Comments off, Intense Debate on

11:27 PM Posted by Ella Preuss

Due to the amount of spam on the blog's posts, I've decided to install ID for those of you who wish to make comments.

However, this blog will be not be as regularly updated as our tumblr, deliriouslyfalling.tumblr.com

So, come on over and follow us there!

xo, Ella

Live Chat w/Lauren DeStefano on GR, Tue 19th

9:39 AM Posted by Ella Preuss

Join us on Tuesday, February 19th for a special discussion with author Lauren DeStefano! Lauren will be discussing her work, including her most recent book  Sever (The Chemical Garden #3)! 
[via Goodreads]
If you're a Fever fan and you'd like to chat with Lauren about her books, join the Chat Group on GR and prepare some questions for her! 

Billy Campbell has joined the DELIRIUM Pilot Cast!

5:28 PM Posted by Ella Preuss


image
According to TVLine.comThe Killing’s star is on board for the pilot, and what will hopefully be the TV Series. 
Campbell will play Thomas Fineman in the project, which is set in a world where love is deemed illegal and is able to be eradicated with a special procedure. 
[…] 
The pilot’s script was written by Karyn Usher (Prison Break), who will serve as an EP alongside Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope.
Remember that in the Pilot alone we’ll have the entire Delirium plot, plus other bits and pieces from Requiem, so we’ll jump straight to the thick of the action! 

I love him as Thomas! What are your thoughts?

xo, Ella

REQUIEM Book Tour Schedule

11:54 AM Posted by Ella Preuss


Here’s Lauren’s complete schedule for the upcoming month. March 6th to 9th are dates from theHarperCollins’ Dark Days Group TourLauren will also be at the LA Times Festival of Books in April. We’ll update on that schedule once we have the definitive info. 

Tuesday, March 5
Bethesda Library
7400 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814
5.00PM

Wednesday, March 6 
Provo Library
w/ guest appearance by Brodi Ashton Everbound 
550 N University Ave., Provo, UT 84601
7.00 PM

Thursday, March 7
University Books                     
Seattle, WA
*U District Location
6.30 PM  

Friday, March 8
Barnes & Noble Clackamas
12000 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97086
6.30 PM

Saturday, March 9
Tualatin Public Library
18878 SW Martinazzi Ave., Tualatin, OR 97062
10.00 AM-12.00 PM

Eugene Public Library
100 West 10th Ave., Eugene, OR 97401
4.00 PM-6.00 PM

Sunday, March 10
Mission Viejo Library
100 Civic Center, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
3.00 PM

Sunday, March 11
Rita and Truett Smith Public Library
300 Country Club Road Bldg 300 Wylie, TX 75098
3.30 PM

Tuesday, March 12
Hardesty Regional Library
Connor’s Cove Theater
8316 E 93rd St, Tulsa, OK 74133
7.00 PM

xo, Ella

TV Pilot News: Changes to be expected

11:53 AM Posted by Ella Preuss


Thanks to DeliriumFandom, I found this very interesting article about the changes the producers want to make to the Delirium storyline, in order to make it more appealling to viewers: 

1. Julian Fineman. In the novels, Julian is a character introduced in the second book, “Pandemonium.” His father is a public figure, leading the DFA — Deliria-Free America — cause against the Invalids. In the proposed television series, Julian is introduced right off the bat, as a sickly young man who lives next door to Lena’s best friend, Hana, and is confused by his powerful attraction to her, though she’s not particularly interested. Yes — Julian and Hana.

2. Lena’s mother. In the novels, Lena’s mother’s suicide makes Lena long for the cure and fear the dangers of love. In the pilot, it’s actually Lena’s father who she believes died because he was infected with “Deliria.” When she learns some shocking revelations about what actually happened to him, she’s driven to take drastic measures.

3. Ren. The pilot introduces a new character, Ren, another Invalid who is Alex’s best friend. Though Alex falls hard and fast for Lena, he’s oblivious to the fact that Ren’s feelings for him go beyond friendship. She’s a key part of the Invalid’s plan to resist the DFA, and ultimately goes undercover to infiltrate the government she’s planning to revolt against.

4. Pacing. The first episode of the TV series actually covers the entire plot of the first book, in addition to including information about Julian and the DFA that readers didn’t learn until the sequel. Of course, in order to cram all of that into 42 minutes, there are certain moments that are lost — particularly key bonding moments between Alex and Lena, like when he took her to his home in the Wilds, and the first time she was introduced to poetry. We’re hopeful that those things will come into play later.


The entire plot of Delirium into a single pilot sounds like a risky move, but I understand it completely. The producers wouldn’t want to waste any time getting to the thick of the action, and I get the feeling these changes won’t be so bad. 

The Julian plot is what I liked less, but again, it makes sense that they want to introduce him early in the story. 

A little video from Lauren!

9:50 AM Posted by Ella Preuss

The official Facebook page for the Delirium Trilogy posted this little video of Lauren giving us a shout out as we come closer to the release of REQUIEM!

She's such a sweetheart!

PS: Have you visited our new tumblr yet? It's still under contruction, but it's coming up nicely!

xo, Ella

Deliriously Falling's got a TUMBLR!

2:13 PM Posted by Ella Preuss

Hey guys!

Second post today, but I just wanted to let you know that we'll be moving the blog to our new (and lovely) tumblr soon!!!

Come check it out! 

xo, Ella

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1), by Rick Riordan

11:50 AM Posted by Ella Preuss

After a long time of not being in the Bloggy World, I decided I would make my return (however brief or extended it may be) now, so we can all wait for REQUIEM together!

Release Date: April 1st, 2006
Age Group: Middle Grade
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Source: Bought
Overall: 5 Monkeys
Interest: Series, Greek Mythology
Categories: Fantasy, 
Greek Mythology
Read in February 2013

Summary:
Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school... again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus' master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.
Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus' stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

My Opinion:
Ever since watching the film, I've wanted to read this book. Now I have more bookish friends who love anything Riordan, so I thought it was time for me to read this. I started it yesterday morning and finished it just a little while ago. I haven't read a book that fast in a long while! 

A lot of people compare this book to Harry Potter and I guess now I see why. Percy is a 12-year-old boy who keeps experiencing weird things in his life, and is forced to go to a summer camp for demigods to learn  (among other things) how to stay alive. Another comparison I made was the fact that this book also featured a trio of MC's: Percy, Annabeth and Grover (much like Harry, Hermione and Ron). 

But apart from those little things, TLT is a book that stands on its own, and is packed with excitement, magic and Greek mythology, something a geek like me loves! (I'm placing this book under the MG category, but a YA fan can be just as enthralled by it.)

The first chapter alone is a mind-boggling one, that traps you right into the story. I think that is just what books today are lacking, the ability to grab your attention in just the first chapter; instead, they make you wait until the third, fourth chapter to let you know what's really going on. 

Percy's voice is so rich, and his way of talking to the reader flows beautifully off the pages. I know this is a book I'll be giving to my little brothers in their future birthdays. Every character is as tridimensional as Percy, they all have their quirks, and there are so many of them! I was fascinated by the way Riordan crafted so many people and never once lost me along the way. I knew just who everyone was, and I started feeling different emotions toward each of them.

I especially enjoyed the descriptions in this book, going from the Half-Blood Hill and its Camp for Half-Bloods, to the layout of NYC and Las Vegas, and finally, the Underworld and the Olympus. Everything was beautifully detailed; the film didn't do this book any justice. 

The Lightning Thief is going to my favourites shelf right away! 

$2.99 Today Only! ANNA & THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins!

10:00 AM Posted by Bonnie @ A Backwards Story

You may remember the following post. It was one of my first when I became a member of Deliriously Falling, and I'd like to do more in this spirit. Today only, snag ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS for $2.99 on nook, Kindle, etc.! But, shhhh---do it in secret, or the government will be all over you for reading illegal books about the amora deliria nervosa!




To all employees:

We have received word that resister Stephanie Perkins is spreading propaganda against the cure. She is calling it ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS and trying to tell teenagers that falling in love is a good thing, treating the warning signs of the deliria as a necessary building block to true love. The tale stirs up too many emotions and will have law-abiding citizens second-guessing the cure. This blatant attack on our regime will not be tolerated.

The pamphlet containing the short story has a modest enough cover. The two teenagers in love remain at a respectable distance, though their hands are too close together and the girl has a lovestruck expression on her face. Unfortunately, the word “Kiss” stands out and lets citizens know what the contents really contain. If you see copies of this lying around, confiscate them immediately. Bring all citizens with the work in their possession to Headquarters immediately.

ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS has enough angst that it would make a good candidate for the sanitization process, stripping out certain parts to turn it into a proper cautionary tale. For one thing, Anna pines for a boy at her boarding school named Étienne, who already has a girlfriend. Both characters go through a lot of heartbreak in order to be together, an emotion no teenager should have to experience. By heightening the turmoil and cutting back on the view of love as a good thing, this book will be acceptable for public viewing.

Resister Stephanie Perkins mentions that she will be writing at least two more propaganda-filled tales, LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR and ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER. Capture the subject at all costs before she is able to spread her filthy lies about romance and hopes and dreams to the law-abiding masses.

This is a Code Red alert. Destroy memo after reading and memorizing the contents.


-----------------------------


....If you're still reading this, you have entered the right password to override the government's system. Congratulations, fellow resisters!

For a more representative review of this fantastic book that our illustrious government doesn't want you to read, check out this top secret review through the proxy channel.

Spend no more than five minutes reading or the connection can be traced.

Fox Orders TV Pilot for Lauren Oliver's DELIRIUM!

