Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Bought Because of Their Covers

I am insanely guilty of this! Some have worked out, others haven't.

Twilight: Yep, I read this back in 2005 when it came out and the cover was what drew me in. I still think it's one of the better YA covers and has started a bit of a YA cover revolution.

Across the Universe: Haven't even touched it yet but the cover is beautiful.

Stolen by Lucy Christopher: I'm not sure why but I think this cover is just lovely. Its simplicity is what works.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer: This book was on everyone's list for interesting covers. Obviously, I am included!

Hush, Hush: I started to read this but couldn't get into it. I plan on trying again but this cover is just amazing!

Delirium: I love everything about this book, including the amazing cover!

Wither: I just grabbed this book one day without even looking at the description. The cover alone sold me.

Anna Dressed in Blood: The title, the cover, just everything works.

The Dark Divine: So pretty!

Hereafter: I am completely in love with this cover but couldn't get into the book. Maybe I'll pick it up again?

In my Mailbox (well, technically Kindle) #4

So many books this week!

Lost in Time by Melissa de la Cruz
Afterlife (Evernight #4) by Claudia Gray
The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Suspense by Jason Letts (thank you for the copy!)
Eve by Anna Carey
Isle of Night by Veronica Wolff
The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

So sorry for the lack of updates. We read a book every two weeks in my lit class, plus other class workload has kept me from my enjoyable reading!

City of Bones

Title: City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) 

Author: Cassandra Clare
Pages: 512 pages
Source: My kindle
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Genre: Paranormal

Summary: When Clary Fray witnesses three tattoo-covered teenagers murder another teen, she is unable to prove the crime because the victim disappears right in front of her eyes, and no one else can see the killers. She learns that the teens are Shadowhunters (humans who hunt and kill demons), and Clary, a mundie (i.e., mundane human), should not be able to see them either. Shortly after this discovery, her mother, Jocelyn, an erstwhile Shadowhunter, is kidnapped. Jocelyn is the only person who knows the whereabouts of The Mortal Cup, a dangerous magical item that turns humans into Shadowhunters. Clary must find the cup and keep it from a renegade sector of Shadowhunters bent on eliminating all nonhumans, including benevolent werewolves and friendly vampires. Buy it Here!

Review: So I'm a bit late to the party, but at least I'm making my entrance! So how did I like City of Bones? Well, it took me two tries to finish it but I'm happy I did. I spent the first half of the novel pretty much bored but once I hit the 50% on my Kindle, the book took off! I don't really have much to say other than I'm not a fan of really anyone except Jace. Jace is all kinds of awesome and it saddens me that Jamie Campbell Bower is playing him, instead of Alex Pettyfer (dumb boy!) I absolutely love the setting of New York as well. Usually in books, New York is the setting but this time it was different. New York felt like a character in the book. The city has never felt so real to me. With that said, I'm off to continue reading City of Ashes!
Rating: 4 STARS

In my Mailbox (well, technically Kindle) #3

Slow week this week. Bought:

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Afterlife by Claudia Gray
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa!

Top Ten Tuesday!

What are the Top Ten Books that I feel like every other book blogger has read but I haven't?

1.) The Jessica Darling Series: It's on my to-read section but I haven't gotten around to it yet!

2.) Anything by Cassandra Clare. I'm not sure if I will read anything by her?

3.) The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I always lie and said I have read this!

4.) Water for Elephants. I saw the movie. Does that count?

5.) The Morganville Vampires. It's on my list!

6.) The Book Thief. Everyone read this in HS, but I somehow missed it?

7.) The Entire Iron Fey Series. Part One is Down!

8.) The "Classics". I've only read Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, but nothing else.

9.) Anna and the French Kiss. I'm DYING to read this!

10.) Bloodlines. I love Vampire Academy, so I seriously need to pick this up!

In my Mailbox (well, technically Kindle) #2

So I got my first ARCs ever as a book blogger so I'm super excited!

