Waiting On Wednesday (22): Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for! 

This Week's Pick: Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh Mafi

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: February 5th, 2013

tick, tick, tick, tick, tick
it's almost
time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

Guys, I freakin' love Shatter Me. It was one of my favorite reads last year and I can't help myself from gushing about it. I want to steal Tahereh Mafi's talent for writing because its simply superb. Her words are captivating, and poetic. They drag you into the story and demand your attention. And I love it.

I have been looking forward to Unravel Me since turning the last page of Shatter Me! I'm desperate to dive back into this world, and to be enchanted by the writing once more. I can tell it's going to be spectacular and I'm beyond excited!

The wait killing you? I'm in the same boat! Luckily, Tahereh Mafi has a short story out this October called Destory Me from Warner's point of view! Now that could be interesting!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight) 

Review: Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic

Title: Never Eighteen

Author: Megan Bostic

Publisher: HMH Children's Books

Release Date: January 17th, 2012

Source: Purchased

My Rating: 4.5/5

 

Austin Parker is on a journey to bring truth, beauty, and meaning to his life. Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. The doctors say his chances of surviving are slim to none even with treatment, so he’s decided it’s time to let go. But before he goes, Austin wants to mend the broken fences in his life. So with the help of his best friend, Kaylee, Austin visits every person in his life who touched him in a special way. He journeys to places he’s loved and those he’s never seen. And what starts as a way to say goodbye turns into a personal journey that brings love, acceptance, and meaning to Austin’s life.

I read a review on this book awhile back and knew I had to check it out. It seemed to be one of those books that punches you straight in the heart, and leaves a mark for a long time to come. And it was. It most definitely was.

Although you expect the flow of events, when they happen they stun you. I remember sitting on my back porch with tears pouring down my face as I read the tragic and moving story of one Austin Parker. I love to be inspired by books, and I felt that with Never Eighteen. Watching the journey made by Austin to try and help all the broken people in his life was heart-warming, and heart-breaking. He was trying to give life to those around him, because he himself didn't have a chance to live. Each person that entered the story left their own impact, be it with their stories or their lost will to live. And each time, Austin, the boy marked for death, tried to mend the broken pieces. Not everyone let him, not everyone embraced his message, but I think that was just right.

What I really liked about Never Eighteen is that it didn't focus on the illness. It wasn't a tragic story about death, but an uplifting story about the beauty of life. Austin was surrounded by death but determined to live life to the fullest, and to make sure everyone else did the same. I felt invested in the story, but I didn't know how much until I felt myself breaking down along with everyone else. I wanted this boy to get a chance to grow up, to see the world, to live a life he so greatly deserved. But, what he did in his short time was moving, and was exactly what he wanted.

The only reason I couldn't give Never Eighteen five stars is because of the writing. This is a debut novel, which usually isn't a writer's strongest work. I felt the writing to be a bit too simple, and didn't wow me like I expected. The story made up for it, but the writing itself slightly detracted from my overall love.

This was a tiny book but it left a huge hole in my heart. A life and death story that lifted me up, while breaking my heart. A great read, and one I won't soon forget.

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Find This Book: Amazon | Goodreads | Megan Bostic's Website

Smart Chicks Kick It Tour, Take Three (Pre-Post)

I love the Smart Chicks Kick It Tour.

When I first heard about it, I believe there was some screaming. A book signing, with tons of amazing authors, with stops in CANADA?! My mind was boggled. I'd only ever been to one signing before, and never one this big. Although Brampton, Ontario (where the first signing was) was about a five hours drive from me I found out about the signing over a year and a half before it was happening, and made arrangements early. I was also lucky enough to attend the Teen Read Awards that day, win a Kobo, meet tons of amazing authors (including Richelle Mead *fan girls*), and have one of the best weekends ever.

The second Smart Chicks signing was fantastic as well, this one being in my hometown of Ottawa! I got there three hours early (they hadn't even set up for the signing yet!) and convinced some friends to come and get books signed for me. I got some cool swag, lots of signed books (got cut in line, but that was another story), and had a great time.

The crowd at the Ottawa signing (I'm behind Charles de Lint!)

My Smart Chicks shirt and shorts!

This year is the third and final year for the Smart Chicks Kick It Tour, and I'm so lucky to be going again. This time, it's outside Montreal which is about a two hour drive. I'm so excited to meet some of my favorite bloggers including Lucy from Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf (whom I've been talking books with for years)! I also get to meet a ton of authors, including Rachel Caine, whose books I absolutely adore! The signing limit might stop me from getting them all signed, but I'm hoping to pawn some of the books off on some bloggers to get signed for me! I have a total of...thirty-seven books to be signed (twenty-three of which are Rachel Caine books) this Saturday...which is crazy! I'll be sporting my well worn Smart Chicks shirt and carrying my signing bag. I couldn't be more excited.

My signing stack (and messy room) *missing three books

All Post-It noted up

Haven't heard of the Smart Chicks Kick It Tour? Well, it's an author-run tour with some kick-ass female authors (and one smart dude), including organizers Kelley Armstrong and Melissa Marr. Lots of authors participate, with a different line-up at each signing. This years stops are in Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Edmonton, Montreal, Dartmouth, and Philadelphia. If you want to check out the schedule, just click here. If you are attending a signing, be sure to call your store and ask about the signing policy. It should be the usual three books per author per turn in the line, but I believe one of the signings has a different policy. And if you're going to the Montreal event, let me know! I'd love to say hi!

Smart Chicks really do kick it!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Stacking the Shelves (12)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which bloggers share the books they stacked their shelves with during the week!

Oh, my dear blog. How I've neglected you! Sorry about the lack of posts recently, followers. This week was the first week back at school and, although I'm not in school, it has been hectic. A few of my best friends moved back in town and so I've been spending lots of time hanging out with them, and helping them move furniture! I planned on making Wednesday my "catch up on blogging" day but was woken up from a bad sleep to no electricity and a foggy brain. So, yeah. Blogging has sadly been pushed aside. I'm trying my best to catch up, so hopefully I'll have lots to post in the coming weeks! 

Well, to get to the point of this post, here are the books I got this week!
 

Gifted:

- Girl of Nightmares (Anna #2) by Kendare Blake (Big thanks to Lucy over at Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf for this belated birthday gift!)

Bought:

- Defiance (Defiance #1) by C. J. Redwine
- Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr (for the Smart Chicks signing! More on that later this week)
- The Calling (Darkness Rising #2) by Kelley Armstrong (again for the signing!)
- Rage Within (Dark Inside #2) by Jeyn Roberts

Swag:

- Breathless Reads bookmark (found this at my local Chapters!) 

What did you stack your shelf with this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Review: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Title: Sweet Evil

Author: Wendy Higgins

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: May 1st, 2012

Source: Borrowed (Library)

My Rating: 5/5

Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tender-hearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns? (Summary from Goodreads)

Hello, Sweet Evil.  I happen to love you so.

I've wanted to check this book out for a long while, but there are no copies in all of Ottawa! Such a shame too, cause everyone should read this book. It is prime YA, and one of my favorite books this year.

Fallen angels have been a growing trend in YA, and every single story has a different take on the topic. And so far, Sweet Evil is my favorite. Appropriately, considering the subject matter, this book is addicting. Like can't-stop-reading-try-to-put-it-down-but-just-end-up-thinking-about-it addicting. Sweet Evil sucked me in and didn't let go even after I was finished! I actually had the urge to flip back to page one and just start the ride over again!

The characters in this story were simply fantastic. Protagonist Anna, the sweet, innocent girl with strong convictions and lovable personality was a stand-out character. Although I love the trend of kick-ass chicks in YA lit, it was great to see a girl who didn't need to throw a punch to earn respect. She was strong in her own way, and tried her best to balance her heritage with her heart. And then there's Kaiden (cue the intense swooning here). The chemistry and tension between him and Anna was almost palpable! Their banter and connection was such a treat to read. I loved every moment of it. Kaiden himself brought a smile to my face almost ever scene he was in. And every time his fierce armor slipped to show just a glimpse of his feelings underneath I fell for him even more. 

Although Sweet Evil is a a decently long book (over 450 pages), I flew through it. Wendy Higgins kept the story engaging, and even the background information and character development, which can sometimes be tedious (although the latter I almost always love) was interesting and fantastic. I didn't want to miss a single word! The writing style didn't wow me, although I don't have any real complaints about it, but the story was so great I hardly noticed! The idea of the children of fallen angels encouraging the seven deadly sins in humans was new and captivating. What was even better was watching the select few fighting against their natures. 

Sweet Evil was awesome. A fun, page-turner that is sure to addict you. Check it out, you'll be glad you did.

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Find This Book: Amazon | Goodreads | Wendy Higgins' Website