Mundie Moms

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Book Review: Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes


Published by: Razorbill / Penguin Teen
To Be Released on: December 11th, 2012
Source: arc from publisher to review
5 Stars: I Loved It
Pre-Order from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power—brutally transforming their subjects’ lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:

Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.

Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished—and finds himself the leader of a people’s revolution centuries in the making.

Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword...

The only outcome that’s certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed? -quoted from Goodreads

Wow, where do I start with this book. There are so many things I loved about it. As much as I want to list all the things that made me love this book, I'm going to be a bit vague in what I'll mention so I don't spoil anything, because there is  a lot that happens! First, I have to say I LOVE this cover! It does this story justice and I love that it contains some important things from the book in it. I love it when a cover compliments the book like this one does. Story wise, there are so many fabulous twists, betrayals and "holy crap, he did not just do that!" moments. Yeah, let me just say, I was stunned over some of these scenes and totally heartbroken over who dies in this book. Morgan Rhodes is not afraid to kill off characters I totally loved *sobs*. This is a book that once I started reading it, there was no stopping till I was done with the it. I got so wrapped up into what was going on with the three different kingdoms, and some of the characters, that I over looked some of the things that at first bugged me about the book. 

The magical element, forbidden love, danger and that wanting to know more about certain characters are what hooked me with this book. I'm intrigued with the series's history and magical mythology, though I'm left wanting to know much more about it. I suspect we'll learn a lot more in the next book. Normally I'm not a fan of the insta-love, but for some reason Cleo's and Theon's is one that worked for me and I liked it. Okay maybe that has to do with the fact he's her personal bodyguard and a Knight (coughs, there you go Sophie, and he has a sword!). There was something about him from the get go I liked.

I'll be honest, Cleo wasn't a character I at first liked. I had issues with her and there's a pivotal scene in this book that made me lose all respect for her, until I saw how much it ended up effecting her. I over looked her spoiled ways and chalked it up her being the youngest Princess of her family, and having grown up in a sheltered like I guess I couldn't except her to be any different. Some where along the way I started to see her in a different way and I liked the changes I saw in her, and by the end of the book I saw a glimpse of the strong character I think she's going to become in the next book.

One of my favorite characters is Prince Magnus. No not the one that glitters from Cassie's series. This Magnus is brutal, lethal, dark and yet there's something vulnerable about himself he tries so hard to hide behind his mask of steel. I couldn't help but like him. He's torn between his duty and doing what he feels, and I like that about him. I have a feeling he's going to surprise me in the next book. Then there's Jonas. For much of this book he's driven by rage and the yearning to seek revenge for the death of his brother, and I couldn't blame him for that. There's a moment at the end of the book that shocked me with him and I can not wait to find out what he does next! This turn of events is completely not what I expected and I love that!

Morgan's writing really surprised me, and she made it so easy for me to become hooked with this story. At first I both liked that she included a list of the different kingdoms and characters who are from each kingdom, and at the same time I might have blanched that there were so many characters I didn't think I could keep them straight. I love it when I'm proven wrong, because Morgan's writing is such that I had no problems keeping up with who was who, and part of which kingdom. Everyone had distinct voices, making it easy for me to keep up. I liked that this is a book that's written from three different points of views, one for each character representing each of the three kingdoms in this book. Though there are four main characters, each new chapter not only kept up with the overall story line, it also allowed me to get to know more about each one of the main characters. 

There is a wide range of emotions that drove this plot line. Love, jealously, forbidden love, greed, hatred, secrecy, betrayals, an impending war and much more. The timeless feel to the book, the vivid world building, and getting to understand the emotions that are behind the characters actions are just a few of the things I enjoyed. I loved getting to read about the three kingdoms who make up this world, being able to read about some of the characters who play important roles in this book, and being able to understand what it was that drove some of the characters to do what they did. This is a book that has moments of romance, plenty of action scenes, and heartbreak. There's a lot of tense moments, times where feelings of helplessness are felt and moments of hope. I can not wait to jump into book 2 when it's out next year. 



Don't miss the Falling Kingdoms Quest Blog Tour that kicked off this week! Penguin Teen is hosting a three week tour, and trust me, you don't want to miss it! There's giveaways and much more happening. Check out the schedule below. 


Falling Kingdoms QUEST blog tour schedule:


Mon, 11/26 Good Choice Reading http://www.goodchoicereading.com

Tues, 11/27 Romance Junkie Reviews www.romancejunkies.com
Wed, 11/28 Cuddlebuggery Book Blog http://cuddlebuggery.com
Thurs, 11/29 The Story Siren http://www.thestorysiren.com
Fri, 11/30 The Book Smugglers www.thebooksmugglers.com
Mon, 12/3 Night Owl Reviews http://www.nightowlreviews.com
Tues, 12/4 Chapter by Chapter http://www.chapter-by-chapter.com
Wed, 12/5 The Compulsive Reader www.thecompulsivereader.com
Thurs, 12/6 Mundie Moms www.mundiemoms.com
Fri, 12/7 Ticket to Anywhere www.tickettoanywhere.net
Mon, 12/10 The Perpetual Page Turner http://www.perpetualpageturner.com
Tues, 12/11 Bookalicious http://bookalicious.org
Wed, 12/12 The Children’s Book Review http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com
Thurs, 12/13 Literary Rambles http://literaryrambles.com
Fri, 12/14 Alice Marvels www.alicemarvels.com

Book Review: The Mephisto Kiss by Trinity Faegen


Published by: Egmont USA
Released on: September 25th, 2012
Source: book from author to review via blog tour
5 Stars: I Loved It!
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The eyes never lie. No one’s eyes are darker than Eryx. Not even the Devil’s.

When Jax and Sasha first see Jordan Ellis, they know she is no ordinary teenager. She’s the daughter of the President after all, but she’s also Anabo – a descendant of Eve.

What they don’t know is that Eryx plans to kidnap Jordan and force President Ellis to pledge his soul. If Eryx’s plot succeeds, the consequences would be catastrophic.


But the Mephisto brothers do know about Jordan’s secret identity. And for one of them, she could be the match that leads to their soul’s salvation.

Now it’s a desperate race against time to save Jordan and prevent Eryx’s haunting eyes from discovering her true identity.


A thrilling story of romance, danger, and intrigue, THE MEPHISTO KISS continues the marvelous mythology that began in THE MEPHISTO COVENANT.



Brothers of Hell, demons, Fallen angels, rich mythology, sizzling romance and plenty of supernatural excitement, this sequel surpassed all my expectations. I loved it! Trinity Faegen gave me everything I wanted and much more. There are many things I've come to love about the Mephisto brothers, but what I didn't expect to do was fall in love with the leader of the group, Keys nor did I except to love Eryx, the eldest brother who just so happens to be their sworn enemy. There's something to said about an author who makes you love the villain as much as you love the heroes in their story. 

This storyline not only continues to surprise me, but it keeps me wanting more. I want to know more about each brother, and find out what's going to happen next. Like the first book, I love that this book continues the story of the brothers. It also dives deeper into the mythology and lore that makes up the Mephisto brother's history as well as that of the Anabos, and it introduces new characters to the series. I love that each book seems to follow a different brother and their love interest, while keeping the over all flow of everything that's going on with the family. This time around the story follows that of Keys and Jordan. 


I thoroughly enjoyed seeing a much more vulnerable side to Keys. He's this distant, strong, commanding leader of the family, but things change once he meets/saves Jordan. Seriously, he couldn't find a more perfect match for him, than with Jordan. She is just as stubborn as he is, strong willed, beautiful and someone who isn't afraid to speak what's on her mind. The fireworks can definitely fly when these two are in the same room. I also like the more realistic side to their relationship. They both bring things out in the other person that no one else can, and they both learn to not only rely on the both, but trust the other. With Jordan and Keys I felt like I was able to understand the sacrifices that they've both made and have to make in order to become who they are, and accomplish what's required of them. On the flip side of that, I loved that everyone in this book has choices, and of course consequences.

The romantics at heart might swoon over some of the choices and sacrifices these brothers are willing to make for the girls they love. Speaking of brothers, what happens when you have two brothers who are equally matched in god like looks, strength and intelligence? You gets Keys and Eryx who both have their eyes set on Jordan, and while one of them gets her heart, the other does everything in his power to claim her as his. Let's just say the battle of wills between these two is dangerous and at times comical. Curse you Trinity for making me love your evil villain. Against my better judgement I ended up feeling sorry for Eryx, which is not something I wanted to do. The more I got to know him, and the more I understood him, though I didn't agree with his actions. I couldn't fault Jordan for falling for his antics. Eryx knows just want to say and how to twist things to go in his favor, vs his brother Keys who's straight forward, blunt and brutal honest.

