In My Mailbox

IMM is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.     

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.

Book: Partials

Author: Dan Wells

Release Date: February 28

Goodreads Summary

The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic in training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws threaten to launch what’s left of humanity into civil war, and she’s not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will discover that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

Dan Wells, acclaimed author of I Am Not a Serial Killer, takes readers on a pulse-pounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question—one where our humanity is both our greatest liability and our only hope for survival.(

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Ashfall by Mike Mullin

Book: Ashfall
Author: Mike Mullin
# of Pages: 456 (Hardcover)
Rating: 5 stars

Goodreads Summary
Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.
                                                                                              Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.
                                                                                                                               My Thoughts: I loved this book! It is an action-packed and incredibly realistic tale of survival that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The story sucks you in from the very first page. The description of the eruption is so vivid that I felt like I was actually there. Alex was a very likable protagonist and seemed mature for his age. He sets off to find his family and must deal with finding food and water as well as try to avoid looters and the desperately hungry. He meets Darla and discovers that she is a hard-working, innovative girl who does not let anything stand in her way. Alex could not have found a better traveling companion., and it turns out that they make a really good team. Together they forge through the ash and horrific weather determined to reach their destination.

So, three reasons why you should read this book: 1) the action 2) the awesome characters 3) the brilliant writing.

Must Read Monday

Must Read Monday is a new meme created by Jenna from Fans of Fiction. This is a fun way to recommend books to other bloggers by using an acrostic puzzle based on the week's theme. It helps bloggers learn more about the book. This week's theme is a favorite contemporary.

                                        Jellicoe road is where it began
                                   fivE kids came together and became the best of friends
               their story is toLd alongside another
                                  tayLor is made the school leader
                          for the rItual game
        played against the Cadets
                        and the tOwnies
                               the tErritory wars

 she discovers that her fRiend hannah has secrets
    and starts to fall for jOnah, a cadet
 as  the secrets slowly stArt to unravel
       the two stories colliDe and become one

This was a bit tricky for me. I hope it makes sense.

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Book: The Name of the Star
Author: Maureen Johnson
# of Pages: 207 (ebook)
Rating: 1 star

Goodreads Summary
The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

My Thoughts: I was really excited about this book. I love ghost stories. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. I read many reviews saying that this was a good scary story, but I found it to be a bit boring. There is just WAY too much description/talk and not enough action. There is one point in the story where Rory goes into painful detail about the differences between the girls' and boys' dorms (Is it really that important for us to know that the girls keep plants on their windowsills?). 

The characters in the story were pretty plain. Sure Rory has a "gift," but even so… As for Rory's love interest, Jerome, we hardly learn anything about him. We find out that he's a prefect and is obsessed with Jack the Ripper and that's it. I'm not even sure why Rory likes him. The only character that really stood out for me was Alistair. He plays a very minor role in the story, but maybe we will see more of him in the next book?

This is an okay ghost story, but once again I think it would have been better with more action scenes.

In My Mailbox

IMM is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.     

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Book: The Iron King
Author: Julie Kagawa
# of Pages: 363 (Paperback)
Rating: 4 stars

This is the first book I have read that deals with faeries. I did not know what to expect, but I was very intrigued with the story.

Meghan's little brother, Ethan, is kidnapped. She and her best friend Robbie/Puck must go into the Nevernever to save him. The Nevernever is a magical, faery-inhabited world. I've heard many people compare it to the world in Alice in Wonderland. Though I would like to concoct my own original comparison, I cannot think of one at the moment and so must agree that it is like Wonderland. Interesting creatures roam the land, there is a Summer Court and a Winter Court, and technology is slowly taking over the realm.

I love Puck. He is a great friend to Meghan, a prankster, and is quite funny. Ash is a prince of the Winter Court. He's dark, serious, and has a strong hatred for Puck. Meghan enlists Ash to help them find Ethan, to Puck's great fury. Together they battle their way through the Nevernever as well as the human world encountering obstacles and enemies alike.

One small thing that irked me about Meghan was that she did not seem to learn from her mistakes. When she is told to hide, she just stands where she is until it is too late. This aside, Meghan is brave, determined, and a little stubborn, and it is these things that helps her reach her goal.

This was a great, enjoyable read and I can't wait to read the rest of the series!