Something Wicked: Bad Girls Don't Die

Hi Everyone!!!!!

Something Wicked This Way comes!

 Halloween and your introduction to the spooky world of possessed dolls, demons and ghosts in the Bad Girls Don't Die trilogy by Katie Alender. 

Something Wicked is a fantastic Halloween themed event hosted by the marvelous Heidi from Rainy Day Ramblings and Lila from Babbling About Books. You can find the whole schedule here!

When I was a young kid, I once imagined that their was a ghost in my room. I created in my mind a suspicion that the shadows on the wall from light from my window that made shadowy shapes were ghosts. 

In my review of Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender I started with the following. 

"When I was in middle school, a friend of mind told me a scary story about a family that bought a doll named Lucy. In the story, Lucy creeps up the stairs and kills the whole family."

You can read the rest of my review here - if you dare! 

I have also always found the human-like expressions of dolls unsettling. Dolls look, to me, too much like small baby people. 

Therefore, it is not surprising to me that my favorite scary superstition is ghosts and what I most afraid of is dolls. I sometimes wish that the ghosts in my room could be real and not just shadows. I feel weary whenever I encountered a doll. Even a doll that appears harmless because of its humanlike characteristics. Well, I'm not scared of Barbies, but every other doll I never want to be around.   

Katie Alender combines both of my favorite spooky beings in her wonderful trilogy. It is a must read! My reasons are below and I shall put ... where spoilers can be the only interlude. 

1. Alender's descriptions of the doll's story and procession of a certain girl in the first book are mind-blowing. The changing of eyes from blue to green and silhouettes hidden in photos. The demon entrapped in a book slowly ... in the second book is frightening. The mystery between deciding if its a good ghost or treacherous demon controlling the Ouija Board. The ghost that ... and is actually ... that only our awesome heroine Lexi can see in her photographs in the third book is terrifying. The devastating ending of the third book I will remember forever. 
2. Amazing characters. Lexi the "bad girl" who is passionate about photography and a caring sister. Kasey the resilient little sister who grows tremendously into a powerful force to be reckoned with by the series end. Darling Carter who just makes me laugh no matter what. Megan the popular and amazing best friend with a troubled home life. The spunky outcast Lydia who makes the perfect anti-hero. And so many more. Every character has a backstory and is more then they appeared to be in the beginning. 
3. Quotes to spark your interest. I will now share with you my favorite quote from each book. 

Book 1: Bad Girls Don't Die 

"Glad to see I did not knock any of the pink out of your hair." (Alender 40) 

Carter!!!!

  

Book 2: From Bad To Cursed

"'In a horror movie, this room would have been draped in black velvet and lit by a thousand dripping, flickering candles. There would be an altar in the center of the room and shelves full of potions and evil talismans. 

But I was just looking at another empty room. In the far corner was a rumpled Sleeping bag. No sheets. Not even a pillow." (Alender 290)

Book 3: As Dead As It Gets 

"I have been bad. 

I have been good.

Weak and strong.

Brave and afraid.
A hero and a [...]" 

(Alender 441)

Truly, the Bad Girls Don't Die trilogy by Katie Alender is the perfect Halloween read. So why not offer you a chance to win a copy of my favorite in the series. Book 2: From Bad To Cursed. Don't worry if you have not read the first. I started this series with this book and I do not regret it. I was able to enjoy Katie's amazing writing and characters enough reading the first book that I did not mind knowing every twist while reading the first book. 

Rules:

1. Must be 13 or older. 

2. Open internationally if you in a country that Book Depositary ships too.

3. The contest runs from now to November 4th.

4. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email.

 5. To not be afraid of frightening stories. 

6. Now what is your favorite supernatural speculated species? 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want to find Katie Alender related web links?

Katie's Website, Goodreads Page, Twitter 

Thanks for reading! 

ARC Review: The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

Hi Everyone!

Today I am pleased to review:

(Cover photo provided by Goodreads)

The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: October 23, 2012

Source: NetGallery and Harlequin Teen

Rating: 5/5 SIZZLING STARS

Add To Goodreads!

The Nightmare is Over!

I do not know about you, but I was frightened that I would not be able to enjoy The Lost Prince as much as the Iron Fey series. That I would be constantly wishing that Ethan was Ash instead. That the story would be too reminiscent to this book’s preceding series. Thankfully, all my worries were for not. Reading The Lost Prince was an excellent journey where I enjoyed every marvelous moment.

I was amazed at the direction this story went. The Fogotten were frightening, eerie antagonists. Kagawa yet again went somewhere that is usually forgotten in fairy stories. The iron side of fey was just the beginning. Now, we get to see the side of the story of the humans who are related to and encounter fairies. Now we get to see the side of the story of the fairies that know one remembers.

Kagawa's writing was just as beautiful as I remembered. Her writing is the perfect blend of efficient exquisite descriptions and lyrical language. I adore how she describes people just enough so I can visualize them but not too much that I’m like “Move on to the story.” This story caused me to need to read this story till my eyes hurt in the early morning and want to spread my love of this story to everyone I meet. Kagawa’s writing is of flowing lyrics that I wish I could create as well. Basically, her writing is phenomenal.

