Release Date: 06/17/12
Source: RT Convention
Published by: Razorbill

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) by Richelle Mead

The second thrilling installment in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy spinoff series

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students--children of the wealthy and powerful--carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead's breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.

Ten likes/dislikes:

1. (+) Sydney, the protagonist - Sydney, oh Sydney. Strong, smart, fiercely loyal to those who earn her trust... but also incredibly focused, too serious, and often vulnerable when it comes to her appearance (which, by the way, I think Richelle Mead handles quite well). Sydney is the kind of protagonist I feel like almost anyone could identify with, even though she's a bit awkward in social situations.
2. (+) World-building - You learn more and more about the inner workings of what it means to be an Alchemist--how far Sydney has to go in her job to truly excel in it, what the Alchemists value and use as their daily guidance, what happens to those who stray from that path... You also see more of the magic Sydney's teacher was making her learn come to life and see Moroi spirit magic in action as Sonya and Adrian investigate for the long-lasting effects of those brought back from Strigoi state.
3. (+) Character Development - One of the best parts about the Bloodlines series is that I think it has such great potential for character development - for Jill, Adrian, Eddie, and Sydney.  Sydney, especially, since she has both her fears of magic, her confusion over where she belongs and how far she's willing to go as an Alchemist, and her own self-esteem as issues she needs to overcome/deal with.
4. (+) Romance - Richelle Mead is one of the best authors out there at establishing slow burning romantic relationships. Fans of Sydrian will both hate and love this book -- there are times when I was like... Adrian, just tell her!  Sydney, can't you see?  But in the end, it just made their time that much sweeter... Also, Sydrian is not the only romantic relationship that is addressed.  Eddie, Jill, Angeline, and Trey all have something going on, even if it doesn't end up being successful :D.
5. (+) Cameos - Fans of Dimitri will be pleased by how often he appears ... Rose fans... Yeah, she's mentioned but does not make an appearance this time around.  It's interesting to see how Dimitri compares in Sydney's POV versus Rose's.
6. (+/-) Predictability - Sadly, I predicted what was going to happen way before it did, but for me that didn't ruin the book, as I love the characters and their wit. I half wonder if the predictability of the Bloodlines plots comes from the fact that Sydney is such a smart, analytically driven protagonist that you know to look for whatever she focused on before...
7. (+/-) Ending - On one hand, as a reader/writer, I can appreciate the cyclical themes from the beginning to the end... But the other half of me is screaming cliffhanger noooo!!  Why?  I think I remember reading somewhere that Richelle Mead said that she anticipated some fans would want to throw the book against the wall... Yes, evil author alert, guys.  Gah, I can't believe there's another year to finding out what happens after THAT scene!
8. (+) Writing - It's Richelle Mead.  Need I even say more?
9. (+) Pacing - Kind of slow, but it's a pretty steady rise and fall plot, with a few tidbits of foreshadowing thrown in over the course of the book.
10. (--) The Cover - To be honest, I'm not much a fan of these covers. I feel like they add nothing to the book, just like the VA covers.  Also I'm a bit confused as to why Jill is so prominent on this cover. There is another character who I feel grows as much as she does...

Full of witty, humorous dialogue, slow burning romance, and character growth, The Golden Lily is a sequel that will not disappoint Mead fans and does not fall prey to the "sophomore slump."

PS - Have you had a chance to look at my giveaway of this book?
PPS - I don't feel like I've encapsulated all the wonderfulness that is TGL in this review, so if you have any questions (i.e. on cameos), leave me a comment, and I'll reply (as long as it's not too spoilery).

As promised, here's a giveaway of my ARC of The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead :) [aka part II of my RT Convention giveaways... I wonder what the next parts are ;)].

(RT Convention Giveaway Part I can be found here).

Rules:
+ends 05/18/12
+open internationally

Read more »

As promised, here is one of the many giveaways I have planned from the RT Convention. Enter for your chance to win an ARC of The Selection, an ARC of The Temptation, an ARC of Destined (Wings #4), or a paperback of Sirensong (Faeriewalker #3).

Rules:
+One winner per prize item
+Ends 05/11/12
+open internationally!

Read more »

Last but not least: Book fair + Teen Day at the RT Convention.

We went down to the ballroom at like 7:30 and they were already working on setting up the fair. Immediately we started matching the books that arrived with the corresponding authorial name plates and arranging the books in nice stacks on the tables. Some of the books the authors sold at the consignment fair went missing along the way, and we couldn't find them for a while--see? Number of things that could go wrong? Any time I go to a book fair or convention from now on, I'm going to think of all the work and stress and panic that was put into making it so perfect that people think nothing's amiss.  After that we had our jobs assigned to us, and we wanted to get our books signed before the fair started in case we didn't get a chance later, but the authors were late!  With a few exceptions like...

Afterwards, we helped clean up the fair, and from there, we went to help with last minute preparations of a giveaway for the adults that was happening at the same time as the Teen Day giveaway. From there we went to help with the Teen Day party which Melissa Marr was hosting. Melissa Marr also posted/tweeted a picture of my friends and I plus authors at the Teen Day Party:

She told Pat, one of the RT staff, to give the three of us bags for our work which was really nice.  This is what mine had:



When the party started, I felt like a guard dog. People literally were staring at us, and it felt like I was staring down an army as they waited to see if there were any extra bags being given away....

And after that, we left... and returned, only to have one of the RT staff tell us that "she didn't need any help" with the last party. That's how we left the convention. Dismissed.

Some of the day was good, some was bad.  This was like the convention itself.  Half the times we were accepted, half the times dismissed. Half the people remembered and liked us, the other half treated us like they didn't trust us. All in all, I'm not sure I'll return next year, but I am glad that I came these past two years.

(PS - There will be giveaways soon.  And I promise to count the blogoversy giveaway as well.)

Second day of volunteering!  Mostly marked by stuffing bags and age-ism.

The first thing we did was help make the posters for the Pitch a Palooza event with all the editors and agents. Then we stuffed the Teen Day bags - it's amazing, really, they set aside three *special* bags because there are three boys attending the event, and it sounds like that's quite unusual, but hey, I'm all for that. It is quite sad how there appears to be such a divide in YA.  Anyways, after that, we stuffed the awards bags for the RT book award event later that day. It's funny how many things can go wrong - someone packing the books upside down, how to fit the books in, counting how many bags you've made, getting a shipment of books in late, needing to add a certain book into every bag, having authorial requests on how bags are made, etc.

But what's even more amazing/astounding is that people can treat you differently even when you're there to help. The first problem we had was because no one really knew who we were - there were a few people who remembered us from last year when we volunteered but not everyone did and the ones who didn't always looked at us like who the eff are you and why are you here? - and then that was solved when we got them to make us volunteer badges.... Then, of course, when we had badges, the fact that we're half the age of most of the convention goers came into play. I don't understand. If I'm volunteering to help out and set up this book festival of sorts, why does my age matter?  I expressed surprise after someone flipped one of the boxes we were unloading and all the books came out on nice, straight piles. The woman looked at me and said, "Yeah, that's the idea" in a really droll voice. Jesus, I'm not stupid. I was expressing surprise because they didn't fall to the floor, not that I didn't understand what you were doing. Situations like this happened a lot (though this one I remember in particular). And some of them want to boss all of us around like we're 12 years old and don't know how to do anything for ourselves--yes, I am a volunteer, but I got the same instructions you did; doesn't mean I understood them any less than you did.  I mean it's really not everyone there and I know my frustration makes it seem that way, but believe me it's not.  That still doesn't mean I understand the perspective of the people who were judging us like that. If you're there to do work, that shouldn't change anything. Judge us by our work, not our age.

Anyways after that, we got to help set up the Avon authorial sign & giveaway event, which was pretty nice. My friends took pictures, so I should have some to post later.  There were lots of Christmas lights and blue sparkly pillars and fancy cocktail stuff like champagne.  (If it didn't look unprofessional, we might've gotten a glass or two... but we resisted.)  We then got sent to the RT award event to make sure people didn't leave with more than two book bags. (PS - did you know Veronica Roth won the award for Tris being an awesome protagonist?  And Beth Revis for Paranormal romance?  [since when was ATU considered paranormal, btwz?])....

We came back to the Avon author event and assisted authors personally... I was sitting with Katharine Ashe who btw is a complete sweetheart, and I'm going to buy some of her books later, and who didn't stop signing ONCE.  Her line was huge. Almost all her books were gone by the end (though that could be also because some people were greedy; they were only supposed to take one book per author but people are sneaky when they're greedy...).

