Book #124: Finale

Title: Finale (fourth and final book in the Hush Hush series)

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Date started reading: Oct. 29, 2012
Date finished reading:  Nov. 3, 2012

Publish date: October 2012
ISBN: 978-1442426672
Number of pages: 464

Official summary: "Nora is more certain than ever that she is in love with Patch. Fallen angel or no, he is the one for her. Her heritage and destiny may mean they are fated to be enemies, but there is no turning her back on him. Now Nora and Patch must gather their strength to face one last, perilous trial. Old enemies return, new enemies are made, and a friend's ultimate betrayal threatens the peace Patch and Nora so desperately want. The battle lines are drawn — but which sides are they on? And in the end, are there some obstacles even love can't conquer?" (simonandschuster.com)

Official book trailer:

How I obtained the book: Pre-ordered for $11.73 from Walmart using a giftcard I got for my birthday

My commentary:  I'm a little surprised that this book/series ended with a happy ending. I fully expected Patch to die and leave readers sad. I should've known better. I wanted a sad ending for some reason.

Memorable quotes:

• "Next time I'm in the market for a best friend, remind me to shy away from the Energizer Bunny." ~ Nora
• "Patch is the last person you want to antagonize. He doesn't hold grudges, because the people who cross him tend to disappear quickly."Nora
• "If I could have any trophy displayed on my dresser, I wouldn't voluntarily choose one for corrupting people's minds." ~ Nora
• "If you touch my cell phone again, I'll pee in your Cheerios." ~ Marcie to Nora
• "I can handle a lot of things, but an unproductive day isn't one of them." ~ Patch
• "You're mine, Angel. Every last piece of you. I won't let anything change that." ~ Patch to Nora
• "You dress to impress." ~ Nora
  "No, Angel. I undress to impress." ~ Patch

Buy on Amazon.com: Finale (Hush, Hush)
 

Book #123: Hidden

Title: Hidden (book #10 of the "House of Night" series)

Author: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Date started reading: Oct. 24, 2012
Date finished reading:  Oct. 26, 2012

Publish date: October 2012
ISBN: 978-0312594428
Number of pages: 320

Official summary: "Neferet’s true nature has been revealed to the Vampyre High Council, so Zoey and the gang might finally get some help in defending themselves and their beloved school against a gathering evil that grows stronger every day. And they’ll need it, because Neferet’s not going down without a fight. Chaos reigns at the House of Night." (http://www.houseofnightseries.com)

Book "trailer:"

How I obtained the book: Pre-ordered for $13.82 from DoubleDay Book Club

My commentary:  I've been disappointed with some of the books of this series. They're often so cheesy that they annoy me, but this one was the best of the second half of the series. I was pleasantly surprised by how good this one is.

Memorable quotes:

• "But, Zoey, life isn't black and white or true and false, and neither are people." ~ Shaylin
• "Neferet loathed dogs almost as much as she loathed men." 
• "My life is Crazy Town." ~ Zoey
• "You're not Crazy Town. You're Crazy Metropolis. Hell, Z, you're Crazy Universe. But I like me some crazy." ~ Stark to Zoey
• "Neferet is only loyal to herself." ~ Rephaim
• "Being immortal you might not have realized this, but life is a lesson." ~ Thanatos to Kalona
• "I ain't Dr. Phil, but I'm smart." ~ Kramisha
• "Chaos burns -- people, vampyres, society. The victor who emerges from those ashes controls the world. I will be that victor." ~ Neferet
• "Humans don't look up. That was one thing that had not changed as the world aged. Man had conquered the sky, and yet unless there was a brilliant sunset or a full, gleaming moon to gaze upon, humans rarely glanced above their heads." ~ Kalona

Buy on Amazon.com: Hidden (House of Night)

Book #122: Immortal: Love Stories with Bite

Title: Immortal: Love Stories with Bite

Author: Editor - P.C. Cast. Writers - Rachel Caine, Kristin Cast, Claudia Gray, Nancy Holder, Tanith Lee, Richelle Mead, Cynthia Leitich Smith

Date started reading: Oct. 21, 2012
Date finished reading:  Oct. 23, 2012

Publish date: August 2008
ISBN: 978-1933771922
Number of pages: 280

Summary: "In Immortal: Love Stories With Bite, edited by New York Times bestselling author of the House of Night series P.C. Cast, seven of today’s most popular YA vampire and contemporary fantasy authors offer new short stories that prove when you’re immortal, true love really is forever. Rachel Caine (the Morganville Vampires series) revisits the setting of her popular series, where the vampires are in charge and love is a risky endeavor, even when it comes to your own family. Cynthia Leitich Smith (Tantalize) gives us a love triangle between a vampire, a ghost and a human girl, in which none of them are who or what they seem. Claudia Gray (Evernight) takes us into the world of her Evernight series, in which a pre–Civil War courtesan-to-be is courted by a pale, fair-haired man whose attentions are too dangerous to spurn, in more ways than one. Richelle Mead (the Vampire Academy series) brings us the tale of a young vampire on the run from the rest of her kind, and the human boy who provides the getaway car, as well as a reason to keep running. Nancy Holder (the Wicked series, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) immerses us in a post-apocalyptic New York where two best friends are forced to make a choice that may kill them both. Kristin Cast (the House of Night series) introduces us to a new kind of vampire: one with roots in Greek mythology, and the power to alter space and time to save the girl he's meant to love. Rachel Vincent (the Soul Screamers series) explores a new corner of her series with the story of aleanan sidhe capable of inspiring the musician she loves to new creative heights, or draining him, and his talent, dry. And Tanith Lee (Black Unicorn) shows us what happens when a bright young woman with some supernatural savvy encounters a misguided (but gorgeous) young vampire."

How I obtained the book: Got through PaperBackSwap.com

My commentary: Ok, so I have got to stop reading these anthologies of short stories. It's a waste of money. I just don't like short stories overall. I did really like Richelle Mead's story though. Mead has a talent for making readers connect with characters quickly so she's good at even short stories

Memorable quotes:

• "Vampires. Can't live with 'em, and in Morganville, you definitely can't live without 'em, because they run the town." ~ Shane (in Rachel Caine's story)
• "Zombies, vampires, whatever. When you live in Morganville, you learn to roll with the supernatural punches." ~ Shane (in Rachel Caine's story)

Buy on Amazon.com: Immortal: Love Stories With Bite

Book #121: Eternal: More Love Stories with Bite

Title: Eternal: More Love Stories with Bite

Author: Edited by P.C. Cast. Stories by Heather Brewer, Rachel Caine, Claudia Gray, Nancy Holder, Jeri Smith-Ready, Lili St. Crow

Date started reading: Oct. 16, 2012
Date finished reading:  Oct. 20, 2012

Publish date: November 2010
ISBN: 978-1935618010
Number of pages: 256

Summary: "Eternal: More Love Stories With Bite presents all-new YA stories featuring vampires, the romantic heroes and heroines that still hold the reading public enraptured. A mix of writers makes for a fresh new collection with dark romance, and a book that's sure to thrill vampire romance fans old and new."

How I obtained the book: Bought for 50 cents at friends of the library charity book sale

My commentary:  Reading this reminded me of why I hate short stories overall. Unless the writer is fantastic, I just don't think you can form a strong emotional connection to a character when you're just reading a short story. The story I liked best in the book was Rachel Caine's, but of course, that was mainly because I read her Morganville Vampires book series and I had already developed the connection to the characters she focuses on. 

Memorable quotes:

• "Saying there are too many vampire novels is like saying there are too many cars." ~ P.C. Cast in the introduction
• "Being a vampire meant constantly negotiating between past, present, and future." ~ Patrice (in Claudia Gray's story)
• "Life begins after death -- the preachers didn't lie about that. But heaven can't be as sweet as drinking that Nazi's blood." ~ Charlie (in Claudia Gray's story)
• "That was the nature of love. Utter madness" ~ Romeo (in Nancy Holder's story)
• "My name is Eve, and I'm a drama queen. I don't mean like any old garden-variety teen throwing a tantrum, oh no. I am a Drama Queen, with big initial capital letters and curlicues on top. I work hard at it, and I resent anybody lumping me in with a bunch of wannabe poseurs who haven't even qualified in Beginning Pouting, much less Champion Fit Throwing." ~ Rachel Caine's story
• "Don't check my teeth like I'm your livestock. I bite back." ~ Eve (in Rachel Caine's story)
• "I heard the girl who catches the bouquet at a vampire wedding has to be dessert." ~ Liam (in Jeri Smith-Ready's story)
• "Vampire weddings are pretty much like human weddings, except there's no priest, no talk of kids, and instead of kissing each other, they bite." ~ Cassie (in Jeri Smith-Ready's story)

Buy on Amazon.com: Eternal: More Love Stories with Bite

Book #120: Blood And Chrysanthemums

Title: Blood And Chrysanthemums (Follow-up to "The Night Inside" a.k.a. "The Kiss of the Vampire")

Author: Nancy Baker

Date started reading: Oct. 7, 2012
Date finished reading:  Oct. 12, 2012

Publish date: 1995
ISBN: 978-0140238662
Number of pages: 282

Official summary: "Becoming a vampire was easier than she had ever dreamed... Ardeth Alexander surrendered her mortal life in a night of despair and desire – initiated into a new existence by the five-hundred-year-old vampire, Dimitri Rozokov. Living as a vampire was more complicated than she had ever expected... Fleeing Toronto, Ardeth and Rozokov settle in the tourist town of Banff, Alberta. While she tests her new strength against the mountains by climbing, Rozokov returns to astronomy, the science of his youth. Together they hunt the dark reaches of the park, preying on the animals they find there, upholding an unspoken agreement not to taste human blood. Yet all their activity cannot disguise their restlessness and soon their fragile happiness is shattered by bitter conflict and inevitable betrayal. Angry and unhappy, Ardeth returns to Toronto to try to recatpure the life she believed she had left behind forever. Understanding what it means to be a vampire would prove harder than she had ever imagined... What Ardeth and Rozokov do not know is that they are being hunted. A member of the yakuza, the Japanese underworld, is on their trail, seeking the fulfillment of his most secret ambition. So is his employer, Sademori Fujiwara – a vampire whose extraordinary history is revealed to Rozokov through his diary. From the seductive nights in the imperial court of the eleventh century to the horror and tragedy of the darkest days of the twentieth, Fujiwara’s story is a tale of poetry and violence, of delight and despair. In his life, Ardeth and Rozokov see the promise of the answers to the questions of love, mortality and morality that have torn them apart. Fujiwara’s power draws them back together to face those questions again – but the price that they all have to pay for the answers will be higher than any of them expected." (http://www.nancybaker.ca)

How I obtained the book: Got through PaperBackSwap.com.

My commentary: --

Memorable quotes: --

Buy on Amazon.com: Blood And Chrysanthemums: A Vampire Novel

Book #119: Snow White & the Huntsman

Title: Snow White & the Huntsman

Author: Lily Blake, Evan Daugherty, John Lee Hancock and Hossein Amini

Date started reading: Oct. 4, 2012
Date finished reading:  Oct. 5, 2012

Publish date: June 2012
ISBN: June 5, 2012
Number of pages: 240

Official summary: "Snow White is the only person in the land fairer than the evil queen who is out to destroy her. But what the wicked ruler never imagined is that the young woman threatening her reign has been training in the art of war with a huntsman who was dispatched to kill her." (http://www.snowwhiteandthehuntsman.com/)

Movie trailer:

How I obtained the book: Got through Listia.com. (It's sort of like eBay but uses a credit system instead of money.

My commentary:

• I haven't watched the movie. I'm sure I will at some point because it looks interesting. I didn't intend to read this book, but I saw it show up on Listia and decided to go ahead and read it.

Memorable quotes:

• "I believe kings and queens and dukes and princesses have no business sticking their noses in common folks' lives." ~ Huntsmaan
• "I have come to learn there is no peace while others suffer." ~ Snow White

Buy on Amazon.com: Snow White & the Huntsman