Chills and Thrills #ReadingCram Day 7--Twitter Synopsis Challenge

Haven't signed up for the readathon yet? You still can! There will be prizes everyday, and all you have to do is to win is to participate! Sign up HERE

Reading Progress:

Day 1
Feed by Mira Grant--295 pages
Ever After High: The Unfairest of Them All by Shannon Hale--336 pages--FINISHED

Day 2
The Queen of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter--107 pages

Feed by Mira Grant--134 pages

Day 3
Feed by Mira Grant--170 pages--FINISHED

Day 4
The Queen of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter--357 pages--FINISHED
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey--102 pages

Undeadly by Michele Vail--147 pages

Day 5
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey--116 pages
Undeadly by Michele Vail--125 pages--FINISHED

Day 6
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancy--95 pages

TOTAL PAGES READ: 1,984 pages

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Twitter Synopsis Challenge

For this challenge, pick any scary book and write a synopsis for it that is 140 characters or less. Post on Twitter, your blog, or any social media.

After pledging herself to Anubis in a dream, Molly has become a powerful reaper, and is sent to Nekyia Academy to master her art as a reaper.

Enter the challenge and giveaway HERE

There will also be tons of stuff happening on Twitter at #readingcram, so make sure to check it out!

What are you all reading right now?

Chills and Thrills #ReadingCram Day 5--Spell It Out Challenge

Haven't signed up for the readathon yet? You still can! There will be prizes everyday, and all you have to do is to win is to participate! Sign up HERE

Reading Progress:

Day 1
Feed by Mira Grant--295 pages
Ever After High: The Unfairest of Them All by Shannon Hale--336 pages--FINISHED

Day 2
The Queen of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter--107 pages

Feed by Mira Grant--134 pages

Day 3
Feed by Mira Grant--170 pages--FINISHED

Day 4
The Queen of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter--357 pages--FINISHED
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey--102 pages

Undeadly by Michele Vail--147 pages

TOTAL PAGES READ: 1,648 pages

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Spell It Out Challenge

Pick one of the following words: Ghost, Witch, Zombie, Howl or chose your own spooky word and using each letter, find a title of a book you've read this year to "spell it out." X and Z may appear anywhere in the title. 
Example:

G  Graceling by Kristin Cashore

H  Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

O  Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

S  Sanctum by Sarah Fine

T  Timebound by Rysa Walker

Z  The Queen of Zombie Hearts

O  Olive Kitteredge

M  Monsters of Men

B  Bruiser 

I   Incarnate

E  Escaping Reality: The Secret Life of Amy Bensen

Enter the Challenge and Giveaway HERE

Oct. 29 – Scary Make-Up Challenge, Hosted by LITTLE RED READER

Oct. 30 – Twitter Synopsis Challenge, Hosted by KellysBookSpill

Oct. 31 – Wrap Up challenge with Costume challenge (optional), Hosted byDANASQUARE

There will also be tons of stuff happening on Twitter at #readingcram, so make sure to check it out!

What are you all reading right now?

Chills and Thrills ReadingCram Day 4--Song Challenge

If you haven't signed up for this amazing Halloween readathon yet, you still can HERE

My Progress:

Day 1
Feed by Mira Grant--295 pages
Ever After High: The Unfairest of Them All by Shannon Hale--336 pages--FINISHED

Day 2
The Queen of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter--107 pages

Feed by Mira Grant--134 pages

Day 3
Feed by Mira Grant--170 pages--FINISHED

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Song Challenge

For the challenge, pick any of your creepy reads and pick a song that best describes the book, or make a playlist for the book. 

I chose The White Rabbit Chonicles by Gena Showalter. I'm currently reading the last book, Queen of Zombie Hearts. This playlist is meant to encompass the whole trilogy. Enjoy!






Enter the challenge and giveaway HERE

What Are You Reading Monday 10/27

Welcome to It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading!  This is a meme done by Book Journey.  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

Friday kicked off the Chills and Thrills #ReadingCram Readathon, so I've been busy trying to read! 

Books I Finished This Week

Feed by Mira Grant--4 stars

Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness--5 stars

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater--5 stars

Snowscape by Patrick Ness--5 stars

The Unfairest of Them All by Shannon Hale--4 stars

Really good reading week!

