Hi everyone! Welcome to another monthly wrap up here at Stardust and Words. It has been a super busy month for me outside of reading, and also the olympics being on put a major dent in the time that I would normally spend with a book, but I love the olympics so much that I didn't even care. I did manage 11 books, which is pretty good, but only three reviews, which is less so. I hope you guys had a good August. I feel like I kind of hate August because it tends to be the absolute worst in terms of humidity... but FALL IS COMING GUYS!! SOON!!
1. Daughter of the Forest (Sevenwaters #1) – Juliet Marillier (4)
Lovely Sorcha is the
seventh child and only daughter of Lord Colum of Sevenwaters. Bereft of a
mother, she is comforted by her six brothers who love and protect her.
Sorcha is the light in their lives, they are determined that she know
only contentment.
But Sorcha's joy is shattered when her father
is bewitched by his new wife, an evil enchantress who binds her brothers
with a terrible spell, a spell which only Sorcha can lift-by staying
silent. If she speaks before she completes the quest set to her by the
Fair Folk and their queen, the Lady of the Forest, she will lose her
brothers forever.
When Sorcha is kidnapped by the enemies of
Sevenwaters and taken to a foreign land, she is torn between the desire
to save her beloved brothers, and a love that comes only once. Sorcha
despairs at ever being able to complete her task, but the magic of the
Fair Folk knows no boundaries, and love is the strongest magic of them
all...
2. Lunch Poems – Frank O'Hara (5)
Important poems by the
late New York poet published in The New American Poetry, Evergreen
Review, Floating Bear and stranger places.
Often this poet,
strolling through the noisy splintered glare of a Manhattan noon, has
paused at a sample Olivetti to type up thirty or forty lines of
ruminations, or pondering more deeply has withdrawn to a darkened ware-
or firehouse to limn his computed misunderstandings of the eternal
questions of life, coexistence, and depth, while never forgetting to eat
lunch, his favorite meal.
3. Mansfield Park – Jane Austen (5)*
'We have all been more or less to blame ...
every one of us, excepting Fanny'
Taken
from the poverty of her parents' home, Fanny Price is brought up with
her rich cousins at Mansfield Park, acutely aware of her humble rank and
with only her cousin Edmund as an ally. When Fanny's uncle is absent in
Antigua, Mary Crawford and her brother Henry arrive in the
neighbourhood, bringing with them London glamour and a reckless taste
for flirtation. As her female cousins vie for Henry's attention, and
even Edmund falls for Mary's dazzling charms, only Fanny remains
doubtful about the Crawfords' influence and finds herself more isolated
than ever. A subtle examination of social position and moral integrity, Mansfield Park is one of Jane Austen's most profound works.
4. Saving Francesca – Melina Marchetta (4)
Francesca is stuck at St.
Sebastian’s, a boys' school that pretends it's coed by giving the girls
their own bathroom. Her only female companions are an ultra-feminist, a
rumored slut, and an impossibly dorky accordion player. The boys are no
better, from Thomas, who specializes in musical burping, to Will, the
perpetually frowning, smug moron that Francesca can't seem to stop
thinking about.
Then there's Francesca's mother, who always
thinks she knows what's best for Francesca—until she is suddenly
stricken with acute depression, leaving Francesca lost, alone, and
without an inkling of who she really is. Simultaneously humorous,
poignant, and impossible to put down, this is the story of a girl who
must summon the strength to save her family, her social life and—hardest
of all—herself.
A compelling story of romance, family, and
friendship with humor and heart, perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins
and Lauren Myracle.
5. Princess Academy (Princess Academy #1) – Shannon Hale (5)*
Miri lives on a
mountain where, for generations, her ancestors have quarried stone and
lived a simple life. Then word comes that the king's priests have
divined her small village the home of the future princess. In a year's
time, the prince himself will come and choose his bride from among the
girls of the village.
The king's ministers set up an academy on
the mountain, and every teenage girl must attend and learn how to become
a princess. Soon Miri finds herself confronted with a harsh academy
mistress, bitter competition among the girls, and her own conflicting
desires.
6. I'll Love You When You're More Like Me – M.E. Kerr (3)
M.E. Kerr's beloved 1977
young adult classic tells the story of two very different teenagers,
both struggling to stand up to their parents. Whether it's going to
college instead of taking over the family funeral parlor, coming out in a
town where homosexuality is considered akin to demonic possession, or
choosing between a life of fame or normalcy, the young characters in I'll Love You When You're More Like Me bravely struggle to become who they want to be—even when they don't yet know themselves.
