Review: Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton

Title: Seeker
Author: Arwen Elys Dayton
Source/Format: Won, Hardcover
More Details: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Delacorte Books for Young Readers, February 10th 2015

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Quin Kincaid has been put through years of brutal training for what she thinks is the noble purpose of becoming a revered ‘Seeker’. Only when it’s too late does she discover she will be using her new-found knowledge and training to become an assassin. Quin's new role will take her around the globe, from a remote estate in Scotland to a bustling, futuristic Hong Kong where the past she thought she had escaped will finally catch up with her...

There will be no spoilers or much of a review. These are just my thoughts about why I’m DNFing this book.

Seeker…oh boy…this book…*sigh*. Ok, so I admit that the synopsis for this book got me. This book seemed like something I would like—really it did. Thus I can’t really say much on this book because I didn’t get very far into it. This book failed to grab me. It didn’t get my attention for more than a few short-lived moments, because honestly, I kept setting it aside. It took me so long to get through the first chapter, and then from there I just kept putting it down. It was to the point where I let it sit on my shelf for weeks without trying to read more. From the first few pages I was bored; I wasn’t interested in the world or the characters. And the opening scene was just ok—but it just wasn’t enough—and as soon as the romance came crawling out of nowhere, and the explanation for it, my interest just…vanished in a puff of smoke. Will I try to read Seeker again? Right now my answer is no. Basically, this book just wasn’t for me.

Release Day Blitz, Interview & Giveaway: Awakening by Shannon Duffy

Today, I'm excited to be taking part in the Release Day Blitz for Shannon Duffy's Awakening.  Before we get to the giveaway at the bottom of the post, read more about the book.

Awakening by Shannon Duffy  release April 7, 2015 from Entangled Teen.

Summary from Goodreads...

Desiree Six (because she was born on a Friday) believes in everything the Protectorate stands for. She likes the safety and security of having her entire life planned out—her career, her mate, even the date of her death. She doesn't even think to question when Darien, her childhood friend and neighbor, is convicted of murdering his parents. They had seemed like such a loving family. But if he was convicted, then he must have done it. Then Darien shows up in her room late one night. He has escaped from the Terrorscape—a nightmare machine used to punish all Noncompliants—and needs Desiree's help. What he tells her rocks her world to its core and makes her doubt everything she's ever been told. With this new information, will Desiree and Darien be able to escape the Protectorate before it's too late?

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What inspired you to write your first book? 

Definitely my son Gabriel. I wanted to write a story for him that he would love and one where he got to be the hero of the story. 

Do you have a specific writing style? 

I’m sort of between a planner and a pantser. I like to do a rough outline and then think it through in my head like a movie, jotting notes as I go. And then when I’m in the writing process I need quiet. Oh, and lots of coffee. 

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? 

Yes, it was my high school English teacher Mr. Rowsell. He definitely had a huge impact on me. I really took an interest in creative writing and wanted to impress him. When he read some of my things aloud in class, I was hooked. He was an amazing teacher and influence on me. 

Do you have any advice for other writers? 

Read a lot, make other writer friends who you can exchange your work with, and don’t give up if it’s something you really love. 

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers? 

Thank you sooo much for reading my story and I really hope you enjoyed it! Readers are the best kinds of people, aren’t they? 

What genre do you consider your book(s)? 

Sci-fi and dystopian mix I would say. 

And finally, while you were writing, did you ever feel as if you were one of the characters? 

I always try to put myself straight into the character’s heads. I need to feel what they’re feeling to try to make my words feel authentic.

About the Author...

Author of MG and YA books full of adventure. I grew up on the east coast of Canada in the province of Newfoundland and now live in Ontario. I love writing, reading, fashion, fitness, and traveling.

   

And now for the giveaway.  Below you can enter for a chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card + Swag. Sounds like an awesome prize, right?  Well, go forth and enter!

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Book Blitz Organized by:

The Friday 56 (23)

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

"She heaved on a second log and sat back, not without a nervous look or so behind her, where blue-purple light from the fire was dancing over the polished brown bone of the skull."--Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

What's on your page 56 this week?

Move, Book, or Both: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

So there's an occasional thing we like to do on Our Thoughts Precisely. We'll see a movie and then read the book after to see if there are any differences, if it's more detailed, and whatnot. All to see if we like the Movie, the Book, or Both.

Title: Howl's Moving Castle 
Author: Diana Wynne Jones
Source/Format: Purchased, Paperback
More Details: Fantasy, Middle Grade
Publisher/Publication Date: Greenwillow Books, April 22, 2008 (First published 1986)

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Summary from Goodreads...

Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye...

I first learned about Howl’s Moving Castle when I saw the movie, and since then I’ve been curious about the book. So, recently I went out and purchased it. I can see the story and how it was adapted to the movie, but I also clearly saw the differences between the two. But that doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy the book. In fact, I have to say that I loved it. It was the kind of book that literally kept me up until three in the morning because I just had to finished it.

Going into this book I knew that there were going to be some differences, but I have to say that it didn’t bother me at all. The basic concept is about the same. The story follows Sophie Hatter after her unfortunate meeting with the Witch of the Waste and what happens after that. She runs into Calcifer, Howl, and Michael when she enters the castle uninvited. The novel certainly delved more into Howl's past, and what his family was like.  The extra details were certainly a nice addition.  Characters like Howl's apprentice, Michael, and Sophie's sisters—Lettie and Martha—played other roles in the book. I felt like they were more involved with parts of the story dedicated to exploring their personalities a little more.  Some of the events were different and you really have to pay attention to what’s going on otherwise you might overlook it—I almost overlooked it, but thankfully I caught the details.

The setting was pretty similar to the movie, give or take a few details.  The plot did have some major differences and I really enjoyed seeing how the story played out in the novel.  Another aspect that I liked was the fact that a few details were given further explanationss, giving some clarity to their meaning. So while there were clear differences between the book and the movie, I loved both of them. Would I recommend the novel? Totally. And the Movie? Yep. This is the first in the trilogy and I have to say that I would definitely like to get the other two at some point in time, because I'm curious to see what happens to Sophie, Howl, and Calcifer after the end of Howl's Moving Castle.

Trimonthly Recap: January-March

Welcome the first trimonthly recap on Our Thoughts Precisely. I figured that instead of doing a recap each month that I would do one at the end of a three month increment. This is just a place to recap reviews and various types of posts. I'm going to start with reviews...

January Reviews:

• Until Midnight by Melissa Landers
• Doctor Who: Silhouette by Justin Richards
• Video Game Storytelling by Evan Skolnick
• The Unbound by Victoria Schwab

February Reviews:

• Lucidity by Stephanie Thomas
• The Keep by Veronica Wolff
• Hover by Melissa West
• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

March Reviews:

• Scarlett Undercover by Jennifer Latham
• A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle
• Finding Serendipity by Angelica Banks

Beginning with January, I listed my 2015 Blogger Resolutions, created a Book Tag, and participated in the cover reveal for Maybe Me by Amber Hart. 

Moving right along to February I participated in the Would You Rather Book Tag, took part in an excerpt reveal for Salt & Stone by Victoria Scott, did a Book Haul, and a post for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award. 

And finally in March, on the fifteenth Our Thoughts Precisely turned 2 and I updated the design. I wrote a discussion post on the importance of taking a break, and participated in two cover reveals: Balance Keepers: The Pillars of Ponderay by Lindsay Cummings & Dragons Are People, Too by Sarah Nicolas.

I would like to get more nonfiction in the next couple of months (I recently finished one and started another), so if you have any suggestions leave them in the comments.  On another note, I want to look for more Book Tags to participate in since they're fun to do. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading!