Books That Make Me Go Oooooh (37) Until I Die By Amy Plum

Waiting On Wednesday is a brilliant book blog feature hosted by Breaking The Spine   

Until I Die By Amy Plum
Due For Release May 2012
Published In The UK By ATOM
Amazon LINK
Goodreads LINK

"Kate may have defeated her boyfriend's nemesis, showing off her sword skills in the process, but Vincent is sure that she will be at risk as long as they stay together. What's more, it's becoming clear that their relationship might prevent him from fulfilling his true purpose: saving the lives of others.

They might have the romance of the century, but will that be enough?"

I only recently read the first of these books 'Die For Me'  Its safe to say that I have STRONG feelings for these books already and I am anxiously anticpating the next part.  The title says a lot for me too - I fear some heartbreak!!!!

Review - Legend By Marie Lu

"The United States is gone, along with its flooded coasts. North America's two warring nations, the western Republic and the eastern Colonies, have reached a breaking point. In the midst of this broken continent and dark new world are two teenagers who will go down in history....

Born into the slums of Los Angeles, fifteen-year old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. A mysterious boy with no recorded image or fingerprints. A boy who should no longer exist. A boy who watches over his family until one evening, when the plague patrols mark his family's door with an X--the sign of plague infection. A death sentence for any family too poor to afford the antidote. Desperate, Day has no choice; he must steal it.

Born to an elite family in Los Angeles' wealthy Ruby sector, fifteen-year old June is the Republic's most promising prodigy. A superintelligent girl destined for great things in the country's highest military circles. Obedient, passionate, and committed to her country--until the day her brother Metias is murdered while on patrol during a break-in at the plague hospital.

Only one person could be responsible.

Day.

And now it's June's mission to hunt him down.

The truth they'll uncover will become legend."

I first heard of this last July when the book was starting its release promotion in the USA.  I researched it, as I do all books that interest me and knew this was my kind of thing.  When I was asked if I'd like to review I had to contain my extreme excitedness.  I hope I acted cool.......

The UK cover is somewhat reminiscent of the original Divergent cover for me.  That doesn't make it any less stunning though.  Its almost like the girl standing there has the world at her feet - like she is powerful.  I also like the setting sun, its kind of provocative to me in that things are going to go down!!

You start the story reading from the view of Day - a boy on the wrong side of the law.  He lives to cause havoc for the Republics wealthy and to look after his family.  You find his family has been marked as plague victims and so starts his mission to save them.  I was rather shocked to read of how the poor are treated in this world.  It left me with a  feeling of fear for them, but also for us.  Marie uses the facts of today, like growing population and lack of resources and builds a new warped version of the world.  I do find when I read dystopian tales like this I wonder - What if???

The next chapter shifts to another character JUNE - it also switches to a new font, that was so helpful - you can just look at the writing and know who's side of the story is being told!
June's life is greatly different to Day's, she is rich and privileged.  Through actions in the story though she becomes the sworn enemy of Day and so her story of revenge begins.
I found it utterly fascinating to read of the diversity of the characters life.  How much like in our world today being born to some people can bring great fortune and to others bring great suffering.  Its actually great thinking material for the life we live now.  Sometimes the grass is not greener on the other side, but just sometimes I think it is.

For me the story although interesting dragged a little in the first half, but the second half was so much more exciting.  It was in this half that revelations started pouring out and you could see where the story was going.  At this point I was utterly enthralled.

The book concludes on a somewhat shocking note, but is a great set up for the next part.  I'm just not sure where the story is going and that is so attractive to me - I want shocks and think I may just get some!!

This is a brilliant debut that not only had me questioning the world in the book, but the world be live in today.

Rating 3 1/2 Out Of 5

Published In The UK By Puffin

This Can Be Purchased HERE and at good book retailers

Top Ten Books I'd Give A Theme Song To (and please tell us the song and why you'd pick it for the book!)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly blog feature hosted by the awesome people at The Broke and the Bookish  

This is such a fantastic idea for a post.  I often listen to music while I'm reading, but must admit that I rarely relate songs to books.  There are two songs that completely go to a book for me, so not quite a top ten I'm afraid......

Both Songs are by the same artist and both completely relate to the same book

Almost Lover By A Fine Frenzy - New Moon
This song is made for the love story of Bella and Edward.  It could also easily relate to Jacob and Bella
Youtube link

Near To You By A Fine Frenzy - New Moon
This is totally Bella's relationship with Jacob
Youtube link

Both songs take me back to reading that book and my heart aching!!

I would be fascinated to know what music YOU relate to books!!

In My Mailbox (53)

In My Mailbox Is An Awesome Blog Post Idea Hosted By The Story Siren  

All links are from Amazon

This weeks mailbox just consists of my pre-orders that finally came through.  More gorgeous additions to my shelves

BOUGHT

 Fever By Lauren DeStefano (US Hardback)

I actually read this two weeks ago, but these hardback editions are so gorgeous I had to have the matching set!

Pandemonium By Lauren Oliver

I loved Delirium and am super excited to find out what happens next!!!

And because I loved the colours, this is whats under the covers - Bright is obviously in this year

Hope you got some great reads this week?

Leanne

xoxo

Tag! You're It!!

I was actually tagged by the wonderful Laura over at SisterSpooky: Book Fangirl AND by the fabulous Casey From Dark Readers - As Laura got in there first I'm going with her questions!!!

The Rules 

1. Answer the eleven questions that were asked of you by the person who tagged you

2. Make up eleven new questions and tag eleven new people to do the meme! 

3. Let them know you tagged them!

1. What's your favourite dessert?  

I love all sweet things but just one.....Chocolate Fudge Cake!!!

2. What's the last book you read that completely knocked your socks off?  

Everneath By Brodi Ashton - could not put it down

3. What's your snack food guilty pleasure?  

Again I have a few, but I eat lots of Weight Watchers Mallow Wafers - basically Marshmallow in between wafers

4. When you were little did you have a favourite toy and what was it?  

My Sylvanian Families - I LOVED the mansion house

5. Is there any skill or talent you wished you had but just don't? (wished you could play the piano or juggle??)  

I've always been fascinated by the violin, so it would be great to be able to play that

6. What kind of music do you like? Any recommendations? 

I love so many types of music, my ipod ranges from Culture club to The Progidy.  I'm currently loving Lana Del Rey's album

7. Last movie you saw at the cinema and what you thought of it? 

Breaking Dawn - I laughed ALOT, even when I shouldn't have been!!

8. What is your dream job?  

My dreams would be to work with books or animals, find me something that mixes the two and I'll take it!

9. What is your favourite kid's TV show (now or when you were a kid)?  

When I  was very young I prefered Neighbours to kids shows, but I have a love for Trap Door!!

10. Favourite ice cream flavour?   

Plain old Vanilla - with strawberry sauce, chopped nuts & a flake

11. If you could visit anywhere in the world where would you go and why?  

There are a few places I'd love to go, but I've been wanting to visit Pompeii in Italy for years now!!

My Questions are:

1. Book that has annoyed you the most?

2. One Song that you would sing at Karokee?

3. Favourite take away food?

4. Guilty Pleasure in music?

5. If you could live in another country, where would you pick and why?

6. One thing that makes you geekout?

7. Who was your first crush?

8. What would be your idea of book hell?

9. Favourite Movie of all time?

10. If you had to wear one piece of your clothing for the rest of your life, what would you pick?

11. If you could have ANY pet, what would you have?

I'm tagging:

Anyone And everyone!!  Feel free to put your answers in my comments section :D

J K Rowling NEWS!!

Yesterday I read quite possibly the most exciting bookish news I have heard in a loooooong time!!!  My all time favourite author J.K. ROWLING is publishing new work - YAAAAAHOOOOOO!!!

This was me yesterday!!

In a press release from Little, Brown Books - her new books publisher, it was revealed that the new work will be for adult readers.  Further details of the book will be released later in the year!  I for one am so frigging excited - I NEED NEW NOW!!!!!

You can read the full press release HERE

 In Other J.K. Rowling news Bloomsbury, the UK publishers of the Harry Potter books has announced plans to release new ILLUSTRATED copies of the Potter series from 2013 - my bookshelves will be even more heaving it seems!!!!

The Storyteller Blog Tour - Micha Character Statement

Fairly recently I was given a copy of the storyteller to read and review.  Being honest I hadn't heard of it, so had no idea what to expect.  What I got was an incredible story that had me thinking for days after.  You can find my review HERE.  Today I am thrilled to be hosting a stop on the blog tour.

Micha

Abel is my brother. He is a lot more older than me. He is blonde. His eyes are blue. Sometimes I think they are water and sometimes ice. He never looks at me when his eyes are ice, but looks at other people.

Like when Rainer came.

Rainer was like: she´s mine, she´s my dagter dughter child, she must come with me, and Abel was like: no way, and they started this huge big fite fight about me and I was so so afred afraid. I did not want to go with Rainer.

Abel invents things, real nice things, like stories. He told me a fairy tail. It was about the little queen, that is me, and she has to sail over the sea and get to the mainland and there is all those people following me. The people want to kill the little queen. They want her hard heart. The hart is a diaomond, that´s why. But I have the sea lion in the fairy tail. He is tame, and Im sure his fur is all soft and nice, and he is like Abel and he is only there to safe me from the bad people.

Abel can make pencakes pancayks pancakes, real good ones, and he can throw them up and turn them in the air.

Anna is not good with pancakes.

Anna is Abels girlfriend. I know because I saw them kissing. Like in the movies, on the lips. She had no lipstick. When I am 18 I want lipstick on my lips so when a guy comes and kisses me he will also have lipstick on his lips in red or purple and that will be so so funny.

I wish I could tell Abel about how funny it will be.

Just where he is right now is very far away, and I have to wait until I can talk to him which is something I do not like, not at all.

Thank you so much to Antonia for this fabulous insight and to the guys at Abrams And Chronicle

Make Sure to LIKE  ACKIDS UK Facebook page for giveaways of the book.  Also follow them on twitter @ACKidsUK