Throne of Glass Series Giveaway! {CLOSED}

Hey all! I have a super awesome giveaway for you today (as you could probably tell from the title of this post ;). If you follow me on Twitter, you may have noticed that I love Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas. Like, I love it A LOT. Sooooo, I am giving away a signed and personalized set of the Throne of Glass books! Since Sarah is coming to Lansing on her Heir of Fire tour, I decided, why not share this wonderful, life-ruining series with one of my lovely readers? *grins* Now go forth and enter!

The Prize:

One winner gets:
—Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas (paperback)
—Crown of Midnight by Sarah J Maas (paperback)
—Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas (hardcover)

Quick note: The Assassin's Blade (the prequel novella collection) is not included, because hardcovers are expensive and TAB equals one too many for my budget. Sorry! BUT, if you want a signed copy of TAB, you can order it from Schuler Books, the store hosting Sarah. Just put in the order comments that you want it signed.

The Rules:
—Must be 13 years or older to enter the giveaway.
—Open to US ONLY.
—Giveaway ends 9/05/14 at 11:59pm EST.
—Winner will have 48 hours to respond to our email, if no response is given a new winner will be chosen.
—All entries are checked, and any false entries will be deleted.
—We at T3 are not responsible if a package is lost or damaged in the mail.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck!

Review: The Year of the Great Seventh (DNF)

Title: The Year of the Great Seventh
Author: Teresa Orts
Publisher: Drayton Press
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 310
Format: ARC
Source: Author
Rating: 0 cubes of sugar (DNF)
Release Date: July 6, 2013
Purchase: Indiebound (As a supporter of indie booksellers, I'm going to to tell you to go get it from your local bookstore if you want to pick it up. Buy local first! :)

Summary: 
Sophie has always felt out of step—an outsider, even amongst friends in her high school with all the hype about celebrity culture. Her life in L.A. seems to have been already written for her, but when her junior year starts, it all takes a drastic turn. When she crosses paths with the school's heartthrob, Nate Werner, they fall for each other in a way neither can understand. What they don’t know is that by giving in to their desires, they are unlocking an ancient Egyptian prophecy that threatens to return Earth to the dark ages.

To undo the curse, Nate and Sophie embark on an adventure that takes them across the country. But their quest is not only to save the world as they know it. It is also a fight for their very survival. Behind the scenes, there are those that are counting on them to fail.

(Taken from Goodreads)

Post-"taste" Review: 
Did not finish. Really difficult to get into, even at almost halfway through the book. Apparently the end gets better? The characters drove me nuts.

Review: 
I had really hoped I could get into this one, but in the end I just couldn't do it. I literally had to put the book down several times and think "What did I just read??" and I only managed to read less than half the book.

Characters are obviously a huge part of books and I just couldn't relate these characters. From the beginning they just rubbed me the wrong way. The main character, Sophie, is supposed to be the "brainy" one of her group of actress friends. I say brainy because she talks about being a history buff, but I never saw that come into play. She's supposed to be worrying about her future and applying to colleges, instead she gets embroiled in this awkward "relationship" with a guy she's only ever admired from afar.

It was so rushed, she goes from "oh, he's really cute" to "omgwhydoesn'thelikeme??!?" In a very short amount of time. When she gets groped at a party Nate, aforementioned GQ model-esque love interest, flies off the handle (why??) and beats the living snot out of the guy. This is apparently grounds for getting all moony and worried over him and Sophie repeatedly tries to talk to him about it. When she does finally get him to talk he essentially tells her she's weird and they shouldn't be seen together. Ever. Que downward spiral into depression. There's even a point here where she waxes poetic about how she didn't realize how motivational seeing him at school was for getting up in the morning. Girl! Geez Louise! You've talked to him for maybe a total of 20 minutes, this reaction is rather dramatic. They have one of run-in with each other at the movies that ends with him smashing a car window with his arm. So the obvious thing to do is to give the guy with anger issues and elbows of steel a ride home, right? Right. I felt like Sophie spent a lot of time trying to fabricate a relationship with Nate, grasping at air for any way to be around him. Way too desperate.

I can't say much abut the settings as, appart from Nate's house, there was little description that my mind could create from.

