Book Shelf: Mystic City (Mystic City #1) by Theo Lawrence

For fans of Matched, The Hunger Games, X-Men, and Blade Runner comes a tale of a magical city divided, a political rebellion ignited, and a love that was meant to last forever. Book One of the Mystic City Novels.

Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City's two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents' sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud—and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below in the Depths. But Aria doesn't remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can't conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection—and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city—including herself.

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Mystic City is a smart, riveting debut by author Theo Lawrence that mixes dystopian with high society in this Romeo & Juliet style tale. It’s the X-Men meets Mad Men in this gripping story sure to capture from the opening page!

I’m quite disappointed. In myself. Why, oh, why did I wait so long to read this book?!? Theo Lawrence is a new author to me, but I doubt this will be the last time I read one of this tales as I found myself quite immersed in his riveting world.

I have to admit, I didn’t know what to expect when I began this book. Sadly, it’s sat on my shelf for a while, lost amongst the countless review books I have, so picking it up on a whim, I wasn’t sure what I’d be getting. What I found was a fun, intriguing read that hooked me with its action, intrigue and tantalizing romance. Lawrence blends elements of mystery and adventure perfectly with romance in this lovely paced fantasy.

Set in a world where politicians and the rich control the city of Manhattan; hiding behind their pretty faces and promises while living double lives, and the lower class live below ground and struggle to survive, finding it hard to find necisarities like food and shelter and blending into the dark, dirty Depths below Manhattan. Mystic City introduces us to mystics; individuals who have special abilities but who are seen as dangerous and are hunted and ostracized; “drained” to keep them powerless and follows Aria Rose, the daughter of one of the most prominent politicians there is.

Aria Rose was a really great character to follow throughout this book! Starting out very much a protected high class young woman, she is haunted by a past she can’t remember and is told she experienced. I liked Aria, I really did. Theo Lawrence wrote her well and I couldn’t help but find myself invested in her plight as she struggles to discover the truth, amidst the glitz, glamour and flair that comes with the parties, events and society she’s a part of.

Considering she really doesn’t remember what happened before her supposed “overdose”, as well as the young man she is supposed to love, I loved watching Aria search for the truth, becoming more daring and sufficient with the turn of every page. Lawrence writes the story in the way that you as the reader only know as much as Aria knows and I found it very enjoyable piecing together truth from lies as Mystic City unfolds.

Hunter proves to be a mystery to Aria, as well as a lifeline, and I really liked him. In fact, all the characters, the “good” as well as the bad were nice to read about as they wove together the plotline. Lawrence did a good job with the romance in Mystic City. It’s neither over bearing, nor does it fade into the background; rather it blends in with the action, mystery and high stakes of the story. Admittedly, I saw certain revelations coming, but was happy with the turn of events regardless.

Featuring plenty of shocks, twists and deception, Mystic City will hold your attention until the very last page. The stakes have never been higher for the rebel mystics of the city as well as those in power. As Aria, Hunter and those closest to them fight for freedom, love and power, the gripping ending sets the stage for book two. Mystic City will take you into a world where secrets rage and no one is as they seem, leaving you looking anticipating what Theo Lawrence will do next!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Random House Australia (Thank you Dorothy!)
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: Dystopian fans--you'll love this one!
Cover: Stunning. Simply stunning!
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Absolutely

Waiting on Wednesday #45

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on.....  

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
Releases on: January 28th 2014
Add on Goodreads!

Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast in this sweeping fantasy about one girl's journey to fulfill her destiny and the monster who gets in her way-by stealing her heart.

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

Thoughts:
Ahhhhh. *picks tongue up off the floor* Eee! OMG did you read that description?!?! For fairytale retellings fans like myself this looks like pure heaven. Fantasy mixing with fairytale? Yes please! Honestly, this one sounds so fantastic and look that that awesome cover--so cool!

What do you think of Cruel Beauty?
Do you think it looks awesome too?

Book Shelf: Lover Reborn (Black Dagger Brotherhood #10) by J.R. Ward

Ever since the death of his shellan, Tohrment has been a heartbroken shadow of the vampire leader he once was. Brought back to the Brotherhood by a self-serving fallen angel, he fights again with ruthless vengeance, unprepared for a new tragedy. Seeing his beloved in dreams—trapped in a cold, isolated netherworld—Tohr turns to the angel Lassiter to save his former mate. The only way to rescue her is for Tohr to love another.

As war with the lessers rages, and a new clan of vampires vie for the Blind King’s throne, Tohr struggles between an unforgettable past and a hot, passion-filled future. But can his heart let go and set all of them free?

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Lover Reborn by J.R. Ward tells the tale of Tohr; a broken shell of a Brother, destroyed and altered by the loss of his mate, a man who finally gets his story told.

I have to be honest here; Lover Reborn wasn’t my favorite of the Black Dagger Brotherhood books. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with it. I just struggled to really connect like I wished I could. For some reason I wasn’t as absorbed by Tohr’s tale as I expected to me.

Lover Reborn takes place over quite a long period of time; almost a year if I remember correctly. Understandably Tohrment has quite a journey in store for me. He’s still very much broken having lost his mate Wellsie some time ago. Tohr has to go through a number of different stages, from coming to accept his loss to finding room in his heart for another. This book displays everything it means to love again having loved before, especially on Tohr’s part.

I like Tohr, I do, but admittedly he is one of the less memorable Brothers for me. That being said, I did enjoy reading his story. After all the pain and recent loss he’s experienced, he deserved to find lasting happiness again. Those who know me will know I’ve been hoping Tohr would be paired with No’One since it became apparent that Tohr was going to get his own story and she was a new edition to the series, so suffice to say, I’m happy that she was his love interest in this book.

Overall I think these two are a great pairing. No’One (Autumn) has been through a tremendous life. The things she had done to her at the hands of the Sympath that impregnated her were horrendous and she does not know what it feels like to experience pleasure. Seeing her experience all this for the first time as she finds courage and herself was great to read about.

My only issue with this book was that Tohr irked me at times with his pathetic-ness. I understood his pain, I really did, but at times it seemed to much. His constant struggles over what his body wanted and his heart versus his guilt over betraying his dead mate was something that detracted too much from the connection and romance that developed between Tohr and his Autumn.

The continued involvement of the Band of Bastards proved to be really interesting and it was a shocker some of the things they did. And yet at the same time, I have high hopes for some of these characters and look forward to seeing what Ward does with this series next!

Rating:
Source: I bought
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: This series is a MUST READ for PNR fans!
Cover: Hmmmm. It's okay, I guess, but doesn't blow me away either....
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes! Without a doubt!

Monday Madness Giveaway-August 2013! *CLOSED*

Welcome to the August edition of Monday Madness! As the book I most loved during August, I'm thrilling to be offering a paperback copy of Stung by Bethany Wiggins to one lucky follower!

I LOVED this book! Stung is easily one of the best dystopian's I've ever read--add it to your TBR list folks, you won't regret it!

And while you're here don't forget to check out my 5-star review of Stung or add it on Goodreads!

In a world in crisis, children are the future. Part of the cure. Not now. Children are deadly. Marked one to ten. Fiona is a TEN. She just doesn't know it yet.....

She doesn't know her true strength. Fiona doesn't remember going to sleep. But she has woken to find her entire world has changed - her house is abandoned and broken, and her neighborhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right wrist that she doesn't remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost. And she's right. When the honeybee population collapsed, a worldwide pandemic occurred and the government tried to bio-engineer a cure. But instead the vaccination turned people into ferocious, deadly beasts. They have been branded as a warning to unvaccinated survivors. Key people needed to rebuild society are protected inside a fortress-like wall. Fiona has awakened branded, alone and on the wrong side of the wall....

 

· You MUST be a follower to enter!
· Giveaway is INTERNATIONAL or wherever The Book Depository ships to.
· Giveaway will run from today (the 26th of August) until the 9th of September (2 weeks time!)
· Enter by filling out the form below.
· Extra entries are available but are in no way necessary by:
+1 Letting me know what you think of Stung and....
+1 For Tweeting, Facebooking or Sharing!

 

Fill Out Form To Enter!  

 

The Mortal Instruments Movie: What I Really Thought

 

Alright. So. I'm not big on movie reviews, in fact I've rarely done then, but with all the recent hype about The Mortal Instruments, I kinda feel like I gotta put my two cents in.

 

I'm gonna keep this short and fairly simple. I saw it on Friday and going into it I had certain expectations. Obviously I'm a fan of the books; that goes without saying, so I had high hopes for the movie and you know what.....I think they did a pretty good job!

 

It's fairly obvious that no matter what they did, the movie was never going to be the same as the book. It's just not possible. So with the that in mind, I think what they've managed to capture on film was pretty darn excellent.
 

I mean, come on! It's TMI come to life people....you gotta love it!
 

   

 

Seeing the world I've fallen in love with and the characters I adore was something special. Honestly, watching the movie, I wished I could hit rewind and start again when it was over--I didn't want it to end.

 

Lily Collins did pretty darn good as Clary! I have to say, now that I've seen the movie I can see her as Clary.

   

Going into the movie Jamie Campbell Bower wasn't my ideal Jace. In all honesty, he's probably still not, but boy, did he do a better job than I expected! I was very impressed with him at times and actually pleased with what he did. Could have used a bit more classic Jace sarcasm, but still.....not bad.

   

 

And FINALLY we have a couple with real chemistry! Forget the whole Bella and Edward/Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, Katnis and Peeta/Jennifer Laurence and Josh Hutcherson fiascos..... Lily and Jamie bring Clary and Jace to life with serious chemistry from the beginning. Looking forward to more from them!

 

 

With awesome action and perfectly paced, I'm itching to see this movie again. I understand everyone's gonna have different opinions on it and I respect that, but for me.....I LOVED IT and can't wait for City of Ashes!

 

My only issue? Not enough Magnus!

 

   

....And for fun....check out this fun interview with the leads.....

  What did you guys think? Who's seen it? And what did you think? I wanna know!  

 

Book Shelf: Ink (Paper Gods #1) by Amanda Sun

On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.

Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Ink is Amanda Sun’s debut novel and tells a unique tale of romance, mystery and Japanese folklore!

Honestly, I’m not completely sure how to wrap my mind around Ink by Amanda Sun. The premise of this story is straight away catching and Amanda Sun does a good job of telling this unique story. Featuring the fantastically vivid setting that is Japan, Ink had the potential to be a knock out book, but in my eyes kind of fell flat at times. Now, I’m not in any way saying that it was bad book, it certainly wasn’t, but for some unknown reason Ink failed to live up to my expectations and capture me like I hoped it would.

I have to give Sun props for thinking outside of the box with her mythology and setting for this book. Showcasing plenty of mystery and quirky Japanese tradition, Ink blends together impressive Japanese mythology with all the fun, colour and flair that is uniquely Japanese pop culture. Featuring a fish-out-of-water feel, and considering our heroine is an American teen living in Japan, Ink braves a turbulent and exciting culture.

I did like this book. I feel I have to say that. While I wasn’t “sucked in” in the same manner I was expecting, Ink was well told and did manage to hold my attention throughout the majority of the book. I found it to be a pleasant read; the characters likable enough and the story mysterious.

I liked the main character Katie, although I admittedly struggled to connect with her at times; feeling disconnected and unsure about some of her decisions and reactions. Again, she was nice enough to read and I admired her spirit, although I’ll be the first to say me and her had our moments.

I enjoyed the way Katie interacted with some of the characters in this book her different relationships with them, from her aunt Dianne to her friends Yuki and Tanaka to her love interest, the mysterious and often conflicting Tomohiro. Again I liked Tomohiro “Tomo”; he and Katie had an intriguing and usually enjoyable connection, but I found myself unendingly frustrated by his up and down actions. I understood the place for his confliction within the story but that didn’t make it any less annoying at times.

Overall, Ink was a striking beginning to this new series by Amanda Sun and considering how much I enjoyed the different setting and unique elements in the book, I may just be persuaded to pick up its sequel…..

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by HarlequinTEEN Australia (Thank you Polina!)
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: If you're looking for something a bit different, a bit quirky, then Ink may just be for you.
Cover: Alright. The cover is stunning. Plain and simple
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Possibly. Undecided at this point, but maybe at some point.....

Waiting on Wednesday #44

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on.....  

The Shadow Prince (Into the Dark #1) by Bree Despain
Releases on: March 11th 2014
Add on Goodreads!

Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High—a haven for children of the rich and famous—Haden must single out the one girl rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race.

Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realizes she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong.

Haden and Daphne—destined for each other—know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails. As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realizes something he never intended—he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds.

Thoughts:
This. Sounds. Awesome! I truly love the sound of this and while I haven't previously been the biggest fan of Bree Despain's books, I'm really looking forward to this one!

What do you think?
Will you be adding this to your TBR list?