Mythos Academy Swag Giveaway!

Ready for round 5? Here we go!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (#17)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Hey guys! So, I'm at school right now and have a one hour break between classes, so I thought: why not post something on my blog today? I don't have anything better to do (okay, so I may be lying to myself. I should actually be studying for my test tomorrow...but you know, I'm a bookworm, what can I say? ;)). Here is a little update of what I've been reading lately.
 

What I've finished reading these past few weeks:

   

I just finished reading "Loki's Wolves" 2 days ago, and it was AWESOME! Such a great Norse mythology read!

What I'm reading now:

     

Okay, "Nightshifted" I haven't read since...pfft, the beginning of the year, maybe? It's a good book, but I don't know. I'm putting it off for a little bit.

 

"The Goddess Inheritence" I also stopped reading. Why? 'Cause it's so damn depressing! I love this series and I love Hades (Henry...WHATEVER), but I don't like depressing books :( I will pick it up again soon though.

 

"Sleepless" I just started reading not that long ago. I thought I was reading a horror novel ('casue I love horror novels) but it hasn't gotten all that scary yet, so it's been a few days since I last picked it up.
 

And "The Red Pyramid"...Give my a Rick Riordan novel any day and I'll devour it! I put this one aside while I was reading "Loki's Wolves," but since I finished that one I picked up "The Red Pyramid" last night again! Loves it!

Up next- I have some blog tours coming up so...

   

Well, that's my not-very-short update :) What are you reading right now?

Showcase Sunday (#36)

Welcome to Showcase Sunday, hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea. The aim of this event is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed form the libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week. For more information about how this feature works and to join in, click here.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

As you may have noticed, I have not been keeping up with my Showcase Sunday post....again. School, obviously. Here is what I've gotten over the past few weeks (I've lost count and probably wont include everything because I wont be able to remember every single little thing, lol).

Book swag:

I won all this awesome swag in a giveaway! I LOVE "The Body Finder" so I was super excited to get this! This package I actually got this past Friday, and Fridays I have my 12-hour clinical shifts at the hospital. I am always really hungry when I get home at almost 8 pm. But this Friday did I come home and eat like usually do? No. I went straight to opening this and ogling it for at least 15 minutes ;) That's how excited I was.

These were sent to me by the authors to giveaway, so stay tuned ;)

Same with this JLA swag. I won "My Sweet 16th Century" swag in a giveaway.

And these were also sent by the authors.

I LOVE this charm bracelet! I've been wearing this a lot lately. Derrolyn Anderson (author of "The Athena Effect" and its sequel, "The Mackenzie Legacy") made this herself, which was inspired by "The Mackenzie Legacy" and I was lucky enough to get one!

Books:

The first two the author sent me, and they are signed! The last one I bought myself from Hastings.

The 1st two I bought myself, and the last one is an ARC that I won in a giveaway! I actually finished reading it ("Loki's Wolves") last night and it was AWESOME! I love me some mythology!

The first one I won in a giveaway and the 2nd I also bought myself.

E-books- For review:

All received from the authors, respectively.

Okay, I think that's all. What bookish things did you get this week?

Blog Tour - Review + Giveaway: Nissa by Bethany Lopez

Title: Nissa

Author: Bethany Lopez

Genre: YA, urban fantasy, paranormal

Publication date: April 23, 2013

Published by: Bethany Lopez

Source: From the author to review for blog tour

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Smashwords

Synopsis:

At 900 years old, Nissa is finally ready to follow her mother's path and become the best Fairy Godmother she can. She’s not thrilled when her first assignment turns out to be a teenage human girl with self-esteem issues, but she knows she has to start somewhere. Her assignment has dealt with bullies since her freshman year and they haven’t let up. If Nissa can’t help her regain her self-confidence her future is bleak.

To complicate matters Nissa experiences all the signs that she's met the being fated for her. This impossibility distracts her from her purpose. After all, fairies and humans aren't meant for each other. How can her heart believe otherwise? Can Nissa successfully complete her first assignment as a Fairy Godmother? Will the fates allow Nissa and Levi to be together? And even if they do, will Levi believe Nissa once she reveals the truth?

