My New Bookshelf & My TBR Pile!

When I started blogging, I started accumulating lots of books in my room that I sacrificed my closet. Then my table. Then my chair. There were lots of boxes around the room. But that’s all in the past! Because at 5:45pm, my new bookshelf arrived! Mom had it personalized for me (thanks Mom!) since the bookshelves at the mall didn’t satisfy me.

I present to you the bookshelf! It is patterned after this (I forgot exactly where I found it. I’m just lucky that I made a note in Facebook with this photo):

My bookshelf has softer angles compared to the original. This is probably the first time that the makers of the shelf had an order like mine. But I love it!

Before

After

After I arranged all the books from the closet, the tables and the boxes.

This is what it looks like now! The bears (except Pooh) were given by a special someone. I just had them dry cleaned!

Zoomed version of the bookshelf!

My TBR Pile!

 

Favorites!

Read review copies from 2010 & 2011!

This is where I place my swag! See those two boxes? It’s filled with signed swag that I treasure, as well as special notes and unexpected letters from authors! A few posters too and an Angel Star Calendar.

Okay. I’m sorry I think I went photo-crazy. Have a good day!

 

Review: Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa

Book Description via Goodreads:

Ebook, 57 pages

June 1, 2011, Harlequin Teen

A Midsummer's Nightmare? Robin Goodfellow. Puck. Summer Court prankster, King Oberon's right hand, bane of many a faery queen's existence—and secret friend to Prince Ash of the Winter Court. Until one girl's death came between them, and another girl stole both their hearts.

Now Ash has granted one favor too many and someone's come to collect, forcing the prince to a place he cannot go without Puck's help—into the heart of the Summer Court. And Puck faces the ultimate choice—betray Ash and possibly win the girl they both love, or help his former friend turned bitter enemy pull off a deception that no true faery prankster could possibly resist.

Source: Harlequin Teen (Thank you!)

My Thoughts:

Summer’s Crossing started after The Iron Queen. When someone came to collect a favor from the Winter Prince that involved slipping into Arcadia, Puck’s help was enlisted. Together, two former best friends headed to Faeryland to retrieve a prized possession. But as they were on their way to Summer territory, Puck came face to face with a realization: as long Ash existed, Meghan will never be his. He could just as easily betray Ash, comfort Meghan as she mourns for her prince and then he would have all the time in the world to make her fall in love with him. But could Puck really do that to Meghan and Ash, knowing how much they loved each other and how much they were happy?

I really loved Puck’s narrative. It was as fun and as mischievous as Robin Goodfellow. As he deliberated about his choice, I got to see an old part of him that I barely saw in the other books – the part that was Ash and Ariella’s best friend. Seeing things from the eyes of the greatest prankster was amusing and entertaining. Everything was different, seen with a brighter color. Oftentimes, I could see the love he had for Meghan laced with his thoughts. All of a sudden, I remembered why I used to be Team Puck. The guy was quite sweet and protective in his own way.

In Arcadia, Ash and Puck found themselves in a dangerous situation that could lead to their destruction. But Ash put his trust on Puck and I liked that. After all the battles they have been to with Meghan, the animosity was starting to decrease enough for Ash to trust him again.

Summer’s Crossing is the perfect fun read for people who belong to Team Puck and even to Team Ash! It’s a light read that will make readers smile, laugh and will have them charmed. If you want an entertaining novella to pass your time, read this!

Rating:

Review: The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Book Description via Goodreads:

Paperback, 358 pages

January 25, 2011, Harlequin Teen

My name is Meghan Chase.

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back.

Source: Gifted by Mom (Thank you!)

My Thoughts:

I was wrong when I thought that The Iron Daughter had reached the highest level of awesomeness when it came to books about the Good Folk because The Iron Queen blew me away.

Being exiles had given Meghan and Ash freedom to be together. Their relationship went a up notch higher, developing into something stronger. They were anchored towards each other, bound by a forbidden love that sweetens everything. The Unseelie Prince had shed his icy shield and shared his heart with Meghan. The once cold, formal and unreachable prince has finally shown his soft side, perhaps melting in Meghan’s summer glow. I liked seeing his soft side – the vulnerable, loving, protective and somewhat possessive side.

Kagawa’s characters were very well-developed. I loved each and every one of them. I got to know more about the Iron Fey Realm, their ways, their lives and their nature. To be able to distinguish the good ones from the bad ones came with a troubling revelation about an upcoming war, wrong assumptions and the past. If you have read my reviews on The Iron King and The Iron Daughter, you would know that I’m Team Puck. Puck showed a more sarcastic side in this novel. But despite being hurt that Meghan chose Ash over him, I loved that he was man enough to take the pain and still care for his best friend.

There was a new iron king - a false king that majority of the iron fey followed and believed in. The rebels of the iron fey had made their intention clear: to keep Meghan from being snatched by the evil clutches of the false king. Faeryland - the land that she and Ash could never go back to - was being swallowed by the poison of the iron kingdom and Meghan's second home was swiftly dying. If she did nothing, soon it would vanish, along her best friend and her Prince.

The usual twists and turns still got me. Better than the last, The Iron Queen surpassed The Iron King and The Iron Daughter combined. Sweetness, peril and suspense await readers! With everyone’s lives and Meghan’s freedom and loved ones at stake, Meghan needed to make the ultimate decision. The Iron Queen is epic, mind-blowing and extremely addicting with a strong taste of romance, high levels of kickass action and danger and a dab of tragedy. I highly recommend this series to everyone who wants an awesome read!

Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday: Triple Treat!

Under the Stars by Rebecca A. Rogers

Publication Date: August 1, 2011

Published by:  CreateSpace

After seventeen-year-old Andrina’s home is demolished by meteors, she encourages her family to relocate to Legora, one of the few remaining cities that promise a new life to weary travelers. But Legora’s food and supplies are in shortage—too many refugees have sought protection behind its gates—and the only option is to appeal to the King of the New World for provisions. When the town assembles a lottery to choose who will plea to the king, Andrina holds the ill-fated ticket.

Her arrival in Valyad, the royal territory, sparks intrigue from King Zarek. Andrina can’t imagine herself acting like the other girls, who flounce after Zarek’s affection and money, but she considers giving in to her flirty side if it’ll guarantee that her family is fed. So when Zarek leaves Andrina with a bitter decision—marry him or he’ll strip Legora of its supplies—she has no choice but to accept being Queen of the New World.

Soon, though, Andrina uncovers that Valyad is smothered in deceit. Days after their wedding, Zarek is found stabbed to death and all fingers point to Andrina. Betrayed by Valyad’s governor, who wants the crown for himself, Andrina learns that it’s the people who will cast a vote on her fate; people who don’t want a commoner operating their kingdom. Andrina must not only convince Valyad that their king didn’t die by her hand, but also outsmart the sly politicians of the realm with a surprise they can’t outrun.

Why I Chose This:

Becca is very nice author! When I found out about this through a fellow Filipino blogger’s post, I was instantly intrigued. And wow – meteors destroyed the main character’s home! I can sense so much dilemma, betrayal and deceit in this novel.

 

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Publication Date: February 14, 2012

Published by: Tor Teen

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police — instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior — instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested don’t usually come back.

17-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. That life in the United States used to be different.

In the three years since the war ended, Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the Federal Bureau of Reformation. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow. That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And what’s worse, one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

Why I Chose This:

I like books with extremely strict choking laws. I’m curious about Chase and Ember’s relationship – although I can see that it will have conflicts because of her mother’s arrest.

The Game by Monica Hughes

Publication Date: October 19, 2011

Published by: Simon Pulse

It’s the future, and most jobs are done by machines. Now that school is over, Lisse and her friends are consigned to a bleak neighborhood for the permanently unemployed. Then they receive an invitation to the Game—which transports them to a paradise. Is it a dream, or a computer simulation? Each time they play the Game, the new world seems more and more real....

Netting more than 75,000 copies when it was originally published as Invitation to the Game in 1991, this title continues to be a favorite, and, with its eye-catching new package, will reach an eager new audience hungry for dystopian stories.

 

Why I Chose This:

I think this is a reprint. It reminds me of The Hunger Games in a way, although I am not sure whether this is as harsh and as violent as Collins’ novel.  I love the cover too! 

Review: Bloodspell by Amalie Howard

Book Description via Goodreads:

ARC, 357 pages

June 1, 2011, Langdon Street Press

The spell was simple...

Cruentus Protectum (Defend the Blood)

But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?

Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds -- much less one that reveals she's a witch with unimaginable power.

What's more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own...

Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood's deadly desires? Or will she lose everything, including herself?

Source: Langdon Street Press & Marissa (Thank you!)

My Thoughts:

Victoria – Tori – was an outcast at her school. She never really thought much about it. But what she didn't know then was that there was more to it. On her seventeenth birthday, her aunt Holly gave her a gift from her grandmother. The journal inside it held her family’s history and secret. She found out that she was a strong witch just like her ancestors. She struggled to accept this reality, even coming to the point that she intentionally stayed away from the journal and kept herself busy so that she would not think about it.

I have read novels about vampires and witches loathing each other but nothing comes close to Bloodspell. The history between vampires and witches that Howard weaved was captivating and heart-wrenching. I enjoyed reading about Tori’s ancestry. The journal itself generated so much intrigue that it has become one of the things that I looked forward to.

Tori’s blood was dangerous, craving spilled blood, death and sacrifice. It sang of dark desires and dark pleasures, infusing Tori with its evil nature. Not wanting to be like her ancestor, she struggled to control the blood, to prove that she was the master. I found Tori very human despite her gifts. She had that careful, sincere and concerned spark inside her that never vanished even as she embraced her powers. She sided with caution and refused to give in to her blood.

Tori and Christian’s relationship was a difficult one. Aside from it being forbidden, both of them were experiencing the strain between them as they both struggled to control their inner demons. Their moments together were so sweet that they made me smile. But at other times, I was gripping the book, emotionally aching from their problems. Christian craved Tori’s blood and he had to reign in the beast inside him, to make sure that he never slipped whenever they were together. Tori knew that her blood wanted to kill – even Christian – and took precautions too.

The action in Bloodspell was written well. It was as savage, inhuman and magical as the characters. I loved how the scenes reflected the true nature of vampires and witches. The aftermath of the fight scenes were also shown. During these scenes, the emotions of the characters, particularly Tori’s, were explored. Tori often felt disgust and fear as she remembered her joy at killing and winning. She was still vulnerable inside even though she was strong. The drawbacks of being a witch was as great as her power.

Bloodspell is a captivating tale of forbidden love bloodlust and danger. Deliciously dark, fast paced and beautifully written, this novel will get the attention of paranormal romance readers. I highly recommend this! This reminded me of Vampire Diaries (the TV series) when it comes to suspense, action and unpredictability.

Rating: