Stacking the Shelves #11

 

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews as a way to share all the books we got during the week!

 

It's been forever since I've done a Stacking the Shelves post so I have quite a few books to show you guys! These are all of the books I've received since my last StS.

 

 

 

• Timeless by Alexandra Monir (Won)
• Timekeeper by Alexandra Monir (Won)

 

• ARC of All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill (Gifted from the lovely Megan @ The Book Babe)
• The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead (Gifted from Megan @ The Book Babe)

 

• Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (Won)
• This Book Needs A Title by Theodore Ficklestein (Received for review) (My Review)

 

• The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker (Purchased)
• The Devouring by Simon Holt (Purchased)

 

• Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Purchased)
• The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot (Purchased)

 

• The Necromancer by Michael Scott (Purchased)
• Shopaholic Ties the Knot by Sophie Kinsella (Purchased)

 

• Shopaholic & Sister by Sophie Kinsella (Purchased)
• Shopaholic & Baby by Sophie Kinsella (Purchased)

 

• The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines (Purchased)
• Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber (Purchased)

 

• Eve by Anna Carey (Purchased)
• Burn for Burn by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian (Purchased)

 

• Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi (Purchased)
• Witch World by Christopher Pike (Purchased)

 

 

What did you guys get this week? Leave me a link in the comments and I'll be sure to stop by.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blogging Hiatus.

Well, It's finally happening. I'm taking a break from blogging. It will only be for a week though since I'm leaving for vacation and I'm behind on my reviews so I have nothing scheduled for next week. But after next week I hope to be back with a bunch of reviews for you guys.

Thanks for sticking with me!

House of Secrets by Ned Vizzini and Chris Columbus

House of Secrets by Ned Vizzini and Chris Columbus
Series:  House of Secrets, #1
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 490
Source: Purchased

The Walker kids had it all: loving parents, a big house in San Francisco, all the latest video games . . . but everything changed when their father lost his job as a result of an inexplicable transgression. Now the family is moving into Kristoff House, a mysterious place built nearly a century earlier by Denver Kristoff, a troubled writer with a penchant for the occult.

Suddenly the siblings find themselves launched on an epic journey into a mash-up world born of Kristoff’s dangerous imagination, to retrieve a dark book of untold power, uncover the Walker family’s secret history and save their parents . . . and maybe even the world.

 

I was really looking forward to this book. Once I read the description I thought this book was going to be amazing. However, I was extremely wrong. What I was expecting was a book full of action and adventure. What I got was a book that had adventure but it was slow and seemed to drag on a lot.

 

If this book had been cut down some and a lot of the slow parts were taken out, maybe the book would have been more interesting and exciting. The book definitely had potential, it was the way it was done that really took away from the story. It seemed at times that things were being told to you and not shown and that really took away a lot of my enjoyment during the story.

 

I wasn't really that invested in the characters either. The only character I really liked was Will Draper, and he wasn't even one of the three siblings who started out the adventure. However, half way through the story I began to not even like Will. He made a lot of sexist remarks about men's minds being superior to women's and things like that and I was not a fan of that at all.

 

I will not be finishing this series. I have no emotional investment in the characters and I have no urge to really find out what happens to them in the end since I really didn't like them to begin with. However, you may like this story. I just went into it expecting a fast-paced story full of action.

 

 

Waiting on Wednesday #19

Title: The Dollhouse Asylum
Author: Mary Gray
Series: N/A
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Expected Publication: October 22, 2013

A virus that had once been contained has returned, and soon no place will be left untouched by its destruction. But when Cheyenne wakes up in Elysian Fields--a subdivision cut off from the world and its monster-creating virus--she is thrilled to have a chance at survival.

At first, Elysian Fields,with its beautiful houses and manicured lawns, is perfect. Teo Richardson, the older man who stole Cheyenne's heart, built it so they could be together. But when Teo tells Cheyenne there are tests that she and seven other couples must pass to be worthy of salvation, Cheyenne begins to question the perfection of his world.

The people they were before are gone. Cheyenne is now "Persephone," and each couple has been re-named to reflect the most tragic romances ever told. Everyone is fighting to pass the test, to remain in Elysian Fields. Teo dresses them up, tells them when to move and how to act, and in order to pass the test, they must play along.

If they play it right, then they'll be safe.

But if they play it wrong, they'll die.

 

Why I'm Waiting:

This one sounds kind of creepy. Being told what to do and how to act just so you don't get thrown out of a place that was created as a safe haven just so a virus doesn't kill you just leads to something going wrong. Plus the fact that every couple is renamed after couples in tragic romances just makes me think this won't end well.

 

What are you guys waiting on this week? Leave me a link below and I'll check it out!

Waiting on Wednesday #18

 

 

Title: Asylum
Author: Susan Vaught
Series: N/A
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Expected Publication: February 18, 2014

Never, Kentucky is not your average scenic small town. It is a crossways, a place where the dead and the living can find no peace. Not that Forest, an 18-year-old foster kid who works the graveyard shift at Lincoln Hospital, knew this when she applied for the job. Lincoln is a huge state mental institution, a good place for Forest to make some money to pay for college. But along with hundreds of very unstable patients, it also has underground tunnels, bell towers that ring unexpectedly, and a closet that holds more than just donated clothing....When the dead husband of one of Forest's patients makes an appearance late one night, seemingly accompanied by an agent of the Devil, Forest loses all sense of reality and all sense of time. Terrified, she knows she has a part to play, and when she does so, she finds a heritage that she never expected.

 

Why I'm Waiting:

This sounds so creepy and awesome. I love books that have secrets and the fact that it takes place in a mental hospital just makes the creep factor higher and then you throw in ghosts and this is bound to be one creepy story.

 

What are you guys waiting on this week? Leave me a link below and I'll check it out!

A to Z Survey

 

Hey guys, I've seen this survey going around and thought it looked fun so I'm joining in. The survey was created by Jamie over at The Perpetual Page-Turner.

 

Author you’ve read the most books from:

Sara Shepard.

Best Sequel Ever:

 Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor. I LOVED Daughter of Smoke & Bone but Days of Blood & Starlight is just amazing.

Currently Reading:

House of Secrets by Ned Vizzini and Chris Columbus

Drink of Choice While Reading:

Tea! I love a nice cup of tea while reading.

E-reader or Physical Book?

 Physical books. I've tried e-books and they tend to bother my eyes.

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

I'm not quite sure. Maybe Eddie Castille from Vampire Academy. I was into the quiet guys who took themselves seriously. 

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Hidden Gem Book:

In Your Dreams by Amy Martin

Important Moment in your Reading Life:

Discovering Goodreads. If I hadn't found Goodreads, I would never have discovered the book blogging community.

Just Finished:

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver.

Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:

I won't read erotica. I just can't.

Longest Book You’ve Read:

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (756 pages)

Major book hangover because of:

The Collector by Victoria Scott

Number of Bookcases You Own:

2. I have a tall one and a short one. I really do need a bunch more though.

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling. This was always my favorite book in the series and I've read it over and over again.

Preferred Place To Read:

In bed. It's just so comfortable and relaxing.

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

He shook his head, the smile rueful now. "Because sometimes, a person can get so caught up in the details that they miss the whole. It's not just the dress or the hair. It's YOU. You're beautiful. So beautiful, it hurts me.”
― Richelle Mead, Last Sacrifice  I just squealed at this point, I couldn't help it.

 

Reading Regret:

Not reading The Hunger Games Trilogy. It seems like everybody has read this series and I haven't :(

Series You Started And Need To Finish(all books are out in series):

The Across the Universe Trilogy. I read the first one and loved it but now I need to finish the other two.

Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling.