What's Up This Week

I'm going to keep plugging away on my TBR for the readathon!

Currently Reading

If you haven't joined the Chills and Thrills Reading Cram 2.0, you still can! Click HERE to sign up

Have a great week everyone!!

Chills and Thrills #ReadingCram Readathon Day 2--Teaser Challenge

If you haven't signed up for this amazing Halloween readathon yet, you still can HERE

My Progress:

Day 1
Feed by Mira Grant--295 pages
Ever After High: The Unfairest of Them All by Shannon Hale--336 pages--FINISHED

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Teaser Challenge

So here’s what you got to do: 

Randomly open the book you are reading and post 2 sentences from the read ADDING 3 spooky/Halloween words of your choosing into the teaser! Make sure to share with us via Twitter using the #READINGCRAM OR post to your blog, booktube or anything else!

"By the way, this is a zombie girls-only deadly slumber party. Vampire Boys are not invited. 

Enter this challenge and be entered in the daily giveaway HERE

And don't forget to check out the challenges every day for a chance for more prizes! 

Oct. 26 – A re-creation of a book title and/or book cover (re-creating in whatever way, drawing, acting, a photo, painting, etc). Like Fangirl is fanggirl. Hosted by MySeryniti

Oct. 27 – Song Challenge, Hosted by Book Escape Reviews

Oct. 28 – Spell it out Challenge, Hosted by Rachel @ A PERFECTION CALLED BOOKS

Oct. 29 – Scary Make-Up Challenge, Hosted by LITTLE RED READER

Oct. 30 – Twitter Synopsis Challenge, Hosted by KellysBookSpill

Oct. 31 – Wrap Up challenge with Costume challenge (optional), Hosted byDANASQUARE

There will also be tons of stuff happening on Twitter at #readingcram, so make sure to check it out!

What are you all reading right now?

Chills and Thrills Reading Cram Day 1--TBR Challenge

Its finally time! Time to read some spooky and scary! Okay, actually I've sort of been doing this all month,  but now is the time I'm going to amp it up!

Today's Challenge is the TBR Challenge. I have a HUGE list of books to choose from. I won't be reading all of these, my goal is 10 books for the readathon, but we'll see!

The book you can't see at the bottom is Bloodlines by Richelle Mead.

So excited for this! Last night I started Feed by Mira Grant, and I've already read 84 pages!

Haven't signed up for the readathon yet? You still can! There will be prizes everyday, and all you have to do is to win is to participate! Sign up HERE

Today's Challenge and Giveaway is hosted by Becoming Books! Enter the giveaway HERE

And don't forget to check out the challenges every day for a chance for more prizes! 

Oct. 25 – Teaser Challenge, Hosted by Andrew @ EndlesslyReading

Oct. 26 – A re-creation of a book title and/or book cover (re-creating in whatever way, drawing, acting, a photo, painting, etc). Like Fangirl is fanggirl. Hosted by MySeryniti

Oct. 27 – Song Challenge, Hosted by Book Escape Reviews

Oct. 28 – Spell it out Challenge, Hosted by Rachel @ A PERFECTION CALLED BOOKS

Oct. 29 – Scary Make-Up Challenge, Hosted by LITTLE RED READER

Oct. 30 – Twitter Synopsis Challenge, Hosted by KellysBookSpill

Oct. 31 – Wrap Up challenge with Costume challenge (optional), Hosted byDANASQUARE

There will also be tons of stuff happening on Twitter at #readingcram, so make sure to check it out!

What are you all reading right now?

Top Ten Tuesday--New Series I Want To Start Reading

Top Ten Tuesday is done by The Broke and the Bookish Click to join in the fun!

Top Ten Series I Want To Start Reading

10.  Splintered by A.G. Howard

Anything Alice in Wonderland intrigues me. Plus, just look at those covers!

9.  Immortal City by Scott Speer

My friend, Jen, recommends these reads! Love the concept of angels in this one, totally unique!

8. The Luxe by Anna Godberson

 I've heard nothing but good things about these books. Plus, I love historical fiction.

7. Seven Realms by Cinda Williams Chima

Fantasy. Need I say more?

6. Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

Another fantasy. Enough said.

5. Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger

Another recommend from my friend Jen. Really interesting concept too.

4. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Another recommend from Jen. And mythology. *Grabby hands*

3. Shadow Falls by C.C. Hunter

I've had these on my TBR forever, but I recently met C.C. Hunter at UtopYA in Nashville, and she was lovely! So they have been bumped up the list!

2. Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

I've heard AMAZING things about these books. Been wanting to read them since the first book released!

1. Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

I LOVED Vampire Academy, and I can't wait to see where this spin off goes! 

That's my top ten! Thoughts or comments? Leave them below!

What Are You Reading Monday + October Reading Update-- 10/20

Welcome to It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading!  This is a meme done by Book Journey.  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

So my October Reading Challenge for myself is moving along rather slowly. My readathon starts soon, though, so hopefully that will kick me into gear!

Books I finished this week

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers--5 stars

Quarantine: The Saints by Lex Thomas--3 stars

The Young Elites by Marie Lu--4 stars Review

What's up the week

Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness

Spellcaster by Claudia Gray

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater (currently reading)

Ever After High: The Unfairest of Them All by Shannon Hale

Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White

I will also have a new update when the readathon starts on Friday!

If you haven't joined the Chills and Thrills Reading Cram 2.0, you still can! Click HERE to sign up

Have a good week!

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Goodreads
368 pages, YA Fantasy
The Young Elites #1
My Rating: 4 Stars

Synopsis

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all. 

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen. 

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

My 2 cents

This was an awesome fantasy read! I was so looking forward to this new book by Marie Lu, as I loved The Legend series. I was afraid I'd be comparing it to Legend the whole time, but I shouldn't have worried! The story kept me more than engaged and everything else fell away!

The thing that stands out about this book is the MC, Adelina, is actually not really the hero of the story. She definitely tries to be, but she's more the villain than anything else. Not through her own fault, more as a victim of circumstance. She is raised by a cruel father and deep down believes him when he says she is worthless.

When her powers finally start to emerge, she tries to join the "good guys" but is soon stuck between a battle between two young men--Enzo, the former crown prince and leader of the Dagger Society, and Teren, the head of the Inquisitors. Both are at cross purposes, and they both use Adelina to fight their battles.

I found this dynamic to be the best part of the story. There is no love triangle here--Adelina is realistic and can read what's really going on. But all three of these characters were so intriguing. They each thought they were doing the right thing, but they all are flawed characters. 

The rest of the characters mostly faded into the background. We really didn't get to know any of them very well. I'm hoping we learn more in upcoming books. 

The setting, the world building, and the basic plot itself were very well done. I was totally sucked into this world. Overall, this was a very good fantasy. Fans of Throne of Glass and Graceling will enjoy this one!

October Reading--Something Wicked This Way Comes

Hey fellow BOOklovers! Are you all ready for Halloween this year? I myself LOVE Halloween, and the entire month up until then! I love it so much, that some friends and I have come up with a readathon just for Halloween!  You can find out more HERE

To expand this, I'm filling my month long reading goal with spooky, paranormal, creepy and freaky books. I have lots to choose from believe me! My goal is pretty massive--I want to read 25 books this month! I'm already behind. But hopefully I can catch up! 


I started the month with The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness. This is the second book in the Chaos Walking Trilogy. Not something you might think of as a Halloween read, but it does have plenty of aliens and evil creatures parading as men. And plenty of moments in the book were definitely chilling! I loved the read, and can't wait to read the sequel. 5 star read!


Right now I am in the middle of two different books. The first is The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater. I am so excited to read this one, and have been waiting awhile! I'm not far in yet, but loving it already! This series is very different, but the characters are amazing! This one has magic as its main element for this challenge.



The second book I am reading is Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers. This one is actually historical fiction, but it feels like fantasy, and has ASSASSINS who are daughters of Death. Perfect read for this month! I'm farther in this one and LOVING it. This is also a second book in a series-- a common theme so far!

Here are some other books that are tentatively on my TBR list for the month. These may be changed.

Let me know what you think about any of these books, or books you might suggest for me to read! 

Boil by David Estes + Review + Giveaway!

