In My Mailbox (August 29)

In my mailbox was created by Kristi of The Story Siren, who was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Here are the books I got this week...

For Review:

Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Tales of Paranormal Romance Edited by Trisha Telep

If you can possibly thirst for more mysterious metaphysical accounts of love, Trisha Telep has organized some of the greatest and most thrilling tales of paranormal paramours since The Eternal Kiss. She presents the acclaimed literary talent of thirteen unique authors, creating a collection of stories that will undoubtedly capture the imagination of every soul who dares to read them. Werewolves, ghosts, zombies, vampires, and fallen angels drive the plot of these riveting romances.Kiss Me Deadly includes the exceptional writings of several authors, including: - Sarah Rees Brennan (faeries) - Becca Fitzpatrick (angels) - Caitlin Kittredge (witches) - Karen Mahoney (vampires: sequel to story from The Eternal Kiss) - Daniel Marks (ghost kids) - Justine Musk (sorcerers) - Diana Peterfreund (unicorns) - Michelle Rowen (demons) - Carrie Ryan (zombies) - Maggie Stiefvater (werewolves) - Rachel Vincent (banshees) - Daniel Waters (zombies) - Michelle Zink (gothic ghosts).
From Goodreads

*Thanks to Nicole from Running Press for this one

The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Lucy Sexton is stunned when a disheveled woman appears at the door one day... a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Lucy's own beautiful mother. It turns out the two women are identical twins, separated at birth, and raised in dramatically different circumstances. Lucy's mother quickly resolves to give her less fortunate sister the kind of life she has never known. And the transformation in Aunt Helen is indeed remarkable. But when Helen begins to imitate her sister in every way, even Lucy isn't sure at times which twin is which. Can Helen really be trusted, or does her sweet face mask a chilling agenda?
Filled with shocking twists and turns, The Twin's Daughter is an engrossing gothic novel of betrayal, jealousy, and treacherous secrets that will keep you guessing to the very end. (From Goodreads)

Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa M. Klein

The greatest unsolved mystery of American history--what happened to all the colonists who landed on Roanoke Island in 1587? This novel traces the fortunes and misfortunes of one Cate Archer, banished to Virginia by a jealous Queen Elizabeth because of her dalliance with Sir Walter Ralegh. What will be her fate in this dangerous New World? (From Goodreads)


*Thanks to Kate from Bloomsbury for both of these! Look for their reviews and author interviews/guest posts in late September and Early October.



Bought

Mockingjay (Hunger Games 3) by Suzanne Collins

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins’s groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year. (From Goodreads)

Woo, this one was dark and intense. Enjoyed it immensely, though.

Book Review: The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Mackie Doyle seems like everyone else in the perfect little town of Gentry, but he is living with a fatal secret - he is a Replacement, left in the cr ...more Mackie Doyle seems like everyone else in the perfect little town of Gentry, but he is living with a fatal secret - he is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now the creatures under the hill want him back, and Mackie must decide where he really belongs and what he really wants.

A month ago, Mackie might have told them to buzz off. But now, with a budding relationship with tough, wounded, beautiful Tate, Mackie has too much to lose. Will love finally make him worthy of the human world? (From Goodreads)

Part of Traveling ARC Tours

I feel that I should start the review by mentioning the book's cover. It's what first grabbed my attention, and made me stop to read the synopsis. It's creepy, in a good way, and it actually connects to the story. The plot of The Replacement was an interesting take on the changeling folklore. If you haven't heard of a changeling, I suggest heading to Google and doing a quick bit of research. I also thought it contained a great description of a small town hiding a big secret. None of the citizens acknowledged what was happening to the children in Gentry, because it seemed easier for them to pretend that nothing was wrong. Without giving too much away, I'll say that I was surprised by a few characters who knew more about the secret underworld than they let on.

At the start of The Replacement, we meet Mackie. Has has an unfortunate iron allergy, and is unable to be around blood. It's fairly obvious to those around him that he isn't like other teens. Still, Mackie finds support from a small group of friends, and his sister Emma. Looking back, I realized that my favorite character, and the one that I connected with, was Emma. She knew that Mackie was a changeling, and that her biological brother was dead. Despite that, she treats Mackie as an older sister would. She loves him, and goes out of her way to protect him. As an older sister, I definitely understood her motives and decisions.

