Review: Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
488 Pages
Release Date: October 2nd, 2012
Publisher: Aladdin
Genre: Children's Fantasy
Level: MG
Rating: 5 STARS

Goodreads Summary:

Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has a secret. She’s a Telepath—someone who hears the thoughts of everyone around her. It’s a talent she’s never known how to explain.

Everything changes the day she meets Fitz, a mysterious boy who appears out of nowhere and also reads minds. She discovers there’s a place she does belong, and that staying with her family will place her in grave danger. In the blink of an eye, Sophie is forced to leave behind everything and start a new life in a place that is vastly different from anything she has ever known.

Sophie has new rules to learn and new skills to master, and not everyone is thrilled that she has come “home.” There are secrets buried deep in Sophie’s memory—secrets about who she really is and why she was hidden among humans—that other people desperately want. Would even kill for.

In this page-turning debut, Shannon Messenger creates a riveting story where one girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world, before the wrong person finds the answer first.

Waiting on Wednesday (39)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where that spotlights the upcoming books I am currently anticipating.

Deception (Defiance #2) by C.J Redwine

Release Date:  August 27th, 2013 by 

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

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Goodreads Summary: 

Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander's whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father's death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it's up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington's army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.



But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one. The chaos and uncertainty of each day puts unbearable strain on Rachel and Logan, and it isn't long before they feel their love splintering. Even worse, as it becomes clear that the Commander will stop at nothing to destroy them, the band of survivors begins to question whether the price of freedom may be too great—and whether, hunted by their enemies and the murderous traitor in their midst, they can make it out of the Wasteland alive.


In this daring sequel to Defiance, with the world they once loved forever destroyed, Rachel and Logan must decide between a life on the run and standing their ground to fight.

LOVE this cover!! It's kind of similar to Defiance but I love subtlety changed  background for it!

Defiance was awesome! Can't wait till this one releases!! 

What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Comment and add your link below!!

New Releases: June 17th-23rd

June 18th: 

Star Cursed by Jessia Spotswood

The Son of Sobek by Rick Riordan 

Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend by Louise Rozett

Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale by Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan
Triangles by Kimberly Ann Miller
Proxy by Alex London
Defy the Dark by Saundra Mitchell
Solstice by P.J Hoover
Tarnish by Katherine Longshore
A Trick of the Light by Lois Metzinger
Intuition by C.J Omololu

June 19th:

Winter Queen by Amber Argyle 

Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
404 pages
Release Date: August 7th, 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.5 STARS

Goodreads Summary:

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. 

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. 

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. 

Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

MY THOUGHTS: 

           Wow. I love this book. I have always loved assassins and girls who are insanely awesome at fighting and fantasy worlds and weapons and stuff. And DAMN Throne of Glass has all these things and more. What the Goodreads Summary does not tell you is that not only is Celaena an 18 year old assassin she is also the BEST assassin the kingdom has ever seen. Which is kick-ass. Basically this girl survived this camp where people die in months for a YEAR! This book is truly captivating, it has action and adventure, even a little magic and romance in between. 

           Celaena is to die for! She is so badass she can beat grown men after almost starving to death for a whole year. And the best part? She doesn't lie to herself about her odds or how hard she has to work or her emotions. No matter how flippant and cocky she acts she always knows exactly what she is getting into and how to avoid or get out of it. I also really love the fact that she doesn't trust anyone. Now this may sound bad but in her situations it is completely necessary and wanted. I hate it when the main character of a book is attracted to someone and then automatically trusts them...just no. Celaena, despite being an assassin, has a lot of morals and is actually a pretty good person which I really enjoyed seeing/reading about. It was really nice to see the different side and angles she put up, it made her seem like a real person.
   
       Now Westfall, hello Westfall. Oh my gosh, he is as badass as Celaena truly. Sometimes he's better than her(although I blame it on her time in the war camp but who know..) and I love it. It was really great to read about the two fighting because they both had to, begrudgingly, admit the other was actually good and fighting too. Now I know he's captain of the guard and kickass and stuff......but so reminds me of a teddybear. Seriously he talks and does things and I'm like," Oh sweety, you are so cute." And he is! He is adorable and cool and funny and just a wonderful guy, in my opinion the best one for her Celaene! (but thats my opinion I'm sure many feel differently). 
      
       All I have to say is I love Throne of Glass! I don't know how Sarah Maas did it but *claps* well done. This book satisfied all of my fantasy book needs: badass girl, fight scenes, adorable-ness, magic, and seemingly real characters. I, I think everyone who even remotely likes fantasy or even just amazing (girl) main  characters should read this book. It is wonderful.

VOTE FOR PERRY

Soooo I'm sure you guys have heard of the YA Crush Tourney if not read more about it HERE! 

I'm super excited to help Nikki at Fiction Freak who's advocating for Perry from Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi!

REASONS WHY PERRY IS AWESOME-SAUCE:

1. He's a sexy beast.
2. He's a protective sexy beast.
3. He's probably the best uncle...ever.
4. He cares for everyone and will anything to protect the ones he love.
5. His love for Aria is indescribable. 
6. He's determined.
7. SA-WOON!! 
8. His transformation from book 1 to book 2 is just amazing
9. And most of all..Shreya at Chocolate Covered Reviews said it best:

FAV QUOTES:

“Perry brushed a kiss on her cheek while she was chewing, and she learned that it was the loveliest thing to be kissed for no reason, even while chewing food.” -Under the Never Sky

“If there was no fear, how could there be comfort? Or courage?” -Under the Never Sky 

"Love is a rebellious bird that nobody can tame." -Under the Never Sky 

“Her hand holding his for a dozen paces. His, resting on the small of her back for a moment. Touches that had no real purpose but to say I’m here and We are together still.” -Under the Never Sky 

"She took a step back, taking in his face one last time. His green eyes. The bend in his nose and the scars on his cheek. All the tiny inperfections that made him beautiful." -Under the Never Sky

LOVE Perry!! <33 against="" all="" and="" can="" devices="" family="" for="" friends="" go="" going="" him="" james="" p="" perry="" s="" so="" st.="" support="" tell="" the="" torin="" up="" vote="" with="" you="">

Vote for Perry!!!

Cover Reveals: Evertrue, Her Dark Curiosity, Warrior, The Sound of Letting Go, and Defy

Evertrue by Brodi Aston
Release Date: January 21st, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen

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Eeeeep!! It's soooo pretty! The cover model and the gorgeous lace dress! 

Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepherd
Release Date: January 28th, 2014
Publisher: Balzer+Bray

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LOVELOVELOVE this cover!!! The London background is perfect!

I love her dress and the peach colored title! It goes well against the black/gray color background!

Warrior by Ellen Oh

Release Date: January 14th, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen

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SWIRLY!!

The Sound of Letting Go by Stasia Kehoe
Release Date: February 1st, 2014
Publisher: Penguin Group (New Zealand)

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Kind of dizzying to look at but really pretty! Looks super cute! 

Defy by Sara B. Larson
Release Date: January 1st, 2014
Publisher: Scholastic Press

ADD TO GOODREADS

Such a cool sword hilt :P 

Love how they mixed an innocent pretty thing with a dangerous sword!

What do YOU guys think of the covers? 

Review: Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock
416 Pages
Release Date: May 8th, 2012
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Genre: Paranormal: Werewolf, Mystery
Level: YA
Rating: 5 STARS

Goodreads Summary: 
Fans of Maggie Stiefvater and the hit television show True Blood will flock to this first book in the supernatural mystery series set in a town where werewolves live in plain sight.

Mackenzie Dobson's life has been turned upside down since she vowed to hunt her best friend Amy's killer: a white werewolf. Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country, and bloodlust is not easy to control. But it soon becomes clear that dangerous secrets are lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, Mac's hometown—and she is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her in grave danger.

Kathleen Peacock's thrilling debut novel provides readers with a mystery that Kimberly Derting, author of The Body Finder, calls "clever and frightening," while Sophie Jordan, New York Times bestselling author of Firelight, raves: "Forget every werewolf book you've ever read. This one breaks the mold."