Apr 30 2013

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2013)

This is a feature posted by The Broke and The Bookish that allows book bloggers to talk about the books they loved – or hated – and provides a platform for us to get to know each other. This week’s topic is:

Top Ten Words/Topics That Instantly Make Me Buy/Pick Up A Book

I want to disclaim that these subjects will almost always make me give the book a second glance, but I have a much more thorough selection process before they actually wind up on my shelf at home (I’ve gotten really picky lately). There is a broad spectrum of books in the categories I’m about to name. For the sake of geeking out about books I love, I have chosen to provide pictures of the covers that best represent each category.

#1 dragons:

Dragon Avenger by E.E. Knight

Because I am a slave to my obsessions. I try everything I can get my hands on, Seriously though, if publishers were marketing specifically to me all they would have to do is put a pretty dragon on the cover and I would pick the book up – regardless if there is an actual dragon anywhere in it.

#2 animals:

Wild Born by Brandon Mull

Yep this is pretty much the only subject that will get me to read nonfiction. However, any genre novel that manages to incorporate animals will grab my attention right away.

#3 magic/wizards:

Magician Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist

It seems like all of my favorite books have at least some element of magic. When you love dragons and fantasy as much as I do, magic sort of goes hand in hand with those topics. Unique magic systems, like the ones found in the Mistborn trilogy, can be highly memorable and sometimes the best parts of a story.

#4 dystopian:

I am up to the point where I will actually read anything set in a dystopian story as long as the basic concept sounds good. I am so glad I have, because it has allowed me to enjoy some of the best books I’ve read in years!

#5 vampire/werewolf:

I went through all of my teen years saying with conviction that I hate paranormal creatures. And then along came an unsuspecting paranormal romance by Lori Handeland…One thing led to another, and now I simply can’t get enough. Who knew these stories also had some of the best characterization and romance for any genre – with robust, complex storylines to boot!

#6 Richelle Mead:

Yep, put this name on any cover and I guarantee you I will pick it up. Vampire Academy was great, but my favorite was her Succubus series. And I really liked Gameboard of the Gods coming out in June.

#7 swords/adventure:

Most of the fantasy books I’ve and loved offered a great deal of battle scenes and adventure. To have a cool adventure, you usually have to be in a cool setting; therefore, most of my favorite world building stories also had a major elements of adventure and exploration.

#8 teen:

Teen is my weak spot, my guilty pleasure. Anything that can be categorized as fantasy or paranormal gets at least a basic look through, and I usually spend most of my browsing time in this section. I also am quite fond of books with girls in pretty dresses… And they’re everywhere.

#9 love:

I’m a romantic at heart, and I usually don’t pick up a book unless it has at least a chance for a love story. PS. This cover in particular is one of the most intriguing covers/titles out there… I’m going to read it.

#10 nonhuman races:

Whether it be elves or aliens the opportunity to read about someone’s take on the development of a new species (or a spin of a well-known one) grabs my attention every time. On a side note, I will also pick up ANYTHING with cover art done by Luis Royo…And you know what? He hasn’t led me astray yet!

What are your book-trigger words? Leave a blog address in the comments area so I can visit your TTT. :)

Apr 28 2013

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5/28 Coming Soon: Antiagon Fire

Title: Antiagon Fire

Author: L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Series: Imager’s Portfolio #7

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: May 28, 2013

The Overview: The hard-won battles fought in Imager’s Battalion have earned Quaeryt a promotion to commander, as well as an assignment to convince the Pharsi High Council in the nation of Khel to submit to Lord Bhayar’s rule, which is key to Bhayar’s ambition to unite all of Solidar. Joined by his pregnant wife Vaelora, who is also Bhayar’s sister, Quaeryt leads an army and a handful of imagers deeper into the hostile lands once held by the tyrannical Rex Kharst, facing stiff-necked High Holders, attacks by land and sea—including airborne fire launched by hostile imagers from the land of Antiago—and a mysterious order of powerful women who seem to recognize the great destiny that awaits Quareyt and Vaelora, as well as the cost of achieving it.

Nik’s Notes:

I’ve heard that this author has a tendency to be a bit dry, and actually experienced it firsthand in his Soprano Sorceress series. I have also heard from those same people that his Corean Chronicles and Imager Portfolio series are just as slow, but definitely worth reading. The premise for this particular series sounds amazing, and within the hundreds of books on my TBR list, this one has made its way up to the top 20. As for those of you eagerly anticipating this book, you only have one more month to go! His next installment Rex Regis, comes out in January 2014. Other than that, I couldn’t find any information regarding how long the series is supposed to be. If his Recluse series is anything to go by, it’s going to be a long one.

Apr 27 2013

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Coming Soon: Affliction

Title: Affliction

Author: Laurell K. Hamilton

Series: Anita Blake #22

Genre: Urban Fantasy / Horror

Release Date: July 2, 2013

The Overview: Micah is called back home by his estranged family, because his father, a county sheriff, has been attacked and is terribly injured. Anita and Nathaniel are going with him for moral support and to meet his family under very trying circumstances.
Micah has been estranged from his family for a decade, deliberately turning his back on them to protect them from the sadistic killer who once led his leopard pack. But now Micah’s father lies dying, rotting away inside from some strange ailment that has his doctors whispering about “zombie disease.” Anita—who understands zombies better than anyone—knows there’s more to it than that. While zombies have unlovable traits, being one doesn’t cause human beings to rot in agony. She needs to solve that mystery—but now a more immediate issue is pressing: Micah’s father may have only five days to live.

Nik’s Notes:

I am way behind in this series. Although I enjoy reading about Anita Blake and all the side characters, I feel as though the series as a whole took a major left turn after about book 6 or 7. They started out as vampire/werewolf horror stories then morphed into raunchy, sex-filled kill-people-in-horrible-ways-just-for-shock-value books. Even with that odd flip, I still enjoy the characters enough to keep reading, but I think they lost a little about what made them special. That said, I know an awful lot of people who didn’t mind the shift and devour her new books as soon as they hit the shelf. With that in mind, if you have yet to read the series, proceed at your own risk. :)

On a totally bizarre side note, I only just now noticed the piercing blue eye under HAMILTON on the cover. Now I’m a little creeped out (she’s staring at me).

Apr 26 2013

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Your Pick for Nik! – April’s Review: Fragments by Dan Wells

Title: Fragments

Author: Dan Wells

Series: Partials #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: Kira Walker has found the cure for RM, but the battle for the survival of humans and Partials is just beginning. Kira has left East Meadow in a desperate search for clues to who she is. That the Partials themselves hold the cure for RM in their blood cannot be a coincidence–it must be part of a larger plan, a plan that involves Kira, a plan that could save both races. Her companions are Afa Demoux, an unhinged drifter and former employee of ParaGen, and Samm and Heron, the Partials who betrayed her and saved her life, the only ones who know her secret. But can she trust them?

Fragments

The Review:

I am so excited to report that Fragments was every bit as good as Partials. In fact, some of the elements were even stronger. The plot was dynamic and suspenseful, the world building was thorough and epic, and the plot advancement has left me staggering a bit. All this wrapped into a beautifully written package. I liked this one so much I can’t imagine the final book in the trilogy being anything less than spectacular. At this point, the only thing I don’t like is that I will have to wait at least a year to find out what happens next.

Story: There were so many good elements of storytelling in this book! It’s like the author sat down with every scene and thought “how can I make this better?” But asking the question is only half the battle. Not only do you have to know what elements make for a great story, you also have to have the creativity to make it your own. Because Wells has these skills in abundance, we end up with a clever plot that surprised me at every turn. Many elements didn’t go the way I expected them to… they were better. And oddly, it’s not the main arc of the story but rather minor details in a scene that held the most surprise for me. Something about his careful attention to even the most minor story elements kept me incredibly invested in the story and eager for more.

I’ve heard a lot of dystopian readers comment that they like books like Matched and Delirium, but missed that “edge” regarding corrupt government, harsh living conditions, and basic need for survival that made Hunger Games so hard-core. Well, this book has all of those things in abundance! It’s definitely not a “fluffy” book, focusing more on events and story than relationships.

Writing: I often criticize writers for having too many viewpoint characters in a story. Not only does it give your reader permission to lose attention but it also makes it difficult to get emotionally involved with any one character. After reading Fragments, I think I know why Wells was able to pull it off when so many others could not. First of all, almost the entire first book was written in Kira’s perspective which allowed readers to become fully grounded in one story. Second of all, although the perspective changes a lot in this book, each viewpoint character was working towards the same overall goal. Finally, each perspective switch usually provided the reader plot-advancing information essential for moving forward with the overall arc of the story.

I applaud Wells for creating a suspenseful, nail-biting novel without introducing even an ounce of false tension. He’s so good at bringing the action to life and making me feel the heat of the moment that I literally held my breath through certain passages. I found it so absorbing that I completely forgot to take notes for this post until almost halfway through the book (as I did with the first one). This goes along with great pacing of the story, which I highlighted in my review of Partials but won’t delve too much into here. Suffice to say it was very well done.

Characterization: I mentioned at the beginning of this review that I thought certain elements of this book were better than the first one. All of those elements have to do with characterization. Where the first book contain characters that were mostly vehicles to get from one event to the next, this one expanded on those characters giving them much richer personalities and internal conflicts. It delved me deeper into the story, if possible, and made me a lot more emotionally invested. Wells achieved a lot of this through excellent dialogue. There were a number of great verbal exchanges and conversations that reinforce personality without ever feeling forced. If I could to capture even a fraction of those exchanges in my own writing, I would be one happy camper. On another note, this is probably one of the slowest developing love stories I’ve ever read in a teen book, and you know what? I’m loving it, because it feels incredibly organic.

World Building: Wells has obviously done a lot of research on what a post-apocalyptic America would look like, and believe me, he doesn’t tone it down much to make it easier on his characters. His word choice and skill with description create strong images that are almost poetic. It’s beautiful and subtle and quietly brings the world to life. I really don’t have much to say other than it was done well enough that I never had to go reread passages to get a clearer picture.

Overall, I am tickled that Fragments was chosen as April’s selection because I may not have picked it up so quickly otherwise. As book 1 was easily my favorite teen read of 2012, I can say that this one will be a strong contender for my favorite this year too. I love that I don’t have anything critical or negative to say about this book, I absolutely loved it!

Recommendations: While a lot of the dystopian and novels are geared towards the female audience, this is one I would feel confident recommending to men and women. If you mentioned that you are a Hunger Games fan, this is the first book I would show you.

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

: The Fifth Wave by Ricky Yancey

: Divergent by Veronica Roth

: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

: The Bane by Keary Taylor

: Legend by Marie Lu

Apr 23 2013

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Top Ten Tuesday – Top Ten Books I Thought I’d Like MORE/LESS Than I Did! (4/23/2013)

Top 10 Tuesday is a feature hosted every week by The Broke and the Bookish. I love it because it gives me a chance to sit and stare at my library once a week and admire all the excellent books I’ve read. This weeks category is:

Top Ten Books I Thought I’d Like MORE/LESS Than I Did

Less:

: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

: Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey

: Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead

: Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison

: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie Maguire

#1 The Night Circus: I am really picky with ARCs and don’t usually take home any fiction because I never end up reading them. So when this one came out of the box, something abobut it perked my interest and I broke my rule and took it home, and I am so glad I did. It was beautiful, magical, and absorbing and to this day one of the best books that I’ve ever read.

#2 Kushiel’s Dart: I bought this one based on a recommend from a trusted coworker. For the longest time I kept passing it over because, frankly, I thought the premise sounded a little boring. When I finally did get around to it I kicked myself for not picking it up sooner. It has every element I expect from a good book and more.

#3 Succubus Blues: Honestly I found the cover somewhat less than appealing, but I really loved the vampire Academy books, so I thought I would give it a try. I am a really scattered reader and almost never read sequels back-to-back. I devoured this entire series in about a week and a half and to this day it is still one of my all-time favorites.

#4 Dead Witch Walking: I didn’t really find the covers of these to compelling at first (they’ve gotten a lot better as of late) but I was just getting into the urban fantasy genre and had my go-to person for book recommends tell me it was worth reading. The first hundred pages or so where a bit of a struggle, but after that the entire series captured me. These books are amazing and they have some of the best sidekicks of any series I’ve ever read. Read full review

#5 Beautiful Disaster: I am sure I am not the only person who does this, but I picked this one up solely because I received an ARC for the second book. And I love it. In my review, I had some criticisms of basic outlining for the story but other than that found the book to be incredibly absorbing and fun. I have resolve to read anything else this author writes because her writing was outstanding! Read full review

More:

: Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

: Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

: Eve & Adam by K.A. Applegate and Michael Grant

: Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

#6 Falling Kingdoms: I find it exhausting to consider all the things I didn’t like about this book. No world building, too many viewpoint characters, and a week outline to name a few. Awesome cover gods – you really let me down here. Read full review

#7 Inkheart: I have yet to hear another negative review of this book, so I’m the absolute minority. But come on! The story is about a girl who can bring characters from her books to life. The possibilities are endless!! And, sadly, untapped. Not more than a handful of characters ever made their way out from the pages. And the girl spent a great deal of time wandering from one place to another trying to figure out what was going on. I’m angry for what this book could have been.

#8 Bitterblue: Graceling was one of my favorite books ever (and fire was pretty good too). I had host of issues with this particular book, however, and I was certain that I would love it. Not so… Read full review

#9 The Maze Runner: This one was probably my biggest disappointment out of everything on this list. It’s one of the bestsellers of the teen fantasy genre that people absolutely rave about it. It also has one of the coolest concepts of any series I’ve ever read, so it’s a real shame that the author didn’t take it where I thought I could go. Withholding information to create suspense can work to an authors favor, but all of the false tension made me tired of not knowing what was going on (and bored).

#10 Eve & Adam: Written by the author that got me hooked on reading as a kid with the Animorph series, I snagged this one the minute it hit the shelf. Unfortunately, despite some really strong writing passages near the beginning of the book, the story left me seriously wanting. Read full review

Apr 22 2013

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Your Pick for Nik! – May’s Nominations

To cast your vote, just leave a comment indicating your chosen titles (up to 3) – and may the best book win!

It’s that time again for us to pick our next book!

Voting starts today (April 22, 2013) and you’ll have all the way until Sunday the 28th to choose your favorites (Remember: YOU CAN VOTE FOR MORE THAN 1).

For those of you new to the book club, Your Pick for Nik! is a monthly feature where I turn over control of my reading list to you!

Here’s how it works: I will nominate titles from my TBR list and YOU will choose which one gets featured. It can be one you’ve already read and want to discuss, one you want to read but wish to see my feedback on first, or – and this is my favorite part – you can read it along with me!

Depicted below are my 10 nominees for April. Simply vote for your favorites, and let the best book win! At 10:00 am (MST) on Monday the 29th I will announce the winner. Come the end of May, I will post a thorough review of the chosen title – and hopefully find out what you thought of it as well!

This month, I included a few popular selections from last month per request.

April’s Nominations:

Title: Orphans of Chaos

Author: John C. Wright

Series: Orphans of Chaos #1

Genre: Fantasy

Overview: What if your teachers taught you everything-except who you really are?

For Amelia and her friends, the strict English boarding school she lives in is all she has ever known. The sprawling estate, bordered by unknown territory on all four sides, is both orphanage, academy, and prison. The school has a large staff, but only five students, none of whom know what their real names are, or even how old they are.

Precocious and rebellious, all five teenagers are more than just prodigies. Amelia can see in four dimensions. Victor can control the molecular arrangement of matter. Vanity can find secret passageways where none existed before. Colin is a psychic. Quentin is a warlock.

And, as time goes by, they’re starting to suspect that none of them are entirely human . . .

Title: Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe

Author: James M. Ward

Series: Halcyon Blithe #1

Genre: Fantasy

Overview: Halcyon Blithe, being a young man of good breeding and lineage as well as endowed with those qualities and abilities of a sorcerous nature and wishing to fulfill his full potential, is ready to assume his proper place in the world. He aims to seek his fortune among those who tend and sail the awesome nautical juggernauts-the dragonships. With this is mind, Blithe gladly accepts his rank as Midshipwizard and becomes a member of the crew who man the dragonships-vessels which harness the bodies and strength of living dragons with seafaring technology.

Combining elements of Hornblower with Harry Potter, and Robert Louis Stevenson with Robin Hobb, Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe is a nautical tale rich in magic and intrigue. A tale set against a panorama of fantastic naval battle as we follow the career of a young midshipwizard as he moves up through the ranks of His Majesty’s Navy.

Title: The Darkest Minds

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Series: Darkest Minds #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Overview: When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

Title: Dualed

Author: Elsie Chapman

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Overview: The Hunger Games meets Matched in this thrilling high-concept YA where citizens must prove their worth by defeating the other version of themselves—their twin.

Two of you exist. Only one will survive. The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.

Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her.

Title: Pure

Author: Julianna Baggot

Series: Pure #1

Genre: Fantasy

Overview: We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .
Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Beyonders by Brandon Mull

Title: Beyonders: A World Without Heroes

Author: Brandon Mull

Series: Beyonders #1

Genre: Young Reader

Overview: Jason Walker has often wished his life could be a bit less predictable—until a routine day at the zoo ends with Jason suddenly transporting from the hippo tank to a place unlike anything he’s ever seen. In the past, the people of Lyrian welcomed visitors from the Beyond, but attitudes have changed since the wizard emperor Maldor rose to power. The brave resistors who opposed the emperor have been bought off or broken, leaving a realm where fear and suspicion prevail.

In his search for a way home, Jason meets Rachel, who was also mysteriously drawn to Lyrian from our world. With the help of a few scattered rebels, Jason and Rachel become entangled in a quest to piece together the word of power that can destroy the emperor and learn that their best hope to find a way home will be to save this world without heroes.

Title: Alien Taste

Author: Wen Spen

Series: Ukiah Oregon #1

Genre: Scifi/Urban

Overview: Abandoned as a child, Ukiah Oregon was found running with a wolf pack. Now considered one of the greatest trackers in the country, this private investigator puts his nose to the ground to track down missing fugitives. When he crosses paths with a criminal gang called the Pack, Ukiah discovers just how much he has in common with the Pack.

Title: Hex Hall

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Series: Hex Hall #1

Genre: Teen Paranormal Romance

Overview: Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It’s gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie’s estranged father–an elusive European warlock–only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it’s her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

Title: Legend

Author: Marie Lu

Series: Legend #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Overview: What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Glaswright’s Apprentice by Mindy L. Klasky

Title: The Glasswrights’ Apprentice

Author: Mindy L. Klasky

Series: Glasswright #1

Genre: Fantasy

Overview: A mere glasswrights’ apprentice must uncover an elusive brotherhood whose deadly venom reaches out to stain the heart of her guild, the heart of her family — and the heart of her king….