My rating: ★★★★☆
I really liked this book! I thought it was a very fun read!

Review: Proximity by M.A. George

Title: Proximity

Series: Proximity #1

Author: M.A. George

Genre: Adult, sci-fi

Publication date: October 2012

Published by: M.A. George

Source: review copy from author

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Dr. Palta Capal would be a typical American career woman…if only she were human.

She has found her calling in this world as a physician. It’s an ideal outlet for her compassionate spirit...and unearthly healing powers.

Palta may spend her nights rereading Jane Austen novels, but she deliberately avoids pursuing her own love story. Human men — attractive as they may be — inevitably grow old and wither, leaving her to grieve in solitude. Frankly, no one has seemed worth the torment.

Enter Eric Moran, the intensely attractive and enigmatic new coworker on the scene. With his quiet confidence and warm smile, he manages to draw Palta’s attention. Little does she know that he, too, holds a secret…one that will propel them both into an escalating collision of two worlds.

My rating: ★★★☆☆
You know, this sci-fi/alien stuff isn't really my thing, but only because I have not read too many of these kinds of books. I guess I'm still waiting for that book I'll really, really like. And this one I actually liked a lot! It was very creative! I liked these aliens posing as humans who came from this other world. I especially liked the small detail that even though Palta's family is from this other planet, she herself was born on Earth! How crazy is that?!

Review: Dark Genesis by Dave Ferraro

Title: Dark Genesis

Author: Dave Ferraro

Genre: YA, fantasy

Publication date: March 18th, 2013

Published by: Dave Ferraro

Source: from the author for review (thanks!)

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

Alyssa opened her eyes to darkness. And in the first flash of light provided by a gathering storm, she could make out a ring of bodies surrounding her.

With no memory of who she is, Alyssa stumbles into a dark world populated by witches. The witches are powerful, and demonstrate frightening powers, but even more terrifying are the monsters who rule over the land. Vampires, werewolves and other awful creatures of the night have taken over, forcing the witches behind stone walls, afraid to venture outdoors. But Alyssa finds that as she kills certain monsters, memories return to her, memories of a life on Earth, and the boy she left behind.

The quest to collect her memories and piece together the puzzle of what has happened to her is a daunting one, with betrayals and sacrifices every step of the way. But Alyssa is determined to fight for a world that is not her own, destroying powerful monsters along the way, so that she can return home to the boy she is coming to love through the memories she recollects.

My rating: ★★★★★
This book was great! It was just...freakin' amazing! Have I mentioned that witches are my fave supernatural creatures? Because they are :) I loved how all the creatures we came across in the book were all connected back to the witches! It was just great, and so very creative! I loved it! This little detail just made this book that much more amazing!

Review: My Ex From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy #1) by Tellulah Darling

Title: My Ex From Hell

Series: The Blooming Goddess Trilogy #1

Author: Tellulah Darling

Genre: YA, paranormal romance, Greek mythology

Publication date: April 1st 2013

Published by: Te Da Media

Source: ARC from the author via Netgalley

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Sophie Bloom wishes she’d been taught the following:

a) Bad boy’s presence (TrOuBlE) + teen girl’s brain (DraMa) = TrAuMa (Highly unstable and very volatile.)
b) The Genus Greekulum Godissimus is notable for three traits: 1) awesome abilities, 2) grudges, and 3) hook-ups, break-ups, and in-fighting that puts cable to shame.

Prior to the Halloween dance, Sophie figures her worst problems involve adolescent theatrics, bitchy yoga girls, and being on probation at her boarding school for mouthy behaviour. Then she meets bad boy Kai and gets the kiss that rocks her world.

Literally.

This breath stealing lip lock reawakens Sophie’s true identity: Persephone, Goddess of Spring. She’s key to saving humanity in the war between the Underworld and Olympus, target numero uno of Hades and Zeus, and totally screwed.

Plus there’s also the little issue that Sophie’s last memory as Persephone was just before someone tried to murder her.

