Roaring Reviews: Of Neptune, by Anna Banks

Title: Of Neptune

Author: Anna Banks

Publication Date: May 13, 2014 by Feiwel and Friends

Format: Hardback

Plot Synopsis:

Emma and Galen’s kingdom and their love is threatened by long-lost Syrena in the brilliant conclusion to Anna Banks bestselling trilogy.

Emma, half human and half Syrena, and her Syrena love, Galen, need time together alone. Away from the kingdoms of Poseidon and Triton. Emma’s grandfather, the Poseidon king, suggests the two visit a small town called Neptune.

Neptune is home to both Syrena and Half-Breeds alike. But Emma and Galen didn’t sign up to be peacemakers between the ocean and the land-dwelling, freshwater Syrena. They didn’t bargain for meeting a charming Half-Breed named Reed, who can barely disguise his feelings for Emma. And they especially didn’t expect to find themselves in the middle of a power struggle that threatens not only their love but their ocean kingdoms.

In this stunning conclusion to her bestselling Syrena Legacy, Anna Banks thrills fans with more action and romance than ever.

The Actual Review: 

Hi guys! Of Neptune is the third and final installment to Anna Bank's Syrena Legacy. I have also made spoiler free Roaring Reviews about the first and second books which could be found here: Of Poseidon, and Of Triton.

I felt that this book wasn’t in tandem with the previous ones. There seemed to be that cold detachment I can’t help but have while reading this, from the characters to the plot itself, not to mention that I can’t seem to connect and empathize with the characters like I had with the first and second books, thus hindering me from fully appreciating it. 

Another thing that didn’t quite match my expectations was Emma. Okay, book recap! Emma in the first two books can’t be easily pot into submission, even if that unrelenting force is Galen. Another thing is that we see the extent of her badassness in Of Triton commandeering a battalion of marine life to bring into the Syrena. 

However, when it came into Of Neptune I can’t help but notice the sudden change in Emma. She failed to show us her indomitable temperament; it really irked me that she depended on most of the people when push comes to shove. I can’t really help but get bored by her points of view all with the action that’s happening to Galen. 

Galen’s points of view on the other hand, are the ones that kept the book going; he never disappointed me. Not one bit! He has all the action and suspense going on in his parts, I would even find myself looking forward to his points of view than Emma’s listless ones. 

I would have preferred that Syrena Legacy stayed as a duology rather a trilogy, considering that Of Triton already had a nice ending. But fans of Anna Banks would still love this last, and final installment especially with that perfect epilogue, that will sweep the fans of their feet if it haven't already. 

My Rating:

Did my Roaring Review made you want to read the book too? What are you waiting for; click the button below and add it to your To-Read Shelf in Goodreads!

Sinuous Signings: Stephanie Perkins

Yes, you heard it right! Stephanie Perkins is coming here, to the Philippines! Join Stephanie Perkins, the international bestselling author of “Anna and the French Kiss” and “Lola and the Boy Next Door” for book signing events on July 5 at 1 pm in National Book Store, SM Cebu, and on July 6 at 2 pm in National Book Store, Glorietta 1. Registration starts at 10 am for both events.

Follow National Book Store on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and tag #StephaniePerkinsPH for more details.

Here are some of the FAQ's on Nation Book Stores Facebook page:

When and where are the book signings? 
July 5, 1:00 pm, at National Book Store, SM Cebu
July 6, 2:00 pm, at National Book Store, Glorietta 1

When will the registration be? 

Registration opens at 10:00 am on July 5 at National Book Store, SM Cebu (in the store, NOT the events area) and 10:00 am on July 6 at National Book Store, Glorietta 1. Each guest will be asked to fill out the registration form upon arrival. Separate registrations for each event is required should you wish to attend both events. First come, first served.

Is there a registration fee? 
No. There is no registration fee.

How many books can I have signed? Is there a limit as to how many people can have their books signed? 

You may have any number of books signed as long as they were purchased from National Book Store, Bestsellers or Powerbooks, and we do not have any preset limit as to the number of people.

However, although we will take every effort to get as many books signed as possible, depending on the number of attendees, we reserve the right to limit the number of copies per person or limit the number of people in line. First come, first served.

Can I bring old books or other editions of the books?

Yes, as long as the books were purchased from National Book Store, Bestsellers and Powerbooks.

Do I need to buy on-site?
No. You can buy books before or during the event.

Can I have other items signed? 
No. Only books will be allowed to be signed by the authors.

Can we have our photo taken with the author?

Yes, you can have your photo with the author when she signs your book. However, we strictly allow one photo per person only.

How much are the books? 
Anna and the French Kiss (Trade Paperback – P349)
Lola and the Boy Next Door (Trade Paperback – P349)
Isla and the Happily Ever After (will be released in August 14)

ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS

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?

LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion...she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit--more sparkly, more fun, more wild--the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket--a gifted inventor--steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

These events are made possible in partnership with Raffles Makati, Metro magazine and Chalk magazine.

Roaring Reviews: Burn For Burn, by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian

Title: Burn for Burn

Author: Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian

Publication Date: September 18, 2012 by Simon and Schuster

Format: Trade Paperback

Plot Synopsis:

Postcard-perfect Jar Island is the kind of place where nobody locks their doors at night, where parents can sleep easy, knowing their daughters are tucked away safe and sound in their beds. 

But bad things can happen, even to good girls . . . and sometimes, the only way to make things right is to do something wrong. 

Lillia used to trust boys, but not anymore. Not after what happened this summer. And she’ll do whatever it takes to protect her little sister from the same fate. 

Kat is over the rumors, the insults, the cruel jokes made at her expense. It all goes back to one person--her ex-best friend. Someone needs to teach her a lesson, and, with Lillia and Mary behind her, Kat feels up to the task.

Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she’s not the same girl anymore. Now that she’s got friends who have her back, he's going to be in big trouble.

Three very different girls who come together to make things right. Will they go too far?

The Actual Review

I never had any plans reading this book for the summer of 2014, actually; but since it became official that Jenny Han is going to the Philippines this upcoming June 21, I tried to insert all of her books into my Summer Reading List. Not to mention that my friend told me to start off with Burn for Burn since it's set like Michelle Hodkin's Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, which I devoured every page of, I decided to accelerate my plans for binge reading all of Jenny's books - as if the upcoming book signing wasn't incentive enough. 

The book started off showing the lives of our three girls in Jar Island, alternating between their points of views. And although the book started off quite slow, the characters still manage to pique the reader’s interest, disabling him to chuck the book to the nearest incinerator. 

The character development was not bad in this in this book, but although overshadowed by the drama of their intrigue. We see Mary start to grow a backbone, who slowly but surely standing up for herself; there’s Kat, whose cold hard exterior starts to thaw at the middle of the book; then Liliah, who also like Mary, developed a backbone, standing up for herself more. 

Another good thing I loved about this book is that you, as the reader, can’t help but to empathize and sympathize with the people our girls are trying to enact their revenge upon. Making you really question yourself if the girls have really gone too far with their sweet revenge. 

Overall I would recommend this book to big fans of chick-lit, who loves a dash of intrigue and revenge to spice things up. 

My Rating

Did my Roaring Review made you want to read the book too? What are you waiting for; click the button below and add it to your To-Read Shelf in Goodreads!

Waiting on Wednesday: City of Heavenly Fire, by Cassandra Clare

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

City of Heavenly Fire
By Cassandra Clare

Publication Date: May 27, 2014

Plot Synopsis:

ΕRCHOMAI, SEBASTIAN HAD SAID. 

I am coming.

Darkness returns to the Shadowhunter world. As their society falls apart around them, Clary, Jace, Simon and their friends must band together to fight the greatest evil the Nephilim have ever faced: Clary’s own brother. Nothing in the world can defeat him — must they journey to another world to find the chance? Lives will be lost, love sacrificed, and the whole world changed in the sixth and last installment of the Mortal Instruments series!

Can we just asdfghhjkkll! It's going to be out this month! It feels like I have been waiting my entire life to read this final installment that marks the end of The Mortal Instruments Series. This would definitely make me sound like a literary masochist, but I cannot wait to get my heart shattered by Cassandra Clare and her writings. Better get that box of Kleenex and a glass case to hold all of my emotions ready then

Roaring Reviews: Of Triton, by Anna Banks

Title: Of Triton

Author: Anna Banks

Publication Date: May 28, 2013 by Feiwel and Friends

Format: Hardback

Plot Synopsis:

Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half-Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?


The Actual Review:

Hi there! Of Triton is the second installment of the amazing Syrena Trilogy, by Anna Banks. I have a spoiler free review of the first book, Of Poseidon, and I it posted online, you can check it out here.

Of Triton is definitely a lot shorter the the first book by a at least a hundred pages or so. Sadly that 100 pages the book is short on, it lacked that humor that really got me hooked. I understand that even though this was more intense than the first one, more serious, but it felt that there was a wall between most characters, disabling them to interact properly. Although, the wall was broken down in the last fifty pages of the book and the character interaction superbly came back, it still seems insufficient to catch up.

Another thing that I didn’t like in this book was there were parts that were completely irrelevant to the plot line. Not to mention the death of a well loved character, upon which was completely insignificant. It was like the author decided to kill this character just for kicks. It didn’t even bring a trigger a character development.

However, even saying all those things above, I still loved this book! It had that certain je ne sais quoi that made me still love it. There were more action scenes in this than the first one, and even though this was shorter than the first, the Epilogue at the end of the book wasn’t a letdown.

 Over all, Of Triton is still an amazing book that won’t let the fans of Of Poseidon down, and readers will find themselves falling for the characters all over again.

My Rating

Did my Roaring Review made you want to read the book too? What are you waiting for; click the button below and add it to your To-Read Shelf in Goodreads!

Nonsensical Nonsense: The Chocolate Book Tag

The Chocolate Book Tag!!!

Hello! I saw this awesome Book Tag in my awesome friend's awesome blog,  and decided "Pfffft, what heck! I've got time to kill and 70% laptop battery to burn, not to mention THAT I WAS TAGGED! so why not?" And thus starting my endeavor to write this sweet, albeit delicious, post.

#1 Dark Chocolate: a book that covers a dark topic.

Patrick Ness' The Knife of Never Letting go is one of the darkest series I have ever read that caters YA . It deals with several themes such as death, betrayal, and lies in a macrocosmic quality.

While reading this book, the reader could easily empathize with the main protagonists, Todd, through his endeavors and ordeals.  

Plot Synopsis:
Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. 

Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee -- whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not -- stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden -- a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives.

#2 White Chocolate: your favorite lighthearted/humorous read.

Okay, I have only read  Of Poseidon, by Anna Banks recently, but this is literally the first book that I heard myself exclaim a really audible laugh. 

I don't know if I have been living under a rock and not get the inscripted humor of the other books I have read, but this book really made me laugh. 

Not to mention that the cover just makes me want to drool.

Plot Synopsis:
Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen—literally, ouch!—both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma's gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom...


Told from both Emma and Galen's points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance.

#3 Milk Chocolate: a book that has a lot of hype that you're dying to read. 

I have seen a lot of my friends loving and going ballistic about this book, something to with this one being made a movie or a tv-series. Truth be told, after reading The Monstumoloist I have been quite wary of reading a Rick Yancey book, but after seeing this flooding my news feeds everywhere, I am now hyped more than ever to read this.

Plot Synopsis:
After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

#4 Chocolate With a Caramel Center: a book that made you feel all gooey in the middle while you're reading it.

I remember there was this one point in my fanboying life where I just lied on my bed, any suggestion of rational thinking escaping my grasps as all my mind through about were Sam & Grace, Sam & Grace, Sam & Grace. Up until now, I remember almost upturning my table and rolling round and round on my bed, as a side effect of the insane emotions that came with the book.

FEELS!

FEELS!

FEELS!

FEELS!!!!

Plot Synopsis:

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without.

Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.


#5 Wafer Free Kitkat: a book that has surprised you recently

A beautiful girl hoarding the front cover? Check

Elegant blue dress that must worth a thousand dollars? Check

Pitcher explicity enlightens a love triangle ensuing? Check

The model provocatively obscures half of her face? Check

This looks like a girl's book? Check

This is actually a girls book, that's full of nonsense? NOPE, NOT REALLY

Plot Synopsis:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

#6 Snickers: a book that you're going nuts about.

THIS IS WRITTEN BY CASSANDRA CLARE AND IS THE FINAL INSTALL TO THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS SERIES. Nuff said.

Plot Synopsis (POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD):
ΕRCHOMAI, SEBASTIAN HAD SAID. 

I am coming.

Darkness returns to the Shadowhunter world. As their society falls apart around them, Clary, Jace, Simon and their friends must band together to fight the greatest evil the Nephilim have ever faced: Clary’s own brother. Nothing in the world can defeat him — must they journey to another world to find the chance? Lives will be lost, love sacrificed, and the whole world changed in the sixth and last installment of the Mortal Instruments series!


#7 Hot Chocolate with Cream and Marshmallows: A book that you would turn to for a comfort read

Shards & Ashes is an anthology written several authors, each one contributing a story in the book. The story I'm specifically talking about is BRANDED by KelLey Armstrong. Branded is basically a love story set in a dystopian future where anyone who's suspected as a paranormal is branded, and is exiled from the city leaving them to fend off for themselves.

Considering the story is really short, I found myself returning again and again back to those 30 pages every time I'm depressed or lonely. 

#8 Box of Chocolates: what series have you read that you feel has a wide variety and something for everyone?

DO NOT BE MISLEAD BY THE COVER!!! Sure the first book may not have that beautiful cover compared to the other two, but it is one of the best books I have read this year! This is a definitely a must have for all the book readers out there who are still missing out on the action this book has brought.

May you be a fan of mystery, high fantasy, or just plain old romance, and no matter what your age, readers will find themselves enjoy being lost inside the world of Akiva and Karou so meticulously woven by Laini Taylor what ever your age.

Plot Synopsis:
Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.


When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?


I'm tagging: Eccentric Everything

Roaring Reviews: Of Poseidon, by Anna Banks

Title: Of Poseidon

Author: Anna Banks

Publication Date: May 22, 2012 by Feiwel and Friends

Format: Hardback

Plot Synopsis:

Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen – literally, ouch! – both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma's gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom...

Told from both Emma and Galen's points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance.

The Actual Review:

The first time I saw this book was when I was browsing through my friend's vast collection of e-books in her phone, doing the usual - judging the palatability of books by the aesthetics of their covers. Of course everything was going fine until I saw that very same cover pop on the screen, and being a sucker of underwater photo covers, I made a mental note to read it. Soon. 

And hell, was my book cover judging abilities, right!

The book immediately started with Emma, accidentally stumbling into Galen, then segued to her enumerating her possible options from averting embarrassment. And it was with in that first page that I found myself immediately hooked with the book!  I just loved the humor and the witty bouts of conversation the characters have with each other.  It's really hard to find a book, that is mostly romance, where you have smart arguments ensuing all over the book while having at the same time a strong female protagonist. 

Another reason I found myself engrossed in this, was because of the characters themselves. Good bye, stoicly, dark, mysterious male leads. Good bye, female characters who doesn't know what to do or what's happening most of the time. And if you have fallen in  love with Roar from Under the Never Sky, and Kenji from Shatter Me, then Toraf will definitely sweep you off your feet!

Some people my be put-off by the incredibly weak red herring and immediately guess the plot twist at the end, but Of Poseidon is a nice quick read that will get you laughing while drinking your tea. 

My Rating

Did my Roaring Review made you want to read the book too? What are you waiting for; click the button below and add it to your To-Read Shelf in Goodreads!