Title: Carpe Corpus (The Morganville Vampires, #6)
Author: Rachel Caine
Publisher: Signet, 241 Pages (June 2nd 2009)
From: Amazon

Synopsis: In the small college town of Morganville, vampires and humans lived in (relative) peace-until all the rules got rewritten when the evil vampire Bishop arrived, looking for the lost book of vampire secrets. He's kept a death grip on the town ever since. Now an underground resistance is brewing, and in order to contain it, Bishop must go to even greater lengths. He vows to obliterate the town and all its inhabitants-the living and the undead. Claire Danvers and her friends are the only ones who stand in his way. But even if they defeat Bishop, will the vampires ever be content to go back to the old rules, after having such a taste of power?

Review: 4 Stars - Carpe Corpus begins soon after Lord of Misrule ends. Claire’s stuck in the middle and forced to work on the wrong side, Bishop’s side. Amelie has vanished, thanks to Myrnin, who just happens to be sitting pretty right next to…. you guessed it, Bishop. Michael was forced to stand at, yep… right again Bishop’s side. Eve’s pretty upset with everyone, including Claire and Shane’s stuck in jail with his dear old dad. Did I paint you a pretty picture yet?

If you thought living in and with a town run by vampires couldn’t get any worse, well you’re wrong there. Things are about to bubble over for everyone. Caine continue to work her magic in this new installment. She’s good at leaving me guessing as to what’s lurking around the next page.

One highlight was the introduction of Ada. At first I thought, oh right, yeah come on already! However, since I really do enjoy this series I kept reading and found that her character was kind of a creepy perfection that fit right in with, well everyone and everything. I mean why not have… wait, I won’t tell you just who or what she is. I don’t want to ruin it for anyone who’s yet to read.

It was nice to see all the characters growing and changing. The new trials Claire and her friends – human and vampire will face. Oh, let’s not forget we get to see the true Myrnin, who gets cured in this book. I’m looking forward to seeing more of him in the future.

The book ends on a happy note. No cliffhangers like in previous books. I for one don’t think things will stay too cheery for to long, I mean we are talking about Morganville.

I have the next book – Fade Out ready to read, and then Kiss of Death on order. If you’re new to this series, be sure to start at the beginning – Glass Houses. Enjoy!

FTC Disclaimer: I DID pay for this book and have NOT been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this review.

Title: Perchance to Dream (Théâtre Illuminata, #2)
Author: Lisa Mantchev
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends, 384 Pages (May 25th 2010)
From: Author/Publisher

Synopsis: The stuff that dreams are made on.

Act Two, Scene One

Growing up in the enchanted Thèâtre Illuminata, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith learned everything about every play ever written. She knew the Players and their parts, but she didn’t know that she, too, had magic. Now, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales, and determined to follow her stars. She is ready for the outside world.

Enter BERTIE AND COMPANY

But the outside world soon proves more topsy-turvy than any stage production. Bertie can make things happen by writing them, but outside the protective walls of the Thèâtre, nothing goes as planned. And her magic cannot help her make a decision between—

Nate: Her suave and swashbuckling pirate, now in mortal peril.

Ariel: A brooding, yet seductive, air spirit whose true motives remain unclear.

When Nate is kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Sea Goddess, only Bertie can free him. She and her fairy sidekicks embark on a journey aboard the Thèâtre’s caravan, using Bertie’s word magic to guide them. Along the way, they collect a sneak-thief, who has in his possession something most valuable, and meet The Mysterious Stranger, Bertie’s father—and the creator of the scrimshaw medallion. Bertie’s dreams are haunted by Nate, whose love for Bertie is keeping him alive, but in the daytime, it’s Ariel who is tantalizingly close, and the one she is falling for. Who does Bertie love the most? And will her magic be powerful enough to save her once she enters the Sea Goddess’s lair?


Review: 4.5 Stars - Perchance to Dream picks back up right where we were left in Eyes Like Stars. Bertie and her ever present fairies, along with the air elemental, Ariel have set out on a merry road trip away from the theater to save the kidnapped Pirate Nate.

Now, I’m going to write this review without giving anything away, so all who are looking forward to reading this sequel – don’t worry there will be no spoilers given away here.

I can say that in the first book – Eyes Like Stars I fell in love with the fairies. Each and every one of them was just laugh out loud funny. Mantchev doesn’t disappoint in the slightest when it comes to the comic relief of our four fine pie-eating fairy friends - Peaseblossom, Mustardseed, Moth & Cobb. For me, in both books they often stole the show. It’s always great when a book can make me laugh out loud and this one did that on more then one occasion.

Throughout the book were introduced to a couple new characters and some that answer questions left in the first book. Throughout the troupes journey on the outside world they face new and exciting challenges and adventures that kept this continuing story very interesting and fun to say the very least.

I enjoyed watching Bertie learn more about herself, the questions she must face, the challenges she must face. And then Ariel, what’s to say about Ariel. The whole Ariel vs. Nate thing was always a question and I can tell you that you’ll have to read this book to find out what happens.

The only downside about this book was that sometimes I was confused as to what was going on. I found myself having to go back and reread a few pages here and there to get a better grasp as to what was going on with the characters and the scenes around them. I would have given it 5 stars if not for that; however, since this was an ARC things are always subject to change. Truthfully, it didn’t take that much away from enjoying the characters and the story.

All in all – in this sequel, Mantchev further paints such a amazing story that makes me eager to read the next book to see just where Bertie and her vibrant cast of characters head on their furthering adventures. If you haven’t read Eyes Like Stars, be sure to start there. This series is very different from anything else out there which makes this a welcome breath of fresh air. I’m looking forward to the third in the series, currently titled So Silver Bright.

FTC Disclaimer: I did not pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this review.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is an event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. The purpose of this weekly event is to spotlight a soon-to-be-released book that you are very much anticipating. "Waiting On" Wednesday will also give bloggers an opportunity to share ideas for our TBR lists.

Title: Thirteen Days To Midnight
Author: Patrick Carman
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 304 Pages (April 12, 2010)
Preorder here: Amazon, Borders, The Book Depository

Synopsis: You are indestructible. These are the words that transfer an astonishing power to Jacob Fielding that changes everything. After all, there's something addictive about testing the limits of fear, experiencing the thrill of walking through fire, or saving your friend from a beating in front of the whole school. Then Ophelia James, the beautiful and daring new girl in town, suggests that they use the power to do good, to save others at risk of death. But with every heroic act, the power grows into the specter of a curse.

How to decide who lives and who dies? And why does darkness seem to be chasing them? Jacob only has thirteen days to figure out how to harness a power that even the world's greatest escape artist could not outrun...and the answer is chilling: What if he has to kill the one he loves to save her? In the context of a unconventional gothic super hero story, Pat Carman has envisioned a high concept tale of intrigue, romance, friendship and adventure that probes deep into what teens face as they enter young adult years: navigating increasingly complex choices with greater consequences, as well as the grey areas blurring the definitions of right and wrong.

Okay, sound great right? Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Another must read book for 2010. They just keep coming out of the woodwork! 2010=great year in books.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Here's what you do...

-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 Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

Title: Claire de Lune
Author: Christine Johnson
Publisher: Simon Pulse, 256 Pages (May 18th 2010)
Preorder From: Amazon, Borders, The Book Depository

"He goes to school with me. We didn't hang out much last year, but..." Claire trailed off.
"But?" Lisbeth raised her eyebrows and grinned. "Oooh- you like him, don't you?"
Claire couldn't stop herself from smiling. Lisbeth had just given her the perfect cover. (Pg. 161 - in the ARC, which as always... ARC's are subject to change.)

Hmmm wonder what could be going on here? I'm just about to start this book. Another interesting one if you ask me. Anyone else looking forward to it?

*note - since this is an ARC - Should there be a problem, please let me know and I'll be sure to remove this post. Thank You.

Title: Some Girls Are
Author: Courtney Summers
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin, 256 pages (January 5th 2010)
From: Amazon

Synopsis: Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard--falling from it is even harder. Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around.

Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge. If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day. She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully. Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first.

Tensions grow and the abuse worsens as the final days of senior year march toward an explosive conclusion in this dark new tale from the author of Cracked Up To Be.

Review: 4.5 Stars - WOW - where to start. First off this story was amazing, which is hard to say due to the content. The writing and characters were spot on and sadly true. It brought me back to High School and honestly, I could see this happening, which is heartbreaking.

Regina is sitting pretty at the top of the High School food chain when, at a party one weekend she's deemed the designated driver. While being the sober one she's faced with a horrible situation, and the following day no one believes her. She finds herself outcast and among all the people she herself outcast - and surprise, surprise everyone hates her or thinks she's got what was coming to her.

This story isn't nice or pretty and it's far from sweet. There are struggles and emotions not only for Regina and other characters, but for the reader as well.

I saw Regina as someone who had to further develop her tough skin to deal with the day to day problems she had to face as she went back to school. And many of those problems were horrible for anyone to have to deal with, especially if you had to deal with them alone. Throughout the story it was sometimes even hard for me to feel sorry for her as stories from how she treated others came out.

She attempts to seek solace with a fellow outcast who sits alone each day at lunch. Their relationship, if you could call it that is very push and pull... rocky to say the least. Seeing both their struggles to come to terms with various things gave such a dark and disturbing story a bit of light and strength. Regina had to learn the hard way that saying you’re sorry to someone you've wronged won't solve everything in the blink of an eye.

The emotions I felt while reading this book really made me think of how we treat others throughout life. How people can be cruel and just not care. The only thing I can say that I didn't like about this book is how blind and absent the adults were. I felt that Anna and all the others who did such horrible things should have had something coming to them in some form of punishment and that the ending was just a tad rushed. None of this took away from the story, just something I observed while reading.

This is my first book by Summers and it won't be my last. I have Cracked Up To Be sitting in my to be read pile and I’m looking forward to that and more. If you’re thinking about picking this book up, do it. It’s well worth the read. Enjoy!

FTC Disclaimer: I DID pay for this book and have NOT been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this review.