Waiting on Wednesday {17}

This week, I'm waiting on...

Taken by Storm
By: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

*No summary available yet*

I'm a big, big fan of Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Actually, I met her at the RT BookLovers Convention back in April this year (BEST. CONVENTION. EVER. I mean, that's where I met Jeri Smith-Ready, so it's kind of a given that it'd be so awesome. And OMG they even had a PICTURE of me on their website) (NOOOO do NOT go look it up please please please. I mean, it was actually a somewhat decent picture of me--GIANT kudos to the photographer--but still!!! *inserts terrified face*) (Oh wait, I just basically made you guys promise to look for it, huh? This is going to end badly...*flees to Antarctica*)

Anyway. I digress. So the reason why I brought up the RT Convention was that Jen was just so smart and awesome when I met her that I just had to go and pick up a copy of Raised by Wolves (#1 of the series). Needless to say, I loved it. Which is good, because Jen and I talked about monkeys and monkey islands and stuff. Fascinating, really (no, seriously, it's superbly interesting!!)

SO! (enough of this digressing.) The point of this is that I know werewolf books are so superfluous these days, but I'm urging you to give this series a try. Jen actually studies pack psychology and all that cool stuff, so the way she handles the werewolf myth is astonishingly awesome. And for those of you who've read the first two books... YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T WAIT FOR Taken by Storm!!

Ah. Enough of my ranting. What are YOU waiting on this week?

Vampires: The non-sparkly, kick-rump kind

Vampire Academy
By: Richelle Mead

Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . . 

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever... 

-Summary from Goodreads

Vampire Academy: Hogwarts meets the non-sparkly Twilight, and a kick-rump, flagrantly likable heroine makes this book one you can't miss, especially if you're, say, suffering from o-dear-paranormals-there-are-too-many-of-you-for-my-poor-heart-to-handle syndrome.

Truth is, that was my exact diagnosis about two weeks ago. But so many of my blogging friends liked this book that finally, being the weakling I am, I succumbed to their tremendous pressure.


And I am so glad. (is it just me, or does that totally make me sound like a Feeder?)


This book was a fantastic ride of twists, friendship, secrets, and love. What I especially enjoyed was that while this book takes place at a Vampire Academy (ha! See what I did there?), the central story does not revolve around vampirism. Instead, this is a story about Rose. And Rose, just like all the other characters in the story (whether secondary or not) were incredibly developed and (most of the time) likable. But... Man, Dimitri. I think I'm supposed to be head-over-heels in love with him right now, but while I can certainly call him hot, I still haven't been exactly proved why he is such an amazing specimen...I guess that means I'll have to go snag the sequels right now, yeah?


Overall, Vampire Academy is a quick, fun, slightly dark, and entirely satisfying paranormal read for someone who doesn't like paranormal. If that's you... succumb to the allure of the Vampire Academy!

Cover Reveal: ONYX by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Some of you out there know that I recently read a book about aliens. Y'all know I loved it.

And now? Well, by a strokeful of luck, I'll be one of those bloggers revealing the sequel's cover!!

Yeah, in case you don't know, I'm talking about Onyx.

Here's book one, Obsidian:
Obsidian
By: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don’t kill him first, that is. 

-Summary from Goodreads 

Doesn't it sound AMAZING? Well, it is!

Buy OBSIDIAN:  
Barnes and Noble
Amazon
Book Depository

And now, I know you all are waiting for this.... ;)

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Onyx

By: Jennifer L. Armentrout

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…

AMAZING, RIGHT? I love the midnight blue, Katy's dress, Daemon's haunting eyes... everything, really. :)

So go, read Obsidian and come back and tell me how much you loved it! :D

Wowza Palooza and the doobly-doos*

Can you believe it? This is my 101th post!!! O.O

Well, I think this calls a celebration.

I shall direct you all to the absolutely fantastic Farrah Penn and her post on positivity that will totally make your life.

(I have to keep this blog post short, because I'm working on my last debate case right now.) You want to know something?

Blogging is hard.

Or, I guess I should really say, quality blogging is hard.

I never knew this before I started blogging, but we have to try and express our enthusiasm without completely overwhelming the reader. We have to say something negative in a way that doesn't bash the author/their fans/their work. We have to constantly come up with new material to write about that people would actually be interested in. (Well, unless you're Logan Lerman. Then I'll always be interested in whatever you write.) (No, wait, if it's about your girlfriend... yeah, never mind. I retract that statement.)

But! So! I still blog! I still write even though this post tells you all about how hard writing is. I still debate, play basketball, keep up my 4.0 GPA, and such! People often ask me how the heck I do this... well, positivity. And a lot of all-nighters. Seriously.

So yeah. I know this isn't like, heavenly wisdom and whatnot, but y'all know I need to get this case done so I might actually sleep today. Besides, I'm not so wise, anyways. That's why I gave you all those links. :)

*Which reminds me: NERDFIGHTERIA!!

My Grace is Learning

Graceling
By: Kristin Cashore

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.  

When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone. 

-Summary from Goodreads

I love high-fantasy, I love strong heroines, and I love a story that makes me swoon.

But what I really love is a story that makes me think.

Graceling is original and thought-provoking, and truly, can anyone deny that Kristin Cashore has the grace for writing? 

Thank you to my friend Soph for forcing telling me to read Graceling. Katsa is this incredibly tough heroine with a heart, and her character grows so much throughout the story, I ached for her. She lived her whole life believing herself to be a killing machine. She thrived despite everyone's fearful, judgmental opinions about her. But in her heart she's just a girl who wants to be appreciated and recognized, and that vulnerability in her broke my heart a little.


I loved Po. I can't help, though, but compare Po to Peeta. Peeta complements Katniss like Po complements Katsa, but this book hypocritically can't really be compared to The Hunger Games, because even though they both involve cruel, inhumane tyrants, heart-breaking decisions, and aching romance, the message these books approach are met from different angles. Graceling is a tale of love and fighting and making the right choices, and Katsa can break. That's what I loved so much about this book. The protagonist can break, but even as she does she stands strong and fights because she cares so much about everyone else that slowly warmed their way into her heart (even if it isn't many people). And in her resilience we find hope, and in hope we find triumph.


This is an action-packed book laced with romance and tortuous dilemmas. This is a book that will stay with you long after you've finished it. This is the book about a girl who turns from the puppet to the puppeteer.