Wicked Games by Sean Olin

Wicked Games by Sean Olin

 Release Date: June 10, 2014
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Series: Wicked Games, Book 1
Rated: YA 15+
Format: eGalley
Source: Edelweiss
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository
Goodreads ● Website
Wicked Games is the first book in a sexy thriller series where passion, lies, and revenge collide-perfect for fans of Simone Elkeles and Sara Shepard.

 To all the locals in the small beach town of Dream Point, Carter and Lilah seem like the perfect It Couple-but their relationship is about to brutally unravel before everyone's eyes.

 Carter has always been a good guy, and while Lilah has a troubled past, she's been a loyal girlfriend for the last four years. When smart, sexy Jules enters the picture at a senior-year bash, Carter succumbs to temptation. And when Lilah catches wind of his betrayal, she decides that Jules needs to pay.

 By the end of the summer, the line between right and wrong will be blurred beyond recognition. Blood will be shed. Nothing in Dream Point will ever be the same.

 This juicy summer read will keep readers turning pages until the shocking, nail-biting finale.

I was a little worried about getting into Wicked Games because so many people didn’t enjoy it. I don’t know whether it’s my love for all things dramatic and thrilling, or the fact that a lot worse happens in Pretty Little Liars (this was blurbed really well), but I actually found myself flipping pages, anxious to know what happens. I honestly think this would actually make a really good TV series with all the crazy shit that happens throughout the novel, and that along with sex, betrayal and a psycho on the loose, it’s all the makings of an addictive series.

 Okay, I’ll at least admit this – I’m not a big fan of the characters. Lilah is completely INSANE. Like, I wouldn’t go near her with a 1000-meter pole. That’s how bad she is. Sure, she’s got some actual problems, such as depression and self-harm, but does that mean that she has to go completely crazy? Her parents are probably the worst because no, they don’t try to make her better, they just kind of avoid the whole problem all together. And Carter! While I definitely liked Carter’s character much better than Lilah’s, he’s no better. He knows she has a problem, and instead of actually helping her, he avoids breaking off their relationship to protect her feelings. GAH. Frustration to the max people. Jules was okay. I mean, compared to the other two, she certainly has more redeeming qualities. However, that totally does not justify going for another girl’s boyfriend. Obviously, she can like him, but actually act on that? Yeesh. Morals have no place in this novel for sure. So therefore, in the end, my favourite character is Jeff, Carter’s best friend, who basically has the tiniest role in this novel.

 Speaking of the end, totally did not see that coming. And I’m not just talking about the epilogue either. All the action that happens totally reminds me of something that happens on the TV show Revenge (which is why this book would be a good TV show...) and it’s seriously thrilling. And the epilogue! Holy crap the author knows how to set up what’s hopefully in the next book. I mean, the last few lines sent a figurative chill down my spine and it’s really haunting. I love books that leave you with a shocking and suspenseful end, don’t you?

 While I didn’t like the characters, Wicked Games still had an engaging plot that comes to a horrifying end. Jaws will drop, eyes will pop, hearts will thud. There are no happy endings in Sean Olin’s latest novel, and I’ll definitely be on the lookout for the next book in this series.

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Copper Magic Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway


Copper Magic by Julia Mary Gibson

 Release Date: July 1, 2014
Publisher: Starscape
Rated: MG 12+
Format: eGalley
Source: NetGalley
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository ● B&N
Goodreads ● Website
Can an unearthed talisman found on the shores of Lake Michigan save 12-year-old Violet’s fractured family? Exploring themes of Native American culture, ecology, and conservation, this historical fiction novel comes brilliantly to life.

 The year is 1906, and twelve-year-old Violet Blake unearths an ancient talisman—a copper hand—beside the stream where her mother used to harvest medicine. Violet’s touch warms the copper hand and it begins to reveal glimpses of another time. Violet is certain that the copper hand is magic—and if anyone is in need of its powers, it’s Violet. Her mother and adored baby brother are gone, perhaps never to return. Her heartbroken father can’t seem to sustain the failing farm on the outskirts of Pigeon Harbor, on the shores of Lake Michigan.

