Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Vlog 2: Our Favourite sci-fi/dystopian novels

So... you may have wondered where the posts have gone, this past week or so. Good question. We don't know. But to make it up to you... we give you: vlog!




Mentioned:
The Hunger Games & Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games Review and CF review 1, CF review 2)
The Host by Stephanie Meyer
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
The Giver by Lois Lowry
1984, Brave New World, The Handmaid's Tale
Candor by Pam Bachorz (Review 1 and review 2)

Hope you enjoy! :D Also, if you have any suggestions for upcoming vlogs, please do comment! We'd love to hear from you.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (25)

Raised By Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Date of release: June 8th 2010
Publisher: Egmont USA

Description:
PACK LIFE IS ABOUT ORDER, BUT BRYN IS ABOUT TO PUSH ALL THE LIMITS, WITH HAIR-RAISING RESULTS.

At the age of four, Bryn watched a rabid werewolf brutally murder her parents. Alone in the world, she was rescued and taken in by Callum, the alpha of his pack. Now fifteen, Bryn's been raised as a human among werewolves, adhering to pack rule (mostly). Little fazes her.

But the pack's been keeping a secret, and when Bryn goes exploring against Callum's orders, she finds Chase, a newly turned teen Were locked in a cage. Terrifying memories of the attack on her mom and dad come flooding back. Bryn needs answers, and she needs Chase to get them. Suddenly, all allegiances to the pack no longer matter. It's Bryn and Chase against the werewolf world, whatever the consequences.

An exciting new paranormal adventure, with a heroine who rivals Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Raised By Wolves will leave you howling for more.


I've read Tattoo and Fate, both by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, and really liked both of them. And Raised By Wolves sounds so interesting! Yes, it's another paranormal novel-wolves- but it has a unique sounding premise and the potential to be really great. Bryn seems like she is a strong heroine, which is right up my league, along with many others, I'm sure. Growing up human with a pack of werewolves sounds like it could really make you tough.

- Alex

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Tech Tuesday - Leviathan

Hey guys, this is your lame edition of Tech Tuesday!

I have nooo time right now - I have to leave in five minutes for work so I can't exactly pull something miraculous out for you guys, but I've got (another) book trailer. I'm reading Leviathan right now by Scott Westerfield, so here's a trailer for it - it's pretty good so far.

Let me know what you thought of the book if you've read it, or just what your thoughts in general are! Until next week :)






Thursday, April 15, 2010

Vlog: Our Favorite Fantasy Novels

Hey everyone! With the creation of our brand new YouTube account, aflightofminds, Alex & I have decided to start an installment of vlogs in which we discuss some of our favorite novels from variety of genres, starting with our all-time favorite - fantasy.





Mentioned:
Fire (review 1 and review 2) by Kristin Cashore
Finnikin of the Rock (review 1 and review 2) by Melina Marchetta
The Hunger Games (review) by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire (review 1 and review 2) by Suzanne Collins
Tamora Pierce's novels
Eragon series by Christopher Paolini

Let us know what you think of the fantasy genre! What are your favorite fantasy novels?

Also, how do you pronounce all these names?

&




Next installment? A vlog on the sci-fi genre. (Us, nerds? What are you talking about...)

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (24)

Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George


Date of release: May 25, 2010
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Goodreads Amazon
Description:
The engrossing companion novel to Princess of the Midnight Ball, with a wicked twist on Cinderella.

Hoping to escape the troubles in her kingdom, Princess Poppy reluctantly agrees to take part in a royal exchange program, whereby young princes and princesses travel to each other’s countries in the name of better political alliances—and potential marriages. It’s got the makings of a fairy tale—until a hapless servant named Eleanor is tricked by a vengeful fairy godmother into competing with Poppy for the eligible prince. Ballgowns, cinders, and enchanted glass slippers fly in this romantic and action-packed happily-ever-after quest from an author with a flair for embroidering tales in her own delightful way.


Most of you probably don't remember, but I did a post on Princess at the Midnight Ball a while back (here), and this is the companion novel to it. I really enjoyed Princess at the Midnight Ball, mostly because I'm a sucker for fairy tales, so I'm really looking forward to Princess of Glass! I think Poppy may have been the second eldest sister of the 12 princesses in the first book, so that's where the companionship comes in. Cinderella is a fairy tale that's been done, and redone, over and over again, but I think Princess of Glass sounds really promising to be different.

I can't say I'm a huge fan of the cover, but the description sounds cute enough that I want to read it. And it comes out soon too!

- Alex

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Tech Tuesday - Maggie Stiefvater Edition

Hey guys! Today's Tech Tuesday is going to be featuring one of my favorite authors, Maggie Stiefvater. She's the author of Shiver, Ballad, Lament and the upcoming Linger. What I love about her trailers & videos is that she does it all herself! All the music, artistic stuff etc, and I love that she's such a diverse author with not just one focus :)

So here are a couple of her book trailers along with another really cute promo thing for Shiver using Play-Doh.















I'm going to be honest here - the song she wrote for her Ballad trailer is actual the most played song on my ipod right now :p Oh! That's right - she has all of her written music up for free downloading on her site, which you can find right here. Yeah, I really like Irish music... :)

See you guys next week!

Oh, and I'm super sorry if the reviews slow down in the near future - I've started reading Anna Karenina as a little personal challenge, and it's taking a while :p


Saturday, April 10, 2010

Review by Alex- The Dead Tossed Waves

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living.

She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse.

But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead.

Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry.

And suddenly, everything is changing.

One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

First Impression: The Forest of Hands and Teeth didn't really impress me, but I figured I'd try The Dead-Tossed Waves since I'd heard from Lauren it was better, and I needed something to read.

The Dead-Tossed Waves was quite a bit better than The Forest of Hands and Teeth, but it still wasn't really for me. The writing's a lot better in this one. It's quite lyrical and descriptive- but it's also not all that captivating.

I did like the characters from this novel a lot better than it's companion. Gabry is quite likeable, as confused and scared as she is. Elias and Catcher are good as the two main love potentials, though perhaps both of them could have used a little more background information. But the interactions between all the characters was a lot more enjoyable in The Dead-Tossed Waves in general.

A high point in the novel is the plot. It's hard to make zombies dull. There are some good plot twists and details, along with exciting moments and a climax that is interesting, even if some parts fall short.

Final Impressions: Overall, The Dead-Tossed Waves is pretty good. But it's not really for me- it didn't keep my interest very well, and so that's why it took longer to read; because I could easily put it down and not think about it for a while. It's interesting, but it's not entrancing and impressionable.



 
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