The Quiet Concert: June 2014

June 2014 Recap

Nicole Read

Ashley Read

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Nicole's Pick

Ashley's Pick

June Reviews

June Highlights

Nicole recaps BEA 2014 and posts her first vlog EVER! Thank you all for your kind words :)
Nicole solicits your thoughts on cursing in reviews/on social media.
Ashley & Nicole participated in Life of a Blogger and share what they love about their alma mater, The University of Virginia!
Ashley has been busy with her wedding planning. She has been making decorations and awesome photo booth props!
Nicole finished her summer semester of grad school AND FINALLY HAS A BREAK! Now she will read ALL THE BOOKS ^^

Stacking The Shelves (78) - June 28th

Stacking the Shelves - hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews - features books that you bought, borrowed, rented from the library, received for review, etc.

Upcoming Reads

Obsidian (Lux #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Sinner (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3.5) by Maggie Stiefvater

What books are stacking your shelves??

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Eternity Cure
Series: Blood of Eden #2
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Pages: 434
Source: Audible, Audiobook

Summary from Goodreads:
In Allison Sekemoto's world, there is one rule left: Blood calls to blood

She has done the unthinkable: died so that she might continue to live. Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie's birthplace in New Covington, what Allie finds there will change the world forever—and possibly end human and vampire existence.

There's a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago—and this strain is deadly to humans and vampires alike. The only hope for a cure lies in the secrets Kanin carries, if Allie can get to him in time.

Allison thought that immortality was forever. But now, with eternity itself hanging in the balance, the lines between human and monster will blur even further, and Allie must face another choice she could never have imagined having to make.

Review

Oh my god, this sequel was amazing!!

Just days ago I posted my review of The Immortal Rules and was sad to say that I wasn't as impressed as I'd hoped to be. I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it. But this book. THIS BOOK. This book impressed me. This book I loved.

The Eternity Cure was so much more than The Immortal Rules in so many ways. Most noticeably, the plot moved at a much faster pace and the stakes were MUCH higher. There was never a dull moment in this book. In fact, I was almost in a constant state of nervous excitement. And although that ending left me sobbing and speechless, I have to say that the events in this book were perfectly orchestrated for maximum feels. So so good.

And I feel like the characters really grew into themselves. Allie was challenged a hell of a lot more, both physically and emotionally. She had to make a lot of really difficult decisions and I think that made her strong and compassionate personality come through even more so. And Zeke. *sigh*. I was not swooning Zeke in The Immortal Rules but I am swooning Zeke now. Hard. He was so much more badass this time around but still managed to keep that sweet way of his. And I never thought I'd say this, but Jackal grew on me. I might even care about him a little which makes me feel weird. His commentary was much appreciated. As for Sarren, he might just be the creepiest villain I have ever had the non-pleasure of reading about EVER. My god this guy gave me the chills and will in all likelihood give me nightmares as well. And Kanin was Kanin. He turned into this fatherly figure in my eyes. Rock solid.

Let's just say I now understand what all the fuss is about. This book pulled me in, made my care for these characters, and left me dying to pick up The Forever Song (although to be honest I am a little scared to). It was expertly written and feel-inducing. I am still in awe.

Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: Sinner
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3.5
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: July 1th 2014
Pages: Hardcover, 368 pages
Source: ARC from Publisher

Summary from Goodreads:
A standalone companion book to the internationally bestselling Shiver Trilogy.

Sinner follows Cole St. Clair, a pivotal character from the #1 New York Times bestselling Shiver Trilogy. Everybody thinks they know Cole's story. Stardom. Addiction. Downfall. Disappearance. But only a few people know Cole's darkest secret -- his ability to shift into a wolf. One of these people is Isabel. At one point, they may have even loved each other. But that feels like a lifetime ago. Now Cole is back. Back in the spotlight. Back in the danger zone. Back in Isabel's life. Can this sinner be saved?

Review

When a series ends it is typically a mix of happy and sad feelings; you are hopefully happy with the way things ended but sad to say goodbye to the characters. There is now another set of feelings, when you think the series is over and you hear the amazing news of a spin off featuring characters you would have loved to know more about. It is one more chance (besides rereads) to rejoin the story's world and enjoy a fantastic surprise. Sinner was all that and more!

"I'm a performer, a singer, a werewolf, a sinner."

Cole St. Clair is the epitome of a rock star. He lived the famous, drug and sex filled, crazy party lifestyle until it nearly killed him. He comes back to LA for Isabel and another try in a more subdued rock star role. Cole St. Clair was not someone Isabel was expecting to see walk into her store but one of the only ones she wanted to see.

" Wait---" Same said. " Have you seen Isabel yet?"

My fingers still felt the shape of her. "Da. We embraced. Angels sang, Sam. Those fat ones. Cherubs. Cherubim. I must go."

Maggie Stiefvater's writing will have you laughing at Cole's high speed, no filter raw comments and Isabel's sassy and feisty nature, all while wanting the tension between the characters to break because you just could not handle another page of it. The narration switches between both Isabel and Cole giving the reader insight into both side of the story and into both character's unguarded feelings.

" And here was what I was most afraid of: that Cole St. Clair would fall in love with me, and I'd fall in love with him, both of us human weapons, and we'd both end up with broken hearts."

The plot revolves around the dangerous and disastrous relationship between Cole and Isabel, while the action is not the typical fight, life threatening situation, the tension between the characters is more than enough to keep story moving. Every character in the story has a role, there are no extraneous or unnecessary details; everything played a part in the crazy roller coaster of Cole and Isabel's intense love story. My only reservation was that with all the tension I wish the end was a bit longer but overall it was a perfect fit for their personalities and characters.

Bottom Line

Sinner, is more than a reader could ask for in a surprise spin off; the sexual tension radiates off the pages while the dual point of view gives insight into the personal journeys each character is going through in the story. I was pleasantly surprised, the final book in The Wolves of Mercy Falls was enjoyable but not an all time favorite yet Sinner just was the icing on the cake.

Cover Trends & The Books That Got It Right

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's Top Ten list is
"Top Ten Book Cover Trends We Like and Dislike" but we modified that to...