Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme that occurs here; we bloggers post about the books that we'd really like to read now :).

I have three picks today, and two of them are pretty obvious but hey!  They're now less than a week away (YAY!) from release and I'm super excited... as you may be able to tell ;).  Without further ado:

Betrayal (The Descendants #1) by Mayandree Michel

Release: April 1, 2011

At seventeen, Cordelia is an ordinary teen with an extraordinary and frightening secret. A secret that induces vivid dreams which she not only experiences true love, but crippling fear while barely escaping with her life each night.

After a life altering event, Cordelia has an unexpected encounter with Evan, the mysterious boy from her dreams, who reveals who and what she is - a descendant of the Greek gods. At that moment everything she knows of her world is a lie, and she must leave the present and go into the past to assume the role she was put on this earth for - safeguarding her ancient empire amidst evil forces that toil hastily to destroy it.

In a race against time, Cordelia must decide if she is truly a part of this dangerous world, or risk defying the gods, and ultimately lose the boy who has put a claim on her heart.

City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare

Release: April 5, 2011

City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever.

Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics.

Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

Where She Went (If I Stay #2) by Gayle Forman

Release: April 5, 2011

It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future-and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

!!!!!!!

1. Why, Amazon?!  Why are there no copies of Betrayal except in Kindle form?  I must find another route!
2. City of Fallen Angels is embargoed... aka even Clare doesn't have a copy yet.  Wow.
2. Just finished If I Stay in preparation for Comacalm's and my read-along of Where She Went.

!!!!!!!

I hope you all are waiting more patiently than I am ;).

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted here.  This week's topic is top ten authors who deserve more recognition.

Top Ten Authors Who Deserve More Recognition (in no particular order):

1. Sarwat Chadda
-author of Devil's Kiss (My Review & Amazon) & Dark Goddess (Amazon)

If you want to read about a kickass and believable girl protagonist in a really well-developed fantasy world (the Knights Templar, plenty of religious elements & hardcore fighting, Russian mythology, and fierce Amazon wolves), check out his work.  Plus, his next work is on Indian mythology, which is not nearly as known as it should be.  Can you say more please???

2. Rachel Hawkins
-author of Hex Hall (Amazon) & Demonglass (My Review & Amazon)

Only recently did she make the NYT bestseller's list for Demonglass but I've been a fan of hers since the beginning.  Though she throws in some of the typical fantasy elements -- demons, witches, werewolves, fairies, etc. -- she has her own spin on their purpose (and origin) and has also created a HILARIOUS and unique POV in the form of Sophie Mercer, her protagonist.  Sophie is one of those characters that is truly refreshing in the YA world.

3. Michelle Zink
-author of Prophecy of the Sisters (Amazon) & Guardian of the Gate (Amazon)

Twin sisters who are enemies in a Gothic Victorian tale spanning the otherworlds?  Um, yes, please!  Can't wait until Circle of Fire, the end to this trilogy, comes out this summer!  Michelle Zink also has other works coming up and a short story in Kiss Me Deadly that's well worth your attention.

4. Caragh O'Brien
-author of Birthmarked (My Review & Amazon)

Relatable sci-fi dystopia with a strong female protagonist caught in a game of morals and haunting secrets... O'Brien is thorough in developing this dystopian world.  Watch out for the sequel (Prized) in November 2011.

5. Alexandra Monir
-author of Timeless (Amazon)

Her debut was a well-researched historical fiction piece telling the story of star-crossed lovers now and in New York in 1910... Plus, she wrote and recorded her own songs for this book.  They fit really well in the book, and she's definitely a talented singer (and writer :D).

6. Saundra Mitchell
-author of Shadowed Summer (Amazon) & The Vespertine (My Review & Amazon)

I've only read The Vespertine, but it's easy to see that Mitchell should be more recognized.  Though it's another Victorian tale of a girl wanting to define herself, The Vespertine also has a slight fantastical edge that adds an extra shade of mystery to the romance element and character development.  I'm looking forward to Mitchell's companion to The Vespertine -- The Springsweet, out in 2012.

7. Julie Kagawa
-author of The Iron King (Amazon), The Iron Daughter (Amazon), & The Iron Queen (Amazon)

I believe Kagawa made the NYT Bestseller list with The Iron Queen, but she and her series still deserve more recognition.  Strong female protagonist Meghan Chase fights her way through a faery world filled with conniving creatures, enemy love interests, and spins on characters from A Midsumer Night's Dream.  The best of all is the original outlook on how science can destroy this fantasy world.  Looking forward to reading The Iron Knight, the fourth book told from Ash's (instead of Meghan's) POV.

8. Julia Hoban
-author of Willow (Amazon) + some picture books

Willow stayed with me for a while.  Want a story about survivor's guilt, pain (& a way to cope w/ it), and how a second chance at life can change one orphan's outlook on life?  Hoban skillfully handles these issues.

9. Dia Reeves
-author of Bleeding Violet (Amazon) & Slice of Cherry (Amazon)

Whacked out stories about the haunted town of Portero and the skeletons that hide in the people's closets.  Not for the faint-hearted -- you've got some seriously troubled protagonists struggling in this interesting fantasy world.  Dia Reeves crosses the traditional boundaries of YA novels.

10. Justina Chen
-author of North of Beautiful (Amazon), Girl Overboard (Amazon), Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies) (Amazon), & The Patch (Amazon)

Admittedly, I've only read North of Beautiful, but that book made me cry.  You want a realistic story about a girl who's trying to discover who she is?  Want a girl whose family is so broken that you just want to hug her?  Want some romance (with an emo boy) thrown in?  Want a trip to China?    Yeah.  It's all that and so much more made possible through the talented Chen.

Published by: Roaring Book Press
Released on: March 30, 2010

 Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien

After climate change, on the north shore of Unlake Superior, a dystopian world is divided between those who live inside the wall, and those, like sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone, who live outside. It’s Gaia’s job to “advance” a quota of infants from poverty into the walled Enclave, until the night one agonized mother objects, and Gaia’s parents are arrested.

Badly scarred since childhood, Gaia is a strong, resourceful loner who begins to question her society. As Gaia’s efforts to save her parents take her within the wall, she herself is arrested and imprisoned.

Fraught with difficult moral choices and rich with intricate layers of codes, Birthmarked explores a colorful, cruel, eerily familiar world where one girl can make all the difference, and a real hero makes her own moral code.

My ten likes/dislikes:

1. (+) The Protagonist - Gaia is a very mature, strong girl with a firm sense of morals.  It's easy to sympathize with her and want to be involved in her story.  Plus, she's just so... practical.  It's refreshing when so many YA protagonists can be dramatic and act unrealistically.
2. (+) Character Development - Leon!!  I love that the romance was rather subtle in this novel; too much and it would've taken away from the main story... And yet, I also adored Leon's character.  Dark and haunted, he was a refreshing change from other love interests.  I wanted to give him his redemption, but hell, even Gaia knew he was far from perfect (aha!  Too many authors fall for the trap of the girl emphasizing how beautiful and perfect the guy is.  Not so here!).  Leon wasn't the only complex character too - Sephie, Myra, Derek, Mace, etc. etc.  A whole cast of awesome people for whom you want to root.
3. (+) Realistic Progression of Gaia's Emotions - This is sort of similar to #9, but I was really in Gaia's journey.  The way her emotions progressed was so natural -- believing in her society, panicking, realizing all was not as it seemed, etc. etc.  Yes, that sounds typical, but believe me when I say that when you read it, you'll also be satisfied with the way Gaia matures.
4. (+) World-Building - Honestly, I don't usually like books with sci-fi edges.  Sci-fi can be boring... But that's not the case here :).  Wow what an original concept!  Not the wall, persay, or the dystopian society, but the connection to midwifery and reproduction and other issues I won't reveal.
5. (--) The Pacing - It was a bit too long and slow for me.  At 365 pages, it seems like an average book... until you realize they shrank the font to make it that many pages.  Really, if it was like a normal YA novel, it would've been 500+ pages or something, which can be ok except for the fact that there were some scenes that I think could've been cut....  I think the reason why it was so long was that Ms. O'Brien wasn't planning to write a sequel (at least she said that on her blog) -- maybe she was trying to fit everything in at once.
6. (+) Gaia's Past - This goes back to # 5 -- though I loved learning about Gaia's past and seeing how it added such rich detail to her parents's characters, I felt like some of the scenes could've been shortened or cut.
7. (+) Symbolic Nature - I loved how Gaia's scar became such a symbol in the book.  I won't say anymore to spoil the story... Except that O'Brien did a terrific job in applying the themes of this book.
8. (+) Portrayal of the Villains/"Evil Side" - The questions raised in this novel are rather interesting.  Each side has their motives, and I could actually see how the villains were right in one way.  How far would you go to save lives?  And yet, I was still on "Gaia's side" -- to me, this spoke of great complexity in the characters (like #2).
9. (+) The Writing - Simply put, I was engrossed in Gaia's persepctive.  I didn't feel like O'Brien was leading me through Gaia's world so much as Gaia was herself.
10. (+/-) The Cover - I'm not really sure how I feel about this cover.  It's kind of busy and the colors contrast too sharply to look nicely together.  Yet, on the other hand, I kind of like the DNA curling down the middle; it sort of reminds me of lightning -- like it's symbolic of how Gaia's world will be rent apart after just one day.

:) I'm sooo looking forward to her sequel, PRIZED, which comes out in November 2011.

*Note to self: Check bank account.  You order too many books even if you have a job at the gym.*

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme started by The Story Siren, and we bloggers share what books we have either received or purchased that week.

Changing my mailbox a bit this week...

Borrowed:

-Uglies by Scott Westerfield -- I probably should've read this one a while ago since it was pretty popular dystopia before dystopia exploded.  Still, it's never too late to read a good story :).

Bought the rest of these:

-On Writing by Stephen King -- I have seen so many authors reference this book as a resource or tip for other writers.  Even if my writing never goes anywhere, I'd still love to learn about how I can improve.

-Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore -- I can't remember which author (or blogger?) specifically recommended this novel, but I read the synopsis and thought I should give it a try.

-Madapple by Christina Meldrum -- This seems too original to let it pass.

As you can see, not as many as last week.  I have to get caught up!  (Clarity, The Iron Thorn, & Stolen remain unread!! ....Not to mention that I've ordered a couple of others for this week :)...)

***Also, as a preview, Comacalm and I are thinking of co-hosting a read-along for Gayle Forman's April 5th release of Where She Went.  If you are at all interested in this, keep it in mind; we'll post more details as we get closer to the release.

Published by: Harperteen
Released on: March 8, 2011

Afterlife (Evernight #4) by Claudia Gray

Destiny awaits Bianca and Lucas . . .

Bianca and Lucas have always believed they could endure anything to be together. When a twist of fate not only transforms Bianca into a wraith but also turns Lucas into a vampire—the very creature he spent his life hunting—they are left reeling.

Haunted by his powerful need to kill, Lucas can turn to only one place for help . . . Evernight Academy. Bianca is determined to remain with him. But with the vampire leader of Evernight waging a war against wraiths, her former home has become the most dangerous place she could be, despite the new powers her ghostly transformation has given her.

A battle between wraiths and vampires looms, and Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. They've overcome every obstacle life has thrown at them, but is their love strong enough to survive the challenges after life?

My ten likes/dislikes:

1. (+) The Writing - Claudia Gray still does a fantastic job with her descriptions and her prose all around.  It's what has stayed most consistent throughout the series... well besides #2 aka:
2. (+) The Enduring Love - Lucas and Bianca.  This obviously also goes hand in hand with #1, particularly towards the end of the book... I feel like anything else I write will cheapen it so let's just leave it at that.
3. (+) Twists and Turns - Just as in Evernight, this book has a couple of twists that make you want to read onwards.  After all, that was what had originally drew me to the series as a whole; you think you know what to expect until Gray throws you for a loop.
4. (+/-) The Villains - I have mixed feelings on this one, because there were multiple villains and subplots all coming together.  For instance, though Gray made Mrs. Bethany into a much more complex villain, Charity suffered.  I feel a bit disappointed that I still don't understand her (i.e. why she can keep her promises -- Balthazar scene... And why did Balthazar choose that scene?  I'm going to say any more for fear of spoiling it, but if you've already read the novel, perhaps you know what I mean.).  Compared to the role she played in the other books, I felt like she was much more noticeably absent here.  I'm guessing this is because Balthazar's story will be exploring her character more. (My prediction is that the vague description of him facing down his greatest enemy is him facing down his sister.).... But I did like the Black Cross bit too though this points out what I mean -- three villains plus Lucas and Bianca trying to cope with what they had become.  I wonder if it was just that there was too much there for everything to be developed in a satisfying way.
5. (+) The Series Development - LOVED the way the series has developed as a whole.  The message of tolerance and how everyone has matured and been influenced by another was something that's relatable to life on a whole.  And Gray did a terrific job with her prose in this regard (as mentioned in #1 but here's a specific.  I can't share it here in case of spoilers but the end of chapter 19 - if you reach that point and remember this, tell me what you think.)
6. (+) Independent Lives - One thing that I took issue with in the earlier books was that Bianca seemed a bit clingy/dependent on Lucas (which makes #2 seem like a moot point), but this book was different than the others.  Bianca had her duties as a wraith while Lucas coped with his bloodlust, but they came together to fight for their love.  The other books had them too joined at the hip.  I'm glad there was a show of independence here.
7. (+) The Ending - Though it did feel a tad rushed, I still enjoyed the ending.  Lucas and Bianca's conversation was incredibly touching and a great way to finish off this series.
8. (--) The Pacing - Admittedly, I was kind of bored when I was reading.  I think this is because the book slowly gains more tension as it goes along; it doesn't really start off with a bang.  (Well, that is, a bang that you didn't already know was coming based on the cliffhanger of the previous book.)
9. (+) World-Building - I can't say much on this topic because of spoilers, but I will note that I haven't read many books that explore the same themes (in the world-building) as Afterlife does.  The world-building in itself is very symbolic of the series as a whole and goes hand in hand with #7.  This book provides a lot more satisfying detail on wraiths and their role within the vampire lifestyle Bianca had known.
10. (+) The Cover - Though I had been disappointed with the cover of these books in general, this book made me realize what they were aiming for.  It's the color scheme that matters with each book.  The grays of this one contrasted against the red -- Bianca as a wraith and Lucas as a vampire... The first novel -- all red while Bianca's still a vampire.  (I'm not sure I understand the purple of the second novel though.)  The third one -- on the brink of death, black/darker gray.... Simple but neat and symbolic.  I like them now.

8 positives, 1 neutral, 1 negative.  Thank you, Claudia Gray, for a terrific end to this series.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme that occurs here; we bloggers post about the books that we'd really like to read now :).

Mine for this week is Divergent by Veronica Roth.

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

It comes out May 3, 2011.

I'm excited for this one for several reasons.  One, I like reading debut authors; they have a fresh voice and deserve at least a chance.  Two, I really like the idea of splitting people up by virtues... I've recently been reading some of Plato, Aristotle, and Christian philosophers for a history class, and having a society that classifies people due to their virtues sounds very interesting.  Plato wouldn't be too happy; what about temperance?  But I look forward to reading Roth's take ;).  Plus, romance and secrecy - sounds like we'd be in for a ride...

What're you waiting on this wednesday?

Published by: Simon & Schuster
Released on: March 22, 2011

Wither (The Chemical Garden #1) by Lauren DeStefano

What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

So sometimes Amazon sends me books ahead of their release date.  I'm not sure exactly why that happens, but I'm glad it did.  Er, well sort of.  I was supposed to study for my organic chemistry test.... (You can see how well that's gone.)  But anyways, damage's done.  At least it was for a good book.

Ten Likes/Dislikes:

1. (+) The Cover - This cover is so gorgeous that I have to comment on it first.  I didn't realize that within each of the circles, the cover got darker as if someone had applied a Soft Light Layer in Photoshop.  The effect is stunning though and draws attention to the most important parts -- her eyes (though they're closed), her ring, the parakeet in the cage, and on the back cover, the hourglass.  So incredibly symbolic.  The color scheme is also out of this world; when I flipped to the front book flap, this aged green to purple gradient and the lily there stunned me... So much win in this cover.  Definitely my favorite of 2011.
2. (+) Writing & Inability to Stop Reading - I stayed up all night reading this book instead of studying.  Does that even begin to tell you how wonderful it is?  DeStefano's writing is a masterpiece with prose and plot/character development, handling even the most delicate of issues with great care.  Definitely looking out her and not only for the rest of the series.
3. (--) The Pace - Yet, it also moved a bit too slow for me.  It's fitting that Carrie Ryan has a book blurb on the back; her writing is just as beautiful as Ryan's though it's also not too packed with action.
4. (+) Protagonist - Rhine is an amazing protagonist.. If I was in her situation, I probably wouldn't have been able to keep my emotions at bay and be as strong as she is.  She takes care of everyone.
5. (+) Other Characters - DeStefano didn't introduce a ton of characters.  Why is this so awesome?  Because it meant that she fully fleshed out all the other characters and made them realistic.  Cecily, Jenna, Rose, Deirdre, Gabriel (though I do wish we had known more about him.)... Even Rowan, who we don't directly meet (though I definitely wanted to meet him.  I guess I'll have to wait for the sequel :D).
6. (+) The Villains - (An offshoot of #5) --- she made me sympathize with the "villains."  I felt bad for Linden even though, in his ignorance, he too made some despicable choices.  And even creepy Housemaster Vaughn -- his determination to find an antidote because of his son makes him more human.  (Though of course you shouldn't be fooled by his kind words... Beneath lies the snake.)  In the end, that's the key; what does it really mean to be a human in this story?
7. (+) Questions Raised by the Novel - An offshoot of that last sentence -- I loved the questions on humanity.  Should we let the humans die or should we try to save this dying race?  This issue brings an interesting perspective to the story.
8. (+) The Protagonist's Past - This goes along with 4, but I loved her character not just because of the way she held herself but because of her past.  DeStefano skillfully weaves in little details as you go along and keeps the larger reveal towards the end.  It reminded me of Fire by Kristin Cashore.  I really wouldn't be surprised if DeStefano wins awards for this novel.
9. (+) Story Feels Complete - Even though this book has a sequel, DeStefano didn't write the climax at the end and leave you thirsting for more because of an unsatisfying cliff hanger and unresolved tension.  Yes, there are still unresolved issues, but because the story develops gradually, the book feels complete.  The cliff hanger at the end even becomes appropriate.  Well done.
10. (+/-) The Story Idea - I was intrigued by her world-building but I also had questions... like if they were going to die soon, why get married?  They mentioned the idea of other men having seven wives, one for each day.  Why wives?  What's so special about matrimony?  I mean the wives are essentially sex slaves and baby makers, but I don't think DeStefano explained the importance of matrimony.  Does matrimony offer some benefit to the man?  Even more control over the women or what?  Plus, if the new generations kept dying off and matrimony is important, why aren't there more people flocking to their religions?  (Matrimony shows that they still believe, right?  Especially since it is a religious wedding--the priest has them say the vows, not a judge.)  I'd imagine that with an apocalyptic thing like that, people would need faith.  Or is the idea of faith not introduced because of Rhine's hard upbringing?  And though I love the name, I'm a little confused-- why is the series called The Chemical Garden Trilogy?

If you've read the book, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted here.  This week's topic is top ten bookish pet peeves.

Top Ten Pet Peeves (but not in a specific order):

1. Love triangles.

Dear YA authors,
Please stop trying to recreate Twilight.  Love triangles often become pointless since we already know who the protagonist will end up with, and having two prospects/this kind of relationship drama detracts from your story.  I don't want to hear about your take on Team Jacob and Team Edward.

2. When authors try too hard to show that they understand teens.

I don't think I need to explain this one.

3. Female protagonists that rely too heavily on their boyfriends.

Again with Twilight.  Please stop creating female protagonists that need their boyfriends to define who they are.  This is the 21st century, and while we all undergo identity crises, advocating for such dependence is not healthy even if it's popular (somehow).

4. A lack of male protagonists.

There are so few YA books out there that have male protagonists, which is probably because the majority of the YA authors seem to be female (or at least the ones that I've read)... but how I wish that authors would take on this challenge and create a unique male POV!

5. The need to include the popular mythical creatures (i.e. vampires, fallen angels, etc.) when creating a fantasy world.

You know what was so brilliant about The Replacement by Yovanoff?  Though she essentially took elements that are associated with faeries, she also didn't ever say the word 'fairy.'  In doing that, she had this wonderfully original perspective.  I wish more authors would explore these other avenues rather than falling for the current trends.

6. Elements that are repeated over and over again...

I know that authors probably wouldn't be able to sell their books unless they had a unique spin but here's an example of what I mean --- why is Greek mythology constantly used?  Why not explore Arabic folklore?  Or Indian?  They're not any less fascinating just because they're less known.  And here's another example: why is iron constantly associated with faeries?  I've seen few fairy books that don't at least mention iron.  Why do we assume that these are elements that must categorize fairy novels?  (Offshoot of #5, I guess).

7. The same type of beauty portrayed over and over again...

An offshoot of #6 but really?  Why are all the "beautiful" characters often white?  I am white but am attracted to other races as well.  Would it kill the authors to stop portraying the "traditional" type of beauty and explore something different?  (Like in the Gemma Doyle Trilogy -- loved that Karthik was Indian!)

8. Comparisons to Twilight or other really popular novels.

Apparently you can't write a vampire novel without it being compared to Twilight.  Really?  Please let the book shine because of its own merits and not because of its similarity to another novel.

9. Weird fonts for the text in the book.

I almost put down Hush, Hush because of the weird font.  Why would you have a different font?  It makes it so much harder to read!  Like in Linger by Stiefvater with its green text.  Even if it was a darkish green, it was still more difficult to read and honestly for me, it didn't matter if the font color matched the book jacket.  [Re: these two books - I read them anyways.  Still it was annoying holding Linger up to the light just to read what the words said.  But I bought them--definitely was going to at least give them another chance.]

10. Photoshopped eyes on covers.

Okay, they look really cool, but at some point, you've got to switch things up a bit.  We get that the character is different, but that doesn't mean that having photoshopped eyes is the only way to show it.

Feel free to disagree with me :).
What are your top ten bookish pet peeves?

Published by: Simon Pulse
Released on: February 22, 2011

Darkness Becomes Her (Gods and Monsters #1) by Kelly Keaton

Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.
 
Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.
 
She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

(Woah.  From Goodreads, I learned the name of the trilogy -- Gods and Monsters.  Perfect description.)

My list of ten likes and dislikes:

1. (+) Protagonist - Ari is a kickass female protagonist.  I mean, despite all the trouble she has been through, she still fights back and has enough snark and strength that it's rather admirable.
2. (--) Trying Too Hard - Sometimes, it felt like Keaton was trying too hard to make all her characters kickass.  My proof: kickass.  I mean, holy shit, there's a lot of cursing in this book.  And I'm not adverse to cursing -- just that here, it felt unnecessary.  Take the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead for example.  Rose Hathaway, Dimitri, the guardians in general - they're all kickass characters but they do it in action and not in word.  If you've read the book, let me know what you think about this.
3. (--) Unbelievable Romance -The romance in the novel.  My issue isn't that it occurs too suddenly - I can understand that.  What I don't understand is the level of committment that came with it.  Sebastian had the choice between Ari and family and after only a short time knowing her, he chose Ari.  Wait, what???  Sebastian, you've been all dark and tortured since Ari met you because of familial issues.  Why wouldn't you take that opportunity?  Sebastian and Ari had good chemistry but it wasn't believable enough to justify that.
4. (+) Great Setting - I've heard about setting being another character in itself but haven't really been struck by it in other novels (except, of course, when the fantasy novel is based on that world)... But here, it was wonderful and alive, and I felt like I appreciated New 2 a lot more because of it.
5. (+) World Building -The fantasy elements in this novel.  Combining Greek mythology and the traditional elements of vampires & witches?  Wonderful here.  A uniquely built world that I immediately want to know more about.
6. (+) The Pacing - The book was paced just right for me.  I constantly wanted to know more and couldn't put the book down until I finished and knew what was wrong with Ari.  Perfect length too - enough that the story introduced us to Ari's struggle but showed that there was much more to come.  (Usually, I'd say that the story didn't feel complete, but here I think it was because there was still so much left to the fantasy world that it was OK for Keaton to leave us hanging.)
7. (+) Violet, a Periphery Character - We don't know all that much about Violet from Violet herself but what a cool little kid!  Keaton did a good job making her a sympathetic periphery character, one for who we could all root.
8. (+) Good Balance of Character & World Development - I felt like this book was a pretty good balance of character-driven and plot-driven fantasy.  We're with Ari as she explores more of that world while still being immersed in her own struggles with what/who she is.
9. (+/-) But Some Incomplete Character Development - I felt like some characters were much better developed than others, enough so to the point that it made me wonder why Keaton even introduced some of them. Like that bully?  Already forgot his name.  And the parents?  And Josephine's secretary?  But I already talked about how I liked Violet & Ari as characters so I thought that this deserved a 50/50 like/dislike.
10. (--) The Cover - That cover isn't doing it for me.  I know lots of people liked it for its Gothic elements, and I suppose that does fit the story well enough, but what's that gate for?  And the tree?  That's not really integral to the story.  I felt like the designers could've done a better job incorporating some of the vitality of New 2 with its creepy history.

Go buy the book!!

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme started by The Story Siren, and we bloggers share what books we have either received or purchased that week.

All of these I bought:

Stolen by Lucy Christopher - Amazon
-I haven't read very many books that can successfully navigate a second person perspective so I had to try this one out.  (Well, it's not technically second person, but it has a lot of it since it's a letter to somebody.)

The Dark Goddess (A Devil's Kiss novel) by Sarwat Chadda (posted a review of Devil's Kiss yesterday if you want to check it out!) - Amazon
-Chadda creates really awesome fantasy worlds.

Clarity by Kim Harrington - Amazon
-Everyone's been raving about this one :D.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver - Amazon
-May I say that the cover is even more awesome in person?  I thought it was pretty plain until I got a good look and saw that the letters have a girl's face in them.

The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge - Amazon
-Her short story in Kiss Me Deadly was pretty awesome so I'm expecting the same here.

And of course, I've heard great things about all of these books :).  Looking forward to them!
What's in your mailbox?

Published by: Disney's Hyperion
Released on: August 10, 2010

Devil's Kiss (Billi SanGreal #1) by Sarwat Chadda

As the youngest and only female member of the Knights Templar, Bilquis SanGreal grew up knowing she wasn't normal. Instead of hanging out at the mall or going on dates, she spends her time training as a soldier in her order's ancient battle against the Unholy.

Billi's cloistered life is blasted apart when her childhood friend, Kay, returns from Jerusalem, gorgeous and with a dangerous chip on his shoulder. He's ready to reclaim his place in Billi's life, but she's met someone new: amber-eyed Michael, who seems to understand her like no one else, effortlessly claiming a stake in her heart.

But the Templars are called to duty before Billi can enjoy the pleasant new twist to her life. One of the order's ancient enemies has resurfaced, searching for a treasure that the Templars have protected for hundreds of years -- a cursed mirror powerful enough to kill all of London's firstborn. To save her city from catastrophe, Billi will have to put her heart aside and make sacrifices greater than any of the Templars could have imagined.

