And I Already Changed It...

Hey everyone,

So, I was excited last night to finally make my first blog button. But today, I decided it looked kind of bland. So I made a new one using a free background I found online. I like it better. Here it is:

I think that it's important to have an awesome looking blog button, because the point is to attract people to your blog. Also, on this button, I added that we write YA Book Reviews. We also review manga and novel-to-movie screen adaptions also.

So, do you think this one is better than the one I had in yesterday's post? I'd love to get some feedback! :D

Ciao!

I Just Made My First Blog Button For My Book Blog... I'm So Excited!!! :D

Hey everyone,

In case you haven't been around the blogging world lately, blog buttons are an extremely popular way for sharing blogs. Blog buttons are small square boxes that contain some kind of graphic, and the title of the blog. On the blog it represents, a copy code will be featured under the blog. This can be copied into other blogs and it will link back to the home blog. Here are some examples from book blogs around the web:

Madame Bookworm's Button us one of my favorites I've seen so far. It's very visually appealing.... it's simple, but neat.


I'm don't care a whole lot for Awesome Bookworm's button (right)... it's too small and dark.










Personally, I feel that this button is very boring. Anyhoo, now you kind of have an idea of what blog buttons look like. The idea behind blog buttons is that you try to convince people to post this to their blogs, and that will boost your credibility with search engines such as Google, Yahoo!, Bing and Ask, which will put you higher in the search results. After all, most people don't look beyond the first page or two of search results. If your not at the top, it's not likely you'll be found.

There isn't some kind of site that you can just easily create a blog button, though. You have to make it from scratch. So that's what I did. I searched for tutorials to teach me how, and I copied the coding from a tutorial, but other than that, everything is mine. That's part of the reason I'm so excited.

For the blog button for Wisdom From A Teenage Bookworm (http://www.bookwormwisdom.blogspot.com), the book blog I have with my friends, I used a photo that I actually took myself, because I didn't want to take the chance of liability issues with copyrights. I actually used Picnik to edit the photo and to resize it to fit the standard blog button size.

So, without further ado, here is a picture of my blog button:

I would love, love, love it if any readers of my blog would be willing to go to www.bookwormwisdom.blogspot.com and copy over the text to add it to their blogs. I already added it to this blog on your left, and I also added it to the left of my writing blog, www.brandimcconahay.blogspot.com.

Ciao!

A Book Blog- Wisdom From A Teenage Bookworm

Hey everyone,

Today's video on my YouTube channel featured the book blog I have with some of my friends. Here's the video :D



The blog is still rather new, so we don't have a whole lot of reviews up yet, but we add new reviews daily :)

http://www.bookwormwisdom.blogspot.com

Ciao!

Borders Is Closing... D:

Hey everyone,

In case you haven't heard, Borders Booksellers is going out of business. This makes me sad. Sad enough that I wanted to make a video for my YouTube channel about it. So here it is:



Please Note: The quality of my webcam isn't very good, so neither is the quality of the video. Also, this is the first video I've made for YouTube specifically, so I'm kind of nervous and awkward.

Ciao

I Just Learned About This Awesome Thing Called NaNoWriMo...

Hey everyone,

While watching the one of the epic videos by author Jackson Pearce (www.youtube.com/JacksonAPearce), she introduced me to NaNoWriMo. She did a really good job of describing it, so here is her video:



So there is the description of NaNoWriMo in a nutshell. In case you're having a "blonde" moment, NaNoWriMo is the shortened form of National Novel Writing Month. The website Jackson gives you is www.nanowrimo.com, but it's actually www.nanowrimo.org. It doesn't really matter which one you use though, because they both get you there. And hey, if you are this blog, you might be interested in also checking my profile on NaNoWriMo's site (because I signed up). You can see it at http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/827599. We can even become writing buddies on there. (Their term for "friends" is "writing buddies"). If you send me a writing buddies request, or however that works (haven't actually tried requesting any friends yet), and I don't accept it, let me know you sent it in the comments.

If you sign up this is what happens:

1.) You get a profile through NaNoWriMo that gives you an Author's Info and Novel Info section.

2.) Starting November 1st, your word meter will start keeping track of all the words you submit to NaNoWriMo.

