Our Top Five of 2012

Hi everyone! Beverley and I have been seeing many 'Top Ten of 2012' posts lately around the blogosphere, so we thought we would join in on the fun! Except, we'll each be sharing our top five, since a having a total of 20 books would be quite long... So without further ado, here are out top five books of 2012 in no particular order:

Jen's Top Five Books of 2012

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin: You guys, this book. I read this in January and it just. MIND BLOWN. If you haven't read it yet, you are seriously missing out. And Noah Shaw? No words. I have no idea why I haven't picked up The Evolution of Mara Dyer yet. I'M CRAY.

The Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness: I'm kind of cheating, since I fell in love with the whole series, not just book one. Pictured above is just the first of the series, The Knife of Never Letting Go, but this is kind of an older (.... haha, 2010 is old?) dystopian/thriller that's SO unique and unlike any I've EVER read. It's one of my favorite series ever, and more people need to read it. 

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys: Historical fiction. Usually not my thing. But this one? Blew me away. I took interest in this book after learning about the Holocaust, and after loving Night by Elie Wiesel, I knew I would love this one as well. AND I DID. I almost cried, y'all. That's saying something!! 

On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves: This is not a young adult novel, but I loved it nonetheless. I first heard about it from Racquel at The Book Barbies, actually (THANK YOU for raving about it!!). It's a survival story and it's just addicting and awesome. SO GOOD.

Every Day by David Levithan: I think I mostly loved this one because of the audio. But the concept itself is so amazing too. So, so beautiful, this one. It's definitely memorable and will stay in my heart forever <3

Bev's Top Five Books of 2012

Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale:  I frickin' LOVED this book and by the time I finished, I knew it was a firm favourite for this year.  No, it didn't have a kick-ass heroine or a really swoon-worthy guy in it.  I know right?  But it was an epic emotional rollercoaster and the message in it was definitely an important one!

Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt:  Another gritty, heartache of a read.  Beautiful can't quite describe it.  The themes were just so raw and heartbreaking and although I wasn't reduced to tears, I felt my emotions being sucked out.  Laura Jarratt sure knows how to tug on our heartstrings.

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry:  Noah frickin' Hutchins.  Need I say more?  Aside from the hot bad-ass, the storyline was raw and hard-hitting.  Katie McGarry threw everything she could at the characters!  Definite favourite of 2012!

Saving June by Hannah Harrington:  Another read which dealt with death, loss and heartbreak.  It ripped me apart.  Hannah Harrington dealt with the subject of suicide with such sensitivity and I just fell in love with her prose.

Bunheads by Sophie Flack:  Finally, a book that isn't depressing or wrought with sad emotions!  Bunheads portrayed the world of ballet so vividly and I was fascinated by every single detail!  Unfortunately, I didn't like the love interest at all but I LOVED everything else so much that I overlooked that minor issue and still gave it 5 stars :D

Looking back at my picks, all of the books were by debut authors!  Hmm... this is very promising for the year of 2013.

***

What do you think of our Top Fives?  Did you enjoy any of our picks?  Please do feel free to let us know which read made your favourites of 2012!

Happy reading,
Beverley and Jen xx

REVIEW: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Name: Throne of Glass

Author(s): Sarah J. Maas

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Release Date: August 2nd 2012

Pages: 404, Paperback

Source: For review (from publisher)

Rating: 4.5 stars

Meet Celaena Sardothien. Beautiful. Deadly. Destined for greatness.
In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake: she got caught.
Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament—fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Beverley's Review

I'm not usually a huge fan of fantasy but the trickle of glowing reviews made resisting requesting Throne of Glass incredibly hard.  So I took the plunge into a world of magic, assassins and gorgeous princes.

What struck me first was the world-building.  It was simply... perfect.  It was written so beautifully: it wasn't overdone, giving you the chance to slowly take it all in and develop an appreciation.  Through Mass's elegant prose, I could clearly envision the harsh kingdom in which Celaena Sardothien lived.  Maas has a unique style of writing, one which I happily allowed myself to be wrapped in.  And the plot... it was so intense and gripping.  I found myself flipping through the pages eagerly, hungry for explanations and answers.

Aside from the writing, what really did it for me were the characters.  A quick glance at the cover promises a kick-ass, female protagonist and I do adore my strong-willed, determined heroines.  Celaena has raised the bar in terms of female-kick-ass-ness.  She epitomises the word the world itself and yet brings her own flavour to it.  What I loved most was being able to see past the assassin part of her.  Despite her job is to kill, her compassion shone through as the book progressed.  As her tough facade faded, she was just a broken, delicate girl in need of love which really fascinated me.

