AND THE WINNER IS: Marked by PC and Kristin Cast

MEREDITH -- meredithfl

An email has been sent to the lucky people named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam).  The winner(s)  has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Thanks to all who entered.

PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!

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REVIEW: Zombies Vs Unicorns by Holly Black, Justine Larbalestier

Product Description

It's a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths--for good and evil--of unicorns and half show the good (and really, really bad-ass) side of zombies. Contributors include many bestselling teen authors, including Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, and Margo Lanagan. This anthology will have everyone asking: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?

About the Author

Holly Black is the bestselling author of the Spiderwick series. Her first book, Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale, was an ALA Top Ten Book for Teens, received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews, and has been translated into twelve languages. Her second teen novel, Valiant, was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a Locus Magazine Recommended Read, and a recipient of the Andre Norton Award from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Her third teen novel, Ironside, the sequel to Tithe, was a New York Times bestseller. Her new novel, White Cat, is coming Summer 2010. She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts. Visit Holly at www.blackholly.com.

Justine Larbalestier is the author of several teen novels, including LIAR, the MAGIC OR MADNESS trilogy, and HOW TO DITCH YOUR FAIRY.  She was born and raised in Sydney, Australia, and she and her husband, Scott Westerfeld, now split their time between Sydney and New York City. Visit Justine at justinelarbalestier.com.

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry (September 21, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416989536
• ISBN-13: 978-1416989530

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

I dreamed about this book.  Seriously, I imagined these stories told by these authors since a rainbow bright unicorn landed on my desk in the third grade.  So, I have tipped my hat and you now know which side of the fight I live for.  But wait!  The zombie people made really great arguments for the zombies. What this book really comes down to is:  Holly versus Justine.  I love them both separately but equally and for different reasons.  There are great back and forths between each story where Holly is pro Unicorn and Justine is pro Zombie.  I laughed until I almost choked, but then the zombies would win.

This is also the first anthology where I read each and every story.  In most books like this there are always a few that I just don't like, but these are all spectacular.  They are also stories you could read over and over again.  My favorite has to be Meg Cabot's story about a killer unicorn (literally can kill) that farts rainbows and jasmine.  Now who wouldn't want one of those around?  I also enjoyed Scott Westerfield's Zombie story for some weird reason, it just struck a chord with me in a post apocalyptic way.  (Trust me, I am NOT sucking up to Scott since his wife his co editor--the story still has me thinking about it.)

These are some pretty spooky stories that would be great around a campfire or under the covers with a flashlight.  They are all pretty safe for kids over 11 or so.  Although I think the kids will have a hard time prying it away from their parents.

Oh, I just figured out that I am definitely Team Unicorn since I discovered that a unicorn has been in the back seat of my car for the last 10 years.  Yes, 10 years.  

I received this book at no charge from Around the World ARC Tours in exchange for my honest review.

REVIEW: Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Description

First there are nightmares.
Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.
Then come the memories.
When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.
Now she must hunt.
Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.

About the Author

Courtney Allison Moulton lives in Michigan, where she is a photographer and spends all her free time riding and showing horses. She has always loved reading about ancient mythologies, studying dead languages, and telling scary, romantic stories. Angelfire is her debut novel.

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (February 15, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062002325
• ISBN-13: 978-0062002327

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
LIKED IT

I received this book at no cost from Around the World ARC Tours in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book in a new trilogy about angels and demons and there was a ton of set up for the next two books.  I loved the snarky tone of the characters and found Ellie to be a likable lead.  Ellie is having horrible nightmares and when those nightmares turn out to be real life, she finds herself to be a warrior in a fight between good and evil.  Will comes into Ellie's life and professes to know everything about her, but doesn't really tell her much.  He makes her jump through hoops and forces her to really work to get a little tidbit of information.  It is only when her life is in mortal danger that he does some mind trick and lets her in on the secret.  If he is her protector, I think she might be better off taking chances on her own, but maybe this is exactly what Will wants.

I had some trouble getting into the story.  I thought the plot was a little bit slow and I really had to force myself to read it.  In the end, I was glad I finished it, but I really wish that it moved a little bit faster for me.  This may just be me and I may not have been in the mood for a story like this.  It happens.  I will read the next one in the series since I did like most of the characters and I really hope that Ellie develops into someone kick ass.  Will has possibilities as well to become a truly magnificent lead and I really hope he gets a sense of humor.  Parents:  There are some instances of alcohol use, mentions of sexual situations, a little bad language, so this one is best suited for teens over 14.

Rock Mafia - The Big Bang Featuring Miley Cyrus (Official Music Video)

This is just amazing.  Some author could write a book about this video. 

Waiting on Wednesday: Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

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

Description

On Lily Sanderson’s eighteenth birthday she’ll become just a girl—still a mer girl, true, but signing the renunciation paperwork will ink Princess Waterlily of Thalassinia out of existence. That leaves plain old Lily living on land, dating the boy she loves, and trying to master this being human thing once and for all.

Now that Lily and Quince are together, mer-bond or not, she’s almost content to give up her place in the royal succession of Thalassinia. But just when she thinks she has everything figured out, Lily’s father sends a certain whirlpool-stirring cousin to stay with her on land. What did Doe do to get herself exiled from Thalassinia and stuck in terraped form, when everyone knows how much she hates humans? And why why why is she batting her eyelashes at Lily’s former crush, Brody?

The seafoam on the surf comes when a merboy from Lily’s past shows up. Tellin asks Lily for something that clouds her view of the horizon. There’s a future with Quince on land, her loyalty to the kingdom in the sea, and Lily tossing on the waves in the middle. Will she find a way to reconcile her love, her duty, and her dreams?

About the Author

Tera Lynn Childs (Authora neo) is a newly discovered species of authorfish who always dreamed of being a mermaid but never got closer than a career as a competitive swimmer. She loves to spend as much time as possible in and around water (until her fingertips turn all pruny) in the vain hope that one day her legs will magically turn into fins. When stuck on land, Authora neo can be found writing in coffee shops across the country, prowling for cool mermaid gear on Etsy, and spending way too much time online.

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (June 28, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061914681
• ISBN-13: 978-0061914683

I just finished Forgive my Fins and loved it, can't wait for the follow up!

REVIEW: Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley Cartwright

Description

The body of a young girl is discovered in a field of wheat. Her flesh mutilated by telltale claw marks. The Wolf has broken the peace. When Valerie learns that her sister has been killed by the legendary creature, she finds herself at the center of a dark mystery, one that has plagued her village for generations. It is revealed that the werewolf lives among them, and everyone in the village immediately becomes a suspect. Could her secret love Peter be behind the attacks on her town? Is it her betrothed, Henry? Or someone even closer to her? As the men in the village hunt for the beast, Valerie turns to her grandmother for help. She gives Valerie a handmade red riding cloak, and guides her through the web of lies and deception that has held her town together for so long. Will Valerie discover the werewolf's identity before the town is ripped apart? This is a dangerous new vision of a classic fairy tale, the happy ending could be hard to find.

About the Author

Sarah Blakley-Cartwright is twenty-two years old and is a recent cum laude graduate of Barnard College, the greatest place on earth. She is the recipient of the 2008-2009 Mary Gordon Fiction Scholarship Award and the 2009-2010 Lenore Marshall Barnard Prize for Prose. She grew up in Los Angeles and Mexico. She now lives in New York City and writes in Vancouver, BC. Despite what the book may say, she actually prefers wolves to people.

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Poppy; Mti edition (January 25, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316176044
• ISBN-13: 978-0316176040

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT  **slight spoilers - don't read beyond paragraph two!**

Before you read my thoughts on Sarah's book, I am making full disclosure.  I first heard about Sarah's book from her mother, whom I have known since before Sarah was born.  I didn't know Sarah even existed until I reconnected with her mom recently and then she mentioned that her daughter had written a book.  I thought, ok, sure, a book.  What Creative Writing / English major doesn't write a book or have a book in the works?  Her mother was vague on the details and it wasn't until I actually met Sarah that I understood that Sarah had written a BOOK and, that book was in my favorite genre:  paranormal young adult!

I received a copy at no charge from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.  My policy has always been that I don't review anything I don't like and I couldn't honestly review a friend's book or even begin to recommend it unless I felt it was wonderful and worthy of praise. This book kept me spellbound until I finished it.  I really could not put it down and then went back and reread it, which is something I usually don't do. This book will stay on my shelf as a keeper.  Sarah should be proud of her work.

The story is a new twist on the Red Riding Hood story and stays true to the historical folktale that I was told as a child.  Well, almost true except for the fact that the wolf in this story terrorizes a town and causes lines to be drawn amongst the townspeople.  Valerie loses her sister to the wolf and this sets off a battle to eradicate the wolf.  Without giving away much plot detail, a priest/mercenary  is brought into the village to get rid of the wolf.  The town becomes divided and doubts are cast between all of the residents.  No one knows who the wolf is or if he lives among them.  This is where the page turning really begins.

Valerie is a sympathetic, yet strong character and makes an excellent foil for Peter, the wood cutter.  Henry is engaged to Valerie and thought she tries to love him, her heart wanders to Peter.  Valerie believes the Henry was really in love with her deceased sister.  Peter, who is the strong, silent type, charms Valerie and they fall in love.  There is a very climatic scene at the end with a vicious battle that should have parental supervision. Overall, Sarah has nicely balanced descriptions and dialogue with action. She has given depth to characters that could have easily been one dimensional.  I am so glad this didn't turn into typical werewolf fare.

