#015 Third Sentence Thursday - V-LOG!

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!

I love great epic battles that involve revolutions in need of a hero, dark forces, great epic battles, and prophecy's. So, I'm really excited to read more of The Girl of Fire and Thorns. I also love the world and the mythology that Rachel Hawkins has built with her Hex Hall series and with the twist at the end regarding both Archer and Sophie, plus the introduction of Cal as a possible love interest I'm totally there and hooked.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns
By: Rae Carson
ARC Provided by Publisher and Greenwillow Books
b&n // amazon
Published Date: September 20, 2011
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Book Format: Hardback; pp 432
Age Demographic: Young Adult

I feel the cold edges and aching hardness of my jaw. "And greif overcame her, and she breathed her last breath." "Your sister said this? When? How long ago?" Though his questions are pressing, his voice remains kind, like he really cares. But I can't quote remember.(pp 19)

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

*Summary taken from Goodreads.

Demonglass
By: Rachel Hawkins
My Own Copy
b&n // amazon
Published Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Book Format: Hardback; pp 368
Age Demographic: Young Adult

I pumped with my arms and legs, trying to swim up, but it was like I was being held underwater even though nothing was holding me. Real panic set in as black spots danced before my eyes. I had to breathe. I kicked again, just bobbed in place. Now the black spots were bigger, and the pressure in my chest was agonizing. I wondered how long I'd been down here, and if Cal was going to make good on that promise to save me anytime soon. (pp 7)

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

*Summary taken from Goodreads.

{Small Note: The ARC for The Girl of Fire and Thorns was received via Rae Carson's publicist and Greenwillow Books, in exchange for an honest review which I will provide in a timely manner. Any reference to quotations taken from The Girl of Fire and Thorns may be subject to change once the final copy is available for purchase. No money exchanged hands, I review books for fun because I love to read. I am not interested in monetary gain.

The review will be coming shortly, any other quotes or references may be subject to change once the novel is finalized and released.}

Book Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Hex Hall
By: Rachel Hawkins
Personal Copy
b&n // amazon
Published Date: February 1, 2010
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Book Format: Paperback; pp 352
Age Demographic: Young Adult

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

*Summary taken from Goodreads.

❝My Thoughts❞

Hex Hall is the perfect blend of humor, realism, pop culture references, snarky/sacrastic witty banter and excitement combined for a novel of this genre in the young adult market. There are a number of things to enjoy about this novel and Hawkins does not fail in delivering the goods.

The character's were strong, funny, and real. Plus, there was a great mash-up of character's from shifters to faeries, to witches and warlocks, and vampires too. Sophie was pretty amazing and very well developed, she possessed this likable quality about her that made it easy to connect with her and relate to her situation and what she was going through, being sent to Hectate Hall (or Hex Hall as the other students often referred to it).

The character's were average or about as average as one paranormal can be, not over-the-top dramatic, and very relatable in their interactions and exchanges with one another through out Hex Hall. You had your mean girls, which consisted of Elodie, Chaston, and Anna. Then you had your social outcasts, which pretty much cosnsisted of Jenna and of course Sophie the better part of the time, since she refused to join "The Trio's" coven. And, of course, round all that out with the mysterious bad boy himself, Archer, and you have the perfect set-up.

Hawkins unique brand of humor in this novel, was very enjoyable. One of my favorite moments from the book happened towards the beginning when Sophie first arrives at Hectate Hall and she's attacked by a werewolf practically out of nowhere and the only thing she could think of to say was, "Bad dog."

The world building and history of the Prodigium was very well developed and fleshed out. I enjoyed getting to know who Sophie really was, where she came from, the fear and danger that she had to watch out for (can true evil really be inherited?), as well as getting to know her great grandmother Alice and finding out how she came to be whom the reader's later discover she was. I am excited to start Demonglass as soon as I can, to find out what comes next for Sophie.

The over-all pacing of Hex Hall was great, it moved along pretty quick and smoothly, keeping me glued to my seat in anticipation of what was going happen next and how it was going to end. There was mystery, intrigue, and a few twists thrown in for good measure. For any Buffy or House of Night fan, I would definitely recommend this book.

#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?! :)