#Nowreading Rin Chupeco's The Girl from The Well

Touched #1-The Sword is available on Google Play Book

HEY, YEAH. BOOK 1 IS AVAILABLE ON GOOGLE PLAY BOOK 

#NowReading Sherry Thomas' The Elemental Mage Trilogy (ARCs)

It all began with a ruined elixir and an accidental bolt of lightning…

Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she's being told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of The Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the greatest mage tyrant the world has ever known. A suicide task for anyone let alone a sixteen-year-old girl with no training, facing a prophecy that foretells a fiery clash to the death.

Prince Titus of Elberon has sworn to protect Iolanthe at all costs but he's also a powerful mage committed to obliterating the Bane to avenge the death of his family—even if he must sacrifice both Iolanthe and himself to achieve his goal.

But Titus makes the terrifying mistake of falling in love with the girl who should have been only a means to an end. Now, with the servants of the Bane closing in, he must choose between his mission and her life

After spending the summer away from each other, Titus and Iolanthe (still disguised as Archer Fairfax) are eager to return to Eton College to resume their training to fight the Bane. Although no longer bound to Titus by a blood oath, Iolanthe is more committed than ever to fulfilling her destiny—especially with the agents of Atlantis quickly closing in.

Soon after arriving at school, though, Titus makes a shocking discovery, one that makes him question everything he previously believed about their mission. Faced with this devastating realization, Iolanthe is forced to come to terms with her new role, while Titus must choose between following his mother's prophecies—and forging a divergent path to an unknowable future

Publishing News #Oathbreaker1

Signed a contract with Wayang Force to publish Oathbreaker 1. 

Camp NaNoWriMo July 2014

So, Camp NaNoWriMo is coming up and I hope to God that it won't be a failure on my part like last month. Ugh. I was torn between finishing a book or a starting a book on Camp NaNoWriMo but voted into starting a book. It's the one I've talked about a couple of days ago, the one that came to me in a dream (but then again all my books came from a dream). 

This is the book where the main character will be a boy (fingers crossed!). His name is Seth Matthews and he has two siblings, Jonah and Lesley and they live with their uncle James Warner (uncle from their mother's side). All three teenagers will have superpowers mostly something to do with ghosts while their uncle is as ordinary as everyone else in the world. 

Poor uncle James will have his hands full. 

As I said before, this will be the first time that I'll be writing a story with a boy MC so...wish me luck. Oh, and I haven't figured out a title yet. I'm going for my fall back title for now: Something Wicked This Way Comes

Summary

Seth Matthews and his two siblings has a knack for finding trouble, or as they often protested, trouble has a way of finding them. 

Having three teenagers in one house you expect a certain amount of trouble, but their Uncle James Warner, was so not prepared for their kind of trouble. 

When other parents have to worry about drugs, curfew, alcohol, and safe sex, James has to worry about noises in the night, things moving on their own and exorcism.

When other parents have to buy frozen pizza and soda in bulk, James is buying salt, occult books and fashioning iron bits into jewelry.

When other parents go to PTA meetings, James has a network of respected and dubious occult experts. 

It's hard to take care of three teenagers, it's even harder to take care of three teenagers with supernatural powers.

Excerpt:

If he was any other kind of guy, Seth would probably be delighted waking up to see two girls fighting over who would have his body.

If he was any other kind of guy, Seth would probably be screaming his lungs out when he figured out that he could actually see through both girls.

But he wasn't any other kind of guy, he was Seth, so when he saw the two girl-ghosts smacking the hell out of each other, he reacted like Seth would do: he blinked, yawn, scratched and thought about breakfast.

Snippet of something I'm working on.

So, I had this dream last night and I just had to write down.

Surprisingly, the main character is a boy. This is my first attempt on writing a boy as an MC. Pray for me. Will need to hit several of my boys for keeping the character in...well, character.

If he was any other kind of guy, Seth would probably be delighted waking up to see two girls fighting over who would have his body.

If he was any other kind of guy, Seth would probably be screaming his lungs out when he figured out that he could actually see through both girls.

