Review: Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

Book Description:

Hardcover, 416 pages
Published April 8th 2014 by HarperTeen

Kelley Armstrong, #1 New York Times bestselling author, takes an exciting new direction with this big, breathtaking blend of fantasy, romance, horror, and pulse-pounding action, perfect for fans of Graceling and Game of Thrones.

Twin sisters Moria and Ashyn were marked at birth to become the Keeper and the Seeker of Edgewood, beginning with their sixteenth birthday. Trained in fighting and in the secret rites of the spirits, they lead an annual trip into the Forest of the Dead. There, the veil between the living world and the beyond is thinnest, and the girls pay respect to the spirits who have passed.

But this year, their trip goes dreadfully wrong.

With all the heart-stopping romance and action that have made her a #1 New York Times bestselling author, and set in an unforgettably rich and dangerous world, this first epic book in the Age of Legends trilogy will appeal to Kelley Armstrong's legions of fans around the world and win her many new ones.

Reviewer's Copy: ARC

Source: Harper Collins International (Thank you!!)

My Thoughts:

Sea of Shadows is my first Kelley Armstrong book. At page one, I admit that I was hooked. The amazing author had my heart in her hands. It was love at page one.

As a fantasy enthusiast, I am naturally drawn to magic, mysterious spots, tales of olden creatures and unparalleled legends. The story world of Sea of Shadows had all the right elements: heart-wrenching tragedy, horrifying twists and turns, solid adventure, relationship development and of course, budding romance. Just when I thought I knew what was happening, Armstrong made a twist in the plot and I found myself flipping the pages faster. One of the things I loved about this novel was the constant action. There was not a dull moment. 

The twins. Moria, the Keeper, and Ashyn, the Seeker, were both easy to love. They balanced and complimented each other. It was like a yin and yang relationship. Ashyn was sweet, considerate, and gentle while Moria was a fierce warrior, fearless, daring, practical and not quick to trust. I loved Moria to bits as I could see pieces of myself in her character (of course, not the warrior bit.) The narration of the twins was like seeing two sides of a coin. Their differing perspectives allowed me to understand their situation and their world better. 

Budding romance. There were sparks and sometimes, even flashes of fireworks between the twins and their love interests. I was more drawn to the Moria-Gavin attraction. Gavin was a guard in Edgewood, a warrior by blood. He reminded me of a certain fairy boy from The Iron Fey series. Gavin was cold, all-business and hardly smiles at all. He was practical, strategic and passionate about debate. He parried not only with his sword but also with his words. Though i would not say that he was merely cruel. It just so happened that Gavin was not accustomed to socializing and he did not have much practice. What I really liked about him was that throughout the story, I got to see his softer side. He was protective, thoughtful in his own way and honorable. His interaction with Moria was sparked with banter, moments of understanding and bursts of hesitation. The physical attraction between them was palpable. 

The plot was thoroughly enjoyable and unpredictable. This, along with the terrific world building captivated me. One of the twists and turns came at the very end. I ended Sea of Shadows with a shredded heart when the revelation took place. I have become so emotionally attached to the characters that it was difficult for me to see them go through such tough times.

Sea of Shadows is a perfectly balanced blend of light humor, scandal and tragedy, fierce action, sparks of magic and a solid adventure. This book had me sitting at the edge of my seat with its bursts of violence, unpredictability, so-near-yet-so-far-feels with the relationship development between love interests and constant sense of urgency and suspense. I highly recommend this to readers of fantasy and enthusiasts of adventure reads and mythology. 

Rating:

5 Cupids = Eternal book love.
I will never ever, ever forget this book. I highly recommend this!

Waiting on Wednesday: Talon + The Vault of Dreamers + The Memory Keepers

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.

Hi guys! For Waiting on Wednesday, I have three picks = triple goodness! :)

Book Description:

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: October 28, 2014
Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.

Why I Chose This: To those of you who have read some reviews on my blog in the past, you would know that I'm a big fan of Julie Kagawa! Seriously, her books are classified under to-buy-asap for me. I am very interested in fiction related dragons. I am really looking forward to this!

Book Description:

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Publication Date: September 16, 2014

From the author of the Birthmarked trilogy comes a fast-paced, psychologically thrilling novel about what happens when your dreams are not your own.

The Forge School is the most prestigious arts school in the country. The secret to its success: every moment of the students' lives is televised as part of the insanely popular Forge Show, and the students' schedule includes twelve hours of induced sleep meant to enhance creativity. But when first year student Rosie Sinclair skips her sleeping pill, she discovers there is something off about Forge. In fact, she suspects that there are sinister things going on deep below the reaches of the cameras in the school. What's worse is, she starts to notice that the edges of her consciousness do not feel quite right. And soon, she unearths the ghastly secret that the Forge School is hiding—and what it truly means to dream there.

