{Book Reviews} Emilie and the Hollow World as well as Emilie and the Sky World, both by Martha Wells #2015HW #COYER

Emilie and the Hollow World by Martha Wells

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a fun and wonderfully adventurous ride through a world that will absolutely remind you of the adventures in the Jules Verne state of mind. With marvelous steampunk inventions, brilliantly described worlds and different people.

I liked Emilie's determination and courage and cheered as she embarked on her journey, escaping her jerk of an uncle. I also liked watching her discover new peoples and new worlds and how she just absorbed it all and took it in stride!

Wonderful beginning to a new series and one I'm looking forward to continue reading!



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Emilie and the Sky World by Martha Wells

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really loved how this book picked up in the instant we left off with Emilie as she was about to embark on a new life with Ms and Dr Marlende.

The description of this book as a modern Verne-esque adventure tale is appropriate, and you can expect to enjoy this book every bit as much as the first book. Engaging and fun to read, while this is targeted towards a YA aged audience, I thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult. Plucky Emilie fast grew on me - she is endearing and adventurous and courageous.





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{Book Review}FULL BLOODED by Amanda Carlson #2015HW #COYER

Full Blooded by Amanda Carlson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This has been sitting on my kindle forever and I am using COYER as my excuse to get to these old Netgalley approvals. My sincerest apologies to the author and publisher for not getting to those series sooner!

I absolutely loved this book. Just when you think you're getting tired of one of your favorite genres, you pick up a book like this and you sigh with contentment as a fresh voice weaves you a story about the paranormal. Jessica is the ONLY female werewolf - born into a Pack, she was feared due to an old myth and protected by her fierce Alpha father against those who wanted her dead. She didn't change at puberty, but she sure did about 10 years later and that is enough to spark a war.

As bits and pieces of lore and history make their way known while Jessica is trying to come to terms with who she is, what she is, and what she is to do now, the suspense builds and builds. This was a kindle bruiser for sure and I leaped from this book right into book two.

And a good thing, too, as it was part of #2015HW for COYER Reading Assignment 2015! If you love werewolf stories and a strong female lead that isn't overly confident but no mewling wimp, start reading this series!



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{COYER CHALLENGE} Tell Tiffy a Tale! -updated

It's my turn to host a challenge for COYER! YAY! This is the first time I'm hosting a challenge and I have to admit I'm quite excited!

My challenge will run from January 28 through February 10th. 

You will have 2 weeks!

Ideally, you will read 2 fantasy books during this time (or have already for COYER)

And then...

You tell Tiffy a Tale! 

In a comment here on the blog, tell me a short (2 paragraphs or so) story using / incorporating lines from the two books you've read. 

Lines should be chosen from the following pages: 1, 37, 98, 117, 225, and 328. If your book isn't that long, choose a line from the last page of your book. You can of course adjust pages as needed, but I thought with page guidelines, it would give you something to work with and make it easier. 

EDIT: 
I'm a ninny and forgot about page numbers and ebooks. 
SO... Instead please choose lines from
the following percentages:

 15, 28, 37, 78, and 89!

Don't forget to let us know which books you pulled from! 

What do you win?! 

I will choose two winners at the end. 

GRAND PRIZE 

Winner will receive any $15 or less book from

The Book Depository 

(anywhere it ships; can be 2 lower priced books as long as it doesn't go over $15 or so)

Runner Up Prize

Any Kindle Book from Amazon $4.99 or less, your choice

Entry-Form

COYER 2015 Reading Assignment Challenge #2015HW

Hey Readers! So I'm sure you've noticed I've cut waaaaaaaaaaaay back on blogging lately. I'm sorry if you were getting used to reading a post a day, but I took a new job and between the commute and the job, I have no time to blog. I'm still reading, but my blogging commitments had to be cut way back! I am also one of the two bookworms over at Grammar Inspection Task Force and have been enjoying working with authors as we copy-edit their manuscripts! 

So look for more spotlights than review tours this year from me. Book Reviews will still be coming, just not as structured as they have been for the past two years. 

OH MY GOD I am coming up on my two year blogaversary! I need to plan a party, too!

My lovely blogging buddies Michelle and Berls are hosting a year-long COYER event! And I am participating in it! The COYER (Clean Out Your E-Reader) event hosted by Berls @FantasyisMoreFun and Michelle @BecauseReading ! I'm even going to be a mini-challenge host! 

I've decided that since I average about 200 books a year, I can definitely strive for Level 5. STRIVE FOR FIVE! And I just went through my +NetGalley Reading List, which I'm still woefully behind on, to come up with 48 books to read for this challenge. I'll try to remember to do a prettier post at the beginning of every month with covers and blurbs. But here's my official READING ASSIGNMENT

Join the fun! There should soon be a list about the upcoming challenges, prizes to be won, fun to be had, let's read! 

You can sign up here: http://www.becausereading.com/2015hw/ and here's a copy of the rules and guidelines!

2015 we’re going back to school but this time your in charge of the assigned reading list! Join Me and Berls @ Fantasy is more fun for the 2015 Reading Assignment Challenge!

The Rules

The 2015 Reading Assignment Challenge runs from January 1st – December 31st 2015. You may sign up anytime between now and July 1st

You may only participate for the months AFTER you sign up (so if you sign up in February, January doesn’t count)

Commit to reading 1, 2, 3, or 4 books a month and MAKE A LIST of the SPECIFIC books you will read in 2015. This is the point of the challenge: You’re committing to reading a set list of books and a certain number of them each month. It’s your chance to finally hold yourself accountable for those books you keep promising yourself you’ll read!

You may read any genre or any format (i.e., eBook, Audiobook, Paperback, Hardcover). But they must be published before January 1, 2015 and they must be at least 100 pages.

Pick a level and make your list. REMEMBER: You’re committing to not just those books, but that number of books a month. You CANNOT read them all in one month. You get a certain amount of Extra Credit and Passes, depending on your level (as listed & explained below)

At the end of each month, cross off the book(s) you read. We will have a link-up each month (hosted alternatively between me and Michelle- January will be Me, February Berls, March Me, etc.) for you to link your reviews. This can be simply a link to a quick update on Goodreads or a blog review. The link-up will be open 1st to the 7th of each month and we’ll randomly select a monthly winner of a $5 gift card to Amazon. Giveway will be open Internationally.

Tweet your progress to #2015HW and keep an eye out for random tweets from us.

There will be a grand prize drawing in January 2016. To be entered in the grand prize raffle, you must have completed your Reading Assignment as you indicated in your sign up post. The monthly giveaways will be based on that month alone, so even if you can’t complete the challenge for the year, you will have plenty of opportunities to win!

The Levels

Reading Level 1:

6 books

No Extra Credit, No Passes

Reading Level 2:

12 books (1 book/month)

1 Extra Credit, 1 Pass

Reading Level 3:

24 books (2 books/month)

2 Extra Credits, 1 Pass

Reading Level 4:

36 books (3 books/month)

3 Extra Credits, 1 Pass

Reading Level 5:

48 books (4 books/month)

4 Extra Credits, 1 Pass

Extra Credit:

Each level gets a set amount of extra credit that they may claim throughout the challenge. So if you’re having a good month and want to get ahead (and haven’t used up your extra credit) go ahead and read an extra book from your Assignment List. Once you’ve used up your Extra Credit, you have to stick to your scheduled number of books per month.

Passes:

Level 2 and up gets 1 Pass. This means you can skip a month without dropping out of the challenge. You’ll have to use your extra credit to make it up, but you still have a chance.

CLARIFICATION (edited 12/1/14): Extra Credit can ONLY be used for books on your list from January 1st – November 30th. The extra credit helps you recover from a month you may have used a pass on. However, if you do your assigned reading according to schedule, you will start December with unused extra credit. If you do you may add a book, for each remaining extra credit, to your assignment list, to be announced in your November post (which will be linked up from 12/1 to 12/7). If you choose to add books to your list, YOU MUST read them to complete the challenge. IF YOU FAIL TO READ THEM, YOU ARE NOT ELLIGIBLE FOR THE GRAND PRIZE. IF YOU DO READ THEM, YOU’LL GET AN EXTRA ENTRY FOR EACH EXTRA CREDIT YOU CASH IN. So its up to you play it safe or gamble for more changes to win and rise to the top of the class!

And that’s it! This is a bit stricter than a lot of year long challenges, but that’s because we want it to be a little harder and hopefully more satisfying when you rock it!