Small Screen Review (9/21/14-9/27/14)

I watch quite a bit of telly. More than I should, really. But television is my preferred eating companion (a bad habit, I know), and there are some amazing stories, especially on the small screen, that just shouldn't be missed.

So since I watch as much television as I read books, I thought I should start "reviewing" what I watch each week, both television and movies (I only watch movies on DVD at home - long story). Nothing fancy, just a few sentences about what I thought of what I watched. (I'll try to avoid spoilers, but no promises.) I hope you enjoy this new feature, and do comment below with your thoughts on the shows!

THIS WEEK

Television: The Fall 2014 Season has begun with the return of some favorites and the premieres of what have promised to be some awesome new shows! And my one summer show ends (FINALLY).

Movies: This week just a sequel recap and a previously inspiring re-watch.

TELEVISION

PREMIERES

Gotham: Not quite as good as I was hoping, but still pretty awesome. I'm all about comic book reinterpretations, so I'll be continuing this no doubt.

</Scorpion>: I'd expected pretty good things, but this exceeded my expectations! A lot more action than I ever imagined. Definitely in for as long as it lasts.

Forever: (2 episodes) SO. GOOD. Love the premise and the characters (well, the guys anyway - on the fence about the woman, she's a little forgettable). Praying the ridiculously plain name doesn't drag it down and this continues for seasons to come!

How To Get Away With Murder: While quite thrilling, it's just not for me. Will be passing.

RETURNING

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: THEY HAD LUCY LAWLESS BUT DIDN'T KEEP HER *SOB* That aside, as above: comic book reinterpretations = I'm all over it so I'm in for another season! Not much for the new guys (they're too forgettable for me), but loving the new Ward/Skye dynamic (and yes, every time they say her name it makes me flinch).

Person of Interest: Just as awesome and kick-arse as ever! Goodness I love this show.

Bones: OMG they did not just do that to us in the first episode. *sobs*

ENDED

Under the Dome: It has finally ended!! *flails* For the season. *sighs* I don't know why I tortured myself with this show for yet another summer - I had to force myself to watch half the episodes. One can only watch reruns of their favorite shows so many times in a year, I guess - I needed something new. Will I be watching Season 3? No. ... Well, okay, maybe the first episode, just to see where "home" is. We'll see how desperate for new television I am next summer, though.

MOVIES

RE-WATCH

The Adventures of Spider-Man (library): We watched the 2nd one (which sadly wasn't very good) and couldn't remember what had happened in the first one. Recognized some of it but not much (I have a horrific memory), and it was a lot better than I thought it would be considering the 2nd one. Still think I prefer the original trilogy, though.

Transformers (own): I've found this movie inspiring as a writer, for some reason. Or I used to. This time around I found it kind of ridiculous. Still, it was entertaining enough.


So that's it for this week! What did you watch?

The Friday Reads Review (9/26/14)

Welcome to The Friday Reads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own Friday Reads Review on your blog, and then leave the link in the Comments below!

>> CURRENTLY READING <<

Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis (ARC)

I was wary of this book for several reasons but the premise was so unique I had to give it a try, and wow has it blown me away. About three-fourths done and hate to be away from it.


>> ON HOLD <<

Trust Me, I'm a Ninja by Natalie Whipple (Pbk)
Halfway through but had to pause to read Otherbound. Sadly it's not as good as the first one, although things were picking up when I had to stop (of course). 

>> JUST FINISHED <<

The Accidental Highwayman by Ben Tripp (ARC)

A fun and adventurous fairy tale that I quite enjoyed! Definitely for fans of The Princess Bride. Review to come.

>> READING NEXT <<

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger (Pbk)
Going to be re-re-reading this and the sequel with the Gail Carriger Fan Group in prep for Book the Third's release in November! Want to join us? Go here! 

So what are you reading this week?

Waiting On Wednesday: Razorhurst (Justine Larbalestier)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blogging event hosted by Breaking the Spine, in which one spotlights an upcoming release they are eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Title: Razorhurst

Author: Justine Larbalestier

Release Date: March 3, 2015
Publisher: Soho Teen

Summary:

In the vein of The Diviners and The Petal and the White, Razorhurst reimagines the notorious history of a mob-controlled Sydney—with a paranormal twist.

Sydney’s deadly Razorhurst neighborhood, 1932. Gloriana Nelson and Mr. Davidson, two ruthless mob bosses, have reached a fragile peace—one maintained by “razor men.” Kelpie, orphaned and living on the street, is blessed and cursed with the ability to see Razorhurst’s many ghosts, and she sees the cracks already forming. Then Kelpie meets Dymphna Campbell.

Dymphna is a legendary beauty and prized moll of Gloriana Nelson. She’s earned the nickname “Angel of Death” for the trail of beaus who have died trying to protect her from Mr. Davidson’s assassins. Unbeknownst to Kelpie, Dymphna can see ghosts, too, and as Gloriana’s hold crumbles one burly henchman at a time, the girls will need one another more than ever.

As loyalties shift and betrayal threatens at every turn, Dymphna is determined to not only survive, but to rise to the top with Kelpie at her side—and to save Kelpie from both the living and the dead.

Add to Goodreads

Why I'm Looking Forward To It: Assassins. Ghosts. The Mob. This sounds like Mind Games and White Cat had a kid in the Tardis and it sees dead people!

So what book are you waiting on?

2014 Debut Authors Bash: R.C. Lewis

Welcome to my stop on the 2014 Debut Authors Bash, hosted by Y.A. Reads! Check out my interview of debut author R.C. Lewis (which includes her Stitching Snow Love List), and enter to win a copy at the end! 

THE AUTHOR

R.C. Lewis teaches math to teenagers—sometimes in sign language, sometimes not—so whether she’s a science geek or a bookworm depends on when you look. That may explain why her characters don’t like to be pigeonholed. Coincidentally, R.C. enjoys reading about quantum physics and the identity issues of photons.

Site | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Goodreads

THE BOOK

Title: Stitching Snow

Release Date: October 14, 2014
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Summary: 

Princess Snow is missing.

Her home planet is filled with violence and corruption at the hands of King Matthias and his wife as they attempt to punish her captors. The king will stop at nothing to get his beloved daughter back-but that's assuming she wants to return at all.

Essie has grown used to being cold. Temperatures on the planet Thanda are always sub-zero, and she fills her days with coding and repairs for the seven loyal drones that run the local mines.

When a mysterious young man named Dane crash-lands near her home, Essie agrees to help the pilot repair his ship. But soon she realizes that Dane's arrival was far from accidental, and she's pulled into the heart of a war she's risked everything to avoid.

In her enthralling debut, R.C. Lewis weaves the tale of a princess on the run from painful secrets . . . and a poisonous queen. With the galaxy's future-and her own-in jeopardy, Essie must choose who to trust in a fiery fight for survival.

Goodreads | The Book Depository | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

THE INTERVIEW

Stitching Snow in one sentence:

Snow White in space, if Snow were a cage-fighting tech-head.

What was the initial spark that created Snow? 

During my commute home one day, the song “Blinding” by Florence + the Machine came on. There’s a line in the bridge—“Snow White stitching up your circuit board.” The basis of the story kind of blew up in my head right there. (Actually, I thought I was hearing the lyric wrong, but it turned out I wasn’t.)

Who was your favorite character to write in Snow, and why? Who was your least favorite and why?

I’m not sure I have “favorite/least favorite,” but there is “easiest/hardest.” The drones as a group were the easiest to write, because their individual personalities were always very clear to me. Tobias was probably the most difficult, because he went through a few iterations in the revision/editing process. Anytime a character gets changed, I have to “get to know him” all over again.

What were some of the subjects you researched for Snow? 

I researched the original fairy tale a lot, including commentary by several folktale scholars. I learned a lot about various interpretations of the symbols, like the magic mirror as the voice of Snow’s father, male judgment of female value, etc.

Snow is based on the Snow White fairy tale. What is your favorite fairy tale and why?

To get ready for my book releasing after Snow, I read a lot of lesser-known fairy tales, and two friends pointed me toward “The Wild Swans” by Hans Christian Andersen. What I love about that one is that its core is about the family bond between a girl and her brothers, and that she saves them.

I adored your drone adaptations of the seven dwarfs! If you could own one of the drones, which one would you choose and why?

Most of my critique partners immediately established the Dimwit Fan Club as soon as they read the manuscript. But one friend in particular says Cusser is her spirit drone, and she might have a point. Cusser works hard and gets things done, but he also doesn’t hold back in expressing himself.

What is your favorite line/passage in Snow?

Hmm, that’s tough, but maybe this one: “Feelings can’t be wasted. Knowing they’re real for however long they last makes them worth having.”

That, or just about anything Dimwit says.

Were there any particular songs/albums/soundtracks that inspired you while writing Snow?

Definitely! Besides “Blinding” (as explained above), I listened to a lot of Florence + the Machine in general while writing.

R.C. Lewis's Stitching Snow Love List 

• Petey and how he watches out for Essie in a quiet way
• Imagining all the creative ways Cusser might swear
• Putting Essie in heels
• Turning a particular fairy tale scene on its head

And that's it! My thanks to Ms. Lewis for the awesome interview! :)

~     ~     ~     ~     ~

THE GIVEAWAY

R.C. Lewis has graciously provided a copy of the book! 

Enter below to win - good luck! :)

Open US & CAN | Must be 13+ years to enter
(Cheaters do not prosper here - be warned I check every entry!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The 2014 Debut Authors Bash blog tour continues all this month - be sure to check out all the stops to find out more about this year's debut authors!

September 1st

YaReads - Geoffrey Girard

Swoony Boys Podcast - Jane Nickerson

Kristi's Book Readery - Page Morgan

September 2nd

Book Bandit - Laura Lam

The Word Mineur - Mindee Arnett

My Friends Are Fiction - Samantha Shannon

September 3rd

Nose Graze - Jessica Verdi

Between Printed Pages - L. M. Augustine

You've Been Blogged! - Jody Casella

September 4th

Skye's Scribblings - Kasie West

Lose Time Reading - Emily Murdoch

The Eater of Books - Kelsey Sutton

September 5th

Book. Blog. Bake - Lauren Miller

Bookend 2 Bookend - Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

Musings of a Blogder - Heather Reid

Allodoxophobia: The Fear of Opinions - Lindsey Scheibe

September 6th

Magical Manuscripts - Shaunta Grimes

The Reading Vixens - Sarah Ashley Jones

September 7th

Books for Birds - April Genevieve Tucholke

Book Blather - Romily Bernard

September 8th

The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club - Kara Taylor

Inspiring Insomnia - Stephanie Kuehn

September 9th

Kissed by Ink - Ellen Oh

Sleeps on Tables - J.R. Johansson

Always YA at Heart - Amanda Sun

September 10th

Lisa Loves Lit - A.G. Howard

whYAnot Reviews - Liz Fichera

Samantha Clark - Claire M. Caterer

September 11th

Rampant Readers - Leah Miller

Emily's Crammed Bookshelf - T. Michael Martin

September 12th

The Uninterrupted Reader - Cat Winters

The Book Beacon - Christina Mercer

September 13th

Read & Reviewed - Lindsay Ribar

Paranormal Book Club - Kit Grindstaff

September 14th

Books as You Know it - Mary Gray

Paranormal Reads - Elsie Chapman

Bibliophilia, Please - Helen Douglas

September 15th

The Book Cellar - Erin Bowman

Fantasy Book Addict - Miriam Forster

September 16th

Pond Across the Pond - Laurie Crompton

YaReads - Debra Driza

September 17th

Teen Librarian Toolbox - Mindy McGinnis

Le'Book Squirrel - Kimberly Ann Miller

Finding Bliss in Books - Lydia Kang

September 18th

Rachel Reads - Errica Lorraine Scheidt

Kentucky Geek Girl - Holly Smale

September 19th

Turning Pages - Amy Butler Greenfield

Beauty and the Bookshelf - Alison Cherry

September 20th

Synchronized Reading - J.L Spelbring

Reading is My Treasure - Kristin Halbrook

A&C Book Junkies - Carey Corp

September 21st

Playing Jokers - Lenore Appelhans

Lizzie's Dark Fiction - Elizabeth May

September 22nd

Sandwich Making Book Bitches - Anne Applegate

Little Bookwork Reviews - Jennifer Iacopelli

September 23rd

Moosubi Reviews - Megan Shepherd

Little Miss Trainwreck - Julianna Scott

September 24th

Fictionators - Emma Trevayne

Pimples, Popularity, and Protagonists - Corey Ann Haydu

September 25th

Breath of Books - Steven dos Santos

Jennzah - Chelsea Pitcher

September 26th

Nightly Reading - Liz Coley

Pandora's Books - Kelly A. Barson

September 27th

Forever 17 Books - Amie Kaufman

My Bookopolis - Jamie Blair

September 28th

Nick's Book Blog - Jennifer McGowan

Curling Up with a Good Book - Leila Howland

September 29th

Ex Libris - Mindy Raf

Adventures in YA Publishing - Carly Ann West

September 30th

YaReads - J.J. Howard

Fiction Freak - Kate Karyus Quinn

Review: Not In the Script (Amy Finnegan)

Title: Not in the Script
Series: If Only, Book 3
Author: Amy Finnegan
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Told: First Person Duo (Emma, Jake), Present Tense
Content Rating: Teen (sensuality, drama)
Format Read: ARC (publisher)
Find On: Goodreads
Summary:

Millions of people witnessed Emma Taylor’s first kiss—a kiss that needed twelve takes and four camera angles to get right. After spending years performing on cue, Emma can’t help but wonder if any part of her life is real anymore . . . particularly her romances. She’s been burned by heartthrobs (and the press) one too many times, but there’s something about Emma’s co-star on her new TV show Coyote Hills that is irresistible. Jake Elliott is gorgeous, smart and actually cares about Emma’s charitable foundation. But she’s sworn off on-set relationships. They always end badly . . . don’t they?

*          *          *

Review copy provided by publisher for an honest review. Thank you, Bloomsbury!

Why I Read It: Stories set on Hollywood sets (okay it's in Tucson but you know what I mean) are a guilty pleasure of mine.

Series: This is the third book in the If Only series, but is in no way connected with the first two books - each is a standalone and can be read on their own without reading the others.

Writing: Quick and easy. Good description, and the banter made me laugh out loud a number of times.

Setting: Most of the story took place in Tucson, Arizona, only a few hours from my home sweet hot home, and I enjoyed the local venue! The setting was well incorporated with the story and created a nice stage for the story.

Story: The story was entertaining, but only seemed to cover the highlights - it could've easily been twice as long, or a duology. I felt I missed out on a lot of really interesting stuff, life on and off the set sacrificed for the romance. What stuff we did get was a lot of fun though, and I learned quite a bit about the entertainment business and what it's like to be in the spotlight. It was a good story, but I would've liked more than just the romance of it.

Characters: Both Emma and Jake were teenage grownups, living independently but still emotionally adolescent. They had plenty of responsible adult qualities, but unfortunately these were downplayed for the sake of their teenage romance. Emma was a people-pleaser, sacrificing her happiness and peace of mind for the sake of her best friend, her mother, even the press. It was a relief when she finally realized it and was able to start working towards her own happiness. Jake, despite his trust and abandonment issues, was sweet and cute and I liked him despite his flaws. Both felt relatively realistic, but a lot of their more relatable attributes got pushed to the background for the romance and I sadly never really connected with either of them as I would've liked.

Romantic Relationship: Fraught with misunderstandings and miscommunication but sweet and fun during the good times. I definitely rooted for it.

Conclusion: While I didn't connect with the characters or story as much as I would've liked, the local setting was fun and the banter got quite a few laughs out of me. For the most part it was an entertaining read, and I would recommend it for lighter contemporary romance readers.

Read It Again?: Maybe

For Fans Of: light contemporary romances

Scribble Rating: 

3 of 5 Scribbles

The Friday Reads Review (9/19/14)

Welcome to The Friday Reads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own Friday Reads Review on your blog, and then leave the link in the Comments below!

>> CURRENTLY READING <<

The Accidental Highwayman by Ben Tripp (ARC)

I haven't been able to read much this week so I'm still reading this, but I only have a few chapters left! While nothing spectacular it's been a really solid and entertaining read and I've quite enjoyed it.

>> READING NEXT <<

Trust Me, I'm a Ninja by Natalie Whipple (Pbk)
Almost...there...

So what are you reading this week?

Waiting On Wednesday: Dove Arising (Karen Bao)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blogging event hosted by Breaking the Spine, in which one spotlights an upcoming release they are eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Title: Dove Arising 

Author: Karen Bao

Release Date: February 24, 2015
Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Summary:

Phaet Theta has lived her whole life in a colony on the Moon. She’s barely spoken since her father died in an accident nine years ago. She cultivates the plants in Greenhouse 22, lets her best friend talk for her, and stays off the government’s radar.

Then her mother is arrested.

The only way to save her younger siblings from the degrading Shelter is by enlisting in the Militia, the faceless army that polices the Lunar bases and protects them from attacks by desperate Earth-dwellers. Training is brutal, but it’s where Phaet forms an uneasy but meaningful alliance with the preternaturally accomplished Wes, a fellow outsider.

Rank high, save her siblings, free her mom:  that’s the plan. Until Phaet’s logically ordered world begins to crumble...

Add to Goodreads

Why I'm Looking Forward To It: At first I didn't give this a second glance because of the underwhelming cover (yes, I am the cliche reader who judges a book first and foremost by its cover), but this has a Hunger Games meets Divergent but in an original way feel that intrigues me!

So what book are you waiting on?

Review: Invisible (Dawn Metcalf)

Title: Invisible
Series: The Twixt, Book 2
Author: Dawn Metcalf
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: September 30, 2014
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy
Rating: Older Teen (heavy sensuality, violence, minor gore, tense situations)
Told: Third Person Singular (Joy), Past Tense
Format Read: ARC (author)
Find It On: Goodreads

Summary:

Some things lie beneath the surface. 

Invisible. 

With the power to change everything. 

Joy Malone wants it all—power, freedom and the boyfriend who loves her. Yet when an unstoppable assassin is hired to kill her, Joy learns that being the girl with the Sight comes with a price that might be too high to pay. Love will be tested, lives will be threatened, and everyone Joy knows and cares about will be affected by her decision to stand by Ink or to leave the Twixt forever. 

Her choice is balanced on a scalpel's edge and the consequences will be more life-altering than anyone can guess.

*          *          *

Why I Read It: I absolutely loved Indelible (even more the second time I read it!), so I was excited to return to the world of the Twixt!

Series: This is Book 2 in The Twixt series, and picks up not long after Book 1. Much of the world and happenings of Book 1 are re-examined in this book, but you definitely need to read the books in order. There will be at least 4 books in the series. You can read my review of Book 1, Indelible, here.

Writing: Quick and engrossing with a unique voice and vivid sensory detail that pulls you in and keeps you reading.

Setting: The real world, except a mostly invisible race of unique and unusual creatures called the Folk exist on a slightly different plane alongside ours. They are an original race quite unlike anything else I've ever read, the closest I can describe as a cross between the Fae and Japanese Yokai. They are fascinating and sometimes rather terrifying but oh so very delightful. In this book we delve a little deeper into their world and magics, which was really exciting.

Story: Second books are hard to pull off, but Dawn does it with flair. Invisible was just as good as Indelible, except with more steam and some serious feels. The plot was a rollercoaster of pretty extreme highs and lows for Joy, which made for a few heartwrenching moments. For the ending, although I'm usually against a girl making life-altering decisions based on the love of a boy, here they were the right decisions so I let it go. And I LOVED the ending - cannot wait for Book 3, Inviolate! I believe it could surpass the first two books by a few leaps, and possibly a bound.

Characters: Joy was girl struggling to find her place among two very different worlds, that of her human life and her newfound powers amongst the Folk. She didn't always make the right decisions, and sometimes those decisions came with disastrous results, but she tried and that's all one can really do. Luckily Joy was a strong young lady, and even when she was scared stiff she didn't back down, an admirable quality. Ink was his indelible sweet self, albeit a little steamier, and Inq was as slippery as her name. The rest of the Indelible cast was back as well, and we learned a little more about many of them. And Filly got a huge part this time, which really made the book for me on a number of occasions! (She's my favorite. ;)

Romantic Relationship: Joy and Ink's relationship got more than a little steamy, but otherwise still had that sweet, innocent feel of first love. I feel the innocence will most likely drop all together in the next book, though. *prepares fan*

Conclusion: Absolutely loved returning to the world of the Twixt! Invisible was just as good as Indelible, with more steam and feels. These actually remind me a lot of adult MMPs (mass market paperbacks, which in my opinion are a genre all their own) - imaginative and adventurous quick reads with fun characters and interesting worlds that could go on forever and you love when they do. The only difference here: these are Young Adult. SCORE.

For Fans Of: adult genre MMPs

Scribble Rating: 

4 of 5 Scribbles

2014 ARC Giveaway: Winners!

The winners of my 2014 ARC Giveaway have been chosen!

Justine
  Nori

Congratulations, ladies!! I hope you enjoy your books! :)

The Friday Reads Review (9/12/14)

Welcome to The Friday Reads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own Friday Reads Review on your blog, and then leave the link in the Comments below!

>> CURRENTLY READING <<

The Accidental Highwayman by Ben Tripp (ARC)

While not my usual cup of tea, this book looked like way too much fun not to try! And I can use a story like this in my reading life right now.

>> JUST FINISHED <<

Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White (ARC)

Howl's Moving Castle meets Beauty and the Beast, but without anyone being confined to a castle. Jessamin's strength was the highlight of the book - she did what she thought was best on her own and didn't wait around for a man to come and save her! It also had a swoon-worthy boy, awesome original magic, crows that were also books, a mystery that came out of the blue, and an end that seriously messed me up for a minute there. Review to come.

>> READING NEXT <<

Trust Me, I'm a Ninja by Natalie Whipple (Pbk)
Review book must come first, but right after I DEVOUR THIS.

So what are you reading this week?

Waiting On Wednesday: Death Marked (Leah Cypess)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blogging event hosted by Breaking the Spine, in which one spotlights an upcoming release they are eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Title: Death Marked (Death Sworn #2)

Author: Leah Cypess

Release Date: March 3, 2015
Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Summary:

A young sorceress’s entire life has been shaped to destroy the empire controlling her world. But if everything she knows is a lie, will she even want to fulfill her destiny? The sequel to Death Sworn is just as full of magic and surprising revelations, and will thrill fans of Leigh Bardugo and Robin LaFevers.

At seventeen, Ileni lost her magical power and was exiled to the hidden caves of the assassins. She never thought she would survive long. But she discovered she was always meant to end up, powerless, in the caves as part of an elder sorcerer’s plan to destroy the evil Empire they'd battled so long. Except that Ileni is not an assassin, and she doesn't want to be a weapon. And, after everything, she’s not even sure she knows the truth. Now, at the very heart of the Empire—its academy for sorcerers—the truth is what she seeks. What she finds challenges every belief she holds dear—and it threatens her fledgling romance with the young master of assassins.

Leah Cypess spins an intricate and beautiful conclusion to Ileni's story. In the end, it may not be the epic decisions that bring down an empire, but the small ones that pierce the heart.

Add to Goodreads

Why I'm Looking Forward To It: Magic + Assassins - my two favorites back together again! I really enjoyed the first book, Death Sworn, and can't wait to see how it all ends! 

So what book are you waiting on?

Review: Relax, I'm a Ninja (Natalie Whipple)

Title: Relax, I'm a Ninja
Series: I'm a Ninja trilogy, Book 1
Author: Natalie Whipple (site)
Publisher: Whipple House (self-published)
Release Date: June 3, 2014
Genre: Young Adult Supernatural Action
Told: First Person Singular (Tosh), Past Tense
Content Rating: Teen (sensuality, violence, fighting, a few words of language)
Format Read: Paperback (purchased)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

A Clan of ninjas in San Francisco may sound improbable-but as the son of a ninja Master, Tosh Ito knows what lurks in the shadows of his city. Or at least he thought he did. When a killer with a poisoned blade starts cutting down teens, Tosh enlists Amy Sato-newest ninja recruit, and his best friend's crush-and sets out to uncover the killer's identity. What they find is ninjutsu more evil than they could have ever imagined. As Amy and Tosh grow closer, they discover their connection unleashes a legendary power that could stop the murders. Problem is, that power may be exactly what the killer is looking for, and wielding it could cost them their souls.

*          *          *

Why I Read It: It's by Natalie. And about ninjas. Why would I not read it??

Three Words: Action. Romance. Ninjas.

Series: This is the first in the I'm A Ninja trilogy. While it concludes on a "this fight is definitely not over" note, it has a complete story arc and a tidy ending.

Writing: Natalie's signature easy writing and therefore easy reading style, which worked even better with the laid back male voice of Tosh. Well choreographed action, engaging description, smooth dialogue.

Setting: San Fran! I personally know nothing of the city other than it's ridiculously hilly, but it read very realistic and there was just enough of the setting weaved in to give a good atmosphere but not bog the story down in description.

Story: Fun and light despite all the fighting and stabbing and killing. It had a very manga flavor to it, which as a mangaholic I personally loved. There was a little bit of everything - action, romance, humor, school drama, friend drama, secret societies, high stakes, mad ninja skillz. It read like a breeze, even for a slow reader like me. The plot unfolded nicely and the mystery of the spy kept me guessing.

Characters: Tosh was the perfect balance of strength and insecurity - and a nerd to boot! He was a gentleman and a sweetie, and while he could be a bit of a clueless jerk at times it wasn't intentional and he always regretted it and tried to make amends. Nobody's perfect and he certainly wasn't and that made him realistic. Amy was a similar balance of strength and insecurity, but feminine. She was seriously strong and skilled, which made her damsel in distress moments feel a little odd - I would've preferred her to be more the curious than squeamish type. Still, she was certainly not squeamish when it counted, and made for a relatable character.  

Romantic Relationship: I really enjoyed that Tosh and Amy had problems even though they were soul mates. They were insecure about each other's feelings, they fought, but when they were together it was sweet and magical.

Conclusion: With its easy writing, adorable romance, and Japanese elements, Natalie might as well have written this book just for me. Highly recommend this and all of Natalie's books, and cannot wait for the sequel, Trust Me, I'm a Ninja!

For Fans Of: Manga/Anime, and Ninjas (of course)

Scribble Rating: 

5 of 5 Scribbles

The Friday Reads Review (9/5/14)

Welcome to The Friday Reads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own Friday Reads Review on your blog, and then leave the link in the Comments below!

>> CURRENTLY READING <<

Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White (ARC)

Thanks to local blogger buddy Jane of Much Ado About Books I have a copy of this beauty to read before I see the author on Wednesday!! Only a few chapters in so far but I'm totally crushing on Finn.

>> JUST FINISHED <<

Death Sworn by Leah Cypess (ARC)

While I didn't realize it until other reviews pointed it out, not much happens in this book. Yet, I really enjoyed it. It incorporated two of my favorite things, magic and assassins, and I'm actually a person who likes a simple story if the characters are strong. Well, the character types, anyway. Somehow, it worked for me. And now I needs the next one, because the action this book needed is coming! Review to come.

Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks (Pbk)

While the title makes no sense to me, it was an engaging story with a surprising supernatural element, and I enjoyed it. Review to come.

>> READING NEXT <<

Trust Me, I'm a Ninja by Natalie Whipple (Pbk)
My first copy got lost in the mail (*SOB*), so I won't get to read this before I see the author Wednesday. But I will have a new copy in time to get it signed, thank goodness! If it doesn't get lost as well...

So what are you reading this week?