And then there was Dorian Havilliard and Chaol Westfall.  I adored them both.  As the Crown Prince, Dorian was a right charmer and I adored the banter exchanged between him and Celaena.  His most attractive feature though was not his flirty ways but rather the fact that wasn't like a typical Royal.  Okay, he was occasionally arrogant but he wasn't high and mighty and didn't do things just for his benefit.  On the other hand we had the Captain of the Guard, Chaol.  I didn't fall for him straight away but he grew on me.  I found him to be quite an enigmatic character and I didn't really swoon over his dark glares and moodiness.  However as he developed an understanding of Celaena's situation and grew to trust her, I began to place affection on him.

Despite such strong central characters, a minor flaw did appear.  THE LOVE TRIANGLE.  Usually I don't really mind them and by the end, can have a pretty much certain idea of who I want the girl to end up with.  This wasn't the case here: it frustrated me a little.  I adored them all as separate characters but the love triangle sadly was a let down.  Celaena just couldn't make up her mind!  Did she want Dorian? Or was Chaol the man she loved?  I couldn't help but feel she was stringing them both along and it actually hurt me to think she might upset them both!  I am eagerly anticipating the next book to see this cleared up.

Throne of Glass is a captivating read which gripped me from beginning to end and certainly lived up to my high expectations of it.  The plot was perfectly paced and the characters were brilliantly portrayed.  Sarah J. Maas is definitely one to watch for - she has a talent for crafting such complex stories, weaving between fantasy, death, magic and romance.  I couldn't think of a better book to write a review on to finish 2012 than Throne of Glass.

4.5 Teacups for Throne of Glass!

*Thank you to Bloomsbury for the review copy!*

REVIEW: Witch's Brew by Heidi R. Kling

Name: Witch's Brew

Author: Heidi R. Kling

Publisher: Coliloquy, LLC

Release Date: January 11, 2012 (US)

Pages: 342, ebook

Source: From publisher for review

Rating: 4.5 Teacups

The Spellspinners of Melas County is a fantasy YA romance series about a witch, a warlock, and their fight for their forbidden but prophesied love.
Once soulmates, the witch and warlock covens of the California coast have been estranged for a century. Raised to hate each other, their teenagers meet in the Solstice Stones, a magical battleground where they draw energy from each other to maintain their balance. 16 year olds Logan and Lily have spent years training for their first Stones…only to discover just days before that the enemy may not be what either of them had thought.
In Witch’s Brew, Lily is torn between her feelings for Logan and her coven’s need to know who—or what—he is. The young lovers race against time, their distrust for each other, and the powerful influence of their elders to unravel the mystery of their pasts before their future is destroyed.

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Jen's Review

Heidi R. Kling's Witch's Brew is one of those novels that completely takes you by surprise. From the synopsis, it sounds like your typical witch story with a hot guy in it, but Heidi is able to make it her own, and therefore unique. (And the hot guy isn't just a hot guy, he's a smokin' hot guy). With the completely different style of reading the novel, an exciting and well explained world, and relatable characters, Witch's Brew has enchanted itself onto my favorite witch-books list.

In case you didn't already know, the format for Witch's Brew is unlike any other book I've read before; the story gives you options as to where the story should go--kind of like alternate stories within one story. I myself have only read one option, but I'll definitely be reading the other option in the near future. For me, the fact that this novel is formatted this way, just stands out to me. It's different, unique, and totally memorable. I definitely recommend that all readers try it out.

Another factor that I absolutely loved about Witch's Brew is the world-building, and explanations. Kling brings the reader into the world of witches and warlocks very smoothly, and leaves the reader far from confused. I'm that type of person who needs a clear explanation on how a world works, or I won't be satisfied. To me, if I still have questions about an author's world, it means that they didn't do their job very well. I can happily say that Kling certainly exceeded my expectations with her description of the Spellspinner world and the Gleaning. Not only does the description carry out well, it also keeps the reader interested and wanting to know more. This also ties in with the plot. It's mysterious, alluring, and just plain engaging. I usually don't like it when a problem addressed in the beginning isn't resolved until the end, but it works in Witch's Brew. It works very well indeed (there's a clifffhanger!).

Last but not least, are the oh-so-amazing characters! Lily, the main character, was totally spunky, curious, and really smart. She's modest and hesitant at first about being chosen as the Leader of the Daughters of Light, but it's clear that she is meant to be the leader after the events that progress in the novel. Her relationship with Logan, the love interest (and also a warlock) is totally swoon-worthy and hot. Logan is caring, protective, and clever as well (have I mentioned smexy?). I have to admit, their love is kind of a love-at-first sight type of deal, but not exactly, which is why I like it. I'll leave it for you to find out how exactly they fall in love. ;)

That said, I definitely recommend Witch's Brew, whether you like witches or not. The format itself of the novel is just plain awesome and I think everyone should give it a try. I fell under Witch's Brew's spell with the captivating world and perfect characters. Heidi R. Kling's novel certainly did not disappoint and I can't wait to read more of her work.

