Book Review: What's Left of Me (The Hybrid Chronicles, #1)

Author| Kat Zhang
Edition| American Paperback
Genre| YA Dystopian
Publisher| HarperCollins
Rating| 4 Stars

This has been sitting on my shelf forever.  I actually got to meet Kat Zhang at a signing over a year ago, but didn't buy her book then (my loss).  When I later got around to purchasing it, I never thought much of it.  But it was eagerly recommended to me, and I'm so glad I picked it up and gave it a try.

What's Left of Me follows Addie and Eva, two sides of the same person.  In their world, everyone is born with two souls- the dominant one takes over and the other goes to sleep, forever.  Except for in Hybrids, like Addie/Eva is.  When they're found they're sent to an asylum along with some friends.  It's there that they uncover a conspiracy that changes everything.

I liked the concept.  It reminded me of The Fire Sermon, to be honest, though I think it did a better job than that did in telling stories.  It also managed to capture feelings of the hospital- a real hospital and not a romanticized one you often see in these kind of things.

I classify this book as dystopian, but it's not set in the far future.  In fact, it's set in relatively present day.  I guess it's more of a parallel universe than a dystopian.  But it has many aspects those books have- a government with too much control, a character who steps outside society, a society that bands against a threat that isn't real, a false sense of security.  The list goes on.

The characters are well developed, but there are moments where they fall completely flat.  None of them had a special spark to them that makes them worth remembering.  It's this lackluster character building that weighs on me the most.  However, I think, if I spend more time with them (and pick up the sequels) this shouldn't be a problem.  Still, for a debut book that's a lot to ask a reader.

I will be picking up the next book in the series, at least, because the ending was wonderful.  Not what I expected at all but in a good way.  I'm hoping for similar surprises in the future.

Waiting on Wednesday: Thor- Goddess of Thunder

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.  Click here to be taken to their blog and to join in on WOW.

This week I'm waiting on something rather unconventional.  It's not a book, per say, but it's a graphic novel.

You may not have heard but Thor is a... lady?  Sort of.  Thor Odinson is now unworthy to wield Mjolnir so he is forced to "drop" the superhero mantle of Thor.  However, with Frost Giants attacking earth, someone must step in and save the day.  And that person is a mysterious woman, worthy to hold Mjolner.  No one knows who she is, but everyone, especially Odinson, is eager to find out.
This bind up contains the first five issues.

I've been excited for this for a while.  I considered picking it up from my local comic store, but opted to wait for it to come out all nice and bound up.  And now, only a few weeks away, it is almost mine.  I haven't preordered it yet, but I will soon.  I'm considering it a little graduation gift to myself when it arrives at the end of the month.

What are you waiting on this week?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Author's I'd Really Like to Meet

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the Broke and the Bookish.  Click this link here to be taken to this week's post and to participate.  I only included author's I haven't met.  So, without further ado, here they are in order:

10. Maggie Stiefvater

I love her books so much, and she seems to be a really cool person to meet in person.  Her talent astounds me, and I think I would die in her presence.

9. Holly Black

I read Spiderwick Chronicles with my dad when I was just a wee child.  Now that I've graduated onto her older stuff I lover her just as much.  I want to meet her and tell her how much her writing means to me.

8. Scott Westerfeld

His books have shaped my reading.  Uglies set me on the track for dystopians, and I still hold it to the highest standard.  And then, Leviathan made me a huge fan of Steampunk.  It's, now, easily my favorite genre.  I wish I could meet him and give him a hug.

7. VE Schwab 

I want to meet her, but I think I might speak in tongues.  I don't know what to say to her because she's stolen all the good words and put them in wonderful order.

6. Rick Riordan

I'm so jealous of my cousin, who got to meet Mr. Riordan.  I feel like Rick Riordan helped shape mine and many other's childhoods.

5. Jim Butcher

I almost saw him.  I feel like I need to finish all his books before I could even get him to sign one, though that's a daunting task.  Harry Dresden is one of my favorite fictional characters, and to meet the man who created him would be great.

4. Cassandra Clare

Her books always make me smile.  I've always wanted to be a writer, and a dream of mine is to create as intense as she has. 

3. Michael J Sullivan

Oh, I absolutely love him.  His books reintroduced me to fantasy and have changed my reading diet forever.  I want to be able to shake his hand and personally thank him.

