Top Ten Tuesday #22

Top Ten Books I Wish Could Have Had Sequels

1. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater.
This is the book I want a sequel for the most. The Scorpio Races will always be a favorite book of mine, and it is very close to being the best book I have ever read. I just need more of Sean and Puck and Corr together, please. <3 And Dove. Sigh. I truly, truly need a sequel to this perfect book. Pretty please?

2. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta.
My second choice, which is almost as good as my first one. Jellicoe Road was such a perfect book, yet I feel like I need so much more. I need to know what happens next with Taylor and Jonah and just everything. Would really love a sequel to this amazing book. There don't need to be one, but I want one.

3. The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girl by Claire Legrand.
Best middle grade book ever. Cavendish is SO perfect. You all need to read it. I'm even giving away a copy on my blog now. Anyway. I need a sequel with Victoria and Lawrence as teenagers. <3 And that last page! Shudders. There really need to be a sequel to this perfect and so creepy book. I would love it.

4. This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers.
This book ended so bad. Yet with some hope, I think. And I just need to know what happens next! You just cannot end a book like this :) Would love to read more about Sloane and Rhys. They were amazing and I need to read more about them. And the zombie world! Creepy yet so amazing. I need more.

5. Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver.
This is also such an amazing midde grade book. Liesl & Po was such a cute book but also kind of really sad. I would love a sequel about Liesl and Will as teenagers or even the same age. I just want to read more about them both and to know what happens next. They were just both way too adorable.

6. Origin by Jessica Khoury.
I know there will be another book from Jessica set in the same world, but oh. I would so love a direct sequel to Origin where we get to know more about Pia and Eio. This book was just so perfect and I would so love to have a sequel to it. Either way, I'm dying to read Vitro, though, think it will be amazing.

7. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell.
This book was just all kinds of perfect. But it was also extremely heartbreaking. And I'm not too happy about the ending. I need to know what happens next with Eleanor and Park. I would die for a sequel of this book. Sort of. Either way, I would really love one, to get to read about what happens next.

8. If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch.
This book was just so heartbreaking and sweet and perfect. I loved it so much. If You Find Me was amazing. But oh. I really thought that it was too short, and I would really love a sequel to this book. I need to know more about Carey and Ryan and Jenessa and Pixie. I very much want a sequel to this book.

9. Entwined by Heather Dixon.
It's been a long time since I read this book. But I really loved it. And I remember wanting a sequel for it ever since I read it. The book was really magical and sweet and scary and just perfect. I would love to read more about the twelve sisters and Azalea and the love interest. I suck at remembering names.

10. Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama.
While it has been a little while since I read Monstrous Beauty, I loved it so much. And I would really love to have a sequel to this amazing book. Would like the heartbreaking ending changed, hih :D But even so. I would love to read anything else by Elizabeth. Would love for her to publish more books :)

Been a while now since I last did a top ten. But this week I just had to join. So many books I would love a sequel to :D Also, I just had to write a bit more about each one, which I haven't really done before. Oh, well :) Would love sequels to all of these ten books. What is on your top ten list this week?

Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly meme held by The Broke and the Bookish :)

Book Recommendation: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

I'm a tiny bit heartbroken at the moment. I first read Scarlet back in November, and while I remember loving it so much, I did not remember all this heartbreak. It's sort of killing me right now. And the love. This book is so amazing. I loved every moment. Especially the last one hundred pages. Those pages gave me all the feels. But also so much heartbreak and pain and hurt and death. It was awesome. The story is one of the best stories I have ever read. And I loved reading about everything that happened.

I don't know how to describe my feelings for Scarlet. Will try my best, though. After having re-read Cinder I just had to start re-reading Scarlet too right away. And I don't regret re-reading them both at all, even though the wait for Cress will be even more painful than before. The writing in these books are perfect. Truly perfect. Marissa is amazing. She writes so good and her story telling is the best. I fell in love with all the characters. I need to know what happens next to them all. And to the world.

This book tells the story of a girl from France named Scarlet. And oh. I loved getting to know her and getting to read about her. Scarlet was amazing. Such a great character. She's so sweet and protective. And very fierce. Loved that she grew up on a farm with her grandmother. Thing is, her grandmother is now missing. Which is where the plot come in. Won't say much about it, just that it is all kinds of amazing. But yeah. Truly heartbreaking. Made me cry. But it is also so perfect and I loved reading it all.

We meet Scarlet and we also get to know Wolf. Whom I adored. He's a bit weird, but I loved him so much. We get to know him quite a bit. Which I loved. He's different, though. And I worry a bit how that will work out in the next book. But I cannot wait to find out. There might be a lot of deaths in this book. And I might be bad for wishing there will be even more in the next two books. It's just that, on Luna, there are these soldiers. And I kind of need to see them in action. I have a big need for that.

There is so much in this book. So much about The Wolves. So much about Luna, yet never enough. I need to know all the things about Luna. I want to know more about the Lunar Queen. Sigh. This book is just perfect. We also see more of Cinder, which I loved. She does have a big part in this book. We get to meet Captain Thorne, whom I kind of adored. And we see more of Iko, which I was so happy about! Iko is amazing. And Cinder is just so perfect. She's so strong yet so heartbroken. Sobs. I love her so much.

Then there is Kai. And gah. There is not enough Kai in this book. But there is a little bit, and I loved every moment when we get to read about him. Kai is amazing. Emperor Kaito. Sigh. Also, swoon. He is my favorite character. And my heart just broke for him in this book. I felt so sorry for him. He's also so alone. Sobs. But he's still strong and amazing. Even though I'm a bit sad about something he did at the end, I understood why he did what he did. And I sort of blame Cinder for most of it, anyway :D Hih.

So much happens in Scarlet. Yet not enough. I couldn't stop loving this book. There is one thing I fear from the next two books. When Kai figures out who Cinder really is, and how heartbroken he's going to be when he thinks she kept that from him too.. Sobs. I just need them to have an happy ending. Please? <3 Oh, and not just an ending. I need to read about them together for a long time, hih. Anyway. I'm just so excited for everything that is to come. Loved re-reading Scarlet so much. It's perfect.

Right now I'm just dying to read Cress. Really, truly dying to read it. Especially with how much I loved re-reading Cinder and Scarlet. I have some theories. And I have tons of hopes and wishes about what I want to happen. Especially about Kai. Sniffs. I just need Cress. Really hoping for an ARC of it sometime, otherwise I might have to wait until February. Which would just about kill me. But I'll maybe manage waiting that long. Maybe. But I don't want to :) Anyway. I'm just so excited for Cress to come out.

Scarlet was a perfect book. Which I loved even more this second time that I read it. If you have read Cinder, then you need to read Scarlet. Ends on kind of a cliffhanger, but nothing way too evil, just a bit heartbreaking. Just made me that more excited for Cress. Also, I adore Marissa. And I cannot wait to see what she will write once she has finished these four books. I'm just so excited for it all :) Can't quite believe how much I loved these books. Just so much love and hurt and gah. It was so perfect.

Sharing two teasers from Scarlet, a teaser about Thorne. Whom I kind of adored this second time. He is not a love interest, at least not for Cinder and Scarlet, so I feel okay with adoring him :) And a teaser from Scarlet's point of view. From a scene I just loved so much. Sigh. Adore. Curious about my The Lunar Chronicles collection? Swag, signed books, books, hoodie. You can see it all up on my pinterest right now :) Anyway. You need to read Cinder and Scarlet. You must. Perfect books. So perfect. <3

~

Her irritation made her prettier, and Thorne cupped his chin, studying her. He'd never met a cyborg before, much less flirted with one, but there was a first time for everything. ~ page 32

~

Then he was pulling her toward him and bundling her up in his arms. Scarlet gasped as Wolf buried one hand into her mess of curls and kissed her back. ~ page 242

My new Cinder by Marissa Meyer post.

Cinder. Scarlet. Cress. Winter. Glitches. The Queen's Army. Marissa Meyer. 

The Book Depository. My book recommendation of Cinder. My review of Scarlet. 

My review of Glitches. My review of The Queen's Army. My blog tour post of Cinder.

Update: Newer and better review of the book can be found here.

Authors Are Rockstars Tour: Guest Post with Cat Winters + Giveaway

Reasons for why Cat Winters is a rockstar: She is amazing. She's one of the kindest people I have ever talked to. She writes amazing books. Even though I've only read one of them so far, I know the next one will be amazing as well. She always respond when you ask her a question, even if it is silly. I just think that Cat is amazing. She's so kind and sweet and I adore her. She's a true rockstar.

I'm so excited about being a part of this amazing blog tour. And I get to host Cat Winters! Who is one of my favorite people of all time. She's just amazing. Loved her book so much, and I'm dying to read her next one, which she is talking about today. Cat is also sharing an amazing international giveaway with you all, which is making me wish I could enter too :) Tour schedule for the Authors Are Rockstars blog tour can be found here. If you love the post as much as I do, please leave a comment for Cat :)

I’m thrilled to be here at Carina’s Books as part of the Authors Are Rockstars Tour! Carina has been amazing about spreading the word about my debut novel, IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS, so I’ve agreed to share details about my upcoming release, THE CURE FOR DREAMING, on her site. The new book will be available Fall 2014 from Amulet Books.

Here’s the official teaser blurb from Publisher’s Marketplace:

At the turn of the 20th century, a seventeen-year-old is hypnotized into seeing people's true selves. Illustrated with late-Victorian images.

Instead of writing up several paragraphs describing THE CURE FOR DREAMING, I’ve decided to divulge details about the novel by answering the frequently asked questions I’ve been receiving about the book. Feel free to ask additional questions in the comments section.

Can you tell us a little more about the plot?

In 1900 Portland, Oregon, seventeen-year-old Olivia Mead’s father hires a talented young stage hypnotist to cure the girl of rebellious, unfeminine thoughts…but the cure doesn’t go quite as planned.

Will the book be as dark as IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS?

There’s no worldwide plague haunting the main characters of this new novel, so that aspect alone will make the book seem lighter. THE CURE FOR DREAMING does deal with some serious issues, namely oppression, but early readers have commented on how surprisingly humorous the novel is. When my agent first read the early chapters, she said the book read as if Tim Burton and Jane Austen had written a manuscript together. Death doesn’t pervade the story the way it does with IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS, but the book is intended to be another atmospheric read with a Gothic flavor.

So…there are historical images in this one, too?

Yes. One of the first sources of inspiration for THE CURE FOR DREAMING was an archival photograph involving turn-of-the-twentieth-century hypnosis. I immediately placed that photo in front of the opening chapter of the manuscript. Gradually, I found an amazing collection of historical images and absolutely perfect quotes from late-Victorian authors, suffragists, and even anti-suffragists, all of which I’m using throughout the novel to turn the entire book into a literary time machine. I don’t want the use of historical images in my novels to ever seem like a gimmick, so I likely won’t do this for every book I write. However, as with IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS, the use of photos and illustrations feels like the right choice for this one.     

Can you tell us a little bit about your hypnotist character?

The only thing I can say at this point is that his name is Monsieur Henri Reverie, and he’s eighteen at the time of the novel’s setting. He has some secrets that can’t be revealed until you step inside the book, so I’ll let you wait to get to know him any further.

The main character of IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS was named after Mary Shelley, the author of FRANKENSTEIN. Will this new book also include a tie-in to a classic horror novel?

THE CURE FOR DREAMING takes place a year after DRACULA was published in the United States, and that particular horror novel impacts the plot.

When will we see a cover?

I doubt a cover will be available until sometime next spring. I have no idea what it will look like, but I’m confident Amulet Books will again create a fabulous design.

Are you working on any other books?

I’m in the very early stages of writing a third historical YA novel. I already received my agent’s stamp of approval on the concept and the title, but I need to keep everything top secret until the book actually sells. I’m currently conducting research and playing around with the first chapters, and I hope to have a manuscript ready to submit in 2014.

Will you always write historical fiction?

I’m not completely sure about my answer to that particular question. I actually signed with my agent based on a contemporary novel that never sold to a publisher, so I have some experience writing books set in the present. We’ll see what happens after I finish this third historical YA. Maybe I’ll write a middle-grade fantasy…or a contemporary psychological thriller. The possibilities are endless.

MY GIVEAWAY:

I’ll give away three swag packs that will include IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS bookmarks and stickers and a signed bookplate featuring a never-before-seen quote from THE CURE FOR DREAMING. Open internationally.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'm dying to read The Cure for Dreaming! Thank you so much Cat for sharing about it. <3 There isn't any online info about it yet, so I've shared below some ways to find Cat and to order her first book, In the Shadow of Blackbirds :) Which I adored. It is one of the best books ever. I've already read it twice. And if you want to, you could check out my five star rated book recommendation of it here. I just cannot wait to read all the books by Cat :) She's awesome. Thank you again, Cat, for being here today :D

Where to find Cat Winters:
Website - Twitter - Facebook

In the Shadow of Blackbirds:
Website - Goodreads - Facebook

Where to order In the Shadow of Blackbirds:
Amazon - The Book Depository - Barnes & Noble

In My Mailbox #92

I've read three books this week! And I'm going to start re-reading Scarlet a bit later today :) Feeling happy. Hoping I'll be able to read even more, that I won't just stop after having re-read Scarlet ;p I didn't get too many things in the mail today. Still waiting on so much. Sniffs. So much that I'm doubting will arrive :\ Things I have won, mostly. And waiting on lots of pre-orders :) And even more How To Train Your Dragon things, hih. <3 Just a few movies left :) Anyway. I loved everything that I got this week. Truly. Just wish I had gotten accepted for some eARCs.. Sigh. Hopefully soon, though :D ALSO. I saw a lot of comments on my bookshelves about why I have so many copies of the same book. I feel like I have answered it many times, but I guess I can say it again :) When I love a book I want all the different editions. One to read, one to look pretty. Although I never read the paperback editions, I still need two copies of them (A) That's just the way I am, and I love it like that :) Ohh. And I've posted a whole bunch of gorgeous cover reveals this week :D Check them out :) What did you get this week?

Soul Screamers. Heh. I still haven't started this series, yet I own all the books + the volumes (A)
All Our Yesterdays. Such a good book! Perfect. Paperback arrived day after I had read my eARC, lol.
The Three Musketeers. Wasn't too expensive, and I adore this movie. I just had to get my own copy :)
Rio. I still haven't watched this, and it was cheap, so I just had to buy it. I hope it will be awesome ;p
Charmed Vengeance. Sigh. I'm really excited to read this sequel :) Just need to start reading it :)
The Raven Boys. Two copies. Gorgeous cover. Perfect book. Very sad that there was no extras, though.
Gift of the Night Fury + Book of Dragons. Had to get these, to get the Book of Dragons alone :D
Riders of Berk. Only 4 episodes, but I got it for the dragon cards inside, lol. They are gorgeous.
Hiccup figure. I had Snotlout, and now I have Hiccup too :) He's adorable. Although thing is damaged.





Ohh, almost forgot about this book that I got from Macmillan via NetGalley :D I think it sounds awesome, although a tiny bit sad in the middle when I peeked at the ending (A) But I am excited to read it :)






In My Mailbox is an weekly meme made by The Story Siren.

Pssst. Did you all enter my new international giveaway? One winner will win some awesome swag and the amazing The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girl :) Enter HERE.

Cover Reveal: The Offering by Kimberly Derting

This is the week of amazing book covers. Sharing The Offering by Kimberly Derting today :D And holy crap, it is SO GORGEOUS! I love love love it. I adored The Pledge and The Essence and I'm dying to read The Offering. SO excited for it :) January can't get here fast enough. I just need to know what will happen next with everything. With Max and Charlie. <3 Anyway. This cover is so gorgeous. It's my favorite of all the three covers. What do you think of it? Have you read this amazing series yet? :)

True love—and world war—is at stake in the conclusion to The Pledge trilogy, a dark and romantic blend of dystopia and fantasy.
Charlie, otherwise known as Queen Charlaina of Ludania, has become comfortable as a leader and a ruler. She’s done admirable work to restore Ludania’s broken communications systems with other Queendoms, and she’s mastered the art of ignoring Sabara, the evil former queen whose Essence is alive within Charlie. Or so she thinks.

When the negotiation of a peace agreement with the Queendom of Astonia goes awry, Charlie receives a brutal message that threatens Ludania, and it seems her only option is to sacrifice herself in exchange for Ludanian freedom.

But things aren’t always as they seem. Charlie is walking into a trap—one set by Sabara, who is determined to reclaim the Queendoms at any cost.

The Pledge. The Essence. The Offering. Kimberly Derting. Official Reveal Post.

The Book Depository. My book recommendation of The Pledge. My review of The Essence.