The only thing I could have asked for would have been more description of the underworld of Gentry. I felt that more information about the world an entire town feared would have added a lot more to the story. While the reader gets a description of the underworld characters, I wanted to see Mackie's reaction to this new world.

Overall, it was an interesting, and creepy read. I couldn't set it down, and I can't wait for more from Yovanoff!

The Replacement
By Brenna Yovanoff
Published by Razorbill
352 Pages
Release Date: 9/21/2010
Rating: B

Waiting on Wednesday (August 25)

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This weekly meme shares the upcoming books that I'm most excited about.

The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green

description

In a world where nothing is certain, a little magic couldn't hurt...right?

When Erin Channing's favorite aunt dies, Erin is bequeathed a pink crystal

...more

In a world where nothing is certain, a little magic couldn't hurt...right?

When Erin Channing's favorite aunt dies, Erin is bequeathed a pink crystal ball and a set of weird instructions. Granted, Aunt Kiki (aka Aunt Kooky) always lived "outside the box." But now Erin and her two best friends are convinced that the pink crystal ball holds the key to their future-or at least the key to getting dates...

Consider Your Fate to Be Sealed . . .

(From Goodreads)

Published by Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: September 14, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (August 24)

What is Teaser Tuesday?
It's a meme hosted by Should Be Reading and here are the rules:Grab your current read...
Open to a random page
Share two teaser sentences from somewhere on the page
Don't include spoilers

"The whole thing started with a dog tag. Well, a monkey with a dog tag."

-Virals, Page 6, by Kathy Reichs

In My Mailbox (August 22)

In my mailbox was created by Kristi of The Story Siren, who was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Here are the books I got this week...

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Sixteen-year-old Lia Milthorpe and her twin sister Alice have just become orphans, and, as Lia discovers, they have also become enemies. The twins are ...more Sixteen-year-old Lia Milthorpe and her twin sister Alice have just become orphans, and, as Lia discovers, they have also become enemies. The twins are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other. To escape from a dark fate and to remain in the arms of her beloved boyfriend James, Lia must end the prophecy before her sister does. Only then will she understand the mysterious circumstances of her parents' deaths, the true meaning of the strange mark branded on her wrist, and the lengths to which her sister will go to defeat her. Debut novelist Michelle Zink takes readers on an unforgettable journey where one sister's fateful decision could have an impact of Biblical proportions. Prophecy of the Sisters is the first of three books.

Book Blast from the Past

This feature was inspired by a post by Eleni at La Femme Readers. My goal for this new feature is to go back to the books that I loved as a pre-teen/teen, and write about why I still enjoy them.

Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

Although the final book in this series was released this year, the Georgia Nicholson series is definitely one of my favorites. First published in the US in 1999, this is perhaps the funniest book/series that I've ever read. Over the course of 10 books, I laughed until my sides hurt. Plus, this series also taught me an important life lesson about reading in public. If you start laughing in public, everyone will stare at you like you're insane.The books also gave me my first taste of British slang (there are definitions at the back of the book, so that readers can look up slang they don't understand). Some of it, and other saying from Georgia have stayed with me.

One of the things that makes this series great, aside from the humor, is the cast of characters. They're all fun, and completely human. They all have their flaws, and Georgia is quick to point them out. She also has a group of friends that is equally as crazy as she is. I can only imagine how idiotic I looked when I tried to seem cool at 15. Actually, I'd rather not imagine it. I should also mention the cats, Angus, and later his son Gordy. As someone who has owned some seriously evil (but lovable) cats, I loved reading about Georgia's struggle with hers.

A Couple Quotes: "And the kittykats would have to erect scaffolding and a pulley to get him down. Mind you, I wouldn't put that past them. Sometimes when they are behind the sofa supposedly purring, I think they are drilling." -Startled by his Furry Shorts

"Everyone is so obsessed with themselves nowadays that they have no time for me." - Dancing in my Nuddy Pants

Mini-Reviews

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

I read this quite some time ago, but thought it deserved a mention. I thought that the story was very compelling. I wasn't sure what to expect, because I had heard some mixed reviews, but I was did enjoy it. Tamsin was prophesied to be a great witch, yet she lacks any Talent at the start of the book. I twas interesting to see how she tried to compensate for that lack of magical ability. Still, when I finished the book, I thought something was missing. Hopefully I won't feel the same way about the sequel.

Published by Clarion Books

A Shepherd's Watch by David Kennard

Kennard is a great storyteller. I first discovered his farm via the short BBC series called Mist. It's a series meant for children, but I have a soft spot for it. His first book, on the other hand, talks about life on a sheep farm in England. It covers a year in the life of a farmer, and how he relies on his sheepdogs. Kennard paints a beautiful picture of his farm, and the animals on it. He also discusses how sheep farming is no longer enough to provide for a family. In one section, he even states that he doesn't encourage his children to take over the farm once he's ready to retire. I think it says a lot that a man who has dedicated his life to this farm doesn't want his children to take over because he's worried that they won't be able to support themselves.

Published by Headline

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

With all the hype surrounding this, it had high standards to live up to. While it didn't quite meet those expectations, it did hold my attention over the 465 pages. I will warn squeamish readers, it's violent, and rape does play a fairly large role in the book. That may turn off some people, but if you can get past that, it's an engaging mystery. The main characters were well developed, and the plot was very detailed. Overall, and interesting read. The one flaw, I'm not sure how I feel about Larsson's female characters.

Published by Knopf

Liar by Justin Larbalestier

Woo, this one was a big mindgame. by the end of the book I wasn't sure if I could figure out what was a lie, and what was actually true. I did like Micah, and found the lies she backtracked on to be really interesting. It was definitely an engaging read, even if the main character wasn't completely honest. I'm also glad that the publisher changed the cover to more accurately reflect Micah. I'm definitely interested in reading more by Larbalestier.

Published by Bloomsbury USA

Book Review: Zombies vs Unicorns Edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

It's a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths--for good and evil--of unicorns and half show the good (and really, really bad-ass) side of zombies. Contributors include many bestselling teen authors, including Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, and Margo Lanagan. This anthology will have everyone asking: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn? (From Goodreads)

Part of Around the World Tours

I had quite a bit of fun reading Zombies vs. Unicorns. I snickered, I l laughed, and I regretted reading a few of the creepier stories late at night (I scare easily). In the end, I decided which team to pledge my allegiance to, but I'll discuss that later.

Zombies VS Unicorns is an anthology of short stories featuring, you guessed it, unicorns and zombies. Sadly, however, they only interact in one story. Team Zombie includes stories by Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Maureen Johnson, Carrie Ryan, and Scott Westerfeld. Team Unicorn includes Meg Cabot, Kathleen Duey, Margo Lanagan, Garth Nix, Naomi Novik, and Diana Peterfreund. Honestly, the authors alone made me eager to read this book. There are quite a few of my favorite authors, like Meg Cabot. The anthology includes stories that are comedic, and dramatic. I'll admit that some stories are stronger than others, but I still couldn't set it down. My personal favorites were written by Meg Cabot (two words: Princess Prettypants), Carrie Ryan, Diana Peterfreund, and Garth Nix.

I really enjoyed the banter between Black and Larbalestier as they introduced the book, and each story. They left me laughing, and attempting to get other people to read certain passages. I also loved that Ryan and Peterfreund wrote stories that actually tied into their other stories. Of course, I love both The Killer Unicorn series, and The Forest of Hands and Teeth . So, it was nice to read different perspectives from those two universes.

Overall, it was great read. I really enjoyed all the zombie/unicorn lore that was included, and that author list is a huge plus in and of itself. There's something in here for every zombie/unicorn fan. So, if you're looking for a dramatic story, you'll find one. If comedy is your thing, there's quite a few stories in here that you'll enjoy.

My favorite quote: ""Probably he's trying to make himself immortal, which never works, except wizards never listen when you tell them that, and we would really prefer if he got stopped before he cuts off the babies' horns trying."

"Let me guess," Alison said. "Is his name Voldemort?"

"No, what freakish kind of name is Voldemort?"

-pg 53 (ARC edition, page number is subject to change)

Zombies Vs. Unicorns
Edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier
Published by Simon & Schuster
432 Pages
Release Date: September 21, 2010
Rating: A

Why I'm Team Unicorn:
1. Unicorns are majestic creatures, not all gooey and drippy
2. If you get gored by a unicorn, you die. Zombies either eat your brains, or turn you into a zombie. Neither of those options is pleasant.
3. Unicorns have magical healing powers. So, if you accidentally get gored, or hurt in battle, the unicorn could heal you.

Waiting on Wednesday (August 18)

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This weekly meme shares the upcoming books that I'm most excited about.

Entwined by Heather Dixon
Azalea and her younger sisters dance in the mysterious silver forest every night, escaping from the sadness of the palace and their father’s grief. What they don’t understand—although as time passes they begin to get an inkling of the danger they are in—is that the mysterious and dashing Keeper is tightening his snare with deadly purpose. Luckily, Azalea is brave and steadfast. Luckily, a handsome young army captain also has his eye on Azalea. . . . Lush, romantic, and compelling, this debut novel by Heather Dixon will thrill fans of Shannon Hale, Robin McKinley, and Edith Pattou. (From Goodreads)

Published by Greenwillow Books
Release Date: March 29, 2011

Teaser Tuesday (August 17)

What is Teaser Tuesday?
It's a meme hosted by Should Be Reading and here are the rules:Grab your current read...
Open to a random page
Share two teaser sentences from somewhere on the page
Don't include spoilers

"And when I finally look down, I scream and leap back, crashing into the gate and hitting my funny bone. Pain ripples up my arm.

The pony-the pink pony-its dark eyes widening, sort of jumps into the air and then plants all four feet, as if I've startled it."

You Wish, Page 36, by Mandy Hubbard

In My Mailbox (August 15)

In my mailbox was created by Kristi of The Story Siren, who was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Here are the books I got this week...

For Review:
Zombies Vs. Unicorns Edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

It's a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths--for good and evil--of unicorns and half show the good (and really, really bad-ass) side of zombies. Contributors include many bestselling teen authors, including Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, and Margo Lanagan. This anthology will have everyone asking: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn? (From Goodreads)

Part of Around the World Tours




Bought:

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

What if all your wishes really came true?

Kayla McHenry’s sweet sixteen sucks! Her dad left,
her grades dropped, and her BFF is dati ...more What if all your wishes really came true?

Kayla McHenry’s sweet sixteen sucks! Her dad left, her grades dropped, and her BFF is dating the boy Kayla’s secretly loved for years. Blowing out her candles, Kayla thinks: I wish my birthday wishes actually came true. Because they never freakin’ do.

Kayla wakes the next day to a life-sized, bright pink My Little Pony outside her window. Then a year’s supply of gumballs arrives. A boy named Ken with a disturbing resemblance to the doll of the same name stalks her. As the ghosts of Kayla’s wishes-past appear, they take her on a wild ride . . . but they
MUST STOP. Because when she was fifteen? She wished Ben Mackenzie would kiss her. And Ben is her best friend’s boyfriend. (From Goodreads)

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

Mikael Blomkvist, crusading journalist and publisher of the magazine Millennium, has decided to run a story that will expose an extensive sex traffick ...more Mikael Blomkvist, crusading journalist and publisher of the magazine Millennium, has decided to run a story that will expose an extensive sex trafficking operation between Eastern Europe and Sweden, implicating well-known and highly placed members of Swedish society, business, and government.

But he has no idea just how explosive the story will be until, on the eve of publication, the two investigating reporters are murdered. And even more shocking for Blomkvist: the fingerprints found on the murder weapon belong to Lisbeth Salander—the troubled, wise-beyond-her-years genius hacker who came to his aid in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and who now becomes the focus and fierce heart of The Girl Who Played with Fire.

As Blomkvist, alone in his belief in Salander’s innocence, plunges into an investigation of the slayings, Salander herself is drawn into a murderous hunt in which she is the prey, and which compels her to revisit her dark past in an effort to settle with it once and for all. (From Goodreads)

What did you get this week?

Book Review: Matched by Ally Condie

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die. Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s barely any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one . . . until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow—between perfection and passion. Matched is a story for right now and storytelling with the resonance of a classic. (From Goodreads)

I was lucky enough to get a chance to read Matched in late July, after my local bookstore owners raved about it. Basically, I was ecstatic when they book was handed to me. By now, many people have heard that Condie signed a seven-figure deal for three books from Dutton (a member of Penguin Group). I've seen the book on numerous wish-lists, Waiting on Wednesday posts, and Goodreads. Since there is a lot of hype surrounding this book, I had pretty high expectations when starting it. I'm happy to say that the book did a pretty good job of living up to those expectations.

Condie does a great job in creating her dystopian society. In Matched, unlike some other dystopian books, I felt that there was an abundance of detail. The Society, as it's called, seems perfect at the start of the story. It provides education, places citizens in jobs suited for them, and medical problems are no longer an issue. It's soon obvious, however, that the Society is more sinister than it seems. Every adults life ends on their eightieth birthday. The Society justifies this killing of healthy adults by saying that eighty is long enough for a fulfilling life. Each citizen is also required to carry around a tablet holder. They contain three emergency pills, a red, a green, and a blue. I won't spoil the effects of the pills, but I will say that I thought this was a really nice touch to the story.

Condie also creates great dilemmas for her her characters. Cassia's struggle begins on her grandfather's eightieth birthday. She is dealing with the idea that the officials can be wrong, as well as with her feelings for two possible love interests. Meanwhile, her parents are trying to figure out whether they should make morally right choices, or follow the Society's rules. I thought that all of these issues helped me to connect with the characters. They all knew that the Society was flawed, and had to decide whether to break free from their rule.

The only thing that I thought the story lacked was information about the Society's war. This particular issue isn't discussed until laster in the book, but there's no detail about who the enemy is, or why they are fighting. While I think that the reader could come to their own conclusions about the war, I'm hoping that Condie addresses this in the second book in the series.

Matched was a through-provoking dystopian novel. The characters were interesting, and the world of the Society was vast and detailed. A good start to the series, and I can't wait for more.

Matched
By Ally Condie
Published by Dutton
Release Date: November 30, 2010
384 Pages
Rating: B

Waiting on Wednesday (August 11)

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This weekly meme shares the upcoming books that I'm most excited about.

Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach

A haunted castle, a handsome young man dead for four hundred years, one heck of a scary portrait of a witch, and a treasure hunt -- not to mention a p...more A haunted castle, a handsome young man dead for four hundred years, one heck of a scary portrait of a witch, and a treasure hunt -- not to mention a princess for a roommate! -- all await 15 year old American girl Caitlyn Monahan when she earns a scholarship to a French boarding school.

There are secrets behind the stone walls of Chateau de la Fortune, buried for centuries along with the mystery of who killed Raphael, the charming ghost who visits Caitlyn at night. But as Caitlyn unearths the history of the castle, nothing scares her as badly as the secret she learns about herself, and the reason she was chosen to come to the Fortune School.

And nothing breaks her heart as badly as falling in love with a dead guy. (From Goodreads)

Published by Speak
Release Date: March 31, 2011

Teaser Tuesday (August 10)

What is Teaser Tuesday?
It's a meme hosted by Should Be Reading and here are the rules:Grab your current read...
Open to a random page
Share two teaser sentences from somewhere on the page
Don't include spoilers

"And the parties in question promptly burst into flames. 'Aaaaah! It burns! It burns!' Mustardseed hollered as he batted at his clothes."

-Perchance to Dream, Page 21, by Lisa Mantchev

In My Mailbox (August 8)

In my mailbox was created by Kristi of The Story Siren, who was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Here are the books I got this week...

Bought:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an une...more Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The catch--and there's always a catch--is that Blomkvist must first spend a year researching a mysterious disappearance that has remained unsolved for nearly four decades. With few other options, he accepts and enlists the help of investigator Lisbeth Salander, a misunderstood genius with a cache of authority issues. Little is as it seems in Larsson's novel, but there is at least one constant: you really don't want to mess with the girl with the dragon tattoo. (From Goodreads)

Blog Tour Guest Post by Y.S. Lee

Today I'm lucky enough to host author Y.S. Lee as part of the Traveling to Teens tour!

Hello, and thanks for tuning in to the Body at the Tower blog tour. Today’s mini-theme is reluctant revolutionaries and today’s Notorious Victorian is Charles Darwin. I’ll start by saying that I know where I stand on the subject of evolution, but am not interested in persuading or converting others to my view. That’s not the point of this essay. Instead, I want to talk about how people sometimes find themselves triggering huge cultural flashpoints without really wanting to do so. Such is the case with Charles Darwin – naturalist, geologist, and one of the most simultaneously admired and hated Victorians.

Darwin was a painstaking character – an important trait in a scientist, and particularly a geologist – and slow to draw conclusions. He seems to have been of a nervous temperament, too: all his life, he was prone to heart palpitations, headaches and stomach ailments when he worked too hard. His research towards a theory of common origin took nearly thirty years. When Darwin finally published On the Origin of Species in 1859, it was because he was pushed: the previous year, a rising young scientist named Alfred Russel Wallace sent him a paper that outlined a theory of natural selection remarkably like Darwin’s own. A couple of weeks later, both Darwin’s and Wallace’s papers were jointly presented to the Linnean Society. It’s interesting to realize that there was very little response to these papers – no instantaneous outcry, no immediate earthquake.

It was only a year later, on the full publication of Darwin’s expanded book, that the uproar began. Although interested in the intellectual response, Darwin was too ill to comment himself. He did not participate in the famous Oxford evolution debate of 1860 and remained distant (in public, at least) from all discussion of his incendiary theory.

Darwin’s research changed much more than scientific dialogue. It shook Victorian beliefs to the ground, forcing people to question everything: faith, reason, humanity, and the meaning of existence. The generations following Darwin found themselves stripped of certainty, of confidence in old beliefs.

What Darwin “wanted” or “intended” to achieve is totally irrelevant. We do know that he had a difficult – even tortured – relationship to the theory he proposed, and its impact on religious belief. He was a Christian. The fact that he published Origin reveals him as a reluctant sort of revolutionary.

You can find Y.S Lee on her website here, and on twitter

You can check out my review of her newest book, The Body at the Tower (The Agency #2) here

Don't forget to follow the tour and visit Ari at Reading in Color tomorrow!

Review: The Body At The Tower by Y.S. Lee

This is another colourful, action-packed Victorian detective novel about the exploits of agent Mary Quinn. At a young age, Mary Quinn is rescued from the gallows and taken to Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls. The school turns out to be a front for a private detective agency. At age 17, Mary takes on her first case (A Spy in the House). In this, the second book of the series, Mary Quinn sets out to uncover the truth behind a suspicious death at St. Stephen's Tower, better known as the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament. The accident occurred after hours in a highly public part of town and despite the presence of night watchmen. Mary, disguised as Mark Quinn, becomes a builder's assistant to find out the truth about the body at the tower.

*Copy provided for the Traveling to Teens Tour

Mary Quinn is back and better than ever! I read A Spy in the House (The Agency #1) in early June, and I loved it. So, I jumped at the chance to be part of the tour for the second book in the series. I wasn't disappointed.

In my review of A Spy in the House, I mentioned how much I loved Mary's character. When I finished it, however, the only thing I wanted to see in the future was more information about Mary's past. In The Body at the Tower, I was glad to see that Lee gave us more glimpses of Mary's past. She's a strong female character, but her weakness lies in her struggle with her heritage. It's because of this struggle that she faces quite a challenge in The Body at the Tower. Not only is she trying to solve a murder, she's forced to confront her past by returning to a life of hunger, and uncomfortable living (although, it's a step up from when she was on the street). Mary has also retained her kind nature in this book. She attempts to help Jenkins, a boy working at the building site, who is very much like she was as a child. From a psychological perspective, I found this plot point particularly fascinating.

What's great about this series are, in part, the mysteries. One of the things that Lee does extremely well is to create a mystery that can hold the reader's attention. While I love mysteries, I've found that in many books of the genre, the plot tends to slow down toward the middle. I personally want a mystery that I won't want to put down. In The Body at the Tower, any scenes that lacked action were filled with new information about the characters.

There is also a budding romance in this tale of intrigue. Mary and James first meet in A Spy in the House, and are reunited in the sequel. I find them to be a great pairing, and think that their relationship adds a new element to the story. James is a bit headstrong, and in her own way, so is Mary. Their interactions display this stubbornness, and their scenes together were a lot of fun to read. I'm looking forward to watching their relationship develop further in future books.

It's another strong book from Lee, and I am happy to say that it surpassed my high expectations. Now I just need the patience to wait for the third book in the series, The Traitor and the Tunnel.

The Body at the Tower (The Agency #2)
By Y.S. Lee
Published by Candlewick Press
352 Pages
Rating: A

Waiting on Wednesday (August 4)

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This weekly meme shares the upcoming books that I'm most excited about.

The Gathering (Darkness Rising 1) by Kelley Armstrong

Maya lives in a small medical-research town on Vancouver Island. How small? You can’t find it on the map. It has less than two-hundred people, and h...more Maya lives in a small medical-research town on Vancouver Island. How small? You can’t find it on the map. It has less than two-hundred people, and her school has only sixty-eight students—for every grade from kindergarten to twelve.

Now, strange things are happening in this claustrophobic town, and Maya's determined to get to the bottom of them. First, the captain of the swim team drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. A year later, mountain lions start appearing around Maya's home, and they won’t go away. Her best friend, Daniel, starts getting negative vibes from certain people and things. It doesn't help that the new bad boy in town, Rafe, has a dangerous secret—and he's interested in one special part of Maya's anatomy: Her paw-print birthmark. (From Goodreads)

Published by HarperCollins
Release Date: April 12, 2011

Teaser Tuesday (August 3)

What is Teaser Tuesday?
It's a meme hosted by Should Be Reading and here are the rules:Grab your current read...
Open to a random page
Share two teaser sentences from somewhere on the page
Don't include spoilers

"Mid-autumn, and the telltale sounds of the season were echoing around Borough Farm. The gathering gloom of the past few evenings had been punctuated by the bloodcurdling screech of a barn owl, unseen somewhere in a stand if ash trees where the lower fields met the woods."
-A Shepard's Watch, Page 1, by David Kennard

In My Mailbox (August 1)

Happy August! In my mailbox was created by Kristi of The Story Siren, who was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Here are the books I got this week...

Borrowed:
The Dogs of Windcutter Down by David Kennard

These age-old words of wisdom have always guided Devon sheep farmer David Kennard. But as he battles to save his farm from extinction, they take on a greater weight than ever.
The storm clouds are already gathering when Borough Farm suffers a series of disastrous setbacks that threaten the Kennard family’s traditional way of life. Though the farm has survived foot and mouth disease, an invasion of stray sheep, and the threat of disease, a malfunctioning tractor and a sickly sheepdog all add to the farm’s daily pressures. How much longer can they stay afloat financially? And will David be the last shepherd to tend his flock in this rugged corner of England? Is there a way to achieve the seemingly impossible---making a living through farming sheep in the twenty-first century?

A shepherd since the age of seventeen, David offers an honest and affectionate, often comic picture of life on his sheep farm. But throughout this gentle meditation on his family’s rural way of life, David is in a fight for that life, and for the survival of his family and farm. He must rely---as always---on his faithful sheepdogs Greg, Swift, Gail, Fern, and Ernie. But even he is surprised when the dogs---and the new dog on the farm---exceed his expectations and prove to be Borough Farm’s secret weapon.



The Spell Book of Listen Taylor by Jaclyn Moriarty

The Zing family lives in a world of misguided spell books, singular poetry, and state-of-the-art surveillance equipment. They use these things to prot...more The Zing family lives in a world of misguided spell books, singular poetry, and state-of-the-art surveillance equipment. They use these things to protect the Zing Family Secret—one so huge it draws the family to the garden shed for meetings every Friday night.

Into their world comes socially isolated middle grader Listen Taylor, whose father is dating a Zing. Enter Cath Murphy, a young teacher at the elementary school that Cassie Zing attends, suffering from a broken heart. How will the worlds of these two young women connect? Only the reader can know!