Happy birthday to … me!?

That’s right, I’m another year older. What does that mean? Well, right now it just feels like that means I deserve to be bogged down with more work than I’d ever want. Two jobs + schoolwork does not bode well, people.

I realize my blogging duties have fallen by the wayside, too. Don’t think I’m not aware! I see you people unfollowing me. (You know who you are!) Does this upset me? Yes and no. Really, I can’t blame someone for unfollowing a blog that’s been rather inactive. But like I’ve been saying – this will change. Really, it will. I’ve got some clear schedules coming up. I’m close to finishing The Daughter of Smoke and Bone, so there WILL be a review sighting! (Holy cow, don’t hold your breath.)

?I owe a big thanks to Amanda for hosting the Bout of Books read-a-thon, which really did push me to read this past week during every significant gap of free time that I had. If not for that, the book review wouldn’t be up as soon as it will be. (Also, she was awesome enough to send me a very funny birthday gift. AND a birthday pic. She rocks, basically.)

Now, about this birthday business.

I plan to redeem my free coffee, hold my head high, destroy my Accounting exam, and be as happy as can be.

 

* Thanks for the great post, Cindy!

What do you think of these covers? What makes or breaks a cover for you? Fonts? Pictures? Sparkly vampires?

?Whaaaaaat? I’m participating in a read-a-thon amidst my hectic schedule? Yes! It’ll give me all the more reason to read, and it’s a great segway into my birthday.

My rating: 4 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

I went out on a limb here, reading The Pledge. It’s admittedly not in my genre of choice – contemporary. BUT. It was mostly everything I could’ve asked for.

Most notably – the awesome sense of plot and descriptions. Hellooooo, you two! Where have you been in my YA novels? So glad you’ve returned. That’s basically the conversation I had going on in my head. Derting’s world just packs this live punch that’s great; it’s gritty, urban, magical.  And the characters have distinct personalities! It’s easy to form connections to them, which helps guide the story. Truth be told, some are cliche, and a bit predictable. But the more developed characters make up for their lacking.

There’s some slow build-up, which leads to confusion about just what kind of world they’re living in, and why, but everything is resolved in the end.  However, that’s where things seem to get a bit screwy.  Characters suddenly do a 180 and show other sides of themselves, causing me to feel detached from them after finally feeling like I knew their purposes within the story. It’s a bit offputting and annoying. The way everything – and everyone – ties together seems illogical at times, or presents Oh c’mon, really now? moments/reactions.

But trust me: The Pledge is an awesome thriller. The world is fleshed out, the descriptions spot-on, and the characters more or less come together seamlessly. It’s a mingling of all things good. Read it!