Waiting on Wednesday (11) - Harbinger

Waiting on Wednesday is a feature hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine that shares the upcoming releases we bloggers are on the edge of our seats about!

Harbinger

by Sara Wilson Etienne

Release date: February 2, 2012

(from Goodreads)

When sixteen-year-old Faye arrives at Holbrook Academy, she doesn’t expect to find herself exactly where she needs to be. After years of strange waking visions and nightmares, her only comfort the bones of dead animals, Faye is afraid she’s going crazy. Fast.

But her first night at Holbrook, she feels strangely connected to the school and the island it sits on, like she’s come home. She’s even made her first real friends, but odd things keep happening to them. Every morning they wake on the floors of their dorm rooms with their hands stained red.

Faye knows she’s the reason, but what does it all mean? The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain she can’t trust him; in fact, he may be trying to kill her—and the rest of the world too.

Rich, compelling writing will keep the pages turning in this riveting and tautly told psychological thriller.

Look at that cover? Gorgeous, eh? And what the heck is this synopsis? "her only comfort the bones of dead animals"...um...what? I am thoroughly intrigued by this book and I can't wait for it to come out!

What is YOUR WoW pick?

Dark Descendant (Descendant #1) by Jenna Black

Dark Descendant by Jenna Black

(Synopsis from Goodreads)
From the acclaimed author of the Morgan Kingsley, Exorcist books comes the gripping first novel in a new series about a private eye who discovers, to her surprise, that she’s an immortal huntress.

Nikki Glass can track down any man. But when her latest client turns out to be a true descendant of Hades, Nikki now discovers she can’t die. . . .

Crazy as it sounds, Nikki’s manhunting skills are literally god-given. She’s a living, breathing descendant of Artemis who has stepped right into a trap set by the children of the gods. Nikki’s new “friends” include a descendant of Eros, who uses sex as a weapon; a descendant of Loki, whose tricks are no laughing matter; and a half-mad descendant of Kali who thinks she’s a spy.

But most powerful of all are the Olympians, a rival clan of immortals seeking to destroy all Descendants who refuse to bow down to them. In the eternal battle of good god/bad god, Nikki would make a divine weapon. But if they think she’ll surrender without a fight, the gods must be crazy. . . .




Sigh. Jenna Black's Dark Descendant left me feeling...disappointed. I wanted to love this book. I was ready to love this book! But instead I'm left thinking it's more like a 3 star book with the possibility that the rest of the series will get better. Let me explain.

First of all, someone should give a serious tongue lashing to whoever designed the book cover. While the picture is gorgeous and I love the colors, it is completely misleading. The picture and little comment would lead one to believe that this is a typical urban fantasy with a badass shoot-first-ask-later heroine. However Nikki isn't really...that. She is a private investigator who is just beginning her journey into..er...badass-ness. Nikki gets dragged into the world of descendants of gods, only to discover that she herself is a descendant as well. This means that she is immortal, fast healing, and has some supernatural powers (although, to be perfectly honest, her powers are slightly confusing). And she accepts this pretty comfortably. Sure, in her head she keeps talking to herself about how odd it is, but, really, she adapts quite quickly.

I also took issue with all the contradictions in this book. I think that may have been my biggest problem. Nikki has supposedly always had this gift to find people as part of her ancestry, but, even though she is apparently a really good P.I., she isn't exactly famous or anything. If she had hunting powers that powerful, why isn't she even better at her job? Perhaps it would have been nice to see the story opening with Nikki solving the heck out of a tough case. Then maybe we could have seen her at work and believed she was awesome. There is also a lot of back and forth about Nikki's sister's personality. Is she tougher than she looks and people always underestimate her? Or is she just too kind and sensitive? Make up your mind! Finally, I felt like my emotions were being tugged in all directions. Black makes us hate...no, loathe certain characters and then expects us to do a 180 toward the end of the book and decide to love them. I just had trouble making the change so quickly.

So, I did give Dark Descendant 3 stars, so I must have liked something, right? Well I did really like the idea behind this story. I have always liked mythology, and this story is all about descendants of the gods (Greek, Roman, Norse, etc.) so I enjoyed that. I also enjoyed learning about the descendants and the Olympians (also descendants of gods, but the Olympians are the 'bad guys'). I also liked Nikki, our heroine. I just wanted more out of her, that's all.

All in all, I will read the next in this series to see how the story and the characters grow. I'm hoping this book just suffered a little bit from "first book in a series" syndrome, and the rest will make up for it. Let's hope I'm right!

In My Mailbox (15)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme to share what we bought, checked out, swapped, or won. IMM is hosted by The Story Siren.

Despite what I think was a mildly successful first vlog last week, I am resorting to a regular old IMM post this week because I'm feeling a little lazy.  :)

RECEIVED FOR REVIEW:

Thank you so much to Kensington Books for sending me my own ARC of Shadow Heir! I had already started reading a borrowed copy when this little package arrived! And an extra book came with Shadow Heir, a paranormal steampunk romance (wonderful little genre I just made up) called The Hunter. Can't wait to read it!

Shadow Heir (Dark Swan #4) by Richelle Mead (My Review)
The Hunter (The Legend Chronicles #1) by Theresa Meyers

SWAPPED:

This came in the mail this week from another blogger that I swapped ARCs with. I've heard ridiculously good things about this book so I'm going to check it out!

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #1) by Michelle Hodkin

BOUGHT:

I bought this from Barnes and Noble online with a gift card I won on Stacey Jay's blog (love her!!!). I should have just used it in the store...holy crap was this order a pain in the butt! Anywho, I've heard that this is kind of dark for a YA and that appealed to me so I'm giving it a try.

And apparently vampire doggy is hiding her teeth this week...but don't let that fool you...

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

Okay, I showed you mine. Now show me yours! What did you get this week?

Follow Friday (14)

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read

Here is this week's question:

It’s Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. so we want to know what you are Thankful for – blogging related of course! Who has helped you out along the way? What books are you thankful for reading?

       

As a fairly new blogger, I am oh so thankful for all the readers and fellow bloggers that have taken the time to check out Goldilox and the Three Weres! When I started this little blog, I never would have thought I would have so many followers so fast. And I certainly didn't realize what a wonderful community bloggers, readers, and authors make. So this Thanksgiving, I am SUPER thankful for all of you!   :) 

I'm also stupendously thankful for some fabulous books! Here are some of my favorites from the past few months:

 

Shadow Heir (Dark Swan #4) by Richelle Mead

Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead
Release date: December 27, 2011

(from Goodreads)

#1 New York Times bestselling author Richelle Mead returns to the Otherworld, a mystic land inextricably linked to our own--and balanced precariously on one woman's desperate courage...

Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham strives to keep the mortal realm safe from trespassing entities. But as the Thorn Land's prophecy-haunted queen, there's no refuge for her and her soon-to-be-born-children when a mysterious blight begins to devastate the Otherworld...
The spell-driven source of the blight isn't the only challenge to Eugenie's instincts. Fairy king Dorian is sacrificing everything to help, but Eugenie can't trust the synergy drawing them back together. The uneasy truce between her and her shape shifter ex-lover Kiyo is endangered by secrets he can't--or won't--reveal. And as a formidable force rises to also threaten the human world, Eugenie must use her own cursed fate as a weapon--and risk the ultimate sacrifice...

*Only read this review if you are caught up to Iron Crowned in the series!*

Shadow Heir is the last in Mead's magic-and-Fae-based urban fantasy Dark Swan series. If you've been keeping up with the series, you know that A LOT went down in the last one! I don't want to spoil anything for those of you who haven't read up to book three...so if you are not up to that book, turn back now! Okay, you have been warned.

Freakin' Kiyo! He totally screwed up Eugenie's life in Iron Crowned! First he gets her pregnant, then he decides its best to kill the babies (that pesky prophecy and all...)! When we begin Shadow Heir, Eugenie is already several months pregnant and has been hiding out in various locations in the human world in order to hide from Kiyo, Maiwenn, and their lackeys that are trying to hunt her down and kill her. She requires escorts to her doctor visits since gentry like to occasionally appear and try to off her. One of the things I really liked in this book was Jasmine's presence and the clear turn around she has done from when we first met her. She is fiercely protective of Eugenie now. We also pick up a new character, Pagiel - Ysabel's son. Even though Ysabel is evil and money-hungry (if you forgot who she is, she was a past lover of Dorian's from the previous books), Pagiel is kind and even a little meek. I enjoyed reading his growth during the book. Roland is also around much more here than in the last book, and since I adore his tough-but-loving dad-ness, I was really happy to see more of him.

As usual, Eugenie's entire world consists of hard decisions and keeping secrets. She has to undergo most of her pregnancy living with strangers in a place she doesn't know. As much as I liked this little detour in the story, I was ready for her to get back to her Eugenie-ness and get the heck out of Alabama. She does have some sweet interactions with one of the people she is staying with, a southern teacher named Evan, but he was no Dorian so I was ready to move along.

Dorian! Ahh, Dorian my love! Perhaps one of my favorite things in this book was that I read about 150 pages before Kiyo even appeared. And, although more of those pages could have had Dorian, he was in enough of them that I was happy. But we'll get back to that...

For the last two-thirds of the book, 'the gang' must go on a trek to another kingdom in the Otherworld in order to stop a devastating blight that has taken over. You didn't think the whole book would be about Eugenie's pregnancy, did you? Nope! There is actually a whole other great plot happening. When Eugenie finally returns to the Otherworld she discovers that it has been taken over by a magic spell that causes everything to freeze. It is constantly snowing, the weather is colder than any of the gentry know what to do with, and gentry and animals alike are dying off. Hence the trek! I love when an author sends a group of almost all the main characters on some kind of adventure together.

It is during this little adventure that Eugenie starts to question her feelings for Dorian...meaning that she was mad at him for deceiving her about the iron crown...buuuuuut his eyes are so green and he seems to still have feelings for her...... My favorite thing about Shadow Heir is that Mead really opens Dorian up. He shows how much he truly cares for Eugenie and you will be screaming at your book "What is wrong with you Eugenie!? Jump on top of him right now!".

And, of course, we are talking about Richelle Mead...so there is a big Surprise! toward the end of the book. The series ends neatly and I was almost fully satisfied. I feel like Mead answered most of the questions her readers might have, but at the same time she didn't give us an ending that was tied with a little bow. There were no cop outs here.

I am so sad that this series is over now. This is one of the best urban fantasies out there and I am more than ready to see what Mead gives us next!

***This review is based on an advance copy of the book.

Waiting on Wednesday (11) - Girl of Nightmares

Waiting on Wednesday is a feature hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine that shares the upcoming releases we bloggers are on the edge of our seats about!

Girl of Nightmares

(Anna #2)
by Kendare Blake
Release date: August 7, 2012

(from Goodreads)
In this follow-up to Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas begins seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he’s asleep, and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong. These aren’t just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.
Cas doesn’t know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn’t deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it’s time for him to return the favor.

If you've read my review of Anna Dressed in Blood, you know that I LOVED it and was totally surprised by said love. I cannot wait to read the next one!!! And who does the covers for this series!? They have both been ridiculously beautiful! I love the way Kendare writes and I love Cas, so naturally this is my WOW this week...even though its release is almost a year away........  :*(

What is YOUR WoW pick?

In My Mailbox (14) - Vlog edition!

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme to share what we bought, checked out, swapped, or won. IMM is hosted by The Story Siren.

THIS WEEK...MY FIRST VLOG!

Books talked about:

 Shadow Heir        Alterant   

 Fateful                Wicked Lovely     

 Ink Exchange

Check out my latest posts:

Shatter Me (Review)

Gratitude Giveaway Hop - Win an Amazon gift card!

Follow Friday

Okay, I showed you mine. Now show me yours! What did you get this week?

Follow Friday (13)

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read

Here is this week's question:

        

Letter to Santa: 

Tell Santa what books you want for Christmas!

Dear Santa,

I have been a VERY good girl this year (just don't ask my boyfriend... he lies...) and so I thought I deserved some treats. Seeing as I am OBSESSED with books...I am sending you my list of the books you need to get me I would like. Here they are:

What? Some of these books are not going to be out by Christmas? Well, you have an IN with all the publishing houses, don't you? I don't care what needs to be done, just do it find a way please. Thank you so very very much. Now get to work Now get to work (some things just can't be said a nicer way...).

Love, 

Your best friend and biggest fan.....Goldilox

Check out some recent posts and goodies:

Gratitude Giveaway Hop: Win an Amazon gift card!

Review: Shatter Me (loved it!)

Waiting on Wednesday: Grave Mercy 

Gratitude Giveaway Hop!

Welcome to my stop on the Gratitude Giveaway Hop, hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and All-Consuming Books! This giveaway hop is to thank all those bloggers and readers that check out book review blogs, read posts, and become 'followers'. 

For my giveaway, I am offering something simple for the first time ever: 

a $15 gift card to Amazon! 

Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below and voila! 

Waiting on Wednesday (10) - Grave Mercy

Waiting on Wednesday is a feature hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine that shares the upcoming releases we bloggers are on the edge of our seats about!

Grave Mercy

(His Fair Assassin #1)

by R.L. LaFevers

Release date: March 2012

(Synopsis from Goodreads)

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

Yeah, yeah, this doesn't really have a paranormal edge to it. There's something about how she was sired by Death himself or something like that...does that count? But something about it screams to me and I'm pretty excited to read it. Cross my fingers that I get to receive an ARC of it!  :p

What is YOUR WoW pick?