One important note should be made that the ending is inconclusive.  I know some other reviewers are not happy with the ending, but I enjoyed the ambiguity.  You can take the ending any way you like and it is not set in stone exactly who the wolf could be:  Valerie's grandmother, Peter, Henry or another unknown.  In March, the book's website ( www.redridinghoodbook.com)  will post the final chapter for the book.  I can only hope that there might be another book in the works.  I would love to see the story develop.

Parents:  There are several scenes of violence, death and destruction, no real language issues and a few scenes of romance and flirting.  There is use of a "relaxing tea" and a mention of alcohol use.  It is all appropriate to the time period in which the story takes place.  This is best suited for anyone over 14 and those who enjoy a wonderful wolf story.

Again, I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK?

Contest is open to anyone with A US or Canadian mailing address (No PO Boxes )
YOU MUST BY OVER 13 YEARS OLD
Contest ends on 2.1.11 and the winner will be chosen by Random.org on 2.2.11
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is sponsored by Poppy / Little Brown Publishing and one book is available.
This is book will be mailed directly from the publisher.

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20 QUESTIONS WITH: Sarah Blakley Cartwright, author of Red Riding Hood

About the Author

Sarah Blakley-Cartwright is twenty-two years old and is a recent cum laude graduate of Barnard College, the greatest place on earth. She is the recipient of the 2008-2009 Mary Gordon Fiction Scholarship Award and the 2009-2010 Lenore Marshall Barnard Prize for Prose. She grew up in Los Angeles and Mexico. She now lives in New York City and writes in Vancouver, BC. Despite what the book may say, she actually prefers wolves to people.

20 Questions with Sarah Blakely Cartwright

1. Bookmarks or dog ears?
I was taught from early on never to dog ear. Now, even when reading a paperback, I don’t have the heart.

2. Dust jacket on or off when reading a hard back?
On. It’s like a family heirloom: If you don’t use it, you’ll never see it and get no joy from it.

3. Favorite author?
James Agee, for his clear-eyed, unironic depiction of American youth.

4. Favorite genre’?
N/A

5. What is the best book you have read in the last year?
N/A

6. What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
Henry James’s “What Maisie Knew,” which I happen to know is in development now!

7. E books: Friend or foe?
I say, embrace technology! Red Riding Hood is actually Little Brown’s first simultaneous enhanced e-book and print publication. It allows for a new, multisensory form of reading, where the reader can watch a video conversation between me, Catherine (the director), and David (the screenwriter); hear a recording of Catherine reading the introduction to the book; peruse set design blueprints of, photos of the set itself, costume design sketches, and the best of the film’s storyboards. Reading the eBook, you’ll really get a sense of how the world was created on film.

8. Was there a book that inspired you to write?
N/A

9. What are you reading right now?
I’ve been making my way, belatedly, through the New Yorker’s 20 Under 40 short story collection – meaning that all writers on the list are age 40 or under. It’s very inspiring.

10. What is the last book you bought just for the cover?
I can’t say I bought them solely for the covers, but I do love the design of Little, Brown’s “Beautiful Creatures” books. Also, Anna Quindlen’s “Every Last One” is pretty perfect.

11. What is the last book you received in the mail?
I had “The Hunger Games” whispernetted to my Kindle. I’m the last person on earth not to have read it!

12. What is the number of books you own?
Too many. But I recently moved out of college and across country (and bought that Kindle), which I expect will lessen my load.

13. What is the first book you remember reading by yourself as a child?
I remember my first chapter book. My father and I were on a road trip up the East Coast. It was so cold that my hair was frozen. And I’m an L.A. girl, used to 65 degree winters. In a small town, we stopped at a tiny, dusty antique store where I became obsessed with a first-edition Bambi. I guess my dad thought I’d earned it. I read the book that night in our cozy lodge, fireside. I finished it over the next day or so in the backseat of our rental car, all the while imagining the deer asleep and nestled in the frozen countryside we were passing.

14. Do you have a favorite place to read?
Bathtub.

15. What is next for you, publishing-wise?
N/A (in other words, Sarah can't say right now)


16. Do you have a favorite place to write?
Bathtub!

17. Is there a sequel? (asked by my readers)
N/A (Mary: I can only hope!)

18. Who the heck is the wolf? (asked by my readers, but don’t answer if it ruins the book)
Check back into redridinghoodbook.com in March!

19. The last thing you Googled?
“Baby porcupine.” Try it.

20. What makes you cringe?
When a writer confuses “your” and “you’re.” When I confuse “lay” and “lie.” The word “slice” associated with any part of the human body. Any form of eyeball injury. A certain uncategorizable type of spinach. The clanking of silverware, which makes it difficult for me to set the table…

You can find Sarah on Facebook HERE
And on Twitter HERE


Sarah, thank you so much for stopping by today! 

Sarah was also featured in Publisher's Weekly HERE


OK, everyone go pre order that book!  You won't be disappointed.