10:30 PM Posted by Bonnie @ A Backwards Story



I have some exciting news to share tonight.

DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver was one of my absolute favorite books of 2011, and after blowing through its sequel, PANDEMONIUM, last year, I've been eagerly awaiting the launch of the final book in the trilogy, REQUIEM, which is finally a month away.

Fox just announced that it's optioned a pilot episode based on DELIRIUM for its Fall 2013 season.

Here's the Entertainment Weekly write-up:

Next is Delirium from writer-executive producer Karyn Usher (Bones). Logline: “Based on bestselling trilogy about a world where love is deemed illegal and is able to be eradicated with a special procedure. With 95 days to go until her scheduled treatment, Lena Holoway does the unthinkable: she falls in love.” Executive producers include Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope.

TVLine has also confirmed the acquisition.

Now, having an optioned pilot doesn't guarantee that DELIRIUM will be on TV this coming fall.  If Fox likes the pilot, they'll pick up episodes and more filming will ensue.  If not, the pilot will be DOA and not see the light of day, which often happens with TV series.

What's interesting to note is that Fox first optioned to turn DELIRIUM into a movie.  Lauren Oliver has even stated on her personal blog that she's read the first draft of the script and talked about it a little bit.

So, is this TV pilot INSTEAD of a movie script now?  In addition to?  A related spin-off?  Will it become one if the other doesn't succeed/get further in development?

So many questions and so few answers!!!

A Week of Little Red: Jan. 27 ~ Feb. 5, 2013

9:00 AM Posted by Bonnie @ A Backwards Story



Last year, I had so much fun putting together A Week of Cinder(ella) to promote Marissa Meyer's debut novel CINDER that I'm going nuts and...doing it AGAIN!

I'm so excited to announce that in honor of the upcoming release of SCARLET, next week begins A Week of Little Red!

Last year's event was SO MUCH FUN!
Let's do it again & paint the web RED!
If you missed last year's event, you can still check out all the great author interviews, guest posts, book reviews, and other fabulous features!  We had a great turn-out!

A Week of Little Red will feature guest posts, author visits, book reviews (because, after all, Marissa isn't the ONLY author with a kick-ass Little Red to celebrate!), giveaways, reviews, and more!  It all begins with a special blog tour stop for CINDER and culminates with a release day celebration!

Are you excited?  I know I am!!  

I'd love your help spreading the word to all your fairy tale loving followers!  Please tweet this entry, post it on your Facebook account, blog, etc.  Feel free to snag one of the following buttons to post on your blog as well!

[And if you do, you'll get extra giveaway entry points, oooh!]


~[sidebar banner]~


Grab button for A Week of Little Red

~[top banner]~


Grab button for A Week of Little Red

2013 Titles That Should Be On YOUR List!

9:00 AM Posted by Bonnie @ A Backwards Story


Happy New Year, Bookworms!

With a new year comes new books.

What are you most looking forward to this year?

Right now, my 2013 Goodreads list has 125 books on it.  No lie!  I'm going to be a very busy reading bee this year.

I've listed them all by date for in case you want to start making your own list.  All books coded in purple mean I REALLY want them above all others!

(All links go to Goodreads.  Because there are so many titles, I'm just going to run through this really fast and not focus on WHY, etc.)

~[Undated; sometime in 2013 unless they push to 2014...]~

*SORROW'S KNOT by Erin Bow
*EDGLING by Jordan Deen
*DANGEROUS DEPTHS by Karen Amanda Hooper
*DEATHSWORN by Leah Cypess
*SWEET NOTHINGS by Sarah Beth Durst {Likely Fall}
*STARRY NIGHTS by Daisy Whitney {I believe Fall is confirmed}
*Sirenz #3 by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman
*Lux #5 by Jennifer L. Armentrout {Likely end of year or early 2014.  I haven't started this series yet because I have first-hand experience with the author's cliffhangers.  Waiting on this one!}
*MY NAME IS RAPUNZEL by K.C. Hilton
*REBEL SPRING by Morgan Rhodes {Likely Fall/Winter}
*THE RETRIBUTION OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin {Likely Fall}
*COLD SPELL by Jackson Pearce {Likely Fall}
*ACROSS A STAR-SWEPT SEA by Diana Peterfreund
*Crewel World #2 by Gennifer Albin {Likely Fall}
*Birthright #3 by Gabrielle Zevin {Likely Fall}
*THE MACKENZIE LEGACY by Derrolyn Anderson
*Untitled by Diane Setterfield {Sold to Orion for a Fall release}
*FORBIDDEN by Kimberley Griffiths Little {Fall}
*SHADOWED by Sarah Alderson
*CONTROL by Sarah Alderson


