FEATURE THURSDAY IS BACK!!

So I haven't done this in awhile but I wanted to bring it back to Catching Books!!

Feature Thursday is a feature (created by me!) where I have a guest post or blogger interview with a blogger so bloggers can make new friends and find new blogs! Feature Thursday will be every other Thursday!

If you are interested in being one of my feature blogs make sure to send me an email at sarah.catchingbooks@gmail.com  

Can't wait to start this up again!!!

Savage Blue (The Vicious Deep # 2) by Zoraida Córdova Review

Name: Savage Blue (The Vicious Deep # 2)
Author: Zoraida Córdova
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
 Release Date: May 7th, 2013
Format: E-Book
Buy the book on Amazon
416 pages

Summary: A storm is coming...

The ocean is a vicious place. Deeper and darker than Tristan could have imagined. Beneath its calm blue surface, an ancient battle is churning —and no one is safe.

In the quest for the Sea Throne, Tristan has already watched one good friend die. Now he must lead the rest on a dangerous voyage in search of the trident that will make him king. But while Tristan chases his destiny, the dark forces racing against him are getting stronger, and the sea witch of his nightmares is getting closer.

Battling sea dragons and savage creatures of the deep, Tristan needs his friends' support. But they each have their secrets, and a betrayal will force Tristan to choose between his crown and his best friend Layla — the only girl he's ever loved.

Goodreads

My Review:
After the ending of The Vicious Deep, I had to get my hands on the second book! Unfortunately we had to wait a whole year for this book to come out, so I was a little rusty on what happened in the first book when I picked this one up. Luckily I was only a little bit confused at the beginning, and overall I really enjoyed this book.

What I really liked about Savage Blue was the plot! It definitely was fast paced and it was nice seeing all of my favorite characters back together again. I also liked how Zoraida made everything so detailed, I could really imagine the different places that Tristan was going to, which made this book more enjoyable. 

One thing that I didn't love about this book was the ending. It wasn't that big of a cliffhanger but I finished this book feeling unhappy. I wish that there was some more action or romance at the end instead of what we were left with.

Overall, I really enjoyed Savage Blue! I thought it was a nice sequel to an awesome series and I can't wait for the next book and to see where Tristan and his friends end up. 

My Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday 113: Alienated

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

Name: Alienated

Author: Melissa Landers

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Release Date: February 4th 2014
Add the book on Goodreads

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them. 

Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class. 

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

 Goodreads

My Thoughts:

After Jennifer L. Armentrout's Lux series I got super into these sort of young adult sci-fi books, and is it just me or does this one look great?  I'll admit that it does seem like it has the potential to be cliched or predictable, but the ARC copies have received a plethora of positive reviews, reinforcing my gut instinct that this book will be great.  I can't wait to get my hands on a copy!

What are your thoughts? What are you waiting for this week? Let us know in the comments!

Waiting on Wednesday 112: Vitro

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

Name: Vitro

Author: Jessica Khoury

Publisher: Razorbill

Release Date: January 14th 2014
Add the book on Goodreads

A death-defying tropical adventure delivers a frightening message about dabbling with creation from the talented author of Origin.

On a remote island in the Pacific, Corpus scientists have taken test tube embryos and given them life. These beings—the Vitros—have knowledge and abilities most humans can only dream of. But they also have one enormous flaw.

Sophie Crue is determined to get to Skin Island and find her mother, a scientist who left Sophie behind years ago. She enlists hunky charter pilot Jim Julien to take her there. But once on the island, Sophie and Jim encounter more than they bargained for, including a charming, brilliant Vitro named Nicholas and an innocent, newly awoken one named Lux.

In a race for their lives, Sophie and Jim are about to discover what happens when science stretches too far beyond its reach.

 Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I read Khoury's first book, Origin, last year and loved it.  This book takes place on the same island but with different characters. I have high hopes for it, and can't wait to read it in January!

What are your thoughts? What are you waiting for this week? Let us know in the comments!

Switched by Cassie Mae Review

Name: Switched 
Author: Cassie Mae
Publisher: Random House LLC
Release Date: December 2nd, 2013
Format: ARC Copy via Netgalley 
Add the book on Goodreads
240 pages 

Summary:

Ever since high school, Kayla has been crazy for gorgeous football player Talon. But before she could muster the courage to tell him, he became a hot item with her beautiful BFF, Reagan. The only person who knows Kayla’s secret is Wesley, Talon’s best bud—and he’s got it bad for Reagan. Now they’re all in college together, hanging out 24/7. For Kayla, seeing the two lovebirds together is absolutely unbearable. So Kayla and Wesley hatch a plot to drive them apart before Talon has a chance to give Reagan the Christmas gift she’s been waiting for.

Soon enough, the once happy couple is fighting. Reagan suddenly can’t get enough of Wesley’s goofy sense of humor, and Talon seems to be paying more attention to Kayla than a guy who’s “only a friend” ever should. But just when everything seems to be falling into place, Kayla and Wesley accidentally spend a night together and discover a hitch in their plan they never considered: that switching partners may not lead to a perfect ending after all.

Goodreads

My Review:
What a really fun read! I have been in somewhat of a reading slump lately, and with me being in college it is definitely hard to find time to read a book-especially pleasure reading! That being said, with the semester almost over I definitely will try to post more reviews as soon as possible.

Anyways, back to Switched. Switched is one of those books that you would read when you really need a laugh and some good romantic cheesyness. I really liked Cassie Mae's writing style, she made me feel like I really could connect with the characters. I really felt like I could be friends with Kayla and Wesley, and I really thought that was a great thing to have in this story. You want to be rooting for the characters, not cheering against them.I definitely was team Kayla and Wesley during this book.

I also thought the characters developed a lot throughout the story which was great. All of the characters definitely grew throughout the story and became more mature.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book!! It was a really cute read and it was definitely what I need to get out of my reading slump.

My Rating:

Allegiant by Veronica Roth Review

Name: Allegiant
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: October 22nd, 2013
Format: E-Book

Buy the book on Amazon

Summary:

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

My Review:
Oh man. Ohhh man. I read Allegiant the week after it came out; but I've been stalling on this review up until now. 
The reason why is simple: because I've invested so much love in the Divergent series, and, like a parent whose kid brings home a less than satisfactory report card, I'm not angry with Veronica Roth after finishing it. Just disappointed. 

I guess it's worth noting that a common trend in dystopian YA trilogies is a significant dip in quality from the first book to the second; and again from the second to the third. Even the massive juggernaut that is the Hunger Games trilogy suffers from this problem: if Mockingjay had been the first book in the trilogy, I guarantee you that it would not have become a global phenomenon. And maybe it was stupid of me, but I really, really hoped that Allegiant would be different. 

I mean, Veronica Roth really seemed to care about her world and her characters. There was such a sureness and a sense of purpose in her writing, like she truly knew what was going on and wasn't just making it all up as she went along. I was so excited for her to pull back the curtain on the warring factions and show us all the corrupted glory behind it - and yet when the time came, she didn't deliver. Not even a little bit. In fact, I can think of literally nothing about this novel that didn't disappoint me in some way. 

Tris and Tobias' alternating perspectives sounded great in theory, but in execution, it quickly became clear that not only was this not helping the story, it was actually damaging it. Roth's weaknesses were on display as I found myself flipping back to check who was talking every time there was a chapter break - that's how indistinguishable the main character's voices became. As for the rest of the characters; well, the less said about them, the better - either they fade into the background, meet some undeserved fate, or become completely 2-dimensional. 

The plot, too, is underwhelming; serving up some heavy-handed allegorical lessons without the gutsy, meaty fun that accompanied the original clash between the five factions. Everything I as a reader believed to be important to the world of the series was systematically stripped away and devalued; and not in an awe-inspiring way. Instead, it just left me feeling confused, sad, and very much alone - rather like the characters who manage to squeak past Roth's merciless death count. 

The only thing that truly stands out about Allegiant is its ending, and all that served to do was put the entire series in a new, depressing light. Some people might say that what she does is a bold move, but in reality it's just like the rest of the book: unfocused, heavy-handed, and ultimately empty. 

The sad thing is, the Divergent series used to be my absolute favorite. Now...well, I'm not even sure if I'll see the movie. Sorry, V-Roth, but this effort was subpar at best. 


My Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday 111: Dissonance

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

Name: Dissonance 

Author: Erica O'Rourke 

Publisher: Simon and Schuster for Young Readers

Release Date: August 5th, 2014

Add the book on Goodreads

Delancy Sullivan has always known there’s more to reality than what people see. Every time someone makes a choice, a new, parallel world branches off from the existing one. Eating breakfast or skipping it, turning left instead of right, sneaking out instead of staying in bed ~ all of these choices create an alternate universe in which an echo self takes the road not travelled and makes the opposite decision. As a Walker, someone who can navigate between these worlds, Del’s job is to keep all of the dimensions in harmony.

Normally, Del can hear the dissonant frequency that each world emits as clear as a bell. But when a training session in an off-key world goes horribly wrong, she is forbidden from Walking by the Council. But Del’s not big on following the rules and she secretly starts to investigate these other worlds. Something strange is connecting them and it’s not just her random encounters with echo versions of the guy she likes, Simon Lane.

But Del’s decisions have unimaginable consequences and, as she begins to fall for the Echo Simons in each world, she draws closer to a truth that the Council of Walkers is trying to hide ~ a secret that threatens the fate of the entire multiverse. Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I'm not the biggest fan of science fiction, but this book sounds really intriguing. I definitely want to learn more about the main character, Delancy (isn't that such a pretty name), and see what happens in the story!!

What are your thoughts? What are you waiting for this week? Let us know in the comments!

All That Glows Author Interview

Hi everyone! Today I have the lovely Ryan Graudin, the author of the upcoming YA novel, All That Glows, here on the blog answering a few questions!

Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12711662-all-that-glows

Can you tell us a little about your novel, All That Glows?

 Certainly! ALL THAT GLOWS is the story of Emrys, a Fae who is forced to guard the rowdy, hard-partying prince of Britain. In a chaos of paparazzi and palace murders she starts to realize she has feelings for him. Impossible feelings.

 Where did you get the idea for this novel?

 At the time I was looking for anthologies to write short stories for and build up my query letter credits. I came across a collection that was looking for stories about faeries that were “modern and sexy.” This prompt immediately sparked my brain. I began to wonder what it would look like if Faery Godmothers were actually real. How would they interact with modern royalty? My answer: ALL THAT GLOWS.

If you could be any character in All That Glows, who would you be and why?

I love Emrys. I really do. And really, who would want to be her? She’s powerful, she can shapeshift, she can fly! There are a few downsides though: she has constant nausea from the sickness caused by modern technology.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

This is a hard question, because I feel like every single stage has so many rewards and struggles! Rough drafting is great because I can spill whatever I want onto the pages and clean it up later, but some days writing words feels like pulling teeth out with a plier. Editing is always painful, because you have to get rid of a lot of great stuff (kill those darlings!). But the manuscript always turns out so much better for it! Perhaps being done? Holding a finished product in your hand—the fruit of months and years in front of a computer screen—is pretty dang awesome.

Is this is a series? If so, when can we expect the next novel?! J

There is a sequel, which is scheduled to come out in February 2015!

Do you plan on writing any other books in different genres?

Funny you should ask! ALL THAT GLOWS is not the only book I have coming out in 2014. My dark, gritty thriller THE WALLED CITY—the story of three teens trying to survive and escape a lawless walled city—is coming out with Little, Brown next fall. It is about as different as it gets from ALL THAT GLOWS! I’m also working hard on a duology (sekrit project) that will be out from Little, Brown in Fall 2015.

What was your favorite book growing up and why?

 Just one!? I have so many! I devoured the Redwall series by Brian Jacques when I was younger. Also Harry Potter was pretty much a staple in my adolescent years! Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine was actually a huge springboard into my own writing process (I finished the book and wanted to read more. There was no sequel, so I started writing a story of my own!).

Are there any books you would recommend to fellow bloggers and readers out there?

Besides all the ones in the previous question: I’ll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan is a really beautiful, thrilling and poignant portrait of humanity. The Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy by Laini Taylor is one of my favorite modern fantasy series. And pretty much anything by Maggie Stiefvater is going to knock your socks off.

Last question..if you could go anywhere in the world where would you go? I love traveling! It’s my bread and butter! I’ve been quite a lot of places already (19 countries and counting!), but I think a destination I’d really LOVE to go to next is Iceland. Every single picture I’ve seen of that island is breathtaking. I’m all about taking in natural beauty.

Ryan Graudin has been a case study for wanderlust ever since her first trip to London. She lives with her husband in Charleston, South Carolina, and is always searching for the next adventure. Visit her online atryangraudin.blogspot.com or on Twitter @ryangraudin.

Thanks again for stopping by Ryan!! Can't wait to check out this book when it comes out this winter :)

Waiting on Wednesday 110: The One

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

Name: The One (Selection # 3)

Author: Kiera Cass

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: May 6th, 2014

Add the book on Goodreads

America must decide if she's truly the One.

Don't miss the captivating conclusion to The Selection trilogy.

Goodreads

My Thoughts:

AH I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS!!!!! The covers of this series seriously keep getting better and better! I'm a huge fan of this series and I can't wait to see what happens in the end. 

What are your thoughts? What are you waiting for this week? Let us know in the comments!