Carnival of Souls
by Melissa Marr
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: September 4th 2012
Pages: 306 (hardcover)
Source: finished copy from publisher
Author's website | GoodReads

In a city of daimons, rigid class lines separate the powerful from the power-hungry. And at the heart of The City is the Carnival of Souls, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition that allows every daimon a chance to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures--if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live.

All Mallory knows of The City is that her father--and every other witch there--fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of a typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it's only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable. While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the Carnival of Souls.

From Melissa Marr, bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely series and "Graveminder," comes a brand-new tale of lush secrets, dark love, and the struggle to forge one's own destiny.

Carnival of Souls captivated me from the very first page. The author is a genius at creating intricate worlds of magic that are filled with darkness and intrigue. The writing is superb, and the reality of it all is so superb, it will frighten you to the core. Marr excels at making lush and macabre alluring.

The story is told in the three points of view of three uniquely different characters, namely Mallory, Kaleb, and Aya. The characters are each facing their own battles. They all have dreams and aspirations in their hearts to overcome their struggles, but the unexpected never ceases to occur. Mallory, Kaleb, and Aya are from different worlds and standings in life, but they have a lot more in common than they think.

I enjoyed reading about Aya and Kaleb and I really connected with them and felt for them. I still have a lot to learn about Mallory though, as much as she needs to learn about herself. I have to say that I hosetly thought that the 'love' between Mallory and Kaleb was incredibly empty to me. I rarely felt that they truly liked each other beyond their mutual attraction and interest. I cannot vouch for my understanding of daimon love though.

As for my favorite character, I would have to say that I enjoyed reading about the secondary characters more. Their backstory had more base and structure, and they were much more interesting in every sense. I particularly favor Kaleb's best friend Zevi and Mallory's adoptive father Adam. That doesn't mean that I hated the main characters though, they caught my attention and interest in their own ways. Each of their stories are interwoven throughout the story, which makes things incredibly exciting and unpredictable.

Carnival of Souls is set in two different worlds: The City; where the daemons rule the streets, and the human world; the place where the daemons banished the witches who once thrived and brought life to The City. At the heart of the city lies the Carnival of Souls, where both murder and pleasure are offered for sale. The world building is ineffable, as any world that Melissa Marr creates. The City was described so vividly that I could see the beauty and horror of it with my own eyes.

The book was beautifully written in Marr's own distinct style and had a great solid plot that was uniquely interesting. The subject matter is extremely raw and dark but it's honest and never sugar-coats. This story is surrounded by secrets and lies. Everyone and everything is not what it seems. Melissa Marr has created yet another world unlike any other; filled with loyalty, family, love, evil, treason, and murder. This book serves as a prequel of some sorts, paving the way for interesting twists and turns and promises a new series straight from Marr's wicked imagination.

Buy the book from: The Book Depository | National Bookstore | Fully Booked

Thanks to HarperCollins International, readers from the Philippines get the chance to win a finished copy of the book! Fill up the Rafflecopter below to join in the fun :)

Young Adult / New Adult
Title: 6 Seconds of Life
Author: Tonya Fitzharris
Date Published: 9/1/12

Maura has just jumped.

Now she has precisely six seconds until she hits the water below her—just six more seconds until she is finally freed from her mundane and aimless existence.  Freed of all of the regrets and disappointments that have haunted her throughout her nineteen years.
She just needs to be free.

But as she falls, the most pivotal points of her life start to replay like a movie in her head: her family falling apart, her first love, her first heartbreak, her first true friends, and her first betrayal.  As she remembers these moments that brought her to this point, will she feel a sense of peace?  Or will her death be her greatest regret?

Doesn't that blurb make you want to go out and get yourself a copy? If you need a little more convincing, here's a little excerpt from the book:

Buy the book from: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Smashwords

Tonya Fitzharris is a writer, reader, blogger, mediocre cook, photographer, runner, Florida native, and cat lover. She used to be a Middle School English Teacher, but now she's trying out the whole novel writing thing. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and her Belgian cat named Waffles.

Website | Twitter: @tonyafitzharris | Facebook

I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1)
by Pittacus Lore
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: August 23rd 2011
Pages: 496 (hardcover)
Source: finished copy from publisher
Author's website | GoodReads

Nine of us came here.
We look like you.
We talk like you.
We live among you--but
We are not you.
We have powers you dream of having.
We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books--
But we are real.
They caught Number One in Malaysia. Number Two in England. And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.
I am Number Four. I am next.

I am never going to judge a book by it's movie ever again. I was never interested in reading the series because I thought that it was over-hyped and too mainstream. I'm sorry for being such a hipster about it, but yeah. When the publisher offered to send me copies for review, I was hesitant, but then decided to go for it. I mean, why not? Right? And I don't regret that decision at all.


Four is a 15 year old boy who is used to a life of hiding and riding. Henri, his Cepan/guardian always reminds him to don't do anything stupid and don't attract any attention to himself. Four almost never follows this though, and whenever something bad happens they pack up, burn everything except for a mysterious chest, and leave.

While talking to a cute girl at a beach party, Four's ankle burns and heats up, signalling the death of another member of the Garde. The Mogadorians, the antagonists in the book, can only kill them in order. They killed Three, so they're coming after Four next. As soon as Henri finds out, they continue their ritual of running and leaving, and find themselves in a little town in Ohio called Paradise. Four now goes by the name of John Smith. As his powers and gifts develop, he learns how to be truly loved, and love in return.

I Am Number Four has captivated me in a way that no other YA science fiction ever has. World building is always important in stories like these, and the writer definitely did not disappoint. Authors of books like these have to describe and explain other worlds to the reader, and I tend to get bored whenever they do that. I Am Number Four made me the complete opposite of bored. It kept me on my toes and thrilled me to the core. I believed in Four and Henri's world. I believed in Lorien.

The book was action-packed and filled with romance that would make any girl swoon. The other characters were also very interesting to read about, and the story didn't just focus on one character. I loved this book enough to want to read the next one. I Am Number Four is definitely mainstream, but with good reason. I am now officially a new member of the Lorien Legacies fan club.

Defiance (Defiance #1)
by C.J. Redwine
Genre: YA Science Fiction > Dystopia
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication date: August 28th 2012
Pages: 403 (hardcover)
Source: finished copy from publisher
Author's website | GoodReads 

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city's brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father's apprentice, Logan--the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same one who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but a fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

This book nearly gave me a heart attack. Remember those scary horror-themed amusement park rides that start slow and accelerates when you're off guard? Defiance is exactly like that.

The story is set in Baalboden, and the places beyond the walls that surround it. Their world is constantly threatened by a beast called The Cursed One, and the only way to be safe is to pledge allegiance to the Commander, a tyrant of a leader who can no longer be trusted with his powers. The world building is intricate, and never fails to amaze me. Their world didn't differ too much from other dystopian worlds out there, but it still added something fresh and unique to the genre. The settings were described in detail and I felt like I was a part of the book and could see everything in front of me.

 Rachel, the protagonist, deals with a lot of emotional heartache throughout the book. She had so much stress, sadness, anger and despair, but her 'strong girl' front refuses to break down and everything just builds up inside her. I could feel her emotions slowly rise up to the surface though, and her development really struck me in way that gave me hope. She was fierce and headstrong, and did things that would change her forever, but she never strayed.

Our other hero, Logan, was much easier to dissect and understand as a character. He lost his mother at an early age and grew up as an outcast because of the Commander, but he isn't as vengeful as Rachel. He is much more calm and sensible, and he always had a bunch of back-up plans on his sleeve. Rachel's grandfather Oliver took him in when no one else would, so he is extremely appreciative of everything and everyone around him. Rational, smart, and noble, Logan is a far cry from the broody and mysterious types that we usually meet, and it made me love him even more. Logan also has an array of gadgets and inventions that would pop up throughout the novel, and I really appreciated the intricacy and uniqueness of each one.

Like any other hero, Rachel and Logan each had their own fatal flaw. Rachel was too reckless and impulsive, never thinking thoroughly on how her actions would impact others. She would always rebel and show off that she wasn't a weak little lady, and Logan always had to save her from herself. I sometimes saw her as a tad bit selfish, but with reason. Logan had a hard time learning how to trust people, and it often led him to greater disasters. For someone so smart, he could be very dense and he had a hard time understanding people.


Defiance is a book that deals with a lot of tricky issues. A corrupt government, secrets hidden in plain sight, dangerous war tools, and a love blossoming from the pain of loss, you never know what could happen. There's mystery, intrigue, and darkness- but it is also hopeful and vibrant. Defiance is not afraid to show the readers that there is always darkness and that terrible things happen, but sometimes those terrible things- they save you.

Purchase this book from: The Book Depository | Amazon | Fully Booked

The long wait is finally over! One of the most anticipated book releases of the year, J.K. Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy, will be launched in the Philippines today, September 27 at exactly 3 pm by National Book Store.

J.K. Rowling is the author of the biggest selling young adult series of all-time, Harry Potter, which have sold over 450 million copies worldwide. The Harry Potter books have also been adapted into eight blockbuster movies.

Shop online at www.nationalbookstore.com. Follow National Book Store on Facebook and Twitter for the latest events and exclusive promos and contests.

I’m happy to be one of the tour stops for Poltergeeks tour today. It’s a nice and quirky book that is perfect for Halloween. Here’s more information about the book:


Poltergeeks (Poltergeeks #1)
by Sean Cummings 
Expected publication: October 2nd 2012 by Strange Chemistry

15-year-old Julie Richardson is about to learn that being the daughter of a witch isn't all it's cracked up to be. When she and her best friend, Marcus, witness an elderly lady jettisoned out the front door of her home, it's pretty obvious to Julie there's a supernatural connection. 

In fact, there's a whisper of menace behind increasing levels of poltergeist activity all over town. After a large-scale paranormal assault on Julie's high school, her mother falls victim to the spell Endless Night. Now it's a race against time to find out who is responsible or Julie won't just lose her mother's soul, she'll lose her mother's life.

Poltergeeks is the kind of book that draws you in from page one. A poltergeist kicking an old woman out of her own home? A teen witch stopping by to save the day? That's definitely something that would peak anyone's interest.

Julie is a teenage witch in training. Sarcastic, snarky, and witty, it was hard for me not to like her. I had her pegged as the cliched 'special and beautiful girl who doesn't think she is', but she certainly proved me wrong. Trust me, the amount of badassery in this girl is above 9000. Her best friend and the Robin to her Batman is Marcus, your average awkward and geeky boy who is head over heels in love with her, and is always willing to give her strength when she needs someone to lean on. They're probably the oddest save-the-world duo, but I'm not ashamed to admit that I was silently cheering them on throughout their whole adventure.

I found myself loving each and every one of Sean's characters. He embezzled them with an intense complexity and vulnerabilities that made them all so real. Their relationships with each other also made my reading experience much more enjoyable. I loved the complicated relationship Julie had with her mother the most. The character development in the book rendered me speechless because of a variety of reasons, and I applaud Sean for that.

The book is a perfect mix of creepy and geeky, magic and reality. Sean Cummings was boss at consistently keeping the mood of the scenes just right throughout the book. Poltergeeks was an adrenaline filled and fast paced read. Sometimes I felt that a lot of things were going on at different intervals, but I realize that it was necessary considering the circumstances Julie and Marcus found themselves in. The scenes were also well described and I didn't want to skim through a single paragraph.

All in all, Poltergeeks was a quick read that sent me on a roller-coaster and left me wanting for more. It succeeded in combining the high tech modern world and the age-old witch trials, creating a heartwarming and quirky read. I am definitely looking forward to more.

Sean Cummings is a comic book geek, superhero junkie, zombie fan and a total nerd. (He's also a gold mine of completely useless information about films made prior to 1960. Don't get him started on "Arsenic and Old Lace" because he won't shut up about it.) He's been writing since his Grade Five teacher Ms. Flowers said that he might possibly have some talent and that he should continue writing...
... which he did and still does every single day.