Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.
This is where we share the books that we are waiting on.

OK, so in preparation of the upcoming release of Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan, I'm going to do a Waiting on Wednesday so I can fanboy online. And scream a bit. And cry a bit. Also another chance for entries into my BZRK giveaway!

The Blood Of Olympus, Book Five
Published October 7, 2014

Though the Greek and Roman crewmembers of the Argo II have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth mother, Gaea. Her giants have risen—all of them, and they’re stronger than ever. They must be stopped before the Feast of Spes, when Gaea plans to have two demigods sacrificed in Athens. She needs their blood—the blood of Olympus—in order to wake. The demigods are having more frequent visions of a terrible battle at Camp Half-Blood. The Roman legion from Camp Jupiter, led by Octavian, is almost within striking distance
Though it is tempting to take the Athena Parthenos to Athens to use as a secret weapon, the friends know that the huge statue belongs back on Long Island, where it might be able to stop a war between the two camps. The Athena Parthenos will go west; the Argo II will go east. The gods, still suffering from multiple personality disorder, are useless. How can a handful of young demigods hope to persevere against Gaea’s army of powerful giants? As dangerous as it is to head to Athens, they have no other option. They have sacrificed too much already. And if Gaea wakes, it is game over.

*Sigh* Where do I start with this series? OK. So I first picked up The Lightning Thief in grade 3 and I've been a fan ever since. Like seriously, for a while I tried to learn Greek. Rick Riordan's books were the first ones I ever read without being bored to death. And I probably wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for him.

I know, I know it sounds really cliché but its true. I really love these books. And this is the last book in the epic 10-book series featuring the Greek/Roman Demigods. This is kinda depressing isn't it? So just let that sink in.

Good? Okay. So I am really really really excited for this book, and I really hope that Annabeth and Percy can just go and get married. Seriously. I mean, I know they're still underage but c'mon, who doesn't want to see them get married? Am I right. IMHO, they should just go to Vegas and do a shotgun wedding so I can be happy for a while. And then they can have kids and they can be all awesome, and be smart, and funny, and cool, and cute. Ya... no. If Rick Riordan is anything like the other YA authors, one of them is going to die, and I am going to end up curled on my bed for the next 5hrs. But I swear Rick, if you break up Percabeth, you and I are going to have some choice words...

It's kinda obvious that Gaea won't destroy the whole world cuz if you have read Rick's blog recently, you'll know that he's writing a new Nordic Gods series and I'm pretty sure that's going to be set in the same world. Like really "Magnus Chase" Chase. "Annabeth Chase" Chase. C-H-A-S-E. Maybe her cousin or something... wait, doesn't she have brothers? What if they're her brothers. OMG that would be awesome. But then her dad had children with gods twice? Damn... what is it with her dad? But of course, Rick Riordan just puts us on a cliff and leaves us there to die until the next book comes out... here:

So yesterday on our webcast from Mount Olympus (er, the Empire State Building) I announced the title of my Norse mythology series: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. So excited to share it with you! The first book will be out next October, 2015. The title for that first book will be announced at the back of Blood of Olympus.

And yes, I know what you're wondering. Chase . . . hmm, where have I heard that name before? Isn't that Annabeth's last name? Yes, it is. And no, that's not simply a coincidence. Beyond that, I'm afraid I'll have to leave you guessing.

And yes, OCTOBER 2015. WE HAVE TO WAIT AN ENTIRE YEAR. 365 DAYS. THAT'S A LOT OF TIME MR. RIORDAN.

I really need Blood of Olympus. Like now.

I just know this book is going to be awesome. And sad. Want to hear my conspiracy theory? Yes? Okay. Here it is. It's really common for us to us acronyms for book titles right? So, here it is. Blood of Olympus is BoO and Heroes of Olympus is HoO. Put that together and what do you get? BoOHoO. This has been eating at me for the past month. I've officially gone insane.

I hope you survive Blood of Olympus. Here's a question, what's your favourite book from Rick Riordan? Answer for another entry into my BZRK giveaway!

Finally, A Giveaway!

So this is a moment everyone has been waiting for, as a small thank you for reading our blog, we're hosting a giveaway in preparation for the release of the 3rd book in the BZRK series by Michael Grant! For those of you who don't know, Michael Grant is the bestselling author of the Gone series.

This series has an average 4 out of 5 star rating on GoodReads and believe me, it's awesome. Here's the synopsis of the first book:

Set in the near future, BZRK is the story of a war for control of the human mind.  Charles and Benjamin Armstrong, conjoined twins and owners of the Armstrong Fancy Gifts Corporation, have a goal:  to turn the world into their vision of utopia.  No wars, no conflict, no hunger.  And no free will.  Opposing them is a guerrilla group of teens, code name BZRK, who are fighting to protect the right to be messed up, to be human.  This is no ordinary war, though.  Weapons are deployed on the nano-level. The battleground is the human brain.  And there are no stalemates here:  It’s victory . . . or madness. unfolds with hurricane force around core themes of conspiracy and mystery, insanity and changing realities, engagement and empowerment, and the larger impact of personal choice. Which side would you choose?  How far would you go to win?

Not convinced yet? Here are some reviews of the books...

“The graphic descriptions of what the real and artificial creatures . . . Add in some discussable ideas on the ethics of human experimentation and a smart, simple explanation of the potential in nanotechnology . . . . Round out the experience with realistically unpredictable characters and blockbuster action sequences to complete this thoroughly enjoyable, incredibly disturbing story.”—VOYA, perfect 10 review

“With simmering pots of sexual tension, near-nonstop action, and the threat of howling madness or brain-melting doom around every corpuscular corner, Grant’s new series is off to a breathless, bombastic start.”—Booklist, starred review

“A great choice for readers with a strong stomach, an interest in the future of biomedical technology and the essential ethical debate, or anyone willing to embark on an unnerving, frighteningly plausible thrill ride all around the globe.”—VOYA, perfect 10 review

So time for the giveaway! May the Odds be ever in your favour!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Catch Me When I Fall by Vicki Leigh (Jasper's Review)

I got this book from www.netgalley.com It's an awesome site for finding new releases in eBook form.

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Recruited at his death to be a Protector of the Night, seventeen-year-old Daniel Graham has spent two-hundred years fighting Nightmares and guarding humans from the clawed, red-eyed creatures that feed off people’s fears. Each night, he risks his eternal life, having given up his chance at an afterlife when he chose to become a Protector. That doesn’t stop a burnt-out Daniel from risking daring maneuvers during each battle. He’s become one of the best, but he wants nothing more than to stop.

Then he’s given an assignment to watch over sixteen-year-old Kayla Bartlett, a clinically depressed patient in a psychiatric ward. Nightmares love a human with a tortured past. Yet, when they take a deep interest in her, appearing in unprecedented numbers, the job becomes more dangerous than any Daniel’s ever experienced. He fights ruthlessly to keep the Nightmares from overwhelming his team and Kayla. Soon, Daniel finds himself watching over Kayla during the day, drawn to why she’s different, and what it is about her that attracts the Nightmares. And him.

A vicious attack on Kayla forces Daniel to break the first Law and reveal his identity. Driven by his growing feelings for her, he whisks her away to Rome where others like him can keep her safe. Under their roof, the Protectors discover what Kayla is and why someone who can manipulate Nightmares has her in his sights. But before they can make a move, the Protectors are betrayed and Kayla is kidnapped. Daniel will stop at nothing to save her. Even if it means giving up his immortality.

Wow, this book as really good. The writing was spectacular, the plot was awesome, all in all, it was awesome. There were a few sections were I think that the plot was a little unbelievable. I don't think that many teenage girls would go with a man that they've never really met before to Paris and Rome... But besides that, there's really nothing bad about the book.

I just want to talk a little bit about Daniel, one of the Protectors. I like his backstory and everything, but I kind of felt that he was a little too weak to be a protagonist, but that being said... He's still really awesome, and I guess sometimes in this world, love at first sight does happen. But, trying to get into her pants before a third date? Not cool man.

I love the idea of having a "Protector" that protects you in your sleep. I think that the idea is much better than the idea of "guardian angels" that has been used over and over and over again.
The pacing for this book was wonderful, it's not too long (about 200 pages) so nothing was dragged out. It was fast paced and wonderfully action-packed.

I would definitely read this book again. I recommend this book for anyone wanting a short, supernatural thriller.

Review for Catch me when I Fall by Vicki Leigh

I got this book from www.netgalley.com It's an awesome site for finding new releases in eBook form.

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Recruited at his death to be a Protector of the Night, seventeen-year-old Daniel Graham has spent two-hundred years fighting Nightmares and guarding humans from the clawed, red-eyed creatures that feed off people’s fears. Each night, he risks his eternal life, having given up his chance at an afterlife when he chose to become a Protector. That doesn’t stop a burnt-out Daniel from risking daring maneuvers during each battle. He’s become one of the best, but he wants nothing more than to stop.

Then he’s given an assignment to watch over sixteen-year-old Kayla Bartlett, a clinically depressed patient in a psychiatric ward. Nightmares love a human with a tortured past. Yet, when they take a deep interest in her, appearing in unprecedented numbers, the job becomes more dangerous than any Daniel’s ever experienced. He fights ruthlessly to keep the Nightmares from overwhelming his team and Kayla. Soon, Daniel finds himself watching over Kayla during the day, drawn to why she’s different, and what it is about her that attracts the Nightmares. And him.

A vicious attack on Kayla forces Daniel to break the first Law and reveal his identity. Driven by his growing feelings for her, he whisks her away to Rome where others like him can keep her safe. Under their roof, the Protectors discover what Kayla is and why someone who can manipulate Nightmares has her in his sights. But before they can make a move, the Protectors are betrayed and Kayla is kidnapped. Daniel will stop at nothing to save her. Even if it means giving up his immortality.

Wow, this book as really good. The writing was spectacular, the plot was awesome, all in all, it was awesome. There were a few sections were I think that the plot was a little unbelievable. I don't think that many teenage girls would go with a man that they've never really met before to Paris and Rome... But besides that, there's really nothing bad about the book.

I just want to talk a little bit about Daniel, one of the Protectors. I like his backstory and everything, but I kind of felt that he was a little too weak to be a protagonist, but that being said... He's still really awesome, and I guess sometimes in this world, love at first sight does happen. But, trying to get into her pants before a third date? Not cool man.

I love the idea of having a "Protector" that protects you in your sleep. I think that the idea is much better than the idea of "guardian angels" that has been used over and over and over again.
The pacing for this book was wonderful, it's not too long (about 200 pages) so nothing was dragged out. It was fast paced and wonderfully action-packed.

I would definitely read this book again. I recommend this book for anyone wanting a short, supernatural thriller.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Jasper's Review)

Rating: 5 out of 5

Book Info

552 pages

Published March 14th 2006 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

It's just a small story really, about, among other things, a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery.

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak's groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist: books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids - as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

This book is awesome. This book has to be in my current top ten, and most likely, always will be on it. Let's get down to the "why" shall we?


The Format

I loved the format for this book. Looking at it for the first time, I was kinda scared at the humongous tome lying in front of me. But once you open the book, you notice that the format that the book is written in is both quirky and different. The little blocks of texts that provide insight into that big chunk of text that you just read makes the 500-something page book bearable and not boring at all. But it is such a good book. Words can't explain. It's kind of like reading The Invention of Hugo Cabret, another book that I love.

The Characters

Death - Death has to be my favourite character ever written on paper. Other than Elena from Bitten. Death in this book is portrayed as a kind of quasi-human character, except for that fact that he's kind of emotionally unattached, except for with Liesel Meminger, The Book Thief.

Liesel Meminger - Liesel is a live in the moment kind of girl. She's one of the best people that I've ever read about, she's nice, smart, and compassionate, but she's really naive. That's really her, only problem, but you grow to love her because that's the type of person she is.

The Plot

The plot for this book is good, but it can be slightly grade-school at times. Kinda childish, but in a good way. Marcus Zusak manages to write about a topic, that usually is gruesome and dark, in a way that makes you laugh at it instead of wanting to rip of Hitler's head. This book will make you laugh and cry, then laugh some more. Marcus Zusak's writing is truly amazing.

The only problem I have with the book is the extreme amount of profanity in it. Like I know that its about the amount of profanity you usually use in coversation. But really, there's at least 2 swear words on each page, tone it down a little. At least they're in German and not English...

The Verdict

Go to the bookstore, right now and buy this book. You will thank me. It has to be one of the best books ever written in this decade. It is really, really, really good. I recommend this book to anyone that wants a light-ish read.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Rating: 5 out of 5

Book Info

552 pages

Published March 14th 2006 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

It's just a small story really, about, among other things, a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery.

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak's groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist: books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids - as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

This book is awesome. This book has to be in my current top ten, and most likely, always will be on it. Let's get down to the "why" shall we?


The Format

I loved the format for this book. Looking at it for the first time, I was kinda scared at the humongous tome lying in front of me. But once you open the book, you notice that the format that the book is written in is both quirky and different. The little blocks of texts that provide insight into that big chunk of text that you just read makes the 500-something page book bearable and not boring at all. But it is such a good book. Words can't explain. It's kind of like reading The Invention of Hugo Cabret, another book that I love.

The Characters

Death - Death has to be my favourite character ever written on paper. Other than Elena from Bitten. Death in this book is portrayed as a kind of quasi-human character, except for that fact that he's kind of emotionally unattached, except for with Liesel Meminger, The Book Thief.

Liesel Meminger - Liesel is a live in the moment kind of girl. She's one of the best people that I've ever read about, she's nice, smart, and compassionate, but she's really naive. That's really her, only problem, but you grow to love her because that's the type of person she is.

The Plot

The plot for this book is good, but it can be slightly grade-school at times. Kinda childish, but in a good way. Marcus Zusak manages to write about a topic, that usually is gruesome and dark, in a way that makes you laugh at it instead of wanting to rip of Hitler's head. This book will make you laugh and cry, then laugh some more. Marcus Zusak's writing is truly amazing.

The only problem I have with the book is the extreme amount of profanity in it. Like I know that its about the amount of profanity you usually use in coversation. But really, there's at least 2 swear words on each page, tone it down a little. At least they're in German and not English...

The Verdict

Go to the bookstore, right now and buy this book. You will thank me. It has to be one of the best books ever written in this decade. It is really, really, really good. I recommend this book to anyone that wants a light-ish read.

Teaser Tuesday #2

Teaser Tuesday is a book meme hosted by Should be Reading. Description: Grab your current read, open to a random page and share 2 sentences from somewhere on that page (no spoilers please).

Jasper's Current Read: The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared

The other discovery was in the mailbox when Aronsson [the police inspector] was leaving. Among the day's post, there was an official letter from the Vehicle Licencing Authority, which confirmed that a 1992 Yellow Scania K113 had changed owners. [From page 145]