3.) Your little word meter will show your progress through the month of November.

4.) The goal is to write 50,000 words in November even if it's the worst thing you've ever wrote, ever.

5.) If you achieve this, you get a little winner's badge on your profile (and a few other things that I'm not completely clear about... visit their site for more info).  If you don't achieve this, nothing really happens.

So why am I so excited about this, even though it's July?
Because I am the worst at actually pushing through novels. I always write 5 pages, and then I constantly edit, and re-edit those 5 pages. So I never get anything done. But with NaNoWriMo, the goal is quantity, not quality. As crazy as that sounds, it will at least give you something longer than 5 pages to edit.

I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE for any fellow writers to attempt NaNoWriMo with me this November. Don't worry if you don't make the 50,000 word mark- chances are I probably won't either. But, hey, it'll be fun to try. Also, NaNoWriMo gives you tips ("pep talks") and allows you to discuss writing with other aspiring authors. Oh, and a lot of published authors still love to do NaNoWriMo. If you're willing to do NaNoWriMo with me this November, I'd love to hear about it in the comments.

Ciao!

Call Me A Nerd, But I'm Addicted...

Hey everyone,

While randomly checking out the YouTube homepage yesterday, a video caught my eye because it was about Harry Potter, and I LOVE Harry Potter. So, I checked it out, and it is amazing. Yesterday is had around 400,000 views, and it's already above 600,000 views. It's been up for only 3 or 4 days. So, here it is:



Watch it... it's totally awesome. It's a music video, but it only lasts for half the video length. The other half is the two main stars thanking everyone who helped them. You should listen the first minute of the "thank yous" because they're funny. After that, it's just up to you.

Enjoy XD

Ciao!

The Public Library Must Hate Me...

Hey everyone,

For anyone who is friends with me on Facebook, you probably saw the picture I posted of all of the books that I currently have checked out from the public library. If you aren't friends with my on Facebook, here's the picture:

The books are as follows:

Left Side, Top to Bottom:
1. Gone by Lisa McMann
2. Passion by Lauren Kate
3. Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready
4. Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade
5. Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt
6. Nightshade by Andrea Creamer
7. Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann
8. Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
9. So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti
10. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
11. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
12. The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

Right Side, Top to Bottom:
1. Oh My Goth by Gena Showalter
2. Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
3. The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
4. Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr
5. Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey
6. Graveminder by Melissa Marr
7. The Hollow by Jessica Verday
8. Out For Blood by Alyxandra Harvey
9. Afterlife by Claudia Gray
10. The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch
11. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
12. Illusions by Aprilynne Pike
13. The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

I have a slight reputation as a book hoarder, so I had already read Gone, Darkest Mercy, Afterlife, Out For Blood, and The Ghost and the Goth. All the rest were new books, though.

A lot of the books have been amazing... I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Paranormalcy! Passion was really good, too. Unfortunately, not all of the books were that great. For example: Keturah and Lord Death. I ended up rating that book a 2 out of 5 stars because it had a few brief good moments, but for the most part, it wasn't very good.

To see all of my book reviews, and to keep up with what I'm reading, you can check me out at www.goodreads.com/brandi_m. This takes you to my Goodreads profile, which is set to private. You can join for free with an email account, however, and become my friend :)

On the topic of Goodreads... it's an epic site where you can get updates from your favorite authors, become friends with your favorite authors, share your writing, poetry, and what you're currently reading. You can also share book reviews, vote in polls, discover new books that you might like, take book quizzes, create quizzes, participate in discussions, get advanced notices of author appearances in your area, organize your books into multiple shelves including "Read", "Currently Reading", "To-Read" (the default bookshelves), and you can add extra shelves such as "Favorites", "Hated", "Paranormal", and so on. If you want to join Goodreads, you can visit www.goodreads.com.

Ciao!

Original Sin ARC Contest....

Hey everyone,

While randomly looking through the posts of blogs I follow, I found that Lisa Desrochers is having a contest to give away an advanced copy of Original Sin, the sequel to Personal Demons.

This contest will also give the winner a signed copy of Demon Glass by Rachel Hawkins. Demon Glass is a Hex Hall novel.

