Project: Dystopian Giveaway!

For those of you who didn't know: on Finding Bliss in Books the entire month of November was dedicated to (mostly) reading dystopians. (for more information read this post). Over the course of the month, I've read quite a few really great dystopian reads, and, since I promised this in my original post, I will be giving away most of the books I read for Project: Dystopian (by most, I mean every single one but the one I'm reading right now, because it's absolutely, mind-numbingly horrible and I love all my followers too much to put them through that), along with a few books I planned to read but, unfortunately, didn't get around to (I, um... got sidetracked by other books...). I hope whoever wins the bundle of dystopians I'm giving away below enjoys them as much I as I enjoyed them (well, the ones I got around to reading), and good luck!

Project: Dystopian Giveaway!

(click on covers for Goodreads)

  

  

 

(click on the link below for the giveaway) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway Guidelines:

- Fill out the Rafflecopter form above (if you get points for something you do not do, you will be disqualified).

- You must be 13 years or older to enter the giveaway.

- This giveaway is international.

- When the winner is chosen and announced, I will send him/her an email telling them they've won. If that email is not responded to in 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.

What's Next? (1)

What's Next? is a weekly meme hosted by Icey Books where we post some of the books we plan on reading soon, and, in the comments, have our readers tell us which book they think we should read next!

Which of the below books should I read next?

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends...and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

A haunted house, a buried mystery, and a very angry ghost make this one unforgettable thriller.

Jade loves the house she's just moved into with her family. She doesn't even mind being the new girl at the high school: It's a fresh start, and there's that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . . But then things begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things. Jade's little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade's jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn't.

Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house is haunted. Haunted by a ghost who's seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade's school — until her untimely death last year. It's up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets. But is one of them a murderer?

Julie Cross's Vortex is the thrilling second installment of the Tempest series, inwhich the world hangs in the balance as a lovelorn Jackson must choose who to save.

Jackson Meyer has thrown himself into his role as an agent for Tempest, the shadowy division of the CIA that handles all time-travel-related threats. Despite his heartbreak at losing the love of his life, Jackson has proved himself to be an excellent agent. However, after an accidental run in with Holly—the girl he altered history to save—Jackson is once again reminded of what he's lost. And when Eyewall, an opposing division of the CIA, emerges, Jackson and his fellow agents not only find themselves under attack, but Jackson begins to discover that the world around him has changed and someone knows about his erased relationship with Holly, putting both their lives at risk all over again.

And so arises the question: 

What's Next?

Leave a comment below telling me which book you think I should start next, and the book with the most votes may just end up being my next read! 

Waiting on Wednesday (November 28)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine where we post upcoming releases we're highly anticipating. My pre-publication selection for this week's Waiting on Wednesday is The Essence by Kimberly Derting.

 The Essence

Kimberly Derting

Series: The Pledge, #2

Release Date: January 1st, 2012

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Number of Pages: 352

At the luminous conclusion of The Pledge, Charlaina defeated the tyrant Sabara and took her place as Queen of Ludania. But Charlie knows that Sabara has not disappeared: The evil queen’s Essence is fused to Charlie’s psyche, ready to arise at the first sign of weakness.

Charlie is not weak, but she’s being pushed to the brink. In addition to suppressing the ever-present influence of Sabara, she’s busy being queen—and battling a growing resistance determined to return Ludania to its discriminatory caste system. Charlie wants to be the same girl Max loves, who Brook trusts, but she’s Your Majesty now, and she feels torn in two.

As Charlie journeys to an annual summit to meet with leaders of nearby Queendoms—an event where her ability to understand all languages will be the utmost asset—she is faced with the ultimate betrayal. And the only person she can turn to for help is the evil soul residing within.

I just finished The Pledge this week and, while it did have its fair share of flaws, I found myself enjoying it nonetheless and look forward to seeing where the series could go after the interesting ending of The Pledge. 

What are you waiting on? 

Leave a link in the comments!

Today's Releases (November 27)

  

Touched by Corrine Jackson

Elixir by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Lullaby by Amanda Hocking

  

The Black Box by Michael Connelly 

Wicked Fate by Tabatha Vargo

Deadwood by Kell Andrews

  

The Lucky Ones by Anna Godbersen 

City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte 

Not Dead Yet by Peter James

  

Moonshifted by Cassie Alexander

Cold Days by Jim Butcher

Trapped by Kevin Hearne 

Holy sequels! I feel like today is the day that all the sequels ganged up on us readers and decided to release on the same day to kill all of our wallets. Luckily for me, the only series which today's releases are a sequel to that I've read is the Dresden Files (Cold Days), and I can say that it is absolutely fantastic. However, I only read up to book five, so I'm not ready to buy Cold Days yet. So yay! My wallet is saved! As for all of your wallets, however... They may need to be put on life support, if you read any of the above series, or plan on reading some of the standalones released today. I'm not planning on buying any of today's releases, but if you are, let me know in the comments, and happy reading (and good luck to your wallet. I'll send my thoughts.)! 

Review: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

The Pledge
Kimberly Derting 
Series: The Pledge, #1
Release Date: November 15th, 2011
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry 
Number of Pages: 323
Source: Bought
Rating: 3 stars

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

Kimberly Derting's The Pledge has a lot going for it: it has an interesting and original concept, fascinating (albeit mostly lacking) world-building, great writing that allows the novel to flow easily and makes for a quick read, some interesting relationship dynamics, and an explosive ending making way for an interesting sequel. However, that being said, The Pledge also has a lot that is not going for it, most prominently the characterization, the predictability of the plot, and, last but certainly not least, the romance, each of which I guess you could say I deducted about a star for.

Showcase Sunday (18)

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicki at Books, Biscuits, and Tea, where we showcase what books we've gotten over the course of the week, whether it be from a book store, bought for your eReader, received from the library, or from the publishers for review.

For Review: 

  

Taken by Erin Bowman 

If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch 

Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep

Bought: 

  

Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep

Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep

Asjfnsehksndcews. For the past five days I've just been flailing all over my house because I was approved for Taken on Edelweiss! I can't even begin to describe how excited I am to read this, and every time I turn on my Kindle to read a book Taken is just there, on the home screen, taunting me. And, considering I have zero willpower, I will probably be starting Taken some time in December. (YAYAYAYAYAY!) I'm also really looking forward to reading If You Find Me, it sounds like an interesting mix between a contemporary and mystery (unless I'm completely and totally wrong and need to reread the synopsis). I also randomly got Crimson Frost in the mail this week, so, realizing it was the fourth book in a series, I bought the first three in a bundle pack on Amazon for about $12. I highly doubt I'll be done with the first three books to get to the fourth in time of its publication (December 24th), because December will be a big ARC reading month for me considering how many ARCs I've neglected this month because of Project: Dystopian. But, it sounds like an interesting and fun read (and I think it has a boarding school of people with special powers, so I'm in), so I look forward to reading it when I get to it, whenever that may be. 

What did you get this week? 

Leave a link in the comments!

Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Delirium
Lauren Oliver
Series: Delirium, #1
Release Date: February 1st, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Number of Pages: 480
Source: Bought
Rating: 2.5 stars or a very low 3 stars

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

I fell asleep while reading this book. True story, ask anyone (and by anyone, I mean my husband. I hope you're not able to ask just anyone and they can assure you that I fell asleep while reading this. That'd just be creepy). I settled down in bed, all cozied up, preparing to read more of Delirium because I've been putting it off for much too long, hoping to get a big chunk out of the way.

I think I lasted about thirty minutes before Delirium used its superpowers and put me right to sleep. Seriously, I think this book may have some special sleeping powder instilled in its pages. Either that or it's just really freaking boring. But I'll give Delirium the benefit of the doubt and go the sleeping powder route.

But the thing about Delirium is, I don't think it could have exciting even if something actually happened throughout the first three hundred pages, because the subject matter was just dull and uninteresting to me. I knew before going into Delirium that it'd be all about love, and how dangerous it is, but oh no! The main character finds out love is really a beautiful thing and shall be cherished, and that..

Opal Trailer Reveal!

Opal
Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Lux, #3
Release Date: December 18th, 2012
Publisher: Entangled 
Purchase: Amazon | B&N

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.

Trailer 

Jennifer's Website | Twitter | Facebook

USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer L. Armentrout Lives in West Virginia. All the rumors you heard about her state aren’t true.

Well, mostly. When she's not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write.

She is the author of the Covenant Series (Spencer Hill Press), the Lux Series (Entangled Teen), Don't Look Back (Disney/Hyperion) and a yet untitled novel (Disney/Hyperion).

Jennifer also writes adult romance under the pen name J. Lynn.

Waiting on Wednesday (November 21)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine where we post upcoming releases we're highly anticipating. My pre-publication selection for this week's Waiting on Wednesday is Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza.

Mila 2.0
Debra Driza
Series: MILA 2.0, #1
Release Date: March 12th, 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Number of Pages: 480

Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.

Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past —that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.

Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life.

Mila 2.0 is Debra Driza’s bold debut and the first book in a Bourne Identity–style trilogy that combines heart-pounding action with a riveting exploration of what it really means to be human. Fans of I Am Number Four will love Mila for who she is and what she longs to be—and a cliffhanger ending will leave them breathlessly awaiting the sequel.

I haven't read many (in fact, I don't think I've read any) YA books about robots or artificial intelligence, but I've been wanting to for a while now, and this sounds absolutely awesome. But I'm just a bit wary by two things in the synopsis: "Fans of I Am Number Four will love Mila..." I read I Am Number Four before I actually started reading YA, and I liked it (three stars), but reading the reviews I doubt I'd like it now if I were to reread it, so that has me a bit scared, and also: "and a cliffhanger ending that will leave them breathlessly awaiting the sequel." *sarcastic hooray* But, despite that, I have high hopes for this and am eagerly awaiting it! Now if only Debra Driza could have a contact page on her website so I can request an ARC... 

What are you waiting on? 

Leave a link in the comments!

Today's Releases (November 20)

  

Undeadly by Michele Vail

Every Which Way by Calia Read

Elemental by Antony John

  

Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich

Middle Ground by Katie Kacvinsky

Timeless by Michelle Madow

Not a lot of releases this week, and not many that I've got my eye on (but really? Is the Stephanie Plum series still happening? God dammit, Stephanie, it's been nineteen books - choose!). I was interested in Undeadly but then a few negative reviews came in from trusted sources ensuring I would only be frustrated if I read it, so then I took it off my radar immediately. I'm slightly interesting in Elemental, as I've heard amazing things about Antony John's books and this does sound interesting, but I'd have to wait for some reviews to come in before deciding whether to get it or not. What releases are you getting this week, if any? Leave a comment below letting me know, and as always, happy reading!