What Does It Take To Drop a Book?

This is something I think about from time to time. I am someone who rarely fails to finish a book because I think if I've started it, I should finish it. If I'm not enjoying it, then my thinking is 'it might get better' so I carry on. I'm trying to make myself give that mentality up a little, in some cases because I know I can waste a week on a book I don't enjoy at all, when I could have read 2 or 3 other really good books instead.

With series, I find it very hard to drop them. I rarely drop a series once I've started it because a part of me wants to know what happens. And if it's a series that has gone down hill, then I keep reading in the hope it improves and because I still want to know what happens. If the first book of a series isn't great, but I like parts of it, 9 times out of 10 I'll carry on with it, and most of the time it pays off because several series suffer from a weaker first book and grow stronger, in my opinion.

Not so great but...

One of the stand out series that always comes to mind when I think of that 'meh' first book issue, is the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. Book one, Magic Bites, is not great. It's got it's moments, particularly towards the end, but it is nothing to really shout about. Book 2, Magic Burns, is better. Much stronger all around and a much more enjoyable read. Book 3, Magic Strikes...freaking hell perfect!! It's a seriously awesome book in every respect. Perfect tension, fantastic, engaging story, excellent character growth and some just awesome individual scenes between Kate and those around her. Book 4, Magic Bleeds, is on the same level, if softer for it's different focus, but it's equally as good as Strikes in my view.

...so worth it!!

Had I stopped with Bites, I'd be missing out on one of my top favourite adult series. Had I not given the good elements of Bites their second chance with Burns, I'd have missed out big time and I am so, so glad I haven't!! I hear of those who didn't think too much of Bites, like me (I think I read it over a month or so between other stuff) and didn't give Burns a try and I wonder why, when so many other people (because I know I'm not alone in this) consider Bites a bit of a weak book and yet the rest of the series very good and well worth the time, I wonder why they won't give it another chance. Maybe let themselves be surprised.

I don't get why people drop a longer series after one weaker book. This is not a criticism, none of this post is, I just simply can't understand it because to me, it makes no sense at all.

I know not every book or series is for everyone. I'm glad of that because it'd be very dull if it were true! But some times I read comments about dropping books because they're only okay and I honestly wonder why. What's made them drop it? What's made them think book 2 would be a waste of time? Or a different book from that author would be a waste of time? If I hadn't picked up Courtney Summers' Some Girls Are after not liking her first book, I'd again have missed out on an exceptional book.

Yes, sometimes carrying on with a series or trying something else by the same author doesn't work, and I don't like it any more than what I already read. But I have found that the majority of the time I find something better, something to like more or love and it becomes something I'm very glad I did. So I will continue to carry on trying stuff after so-so books.

What does it take for you guys to drop a book, or series? Are you someone like me who finds it really hard to DNF or drop them? Or do you do it regularly? What is it that will make you decide if book 2 of a series is worth a try? I'd really love to hear all your thoughts on the subject!!

Book Shelves

Excuse the random post but I've been wondering about something. How do you arrange your books on your shelves/bookcases/wherever?

I've never been able to organize alphabetically because I have to keep all my faves together. And size matters as well! Until a couple of weeks ago I mixed YA/adult books on those top faves shelves. Then I ran out of space and split them because I could fit things better that way. Now I'm thinking about yet another change and having one of those top faves shelves become my signed books shelf (right now signed books are just with their correct series on the faves shelves, no special place).

In my room I've got two tall bookcases (only half of one is dedicated to books, the other half holds my TV and dvds), one short bookcase and two wall units, which have two shelves each. Those wall units are my faves shelves (really, it's a wonder the walls haven't fallen down with the weight on them) and as it stands right now this is what they look like:

Adults faves - (my walls are not that bright! Silly flash)

YA faves - (...also deeper red than they look here. *sigh*)

Very neat and I was very happy with the sort out I last did. But. It can't last because as you can see, there is not a lot of space to play with. It will take very little time for them to be full. So if I'm going to have to do yet another sort out, should I be switching how I organize by books?

How do you all organize books? What matters for you? Size? Alphabetically? Favourites? Genre? Comment away!

