Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Things I Love As Much as Books (7)

Have you entered my contest yet to win a copy of Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer?!?  NO?!?  GO DO SO NOW!!!!

So, I think it's a given that I love to read.  Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading.  Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!

I am a HUGE sucker for anything related to old school games - we're talking Atari, FamCom, Nintendo, that kind of thing.  My heart seriously does a leap of happiness every time I see something old school Mario.  Which is why, when I was in Tokyo last time, I absolutely fell in LOVE with a capital HEART with this chair:

It's entirely made of original FamCom games, and the awesomeness of it is almost too much for me to handle.  It is so super rad that, methinks, it probably even surpasses a chair made entirely of books. And notice how there are arcade games on both sides. Yeah!
Now that is something that I for real love just as much as I love books.
<3

Monday, August 30, 2010

Mini Review: Burning Up: Here There Be Monsters by Meljean Brook

Title: Burning Up: Here There Be Monsters

Author: Meljean Brook

Rating:

Who Should Read It? A great book for all lovers of steampunk romance!

What I Have to Say:
Burning Up is a book consisting of 4 short paranormal romances, but since they are all so different, I have decided to review each one separately. And since the first one I read was the last one in the book, I'll start at the end, with "Here There Be Monsters" by Meljean Brook.

I am ashamed to say that this is actually the first steampunk romance I have ever read (unless you count Soulless by Gail Carriger), and I'm really wondering what was stopping me before. I'm always afraid when I hear romance, but with Here There Be Monsters, I had nothing to worry about. It was a great blend of steam techonology, patience, and love. It starts off when Ivy Blacksmith tries to escape London and finds herself indebted to Mad Machen, known to be one of the craziest pirates on the seas.
Brook managed to pack quite a lot into this 100 page little short story, and that in itself was impressive. I absolutely loved the way that this story played out, and Brook's use of Ivy's talent as a blacksmith to incorporate all sorts of "new" technology was brilliant. I couldn't decide if I felt more like I was reading historical fiction or science fiction, but in the end it didn't matter. It was all in all just a satisfying read, and that's all there is to it.
For a book that I went into unsure about, I'm surprised by how excited I am for the October 2010 release of the Iron Duke, to which this story was a prequel. I will definitely be looking for more Meljean Brook in the future!

Summary: Meljean Brook launches a bold new steampunk series with Here There Be Monsters, as a desperate woman strikes a provocative—and terrifying—bargain to gain overseas passage.

Cover Story: The title of this book and the cover both kind of turn me off, and it's a good thing the summaries were what they were or I might never have picked it up. The cover's sexy, for sure, but I don't normally go in for "hunk" books.

I received this book as a part of vvb32 Reads Iron Seas Challenge! I've boarded the ship (and luckily not gotten sick), and I'm hoping to manage to stay on the whole way through! Wish me luck!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Nihon No Kinyoubi (10)

Have you entered my contest yet to win a copy of Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer?!? NO?!? GO DO SO NOW!!!!

Nihon no Kinyoubi (Japanese Friday) is a weekly feature here at Brizmus Blogs Books inspired by French Friday, which is a weekly feature hosted by Charlotte at the Book on the Hill. Charlotte features French bookish things, and I plan on featuring Japanese bookish things, though I won't limit myself if I find something non-bookish that I think will interest you guys.

This week button voting is going on (Be sure to go vote!), and I'm so excited because that means that in TWO Fridays, I'll have a new exciting button for the feature!  Yay!

Anyhow, when I was in Tokyo, I briefly stepped into a book store, and there was something about it that just seemed perfect to me. Maybe it was the calm feel or the hardwood floors or the metal bookcases - I don't know. What I do know is they had a great English book selection and a really cool way of announcing the different sections (like the random bike sitting at the end of the shelves in the sports section - sorry it's blurry).




I also know that, if I lived in Tokyo, I would regularly frequent this book store. I have found that, so far, I love bookstores in Japan because they are so colorful inside - everything is always displayed in an organized, fun, creative way, and the atmosphere is always calm and relaxed yet fun!
I find that the bookstores here are such a NICE change from the bookstores in France.

What appeals to you most about the bookstores you love?

Thursday, August 26, 2010

The Voting Has Arrived!

As I mentioned before, my blogiversary is right around the corner. And I am SO excited because I've paired up with CSN Stores, and I've got a great $50 dollar giveaway coming up, paired with a review for one of their fabulous products. I haven't decided yet what I'm going to review, but since every good reader needs a comfortable place to read, I've been thinking about a nice modern chair from their AllModern store. Or maybe one of their many amazing bookshelves. I hope you'll enter

Since it's the blogiversary, I can't have just one contest. Have you entered my contest yet to win a copy of Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer?!? NO?!? GO DO SO NOW!!!!

And now what you have all been waiting for! My make me a button contest has ended, and I've got some GREAT entries! Thanks to all those who participated! I love them all, and I have NO idea how I am going to pick which one to use. And that's where you come in.
VOTE ON YOUR FAVORITE!
Here's how it works - each image is associated with a number. You can either respond to the poll in my sidebar (which is also at the bottom of this post) to let me know which one you like or comment on this post which your preference. I'd love to hear your reasons for choosing, even if you do use the poll!
Voting ends September 5, 2010.

And let the voting begin!

1 Eleni from La Femme Readers

2 Aik from Friends and Family

3, 4, and 5 Kirthi from Pages

b

b

c

6 and 7 Charlotte from The Book on the Hill

a b

8 Michelle from the True Book Addict

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (18)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.



Basically, I pick a book I'm excited about that's coming out sometime soon.

Though I still haven't read the Girl Who Chased the Moon, I am already excited about Sarah Addison Allen's next release!


The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen


Publisher: Bantam
Release Date: March 22, 2011

Summary: No summary has been released yet. At least not that I can find. But really that doesn't matter. Because it's Sarah Addison Allen. And so it's of course going to be AWESOME, right?

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Things I Love As Much As Books (6)

Have you entered my contest yet to win a copy of Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer?!? NO?!? GO DO SO NOW!!!!

So, I think it's a given that I love to read. Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading. Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!

I've been watching and adoring season 3 of True Blood (why do I love the show so much when I could never get into the books - I have a friend that assures me that I should give them another chance, but I'm just not sure), and I have to say that I might just love Eric Northman and Russell Edginton as much as I love books.



Eric Northman is not only to die for gorgeous, but I also LOVE his character, and lately I feel as if he has just been getting better and better. And there are SO many things that I want to say about why, but I don't want to spoil anything for my readers that haven't watched all of the episodes I have and are planning to.



And then, well, Russell Edginton because I think he might just be my favorite vampire of all time. He is intense and funny and so straight up about what he is somehow without managing to be over the top.
Seriously, he is totally making the season.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Me in Book Titles

Have you entered my contest yet to win a copy of Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer?!? NO?!? GO DO SO NOW!!!!

Sooo, I was over at The Book on the Hill, and she had up the coolest meme in which you answer questions about yourself using book titles. Charlotte's answers are fun, so be sure to go check them out. I of course also just HAD to participate. I mean, how can you pass up describing yourself and your life by books?
see *

Here's my go!

Describe yourself: the Neverending Story

How do you feel: Stranger in a Strange Land

Describe where you currently live: House of Suns

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Norwegian Wood

Your best friend is: The Flaxen Femme Fatale

You and your friends are: the Witches

What's the weather like: Catching Fire

Favourite time of day: The Return of Nightfall

What is life to you: Battle Royale

You fear: American Gods

What is the best advice you have to give: Brief Lives

Thought for the Day: The Girl Who Chased the Moon

How I would like to die: the Gods Themselves

My soul’s present condition: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Books Mentioned
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlen
House of Suns by Alistair Reynolds
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
The Flaxen Femme Fatale by John Zakour
The Witches by Roald Dahl
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
The Return of Nightfall by Mickey Zucker Reichert
Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Sandman Vol. 7: Brief Lives by Neil Gaiman
The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer


I'd love to see what you come up with!

* This picture was taken without permission from emperpep on Deviant Art.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Nihon no Kinyoubi (9)

Before anything, have you checked out my Make Me A Button Contest?!? I'm asking people to make a cool button for this feature. Some fun Japanese themed books are up for grabs, so be sure to check it out, if you haven't already! I haven't received any entries yet, so get on it! I'm dying to see what you'll come up with!

Nihon no Kinyoubi (Japanese Friday) is a new feature here at Brizmus Blogs Books inspired by French Friday, which is a weekly feature hosted by Charlotte at the Book on the Hill. Charlotte features French bookish things, and I plan on featuring Japanese bookish things, though I won't limit myself if I find something non-bookish that I think will interest you guys.

Perhaps you remember a little while ago, I posted about the weird love that Japanese have for 自動はん売き (vending machines). Specifically in regards to the BANANA vending machine that recently popped up in Tokyo.


Well, last time I was in Tokyo, I also saw something else totally awesome.

And it was this:



A book vending machine!

Now, I'd heard before about people that live in places with book vending machines, and to be honest, I'd always sort-of thought it was a myth.
I was thrilled to discover that the myth of the book vending machine was actually TRUE! For serious! Now, if only I the books were in English. Or rather, if only I could read Japanese.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

BLOGIVERSARY GIVEAWAY 2: Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer GIVEAWAY!

So, I mentioned before that my blogiversary is coming up. I've decided that, even though I started blogging before then, the official date will be August 24. Leading up until then, I've decided to have some giveaways to celebrate! The first of those giveaways is my MAKE ME A BUTTON CONTEST going on - go check it out and make me a button for my weekly feature, Nihon No Kinyoubi, to participate!

This will be the second of my giveaways!

You perhaps remember (or perhaps not) the RAVING 5 star REVIEW I posted of a FABULOUS book - Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer!!!! I absolutely ADORED this book, and it's just recently come out in paperback.

I'm excited to say that, thanks to Hachette, I've got *5* copies to give away to some lucky readers. Unfortunately, since they'll be coming from Hachette, this contest is only open to non P.O. Box residents of the USA and Canada.

All you've got to do to enter is fill out the following form. It's that easy. And I'd love for you to promote the contest as well, but it's totally not obligatory!
ENDS SEPTEMBER 2!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (17)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.



Basically, I pick a book I'm excited about that's coming out sometime soon.

This week's pick is



Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later by Francine Pascal


I can't wait for the cover to be released! You can bet I'll be posting it immediately! :-)

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publishing Date: March 29, 2011

Sweet Valley High, Sweet Valley Twins, Sweet Valley Kids, Sweet Valley University, and the Unicorn Club were all some of my favorite book series growing up. Seriously - I ADORED Jessica and Elizabeth! So when I heard about Sweet Valley Confidential, I might have just screamed for joy! I am SO excited, and I don't know if I can wait until March.

If you also found yourself screaming for joy, be sure to check out the web page, where you can be kept up to date on how it's coming along and sign up for a free sneak preview of the first chapter!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Things I Love As Much As Books (5)

So, I think it's a given that I love to read. Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading. Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!

Well, I've got a huge test on Thursday, and I spent too much time blog browsing, so I've got very little time for posting. But after what a miserable June I had for blogging, I don't want to let myself get into the habit of not posting again.

And so, this week, for something simple that I absolutely LOVE as much as I love books!

ARTICHOKES!




They are totally my favorite vegetable. Just looking at that picture is making me salivate. YUM! It's a pity they are so hard to find, as the deliciousness is almost too much for me to bear!

What's your favorite vegetable?

Monday, August 16, 2010

Review: In the Garden of Men by John Kupferschmidt

Title: In the Garden of Men

Author: John Kupferschmidt

Rating: 1/2

Who Should Read It? I think this is a great book for adults and teens, alike. As long as adult books appeal to you, and you enjoy a little thinking and don't mind a bit of politics (you can enjoy politics, too - that's okay!), this book could be great for you.

What I Have to Say:
In the Garden of Men is the 2007 winner of the 3-Day Novel Contest. As such, going into it, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I mean, how can one really write anything significant in a mere 3 days?
By the end of the first chapter, though, any doubts that I may have had were assuaged. It became immediately clear that Kupferschmidt's exploration of Soviet-era communist Czechoslovakia was going to be meaningful in a very intense way. It was the first paragraph of the book, actually, that did me in.

"I do not believe in goodness. . .There is no such thing as universal good, and this is why I say that I do not believe in goodness."

This particular issue is one that has plagued me for as long as I can remember. What is good? Goodness, or morality, rather, is defined by any particular society. When a culture comes together and agrees as a unit that something is good, does that thus make it good? Before the Civil War, Americans has decided that slavery was good. Some citizens disagreed, and they fought against it and, for the most part were punished for this but eventually, because of those people, Americans were able to change their minds and decide that slavery is actually bad. Goodness is relative.

This is why, despite our main character's assessment that he does not believe in goodness, I knew he had to be good, and I knew I would "get" him. I believe it takes a good person to understand that "good" doesn't really exist. This is also why I knew I was going to love this book.

We follow the main character, a blase nobody, a government worker who prefers not caring to thinking, as plays the role of perfect communist, acting as a pawn for the government not because he believes in his government but because he just doesn't care enough to do otherwise. As he slowly is forced by external circumstances to think about his role in society and judge himself as he has previously, unthinkingly, judged others, to come to terms with the things has has done and is being asked to do. And, most importantly, as he learns to take responsibility for himself and for his actions as opposed to allowing himself to be blindly led along by a communist state that he does not and cannot believe in.

Kupferschmidt writes with a humility rarely seen in modern authors. His storyline, while in and of itself simple, is woven through with complex, profound thoughts and intriguing twists and turns. The easy stream-of-consciousness flow is beautiful, captivating, and more than that, real. What happens in this book is so important that understanding it as something real, I think, is vital. While what happens is in the past, it reminds you that being aware is necessary and that we shouldn't let society define things for us - we are allowed to disagree, and even if we can do very little about it, we can, at the very least, change ourselves. Which is one step in the right direction.

If it's not totally evident, I loved this book, and I really think you will, too! It's short and easy to read, and, while you may not love it as much as I did, I sincerely doubt that you will be disappointed.

Summary:In 1968, an inconsequential government worker finds himself swept into the mechanism of state oppression when the Soviet Union invades Czechoslovakia. Put to work processing the warrants for anyone who opposes the new regime, he falls quickly into the moral no-man's-land of repressive bureaucracy. As his signatures send thousands to their fate, a series of encounters with a priest, a prostitute and the ghosts of the disappeared forces him to face the fundamental choice between action and safety.

Cover Story: I think this cover is beautiful. The sad look on the angel's face, to me, really captures the feel of the book.

CymLowell

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Make me a Button Contest EXTENSION!

So, perhaps you noticed that I did it again - I disappeared for a week without saying a single word about it. Or perhaps you didn't notice. In any case, I am sorry, and the disappearance wasn't planned at all.

My boyfriend came to visit me in Japan for two weeks. The first week, we hung out where I live in Okazaki, and I had minimal internet time, but I still managed to get some posting in. The second week, we went traveling, and I had actually written most of the posts I was planning to post, but I thought I would have at least a LITTLE internet time, so I didn't schedule them.

I had no internet time. I didn't look at the internet even ONCE while I was away. Nor did I study my Japanese (oops, I am a bad, bad student). So, sorry about that, and I hope that it won't happen again any time soon.

I'll soon be blogging about our travels in my other, personal blog, Brizmus Around the World, so be sure to check it out if you're interested in seeing some pictures!

Also, I have only received TWO entries for my MAKE ME A BUTTON CONTEST! Thanks Charlotte and Kirthi! As such, I am extending the contest. I haven't decided for how long (though I am thinking until August 22), so get your buttons in QUICK, as it could end any second! And please do enter, even if you think your button making talents aren't up to par.

And I think that's all. I have a HUGE test on Thursday for which I am MASSIVELY unprepared, but I'm thinking I won't let that get in the way of my blogging and reading, so all is good. :-)

Friday, August 6, 2010

Nihon no Kinyoubi (8)

Before anything, have you checked out my Make Me A Button Contest?!? I'm asking people to make a cool button for this feature. Some fun Japanese themed books are up for grabs, so be sure to check it out, if you haven't already! I haven't received any entries yet, so get on it! I'm dying to see what you'll come up with!

Nihon no Kinyoubi (Japanese Friday) is a new feature here at Brizmus Blogs Books inspired by French Friday, which is a weekly feature hosted by Charlotte at the Book on the Hill. Charlotte features French bookish things, and I plan on featuring Japanese bookish things, though I won't limit myself if I find something non-bookish that I think will interest you guys.

Have you ever seen a cicada? I actually hadn't before I came here. And if I'm being totally honest, I'd actually never even HEARD of them before moving to Japan.


Now, though, let me assure you, I have seen a cicada.
And felt a cicada.
And HEARD a cicada.

And boy have I heard them. Nonstop. All the time. Some days, I don't want to spend a bagazillion yen just so that I can have my air conditioner on, so I think I want to open my window. But no - think crickets but a million times louder and more grating. The cicadas love to make noise.

You might be wondering what this has to do with anything. Why I would post something like this. So far, it's the only thing about Japan that I really dislike. And to be honest, I think it wouldn't bother me, except that the sound of the cicada has become one of the few things that can distract me from reading.
I just can't seem to concentrate while they are playing their nonstop song.

Is there anything that always manages to distract you from reading, no matter how into the book you are? I want to hear about it!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (16)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.



Basically, I pick a book I'm excited about that's coming out sometime soon.

This week's pick is one that is coming out SUPER soon. It's also different from the kind of book I normally read, and yet when I saw it, I knew immediately that I HAD to read it. It just looks so interesting!


The Smart Swarm by Peter Miller


Publisher: Avery
Publishing Date: August 5, 2010

Summary:What ants, bees, fish, and smart swarms can teach us about communication, organization, and decision-making

The modern world may be obsessed with speed and productivity, but twenty-first-century humans actually have much to learn from the ancient instincts of swarms. A fascinating new take on the concept of collective intelligence and its colorful manifestations in some of our most complex problems, The Smart Swarm introduces a compelling new understanding of the real experts on solving our own complex problems relating to such topics as business, politics, and technology.

Based on extensive globe-trotting research, this lively tour from National Geographic reporter Peter Miller introduces thriving throngs of ant colonies, which have inspired computer programs for streamlining factory processes, telephone networks, and truck routes; termites, used in recent studies for climate-control solutions; schools of fish, on which the U.S. military modeled a team of robots; and many other examples of the wisdom to be gleaned about the behavior of crowds-among critters and corporations alike.

In the tradition of James Surowiecki's The Wisdom of Crowds and the innovative works of Malcolm Gladwell, The Smart Swarm is an entertaining yet enlightening look at small-scale phenomena with big implications for us all.


Doesn't that sound SOOOOO cool?

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Things I Love As Much As Books (4)

So, I think it's a given that I love to read. Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading. Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!

Since today is my BIRTHDAY (yay! I'm 28!), I thought I would write about one thing that I love above all others.

Dr. Mario


I don't know if I really need to say more than that. When I got to Japan, I bought a a FamCom Emulator just so that, since I wasn't able to bring my Wii or my Nintendo, I would be able to continue playing Dr. Mario. I own one game for my FC Tech, and that game is Dr. Mario. Despite the fact that I like to fit in at least an hour of reading a day and that I have constant tests and quizzes everyday and blogs to update and homework to be doing an English lessons to be preparing, I STILL manage to play my FC Tech, and thus Dr. Mario, for at least 4 hours a week.



If you've never heard of the good Dr., well, the game is basically like Tetris, but a bagazillion times better. You have these viruses*, and Dr. Mario throws pills down, and you have to stack the pills on the viruses* to kill them. The awesomeness is almost too much for me. It's bed time, and I need to read a bit before sleep, but writing this now, I'm feeling like I might need to go play a round first.

*If this perhaps sounds weird to you, do not fear, it also sounds weird to me. There is actually lots of debate over the true plural of the word virus, as it was uncountable as a Latin word, but the overall accepted form is, indeed, viruses.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Review: Vampire Academy 2: Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Title: Vampire Academy 2: Frostbite

Author: Richelle Mead

Rating:

Who Should Read It? I feel like most readers of this blog that would like this book have already read it. But if you haven't and you're into strong female leads in a series with a unique take on vampires (and you've read and enjoyed the first one), you should totally check this book out!

What I Have to Say:
As someone who is not over vampire series because I was never actually able to get into them (with a couple exceptions, of course), I was shocked when I more than enjoyed the first book in this series. I read the first one shortly after reading a few books from another vampire series that I absolutely did not enjoy at all, and so when I liked it, I thought it must just be a fluke. I felt like I wanted to read the second one, but I thought there was no way I could continue enjoying a YA series about good-guy vampires.

Which is why I was once again shocked when I enjoyed this book. It was once again well-written, refreshing, unique, engaging, and most of all, enjoyable. How could it not be when Rose, Dmitri, Lissa, and Christian are all back and just as likable as ever! Well, maybe likable is the wrong word, as Lissa is too meek and Rose is too obnoxious and selfish (and yet self-sacrificing at the same time - hmmm) and well, all the characters are sort-of annoying. But in that annoyingness, they are oh so totally real. Believable. I don't want to include any first-book spoilers in this review, so we'll just say that this starts right where the last one ends, and the reader is immediately thrown back into the world of the dhampir and moroi and strigoi.

What I think I enjoy most about these books is the whole complicated class structure that Mead has created. Where the first book explored loyalty, this book went a bit deeper and explored that class structure. It seems so ridiculous and psychtoic, and yet the people living in the system can't imagine it any other way. They wouldn't want it any other way. As an outsider looking in, I want to grab their heads and shake them and say "CHALLENGE THE SYSTEM!" And in this book, the system is actually examined by some of the characters. Richelle Mead inadvertently makes fun of the system she has created, and I really enjoyed this under the surface humor. I also enjoyed seeing the characters themselves at times understanding just how ludicrous their situation really is. I think it is because of this, and the introduction of Tasha, my new favorite character, that I actually enjoyed this book MORE than the first one.

That said, I can say the same thing about this book that I said about the first one - it's super cute and fast-paced with an addictive plot line. I was glad to be reading it on a train, because otherwise my life and studies and friends WOULD have been neglected for the duration. If you haven't read this yet, what are you waiting for?

Summary:
Rose Hathaway's got serious guy trouble. Her gorgeous tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason has a huge crush on her, she keeps g...more Rose Hathaway's got serious guy trouble. Her gorgeous tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason has a huge crush on her, she keeps getting stuck in her best friend Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian.

Then a massive Strigoi attack puts St. Vladmir's on high alert, and the Academy crawls with Guardians-including the legendary Janine Hathaway...Rose's formidable, long-absent mother. The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks. This year, St. Vladmir's holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only provide the illusion of safety. When three students run away to strike back against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. Only this time, Rose-and her heat-are in more danger than she ever could have imagined.


Cover Story: Ummm, if that guy is Dmitri on the cover, can I just say NO! That is NOT what he looks like. And that is all I have to say about this cover.

My Contests

None for now!