[Review] Scent of Magic (#2) by Maria V. Snyder

Scent of Magic

(#2, Touch trilogy)
Touch of Power | Scent of Magic

Author: Maria V. Snyder

Publication (dd/mm/yyyy): 01/01/2013

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pages: 416

Source: For review

Violence | Sexual Content | Profanity

My Rating:

Surprising!

Warning! This is a sequel! Spoilers from the first book ahead!

My thoughts

New AUS cover of ToP

Avry sacrificed her life when she decided to heal Prince Ryne. She shouldn't be alive, but she is. Everyone thinks she's dead, and her surprise appearance at the oncoming war could ensure victory against Tohon's army. Avry joins the army in disguise to train the ally soldiers to silently move through the forest. Meanwhile Kerrick is on a certain mission and comes face to face with his worst nightmares...

Scent of Magic is the sequel to Touch of Power and as far as sequels go it does fairly well. The main element that I found so great in Touch of Power (the camaraderie of that tight-knit group) was sorely lacking in Scent of Magic. However, Snyder really went all out-- really, none of these characters that you've grown to love are safe. Tohon's army is growing stronger and larger and war is looming closer.

Waiting on Wednesday (45): Fantasy in January

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

The Fire Horse Girl ~ Kay Honeyman
January 1st 2013 ~ Arthur A. Levine Books

The pitch

"A fiery and romantic adventure, perfect for fans of Grace Lin, Kristen Cashore, or Lisa See!"

Goodreads

Why am I waiting on this?

Everything about this book. The cover, the title, the synopsis, the genre...

---

Scarlet

January 3rd 2013 ~ Puffin (UK)

Goodreads

Why am I waiting on this?

Cinder was a great read. I enjoyed it so much, I can't imagine that Meyer would disappoint with this one. Can't wait to delve back into this world!

So there you go. What books are you anticipating?

Thanks for visiting!

Comment with your picks and share the excitement!

My Books in Colour (9) - New Books!

MBiC is a fortnightly (*ahem*) post book haul feature, and is inspired by Kristi (The Story Siren) and Alea (Pop Culture Junkie). I love looking at book covers, and especially their colours, and that is where my idea came from.

~~~~~

18th of January 2012 ~ Notes

For Christmas I got some books (which I asked for). I also bought a massive amount of books. A quick look at my track record would indicate that the chance of my reading these books in the foreseeable future is very, very slim. Well, at least my total for the month is less than $100! Also got some review copies for this month. Lots of good books!

Click to embiggen.

Note: All release dates are in the format (dd/mm/yyyy), click on images to zoom in, all book links go to Goodreads.

* = Up for swap

For Review

Thanks to...

Bloomsbury, Hachette, Penguin and Simon & Schuster!

• Hysteria - Megan Miranda - 01/02/2013 - requested?
• Through to You - Emily Hainsworth - 01/01/2013 - unsolicited?
• Prodigy (#2) - Marie Lu - 29/01/2013 - unsolicited
• Legacy (#2) - C.J. Daugherty - 17/01/2013  - unsolicited
• The Laeduin (#2) - Leah Giarratano - 31/01/2013 - unsolicited

I'm extremely excited about these titles! Especially Hysteria... I really enjoyed Miranda's debut novel (Fracture) and I'm completely hooked in by the premise. It sounds intense. I've been seeing some mixed reviews for Through to You but I still have high hopes for it. I loved Legend (though I'm struggling to remember what happened in it) and I can't wait to delve into Prodigy! As for the other two books I received... they're parts of series that I have not started yet. Boo me!

Christmas!!!

This year I asked for three books--

• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
• A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
• A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

I also got a 'Things to Do' pad of paper (very handy for me) and a new computer monitor/TV (from my parents); a Luigi plush (from my sister); 2 more plushies, and a syringue pen (from my older brother); and a cute T-shirt (from my younger brother).

Oh, I love Christmas. It's not just the gifts. I just love how different the world seems when December rolls on over, when school is done for the year and the temperature starts to creep up... and the night comes later and later. :D Hope you all had a wonderful time too!

Bought

YA

• Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
• Dear Bully: 70 Authors Tell Their Stories
• Starters by Lissa Price
• Just One Day by Gayle Forman
• The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker
• Partials by Dan Wells
• Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
• The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood
• Cinnamon Rain by Emma Cameron

Adult contemporary

• Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
• Alice Bliss by Laura Harrington

Classics

• Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
• Henrietta's War by Joyce Dennys (my third "Bloomsbury Group" acquisition)
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Again, I bought a lot of books from AllBooks4Less. When they held a holiday special ($3/book) I just went bananas. And then when I was out shopping I bought a few more since the shop had a stall open up and I found some books that weren't on the site. No regrets. No regrets.

I also bought a couple of books from The Book Depository: Ashes and Just One Day (!!!)

Q: What is your reading goal for 2013?

This year I'm going for something a little more realistic: 60 books. 5 books a month. I want to get in at least 15 books for Jan+Feb, because of the holidays and I normally read next to nothing at the end of the year (Oct-Dec). What about you?

Happy reading everybody! Comment below.

Share with me what books you got! :)

[Review] Speechless by Hannah Harrington

Speechless

Author: Hannah Harrington

Publication (dd/mm/yyyy): 28/08/2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 268

Source: For review

Violence | Sexual Content | Profanity

My Rating:

Inspired

Summary:

Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret.

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast - and nearly got someone killed.

Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence - to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting everyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.

But there's strength in silence, and in new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way. People she never noticed before. A boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.

My thoughts

As SPEECHLESS involves a vow of silence, and it’s been ages since I read this and only had a small list written up about it, I’ll keep this review short and simple.