Demonglass

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: Hyperion Books CH
Publication Date: March 1, 2011
Page Count:368


Description from Goodreads:

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

When I finished Demonglass the only thing I could think was "OMG it can't be over!". I just sat there staring at it like more pages would appear if I wanted it bad enough...too bad that isn't how it works! 

 Sophie's dad finally shows up at Hex Hall and convinces her, along with Jenna and Cal, to spend the summer with him in England before she decides if she really wants to go through with the Removal. Once there she finds out there are other demons and her and her dad set out trying to find who has transformed the teens and why. Archer shows up and Sophie is still drawn to him and can't seem to stay away even though she knows they can't and shouldn't be together. There are some major revelations and some big secrets exposed in this book. Demonglass is the perfect blend of mystery, action, and romance and ends on a total cliffhanger!! I almost can't stand that the next book in the series won't be coming out til sometime in 2012! 

Definitely read this book!!

Cover of the Week - Entwined

Entwined by Heather Dixon
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: March 29, 2011
Page Count: 480

Description from Goodreads:
Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it.

The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.

Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.

But there is a cost.

The Keeper likes to keep things.

Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late. 

The cover of Entwined is beautiful, magical, enchanting even! When I look at this cover I feel like I'm following a princess through a secret garden of some sort, like I want to stay with her and find out where she's going or where she came from. Essentially this is a re-telling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses and I can't wait to read it!

2011 Read Your Name Challenge

Lately I've been wanting to join a challenge that was a little different from your standard, read this many books of this kind or that kind. I wasn't having much luck so I decided to throw one together myself! This is the first challenge I have set up so bear with me! It's not going to be all technical where you have to sign up for this and that. It's just a simple "this will be fun" kind of thing.

I call it the "2011 Read Your Name Challenge". It's really simple! All you have to do is pick out book titles that start with the letters of your name. Can't get any easier than that!

For Example: 
B: Book of Love by Abra Ebner

         R: Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn

                    A: Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

     N: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

     D: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

    I: Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Here are the rules:

1. You don't have to read in the order of your name and you don't have to decide right away which books you want to read.

2. This challenge CAN crossover with other challenges.

3. You can use your first name along with your middle or even your last if you are feeling adventurous.

4. Finish by December 31st, 2011.

5. Have FUN!

Please leave a comment letting me know you have joined the challenge, if you have a blog I would love to see your blog URL attached to the comment! Please add the button to your sidebar and make sure that it links back to this post so others can join the challenge if they wish!

2011 Highlander Reading Challenge

I've decided to participate in the 2011 Highlander Reading Challenge hosted by Lori at Escape Between The Pages. The challenge is to read 20 Highlander books from Jan. 31st through Dec. 31st. 

Like I need any excuse to read about sexy, strong, manly men?!

I'll keep my list here for easy access and update it as I read.

Hope you join in on this challenge!

1. Sold to a Laird by Karen Ranney
2. When the Laird Returns by Karen Ranney
3. The Secret by Julie Garwood
4. Ransom by Julie Garwood
5. Shadow Music by Julie Garwood
6. Saving Grace by Julie Garwood
7. Captured by the Highlander by Julianne MacLean
8. The Truelove Bride by Shana Abe

Top Ten Books I Just HAD To Buy...But Are Still Sitting On My Bookshelf

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the blog The Broke and the Bookish. To participate, go here.

1.Shadow of the Sun 

2.Sisters Red

3.Wicked Lovely

4.Graceling

5. The Iron King

6.Delirium

7.Dead Until Dark

8.Darke Academy: Secret Lives

9.The Dark Queen

10. Switched

The Replacement

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff                      
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: September 21, 2010
Page Count: 343


Description from Goodreads:
Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.

Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.

I'm going to give this book a solid 3 stars. It was good but I don't think I'll ever reread it. I found the beginning very hard to get into, in fact after reading a chapter I put it down and read a different book instead. I did want to read the whole thing though so I trudged through the beginning and actually got a little into the book. 

Just like the description says this book is dark and full of unnatural things. When Tate's little sister goes missing Mackie is forced to confront who and what he really is and decides that he can't let something horrible happen to the toddler. He faces some pretty nasty challenges on his quest to save the little girl and eventually comes to love himself and let others love him back. This book does have teen drinking, cussing, and a little toplessness...just as a warning. 

Overall this book was very dark and grungy but not bad. I would recommend it to someone looking for something completely different. I can say that I have never read a book quite like this one. If you read it I would love to know what you think!  

Brightly Woven

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken                          

Publisher: Egmont USA

Publication Date: March 23, 2010

Page Count: 354

Description from Goodreads:

Sydelle Mirabil is living proof that, with a single drop of rain, a life can be changed forever. Tucked away in the farthest reaches of the kingdom, her dusty village has suffered under the weight of a strangely persistent drought. That is, of course, until a wizard wanders into town and brings the rain with him.

In return for this gift, Wayland North is offered any reward he desires—and no one is more surprised than Sydelle when, without any explanation, he chooses her. Taken from her home, Sydelle hardly needs encouragement to find reasons to dislike North. He drinks too much and bathes too little, and if that isn’t enough to drive her to madness, North rarely even uses the magic he takes such pride in possessing. Yet, it’s not long before she realizes there’s something strange about the wizard, who is as fiercely protective of her as he is secretive about a curse that turns his limbs a sinister shade of black and leaves him breathless with agony. Unfortunately, there is never a chance for her to seek answers.

Along with the strangely powerful quakes and storms that trace their path across the kingdom, other wizards begin to take an inexplicable interest in her as well, resulting in a series of deadly duels. Against a backdrop of war and uncertainty, Sydelle is faced with the growing awareness that these events aren’t as random as she had believed—that no curse, not even that of Wayland North, is quite as terrible as the one she herself may carry.

Brightly Woven was a breath of fresh air. I really enjoyed reading this book. It reminded me of when I was younger reading books like Dragon's Milk and Dealing with Dragons. Not that this is a book about dragons, its just the old world feel of it. It's like being transported back to a time when magic was still possible. Plus the cover is gorgeous!


Brightly Woven has mystery, adventure, romance, and magic all "woven" into one great story. Although the end wrapped up quite nicely I would definitely read a sequel if one were to come out! I hope you check out Brightly Woven and let me know what you think!