Waiting on Wednesday #20 ♥ The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine!

 

The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead

Expected Publication: November 19, 2013

Publisher: Razorbill

 

Description from Goodreads:

In The Indigo Spell, Sydney was torn between the Alchemist way of life and what her heart and gut were telling her to do. And in one breathtaking moment that Richelle Mead fans will never forget, she made a decision that shocked even her. . . .

But the struggle isn't over for Sydney. As she navigates the aftermath of her life-changing decision, she still finds herself pulled in too many directions at once. Her sister Zoe has arrived, and while Sydney longs to grow closer to her, there's still so much she must keep secret. Working with Marcus has changed the way she views the Alchemists, and Sydney must tread a careful path as she harnesses her profound magical ability to undermine the way of life she was raised to defend. Consumed by passion and vengeance, Sydney struggles to keep her secret life under wraps as the threat of exposure—and re-education—looms larger than ever.

Pulses will race throughout this thrilling fourth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where no secret is safe.

 

Why I'm waiting on this:

Adrian. Honestly, I just really want more Adrian. Like, NOW. I'm especially excited for the chapters in his POV. Eeeeeeeeeep! I finished The Indigo Spell a few days ago and now I'm all into this series again and ahhhh. Also, on a less Adrian-crazy front, I'm curious as to how things will go with Sydney's sister and this new guardian guy who just showed up. Especially after having read the first chapter. (I haven't read the second chapter yet. I don't think my mind can handle it yet. I NEEEEEEEEEEED THIS BOOOOOOOOOOOOK.)

 

What do you think of my pick this week? And what are YOU waiting on? I want to know! If you made a post, leave a link so I can seeeeeeeee!

 

♥Jessica(:

Top Ten Most Intimidating Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish!

 

When I first saw today's topic, I was all like "HOW AM I EVER GOING TO THINK OF ENOUGH BOOKS?!?!?!!" Then I sat down and actually thought about it. My list was actually pretty hefty. You'd be amazed how many books intimidate me. I have learned that I am seriously afraid of books.

 

So, with that in mind, here is the list...

 

My Top Ten Most Intimidating Books:

 

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

 

I have had conversations with SEVERAL people about this. All of my favorite bookish people have told me that I must read this book, and yet I have not. Because of all of the books, this one, hands down, intimidates me the most. I am terrified to read it. There is so much hype and so many people telling me I'm going to love it, I am constantly worried that I won't. I mean, I already heart Kai (he was even interviewed on my blog in February!), but still. I. Am. So. Scared. AHHHHHHHHH. I really want to get to this one soon, though. Wendy Higgins is a lovely person, and the people I trust the most with bookish opinions are in love with this book, so it should turn out fine. I'm just a big baby.

 

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

 

Are we supposed to include books we've already read? Oh well. I am, because before I read this book, I was actually worried I would not like it. I chuckle at that now, because this book is complete awesome sauce (as is Jen), but there was also loads of hype around this book and a long line of people assuring me I'd love it. Fun fact: When people tell me I'm going to love something, I usually do, but only after freaking out about it for a good while. But then I had this book in my hands, and I was soooooooo happy, and I had finished my current read, so I was like "Welp. Why not?" And started it. And now here I am, 13 months later, a big time JLA fangirl. Funny how life goes, eh?

 

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

 

I've already read this one as well, but this was different than Obsidian. I wasn't worried because of hype before I read it. I just spent a good amount of time psyching myself out. Reading negative reviews on Goodreads, imagining all the ways this book could not be what I wanted it to be. But then I got bored, sat down, and read it, and I heart it. Adrian is as amazing as ever, y'all. <3

 

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

I haven't read it. I'm not even sure I will. But...darn it, that movie just came out (which I have not seen) and now I'm all kinds of curious about this freaking book. But it is MASSIVE, and apparently about aliens? Ha, and not the hot kind? I don't even know. I checked it out from the library once but never got to it because, again, it is ginormous. So now I stall. Maybe I'll read it, maybe I won't, but for now it intimidates me from afar.

 

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

 

I LOVELOVELOVED the first book, The Darkest Minds. One of my favorite books. And that is exactly where my fear comes in. The sequel. Holy crap, you guys. This is surely going to be highly emotional and heart-killing. And what if I don't like it as much as the first one? And my biggest fear of all--WHAT IF CHUBS DIES?!?! I mean, I obviously want things to work out with my boy Liam and his accent and that "darlin'" thing he does that sets my heart aflutter. But Chubs...I can't even go there. So yeah. This book scares me. It's on my Kindle as we speak, and I'll surely give in soon.

 

Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Oops. I usually try to keep my lists to one book per author just because, but this book needs to be on the list. Why? Because...DON'T THROW ROCKS AT ME, Y'ALL...I'm still working on this one. I am such a sequel-phobe. Whenever it comes to continuing a series, I get scared. Plus, I read the first three books back to back, so then when I had to wait for this one, I actually settled down for enough time that I actually thought of things to worry about. Goodness knows what Jen's going to do this time. But I am halfway through and am actually actively reading this book now. So I should finish it soon and then let you all laugh with me at how I had no reason to be scared and we can all anticipate Sentinel together. WOOT!

 

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

 

I have read Maggie's Shiver trilogy (looooooved). I have read The Scorpio Races (I'm pretty sure I loooooved that even more). So now I sit here with this other book of hers in front of me, worrying that this one won't live up to the awesomness I had created in my mind that this book should be. I'm fairly certain I'm just being silly. I'm probably going to love this book to pieces. But still.

 

Just One Day by Gayle Forman

 

If I Stay was magnificent. Where She Went was as well. Adam Wilde is so...OHMYGOSH. So now there is another book by the author, and another boy, and I worry. Plus, said boy isn't in the whole book? Which worries me because as much as I try to be a well-rounded reader, romance is my thing. But then...I DID love the author's other two books...so I don't know. This book just conflicts me. PLUS, Just One Year's going to be in Willem's POV. If anything, I should read this book to be ready for that. But...gah! See? Books terrify the crap out of me.

 

Forever Too Far by Abbi Glines

I have a huuuuuuuuuuuuufe Rush Crush. I mean, come on. How could I not? But a) this is the last book in the trilogy and b) what could possibly happen for another book to be necessary? Seriously, Never Too Far seemed like it was THE END. But then there was this book and I was SO HAPPY! But now that I have it, I am so scared of being disappointed. I am also reluctant to end this series. There are the spinoffs, but stiiiiill. This one. Right here. Is going to end. Waaaaah.

 

The Death Cure by James Dashner

 

I'm not worried about what will happen at all. I'm not afraid of the outcome or what James Dashner is going to do to his characters. I mean, I'll care when I'm reading it, but that's not what keeps me from having enough confidence to read this book. I've had an ARC of this for FOREVER now. Since before I started my blog. (Got it for free at my library.) My reason here is I simply don't want the trilogy to end. BOOM. That's it. I picked up the first book forever ago not expecting at all to love it as much as I did. Then I moved on to the sequel and loved that as well. Now I just don't want to end this greatness. I will sometime. But until then, I am too much of a scaredy cat. ;)

 

What do you think of my list? What would you put on YOUR list?

 

♥Jessica(:

YA Paranormal Giveaway Hop!

 

I'm not even going to linger around this time. What am I giving away?

 

Well, y'all are lucky it's a paranormal hop, otherwise someone would be getting The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

 

But since it IS a paranormal hop, I'm giving away...

 

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead!

 

Why? Because Adrian is my boy. Plus, The Indigo Spell just recently came out, so I've been thinking about this series. Also, this is the first book that popped into my mind when I tried to think of something to give away for this.

 

So yeah.

 

PLUS.

 

If you've already read and/or already own this book, and you win, you can ask for either of the other two books in the series, too, and I shall reward you with those for being randomly picked by my meanie-pants Rafflecopter.

 

 

So...yay!

 

Read on for details and all that stuff.

 

Details!

- This giveaway is US ONLY. Sorry, guys. My last giveaway was kind of huge.

- One winner will be randomly selected to win the book specified in this post

- My giveaway policy completely, 100% DOES apply. Read it.

- Fill out the meanie-pants Rafflecopter below to enter!

(Rafflecopter was not being cooperative yesterday. All is well now, though. Ha)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Thank you so much for entering. Now hop on, good people!

 

 

 

♥Jessica(:

Review: The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead
Release Date: June 12, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 418 pages
Publisher: Razorbill
Series: Bloodlines #2
Source: Bought!

Description from Goodreads:
Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she’s been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California–tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formerly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.

But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age–old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and the sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi—the fiercest vampires, the ones who don’t die. But it’s her fear of being just that—special, magical, powerful—that scares her more than anything. Equally daunting is her new romance with Brayden, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else—someone forbidden to her.

When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney’s loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.

Should she trust the Alchemists—or her heart?

I read Bloodlines (the first book in this series) in August. Since then, I have been completely flipping out about this book. And now I finally got it! I must say, it was definitely worth the wait.

Bloodlines was a book that was kind of slow to start. Interesting, but not as great as expected. The Golden Lily, I am glad to say, was so much of an improvement. From page 1, this book had me. It's funny, compelling, and just plain terrific. This book moved along brilliantly, in a way that I'm beginning to learn only Richelle Mead could cook up.

Character Rundown:
Sydney: I kind of like Sydney. There's been a lot of debate about the fact that Sydney isn't as kick-ass as Rose was, but I think she's just as awesome as Rose, if not more. I think I actually like Sydney better. Sydney may not be a literal fighter, but in a battle of wits, there's no one better to put in there. Plus, Sydney is better to the people around her. I'm not saying Rose is a bad person, but, um, Adrian...yeah. But there are certain aspects of Sydney's character that grate on my nerves. I'm not going to go in depth and ruin the book for you if you haven't read it, but she can be so oblivious sometimes. *sigh* And then the ending. And that's all I'm going to say.

Adrian: OH, ADRIAN. As of this moment, Adrian is my second favorite male character. He is so completely deep and he just has so many emotions. He's a good guy, but he just has his issues. I disapprove of his little drinking habit, but other than that, Adrian has done no wrong in my eyes, and I doubt he ever could. Though since I said that, Richelle's probably going to swoop in and make him horrible. I don't think he could be, though. In my opinion, between this series and VA, Adrian is the most tortured. I feel for him. Goodness, I love this boy. He deserves happiness for once. If this series ends without him finding some, I just may lose all hope in humanity.

Everyone else: Yeah, so I just went through the two biggies. The other ones are as great as always. I liked that Jill wasn't as annoying in this one, and more responsible. Until she ruins that with a little stupidity. But still. Eddie...that boy wamrs my heart. And Dimitri. It was a big deal that he was thrown into this series like he was, but I actually loved it. Partly because I was ecstatic to see Dimitri again, and partly because it was great to see him through Sydney's eyes instead of Rose's. I actually laughed at some of her descriptions while he was fighting. Not in a bad way, but...we actually get to see the guardian god we've always heard about. Rose was always analyizing Dimitri's fights and glorifying how he looked and whatnot. Sydney just explained his mad skills. It was amazing. I really hope for more Dimitri in this series.

The plot. The plot did not drag in this book at all. Honestly, I was a little iffy as to what the plot even was until the big moment where the big stuff happened. Then I thought back to the book and was like "OF COURSE! That was the point to everything." Everything has a reason in this book, my friends. Don't second guess it. Not once did I get bored while reading this book, and I was actually insanely sad for it to end. Speaking of...

The ending. I need the next book (The Indigo Spell) NOW. That is all.

Overall, if you read Bloodlines and decided to give up on this series, I suggest you reconsider. It gets so much better. This book was so great!

♥Jessica(: