Breathtaking Book Cover: The Mirk and Midnight Hour by Jane Nickerson

Todays Breathtaking Book Cover is...

The Mirk and Midnight Hour

by

Jane Nickerson

Breathtaking Book Cover: The Sound of Letting Go by Stasia Ward Kehoe

Todays Breathtaking Book Cover is...

The Sound of Letting Go

by

Stasia Ward Kehoe

Book News: Panic by Lauren Oliver Cover Reveal and Excerpt

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

In addition to revealing the cover today Lauren also posted a couple videos of herself reading the first few chapters of Panic. You can check those out below!

  Chapter One
Chapters Two & Three
Be sure to add Panic to your Goodreads shelf, the more people who add it the more exclusive content Lauren will release! 

Breathtaking Book Cover: Dead Ends by Erin Jade Lange

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Dead Ends 

by

Erin Jade Lange

Breathtaking Book Cover: Asylum by Susan Vaught

Todays Breathtaking Book Cover is...

Asylum

by

Susan Vaught

YA Review: This is W.A.R by Lisa & Laura Roecker

Title: This Is W.A.R.
Author: Lisa & Laura Roecker
# of Pages: 288
Publisher: Soho Teen
Publication Date: July 2nd 2013
Source: Edelweiss
Level: Young Adult
Rating: 1 Hearts

Synopsis

(From Goodreads)

This is W.A.R. begins with a victim who can no longer speak for herself, and whose murder blossoms into a call-to-arms. Enter four very different girls, four very different motives to avenge Willa Ames-Rowan, and only one rule to start: Destroy James Gregory and his family at any cost. Willa's initials spell the secret rallying cry that spurs the foursome to pool their considerable resources and deliver their particular brand of vigilante justice. Innocence is lost, battles are won—and the pursuit of the truth ultimately threatens to destroy them all.

My Verdict

The main reason I wanted to read this book was because I really enjoyed the Roecker's first book, The Liar Society. (They also write really hilarious blog posts, just FYI). I knew very little about the story but thought I would enjoy anything the two wrote. Unfortunately, I was wrong.

The story begins with Willa's thoughts on death right before she drowns. The book is then divided into five parts, each told from the perspective of one of Willa's friends who have banned together to take down her killer. 

The Setting-  Hawthorne Lake Country Club, a place where the rich can basically do whatever they want to whomever they want, no questions asked, no consequences. This was the first thing that bothered me. Money is not everything. You can't just throw money at people to make things go away. Especially when that "thing" is murder. The fact that all the characters were so easily paid off to keep quiet was beyond frustrating. Does no one at this club have any morals? Apparently not. 

The Characters-  The story is broken up into five parts each focusing on a different one of Willa's friends, their secrets, and memories of the night she died. Neither Rose, Lina, Sloane or Madge were likable characters. They were all spoiled rich brats, disillusioned about the real world and very stereotypical. The worst was Sloane a.k.a. "the dumb one" whom often got annoyed with herself for being so dumb. Her part was definitely the hardest to tolerate. None of the girls had any self respect, which was hard to take. 

There isn't even a strong enough word to describe my disgust of the Gregory brothers, who were basically club royalty. Alcoholic, drug dealer, rapist, murderer, all of these words apply to at least one of the Gregory boys. Trip Gregory treated girls like objects, drugging them to "relax" them (practically knock them unconscious) and have sex. I wanted to vomit!! The thing is, most of the girls were dumb enough that they took the pill no questions asked! Seriously?!? 

I feel bad writing such a negative review, but I honestly didn't enjoy a single aspect of this story. If the points mentioned above don't make you want rip your hair out or throw up then go ahead and give it a try.  I'm sure some people will like it. I'm also sure a lot of people won't. 

Novels In Verse Challenge: July Linky List!

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June Recap:

Last month I read one book toward the challenge.

What novels in verse have you read lately? Link up your July reviews below!