Showing posts with label Amy Plum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amy Plum. Show all posts

Top Ten Tuesday #56: New-ish series I'd like to start

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week the girls at B&B think up a fun theme, and participating bloggers post their favorite 10 books in that category. This week's theme is

Top Ten New(ish) Series I Want to Start

Please don't hate me for some of my choices. Some of these I just haven't gotten to yet, and others I am waiting until the rest of the series is released. I just can't do the long emotionally torturous wait between books anymore.


  

     

      


         

What's on your list this week? Which of these (THRONE OF GLASS ASIDE) should I start with?

Top Ten Tuesday #39: Spring TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week the girls at B&B think up a fun theme, and participating bloggers post their favorite 10 books in that category. This week's theme is

Top Ten Books on my Spring TBR


 

 

 

  



Which new reads are you most looking forward to this spring? Share your picks and your TTT links in the comments!

Waiting on Wednesday: After the End


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.


After the End
by Amy Plum
Coming May 6, 2014
from HarperTeen

 
Summary:
World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness. They’ve survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there.

At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.

When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact. Everything was a lie.

Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she’s trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past.

Why I want it:
I love Amy. That's why. Amy's book just bring out all the feels for me. They're a total escape for me from my own life, and yet, I feel like I'm reading about real people doing real things, no matter how crazy the story gets (um, zombies in Paris, guys. I totally bought it!). Also, I genuinely care about Amy's characters because she makes me care. Even when I'm angry at them for being flawed, I love them and want to see them succeed. Plus, as a declared Amy Plum Superfan, I find it is my duty to lust fully before Amy's books are released and to love them thorougly after. Also, since I proclaimed to have an epic love affair with Jules, Amy taunts me ALL THE TIME with the apparent amazing-ness of her new guy Miles. Bring it on, Amy!

Why I think you should want it:
Amy writes about strong heroines and swoony heroes. Her characters are, at times, flawed, but their flaws are what make them beautiful and relatable instead of straining credulity with perfection. No character is thrown away. Also, Amy's writing will draw you in and keep you captivated. Every word is intentional and meaningful. Plus, action! Exciting locales! Kissing! Sword fights! More kissing! Are you sold yet? You will be After the End of her books! Oy. I know that was terrible. I am so sorry.

Eh, no, I'm not.

What are YOU waiting for this week? Feel free to share!

Top Ten Tuesday #12: Most Memorable Secondary Characters

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week the girls at B&B think up a fun theme, and participating bloggers post their favorite 10 books in that category. This week's theme is

Top Ten Most Memorable Secondary Characters
Guys, I have a type. I am well aware of this, and no, I don't have a problem with it.
Can you guess what it is?

1. Emmett from Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. Words can't express how much I adore Emmett. I mean, he's big, tall, and ridiculously handsome. He's also hilarious and from the mountains of East Tennessee, just like me. The fact that Emmett was played by Kellen Lutz, who I fell in love with when he was the seemingly-stupid skateboarder from Accepted just made me swoon even more. You may hate the end of Breaking Dawn (or the entire book), but I think that had the field confrontation gone down differently, my poor Emmett would have been a goner. I can only be grateful that Steph spared him and, in the process, me. Oh, and Rose, I guess. Psh.

2. Eddie from Vampire Academy/Bloodlines by Richelle Mead. Poor Eddie hasn't had it easy. He was a pretty happy-go-lucky guy. Talented, but kind of a goofball and then WHAM! The guy gets kidnapped and used as a dhampir vending machine for the feeding pleasure of a sadistic douchenozzle of a vampire. Also, his best friend dies at the hands of the same douchenozzle vamp. He has major guilt issues and Gets Serious about his education and life in general. The guy is majorly loyal and incredibly masochistic. By the time Bloodlines rolls around, he's fallen in Like-with-a-capital-L with his charge...who is dating his closest friend. Talk about rough. I adore Eddie, and I only hope Richelle gives him his Happily Ever After. He deserves it! Can't wait to see how Eddie is played in the movies!

3. Henry from My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick. I mean, how could I not? I'm in love with Henry. I just want to cuddle him all the time. The kid is adorable and a certifiable genius. I still maintain hope that one day Huntley will write a spin-off about him all grown up. The kid is destined to be a total heartbreaker for sure.

4. Genya from Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. I just really liked Genya. You could tell she'd been through some major crap in her life. I hope things turn out well for her. Her short story "The Tailor" shed a little light, which made me both more sympathetic and a little angry at her, but I have hope that she'll Do the Right Thing in the end.

5. Kenji from Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. Such a prankster. He totally cracks me up. I love hearing Tahereh's stories about how she uses her brothers as inspiration as Kenji. I've heard her tell the "I can't hear myself talk" story like three times now and it never gets old.

6. Roar from Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi. Oh, Roar. I love you so. Big, loyal, kind, funny, but also surprisingly vulnerable. I love his and Perry's relationship, but I love him with Aria just as much. He's a total bro, in the best way. My heart breaks for him all the time, but it amazes me how he can just pick himself up and keep going.

7. Joey Cosentino from Winger by Andrew Smith. It never failed to make me laugh when Ryan Dean West would make some stupid comment or choice and Joey would always be there to keep him in check with a "grow up" or an eyeroll. Everybody needs someone with as much sense as Joey.

8. Ambrose from Die For Me by Amy Plum. Whenever there was trouble, Ambrose was there with a smile and some really big muscles as he ran around saying Katie-Lou. I wanted to smack him sometimes for being so blind, but he eventually got my not-so-telepathic message.

9. Hector from Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini. This guy. Like Emmett, he had the big brother role down. His complete devotion to his family, even when they literally all wanted to kill one another, is extraordinarily touching and inspirational. He never thought of himself, only of his loved ones, and he let his heart be open to new people to love. I don't want to give everything away, but Hector in Goddess made me sob uncontrollably.

10. Jack Dandy from the Steampunk Chronicles by Kady Cross. Oh, my. The accent. It's all about the accent. I actually have to say his dialogue aloud to get the almost-full experience. I have enjoyed every minute Jack has spent on the page. His relationship with Finley just cracks me up. "The Dark Discovery of Jack Dandy" was certainly intriguing. I haven't read Girl with the Iron Touch yet so I'm hoping the novella leads right in, and that Jack will be around for the remainder of the series.

11. I was remiss in forgetting another favorite so you'll have to forgive me for the late addition: Neville Longbottom from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. I was Neville fangirl way back in SS. I love that he always stood for the right, even when it meant standing against his friends. Neville is a boss. That is all.

And my all-time favorite secondary character:
Fred Weasley from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. I can't even. You guys know why. I don't have to tell you.

Honorable mention aka favorite secondaries who were upgraded to MCs: Adrian Ivashkov from VA/Bloodlines, Orion from Starcrossed, Jules from Revenants

I'm also REALLY loving the boys in the Medusa Girls (Sweet Venom) trilogy right now: Thane, Milo, & Nick. Also Sillus. Not quite favorites yet, but I adore them!

Well? Have you figured it out yet? Yes, I like the (often) big guys with big senses of humor. What can I say? Humor is sexy! Also, muscles, of course. Who is your favorite secondary? Have a TTT? Share in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday #9: Sequel Wish List

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week the girls at B&B think up a fun theme, and participating bloggers post their favorite 10 books in that category. This week's theme is

Top Standalone Novels I Wish Had Sequels
 No explanation needed.

1. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitpatrick. Ohhhh, man. This was quite possibly The Book of 2012. Everyone was talking about it, and for such good reasons. If not #1, it was absolutely without-a-doubt Top Ten for sure. I just feel like there are more stories to be told about the Garretts. If not with Samantha and Jase, then definitely his host of siblings, preferably George. Can you see it? A companion novel about Teenage!George with guest stars Sam & Jase? I can see it, and it is marvelous.




2. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols. Jennifer actually wrote a fantastically hilarious and educational blog post about her opinion of sequels, and I totally respect her opinion to choose to leave her characters alone after they get together. That being said, I very selfishly want more Johnafter in my life. I think that there is a story to be found about Meg and John in the post-policeman days as they head off to college together. I would also take a companion about Tiffany and Will. And this same request applies to Forget You because Doug and Zoey had a heck of a time, and I'd love to see them later on as well.



3. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler. Sarah has repeatedly stated that TBS was meant to be a standalone. That being said, she has also said that she has considered ideas for a possible sequel some day in the future. It could happen. I loved the story. It broke my heart, but it also showed that their are so many positives that can come from a tragedy. If Sarah ever does write a sequel, I will totally buy it and read it in three hours.





4. The Belles series by Jen Calonita. I really enjoyed this southern Cinderella story about half-sisters Izzy and Mira and their exploits in hoity-toity NC town Emerald Cove. Cute boys and plenty of drama = good times to be had by all. I just don't really feel like The Grass Is Always Greener was a very conclusive conclusion. Mira lost a boyfriend in #1, found a new one, then lost him in #3 and picked up another new one! Not enough time for swoonage. Also, there were some side plots that lacked completion. I felt like I was left hanging between a third and fourth novel. I really feel that if Jen wrote another novel for Belles, the whole story would wrap itself up quite nicely. Hey, she's doing another Sleepaway Girls novel so maybe this will happen sometime too!

5. Motocross Me by Cheyanne Young.  It takes until the very end of the novel for the Girl and Boy to Finally Get Together, which is like most romance novels, but I guess I just feel, once again, like there's more story to be told.




6. The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I met her. She said it's really happening. I need it to happen. I've been needing it to happen for FIVE WHOLE YEARS OF MY LIFE. Guys, seriously, I have spent 20% of my ENTIRE LIFE waiting for the sequel. I NEED THIS NOW. Ugh. So this is how Game of Thrones fans feel. I hate it.

7. The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer. I'm a huge fan of Eoin's work. I mean, Artemis Fowl. How could you NOT be a fan? The Supernaturalist is a lesser-known Eoin novel about a band of teenage kids who take it upon themselves to see to the safety of their city from the evil clutches of invisible parasites. Well, by the end of the novel, they discover some things and decide to change their plans. I want to see those plans and the adventures that come from them. This was a really cool, albeit super dirty and dingy futuristic world, and I'd love to see more of it!

8. The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke. I had the supreme pleasure of participating in the blog tour for TNP, and I found out that yes, there is a sequel...but Disney-Hyperion hasn't bought it yet. Polly's British publisher is on the ball and is moving forward, but D-H hasn't yet for some reason. TNP tells the story of how a bunch of genetically modified kids make it from their hostile homeland to a colony created just for them. I feel like even though their physical journey is finished (for now), their emotional/psychological journey has just begun. I'd really like #2 to be published in the US, but if not, I swear I'll find a way to snag the UK version.


9. The Revenants series by Amy Plum. I understand that the Kate-Vincent-Jules story presented in the series is finished. One of the boys won, and one of them lost. Also, the Parisian revenants have had their epic tale told. I would LOVE for Amy Plum to write some companion novels about some of the other revenants introduced in the series like the crazy German kids, or, oh, I don't know, THE AMERICAN REVENANTS WITH WHOME THE LOVE TRIANGLE "LOSER" IS STAYING. *coughs* Ahem. Sorry. I have strong feelings for that boy, and I want him to get his Happily Ever After. Make it happen, Amy! Pretty, pretty please? *bats eyelashes*

10. "Double Crossed: A Spies and Thieves Story" by Ally Carter. This is one of those stories where I didn't know I wanted it until I found out about it and then I wondered where it had been all my life and why the heck hadn't I thought of it before. This is the Gallagher Girls/Heist Society crossover novella, and, simply put, it is marvelous. There was a moment at the end where it was kind of left open for the possiblity of another story. Yes, Cammie's story is coming to a close in about a month with the publication of United We Spy, but Kat's story is on-going, and I feel like even though she wasn't one of the main two characters in the novella, she stands as the character with the most to gain from the fusion of the two worlds of GG & HS. Maybe (I hope) after Ally finishes up her work on the first book for Embassy Row, she'll be hit with another stroke of crossover genius because that would be lovely.

Bonus: 11 & 12. Tera Lynn Child's series Forgive My Fins and Oh. My. Gods. both could use at least one more book, imo. I know she's working on at least one more novella for each, but I think they could do with full novels.

Which novels/series do you want sequels for? Got a TTT post of your own? Leave the link in the comments; I'd love to hear from you!

Review: If I Should Die by Amy Plum

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED
Check HERE for open giveaways
Rating: 4 stars
Pub Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: Young adult paranormal romance (sub genre: zombies)
Format/Source: ARC, obtained at TLA
Status: Book 3 of the Revenants trilogy (aka The End)


Summary:
I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.

Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.

It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.

After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying—to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others—so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

Review:
First, let me state that I was given an advanced copy of If I Should Die by the publisher at TLA last week, and in exchange, I'm reviewing it.

Second, if you have not already, get your butt over to Epic Reads ASAP. Why? Well, duh, they posted the first 84 pages, of course! And yeah, there's some squishy-feeling-inducing-squee-worthy moments in that excerpt. Come back when you're finished and have sufficiently cooled down. I'll wait.

.....

Welcome back! Now, since this is the final book in the Revenants trilogy, and I'm going to mention moments from the first two books and the shorts, I'm just going to stick the whole thing under the cut so as to not spoil moments for anyone who has been living under a rock and hasn't read any of the books yet. IISD spoilers will be at a minimum.