Giveaway: Cat Girl's Day Off

Today I have the awesome chance to for you guys to win a copy of Cat Girl's Day Off by Kimberley Pauley which is published by Tu Books!

First off head on over to The Enchanted Inkpot to check out an exclusive Q&A with both the author and the editor of this book! Here's a little excerpt to get you hooked:

Ello – Thanks for publishing a book with Asian characters that are not stereotypes in any way! It is so refreshing to see that! Even Nat’s family was real (well except for the talents part) and not caricatures. So that takes us to the diversity question, which is always a hot topic. Given Tu’s mission, can you both share with us how important diversity is to the both of you? What does diversity mean to you?

Stacy – To me, it means intercultural connections. I’m white, though of course that could mean a variety of cultures of origin (in my case, Swedish, Irish, Scottish, English, German, Prussian, and a little bit Cherokee and Choctaw), and growing up in the rural Midwest I knew so few people from anything other than a Swedish/German/English background. But throughout my adult life, I’ve met so many people whose experiences/cultural background/faces are different than mine, and I want to them (and the fantastic/science fiction versions of them) reflected in the books I read just as much as I want to see myself. As it’s been said so many times, books should be both windows and mirrors—we all need both.

Kimberly – Growing up, I don’t think I ever thought about how the characters in books didn’t look like me. It just wasn’t something that even occurred to me as I read about girl detectives with titian hair or English school children passing through magical wardrobes. Possibly the first time it really hit me was when I read Justina Chen Headley’s Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies), which wasn’t until 2007! I’ve since made it a point to look for more diverse characters. There aren’t as many as I’d like to see, that’s for sure, though I do think it is getting better. Slowly.

To me, I think we’ll be where we need to be when it’s something we don’t have to talk about anymore. That’s actually something I think I did okay with in this book. Nat’s half-Chinese, but it isn’t important that she is. The story isn’t about her race or ethnicity, just like it isn’t integral to the story that Oscar is gay. He just is.

Check out the rest of the awesome Q&A here.

Intrigued? Here's the book summary:

Natalie Ng’s little sister is a super-genius with a chameleon-like ability to disappear. Her older sister has three Class A Talents, including being a human lie detector. Her mom has laser vision and has one of the highest IQs ever. Her dad’s Talent is so complex even the Bureau of Extra-Sensory Regulation and Management (BERM) hardly knows what to classify him as.

And Nat? She can talk to cats.

The whole talking-to-cats thing is something she tries very hard to hide, except with her best friends Oscar (a celebrity-addicted gossip hound) and Melly (a wannabe actress). When Oscar shows her a viral Internet video featuring a famous blogger being attacked by her own cat, Nat realizes what’s really going on…and it’s not funny.

(okay, yeah, a frou-frou blogger being taken down by a really angry cat named Tiddlywinks, who also happens to be dyed pink? Pretty hilarious.)

Nat and her friends are catapulted right into the middle of a celebrity kidnapping mystery that takes them through Ferris Bueller’s Chicago and on and off movie sets. Can she keep her reputation intact? Can she keep Oscar and Melly focused long enough to save the day? And, most importantly, can she keep from embarrassing herself in front of Ian?

Find out what happens when the kitty litter hits the fan.

This book sounds awesome for a multitude of reasons. The main character is half Chinese plus her best guy friend is gay? It's like they stole my life and put it into a book! Except of course I don't have the ability to talk to cats. A pity that one.

The Immortal Rules Q&A with Julie Kagawa!

Today Harlequin Teen has provided me with some great Q&A from Julie Kagawa all about her new book The Immortal Rules! Read on if you want to find out about Julie's favorite butt kicking heroines, why she decided to write a vampire book after all, and whether or not she would choose to die or become a vampire!

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After writing the Iron Fey series for so many years, how difficult was it to immerse yourself in a futuristic world filled with vampires, rabids, and an enslaved human race?

It was... very different. I think the hardest thing for me was the fact that this tory does take place in the real world - a futuristic, vampire-infested world, but the real world nonetheless. Things had to make sense, for example: how far can a large group walk in a single day if there were no roads, they were going through thick woods, and there were children in the group? I had to have logical reasons for everything; I couldn't just make something work" because of faery magic," lol.

Just like Meghan Chase in the Iron Fey series, the main character in The Immortal Rules, Allison Sekemoto is a "take charge and kick butt" kind of girl. Is this intentional? What woman - real or fictional, alive or deceased - do you look up to or admire?

Yes, Allison comes from a very different world than Meghan Chase. Meghan's upbringing was pretty normal; Allison grew up among vampires and monsters, where every day was a fight to live, so she couldn't afford to be weak. While Meghan had to learn to "take charge and kick butt," Allison's first impulse is stab first, talk later.

As for female role models, the first that comes to mind - when it comes to kicking vampire butt anyway - is Buffy Summers. Thank you Joss Whedon , for making me love feisty, snarky, heroines who can dust all sorts of nasties but who also look good in a cheerleading outfit! ;)

You mention in your acknowledgements of The Immortal Rules that at the beginning of your writing career you promised yourself you wouldn't write a vampire book. What changed your mind?

Well, there were already so many really good books about our favorite bloodsuckers, so many stories and ideas, I thought I didn't have anything new to add to the masses. I was actually toying with a post-apocalyptic YA novel when my agent mentioned I might want to try writing a vampire series. I wasn't intrigued with the idea at first, but then I thought about combining vampires with the post-apocalyptic novel and then the rest sort of fell into place.

Allison claims she hates vampires and believes they are monsters yet when faced with a choice of die or become one, she becomes a vampire. Would you have made that same decision?

Me personally? No. I'm like Zeke in the belief that there is something better waiting for me beyond this life and I just have to do my best until it's time for me to go on. Besides, I love pizza and Mountain Dew too much to give it up.

Who do you think the most complex character is in The Immortal Rules?

Probably, Kanin Allie's sire. He's a vampire who has made his peace about being a monster, yet chooses to live by his own set of moral rules. He warns Allison about getting too close to humans, yet he does not kill unless he absolutely has to. He is tormented about something in his past that he refuses to share with anyone. He is certainly the most mysterious of all the characters, if not the most complex.

Before starting writing full time you were a professional dog trainer. Do the professions share any similarities?

Lol, well you have to think on your feet a lot. And some of the small dogs could be compared to tiny snapping goblins, but writing requires less dodging skills, though perhaps the same amount of creativity and problem solving.

When starting a new series, like Blood of Eden, do you have the entire series mapped out in detail or do you let the story develop book by book?

I have a high point that I write toward in each story; I know this and this has to happen, but getting from point A to point B usually develops as I go along.


And for the speed round:

What book have you read, and re-read, and read yet again?

Any of the Harry Potter books.



Favorite song to play when writing a fight scene?

My "favorites" change daily. Right now it's "Awake and Alive" by Skillet.

Worst job?

Working a kiosk in the mall during Christmas. It sold glass figurines, and the maneuvering space around hundreds of very breakable merchandise was quite small. I was like a bull in a china shop.

Best vacation spot?

Walt Disney World

Sweet or Salty?

Sweet.

One thing most people don't know about you - and would never guess!

I used to play the flute when I was a kid. I was really good at it too, but my instructor stopped teaching to have a family and I never went back to it.

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A big thanks to Harlequin Teen for providing this awesome Q&A!

Be sure to add The Immortal Rules to your shelf on Goodreads here and enter my giveaway for a copy here!

To find out more about Julie Kagawa  and her books be sure to check out her official website and follow her on Twitter!

Julia :)

Book Review: The Immortal Rules + Giveaway!

The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1)
by Julie Kagawa
504 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: April 24, 2012
Source: Publisher for Review (Thanks Harlequin Teen!)
Add this book to your shelf on Goodreads

In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

I am a HUGE skeptic when it comes to vampire novels. Because of some YA vampire lit out there *cough* Twilight *cough* I have avoided paranormal and basically all vampire stuff like the plague. In fact before reading The Immortal Rules the only other vampire novel I had ever read was Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan and that was only because it was forced upon me by my Library book club. So to say that I was a bit hesitant to read The Immortal Rules would be a huge understatement. Honestly, the only reason I decided to read it was because the author is Julie Kagawa and she's Asian and I still haven't read her Iron Fey series so I felt guilty. I know, shame on me. >.< I guess you could say I wasn't in the best mindset going into this book. I kept having to reassure myself with "It's not gonna be Twilight, IT'S NOT GONNA BE TWILIGHT" and lo and behold: It wasn't! Let me tell you I am beyond glad that I decided to give The Immortal Rules a chance because this book is FREAKING AMAZING vampires and all!

There are many reasons why I love this book but first and foremost is the heroine Allison Sekemoto. This girl can kick ass like nobodies business, she's Asian, AND she's my short buddy measuring in at only 5' tall (just like me)! Yeah, we're obviously fictional soul mates. But Asian shortness aside this girl is AWESOME. She's tough as nails, a true survivor, and even after she's been turned into a vampire she still tries her hardest to maintain a strong moral compass. Oh and did I mention that she wields a samurai sword? Yeah, she's a beast.

Another thing that I just love about The Immortal Rules is the way Julie Kagawa was able to create her post-apocalyptic world. It's hard enough to write a believable post-apocalyptic setting without adding in the craziness of vampires and rabids (which are basically a vampire/zombie cross-breed). This is a world like no one has written about before. It's totally unique and while it is definitely fiction it also seems like a believable apocalyptic future. Yes, even with the crazy vampireness it still has an element of reality to it. Nice job Julie Kagawa!

So the thing I was most skeptical about was definitely the vampires and Julie Kagawa pulled these guys off so well. No sparkling skin and longing looks ala Edward Cullen here! These vampires are BADASS. They're evil, and bloodthirsty (obviously), and not the kind of creature you would want to run into in a dark alley. Plus they rule the world. Literally. Plus I loved Allison's inner struggle of wanting to maintain her humanity and yet not being able to because she's been turned into a vampire. Ohhh the character issues and development! SO GOOD.

The Immortal Rules has everything you could want in a good novel. It's got awesome characters (Allison Sekemoto may just end up replacing Katniss Everdeen as my favorite female heroine!), great action and suspense, a darker futuristic setting, and even a little bit of romance. It's less a book about vampires and more a book that has vampires in it. For the paranormal lover and non-paranormal lover alike I would highly recommend this book! I give The Immortal Rules 5 out of 5 ice cream cones.

If The Immortal Rules is any indication of how good Julie Kagawa's The Iron Fey series is then I need to get reading that pronto! I am definitely now a HUGE Julie Kagawa fan!

Oh and The Immortal Rules has already been optioned to be a film. This has me super excited because if they end up making it the main heroine is gonna be Asian and will quite possibly end up being a hapa! OH YEAH! You do not even understand how excited that makes me.

And now for the giveaway!

Cover Comparison [30]

Cover Comparison is back guys! This week we're taking a look at the covers of The Heist Society by Ally Carter. Let's get started.

                                                  US Cover                     UK Cover


US Cover: To me this cover feels like it's trying really to hard to be cool and sophisticated but instead it comes off as a bit cheesy. It's got the model doing the whole smirky side grin plus the reflection of a painting in the sunglasses. And I haven't noticed it till now but what the heck is up with the light reflecting off the middle left of the sunglasses? *shakes head* However I do think this model has a great Kat look to her and I love the font they chose. Thumbs up on those fronts.

UK Cover: Okay so as much as I don't care for the US Cover of The Heist Society the UK Cover is even worse. Oh gosh don't get me started on this one. It literally makes me cringe just looking at it. >.< The model is all wrong and why they chose to do three different font colors is beyond me. Honestly I think it looks like a slapped together photoshop job that someone would do if they were entering a cover recreation contest and not like an official cover at all. Just bad.

So who wins? US Cover takes the crown here! It may be cheesy but the black white and red theme is great and the model they chose is perfect. The UK Cover is just way too cringeworthy.

Which cover of The Heist Society do YOU like best? Be sure to vote in the poll below and sound off in the comments about why you made your decision!

Edit: Some UK people have been saying that they haven't seen the UK cover before, only the US cover. After some research I think this cover might be the Australian one? I'm not sure but I do know it's a legit cover. :P

Have any suggestions for future cover comparisons? Leave them in this form!

Julia :)

Book Review: Glimmer

Glimmer
by Phoebe Kitanidis
352 pages
Publisher: Balzar + Bray
Publication Date: April 17th 2012
Source: Teen Book Scene
Add it to your shelf on Goodreads!

When Marshall King and Elyse Alton wake up tangled in each other's arms with zero memory of how they got there or even who they are, it's the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future.

Terrified by their amnesia, they make a pact to find the answers taht could restore their missing memories. As they piece together clues about their lives, they discover that they're in the idyllic resort town of Summer Falls, where darkness lurks beneath the town's perfect facade. Not only is the town haunted by sinister ghosts, but none of its living in habitants retain bad memories of anything - not the death of Marshall's mom, not the hidden violence in Elyse's family. Lonely in this world of happy zombies Marshall and Elyse fall into an intense relationship, but the secrets they're trying to uncover could be the death of their growing love - and everyone, and everything, they love in Summer Falls.

Glimmer is a strange, strange book. Honestly I'm not too surprised because after all the book does start with two teenagers waking up in bed naked together. Yep, you read that right. NAKED. Oh and did I mention these teenagers have no memory of who they are or how they got naked? Yeah, totally awkward. Especially when you're trying to explain the book to family and friends. I had this type of conversation multiple times:

Friend: What are you reading?

Me: Oh it's this book called Glimmer.

Friend: Cool, what's it about?

Me: Two teenagers who wake up in bed naked together with no memory of how they got there.

Friend. That sounds..... interesting? *looks at Julia like she's sprouted two heads*

Yep. I'm pretty sure some of my friends now think I have REALLY weird taste in books. Haha. But awkwardness aside Glimmer wasn't like anything I had read before. It's an eclectic mix of contemporary mystery and paranormal with some romance added in for good measure. All in all it's a unique and intriguing story and it wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be. The paranormal stuff really threw me for a loop. Don't get me wrong, I thought the story was alright, but gosh dang it, this book was just SO ODD.

The story is set in the fictional town of Summer Falls where the weather is always lovely and idyllic and people pass out from daily "heatnaps" that erase bad memories. Sound creepy? You have no idea. Before the stories end characters become comotose zombie's (only without the cool "I want to eat your brains factor"), people turn out to possess magical powers, and ghosts chase our lovely heroes.

Speaking of lovely heroes let's talk about Marshall and Elyse. Yep, the ones who wake up in bed naked together. These guys are interesting characters but they really didn't have a lot of depth. Of course they have lost their memories so they don't even know who they are but still: there has to be more to Elyse than her "wish" to run off to California and more to Marshall than his desire to get in Elyses pants. Okay so maybe I'm being a bit hard on Marshall, but even Marshall hates on himself partway through the book so I figure it's okay. :P

The problem for me was that Marshall and Elyse spent a lot of the story being selfish and I have a really hard time sympathizing with selfish characters. In the end they did make sacrifices and helped save the world (the world of Summer Falls at least) so I guess I can't be too hard on them but I still found it hard to like them. Not only that but their romance was really awkward and contrived. I'm just not into a lot of sexy times and this book definitely had some of that. :/

The plot itself was really crazy and totally blew my mind. I honestly didn't understand half of what went on in this book and I'm still sort of shaking my head and thinking "What the heck did I just read?" However I give mad props to Phoebe Kitanidis for writing such a crazy story. I don't know where she came up with this but the ingenuity is impressive. I will definitely be looking out for more of her stuff in the future!

I've been a bit hard on Glimmer but I really do think it was a cool and unique book. It wasn't necessarily my cup of tea but the mystery was intriguing and I LOVE that it's a stand alone novel. There need to be more stand alones in YA lit!

I give Glimmer 3 and a half out of 5 ice cream cones.

Julia :)