Waiting on Wednesday (11)

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

My Pick This Week

Description

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do. (Goodreads)

Book Details

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Hardcover: 432 pages

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Release Date: September 20, 2011

ISBN-10: 0062026488

ISBN-13: 978-0062026484

Why I’m Waiting

Oh that’s easy who doesn’t want to be the chosen one? The one person who has the power to save everything… just as soon as they figure out how to make their awesomeness work. I can’t wait to get my hands on this book! I love strong women who have to learn they are strong.

So what are you waiting for?

~Rebecca

Review: Napier's Bones by Derryl Murphy

Description

What if, in a world where mathematics could be magic, the thing you desired most was also trying to kill you? Dom is a numerate, someone able to see and control numbers and use them as a form of magic. While seeking a mathematical item of immense power that has only been whispered about, it all goes south for Dom, and he finds himself on the run across three countries on two continents, with two unlikely companions in tow and a numerate of unfathomable strength hot on his tail. Along the way are giant creatures of stone and earth, statues come alive, numerical wonders cast over hundreds of years, and the very real possibility that he won't make it out of this alive. And both of his companions have secrets so deep that even they aren't aware of them, and one of those secrets could make for a seismic shift in how Dom and all other numerates see and interact with the world. (Goodreads)

Book Details

Genre: Science Fiction

Paperback: 300 pages

Publisher: ChiZine Publications

Published: March 29, 2011

ISBN-10: 1926851099

ISBN-13: 978-1926851099

Source: NetGalley/ Publisher

Author’s Website

Review

Dom and Jenna are just like everyone else if we could all see numbers and formule and control them, as well as having Dan Brownish adventures and trying to save the world or numerate ecology as they know it.

 

I am not a math person and I had never heard of John Napier until this book. I know, take a few minutes to let the shock wear off. For everyone else like me, John Napier was a Scottish mathematician and discovered the logarithm (xy=x+y yada yada) and made the use of the decimal common. He also created “Napier’s Bones”, essentially a fancy abacus made with rods. In our story he didn’t make it with rods, but with his fingers, creepy. It would also give him the power to control the world with numbers, if he was alive, which he is kinda. John Napier is one of many “numerates”, people who can see and control numbers, and he is an especially powerful one that left his “shadow” in various items, so that he can use another numerate as a host and eventually regain his abacus and corporal body.

 

Dom ends up with Billy the adjunct, a shadow using his body as host, and Jenna, whose numerate mother abandoned her. There is an attraction between Dom and Jenna, but it’s never fully explored. There is quite a bit in the book that is never explored below face value: Dom’s past, the relationship between Jenna and her mother and the numerate world. The author touches on these things as well as a dialogue with Jenna’s mother and the shadows living inside of her, but seems to abandon that train of thought for more action.

 

Overall, the characters needed more depth and the math world was too confusing for me, no matter how much the author tried to explain it. I never got lost in the book. It was like eating cake without frosting; good, but not the full experience.

 

Happy Endings,

Kelly

 

2 moons: It was ok.

 

Recommended For

I recommend this book for Adults and Mathletes.

There is some violence, cussing, Dom wants to sleep with Jenna, so some sexual thoughts.

Early Review: Misfit by Jon Skovron

Description

Jael Thompson has never really fit in. She’s changed schools too many times to count. The only family she’s ever known is her father, a bitter ex-priest who never lets her date and insists she attend the strictest Catholic school in Seattle. And her mother—well, she was a five thousand year old demon. That doesn’t exactly help.

But on her sixteenth birthday, her father gives her a present that brings about some unexpected changes. Some of the changes, like strange and wonderful powers and the cute skater boy with a knack for science, are awesome. But others, like the homicidal demon seeking revenge on her family? Not so much.

Steeped in mythology, this is an epic tale of a heroine who balances old world with new, science with magic, and the terrifying depths of the underworld with the ordinary halls of high school. (Goodreads)

Book Details

Genre: YA, Paranormal

Hardcover: 384 pages

Publisher: Amulet Books

To Publish: August 1, 2011

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1419700219

ISBN-13: 978-1419700217

Source: NetGalley/ Publisher

Author’s Website

Review

Misfit is a whole new take on demons and hell, and it totally worked for me! I devoured this book like Jael devours a veggie tray.

Don’t get me wrong there are a few lulls in Misfit. The beginning does take some getting used to because with each chapter you are going from the present with Jael in one , then into the past with her mom in the next. After getting used to being swung back and forth from past to present, I’m actually happy Mr. Skovron introduced Jael’s mom in this way. I got such a better feel for her character.

Speaking of characters, this book is packed with the awesomeness of great ones. Jael’s uncle for starters is well… a fish monster. I would have thought him to be cold, but he brought a lot of humor and sincerity to the story. But my favorite character is Jael.  I love how Jael grows so much just from the beginning of this book alone. When I started Misfit she was very cut off from the world and confused about who she was. By the end of Misfit, Jael understands who she truly is and uses that power to be her full potential. Even though this takes place in a relatively short amount of time, in no way did it feel forced or contrived.

I would be an absolutely horrible person if I didn’t put something in this review about Rob (Jael’s love interest). In all honesty I think I could start the I HEART ROB fan club. Rob is one of those characters that the moment he jumps on the page you start to smile and you just can’t stop yourself. He should have his own theme music… Maybe Skater Boy by Avril Lavigne. Yep Rob’s that much fun. By the end of the book you find out what Rob actually wants to do with his life… So he and Jael must have more to come. Or at least I hope so.

Misfit is a YA book but I think anyone who loves paranormal would like it. This is one of those wonderful books where I got to feel every emotion. The humor in Misfit was  superb. I mean, come on, a half-demon going to Catholic school? Then Misfit pulled out the big guns and made me cry. I loved this book and hope that it turns into a series!

Happy Reading,

Rebecca   

5 moons: I absolutely loved it, and will be looking into everything this author writes.

Recommended For

Older Teen and up: There is language, and talk of sexual acts having been done.

In My Mailbox (6)

This quick vlog post about the books we received this week. Enjoy!

The books mentioned in this post are below. Click on the Book image to go to there Goodreads page for more info

So what books did you get this week?

Happy Reading,

Kelly and Rebecca

Follow Friday (10)

 

Welcome to Follow Friday Hosted By Parajunkee.com

This weeks question:

Q. What do I do when I are not reading?

I look around at what everyone else is reading. lol. I work on my reviews. I spend time with my amazing husband and our three gorgeous girls. Then there is the real job I have to go to.

What do you do when your not reading?

Happy Friday Everyone

~Rebecca