The Lost Prince may have miniscule flaws, (What? Only one scene with Meghan and an anticlimactic ending?), but it does provide what I search for in an unforgettable book. It is a stress reliever. It has excitement. It has growing characters. Best of all, it holds a new side to a story. There was not one page of The Lost Prince that I did not enjoy reading. Not one character that I did not find intriguing. Reading The Lost Prince was the perfect break from reality.

I never wanted this story to end. I valued seeing Ethan grow from a distant outsider to someone who could actually be friendly to others. I miss the sweet four-year-old Ethan from the Iron Fey series, but this damaged Ethan is even better. He was not one of the characters I immediately bonded with. His refusal to be friendly to others irked me in the beginning. But I knew that his reasons for being aloof were justifiable. I have no idea how I would deal if my sister, Rebecca, left me to be Queen of a magical world that once imprisoned me. As the story went along, Ethan started to stop being so distant and become an impressive snarky hero. He took charge and his slowly growing love for Kenzie drew me in. I also enjoyed the scene where he performed kali, an awesome Filipino martial art. And the Whedon moment! Anyone who loves Joss Whedon’s work is a friend of mine.

The other characters were just as amazing and constantly changing. Kenzie, a normal girl, at the beginning seemed too similar to Meghan. Thankfully, she grew into her new distinct character as she went on her adventure with Ethan and Kierran. I’m so glad that she did not believe fairies existed till she had proof and was confident, brave and tenacious. Kierran was mostly a good character, but not as impressive as Ethan, Kenzie, Razor and Grim.

Razor! He is such an adorable gremlin. I laughed so much during his scenes. Especially when he says “Master.”

Grim! The feline terror! He is still my favorite character. (Though Razor kept inching forward to his territory.) He is still his amazing sassy self and has many appearances!

Overall, The Lost Prince is a fantastic book that I hope you buy next Tuesday when it finally comes out. Razor orders you too. “Grrrrrrr. Bad kitty. Not reading good book.”

Thanks for reading!

Top Ten Tuesday! Top Ten Authors in the Contemporary Genre

Hi Everyone! 

I'm back!!!! Miss me? 

Top Ten Tuesday is a terrific meme hosted by the group at the Broke and Bookish Blog.

I have always loved contemporary books the most. I love longing for the romance, meeting characters facing similar problems as me, reading the relax writing style and laughing over the humorous moments.  Contemporary stories will always make me happy after a stressful day. 

Meg Cabot

Cabot was my childhood. Every time I re-read The Princess Diaries books, Teen Idol and others, I immediately sink into the story. 

Lauren Kunze

Kunze wrote my favorite book of 2011. She was the first author to talk to me on twitter. I immediately bonded over the crafty, educated writing style, sweet characters and the uncontrollable laughing fits I gain reading her books. 

Sara Shepard

Technically Shepard is both a mystery and contemporary genre, but I think Shepard's wonderful and addicting books encompass everything I admire in contemporary fiction. Also, she created Thayer Vega. There are only two characters I crush on in books and he is one of them. Need more Thayer moments STAT. 

Paul Ruditis 

I absolutely adore his Drama series. His books perfectly show the joy of taking part in a high school Drama Club. I am a happy thespian in my high school's drama club and I cannot imagine being the vivacious person I am today without participating in drama club and reading Ruditis books. They reveal there is more to drama then just acting. There is the friendships, the memorable late night rehearsals and so much more. Also, the main character becomes a student director in the last book!

Jaclyn Moriarty 

Again, Moriarty's books, like Sara Shepard's, dive into the mystery genre, but they dwell in all the experiences of high school students. The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie will always remain my favorite of Moriarty's book. Moriarty will always remain my favorite Australian author. Her stories are gripping, exciting and incomparable. 

Melissa Walker

Walker's Violet series is sweet and the perfect leisure read. Also, it shares the world of modeling in a realistic way. Violet and Rob are two easy characters to adore. 

Kate Brian

Another contemporary/mystery author. Just establishes the truth. My favorite books compose of both a contemporary setting and an enthralling mystery. Brian's Private and Privilege series are amazing and must read series. Maybe you can even start by reading Untouchable. Untouchable was my first Kate Brian book.

Jen Calonita

Calonita's Secrets of My Hollywood LIfe are just marvelous. Kaitlin is the perfect maturing main character and reading her life unfold is a terrific ride.  

Lisa Yee

Millicent Min, Stanford and Emily are three amazing characters that I always enjoy going back to. The genius, the jock and the bubbly girl are so much more then stereotypical. Through Yee's trilogy of one book for each character, you are given the chance to see these three grow, discover the hardships of lying and deal with there own unique dilemmas.

John Green

Green is a special guy who is unafraid to take risks. His books show life in a way that no other author can do. 

Now something special for my first time back.

A puppet!

 Her name is Calliandra after two of my favorite characters. 

Thanks for reading!!!!!!!