Review: Threatened by Eliot Schrefer

Title: Threatened

Author: Eliot Schrefer

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Publishing Date: February 25, 2014

Pages/Format: 288, eARC

Into the jungle. Into the wild. Into harm's way.

When he was a boy, Luc's mother would warn him about the "mock men" living in the trees by their home -- chimpanzees whose cries would fill the night.

Luc is older now, his mother gone. He lives in a house of mistreated orphans, barely getting by. Then a man calling himself Prof comes to town with a mysterious mission. When Luc tries to rob him, the man isn't mad. Instead, he offers Luc a job.

Together, Luc and Prof head into the rough, dangerous jungle in order to study the elusive chimpanzees. There, Luc finally finds a new family -- and must act when that family comes under attack.

As he did in his acclaimed novel Endangered, a finalist for the National Book Award, Eliot Schrefer takes us somewhere fiction rarely goes, introducing us to characters we rarely get to meet. The unforgettable result is the story of a boy fleeing his present, a man fleeing his past, and a trio of chimpanzees who are struggling not to flee at all. 

Initial Reaction of Book in One Word: WANT.

Waiting on Wednesday (71)

Waiting on Wednesday

is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine
 that showcases upcoming releases 

that people are very much anticipating.

I'd put this cover in a frame on my wall, so.

Top Ten Tuesday (73)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

This Tuesday's theme is...

Top Ten Tuesday Rewind:
Top Ten Most Hilarious Book Titles...
In Your Pants

Let's Talk About Reviews

So. We all know about reviews, right? When it comes to books, we post them on blogs and Goodreads and several other sites. Heck, even saying a little something about a book on Twitter is a bit of a review. But today, I'm going to talk about review reviews, like the ones I post on here.

Now, don't worry--this a drama-free post! This is a post for discussion, but like this: I want to know what YOU like to see in a review. This is a learning zone, a place to see how others do things (and to see how we all do it differently)!

Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Title: Throne of Glass

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Publisher: Blooms-bury USA Children's

Publishing Date: August 7, 2012

Pages/Format: 404, Hardcover

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. 

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. 

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. 

Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

Initial Reaction of Book in One Word: Neeeeext!

Song As Old As Rhyme: On Repeat

I always have at least one song that I'm constantly listening to over and over again, so here are a few of my current/recent addictions!

Review: Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen

Title: Lady Thief

Author: A.C. Gaughen

Publisher: Walker Childrens

Publishing Date: February 11, 2014

Pages/Format: 304, eARC

Scarlet’s true identity has been revealed, but her future is uncertain. Her forced marriage to Lord Gisbourne threatens Robin and Scarlet’s love, and as the royal court descends upon Nottingham for the appointment of a new Sheriff, the people of Nottingham hope that Prince John will appoint their beloved Robin Hood. But Prince John has different plans for Nottingham that revolve around a fateful secret from Scarlet’s past even she isn’t yet aware of. Forced to participate at court alongside her ruthless husband, Scarlet must bide her time and act the part of a noblewoman—a worthy sacrifice if it means helping Robin’s cause and a chance at a future with the man she loves. With a fresh line of intrigue and as much passion as ever, the next chapter in Scarlet’s tale will have readers talking once again.

Initial Reaction of Book in One Word: NEEEXT.

Waiting on Wednesday (70)

Waiting on Wednesday

is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine
 that showcases upcoming releases 

that people are very much anticipating.

I'm starting to have more interest in historical fiction, so I want this. And I think this is kind of that, plus some paranormal/fantasy stuff (I don't know, Goodreads says it's everything!). But there's a "tattooed harpoon boy" mentioned in the synopsis, so GIMME!

Top Ten Tuesday (72)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

This Tuesday's theme is...

Top Ten Reasons I Love 
Being A Blogger/Reader

Review: The Sound of Letting Go by Stasia Ward Kehoe

Title: The Sound of Letting Go

Author: Stasia Ward Kehoe

Publisher: Viking

Publishing Date: February 6, 2014

Pages/Format: 400, ARC

For sixteen years, Daisy has been good. A good daughter, helping out with her autistic younger brother uncomplainingly. A good friend, even when her best friend makes her feel like a third wheel. When her parents announce they’re sending her brother to an institution—without consulting her—Daisy’s furious, and decides the best way to be a good sister is to start being bad. She quits jazz band and orchestra, slacks in school, and falls for bad-boy Dave. 

But one person won’t let Daisy forget who she used to be: Irish exchange student and brilliant musician Cal. Does she want the bad boy or the prodigy? Should she side with her parents or protect her brother? How can she know when to hold on and when—and how—to let go?

Initial Reaction of Book in One Word: Lovely.

Top Ten Tuesday (71)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

This Tuesday's theme is...

Top Ten Books That 
Will Make You Swoon

Review: Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

Title: Scarlet

Author: A.C. Gaughen

Publisher: Walker Childrens

Publishing Date: February 14, 2012

Pages/Format: 292, Hardcover

Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance. 

Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in.

It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.

Initial Reaction of Book in One Word: Weeeee!

Waiting on Wednesday (69)

Waiting on Wednesday

is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine
 that showcases upcoming releases 

that people are very much anticipating.

Weeeee, a series spinoff! Of course, it's not about the absolute main characters. But still, a series I really liked isn't really over!

Top Ten Tuesday (70)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

This Tuesday's theme is...

Top Ten Books That Will Make You Cry

Review: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Ignite Me

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publishing Date: February 4, 2014

Pages/Format: 416, Hardcover

One day I might break

One day I might break free

Nothing will ever be the same.

The fate of Omega Point is unknown. Everyone Juliette has ever cared about could be dead. The war could be over before it ever really began.

Juliette is the only one standing in The Reestablishment's way. She knows that if she's going to survive, The Reestablishment cannot.

But to take down The Reestablishment and the man who very nearly killed her, Juliette will need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together to bring down their enemy, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew—about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam—was wrong.

Initial Reaction of Book in One Word: Thank you.*

Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Title: Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

Author: Ransom Riggs

Publisher: Quirk Books

Publishing Date: June 7, 2011

Pages/Format: 352, Hardcover

As a kid, Jacob formed a special bond with his grandfather over his bizarre tales and photos of levitating girls and invisible boys. Now at 16, he is reeling from the old man's unexpected death. Then Jacob is given a mysterious letter that propels him on a journey to the remote Welsh island where his grandfather grew up. There, he finds the children from the photographs--alive and well--despite the islanders’ assertion that all were killed decades ago. As Jacob begins to unravel more about his grandfather’s childhood, he suspects he is being trailed by a monster only he can see. A haunting and out-of-the-ordinary read, debut author Ransom Rigg’s first-person narration is convincing and absorbing, and every detail he draws our eye to is deftly woven into an unforgettable whole. Interspersed with photos throughout, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a truly atmospheric novel with plot twists, turns, and surprises that will delight readers of any age.

Initial Reaction of Book in One Word: Eh.