Shannon's bookshelf: read
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Forget Overdue Fines! - Oddly Specific - Funny Signs
0 commentsForget Overdue Fines! - Oddly Specific - Funny Signs
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
White Cat by Holly Black
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Friday, June 11, 2010
Another reason to love June...
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Vamps, weres, and other sups all return in the month of June. Yes, vampires and wolves of the Pacific Northwest will make their appearance at the end of the month in Eclipse. And for the grown-ups, the menageries of sups from Bon Temps arrive Sunday!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Spirit Bound: Vampire Academy #5
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The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
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I really like the first book in this series, so I had high expectations for this one. Carrie Ryan did not disappoint. I enjoyed it right from the beginning. I was glad to see how Mary's life progressed since escaping the forest and finding the ocean.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Strange Angels Series by Lili St. Crow
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Strange Angels: Dru Anderson has been “strange” for as long as she can remember. She travels from town to town with her father, hunting the things that go bump in the night and eat the unwary. It’s a weird life, but a good one–until it all explodes and a zombie busts into her new house.
Alone, terrified, and trapped in an icy town, Dru’s going to need every inch of her wit and training to stay alive. Can she trust the boy who is just a little too adult–and just happens to get bit by a werwulf? Or the strange blue-eyed boy who tells her she’s heir to a long-forgotten power? Can she even trust her own instincts?
Because Dru is not the first in her family to be killed by the darkness of the Real World. The monsters have decided to hunt back–and now Dru has to figure out who to trust, who to fight, and when to run. And not incidentally, she has to figure out how she’s going to get out of this alive.
And she has to do it by sundown, or it’s all over…
Betrayals: Dru Anderson’s parents are long gone, her best friend is a werwulf, and she’s just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn’t entirely human. (So what else is new?)
Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England Schola for other half-vampire teens like her, and there’s a big problem—she’s the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn’t be so bad, but Dru’s killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide.
When murderous vampires start showing up and the body count begins rising, Dru has to figure out who to trust and when to run–or tonight might be her last…
Jealousy: Dru Anderson might finally be safe. She’s at the largest Schola on the continent, and beginning to learn what it means to be svetocha–half vampire, half human, and all deadly. If she survives her training, she will be able to take her place in the Order, holding back the vampires and protecting the oblivious normal people.
But a web of lies and betrayals is still closing around her, just when she thinks she can relax a little. Her mentor Christophe is missing, her almost-boyfriend is acting weird, and the bodyguards she’s been assigned seem to know much more than they should. And then there’s the vampire attacks, the strange nightly visits, and the looks everyone keeps giving her. As if she should know something.
Or as if she’s in danger.
Someone high up in the Order is a traitor. They want Dru dead–but first, they want to know what she remembers of the night her mother died. Dru doesn’t want to remember, but it looks like she might have to–especially since once Christophe returns, he’ll be on trial for his life. The only person who can save him is Dru.
The problem is, once she remembers everything, she may not want to…
Sunday, March 21, 2010
"Well of Sorrows" by Benjain Tate
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To escape a war brewing in their country, Colin and his parents take refuge in a new land. Like most immigrants, the family struggles with unjust treatment. To save his family and friends, Colin’s father grudgingly agrees to lead an expedition to expand the new lands. The wagon train trip through the Plains parallels the dangers the American pioneers faced during the westward movement of the early United States. The settlers expected to find freedom; unfortunately, they encountered hostile inhabitants, The Dwarren. Only Colin survives. Colin is saved and receives a “baptism”’ from the waters of the Well of Sorrows. He emerges with untold powers and a connection to the supernatural force of the forest and the Well.
The author seems very definite about the moral fiber of his characters; there is no grey area. During the beginning of the story, the author takes time to provide a strong back-story and significant development of the protagonist, Colin and the antagonist, Walter. Colin’s integrity is balanced by the delicious badness of his enemy Walter. Colin is not a reluctant hero, though. He just jumps right in and accepts his fate. He remains resistant to being corrupted by the power of the Well; however, it seems inevitable that he will become consumed by its control.
The author’s fantasy world seems very genuine and realistic. He creates vivid settings including: the sea side community lined with cobblestone streets, bustling docks, and rugged wilderness.
The author created a well paced battle scene by incorporating various settings and strategically placed characters. He provides different points of view and shifts time to reveal the stakeholders’ role in the epic battle of power and control. Similar to other fantasy novels I have read, I had some trouble keeping up all the names of the lords and warriors.
I anticipate Colin’s character will develop as the series proceeds. I really didn’t see any growth or change in Colin’s character as an adult. Both characters remain static: I expected Colin to be good and Walter to be bad. In turn, Colin will always need a foil to balance the stability of Well’s Life Blood. Will Colin keep hold of his humanity? How will the Well of Sorrows remain contained?
This suspenseful story will leave the reader with lingering questions and thirst to continue the adventure.
According to Penguin...An epic tale of a continent on the brink of war, and a deadly magic that waits to be unleashed on an unsuspecting world.
Colin Harten and his parents had fled across the ocean to escape the Family wars in Andover. But trouble followed them and their fellow refugees to this new land, forcing them to abandon the settled areas and head into unexplored territory-the sacred grounds of a race of underground dwellers and warriors. It was here that they would meet their doom. Driven to the borders of a dark forest, they were attacked by mysterious Shadow creatures who fed on life force. Only Colin survived to find his way to the Well of Sorrows-and to a destiny that might prove the last hope for peace in this troubled land.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Exclusive: First look at the cover of Cassandra Clare's next novel, Clockwork Angel | EW.com
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Monday, March 15, 2010
Dark Guardian Series by Rachel Hawthorne
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Easy reading! Great addition for the vampire/werewolf reader. Similar plot in each story. The female protagonist awaits her transformation to wolf, her brooding mate helps to accept her fate. The antagonists are a group of scientists trying to steal the shifter DNA for research purposes. Book #4 will be out soon.
Hourglass by Claudia Gray
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The “Evernight” series is a story about star crossed lovers stuck in the middle of a war between vampires and humans. Bianca, the teenage daughter of vampires, falls in love with Lucas, a member of an elite group of vampire hunters. They meet at Evernight Academy, a private vampire boarding school.
Hourglass continues the summer after Evernight Academy was raided and torched. Bianca escapes with Lucas and joins The Black Cross, a fanatical group of vampire hunters. She must keep her supernatural abilities hidden or face certain death. The situation gets more difficult when her friend, Balthazar, is captured and tortured at the hand of The Black Cross. Following Balthazar’s escape, Bianca’s secret is exposed by her friend Raquel, and Lucas and she are on the run.
Thanks to Vic, Bianca and Lucas enjoy a stolen summer before they have surrender to the war that surrounds them. No matter how much she tries to resist, though, Bianca cannot escape her destiny.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
All Things Urban Fantasy: 300 Followers: All 4 Mercy Thompson books + A&O International Giveaway!
0 commentsAll Things Urban Fantasy: 300 Followers: All 4 Mercy Thompson books + A&O International Giveaway!: "+1 Take my poll on the top left
+2 for each place you share this giveaway - Sidebar, Facebook, Twitter etc. (leave links)
+5 Add me to your blogroll"
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Amazon.com: Hourglass eBook: Claudia Gray: Kindle Store
0 commentsAmazon.com: Hourglass eBook: Claudia Gray: Kindle Store
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Monday, February 22, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
The Giant LINGER Giveaway (& a sappy story)
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In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.
At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.
Comes out in stores everywhere July 20th. Pre-order here.
Enter to win an advanced review copies of LINGER, Sisters Red, The Dead-Tossed Waves, and The Replacement on Maggie's blog.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Book Buzz: 'Mockingjay' completes 'Hunger Games' trilogy - USATODAY.com
0 commentsBook Buzz: 'Mockingjay' completes 'Hunger Games' trilogy - USATODAY.com
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Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
American Library Association Announces Literary Award Winners -- BOSTON, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
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