The Vault of Dreamers Review

ISBN: 978-1596439382
September 16, 2014
Amazon Link 

*An ARC was given to me via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Rosie Sinclair is one of the selected hundred to attend The Forge School. However, only fifty people of the hundred entered actually stay. The public audience decides who stays and who goes, through a ranking system. Strict rules are enforced on the students. For example, sleeping pills are taken to help the students perform better and learn faster in class. But something isnt quite right at The Forge School. Rosie Sinclair is on a mission to find out what exactly that something is. First step, stop taking the pills.  

I read this in one sitting. I was hooked from the chapter sampler and was very happy to be given an ARC copy. I enjoy boarding school settings and this novel did not disappoint. The cover is not the most eye catching (pun intended) but the title sure is! I have a fascination with the concept of dreaming,  a subject that has never really been done in YA novels.When it comes to dreaming, this series could go in any direction  and I am really excited to see where the twists and turns lead to in the forthcoming books. 

I would recommend this to fans of Haven by Kristi Cook.

This was my first Caragh O'Brien read. I have heard great things about her Birthmarked trilogy and own it in paperback. I will definitely give them a try.

Are you a fan of Caragh O'Brien's work? Get excited for Vault of Dreamers! Leave a comment below! Sign up for my email newsletter at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/mandemread, and follow me on Twitter @Miaswartz1, and add me to your Circle on Google Plus at mimizane@gmail.com. Check in every two weeks for more updates and posts!

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EM's First Post!

ISBN: 978-0062245359
March 18, 2014
Amazon Link

Sixteen year old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia and plans the days she has left to get revenge on all of her high school enemies. She gets her best friend Harvey to help her with a list of things she has to do before her time runs out. Little does she know, Harvey has had feelings for her for all his life. Only later to find out she has gone into remission, now Alice has to face the consequences of her list. Has she done too much damage or could she save all of her relationships she's ruined?

I really enjoyed Side Effects May Vary because it shows true modern family and teenage life. I envy the characterization of the main character Alice. The author Julie Murphy, created a perfect example of life without a happy ending, which proves life isn't always fair. The book went on a little longer than I thought it probably should have. There also wasn't a clear explanation on what leukemia is. I had known it was a type of cancer but it would have been nice to have more detail on the subject matter. Overall, I would say that this book is on my top twenty reading list because of Alice's personality. Julie Murphy is an author to look out for and I highly recommend for fans of Maybe One Day, The Fault in Our Stars and The Beginning of Everything. 

Have you read Side Effects May Vary? What did you think of the book? Comment below to let me know! Sign up for my email newsletter at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/mandemread, follow me on Twitter @Miaswartz1 and add me to your Circle on Google Plus at mimizane@gmail.com. Check in every two weeks for more updates and posts!

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The Kiss of Deception Review

ISBN: 978-0805099232
July 15, 2014
Amazon Link

I was given a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Princess Lia is the First Daughter of Morrigan betrothed to the Prince of Dalbrek, to whom she never met. As the First Daughter, Lia will grow into her gift of sight given from the Gods. On the morning of her wedding day she escapes with her best friend Pauline. Together they seek shelter working as barmaids. Soon after, two brooding men named Rafe and Kaden walk in. One of them is an assassin and the other is the Prince of Dalbrek. Both men decide to hang around the inn and bar for half the summer.

This book is different because from the start a love triangle begins to form. I found the plot somewhat predictable at times but entertaining enough for me to keep reading. I didn’t connect well with the main character Lia. At times, I considered her selfish for keeping both men close to her side especially when feelings for a male became prominent. The book transitioned from spring to summer over a four month period. Both assassin and Prince stayed in the village for quite a while.

I loved the writing style. I truly felt like I was taken back to the medieval times. I pictured the cast of the CW TV network show, Reign as I read the book. I was impressed at how long the secret was kept to determine who the prince and the assassin were. Throughout the book, I realized my vote swayed. However, my first prediction was correct.

I met Mary last year at TBF 2013. I attended her panel on robotic romance. Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles), Jessica Brody (Unremembered), and Lauren DeStefano (Chemical Garden) were also featured authors on the panel.

This is my first book I read of Mary E. Pearson. I have started her first novel The Adoration of Jenna Fox and so far I am enjoying the story. Have you read any of her work? Do you like her writing style? Could you guess who was who in The Kiss of Deception? Comment below to let me know! Sign up for my email newsletter at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/mandemread , follow me on Twitter @Miaswartz1 and add me to your Circle on Google Plus at mimizane@gmail.com. Check in every two weeks for more updates and posts!

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TBF News

As I mentioned before, I am attending the 9th annual TBF in May 2014 at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York. This will be my second year attending the event. I invited three friends of mine to join me who are (like me) Heidelberg University graduates. The drive over from Ohio to New York is four and half hours long therefore, my friends and I will read Ann Brashares's new book The Here and Now, (before we leave) as a topic of conversation.

List of Authors coming to TBF 2014

Key:

*: I own their work

@: I read their work

#:I met them before   

  Laurie Halse Anderson*

     Jay Asher*

     Jonathan Auxier

     Paolo Bacigalupi*

     Charles Benoit*#

     Ann Brashares*@

     Cecil Castellucci*@

     Joelle Charbonneau*@

     Alexandra Coutts*

     Gina Damico

     Simone Elkeles*@#

     Lisa Greenwald

     Ellen Hopkins*#

     A. S. King*

Amber Lough

     Alethea Kontis*@

     E. Lockhart*

     Alex London*@

     Michelle Madow

     Lauren Myracle*

     G. Neri

     Nancy Ohlin

     Marie Rutkoski* 

    Tess Sharpe

Neal Shusterman*

     Andrew Smith*

     Meagan Spooner*@

     Aaron Starmer

     Margaret Stohl*@

     Cristin Terrill*

     Terry Trueman#

I own over 35 books from these authors that I plan to have signed. Most of these books I own on my Kindle Keyboard. Joelle Charbonneau, Amber Lough and Alex London have books set to release after TBF. I was lucky enough to receive ARCs including Joelle Charbonneau's Graduation Day (June 17, 2014) and Alex London's Guardian (May 29, 2014). Several authors attended TBF last year and toured in Columbus, Ohio the week before which is how I met a few of them already.

With just over a month left, I plan to read three more authors before TBF, including Cristin Terrill's All Our Yesterdays, Marie Rutkoski's The Shadow Society, and Lauren Myracle's The Infinite Moment of Us. Out of all the authors, I’m extremely anxious to meet Cecil Castellucci. Every year there is an overflowing amount of young adult subgenres, for example in 2009, the trend was vampires; in 2010, werewolves; in 2013, dystopians; and this year the trend is aliens. Cecil Castelucci’s Tin Star was an amazing addition to the collection. 

Have you read any of these author's work? Do you have any recommendations? Comment below to let me know! Sign up for my email newsletter at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/mandemread , follow me on Twitter @Miaswartz1 and add me to your Circle on Google Plus at mimizane@gmail.com.

Check in every two weeks for more updates and posts!

My friends who are going also have Blogs. Check out the list of authors they are looking forward to meet at TBF.

Erin's http://www.booklovingnut.blogspot.com and

Signy's http://withindemise.blogspot.com 

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The Books that I Own

Amazon Review: The Hundred

     

ISBN: 978-0316234474
September 3, 2013
Amazon Link

After a post-apocalypse, Earth is no longer safe and livable. Forced to live in space ships, the oxygen supply is depleting. With no other choice, 100 delinquents are sent to Earth to test and declare it safe. The book is told from four points of view Clarke, Wells, Glass, and Ballemy.

The audience is first introduced to Clarke. The story begins with guards releasing her from her prison cell on a space ship. In her prospective she thinks she is about to be executed, the audience knows nothing of her past. However, in time we see the past and how she came to be one of the hundred delinquents. Wells is the son of the commander in charge. Ballemy is the typical bad boy who cares for the people that are dear to him. Glass has a tragic past and the character to root for.

I found that Glass was the most interesting of the four. Her past was delicate, passionate and relatable. I couldn’t relate to the other characters very well. Clarke was selfish and Wells needed to be slapped in the face to come out of the “Imsoinlovewithyouforever” coma phase with Clarke. Ballemy was a handful he needed to chill out, he made my eyes roll. It would have been interesting to have Wells and Ballemy die during or soon after the crash landing to Earth. Two points of view from Clarke and Glass’s perspective would be easier to understand; Clarke and Glass had the most history and were the most intriguing of the bunch. I didn’t understand the need for Ballemy’s character at all.

The book is a very short and fast read but difficult to start. The Hundred reads more like a script. The dialogue is stiff and awkward. It is sometimes hard to tell the past from the present.

If you were a fan of The Vampire Diaries (TVD) before the show came out then this book is for you. The Hundred will be a TV series on the CW to air in March 2014.Because I read the book, I will watch the TV show but I don’t think I will continue with the series.

I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.

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The Taking

ISBN: 978-0062293602
April 29, 2014
Amazon Link

I am a huge fan of Kimberly Derting. I have read most of her work and really enjoy her writing style. When I read the synopsis for The Taking, I knew I had to read it. The Synopsis sounded similar to the ABC show Resurrection; I was thrilled to receive an advanced reader copy (ARC) around the premiere of the show.

First chapter of The Taking begins with Kyra winning a high school softball game and ends with her passing out to bright lights. Five years have passed but Kyra Agnew hasn’t aged and all she remembers is the bright lights. She wakes up behind a dumpster at a Gas 'n' Sip and discovers her parents divorced from the pain of her absence. Her strict dad now has a drinking problem and is persistent on finding out what had happened to her that night. To make matters worse, her boyfriend now 22 years old is dating her best friend. Who would have guessed his little brother Tyler, resembles him so much? And who knew how much he cared about her?

The Taking is the first book in a new trilogy. More questions are asked than given and the action doesn't start until the second half of the book. The first half reveals Kyra’s emotions and growing feelings for Tyler. I was hoping for more Alien encounters and sci-fi adventure so I look forward to reading the second book. I would recommend this book to romance and alien lovers. Alienated by Melissa landers, Gravity by Melissa West, and Tin Star by Cecil Castelluci are recommended for fans who enjoyed The Taking.

Have you read The Taking? Are you familiar with Kimberly Derting’s work? Let me know in the comments. Also, take a look around to answer polls, sign up for bimonthly e-newsletters with your email, and follow me on Google Hangout under Mimi Zane and Twitter @MiaSwartz1 #mandemread. I plan to post about every two weeks, be sure to stop by.

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First YA Review: Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando

ISBN: 978-0316217491
December 24, 2013
Amazon Link

 Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando for a college feel.

Overall Roomies was an enjoyably fast, YA chick lit read. The story begins with Elizabeth from New Jersey receiving an email about her roommate situation for her upcoming year at The University of California, Berkeley. Elizabeth reaches out to her roommate Lauren from San Francisco via email and conversations filled with secrets, gossip, and cat-fights begin to stir creating an unlikely friendship within the sixty five days of summer.

Five years ago I was placed in Lauren and Elizabeth’s shoes. I saw both myself and my roommate represented in Lauren and Elizabeth. However, I couldn't depict one character as myself or my roommate because we both shared characteristics from both main characters. But I found that I relate more to Lauren then I did with Elizabeth. My roommate moved from Florida to Ohio as I lived in Ohio several hours away from the University. I found Elizabeth’s perspective more engrossing due to her secrets. The emotions which unravel throughout the book are easy to relate to.

I would recommend this book to incoming college freshman and for post graduates who in general miss their roommate and college life. This is intended more for a mature audience, themes along the lines of sex and homosexuality are mentioned throughout.

I had the opportunity to meet Sara Zarr last year in New York. 

Have you read Roomies? Comment and let me know what you think!

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