2. JK Rowling

Meeting her would be such an event!  I would wait for days in line to meet her and get her to sign my books.  Enough said.

1. Neil Gaiman

And, of course, Mr. Gaiman.  For a long time I've said that I would drop everything to see him in person.  I don't know how else to articulate how awesome it would be.

Book Review: A Crown for Cold Silver

Author| Alex Marshall
Edition| eGalley courtesy of Netgalley
Genre| Dark Fantasy
Publisher| Orbit
Rating| 4 Stars

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you Orbit, and Netgalley.

I'm so sorry.  I feel like such a horrible person!  It's been such a long time since I've reviewed a book on this blog and I feel as if I've let you all down.  I'm not sure what happened.  I didn't go into a reading slump, per say, but I also wasn't reading as many novels as usual.  The ones I did read took me much longer than I expected.  But summer is right around the corner and I intend to make things right.

A Crown for Cold Silver is one heck of a book to debut with.  It's pretty great, and pretty expansive.  It follows several characters, particularly Zosia, as they follow their own paths to individual vengeance.  I can't say much because I'd risk giving something away.

Allow me to start with the bad and get it out of the way.  This book is long.  I don't mind long books that carry you through at a pretty quick pace.  ACfCS was anything but fast.  I think a few years pass as the story unfolds and for a lot of that time I felt like nothing interesting happened.  The most interesting of the characters, Zosia, was often left out of the story.  She was the only one I was really curious about.  More was left unsaid over her than anyone else, who were dissected so much I got headaches.  And then the ending was pretty terrible.  If this is a series, it's fine, because it leads nicely into more stories.  But if it's a novel, as I've seen it advertised in many places, it sucks.  It leaves EVERYTHING open and there are even more questions than answers.  The questions at the beginning of the book, even, remain unsolved, growing larger.  Character's felt tossed about and un-cared for, their stories dying off slowly.  The major plot didn't seem to move much at all, either.  If this is the start of a series, though, count me in.  I like where it's going.

Now, the good.  The coolest part about this book was that it happened after the "golden age" for these characters.  Think RED (the movie starring Bruce Willis and a bunch of other BAMF old people), where there were many adventures before the book even begins.  And we never get to see them.  And they sound like pretty cool adventures.  Somehow, Marshall manages to convey these previous stories, without telling them.  The characters are well developed before anything really starts and they continue to develop.  The journey they're all on, now, is equally as interesting as whatever came before.  I loved how it kept up this feeling of, "they had lives before this shit went down- cool lives" the entire time.

The magic system was wicked awesome as well.  The way demons worked, sort of like familiars, until you set them free in exchange for a wish, was awesome.  This way everyone had the same way to get power, and also a way to characterize that power.  It gave a personality to the magic, and introduced some very ambiguous, very interesting characters.

Whatever Mr. Marshall write's next, I'll pick up.  He seems to be a natural at this writing thing.  He's captivating and full of unique ideas.

Weekly Wrap-up and Bookhaul

Happy mother's day!  I'm not sure what my mommy wants to do, yet, but I'm looking forward to spending some time with her.  This week was pretty good, but you may have noticed my presence lacked a bit on the internet.  This is my last month of school, so if I seem spotty, that's why.  I will be trying to post something every day, but with last minute stuff I can't make any promises.

Last week I managed to finish Stardust and Hawkeye: Little Hits.  I've also been reading a lot of comics, so next week's Sunday Comics will be chalk full.  I've just been in a huge superhero mood.  I also finished Bravest Warriors, which was awesome, and have been playing an app called Monument Valley.  I don't think I'll do a full review of it, but I want to give a quick one, perhaps in next week's wrap-up.

Reading wise, I started (and plan to finish today) Alienated.  When I'm done with that I'll be picking up The Girl at Midnight and if I manage to finish that (which I doubt) I'll be reading Proven Guilty, book eight in the Dresden Files series.  On the graphic novel front I'm reading Daredevil Ultimate Collection by Brian Michael Bendis, David W Mack, and Alex Maleev.  That should last me for at least the rest of this week.

Here's the schedule for the blog this week:

Monday- Crown for Cold Silver review

Tuesday- Top Ten Tuesday

Wednesday- Waiting on Wednesday and What's Left of Me review

Thursday- TV Talk (ABC)

Friday- Halo Bound review (5 Stars)

Saturday- Weekly Wrap-Up and Bookhaul

Bookhaul wise, it was a good week.  I didn't expect to get this much, but I'm very happy with all of them!

I picked up The Glass Magician as an eBook because 1) it's on sale right now and 2) I own the first book and have been meaning to read this series for a while.  I also put in a pre-order for book three, so I'm all ready to go now.  Expect to see me read these very soon.








Star Wars day was last week, and several comics were on sale, so I picked them up on my kindle.  I'm really excited to dig into these babies, and I expect good things.

 I picked up three digital comics, all from DC, this past week as well.  I've read the two Teen Titans issues, but have yet to get to Batgirl.

My preorder of A Court of Thorns and Roses finally came in!  I'll be starting this before the end of the month.










And then my mommy came home and surprised me with these two gems!  I know what I'll be marathoning when I go on vacation this summer.

Manga and Anime Review: Noragami

Author| Adachitoka
Edition| American Paperbacks
Publisher| Kodansha Comics
Genre| Mythology
Rating| Overall 4.25 stars (5 stars anime; 4 stars for first two manga volumes)

So, where to begin with this series?  I feel like there's so much I could talk about, and I plan to, so stay with me.

Noragami is about the god Yato, who's a bit down on his luck since he doesn't have even one believer.  But he makes do, advertising everywhere and charging five yen for his service.  The thing about gods is that they're not something regular people see.  But then Hiyori, a regular girl, sees him and "saves" him from being hit by a truck.  Instead, she's hit, and the even knocks her halfway to the grave, tethered to reality and life by a "tail".  She gets Yato to promise he'll help her, but he's lazy and looking for a friend, so he takes his time and she pals around.

Anime Review
I came across the anime by accident.  It's on Netflix, and it's amazing!  The story had me before the first episode was over.  Each character that was introduced had me in love, and the story continued to build naturally.  Noragami single handidly brought me into the world of anime full-heartedly.  When I saw that the manga was being adapted into English, I heartily jumped at the chance and ordered the first two volumes.

Dub vs Sub thoughts
Let me digress for a moment.  Recently the trailer for the anime with English dubs was released.  I couldn't stand it.  The voices were all wrong and nothing matched up.  I've seen anime in the past and have been fine with it before.  However, Noragami showed me what I was missing.  There's something so much better in listening to the characters speak in Japanese.  I thought maybe this preference came from the fact that I watched Noragami in Japanese first, reading the English subs.  But then I gave another show a try, with dubs instead of subs.  Still couldn't stand it.  I can, from this day, no longer watch dubs unless I have to.

Manga Review
I've read the first two volumes of the series so far and I enjoy it.  So far it hasn't strayed from the story laid out in the anime.  However, it expands on the universe and the mythology a great deal, and also adds important character development that was missed in the show.  I liked these things about it, but I'm glad I saw the show before I read the books because then I didn't feel like I was missing anything.

What didn't I like?  The manga moves much slower than the anime.  I suppose this makes sense, but I feel like it stays focused on minor things for a little too long.  I also didn't get as strong personality out of some of the characters.  Kofuku, for example, was a little flat on the page whereas she pops on the screen.

Neither the story nor the art are bad.  In fact, art wise, it's probably my favorite manga style I've seen.  I feel like the fact that the story is slower gives it, and me, more time to breathe.  And, hopefully, will allow it to develop the relationship between Yato and Hiyori more.  In the anime, what feels like it could be a romance is rather cut off and short.

So would I recommend it?  Certainly!  Particularly if you're new to manga/anime.  It's not a long series so you won't feel swamped by its size, and the anime is readily accessible.

Waiting on Wednesday: Illusionarium

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.  Click here to be taken to their website to participate in this weeks WOW.

This week I'm waiting for Illusionarium, which doesn't come out until May 19th.  Here's the cover and description from goodreads:

What if the world holds more dangers—and more wonders—than we have ever known? And what if there is more than one world? From Heather Dixon, author of the acclaimed Entwined, comes a brilliantly conceived adventure that sweeps us from the inner workings of our souls to the far reaches of our imaginations.
Jonathan is perfectly ordinary. But then—as every good adventure begins—the king swoops into port, and Jonathan and his father are enlisted to find the cure to a deadly plague. Jonathan discovers that he's a prodigy at working with a new chemical called fantillium, which creates shared hallucinations—or illusions. And just like that, Jonathan is knocked off his path. Through richly developed parallel worlds, vivid action, a healthy dose of humor, and gorgeous writing, Heather Dixon spins a story that calls to mind The Night Circus and Pixar movies, but is wholly its own.

I read Heather Dixon's other novel, Entwined, quite a few years ago.  I liked it, but I didn't love it.  Given a few years, though, and a completely new book with new characters, I'm very excited.  Plus, that cover is amazing and makes me think steampunk.

What are you waiting for?

Pilot Season #2

Yes, we're beginning to close in on the pilots.  Channels are going to be making the big decisions this month, and I'm here to help introduce you to a few of the pilot's I have my eye on.

This is a continuation from this post here which you should definitely check out.  Each time I post one of these (every twelve days or so) I take time to talk about a few pilots the channels have their eye on.  A pilot is the episode used to sell a series.  Normally, an idea is pitched to a network, the network decides whether they want it, and then a pilot is made.  The pilot then determines whether the show gets picked up for a few episodes (normally somewhere from six to twelve episodes).  The turnout for those episodes then determines if it gets a full series.

Since these are only pilots, it means very little.  They may get picked up, they may not.  Every year I try to jump on the train early and pick out what I'm most looking forward to.

Super Clyde @ CBS

This one stars Charlie McDermott (the oldest brother on The Middle) as a fast-food worker that finds his calling.  It's a comedy, which we know he can pull off, that sounds like a good fit for the sort of character he's used to playing.  If I'm being honest, I think it could turn into a great guilty pleasure, if nothing more.

Supergirl @ CBS

It would be more surprising if this show didn't work out.  I mean, superheros and comics on TV are the thing these days (I have no problem with that!).  Especially coming from the brilliance that is Greg Berlanti (of Arrow and Flash fame), this one promises to be, well, super.  It could be a lot of fun in many different ways, and will finally get a kick-ass female leading a DC show!

Cheerleader Death Squad @ The CW

Corny sounding, I know.  But hey, it is the CW bringing this one forward.  It's about an ex-spy who begins to recruit and train some of his students to help him do spy stuff.  It sounds pretty fun, and actually makes me think of Kim Possible.  There's so much potential here, but something tells me it won't be given much of a chance.

Dead People @ The CW

So a cab driver starts seeing ghosts, including his ex-wife.  You had me at seeing ghosts.  Plus, the lead, isn't bad on the eyes (Andrew J West, anyone?).  Again, I feel like it has a ton of potential and good be a darker show.  I'll watch it regardless, and actually consider it a most anticipated (assuming it happens).

Tales from the Darkside @ The CW

This is exactly what television needs!  A horror anthology series has been missing from the networks for too long.  I love the idea of it, plus, it's just a reinvention of the 1980 version.  Can anyone say vintage?  Count me in right now.

Any shows catch your interest?  Would you watch them?  I want to know, so drop me a comment down below!

Graphic Novel Review: Hinges (Clockwork City, Vol. 1)

Author & Artist| Meredith McClaren
Edition| eGalley courtesy of Netgalley
Publisher| Image Comics
Genre| Steampunk
Rating| 4.5 Stars
Release Date| March 10th

I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.  Thanks to Netgalley and Image Comics for allowing me the opportunity to read this.

In a word: adorable.

I loved this book.  It was quaint, and fun, and beautiful.  The art was simple, but powerful and alluring.  The dialogue was far and few, but it was potent.  The story was unique and captivating.  What more could you want from a book?

A little more.  It was too short.  That such a bad complaint, I feel, but it's an honest one.  I loved where the story was going, but it felt cut off, like there was still more to come.  And I know there is, but I feel like more should have been included in one volume.  I'm not sure how far along the series is now, although it is a webcomic, if you're interested in looking into it.

I'm looking forward to the next volume, whenever that may come out.

Until then, May the Fourth be with you!

Sunday Comics

This is something I'll be doing every other week or so.  Since I've recently started to read more and more comics in the individual issue format, this makes it easiest to review them.  Rather than have a short post for each issue, I'll be able to put them all together in one post.  Some will have more reviews than others.

This week I dabbled a little bit with digital comics.  I got some free for promotional reasons (thanks Fandango VIP program) and found that it's a pretty great medium.  It's a cheap and fast way to get old comics that may not be easy to find in print.  They're free apps and free accounts, so if you're new to comics check them out.

I read one of the promotional comics this week, to help gear up for Age of Ultron, and also pulled up an old DC comic I've had my eye on for some time.

Quicksilver and The Scarlet Witch (Avengers Origins, Issue #1) written by Sean McKeever with art by Mirco Pierfederici

This read like a compilation of pieces from other stories, but I think they've all been reworked.  They give a good introduction to the characters and help moviegoers get to know them.  I wasn't overly familiar with them, and this got me back in touch.  I feel like I connected with them both and have plans to move forward with stories that feature them prominently.  If you're casual to the MCU, then this is still an issue for you.  Especially if you're preparing for AOU.

Batgirl (Issue #1) written by Scott Peterson and Kelley Puckett with art by Damion Scott, Robert Campanella, and Jason Wright
Rating: 2 Stars

This is the first issue dedicated to the Cassandra Cain Batgirl.  I had my eye on her character for some time, thinking she sounded like a pretty bad ass character.  Picking it up, the first thing to turn me off was the art.  I don't often hate on art, but this stuff is really cartoon-y and I couldn't get over it.  Besides that, it doesn't help the story, which was confusing.  I think it was a frame story, but I'm not sure.  Upon a second re-read it may become revealing, but I don't know if I'm up for that.  I will be continuing this series for a few more issue to see if the story improves enough for me to get past the art.

April Wrap-Up and Housekeeping

What a week guys.  I mean, Age of Ultron came out (I've already seen it three times, no lie), I had a party that I went to (it went way into the morning) and then another party the next day.  Those two have left me with a lot of stress and very little time to blog or read.  I am in the middle of Stardust still, and I'm absolutely loving it.  It's exactly what I needed to get me out of the slouch my last two books left me in.  I did a few reviews last week, but rather than post the links in this "weekly" section, I'll be putting them with the whole month in review just below.

I feel like I got more done than I actually did.  I spent a lot of time reading, but it was slow reading and my mind was mush.

Book Reviews
Tithe 5 Stars
Betrayed by Your Kiss 5 Stars
Wild Born 4 Stars

Comic/Graphic Novel/Manga Reviews
Birthright-Homecoming 5 Stars
Seraph of the End Vol. 1-3 4 Stars
Copperhead- A New Sheriff in Town 4 Stars
Batman and Son 3.25 Stars
The Mechanics Song/The Scarlet Letter/The Adventures of Basil and Moebius DNF

TV Reviews
Daredevil (Season One)A+
Agent Carter (Season One) A

Services
Loot Crate 

Interestingly enough, my review of Seraph of the End received the most views this month.  Which makes me think you guys would like to see more manga reviews.  I'm happy to oblige, and plan on adding more series to my reading and reviewing diet.  If you have some to recommend, or some you want to know about before you pick up, I'm all ears and feel free to reach out.

I'm also changing my TBR policy for now.  Every month I've made a TBR that I don't really stick to.  I can give you a general idea of the next few books I want to read, but I can't tell you more than that.  I want to start to go with the flow more with reading and not feel as locked into what I said earlier in a month.  So, for this coming week, expect to see me finish Stardust and start Alienated.  If I manage to finish that, I'll be starting The Girl at Midnight.  On the graphic novel front, I'm starting Hawkeye: Little Hits because I'm in an Avengers mood.  I'm fairly certain I'll finish that this week as well.  I'll also be stopping by my library to pick up some manga, which you'll see in next weeks book haul.  I'm going to start watching Orphan Black this week (probably only one episode) and I've been watching Bravest Warriors on Youtube.  When I finish that I'll get a review up.

As for what I picked up this week, it's a small haul.

Shannon in the Lions Den

This is the prequel to Halo Bound which is amazing (!!!) and I couldn't resist.  I can't wait to dive into it- it will be soon.









I also picked up a few comics- the first issue of Civil War to help prepare for the next Captain America movie (which is far away, I know); and the first issue in the Cassandra Cain Batgirl series.  I've wanted to read this one for a while, so I'm excited to see where the character goes.

 That's all for today (and I know it was a lot).  I'll be seeing you guys soon!

TV Review: Agent Carter (Season 1)

Watch| OnDemand until August
Starring| Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter); James D'Arcy (Edwin Jarvis); Chad Michael Murray (Jack Thompson; Enver Gjokaj (Daniel Sousa); Shea Whigham (Roger Dooley); Lyndsy Fonseca (Angie Martinelli); Bridget Regan (Dottie Underwood); Dominic Cooper (Howard Stark)
Rating| A

What a show.  I have no idea why it took me so long to watch, seeing as I was watching it live for the longest time.  Somehow, the last two episodes slipped me by and I couldn't finish it until recently.

