TGIF - Feature & Follow Friday #163

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY is a blog hop that is designed to provide as much exposure towards other bloggers as well as yourself, and to expand following. It's hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, each whom feature a chosen blog for a week, it's also an interesting way to get to know one another bloggers.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Book Selfie! Take a pic with your current read. 

DUE to precaution "privacy" and blah, blah, blah... I'm not going to show my face! :P But here's what I'm reading now :)

Lovin it so far!

Waiting on Wednesday: A Shard of Ice by Alivia Anders

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by us, that highlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication 'can't-wait-to-read' selection is:

Title: A Shard of Ice
Author: Alivia Anders
Release Date: 14th September 2014
Publisher: Red Alice Press
Find on: Goodreads

THEIR SOULS, REAWAKENED.

When 13-year-old Lilix Morgan is found alive and floating on a bed of ice at sea, everyone counts it a miracle. Kidnapped nearly four weeks earlier, she remembers nothing of her mysterious abduction. When she tries to remember what happened, she hears only a melody – a faint and delicate set of notes, strung together in a tune she doesn’t understand. 

THEIR POWER, UNMATCHED.

A year later and desperate to put the lingering nightmares of her past behind her, Lilix crosses the country to enroll at Baelmorte Academy, aiming to become the violinist she once dreamt of. Things seem to be finally going well, and Lilix settles into a routine of sheet music and inspiration among new friends.

Then the dreams start. 

The melody and night terrors she thought she’d left behind return with a vengeance, threatening to ruin her fragile version of normalcy. Then an unlikely ally tells her that she isn’t alone. That there are others just like her, fighting to hide their own shocking truths from coming to light. That they know who she is, and what she’s been through. Now, accompanied by four other girls, Lilix discovers her nightmares are larger than a single trauma; they’re a window to a hidden part of her soul, a place of immense power with a destiny that cannot be ignored. 

THEIR BATTLE, IS ONLY BEGINNING.

With this knowledge comes a new and frightening reality. For Lilix has been reawakened to stop an age-old enemy, one thought to have been destroyed centuries ago. Trapped by her destiny, Lilix is torn between what feels right and what she remembers. Her memories tell her of a star-crossed love waiting to be reunited, of friendships and trust broken in the past. But can she save that love when reality brings her an enemy, and an evil that will be the undoing of them all if they don’t destroy it?

I was first pulled in by the name and the cover. And then the story made it sound even better than I expected! AHHHHH BUT WHY MUST IT COME OUT AT THE END OF NEXT YEAR? *pulls at hair*

TGIF - Feature & Follow Friday #162

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY is a blog hop that is designed to provide as much exposure towards other bloggers as well as yourself, and to expand following. It's hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, each whom feature a chosen blog for a week, it's also an interesting way to get to know one another bloggers.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Share something you've learned about book blogging or just blogging in general in the last month. 

Hmm... let's see *scratch chin* I learned blogging is... frustrating? Why? Well, I wished when I designed the blog, there was a touch screen function where I could actually put a widget in a certain place instead of it being decided by the blog template! But learning how to do all these have just advanced me in IT 'thumbs up HERE'!! 

Review: Dance in Shadow and Whisper by Sarah Godfrey and Victoria DeRubeis

Title: Dance in Shadow and Whisper

Author Sarah Godfrey and Victoria DeRubeis

Release Date: 19th June 2013 

Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: Kali unexpectedly discovers on her first day of human high school that she’s forbidden to eat or partake of the toilet during class time, the assigned history and species books look best on the shelves of popular fiction, and the boy she’s watching over is definitely a reincarnated war lord.

The highest powers of Kali’s people and the highest powers of Yuuhi’s people, irreconcilable enemies, designated them to find proof that Jason is, in fact, the reincarnated Ares.

All Yuuhi sees in Jason is the typical scrawny, socially inept emo kid dressed in conflicting shades of black. But Kali sees that Jason’s shadow is bigger than he is, and if the powers of Yuuhi’s people find out, Jason won’t be human much longer.

The desire to protect him from an unexpected visitor brings out her most dangerous sides. Something’s changing in her, something she can’t control, and she’s not afraid of Jason mutating into a creature of the shadows more than she’s afraid she’s becoming something even worse.

And the highest powers will be watching her.

Detailed Review: This book was the BEST fantasy book I've ever read surrounding demons and vampires. Really it was. It just managed to suck me right into the vortex of a story and not let me go. For starters, the story is very original and intriguing. The authors' style of writing leaves you questioning on every page and you know you'll have to read on to get the answers. I also liked how the authors only chose to involve demons and vampires and not werewolves and faeries. I'm starting to get tired of all those. But Dance in Shadow and Whisper was really a wake-up call for me.

Not only was the story mesmerizing, the characters set off a pretty high standard too. They fit right into the story and were clearly and elaborately thought out. I also like the multiple POVs in this book because sometimes it gets a bit tiring just seeing from one person's perspective. Also besides the central theme of war and retribution in the book, there was this word echoing the whole time in my head, the really obvious theme in this book.

FAMILY.

I could see how Kali and her brothers and fathers stayed closed together and never let go of each other. This was clearly what makes it so different from other books I've read. I've never read about such strong family bonds. This somehow affected the story more than I thought it would. It affected the ending too, no question about that.

The twist in the story which I think worthy of mentioning is that there is also another reincarnation of another war lord besides Ares. And what is most shocking is that the person you suspected the least is the reincarnation.

Now that ending is what kills me the most. It was really really painful for me to find that there was no continuation to the story that had me like a fish dangling on a hook. 

WHICH MEANS I NEED THE SECOND BOOK. The second book must come out soon. I'm dying of anticipation and apprehension here. 

Note: If the story and the review is not already a tip-off, the cover should do it. It's beautiful.

Brief Review: This book was unexpected in many ways. First the content was just a punch in the gut, and the characters were a stab to my body then the ending was a bullet to my head. This makes the book perfectly addictive and compelling to read. AND I WANT MORE KALI!

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

QUOTE: 

The best quote to describe the theme of family in this book:

Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.---David Ogden Stiers

Your Reviewer:

Waiting on Wednesday: Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by us, that highlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's upcoming 'can't-wait-to-read' selection is:

Title: Being Sloane Jacobs

Author: Lauren Morrill

Release Date: 7th January 2014

Publisher: Delacorte

Find on: Goodreads

Meet Sloane Emily Jacobs: a seriously stressed-out figure-skater from Washington, D.C., who choked during junior nationals and isn’t sure she’s ready for a comeback. What she does know is that she’d give anything to escape the mass of misery that is her life.

Now meet Sloane Devon Jacobs, a spunky ice hockey player from Philly who’s been suspended from her team for too many aggressive hip checks. Her punishment? Hockey camp, now, when she’s playing the worst she’s ever played. If she messes up? Her life will be over.

When the two Sloanes meet by chance in Montreal and decide to trade places for the summer, each girl thinks she’s the lucky one: no strangers to judge or laugh at Sloane Emily, no scouts expecting Sloane Devon to be a hero. But it didn’t occur to Sloane E. that while avoiding sequins and axels she might meet a hockey hottie—and Sloane D. never expected to run into a familiar (and very good-looking) face from home. It’s not long before the Sloanes discover that convincing people you’re someone else might be more difficult than being yourself.

The story did at first remind me of Will Grayson, Will Grayson but then it got more interesting with the swapping places part. I feel really intrigued and curious to know how it turns out. And the cover especially, is cuuuuute. Love it!

Review: Silent Echo: A Siren's Tale by Elisa Freilich

Title: Silent Echo: A Siren's Tale
Author: Elisa Freilich
Release Date: 10th September 2013
Publisher: Diversion Books
Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: Haunted by silence, a mute teenage girl is mysteriously given back her voice ... and it is divine.

Rendered mute at birth, Portia Griffin has been silent for 16 years. Music is her constant companion, along with Felix, her deaf best friend who couldn’t care less whether or not she can speak. If only he were as nonchalant about her newfound interest in the musically gifted Max Hunter.

But Portia’s silence is about to be broken with the abrupt discovery of her voice, unparalleled in its purity and the power it affords to control those around her. Able to persuade, seduce and destroy using only her voice, Portia embarks on a search for answers about who she really is, and what she is destined to become.

Inspired by Homer’s Odyssey, SILENT ECHO: A Siren's Tale is an epic story filled with fantasy, romance and original music.

Detailed Review: This book literally gave me the chills because it was so intense. I must say this book isn't lacking in the mystery and horror department. And the author really did her research, that's what made it so perfect and addictive at the same time.

Elisa manages to make the transition from reality into fantasy smooth, going easily with the flow. This is an admirable skill I like in authors. The story was unlike so many other fantasy books I've read so far. First, it was higher on the scare factor, especially in the end. I found that I couldn't stop reading just because of the fact that I was petrified that something would happen if I stopped. Second, the mythology in it is really strong, and not to mention were real. This turns the story into a more haunting one than some stories or myths created by the author himself. 

The best part in the book though, was admittedly the characters because they gave depth to the story. It felt like they were shaping it, that the story was affected by their actions and words, not something that's made-up. The story felt like it was really happening and I was a spectator. The characters fit in so well with the story, for example Portia's deaf best friend Felix wasn't influenced by her powers because he simply couldn't hear her. He was clearly meant to help her not get controlled by her powers. 

And like any good book. It has its twists. Good ones that will certainly leave you shocked and restless.

Now, this is what I call a good book... This is one hell of a story that will be hard to forget.

Brief Review: Mesmerizing and beautiful, this book manages to exploit music in a dangerous and seductive way, such that I got really overwhelmed and scared whenever I read it. Elisa shows consciousness of her readers and manages to surprise and stun at the most unexpected of times. I don't think it needs any more saying, but I'll say it. IT'S AMAZING. 

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

QUOTE:  

'Music doesn't lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.'---Jimi Hendrix

Your Reviewer: 

An Interview with Cristin Terrill

Hi everyone! This is Elicia here and I'm happy to say that I had a chance to interview Cristin Terrill, author of All Our Yesterdays! Everyone welcome her with open and loving arms! 

Click on the cover to see the ARC review of ALL OUR YESTERDAYS

Elicia: Why did you choose time travel as a focus for All Our Yesterdays?

Cristin: I'd say I didn't really choose time travel, it chose me. I've always loved time travel stories but had never really thought of one until the idea for ALL OUR YESTERDAYS  hit me, and then it just wouldn't let go.

Elicia: What do you think of the hype the book got?

Cristin: It's hard to really judge how much hype there is or isn't from the inside because my entire day is ALL OUR YESTERDAYS all the time anyway, but anyone talking about my book at ALL is pretty surreal. I never really, truly grasped the reality that getting a book published meant people would actually READ it until a few months ago, as silly as that sounds. It all feels very much like it's happening to someone else.

Elicia: If you could be a character in All Our Yesterdays, who would it be? Why?

Cristin: That's a really hard question, because all my characters have pretty difficult lives in one way or another! I guess I'd pick Marina, because most of her troubles are within her ability to change. (Plus she's really rich, which would be fun!)

Elicia: How would you feel if your book won a literary award or was promoted to become a movie?

Cristin: Stunned I'm sure. The book was optioned for film and there's a screenwriter working on it right now, and that doesn't feel real to me at all! It would be incredibly strange and also so, so fun to see a movie that started as some wild idea I got years ago when I couldn't sleep!

Elicia: Have you ever thought of co-writing a book with another author? If yes, with who?

Cristin: I think it would be really fun and interesting to co-write a book if the opportunity ever came up. I have no idea with whom, though, because although there are tons of writers I admire and would like to work with, our writing styles and ways of working would have to mesh together really well for it to be successful, and there's no way to know who I might be compatible with in that way! 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Cristin Terrill has a bachelor of the arts degree from Vassar College and a master of the arts degree in Shakespeare Studies from the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon, UK. She currently lives outside Washington, D.C., where she teaches creative writing workshop for kids and teens. ALL OUR YESTERDAYS is her first novel.