Steampunk Saturday: Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger

Waistcoats & Weaponry (Finishing School #3) 
By Gail Carriger 

Rating: 5


'"Sovereign, sovereigns, or seduction," said Sidheag calmly, before Sophronia could stop her.

Dimity nodded in agreement. "It's our second lessons after the school motto: Ut acerbus terminus."
Felix looked confused. "What does it mean?"

"'To the bitter end,'" said Sophronia.'


Return to a world of steel-bladed fans and floating dirigibles.

As Sophronia continues her second year at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy, the Empire's premier school for proper young killing machines, who knows what adventures await her?

From waltzing lessons held on thin planks high up in the air, to being taught the finer points of flirtatious looks, Sophronia and her friends are sure to learn everything there they need to know in order to become the finest of young ladies. 

But no number of handkerchiefs, scented oils, and sewing shears will be able to prepare them for what is ahead.

Prepare for pack politics and train theft.

When Sidheag takes off on a daring journey to return to her werewolf pack in Scotland, Sophronia and the gang accompany her. They stow away on a mysterious train, only to discover an enemy they never wished to come face to face with again - and a secret that threatens the very foundations of society. 

A secret that could very well throw London, and the world, into chaos. 

Nothing's really what it seems...

Working against the clock, Sophronia and the gang must decide who is friend and who is foe, whilst dealing with tea, top-hats, metal dogs, and world domination. 

Waistcoats & Weaponry is the latest thrilling book in the Finishing School series and will have you wishing you could attend Mademoiselle Geraldine's, too! 

Keen Cover Friday ~ Illusionarium by Heather Dixon

Hosted by: Keepbooked

It's Keen Cover Friday! Keen Cover Friday is when we post a book cover that totally attracts and captures our eyes the moment we laid them on that cover and one that might make others swoon over its beauty just as much as we did. 

And this week's eye-catching book cover belongs to Heather Dixon's Illusionarium. 

Illusionarium is a YA fantasy steampunk novel and is due to be released on May 19th 2015 by Greenwillow.

Totally Hooked On: Nocte by Courtney Cole

Nocte (The Nocte Trilogy #1) 
By Courtney Cole 

Rating: 5+


'It wasn't the odd sketches of people with their eyes and faces and mouths scratched out, it wasn't the odd and dark poems, it was one phrase.

Put me out of my misery.

Scrawled over and over, filling up two complete pages. I've watched him like a hawk ever since. He smiles now, encouraging me to forget it, like it's just his outlet. He's fine now. 

He's fine.

If I had a journal, I'd scrawl that on the pages, over and over, to make it true.'


Sometimes two halves don't make a whole.

Eighteen year-old Calla Price is one half of the Price twins. Her other half, Finn, is crazy. 

In so many ways they're connected, practically the same person. But the worse Finn gets, the more their connection starts to become more like a noose for Calla. Calla's deep, abiding love for him is the only thing stopping her from telling their parents the whole truth. 

From showing them Finn's private journal and the terrible things scrawled between its pages.

She's his protector, his friend, his conscience. But can she save him from himself? Or will he drag her down with him?

Dare me. Love me. Break me.

Dare DuBray is Calla's lifeline. With him, she feels safer - like she's truly living, truly free for the first time in a long time. Being with him is easy. He as the ability to heal Calla, one day at a time. 

But he also has the ability to destroy her.

You can only run from your past for so long. And as Dare's past starts to catch up with him, Calla will be forced to decide between loving Dare, or saving Finn.

Secrets...everyone's got 'em. 

Laced with bitter truths and terrible secrets, Nocte is an addictive NA blend of thriller and mystery elements. Be prepared for a book that will lure you in, make you question everything, and then turn everything you think you know inside-out! 

Thursday Quotables ~ Trust Me, I'm Lying by Mary Elizabeth Summer

Hosted by BookshelfFantasies

It's Thursday Quotables today! Thursday Quotables is all about sharing a favorite quote, line, or passage from your reading each week. You know it's a good read when you come across a bunch of memorable quotes!

Today's quote comes from Trust Me, I'm Lying by Mary Elizabeth Summer. Trust Me, I'm Lying is a YA mystery thriller whose main female protagonist, Julep Dupree, is a practised liar, con artist, and master of disguise. 

There were so many great quotes to choose from.  But I settled on a quote that I think really showcased Julep's character...

Waiting On Wednesday ~ Undeniably Chosen by Shelly Crane

Waiting On Wednesday is here! 

Hosted by Breaking the Spine, Waiting on Wednesday is a chance for me to showcase some of the books sitting on my overflowing to-read list...so you can add them to your steadily growing to-read lists! 

This week's pick is Undeniably Chosen by Shelly Crane. Undeniably Chosen is the fifth YA paranormal romance book in the Significance series. 

The book's official release date hasn't been set yet, but the author has said she's aiming for it to be released towards the end of 2014. 

The original pairing from the previous books in the series, Caleb and Maggie, got their happy ending. Undeniably Chosen focused on their daughter, Ava Jacobson, and her relationship with the handsome Seth Watson. 

Their bond aside, Ava and Seth are from warring sides (very Romeo and Juliet-esque!) which adds new complications. The Watsons and the Jacobsons have a long and bitter feud. Can Ava and Seth kind a way to stay together without everything falling apart?

Teaser Tuesday ~ Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hosted by: MizB at Should Be Reading

It's Teaser Tuesday! Teaser Tuesday is when I pick up one of my latest reads, choose a random page, and share two terrific teasers from it with all of you. So strap on your seat-belts & prepare yourself for teasers that are sure to blow you away!

This week's teasers come from Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick. Black Ice is a standalone YA romance thriller, set in the mountains of Wyoming. 

Music Monday ~ Every Ugly Word by Aimee L. Salter

Hosted by: Total Book Geek

It's Music Monday! Time to pick a book & pair it with some winning tunes...

This Monday's pick is Aimee L. Salter's Every Ugly Word. You can check out my full review of the book here.

Every Ugly Word is a thought-provoking YA novel, whose intense and emotional storyline inspired me to find the perfect playlist that would compliment such a book. Today I will be sharing a few of the songs from my playlist.

Quick Picks ~ Manga Classics: Pride & Prejudice by Stacy King

Manga Classics: Pride & Prejudice
Adaption by Stacy King (Illustrations by Po Tse)

Rating: 4.8


"You are not the last man I could ever marry, but the only one. Indeed, I am ashamed of what I said then, for I was more wrong than I have ever been in all my life."

"Then do me the honour of becoming my wife!"


 
Experience the classic Austen tale like never before! 

I am a devoted Pride and Prejudice fan. I also love reading manga any chance I get. So when I discovered that someone has combined the two, I was over the moon with happiness. 

How could it get any better than this?!

Manga Classics has created a fun and engaging adaption of Austen's novel. This adaptation is includes:

#1: An extremely dashing Mr. Darcy (whose hair is simply amazing)
         

Look at that hair...just look at it!! It's like a living entity on the top of his head XD

Melodies by Pamela Srey ~ Review

Melodies (The Bianca Grey Series, #1)
By Pamela Srey 

Rating: 3.9

'You come from a broken home and you know nothing of who you are or where you came from. He wouldn't understand some of the things you have to go through. It's not a good idea to share your world with him, Bianca. It just isn't.' 

A story of teenage self-discovery, Melodies is an intriguing read.

This book has all the makings of a good contemporary romance novel. If you stick to it and get past the first few chapters, you're rewarded with a multilayered story that definitely becomes more engaging the further into the book you get.

Melodies was a mixed bag for me. On one hand, I loved the art and music elements, as well as the underlying lessons.

Bianca's love of art reminded me of Ashley in Aimee L. Salter's Every Ugly Word. This concept of characters using art as a means to escape the troubles of their life, is a bittersweet one. I thought that this was used consistently throughout the book, and made Bianca seem more three-dimensional as a character.

Pete's music is another definite plus. I loved the songs he composes! The lyrics are heartfelt and beautiful to a fault...and I totally have a weakness for guys who play an instrument ;)

But it's the underlying lessons that shine most brightly.

I think the most important lesson Melodies has to offer, is the lesson of what it means to love and to be loved. Chasing after love leads to confusion - especially when neither party is mature enough to understand what love is and what it means.

Bianca grows to realise that as much as she likes Pete, it's not going to be easy for her to just throw the word 'love' around. Mainly because she's never truly seen it, never experienced it. She doesn't even have much self-love. She's still trying to find herself and her place in the world, and being in a relationship with someone who wants more than she can give isn't the best idea for the moment.

She needs time to heal. Time to grow. And time to figure out who she is, and what her feelings are. Not everyone's ready to fall in love forever at seventeen. Bianca's journey highlights the importance of sometimes waiting before making life-changing decisions.

This book has a bit of a shaky start.

Although Melodies didn't quite 'knock it out of the park' when it came to certain areas of concept execution, it was still an enjoyable read. I think the first few chapters tended to lack a stream of consciousness - there's a little too much explanation rather than action (e.g. describing mundane tasks and routines in detail, and giving a little too much backstory when it comes to secondary characters).

The basis of the story did have a few plot holes. You kind of wonder why no one at any point calls the authorities. What kind of school allows kids to pour gasoline on one another?! I question the need for the teenagers to do all of the tracking down of criminals and bullies on their own. Maybe if Pete had just dialed 911, things would have been a lot simpler!

On the topic of the teenagers in this story, I will give one small critique: they do tend to come across as college students. Their vocabulary, their drinking and clubbing, and even their ability to take trips away and stay in fancy hotels without parental supervision - it's all a little surreal. Maybe there are teenagers who do this! If so, they must have really chill (and loaded with $$) parents.

I really do feel like all of these ideas would have made so much more sense in a more NA/contemporary romance story with college students. The stalking, the nasty pranks, the trips away, the 'I'm totally in love with you' scenarios...it'd be a lot more believable if the characters weren't all seventeen/eighteen year olds.

I do feel for Pete's parents. They seem like wonderful people and you kinda wish he'd have confided in them a bit more! Maybe then he could have avoided some uncomfortable situations.

But overall, Melodies is a read that leaves you wanting more.

Which is mainly thanks to that cliffhanger! You're left wondering what happens next for Bianca, and whether or not she and Pete are meant to be. I guess we'll just have to wait to find out - but hopefully, fingers-crossed, everything works out.

**A big thank you to Pamela Srey for giving me the chance to review her great book :) **

The Boy with the Hidden Name by Skylar Dorset ~ ARC Review

The Boy with the Hidden Name (Otherworld #2)
By Skylar Dorset 

Rating: 5+

'I look at my aunts, hesitate, and then say, "What-"

My aunts have gone back to knitting, even more furiously than before.

"You're going to be late for school," Aunt True says, and that is the end of that attempt at conversation.

My aunts hate it when I ask questions. It tends to destroy the world.'

You can't hide from your destiny forever.

Selkie Stewart has been through the adventure of a lifetime. Now, all she wants to do is be a normal girl who does normal things - such as eating ice-cream and complaining about unreliable faerie quasi-boyfriends.

The only thing standing in her way? The Seelies who are planning to take over the world when the clock strikes twelve. 

With the end of Thisworld drawing closer with every tick of the clock, Selkie has not choice but to leave all thoughts of a normal life behind as she sets out on a journey to find the key to saving the world.

Because if anyone can find something, it's Selkie. Whether she knows it or not.

Plans, prophecies and painful predicaments lie ahead.

Selkie needs to find the other three fays - and fast - if they want to fulfil the prophecy and keeping the invading Seelie at bay. But the only person who might know where those three fay are is Benedict Le Fay's mother. 

The same woman that Ben left Selkie to search for. A woman not exactly known for her trustworthiness, and who has been missing for many years.

With mixed feelings where Ben is concerned, Selkie joins her friends on a trip to the Unseelie Court to search for Ben's mother and Ben. 

But the line between friend and foe isn't clear cut, and there's more than one Otherworld creature who would gladly manipulate or even kill Selkie to stop the prophecy from being fulfilled. 

Never trust a faerie...especially with your heart.

With the fate of the world on her shoulders, Selkie's only hope is the prophecy. She needs to be the girl everyone seems to believe she is, no matter what it takes. This fight is no longer about her, or about the Seelie Court. It's about the people she loves and the people she can't leave behind. 

But one little secret will change everything.

Because those around her have kept a part of the prophecy secret - a part that not only predicts the loss of someone she loves, but that also fractures Selkie's faith in her own destiny.

Is Selkie the one who'll save the world? Or is she the one who'll brings it to its knees?

With spot-on humour, Wonderland-esque logic, and magical twists and turns, Skylar Dorset's The Boy with the Hidden Name is an example of YA fiction at its best.