Big picture: master her powers, get her memories back, defeat Persephone’s would be assassin, and save the world. Also, sneak into the Underworld to retrieve stolen property, battle the minions of Hades and Zeus, outwit psycho nymphs, slay a dragon, rescue a classmate, keep from getting her butt expelled from the one place designed to keep her safe…

…and stop kissing Kai, Prince of the Underworld.

My Ex From Hell is a romantic comedy/Greek mythology smackdown. Romeo and Juliet had it easy.

My rating: ★★★★☆
I absolutely LOVES mythology *singsongs*! Greek mythology is especially my favorite, so yah, I totally loved this book!

Review: Spellbinding by Maya Gold

Title: Spellbinding

Author: Maya Gold

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: April 2013

Published by: Scholastic Point

Source: ARC from the publishers via Netgalley

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

There's more than one way to be powerful...

It is during a routine school project that Abby Silva--sixteen and nearly friendless--makes a startling discovery: She is descended from women who were accused of witchcraft back in 1600s Salem. And when Abby visits nearby Salem, strange, inexplicable events start to unfold. Objects move when she wills them to. Candles burst into sudden flame. And an ancient spellbook somehow winds up in her possession.

Trying to harness her newfound power, Abby concocts a love potion to win over her longtime crush--and exact revenge upon his cruel, bullying girlfriend. But old magic is not to be trifled with. Soon, Abby is thrust headlong into a world of hexes, secrets, and danger. And then there's Rem Anders, the beautiful, mysterious Salem boy who seems to know more about Abby than he first lets on.

A reckoning is coming, and Abby will have to make sense of her history--and her heart--before she can face the powerful truth.

My rating: ★★★☆☆
Okay, so I absolutely LOVE witches (they are my fave supernatural creatures) and magic, but honestly, I wasn't really feeling this book.

Review: Impulse Control (Talent Chronicles #0.5) by Susan Bischoff

Title: Impulse Control

Series: Talent Chronicles #0.5

Author: Susan Bischoff

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: March 2011

Published by: Susan Bischoff

Source: Bought e-book

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

In the world of the Talent Chronicles, kids born with supernatural powers are taken from their families and forced into government research facilities called State Schools. At one such school, a dangerous experiment has killed two young inmates and threatens others. Ethan, a shape-shifter, is reluctantly recruited by his best friend Karen, a telepath, and Elle, the unique Talent he has a crush on, to thwart the faculty's plans. If they’re caught they face Detention, and Detention at a State School has a whole different meaning.

"Impulse Control" is a short story of approximately 12,000 words and contains some strong language.

My rating: ★★★★☆
This was a great short story that takes place in the Talent Chronicles series. I've only read the 1st book (Hush Money) but I really liked it! I love the world Susan Bischoff created with all these different characters with different (but waaaay cool) supernatural abilities!

Review: Clockwise by Elle Strauss

Title: Clockwise

Series: Clockwise #1

Author: Elle Strauss

Genre: YA, fantasy, historical, time travel

Publication date: Nov. 2011

Published by: ESB Publishing

Source: Own e-book

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Casey Donovan has issues: hair, height and uncontrollable trips to the 19th century! And now this—she’s accidentally taken Nate Mackenzie, the cutest boy in the school, back in time. Awkward.

Protocol pressures her to tell their 1860 hosts that he is her brother and when Casey finds she has a handsome, wealthy (and unwanted) suitor, something changes in Nate. Are those romantic sparks or is it just “brotherly” protectiveness?

When they return to the present, things go back to the way they were before: Casey parked on the bottom of the rung of the social ladder and Nate perched high on the very the top. Except this time her heart is broken. Plus, her best friend is mad, her parents are split up, and her younger brother gets escorted home by the police. The only thing that could make life worse is if, by some strange twist of fate, she took Nate back to the past again.

Which of course, she does.

My rating: ★★★★★
I absolutely LOVED this book! It was just so adorable and exactly what I needed to get out of my reading slump!

Review: Dualed by Elsie Chapman

Title: Dualed

Series: Dualed #1

Author: Elsie Chapman

Genre: YA, dystopian

Publication date: February 26th 2013

Published by: Random House Books for Young Readers

Source: the publishers via Netgalley

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

You or your Alt? Only one will survive.

The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.

Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her.

Elsie Chapman's suspenseful YA debut weaves unexpected romance into a novel full of fast-paced action and thought-provoking philosophy. When the story ends, discussions will begin about this future society where every adult is a murderer and every child knows there is another out there who just might be better.

My rating: ★★★★☆
Such a great read! Very unique concept, too (which I loved)!

Review: Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths by Bernard Evslin

Title: Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths

Author: Bernard Evslin

Genre: Middle Grade, Greek mythology

Publication date: October 2012

Published by: Open Road Young Readers

Source: the publishers via Netgalley (thanks!)

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

The classic bestseller is now available for the first time as an ebook

With an incredible understanding of the nuances of classic mythology, Bernard Evslin brilliantly recounts the most compelling stories of heroes and monsters, light and dark, good and evil. Get to know the iconic gods, heroes, and tragic figures: Zeus, the all-powerful father of the gods; Hera, his cunning and jealous wife; seductive, golden-haired Aphrodite, the goddess of love; King Midas, who greedily loves gold above all else; the sculptor Pygmalion who falls in love with his creation; and many more. With each story, Evslin captures the beauty and power of Greek mythology—and through his funny asides, he gives life to these ancient characters. A perennial staple of curriculums around the world, Evslin’s Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths is an invaluable resource.

My rating: ★★★★☆
This is girl here, *points to self* totally in love with mythology! I probably don't have to repeat that since pretty much everyone who knows me know how much I love it, but there ya go!

And this book? *points to Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths* Way awesome!

Book Blast: Hades and the Helm of Darkness

Hades and the Helm of Darkness (Heroes in Training Book 3)

The Heroes in Training are entering the Underworld—if Hades can conquer his canine fears, that is.

The Underworld usually isn’t really meant to be a fun place—but tell that to Hades! He loves the dark
and the stinky smell of sulfur. However, there is one thing that Hades is not a fan of: dogs. And when
Zeus and his fellow Olympians encounter Cerberus—a snarling, three-headed dog—Hades must conquer
his fears and tame the hound so everyone can continue into the Underworld and deposit their Titan
prisoner, Oceanus, back where he belongs!

But with magical water that causes forgetfulness, hot beds of lava, and another epic battle with two
more Titans standing in their way, will Zeus and his heroes make it out of the Underworld with everyone
intact?

Amazon * Amazon Kindle * Barnes &
Noble

Heroes in Training by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams

Authors Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams deliver fun, adventures, and a few surprises as ten-year-old
Olympians go on a journey of a lifetime to discover their true identities and defeat their Titan enemies.

Praise for Heroes in Training

"Readers will gobble this down and look for more, make no mythtake."

“This is a fun read, casting Zeus in the role of relatable kid, and there is a nice balance between his
primary goal of survival and his sense of destiny and adventure. . . Share this title, and likely more to
come, with those still too young for Percy Jackson’s adventures.”

#1 Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom

#3 Hades and the Helm of Darkness

#4 Hyperion and the Great Balls of Fire

http://series.simonandschuster.com/
Heroes-in-training

Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom (Book 1)

After pulling a magical thunderbolt from a stone, ten-year-old Zeus goes on the adventure of a lifetime
in this thrilling start to a brand-new series! The terrible Titans--merciless giants who enjoy snacking on
humans--have dominated the earth and put the world into chaos. But their rule is about to be put to the
test as a group of young Olympians discover their powers and prepare to righteously rule the universe....

Ten-year-old Zeus is mystified (and super-annoyed) by the fact that he keeps getting hit by lightening.
Every. Single. Year. He also longs for adventure, as he has never been far from the cave where he grew
up.

Zeus gets his wish--and a lot more than he bargained for--when he is kidnapped by dangerous, giant
Titans! In self-defense, he grabs the first thing he sees--an actual thunderbolt he pulls from a stone that
is covered in mysterious markings. Zeus is the only one who can decipher the markings, and sets off on
a quest to rescue his youthful fellow Olympians from the evil Cronus. Armed with his trusty thunderbolt
(named Bolt, of course), Zeus is on an adventure of a lifetime--and a journey to fulfill his destiny as King
of the Gods.

Amazon *Amazon Kindle * Barnes &
Noble

Poseidon and the Sea of Fury (Book 2)

A young Poseidon must triumph over aquatic terrors in this Heroes in Training adventure. The merciless
Cronus and his Titan buddies are in hot pursuit of Zeus, Hera, and Poseidon, who plan to travel across
the treacherous boiling sea in order to save a fellow Olympian. They have a boat, but they also have a
problem: Poseidon can’t swim and is terrified of the water (well, really of the creatures that lurk in its
depths). The group faces danger after danger as they battle singing sirens, a fishy and ferocious Titan
named Oceanus, and people-eating monsters sent by Cronus himself. Can Poseidon overcome his fears
and help his fellow heroes escape Cronus and his cronies?

Amazon * Amazon Kindle * Barnes & Noble

Author Suzanne Williams

Suzanne Williams is the award-winning author of nearly 40 books for children, from picture books and
easy readers to chapter books and middle grade fiction series. A former elementary school librarian,
she lives near Seattle. Her picture book Library Lil (illustrated by Steven Kellogg) won the New Mexico
children's choice award in 2000 and was on several other state award lists. She is co-author (with Joan
Holub) of the popular Goddess Girls series(for ages 8 - 12) and Heroes in Training (ages 6 - 11). Other
series include Fairy Blossoms and Princess Power.

Website * Blog

I graduated from college in Texas with a fine arts degree, and then freelanced as an art director at a
graphic design firm for eight years. I dreamed of working in children's books, so I moved to New York
City and became associate art director in Scholastic trade books, where I designed books for children
and worked with editors and illustrators. It was a great job.

I illustrated my first published children's book in 1992 and soon began illustrating full time. I began
completing manuscripts and mailing them out to publishers in the early 1990s. In 1996, I sold my first
two manuscripts -- Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book (Scholastic) and Pen Pals (Grosset &
Dunlap). Yippee!

Now I write full time and have written and/or illustrated over 130 children's books. Creating books that
entertain, inform, and interest children (and me) is a fabulous job that I truly love.

Twitter * Website * Blog</ b>

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway: The Mackenzie Legacy (The Athena Effect #2) by Derrolyn Anderson

Hey guys! I gots another great giveaway for you! So, I've been waiting for this book for, like, ever! Book one was fantastic and I honestly could not wait to find out more about Cali and her awesome power!

Review: Hysteria by Megan Miranda

Title: Hysteria

Series: N/A

Author: Megan Miranda

Genre: YA, mystery

Publication date: Feb. 2013

Published by: Walker Childrens

Source: ARC from the publishers via Netgalley (thanks!)

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past.But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others.

In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again.

My rating: ★★★★☆
Great book, great story, great mystery! Have I mentioned how much I love mysteries, 'cause I do!

Cover Reveal: Northern Bites (Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter Vol. 2) by Nikki Jefford

I got an awesome cover reveal for you all today! I just love the cover and colors...SO pretty! This book is the sequel to Transfusion (Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter Vol. 1) by one of my favoritest authors ever: Nikki Jefford! Check it out!

NORTHERN BITES, Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter, Vol. 2

Expected Release Date: June 27, 2013

SUMMARY:

Love bites.

Probation sucks.

Thanks to Dante’s recklessness, Aurora is now partners with

Valerie: the redheaded, backstabbing vixen.

Dante is in full flirt mode. Fane’s tactics are far more ruthless.

Something carnal has awakened in Aurora and neither boy is helping tame her

cravings.

When a member of the unit’s team is found dead, Aurora and

Valerie are sent after a vampire in Sitka, but Aurora suspects the killer’s much

closer to home.

On SALE: Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter Vol. 1 is on sale for 0.99 cents until April 7th for Kindle and Nook!

Enter to WIN: Signed Aurora Sky paperback, Blood Bath cherry scented shower gel, and a Blood Transfusion mason jar with straw (US) or an Aurora Sky ebook, 3 winners (INT). Ends soon!

Bloody awesome giveaway, right? (pun intended)

a Rafflecopter giveaway