 Surely the magic of the copper hand can make things right for Violet and restore her fractured family. Violet makes a wish. But her ignorant carelessness unleashes formidable powers—and her attempts to control them jeopardizes not only herself, but the entire town of Pigeon Harbor.

 In Copper Magic, land and waters are alive with memories, intentions, and impulses. Magic alters Violet and brings her gifts—but not always the kind she thinks she needs. First-time author Julia Mary Gibson brings Violet and her community to life in this impressive and assured debut.

I haven’t read much about the USA during this time period, so this was a really interesting and different read for me. It felt like reading one of those timeless classics, such as the Little House books, especially the descriptions of helping out at home and on the farm. I really liked how the author really explored roles and professions at the time, as well as the general public’s view and relations with the Native Americans. While the book was slightly slow paced, it was a unique concept and was a well-thought out story.

 I really enjoyed Violet’s character, although some of her decisions I didn’t really know what to make of. I guess being in such situations might make me react differently but she acted quite childishly at some parts, which put me a little bit off. I really enjoyed Miss Nadia’s character though– one really sensible adult compared to the hysterical aunt and Mrs. Dell. Mrs. Agosa I felt kind of so-so about Mercy’s character, but she was an enjoyable edition overall.

 I found it interesting how the different story lines were weaved with another. How Violet’s mother went away, how she works with Mrs. Nadia and her photography, the Native American stories and myths– all come together with the copper hand that Violet finds. While the book most of the time stays to a realistic plot, there are times when fantasy and magic come alive and create an spellbinding premise.

 Copper Magic was an easy read, one that was intriguing and enchanting. Aimed for middle grade readers, Gibson’s novel will enthral children and adults alike from start to finish. Loved it and can’t wait for more!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

For a significant chunk of my life I worked with sprocketed celluloid, as a garage animator and in various capacities in the visual effects industry. My colleagues were geniuses and magicians and sorceresses. The work was a blast (sometimes literally – catch me as Frances McDormand’s double in an awesome old-school beamsplitter shot in Sam Raimi’s DARKMAN), but a time came when my own work cried out to be fostered again.

I live in Hollywood, California, surrounded by my four-generation extended family of poets, thespians, dancers, filmworkers, and urban farmers.

 Website ● Twitter ● Goodreads ● Facebook

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Giveaway time!

Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

Enter via the rafflecopter below!


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Thank you so much to Jean BookNerd for having me along!
Follow the rest of the tour by clicking on the tour banner at the top of the post.
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Wild Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway


Wild by Alex Mallory

 Release Date: July 8, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Rated: YA 14+
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository ● B&N ● iTunes ● Kobo
Goodreads ● Website
The forest is full of secrets, and no one understands that better than Cade. Foraging, hunting, surviving— that’s all he knows. Alone for years, Cade believes he’s the sole survivor. At least, until he catches a glimpse of a beautiful stranger…

 Dara expected to find natural wonders when she set off for a spring break camping trip. Instead, she discovers a primitive boy— he’s stealthy and handsome and he might be following her. Intrigued, Dara seeks him out and sets a catastrophe in motion.

 Thrust back into society, Cade struggles with the realization that the life he knew was a lie. But he’s not the only one. Trying to explain life in a normal town leaves Dara questioning it.

 As the media swarm and the police close in, Dara and Cade risk everything to get closer. But will the truth about Cade’s past tear them apart?

It was only when I’d finished reading this book and started writing this review that I found out that Alex Mallory is Saundra Mitchell. I really loved The Vespertine! It was one of the first books that I’d reviewed on the blog, but I unfortunately didn’t manage to continue with the series. I’m glad to say though that Wild was an amazing book. I’ve never heard of a Tarzan retelling in YA, and despite the lack of excellent musical numbers, this one was stellar. I haven’t actually read the original Tarzan of the Apes, so I only have the Disney version of the movie to base the story on. I was thrilled that I got an advanced copy to read, and was even more so when I got the chance to be a part of the blog tour.

 I really loved both characters. While the book was presented in third person, it alternated between Cade’s and Dara’s perspectives. I enjoyed the parallel to Tarzan and Jane respectively, and especially liked the interaction between the both of them. Several other characters, such as Sofia and Josh, also have a large role in the book and I liked their characters’ contributions to the plot. The unraveling of the mystery as the characters explore further into Cade’s past was very intriguing and was well-written in terms of incorporating character development into the plot’s progression.

 I loved the setting for this – the forest was beautifully described both through Cade and Dara’s eyes, but also the time period was fitting for the retelling. While I’m sure it wouldn’t have been set during the time that Tarzan was, it was cool to see how someone who hasn’t really interacted with today’s world see the world and it’s development with new eyes. I also felt that Mallory (Mitchell) managed to capture the portrayal of media. Especially since Wild depicted how pushy the media can be and the boundaries it’s willing to break, no matter the consequences. It’s a horrifying picture that the author paints, but it’s definitely a realistic one.
The ending was great: I felt that it gave the book closure without making everything conveniently fall into place. While it would have been cool to see this book work as a series, I was glad that it was a standalone so that there was no need to drag it out. It concluded well, leaving room for imagination but still leaving things in place.

 While the 440 pages would have first put me off, Wild was a marvelous read, one I couldn’t (and wouldn’t) put down. Mallory’s spellbinding retelling is a powerful story of love, destruction and what makes us human.

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▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Megan of Harper Collins International for sending a copy for review! ▪ ▪ ▪

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ALEX MALLORY

Alex Mallory is a pen name for YA author Saundra Mitchell. She’s a big fan of reading, history, camping and competitive M&M sorting.

She once crossed a dilapidated train trestle in the middle of the night, 200 feet above the Wabash River, in a futile attempt to prove her love to someone who had no idea she existed.

1) She lived to tell about it. 2) It didn’t work. 3) She doesn’t recommend it.
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Giveaway time!

Enter to win...

A Wild Prize Pack Featuring: a signed, finished copy of WILD, a copy of Edgar Rice Burroughs' TARZAN OF THE APES, a DVD (region 1) of Greystoke: Legend of Tarzan of the Apes, bookmarks, and a stuffed plush flu microbe.

US ONLY
Enter via the Rafflecopter below!
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Click on the button below or on the tour banner at the top of the post to follow the rest of the tour!

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Thank you so much to FFBC Blog Tours for having me along!
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Waiting on Wednesday – Week 117

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It’s to spotlight upcoming books that I’m DYING to get my hands on!
This week’s WoW is:
Unleashed by Sophie Jordan

**WARNING: Contains spoilers from book 1, Uninvited**
What if the worst thing you ever did was unforgivable?

 Davy’s world fell apart after she tested positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome. She was expelled from her school, dumped by her boyfriend, abandoned by friends, and shipped off to a camp that turns HTS carriers into soldiers. Davy may have escaped, but the damage has already been done. The unthinkable has happened. Now, even worse than having everyone else see her as a monster is the knowledge that they may have been right about her all along. Because Davy has killed.

 On the run from government agents, Davy is rescued by Caden, the charismatic leader of an underground group of rebels. Despite Caden’s assurances that the Resistance is made up of carriers like her, Davy isn’t sure she can trust them. Then again, she doesn’t even know if she can trust herself . . . or her growing feelings for Caden. But if she doesn’t belong with Caden and his followers, is there anywhere she can call home?
February 24, 2015 ● Goodreads

I can’t WAIT for the conclusion to this duology! I really enjoyed Uninvited (review here) and so I’m excited to see how it ends. Of course, it’s sad the series is ending, but I’m really looking forward to fast-packed action from this upcoming sequel. Also, really love how the covers match with the whole colour scheme and DNA-hair thing :D

What are you waiting on?
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