Posts Tagged: Harper Teen

Book Review- Unearthly

13 Jan, 2011 by in unearthly 3 comments

Unearthly
by Cynthia Hand
Hardcover, 435 pages
Published January 4th 2011
by HarperTeen
ISBN 0061996165
series Unearthly #1
5 stars

In the beginning, there’s a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she’s part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn’t easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there’s another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara’s less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she’d have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

Okay so it’s no secret by now that I am an angel lover. The mythology, the biblical references, the source of the nephilum. This book though…WOW. It’s refreshing, mesmerizing. I picked it up I will unabashedly admit, based on the cover that called to me from the shelves at Barnes and Noble and was not disappointed.

Unearthly is slower paced and took a while for me to get into, but once I clicked, watch out. Locked, loaded, and eyes transfixed until the very end. Easily five stars to this one.

Cynthia Hand emphasizes functional family relationships and I loved that Clara’s mother tries her best to protect her children and keep them innocent. Despite the fact that she is a single mom, she holds her family tight and encourages them to follow their purpose. The idea that each of us has a unique role to fulfill in life and that we have the power to change the course of history is a powerful theme that rang through.

Clara, the main heroine is quirky and awkward so there’s quite a few places to chuckle. What I love is that while she’s half angel, she’s also very human, a believable teen. Tucker, one of the main men is a rodeo cowboy with wicked blue eyes and a fun easy personality. It’s cute how much he looks up to Clara and adores her. I have to say though- I am team Christian and was from the very start. He appears to Clara in her visions, is there to catch her when she falls. Granted he’s also popular and acts unaffected by Clara’s preparatory swooning, but near the end I really hoped Clara would accept his reciprocal interest. I was frustrated when their relationship was left hanging by a thread.

There were a few things that I wondered about. Like why does her hair turn orange? Can’t they take her some where professional and get it done right? And if her dad lives in New York, why didn’t she follow Christian there over the summer to be closer to him? I’m hoping book 2 has a lot more back story and Clara/Christian time! I’m redicting something not so good is up with Clara’s brother.

Unearthly is so far the best book I’ve read in 2011. I would recommend it to all as a clean, fun paranormal read. This book lives up to its hype and when you get to the last page you’ll be craving more.

Visit Cynthia’s website to learn more about the series. http://www.cynthiahand.blogspot.com/

Sophie Jordan Firelight Giveaway

09 Dec, 2010 by in sophie jordan 7 comments

Firelight
By Sophie Jordan
Published by Harper Teen
Released On September 7th, 2010

Summary: A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will’s dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She’ll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide (quoted from goodreads).


I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to finish Firelight less than 24 hours. Sophie Jordan’s writing is magical, and her Draki spurred a creative burst of jewelry making on Etsy.
Visit http://www.sophiejordan.net/ya/news.html to learn more about her works.
We have one copy of Firelight to giveaway for BIR2010. Enter here. Open to US residents, ends on December 15, 2010.

Trailer Thursday- Paranormalcy

09 Sep, 2010 by in paranormalcy 2 comments

Paranormalcy just had a book birthday on August 31st then promptly hit the New York Time bestseller list at #7! Congrats Kiersten. We wanted to re-post the teaser trailer plus an author interview with author Kiersten White since it is one of out favorite books of 2010. Here’s our five star review http://fireandicereads.com/2010/06/book-review-paranormalcy-by-kiersten.html

Be sure to check her blog for fun posts and book recommendations and if you are in Utah, come join us at her signing this Saturday at The Kings English bookstore. Can’t wait!

Movements of Water Photo Giveaway

28 Jun, 2010 by in etsy, Nichole Gelinas, paranormalcy 9 comments

Todays‘ Etsy giveaway is the Movements of Water photography print by Nicole Gelinas in celebration of main hottie Lend in the book Paranormalcy by Kiersten White!

Introducing the artist: Thanks for stopping into my little shop. I am an artist, designer, photographer, and crafter. I enjoy many different creative processes and I am so excited to be able to share my work with everyone.I love to be creative! I just recently graduated from Northwest College of Art, in Poulsbo WA, with a BFA in visual communication double majoring in fine art and graphic design. I am now pursuing my passion to create!

To Enter to Win Her Fine Art Photo: Leave your name and email address below:

+1 for hearting her shop on etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/nicolegelinas
+1 for becoming a fan on facebook http://www.facebook.com/nicolegelinas.creative
+1 for visiting one of her sites and commenting http://www.nicolegelinas.net/ http://ngelinas.wordpress.com/
+1 for retweeting this contest @FireIcePhotos
+5 for posting the giveaway on your blog, leave the link
Contest ends July 28, 2010 Good Luck!!

In My Mailbox #15

18 Jun, 2010 by in Spells 6 comments

I went out to get the mail yesterday and lo and behold…Harper Teen sent me an ARC of Paranormalcy by Kiersten White. SWEET! I think I literally cheered in my driveway. SO excited to read this one and she was born in Utah!! I truly enjoy reading her blog http://kierstenwrites.blogspot.com/2009/11/everyone-has-book-inside.html. Luckily, I am reading Spells by Aprilynne Pike; any other book would have been pitched on site. But really who can resist the fae folk… especially Tamani? I am entranced. Reviews on these books coming soon because I can’t wait.

"Darklight" by Lesley Livingston

24 Jan, 2010 by in review, YA ficiton Leave a comment

published by HarperTeen
Released December 22nd 2009

Hardcover, 312 pages
4 stars

Summary from Goodreads “Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was Faerie royalty, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved New York City from a rampaging Faerie war band. When a terrifying encounter in Central Park sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful—but cut short. For they’ve been plunged into a game of Faerie deception and wavering allegiances in which the next move could topple a kingdom…or part them forever.

The fans who flocked to Lesley Livingston’s Wondrous Strange will fall hard for Darklight, the soaringly romantic second book in the trilogy. Breathless high stakes and vividly magical characters make this a can’t-miss fantasy for readers of Melissa Marr and Holly Black.”

Summary from Harper Teen “

Since the dawn of time, the Faerie have taken. . . .

For seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow, faeries are just something from childhood stories. Then she meets Sonny Flannery, whose steel-gray eyes mask an equally steely determination to protect her.

Sonny guards the Samhain Gate, which connects the mortal realm with the Faerie’s enchanted, dangerous Otherworld. Usually kept shut by order of icy King Auberon, the Gate stands open but once a year.

This year, as the time approaches when the Samhain Gate will swing wide and nightmarish Fae will fight their way into an unsuspecting human world, something different is happening . . . something wondrous and strange. And Kelley’s eyes are opening not just to the Faerie that surround her but to the heritage that awaits her.

Now Kelley must navigate deadly Faerie treachery—and her growing feelings for Sonny—in this dazzling page-turner filled with luminous romance.

Wondrous Strange is a richly layered tale of love between faerie and mortal, betrayal between kings and queens, and magic . . . between author and reader.”

I just put this book down after tearing through it in 24 hours. What amazing ride. I loved Wondrous Strange, the prequel, but I must say Darklight blew me away.

Kelley is plagued by dark dreams as she is separated from her new found warrior love, Sonny. She begins to see in night visions, his dark side and the power of destruction and loyalty which lies within his heart. Meanwhile, Sonny, a Janus warrior for the fairy King, is stuck fighting alone for his life in the fairy realm.

As Kelly is left in the mortal world, she seeks the comfort and protection of Sonny’s friends left behind. Danger lurks for them and her in Central Park as they step knee deep into a danger. The story uncovers Kelly’s deep rooted royal power., royal secrets from four fairy realms, hidden pasts and plots for murder. Darklight will have you on the edge of your seat with all of the plot twists and rich imagery. It is a tale woven with all you could ever imagine. Leprechauns, fairies, sirens, wolves and mortals become wrapped up in a battle that puts both human and fae worlds at risk.

Visit Lesley Livingston’s website here: http://www.lesleylivingston.com/home.html

Wondrous Strange By Lesley Livingston

21 Jan, 2010 by in review, Wondrous Strange 2 comments


published May 7th 2010 by HarperCollins Canada

details Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages

isbn 1554682746

17 year-old Kelley Winslow doesn’t believe in Faeries. Not unless they’re the kind that you find in a theatre, spouting Shakespeare—the kind that Kelley so desperately wishes she could be: onstage, under lights, with a pair of sparkly wings strapped to her shoulders. But as the understudy in a two-bit, hopelessly off-off-Broadway production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, wishing is probably the closest she’s going to get to becoming a Faerie Queen. At least, that’s what she thinks… In this fun, urban fantasy, Kelley’s off-stage life suddenly becomes as complicated as one of Shakespeare’s plot twists when a nighttime trip to Central Park holds more than meets the mortal eye.

You probably have figured out by now that I really love books about fairies. What drew me into this debut novel by Lesley Livingston was the combination of Shakespeare, folklore, history, changelings,and spicy personalities. The rich artistic descriptions of the siren, “Lucky” the kelpie, the Hunt and faerie queen Titania paint a landscape of mythical magic inside New York’s Central Park. Sonny is tender with Kelley and the ending chapters speak from his point of view. Reading the saga unfolding made me wish i could visit Avalon, the Green and New York to peak for a portal myself. I am excited to read the sequel! 3.5 out of 5 stars!