Breakfast with the Bookie - Reviewers : Do You Still Buy Books?

Join together and let's discuss! Breakfast with the Bookie is a weekly feature on the log where we all join together and discuss YA everything! From pet peeves to cliches to genres to advice! The list goes on and on! It's held every Wednesday morning ( or afternoon depending on where you live) so that you can read it with your cup of coffee ;)

This Week's Topic -  Reviewers : Do You Still Buy Books?

Okay so I understand that we are ALL book reviewers but this one is manly for the book bloggers who receive book for review from publishers. I curious, do you guys still buy books? Do you still buy book even if you receive them for review? Do you still buy a book even if received an ARC? Do you still buy books even if you are piled under the ones you receive for review?

I have never been a big book buyer. I spend time in bookshops almost every weekend, but nine time out of ten, I come out empty handed. My mum drilled into me long ago 'don't buy something if you don't love it'. I love books and reading in general but when I take the whole concept apart, I only have a few favourites.

I started my blog thinking that an amateur blogger who has a limited vocabulary will NEVER get ask to review something for an author or publisher and I accepted that. I blog for me, it's something I love and I would keep doing it even with no strings attached. I was very surprised when an author contacted me to review book ( and send it all the way to Australia) ten days after I started my blog, I had exactly five followers so you could imagine my surprise :)

From there my blogging blossomed! Three months later I was asked to review for Penguin and then many other publishers. Even when I started blogging most of the books were from the library, I tend not to go back and re-read books, I find that there are so many books out there it would be a shame to spend precious time re-reading a book I have already read! Anyway, I stopped buying books altogether once more review copies started coming in. The last printed book I bought was in July, it was an hardcover copy of The Carrie Diaries by Candance Bushnell.

Don't get me wrong, it's not that I can't afford to buy books in fact my parents give me a weekly BOOK BUYING ALLOWANCE ( $5/week not much but still). I simply find that I haven't got the time to read books I bought along with those I get for review. For example, I bought a copy of Hourglass by Claudia Gray one year ago and it's still sitting on my shelf - unread. The books I buy just end up sitting on my shelf collecting dust.

Another reason I don't buy book anymore is because everything I want to read comes in the mail for review from publishers! I'm SO SO SO grateful for all the lovely publicists at publishing houses who are willing to send book to bloggers, thank-you! I don't usually go out and buy a finished copy if I receive an ARC but then again, Australia's ARC distribution is extremely low, we just get sent finished copies ( with the pretty covers =P )

So I for one, don't buy books anymore, although I would probably pick up a copy if I REALLY wanted it ( I counting down the days til paperback release of The Rise of Regenade X, I will cry if I don't read it soon). Otherwise, I would go to the library and get a copy ;) What about you? Do you still buy books?

Badass Bookie xx

Extra Extra! Read All About it! Badass Bulletin #2

Hello Lovlies! It's time for the second edition of Badass Bulletin! The Bulletin is a monthly newletter that goes out with the lastest new in the YA Blogsphere as well as on this blog! It can feature anything from cover reveals to book-into-movies news to new books on the block!

On The Blog This Month -

I haven't planned much for March so it's going to be a go with the flow month. I might be able to squeeze in an interview with an author so look out for that! As usual there will be ' Debut of the Month' however, our debutante is yet to be determined ( in the midst of confirming ...) In all boring March here at Badass Bookie!

Winners of the Here Lies Bridget and The Book of Tomorrow giveaways will be announced later this week ( when I have the time to tally up the entries and pick a winner :P)

On the Blogosphere -

Cover Reveals :

Uncommon Criminals ( Hiest Society #2) by Ally Carter

The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Once Every Never by Lesley Livingston

So Silver Bright by Lisa Mantchev

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Undercurrent ( Siren #2) by Tricia Rayburn

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

UK Cover for The Demon Trappers #2, I have to say I liked the first cover so much better :P

Forbidden ( The Demon Trappers #2) bu Jana Oliver

In Other News -

Cat Patrick, author of Forgotten has recently sold movie rights to Paramount. Haliee Steinfeld ( True Grit and rumoured Katniss for Hunger Games) is attached to play lead role as London.

That's all! Come back tomorrow for Breakfast with the Bookie ;)

Badass Bookie xx

Dead Girls' Dance ( Spoiler free!)

Review Time! So a few weeks ago I posted up my review of this first book in the Morganville Vampires series – Glass House, Bottom line, I loved it and if you haven’t read the series, I strongly encourage you to do. Anyway here is my (spoiler-free) review of the second book…

(Goodreads) Claire Danvers has her share of challenges---like being a genius in a school that favors beauty over brains, dealing with the homicidal girls in her dorm, and above all, finding out that her college town is overrun with vampires. On the up side, she has a great roommate (who tends to disappear at sunup) and a new boyfriend named Shane, whose vampire-hunting dad has called in backup: cycle punks who like the idea of killing just about anything. Now a fraternity is throwing its annual Dead Girls' Dance and---surprise!---Claire and her equally outcast best friend, Eve, have been invited. When they find out why, all hell is going to break loose. Because this time both the living and the dead are coming out---and everybody's hungry for blood.

The Short Story? - Just as good as the first book if not better! A lot more action packed into this novel and readers are introduced to new characters. Twists and turns throughout the book along with a BIG SHOCKER, that I didn’t see coming. More romance * cheers* and did I mention it was amazing?

The Long Story? – What makes a good book? Romance, hot guys, lots of action, originality, well portrayed characters and comfortable writing style. There a complete list of what I think makes a good book and believe it or not, Dead Girl's Dance had all of the above. I couldn’t stop turning the pages, I finished the complete 380 pages in one day!

One of the highlights of the novel for me was the change of pace. Unlike in Glass House where most of the action was packed into the latter half of the novel. Every single page of this novel was interesting and filled with action, every page was essential to the bigger picture. Part of the reason, I would say is because unlike most sequels where there is a long period between the two books, Dead Girls' Dance picked up right from where Glass House finished! There wasn’t one boring moment in this novel! As soon as one problem was solved another one appeared! Not the mention that the development in the plot was a shocker! Like I said in my review of Glass House, it’s refreshing to read vampire fiction about how vampires should be – a little creepy, not all that good looking and certainly not sparkly.

Another highlight? The development in romance. In this book, both Shane and Claire’s and Michael and Eve’s blossom so readers get a bigger snippet of love story between the roomies. It’s confirmed that Shane and Claire are ‘officially’ a couple even though we all knew that from the first book but it was nice to her the‘girlfriend’ come out of Shane’s mouth ;) As for Michael and Eve, all I can say is that they must really care for each other, in this book something happens to Michael that changes him forever but even than Eva can still love him which I think it’s the cutest thing ever. Again, the romance isn’t clichéd, we don’t have a vampire and human romance but a human and human romance ( sorta) which is ‘refreshingly’…normal (in vampire fiction :P)

The characters are portrayed really well and it’s easy to make connection with them as readers, whether it is their human emotions or the close relationship between all four roomies. Each character has a distinctive personality and when you put them all together, they’re as funny as hell! The ‘bonding’ between the four really is something I envy, when I get roomies, I want to have roomies like Shane, Eve, Michael and Claire ;)

Last but not least, fantastic writing! Strong voice for each of the characters and the narrator. Comfortable to get into and allows reader to slip right into the book. The writing style isn’t too formal so that it’s difficult to understand the choice of language. Rachel Caine really is a fantabulous writer ;)

Overall, I enjoyed this one even better than the first one, it was action packed and romance packed. I strongly encourage you guys to go pick up the first copy and give it a go because it’s a totally AWESOME series! Great writing, fantastic characters, lots of romance and full of action! Rating 5/5

Badass Bookie xx

In My Mailbox #23

Hello!!! It's Sunday morning and I'm kind of in a rush so I trying to do this double time ;) In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Basically we just show all the bookish contents of our mailbox, what we bought, what we recieved, what we won etc etc. This is a three week edition since I didn't do one last week. I ususally do IMM every two weeks :)

In My Mailbox -

Signed to Elizabeth???? Maybe she thought my full name was Elizabeth...ah well, it's Signed :P

For Review-

Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

7 Souls by Barnabas Miller and Jordan Orlando

The Iron Witch by Karon Mahoney

ARC Entangled by Cat Clarke

Forsaken ( aka The Demon Trappers Daughter) by Jana Oliver

Rosebush by Michele Jaffe

Remember Me : Volume One by Christopher Pike

The Last Vampire : Book Seven by Christopher Pike

Dark Heart Forever by Lee Monroe

Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

( Thanks to Penguin, Hachette, Random House and Pan Macmillian

Won -

Mishaps by Nansi Kunze

SIGNED ARC of Afterlife by Claudia Gray

( Thanks to To The Point Reviews and Lisa @ A Life Bound by Books + Claudia Gray!)

Well, that's it! What did you get in your mailbox?

Badass Bookie xx

Forsaken ( or The Demon Trapper's Daughter)

Review Time! I thought I would post a review of this book while it's still fresh in my mind, I finished it two hours ago so my thoughts are still reasonably clear ;) Forsaken or for those who live in the US of the A, it's dubbed The Demon's Trappers Daughter is a 2011 YA Debut. I'm little behind on the challenge this year but I'm catching up! Thanks to Pan for the copy ;)

UK vs. US? Pick your poison, difficult but I think I like the UK cover!

(Goodreads) Riley has always wanted to be a Demon Trapper like her father, and she's already following in his footsteps as one of the best. But it's tough being the only girl in an all-guy world, especially when three of those guys start making her life more complicated: Simon, the angelic apprentice who has heaven on his side; Beck, the tough trapper who thinks he's God's gift, and Ori, the strikingly sexy stranger who keeps turning up to save her ass. One thing's for sure - if she doesn't keep her wits about her there'll be hell to pay...

The Short Story ? - It's too early to say this is one of the best debuts I have read but it was fantastic! Original plot and storyline, great characters and fantastic writing! Great heroine who's a total badass and lets not forget all her boyfriends who are totally HAWT!

The Long Story ? - Let's talk about the totally awesome originality of this novel first. In my opinion to write an original book you need to a) chose a genre that's rarely used or b) use an aspect of a genre that is rarely used. I can name on one hand how many paranormals I have read that are based on demon storyline. The best part is that the protagonist doesn't even hook up with a demon! So no cliched human and supernatural creature romance! It's also set in the near future, 2018, and it's a very interesting perspective of what the world would be like. What if we ran out of metal and gas? What if demons populated among us? What is we raised the dead and manufactured Holy Water? The idea's far-fetched yet it's (sorta) realistic don't you think?

The characters in this debut was great! Strong heroine, I like the idea of a girl who can stand her ground in an all man world! Not to mention Riley is totally badass, she's lost both of her parents and yet she can still move on with her life and dream, it's tough but she did it. Another character I adore is Beck! I love everything about him from his southern boy drawl to his 'I'm too cool' attitude! Best of all, he cares about Riley and has her best interests at heart even if it means (maybe) not admitting his real feelings. Riley and Beck would make a totally awesome couple! Which leads me to Riley's boyfriend, Simon. He's hot and a total sweetie but I can't really see him with Riley, he's too much of a 'good boy'. The third guy, Ori, is still a complete mystery, I really hope we see more of him in the next book because I have a feeling I will like this guy...

The romance in this novel is little dry. Whether it's because I'm totally biast about Riley's boyfriend choice  or Simon and Riley really do lack chemistry is for you guys to decide. The writing is great, Jana's writing style is very comfortable and easy to slip into. Strong character voices and fantastic idea to switch perspectives between Beck and Riley.

In all, it's a great book! I have little pet peeves ( like boyfriend preferences) but they are only small compared to the FANTABULOUS of the book! Seriously, read this book! Bookie Approves ;) Rating 4.5/5 ( took 0.5 away for bad taste in boys)

Badass Bookie xx

Breakfast with the Bookie - My Two Cents on YA Dystopian

Hello Lovelies! It’s Wednesday, WHICH is when Breakfast with the Bookie is hosted. I’m sorry there wasn’t a discussion last week but it was my Debut of the Month feature with Paige Harbison and it didn’t feel right to go ‘ sorry, we going to stop the show and feature…’

Anyway, Breakfast with the Bookie is a weekly feature here at Badass Bookie. Basically it’s a discussion post you can read and share your opinions about! It can range from a number of things including advice, pet peeves, Q&A‘s and of course, YA fiction!
This week’s topic – My Two Cents on YA Dystopian

Dystopian is becoming an incredibly popular genre among YA fiction. I suffer from this case of OCD where I not only have to organize my own books into categories, I have to organize books in the general into categories. So Harry Potter Era – Way back-2007, Vampire Era – 2008-Mid-2010, Dystopian Era – Mid 2010-present. YA Dystopian is increasing in number and popularity. This is the start of a new era, one that could that could possibly outlast…The Vampire Era.

I can positively say the majority of readers have read at least one dystopian novel. New York Times Bestselling, Matched by Ally Condie and Across the Universe by Beth Revis. Recently released, Delirium by Lauren Oliver. Upcoming Bumped by Megan McCafferty, Possession by Elana Johnson and Wither Lauren DeStefano. The international bestseller – The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins, not only selling millions of copies worldwide but making it to the silver screen ( 2012). The domination of Dystopian fiction right before our eyes.

My two cents? It’s a little boring. I love Dystopian fiction, it’s unique, one of a kind and original. Yet it’s all the same. Now, before you say ‘ you’re not making any sense’ hear me out. When you look at the bigger picture, you will see that all Dystopian fiction is somewhat similar. It’s all about freedom, throwing the rule book out the window, separating truths from lies, forbidden love and finding who you are.

While each story line is unique, each controlling society portrayed differently and each character unique and facing their own demons, they are all fighting for the same thing – freedom. It’s hard to explain but I love dystopian fiction yet I don’t. On the originality radar, Dystopian fiction absolutely dominates yet the story line of each book is so similar to one another, I can’t help but find it boring.

Also, it’s not just the same storyline base that’s a little old but the books themselves. I loved every Dystopian I have read but most of them were a little boring. The start is always the best, original, exciting new society ‘ohhh ahhh’ and then character does something forbidden like fall in love with the wrong guy. Then there’s this whole chunk of the book full of internal fighting where they try to reject these feelings, before the action starts. AND THEN when it finally gets interesting, it’s the end. All of it is a little slow paced for me, I like my novels action packed. WHICH is why I loved The Hunger Games, it’s all dystopian and action.

Bottom line, I love dystopian but it can be boring. Compared to other books I have read, all the Dystopias are rated pretty high on my radar, usually a 4-5 but even than they can be boring. It’s not a terrible bore like it is when you read some poorly written novel with a lame plot and even lamer characters but it’s still...boring.

In defense of Dystopia, you can only let there be some much action and chaos in a book about a strict and controlling society, maybe Dystopian is meant to be a little bring, I don’t know but that’s my two cents. I LOVE it but it can be boring. Your thoughts? You’re with me or you’re not? What’s you two cents?

Badass Bookie xx

Delirium

Review Time! So everyone knows that Delirium is one of the most anticipated releases of the year and almost everyone has read it by now. I was sent a review copy a few weeks ago and I could like to thank Hachette for that! I finished this last week and here are my thoughts …

(Goodreads) Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

The Short Story? – It’s difficult to explain really. I have all these thought in my head that are a big jumble which refuse to transfer to paper. All I can say is that it was fantastic. I loved it, all of it, the plot, the beautiful writing, the characters and more than anything the romance. Definitely worth the wait!

The Long Story? – Truth be told, I wasn’t all that keen about Delirium when the new first got out about Lauren Oliver’s new book. I’m one of those people who judge books by covers and for me the cover of Delirium wasn’t love at first sight. It was a taking-it-slow romance, something that I saw beauty in as time went by.

It wasn’t until I heard the words – love and dystopian, that I took the time to Google the blurb and it turned out to be very interesting. I not a huge fan of dystopian (I’ll explain why in this week’s edition of Breakfast with the Bookie) but I always like the ideas of world domination that the authors come up with. I’m also a romance junkie so really Delirium was like hitting the jackpot. (EUREKA)

The plot and the idea behind the plot was the highlight for me. I’ve already mentioned my love for wacky ideas of world domination so when a smart author came up with the concept of Love is a disease, it was pretty awesome. The plot itself was great too, very dystopianish, all about finding yourself and fighting for what is right. I (kinda) spoiled the ending for myself when I peeked but nevertheless I enjoyed the books from start to finish. There isn’t really a pace to the book, it’s like ever-changing from fast to slow and then fast again.

The characters were fantastic. Lena was the perfect teenager, never questioning, obedient and just normal. She was someone we could relate to (although I not all that never questioning and obedient). She had her flaws whether they were physical or emotional and her actions could easily reflect ours. Alex is just…amazing. He’s good looking, caring and a total sweetie who cares about Lena. He’s an outsider trying to fit among people who clearly don’t understand him. The romance between the two is to die for. Not in the ‘hormones over rule everything, all about passion way’ but the ‘I generally care for you and would love you no matter what way’ (and yes, there is a difference). For me, the romance was just the cherry on top.

In my opinion, Delirium was like finding the perfect pair of shoes (sorry for the lame comparison). You find dozens if not hundreds of shows that are comfortable and quite pretty but a pair of shoes that is everything you ever wanted if hard to come by. For me Delirium was that book, after writing 600 words I still can’t quite explain my thoughts about this book but I truly did love it and I honestly believe that if you haven’t read it you should give it a try because it just might be your perfect pair of shoes ;) Rating 5/5

Badass Bookie xx