I love, love, love this show.  It's not my favorite Marvel show (Daredevil has claim to that spot) but it's a close second.  The noir, mystery themes.  The stunning and alluring characters.  The way it hinted at the "future" of the marvel universe and founding of SHIELD.  And, most of all, the actors.

There is so much one could say about this cast.  Top notch casting.  Each character was uniquely portrayed and given the right amount of development.  I think, had I to pick one actor to give all the accolades, I would give them to James D'Arcy.  His turn as Jarvis was equal parts comic relief and superhero of the show.  Of course, Hayley Atwell is the most remarkable.  Peggy Carter may very well be the best female character on television right now (certainly my favorite marvel lady to grace the screen) and only because of the bombshell behind her.

The fact that there was only a limited number of episodes also helped.  The plot wasn't staunched in any way and was able to freely tell the story.  It took twists and turns I didn't see, played risky with some of the characters, but really made its way into my heart.

When does the box set come out because I need to buy that now!

Waiting on Wednesday: Forever Red (A Black Widow Novel)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.  Click here to be taken to their blog and participate in this week's WOW.

So, I'm a huge Marvel fan in case you didn't know.  The movies really got me into it, way back when, and I've started to read more and more comics.  Actually, with Age of Ultron coming out this weekend in America, I've already gotten three tickets- one for the premier, one for the Saturday after, and one for the Sunday after.  You could say I'm obsessed.

When it was announced that Marvel would be bridging the gap into YA, I was super excited.  But then the hype all died down and I pretty much forgot about it.  Until the other day, when I was wandering the internet and found both the title and the description for this lovely book.

So, yes, this is a real thing that's actually happening!  I'm dying inside and I would love to see the cover!

The description from goodreads reads as follows:

Enter the world of Black Widow in this thrilling Marvel young adult novel, penned by #1 New York Times bestselling author Margaret Stohl.
This novel features all the thrilling adventure readers will expect from the Marvel brand, backed up by the young-adult cred of #1 New York Times bestselling author Margaret Stohl. Uncover a new side of the Marvel Universe, accessible to old fans and new readers alike, as Stohl weaves an unforgettable story through the world of the Black Widow

Dying inside for this one.  What are you waiting for this week?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Characters (from books on my kindle) That I'll Always Remember

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  This week was a bit of a wild card choice.  When I do these I normally just peruse the hard copy books on my shelves, but this week I thought I would specifically choose from books on my Kindle.  So, in order, here they are:

10. Ananna from Assassin's Curse

9. Ana from Incarnate

8. Elisa from The Girl of Fire and Thorns

7. Kate from Timebound

6. Royce and Hadrian from Theft of Swords

5. Gen from The Thief

4. Shadow from American Gods

3. The Narrator from The Enchanted

2. Mia Dearden from Quiver

1. ALL OF THEM (but particularly Sevro) from Golden Son

Graphic Novel Review: A New Sheriff in Town (Copperhead, Vol. 1)

Author| Jay Faerber
Artists| Scott Godlewski and Ron Riley
Edition| eGalley courtesy of Netgalley
Publisher| Image Comics
Genre| Science Fiction
Rating| 4 Stars
Release Date| March 11th

Thanks to Image Comics and Netgalley for allowing me to read an early copy of Copperhead.  I received this eGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever seen the movie Treasure Planet?  It's a pretty solid film, and if you haven't, I must recommend it.  The art and and setting of Copperhead reminded me of Treasure Planet.  Multiple races living together in a steampunky foreign planet not far from the Old West.  In this book, a single mother takes the job as sheriff (hence the title).  She's met with dislike, for multiple reasons.  Mostly because she's an outsider, and also because she's not easily bought.  When some of her citizens die under her watch, it launches a mystery.

I feel like there isn't much to say about this book.  It was good, if unoriginal.  Fun, if nothing special.  I really did enjoy it, but I don't know if I'd ever buy it.  So why the four stars and not less?  Because it's a quality work.  The story and characters have a lot of room to grow and mature, which under the good hands of these creators, I'm sure it will.

