Nerve Blog Tour - A Review

It's time for another great blog tour stop, this time for Nerve by Jeanne Ryan (September 13, 2012 from Dial Books).  I have for you all today my review of this technologically-driven thriller where nothing is as it seems and trust isn't guaranteed.  Be sure to keep scrolling after the review for your chance to win a signed hardback copy of Nerve!

by Jeanne Ryan
publisher: Dial Books
date of publication: September 13, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 304
source: Netgalley

From Goodreads:

A high-stakes online game of dares turns deadly

When Vee is picked to be a player in NERVE, an anonymous game of dares broadcast live online, she discovers that the game knows her. They tempt her with prizes taken from her ThisIsMe page and team her up with the perfect boy, sizzling-hot Ian. At first it's exhilarating--Vee and Ian's fans cheer them on to riskier dares with higher stakes. But the game takes a twisted turn when they're directed to a secret location with five other players for the Grand Prize round. Suddenly they're playing all or nothing, with their lives on the line. Just how far will Vee go before she loses NERVE?

Debut author Jeanne Ryan delivers an un-putdownable suspense thriller.

Vee has spent much of her life in the shadow of her vivacious, dramatic friend, Sydney.  Behind the scenes both on the stage and in everyday life, Vee longs for two things: a career in fashion and a date with the object of her affection, Matthew.  When Vee experiences jealousy toward her friend, she decides to do something no one would expect: she completes a very public (and very embarrassing) dare for the live game NERVE.  From then on out, both temptation and a need for revenge lead Vee to do some of the most unspeakable dares NERVE can throw at her.  She stands to win everything she wants most... but at what cost?

Nerve takes a well-known concept (reality game shows) and gives it a whole new twist with a mysterious game of dares watched by thousands and taking place completely online.  I found some of the themes to be very appropriate due to current events and enjoyed thinking through all of the conundrums Vee faces as she advances through the rounds.  The sheer pervasiveness of NERVE made it a very frightening idea to ponder.  The fact that they are able to dig up information beyond the realm of the characters' expectations exhibits the perfect type of threat for such a storyline.

At first, I was a bit put off by Vee.  While she comes off as sweet for much of the first few chapters, it quickly becomes apparent that she is a flawed character.  Her penchant for letting her feelings for an obviously undeserving boy dictate her actions was a hard pill to swallow.  However, this can be used as a lesson in self-knowledge.  Vee reasons that she wants to shake things up when, in reality, she wants to gain the attention of the object of her affections.  The fact that this is a gateway that opens her up to greed which will put her life in danger further illustrates the dangers of her actions.  Seeing her figure all of this out and stand up for herself is an amazing thing after all of this, making for an action-packed conclusion.

Nerve proved to provide oodles of action and a lot of nail-biting moments.  Some of the scenes, while distasteful to me personally, illustrate just how much is wrong with this game of dares.  It all lends a chilling atmosphere that keeps your interest right up to the end.  Fans of conspiracy theories and spy scenarios should really enjoy this one.  If you want a thriller with a technological angle, give Nerve a try.

Buy Nerve at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This digital review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

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Review - A Temptation of Angels

by Michelle Zink
publisher: Dial
date of publication: March 20, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 448
source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Even angels make mistakes in this page-turning epic romance...

When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen-year-old Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendants charged with protecting the world's past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong, because temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel.

Michelle Zink masterfully weaves historical fantasy with paranormal romance to create a gripping tale of love and betrayal.

What I Thought

Since I received this ARC back in December, I have been highly anticipating getting the chance to read this book.  This is my first experience reading anything by Michelle Zink, so I had no preconceptions whatsoever with regard to what I should expect.  As it turns out, A Temptation of Angels was a great introduction to Michelle Zink's work.  I was treated to an engrossing tale that was every bit as entertaining as it was detailed.

Helen is an interesting character.  She is somewhat reserved when it comes to certain emotions, although she is also stubborn, naive, and caring.  When the book begins, we are introduced to Helen as she faces immediate danger.  Early on, one can begin to get a sense of just who Helen is based upon how she faces her struggles.  It is who she comes to be, however, that I found most intriguing.  While some of her actions may seem foolhardy at best, you have to admire her tenacity and spirit.  Griffin, one of the primary male characters and a source of attraction for Helen, is also an enjoyable character to get to know.  He is debonair, kind, and adventurous all at once, which makes for a great counterpart to Helen, as well as a pretty swoon-worthy male lead.  The character I felt most conflicted about, however, was not Darius, Griffin's sardonic brother, but Raum, the mysterious boy from Helen's childhood.  I didn't know whether I found him abhorrent or someone to be pitied.  Even by the end, he was as much of a mystery to me as when he first appeared in the book.

