When I was discussing my writing habits with one of my friends, I mentioned that I had stopped writing about 60 pages in because I had lost my protagonist's voice but that I had also started to write the ending on a bout of inspiration.  She said that she usually wrote the beginning and ending of her stories but could never write the middle.

In response, I said: "It's most important to know the beginning and the end anyways.  The middle is usually the most boring :P."

Her: "It shouldn't be though.  Because the middle is when you get to know the characters and you start to build up the action and suspense."

Me: "Ehhhuh we must agree to disagree.  The end usually has all the consequences from the middle which is super exciting for me... And the beginning has to be good for me to get into the middle ;P."

Her: "But the middle has to be good for you to keep reading.  At least this is true for me.  Even if the beginning is awesome."

Me: "But in terms of importance, I think the beginning takes precedence because if it's a good beginning, I'll usually buy the book.  I'm not perusing the middle to see if I should buy it.  So if the beginning isn't good, I'm not going to even get a chance to look at the middle."

So this got me thinking about whether or not this was just a difference in reading/buying habits.  What's easier for you to forgive: a bad beginning, a bad middle, or a bad ending?  Would you buy the book if it had a bad beginning but the summary seemed promising?  If you heard about a book's cliffhanger or unsatisfying ending, would that stop you from buying it even if the characters & suspense had been well developed?  Would you continue reading a book until the end even if the middle dragged?

I'd love to hear your opinions.  Am I in the majority or minority of readers in thinking that the beginning is the most important?

Oh man, you guys are awesome!!  So, just as I promised before, I am giving away my ARC of Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer and an ARC of Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.  This 200 Follower Giveaway is wolf themed :P.

Wolfsbane (Nightshade #2) by Andrea Cremer [Goodreads, my review] - an absolutely wonderful sequel to Nightshade, and if I hadn't promised that I'd do a giveaway at 200 followers, I would keep my ARC so I could continue to peruse it... and stare at that beautiful old cover.

Trial by Fire (A Raised by Wolves Novel) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes [Goodreads, my review] - this one came out already, but if you haven't had the chance to read it, well, here's your chance :P.  I hadn't yet read Raised by Wolves when I read Trial by Fire and I still loved this book.

Also, if you haven't had a chance to enter my other giveaways, here's my 100 follower celebratory giveaway & my Shadowspell giveaway.

Thank you all so much!!  Hugs all around :).  Hope whoever wins loves these books as much as I do!!!

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

Today, I'm waiting on Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis
Release Date: April 17, 2012

What if you forgot your identity and had to rely on other people to tell you who you were? 

And what if to discover your true self, you first had to unravel a mystery so big and terrifying you were not sure you’d survive solving it? 

When Marshall and Elyse wake up in each other’s arms with zero memory of how they got there or who they are, it’s the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future. 

Terrified by their amnesia, the two make a pact to work together to find the answers that could jog their missing memories. As they piece together clues, they discover they’re in the idyllic mountain resort town of Summer Falls, where everyone seems mysteriously happy, but as Marshall and Elyse quickly learn, darkness lurks beneath the town’s perfect facade. Not only is the town haunted by sinister ghosts, but none of its living inhabitants retain bad memories of anything—not the death of Marshall’s mom, not the hidden shame in Elyse’s family, not even the day-to-day anguish of high school. 

Lonely in this world of happy zombies, Marsh and Elyse fall into an intense relationship...but the secrets they uncover could be the death of this growing love—and the death of everyone, and everything, they love in Summer Falls.

-This sounds right up my alley with the mystery and suspense it promises.  I'm intrigued that both characters don't know what happened.  Sort of like a drunken hook-up gone wrong but more drastic and with much more sinister consequences :P.  Also, yay!  I love romance, and this thankfully does not present a love triangle.  Plus, look at that pretty cover!

What're you waiting on this Wednesday?

When I was at the RT Convention, I didn't have any of my Faeriewalker novels with me so I purchased an extra copy of Shadowspell for Jenna Black to sign.  Now I have 2 copies of Shadowspell and want to give one away in celebration of the upcoming July 5th release of Sirensong, the 3rd book in a series that many of you expressed interest in when I featured it as my WoW.  I hope whoever wins enjoys this book as much as I did!

Release Date: June 28, 2011
(Thank you to netGalley!)
Published by: Harlequin Teen

Legacy (Legacy #1) by Cayla Kluver

The first boy disappeared on the day of his birth, on a night when the pale yellow moon of the nighttime sky turned red and bathed the heavens in the ghastly color of blood, on the same night the Kingdom of Cokyri abruptly ceased its merciless attack.


Ten Likes/dislikes:

1. (+) Alera, the Protagonist - Although Alera was at times a bit spoiled, childish, and naive, I liked her as a protagonist.  She was stubborn, which made for great tension between her and Steldor, smart, compassionate, and determined.  And she matured a lot throughout the book in both actions and temperament so that was nice to watch as well.  It somewhat redeemed her in my eyes.
2. (+) World-building - Oh man, if there's one thing I'd have to pick from this book, it would be the fantasy world Cayla Kluver's created.  Hytanica and Cokyrian customs, cultures, and the war between them, the dynamics of politics and social pressures with their gender barriers, choosing between duty and living your life... It's all so wonderfully complex, and I cannot wait to read more about it.  It's obvious that Cayla Kluver spent a lot of time mapping out the world she's created.
3. (+) Side Characters - Another thing I absolutely loved were the side characters in this story.  London's past is such an enigma but still I couldn't help but feel for him as he showed both his protective side and his determination.  And the King, the Queen, Steldor, Tavark, Cannan, Destari, Temmerson, Halias, Miranna, Narian's father, Narian--Cayla Kluver did a magnificent job developing these characters.  My favorites were probably Cannan, Narian, Steldor, and London, and that's because they're all a bit reserved (well, maybe not Steldor), and I want to find out more about them.
4. (+) The Romance - It's easy to see why Alera likes Narian, given how he treats her so differently than most men treat her.  I would've liked to see more scenes between them or at least know why Narian was as attracted to Alera as she was to him, but both don't really fit in with the story given Narian's character and the unwillingness of the Guard to leave Narian alone.  So the Alera/Narian romance didn't work as well for me.  But there's also the romance with Steldor, which I enjoyed much, much more.  Steldor's an arrogant jerk with quite a temper, no doubt about that, and yet he also softens up a bit in response to Alera's repartees.  Their interactions were always interesting to read about, and I thought the change in Steldor's demeanor brought a very nice complexity to his character.
5. (+) The Use of the Past - Oh man, I really enjoyed how Cayla Kluver used the past to highlight the fears of the Hytanians now about the war... and how it made her characters so much more compelling.  With a war on the horizon, no one can afford to keep secrets else the past repeat itself.
6. (+/-) Frustration - Ah, but I was very frustrated while reading this novel.  Because she is a woman and Hytanican society values men over women and requires that women be submissive, Alera is not often allowed to do very much.  This became very frustrating as I found that most of the times things were happening around Alera or to her instead of her acting on events.  I didn't want her to be submissive.  It sort of reminds me of Victorian age novels and how I always want the heroine to conquer the social restrictions... At the same time, I didn't think this was a total negative because it just speaks to the mastery of Kluver's writing that she could get me to feel so frustrated along with Alera, who also wanted to do something, anything.
7. (--) The Ending - And yet I was dissatisfied with the ending.  There are a lot of unresolved issues at the end.  Granted, this is the first in a trilogy, but I couldn't help but feel that the book could have been more complete or had a more traditional fall and rise plot.
8. (+/-) The Writing - Sometimes I felt like there were too many descriptions.  This also stems from my dislike of the pacing, which I'll expand on in a bit.... Anyways, with a nearly 500 page book, I really wondered if some things could have been cut... like the descriptions of the food at the dinners, the gowns at every party, letting us know what everybody was up to.... I understand that this is a fantasy world and a certain amount of details are needed to provide authenticity, but I also found myself wishing that those descriptions were not as lengthy.  Nonetheless, it would be remiss of me if I did not acknowledge Cayla Kluver's superb writing, which is fluid and replete with imagery; she made it easy to slip into Alera's world.
9. (--) The Pacing - As mentioned earlier... 500 pages... and we do not even meet Narian until over 100 pages have passed, though as the summary of the book tells you, he is rather important.  I cannot identify what the climax of this novel actually is--there are several important elements, but it feels more like a constant building of tension, like Cayla Kluver is just establishing her fantasy world.  This reminds me of Starcrossed, given that this is the same feeling I got from it.
10. (+) The Cover - I don't usually like overwrought curls as seen above, but their elaborateness only highlights Alera's position as princess and I love the colors of the cover.  It may be yet another girl staring at the camera in a YA pose, but if I saw this book, I'd at least check to see what it was about.

Despite my issues with the pacing, I still find myself drawn to the fantasy world and side characters that Cayla Kluver has created and will be perusing the sequel, Allegiance, when it is released.

Release Date: June 21, 2011
Published by: Balzer + Bray

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten... 

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger. 

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely. 

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.

Ten likes/dislikes:

1. (+) Charlotte, the Protagonist - You know how there are a lot of books with girls who tend to be self-sacrificing?  Well, Charlotte puts them all to shame.  She has an incredibly good heart when dealing with such a tough situation and she also stands up for herself and her friends.  Her loyalty and fierce personality with her smart-ass comments were a nice addition, and because I really liked Charlotte, I was able to empathize with her situation that much more.
2. (+) The Idea - I haven't really read many angel books, and whether or not Charlotte's an angel is left up to the reader.... but nonetheless, Suzanne Young really turns the scales with her interpretation of good and evil, of good deeds and their lasting mark on all of us.  It was a really well developed supernatural idea that I'm not likely to forget for a long, long time.
3. (+) The Message - The author doesn't press the message on you.  It sort of just comes with the idea, you know?  And I'm glad, because it allows each and every one of us to find our own message within Charlotte's tale.  These kind of books among others are the ones that really get you thinking about them.
4. (+) The Other Characters - The rest of the characters were well developed.  Even if I only got a few slices of their lives--by nature, since Charlotte's consumed by the Need and is losing her time--I still felt like I had a sense of who they really were.  At first, admittedly, I didn't like Sarah, Charlotte's best friend, but she grew on me, and I particularly loved Charlotte's family dynamic and how her past comes into play there.
5. (+) The Romance - Oh man.  At first, I was a tad concerned, because in the beginning, some of the descriptions hinted at a sort of dependence I'm not fond of, but it was a wrong assumption.  Harlin and Charlotte, at the start of the story, have been together for two years, and Charlotte has her own life outside of him.  Plus, the romance between them was not only steamy at some points but also tragic and touching at others.  And I never thought that a guy who drives a motorcycle and dropped out of high school would have such a good heart.  Harlin is a wonderful romantic interest.
6. (+) Details like - I usually have a category for writing so let me just preface this section by saying that Ms. Young's writing is extraordinary and it's easy to slip into Charlotte's world.....  That being said, the rest of this section is all about the details... like how I loved the characters names... how I loved the way Charlotte's transformation kept building and building... how I loved the power of the Need and seeing the situations people were in... etc. etc.  The details in this story make it even more poignant.
7. (--) The Ending - I really wish the last two pages were not included.  I already knew that there'd be a sequel--A WANT SO WICKED--and Charlotte basically tells you what the focus of the next book will be... So I would've preferred that last line, which by the way was so beautiful and fitting, to the last two pages.  They just made for an ambiguous ending that I would have rather read about in the start of the next book.
8. (--) Pattern - I just listed out all the Needs Charlotte has in the course of this book to make sure I wasn't bringing this up falsely.... I couldn't find a pattern.  I personally would have liked it if her Needs grew more drastic just as they grew in intensity for her, but mostly they seemed the same.  It wasn't like she helped a family out and then saved a life--it was like constant saving of lives.  Sorry, this is just nitpicky of me... I did think the Needs growing more intense and the consequences therein were really interesting though and added a lot to the story.
9. (+) Pacing - The only time I put the book down was because I was so exhausted I couldn't see the words anymore.  That being said, once the book gets its hook in you, you won't want to let go.  The book has constant tension... it sort of reminds me of character-driven fantasy in that way.  I don't know if I'd actually call it that because Charlotte's Need isn't really realizing things about herself so much as her abilities, but it has that same sort of feel, in my opinion at least.
10. (+) The Cover - It's incredible.  It captures the essence of what Charlotte is so well while still maintaining the same tragic tone of the book.  I love how the colors and her hair all swirl together like that.

This book is one you don't want to miss.  It has an absolutely unforgettable premise with such drastic circumstances that make Charlotte's relationships and the loss thereof even more heartbreaking.  You'll want to keep reading until the end.

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.

This is a collection of the past few weeks so it's a lot of stuff.

Bought:
*apparently I have no self-control--book ban went right out the window.  [It was/IS seriously needed.  Such a giant to-read pile :/!]

NetGalley (reviews definitely coming):


-I already started to read A Need So Beautiful and The Last Little Blue Envelope and am enjoying them.  My next review will probably feature the former.
-The misspelling of Khalil Gibran's name in the epigraph of Everlasting upset me so I didn't continue reading it a couple of nights ago.
-I wanted to sample Laini Taylor's writing with Lips Touch: Three Times with all the hype over Daughter of Smoke and Bone but the artwork in Lips Touch is also extraordinary!

What's in your mailbox?

Release Date: June 28, 2011
(Thank you to netGalley for providing me with a copy!)
Published by: Harlequin Teen

Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?


Ten Likes/Dislikes:

1. (+) Emma, the Protagonist - Smart, sarcastic, strong, caring.  I loved when she stood up to Kirsten in the beginning.  I loved how she lost sight of her fear when she marched up to Anthony and demanded that he tell the school the truth about what happened between him and her baby cousin.  I loved that she wasn't quite the damsel-in-distress - sometimes maybe but not always - and that she, in the end, was the one who made all the worlds difference in what happened for their romance.
2. (+) Use of Emma's Past - This was one of the things I really loved about Spellbound.  Ms. Shultz used Emma's harsh past with her family to strengthen her as a character.  Plus, I really liked the relationship between Emma and her brother and the little tidbits we got to see of that contrasted against the horrid family life she had after his death.
3. (+) World-building - This book isn't filled with that giant of a fantasy world but for what it's worth, what's included is done well.  Gems and witch powers and spirits coming alive in dreams.  All nice and established throughout the book.
4. (+) The Romance - Insta-love that comes with a believable explanation and a girl staring longingly into the guy's green eyes.  That's not what I liked about the romance, though.  I liked the banter back and forth between Brendan and Emma.  It was light and fun in the midst of something so serious.  Plus, I thought Brendan was actually developed pretty well as a character and had some swoon-worthy elements to him.  Though he's got to fix that temper of his.
5. (--) The Villains - Not believable.  I'm sorry but these villains were stereotypes and were not, in my opinion, well developed.  I cannot picture a high school guy with such rage over something so idiotic nor can I picture a girl who takes an immediate dislike to Emma because of her crush on a guy and then does something as drastic as she does. And their plans were really stupid sometimes!  I cannot take a villain seriously when he says stuff like "yo, expel the bitch already."  I'm sorry.  I really, really don't want to be harsh, but this nagged at me throughout the novel.
6. (--) Cast of Characters - Too many characters!  I think Ms. Shultz could have gotten rid of Jenn, for one.  Instead of having spent time on Jenn, she could have devoted more time developing Angelique or Cisco, who are by far more interesting.  Also, I didn't feel all that close to any of Emma's friends.  I wanted to care about them, but I needed to know more.
7. (--) Not What I Expected - When I read the synopsis, I thought there'd be more of the paranormal/fantasy aspect to the novel.  I thought there would be all sorts of loops and it'd be a great thriller.  But to my dismay, there was a much greater focus on the trivialities of high school than there was on the otherworldly aspects.  Other readers may like that, but I don't.  I don't enjoy reading about high school drama - the rumor mill, the pranks gone wrong, the girls fighting over the boys, etc. etc.  So this has to do more with personal preference, I suppose.
8. (+) Pacing - It was a pretty easy read--didn't feel rushed or tortuously slow at any points.  Even pacing throughout.
9. (+) The Writing - A couple of times, the writing bothered me.  Some sentences were unnecessary and left little to my imagination.  Readers don't always need to be told what exactly is going on when we can infer it for ourselves.... But I really, really enjoyed the historical aspect to their romance and the love poems and the lyrical way the curse was written.
10. (--) The Cover - um... what?  What does this have to do with the novel whatsoever?  The street lamp breaking was just one part, definitely not the most major component.  If I saw this cover, I'd be intrigued... but not so sure I'd pick up the book.

I didn't get a chance to mention this above, but I also liked the ending.  It was unexpected but still enjoyable.

Despite my annoyance with the villains and the high school drama, I still enjoyed this novel and its take on witches and a cursed romance.  It's a nice addition to the legions of paranormal romance.

YAY!  You guys are awesome!!  As a thanks for following me, I'm offering up two prize packs.

Prize Pack #1: The Firelight Novels by Sophie Jordan




If you've wanted to read the series and haven't had a chance to pick up a copy, here's your chance!  The Firelight copy is an extra, untouched hardcover that I received from the RT Convention in addition to the ARC of Vanish.  I hope whoever wins enjoys these novels as much as I did!


Prize Pack #2: A Bunch of Goodies Including...



Sounds good?  I hope so :).

RULES:

Since this is a celebratory follower giveaway...
-You must be a follower of my blog to enter!!
-Open Internationally
-Ends 07/20/11.
-One Prize Pack per Winner
-Winners will be picked via random.org
-You can earn extra entries via twitter & blogging.  See the form below.



If I somehow get to 200 followers before July 26th, I will also host a celebratory giveaway for my Wolfsbane ARC.  Thanks (again) for participating & for following!

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

My choice this week is Sirensong (Faeriewalker #3) by Jenna Black:
Release Date: July 5, 2011

Yeah, yeah, we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but hey, if you haven't heard of a book or its author, then the first thing that draws you in is the cover... So I just thought I'd talk about the trends I've seen in YA book covers.

**I'd also like to point out that while I dislike some of these covers, I have no issues with the books :D.
**Also, there are a lot of exceptions.  I just used the examples that first came to my mind.


1. Girl lying down / staring at camera etc. etc.


It doesn't really matter what position the girl is in.  It's still overused.  Unless the position the girl is in tells us something about the story (i.e. the newer covers of Nightshade and Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer), then I'd really rather see a different type of cover.  Something that is more representative of the work (i.e. Divergent by Veronica Roth).

(examples: Where She Went by Gayle Forman, Falling Under by Gwen Hayes, etc.)

2. Overly Photoshopped


Don't get me wrong.  Sometimes, I think that these covers can be really nice (i.e. old covers of Nightshade and Wolfsbane), but even though they may look good, it's just for kicks.  When I first saw The Candidates (Delcroix Academy) by Inara Scott, I was overwhelmed by all the bright colors!  I showed the book to my friend and asked her what she thought it was supposed to represent.  She saw the whole "psychic" connection deal, but I still don't.  The main focus of the book can get lost on the midst of all the fancy effects.

3. Long, Long Gowns for the Women


There are SOOO many of these.  I want to read The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegan but not because of this cover.  The colors are nice but another girl in a dress?  Entwined by Heather Dixon, the Fallen series by Lauren Kate, Die For Me by Amy Plum, The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell, etc.  Put a girl in an amazing gown and you're making the book not stand out (in my opinion, at least).

4. Curvy Text


I like curvy text but up to a certain point.  Sometimes it just undermines the effect of the cover.  The Beautiful Creatures series by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl has southern Gothic elements, which the dark tree and steps of the first two books highlight.  However, the curvy text is what really catches your eye, right?  It draws too much attention to itself when it tells you nothing about the series.

5. Faceless Covers -

The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray.  Really, though?  If you're going to feature a person on the cover, please don't hide their face.  I know I already wrote that I hated seeing the typical girl poses, but that doesn't mean you should just show only their body and assume that's okay.  I get the effect--the whole "it could be any one of us" sort of deal, but Gemma also has a specific description so that effect doesn't work, it can't be any of us!  All of the covers just show a corseted girl--while that tells you to expect Victorian England, maybe, that's not the whole focus of the trilogy.

Exception: Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz.  Because 1. vampire bite, 2. pearl necklace and the whole glitz and glam of the series, 3. the city (like #2).  I think this cover is a pretty good representation of the book.

6. Weird Cropping angles -

What does showing half a person's face really tell you?  Or just the girl's body (like #5)?  Examples: The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith, Shadowland (Immortals #3) by Allyson Noel, 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson, etc.

And so... here are examples of covers that I really love / that I think are perfect for their books!

Release Date: June 21, 2011
(I got my ARC from the RT Convention.)
Published by: Walker

Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.



Ten Likes/Dislikes:

1. (+) Violet, the protagonist - Violet is an unusual protagonist.  I have a passage for you that shows you what I mean: (90) "I was the best pickpocket this side of London Bridge, I made an excellent plum pudding, and I knew how to string flowers on thread so they looked as if they were floating.  And apparently, I now saw ghosts and heard voices. / I didn't think those would count as pleasurable pursuits."  She also reads on her own and doesn't let the snobbishness of the upper class people her mother tends to favor affect her attitude much; she still goes all out to discover who murdered Rowena.  Of course Rowena is the one haunting her so maybe there isn't much of a choice in that... but with that, and empathizing with Violet given how she's trapped in a web of lies that she hates, I think Violet was a great protagonist.
2. (+) World-building - There isn't that much of a world-building per say--er, well, not in the typical paranormal sense; here, it's more of the historical scene (as evidenced by Ms. Harvey's letter to her readers about the 1870s being a time of great fascination with the spiritual world).  Anyways, I enjoyed reading about the seances, the spiritual tricks, and the third eye techniques.  Ms. Harvey says in that letter that she tried to make the world feel as realistic as possible, and it shows.
3. (+) Mother/Daughter Relationship - This, in my opinion, was one of the best parts to the book.  It was an excellent example of why Violet felt so constrained; she was trapped in the confines of Victorian society wherever she looked--whether it be via an abusive fraud of a mother who wants to recapture her youth, being from the poor class, or due to typical Victorian standards.  I think the Mother could have ended up being a stock character if not done well, but Ms. Harvey definitely portrayed the Mother's bitterness in a way that made her feel real.
4. (+) The Romance - Collin/Violet is a nice pairing.  I really liked the description of their first kiss, thought that scene was really well written.  I enjoyed seeing their relationship go from being almost childish (the jealousy, at least. Collin calls Xavier, Violet's other gentleman, 'prince') to friends to good friends who like each to Violet realizing that he's always been there for her, etc.  Did not enjoy the Xavier scenes and given my complaint in #6 (and sort of in #8), I wonder if it needed to be included.  Violet gets judged by society and not only by him so he's sort of just icing on the cake, you know?
5. (+) Villain(s?) - Definitely didn't see that one coming.  I put the question mark because the mother is also a sort of villain.  So all in all, Ms. Harvey sets up the antagonists really well.
6. (+/-) Character Cast - There are so many characters to this novel that I officially lost track of them all.  Who was staying with Jasper and who was going?  Or did they all stay with him?  Or did they only come for the seances?  I mean yes, this did provide some suspense as to who the killer actually was, but it would've been nice to settle down with less characters & have them be more developed.  Right now, it's a neutral because I really like Elizabeth, who provided great comic relief and showed how judgmental the Victorian society could be, and Collin.  And I don't like the Mom, but I do think that she was rather well developed.  But everybody else feels wish-washy to me.
7. (+) The Writing - At the same time, the writing was done well; it was really easy to slip into Violet's world (the only exception being the small excerpts where Rowena is showing Violet something).  There were a few words I didn't understand - maybe they were just British English? because I'd never heard of things like bellows before.
8. (--) Prologue - This is a picky complaint given that I just praised the writing, but this also has to do with a complaint on pacing.  Anyways, I thought the prologue was unnecessary.  One, you get to see Violet, her mom, and Collin doing their "magic" later anyways so introducing it can't be the main focus.  Two, you could just say in the first chapter that the reason they moved from Cheapside was because of the money they had earned swindling those old ladies.  Actually, I'm pretty sure it does still say that elsewhere.  All in all, the prologue just seemed to me to be another example that I found where there was too many unnecessary details.
9. (+) The Idea - It felt oddly appropriate that the girl whose mother is a fraud would end up with the talent and have to use it to make her means.  Like recompense for everything her mother had done though Violet hated the Spiritualist business.... Also, love that this is set in an older London age and still satirizes the way society then acted (i.e. the fact that Violet was in her underwear when she caught the murderer) without it being the typical Victorian woman-strives-for-power sort of deal... because Violet and her mother are pretty influential, it also sets up a nice contrast against the trivialities that the other women twitter about.
10. (--) The Cover - There's not much visually wrong with this cover... but I can tell you that I wouldn't pick it up.  I don't like the tagline "Violet doesn't believe in ghosts, but they believe in her" nor do I like the pink author name on the purple cover.  Yeah, yeah that's really picky, I know.  And while I understand that the girl is supposed to be pale and deathly white, it still doesn't call to me.  This cover isn't... stunning.

Release Date: June 14, 2011
Published By: Delacorte Press

Passion (Fallen #3) by Lauren Kate

"Every single lifetime, I'll choose you. Just as you have chosen me. Forever." 

Luce would die for Daniel. And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . 

Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last. 

Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history. 

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.

So I'd say that Fallen is still the best book of the series though Passion at least beats out Torment.  I have high hopes for Rapture despite my waning enthusiasm for this series.

Ten Likes/Dislikes:

1. (+) Luce, the protagonist - If you didn't like Luce before, you might like her now.  Though, I've got to say, I liked some of her past incarnations more than her present self.  Lu Xin was one of my favorites.  Point being is that Luce is finally growing into herself.  She's determined and keeps a level head about things.
2. (--) Repetition - If I have to read one more time about how "gorgeous" Daniel Grigori is or how Luce needs to be in his embrace, I may just bang my head on the wall.  That's not to say that those parts aren't well-written, of course.  Just...too...much.  Overkill.  While I understand that them being instantly attracted to each other is a part of the curse, I don't know that I as a reader need to be reminded of it every single time.
3. (+) Soul-mates - Alright, it's pretty romantic.  Luce's personality changes dramatically in each past life so it's interesting to see how Lauren Kate has defined soul-mates via Luce & Daniel being attracted to one another no matter what.  I'd like to know how this plays out more... as in if Luce was gone, would Daniel be a  demon?  Or would he choose the higher road?  How does it specifically work?  If one half of the pair was gone, does that mean the other would turn?  I wonder about it, especially with #6 here.  Still, this point is the charm of the whole series--the everlasting love, right?  She doesn't disappoint on this.
4. (+) The Past Lives/Research - Places Luce/Daniel Go: Moscow, Milan, Helston (England), Tahiti, Prussia, Tibet, Versailles, London, Greenland, Chichen Itza (Mesoamerica), Yin (China), Jerusalem, Memphis (Egypt), and back to Savannah, Georgia.  Lauren Kate must have done a lot of research because the places and people she describes all sound pretty accurate.  This was a nice addition to the book.
5. (--) Why? - Why those specific places?  I mean, yes, a character explains Announcer travel to Luce and why Luce ends up where she ends up... but what I want to know is why did Lauren Kate choose those specific places as important ones to Daniel & Luce?  I liked the explanation for the earlier time periods--that Daniel was less careful about revealing things to Luce--but what about the other places?  Moscow before the war really got going - yes.  But why Milan?  Why Helston?  etc. etc.  Some of these I didn't understand as to "why" they'd really be important to Luce & Daniel, especially Milan.  That place, she sees his wing scars.  Are you seriously telling me that in a romance spanning centuries that she never once saw them until then??  How is that unique to Milan?  etc. etc.
6. (+) Understanding Cam - Yay.  We have some explanation for why Cam is so jaded and why he became a demon.  And why he still helps Daniel.  For the most part, I like how Lauren Kate has made the good/evil division not so strict.
7. (+/-) Lack of Side Characters - If you really liked Miles & Shelby, they're in two? I think scenes in the book.  If you liked Arianne et. al, they're in three? I think scenes.  I liked the Arianne / Roland combo from the previous books, so I wished I got to see more of them, though I'm glad I didn't read more about Molly, because she acted pretty childish (given what she is) in Fallen.  Annabelle, another fallen angel, is very briefly introduced (which makes me wonder just how many fallen angels there are?  I think this will get addressed in the next book).  And another character, Bill, really takes the stage.  I'm neutral about this because sometimes you need other characters to buffer the story, you know?  Yes, the different places offered a change in pace to the Luce / Daniel story, but not as much as other characters would, in my opinion at least.
8. (+) The Curse - You finally find out why they're cursed and what that has really meant for the both of them over the years.  And I actually like it -- the terms, the boundaries, and whatnot.  I like the way she incorporated the angelology into it, though in the end, what did Luce really do besides catch Daniel's eye?  It sucks for her.  Daniel may suffer the most of the two of them, but Luce didn't really deserve it.
9. (--) Pacing - While it's nice to go to so many places, I wonder if some of the information could have been condensed.  On page 337, it spells it out for you why each place has been important to Luce, but I didn't always find it clear.  Some of the ones where she sees what the curse really meant for Daniel could have been taken away and I think she could have still understood the depth of his pain... without readers feeling bogged down.
10. (--) What really happens?! - Problem with this prequel is... what really happened?  Okay, we find an explanation for why Luce is the way she is in the present.  Check.  Luce discovers that the love between her and Daniel is true.  Check.  We finally find out why they are cursed.  Check.  And that's it really...  But in the scope of things, did we need 400 pages for these things?  No.  This series, in my honest opinion, could have been cut down to 3 books with this information tucked neatly into the others.

This may be the most negative (and the longest?) of any review that I've posted, but most of that also has to do with my own expectations.  I thought I'd be blown away by the romance... thought that there would be some resolution... I read reviews from others and was anxious.  *The best book in the series!*  So when it fell short of my expectations, well, you see the result.  If you choose to get into this series, I'd recommend reading Fallen first.  If you like it, continue on.  If you're on the borderline and want more, read this one instead of Torment.  It's not too exclusive.

Extra Thoughts:

The Cover - When I first saw it, I loved it.  The colors are so beautiful together and it's a little lighter than both Fallen and Torment... but then I questioned things.  One, these covers are obviously drawn, not photos of models, so why did they make the girl that skinny?  She looks almost anorexic!  She's skinnier here than she was in the other book covers... why?!  Two, why a red rose?  Yeah, we buy red roses for love and romance and whatnot, but Daniel / Luce are a peony type of couple if you wanted to get strict about it.... Still, in the end, I would've probably picked up this book if I saw it in a bookstore without knowing anything about it.

Inclusion of Daniel Chapters - Daniel & Luce's perspectives, alternating chapters = bravo.  Because I honestly liked reading more from Daniel's perspective than from Luce's.  Not only do you learn so much more from him than you do from her, but he is also a more interesting character.  I would have loved to know what he was thinking when he first saw Luce--their very first meeting--but I think Lauren Kate isn't going to grace us with that particular scene.  Sad, really, but I think it's supposed to be in the scope of greater things / leaving it up to our imagination.

Timing - Rapture (and the controversy this year) + 2012 & including the Mayans as a time Luce visited... One thing I'll admit is that Lauren Kate has got brilliant timing.  And in case you're wondering, yes, I think she's making Rapture as the potential 'end of the world' type of book.  Well, if you read Passion, you'll know that it's not really the end of the world, but I don't want to spoil the book for you and will just leave it at that.

World-building via Announcer travel & soul cleaving.  Another positive.  I wish this type of stuff got more attention in the novel.

And I don't mean the qualities that define your favorite books....

... I mean your quirky habits.  If you lent me one of your favorite books, would I be able to tell it's one of your favorites?

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

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Release Date: October 18, 2011


Yep.  They haven't released a lot of information about this one yet, but wow.  I read the prologue here, and look at this first line and tell me you wouldn't want to read this book:


"It is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die."


:).  What're you waiting on this Wednesday?

Release Date: June 14, 2011
Published by: Egmont

Hourglass by Myra McEntire



Ten Likes/Dislikes:

1. (+) Emerson, the protagonist - Loved her!  Witty, sarcastic, and strong while still being vulnerable.  My heart reached out to her whenever she talked about how seeing time slips made her feel and her parents's deaths.  Also, she's a tad cocky when she talks about being fearless, but she truly is rather brave and decisive.
2. (+) The Idea - When the summary says "the best of both the paranormal and scifi" genres, it's honestly true.  I also think that who the blurbs are from give you a good hint -- Emerson has the snark of Sophie Mercer from the Hex Hall series while Hourglass, as a whole, has that part sci-fi feel (but not the dystopia) to it that Across the Universe had.  Die-hard sci-fi fans may not enjoy the explanations behind the time-travel--because there aren't that many/when one of the characters brings up theoretical physics, Emerson doesn't want to hear about it--but people like myself who aren't averse to sci-fi will enjoy it.  And paranormal fans.  The world Ms. McEntire's created allows for more abilities to be explored in future, and plus, when you say paranormal in YA, nowadays that also includes some sort of steamy romance... and this book has got plenty of that.
3. (+) The Romance - Even though two incredibly awesome romantic interests are introduced, only one of them actually has a chance.  Yay!  Not a love triangle but a way to explore the dynamics of all the characters' relationships and get the main interest to act.  The tension throughout the novel is palpable, and I look forward to seeing more of the physical/emotional chemistry explored.
4. (+) Side Characters - I loved the fact that Ms. McEntire introduced a select few to her cast of characters, because I feel like almost all of them were developed well.  Michael and his temper & hero complex.  Kaleb and his avoidance/barrier via player habits.  Thomas and Dru - well maybe you don't exactly know all their flaws (except for maybe a desperation, based off of who Thomas has hired in the past to help Emerson) as well as the others, but they add a nice family touch.  I hope to see Dune and Nate developed a bit more.
5. (+) The Villain - Wow.  Ms. McEntire throws you for a loop here.  Definitely did not see this coming, but yep, the villains are creepy and authentic, not the typical storybook brand.
6. (+) The Ending - Yay, no gigantic cliff-hanger!  There is still unresolved tension, yes, but the ending is my type of ending.  The one where you know the consequences of what happened in this book will be explored in the next but without you wondering what the eff just happened... because this book actually is complete--the characters do what they set out to do and not some lame, halfway version of it either.
7. (+) Emotional Realism - By this, I mean I never once doubted Emerson's struggle to cope with what was going on.  Or with her parents's death and her survival.  Or her older brother's concern for her.  Or with her ability to connect with Kaleb.  I liked that she used sarcasm to deflect from herself, that she was vulnerable while still acting with lots of courage.
8. (+) Pacing - Though it takes a while for the main action to occur, I was still hooked from page one.  I literally picked up this book, only wanting to read the first chapter but not stopping until the very end.
9. (--) Confusion - Okay, time-travel novels always screw with my head and I'm still a little confused about certain aspects.  I always wonder about the circular notion of it... and there's also the question of what exactly Michael saw?  because how else would it be possible for him not to... I'm going to stop now before I spoil the book for you guys.  Also, I'm wondering about that electricity effect between Michael and Emerson.  Sometimes it seemed really intense and other times, when there was more physical contact, it was less intense.  I don't really understand what's going on there and hope that's explored a bit more in future books, especially with the whole Liam/Grace deal.  In defense of the book, however, the confusion about the time-travel just made me think more about the novel, and you know it's a good book when you can't get it out of your head.
10. (--) The Cover - looking back on it, I think that I originally liked this cover.  I thought it was different and a nice twist, and when I looked on Ms. McEntire's website, I saw the trailer for the cover release and thought  it was even more appropriate.... But now, after finishing the novel, I feel like the cover is drab and doesn't quite capture the glory within the pages.  I mean, what is Emerson really doing?  She looks like Trinity or Neo from the Matrix with that stance/going up the wall, but it doesn't tell you about the book really.  Also, the more I look at it, the more that girl's neck freaks me out.

Loved the romance Ms. McEntire created in Hourglass and can't wait for more of the time-travel aspects to be explored!