[Review] The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar

(#2, Steampunk Chronicles)
Steel Corset | Clockwork Collar

Author: Kady Cross

Publication (dd/mm/yyyy): 01/06/201

Publisher: Harlequin Teen Aus
Pages: 360

Source: For review

Violence | Sexual Content | Profanity

My Rating:

Good read

Summary (Spoilers if you have not read Steel Corset):

In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous.

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves.

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.

My thoughts:

There is something so captivating about Kady Cross's storytelling that I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe it's the steampunk world that Cross has twisted out of Victorian Era London/New York. Or perhaps the characters that are so unimaginably, inhumanly untouchable but are still flawed in their very humanly humanness. Or even the fact that the villains are so delectably beautiful and evil that their eventual capture makes me both sigh in relief and long for their glorious, hideously malicious return. Whatever it may be, one thing is for certain: I want more.

Enter and win up to 3 blind dates/books!

I posted up my review for Between the Lines earlier today. I was half asleep while writing that, so I hope you forgive me. I just started clinicals yesterday and when I got home I realised that I needed to post the review since I actually read a book BEFORE its publication date! This will surely never happen again, haha!

 Anyway, on to the important part ~ you want to win free books! Hachette Australia's teen segment 'Date a Book' is turning THREE this year, and to celebrate they're giving away even more than ever!

You have to fill in a form, and the guys at Hachette will randomise what they send you - just like a blind date! I'm so stoked...  I really need something to get me through the rest of this month (a whole month of waking up before 6 am and doing my clinical placements when the other half of my cohort will be partying and on holiday).

Aussie residents, go over and submit your form and comment below, let me know what category date you selected!

I really cannot wait to find out what we all receive.

And, as an added bonus, there will be random giveaways on the Facebook page and Twitter (@DateaBook)!

* I personally chose tear-jerkers.

 

[Review] Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult

Between the Lines

Author: Jodi Picoult & Samantha van Leer

Publication (dd/mm/yyyy): 02/07/2012

Publisher: Allen & Unwin (AU)

Pages: 370

Source: For review

Violence | Sexual Content | Profanity

My Rating:

Good Read

 

The Review:

Wow. It's really been a while. Let me just note if I had read this book when I was 11-15, I would be giving this 5 stars, no questions asked. There's a lot to love about this book and I'm glad that this book exists. I truly hope that more people read it, and this experience and given me the push I needed to try some of Jodi's adult works.

Jodi Picoult worked in collaboration with her teenage daughter, Samantha, in making her latest novel for teens. Between the Lines follows Delilah, a fiften-year-old girl who is simply fed up with reality. That's why she spends much of her time inside books . . . and one book in particular. A fairytale book where she can empathise with the hero (Oliver) in the story as he'd lost his father. Of course, this fairytale hero's father died a brave and mighty hero. The same cannot be said for Delilah's dad, who left her and her mum. One day, Oliver speaks to her. And he wants out of the fairytale.

Fashion Friday (1): Now for some discounts

New feature! I acknowledge that this name already exists out there, but I made it up by myself on a whim and it's not such a creative name so I don't see why I would need to credit.

Fashion Friday will just be a feature here where I go on about either stuff I've found from fashion blogs or news or sales/discounts (and so on). Basically anything fashion-related. This time around the focus is on the discounts.

Yeah. So let's feed the shopaholics' obsessions.

Note:
I'm still in that state where I'm just not in the mood to read; the last thing I touched was Little Women, which I'm still reading. Please, please don't hate on me! >_< This is my blog -- I'm sure if this were any "professional" blogger's blog, this kind of post wouldn't be here. Because it just does not belong on a book blog. But I digress.

I am here to share with you guys (uni/college students -- you guys still in high school might want to bookmark this site for the future!) another site for DISCOUNTS!

Credit: 9Gag.com; accessed by WeHeartIt

UNI DAYS

Why yes, they do have a referral reward system. Thanks for noticing.

Now click ze link & register!

For Aussies, so far there are discounts for asos, warehouse and oasis!

Also available for UK, Ireland & NZ.

I am positively overwhelmed at the moment. Mostly for asos, since the other two are a bit out of my normal price range.

I also love that they have a petite range. Plus their catwalks have some cool music...

And now for a showcasing of some items that caught my eye at ASOS.

[$20.40] Petite Cable Knit Skirt - it just looks so comfy for a skirt!

[$23.80] This was freaking MADE for Sas & Roz (Tea Mouse Book Reviews)

[$30.60] Sadly my size is gone... this dress is just so fun! And I don't have many dresses like this - it even has an open back.

ASOS Canvas Fish Shopper - I. Love. This!

ASOS Polka Dot Sunglasses Case - I like polka dots and I don't have a sunglasses case.

House of Holland for Pretty Polly Pearl Super Suspender Pearl Tights

Vila Shorts with Paperbag Waist

UNICORN NECKLACE!

Lipsy Wave Ring

A Bookish Necklace :))

Scarves: Mint | Textured | Skulls | HOT DOG! ...argh! so many nice scarves, but they're RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE!

Basic mittens. Or this cute BEAR convertible mitten!

Neon leggings. Highlight me up, scotty! But please - if you're going to wear leggings, cover up your butt! Felix! There are also heaps of funky tights. :)

ASOS Pac'A'Parka In Spot - Hehe. I like polka dots.

This floral coral blazer is way too adorable! And $50 onwards there's even more!

Do I need a swan cardigan? How about this heart elbow patch cardigan?

Squee! I love the cut of this scalloped edge backpack!

Crotchet. Ballet. Flats.

Hmph! Still no ankle boots...

Alright. That's enough from me. If you have any cheaper alternatives, let me know! :P

  

Share some of your ASOS/fashion finds in the comments below!

NB: I am in no way associated/affiliated with either myunidays.com or asos.

Next week I'll share some of my buys as well as weekly links. I'll also be featuring Colette, where I splurged on a gorgeous clutch.

 

Waiting on Wednesday (40): Dancing in the storm

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

(click on the cover to go to Goodreads)

AU/UK Cover

Stormdancer ~ Jay Kristoff
September 2012!! ~ (AU) Pan Macmillan

My pitch

Blood red skies; a world impoverished by technological advance (industrialisation!!). A thunder tiger . . . and a sixteen year old girl who will change everything.

Why am I waiting on this?

Oh how I love both of these covers! :D I BEG you to go and check out the full synopsis of this book - it sounds ridiculously good! I have a feeling - going by that synopsis alone - that this book is going to be really descriptive and thoughtfully imagined. I'm just now getting into steampunk, so this is definitely a welcome addition to the bunch and by the sounds of it it's bound to stand out! Also I'm hoping that the Asian influences run farther than just the names of things.

Even if this book sounded like complete rubbish I'd want to read it IF ONLY BECAUSE JAY KRISTOFF SOUNDS AWESOME! His blog, guys. He's got that kind of humour that resonates with me and he just seems altogether chill and laid back... very Aussie. Which he is. He's Aussie, guys! An Aussie author got an international deal. For his debut! If that's not a sure-fire way to tell that this book's going to big, I don't know what will.

US Cover

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Thanks for visiting.

Comment with your picks and share the excitement!