Okay, okay, I may be behind on this series, but I recently heard about Chadda's work from Rachel Hawkins since the two of them went on tour together...

(the sequel, Dark Goddess, came out January 25, 2011.  I'm not thaaat behind.  Besides, it's always nice to find something interesting, even if I'm a bit late about it.)

My ten likes and dislikes:

1. (+) Character Descriptions - I LOVE that the character descriptions are different from usual.  As in Billi = Bilqis and her mom's Pakistani and Kay has albino-esque skin.  That may be shallow of me, but I've noticed that authors in the YA genre often portray the same kind of beauty over and over.  And I'm glad Chadda switched things up a bit.
2. (+) Keeps You Guessing - Oh MAN, this book is filled with twists.  You think you have a bearing until Chadda drops another bombshell on you.
3. (+) Character Development - Chadda does an amazing job with character development.  We even know the personalities of the side characters like Bors, and it's done without it being a distraction from the plot.
4. (+) World Building - Chadda really must have done his research.  He filled the book with a wonderful world on the Knights Templar, enough so that I felt like I was there with Billi too... and wanted to do some of my own research later on.  I hadn't heard of half the things he described but he made them very realistic.
5. (+) Protagonist & Sidekick(ish) - Similar to #3 but Kay and Billi are such awesome characters.  Even though the novel was told from Billi's third person perspective, I still felt more for Billi than I have with some other first person novels. 
6. (+) Seamless Writing - I was engrossed in Billi's world.  Didn't once feel like Chadda was the one guiding me through it.  Terrific.
7. (--) The Pace - The pacing was a bit slow for me... which is interesting because when I was trying to find the summary for the book, I found a review that said it was fast-paced.  My reasoning is that I was able to put down the book.  Only 2/3 the way in did I absolutely have to know what was going to happen.
8. (+) Novel Feels Complete - And yet, even though I could put down the book, I felt that it was very complete.  It makes me wonder if it got nominated for some literary awards.  (Yes, it was that awesome.  I'd rank it up with Graceling or Fire [by Cashore] with its character driven fantasy.)
9. (+) The Cover - That cover is beautiful.  The back of it was a graveyard with crosses and tombstones so to me, it didn't seem like anything was lacking... Deus volt!
10. (+) No Love Triangles - Thank you, Chadda.

9 positives, 1 negatives.
Go buy this SUPERB book :)!

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme that occurs weekly here; bloggers post about the book they are eagerly awaiting and link their post back to Breaking The Spine so that others can see.

The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Midnight by L.J. Smith

(From Amazon)...

The devil you know . . .

With the help of charming and devious Damon, Elena rescued her vampire love, Stefan, from the depths of the Dark Dimension. But neither brother returned unscathed.

Stefan is weak from his long imprisonment and needs more blood than Elena alone can give him, while a strange magic has turned Damon into a human. Savage and desperate, Damon will do anything to become a vampire again—even travel back to hell. But what will happen when he accidentally takes Bonnie with him?

Stefan and Elena hurry to rescue their innocent friend from the Dark Dimension, leaving Matt and Meredith to save their hometown from the dangerous spirits that have taken hold of Fell's Church. One by one, children are succumbing to demonic designs. But Matt and Meredith soon discover that the source of the evil is darker—and closer—than they ever could have imagined. . . .

Admittely, I hadn't heard of the Vampire Diaries until the show came out, but ever since then, I've read every one of the novels, and I can't believe I missed out on this book!  (It came out yesterday).  I usually pre-order the books that I'm really excited about, and this is one of them.  I mean, this whole series is fantastic-- Elena is a wonderfully strong female protagonist, and though I'm not that great a fan of love triangles, I love both Stefan and Damon and how complex their characters are.

Anyways, no need to worry--I just ordered it today on Amazon :).  Will eagerly wait for it to arrive.

What're you "waiting on" this wednesday?

My ten likes and dislikes: