Happy Halloween! Start the celebration some.. Vlad the Impaler by Kasabian

Music Monday is a weekly meme here in Musings of a Reader Happy, which features all-sorts of music, soundtrack, and fan playlist for music and movies! 

Happy Halloween, everyone!  

And what better way to start the celebration than with some music...and Noel Fielding is that you?

Got that right.  Kasabian's music video for Vlad the Impaler features British artist, Noel Fielding.  I adore Noel Fielding.  He's really funny.  I know he's a bit gothic but I didn't know he could rock Vlad. 

But enough about my rant!  You go click the music video and get your creep on!

The video is really something, right?  With the 8mm-feel, the psycho-stalker Vlad serves a good creeper this Halloween!  And Kasabian never fails to give that different sound of rock that is truly their own.

P.S. Who is Vlad the Impaler?  Well..he just inspired Dracula.  No biggie.  And the way he got his nickname makes gruesome an understatement. 

New Hunger Games movie posters: the characters

The Hunger Games movie posters are here!  Featuring the characters, wonderfully captured in their profiles.

Click Read More to see posters of Gale, Peeta, Effie, Haymitch, Rue, Cato, and Cinna.

Waiting on Wednesday: Legend by Marie Lu

Legend (Legend)
by Marie Lu
November 29, 2011:  Putnam Juvenile

"What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills."

Another exciting Dystopian-set book in the horizon,  I have heard great raves about Legend, and from what the blurb tells me I think I want to find out why myself!  And I want to give props to the simple yet striking book cover.  Nice! :)

Tuesday Trailer: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

The Scorpio Races
by Maggie Stiefvater
October 18, 2011:  Scholastic Press

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.
At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.
Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

 

This stop-motion book trailer was made by the author herself.  Music is composed by Maggie too,  performed with Kate Hummel.  Maggie's really talented! <3

Other books by Maggie Stiefvater:

Music Monday: Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Music Monday is a weekly meme here in Musings of a Reader Happy, which features all-sorts of music, soundtrack, and fan playlist for music and movies!

In continuation of the creepy music videos theme for MM this October, here's Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Heads Will Roll!

The video is artistic in conveying gore and still within the disco theme.  I was glad when Glee used this last season mashed up with Michael Jackson's Thriller.  Watch the video, it's cool! You still have time to enter my Haunted Giveaway, where 6 happy readers will win an e-book of Nuayma Jeggel's Raven! This is international and will end on October 29 (11:59PM EST). 

P.S. And it's my first time to provide a linky tool for others who do Music Monday to share their links! If you do your own Music Monday posts, please do include your link and share! :) 

 

Fallen Archangel's Live Chat w/ Patch Cover Model, Drew Doyon

Hush Hush fans!  Mark your calendars!  

Fallen Archangel will be hosting a LIVE CHAT with Patch Model, Drew Doyon.  

It will be this coming Wednesday, October 26 9:00PM EST. 

This is your chance to get to know more about the guy bringing Patch to life in the series' book cover.  

See you there! :)

Review: Angel's Blood (Guild Hunter #1) by Nalini Singh

Angel's Blood (Guild Hunter #1)

by Nalini Singh

March 3, 2009: Berkley

“Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux is hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael. But this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other—and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn't destroy her, succumbing to Raphael's seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break.”

Review

This is one action-pack, steamy, and thrilling start for the Guild Hunter series.  You think angels are just sexy.  Think again.  Because they can be one hell of a temptation. 

Set in a world where vampires are made by powerful archangels in return for a century of work for them, The Guild Hunters are the one tasked by the angels to track down vampires who try to run away from the bargain they entered.  And Elena Deveraux is the best hunter of the guild.  Being a hunter-born, she has the ability to track vampires through their scent.  This ability also brought her to the radar of the most dangerous and gorgeous archangel, Raphael. 

Raphael is one of the members of the Cadre of Ten, the group of powerful archangels who have dominions over the lands.  Raphael controls USA and centers on Manhattan, and is seen as the leader of the Cadre of Ten.  Something has gone awry that he would enlist the help of the best hunter in the guild to track one of their own. 

I can't even begin to write how crazy hot these two are together.  Raphael is as tempting as angels get, and he wants Elena more than just for the work.  Elena is struggling for control because she cannot deny that the archangel is driving her to the edge, but she also knows that archangels see mortals as toys.  But the question is, does Raphael consider her as one?

This is undoubtedly a start of my obsession with the Guild Hunter series.  I can't believe it's been sitting on my TBR-pile for like a year and a half already!  But it was so worth the wait.  I now have the next two books and I can't wait to start reading them!  I even read two of the short novellas out of fever. Though I wouldn't recommend it for young readers for gory materials and of course, the sexual content of the story. But for the rest, do check it out.  Highly recommended!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

by Jennifer E. Smith

January 2, 2012:  Poppy

"Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18B. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it."

_____________________________________

I was smitten with the title.  Haha!  Statistic is not my favorite but throw in the factor of love-at-first-sight and I'm on board!  This must be the social psych interest in me.  Besides, a British boy?  My kind of love story. ;-)

Review: A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

A Beautiful Dark

by Jocelyn Davies

September 27, 2011:  HarperTeen

eARC via NetGalley

"On the night of Skye’s seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites—like fire and ice—Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye’s life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move—only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.

In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can’t help falling for, and Devin, who she can’t stay away from, the consequences of Skye’s choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

A Beautiful Dark is the first book in a captivating trilogy by debut author Jocelyn Davies."

Review

A Beautiful Dark tells the story of Skye, and how things change for her starting on her seventeenth birthday.  The two new boys in town both have their eyes for Skye.  They contrast each other and Skye can’t help but feel attraction to the two of them despite the strange things that happen whenever they are around.  When she learns the truth about their presence in her life, and who she really is, she feels caught in an avalanche of emotion threatening to consume her.

The story is good, but I found the first few chapters quite dragging.  Because there are two boys vying for Skye’s attention, it tended to dedicate the first few chapters in how different those two boys are and how they approached her.  They provided teasers on who or what they are.  Sometimes, it’s about how confusing Skye’s feelings for them, and strange things that Skye’s seem to make happen.  It wasn’t until the chapter wherein the legend of Order that Asher told over the campfire that I was given a spark of hope that I might like this book. 

To be fair, the premise of the story when that legend is unveiled is good and interesting.  You just have to remain patient and believe that this can be a good read.  Though not much of Skye’s power was revealed by the end the book, the ending’s twist will have readers surprised.

Tuesday Trailer: The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4)

by Julie Kagawa

October 25, 2011:  Harlequin Teen

"Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.
Unless he can earn a soul.
To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.
Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.
With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.
To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.
And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice."

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It's no secret I love the Iron Fey series.  I am so excited with the upcoming release of the fourth book, The Iron Knight, which focused on the story of redemption of Prince Ash of the Winter Court.  You can read my spoiler-free review here.  It's my pleasure to finally share with you the book trailer, which may I say is beautiful!  See Prince Ash, Mab, Meghan, and Puck!  And it's a treat to see Grimalkin in the end.  ;-)

Soulless. Banished.  But never forgotten.

 Read my review of the books in the series: The Iron King | The Iron Daughter | The Iron Queen | The Iron Knight