M. E. Kerr
was a winner of the American Library Association's Margaret A. Edwards
Award for Lifetime Achievement and the ALAN award from the National
Council of Teachers of English. She has been described by the New York Times Book Review as "one of the grand masters of young adult fiction."
7. As You Like It – William Shakespeare (3)
As You Like It is a
pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in
1599 or early 1600 and first published in the First Folio, 1623. The
play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton
House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility. As You Like It
follows its heroine Rosalind as she flees persecution in her uncle's
court, accompanied by her cousin Celia and Touchstone the court jester,
to find safety and, eventually, love, in the Forest of Arden.
Historically, critical response has varied, with some critics finding
the work of lesser quality than other Shakespearean works and some
finding the play a work of great merit. The play features one of
Shakespeare's most famous and oft-quoted speeches, "All the world's a
stage", and is the origin of the phrase "too much of a good thing". The
play remains a favourite among audiences and has been adapted for radio,
film, and musical theatre.
8. Nevernight – Jay Kristoff (4)
The first in a new fantasy series from the New York Times bestselling author.
In
a land where three suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a
school of assassins, seeking vengeance against the powers who destroyed
her family.
Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is
barely able to escape her father’s failed rebellion with her life. Alone
and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god,
hunted by the Senate and her father’s former comrades. But her gift for
speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer,
and a future she never imagined.
Now, Mia is apprenticed to the
deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic—the Red Church. If
she bests her fellow students in contests of steel, poison and the
subtle arts, she’ll be inducted among the Blades of the Lady of Blessed
Murder, and one step closer to the vengeance she desires. But a killer
is loose within the Church’s halls, the bloody secrets of Mia’s past
return to haunt her, and a plot to bring down the entire congregation is
unfolding in the shadows she so loves.
Will she even survive to initiation, let alone have her revenge?
9. Along For the Ride – Sarah Dessen (4)*
It’s been so long since
Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the
fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with
her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.
A
job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their
talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too
busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets
Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to
the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel
quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been
denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death
of a friend.
In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect.
10. And This is Laura – Ellen Conford (2)
Twelve-year old Laura is
an ordinary person in a family of superstars. Her beautiful older
sister is a talented actress, her older brother writes and performs
music, and her little brother can recite every commercial on television
from memory. Her parents are gifted, too—her mother is a famous author,
her father a brilliant scientist. However, everything changes for Laura
when she discovers that she has the ability to see the future. Suddenly,
she has popularity, attention from her parents, even media coverage.
It’s all new and so great—until her visions grow dark, and Laura
realizes that her gift could turn out to be a curse!
11. Lock and Key – Sarah Dessen (3)
Ruby, where is your mother?
Ruby knows that the game is up. For the past few months, she's been on
her own in the yellow house, managing somehow, knowing that her mother
will probably never return.
That's how she comes to live with
Cora, the sister she hasn't seen in ten years, and Cora's husband Jamie,
whose down-to-earth demeanor makes it hard for Ruby to believe he
founded the most popular networking Web site around. A luxurious house,
fancy private school, a new wardrobe, the promise of college and a
future; it's a dream come true. So why is Ruby such a reluctant
Cinderella, wary and defensive? And why is Nate, the genial boy next
door with some secrets of his own, unable to accept the help that Ruby
is just learning to give?
Best-selling author Sarah Dessen
explores the heart of a gutsy, complex girl dealing with unforeseen
circumstances and learning to trust again.
what did all of you read and love in August?
xx
Caroline
Showing posts with label melina marchetta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label melina marchetta. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Friday, August 26, 2016
saving francesca: stardust reviews
Saving Francesca
Melina Marchetta
☆☆☆☆☆
goodreads
Francesca is stuck at St. Sebastian’s, a boys' school that pretends it's coed by giving the girls their own bathroom. Her only female companions are an ultra-feminist, a rumored slut, and an impossibly dorky accordion player. The boys are no better, from Thomas, who specializes in musical burping, to Will, the perpetually frowning, smug moron that Francesca can't seem to stop thinking about.
Then there's Francesca's mother, who always thinks she knows what's best for Francesca—until she is suddenly stricken with acute depression, leaving Francesca lost, alone, and without an inkling of who she really is. Simultaneously humorous, poignant, and impossible to put down, this is the story of a girl who must summon the strength to save her family, her social life and—hardest of all—herself.
A compelling story of romance, family, and friendship with humor and heart, perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins and Lauren Myracle.
full review under the cut!
Melina Marchetta
☆☆☆☆☆
goodreads
Francesca is stuck at St. Sebastian’s, a boys' school that pretends it's coed by giving the girls their own bathroom. Her only female companions are an ultra-feminist, a rumored slut, and an impossibly dorky accordion player. The boys are no better, from Thomas, who specializes in musical burping, to Will, the perpetually frowning, smug moron that Francesca can't seem to stop thinking about.
Then there's Francesca's mother, who always thinks she knows what's best for Francesca—until she is suddenly stricken with acute depression, leaving Francesca lost, alone, and without an inkling of who she really is. Simultaneously humorous, poignant, and impossible to put down, this is the story of a girl who must summon the strength to save her family, her social life and—hardest of all—herself.
A compelling story of romance, family, and friendship with humor and heart, perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins and Lauren Myracle.
full review under the cut!
Monday, August 8, 2016
top ten tuesday: rewind
HI EVERYONE! I am finally, finally back to posting top ten tuesdays! This summer, my schedule was super hectic, so I didn't get to post anywhere near as often as I wanted to, and that meant that TTT fell to the wayside. I missed it though! I am really excited to be back doing this week's topic, which is: "August 9: Top Ten Tuesday REWIND -- go back and do a topic you
missed over the years or recently or a topic you really want to revisit
-- I've made a handy spreadsheet to help (currently in the process of finishing it)" Since I haven't done any TTTs recently, I thought I would just go back to a couple of weeks ago and do "Ten Books Set Outside The US (I don't know about you but sooo much of
what I read is set in the US and I love finding new recs of stuff set
outside of it!)" Since I love traveling and reading about new and exciting places, this one is fun for me :)
1. Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
Francesca is stuck at St. Sebastian’s, a boys' school that pretends it's coed by giving the girls their own bathroom. Her only female companions are an ultra-feminist, a rumored slut, and an impossibly dorky accordion player. The boys are no better, from Thomas, who specializes in musical burping, to Will, the perpetually frowning, smug moron that Francesca can't seem to stop thinking about.
Then there's Francesca's mother, who always thinks she knows what's best for Francesca—until she is suddenly stricken with acute depression, leaving Francesca lost, alone, and without an inkling of who she really is. Simultaneously humorous, poignant, and impossible to put down, this is the story of a girl who must summon the strength to save her family, her social life and—hardest of all—herself.
A compelling story of romance, family, and friendship with humor and heart, perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins and Lauren Myracle.
2. Wanderlost – Jen Malone
Not all those who wander are lost, but Aubree Sadler most definitely is on this novel’s whirlwind trip through Europe.
Aubree can’t think of a better place to be than in perfectly boring Ohio, and she’s ready for a relaxing summer. But when her older sister, Elizabeth, gets into real trouble, Aubree is talked into taking over Elizabeth’s summer job, leading a group of senior citizens on a bus tour through Europe.
Aubree doesn’t even make it to the first stop in Amsterdam before their perfect plan unravels, leaving her with no phone, no carefully prepared binder full of helpful facts, and an unexpected guest: the tour company owner’s son, Sam. Considering she’s pretending to be Elizabeth, she absolutely shouldn’t fall for him, but she can’t help it, especially with the most romantic European cities as the backdrop for their love story.
But her relationship with Sam is threatening to ruin her relationship with her sister, and she feels like she’s letting both of them down. Aubree knows this trip may show her who she really is—she just hopes she likes where she ends up.
3. Love & Gelato – Jenna Evans Welch
“I made the wrong choice.”
Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is get back home.
But then she is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires Lina, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything she knew about her mother, her father—and even herself.
People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.
4. The Loose Ends List – Carrie Firestone
It’s a summer for first love, last wishes, and letting go.
Maddie has big plans to spend the last months before college tying up high school “loose ends” alongside her best friends. Then her beloved grandmother drops two bombshells: (1) Gram is dying. (2) She’s taking her entire family on a round-the-world cruise of dreams come true—but at the end, Gram won’t be returning home.
With a promise to live in the now without regrets, Maddie boards the Wishwell determined to make every moment count. She finds new friends in her fellow Wishwellians, takes advantage of the trip’s many luxuries, gets even closer to her quirky family, and falls for painfully gorgeous Enzo. But despite the copious laughter, headiness of first love, and wonder of the glamorous destinations, Maddie knows she is on the brink of losing Gram, and she struggles to find the strength to let go in a whirlwind summer shaped by love, grief, and laughter.
5. Passenger – Alexandra Bracken
Passage, n.
i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.
ii. A journey by water; a voyage.
iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.
In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.
Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them—whether she wants to or not.
Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home... forever.
6. Anna and the French Kiss – Stephanie Perkins
Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.
But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?
7. The Infernal Devices – Cassandra Clare
In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.
The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them...
8. One Paris Summer – Denise Grover Swank
Most teens dream of visiting the City of Lights, but it feels more like a nightmare for Sophie Brooks. She and her brother are sent to Paris to spend the summer with their father, who left home a year ago without any explanation. As if his sudden abandonment weren't betrayal enough, he's about to remarry, and they’re expected to play nice with his soon-to-be wife and stepdaughter. The stepdaughter, Camille, agrees to show them around the city, but she makes it clear that she will do everything in her power to make Sophie miserable.
Sophie could deal with all the pain and humiliation if only she could practice piano. Her dream is to become a pianist, and she was supposed to spend the summer preparing for a scholarship competition. Even though her father moved to Paris to pursue his own dream, he clearly doesn't support hers. His promise to provide her with a piano goes unfulfilled.
Still, no one is immune to Paris’s charm. After a few encounters with a gorgeous French boy, Sophie finds herself warming to the city, particularly when she discovers that he can help her practice piano. There’s just one hitch—he’s a friend of Camille’s, and Camille hates Sophie. While the summer Sophie dreaded promises to become best summer of her life, one person could ruin it all.
9. Carry On – Rainbow Rowell
Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who’s ever been chosen.
That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.
Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here—it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.
Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story—but far, far more monsters.
10. The Land of 10,000 Madonnas – Kate Hattemer
Five teens backpack through Europe to fulfill the mysterious dying wish of their friend.
Jesse lives with his history professor dad in a house covered with postcards of images of the Madonna from all over the world. They’re gotten used to this life: two motherless dudes living among thousands of Madonnas. But Jesse has a heart condition that will ultimately cut his life tragically short. Before he dies, he arranges a mysterious trip to Europe for his three cousins, his best friend, and his girlfriend to take after he passes away. It’s a trip that will forever change the lives of these young teens and one that will help them come to terms with Jesse’s death.
what's on your TTT list this week?
xx
Caroline
1. Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
Francesca is stuck at St. Sebastian’s, a boys' school that pretends it's coed by giving the girls their own bathroom. Her only female companions are an ultra-feminist, a rumored slut, and an impossibly dorky accordion player. The boys are no better, from Thomas, who specializes in musical burping, to Will, the perpetually frowning, smug moron that Francesca can't seem to stop thinking about.
Then there's Francesca's mother, who always thinks she knows what's best for Francesca—until she is suddenly stricken with acute depression, leaving Francesca lost, alone, and without an inkling of who she really is. Simultaneously humorous, poignant, and impossible to put down, this is the story of a girl who must summon the strength to save her family, her social life and—hardest of all—herself.
A compelling story of romance, family, and friendship with humor and heart, perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins and Lauren Myracle.
2. Wanderlost – Jen Malone
Not all those who wander are lost, but Aubree Sadler most definitely is on this novel’s whirlwind trip through Europe.
Aubree can’t think of a better place to be than in perfectly boring Ohio, and she’s ready for a relaxing summer. But when her older sister, Elizabeth, gets into real trouble, Aubree is talked into taking over Elizabeth’s summer job, leading a group of senior citizens on a bus tour through Europe.
Aubree doesn’t even make it to the first stop in Amsterdam before their perfect plan unravels, leaving her with no phone, no carefully prepared binder full of helpful facts, and an unexpected guest: the tour company owner’s son, Sam. Considering she’s pretending to be Elizabeth, she absolutely shouldn’t fall for him, but she can’t help it, especially with the most romantic European cities as the backdrop for their love story.
But her relationship with Sam is threatening to ruin her relationship with her sister, and she feels like she’s letting both of them down. Aubree knows this trip may show her who she really is—she just hopes she likes where she ends up.
3. Love & Gelato – Jenna Evans Welch
“I made the wrong choice.”
Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is get back home.
But then she is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires Lina, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything she knew about her mother, her father—and even herself.
People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.
4. The Loose Ends List – Carrie Firestone
It’s a summer for first love, last wishes, and letting go.
Maddie has big plans to spend the last months before college tying up high school “loose ends” alongside her best friends. Then her beloved grandmother drops two bombshells: (1) Gram is dying. (2) She’s taking her entire family on a round-the-world cruise of dreams come true—but at the end, Gram won’t be returning home.
With a promise to live in the now without regrets, Maddie boards the Wishwell determined to make every moment count. She finds new friends in her fellow Wishwellians, takes advantage of the trip’s many luxuries, gets even closer to her quirky family, and falls for painfully gorgeous Enzo. But despite the copious laughter, headiness of first love, and wonder of the glamorous destinations, Maddie knows she is on the brink of losing Gram, and she struggles to find the strength to let go in a whirlwind summer shaped by love, grief, and laughter.
5. Passenger – Alexandra Bracken
Passage, n.
i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.
ii. A journey by water; a voyage.
iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.
In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.
Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them—whether she wants to or not.
Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home... forever.
6. Anna and the French Kiss – Stephanie Perkins
Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.
But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?
7. The Infernal Devices – Cassandra Clare
In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.
The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them...
8. One Paris Summer – Denise Grover Swank
Most teens dream of visiting the City of Lights, but it feels more like a nightmare for Sophie Brooks. She and her brother are sent to Paris to spend the summer with their father, who left home a year ago without any explanation. As if his sudden abandonment weren't betrayal enough, he's about to remarry, and they’re expected to play nice with his soon-to-be wife and stepdaughter. The stepdaughter, Camille, agrees to show them around the city, but she makes it clear that she will do everything in her power to make Sophie miserable.
Sophie could deal with all the pain and humiliation if only she could practice piano. Her dream is to become a pianist, and she was supposed to spend the summer preparing for a scholarship competition. Even though her father moved to Paris to pursue his own dream, he clearly doesn't support hers. His promise to provide her with a piano goes unfulfilled.
Still, no one is immune to Paris’s charm. After a few encounters with a gorgeous French boy, Sophie finds herself warming to the city, particularly when she discovers that he can help her practice piano. There’s just one hitch—he’s a friend of Camille’s, and Camille hates Sophie. While the summer Sophie dreaded promises to become best summer of her life, one person could ruin it all.
9. Carry On – Rainbow Rowell
Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who’s ever been chosen.
That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.
Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here—it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.
Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story—but far, far more monsters.
10. The Land of 10,000 Madonnas – Kate Hattemer
Five teens backpack through Europe to fulfill the mysterious dying wish of their friend.
Jesse lives with his history professor dad in a house covered with postcards of images of the Madonna from all over the world. They’re gotten used to this life: two motherless dudes living among thousands of Madonnas. But Jesse has a heart condition that will ultimately cut his life tragically short. Before he dies, he arranges a mysterious trip to Europe for his three cousins, his best friend, and his girlfriend to take after he passes away. It’s a trip that will forever change the lives of these young teens and one that will help them come to terms with Jesse’s death.
what's on your TTT list this week?
xx
Caroline
Saturday, July 16, 2016
Finnikin of the Rock: stardust reviews
The Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta
Book 1: Finnikin of the Rock
☆☆☆☆☆
Finnikin of the Rock
and his guardian, Sir Topher, have not been home to their beloved
Lumatere for ten years. Not since the dark days when the royal family
was murdered and the kingdom put under a terrible curse. But then
Finnikin is summoned to meet Evanjalin, a young woman with an incredible
claim: the heir to the throne of Lumatere, Prince Balthazar, is alive.
Evanjalin is determined to return home and she is the only one who can lead them to the heir. As they journey together, Finnikin is affected by her arrogance . . . and her hope. He begins to believe he will see his childhood friend, Prince Balthazar, again. And that their cursed people will be able to enter Lumatere and be reunited with those trapped inside. He even believes he will find his imprisoned father.
But Evanjalin is not what she seems. And the truth will test not only Finnikin's faith in her . . . but in himself.
Evanjalin is determined to return home and she is the only one who can lead them to the heir. As they journey together, Finnikin is affected by her arrogance . . . and her hope. He begins to believe he will see his childhood friend, Prince Balthazar, again. And that their cursed people will be able to enter Lumatere and be reunited with those trapped inside. He even believes he will find his imprisoned father.
But Evanjalin is not what she seems. And the truth will test not only Finnikin's faith in her . . . but in himself.
full review under the cut!
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