Aside from these two brothers I loved Jax! He and Phoenix are the two brothers I fell in love with reading The Mephisto Covenant and I couldn't help but loving them more. I am really hoping we more of Phoenix's story in the next book. It's so heartbreaking and hopeful all at the same time. I'm holding out that there's hope for him in the future based on some turn of events that happen at the end of the book. There is definitely no shortage of hot bad boys, strong female love interests, and plenty excitement in this book. There's plenty of action scenes, unexpected twists, and the right amount of romance that YA readers are going to want much more when they finish this book. I highly recommend picking this series up. There are some sensual scenes, mild language, and mentions of sex in this book.

Thank you for JeanBookNerd for asking me to be on her blog tour for The Mephisto Kiss, though I ended up missing out on posting on my date. 

Twitter Tuesday - Cassie Clare


I know last week was a busy week and weekend for most of us! I missed these tweets from Cassie this past Sunday and I figured it would be a good idea to post them here. Clockwork Princess will contain a family tree...in every first edition! That is such awesome news and now we can find out all about those Carstairs and Herondale lineages. Aren't you simply dying to know?





I may have done a spit-take over the vampire analogy, but it's a question Cassie gets asked a lot. I know Katie, Shandra, Emm and I would love for her to show up in our neck of the woods for every book release, but that isn't possible. We promise to keep you informed on her tour dates for the upcoming book releases. Here's hoping she stops by your city/town.

Harper Teen Launches Impulse!


Have you heard the exciting new? Harper Teen announced yesterday that they're launching a new digital imprint focused on YA novellas and short stories from a slew of our favorite authors!! The exciting thing about this launch are not only getting to read continuations from our favorite series, but the cost! The prices will range from $0.99 - $2.99. You can't beat that. 

I'm not a big e-reader fan, but I'm really excited about these upcoming releases. I love Sophie Jordan's Firelight series, as well as Cynthia Hand's Unearthly series. Scott Westerfeld's and Aprilynne Pike's upcoming releases are no brainers for me, as I love their writing.  CRUISIN’ by Sarah Mlynowski sounds like my kind of read! I can't wait to purchase each of these upcoming releases.

Here's what's releasing on December 4th, 2012:






A companion novella to her FIRELIGHT series will be available for $1.99

For Az, it's supposed to be a fun summer vacation with her family. Nothing complicated. Just a quick trip to test the waters as she prepares for a year on her own. That all changes when she rescues a drowning girl and meets Tate—the most gorgeous human boy she's ever seen. Tate throws her heart, her plans, and her life into upheaval, but the closer she gets to him, the harder it is to hide the secret of what she is.
With no hope for a future together, the last thing that can ever happen . . . is love.





A novella set in the world of her bestselling UNEARTHLY series, $1.99

Clara is desperate to get away—from the memories that haunt her in Wyoming and the visions of a future she isn't ready to face—and spending the summer in Italy with her best friend, Angela, should be the perfect escape. . . .

For as long as she can remember, Angela has been told that love is dangerous, that she must always guard her heart. But when she met Phen two years ago she was determined to be with him, no matter the costs. Now she must decide whether she can trust Clara with her secret, or if telling her the truth will risk everything she cares about.

Alternating between Angela and Clara's perspectives, Radiant chronicles the unforgettable summer that will test the bounds of their friendship and change their lives forever.


 A future-set novella in which two teens discover that something may have been missing from their perfect lives after all; $1.99

In this future-set novella by bestselling author Scott Westerfeld, Kieran Black lives in a "perfect" world. Disease and starvation have been eradicated, sleep is unnecessary, and it takes no time at all to go from the Bahamas to the moon. But now Kieran has to take Scarcity, a class about how people lived in the bad old days. And as if sitting through an hour of Scarcity every day wasn't depressing enough, it's final projects time. Each student must choose some form of ancient hardship to experience for two whole weeks. Kieran chooses having to sleep eight hours a night, which doesn't seem too annoying.

Maria Borsotti has never thought much of Kieran, but she decides to take pity on him and help him out with his project. Soon, Kieran is sleeping and having vivid dreams, while Maria, whose Scarcity project is to give up all teenage hormone regulation, is experiencing emotions she never knew she had. As their assignments draw them closer together, they begin to wonder if the olden days weren't so bad. Maybe something has been missing from their perfect lives after all?


A short story in which teens take a plunge on the high seas and discover that everything is not as it seems; $1.99

From the critically acclaimed author of Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) and the Magic in Manhattan series comes a fun short story about taking the plunge on the high seas, where not everything is what it seems.

Kristin is ready to take the next step. . . . The only problem is she hasn't found the right guy to take it with her. That's why she agreed to go on the ominously named Cruise to Nowhere with her best friend, Liz. There are plenty of cute guys on the ship to choose from if only Kristin can work up the nerve—and stop worrying about the reports in the tabloids that passengers on cruises have been mysteriously disappearing and that someone suspects it has to do with . . . vampires.

If this excitement wasn't enough, there's a few other titles coming out soon as well. Check out these upcoming titles:

One Day More by Aprilynne Pike
A prequel novella to bestselling author Aprilynne Pike's forthcoming novel, Life After Theft

Moving to a new high school sucks. Especially a rich-kid private school. With uniforms. But nothing is worse than finding out the first girl you meet is dead. And a klepto. 

No one can see or hear Kimberlee except Jeff, so--in hopes of bringing an end to the snarkiest haunting in history--he agrees to help her complete her "unfinished business." But when the enmity between Kimberlee and Jeff's new crush, Sera, manages to continue posthumously, Jeff wonders if he's made the right choice.

Clash meets sass in this uproarious modern-day retelling of Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Aprilynne Pike.


The Prince: A Selection Novella by Kiera Cass
A companion to the New York Times bestseller: The Selection 


TAGS by Walter Dean Myers
A one-act play by the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature







********

HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS LAUNCHES YOUNG ADULT IMPRINT FOCUSED ON DIGITAL SHORT FICTION


HARPERTEEN IMPULSE TITLES DEBUT DECEMBER 4, 2012

New York, NY (November 26, 2012)—HarperCollins Publishers announced today the launch of HarperTeen Impulse, a digital imprint focusing on Young Adult short stories and novellas. The new imprint will publish short-form works from new and established authors, providing original and exciting new teen ebooks across a wide variety of genres.

HarperTeen Impulse will publish between one and four titles a month, all of which will go on sale the first Tuesday of that month, branded “Impulse Tuesday.” Impulse titles will benefit from dedicated program marketing, including extensive social media outreach, monthly newsletters, cross-promotion in HarperTeen print books, and strategic sales promotions.

The first titles go on sale December 4, 2012, and they include BREATHLESS by Sophie Jordan, a companion novella to her FIRELIGHT series; STUPID PERFECT WORLD, a future-set novella by bestselling author Scott Westerfeld, in which two teens discover that something may have been missing from their perfect lives after all; CRUISIN’ by Sarah Mlynowski, a short story in which teens take a plunge on the high seas and discover that everything is not as it seems; and RADIANT by Cynthia Hand, a novella set in the world of her bestselling UNEARTHLY series. HarperTeen Impulse titles will be available at all ebook retailers in a price range from $0.99 to $2.99. 

Forthcoming titles include THE PRINCE: A SELECTION NOVELLA by Kiera Cass, a companion to the New York Times bestseller THE SELECTION; TAGS, a one-act play by National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Walter Dean Myers; and ONE DAY MORE, a prequel novella to bestselling author Aprilynne Pike’s forthcoming novel, LIFE AFTER THEFT.

“Readers of YA have embraced digital reading in a big way,” said Susan Katz, President and Publisher of HarperCollins Children’s Books. “We’re seeing short-form content becoming more popular in the digital marketplace, and HarperTeen Impulse allows us to experiment with new concepts and deliver content quickly. YA as a category has grown exponentially, and its readers span a wide age group enthusiastic about books in many different genres and formats. HarperTeen Impulse is a great platform to further reach a crossover audience.”

For more information about HarperTeen Impulse, visit http://www.epicreads.com/page/impulse/

ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS CHILDREN’S BOOKS

HarperCollins Children’s Books is one of the leading publishers of children’s books. Respected worldwide for its tradition of publishing quality, award-winning books for young readers, HarperCollins is home to many timeless treasures—Charlotte’s Web, The Chronicles of Narnia, Goodnight Moon, Where the Sidewalk Ends, the Ramona series, and Where the Wild Things Are—and popular new classics—The Graveyard Book, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Warriors, and Fancy Nancy. Consistently at the forefront of digital innovation, HarperCollins Children’s Books delights young readers through engaging storytelling in all formats, including ebooks and apps. HarperCollins Children’s Books is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, one of the leading English-language publishers in the world and a subsidiary of News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV). Headquartered in New York, HarperCollins has publishing groups in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia/New Zealand, and India. You can visit HarperCollins Children’s Books at www.harpercollinschildrens.com and HarperCollins Publishers at www.harpercollins.com.

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