REVIEW: Of Sea and Stone by Kate Avery Ellison

 

 

Secrets of Itlantis: Of Sea and Stone (1)

 

by Kate Avery Ellison

 

Genre(s): Fantasy, Young Adult

Pages: 260

Published: Feb 2014

 

 

Official Summary:  "If only we'd known how many secrets the sea held...

All her life, clever Aemi has been a slave in the Village of the Rocks, a place where the sea and sky meet. She’s heard the stories about the fabled People of the Sea, a people who possess unimaginable technology who live below the waves in the dark, secret places of the ocean. But she never dreamed those stories were true.

When a ship emerges from the ocean and men burn her village, Aemi is captured, and enslaved below the waves in Itlantis, a world filled with ancient cities of glass and metal, floating gardens, and wondrous devices that seem to work magic. To make matters worse, her village nemesis, the stuck-up mayor’s son Nol, was captured with her, and they are made servants in the same household beneath the sea.

Desperate to be free, Aemi plots her escape, even going so far as to work with Nol. But the sea holds more secrets than she realizes, and escape might not be as simple as leaving..."

 

 

Review:  This story took me by surprise. While it sounded quite interesting and I thought I would enjoy it, I am shocked at how much I enjoyed it. I devoured this book! I sat down to read it a bit before dinner, thinking I would read about 20% of the book then switch back to the other book I am reading (and also enjoying). Next thing I know I am a third of the way through the book! And I did not want to stop! I finished the book that night. I love it when a story consumes me the way this one did.

Review Burnout and slumps

 

 

Review Burnout and slumps

 

 

For the past couple months I have been struggling to get out reviews.  Not due to lack of reading, but that I have not been interested in writing the reviews.  Actually discussing books, yes.  I still chat on goodreads.  But whenever I try to write a review, I come up blank.  Or it is short and has no details or personality.  Then I scratch it, start over and is too rambling and has spoilers.  So I delete that too, then I just stare at the screen blank once more.  Then I realize I am getting nowhere and decide to go do something else.  Or I just don't feel like it.  Almost like it has become a highly unwanted chore or hassle but not quite.  More like the blahs when I think about getting to it.

 

 

Thing is, I normally love writing reviews.  I especially love talking ans sharing about books.  SO what is wrong with me?

 

Have you ever had times like these?  How do you pull yourself out?

Top Ten Tuesday-Halloween TBR

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

 

 

Halloween Theme! 

  

 

 

Here are ten books I really want to read that I think will make perfect reads for Halloween.  

 

 

  

1) Dracula- Shockingly, I have yet to read this classic.  What is wrong with me?!  Too many amazing books, that is what is wrong...

 

  

2) Salem's Lot-  I really need to get reading on my Stephen King novels.  He is my husband's favorite author yet I have only read a few of his books.  Most of which I have really enjoyed.   And vampires are perfect for Halloween!

TOUR! Into Darkness by Hayley Barrett. Review, Interview and Giveaway!

 

Into Darkness

by Hayley Barrett

Release Date: August 17th 2015

Double Dragon Publishing 

Summary from Goodreads: "Fifteen-year-old Alexandra Spencer’s life was not supposed to turn out this way. She was not supposed to go on trial for a crime she did not commit. She was not supposed to be found guilty. And she was not supposed to be sent to Elder Grey Detention Centre, a place of horrors many don’t survive.

She is however, supposed to be the daughter of the wealthiest, most influential man in the post-apocalyptic New Zealand city of New Phoenix.

But apparently, she isn’t.

Shell-shocked and struggling to understand why she is no longer a member of the city’s ruling family, Alexandra is torn from her privileged life by the churlish young guard, Will Metcalfe, and forced to trek for three weeks through deadly wilderness to her place of imprisonment. Her journey with Will is a constant battle for survival, where she is never sure who is the real enemy. It is also journey into the truth about the safe and lavish world from which she has been cast. Through Will, she learns of a mutant race called Drifters living in the wilderness who are being preyed upon by New Phoenix’s guards—Drifter’s blood being a life saving cure-all elixir for the city’s inhabitants.

As Alex struggles to cope with her new life in Elder Grey, an act of friendship ends in tragedy. When someone she thought was an enemy pulls her from her despair, Alex discovers that old friends cannot be trusted, prejudice is another word for fear, and trust, not blood ties, make a family."

  

 

Add to Goodreads

Buy Links:

Amazon│Kobo Books│iBooks

 

Review:  As a whole I enjoyed this book but certain parts in the way the story is told nearly drove me batty! I think a lot has to do with being too short for all it contains. But the adventure is still a good one.

Stacking the Shelves 94

  

Well, after going crazy on books the past month and a half I tried to behave.  I got a lot of review books but otherwise I was good about nabbing ebooks, and library use.  Been trying to catch up more on my reading.  Now if only I can pull myself out of my reviewing slump we will be in good shape!  

P Click on a cover to learn more about the book in question

 

REVIEW: Power's Out by Rachel Meehan

Troubled Times: Power's Out (2)

by Rachel Meehan

Genre(s): Young Adult, Dystopian

Pages: 240

Published: Dec 2013

Publisher: Cherry House Publishing

Official Summary:  "“You could almost imagine everything was like before,” said Nairne, staring at the distant lights. “But it’s just an illusion, a few people hanging on to something that’s already dead.”
“You don’t think we can get it all back then?” Ronnie asked.
“No, the old way is gone, just wait until the lights go out for good. My dad always said once the power goes out mankind will go back to the caves.”
The power is failing, society is losing the last vestiges of order and the world is becoming a dangerous place. Nairne has been searching for a new home, somewhere people want to try and build a better future. Nairne thinks she has found it, a place where she can settle and be safe. A place where she can build a better future.
But he’s coming for her. From a past she wanted to leave behind and he’s seeking retribution."

Before reading any further, be sure to check out my review and learn more about book one of the series: Water's Edge 

Review: Quite a bit different level of friction from the first one. While the world is getting worse all around Nairne and Paul this one just didn't have the drive or the teeth grinding suspense the first one had. While I still enjoyed the story, it was more a relaxed reading than what I was expecting.

First of all it starts off over a year after the first book. I had honestly expected it to pick up almost right where it left off. So the tension left over from Water's Edge quickly fizzled away. It was like coming off a sugar rush, especially if you read the books back-to-back like I did.

Dewey's readathon Wrap Up

 

 

Which hour was most daunting for you?

The first few hours were, just because I was not awake and had very little sleep.

Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?

I love reading mangas for this. Easy, fast and engaging to read.  Neil Gaiman's books as well.
Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? 

Not really, I think it ran pretty well.

What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?

There was a good blend of activity.  No one social platform only.  Last year it seemed all about twitter, this year goodread and instagram seemed to share larger roles. 

How many books did you read?

Finished 12, made progress in 2 others plus one was started and dropped.  Although it ended up being mostly kids books.  A neighborhood tragedy sorta killed a good chunk of my reading time and spirit.

 
What were the names of the books you read?

Entering the final hours of Dewey's Readathon

 

Alright, there are only a few hours left and I am going to read in bed until I pass out.  Will I make all 24? I doubt it but still have some caffeine coursing through me so maybe.  Either way, with everyything I participated in (cheering, challenges, dog drama, etc) I think I did okay.  And I am not quite done yet!

Since the last update, I've finished 1 more graphic novel and continued to make progress in Golden Son.

Overall Readathon Stats:

Graphic Novel/Picture book pages: 485

Novel Pages: 307

Books Completed: 6

Books Dropped: 1

Books in which I've made Progress (not complete): 2

Challenges I entered: 9

Drinks: Apricot Ceylon Tea, Cherry Pepsi, Iced Green tea, energy drink

Food: Poppy Seed Muffin, Pasta salad and veggie platter, red vines, sunflower seeds 

I will do a wrap up post  when I get up possibly.  Or after work.  I have to be there in 12 hours and this isn't over yet so I might sleep until it is time to get ready to go in.  Anyways, to those of you still going, best of luck!

Finishing the third quarter for Dewey's Readathon

 

Major drama hit the neighborhood since my last update.  A pack of abandoned and wild street dogs were near my house attacking people, kids, dogs, cats etc.  One neighbor lost his cat, one guy was attacked but luckily the dog barely broke the skin before turning to fight another dog.  Two dogs had to go to the emergency vets.  Horrible and tragic!  And upsetting as animal control refuses to deal with it.  Their answer was if we catch the dogs we can take them in though. HA!  Like I want to go near these dogs!!  

 

Luckily for us, our dog and cats were kept inside, safe.  This put severe damper on my reading this evening.  Even after helping the neighbors with the injured dogs, I was so upset that I just couldn't focus for a long time.  Still struggling a bit.  But I did get a bit of reading in.  Mostly light reading, to sooth my mind.  I also did some extra cheering.

Made Progress In: 

 

Hour 19- Dewey's Read-A-Thon Mini Challenge- Who Am I? Book Style!!!

 

We are coming into the last quarter of the read-a-thon!  Are you feeling it yet?  Well, before we get to the giveaway, lets wake up a bit first! 

Anyways, now that we are back in the spirit of books it is time to create some amazing 

Who am I? quizzes for your favorite books!

Think about your one of favorite books.  Then give 3-5 clues about the book.  Others can then guess at the title/author

Example:

• The Main character's parents are dead
• She looks to the sky for warnings
• Her last name is Bell
• Blue Dress on the cover

(the answer would be Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter) 

Now it it time for you to create one (of feel free to make more than one!)  Share here and I will try to solve or share on your own site of choice and simply leave a link!

Nearly halfway done....Dewey's Readathon update

 

So for the past few hours, The rest of the family FINALLY woke up and we all curled up on the couch to watch a bit of tv, giving  my eyes a slight reprieve for 30 minutes.  I have been munching on the pasta salad and a cold platter of veggies and dip.  Drinking lots of iced tea :) Also got some family read time in. And I fell into the temptation of the red vines at last, but only had a few.  And I did some more cheering and a bit of chatting on twitter.

Books in Progress:

Books finished since the last update:

Down with the first quarter of Dewey's Readathon!

 

Well, I was hoping to be doing a bit better than this by now but with everyone else in the house asleep, after eating a poppy seed muffin I was soon out myself. Was it the silence?  The muffin or that I did not get anywhere near enough sleep last night (maybe 4 hours before starting this).  What ever the case is, I have a feeling today is going to be rougher than I thought.  

One the bright side, I did finish my first book!  

And I did some blog cheering for other readers :)

 

In progress: 

  

Finished:

Going into Hour 3 of Dewey's Readathon

 

So I already switched a bit of my reading plans around.  Instead of starting off with a long novel, I  started with a lighter, blast from the past type of book.

 

In Progress:

   

60 pages

  

 

74 pages

 

 I have now had my first cup of tea and am a bit more awake.

 

 Cover Escape Challenge: 

 

My Dewey's Readathon Plan & Intro Meme

 

 I am so excited!!  I have a couple candles ready to set up for some soft scents to enjoy, relax and invigorate while I read.

Any opinions which one(s) I should use?

I made some yummy pasta salad that will have a variety of fresh veggies, cheese cubes, ham and olives in it.   Plus I have some tea ready and a large variety of snacks both healthy and junk food.  

Welcome to the 6th Annual SPOOKTACULAR GIVEAWAY HOP!!

 

Any book(s), up to $20 total could be yours.  Winner will get a $20 shopping spree at The Book Depository.

Giveaway is International as long as The Book Depository can ship to you or you pick an ebook.   

 
For every 1000 Entries I will add an additional winner, for up to 3 total winners.

October 2015 New Release Giveaway Hop

Any book published in October 2015 could be yours.  Well, any book up to $15 that is. You can get a print book from The Book Depository OR 1 ebook via Amazon or B&N.

Fiction, nonfiction, Y.A, Adult, childrens, graphic novels...you name it, you can pick it!  It is not limited to the image about although there are some great and popular titles there!

Giveaway is International as long as The Book Depository can ship to you or you pick an ebook.   

 
If this giveaway reaches at least 2000 entry points, I will draw two winners for 2 books each!!

REVIEW: Water's Edge by Rachel Meehan

Troubled Times: Water's Edge (1)

by Rachel Meehan

Genre(s): Young Adult, Dystopian

Pages: 268

Published: March 2013

Publisher: Cherry House Publishing

 

Official Summary:   "THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING. Thousands are fleeing the chaos and social unrest. With their own water and power supplies, fourteen year old Nairne and her family are well prepared, but most people are less fortunate. When Nairne persuades her father, Daniel, to house some of the evacuees on their small holding in the south of Scotland she plunges the family into a world of violence, deception and murder. With society at breaking point, she has to grow up quickly as she discovers that the fortress Daniel built to give his children a chance has become the prize in a struggle where winning can mean the difference between life and death."

Review:  Interesting, yet fairly dark, tale. Global warming is changing the would as we know it here and things are getting bad fast. For years, everyone thought Nairne's father was a bit crazy, leaving the city, buying some land on higher ground. When disasters strike, people are soon forced to leave their homes. Daniel, Zane and Nairne decide to help out by letting a family in need come live with them.

From there, things go from bad to worse for them. I won't say what as that would ruin the story. Let's simply say my desire to ever have a roommate to share my home just went way down after reading this. Now this is not a horror novel but it is dark, realistic and disturbing of human nature.

Stacking the Shelves 93

 

 Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, every Weekend. This is to share books I have acquired from various sources. Physical books & ebooks both are welcome. If its something being sent to me by mail, I will not mention it until I actually receive it. 

 

 

Huge haul and a busy past week.  Our house is almost done being painted :)  And I am getting things ready for the famous and wonderful, Dewey's Readathon.  So straight on to this haul!

 Click on the cover to be taken to Goodreads to learn more.

 

♥  ♦  ♣  ♠

Library Checkouts

 

 

♥  ♦  ♣  ♠

For Review