Book Review - Forest Born

Ok this will be just a mini-review since I have neither the energy nor inclination to spend ages pondering over a long review. So apologies if I'm a bit spare with my opinions, I promise that there will be gushy lengthy reviews somewhere in the not-too-distant future.

Title: Forest Born (Books of Bayern #4)
Author: Shannon Hale
Date: 13/2/2011 PM
Source: Bought
Description: Growing up in the Forest, Rin always tuned to the trees when she needed peace or reassurance, even direction, until the day they seem to reject her. Rin is sure something is wrong with her, something that is keeping her from feeling at home in the Forest, keeping her from trusting herself with anyone at all. 
When her brother Razo returns to the city after a visit home, Rin accompanies him to the palace in hopes of finding a new sense of herself. But a mysterious threat haunts Bayern, and Rin joins the magical girls she thinks of as the Fire Sisters—Isi, Enna, and Dasha—as they venture into the woods toward the kingdom of Kel... where someone wants them all dead. (Description taken from Goodreads)

My Review

This is the fourth book from the Bayern Series. Rin was a really unusual character compared to Isi, Enna and Dasha in the first three books. She's quiet and helps everyone while still remaining in the background and nobody really notices all the conflict that's going on inside her. You know she's keeping something from the reader but you don't find out what that is for a while and it's quite surprising how things turn out. Rin's magic is much more subtle than the Wind, Fire and Water magic that the other girl's wield which makes it very interesting to read about as she discovers new aspects to her power.  

During the story there's also some very shocking revelations which connect quite a few dots relating to the plots from the other books and I thought that all the threads of story were tied up very well. The whole book had quite a dreamy quality to it and you sort of float through the story which was a little strange but I still enjoyed the book and I love the characters in this series especially Razo and Enna - they seem to get all the best quips.

Overall this was a most enjoyable read although out of the four books in the series I still think that The Goose Girl is my favourite. But since I love Shannon Hale's writing and her characters just having another look into the world of Bayern is enough to keep me happy.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

So folks... what do y'all think of the mini-review format for when I'm pressed for time? I'm only planning to use this style so I can get caught up on my February reviews which will leave me free to write longer ones for my March reads but if I can't seem to gather enough thoughts about a book at another time I shall perhaps revert to the 3 paragraph format y'dig?

LadyV

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It's Monday What are you Reading (32)

Good evening chaps, I would have done this post last night and scheduled it for this morning but alas I was feeling lazy and I've been busy all day. So it's getting done now and bugger the fact that I'll be last on the linky.
Last week was a pretty decent week for reading and I actually got two reviews up so it's better than the previous fortnight.

It's Monday What are you Reading? Is a weekly bookish meme where we get together to share what books we've read in the past week, what books we're currently reading and what new books we're planning on reading in the coming week along with any reviews or interesting posts. It's hosted by Sheila @Book Journey

Books I read last Week

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers (Fantastically horrifying Review coming soon)

Rosebush by Michele Jaffe (Amazing! Review coming Soon)

Jinx by Meg Cabot (Fun but rather short 3.5 Stars)

Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting (A really good read Review coming soon)

Books Reviewed Last Week

Ghost of a Chance by Rhiannon Lassiter - Review

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting - Review

Books I'm Currently Reading

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins - I'm not too far with this but I'm hoping to make progress this week

The Way of the Shadows by Brent Weeks - I started this once before but got side-tracked this time I'm determined to finish so I can move onto the next books

Books I'm Planning to Read this Week

Since this arrived today I *will* be munching through the various short stories it contains during this week. I am *insanely* happy to have this in my possession but I'm sure that once I've finished it I'll be slavering for Mastiff to be released already!

So What are you Reading this Monday?

LadyV

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In My Mailbox #40

Morning all it's that time of week again and it's been a pretty good week book-wise although one book shie of perfection but hopefully that should be putting in an appearance on Monday. Shall we begin?

In My Mailbox is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Kristi @The Story Siren and was inspired by Alea @Pop Culture Junkie



Books Acquired this Week
Rosebush by Michele Jaffe (Already read it- Loved it! Will review soon)
Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting (Thank you Jess for sending me this!)
Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel
The Reformed Vampire Support group by Catherine Jinks (Thanks Ellie for sending this to me)


A pretty mixed bunch of books but all of them sound fabulous so I can't wait to read them (well the ones that I won't have finished by the time this posts)


Also I featured in a post that my dear friend Ellie wrote in honour of all the World Book Night programs that appeared on the BBC last night and it's full of books that have influenced her life along with picks from her mother, Jess of Jess Hearts Books and me. Go Check it out Here


What books have fell into your possession this week?
LadyV

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Book Review - The Body Finder

Whoa lookit this! Another review! Yea it's for a book I read 3 weeks ago but at least I'm finally reviewing it right? With any luck I'll be caught up after a week of daily posting :P But less yacking from me and more talk about the book.

Title: The Body Finder
Author: Kimberly Derting
Date: 8/2/2011 PM
Source: Bought
Description: Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers. Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him. Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself. (Description Taken from Goodreads)


My Review
Back at the start of February I was in the mood for books that weren't your standard romance-focused YA fare. The premise of the Body Finder reminded me of the Harper Connelly books by Charlaine Harris and since I really like that series I was pretty sure that I was gonna like this book.


What I got was a truly heart-pounding read that had me flipping pages as fast as I could to get to the climax so I could actually breathe again (I'm sure I forgot to do so a few times).


Violet's ability to sense the bodies of people who've been murdered is really fascinating (in a rather morbid-I-watch-way-too-much-CSI-kinda-way) and I wonder what if there actually were people with this ability? It'd be a godsend for the police who have all but given up on finding the bodies of certain people but obviously in countries as massive as the US there are probably hundreds of thousands of cold case murders and disappearances where no body has ever been found - there would have to be dozens of people like Violet to even scratch the surface of such an endeavour.


What I really loved about the serial killer mystery is that at several points in the story I was stumped as to who was behind the murders and I know I got terribly worried at times thinking that it might be someone who I seriously hoped it wasn't (if that makes any sense). The occasional chapter in the killer's POV really upped the tension and creepy factor with just how chilling and twisted his thoughts were *shudders*


I know you're maybe wondering "when are you getting to talking about Violet and Jay?" but never fear I'm coming to that now. Despite not really wanting to read books with romance in them I still loved the friendship between Violet and Jay and how that evolved over the book because frankly it was almost smouldering at times and every girl wants to feel chemistry like *that*. Violet is a really cool heroine and I envy her a fair bit for having such a hot and yet totally sweet best friend like Jay - I mean who wouldn't want to be her?


I gotta say that Kimberly Derting has done a fantastic job of combing a murder mystery with a romance story - the very different vibes created by each aspect of the book make for a very exciting read. I loved every breathless minute of this and I can't wait to read Desires of the Dead.


My Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars


I've noticed that a lot of what I've been reading recently has had a large mystery component to it which is rather awesome - I like the puzzlement of not knowing how things will unfold :)


LadyV

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Covers So Lovely We'd Lick Them #10

Hello thar! It's time for another scrummy edition of...

Covers So Lovely We'd Lick Them!

The new feature co-created and co-hosted by LadyViolet and Jess hearts books where we show off a book cover which we find so damn scrumptious that we'd actually be willing to lick it!

Every week we each pick a different cover so be sure to check both blogs!

Image taken from The Vespertine website

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell
It was a couple of months back that this book got its final cover design and I have to say I am very much taken with the delicious chocolatey brown colour of that dress and in general with the gorgeosity of the whole cover. The way the girl's hair is flying about her face as she's running is so amazing and it really makes me intrigued to know how the story links to it because it gives a definite air of mystery and tension.
Also I totally heart the curly title font, I have a strange love of beautiful calligraphy and would love to be able to write in cursive like some people can *grumbles enviously*

Now the great thing about this book is that not only is the cover simply fantabulous but I am vair excited to devour the story itself as soon as I can get my greedy little mitts on a copy.

Book Description: 

It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him.

When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause. (Taken from Goodreads)

Doesn't it sound amazing?!? I really need some more supernatural-esque historical YA fiction in my life and this lump of yumminess looks to be the perfect choice! It's due to be released on the 7th March so order it now!!

So that's What I'm Licking this Week head on over to Jess's blog and check out her pick this week!

LadyV

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February Round-Off

Great Scott! I rather dislike the rate at which this year is flying past me and considering how much I lapsed in my blogging duties last month I have a mighty amount of catching up to do before I can really get stuck into my March reading.

Generally it was a kinda meh month, my personal life was a bit chaotic with my long-term relationship coming to an end on the 1st and for much of the month I was feeling rather apathetic towards reading, blogging and various other things hence why everything got rather quiet round here... But hopefully now that Spring is Coming *crosses fingers* the blog will burst into blooms of productivity and I won't fall so woefully behind with my reviews.

Books Read in February
22. The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
23. Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper
24. The Pain Merchants by Janice Hardy
25. Ghost of a Chance by Rhiannon Lassiter
26. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
27. Forest Born by Shannon Hale
28. Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce
29. Forget You by Jennifer Echols (Re-read, Review from Last Year)
30. A Lost Lady by Willa Cather
31. Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles
32. Alpha by Rachel Vincent
33. Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg
34. Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison
35. Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

I will be doing my best to get reviews done for at least 6 of those remaining 10 books in the next week or so as I really don't want to be spending March posting only my February reviews :S

Books Reviewed in February
Some stragglers from January!
Soulless by Gail Carriger
Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

Other Posts of Note
Excepting the usual Sunday & Monday memes I didn't really post anything all that interesting but we did have a whole month's worth of the zany Covers So Lovely We'd Lick Them feature that is co-hosted by myself and the lovely Jess of Jess Hearts Books. Do go check out all four yummy picks
Covers So Lovely #6
Covers So Lovely #7
Covers So Lovely #8
Covers So Lovely #9

Favourite Book of the Month

Although I've not yet written my review for this book (it's gonna be next I promise) I have to say that this was the most heart-pounding book I'd read in a while and with the gallons of tension just between Violet and Jay I'm surprised the book doesn't just spontaneously combust! I can't wait to read Desires of the Dead and I'm rather lucky that I have a vair generous Book Fairy who's sent me her paperback copy *smooches*.
Honourable Mention goes to Sing Me to Sleep for being such a beautifully heart-wrenching read *sob*

What to Expect in March
Well truth be told I don't really know what's gonna happen, I mainly want to keep up to date with my reviews and if I get a hankering to write some kind of non-review post then I'll actually try and finish it unlike several other posts of a similar nature that are still loitering in the Drafts section of Blogger. I may try getting some kind of questionnaire put together to gauge people's opinion and see if there is any changes that can be made to the general format of the blog and god forbid I might think about changing the background design *le gasp*. But everything's a bit in flux really so we'll see how things go.

I hope everyone has had a less blah February than me and here's to the Oncoming Spring!
LadyV

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Book Review - Ghost of a Chance

Don't Faint I know this is the first review I've done in nearly 3 weeks! I am determined to catch up on the reviews I need to write starting with this one which is actually required since I won it from LibraryThing's Early Review scheme and if I don't get a review done then the Almighty Algorithm will make it harder for me to win anything else in the future :O

Title: Ghost of a Chance
Author: Rhiannon Lassiter
Date: 7/2/2011 AM
Source: Received for Review from LTER
Description: Imagine being both victim and detective in your own murder . . . Eavesdroppers never heard good of themselves. But she'd never expected to hear that she was dead.
How did Eva die? The rumours say she killed herself, but Eva knows different. Victim and detective in her own murder, she must solve the mystery. If she doesn't, more will die . . . (Description Taken from Goodreads)

My Review

Sometimes when you get a book to review that you didn't really know much about there's the risk of it turning out rather badly and then what the hell do you do? But I am very happy to say that this was not the case with Ghost of a Chance- no sirree I was most pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, I actually re-read it a couple of days ago and although I knew how it ended I still really loved the story and the characters.


Living in a crumbling old mansion, with centuries of family history Eva Chance is the black sheep of the family prowling about the House and gardens like a wild thing. It's on the day of her 16th birthday - April Fool's Day that she finds out something very shocking - she's in fact dead and somehow hadn't noticed. She's now got to try and discover who killed her and when most people can't see her it's gonna be a bit difficult without help.


That's where Kyra and her twin brother Kyle come in - when they begin to notice the strange things going on at the Chance House it becomes apparent that something supernatural is the cause and despite the fact that Kyra used to pick on Eva for being a bit weird, they both want to help her find out what happened to her.


This book had two great features going for it - really interesting characters that you could love even if they could be irritating (I'm looking at you Felix), and one heck of a mystery coupled in with all the creepiness of the House Ghosts. I had no clue how the book was gonna end and I was damn surprised when I found out and I loved it! The supernatural aspects of the story worked really well with the realistic aspects and overall the book was executed rather fabulously.


I found all the gruesome Chance family history fascinating and how it ties into the various ghosts which occupy the House. I'm sure anyone who's been to a supposedly haunted house would get a scary thrill from this aspect of the book. The tension from not knowing who is behind the attacks on the Chance family members makes for a very exciting read and I was determined not to put the book down until I'd finished it.


Overall a refreshingly unusual YA read with a wonderful mix of mystery, history and characters, and a really great ending that left me wanting to see more about Eva, Kyle and Kyra. Plus I gotta mention Nathan - the cutest five-yr old that I've read about in ages- on the three occasions that he appeared in the story I was grinning at how adorable and sensible he was compared to all those silly adults who smiled indulgently at the idea of a ghost in wellies :P 


My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars


Phew! So glad I've got that done! Now there's only like 6 or 7 to go... *headdesk* People don't let me get this behind again.

LadyV

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