October in Books

October was a pretty good reading month. I finally overcome that horrible reading slump. I love reading again! And with all that extra time on my hands I read a lot and it's amazing! I hope to get a lot more reviews up next month, because six reviews in a month is just kinda six. Especially since I posted something almost every day! And now we're on the topic: I should really learn to read more books than I get in a month. Until now I failed that really hard, especially considering I'm on a book buying ban. Well, in my defense most books were ARC's.

This month began pretty horrible, but it ended pretty well! I got a temp job, and I'm very happy with it. And I went to two amazing movies this week! Monday I went to see The Perks of Being a Wallflower (and Emma Watson is awesome!), today I went to see Skyfall (premiere day). And that one too was pretty amazing! So with the end of the year coming it starts to get busy again, but I don't mind! I like the holidays!

The stats

Read  10 | Reviewed 6 | Bought/Got 10

Read

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Dearly, Beloved by Lia Habel

BZRK by Michael Grant

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

The Violet Fox by Clare C. Marshall

Broken by A.E. Rought

Tempest by Julie Cross

Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

De Socialite en de City by Tinsley Mortimer 

Currently reading:

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Reviewed

Seeking Crystal by Joss Stirling

Immortal City by Scott Speer

Dearly, Beloved by Lia Habel

BZRK by Michael Grant

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder 

Tempest by Julie Cross

This Month's Favorite

Waiting on Wednesday (19)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week I'm waiting on 

Pivot Point by Kasie West

Title: Pivot Point

Author: Kasie West

Will be published on: February 12th, 2013 (HarperTeen)

Synopsis from Goodreads: Addison Coleman's life is one big "What if?" As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It's the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie's parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with–her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the "Norms," or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it's not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school–but she never wanted to be a quarterback's girlfriend. When Addie's father is asked to consult on a murder in the compound, she's unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she's willing to live through...and who she can't live without.

I love books with an original story. And this sounds very original! I can't wait to read it.  

What are you waiting on?

Top Ten Favorite Kick-Ass Heroines

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday has another topic and different bloggers give their top ten. I love making lists, so here's mine for this week!

This week topic is 

Top Ten Favorite Kick-Ass Heroines

I just discovered Adobe Illustrator and it's pretty amazing! I use it mostly to make my resume look a bit prettier, but I still have to practice a lot, so I decided to make this picture you see down here. It's like an experiment. 

Trella (Insider)
I like kick-ass book heroines in general. It just makes a story a lot better most of the time! Trella is just like that, she doesn't do anything for a boy, or because someone says so. She can think and act for herself!

Celaena Sardothien (Throne of Glass)
I absolutely loved her! The worlds most feared assassin and it's a girl! You gotta love it!

Eowyn (Lord of the Rings)
There aren't a lot of women in LotR and that's what made me love Eowyn even more. That scene where she saves King Theoden from a horrible death? One of the most beautiful scenes in the books and movies!

Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)
I love how she grows throughout the books. She one of my favorite fictional characters of all time. 

Tris Prior (Divergent)
She stands up for herself and picks what she thinks is best for herself although everyone expects something different. That takes something!

Aria (Under the Never Sky)
She isn't overall kick-ass, but I just loved how she didn't trust all those guys around her. Sometimes that's just necessary ;). 

Calla Tor (Nightshade)
I love books about werewolves and female werewolves are even better! They can kick some ass!

Waverly (Glow)
For those who haven't read the book yet I won't spoil anything. I'll just say Waverly is awesome!

Isabelle Lightwood (The Mortal Instruments)
Hello? She has a whip! That's all I'll say. 

Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)
Katniss doesn't need an explanation I think. 

What's your Top Ten this week? Leave your link in the comments!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (9)

Welcome to It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Book Journey. This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well. You never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

Yay, I've finally beaten my reading slump! Finished four books last week! Including The Violet Fox. I started almost a month ago and now I've finished it in one day! 

Finished last week: 

Tempest (Tempest #1) by Julie Cross

Hunting Lila (Lila #1) by Sarah Alderson

Currently reading:

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer 

Next read:

Undeadly (The Reaper diaries #1) by Michele Vail

Have a happy reading week!

Review Tempest by Julie Cross

Title: Tempest
Author: Julie Cross

Published: January 5th, 2013 (MacMillan Children's Books)

Pages: 413

Source: bought

Series: Tempest #1

Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads: The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler.  Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

The best thing about Tempest is that it's a book about time traveling! I love time traveling. It did surprise me that it took me so long for me to finally read, since I bought it a couple of months ago. I blame my huge TBR! 
But I finally read Tempest and I thought it was awesome. 

Books about time traveling are just made to give you a headache. One tip; don't think too deep about it! It will mess with your head. I must say Julie Cross did an amazing job with this story and the time traveling. She did throw in timelines, alternating and being able or not being able to change the past (and the future), but it sounded right and it made the story just perfect. 

The story is told from Jackson's point of view. He's a time traveler, which he discovered a year ago, but he only makes half jumps, which means his body stays in the year he's jumping from. Together with his ("normal") friend Adam he's experimenting with the possibilities. His girlfriend Holly doesn't know about it and when she and Jackson are attacked, he accidentally makes a full jump back to 2007 and he doesn't seem able to get back. He feels really bad about leaving Holly behind while she just got shot and he's determined to find out more about his ability and travel back. 

I loved the three main characters. Jackson is this really sweet, but at the same time kick-ass boy. He makes the 007 Holly (Holly in 2007, love that nickname!) fall in love with him all over again and she's so lovable. The chats between Jackson and Holly are so adorable! You just really want them to be together! 
And then there's Adam. Every time his name was mentioned I got this picture in my head of Q (Ben Whishaw in Skyfall, I know I'm a bit weird). He's helping Jackson (2009 and 2007 Adam) to learn more about the time traveling and the role Jackson's father plays in it. Jackson's Dad made some serious plot twists happen! Once I thought I had it figured out, everything changed! It made the story even more awesome!

Next to the amazing story and characters, Julie Cross has an amazing writing style! It kept me on the edge of my seat! I can't wait to read Vortex. (I tried the time jumping myself to January 2013, but failed miserably *sad face*, so the "normal" waiting begins...). The ending of Tempest brought me to tears and I'm waiting for an amazing plot twist in Vortex!

Have you read Tempest? What did you think of it?

Stacking the Shelves (17)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Bloggers share what new books (physical or virtual) they got these week. I like getting new books and showing them. So here's my haul for this week! 

For most part of this week I was convinced I wouldn't have any books for this Stacking the Shelves post. But yesterday I got approved for Dancing in the Dark on Netgalley. (How I love Netgalley). The book buying ban is still going strong!

For review

Title: Dancing in the Dark

Author: Robyn Bavati

Published: February 8th, 2013 (Flux)

Pages: 336

I love books about dancing! There are way too few of them, so I might have jumped up and down when I saw this on Netgalley. It got worse when I got accepted ;). I love the cover, it's so beautiful! 

What's your haul? Leave me your link in the comments!

Facebook Page

Hi everyone!

Last week I finally came around to making a facebook fan-page for my blog! If you want to keep up-to-date on new posts via facebook, now you can! Just click on the like button below, or go over here. 

I hope to see you soon!

Cover Reveal: Vortex & This Strange and Familiar Place

I always get really excited when I see a beautiful cover, especially when the book isn't published yet. It's makes the waiting a little bit better! 

Vortex

Title: Vortex

Author: Julie Cross

Expected publication: January 3rd, 2013 (MacMillan Children's Books)

Series: Tempest #2

At the beginning of last summer the right cover was revealed, but last week a second cover got published. It's not completely clear to me if this is a second cover or if it's a replacement for the first. And I'm not sure yet which I like better! I love that the color of the dress matches with the cover. If they're both going to be published it's going to be a tough decision!

Vortex

Title: This Strange and Familiar Place

Author: Rachel Carter

Expected publication: July, 2013 (HarperTeen)

Series: So Close to You #2

I have to admit that I haven't read So Close to You yet. It's somewhere on my endless TBR list! But since the second one isn't published until July next year I still have some time. I thought the cover of So Close to You was very intriguing, and this one's too! I like that it's got some lighter colors in it!

What do you think about these covers?

Review Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

Title: Inside Out (Dutch version)
Author: Maria V. Snyder

Published: September, 2012 (Harlequin Young Adult)

Pages: 351

Source: won
Series: Insider #1

Rating: 4.5 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads: I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.

Before I read Inside Out I had heard a lot of good things about Maria V. Snyder. And they all turned to be out true! When I have high expectations of a book, I'm always afraid it will not live up to them. But lucky for me, in this case it's as good as everyone says. 

Trella is a scrub, she lives in the pipes where she's working on the Lower Levels. She knows her way around so good that it got her the nickname "Queen of the Pipes". I absolutely loved Trella. She's a strong protagonist and I'm a fan of strong protagonists! When her only friend introduces her to the newest person who believes in the Outside, Trella is skeptical, like all the times before. But when strange events are building up she first starts to doubt her believe in the non-existence of the Outside.

For those who visit my blog more often you probably know the writing style is one of the most important things about a book for me. And that's also what I loved most about this book. Maria V. Snyder's writing style is amazing! It hooked me right up into the story and it didn't let go until I finished it. I can't wait to read more of her work! 

If the writing style wasn't good enough there's always Riley. You just got to love him! He's cute and different from the other Oppers, which is a very good thing! He's my newest book crush. 

I want to point out all the things that were awesome about this book, but it would make this review really spoiler-y, so you'll just have to believe me when I say you'll definitely want to read this book!

Have you read anything by Maria V. Snyder? What can you recommend?

Fall Into Reading Question: WHO?

Fall Into Reading Challenge 2012 is hosted by Katrina from Callapidars Days. We're now something over a month into the challenge, so we have still two months to go! Once in a while Katrina will post a question to keep us busy next to reading all the books on our lists! You can find my list here. 

The first question is:
Is there an author (or authors) whose books you are always watching for? Do you jump to snatch up the latest literary offering from certain specific authors? In other words, who are your go-to authors?

My list of authors I love is pretty long, but I'm pretty picky when it comes to books. I always read the synopsis. If it doesn't sound like something I would like I'm not sure if I'll read it. There are so many amazing books out there, you can't read everything (unfortunately!!!). 

After reading Twilight and Stephenie Meyer published The Host I was really hesitant about reading it, although I loved Twilight. A friend of mine recommended it to me and I read and loved it. But I also have the experience the other way around. After reading the first books of the Fallen series by Lauren Kate I wanted to read anything by her. So I read The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove and it was a big disappoint. After that I decided to be more picky in the future and I still am. 

I decided to make two lists: 

Authors I've read multiple books/series by (and loved them):

• Mary Hoffman
• Stephenie Meyer
• L.J. Smith
• Lindsey Kelk
• Lauren Conrad 
• Sophie Kinsella
• Alyson Noël
• Ann Brashares

Authors I want to read more from:

• Brigid Kemmerer
• Joss Stirling
• Ruth Warburton
• Amy Kathleen Ryan
• Katie McGarry
• Sarah J. Maas

So who are your go-to authors?

Waiting on Wednesday (18)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week I'm waiting on 

Premeditated by Josin L. McQuein

Title: Premeditated

Author: Josin L. McQuein

Will be published on: October, 2013 (Delacorte Books for Young Readers)

Synopsis from Goodreads: A week ago, Dinah’s cousin Claire cut her wrists.

Five days ago, Dinah found Claire’s diary and discovered why.

Three days ago, Dinah stopped crying and came up with a plan.

Two days ago, she ditched her piercings and bleached the black dye from her hair.

Yesterday, knee socks and uniform plaid became a predator’s camouflage.

Today, she’ll find the boy who broke Claire.

By tomorrow, he’ll wish he were dead.

Until a few months ago I wasn't that into thrillers, but after reading Between by Jessica Warman I'm hooked. This sounds like a similar book and I can't wait to find out what's going on!

What are you waiting on?

Top Ten Books To Get In The Halloween Spirit

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday has another topic and different bloggers give their top ten. I love making lists, so here's mine for this week!

This week topic is 

Top Ten Books To Get In The Halloween Spirit

Halloween isn't as big in The Netherlands as in other place, so I'm not really familiar with it. It's a shame I must add, because if I have to believe Twitter (last year) Halloween is amazing! The idea I have with Halloween is mostly scary monsters. And that's problem #2 with making this list... I rarely read horror. So for those who aren't into horror, but want to read slightly scary books, here's my list!

1. Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Zombies! It's not really the scary kind, but they're still zombies. And even thinking about all that rotting flesh makes my stomach hurl. Halloween spirit?

2. Between by Jessica Warman

This book is about a girl who wakes up dead in the water. With only the company of another dead boy she tries to find out what happened to her. 

3. Broken by A.E. Rought

A retelling of Frankenstein. Said enough?

4. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

This book is creepy! It will definitely get you in the right spirit for Halloween!

5. Slated by Teri Terry 

Freaky future societies! Not only monsters can be scary!

6. The Game by Krystyna Kuhn

The MC's are moved to a very creepy school where nothing is what is seems. 

7. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Just so you know, fairies are everywhere. And they're up to no good. 

8. Gone by Michael Grant

One of the few books that actually gave me nightmares. It's really creepy!

9. BZRK by Michael Grant

Michael Grant is master in creepiness (and that's exactly the reason he's twice on this list). 

10. Rosebush by Michele Jaffe
A girl wakes up in the hospital, totally paralyzed. She certain someone's trying to kill her. Or is she just crazy?

What's your Top Ten? Leave your link in the comments!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (8)

Welcome to It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Book Journey. This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well. You never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

Yay, I've finally beaten my reading slump! Finished four books last week! Including The Violet Fox. I started almost a month ago and now I've finished it in one day! 

Finished last week: 

    

BZRK (BZRK #1) by Michael Grant 

Inside Out (Insider #1) by Maria V. Snyder

The Violet Fox (The Violet Fox #1) by Clare C. Marshall

Broken by A.C. Rought

Currently reading:

Tempest (Tempest #1) by Julie Cross

Next read:

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer 

Have a great week and I hope to see you soon!

Stacking the Shelves (16)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Bloggers share what new books (physical or virtual) they got these week. I like getting new books and showing them. So here's my haul for this week! 

It feels like I've been on this book buying ban for ages now, but I managed to do a Stacking the Shelves every week. Although I didn't buy this book! So technically I didn't break it this week. I've finished two books this week, so I didn't break that rule (I can't buy a book before finishing another). 

For review

Title: De Socialite en de City
Original title: Southern Charm

Author: Tinsley Mortimer

Published: October 5th, 2012 (Van Holkema & Warendorf)

Pages: 318

What's your haul?

Review BZRK by Michael Grant

Title: BZRK (Dutch edition)
Author: Michael Grant

Published: October 17th, 2012 (Van Goor)

Pages: 294

Source: for review
Series: BZRK #1

Rating: 3.5 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads: Set in the near future, BZRK is the story of a war for control of the human mind.  Charles and Benjamin Armstrong, conjoined twins and owners of the Armstrong Fancy Gifts Corporation, have a goal:  to turn the world into their vision of utopia.  No wars, no conflict, no hunger.  And no free will.  Opposing them is a guerrilla group of teens, code name BZRK, who are fighting to protect the right to be messed up, to be human.  This is no ordinary war, though.  Weapons are deployed on the nano-level. The battleground is the human brain.  And there are no stalemates here:  It’s victory . . . or madness.

BZRK unfolds with hurricane force around core themes of conspiracy and mystery, insanity and changing realities, engagement and empowerment, and the larger impact of personal choice. Which side would you choose?  How far would you go to win? 

If you've read the Gone series by Michael Grant you know what kind of stories he writes. BZRK is exactly like that. Most of the time it's wise to have a strong stomach. The story begins with a plane crash into a stadium. People die, burn and brains are splattered across the floor. If you don't like this / can't handle this, please don't read this book, because it's about to get worse.

With BZRK Michael Grant created a very creepy world. The twins Benjamin and Charles Armstrong are making the perfect world. One without cruelties. Through nanobots they manipulate the brains of humans, including the six world leaders as their ultimate goal. The world will function as one. Sadie and Noah are recruited by BZRK, a group who wants to stop the twins. They’re renamed to Plath and Keats and with their nanobots they will fight the Armstrongs.

The story is told from different perspectives. The story is full of tension, but it’s confusing sometimes. At the beginning of the story a lot of characters are introduced and it took me a while before I got them all in the right place. The ending brings all of this together en a lot is made clear. But not everything. There are still a lot of questions unanswered. If you like horror, than this is the book for you!

It took some time for me to get used to the subject, but this is what makes this book so special. I haven’t seen a book about nanobots before. So next to reading a good story I also learned a lot! Don’t let the subject scare you away! It may be confusing at the beginning, but if you love Michael Grant’s style you’ll love it. 

Still looking for a good story for Halloween, this should definitely be on your list!

Waiting on Wednesday (17)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week I'm waiting on 

Invisibility by Andrea Cremer & David Levithan

Title: Invisibility

Author: Andrea Cremer & David Levithan

Will be published on: May, 2013 (Philomel/Penguin)

Pages: 358

Synopsis from Goodreads: Stephen has been invisible for practically his whole life — because of a curse his grandfather, a powerful cursecaster, bestowed on Stephen’s mother before Stephen was born. So when Elizabeth moves to Stephen’s NYC apartment building from Minnesota, no one is more surprised than he is that she can see him. A budding romance ensues, and when Stephen confides in Elizabeth about his predicament, the two of them decide to dive headfirst into the secret world of cursecasters and spellseekers to figure out a way to break the curse. But things don’t go as planned, especially when Stephen’s grandfather arrives in town, taking his anger out on everyone he sees. In the end, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how big of a sacrifice they’re willing to make for Stephen to become visible — because the answer could mean the difference between life and death. At least for Elizabeth.

Two amazing authors have written this book together? Of course I want to read it! The synopsis makes it sound like an awesome book!

What are you waiting on?

Top Ten Favorite Dystopian Authors

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday has another topic and different bloggers give their top ten. I love making lists, so here's mine for this week!

This week topic is 

Top Ten Favorite Dystopian Authors 

I love this week's subject! It's a good way to get to know new books and authors. I chose one of my favorite genres: dystopia. These authors write awesome books with amazing background ideas. That's what I love most about this genre: the idea behind the story. I've listed ten authors with the series I've read or am reading. 

Heather Anastasiu

Books: Glitch, Override (coming 2013)

In this series every person has a chip in their head that controls their emotions. When you do experience emotions you 'glitch'. 

An amazing series and I especially love her writing style!

Amy Kathleen Ryan

Books: Glow, Spark, Flame (coming 2013)

This series takes place in space, how awesome! Sometimes it Glow gave me a headache, because I was thinking to hard about the different time places in space. Definitely a recommendation. 

Tahereh Mafi

Books: Shatter Me, Destroy Me, Unravel Me (coming 2013)

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in 264 days. Her touch is lethal and people want to use her gift. 

The most amazing thing about this series is Tahereh Mafi's writing style. Only for that you should read it. 

Suzanne Collins

Books: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay

Well, I think everyone knows what this series is about. I thought the first book was the best, but the entire series is amazing. 

Veronica Rossi

Books: Under the Never Sky, Roar and Liv (coming October 30th), Through the Ever Night (coming 2013), Into the Still Blue (coming 2014)

Most people live in the Reverie, but when Aria's mother goes missing she ends up in the wild, where she meets Perry. I love stories where the mc is living in a save and perfect world, but she discovers it isn't. And then the rebelling starts!

Lia Habel

Books: Dearly, Departed, Dearly Beloved 

I really had to get used to the zombies, and especially to the human falls in love with zombie thing. But you want to give this one a shot! It's amazing. 

Lauren Oliver

Books: Delirium, Hana, Pandemonium, Requiem (coming 2013)

Love is disease and people are treated for it. I can't imagine a life without love, but it's so beautiful to see it from a different perspective. 

Scott Westerfeld

Books: Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras

When kids turn sixteen they get an operation to make them pretty. It's like with the love thing: very interesting to read this from a certain point of view. Tally learns how people can be pretty in a different way than just looks. 

Ally Condie

Books: Matched, Crossed, Reached (coming November 13th)

A society where the government controls everything and everyone. It's common in dystopia. People in this society get picked everything for them: food, work, the person they marry. They make a mistake and that's what sets Cassia thinking. 

Veronica Roth

Books: Divergent, Free Four, Insurgent

The society is divided in five factions. When kids turn sixteen (the magical age in dysoptian novels) they chose their faction. It's normal to choose your parents's faction, but Tris has a different plan. 

Leave me the link to your TTT, I love to meet new authors and books!