Review: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

NEWSOUL Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why. 
NOSOUL Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame? 
HEART Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all? 

This book is such a refreshing read. There is so much imagination and creativity put into it. I loved how different it was from other young adult novels. The world is so incredible. Everything is described in such a beautiful way that I found myself wanting to reread parts as I was reading the book. I just sat there rereading lines over and over.

Ana is this newsoul in a world where there has never been a new soul. Everyone has been reincarnated for years until Ana comes along. Ana was raised her whole life thinking that she was a mistake. Everything her mother said lead back to the fact that she should never have been born, that she is a nosoul and that it is all her fault the soul of Ciana didn't reincarnate. My heart went out to Ana every time she talked about how her mother treated her and I was so happy that she decided to leave and make the journey to Heart. Because of that Ana doesn't trust people easily but it also made her strong. Ana is my type of main character. She is strong willed, intelligent and goes for what she wants. She doesn't wait around for things to happen, she makes things happen.

Sam...eppp! He was such a great character. Music was his love and it brought him and Ana together because they both love it. I thought that the relationship between him and Ana was very well developed and I loved watching her start to trust. Sam believes in Ana and does his best to assure her that she is not a nosoul. Sam's friends were pretty awesome too. A lot of friends tend to be really sucky in YA books but these were friends I would be lucky to have.

The action in this book was cling-to-your-seat kind of action. There was so much going on and it was this great adventure. I mean dragons and sylph?! Awesome! There were specific times when I sat there holding my breath wondering what would happen next. I can't wait for the sequel (so far away)!

Jodi Meadows creates this world through her fascinating writing. If you have not read this yet, go read it as soon as you can. There is no reason why this should be on people's tbr lists for long, it should be on your already read and loved shelves. All of you should go out and get a copy...now. You guys are still here?

Rating: 4.5 <3

In My Mailbox 13

In my mailbox is where we feature the books we've bought, traded or received for review. Hosted by The Story Siren.

I got these two from a used bookstore. I already have a copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Not sure what I'm going to do with this copy but it was so cheap that I couldn't just leave it there ;)

I have Gone so I was happy that I found Hunger.

Ivy from Ivy Reads sent me these two. I already read a few stories in Dear Bully and it is so interesting.

Also, CATCHING FIRE. Enough said.

I ordered these on Amazon with a gift card I won. I've heard GREAT things about all three of them and their covers are beautiful, especially The Alchemy of Forever :)

Finally, I had a coupon for Barnes and Noble. The Liar Society sounds like a great mystery and seems like a quick read. I absolutely adore the cover of Bittersweet.

Have you guys read any of these? What did you think?

What did you guys get in your mailbox? Leave me links below!

Recent Book Trailers

I want to share some trailers for books I have read recently or are coming out soon.

Recently Released:

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

I just finished Unearthly (review here) and jumped right in to this book. My emotions are running insane. There is so much passion and love. I laughed and felt like crying and jumping up and down. Cynthia Hand did an amazing job in this second book.

Coming Next Week:

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

I got the chance to read Incarnate early thanks to Anna from literary exploration. It is an amazing novel. I loved the concept and just gahhh! My review will be up next week. This trailer is so beautiful though.

February Releases:

Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne

Partials by Dan Wells

I am so excited for both of these. Harbinger sounds super creepy and intriguing. I kinda gushed about it in my WoW post here. Also can't wait to get my hands on Partials. Plus, Dan Wells will be in Miami in March!!!

What do you guys think about these books? Do you like their trailers? What upcoming books are you excited for?

Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

When I started this book I didn't know what to expect. Angels? Yes, but there is SO much more. It's full of passion and left me completely immersed in the story.

Clara is an awesome character. I love that even though she is part angel, she still acts like a normal teen. She wants to enjoy being a teenager for as long as she can. Same with her brother, Jeffrey. He longs to be a normal teen. All he wants is to be able to live his life without worry of exposing their secret. They don't go around moping that they can't hang out with anyone because they are part angels. They make the best of everything. It did bother me that Clara was a tad bit selfish sometimes. I felt especially bad for her brother because I felt like he sometimes got pushed aside and the focus was all on Clara.

Oh the guys in this series. First, Christian. He is the brooding, athletic, popular guy that every girl in school pines for. Wendy, one of Clara's friends, describes him as the guy every girl is inspired by.

I feel like the focus of Unearthly was definitely on Christian but there wasn't much of him in this book. Although there was just enough to peak my interest.

Now...TUCKER...I loved his personality. He was so sweet but funny at the same time. The banter between him and Clara made me smile through the entire book. Also, when he used the nickname Carrots for Clara...-->

Overall this book was a refreshing outlook on angels. Everything wasn't about love and falling in love. It had so many other aspects like the angels having a purpose, and Clara finding out more about her purpose, family and angels throughout the book. There was so much passion in the writing and it is so beautiful that I found myself not wanting to put this down and wanting to read it everywhere. I loved Clara's younger brother. I think young adult books need more little brothers. Too often paranormal books are all about only children. The younger brothers bring a whole other aspect to the story and I love that. I really enjoyed just getting to know each character. They all have their own unique personalities and it is just great to read about them. Stay tuned for my Hallowed review soon :)

Quote:

“Hey, you feel like driving today?" he asks. "I don't want to walk to the bus stop. It's too cold." 
"You feel like dying today?" 
"Sure. I like risking my life. Keeps things in perspective.” 

Rating: 5 stars

Waiting on Wednesday

*"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.*

52 Reasons to Hate My Father by Jessica Brody

Hardcover, 335 pages

Expected publication: July 3rd 2012 by Farrar Straus & Giroux

If she wants to receive her beloved trust fund, every week for the next year, seventeen-year-old Lexi Larrabee must take on a different low-income job. All 52 jobs have been carefully pre-selected by her father himself. 
What Lexi doesn’t know is that each job was at one point held by one of world’s most influential people. The goal is to teach his daughter a few lessons about life, compassion, work ethic, and the value of a hard-earned dollar. If each of these jobs eventually led to wealth and success, at least one of them has to work for Lexi. 
Left with no other choice, Lexi grudgingly sets off on her quest, each week being comically presented with a highly undesirable job. All of them are designed to turn Lexi into an entirely different person.

This sounds like a really cute, awesome book! I love the premise of all the odd jobs she has to do in order to grow as a person. Plus, I LOVED Jessica's other book, My Life Undecided so I can't wait to see what she brings in this book :)


What do you guys think about this one? Let me know what you guys are waiting for :)

Waiting on Wednesday

 *Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.*

An intense look at the rules of high school attraction -- and the price that's paid for them. It happens every year. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another is chosen as the ugliest. Nobody knows who makes the list. It almost doesn't matter. The damage is done the minute it goes up.This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, "pretty" and "ugly." And it's also the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two.

The List by Siobhan Vivian
336 pages 
Expected publication: April 1st 2012 by Scholastic


This sounds like such an interesting book. What people say to others in high school can really have an impact on them and how they view themselves and even on the rest of their lives. People can look at a person completely different because of what someone else says about them. Especially teens, they can be so cruel. I am really looking forward to this book and the different stories of the girls chosen for the list. I can't wait to see how they react and let it shape their lives.


What do you guys think? What are you waiting for? Leave linksss <3

Blog Tour Review: The Lens and The Looker

There's hope for the future, but what about the past? 
It’s the 24th century and humans, with the help of artificial intelligences (A.I.s) have finally created the perfect post-dystopian society. To make equally perfect citizens for this world, the elders have created History Camps, full sized recreations of cities from Earth’s distant pasts. Here teens live the way their ancestors did, doing the same dirty jobs and experiencing the same degradations. History Camps teach youths not to repeat the mistakes that almost caused the planet to die. But not everything goes to plan. 
In this first of a trilogy, we meet three spoiled teens in the year 2347. Hansum almost 17, is good looking and athletic. Shamira, 15, is sassy, independent and an artistic genius. Lincoln, 14, is the smart-aleck. But you don’t have to scratch too far beneath the surface to find his insecurities. 
These three “hard cases” refuse the valuable lessons History Camps teach. But when they are kidnapped and taken back in time to 1347 Verona, Italy, they only have two choices; adapt to the harsh medieval ways or die. The dangers are many, their enemies are powerful, and safety is a long way away. It’s hardly the ideal environment to fall in love – but that’s exactly what happens. In an attempt to survive, the trio risks introducing technology from the future. It could save them – or it could change history. 

The three teens in this book are your typical interpretation of spoiled teens. They have never had to endure any real work or hard times. In the future from which they come, everyone has their own guardian in the form of artificial intelligence. Because of their rude and snarky attitude they get separated from their families and guardians and sent to a history camp to learn their lesson and basically be scared straight.


It took me a while to get into this book and so I had a hard time just sitting down and reading the whole thing. That being said, this book definitely takes you on an adventure. Hansum is the oldest teen and he really shows it by taking charge. Shamira, is this tough artistic girl going through a rebellious period in her life. I think a lot of teens her age would relate to her character. My favorite main character, though, was Lincoln. He was funny and sarcastic and didn't hold his tongue. Throughout this book I found myself relating to him the most. In so many situations they went through he reacted exactly like I would have. I feel like all the characters really grown, develop and find themselves throughout the story.


The plot of the book revolves a lot around the history of Italy in 1347. There is some romance but Kaufman makes it a minimal part in the book and definitely gives it a fun, light feel. Lory Kaufman focuses a lot on detail. There are parts where they are learning to master the art of lens crafting and he explains everything in such detail. I particularly found this made the novel difficult to read for me sometimes but thinking about it now, it would be great for middle grade teens interested in historical facts. There were detailed parts of the architecture that I really enjoyed. 


All in all, following these teens on their adventure into the past was an entertaining read. I will be continuing their adventure in the second book, The Bronze and The Brimstone. The Lens and The Looker was a new experience for me. I recommend this if you enjoy books that delve more into history and particular time periods.

In My Mailbox 12

Hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

I didn't get any books this week but I wanted to show you the books I got last week and some swag I got this week :)

Review:

Melody Burning

Bought:

Isle of Night

Delirium

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

The Probability of Miracles

Swag:

Mickey from I'm a Book Shark

Can't wait to get to all these books. Thank you Mickey for the swag! Let me know what you all got this week, leave links below so I can check them out!! :) Also, let me know if you've read these books and what you thought of them!

HAPPY READING!

Waiting on Wednesday

 Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine

Hardcover, 272 pages
Expected publication: February 2nd 2012 by Razorbill 

Glory is a young piano prodigy. Frank is the boy who moves in next door. Over the years, their friendship blossoms into an undeniable romance. As Glory descends from stunning piano prodigy into a kind of madness, Frank's love becomes more and more unshakable. They both become hopelessly fixated on the song "Chopsticks".
Part love story, part mystery, part visual collage, this novel is told through images as much as it's told through words. Ultimately the reader must decipher what is real, what is imagined, and what has been madness all along.

 This book sounds amazing. I love the fact that it's told through pictures and memorabilia from Gloria and Frank's relationship. The letters used for the title and the cover in general looks beautiful. This is one book I can hardly wait to have in my hands.

The experience for this book doesn't stop with the pictures. There will also be an app for the iPhone and iPod that you can download. I haven't read a book that also has an app to go along so this might be a fun experience.

Let me know what you guys think about the pictures, cover, app and book in general!

2012 Blogging Goals

                      
First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I hope this new year brings you guys loads of awesomeness and you can all enjoy great books. I wanted to make a list of things that I am going to try to accomplish in 2012. There is so much I want to do/change this year in regards to reading and blogging.


1. Reading goals:

• I want to read 100 books this year. I set 100 books to read in 2011 but I only really started reading constantly in June so I got to about 65 books. This year should be a breeze to get to 100 :)
• Also, I didn't participate in any challenges last year. I think I'm going to stick to that this year but I will be attempting to read a dystopian book each month and 8-10 classics. I never read classics and I think it's time for that to end. (Plus my friend said she would haunt me if I didn't *shivers*)
• Another thing is that I want to read books that I bought in or before 2011. So my goal is to read a few of those each month. So by the end of the year I will have read at least 35 books off my shelves.

2. Blogging Goals:

• I want to organize myself when it comes to the blog. I procrastinate like a lunatic. I am convinced that there is no one that procrastinates more than me and that needs to STOP (at least when it comes to the blog :P)
• I want to post more review. I am terrible at this because I read and then procrastinate and keep   reading and in the end have 10 books that need reviews and zero reviews on the blog. I am going to start small. One review a week, then up to two and finally three reviews a week!
• I also want to do less memes and try to do more creative posts. Things like new releases each month, a feature for my favorite book of the month and links to where you can buy it, good book deals, and some discussion posts. Hopefully this goes well. But I will still be doing IMMs of course.

3. Vlogging Goals:

• I have a YouTube channel but I mainly just post IMM videos. I want that to change. I want to post more diverse videos like book chats and short story teasers and reviews.
• I would love to post video reviews.
• Also maybe do bookish tags.
• Become more involved in commenting on other book vloggers videos. I want to be able to meet others in that community.

4. General Life Goals

• EXERCISE!!! I'm not unhealthy but I need to exercise this year :)
• Drink more water :P

In My Mailbox 11 (Birthday and Christmas)

First In My Mailbox of January 2012 :)

Hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

These are the books I got for my birthday and Christmas. Thank you to Anna at Literary Exploration and Sam from Books for all Seasons! You guys are AWESOME! 

Like me Christmas tree? ;D

Let me know what you guys got!!! :)