In My Mailbox (4)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. It is posted every Sunday and allows book bloggers to share any books they might have bought, received for review, traded or borrowed from the library that week.

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From Library:

1. XVI by Julia Karr

2. Warped by Maurissa Guibord

NetGalley ARC:

1. The Iron Queen (Iron Fey #3) by Julie Kagawa

(Links go directly to the Goodreads page)

Book Blogger Hop (6) & Follow Friday (6)

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books every Friday-Monday. It's a great opportunity to network and visit other blogs and meet new bloggers.

This weeks question is:

"What book are you most looking forward to seeing published in 2011? Why are you anticipating that book?"

I can not wait for City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare to be published. Why? Because the first 3 were amazing and I am excited to see what happens next to these amazing characters. I have already pre-ordered it and am waiting patiently for it to come out and arrive on my door step. I'm sure I won't be disappointed. 

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Follow Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunkiee's View. Basically, it is a meme to help you get blog followers. Check out her blog and the Featured Blogger of the week!

This weeks question:

"What is/was your favorite subject in school?"

Mine would most likely have to be US History which I am taking this year. I have an amazing teacher and class who make learning about old, dead people fun. hah

Review (6): The Iron Daughter

The Iron Daughter 

by Julie Kagawa

Series: Iron Fey (#2)

Other Reviewed Titles: The Iron King (#1)

Release Date: August 1, 2010

Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

Pages: 359

Source: Library

Challenge: None

Website: www.enterthefaeryworld.com/ironfey/

Author Website: www.juliekagawa.com

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey -- ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. 

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart. 

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Why I Read This: I got a NetGalley ARC for The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey #3), so I decided to start from the very beginning.

Plot: The Iron Daughter starts off right where The Iron King left off so this review might be a little spoiler-y if you have not read the first book. That being said, I definitely enjoyed this one better. And not just because they go to Silicon Valley which is what I like to call home. Lol But seriously, I think this one was a lot more action packed. Many new characters are introduced including Ash's brothers, Rowan and Sage, and we get to see some old characters from the first book including Virus and good ol' Ironhorse. We also learn a lot about Meghan and the things she can do.  I can't really say that much more about it because it would give too much away, but let me just say that the ending was AMAZING and unexpected. 

Characters: I was very disappointed in Meghan at the beginning of this book. She was totally awesome and cool in the first, but at the beginning of this one all she did was mope and whine and do nothing. Then 60 or so pages in its like she randomly woke up and was the Meghan we all know and love. She took charge, made a plan and set out to save the world. All of the other characters from the first book are back as well including some new ones. Puck is hilarious and finally reveals his true feelings, Ash is still the same brooding Ice Prince (I started liking him a lot more towards the end), and Grimalkin is as useful as ever (I don't know how he does it, but he always manages to pop up when they most need him). Ironhorse was a great new addition and will be missed. 

Cover: Like the first, this cover is gorgeous. I like it even better because its purple, my favorite color. I like the swirls/vines that encircle the cover, they give it a nice faery feeling. 

Overall Impression: This series just keeps getting better and better!

Rating: * * * * * 

Book Blogger Hop (5) & Follow Friday (5)

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books every Friday-Monday. It's a great opportunity to network and visit other blogs and meet new bloggers.

This weeks question is:

"Why do you read the genre that you do? What draws you to it?"

I mostly read YA books. I can relate to the characters in the books because they are more or less the same age that I am. Also, in YA novels, the plot doesn't always have to be in a high school setting. Theres so many things you can do with these types of characters and that makes the story even better to read. 

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Follow Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunkiee's View. Basically, it is a meme to help you get blog followers. Check out her blog and the Featured Blogger of the week!

This weeks question:

"What makes up your non-human family?"

My kitty Niko. He is my baby. lol

Review (5): The Iron King

The Iron King 

by Julie Kagawa

Series: Iron Fey (#1)
Release Date: February 1, 2010

Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

Pages: 363

Source: Library

Challenge: None

Website: www.enterthefaeryworld.com/ironfey/

Author Website: www.juliekagawa.com

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny -- one she could never have imagined...

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school...or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth -- that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face...and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart. 

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Why I Read This: I got a NetGalley ARC for The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey #3), so I decided to start from the very beginning.

Plot: Although there are a lot of elements that are commonly found in other faery books (Seelie and Unseelie Courts, Summer and Winter Fey, etc.), the world created by Kagawa is still unique. She created her own Fey that I had never read about before. Meghan's journey takes her to many different places and there was no way to anticipate what would happen next or who she would meet. There is action, suspense, and a little bit of mystery as the characters try to find Ethan and figure out who the Iron King is and where he came from. 

Characters: I loved all of the characters in this book. Meghan, the main character, is half human/half faery who also happens to be a princess. She is a pretty awesome heroine and I loved her sarcastic personality. She was also independent, selfless and extremely stubborn which made me admire her because she knew what she wanted and fought for it. I just wish she hadn't been so dependent on the boys to save her all the time. The other characters include Ash, the Winter prince, Robbie/Puck, Meghan's best friend and Grimalkin, a cat faery that helps Meghan along the way. I genuinely enjoyed each and everyone of these characters. They were all different and had their own distinct personalities. They all stood out in their own distinct way. However, my favorite would probably have to be Puck because of his great sense of humor. He had me laughing out loud quite a bit. 

Cover: The cover is gorgeous! I love all of the swirly vines/tress. Also, the girl represents Meghan nicely. 

Overall Impression: Awesome! Why did I wait almost a year to read this? I can't wait to start The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey #2)!

Rating: * * * * 1/2 

In My Mailbox (3)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. It is posted every Sunday and allows book bloggers to share any books they might have bought, received for review, traded or borrowed from the library that week.

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Bought: 

Prophecy of the Sisters (Prophecy of the Sisters #1) by Michelle Zink

Won:

(ARC) The Book of Tomorrow by Cecilia Ahern

Book Blogger Hop (4) & Follow Friday (4)

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books every Friday-Monday. It's a great opportunity to network and visit other blogs and meet new bloggers.

This weeks question is:

"What book influenced or changed your life? How did it influence/change you?"

I don't think there has ever been just one book that has changed my life. I mostly read YA books which aren't really life changing, but they have helped me in a few ways. My writing has improved a lot because of all the reading I've been doing. They've also opened my eyes to a few topics that I had been blind to which was good. 

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Follow Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunkiee's View. Basically, it is a meme to help you get blog followers. Check out her blog and the Featured Blogger of the week!

This weeks question:

"What book(s) have you discovered lately from someone else's book blog?"

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

This one was on The Story Siren's Fragment Friday post today actually and it sounds great. It is actually book 2 in the If I Stay series I think. 

Teaser Tuesday (5)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can join in, all you have to do is the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

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The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey #2) by Julie Kagawa

"That is the last time I put a Summoning on a human. I could have taken a nap instead of waiting for you to finally show up. What took you so long? Did you walk?" - Grimalkin, 140

New Releases: Jan 2 - Jan 8

January 3:

January 4: 

 

  

             

January 6:

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If you see any incorrect dates or know of any other YA books being released this week, leave a comment and I will fix/include them in the post. Also, click on the pictures for links to Goodreads.com.