But he wasn't any other kind of guy, he was Seth, so when he saw the two girl-ghosts smacking the hell out of each other, he reacted like Seth would do: he blinked, yawn, scratched and thought about breakfast. 

Copyright © 2014 by D.F. Jules

#nowreading: Cassandra Clare's City of Heavenly Fire

summary on Goodreads

Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.

The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris - but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?

When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee - even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned...

Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the word in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments!

#NowReading: Adrienne Kress's The Friday Society

Summary (Goodreads):

An action-packed tale of gowns, guys, guns –and the heroines who use them all 

Set in turn of the century London, The Friday Society follows the stories of three very intelligent and talented young women, all of whom are assistants to powerful men: Cora, lab assistant; Michiko, Japanese fight assistant; and Nellie, magician's assistant. The three young women's lives become inexorably intertwined after a chance meeting at a ball that ends with the discovery of a murdered mystery man.

It's up to these three, in their own charming but bold way, to solve the murder–and the crimes they believe may be connected to it–without calling too much attention to themselves.

Set in the past but with a modern irreverent flare, this Steampunk whodunit introduces three unforgettable and very ladylike–well, relatively ladylike–heroines poised for more dangerous adventures.

edited:

The writing style didn't agree with me so I abandoned this. 

#BOOKHAUL!, DreamWalkers and A Whole Lot of Nothing

Aren't they PURTY?

Still have a ton of new books but I'll introduced them to you gently. 

Anyway, have been busy editing Wolf at the Door (WATD) especially since contract is being negotiated and I haven't time to continue with DreamWalkers but will go back to it after. Meanwhile, I'm thinking of changing The Wolf Series into the Oathbreaker Series, considering the book isn't really about the wolves but about the Waerloga....strange how things can hit you at the last moment. 

And I just changed the title on Goodreads. So WATD is Oathbreaker #1. 

I'm not editing much of the book just a little here and there, change some weird sentences or catch a few more typos and misspellings if I can. 

I really need a good editor. It would help if I have another set of eyes to catch things that I didn't. 

In DreamWalkers, it's weird how as an author you would have your own favorite character. Someone who despite not being a main character, you love just the same. Sure enough, like a parent, you would have a favorite child but...in DreamWalkers, I didn't expect Yohan to be my favorite. Sure he will be a big part of the story but...It's not surprising that Medea would be the most confusing character for me, I just don't really get her because my personality is so very different from her and writing her has its ups and downs and sideways while Sen, my second favorite, is actually pretty easy to write about that I'm worried that he would come off as boring. Don't get me wrong, I don't consider him boring, but he's so entrenched in Asian customs and traditions (Japanese, where everything is suppressed and understated) that I'm afraid he would come off as staid and...boring. To me he is fascinating, all that rock-steadiness and Japanese restraint hiding an ocean vastness of will and passion and I give him little moments-subtle-moments where I try to give hints of that intensity and bring it out, especially in his interactions with Medea. But Sen is also respectful, quiet, a flowing river underneath a mirror surface type and I'm afraid I wouldn't do him justice. And I'm afraid that my readers who aren't Asian will not be able to relate to him...

It's like when an Asian movie is remade by Hollywood,  a change in values and traditions change the whole look and feel of the movie. Sometimes what we Asians consider powerful emotionally or scandalous isn't a big deal for other people and I'm afraid of such meaningful actions from Sen would pass people by because they don't get it. They don't get him.

Or am I thinking too much or being an Asian snob?

Yohan, my favorite, would most definitely be a crowd pleaser, not only because he's the not-so-typical bad boy type--sort of--but because he is passionate and he acts on said passion. Not that he's reckless, because he's not. But he's the type to say rousing speeches and lead men while Sen is the one who stands behind the throne and whispers secrets and quiet advice. Both boys are intense but while Yohan has the burn-to-ashes intensity of the sun, Sen is the steady light in the dark that guides you home. 

So, which would you prefer? 

P.S: Boo is doing great. He's eating a lot, napping like the world is going to end and basically creating a mess wherever he goes like cats do. 