Why I Chose This: You, guys! I really, really, really loved Caragh's first series. Her writing is really good and I'm just so excited for this new series. Don't let the cover fool you!

Book Description:

Publisher: Hot Key Books
Publication Date: September 4, 2014

"No one can take your memories from you... can they?"

Seven is a thief with a difference - he steals downloadable memories from banks and memoriums to sell onto London's black market, trading secrets and hidden pasts for a chance at a future of his own. He makes sure he keeps some special stuff back to 'surf' himself though - it's the only real form of entertainment he can afford. But one night, as Seven is breaking into a private memorium in a wealthy part of London, he is caught in the act by one of its residents; Alba, the teenage daughter of London's most famous criminal prosecutor. Instead of giving him away, Alba promises to keep Seven's secret - as long as he allows her to go memory-surfing herself. In doing so, they discover a hidden memory about Seven's past, revealing a shocking secret about Seven's childhood, the government and a mysterious experiment known as The Memory Keepers...

Now Seven and Alba will have to race against time to unlock the maze of The Memory Keepers - but can they keep themselves out of harm's way before the London Guard - and Alba's father - catches up with them?

Why I Chose This: I'm always intrigued with books that involve memory, its capacity and strength, as well as memory loss and control. So when I stumbled upon this book on Goodreads, I knew that I just have to read this. I have Natasha Ngan's The Elites. I'm hoping that this would be my next best read.

If you happen to drop by, kindly leave your Waiting on Wednesday links below so I could visit you, too!

Review: The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

Book Description via Amazon:

ARC
Published April 15th 2014

Lucy lives on the twenty-fourth floor. Owen lives in the basement. It's fitting, then, that they meet in the middle -- stuck between two floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they're rescued, Lucy and Owen spend the night wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. But once the power is back, so is reality. Lucy soon moves abroad with her parents, while Owen heads out west with his father.

The brief time they spend together leaves a mark. And as their lives take them to Edinburgh and to San Francisco, to Prague and to Portland, Lucy and Owen stay in touch through postcards, occasional e-mails, and phone calls. But can they -- despite the odds -- find a way to reunite?

Smartly observed and wonderfully romantic, Jennifer E. Smith's new novel shows that the center of the world isn't necessarily a place. Sometimes, it can be a person

Reviewer's Copy: ARC

Source: Pinoy Book Tours (Thank you!)

My Thoughts:

The Geography of You and Me was one of my most anticipated reads for 2014. I have been a big fan of Jennifer Smith since the days of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. I started the book eagerly, letting myself sink into Lucy's world.

The story world of The Geography of You and Me was a place where even the simplest of all things could become beautiful. It was literally a world spanning from one continent to another, from one coast to another. One of the amazing things that I encountered was that both of the main characters, Lucy and Owen, were travelers, never grounded on one spot for too long a time.

Lucy lived in New York. She was exceptionally good in being "barely there" in the big, bad city. I was able to connect with Lucy, though I wouldn't say that she came as close as Jennifer Smith's other heroines. The novel was like an exploration of foreign lands and future homes, with the ever-changing home, city, country, culture and society. Our girl was obliged to keep on adjusting to the environment - to the new home, to the new school, to the new neighborhood and to the new timezone. For me, it seemed that she was searching for her real home, the place where her heart belonged.

Owen's life was another story altogether. His was tragic and sad, punctuated with moments of loss, pinpricks of hope and distance from Lucy. To be honest, Owen's character was someone I would have liked to know in real life. He was an abyss, so deep, filled with so much secrets and a past in various shades of emotions. Most of all, he thought differently, out of the box. At such a young age, a part of him seemed like an old soul, silent and mature, in his own way. I liked him as a character. He always drew me in with his thoughts and experiences.

When it came down to the writing, Smith did not disappoint. The writing was beautiful as ever and superfluous. I would like to think of the story as a world map, the major events were colorful pins stuck to the corresponding places where the scenes took place. Amidst the pins and the lines tracking down Lucy and Owen's travels within America and across the globe, there were photos and postcards. With this said, The Geography of You and Me, for me, was a complete narration of the main characters' journey - physical, emotional and holistic at that. I struggled a bit with the slow pace of the book. I was very much used to Smith's fast paced books and was surprised with this new novel's pace. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight and This is What Happy Looks Like were quick reads for me.

Overall, The Geography of You and Me was a beautifully written contemporary, splashed with life's colors and emotions, ups and downs, and driven by the search of home and love. People who enjoy books that involve traveling would like this book. As a deep, in-the-moment fiction, this book would appeal to teen and even adult readers. The themes of finding one's place, searching for 'home,' and taking chances were explored. 

Rating:

4 Cupids = Strong book love.
I really enjoyed this. I recommend this!

Out and About: #VTRinPH Book signing with Veronica Rossi, Tahereh Mafi+ Ransom Riggs + Giveaway!

Out and about is a feature here on Fragments of Life for events, book launches and movie adaptations. For the fourth Out and about, I’ll talk about the Bloggers Forum and Book Signing with Veronica Rossi, Tahereh Mafi and Ransom Riggs.

The Basics:

Who:

The authors are: Veronica Rossi (bestselling author of Under the Never Sky, Through the Ever Night, Into the Still Blue), Tahereh Mafi (bestselling author of Shatter Me, Unravel Me, Ignite Me and Unite Me) and Ransom Riggs (bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and Hollow City).
The Organizer is: National BookStore.

When: April 26, 2014

Where: National Book Store, Glorietta 4

How aka details:

I have met Tahereh Mafi and Ransom Riggs last year, you can check that out here. So I was really ecstatic to meet them again! It's a rare occurrence, so I'm really honored to be a part of these two events. Plus, it was really fun to meet with my co-bloggers, who happen to be my closest friends too.

Bloggers!

The actual forum started out with Chyna from Lite-Rate-Ture. Amidst people listening intently to the authors, commenting about bookish stuff and the authors answering our questions, I admit that I couldn't catch everything. If my memory serves me right, here are some tidbits from the forum:

Veronica Rossi

• Veronica Rossi did not set out specifically to write about a certain message. But what she wanted people to pick up from her book is that, if you are kind and respectful and if you are good to the people around you, you would find happiness.
• The sequel, Through the Ever Night, was the hardest book to write for her. She struggled writing that book. But now, thousands of fans devour and enjoy this pretty. :)
• In writing books, some authors have to "kill" some of the characters. It's pretty much part of author life. Our V. Rossi does not regret killing some of her characters. It's natural and organic to the book.
• Louisse from The Soul Sisters asked V. Rossi about co-authoring Boomerang. So, she is writing under the nomdeplume Noelle August. The book started out in a Skype chat with Veronica's fellow author. At the end of the chat, they were thinking: should we just write this? And they did write it. The story was like a sandbox for Veronica, all fun.
  

Tahereh Mafi

• Kazhy from My Library in the Making asked Tahereh when she knew who Juliette would end up with. *Spoiler alert* She found out at the end of the first book.
  
• Her first book, Shatter Me, is free-formed. So the first book was about exploring the lives and personalities of the main characters. I guess this is also the reason why Juliette started out as weak and became stronger throughout the series. There is so much room for growth.
  
• In addition to the point above, Juliette's weakness in Shatter Me was intentional. It was planned out.
  
• If one of her characters could be her companion, it would be Kenji. In 2013, she mentioned that Kenji is the conglomeration of her brother's personalities and characteristics. So she feels that she has already lived with Kenji. That is so sweet.

Ransom Riggs

• I was one of the people who asked Ransom Riggs, here is my question: If a single photograph could represent Miss Peregrine's and Hollow City, what would it look like? At first, Ransom said that it could be anything but eventually decided that it would look like the inside of his heart, so it would be dark and red.
  
• One of the bloggers asked what was his reaction to Tim Burton being involved in the movie adaptation for Miss Peregrine's, he screamed: I'm so excited! And of course, mentioned that Tim Burton was the man.
  
• He mentioned that when it comes to criticisms and reactions to his book, he doesn't like being told he's wrong but that it was part of a writer's life. Also, he mentioned that he did not write a daring book so he didn't really get strong comments. :)
  
• Ransom mentioned that Hollow City took a longer time to write as it depends on the photos he would be using. So he was literally traveling all over USA, meeting with collectors and seeing their photographs. The pictures became guides for him as he wrote.

Pictures with VTR! :)

Ending the bloggers forum with group photos!

Signed goodies :)

The next activity is the Book Signing in Glorietta 4. We heard that the early bird of the event came at 1:45 am. That is solid dedication, guys. Respect. There were around 2000 fans down there, each one waiting patiently to meet the big three: VTR.

