Girl In The Woods Reviews

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday: Of Metal and Wishes

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: Of Metal and Wishes
Author: Sarah Fine
Release Date: 5th August 2014
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Find on: Goodreads

There are whispers of a ghost in the slaughterhouse where sixteen-year-old Wen assists her father in his medical clinic—a ghost who grants wishes to those who need them most. When one of the Noor, men hired as cheap factory labor, humiliates Wen, she makes an impulsive wish of her own, and the Ghost grants it. Brutally.

Guilt-ridden, Wen befriends the Noor, including their outspoken leader, a young man named Melik. At the same time, she is lured by the mystery of the Ghost and learns he has been watching her … for a very long time.

As deadly accidents fuel tensions within the factory, Wen must confront her growing feelings for Melik, who is enraged at the sadistic factory bosses and the prejudice faced by his people at the hand of Wen’s, and her need to appease the Ghost, who is determined to protect her against any threat—real or imagined. She must decide whom she can trust, because as her heart is torn, the factory is exploding around her … and she might go down with it.

The story, it's just so compelling! I just wanna read it now! And the title and cover makes it just even more irresistible!

TGIF - Feature & Follow Friday #167

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:
What were some of you favourite picture books as a kid? If you have kids, what are your favourites to read to them?

I didn't really read much picture books when I was young but if I had to pick one that was kinda close to the term 'picture book' it would be the Peter and Jane series. It's been soooo long since I have read those BUT I still have them! hehe :P

Guest Post BY Anna Bloom

UPCOMING: The Uni Files Year One – The Art of Letting Go Read-Along BY ANNA BLOOM

Hey! Anna here,

Cait messaged me last night and asked if I would write you guys a quick post telling you about the read-along we are arranging for my debut novel The Uni Files – The Art of Letting Go.
The novel comes out next week, and can I just say I am completely overwhelmed by the positive response and support I am getting from readers and bloggers alike – I am feeling very loved right now which is great in itself.
So anyway the idea for the read-along is we are going to split the novel into three sect
I should point out that you don’t need to worry if you just want to read ahead because you can just jump in and out of the chat as and when you like.
The unique thing with this read-along is that I am actually going too re-read along with everyone at the same time. I will post any extra info I have. For instance if a scene in the book was made out of a different earlier one. What music I may have been listening to when writing it, or even how I actually felt writing different sections. Writing is a very personal emotional experience so it will be nice to share some of those feelings with you all. I will also post up any pictures I may have to help you visualise some of the settings –I may need to go strolling down Putney High Street with my camera taking photo’s like a tourist! (Anyone up for joining me for a drink along the way?)
If you would like to join in then head over to www.annabloomwrites.com and sign up to follow the blog via email and then you will always receive the read-along posts when they come up and comment as you like.
We will start next Saturday which will give you all a chance to get the book, start to read and hopefully fall in love with The Uni Files!

Anna x

Waiting on Wednesday: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

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: Since You've Been Gone
Author: Morgan Matson
Release Date: 13th May 2014
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Find on: Goodreads

The Pre-Sloane Emily didn’t go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn’t do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend—the one who yanks you out of your shell.But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just… disappears. No note. No calls. No texts. No Sloane. There’s just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try… unless they could lead back to her best friend. Apple Picking at Night? Ok, easy enough.Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not? Kiss a Stranger? Wait… what?

Getting through Sloane’s list would mean a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who knows what she’ll find?
Go Skinny Dipping? Um…

This sounds so interesting for a contemporary! I'd love to see the full list which Sloane has left for Emily! This book sound like fun and I must admit the cover is really delicious too!

Review: Luminous: An Alternate Reality... Is The Real One by E.Bell

Title: Luminous: An Alternate Reality... Is The Real One
Author: E.Bell
Publisher: Booktango
Release Date: 4th June 2013
Find on: Goodreads, Amazon

Quick Review: It is 2049, and sixteen-year-old Lucia Carboni carries a weight on her shoulders not typical of a teenage girl. Her burden is not clothes, boys, or school; it’s saving the world. Born into the Ascended Ones, Lucia’s mission is to help the cult depopulate the world, take over, and enslave the survivors. If all goes well, by 2050, there will be a New World Order—a plan the Ascended Ones have been working toward for centuries.

After Lucia is sent undercover to public school, she attempts to fit in and develops friendships with the very people her cult seeks to destroy. But what no one knows is that Lucia is immune to her cult’s brainwashing techniques. Torn between her upbringing and hope for her future, Lucia makes a bold decision to escape to Ground Zero in New York City, where she hopes to find her mother, pose as an alter, and seek proof of the Ascended Ones’ plan. As she embarks on a journey to the truth, Lucia soon discovers that nothing is as it seems.

In this exciting futuristic tale, a teenager races against time to enlighten the world and stop an evil plan before it is too late.

Detailed Review: << review copy received from the author herself >>

The title is really long isn't it? So I'm just going to cut it short and call it "Luminous". So... personally Luminous had a really great plot and storyline but the writing itself was... incomplete and simple? Not complex enough to make the story more interesting.

I really thought this would have had more potential. It really did have one. I think if the writing was more wishy-washy or fun, I think the story would have had a better chance of spreading like wild fire (if you know what I mean).

I felt like her characters were undeveloped and empty. There was not much development it was confusing as well...

But I think if the author put more effort in the story (not like I'm saying the author didn't!) It's just it didn't really an impression on me.

The author should improve her writing skills as well as her character descriptions. I think she should write her analysis on her characters before she writes them but overall I think the story plot was OK. I mean, really!

There was alot room for improvement. Unfortunately I found this book to be very 'empty' and not that exciting to read.

Brief Review: It was so-so and there really wasn't an impact on me when I read this book... The author's writing was quite bland and there was no "oophm!" that I really wanted to see in this book.

My Rating: 2/5 "It was OK but not for me..."

Your Reviewer:

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:
It is up to you to do a Kickstarter campaign for you favourite book!!! Who are you casting for the main characters?

Well, I can't possibly say TMI because it's already a movie so let's see... I think Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver Trilogy should be made into a movie! That would be sooo cool :) And possibly Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy by Laini Taylor including The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa!!! I would definitely wanna watch those as movies :)

Blog Tour and Review: Dark Remnants by L.K. Hill

Title: Dark Remnants (Street Games #1)
Author: L.K. Hill
Release Date: 3rd September 2013
Publisher: Create Space
Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: In the most dangerous city in the country, one controlled by a sadistic gang called the Sons of Ares, Kyra Roberts is searching the deep places for someone…

Kyra has come to Abstreuse city to find someone she’s lost, but walking the underbelly—a dark alley system residents call the Slip Mire—even in disguise, is rife with dangers. Kyra must stay on her toes if she intends to live. After crossing paths several times with the same detective, she wonders if his work and hers might be connected.

Gabe Nichols has worked homicide in Abstreuse for three years. Dead prostitutes and gang violence are part of the night shift. When a woman who looks like a street junkie but acts like an intellectual saves his life, he’s intrigued. Another woman shows up at his crime scene, and Gabe’s instincts kick into high gear when she clams up. Two cases involving strange women who won’t tell what they know are too coincidental.

If Gabe and Kyra can’t find a way to collaborate, they may not live to see the sunrise. Doomed, like so many others, to become gray, unmarked graves in a forgotten fracture of the Slip Mire.

Detailed Review: Liesel has done it again. After I finished the book, I was literally pining for the next book, desperate to know what would happen next. I wanted to throw a tantrum and yell for the next book to come out NOW, but of course it wouldn't happen. If this book really managed to reduce me to such childlike behavior, that means Dark Remnants in a very very very good book.

In this book, the author's writing is developed and her descriptions of Abstreuse city made me imagine the Slip Mire perfectly well. I could even draw you a picture of it (although I'm not born for art, that's Chloe). But you'll understand what I mean when you read the book. Not IF. WHEN.

What made the book stands out in the crime thriller genre, is its characters. Kyra made it to my 'best heroine' list, with her intelligence and determination. She is a character with depth and a person who I would love to know better in the next few books. Gabe Nichols is also a very special character with secrets of his own and to me is an amazing detective. And both of them are more similar than they've ever thought in their pasts and family history. Liesel also managed to impress me with the secondary characters because of their differing personalities and the way they affected the main characters Kyra and Gabe.

This is a truly talented author at work here. No doubt about that. I mean, the twists! Will they ever stop? They're just so sudden and unexpected that it hits you hard like a stab to your heart. And I'm not exaggerating here. Also, the author manages to highlight the horrors of a place like Slip Mire with accuracy. If that's not talent, what is that?

Why isn't Liesel K. Hill famous yet? WHY?!? She should no longer be a self-publlished author! She should be as famous as Amanda Hocking or even Dan Brown!

A heart-pounding crime thriller that involves interwoven mysteries and stories awaits you if you dare to take the challenge...

Brief Review: Liesel has once again impressed me with her amazing writing abilities and if given anything to devour by Liesel Hill, I would gobble it up in minutes! This author really should be more recognized in the world and I really hope by next year, she would have made it up to the 'famous author' level on the ladder!

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing'