Book Review: This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

This is Not a Test  by Courtney Summers 
Release Date:   June 19th 2012 
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 336
Overall: ♥♥♥♥♥

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

My Thoughts:                                                                                                                      

I'm completely at awe and confused! (The ending)

For my first Courtney Summers book --amazing!

Well things weren’t always so good for me with this book; I didn’t like it until almost halfway through. I was totally spent with these characters and literally dragging through the dirt with them. I thought MC Sloane was weak, with everything she has been through I wanted her to rise up and fight. But given the circumstances (Zombies), I would have been scared to death. People have made references to ‘The Breakfast Club’ and ‘The Walking Dead.’ That pretty much sums up these characters, so I have to agree! These teens, who didn’t like each other very much and had their own personal baggage, somehow worked together to survive. Summers makes the situation totally realistic and believable. 

Zombie factor: Oh there are zombies and when they make an appearance it’s going to be bloody, epic, and intense! It’s probably going to be weird to say this but the zombies made me love the characters more. ‘You really get to know how people are when they’re afraid’ (or something like that.) People can literally surprise with what they would do to save their lives. But these teens were heroic, passionate, and brave. Redeeming qualities in my book!

Romance: YES! Just a hint. I loved it, but I wish it was under different circumstances…

With ‘This Is Not A Test’ you’ll probably find yourself saying ‘OMGZ’ ‘Why’, *tear*, ‘RUN!’’ I know CS said that ‘there’s no plan for a sequel’ but I feel like it needs one (anyone else?) I was totally confused with the ending. I couldn’t figure it out for the life of me, it’s so open. You just can’t do that to me! I was seriously considering contacting Summers and try pick her brain! CS writing was amazing, heard great things about her books, and now I know why! Fans of CS and Zombies will definitely devour this book. 

Summer of first loves OUT!
Zombies, Blood, and Romance IN!

Ecopy received via Netgalley-Publisher for honest review.

To find out more about author and her books, visit the following links:
-Visit Courtney around the web here: Website | Twitter | Facebook
-Add to your Goodreads: This is Not a Test

"A dark and eerie retelling of Snow White:" "Waiting On" Wednesday(76)

Lately I've really really been into fairytale retelling. There hasn't been many, I've read Cinder and LOVED it. I have't read any of St. Crow's other books. I've seen some mixed review but I can't help but be excited for this upcoming release!

If you know of any other retelling books let me know! I need some recs!

Nameless (Tales of Beauty & Madness #1)

by Lili St. Crow, Lilith Saintcrow

( Expected publication: April 4th 2013 by Razorbill  )

A dark and eerie retelling of Snow White from Lili St. Crow,

New York Times bestselling author of the Strange Angels series.

Sixteen-year-old Camille doesn’t remember her life before she was adopted by the powerful Vultusino family—the missing childhood years that left her scarred and silent. Now she lives a life 

of luxury, protected by the supernatural Mafia Vultusinos, specially Nico, her adopted brother.

But Cami knows that she is not really Family. She is a mortal with a past that lies buried in trauma. And it’s not until a mysterious boy approaches her and reveals scars of his own that Cami begins 

to uncover the secrets of her past . . . to find out where she comes from and what danger she now finds herself in.

****Get all the extra insight of the making of this new series on Lili's website!

Add to your Goodreads!

Blog Tour-Book Review: Frost by Kate Avery Ellison + Giveaway!

Frost by Kate Avery Ellison
Series: The Frost Chronicles #1
Release Date: April 18th 2012
Self Published/CreateSpace
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 194
Overall: ♥♥♥♥

In the icy, monster-plagued world of the Frost, one wrong move and a person could end up dead—and 
Lia Weaver knows this better than anyone. After monsters kill her parents, she must keep the family farm running despite the freezing cold and threat of monster attacks or risk losing her siblings to reassignment by the village Elders. With dangers on all sides and failure just one wrong step away, she can’t afford to let her emotions lead her astray. So when her sister finds a fugitive bleeding to death in the forest—a young stranger named Gabe—Lia surprises herself and does the unthinkable. She saves his life. Giving shelter to the fugitive could get her in trouble. The Elders have always described the advanced society of people beyond the Frost, the “Farthers,” as ruthless and cruel. But Lia is startled to find that Gabe is empathetic and intelligent…and handsome. She might even be falling in love with him. But time is running out. The monsters from the forest circle the farm at night. The village leader is starting to ask questions. Farther soldiers are searching for Gabe. Lia must locate a secret organization called the Thorns to help Gabe escape to safety, but every move she makes puts her in more danger. Is compassion—and love—worth the risk?

My Thoughts:                                                                                                   

So I'm always a little hesitant to try any kind of self pubbed YA. But every now and then, one appeals to me for some reason, and Frost was one of those books!

Ellison created a good vivid descriptive setting, it reminded me of that movie called The Village. There were weavers, carvers, brewers, Elders, Quota Days, the big bad enemies the lurking outside the Frost. It all just worked well as a story. It flowed and had and a good dose of creepy and tension. I loved the MC Lia. I could relate to her in so many ways. She is a caring sister, brave, and unpredictable. I didn’t expect her to do over half the things she had done. It was surprising but I like rooting for the underdog. As for the potential romance characters, I didn’t know where it was heading. I thought one of the guys was annoying and the other inconsiderate. BUT Lia didn’t fall for those guys! Gabe the guy Lia fell for, at the beginning it wasn’t something easy. But it melted my heart!

Frost was engaging and satisfying. I cannot wait to continue this series. I only wish the book was longer! There could have been more details to things that way some characters could have grown better, maybe I would have understood them more. Overall beautiful story!

eGalley courtesy of author for blog tour/honest review.

 

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Book Review: Lies, Knives, and Girls in Red Dresses by Ron Koertge

Lies, Knives, and Girls in Red Dresses by Ron Koertge,  Andrea Dezso (Illustrator) 
Release Date: July 10th 2012
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 96
Overall: ♥♥♥

Writing in free verse honed to a wicked edge, the incomparable Ron Koertge brings dark and contemporary humor to twenty iconic fairy tales. Once upon a time, there was a strung-out match girl who sold CDs to stoners. Twelve impetuous sisters escaped King Daddy's clutches to jiggle and cavort and wear out their shoes. A fickle Thumbelina searched for a tiny husband, leaving bodies in her wake. And Little Red Riding Hood confessed that she kind of wanted to know what it's like to be swallowed whole. From bloodied and blinded stepsisters (they were duped) to a chopped-off finger flying into a heroine's cleavage, this is fairy tale world turned upside down. Ron Koertge knows what really happened to all those wolves and maidens, ogres and orphans, kings and piglets, and he knows about the Ever After. So come closer - he wants to whisper in your ear.

My Thoughts:                                                                                                            

LK&GiRD is a really cool, dark, gritty modern retelling of Grimm Fairytales. I went into this book not knowing what it was about, I didn’t even expect it to be a so short.For what it was, it was OK.  If I really think about it,I remember it was the title that really popped and made me totally interested in this book. I'm glad I had the chance to read it. The best part, I liked that Koertge had written these stories freestyle. It was a very organic, free flowing. There are illustrations in this book, so that’s a plus (at least for me!) The art was creepy good.

I enjoyed reading this book just for the fun of it but the stories didn’t quite stand out much, I was looking for that wow factor, for that special piece.  I think overall I did get what I wanted from this book, something quick, simple, and definitely not fluffy. Koertge made a good impression, seeing that each story was at least 2 pages long. It didn’t take away from the overall experience of the book, each piece was moody and cohesive. Hopefully I get around to reading more of Koertge’s books! 

eGalley courtesy of Netgalley & Publisher for honest review.

To find out more about author and her books, visit the following links:
-Visit Ron around the web here: Website 
-Add to your Goodreads

The Wheel, Daredevils, Outsiders, and Zombies: What's Next?

Hi everyone! So I'm participating in IceyBooks' 'What's Next?!' After finishing 'Shadow & Bone,' I'm looking for something amazing! Here are a few I have to (or want to!) read.

The Forsaken
by Lisa M. Stasse

As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up. The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.

Watch the official Book Trailer

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Such a Rush
by Jennifer Echols

High school senior Leah Jones loves nothing more than flying. While she’s in the air, it’s easy to forget life with her absentee mother at the low-rent end of a South Carolina beach town. When her flight instructor, Mr. Hall, hires her to fly for his banner advertising business, she sees it as her ticket out of the trailer park. And when he dies suddenly, she’s afraid her flying career is gone forever. But Mr. Hall’s teenage sons, golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson, are determined to keep the banner planes flying. Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business — until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers — and the consequences could be deadly.

