Top Ten Tuesday: Freebie

                  Top Ten Tuesday: Freebie

brought to you by the broke and the bookish

Jeni is out of the country this week, so it's just me. This week it's a freebie week, meaning we could pick our own top ten topic. (say that ten times).  I have chosen Top Ten Fantasy Books or Authors that I like. 

1. The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks. This is the second book in the Shannara series. I read this book when I was 15.  This book is long, as all his books tend to be.  It is sad, in a way. As in all High Fantasy novels, sacrafice is expected by the main characters, and the good guys have flaws, the should. I love the original Shannara books and would highly recommend them to anyone who hasn't tried High Fantasy yet.

2. The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams. This book was again, a long book.  I will warn readers, Mr. Williams likes to discribe things in detail. But once you get past that, this book was a great read. It was creepy, and the main character in this book rises from a lowly kitchen scullion, to become a hero. 

3. The Riddle Master of Hed by Patricia A. Mckillip. Talk about a lyrical writer!  If you have not tried reading Patricia Mckillip pick up one of her books now.  Her writing is very stylized and beautiful.  No one writes like her.  Try this one out for size. 

4. The Magician's Guild by Trudi Canavan. This is like a mix of the hunger games and high fantasy.  I would give this a try if you are interested in either. 

5. The Eye of The World by Robert Jordan if you start this series, be prepared.  It's long and very involved.  I have yet to finish it.  I think I have made it to book seven and then quit.  But it's very well done.

6. Magician Apprentice: Raymond E. Feist this book was a mix of Scifi and fantasy.  It took me a little while to get use to this book, but I liked the series. 

7. Assassin's Apprentice: Robin Hobb. Fitz is born on the wrong side of the royal family, but he born with the ability to talk with animals.  He is also in need of a friend, he becomes trained as an assassin. This a newer high fantasy novel.  I liked the story and the transitions in the characters. 

8. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. This book brings back a lot of childhood memories.  I read the whole series while growing up.  And I watched the old PBS movies countless times.  I loved the books. 

 9. Silver Birch, Blood Moon: Editor Ellen Datlow. this is a anthology of stories written by various authors. I liked the previous ones and gave this a go. I would recommend this series of works by this editor.  It was entertaining and I found new authors to read by reading these books.

10. The Woodcutter by Kate Danley I got this book on my kindle.  It was surpising read.  I liked this mix up of all the fairy tales and enjoy the twists in this book. 

Movie-Moment Monday: Night

Movie-Moment Monday: Night
By Elie Wiesel
My Foxy Summary:  Night is a real story about Elie Wiesel when he was a 15 year old boy during World War II. This is centered on his experience of being a Jewish prisoner in the Holocaust; from  being captured to his freedom.

My Foxy Book Review: I loved this book. It haunts you to your core. I was shocked that humans could treat others inhumanly, because of a difference of belief. Even though this is a short read, I promise your heart will ache with sorrow for Elie's story. His retelling is beautiful. This is one of my top 5 favorites. Definitely put this on your must read list.
My Foxy Rating: 5 out of 5 foxes.

My movie rating: PG-13/R, because of the graphic nature of what he went through.

Book VS Movie:
Even though this wasn't a movie, it was on Opra's talk show. She had done a personal interview with Elie Wiesel at Auscwitz death camp. The interview isn't for the faint of heart, but it will change your life. I loved both the book and the interview. I will forever be grateful for the blessings I have been given: my freedom and my life.

Friday Friendly Visitor: MaryAnn

Friday Friendly Visitor: MaryAnn

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West 
by Gregory MaguireOverviewWhen Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil?Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.
My take- I read this book hoping to get some insight about the play.  A friend of mine told me that the play was better, but I thought I’d still give it a try. The first section of the book caught my interest, but when I moved to the next section I got confused.  It jumped from Elphaba being two years old to Galinda going to college.  For me, the time jump was baffling as it took a few pages into the section to find out how much time had passed.  Unfortunately, this was the case for every section and it turned me off to the story.  It was an interesting twist on a classic story that everyone knows and just goes to show that there are two sides to every story. 
 Movie rating would be R for some nudity and sexual context. 
My foxy rating is 2 out of 5.

Thumbing Through the Past Thursday: Fever 1793

THUMBING THROUGH THE PAST: FEVER 1793

Thumbing Through the Past Thursday is a monthly book review of books published in 2000 or latter. We felt there are so many older books which get left in the past and forgotten. This is our attempt to bring those classics back to life. 

