Heist Society - Ally Carter

US                                                      Australian/UK

Interested in what Ally Carter has to say about her cover story? Clicky :)

Kat Bishop wants to leave the family business. But that's not easy if your family are a gang of exclusive, world-class thieves...

When a mobster accuses Kat's dad of stealing his priceless art collection, Kat knows there's only one thing to do - she has to find the paintings and steal them back. But with only two weeks, a teenage crew, a plan that will take her across Europe, and her dad's life on the line, can she pull off the biggest heist in history? (from back cover)

Heist Society is like reading Ocean's Eleven but with a rag tag bunch of teens (including best friend hottie, glamour girl and geektastastic nerds). It's actually already been optioned for a film and I can see why.

Not only is the plot intricate with a glamorous setting, but the writing is really a cut above. I loved the sophisticated tone and intelligent humour that amused me from the first chapter. Even with teenage protags, it doesn't necessarily have a YA feel about it. It's in third person POV, mostly from Kat, sometimes bordering on omniscient.

Kat is the funkiest of main characters, spunky and determined, yet you see glimpses of insecurity that make her real and her motivations complex. In particular, I loved her dialogue. I wish I had connected to her a smidgen more though.

Ally Carter knows how to keep the pace cracking with plot twists and clever foreshadowing. Add an eccentric but eeevil villain who continually ups the stakes and a puzzling and complex climax and you have an impressive book that it just plain fun.

Confessions:

• Occasionally, I got lost with the plot, haha. I think I don't have the brain of a criminal and I floundered every now and then keeping track of the players. Probably b/c the pacing is pretty hard-core. I am a fan of fast-paced plots, so bring it on anyway :)
• I wanted to see more of Hale (Kat's best friend who is ever so cool and hot in the very best of ways). I'm wondering if it's the first in a series...
• I didnt think it would be so well written. Continually startled by the intelligent wit and smooth narration. Some of it reminded me of Adult Fiction author Jeffrey Archer's style, who writes cleverly with foreshadowing and double-crossing and characters who spark with wit and high IQ's...

Conclusion: I gave it three and a half stars. Me & my ratings, it's a complex thing...
It's definitely got the making of a 5 star book, plot so brilliant, writing so unique and intriguing. So, basically, my three and a half stars hovers between I liked it and I really liked it. It's not a fave b/c I mostly love character driven books, and this is is mostly plot. Occasionally, my brain hurt figuring it out, LOL . However, I'll be reading more of Ally Carter for sure as she has talent (like, whoah) and I think this book brings something unique to the YA scene. And, when I see other 5 star reviews, yeah, I think it deserves it, b/c if this premise appeals to you, you wouldn't find much better than this...

Recommended if you like mystery and action and fast-paced round-the-world double crossing crime scene showdowns. If this sounds like your kind of thing you should definitely read the first chapter here. It showcases Ally Carter's beautiful writing and starts with intelligence and intrigue :)

Oh! Oh! The covers? Which one's your fave?

I think they're both stand outs and pretty brilliant. I'll confess that I became quite attached to my copy while reading it, so I'm choosing the Australian as my fave, but I have a feeling I will be in the minority...

Hi 5 - Five Book Titles I'm Crushing On

A meme hosted by Cara @Chasing Words, Anne @Potter, Percy and I and me @inkcrush...

In which we feature our hi 5 picks for a different YA topic every Saturday and you join in with our Mister Linky doodad.


This weeks topic: Any book title you just love like wow. 
Book titles that are just so cool you wish you'd thought of them first or ones that beg for you to pick them up and read them... 

Guitar Highway Rose 

Three random nouns! Bring it on. I just adore this title. There's a guitar, and a highway, and the chick is named Rose. Saying this title just feels good, it's a bit elusive and original. Also, hippie :) 

The Sky Always Hears Me and the Hills Don't Mind

I love the voice in this. I'm instantly a fan of the sky and the hills seem quite phlegmatic.

I Capture the Castle

There's a castle, and there's some capturing. And it's in present tense, which gives it a quirky little feel. Also, slightly whimsical. I want the castle.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Seriously, best most evocative image-inducing title. And, then, when you realise its about a forest full of Zombies... OooOooh. Even my book shop lady had a little shiver over this one.

What I Saw and How I Lied

This one gets you mad curious about the book based on the title alone. 
I want to know what went down...

Author Michelle Hodgkin names a bunch of titles that make her drool in a nifty cool post.


Now...da da dum... what are five titles you're crushing on? Link your blog post below and we'll be around to check it out. And, ah, you don' have to leave a comment, haha :)

The Low Down on the Hi 5

So, I've teamed up with two of the best to bring you guys a brand new meme. *drumroll*

First, meet Anne and Cara:

Anne blogs @ Potter, Percy and I. She's 12, sweet but funky and will give you the low down on all things MG and YA from the POV of a real live pre-teen :)

Cara from Chasing Words is 16, slightly cynical and all the way rockin' it out with the cool factor.

Five Facts

1. Last book you bought/ordered?

Anne: I preordered Linger a few weeks ago from the Book Depo. It wasn’t released until the 20th (even though it had been moved up), so I still haven’t gotten it!!! :(
Cara:  I actually had a buying spree (Well, it was a spree to me.) and bought Linger, The Alchemyst, & The Secret Hour. Alright, so it's technically not a spree.
Nomes: The Body Finder. Pre-order, paperback. Now, I’m suddenly noticing everyone raving and November feels like a crazy way away.

2. Favourite snack to eat while reading?

Anne: Anything. I don’t typically eat while reading unless its a really good book.
Cara: Anything within arm's reach that doesn't move when I poke it.
Nomes: Chips are the ultimate. Chupa-chups, mmm. Never chocolate - too risky for the hallowed pages.

3. Favourite childhood book

Anne: When I was little, I loved Babar and Angelina Ballerina. Then I moved on to Magic Tree House, Junie B. Jones, etc.
Cara: Are You My Mother? Seriously, that book rocks. I made my mom read it to me every night until I was six. She hated it. (;
Nomes: My dad used to read Little Black Sambo to me like he was auditioning for an Academy award. I was a Blyton-aholic and tried to be cool by reading lots of TinTin around my big brother and his mates.

4. Favourite comfort re-read

Anne: Any Harry Potter. Or Percy Jackson... Or Beautiful Creatures. Or any other book I love.
Cara: The Mortal Instruments series. I love the characters so much that I slip right back into the story every time. Also, The Sky is Everywhere.
Nomes: Jaclyn Moriarty’s Finding Cassie Crazy (The Year of secret Assignments). It’s like a drug, that book.

5. First literary crush

Anne:... None that pop into mind...
Cara: I’ll admit it, Jasper from Twilight. God he’s so angsty.
Nomes: confessions of a past seven year old... Julian from the Famous Five. I know, hindsight clearly shows Dick’s the spunkiest brother :)

Fast Five

1. Pirates or ninjas?

Anne: Ninjas. You don’t even know they’re there until you’re dead! How awesome is that??!!
Cara: Seriously. Ninjas are made of win, while pirates walk about making chainsaw noises.
Nomes: Pirates. Ninja’s prance about in poncy outfits and their stealth has nothing on a swash-buckling treasure-hunting lifestyle.

2. Zombie Apocalypse or Alien Armageddon?

Anne: Zombie Apocolypse. Aliens usually come in peace.
Cara: Zombie Apocalypse! You could not have picked a more perfect question if you pulled it out of my head. I literally own a Zombie Apocalypse survival guide. It's gonna happen.
Nomes: Zombieeeesss. I will create my own sisterhood. You can join me. Conditions apply.

3. Gale or Peeta?

Anne:  Never read them! (I know, I know. I’m a disgrace! Hahahahaha! I’ll read them soon!)
Cara:  I say, "Down with Dough Boy!" Nah, Peeta's okay. Gale's just better. (;
Nomes: Peeta sulks. Gale broods. Brooding wins out any day.  

4. Flight or invisibilty?

Anne: I want both! Flight would be best, though.
Cara:  Invisibility. Do you realize how much fun I could have. [insert evil laugh here]
Nomes: Flight. Also, kinda wishing teleportation or time-travel was an option.

5. Rough it out camping or 5 star hotel?

Anne: 5 star hotel all the way.
Cara: I’d go Harry Potter camping. Ya know, where the tent is the size of a mansion?
Nomes: Camping! There’s something about a campfire that makes even the stupidest conversations somehow noble and profound.

And the meme? Each Saturday we'll be posting out top five YA picks for a specific topic. And, you guys can join in by posting your 5 picks and linking in with the Mr Linky. We'll let you know the upcoming weeks topic in advance.

So, pretty pumped about finding the Awesome Anne (even though she hasn't read The Hunger Games yet!) and Cara (the closet Jasper fan) and for the meme, which launces today for me. I'll be back with our first topic soon: 5 titles I'm crushing on...

xx

And tell me I have some fellow pirates out there? 

Cover Art and Graphic Hamlet

Check out a sneak peek @ the soon to be released graphic novel of Hamlet. Awesome, yeah? (Photo courtesy of Alien Onion)

I'm digging it. It's from Melbourne author/illustrator/lawyer Nicki Greenberg, who sold her first series, The Digits, when she was fifteen (& sold more than 380,000 copies).

Speaking of illustrators...

Jason Chan the guy who illustrated the UK/Australian cover of The Hunger Games also illustrated:

Katniss for The Hunger Games

Katniss and Peeta

Eyes Like Stars for Lisa Mantchev

Perchance to Dream - for Lisa Mantchev

For Book of the Order by Phillipa Ballantyne
Makes me think of Nya from Janice Hardy's The Shifter

The Girl Who Could Fly for Victoria Forester

And... Star Wars Rebellion Era Campaign Guide
Love it!

Personally, I love illustrated book covers, especially ones by Jason Chan who is just whoah-talented.

xx

Nomes (and, thank God it's Friday night! Whoo Hoo!)

Twenty Two International Covers for The Hunger Games

Cover Comparison Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Bailey @ Abyss
This week: Twenty different covers of the Hunger Games


US

This is clean and iconic and I think it works for marketing the series logo-style, but there's really nothing about it that makes me want to read the book. Don't hate! :)

UK/Australian

I have Katniss on mine, but it has the design on the left with the target frame and bullet holes. I think the target and bullet holes is only on the Aussie editions, so I think it has a slight edge over the UK. I like this cover, I think it's by far the best out of the three Australian editions for the series.

I bought this one for a friend... kinda wanted to keep it for myself though. It flips out, so you can choose your own cover. See below :)

Each character card has stats on it:

Katniss: District 12. Main Skills - Archery, Trapping, Hunting

Peeta: District 12. Main Skills - wrestling, camouflage, hand-to-hand combat

I wish there was picture of Gale though ;)

Taiwan

This has a sense of urgency about it.

I love the light and shade in the logo, pretty dynamic.

China

A kind of muted Taiwanese version. Hmm...

Denmark

This one looks a bit wobbly. Like the scene is made out of play-doh.

I think the full moon and the font is meant to give it a slightly creepy sense of doom and foreboding.

Germany

I love this one. Blood on the leaves = my kind of thing :)

The green eye is just hypnotic. I keep staring at it.

Italian

This looks like a paranormal creature gone wrong. 

Hiding in a dark dark giant cabbage.

Japanese

I love the Japanese. Characters are all video game avatars, LOL.

I mean, check out Katniss', ah, assets!

And Peeta! Savage warrior god FTW!

Romania

I love this one. Katniss is my hero.

And she's a hot little thing.

Russian

While I think the guy here is a great match for Peeta, and the image is evocative and slightly luminous - I know for a fact my husband would not want to be seen carrying this book around. Maybe Russian guys would still pick this up? ;)

Also, is it just me, or is Peeta's chest slightly girlishly raised? :)

Sweden

She looks a bit like she's sinking into a watery grave or something? haha.

Here's covers that are a variation of the US. They all are kind of the same thing, really...

Bulgaria

Greek

Korean

Spanish

Turkish

Dutch

Brazilian

So, which one has you chuckling gushing? 
Give a shout out to your fave :)

And... next week - Catching Fire Covers. OooOooh :)

Also, check out the ever-so-divine Bailey's comparisons on The Hunger Games

EDIT: 2 more editions

Russia version 2

Sweden - Paperback

Tomorrow When the War Began - Brand new trailer SQUEEEE!!!!! And a tragic discovery...

Here's the newest trailer. And it is so awesome I don't even know what to say (!)

Check out how hot the Aussie accent is ;)



In other news...

Last night I was hunting around the house for my copy of Tomorrow. The Husband (Pete) took it with him to South Africa. In case he needed some extra excitement on his trip, you know. And I may or may not have been forcibly gently recommending he re-read it before the movie hits.

I scavenged for a bit. Couldn't find it. Asked Pete (who had been oh-so-passively watching me search for it)

Pete (eventually): 'I left it in South Africa'
Hahahaha. What a joker.
Me: No. Seriously, where is it?
I try to crack his poker face.
His eyes are so solemn.
He blinks and stares and blinks and stares.
Me: Damn. You did not.

Tragic story short.
It is gone. He *thinks* it was left on a plane, somewhere, maybe... 'but,' he added optimistically, 'I read the first two chapters. It was really good.'
a) I hope the person who found it can read
b) I hope they can read English
c) They better flipping love it because...

I cruised around my book sites, to order another copy. It's been reprinted 16 times (!) and I want a cool cover, you know. Because I'm shallow like that.

I jump on Ebay and, did I mention he took my first edition hardcover? Well, there it sits for *drumroll* $695.

Whoah. Seriously?

I think I'll have to just pick up a regular-like one. Sigh.

Tell me you love the trailer.
Tell me your thoughts are with me.

xx

YA Movie News

Follow this link for the latest in movie news including status updates, links to sites/trailers and release dates for:

Kevin (Lincoln Lewis) and Fi on set @
Tomorrow When the War Began

• Tomorrow When the War Began - John Marsden
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J K Rowling
• Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer
• The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
• If I Stay - Gayle Forman
• Shiver - Maggie Stiefvater
• The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones - Cassandra Clare
• Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead

And these movies are currently in development:

• Wake by Lisa McMann - Miley Cyrus has scored the leading role.
• Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (Warner Bros)
• Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (Universal Pictures)
• Fallen by Lauren Kate (Disney)
• Wings by Aprilynne Pike - again, Miley has the leading role (Disney)
• The Book Theif by Marcus Zusac (20th Century Fox)

Which of these movies are you most pumped about?

My top four most anticipated:
#1 Tomorrow When the War began (SQUEEE!!!)
#2 The Hunger Games
#3 If I Stay
#4 The Book Thief

And, while not a huge fan of the books, I think Wings and Wicked Lovely will make stunning movies.

I just had to  make this poster large size because of it's general awesomeness.
Sorry if it overwhelms you, haha :)