I'm still tring to figure out why this book has such high ratings on Goodreads. I'm truly baffled. I'm usually pretty forgiving when it comes to errors and quick fixes in books, but this one had my fingers itching for my red pen. Maybe I'll trying picking it up again later, apparently the second half of the book is where it picks up, but I'm so unsatisfied with the beginning that it may be a hard sell.

*I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way paid for my opinions.*

Trailer Reveal: Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner (+ Giveaway)

We're so excited to be apart of the trailer reveal for. . .
Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner

hosted by VLC Productions!

Without further ado. . .

Faerie After, the third book in the Bones of Faerie trilogy, releases today, so here's a little bit about it:

Title: Faerie After
Series: Bones of Faerie #3
Author: Janni Lee Simner
Publisher: Random House (BYR)
Release Date: May 28, 2013
Buy: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

After a devastating war between humanity and Faerie, Liza’s world was forever changed. Plants and trees became aggressive, seeking to root in living flesh and bone, and newborn children were discovered to have magical powers. Liza was one of these children, and with her abilities she brought her mother back from the ruined Faerie realm and restored the seasons to her own.

Now there are signs of a new sickness in the forest. Piles of ash are found where living creatures once stood. Liza investigates and discovers that the Faerie realm has continued to deteriorate, slowly turning to dust, and that its fate is inexorably linked to that of the human realm. To find a solution, Liza must risk crossing over, putting herself and all she cares about at risk. Will Liza be forced to sacrifice her life and the lives of her friends in order to save both worlds?

Fans of dark fantasy and dystopian adventure were entranced by Janni Lee Simner's Bones of Faerie andFaerie Winter. Now readers of Holly Black, Melissa Marr, and Cassandra Clare can return to Janni's unique vision of a magic-infused postapocalyptic world.

And now for the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
What do you think of the trailer? We love it!

—Tea for Three Team

Review: Goddess Interrupted

Title: Goddess Interrupted
Series: Goddess Test #2
Author: Aimée Carter
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN
Genre: YA Fantasy/Romance
Pages: 304
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Rating: 4 cubes of sugar
Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository

Summary:
Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it. 

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry's first wife, Persephone.
(Taken from Goodreads)

Post-"taste" Review: 
Good book! Drags a little in the middle, plot-wise, but the character building makes up for it. Henry is kind of a butt for a while but it gets better. Promise.

Review:
This book was a little frustrating. Not because of the book...that doesn't make sense, let me try again. It was frustrating because of the situation in the book. I could relate to what Kate was going through in SO many ways. It was ridiculous. I digress though.

Summer is over and Kate heads back to Eden Manor for her 6 months in the Underworld with Henry, the girl is excited. I mean, who can blame her, she's married to HENRY! His welcome is less than warm though, granted they are dealing with some pretty major problems down in the Underworld, Cronus is waking from his dream prison and wants revenge. He's stronger than anything and he's not working alone.

When Henry and half of the council are imprisoned somewhere in the Underworld it's up to Kate to save them, with the help of James, Ava, and one unlikely ally. They have to find the council and the only other person who knows the Underworld as well as Henry is Persephone, and she's the last person Kate wants to deal with. I really enjoyed that you got to see a lot more of James in this one and the interactions between him and Kate were interesting. They make you want know more about James' past and what he's been through. Persephone, on the other hand, I could have done with less of. I didn't like her attitude and how mean she was, as though everyone else was there to be her puppets. I can't say much more without giving things away but she bothered me.

Holy crap on a cracker! That ending, not even the ending, the epilogue! What a cliffhanger! I was so mad that I had to wait until Goddess Inheritance came out to find out what came after Henry rushing off the rescue Kate!

Review: The Goddess Test

Title: The Goddess Test
Series: Goddess Test #1
Author: Aimée Carter
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN
Genre: YA Fantasy/Romance
Pages: 293
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5 cubes of sugar!
Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository

Summary:
EVERY GIRL WHO HAS TAKEN THE TEST HAS DIED.

NOW IT'S KATE'S TURN. 

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear that her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she suceeds, she'll become Henry's future bride and a goddess.

IF SHE FAILS…
(Taken from Goodreads)

Review:
An engaging, interesting, and wholly entertaining new take on Greek Mythology. The Goddess Test is a book I can't believe I haven't read before now! Aimée Carter did an excellent job of keeping me guessing, I honestly didn't expect any of the twists, and boy where they good ones!

The characters were all interesting and very well developed. I found Kate to be a great narrator, despite her rather depressing situation over the last four years of her life. She's strong and tries to keep a somewhat hopeful outlook on things. Henry, I just wanted to pat the poor boy on his darling head. "Dark and tortured" is an apt description for him and everything that happened in his past with Persephone (if you know Greek Myths this isn't a spoiler) just had me rooting for him to get together with Kate even more. He was moody and mysterious, but who doesn't like moody, mysterious guys?! James, though he's not around much, was one of my other favorite characters and Ava...well, I found her annoying for most of the book but I find most characters with her personality annoying (don't worry, she gets better in the end). She's a really good friend to Kate and for me that was her redeeming quality.

The story itself covers a little over six months and in that time there are quite a few lulls where routine sets in. These lulls were handled well, in terms of writing, and you never get bored. You get just enough information to keep you reading while not giving away too much. That ending! And the council! I didn't see that one coming! (Don't worry, I won't spoil it)

Overall it was a great read that I couldn't put down (literally) and an interesting modern twist on ancient Greek myths. Definitely pick this one up!

Giveaway: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo {CLOSED}

Hey guys! So we here at T3 recently acquired a signed copy of Leigh Bardugo's awesomesauce debut Shadow and Bone, and since both Amanda and I (Erin) already have signed copies of our own, we are giving it away to one of you! All you have to do is fill out the rafflecopter below. The giveaway ends on Oct. 7, 2012 at 11:59 EST, and it's US only (Sorry, can't afford international shipping right now).

The Prize:

For those not familiar with Shadow & Bone, here's the synopsis from Goodreads:

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee. 

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. 

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

The Rules:
—Must be 13 years or older to enter.
—Open to US ONLY.
—Giveaway ends 10/7/12.
—Winner will have 48 hours to respond to our email, if no response is given a new winner will be chosen.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
— Tea for Three Team

Cover Reveal: Clockwork Princess

Oh goodness, look at this little gem!

Gorgeous! Man, I love these covers! I, unfortunately, was working when the cover was released but Erin was part of all the fun.

"The cover was revealed here after Simon & Schuster made us work for it. The tag #ClockworkPrincess had to be tweeted 30,000 times before the full cover was revealed, but with every tweet a small piece of the cover was unveiled. It was less than two hours between when Cassandra Clare blogged about how to reveal the cover, and the full cover reveal. Along the way #ClockworkPrincess was a #1 Worldwide trending topic on Twitter. "

-Erin, on her blog A Book Lover's Ramblings 

I'll be honest, I still have to read The Infernal Devices series (I know, shame on me! And I'm such a Cassie Clare fan! -cries-) but they're on the ever growing list and I have Clockwork Angel already!

Anyways, incase that cover wasn't enough to entice you, here's all the covers for good measure.

 

Lovely!

Hope everyone is having a great day! Thanks for reading!

-Amanda

WWW Wednesdays (2)

WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

1) What are you currently reading?

Erin

      

I've started all four of these, but am really only focusing on Masquerade right now.

Amanda

 

I've been meaning to read this book for a while, so I decided to put it on my read list of the Once Upon A Read-A-Thon that's currently running.

2) What did you recently finish reading?

Erin

I finished Blue Bloods for the third time yesterday. I love that book so much!

Amanda

   

Shadowcry was most excellent, and I'm looking forward to reading Blackwatch and finding out what happens next. White Trash Zombie was such an awesome book! I love Diana Rowland's take on zombies and Angel, the main character, is so much fun.

3) What do you think you'll read next?

Erin

I'm thinking I'll read this next, but I have really no idea what I'll end up reading.

Amanda
     

I've been looking forward to reading Ready Player One for months. Lisa keeps telling me I have to read Blood Brothers, so that will be one of my next ones. Daughter of Smoke & Bone is also on my Read-A-Thon list. Hopefully I can get to it.

What are you reading?
Have a great week, and thanks for stopping by!

—Tea for Three Team

Top Ten Tuesday (2)

Top 10 freebie! (pick 10 of whatever you want, favorite genre, author, series, anything)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top 10 Freebie! Post your top 10 whatever you want.

Amanda's Top 10 Favorite Books. (I'll keep it simple) These are not in any order, I could never do that to a book.

1. The Name of The Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle #1) by Patrick Rothfuss

I hate adore this book! It's amazingly written (I've never wanted to write down so many lines from a book); the character voice is wonderful, deep, and thought-provoking; and I've never been so jealous of a book in my life. This is the kind of book that I one day hope to write. 

2. The Warded Man (Demon Cycle #1) by Peter V. Brett

I throughly enjoy the world that this story is set in, it's original, interesting, and Peter does a great job of showing how it has effected the people that live in it. I fell in love with the characters right from the beginning. The only issue I had with it was that some of the time lines overlap and it got a little confusing, but there are dates at the beginning of each chapter so you know where and when things are happening. Without the dates it would have been hard to keep track of how much time was passing but it was still a wonderful read. 

3. City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare

If you haven't read this book you should. I mean it. Go to the nearest book store/website and buy it right now; you won't regret it. Well, you might when you get so sucked into the story that you have to go and buy the other (currently) six books set in the Shadowhunter world. You might end up like me and get so mad at the fourth book and you throw it across the room (don't worry, I immediately picked it up and apologized profusely). This book is excellent though. I love the characters, the story, the world, everything!

4. Paper Towns by John Green

I don't know anyone that can tell a thought-provoking story like John Green. I enjoy every single one of his books but this one is easily my favorite. I love Margo and Q, the pranks that they pull, and how well everything is planned out. I laughed so many times while reading this and yet still felt sad and thoughtful at the end. It's a great read, definitely pick it up.

5. Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos

This book. Ugh. I laughed. I cried. It was awesome.

6. Ghost Story (The Dresden Files #13) by Jim Butcher

I love every single book in this series and it was really hard to pick just one book. I went with this one because it surprised me the most. I don't want to give away too much, but in the 12th book, Harry was put in a rather...interesting position, and I wasn't sure how Jim planned to get him out of it. I was surprised at how, even 13 books into the series, there was still so much that I didn't know about Harry Dresden. This is one of my favorite series of books, you should read them all. They're all amazing.

7. Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4) by J.K. Rowling

It's Harry Potter. Who doesn't like Harry Potter books?!

8. Poison Study (Poison #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Maria V. Snyder is another of my favorite authors. I have every single one of her books and I love them all, but this is the one that started it and will always have a special place.

9. Academ's Fury (Codex Alera #2) by Jim Butcher

It only makes sense that my favorite author be on here more than once. I love fantasy books, but I have a hard time getting into highish fantasy like Lord of the Rings, Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, or  any of David Eddings' books. I love the genre -don't get me wrong- I just don't like being bogged down by so many details. Enter Codex Alera, deep, involved, full of intrigue and oh so good! They're very character driven, which I think helps, you don't even realize how much is actually going on in the kingdom but at the same time you know everything. It's really hard to explain well. Just read them, it's worth it.

10. A Pirate's Love by Johanna Lindsey

I don't often get into romance novels a.k.a Granny Porn (as we like to call it) but I've read this one probably 5 or 6 times. I don't know what it is about it, but I just love it. 

Thanks for stopping by! Let me know what some of your favorite books are! We're always looking for new books to check out!

-Amanda

WWW Wednesdays (1)

WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

1) What are you currently reading?

Amanda

Since I can never just read one book at a time I'm currently reading:

      

Erin

2) What have you recently finished reading?

Amanda

This book was truly amazing, it reminds me of the Poison series by Maria V. Snyder (one of my all time favorite series) which just made me love it all the more.

Erin

I re-read this book because I finished the 5th book, Blood Moon, and just didn't want to leave the world yet.

3) What do you think you'll read next?

Amanda

I'm looking forward to reading this one since the first book was such an original take on zombies.

Erin

I have been waiting for this book to come out forever, and it finally did yesterday.

Happy 4th of July and thank you for stopping by!

-Tea for Three Team