In My Mailbox (63) -- Queens, Selections, and Suicides

In My Mailbox is a meme created by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie! It features a list of what books you have received over the previous week, either for review, from the library, or from the bookstore.

For Review:
The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker
Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan
Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan
Invisible Sun by David Macinnis Gill
Rivals by Lauren Kunze
The Temptation by Alisa Valdes
Social Suicide by Gemma Halliday
Thumped by Megan McCafferty
The Selection by Kiera Cass
Eve of Destruction by Patrick Carman
Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler and Maira Kalman

Thanks to HarperTeen and Little, Brown! So... what was in your mailbox this week?

Goodbye 2011

Goodbye 2011.

I can't say this year has been life-changing. I can't say I have a huge accomplishment to associate this year with.

But maybe, just maybe, 2011 could be my last year in this world. 2011 could be the last year in my life where I say nothing has happened. Because in 2012, I could find death or a new future. In 2012 I could look back at this post and laugh, or cry, or look away.

2011 may not have been a big year for me. But the small things are what count. The small things are what amount to something big.

In 2011 I went from 15 books that I knew cover-to-cover to more than a hundred. I went from being a teen to an official adult. I went from being a high school student to a high school graduate. I went from being lonely to having friends like you all over the world in love with books as much as me.

In a way, 2011 has been special.

In a way, 2011 has made me special.

And I have a few very special people to thank. More than anyone, Melina, who probably knows me more than I know myself, despite the fact that she has never even seen me. Without you, Melina, I don't think I would have gotten past AKB. I live for our late-night Gmail chats.

To HD, for being the awesome blogger who actually thinks I'm funny. For being able to tell me in all caps how much he loved a book, and for me to reply the same. For sending me reassuring words I never thought anyone would say to me. I don't know how I went two-thirds of the year without knowing you.

To Katie for being a good friend. For chatting with me during your boring Astronomy class and tweeting with with crazies at night. I can't wait to meet you in person.

Lisa, Britta, Ashelynn - you guys are always there when I need some reassurance. Ashelynn, thank you for telling me you'll be my friend only when I give you chocolate. Lisa, thank you for Hourglass and all those tweets putting me on top of the world. Britta, thank you for being the other half of this #oldmarriedcouple. I don't even remember when we started that joke.

And lastly, thank YOU. Thank you for reading my every post, commenting on my every post (I'm looking at you especially, Lauren, Jenny, Jessica, and Giselle), and making my blog feel alive.

Thank you.

September 2010 may be when I started blogging, but 2011 is when it all really began. No one will never know how much blogging has changed my life. But know this: it has changed.

See you next year.

REVIEW: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder
Marissa Meyer
387 pages
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: January 3rd, 2012
Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: LOVED

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

  I'm always on the lookout for the next unforgettable read. For the book that will leave me breathless, that will linger in my mind, and will leave me begging for more.

   I've found it. In six letters. Between the covers of a book with a red slipper. I've found it in Cinder. The year 2012 hasn't even begun yet, and I already have a 2012 favorite.

  To describe Cinder as a futuristic retelling of Cinderella would probably be a lie. Because its more than that. Despite the elements of Cinderella, Cinder is something else. Cyborgs, politics, people who live on the moon, Cinder is most definitely something else. Something that will leave your mind boggling. Something that will leave you with one question: how did she think of that??

   Marissa Meyer weaves a story unlike any other in the pages of her debut novel. Not a word in all of 387 pages is wasted. And you won't want to skip a single one.

   Cinder is New Beijing's best mechanic - its no secret if even Prince Kaito of the Commonwealth seeks her service. The prince takes a liking to Cinder from the very beginning, but Cinder knows it will never work. If he knew what she really was - a frowned upon, disdained cyborg, he would regret his every word with her.

    Yet Cinder is strong. Her hardcore character emanates from her every decision. And despite the horrible way her stepmother treats her, she still finds comfort in her work. She still finds a way to hope and live in a world dying from an incurable plague.

