Welcome to Two Chicks on Books!!!

Thanks for stopping by! I'm here to share all things Bookish and also news about Movies, TV Shows, and even Video Games I love! I love to read your comments :)


Monday, July 30, 2012

Jaime's Review of Carnival Of Souls By Melissa Marr


Carnival of Souls
Melissa Marr
Release Date: September 4, 2012
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Harper Teen
ISBN: 0061659282
Source: ARC from the publisher
Rating: Loved
From Goodreads.



In a city of daimons, rigid class lines separate the powerful from the power-hungry. And at the heart of The City is the Carnival of Souls, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition that allows every daimon a chance to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures--if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live. All Mallory knows of The City is that her father--and every other witch there--fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of a typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it's only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable. While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the Carnival of Souls. From Melissa Marr, bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely series and "Graveminder," comes a brand-new tale of lush secrets, dark love, and the struggle to forge one's own destiny.

Y’all I love Melissa Marr!!! So no surprise I had to get my hands on this book! And that I did thanks to Harper Teen! What I love about Melissa’s books is the grittiness in them. If you’ve read her Wicked Lovely books you know what I mean. She doesn’t pull punches and she writes what some YA authors wouldn’t even think of.  

Carnival of Souls is no exception. Heck I think it’s even grittier in some aspects than her WL series.

Carnival is set in two worlds the human world and in the city of Daimons and both parts were equally magical and dangerous. I loved the descriptions of The City! It was dark and alluring but also dirty and evil. I mean people sold themselves for all different kinds of pleasures just to survive, to eat, to put a roof over their heads! They also fight to survive or better themselves (gain in caste level). I fell for both of the daimons Belial and Kaleb they were so different but both equally awesome! They were not nice dudes just a FYI so if you’re looking for a nice guy it’s not them. They’ve both done awful things but they both had reasons. I also loved both Aya and Mallory. I do think I liked Aya a bit more. She was a big secret waiting to be unwrapped and I couldn’t wait to read more of her parts to see what was happening. And the ending OMG Melissa knows how to write an ending!!!! She has me dying to read the next book!


I chose this passage to share with you that was funny but also shows the differences between the daimons in 
The City.

Anger vied with worry in Zevi’s expression. Muttering to himself, he went over and stoked the fire, and then returned with one of the blankets from his bed. He sniffed Kaleb again as he spread the blanket over him. 
“Someone was against your skin, but you didn’t have sex.”

“I didn’t”

“Were you rejected?” Zevi’s gaze narrowed and he ran over to Aya.

Before Kaleb could speak, Zevi had bent down and pressed his nose to her crotch.

“No!” Kaleb yelled. His exclamation was simultaneous with Zevi’s yip of pain and the sound of crashing.

“I’m not up on cur customs, but I’m pretty sure that putting your nose there is not something you do with outsiders.” Aya had her foot on Zevi’s chest. “Don’t do that again.”

Also make sure to check out Melissa taking about Carnival of Souls



And there will be a trailer that was filmed in the Netherlands with professional fight choreographers so keep an eye out for that August 14th! Here's a couple pictures from it to tide you over.





Add Carnival of Souls to your Goodreads lists.

Pre-order your copy now!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Frost Blog tour and Giveaway



Today we have an excerpt to share with you as a part of the Frost blog tour! Kate Avery Ellison has shared an awesome scene with us. Also there is a giveaway for not one but 10 chances to win an ebook of Frost so make sure to fill out the rafflecopter form below.

Haven’t heard of Frost? Check out the synopsis!



In the icy, monster-plagued world of the Frost, one wrong move and a person could end up dead—and Lia Weaver knows this better than anyone. After monsters kill her parents, she must keep the family farm running despite the freezing cold and threat of monster attacks or risk losing her siblings to reassignment by the village Elders. With dangers on all sides and failure just one wrong step away, she can’t afford to let her emotions lead her astray. So when her sister finds a fugitive bleeding to death in the forest—a young stranger named Gabe—Lia surprises herself and does the unthinkable. She saves his life. Giving shelter to the fugitive could get her in trouble. The Elders have always described the advanced society of people beyond the Frost, the “Farthers,” as ruthless and cruel. But Lia is startled to find that Gabe is empathetic and intelligent…and handsome. She might even be falling in love with him. But time is running out. The monsters from the forest circle the farm at night. The village leader is starting to ask questions. Farther soldiers are searching for Gabe. Lia must locate a secret organization called the Thorns to help Gabe escape to safety, but every move she makes puts her in more danger. Is compassion—and love—worth the risk?

