Hola, TBF readers! :)
I recently read the novel Blessed by TBF author Tonya Hurley. Here's a brief summary from goodreads.com:
From the author of the New York Times bestselling ghostgirl series, the start to a captivating and haunting teen trilogy about three girls who become entangled with an enigmatic boy;a boy who believes he is a saint. What if martyrs and saints lived among us? And what if you were told you were one of them?
Meet Agnes, Cecilia, and Lucy. Three lost girls, each searching for something. But what they find is Beyond Belief.
I have not read Tonya Hurley's popular ghostgirl series, so this was my first experience with her writing. It was definitely not something that I would normally pick up, but was an interesting read nonetheless.
The book starts off following three teenage girls: Agnes, Cecilia and Lucy, whose paths are woven together when they all find themselves in the hospital one stormy night. They are each there for a very different reason, but all three meet a mysterious stranger named Sebastian, who gives each one a special bracelet and promises that he will see them again.
One of the most interesting things about Blessed was the surreal, almost dreamlike quality to it. It's hard to explain, but throughout reading the book, it was sometimes hard to tell what was really going on and what was all in the minds of the characters. This made the story more suspenseful and kept me wondering what would happen next.
I would recommend Blessed by Tonya Hurley to readers who enjoy paranormal or supernatural elements with their fantasy. Fans of Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Boys series, especially, might like this book.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Sunday, October 26, 2014
The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa
Don’t look at Them.
Never let Them know
you can see Them.
That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’d dare to fall for.
Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.
My name is Ethan Chase.
And I may not live to see my
eighteenth birthday.
Never let Them know
you can see Them.
That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’d dare to fall for.
Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.
My name is Ethan Chase.
And I may not live to see my
eighteenth birthday.
For those of you that are acquainted with Julie Kagawa’s previous books
from the Iron Fey series
starring Megan Chase as the lead character, gear up for an entirely new ride.
For those of you who haven’t read the other books in this series have no fear!
Although I’d recommend you read those books before starting this book as I did, by
no means will you be confused if you read The Lost Prince first. The Lost Prince, manages
to be a continuation of The Iron Fey series, while
also being a completely new book starring Ethan Chase as the lead character.
I completely loved this book. It combines all of my favorite genres-
mystery, fantasy, and romance- into one fast paced read. Decked in all black
with a snarky and proud attitude, Ethan Chase’s bad boy persona makes him an
unlikely hero. However, Ethan’s fierce protectiveness over the people he loves
makes him not only one of the most honorable characters I’ve ever had the
pleasure of reading, but also one of the most swoon-worthy. The female
protagonist McKenzie St. James, or Kenzie, is also not a person I’d ever want
to mess with, but for different reasons. Kenzie’s curiosity and intellect cause
her to get involved in a situation that at first seems beyond her capabilities,
but it is her endearing personality and her perseverance to discovering the
truth that aid Ethan is solving this novel’s great mystery. It’s also the
culmination of all these qualities that leads to an absolutely adorable budding
romance between Ethan and Kenzie!
Furthermore, the mystery in this novel was intense. It made the book a
page turner, and I couldn’t put it down until I’d uncovered the truth with the
characters. One of the great aspects of this novel is that it takes you on one
dangerous and exhilarating journey with Ethan, Kenzie, and the other Fae he
meets in Nevernever. I loved the feeling
of growing with the characters in this novel, as they got closer to solving the
mystery! Therefore, if you enjoy intriguing world building, an adorable
romance, hilarious characters, and faeries, then pick up this book today!
--Vimbai
--Vimbai
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
TBF Author News
Hello readers!
I have some author news. First off, Laurie Halse Anderson will not be joining us for TBF 2015 due to an amazing opportunity for her to visit schools in Australia and New Zealand. However she will be with us for our Read-a-Thon so come see her at Barnes and Noble in Pittsford on Saturday, November 1st at 4:00pm! For more information about the RAT, check it out here. Secondly, I'm delighted to announce the authors who will be attending TBF 2015!
Miranda
I have some author news. First off, Laurie Halse Anderson will not be joining us for TBF 2015 due to an amazing opportunity for her to visit schools in Australia and New Zealand. However she will be with us for our Read-a-Thon so come see her at Barnes and Noble in Pittsford on Saturday, November 1st at 4:00pm! For more information about the RAT, check it out here. Secondly, I'm delighted to announce the authors who will be attending TBF 2015!
- Gayle Forman: author of SISTERS OF SANITY, IF I STAY duology, JUST ONE DAY series and I WAS HERE *I WAS HERE will hit the shelves January 27th 2015*
- Jennifer Niven: author of ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES *ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES will be released January 6th 2015*
- Tamora Pierce: author of SONG OF THE LIONESS series, DAUGHTER OF THE LIONESS series, IMMORTALS series and so many more! Be sure to check out Tamora Pierce's Goodreads page for all of her books.
Miranda
Book Review: Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King
Hi, everyone!
I got to read Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King. Here’s the summary, if you haven’t had a chance to see or read this awesome book:
Vera’s spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she’s kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything.
So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? Does she even want to?
Vera is a pizza delivery girl whose vocab I use to study for the SAT. She is an interesting person because she is not your usual distraught, rebel teen or your usual good girl stay in the lines, which are unfortunately many main character teen types that I find in YA books. She is an interesting mix of the two and does not always make the right decisions. She was a very real character that I liked a lot.
The book kept constantly switching point of view, time period, and even style of the chapter. It was fascinating because I would become so into what was currently happening, then it would switch and show us a piece of Vera and Charlie’s history that made them such good friends, and back to present again. There were a bunch of little side chapters and charts from Vera’s father that gave us a wider view into Vera’s life and what she was dealing with in addition to her dead friend’s mysterious death crisis.
I would recommend this book to someone who wants to read a deep yet light hearted book about friendship and just the choices we have to make in general. This book does have an aspect of magical realism, but don’t let that turn you off because I’m not a huge fan of magical realism, but it was woven so beautifully into the story that you simply cannot have the story without it.
A.S. King is an amazing author, so make sure you check out her other books too!
~Victoria
I got to read Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King. Here’s the summary, if you haven’t had a chance to see or read this awesome book:
Vera’s spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she’s kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything.
So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? Does she even want to?
Vera is a pizza delivery girl whose vocab I use to study for the SAT. She is an interesting person because she is not your usual distraught, rebel teen or your usual good girl stay in the lines, which are unfortunately many main character teen types that I find in YA books. She is an interesting mix of the two and does not always make the right decisions. She was a very real character that I liked a lot.
The book kept constantly switching point of view, time period, and even style of the chapter. It was fascinating because I would become so into what was currently happening, then it would switch and show us a piece of Vera and Charlie’s history that made them such good friends, and back to present again. There were a bunch of little side chapters and charts from Vera’s father that gave us a wider view into Vera’s life and what she was dealing with in addition to her dead friend’s mysterious death crisis.
I would recommend this book to someone who wants to read a deep yet light hearted book about friendship and just the choices we have to make in general. This book does have an aspect of magical realism, but don’t let that turn you off because I’m not a huge fan of magical realism, but it was woven so beautifully into the story that you simply cannot have the story without it.
A.S. King is an amazing author, so make sure you check out her other books too!
~Victoria
Friday, October 10, 2014
Book Review: The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Hello readers!
Seventeen-year-old
Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details,
she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s
ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a
classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold
cases, and they need Cassie.
What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides—especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own. Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.
Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.
Also the thrilling sequel, KILLER INSTINCTS, coming out November 4th. Readers, I'm dying for it!
That's it for today! Make sure you check back the blog for more book reviews, author interviews and more!
Miranda
I recently read THE NATURALS by Jennifer Lynn Barnes and it
was heart-pounding thriller. Take a look:
Seventeen-year-old
Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details,
she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s
ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a
classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold
cases, and they need Cassie.What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides—especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own. Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.
Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.
When I read THE NATURALS I felt like I was watching a pilot
of a new TV Crime Drama show. I was sucked in after Chapter One. And when I had
to do some mundane chores around the house, those were the commercial breaks. I
was dying to find out what happens next.
What I found very intriguing were the Naturals, people with
extraordinary skills. Cassie, our protagonist, is a Natural profiler, she can
read people easily. For instance Cassie would know if someone liked their eggs
scrambled or sunny-side-up without asking them. There are other Naturals in the
book like Naturals at deception and lying, numbers and probabilities and
reading emotions. I wondered if there are such people out there. I’ve heard about
these geniuses on the news and I wonder if the FBI hires these geniuses.
I also enjoyed the very short chapters in the point-of-view
of the killer. The killer’s chapters were chilling to read and I was desperate
to find out who was the serial killer as much as the characters.
I highly recommend THE NATURALS to people who love TV Crime
Dramas when they’re not reading a good book.Also the thrilling sequel, KILLER INSTINCTS, coming out November 4th. Readers, I'm dying for it!
That's it for today! Make sure you check back the blog for more book reviews, author interviews and more!
Miranda
Monday, October 6, 2014
Another Author Confirmed for TBF 2015
Hello TBF readers,
I have some news to brighten your Monday! M.T. Anderson is coming to TBF 2015! M.T. Anderson is the author of FEED, THE ASTONISHING LIFE OF OCTAVIAN NOTHING, TRAITOR TO THE NATION series, NORUMBEGAN QUARTET series and more! Check out all of MT Anderson's books on his Goodreads page.
That's it for today! Be sure to check out the blog for more book reviews, author interviews and more!
Miranda
I have some news to brighten your Monday! M.T. Anderson is coming to TBF 2015! M.T. Anderson is the author of FEED, THE ASTONISHING LIFE OF OCTAVIAN NOTHING, TRAITOR TO THE NATION series, NORUMBEGAN QUARTET series and more! Check out all of MT Anderson's books on his Goodreads page.
That's it for today! Be sure to check out the blog for more book reviews, author interviews and more!
Miranda
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