Happy with his progress. *thumbs up*

BookTalk: Kelly Keaton's Gods and Monsters #1 Darkness Becomes Her

Summary

Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is. Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

Thoughts

First of all, I just have to say it so I can move on. Sebastian. *sizzle*

Ari is shy of her eighteenth birthday and is searching for any news about her mother.
She found out that her mother committed suicide and that the female half of her family was cursed, always dying at their 21st birthday. She needs answers and she can only find it in New 2, where she was born. We know New 2 as New Orleans post-hurricane. In Kelly Keaton's world New Orleans is an isolated country that governs its own and controlled by the Novem; 9 families that rich and powerful. There are murmurs of 'magic' and 'vampires' and 'supernatural' about New 2 which isn't surprising since, well, it's New Orleans.

In New 2 she stumbles into a group of freaks, people who like her, are peculiar in some way. Chunk who is able to fix everything, Henry whose eyes seem to glow in the dark, Violet who has fangs for teeth and Sebastian who is able to influence people to do what he wants them to do.

In her hunt for her history and the secrets of her family, she is also hunted by strange armored men who tries to kill her and by the Novem itself.

This story is dark. Oh, trigger warning: rape.

The story is well written and well plotted, taking the Greek mythology, religion and paranormal creatures and supernatural elements that we know and crafted it into a tightly wound story that is rich and exciting. The characters are fun and engaging, some more than others and the chemistry between Sebastian and Ari is insane.

I love the genius of Kelly Keaton that she sets her story in New Orleans. It makes all these crazy things happening in the book believable and it gives the book an ambiance that is otherworldly.

The Novem itself is interesting: 3 families who have magic, 3 families who are shapeshifters, and another 3 who are vampires.

The action is amazing, Ari is kick ass and the story telling so detailed and intricate that you can see it in your mind.

I am most definitely reading book 2. And it's actually already out!! Just read the excerpt and woah, it pushes limits.

Reading Next:

Book talk: Karen Mahoney's Falling to Ash

Summary

You can't choose your family . . . living or dead

Trapped between two very different worlds, newly made vampire Moth is struggling to find her place in either. Not only does she have to answer to her strict Irish-Catholic Dad, but her over-protective maker, 

Theo, is intent on making her the star attraction in his powerful Boston vampire clan. Moth will have to pull off the double-act of the century to please both of them . . .

Adding to her problems is the dangerously attractive Jason Murdoch, a trainee vampire hunter who loves to play cat and mouse in his spare time (Jace = cat; Moth = mouse). But when the young and gorgeous teenagers of Boston's wealthiest families start to disappear, it forces Moth and Jace into an uneasy truce. Will they be able to solve the mystery behind the disappearances - before someone winds up undead?

Thoughts:

I really liked it!

Eventhough the writer creats its own twist in the original 'vampire lore' it keeps the important points, e.g they're dead, they are violent and they do drink human blood. Yes, no vegetarians or sparkling here people. Move along.

Anyway, the story tells us of Marie who in the start of the novel has already been turned into a vampire by way of her Maker, Theo who is also a Master of his own House. The prologue of the book tells us how he changed her and it is violent and dark and painful. As it should be. Take that Twilight!

As is custom when turned you pick a new name, your vampire name, a new name that has no trace of your old life. Marie chose Moth.

Due to her transformation and how it had occurred strained the relationship between Moth and Theo though it is clear that there is a bond there outside of Maker and Childe. The angst and tension between them is delightful.

But the creation of Moth is somewhat of a problem for Theo because he has not been given permission to turn her by the Head of all Vampire houses. Theo did in fact turned her because he lost control 'in the head of the moment' if you know what I mean and nearly drank her to death. Rather than killing her, he turned her.

She was nineteen at the time. And now,she will always look nineteen.

Theo's lost of control is not a good quality to have as a Head of a House, it shows weakness. So Solomon, the great poobah of all Vamps said "give me the head of Murdoch, the vampire hunter who has vexed me so cruelly and I will not kill you and your childe. You have one week."

I like Moth. She's practical, she's funny, she's kick ass and she actually thinks before she speaks. But you know, she grew up with a drunk father and when you do, you kind of learn how to judge the mood and your surroundings. She's not brooding although she does have her dark moments and she makes the best of who and what she is.

One of the things that I like about this book is her relationship with her sister, Caitlin. Her fierceness when her sister was in danger.

And I find it hilarious and kind of sad that Caitlin struggles to keep her family together including to have a family dinner with her drunk father and vampire sister. Oh, and the other human sister.

Then there is Jace, Murdoch's son who is also a vampire hunter. I was intrigued that one of Theo's test for Moth was to fight Jace (he wrapped her up in silver chains and she broke his leg). Despite the fighting and the fact that they were supposed to kill each other there's a connection there. And when revanants kept popping out all over the place (and those people are actually known to Mother) both Jace and Moth actually worked together to find out what was going on.

As if having Theo in her life wasn't enough of a headache, Moth is also attracted to Jace and vice versa.

Theo is the typical politicking, Master of the house vampire, he is imperious, he is powerful, seriously hot, intelligent, stubborn and brooding. I kind of hope to see more of Theo as a Master vampire but since Moth is only just entering the vampire world, we don't get to see him in action. Although Solomon himself did say that Theo would be the heir to his throne once he ascends to a higher seat which says something about Theo's status (and Moth's as association). When it came to Moth he is protective and there are some undercurrents in their relationship that intrigues me. It is clear that Moth isn't just food to him, and also isn't a one night stand. He calls her anamchara which is Gaelic for soul friend or in this case soulmate.

And I love that he means that literally. Because in this world the mythology of being able to turn a human into vampire is to give them a piece of your soul. So not all vampires can turn a human, and they don't do it willy nilly.

There isn't much world-building but the book does stay true to the mythology. The vampires drink human blood (from bags and from vein), they are dead, they have no reflection and they exist in secret.

The story is good, the plot is good, the pacing is a bit off and there are bits and pieces that seems to be dump in randomly, but the characters keep me going.

Reading Next:

BookTalk: Jennifer Lynn Barnes' Every Other Day

Summary:

Every other day, Kali D’Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She argues with her father. She’s human.

And then every day in between . . . she’s something else entirely.

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism.

When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her, and unfortunately she’ll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive . . . and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process.

Thoughts:

Jennifer Lynn Barnes like Maggie Stiefvater is one of those writers that write interesting books that I just can't seem to dive into. 

I like the idea of this book and the interesting preternatural creatures, especially the original use of chupacabras but either than that I'm not really immerse in the world building. 

There were no surprises for me, no twists, as I read I'm rewriting all over the place to make the plot a little more interesting for me.

I like that the three main characters are actually girls with characters so different from each other, and I like reading them together. 

AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, WHY?  WHY DOES MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS ALWAYS DIE. Well, that was sad.

I enjoyed the book, the story-line was okay and the pacing also was okay. I just wished the twist would have been more unpredictable. It probably would have been if I cared a little bit more about the characters but since I did I was like, "huh, that happened" without being shocked or feeling what the main character must have felt. 

Although I like the characters, I didn't connect with them and that was a bummer.

I'm not interested enough about this book to read book 2. 

Wait, will there be a book 2?

am reading next:

Book Talk: Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Boys

Summary:

There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him."

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

Thoughts:

Hm, the summary is kind of misleading for there isn't much romance in this book. Which I like.  Anyway, The Raven Boys is book one of Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Cycle series. 

It kind of has everything: family drama, romance, intrigue, friendship, bromance, supernatural bits, mythical lore, murder...am I leaving something out? Nope, yeah, I think that's it.

It certainly has an interesting plot and world building and characters but--

I have no idea why but Maggie Stiefvater's books never really got to me. I tried to read them but I just can't seem to immerse myself in them, so I picked up this book with some trepidation.

But, hey, I liked it.

It wasn't epic for me but I liked it.

Honestly, eventhough I should actually love the story because it has all the elements that I love I think her writing style doesn't mesh well with me, I liked the characters but I didn't love them. I couldn't relate to them, I couldn't lose myself in their lives and in their stories. I laughed and sympathize but my emotions weren't involved.

It's a well written book, and the characters are appealing and I will read the second book but I don't think I will be rereading the book anytime soon.

what I'm reading next

Fanmix: Unspoken

A Kami&Jared Fanmix. Two character's from Sarah Rees Brennan's The Lynburn Legacy's Unspoken. I massacred Cassandra Jean's awesome artwork (blasphemy, I know. Isn't her artwork just--I can't) with my heavy hand and non-talent. It was by this artwork that Sarah Rees Brennan mentioned FRECKLES AND SCARS and I thought 'hey, that would be an awesome fanmix title'. Featuring artist such as Daughter, Lauren Aquilina, Passenger and so many more.

Disc: None of these are mine. Not character, not book, not songs. I only have love. I know, sucks to be me. 

Original artwork by Cassandra Jean looks like this

Boy&Bear-Blood to Gold

And if this blood don't turn to gold

(the mention of blood and gold reminds me of the children's song about the Lynburns (apple reds, and corn gold, and the lyrics somehow just made me think of Jared)

 

Blue Foundation-Bonfires

Drifting astray with your hand in mine

(obviously Kami and Jared, about how they are there for each other in spite the distance between them, and how everything, at the end, came full circle)

Daughter-Smother

I want him but we’re not right

(this is pretty obvious. A pretty dark song actually. And Kami though she's vivacious and perky at times, she has her dark side and her dark moments (DARTH-KAMI))

Passenger (feat. Josh Pyke)-What You're Thinking

You’re just a stones throw from me,

But throwing stones could never be the perfect way to start

(Jared song about how he feels about Kami, how she's keeping her distance)

Lauren Aquilina-Fools

I want you more than I've wanted anyone 

Isn't that dangerous? 

(Kami's song about her feelings for Jared)

OneRepublic-Something I Need

And I had the week that came from hell

And yes I know that you can tell

But you're like the net under the ledge

But I go flying off the edge

You go flying off as well

(Jared. Obviously)

Passenger-Things that Stop You from Dreaming

Well if you can’t get what you love you learn to love the things you’ve got

If you can’t be what you want you learn to be the things you’re not

If you can’t get what you need you learn to need the things that stop you dreaming

(Jared in general. How he doesn't give a crap about anything else but Kami çause she's the only one that hasn't left/betrayed/disappointed him...of course that's before...*cough*)

Wake Owl-Wild Country

What will become of the truth when we keep it in

Things we don't remember when they ask us "when"

We did the things that we learned we shouldn't do again

What wasn't learned from mistakes we will make them

Maybe this is my heart and maybe it is yours

Burns away the eyes peering in our doors

(this is a song about the whole 'situation' between the families and what's happening in the town)

Peter Bradley Adams-Between Us

And these desperate nights I'll call you again and again

There's comfort, comfort in things we believe

Other than danger, wanting the things I can't see

(Both Kami & Jared. I just imagined them lying in bed talking to each other in happy moments and in sad moments)

Avalanche City-Love, Don't Leave

But I saw her skin change before me

And cold became her face

So I took my hand from hers

And began to walk away

Love don’t leave me now

(Jared and Kami, I can just imagine them as the boy and girl in this song...just switched around)

Gabrielle Aplin-The Liar and The Lighter

Oh love, we want the ones that we will grow to hate, to hate.

(at what happened at the end. ALL HAIL, EVIL TORMENTER SARAH REES BRENNAN!)

There's my mix. What do you think?

Oh, here's a bonus: Somehow, this song reminds me of Ash.

Patrick Watson-Big Bird in a Small Cage

He said 'Open up your ears and hearts, you put a big bird in a small cage and he'll sing you a song'

That we all love to sing along to the sound of the bird that mourns

So, I was in the shower, and of course as always when in the bathroom, I get an awesome idea. I finally could link Fateless to the Three Kingdom books!

--and was so excited I danced around and nearly slipped and cracked open another elbow.

Such is my life.

But, damn, that was a stroke of genius. I wonder when someone will create something that is waterproof so we can write/read in the shower. I mean, seriously. WE NEED IT!

Anyway, so damn psyche about this idea!

#amreading

Summary:

When Camille was six years old, she was discovered alone in the snow by Enrico Vultusino, godfather of the Seven—the powerful Families that rule magic-ridden New Haven. Papa Vultusino adopted the mute, scarred child, naming her after his dead wife and raising her in luxury on Haven Hill alongside his own son, Nico.

Now Cami is turning sixteen. She’s no longer mute, though she keeps her faded scars hidden under her school uniform, and though she opens up only to her two best friends, Ruby and Ellie, and to Nico, who has become more than a brother to her. But even though Cami is a pampered Vultusino heiress, she knows that she is not really Family. Unlike them, she is a mortal with a past that lies buried in trauma. And it’s not until she meets the mysterious Tor, who reveals scars of his own, that Cami begins to uncover the secrets of her birth…to find out where she comes from and why her past is threatening her now.

Thoughts:

*spoiler alert*

How to say this.

I liked it, and loved some parts of it. The mythology is awesome (the snow white twist), the world-building complicated and layered...which was the problem for me. It was too layered and the author sort of just dumped information on us and hoped we understood. Sure you can relate some events in this world to our world for ex; the REEVE or the magical revolution as the, I'm guessing, Industrial Revolution.

I'm still half-convinced there was a prequel or something. No?

Anyway, the world called New Haven, is controlled by the Seven Families, like I said, they're kind of like the vampire mafia. And there are Jacks (which I'm not really sure what, maybe shapeshifters) and the Twists (people that has their Potential twisted by hate or rage) and then there are the fae.

Cami, or Camille, our heroine was a foundling, an orphan found in the snow by the head of the Vultusino family. She is adopted into the family and grew up along with his son, his heir, Nico.

Keep in mind that this is a version of Snow White so you already know the gist but I'm not saying that there are new elements in this story: for instance, the vampires, like Papa Vultusino and Nico, ghouls, mere-humans, magic users like Cami and Cami's friends Ruby (Red Riding Hood) and Ellie (Cinderella). There will be an evil queen, there will be the huntsman etc.

The pace of the story is okay, I guess, the pacing is pretty fast, you get to know everybody also pretty fast and you get the story, also pretty fast. It's twisted and dark and kind of harrowing at times as your imagination finally grab a hold of the world.

It kind of reminded me of Labyrinth in a way, you know, that movie with David Bowie as the Goblin King?

I was disappointed that we didn't get more Nico though, I was interested on how he went from heir to Head of the Family. Why he was often gone.

And I'm intrigued by how Lili St Crow created the difference between Nico and Tor, how they switched placed in the middle but then we totally see who was on Cami's side and not so much.

Well, will I read this book again? yes, yes I would. Is it flawless? Nope.

But still, an interesting (though not so original, at least on the White Queen part) read. Give it 3/5 stars.

am reading next

Summary: 

To survive in a ruined world, she must embrace the darkness…

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred ofthem—the vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself dies and becomes one of the monsters.

Forced to flee her city, Allie must pass for human as she joins a ragged group of pilgrims seeking a legend—a place that might have a cure for the disease that killed off most of civilization and created the rabids, the bloodthirsty creatures who threaten human and vampire alike. And soon Allie will have to decide what and who is worth dying for…again.

Enter Julie Kagawa's dark and twisted world as an unforgettable journey begins.

#amreading

Just finished this book last night. I gave it a 4/5 stars. 

Summary:

He makes good girls...bad. 

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple: weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal-opportunity collector and doesn't want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within ten days.

Dante doesn't know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect, he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector…and uncover emotions deeply buried.

Thoughts:

** spoiler alert ** 

Truly enjoyable. I picked up this book because I was just tickled about how an anti-hero Dante Walker is. Of course as the story progressed he grew a conscience and then a heart and it was heartbreaking and rewarding to read about. 

The story itself is excellently paced with dips and highs that hit you hard. There were tears as I read Dante's POV who can be a dick of the highest order but can also be the biggest sweetheart. He's damaged (of course he is) and he doesn't apologize for any of his attitude or bad behavior. I find it interesting on how continually torn he is about 'work' and 'feelings'. 

I like Charlie though her agreeing to the contract was kind of a, "huh, really?" moment for me. She's a smart  girl and yes, a beautiful soul without being perfectly, annoyingly, good but I thought she would question the 'contract' part. 

Of course, the addiction part of the contract make sense too.

But this book wasn't just about the 'love story' between Dante and Charlie, but it was also about family (that bit of when Dante came home and saw his mom on top of the stairs KILLED ME. SOBS GALORE) and friendship and what you do when you love someone, the limits you pushed when you want to protect them. 

Charlie and Annabelle and Blue. Charlie and Blue and Charlie's grandmother. Dante and Charlie's grandmother and Charlie. Dante and Charlie's grandmother. Dante and Annabelle. Dante and Blue. 

The relationships, even the friendships were real and complicated and yet extraordinarily simple at times; Blue and Dante's brohate relationship, Annabelle and Dante's smack talking contest. 

There wasn't clear manipulation of our emotions though you feel for the characters. 

There is no prolong angst though yes, there were hard and sad moments. 

I have to say though, eventhough Charlie and Anabelle and Dante are made of awesome, my heart belonged to Blue, so the ending slayed me.

I hope in book two, Blue would be a Liberator, 'cause that would be awesome.

Am now reading this book.

Summary:

When Camille was six years old, she was discovered alone in the snow by Enrico Vultusino, godfather of the Seven—the powerful Families that rule magic-ridden New Haven. Papa Vultusino adopted the mute, scarred child, naming her after his dead wife and raising her in luxury on Haven Hill alongside his own son, Nico.

Now Cami is turning sixteen. She’s no longer mute, though she keeps her faded scars hidden under her school uniform, and though she opens up only to her two best friends, Ruby and Ellie, and to Nico, who has become more than a brother to her. But even though Cami is a pampered Vultusino heiress, she knows that she is not really Family. Unlike them, she is a mortal with a past that lies buried in trauma. And it’s not until she meets the mysterious Tor, who reveals scars of his own, that Cami begins to uncover the secrets of her birth…to find out where she comes from and why her past is threatening her now.

Thoughts:

** spoiler alert **

The world-building is...well, I'm still confused about it, the beginning was kind of jarring for me though the author did manage to pile in the character introduction there. But it was also filled with loads of information that was unfamiliar but the author made it seemed like we should know this already. Was there a prequel that I should know about?

Anyway, what's interesting to me is that by cover and by explanation is that this seems to be a twist on Snow White...if Snow White was a magic-user or something. And her friends Ruby (Red Riding Hood) and Ellie (Cinderella) are also magic-users and is in the same school as her.

Lili St Crow's story tend to go dark so I'm interesting on how she'll twist the old fairy tale stories that we all know and love.

I am intrigue by how Cami got her scars and where she comes from and her relationship with Nico, the heir to the Vultusino (I get the impression that they are like the Supernatural mob) throne. 

Cami speaks with a stutter and as such is often frustrated with herself, she also use a lot of gestures to get her feelings across and her relationship with Nico, a sullen, difficult and volatile boy who grew up with her as her brother. Their relationship is sweet and the fact that Nico's name is one of the words that she hardly ever stutters on is extra sweet. I love it. 

Though Cami is pampered, the Patriach of the clan is hard on Nico. He is very strict and is not hesitant on doling out corporeal punishment which doesn't seem to do much now. Nico seems to expect his father's anger, his disapproval. And his father can't seem to be kind to him although he does love him. Cami knows this. And Nico although he won't say it, yearns for his father approval. 

Cami seems to be the only thing they have in common these days. 

Anyway, back to reading. 

Touched: The Saint snippets

A compilation of Touched snippets that I've found hidden among old files. Enjoy!

#amreading

Am half-way through this. So far so good. Am loving the cover and the idea behind the story. I mean come on, a ghost hunter and a ghost? You can't get more star-crossed than that. I'm glad I found out this book now because the second book is already out and I have it!

Touched #2: The Saint snippet

SNIPPETS!