March 2012

Saturday, March 31, 2012

In My Mailbox #17




In My Mailbox is a blog meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren. You can show some books you got over the week which you bought, borrowed or given to you.





Hellow there~ I haven't done IMM for a while because I've been so busy lately and really missed it. I did crazy book-buying and I got awesome stuff that made me feel sooooo happy! Actually I got these 2 weeks ago but I had no time to post it, so share it now.
Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Aaaaaaaah finally Pandemonium in my hands! It's unexpectedly thinner than Delirium =p I really love the cover of Delirium series! I've been reading it now and so awesome this far! Big thanks to my cousin who kindly asked me if I wanted her to buy me Unearthly and Under The Never Sky.

(Indonesia version)
Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr :
Wicked Lovely
Ink Exchange
Radiant Shadow

Just need to buy Fragile Eternity to make this series complete. I got them in a very cheap price, about IDR 14k each (less than $2), absolutely can't resist it =D. I used to dislike the cover but the more i see them, I think they're quite pretty too.



Actually I got other AWESOME new books too, but..... I think I'd post them next week =)


So what you got in your mailbox?
Show them so I can envy you ;D



REVIEW : Goodnight Tweetheart... by Teresa Medeiros


Goodnight Tweetheart...
Author     : Teresa Medeiros
Publisher  : Indonesia - Gramedia Pustaka Utama
   U.S - Gallery
Source : Bought
ages      : 248

Summary from Goodreads :
New York Times bestselling author Teresa Medeiros absolutely dazzles in this quick-witted, laugh-out-loud funny, and highly moving love story that will set readers’ hearts a twitter.

Abigail Donovan has a lot of stuff she should be doing. Namely writing her next novel. A bestselling author who is still recovering from a near Pulitzer Prize win and the heady success that follows Oprah’s stamp of approval, she is stuck at Chapter Five and losing confidence daily. But when her publicist signs her up for a Twitter account, she’s intrigued. What’s all the fuss.

Taken under the wing of one of her Twitter followers, “MarkBaynard"—a quick witted, quick-typing professor on sabbatical—Abby finds it easy to put words out into the world 140 characters at a time. And once she gets a handle on tweets, retweets, direct messages, hashtags, and trends, she starts to feel unblocked in writing and in life. After all, why should she be spending hours in her apartment staring at her TweetDeck and fretting about her stalled career when Mark is out there traveling the world and living?

Or is he?

Told almost entirely in tweets and DMs, Goodnight Tweetheart is a truly modern take on a classic tale of love and loss—a Griffin and Sabine for the Twitter generation.

I tend to read Chicklit or Contemporary Romance from authors I've known before, their names are like a suggestion for me at least I would enjoy the writing style I've liked. Teresa Medeiros was a very new name for me and I never read nor find her book before so why suddenly I decided to read her book, Goodnight, Tweetheart... ? Shamelessly I confess, the first thing interested me to this book was that cute cover. I abruptly took it at the first I saw the cover then the story ensured me to bought it. It's quite interesting with writer who stuck at Chapter 5 of her second book for years and a mysterious guy as main characters and the premise about how people could find their love through social network like Twitter. And yeah, it's not disappointing at all for me. I really glad I found this funny and heartwarming novel! It's a quick reading and I really enjoy the dialogues, which mostly in Tweet and Direct Message forms, since I'm an avid Twitter user I understand them very well :). I really really love those witty tweet and DM volley between Abby and Mark, jokes about pop cultures and it's so creative, funny, and sarcastic. And as a replacement of explicit steamy scenes that this novel doesn't have, we'll get, ehem, almost naughty sex-tweets. Lol, somehow it could redden my cheeks xD

To be honest, I couldn't really enjoy about first 3 chapters of this novel, because Abby was really pitiful. Her condition is a proof that to maintain is even harder than starting. Her wonder-success first book burdened her too much so Abby scared she couldn't make another hit with her next book and that makes her stuck. I felt sorry for her and quite understand how stressful it is, have no idea what to do next although we already had the concept. She lost her readers, follow with her confidence then she thinks to stop. Reading that made me feel sad as her, but than the plot start to lighten and enjoyable when her publicist makes a twitter account and she meets 'Mark Baynard'.

Just forget about hot-guy-meets-average-woman type like in mostly contemporary romance if we talk about Mark Baynard. You even won't know single thing about how he looks like, handsome or not, hairy or bald, muscular or fatty, etc. Mark only appears as an hillarious description of his conditions and as Tweets or DMs and the way he talks through 140 characters. But he's the amazing unknown person who slowly brings Abby back from her desperation cave.

Actually I always feel sceptical about relationship that built from social network although it's already a trend and well with good luck you could build a good one these days. Internet / virtual world is full of liars and lies so what could be expected from something uncertain no matter how fun it is. But reading Goodnight, Tweetheart could ease that perception, well, a bit. This novel kinda gives us an amazing premise, to gradually love someone we never know how he is in real life and it's like we like him not because of his dashing appearance but from the way he thinks and talks. Somehow words and thoughts are more important, even can influence our opinion about others. I think If I met someone smart and witty like Mark virtually, I couldn't help but fell in love with him too and want to know the real him so badly with any consequences like Abby does. I was really happy finally Abby and Mark meet and accept their each other condition. I even finished it with bursting tears in my eyes because it's so moving and heartwarming. But still kinda bugging me, I couldn't imagine how Mark looks like! /frustating/

Overall, Goodnight, Tweetheart is simply a sweet, moving and heartwarming romance. I really really enjoyed it and emotionally gave it a high rating. I recommend it to everyone who can enjoy romance that lack of some romance elements itself and if you're a sappy person like me, don't forget to prepare Kleenex while reading this =D


Chopped from Goodreads :
“Abby_Donovan: I bet you were one of those uber-cool teachers like Mr.Chip, weren't you?
MarkBaynard: I was more like Mr.Kotter or that guy from GLEE who looks like the love child of Orlando Bloom & Justin Timberlake.
Abby_Donovan: Your female students were probably writing "I love you" on their eyelids and listening to "Don't Stand So Close to Me" on their Walkmans.
[...]
Abby_Donovan: Goodnight Mr.Schuester
MarkBaynard: Goodnight Miss Pillsbury
Abby_Donovan: Goodnight Puck
MarkBaynard: Goodnight Rachel
Abby_Donovan: Goodnight Kurt
MarkBaynard: Goodnight Quinn
Abby_Donovan: Goodnight Finn
MarkBaynard: Goodnight Sue Sylvester, you heartless but oddly sexy beast
Abby_Donovan: Goodnight Artie
MarkBaynard: Goodnight Tweetheart...”

Monday, March 26, 2012

Movie Review : Hunger Games


HUNGER GAMES



Finally the most high-anticipated movie adaptation has come, and I was really happy Hunger Games hit the theaters in my country right at the time it was released, even faster than at U.S *wink*. My sister and me were lucky enough to be able to watch the premiere at March 22nd! Capture of the ticket :

Yay! Me so silly xD
But seriously, I was so happy and proud,haha.

There were just plenty people at the theater at that time,around 30, because of subtitle problem (but I found nothing wrong with it actually ;( so strange) and maybe because the novels didn't really make a big hit here (or they just kept silent), very contrary at the overseas. People here started to notice after the publisher made a big announce about movie adaptation and they started to hunt the first 2 novels which has already out of print.
Well, I hope the movie version would make people love this series and start to read the novels :D

Anyway!
Talking about the movie I think most of you who already watched it agree : THE BEST MOVIE ADAPTATION SO FAR! Ever win from Harry Potter and of course, Twilight. Although I always happy if series i love will be adapted to movie, I'm also a bit afraid that it would be screwed up, lot of proofs already. Mostly movie versions are disappointing for us who already read the novels. Something missing and cut here and there, and end up out from theater whinning and feel unsatisfied.Same with Hunger Games, I really really worried because HG has scenes that I couldn't imagine how they could represent it into a big screen. It's a common they did cut and change some scenes and characters, but I think they're unnecessary either so that didn't change the story too much. I think because Suzanne Collins also took part on making process so it's awesomely done. One thing, maybe because I've read the novel and expected to watch one of the most violent teen movie ever, I got really tense since the beginning til hurt my neck. But I was too exaggerating. Because it's PG-13, the action scenes were soften, not as gruesome as the novel version. I've thought of course it would be very scary and not suitable for teen if they made it too bloody. But.... I have to say.... I dunno, somehow it's quite bugging me, felt like kinda.... cheated. Haha~ But I think it's already violent enough. I asked my friend who already watched it but never read the novel, and he said it was very good and intense =)

I really love how they created places and environtments, some even beyond my imagination!. District 12 and its people were exactly like I imagined, so gloomy and devastating. Then Capitol, wow... I really really awed how they made such a futuristic and sophisticated city with metal buildings and excessive citizen, I talk about their weird style and make up. And I was over-exciting on tributes introductional scene, Katniss and Peeta in burn costume, woaaaaaaah so that was how it looked like =D. So magnificent! On Hunger Games scenes, I believe I never read or thought about 'Play Room' or a room that control environments, disasters, even mutts at Hunger Games. Now I know how they did it, and it's fantastic and scary at the same time, how they lightly decided which disaster they would give on. The arena for Hunger Games was also like what I imagined, with Carnucopia at the center with backpack loads scatters. Pretty sure Liongates did everything they could to make this movie fantastic, best CG technology to make awesome visual adaptation.

I really love the casts, they're excellently selected and each of them can represent the characters very well! Jennifer Lawrence nailed it! She's totally Katniss here and could express Katniss feelings very well, like she was greatly trembling before Hunger Games started. I also shed tears too with her when Rue died *sobs*, very moving. Then my lovely Peeta Melark played by Josh Hutcherson. Although I haven't know much about him, he's good and so cute while smiling =D I think he's physically the same with Peeta, although his height was bugging me a bit, LOL. Just too bad they cut many Katniss and Peeta scenes, but at the cave one quite coped it. Gale didn't make much appearance but Liam Hemsworth was good as him, I like they showed his jealousy when Katniss kissed Peeta. I love they could portray Effie Trinket very well, with her eccentric and colorful style, especially love her pink-gold clothes. Then let's talk about Cato. I've used to hate him a lot, but why Alexander Ludwig played as him?! I was surprised when I saw Cato's movie poster, how could a cute big guy played as a cruel person like Cato. And more awesome, Alex did look as wicked as Cato but still I couldn't hate him anymore.

I can say nothing else but this movie is a must watch for intense-action and sci-fi lover (I won't recommend it to YA lovers who have already read the novel, you've been itching to watch it since long time) then you have to read the book after xD I really can't wait for Catching Fire on November next year. Sigh what a long wait!

Then, Happy Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favor! ;)




Sunday, March 25, 2012

SERIES REVIEW : Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins


Since I've finished all 3 books I'll recap each reviews in one post.
Be prepare for The 74th Hunger Games! =)

HUNGER GAMES TRILOGY
Photobucket Photobucket Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

Author : Suzanne Collins

Hunger Games Summary from Goodreads :
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister Primrose, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before — and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Click to find summary for next instalment :

I can't believe myself why I've waited for so long to read this series, about more than a year they stayed at my book shelf! I've seen this on Best Seller list on Amazon and everywhere, and read all people amazement of this series yet I still ignored it! Now I know why Hunger Games is a must read for YA book lovers, especially dystopia novels lover. It's big fat crazy story-plot and damn A-MAZ-ING. SO A-MAZ-ING that I also feel so thankful that I've read other Dystopia books before Hunger Games so I don't make it as a 'standard' for other novels in the same genre (well, talking about how people keep compare other new Dystopia novels with this, kinda pissed me off =| )
Anyway, despite of its amazingness, I found myself a bit hard to keep reading all 3 books straight in row. I stopped a while after done with Hunger Games (which I read approx. just in 1 day), a bit slow at Catching Fire, stopped again for a while, and then fast move at Mockingjay. Just say I spent a month to finish all 3 books. I think if I read them all in one sit my head would explode because all of those excitement, emotions, and stresses because the-loss-of-some-characters-I-love then I'd be coma for some moments =p. Well, okay just exaggerating, but maybe some of you feel the same as me while reading this series. Maybe because it's too awesome till my head couldn't accomodate =p

One thing made me reluctant to read this series at the first was because the story concept did remind me to Japanese manga/movie called 'Battle Royale' and yeah, I didn't like it because it was too bloody brutal and I couldn't really catch what it's all about. After I finished reading Mockingjay, maybe the bloody brutal part was almost the same but Hunger Games is a lot wider and deeper than just a killing tournament. This absolutely a worth reading and has a big moral message. The storyline itself grows more tense and brutally fascinating on each book, kept surprising me with shocking and cliffhanger ending till I couldn't expect what happen next. Suzanne Collins sure has a very awesome skill in mixing emotions, actions, imaginations and characters that creates and make us feel such a rich atmosphere with just reading her writings.

Hunger Games is thereabouts a girl who is forced to have certain abilities and to be brave, then 'accidentally' becomes an important key of a hassle against dictator and cruel government with absurd authority, both from the Districts and a little part of the Capitol itself. It's also rich of emotions; the action parts are mostly so violent and gory (thinking of die with any methods you can find); I couldn't imagine standing on Katniss shoes and facing those horrifying new world where Capitol residents consider watching people killing each other like animals as an amusing reality show /dizzy/. Imagining those disturbing scenes how tributes die in any possible ways was pretty scary and tensing action scenes made my heart thumped so fast, but thankfully there are also some simple 'heartwarming' and moving scenes that allowed me to shed some tears (lol yeah I'm so sappy like that). And as an YA genre this series doesn't have much love scenes. Katniss looks never sure about her own feeling, it's for Peeta or Gale (well I quite understand,she's busy surviving and protecting people around her, but still I was a bit pissed of her uncertainty. Kinda Peeta bias :p), even at first love string between Katniss and Peeta was 'fake' and a trick to make them surviving Hunger Games. However, surprisingly that little romance between Katniss and Peeta, and also between other characters are sweet enough to somehow soften the heavy atmosphere that set on entire story. Katniss also doesn't fall hard instantly to Peeta (I assumed she unconsciusly already had a feeling for Peeta after 'bread' thing. Hey,who wouldn't? :p) and gradually she becomes too obsessed to protect and save him, her way to show she loves him.

Talking about characters, they are built in interesting and unique way. I especially love how Collins set so contrast characteristics for Katniss and Peeta's and they're kinda, well, crosspost. Katniss; since she had lost her father and had had to be the one who taken care of her 'invalid' mom and little sister; is strong, smart, determined, independent, rigid, and really hard to express her feeling. She also has an exquisite ability using bow and arrow for hunting. Her characteristics have background and make sense but although I admire her for being so determined and strong on taking such a deathly role, she's too er.... serious. I dunno, but I felt her characters too dominant and overwhelming for me. I might like her, but not enough to be my favorite.
Yet thankfully Collins created Peeta, a baker boy, muscly but cute and lovely, talkative, nice and type of domestic boy. He knows well how to make a delicious pastries, but doesn't know how to fight at all. There are many scenes that shows how 'weak' Peeta seem and Katniss always takes all cool parts. Strangely, I found myself very adoring him. He's so amazing. Like the story said, Peeta maybe weak, but he's really smart and diplomatic, and people easily love him, and not only in HG world, I believe most readers (girls) easily love him too. I was moved by his kindness and how he always try to protect Katniss even at his worst condition /sobs/. Somehow I think he's like a 'neutralizer' of the story and I became as stressful as Katniss when he's missing and cameback as different person (woopsy spoiler :p). Katniss and Peeta with their crosspost and distinct personalities, complete each other and it's very hard not to love this unique couple. Then I think I have to talk about Gale, Katniss's best friend and brother-like. At Hunger Games he doesn't really show up but he takes more part at Catching Fire and Mockingjay, really glad I could know him more there. He has similar personalities with Katniss and actually a really nice guy who dedicates himself to his family. He's also so ambitious and rebellion, really itching to fight Capitol back since the start. People saw him as a part of love triangle, but for me, he didn't really leave me that impression because Katniss' uncertain feeling and my overbias of Peeta xD. Obviously he has feeling for Katniss and would end up with her if Peeta didn't show up. Somehow it's like Katniss is kinda snapped from him and I feel bad for him,haha.
There are also a lot side characters that stay like forever or just come and go. Those who just names and bad people are easily to forget but there are also some, despite of their appearance period, are so lovable and made me shock and sad when they're gone.

Since I try to make a spoiler-free review, this maybe not enough to satisfy your curiousity, and I might blabber too much. But trust me, Hunger Games series become the best seller for several years because it's simply so phenomenal like that. No doubt this is one of best series I've read this year (so damn late!). It's so remarkable and I think I won't forget about this book after some years ahead. Go buy and be prepare for the 74th and 75th Hunger Games. May the odds be ever in your favor! :D





Sunday, March 11, 2012

In My Mailbox #16




In My Mailbox is a blog meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren. You can show some books you got over the week which you bought, borrowed or given to you.




Some books I bought last 3 weeks :


Torrent by Lisa T. Bergern
(Yay! Finally my River of Time series is complete =D)
Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Lip Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor (Indonesia Ver.)


(All are Indonesia Ver.)
Destined For An Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost
(currently reading this, totally love this fantastic series!)
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
(yea I haven't read any Sherlock Holmes books, such a shame! AndI really love the cover =D)
Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James
Her Wishlist Bridegroom (Harlequin Romance) by Liz Fielding
And....
BUNCH of mangas =p
But I show just some I got last week :
I've been being an otaku for 18 years (have been reading and collecting manga since I was 8 years old until now, wow!). I'm really a big geek. LOL

And I'm sooooo happy I got next volume of Ouran Host Club, my favorite manga ever! Anyone manga-otaku like me? =p








So what have you got last week?
Share them so I can envy you ;)




Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Wishlist Wednesday #11


Photobucket
Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves.
This blog meme is hosted by Pen to Paper, if you want to join please visit here to find more about this meme.




Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Summary from Goodreads :
One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

Tired of living Fourless. LOL
I think many people also can't wait for Insurgent too =). I really love Divergent so this is definitely one of my most anticipated sequel and I can't really wait to read this. The ending is a friggin' cliffhanger and I really want to know what will happen to Tris, Four and the rest group stay with them and if we still would meet Tris's Dauntless friends like Uriah, Christina and Will. I still need to pre-order it soon

So what is your Wishlist Wednesday this week? =)


Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Cover Reveal #5


Wow, a LOT of cover reveal these days and they are so pretty! =D
Here's some new covers for sequel of the series I've read and some new series that interest me :

Unfailing Light (Katerina Trilogy #2)
by Robin Bridges

Expected release date : October 9th 2012

Summary from Goodreads :
Having had no choice but to use her power has a necromancer to save Russia from dark forces, Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, now wants to forget that she ever used her special powers. She's about to set off to pursue her lifelong dream of attending medical school when she discovers that Russia's arch nemesis--who she thought she'd destroyed--is still alive. So on imperial orders, Katerina remains at her old finishing school. She'll be safe there, because the empress has cast a potent spell to protect it against the vampires and revenants who are bent on toppling the tsar and using Katerina for their own gains. But to Katerina's horror, the spell unleashes a vengeful ghost within the school, a ghost more dangerous than any creature trying to get in.

The cover is soooooo gorgeous, especially the gown =D
I've read twisted reviews of previous book, The Gathering Storm, but still I really want to read it. From the summary, I think it more intriguing and complicated with more dark creatures appearance like vampires and ghosts. Really exciting!



Reached (Matched #3)
by Ally Condie

Expected release date : November 13th 2012

Summary from The Matched Trilogy :
Cassia faces the ultimate choices in the long-anticipated conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Matched Trilogy

After leaving Society and desperately searching for the Rising–and each other–Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again: Cassia has been assigned to work for the Rising from within Society, while Ky has been stationed outside its borders. But nothing is as predicted, and all too soon the veil lifts and things shift once again.

In this gripping conclusion to the #1 New York Times bestselling Matched Trilogy, Cassia will reconcile the difficulties of challenging a life too confining, seeking a freedom she never dreamed possible, and honoring a love she cannot live without.

I really like the concept of Matched series cover, it's simple but stand out and I think it suits the story very well. And the 3rd book has red color, like it! I have soon to read Matched btw, it has already stayed at my shelf too long.



Ten
by Gretchen McNeil

Expected release date : September 18th 2012

Summary from Goodreads :
And their doom comes swiftly.

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives – an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school's most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.

But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.

Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off the from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn't scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

Whoa!
The story seriously reminds me to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, the horror concept about 10 people sent to a mysterious island, and then they're killed one by one, it's almost the same.
Although it sound not really original but well, I still curious and exciting to this book =D



Valkyrie Rising
by Ingrid Paulson

Expected release date : October 9th 2012

Summary from Goodreads :
Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there.

What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly there’s a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.

Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age

Something might lack on the cover, but I like it, the color and the model of it =). The story is also interesting with mythology background. Hm, gonna wait for more review of this.



Starling
by Lesley Livingston

Expected release date : October 9th 2012


Summary from Goodreads :
"Love is just the beginning... of the end."

Mason Starling is a champion fencer for Gosforth Academy, but she’s never had to fight for her life. Until now. When a ferocious storm rips through Manhattan and unleashes terrifying creatures onto Gosforth’s campus, Mason barely escapes alive. Without help from the mysterious stranger who appeared in the midst of the storm, she might not have made it at all. But now, in the aftermath, Mason’s life begins to spin dramatically, mystically out of control, and the only one who seems able to help her is the stranger who can remember nothing but his name: Fennrys Wolf.

As Mason and Fenn uncover more about Fenn’s past and the strange events that surround them, they realize that Mason’s family — and its dark allegiance to the ancient Norse gods — is at the center of everything. A predetermined fate seems to be closing in on Mason, but is it possible to change one’s destiny?

Readers who fell in love with Lesley Livingston’s Wondrous Strange trilogy and those who love Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series will be captivated by the sweeping romance and pulse-pounding action of Starling.

Simply like the cover and the dark atmosphere =).
It's recommended to fans of Clare's TMI and Julie Kagawa made a blurb of this, so imagine how awesome it is! =D
Now I thrill to read Wondrous Strange



Friday, March 2, 2012

peek a BOOK #3


peek a BOOK is a meme I make, to show you a book that tickling my curiosity, either because of the cover, blurb or people's excitement at one time. This is more like 'before' wishlist, but mostly will include in my wishlist =p. Basically I'll spot book / series that I haven't read yet, either it's new or old and you all are welcome to give me suggestion or recommendation about this book/series if you already read it, I'll be very thankful =)

Although I have included in my wishlist, actually I'm still hesitate about this series :

Blood Rights (House of Comarré #1)

Summary from Goodreads :
The lacy gold mapped her entire body. A finely-wrought filigree of stars, vines, flowers, butterflies, ancient symbols and words ran from her feet, up her legs, over her narrow waist, spanned her chest and finished down her arms to the tips of her fingers.

Born into a life of secrets and service, Chrysabelle’s body bears the telltale marks of a comarrĂ©—a special race of humans bred to feed vampire nobility. When her patron is murdered, she becomes the prime suspect, which sends her running into the mortal world…and into the arms of Malkolm, an outcast vampire cursed to kill every being from whom he drinks.

Now Chrysabelle and Malkolm must work together to stop a plot to merge the mortal and supernatural worlds. If they fail, a chaos unlike anything anyone has ever seen will threaten to reign.

Book 2 & 3 :

You know right why I interested to this series?
Yup, the cover. They're ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. I love the color combination : black background, white main character, gold and red accent, and there's a fierce-pretty girl too there =p. Me who mostly judge a book by its cover was captivated at the first sight. Then second is the story itself, it looks very intriguing and interesting, but I'm afraid the story won't be as good as I thought, since I rarely saw any review of this except at the Goodreads.
Anybody have read House of Comarré series? WHat do you think about this book?