4.5 Teacups for Witch's Brew!

*Much thanks goes to the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review!*

Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!  Here at A Reading Daydreamer, Jen and I (and Alfie!)  hope you have a fabulous day wherever you are!  It's that special time of the year to get together with family, enjoy each other's company and eat lots of GOOD FOOD!  It is also the time when Santa comes down from the North Pole to grace good children with presents and gifts :D

All that aside, please do spare a thought for those less fortunate than us.

Have a lovely Christmas!!!

Beverley and Jen xxx

REVIEW: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Name: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

Author(s): Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Publisher: Mira Ink

Release Date: October 5th 2012

Pages: 260, Paperback

Source: For review (from publisher)

Rating: 4 Stars

I've left some clues for you. If you want them, turn the page. If you dont, put the book back on the shelf, please.

Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions? Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

Beverley's Review

Thankfully, Dash and Lily's Book of Dares didn't turn out to be a cheesy-Christmas-movie of a read.  I feared the festive backdrop would make it tacky or cringe-worthy, however it was anything but.  Sure, it had its cute moments but it wasn't over the top with cliché Christmas references.

Let's start with the plot which had me sniffing with jealousy.  I WANT TO FIND A RED NOTEBOOK AND GO ON AN ADVENTURE WITH A BOOKISH GUY!!!  Now we've cleared that up, I'm guessing you can tell I completely, whole-heartedly adored the plot.  It was new and exciting and totally enthralling.  Exchanging their inner-most thoughts through a simple notebook was just so romantic - but not in the slightest cheesy.  My favourite parts were where Dash and Lily hadn't actually met in person yet since when they did, I didn't feel real spark or chemistry between them which disappointed me a little.

Despite this, Dash and Lily were the perfect match.  Dash was a snarky, cynical guy.  I loved him even more for his sarcastic quips and book-ish charm.  Come on, who doesn't love a guy who loves reading and uses intimidatingly long words?  Sometimes he bordered on pretentious - dare I say - but overall, he just made me giggle with his 'cultured' ways and stark honesty.  He was... delightful.  And then there's our 'Lily bear.'  She should be my best friend!  She's such a quirky, stand out character and I loved reading from her POVs.  Her enthusiasm and cheerfulness radiated from the pages and every moment spent seeing things through her eyes was thoughtful and happy.

Talking of POVs, I think Cohn and Levithan dealt with each perspective perfectly.  Cohn wrote Lily's while Levithan wrote Dash's.  I adored both POVs equally.  Each had their own distinctive quality and as I was reading, I forgot it was a co-written book as the words and paragraphs all blended together harmoniously.  I can say for sure Cohn and Levithan ticked all the right boxes for writing in dual narrative.

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares is a wonderfully crafted, gingerbread of a book: warm and spicy and festive.  This is definitely a book you should read before the festive season ends and it really encouraged me to get into the Christmas spirit.  So, kick up your feet, wrap yourself in a blanket and snuggle up with this charming read - oh, and don't forget the hot chocolate!

4 Teacups for Dash and Lily's Book of Dares!

*Many thanks to Mira Ink for sending me this delightful book!*

Promo Blitz: Fang Girl- Guest Post + Giveaway!

Hi everyone! Today I'm going to be telling you guys all about FANG GIRL, along with a lovely excerpt and giveaway! Thanks to Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours for hosting this promo post.

ABOUT FANG GIRL

Fang Girl 
by Helen Keeble
Published by HarperTeen
September 11th, 2012

Things That Are Destroying Jane Greene’s Undead Social Life Before It Can Even Begin:
1) A twelve-year-old brother who’s convinced she’s a zombie.2) Parents who are begging her to turn them into vampires.3) The pet goldfish she accidentally turns instead.4) Weird superpowers that let her rip the heads off of every other vampire she meets.(Sounds cool, but it doesn’t win you many friends.)5) A pyschotic vampire creator who’s using her to carry out a plan for world domination.
And finally:6) A seriously ripped vampire hunter who either wants to stake her or make out with her. Not sure which.
Being an undead, eternally pasty fifteen-year-old isn’t quite the sexy, brooding, angst-fest Jane always imagined....
Helen Keeble’s riotous debut novel combines the humor of Vladimir Tod with Ally Carter’s spot-on teen voice. With a one-of-a-kind vampire mythology and an irresistibly relatable undead heroine, this uproarious page-turner will leave readers bloodthirsty for more.

