[Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway] Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith

Title: Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Publisher: Poppy
Release Date: September 1, 2015
Goodreads

On the night before they leave for college, Clare and Aidan only have one thing left to do: figure out whether they should stay together or break up. Over the course of twelve hours, they'll retrace the steps of their relationship, trying to find something in their past that might help them decide what their future should be. The night will lead them to friends and family, familiar landmarks and unexpected places, hard truths and surprising revelations. But as the clock winds down and morning approaches, so does their inevitable goodbye. The question is, will it be goodbye for now or goodbye forever?

This new must-read novel from Jennifer E. Smith, author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, explores the difficult choices that must be made when life and love lead in different directions.

EXCERPT:

When Aidan opens the door, Clare rises onto her tiptoes to kiss him, and for a moment, it feels like any other night.

"Hi," she says, once she's stepped back again, and he smiles.

"Hi."

They stare at each other for a few long seconds, neither quite sure how to begin.

"So," Clare says eventually.

Aidan attempts a smile. "So."

"I guess this is it."

He nods. "I guess it is."

"The last night," she says, and he tilts his head at her.

"You know it doesn't have to be."

"Aidan. . ."

"I know, I know," he says, holding up his hands. "But you can't really blame me, right? I've still got a little bit of time to change your mind."

"Only twelve hours," she says, glancing at her watch. "I can't believe that's all we have left."

"And that's only if we don't sleep."

“We're definitely not wasting any time on sleep,” she tells him, pulling a folded piece of notebook paper from the pocket of her dress. “We have way too much to do.”

a Rafflecopter giveaway

[Blog Tour: Review] Revolution by Jenna Black

Title: Revolution (Replica #3)
Author: Jenna Black
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: November 11, 2014
Goodreads | Tour Stops

Dorothy Hayes claims to be the secret daughter of the recently assassinated Chairman. She also claims that Nate Hayes, the true heir and her supposed brother, was the one who murdered their father.

Nate and his best friend, Nadia Lake, are the only ones who know the truth about what really happened to the Chairman, and more importantly, the truth about Dorothy.

But with Dorothy in power, Nate and Nadia know their days are numbered. They have nowhere to run except the Basement, Paxco's perilous and lawless slums. But Dorothy is far from content with drivine her enemies into hiding.

She wants them dead.

THOUGHTS:

I know that the Replica series is science fiction for the most part, but so many aspects of it fall under the dystopian genre as well. That's why for the most part, I've considered this series as a science fiction - dystopian hybrid. With that being said, I've read (and disliked) a lot of dystopian series over the years, and my main gripe with them is that they never seem to have endings that are both realistic and can provide even a semblance of closure for the characters we've come to know and love. I know that writing 'happy endings' isn't always possible with dystopian series usually focus on wars and revolts, but I just want to know that these characters who've suffered so much - these characters that I've been with every step of the way - are at least on the path to happiness. Not a lot of dystopian novels have been able to pull this off, and truth be told, this is the biggest reason as to why I didn't have that highest of expectations for Revolution. I just wanted a 'good' ending - an ending that wouldn't make me want to scream in frustration, and and ending that would make me glad that I picked up this series.

Well... let me tell you - Revolution wasn't just a book with a good enough ending. It was a book that shattered all my expectations of it, and it had an enrichingly satisfying (albeit incredibly heartbreaking) finish. It was everything I wanted and more.

From the first to the last page, Revolution was just an intense read. It picks up right where Resistance left off - Nadia and Nate, and along with them Kurt, Dante, and Agnes, are now wanted by the government headed by Dorothy, and they have nowhere else to hide but the Basement. From the get go, living in a less than ideal situation - with dirty surroundings and barely enough food to survive is incredibly tough for everyone, but all the more so for Nate, Nadia, and Agnes, all of whom who grew up in affluent lifestyles. Despite their desperation to bring down Dorothy, and for Nate to claim his position as the rightful executive Paxco, everyone has no choice but to hide. After a few choice encounters, and with their meager supplies running out, Kurt decided that they have no choice but to hide out with the Red Death, one of the most powerful gangs in the Basement. Things slow down for a while, but that all changes when Dorothy decides to withhold all resources from the Basement to flush Nate and Nadia out. When this doesn't work, Dorothy ups her game... and decides to bomb the Basement.

Something I really like about Revolution is how Nate, Nadia, Agnes, Kurt, and Dante had to rely on their own wits, their strengths, their plans, and their ideas from beginning to end. This was their battle, and they intended to finish it no matter what. I also appreciated that the book was realistic in the sense that the group never had it easy - there wasn't any political group backing them or anything like that. They weren't the faces of any revolution. Simply put, they knew the truth, and they wanted the world to know it not just so their lives can go back to the normal, but because they want Paxco to be a better place. That was the aim from day one. I also like how our main characters learned to rely on each other. There was never any love lost between Nate and Dante, Nadia and Kurt, and even Nate and Agnes, but they all knew that there was no way that they were going to win this war if they didn't put aside their differences and stand together.

What I like the most about Revolution, and the Replica series as a whole is how thorough the character development is, and with that, how meticulously developed all the relationships are. We were introduced to Nate who was obnoxious and thought the world of himself, and as someone who never took other people into consideration. By Revolution, Nate shows just how able of an Executive he can be - thoughtful and caring. Nadia, at the beginning, thought too much of what other people thought of her, but now, she can let loose and actually do the things not because they are what are expected of her, but because she actually wants to. Agnes is not as sheltered as she was - she's grown into her own skin, she is much more confident, and she's not afraid to say what she thinks. Dante and Kurt even, initially stoic and seemingly cold, learn to rely on other people as well.

I can go on and on about how much I love Nadia (which I'm pretty sure I did in my reviews of Replica and Resistance), but right now, let me take the time to talk about Agnes. I adore Agnes and everything she's brought to the group - she sees things with a different perspective, and there's even a number of times wherein it was her quick-thinking and bravery that saved the others. I love how Agnes slowly and surely blossoms into a confident woman who is not afraid to fight for what's right. Initially, I had no idea why the author would introduce another main character in the middle of the series, but now, I feel so stupid for even questioning her! Agnes has brought so much to the series - she grows so much in such a short span of time, and I admire just how strong of a character she is!

As I've mentioned earlier, the action doesn't let up in Revolution. From the beginning, I was on the edge of my seat, desperate to find out if there's a chance that all the main characters will survive, and whether they can take down Dorothy. There's no moment wherein Black stops peeling back the layers of her characters either - I don't know how she did it, but other than several instances of character growth, we also have action-packed scenes, a properly-paced overall plot, and just the right amount of twists and turns in this book! Believe me when I say that there's nothing missing!

Oh god, and now, let's talk about the ending. I'm not going to lie and say that it's one of those endings that would make you grin non-stop - rather, it's a bittersweet ending... but ultimately, it's still a wonderful ending. A part of you will simply close your eyes at the unfairness of it all, but at the end of the day, the way everything ended seemed inevitable. All important loose ends are tied up, and we get a peek of Paxco post-chaos. We also get a glimpse of the current fates of our main characters. Just writing these words is enough to get me teary-eyed (and it's pretty much known that I bawled big time after finishing Revolution - apparently I'm not done crying yet!) - and while a part of me is sad that the ending wasn't all rainbows and unicorns, I'm glad that is still satisfied me as a reader for the most part. All in all, I can't recommend the Replica series enough.

Rating: 5 Stars

[Blog Tour: Review] Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

(Check out the rest of the tour stops HERE!)

Title: Black Ice
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Source: ARC
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Goodreads

Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage.

In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target.

But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally?

THOUGHTS: 

I don't think there's a YA afficionado out there who doesn't know Becca Fitzpatrick and her incredibly famous Hush, Hush series. In fact, I would even consider the Hush Hush series as one of the series that started the YA Paranormal boom a few years ago (I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about...).  With this in mind, I half-expected Becca's new project to be something 'paranormal' in nature - maybe there wouldn't be angels in the center of the story this time around, but maybe witches, vampires... you get my drift. Color me shocked when I found out that not only was the book, Black Ice, a psychological thriller, there was nothing remotely paranormal in its pages either!

Once the initial shock wore off (because believe me, I was all geared up for another paranormal series to fall in love with), I sought to find out all that there is to know about Black Ice. The premise itself already had me hooked; the blurb even the more so. I already knew that I wanted to read Black Ice when I found out that it's a totally different genre from what I'm used to Becca Fitzpatrick writing, but the urge intensified all the more so when I personally heard Becca talk about it during her book tour here in the Philippines. It was just so adamantly clear that she poured her heart and soul in this book, and that this was a story that she really wanted to tell. I wouldn't call the premise wholly original or anything like that (because come on, we've seen this in movies time and time again), but I wanted to see how Becca would make this story her own.

If I were to be a hundred percent honest, I didn't think I would like this book as much as I did. (Wait! I thought she was excited for Black Ice?, you may ask. Well, I am - I really am! I know, I know, I bet I'm confusing the hell out of you guys, but hear me out!) I've always had a weakness for thrillers, but if there's one thing I've come to realize after reading a number of them, it's that character development is barely there. Thrillers always tend to focus on the plot pacing and all those twists and turns instead of actually shaping the main characters, and that's something that's really grated on me over the years. As a reader, I do appreciate a good plot twist, but there's nothing more fulfilling than reading about a character who grows. This right here is the reason why even though I expected Black Ice to be an entertaining read, I never thought that it would be the kind that would make me tear through its pages like a deranged woman. But wow, was I ever mistaken! I read this one without stopping (and at an hour when I should be sleeping too!) and loved it. I was never bored, and while that was also because of the writing and the proper pacing of the novel, it was largely because of the main character, Britt.

I loved how Becca Fitzpatrick managed to keep this book filled with heart-stopping action and the plot moving at a quick pace without sacrificing her MC's character development. At the start of the Black Ice, Britt was the kind of girl who never lifted a finger to fight for she wanted. She was content with letting other people do the dirty work for her, and she was used to following other people around. Initially, you can't help but roll your eyes at Britt. At first glance, everything about her screamed 'spoiled' and 'immature', and she definitely did not think through her actions throughout the first few chapters of the book. But don't give up Britt, folks, because believe me - she grows and matures A LOT throughout the happenings of Black Ice. She proved herself to be a selfless friend in doing absolutely everything that she can to save her friend from the sordid mess they found themselves in. She kept her wits through her fear, and she never ever even thought about giving up. Britt finding this strength within herself and ultimately discovering who she really is is the true selling point of Black Ice, if you were to ask me.

I won't say that there were plot twists that surprised me - I don't know if it's just me, but the clues were easy enough to put together. I already had an idea what what the big 'ohmygod I did not see that coming' moment would be halfway through! Don't get me wrong - there were still parts wherein I had to scrunch my forehead and wrack my brain to figure out what the heck was going on, but there really weren't that many. Weirdly enough though, knowing what would happen didn't deter my enjoyment of the book. I think that has something to do with the writing (Becca's writing just flowed!) and how I can't help but root for the MC one hundred percent. I just wanted her to get out of this mess alive!

I also like how there was such an emphasis on survival (against nature), rather than uncovering the mystery of just who earth these two fugitives are. Not only did Britt have to escape these two guys, she also had to survive through the snowstorm with only one map and barely enough food at her disposal! Another thing I liked about Black Ice is that the romance never overshadowed the mystery and the thriller aspects of the book. Overall, I can say with no doubts whatsoever that Black Ice is one of my top reads for 2014. The ending's a bit too prettily tied-up, but hey, I can ignore that given just how much I enjoyed the first 98% of the book or so!

Rating: 5 Stars

[Blog Tour: Review] Magnolia by Kristi Cook

 

Title: Magnolia
Author: Kristi Cook

Release Date: August 5, 2014

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Published by: Simon & Schuster

Goodreads

In Magnolia Branch, Mississippi, the Cafferty and Marsden families are southern royalty. Neighbors since the Civil War, the families have shared vacations, holidays, backyard barbecues, and the overwhelming desire to unite their two clans by marriage. So when a baby boy and girl were born to the families at the same time, the perfect opportunity seemed to have finally arrived.

Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden have no intention of giving in to their parents’ wishes. They’re only seventeen, for goodness’ sake, not to mention that one little problem: They hate each other! Jemma can’t stand Ryder’s nauseating golden-boy persona, and Ryder would like nothing better than to pretend stubborn Jemma doesn’t exist.

But when a violent storm ravages Magnolia Branch, it unearths Jemma’s and Ryder’s true feelings for each other as the two discover that the line between love and hate may be thin enough to risk crossing over.