Home =

*happy exhausted sigh*

I am back. Been back for several hours actually, reading mostly. I had the most awesome short holiday where I met the cutest, friendliest colt ever who I desperately wanted to bring home, long with an incredibly pretty little filly and a very young, very, very cute pinto colt. All their dam's and the other mares in the herds along with the other youngsters I met were also of the cute and awesome type, but those three babes totally caught my heart.

Cute tiny pinto colt being cute!

Very pretty little filly

Friendliest colt ever! I wanted to bring him home badly!

I make no apologies at all for sharing these totally non book related pics cause, well, my horse obsession beats my book one.

But on a book note, my holiday was also awesome cause I manged to fit in a lot of reading time. I'm hoping to at least partially catch up on reviews tomorrow (brain is fried tonight) but here's a quick run down. While away I read:

The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay. Well, finished it as I'd already started it. Very good read.
Wake by Lisa McMann. Awesome. Have to order the others, Fade and Gone, like, now!
How To Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles. Good, funny, but took a long time for me to like the protagonist!
Evernight by Claudia Gray. Actually only started this one, am about 100 pages in and really loving it so far!

When I got home it was to find my Kindle had finally (it was meant to arrive last Friday....), arrived. Downloaded a few books for it, discovered Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles, the sequel to the very, very awesome Leaving Paradise, was available for it and spent my afternoon/evening reading it. Not a let down in any way!! Also came home to find The Duff by Kody Keplinger and Unraveled by Gena Showalter waiting for me, so I'll be getting in to them shortly as well!

Wait For Dusk Excerpt!!

Pray For Dawn was the 4th Dark Days book from Jocelynn Drake and it ended on a killer cliffhanger. Book 5, Wait For Dusk, is out in a week, July 27th, but there is a excerpt, the first 67 pages infact, now up with HarperCollins browse inside feature!! So for a sneak peek of what happened after Pray For Dawn, here it is:



Now if I just had the rest of it already...

Contest To Check Out! [3]

Lisa Desrochers, author of Personal Demons which is due for release September 14th, is offering the chance to win an ARC of it or one of a few other new YA books. I just read the first chapter of Personal Demons (which she's got posted in three sections here, here and here) and I'm already falling in love with it. Very hot. For contest details go to her post for it here. For more details on the book, check out her blog: http://lisadesrochers.blogspot.com/

Looking Forward To...

So I said in my best of early 2010 post that I'd get up a looking forward to post for the rest of the year up soon. That was a few weeks ago and I haven't. Oops. Never mind, it's here now.

The first half of 2010 has had some awesome releases, but I am just as excited for the second half of it. There are a few final books to series/trilogies coming out which I'm at the same time desperate for and wanting to put off, because I don't want them over. Some debut releases which look and sound fantastic. And the next books in several series that I adore. Listing every upcoming release on my wish list would take a really long while, so here are the highlights and why I'm looking forward to them. (Most of the dates listed are US ones. UK and other countries may differ, check Amazon or whatever book retailer you use for more info. Or order from Book Depository who ship free to most of the world)

Forget You by Jennifer Echols. Standalone book [YA, contemporary, romance] - I actually just read this yesterday (review coming) and loved it. But official release date hasn't passed yet, so I'm leaving it on the list. It's awesome! First chapter is online here. Out July 20th

Waking The Witch by Kelley Armstrong. The Otherworld #11 [urban fantasy] - first book from Savannah's POV who we've seen growing up since book #2. Excited to see what she's really like. Chapters 1-3 here. Out July 27th

Wait For Dusk by Jocelynn Drake. Dark Days #5 [urban fantasy] - Pray For Dawn had a killer cliff hanger, and the blurb for this one only adds to it. This is one I am dying for. Out July 27th

Jealousy by Lili St Crow. Strange Angels #3 [YA, urban fantasy] - after the end of Betrayals, I'm very, very excited to see what happens next for Dru and Graves. Okay, Christophe too, but Graves in my guy ;) Mostly though, I love this series because Dru is another female protagonist who is strong, can stand up for herself, she's flawed, and boys aren't all she thinks about. Out July 29th.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. Final book in the Hunger Games trilogy. [YA, dystopia] - if you've not yet read the first Hunger Games book, you need to. It is immense and it will explain why this is one of the books I've most wanted all year, let alone just the later half. Out August 24th

Blameless by Gail Carriger. Parasol Protectorate #3. [steampunk, urban fantasy, paranormal romance] - Soulless and Changeless were fantastic, funny, intense and brilliant. Changeless ending on a killer cliff hanger, and I have a desperate need to know what happens next! Out September 1st

Return To Paradise by Simone Elkeles. Sequel to Leaving Paradise. [YA, contemporary, romance] - Leaving Paradise is one of the very best YA books I've ever read. I can not wait for the continuation of Caleb and Maggie's story. Out September 1st (discrepancy on date with 3 different sites, so this may be wrong, apologies if it is!)

Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews. The Edge #2. [urban fantasy, fantasy, paranormal romance...take your pick] - Ilona and Gordon's Kate Daniels series is immense, but this secondary series of theirs is also very good. Loved the first book and really looking forward to this second one about werewolf William! Out September 28th

Alpha by Rachel Vincent. Shifters #6 [urban fantasy] - this is another book that's been at the very top of my most wanted list. The final book in Rachel's awesome Shifters series. Books 4 and 5 were just incredible, and there is much left unanswered as the war between Prides comes to a head. The ending should be something! Chapter one is here. Out October 1st

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer. Debut book, first of series. [YA, urban fantasy] - werewolf book I've been hearing a lot about lately. Stunning cover and the blurb sounds great. First chapter? Totally awesome!! It's here if you want to read it, and you really should! Very excited to read the rest of it because I'm already really hooked. Out October 19th

Magic At The Gate by Devon Monk. Allie Beckstrom #5. [urban fantasy] - Magic on the Storm, Allie #4, was fantastic (review coming soon) my favourite of the series yet. But its another one that left on a cliff hanger with a lot possible and a lot far from good for Allie! Loving this series a lot and looking forward to finding out what happens next. Out November 2nd

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead. Vampire Academy #6. [YA, urban fantasy] - anyone who's spent even a little time talking with me, or followed the blog for a short time, will know that Vampire Academy is one of my biggest obsessions and one of my all time favourite series. So of course the final book has been top of my must have list for a long while! Bittersweet because I'll be very sad to see the end of Rose and Dimitri's story, but very, very excited to see just how it ends. Only one thing I'm 100% sure of and that's that Richelle will have something surprising in store, because that's been the case for almost all of her books, YA and adult. Out December 7th.

Few others I'm looking forward to:
Eternal Kiss of Darkness by Jeaniene Frost [paranormal romance] Out July 27th
As Lie The Dead by Kelly Meding [urban fantasy] Out July 27th
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White [YA, urban fantasy] Out August 31st
Firelight by Sophie Jordan [YA, fantasy] Out September 7th
Something Wicked by Michelle Rowen [paranormal romance] Out October 5th
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick [YA, paranormal romance] Out October 14th
Matched by Ally Condie [YA, dystopia] Out November 30th

And a couple anthologies with great author line ups to also watch for:
Kiss Me Deadly [YA, paranormal romance] Edited by Trishia Telep, authors incl. Rachel Vincent, Karen Mahoney, Becca Fitzpatrick, Carrie Ryan, Michelle Rowen + more. Out August 3rd
Kisses From Hell [YA, paranormal romance] Authors Kelley Armstrong, Richelle Mead, Alyson Noel, Kristin Cast and Francesca Lia Block. Out August 24th.
Dark and Stormy Knights [urban fantasy] Edited by P. N. Elrod, authors inlc. Ilona Andrews, Jim Butcher, Carrie Vaughn, Vicki Pettersson + more. Out 20th July (Book Depository has it in stock already)

UK Cover Love!!

Rachel Vincent's YA Soul Screamers series are (finally) coming to the UK next year. Book 1, My Soul To Take should be out January and the others after that, but no dates yet. Rachel just posted the covers for the UK editions on her blog and I love them!! The US covers are very pretty and it was going to be hard to top them, but personally, I prefer these UK covers. They're stunning! So much so I know that me being me, I'm going to end up getting them, despite having US editions already. So what do ya think?

Best of First Half of 2010

Can't quite believe we're almost half way through the year already, but we are. So far this year I've read 67 books and most of them have been great reads that I've thoroughly enjoyed. Narrowing the list down is very hard, but here are some of the very best I've read.

Best New YA Releases
1) Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy #5)
2) Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready (sequel out 2011)
3) Glimmerglass by Jenna Black (Faeriewalker #1)
4) My Soul To Keep by Rachel Vincent (Soul Screamers #3)
5) White Cat by Holly Black (Curse Workers #1)


Best New Adult Releases
1) Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels #4)
2) Shift by Rachel Vincent (Shifters #5)
3) Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson #5)
4) Soulless/Changeless by Gail Carriger (Parasol Protectorate #1 & 2)
5) Succubus Shadows by Richelle Mead (Georgina Kincaid #5)

Best Books Regardless of Release Date (excluding those above)
1) The Hunger Games/Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games #1 & 2, YA dystopia)
2) Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles (sequel coming late 2010, YA contemporary)
3) Lover Eternal by J. R. Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood #2, PNR)
4) Betrayals by Lili St. Crow (Strange Angels #2, YA UF)
5) The Black Magician trilogy by Trudi Canavan (take your pick classing as YA or adult, fantasy)

7 Other Top Picks (ie the ones that tie with some above and deserve mention, in no order)
Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur (Riley Jenson #9, adult UF)
Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves (stand alone, YA UF)
Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray (historical YA fantasy)
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles (Perfect Chemistry #1, YA contemporary)
The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong (Darkest Powers #3, YA UF)
Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder (Inside Out #1, YA SF/dystopia)
Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (sequel out 2011, YA UF)

So far, it's been an awesome year for books. The second half of 2010 shows just as much promise with many more titles I'm very excited for. I'll try and post a 'looking forward to' post about them in the next few days.

Shiny Stuff!

Two things I want to mention:
1) The first 6 and a bit chapters of Pray For Dawn by Jocelynn Drake (out June 29th June) are live via HarperCollins 'Browse Inside' feature. Can I just say? Ohmigosh. PfD is the 4th book in the Dark Days series and the first (and currently only planned) book from Danaus point of view instead of regular protagonist Mira. Is very cool to be getting a look inside the Hunters head, but within those first chapters (okay, 66 pages) I was having serious 'what the heck is going on?!' feelings. The good kind. It's setting up to be an awesome book! Can't wait to read the rest of it!!

2) Karen Mahoney has her first YA novel due out in Febuary next year in the US. After reading her short story in The Eternal Kiss (which was my favourite of the shorts in there, and it was a awesome anthology) I am very, very much looking forward to The Iron Witch. The Book Smugglers have the cover with the blurb and an exclusive except live here.
How beautiful is that cover?!

Mockingjay Cover!

Mockingjay is the final book in The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. It is out August 24th and it is one of the books I want most this year. The first two books were awesome and I can not wait to see what happens in the end!! The UK cover has finally been released so if you've not yet seen it, here it is:
I love it. I've always prefered the UK ones over the US covers, but this is my favourite of them. Be really interested to hear what others think of it verses the US one below.

My Soul To Keep Trailer

My Soul to Keep is the 3rd book in the Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent, and it's been out for a week now. I liked the first two books in the series, but this is the one I've been most excited about. For some stupid reason, Book Depository are letting me down with this new US release, and aren't stocking it, so I'm (impatiently) waiting for my copy from the US to arrive. I'm hoping it'll be here on Thursday or Friday. In the mean time, check this out because I actually really like this trailer. Not always a big fan of book trailers, but this one I really like.



And if you want more info of Rachel's Soul Screamers books (or her adult Shifters series), check out her website here.

Check This Contest Out

Candace is giving away a signed copy of Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready on her blog here. Go check it out!!

I adored Shade, like, seriously fell in love with it. It's beautifully written and a really great story. I can not wait for the second book, Shift, to be out next year. Shade is one of the best books I've read so far this year and if you like good, grown up YA UF books, you must check this one out.

New Cover Art

The 9th Moganville Vampire book, Ghost Town, by Rachel Caine isn't out until the beginning of November, but the cover art for the UK version just went up on AmazonUK:
At one point the first four books were available with glow in the dark covers, I have those and they're cool, but this is my favourite cover to date easily. Very pretty!!

UK cover for the 8th House of Night book, Awakened, (P.C. and Kristin Cast) is live there too. Not a book I'm looking forward to, just one that I noticed on the Ghost Town page, figured I'd share it too.

Spirit Bound Final Teaser Quote

A quick reminder that there is still time to enter to win a free copy of Spirit Bound and a Signed copy of Shadow Kiss, just click the image of Spirit Bound at the top of the side bar.



*dies*

In 25 hours I will be almost to the store and almost have the book in my hands. I may not survive reading it though judging by that quote. If I do though, expect a review for it tomorrow night ;)

Spirit Bound Teaser Quote 7

And that's not the last one, they're adding a bonus one on Monday!

Waiting (Im)Patiently

It is May 12th today, meaning it's just 6 days, less than at this point, until Spirit Bound is (finally) released. [EW.com today posted an exclusive first look at a SB trailer and interview with Richelle here and my SB/Shadow Kiss contest is still going on here]. But while I'm totally hyped up on that, it's not the only super-awesome-must-have book coming out in the next few weeks. There are several coming out that should be checked out asap!

May 25th:
Reign Check by Michelle Rowen. The second Demon Princess book, a YA series following teen Nikki after she discovers her father is a demon king. Fun times with a serious undertone, loved the first one and can't wait for this! (And totally adore the cover!) (speaking of Michelle's works, I owe a review of The Demon in Me, which I loved, will try and have that up later or tomorrow.)

Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur. The 9th and final Riley Jenson book. Life got twisted upside down for Riley in the previous book, Bound To Shadows, and she's got a lot to deal with. I will be sad to say goodbye to Riley, but I'm also really excited to see how her story ends! (note: Moon Sworn is out 27th May in the UK) patiently

Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews. The 4th Kate Daniels book. I am going as crazy waiting for this book as Spirit Bound. Kate's world is a fascinating one with some of the deepest and realistic characters I've ever read. The first book may have put a few people off, it's not great, but the rest of the series is incredible and I can not wait to see how things go for Kate in the new book after some of the events of Magic Strikes! Brand shiny new snippet of this went up on Penguin's site today here. Reading it about killed me. Seriously. I want it more than ever and I didn't think that was possible!

Glimmerglass by Jenna Black. The first book in a new YA series about faeries. First chapter is up on Jenna's site here and it's good! Very excited about this one!

June 1st sees the release of Rachel Vincent's 3rd Soul Screamers book, My Soul To Keep. A friend of mine was lucky enough to get a hold of an early copy from Rachel at RT this year and tells me it's the best yet. She's rarely wrong about these things!!

June 8th Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is out. Other than being about a girl raised by werewolves I know little about this new YA book, except for repeatedly seeing various authors I follow mentioning that they love it. It sounds good and with the recs it's getting, I'm really looking forward to it!

Spirit Bound Teaser Quote 6

I can't quite believe it is only a week until Spirit Bound is out now!! Here is the penultimate teaser quote from Penguin and a reminder I'm giving away a copy of Spirit Bound and a signed copy of Shadow Kiss here.



I do not want to speculate on that one. -.- Next Tuesday can not get here fast enough!!!

Spirit Bound Teaser Quote 5

And don't forget I'm giving away a copy of Spirit Bound and signed copy of Shadow Kiss!! (see the previous post)

First Contest! - Spirit Bound! EDITED

Contest now CLOSED.

For the first time, I've decided to hold a contest here on my blog, and I figure what better book to start with than the upcoming release from one of my favourite series ever! The prize will be a UK copy of Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead.

EDIT: I've managed to get ahold of a stock signed UK version of Shadow Kiss (the 3rd Vampire Academy book). As I already have 2 signed copies of ShadowKiss, I'm giving this one away! So the prize for winning is now a signed UK copy of Shadow Kiss and a unsigned UK copy of Spirit Bound :)

Entering is simple, just leave a comment here on this post! One comment per person. Is open internationally :)
Already being a follower gives you +2 entries
New follower +1 entry.

Contest closes May 18th at midnight BST (British summer time). I'm not sure what times that makes it for various other time zones, but the internet is a helpful place ;)

I will name the winner May 19th (will be selected by random number generater) and they'll have 3 days to contact me with their details or another winner will be picked.

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead the 5th book in the Vampire Academy series:

"Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong…

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and he's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her...forever"

Spirit Bound Teaser Quote 4