The construct of A Temptation of Angels is very absorbing.  It moves along at a nice clip and provides enough background information without causing an overload.  The premise is fresh and entertaining and has a nice helping of romance.  However, there is a love triangle involved, which I just don't feel so inclined toward.  For me, it detracts from Helen's decisiveness and the concept of love triangles overall is beginning to wear on my patience.  In the end, however, it doesn't effect my overall enjoyment of the book, nor does it put a damper on my desire to read more.

A Temptation of Angels is a great book that I will not hesitate to recommend in the future.  It is probably high on my list of angel books that I enjoy and I really hope to see more books set in this world in the future.  Michelle Zink has created a wonderfully imaginative take on the battle between angels and demons that will set your imagination alight.  If you enjoy books centered around angels and the theme of good vs. evil, then A Temptation of Angels would be a great choice.

Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge via the publisher through Library Thing Early Reviewers. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - Dragonswood

by Janet Lee Carey
publisher: Dial BFYR
date of publication: January 5, 2011
format: ARC
pages: 386
source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

From Goodreads:

Wilde Island is in an uproar after the recent death of its king. The uneasy pact between dragons, fairies, and humans is fraying, and a bloodthirsty witch hunter with a hidden agenda whips villages into frenzies with wild accusations. Tess, a blacksmith’s daughter from a tiny hamlet near the mysterious Dragonswood, finds herself caught in the crosshairs of fate when she is accused of witchery and has to flee for her life along with her two best friends.

Not even Tess’s power to see the future can help the girls as they set off on their desperate journey, but she keeps having visions of a man wielding a sword. And when she finally meets him, Tess has no idea how to handle the magnetic attraction she feels for him, or the elusive call she hears from the heart of the Dragonswood.

In this epic romance, an ancient prophecy comes true in a way neither dragon, fairy, nor human would have predicted.

What I Thought

There is nothing quite like high fantasy to get the imagination jump-started.  Dragonswood is a prime example of all that is great about the genre.  Filled with such things as adventure, fantasy creatures, and magic, Dragonswood takes you on a soaring flight into a world where both the remarkable and the dangerous are everyday occurences.  By injecting the fictional Wilde Island into the post-Arthurian Britain, Janet Lee Carey has created a stirring backdrop for a story as harrowing and fantastic as one could ask for.

Everything from the characters to the setting grabbed my attention with this book.  For starters, Tess is an amazing heroine to read about.  Though she succumbs to extreme circumstances and betrays her friends, she proves to be a loyal, strong friend that will stop at nothing to right a wrong and keep her dearest friends alive.  From their escape from Harrowton to their journey into the dangerous and mystical Dragonswood, the girls are in good hands with Tess, who is a born survivor.  When she learns more about herself, she becomes all the more fascinating.  I don't know if she is featured in the companion novel yet, but I certainly hope she will be. 

The fantasy elements were especially entertaining to me.  It doesn't get much better than capricious faeries and talking dragons.  I loved that the dragons were able to hold such an important role in the story, as well as their status as lords.  It all made for a more riveting story.  The lore injected into the story with regard to both dragons and faeries made it all the better.  I was sad when the book ended simply because I wanted to read more! 

If you want a rousing YA high fantasy for your TBR list, I would definitely recommend Dragonswood.  This was my first experience reading a work by Janet Lee Carey and I can safely say that it won't be my last.  Fans of strong characters and vivid settings will want to read this in a heartbeat.  I give Dragonswood 5 hoots and can't wait to buy a finished copy for my shelves.

Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via LibraryThing Early Reviewers. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Waiting on Wednesday - December 14, 2011

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To participate, simply share that book(s) you are eagerly awaiting the release of and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. Clicking the link above will take you straight to her post and widget.

I have another two picks this week.  The first is by someone who has become one of my favorite YA novelists since I started this crazy adventure in book blogging.  In fact, one of her books was the first novel that I read upon my return to reading YA and can definitely be credited with my newly found enthusiasm for this particular area.  The book in question is the beginning of an entirely new series that I can't wait to dig into.  That book is The Immortal Rules, book 1 in the upcoming Blood of Eden series, by Julie Kagawa.  The Immortal Rules will be released in hardcover by Harlequin Teen on April 24, 2012.

From Goodreads:

You will kill. The only question is when.

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

 My next pick is a new YA fantasy novel that revolves around the world of faeries.  Faerie novels are always welcome in my home, so imagine my excitement when I found out about the book in question.  The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long will be released on August 16, 2012 by Dial Books.

From Goodreads:

The trees swallowed her brother whole. And Jenny was there to see it. Years later, when she returns to the woods where Tom was taken to say good-bye at last, she finds herself lured into a world where stunning beauty masks the most treacherous of evils, and strange and dangerous creatures await—creatures who seem to consider her the threat. Among them is Jack, mercurial and magnetic, with allegiances that shift as much as his moods. Determined to find her brother, with or without Jack’s help, Jenny struggles to navigate a faerie world where nothing is what it seems, no one is who they say, and she’s faced with a choice between salvation or sacrifice—and not just her own.