Book Review: Nihal of The Land of The Wind by Licia Troisi

Title: Nihal of The Land of The Wind (Chronicles of the Overworld #1)
Author: Licia Troisi
Publication: May 27th 2014, Open Road Media (First published in Italian in 2004 by Mondadori)
Format: e-ARC (in English), 230 pages
Source: Open Road Media through Netgalley (Thank you!)
Buy it on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Synopsis:

Nihal lives in one of the many towers of the Land of the Wind. There is nobody like her in the Overworld: big violet eyes, pointed ears, and blue hair. She is an expert in swordplay and the leader of a handful of friends that includes Sennar the wizard. She has no parents; brought up by an armorer and a sorceress, Nihal seems to be from nowhere.

Things suddenly change when the Tyrant takes charge. Nihal finds herself forced to take action when she is faced with the most difficult mission a girl her age could imagine.

Fierce, strong, and armed with her black crystal sword, Nihal sets out to become a real warrior.

Misfit Review :
*I was provided an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

If there is anything more investing than reading a fantasy novel, then please don't sign me up for it because I realized how difficult it could be long ago. It's taxing to remember all the characters and those involved and  if it's straight up action and dragons, I get rather bored. It took me a while to finish this novel but maybe it was school or I was just really, really tired. But when I got the opportunity to read it more, I found out that I actually enjoyed reading Nihal of The Land of The Wind, or "NIHAL" as I would like to call it.

Her feelings of nostalgia, loneliness, and regret were heightened, but her heart did not waver. She wanted her childhood back--all the fun, innocence, and peace she had felt.

So we are taken into the Overworld where the feisty and spunky Nihal resides at the Land of The Wind with her father, Livon, who is an armors maker. She wants to be a Dragon Knight so badly and wished to learn how to really fight and learn magic, which her father took with animosity. But in the end, Nihal prevailed in her wishes, training under Soana, Livon's sister, who happens to be a sorceress with an apprentice named Sennar. We are taken into their world where Nihal must learn to fight against the odds against the dominating Tyrant and to make people realize her worth as a warrior and as a woman.

She was strong, unbeatable. Nothing could stop her. This was what the croud was shouting, and she believed them.

Nihal is a story of hard work, revenge and self worth. I enjoyed reading this book though it took me a while to really take into liking it. The story's pace at first was rather slow for me but then it got more engaging and you end up seeing yourself liking everything that is happening around. I specifically loved Nihal's determination to learn and protect her land. It was a story that allowed me to appreciate kingdom stories more and also the inclusion of romance. 

I guess that I appreciated the story because of the little hints of romance. Sennar is such a lovable guy because of his wit and humor. It's just unfortunate that Nihal is so dense or rather fixated with Fen. Another thing I loved about the story is that the action's just right! And oooh! DRAGONS! I can die now.

For a split second, Sennar was afraid of her. She wasn't the same girl he'd met in Salazar. She'd changed, though he couldn't say just how.

Licia Troisi wrote a really interesting story. It's not the first time I've encountered a story about dragons, supernatural stuff and powers, but it is my first time encountering a girl protagonist fight for her right to be part of something she's not supposed to be in. Her characteristics reminds of me of Katniss in a way but with a more void set of emotions while the story progressed.  All in all, there's a good balance of characters and scenes that made the novel quite exciting as it progressed! And I'm looking forward to the next part!

Go and read Nihal of The Land of The Wind because it's totes worth it!

About The Author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads 

Licia Troisi was born in Ostia, a little place by the sea near Rome. She’s been passionate about writing since her childhood. She took classical studies at high school and studied astrophysics in the university. She started to write her first trilogy, Cronache del Mondo Emerso (Chronicles from the Emerged World), at the age of 21.

She got married in 2007 and is currently a PhD student in Rome. Music, movies and comics are among her interests.

This was one awesome review guys! Check out more in the coming days or weeks! See you later! 

The Misfit Interviews with Marissa Meyer

I never thought this day would come when I can interview one of my favorite authors, Marissa Meyer, author of The Lunar Chronicles. It was a May evening when I asked her if she was willing to do an interview with me and said YES!!! I felt like I won the lottery, I threw a fit at my Aunt's house! Anyway, here is my interview with her! Enjoy!

AUTHOR STUFF

1. What made you write the Lunar Chronicles? Was it a certain fascination towards princesses or something more than that? 

LIFE OF A BLOGGER: Favorite Sports Teams

Life Of A Blogger is hosted by Jessi from Novel Heartbeat where we let people know more about our lives outside of blogging so they can get to know us better!

Why hello there everyone! My name is Jenivieve and this week, we are gonna be talking about my favorire SPORTS TEAMS! If you've noticed, I posted 2 topics today since I wasn't able to post an old one, but I decided to post it earlier...But this is the main post!

So, if you have not known, I am a huge sports fan! Like, I would scream at the telly when I watch a game and I go bananas if they scored or done something incredibly amazeballs! Here are some of my favorite sports teams!


1. SOCCER: Argentina, Netherlands, Greece (FIFA 2014)

If you've already known, FIFA 2014 is happening and oh boy oh boy oh boy, I'm tuned in to it like glue to a piece of paper. I try to watch early morning since TIMEZONES! If I can't comply to my watching routine, I keep tabs on Google, since GOOGLE LOOOOVES FIFA! Anyway, Argentina is one of my all time favorite teams in FIFA, coz MESSI! He's such a soccer superstar! Netherlands and Greece are also my front runners! BUT UGH! Too hard to choose! I'm even rootin' for MEXICO! Anyway, watch FIFA, okay? Okay.

2. BASEBALL: San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox

My dad and I could sit all day watching batters swing it to a homerun or slide to a mound just to win a game and yeah, BASEBALL IS A DAY MAKER! Especially if it's the WORLD SERIES! Like, screaming and hustle of the hands! Yeah.. We huge baseball fans here at home. And the San Francisco Giants are our utmost fave because it has such a huge variation of members. And the Yankees are no doubt there at the top, so we always look forward to watching them and the Red Sox, dear sweet cheese! All in all, baseball counts in family time!

3. BASKETBALL: Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets

I have been a huge basketball fan for all I can remember. I used to shout at the TV and wake up people on the street whenever a team scored! My dad would sometimes shout at me for doing so, although he's basically the reason why we're all addicted to basketball! I guess, he's the silent type of cheerer! Anyway, the Miami Heat are really out there with strength, San Antonio Spurs with their spunk and also their wide array of experience and Houston Rockets with their amazing sense of strategy! Just! Basketball! YEAH!

I may not seem sporty, but really, I am... in mah mind! LOL! Well, I hope that we share the same favorites! Leave comments below so I'd know! Thanks!

LIFE OF A BLOGGER: School

Life Of A Blogger is hosted by Jessi from Novel Heartbeat where we let people know more about our lives outside of blogging so they can get to know us better!

Hello! My name is Jenivieve or Jayvee or Jen or Vee, whatever. Since I wasn't able to post last week, I decide to do two entries for this today, but this one will be published earlier! Imma be talking about school!

I have been into countless schools for the past four years (I'm talking about college here). I have been to three schools. 1st was De La Salle Lipa where I took Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I decided to leave school due to financial constraints and go to a more affordable school. I went to New Era University. I enjoyed my stay there, but I just decided that nursing was not for me.. and also because our finances weren't really doing well. I needed to find myself and what I wanted in life. I decided to take a whole semester off and think about everything. 

Waiting on Wednesday #6: Conversion + The Vanishing Season

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are just waiting to have our hands on!

Title: Conversion
Author: Katherine Howe
Publication: Putnam Juvenile
Expected Release Date: July 1st 2014
Pre-order on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indie Bound | iBooks | Kobo

SYNOPSIS:

It’s senior year at St. Joan’s Academy, and school is a pressure cooker. College applications, the battle for valedictorian, deciphering boys’ texts: Through it all, Colleen Rowley and her friends are expected to keep it together. Until they can’t.

First it’s the school’s queen bee, Clara Rutherford, who suddenly falls into uncontrollable tics in the middle of class. Her mystery illness quickly spreads to her closest clique of friends, then more students and symptoms follow: seizures, hair loss, violent coughing fits. St. Joan’s buzzes with rumor; rumor blossoms into full-blown panic.

Soon the media descends on Danvers, Massachusetts, as everyone scrambles to find something, or someone, to blame. Pollution? Stress? Or are the girls faking? Only Colleen—who’s been reading The Crucible for extra credit—comes to realize what nobody else has: Danvers was once Salem Village, where another group of girls suffered from a similarly bizarre epidemic three centuries ago . . .

Inspired by true events—from seventeenth-century colonial life to the halls of a modern-day high school—Conversion casts a spell. With her signature wit and passion, New York Times bestselling author Katherine Howe delivers an exciting and suspenseful novel, a chilling mystery that raises the question, what’s really happening to the girls at St. Joan’s?

About The Author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Katherine Howe is the author of THE PHYSICK BOOK OF DELIVERANCE DANE, which debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, was named one of USA Today's top ten books of 2009, and which has been translated into over twenty languages. In 2012 she hosted the Expedition Week special "Salem: Unmasking the Devil" on the National Geographic Channel.

Her second novel, a historical thriller set in Boston in the aftermath of the Titanic sinking entitled THE HOUSE OF VELVET AND GLASS, was released in the US in April 2012, and was a USA Today and New York Times e-book bestseller.

Her third novel, a young adult historical thriller called CONVERSION, follows a group of teenage girls who must uncover the real reason behind a mysterious outbreak at their high school. Praised as "Prep meets The Crucible," CONVERSION releases in the US on July 1, 2014.

Katherine edited of THE PENGUIN BOOK OF WITCHES, a collection of primary sources about witchcraft in English North America which appears with Penguin Classics for Halloween 2014.

A graduate of Columbia and Boston University, she lives in Massachusetts and upstate New York with her family, where she teaches at Cornell. She enjoys roaming the woods, reading, and sailing, and she looks very fetching in a pointy hat. In spring 2015 she will be the visiting writer in residence at Lenoir-Rhyne University in North Carolina. She is at work on her next novel.

Title: The Vanishing Season

Author: Jodi Lynn Anderson

Publication: HarperTeen

Expected Release Date: July 1st 2014

Pre-order on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indie Bound | iBooks | Kobo

SYNOPSIS:

Girls started vanishing in the fall, and now winter's come to lay a white sheet over the horror. Door County, it seems, is swallowing the young, right into its very dirt. From beneath the house on Water Street, I've watched the danger swell.

The residents know me as the noises in the house at night, the creaking on the stairs. I'm the reflection behind them in the glass, the feeling of fear in the cellar. I'm tied—it seems—to this house, this street, this town.

I'm tied to Maggie and Pauline, though I don't know why. I think it's because death is coming for one of them, or both.

All I know is that the present and the past are piling up, and I am here to dig.I am looking for the things that are buried.

From bestselling author Jodi Lynn Anderson comes a friendship story bound in snow and starlight, a haunting mystery of love, betrayal, redemption, and the moments that we leave behind.

About The Author:

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Jodi Lynn Anderson write books about vaguely magical peach orchards, resorts in the afterlife, enigmatic island princesses beloved by Tinkerbell, and...civics! She was an awkward and strange child who kept lots of secrets. Now she lives with a sweet Basenji dog named Peanut who loves to eat shoes, and a sweet husband who is good at all the things she's bad at, like being organized and thinking things through. She's loved writing and reading about mythical and strange things since she can remember.

{Book Blast}: Killer's Instinct by Dawn Dalton & Judith Graves + Giveaway

Title: Killer's Instinct
Author/s: Judith Graves, Dawn Dalton
Publication: Nov 27th 2013, Leap Books
Pages: 380
Buy it on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

SYNOPSIS:

Where there is NO life there's Hope.

Hope has always been a bit of a freak. But when her mother crawls from her grave and her undead corpse goes MIA, Hope's last thread of normal snaps with a vengeance. Enrolling in a militia-style school for monster hunters seems her best bet for tracking down Mommy-dearest and putting what's left of her mother to rest. But the stakes are raised when she s partnered with three unique male recruits each with their own personal demons to slay if they want to survive basic training. But does Hope have a true killer's instinct? If she finds her mother, will she have the guts to do what must be done to save her soul? In a place like Le Manoir, all bets are off. What could be creepier than hunting down your own zombie mommy?

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TRAILER

TOP TEN TUESDAY: Ten Book Cover Trends I Like or Dislike

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where, each week, a Top Ten list is posted based on a particular topic.

This week, I'm going to be sharing with you some book cover trends that I have noticed for quite a while now, and either liked or disliked, may it be middle grade, YA or NA books. Opinions will definitely be taken while this happens! Check em out!

1. Blue! Blue is everywhere!

I've noticed that a lot of books have splashes of blue in them! And I really love them! They are just refreshing.

TO ALL THE BOOKS I'VE LOVED BEFORE TAG!

"Rules are simple just tag your blogger friends into writing a letter to all the boys books they’ve loved before. It can be a book you love now or a book you loved in the past. You can tag as many as you like. Use the banner I have for your post to be recognized as part of the tag. Everyone can join in the fun even if you aren’t tagged! Not everyone is required to write a post, okay? 

I just love Jenny Han’s new book. Tweet your post with #ToAllTheBooksTag so I can follow"---Chyna of Lite-Rate-Ture... Thanks for thinking of this! :) It's genius! 

Book Blogger Test!

Special thanks to Yani of Paper Boulevard for tagging me... I'm kinda late to the party, so I'm sort of checking if I still have people to tag! Anyway, here goes! *warps*

What are your top three book pet hates?

• Stories that are too short. I just.. No fun!
• Folded pages or creased book cover.. No.. No.. NO!
• Folding the book in two and reading at one page to the other. NO! Read the book properly! It must not be folded like some shirt or magazine!

Book Review: Counting to D by Kate Scott

Title: Counting To D
Author: Kate Scott
Publication: Feb. 11, 2014, Elliot Books
Format: e-ARC copy, 206 pages
Source: Elliot Books through Edelweiss (Thank you Edelweiss and Elliot Books)
Buy it on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indie Bound | Kobo

 Synopsis:

The kids at Sam's school never knew if they should make fun of her for being too smart or too dumb. That's what it means to be dyslexic: smart, and illiterate. Sam is sick of it. So when her mom gets a job in a faraway city, Sam decides not to tell anyone about her little illiteracy problem. Without her paradox of a reputation, she falls in with a new group of highly competitive friends who call themselves the Brain Trust. When she meets Nate, her charming valedictorian lab partner, she declares her new reality perfect. But in order to keep it that way, she has to keep her learning disability a secret. The books are stacked against her and so are the lies. Sam's got to get the grades, get the guy, and get it straight--without being able to read.

Misfit Review:

*I've been provided the copy by the publisher to give an honest review. I am not compensated monetarily for this*

When I started the book, I expected it to be a really light and fluffy read. Yes, it was fluffy but it wasn't light. It was probably the maths' fault!

Knowing that everyone else could read and I couldn't made me angry and frustrated and scared. So I did math. I did math to prove to everyone that I wasn't stupid.

Waiting on Wednesday #5: Top Ten Clues You're Clueless

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are just waiting to have our hands on!

Title: Top Ten Clues You're Clueless
Author: Liz Czukas
Publisher: HarperTeen
Expected Release Date: December 9th 2014
Pre-order on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indie Bound | iBooks | Book Depository

SYNOPSIS:

Top Five Things That Are Ruining Chloe’s Day

5) Working the 6:30 a.m. shift at GoodFoods Market

4) Crashing a cart into a customer’s car right in front of her snarky coworker Sammi

3) Trying to rock the “drowned rat” look after being caught in a snowstorm

2) Making zero progress with her crush, Tyson (see #3)

1) Being accused—along with her fellow teenage employees—of stealing upwards of $10,000

Chloe would rather be anywhere than locked in work jail (aka the break room) with five of her coworkers . . . even if one of them is Tyson. But if they can band together to clear their names, what looks like a total disaster might just make Chloe’s list of Top Ten Best Moments.

About The Author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Liz Czukas is a freelance writer (on sometimes sad or boring topics), and also writes books for young adults (which are rarely sad and full of kissing). Before that, she was a nurse and she still kind of misses starting IVs.

She lives outside Milwaukee, WI with her husband, son and the world’s loudest cat. She types too loud (according to her husband), spends too much time on the Internet, and can’t get enough of disaster movies. There is *always* a song stuck in her head, and she once won a hula-hoop contest.

TOP TEN TUESDAY: Top 10 Books On My Current TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where, each week, a Top Ten list is posted based on a particular topic.

So it's another Tuesday and this week's topic is my Top 10 Books On My "Summer" TBR List. Since summer is over for us in this side of the world, I guess I'll just give you the books in my current TBR pile! Lezz do this!

1. Coin Heist by Elisa Ludwig

I already have this up for review and I'm really excited to read this because it involves teens going all Ocean's Eleven on me. I am sold! Plus, Elisa Ludwig is gonna be on the blog with an interview! Don't forget to catch it.

The Misfit Interviews with Bethany Crandell

So, one of my newest author favorites, and my band manager for The Flail Hesitations, Bethany Crandell, joins us in another episode of The Misfit Interviews! Enjoy this one, coz it's a HOOT!

• How many books are in your bookshelf as of 2014?

I just glanced across the room to said bookshelf, and I’d say there are about 50 books on it, however some of those are my kiddos’ books that have migrated into my bedroom. (Much like the Goldfish cracker crumbs under said bookshelf) I’d say 35 are mine. 

• If you had a chance to name a pizza, what would it be?

It would be called, ALL MINE!

And it would have grilled chicken breast, roasted red peppers, provolone cheese, pine nuts and a pretzel crust. This pizza actually does exist. You can find it at The Idyllwild Pizza Co. (Idyllwild, CA) and when we get it…it is, ALL MINE!

•  I guess this is a quintessential, what is your favorite color?

Dusty lilac

•  Writing rituals?

Spearmint Orbit gum. Fire Jolly Ranchers. Quiet.

• If you could be an author for a day, who would you like to be?

I’d like to be me, just without any housework. 

AUTHOR STUFF

{Book Blitz}: Mind Static by Jen Naumann Q&A + Giveaway (US/CAN)

Title: Mind Static
Author: Jen Naumann
Publication: August 2013, At or With Me Publishing
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult
Buy it on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Synopsis:

Keyanna Sanders is about to get everything she could ever wish for on her 18th birthday: a hot guy who’s really into her, the sports car she’s always dreamed of owning, and the party of a lifetime that no one will forget any time soon.

But before long, she’ll understand these wishes are more than a coincidence, and that they come at a steep price. Keyanna is more than just an average high school senior, her best friend is more than the innocent boy next door, and her sudden good fortune isn’t just by chance. When her estranged father suddenly re-enters her life, she’ll have to decide who to trust, and whether or not the man she loves has become the enemy.

Q&A with Jen Naumann

Book Review: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Title: The Fault In Our Stars
Author: John Green
Publication: January 10th 2012, Dutton Books
Format: Paperback, 313 pages
Source: Own Copy from NBS
Buy it on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | Kobo | iBooks | Nat'l Book Store/Fully Booked (PH)

Synopsis:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Fault In Our Stars

It's been quite a while since I went to the theater to watch a movie and with a friend. So Sunday, June 8th, my best friend and I finally decided to watch The Fault In Our Stars after much delay. Here's what I thought about it.

(If you want to read my review for the book first, then here it is)

Title: The Fault In Our Stars
Directed by: Josh Boone
Screenplay: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber
Cast: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff, Laura Dern, Sam Trammell, David Whalen, Milica Govich, Lotte Verbick and Willem Dafoe
Based on: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
Producers: Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey
Cinematography: Ben Richardson
Music: Mike Mogis, Nate Walcott, Atlantic Records (Soundtrack)
Edited by: Robb Sullivan
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
See full list of cast and crew

SYNOPSIS:
Hazel and Gus are two extraordinary teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them - and us - on an unforgettable journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous, given that they met and fell in love at a cancer support group. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, based upon the number-one bestselling novel by John Green, explores the funny, thrilling and tragic business of being alive and in love. (c) FOX

Misfit Review:
*Photos credited to 20th Century Fox, Rotten Tomatoes and Page To Premiere

My feelings are alright after seeing the movie. In fact, I loved it, cried to it, thought my life was over and basically became a total wreck while listening to All I Want and All of The Stars but I did not go out the theater asking why I exist or crying my eyes out towards my best friend. The movie made me hopeful. It made me hopeful that Young Adult adaptations can actually be awesome. We'll go to that later. Let's talk about the treatment.

{Cover Reveal} Time Shifters by Laura N. Anile

Title:Time Shifters

Author: Laura N. Anile (Beyond Time #1)
Publication Date: June 2014
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult
Trailer: Available here

Read the first chapter to Time Shifters

Synopsis:

‘My blood runs cold, and I see the horror etched in the boy’s reflection. Anxiety seeps into my chest, making my heart hammer. I don’t know where I am. I don’t know how I got here. But what worries me most is: I don't know who the hell is looking back at me in the mirror."

When you wake up in the wrong body within a futuristic world, being yourself can get you killed.

17-year-old Ryder is on his way to school when he experiences a pain like he has never felt before. He awakes in a mysterious lab to discover that, as a victim of an unauthorized transfer, he has been pulled into the year 2127.

Now Ryder’s life depends on him succeeding in making everyone believe that he is Ziron, the boy that swapped places with him in 2015. If he fails, he will be captured, imprisoned, or worse. Ryder only has to survive two weeks in this futuristic world he doesn’t understand. But two weeks is a long time when you don’t know who to trust, and when you have to keep away from a girl you have sworn to protect.

Kira refuses to stay away, so how can he prevent her from discovering his secret? And how can he be with her when she thinks he’s someone else?

Time is running out for Ryder to unravel the conspiracy and uncover the answer to the biggest question of all: Just why did Ziron risk everything to change places with him? And what exactly has Ryder been pulled into?

In a desperate quest to find his way home, Ryder will stop at nothing to protect the girl of his dreams, and the secret that could destroy everything.

About The Author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Laura has had a lifelong love of writing, which she explored in a successful marketing career before penning her first novel. She is fascinated by the ideas of fate and interconnectedness, central themes in her story. She loves all things humorous, laughs too loudly and finds her own jokes amusing. She has a passion for traveling and exploring the world but has a phobia of suspect hotel rooms with questionable hygiene. And, oh yeah, she isn't clairvoyant and doesn't own any crystal balls.

In addition to 'Visions', she has also written a collection of short stories, entitled 'Unmasked Secrets'.