Waiting on Wednesday - Ink and Carnegie!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where we show off books that we want to read but have not been published yet. 

Title:  Ink
Author: Amanda Sun
Release Date: 25 June 2013 by Mira
Link to / Summary from Goodreads: On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.
Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.
Why I want it:  Japanese mythology is awesome. This looks really cool. It has a gorgeous cover that fits perfectly with the title.

We have a winner for the Witchlove giveaway! It was Fiery Na! I've emailed Emma, and she should get back to you. Thanks for entering.

We still have two big giveaways running! The international one and the UK one.

Also... The shortlist for Carnegie! 

THE WEIGHT OF WATER by SARAH CROSSAN
A GREYHOUND OF A GIRL by RODDY DOYLE
MAGGOT MOON by SALLY GARDNER
IN DARKNESS by NICK LAKE
WONDER by R.J. PALACIO
MIDWINTERBLOOD by MARCUS SEDGEWICK
A BOY AND A BEAR IN A BOAT by DAVE SHELTON
CODE NAME VERITY by ELIZABETH WEIN

Three out of eight! These all look really good. I've had Code Name Verity and Wonder on my TBR for ages, but I'm looking forwards to reading all of these!

Carnegie Shortlist Announcement Game

I've followed the Carnegie for a few years. We have a competition in our book club-who can guess the shortlist correctly?

Here's my picks...


1. Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner. PERFECT.
2.  Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. Because. I don't know why. It just seems like it'd work.
3. Wonder by R J Palacio. I've heard so much about this, and how lovely it is, and think it should be there.
4. Dying to Know You by Aidan Chambers. This is very much the kind of thing that would get onto the list.
5. To Be a Cat by Matt Haig. Because this seems like the kind of thing that would get on the list.
6. The True Tale of the Monster Billy Dean by David Almond. Here is some David Almond. Judges LOVE David Almond.

Also, if we're going for a seven or eight shortlist, here's my extra picks (ignore in score if we get a six long list)

7. All Fall Down by Sally Nichols. Ways to Live Forever was beautiful. This might be just as poweverful.
8. A Waste of Good Paper by Sean Taylor. It's full of the kind of stuff that seems like it'd work on the shortlist.

Yeah. I've read one of my six/eight picks. Lovingly basing this on my predictability of author choice and themes. Good luck to all authors longlisted!

What are your picks for the shortlist? Go to the longlist here and choose 6-8 books. Whoever's the most accurate gets...hugs? Intenet love? A sense of accomplishment. It's just a bit of fun. But a lot of fun.

Book Review- Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve

Title: Fever Crumb

 Author: Philip Reeve

Series:  Fever Crumb #1

Published:  5 May 2009

Length: 326 pages

Source: Sarah!

Other info:  This got shortlisted for the Carnegie!

Summary : Fever Crumb is a girl who has been adopted and raised by Dr. Crumb, a member of the order of Engineers, where she serves as apprentice. In a time and place where women are not seen as reasonable creatures, Fever is an anomaly, the only female to serve in the order.
Soon though, she must say goodbye to Dr. Crumb - nearly the only person she's ever known - to assist archeologist Kit Solent on a top-secret project. As her work begins, Fever is plagued by memories that are not her own and Kit seems to have a particular interest in finding out what they are. Fever has also been singled out by city-dwellers who declare her part Scriven.
The Scriveners, not human, ruled the city some years ago but were hunted down and killed in a victorious uprising by the people. If there are any remaining Scriven, they are to be eliminated.
All Fever knows is what she's been told: that she is an orphan. Is Fever a Scriven? Whose memories does she hold? Is the mystery of Fever, adopted daughter of Dr. Crumb, the key to the secret 

that lies at the heart of London?

Review: Scriven are speckled, pale, speckled creatures, who ruled London for years. A baby girl is left on a doorstep, with a label explaining that “her name is Fever”. She grows up as an engineer, the first female one, until she is asked to go and help someone. Kit Solent, archaeologist, wants Fever to help him with the treasure trove he’s found. Why? Because he thinks that she’s the one who can be used to unlock the secrets of Scriven Auric Godshawk.  Also, there are people who believe that Fever is a Scrivien herself, and are willing to kill her for it.

This is the first I’ve read of anything to do with Fever Crumb or the Traction Cities series. I like the idea of the walking cities, but we weren't quite there yet. Instead we get a world that isn’t typically steampunk due to its lack of technology, but is definitely distinctive. There’s lots of clever references to today’s world, with Fever’s world being built on the remains of outs in terms of language and culture.

The scriven are a subspecies who, after believing themselves to be superior, took over London and ruled it until the humans revolted. The plot with  Charley and Creech attempting to kill fever was a good plot  What was more interesting was the history of the Scirven and their interactions with the humans, especially the backstory with Doctor Crumb and Wavey, the Scriven princess.

Fever was a bit annoying at the start. Because her upbringing made her aloof and uncaring for art and fun. I did warm up to her with time though. I really liked the fact that she was clever and inquisitive, and I liked seeing her discover her own secrets.I also  really liked Kit for some reason. I would have liked to get into the characters heads more.

Plotwise, it changes tack quite a bit. I think that the climax of Londoners vs Movement was good, but not amazing. Other plot points were really fascinating.

I have no knowledge of the Hungry Cities main series. I can’t comment  on Fever Crumb’s effectiveness as a prequel. As a prelude to another time set of this world, with a lot more things developed, I’ll definitely read Mortal Engines one day.

Overall:  Strength 3 tea to an original steampunkworld I'd love to see more of.

Links: Amazon | Goodreads | Author website | 

Book Review-Geek Girl by Holly Smale

Title: Geek Girl

 Author: Holly Smale

Series:  N/A

Published:  28 February 2013 by Harper Collins

Length: 378 pages

Warnings:  None

Source: netgalley

Summary : Harriet Manners knows a lot of things.
She knows that a cat has 32 muscles in each ear, a "jiffy" lasts 1/100th of a second, and the average person laughs 15 times per day. What she isn't quite so sure about is why nobody at school seems to like her very much. So when she's spotted by a top model agent, Harriet grabs the chance to reinvent herself. Even if it means stealing her Best Friend's dream, incurring the wrath of her arch enemy Alexa, and repeatedly humiliating herself in front of the impossibly handsome supermodel Nick. Even if it means lying to the people she loves.
As Harriet veers from one couture disaster to the next with the help of her overly enthusiastic father and her uber-geeky stalker, Toby, she begins to realise that the world of fashion doesn't seem to like her any more than the real world did.
And as her old life starts to fall apart, the question is: will Harriet be able to transform herself before she ruins everything?

Review: Harriet Manners is a geek, and proud of it. One day, she’s on a school trip, and she gets spotted by a modelling agency. Whisked away for a photoshoot and a makeover, Harriet finds her life changing in many ways-and not all for the better.

I requested this because lots of people said it would be good. I started this book. And Harriet started talking. And spouting some really random facts. And I did not like her for the first part of the book. I’m really glad that she was clever, because it beats the heck out of someone who is too dumb to live. But people who just talk on and on  to lengths such as Harriet  to people who aren’t interested irritate me.  As the book went on and it was established that Harriet was a geek, we focused more on the plot, I liked Harriet a bit more. Annoying fact insertation, Harriet is likable, funny and a great main character. She’s become a lot more mature by the end of the book.

I really liked some of the secondaries, for example Nat and Annabel.  Alexa got what she had coming together. Wilbur was downright irritating throughout. Toby, the stalker, was annoying, but cute. Nick, the love interest, was sweet from what we saw of him, but I feel we should have gotten to know him a bit more. I think all the characters could have been a bit deeper, and developed more (aside from Harriet, who was done really well).

The school side of Geek Girl, the atmosphere, and social dynamics were well captured. I have no experience of the modelling world, so I have no idea how realistic it was, but it’s a good setting to bring out different sides of the characters.

I really like the fact that Harriet stays true to herself, realises that it doesn’t matter what she looks like, that being a geek is good and dressing in XXX isn’t everything, and spreads the word majorly.

Overall:  Strength 3.25 tea to a cute contemporary with a nice message.

Links: | Goodreads | Author website | 

Book Blast- Scott Tracey- Moonset

With one month to go until MOONEST hits the shelves, we want to make sure you are all ready for it. Be sure to add MOONSET to your TBR piles, and don’t forget to check out the giveaway below for $25.00 gift cards to iTunes and B&N!

Moonset Legacy of Moonset #1 Author: Scott Tracey
Release Date: April 8th 2013
Publisher: Flux

Justin Daggett, his trouble-making sister, and their three orphan-witch friends have gotten themselves kicked out of high school. Again. Now they’ve ended up in Carrow Mills, New York, the town where their parents—members of the terrorist witch organization known as Moonset—began their evil experiments with the dark arts one generation ago.

When the siblings are accused of unleashing black magic on the town, Justin fights to prove their innocence. But tracking down the true culprit leads him to a terrifying discovery about Moonset’s past . . . and its deadly future

PRE-ORDER NOW FOR ONLY $5.55
AMAZON | B&N

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THE GIVEAWAY

The Prizes!
1- $25.00 Barnes & Noble Gift Card


1- $25.00 iTunes Gift Card

Open Internationally

Gift Card to be delivered Electronically

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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THE AUTHOR




Scott Tracey is a YA author who lived on a Greyhound for a month, wrote his illustrated autobiography at the age of six, and barely survived Catholic school (and definitely not for the reasons you might think).

He is the author of WITCH EYES, chosen as one of Amazon’s Best LGBT Books of 2011, as well as an ALA Popular Paperback in the Forbidden Romance category.  The final book in the WITCH EYES trilogy, PHANTOM EYES, will be released in the fall of 2013.

He is also the author of MOONSET, a new series which will be released April 8, 2013, as well as a contributor to the SHADOWHUNTERS & DOWNWORLDERS anthology, edited by Cassandra Clare.

His career highlights include: accidentally tripping a panic alarm which led to nearly being shot by the police; attacked in a drive-thru window by a woman wielding a baked potato, and once moving cross country for a job only to quit on the second day.

His gifts can be used for good or evil, but rather than picking a side, he strives for BOTH (in alternating capacity) for his own amusement.

STALK SCOTT

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | TUMBLR

Happy World Book Day! *some large pictures under cut*

It's that time of year again when schools let you dress up as your favourite book character! If you're young enough anyway... I'm not.
Little M did an excellent post on this! She put so much effort into her costumes... *applauds*

Anyway, it's World Book Day. The day to get all kids reading. It's a great idea and there's so much happening.

I will attempt to do a proper post about how important reading is when you're young, or any age really, tomorrow or some point in the near future.
In the meantime, here's some of my favourite images about reading. Under the cut, so you don't all want to kill me.

Waiting on Wednesday-The Girl with the Iron Touch

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where we show off books that we want to read but have not been published yet. 

Title:  The Girl with the Iron Touch-Steampunk Chronicles #3
Author: Kady Cross
Release Date: 28 May 2013 by Harlequin
Link to / Summary from Goodreads: In 1897 London, something not quite human is about to awaken. When mechanical genius Emily is kidnapped by rogue automatons, Finley Jayne and her fellow misfits fear the worst. What's left of their archenemy, The Machinist, hungers to be resurrected, and Emily must transplant his consciousness into one of his automatons—or forfeit her friends' lives. 
 With Griffin being mysteriously tormented by the Aether, the young duke's sanity is close to the breaking point. Seeking help, Finley turns to Jack Dandy, but trusting the master criminal is as dangerous as controlling her dark side. When Jack kisses her, Finley must finally confront her true feelings for him...and for Griffin. Meanwhile, Sam is searching everywhere for Emily, from Whitechapel's desolate alleyways to Mayfair's elegant mansions. He would walk into hell for her, but the choice she must make will test them more than they could imagine. To save those she cares about, Emily must confront The Machinist's ultimate creation—an automaton more human than machine. And if she's to have any chance at triumphing, she must summon a strength even she doesn't know she has....

Why I want it: I read and really enjoyed the other two in this steampunk series, The Girl in the Steel Corset and The Girl in the Clockwork Collar.  And everything looks like it's kicking off really really badly. And I'm not sure if I'm right but this is the kind of series that seems like it could be a trilogy and

What are YOU waiting on this week?

Also, congrats to Paula! You won the Innovera Yakov-Journey of a Thousand Eyes giveaway! I've emailed Kia to get your prize sorted out. Thanks for entering.

There's still more chances to win stuff!

£5 Amazon/Book Depository voucher in exchange for tagline-ends 30 March
Witchlove by Emma Mills -International-ends 8 March
£11 worth books from TheBookDepository International blogoversary thing- Ends 30 March
2x book packs from my shelf UK only blogoversary giveaway-ends 30 March

Also, it's only TWO weeks till I meet Lauren Oliver!!

And me and some friends are going to be interviewing her (I'm aware that sentence is grammatically incorrect. I'm too tired to sort it out).

So is there anything you want us to ask her? Because we don't have many questions at the moment. Ask for all books, we'll decide if we'll include spoilery questions or not later.

And have a good week, people!

NEWS!! Also, February round up. Also, stuff.

I broke my book obtaining ban. I'm sorry, shelves. I got Undone by Cat Clarke. But it's ok if I read it in one day, and it's going back to the library tomorrow...right?

What happened in February...Well, I went to the Hot Key Books/Templar thing (see here). I put up a lot of giveaways. some of which are ending soon, so you should go and enter! You should also enter the ones that end later in the month. Lots of awesome prizes to be won!

Innovera Yakov-The Journey of a Thousand Eyes by Kia Garriques International-ends 5 March
£5 Amazon/Book Depository voucher in exchange for tagline-ends 30 March
Witchlove by Emma Mills -International-ends 8 March
£11 worth books from TheBookDepository International blogoversary thing- Ends 30 March
2x book packs from my shelf UK only blogoversary giveaway-ends 30 March

Death Books and Tea turned TWO!!  (hence why we have some of these giveaways)
I changed my design.
I read quite a bit.
I got into Supernatural. It is now on my long obsession list. You may have noticed the sanity level of this book slowly slipping since the start of the year. Supernatural, and all the SuperWhoLock things that can also come from it, is a push down the hill.  I'm sorry.
I have some taglines to consider! Please carry on thinking of them, and I'll settle on one at the end of the month.

 News! We have a cover for book two in the Grisha series by Leigh Bardugo! I quite enjoyed The Gathering Dark (review here) and  I like the similarities between the cover for Siege and Storm a nd Shadow and Bone (the US title for The Gathering Dark).

We just got 500 followers!

There's going to be more Neil Gaiman in our lives!! He is a generally awesome man, even if some of his writing for little people is a bit... er.... no (my first encounter with him was Crazy Hair and that was just wrong wrong wrong). Anyway, Neil has a book coming called Fortunately, the Milk and it sounds really really cool. Oh, and Chris Riddell is a great illustrator.

There's going to be more Neil Gaiman in our lives! At some point. And more time travel. And more awesomeness. FOUR WEEKS TILL DOCTOR WHO SERIES 7 PART 2!!!!!