The chances of you being the winner are increased each time you do something to help promote the book. The scoring is as follows:
Old blog follower: +3 points
New blog follower: +2 points
"Like" the Personal Demons Books Facebook page +2
Follow me on Twitter (@LisaDez) +2 points
Link to my contest post on your blog or twitter: +1 point
Dedicated post with link to my contest on your website/blog: +3 points
Add me to your blogroll: +2 points
Original Sin widget in your blog sidebar +2

Once you add up all your points, you leave a comment on her contest page, which can be found at http://lisadesrochers.blogspot.com/2011/04/second-of-many-contests-for-no-reason.html

But be quick! The contest ends Friday, April 15th!

Ciao!

The Hunger Games: Down With the Capitol!!! :D

Cover Art of The Hunger Games
By Suzanne Collins

Hey everyone,

As you can probably guess, I've been able to get my hands on some awesome books lately. One of those books is the sensational bestseller, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I started reading this book in a reading group for English class, actually. In the Accelerated English II class at my school, the students get to choose what books they want to read in our groups. The books have to be ones the teacher approves of, and ones that the teacher can get multiple copies of. A large amount of the class wanted to read The Hunger Games, so here we are.

I was not able to put this book down! There was a large air of suspense to this novel, and it was a complete page-turner. The story revolves around a sixteen-year-old girl named Katniss Everdeen, who volunteers to take the place of her 12-year-old sister, Primrose, in the vicious gladiator-style Hunger Games. The entire novel circles around Katniss and her realization of how truly corrupt her government is. She also experiences what is means to look after someone as she and the fellow "tribute" from her district, Peeta, have to work together. And as for Peeta, well he might be a bit more interested in Katniss than she's like to believe.

As the series goes on the stance is clear: Down with the Capitol!

Back of Book Description:

Winning Means Fame And Fortune.
Losing Means Certain Death.
The Hunger Games Have Begun...

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards is as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before- and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Reviews:

"A violent, jarring, speed-rap of a novel that generates nearly constant suspense.... I couldn't stop reading."
~Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly

"I was so obsessed with this book.... The Hunger Games is amazing."
~Stephenie Meyer, author of the Twilight Saga

"Brilliantly plotted and perfectly paced."
~John Green, The New York Times Book Review

Official Scholastic Hunger Games Page: http://www.thehungergames.com/
Official Suzanne Collins Website: http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/
To Order The Hunger Games from Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Hunger-Games/Suzanne-Collins/e/9780439023528/?itm=1&USRI=the+hunger+games
To Order the Sequel, Catching Fire from B&N: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Catching-Fire/Suzanne-Collins/e/9780439023498/pwb=1&
To Order the Final Novel in the Triology, Mockingjay from B&N: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Mockingjay/Suzanne-Collins/e/9780439023511/pwb=1&

Maximum Ride: Can't Believe I Didn't Read It Earlier

Cover Art of The Angel Experiment:
Book 1 of the Maximum Ride Series

Hey Everyone,

Have you ever read a book that's been popular for a while and went "What took me so long to read this?" Well, I have just experienced that feeling, yet again, while reading the Maximum Ride Series by James Patterson. The series circles around "The Flock": A group of six bird-kids (98% Human, 2% Bird) who have escaped from the "Whitecoat" evil scientists who are determined to study them with cruel methods. (For example- they were raised in dog cages). The main character is a girl named Maximum, who goes by Max. She is the oldest of the group, at 14. Fang, her second-in-command, and sometimes love interest, is also 14 (a few months younger than Max, though). He's kind of quiet, but when he has something to say, it's very powerful. He is also extremely stubborn. Then there's Iggy, who is 14 and blind (the whitecoats had tried to improve his night vision and made him permanently blind). He's a good cook and flier, surprisingly, and Max notes that the only time his blindness bothers him is when somebody in the flock forgets and moves the furniture or something (Book 1).  Then there's Nudge, who is 11, and she is a little chatterbox. The flock refers to her as the Nudge Channel- all Nudge, all the time (Book 1). Then there's The Gasman, aka "Gazzy", who is eight, and has an unfortunate digestive problem that led to his namesake. Then there's Angel, and adorable little six year, who is Gazzy's biological sister (they are the only two related by blood). She is very gifted and can both see the future and read minds.

The books, in order, are:
1. The Angel Experiment (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Angel-Experiment/James-Patterson/e/9780316067959/?itm=3&USRI=maximum+ride%3a+the+angel+experiment)
2. School's Out- Forever (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Schools-Out-Forever/James-Patterson/e/9780316067966/pwb=1&)
3. Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Saving-the-World-and-Other-Extreme-Sports/James-Patterson/e/9780316154277/pwb=1&)
4. The Final Warning (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Final-Warning/James-Patterson/e/9780316002875/pwb=1&)
5. Max (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/MAX/James-Patterson/e/9780316002905/pwb=1&)
6. Fang (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Fang/James-Patterson/e/9780316038317/pwb=1&)
7. Angel (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Angel/James-Patterson/e/9780316036207/?itm=2&USRI=angel++maximum+ride+series+%237)

Official Maximum Ride Website: http://www.max-dan-wiz.com/
Official James Patterson Website: http://www.jamespatterson.com/
Official Maximum Ride Blog: http://www.maximumride.blogspot.com/

Official Fang (Book 6) Trailer:



Official Angel (Book 7) Trailer:



Note: The book description of Angel and Fang (Angel especially) is entirely different from the people in the video. I don't know why they chose the people they did. Angel is supposed to be an adorable little girl with curly blond hair and blue eyes. Oh well. Besides the fact that they got the character descriptions wrong, I think they're really awesome.

Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr- Incredible Ending to the Series

Cover Art for Darkest Mercy
By Melissa Marr

Hey everyone,

I randomly felt like blogging about how awesome a book I finished last week was. The book is Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr. It is the fifth and final book in the Wicked Lovely Series. The books, in order, are:

1. Wicked Lovely (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Wicked-Lovely/Melissa-Marr/e/9780061214677/?itm=2&USRI=wicked+lovely)
2. Ink Exchange (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Ink-Exchange/Melissa-Marr/e/9780061214707/pwb=1&)
3. Fragile Eternity (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Fragile-Eternity/Melissa-Marr/e/9780061214738/pwb=1&)
4. Radiant Shadows (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Radiant-Shadows/Melissa-Marr/e/9780061659225/pwb=1&)
5. Darkest Mercy (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Darkest-Mercy/Melissa-Marr/e/9780061659256/?itm=1&USRI=darkest+mercy)

There is also a Manga spin-off series:
1. Santuary (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Sanctuary/Melissa-Marr/e/9780061493546/?itm=31&USRI=wicked+lovely)
2.  Challenge (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Challenge/Melissa-Marr/e/9780061493492/pwb=1&)
3.  Resolve (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Resolve/Melissa-Marr/e/9780061493508/?itm=27&USRI=wicked+lovely)

This is the publisher's description of Darkest Mercy:

The Summer King is missing; the Dark Court is bleeding; and a stranger walks the streets of Huntsdale, his presence signifying the deaths of powerful fey.
 
Aislinn tends to the Summer Court, searching for her absent king and yearning for Seth. Torn between his new queen and his old love, Keenan works from afar to strengthen his court against the coming war. Donia longs for fiery passion even as she coolly readies the Winter Court for battle. And Seth, sworn brother of the Dark King and heir to the High Queen, is about to make a mistake that could cost his life.
 
Love, despair, and betrayal ignite the Faery Courts, and in the final conflict, some will win . . . and some will lose everything.
 
The thrilling conclusion to Melissa Marr's New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series will leave readers breathless.

Back of the Book Blurb:

Aislinn took a steady breath. "I need to find out where Keenan is. If he's not home, I'm going into war without him...which is not ideal. Someone knows where he is."

"I do not, my queen. I give my word that I will find out, though." Tavish's restrained facade slipped, and she saw the faery-cruel expression as he asked, "Are there limits to the methods?"

At that, she faltered. "Don't ask me to be a monster."

Affectionately, he reached out as squeezed her forearm. "You are a faery regent, Aislinn, and we are fast approaching war. Monstrosity will be called for. How far will you go to protect your court?"

My Review:

I absolutely loved this novel. Without giving spoilers to the other novels, I must say that I thought the novel brought together the loose ends of the other stories in a conclusion that was as satisfying as it was unexpected. I felt that Melissa Marr kept the story fresh and I loved how all characters from previous novels seemed to make an appearence. There isn't a whole lot I can say about this novel without spoiling the others, so I would sugest reading them in order. I've posted about the first two books in the past. The post on Wicked Lovely can be found at http://brandi-lovinglife.blogspot.com/2010/11/amazing-novel-wicked-lovely-by-melissa.html. The post on Ink Exchange can be found at http://brandi-lovinglife.blogspot.com/2010/11/excellent-surprise-ink-exchange-by.html.

Here is the Official Book Trailer (Love this!):



To visit Melissa Marr's Official Website, you can visit http://www.melissa-marr.com/

Lament By Maggie Stiefvater- Great So Far!



One Cover of Lament By
Maggie Steifvater

Last night I started the novel Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater. I have read two other novels by Maggie Stiefvater, Shiver and Linger, and loved them. I thought this novel sounded really good- I first paid attention to it when I saw a post on Maggie Stiefavter's blog, and the post was http://maggiestiefvater.blogspot.com/2011/01/italians-lingering-and-whispering.html. This novel so far (I'm only on page 126 so far) is about a girl named Deirdre who can see the fae. Deirdre is also an amazingly talented musician, and the Faerie Queen fears that Deirdre's music might outshine her own, so she sends an assassin after Deirdre. The Problem? Luke, the assassin, seems interested in Deirdre (or is he simply playing with her mind???). Deirdre is interested in Luke. James, Deirdre's best friend, wants to make sure Deirdre is safe no matter what. And the rest of the fae want to steal Deirdre away.

The back of the book description:

Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand- one who can see faeries.

Unexpectedly, Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy who enters her ordinary life, seemingly out of thin air. Trouble is, the enigmatic and gorgeous Luke turns out to be a gallowgass- a soulless faerie assassin- and his interest in her might be something darker than summer romance. A sinister faerie named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. They both carry the same assignment from the Faerie Queen, one that forces Dee right into the midst of Faerie. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend.

Deirdre had been wishing her summer wasn't so dull, but taking on a centuries-old Faerie Queen isn't exactly what she had in mind.


Another Cover of Lament by
Maggie Stiefvater


Praise for Lament:

"Full of the fierce and the fey, Lament is musical, magical, and radiating romance."
-Cynthia Leitich Smith, Author of Tantalize

"With her lyrical writing, Maggie Steifvater reimagines myths and legends to bring the world of Faerie to our own."
-Richelle Mead, New York Times Bestselling Author of the Vampire Academy Series

Maggie Stiefvater's Website: http://www.maggiestiefvater.com/
To Order Lament From Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Lament/Maggie-Stiefvater/e/9780738713700/?itm=2&USRI=lament+by+maggie+steifvater
To Order Ballad, The Sequel To Lament From Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Ballad/Maggie-Stiefvater/e/9780738714844/pwb=1

Last Sacrifice- Incredible! XD



Cover Art for Last Sacrifice



Hey everyone,

Not too long ago I made my post about how I couldn't wait for December 7th to get here. Well, yesterday evening I got the book and read it for a couple of hours, and finished the book earlier today. It was completely amazing! XD I don't want to give to much away, so I'm just going to post what's on the jacket of the book.

*For those who have not read up through the 5th novel, this summary might give some plot twists away*

Inside Flap Quote:
They come first.
My vision was growing dimmer, the blackness and ghosts closing in. I swore it was like I could hear Robert whispering in my ear: the world of the dead won't give you up a second time. Just before the light completely vanished, I saw Dimitri's face join Lissa's face. I wanted to smile. I decided then that if the two people I loved most were safe, I could leave this world.
The dead could finally have me.

Inside Flap Summary:
Rose Hathaway has always played by her own rules.
She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir's Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardians to come.

Now the law has finally caught up with Rose- for a crime she didn't even commit. She's in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She'll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir.

But the clock on Rose's life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back...and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your whole life is about saving others, who will save you?

Join Rose, Dimitri, Adrian, and Lissa in Last Sacrifice, the epic, unforgettable finale to Richelle Mead's international #1 bestselling Vampire Academy series.

Back of Book Brief Summary:
It all comes down to now.
Murder. Love. Jealousy. And the ultimate sacrifice.
The Queen is dead and the Moroi world will never be the same. Now, with Rose awaiting wrongful execution and Lissa in a deadly struggle for the royal throne, the girls find themselves forced to rely upon enemies and to question those they thought they could trust...

But what if true freedom means sacrificing the most important thing of all?
Each other.

Back of Book Quote:
As much as it killed me-as much as I tried to deny it-I still felt a lingering attraction to Dimitri. But he had rejected me, and I needed to harden my heart, especially if I wanted to move on with Adrian.

"Sorry, Roza." Dimitri's eyes flashed. "If Lissa wants me to be your bodyguard, then that's what I'll be." He gave me a dangerous look. "There's no way you're getting rid of me anytime soon."

Tag Line:
Love and Loyalty Run Deeper than Blood

Book Title: Last Sacrifice
Author: Richelle Mead
List Price: $17.99 (Hardback)
Authors Website: http://www.richellemead.com/
*If you buy from Richelle Mead's hometown bookstore (Found from Richelle Mead's website), you can recieve a signed copy! :D

Can't Wait for December 7th!!!



Cover Art of Last Sacrifice,
Coming Out December 7, 2010



I can't wait for December 7th! :D The sixth and final Vampire Academy novel by Richelle Mead is coming out. I've read the other five, and loved them. I've been waiting since I finished Spirit Bound, the fifth book in the spring when it came out. Spirit Bound ended on such a cliffhanger (but I won't ruin it for you :). This book looks like it is going to be one of the best. I can't really post what it's supposed to be about without ruining the other books, so I'll just say you should read them if you're a fan of YA Fantasy/Romance. (If not, this may not be your series lol)

The series, in a very brief overview, is about two vampire races, which are based on Romanian folklore. These two races are the Moroi (the "alive" not so evil vamps) and the Strogoi (the evil dead vamps). All vampires start out as Moroi, who are born. In order to become Strogoi, a Moroi must either willing murder another person by draining them of blood, or being forceably changed by a Strogoi. There is also the Dhampirs, who are half human, half Moroi. Dhampirs are the guardians for the Moroi because of their amazing fighting abilities. They seem to have gotten the best from both races. Funny enough though, no humans even know about Moroi (they stopped associating and intermarrying hundreds of years ago). For whatever weird reason, Dhampirs can only be born with one parent being a Moroi and the other being a Dhampir. If two Moroi have a child, it is a Moroi. If two Dhampirs have a child...well, it's not going to happen. For whatever other weird reason, two Dhampirs are not gentically able to have a child together. Anyways, the story surrounds around Rose, who is this strong, completely amazing Dhampir who is her best friend Lissa Dragomir (a Moroi)'s guardian. Rose encounters many problems, such as falling for her mentor, a 24-year old Russian guy named Dimitri (Team Dimitri XD). The series is incredible, and that's just a brief overview.

The books (in order) are Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kissed, Blood Promise, Spirit Bound, and Last Sacrifice. Richelle Mead also said that she is planning on doing a spin-off series based on the Vampire Academy books.

An Outstanding Novel- The Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene



Cover Art for
The Summer of My German Solider

 Personally, I have not found myself a large fan of “classic” novels that are older. Older novels in general seem to lack the excitement of the modern era, as I previously believed. But when I read the back summary of The Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene, I was intrigued. This story was about an American Jewish girl named Patty during World War II. This topic, Jews during WWII, seems to be a common topic for historical writing, but this one was different. Based on the back of the book alone, I was told that Patty was to befriend a POW kept in her small town- a German Nazi foot soldier. How interesting, I thought, for Bette Greene to bring to people who probably would have never had a friendship together.

From my schooling and knowledge I’ve abtained about WWII and the Holocaust, I’ve been convinced that WWII was one of the few wars that had a defined good vs. evil side. It seemed simple. The German Nazis were killing innocent Jews, so they were evil. No questions asked. Yet as I read this novel, I was given a new look into the human side of a seemingly evil Nazi. Anton, the POW that Patty became friends with, gave a new perspective as to why the German people followed Hitler, why the Germans felt the need to fight, and Anton also showed that the Nazis had positive human emotions (something you don’t seem to hear much about). This novel did not make the Nazis look good, not at all. Instead it showed how friendship is possible between even the least likely of places, and how each person is human, with human thoughts, and human emotions, despite their political and social beliefs.

I feel that The Summer of My German Soldier should be considered a treasured classic. It was enjoyable, informative, realistic, convincing, and an altogether well-rounded book that I would certainly recommend reading.

Coming Out of My Shell- When It Happens by Susane Colasanti



Cover Art of
When It Happens



I picked up When it Happens by Susane Colasanti not sure if I would like it or not. It’s not a paranormal romance novel (my favorite kind of novel) and was reality based (which is not something I look for in a book- I mean, my personal reason for reading is to escape reality), but I figured, it’s best to step outside of my comfort zone. I wanted to try something new, and this looked interesting. When I read it I was surprised by how relatable the characters were. Most realistic teen novels are written by adults who seem to have lost exactly what it feels like to be a teenager (another reason I usually don’t care for them), but this one felt very relatable. I myself am a nerd, and Sara seemed like a real person to me. The dialogue and writing wasn’t forced, and I found myself fighting to put it down for dinner.

As for the story itself…We have two main characters in this novel, whose prospectives go back and forth. Their names are Sara Tyler and Tobey Beller. Sara is considered a nerd, while Tobey is considered a slacker, and Sara has big plans for her future, while Tobey doesn’t really have anything in mind. These characters seem like many of the people I currently go to school with. And the nerd going out with the popular jock? Been there, done that. I know how annoying they can be, and felt that Colasanti hit the target with that one. As for Tobey…well, I am not a boy, so I don’t know if Tobey’s thoughts were like those of a boy. I do, however, know that Colasanti convinced me while I was reading that she knew exactly what she was doing while writing Tobey’s sections. Also, when reading some reviews for this novel, I found that some people felt it was confusing from the switching of POVs. But really, every other chapter is each character…(ex. Ch.1 Sara, Ch.2 Tobey, Ch.3 Sara, Ch.4 Tobey)…and even though their names are not listed, each of them has a different font for their chapter, and you can tell within the first few sentences by who they were hanging out with. I didn’t find the novel confusing at all. I would certainly recommend it to anyone, especially the people who don’t usually read novels like this. Susane Colasanti and Sarah Dessen have brought me a little out of my paranormal shell, and maybe they can do the same for you

An Excellent Surprise!-Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr



Cover Art for
Ink Exchange



As soon as I finished the novel Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, I rushed to find out what the next book in the series was. When I found Ink Exchange, I was hesitant to read it. I had fallen in love with Aislinn, Seth, Keenan and Donia in the first novel and wasn’t sure if I would enjoy a companion novel in which the four didn’t star. So, I hate to admit it, but I skipped Ink Exchange and went straight for Fragile Eternity, the true “sequel” to Wicked Lovely. DO NOT MAKE MY MISTAKE. By holding off on Ink Exchange I missed out for a while on an amazing novel. I honestly (for reasons I still don’t know) didn’t expect a whole lot out of this book…but that doesn’t mean I didn’t receive a whole lot. If you decide to skip to Fragile Eternity like I did, then not only are you missing out on a great novel, but you also a missing out on some of the things that happened in the faerie world in the companion novel. Aislinn, Seth, Keenan and (kinda) Donia are still in this novel. They just aren’t the main focus…which means things are still happening to them.

Well, as for the story itself…our main character is a mortal girl named Leslie who is a close friend of Aislinn’s. Leslie’s life has been in turmoil ever since her mother abandoned her, her father, and her brother. Her father took to not caring, and her brother became a drug dealer. Her brother even permitted for her to be attacked by other dealers. Because of all the messed up things in her life, Leslie feels that she needs to find a way too reclaim her life and reclaim her body. She decides that the best way to do that is through a tattoo. By marking her body with her own ideas, she felt as though she were claiming herself. But little did Leslie know that the tattoo that she was about to get was no ordinary tattoo. It is known as an ink exchange, and it binds her to a faerie, in this case the Dark King Irial, and the faerie can feed off of the mortal’s negative emotions. But a complication comes up when Leslie also catches the attention of Keenan’s advisor, Niall, who wishes to protect Leslie from not only the Dark Court, but also from himself. Now it’s time for Leslie to truly stand up and claim herself as her own.

I really loved this novel. The writing was amazing, and I loved the message that the novel gave…No matter what happens, you always have choices. This book is outstanding, you’ll regret it if you skip it, and I would recommend it to any teen paranormal/fae romance lovers.

An Excellent Debut Novel- The Iron King by Julie Kagawa



Cover Art of
The Iron King



I adored the novel The Iron King by Julie Kagawa. The story is about faeries, and this is the first novel that I’ve read that is true to all the old folklore while creating an interesting new twist. The story is about Meghan Chase, a small town girl who is the step-daughter of a pig farmer. She doesn’t have many things, most are from goodwill or are hand-me-downs. This adds a down-to-earth feel to Meghan’s character. She is finally the sweet sixteen when her best friend Robbie opens her eyes to the fae world around her. But Robbie didn’t do this just because he felt like letting Meghan in on the secret. He did it because Meghan adorable little four year old half-brother Ethan had been kidnapped by the fae and a changeling (fae child) had been left in Ethan’s place. Now Meghan is determined to get her little brother back, even if that means going into the terrible land of Nevernever, where faeries do not go bibbity-bobbity-boo and would much rather eat human flesh.

Many references to A Midsummer Night’s Dream also occur within this novel. We learn that Meghan is not who she thought she was, and is indeed the daughter of Oberon, King of the Seelie (or Summer) Court. Also making appearances are Mab, Titania, and Puck. To complicate matters, the fae look down on the offspring of fae and mortals, often referring to them as “half-breeds”. No one much likes Meghan as she sets off on her quest to find Ethan, but no one wishes to feel Oberon’s rath either.

A few companions accompany Meghan on her quest, however. One, a sneeky yet knowlegdable cat named Grimalkin, two, a certain someone named Puck who is very much a joker and trickster, and three, a winter prince named Ash, and sworn enemy of Meghan’s father’s court, who, despite his attempts to ignore Meghan, is captivated by her. In the meantime, more trouble is brewing. A new kind of fae, the iron fae, might cause everything in Nevernever, and everything Meghan loves (Ethan, Ash, Puck, Grimalkin and many others) to meet a terrible fate. I highly recommend this novel to any fae/ya romance fan! You won’t regret reading it!

An Amazing Novel- Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr



Wicked Lovely
Cover Art



Over the summer I had plenty of time to read, and one of the novels that amazed me this summer was Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. This novel is a teen novel geared more to the female population, though I would recommend it to anyone. The novel circles around faeries- faeries, not fairies. There is a difference. Faeries are not the little pleasant fairy godmothers we see in Disney movies. They are vicious and more like the unpleasant folklore that seems to have faded over time. The faeries in the Wicked Lovely are like those in the folklore- addictive and deadly to humans (or “mortals” as they are sometimes referred to).

This novel starts with a teenage girl named Aislinn (or “Ash” as her friends have nicknamed her) who has the “sight”. She is able to see and interact with the faeries, but she must not let them know. Her grandmother, who also has the sight, has set forward a few rules- 1. Don’t stare at invisible faeries, 2. Don’t speak to invisible faeries, and 3. Never attract the attention of the fae. But these rules become difficult to follow when the current Summer King, Keenan, has come to believe that Aislinn is the lost Summer Queen who will restore his court.

With so many things going wrong for Aislinn, she turns to her closest friend, Seth. Seth cares deeply for Aislinn, and wishes for her to stop keeping secrets from him. Until Aislinn opens up and tells her secrets, Seth knows nothing of the faeries. Now Aislinn and Seth must find out what Keenan really wants, stop the evil winter queen, figure out their feelings for each other, avoid being tortured by random fae, and keep Aislinn’s mortality from slipping away.