From the Shelf: The House of Hades

Title: The House of Hades

Author: Rick Riordan
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Greek/Roman Mythology
Date read: October 08-December 31, 2013
Dawn Rates: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy’s instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea’s forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape?

They have no choice. If the demigods don’t succeed, Gaea’s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus.

 My Review: (also in goodreads)

"Seven half-bloods shall answer the call, 

To storm or fire the world must fall.

An oath to keep with a final breath,

And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death."

Recap: The Lost Hero, The Son of Neptune, The Mark of Athena

Waited for a year, read in less than a day...after that would wait for another year to see how the conclusion to this second season would turn out. Yes, I'm hopeless that way. Though the waiting would eat me up alive inside, I understand that authors just want the best book to come out. I feel you Rick Riordan. Anyway, I normally don't read this slow but I needed to stretch out a little bit. But I can't...I really can't. This book is such a page turner. So what if Annabeth and Percy got thrown into Tartarus? The group who is left behind could hold a story all on their own. The story getting thrown back and forth from the Argo II and Tartarus is amazing. There are so many revelations in this book....Frank Zhang's metamorphosis is just...wow. And Leo's side story? At least he does have something to hold on to. There is one revelation though that stood out. I mean really made me gasp for air. Okay, so I'm being dramatic. I may be biased or whatnot but I really, really loved this installment. And I don't mind waiting (...sort of) for the last installment in the Heroes of Olympus series entitled 'Blood of Olympus'.

Oh, Rick. You are trolling your readers once again.

Till the next read...

Adventures of a Bibliophile: Margaret Stohl, Allyson Noel and Melissa Dela Cruz Manila 2013

September 14, 2013

Saturday

Podium

Being a bibliophile has its own weird habits...like not getting out of a bookstore without buying a book or collecting books (preferably hardbound versions or if there are no hardbound editions next in line would be the first edition paperbacks or lastly mass paper back editions if desperate) or like getting all excited in having your books signed. Well that's how it is for me. I may not be a fan (...yet) or haven't read any books by Allyson Noel and Melissa Dela Cruz, but having Margaret Stohl with them is good enough for me. I would've wanted Kami Garcia to be in the tour too but one-half of the authors of the beloved Beautiful Creatures series coming here is my go sign.

Since I've been to book signing events before, I went there just on time to be the 8th in line.. 10AM registration for a 4PM book signing.

...excited for what's in store

yep, in my backpack carrying the 4 hardcover editions of the Beautiful Creatures series

me with Margaret Stohl...she is such a charmer. It was obvious she loved the event.

finally got my books signed...unfortunately she got my name wrong on the three other books maybe she was overwhelmed with people who came to have their books signed.

I tweeted her about it and she replied (so its true...she said that authors do read their mentions at twitter) I hope next time Kami Garcia comes too :D

Happy Reading!

From the shelf: Where She Went

Title: Where She Went
Author: Gayle Forman
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Realistic Fiction
Date read: December 12-14, 2013
Dawn Rates: ★★★★ (4/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future-and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

This book is in Adam's point of view. I was surprised at the time skip at first, especially that happened since the last scene in If I Stay is the moment Mia woke up. I was a little confused on how everything turned out but was expecting it a little bit. Like the first book it juggled from memories to the present moment. I teared up at the reunion and was happy at how they resolved everything. What gave me goosebumps is when Mia told Adam that she knew about his vow to make her stay.

Till the next read...

From the shelf: If I Stay

Title: If I Stay
Author: Gayle Forman
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Realistic Fiction
Date read: December 2-12, 2013
Dawn Rates: ★★★☆ (3.5/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

The critically acclaimed, bestselling novel from Gayle Forman, author of Where She Went, Just One Day, and the forthcoming Just One Year. 

On a day that started like any other,

Mia had everything: a loving family, a gorgeous, admiring boyfriend, and a bright future full of music and full of choices. In an instant, almost all of that is taken from her. Caught between life and death, between a happy past and an unknowable future, Mia spends one critical day contemplating the only decision she has left. It is the most important decision she'll ever make.

Simultaneously tragic and hopeful, this is a romantic, riveting, and ultimately uplifting story about memory, music, living, dying, loving.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

It's mind-boggling how things happen in a heartbeat. That sometimes things happen, no matter how pain-inducing, no matter how heartbreaking it is, it was there to make us stronger. That is what happened to Mia and more...the decision to stay despite her loss is quite a burden. I can't believe how many times I teared up all throughout and that cliffhanger is tearing me to shreds.

Till the next read...

From the shelf: Lola and the Boy Next Door

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Chick-Lit
Date read: November 27, 2013
Dawn Rates: ★★★★ (4/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion...she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit--more sparkly, more fun, more wild--the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket--a gifted inventor--steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

First of all, I wanted to know who the hell names their child Cricket? LOL~ Anyway, just when I thought this was an entirely new story without a connection to the first book whatsoever, I was wrong. Well-loved characters from Anna and the French Kiss were present namely, Anna and St. Claire. I loved how the characters were significant to the main characters in this book's story, it had this familiar feel.

Till the next read...