Weekly Wrap-Up and Book Haul

I spent most of my weekend marathoning Daredevil on Netflix, and let me say, it was amazing.  I didn't have much reading time because of this, but I don't really mind treating myself.  You'll see my review come soon.

In case you missed it last week, I did a review of Batman and Son and Tithe, talked about how I would love to return to these ten worlds, am waiting for Welcome to Nightvale, need your help deciding what to watch next, and also talked a little about some books I've DNF'd.

With the coming week you'll see reviews for Wild Born, Daredevil, Seraph at the End, and Birthright.  As long as I can keep up this reading pace you should see at least two reviews a week.  It's my goal.

This is my first week free of a book buying ban in over a month, so I splurged a little.  Here's what I picked up:

Barely Breathing (Breathing, #2) by Rebecca Donovan

I don't think I'll get to this one until the summer, but it's on sale on the kindle store, so I thought why not.  I liked the first one enough and would like to finish the series.  I've heard great things about the series but wasn't blown away with book one, so hopefully it goes uphill from here.

The Prince Who Loved Me (The Oxenburg Prince's, #1) by Karen Hawkins

I've been reading the hell out of my guilty pleasure lately, and this is another kindle deal.  The cover is just gorgeous, too.  I'm thinking it's a Cinderella retelling?

Proven Guilty (The Dresden Files, #8) by Jim Butcher

My local HPB carries most of these books in the UK edition and when I stopped by I couldn't help picking the beauty up (I plan to collect the series in both formats).  I'm reading this one next month and I'm super excited.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

Another purchase from stop at HPB.  After reading Tithe I couldn't stop myself.  Holly Black's writing is so good.  I was nervous about picking this up sooner because the premise sounds just like Blood of Eden but I've heard great things and want to read all of her works now!

Boundary Crossed (Boundary Magic, #1) by Melissa F. Olson

This is one of the Kindle firsts for the month and I'd thought I'd give it a try.  It may be a while before I get to it, though.

Fairest (Lunar Chronicles, #.5) by Marissa Meyer

Yes, yes, yes!  I finally got this one.  It was an Easter gift from my mom, so now I think I'll be starting Cress ASAP.

Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi- Into the Void by Time Lebbon

I've actually wanted this one for a while.  I picked it up on Kindle.  I know it's not technically canon, but it sounds really cool and I can't wait to get into it.

3 DNF Reviews

I hate DNFing books.  It's so sad to think that someone put effort into a piece and I couldn't even be bothered to finish it.  Unfortunately, some books just don't work out, and I'd like to explain why these three made that list.

For the record: when I DNF a book, it just means I couldn't finish it.  That may be because I didn't like it.  That doesn't mean someone else won't.  I don't want to discourage you from reading these, necessarily, especially if they sound interesting to you.  That's one thing I love about reading- one man's trash is another man's treasure.

The Mechanics Song (Winterworld, #1)

Author| Chuck Dixon
Edition| eGalley through Netgalley
Publisher| Diamond Book Distributors

Fans of Winterworld only know Scully's story from after he met Wynn. 
But what was life like for the traveling trader before he rescued a young girl and found a new reason to survive in the endless wastes of a frozen planet? 
Presented in stark prose by creator Chuck Dixon (author of the acclaimed Bad Times series) we learn for the first time of Scully's past from childhood to manhood in the brutal and unforgiving world where every day presents another challenge from death.
Filled with the kind of breakneck pacing, savage action, and high stakes that have made the comic series a world renowned classic, Winterworld Book 1: The Mechanic's Song will thrill you, horrify you, and touch your soul. Find out how the saga begins!

 Maybe I should have been tipped off by the "fans of winterworld" bit at the beginning of the description.  But the cover looked so cool and I wanted to know what it was about.  I couldn't get very far before I realized it was not what I thought, nor something I could just jump into.  I didn't give it much of a chance before giving it up, so I can't say if it got better or whether I really enjoyed the writing, or much of anything really.  I'm sure it will find a home and love with the fans.

P.S. I'm still not sure what winterworld is... maybe I should google it.

The Scarlet Letter

Author| Nathaniel Hawthorne
Edition| eGalley courtesy of Netgalley
Publisher| Diamond Book Distributors

I originally read The Scarlet Letter in school and absolutely hated it.  I couldn't get past the driveling writing and thought it went on for too long.  The climax was boring and the characters two dimensional.  I wanted to give the manga/graphic novel edition a try, both to see whether the story was something I needed to reread to enjoy and to see if this would help clear the air.  It didn't.  I enjoyed bits and pieces, but overall, I felt it just as dreary as the first time.  I put it down as soon as I picked it up.  So sad to say that.  For fans of the classic, though, this may be right up your alley!




The Adventures of Basil and Moebius 

Author| Larry Hama
Edition| eGalley courtesy of Netgalley
Publisher| Diamond Book Distributors

Alaric Moebius and Basil Fox are two lovable scoundrels looking to make a quick fortune. 
Basil is a former SAS trooper turned Queen’s Guard by day and thief by night. Moebius is an Oxford-educated charmer with a knack for getting into trouble. Together they chase adventure under the patronage of “The Collector,” a mysterious billionaire with a taste for rare and valuable supernatural objects of the occult. 
This first volume contains the first three adventures in their career together, introducing the unlikely duo for the first time in a highstakes chain of pulpy high adventures! 
Written by the legendary Larry Hama (G.I.Joe, Wolverine) with creator Ryan Schifrin, these wild adventures have the thrills of Indiana Jones, the wit and banter of the best buddy-cop pairings, and the globe-hopping wonder of James Bond. 
An exciting thrill ride from cover to cover!

