12:01 AM.

Review: In Honor by Jessi Kirby

IN HONOR
By: Jessi Kirby
Published By: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 8, 2012
Series: None
Pages: 240
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: ALA Midwinter
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Hours after her brother’s military funeral, Honor opens the last letter Finn ever sent. In her grief, she interprets his note as a final request and spontaneously decides to go to California to fulfill it.

Honor gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen Rusty in ages, but it’s obvious he is as arrogant and stubborn as ever—not to mention drop-dead gorgeous. Despite Honor’s better judgment, the two set off together on a voyage from Texas to California. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn’s memory—but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?



Sometimes you have the serendipitous event of picking a book that really speaks to your current emotions or place in life. In Honor was one of those books for me. I haven't read Jessi Kirby's first book, Moonglass, but after reading In Honor I definitely will be soon.

Honor's life was turned upside down after she received news that her brother was killed in combat. After his funeral, she finds a final letter from him. In the letter is a final request, and so Honor begins a road trip to fulfill it. Leaving no word for her aunt or best friend, Honor begins her journey with one unwanted companion - Rusty, her brother's former best friend. Honor and Rusty have little to say to each other, but it seems obvious that they will both be making the trek to California. Despite their clear disdain for each other, spending so much time together in a car has a way of bringing old feelings and secrets to light. Honor comes to learn that there was more to Rusty - and to her brother - than she ever knew. But how will the new knowledge change her life?

Many books have been written about road trips or emotional journeys paralleling physical ones, and because of the myriad of stories they can sometimes become cliche or trite. However, In Honor was anything but that. The writing was absolutely beautiful. The entire story felt quite real - although there were a few unlikely coincidences, there were also disappointments, and not everything worked out perfectly. I especially enjoyed the memories that were woven throughout the story; they were poignant and emotional and added a lot to the book. In addition, some of my favorite scenes that I've read are now from this book. From early morning scuba diving to watching the sunrise from a mountain, there are scenes from this book that I would love to have paintings of to hang in my house. The descriptions as well as the story accompanying them are incredibly vivid and memorable.

Into such a wonderful setting are dropped the characters Honor and Rusty. Honor was very relatable. Even though I didn't agree with everything she did, I could feel her emotions and understand her reasons. Then there was Rusty. He was a hard character to get to know, but he had definitely gotten to me by the end of the book. Speaking of the end, there were secrets revealed that I certainly didn't expect. All I will say is that this book is definitely an emotional read but one that is certainly worthwhile.

Jessi Kirby has crafted a very powerful, thought-provoking story in this book, exploring a variety of emotions within an engrossing narrative. I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

"Waiting on" Wednesday

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



This week's selection is:

UNSPOKEN
By: Sarah Rees Brennan
Published By: Random House Books for Young Readers
Release Date: Sept. 11, 2012
Preorder the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?



Why it's wanted:
Mystery, intrigue, and love, all in an English setting? Yes please!

Teaser Tuesday (48)

I'm very excited to be one of the many blogs participating in Teaser Tuesdays! TT is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To participate:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"Ember bowed her head and then returned to her watch from the windowsill. She took a deep breath, willing that tomorrow didn't bring an end to her stay at Tearmunn, but instead a new beginning."


p. 44 (ARC) from RIFT by Andrea Cremer

Please share your teasers - post them or link to your blog!

Review: Titan Magic by Jodi Lamm

TITAN MAGIC
By: Jodi Lamm
Published By: Self-Published
Release Date: Sept. 30, 2011
Series: None
Pages: 393
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Author
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Mute, heartless, and tormented by auditory hallucinations, Madeleine Lavoie never questions why her family has hidden her from the world. But the night her brother casts her out, she learns the mysterious voice she thought existed only in her mind is no delusion, and no matter how hard she tries, she can never disobey it.

Now Madeleine must find her own voice in a cacophony of powerful tyrants, monsters, and gods. If she fails, she will forfeit her life and the lives of everyone who loves her. But if she succeeds, she may finally gain the ability to love someone in return.



It's not very often that I read a book synopsis in which the story sounds completely different from anything I've read before, but Titan Magic did just that. This book is a fresh fantasy story with an inventive concept.