Add to Goodreads.
Order on  Amazon /Barnes & Noble

And on to the excerpt!

Frost Excerpt

“That idiot Adam Brewer is here,” Cole said. “Acting as if nothing is wrong.”

Ann avoided looking at me as she spoke. “We don’t know that his family is responsible for what happened to Lia’s parents. We don’t know what happened that day—”

“We know enough,” Cole interrupted. He scowled.

“Please,” I said. “I don’t really want to discuss it.”

“Greetings,” a low, smooth voice interjected into our conversation. I looked up quickly.

Adam Brewer.

Had he heard our words about him? My face flushed. My friends were frozen in quiet. Beside me, Cole’s eyes narrowed, and I saw his jaw twitch out of the corner of my eye.

But Adam was looking only at me. I straightened my shoulders. I would not cower under his gaze, even though it was wild and sharp as a hawk’s.

He was slender, with dark hair that fell into his eyes, and he wore a thick blue cloak as ragged as mine. We were both from farms outside the village walls. Like me, he knew the dangers of the forest because he experienced them firsthand.

Adam’s eyes cut to others and then back to mine. “I hope your farm has been free of Watchers lately?”

The word slid through the air, sharp as a knife blade. I sucked in a sharp breath. He was waiting for me to speak to him about the vicious creatures that prowled our forests at night as casually as we might speak of the weather.

I could just say it. No, I haven’t seen any Watchers. And I won’t be so foolish as to trust you to protect me from them, either. The words burned hot on my tongue, but I couldn’t spit them out.

My friends shuffled their feet, looking at him with thinly disguised hostility. Nothing had been proven, and there were no charges made against the family, but it was clear what everyone thought. And now here he was, bringing up that word—Watchers—like nothing was wrong.


Make sure to check out all the other tour stops for more excerpts, reviews, guest posts, and chances to win!


Fill out the rafflecopter and good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Something Strange and Deadly Blog Tour & Giveaway



Hey y’all! So we’re super excited to host Susan Dennard today. Jaime read Something Strange and Deadly and absolutely loved it check out her review here! For our tour stop we asked Susan to write a scene from Daniel’s POV about Eleanor and what she sent back is more than we expected; it’s way more! It’s so awesome we laughed so hard we cried! Daniel is one funny dude J

Ok since the scene is super long and really awesome we’ll keep this short so you can read it here’s the scene…… Oh and make sure to enter the giveaway for a signed copy below!

********************POST REMOVED PER PUBLISHER'S REQUEST**************
Awesome right? Susan will have this posted on her site after this week if you’d like to visit her there http://susandennard.com/ and stop by Itching For Books for the rest of the tour stops!

Also check out the trailer! J


a Rafflecopter giveaway
And remember to order your copy today!

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Jaime's Review of Defiance by CJ Redwine


Defiance
C.J. Redwine
Hardcover: 416 pages
Release Date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: Balzer+Bray (Harper)
ISBN: 0062117182
Source: ARC from the Sacramento/San Francisco Book Review
Rating: Obsessed
From Goodreads.

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her. At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared. As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.


So at first glance reading the synopsis you’d think ooh cool a fantasy novel right? And that’s what Harper is calling it; a fantasy trilogy which it is but, its’ so much more! There’s a dystopian edge to it as well and let’s just say those are two of my favorite genres. Needless to say I am completely obsessed with this book and C.J.’s writing is stunning! Absolutely breathtaking! She had me hanging on the edge of my chair with the action, cringing at the douchebag bad guy Commander Chase (who btw is way worse than Warner from Shatter Me IMO!!!!!!!)  and swooning like an idiot during the what did CJ call it in the acknowledgements? Oh yes awkward kissing scenes lol! Yeah my heart did little flips and yep I cried surprise, surprise. ;)

One of the things I loved the most about this amazing story was the multiple POV’s! We got the story from both Rachel and Logan. I honestly think this made the book better. With Rachel’s you got passion, anger, despair, and a strong desire for revenge/redemption and in Logan’s you got logic, plus the anger and passion, and a little something extra I can’t quite put my finger on. I absolutely loved his POV I think it may have been my favorite he made me feel all the things! Oh and did I forget to say there’s a dragon like creature? Yep it doesn’t have wings but it’s scary as hell!  Back to the real bad guy though Commander Chase; I stated above that in my opinion he’s worst than Warner in Shatter Me and, I stick by it. This man has no redeeming qualities at all and he’s not good looking. He’s old and cruel and doesn’t care who he kills. He literally gave me the heebie jeebies I mean skin crawling chills!

