Saturday, June 14, 2014

My Summer To-Be-Read List and a Very Important Event

*slides into figurative room* Heyyy, everybody. *awkward laugh* Uh, how've things been?


Yeah, I know. I've been pretty bad about posting lately (lately being since I created this blog. *shakes head*). But, I have books! And Super Important News about a Very Important Event that is happening in 9 days!!!! And since I know you guys are eagerly awaiting such awesome news, I'll cut the introduction/apology bit of this post and get to it. :3

The Selection Trilogy, Kiera Cass 
Via
Blurb (from GoodReads):
"For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon. 
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.  
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined."
First of all, let's talk covers. "Don't judge a book by its cover"? Hahaha, forget about that. Judge these covers, because they are beautiful.
Anyways...
I read The Selection last fall, and remember being very interested in the story. At the time, I was technically supposed to be reading LOTR (a looooong story for another time), so I didn't read the second one. This summer, I intend to read the entire trilogy and fangirl for the rest of time.

The Blood Of Kings Trilogy, Jill Williamson
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Confession time: I already read these. *insert loud gasps*  To be fair, I read them at the beginning of summer, so they still qualify as 'Summer TBR list" material. :P
Since I've read them, though, I can guarantee that they are wonderful. I absolutely loved the dual POVs of Vrell and Achan, the plot twists, the story world...everything. I highly recommend these. :)
Blurb (from GoodReads):
"Given the chance to train as a squire, kitchen servant Achan Cham hopes to pull himself out of his pitiful life and become a Kingsguard Knight. When Achan's owner learns of his training, he forces Achan to spar with the Crown Prince--more of a death sentence than an honor. Meanwhile, strange voices in Achan's head cause him to fear he's going mad. While escorting the prince to a council presentation, their convoy is attacked. Achan is wounded and arrested, but escapes from prison--only to discover a secret about himself he never believed possible."

The Gallagher Girls,  Ally Carter
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Blurb (from GoodReads):
"Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school-that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses but it's really a school for spies. Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist"-but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her?"
Last summer, I read the Heist Society (great series, by the way) by Ally Carter. Art thieves, foreign settings, and a spunky teen protaginist? Definitely my kind of story. I loved reading about Kat and the "family business" and the trouble that often ensues because of it.
Along the same lines, the Gallagher Girls series focuses on Cammie Morgan, a spy-in-training at the Gallagher Academy. I can't wait to get started on these!!!

I'm sure that after I read all of these, I'll have to find some other reading material, but for now, this is all I've got. :) I hope to review these after I've read them.

*dramatic music* And now...it's time.....for....the Big News.
About a Big Event, known as....
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What is Summer Workshop?
It's a week-long teen writer's workshop. It's critique groups and fangirling/boying. and writing sessions from published authors, literary agents, and publishers.
It's my first time going, and I am beyond excited.
And it's 9 days away.
*screams*
You can find out more about Summer Workshop here. I'm sure that after I get back, there will be a rambling post about SW, and a lot of pictures, and a lot of crying gifs.

So, until Summer Workshop withdrawals kick in,