Copperhead has the feel of a good, almost classic, Science Fiction story.  It has a niche, for certain.  While I may never buy the books, I'll keep a look out and read them from my library.

Weekly Wrap-Up and Book Haul

What an... interesting week.  I had planned to have two books finished by now (Crown for Cold Silver and What's Left of Me) but because of some behind the scenes stuff, that didn't work out.  Hopefully I will finish them this week, but the reviews won't be coming for some time (sorry.  I love them both so far!).

If you missed it on the blog, I did review Loot Crate which isn't a book, but is a pretty cool subscription service!  I really am sorry about lack of book reviews.  I'll have a review of Copperhead (a graphic novel) and Agent Carter (a tv show) out soon.  In other tv news, I talked about some pilots I'm excited for here and how you can help save Constantine here.  These are my top ten favorite authors, if you're wondering; and I'm waiting on A Gathering of Shadows.

Book buying wise, I went way overboard.  It's only because I'm still coming off of a ban.  I've got a tone of books to read now (not that I ever really lacked them) and for the most part, in the coming months my hauls will be smaller or from the library.  Here are the books I picked up:

For Review

From a Distant Star by Karen McQuestion
The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey (I'll be reading this early next month)
Twisted Dark vol. 1 by Neil Gibson (which I've already DNF'd)
Shadowshift by Peter Giglio (another I'll get to very soon)

E-Books

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch (so happy to finally have a copy!)

The Bane by Keary Taylor (I saw it was compared to Terminator)

Daredevil: Guardian Devil by Kevin Smith (still going through withdrawal)

Daredevil: The Ultimate Collection by Bendis and Maleev (withdrawal)

Not Quite Dead by Lyla Payne

The Decaying Empire by Laura Thalassa (actually got an egalley, but then the preorder came in so now I have a finished copy, too; can't wait to read this one)

The Dust of 100 Dogs by AS King (I LOVE pirates)

The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason

The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley (robin hood retelling? yes!)

The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter

The Lost Gate and The Gate Thief by Orson Scott Card

The first six books in the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones, which are First Grave on the Right, Second Grave on the Left, Third Grave Dead Ahead, Fourth Grave Beneath my Feet, Fifth Grave Past the Light, and Sixth Grave on the Edge

Paperback

Hawkeye: Little Hits (this will be one of my very next reads; I can't believe I waited this long to pick it up)

What did you pick up this week?  I hope your wallet isn't hurting as bad as mine. :)

Constantine PSA

Dear Reader,

Ever consider watching the NBC show Constantine?

I heartily recommend it for fans of Supernatural or Grimm.  It's a darker show, more along the lines of Daredevil than SHIELD and is based off of the Hellblazer comics.  It's pretty true to the source material, doing the characters and story justice.

Unfortunately, it's riding the line between a second season and cancellation.  There's a way to help current fans and also find yourself among the ranks!

Every single episode of Constantine will be On Demand starting today.  I don't know how long it will last, so make sure you catch up really quickly.  I think it will also be on the NBC website, so you can watch it anywhere with internet!  You won't be disappointed.

And please spread the word!  This will help the show find a second season.  If you had problems with the first season, getting a second will help it grow and improve.  Wouldn't you love to see an underdog story play out in real life?  And you can help.

So, yes, go give Constantine a try.  I know I'll be re watching my favorite episodes and live tweeting as I do.  And I'd love to talk to you about it!  We'd have a blast, I promise.

Thanks in advance for all your help.

Sincerely,

The Constantine Fandom

Review: Loot Crate (April)

What is Loot Crate?  In a word: cool.

Never heard of it?  That's okay, I'm new, too.  Loot Crate is a subscription service.  You can subscribe for one month, or three, of six, or a whole year!  Every month, they send you awesome stuff.  It's made for geeks, nerds, and gamers of every variety.  Each month is a different theme, and this month was fantasy.

Fantasy, being my bread and butter, made it the perfect choice for me to try it out.  I signed up for one month, and it was totally worth it.  Subscriptions don't cost much (about $20 a month in the US, slightly more for international subscribers) and the product inside exceeds the cost.

This month was seriously catering to the Game of Thrones fandom (I've read the first two books so far, and I love them), including a Stark flash drive (which may very well be the coolest thing I own) and a set of magnets.  It also came with a Harry Potter luggage tag (I want to take a trip just so I can use it, honestly).  For Princess Bride fans, there's a beautiful deck of playing cards to sate your appetite (double bonus for me, since I love Princess Bride and I collect playing cards!).  Wearable wise, there's a bow tie covered in dragons (bow ties are cool), an inflatable crown (which I put on my Baymax), and a Dungeons and Dragons t-shirt I've already worn around.