Madeleine Lavoie only has memories of the past three years and nothing before that. All she knows is that her brother must tie her up every night so that she doesn't harm herself or others. She hears a voice calling her, and although she longs to answer it, she can't. But one night, her brother casts her out, armed with only a coat, a locket, and a bag of money, and tells her to find her voice. However, that's no easy task for someone who has always been mute. Alone, Maddy wanders the land, eventually running into a stranger who decides to help her. But Maddy quickly discovers that the voice is real, and she needs to be reunited with its source. In fact, there is a lot that Maddy has never known, but she is determined to learn it now. Can she find her voice...and love...against all the odds?

If you love fantasy, don't let the fact that this is a self-published book stop you from giving it a chance. The story was inventive and had a very different mythology from anything I've read before. Because of this, I was drawn into the story, longing for information and answers just as Maddy did. Although she was mute, her thoughts were very well conveyed, and I couldn't help but feel for her. It seemed nearly impossible for her to get what she wanted at times, and it was also hard for her to know who she could truly trust. Maddy was a character that I wanted to see succeed. Moreover, there was no unimportant character in the story. Everyone had a role to play - some much more surprising than others - and there were certainly surprising twists along the way as all of the information was revealed.

As inventive as the story was, I did have a few issues with the mythology. At times it seemed shaky. For instance, the Titans didn't seem to be Titans as one would generally picture. In some ways there was almost too much going on in the world, which left me confused and longing for a bit of definitive information. Aside from these things, however, Titan Magic didn't have the issues that some self-published books have and was instead one of the books that proves that good stories can be found from a variety of sources.

There are more things I could say about Titan Magic, but I would hate to give anything away. To know the truth of who Maddy is, you will have to read for yourself. And I will be interested to see what Jodi Lamm writes next!

It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly meme hosted by One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. Each week we will share the books we have just finished reading, are currently reading, and are planning to read.



I have two weeks of books to catch up on, so here goes!

Just Finished Reading:
Arise by Tara Hudson
Hidden by Sophie Jordan
The Unquiet by Jeannine Garsee

Currently Reading:
Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan

Planning To Read:
Pushing the Limits by Katy McGarry
Rift by Andrea Cremer



What are you reading this week?

Review: Gilt by Katherine Longshore

GILT
By: Katherine Longshore
Published By: Viking Juvenile
Release Date: May 15, 2012
Series: The Royal Circle (#1)
Pages: 406
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Netgalley
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: In the court of King Henry VIII, nothing is free — and love comes at the highest price of all.

When Kitty Tylney’s best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII’s heart and brings Kitty to court, she’s thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat’s shadow, Kitty’s now caught between two men—the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat’s meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head.



I love historical fiction, especially books about England's Tudor period. I was particularly excited about this book because it looks at someone other than Anne Boleyn. While reading, I truly was transported to the court of Henry VII and caught up in the gossip, scandals, and flirtations that come with life at court.

Kitty Tylney has always been a "lady-in-waiting" to her best friend Catherine Howard, the "Queen of Misrule." Living away from home while their fathers try to make advantageous matches, Kitty and Catherine plot and scheme about how they can make their way to court. And then one day, their dreams come true. Catherine catches the eye of Henry VIII and is taken to court to be his new wife. Before long, summons also come for Kitty and two of their other friends. At first it seems like old times, but tensions run high at court and secrets are rampant. And no matter how much Catherine might try, she cannot always escape her past. When Catherine starts to fall out of favor at court, what will happen to Kitty? And will Kitty ever have a life of her own?

The thing with historical fiction books is that you already know the ending. However, this book was an exception, because this book was not about Catherine Howard, it was about Kitty Tylney. Gilt is a classic example of a book in which characters come to life. Cat and her life dominated the story. In many ways Cat drove me crazy, infuriated me, and made me want to smack sense into her. At the same time, though, I kept rooting for Kitty. I wanted to see her find her own happiness, and I loved that she was willing to keep trying despite everything that happened to her. I enjoyed some of the games and the glamour of life at court, but underneath that not much was sunshine and roses. There is an underlying element of fear to everything Kitty does, and that kept this from being a completely easy read.

For most of this book, I was whisked away to Tudor England. I found most of the writing style and dialogue to give the sense of the past without being overly stuffy or formal. A few phrases were anachronistic, but for the most part everything was consistent. The descriptions are wonderful, and the romantic interests for Kitty certainly spice up the story.

I definitely enjoyed this debut novel from Katherine Longshore. If you are not fans of historical fiction, I do know of several people who don't typically read this genre and still enjoyed Gilt, so don't let that put you off. I will look forward to reading more from Longshore in the future!