Mundie Moms

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Book Review: Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne



To Be Released on: February 2nd, 2012
Source: ARC from the publisher
3.5 stars: It's A Good Read
Purchase from: Penguin | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

When sixteen-year-old Faye arrives at Holbrook Academy, she doesn't expect to find herself exactly where she needs to be. After years of strange waking visions and nightmares, her only comfort the bones of dead animals, Faye is afraid she's going crazy.

Fast.

But her first night at Holbrook, she feels strangely connected to the school and the island it sits on, like she's come home. She's even made her first real friends, but odd things keep happening to them. Every morning they wake on the floors of their dorm rooms with their hands stained red. Faye knows she's the reason, but what does it all mean? The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain she can't trust him; in fact, he may be trying to kill her - and the rest of the world too. Rich, compelling writing will keep the pages turning in this riveting and tautly told psychological thriller -quoted from Goodreads

A gripping, psychological thriller that's hard to put down. This debut is as terrifying as it is fascinating. Sara did a masterful job at creating a story that will make the reader feel just as insane as her main character Faye. Getting inside the head of Faye made it hard to distinguish what was real and what was an figment of her imagination. I have to say, that really made for an interesting read, because it was impossible for me to figure out what was really going on. This is one of those story's that similar to the writings of Nova Ren Suma and Michelle Hodkin's where you spend the entire time trying to piece everything that's going on together, only to get to the end of the book and realize that it was an impossible task to do.

Faye is one of those characters you root for when they become rebellious. How could I not? She basically gets dumped at Holbrook Academy, is forced to take pills to "feel normal", has to deal with the crocked Dr. Mordoch, deal with takers who treat her like an animal and the rest of the residents there, and essential have her individuality taken away from her. I give Faye props for trying to escape. Shoot, I would have done the same thing. Even solitary confinement can't break her spirit, but some of the strange things going on at the Academy can. There's plenty of secrets, betrayals and plot twists that keep on coming until the very end. Not to mention a hot little romance on the side.

Faye's story is a bit confusing at times, but that's what kept me reading. I know that sounds weird and there's very few authors who have been able to hold my attention during a confusing plot, but there's something about Sara's writing that captures your attention. Really, there's so much that's going that it was hard to put the book down. The characters, and the setting really help paint the picture of the disturbing things that happen. Like Faye, I had a hard time trying to figure out what were lies, who I could really trust and what was really the reasoning behind Faye's terrifying visions. When the plot twists unravel and Faye's secrets are revealed all I can say is hold on tight for one wild crazy ending that I never saw coming. It's during this time that I had my "oh that totally makes sense" moment.

Again, Sara's writing is crafted so well that by the end of the book when she unravels everything neatly, I was able to look back and see the hints she had dropped, but with out knowing the outcome there is no way I would have been able to pick up on them. Sounds confusing doesn't it? Believe me when you read it you'll know what I mean by that. The other thing that I was fascinated by is Sara's notes at the end of the book (ARC), where she talks about her inspiration for the story. I loved how she was able to take a little bit of fact and history and create a whole fictional story around that. Overall I felt this was a Good Read. There's nothing I can pin point that I didn't like, it's just not a book I fell in love with like I wanted to, but it's one I liked reading it. There is some mild language, and darker undertones in the book making it one I'd recommend to older YA readers.

Cassandra Clare's TMI/TID Unidentified Snippets


I'm loving the snippets Cassie has recently been posting/ teasing us with. We'll be updating this post as she posts more snippets. You can also follow Cassie on her tumblr, and read all her snippets under her unidentified-snippets posts on her tumblr account. You can also find these listed on the Mundie Moms forum.

As Cassie mentioned on her tumblr, these are unidentified snippets, meaning they can be either from TMI or TID series.

1/2012 - She looked at the boy. He was pale as milk, his blue eyes startling against so much white skin and the darkness of his hair and eyelashes. He was long-legged, slender as a willow branch, but strong: a very pretty boy, even to her, who looked at human beings and saw mortality and rot.

1/2012 - But the rest of Jace’s mind is watching the door slam behind her and seeing the final ruin of all his dreams. It was one thing to push it to this point. It is another to let go forever. Because he knows Clary, and if she goes now, she will not ever come back.

1/2012 - To my son,

If you are reading this letter, then I am dead.


1/2012 - “In your eyes, I have always found grace.”

1/2012 - He stopped dead. “Tessa told you?” he said.

1/2012 - his parabatai rune was bleeding

1/2012 - Marry me today.

1/2012 - She slid the gold ring back onto her finger before heading into Jace’s bedroom.

1/31/12- Will’s hand looked brown and sunburnt by contrast, their fingers dovetailed together like piano keys.

2/1/12- He kissed each finger, and with each one of them spoken a word. Five kisses, five words. His last.

2/5/12- “Did you …” He could barely bring himself to ask. “Did you like it?”

“Yeah.” Her voice was husky. “I liked it.”

2/13/12- “In all my previous encounters with Will, he has worn pants.”

2/19/12- “Do you think there’s a chance for him?”

“A chance for who?”
“Will. To be happy.”
“Is there a chance for you to be happy if he isn’t?”


3/2/12- It was one of the things that had made her fall in love with him in the first place: realizing that this scarred, sarcastic boy was gentle with the things he loved.

3/3/12- … laughing together at all the beautiful ruin around them. They were standing suspended in the sea: it couldn’t hurt them, destruction was their element. Clarissa was looking down as she laughed, trailing her moonlight hands in the water. When she lifted up her hands they were dark, dripping: he realized that the seas were all blood.

3/7/12- When you were an angel, what was your name?


3/30/12- Jem leaned closer against the chair, staring into the fire. “Better it were my hands,” he said.

Will shook his head. Exhaustion was muting the edges of everything in the room, blurring the flocked wallpaper into a single mass of dark color. “No. Not your hands. You need your hands for the violin. What do I need mine for?” 

4/7/12- Clary glanced up as Sebastian drew his hand away from her back. Light blazed around them. Jace had taken out his witchlight runestone. He grinned at her, his face all angles and shadows in the harsh, focused light. 
“Easy is the descent,” he said.


4/7/12- Not your parabatai any longer


4/9/12- “Wet again,” Will said, glumly.


4/11/12- “You’re in my bones and my blood and my heart,” he said. “I’d have to tear myself open to let you go.”


4/22/12- A smile tugged the edge of Jace’s mouth. “I hate ducks. Don’t know why. I just always have.”


5/12- “You are the Lightwoods — you are all that is left of the Lightwoods.”


6/4/12- “I don’t know why I ever helped you.”
“Because you like broken things.” 

6/5/12- “Oh, God, the lovebirds,” Magnus said, pulling the pillow off his face. “I hate happy couples.”

** All snippets are taken from posts Cassie's made on Tumblr.

Waiting on Wednesday: Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

By: Kathleen Peacock
Published by: Harper Teen / Katherine Tegen Books
To Be Released on: May 8th, 2012

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love -quoted from Goodreads

I am really looking forward to reading this! I love that it's a paranormal, murder mystery with what sounds like laced with a bit of romance. This book is definitely moving up on my TBR list. I was fortunate to receive an ARC of Hemlock at ALA and I can't wait to sit down and read it. I'll have my review up for it in April.

The other day on twitter there was discussion about Hemlock's US vs UK cover. Since I love them both, I wanted to share with you what the UK cover looks like. *hint* Look really closely at the cover and what Mac is looking back at.... there's something in the trees.


What book are you waiting on?

February 2012 YA Releases

I thought January kicked off the year to a pretty good start with YA release, but wait till you check out this month's awesome upcoming releases!


February 1st

February 2nd
February 6th
February 7th
February 8th

February 10th

February 14th
February 16th
February 21st
February 28th

If I missed any YA books that were being released this month, please let me know so I can list it.

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