Title: Saving June
Author: Hannah Harrington
Source: Netgalley (Thank you Harlequin!)
Pages: 336 Pages
Genre: Romance/Friendship, YA
Summary: Harper Scott's older sister, June, commits suicide two weeks shy of her high school graduation. So Harper, at sixteen, defiantly finds herself an only child while mourning her sister's death and is not kind to her divorced and grief-stricken parents. To make matters worse, Harper is the one who finds her deceased sister. But a huge unanswered question for Harper is why? June does not even leave behind a goodbye note. Meanwhile, Tyler hangs around during the wake at Harper's house. Harper ponders his connection to her late sister and investigates clues regarding June's unfulfilled dreams. This takes her on a road trip to California with her best friend, Laney, and Tyler to scatter her sister's ashes into the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, they encounter adventure among their far-flung friends and acquaintances. Just when you discover Tyler's connection to Harper's sister, the climax takes the reader on a gigantic twist. This is a work of realistic fiction. The author portrays the life of wayward teens who seek independence. Although the language may be a bit salty, it is realistic. The story also includes the theme of budding romance, with some sexual expression. SAVING JUNE should become a movie some day – it even includes a soundtrack.

Title: Blood
Author: K.J. Wignall
Source: Netgalley (Thank you Egemont!)
Pages: 272 pages
Genre: Paranormal, Vampires, Romance
Summary: Will is a vampire in danger. Heir to the Earl of Mercia, he was brutally attacked and buried in the thirteenth century before he was able to assume his title. Perpetually sixteen, Will’s life has been lonely. He leaves his tomb every so often, adapts to the present day, feeds his bloodlust, and never gets close to anyone.
Until now.

Waking from a twenty-year slumber, hungry for the blood that sustains his undeath, he meets Eloise—but can’t bear to make her his next victim. Drawn to a girl he can never have, but whose fate seems bound with his own, he feels the need to protect her. But Will has an enemy who will stop at nothing to find him . . . and he’s closing in. . . .

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron King
Author: Julie Kagawa
Pages: 368 pages
Source: My kindle
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Genre: Faeries/Paranormal

Summary: On her 16th birthday, Meghan Chase's four-year-old half brother is exchanged for a changeling and she discovers that her best friend, Robbie, is actually Robin Greenfellow, aka Puck, from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. He is her guardian and will lead her into the faery world to rescue her brother. Once there, Meghan learns that she is a princess, daughter of Oberon, king of the Seelie Court. With a mortal mother and a faery king for a father, she is very powerful, and Oberon and Queen Mab, queen of the Unseelie Court, are both fighting to keep her. With help from Puck and a talking cat, Meghan sneaks into the Unseelie Court to rescue Ethan, only to discover that he is held captive by more powerful forces that could destroy the entire fey world. Meghan is a likable heroine and her quest is fraught with danger and adventure. The action never stops, and Meghan's romance with Ash, the handsome prince of the Unseelie Court, provides some romance that is sure to continue in the sequel. Buy it here!

Review: So, I've never read a book about faeries before. I never found them to be very appealing to be quite honest. Oh, Julie Kagawa, how you have changed me! I flippin loved this book. It was literally nohing short of amazing and one of the very few books that I think just about every YAlit lover would devour. The story follows a sixteen year old girl named Meghan, who with the help of her faery in disguise best friend Puck (yes, Shakespeare's Puck!) goes into a world called Nevernever to retrieve her brother after he has been kidnapped by The Iron King.

While searching, she meets a slew of characters, such as a cat named Grimalkin ("I am a cat.") and the gorgeous and ice cold Winter Prince Ash. Kagawa definitely channels Shakespeare through more than just Puck by having a bit of a Romeo&Juliet type of relationship (she is a Summer Princess!). Kagawa also makes some veiled comments about our environment today later in the novel, but honestly, this book is just fun. There is action, adventure, humor, and looooove! I cannot recommend this book more, though my next review will be a different book as my brain needs a bit of break from the awesomeness that I just read!

Rating: 5 STARS