True Love's First Kiss Blog Tour!

ETA: Sorry about the misbehaving pictures and titles. I have no idea what's causing it...
Hey all. So sorry I've been AWOL this week- I just started my new job and have just finished reading this massive book for the tour:) To all the newcomers: Hi and welcome! Look around and enjoy, and if you like what you see please follow using whatever you want (my preferred method is GFC, but everything's good)!

True Love's First Kiss (The Queen of the Realm of Faerie 1-3)          

Heidi Garrett                                                                                          

 Romance, Fantasy                                                                                                                                                                                                        
    In the Enchanted World, true love’s first kiss is magic.

Nandana’s Mark, Book 1: When two half-faeries—Melia and her younger sister—are cursed under dreadful circumstances, true love’s first kiss is the remedy.

The Flower of Isbelline, Book 2: Nothing but true love’s first kiss can save Melia’s younger sister from blind ambition and ruin.

The Dragon Carnivale, Book 3: Melia must choose the freedom she cherishes or true love’s first kiss—and a relationship that promises to secure her place in the Whole.

The Queen of the Realm of Faerie is a fantasy fairy tale series that bridges the Mortal and Enchanted worlds. The main character, Melia, is an eighteen-year-old half-faerie, half-mortal. She lives in Illialei, a country in the Enchanted World, with her two sisters and their mother. Melia’s father has been exiled to the Mortal World, and her best friend is a pixie.

When the story opens in the first book, Melia is troubled by her dark moon visions, gossip she overhears about her parents at the local market, and the trauma of living among full-blooded faeries with wings—she doesn’t have any.

As the series unfolds, the historic and mystical forces that shape Melia’s life are revealed. Each step of her journey—to find the place where she belongs—alters her perceptions about herself, deepens her relationships with others, and enlarges her world view.

True Love’s First Kiss is a compilation of the first three books in this ongoing series.

First thing you should know about this book- it is biiiig. Took me longer than I expected to get invested into the story and even longer to finish it. Second thing you should know is that there are cliches in abundance- if words like true love's kiss, enchanted world, love at first sight etc bother you, this is probably not your book. 

Still here? Congratulations, you're a hard core reader. Not to worry, it's worth the perseverance. True Love's First Kiss features many strong female characters- Flora, Tatou, Melusine and Sevondi were some of my favorites. Fighters all the way:)

I also enjoyed how the book explored relationships between sisters, mothers and daughters, old lovers. In my opinion more could have happened in that front- but I immensely enjoyed what there was. The motives were it's strongest point- you could really see how everyone acted out of love, desire for revenge, or to save their world. I look forward to the next books- I'm interested to hear more about the Albiana and Melia's mother. 

In the spirit of the book tour, here is an excerpt of a chapter I liked: (I cut a bit from the middle) 

'Plantine, wait!'

In a heartbeat, her sister was gone.

'No!'

Melia's single word dissolved in a gale force that whipped the trees, threatening to rip the vines from her grip. The cycloning winds turned icy. Her teeth chattered. 

'Come and get her,' the dark voice challenged.

'You can count on that,' she whispered.' 

About the Author

Heidi Garrett is the author of The Queen of the Realm of Faerie series. Her personal message to all her readers is: 

Once upon a time, you lived in an enchanted world, too…

May you always see the magic in your life.

The Queen of the Realm of Faerie includes many strong female characters within an intricate fantasy land. It is also a fairy tale fantasy.

The first book, Nandana’s Mark, is one of those free ebooks; the second book, The Flower of Isbelline, is now available; and the third book, The Dragon Carnivale, will be released in June 2013.

Heidi's hope is that when you read her books, you will rediscover the enchantment in your own life. 

She currently resides in Eastern Washington State with her husband and their two cats. So far, she loves the snow. Being from the South, she finds it very magical.

www.heidigwrites.blogspot.com

Hope you guys enjoyed the tour! The author is a lovely woman who you should definitely contact through twitter! 

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Feature and Follow Friday

Feature and Follow Friday is a weekly meme/feature hosted by Alison Can Read & Parajunkee.

Hey guys! It's been awhile since I've done this meme and I've missed it! Such a great way to start conversations and meet new bloggers! Also, I'm nearing the 100 follower mark- and I think that might mean my first giveaway... just putting that out there;) 

This week's topic is:

How do you handle a book you don't like? Do you DNF or do you power through?

I always finish the book. I'm a little obsessive about that. For one I was raised to finish what I started. And two, because I believe in giving the book a full chance- sometimes they redeem themselves (even if only a little bit) with a good ending or what sounds like a promising sequel.
But in truth, I hardly ever pick up a book I don't think I'll like. I know my taste and can tell by the blurb, author, cover, or reviews if I'll like it. Usually I only ever read a book I don't like when reading something I was sent for review or for school- in both cases I have to finish anyway.

What about you? Do you suffer through or drop it? Let me know, leave me your links, or just say hi!

Have a great weekend!

Love,

Esty 

Review: The Woman who Rides Like a Man (Song of the Lioness #3) spoiler free

The Woman Who Rides Like a Man
(Song of the Lioness #3)
Tamora Pierce
Fantasy, Adventure

"Let her prove herself worthy as a man."

Newly knighted, Alanna of Trebond seeks adventure in the vast desert of Tortall. Captured by fierce desert dwellers, she is forced to prove herself in a duel to the death -- either she will be killed or she will be inducted into the tribe. Although she triumphs, dire challenges lie ahead. As her mythic fate would have it, Alanna soon becomes the tribe's first female shaman -- despite the desert dwellers' grave fear of the foreign woman warrior. Alanna must fight to change the ancient tribal customs of the desert tribes -- for their sake and for the sake of all Tortall.

Alanna's journey continues...

You can read my review of the second Alanna book here.

The Alanna books are really one of my favorite adventure series out there. I mean, what do Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl and Alex Rider all have in common? Oh, yeah. A MALE PROTAGONIST. Now I'm not saying she's the only one out there, but Clary and Cammie and Katniss all star in YA, and Alanna is a rare sight in middle grade adventure novels. Granted, in the past two books the Song of the Lioness chronicles have crossed over into YA.

That was my one nitpick. Those of you who remember the first book remember Alanna and her friends as 10-12 year olds, the kind of book you could give to a kid. The second and third of this series isn't really appropriate for that age anymore and that kind of disappoints me. I remember reading Alanna: The First Adventure years ago and I know now that it's good I only continued recently. There's nothing graphic or anything, but, and I hate to say this, Alanna is sleeping with her men left and right. I mean, yeah I'm used to the heroine choosing between two guys in a heart wrenching love triangle but come on, lady, you can't have both of them in your bed in one book. Multiple times. Give the sequels to children above 12-13 in my opinion.

That said, Alanna was as fun and kick-butt as usual. George was funny and Myles was insightful, just the way I like everyone:)

Actually I have one more problem. *minor spoiler alert, highlight to read*

Ms. Pierce, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH JON? I mean, we (your readers) know him and love him and he is NOT a jerk!! If there's one thing I hate it's when my favorite characters act OUT of character. I really hope for the fourth and final book he'll come back to himself. Then again, having read other peoples' reviews on Goodreads, I can see how his behaviour makes sense. Alas, maybe I just enjoyed the wishful thinking about Prince Charming.

*end spoiler alert*

Other than that? Gotta love the cover of the edition I read (showed above). Alanna, now a knight, dressed in armor, holding a sword and riding a war horse with her hair loose and chest unbound. Basically sums up the status transformation between books 2 and 3. Rating: 

2 more things: HAPPY BIRTHDAY JK ROWLING AND HARRY POTTER! Thank you for bringing the magic into my life. 

And eeeep! I start my first job tomorrow! Guess where? You got it. A local kids/teens bookstore:) Wish me luck!

Love,

Esty

I am back! with a Review: The Fault in Our Stars

I am back, people- I had an amazing month and hope you did too! I am now accepting review requests and taking emails/tweets/social whatever as usual:)


The Fault in Our Stars
John Green
Contemporary YA, "Cancer Book"

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

If you get around in the book world, you've heard of this one. And in one sentence- EVERY BIT OF THE HYPE WAS MORE THAN JUSTIFIED. TFioS was one of the most sensational, touching, sensitive, funny, realistic, sad, TRUE, heartwarming, and overall emotion-inspiring novels I've ever read.

The writing: John Green, everyone in the world is dust at your feet. I've always said this.

The plot: speechless. And I thought Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns (the only other JG books I've read) were epic. He outdid himself. I just never knew what was going to happen next, but when things did happen, they made total sense. (that was coherent, right?)

The characters: three words- AUGUSTUS FREAKING WATERS. You think Will Herondale has the most beautiful, hilarious, insightful, make-every-female-on-the-planet-faint lines? Think again. Augustus Waters could make Einstein swoon. I would quote you the best ones, but I would just have to attach a pdf file of the whole book because, yes, EVERY SINGLE WORD IN THAT BOOK SHOULD BE QUOTED. Especially Even the word 'okay'.

The end: I can't talk about it. The tears. (not necessarily sad ones though...)

Whom I'd recommend it to: EVERYONE over the age of like 12. Yes, even those no-it's-a-cancer-book people. The Fault in Our Stars is not a cancer book. It's not about death, it's about life. I couldn't stop thinking about it for a few days, and when I shoved it under my sister's nose until she read it she came to me freaking out after. Also, not in a bad way. This book won't depress you, it will make you think. It's the kinda book I will take everywhere and make everyone read, the kind I myself will reread every year or so. It is the kind of book that as soon as I finished it, I flipped back to the beginning. The kind you can't read in public because you laugh so hard you snort. Or because you cry so hard you sob.

Basically? BOUNCE TO THE TOP OF YOUR TBR. I promise, you won't regret it.
Rating:


Have a great day and stay tuned for my Summer of Standalones check-in, two book tours, and tons more reviews planned for August!
Love,
Esty