Photo credit to Sab from Sab The Book Eater! ;)

Photo credit to Hazel, Kai, Louisse, Jesselle, Sab and Kate - thank you for the snapshots ;)

Big thanks to National Book Store for the awesome forum + event! Because I want to share the book love, I will be giving away a signed copy of Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi! You know the drill. This is open to Philippine residents only. (sorry guys!) ;) Enter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Awesome recap posts:

Amaterasu Reads
Sab The Book Eater
Defiantly Defiant
Lite-rate-ture
The Soul Sisters
The Bookaholic Blurbs
The Lifelong Bookworm

Waiting on Wednesday: Subway Love + Princess of Thorns

Hi guys! For Waiting on Wednesday, I have two picks. One fantasy and one time travel read. I'm excited for both. :)

Book Description:

Publisher: Candlewick Press
Publication Date: May 13, 2014
What if destiny leads you to your soul mate, but the laws of time conspire to keep you apart?

If her parents had never divorced, Laura wouldn’t have to live in the shadow of Bruce, her mom’s unpredictable boyfriend. Her mom wouldn’t say things like "Be groovy," and Laura wouldn’t panic every weekend on the way to Dad’s Manhattan apartment. But when Laura spots a boy on a facing platform, lifting a camera to his face, looking right at her, Laura feels anything but afraid, and she can’t forget him. Jonas, meanwhile, thinks nonstop about the pretty hippie girl he glimpsed on the platform — trying to comprehend how she vanished, but mostly wondering whether he will see her again in a city of millions — and whether if he searches, he would have any chance of finding her. In a lyrical meditation on love, Nora Raleigh Baskin explores the soul’s ability to connect, and heal, outside the bounds of time and reason.

Why I Chose This You guys..THIS>>>> In a lyrical meditation on love, Nora Raleigh Baskin explores the soul’s ability to connect, and heal, outside the bounds of time and reason. This is exactly what I want to read in this book. I have read amazing time travel love stories such as All Our Yesterdays. But I'm still looking for something more heartfelt, more earth-and-soul-shattering. This might just be it.

Book Description:

Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: December 9, 2014

Game of Thrones meets the Grimm's fairy tales in this twisted, fast-paced romantic fantasy-adventure about Sleeping Beauty's daughter, a warrior princess who must fight to reclaim her throne.

Though she looks like a mere mortal, Princess Aurora is a fairy blessed with enhanced strength, bravery, and mercy yet cursed to destroy the free will of any male who kisses her. Disguised as a boy, she enlists the help of the handsome but also cursed Prince Niklaas to fight legions of evil and free her brother from the ogre queen who stole Aurora's throne ten years ago.

Will Aurora triumph over evil and reach her brother before it's too late? Can Aurora and Niklaas break the curses that will otherwise forever keep them from finding their one true love?

Why I Chose This: I love Stacey Jay's books! So when I saw this one on Goodreads, with her name on it, I just had to put it in my want-to-read pile. Another fierce heroine who goes to war for her throne, side by side with her *crosses fingers* love interest. Who would say no to that?

If you happen to drop by, kindly leave your Waiting on Wednesday links below so I could visit you, too!

Out and About: Bloggers Forum + Book Signing with Becca Fitzpatrick + Giveaway!

Out and about is a feature here on Fragments of Life for events, book launches and movie adaptations.

For the third Out and about, I’ll talk about the Bloggers Forum and Book Signing with Becca Fitzpatrick.

The Basics:

Who:

Becca during the interview before the book signing. Photo credit to Algel of Literary Panda

The author is: Becca Fitzpatrick! *fangirls*
The Organizer is: National BookStore.

What books:

The Hush, Hush Saga + Black Ice

When: March 29, 2014 - 1:00 p.m. (Bloggers Forum) and 4:00 p.m. (actual book signing event)

Where: Powerbooks, Greenbelt 4 and National Book Store, Glorietta 4

How aka details: This is the longish part.

At the Bloggers Forum, we had a Q&A with Becca. When I was called on to ask her a question, Becca told me: "Have we met/talked before? You look familiar." The fangirldom commenced. I admitted that I was a big fan since waaay back and was a member of Fallenarcangel, the official fan site for the Hush, Hush Saga. So stoked that she remembers me! On to the details, *coughs*,I learned the following:

• When Becca first wrote Hush, Hush, Patch was not a fallen angel. He was just a normal boy based on a real boy that she knew way back. Patch had a dark secret and Becca didn't know it when she first wrote the draft. She figured out that he was a fallen angel since fallen angels are the original bad boys.
• The hardest book she wrote was Crescendo. Her editor made her delete all but 25 pages of the draft.
• *teaser from Sapphire Skies* - quoted from The Bookaholic Blurbs
  It tells a story about a girl named Stella from Philadelphia and she witnesses a brutal crime. She's put to a witness protection program in Nebraska. She resents her situation and just wanted to get home. However, she's beginning to fall in love with this handsome cowboy who lives next door. So she's torn to stay for the cowboy or keep moving so the bad guys wouldn't find her.