Fever 1793
By Laurie Halse Anderson
first published in September 2000

Camille's Skinny:

The Yellow Fever hits Philadelphia in 1793. Fifteen year old Matilda Cook, gets caught up in the devastation of the Fever. In this book, you follow her, and how she copes with the destruction of the Yellow Fever.
This book was amazing. Even though it was written for young adults, I suggest all should read this book. It takes you on a roller coaster of emotions. You cheer when she finds a hand full of beans. You cry when she finds a child crying for her dead mother. This book is beautifully written.
My foxy rating is 5.5 out of 5 foxes. This is one of the best books I've read.

Jeni's Take:

This book was on my TBR list forever. I'm glad I finally picked it up to read. It was amazing. It started off a little slow for me but then it took you on a crazy ride of emotions. I loved her relationship with her grandfather which made me miss mine. I love how Mattie finds the strength to keep going and how she helps others when she isn't really sure on how to help herself. Great book that I will have my girls read when they get a little older. My foxy rating 4.5 out of 5 foxes.

Emily's Take:

This book is not something I would have picked out on my own, which is the whole idea behind this day. I was a little unsure of this book to start out.  The main character started out as a typical whiny teenager, and I was worried that the lines of modern writing, were blurring with the past of 1793 a little too much.  But as the story developed, I began to see how the character grew.  Writing historical fiction can be tricky, and I thought Ms. Anderson did a fair job at it.  I would give this book 3.5 out of 5 foxes

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: Thornhill

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

Book: Thornhill (Hemlock, #2)

Author:  Kathleen Peacock

Publisher: Katherin Tegen books

Release date: September 10th, 2013

From Goodreads:

Mac can’t lose another friend. Even if he doesn’t want to be found.

The ripple effect caused by Mac’s best friend Amy’s murder has driven Mac’s new love, Kyle, to leave Hemlock and disappear from her life forever. But Mac knows that Kyle plans to enroll in a rehabilitation camp, where he can live with other werewolves. She refuses to accept his decision, especially since the camps are rumored to be tortuous. So she sets out in search of Kyle with a barely sober Jason—and Amy’s all-seeing ghost—in tow.

Clues lead Mac to find Kyle in a werewolf den in Colorado—but their reunion is cut short by a Tracker raid. Now Mac and Kyle are trapped inside the electric fences of Thornhill, a camp for young werewolves. As she devises an escape plan, Mac uncovers dangerous secrets buried within the walls of Thornhill—and realizes that the risk to the people she loves is greater than ever before.

TOP TEN TUESDAY: FAVORITE BOOK COVERS OF BOOKS I'VE READ.

brought to you by: the broke and the bookish

1.  Entwined by Heather Dixon: A fantastic retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. 

2. Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock: An interesting werewolf tale. I liked it but didn't love it. 

3. Enchanted by Alethea Kontis: A retelling of the Princess and the Frog and some other fairy tales mixed in. It got a little confusing at times but I still loved it. 

4. Friends and Foes by Sarah M. Eden: One of my favorites from this author.  I love that the main character isn't perfect.

5. The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen: I absolutely love Julie Klassen's books. This is slighty Jane Eyreish. Great story and I loved the cover. 

Emily's Picks:

6. Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth. I was on a slight hang over from all the dystopian novels I had read, and wasn't sure I wanted to read another one.  And low and behold, loved it. Plus, this cover catches your eye.  I like that it didn't have another girl in a long pretty dress. Don't get me wrong though, I love long pretty dresses. :)

7. Grave Mercy by R.L LaFevers. This book took me on an adventure.  Plus, strong female lead, and she is a trained assassin.  I can't complain about that.  And I loved the cover, and yes, it's a girl in a long bold dress. 

8. Always A Witch (Witch #2) by Carolyn MacCullough. If you like witches, and love, and spells this book is for you.  It's the second book in a two book series.  I picked the first book up on a whim, and loved it. I loved the second book as well. The main character, Tam, I thought was a wonderful lead. Plus, the cover is dark, yet beautiful and haunting. 

 

9. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by: Michelle Hodkin.   Mara Dyer wakes up in a hospital with memory loss and she doesn't think life can get any stranger. And it does, increasingly.  I'll admit, this wasn't my favorite read of the year last year.  I had a hard time with this book.  I might have to try it again some time.  But look at that cover!  It's disturbing, and beautiful at the same time.  Got give them props for that one. 

10. Of Poseidon (Of Poseidon #1) by Anna Banks.  Emma doesn't know she is any different from any one else on the beach until she meets Galen. And so the story begins.  I love this cover. It's haunting and beautiful and captures the idea of the ocean and mermaids without being obvious. 

Movie-Moment Monday: Beastly

Movie-Moment Monday: Beastly
By Alex Flinn
My Foxy Summary: This book is a teenage modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

My Foxy Book Review: It was an interesting spin on the Beauty and the Beast. Kyle Kingsbury crosses a witch with his snobbish personality and he get cursed. A girl Lindy holds the key to  breaking the curse. I thought it was an ok read. Not my favorite book.
My book Rating is: 2.5 out of 5 foxes.
My Book Movie rating: PG there is some language.

Book V.S. Movie
They both were not the best written or flimed. I feel they both lost.

STACKING THE SHELVES: #3

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! Hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

BOUGHT:

USED BOOK STORE:

Running with Demon by Terry Brooks

A Knight of the Word by Terry Brooks

Angel Fire East by Terry Brooks

Wildfire by 

Pegasus by Robin McKinley

AMAZON: 

The Inventor's Secret by Chad Morris 

School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins (So excited for book signing next week!!!!)

LIBRARY

Ice by Sarah Beth Durst (Jessica Day George recommended this one)

KINDLE

Foolish Games By Leah Spiegel

Time Out by Leah Spiegel

The Wedding Blitz by Leah  Spiegel

Leopard Moon by Jeanette Battista

Friday Friendly Visitor: Rachel

FRIDAY FRIENDLY VISITOR: RACHEL

Divergent by Veronica Roth

 Rachel's Take: 

            This book is centered around a young girl named Beatrice. It takes place in a dystopian society in which everyone belongs to one of five factions based on virtue.  At the age of 16 everyone is forced to choose which faction they would like to belong to for the rest of their lives.  Beatrice faces a really difficult decision because even though she doesn't believe she belongs with the faction that she has been raised in, she might never see her family again if she leaves.  She has to find the courage to be the person that she wants to become, instead of letting everyone else decide who she should be. 

        I had a hard time with the first half of this book, it starts out a little slow.  It is well worth it though, once I got into it I really didn't want to put it down.  There is plenty of action and some romance, and it's never cheesy.  I really like the characters in this book, especially Beatrice.  She appears to be  passive and vulnerable to everyone at first, and nobody believes in her. But she proves them wrong and surprises everyone with her strength and courage.  I can't wait to read the second and third book to see what happens next!

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: LONGING FOR HOME

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

Book: Longing for Home

Author: Sarah M. Eden

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Release Date: August 6, 2013

From Goodreads:

Twenty-six-year-old Katie Macauley has placed all her hope in Hope Springs, a small town in the 1870 Wyoming Territory. But if she wants to return home to Ireland to make amends with her estranged family, she'll need to convince the influential Joseph Archer to hold true to his word and keep her on his payroll as his housekeeper despite her Irish roots. The town is caught in an ongoing feud between the Irish and the "Reds" the frontiersmen who would rather see all the Irish run out of town and the Irish immigrants who are fighting to make a home for themselves in the New World. When Joseph agrees to keep Katie
on as his housekeeper, the feud erupts anew, and Katie becomes the reluctant figurehead for the Irish townsfolk. As the violence escalates throughout the town, Katie must choose between the two men who have been vying for her love though only one might be able to restore hope to her heart.

brought to you by: the broke and the bookish

TOP TEN TUESDAY:  BOOKS DEALING WITH TOUGH SUBJECTS

brought to you by: the broke and the bookish

JEN'S PICKS

1. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen: (Grief) I love Sarah Dessen books. This one and Just Listen are my favorites. This book deals with a girl that has lost her father and is also dealing with issues with her boyfriend and mom. Definitely a thought provoking book. I liked that even though the book deals with grief there were tons of moments that were just about having fun. 

2. North of Beautiful by Justina Chen: (Self acceptance) A beautifully written coming of age story dealing with self acceptance. The main character was relatable. I also have a port wine stain and remember going through some of the struggles she went through. I'm lucky my birthmark wasn't on my face but getting into a bathing suit was never easy for me. A great book to read for anyone that has ever doubted themselves. 

3. Wishing for Someday Soon by Tiffany King: (Abuse) A heart wrenching emotional book. This story follows Katelyn and her brother struggling with an abusive mother. I loved Katelyn's perseverance throughout the book. The love story was predicable and a little to perfect but it fit for me in this book.  

4. Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta: (Depression, family issues, social) This was the first Melina Marchetta book I read. I loved it. This book was full of humor and heartfelt moments.  Francesca's mother is dealing with acute depression and Francesca has to step up to help keep the family together. At the same time she is dealing with social climbing at the school her mom forced her to attend. The friendship building is fantastic and I laughed out loud in some parts. 

5. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks: (Grief, family issues). The movie for this book was awful but the book was great. I love how her relationship with her father builds and I was upset when the movie made it into more of a love story. My favorite parts of this book dealt with the father and her. 

6.  There You'll Find Me by Jenny B Jones: (Grief) A book about searching for peace after someone close to you dies. This book was beautiful and heartwarming . There was just enough humor to counter the seriousness of the subject matter. There is a lot of talk about God so if you don't like that this book might not be for you. 

7. Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs: (Rape) This is a paranormal book but I felt it dealt with the  theme of rape and the aftermath adequately. She did it in a way that wasn't to graphic. This is one of my favorite series. 

8.  Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah: (breast cancer, friendships) My sister got me to read this book. I wasn't a huge chick lit fan but I'm glad she persuaded me to read this. The ending of this book was amazing and made me think about my relationships with friends that I have had for years. I hope I can be a more forgiving person.  She is coming out with a sequel soon. I can't wait to read how life moves on for the characters that were left behind. 

9.  Heart on a Chain by Cindy C Bennet: (abuse) Wow I can't even imagine having a mom or father like this. I came from such a great home.. I hope there really are guys out there in the world that would act the way the boy did. Definitely makes me try harder not to judge people by their looks. Awesome book . 

10. The Only Alien on the Planet by Kirsten D. Randle.(family issues, friendships) I know I rant and rave about this book all the time. I love it. It was just one of those reads that will stay with me always. I can't say enough good things about this book. 

Movie_Moment Monday: The Help

The Help
 by Kathryn Stockett

My Foxy Summary: The Help 
This book is about the town Jackson Mississippi, and the colored help in white people's homes during the 1960's.  Skeeter a white girl who comes home from graduating from college is seeking to be a writer. She searches out a story that will start her career off. She notices how the white people treat the colored help and gets some of the colored help to tell her stories about how it is to work for the white people.

My Foxy Book Review: The Help
This book was a wonderful read. I thought racism was bad, but I didn't truly understand how bad it was. All of the characters in this book are well developed. Minnie was a favorite of mine. I suggest to read this book, you will laugh hard and your heart will be touched.
My foxy Rating is: 4.5 out of 5 foxes.
My book Movie rating is: PG 13

Book V.S. Movie: This is a draw. Both the movie and the book were amazing. The book has more details in the short stories, but the movie did a wonderful job projecting the idea of the book on the big screen.
The movie is rated PG-13 for language and racism. The movie was produced in 2011.

STACKING THE SHELVES: #2

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! Hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

The Scholastic Book Fair

Every book I bought was half off.  I've read a lot of these already but I didn't own a copy. 

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

The 13th Reality by James Dashner

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Kissed by Cameron Dokey

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

Distant Waves by Suzanne Weyn

Leaving Paradise by  Simone Elkeles

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Dust Lands by Moira Young

The Heist Society by Ally Carter 

Chime by Franny Billingsley

The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan

The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George

Holes by Louis Sachar

The Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson

Kindle 

 Perception by Lee Strauss

Eternal Vow by Chrissy Peebles

Nook

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

The Sweetest Spell by Suzanne Selfors










Library

First Test by Tamora Pierce

   FRIDAY VISITOR: SARIAH 

Alex Rider: Stormbreaker

By: Anthony Horowitz

Sariah's Take:

Alex is fourteen years old when this story begins. His uncle, Ian Rider, dies in a so called car accident, but Alex knows better. He goes and investigates and finds out his uncle wasn’t in just any car accident. As he is finding out about his uncle, he goes on a little adventure. He gets a job where his uncle worked at......I won’t say any details. This book is full of fun adventure and mysteries. I would recommend this book to people who like action! When I read it, (the whole series) I couldn’t put the books down. A real fun book full of thrill!

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: EMERALD GREEN

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

I feel like I have been waiting forever for this book. I even considered learning German three years ago so I could finish the trilogy instead of waiting for it to be translated.

Title: Emerald Green (The Ruby Red Trilogy, #3)

Author Kirsten Gier, Anthea Bell (translator)

Publisher: Henry Colt and Co.

Release Date: October 8, 2013

From: Goodreads

Gwen has a destiny to fulfill, but no one will tell her what it is.
She’s only recently learned that she is the Ruby, the final member of the time-traveling Circle of Twelve, and since then nothing has been going right. She suspects the founder of the Circle, Count Saint-German, is up to something nefarious, but nobody will believe her. And she’s just learned that her charming time-traveling partner, Gideon, has probably been using her all along.
This stunning conclusion picks up where Sapphire Blue left off, reaching new heights of intrigue and romance as Gwen finally uncovers the secrets of the time-traveling society and learns her fate

Top Ten Tuesday

TOP TEN TUESDAY: THINGS TO READ WHEN YOU NEED SOMETHING LIGHT AND FUN.

brought to you by: The Broke and the Bookish

Jeni's Picks:

1. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins:  The first time I read this book I read it in one sitting. It was a fun fast easy read. A little cheesy at times but definitely a light read.

2. Snow in April by Rosamunde Pilcher.  My grandma is the person that got me to love reading. She always recommended books and I loved them all. Rosamunde Pilcher is on of my favorite authors that my grandma introduced me too. I reread all of her books every year.  Snow in April is my favorite of the bunch but Sleeping Tiger and September are close runner ups. 

3. Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson: I love this book. It is a light easy make you feel good kind of read. If you love Regency romance you would most likely love this. 

4. Drops of Gold by Sarah M Eden:  I think this author gets better with each book. I first read The Kiss of a Stranger and loved it. I read Friends and Foes next and I loved that more but Drops of Gold has become my new favorite. 

5. The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen. This is one my favorite books from 2012. It is a little bit more serious but it  has a little bit of everything comedy, suspense and adventure. The second book The Runaway King is an entertaining read too. I highly recommend reading them both.

Emily's Picks:

6. Sleeping Tiger by Rosamunde Pilcher. I love Ms. Pilcher.  Every year I dig out her books and read them all over again.  this one is on the top of my list of re-reads.  It's a funny book, and I love the story.  It's a light, quick read.  You could read this in  a couple of hours.  (and I agree with Jeni, Snow In April is one of my favorites.)

7. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine.  I fist watched the movie and thought it was quirky, so I thought, why not give the book a try?  Okay, loved the book even better.  And I will never understand why Hollywood feels the need to change books so much!  I loved the story so much.  This is a younger read, but I liked it.  And it's an original fairy tale, so you have to love that.

8.  Under Gemini by Rosamunde Pilcher:  I know, I know.  Another one from this wonderful lady.  But seriously.  I can't help it.  This is the first book I read that I laughed out loud.  Mainly  because I could picture this one scene in the book so vividly.  This is the book that made me want to visit Scotland.  And you really can't go wrong with Ms. Pilcher. 

9. One for the Money by Janet Evanovich: okay, so this book is a light read, and it's funny.  Hello, the Grandma is the funniest character on the planet.  I thought this book was hilarious  in a lot of parts.  And it kept me entertained through out.  

10. The Camelot Caper by Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels: Elizabeth Peters writes about archaeology and mystery and love.  Three things that interest me and she does it in such a way that is charming and humorous. I thought this book was a fun read and was fraught with high adventure while not taking itself seriously.  

Movie-Moment Monday: Eragon

Eragon

By Christopher Paolini

My Foxy Summary: Eragon
Eragon's adventure starts when he stumbles on a polished blue stone. This was no ordinary stone, because it hatches to reveal one of the last Dragons. As Eragon bonds with the dragon, he comes to realize he can become a Dragon Rider, and help purge the Empire of a wicked ruler.
Will Eragon become a Dragon Rider? Can he trust the old man who clams to be one of the last Dragon Riders?

My Foxy Book Review: Eragon
Fun fact. Christopher, the author, started to write this book at the age of ten. When I found this out I was floored because this book is a masterpiece of wording and imagery. The style of writing reminded me of Lord of the Rings.  With that said, I suggest everyone should read this book. The Author does a great job with telling a complete story.
Foxy Book rating: 4 out of 5 foxes, only because I'm personally not a big fan of longed winded midevil style of writing, so this book wasn't in my top ten.
Book Movie rating: PG very clean but there is a little violence.

Book V.S. Movie
The book was the victor in this battle. I don't know why Hollywood would try to fit a 500 page book into a hour and a half movie. Of coarse Hollywood twisted the story, to fit it into a movie; but it was a flop. This story only can be justified through the readers imagination. Sorry Big Screen you lost big time.

Sunday Special:Masque of the Red Death

Sunday Special is where all of us foxy girls read the same book and write a short review about it.

Masque of the Red Death

by Bethany Griffin

Jeni's Take:
I would describe this book as a dystopian steam-punk with a little bit of romance. I loved the dark and moody atmosphere of this book. The writing worked for me and the idea was intriguing.  I didn't like the drug use. Love triangles, how I hate them but I think this was the first one that I switched teams part way through the book. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
 Rating 4 out of 5 foxes

Camille's Skinny:

Death is a fearful thing. At times devastation can consume us to the point where life seems to mock us. In a world filled with a plague, Araby Worth feels the sting of her own life. Her brother died because of her and her father has become a slave for the King because of the masks he had invented. Araby falls into a life journey that may save not only her own life but of those she has started to love.

This book is a different book and it encouraged me to do some research. With the research I did find, Bethany, the author, got the idea for this book from an Edgar Allan Poe short story (Masque of the Red Death). I thought Bethany did a beautiful retelling of this story. It is a darker mood with steam-punk and Victorian influence marbled together. I love how she created such a weak female creature and built her to be this power house in this book. There are adult content with drug use and depression so I would steer young adults away from the book.

My foxy book review would be 5 out of 5 foxes.

Emily's Review

Araby Worth is introduced to us in the beginning of the book as a character who is seeking to drown herself in the world of intoxication.  The world around her is dying, and because of this everyone who can afford to, wear masks to protect themselves from evil air (if you study history this has a lot of interesting implications, actually) she isn't taking drugs to be healthy, but to become numb.  She has decided to become numb, because she feels guilt, she is alive and her brother is dead..I won't go into too much detail about this aspect of the book, but I found that part of her character annoying and confusing.  She never fully developed as a well rounded person, for myself. I didn't not understand her betrayal in this book.  I did not like the love triangle. I liked neither love interests.  I had a hard time with this book.  I could go into more detail, but won't in the interest of time. 

 I would give this book 2 out 5 foxes.

Stacking The Shelves: #1

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! Hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Library

 Bought

Kindle

Friday Friendly Visitor: Andy

The Confession
By John Grisham

I have always enjoyed John Grisham's style of writing.  Because of this enjoyment, I decided to read The Confession.  This book spiked my interest just as much as any of the other books he has written.  He definitely had twists and turns that were unexpected.  If you like law stories and suspense, this is definitely a book for you.
Foxy rating: 4 out of 5 foxes.
Andy

Emily's Review: The Haunting Of Alaizabel Cray

The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray
by Chris Wooding
This book is based in a London that has been infested by creatures that lurk in the shadows and who feast on the good citizens there.  The only thing keeping these fearful creepy crawlies away? A few good men/women who will brave the Old Quarter of the city and fight off the evil.  They are called wych hunters. One of these is a young, but fierce fighter, Thaniel.  He has seen much in his few short years and he has a lot too prove.  He encounters a demon possessed but beautiful girl on one his hunts, her name is Alaizbel, and although he knows he should kill her, there is something about this girl that stops him. This decision will change the course of not only his life, but the entire city of London.  This is my first jaunt into the world of horror, gothic, steampunk..whatever you want to call this book.  I loved every minute.  I liked the hero.  He struggles through out the book to come out of his father's shadow and make a mark of his own in this world that his knows.  I loved the humanity that is shown, even though there is horror in this book.  I loved that it was creepy. I loved the twists and turns in this book, the creatures were evil and scary and had me hiding in me covers a couple of times.  This book was lyrical and beautiful, even though there was horror, and graphic scenes of death.  The world building was immediate and I felt invested in the fates of Thaniel and Alaizabel.  I also thought that each character in the book were worth something to the story and were not throw away characters.  They each served a purpose.  Which is a mark of a great author, in my opinion.

If you want a great read, and you aren't sure where to start in the steampunk world, pick up this book.

I would give The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray 5 out of 5 foxes

Emily