Thanks to everyone who participated in my Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings giveaway! Here are the 2 WINNERS as chosen by Random.org!

1ST WINNER
#46 Sara Pauff

2ND WINNER
#25 SasMan

I've emailed the winners to confirm/request their mailing information, and they have 48 hours (2 days) to respond.

Thanks again to the publisher Sourcebooks for letting me host this giveaway!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

A weekly event on my blog where I post about books (not necessarily pre-release or new) that I've just added to my wishlist, along with a little blurb on why I want to read it.
(hosted by Book Chick City & Breaking the Spine)


Vampire Crush
by A. M. Robinson
release date: 28 December 2010

First, six mysteriously pale new students show up at Sophie McGee’s high school. Then, Sophie’s childhood nemesis James reappears, still displaying a knack for making Sophie’s blood boil. When Sophie finds out that James has a connection to the new students, she decides to investigate...never expecting her life will quickly begin to resemble a campy horror movie, complete with budding crushes and bloodthirsty villains.

Why it's on my wishlist
I was very very dubious at first since the cover and title suggested nothing short of the usual vampire romance-mystery thing, but luckily I gave it a chance and went through some reviews first. From what I gather, the protagonist is snarkily hilarious and definitely not weak in the knees for pretty corpses. I'm not against vampires really (since I'm a devout follower of the Angel and Spike comic books, ahem) but the whole forbidden seduction thing is just not my thing. This book on the other hand definitely sounds like something I would enjoy.

Giveaway Reminder
If you haven't signed up for my current giveaways, please take a look! I'm giving away 2 copies of Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings with signed bookplates! Open to US/Canada.

To make up for my absence in the past weeks (which I hereby blame on University exam season) here is another hosted giveaway for you guys, and another one hopefully coming next week!

Another Canada-based author this time too! I'm a sucker for unconventional protagonists and mythical creatures, Awkward Parental Situations, and of course a little mystery. How does a mermaid drown?


Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings
by Hélène Boudreau
published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Summary from publisher
Fourteen-year-old Jade feels like a freak-of-nature when she finally gets her first period while trying on an XL tankini at the mall. It gets worse when she runs into handsome Luke Martin in the feminine products aisle while her dad Googles ‘menstruation’ on his phone.
But "freak-of-nature" takes on a whole new meaning when raging hormones bring on another metamorphosis—complete with scales and a tail. When Jade learns she’s inherited her mermaid tendencies from her late mother, it raises the question: if Mom was a mermaid, how did she drown?

About the Author
Hélène Boudreau writes fiction and non-fiction for children and young adults from her home in Ontario. Her debut middle grade novel, Acadian Star, was released last fall and was recently nominated for the 2009/2010 Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award.
Visit her online at www.heleneboudreau.com

Special Offer!
Anyone who purchases a copy of Real Mermaids Don’t Wear Toe Rings as a gift (either for themselves or someone else!) can email proof of purchase and an address to Hélène and she will send you a signed bookplate for the holidays!

Available at: Amazon.com ; Amazon.ca ; BookDepository ; IndieBound

I have TWO (2) copies of the book to give away with signed bookplates! Open to US/Canada addresses only.

• You must provide a valid email address so I can contact you.
• You do not have to be a follower to enter.
• This contest is open to US/Canada residents 13 years or older. Prizes will be sent by the publisher.
• Contest will close on December 21st at 11:59PM EST.
• Winners will be chosen with Random.org and must send me their mailing addresses within 48 hours or I will pick another winner.
• Optional entries (not required!)
  - GFC blog follower (+2)
  - twitter follower @angeltyuan (+2)
  - tweet giveaway (+1)
  - blog sidebar (+1)
  - blog about giveaway (+2)
  - blog about the book i.e. Wishlist Wednesday (+2)

Please fill out THIS FORM to enter. Comments on this post are NOT going to count as entries.

Feel free to comment if you have any questions for me or the publisher =)

A weekly event on my blog where I post about books (not necessarily pre-release or new) that I've just added to my wishlist, along with a little blurb on why I want to read it.
(hosted by Book Chick City & Breaking the Spine)


Book of the Order #1:
Geist
by Philippa Ballantine
release date: 26 October 2010

Between the living and the dead is the Order of the Deacons, protectors of the Empire, guardians against possession, sentinels enlisted to ward off the malevolent haunting of the geists...
Among the most powerful of the Order is Sorcha, now thrust into partnership with the novice Deacon, Merrick Chambers. They have been dispatched to the isolated village of Ulrich to aide the Priory with a surge of violent geist activity. With them is Raed Rossin, Pretender to the throne that Sorcha is sworn to protect, and bearer of a terrible curse.
But what greets them in the strange settlement is something far more predatory and more horrifying than any mere haunting. And as she uncovers a tradition of twisted rituals passed down through the dark reaches of history, Sorcha will be forced to reconsider everything she thinks she knows.
And if she makes it out of Ulrich alive, what in Hell is she returning to?

Why it's on my wishlist
A combination of: it's lack of any paraphrasing of "and she meets a hot dark stranger who will put her life at stake", the whole "pretender to the throne" thing, and my weakness for badass chicks in capes(??).

RL Update
I'm currently very very sick with the flu so I probably won't be able to do anything productive (read: reviews) for a while, but the upcoming giveaway will still be held. Hopefully I'll be able to crawl out of bed for longer than 2-hour intervals by next week orz

Each week I will post a list of the books I've borrowed, received, or bought. I will keep a weekly tally in each post, as well as a yearly one on the sidebar. All books with PoC themes/authors will be listed for the "New Crayons" meme.
All prices are listed in Canadian dollars.
(hosted weekly by The Story Siren / The Printed Page; New Crayons by Color Online)



Tally for 2010/11/21
Borrowed: 0
Received: 1
Bought: 0
Total Cost: $0.00

Thanks to everyone who participated in my first blogoversary giveaway! There were 112 entrants and a grand total of 732 entries!

Without further ado, here are the 3 WINNERS as chosen by Random.org!

1ST WINNER
#671 wendy (luvwendy87)
who chose 2x $5 Amazon (COM or CA) giftcards

2ND WINNER
#324 Rad Hall (emi3mle)
who chose book up to US$9 at Book Depository

3RD WINNER
#410 Damla (annabell_lee_dk)
who chose 2x $5 Amazon (COM or CA) giftcards

Congrats to the winners! I've sent out emails to confirm/request their prize info/mailing addresses, and they have 48 hours (2 days) to respond before I'll have to choose new winners.

Giveaway Updates
There will be a new giveaway coming up very soon so stay tuned!

A weekly event on my blog where I post about books (not necessarily pre-release or new) that I've just added to my wishlist, along with a little blurb on why I want to read it.
(hosted by Book Chick City & Breaking the Spine)


StarCrossed
by Elizabeth C. Bunce
release date: 1 October 2010

Digger thrives as a spy and sneak-thief among the feuding religious factions of Gerse, dodging the Greenmen who have banned all magic. But when a routine job goes horribly wrong and her partner and lover Tegen is killed, she has to get out of the city, fast, and hides herself in a merry group of nobles to do so. Accepted as a lady's maid to shy young Merista Nemair, Digger finds new peace and friendship at the Nemair stronghold--as well as plenty of jewels for the taking. But after the devious Lord Daul catches her in the act of thievery, he blackmails her into becoming his personal spy in the castle, and Digger soon realizes that her noble hosts aren't as apolitical as she thought...that indeed, she may be at the heart of a magical rebellion.

Why it's on my wishlist
I love stories about thieves, and I love stories with friendships between women that are not bound to inane talk about men. I'm really interested in how Digger and Merista will become friends, and while I'm a bit iffy about the whole blackmail thing (man holding power over strong woman), I hope to enjoy this one.

Giveaway Update
I'm counting up the entries to my Blogoversary Giveaway right now, but I've got a midterm and RL business to tend to for the next few days. However, I can promise the results will be up and winners emailed by Friday. Thanks to all old and new followers for participating! =)

Each week I will post a list of the books I've borrowed, received, or bought. I will keep a weekly tally in each post, as well as a yearly one on the sidebar. All books with PoC themes/authors will be listed for the "New Crayons" meme.
All prices are listed in Canadian dollars.
(hosted weekly by The Story Siren / The Printed Page; New Crayons by Color Online)



Tally for 2010/11/14
Borrowed: 0
Received: 0
Bought: 2
Total Cost: $7.33

A weekly event on my blog where I post about books (not necessarily pre-release or new) that I've just added to my wishlist, along with a little blurb on why I want to read it.
(hosted by Book Chick City & Breaking the Spine)


The Iron Witch
by Karen Mahoney
release date: 8 February 2011

Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic — the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.
When the darkest outcasts of Faerie — the vicious wood elves — abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend — even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

Why it's on my wishlist
While I'm usually not a fan of fairies, I'd really like to try this book out. For one, I'm hoping that we get to see friendship that isn't overshadowed by romance. For another, alchemy just holds a special meaning to me (FullMetal Alchemist ♥) and I'd love to see the direction the author takes.

Giveaway Reminder
If you haven't signed up for my current giveaways, please take a look! I'm celebrating my 1st blogoversary giveaway, now with 3 winners!

A weekly event to celebrate what we are reading for the week as well as books completed the previous week.
(hosted weekly by Book Journey)

Currently Reading

• Downtime by Tamara Allen
• Warchild by Karin Lowachee
• Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
• Changeless by Gail Carriger
  Parasol Protectorate #2

Weekly Summary

• Teaser Tuesday: Changeless
• Wishlist Wednesday: Slice of Cherry

New Reviews

• Poison Sleep by T.A. Pratt (rated ☂☂☂.5)
  Marla Mason #2

Current Giveaways

• Giveaway: My 1st Blogoversary!
  3 prizes ; 3 winners ; international ; ends 11/14 at 11:59PM

Marla Mason #2:
Poison Sleep
by T.A. Pratt

The bad girl of the magical underworld is back and badder than ever.
Someone wants Marla Mason dead. Usually that’s not news. As chief sorcerer of Felport, someone always wants her dead. But this time she’s the target of a renegade assassin who specializes in killing his victims over days, months, or even years. Not to mention a mysterious knife-wielding killer in black who pops up in the most unexpected places. To make matters worse, an inmate has broken out of the Blackwing Institute for criminally insane sorcerers—a troubled psychic who can literally reweave the fabric of reality to match her own traumatic past.
With her wisecracking partner Rondeau reluctantly in tow, Marla teams up with a “love-talker” whose dangerous erotic spells not even she can resist. Together they’re searching the rapidly transforming streets of Felport for a woman who’s become the Typhoid Mary of nightmares, infecting everything — and everyone — she touches with a chaos worse than death itself.

Why I Read This
I own the first three novels to this series, and I liked the first book.

First Lines

“The Bentley squealed to a halt at the top of the icy horseshoe driveway before the looming brick face of the Blackwing Institute. Marla leapt from the passenger side and rushed for the front doors, purple-and-white cloak billowing after her in the gusty winter wind.

☂☂☂.5

Marla is just as snipey and down-to-business as the first book, but we see a slightly less-prickly side of her as she gets hilariously smitten over love-talker Joshua, and employs a dying man off the street. The themes dealt with in this book are radically different from the myths and prophecies in the first, focusing instead around the various deviations of sexual attraction and power (though I wouldn't call this "steamy" lol). The twists and bends of character betrayals and deaths keep the story interesting, even if there's less action-packed violence.

review posted to goodreads, Shelfari, LibraryThing

A weekly event on my blog where I post about books (not necessarily pre-release or new) that I've just added to my wishlist, along with a little blurb on why I want to read it.
(hosted by Book Chick City & Breaking the Spine)


Slice of Cherry
by Dia Reeves
release date: 4 January 2011

Happiness is a bloody knife.
Kit and Fancy Cordelle are sisters of the best kind: best friends, best confidantes, and best accomplices. The daughters of the infamous Bonesaw Killer, Kit and Fancy are used to feeling like outsiders, and that’s just the way they like it. But in Portero, where the weird and wild run rampant, the Cordelle sisters are hardly the oddest or most dangerous creatures around.
It’s no surprise when Kit and Fancy start to give in to their deepest desire—the desire to kill. What starts as a fascination with slicing open and stitching up quickly spirals into a gratifying murder spree. Of course, the sisters aren’t killing just anyone, only the people who truly deserve it. But the girls have learned from the mistakes of their father, and know that a shred of evidence could get them caught. So when Fancy stumbles upon a mysterious and invisible doorway to another world, she opens a door to endless possibilities...

Why it's on my wishlist
It's like a scary movie, from the killers' point of view! The creepy sister killers! Plus, it's Dia Reeves, and Portero is the most amazing kind of town *__*
I'm unsure how to classify the cover, not as spectacular as Bleeding Violet of course...and I kind of wanted something with BLOOD RED ALL OVER lol...but the understated amount of blood works too?

Giveaway Reminder
If you haven't signed up for my current giveaways, please take a look! I'm celebrating my 1st blogoversary giveaway, now with 3 winners!

Just grab your current read, open to a random page, and share a few "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
(hosted at Should Be Reading)

“Alexia Maccon was known as a lady of regal bearing and not much more. Society generally considered her looks too swarthy to give much credence despite her rank. Alexia, herself, had always believed good posture was her last best hope and was proud to have acquired the "regal bearing" epithet. This morning, however, blankets and pillows thwarted her; she could only flounder gracelessly up to her elbows, her backbone as limp as a noodle.
from chapter 1 of Changeless by Gail Carriger

Ms. Carriger really has a way with quirky wording. There are not many books these days where I love the writing as much as I love the plot, but the Parasol Protectorate series comes damn close.

Giveaway Reminder
If you haven't signed up for my current giveaways, please take a look! I'm celebrating my 1st blogoversary giveaway, now with 3 winners!

A weekly event to celebrate what we are reading for the week as well as books completed the previous week.
(hosted weekly by Book Journey)

Currently Reading

• Downtime by Tamara Allen
• Warchild by Karin Lowachee
• Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

Weekly Summary

• award: Life is Good
• YA Novel Discovery Contest
• Wishlist Wednesday: Huntress
• Cover Cravings #9: Wings
  angel wings, fairy wings, animal wings
• Saturday Screening: Summer 2010
  recent screenings: 10 | anticipated screenings: 2
• Just Call Me...Rita Giveaway Winners!
• In My Mailbox 2010/10/31

Current Giveaways

• Giveaway: My 1st Blogoversary!
  3 prizes ; 3 winners ; international ; ends 11/14 at 11:59PM

Lots of posts this week, though none are reviews...I'm still working on a new layout for my blog revamp, so keep an eye out for that soon =)

Each week I will post a list of the books I've borrowed, received, or bought. I will keep a weekly tally in each post, as well as a yearly one on the sidebar. All books with PoC themes/authors will be listed for the "New Crayons" meme.
All prices are listed in Canadian dollars.
(hosted weekly by The Story Siren / The Printed Page; New Crayons by Color Online)



Tally for 2010/10/31
Borrowed: 0
Received: 2
Bought: 0
Total Cost: $0.00

Thanks to everyone who participated in my first hosted giveaway! Here are the 3 WINNERS as chosen by Random.org!

1ST WINNER
#51 Salatiel Júnior
@ Me, My Shelf and I

2ND WINNER
#107 Betty
@ Reflections with Coffee

3RD WINNER
#9 amandasue

I've emailed the winners to confirm/request their mailing information, and they have 48 hours (2 days) to respond (if they haven't given me their address already) before I'll have to choose new winners.

Thanks again to the publisher JD Rosy for letting me host this giveaway!

HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Also, if you haven't checked it out already, I'm celebrating my 1st blogoversary giveaway, now with 3 winners!

A monthly meme where I post about movies I've recently watched and ones I'm dying to see. I'll do a mini ★ review for each movie I've seen, and express in ♥s how excited I am for trailers of movies soon to be released. See all of my movie reviews here.

Recent Screenings: 10
Anticipated Screenings: 2

A weekly feature on my blog where I post up cover images that fit a weekly theme - art styles, artists, colour schemes, etc. In essence, this is a meme that celebrates book covers as pieces of art. Covers link to larger images and titles to goodreads summaries.

This week's theme: Wings
angel wings, fairy wings, animal wings



1) angel wings

hush, hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin
Awakened (House of Night) by P.C. Cast
Awakened (Guardian Legacy) by Ednah Walters

Angel by L.A. Weatherly
Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
Jonas / Beautiful Dead Series by Eden Maguire
Mercy by Rebecca Lim

2) fairy wings

Blackbringer (Dreamdark #1) by Laini Taylor
Silksinger (Dreamdark #2) by Laini Taylor
Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
Spell Hunter / Knife by R.J. Anderson

3) animal wings

The Black Swan by Mercedes Lackey
Firebird by Mercedes Lackey
The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
Pegasus by Robin McKinley




There are a lot of black wings going around for guys, they're large, dark and spikey, and/or attached to a ripped torso - symbolizing power. For the girls, the wings are wispy and small. While it's quite impossible to attach them to a ripped torso without bordering on indecency in their case, the girls are usually wearing dresses or skirts - usually very effeminate and soft. I would really like to see some more badass-looking female angel wings - though the cover for Angel by L.A. Weatherly does make the girl look less delicate.
I'm kind of confused why the wings for the girl in the Dreamdark covers shrinks in size when she's beside a male fairy. It's fine if it's plot-specific, but if it's just to make the guy seem more powerful (admittedly, in butterfly wings), I'm a bit disappointed at the artist.
I would commend the artists for the two Lackey books that make the female characters' wings seem both delicate and powerful. The comparison between the two Pegasus covers also makes me think of the treatment of them as "transportation tool" or "equal", as well as whether the creatures' willingness to carry their rider factors into this...
As always, feel free to leave your opinions and examples in the comments!

Giveaway Reminder
If you haven't signed up for my two giveaways, please take a look! I'm celebrating my 1st hosted giveaway and my 1st blogoversary giveaway!
I've reached 200 followers! This means there will be THREE winners in my blogoversary giveaway!

A weekly event on my blog where I post about books (not necessarily pre-release or new) that I've just added to my wishlist, along with a little blurb on why I want to read it.
(hosted by Book Chick City & Breaking the Spine)


Huntress
by Malinda Lo
release date: 5 April 2011

Nature is out of balance in the human world. The sun hasn’t shone in years, and crops are failing. Worse yet, strange and hostile creatures have begun to appear. The people’s survival hangs in the balance.
To solve the crisis, the oracle stones are cast, and Kaede and Taisin, two seventeen-year-old girls, are picked to go on a dangerous and unheard-of journey to Taninli, the city of the Fairy Queen. Taisin is a sage, thrumming with magic, and Kaede is of the earth, without a speck of the otherworldly. And yet the two girls’ destinies are drawn together during the mission. As members of their party succumb to unearthly attacks and fairy tricks, the two come to rely on each other and even begin to fall in love. But the Kingdom needs only one huntress to save it, and what it takes could tear Kaede and Taisin apart forever.
The exciting adventure prequel to Malinda Lo’s highly acclaimed novel Ash is overflowing with lush Chinese influences and details inspired by the I Ching, and is filled with action and romance.

Why it's on my wishlist
A fantasy quest with strong, teenage girls in the leading roles! Sweet romance between friends-by-circumstance! Chinese influences! Fierce Asian face on the cover!
I admit I haven't read my copy of Ash yet, but it's definitely been bumped up to the Must Read Immediately spot on my TBR pile.

Giveaway Reminder
If you haven't signed up for my two giveaways, please take a look! I'm celebrating my 1st hosted giveaway and my 1st blogoversary giveaway!

Just passing on word of this great novel-writing contest! If anyone's working on NaNoWriMo this year, you might be interested in this contest too =)

YA Novel Discovery Contest
Get in Front of Top YA Editors and Agents with ONLY the First 250 Words of Your YA Novel!

No query? No pitch? No problem!

Have a young adult novel—or a YA novel idea—tucked away for a rainy day? Are you putting off pitching your idea simply because you’re not sure how to pitch an agent? No problem! All you have to do is submit the first 250 words of your novel and you can win both exposure to editors, and a reading of your manuscript from one of New York’s TOP literary agents Regina Brooks.

Regina Brooks is the founder of Serendipity Literary Agency and the author of Writing Great Books for Young Adults. Brooks has been instrumental at establishing and building the careers of many YA writers, including three-time National Book Award Honoree and Michael Printz Honoree Marilyn Nelson, as well as Sundee Frazier—a Coretta Scott King Award winner, an Oprah Book Pick and an Al Roker book club selection. As an agent, she is known for her ability to turn raw talent into successful authors.

ADDITIONALLY: The top 20 submissions will all be read by a panel of five judges comprised of top YA editors at Random House, Scholastic, Candlewick, Harlequin, Sourcebooks and Penguin. The first 100 will receive free autographed copies of Writing Great Books for Young Adults by Regina Brooks. Of the 20, they will pick the top five submissions and provide each author with commentary. These five winners will also receive a free ONE YEAR subscription to The Writer magazine. ONE Grand Prize Winner will win a full manuscript reading and editorial consultation from Regina Brooks and free 10-week writing course courtesy of the Gotham Writer’s Workshop.

Please submit all entries via the contest website at WritingClasses.com/YAPitch. One entry per person; anyone age 13+ can apply. Open to the U.S. & Canada (void where prohibited). Entries for the YA Novel Discovery Contest will be accepted from 12:01am (ET) November 1 until 11:59pm (ET), November 30th

NOVEMBER IS NaNoWriMo
In honor of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo.org) — an international event where aspiring novelists are encouraged to write an entire novel in 30 days — this contest is meant to encourage the aspiring YA author to get started on that novel by offering an incentive for completing the first 250 words.

So enter now! http://bit.ly/YAContest

GREAT PRIZES
The Grand Prize Winner will have the opportunity to submit an entire manuscript to YA literary agent Regina Brooks AND receive a free, 10-week writing course, courtesy of Gotham Writers' Workshop.

The Top Five Entrants (including the Grand Prize winner) will receive a 15-minute, one-on-one pitch session with Regina Brooks, one of New York’s premier literary agents for young adult books. They will also receive commentary on their submissions by editors at HarperCollins, Penguin, Harlequin, Random House, and Sourcebooks. In addition, they will receive a year’s subscription to The Writer magazine!

The Top 20 Entrants will receive autographed copies of Writing Great Books for Young Adults by Regina Brooks.

JUDGING
YA literary agent Regina Brooks and her team, will read all of the entries and determine the top 20 submissions. These submissions will then be read by Nancy Mercado, Executive Editor at Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan); Nicole Raymond, Editor at Candlewick; Cheryl Klein, Senior Editor at Arthur Levine Books (Scholastic); Leila Sales, Editor Viking (Penguin) Evette Porter, Editor at Harlequin and Leah Hultenschmidt, Executive Editor at Sourcebooks. These judges will whittle the top 20 down to five, and each of the five winners will be provided commentary on their submissions.