Why You Should Not Hate On Authors a.k.a. How to NOT Write a Stupid Review

Alright, so I've had this idea for a long time, and I just HAD to get it out of my head!

It has come to my attention that some book reviewers(and I am not naming anyone, because I don't even remember their names... but yeah.. XD)  don't review the book... but the author. They go on about how the author is stupid and how they hated the author.

And I was like ' Wait... WHAT?!?!?' I

I mean, you can dislike/hate the book, but not HATE the author. You may not like the book he/she wrote, but that doesn't mean you dislike the author. And even if you do, why say that in your review of the book. Not of the author.

The only way you could kinda criticize the author himself/herself is by talking about the writing. That's what I do, and I am, in no way, showing my dislike of the author. I am sure that any author I didn't like the book of,if I could meet him/her in person and get to know him (or her *Sigh*, you get it, right?) better, I wouldn't dislike him.

The point of a review is not of hating on the author even if you hated the book. Saying the author has no talent in writing; let me just tell you, at least he WROTE a book! That's more than loads of people are able to do! I know I have a hard time writing. I love writing, but I never finish a book :S And, at least that author can finish a book, if you've read it, right? Also, keep in mind that, normally, even if the book is self-pubbed, the book has been read and edited by an editor. And, if it's published by a traditional publisher, than the book ahs been read and edited and approved and reread so much, that you can't deny the talent of the author for making it as far as being published. You may not have liked the book, or the writing, but, please, please, write a review on the book.

The only way you could dislike a author if is they weren't nice to you when you denied a review request, or just not nice to you, but you DON'T have to include that in any post, or name anyone, for that matter, if you really have to post a rant about it.

So... what do you think? Do you hate it when someone includes their opinion of the author in their review? Comment below!

The Peculiars : Book Review

 
                        Click for the Summary!

Title : The Peculiars

Series :  -

Author : Maureen Doyle McQuerry

Pages : 354
Release Date : May 1st 2012

Publisher : Amulet Books

Format : ARC

Source :
** An ARC was provided by Amulet Books in exchange of an honest review!**

My Opinion :

The Peculiars (and I always forget to write and pronounce the i, because I think it sounds better! You know, The Peculars!) is Maureen Doyle McQuerry's debut YA novel (huzzahh!)

The story is set in the alternative late 1800s (it's steampunk!), where some people are different; they have wings, or are goblins. They are called Peculiars, and most normal citizens are afraid of them, because they think the Peculiard are soulless, but, no, they are not! And Lena, a young girl who has just hit the age of eighteen, wants to go to Scree, a place where it is rumored to be keeping Peculiars, because she thinks her dad, who left her and her mom at 5 years old, is there. And so, she sets out to find him, but many twists come along the way!

Lena is a really self-conscious, not-confident-at-all, shy and great character. She,S got big hands and big feet, which causes her to be shy and self-conscious, always hiding them as much as she can without being obvious.I feel like the story needed a character just like her, except when she did some things without thinking about them beforehand, which annoyed me a little. I believe she makes the novel more special! And, Jimson... (oh god, I have too much book boyfriends *sigh* and *swoon*) I simply love his ways of making Lena blush. I love the hint of shy love there is between him and Lena (Oh, how I wish I was her!). And the cat... what a loyal cat. And he's weird (*quote taken from ARC on pages 102*) :

'It was unlike any cat purr that Lena had ever heard. It was the sound of muttered words. '' Like a person mumbling something you can't quite catch'' She said as she looked down at the arched back of the cat. '' Exactly. That's why she's called Mumbles'' '

Isn't that funny? Mumbles! (*giggles*) Name your cat like that! Let's do a 'Mumbles Revolution' ! #TeamMumbles YES (*clears throat*) I really love that cat! She's just so loyal and nice and a cutie pie!

I liked the kind of mystery in this book. Because you wonder what happened to her father, where he is, etc.

Also, there were lots of drama, which, as you may already know, I love drama!

A wonderful debut; McQuerry has a way of telling a story like no other.

RATING

4 roses!

Other book(s) by the author :

Author Bio : 

Maureen Doyle McQuerry writes books for teens and adults. The Peculiars debuts May 1st 2012 with Abrams/Amulet followed by Beyond the Door and Time Out of Time. She is also a teacher, an award winning poet and has written two non fiction books Nuclear Legacy , an IPPY award winner, and Student Inquiry.

She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area before it became Silicon Valley and now lives in WA State near the banks of the Columbia River with her husband, Dennis. Eagles, wood ducks, a friendly owl and raccoons visit her yard. And once a rogue, wild turkey showed up too.

She loves to travel, hike, bike and eat almond croissants.

Closed Hearts Book Reveal

Check it out! The cover reveal of the sequel to Open Minds (click for my review)

 P.S. : Open Minds is awesome. :D

Coming May 23rd...

Closed Hearts (Book Two of the Mindjack Trilogy)

When you control minds, only your heart can be used against you.

Eight months ago, Kira Moore revealed to the mindreading world that mindjackers like herself were hidden in their midst. Now she wonders if telling the truth was the right choice after all. As wild rumors spread, a powerful anti-jacker politician capitalizes on mindreaders’ fears and strips jackers of their rights. While some jackers flee to Jackertown—a slum rife with jackworkers who trade mind control favors for cash—Kira and her family hide from the readers who fear her and jackers who hate her. But when a jacker Clan member makes Kira’s boyfriend Raf collapse in her arms, Kira is forced to save the people she loves by facing the thing she fears most: FBI agent Kestrel and his experimental torture chamber for jackers.

Add it on Goodreads!

Release Date: May 23rd, 2012 (I can't wait!)

Click Here to sign up for the Virtual Launch Party on May 23rd! There will be prizes, reviews, bonus content, did I mention prizes? Come join the fun!

PRAISE FOR

Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy)

“Being a fan of dystopian and sci-fi in young adult books this was exactly the type of book I was hoping to fall in love with and absolutely did ...YA readers who love authors like Ally Condie, Veronica Roth, Lauren Oliver and others would be missing out if they failed to pick up Open Minds by Susan Kaye Quinn. Join Kira on her journey to save her fellow mindjackers and potentially change the landscape of her world forever.”

— Danielle Smith, book blogger at There’s a Book

“Susan plunges readers into a compelling and frightening world where nearly everyone can read minds when they come of age. The very idea makes me shudder. This is easily one of the best books I've read not only this year, but in recent years.”

— Heather McCorkle, author of The Secret of Spruce Knoll

"Susan Kaye Quinn's Open Minds is an edge-of-the-seat YA sci-fi, where 16 year-old Kira dodges psychological bullets from all sides."  — Catherine Stine, author of Fireseed One

Open Minds $2.99 on Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes&Noble, and iTunes

Author Bio :

 Susan Kaye Quinn grew up in California, where she wrote snippets of stories and passed them to her friends during class. She pursued a bunch of engineering degrees and worked a lot of geeky jobs, including turns at GE Aircraft Engines, NASA, and NCAR. Now that she writes novels, her business card says "Author and Rocket Scientist" and she doesn't have to sneak her notes anymore. All that engineering comes in handy when dreaming up paranormal powers in future worlds or mixing science with fantasy to conjure slightly plausible inventions. Susan writes from the Chicago suburbs with her three boys, two cats, and one husband. Which, it turns out, is exactly as much as she can handle.

Way too often, you can find Susan on her blog, facebook, and twitter.

Just a Book Haul (#12) (IMM)

In light of the drama in the blogger world, I have decided to make a post like In My Mailbox. It's called Just a Book Haul... because that's what it is!




This was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie! All the credit goes to her!

So, you can leave your links below to any meme that's the same (anything that's like an IMM)

So, this week I got 5 books (One being an eBook) and some swag! Yay!








eBook for review:


Taste by Kate Evangelista, (eARC) thanks to the author
*read and it's  awesome! Review coming soon!*


Books for review :


Changeling by Philippa Gregory, (ARC) thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada
The Last Princess by Galaxy Craze, (Hardcover) thanks to Hachette Book Group Canada
*read! Liked it a lot Review to come soon!*
Revived by Cat Patrick, (Hardcover) thanks to Hachette Book Group Canada
*read! Liked it a lot Review to come soon!*
Rippler by Cidney Swanson, (Paperback) thanks to the author

So that's all for me this week!

This is just an alternative to IMM... I know that there are a lot of others, and so if you have done an IMM or something that's close to it, just leave your link with a meaningful comment on my post!

The Puzzle Ring : Book Review

                     Click for the Summary!

Title : The Puzzle Ring

Series :  -

Author : Kate Forsyth

Pages : 394

Release Date : 2009

Publisher : Pan Macmillan Australia (my copy)

Format : Paperback

Source :  
** I received this book in exchange of an honest review **

My Opinion:


I actually discover The Puzzle Ring through one of Kristi over at The Story Siren's In My Mailbox vlog. I just fell completely in the with the gorgeous cover and wanted my own copy. I contacted the author to ask her if she had any copies for review, and she told me she had forwarded my address and email to her publisher. About two months later, I got my copy, although I had lost any hope of getting it, since it had been such a long time. But, I was thrilled to get it.

The story held such a great premise! I just wanted to dive right into it (mainly because I loved the cover and wanted to see if it did justice to the book... but the book wasn't that good :S). It's about Hanna Rose, the daughter of a supposed-to-be-dead-father-but-maybe-not-because-his-body-was-never-found and of a  science teacher. She has never met her father, since he disappeared the night after she was born, leaving her mother alone, and so, her mother decided to move from Scotland to Australia. Years afterwards, they receive a letter from Hanna's father's grandmother, asking them to come back to Scotland so she can see Hannah before she dies (and she doesn't even dies in the book! I MEAN, COME ON!), and they go. There, Hannah meets new friends, undo a curse, and *kinda spoiler* gets her father back from medieval time where he was a clown (hehe, that'S funny)

I was really sad that I didn't like this book as much as I thought I was. The Puzzle Ring is a Middle Grade read, and I normally like those a lot, since they are always a good break from all the heavy stuff that goes on in YA. But, I didn't like the book, mainly because I thought it was too slow for the plot and it was just a pain to read it.

The characters, although, were a really great side of the book, apart that it seemed like Hannah was always the one who was sick (well, not in the end). I was always smiling when Max (a nerd, like me :D) was talking about medical and sciency stuff.

I also thought that Hannah and Donovan would end up together.... although they didn't :S

Also, what I don't understand is that Scarlett (one of the 'friends'), went from total bitch to Hannah from almost best friend. I mean, really? That'S not how it works in real life... (in real like, the bitch stay a bitch and you slap her across the face :D)

The writing is, I hate to say, pretty good, apart from the too-many-details-I-do-not-want-to-know-how-many-hair-you-have, I really liked it. It was just too detailed for me, although I like some detailed books, this one was just... too much, especially for a Middle Grace read where I just want to relax and get lost in a cute and sweet little story.

RATING:

3 roses :S

Other book(s) by the author :

Author Bio : 

Kate Forsyth is the award-winning author of more than 20 books for both adults and children. 

Her books for adults include the bestselling 'Witches of Eileanan' and 'Rhiannon's Ride'. Her books for children include 'The Gypsy Crown', 'The Puzzle Ring', and 'The Starkin Crown' 

She had also published a collection of poetry called 'Radiance' and a magical realism novel called 'Full Fathom Five' under her maiden name, Kate Humphrey. 

Kate is currently studying a doctorate in fairytale retellings at the University of Technology.

Foreign Covers (5)

                           

I find it really fun to compare foreign covers of the same book, because they are always so intriguing. You can do it whenever you want or when you find cool covers. Just share it and have fun with it!


So, this time it'S the cover of Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan, which I loved.


So, there's four covers to this one! 


I decided to include a poll, to see which one you think is prettier!

US old cover -       Us new cover -        UK cover      -     German Cover

Glow : Best Cover?

US old cover US new cover UK cover GERMAN cover

pollcode.com free polls

7 Clues to Winning You : Book Review

 
                        Click for the Summary!

Title : 7 Clues to Winning You

Series :  -

Author : Kristen Walker

Pages : 317

Release Date : April 26th 2012

Publisher : Razorbill / Penguin US

Format : ARC

Source :  
**an ARC was provided from Penguin US in exchange of an honest review!*

My Opinion :


7 Clues to Winning You was such a cute and funny and romancy novel! I liked it quite a lot, actually!


7 Clues to Winning You is Kristen Walker's second novel, her first being A Match Made in High School (which, unfortunately, I haven't read). And this book was hilarious Serisouly, I giggled my way through the book. And, since I read a lot at school, I had to put my hand on my mouth to keep it under control. And.... it was hard to.

7 Clues to Winning You is about Blythe (How do you pronounce that name? And what kind of name is that?), a girl that went to Meriton. But now, her dad, who is the principal of Ash Grove, another school, wants her family to move near Ash Grove and go to school there... But, last year, there was a really embarrassing picture of Blythe; she was picking her nose. And, it went around Ash Grove so quickly, and now everyone knows. So, she doesn't want to go back. But... she may find the unexpected there... Love.

7 Clues to Winning You was... I have to say it again; cute. I found myself enjoying it a whole lot more than I thought I would, because it just seemed to... fluffy. But.... I needed the fluffy! (okay, that'S really weird... and awkward... DON'T FORGET TO BE AWESOME AWKWARD!)

This book is actually pretty greatly written. I mean, there are no five-hundred-thousand-big-words-just-to-make-it-look-fancy-and-impress-you type of writing... but more of a fun-and-fluffy-and-great-with-the-details-you-need kinda type of writing :D

My favorite character has to be Luke. He'S just...too smoochable (that is a word... or not :S Bit it should be! Imagine it in the dictionary with its definition *grins* *giggles*) He was kinda geeky (but not enough, if you ask me), but nice and smart and funny and (*dreamy sigh*)

Blythe actually annoyed me in the beginning; she shounded to much like a bitch, and, let me just tell you; narrative books with a a narrative bitch isn't that funny to read. (Actually, it'S not fun at all :S) But then, she grew up. I guess that'S what she did, because she lost her bitchyness. And I enjoyed the book better from that point.

I didn't really like the cover; the guy looks too young and the girl is not how I pictured Blythe at all. And nor is the boy...

And, once you finish reading the book, you understand the title better :D

RATING

4 roses!

Other book(s) by the author :

Author Bio : 


Kristin Walker grew up roaming the Pennsylvania countryside. She finally landed at Penn State, where she earned a BA in Theatre Arts. In addition to being actor, Kristin was many things on her way to becoming an author, such as a lifeguard, a nanny, a beginning ballroom dance instructor, a library circulation clerk, and very nearly a nurse. 7 CLUES TO WINNING YOU is her second novel from Razorbill (Penguin Group). Her first novel, A MATCH MADE IN HIGH SCHOOL, was published in 2010. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in LADYBUG, WEE ONES, and two CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL books. Kristin lives in a Philadelphia suburb with her husband and three sons.

WWW(W) Wednesday (#7)

Alright, so I decided to mix one of my favorite memes (Waiting on Wednesday) and a new and cool-looking meme called WWW Wednesday. It's basically three questions(always the same), but I'll be adding mine : what are you waiting for? So, let's get on with it!

What are you currently reading?

 Taste by Kate Evangelista and I am LOVING this eARC so far!


 Starters by Lissa Price, and I'm putting it on hold to get an ebook for review done, although I'Ll be reading this book at school since we're not allowed to bring anything electronic :(


What did you recently finish?


  Shaman Healer Heretic by M. Terry Green, which was a  good book :D Review will be up in late June!

What do you think you'll be reading next?


Well... I'm hoping to finish one of two books :D

Added question: What are you waiting for?


 Destined by Aprilynne Pike This is the fourth book in the series, and I really love this series :D

Grave Mercy : Book Review

Me loves the covah!

                   Click for the Summary!

Title : Grave Mercy

Series : His Fair Assassin #1 

Author : Robin LaFever

Pages : 549

Release Date : April 3rd 2012

Publisher : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt / Thomas Allen & Son

Format : Harcover

Source :  
**An hardcover copy was provided by Thomas Allen & Son in exchange of an honest review**

My Opinion :


Grave Mercy will mesmerize you from the start.


Grave Mercy is one of the bests, if not the best, historical romance fiction novel I have read. It is simply wonderful.


I was so thrilled to get my copy of this (freaking huge) book. However, since of how long the book is, I had to stop reading it for a while, and I was quite sad about that. But, once I picked it up again, I fell in love again.

Grave Mercy is a thrilling book about Ismae, daughter of a bastard father that has beaten her her whole life, and that has now sold her to Guillo, a bastard pig himself. But then, she makes a journey to a Saint Mortmain's convent. Saint Mortmain is the god of death, and she is one of his daughters. She learns the art of killing, poisoning and fighting. But then, she is sent to court to spy for her convent, but there is a traitor. But whom is it? Grave Mercy is such a suspenseful novel; I could not stop thinking about it!


I absolutely loved Grave Mercy. With its perfect writing; its perfect pace, I just effing loved it. The writing is incredible; it's written with the kind of old English, although only some : in my stead and not instead, or break my fast instead of breakfast. Just some things like that that made this novel way more interesting and perfect.

Ismae is the main character, and the whole book is in her point of view, which made it interesting, but I have to admit I would really love to see a little book with some of Duval's point of view. But, I absolutely loved that Ismae killed people... it just made it more dramatic and fun and... plainly awesome.

Duval was... not enough in the book, if you ask me. I really enjoyed his character, but I think I could have enjoyed it much more if he were more present in the book. Although he was present, he wasn't present enough romantically towards Ismae. We only get a few scenes with their romance, and I really feel like it'S not enough, since I really enjoy romance.

Sybella wasn't a really developed character, but when I read about the second book, it says that the story is going to be about her; I can't wait to read about her!

And the traitor... I'm not going to reveal his name... but what a freaking bastard. I could kill him.

Grave Mercy was just... wow. You need to read this book, like, NOW! It was amazing!

You. Will. Read. This. Books. *stares*Go. Now.

RATING

5 roses!

Other books in the series :

No other has been released yet, but the sequel is called Dark Triumph and the third is called Dark Hope!

Other books by the author :

Book Trailer :  

Author Bio : 

R.L. LaFevers (Robin Lorraine when she’s in really big trouble) grew up surrounded by shelves of old dusty books and a passel of brothers. She has also spent a large portion of her life being told she was making up things that weren’t there, which only proves she was destined to write fiction. She is the author of over fourteen books for young readers, including THEODOSIA AND THE SERPENTS OF CHAOS, (Houghton Mifflin, 2007) which received starred reviews and was a Junior Library Guild selection, a Booksense Summer Pick, and nominated for the Malice Domestic’s Agatha Award, and the NATHANIEL FLUDD, BEASTOLOGIST series. Her first young adult novel, GRAVE MERCY, will be published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in Spring of 2012. She currently lives with her husband and a demonic cat in Southern California and spends her days gazing longingly at ancient artifacts or wallowing in old forgotten texts.

I am a Book Depository Affiliate!

I am now a Book Depository Affiliate!

Isn't that just AWESOME? I am so happy, because this means when I get to a certain amount, I will be able to do a giveaway! YIPPEE!

And so... maybe you'd like to buy some books? There's still a 10% off EVERYTHING! GO GO GO!




Maybe you'd like to preorder Insurgent? Or City of Lost Souls?

Purity : Book Review

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THE COVER!

                Click for the Summary!

Title : Purity

Series :  -

Author : Jackson Pearce

Pages : 218

Release Date : April 24th 2012

Publisher : Little, Brown and Company for YR / Hachette Book Group Canada

Format : Harcover

Source :  

**I received this copy from HBG Canada in exchange for an honest review.**

My Opinion :


Purity is the first book by Jackson Pearce that I have read (although, I do own Sisters Red...). I was actually really looking forward to it. I was so excited when I got it, that I read it the evening it came. But... it just didn't meet my expectations.

I thought Purity by Jackson Pearce would be a less fluffy book, and maybe more of a big dramatic book.

The plot was the best part of the book, although I thought the 'Promises', which are promises she told her mom (before her mom died) that she would respect and obey. But, Miss Pearce felt like she was trying to make it sound like Shelby was taking the Promises too far... but I don't feel like she really was... Anyways, in Purity, Shelby needs to attend this Princess Ball, where daughters vow to their fathers their purity for life (therefore, the title of the book), and so, Shelby is freaking out, because she just can't break a promise, one being that she holds every promise she tells her dad. And so, she tries to lose her virginity before the ball, because she and her two best friends figured out that the promise she didn't 'have meaning' if you broke it before doing it, so, like, it deletes the promise. But...

In Purity, Shelby has two best friends, the main bet friend being Jonas, a boy, and her second best friend, Ruby. Alright, so we develop Jonas a little bit... but not enough. I feel like maybe you should have flashbacks of when they were younger, or maybe just some things that happened to Jonas, but he wasn't involved enough, in my opinion. Same thing for Ruby. except that Ruby felt like a third wheel that was never there (or almost), and that she wasn't really Shelby'S friend, moer like a someone Shelby knew...

The writing was nothing that special, although it was pretty easy to read. It was pretty much fast-paced - too fast-paced. You skipped big time (because each chapters is like '3 days before', and it's before the Princess Ball), and sometimes you'd just skip so many days. I mean, in those days, something could have happened! I don't know, Shelby could have gotten a A in a English test or something. Just... add something! And, add drama (because, well-done drama is what makes a book good!)

I enjoy Jackson Peace'S videos a lot on Youtube, so, I am sure to continue watching them, even if I didn't like Purity that much. Also, I'm hoping that Sisters Red will be better!

*Although Purity wasn't the best book I have read this year, I know that a lot of people enjoyed it, and so I don't recommend you decide not to buy it because of my review; you should check out other people'S review to see if, maybe you'D like it. This is just my take on the book.*

RATING

/
3.5 roses...

Other books by the author :

Book Trailer :  

Author Bio : 


Jackson Pearce currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with a slightly cross-eyed cat and a lot of secondhand furniture. She recently graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and a minor in Philosophy and currently works for a software company even though she auditioned for the circus (she juggled and twirled fire batons, but they still didn’t want her). Other jobs she’s had include obituaries writer, biker bar waitress, and receptionist.

In addition, Jackson coaches both colorguard and winterguard at a local high school; she’s taught over four hundred students since starting seven years ago. Coaching provides the greatest “research” for writing YA that she could ever ask for and has introduced her to some of the most unique characters she’s ever met.

Jackson began writing when she got angry that the school librarian couldn’t tell her of a book that contained a smart girl, horses, baby animals, and magic. Her solution was to write the book herself when she was twelve. Her parents thought it was cute at first, but have grown steadily more concerned for her ever since.