CORSETS AND CROSSBOWS by Alyxandra Harvey

Prequel (#0.1) in the Drake Chronicles series
Publication date: February 2012
Publisher: Walker Children's
Number of Pages: 65
Date read: March 17th, 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Vampires, Romance, Short Story
Source: Bought
Ebook




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(Description source: Goodreads)

Rosalind Wild thinks it's time for the Helios-Ra to give full membership and recognition to the female descendants of the society-after all, it is 1816 and it's time to make room for new traditions. When Rosalind interrupts a plot to assassinate the leader of the Helios-Ra, she sees an opportunity to prove her worth. But she never expected the assassin to be someone so irresistible, and off-limits. Written as a series of letters to a close confidante, this exciting e-novella gives a glimpse of the early days of the vampire hunting society as seen through the eyes of Hunter Wild's feisty ancestor

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This short Drake Chronicles story is full of mystery and romance, and draws funny parallels with the third Drake Chronicle instalment, Out for Blood. Written in the form of letters, the writing style is enjoyable and funny.

Featuring Hunter's ancestor, Rosalind Wild, who is writing letters to her friend Evangeline, Rosalind commences in a theatrical tone to explain the goings on in her life. She talks about being a debutante before remarking about joining the Helios-Ra and how she finds difficulty in hiding stakes and crossbows properly on her person. 

Rosalind is funny in her commentary, but also very desperate to prove that she can be useful to the League by fighting vampires. To successfully try to fight vampires, Rosalind comes up with an alter ego so as to raise fewer questions about how a proper young lady should be behaving. What she finds when she does finally come across a vampire, is no at all what she expected. Rosalind finds that the League has been lying to her which leads to the conducting of an investigation as she is desperate to find out the truth.

Historical, romantic and full of lies and twists and secrets, Corsets and Crossbows is a great read if you wish to visit the world of the Drakes and those who hunt them. Time consuming, this novella is not, you can read it easily and quickly while 100% enjoying every second of it. Corsets and Crossbows does not spoil anything in the Drake Chronicle series.

“I pulled open my window and leaned out. “Are you daft?” I whispered loudly.

He bowed extravagantly, deeply, his dark tousled hair falling over his brow. “Such poetry, my lady.” 

I rate Corsets and Crossbows Five out of Five!!!

BOOK SAVVY's ONE YEAR BLOGOVERSARY!

We at Book Savvy have officially been reviewing books for an entire year, and I am so glad at how much this blog has accomplished in that time. Thank you to all our readers, we hope to keep writing reviews that hold your interest and introduce you to new books and genres :)

To thank you all for reading our blog, we are hosting a giveaway!

The giveaway will run from today until the 19th of June, 2013 (so for 2 months).

The prize is a preorder of Origin, the fourth book in the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout from the Book Depository.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You are only able to enter if the Book Depository ships to your country, so please check.

I hope everyone enters!

Young Adult Review: EMBRACE by Jessica Shirvington

EMBRACE
Author: Jessica Shirvington
Series: Violet Eden Chronicles (#1)
Publication date: October 1st, 2010
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Number of pages: 382
Date read: February 6th, 2011
Source: Borrowed from Library
Format: Paperback
Add on Goodreads




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(Description source: Goodreads)

It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before. 

Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.

A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…

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Violet Eden is turning seventeen, and this birthday is going to turn out nothing like she thought as a surprising legacy is thrust upon her...

I thought this book would be really interesting when reading the blurb but after the first few chapters I thought it went down hill fast, the main character Violet was whiny, selfish and was constantly victimizing herself, she had double standards and I found she was really such a stupid character, it drove me crazy and I nearly put down this book so many times because of it - I actually wish that I had.

Lincoln didn't tell her a secret because he wasn't allowed and she was always blaming him for everything and never taking responsibility for herself, whereas Phoenix lied to her from the start, influenced her and took her control away which was the one thing she actually needed or so she said.

There weren't really any stand out characters or real morals in the story, and some of the circumstances really did not make sense, as in they were totally unrealistic, some of the writing was good, but the plot and the characters totally let it down.

I won't be reading anything else by this author.

I rate EMBRACE One out of Five!

MARGAUX WITH AN X by Ron Koertge

Publication date: December 25th 2004
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Number of Pages: 176
Date read: August 8th 2006
Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction
Source: Bought 






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(Description source: Amazon)

She's drop-dead gorgeous, has a razor-sharp wit, and is a charter member of the school's most popular clique. Margaux (with an x) is the dream catch of every teenage male within her radar.

Encouraged by her caustic friend Sara, she's perfected the art of the sarcastic tease, while keeping her sweaty-palmed suitors just far enough at bay.
It's a dreary game, but at least she's not home with Mom, the shopping channel addict, Dad, the professional gambler, and a certain haunting secret from her past.

Then along comes Danny Riley — a scrawny, weak-chinned, animal-loving oddball with a quaint chivalrous streak, a kindhearted kid who can match her banter to the polysyllable and who harbors a few painful memories of his own.

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Margaux with an X is the story of a teenage girl who is conflicted by those around her and has trouble finding who she is.

Between her best friend who is questionable at the best of times, her gambling father and a mother who only cares for television, she is left to fend of numerous suitors. Margaux never asked to be as gorgeous as she is, she downright hates it, she wishes the boys would just leave her alone most of the time.

 But then there's Danny, the weird and eluding boy from the year below who doesn't seem to care about her looks or any romantic prospects, they talk because they genuinely like each others company.

I honestly cannot say much about this book because I am at a loss for those words, it wasn't a train-wreck, but it didn't have an interesting or capturing story line. While I guess a lot of things happened and were revealed about the characters, I saw no growth or personality quirks and the plot didn't move overly fast or far.

 At times the language was too messy and over-complicated for the sake of it, descriptions were over basic  when there often needed more explanation and over-bearing when it was unnecessary  None of this world felt real to me, in fact it felt forced and bland, the concept was a good idea but executed badly.

It covered some very hard hitting issues, but I felt it was done in a clumsy manner which did not make me feel particularly empathetic towards the characters. Margaux's family irritated me and the most likable character for me was Danny's Aunt, to whom I felt was barely described. The way that both Margaux and Danny's family were portrayed was, again, very dry and boring.

I hate not enjoying a book but I've had this one on my shelf for years and have been excited to read it due to the blurb sounding exciting and interesting. I really did want to see Margaux with an X rating better, but im afraid this is one novel that I will not recommend.

I rate Margaux With An X  one out of Five!

ART GEEKS AND PROM QUEENS by Alyson Noel

Publication date: September 1st 2005
Publisher: St Martin's Griffin
Number of Pages: 226
Date read: April 12th 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Source: Bought
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(Description source: Goodreads)

Being the new girl is tough—just ask sixteen-year-old Rio Jones.
A New York transplant, Rio has no clue how she's going to fit in at her fancy new private school in Southern California.
 Plus, being late, overdressed, and named after a Duran Duran song doesn't make the first day any easier.

Then, Rio meets Kristi. Beautiful, rich, and a cheerleader, Kristi is the queen bee of Newport Beach, and she isn't friends with just anyone, so Rio is thrilled when she's invited to be part of the most exclusive, popular clique. 

At first, Rio is having a great time, but as she becomes more immersed in the jet set crowd, she discovers an unwritten rule that her new friends forgot to mention:

don't cross Kristi...

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"But why didn't you just ask me?" I set down my fork and glare at her.
"Because you were sleeping," She says, taking a sip if Chardonnay.
"I was taking a nap, Mom. It wasn't intended to be some kind of Disney fairy-tale hundred-year snooze."

Art Geeks and Prom Queens draws you into the life of 16 year old Rio Jones who is forced to move away from where she is more than happy, with her wonderful and supportive friends in New York to Southern California. 

Here she feels further out of her depth than even she felt before, coping with a father who is away on business more than he is ever at home and an ex model mother who Rio often feels is more than a burden than family.

With the pressure from her mum to be the perfectly dressed popular girl that she was in her youth, Rio's first day at school is off to a rocky start but she quickly finds friendship with two art geeks like her, Jas and Mason.
But getting into trouble with them on the first day puts them on her mums bad side and she is told not to see them again.
With time she falls into the 'popular' clique and her life begins a rollercoaster ride that brings her away from who she really is and turns her into someone she vowed she would never be.


Filled with superficial b*****s, deceit and a very easily swayed main character, Art Geeks And Prom Queens, retells a frequently done plotline.
Happy but geeky main character is forced to move away from the friends she loves, she makes some nice friends but soon turns her back on them for popularity.
Things go haywire, she realises the original friends she had were good to her and she goes back to them.
Along the way both relationship and family issues occur to dramatise the story some more.

Very similar to Mean Girls, but still a book that I enjoyed despite Rio turning into a slut partway through, which honestly was more annoying than anything, but the book was still a nice read that was entertaining as well as humourous.


One aspect of Rio and her ralationships with her boyfriends was how much they changed her and how her newly found popularity made her think that essentially cheating on her boyfriend is no big deal!! It showed how deluded and stupid she had really become.

It does reflect a lot of what does happen to teenagers in school and reflects what
many 'geeky' or 'unpopular' students would like nothing more, to turn from being how they are into popular. It shows the risks and repercussions of changing who you are in such a drastic way and even that cheating on your boyfriend is a bad thing (duh!).

It is a good, light hearted read with some interesting aspects to it that you will enjoy, both the good points and the bad make Art Geeks And Prom Queens the individual book that I enjoyed.

I rate Art Geeks And Prom Queens Three out of Five!

ORIGINS: THE FIRE by Debra Driza

Prequel to the Mila 2.0 Trilogy
Publication date: January 8th, 2013
Publisher: 
Date read: April 9th, 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Mystery, Suspence
Source: Bought
Ebook


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(Description source: Goodreads)

Heart-stopping and electric, MILA 2.0: Origins: The Fire contains a short prequel story and an excerpt to MILA 2.0, the first book in a riveting Bourne Identity–style trilogy by Debra Driza.

Mila can't remember anything before the fire that took her father's life. It's normal to have some memory loss after traumatic events, but Mila doesn't remember if she's ever learned to ride a bike, or if she's ever been in love. Nothing.

What she doesn't know is that she isn't supposed to remember—that she was built in a computer science lab and programmed to forget. Because if she remembers, she might discover her true identity.

The question is: If she relived the fire, what would she see

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I decided to check out Origins: The Fire because I'd heard a lot of mention of MILA 2.0 and what better way to see if you like an authors writing style, than to read a short story by that very author, especially if it links in with the story you wish to read?!

Despite the fact that The Fire was incredibly short, it gave enough information and revealed enough about the main character Mila to make you want to read MILA 2.0 by showing a bit about her value and the kind of person she is, and the information given in this story is what kind of novel the first book in the series will be.

Origins: The Fire was chilling in its descriptiveness and mysterious in the abrupt ending. I definitely want to check out MILA 2.0 and I recommend anyone thing of doing the same to read this short story first, it only take a few minutes to read all of, plus there is an intriguing excerpt of MILA 2.0 that isdown right amazing. NEED BOOK NOW!!!
Oh, and I definitely want to find out more about Hunter, who is introduced in the excerpt...

Origins: The Fire is the prequel to MILA 2.0

(Description from Goodreads)
Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.

Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past—that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.

Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life.

Cover Reveal: Milayna

Milayna by Michelle Pickett

Everyone needs to be bad once in a while. But for seventeen-year-old Milayna, being good isn't a choice--it's a job requirement. And it's a job she can't quit. Born a demi-angel, Milayna steps in when danger and demons threaten the people around her, but being half-angel isn't all halos and happiness. Azazel, Hell's Angel, wants Milayna's power, and he'll do anything to get it. But he only has until her eighteenth birthday, after which she becomes untouchable.

 

With the help of other demi-angels, Milayna thwarts the trouble Azazel sends her way. Fighting with her is Chay, a demi-angel who's sinfully gorgeous, and Milayna falls hard. But is Chay her true love... or her nemesis in disguise?

Because when she learns of a traitor in her group, there's no one she can trust... not even the one she loves. 

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Milayna is set to release March 11th, 2014 in both paperback and ebook formats, and is being published by Spencer Hill Press. Personally, I can't wait to read Milayna, despite the fact that the release is a fair while away. Though in the meantime Michelle will be releasing her dystopian novel Pods, which also happens to sound incredible!

What do you think of Milayna's cover and description? 

Sound and look enticing? I think so (I mean check out that demi-angel!)!

STAYING ALIVE IN YEAR 5 by John Marsden

Publication date: 1989
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Number of Pages: 78
Date read: March 27th 2006
Genre: Children, Magic, Fantasy, Humour
Source: Bought 

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(Description source: Goodreads)

Whatever happened to school?

  Scott and his friends are simply staying alive in year 5 until their surprising new teacher, Mr Murlin, comes along.

Boring textbooks go into the bin, eating chocolate in class becomes compulsory and suddenly it's OK to be weird.

But Mr Murlin is not popular with everyone...

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Staying Alive in Year 5 is such a fun, easy-going read that I love to pick up for a nice reminiscent time and a good laugh. 

It follows Scott and his friends as they go into year 5 with all its trials and tribulations as well as plenty of mischief and mayhem.

From the second that the quirky Mr. Murlin walks through their classroom door, everyone in there can sense that something is going to be VERY different this year. And they're correct! 

Before too long all the textbooks have been thrown away and students are sitting under desks for English tasks, writing about different aspects of life. Scott learns to deal with his new school life, as well as balancing his personal, family life as well as learning how to live with the surprises, especially the ones that his new, weird and whacky teacher presents. 

When magic seems to seep from inside the desks and teachers know what colour your underwear will be on the first day, you know that it will certainly be a year that will not be forgotten for many years to come.

This odd but magical book really transports readers back to year 5 and to a world of innocence and trivial concerns, full of laughter and practical jokes. This short book successfully captures the aspects of a year 5 and turns it into a fun ride for everyone to have, filled with light- hearted  magic and humour.

"Mr Murlin continued, ‘Eating chocolate in class is not only desirable, it is compulsory. Other things that are compulsory are laughing at the teacher’s jokes, day-dreaming, and watching ‘Neighbours’ on TV. There will be a test every Monday morning on ‘Neighbours’; those who fail will be pinned to the noticeboard by their ears."

I rate Staying Alive in Year 5 Four out of Five!

Waiting on Wednesday #14

This is a weekly meme 'Waiting on Wednesday' that I take part in, it is hosted by Breaking the Spine

It is a meme where you post about a yet-to-be-released book that you are looking forward to reading. Here is a book I have been highly anticipating:

  The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Expected Publication date: November 5th, 2013

Number of Pages: 304

Description

(from Goodreads)

Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.

What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides— especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own.

Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.

Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.

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Jennifer Lynn Barnes is an author whose new books I will always have to buy, no matter what they are about as she just can't go wrong. The Naturals sounds intruiging and thrilling - exactly what I want in a books, suffice to say: I can't wait to get my hands on The Naturals!

Can you?