Mundie Moms

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

The Shadowhunters' Codex Sneak Peak #4


Simon Teen just posted their 4th Shadowhunters' Codex sneak peak. Here's what they said:
Here’s your fourth sneak peek at The Shadowhunter’s Codex by Cassandra Clare & Joshua Lewis - in stores 10/29!
A look into the typical Shadowhunter equipment & an inside look at The Sensor! See all the sneak peeks here.
Check it out below:





Catch the first three sneak peaks here.

Unbreakable By Kami Garcia, Book Review



By: Kami Garcia
Published by: Little Brown
Released on:
Series: The Legion #1
Source: arc from BEA
4 Stars: I Enjoyed It
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Add it to Goodreads

Supernatural meets The Da Vinci Code in this action-packed paranormal thriller, the first book in a new series from New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia. 

I never believed in ghosts. Until one tried to kill me.


When Kennedy Waters finds her mother dead, her world begins to unravel. She doesn’t know that paranormal forces in a much darker world are the ones pulling the strings. Not until identical twins Jared and Lukas Lockhart break into Kennedy’s room and destroy a dangerous spirit sent to kill her. The brothers reveal that her mother was part of an ancient secret society responsible for protecting the world from a vengeful demon — a society whose five members were all murdered on the same night.

Now Kennedy has to take her mother’s place in the Legion if she wants to uncover the truth and stay alive. Along with new Legion members Priest and Alara, the teens race to find the only weapon that might be able to destroy the demon — battling the deadly spirits he controls every step of the way.

Suspense, romance, and the paranormal meet in this chilling urban fantasy, the first book in a new series from Kami Garcia, bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures novels
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A fast past, heart pounding paranormal read with romance, suspense, and plenty of haunting spirits and demons. 

I don't know how many times I tell myself I won't read a book that deals with hauntings at night, and then I find myself doing that very thing. Yes, I'm a wuss, and anything that deals with hauntings or spiders (don't laugh), are books that either I won't read or I'll tell myself I'll only read a few pages, but never at night. Um, yeah. I don't know why I tell myself this, because I always read at night, and usually once I start reading I don't stop till I finish the book (unless it's poorly written). Though this book doesn't have spiders, there are plenty of hauntings. 

After her mother's murder, Kennedy finds herself thrust into a world she knows nothing about, except that ghosts are real, demons exists and the two very hot twin brothers who saved her life from the ghost who attacked her. What Kennedy soon learns is her part in all that's about to happen is something that's been going on for generations. Hotties Jared and Jack are just the two to introduce her to it all. This secret society, know as The Legion, also known as demon hunters. I liked reading about this group of 5 individual characters, though I was hopping to get more of a back story on them. Readers find out what happened and why they're part of the group, but we don't get much else other than what their mission is now, and what their specialities are. Normally I would have had an issue with not getting to know more about the characters, but Kami keeps this story going with it's suspense and non stop action. That is what really drove the book for me.


The romance. I'm on the fence about this romance. Part of me liked it, and the other part of me didn't. Here's why. I get that the two brothers would be drawn to Kennedy, and that she would naturally like them given all they have dwelt with and they completely understand what they're going through. Plus the are the only two who can fill her in on what's going on and help her out. From I got from the book these guys are not only hotties, they both seem like smart guys who aren't afraid to do what they're suppose to do. Unlike Jack, who explains the history and purpose of The Legion to Kennedy, it's Jared whom she feels the most drawn to. So I could see why there might be a love triangle forming, though Kennedy and Jared clearly have some chemistry. I personally needed a little something more from the two of them to really believe their relationship or the makings of one. As I said, I'm on the fence. I both liked it, and at some points in the book I felt like I needed more from them. And that ending. Seriously, I really want to know what happens between the two of them next. 

Unbreakable has hauntings, demons, demon slayers and plenty of creepy things. Well maybe creepy is putting it too lightly. Kami Garcia doesn't hold back when it comes to vividly describing her chilling scenes, and heart pounding hauntings. Thanks to Kami, I won't look at cats and dolls the same any more. With places likes the grave yard to wells to vacant rooms, and a creepy abandoned prison, the setting for this book was fitting, and terrifying. If you have ever watched ghost hunters, then you'll know why my adrenaline was pumping when they went into that prison. From vengeful spirits, to innocent victims who find their spirits trapped, Unbreakable had me feeling like I was in the room right along side Kennedy, Jared and the gang, heart racing and all. 


Over all I enjoyed Unbreakable. Sure the romance wasn't it's strong suit, but the action and suspense definitely were. This book kept me turning the page, and definitely brought out my more wussy side. This book isn't even as bad as watching ghost hunters, but it definitely has enough creepiness to it that I didn't put the book down till I was done with it. I know, that doesn't make much sense does it. It's similar to watching Ghost Hunters and Supernatural. Once it's on, and even though some things are beyond freaky in those shows, I'm also too intrigued to stop watching it.  If you've ever watched either show then you'll know what I'm talking about. If you're a fan of either show and of things that go bump in the night,  then you will enjoy reading Unbreakable.


