2 Guess what book I'm going to read next

Here's a clue:

On the other side of the dome, they've built a garden with flower beds and potted trees. From the branches hand hundreds of wind chimes, wich account for the tinkling I heard. Here in the garden, on this windy night, it's enough to drown out two people who are trying not to be heard."

2 Jane Eyre's Daughter by Elizabeth Newark

** spoiler alert ** "With Jane Austen sequels proliferating, it's about time someone created a sequel to Austen's rival Charlotte Brontë!

In this sequel to Jane Eyre, young Janet Rochester is consigned to Highcrest Manor and the guardianship of the strict Colonel Dent while her parents journey to the West Indies. As she struggles to make a life for herself guided by their ideals, she is caught up in the mysteries of Highcrest.

Why is the East Wing forbidden to her? What lies behind lock...more "With Jane Austen sequels proliferating, it's about time someone created a sequel to Austen's rival Charlotte Brontë!

In this sequel to Jane Eyre, young Janet Rochester is consigned to Highcrest Manor and the guardianship of the strict Colonel Dent while her parents journey to the West Indies. As she struggles to make a life for herself guided by their ideals, she is caught up in the mysteries of Highcrest.

Why is the East Wing forbidden to her? What lies behind locked gates? And what is the source of the voices she hears in the night? Can she trust the enigmatic Roderick Landless or should she transfer her allegiance to the suave and charming Sir Hugo Calendar?

Riding her mare on the Yorkshire moors, holding her own with Colonel Dent, or waltzing at her first ball, Janet is a strong and sympathetic character, and like her mother, she will need all her courage ..."
---From Back Cover

Sequels are very hard to pull off, especially when the original story author is deceased. Some authors you wonder if they even read the original book. Others try to remain true to the author. Elizabeth Newark did a fair job staying true. Some of the story mirrored Jane Eyre while other parts reminded me of other books.

What I liked: Janet Rochester is a likeable character, who is coming of age. Newark brings in characters of the original story, i.e. the Ingrams. Other characters have a mystery that surrounds them. You are left wondering what their intentions. There is a mystery that surrounds Highcrest almost in the same way of Jane Eyre with Thornfield.
Elizabeth Newark description of the countryside is picturesque.

What I didn't like: I did not like Newton's character discription of Jane Eyre. She makes her out to be a cold and jealous. She showed more love to Adele than her own daughter. I also didn't like the incestuous undertones. I could do without those.

All in all the book was okay. It was not as mysterious and Jane Eyre but the story was not boring either.

Tithe by Holly Black


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Kaye grew up thinking she was human. She soon finds out that she isn't and is thrust into a world that she doesn't understand. The Faerie world. She doesn't quite fit into the faerie world or the human world. She has a crush on Roibon, a faerie that has been ordered to kill her. The unseelie court is very unseelie. Most of the characters are double talking scoundrels. I liked this book because it was raw and edgy. I would recommend this books to people who love faeries. It's slightly different than most stories out there.

View all my reviews >>

Ironside by Holly Black


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book starts off where Tithe ended. Roiben is about to be coronated as King of the unseelie court. Roiben and Kaye are still together but things are complicated. Kaye declares herself to Roiben and he sends her on a impossible quest. Kaye sets off on a complicated journey in more ways than one. This book was an okay sequal however the end was wrapped up to neatly for me. I was expecting more.

View all my reviews >>

Valiant by Holly Black


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was by far my favorite of the three. Val is the main character in the book. She runs away from home when the ones she loves the most betray her. She hooks up with some other runaways who introduce her to a life she isn't prepared for. You can't help feeling sorry for Val. Also you get to know more about Dave, Luis and a troll named Ravus. This story deals with heartbreak, betrayal and forgiveness, something everybody can relate to.

View all my reviews >>

0 Contest

Jordan Deen has contest to win her upcoming novel Crescent, signed bookmarks plus other cool stuff. Go to her website at www.jordandeen.com for a chance to win. Good Luck.

0 Book Contest

Click on the Crazy-for-Books button to enter to win The Starlet.

0 The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

"Awaiting her in the bleak dwelling that was her new home were suspicion and loneliness. The master of the house despised everything about her. The man, who claimed he loved her, abandoned her to the circle of terror. And there was nowhere to turn, no one to help, no way to escape the evil claiming her as a victim...." Sounds good doesn't it. This book is about a girl, Kit, who leaves the only home she has known and travels to Connecticut in 1687. Kit grew up in Barbados and was raised by her indulgent grandfather. When he dies, she moves in with an aunt and uncle she has never met. Everything about Kit stands out, from her clothes to her opinions. She is forced to work hard for the first time in her life. She is practically friendless until she meets Hannah. However their friendship must remain a secret because the town believes Hannah to be a witch. Elizabeth George Speare does a remarkable job in describing early life in the colonies and relaying the loneliness of Kit. You can't help feeling sorry for her. This book is a Newbery Award Winner and definitely a To Read.

1 Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

I liked this book better than Blood Promise. For me Blood Promise didn't hold my attention. However Spirit Bound did. Spirit Bound is the latest Vampire Academy novel. This book is action packed. It starts with Rose's trials for graduation and takes off from there. Rose is still on her quest to save Dimitri while giving Adrian a shot at love. Personally I'm for team Adrian. Dimitri is on a quest to kill Rose. Also Rose and Lissa's friendship is stressed over the uncertainty of the future. This book is full of complicated relationships, plus the fact that Rose usually acts before thinking which leads to all sorts of trouble. I liked this book from beginning to end. If you are a fan of the Vampire Academy series you will definitely like this book, plus it's got one heck of a cliff hanger. I can't wait until the next book comes out in December. This is definitely a to read!

0 The Legend of the King by Gerald Morris

This is the final installment of the Squire's Tale series. Morris takes us on this adventure with King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table as they battle to save Camelot from Arthur's son and enemy Mordred. This story takes place when honor, friendship and loyalty are not just words but a way of life. The knights battle not only Mordred but also their own inner demons. This adventure is well worth the read. It's full of humor, heartbreak, and heroism. This is the first book I read by Gerald Morris, but it won't be the last. I am adding the whole squire series to my TBR pile. I am kicking myself for not discovering this series sooner. For me this is definitely a "to read". I would happily recommend it to anyone. It will be available on Sept. 2010.

I would like to thank netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for allowing me to preview this book.

0 Book giveaway

Book giveaway!!!!!
One lucky winner will recieve and ARC of Linger by Maggie Stiefvater. All you have to do is click on Throuthehaze Reads button and follow the directions. Good Luck!

0 Contest

Please be sure to click on the widgets in my sidebar to view other book blogs. They also have lots of contests. Check it out!

0 Rachel Vincent will be in the Chicago Area

I just got an email, courtesy of Net Galley and Harlequin, that Rachel Vincent will be in the Chicago area. She is the author of My Soul to Keep, Shift, and the soon to be released Alpha. Here is a list of the places and dates she will be:

Friday, June 25th:

10am-12pm
Meijer Highland, IN
10138 Indianapolis Blvd
Highland, IN 46322

2pm-4pm
Kmart Tinley Park, IL
16300 Harlem
Tinley Park, IL 60477

6pm-8pm
Walmart Joliet, IL
2424 W. Jefferson
St, Joliet, IL, 60436

Saturday, June 26th:

10am-12pm
Kmart Naperville, IL
1199 E. Ogden Ave.
Naperville, IL 60563

2pm-4pm
Kmart Bloomingdale, IL
156 South Gary Ave
Bloomingdale, IL 60108

6pm-8pm
Walmart Gurnee, IL
6590 Grand Ave
Gurnee, IL 60031

Sunday, June 27th:

10am-12pm
Kmart Racine, WI
2211 South Green Bay
Racine, WI 53406

2pm-4pm
Kmart Brookfield, WI
18200 W Bluemound Rd
Brookfield, WI 53045

0 Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

I first read Ballad and Lament by Maggie Stievfater. I liked them so much that I decided to give Shiver a try. This book blew me away. I fell in love with Sam and Grace almost instantly. Their story is full of drama and longing that hook you from the beginning. Sam is a wolf that becomes human. As years pass it gets harder for him to turn back to human. His time is running out. Grace has a history with the wolves. Sam and Grace fall in love but their time is precious and limited. This is a wonderful story that pulls at your heart strings. If I gave stars this would be a 5/5.

0 The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

This story picks up where the Iron King ended. Ash, a prince of the unseelie court is leading Meghan Chase, half human half fey, daughter of King Oberon, back to his winter court. Meghan is hurt and confused by Ash's coldness towards her. Meghan doesn't know who to trust anymore. Queen Mab doesn't believe their story about the Iron Fey. When Ash's brother is killed and the Sceptor of Seasons is stolen by the Iron Fey, Ash and Meghan have to flee the unseelie court and try to get it back before a war is fought between the winter and summer courts. Julie Kagawa does it again! This story is captivating from beginning to end. I can't wait to read the next one. I highly recommend this series.

0 Winters Passage by Julie Kagawa

This short story takes place where the Iron King left off. Prince Ash comes to escort Meghan Chase to Tir Na Nog to the Winter Queen. Meghan goes willingly as per their agreement. They do not get far on their journey to the unseelie court, when they discovered they are being followed by something menacing. This is a great short story that gives us more time with Ash and Meghan. Julie Kagawa has given us these great complex characters that have to choose between their duty and their heart. I look forward to reading more by her.

0 The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer

We get our first glimpse of Bree in the book Eclipse. The only thing we know about her is that she is part of an army created in Seattle to take out the Cullens. Until now. Stephanie Meyer gives us a different point of view. These vamps aren't the peace loving kind. They are cruel, vicious, and thirsty. We get to see this world through Bree's eyes. I ended up sympathizing with some of the vamps while I was glad to see the others meet their end. If you like the twilight series, give this story a try. It is available free online at BreeTanner.com until July 5. If you buy the book $1 of each book sold goes to the red cross.