Purchase it:

Amazon -- Barnes & Noble -- The Book Depository

 ABOUT HELEN KEEBLE

 Helen Keeble is not, and never has been, a vampire. She has however been a teenager. She grew up partly in America and partly in England, which has left her with an unidentifiable accent and a fondness for peanut butter crackers washed   down with a nice cup of tea. She now lives in West Sussex, England, with her husband, daughter, two cats, and a variable number of fish. To the best of her knowledge, none of the fish are undead.

Her first novel, a YA vampire comedy called FANG GIRL, is out 11th Sept 2012, from HarperTeen. 

She also has another YA paranormal comedy novel (provisionally titled NO ANGEL) scheduled for Sept 2013.

Helen's Website -- Goodreads -- Twitter

GUEST POST

Fandom, Family, and FANG GIRL

Guest Post by Helen Keeble

FANG GIRL is about two things: fandom and family.

…Okay, so it's also about a lot of other things, like undead goldfish, vampiric retail empires, and hot boys in tight leather trousers, but mostly it's about fandom and family. Let me explain.

I started writing FANG GIRL because I was immensely irritated (I suspect irritation is the major cause of novels, actually). It was at the height of Twilight fever, and it seemed like every day there was a new article in the newspapers or blogosphere about it. You couldn't click a link or turn on the radio without finding someone either dismissing all YA paranormal romance fans as utterly stupid for liking "that trash", or alternatively getting into a moral panic that these girls were being fundamentally damaged by reading it.

As I rather enjoy a good paranormal romance myself, this was irritating. Really irritating. So irritating I had to spend a year writing a novel to fully express my irritation.

See, personally I think that teenagers are a lot smarter and more discriminating than adults assume. I certainly read an awful lot of fantasy schlock as a teen, and enjoyed it immensely without ever thinking I was actually going to fall through a portal and meet the perfect knight-protector, so I don't believe that all teenage girls are having their relationship expectations warped for life by Robert Patterson's hair. And in my experience, teen paranormal fans can be hugely clever and creative -- they dissect their favorite books like ruthless surgeons, they write their own fanfic versions, they make amazing music videos with footage from movies or tv shows… it's a far cry from the stereotype of a wide-eyed, ditzy girl uncritically consuming anything packaged with a black-and-red cover.

So I decided to write a paranormal romance about a girl who's a vampire fangirl, and who is also practical, snarky, and intelligent -- so when she wakes up one night and discovers she's now a vampire herself, she's got the knowledge and wits to deal with it.

But of course, vampires are rather ridiculous creatures -- seriously, you're angsty because you're eternally young and beautiful? Seriously? I mean, the first thing I'd do is camp out in New York Public Library and read every book ever -- so I also wanted to poke fun at some paranormal romance cliches. The much older vampire hero who inexplicably falls in love with the heroine, eternal angst-filled passion, the inevitable brooding rival, the terribly glamorous vampire lifestyle… in my book, the vampires are quite aware of all these tropes, and are willing to use them to try to influence my heroine Jane. But the vampires are -- like all those columnists and bloggers -- assuming that teenage vampire fangirls actually believe all this stuff… which turns out to be a big mistake.

The other trend I'd noticed in paranormal romances is that usually the heroine's family are barely present (especially not both parents). She might have endless conversations with vampires and werewolves and bears, oh my, but parents seem to stay mostly off-page. Now, I'm not saying that I never fought with my parents when I was a teen, but mostly we got along, and my family were definitely a big influence in my life. And I think that's true for a lot of teens. So I wanted my protagonist's family to be a major part of the story. And really, if you're a girl who wakes up unexpectedly dead one night, what are you going to do? Run off alone and try to survive on the contents of your pockets (most people don't get buried with credit cards, you know), or go back home where there's bed, broadband, and people who love you even if you do now seem to have fangs? No contest!

So that's FANG GIRL: one part fandom, one part family, blended together with creamy comedy goodness and baked in the oven of righteous irritation. Can I tempt you to a bite?

GIVEAWAY

Below is the Rafflecopter code for the prize pack giveaway that you may share on your post. The Rafflecopter has an entry for blog following. It's open internationally, and the last day to enter is December 25th.

The prize pack includes:

- one signed copy of Fang Girl (can be personalised)
- a voucher for an ARC of Helen's next book NO ANGEL as soon as they are available (likely to be Spring/Summer 2013)
- a cheerful vampire goldfish paperclip

- Fang Girl stickers featuring the cover and quotes from the book 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW: Timeless by Michelle Madow

Name: Timeless

Author: Michelle Madow

Publisher: Dreamscape Publishing

Release Date: November 14, 2012

Pages: 230, Paperback

Source: eARC for review from author

Rating: 3 Teacups

IT'S A RACE AGAINST TIME.
In Remembrance, Lizzie and Drew changed the course of fate so they could be together. 
In Vengeance, Chelsea set fate back on its original, deadly path. 
Now, strange things keep happening to Lizzie. Things that are omens of darkness to come. A curse has doomed her to die an early death, just as she did in her past life. To make things worse, even if she can figure out who cast the curse, it's irreversible. There's only one option left for her to save herself. It's crazier than anything she's heard yet, and to do it, she'll need Drew and Chelsea's help.
Because to make things right, they must go back to when it all began …

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Jen's Review

To be honest, Timeless, the last installment in this fun, time travelling romance saga, felt like a complete add-on story. It didn’t feel like it was connected quite correctly with book one. All of the characters were of course, the same, but the ending with Remembrance was fine; Timeless's plot felt like an extra story that wasn't necessary. There was a major change in topic in a way, as well. While the first book was solely focused on reincarnation and loosely based off of Taylor Swift's music video, Timeless was a completely different story. It was more like a murder mystery to me. Nonetheless, while the plot didn't make much sense, it was still entertaining and intriguing.

Another problem I had with Timeless was the shift in character. Chelsea, Lizzie's ex-best friend, becomes her worst enemy after what happened in book one. In book two (ish, more like a novella), the story is told from Chelsea's point of view, talking about her wrath and anger towards Lizzie. In Timeless, Chelsea changes dramatically in her role AGAIN. It made Vengeance (book two) seem utterly pointless. Why couldn’t she just stay as Lizzie's enemy? Or friend? CHOOSE A SIDE, CHELS.

The last main problem I had was the ending-- it didn't end too abruptly, but it was rather simple. Drew, Lizzie, and Chelsea are jumbled up in this big time-travelling mess and all too soon and easily, they solve the problem just by negotiation. I would have loved to see more action! I was left a little disappointed.

Despite all of the problems I had with Timeless, I still had fun reading it. I was never bored, and it kept me amused. I liked the happy ending, and it definitely leaves the reader with a smile on their face. I definitely have to thank Michelle for writing such a cute series inspired by Taylor!

3 Teacups for Timeless!

*Thanks to Michelle for providing me a copy for an honest review!*

Showcase Sunday #12

Showcase Sunday is hosted by the lovely Vicky over at Books, Biscuits, and Tea! It's a great way to share what you have received for the past week and to also gush over the wonderful books to other bloggers have added to their bookshelves!

Jen's New Books:

I had like the best week. EVER. EVVARRR.

Borrowed:

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Touch by Jus Accardo

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Legend by Marie Lu

Bought:

The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski

For Review:

Witch's Brew by Heidi R. Kling

Criminal by Terra Elan McVoy

For Review (continued):

Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook

Prophecy by Ellen Oh

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

Revolution 19 by Gregg Rosenblum

SQUEE. I *nearly* ran around the house screaming my head off in happiness (actually, I kind of did do that). Thank you so, so much Coliloquy, Simon & Schuster, HARPERTEEN <3, and Edelweiss!

Note from Beverley:  HI GUYS!!!  So I'm taking a little blogging break and aim to be back on the 23rd of December.  I have bloggy things to organise - like my blogoversary and also something coming up in February next year - so I need some time off to get things sorted.  Just wanted to let you know so you realise I haven't abandoned you! I am simply taking a blogging break so I'll still be reading and writing reviews.  Until then, goodbye for now :)

Happy reading,
Beverley and Jen xx

REVIEW: Possession by Elana Johnson

Name: Possession

Author: Elana Johnson

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release Date: June 7th 2011

Pages: 416, Kindle

Source: Author/Blog tour

Rating: 2.5 stars

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don’t walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn…and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi’s future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.
But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they’re set on convincing Vi to become one of them….starting by brainwashed Zenn. Vi can’t leave Zenn in the Thinkers’ hands, but she’s wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous: everything Zenn’s not. Vi can’t quite trust Jag and can’t quite resist him, but she also can’t give up on Zenn.
This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Beverley's Review

Unfortunately, I didn't particularly enjoy Possession.  While the synopsis and concept really held me, there were aspects of it which just didn't work for me.  It was an intriguing read but not one while is likely to be memorable.

Let's start with the world-building.  While the whole idea of having a divide between the 'Goodies' and 'Baddies' was fascinating, I felt the author tried to cram in too much and I was a little overwhelmed by it all - the different gadgets, their lifestyle, the system of Directors and Thinkers.  It just all felt too overdone as if the author was trying to impress me with her dystopian world and persistently dangling it directly in front of my face.

To tie in with this, the storyline was sometimes fast, sometimes slow.  It was just a little too inconsistent for my liking.  At first, I was totally unsure of where the book was heading but it does pick up the pace if you stick at it - although sometimes I couldn't completely understand what was going on, leaving me in my own confused bubble and trying to figure out what had just happened.  While I like books that keep me on my toes, I'd rather not spend too much time trying to navigate my way round a plot.

Okay, so the world-building and plot didn't quite work so well... The characters, I hear you ask.  If everything else doesn't tick my boxes, captivating characters might just pull the rating up a little.  However, the characters didn't really stand out either.  I hoped Vi would be a really kick-ass character, fighting off the villains one by one in her tech-obsessed society.  While she was a strong heroine, I didn't really connect with her which is something that annoyed me.  And the love triangle. OH NO.  I usually quite like love triangles.  This one just wasn't happening for me. It was all, 'Zenn's so sweet and lovely' but I was constantly told this and never shown.  Also, the connection between Vi and Jag was a bit too 'insta-love' for me.  I wasn't at all convinced my their supposed love for each other.  In this way, I finished the book feeling no preference at all for either boy.

Overall, I found Possession to be quite a disappointing read.  It had potential to be a really captivating read but for me, too many aspects fell below the standard I was expecting.  Although I didn't love it, I would still encourage you to give it a go if it sounds like you cup of tea.  Just because it wasn't mine, doesn't mean you won't enjoy it.

2.5 Teacups for Possession

Waiting on Wednesday #12

Waiting on Wednesday is a fabulous meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!  It's a wonderful chance to share the books we're eagerly anticipating and to find out what our fellow bloggers are looking forward to reading!

Bev's eagerly anticipating

The Art of Wishing 

Lindsay Ribar

March 21st 2013, Dial Books

Margo McKenna has a plan of attack for everything, from landing the lead in her high school musical to dealing with her increasingly absent parents. But when she finds herself in possession of a genie's ring and the opportunity to make three wishes, she doesn't know what to do. Especially since Oliver--not blue-skinned, not bottle-dwelling, but a genie nonetheless--can see more than what she's willing to show him. With one peek into her mind, he can see the wishes that even Margo herself doesn't know she wants. But Oliver comes with more than just mind-reading abilities, a flair for magic, and the prettiest eyes Margo's ever seen. Someone from his past is hunting him--someone bent on killing him, along with all the other genies in the world, for the sake of honor. And as Margo soon discovers, it will take more than three wishes to save him. A whole lot more.

I adore the whole concept of 'wishes'! And lookie ^^^ there's a frikkin' GENIE in the book!!!  Yes!!! I mean, have you ever read a YA book about a (hot) genie?  Imagine that... a hot guy granting you your wishes :O I can't wait to pick this up and devour it whole!

Jen's eagerly anticipating...

Invisibility

Andrea Cremer & David Levithan

May 7, 2013 by Philomel/Penguin

Stephen has been invisible for practically his whole life — because of a curse his grandfather, a powerful cursecaster, bestowed on Stephen’s mother before Stephen was born. So when Elizabeth moves to Stephen’s NYC apartment building from Minnesota, no one is more surprised than he is that she can see him. A budding romance ensues, and when Stephen confides in Elizabeth about his predicament, the two of them decide to dive headfirst into the secret world of cursecasters and spellseekers to figure out a way to break the curse. But things don’t go as planned, especially when Stephen’s grandfather arrives in town, taking his anger out on everyone he sees. In the end, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how big of a sacrifice they’re willing to make for Stephen to become visible — because the answer could mean the difference between life and death. At least for Elizabeth.

Um, heck yeah! I absolutely loved Levithan's Every Day, with it's unique concept. This one definitely sounds like another one with a totally original idea that no one else has really written about. I'm sad that I haven't read anything by Cremer yet, but hopefully this one will remedy that problem! May is WAY too far away...

What are you anticipating today? Link us up!

Happy reading,
Beverley and Jen xxx

REVIEW: I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Name: I Hunt Killers

Author: Barry Lyga

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Release Date: April 3, 2012 (US)

Pages: 361, Hardcover

Source: Online Audiobook Library

Rating: 5 Teacups

What if the world's worst serial killer...was your dad?
Jasper "Jazz" Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say.
But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could—from the criminal's point of view.
And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod.
In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret—could he be more like his father than anyone knows?