Me and Black Ice! Photo Credit to Kai of Amaterasu Reads

Each one of us got a surprise ARC of Black Ice. Big thanks to Becca and NBS team! 

Me and Becca! Thanks to Kai of Amaterasu Reads

Becca and the blogger girls :) Thanks to Kayla for the photo!

Big thanks to National Book Store for the awesome forum + event! Now, because I love Patch and Becca and angels in general, I have a giveaway for those of you who were not able to make it to the Manila and Cebu signing. I asked Becca to even put in a little message for you...

So this is open to PH residents only, this time around. Might do an international giveaway for the next Tahereh-Ransom-Veronica signing. Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington

Book Description:

When Liv Bloom lands an art scholarship at Wickham Hall, it’s her ticket out of the foster system. Liv isn’t sure what to make of the school’s weird traditions and rituals, but she couldn’t be happier. For the first time ever, she has her own studio, her own supply of paints. Everything she could want.

Then she meets Malcolm Astor, a legacy student, a fellow artist, and the one person who’s ever been able to melt her defenses. Liv’s only friend at Wickham, fellow scholarship kid Gabe Nichols, warns her not to get involved, but life is finally going Liv’s way, and all she wants to do is enjoy the ride.

But Liv’s bliss is doomed. Weeks after arriving, she is viciously murdered and, in death, she discovers that she’s the latest victim of a dark conspiracy that has claimed many lives. Cursed with the ability to see the many ghosts on Wickham’s campus, Gabe is now Liv’s only link to the world of the living. To Malcolm.

Together, Liv, Gabe, and Malcolm fight to expose the terrible truth that haunts the halls of Wickham. But Liv must fight alone to come to grips with the ultimate star-crossed love.

Hardcover, 280 pages
Published March 11th 2014 by Soho Teen

Reviewer's Copy: ARC

Source: Pinoy Book Tours (Thank you!)

My Thoughts:

The story world of Liv, Forever reminded me of Hereafter with its living-and-dead-relationship, of Glimmer with its vibe, and of Anna Dressed in Blood with its bits and pieces of gore and violence. There was something positively sinister with the story that I just found my heart accelerating and found myself sitting at the edge of my seat as the events unfolded. The school kept a dark secret within its halls - something earth-shattering to shock all readers.

Liv was an admirable character. Expressive, a bit too persistent, fun and smart, she brightened up every scene in the book. Her death was a mystery to me and I, myself, struggled to find out how she died, why she died and who killed her. It was maddeningly to not know. It seemed that aside from her connection with Malcolm and the creepy mystery of Wickham Hall, her unanswered questions kept her feet tied to the ground.

The chapters were sandwiched between short narratives of the dead girls. This was something that thoroughly intrigued me throughout the book. Getting to know each and every one of the ghosts of Wickham Hall made me understand the story better and at the same time sympathize with them.

Malcolm was Liv's almost-boyfriend and lover. There were loss and constant hurt in both Liv and Malcolm's hearts because of her sudden death, leaving their love story and upcoming relationship suspended in the air. Thankfully, Gabe, someone who could see and hear ghosts, studied in Wickham Hall. He also happened to be Liv's friend. Serving as the middleman/messenger, he facilitated the communication between the couple. Though between silences, awkward moments and ghostly limitations, Liv and Malcolm had to make it work, how to express their feelings and make the other one feel his/her presence. I was amazed with their trust and loyalty towards one another. It was a difficult relationship to be in and I salute them for their strength.

The ending. That ending. To be honest, with this ending, I prayed and hoped that it would be a standalone. I couldn't think of a more bittersweet and more perfect ending. I love how Liv and Malcolm's relationship lasted until that point, strengthening and becoming even more intense. This was one of the few books that actually made me cry - it just made me remember of certain parts of my life. This was the point when I realized that throughout the book, Amy Talkington has made me emotionally invest in the story and in the characters. I love her for that.

Overall, Liv, Forever was a horror suspense that was a perfect read to finish in one sitting. Cute, heart-racing and very dark, Liv, Forever will made me flip through the pages and race to the end, continuously creeping me out with the story's dark side, surprising me with its twists and turns and making me smile with Liv and Malcolm's scenes.

4.5 Cupids = Obsessive book love.
Almost made it as one of my favorites! I strongly recommend this!