Click here to be taken to the Loot Crate website, and seriously consider subscribing.  I can't wait to see what next month's theme is!

Waiting on Wednesday: A Gathering of Shadows

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine and offers up a chance to share what books we're most interested in reading when they come out.

I wonder if it's a little too early to be waiting for this one since it's about a year away from being released...

That's right, A Gathering of Shadows, book two in the Darker Shade of Magic series (duology? trilogy?).

Why I'm Waiting:
Book one was amazing and I have even higher expectations for this one.  Plus, the cover.  It's gorgeous, of course.  I must say I prefer the cover to the first one, but it's a pretty hard cover to top.

What are you waiting for this week?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Authors

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the Broke and the Bookish .  This week was so hard to figure out.  Not because I can't narrow down my favorite authors (I love a lot of writers, but there are some I'll always pick up before others) but because I couldn't figure out what order to put them in.  It took some soul searching, but in order from least favorite favorite to most favorite favorite, here they are!

10. Rick Riordan

I mean, who doesn't love Percy Jackson?  I think the draw of Riordan is that his writing is always fresh.  He makes it onto this list because, while I may not read his books as soon as they're released, I always get to them and always hold them dear.

9. Maggie Stiefvater

Similar to Riordan, I love Stiefvater, but I don't get to her books as soon as they come out.  I always find myself coming back to her, though.  I'm still behind two of her works, but I PROMISE I will catch up.  Her Shiver series is also one of the first YA books series I ever read, so they'll always have a special place on my shelf.

8. Marissa Meyer

I'm a little surprised she made it onto my list, to be honest.  It's not that I don't love her books, but until the other day I hadn't even considered her a candidate.  But then I was glancing through my shelves and thought "oh yah! of course she's a favorite!" It's because I'll read anything she puts out.  Her writing is addictive and she seems like such a kind person anyways.

7. Kelley Armstrong

I seem to collect her books without reading them.  That's not strictly true since I have read (and loved) several.  I own at least one book from each of her series.  The reason she made it onto this list is for her characters.  They are some of my all time favorite characters, without a doubt.  Few others rival her in this area.

6. Michael J Sullivan

In case you didn't know, he's amazing.  His Riyria books are my most favorite fantasy novels.  Okay, maybe that's a smudge?  I can't actually say for certain because they're that good.  Less rambling, though: he really knows how to rope you in and create a full circle story.  The way he writes allows him to leave no plot-holes and it's so very cool to come to an end of a series and see how every little thing connects.

5. Jim Butcher

Harry Dresden is my hero.  Butcher is far from a perfect writer, but he does do something particularly remarkable: he improves his writing.  It's a tangible thing that you can absolutely tell.  In all my reading, his own growth as a writer is more extreme than anything else.  Plus, he knows how to make a series addicting and all consuming.

4. Sarah J Maas

Well, the list wouldn't really be complete without her showing up on it.  She's one of those rare writers that I'd read anything written by.  ANYTHING.  A shopping list, even.  Her touch is gold and I can't wait for all the stories that she has yet to release.  That is all.

3. Neil Gaiman

When people ask me who my favorite author is, I say Gaiman.  When it comes to putting words on paper, he's got the most elegant touch.  I've never read a better writer than him.  The only reason he's not number one: I don't love everything he writes.  Some of his stuff gets a little to grotesque for my own taste.  It's beautiful, but hard to read.

2. Brandon Sanderson

A newcomer.  Before this year I wouldn't have even considered him.  Of course, before this year I hadn't read Mistborn.  I love those books and now own nearly all of his books (obsessed? no. what?) and have met him in person.  Did I mention I've bought a few things from his website store and am saving up for the Mistborn RPG?  He's just really really great.

But number one belongs to one person who has always had my heart...

1. Cassandra Clare

I love Shadowhunters.  Whereas some people have Harry Potter or Twilight as the series that introduced them to reading, I have Mortal Instruments.  She's another writer that has clearly grown over time.  Every book that comes out is a new favorite.  Without fail, I have gotten each new book the day it releases and started reading then and there.  She will always be on my favorite list, that I can promise.