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Jen's Review

In anticipation for Halloween, I decided to pick up I Hunt Killers. I've had my eye on it for awhile now, but I've always been hesitant to pick it up, because it's WAY out of my comfort zone! I'm a weenie and I can never handle anything too scary. Luckily, it had JUST enough creep factor to keep me excited and reading, instead of pushing me away from it. I Hunt Killers was a fantastic, bone-chilling murder mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed!

One of the many things I loved in I Hunt Killers were the characters, especially Jazz. Jazz, the son of the world-famous serial killer. Jazz was not bad-ass. He was not the bravest person, but he proved to be a strong character. Even though his thoughts wavered from time to time, he was able to overcome the bad thoughts and stay as a good person (not kill anyone). I also freaking loved Jazz's best friend, Howie. Howie was hilarious and kind of stupid, in a way, but also adorable. He definitely lightened up the story when it was dark and scary. And we can't forget Connie, Jazz's girlfriend! Connie was extremely supportive, and unbelievably brave! Being the girlfriend of a serial killer's son? Talk about courage. The characters were fantastic and very well done!

The next-best-thing was the PLOT. Ahh, Barry Lyga, you are incredibly awesome! The plot for I Hunt Killers was so intense, captivating, and gripping! I couldn't stop reading until I knew who the new killer in Lobo's Nod was! I loved the suspicion, plot twists, and the creepy scenes. It's suspenseful for sure, and awesome. I had no problems with it whatsoever!

Pretty much what I'm trying to say is: GO READ THIS BOOK. If you're a fan of Pretty Little Liars (without the romance-y part), creepy and spine-tingling emotions, this is THE book for you! Even if you don't like that area of YA, I'd still give it a shot! This one surprise me, to say in the least. Outstanding!

Audiobook Review: SO GOOD. I so so so recommend the audio! Of course, it's narrated by a male and it's just perfect for the voice of Jazz! It definitely adds to the story, and it's flawless. 5 teacups for the audio as well!

5 Teacups for I Hunt Killers!

REVIEW: Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Name: Shade

Author: Jeri Smith Ready

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release Date: May 4, 2010 (US)

Pages: 320, Hardcover

Source: Online Audiobook Library

Rating: 3.5 Teacups

Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart. Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.
Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.
Well, sort of.
Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.
It doesn't help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.
As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift.

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Jen's Review

Prior to starting Shade, the only thing that I had heard about it was "Amazing", or "one of a kind"--things along that line. What could I do? Of course I had to pick it up! I'm always up for a good ghost story, especially with romance involved. I am pleased to say that I enjoyed it, but there was definitely a lot of things I could complain about, such as the love triangle and the characters themselves. However, I loved the plot and creativity of Shade. My conflicting thoughts for Shade equal out for it to be an overall good read.

As I mentioned before, there were definitely things I thoroughly liked in Shade; that is, the creative paranormal aspect, and the plot. Jeri Smith Ready takes the ghost creatures onto a whole new level. In Shade, only people born after the Shift can see the ghosts, and they can turn into Shades: bad ghosts. I thought that was totally original of Jeri and I really appreciated her for trying something new. Likewise, the plot was really fun to read about. I constantly wanted to know more and it keeps the reader entertained and captivated.

On the other hand, there were things that I think could have been better, like the romantic relationships and the characters. Throughout the entire novel, I never understood for a second WHY Aura was so in love with Logan, and vice-versa. There relationship together didn't work very well. It was very quarrelsome and I just did not like it. Moreover, the characters in general didn't stand out. They definitely weren't terrible, but they were just very mediocre. The only exception to that was Zachary, the third person in the love triangle; he was so patient and a gentleman, and he was very lovely.

As a result, Shade was an okay book: very entertaining, but had it's character flaws that derailed it's potential for an awesome ghost story. Still, if you're looking for an exciting, fresh ghost story, Shade would be a great pick!

Audiobook Review: The audio was pretty good for this one! It's acceptable; the only problem I had with the narrator was that she made the male characters (Logan) sound like a 5 year old. If you don't mind your 17 year old male protagonists sounding like a kindergartner, definitely check out the audio!

3.5 Teacups for Shade!

Possession Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaways!

Today I'm delighted to welcome Elana Johnson to A Reading Daydreamer for the joint Possession and Surrender blog tour!  She is stopping by for a short interview which you should definitely read! And don't forget to enter the awesome giveaways she has kindly put together.

Possession is a pretty complex book, what was the hardest part of writing it?

The timeline, for sure. When everything happens, when that person goes missing, when this and when that. It was really challenging – and I’m still dealing with it, as I try to make the third book in the series (ABANDON, coming on June 4, 2013) match up with everything that’s already in black and white.

So definitely the timeline of events. There’s just so much of the past in us, you know? And I think characters should base their decisions on who they are. And they become who they based on where they’ve been, and what they’ve experienced. So the past events are important.

All dystopians need to have original 'worlds', how did you come up with the idea of the 'Goodgrounds' and the 'Badlands'?

There’s a lot of tongue-in-cheek stuff in Possession, including the “Good”ground and the “Bad”lands. I wanted to have two places that were direct opposites, and have Vi explore what truly made someone or something good. It was an exploration of labels.

Do you have any memorable moments of when you were putting all your thoughts and ideas on paper?

I remember needing a name for my male lead, and not having one. So I used “Jag” as a placeholder. By the end of the book, I loved it, and didn’t end up changing his name.

What's your favourite scene from the Possession?

There’s one I almost cut, but decided to keep, and it’s when Vi makes herself the birthday cake as she and Jag cross the desert. I don’t know why I like that scene so much, but I do. Maybe I just love birthdays!

Were any of the characters inspired by the people in your life, or even yourself?

Sort of. Mostly, Vi gets to say and do things I wish I could say and do. I’m so non-confrontational, that I don’t say anything to anyone about anything. I want everyone to be happy, and I want to treat others kindly. That usually means that you don’t get to speak your mind, you know? And Vi gets to do that. So I sort of live vicariously through her.

If you lived in Vi's world, would you rather be a Goodie or a Baddie?

Oh, I’d rather be a Baddie. I’d rather get to go out with my friends and wear whatever I choose.

Can you give us a sneak peek of Surrender?

Everyone can read the first 96 pages of Surrender on my Facebook fanpage! https://www.facebook.com/possessionthebook/app_128953167177144

Author Bio:  Elana Johnson’s work, including Possession, Surrender, and Regret, published by Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster), is available now everywhere books are sold. Her popular ebook, From the Query to the Call, is also available for download, as well as a Possession short story, Resist. School teacher by day, Query Ninja by night, you can find her online at her personal blog or Twitter. She also co-founded the Query Tracker blog, and contributes to the League of Extraordinary Writers. Blog: http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com FB: http://facebook.com/possessionthebook Twitter: http://twitter.com/ElanaJ

a Rafflecopter giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW: Matched by Ally Condie

Name: Matched

Author: Ally Condie

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile // Speak

Release Date: November 30, 2010 (US)

Pages: 369, Paperback

Source: Bought

Rating: 2.5 Teacups

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Jen's Review

When I bought this book nearly 2 years ago, it sounded to me to like it was going to be an awesome dystopian story that I would enjoy a lot. That was back when paranormal romances were "the thing", and I wasn't even an avid reader yet. Today, though, I know Matched as a mixed-review dystopian. Sadly, I have to agree with the mixed-review part. Matched was a dystopian heavily set around romance, and didn't stand out to me among all of the other dystopians I've read so far.

Matched started off with a bang: the main character Cassia is being Matched with the person she is meant to be with for the rest of her life. I was instantly captivated and I wanted to know more, more, more. But pretty much after that, Matched lost my interest. The rest of the plot was a steady road and didn't have any more exciting moments or fast-paced scenes. It was boring, and stale. It became a bit tedious to get through the entire book.

The world-building was one of the weakest points in Matched. There were no reasons behind their world of the Society at all. Condie threw in concepts that weren't thoroughly explained, leaving me confused and frustrated. Sadly though, I kind of just brushed it off because I couldn't really care less, and I just went along with it. If I were to read the rest of the trilogy (which I probably won't be doing..), I would love to see more concepts explained clearly.

Next are the characters and the romance. Cassia was a strong-willed and rebellious girl in the Society, yes, but there was nothing that made her stand out. I'm sure I'm going to forget her quickly after a month or so. Her relationship with Ky seemed special in the book, but in hindsight, their romance didn't make much sense at all, either. I never really knew their reasoning behind their love, it seemed like she only started to like him because the Society organized it that way. Xander, Cassia's best friend, seemed like a much better choice, and I don't know why Cassia strayed away from him.

The only thing that pretty much kept me going was Condie's writing. It was quite delightful, actually. Condie has beautiful prose and is a master at describing things. Also, the way she incorporated the poetry that Cassia uses to get through her time in the Society was great.

All things considered, Matched was a mainstream dystopian that will get lost in the batch of new ones that are much more unique and memorable. The romance didn't make sense and the world was not very well explained. The only thing that was worth reading was Condie's prose. If you're a fan of dystopians and will read any and every dystopian, check this one out. But if not, I'd say it's okay to pass this one up.

2.5 Teacups for Matched!