Review: Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott 
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Format: ARC, 320 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Series: Fire & Flood #1
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Description from Goodreads:
A modern day thrill ride, where a teen girl and her animal companion must participate in a breathtaking race to save her brother's life—and her own.

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

Victoria Scott's Dante Walker books are some of my favorites. Goodness knows Dante's my boy. So after reading the first two Dante books, I kind of figured that Victoria Scott's next book would be fantastic. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, since Fire & Flood seemed so different--and it totally IS. But still, I was excited. So excited.

And goodness gracious, y'all. Now that I've read it, I can say that this book is not only fantastic, it is fan-FREAKING-tastic and I love it so much. 

It was my favorite book of 2013, even though it doesn't come out until this February. It's now on my all-time favorites shelf on Goodreads. I have so many happy feelings for this book, I'm not even sure where to begin explaining it.

Oh, wait. I do. TELLA. I swear, I've loved that girl since she pointed at her reflection and said "I hate your face." Tella is awesome. She's outgoing and kind and funny and I adored being in her head throughout this story. She is definitely not the type of person anyone would ever expect to be in a race such as the Brimstone Bleed, and I admire her for entering the race anyway. She loves her brother that much, and I get that. I like that a lot. And as the race goes on, she gets better. Stronger. She's still herself, but she does what she has to do. All of that leaves me with all kinds of happy feelings for our MC.

And then there's Guy Chambers. Who is someone to side-eye for a bit of the beginning of the book, but then we get to know him and OH GOODNESS. He is hot on a stick. And he's so flipping cool. He smart and strong and pretty darn mysterious, but not in an annoying way. It's just the way he is. He's quiet and more focused. Kind of stern. But as we get to know him better, those things endeared him to me even more to the point where he's one of my favorite book boys. Ever.

The Pandoras are some of my favorite things. I want so bad for them to be real, so I can have one. Or three. It was so cool to wonder what Tella's Pandora would be, and then he turned out to be such a sweetheart. I'm quite fond of adorable little Madox. I am also a fan of M-4 and AK-7. Some kickass Pandoras right there. (All the Pandoras are actually awesome. But I can't help but have favorites ;)) 

As a whole, the story flowed well. Around the beginning, there were small parts where I'd get bored, but then something would happen to dissipate that pretty quick. Victoria Scott's writing does a darn good job of keeping me in the story, even when I shouldn't be. You know, like when I should be sleeping or something... This book was so worth the loss of that sleep, though. 

The romance between Tella and Guy wasn't a huge focus in this book, but it was THERE. And it was THERE enough that I feel all kinds of happy about it. They had moments. Their own little moments to be them and get closer and grow fond of one another. They don't rush into anything by any means, and they are cute as all get out as a couple. I love the contrast of Tella being all talkative and bubbly and Guy being all quiet and serious. They're such opposites yet so perfect. 

Overall, Fire and Flood is one of my absolute favorite books. Victoria Scott has written a fantastic, compelling story with a main character I admire, a love interest I love, and a premise that completely drew me in. Contenders racing to save someone they love? Heck yeah, I'm reading that. Now where is book 2? ;)

Waiting on Wednesday #24

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine!

Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater 

Expected Publication: July 1, 2014

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls #4

Description from Goodreads:

A standalone companion book to the internationally bestselling Shiver Trilogy.

Sinner follows Cole St. Clair, a pivotal character from the #1 New York Times bestselling Shiver Trilogy. Everybody thinks they know Cole's story. Stardom. Addiction. Downfall. Disappearance. But only a few people know Cole's darkest secret -- his ability to shift into a wolf. One of these people is Isabel. At one point, they may have even loved each other. But that feels like a lifetime ago. Now Cole is back. Back in the spotlight. Back in the danger zone. Back in Isabel's life. Can this sinner be saved? 

Why I can't wait: 

The Shiver trilogy has a special place in my heart. It really, really does. Shiver was that book that I'd been seeing at the library all the time and kept passing up because I'm the freaking pickiest person ever, and then decided to grab one time--like, a year after seeing it for the first time. I enjoyed it. So then I got Linger from the library. Loved that one even more. Then I died while waiting for Forever. Got that for Christmas in 2011, before I started my blog. Read it, cried, and accepted that the series was over. Cole was my favorite character in that trilogy. And now he gets his own book. I am both SUPER excited for this book, but I'm kind of scared, too. I was cool with the story being over. I wasn't one of those people who was like OH HEY ANOTHER BOOK I NEED IT. But, I mean...I can't just let this book pass without giving it a shot. I'm kind of looking forward to seeing what Maggie did with Cole's story. 

So, as for why I'm excited, let's list the reasons:

- I adore Cole

- Maggie's writing is beautiful

- How can I not read the ending to Cole's story?

- I loved the Shiver trilogy

- Because I can.

Oh, and fun fact: I totally cried when I saw this cover. This book is going to hurt my heart, I think. 

What are you waiting on this week? 

First Excerpt of FIRE & FLOOD by Victoria Scott!

All members of the V Mafia (and the awesome people who signed up to help with this) got a super cool email yesterday with the VERY FIRST EXCERPT OF FIRE & FLOOD inside! Obviously I'm going to share it with you. I mean, come on. Of course I'm showing you the awesome. You need this in your life.

I can't even explain to you how much I adore Fire & Flood. It's a seriously kickass book, I can tell you that. So much cool stuff, and the Pandoras are some of my favorite things ever. Which means I did such a happy dance when THIS excerpt landed in my inbox...eeep!

Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott--Excerpt #1

 

I drove across the US of A, left my family without an explanation, and now I’m either too late or there was never anything here to begin with. F my life. Rearing back, I kick the door as hard as I can. Then I wrap both hands around the door handles and release a noise like a wild banshee as I pull back.

The doors swing open.

I’m not sure whether to celebrate or freak out. I decide to do neither and slip inside. As I walk around the inside of the museum, listening to the sound of my footsteps echo off the walls, I imagine I am moments from death. It’s sad, I think, that this is all it takes to break my sanity.

Two curling flights of stairs bow out from the first-floor lobby, and red and white tiles cover the floors. There are gilded picture frames everywhere. So many that I think the placement of the frames — and not their contents — is the real art. Everything, absolutely everything, smells like wax. I mosey up to an abandoned reception desk and leaf through the glossy pamphlets littering the surface. I hold one of the pamphlets up to my nose. Yep, wax.

I glance around, having no idea what to look for. Will there be a sign like at school registration? Students with last names A–K this way?

On my left, I notice a long hallway dotted with doors on either side. Nothing looks particularly unusual. But when I glance to my right, I spot something. There’s a door at the end of the corridor that has a sliver of light glowing beneath it. I’m sure it’s just an administration office, one where someone forgot to flip the switch. But I’ve got nothing better to go on, so I head toward it.

I pause outside the door, wondering if I’m about to get busted for B&E. Then I turn the handle and find myself at the top of another winding staircase.

You’ve got to be kidding me. What is this, Dracula’s bachelor pad?

I’ve watched a lot of scary movies, and I’ve learned nothing good is ever at the bottom of a winding staircase. Pulling in a breath and preparing myself to be eaten alive, I head down. My shoes are loud against the steps. So loud, I imagine they are intentionally trying to get me killed.

 

When I reach the final few stairs, I ready myself to look around the bend. My heart is racing, and I secretly pray the worst I encounter is an angry janitor with a wax addiction. I turn the bend — and my eyes nearly pop from my skull.

The enormous room is perfectly circular, dotted with candles to light the space. Surrounding the walls are rows and rows of dark, rich mahogany bookshelves. A large round table stands in the center of the red-and-white-tiled floor. The room is spectacular, but what it holds is so jarring, my ears ring.

Across every shelf, every spot on the table, every tile on the floor — are small sculptures of hands. And in a few of those hands — the ones still performing their duty — are eggs. There are only nine eggs left, it seems. For a moment, I imagine how amazing it would have been to see each hand holding an egg, but it’s enough just to see these nine.

The eggs seem to dance in the candle flame, and as I move closer, I realize why. The surfaces of the eggs are almost iridescent, their colors changing depending on how you look at them. They are different sizes, too; some as big as a basketball, others as small as a peach.

I don’t need the device in my pocket to tell me what my gut already knows.

This is the Pandora Selection Process.

~~~

Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

Release Date: February 25, 2014
Publisher: Scholastic

Description from Goodreads:
A modern day thrill ride, where a teen girl and her animal companion must participate in a breathtaking race to save her brother's life—and her own.

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?


*flails* What'd you think?!

♥Jessica(:

Cover Reveal: FIRE & FLOOD by Victoria Scott!

 

Yesterday, all of us lucky ducks in the V Mafia got a super exciting email. Personally, I squealed. I'm going to assume that by the title of this post you already know what was in that email, so I'm just going to show you THE SUPER FANTASTIC COVER TO FIRE & FLOOD THAT I LOVE SO MUCH.

 

Okay?

 

Okay.

 

 

Expected Publication: March 2014

Publisher: Scholastic

 

Description from Goodreads:

In a perilous race across the world, having the best Pandora can be the difference between life and death.

Sixteen-year-old Tella Holloway isn’t happy. Her mother rushed them out of Boston and into a craptastic house nestled in Middle of Nowhere, Montana. To make matters worse, Tella’s brother is sick, and though a dozen doctors can’t determine the cause, her mother is sure Montana’s “fresh air” will help. Now Tella spends her days being homeschooled, and uses her imagination as entertainment.

But when a small blue box appears on her bed, Tella’s world is rocked. Inside the strange package she finds a white ear bud—and after she fits it into place and touches its blinking button—an unknown voice fills her head. Tella is invited to join the Brimstone Bleed, a race across four ecosystems: desert, sea, mountains, jungle. The voice in Tella’s ear explains she has 48 hours to retrieve her Pandora, an animal genetically designed to help her win.

Tella has never been the sporty type; she’s more a cheerleader than an athlete. But despite her mother’s warnings, she’s determined to compete in the race. And she’ll do anything to win, because if Tella is the Brimstone Bleed victor, she'll be granted a specific gift—the cure to save her brother’s life.

FIRE & FLOOD is a teen thriller set in modern day.

 

Now tell me:

What do you think? Do you LOVE it?

Because I love the crap out of this cover. Can you imagine holding that in your hands and seeing it on your shelf and just...AHHHHHHHH!

I was already unbelievably excited about this book (Victoria Scott is one of my favorite people EVER), but now...I'm just...I can't stop smiling, you know? EEEEEEEEEP!

 

Seriously, though. I'd like to know what you think!

 

♥Jessica(:

What I Got #25 Happy Easter!

What I Got is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely Monica over at Cover Analysis :) 

 

So...I haven't done a What I Got post in...well, FOREVER. There are going to be a lot of books here. I am 100% sure I've missed some books here. There have been some books I've gotten that I'm NOT listing here. Why? Because I either a) forgot them, or b) didn't remember them until after I made the post and was too lazt to go back and add them.

 

But from this week on, I'll post every week(ish) and won't miss a bunch of books! So that's a plus.

 

Also, I'm not linking anything. Because linking all of these books and stuff would take FOREVER. And there's a Walking Dead marathon on and I want to get to watching that. So...yeah.

 

   

   

 

All right...I have no idea where to start right now...

 

Gifted:

Right now, we're talking birthday gifts. Because we all remember that my birthday was February 12, riiiight.

 

From Jessirae (so far):

My Favorite Mistake by Chelsea Cameron

Jessirae is a wonderful person and I cannot WAIT to get to this book. Every time I pass it on my Kindle, my finger seriously twitches. Someday soon I'll sit down and read this one. THANKS, JL! <3

 

From Jana:

Touch by Jus Accardo

I told Jana that this book looked really good and I wanted to read it, so she sent it to me for my birthday. ISN'T SHE FANTASTIC? Thanks, Jana!

 

From Monica:

Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Did I mention that the copy of Daimon is signed? Because IT IS! Y'all know how much I adore JLA, right? EEEP! Thank you so much, Monica!!

 

From Vicki:

The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

I have no words for this. None. So I'm just going to say THANKS A MILLION, VIX!!!!!! And move on. Because words are not enough here.

 

--Now we're on to REGULAR gifts, ones that were not birthday related--

 

Call The Shots by Don Calame

My librarian gave me this because she's awesome. That is all.

 

--Oh, hey! Now we should move on to library books--

 

Library:

Legend by Marie Lu

I met her at Breathless Reads and with the way she was talking about this book, I KNEW I had to read it ASAP. So now I'm the first person to check it out of the school library ;)

 

Send Me a Sign by Tiffany Schmidt

This is another one I'm the first to check out. I've been grabby hands for this book for a while so I'm SO GLAD I'll get to read it now! This book was either the first or second Waiting On Wednesday I ever did. That's a big deal.

 

The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

This is this year's Read It Forward at our school. So I'm readin' it.

 

Bought:

Origin by Jessica Khoury

Remember when I said I was at Breathless Reads? Well, I got this book (and got it signed) there, too!

 

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

This book was released on my birthday. I bought it at the beginning of March. I started it, but haven't had time to finish it yet. I need to seriously prepare myself for all the Sydrian feels!

 

For Review:

 

From ARCycling:

Hand Me Down by Melanie Thorne

Um. Yeah. I love the cover of this! And I have not read it yet.

 

From PYR:

Lightbringer & Reaper by K.D. McEntire

Fair Coin & Quantam Coin by E.C. Myers

Earth Girl by Janet Edwards

These are all books I can't wait to get started on! Thanks so much to PYR!!

 

From Spencer Hill Press:

Call of the Jersey Devil by Aurelio Voltaire

Spence City's first book! I'm so glad to have an ARC of this. Thank you, SHP!

 

For Blog Tour:

The Kings of Charleston by Kat H. Clayton

I want so bad to read this book, but I haven't had time yet. Grrr. I will make time. Soon.

 

The Collector by Victoria Scott

Um. Yeah. WHO WANTS TO GUESS HOW MUCH CREAMING THERE WAS WHEN THIS LANDED IN MY INBOX?!?!?!?! Goodness gracious, this book...it completes my life, guys. It really does. My review will go up this week, but I'm telling you now: This book? Phenominal. Read it.

 

From Scholastic:

The Last Academy by Anne Applegate

I'm on the blog tour for this, so I got an ARC for review. Thank you so much, Scholastic!

 

From Willow Aster:

True Love Story by Willow Aster

I am STILL stunned that she sent me this book for review. I'm not going to tell you HOW I requested this book, but I'm going to tell you that I never in a million years thought the request would be approved and that I'd get an email the very same day containing this masterpiece of a novel. So thank you, thank you, thank you, Willow. You are a marvelous person.

 

From Hyperion:

The Rules by Stacey Kade

I requested this book forever ago, because I love Stacey's The Ghost and the Goth trilogy, and was completely surprised (albeit pleasantly) when this book landed in my mailbox. Thank you so much, Hyperion!

 

From NetGalley:

This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

I've read The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight and that book is fantastic. So obviously I'm ecstatic I get to read Jennifer's next book. Plus, the description makes me freaking drool. Eeep!

 

Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker

Thank goodness I got approved for this one. I'm currently reading it and Trent is making me swoon. BIG TIME. Oh, sweet baby Jesus, there are no words for this. My heart explodes, people. Also, is it just me, or is the original cover a million times better than this one? Sorry, but it's true.

 

Dare You To by Katie McGarry

If you follow me on Twitter, you saw that I was flipping out over getting approved for this. Heck, I STILL am. I loved PtL and flail at the thought of this book on my Kindle right now. I AM SO HAPPY ABOUT THIS.

 

Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally

This is another one I flail about. I lovelovelove Miranda Kenneally. Her stories are so great.

 

If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin

SO. SAD. The thing about this book is that we KNOW he's going to die. It says it in the description and everything. I've gone into this book at least ten times since downloading it and my heart still can't take it yet. When I can deal, though, this book is going to be magnificent. I can feel it. It's an emotional one. Where I already know my boy's going to die. Awww, crap. SADNESS.

 

OHMYGOSH, GUYS. I've finally made it to the end of this. If I were to tell you how long it's taken me to make this post, I doubt you'd believe me. Let's just say it's taken me A WHILE. So I'm glad to be done. And, ha, I'm thinking of at least six books that I KNOW I've gotten that I didn't list. Oh, well. This is a big enough haul. Then again, it is, like, a month and a half worth of bookish goodness.

 

So, tell me: What did you get this week? Tell me in the comments.

 

Or leave a link. I'll take a look!

 

Also: Have you read anything I got? What'd you think? What should I read next?

 

Seriosuly. What should I read next? I have no clue.

 

Oh, and HAPPY EASTER, Y'ALL!

 

 

Have a great day and all that jazz ;)

 

♥Jessica(: