The Life & Times of a Book Addict: Triple Threat Blog Tour

Showing posts with label Triple Threat Blog Tour. Show all posts

Monday, March 18, 2013

Bloomsbury Triple Threat Blog Tour: Hysteria by Megan Miranda

Synopsis:

Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past. But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others.

In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again.

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Mallory ends up killing her boyfriend in self-defense, but she cannot remember how things lead up to that incident or why she would go so far as to kill him.

“I knew how I was supposed to feel when I was with him. Well, I knew what I was not supposed to feel. I wasn't supposed to feel anxious. Not tense, either. Or maybe I was. Maybe this was normal. I didn't know. So I let him whisper in my ear and put his hands on my hips. And I listened to him list the ways in which I was slowly killing him.

None of which turned out to be the actual way that I killed him.”
-Megan Miranda, Hysteria

So she gets shipped off to a private school called Monroe and tries to forge as normal of a life there as she can. Things however do not stay normal because she constantly feels a presence following her everywhere. And soon Mallory’s roommate is killed using the same Mallory’s knife, so naturally everyone thinks she did it.

I did think it was strange that her parents sent her to a boarding school away from home. I kept wondering why they did not try and get her help, like a therapist or something.

Hysteria was a quick absorbing read that I easily got into. The flashbacks that were scattered throughout the story were a nice glimpse into the night she was with her boyfriend.

It was a good mystery that had me questioning everything and everyone, to see if I could figure things out myself. The ending I definitely did not see coming and when I think about it, I am still questioning the true motive behind it all.

Rating: 3½ out of 5.

** I received this book from Bloomsbury Children’s Books in exchange for nothing, but my honest review. Thank you!**

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Monday, February 18, 2013

Bloomsbury Triple Threat Blog Tour: Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black

Thanks for making a stop at my blog during the Bloomsbury Triple Threat Blog Tour. Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black is the subject for today’s book tour! Happy Reading J

Synopsis:

Dancing with someone is an act of trust. Elegant and intimate; you're close enough to kiss, close enough to feel your partner's heartbeat. But for Vanessa, dance is deadly – and she must be very careful who she trusts . . .

Vanessa Adler attends an elite ballet school – the same one her older sister, Margaret, attended before she disappeared. Vanessa feels she can never live up to her sister's shining reputation. But Vanessa, with her glorious red hair and fair skin, has a kind of power when she dances – she loses herself in the music, breathes different air, and the world around her turns to flames . . .

Soon she attracts the attention of three men: gorgeous Zep, mysterious Justin, and the great, enigmatic choreographer Josef Zhalkovsky. When Josef asks Vanessa to dance the lead in the Firebird, she has little idea of the danger that lies ahead – and the burning forces about to be unleashed…

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First off, I have to say that the cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous. That combined with the rundown of the book, it was a story I was dying to read.

In an effort to find out what happened to her sister while at the dancing academy, Vanessa begins attending the same school. Even though she does not care for it, she has a real talent for dancing and when she dances the world seems to fade away and the dancing consumes her.

More people start disappearing and soon Vanessa realizes that her very life, like her sister could be in danger.

What I liked:

I liked the world of the ballet mixed together with nice elements of the supernatural. The mystery in the story kept me wondering. It was definitely not predictable.

What I did not like:

No one else seemed to really be concerned with the fact that people were disappearing. If people began disappearing from a well-known Ballet school without even a little trace, wouldn’t someone before now become suspicious? Wouldn't the parents of the ballet dancers come looking for their kids after not hearing from them? Or at the very least contact the police?

Final thoughts:

Dance of Shadows is an intriguing story that kept me reading to find out the way behind what was happening. It was not as great as I thought it would be, but overall I did like the story and had fun reading it. The story does not end here though; this is the first book of a trilogy. Fans of magic/supernatural, ballet, and insta-love might want to check this one out.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

** I received this book from Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books in exchange for nothing, but my honest review. Thank you!**