And done!  That was our day :). Here are the books I brought back with me:

Until next time... aka the most crowded part of the convention... aka giant book fair open to the public and teen day... :)


**I definitely did still have fun... but it's just sad to me that I can't seem to go anywhere without being judged for my age, even when I've proven my work is good.

Today's experience at the RT convention was different than the one we had last year. It was more informational, a little less silly and easy-going but still beneficial nonetheless.

So if you didn't already know, my friends and I have decided to volunteer at the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention 2012. We arrived in Chicago and the hotel at around 5:30 and had to wait until 8:00ish for the first event. In the beginning we didn't really have much to do; we decorated a table and helped pass out swag bags and with registration.

We helped a lot with the book expo though. It's amazing to note the dynamics between convention organizers and authors and to know how much work goes into making a convention like RT & BEA great. Setting up the tables, printing namecards, filling out consignment forms, arranging books in a "marketable" way, etc - when you get to experience a convention for yourself, you notice maybe a few hiccups, but you would never think that the organizers reorganize the tableclothes so that you don't trip on them for one. It's also interesting how convention organizers get annoyed at authors and the way authors treat the organizers etc.; it reminded me of blogger / author drama. But then everyone admires the other, and ... More on this later. I can't think clearly on only four hours of sleep in two days.

After the book expo, we helped clean up another party, and then they let us go to the Faerie Ball, which was pretty fun, actually. Here are some pictures from the party.

Later we stuffed some more of the registration bags, and they allowed us to take one for all the help we provided.  Thus I got:


Looking forward to Underworld!  Have no clue what the others are about/like and I don't really use swag so yeah....  More later on how today goes.

Hey, are any of you going to be at the RT Convention in Chicago?  If so, look for me -- I'm going to be volunteering there (on Thurs-Sat) with two of my friends :).  Would love to meet fellow bloggers / writers / readers!

I'll also be posting about each day of the convention, so come back later for that.

Release Date: May 1, 2012
(Thank you to ATWT for allowing me to participate on this tour!)
Published by: Harper Teen

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins


What if there were teens whose lives depended on being bad influences? This is life for sons and daughters of fallen angels in Sweet Evil. 

Tenderhearted Southern girl, Anna Whitt, was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage, and her will-power is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna. 

A cross-country trip to meet her father forces Anna to face the reality that hope and love are not options for her kind. When she confronts her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?


Ten Likes/Dislikes:


1. (+) Anna, the protagonist - She could be preachy sometimes, but she was sweet and strong, and it was easy to identify with her struggle. She's definitely innocent and though she's eager for new experiences, she makes mistakes. She is vulnerable... but she gets through it all. Her moral code changes too thanks to her experiences. 
2. (+) World-building - I really liked Ms. Higgins' take on the fallen angel world. Bad influences, badges, the twelve Dukes and the politics behind their treatment of their children, how their domains influence the Neph, influencing other people, pheromones... It's not a black and white situation either--angel or demon; there is leeway for how the characters interact. There is also a hint of Neph and hell, but I'm getting the feeling that it's really not as simple as Anna and the other characters think. That being said, I could see some people getting turned off by how biblical the world is and some of Anna's comments/attitudes.
3. (+) The Romance - This was a really nice romance. On one hand, it might look like another typical bad boy romance--Kaidan, who's more experienced and the son of the Demon of Lust, finds Anna Whitt, a girl with a unique heritage (but who's also plain and innocent and fades into the background most days), attractive.  But this romance I could get behind. Kai's story (along with the other Neph's) is pretty sad, so he does fit the tortured type, but he is both vulnerable and confident, selfish and selfless, strong and childish. He's a believable teenage paranormal romantic interest who's not like 10,000 years old. He's a good fit for Anna.
4. (+) Character Development - Not just in Anna. In Kaidan too. Anna in particular gets to see the world for how it really is and loses her innocence but not her moral compass. Kaidan learns, I think, through Anna to have some faith in the world. It was a refreshing experience to see a heroine in paranormal romance go through such development in one book and not have it take the whole series.
5. (+) Character Cast - That being said, I thought that a lot of the characters were well developed. Even though they were side characters, Ginger, Blake, Kope, etc. had their own stories, and Ms. Higgins made sure to make each character unique so readers wouldn't get sidetracked/confused.  I suppose if she wanted to streamline the story more, getting rid of these other Neph and Jay, Anna's best friend, would have helped, but I enjoyed the interactions between the characters.
6. (--) Plot - Slow, slow, slow. If the plot had more action and excitement in it, then this would have been one of my favorite paranormal romances. It gets its characters, heroine and hero right, but the plot was a tad lackluster. The road trip was basically a glorified info dump except for a few intense moments with Anna and Kaidan.
7. (+) Sexuality -  This is one of those stories that gets sexuality and sensuality right. I've mentioned before that I've hated how girls just fall at the feet of the paranormal romantic interest, and that happens a little, very little here, but it also embraces a girl finding things out for herself. It also has girl characters that aren't sluts, though their "job descriptions" might encourage those kind of names, and I appreciated that, because YA needs some girl characters who embrace their sexuality without being demeaned.
8. (+) The Writing - Pretty easy to read. Didn't notice anything unusual. Kind of has an addictive quality as most paranormals tend to have.
9. (--) Pacing - this goes along with my issues with the plot. Sometimes I wondered when the story was going to pick up, and it did a bit at the end, but the climax was even a bit disappointing in terms of raising the stakes.
10. (--) The Cover - Kaidan looks like a ghost on this cover. I like the shadowy light and the mood of the cover, but it also kind of looks fan made / not professional.


Though the plot was a little slow, this book restores some of my faith that there can be good, well-written paranormal romance (that isn't a complete rip-off of Twilight).

Release Date: July 3, 2012
(Thanks to ATWT for allowing me to participate in this tour!)
Published by: HarperTeen

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

15 year old Tiger Lily, proud and fierce, wild and misunderstood, doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland, and immediately falls under his spell. Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, big-hearted but hard to reach, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything - her family, her future - to be with the haunted, hunted, courageous boy who loves her. When - as a punishment for her rebellious ways - she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter. With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart. 

From the New York Times bestselling author of PEACHES comes a magical and bewitching story of the romance between a fearless heroine and the boy who wouldn't grow up.

Release Date: 04/24/12
(Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers!)
Published by: Harlequin Teen

The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa


In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity. 

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. 

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters. 

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad. 

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike. 

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.


Ten Likes/Dislikes
1. (+) Allie, the protagonist - Allie is really independent, strong, and judgmental. Rather self righteous in her judgments -- she's such a scavenger that anyone who doesn't do his fair share doesn't merit her respect and yet at the same time, she's protective of the people who are weaker than her. In a way, she reminds me of Rose from Vampire Academy--only in that they're both very brazen and braze. Sometimes Allie was a bit hard to relate to -- she's so bold and courageous in the face of danger and self-righteous that it could be off-putting at time.  But I'll always root for a kick-ass female protagonist, even if I can't quite sympathize with her. Plus, I liked Allie's character development--the way she learned others when she became a vampire though she hadn't really trusted people when she was a human.
2. (+) World-building - Fantastic world-building.  There might not be much new or original material in what Kagawa writes about vampires, but the vampire cities, how they're organized, the Rabids, the Red Lung virus, Eden, the biblical references--I loved everything about the world. I actually loved that she made vampires cruel again. I loved the combination of such harsh dystopian/post-apocalyptic themes and paranormal romance--in a way, it made the story feel timeless. Like it didn't matter how far into the future you read the story, it would always be about a group of wanderers (with biblical allusions), a girl fighting to stay true to her perception of herself (despite the demon within), a boy who has faith in everyone, including the girl, and will rise to be a leader (much like the girl).
3. (+) The Romance - Slow-building and hot. Zeke doesn't lose sight of who he is when he finds out about Allie. I loved that. I love that it wasn't a perfect romance. That both of them had their faults and they like each other for who they are, that they work for their relationship.
4. (+) Character Cast - Even if they have short life spans (some of them), all the characters were fantastic, some more well-developed than others but likable nonetheless. One negative was the obligatory character who hates the protagonist. On one level, I can understand why you need that character, but at the same time, I really wish that she wasn't there. I think there's much more of an emotional impact if it's someone who likes the protagonist who also suspects her/him.
5. (+) Struggle to Stay Human - This does what Twilight failed to do for Edward. Maybe it was that you're not in Edward's head, and so you don't get that experience, but that's not the case here. Allie's struggle to keep hold of who she is and "what kind of monster she wanted to be" enraptured me and kept me reading until the end.
6. (+) Plot Twists - As in the Iron Fey novels, there were a lot of twists I didn't see coming about the characters, their pasts, and where the story was headed.
7. (+) Grim Mood - Don't read this book if you're looking for a happy time... There is a lot of death, and I'm glad Julie Kagawa doesn't shy away from that.  The grim mood fits with the story she's telling, though honestly sometimes I wish the book was a bit less dark.
8. (+) Writing - Pretty easy to read, though Caitlin of The Cait Files, in her reviews of The Iron Fey, mentioned how often Puck smirked and I've got to say, I did notice that this time around too. That was one reaction that was again overdone. 
9. (--) Pacing - Really slow!  Like that's one of the only negatives--that yes, there were plot twists, but it takes the story a while to get started.  Even Allie's transformation into a vampire takes over 70 pages I think... and the grim mood probably exacerbated this effect.
10. (+) The Cover - I really like the grunge feel of it and the way it conveyed character and mood.


Kickass heroine, bleak & easy to imagine world, sweet love interest, unforgettable characters: Julie Kagawa has done it again!  She mastered fairies, and now she's done a fantastic job with vampires. More, please!

If I seem absent this next month, it's because of this:

Planning events is such a bitch.

5Cs Out Loud is a creative writing club. If any of you (who live anywhere near Claremont, CA) are interested in coming to some of the events, just shoot me an email at christinabejjani@gmail.com. I can give you more details.

Release Date: April 3, 2012 (tomorrow!)
(Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers!)
Published by: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1) by Robin LaFevers


Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf? 

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others. 

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?


Ten Likes/Dislikes:


1. (+) Ismae, the protagonist - Strong, clever, dedicated to fulfilling Mortmain's (Patron Saint of Death) wishes, really knowledgeable about poisons and shooting crossbows (aka kickass). You feel for her from the start when you see what her arranged marriage was like, how birth mark brings out her father's cruelty. Sometimes it bothered me how much Ismae referred to Mortmain, but it's a part of her character and her character development, and it wouldn't have been right for her not to look for comfort in the saint and not to question her religious beliefs and her purpose.
2. (+) World-building - Absolutely wonderful. From the clothing to the way people talked to the Duchess' court and its decorum and the weapons and poisons and beliefs and the convent's way of handling Mortmain's will--everything was exquisite, and I can't wait to unravel more details in the next book.
3. (+) Romance - Admittedly I wasn't Duval's hugest fan at first / didn't sense the chemistry between them but the romance grew on me. Duval was nice and listened to Ismae, understood her passions and had his own, was incredibly devoted to his family and his sense of purpose in life. One other negative was that at times it felt too paranormal-y--that this one man was the guy whose touch was special to Ismae from the start. But once they start talking and we learn more of Duval, it didn't bother me. It got better, and I could understand what Ismae was going through and how Duval fit with her.
4. (+) Character cast - There are a whole lot of characters in this novel--necessary for the political drama--but Robin LaFevers manages to make each and every one of them distinct. I particularly liked the Duchess and Duval's friends, and I'm looking forward to finding out more about Sybella in the sequel.
5. (+) The Ending - Yeah, it's a happy ending like most YA novels, but this functions like a stand-alone novel though it's a trilogy, so thankfully everything wraps up nicely... and I also liked how the protagonist stayed true to herself with her decision at the end.
6. (+) Complexity - Plot & villains because nothing is straightforward in a story filled with court intrigue as Ismae and others seek out those who mean to harm the Duchess.
7. (+) Mystery/Unpredictability - Robin LaFevers did a great job with this-- there were a lot of potential villains to sort through, and though I did guess who the true villain was, I wasn't 100% positive I was right.
8. (+) Writing - Masterful. Never once did I doubt that I was reading from the perspective of someone in that time period.  More than that, it flowed really well, which is extraordinary considering how we tend to view writing from older times periods as being "dense" and "harder to read."
9. (--) Pacing - Only true negative of the book. It's necessary to include Ismae's harsh beginnings and how she ended up in the convent, but a part of me really wanted to skip that part and find out when she meets Duval so that she'd get to the court and the mystery would begin. The pacing in the beginning is really slow.
10. (+) The Cover - Captures the historical feel and the protagonist's nature really well. Only complaint I have is the font of His Fair Assassin.  I don't like the cursive there--seems out of place.


Historical fiction at its best with a strong heroine, brave romantic interest, and a tense political situation with enough court intrigue to keep you at the edge of your seats--everything a reader could want and more.