Randomosity

Today is one of those days that I do nothing but still managed to feel stressed because of all the work I know I will have this week. I didn't even realize I hadn't posted today until now. I'm not letting my "blogging every day" streak end here, so here are some things I have thought about today or found on the internet while I was procrastinating:

- I finished the Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making it Work by Tim Gunn today. I received it at BEA and could not resist reading it straight away. It's Tim Gunn, how am I supposed to wait?(It was awesome, by the way. I am ~inspired.)

- Speaking of BEA books, I am also nearly done with Beautiful Darkness. omg. Kami, Margie, what are you doing to me?

- I have been catching up on my Pretty Little Liars TV news and stumbled upon this:





Want this show now! I'm hoping it doesn't suck. But if it does suck, I'm hoping that it's a "so bad it's awesome" kind of thing.

- Speaking of PLL, anyone in LA going to this event on Saturday? I want to but may be drowning in studying for finals. I'm debating taking my backpack and studying stuff with me if I go. #iamanerd

- "There are many, many types of books in the world, which makes good sense, because there are many, many types of people, and everybody wants to read something different." – The Bad Beginning

I sure do love Lemony Snicket. A Series of Unfortunate Events does not get enough loving. (Fun fact: he was the first author I ever met. I consider him and his books to be a ~changer of my life~ because of my lurve for them when I was a young'n. I did love Harry Potter when I was little but I never really had anyone to obsess over them with. I had more friends to obsess over A Series of Unfortunate Events. That obsession lead to me reading many more things. :D)

I'm home!

I have just arrived home after a delightful almost-week in NYC for Book Expo America. I would post a few pictures now but of course the internet on my computer is not working, so I have to use the icky family desktop. I will attempt to get my recap post(s?) up soon, but along with having no internet on the good computer, I also have a disgusting amount of homework to make up and finals in a week and a half (AHH). But it was an absolutely awesome trip, and I loved every moment except the moments where I was ill or so tired that I would have slept on the subway (well, maybe I wasn't that desperate).

Here is a picture I stole from Josh Berk on twitter. (Does it count as stealing if I have a similar picture? Or does it count since I am in the picture? Whatever.) It pretty much sums up the trip:

Thoughts On: Ratings (or: Why I Don't Do Ratings)

Just some quick thoughts on ratings, because I mostly want to hear what you think. x)

You may have noticed that I don't use ratings on my reviews, unlike many other bloggers. I don't give scores out of 10 (though I did when I started this blog), individual scores on writing/plot/characterization and then an average grade, or letter grades.

I don't like the score out of 5 or 10 because I would get into crazy decimal numbers. Giving ratings on goodreads is challenging enough. On goodreads, I never give 1/5 because that just seems harsh to me (and I don't hate anything that much). I hardly ever give 2/5 because I usually at least like something. 3 stars I give to stuff I thought was ok. I give 4 stars to basically everything, and I hardly ever give 5 stars (I don't think I've given anything 5 stars so far this year). I think I most often feel 3.5/5 stars for a book, which goodreads doesn't allow me to give, so I just round up. Occasionally I'll round down from like a 4.25, or just give a solid 4. The rounding thing doesn't seem like it would work as well on the blog, and if I did do star ratings on the blog, I would end up with 3.51823/5 stars. That's annoying.

I would be awful at the individual score and then average thing, mostly because I feel odd about grading things like writing. I'm terrible at identifying good and bad writing unless it is extremely obvious.

The letter grade thing I kind of like, but I feel like I would end up giving everything Bs.

In short: I think I hate everything too much to give ratings. (Maybe not hate, but I usually end up feeling "eh" or "good" about most things.)

So, do you like ratings? Just wondering, because in the past I've had people ask me to do ratings again, but I'm a bit hesitant about it.

This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitas

[description from B&N]

A CHILLING NOVEL ABOUT THE ISOLATION OF BEING STALKED AND THE ABUSE OF POWER.

Olivia Peters is over the moon when her literary idol, the celebrated novelist and muchadored local priest Mark D. Brendan, offers to become her personal writing mentor. But when Father Mark’s enthusiasm for Olivia’s prose develops into something more, Olivia’s emotions quickly shift from wonder to confusion to despair. Exactly what game is Father Mark playing, and how on earth can she get out of it?

This remarkable novel about overcoming the isolation that stems from victimization is powerful, luminous, and impossible to put down.

Review:

Not since JD McCoy in Friday Night Lights have I hated a fictional character so much. Every single time the priest, Father Mark, was mentioned in this book I would rage. My hatred was so fierce that I texted my buddy Sarah of Sarah's Random Musings every few pages, saying things like "THIS FREAKING PRIEST" and "OMG HE NEEDS TO GO DIE IN A FIRE."

(Sometimes, I get very into the books I am reading.)

Because of my priest-hate, This Gorgeous Game is not exactly a book I enjoyed reading, but I liked it in a twisted kind of way. Although it was a bit frustrating, I loved how slowly Olivia realized just what going on. There are no huge scary events that happen- the book is mostly just full of subtle tension that grows over time. Because of all the creepy build-up, I was dying to find out what would happen at the end. The ending is a bit anticlimactic and less dramatic than one may think, but I liked it nonetheless. It was kind of nice to read a different ending than I expected.

I also liked that Olivia wasn't ugly. I'm often annoyed by main characters who have extremely low self-esteem, but that's not the case with Olivia. She admits that she's a smart, good writer, which makes the whole creeper situation a bit more eerie because she still got sucked in despite her intelligence. I wish some of the supporting characters were as developed as she was, but it makes sense that they weren't because Olivia doesn't spend too much time with them.

This Gorgeous Game is light on action but full of creepy tension. It's different than some of the other things I've read recently because of its subtlety, which made me like it even more.

Book details: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux/Hardcover/$16.99

Dan Elconin Interview

Dan Elconin is the author of the Peter Pan retelling Never After. I'm dying to read it because Peter Pan is totally awesome.

Here's the full book description for you, straight from goodreads:

There is no place like a dysfunctional home.

Leaving everything behind for the Island was Ricky's dream come true. When his happily ever after is not quite what it seems, he discovers that running away means running toward bigger problems.

Trapped on the Island, Ricky must join together with the only people he can trust to help him face his fears and return home. But the only way off the Island is to confront the person who trapped Ricky and his friends in the first place. With countless enemies and true peril staring them down, Ricky's mission to leave this so-called paradise will become a battle for their very lives.

---

And without further ado, the interview:

1) Favorite Disney song?

“I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from Mulan.

2) THAT IS MY JAM! I hear there are swords in your book. Have you ever used a sword? If so, for what?

I’ve never used a real sword, but I’m pretty dangerous with a pool noodle.

3) Why Peter Pan? Why not, like, Hercules or something else Disney has tainted?

Because Disney tainted Peter Pan worst of all. Nowhere in JM Barrie’s original novel does it say that Peter Pan looks like an effeminate artichoke.

4) I heard from my buddy Erica that your book is funny. How do you decide what's funny and what is just lame and needs to be edited out? Or are you just so funny that nothing ever fails?

As soon as I write something funny, I put it out of my mind. Then, when I’m rereading later (the later the better for this purpose), the joke seems almost new to me, and if I smile or laugh, I keep it. I’m definitely NOT so funny that nothing ever fails, as this interview will probably make clear.

5) Would you rather be a Lost Boy or a pirate?

Definitely a pirate. You get guns, rum, and a cool hat, what more could you want?

6) You also get a parrot! Zombies or unicorns?

Zombies. Hands down.

7) A wise choice. Anything else you want to add?

Thanks so much for the interview! =D

---

You're welcome! My pleasure. :D

For more on Dan or Never After, be sure to check out his website!

And just because it's awesome:

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. (:

Today's pick:

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

description (from goodreads):

Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it.

---

I kind of hate the "hot guy has a secret and then girl ends up liking him" thing, but I'm excited for this one anyway. It sounds like a much better twist on the cliche, and I love that the works of Edgar Allan Poe play a role. Poe's stuff is one of the few things I've read for school that I liked. Also, there has got to be some spooky/scary/creepy stuff if Poe is included. I love creepy!

Released August 31.

The Heart is Not a Size by Beth Kephart

[description from goodreads]

Georgia knows what it means to keep secrets. She knows how to ignore things. She knows that some things are better left unsaid. ...Or are they?

When Georgia and her best friend, Riley, travel along with nine other suburban Pennsylvania kids to Anapra, a squatters' village in the heat-flattened border city of Juarez, Mexico, secrets seem to percolate and threaten both a friendship and a life. Certainties unravel. Reality changes. And Georgia is left to figure out who she is outside the world she's always known.

Beth Kephart paints a world filled with emotion, longing, and the hot Mexican sun.

Review:

Beth Kephart's books never fail me.

The Heart is Not a Size is not the most exciting book in the world, nor the quickest to begin. The girls don't arrive in Mexico until more than a third of the book is over, but in this case, I didn't really mind the slow beginning or lack of excitement. Kephart has a way of making things interesting when there aren't too many events happening; her writing is so lovely that she could probably make textbooks entertaining to read.

Georgia is not as memorable as her friend, Riley, but she was so easy to relate to that it was a bit uncomfortable. Her stress, particularly about school, is basically the same as my own in this crazy end-of-the-school-year time. I wish her problems were explored a bit more, or at least had a resolution- she often talks about her secrets, but by the end of the story, Riley's issues take center stage and Georgia's were nearly forgotten. Riley's problems are arguably more intriguing and helped me better understand her character, but they could have been explored more as well. Still, I loved the characterization of both the girls and loved seeing their relationship develop throughout the book.

The Heart is Not a Size is not terribly exciting and ends before the characters' issues are explored to the fullest, but I still adore it. Though it is a bit on the sad side, reading it made me sigh in happiness.

Book details: HarperTeen/Hardcover/$16.99

Nightshade Giveaway

I'm giving away my extra ARC of Nightshade by Andrea Cremer today. Here's the book description, straight from goodreads, in case you need it:


While other teenage girls daydream about boys, Calla Tor imagines ripping out her enemies’ throats. And she wouldn’t have it any other way. Calla was born a warrior and on her eighteenth-birthday she’ll become the alpha female of the next generation of Guardian wolves. But Calla’s predestined path veers off course the moment she saves the life of a wayward hiker, a boy her own age. This human boy’s secret will turn the young pack's world upside down and forever alter the outcome of the centuries-old Witches' War that surrounds them all.

---

Rules and such are on the form!

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie. (:

Descriptions and such from goodreads!

Just bought a couple things this week.

The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

The Red Umbrella is the moving tale of a 14-year-old girl's journey from Cuba to America as part of Operation Pedro Pan-an organized exodus of more than 14,000 unaccompanied children, whose parents sent them away to escape Fidel Castro's revolution.

In 1961, two years after the Communist revolution, Lucía Álvarez still leads a carefree life, dreaming of parties and her first crush. But when the soldiers come to her sleepy Cuban town, everything begins to change. Suddenly the revolution hits home. Freedoms are stripped away. Neighbors disappear. Her friends feel like strangers. And her family is being watched.

As the revolution's impact becomes more oppressive, Lucía's parents make the heart-wrenching decision to send her and her little brother to the United States-by themselves.

Suddenly plunked down in Nebraska with well-meaning strangers, Lucía struggles to adapt to a new country, a new language, a new way of life. But what of her old life? Will she ever see her home or her parents again? And if she does, will she still be the same girl?

The Red Umbrella is a moving story of country, culture, family, and the true meaning of home.

---I've heard great things about this one, so I cannot wait to start!

I also bought Spirit Bound and it was SO GOOD!

Hopefully, next week's IMM will include Dash and Lily's Book of Dares. Like many bloggers, I'm headed to Book Expo American this week and Dash and Lily's Book of Dares is my number one "OMG I NEED TO GET THIS" book.

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

If you haven't read the first 4 books in the Vampire Academy series (you should!) leave this post AT ONCE! No spoilers for book 5, but definitely spoilers for books 1-4.

Seriously. Shoo if you haven't read up through book 4.


[description from goodreads]

Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong…

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and he's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her...forever.

Review:

Spirit Bound isn't my favorite book in this series, but my goodness it's GOOD. Once again, Richelle Mead has played with my emotions. I spent my entire reading time gasping, being frustrated because I didn't know what the outcome would be, and questioning whether or not I liked certain characters.

I believe Spirit Bound is the longest book in the series thus far, being almost 500 pages long. But despite it's length, I sped through it in less than a day. Reading this reminded me of reading Shadow Kiss-- I guessed a few things that happened, but I never thought they would actually happen (like Dimitri becoming Strigoi). But they did happen, and I was left thinking "oh my gosh WHAT WILL THIS LEAD TO I MUST FIND OUT." Though there are a bit more politics and a little less action in this installment, especially near the end, I was always on the edge of my seat.

I'm always impressed by the growth each of the characters go through in each book. Though it may seem like they don't have much to learn after 5 books, they do. It finally seems like Rose is getting over her Dimitri obsession and Lissa is finally starting getting to do her own thing and become more than the girl Rose needs to protect. I can't wait to see what happens to them in Last Sacrifice. Is it December yet?

Also: Team Adrian. Just saying.

Book details: Razorbill/Hardcover/$17.99

Source: bought

Five Things I'm Surprised I Don't See More Of

1. School spirit. I know that many, including myself, think that school spirit is really lame, but many people actually are into spirit week and stuff. I think a book set during homecoming or spirit week would be kind of cool. I don't know what the plot would be, but it would be a fun backdrop.

2. Not-as-common sports. Like surfing. Have there been ANY surfer YA books? Or skateboarding? Heck, I can't even think of a book where anyone plays volleyball, and that's common. Perhaps I should just say sports in general for this one.

3. Protagonists with more than one or two friends, and protagonists who act really bizarre with their friends. Maybe my friends and I are just weird (well, we definitely are) but many of our conversations are ridiculous and crazy. Why don't main characters have stupid conversations with their friend(s)? Because it slows the plot down or something? I read Before I Fall not too long ago and one of the things I most remember about it is that Sam and her friends act hilariously when they're together. It's amusing and definitely made me believe that they're actually friends.

4. Expanding on number 3: FUNNY. Funny that isn't so much in your face Georgia Nicolson, but like A Match Made in High School funny. But maybe more is coming? Robin Mellom just sold her book, which is described as "The Hangover for teens." I've never seen The Hangover but I have been told it is humorous. (Congrats, Robin!)

5. Ancient cultures. Not necessarily books set in ancient times (though that would be interesting), but books with connections to an ancient civilization. I'm sure there are a few but the only one I can think of at the moment is Prophecy of Days: The Daykeeper's Grimoire. It would be a bit difficult to incorporate it, but there's plenty of weird stuff in ancient civilizations. Or even medieval times. The only medieval book I can think of at the moment is Song of the Sparrow.

Year of the Horse by Justin Allen

[description from goodreads]

A thrill-ride adventure novel capturing the adventure, mystery, legend, and lore of America

Year of the Horse is literary fantasy at its very best—a novel that delves into our myths, legends, hopes, and fears; a coming-of-age fable set in our fondly remembered (if often fictional) past—an adventure more than capable of setting your hair on end.

Year of the Horse tells the story of Yen Tzu-lu, a child of Chinese immigrants unwillingly pressed into service by a gang of roughnecks bent on stealing a gold mine from a shadowy villain deep in the western wilderness. With Tzu-lu as our guide, we experience a landscape of legend, stand toe-to-toe with those larger-than- life heroes and villains of our shared American mythos, and learn the inescapable facts that have both enriched and plagued our nation from its inception.

Resonating with echoes of Mark Twain, Larry McMurtry, and J. K. Rowling, this is a book of fabulous adventure and deep resonance. Allen gives readers a picture of how America sees itself, and in so doing he offers up both a heroic vision of the past and hope for the future.

Review:

Although I'm a big historical fan, I've never read (or seen, for that matter) a Western because they really just remind me of my grandpa, and my grandpa and I don't really have the same taste. But since I've never tried one out, I figured I'd give Year of the Horse a shot. While I wouldn't say I was pleasantly surprised by it, I did like it.

I tend to prefer more plot-centered books, and Year of the Horse is definitely one of those books. However, it's one of those books where everything happens in relation to the goal. (In this case, getting to the place with the gold and villain.) The events, while amusing, don't really relate to each other. They go to Place 1, and once they're done there they camp and then go to Place 2, leaving Place 1 is a bit forgotten. While I also like a book that's more focused and doesn't jump around as much, I did like the constant action in this book. Because many different parts of Western life appeared, it was interesting to read. There were a few dull moments of camping and such, but because the gang constantly encountered new people and areas, it was exciting.

However, I wish I actually liked the characters. Not that I disliked them, but I never had an emotional reaction to anything they did. They were constantly in danger, but I can't say that I ever really cared. There were so many characters, with new ones popping up often- I can't even remember half their names, which shows how much time is spent on each of them. They all their traits an quirks, but they were few. Had they had more personality, the action could have been even more fun to read.

Though it's probably better for the niche audience of historical/Western fans who don't mind the descriptiveness, Year of the Horse is a decent, adventurous read.

Book details: Overlook Press/hardcover/$18.95

You should be "waiting on" Wednesday

A backwards version of Waiting on Wednesday- mini-reviews of advanced copies of books I've been lucky to read. Just a few.

- Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev: The sequel to the fabulous Eyes Like Stars. Lots of Ariel.

I missed Nate! Definitely reads like a second in a series- not as much action, kind of drags at some parts, and mainly sets up for book three. Still good though. There are lots of mysterious elements. I love mystery!

Released May 25- omg soon!


- Sea by Heidi R. Kling: A girl travels to Indonesia with her dad to help tsunami survivors with their post traumatic stress disorder. She meets a boy. That boy is mine. Also, there's a mystery element about her mom's death.

Beautiful, lovely, awesome. One of my favorites of the year, probably. I cried. Enough said.

Released June 10.


- Nightshade by Andrea Cremer: Girl leader of a werewolf pack knows she'll be marrying the boy leader of the other werewolf pack, but then she meets a boy with sekrits. Enter: love triangle.

Holy love triangle, Batman! I can't even choose which boy I like better. It's really long and totally reads like the first in a series, but it's so romantico that I didn't mind as much. Next big hit series? Could be.

Released October 19.

Faithful by Janet Fox

[description from goodreads]

Sixteen-year-old Maggie Bennet’s life is in tatters. Her mother has disappeared, and is presumed dead. The next thing she knows, her father has dragged Maggie away from their elegant Newport home, off on some mad excursion to Yellowstone in Montana. Torn from the only life she’s ever known, away from her friends, from society, and verging on no prospects, Maggie is furious and devastated by her father’s betrayal. But when she arrives, she finds herself drawn to the frustratingly stubborn, handsome Tom Rowland, the son of a park geologist, and to the wild romantic beauty of Yellowstone itself. And as Tom and the promise of freedom capture Maggie’s heart, Maggie is forced to choose between who she is and who she wants to be.

Review:

Did anyone else not gather that this book is a historical? Because I totally didn't figure it out until I started reading. Just asking.

While reading the first 3/4ish of Faithful, I was never sure what the plot was supposed to be. All the summaries I read led me to believe it was a romance, but it's really not. During the first 3/4, the book jumps around between a whole bunch of subplots, from Potential Boy Tom, to search for the missing mother, to the other side of the love triangle, and beyond. While there were a few exciting events happened, I never knew what to focus on, and I can't stand when that happens. None of these elements were given as much development as they could have been either, since Maggie spent a lot of time complaining. It was not until the last 1/4 that things got interesting- secrets are revealed, mysteries are explored, and really, there is just lots of excitement. The last bit nearly made up for the lack of focus in the beginning.

The characterization of the supporting characters was not the best, I felt. They each had deeper traits that were touched upon, but for the most part, they weren't explored in depth. However, Maggie was well-developed by the end. Though I initially disliked her (and most of the other characters) because of her whining, her growth at the end was enough to win me over. But it's not like her whining was uncalled for- I could see why she was so upset. I'm just easily annoyed.

The setting of Faithful kept me reading in the lackluster beginning, but I was a fan by the end. Not the best historical I've read, but still good. Its original setting definitely gives it a leg up.

Book details: Speak/Paperback/$8.99

Links: author website/blog/twitter

The Eternal Ones Giveaway

Since my internet just decided to work and I didn't want to break my blogging every day streak, I decided to give away my extra ARC of The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller. I was going to save this giveaway for next week while I'm at BEA, but I decided to switch things up.

This is one of the "Penguin Five"- one of the five titles Penguin publishing is promoting like MAD in the fall. Therefore, it is one highly anticipated book. Another highly anticipated Penguin Five title will be given away next week. (:

Here's the book description, straight from goodreads:

What if love refused to die?

Haven Moore can’t control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves¸ before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

---

Fill out the form to enter!

In My Mailbox: Boxes are Fun Edition

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie. (:

This week I got a few things for review. They all came in box set things. I love boxes!

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
Sapphique by Catherine Fisher
The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Matched by Ally Condie

Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Glass by Ellen Hopkins

The first five are part of Penguin publishing's Giant Marketing Plan. From what I gather, they are spending huge amounts of money on these "Penguin Five" books. I assume you'll be hearing a lot about these titles in the coming months. I had previously received Nightshade and have already read it. It's going to be a hit. Maybe not right away, but it will.

I've already read and loved Crank but haven't read Glass yet. I'm quite excited to. These came as a "get ready for book 3 in the series, Fallout" and the box they came in was quite festive:

I wish I knew what the mailman was thinking when he saw the box.

First Person vs. Third Person

As suggested by the lovely Steph Su of Steph Su Reads, here is a half-list, half-paragraph, and completely scatterbrained post filled with random thoughts on first person vs. third person narration.

I don't think I've talked about the two in detail, which is surprising since I complain about third person enough. I definitely prefer first person.

- Third person just seems so impersonal to me, and I hardly ever feel like I know the characters well. I like being able to read a character's thoughts in first person because they can reveal more about themselves. It seems weird to reveal ~deep dark secrets~ secrets in third person because the characters don't get to give as many of their feelings on them.

- Third person generally seems to be reserved for plot-driven books, and often plot-driven books suffer from a lack of characterization to begin with. Third person does not help much in this situation because it feels so impersonal (at least, it does to me).

- Third person does tend to take some of the annoying out of protagonists. I don't have to read as much of their whining.

- Third person usually allows for a broader, more unbiased view of things. Because you're not really confined to one person to follow, you can skip around and follow a bunch of different people. Obviously there are first person books written in alternating points of view, which I like, but there aren't as many of those. Plus, half the time I can't tell the narrators apart because they have very similar voices.

edit: And there are third person books that follow one person. I just don't like those as much. xD

- There are so many first person books that sometimes it's nice to read a third person one.

I may do a follow up to this post later, when it's not 11:00 PM and when I'm not tired and when homework is not threatening to eat me alive. Or maybe I'll do individual posts on both narration styles. I don't know. Bed time.

Prophecy of Days: The Daykeeper's Grimoire by Christy Raedeke

[description from amazon]

Can one (super smart) girl
(who just wants to be discovered)
decipher the cryptic
Mayan calendar prophecy
and
SAVE THE WORLD?

When her safe-cracker mom and code-breaker dad inherit a dreary Scottish castle, sixteen-year-old Caity Mac Fireland is not happy. Ripped from her cushy life and friends in San Francisco, Caity’s secret fantasy of being discovered by a Hollywood agent, talent scout, or even just a pageant coach seems more unlikely than ever.

But when Caity stumbles across a hidden room in the castle, its walls covered in strange symbols, her life takes a bizarre turn. She finds herself center stage in an international conspiracy involving warring secret societies, assassins, the suppressed revelations of the Mayan Calendar and the year 2012, plus the fate of humanity.

With the help of her friend Justine back home, and Alex, a gorgeous and mysterious Scottish boy, Caity must race to decipher the code and reveal its message to the world before time runs out.

Review:

Hurrah, something original!

Luckily, The Daykeeper's Grimoire starts off with a preface- the Sparknotes version of Caity's life up until she arrives at the castle. I was overjoyed that I didn't have to read 50 pages of complaining about moving to Scotland and what life in San Francisco is like. Because of this and because Caity finds the first mysterious symbol only one or two chapters after the preface, the mystery begins right away. Information about the prophecy is revealed slowly and I constantly wondered what it was really about and what its influence was. I also enjoyed how the prophecy was solved- Caity has to overcome many obstacles and dodge a bunch of crazy stuff/people to figure everything out, which makes for lots of excitement.

However, near the end of the book, it gets so exciting that it's insane. So many WTF things happen that I often thought "lol wut okay then." I mostly just ignored some of the unbelievable elements and focused on enjoying all the action.

I liked Caity as a narrator- she sounds a bit young at times, but she's believable. I was glad she took action about the prophecy instead of just leaving it, even though she felt guilty for the more secretive things she did. Her nerves and excitement about the whole ordeal were described well, and I could totally see why she felt the way she did. I wish I could see why she liked Alex the Scottish Boy though, because his appearances throughout the novel were so brief that I didn't see why she was so !!! about him. I'll just assume she liked him because of the accent. I can't blame her for that because I would probably be guilty of the same thing.

Prophecy of Days: The Daykeeper's Grimoire has a fantastic premise, intruiging mystery, and a monkey who does origami. Do you really need anything else? (Besides more monkey. More monkey is always a good thing.)

Book details: Flux/Paperback/$9.95

Links: author blog/twitter/series website

Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti

[description from goodreads]

Lani and Erin are bonded for life. One thing that connects them is their fascination of fate. Lani wonders how much of our lives has already been decided and how much we can actually influence. Since the Unknown can unexpectedly change our lives forever, how much can we really control?

From the minute Lani meets Jason, she can't deny the intense connection they share. It feels like she's known him forever. She's not sure if he feels it, too. But it doesn't matter. Because Jason is Erin's boyfriend. Lani is determined to ignore her feelings for Jason, no matter how powerful they are, rather than risk hurting her best friend.

How long can Lani keep running from the boy who might be her destiny?

Review:

Susane Colasanti's novels never fail to amuse me, and Something Like Fate is no exception. While I think it may have worked a bit better if it was an "I like the same boy as my best friend" book rather than a "I like my best friend's boyfriend" book, I still really enjoyed it.

Remember how yesterday I said I hate when protagonists don't have hobbies? Well, Lani does! Astrology and fate! And the environment club! You can probably guess that this made me happy. I loved that she was passionate about her hobbies and how they actually played a role in the book. Seeing how the astrology especially was tied in was not only fun, but also gave Lani a bit more personality. I loved that she was a bit obsessive, because really, who can't relate to that? She was fun to read about, especially when she interacted with her awesome BFF, Blake. Though I did hate that she would introduce dialogue with "He was like..."

My main issue with the book, which I briefly alluded to in the first paragraph, is that some things I never fully believed. There were hardly any scenes with both Erin and Jason in them, so I had a hard time believing they were actually dating. Half the time I never even believed Erin and Lani were friends since Erin just walked all over her. I also never understood what Jason was thinking- it was obvious that he liked Lani and he never seemed to like Erin, so why did he and Erin go out? Am I just supposed to assume he kept dating her because 'boys are dumb'?

And I must mention: the book is separated into three parts, and part 3 is such a drastic change in tone that I was a bit thrown off. It also moved quickly, so while I enjoyed the sweet ending, I had a hard time believing the events were happening that fast.

Something Like Fate is not always believable, but it's still a cute read. Not my favorite Susane Colasanti novel, nor my favorite "I like my best friend's boyfriend" book, but I liked it nonetheless.

Book details: Viking/Hardcover/$17.99

Links: author website/blog/twitter

Five Ways to Make Your Protagonist Annoy Me

I'm going to refer to the protagonist as "she" throughout the whole post because I don't really have an issue with boy protagonists since there are very few of them to begin with.

1. Mention that she wears ~cool, vintage t-shirts.~ Bonus points if it's a band shirt from the 80s. Mentioning characters' clothes annoys me in general since it's not like I know what a specific Armani dress or vintage Pixies shirt looks like. I really don't care what she is wearing. But for some reason, it's just more annoying when she talks about her cool shirts.

2. Constantly mention the fact that she is way uglier than her friend(s). Bonus points if the friend is really tall and the protagonist is really short. Double bonus points if the friend calls the protagonist 'petite" or something like that in the book. I am sick of reading about how much more awesome her friends are and how her friends get all the boys, especially the ones she likes. If her friends are so much more exciting why am I not reading about them?

3. Make her oblivious to the fact that her boy BFF likes her. Bonus points if she dates a loser before she figures out BFF likes her. This is just frustrating.

4. Don't give her a hobby. I often spend my reading time wondering what the protagonist does when she's not obsessing over a boy or getting teased by the cheerleaders. What do they do in their spare time? It's not like they have homework to occupy their time.

5. Make her spend a third of the book getting to the plot. Lately, it seems like everything I've read is just plain slow. I hate it.

She Thief by Daniel Finn

[description from goodreads]

The girl, Baz, and the boy, Demi, are master pickpockets. They weave through rich neighborhoods to slip bags off shoulders and wallets out of pockets before disappearing into the crowd. Their loot goes to Fay, who runs a gang of child thieves from her den in the Barrio. This sweltering slum— in a city that is imagined, but all too real —is what passes for home to the kids, and Fay is what passes for family.

That all changes the day Demi steals a magnificent blue ring. Soon, the police chief and the Barrio’s crime boss close in on Fay, and she begins to break under their pressure.

Baz has never doubted Fay before. She’s never been apart from Demi, either. But soon, Baz is left alone to find her way through a world more corrupt than she’s ever realized. Here, the lives of children are thrown away without a moment’s hesitation. Here, the rich and powerful are just thieves on a larger scale. And somewhere in this wreck of a city, Baz must find the scraps of hope, the small acts of kindness, and the steely strength that will take her back to Demi and wash them both out of the Barrio for good.

Review:

If I didn't get this book for review from the publisher, I probably wouldn't even bother to review it. I'd rather spend my time thinking about books I liked, but I feel obligated to review this one.

I had trouble following She Thief, mostly because I never got used to the writing style. It's written in a very detached manner. It's very "She went there. It was cold. She moved to the left, wondering about whoever. She ran up the stairs. She saw him. He nodded." That particular style of writing is completely unappealing to me and prevented me from paying close attention to what was going on.

Actually, I had almost no idea what was going on. I tried to pay attention and ignore the writing style, but I never managed to remember who was who and how they all knew each other. When you add that to the facts that the book started off slowly and goes in a bunch of different directions, you end up with one very confused Khy. The end was more exciting, but it felt like it took too long to get there.

The world in She Thief is intriguing. I loved the premise of the novel and the distinct neighborhood the world is set in, though I could never figure out when the novel was set. I liked seeing the different effects pickpocketing had on the the group's problems and their relationships with each other. I just wish these ideas were expanded upon a bit more, because if they were I feel like I could have paid more attention.

I was completely turned off by the writing style in She Thief. I was a fan of the premise and tried my best to pay attention, but I never managed to stay interested in the drawn-out subplots.

Book details: Feiwel and Friends/Hardcover/$16.99

Why Sci-Fi Rocks

A follow up to Saturday's "Why Sci-Fi Sucks."

Other posts in the non-official series:

• Why Contemporary Rocks
• Why Contemporary Sucks
• Why Paranormal Rocks
• Why Paranormal Sucks
• Why Historical Rocks
• Why Historical Sucks

List time!

• There's a reason there are a zillion dystopian books coming out soon- they're generally awesome. Something about the apocalypse is just so exciting. I love seeing all the different takes on the end of the world and all the different ways the world could end up. And by reading all these books, I think that in the event of the apocalypse I will be more prepared than the non-reading population. I now know how to handle the Hunger Games if they ever happen. Kind of. Probably not but eh.
  
• I love how things inspired by sci-fi look, especially steampunk. I LOVE the cover of Leviathan.
• There is so much creativity! Sci-fi always seems so much more...thoughtful because there's so much time spent world-building and making things interesting.
  
• When you combine sci-fi and, say, history, awesome generally happens. Like Leviathan and The Explosionist.
  
• Sci-fi fans are crazy obsessive (have you ever witnessed a Team David vs Team Zane argument? Hilariously amazing). It's awesome.
  

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie. (:

Descriptions and such from goodreads.

Just got two things this week. Bought both!

Harry Potter Schoolbook Box Set by JK Rowling

Now, the classic books from the library of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry--Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages--are available in hardcover in a sturdy boxed gift set. (These books are written by J.K. Rowling herself under the pseudonyms Newt Scamander and Kennilworthy Whisp.) Finally, Muggles will have the chance to discover where the Quintaped lives, what the Puffskein eats, and why it is best not to leave milk out for a Knarl. The Quidditch textbook explains where the Golden Snitch came from, how the Bludgers came into existence, and why the Wigtown Wanderers have pictures of meat cleavers on their clothes. Both books, designed to look like Harry Potter's actual, used Hogwarts textbooks, feature silly scribblings from Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Proceeds from the sale of this gift set will go to improving and saving the lives of children around the world. Harry Potter fans, rejoice!

---I read these as a young Khy, but for some reason I didn't own them. But I went to Borders the other day and they had a Harry Potter display, and this box set was calling my name. I couldn't resist.

Why Sci-Fi Sucks

Haven't done one of these in a while, but I just realized I never did a post about YA science fiction.

Other posts in the unofficial series:

• Why Contemporary Rocks
• Why Contemporary Sucks
• Why Paranormal Rocks
• Why Paranormal Sucks
• Why Historical Rocks
• Why Historical Sucks

List time!

• For some reason I am really bad at identifying sci-fi. Like, if there are a few sci-fi elements does that means it's a full blown sci-fi novel? Is dystopia becoming like it's own separate thing from sci-fi since there are a bazillion coming out this year? (Dystopia counts as sci-fi, right?) I do not know.
  
• Speaking of dystopian, it seems like the majority of sci-fi is dystopian or has to do with time travel. Which is fine but what ever happened to going to space and stuff? Space is fun.
  
• I really just dislike science so whenever some description of how something works comes up in a book I really just want to hide.
  
• I can never remember how any of the technology works or what it even does. I am awful at remembering stuff.
• I can't even think of any (non-dsytopian) sci-fi books, let alone sci-fi that I liked. Though, perhaps if I knew what qualifies as sci-fi I could think of something.
  

The Cinderella Society Swag Giveaway

As part of the Official The Cinderella Society blog tour, I get to giveaway some SWAG. Swag is fun. Thanks to Kay Cassidy, the author, for letting me host! You can see my review of the book here and Kay's interview here, but here's a book description, straight from goodreads, in case you don't want to click those links:

Sixteen year old outsider, Jess Parker, gets the chance of a lifetime: an invitation to join a secret society of popular girls dedicated to defeating the mean girls of the world. The Cinderella Society guides all new recruits through its top secret ultimate life makeover. It’s all part of preparing them to face down the Wickeds and win. Determined not to let the Cindys down, Jess dives in with a passion. Finally, a chance to belong and show the world what she’s made of.

… be careful what you wish for.

Jess’s transformation wins her the heart of her dream crush and a shot at uber-popularity. Until the Wickeds–led by Jess’s arch enemy–begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers the real force behind her exclusive society. It’s a high stakes battle of good vs. evil, and the Cindys in power need Jess on special assignment. When the mission threatens to destroy her dream life come true, Jess is forced to choose between living a fairy tale and honoring the Sisterhood… and herself.

What’s a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn’t want to wear it anymore?

---

What you can win:
Fill out the form to enter!

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

[description from amazon]

Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding--and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

Review:

Ever read a bunch of extremely positive reviews for a book, only to be underwhelmed by the book itself? That's what happened with Shade and me. I've read many of my goodreads friends' four and five star reviews in attempt to figure out why they liked it so much, but the more reviews I read, the more I feel like I missed something.

While reading, I was never sure what the plot was supposed to be. I knew that after Logan's death, Aura was supposed to be finding out more about the Shift, but it always seemed like she barely learned anything new. I always felt like I was just reading about her attempts to get over Logan and her feelings about Foreign Boy Zachary. The book was much more character-driven, and those types of books generally bore me. I was intrigued the mystery surrounding the Shift, even though it took an unbearably long time to get some new information. The ending of the book was definitely the best because of some big revelations about the Shift. The cliffhanger makes me want to read the next book in the series, but I'm just hoping that there's a bit more action.

Other reviews have mentioned the ~love triangle~ and how delightful they found it, but I'm not totally dazzled by it. One of the boys in the love triangle is dead. If he was a zombie, maybe I would have rooted for him but since he's not I don't get it. The Foreign Boy is only the book for brief periods at a time, so brief that all I remember about him is that he likes Aura. I would much rather have read more about Aura and her life, because she had an interesting job and a strong attitude.

Shade had an intriguing premise and mystery, but the lack of action left me a bit bored. The sequel has the potential to be much, much better. But, hey, what do I know? Most everyone else seems to love Shade. I'm still half-convinced I completely missed something.

Book details: Simon Pulse/Hardcover/$17.99

Links: author website/blog

Source: publisher for review

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. (:

Today's pick:

Girl Parts by John M. Cusick

description (from goodreads):

"Hello, David. My name is Rose. It’s a pleasure to meet you. We are now entering minute two of our friendship. According to my Intimacy Clock, a handshake is now appropriate…"

David and Charlie are opposites. David has a million friends, online and off. Charlie is a soulful outsider, off the grid completely. But neither feels close to anybody. When David’s parents present him with a hot Companion bot to encourage healthy bonds and treat "dissociative disorder," he can’t get enough of luscious red-headed Rose — and he can’t get it soon. Companions come with strict intimacy protocols, and whenever he tries anything, David gets an electric shock. Severed from the boy she was built to love, Rose turns to Charlie, who finds he can open up, knowing Rose isn’t real. With Charlie’s help, the ideal "companion" is about to become her own best friend.

In a stunning and hilarious debut, John Cusick takes rollicking aim at internet culture and our craving for meaningful connection in an uber-connected world.

---

While reading this summary and looking at the cover, I thought of Uglies, that scene in Addams Family Values where they're sitting in the electric chairs, Doctor Who, and that episode of American's Next Top Model where they had to pose in the graves. I'm not sure why or if any of those things even remotely relate to the book, but it sounds good anyway. I hope the last line of the summary is correct because I've been dying to read something funny! The title made me giggle, so I'm hoping the rest of the book does too.

Released August 10.

The Light by DJ MacHale

[description from goodreads]

Marshall Seaver is being haunted. In the first installment of this chillingly compelling trilogy, sixteen-year-old Marshall discovers that something beyond our world is after him. The eerie clues pile up quickly, and when people start dying, it’s clear whatever this is it’s huge.

Marshall has no idea what’s happening to him, but he’s soon convinced that it has something to do with his best friend Cooper, who’s been missing for over a week. Together with Coop’s sister, Marsh searches for the truth about what happened to his friend, ultimately uncovering something bigger than he could ever have imagined

Review:

The Light reads almost like one big prologue. This book did have plenty of action and adventure, yes, but there is a lot of set up. The series title is called Morpheus Road, but the Morpheus Road doesn't play a huge role until the end. The book seemed to be written to set up the end and the next books. It was still enjoyable to read, but the set-up-ness of it all got a bit tiring after a while.

For a while, I wasn't sure that the plot of this book was supposed to be. I knew that Marshall was trying to find Cooper, but once he started looking things went all over the place. There were a lot of subplots, back stories, and descriptions to keep up with and I often never knew where to focus. His frequent encounters with different, sometimes supernatural, people made for an exciting read, but there were so many underdeveloped ideas that I was left a bit underwhelmed after the action sequences were over.

I enjoyed reading about Marshall, because he's the unexpected hero. He's typically the sidekick, but he was thrown into this situation. Because he wasn't remotely prepared for this adventure, his reactions to all the scary stuff were much more realistic. While I wasn't scared by anything in the book, even though there were some well-described creepy things, I could easily see why Marshall freaked out. His motivations and feelings were clear the entire time.

The Light definitely reads like the first in a series, but it's still fille with plenty of action and a likable main character.

Book details: Aladdin/Hardcover/$17.99

Links: author site

Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season One Giveaway!

I'm super excited to be giving away a DVD box set of season one of Are You Afraid of the Dark? as part of the Morpheus Road: The Light blog tour! You can see the related guest post by the author, DJ Machale, here.

I'm so glad I get to give this away because when this show wasn't giving me nightmares when I was five, I really enjoyed watching it. You can find out more about the show on wikipedia, but here's the gist of it, from wikipedia:

Both series of Are You Afraid of the Dark? revolved around a group of teenagers who referred to themselves as "The Midnight Society". Every week, at a secret location in the woods, one member would tell a scary story to the group. The actual story, rather than the telling, was displayed to the television viewer. The story was shown between the group's arrival at the site and their departure. Each storyteller would begin their story by saying "Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society, I call this story..." at which point they would toss out a handful of dust from a leather pouch into a campfire to heighten the flames and produce an eerie white smoke. The storyteller would continue by announcing its title (The Tale of...).

Also it is scary and there are paranormal things in it. In fact, I don't remember this opening bit, but I remember all the paranormal stuff. And clowns. I definitely remember the clowns, unfortunately.

Fill out the form to enter!

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie. (:

Got a few tings for review this week! Descriptions and such from goodreads/amazon.

This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitas

A CHILLING NOVEL ABOUT THE ISOLATION OF BEING STALKED AND THE ABUSE OF POWER.

Olivia Peters is over the moon when her literary idol, the celebrated novelist and muchadored local priest Mark D. Brendan, offers to become her personal writing mentor. But when Father Mark’s enthusiasm for Olivia’s prose develops into something more, Olivia’s emotions quickly shift from wonder to confusion to despair. Exactly what game is Father Mark playing, and how on earth can she get out of it?

---SOUNDS SO GOOD!!!

Burning Ambition by Jonathan Bernstein

Alison Cole and the Department of Hotness are back and ready for action in the sizzling sequel to Hottie—all about a Beverly Hills princess who can shoot fire from her fingertips!

Ever since defeating her evil stepmother, Carmen, Alison’s life has been totally fla-mazing. But when she wins a coveted internship at Jen Magazine, she’ll have to take on fifteen-year-old Editor-in-Chief Pixie Furmanovsky—the biggest Superbrat the world has ever seen! Pixie always gets what she wants, and now she’s after Alison’s boyfriend, T!

Can Hottie give little miss BratGirl a Super Sweet Sixteen that she’ll never forget? Or is this Superteen about to get superfired?

---I am so greatly amused by all the puns in this summary.

Alison Dare: The Heart of the Maiden and Alison Dare: Little Miss Adventures by J. Torres

Alison Dare: Indiana Jones meets Lara Croft in fabulous, graphic adventures.Alison Dare is not your typical twelve-year-old. She's the daughter of an archaeologist/adventurer and the masked hero known as the Blue Scarab. To top it off, she's also the niece of an international super-spy; it's no surprise that a craving for danger is in her blood! Unfortunately, her parents have locked her away at the prestigious St. Joan's Academy for Girls, hoping that this would lead to a more "normal" life for their daughter.

But despite all the strict rules at the school, Alison and her best pals - Wendy and Dot - somehow manage to find themselves involved in adventures that rival those of Alison's globetrotting, planet-saving relatives. Whether it's magic genies, super-powered bank robbers, or a dastardly baron bent on world domination, Alison Dare delivers the best thrills since Indiana Jones and more action than Lara Croft!

---Got both in the series for a blog tour. They look so cute! Graphic novels are fun.

Prophecy of Days by Christy Raedeke

PROPHECY OF DAYS, BOOK ONE: THE DAYKEEPER’S GRIMOIRE is the story of Caity Mac Fireland, a girl from San Francisco whose parents drag her to an isle off the coast of Scotland to manage some family property. Caity finds that a Mayan relic is concealed there, intentionally left centuries ago by Mayan Daykeepers in an attempt to keep their profound knowledge about the year 2012 alive into the current era.

As she delves into this world of secret knowledge, Caity is helped along by a visiting family friend and Feng Shui master, Uncle Li; a Mayan elder named Bolon; and Mr. Papers, her pet monkey that communicates through origami. A handsome Scottish lad gets pulled into the intrigue, as do several other people with questionable motives and loyalties. Caity must weave together a tapestry of information in order to make her radical discovery, a mystery protected by an elite coterie of power-brokers who influence world events. Caity’s twenty-first century mind is put to the test as she tries to uncover the answer to an ancient riddle while trying to outwit this powerful group that will stop at nothing to control the secret, and her.

---I've been wanting to read this one for a while. I'm so excited to finally have it!

Cover Misconceptions

I haven't posted a review in over a week, but I don't feel like writing one at the moment. It's been nice to take a reviewing break and just blog about whatever I want. So instead, today I am talking about covers.

I've noticed more and more lately that I am completely seeing covers wrong. I don't know why. Perhaps I'm going crazy or my eyesight is growing even worse. But whatever the reason, I keep seeing things wrong and it makes for some hilarious mistakes.

Birthmarked: See those stringy things in the middle of the cover? For some reason I thought they were part of the girl's hair. They aren't. They are just colored string things. You would think I'd hae figured that out since the ones at the top are clearly not the color of the girl's hair, but nope. I never noticed. I'm glad I finally did though, because I never understood why her hair was flying up like that.

Invisible Girl: I'm well aware that this cover is of a girl with an umbrella over her face. I knew that the first time I saw it. But for some reason, every time I see this cover I think, for a moment, the umbrella is her actual head. That she has an umbrella growing out of her or something. It's a cute cover, but it still throws me off for a moment when I glance at it.


Shade: I still can't believe that it's an arm on the cover, not a leg. I totally thought it was a leg until I had the book in my hands and realized that the rest of the person is on the back.


Whisper: I keep thinking the wispy smoke is the girl's neck. It's not her neck, right? Because it's the same color and is in the right place but necks aren't wispy like that. At least, I don't think they are. I don't really spend my time looking at necks.

Please tell me I'm not the only one with this problem.