Top Ten Books To Read During Halloween

Created by The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature that prompts bloggers to post a list of their top ten books. Every week, The Broke and the Bookish announce a different theme for the lists. This week, the topic is "Top Ten Books to Read During Halloween." 

Of course, the first thing that came to mind was a slew of paranormal titles. I tried to keep it a bit more varied, but what can I say, nothing says Halloween like a good does of paranormal creatures. I hope you enjoy my list!

1. The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray
Tree of All Souls. Sounds creepy, yes? Well, it's only a drop in the bucket when it comes to this series. Enjoy!

2. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
When I read this book, I truly understood what people mean when they say "spine-chilling."

3. Need by Carrie Jones
These pixies are nothing like Tinkerbell...

4. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh 
There is just something about Poe's work that makes it so fitting for Halloween. If you're looking for a YA spin on his tales, look no further.

5. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
This is the Jessica version of Halloween - no blood or gore, just a pink taser and lots of wit.

6. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
Halloween is the perfect time for campfire stories and dark fairytales.

7. Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater
Two words: homicidal fairy. Need I say more?

8. Hourglass by Myra McEntire
When you've had enough horror and gore, why not relax with a nice time travel thriller?

9. Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
There is witchcraft. There are incubi. There is a Southern Gothic atmosphere. In short, this book is the epitome of a great Halloween read.


10. The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell
For every little boy (or girl) who dressed up as a superhero/villain every year!

Now that you've read mine, what titles are on your list? Anything particularly chilling?

Beautiful Chaos Giveaway

Last week I talked a lot about Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. This week I'm giving you a chance to win your very own copy!

Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What - or who - will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?

For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself - forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he's too afraid to ask.

Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.

Now, if you're a fan of the series like me, you are probably asking yourself, "how do I win?" Well, lucky for you, the answer is simple. All you have to do is enter via the Rafflecopter widget below!

Before you do so, however, please note the fine print:

• Contest ends at midnight PST on Friday, November 4th
• US only 
• No P.O. Boxes 
• Entrants must be 13 years of age or older 
• Entrants must follow Chick Lit Teens 
• For complete rules of entry, please see Chick Lit Teens' official contest policy

Good luck!

Cover Judge

Cover Judge is a semi-weekly feature that spotlights the gorgeous covers of upcoming YA novels. This week, I'm returning to a normal Cover Judge post as I gear up for another new twist on the feature next week.

The Sharp Time by Mary O'Connell

Release: November 8, 2011

Synopsis:

Sandinista Jones is a high school senior with a punk rock name and a broken heart. The death of her single mother has left Sandinista alone in the world, subject to the random vulnerability of everyday life. When the school system lets her down, her grief and instability intensify, and she ponders a violent act of revenge.

Still, in the midst of her crisis, she gets a job at The Pale Circus, a funky vintage clothing shop, and finds friendship and camaraderie with her coworker, a boy struggling with his own secrets.

Even as Sandinista sees the failures of those with power and authority, she's offered the chance to survive through the redemptive power of friendship. Now she must choose between faith and forgiveness or violence and vengeance.

Cover: This is one of those books that I absolutely judged by its cover. To be honest, I'm not sure if the summary alone would have grabbed my interest. While intriguing, it is not the kind of book I regularly pick up. But the cover...oh, the cover! I am a huge fan of romantic-looking photographs. In fact, I frequently Facebook stalk a local photographer that is brilliant at taking such pictures, including my senior portraits. This cover has it all, as far as my tastes are concerned. The soft lighting and colors are already gorgeous, but what really catches my eye is the image as a whole. It feels as though the photographer has captured a single moment in time, the girl staring out of the window looking both thoughtful and lost. She seems to be self-contained, wrapped up in her own world. Accompanied with the summary and the realization of what the young girl is going through, the image becomes all the more enchanting (and a bit eerie). I'd probably buy this novel just to own such a gorgeous cover!

Audition Bookmark Giveaway

Contest Closed

Last week was my birthday. It was great fun, full of cake, friends, family and presents. I was reminded of how much fun it is to get gifts. Now, I'm not a person with a lot of wants, but it's still nice to get a surprise or two every once in awhile. So, with this in mind, I thought I would host an impromptu giveaway this week. Hopefully you all like getting little gifts as much as I do!

 Three (3) Chick Lit Teens readers will win an Audition bookmark, featuring the cover of and an excerpt from Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe. (I will also probably throw in a few other surprise pieces of swag.) To enter, simply fill out the form below. The ever-magical Rafflecopter has all of the other details, including the rules of entry.

Good luck!

Cover Judge: The Results

The votes have been counted and the results are in for the first round of Who Wore It Best. First off, I'd like to thank everyone who voted. There were just under 100 votes cast, which, being that this was only the first post, astounded me. I hope you all enjoyed voting as much as I enjoyed tallying them.

Now, without further ado, I give you the results.

First up, Reaching Through Time by Laurlene McDaniels vs. Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles

And the winner is...

Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles!

Next, North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley and Evermore by Alyson Noel go head-to-head (literally).

And the winner is...

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley!

Thanks for voting, everyone! Be sure to check back later for a new round of covers.

A Great Day for Book Releases

Every once in awhile, there is that perfect day - the day when you get an A+ on your math test and asked to prom, the day that the stars seem to align and everything is in your favor, or, like today, the day when the Book Gods bless you with two highly-anticipated releases.

I can hardly contain my glee over the releases of these two titles. They both have so much promise, earning them top spots on my list of 2011 releases. It is only fitting that two such books should share a release today.

First, there is Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, the third book in the Caster Chronicles.

Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What - or who - will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?

For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself - forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he's too afraid to ask.

Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.

And then, of course, there is The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, her super secret, super magical new book.

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

Sadly, because of college applications, I will not be able to read either book until later in the week. So, naturally, you must all go out and buy them. Then you must come back here and tell me how awesome they are, thus motivating me to finish my applications. It's a win-win for everyone!

Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe

Release: October 13, 2011

Source: Contest

When high school junior Sara wins a coveted scholarship to study ballet, she must sacrifice everything for her new life as a professional dancer-in-training. Living in a strange city with a host family, she's deeply lonely-until she falls into the arms of Remington, a choreographer in his early twenties. At first, she loves being Rem's muse, but as she discovers a surprising passion for writing, she begins to question whether she's chosen the right path. Is Rem using her, or is it the other way around? And is dancing still her dream, or does she need something more? This debut novel in verse is as intense and romantic as it is eloquent.

Audition is only the second ever verse novel I’ve read. I am a novel person – always have been, always will be. So it took me a few pages to adjust to a new style of writing and a new format for reading. After a few mental adjustments, however, I was off and running.

And once I was, I was surprised to find how much I enjoyed it. I am so, so happy that Kehoe chose to tell Sara’s story through verse. It fit perfectly.

Like a choreographer, Kehoe created a beautiful composition. The words took on a lyrical quality, each line a different step in the gorgeous dance. As I wound my way through Sara’s story, I could not help but imagine a graceful ballerina pirouetting and leaping across the stage.

Writing-wise, Audition was masterful. Character-wise, however, I was far less impressed.

Sara was an interesting main character to follow. For much of the novel, I couldn’t decide whether or not I liked her. She had a touch of naïveté that I found irksome and seemed to lack genuine dedication. Her drive to become a ballerina felt hollow, inspired not by her own love of dance but by the dreams of those around her. I wanted to grab Sara and shake some sense into her, to make her realize that she was her own person and needed to stand up for herself.

This frustration with Sara only continued as I ventured further into her story. Throughout the novel I kept finding myself growing annoyed with her and her decisions. Never quite enough to make me consider putting down the novel, but enough to exasperate me. As irksome as she was, I was intrigued by Sara’s story and the world of the ballet school. I was committed to seeing Sara through to the end of her journey, even if she made a few unsavory stops along the way.

And by unsavory stops, I mean Rem. I just did not understand that relationship. From the get go I didn’t trust or like Rem. And once he began hooking up with Sara, my opinion of him only worsened. I found him to be withdrawn, moody, and rude, three things I do not value in a guy – fictional or otherwise. I spent a lot of time wishing I could just step into the novel, pull Sara out of Rem’s apartment, and show her how much promise and strength she had on her own, without his destructive influence.

Personal feelings aside, I do understand why Kehoe put Rem and Sara together. Sara needed to experience that relationship in order to reach a certain point in her life. Being with him forced her to make some decisions that, while tough, were necessary to her finding herself.

At the end of it all, I found myself sufficiently pleased with the course the story ran and enchanted by the lovely prose. Sara never transformed into a character I loved. She did, however, become a character I could respect and above all, understand.

3 stars

Bloggers Talk About Beautiful Chaos

This Tuesday marks the release of Beautiful Chaos, the third book in the Caster Chronicles series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. 

Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What - or who - will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?

For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself - forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he's too afraid to ask.

Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.

Are you excited yet? I know I am!

To celebrate the release of Beautiful Chaos, Caster Girls & Boys is hosting a series of posts called "Bloggers Talk." Over the course of the week, they will be posting various bloggers' answers to Beautiful Creatures-related questions. I'm so excited to be a part of the celebration!

You can read the first post here, and be sure to check back throughout the week for new responses.

Top Ten Books I Wish I Could Read Again For The First Time

As I'm sure most of you know, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week, bloggers all over the blogosphere post their list in response to a prompt set by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is Top Ten Books I Wish I could Read Again For The First Time. Here's my list:

1. The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray

I opted for reading these books over going to Disneyland. Honestly, they were that enchanting. I wish I could experience that wonder and intrigue again.

2. Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

I want to fall in love with North, Sydelle and their adventure all over again.

3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

After reading Mockingjay, this whole series became a bit tainted for me. I wish I could go back to the very beginning and experience Katniss' fight without memories of Mockingjay souring my excitement.

4. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

I didn't sleep until I turned the last page. And then I dreamed about Sam and Grace and the magic of the novel. Can I please experience it all over again?

5. The Warriors series by Erin Hunter

These books were my childhood. No Harry Potter, no Lemony Snicket, just the Warriors. The books were absolutely magic in my elementary school eyes.

6. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Transport me back to Paris, please! Merci!

7. The Season by Sarah MacLean

The romance had me swooning, the mystery made my jaw drop, and the Season had me squealing - a marvelous first read!

8. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

I was blown away by this one the first time I read it. For the entire six hour car ride to LA, I just sat in the backseat and read silently. I want to do that again.

9. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Okay, I know I just read these for the first time this past summer, but I'm ready to go back again. There's a reason why so many people love them.

10. Bad Kitty by Michele Jaffe

Oh my, this book is hilarious! I don't think a book has ever made me laugh this hard before. Plus, there's a great murder mystery full of twist, turns, and surprises. I want to help Jaz solve the mystery again!

Now that you know mine, what books do you wish you could read again for the first time?

Cover Judge: Who Wore It Best?

Anyone who has ever perused a tabloid while waiting in line at the supermarket has seen the "Who wore it best?" feature. There's always two waif-like celebrities wearing the same dress, and readers vote on who looks best in it.

Well, it's not just celebrities who are guilty of dressing alike. Often, while perusing the shelves at my local Barnes & Noble, I will find two books sporting the same cover image. Of course, each cover tweaks the image just a bit to make it unique, which leads me to ask "Who wears it best?"

I'm going to need your help to decide.

First up, Reaching Through Time by Lurlene McDaniel and Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles:

Reaching Through Time: This cover gives the image its own flair by manipulating the background rather than the actual image. The colors are bright and vibrant, with numerous opaque overlays. Swirls run up the left side of the cover, as well as the top right corner. Behind the two figures is a clock, connecting with the title Reaching Through Time. It all brings to mind a psychedelic time travel sequence, which seems well supported by the title.

Return to Paradise: As with Reaching Through Time, the image itself is not greatly altered, though the crop looks a little wider. It is the background that makes Return to Paradise's cover unique. The midnight lake and crescent moon give the cover (and the couple) a more secretive, darker feel.

Who wore it best?
Reaching Through Time Return to Paradise
	Results

Next, Evermore by Alyson Noel and North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley:

Evermore: Of the two, Evermore definitely revamped the image the most. The purple hue combined with the glowing letters evokes a paranormal feel appropriate for the series. The red tulips also help to personalize the stock image. The flowers make multiple appearances in the novel and end up being rather significant in the series.

North of Beautiful: Though less manipulated, North of Beautiful still puts its own spin on the image. The compass compass connects back with the title, as well as the story itself. The image itself is very fitting for the novel since the main character is described as having a "'flawed' face" due to a mark on her cheek.

Who wore it best?
Evermore North of Beautiful
	Results

Be sure to cast your votes and check back next week to see which covers win!

Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink

Release: August 1, 2011

Others in the Series: Prophecy of the Sisters and Guardian of the Gate


Source: Purchased

With time dwindling but her will to end the Prophecy stronger than ever, Lia sets out on a journey to find the remaining keys, locate the missing pages of the Prophecy, and convince her sister Alice to help--or risk her life trying. Lia has her beloved Dimitri by her side, but Alice has James, the man who once loved her sister--and maybe still does. James doesn't know the truth about either sister, or the prophecy that divides them. And Alice intends to keep it that way.

There are some secrets sisters aren't meant to share. Because when they do, it destroys them. This stunning conclusion to Michelle Zink's Prophecy of the Sisters trilogy will make saying good-bye bittersweet for readers.

Having fallen in love with Guardian of the Gate two summers ago, I was incredibly excited to end this last summer with Circle of Fire.

Sadly, I had a great deal of trouble getting back into Lia’s world. I read Prophecy of the Sisters so long ago that the basic details have become quite murky. Compound this with all the development in Guardian of the Gate, the specifics of which I only vaguely remember, and you have one very lost Jessica.  For the first few chapters, I felt like that kid in math class who doesn’t quite get what’s going on, but refuses to admit it. Normally, things don’t end so well for that kid. Luckily, that wasn't the case with me, and I was able to get my bearings after a bit.

Still, I felt like I lost a bit in those first few chapters. I enjoyed them, yes, but I probably could have enjoyed them a lot more if I hadn’t been so confused. That said, I would highly suggest rereading the first two (or at least the second) book prior to reading Circle of Fire. Zink does briefly review a few key events. But the review is just that: brief.

Of course, there’s one thing I didn’t forget: Dimitri and Lia. Originally, I had been pro-James. After all, he works in a library. What’s not to love? But after meeting Dimitri, my allegiances quickly changed. I was so, so happy to see that Zink didn’t fall prey to the Curse of the Sequel. For once, my favorite couple did not break up or bicker relentlessly in the subsequent book. If anything, they grew closer. Hallelujah!

The pacing of Circle of Fire also afforded Lia and Dimitri time to develop their individual characters better. In Prophecy of the Sisters, the story moved slowly and the developments were very subtle. In Guardian of the Gate, there was a great deal of drama and development, all of it happening in rapid succession. In Circle of Fire, Zink found a nice balance between the two. I enjoyed the action just as much as I enjoyed the down time. It was during this time that Lia was able to reflect on all that had happened. Her life and personality have changed so much over the course of the series, and it was nice to have a chance to get to know this new Lia. In fact, I liked getting to know all of the characters more. Zink really gave the characters the chance to further develop themselves, even Alice.

Though the ending wasn’t quite as epic as I would have hoped, I found it to be an overall engaging read with a satisfying ending. Much like John Green’s Looking for Alaska, it was the final chapter that really made the novel. The sentiments Lia expressed tied the series together wonderfully and brought everything back to the heart of the trilogy: sisterhood.

4 stars

October Commenter Contest

How is it already October?! It cannot be October already. That means my birthday is in less than two weeks and my Stanford application is due in less than a month. Crazy!

October also means it's time for me to announce the winner of last month's commenter contest and begin the contest for this month. So, without further ado, the winner of an ARC of Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare and an Infernal Devices journal is...

Liz!

Congratulations! I'll be sending you an email in a bit so I can get all your mailing info. (Note: If you're waiting on any prizes from me, I'm making a run to the post office later this week.)

In honor of Halloween, this month's prize is a haunting paranormal read:

Deception by Lee Nichols

When Emma Vaile's parents leave on mysterious business trip, it gives her the perfect excuse to be a rebellious teen. Throw some parties, get a tattoo (or maybe just a piercing), and enjoy the first few weeks of her junior year. Then her best friend stops talking to her, the cops crash her party, and Emma finds herself in the hands of a new guardian—her college-age "knight in J.Crew armor," Bennett Stern—and on a plane to his museum-like mansion in New England.

After enrolling at Thatcher Academy, Emma settles in by making friends with the popular legacy crowd. But she can't shake the strange visions that are haunting her. She has memories of Thatcher she can't explain, as if she's returning home to a place she's never been. Emma doesn't trust anyone anymore—except maybe Bennett. But he's about to reveal a ghostly secret to Emma. One that will explain the visions . . . and make Emma fear for her life.

Entering to win is simple: just comment! Any thoughtful comment on a post from October will count as one entry. (Note the word thoughtful. This means comments like "Nice review. I'll have to add it to my TBR pile," "I like this cover," "New follower," or "Great review. I just started my own blog. Please check it out!" will not count.)

As with  my previous commenter contest, this one will be open internationally. I know I have a lot of readers abroad, and I want to make sure you know I appreciate you too. Also, make sure that when you comment you are either logged in to your Google account or leave your email. Otherwise I'll have no way of getting in contact with you should you win.

Phew. That's all of the fine print. Good luck!

P.S. I'd like to give credit to Emily's Reading Room, where I first saw this idea.

A New Look for Cover Judge

Ever since I was a wee little first grader, I have judge books by their covers. I know a lot of people say such a habit isn't right, but I cannot help it. I love book covers and, no matter what anyone says, I do think a book's cover says a lot about it. Thus, shortly after starting my blog I created "You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover...Or Can You?" (later shortened to Cover Judge). The posts quickly became a staple of my blog, with me posting a new cover analysis nearly every week. 

Recently, however, I've found myself a little less enamored with my Cover Judge posts. I'm itching to do something new, something different. So I've decided to change up Cover Judge for a bit. I have two cover-related ideas that I'm going to be trying out over the next few weeks. If well received, my plan is to mix these new posts in with my normal Cover Judge posts, that way there's a bit more variety.

The first change up post will be up later in the week, so keep an eye out for it. I hope you like it!