Unapologetic Fangirl For:

Victoria Scott and Richelle Mead. I love their books and their writing is amazing!

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor. I need this one now.

Worst Bookish Habit:

I used to lose dust jackets. I can't really think of anything else I do.

X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Your latest book purchase:

The Devouring by Simon Holt. This was in the bargain section on Amazon for $3.60 and I couldn't pass it up.

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

The Collector by Victoria Scott. I could not put this one down and I had to stay up and read it.

Doll Bones by Holly Black

Book: Doll Bones
Author: Holly Black
Series:  N/A
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 244
Source: Purchased

Zach, Poppy and Alice have been friends for ever. They love playing with their action figure toys, imagining a magical world of adventure and heroism. But disaster strikes when, without warning, Zach’s father throws out all his toys, declaring he’s too old for them. Zach is furious, confused and embarrassed, deciding that the only way to cope is to stop playing . . . and stop being friends with Poppy and Alice. But one night the girls pay Zach a visit, and tell him about a series of mysterious occurrences. Poppy swears that she is now being haunted by a china doll – who claims that it is made from the ground-up bones of a murdered girl. They must return the doll to where the girl lived, and bury it. Otherwise the three children will be cursed for eternity . . .

This was my first Holly Black book and it won't be my last. As soon as I heard about this one I was really excited about it. I love Middle Grade and throw in a creepy doll and ghost story and you have me hooked. Unfortunately, I didn't love it as much as I hoped to but it was a good read anyway.

The thing that really bugged me the most about this book was the fact that the beginning was kind of slow. For a while it seemed like nothing was happening but once the children begin their adventure the pace picks up drastically.

I liked Zach and Alice. They were my two favorites. They both seemed pretty level-headed for middle schoolers and they looked out for each other. Poppy however tended to get on my nerves. She was constantly on Zach's case about him not wanting to play their game anymore and she did some things that would have had me hating her if she was my friend.

As far as the whole creepy aspect goes, it was okay for a Middle Grade novel. Nothing too scary but there were times when I got freaked out by the doll. If you were considering this book I definitely think you should go for it. It was a quick read and it had a great adventure and just the right amount of creepiness for the age the book was targeted towards.

Waiting on Wednesday #17

 

 

Title: Fire & Flood
Author: Victoria Scott
Series: N/A
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Expected Publication: February 25, 2014

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to the middle of nowhere for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

  

Why I'm Waiting:

This sounds like it's going to be one big adventure that is going to be dangerous as heck. I'm hoping this one will be thrilling and have me on the edge of my seat.

 

What are you guys waiting on this week? Leave me a link below and I'll check it out!

Review: City of Bones

Book: City of Bones
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series:  The Mortal Instruments, #1
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Format: Paperback
Pages: 485
Source: Borrowed from sister

When Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder. Much less a murder commited by three teenagers covered with odd markings. This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons--and keeping the odd werewolves and vampires in line. It's also her first meeting with gorgeous, golden-haired Jace. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in an ordinary mundane like Clary? And how did she suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

My Rating:

 

When I started this book I was kind of afraid that I wasn't going to love it as much as everybody else seems to, especially with all of the hype surrounding it. I'm glad to say that I absolutely adored this book.

 

I loved the world that Cassandra Clare created, her storytelling is magical and really drew me in. The plot was exciting and full of action and I found myself rooting for the characters and their struggles really played on my emotions.

 

The characters were so well developed and they all had a unique voice. I loved Jace. He was so witty and sarcastic, his lines had me cracking up and more than once I randomly started laughing out loud. He seemed hardened on the outside but once you got past his walls you could see that he was really quite vulnerable. I really liked Clary, she was strong and even though she knew nothing about the shadowhunters and their world she still threw herself into their problems and really cared about them.

 

I will definitely be continuing on with this series. Especially after the ending in this book, how could I not? It left me wondering what was going to happen next and I am excited to find out what adventures Jace, Clary and the group get into next.