November 2012

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

TTT#4 : Top Ten Most Anticipated Books For 2013



Top Ten Tuesday is a feature/weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. It's the best and fun way to share lists of certain topics with other fellow bloggers. If you want to participate, please visit their blog for further information! =D

This lately I got a lot news about new books that will be released next year, both from authors I've been following and new debut. They look really amazing and I already can't wait for them! =D
So, here's Top Ten Most Anticipated Books For 2013 :

1. Divergent Book #3 by Veronica Roth
Still has not get the title yet (people assume it would be 'Convergent') Divergent is the most favorite series of mine and I really can't wait what Roth would do to end this book. What will Tris and Four face next? What's 'behind the wall' about? Still has to wait until Fall next year though, I assume. *dies*

2. Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare
I can't believe Infernal Devices would end next year *sigh*. The story has a sad ending sign and I already prepare my heart. Really excited who will Tessa choose between 2 awesome boys, Will or Jem *sigh*


3. The Retribution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #3) by Michelle Hodkin
I'm in a halfway of The Evolution of Mara Dyer but I already can't wait for the next and the last book. Really curious about the title, 'retribution' what will Mara do, or what will happen to Mara and Noah. Wow! So excited!

4. Requiem by Lauren Oliver
Firstly, congrats to Lauren Oliver because Obama's daughter bought her series. You deserve it, Lauren, because it's awesome! \^0^/
I was really really shocked and thrilled with the last part of Pandemonium. I'm not sure, really Requiem is the last book? What about Lena-Alex-Julian? I really have no idea how this book would be!


5. The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead
Ooooooh, I'm so in love with this series and I really can't wait to read this one! I hope there would be some relation development between Adrian and Sydney! 8D

6. Let The Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger
This book is from debut author and has very very pretty cover. I practically love at the first sight =D. The premise does sound quite unique so I'm curious about the story. Can't wait to read this one =D


7. Taken by Erin Bowman
This book also from debut author as well and this one is Dystopia! WOW! INTRIGUING!
Personally I like Bowman's blog and I think she's an awesome person. Can't wait to know her more from her very first YA book =D

8. Rush by Eve Silver
I've never heard about Eve Silver until I found this book. The cover highly attracted me and the premise too sounds really intriguing. Need to read more reviews and I hope it's as amazing as the cover

9. Reboot by Amy Tintera
The cover is simple but eye-catching. The premise sounds new and interesting for me, I really want to know how the story would like.

10. Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris
I have Unraveling and still need to read it very very soon, but I already can't wait to read it, well maybe because purely physical attraction. The cover is veeeeery pretty! =D

And there are many more! 2013 is full with awesome YA titles!
What's yours? Do you have some from my list too? ;D



Saturday, November 24, 2012

REVIEW : Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout


Obsidian (Lux #1)

Author      : Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher   : Entangled Teen
Source      : Bought
Pages        : 361 (Paperback)

Summary from Goodreads :
Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is.

Book Trailer :


Cover Glimpse :
I'm not a fan of the cover. Somehow it's still raw and dull. But aside of it. Pepe is a perfect portrait for Daemon. So hot and handsome! =D

2cents :
Obsidian receives such a hype and glowing reviews everywhere. Wow, everyone and bloggers I follow seem loving it so much it made me super curious about what those hypes about. After I devoured this book myself, well, I was parted between like and upset. Generally the story is quite good and it has interesting characters, but there were also some details that really, really bugging me. There were multiple times I felt like "I think I've seen this before" and I have to say the story and situation is lack of originality. Before I read this book, I've read some negative reviews on Goodreads about this author's series and how they're mostly like a copycat of famous series. And... I don't mean to offend the author and the fans but I think I have to agree with those. However, although I lost the excitement, thankfully I still could manage to enjoy the story.

The 'lack of originality' I said before is that the situation of the story is strongly remind me of Twilight. Katy moves to the small city and she accidentally has a hot neighbor, a twin, who the girl one, Dee, is very eager to be friend with her, and the boy one, Daemon, acts like an arrogant douchebag and treats her very bad, and he calls Katy 'kitten'. That simple thing also happened to bug me a lot, since I've read The Night Huntress series (which I REALLY love!) where Bones also gives Cat (another similarity) a nickname 'kitten'. I know it's not a limited edition nickname for certain series only but still... *pout*. Okay, back to the topic. As I wanted to believe that the similarity was 'just' that which is very general as a background story of most YA story, I was more than surprised that there were even more similarities my mind couldn't deny, the moment and the time are very exact. Remember the Edward-stops-the-car-with-a-bare-hand moment and the I-know-what-you-are-say-it-out-loud moment from Twilight? This book has that moments, exactly the same. I was completely speechless. Even I had this thought that somehow Armentrout is like, I dunno, insulting Stephenie Meyer. Eeeep! I hope this is not right ><;;;;. I decided to read this book mostly to proof that maybe all those negativities are not really right and I hoped I could enjoy this book like others did. I did enjoy it, but disappointment displaced most of my excitement =(

However, aside of 'copycat' issue I got, I think this book is still quite good and entertaining. I enjoy the bickering and tension between Katy and Daemon. Katy is a fun and tough girl. She doesn't let others make fun of her, even that person also happens to touch her heart. I love that part of her specifically. Wow, Daemon is really hot and intriguing! He's arrogant douchebag, like I said, but somehow they make him charming and special. I totally jealous of Katy, if only I have a boy next door as HOT as him, probably I would take a lot of my time peeking through my window and pray to watch him shirtless, LOL. Not only bickering and chemistry, the alien concept in this story is very interesting and left some mysteries that make me super curious. The action scenes are really cool, quite tensing and nerve-wrecking, I was like watching science-fiction movie with a bit romance touch in it. Those things are enough for me to keep following this series (well, I already have Onyx, the second book though, just look for a right moment to read it =p), hopefully Armentrout could smartly develop the story and bring back my excitement over this series.

Don't let my review affect you. Maybe because Twilight is very remarkable for me so I was kind of upset with a lot similarities in this and that. If you have a chance to read this book, read it. Maybe you'd love it since the first page =D.
Happy reading!



Thursday, November 15, 2012

REVIEW : The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead


The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2)

Author      : Richelle Mead
Publisher   : Razorbill
Source      : Bought
Pages        : 418 (Hardback)

Summary from Goodreads :
Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she’s been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California–tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formerly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.

But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age–old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and the sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi—the fiercest vampires, the ones who don’t die. But it’s her fear of being just that—special, magical, powerful—that scares her more than anything. Equally daunting is her new romance with Brayden, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else—someone forbidden to her.

When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney’s loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.

Should she trust the Alchemists—or her heart?

Book Trailer :


Cover Glimpse :
I think it's still as pretty as Bloodlines. I love title, the color (yellow and gold! Gorgeous!) and Jill's model. So pretty! =D

2cents :
(I think I'm too obsessed with Richelle Mead's works, I reviewed her books 3 times straight, this one makes 4. LOL)

Thankfully I could read this book right away after I finished with Bloodlines which the story was still quite fresh in my mind and I was glad I still hooked up with the entire story =D. Mead knows how to attract her readers without put too much gory action scenes (seems the only true warrior in the team is Eddie) and she seems like already planned and developed everything subtly and nicely. I enjoyed every scenes in this book and I love Sydney and Adrian even more than before!

Although this series is deep in supernatural twist, I find the storyline and the characters are also closer to daily life and more down-to-earth. Just saying, Sydney. I really like Sydney and I can relate to her very easily. Love that her obedience over The Alchemist rules do not always blind her heart. She's very kind, funny in her own way, heartwarming and ambitious at the same time; always hungry of knowledge and truth. She also happens to have a boyfriend who is very similar to her here, and occurs in the most boring-yet-amusing relationship ever, LOL! Her role also start to be more interesting than just a ordinary human because from the end part of Bloodlines then in this book, we learn that she's not that normal too. She possesses something really mysterious that I think could be the key for the whole series.

At the end of Bloodlines, we're notified that there will be a special 'guest' appearing at The Golden Lily. Oh okay, I tell you Dimitri is here, peeps, a super cool, mature, strong, dazzling dhampir who I (and most girls in town) helplessly admire from VA. I was both excited and afraid of his appearance, mostly afraid that he would steal everyone's attention from Adrian. Poor Adrian, he's clearly uncomfortable but still does his best to look nonchalant. But I was wrong. Somehow I was thankful Dimitri is barely appeared here and Adrian's still glowing and totally nailed the story with his funny and witty charms that always made me laugh! I also can say that this book opens more about Adrian. I love how Mead slowly makes us understand about how vulnerable Adrian is and his complicated situation with his family. Those ached my heart so much but also in the same time I worried he would destroy himself again and do something stupid. I was wrong again. I'm happy to see he grows more responsible and maturer here, to be a better person.

Another important thing that happens is that finally we can see some 'sparks' here. Mead is very famous with triangle love and it happens between all the main characters include Jill, Edy and the new comer, Angeline; and finally something I've waited since the start is happening! And BloodlinesBooks fanpage already made the video about that scene! SQUEEEE!
(WARNING! CONTAIN THE MOST IMPORTANT SPOILER! BETTER DON'T WATCH IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK.)


I'm really excited about what Richelle Mead will do next about the triangle-loves, especially between Sydney and Adrian! They two mean to be together. =D I also love to see more about the rest characters, the story development, more secrets, more surprises from her. I totally can't wait to read The Indigo Spell which I believe will have more twists and secrets and another love-triangle! Adrian, please keep strong!
Happy reading! =D


P.S : by the way, do you guys know Richelle Mead revealed the forth's title on her birthday? It calls 'The Fiery Heart' and from how the title sounds, probably the romance side would be more intense and another thing is that this book will have alternate narrator between Sydney and Adrian. YESH ADRIAAAAN!!! WE WILL ENTER THE REALM OF HIS VERY MIND!!! OH MY GOD SO EXCITED ALREADY! 8DDDD
Just keep a good living until 2014 then! ;)



Book To Movie : City of Bones


WHOOOOOOOOT!!!
TODAY IS FREAKIN' AMAZING DAY!!!

Oh wow, thanks God this happen when the sun shines so bright at my place! (since I live in the different side of the world with where Cassie Clare lives, I was always late) =D I've been facing my monitor since 7 a.m this morning after I got the news about City of Bones trailer revealing today, kept refreshing my twitter, The Mortal Instruments website, MTV and TMI Source tumblr for updates and finally HERE IT IS!!!!! OH MY GOOOOD THE BEST THING EVER!!!!!!

*ehem*

So first, Sony Pictures revealed the first still of City of Bones :
Picture taken from HERE
Wow, Clary with her first self-created rune!

Then, 2 EPIC teaser posters of City of Bones :


(taken from Harald Zwart Tumblr and TMI Sources

ABSOLUTELY, TOTALLY FREAKINFANTASTIC! Love it SO MUCH!

Then drum roll, please~








Here's the EPIC teaser trailer!


or you can find it HERE
SWEET JESU!!!! BLOWING MY MIND!!!!
THEY ALL ARE ALIVE! JACE! CLARY! SIMON! IZZY! ALEC! VALENTINE! Jamie is soooo perfect Jace and Lily is beyond awesome as Clary as well! And wooooow I'm dying to see more Alec, Izzy and Simon at the next teaser! I can't stop watching it! Very generous for just a 'teaser' but it do too much tease already!
GOSH I SOOOOO FREAKIN' CAN'T WAIT TILL AUGUST!!! WAITING KILLS ME!!!

And what is more killing me?
They still haven't show us The Magnus, know that he's the one we are already dying-ly longing for. I believe he's gonna be the last blow!
EEEEEEEEEEEP!
Thank you so much for the great job, Harald Zwart and the team, for making such a freaking-marvelous thing in the very very short time! I'm curious now that maybe you're not just ordinary human (Nephilim maybe? =D). This is the best movie teaser trailer EVER!

What do you think about this teaser? Already excited for the movie too like me? =D
WELCOME TO THE CITY OF BONES