REVIEW: Matched by Ally Condie

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.


Book: Matched by Ally Condie
Release Date: November 30, 2010
Format: Paperback
Genre: Young Adult
Series: Matched, #1
Obtained: ARC in exchange for an honest review
Rating: (4 Zombies)

Cassia is an interesting character, if a bit hard to relate to in the beginning,  and it was fun to get to know her. I think that all the hype about matched had me expecting something a bit . . . more than what I got, but it was still a pretty good book.

I definitely enjoyed learning about the society and all the unimaginable restrictions they put on their citizens. At first it seems like everything is perfect, but then you learn about Ky's job and other things that make you look twice at the "perfect" society.

Matched is definitely not a fast-paced action-y type book, but it has its moments. There's more of a slow, steady build-up to the awesome, heart-breaking climax, with little moments of suspense every once in a while.

While Matched may not have been the best of books, I would definitely recommend it to fans of the dystopian genre.

Christmas Giveaway Vote

So, since I'm going to be giving a few books away for Christmas, I figured I'd find out what you guys are interested in. The two books that get the most votes will be going onto the giveaway pile, more likely than not.

As long as they've already been released, or will have been released by Dec. 15, pretty much everything is fair game. If it's in print, that is.

So what would you guys like for Christmas? Leave your answer in the comments!

In My Mailbox (22)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren that I participate in regularly.  All you have to do is post whatever books you've received in the past week, bought or for review, and any cool swag you want to mention.

I bought these at Barnes & Noble's black Friday sale:

Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John
Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales
Grace by Elizabeth Scott
Flawless by Sara Shepard


What'd you get in your mailbox?

Four Reasons Why I'm Looking Forward to 2011

These are a few of my top must-read books for 2011, based on  previous books in the series (if they exist) and synopses.

1. Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey
Braden Michaels wears his sunglasses at night. And at the movies. And in the shower. Raised by his warlock uncle and taught to use magic, he suffers from a deadly curse: the witch eyes. He sees everything that normal eyes filter out: history and memory; love and pain; magic and darkness. The mind, however, was not meant to process so much, and the power is killing him slowly. The only thing saving his sanity are the sunglasses he always wears.

And then the visions reveal a dark threat on the horizon. Braden runs away to Belle Dam, the city where the threat originated, and is immediately swept up into the town’s mysterious feud. Two rival magical families have divided the town into a personal chessboard of scheming and machinations, and Braden is their latest pawn. As he tries to avoid their manipulations, and see the truth behind his return to Belle Dam, he has a choice to make. One side, or the other. Ignite the feud, or end it. Sacrifice himself, or someone else. Live, or die.

2. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina, her mother, and brother are pulled from their Lithuanian home by Soviet guards and sent to Siberia, where her father is sentenced to death in a prison camp while she fights for her life, vowing to honor her family and the thousands like hers by burying her story in a jar on Lithuanian soil. Based on the author’s family, includes a historical note.

3. Luminous by Dawn Metcalf
When sixteen-year-old Consuela discovers she can remove her skin, revealing a lustrous mother-of-pearl skeleton, she slips into a parallel world known as the Flow, a place inhabited by archetypal teens with extraordinary abilities. Crafting skins out of anything – air, water, feathers, fire – she is compelled to save ordinary people from dying before their time. Yet now someone is murdering them, one by one, and Consuela finds herself the focus of an intricate plot to end the Flow forever when all she really wants is to get back home, alive.

4. Hunt the Moon by Karen Chance
Hunt the Moon doesn't have a synopsis yet, but after reading the previous books in the Cassie Palmer series, I can't help but look forward to it. If you're thinking of checking the series out, though, be warned that the first book is less than stellar. The second book is pretty good, but books three and four are absolutely amazing. I can't wait to find out what happens to Cassie and Pritkin next! BTW, Team Pritkin all the way.

Blog Hops (7)

 "What is your favorite book cover?"

Right now, I'd say Luminous by Dawn Metcalf

Double Trouble

I've recently had the privilege of reading two great 2011 debuts early, and both featured one of paranormal YA's biggest upcoming creatures: angels. I, personally. love this new trend. Not that vampires and werewolves don't rock, but I also have a spot in my heart for my peeps with the big fluffy wings.

First up is Unearlthy by Cynthia Hand. The main character, Clara, is a teenage angel trying to figure out how to balance love, high school, and her duty to Heaven. Clara is torn between the boy she knows she should love and the one that her heart is telling her to love. I can't say too much without spoiling things, but this is one of the best YAs I've read, and it's a great example of a book that could've easily been predictable, but wasn't. Unearthly will be released January 4, 2011.

Second, Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton. Ellie is a normal girl with normal problems like the boy who likes her, but she just can't quite seem to like back, and the class that she really doesn't want to fail, and her father's changing personality. That is, until Will comes into her life and tells her that she is so much more. But the question is, what is Will? I loved the easy banter between Ellie and Will, and watching it develop into something more was so amazing. You can fall in love with Will, too, on February 15, 2011.

Make sure to snag a copy of both of these great angel-featuring books as soon as they come out!

Waiting on Wednesday (22)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, participating bloggers will make a post about a book whose publication they're eagerly awaiting.

This week, I'm featuring Memento Nora by Angie Smibert.

 Nora, the popular girl and happy consumer, witnesses a horrific bombing on a shopping trip with her mother. In Nora’s near-future world, terrorism is so commonplace that she can pop one little white pill to forget and go on like nothing ever happened. However, when Nora makes her first trip to a Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic, she learns what her mother, a frequent forgetter, has been frequently forgetting. Nora secretly spits out the pill and holds on to her memories. The memory of the bombing as well as her mother’s secret and her budding awareness of the world outside her little clique make it increasingly difficult for Nora to cope. She turns to two new friends, each with their own reasons to remember, and together they share their experiences with their classmates through an underground comic. They soon learn, though, they can’t get away with remembering.

This 2011 YA debut has a gorgeous cover and the story looks really intriguing. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy! What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

REVIEW: Heaven's Spite by Lilith Saintcrow

When a new hellbreed comes calling, playing nice isn't an option. Jill Kismet has no choice but to seek treacherous allies - Perry, the devil she knows, and Melisande Belisa, the cunning Sorrows temptress whose true loyalties are unknown.

Kismet knows Perry and Belisa are likely playing for the same thing--her soul. It's just too bad, because she expects to beat them at their own game. Except their game is vengeance.

Nobody plays vengeance like Kismet. But if the revenge she seeks damns her, her enemies might get her soul after all...


Book: Heaven's Spite by Lilith Saintcrow
Release Date: November 1, 2010
Format: Mass Market
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Jill Kismet, #5
Obtained: Purchased
Rating: (4 Zombies)



As per usual for Saintcrow, this was a fast-paced, action-packed, horror-filled fun fest. It was totally awesome. Her characters are amazingly real, even in the midst of a demon-ridden world that, while startlingly similar to our own, is still fantastical. I love how easy it is to slip into Jill's world and forget that anything else exists. I'm sorry if I'm a bit of a scary fangirl over Lilith Saintcrow, but her books are just freaking awesome. In fact, she may be my favorite adult author. Since I haven't read her YA series yet (I know, I suck.) I can't speak for that, but her Dante Valentine and Jill Kismet series are just made of win.

Jill has seriously been beaten the crap up throughout this series, that's for sure, and it doesn't stop with Heaven's Spite. She continues to be battered by various baddies and heal with hellbreed-fast speed. Simply put, Jill rocks. She never gives up, even when the odds are stacked against her (which they usually are). Jill Kismet is the perfect example of girl power. I love her.

Saul, Jill's were-cat husband, wasn't in Heaven's Spite much, so I won't really talk about him, but you all know he rocks if you've read any of these books.

Unlike Saul, Jill's apprentice Gilberto is in Heaven's Spite much more than in previous books, and I must say that he is growing on me. I will confess that I absolutely hated him when he made his first appearance (I think in the third book, maybe), and this is the first time I've noticed any improvements.  He isn't my favorite character, but he doesn't suck nearly as much as he used to.

Perry, my favorite hellbreed on earth, was, as usual, awesome. I love him. I don't know if it's a bad thing that my favorite character is the bad guy, but Perry just rules. I am Team Pericles all the way. Even though he is one bad dude, I can't help but like him. I reallllly hope that Jill doesn't kill him in the next book, which just happens to be the final installment in this series. *sadface* I will cry if she does. But he kind of deserves it, even if he is my favorite.

If you aren't squeamish or afraid of some swearing, then I would strongly recommend the Jill Kismet series or the Dante Valentine series. Read 'em and weep. Okay, maybe not weep, but totally squee with joy over Perry and Dante Valentine's Japhrimel.

Author Interview with Kersten Hamilton

Cade Crowley: What was your favorite part of writing Tyger Tyger?

Kersten Hamilton: Creation. I loved creating the characters and the worlds—Teagan’s world in Chicago, and the goblin world of Mag Mell. Even, Lucy, the smallest character, was such fun to write!

CC: Describe Tyger Tyger in five words.

KH: Romance, adventure, action and fun!

CC: What is your favorite YA novel, and why?

KH: How could I choose just one? When I was a young teen, I decided to read all of the books in the Anglo-Saxon tradition starting with Beowulf and working forward.

That lasted until I discovered Chinese folk tales, and Russian fairy stories…and my goal became to read every book ever written. I am not going to achieve this goal, but I will die trying! J

There have been many, many brilliant writers in many cultures throughout time, and I love them all.

But right now, my favorite YA novel is In the Forests of the Night, book two of the Goblin Wars. My own book. Not because I think it is greater than all of the other books I love, but because I am still writing it and I can feel the fire of creation all around me. I love that feeling. It is what makes the hard work of writing worthwhile.

CC: What made you decide to be an author?

KH: I think writing was just in my blood and in my bones—a writer is what I was created to be. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t working toward becoming an author. It has been, and still is, a lot of work–I have dysgraphia, so getting the words onto paper is a challenge.

CC: Who has inspired your writing the most?

KH: George MacDonald. He was a writer in the 1800’s and I discovered his books as I was reading my way through history. MacDonald became my role model. Not just because of the stories he wrote but because of the way he lived his life. George MacDonald believed that God loved everyone, no matter what. And so MacDonald tried to love everyone too, with all his might. I want to be like that.

It was awesome having you, Kersten, and thanks for answering a few of my questions!

The trailer for Tyger Tyger (see my 5 zombie review here), Kersten's YA fantasy novel, has recently been released, so check it out:

In My Mailbox (21)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren that I participate in regularly.  All you have to do is post whatever books you've received in the past week, bought or for review, and any cool swag you want to mention.

This week I received the following for review:

 

Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Choker by Elizabeth Woods

Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

Deadly by Julie Chibbaro

The Poison Eaters by Holly Black

Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves

Haven by Kristi Cook

And I purchased:

The Explosionist by Jenny Davidson

Got a lot of books this week! I can't wait to get to them :D

2011 Debut Author Challenge

The third annual Debut Author Challenge is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. If you're interested in participating, check out the information page here.

2011 Debut Author Challenge participant information:

• The objective of the DAC is to read at least twelve novels from Young Adult or Middle Grade Authors. While twelve is the minimum there is no maximum limit! I encourage readers who can read more than twelve to do so!
• Anyone can join. You don't have to be a blogger, and you don't have to live in the United States. 
• You do not have to have an blog written in English to participate. 
• You can join at anytime. The challenge runs from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011.

Since my list of must-read debut books for 2011 is 65 books long, I'm only going to post the first twelve here. If you're interested in seeing the rest, or need some ideas for your own list, then you can check out the rest here.

1. Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey
2. Die For Me by Amy Plum
3. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
4. Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton
5. Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach
6. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
7. Moonglass by Jessi Kirby
8. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
9. Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
10. Luminous by Dawn Metcalf
11. Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic
12. Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake

The books that I own are in bold and the ones I've read are in italics.

Link to your list in the comments if you already have one. I'd love to see what other people will be reading!

REVIEW: Crave by J.R. Ward

 

The second volume in J.R. Ward's Fallen Angels paranormal romance series pits a worldly wise covert ops soldier against an assassin, a demon, and his own conscience. Isaac Rothe has a bad boy past, but he knows that he's fallen mightily for his luscious public defender. Who knew that a battle for a soul could be so alluring? A mass-market original.

Book: Crave by J.R. Ward
Release Date: October 15, 2010
Format: Mass Market
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Series: Fallen Angels, #2
Obtained: Bought
Rating: 1/2 (3.5 Zombies)

For as good as the first book in this series, Covet, was, I didn't quite get what I was looking for from Crave. It seemed too disjointed to be from the same author as books like is prequel and the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. This being said, once things really started happening, it wasn't a bad book at all.

I don't even want to talk about the romance, I hated it so much. It was almost as if Crave was split into two books. The first book, with Isaac and Grier's romance, to put it bluntly, sucked. I didn't like either of them, and neither ever redeemed themselves. Grier was whiny and uptight, and Isaac was over-done and pathetic. They both bored the crap out of me.

The one character who was involved in both books was Matthias. I kind of liked him at some points, and at others I just wished that he would drop dead. I'm not sure what I thought of him at the end, but he was a character that brought some form of action to the Isaac/Grier book, although he did seem to do the opposite to the second book.

The part that I liked, which shall be referred to as the second book, was the part involving Jim, Adrian, Eddie, and sometimes Devina. While Devina seemed like the evil, invincible ice queen in Covet, we get a glimpse into her vulnerable side with a visit to her therapist who is trying to help Devina deal with her OCD. Very funny.

Jim is, as always, a self-sacrificing hero with a smart mouth. He is simply awesome. Jim, I love you. If you are willing to share with Adrian, then I would be happy to have your babies. I loved how Jim's character developed from one book to the next, and am willing to bet that he will continue to do so. He is a very dynamic character, as he should be since he is the main character. I hope his storyline doesn't get overshadowed by the romance in the next book.

Adrian and Eddie were in Crave much more than in Covet, but still not enough. I just love those guys, and I don't know why they aren't being utilized more. Same for the angels up top. They rock, especially Colin. (I love you, too, Colin! And Nigel, but not as much.)

I liked the introduction of Sissy, and I can't wait to see where Ward takes that storyline. Also, it was nice to see Eddie as less of a hardass. I hope that we continue to see more of him and Adrian, and that they continue to develop as characters.

If you haven't read the first book in this series, it might be somewhat confusing, and it also isn't a good place to pick up J.R. Ward as an author, but if you're a fan of hers already, then you should probably read it just so that you know what's going on in the next book. I'm confident that whatever comes next will be just as awesome as the first book.

Blog Hops (6)

 "Since Thanksgiving is coming up next week, let's use this week's Hop to share what we are most thankful for and what our holiday traditions are!"

Hmm... That's a tough one--NOT. I'm thankful that I have my friends and family, like everyone else, and that I have the privilege of running this blog. It's been so much fun so far, and I've learned about a billion amazing books from my followers on Twitter and the blog that I never would've read otherwise. Thank you guys so much for giving me this great experience! You rock ;)

How long have you been book blogging??

It'll be a totally awesome six months on the 30th of this month.

Just a random question: how many of you guys are going to see Harry Potter today/have already seen it? Snape rox my sox!!11!

Looking For Rec's

I recently re-watched Bladerunner for the 2937493 time and was thinking, I would love to see something like this in a YA novel. Have any of you read something similar that you thought was good?

For those of you who haven't seen Bladerunner (shame on you), it's a kind of sci-fi dystopian thingy with Harrison Ford in all his sexy-ful glory. If that isn't enough to make you watch it, then . . . there's something wrong with you.

So, dear readers, go forth and watch old movies and return to me with recommendations that do not include the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld or The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins since I've already read (and loved) them.

What are your top sci-fi/dystopian YAs?

Waiting on Wednesday (21)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, participating bloggers will make a post about a book whose publication they're eagerly awaiting.

This week, I'm featuring Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward.

Payne, twin sister of Vishous, is cut from the same dark, seductive cloth as her brother. Imprisoned for eons by their mother, the Scribe Virgin, she finally frees herself-only to face a devastating injury. Manuel Manello, M.D., is drafted by the Brotherhood to save her as only he can-but when the human surgeon and the vampire warrior meet, their two worlds collide in the face of their undeniable passion. With so much working against them, can love prove stronger than the birthright and the biology that separates them?

 

**NOT APPROPRIATE FOR YOUNGER READERS**

  

I've loved all of the BDB books so far, even if the most recent wasn't as good as I'd hoped. I'm not sure about the two main characters in this book since, as far as I can tell, Payne is a whiny brat and Manny is nobody. He is, to date, the hero we've seen the least of before his book, with the exception of the first hero, Wrath (duh). I'm kind of worried about that, but the WARDen hasn't failed me yet. This series was one of my first PNR loves, even though it's shifted to semi-UF since about the third or fourth book.

GIVEAWAY: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer ARC

Since I have an extra copy of Nightshade and I thought it was a really good book, I figured I'd give one away. All you have to do is follow the rules below to be entered:

RULES:
1. US only.
2. No double entries.
3. Leave a comment with the following:
     a) Your email address
     b) Your name
     c) What is your favorite supernatural creature and why? Seriously, if you don't put your reasons, then you'll be disqualified.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
Follow my blog +1
Tweet (include @cadecrow) +1 for each tweet
Refer someone +3 for every person who mentions you in their comment

Giveaway closes on December 1, 2010.

REVIEW: Monster High by Lisi Harrison

From Lisi Harrison, the New York Times bestselling author of The Clique and Alphas, comes a new series with a fresh twist on high school, romance, and the horrors of trying to fit in.

They prefer to call themselves RAD (Regular Attribute Dodgers), but some call them monsters. So far, the "monster" community has kept a low profile in Salem, but this year two new girls enroll at Master High School, and the town will never be the same.

Created just fifteen days ago, Frankie Stein is psyched to trade her father's formaldehyde-smelling basement lab for parties and cheerleading. But with a student body totally freaked out by rumors of monsters who might be stalking the halls, Frankie finds that life in the "normi" world can be rough for a chic freak like her.

She thinks she finds a friend in fellow new student Melody Carver--but can a normi be trusted with her big secret?

Book: Monster High by Lisi Harrison
Release Date: September 7, 2010
Format: Paperback
Genre: Young Adult
Series: Monster High, #1
Obtained: ARC Tour
Rating: (4 Zombies)

Frankie Stein is a monster girl that just wants to be herself, but feels stifled by the rules imposed by her more conservative parents. Melody Carver is new to town, forced to move away from Beverly Hills because of her asthma. The girls are on completely opposite ends of the spectrum, and very unlikely friends. The summary makes it seem like they become complete besties and the book is about their friendship, but I don't think they say more than two words to each other until the last chapter, and even then, I wouldn't call them friends.

I preferred Frankie's POV to Melody's because her character seemed more rounded. While all Melody seemed to do was pine after a boy and wish that she was ugly again (after rhinoplasty), Frankie was trying to change the world, quite literally.

I loved Frankie's flamboyancy and tendency to glam up everything around her. Her father's lab/her bedroom turned into the Fab, his lab rats became the Glitterati (they were totally my favorite characters).

The issues of discrimination, friendship versus romance, self image came up a lot, and were, in my opinion, dealt with very well. It may seem a bit preachy at parts, but that's easy to get past once you get into the awesome story.

You'll never see some of the fabulously horrific plot twists coming, and since most of the story line is based on them, I can't say much without giving away a billion spoilers, but if you're a fan of high school stories and lots of crazy drama, then Monster High is a definite must read.

In My Mailbox (20)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren that I participate in regularly.  All you have to do is post whatever books you've received in the past week, bought or for review, and any cool swag you want to mention.

This week I received the following for review:

 

Switched by Amanda Hocking (signed)

 

 

Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin (Finished copy this time)

 

 

 

What'd you get in your mailbox his week?

Mini-Update Slash Rant

Books I am currently reading:

Monster High by Lisi Harrison - Really fun read, I'll probably be finished with it really soon.
Heaven's Spite by Lilith Saintcrow - Interesting bit of horror here, love this series.
Matched by Ally Condie - Kind of slow, but I am intrigued.
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick - Not as good as the first book, but still okay.
Alpha by Rachel Vincent - Can't wait to find out who Faythe picks!
Crave by J.R. Ward - Only a few pages in, but loving what I see. I fangirl love Adrian.

Life:

If my posts seem shorter or less interesting than usual, then 1) thanks for noticing that they exist, and 2) it's because I'm working on a realllllly important paper for English 1A. Sorry! It should be done by Monday, though, and after the two tests that I also have on Monday, maybe I won't be so bogged down with schoolwork. Hopefully.

Rant:

Why is it that I can never find ebooks when I need them? I'm trying to get a digital copy of a UK published book, and it's freaking impossible. I don't understand why they won't just sell me the darned thing! I am trying to give them my money, what is their problem?


Well, now that that's out of my system, happy weekend, readers!

Blog Hops (5)

"If you find a book that looks interesting but is part of a series, do you always start with the first title?"

Definitely. I'm so anal that I think I would die if I started part of the way into it. That would be terrible. I don't want to die, so I stick with the first book. I'm just one of those people, I guess XD

 What is your usual monthly book budget?

 My usual book budget is about $50 a month, but since I don't have a job (besides school xD), it varies.

Poll

I've been blogging for a decent amount of time now, so I figured I'd find out what you guys like to hear about :) Also, I couldn't think of anything else to post.

~ flexiPoll: free online web poll ~

Thanks for voting!

Waiting on Wednesday (20)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, participating bloggers will make a post about a book whose publication they're eagerly awaiting.

This week, I'm featuring Small Town Sinners by Melissa C. Walker.

The story of Lacey Anne Byers, a small town girl who is excited to star in Hell House, her church's annual haunted house of sin, until a childhood friend reappears and makes her question her faith.

Recent Ass Kicking Heroines

Over the past few months I've noticed that there are many more females in YA that are very physically able to take care of themselves without the help of some guy. Not that I mind guys--I totally don't. I just thought I'd highlight a few of those for those of you who haven't been fortunate enough to read about them yet.

1. Calla Tor (Nightshade): Since Calla is a werewolf (not that she'd ever admit it) and and alpha to boot, she is obviously very powerful. She knows how to fight her own battles, and is willing to stand up for what she believes in no matter the cost. Also, she has great syle--t-shirts and jeans all the way! Go Calla!

2. Vanessa Sands (Siren): While Vanessa may not seem too strong, she is, and she proves it time and time again throughout the course of Siren. She is the only one who can do what it takes to save the day at the end of the book. I can't really say anything else without getting spoiler-y, but trust me, Vanessa is totally kick ass.

3. Ellie (Angelfire): First off, does anyone remember Ellie's last name? Oops XD Anyways, Ellie is the Preliator, which basically means she is totally cool and can kill big ugly monsters. I don't want to say too much about this book since it doesn't come out for a while, but seriously, once it does, I expect every single one of you to immediately go pick up a copy. It is just made of awesome. Obey!

If you've read any of these books, do you agree? Who would your top three be?

The Vampire Diaries

 

The Vampire Diaries. Seems like this show is the only thing I've been hearing about lately. So I figured, there's got to be some reason why everyone is obsessing over this show. Having decided that most of my friends are actually not morons, I thought, maybe, if my friends usually like similar things to me, then I'll like this, too.

And, holy crap, I did! I watched the entire first season and what there is of the second season in less than two weeks, and now I am eagerly awaiting the next episode. Damon is so omg awesome I can't even believe it. He makes the entire show, IMO.

But all of that is sort of beside the point because, dear readers, I have a question for you. I've read L.J. Smith's Night World series (still waiting on the next book, BTW) and loved it, but that's all I've ever read by her. Since I loved the show so much I was considering reading the books series The Vampire Diaries. I was just wondering, is it as awesome as the show? Also, I've heard that Damon is completely evil in the books. Is this true? (*cries if it is*)

That is all.

Wait, no it isn't.

Ahem. Damon = <3

Now I'm done.