It was really hard to choose a passage I think I had about 20 post-it’s marking pages in this one but I decided to share a small passage from Logan’s POV.

Her skin warms beneath my hand as her anger fades into something tentative and soft.

“I should have told you what I was doing.” My thumb traces a path across her cheekbone, catching another drip of water. “I should’ve trusted you. I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry. Sorry I misjudged you. Sorry I got us caught tonight.” She sways closer to me.

My gaze wanders to her lips, and I can’t see anything but a thin trail of water gliding over her skin, gathering at the corner of her mouth, and then slowly drifting toward her neck. She raises one shaky hand and presses her fingers against her lips. Her breath catches, a tiny sound that makes me realize how close I’m standing to her.
Warmth rushes through me, and I dip my face toward hers.

“Logan?” Her voice is soft, but the sound of my name slaps some sense into me.

I jerk back and swear.

Ok so I think y’all can see I’ve found another favorite. Yep I will suggest this one just like I suggest Maria V. Snyder’s Study series because it is THAT good and it NEEDS to be read!!!!

Add Defiance to your Goodreads shelves!!!!

Pre-order your copy now!

Friday, July 20, 2012

Authors ARE Rockstars Tour Stops


We are so excited to finally be able to announce the line-up for the AUTHORS ARE ROCKSTARS TOUR! While we still have a few stops available on the tour, we wanted to post the full tour now so that you can see just who is on tour and when and where they will be appearing so you can mark your calendars.

There are currently 101 stops on the tour this August, way more than we ever anticipated joining the tour, but as there are so many authors that are rockstars we aren’t really surprised.

We can’t wait for the tour to kick-off on August 1st as we have seen some seriously great questions, guest post ideas and top ten list topics for our rockstar authors on tour. And we even got a peek at a few reasons why these bloggers think their authors are such rockstars.



★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

We hope you will join in the fun, follow the tour and see just what each of these bloggers thinks about the rockstar authors they are hosting!

And be sure to check back before August 1st as we will be updating the tour schedule below with any new authors that have joined the tour or any changes to tour dates or stops.

The Tour

August 1st
Tour Kick-off Posts at Fiktshun and Two Chicks On Books
Karsten Knight stops at Fiktshun
Jus Accardo stops at Two Chicks On Books

August 2nd
Lissa Price stops at- Two Chicks On Books
Alexander Gordon Smith stops at Jean Book Nerd
Stacia Ward Kehoe stops at Dizneee's World of Books

August 3rd
Suzanne Young stops at Chick Loves Lit
Gabrielle Zevin stops at Kaitlyn in Bookland
Rachel Harris stops at Hackeroo’s Reviews

August 4th
Scott Tracey stops at Bookalicious
Susan Dennard stops at Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Reviews and Goodies
Jessica Spotswood stops at Narratively Speaking

August 5th
Michelle Gagnon stops at Fiktshun
Jackie Morse Kessler stops at Books With Bite
Ann Redisch Stampler stops at Booking It With Hayley G

August 6th
Gena Showalter stops at My Para-Hangover
Cayla Kluver stops at Catching Books
Jody Gehrman stops at Epic Book Nerd
August 7th
Bethany Griffin stops at The Bookish Brunette
Lauren Oliver stops at Fictitious Delicious
Anna Carey stops at Good Choice Reading

August 8th
Jordan Dane stops at Sarah’s Books & Life
Claire LaZebnik stops at Peace, Love, Teen Fiction
Melissa de la Cruz stops at Debbie’s World of Books

August 9th
Tiffany Truitt stops at The Bookaholic
Heather Anastasiu stops at Falling For YA
Amy Kathleen Ryan stops at Bookshelvers Anonymous
Alyxandra Harvey stops at Bookpics

August 10th
Leah Clifford stops at Books Over Boys
Inara Scott stops at Smiling_Ina’s Bookish Corner
Rachel Cohn stops at Justin's Book Blog

August 11th
CJ Redwine stops at Bibliognome
Jodi Meadows stops at Librarian Mouse
Stephanie Thomas stops at My 5 Monkeys
Fiona Paul stops at Fiktshun

August 12th
Sarwat Chadda stops at Page Turners
Courtney Summers stops at A Good Addiction
Mary Lindsey stops at IB Book Blogging
Kate Avelynn stops at Shortie Says

August 13th
Kim Harrington stops at Geek Chic
Saundra Mitchell stops at Poisoned Rationality
Suzanne Lazear stops at What the Cat Read

August 14th
Lisa Desrochers stops at Emilie’s Book World
Brodi Ashton stops at Emily’s Reading Room
Sarah Beth Durst stops at Winter Haven Books

August 15th
Chloe Neill stops at A Book Obsession
Emmy Laybourne stops at Proud Book Nerd
T.M. Goeglein stops at Book Briefs
Marianna Baer stops at Tsk, Tsk, what to read?

August 16th
Rachel Vincent stops at Nina Reads
Courtney Allison Moulton stops at The Book Cellar
Jennifer L. Armentrout stops at Confessions of a Bookaholic

August 17th
Jennifer Bosworth stops at The Readers Antidote
Dan Krokos stops at Jenuine Cupcakes
Becca Fitzpatrick stops at Katie's Book Blog
August 18th
Gretchen McNeil stops at YA Book Queen
Michelle Zink stops at Mercurial Musings
Gina Damico stops at Lisa Loves Literature
Jennifer Castle stops at Little Shelf

August 19th
Wendy Higgins stops at Stuck In Books
Elizabeth Norris stops at Literary Exploration
Veronica Rossi stops at Singing & Reading in the Rain

August 20th
Lisa Stasse stops at Two Chicks On Books
Robin LaFevers stops at In the Best Worlds
JA Souders stops at The Book Goddess
Elizabeth Miles stops at Book Twirps

August 21st
Julie Kagawa stops at Starting the Next Chapter
Rae Carson stops at The Book Swarm
Tahereh Mafi stops at Brooke Reports

August 22nd
Lesley Livingston stops at The Ravenous Reader
Ingrid Paulson stops at The YA Sisterhood
Talia Vance stops at Magical Urban Fantasy Reads
August 23rd
Cara Lynn Shultz stops at The Reading Geek
Colleen Houck stops at Making the Grade
CC Hunter stops at Lady Reader’s Bookstuff
Kelly Keaton stops at The Bookish Type

August 24th
Victoria Schwab stops at Moonlight Book Reviews
Dan Wells stops at A Life Bound by Books
Mike Mullin stops at Xpresso Reads

August 25th
Kimberly Derting stops at Avery’s Book Nook
Julia Karr stops at Wholly Books
Carrie Harris stops at The Bursting Bookshelf

August 26th
Lisa Burstein stops at I’m a Book Shark
Lisa and Laura Roecker stop at Gypsy Book Reviews
Miranda Kenneally stops at Paper Cuts

August 27th
Cynthia Hand stops at The Starrey-eyed Review
Sara Zarr stops at The Fake Steph
Simone Elkeles stops at YA Reads
Amber Kizer stops at Belle Books
Michelle Hodkin stops at Word Spelunking

August 28th
Marissa Meyer stops at Fiction Freak
Tara Fuller stops at Tater’s Tall Tails
Victoria Scott stops at Mostly YA Book Obsessed
Sarah Crossan stops at Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf

August 29th
Jeri Smith-Ready stops at Bookhounds
Chloe Jacobs stops at The Reviews News
Melissa West stops at Stories & Sweeties

August 30th
Michelle Rowen/Morgan Rhodes stops at The Book Hookup
Sarah J. Maas stops at Ink Scratchers
Katy Longshore stops at A Little Shelf of Heaven

August 31st
Maria V. Snyder stops at Two Chicks On Books
Tessa Gratton stops at Fiktshun
Danny Marks stops at Citrus Reads

September 1st
Tour Wrap-up Posts at Fiktshun and Two Chicks On Books
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...