THOUGHTS:

When I got an invitation to join the blog tour for Magnolia, I jumped at the chance and immediately signed up. I mean, come on, this book is just right up my alley! Gorgeous cover? Check. Falls under the contemporary genre? Check. Main characters who grew up together? Check. And last but definitely not the least... A book that depicts a story of how hate blossoms into love? Consider me SOLD. All in all, I just KNEW that I was going to like Magnolia, and that this was just the light, fluffy read that I was looking for. Two hours later, after reading Magnolia, I was indeed smiling so hard that my face actually hurt. But you know what? I wasn't smiling because I was happy about the giggle-inducing parts (and there were some good ones, believe me) - instead, I was grinning like a maniac because of how realistic this book was and how relateable its main characters are! Those, I believe, are the true selling points of the book!

I loved many, many things about Magnolia, but first and foremost, let me go ahead and talk about how Cook developed the relationship between the main characters, Jemma and Ryder.You see, despite being born onto parents who are best friends and who are desperate to unite the two families together, Jemma and Ryder do not like each other. It's not the kind of love/hate relationship that a boy and a girl who have grown up together have either - Jemma abhors Ryder, and Ryder, having no idea what he could have done to deserve such hatred from Jemma, isn't exactly that keen on Jenna now as well. Writing about the shift from hate and dislike to respect and ultimately love, and then making it believable and not the least bit rushed is not the easiest task for authors, but Cook did it so amazingly well through the deep and meaningful conversations the two main characters had all throughout the book. Jemma and Ryder engaged in multiple discussions about both the past and the future, including just what is that triggered the downfall of their relationship all those years ago, as well as what they hope to happen for themselves in the coming years. During these conversations, you could sense the gradual shift in how Jemma and Ryder perceived each other - there was dislike, then wariness, and then there was overwhelming trust and the promise of something more. I like how Cook took her time in developing the feelings that these two took a while in acknowledging and because of that, I actually believe that what Jemma and Ryder have is real.

I also like how Magnolia touched upon how change is constant, and that we should never take things for granted. Despite Jemma and Ryder's status in life, that didn't exclude them from the wrath of both mother nature and the threat of having someone close to them possibly lose his or her life prematurely, and I love how Cook took her time in elaborating on how these two instances affected the two. Between the raging storm making her wrath known in the town Jemma and Ryder have spent their whole life in and Jemma's sister's possibly life-threatening surgery, everything that the two have known their whole life is up in the air. As someone who isn't exactly fond of having the rug pulled under my feet, the way both characters reacted to these sudden and unexpected changes was very familiar and realistic. Even though they aren't exactly the best of friends, they acknowledged that they had to push aside all their differences and force themselves to work together. I never raised a brow at their actions and I never doubted what they felt, and believe me when I say that at one point or another, you have gone through what Jemma and Ryder are currently experiencing. As I have said earlier, this is one of the factors that makes Magnolia a gem.

Moreover, another thing that readers can relate to are how conflicted Jemma and Ryder are about their hopes and dreams for the future. All their lives, their mothers have made it clear what they should do and they've always followed what was asked of them. Things have changed, however, now that Jemma and Ryder are in their senior year of high school and they're slowly coming in to the realization that they don't want to just live out their mothers' dreams - they want to go out to the world and be who they want to be. We've all been there, haven't we? Every single one of us, despite our parents' good intentions, have all felt that we deserve to make our own decisions, most especially if they're about our future. I saw myself in these characters - the way Cook portrayed Jemma and Ryder's fears reminded me of how I feel every time I have to stand up for myself and talk about what I want. Seeing a little bit of myself in the characters I read about is just so refreshing and something I cannot get enough of.

All in all, Magnolia isn't the book that I expected it to be, but that's a good thing. It was light enough for it to be a quick read, but at the same time, it's a book that resonates within you - it reminds you what is it that's worth fighting for. If you're looking for something that will make you both smile wistfully at its telling of a beautiful romance and then ponder about the direction that your life is taking, this is the book for you.

Rating: 4 Stars

[Blog Tour: Review] Breaking Point by Kristen Simmons

 

Title: Breaking Point (Article 5 #2)

Author: Kristen Simmons
Release Date: February, 2013

Publisher: Tor Teen

Source: A copy was sent by the publisher for a blog tour

Goodreads

The second installment in Kristen Simmons's fast-paced, gripping YA dystopian series.

After faking their deaths to escape from prison, Ember Miller and Chase Jennings have only one goal: to lay low until the Federal Bureau of Reformation forgets they ever existed.

Near-celebrities now for the increasingly sensationalized tales of their struggles with the government, Ember and Chase are recognized and taken in by the Resistance—an underground organization working to systematically take down the government. At headquarters, all eyes are on the sniper, an anonymous assassin taking out FBR soldiers one by one. Rumors are flying about the sniper’s true identity, and Ember and Chase welcome the diversion….

Until the government posts its most-wanted list, and their number one suspect is Ember herself.

Orders are shoot to kill, and soldiers are cleared to fire on suspicion alone. Suddenly Ember can’t even step onto the street without fear of being recognized, and “laying low” is a joke. Even members of the Resistance are starting to look at her sideways.

With Chase urging her to run, Ember must decide: Go into hiding…or fight back?

THOUGHTS:

Wow. Just when I thought that this series couldn't get any better, Simmons proves me wrong by creating a kick-ass, unforgettable sequel!

What I loved the most about Article 5, the previous book in the series, is the non-stop action, and I'm happy to note that Breaking Point doesn't disappoint in that aspect. In this novel, we have Ember and Chase in the thick of things - now that they are part of The Resistance, things are different. In Article 5, Ember and Chase's main goal was to protect themselves and ensure their own safety, but now that they a part of a larger group, that mindset wouldn't work anymore. They have to contribute to the cause - to the resistance - and despite Ember's initial yearning to keep her head down in hiding, she learns that that isn't something can do. Furthermore, things take a turn for the worse when the FBR pinpoints Ember as a primary suspect in the sniper shootings that have been occurring as of late.

I consider myself a huge fan of Ember, and I'm completely at how spot on Simmons was in portraying this character. In the first few pages of Breaking Point, we are privy to an Ember who is skittish, frightened, and is determined to keep her nose out of the thick of things. She hasn't left the Resistance's compound in months, and she's content with simply hiding. Things obviously don't stay that way for long, but I love how Simmons made sure that we would notice the subtle transition in Ember's mindset between staying out of trouble and finally deciding to stand up and fight back. The writing for this particular character never felt forced - Ember's extremely relateable, and it's rather difficult not to sympathize with her after all the horrible things she has experienced and is currently going through.

I've previously mentioned that the world-building in Article 5 is a bit lacking, but we get to learn some important details about the FBR - the aftermath of the war that gave birth to it; the president spearheading this government; and of course, the citizens' growing displeasure of the Moral Statutes - in Breaking Point. In the same light, we also learn more about the members of The Resistance, and just how they are willing to do absolutely anything - even at the expense of their lives - just to overthrow the FBR. Knowing all about these characters, their motives, as well as factoids here and there about this world they live in, just makes you appreciate the story all the more so.

I loved how Simmons made sure to develop on the characters of Ember and Chase, as well as their relationship. We all know that their relationship can never be perfect because of their rocky past, but this time, Chase's overpowering desire to protect Ember also strains their relationship. Add in the fact that Chase carries on his shoulders the guilt of what happened to Ember's mother, and that Ember still wonders whether Chase truly couldn't do anything to save her mother. Suffice to say the two have a messy, chaotic relationship, but there is no other person whom Ember trusts more than Chase, and the same goes for Chase. Simmons did an amazing job in developing this relationship, and we truly get to know more about these characters throughout this novel.

I can't say this enough - if you haven't started this series yet, you should do so now. The writing is excellent; the plot fast-paced; the characters developed thoroughly - what else could you ask for?

Rating: 4 Stars

[Blog Tour: Review] Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

 

Title: Article 5 (Article 5 #1)

Author: Kristen Simmons
Release Date: January 31, 2012

Publisher: Tor Teen

Source: A copy was sent by the publisher for a blog tour

Goodreads

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren't always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it's hard for her to forget that people weren't always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It's hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings—the only boy Ember has ever loved.

THOUGHTS:

I'm not usually fond of Dystopian novels - other than the usual suspects (Hunger Games, Divergent, Delirium series), I think I've only read a few. I guess it has something to do with the world-building (or lack thereof) - to elaborate, whether or not the worlds presented by the authors are the least bit believable. When I read dystopian novels, it's a plus when I actually I see this world being the one where we live in in a few decades or so - do you guys get what I mean? And for me to think that, at least some facets of the created world must be plausible. Also, I think you guys ought to know by now just how much I hate info-overload when it occurs during the first few chapters of a particular novel. Anyway, the point is simple, really - if the world-building is off, there's just no way I can like the dystopian novel in question.

Given that I'm very picky when it comes to dystopians (is that even a word?), you guys should believe me when I say that Article 5 is GOOD, and that you all should read it. It usually takes me a LONG time to read dystopian novels (I usually can't stand reading them in one sitting because all the unnecessary details get on my nerves), but it took me only a few hours to read Article 5. And I finished it in one sitting, so there's that!

I'm not going to say that Article 5  is without faults, but I found those faults easy to overlook, and I don't think they'll bother anyone too much. (I think most people's complaints center around the main character, but I'll get to that later.) My biggest gripe probably is the lack of a more detailed back story. While I had no problem when it comes to how believable and how realistic the word created is (I truly can envision our would being rather similar to the world depicted in Article 5 if wars and such became more prevalent) I would have appreciated a more broad and encompassing approach while painting just how this said world came to be - just how exactly did everything become so horrible? Just what prompted the Bill of Rights to be deemed null and void?

What I liked the best about Article 5 is how fast-paced the plot is. There isn't any boring part in the novel - it's jaw-dropping action all the way, and I thoroughly enjoyed how I was on the edge of my seat while tearing through the pages as fast as humanely possible. I also enjoyed reading about the characters - yes, even Ember, our beloved MC. Truth be told, I loved how stubborn Ember was - I loved how she knew what she wanted, and that she was willing to do absolutely anything to get it. She wasn't easily derailed from her goals, and though she made illogical decision upon another, I can't help but admire her bravery to do the unthinkable. I don't think I have ever met a more determined character! It would have been so easy for her to do what she's told, but she's not easily distracted nor sidetracked from what she wants the most - to be reunited with her mother.

Never once did I think that the romance in this novel was forced, or that it just suddenly blew up in my face with no warning whatsoever. It was always there - you knew it was going to make itself known in one way or another. I liked how Chase calmed Ember down and slowly earned back her trust; and I love how it took a while for Ember to trust Chase, because he was one of the soldiers who took away her mom, after all. It wasn't just blind love and adoration for these two - they were initially wary of each other, but that slowly goes away as they spent more time together and talked. The flashbacks also gave a lot of depth to Ember and Chase's relationship, and I particularly enjoyed reading those parts.

As I have previously mentioned (a gazillion times, it seems), I don't usually enjoy dystopia as a genre, but I loved Article 5. I most definitely will be with Ember and Chase as they continue their journey, and I can't wait to dive into the sequel, Breaking Point! (I might just do that in 3, 2, 1...)

Rating: 4 Stars

[Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway] The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann

Title: The Peculiar
Author: Stefan Bachmann
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Published by: Greenwillow Books
Buy from National Book Store / Goodreads

Don't get yourself noticed and you won't get yourself hanged.

In the faery slums of Bath, Bartholomew Kettle and his sister Hettie live by these words. Bartholomew and Hettie are changelings--Peculiars--and neither faeries nor humans want anything to do with them.

One day a mysterious lady in a plum-colored dress comes gliding down Old Crow Alley. Bartholomew watches her through his window. Who is she? What does she want? And when Bartholomew witnesses the lady whisking away, in a whirling ring of feathers, the boy who lives across the alley--Bartholomew forgets the rules and gets himself noticed.

First he's noticed by the lady in plum herself, then by something darkly magical and mysterious, by Jack Box and the Raggedy Man, by the powerful Mr. Lickerish . . . and by Arthur Jelliby, a young man trying to slip through the world unnoticed, too, and who, against all odds, offers Bartholomew friendship and a way to belong.

THOUGHTS:

It's been a few hours since I've finished this novel and yet my mind is still positively reeling with images of the world cleverly crafted by Bachmann. Readers of my blog ought to know by know just how much I value good world-building, and I was thrilled to find out that Bachmann took immense care in creating the world of The Peculiar. Every detail was rich; every minute detail was explored thoroughly so as to give readers the best reading experience possible. From the first page alone, I was thrusted deep into this magical world - I could practically see myself ambling along the dark alleys of Bath, truth be told!

I enjoyed reading about the character of Bartholomew. Bartholomew is a Peculiar, a changeling - half-human and half-fay - and he's been hiding all his life. His entire life he has been nothing but wary of those around him, and yet it was clear from the get go just how much he craved friendship and belongingness. I also loved how protective he was of his sister, Hettie, and how he was willing to do anything for her well-being. While reading The Peculiar, I was nothing but heartbroken at all the painful experiences both Bartholomew and Hettie had to go through at such young ages.

Throughout the course of the novel, I couldn't help but notice how parallel Bachmann's world is to the one we currently live in. Just like Bartholomew and Hettie - born half-human and half-fay - people considered 'different' are ostracized and sneered upon. Quite similar to the corrupt politicians rampant in our world today, Bath also had its fair share of so-called leaders who were only looking out for themselves. Poverty was also mentioned a few times in The Peculiar. Lastly, the character of Arthur Jelliby, is someone who I'm sure everyone has encountered in their lives - he started out as quite an apathetic man, preferring not to be in the thick of things, but all that changes when he discovers something evil going on and does all that he can to stop it.

While The Peculiar  may be classified as a novel adhering to the middle-grade genre, I have no qualms in saying that it can be enjoyed by adults as well. As a matter of fact, the plot is a little bit dark with mentions of both kidnapping and murder, so this is definitely not your average, fun-filled read. With that being said, I can't wait for the sequel, and do yourselves and grab a copy! Trust me, you don't want to miss out on the sheer brilliance of Stefan Bachmann!

Rating: 4 Stars

The giveaway:

Open INT 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

[Blog Tour: Q&A with the Author and Giveaway] The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann

Welcome to my stop for Pinoy Book Tours' The Peculiar blog tour, in cooperation with National Book Store and Harper Collins International. Read through the talented Stefan Bachmann's thoughts on writing and music, and do join the giveaways at the end of this post. We will also be holding a twitter party on February 2 (details will be released soon). Lastly, my review will be posted on the 25th, so look out for that post as well!

(Stefan says hi!)

Have you always wanted to be a writer or did the idea just came to you?

Umm, it kind of just came to me. I remember sitting at a restaurant with my family and then randomly announcing to my Mom that I was going to write a book. I have no idea why. This was when I was around 11 so the book that came from the announcement was horrible. But I'm glad I started!

You composed songs to accompany The Peculiar. Wow! Did these songs come first or did you compose them especially for The Peculiar?

Thank you! They were written specially for the book. My editor also let me write the music for the book trailer, which was fun.

So much has been written about fairies. What is your take on the fey and their world?

I wanted to go for the old-fashioned, wild, dark faeries. I haven't read many modern faery books, but I hear the faeries in them tend to be dashing and romanticized. I wanted to use the historical faeries, the one's people were really afraid of, and I wanted to see what would happen when they were put into an industrialized, smoky England and forced to co-exist with Victorians.

You're attending the Zurich Conservatory. What instrument do you play?

Piano and recorders are my main instruments at the moment, and composing is my main subject. I'd really, really, really like to be a film composer one day.

What is your writing style - how do you write a novel?

I try to find out where the book begins and where it ends first. If I know where it ends it makes it much easier to finish it. Then I plot out a few key scenes in the middle and just go from there. Usually. With Book 2, though, I outlined a lot more carefully because I was deathly afraid Second Book Syndrome would set in and I'd just freeze up and have no idea what to write next. Didn't happen luckily, but I do think the detailed outline helped in that case.

Are you interested in writing for a different genre or audience?

YES! After The Whatnot I'm doing something completely new, for me at least. It's partly contemporary with modern day teenagers (so YA this time, not middle grade), and partly historical, set in 18th century France, and it's full of madness and scariness and action. It'll be way different for me, especially after two slightly old-fashioned Victorian-style fantasies. I can't to start work on it.

And now.... for the giveaways!

(PH only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Open to PH and INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway