Sunday 31 March 2013

March Wrap Up


March Wrap Up:
Challenges
I know I'm still on somewhat of a hiatus  well I am bar two book reviews for book tours that have been posted but I've slowly been typing up my reviews too and they may end up getting posted when I feel like it. I think when I do come back I'm going to drop my Wishlist Wednesday posts and just focus on reviews and book hauls for a while, maybe a few tours here and there. Anyway I didn't do too bad this month either regardless of all the poop I was dealing with. 

Total: 8 / 10

Total: 3 / 6

Total: 14 / 16

TBR Reading Challenge
1. Extras by Scott Westerfeld [review]
2. Pandora Hearts Volume 2 by Jun Mochizuki
3. Vampires Werewolves Zomvies Compendium Monstrum by Bruce Waldman
4. Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O'Malley
5. Lost at Sea by Bryan Lee O'Malley [review]
6. Word and Breath by Susannah Noel
7. Princess by Courtney Cole
8. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Total: 8 / 20

(Ongoing) Millionaire Challenge:
18,100 pages down!

A-Z Book Challenge:
A - Ashes to Ashes and Cinder to Cinder 25.01
B - Beauty Never Dies 25.01
D - Dahlia 25.03
E - Extras 08.01F - Fallen Tears: A Blood Crave Novella 28.03
G - Geek Girl 07.03
L - Ladle Rat Rotten Hut 26.01
M - Mary Mary Quite Contrary 28.01
O - Once Beauty Twice Beast 04.02
P - Pandora Hearts, #2 08.01
S - Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life 13.01
U - The Unwords 03.01
V - Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies Compendium Monstrum: From the Papers of Herr Doktor Max Sturm & Baron Ludwig Von Drang 09.01
W - Warm Bodies 12.01
Total: 11 / 26

I'm leaving my shelf stacking out for now cause I know I didn't get many books so I'll share them next month when I'm back properly! 

Wednesday 27 March 2013

Book Tour Review: Fallen Tears


Fallen Tears by Christina Channelle

First Published: January 25th 2013
Publisher: Christina Channelle
Series: Blood Crave #1.5

Synopsis: We left off from Dahlia with only a name--a name that is the next piece to the puzzle. A name that will eventually, "lead us to him." But before we delve into the continuation of the Blood Crave Series, let's answer the question that's been on all our minds.
Who is Rowan?
This 21,000 word novella answers that question, and of how Rowan has come to know the vampire with pitch-black eyes..
Before the world, as she knows it, ceases to exist.

Review:
4 / 5 stars
Oh welp. So I reviewed Dahlia a few days ago, which is the first in this series, and Fallen Tears in the following novella which is kind of a teaser for the sequel and oh my god. I kind of just wished that this is the book that introduced us to the world, rather than Dahlia's story. I felt Rowan's story had so much more life too it! I mean yes I enjoyed the previous book but I just felt this was a lot better.
Fallen Tears is aptly named, its a novella that starts off by introducing us to 12 year old Rowan, homeless, alone, cold and hungry under a bridge until she realises she isn't as alone as she thought, there's someone else there with her, or should I say something. That something is Kaji, a vampire, or as you later find out the first vampire, and there's almost an instant connection between himself and Rowan, they find themselves agreeing to be a part of each others lives, Rowan will teac Kaji how to be more human, to welcome his emotions and he in return will look after her and protect her. I think what I liked most about this is that we got more of insight to the vampires of this world, seeing as Dahlia was only half-vampire and that wasn't even touched upon too much, here we get to meet at least two (hehe, does that count as a spoiler?) and you really get to emphasize with many of the characters introduced in this novella, its actually gotten me a lot more excited for the second book of the series and I'd really love to read it right now! We also get a closer look at some other fallen angels, ones that aren't vampire hating murders and I'd love to see more of that family - again lack of names because I could touch upon a spoiler if I do! Anyway, I loved this so much more, it was a great read!
GR
Amazon: UK US
Christina Channelle: Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Blog

A dreamer, Christina Channelle holds two degrees in health sciences but has always had a passion for writing. You will find her reading other young adult novels, or typing up a new story on her computer. Outside of writing, she enjoys movies, music, and has recently embraced a new-found love for sushi. She resides in Ontario, Canada. Dahlia and Fallen Tears are her first published novel and novella. She is currently working on the next book in the Blood Crave Series.


Tuesday 26 March 2013

Book Tour Review: Dahlia


Dahlia by Christina Channelle
First Published: December 21st 2012
Publisher: Christina Channelle
Series: Blood Crave #1
Page Count: 320
Synopsis: What would you do if your dreams were more than just dreams?
When you knew in the depths of your soul that you were unlike the rest?
For seventeen-year-old Dahlia Winters, this is her truth. Her coping mechanism is to simply forget and deny the strangeness that is her life. Orphaned, her past remains a mystery. Now residing with a foster family, she finally feels normal--or attempts to. Yet, dreams continue to torment her. Not only consumed by visions of miraculously healing wounds, but of a lust for something she should never naturally crave.
Then a green-eyed stranger enters her life echoing her inner thoughts and voicing warnings about others wanting to harm her. He knows things about her that no one should possibly know, and he awakens her in ways she never expected.
This leads Dahlia to discover who she really is, for she is more than just human. With this newfound knowledge, and the elements suddenly fighting against her, she finds it hard to trust anyone. And as she finally awakens and comes to grips with the power she possesses, she fights to stay alive.
Before the world, as she knows it, ceases to exist.

Review: 3.5 / 5 stars
Dahlia is the protagonist in this book, she's an orphan who has lived with foster family to foster family never able to fit in and has no memory prior that of being five, scars down her back from an unknown accident and a very life-like dream featuring a wolf and lots of blood. 
All Dahlia knows is she's different but upon settling in with her new foster family where she actually feels somewhat welcome thanks to the help of her foster-brother Sam, she starts to focus on living a normaly teenage life, she attends school for the first time and after many years of homeschooling its not exactly as easy as one plus one, on the plus side she manages to make some form of friendships thanks to Sam and she even attends a regular high school party. Kind of. The thing is, whilst she is attempting to live a regular day to day life, weird or unexplainable things just keep happening and this is basically how the book goes until half way through, it isn't until half way through when we actually get some answers and that left me feeling rather impatient with the book, it kept hinting at something and then we'd get a tiny step closer to being more aware of Dahlia's weird life and then woosh, we're flown five steps backwards. It got a little annoying. Luckily though, I felt once we we're in on exactly what the hell was happening, the rest of the book was a lot more enjoyable and face paced though I must point out the book I read prior to this was a very fast paced roller coaster that left me with whiplash so maybe the first half of this book wasn't as slow as I'm making out ...I am a very impatient person at times though.
The reason for Dahlia's odd experiences and encounters is all down to the fact she's half fallen angel and half vampire. I know, pretty interesting right? They have fancier names and a great back story too. Anyway, she's the only one of her kind and because of this some fallen angels want to kill her for being tainted with vampire blood, and others want to keep her alive just until a certain date to perform a ritual to help free their big boss, so Dahlia finds herself slap bang in the middle knowing that at some point she may end up dead, luckily she doesn't have to worry about this by herself because we have Greyson, a fellow fallen angel, to help her out, he's the Prince Charming in the story, only he's a little more bad ass and mysterious, and him falling for her isn't what he's supposed to do of course which makes their romance a little more interesting
Of course Dahlia doesn't end up dead - but don't think there isn't a trail of dead bodies left behind, because there is! You may need a tissue or two - and this leaves her and Greyson to fight another day. It ends on a little bit of a cliff-hanger, setting the scene for the sequal which I would be very interested in reading because I think these characters and this world has so much potential know the explaining is all out of the way. I really recommend this book too!
GR
Amazon: UK US
Christina Channelle: Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Blog

A dreamer, Christina Channelle holds two degrees in health sciences but has always had a passion for writing. You will find her reading other young adult novels, or typing up a new story on her computer. Outside of writing, she enjoys movies, music, and has recently embraced a new-found love for sushi. She resides in Ontario, Canada. Dahlia and Fallen Tears are her first published novel and novella. She is currently working on the next book in the Blood Crave Series.

Prologue:
Dahlia
I was five when I knew something was different about me...my first memory.

Parentless, I had no recollection of who they were or what they even looked like. All I knew was
that I was alone, residing at an orphanage disconnected from the outside world—disconnecting
myself from the outside world. I pictured it even now, like an oil painting drawn across a
canvas. The thick, heavy bristles of the paintbrush created an array of colors as the bright blue
sky connected to the shockingly white snow. The snow blanketed everything around me, as if
protecting me, the green forest displaying itself at every angle.

This orphanage was out of place in such a nature-infused environment. A large, two-story
building, its windows seemed to cover almost every surface of brick. I remembered the
brightness of the sun as it hit my sleepy face through one of those many windows. It would
instantly warm my body as it greeted me to yet another day.

Taking a closer look, vines covered old, gray bricks as they coursed over the external surface of
the orphanage. I used to have nightmares about those same vines making their way into my room
as I slept. They’d appear ominously as their shadows pounded against the walls, taunting me as

a storm brewed on outside. Venturing toward my bed, the vines would slither across my body,
immediately trapping me in place. One would manage to wrap itself around my neck, squeezing
tightly, as I struggled for air. Rendered frozen, the feeling of fear took hold as it bubbled up deep
inside my chest. And as I felt the burning pain in my throat, a thought would flash through my
mind of this moment being my last. It never was, though, as I would instantly wake up.

I always did have a wild imagination.

To chase away the terror, I found myself standing before my windowpane the morning after. The
bright sun beating down on my skin, I realized my fear derived from nothing more than a dream.
Sighing in relief, I remained motionless, my eyes drawn to the vast forest off in the distance. It
surrounded the orphanage, like a gatekeeper, the leaves of the trees bristling in irritation. The
wind blew right through those tall structures, whistling, as my ears picked up the all too familiar
sound.

I somehow found myself standing directly in front of that very forest. My memory was hazy on
exactly how I got there but I recalled waking up, after one of my many dreams, to the feeling of
immense hunger as my body stirred in discomfort.

Then I was suddenly at the foot of the forest.

This was not me simply being hungry. I would almost describe it as a feeling of starvation, like
there was some essential component that my body missed. Whatever it was, this need was so
powerful that I was weak in the knees by the pain as my belly contracted and released, contracted
and released, continually. Food provided temporary relief for me, but there was always this
presence in the corner of my mind as my brain searched for the one thing my body craved.

I ignored that nagging voice in my head, the one whispering for something I was unaware that I
even needed. It was something unfathomable yet inherent. I paid it no attention and just openly
stared at the forest that beckoned me. The view distracted me for a moment, which was good, as
it temporarily calmed my stomach rumblings. Taking shallow breaths, the cool air blew in and
out between my cold, chapped lips.

It was at that exact moment I realized the forest was in fact isolating me from everything and
everyone outside of its confines. Almost like a hungry bird circling its prey. Even young, my
instincts picked up on that, which immediately told me something.

Eyes were watching me.

Wednesday 13 March 2013

Wishlist Wednesday (40)


Alice in Zombieland (The White Rabbit Chronicles, #1)
Is there anyone who doesn't want Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter?GRShe won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever. Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone. Her father was right. The monsters are real…. To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….






I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I'd tell them I love them.
I wish... Yeah, I wish.

Wishlist Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Pen to Paper where we can share books that are on our wishlist.

Sunday 10 March 2013

Bought, Borrowed & Bagged (45)


Bought, Borrowed and Bagged is a weekly event hosted by Talk Supe where you can share the books you have bought, borrowed or bagged (won) plus a recap of the previous week's reviews, upcoming reviews and on going events. 

I didn't get any books this week :D
I am so proud!



This week on Northern Plunder:
Cover Reveal: The Underground Witch
Wishlist Wednesday


 I wish I had more to announce but I've had a very busy and tiring week, I'm sorry I don't have more to report. Hope you've all been having a good March.

Wednesday 6 March 2013

Wishlist Wednesday (39)

Shadow and Bone (The Grisha, #1)
I've seen far too many amazing reviews to not want Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, I'm surprised I haven't caved and bought it already.

GRSurrounded 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.
Wishlist Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Pen to Paper where we can share books that are on our wishlist.

Tuesday 5 March 2013

Cover Reveal: The Underground Witch


Debbie DeeAuthor Bio:
Debbie Dee

Debbie Dee recently moved to southern Idaho with her husband and three children where she is learning how to be a country girl in her favorite pair of blue heels. She adores fairy tales and happy endings, but secretly crushes on the bad guy now and then. As a dedicated musician who practices way too much, she never expected writing would sweep her off her feet until she jotted down a scene from a daydream, which turned into two scenes, which turned into a messy house and her first novel. Since then she hasn’t been able to let a day go by without writing.


Cover Reveal:
The Underground Witch

Expected Publication: February 2013
Synopsis: As the last of the Incenaga Witches, Emmeline has been tortured, abused, and forced to use her power to kill. But unlike the Incenagas before her, she has survived. With her freedom restored, she should feel safe, invincible even. After all, she has the protection of Erick’s army and a power strong enough to obliterate any enemy. Yet Emmeline lives in fear for the next person who will try to control her, and no one can seem to find the tyrant threatening to claim her. 
Until it’s too late. 
With everything on the line, and the enemy at her throat, Emmeline has no choice but to convince Erick she no longer loves him (or risk him following her) and disappear with the one person she vowed to hate. But when she finds a way to take back her freedom and fight for Erick, will Emmeline be able to use her power like never before? Even if it kills her? 
In The Underground Witch, the second novel of the Incenaga Trilogy, Debbie Dee delivers enough adventure, heartbreak, and suspense to captivate readers at every turn.

Other books in this series:
The Last Witch
My review
The Last Witch (Incenaga, #1)

Monday 4 March 2013

Bought, Borrowed & Bagged (44)


Bought, Borrowed and Bagged is a weekly event hosted by Talk Supe where you can share the books you have bought, borrowed or bagged (won) plus a recap of the previous week's reviews, upcoming reviews and on going events. 

Bagged:
When Smiles Fade by Paige Dearth
Received for review from the author
When Smiles Fade

Crossroads by J.J. Bonds, Before the Moon Rises by Catherine Bybee, Every Last Kiss by Courtney Cole, To Kill A Warlock by H.P. Mallory and Eternity by Maggie Shayne
Amazon FreebiesCrossroads (Crossroads Academy, #1)Before The Moon Rises (Ritter Werewolves, #1)Every Last Kiss (The Bloodstone Saga, #1)To Kill A Warlock (Dulcie O'Neil, #1)Eternity


This week on Northern Plunder:
Cover Reveal: Imaginable
Wishlist Wednesday
Cover Reveal: Finding Valor
Cover Reveal: Range & The Magpie Bridge
Wrap Up: February
Release Blitz: Devour


Okay so good news, I've finally kicked myself out of my reading slump and I only have one University interview left. On top of this I have a conditional offer at the one I wish to attend so that's a lot of my plate. Though I do now have to make sure I pass my current course, which we started the final major project today! I'm pretty excited because it's completely self-directed. I hope to catch up on my outstanding reviews during this time, stay on top of any reviews after that and be as active as I can be. I'm already in the process of standing down from some other commitments I have that take up far too much of my free time, I hope that turns out okay.
Nia will be back posting soon too :D

Sunday 3 March 2013

Release Blitz: Devour


Released Today:
Devour by Andrea Heltsley
Summary: He wasn’t supposed to remember. Callie is a royal vampire. She hunts by taking the blood from her victims and erases their memories afterwards. She goes undetected until a victim named Chase approaches her with all his memories intact. He is intrigued and attracted. She is terrified. What happens when a human mixes with the immortal world? Chaos. 
Callie’s 18th birthday has passed and she is coming out at the annual blood ball. Will she find a mate or will she suffer the repercussions of her indiscretion? She is brought to the Vampire council and they must decide what to do with Chase. Do they kill him, or turn him to protect their secret? 


Author Bio:
Andrea Heltsley
I’m a biologist turned writer. I write YA/NA paranormal romance books mainly. I’m the author of Devour and have several more books scheduled to come out later in 2013. I book blog for fun. I also have a strong addiction to caffeine and fruit snacks. You can find me in Tennessee with my husband and two Italian greyhounds.
If you ask anyone, I’m a total fangirl! I love the entertainment industry. I love Revenge and the Vampire Diaries on television. My favorite movies are Elektra and P.S. I Love You. I have a definite weakness for Tim Burton movies too. I’m beyond a huge fangirl for Shakira, both her English and Spanish music; Jack’s Mannequin comes in a close second. I have too many favorite authors to list, but Kelley Armstrong and Rachel Vincent are two of them. I’ve read all their books.

Excerpt:
Present Day
I sit in the bed cross-legged and gently bang my head against the bars behind me. The sheets are
stiff and scratchy. The pillow is flat and the room is sparse. The only amenities accessible are a
bed and a small, basic bathroom. Fortunately, I don’t have to pee in public. That’s something, at
least.

My hair feels stringier than usual and the desire to wash my face with something other than plain
soap is strong. It’s hard to believe how much I actually miss the normal creature comforts I’m so
accustomed to. I don’t think I’ll ever take them for granted again, if I live that is.

Things have gotten desperate. I never thought something like this could ever happen, let alone to
me. Due to the bizarre set of circumstances, I’m being held for possible treason. The thought that
anyone would ever purposely betray our kind is unthinkable and makes me shudder.

Then there’s the fact that this is dragging two royal families’ reputations through the mud. That
means I have practically ruined four council members in the process. I can’t help but be ashamed
of myself. It’s not really my fault, but that doesn’t change the situation.

Being royalty brings with it so many expectations to uphold, but being a teenage vampire is what
really sucks. Ha, ha sucks. Anyways, I digress. I close my eyes and let my mind take me back to
a time when things were simple, before him.

Saturday 2 March 2013

February Wrap Up


February Wrap Up:
Challenges
I've been in a reading slump for most of February which has been pretty upsetting but I did read a few books, and I've had three out of four of my university interviews so hopefully I can get back into the roll of blogging more frequently once the last one is out of the way. I've posted for a lot of tours this month though to make up for my lack of willingness to write reviews whilst I get my university stuff out of the way. My aim is to catch up on reviews throughout the next month.

Total: 4 / 10

Total: 3 / 6

Total: 11 / 16

TBR Reading Challenge
1. Extras by Scott Westerfeld [review]
2. Pandora Hearts Volume 2 by Jun Mochizuki
3. Vampires Werewolves Zomvies Compendium Monstrum by Bruce Waldman
4. Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O'Malley
5. Lost at Sea by Bryan Lee O'Malley [review]
6. Word and Breath by Susannah Noel
7. Princess by Courtney Cole
Total: 7 / 20

(Ongoing) Millionaire Challenge:
16,865 pages down!

A-Z Book Challenge:
A - Ashes to Ashes and Cinder to Cinder 25.01
B - Beauty Never Dies 25.01
E - Extras 08.01
L - Ladle Rat Rotten Hut 26.01
M - Mary Mary Quite Contrary 28.01
O - Once Beauty Twice Beast 04.02
P - Pandora Hearts, #2 08.01
S - Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life 13.01
U - The Unwords 03.01
V - Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies Compendium Monstrum: From the Papers of Herr Doktor Max Sturm & Baron Ludwig Von Drang 09.01
W - Warm Bodies 12.01
Total: 11 / 26

Shelf Stacking
Grabbed a much smaller amount of books this month.