~January~
*ALTERED by Jennifer Rush
*THE ESSENCE by Kimberly Derting
*PROPHECY by Ellen Oh
*SPLINTERED by A.G. Howard
*THE FIRE HORSE GIRL by Kay Honeyman
*THE ONE I LEFT BEHIND by Jennifer McMahon
*DELUSION by Laura L. Sullivan
*THE CADET OF TILDOR by Alex Lidell
*WHAT WE SAW AT NIGHT by Jacquelyn Mitchard
*LEVEL 2 by Lenore Appelhans
*SHADES OF EARTH by Beth Revis
*BOUNDLESS by Cynthia Hand
*THE ARCHIVED by Victoria Schwab
*EVERBOUND by Brodi Ashton
*NOBODY by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
*THE GYPSY KING by Maureen Fergus
*ASUNDER by Jodi Meadows
*PRODIGY by Marie Lu
*JUSTICE by Rhiannon Paille

~February~


*SEVER by Lauren DeStefano
*SCARLET by Marissa Meyer
*CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS by Miriam Forster
*REVEL by Maurissa Guibord
*THE GODDESS INHERITANCE by Aimee Carter
*THE STORYTELLER by Jodi Picoult


*OBSESSION by Jennifer L. Armentrout
*THE SUMMER PRINCE by Alaya Dawn Johnson
*REQUIEM by Lauren Oliver
*RAVEN by Lauren Oliver
*DELIRIUM STORIES Omnibus: Hana, Annabel, Raven by Lauren Oliver
*UNREMEMBERED by Jessica Brody
*POISON by Bridget Zinn
*CHASING THE PROPHECY by Brandon Mull
*NAMELESS by Lili St. Crow
*STRANDS OF BRONZE AND GOLD by Jane Nickerson

~April~
*DARK TRIUMPH by Robin LaFevers
*STORY'S END by Marissa Burt
*VENGEANCE BOUND by Justina Ireland
*SUMMERKIN by Sarah Prineas
*ARCLIGHT by Josin McQuein
*FURIOUS by Jill Wolfson
*MAID OF SECRETS by Jennifer McGowan
*APOLLYON by Jennifer L. Armentrout
*THE GIRL FROM FELONY BAY by J.E. Thompson
*THE HERO'S GUIDE TO STORMING THE CASTLE by Christopher Healy
*TAKEN by Erin Bowman
*BREATH by Jackie Morse Kessler
*TIDAL by Amanda Hocking
*FROGGED by Vivian Vande Velde
*PRICKLE MOON by Juliet Marillier
*RUMP: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff
*THE ELITE by Kiera Cass

~May~
*SPIRIT by Brigid Kemmerer
*BREATHLESS by Brigid Kemmerer
*DARE YOU TO by Katie McGarry
*SCHOOL SPIRITS by Rachel Hawkins
*OF TRITON by Anna Banks
*THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL by Soman Chainani
*ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER by Stephanie Perkins
*AWAKEN by Meg Cabot
*THE ORIGINALS by Cat Patrick
*THE SUMMER I BECAME A NERD by Leah Rae Miller
*THE SAVAGE BLUE by Zoraida Córdova
*INFINITYGLASS by Myra McEntire


~June~
*INK by Amanda Sun
*WHEN YOU WERE HERE by Daisy Whitney
*INTUITION by C.J. Omololu
*ABANDON by Elana Johnson
*SIEGE AND STORM by Leigh Bardugo
*DAISY DANGER by Shannon Hale
*INVISIBLE by Marni Bates
*TEMPEST REVEALED by Tracy Deebs
*THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE by Neil Gaiman
*BLOOD AND GOLD by Rhiannon Paille
*DEFY THE DARK Anthology from HarperTeen

~July~

*ORIGIN by Jennifer L. Armentrout
*THE NIGHT ITSELF by Zoë Marriott
*THE TWICE LOST by Sarah Porter
*WHO NEEDS MAGIC? by Kathy McCullough
*OF BEAST AND BEAUTY by Stacey Jay
*Girl of Fire and Thorns Novella #2 by Rae Carson
*RAVEN FLIGHT by Juliet Marillier

~August~
*Throne of Glass #2 by Sarah J. Maas
*DECEPTION by C.J. Redwine
*THE SOUND by Sarah Alderson
*THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL by Carolyn Turgeon
*ONCE WE WERE by Kat Zhang
*MIDNIGHT FROST by Jennifer Estep
*THE GODDESS CHRONICLE by Natsuo Kirino, translated by Rebecca Copeland

~September~

*THE BITTER KINGDOM by Rae Carson
*VICIOUS by Victoria Schwab
*ANTIGODDESS by Kendare Blake
*Divergent #3 by Veronica Roth

~October~

*THE HOUSE OF HADES by Rick Riordan
*BATTLE MAGIC by Tamora Pierce
*PREMEDITATED by Josin L. McQuein
*HORDE by Ann Aguirre
*RED by Alison Cherry


~December~
*MASKED by Aimee Carter
*SENTINEL by Jennifer L. Armentrout
*The Darkest Minds #2 by Alexandra Bracken



Bring YA to YOUR Hometown & Enter to WIN 10 Autographed Books!

2:04 PM Posted by Bonnie @ A Backwards Story


Have you ever wished that a big YA book tour would make a stop in your hometown? Well, here's your chance for that wish to come true! YA2U is a program that features five award-winning and best-selling authors who are holding a contest to see what city they should visit in an exclusive tour stop!

The authors are collecting votes from January 1 to February 15, and any city in the continental US or any Canadian city that has an international airport can win an exclusive visit from all five authors, including an author panel and book signing! Entering is super easy--and if you help spread the word about the contest, you can also enter win a signed copy of all of their books (TEN signed books in total!)--and the book contest is open internationally!



And they want to have an event in your home town! To participate, just got to the YA2U website and let them know what city you want them to come to. And while you're there, help spread the word about the contest and you can be entered to win all of their books--TEN signed books in total! 

Here's why the YA2U Team should come to MY hometown! 
Most of the time, I wind up driving into NJ and taking the train to NYC for a majority of book signings, or wishing I lived in the mid-west, which seems to attract a lot of signings.  It has been rare for groups of authors to come to PA for signings, though we finally received a couple in 2012. 

It would be especially nice to see them come to Phialdelphia and give inner-city students a chance to meet authors. Usually when authors do come to PA, they come to the suburbs, which, while more practical for myself, doesn't give opportunities to much of the youth in Philadelphia.  With the City threatening to close many schools looming above us, we need more opportunities to get books into the hands of teens than ever before.

It would be lovely to see more authors come to PA, and I've read four of these five authors!  I've been fans of both Marissa Meyer and Victoria Schwab before either had published works, and would love to have them visit PA.

Why should the YA2U Team come to your hometown? Why not join in the fun today and share with others about this program and your hometown. The more votes your town gets, the closer you are to having your very own personal tour stop! Vote for YOUR town here!

And if you help spread the word, you can also participate in the book giveaway. Tell them that you learned about YA2U from me and we both get extra entries in the contest!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

End Of Year Book Survey – 2012!

8:46 PM Posted by Bonnie @ A Backwards Story

In case you missed it, I received a cold for the holidays, so my blog remained empty for most of last week.  I planned to have a few posts for Best Books via categories, etc., each day, but had no energy to put it together.

Luckily, Jamie from both The Broke and the Brokish and The Perpetual Page Turner put together an awesome survey and is inviting fellow bloggers to link up!

Check it out, and read on for a few of my 2012 favorites!

And since I'm not doing any other "Best Of" posts...

~Other favorites that didn't make the following list in any of the categories included:~

 DEFIANCE by C.J. Redwine, WHAT'S LEFT OF ME by Kat Zhang, BITTERBLUE by Kristin Cashore, WAKING STORMS by Sarah Porter, THE RIVALS by Daisy Whitney, GRAVE MERCY by Robin Lafevers, ENCHANTED by Alethea Kontis, CINDER by Marissa Meyer, and INCARNATE by Jodi Meadows!

~Best in Books 2012~

1. Best Book You Read In 2012? 
*My favorite YA novel was THE CROWN OF EMBERS by Rae Carson.  I had high expectations going in and was still blown away.  The sign of a great fantasy writer!
(It looks like my review is still in draft mode and unfinished.  I'll finish it this week!  For now, check out reviews for THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS and the short story THE SHADOW CATS!)
*My favorite adult novel was GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn.  While it started out slowly, there were so many surprises and twists that I was up until 2 am reading!
(My review)
*My favorite MG is a tie between:
ORDINARY MAGIC by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway, which was so unique, and written in such a fresh, funny voice.
(My review of ORDINARY MAGIC; I also did a guest post with the author on world-building and a cover design interview with art director Donna Mark!)
My other favorite in the category is WINTERLING by Sarah Prineas, which I apparently never reviewed, even though I read it back in February!  Guess I'll have to do that when SUMMERKIN comes around in 2013!
*My favorite novella e-book was AFTER THE BALL by Sarah Cross, which I just read last night and haven't reviewed yet.  It reminded me of how much I loved KILL ME SOFTLY and the fairy tale world of Sarah Cross!
(Check out the short story AFTER THE BALL for FREE and read my review of KILL ME SOFTLY, one of my 2012 favorites!)
*My favorite indie/self-pub title was DEITY by Jennifer Armentrout.  Spencer Hill Press continues to amaze me with what they are putting out!
(My review)

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t? 
I didn't fall for John Green's THE FAULT IN OUR STARS as much as everyone else did.  I think it's because I purposely detached myself from the book because medical issues were too hard for me to read about this year.  Also, there was a lot of hype.  I think I expected wonder babies!
(I just read it in Dec, so there's no review yet)

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012? 
KILL ME SOFTLY by Sarah Cross.  The cover is really bloody, and the title doesn't indicate that this is a fairy tale.  I never would have even looked at this twice at the bookstore if someone hadn't named it a Best of 2012 So Far title back in June for Armchair BEA!
(My review)

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012? 
"What should I read if I liked THE HUNGER GAMES?" I've recommended Veronica Roth's dystopian series to SO many people!  I literally loaned out my copies of DIVERGENT and INSURGENT to six or seven people.  They are BATTERED now! (And I've learned that book loans should ALWAYS be in a book sock, because you never know who reads your shiny books with potato chip fingers!)
(My review of INSURGENT; I never reviewed DIVERGENT in 2011.)

5. Best series you discovered in 2012?
The Elemental series by Brigid Kemmerer!  I have yet to review STORM, SPARK and the novellas because I was waiting to do one big week for everything and have Brigid stop by.  We haven't been able to coordinate yet.  But ooooh, so good! 

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012? 
Three come straight to mind:
*Zoë Marriott: I had read THE SWAN KINGDOM before 2012, but thought it was ordinary compared to DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST by Juliet Marillier's version of the fairy tale.  This year, I read SHADOWS ON THE MOON, which is a dark Japanese version of Cinderella, and was blown-away. I also read Zoë's two non-fairy tale fantasy novels and loved them, too.  I'm so excited for her new series in 2013!
(Check out a guest post with Marriott and a review of SHADOWS ON THE MOON, along with an author interview!  I also reviewed DAUGHTER OF THE FLAMES and FROSTFIRE.)
*Jackson Pearce: I had SISTERS RED and SWEETLY, but never read either until 2012.  I also read Pearce's latest novel, FATHOMLESS this year.  All three are fantastic and twisty, and I love Pearce's way with words.  I am so excited for COLD SPELL in 2013!
(Check out my reviews of SWEETLY, SISTERS RED, and FATHOMLESS!)
*Sarah Cross: KILL ME SOFTLY was so well-written, and reading her free novella AFTER THE BALL yesterday made me remember why I loved Cross so much.  She creates such unique, delicate sentences.  Read the opening hook in my review of KILL ME SOFTLY to see what I mean.  Gorgeous!  I loved her so much that I had to read her older, non-fairy tale novel DULL BOY this year as well!
(Check out the short story AFTER THE BALL for FREE and read my review of KILL ME SOFTLY, one of my 2012 favorites!)

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you? 
*I don't read a lot of mystery or crime thrillers, so GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn was out of the ordinary for me.  I got really into it, though.  One of the most unputdownable reads of 2012!
(My review)
*SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh Bardugo was another title that fits this category.  I didn't like the sound of flesh-eating monsters in the book's summary and thought the book sounded paranormal, so I didn't want to read it.  When I heard it was a fabulous high fantasy, I decided to give it a try...and I'm so glad I did!
(My review; my interview when I met the author)
*A third book in a genre I don't read a lot was RADIATE by Marley Gibson.  It was about cancer and illness, a genre I loved in high school when Lurlene McDaniel was a favorite of mine, but steer away from now because it's too depressing.  This was an unsolicited send from a publicist that I almost didn't read, but I'm so glad I did!
(My review)

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012? 
To repeat #7...
GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn!
(My review)

9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year: 
Either INSURGENT by Veronica Roth or THE CROWN OF EMBERS by Rae Carson.  I'm sure I'll re-read both before the final book in each trilogy releases!
(My review of INSURGENT.  THE CROWN OF EMBERS is in draft mode and coming soon!)

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012? 
I love so many covers that I'm just going to go with the top five that come to mind :





*SISTERS RED isn't from 2012, but I read it this year. I love the way the cover is an illusion and looks like two different things depending on if you see the two sisters or Little Red and the Wolf!  I was disappointed when FATHOMLESS launched a cover re-design for this series!
(My review)
*The UK cover for Jay Kristoff's STORMDANCER is my favorite, though I also love the US version created by Jason Chan (Then again, I am a HUGE FAN of anything by Jason Chan!).  The UK version has a more traditional Japanese feel, while the US version reads more steampunk.  The traditional scene wins my heart here!
(My review)
*I love the illustrated cover for SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh Bardugo.  I wish more YA and Adult novels had grand illustrated covers!  Rich Deas has designed so many fabulous covers that I loved this year.  I interviewed him back in January about his cover design for Marissa Meyer's CINDER!
(My review)
*The cover for VESSEL is soooooooooo pretty, which is fitting, because this is perhaps my favorite book from Sarah Beth Durst.  The lush fantasy, the coloring, the intrigue, the sheerness of it all!  I can wax poetic for hours!
(No review just yet, but look for treats in 2013!  For now, check out my reviews of her titles ICE (my other favorite by her), ENCHANTED IVY, and DRINK, SLAY, LOVE!)
*ELEMENTAL by Antony John is take-my-breath-away gorgeous in person.  It's embossed and shiny, beautiful to look at no matter what direction you're turning it in!
(No review yet, but it's coming!)

11. Most memorable character in 2012? 
A from EVERY DAY by David Levithan.  Levithan created a character so unique, so extraordinary, that I've never seen anyone similar.  Truly memorable!
(I read this one in December, so a review is again forthcoming) 

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012? 
*To beat a dead horse and sound redundant, I'm going to go with KILL ME SOFTLY by Sarah Cross.  Seriously.  At least check out the hook in the review I'm linking you to and you'll see what I'm talking about. This woman's way with words....!
(my review)
*I also covet Lauren Oliver's way with words, which I've said in past years.  It's one reason I'm so drawn to her titles.  This year, her middle grade novel THE SPINDLERS stood out as being chock-full of beautiful, descriptive sentences.
(This is another review in draft mode...mostly because I never have energy/time to cross-check all the ARC quotes I want to use against the finished copy!)

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012? 
This year, I was shocked by the raw grittiness being released from Harlequin Teen.  It wasn't all about the romance.  One title in particular stood out.  PUSHING THE LIMITS by Katie McGarry had so many nuances that I still find myself thinking about the characters and their lives every now and again.
(My review)

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read? 
SISTERS RED by Jackson Pearce!  I had it first, too...and it was the third book by Pearce that I read in 2012.
(My review)
I also finally began reading Cinda Williams Chima in 2012 after sitting on her Heir Chronicles books for a while.  I'm still only two in, and I'm eager to get a kick-start on her Seven Realms Quartet in 2013.
(No reviews yet)

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012? 
I can't think of any one offhand, but this past month, I was constantly updating Goodreads with quotes from THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green and EVERY DAY by David Levithan, so they're fresh in my mind.  As I mentioned in #12, Sarah Cross (KILL ME SOFTLY) and Lauren Oliver (THE SPINDLERS) also have profound ways of describing things.

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012? 
*Longest — TILT by Ellen Hopkins clocks in at 604 pages (Though it doesn't have as many words as other, "shorter" books might since it's in verse!)
(My review)
*Shortest — I'm assuming we're excluding ebook novellas and picture books, but just looking at novels.  Looking at Goodreads, the shortest novel is ELEMENTAL by Emily White, clocking in at 180 pages.
(My review)

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!
I NEEDED to talk to my co-workers who had read GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn immediately after finishing the book.  OMG, you can't even...I can't even... that book just SLAMS you. It is absolutely a book club book that will have the conversation going for hours!
(My review)

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).
*One thing that made PUSHING THE LIMITS by Katie McGarry work well was the way the two main characters interacted with one another.  They were at two extremes in their lives, and only together could they begin to heal.  This interaction is a big part of what makes PUSHING THE LIMITS so incredibly good.
(My review)
*I was also a big fan of the way Caitlen Rubino-Bradway shared the Hale family with readers in ORDINARY MAGIC.  The family is so close-knit and caring and loving, and they reminded me a lot of the Weasley family.  I loved them so much and miss them already!  I wish more families like the Hales existed in literature!
(My review)

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously 
*THE CROWN OF EMBERS by Rae Carson, which was my favorite YA novel of the year.
(It looks like my review is still in draft mode and unfinished.  I'll finish it this week!  For now, check out reviews for THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS and the short story THE SHADOW CATS!)
*I also loved Sarah Beth Durst's latest offering VESSEL.  It's her best book yet!
(No review just yet, but look for treats in 2013!  For now, check out my reviews of her titles ICE (my other favorite by her), ENCHANTED IVY, and DRINK, SLAY, LOVE!)
*Before 2012, I had read one book by Zoë Marriott, which was good, but didn't blow me away.  All three of the ones in 2012 did, but especially her latest offering, SHADOWS ON THE MOON.
(Check out a guest post with Marriott and a review of SHADOWS ON THE MOON, along with an author interview!  I also reviewed DAUGHTER OF THE FLAMES and FROSTFIRE.)

20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else: 
I would have never picked up KILL ME SOFTLY by Sarah Cross if it hadn't been for another blogger talking about how good it was during Armchair BEA.  I didn't even know it existed because the cover and title turned me off!
(my review)


 ~Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2012~ 

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2012? 
©Margot Wood at The Real Fauxtographer
As much as I love the cover art for Libba
Bray's BEAUTY QUEENS, I sort of love
this version even more!!!
This past week, I discovered The Real Fauxtographer.  It's a photography blog, but Margot Wood has started staging and re-creating book cover designs.  Her version of Libba Bray's BEAUTY QUEENS is my favorite so far and I can't wait to see what else she shares with us!

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2012? 
*SHADOWS ON THE MOON by Zoë Marriott
or TIGER LILY by Jodi Lynn Anderson or PUSHING THE LIMITS by Katie McGarry are three that I remember loving offhand.

3. Best discussion you had on your blog? 
I personally loved my recent Scribble Post entitled The Perfect Gift for Aspiring Young Writers.  I just had so much fun with it and sharing my own childhood experiences with you.

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else’s blog? 
My brain can't think of any right now, but I know there have been some great ones that I loved reading and commenting on this past year.  I just can't think of any off the top of my head! *hides*

5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)? 
Macmillan brought four of its Fierce Reads authors my way and chose A Backwards Story to host the event!  They sent me books for an epic autographed giveaway, I had a one-on-one interview with the authors, and the signing and Q&A were so much fun.  Plus, I got to hang with Jamie from The Broke and the Bookish and The Perpetual Page Turner (Yes, the same Jamie who created this survey!), and I don't get to meet up with this girl often enough!

I also had a great time at PAYA, where I met up with so many great authors and saw some great local bloggers, including Jena from Shortie Says, Vi from Confessions of a Vi3tbabe, and Frankie from Frankie Diane Mallis and The First Novels Club!

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2012? 
When someone left me the sweetest, nicest comment in the entire world.  To me, it was profound, meaningful, and showed me that people truly care about both me and this blog.  I hold that comment so, so close to my heart because it was deep and meaningful.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)? 
The top five high-hitting posts amuse me, because they're not the posts that I would think would become the most popular, but they all have four-digit hits!
*My Cover Reveal post for THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE by Jennifer E. Smith
*My Mythological Mondays post about trolls and Amanda Hocking's Trylle Trilogy
*During Splash into Summer, my Mermaid Spotting in Jodi Lynn Anderson's TIGER LILY
*My review of OFF-BALANCE: A Memoir by former Olympic gold medal gymnast Dominique Moceanu
*My Cover Crazy post featuring TANGLED TIDES by Karen Amanda Hooper

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love? 
I wish the reviews I loved most from this section in #2 had more interaction, as well as a lot of the interviews I've done, especially with elusive cover designers!

9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)? 
I loved that so many movies that were book-world-related came out this year.  I saw both RUBY SPARKS and THE WORDS in theaters, and I just rented STRUCK BY LIGHTNING On Demand (It will be in theaters in January 2013).  I also found, purchased, and watched two older related movies earlier this year, DEDICATION and THE GHOSTWRITER.  None of them compares to my favorite book-related-movie, STRANGER THAN FICTION, but I loved seeing so many books with this topic in 2012!

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year? 
Last year, I participated in a lot of meme challenges, but this year, I didn't really link up to anything.  I had less free time in 2012 since I was promoted in late 2011 and began working longer/more hours.  I found that I spent a lot less time blogging than I would have liked this year, both from this, and from personal events going on in my life throughout the year.

My big challenge in December was to finish reading everything "major," and I'm still four books short since I've been too sick and/or busy to read in the last week or two!  That's better than usual, though!


~Looking Ahead…~ 

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013? 
If you saw my answer to the last question, you'll know there were four books I wanted to have read by the end of 2012 for a potential Best Of list.
They were:
*FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS by Diana Peterfreund (reading now)
(This one makes me sick.  I've wanted it since the publishing deal announced in 2010!)
*THE DARKEST MINDS by Alexandra Bracken
(Another one that makes me sick.  I've wanted this since reading BRIGHTLY WOVEN when it came out in HARDCOVER in early 2010 after reading snippets on the author's blog.  I even had an ARC of it...and no time!)
*COLLATERAL by Ellen Hopkins
(After reading TILT, I was so eager to try an adult novel by Hopkins.  I tried to start this before it came out, but haven't had time yet!)
*THE CHAPERONE by Laura Moriarty
(I've read all three of the author's other books and was eager for a historical novel from her, especially after it was called the Book of Summer.  I even won an early ARC from Library Thing!  Have I had time to read it?  No!)

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013? 
I've been REALLY good about sitting on my 2013 ARCs until, well...2013!  I wanted to finish some 2012 titles first.  They're really stacking up, though, and I don't know which of these ten to read first! I want to read them all this second.  Which order would you choose?


I'm going to start with either REQUIEM by Lauren Oliver, SCARLET by Marissa Meyer, ASUNDER by Jodi Meadows, DARK TRIUMPH by Robin LaFevers, POISON by Bridget Zinn, PROPHECY by Ellen Oh,  THE TWICE LOST by Sarah Porter, THE STORYTELLER by Jodi Picoult, INK by Amanda Sun, SEIGE AND STORM by Leigh Bardugo, or APOLLYON by Jennifer L. Armentrout (which just came in the mail today!).

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013? 
I want to review at least two books every week, as well as do more features again.  I got really behind in blogging this past year, and didn't always have as much content as other bloggers.  I want to bring you more great features and reviews to interest you in more titles!



This was really long, I know.  Thanks for sticking around till the end!  Link me to your post below and I'll check it out! ^_^