Revenge. That’s all that’s left for witch hunter Rhett Carter. The magic-born have stripped everything from him - killed his friends, cursed his warlock father, shattered his future - leaving him bare and broken, but not dead. Their mistake. When Rhett and Laney are suddenly thrust in different directions, Rhett must decide who to trust and who to kill. Backed by his trusty canine sidekick Hex, Rhett will embark on his deadliest mission yet, one that will lead him directly toward those who want him dead, pushing his unique resistance to magic to the edge and back again as he tries to remove his father’s curse. Separated from Rhett, Laney seeks to understand the strange changes to her sister, Trish, who’s believed to be the last living Clairvoyant, and what role she’s destined to play in the future of humankind. Wrapped around everything are four major groups: the Necromancers, the Changelings, the witch hunters, and New America, the remnants of humanity. When the major forces are brought together for an epic battle, the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

My Rating: 5 stars
My Review:

**There will be spoilers from the first book, Brew, but none for Boil**

"As my days surround me with the bitter eyes of a betrayed wolf, my nights haunt and destroy without compassion, bruising my heart and crushing my soul"--Rhett Carter

And so the sequel starts, the situation even darker for Rhett. Trying to come to terms with the fact that Beth is gone, and contemplating Xavier's actions in the whole mess. Does he still have a best friend? The only thing Rhett knows for sure is he wants REVENGE.

This was an EPIC sequel! You are really in for the wild ride of your life with this one. The stakes are even higher than before, as Rhett, Laney, and Trish follow their own paths in this crazy mixed up world. 

First of all--Laney's POV! FINALLY! I was so wanting to get in her head all through the story of Brew, and we finally get that in this book! She was everything I'd imagined, and more. Still easily my favorite character in this trilogy. The voice of Laney was spot on, and so different from Rhett's. It was easy to tell who was really talking, something that can be hard to pull off, but was done BEAUTIFULLY in this book! My favorite Laney line: "If they ever create an award for best conversationalist, let me know and I’ll apply. Until then, have a sip from my bottle of I-Don’t-Give-A-Crap and keep on walking." Love it!

We also get Trish's POV in this, which was so enlightening, and really gave me insight into her character. Her story line is wicked crazy, and I enjoyed every minute. After you finish the read, the cover of the book will give you CHILLS!

The next best thing about this book was the twists. Like Brew, I did not see any of them coming! In fact, I was completely mind blown! I have no idea how the author pulled these off, but they were done so well. And they just kept on coming, one after the other!

The world building--AMAZING! I just love this world that David Estes has created, and it just builds and builds, something I love to see in a sequel.

The intensity of this story was on par with the intensity of Brew, if not more so. The story itself was incredibly gripping, with never a dull moment. There is still plenty of humor, though to balance it out. I loved every thrilling moment of this read! So unbelievably excited for the last book in the trilogy, Burn!

And finally, a quote from Rhett to leave you with: 

"If you'd have told me two weeks ago that one day I'd be part of a not-so-merry band of Necros seeking to exterminate a couple of other magic-born gangs, I'd have given you directions to the strait-jacket factory."

Get both Brew and its sequel, Boil, the first two books in the Salem's Revenge series, for a special price of $0.99 each for a limited time only (Amazon Kindle exclusive: Brew until October 17th; Boil until October 7th) Click on the above buttons to take advantage of this limited time deal!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Goodreads  ●  David's Blog  ●  Twitter  ●  Facebook  ●  Tumblr  and his  Goodreads Fan Group      

David Estes was born in El Paso, Texas but moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was very young. David grew up in Pittsburgh and then went to Penn State for college. Eventually he moved to Sydney, Australia where he met his wife. They now live together in their dream location, Hawaii. A reader all his life, he began writing novels for the children's and YA markets in 2010, and started writing full time in June 2012. Now he travels the world writing with his wife, Adele. David's a writer with OCD, a love of dancing and singing (but only when no one is looking or listening), a mad-skilled ping-pong player, and prefers writing at the swimming pool to writing at a table.

To celebrate the launch of Brew and Boil, David Estes is also giving away FREE Kindle copies of his popular YA dystopian AND adventure book, Fire Country. Just click the above link to nab your free copy.