"Waiting On" Wednesday (9): Gravity

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating. 

Book: Gravity (The Taking #1) by Melissa West

Publication Date: October 16, 2012

Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC

In the future, only one rule will matter: Don’t. Ever. Peek.

Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last person she expected hovering above her bed--arrogant Jackson Locke, the most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help him, or everyone on Earth will die. 

Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her question what she’s been taught about his kind. And against her instincts, she’s falling for him. But Ari isn’t just any girl, and Jackson wants more than her attention. She’s a military legacy who’s been trained by her father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can know--especially an alien spy, like Jackson. Giving Jackson the information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping silent will start a war. - Goodreads

Never been a fan of alien stuff but I am so excited to read this one! Alien spy, military legacy, war? Come on! 

What are you waiting on?

Leave your link down below so I can check yours out.

Review: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Book: Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test #2) by Aimee Carter

Publication Date: March 27, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Number of Pages: 296

Genre/s: Young Adult, Mythology

Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future. 

Henry's first wife, Persephone. - From Goodreads

Being brave doesn’t mean never being afraid, you know. It means going for it anyway because you know it's the right thing to do.

You know you love or even like a book when a cliffhanger beats the hell out of you (Yes, I'm looking at you Daughter of Smoke and Bone). That happened in this book. So does that mean I loved it to bits? Hmm...

The first part of the book was really problematic for me. I'm irritated and annoyed at all the characters, especially the main ones: Kate and Henry. The drama, the whining and the angst was too much for me. But my problem really lies on the mythology itself. I guess they could say it's an original take on the book but I've read so many retellings that are highly imaginative but still preserves the "basics". I did enjoy The Goddess Test, the first book but come to think I've yet to process that one because I still haven't written a review. 

Besides that, The Goddess Interrupted was engaging especially on the latter half of the book. The characters became less annoying. I started liking Kate again, mostly because through her stubborness she started to talk to Henry rather than sulk in the corner, moaning about how she's only a replacement and second-best at everything. Henry begun to open up towards the end of the book. A bit late but we get what we can get. 

We are also introduced to Persephone. My, my, isn't Persephone something? First of all, I'm surprised at how she acts and talks. But personally, I appreciated what Persephone represented in this book. I think what her presence did was to help Kate and Henry. Kate sees her as a threat because Henry obviously still loves her but with doing what she did when she came back, Henry realize that what's in his mind and what's actually real was not the same. And by doing so, Henry acknowledges that although he fell in love with Persephone, she is not the one for him. 

As for Kate, all throughout the book she struggled to understand Henry while knowing that his issues will not disappear overnight. She's trying to overcome her own doubts about herself and if what Henry feels for her is real. With Persephone coming back, somehow the animosity between her and Kate and the feelings Henry still feels for her dissolved little by little.

The Goddess Interrupted also showcased Kate's strength and love, not only for Henry, but for her family when she became immortal. She has to toughen it up and find Persephone. Henry's first love and the ultimate reason why he's willing to just fade away. Then finally, on the last few chapters of the book, I get to see a glimpse of the future of Henry and Kate and I like it. Because even though, the issues were still there, I know together they will work it out. And isn't that what a relationship really means?

That's why I'm really conflicted right now. I do not know for certain whether I loved The Goddess Interrupted or not. But despite of the many flaws and my reservations with it, I could still say that it's a solid second-installment. I am definitely dying to read the next one.    

Cupid's Verdict:

3 1/2 Cupids

An advance copy was provided by the publisher at no cost via Netgalley.

"Waiting on" Wednesday (8): Passenger

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating. 

Book: Passenger (The Marbury Lens #2) by Andrew Smith

Publication Date: October 2, 2012

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Jack and Conner have a plan. 

They think it's the only reasonable way to deal with the Marbury lens. 

But the four boys - Jack, Conner, Ben, and Griffin - end up scattered in different places at different times. Jack is lost in a Marbury that isn't Marbury, a Glenbrook that isn't Glenbrook, pursued through every crumbling not-world by an uncaring cop trying to solve the mystery of Freddie Horvath's murder, and a deceitful kid named Quinn Cahill who believes he is the King of Marbury. Jack's universe is collapsing in on itself. He finds his friends. He finds his home. 

There's always just one thing, and Jack knows it. 

This can't be it. - Goodreads

Read the synopsis? Let that sink in for a while.

Passenger is the next installment in The Marbury Lens series. The first book was The Marbury Lens which I believe was the most disturbing, creepiest book I've read last year. Just thinking about it made me remember how screwed I was back then. It was released on November 2010. Yup, it's been 2 years since the first book and I thought there'd be no more Marbury. But a month from now, Jack and Connor's adventure will start again.

I've still yet to decide whether I loved The Marbury Lens or not but I gave it 4 Cupids/stars. Maybe this October, I'll figure it out. It may look like I'm complaining about my reading experience but I swear, I'm super excited for the Passenger. For realz.

What are you waiting on?

Leave your link down below so I can check yours out. :)

Review: Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Read from September 1, 2012
to September 4, 2012

Book: Life As We Knew It (The Last Survivors #1) by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Publisher: Graphia
Number of Pages: 337
Genre/s: Young Adult, Apocalyptic

I guess I always felt even if the world came to an end, McDonald’s still would be open. 

High school sophomore Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when an asteroid knocks the moon closer to Earth, the way “one marble hits another.” The result is catastrophic. How can her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis are wiping out the coasts, earthquakes are rocking the continents, and volcanic ash is blocking out the sun? As August turns dark and wintry in northeastern Pennsylvania, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove. 

Told in a year’s worth of journal entries, this heart-pounding story chronicles Miranda’s struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all—hope—in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world. - From Goodreads

Here's the funny thing about the world coming to an end. Once it gets going, it doesn't seem to stop.

I wish I've read Life As We Knew It sooner. 

It is so refreshing to read something like this. An apocalyptic novel who focused on just being an end-of-the-world story. The characters encountered harrowing experiences and their lives were complicated because of what's happening around them, a completely plausible scenario that could happen anytime from now or in the near future. It wasn't fascinating because of the love story, or because there are zombies or robots out there, or because the government is acting all crazy to have power and control over society. It was just because the asteroid hit the moon, the moon got closer to Earth, then all hell broke loose. 

I'm the one not caring. I'm the one pretending the earth isn't shattering all around me because I don't want it to be...I don't want to have anything more to be afraid of...I didn't start this diary for it be a record of death. 

I was pleasantly surprised when I found out Life As We Know It was written like a journal. It made the book all the more gripping, realistic and I get to know and care for the characters. I kept reading everywhere. At the Mcdonald's for about 2 1/2 hours (No kidding!), at our field trip, at class, at lunch. I just couldn't get enough of it. I might sound heartless but I almost wish I hadn't finish it so soon because I enjoyed reading Miranda's POV and the thrill of the unexpected was indeed riveting.

The atmosphere of the book was splendidly done, too. You almost feel claustrophobic as well because the setting is just in one place. You are cut off from the civilization and the only form of connection from others are late letters, static radios and dwindling neighbors. 

The feeling of living day by day with no certain future to look forward to scares me. You don't know if dying the instant the world went wrong was better than living in the aftermath of it. Of making do with what little you have and finding the most happiness in things you wouldn't even appreciate before. If anything, Life As We Know It made me think.   

I've yet to process the whole religion thing. Not that I thought it was badly handled. It's just that I felt like it was glossed over or shoved in the corner. Or maybe I just thought I would have gotten something out of it.

Life As We Knew It portrayed survival, sacrifices, and realizing that life is full of uncertainty. But Life As We Knew It also represented the true of being a family. That you could get through the toughest of times with them. That with family you would do anything just to survive. That being with each other builds hope. I am positive they would not survive if they weren't part of each others lives. 

What am I doing with my life last 2008 that I haven't even heard of this book? I do not know. I am so lucky the world didn't end back then or else I would've missed this solid apocalyptic novel.

Cupid's Verdict:

4 Cupids

Review: Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Read (June 17 - 21, 2012)

Book: Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Publication Date: June 12, 2012

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers 

Number of Pages: 303 

Genre/s: Young Adult, Mermaids
Source: ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans and absorb their positive energy. Usually, they select their victims at random, but this time around, the underwater clan chooses its target for a reason: revenge. They want to kill Jason Hancock, the man they blame for their mother's death.

It's going to take a concerted effort to lure the aquaphobic Hancock onto the water. Calder's job is to gain Hancock's trust by getting close to his family. Relying on his irresistible good looks and charm, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter Lily. Easy enough, but Calder screws everything up by falling in love—just as Lily starts to suspect there's more to the monster-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined, and just as the mermaids threaten to take matters into their own hands, forcing Calder to choose between them and the girl he loves.

One thing's for sure: whatever Calder decides, the outcome won't be pretty. - (source)

My first mermaid book and unfortunately I couldn't really say I loved it. 

In all fairness, I love the concept of mermaid here. They're not the Disney version. They don't sing, they don't collect human artifacts, and they don't certainly save drowning humans. They kill and they are dangerous. Promises are of the utmost regard for them and if it's broken then you have to repay it, no matter the cost. 

Lies Beneath had a gorgeous cover and it also had the best opening line I've read in a while. It hooked me right in, but sadly, my interest level was not sustained. Why? Because I felt like I've read this kind of story a thousand times before. The only difference was it was told in a male POV and there were mermaids. After the novelty lost its charm, everything just started to go bland. 

It's not exactly gripping either. Mostly because, the plot line was predictable and I couldn't connect to any of the characters. But Lily is commendable because she thinks and she didn't fall for Calder immediately. They read poems at each other, too, which honestly didn't help. I never really like poems. I suck I know.

Lies Beneath has a lot of potential though. The scenery was captivating and the writing was good as well. Too bad, it's not the case with the characters at all. I just couldn't relate to them. Shame.

Cupid's Verdict:

2 1/2 Cupids

A copy was provided by the publisher at no cost via Netgalley
in exchange for an honest review.