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