    The subject of the Lunars fascinated me. The fact that Meyer takes the notion of 'men on the moon' and churns it into people residing on the moon with the ability to alter bioelectricity to their will - or brainwash - was pure genius.

    Cinder is a must-read. Marissa Meyer's debut will captivate you from the very first words and linger in your mind long after the last page is turned. Unputdownable, unbelievable, and incredible. If you ever find yourself in need of a reason to rush to your nearest bookstore this January, Cinder should be it.

Add Cinder to Goodreads 

Find Marissa Meyer on Twitter - Goodreads - Website

Waiting on Wednesday (67) -- So Close to You by Rachel Carter

"Waiting On" Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that everyone's excited about (created by Jill at Breaking The Spine.)

So Close to You brims with the compelling “what if” mysteries surrounding The Time Traveler’s Wife and all of the the action and creepy government experiments of The Maze Runner—and, in a new twist, presents a piercing look at a dark period in history and imagines what changes could have produced an utterly different world...and what one girl would do to stop it.

Lydia Bentley has heard stories about the Montauk Project all her life: stories about the experiments that took place at the abandoned military base near her home and the people who’ve disappeared over the years. When she stumbles into a vessel that transports her to a dangerous and strange new reality, Lydia realizes that all the stories she’s ever heard about the Montauk Project are true—and that she’s in the middle of one of the most dangerous experiments in history.

Alongside Wes, a darkly mysterious boy whom she is wary to trust, Lydia begins to unravel the secrets surrounding the project. But the truths behind these secrets force her to question all her choices. And if Lydia chooses wrong, she might not save her family but destroy them...and herself.

So Close to You will be released on June 10th, 2012 by HarperTeen

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Hitting Shelves Today (14)

Hitting Shelves Today is basically what it's name calls for - a post featuring books that hit shelves that day. It will be a sporadic post, so don't expect it every release day :) 

Magic of the Moonlight by Ellen Schreiber
December 27th, 2011
Goodreads -- Amazon -- BN 

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
December 27th, 2011

Goodreads -- Amazon -- BN 

Living Violet by Jaime Reed

December 27th, 2011

Goodreads -- Amazon -- BN 

So, what are you excited for?

What did I miss?

In My Mailbox (62) -- Croak, Monuments, and Wonders

In My Mailbox is a meme created by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie! It features a list of what books you have received over the previous week, either for review, from the library, or from the bookstore.

For Review:
Chained by Lynn Kelly
The Book of Wonders by Jasmine Richards
The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe
The Wicked and the Just by J. Anderson Coats
Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
Croak by Gina Damico
Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama
52 Reasons to Hate My Father by Jessica Brody
Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne
The Raft by S.A. Bodeen

Gifted:
Gone and Lies by Michael Grant - thanks to HD from Reading, Writing, Breathing! So now I own all of them! Except for Light, of course...

Thanks to HarperTeen, Macmillan, HD, Big Honcho Media and HMH Books! So... what was in your mailbox this week?

Blogging How-to: Replying to Comments

One of the biggest complaints bloggers have when it comes to Blogger vs Wordpress is the ability to reply to comments. While Blogger doesn't appear to be giving us that update anytime soon, there is a way around it.

There's a simple snippet of code you can place in your blog's HTML code so users (and you) can reply to comments. However, the function won't post reply comments directly beneath the comment you're replying to. It will go beneath the others just as a new one would.

But something's better than nothing, right? Here's what you need to do:

1. Go to Blogger > Template (or Design in the older interface).

2. Backup your template, just in case anything goes wrong.

3. Click on Edit HTML.

4. Select the Expand Widget Templates check box.

5. Hit Ctrl + F and search for this piece of code:

<data:commentPostedByMsg/>

6. Place your cursor directly beneath that piece of code and paste the following:

<span class='comment-reply'><a expr:href='&quot;https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=YOURBLOGID&amp;postID=&quot; + data:post.id + &quot;&amp;isPopup=true&amp;postBody=%40%3C%61%20%68%72%65%66%3D%22%23&quot; + data:comment.anchorName + &quot;%22%3E&quot; + data:comment.author + &quot;%3C%2F%61%3E#form&quot;' onclick='javascript:window.open(this.href, &quot;bloggerPopup&quot;, &quot;toolbar=0,location=0,statusbar=1,menubar=0,scrollbars=yes,width=400,height=450&quot;); return false;'>[Reply]</a></span>


6. Almost done! Now, do you see the part of the code that says YOURBLOGID in red? Replace that with your unique blog ID, which can be found in your address bar, like so:

That's it! Be sure to add your blog ID correctly and save any changes. If you'd like to customize the [Reply] text, simply edit the code text you see highlighted in green above.

If something goes wrong, don't panic. Simpy restore your previous blog settings using the same button you clicked to Backup your template.

Let me know how it goes! And if you have any blogging how-to questions you'd like answered, fill out the form here.

2011 YA Story Scavenger Hunt - Question #45

Welcome to the first ever YA Story Scavenger Hunt hosted by The Most Important Letter!

I had no idea I'd be hosting a second stop, but I'm today's hunt stop for the 2011 YA Story Scavenger Hunt!

Follow the hunt every day during the month of December! Answer the daily trivia questions from MG and YA books published during 2011 to be entered into the YA book giveaway.

Today's question is from Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.

Question #45: In what South Carolinian city does this novel take place?

Remember to fill out your answer in the form at Most Important Letter here!

Waiting on Wednesday (66) -- Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

"Waiting On" Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that everyone's excited about (created by Jill at Breaking The Spine.)

Oct. 11th, 1943—A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun.

When “Verity” is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn’t stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she’s living a spy’s worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution.

As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage and failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy?

Harrowing and beautifully written, Elizabeth Wein creates a visceral read of danger, resolve, and survival that shows just how far true friends will go to save each other. Code Name Verity is an outstanding novel that will stick with you long after the last page.

Code Name Verity will be released on May 15th, 2012 by Disney*Hyperion

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Submit Your Blogging Questions!

You're probably familiar with my blogging how-to posts in which I've covered a variety of things. I've been getting requests for certain posts, but its not exactly easy to keep up with the comments... so I've made this handy-dandy form for you to submit your questions!

Some posts I've made:
-How to link up in the comments
-The Death of GFC - How RSS can help
-How to Use Blockquotes
-What's Search Engine Optimization SEO?
-So What's this about Twitter?
-How to Improve Your Blog Design Without Spending a Dime
-Does Blog Design Really Matter?

REVIEW: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky
Veronica Rossi
400 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: January 3rd, 2011
Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: LOVED

Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY.

   Life in the Realms is all Aria knows. She can visit any place and do anything through her Smarteye, which promises life Better than the Real. Basically, Aria, and the thousands of others in Reverie and other Pods, live life virtually. And they're okay with that.

   For anything is better than the Death Shop - the real world that promises nothing but a million ways to die. Even breathing means death.

   When circumstances get Aria wrongfully exiled to the Death Shop, Aria is certain she won't see a new day, or justice for that matter. But Aria is different, she just doesn't know it at first, and neither do we. When she crosses paths with a Savage by the name of Peregrine, their fates intertwine. Peregrine holds the key to Aria's freedom, and Aria to his.

   Wildly reminiscent of Kristin Cashore's GRACELING, Under the Never Sky was a story I wish I could relive for the first time once more. Narrated in the third-person, we get to see debut novelist Veronica Rossi's world through the eyes of two very different characters - an Outsider (or Savage) named Peregrine and a Dweller (or Mole) named Aria. Yet despite the switching between viewpoints, the story never became confusing or lagged in the least.

   The characters were wholly fleshed out, leaving nothing to be imagined, nothing hazy - everything was vivid, clear, and compelling. But for me, more than fleshed-out characters, I need a plot that will hold me from one page one - and that's definitely what came out of Under the Never Sky. A plot that won't be easily forgotten.

   Veronica Rossi is an author to praise. With a dystopian world such as hers, world-building is a must. And she delivers one with crystal-clear imagery - words that won't bring you to a state of boredom, but will leave your heart pacing from one word to the next. Fans of Graceling, you've found your match. Under the Never Sky is one 2012 debut you won't want to go without.

Add Under the Never Sky to Goodreads 

Find Veronica Rossi on Twitter - Goodreads - Website

My blogging friends who reviewed UNDER THE NEVER SKY:
Melina from Reading Vacation
HD from Reading, Writing, Breathing

In My Mailbox (61) -- Fracture, Hunger, and Fear

In My Mailbox is a meme created by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie! It features a list of what books you have received over the previous week, either for review, from the library, or from the bookstore.

For Review:
Fear by Michael Grant
Grimalkin the Witch Assassin by Joseph Delaney
The Calling by Kelley Armstrong
Glimmer by Phoebe Kitandis
The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting
Dead to You by Lisa McMann
Fracture by Megan Miranda

Gifted:
Hunger by Michael Grant - thanks to HD from Reading, Writing, Breathing! I love this series, and now I'm finally going to own it!
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin - thanks to Melina from Reading Vacation! I've been wanting to read this one forever!

So... what was in your mailbox this week?

REVIEW: Guys Read: Thriller edited by Jon Scieszka

Guys Read: Thriller
Edited by: Jon Scieszka
272 pages
Publisher: Walden Pond Press
Release Date: September 20th, 2011
Source: Paperback from Publisher
Rating: LOVED

A body on the tracks

A teenage terrorist

A mysterious wish-granting machine

The world’s worst private detective

The second volume in the Guys Read Library of Great Reading is chock-full of mystery, intrigue, and nefarious activity. Featuring some of the best writers around, and compiled by certified guy Jon Scieszka, Guys Read: Thriller is a pulse-pounding collection of brand-new short stories, each one guaranteed to keep you riveted until the final page.

TEN STORIES GUARANTEED TO THRILL, CHILL AND HAVE YOU SO FAR ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT THAT YOU ACTUALLY ON SOMEONE ELSE'S. 

FROM THE FOLLOWING NOTORIOUS AUTHORS: M.T. ANDERSON, PATRICK CARMAN, GENNIFER CHOLDENKO, MATT DE LAPENA, MARGARET PETERSON HADDIX, BRUCE HALE, JARRETT J. KROSOCZKA, ANTHONY HOROWITZ, WALTER DEAN MYERS, AND JAMES PATTERSON.

The Old, Dead Nuisance by M.T Anderson: This is the first story in Guys Read and although it wasn't the greatest thing I've read it wasn't exactly the worst. I haven't read or heard of M.T. Anderson so my expectations weren't that high. It's basically about whose father is a cameraman for some scary show where they film spooky places.He hears from the crew that there's treasure somewhere in the building so he tries to find it. The only problem is that the sons of the Old Nuisance are evil and don't want the main character to find the treasure. Again it wasn't that good but since I'm not really a fan of ghost stories I wouldn't know if you would enjoy it. I'll rate this story about 2 stars

Believing in Brooklyn by Matt De La Pena: I kind of liked this story cause it had a moral to it at the end and because it talks about helping people out and stuff. But it had a message to it and was more about teaching people a lesson in life than a Thriller and didn't the cover of the book say Thriller? The story is about a boy living in Brooklyn who live with his elderly and sick grandma. His friend whose kind of a loser makes a drawing of a wish machine and sticks above the kids fireplace at his house. The next day the kid makes a wish and it comes true, this continues on for a while and then one day something happens to his grandma..... Like I said I enjoyed this one a lot but it didn't exactly thrill so I'll rate this one about 3 stars.

The Double Eagle Has Landed by Anthony Horowitz: I'm a huge fan of Anthony Horowitz he's an amazing author and I've read a ton of his books. This book is basically a shorter version of one of Mr. Horowitz's Tim Diamond Private Detective stories. It is super funny and is one of my favorite stories in Guys Read. There is only one draw back and that's because again it wasn't thrilling! I would give it 5 stars but it was more of a funny detective story than anything else so I'll rate it 4.

Pirate by Walter Dean Myers: I've got no clue about who Walter Myers is but this story was fantastic, this is one of the few stories in this book that actually Thrilled me if not the only one. It's pretty much about a Somalian boy named Abdullah who's a pirate at the age of fifteen. He is fighting for his country and fighting to stop the Europeans from polluting their fishing area, that is their source of income. I really enjoyed this one not only was it thrilling it also showed me the other side of the pirates and not the side the news and propaganda shows. If your gonna read this story this one should be one that you should look forward too I gave it a full five stars, the only thing that I didn't like was that it was so short if it had been longer I would've enjoyed it much more.

Thad, the Ghost, and Me by Margaret Peterson Haddix: Mrs. Haddix is one heck of a writer, she is like the Larry Fitzgerald of writing. But this story was a huge disappointment. I expected some awesome sci-fi that would be giving me nightmares and I was rewarded with some boring story that made no sense at all. I give this story 1 star and I'll leave it at that.

Pudding By Jarrett J. Krosoczka: Pudding was a nine page comic that was literally the dumbest comic I have ever read. And trust me I've read a lot of dumb comics. It's about some boy who eats pudding and gets weird powers, the story picks off in the middle of nowhere and ends in the middle of nowhere. 1 star.

The Snake Mafia by Gennifer Choldenko: Another great story from an author who I don't know but surpassed my expectations by far. It was interesting and thrilling. Oh and add the funny Indian dude named Harpreet, who was just awesome. The story is about two Japanese boys whose father is a reporter and gets into a lot of trouble with the Snake Mafia. The boys go looking for him and try to rescue him from a room filled with poisonous snakes, it's just a great and read and it was long too, so it had plenty of details. I rate this one a full 5 stars, nice job Mrs. Choldenko. Oops, my bad, you know how I said I didn't know who Gennifer Choldenko is? Well I just checked and she is the author of Al Capone Does My Shirts! I remember reading that a long time ago and it was awesome. No wonder this story was so great.

Nate Macavoy, Monster Hunter by Bruce Hale: Even though it was kind of babyish Monster Hunter really wasn't that bad. It's about this boy who is totally obsessed with cryptids(don't know what those are) and his friend gets kidnapped by a monster so he goes to save him. Bruce Hale did a nice job with the cliff hanger at the end. And I since I'm a sucker for books with bullies in em who are actually pretty(like the Fourth Stall) cool I'll rate this story 5 stars.

Boy will be Boys by James Patterson: Mr. Patterson, you are supposed to be an elite author - the Peyton Manning of writing. But instead you wrote this story about a body on the tracks? You're probably thinking that a body on the tracks would be thrilling right? You're totally wrong if you really want to know why I am so mad about this one you have got to read it yourself. It was just a total disappointment and I'd rate it -1 stars, if that were possible.

Ghost Vision Glasses by Patrick Carmen: This one wasn't that bad even though I would've expected more from Mr. Carmen, author of the Atherton series and Dark Eden. It's about a boy who likes to collect weird things and one day finds a stack of comics in the attic. He orders some ghost vision glasses that he sees in a a magazine and he begins to start seeing ghosts. It was a nice way to end the book and I'll rate this one about 4 stars.

Overall the book was probably worth 4 stars and I'll leave you to decide whether or not you really want to read this one. It lacked on the whole "thriller" factor, but a few of the stories were really enjoyable.

Add Guys Read: Thriller to Goodreads 

ARC Giveaway: Partials by Dan Wells

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one excited to read Partials. I mean, just read that synopsis!

The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic in training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws threaten to launch what’s left of humanity into civil war, and she’s not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will discover that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

Dan Wells, acclaimed author of I Am Not a Serial Killer, takes readers on a pulse-pounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question—one where our humanity is both our greatest liability and our only hope for survival.

Yeah. That's what I thought. And thanks to HarperTeen, one lucky winner won't have to wait until February 28th, 2012 to snag a copy, because I'm offering one right here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday (65) -- False Memory by Dan Krokos

"Waiting On" Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that everyone's excited about (created by Jill at Breaking The Spine.)

Miranda wakes up alone on a park bench with no memory. In her panic, she releases a mysterious energy that incites pure terror in everyone around her. Except Peter, a boy who isn’t at all surprised by Miranda’s shocking ability.

Left with no choice but to trust this stranger, Miranda discovers she was trained to be a weapon and is part of an elite force of genetically-altered teens who possess flawless combat skills and powers strong enough to destroy a city. But adjusting to her old life isn’t easy—especially with Noah, the boyfriend she can't remember loving.

Then Miranda uncovers a dark truth that sets her team on the run. Suddenly her past doesn’t seem to matter...when there may not be a future.

False Memory will be released on August 14th, 2012 by Disney*Hyperion

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Linking up in the Comments - Blogging How-To

A couple of bloggers surprised me the other day with this question: How do you 'link' in comments? To which another blogger replied to me saying: I sense a new how-to blog post coming along.

We all participate in those memes, at least one. Let's take, for example, Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday. You've posted your post, linked up your link, and now you're going through the linky list and commenting on new blogs. But you want them to check out your post too. This is when you need a link, so you can say "Stop by my WoW" without your entire link gaping in the comments. And its pretty easy, actually.

Let's say your link is www.iceybooks.com. Here's how you would link it in your comment.

<a href="http://www.iceybooks.com>Stop by my blog</a>

The code in green will be invisible, only the text in blue will show. Yet when users hover over it, it will be clickable, and people will be able to go directly to the link you specified. If you're going to copy the code I've provided above, be sure to replace the bolded link in green with a link to wherever you need.

Do you have any blogging how-to questions? Don't be shy, leave them in comments!

REVIEW: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Everneath
Brodi Ashton
370 pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: January 24th, 2011
Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: LOVED

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

   Everneath, Brodi Ashton's young-adult debut, puts a modern twist on a Greek myth that is bound to leave you craving for more.

  Going in, I wasn't sure what to expect from Everneath. The buzz surrounding the winter 2012 release was low, so my expectations were likewise. Luckily for me (and you), Everneath's interior is just as gorgeous as its exterior.

  Despite the fact that readers will be bouncing back and forth throughtout the book (we don't see Nikki's life before, after, and during the Feed in chronological order), Brodi Ashton's writing simply flows, carrying you from one line to the next with elegance.

  Nikki Beckett's angst ridden life has made her a Forfeit - a person who's emotional pain and depressional is cause for making them a perfect candidate for an Everliving to feed off of. Every one hundred years, Everlivings must venture to the Surface and bring back a Forfeit for the Feed. They feed off their emotions, depleting them of their feelings, their memories, and ultimately, their lives. Along with the weight of the traumatic death of her mother, Nikki lets herself become a Forfeit, and realizes her mistake too late - one hundred years too late, which translates to about six months on the Surface (Earth). But Nikki is determined to make life right, to make amends with her father, brother, and Jack, who's face she could never bring herself to forget. 

   But at the same time, a seedling of hope plants deep within her, growing with every day that takes her closer to her Return - could she actually find a way to remain on the Surface forever?

  Nikki's sure will and hope is tangible through the words Brodi Ashton weaves within the mere 320 pages of Everneath. It will no doubt leave you wanting the next installment in the planned trilogy, because the ending, is purely heartbreaking. There aren't enough words for me to describe how much I enjoyed Everneath. The fact that it surprised me, flipped my expectations upside down, made it so much more to me.

Add Everneath to Goodreads 

Find Brodi Ashton on Twitter - Goodreads - Website

In My Mailbox (60) -- Irises, Slides, and Belles

In My Mailbox is a meme created by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie! It features a list of what books you have received over the previous week, either for review, from the library, or from the bookstore.

For Review:
Belles by Jen Calonita
Irises by Francisco X. Stork
Slide by Jill Hathaway
Bewitching by Alex Flinn
The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges
The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman

So... what was in your mailbox this week?

The Death of GFC: How RSS Can Help

Google's recent news release announcing the death of GFC for non-Blogger sites has left a lot of Blogger users worried - we're all pretty sure its only a matter of time before GFC will be gone for good.

But, of course, all is not lost. Your readers can still get your latest posts delivered to them - via RSS or straight to their inbox.

Subscribe via Email - Allowing users to subscribe to your blog via email is easy. Create a free account on Feedburner and create a feed for your blog. It takes you step by step, and only takes about a minute for the whole thing.

Once you have your account set up, click on the publicize tab. On the column to your left, you'll see a link for Email Subscriptions. Copy the code for your blog type and paste it in a widget on your blog. That's all it takes to allow people to get your latest posts delivered straight to their inbox.

Subscribe via RSS - RSS seems like a tricky thing. I'll even admit, I don't understand the full workings around it. But its pretty easy to allow your readers to subscribe to your feeds. If you have a Feedburner account, and a feed for your blog ready, its pretty simple. Go to Feedburner, click on your feed (which, in my case would be IceyBooks), and click on the little grayed out RSS icon underneath your feed name:

That link should take you to a page much like this one, where users can subscribe to your RSS feeds using their preferred readers, XML, and even email.

Pretty easy, eh?

So now that you have your feeds up and ready to be subscribed to, I'm guessing you need a way to flaunt them, no? For that, I've made some buttons ripe for the taking. Just take the code, replace it with your feed link and flaunt away!

Click on the image to get your icons!

Waiting on Wednesday (64) -- The Chaos by Nalo Hopkinson

"Waiting On" Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that everyone's excited about (created by Jill at Breaking The Spine.)

Sixteen-year-old Scotch struggles to fit in—at home she’s the perfect daughter, at school she’s provocatively sassy, and thanks to her mixed heritage, she doesn’t feel she belongs with the Caribbeans, whites, or blacks. And even more troubling, lately her skin is becoming covered in a sticky black substance that can’t be removed. While trying to cope with this creepiness, she goes out with her brother—and he disappears. A mysterious bubble of light just swallows him up, and Scotch has no idea how to find him. Soon, the Chaos that has claimed her brother affects the city at large, until it seems everyone is turning into crazy creatures. Scotch needs to get to the bottom of this supernatural situation ASAP before the Chaos consumes everything she’s ever known—and she knows that the black shadowy entity that’s begun trailing her every move is probably not going to help.

A blend of fantasy and Caribbean folklore, at its heart this tale is about identity and self acceptance—because only by acknowledging her imperfections can Scotch hope to save her brother.

The Chaos will be released on April 17th, 2012 by Margaret K. McElderry.

Sounds pretty different... and Caribbean folklore? I'm in.

The Standalone Reading Challenge hosted by me (and I Like These Books).

Interested? Go here for more info :)

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Hitting Shelves Today (13)

Hitting Shelves Today is basically what it's name calls for - a post featuring books that hit shelves that day. It will be a sporadic post, so don't expect it every release day :) 

Surrender (Haunting Emma) by Lee Nichols
December 6th, 2011
Goodreads -- Amazon -- BN 

Deadly Little Voices (Touch #4) by Laurie Faria Stolarz
December 6th, 2011

Goodreads -- Amazon -- BN 

Ruthless (PLL #10) by Sara Shephard

December 6th, 2011

Goodreads -- Amazon -- BN 

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare
December 6th, 2011

Goodreads -- Amazon -- BN 

So, what are you excited for?

What did I miss?

2011 YA Story Scavenger Hunt

Welcome to the first ever YA Story Scavenger Hunt hosted by The Most Important Letter!

I'm today's hunt stop for the 2011 YA Story Scavenger Hunt!

Follow the hunt every day during the month of December! Answer the daily trivia questions from MG and YA books published during 2011 to be entered into the YA book giveaway.

Today's question is from Saving June by Hannah Harrington.

Question #10: How many days before her high school graduation does June die?

Remember to fill out your answer in the form at Most Important Letter here!

In My Mailbox (59) -- False Princes and Fever

In My Mailbox is a meme created by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie! It features a list of what books you have received over the previous week, either for review, from the library, or from the bookstore.

For Review:
Fever by Lauren DeStefano (FINALLY!)
Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers (Very excited for this one)
Wonder Show by Hannah Barnaby
Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

From Heidi the YA Bibliophile:
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Dreamsleeves by Coleen Murtagh Paratore
If Only by Carole Geithner
The Whisper by Emma Clayton

So... what was in your mailbox this week?

HARBINGER Art Reveal

Harbinger, by Sara Wilson Etienne, sounds awesome. The cover is mysterious, the synopsis sounds incredible. 

I'm thrilled to be able to reveal one of the pieces of art depicting a scene from Sara's debut (which also happens to be a standalone)!

Without further ado, here's the synopsis:

Girl, Interrupted meets Beautiful Creatures in this fast-paced thriller

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.

And here's the art reveal, created by Brian Ormiston:

Click on the image to see a larger version

What do you think? The artwork certainly helps Sara's debut stand out, don't you think? I, for one, can't wait to get started on HARBINGER - its bound to be incredible.

Walk the Path! Explore the whole gallery of HARBINGER-inspired artwork.
HARBINGER by Sara Wilson Etienne debuts February 2, 2012.
Add HARBINGER to Goodreads
Follow Sara: @wilsonetienne
Visit Sara: www.sarawilsonetienne.com

REVIEW: A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford

A Touch Mortal
Leah Clifford
432 pages
Publisher: Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins)
Release Date: February 22nd, 2011
Source: Hardcover from Publisher
Rating: LIKED

Eden didn’t expect Az.

Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.

Yeah.

So long happily-ever-after.

Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.

She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else’s game. Her heart is her own.

And that’s only the beginning of the end.

   Eden's mind is full of dark thoughts. Her life has nothing to boast of. And suicide is something she contemplates freely. When Az and Gabe come strolling down the beach on the day when Eden's mind is the darkest, everything changes. Az practically saves her - she doesn't yearn for death anymore. But to Az, Eden is better dead than alive.

   So begins Leah Clifford's young-adult debut that is sure to leave your mind whirring. Going in, I didn't know what to expect - other than a large dosing of paranormal. My feelings were pretty scattered as I read through, and though I enjoyed the novel overall, there are a few things that might turn some people off.

  A Touch Mortal has some aspects that lean toward the darker side of YA. Suicide isn't something everyone likes to read about - and it doesn't exactly make you feel 'happy' to read about either. And despite the fact that I was a little wary when the very first pages revolved around suicide, I didn't have a hard time reading it. The only way for the novel to move forward was by suicide, so I'll give you this: it happens in the beginning and that's all.

  Cuss words. While I'm comfortable reading almost anything YA has out there, I have a... certain pet-peeve towards cussing. When used in intense circumstances, scattered maybe two-three in a book, I don't mind, its understandable why the protagonist (or any character for that matter) uses the word. In A Touch Mortal, we find F-bombs dropped in nearly every page. It gets overwhelming, it gets annoying, and it gets disgusting. I felt like calling it a DNF on more than one occasion.

  Despite it all, I read through. A Touch Mortal, the first in Leah Clifford's trilogy, was very different, compared to what's out there. The story is unlike any other I've ever read. Suicide, angels, immortality, betrayal - A Touch Mortal finds a way to combine the three and more. And at the same time, it will leave you wanting more.

Add A Touch Mortal to Goodreads 

Find Leah Clifford on Twitter - Goodreads - Website