Book Review: Dreaming Awake by Gwen Hayes

Dreaming Awake
By Gwen Hayes
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Publish Date: January 3, 2012
Format: Paperback, pp 336
Age Demographic: Young Adult
b&n // amazon

"Love had seduced my heart and soul, changed me forever, and then, in one promise made under duress, jeopardized my humanity. And yet I couldn't regret it." (pp ;; 01)

She fell for him in a nighttime world. But the time for dreaming is past—and the here-and-now can be just as fragile their love…

When Theia Alderson first encountered a mysterious, handsome boy in her dreams, she never imagined how finding Haden Black—and falling in love—could change her life. To save Haden, Theia sacrificed everything. And the dangerous bargain she made could have lasting repercussions.

Now Theia has returned to Serendipity Falls, and she finds herself struggling with the same deadly hungers that have tortured Haden. When students at their high school fall prey to a mysterious illness, Theia can’t help but wonder if Haden’s control is slipping—and how much longer she’ll have a grip on her own.

And still the nightmare realm of Under won’t let them go. Someone from Haden’s past is determined to destroy Theia from the inside out, starting with those closest to her, forcing Theia to choose between family and friends and a love that may have been doomed from the start…

*Summary taken from Goodreads.

❝My Thoughts❞

Dreaming Awake is a powerfully written, emotionally gripping story that hooks you and keeps you there as the rest of the story unfolds. It's beautifully written, almost lyrical in a sense, and the imagery is quite powerful and heartwrenching. This is the second installment in this gripping trilogy, filled with romance, betrayal, friendship, and heartache. The pace picks up a great deal and there is quite a bit of action, the character's are amazingly written and utilized in the best possible way. This time around, Theia struggles with the fact that the deal she made with Mara may just be her own un-doing in a sense.

I'm not usually one for straight up love stories, so I was happy that there was a bit more action and point to the storytelling and a little less focus on the romance, as beautifully written as it was. With a bit of Mara's blood rushing through her veins, Theia is finding that there's power in it, and has come to the startling realization that she has this urge she never possessed before to feed on souls, which throws a couple of monkey wrenches into the story later on. Theia doesn't realize until it's pointed out to her later, that she's actually been drawing on this power. It was nice to see that her character development progressed in this book, that she became stronger and was able to overcome some of the obstacles thrown in her direction. The bond of friendship Theia shared with Ame and Donny, was definitely one of the best things about this novel. They were willing to go above and beyond, to ensure their friend's safety no matter what.

Hayes world-building and masterfully written imagery of the Under are grotesquely mesmorizing and will pull you into the story right along with the terrifying character's that are basically walking nightmares. There are walking skeletons and one of the most imaginative yet disturbing things I've read about to date, sewn together handmaidens. The way these handmaidens are described, will give you chills. It's such a distorted vision filled with dark magic, intense vulnerability, and terrifying fears that may or may not come to pass. Not since this series, have I seen Under depicted in such a way that it left me visibly shaking while reading. And the cliffhanger that it leaves you with, will drop your jaw.

This is definitely a book that you will want to read.

{ This ARC was provided by ATW ARC Tours, in exchange for an honest review which I have provided. No money exchanged hands, I review books for fun because I love to read. I am not interested in monetary gain. Any piece of this ARC that was/wasn't quoted, is not part of the finished product and should not be perceived as such.}

#028 Third Sentence Thursday

Third Sentence Thursday is a nifty little weekly meme hosted by Sniffly Kitty's Mostly Books.

1) Take the book you are reading now and post the third sentence
2) Review this sentence anyway you want (funny and silly reviews encouraged)
3) Post a link to your sentence here or if you don't have a blog, just post it in the comments!

Dreaming Awake
By Gwen Hayes
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Publish Date: January 3, 2012
Format: Paperback, pp 336
Age Demographic: Young Adult
b&n // amazon

"Love had seduced my heart and soul, changed me forever, and then, in one promise made under duress, jeopardized my humanity. And yet I couldn't regret it." (pp ;; 01)

She fell for him in a nighttime world. But the time for dreaming is past—and the here-and-now can be just as fragile their love…

When Theia Alderson first encountered a mysterious, handsome boy in her dreams, she never imagined how finding Haden Black—and falling in love—could change her life. To save Haden, Theia sacrificed everything. And the dangerous bargain she made could have lasting repercussions.

Now Theia has returned to Serendipity Falls, and she finds herself struggling with the same deadly hungers that have tortured Haden. When students at their high school fall prey to a mysterious illness, Theia can’t help but wonder if Haden’s control is slipping—and how much longer she’ll have a grip on her own.

And still the nightmare realm of Under won’t let them go. Someone from Haden’s past is determined to destroy Theia from the inside out, starting with those closest to her, forcing Theia to choose between family and friends and a love that may have been doomed from the start…

*Summary taken from Goodreads.

I'm not usually one for straight up love stories, but I absolutely love these books. They're beautifully written, almost lyrical in a sense, and the imagery is quite powerful and heartwrenching. They also hit you with a powerful dose of emotional, that hooks you and keeps you there as the rest of the story unfolds.

{ This ARC was provided by ATW ARC Tours, in exchange for an honest review which I have provided. No money exchanged hands, I review books for fun because I love to read. I am not interested in monetary gain. Any piece of this ARC that was/wasn't quoted, is not part of the finished product and should not be perceived as such.}

#03 W...W...W...Wednesday's

W...W...W...Wednesdays is a weekly feature at Should Be Reading. It's pretty much a weekly game of "what are you reading currently/plan to read/have read." And all you have to do to play along are these three things:

01. What Are You Currently Reading?
02. What Did You Recently Finish?
03. What Do You Think You'll Read Next?

CURRENTLY READING

Falling Under
By Gwen Hayes
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Publish Date: March 1, 2011
Format: Paperback, pp 336
Age Demographic: Young Adult
b&n // amazon

“He met my eyes and in them I recognized his lonliness. He wanted to tell me; he wanted to open himself. Instead he told me to wake up.” (pp 122)

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

*Summary taken from Goodreads.

RECENTLY FINISHED

Bright Young Things
By Anna Godbersen
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publish Date: October 12, 2010
Format: Hardback, pp 400
Age Demographic: Young Adult
b&n // amazon

The year is 1929. New York is ruled by the Bright Young Things: flappers and socialites seeking thrills and chasing dreams in the anything-goes era of the Roaring Twenties.

Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey escaped their small Midwestern town for New York's glittering metropolis. All Letty wants is to see her name in lights, but she quickly discovers Manhattan is filled with pretty girls who will do anything to be a star…
Cordelia is searching for the father she's never known, a man as infamous for his wild parties as he is for his shadowy schemes. Overnight, she enters a world more thrilling and glamorous than she ever could have imagined—and more dangerous. It's a life anyone would kill for . . . and someone will.

The only person Cordelia can trust is Astrid Donal, a flapper who seems to have it all: money, looks, and the love of Cordelia's brother, Charlie. But Astrid's perfect veneer hides a score of family secrets.

Across the vast lawns of Long Island, in the illicit speakeasies of Manhattan, and on the blindingly lit stages of Broadway, the three girls' fortunes will rise and fall—together and apart. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Luxe comes an epic new series set in the dizzying last summer of the Jazz Age.

*Summary taken from Goodreads.

Stolen Away
By Alyxandra Harvey
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Publish Date: January 17, 2012
Format: Hardback, pp 288
Age Demographic: Young Adult
b&n // amazon

"It was like water trickling in a river bed, slowly at first, then with greater momentum until mud pushed its way into every crevice, dislodging rocks that seemed solid and heavy. I was full of dislodged stones.

I was remembering things. Little things that didn't seem important at first glance, but felt important nonetheless. It was disorienting." (pp ;; 45)

For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric—who may or may not betray them.

*Summary taken from Goodreads.

TO BE READ NEXT

Dreaming Awake
By Gwen Hayes
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Publish Date: January 3, 2012
Format: Paperback, pp 336
Age Demographic: Young Adult
b&n // amazon

She fell for him in a nighttime world. But the time for dreaming is past—and the here-and-now can be just as fragile their love…

When Theia Alderson first encountered a mysterious, handsome boy in her dreams, she never imagined how finding Haden Black—and falling in love—could change her life. To save Haden, Theia sacrificed everything. And the dangerous bargain she made could have lasting repercussions.

Now Theia has returned to Serendipity Falls, and she finds herself struggling with the same deadly hungers that have tortured Haden. When students at their high school fall prey to a mysterious illness, Theia can’t help but wonder if Haden’s control is slipping—and how much longer she’ll have a grip on her own.

And still the nightmare realm of Under won’t let them go. Someone from Haden’s past is determined to destroy Theia from the inside out, starting with those closest to her, forcing Theia to choose between family and friends and a love that may have been doomed from the start…

*Summary taken from Goodreads.

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1)
By Mariss Meyer
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publish Date: January 3, 2012
Format: Hardback, pp 400
Age Demographic: Young Adult
b&n // amazon

This is not the fairy tale you remember:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

In this thrilling debut young adult novel, the first of a quartet, Marissa Meyer introduces readers to an unforgettable heroine and a masterfully crafted new world that’s enthralling.

But it's one you won't forget.

*Summary taken from Goodreads.

The Luxe
By Anna Godbersen
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publish Date: November 20, 2007
Format: Hardback, pp 448
Age Demographic: Young Adult
b&n // amazon

Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn.

Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions.

White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups.

This is Manhattan, 1899.

Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan's social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City's elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone—from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud—threatens Elizabeth's and Diana's golden future.

With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city's gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan's most celebrated daughter disappear...

In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.

*Summary taken from Goodreads.

Clare de Lune
By Christine Johnson
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publish Date: July 26, 2011
Format: Hardback, pp 368
Age Demographic: Young Adult
b&n // amazon

Torn between two destinies?
Claire is having the perfect sixteenth birthday. Her pool party is a big success, and gorgeous Matthew keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she's the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all sense of normalcy: she's a werewolf.

As Claire is initiated into the pack of female werewolves, she must deal not only with her changing identity, but also with a rogue werewolf who is putting everyone she knows in danger. Claire's new life threatens her blossoming romance with Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt. Now burdened with a dark secret and pushing the boundaries of forbidden love, Claire is struggling to feel comfortable in either skin. With her lupine loyalty at odds with her human heart, she will make a choice that will change her forever?

*Summary taken from Goodreads.

Book Reviews Coming Soon

Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey | review
A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford | review
Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake | review
Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen | review
Putting Makeup On Dead People by Jen Violi | review
Dark Eden by Patrick Carmen | review
Vicious Little Darlings by Katherine Easer | review


What are you reading?

#026 Teaser Tuesday

This meme is brought to you weekly by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along, just do the following:

01. Grab your current read and open to a random page
02. Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page, but BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
03. Share the title and the author, too, so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR List if they like your teaser!

Falling Under
By Gwen Hayes
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Publish Date: March 1, 2011
Format: Paperback, pp 336
Age Demographic: Young Adult
b&n // amazon

“He met my eyes and in them I recognized his lonliness. He wanted to tell me; he wanted to open himself. Instead he told me to wake up.” (pp 122)

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

*Summary taken from Goodreads.

I absolutely love Greek mythology and I am thoroughly enjoying this book. Gwen Hayes writing style is amazing and I love how the story just flows naturally. The character's are likeable, the story is engaging, and the mystery is hooking me.

#003: What's In My Mailbox?

Basically, In My Mailbox or IMM was originally inspired by Althea of Pop Culture Junkie and is now hosted by the lovely Kristi over at The Story Siren where you talk about the books you received in the mail, via the stacks of your local library, recent purchases, etc.

And the totally fun thing, you don't even have to call it "In My Mailbox," because some people don't own mailboxes and for me, I usually just carrying a huge over-sized bag with me whenever I go to the library, because I know when I come out I'll have about a stack of eight or more books. So, mine is pretty much, "what's in the bag?"

Any way, click the link above to read all about it. This week for me, I've got tons of goodies to share wth you, in pictures this time. TA DAAAAAAA!!! :D

Books I bought...

• Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
  
• Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
  
• Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
  
• Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
  

Books from the library...

• Across The Universe by Beth Revis
  
• Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
  
• Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
  
• Elixir by Hilary Duff w/Elise Allen
  

To say I am excited about having all of these books within reach of my fingertips, would be a huge understatement. I swear, I don't know who thought I was more cracker's for my "yay! new books happy dance routine," the library (plus all the rest of the patrons) or the local bookstore since I was in there pretty much spending money I really shouldn't have been spending. Oh well, they were on sale. Err, well most of them anyway. Good deals all around, yeah?! :)