Book Review: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she? (From Goodreads)

Demonglass was another great book by Hawkins. The plot was fresh, and new characters added some mystery to the story. James, Sophie's father, plays a rather large role in this book. New demons make an appearance, and The Eye causes some trouble as well. There's some hinting at a romantic triangle. I'm not a big fan of triangles, but the upside was that I got to see more of Cal. He's the second lead, and I have a feeling that Sophie won't end up with him. It may be because he's chivalrous, or that clearly cares about Sophie, but for some reason I'm rooting for him. The reader gets to learn more about demons, and what exactly their power entails. Sophie learns more about herself as she spends time with her father. I thought it was a nice way to tie in her abilities, and let the reader learn more about James.

Hawkins has definitely mastered the twist, and puts it to good use in Demonglass. There were quite a few, and they kept me reading late into the night. I can honestly say that while I may have suspected that a few characters were behind certain things, I was completely wrong (and I loved that). Of course, there's also a huge cliffhanger. Without spoiling the ending, after I read the last chapter my mind went in all sorts of directions.

The only thing that I would have liked more of was character development. We do see Sophie grow, and learn more about herself and her powers. Still, it felt like something was missing. I would have also liked to see more from some peripheral characters...but maybe that's just my inner Cal-fan. Also, argh, cliffhanger. It's both good and bad. I'm so impatient that I don't want to wait another year! Overall, a great sequel. I'm definitely looking forward to more.

Demonglass (Hex Hall 2)
By Rachel Hawkins
Published by Hyperion
Received from Around the World ARC Tours
368 Pages
Rating: B

Teaser Tuesday (January 25)

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.

"Weird. So weird it sent an unnatural chill tiptoeing down Kylie's spine, the same kind of chill Kylie had gotten at Nana's funeral."

-Born at Midnight, page 6, by C.C. Hunter
*Quote taken from the ARC edition, and it subject to change

In My Mailbox (January 23)

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi of The Story Siren, who was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. All of the synopses you see below were found on Goodreads. Here are the books I got this week...

For Review

The Liar Society by Lisa & Laura Roecker
Kate Lowry didn't think dead best friends could send e-mails. But when she gets an e-mail from Grace, she’s not so sure.

To: KateLowry@pemberlybrown.edu
Sent: Sun 9/14 11:59 PM
From: GraceLee@pemberlybrown.edu
Subject: (no subject)

Kate,
I'm here…
sort of.
Find Cameron.
He knows.
I shouldn't be writing.
Don't tell.
They'll hurt you.

Now Kate has no choice but to prove once and for all that Grace’s death was more than just a tragic accident. But secrets haunt the halls of her elite private school. Secrets people will do anything to protect. Even if it means getting rid of the girl trying to solve a murder...

*I've posted about this one a few times on this blog, because it's one of my most anticipated books of 2011. So, when it showed up in my mailbox I was beyond excited. A big thanks to Sourcebooks for this one.

Purchased

As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis Devoto
Over two decades, Julia Child maintained a characteristically energetic correspondence with her close friend, fellow expert cook, and unofficial literary agent Avis DeVoto (1904-1989). This collection of two hundred letters between the pair renders not only their robust personalities, but also the evolution of Child's cooking philosophy and her masterful Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Culinary historian Joan Reardon presides over this plentiful gathering. Exuberant revelations; editor's recommendation. DeVoto was a featured character in the Julie & Julia film.

Blog Hop Winner

I really wasn't prepared for how crazy the blog hop contests are! I got a ton of hits, over 350 people entered the contest, and I got some new followers. I also found some interesting new blogs, and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more. Now, for the winner:

AMANDA of Tales and Treats

I'll be sending you an email later today!

Book Review: The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal

Princess and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, Nalia's led a privileged life at court. But everything changes when it's revealed, just after her sixteenth birthday, that she is a false princess, a stand-in for the real Nalia, who has been hidden away for her protection. Cast out with little more than the clothes on her back, the girl now called Sinda must leave behind the city of Vivaskari, her best friend, Keirnan, and the only life she's ever known.

Sinda is sent to live with her only surviving relative, an aunt who is a dyer in a distant village. She is a cold, scornful woman with little patience for her newfound niece, and Sinda proves inept at even the simplest tasks. But when Sinda discovers that magic runs through her veins - long-suppressed, dangerous magic that she must learn to control - she realizes that she can never learn to be a simple village girl.

Returning to Vivaskari for answers, Sinda finds her purpose as a wizard scribe, rediscovers the boy who saw her all along, and uncovers a secret that could change the course of Thorvaldor's history, forever. (From Goodreads)

I've been dying to read The False Princess for quite some time. It was originally part of my 2010 Debut Author Challenge, but the release date was moved back. I'm pleased to say it was worth the wait!

O'Neal has crafted a story that is full of adventure, romances, and exciting twists. The characters are compelling, and the setting adds even more to the magic. The book begins with the princess of Thorvaldor, Nalia, discovering that she's actually Sinda, the daughter of a weaver. She was enchanted to look like Nalia to protect the real princess from a prophecy foretelling her murder. Sinda is promptly dispatched from the castle, and the only life she's ever known. I enjoyed watching her grow as a character. When she first arrives in Treb to live with aunt, she's still coming to terms with the idea that she isn't the princess. She is unable to make friends in Treb, and her aunt has a hard time connecting with her. As the book progresses, Sinda becomes more mature, and is determined to make the most of herself. By the end of the book, she's the kind of strong female that is reminiscent of character out of a Tamora Pierce novel (the highest compliment I can give).

The overall plot of the story was so engaging that I had a hard time setting the book down. Incorporating magic in Sinda's story, O'Neal has given the setting a "fairy tale" feel. Without it, we wouldn't have been able to see the wizards' college, and Philantha. The college only accepts nobles, or people who can afford the tuition. Sadly, Sinda has neither the heritage or the funds to attend. I won't spoil more, but I will say that while Philantha is a bit scattered, she doesn't turn her back on Sinda, and I grew to like her character. Finally, the mystery and intrigue of the court was exciting, and there was an oracle. What more could I have asked for?

I didn't give the book five stars because it became clear who the villain was pretty early on in the book, I just wasn't sure of their motive. Despite this knowledge, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and thought that it was an excellent debut. I can't wait for more from O'Neal!

The False Princess
By Eilis O'Neal
Published by Egmont USA
336 Pages
Rating: B+

Waiting on Wednesday (January 19)

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

Dark Mirror by M.J. Putney

Lady Victoria Mansfield, youngest daughter of the Earl and
Countess of Fairmount, is destined for a charmed life. Soon she
will be presented during the London season, where she can choose a mate worthy of her status.

Yet Tory has a shameful secret—a secret so powerful that, if
exposed, it could strip her of her position and disgrace her family forever. Tory’s blood is tainted…by magic. When a shocking accident forces Tory to demonstrate her despised skill, the secret she’s fought so hard to hide is revealed for all to see. She is immediately exiled to Lackland Abbey, a reform school for young men and women in her position. There she will learn to suppress her deplorable talents and maybe, if she’s one of the lucky ones, be able to return to society.

But Tory’s life is about to change forever. All that she’s ever
known or considered important will be challenged. What lies
ahead is only the beginning of a strange and wonderful journey
into a world where destiny and magic come together, where true love and friendship find her, and where courage and strength of character are the only things that determine a young girl’s worth.

Published by St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: March 1, 2011

The Liar Society Cover

The Liar Society by Lisa & Laura Roecker has a new cover, see it below:

I actually think this one is a big improvement on the other covers that I'd seen. Of course, those weren't the final covers... Still, they didn't seem to grasp the novel, but this one definitely says "elite private school", with a mix of fun and mystery. From what I understand, there was a cover being voted on in which the girl on the cover (Kate) didn't have pink hair. While the character doesn't have pink hair (from what I understand), it does grab the eye. The book will be released on March 1, 2011.

So what do you think of the new cover?

In My Mailbox (January 16)

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi of The Story Siren, who was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. All of the synopses you see below were found on Goodreads. Here are the books I got this week...

For Review:From Around the World ARC Tours

*If you haven't read Hex Hall, don't read the synopsis. It contains spoilers.

Demonglass (Hex Hall 2) by Rachel Hawkins

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

Published by Hyperion
Release Date: March 1, 2011

Purchased

Apollo's Angels by Jennifer Homans

For more than four hundred years, the art of ballet has stood at the center of Western civilization. Its traditions serve as a record of our past. A ballerina dancing The Sleeping Beauty today is a link in a long chain of dancers stretching back to sixteenth-century Italy and France: Her graceful movements recall a lost world of courts, kings, and aristocracy, but her steps and gestures are also marked by the dramatic changes in dance and culture that followed. Ballet has been shaped by the Renaissance and Classicism, the Enlightenment and Romanticism, Bolshevism, Modernism, and the Cold War. Apollo’s Angels is a groundbreaking work—the first cultural history of ballet ever written, lavishly illustrated and beautifully told.

Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop

I've decided to join the Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop hosted by Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf, and I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. It begins today (1/14) at midnight, and ends January 17 at midnight EST.

Rules: You do not have to be a follower to enter. So, you won't get any bonus points for being a follower, but if you still want to join it's always appreciated. This contest is international, as long as the Book Depository ships to your country.

The Prize: $15 to the Book Despository

Contest Closed

Book Review: Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don’t worship as attentively, teachers don’t fall for her wide-eyed “who me?” look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she’s always loved--Liam Ward--can barely even look at her anymore.

When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she’s wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she’s inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.

And Bridget’s about to learn that, sometimes, saying you’re sorry just isn’t enough. (From Paige Harbison's website)

The premise of Here Lies Bridget was really unique, and that was what originally drew me to the book. I was lucky enough to get a chance to read an ARC edition through Around the World ARC Tours, and I enjoyed it.

One of the things that Harbison does well is create interesting, relatable characters. I mean, I can't honestly say that I liked Bridget, but she was intriguing. Alright, I'll admit that I really disliked her. She was nasty to her friends, her stepmother, and jealous. I did, however, understand why she had created her mean girl persona. Her insecurities are pretty apparent, and they keep her in her own little world. It was those insecurities that kept me from loathing Bridget. I also thought that the supporting characters were well-written. It would have been easy to have these characters fall flat, especially when we're seeing them from Bridget's point of view. The reader understands that there's more to these characters, which is revealed after Bridget meets her tragic end. My favorite character was, without a doubt, Meredith. She obviously cared about Bridget, despite being treated like an evil stepmother.

The first half of the book allows the reader to get to know Bridget in all of her glory. We see her mistreat everyone in her life, and it can get frustrating for the reader. In the end, I hoped Bridget would see the err of her ways. I really wanted her to mend the relationships that she had ruined. Then again, we know what's going to happen to her. I think the thing that kept this book from getting a "B" rating was the second half of the book. I don't think it's ruining things for anyone when I say that after Bridget dies, she takes a good look at her life. This portion of the book, however, seemed to fly by. I wanted more depth, and another 50 pages in which Bridget could have explored her behavior more.

I enjoyed this one, despite wishing that it was a bit longer. Harbison did a great job of revealing the weaknesses and insecurities of a popular "mean girl", and get the reader to root for her.

Here Lies Bridget
By Paige Harbison
Published by Harlequin Teen
208 Pages
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Rating: C

Waiting on Wednesday (January 12)

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

Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright
The body of a young girl is discovered in a field of wheat. Her flesh mutilated by telltale claw marks. The Wolf has broken the peace.

When Valerie learns that her sister has been killed by the legendary creature, she finds herself at the center of a dark mystery, one that has plagued her village for generations. It is revealed that the werewolf lives among them, and everyone in the village immediately becomes a suspect. Could her secret love Peter be behind the attacks on her town? Is it her betrothed, Henry? Or someone even closer to her?

As the men in the village hunt for the beast, Valerie turns to her grandmother for help. She gives Valerie a handmade red riding cloak, and guides her through the web of lies and deception that has held her town together for so long. Will Valerie discover the werewolf's identity before the town is ripped apart?

This is a dangerous new vision of a classic fairy tale, the happy ending could be hard to find.

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: January 25th 2011

Teaser Tuesday (January 11)

Sorry I've been a bit MIA this week. I celebrated my birthday on thursday, and have been trying to catch up on my reading since then.

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.

"She looked up again and the young man was gone, like smoke. Had she been hallucinating?"

-The Girl Who Chased the Moon, Page 30, by Sarah Addison Allen

In My Mailbox (January 9)

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi of The Story Siren, who was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. All of the synopses you see below were found on Goodreads. Here are the books I got this week...

Purchased:

Balefire (Omnibus) by Cate Tiernan

All four of the books in the Balefire series contained in one book.









For Review:

Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don’t worship as attentively, teachers don’t fall for her wide-eyed “who me?” look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she’s always loved--Liam Ward--can barely even look at her anymore.

When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she’s wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she’s inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.

And Bridget’s about to learn that, sometimes, saying you’re sorry just isn’t enough. (From Paige Harbison's website)

Book Review:Solid by Shelley Workinger

Eighteen years ago, a rogue Army doctor secretly experimented with a chromosomal drug on unknowing pregnant women. When he was killed not long after the children were born, any knowledge and evidence seemed to die with him - except the living, breathing, human products of his work.

Almost two decades later, the newly self-proclaimed “open-book” military unearths the truth about the experiment, bringing Clio Kaid and the other affected teens to a state-of-the-art, isolated campus where they soon discover that C9x did indeed alter their chromosomes, its mutations presenting as super-human abilities. The military kids, who come from across the nation and all walks of life, come into their own as lighter-than-air ‘athletes’; ‘indies’ as solid as stone walls; teens who can make themselves invisible and others who can blind with their brilliance.

As Clio comes into her remarkable ability, embraces new friendships and embarks on first love, she also can’t shake the suspicion that the government has not been as forthcoming with their attentions as they claimed… (From Goodreads)

While this book seems to be marketed as strictly sci-fi, I found that this book focused more on the characters. That wasn't a bad thing, in my opinion. I actually enjoyed getting to know the characters, and watching the friendship grow between Clio, Bliss, Garrett, Miranda, and Jack. As the story progresses, tension builds, and details about the experiment are revealed. The reader is kept mostly in the dark about the experiment, learning new information only when Clio does. This added to the suspense of the story, and I was anxious to know more. I imagine that the abilities of the characters will be explored more deeply in the next book, which I'm looking forward to.

I really enjoyed Workinger's ability to make me suspicious of every supporting character. I wasn't sure who was going to betray whom, and that unpredictability kept me engrossed. I have a theory that the military is either going to betray them, or try to make them some sort of secret weapon. I'll just have to wait and see if my theory is confirmed.

There was one scene in particular that wasn't in the novel, and I really wish it had been written. The reader doesn't get to see Clio find out about the experiment, or learn that she might have special abilities. I can only imagine the reactions of Clio and her mother, and I wish that I had gotten to see it.

It was a good start to the series, and I'm looking forward to watching Clio explore her abilities further in the sequel, Settling.

Solid
By Shelley Workinger
222 Pages
Rating: C+

You can find more information, and an excerpt from book 2 here: http://www.solidnovel.com/

Waiting on Wednesday (January 5)

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

*Note: This isn't the final cover

The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker

Kate Lowry didn't think dead best friends could send e-mails. But when she gets an e-mail from Grace, she’s not so sure.

To: KateLowry@pemberlybrown.edu
Sent: Sun 9/14 11:59 PM
From: GraceLee@pemberlybrown.edu
Subject: (no subject)

Kate,
I'm here…
sort of.
Find Cameron.
He knows.
I shouldn't be writing.
Don't tell.
They'll hurt you.

Now Kate has no choice but to prove once and for all that Grace’s death was more than just a tragic accident. But secrets haunt the halls of her elite private school. Secrets people will do anything to protect. Even if it means getting rid of the girl trying to solve a murder...

Published by Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: March 1, 2011

Teaser Tuesday and Contest Winners

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.

"I had been paying more attention to my thoughts than to the road, and when I shook my focus back to my driving, I found myself coming too fast into a curve. My foot jerked from the accelerator to the brake in an instinct to survive."
-Here Lies Bridget, Page 8, by Paige Harbison

Winner of Entice by Carrie Jones:

Entry 13: Allie!
I've sent your info on to Bloomsbury, and they will be mailing you a copy.

Winners of my 400 Followers Contest:
Winner 1
Susanna P.

Winner 2
Emily

Winner 3
Chloe

I'll be emailing you three for your mailing information.

International Winner:
Dazzling Mage of A Reading Kabocha

In My Mailbox (January 2)

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi of The Story Siren, who was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. All of the synopses you see below were found on Goodreads. Here are the books I got this week...

Christmas Gifts:

The Ghost and the Goth
After a close encounter with the front end of a school bus, Alona Dare goes from Homecoming Queen to Queen of the Dead. Now she’s stuck here in spirit form with no sign of the big, bright light coming to take her away. To make matters worse, the only person who might be able to help her is Will Killian, a total loser/outcast type who hates the social elite. He alone can see and hear her, but he wants nothing to do with the former mean girl of Groundsboro High.

Can they get over their mutual distrust—and this weird attraction between them—to work together before Alona vanishes for good and Will is locked up for seeing things that don’t exist?

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.

After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.

But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life.

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

Love is all you need...or is it? Penny's about to find out in this wonderful debut.

Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating. So she vows - no more. It's a personal choice...and, of course, soon everyone wants to know about it. And a few other girls are inspired. A movement is born; The Lonely Hearts Club (named after the band from Sgt. Pepper). Penny is suddenly known for her nondating ways...which is too bad, because there's this certain boy she can't help but like...

Saving Juliet by Suzanne Selfors

Two Juliets, both alike in desperation...

Mimi Wallingford, of the famous Wallingford actors, wishes to be anywhere but onstage for the final performance of Romeo and Juliet. Acting isn't for her, even if her family's future relies on it. Being transproted to Shakespeare's Verona wasn't what she had in mind either, but when the magical ashes clear, she's suddenly not in Manhattan anymore-and her heartthrob costar, Troy Summer, is along for the ride.

After Mimi befriends the real Juliet Capulet, she just can't allow the play to reach the tragic end that she and Troy have acted out countless times before. But, if saving Juliet means changing the greatest love story of all time, will Mimi and Troy ever make it back to Broadway?

The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

When Will and Bet were four, tragic circumstances brought them to the same house, to be raised by a wealthy gentleman as brother and sister. Now sixteen, they’ve both enjoyed a privileged upbringing thus far. But not all is well in their household. Because she’s a girl, Bet’s world is contained within the walls of their grand home, her education limited to the rudiments of reading, writing, arithmetic, and sewing. Will’s world is much larger. He is allowed—forced, in his case—to go to school. Neither is happy.

So Bet comes up with a plan and persuades Will to give it a try: They’ll switch places. She’ll go to school as Will. Will can live as he chooses. But once Bet gets to school, she soon realizes living as a boy is going to be much more difficult than she imagined.

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Fairest of All by Serena Valentino
For anyone who’s seen Walt Disney’s Snow White, you’ll know that the Wicked Queen is one evil woman! After all, it’s not everyone who wants to cut out their teenage step-daughter’s heart and have it delivered back in a locked keepsake box. (And even if this sort of thing is a common urge, we don’t know many people who have acted upon it.)

Now, for the first time, we’ll examine the life of the Wicked Queen and find out just what it is that makes her so nasty. Here’s a hint: the creepy-looking man in the magic mirror is not just some random spooky visage—and he just might have something to do with the Queen’s wicked ways!

A Look Back at 2010

Happy 2011! I hope that everyone had a fabulous, safe New Year's Eve. I thought I'd do a review of 2010, since it was my first full year blogging. Here are some fun facts about my year:

I finished 80 books
I reread Harry Potter, and Pride & Prejudice
I reviewed 57 different novels
I completed the 2010 Debut Author Challenge
I gained 200+ followers via Google Friend Connect (thanks to everyone!)
I finished 10 textbooks
I graduated from college
I started graduate school

Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner created an End of 2010 Survey, and I've decided to answer some of her questions.

1. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2010?
Although it's a book that comes out in 2011, I have to say that I was really surprised by Will Work for Prom Dress by Aimee Ferris. I expected it to be a really fluffy YA romance, but it had a lot of substance. I was surprised by some of the issues that it dealt with (living in a single-parent household, dating, consequences for dangerous actions, etc).

Best series you discovered in 2010?
There were quite a few series that I started this year, but the one that stood out to me was The Agency series by Y.S Lee. A Spy in the House, and The Body at the Tower were both published this year by Candlewick. They were the perfect mix of historical fiction, mystery, and romance. The third book in the series won't be released in the US until 2012...I may have to order the UK version on Book Depository when it's released in August 2011.

Favorite paranormal book?
There was an abundance of paranormal YA books released this year. It's becoming such a popular genre that Barnes & Noble now has a separate place for them in the YA section. I really dislike that setup, and I would rather peruse the shelves and pick books at random. I digress, back to the topic at hand. I'm actually going to say that my favorite paranormal book this year was Deception by Lee Nichols. I was completely pulled into this novel, and I really connected with the protagonist, Emma.

Favorite anthology?
I added this category specifically so I could talk about Zombies vs. Unicorns. Edited by Holly Black, and Justine Larbalestier, this book addressed the most epic battle of all time, the battle between Zombies (boo), and Unicorns (obviously superior). A bunch of great authors contributed short stories...basically I loved it.

Favorite new authors you discovered in 2010?
Chealsea Campbell, Rachel Hawkins, Kay Cassidy, Phoebe Kitanidis, Y.S. Lee, Heather Webber

Most hilarious read of 2010?
The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell had me in stitches. The combination of a great plot, excellent writing, and a snarky main character made for one of my favorite reads this year. According to her blog, she's working on a historical fiction novel involving Julius Caesar.

Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2010?
There were a lot of books this year that had an impact on me, but I think that Kay Cassidy's The Cinderella Society. It sparked some conversation between my friends/family/senior seminar class about girls being socialized to be mean to each other. After all, the media does portray backstabbing between female characters as a way to get what you want. The Cinderella Society dealt with that issue, and promoted the idea of doing good for yourself and the community. Hurrah!

Some goals: Find time to read/review more! Stop procrastinating when it's time to write reviews. Comment, comment, comment!