SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion

That's fine Belinda :)

*what I was gonna say!*

So...what is it?

Hi again team! I'm Vivian, live in Southern California, where I'm getting mighty sick of the hot, sunny weather. No little ones at home, but between working with kids with Autism and all the nieces and nephews in my life, it's curbed the need to have my own for now :)

Currently, I'm obsessed with Ravelry, which is GR for yarn, thanks to a former bingo-mate who told me about Nerd Wars (a fiber arts group challenge/competition).

Haven't won a bingo yet, but hoping Judithe's magic will counteract my bad luck! For my free space read, leaning towards since I'm currently reading Doubleblind. But seeing GoT inspires me to tackle or . I'll wait for the shelf announcement then decide.

Started a re-read of on audio and it's so good. I really really love this book, and it's on the SOS shelf *hint hint Jen* ;)

Yea! We got our first shelf ladies and it is Kick-Ass-Heroine

So make your selections and let's get this party started! ;)

Vivian I have heard amazing things about Smoke & Bone! Almost everybody I know has loved it! :)

Think I am gonna do a switch and use Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor for our Kick-Ass-Heroine Shelf and I am gonna plop Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning as my Free Space.

Since the first shelf was posted, does that mean we can start reading? :)

For my kick-ass-heroine, I've chosen to read book 2 in the Divergent series - Insurgent.

It's been a while since I read book 1, so I hope I remember all the characters well enough :)

I'm going to read for kick-ass Heroine!

Ok. I'll be reading this side of the grave (night huntress #5) by janiene frost. I'll be starting tues when I get home from my holiday as it's not on my kindle :( but I should be able to fly through it!!

FlibBityFLooB wrote: "Since the first shelf was posted, does that mean we can start reading? :)

For my kick-ass-heroine, I've chosen to read book 2 in the Divergent series - Insurgent.

It's been a while since I rea..."

Absolutely!

I'm still torn between two... and . Whichever I grab today will be it...

FlibbityF - Veronica Roth summarizes Divergent on her blog if you want to take a look.

I'm going with for kick ass heroines. Put down for my free space book.

Suzanne, looking forward to your review! People were comparing Skinwalker to Mercy Thompson in another group, so I've been thinking of giving it another go.

Vivian wrote: "FlibbityF - Veronica Roth summarizes Divergent on her blog if you want to take a look..."

That's perfect, Vivian. Thanks so much!

Some nice selections so far ladies! Please take a peek at our Lucky 13's Reading List and make sure I have you down correctly and Happy Reading ya'll! :)

Shelf = Kick-Ass Heroine
Book Read = Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Date Finished = 9/16/12
Rating = ★★★★
Basic Review
It had been several months since I read book 1 in this series, so I was thankful that Vivian pointed me to the author's blog which recapped. However, it still wasn't ringing enough bells that I felt comfortable starting the book, so I wound up on wikipedia reading a recap of the story there as well. I am so glad I read those recaps or I would have been crazy lost reading.

This is a dystopian trilogy that people have likened to THE HUNGER GAMES. I am enjoying it, though I can't say that I like it as much as THE HUNGER GAMES. I found the storyline to be fairly predictible, even though it seemed that the author was trying to be shockingly surprising. I guess she just didn't pull it off enough for me. Also, I cried while reading the first two books in THE HUNGER GAMES, and nothing moved me enough here to make me cry.

I also felt the author was trying too hard to educate the reader, despite disguising it as being integral to the plot. I guess that's because it's young-adult and the author doesn't trust the reader enough to know that they will be cognizant enough of the elements within the story. Maybe she doesn't think teenagers will take the time to look up a word if they don't know what it means immediately? I'm not sure.

Anyway, it's certainly not a bad series by any means. There's a lot of action, and it read *really* fast. I wasn't expecting to be able to read 500+ pages as quickly as I did.

I definitely will read the last book in the series. I also saw on wikipedia that they're hurrying a movie out from the series (starting in 2014). I wonder how that will play out on screen? Hmmmm.

Hooray for the first review, FlibBity!

That's a series I've thought about starting but still haven't gotten around to yet...hmmm...

Wow!! Good work flipbity!! O.o finished already!!

Mine list is good Jennifer. Thanks for being our fearless leader btw :D

I think I'll start janiene frost as soon as I get home so we can get the kick-ass heroine shelf dusted since there's already one finished there. Can't wait to get home! Midnight flight tonight ladies, i'll be reading with you first thing tomorrow morning :P

Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken
Shelf: Kick-Ass-Heroine
Date finished: 9/17/12
Rating: ★★★★☆
Thoughts:

Someone has gently prodded me to read this for quite some time, and with it being the Year of the Dragon, I've been meaning to get to it. So many books, never enough time!

Well, I'm glad I finally did! This was a very fun, cute, smexy, funny read! The book is actually two shorter ones...which I'd forgotten! As Fearghus and Annwyl's story was wrapping up, had a panic-attack thinking this was too short for Bingo! Nope, it also includes the story of Rhiannon and Bercelak, Fearghus' parents.

Fearghus really doesn't like humans, but for some reason even he doesn't understand, he saved Annwyl when her brother's soldiers were trying to kill her. Slowly but surely, feisty Annwyl captures his heart, and he can't resist her whether in dragon or human form. So, he also can't NOT help her in her fight against her brother...and they get in quite the variety of training! It's a romance, so they also get a lovely, though rather bloody, HEA.

Rhiannon is a princess, Bercelak is a warrior for her rather bloody, power-hungry mother. Dear Mom does not particularly want her offspring to live, or eventually try to take the throne. Her solution is to throw Rhiannon (literally!) to Bercelak, confident that at the right moment, he will destroy the princess for his queen. Well, Bercelak has had other plans for Rhiannon from the first time he saw her. His family is also rather crazy, but in a more "lovable" way than Rhiannon's, and they add even more humor to the mix. Having seen them in the first story, it's very nice to get the deets on them, and a little more insight into their relationship with each other and their hatchlings.

Fun read, and glad I have more on hand!

Have a safe flight, Belinda! And fun reading choice! Are you just starting with Frost? And which series?

Yay Judithe!!!!! Finally :DDDD

Thanks Judith!! I'm up to book 6 and have been reading them all in order of release date do both series together. Hubby got me into them. He likes reading but is usually a very slow reader - these he reads in a few days, which is extraordinary for him.

Way to go FlibBityFLooB and Judithe! I am gonna try to push and get Daughter of Smoke & Bone read tomorrow.

Please have a safe trip Belinda and you ladies are plum welcome on the leader bit.

I have been wanting to start the Insurgent and the Frost Series for some time now (Have both series) but I have so many TBR's on my shelves and too little time! :(

Ain't that the truth!

Excellent reviews ladies!I haven't started either of my books yet, but it's been one of those busy days, running around with errands and such. It's only the first week, I'll get to them soon :)

I liked Divergent, but Hunger Games it is not. I'll get to Insurgent eventually, but not in any hurry.

So many good book choices in the first week! I see myself adding books to that already long list to-read...

How's everybody's books going? I'm about a quarter ways into Daughter of Smoke and Bone and so far I am not all that into it. :( I hope it's fixing to pick up or else it's gonna be a long evening for me.

Just got home from a red eye flight *bleurgh!* a bit of sleep, unpacking and catching up around the house and I should be able to start my book this afternoon :D

hehe. I like the word BLEURGH, Belinda. I think I should learn to work that into my day-to-day lingo. It just rolls off your tongue -- blehhhhh rrrgh. :)

Okay, I'm weird.

Back to reading.

ROFL!

lol Tis a cool word and a new one on me as well!

Lol! Glad you all like it :P must be an Aussie thing....

Probably, just never seen it spelled out before. ROFL

Just wondering how you pronounce it??!!??

Jennifer, sorry you're not liking DoSaB. What a bleurgh! (Am I making up usages for the word? lol) A lot of people prefer either the first half or second since there's a slight change in focus. Hopefully, you'll like the ending better than the beginning! If not, the books can only get better from here :)

I'm just about halfway done with Biting Cold and I'm enjoying it more than expected. Was disappointed with the last one, but hoping it was a fluke in the series.

Lol vivian!! Love it :P what a bleurgh!! Hehehe...

Your right Vivian it was "bleurgh" that for a spell but I am over halfway with it and starting to love it! ;)

Belinda, you may have started an epidemic of bleurgh usage...

Glad the book is looking up Jennifer!

Finished Cold BitesBiting Cold (oops, that didn't sound right) even though I should be sleeping. I liked this book much more than the last one and optimistic for the next book. Review to come tomorrow.

I think I have!! Should we change our name? :P just kidding!!!

LOL @ Belinda "The Bookworm Bleurgh's"

Rofl!!! Bookworm bleurgh's!!! Pure gold Jennifer!!!

*with my super-secret powers...it COULD happen!* J/K Though it's too funny!

I'm procrastinating. RL is demanding I finish a project TONIGHT (going to go do it soon...but still procrastinating!) So, 6& into my free space...LOL! I bought it as a 4 book bundle, so HAVE NO IDEA how close I am to finished. Sigh. But it's REALLY good.

Happiness today is the spouse cooked dinner. *Happy dance*

I have heard they are really good Judithe but the size of them freak me out. LOL Maybe one day I can work them in. (Sigh)

On another note yeaaaa for you hubby cooking supper! That's always nice! Did ya have something yummy? I'm sitting here starving so maybe I shouldna asked that! LOL

LOL! Hope someone feeds you soon! Yep. Yummy...but he's a one-dish cook...tonight was spicy chicken with erengi-mushrooms on a steamed hot plate (in individual servings...get your chopsticks away from my 'shrooms!) Crispy on the bottom, with a slightly smoky flavor and so tender... Threw together a quick salad and perfect!

The monster tome is actually an amazingly fast read! If the RL astronomy project hadn't suddenly dropped in my lap, I think I'd be finished...just give it a start just before a fairly free long weekend, and you might be amazed (just worried about whether I can get to 2-4 before hitting the super-busy-almost here season! I vote we post-pone year-end another 6 months at least...)

Now, I'm really running away to another section of the internet so I can afford to buy more books!

Maybe I'll pop back to post some project-related super-cool pics...but LATER!

LOL OMG I wont be on here much longer you went into such great detail on your meal that now crackers and peanut butter just wasn't gonna cut it so I got to go cook me some breakfast! LOL

Yes post pics please! Sounds cool!

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Shelf: Kick-Ass-Heroine
Date finished: 9/19/12
Rating: ★★★
Review: I was beginning to wonder what all the hubbub was about this book because I was a good ways into it before I ever started liking it. Then I got immersed into the beginning of a wonderful romance only to have it interrupted by what I would call a brief commercial and then when the regularly scheduled program comes back on it's "to be continued" (sigh)

Overall I did like the story though. It was fresh and the chimaera fascinated me as well as the teeth trades which was pretty wicked but yet cool in a way. I thought it was awesome for Karou to be able to grow her hair blue. That would be neat!

I feel as though I liked the story enough to pick up the next book because I just have to know what happens next!

JenniferJ wrote: "LOL OMG I wont be on here much longer you went into such great detail on your meal that now crackers and peanut butter just wasn't gonna cut it so I got to go cook me some breakfast! LOL

Yes pos..."

SORRY! LOL! Hope you had a delish breakfast!

Nice review, too...but still on the fence as to whether it's a "must-add" book. Would you say it's a world we should definitely visit, or drop by if we have time? (Though Kaoru & blue hair have me quite intrigued!)

I'm about 1/3 through janiene frost. Haven't started feed yet either....but I will get there in the end!!

Holy Macanoli! Team 3 just got their Heroine stamp!

Judithe I had a fried egg sandwich with a slice of cheese! LOL Still a long ways from that awesome dinner you hungered me for but far better than the peanut butter I was contemplating. As far as Daughter of Smoke and Bone in all honesty for me it's one of those drop by if you have time kind of reads. It was okay and bits had me in awe like the blue hair, chimaera, and the gross teeth collecting but I don't think it had enough action for me or something? I have heard that the series gets batter so since I made it thru book 1 I will probably pick up the next one. I am kind of anal about completing series if they peak any kind of interest in me. lol

Work has been tiring me out this week. Finally back for my review. Speaking of work, Judithe, pictures please when you have some free time :)

I just finished dinner an hour ago and not at all hungry, but I've been thinking about an egg sandwich for a couple days now, maybe for breakfast tomorrow. Random craving, don't think I've ever craved eggs before?

On to the review
Biting Cold
finished 9.18.12
2.5 stars

Um...I honestly don't know what to say about this one.

The big bad Tate has reappeared and causes a ruckus in Chicagoland. Mallory has to deal with the aftermath of her decisions. Ethan and Merit have more relationship drama.

I'm tired of Ethan and Merit. Now that Ethan's back, you'd think they would both be more than happy to resume their relationship but no, not even close. Without getting into details, the issue they deal with for half this book is exactly the same as a past issue. Personal pet peeve of mine, if the SAME problem keeps popping up in your relationship, it's time for that relationship to end. Too much time on them, not enough appearances from other folk.

I miss Mallory. I miss the Mallory and Merit dynamic. I think that's a big part of my love for the first couple books, and things aren't the same now. You see a glimpse of the old Mallory and with time, maybe we'll get more of that again? And hopefully, more appearances from our side characters :)

This was better than the last book, but not by much. There have been some resolutions to some story lines so I'm hoping the next books will continue the upward trend back to the series I fell in love with. I will continue to read these books because to her credit, Miss Neill certainly knows how to create interest at the end of a book. It's not a cliffhanger, but still leaves me wanting to see what happens next.

Everybody is updated to here.

Vivian that is another series I need to hurry and start lol So many great ones and as mentioned before just not enough time....

Alrighty then speaking of the time..it's 3AM here so I need to scadaddle and read myself to sleep! LOL Think I am gonna fall asleep dreamin of The Hawk. Now that is a book I hate to see end!

@JenniferJ -- have you listened to Phil G narrate those Karen Marie Moning books? His female voices are laughable, but he does really sexy male voices. :)