There was so much I wanted to like about this book.  The premise is everything I could want.  Actually, writing-wise, I had no problem with it.  But there was just something about the art!  I can't exactly put my finger on it, but I just couldn't get into the story.  I depend a lot on the art when I read a graphic novel/comic or when I watch an anime.  If it doesn't live up to what I want, I always end up putting it aside.  So sorry to do that to this one, but sometimes it just has to happen.

What's Next: Bob's Dead Friends

What's Next is hosted by IceyBooks and allows the audience to pick what will be read next.  Normally it's for books, but this week I have three shows for you to choose from.  I'm almost done with Parks and Recreations, and I'll be so sad to see it go.  Over this weekend I'll be marathoning Daredevil (so, so, so excited).  After I've caught up, though, I'll need a new show.  So leave a comment with your vote down below.

1. Bob's Burgers

2. Friends

3. The Walking Dead

I'm game for all three.

Waiting on Wednesday: Welcome to Night Vale

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine and offers readers a chance to show off the books that have them drooling.

A quick shout out to my brother: happy birthday!  (he's turning fifteen and getting his permit soon... scary)

Anyways, this week I'm waiting on Welcome to Night Vale a book from the creators of the podcast.  Here's the cover:

I love the cover.  It goes so well with the artwork from the podcast and has a Route 66 vibe.  I stole the description below from goodreads, give it a look:

From the creators of the wildly popular Welcome to Night Vale podcast comes an imaginative mystery of appearances and disappearances that is also a poignant look at the ways in which we all struggle to find ourselves...no matter where we live.
"Hypnotic and darkly funny. . . . Belongs to a particular strain of American gothic that encompasses The Twilight Zone, Stephen King and Twin Peaks, with a bit of Tremors thrown in."--The Guardian
Located in a nameless desert somewhere in the great American Southwest, Night Vale is a small town where ghosts, angels, aliens, and government conspiracies are all commonplace parts of everyday life. It is here that the lives of two women, with two mysteries, will converge.
Nineteen-year-old Night Vale pawn shop owner Jackie Fierro is given a paper marked "KING CITY" by a mysterious man in a tan jacket holding a deer skin suitcase. Everything about him and his paper unsettles her, especially the fact that she can't seem to get the paper to leave her hand, and that no one who meets this man can remember anything about him. Jackie is determined to uncover the mystery of King City and the man in the tan jacket before she herself unravels.
Night Vale PTA treasurer Diane Crayton's son, Josh, is moody and also a shape shifter. And lately Diane's started to see her son's father everywhere she goes, looking the same as the day he left years earlier, when they were both teenagers. Josh, looking different every time Diane sees him, shows a stronger and stronger interest in his estranged father, leading to a disaster Diane can see coming, even as she is helpless to prevent it.
Diane's search to reconnect with her son and Jackie's search for her former routine life collide as they find themselves coming back to two words: "KING CITY". It is King City that holds the key to both of their mysteries, and their futures...if they can ever find it.

 I'm curious to see it manages to hold the charm and wit of the podcast and how it connects to the story line.  Even if I didn't love the description I would pick it up.  I highly recommend the podcast (Welcome to Night Vale), so go check it out.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Characters I'd Like to Check in on

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and is a weekly meme where we share books based on the theme.  My list is in order from least to most and I tried to pick books where I've finished the series/novel and know there won't be any spin-off companion soon.  Off we go!

10. The Dark Divine Series by Bree Despain
I felt like this series left on a cliffhanger.  I wish there were a novella or something to wrap everything up in a nice bow.

9. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Maybe not revisiting the characters so much as revisiting the world.  I loved the concept and would like to see it played out through another character's eyes, perhaps.

8. Daughter of Smoke & Bone Series by Laini Taylor
Another one that ended on a cliffhanger.  I loved this series and would eagerly pick up any companion story (and I think it needs one after the way Dreams of Gods & Monsters ended)

7. The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini
This series means so much to me.  I often think about it and would immediately buy any book related to it in any way.  Plus, the way it ended left so many new questions.

6. The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson
I know he's working on a sequel but I need it right now to satisfy my thirst for this book.

5. Graceling Realm by Kristin Cashore
I think many fans will agree on this one.  Each story was unique and each character holds a special place in my heart.  Even if it's not another novel, I'd like a short description for where each character is now.

4. The Host by Stephenie Meyer
I think this one needs more love.  It's such a great story (although it can be slow) and I return to it often when I'm in a bad mood.  Meyer has said she's writing sequels, but the more time passes, the more I believe it won't happen.

3. Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta
I would buy anything related to this series in a heartbeat.  It's not that I'm not satisfied with where everything ended, it's that I'm so in love with it that I can't help but want more.  All the feels!  I could do with twenty more in this series and not be satisfied.

2. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
I know Gaiman has said that he has plans for another and he has written several short stories following Shadow (I have read them!) but I really want more.  It's my absolute favorite story and I trust Gaiman to not steer me wrong.

1. Riyria Revelations by Michael J Sullivan
A spin-off following two specific girls (no spoilers!) would be everything I could dream of.  And Sullivan hasn't said no, in fact, he's for the idea once his writing calms down a bit.

5 Star Book Review: Tithe (Modern Faerie Tales, #1)

Author| Holly Black
Edition| UK Paperback
Genre| Paranormal Romance/Faeries
Publisher| Simon and Schuster
Rating| 5 Stars

If you follow me on twitter you may have seen me spreading the love for this book over there.  This was Holly Black's earliest foray into YA way back in the day and I think more people need to check it out nowadays.  I've seen gushing reviews over her more recent work Darkest Part of the Forest and Coldest Girl in Coldtown but this always seems absent from blogs, perhaps because it isn't such a new work.

Tithe is about Kaye, who, alongside her mother, goes to live with her grandmother.  While returning to her childhood home she finds herself reconnecting with old friends- human and faerie alike.  And then a chance encounter with a knight from the Unseelie Court sends her down a path to meet her destiny.

This book took me by complete surprise.  I can't find a bad thing to say about it.  It's dark and beautiful with fully fleshed out characters and a story that deviates from early expectations.  I was blown away by the writing (when I was younger I read Spiderwick Chronicles with my Dad and a few years ago gave White Cat a try) even though it wasn't anything new.

I was going through some books I was debating on getting rid of when I saw this one.  I actually have all three (and you will see me read them soon) and was a bit shocked I had forgotten about them.  For the longest time I've wanted to read them and when I did buy them I put them in one of my shelves I never look at.  Anyways, I sat down and read the prologue.  That's when I knew I couldn't put this one down.  And it was a feast of wonder.

There's little more to say about this book.  It's everything I needed and didn't know I needed.  I read it in less than a day, even though it was a busy day.  It had my full attention and it deserves yours, too.

Graphic Novel Review: Batman and Son

Sorry, I meant to post this earlier, but family started coming in for Easter and I jumped on the opportunity to go to the Easter Vigil Mass at my church.  It was beautiful, but by the time it ended I was so pooped I couldn't get my thoughts straight.  Anyway, I hope you're having a good Easter if you celebrate, of course.  And if you don't celebrate, I hope you're having a good weekend anyway!

Now, to the review!

Author| Grant Morrison
Edition| Paperback
Publisher| DC Comics
Genre| Superhero
Rating| 3.25

I hate to give things ratings like 3.25 because I feel like 3.5 is already getting a little "desperate" to rate something.  But in this case, I just couldn't give it more or less.  Maybe it has something to do with the character.  Like, Batman is better than a three-star hero!  But the story wasn't good enough to warrant four stars....

There are two reasons for such a poor rating on this book.  One, my expectations were too high.  And, two, I just wasn't in the mood.  I was when I first started reading it, but then by interest withered.

Batman and Son follows the aforementioned hero through some mind-bending adventures.  First, he finds out he has a son... with none other than an enemy (of sorts).  Then, he has to deal with his own demons, as well as other characters from his past.

This got much darker than I thought it would.  The first few bits, where they explored the relationship between Damien and Wayne, were pretty good.  I think, tonally, they were spot on.  The story lacked here, though, and the ending of this part of the story seemed lackluster.  I'm hoping in future volumes I read some of the questions will be answered more thoroughly.  Then there was an interesting short story thrown in.  Heavy on words and light on pictures, the whole thing was right out of something that would normally be published by Vertigo.  It wasn't bad, but I felt like it didn't add to the story in any way and was very unexpected.  It did lack the trademark Vertigo stamp, in my opinion- sticking with the reader.  I haven't thought about it since reading that section.

Then we go into the Black Glove story line.  Easily the most enjoyable part of book.  I loved the classic Sherlock Holmes or Agatha Christie feel to this story.  A mystery for the great detective.  It also sheds light on how people have been affected by 'the batman' throughout the world.  I'd recommend picking this book up for this bit especially.

And then the last part of the story.  It was... confusing.  I liked where it was going, but I feel like more could have been explained.  The important parts were, but there were still holes.  I don't know everything about Batman (though I do know quite a bit, growing up in a family that half the time idolizes the character) and I think I can say the same for many readers.  And the ending was abrupt.  i get the idea of a cliff-hanger, but this wasn't so much of a shocker as a turn off.  Had it ended one issue earlier in the bind-up I think it may have worked much better.

All in all, I will be picking up the volume that follows this (Batman RIP if I'm not mistaken) though I don't think for some time.

5 Star Review: Betrayed by Your Kiss

Author| Laura Landon
Edition| eGalley courtesy of Montlake Romance via Netgalley
Genre| Historical Romance
Publisher| Montlake Romance
Release| March 24th, 2015
Rating| 5 Stars

No one is more surprised than I am to find myself giving a guilty pleasure book five stars.  I recently started reading historical romance for the fluff and sweet, short stories.  But this one took it up a level.  I was surprised by how much I liked it, and looking at the author's other work, how much I think I'll like them all.

In Betrayed by Your Kiss Olivia sends her fiance, Damien, away when a price is put on his head.  Then, she learns he died in a fire and her whole life is changed.  She keeps his death a secret and takes on his estate, her own, and her father's company after his own death.  When his will is read she learns the truth- Damien is alive, and if she desires to keep everything that matters to her, she must marry him, even if he will never give her his heart.

This book is fast-paced.  There was little fluff in here.  Rather, it focused on the reaction of what Olivia had done and dealt with troubles with her shipping company.  There was a whole cast of characters, not super interesting, but only because they weren't particularly quirky.  I did feel like I got to know them all through the course of the book.  As for Damien and Olivia, our protagonists, I liked them.  I loved Olivia.  In the strong women category, she's pretty high up.  As for Damien, I did think he came off as a jerk several times.  He had redeeming qualities, but I feel like Olivia was too good for him to be honest.

The story surprised me.  It had a false climax and plenty of drama.  Both Damien and Olivia drive the plot in their own ways and it was a lot of fun to get into their heads.  It lacked a little steam in the romance, but it made sense for the story.  It does have some charged moments, though, so if you're uncomfortable with that, I wouldn't recommend.

Thanks again to Montlake Romance and Netgalley for letting me read this book.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and plan to read more of Landon's work.

April TBR

So last month was actually pretty good!  It may not have quite followed my TBR but I was happy with what I ended up with.  I read eight books, which brings up my total number of books this year up to 27.  And my total page count for the year so far is 9,962.  I consider this a good start to the year.  Now moving into a new season, I'm excited to see what comes up.

My TBR this month is very tentative.  These are the books I want to read right now, not necessarily the ones I will want to read throughout the month.  I'm also not sure what order I'm going to finish them in, so don' be surprised if they're tossed around a bit.

To Finish
Wild Born by Brandon Mull
Ember X by Jessica Sorensen
Breathe by Abbi Glines
The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan

Coming Up Soon
What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang
Alienated by Melissa Landers
The One by Kiera Cass

eBooks
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
The Clone Republic by Steven L Kent
Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void by Tim Lebbon
The Time Machine by HG Wells
Poison Study by Maria V Snyder

Paperback and Hardcover
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Brother Odd by Dean Koontz
Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld ~ a reread
Innocent Mage by Karen Miller
Eragon by Christopher Paolini ~ a reread
Cress by Marissa Meyer
The Shadowhunters Codex by Cassandra Clare

Forgive the hiatus

This isn't an April Fool's.... seriously.

I'm a big fan of the show Arrow and I live watch the show.  This night's episode has left me... broken? may be a good word.  Anyways, I have no energy left to blog today (besides this post).  I do plan on putting together a WoW and April TBR; they'll be up tomorrow before six.  My review I had scheduled for tomorrow will also be pushed a day.

Sorry, and thanks for stopping by.

March Wrap Up

I'm really happy with my reading this month.  I felt good about most of the books and didn't worry about stressing myself out.  Click the links if you're interested in seeing my reviews.

Books
The Hero of Ages 5 Stars
Dead Beat 5 Stars
A Darker Shade of Magic 5 Stars
Seraphina 4 Stars
A Heartless Design 4 Stars
The Fire Sermon 4 Stars

Graphic Novels & Manga
Outcast- Darkness Surrounds Him 4 Stars
Eden 2.5 Stars

TV Shows
Reaper (Season 1, Episodes 9-12) A
Smallville (Season 3, Episodes 1-4) A
Constantine (Season 1) B
Parks and Recreation (Seasons 1-3) B-

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books Recently Added to My TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  It's a weekly meme where you share what books relate to the theme.  This week is books recently added to my TBR.  I'm going off of my Goodreads TBR because that's really the only cohesive list I keep.  On my list the most recent is number one, and the least recent number ten.  Off we go!

10. The Scroll of Years

I saw a really good review for this series recently and thought it sounded like my cup of tea.  I don't really know much of what this is about, though.  I don't know when I plan to buy/read this, but I don't think it will be anytime soon.

9. Daughter of the Sword

Well, first of all, this cover is beautiful.  And the title, pretty cool as well.  I think this is an urban fantasy set in Tokyo, so that's a recipe for success.  I do plan on picking this one up rather soon and hopefully diving in quickly.  Knowing myself, though, it will probably just sit on my shelf for a while.

8. Trick of the Light

Honesty hour: I don't actually remember why I put this one on my list.  It sounds like a pretty standard urban fantasy and I like the cover, but it's nothing special.  I trust myself, though, and look forward to reading this some day.

7. The Better Part of Darkness

This cover is gorgeous.  I love it.  Pretty much the reason I put this one on my TBR list.

6. Duke by Day, Rogue by Night

Well, historical romance is my newest guilty pleasure, so it shouldn't be surprising that at least one shows up on this list.  Katherine Bone follows me on twitter (I'm pretty sure she used to at least) and I love the sound of her books.  I haven't purchased this yet only because I'm on a book buying ban.  This will be one of the first I pick up once I can start spending again.

5. The Clone Republic

This one has just completely entranced me.  It just sounds so bad ass.  I really am dying to get to this one and will *hopefully* get to it next month.

4. Inda

I like big books and I cannot lie.  And, I'm pretty sure, this one is about the size of a brick.  I've heard really good things about this on Youtube, so I thought, why not?

3. Ice Kissed

I like Amanda Hocking and I love the sound of this book.  I know it's a sequel, but I'm interested enough to start from the beginning.

2. The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell

I was actually surprised to see that this wasn't on my TBR list earlier.  I've always intended to get to this series.

1. Storm

I love this cover so so so much.  And I loved the first book in this trilogy.  I need to get to the sequel and then this one when it comes out.  This is a great series that features Japanese mythology, so I recommend.

5 Star Review: A Darker Shade of Magic

Author| V.E. Schwab
Edition| American Hardcover
Genre| Fantasy
Publisher| Tor
Rating| 5 Stars
Related Posts| WoW

This book seems to be the book of the moment right now, something it totally deserves.  I don't think it'll peter out after five seconds of fame, either.  This one strikes me as a story that will last for a while and, while reading, brought to mind classics such as Narnia and Stardust.  It had that same kind of fairy tale feel and, while I'm no Schwab expert, I believe this may be hailed as one of her greatest works.  Enough with the praise.  I'm sure you've seen many other wonderful reviews of this one.

For those who are unaware, ADSoM follows to protagonists- Kell and Lila.  Kell is from Red London, that which has a thriving magic system, and Lila is from Gray, where no magic exists.  Kell accidentally takes something from another London into Gray London, where the two cross paths.  From there forward they work as partners- one the adopted son of a king, the other a cross-dressing pirate.

I must admit, I almost gave it four stars for some minor flaws.  But I was being harsh.  I've had a bad track record with books when they get a ton of hype.  But really, the book crept into my dreams and showed me what good writing looked like.

The characters are so cool.  I loved both of them (though I'm rather more fond of Kell for some book crush reasons...).  Besides Kell and Lila, the side characters were intriguing.  We didn't get to know them as well as our main characters, but I do feel like they were each important and had their own story.  I do wish that they could be expanded more, but I feel that in the sequel they will be.  I think several of these characters were really teases of what was to come, so I'd rather not spoil my fun before book two comes out.

The pace was a little slow for my taste.  In the beginning and most of the middle and end I couldn't stop turning pages.  But there's quite a bit of time spent in Gray London (our world) and I wanted more of the other worlds.  We did get that eventually, but I had hoped to arrive sooner to embrace more of these strange places.  Of the other two worlds, Red and White London, I must say they were brilliant.  I wasn't sure if Schwab could pull off fantasy like this, but she ran with it and shone.  The languages of the worlds really made me happiest.  I felt like they were real and something I would love to learn for myself.

The magic system was interesting and deep, if not particularly unique.  There are those who can work with elements (something I see often) and then those who were travelers- Antari.  Antari were cool and much more interesting than the other forms of magic.  The magic system wasn't confusing either.  It seems like it would be hard to grasp when you first start the book, but it's explained well.

There wasn't very much humor in this book and I thought that was a shame.  I did find a few instances that I felt bordered on satire, but didn't quite make the mark.  I didn't need laughter from it, but that sort of accent on scenes might have helped the pace.

Regardless, I recommend this one with all my heart.  Everyone should read it, even those not big into fantasy.  It's a great book and you'll fall in love with the writing if nothing else.

TV Review: Smallville (Season 3, Episodes 1-4)

Watch| Netflix DVDs
Starring| Tom Welling (Clark Kent); Allison Mack (Chloe Sullivan); Kristin Kreuk (Lana Lang); Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor); John Glover (Lionel Luthor); Annette O'Toole (Martha Kent); John Schneider (Jonathan Kent); Sam Jones III (Pete Ross)
Rating| A

I love this show.  I'm not really sure what it is in particular, but I absolutely love it.  Unfortunately, I can't watch it very often because it's only available to me via the Netflix DVD service.  It is the main reason I still pay for that part of the subscription honestly.

So, in a few words, because I don't want to spoil you or bore you, let me convince you to watch it.  It's perfect for fans of Arrow or Flash and I would consider it the forefather of both those shows.  It proved how successful a comic book show could be, especially aimed at this audience.  It is the longest running Superman show, I'm fairly certain, and I believe this is the case because it sticks to Clark Kent.  It revolves around him discovering who he is before he becomes Superman.  The experiences and people that shape him, particularly his family and closest friends, Lex and Lana.

Upon reading the description of episode 3X01 I thought I had reached the point where the show jumped the shark.  I've heard that there comes a point where it gets a little crazy, but I'm glad to say this isn't that point.  I expect that to come after Clark's high school years, honestly.  The show has certainly gotten deeper into the mythology of where Superman comes from and what he was sent to do.  These episodes also reignited the story for Chloe (finally!), gave Lana the girl-next-door role again (yes!), and has worked to shift Lex's role completely, and, I think, steer him towards his destiny.

I am getting tired of the repetitive stories of people with strange powers.  I want the show to break away from that because sooner or later they will wear it out completely.  Also, Lionel is really getting on my nerves.  Of all the characters, he's the one I can stand the least.  This is purposeful, I'm fairly certain, but still grates on my nerves.  Overall, I'm very glad to be returning to Smallville.

What's Next: The Unbound Deadly Stormlord

What's next is a meme hosted by Iceybooks (who you should go check out immediately!) that gives blog readers a chance to pick what book I'll be reading next.  While this is a weekly meme I only do it at the end of the month.  This month's options are (drum roll please)...

Something Strange and Deadly (Something Strange and Deadly, #1) by Susan Dennard

Philadelphia 1876. The Dead are rising. A zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor Fitt. Whoever controls the Dead Army has her brother. She avoids her mother's choice of husband for the lab of Spirit Hunters, including the maddeningly stubborn yet handsome Daniel. The situation threatens her reputation, and the lives of everyone in the city.

The Unbound (The Archived, #2) by Victoria Schwabb

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books. Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.
Last summer, Mackenzie Bishop, a Keeper tasked with stopping violent Histories from escaping the Archive, almost lost her life to one. Now, as she starts her junior year at Hyde School, she's struggling to get her life back. But moving on isn't easy -- not when her dreams are haunted by what happened. She knows the past is past, knows it cannot hurt her, but it feels so real, and when her nightmares begin to creep into her waking hours, she starts to wonder if she's really safe. 
Meanwhile, people are vanishing without a trace, and the only thing they seem to have in common is Mackenzie. She's sure the Archive knows more than they are letting on, but before she can prove it, she becomes the prime suspect. And unless Mac can track down the real culprit, she'll lose everything, not only her role as Keeper, but her memories, and even her life. Can Mackenzie untangle the mystery before she herself unravels?
With stunning prose and a captivating mixture of action, romance, and horror, The Unbound delves into a richly imagined world where no choice is easy and love and loss feel like two sides of the same coin.

The Last Stormlord (Watergivers, #1) by Glenda Larke

Shale is the lowest of the low-an outcast from a poor village in the heart of the desert. In the desert water is life, and currency, and Shale has none. But he has a secret. It's the one thing that keeps him alive and may save all the cities of the Quartern in the days to come. If it doesn't get him killed first...
Terelle is a slave fleeing a life as a courtesan. She finds shelter in the home of an elderly painter but as she learns the strange and powerful secrets of his art she fears she may have traded a life of servitude for something far more perilous...
The Stormlord is dying in his tower and there is no one, by accident or design, to take his place. He brings the rain from the distant seas to his people. Without a Stormlord, the cities of the Quartern will wither and die.
Their civilization is at the brink of disaster. If Shale and Terelle can find a way to save themselves, they may just save them all. Water is life and the wells are running dry...

Waiting on Wednesday: The Aeronaut's Windlass

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine and allows readers to showcase the books they're most excited for.

This week is one of my most anticipated books of the year.  It's by one of my favorite author's (Jim Butcher) with cover art from one of my favorite artists (Chris McGrath) and part of my absolute favorite genre (Steampunk!).  So, without further ado....

Here's the description courtesy of goodreads:

Since time immemorial, the Spires have sheltered humanity, towering for miles over the mist-shrouded surface of the world. Within their halls, aristocratic houses have ruled for generations, developing scientific marvels, fostering trade alliances, and building fleets of airships to keep the peace.
Captain Grimm commands the merchant ship, Predator. Fiercely loyal to Spire Albion, he has taken their side in the cold war with Spire Aurora, disrupting the enemy's shipping lines by attacking their cargo vessels. But when the Predator is severely damaged in combat, leaving captain and crew grounded, Grimm is offered a proposition from the Spirearch of Albion—to join a team of agents on a vital mission in exchange for fully restoring Predator to its fighting glory.
And even as Grimm undertakes this dangerous task, he will learn that the conflict between the Spires is merely a premonition of things to come. Humanity's ancient enemy, silent for more than ten thousand years, has begun to stir once more. And death will follow in its wake.

I don't have any other words to describe how excited I am for this book!  What are you excited about this week?  Let me know in the comments.

Book Review: A Heartless Design (Secrets of the Zodiac, #1)

Author| Elizabeth Cole
Edition| Kindle eBook
Genre| Historical Romance
Publisher| SkySpark Books
Rating| 4 Stars

This is my first foray into historical romance.  All of the sudden I had a craving for this kind of book so I went on the kindle store and took a ton of the free ones.  I was then left to try and decide which I wanted to read most.  Having no experience in this field I chose this book based solely on the cover.  And I don't think I could have chosen better.

A Heartless Design follows Cordelia, who masquerades as Lear, an engineer, and Sebastien, a spy working closely with the crown.  They cross paths as he searches for the designs of a new type of ship, one Cordelia designed.  He's not the only one searching: enemies of England are also on the hunt and it soon becomes a high stakes operation.

I don't have anything to compare this to directly.  I plan to quickly move through other books of this genre, including the rest of this series, but until then, this will be the template of all things in a good historical romance novel.  It was short and sweet, hitting everything I like in a book.  The writing was good, the plot smart and kept me laying in bed flipping pages long into the afternoon.  The romance and the characters were believable and I felt transported to that time with only a few deft strokes of the pen.

Books in this genre often come with the idea that they're full of steamy scenes.  While there was one smack in the middle that stole the show it wasn't so full of them that I would consider it erotica.  I'll be honest, I like a good sex scene, but when something turns into 50 Shades of Gray and they're going at it every couple chapters, I lose interest.  A Heartless Design kept me interested and entertained the entire time, which is all I can ask for.

Book Review: Seraphina (Seraphina, #1)

Author| Rachel Hartman 
Edition| American Hardcover
Genre| YA- Fantasy
Publisher| Random House
Rating| 4 Stars
Related Posts| FIF

This book straddles two worlds- fantasy and reality.  Fantasy in that it takes place in a classic epic fantasy setting with dragons and such, but reality in that it deals with Self-Harm, religion, race politics, LGBTQ issues, and many other things hidden within the pages.  It's a book that requires you to read between the lines alongside that actual story.

If I could summarize this book, I would.  But the many twisting story-lines make that impossible.  Each is individually important and unique, but they also build upon each other.  The best I can say is this: Seraphina follows the namesake, a young woman recently given the job as assistant to the court musician.  Beyond this, she harbors a dark secret- she's half-human, half-dragon.  Her kind aren't supposed to exist and yet here she is.  But she must keep who she is a secret, something that is becoming incredibly harder to do.

There is little bad I can say about this book.  The characters were all surprises- any first impressions I had were crushed, but in the best way.  The setting, while pulling from classic medieval Europe, manages to have a unique flavor to it.  I think much of this relies on the dragon mythology being used.  The dragons really stole the show.  Rather than being half-assed (pardon my language) these dragons were on par with Smaug.  They were great!  I put a lot of stock in a good dragon and was not dissapointed.  Not just appearance, but dragon culture, especially their difference from humans, made them worth reading about.  Nothing ordinary or standard here; they were fully fleshed out.

So why not five stars?  Well, it had a slow beginning.  For a while I was waiting for the ball to drop and something amazing to happen.  It never quite happened, but there did come some invisible point where the book became much harder to put down.  It was a small shift, perhaps 150 pages in, but after that I wouldn't have dreamed of giving it up.  The slow start really did weigh on things, though.

I never would have read this book had I not received an ARC of Shadow Scales (review to come later).  I'm so glad I got the chance.  I really recommend this one, even if you're not a big fan of dragons.  It can pull to everyone's interest for sure.  This is one book to keep on your shelf, not merely borrow from the library.

Manga Review: Eden (Vol. 1)

Author| Bash
Edition| eARC courtesy of Netgalley
Publisher| Diamond Book Distributors
Genre| Paranormal/Mythological
Rating| 2 1/2 Stars
Publication| June 2nd, 2015

I received this as a free ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you.

Let's start with marketing: I had no idea this was a manga jumping into it.  The first several pages I read left to right and was completely lost.  But the art style made me consider the possibility of reading it right to left.  I'll admit, things began to make more sense.  However, I've scrolled few several reviews of this on goodreads and most of the other reviewers had a hard time reading it as well.  I haven't seen anywhere that this book is described as a manga, which can be problematic.

Outside of that, it was still hard to follow.  It begins by throwing you into a story about some kid with no memories.  He's being followed around by the Red Crosses? which are spirits that protect/harm humans, I think.  And he may also be being chased by angels and demons that don't want him to go into this town that he ends up appearing in magically anyways.  His friend may or may not be a shapeshifting crow, and this town may be populated by dead people? and magic wolves.  The story gives no inclination of what was going on.

The art left even more questions.  All of the characters looked the same and there was no clear distinguishing in any part of the story, except for maybe the main character, and even that was iffy.  When I thought I had a grasp on who was who it was shaken up on me.  Outside of this, I enjoyed the art.  I thought it was smart and had clean cut lines.

Every once in a while I would get into the story and begin to understand what was happening.  When these few moments came I found myself truly enjoying it.  But then it was thrown off.  I don't know if there was some issue in translating (I'm assuming it is translating because some of the grammar was off) or some central mythology I just didn't understand for a similar reason.

Unfortunately, I can't recommend this one, and I hate to give a bad review.  But it just didn't click for me.  It is a quick read, so if it does interest you in any way, I'd say pick it up from your library when it's released.

Winter Wrap-Up

Since today is the official first day of Spring I thought I'd take the chance to talk about some of my favorite books from this last winter.  This includes December of 2014, before I started blogging, so it's a great opportunity to high light those books I haven't talked about on here yet.  If I wrote a review for the book I'm talking about, I'll include a link to it.  Hope you enjoy!

(These are in the order I read them)

First up is Froi of the Exiles and Quintana of Charyn, two of my favorite books.  They make up the last to books in the trilogy, Chronicles of Lumatere.  They may be the best thing I read last year, to be honest.  If you could only read one thing this year, I would very much say that you should pick up the first book, Finnikin of the Rock.

The Thief is another first book in an award winning series.  It's got a slow beginning, but not long into it I forgot I was reading something at all.  I was flipping pages so quickly and completely lost track of time.  I stayed up until one in the morning, if I remember correctly.  Which, for me, is very rare.  I'm a little anal about keeping track of my time and when a book can get one over on me, it's definitely worth checking out.  So far I've only read one of the sequels, The Queen of Attolia, but it lived up to my expectations.

I may not have given this book five stars originally, but in retrospect I think I should have.  The Enchanted has stuck with me in a way few other books have.  I think about this book very often, and have considered getting it as a gift for most of my friends and family.  The message inside is complicated in the aspect that it has many facets.  The story it tells is unlike anything I've read before, which may have something to do with how much it has affected me.  It's definitively for mature readers, though, so be careful of picking this up.

The Mistborn Trilogy is something I will always hold close to my heart.  I do have mixed feelings over the ending, but then again, having mixed feelings means you constantly think about something.  Mistborn will always simmer under my skin and I don't think I'll find another fantasy series that sits quite this way with me.  Like many people I loved the magic system- allomancy infected my dreams- but more than that I loved the plot.  It was daring, it was provocative, and it was surprising.  Like many other fans of this series, I wholeheartedly recommend it, and think it's a great place to start the Sanderson journey.

Masters of Blood and Bone is a book more people should read.  It's perfect for fans of Gaiman or gritty SF&F reads.  It's got a surprising twist at the end that still makes my head spin.  I got this one as an ARC and didn't have super high hopes, but now, as you can see, it's one of my favorite reads.  Again, this one is for mature readers, so read with care.

Finally on this list is Red Rising and Golden Son, two books that have affected the books I read for the rest of the year, possibly the rest of my life.  I've always been a fan of fantasy, more son in the last two years, but regardless, I've always identified well with it.  Now, though, I think I can safely say that I'm a science fiction fan.  In fact, I've unofficially dubbed this the year of Sci-Fi and I plan on picking up many more of these kinds of books.  While I enjoyed Red Rising, Golden Son is where my heart truly lies.  Part Space Opera, but mostly a military story, it showed me everything a good science fiction story could be.  Red Rising was more dystopian, which may be why it didn't affect me as much, but it's worth getting through in order to reach the sequel.

5 Star Book Review: Dead Beat (The Dresden Files, # 7)

Author| Jim Butcher
Edition| American Mass Market Paperback
Genre| Urban Fantasy
Publisher| Roc
Rating| 5 Stars

I forget how much I love these books until I pick one up.  Then it's like my whole life revolves around Harry Dresden and his posse.  I have no idea what is so addictive about these books, but they grab me by the feels and swing me around.

This was my favorite book in the series so far, and I feel like I say that about every book in this series.  The Dresden Files are an urban fantasy series that follow the adventures of Chicago wizard Harry Dresden (aka the other wizard named Harry) as he solves crime.  He's a private detective that moonlights for the police.  In this volume he finds himself being blackmailed into helping an enemy.  This leads him to the center of a treasure hunt where all the other participants are necromancers out to kill him.

Harry is a wonderful main character.  It's hard for me to say a main character is my favorite character of any series because we get to see all aspects of them and it's hard to like all aspects.  But for Harry, he is my favorite without a doubt.  I love most of the characters besides him, too.  And two of my favorite just happened to share as much time in the story as Harry did: Butters and Thomas.

After the events of Book Six it's understandable that Thomas would be around quite a bit.  I was not expecting Butters in it at all, though, and it made my heart soar.  He grew so much over the course of this book that it surprised me.  Other main characters this time around include Bob- who's role is bigger than it normally is and very refreshing- and Mouse.  Mouse is, as ever, adorable.  Notably missing is Murphy, but I won't give away why.

The plot of this one was rather straight forward.  It built on past stories very well, especially those from Books One and Five.  However, while the previous six volumes had many stories that intertwined after two thirds, this one really only had one story.  It didn't need the padding of other story lines because it held its own very well.  I think that's what made this one better than the others.

I will recommend this series until I'm black and blue in the face from preaching.  That's how much I enjoy it.  It's perfect for fans of Grimm, Supernatural, and Constantine because it basically does what those shows do, except better.  Please go pick up book one, Storm Front.  And then come back so we can talk!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Heir

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine and allows readers to share what books have them most excited.

This week the book I'm waiting on doesn't come out until May 5th, and I don't know if I can manage it.

I'd share the description, but it contains some spoilers, so here's the link to goodreads.  Click it at your own risk.

Basically, I love this series (even though I still haven't gotten to the One....) and actually have the opportunity to meet the author!  Now, if only I can convince my friend to come with me....  Kiera Cass is coming to a local bookstore around the release date and it would be totally worth it.  I can't wait!

What are you waiting on this week?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books on My Spring TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  In my list the tenth is the least-exciting and the first is the most exciting.  So, here we go!

10. The Decaying Empire

Just look at this AMAZING cover, guys!  This is the sequel to The Vanishing Girl which I reviewed earlier this year and loved.  I read that one as an ARC and recently received this as an ARC as well.  This is a New Adult series about people who can teleport.  It's steamy and exciting and the first book ended on a cliffhanger so I really can't wait for this one.

9. Flesh and Coin

You guys know I love Craig Saunders.  Okay, maybe you don't know that.  But a book of his that I read earlier this year, Masters of Blood and Bone, is on my favorite list for the year so far.  So I had to preorder this one.  And it arrived.  I have high hopes, Mr. Saunders- don't disappoint!

8. Denton Little's Deathdate

This isn't a book I would normally pick up, I don't think, but I read the description anyways and it sounded like the perfect thing to shake up my regular reading diet.  I have an ARC of this one, too, and can't wait to get it.  For some reason the cover just screams "Spring Read" to me.  Anyone else?

7. Cress

It's time to finally knock this one out of the park.  I love this series and have heard this is the best book so far.  I also have it on good faith that I'll love the romance in this one...

6. Angelfall

I've been meaning to read this one since it came out.  I don't think I've seen one bad review, actually.  So why haven't I gotten to it?  No idea.  I guess I'm just lazy.  Plus, I own the sequel and have already ordered the third.  I think I have to start it eventually...

5. The One

Basically, I have procrastinated every single book in this series.  I love them to death, but I never do manage to read them on time or even close to when they come out.

4. Assassin's Apprentice

I've seen this book around quite a bit lately and with what I've been reading, I think I'll love it.  I already own all three books and plan to binge-read them, even if it is unhealthy.

3. The Sin Eater's Daughter

This book got a ton of pre-release hype and I hope it's worth it!  It sounds like a book I really, really need to read.  The cover alone grabs my complete attention.

2. Warbreaker

I just finished the Mistborn trilogy, so while I don't think I can go long without another Brandon Sanderson book, I'm also not up for starting a new series (hint, hint, Stormlight Archives).  Plus, of his two standalone novels this one draws me in.

1. A Darker Shade of Magic

Yes, of course ADSOM has made it onto this list.  It's the next book I plan to read, and I cannot wait!