The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan, Book Review


By: Sarah Crossan
Published by: Bloomsbury
Released on: July 23rd, 2013
Ages: 10-14
Source: book from publisher to review
4 Stars: I Enjoyed It
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Add it to Goodreads

Armed with a suitcase and an old laundry bag filled with clothes, Kasienka and her mother head for England. Life is lonely for Kasienka. At home her mother's heart is breaking and at school friends are scarce. But when someone special swims into her life, Kasienka learns that there might be more than one way for her to stay afloat." """"The Weight of Water" is a startlingly original piece of fiction; most simply a brilliant coming of age story, it also tackles the alienation experienced by many young immigrants. Moving, unsentimental and utterly page-turning, we meet and share the experiences of a remarkable girl who shows us how quiet courage prevails.

The Weight of Water was not a book I normally would have picked up, but it's one that was highly talked about at the Bloomsbury breakfast I attended while at BEA. That conversations really peaked my interest in this book, and it what made me sit down and read it after it arrived. Can I just say, this book is packed with emotions and moments I wasn't excerpting to get wrapped up in.

Written in verse, The Weight of Water tackles everything from first love, dealing with bullying, abandonment, trying to find yourself in the world, poverty, and those awkward teen years. This is a book that doesn't down play what Kasienka's life is like. With a father who up and left them behind and headed to England, a her mother who hasn't been able to get over her grief  Kasienka's mother uproots them and moves them to England to find him. With few very possessions, and little money, they move into an area that isn't in a great part of town.

Kasienka's story is one that's honest, emotionally raw, and at times heartbreaking. It wasn't hard for me to sympathize for her. Kasienka is a bright young girl who's world has totally been turned upside down, and in the process of trying to adjust to her new home, and country, she starts to find herself. Being a foreigner and a new girl at school is not what anyone wants, and Kasienka deals with a lot of bullying. Seriously, those moments really broke my heart, but I admired the fact that Kasienka wasn't the kind of girl to just take it. She held her head high and did what she had to do to at first cope with it, and then fight against it.

Often times while reading her story, I wondered what I would have done if I was in her shoes. For awhile it didn't look like she could catch a break. I don't know what was worse for her, school or her broken home life. Her new home was like living in the slums, and with a mother who was working to made ends meet and deal with her depression, she paid little attention to her daughter. Kasisenka's loneliness really broke my heart. Let me just say, being a mom I was so peeved at her mom, even though I respected she was doing what she good to keep a roof over their head, and little food on the table. I didn't like the fact she couldn't see past what she was dealing with, to help her daughter. BUT, during the course of the story things changed, and events happen and these two learn to work on their relationship. 

This story is a honest, emotional packed story about one girls journey to finding herself, and coping with things life throws at her. Beautifully written, The Weight of Water is a book that gives readers a real look into Kasienka's life. It's written in away that makes me feel like I've have a look into a real person's life. Now I understand why Bloomsbury talked so highly of this book. 

The Shadowhunters' Codex Sneak Peak #3


Simon Teen has been treating Shadowhunter fans to Shadowhunters' Codex sneak peaks this week (see the first two here), and today they've posted a Magnus Bane one! Check it out below:



Be sure to follow Simon Teen on Tumblr so you don't miss catching all their Shadowhunters' Codex sneak peaks.

Waiting on Wednesday: Olivia Twisted by Vivi Barnes


By: Vivi Barnes
Published by: Entangled
To Be Released on: November 5th. 2013
Pre-Order from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Add it to Goodreads

Olivia
He tilts my chin up so my eyes meet his, his thumb brushing lightly across my lips. I close my eyes. I know Z is trouble. I know that being with him is going to get me into trouble. I don’t care.
At least at this moment, I don’t care.
Tossed from foster home to foster home, Olivia’s seen a lot in her sixteen years. She’s hardened, sure, though mostly just wants to fly under the radar until graduation. But her natural ability with computers catches the eye of Z, a mysterious guy at her new school. Soon, Z has brought Liv into his team of hacker elite—break into a few bank accounts, and voila, he drives a motorcycle. Follow his lead, and Olivia might even be able to escape from her oppressive foster parents. As Olivia and Z grow closer, though, so does the watchful eye of Bill Sykes, Z’s boss. And he’s got bigger plans for Liv…
Z
I can picture Liv’s face: wide-eyed, trusting. Her smooth lips that taste like strawberry Fanta.
It was just a kiss. That’s all. She’s just like any other girl.
Except that she’s not.
Thanks to Z, Olivia’s about to get twisted.
Oooh sold! Not only does this book sound like a great read, I like that it's something different. There's very few books I can recall in the YA book world that revolve around hacking. Hacking aside, I want to find out more about Olivia and Z. I'm hooked!  I can't wait to read this one.

What book are you waiting on?

 

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