#28 Feature and Follow: Who Is Your Favorite Villian In A Book?

Feature & Follow Friday is an awesome way to gain new followers, make new bloggy friends, and just have a lot of fun. It's created and co-hosted by Parajunkee and Allison Can Read.

Today's Featured Blogger Is: Anna @ On Starships and Dragonwings

If you haven't checked out her awesome blog yet, you should. It's full of lots of fun stuff!!

Feature & Follow Question of the Day:

"WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE VILLAIN FROM A BOOK?"

Obviously, the go-to answer would probably be Voldermort from the Harry Potter series, but for some reason he's not MY personal go-to today. This is actually kind of a hard question for me, because a lot of the villians in the books that I read I don't really necessarily look at as villians. That's probably because my view on what a villian really is and what it should be is a bit skewed, from the less black and white approach that Joss Whedon took with this cult phenomenon, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I never thought that Spike was a "big bad villian", but Angelus sure as hell was.

So, when I think in terms of "villians" as far as books go, it's a little bit different. I don't know if that makes any sense, but in my crazy head it seems to even out. If I have to name a favorite villian or someone from a book that I've read in the last couple of years that truly resembles what a true villian "book-wise" is for me, then it would probably have to be Anne Mather from the Sky Chasers series (Glow) by Amy Kathleen Ryan. To quote my review for this book, "she is what every villian in a book should resemble, because she is not afraid to make the hard choices, and carry them on her shoulders even if she becomes the most hated or feared of them all.".

This, in my opinion, is what a true "book villian" should be.

Link Up and Join the Fun:

#032 Follow & Feature: Best Dad's Ever!!!

Happy Follow and Feature, everyone! The long and short of it, life is crazy and reading is my life, basically. Go visit Parajunkee's View or Allison Can Read, to get the details on how to follow and have fun with everyone else. It's all about meeting new people, finding new blogs to follow, and basically just having a lot of bookish fun.

This week the two awesome features are Candace's Book Blog and Patch Of SkyThese two girls are just as awesomesauce as their blogs, so definitely show them some love! :D

THE QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Happy Father’s Day! Who is your favorite dad character in a book and why?

CHARLIE (from Twilight)!!! His name just literally jumped out at me all big and bold, because he was just an awesome father figure/mentor to all of them in so many ways and such a wonderful dad to Bella. Plus, he was just hilarious and probably the most unobtrusive parent that I've read about so far in ya fiction. I totally loved him from the moment that I was introduced to him. This was like a no-brainer for me, but I also really like the dad's in Unraveling and Masque of the Red Death - most especially the one in the later mentioned book, because he was so interesting and different. The one in Unraveling was just oddles of fun and he was really good to his kids, as well.

Who is your favorite dad?

❝Hopping Through?!❞

#031 Follow & Feature: Which Two Fictional Characters Would You Pick To Battle It Out?

Happy Follow and Feature, everyone! The long and short of it, life is crazy and reading is my life, basically. Go visit Parajunkee's View or Allison Can Read, to get the details on how to follow and have fun with everyone else. It's all about meeting new people, finding new blogs to follow, and basically just having a lot of fun.

This week the two awesome features are Amy's Book World and Word SpelunkingThese two bloggers are just as awesomesauce as their blogs, so definitely show them some love! :D

THE QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Fight! Fight! If you could have two fictional characters battle it out (preferably from books), who would they be and who do you think would win?

Oh, this is a fun question! Hmm, lemme see...

I'm thinking of how interesting it would be if Rose Hathaway from The Vampire Academy and Allie from The Immortal Rules were matched up. That would be one hell of an intense fight, because Rose is trained to fight vampires and she has killed a pretty good number of Strigoi, but Allie is incredibly street smart and has some pretty wicked moves of her own. I have to say, I think Allie might actually have a bit of an edge on Rose, but if I know Rose at all she definitely won't go down without a crazy wicked fight for sure.

Now, if it were Allie and Nataysha from The Immortal Rules, then they both would probably be on equal footing. Except, I still think that Allie would have a little bit of an edge on Nataysha still. Either way, I still think it would be one hell of a fight.

Which two fictional characters (from books) would you pick to battle it out?



❝Hopping Through?!❞

#030 Follow & Feature: Book To Movie Adapaptation, Nervous Or No?!

THE QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What is one book that you would be nervous to see a movie adaption of because you think the movie could never live up to the book?

That would probably be the Chemical Garden Trilogy by Lauren DeStefano. These books are wonderfully gothic dark stories involving genetics, danger, and heart pounding romance that I would almost be afraid that the vision I had in my head wouldn't necessarily match the version a supposed film adaptation my try and portray. I mean, I'm not saying that all book to film adaptations are horrible, I really enjoyed The Hunger Games and Water For Elephants, but there are some that have just fallen incredibly flat and I would hate to see a series of books that I connect with on such an emotional level not be represented in the best possible way that it can and should be. Twilight I'm looking at you.

What book to movie adaptation would make you nervous?



❝Hopping Through?!❞

#029 Follow & Feature: Books You've Read Because of Bad Review?!

Happy Follow and Feature, everyone! The long and short of it, life is crazy and reading is my life, basically. Go visit Parajunkee's View or Allison Can Read, to get the details on how to follow and have fun with everyone else. It's all about meeting new people, finding new blogs to follow, and basically just having a lot of fun.

This week the two awesome features are The Romanceaholic and The Talking TeacupThese two bloggers are just as awesomesauce as their blogs, so definitely show them some love! :D

THE QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Have you ever bought a book BECAUSE of a bad review?

About a year ago, I was shopping around my local bookstore and noticed that they were having a pretty awesome sale. On the bargain table, I saw the first six books (five in hardback and one in paperback) for the House of Night series on sale for really cheap, plus they were buy two and get one free. I instantly nabbed them up along with the next three books that were in The Immortal series by Alyson Noel, which were also hardback and on sale for like $4 bucks a piece like the HoN series. I know that I'm probably in the minority, despite the fact that some find Alyson Noel's writing thoroughly disenchanting but I actually kind of like her. While The Immortal series isn't the greatest written supernatural ya series out there, it's certainly NOT the absolute worst either. The same pretty much goes for the HoN series, even though a part of me sort of feels like it's never going to end - it has to at some point doesn't it?! lol.

I guess I just don't understand why some are so quick to harshly judge, especially when Alyson Noel has written other books (contemporary ya) such as Forever Summer, Saving Zoe, Cruel Summer, and Laguna Cove just to name a few and those books were actually pretty good once you get into them. Actually, I think they're some great summer reads to dig into on those days that are too hot to spend outside and all you want to do is curl up underneath the AC and read. Plus, her Riley Bloom series is just as enchanting as it can be. Sometimes I think, that Riley was her best character to ever come out of the The Immortal series and that's saying a lot, since she was just a bit part character and the sister to the main protagonist who got her own spin-off.

Not to mention that P.C. Cast has written a great ya series, Parthalon that I've actually enjoyed quite a bit even though I've only read the first book in that series so far. I have really enjoyed reading Elphame's Choice. There's some wonderful enchanting magic and mythical folklore in between these pages. My whole point is, that just because a book gets a bad review here or there, or you end up reading a book by a particular author that you don't care for - please don't just assume that all of their books are thoroughly disenchanting or their writing is off and not worth giving another one of their books a chance.

What books have you read, despite a bad review?



❝Hopping Through?!❞

#002 Desperately Wanting Wednesday: Featuring Books That Give Me Evil Thoughts!!!

Desperately Wanting Wednesday was created by the awesome Parajunkee. It's not only for new upcoming releases, but it can be for books that were missed, books that have already been released, or even books that you want and haven't been purchased yet.

This post is featuring a few of the "green with envy" ARC's that other fellow bloggers have received and I haven't. You know, those books that you would absolutely DIE TO REVIEW early, but weren't lucky enough to score a copy?!

Yep, those...these are just a few of my ARC desired review wishes.

Books That Give Evil Thoughts

Title: Team Human
Author: Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan
Publication Date: July 3 , 2012

Just because Mel lives in New Whitby, a city founded by vampires, doesn't mean she knows any of the blood-drinking undead personally. They stay in their part of town; she says in hers. Until the day a vampire shows up at her high school. Worse yet, her best friend, Cathy, seems to be falling in love with him. It's up to Mel to save Cathy from a mistake she might regret for all eternity!

On top of trying to help Cathy (whether she wants it or not), Mel is investigating a mysterious disappearance for another friend and discovering the attractions of a certain vampire wannabe. Combine all this with a cranky vampire cop, a number of unlikely romantic entanglements, and the occasional zombie, and soon Mel is hip-deep in an adventure that is equal parts hilarious and touching.

Acclaimed authors Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan team up to create a witty and poignant story of cool vampires, warm friendships, and the changes that test the bonds of love.

I am so incredibly excited for this book. I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy, when I noticed that other's were getting ARC's - that pesky "green-eyed little demon" came out and I was just like..."Oooh, I want..."

Title: Dreamless
Author: Josephine Angelini
Publication Date: May 29, 2012

Can true love be forgotten?

As the only scion who can descend into the Underworld, Helen Hamilton has been given a nearly impossible task. By night she wanders through Hades, trying to stop the endless cycle of revenge that has cursed her family. By day she struggles to overcome the fatigue that is rapidly eroding her sanity. Without Lucas by her side, Helen is not sure she has the strength to go on.

Just as Helen is pushed to her breaking point, a mysterious new Scion comes to her rescue. Funny and brave, Orion shields her from the dangers of the Underworld. But time is running out—a ruthless foe plots against them, and the Furies' cry for blood is growing louder.

As the ancient Greek world collides with the mortal one, Helen's sheltered life on Nantucket descends into chaos. But the hardest task of all will be forgetting Lucas Delos.

Look at that cover, who wouldn't want to score an ARC of this and review it immediately?! I cannot wait for the next installment in this wonderful series.

Title: Fated
Author: Alyson Noel
Publication Date: May 22, 2012

Lately strange things have been happening to Daire Santos. Animals follow her, crows mock her, and glowing people appear out of nowhere. Worried that Daire is having a nervous breakdown, her mother packs her off to stay in the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico with a grandmother she’s never met.

There she crosses paths with Dace, a gorgeous guy with unearthly blue eyes who she’s encountered before...but only in her dreams. And she’ll get to know her grandmother—a woman who recognizes Daire’s bizarre episodes for what they are. A call to her true destiny as a Soul Seeker, one who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead. Her grandmother immediately begins teaching her to harness her powers—but it’s an art that must be mastered quickly. Because Dace’s brother is an evil shape-shifter who’s out to steal her powers. Now Daire must embrace her fate as a Soul Seeker and find out if Dace is one guy she’s meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she’s destined to destroy.

I tried for an ARC of this one and haven't received one yet, but when I saw other's receiving it I was like..."whhhhhyyyyyyyyy have you forsaken me, book gods?!"

That's my books that give me evil thoughts "Desperately Wanting Wednesday" what's yours?

#028 Feature & Follow: How Many Books Do You Read At A Time?

Happy Follow and Feature, everyone! The long and short of it, life is crazy and reading is my life, basically. Go visit Parajunkee's View or Allison Can Read, to get the details on how to follow and have fun with everyone else. It's all about meeting new people, finding new blogs to follow, and basically just having a lot of fun.

This week the two awesome features are Alurring Reads and Justin's Book BlogThese two bloggers are just as awesomesauce as their blogs, so definitely show them some love! :D

THE QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Do you read one book at a time or do you switch back and forth between two or more?

It depends on how what my blogging schedule is like. What I mean by that is, if I have a ton of review books or ARC's to get through, then sometimes I will read more than one book. At the moment, I have a book on my Kindle that I'm reading, and I'm reading a physical ARC of The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa, not to mention the audiobook that I've been listening to while I'm running errands and things like that.

I've noticed that my reading habits have sort of changed a little bit and modified themselves, since I've been blogging. Sometimes this is a good thing, but other times I wish I could just go back to reading one book at a time so I don't feel so much pressure to power through all of the ARC's/books I receive for review. I love receiving them and being able to create as much buzz for them and author's as much as possible, but other times it feels like it's taking away from other books that I've purchased from my own reading pleasure that are just gathering dust on my bookshelves. I think I need to figure out the right balance between reading and review ARC's and books for review, as well as reading for pleasure.

How many books do you read?



❝Hopping Through?!❞

#001 Desperately Wanting Wednesday: Coming Attractions

Desperately Wanting Wednesday was created by the awesome Parajunkee. It's not only for new upcoming releases, but it can be for books that were missed, books that have already been released, or even books that you want and haven't been purchased yet.

This post is featuring a few of the "most anticipated" upcoming releases that I'm currently obssessed and geeking out over.

Coming Attractions in 2012

Title: The Hunt
Author: Andrew Fukuda
Publication Date: May 8, 2012

Don’t Sweat. Don’t Laugh. Don’t draw attention to yourself. And most of all, whatever you do, do not fall in love with one of them.

Gene is different from everyone else around him. He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood. Gene is a human, and he knows the rules. Keep the truth a secret. It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood.

When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him. He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity?

I am extremely excited to get my hands on a copy of this book. It looks like it's going to be incredibly dark, intense, and full of dangerous twists and turns. The whole concept and storyline, is definitely intriguing and already has me hooked.

Title: Dark Companion
Author: Marta Acosta
Publication Date: July 3, 2012

When foster teen Jane Williams is invited to attend elite Birch Grove Academy for Girls and escape her violent urban neighborhood, she thinks the offer is too good to be true. She's even offered her own living quarters, the groundskeeper's cottage in the center of the birch grove.

Something's not quite right about the school -- or is it Jane? She thinks she sees things in the birch grove at night. She's also beginning to suspect that the elegant headmistress and her sons are hiding secrets. Lucky is the gorgeous, golden son who is especially attentive to Jane, and Jack is the sardonic puzzling brother.

The school with its talented teachers and bright students is a dream for a science and math geek like Jane. She also loves her new friends, including hilarious poetry-spouting rich girl, Mary Violet. But the longer Jane stays at Birch Grove, the more questions she has about the disappearance of another scholarship girl and a missing faculty member.

Jane discovers one secret about Birch Grove, which only leads to more mysteries. What is she willing to sacrifice in order to stay at this school...and be bound to Birch Grove forever?

Dark mysterious hidden secrets set in an academy mixed with mystery and sacrifice, definitely has my attention. I love books that are set in academies, rich private schools, and oversea's boarding schools. They just have a certain dynamic and some pretty amazing colorful characters, that I can't help but be drawn to them. The cover of this book is dark, omnious, and beautiful. Already, I'm attached and find the synopsis intriguing.

Title: Hemlock
Author: Kathleen Peacock
Publication Date: May 8, 2012

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

I've been obsessing over this one for quite a while, now. I'm quite excited for this "spellbinding urban fantasy". I have to say that while I'm normally "Team Vampires!" I've actually started to develop a fondness for werewolves, some of them anyway. This seems like the perfect novel tailor made for me, because it's got gritty violence and betrayal, trust and lies, and romance. So far, I love everything that I've heard about this book and more. I cannot wait to read this!

Title: Shadow and Bone
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Publication Date: June 5, 2012

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

This wonderful declicious novel looks looks like it's going to be so good. I love dark gothic urban fantasies, filled with magical elements blended in with a bit of mystery and historical. Plus, romance and royalty, and a magical elite. I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on this book and devour it.

That's my most anticipate "desperately wanting wednesday" what's yours?