Cover Reveal: Unleashed by Sophie Jordan

I am super excited to be one of the people revealing the cover of Unleashed by Sophie Jordan. I love Sophie Jordan's books and am super excited to show you the new cover of her latest book. Unleashed is the sequel to Univited.

Released on 24th Feburary 2015, here is the summary:

What if the worst thing you ever did was unforgivable?

Davy’s world fell apart after she tested positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome. She was expelled from her school, dumped by her boyfriend, abandoned by friends, and shipped off to a camp that turns HTS carriers into soldiers. Davy may have escaped, but the damage has already been done. The unthinkable has happened. Now, even worse than having everyone else see her as a monster is the knowledge that they may have been right about her all along. Because Davy has killed.

On the run from government agents, Davy is rescued by Caden, the charismatic leader of an underground group of rebels. Despite Caden’s assurances that the Resistance is made up of carriers like her, Davy isn’t sure she can trust them. Then again, she doesn’t even know if she can trust herself . . . or her growing feelings for Caden. But if she doesn’t belong with Caden and his followers, is there anywhere she can call home?

And also a mini teaser (yay):

I thought being labeled a killer and losing everything—my future, family, boyfriend, friends—was the worst thing that could ever happen to me. It’s not. Finding out they were right. Finding out that’s exactly what I am?

That’s worse.


And now for the cover ...

 

Wow, I absolutely love it. This is definitely a book that I am super excited to read when it comes out! Also check out Sophie Jordan's other novels, you can check out here website here.

xx Viv

Celebrating a month of blogging with a Giveaway!

It's been a month already? Wow this is crazy, time flies so fast. I wanted to say thanks so much for everyone who has supported me and read my blog.

Some of the things I have done so far:

- Book reviews (clearly)
- Attended PTAlive
- Attended TFIOS marathon
- Got bloglovin and Netgalley
- Received my first review book via Netgalley and my first physical review copy

I know this is fairly normal stuff for most bloggers, but for me all these things have caused lots of freakouts (the good kind), and I am so excited to be a book blogger. I am so excited for the next few  months of blogging.


 To celebrate, and thank you guys all for the support I am doing a GIVEAWAY!

The prize includes:


- Advance Reading Copy: The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
- The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Blueray DVD
-  Divergent Chapter sampler
- The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare bookmark

I have my own copy of The Queen of Tearling and am very excited to read it. The book is going to be adapted into a film starring Emma Watson which is pretty cool

I am sure you have all heard of Hunger Games and Divergent and TMI, but I just want to say they are all fantastic YA series, and you all should read them.

This is a Australian only giveaway.
Entrants have to be 13 years or older
The winner will have 48 hours to respond, or a new winner will be chosen if they don't.
Please abide by the rules, I will be checking entries



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks again so much for the support, xx Viv 

PTALive recap

Myself, Joy, Sunny, Shirley, Jaz

Starting last year,  Penguin Teen Australia started hosting an event called PTA Live. It is an awesome event about everything YA book related. This Monday it was Sydney's turn to have PTA Live again. It was so awesome to see it grow from last year when there were only 50 of us in Kinokuniya bookstore, to around 300 of us in the cinemas due to the size.

It is such a rare time that so many of us book nerds and fangirls gather together. I got to catch up with book bloggers Sunny, Francoise, Estelle, Jaz and Keely as well as meeting for the first time Joy and Shirley. (Eugenia was there too but I didn't get to meet her). It was also cool to see Amanda from HarperCollins - showing there is no rivalry between publishers ;)  If you haven't come you should definitely come next year, it was one of the highlights of my year so far. I wish we could do more events like this.

Felicity doing her thing

Firstly Felicity (main publisher/marketer/Professional fangirl at Penguin Teen) told us about a bit about who PTA are. She mentioned the Wednesday fortnightly PTAchat, Penguin Teen TV (this is new and super cool), and events like Vampire Academy fan meet event with Zoey Deutch and Lucy Fry and TFIOS marathon. She also said that they really want to listen to what we want, and try to do things that we suggest. For example, we were all saying that they should get on instagram, so now they have an instagram account. I thought this was so cool that they are listening to our feedback.

Next came the book recommendations - such a great time to chat about books we had already read and get recommendations about ones that we hadn't.

Felicity's 5 books that resonated with her:

1) Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy
2) Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
3) Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
4) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
5) On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

which I thought were awesome recommendations, I have read and own all but the first and and love them so much. I love how she recommended On the Jellicoe Road because I feel like this is a very underrated books and Looking for Alibrandi always gets the hype (and she is Aussie, so awesome).

Titles we love - some of the favorites of Penguin:

Ones I was super happy to see up there were If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Foreman, one of my favourite authors. We talked about how the first book is a movie coming out later this year which looks fantastic (check out the trailer). Fangirl and Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell - I haven't read them yet but really want to, I  just bought Fangirl. Lastly Katie McGarry's books: Pushing the Limits, Take Me On and Crash Into You. These are my top faves for contemporary, and although they are stand alones they all kind of link in because of the characters.

Title's We Want - some of the favorites that Penguin hasn't published (again showing the non rivalry between publishers:

The ones I was excited they mentioned was We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, a book I am so keen for the Australian release! Also the Lux series by Jenifer L. Armentrout which I feel the hype hasn't come to Australia yet. Get reading this series Aussies! Also THRONE OF GLASS. An awesome series by Sarah J Mass that got me back into fantasy, love those books so, so much!

Underrated titles:


- My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
- Legend by Marie Lu
- Cinder by Marissa Meyer
- The Enemy by Charlie Higson

I loved My Life Next Door (Jase <3) but hadn't read the other books, I am quite keen to read them though they sounded so good and many other people agreed with these recommendations. Legend sounds amazing and I have heard great reviews of it, so especially looking forward to an opportunity to read it.

Then we had guest author Kylie Fornasier whose debut novel Masquerade is coming out 23rd July 2014. I am so excited for this book. It is described as Downton Abbey meets Gossip Girl in 1750's Venice carnevale season. I love DA, GG and books in historical contexts so I am super excited for this book. The way she made it sound so good - everyone wears masks so it is a book all about secrets and identity. I went and talked to her afterwards, and asked about her research methods for the time. She did such a thorough job and was so lovely to meet. I cannot wait for this book.

Felicity interviewing Kylie Fornasier

Joy, Sunny and I with Kylie

Upcoming Titles for 2014/2015:

There were so many of them, which got me super excited. Ones I am particularly looking forward to are:

-  What I Thought Was True by Huntly Fitzpatrick (author of My Life Next Door)
-  The Infinite Sea (sequel to the amazing The 5th Wave) by Rick Yancy. 14th September 2014
-  Afterworlds by Scott Westerfield. 24th September 2014
-  Gathering Darkness by (Falling Kingdoms 3) by Megan Rhodes. December 2014
-  Silver Shadows and The Ruby Circle (5th and 6th in the Bloodlines series, final books) by
    Richelle Mead. 29th July 2014, 10th Februrary 2015

There were quite a few others, if you want a full list you can go to Fiction in Fiction in Fiction, Jaz did a great recap with full lists.

In amongst the book recs came other YA topics of discussion.

Webseries:

- The Lizzie Bennet Diaries
- Emma Approved
- Morganville Vampires

LBD and EA are both done by Hank Green
(vlog brothers with John Green) and are
modern adaptations of Jane Austen's novels. I was absolutely obsessed with LBD, it was such a perfect new way to tell the story of Pride and Prejudice. I am enjoyed EA but am super behind, don't love it as much as LBD. Super cute fact about EA though, the actors that play Emma and Knightly are dating in real life <3 Morganville Vampires is an awesome book series by Rachel Caine who decided to kickstart it as a TV show rather than giving away the rights. Such a cool move, especially after the success of Veronica Mars.

Bloodlines extra scenes with Daisy and Nick

Bloodlines series book trailers:

Penguin Teen have been making book trailers for the Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead. They showed us behind the scenes footage and some bonus scenes as well. Felicity said it was important to remember that they weren't supposed to be perfect renditions of scenes from the book (they don't have a massive budget) but are supposed to start interest and discussion about the books.

Book Bloggers/Booktubers:

Felicity thanked all book bloggers for what they do, and had a page up of recommendations. Clearly I am baised because I am one, but book blogs are an awesome way to connect through books and discuss ideas.

Estelle, Louise and I with our Free books :)

Kinokuniya, an awesome bookshop you should all check out,  was selling books on sale at the event, and I bought Take Me on by Katie McGarry. We all also got to choose one free book out of a selection, and I choose Half Bad by Sally Green. Also the lovely Jaz lent me Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally as part of a book swap.

Thanks so much Felicity and everyone at Penguin Teen Australia for organising such an amazing event and giving us all a free book and an opportunity to fangirl and nerd out about books. This is my book event highlight of the year, and I am so looking forward to going next year.

xx Viv

All things TFIOS: book, movie, marathon

~ All Things TFIOS ~

So recently I have been overcome by my obsession with The Fault In Our Stars. What a book. And I'm so excited that due to the release of the movie so many people are discovering the book. Many of my friends are reading and loving it (and hating on John Green for all the tears he caused them to spill).  So in honor of this here are my thoughts about all things TFIOS.

The book:

I am beyond grateful to John Green for writing this book. I love it so much because every time I read it I discover something new, gain a greater understanding and see more depth too the story. To be totally honest, the first time I read it I enjoyed it, but didn't get the hype (I know, I'm sorry!). But when I re-read I discovered that it wasn't just a romance story, but it was all about life. The fact that Augustus wants to live an extraordinary life and fears oblivion - I suddenly understood what this meant. And Hazel leads him to realize that loving her and being loved by her was enough - "I like my choices. I hope she likes hers" as Augustus wrote at the end of the book. Then the next time I read it I realized all these things about Augustus' masculinity, (I now understood scenes like in the scene at the gas station where he wanted to buy his cigarettes). I'm looking forward to discovering more and more things as I re-read this. I love this book because it isn't a cancer book about death. It's about life, and what is important. What you should live for. I am so grateful for a book that contains important things of life in an amazing way that is funny and sad and enlightening all at the same time.

The Movie:

Ansel in that suit = wow

Our reaction to the movie

I think that TFIOS was one of the best book-to-movie adaptations that I have ever seen. I think all movie-making people should take note of this movie, and all the things they did to make it a perfect adaptation. Having John Green on set every day of filming was the coolest thing, and clearly helped to make the movie all that it could be. Lets talk about Shailene Woodley, who is starring in so many YA adaptations, go her! I think she did such a raw and beautiful job of portraying Hazel. And not sure if this was just me, but when she was getting really angry at Peter van Houten, she kind of reminded me of Tris from Divergent. And Ansel (even though he wasn't how i pictured Augustus), wow he was fantastic! My friends Sasha (who I saw it with the first two times) told me that John Green said he would have written Augustus in a suit more when he saw Ansel in that scene, which i though was awesome. The scene in the car when he tried to buy cigarette's when he was sick was so beautiful I lose it every time in that scene. And despite the sadness of the movie, it had a good balance of joy as well. I laughed so hard at some of the jokes that weren't in the books and therefore didn't see coming (those who haven't seen it yet, be keen for some Isaac eye-related humor, its fantastic). On top of this, the soundtrack is probably my most favorite soundtrack which is saying something! M83's song Wait at the end makes me ball, as well as Birdy, Ed Sheeran and Kodaline. But even the more upbeat songs such as Charli XCX and STRFKR were great for the more happy moments of the film. I can't wait to buy the soundtrack when it comes out in Australia. All in all, this film was such a perfect adaptation, with the right balance of the book and new input.

TFIOS Marathon:

Sasha and I with our TFIOS tear-catchers

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou to Penguin Teen Australia for hosting this awesome event. For those who missed it, the awesome people from PTA traveled around to the main cities of Australia and watched the TFIOS movie with us. It was an awesome chance to get dressed up, and watch it with hard core fans of the book. I went with my amazing friend Sasha, who understands the book in more ways than me, and we wore TFIOS t-shirts as well as sunglasses, a teddy bear and tissue box. Also we got awesome penguin tote bags, another voucher to see the movie again, and we are getting mailed double sided TFIOS posters. The marathon was so unique because everyone in the cinema understood the movie. You could hear the sobbing in the theater during the quiet moments, which was actually nice as you felt like you were connected to everyone in the room, and the whole room was connected to the story. Sasha commented at the end when (SPOILER) Hazel's parents get the call that Augustus has died and Hazel starts crying, that everyone in the theater is crying in unison with Hazel and it is such a beautifully sad moment as we almost get to share this moment with Hazel. TFIOS marathon was an awesome change to watch the movie with people who get not wanting to live in a world without Augustus Waters. Thanks so much PTA for putting on this awesome event.

If you haven't read this book, run don't walk to the nearest bookstore and buy it. I promise you won't be disappointed! xx Viv

5 reasons why you should read Just One Day/Year/Night series by Gayle Forman

“We are born in one day. We die in one day. We can change in one day. And we can fall in love in one day. Anything can happen in just one day.”

Just One Day by Gayle Forman was my favorite contemporary novel for 2013, and the sequel Just One Year was just as amazing. But for those who have read it you will know the end of JOY was still left hanging kind of. It was still perfect. But I'm pretty sure everyone had questions. What happened to Willem and Allyson? So imagine my hysterical excitement when Gayle announced a novella to answer all the questions readers had, describing the events after the last page of the book. It came out on May 29th, and again Gayle Forman achieved perfection. So in celebration of the release of Just One Night here are 5 reasons why you should read this series:

1 - The travel

“Travelling's not something you're good at. It's something you do. Like breathing. You can't work too much at it, or it feels like work. You have to surrender yourself to the chaos. To the accidents.”

Paris. Amsterdam. India. Mexico. The travel in this series is insane. And makes the series seem magical but also real at the same time. Willem talks about accidents in travel, and says that is what makes travel so wonderful. I love how it's such a real way to look at it. Allyson doesn't even like her trip in Europe until she goes to Paris.  And when she goes back she has work hard to get there. Travel in this book isn't presented as a shiny Contiki brochure, but shows real life issues, such as being restrained by money, getting lost and not loving everywhere you go. But it also shows how travel can not only be the worst days of your life but the best. When Allyson arrives in Paris, she immediately loves it. Gayle really captures the idea of finding a place and feeling at home, and wanting to explore every inch. If these books doesn't make you want to travel the world, I'm not sure what will.

2 - The emotions

“...being Lulu, it made me realize that all my life I've been living in a small, square room, with no windows and no doors. And I was fine. I was happy, even. I thought. Then someone came along and showed me there was a door in the room. One that I'd never even seen before. Then he opened it for me. Held my hand as I walked through it. And for one perfect day, I was on the other side. I was somewhere else. Someone else. And then he was gone, and I was thrown back into my little room. And now, no matter what I do, I can't seem to find that door.

I'm a crier, so this wasn't a surprise but the sheer build up of emotion in this book was so incredible, I cried through the whole second half of Just One Day. Allyson was going through such intense emotional journey. And again, Gayle Forman really captures the realness of life. Allyson's struggles at college are ones that everyone goes through, and something I definitely related to. Her relationship with her parents evoked so much anger in me, I wanted to slap them back into reality (metaphorically, I'm not a violent person). And I love how this wasn't a book about how the boy saved the girl. However much Allyson was effected by Willem (I guess it woke her up a bit), she had to save herself. And this emotional journey she went through was one of the most beautifully written ones I've read, her character development was incredible. We see this with Willem, as over the year he becomes the person he needs to be for the events of Just One Night to happen. His relationship with his parents, though different to Allysons, is important to the storyline. And above all the feels of Allyson and Willem - what a romance. But I will get to that.

3 -  The realness

“He showed me how to get lost, and then I showed myself how to get found.”

I read JOD in one night, because I couldn't put it down until I found out what happened. One of the main reasons I think I just coudln't put it down was because Gayle Forman writes this book with such raw emotions, that despite events that seem unlikely, just make the book seem real. Both Willem and Allyson's  have to find out who they are during each book. Neither of them realised that they were lost until they met each other. I think this is also something that happens in real life, there are people who you meet and tell you things about yourself that you never knew but are true. It's hard to explain but this books weaves a sense of emotions that hit you with how real they seem.

4 - The romance

“Loving someone is such an inherently dangerous act. And yet, love, that’s where safety lives.”

Meeting the love of your life in Paris. Clearly the best way to do romance. But it's more than just that. Willem's metaphor of being stained, of staying in love is unique and amazing way to describe the action of love. Gayle Forman creates such great loves in her novels, and Willem and Allyson (despite the seemingly impossible circumstances) was one that I loved reading. And I love how Willem has to go on a journey (metaphorical) to realise that he loves Allyson. At first when reading Just One Year I was annoyed that Willem seemed unworthy of Allyson's love. But I came to realise he actually is, he just isn't ready to realise that. And of course Allyson changes so much too, she becomes a stronger person that can have hope for love (sounds really cliche, but seriously read the books, they are amazing. I am just distorting them because I can't give them enough credit).

5 - The perfection of a two book (and one novella) series.

“Can you move on from something when you're not sure what it is you're moving on from?”

I literally couldn't love this series anymore. And one thing I think that is really cool, that amongst so many trilogies and four, five, six book series etc. that Gayle Forman writes two books and in doing so killed me emotionally while I was reading it. She very cleverly uses the aspect of time in the way she writes, and hence the two books are aligned perfectly. I love the idea of the two book series after her first series (If I Stay and Where She Went, also fantastic books!) and these books were even better in my opinion. Although many were frustrated by the end of Just One Year, I though it was a very appropriate ending. Of course I still had questions and wanted to know what happened. So a lot of freaking out happened when she announced the novella. I thought this was a perfect way to end the series. The novella was also cleverly written from all the characters perspectives which I though was pretty cool. She ties all the loose ends. Seriously, no one could be unhappy with the ending now she that she's published this.

So yeah, I really, really love this series. I hope that you may be keen to read this series or her other books, because wow they are worth the hype I promise. Just read it!

xx Viv

Month of May

City of Heavenly Fire launch party

Although I've only been blogging for a week, I though I would do a wrap up of May because so many things have happened in this first week!

Firstly a whole lot of blog things. I started my blog on the 23rd May, which was super exciting. Thanks to everyone who welcomed me into the blogosphere, and and for reading my few posts so far. I have written two reviews, one published (and one to be posted tomorrow). I joined bloglovin and netgalley, and received my first approved book on netgalley (Heir of Fire by Sarah J Mass. Guys, get excited for this book!).

For those of you who haven't noticed, I added an events page to my blog. I will try and keep this updated with the book events that are happening in Sydney. I hope that it will be an easy place to find out when events are on, and they can be viewed all in the same place.

It's been a super busy month, so not a lot of reading has been done. I am ashamed to admit that I only read 3 books (I KNOW!), so behind on my goodreads challenge but holidays are coming up so going to make up for it then.

May Book Haul

I attended the City of Heavenly Fire book launch at Dymocks George St, which was super fun. So many people dressed up as shadowhunters (including myself), it was like a sea of black. I won two books from trivia, featured in my book haul. Also had a great catchup with Sunny and bought myself COHF.

Finally my book haul. For my first one, so fairly small but bigger than I thought it would be. Especially love the bookmarks that Katie McGarry sent me all the way from America.

I am so grateful for everyone's love and support of my blog in its first week. I'm really excited for June, I have so many blog ideas. Stay tuned for another review tomorrow,

xx Viv

Book Review: Vampire Academy

Title: Vampire Academy
Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 332
This book saved my life because: It's an amazing and refreshing vampire novel that has it all - love, action and true friendship.

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . ..
 Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.


Vampire Academy is arguably my favorite book of all time. I discovered it during the Twilight phase, when vampire books were the hot new thing that everyone was reading (no judgement on twilight, I love that it got young people into reading). However, unlike other vampire books, Vampire Academy is a book that I am still obsessed with and re-reading today.

One of the reasons I think Vampire Academy is so amazing is because it is a new and engaging take on the vampire mythology. I love that Richelle Mead picked up on this mythology from some of her classes at college, and used it in her book. Having three types of vampires: Moroi, Dhampir and Strigoi is such great way to present the vampire world, especially that each race has a different role, and they enhance the storyline and give shape to the friendships.

Rose and Lissa have the ultimate friendship. It is so amazing because although they both have such different personalities, they each have their triumphs and their vulnerabilities during the story. And they support each other through all of it. Rose and Lissa's banter is very entertaining, but also makes you want to be part of their friendship. Rose's quips and Lissa's responses are very funny and highlight both characters different natures. I think everyone read this wishing they had a best friend/protector like Rose Hathaway.

“Only a true best friend can protect you from your immortal enemies.”

Everyone who has read the book would will admit that one of the main draws to this series is the guys. Like wow, Richelle Mead did well. Russian Dimitri Belikov had me falling for him from the beginning, and although often forbidden relationships with older guys annoy me, this was done so well. There is also the under-appreciated Christian. Hot, brooding and sarcastic he is set out to be the typical bad boy. However, he is not what other people think he is, and his loyalty is amazing. (Side note - can I just say how amazing is Dominic Sherwood as Christian in the movie.) We also meet Mason, whose entertaining friendship with Rose allows for some great banter. Again, lets lift our glasses to toast Richelle Mead in a job well done.

“The only thing better than imagining Dimitri carrying me in his arms was imagining him shirtless while carrying me in his arms.”

Vampire Academy is book that's new take on vampires and relatable and loveable characters cause it to be a bestseller loved by so many fangirls (Should out to #VAFamily).  Funny and addictive with great friendships and romance, I still keep coming back to this book and the rest of the series. My love for this book is endless. I dare you not to love it!

xx Viv