New True Blood S3 Poster!

Get ready to do bad things...

Prepare your fangs as True Blood Season 3 premieres June 13 on HBO.  :D

I'm so excited for its return!  Where can Bill be and what will happen now to Sookie now that well, Eric has set his eyes on her?  New characters will be introduce and new mysteries are in for Bon Temps.

Review: The Iron King

The Iron King
by Julie Kagawa

From Goodreads:

Meghan Chase has never fit in at her small-town high school, and now, on the eve of her 16th birthday, she discovers why. When her half brother is kidnapped, Meghan is drawn into a fantastical world she never imagined--the world of Faery, where anything you see may try to eat you, and Meghan is the daughter of the summer faery king. Now she will journey into the depths of Faery to face an unknown enemy . . . and beg the help of a winter prince who might as soon kill her as let her touch his icy heart. The Iron King is the first book in the Iron Fey series.

Review:

It's like reading Labyrinth meets Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream but darker, sexier, and kick-ass.

Things started to get interesting towards the quarter part of the story so don't lose hope if you find yourself lost in the first part. I was like that at first but found myself loving it later on.

Totally on Team Ash!  But hey, Team Puck is not bad either. ^_-
Can't wait for the Iron Daughter!

Radiant Shadows: A Review

from Goodreads:

Hunger for nourishment.


Hunger for touch.


Hunger to belong.
Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers.

Those same appetites also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies, including Devlin. He was created as an assassin and is brother to the faeries' coolly logical High Queen and to her chaotic twin, the embodiment of War. Devlin wants to keep Ani safe from his sisters, knowing that if he fails, he will be the instrument of Ani's death.

Ani isn't one to be guarded while others fight battles for her, though. She has the courage to protect herself and the ability to alter Devlin's plans—and his life. The two are drawn together, each with reason to fear the other and to fear for one another. But as they grow closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faery realm mean losing each other?

Alluring romance, heart-stopping danger, and sinister intrigue combine in the penultimate volume of Melissa Marr's New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series.


Review: (spoiler alert)

Radiant Shadows is a fresh breath from the whole Ash-Seth-Keenan-Doria thing.  I must admit how complicated things became in Fragile Eternity I was left a bit confused after reading it.  So I was seriously hoping this one will be better...and it was!

I absolutely adored Devlin.  With all the dangerous and all-controlled persona, deep down he's still an individual who longs to have someone who he can be himself.  And Ani is one tough cookie.  Despite being a Dark Court fey, she is not at all "darkness" and exhibits the family-orientedness of the Dark Court.  When all-controlled guy meets free-spirited girl, worlds literally collides.

We also get to glimpse on what's happening to Seth and once-in-a-while to the other courts (although just really a few times).  It was also nice that the relationship of Niall (now the new Dark King) and Irial (former Dark King) was also tackled in the story.  It's time that those two are given proper credit and chance to patch things up.

In Radiant Shadows, the Dark Court doesn't appear to be all dark compared to the courts' mortal enemy, Bananach who is War personified.  Now that War is bent to creating chaos; have struck the heart of Dark Court and have stirred all of the other courts, it seems that she is almost successful in creating what she does best - destruction.

The fourth and second-to-the-last book in the Wicked Lovely series, Melissa Marr delivered another riveting and darkly romantic story that explores how choices affect fate and sometimes our own emotions are the strongest traits will have to make the best choices.

Rating:

 

Eclipse Trailer!

Looks promising. But I still miss the old Victoria.  She looks more..menacing than the new one.

Posted with respect to Summit (who owns rights to the video).

Contests! *woot-woot*

Bloody Bookaholic is having a Ridiculously Awesome Contest.  Click on the button to head on to her page and read on!  The contest is open internationally and prizes are ridiculous! :D

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Another wicked contest is held at Cleverly Inked.  In celebration of its birthday, they are giving away loads of books and other prizes.  To know how wicked and what they're giving away, head on to their page and get freaked out!

Bewitched Bookworms Giveaway

Bewitched Bookworms is celebrating its 100th follower with a fantastic giveaway! 7 lucky followers have a chance to win fabulous prizes!

Head on to their blog to see the details and enter the contest!  This is open internationally!  Contest runs until May 4. :D

The Demon's Lexicon: A Review

The Demon's Lexicon

by Sarah Rees Brennan

From Goodreads:

Nick and his brother, Alan, have spent their lives on the run from magic. Their father was murdered, and their mother was driven mad by magicians and the demons who give them power. The magicians are hunting the Ryves family for a charm that Nick's mother stole -- a charm that keeps her alive -- and they want it badly enough to kill again.

Danger draws even closer when a brother and sister come to the Ryves family for help. The boy wears a demon's mark, a sign of death that almost nothing can erase...and when Alan also gets marked by a demon, Nick is desperate to save him. The only way to do that is to kill one of the magicians they have been hiding from for so long.

Ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse, Nick starts to suspect that his brother is telling him lie after lie about their past. As the magicians' Circle closes in on their family, Nick uncovers the secret that could destroy them all.

Review:

I've been looking forward to reading this book ever since I got to Sarah Rees Brennan (thru one of MundieMom's chats).  And it was worth the wait!

At first, I didn't know what to expect.  I mean, the protagonists are guys.  But I got the hang of it and I was easily charmed by the Dyves brothers.  There's the dark and brooding, Nick and Alan, the sensitive and intellectual type.  If I had these two as brothers, they might scare potential mates away.  But these two are also endearing to each other and was fascinating to read because seldom do I get a glimpse on how brothers treat each other.  And with the foreboding danger as their background, their brotherhood is tested to the limit.

Power, love, and family in this story where humanity is a demon's best temptation.

Melissa Marr's Radiant Shadows is out!

It's officially out!  Radiant Shadows (Wicked Lovely #4) is released today!  I can't wait to read it.  *woot-woot* 

Hunger for nourishment.

Hunger for touch.

Hunger to belong.

Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers.
Those same appetites also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies, including Devlin. He was created as an assassin and is brother to the faeries’ coolly logical High Queen and to her chaotic twin, the embodiment of War. Devlin wants to keep Ani safe from his sisters, knowing that if he fails, he will be the instrument of Ani’s death.

Ani isn’t one to be guarded while others fight battles for her, though. She has the courage to protect herself and the ability to alter Devlin’s plans—and his life. The two are drawn together, each with reason to fear the other and to fear for one another. But as they grow closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faery realm mean losing each other?

Alluring romance, heart-stopping danger, and sinister intrigue combine in Melissa Marr’s next volume of Melissa Marr’s New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series.

Contest time! Book Blab Mega Giveaway

To celebrate with her 300+ followers, Book Blab is holding a contest and will giveaway lotsa books!

Details:

The GRAND PRIZE winner which will be chosen by Random.org will win: $50 credit from Book Depository PLUS a release copy of the Super Secret YA novel PLUS a book of their choice from my ARC/book pile! If we reach 400 Followers that amount goes up to $75, and if we reach 500 followers by the end of the contest than the GRAND PRIZE will be $100 worth of books from the Book Depository, and therefore this contest in INTERNATIONAL as well! Once the grand prize winner has been announced, then that person will send me their list of books they would like to order from Book Depository! 

There will be a second and third place drawing as well, and those folks will each win a choice of one book from my stack of ARC's and novels.

Here are the books that are up for grabs:

• Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (SIGNED ARC)
• Saving a Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan
• Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup
• The Sign for Drowning by Rachel Stolzman
• Falling Apart in One Piece by Stacy Morrison (ARC)
• The 13th Hour by Richard Dotsch (ARC)
• Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden
• Eternal on the Water by Joseph Monninger
• The White Queen by Phillipa Gregory
• A Brief History of the Future by Jacques Attali
• The Fourth Part of the World by Toby Lester (ARC)
• River Thieves by Michael Crummey
• Dewey The Small-Town Library Cat who Touched the world by Vicki Myron
• The Glass Castle by jeannette Walls (hardcover)

to enter the contest, head on to the main contest page:  
BOOK BLAB MEGA GIVEAWAY!

Beastly Movie Trailer

Wow.  Alex Pettyfer is hot.  There's no question about that.  It's about time that he's been given a mainstream movie.  Vanessa Hudgens is one lucky girl.

July 30, come faster!!!

White Cat Contest at Simon & Schuster Canada!

This contest is awesome!  Too bad I can't join it.  Holly Black readers and alike in Canada, join now!

Crescendo Cover Revealed!

It's finally out!  The cover of Hush Hush's sequel, Crescendo is here!  AWESOME!

Crescendo Cover Reveal Reminder!

Don't forget today is the Crescendo Cover Reveal at Fallenarchangel.com via live stream!

Details:

http://www.fallenarchangel.com/

After a lot of planning by the fabulous folks at Simon & Schuster, we are excited to announce that Becca Fitzpatrick will be revealing the cover of CRESCENDO, the highly anticipated follow-up to New York Times Bestselling HUSH HUSH,  here on FallenArchangel.com, live from the Denver Teen Lit Festival on Saturday April 10!   The cover reveal will take place over the course of several hours as Laurie Maves, a chalk artist from Denver CO, will be drawing the Crescendo cover live!

The streaming video of this event will begin around 10 am EST / 8 am MDT (note change from 11 / 9 am). 

Just to get things started, Becca has posted this video of a chalk artist drawing the cover of Hush, Hush in Canada. :D

Draft Cover of The Mortal Instruments: COB Graphic Novel

Third World revealed this cover for the Free Comic Book Day giveaway will feature The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones graphic novel.  This is just the draft of the cover but it looks great already!  Just imagine the "final" cover.  I bet it would be ggggreat!

The Dark Divine: A Review

The Dark Divine

by Bree Despain

From Goodreads:


A prodigal son

A dangerous love

A deadly secret . . .

I stood back and watched his movements. Daniel had that way about him that could shut me down in an instant. . . . I kicked the gravel a couple of times and worked up my courage again. “Tell me . . . I mean . . . why did you come back? Why now, after all this time?”

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared—the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in blood. But she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night really held. And when Daniel returns three years later, Grace can no longer deny her attraction to him, despite promising Jude she’ll stay away.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, her actions stir the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind Jude and Daniel's dark secret . . . and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it—her soul.

Review:

I waited ages to get my copy of the book!  And I got a copy of its ARC.  My first ever ARC! I love the cover of the book.  I think I'll get a hardbound if it's a signed copy.

The story goes directly in presenting the conflict.  Something happened in the past and it has returned.  Daniel Kalbi suddenly appeared in the school, back into Grace's life after disappearing with her brother, Jude all bloodied.  The event seems like a premonition that things are about to change in Grace's world.

The story is not laced up with unnecessary imagery but with emotions of how you loved, still love, and caught-in-between people you love.  Sometimes making choices can mean saving the people who care about but not without sacrificing another.

I love the way Bree Despain depicted the relationship of Grace and Daniel.  Of how you loved someone, got heartbroken and feel like that over and over again at the sight of him.  There's also the conflict in the Divine's household where they are required to done a picture-perfect image for the community (as the family of the local pastor), it only adds to the pressure of dealing their own conflicts especially now that things are started to happen.

A must read!  Can't wait for the sequel, the Dark Saint.

Rating: