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Hey!

I've decided to switch to wordpress.com so my blog and all it's content is gonna be over at a different site. Everything's the same, just a different blogging format.

So, here is my new blog address:

http://www.briannasbookbuzz.wordpress.com/

Thanks and see you over there!

TTT - Top Ten Books I'd Give To Readers Who Have Never Read Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot was one of my favorite authors when I was younger. I love her many young adult series so here are the top ten books I'd give readers who've never read Meg's books. In no particular order,

The Buzz:

If you do happen to pick up a Meg Cabot book, don't expect too much deep stuff. It's all pretty light but fun and cute. Personally, I would definitely start with the Mediator series!

Review: The Immortal Crown by Richelle Mead

Title: The Immortal Crown Author: Richelle Mead Series: Age of X #2 Reading Level: Adult Publisher: Dutton | May 29, 2014 Pages: 432 Add it: Goodreads Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository   Synopsis:  The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Vampire Academy and Bloodline series returns with the second installment in her acclaimed Age of X series. Gameboard of the Gods introduced religious investigator Justin March and Mae Koskinen, the beautiful supersoldier assigned to protect him. Together they have been charged with investigating reports of the supernatural and the return of the gods, both inside the Republic of United North America and out. With this highly classified knowledge comes a shocking revelation: Not only are the gods vying for human control, but the elect—special humans marked by the divine—are turning against one another in bloody fashion. Their mission takes a new twist when they are assigned to a diplomatic delegation headed by Lucian Darling, Justin’s old friend and rival, going into Arcadia, the RUNA’s dangerous neighboring country. Here, in a society where women are commodities and religion is intertwined with government, Justin discovers powerful forces at work, even as he struggles to come to terms with his own reluctantly acquired deity. Meanwhile, Mae—grudgingly posing as Justin’s concubine—has a secret mission of her own: finding the illegitimate niece her family smuggled away years ago. But with Justin and Mae resisting the resurgence of the gods in Arcadia, a reporter’s connection with someone close to Justin back home threatens to expose their mission—and with it the divine forces the government is determined to keep secret.

The Scene: Same confusing and dizzying world that Richelle Mead built in the first book, Gameboard of the Gods. Except not so confusing because you learned most of everything world building related in said first book. This time, majority of the action takes place in enemy country, Arcadia where women have like no rights and are treated like trash. Add in gods, supernatural shenanigans, sex trafficking, kidnapping, and politics to this book and you've got a pretty good sequel.

The Girl: Mae is basically the same in the sequel; cold, calcualting, and ruthless. The only exception is that she's waaay more open to Justin and the supernatural. I like Mae well enough but I still couldn't quite click with her character. As I've said in my review of Gamboard of the Gods, I blame the third person POV. Don't get me wrong, many authors do this well, great even. I just think it's not Richelle's thing. 

The Boy(s): Justin and Mae's relationship actually got somewhere in The Immortal Crown. Justin has a lot of faults, yes, but he really is sweet and when it comes to Mae, even sweeter. But, because of that ending I'm stuck in between smiling at him and cursing at him. Cliffhangers suck.

The WTF?!: I'm really not a fan of politics in general so reading about a book chock full of it was kind of a downer for me. Also, for some reason, I hated it when it came to Tessa's POV. She grates on me, I've no idea why. I understand how her storyline is going to connect with Justin's but her story just seems so irrelevant.

The Buzz: All in all, The Immortal Crown is a solid sequel to Gameboard. I enjoyed parts of this book more than its predecssor. I liked the action parts especially Mae's journey in Arcadia to get back to the RUNA. Some of the storyline was good but it was still a bit too much for me. Richelle really built up a complicated world that, in my opinion, takes away from the story. I think there needs to be more action involved and the story drags sometimes. The third person perspective also dampens the buzz factor for me. There are some bright spots though so I'm hoping the third book will be better. Plus, I've got to read it because...cliffhangers you know. :)   

Rating

Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Title: The Summer I Turned Pretty Author: Jenny Han Series: Summer #1 Reading Level: Young Adult Publisher: Simon & Schuster | May 5, 2009 Pages: 276 Add it: Goodreads Buy it: Amazon|  Book Depository Synopsis:   Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

The Scene: Basically, a story with a girl, two brothers, girl's brother, girl's mom, and mom's friend. At a beach.

The Girl: Belly is kind of average to me. She has this whole thing of trying to make this summer "great." I don't know, Belly was childish at times but other times she was likable. 

The Boy(s): Conrad and Jeremiah are the brothers that Belly has spent practically every summer with. She has always felt left out of Conrad, Jeremiah, and her brother Steven's "circle." To be honest, I actually didn't like Conrad all that much. I think Jeremiah's waaay nicer and he was just more up front with Belly while Conrad was all moody and irritable.

The WTF?!: I was kinda annoyed at how Belly didn't realize that Susannah was sick while everyone else did. Open your eyes, girl.

The Buzz: The Summer I Turned Pretty doesn't have the buzz factor. In fact, it lulls at times and Belly's voice is grating sometimes. However, I did enjoy it and I found myself smiling at times. This will definitely not be on my favorites shelf but I will still continue the trilogy. After all, there's still some summer left...

Rating

WOW - Waiting On Shaman Rises by C.E. Murphy

This week I'm waiting on

Title: Shaman Rises Author: C.E. Murphy Series: The Walker Papers #9 Reading Level: Adult/UF Publisher: Harlequin Luna | June 24, 2014 Add it: Goodreads Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository Synopsis:  Joanne Walker has two choices:  Defeat the enemy…or lose her soul trying.  For over a year, Joanne has been fighting the Master—the world's most abiding evil. She's sacrificed family, friendships, even watched potential futures fade away…and now the Master is bringing the final battle to Joanne's beloved Seattle. Lives will be lost as the repercussions of all Joanne's growth come to her doorstep. Before the end, she'll mourn, rejoice—and surrender everything for the hope of the world's survival. She'll be a warrior and a healer. Because she is finally a Shaman Rising.

I know this is a late Waiting on Wednesday but I still haven't gotten the book...so that counts right? Anyways, this is one my favorite urban fantasy series so I am so very sad for it to be the last one. If you haven't read them, you should try it. They're awesome! Start with Urban Shaman.

Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron King Author: Julie Kagawa Series: The Iron Fey #1 Reading Level: Young Adult Publisher: Harlequin Teen | February 1, 2010 Pages: 363 Add it: Goodreads Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Books-A-Million Synopsis:   Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined. Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home. When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change. But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil, no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

The Scene: Mainly set in the mystical faerie realm of the Nevernever. Also, faeries. Puck. Ash. Quest. Talking cat. ASH.

The Girl: Meghan Chase starts seeing things like shadows and stuff on her sixteenth birthday. You know, not normal things. Then she finds out her brother is kidnapped by the Fey so she has to go on a quest to save said brother with Puck (yes, Midsummer Night's Dream Puck) and a talking cat (Grimalkin). Meghan, for a sixteen year old YA main character is suprisngly likable. Yes, she bothered me at times (girl, learn how to fight!) but overall she's alright. 

The Boy(s): I'll start with Puck and not the overly obvious choice of the stoic faerie prince, Ash. Robbie aka Puck is that Puck, you know from the Shakespeare play. I find Puck to be very entertaining. He's quite funny and you can tell he really cares about Meghan. But I have a feeling he'll be friendzoned majorly (ahem, hot faerie prince anyone?). Ash is like the typical hot, brooding, and fierce young adult bad boy. Except without any humor save one joke. I have to say, I like Ash but I think Meghan was really stupid to melt into a puddle of mush whenever she was around him especially when he says things like,

"War?" Something cold touched my cheek, and I glanced up to see snowflakes swirling in a lightning-riddled sky. It was eerily beautiful, and I shivered. "What will happen then?"

 Ash stepped closer. His fingers came up to brush the hair from my face, sending an electric shock through me from my spine to my toes. His cool breath tickled my ear as he leaned in.

 "I'll kill you," he whispered, and walked away...

Yeah, that doesn't really strike me as warm and fuzzy, you know?

The WTF?!: Talking cat. Don't get me wrong, this WTF is actually good. I actually love Grim. He's all sorts of funny, amusing, and a little frustrating. It's just that he reminds me of the Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland soo much. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing? 

The Buzz: This book is your typical faerie book but not so typical as any other typical faerie book (say that three times fast!). If that makes sense. It's filled with action and adventure and lots of Fey (duh). I liked this book. So, go and read it. They say this series gets better as it goes on so we shall see.   

Rating