More Than This by Patrick Ness

More Than This by Patrick Ness

Release Date: September 1, 2013
Publisher: Walker Books
Rated: YA 14+
Format: Paperback
Source: Pansing
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository
Goodreads ● Website

A boy drowns, desperate and alone in his final moments. He dies.

Then he wakes, naked and bruised and thirsty, but alive.

How can this be? And what is this strange deserted place?

As he struggles to understand what is happening, the boy dares to hope. Might this not be the end? Might there be more to this life, or perhaps this afterlife?

From multi-award-winning Patrick Ness comes one of the most provocative and moving novels of our time.

I seriously don’t know how I’m going to go about writing this review without giving something away. I’ll try my very best to keep it spoiler-free, but trust me, it will be difficult.

I’ve always heard of Patrick Ness’ books but I’d never gotten the chance to read one until now. Thanks to Pansing, I got my hands on a copy of More Than This because once I saw John Green’s blurb on the front cover, I was immediately intrigued. The book summary doesn’t give much away and I knew from the start that this novel was going to be different. I really loved this one. Not only does it have HOLY-BLEEPING-S***-twists, but the story was very well developed that I couldn’t put it down.

**MINI-SPOILERS AHEAD**

This isn’t too big a spoiler since you learn about it within the first 30 pages, but our main character’s name is Seth. The narrative is really interesting as it alternates between his present actions as well as his memories. We as readers are able to catch glimpses of his life leading up to the moment he drowns. Secrets are uncovered throughout the story and the motive for why he drowned is revealed slowly, and it’s truly mind-numbing to see how much his character has been through. I thought it would have been really cool if the book only had him as a character in it (during present action), but things definitely got interesting with the addition of two certain characters.

I mentioned previously that there are HUGE twists. And I mean HUGE. Seriously– I did not see half the things that happen in this book coming. There’s definitely a lot more to the afterlife that our main character finds himself in. At first, I was a little mad about the twist. I thought that it threw away the whole believability of the book out the window. But as the story went on, I came to understand what the book truly is and grasp (somewhat) what its underlying message is.

What I am most taken with though is Ness’ writing. ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. Seriously, he could have written a book about cats sitting still for hours and I would still be in love with the prose. I can see now why he’s such a talented writer and why his books get so much praise. More Than This was enthralling, as horrifying revelations and gut-wrenching truths shed some light onto this new world that our protagonist finds himself in. This is a a book that will have you on the edge of your seat, desperate to find out what happens next. Beautiful and life-changing, without a doubt, there is no book like this one. 

▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Sasha at Pansing for sending me a copy for review! ▪ ▪ ▪

If you like this, try...

• The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold ● Goodreads
• Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver ● Goodreads

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Waiting on Wednesday – Week 123

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:

Captive by Aimée Carter

**may contain spoilers from book 1, Pawn**

For the past two months, Kitty Doe's life has been a lie. Forced to impersonate the Prime Minister's niece, her frustration grows as her trust in her fake fiancé cracks, her real boyfriend is forbidden and the Blackcoats keep her in the dark more than ever. 

But in the midst of discovering that her role in the Hart family may not be as coincidental as she thought, she's accused of treason and is forced to face her greatest fear: Elsewhere. A prison where no one can escape. 

As one shocking revelation leads to the next, Kitty learns the hard way that she can trust no one, not even the people she thought were on her side. With her back against the wall, Kitty wants to believe she'll do whatever it takes to support the rebellion she believes in—but is she prepared to pay the ultimate price?

November 25, 2014 ● Goodreads

Pawn was the first book I read by Aimée Carter, and while I still haven’t been able to get my hands on The Goddess Test series, I can’t WAIT to read this one. The blurb promises shocks and twists, and I’m hoping for more Knox, so yay! Can’t wait :D

What are you waiting on?

The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone Blog Tour: Review + Tribute + Giveaway

The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone by Adele Griffin

Release Date: August 12, 2014
Publisher: Soho Teen
Rated: YA 14+
Format: eGalley
Source: Edelweiss
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository
Goodreads ● Website

National Book Award-finalist Adele Griffin tells the fully illustrated story of a brilliant young artist, her mysterious death, and the fandom that won't let her go.

From the moment she stepped foot in NYC, Addison Stone’s subversive street art made her someone to watch, and her violent drowning left her fans and critics craving to know more. I conducted interviews with those who knew her best—including close friends, family, teachers, mentors, art dealers, boyfriends, and critics—and retraced the tumultuous path of Addison's life. I hope I can shed new light on what really happened the night of July 28.

—Adele Griffin

The concept for this book was SO COOL. I mean, it was like a documentary version of a book. Complete with interviews, paintings, pictures, magazine features, newspaper articles, emails– this really seemed like the biography of someone’s life. I thoroughly enjoyed The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone and found all of it as a whole utterly compelling. I was taken with Addison, and it almost seems as if she’s a real person, with the different voices presented with little snippets of interviews from her mother, father, brother, boyfriends, best friends, teachers, and more. I’d previously read Adele Griffin’s All You Never Wanted, which I unfortunately did not enjoy, but this one – this one is pure genius.

While there are only some taken interviews directly from Addison (previously “recorded”), we as readers learn more about her from the people around her: why people loved her, why they hated her, the problems she faced and how she came about to being this famous artist in New York. I love how it slowly progresses towards her death, starting with her childhood, moving into her breakdown, and then to her fresh beginning and fame. The narrative structure is brilliant!

You seriously need to check out this book for yourselves because you will believe how amazing it looks. All the mediums put together in one book (and this is me talking about the eGalley!) create such an awesome project. Adele Griffin brings to life this bohemian, can’t-help-but-love-and-hate artist literally as well as through her words. A beguiling read that I couldn’t put down!

▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Meredith Barnes at Soho Press for having me on the tour! ▪ ▪ ▪

If you like this, try...

• Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews ● Goodreads
• Without Tess by Marcella Pixley ● Goodreads

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Adele Griffin is a two-time National Book Award finalist and the highly acclaimed author of numerous books for young adult and middle grade readers. Her works include Sons of Liberty and Where I Want to Be, and most recently, Loud Awake and Lost. Adele lives with her husband, Erich; their two young children; and their dog, Edith, in Brooklyn, New York.

Website ● Goodreads ● Twitter ● Facebook

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My tribute to Addison Stone

As apart of this blog tour, each blogger needs to create something to Addison Stone. Since I really suck at art, I decided to go with a poem that’s about Addison. Free verse (can’t make things rhyme and have a proper meter) but hope you enjoy!

the shooting star

A long-limbed spirit,

with wide doe eyes,

takes in the world,

and finds so much more wonder

than what the normal person

can behold.

(However)

Snakes twist up her arms –

a poisonous reminder –

of when it went too far:

the cuts, the stain, a ghost.

(However)

These arms will not be corrupted,

these hands will not remain still.

The life she creates –

not from fire,

not from stone –

renews others’.

(However)

such a creature

cannot last.

A flash of white –

a falling angel,

a dying wish –

tumbling

down,

down,

down,

leaving behind a wake

of dust and shock.

(However)

she will not return.

Hope you enjoyed it. Clearly I’m not a poet, but it was an attempt!! Check out some of the other stops on the tour’s tributes as well as more photos and paintings on the Addison Stone Tumblr!

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Giveaway time!

Enter to win...

A SIGNED hardcover of The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone!

Enter by clicking on the picture below which will take you to the rafflecopter:

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

Release Date: August 15, 2013
Publisher: Dial
Series: Between, Book 1
Rated: YA 14+
Format: ARC
Source: ALA 2013
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository
Goodreads ● Website

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town… until River West comes along. River rents the guest house behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. 

Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more?

Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery... who makes you want to kiss back. 

Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea was one of my most coveted books of 2013. When I finally got my hands on a copy at ALA 2013, I just about died from the sheer gorgeousness of the cover. In person, and even on a slightly bent ARC, it's still beautiful and I'd spent ages just admiring it before actually reading it. I finished reading the book during one flight, and all I can say is this: while I did enjoy it, I didn't love it.

Yup, you heard me.

I really tried to love this book, trust me. With the promise of devils and a gothic setting I was sold, but I found that it fell short. It had too much insta-love, and the plot didn't make much sense here and there. It was almost like Twilight: a paranormal love interest, a girl who doesn’t exactly fit in, and dark secrets. I didn't get the paranormal part of the book as well. I wanted the Devil, but all I got was confusion and reasons that didn't make much sense.

The setting is absolutely gorgeous. I was reminded of Dark Shadows (the movie) and I constantly kept picturing the town and the big mansion in the movie in the place of Echo and Citizen Kane (Violet's home) respectively. The author's writing was a little slow, but it matched the atmosphere and characters’ surroundings. The food descriptions certainly had my stomach grumbling. However, I feel like you need to have watched some old movies or at least know some old actors and actresses pretty well to get the author’s writing. Same for the books mentioned in the novel. There’s quite a few allusions, and if you haven’t even heard of some of them then you might end up confused or would have to resort to googling everything that’s mentioned. It sometimes could be a little tedious, the name dropping in this book. I get that the main character is not like a typical teenager but jeez, don’t need to push how different and indie and non-mainstream she is, or how archaic the town is– which it is surprisingly. I thought this was contemporary, so I’m surprised with the lack of technology present in the novel. Again, confusing.

❝And I prayed to Freddie about the Devil. I asked her to keep my hand out of his. I asked her to keep me safe from evil.
But, for all my praying, the Devil still found me.❞

–p. 5, ARC*

*text is subject to change in the final version

I. didn’t. like. River. Sue me. He seemed kind of arrogant at times and it was really off-putting. I wasn’t too big a fan of Violet either because of how she’s willing to see past all that River’s done and how easily she accepts everything. I actually ended up liking Luke, because he seemed “real”, other than the sexism and pig-headedness. Jack was a cool character, and so was Neely. Both have an interesting role in the story, and can’t wait to see more in the next book.

Even though I didn’t like some bits of the book, I’ll definitely be picking up Between the Spark and the Burn, partially because of the cover, and also because there’ll be more Neely. Sultry, seductive and dark, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a gothic paranormal that will attract fans of Dracula. Tucholke’s prose is beautiful and will have readers trailing every word.

If you like this, try...

• The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd ● Goodreads
• Fallen by Lauren Kate ● Goodreads
• Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl ● Goodreads

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