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Pushing the Limits
by Katie McGarry

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible. Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Watch the official Book Trailer
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Something Strange and Deadly
by Susan Dennard

The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia… Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper— The Dead are rising in Philadelphia. And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother. Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

Watch the official Book Trailer

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What should I read Next? 

Click here to read more about the meme.

Hooked by Liz Fichera : "Waiting On" Wednesday(75)

Bring on the Diversity and Girls kicking butt!

Hooked by Liz Fichera

( Expected publication:  January 31st 2013 by Harlequin Teen )

Sparks fly when a Native American girl with a killer swing joins the boys’ varsity golf team and takes on the boy with the killer smile. Don’t miss this heartwarming and emotional new romantic contemporary!

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"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Top Ten Tuesday: if you like Shadow and Bone...

This weeks topic is Top Ten Books For People Who Like:

Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1)

by Leigh Bardugo

So I've been reading S&B now and gosh it is awesome! So I'm choosing books that have similar elements to S&B. Such as: dark exciting tone, World Building, falling in love with the bad guy/or Bestie(sexy times), Good v. Evil, Strong Female heroine- learning to master her talent/power to save...etc

1. Infinite Days (Vampire Queen, #1) by Rebecca Maizel 

 
2. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer 

3. Firelight by Sophie Jordan 

4. The Immortal Rules &/or The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa 

5. The Pledge &/or The Body Finder Series by Kimberly Derting 

 
6. Radiant Shadows (Wicked Lovely, #4) by Melissa Marr - From my experience reading this series you really don't have to read them in order. 

 
7. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand - A bit fluffy compared to S&B but the heroine is there & sexy times! 

8. Wildefire by Karsten Knight - Kind of complicated with all the characters but definitely dark, exciting, full of goddesses/gods and bad guy approved. 

9. This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers- Walking Dead-ish and optioned for a movie, I feel like these two books go hand in hand especially with the tones(but TiNaT is a bit darker; characters dealing with abuse etc and not to mention ZOMBIES) although wouldn't call the leading heroine strong maybe just crazy lol 

10. Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer- Great World Building & awesome MC. Alina and Cinder could be sisters!

Have you read S&B?

 What would you recommend?

Feel free to link your TOP10 in the comments!

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Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each Tuesday features a different topic and you post your top ten list related to the topic.

Book Review: Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
Release Date: February 14, 2012
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 260
Overall: ♥♥♥♥♥

Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes.

My Thoughts:                                                                                                                       

Graffiti Moon…I was talking with someone goodreads and she suggested that GM was like the “Aussie version of Nick & Noah’s infinity Playlist.” GM had that Nick & Noah tone. Pure authenticity in the characters, the feeling was right, the pacing, I had fun reading this book.

There’s also something very lyrical and simple about Crowley’s writing. This book could have been something boring and dull, I’ve read tons of ‘coming of age’ books, but nothing can compare to this one. With each page the characters opened up more and more about their selves. What they wanted to be, their futures. Crowley makes it all weave together beautifully. Whenever a book is told from two characters POV, I love it. I have to know what they’re thinking!  Lucy and Ed are one of a kind: Totally honest, curious, bright teens just waiting to explore the world.

Art, Romance, Friendship, GM is a great summer read!  One of the BEST Contemps I’ve read in a while.

eGalley courtesy of Netgalley &  Publisher for honest review.

Once Upon a Read-a-thon: Update #1

Hey Everyone! Hope you all had an awesome week! So for the next few days I will be participating in the Once Upon a Read-a-thon! I know! This will be a great way to catch up on my review books and have fun with it! 


I BARELY read yesterday! lol So bad, so right now I'm def. putting the pedal to the medal.

My Reading Goals:

Time Devoted to Reading

I will be committing myself to reading everyday after class and breaks!

My Goals

• 3 books minimum.  Shooting for 5.
• Getting my read on!

Books To Read                                                                                                                            

• Shadow and Bone , by Leigh Bardugo
• Darkness Before Dawn by J. A. London
• Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
• Something Like Normal by Trish Doller
• Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols

I'll also be on twitter! Using the #OUreadathon‬ Hashtag

Updates

All my updates will be located in one post, but I will do separate updates for the mini-challenges!

7/10 
Number of books I’ve read today:
Total number of books I’ve read:
Today #insixwords: 
Books:
Obstacles:
Mood:

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The Once Upon a Read-a-Thon is hosted by Angela @ Reading Angel, Lori @ Pure Imagination & Candace @ Candace's Book Blog.

Happy 4th of July Everyone!

Have fun & Be Safe! <3333

-Faye