Title: Ashes
Author: Ilsa J. Bick
Narrator: Katherine Kellgren
Series: Ashes Trilogy
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Publication Date: September 6, 2011
Source: purchased audiobook
It could happen tomorrow . . .
An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.
Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.
For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.
Author Ilsa J. Bick crafts a terrifying and thrilling novel about a world that could be ours at any moment, where those left standing must learn what it means not just to survive, but to live amidst the devastation.
I don’t think it’s any secret that I’m kind of seriously addicted to dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels. Books that fall in this category make up my third largest genre-related book shelf on Goodreads. Coming in at probably 90%, it’s the shelf with the most books I’ve actually read from any single genre, period. Sure, there are still a few books I’ve shelved under this heading that I haven’t read, but all in good time.
That said, I was instinctively drawn to Ashes, purely for the subject matter. I HAD to have this book. So, I preordered it and got some really awesome swag for my trouble (see below). I fully intended to read this book as soon as it arrived, but life got in the way. I’ve been yearning to read it ever since. And then along comes Audible, with a BOGO sale, and I picked up the audio for Ashes, along with The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, which I adored. But that’s neither here nor there, where Ashes is concerned.
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| Ashes dogtag |
After listening to Ashes, as narrated by Katherine Kellgren, I find myself regretting not getting to this novel sooner. It was full of heart-pounding, pulse-racing, eye-bugging action. And the narrator did an absolutely fantastic job of conveying that. She had me gasping for breath right along with her. This is the first time I’ve experienced this narrator’s work, but I was thrilled with it. As always, the voice had to grow on me for a few chapters before it fit the main character, but boy, did she sell it!
So, I’m separating this review into two halves. The book itself is separated into more than two parts, but the big dividing factor, for me, was everything that happened before Alex got to Rule and then everything after. In all fairness, Before Rule actually encompasses more like 2/3 of the book, but let’s not get nitpicky.
Before Rule
Alex is alone. She is terminally ill. She is up on a mountain, saying a final goodbye to her parents when the most incredible, life-altering thing happens: an electro-magnetic pulse is emitted, killing everyone between the ages of 20 and 60, and changing nearly everyone younger. I say nearly because Alex and Ellie, a girl on a hike with her grandfather, are seemingly unaffected. Except that Alex isn’t wholly unaffected.
Alex and Ellie are making their way down the mountain when one of the changed discovers them. At this point, it’s kill or be killed because this guy may or may not be a zombie, but they’ve already witnessed two kids feeding on the flesh of a dead woman, so they’re not taking any chances. Thank goodness Tom is there to save the day!
The three stick together, survival instincts kicking in, and they make it off the mountain. Alex and Tom develop some theories as to what’s happened, but at this point, they’re only guessing. Tom’s a military man, so his assumptions are probably pretty close to the truth; though, this is only the first book, so we won’t know for sure for awhile yet.
Trust is earned, bonds are developed, and the relationship between Tom and Alex develops slowly. It’s natural and effortless, and best of all, it’s not all-consuming. They take care of one another, and when it’s necessary, they do what they have to do to survive, even if it’s painful. They’ve been through so much already, and they know that the world will not stop for them.
Even with the addition of Tom as a love interest, Alex remains strong and keeps her wits about her. She is clever and tough-as-nails, as I expect my heroines to be. Rather than recoiling in fear, she defends herself against the changed and lives to fight another day.
Up to this point, the novel has been suspenseful, raw, and emotional. It really packs a punch and never lets up. It’s one awful thing after another, and yet our characters persevere. And through it all, I never had the sense that I knew what to expect. Nothing’s worse than a predictable novel, in my book, so if that’s what you’re looking for, please move to the right while this book forges on, full-speed ahead.
After Rule
Alex is separated from her companions, for reasons that would be spoilery to reveal in this review, so we’ll leave it at that. Just as she was told, Rule exists as a settlement of survivors, mostly those over the age of 60. But there are a few exceptions. However, even knowing there are exceptions doesn’t make these people any more likely to trust Alex. Apparently, the change isn’t always immediate.
In Rule, Alex loses some of her edge, her very self. She is trapped and wants very much to leave this settlement, despite having worked so hard to get here. But that’s understandable. Alex expected to feel safe in Rule, but even after everything she’s seen and gone through, this place is probably scarier than anything she’s encountered thus far.
The second half of the book reminds me a little of Pam Bachorz’s Drought. The people and the place have a very cult-like feel to them, and the fact that they won’t let Alex travel the streets on her own, let alone leave the complex altogether, doesn’t sit well…with Alex or with me.
Add to that the fact that a second love interest is introduced, or rather forced upon Alex by the elders in Rule, and Alex’s predicament seems even creepier, if that’s possible. Yes, she develops feelings for this boy – I wasn’t tempted by this guy at all, so you’ll forgive me if I don’t recall his name at the moment, though I think it started with a D – but always weighing at the back of her mind is the fact that she isn’t really being given a choice in the matter, that this romantic alliance was practically thrust upon her the minute she stepped foot in Rule.
Even in Rule, Alex manages to find herself in daunting situations time and time again. But it’s the way that she reacts to them that leaves something wanting. Where is the Alex from Before Rule? The one who took on a changed with a Glock? The calculating, logical, whip-smart girl who placed survival at the top of her priority list?
We finally catch another glimpse of her at the end of the book, only to be thrown off course again by the most incongruous cliffhanger I’ve seen in awhile. A slam your fist against the desk, WTF, trail-derailing kind of cliffhanger. I never lost interest in this story, even when I didn’t like where it was going, but if I had, that ending would have brought me around full circle to the extreme end-of-the-world high I had pre-Rule.
Ashes has an intense, realistic premise that keeps you constantly guessing, wondering what the author could possibly throw at her characters now. It’s so full of twists and turns that you’ll never see what’s coming next, something you should probably be thankful for. Ashes is one of the better forays into the post-apocalyptic/dystopian genre I’ve seen in quite some time, and I will most assuredly be picking up the sequel as soon as I can possibly get my hands on it.
Rating: 
And for your viewing pleasure, the cover of Shadows, the sequel to Ashes, was just recently revealed:
I LOVE this cover, and if I wasn't already chomping at the bit for this sequel, I definitely would be after seeing that creepy cover. Looks like she's being chased, which makes sense, but it
really adds to the creepy-factor. What do you think?
Monday, September 16, 2013
Review: Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick
Author: Ilsa J. Bick
Series: Ashes Trilogy, book #3
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Publication Date: September 10, 2013
Source: received from publisher via Edelweiss
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Add to that that this book is 821 pages long, and well, I was having a very difficult time immersing myself in this world once again. There was plenty of action and danger and still all of that intrigue as to whom to trust and how far to trust them, but it was A LOT to take in after being away from this story for so long. So, if there's a chance you've forgotten anything about this series, I wholeheartedly suggest a re-read. I wish I'd had the time to do that myself. It might not have taken as long for me and the book to hit our stride.
But, gawd, once my head was back in this story, I couldn't put it down. I'm not going to lie: there are about a gazillion characters and points of view to keep track of in this series, and it's even worse in this final installment. So, if a story told from multiple perspectives that shift in the middle of chapters isn't your thing, this may not be the series for you. Fortunately for me, I love multiple POVs. I love the versatility of the third person omniscient point of view especially. As the reader, you're the only one who truly knows every aspect of the story and you can tie all of the pieces together before any of the characters.
Unless you're reading this story, that is. As with the other books in the series, Monsters keeps things unpredictable. Getting one question answered only brings on a slew of other questions. Nothing is ever what it seems in this story, including the characters and their motivations.
I wish I could say that this "zombie" novel is unlike any other post-apocalyptic novel I've ever read. Oh, it definitely has its own merits, but considering the sheer volume of zombie/post-apocalyptic fare I've read over the last few years, I feel that they all have one thing in common, one thing at the core of each story that compels me to keep reading them. And it's not the blood and gore or the creepy factor, though I don't mind that. No, if you really look at the heart of every post-apocalyptic tale, they're all about the human condition, what we're willing to do to survive and just how much we can withstand before we reach our breaking point. Of all the zombie novels I've read, I think this series showcases that facet best because you get to witness it from so many differing perspectives, and everyone handles a crisis differently.
Of course, even with it's similarities to other zombie books, there is one big difference: the zombies in this series aren't zombies. They are regular humans that have Changed. They didn't die and come back to life as zombies are wont to do. When the EMP hit in the first book, almost everyone falling in a certain age range just...changed. They weren't themselves anymore and they suddenly liked the taste of human flesh. There's some neuroscience-y stuff in there that I don't care to go into, nor do I fully understand, but it affects everything and everyone in this series.
There are the crazies who want to build an army out of the Changed. There are those who want to hole up in a settlement of their own making and forget the rest of the world exists. Then there are those who simply want to survive, to make some semblance of a new life for themselves now that the world has gone to pieces. And then there are the Changed who are something...more.
I loved Alex and Tom and Ellie -- the three original characters from the first book -- but I think Simon/Wolf fascinated me the most. His story was just coming to light in the last book, but after learning everything in Monsters, I believe he might be the toughest survivor of them all, pre-EMP and after. And I can't believe his story still isn't finished. I'm a big supporter of the open-ended conclusion and leaving the reader to determine how things really ended, but I also really need to know if there's more of a resolution to this character's story ARC, especially where Alex is concerned.
Monsters was probably the most intense book of the three, which is saying quite a bit. It left me breathless and in tears and desperately wanting to know more. I know 821 pages is daunting, but I encourage you to read this unforgettable story, starting from the beginning with Ashes. If I remember correctly, that installment is told singularly from Alex's POV and should give you a great feel for the authenticity of the series and how well researched it is.
If you're a fan of zombie or post-apocalyptic novels, I probably don't have to convince you to read this series. However, if you're one of those opposed to the gore and horror of this type of novel, I implore you to look past all that and give these books a chance. Look to the heart of the story, instead, and see that it's actually a pretty beautiful (and brilliant) story of human survival. And, hey, all three books are out now, so you can read them back-to-back and avoid all of those memory issues I ran into. ;0) Also, all three of these books were 5-star reads for me, if that helps. :D
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Teaser Tuesday #73: Antigoddess by Kendare Blake & Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• 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!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Author: Kendare Blake
Series: Goddess War, book #1
Publisher: Tor Teen
Publication Date: September 10, 2013
Source: ARC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Old Gods never die…
Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.
Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.
These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning.
Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out.
Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.
The Goddess War is about to begin.
Uh oh! Sounds like somebody's got some 'splainin' to do! =) Enjoying this one so much already...so glad to read something else from Kendare Blake, even if it isn't about Cas Lowood. ;0)
Author: Ilsa J. Bick
Series: Ashes Trilogy, book #3
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Publication Date: September 10, 2013
Source: received from publisher via Edelweiss
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
When her parents died, Alex thought things couldn't get much worse-until the doctors found the monster in her head.
She headed into the wilderness as a good-bye, to leave everything behind. But then the end of the world happened, and Alex took the first step down a treacherous road of betrayal and terror and death.
Now, with no hope of rescue-on the brink of starvation in a winter that just won't quit-she discovers a new and horrifying truth.
The Change isn't over.
The Changed are still evolving.
And...they've had help.
With this final volume of The Ashes Trilogy, Ilsa J. Bick delivers a riveting, blockbuster finish, returning readers to a brutal, post-apocalyptic world where no one is safe and hope is in short supply.
A world where, from these ashes, the monsters may rise.
This book is long and there are so many points-of-view, even more than I remember in the last book, which was a lot even then. But I'm able to follow it with relative ease, despite how the galley cuts off and spaces things unevenly. I like it, but I'm almost wondering if I should have saved this for audio because I loved Katherine Kellgren as the narrator for Ashes, but I don't see a release date on Audible. :(
What are you teasing this week? Share it in the comments or leave a link so I can visit!
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Blog Tour: Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick - Guest Post
The Changed will grow in numbers.
The Spared may not survive.
Series: Ashes Trilogy, book #1
Publication Date: September 6, 2011
An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.
Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.
For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.
Author Ilsa J. Bick crafts a terrifying and thrilling novel about a world that could be ours at any moment, where those left standing must learn what it means not just to survive, but to live amidst the devastation.
My review of Ashes can be found here. Also, Ilsa wanted me to direct you to a recap she put together on her site so you're prepared for all of the Shadows awesomeness: So You Read Ashes a Year Ago...
Author: Ilsa J. Bick
Series: Ashes Trilogy, book #2
Publisher: Egmont USA
Publication Date: September 25, 2012
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Even before the EMPs brought down the world, Alex was on the run from the demons of her past and the monster living in her head. After the world was gone, she believed Rule could be a sanctuary for her and those she’d come to love. But she was wrong.
Now Alex is in the fight of her life against the adults, who would use her, the survivors, who don’t trust her, and the Changed, who would eat her alive.
Welcome to Shadows, the second book in the haunting apocalyptic Ashes Trilogy: where no one is safe and humans may be the worst of the monsters.
My review of Shadows can be found here.
Writing is . . . you know, I don’t want this to sound bleak because it’s not, but writing is, yes, creative, but it is also a job. I have to show up for work, and I have to show up for work on time. I have to produce product on time, which means I have to watch my productivity; see what interferes with me getting my work done.
This means: I get up (usually by 6 a.m.); I have coffee; I answer some email or read a bit of the news; and then I start working. If I am drafting an outline or writing a book, it’s no different; I have goals for each day that must be met, and I don’t go to bed until I meet those goals. Sometimes that means I’m done in five hours; sometime that means I work for fourteen. For this last big deadline I had, I was working for the last six weeks of it pretty much non-stop, seven days a week, more than twelve hours a day. I have no idea what happened in the world other than it didn’t end, and my husband didn’t eat a cat.
Now does that mean I had a terrible time? No. I love my job. One of the great things about my job is I get to make things up; I live, eat, and breathe my characters and their world. I go through a lot of Kleenex. And I love learning new things; that’s one of the great perks of being a writer: research, although for this trilogy, I didn’t need to so very much because, you know, I’m a doctor; I studied science; I went to school for thirteen years to be a doc, so all that went into the making of the trilogy.
But even after you’ve got the book out the door, the work doesn’t stop. I feel terrible and empty as soon as that puppy’s out of here, and so I’m immediately moving on in my head and otherwise to the next project. I’m all about what’s next.
In between, though, there are blogs to do, emails to answer, some social networking to cram into the day. Any of that kind of writing, I normally do either first thing (just email, really) and then only at the end of the creative part of the day (and only if there’s time). Writing a blog is very different than crafting a novel, and I don’t want to mess myself up. But when I’m on deadline, all that is secondary, too. The book is, first and foremost, my primary concern.
So, yeah . . . I’m a workaholic.
Workaholic or not, we're glad for it! I'm curious about the mention of the cat...wondering if there was an incident there. :) Also, Ilsa sounds about writing like I am about reading. I'm so sad to see one book end that I immediately pick up another and slack off on reviews in-between. :-|
Among other things, I was an English major in college and so I know that I’m supposed to write things like,”Ilsa J. Bick is
Find Ilsa & her books on her website & on Twitter.
Big, big thanks to Ilsa J. Bick and Egmont USA for putting this tour together. I can't wait to see what else is in store for Alex and the others in Monsters, the final book in the series! In response to a comment on her site, Ilsa says this: "MONSTERS Spoiler: Things get worse: much, much worse." Is that even possible?!?
Monday, September 24, 2012
Review: Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick
Author: Ilsa J. Bick
Series: 2nd book in the Ashes trilogy
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Publication Date: September 25, 2012
Source: Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Even before the EMPs brought down the world, Alex was on the run from the demons of her past and the monster living in her head. After the world was gone, she believed Rule could be a sanctuary for her and those she’d come to love. But she was wrong.
Now Alex is in the fight of her life against the adults, who would use her, the survivors, who don’t trust her, and the Changed, who would eat her alive.
Welcome to Shadows, the second book in the haunting apocalyptic Ashes Trilogy: where no one is safe and humans may be the worst of the monsters.
I had to take a minute to catch my breath and collect my thoughts before writing this review. I have so much to say and I'm not sure where to start, but I know that I want to keep this one shorter than my Ashes review...that one was a novel in itself. Suffice it to say, Shadows was one jaw-dropping moment after another, and though I feared for Alex, I never wanted it to end.
Shadows resumes right where Ashes left off, but I suggest that you re-read Ashes before diving into this second installment. There are flashbacks and other methods used to refresh your memory, but they don't happen all at once in the first chapter like in so many novels, and so I found myself a bit confused in the beginning. I rather liked that feeling, though...as if I were in the thick of things right along with Alex, not knowing who to trust or where to turn.
Lies and betrayal. Aside from running from/fighting off the Changed, the Chuckies, the zombies -- whatever you want to call them at this point -- that seemed to be the main theme. In Ashes, we only read from Alex's point-of-view, and so we only knew people's motivations as she saw them. But in Shadows, there are so many perspectives that it's hard to keep track of at times. Some of them actually led to a better insight into character motivations. Some led to comprehension of the environmental and behavioral changes as a result of the EMP blast that changed the world as these characters knew it. Some just drove me crazy, despite any awareness or understanding they might have left me with. All said and done, though, they all tell a very realistic, if not horrific, version of the events after the EMP detonation.
SOOOO much happens in Shadows. So much running. So much fighting. So much hoping. And although this novel is 528 pages, it never felt long. The pacing was such that I could barely catch my breath between chapters and POV changes. I was steadfastly attempting to figure out just what was going on, who was on who's side, but as much as I tried, I was constantly proven wrong. This novel may be a lot of things, but predictable is not one of them.
I recently read Outpost by Ann Aguirre, and these two novels are based on very similar ideas, though they are executed in two amazingly different ways. The writing styles are each unique and exciting to read, but without divulging too much of the plot, all I can say is that they maintain a similar premise when it comes to the evolution of the "zombies". It was very interesting to watch the way the two worlds each evolved and how older citizens always seem to revert to the old ways.
Shadows was gritty and gruesome and terrifying. But it was also another one of those emotional journeys that strikes you to the core, leaving you as vulnerable as the characters in the story. Ilsa J. Bick really goes for the shock factor with this series, and if the increase in action and suspense just from the first novel is any indication, I might need a respirator on hand to read the last book in this trilogy.
Rating:
Be sure to stop back by at the end of October, as I'll have a guest post from the author as part of the Shadows Blog Tour!
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Teaser Tuesday #24: Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• 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!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
This week's teaser comes from the following book:
Author: Ilsa J. Bick
Series: Book two in The Ashes Trilogy
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Publication Date: September 25, 2012
Source: Publisher/Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Even before the EMPs brought down the world, Alex was on the run from the demons of her past and the monster living in her head. After the world was gone, she believed Rule could be a sanctuary for her and those she’d come to love. But she was wrong.
Now Alex is in the fight of her life against the adults, who would use her, the survivors, who don’t trust her, and the Changed, who would eat her alive.
Welcome to Shadows, the second book in the haunting apocalyptic Ashes Trilogy: where no one is safe and humans may be the worst of the monsters.
My teaser:
I listened to the audio for Ashes, and I was out of breath the entire time, just listening to Katherine Kellgren narrate. But even though I'm reading this second installment myself, I still find myself gasping for air often. If you've read Ashes, you know that Alex not only overcomes so much physically but also mentally, and both aspects have been ratcheted up exponentially in Shadows. I'm shocked and appalled one minute and elated the next. And I still know that I'm going to be on the edge of my seat right up until the very end because there's still more of the story to come.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Waiting on Wednesday: Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's WoW selection is...
The Changed will grow in numbers.
The Spared may not survive.
Even before the EMPs brought down the world, Alex was on the run from the demons of her past and the monster living in her head. After the world was gone, she thought Rule was a sanctuary for her and those she'd come to love.
But she was wrong.
Now she's in the fight of her life against the adults who would use her, the survivors who don't trust her, and the Changed who would eat her alive.
Welcome to Shadows, the second book in the haunting apocalyptic Ashes Trilogy: where no one is safe and humans may be the worst of the monsters.
Why I'm waiting: First off, I need to know that Alex doesn't get eaten. The ending of Ashes was uber-creepy and left me open-mouthed and panting. I need to know that everything Alex has been through hasn't been for naught.
Also, I'm kind of on a zombie-kick as of late. Just finished This is Not a Test, which I LOVED, and I'm about to start Something Strange and Deadly, which I'm sure I'll love because it sounds similar to Dearly, Departed, and I really enjoyed that one.
So, what are you waiting on this week?
Friday, April 6, 2012
Audiobook Review: Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
Narrator: Katherine Kellgren
Series: Ashes Trilogy
An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.
Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.
For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.
Author Ilsa J. Bick crafts a terrifying and thrilling novel about a world that could be ours at any moment, where those left standing must learn what it means not just to survive, but to live amidst the devastation.
kind ofseriously addicted to dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels. Books that fall in this category make up my third largest genre-related book shelf on Goodreads. Coming in at probably 90%, it’s the shelf with the most books I’ve actually read from any single genre, period. Sure, there are still a few books I’ve shelved under this heading that I haven’t read, but all in good time.Rating:
And for your viewing pleasure, the cover of Shadows, the sequel to Ashes, was just recently revealed:
I LOVE this cover, and if I wasn't already chomping at the bit for this sequel, I definitely would be after seeing that creepy cover. Looks like she's being chased, which makes sense, but it really adds to the creepy-factor. What do you think?
Friday, October 7, 2011
TGIF #11
TGIF is hosted by Ginger at GReads! In this weekly feature, Ginger poses a question to her followers and then asks everyone to link up at the end of the post, sharing their responses.
This question makes me feel like I do when the in-laws are coming for a visit. You know how you have to rush around cleaning and making everything perfect before they get there? Same goes for my TBR pile. I want to clean it up before exposing it to you guys because that thing is a mess right now!
Currently, it consists of quite a few ARCs I've acquired recently and not yet had time to read because of the moves (yes, plural...see this post for explanation). Then there's all the books that have recently been released that I've also not found the time for. And, of course, my Nook is full of books I've not yet read. I work full-time and I have a three-year-old, so sometimes it's hard to find the time to fully engulf myself in the worlds of my books, but I think I do alright balancing everything for the most part.
Except that darn TBR pile*. Seriously, I probably have close to 100 "real" books and ARCs still packed in boxes, waiting to be read. There's probably another 20 on my Nook. But now that we're in a house and I have my office back, I have more space (read: I get a bigger bookshelf!) so I plan to get them all unpacked this weekend, and I think I'm going to put them in order of how I want to read them. Wait, that plan has fail written all over it. I'm never in the mood to read what I thought I'd want to read next. (Does that ever happen to you?) Plus, I have several more new releases queued up in my B&N cart, waiting for me to click that little button and make them mine.
I say this all the time, and I think the hubs is starting to agree with me, but I have a real problem. There's no way I'm going to get through all these books. Or is there? I have some vacation time stored up. Maybe I take a reading vacation, without the hubby or kiddo to distract me? That actually sounds pretty appealing. And it's a cheap vacation. :) But I digress.
You know what else slows down my reading progress? Actually reviewing the books I read. Don't get me wrong, I love to review and discuss and get others' reactions to the books I've read. But I think I could get through my TBR pile 20% faster if I didn't review the books afterward. I say this because I tend to agonize over what I want to say in my reviews. But I love doing this, so no use whining about it, right? Right.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
In My Mailbox #9
In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It's a weekly meme where we all get to brag about the books and swag we got in the mail, for review, won in contests, etc.
I got some great books this week, people. But I started a Fall Challenge -- my first ever -- and so as part of this challenge, I'm trying to use books I already own to complete it. I've already picked my books for the challenge, which spans the months of September through November and requires nine books, and I only had to purchase two books. I would say I'm proud of myself, but I also bought books that weren't on my list. Oy.
Okay on to the spoils:
For review:
The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen
Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Purchased:
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
Hades by Alexandra Adornetto
The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore/James Frey, et al.
Audiobooks:
Eon, Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
Eona, The Last Dragoneye by Alison Goodman
Swag:
Dog tag for pre-ordering Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
Signed bookmarks for Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey
What did you get in your mailbox this week?
P.S. I'll be reading, reviewing and giving away a copy of The Perks of Being a Wallflower for Banned Books week, so check back for that.
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starryeyedjen
- I work with numbers by day, and I'm a mommy and avid reader by night. I'm a self-proclaimed Spreadsheet Queen, and I'll read anything you put in front of me. I seriously love all the books! And I adore audiobooks, too!
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