Ohana Talks: Cover Changes

   There is one major thing book collectors tend to hate above others, when book covers change. There are many reasons why publishers end up making the decision to change them. A few being that the series is over and they want a new change, the cover isn't getting as much attention as they like and perhaps a movie is coming out based on the book so they decided to change it to have viewers connect both the movie and the book. But either way it frustrates readers.

   I as a reader, have a love & hate relationship with cover changes. Sometimes I believe the swap is for the best, the original cover is just not just enough to catch my eye but then there are times where the cover is utterly fabulous and they swap it out to mush or what relates to mush. I understand that they change for marketing purposes, but I think Publishings should get an opinion from readers before they swap them. The decisions the publishing makes is not always the best one.

An example:
                              

 

 

   The first two books in the Across the Universe series by Beth Revis were stunning, but when the third and finale book in the series was released all the books got a make over. Thus leaving the first two stunning book covers with out a matching third. ( Just FYI, I believe the UK cover of Shades of Earth matches the first two books if you're a collector or maybe desperate.)

   Another reason besides eye catchiness that frustrates readers, is if a series is not completed and a publishing change the covers then the reader is in a pickle. If they already owned the original set then they will never have a complete set of matching covers now because of the change, unless of course they go out and re-buy them all again. I've had this happen to me a few times already, with Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano and Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott. Sometimes I think that it's a con to buy the books again, but I'm not made of money so that won't be happening for a second time.

 

 

   From what I said above you can see why I think it's a love & hate relationship, everyone has their own opinions over the matter.
   I have collected a list of books and covers that have changed for you all, so I'll let you decide what you think about cover changes.

Note: Not all books in each series are shown, and that the cover go in order from when they were released, left to right. Right being the current cover you can purchase in stores.

The Arcana Chronicles by Kresley Cole

   

Lux Chronicles by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  

  

Study Series by Maria V. Snyder

   

   

 

The Blood of Eden by Julie Kagawa

   

Shatter Me Series by Tahereh Mafi

   

   How do you guys feel about cover changes? Do you love them or hate them? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter! 

Book Review: Salt & Stone by Victoria Scott

Release Date: February 24th, 2015

Read: January 13th-19th, 2015

Publisher: Scholastic

Series: Fire & Flood #2

Format: ARC, 304 pages

Source: Traded

Description from GoodReads:

    What would you do to save someone you love?

    In Fire & Flood, Tella Holloway faced a dangerous trek through the jungle and across the desert, all to remain a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed for a chance at obtaining the Cure for her brother. She can't quit--she has to win the race, save Cody, and then fight to make sure the race stops before it can claim any more lives. In the next legs of the race, across the ocean and over mountains, Tella will face frostbite, sharks, avalanche, and twisted new rules in the race.

    But what if the danger is deeper than that? How do you know who to trust when everyone's keeping secrets? What do you do when the person you'd relied on most suddenly isn't there for support? How do you weigh one life against another?

   The race is coming to an end, and Tella is running out of time, resources, and strength. At the start of the race there were one hundred twenty-two Contenders. As Tella and her remaining friends start the final part of the race, just forty-one are left--and only one can win.

Review:

   I'm a good horse, but I don't want to race anymore.
   I was first introduced to Victorias Scott when I read her first published book, The Collector. Then I went on to her sequel The Liberator. After the two I needed to get my hands on a copy of Fire & Flood, which is the first book in this series. Since then I've been hooked on her books. When ARCs were first sent out I just knew I had to get one, so I did. I'm so glad I did.
   Salt & Stone was remarkable, it has for sure become my favourite so far out of Victoria's books. Salt & Stone was so much more intense then Fire & Flood, with the world building and most of the characters introduced Victoria didn't have to waste anytime on it. She jumped right into the story, as you probably guessed they started off with Ocean in the third round of the games. I honestly didn't think you could get much out of them being stranded out in the middle of water, but obviously I was wrong.  Out of all the treks the people of the competition had to endure, I think this one might have been my favourite alongside the jungle.
   The Pandoras took a large part in this sequel, they helped their contenders more in this half then they did in the first. They were also a large subject to torture as well, but I won't say much there. Being the animal person I am, Victoria definitely kept playing at my heart from the beginning to the end of Salt & Stone. I need to see what happens to them now!
   Another larger part of Salt & Stone was that I found Tella to have a good character development. Throughout the book she was determined to not need to rely on Guy, where I was proud of her for it I kind of got annoyed every time she brought it up. It was practically all she would talk to Guy about, that's the feel I got anyhow.
   I completely understand why Kirkus gave Salt & Stone a starred review, because I feel the exact same way. I will be marching my way over to the bookstore as soon as the third book in the series releases, I just hope I can wait that long!

Rating:

Favourite Quote:

   "My nipples are frozen." ~ Harper

   "There is the fear of knowing when you're going to die, and then there's the horrifying, hell-on-earth fear of knowing you're about to be torn apart and eaten."  ~ Tella

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Adventure, Dystopian

Waiting on Wednesday (28)

Salt & Stone

Author: Victoria Scott
Fire & Flood #2

Scholastic Press
Expected: February 24th, 2015

Description from GoodReads:

   What would you do to save someone you love?

   In Fire & Flood, Tella Holloway faced a dangerous trek through the jungle and across the desert, all to remain a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed for a chance at obtaining the Cure for her brother. She can't quit--she has to win the race, save Cody, and then fight to make sure the race stops before it can claim any more lives. In the next legs of the race, across the ocean and over mountains, Tella will face frostbite, sharks, avalanche, and twisted new rules in the race.

   But what if the danger is deeper than that? How do you know who to trust when everyone's keeping secrets? What do you do when the person you'd relied on most suddenly isn't there for support? How do you weigh one life against another?

   The race is coming to an end, and Tella is running out of time, resources, and strength. At the start of the race there were one hundred twenty-two Contenders. As Tella and her remaining friends start the final part of the race, just forty-one are left--and only one can win.

Why I Want It:

   Victoria ended the first book in the series ( Fire & Flood) beautifully, leaving me wanting to know what happens next! I'm dying to know who will win! Or if something snaps and suddenly everything changes? I love Victoria's books starting with her Dante Walker series, everything of hers is gold. Gold I tell you.

Why You Should Want It:

   This series is another set of games that will somewhat resemble The Hunger Games, but let me tell you. The Fire & Flood series gives Hunger Games a run for its money. Fans of action, sci-fi and races will be tripping over their feet for this series! 

   That's my waiting on Wednesday for this week! Will you be picking up Salt & Stone? What are you waiting on this week? Let me know in the comments!

My First Blogiversary!

   One. Whole. Year.

   Oh my goodness how time has flown. Who would have thought I would have been blogging for a whole year? I sure didn't. When I first started blogging I would never have thought I'd have been so successful with everything, always posting, page views, blogger friends, actually getting ARCS. When I first started my blog, to be honest I only had one goal in mind, and that was to practice my writing skills.

   In 2010 when I first became obsessed with books, I couldn't get rid of the idea of having my own book published and on shelves in stores. Of course, my mom being a mom kept on telling me each day to practice writing. Being a procrastinator and a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to writing, I kept on putting it off. Eventually after some time my mom suggested starting a book blog, I decided to give it a chance. Now look where I am today!

   

   This year has been one of the most astounding years I've had in a while, not to mention one of the fastest. In the past year I started High School, I made a bunch of new friends in school and I've been always working and running my blog.

   When I first started my blog I thought I'd get maybe a few pages views a day. Little did I expect people would actually be interested in seeing what I post. 

   This is my break down for the year.

Over 60,000 page views

76 Published Comments

120 Total Posts

My Top Series Enders of 2013 being my most viewed post...at 2,713 views

14 Bloglovin Followers

11 GFC Followers 

522 Twitter Followers

75 Facebook likes

311 Instagram Followers

   While I obviously use some of my social media sites more often then others (*Cough* Twitter all day everyday. *Cough*)  I still think I've done pretty good otherwise.

   If there was one thing that I learned about blogging in the past year, it was that you couldn't do anything without the support of my fellow bloggers or who I now call friends. I wouldn't be who or where I am today without the following friends;

Stephanie @ Doodle's Book Reviews 

Crystal @ Crystal in Bookland

Jess @ Stuck in Books

Emily @ Tea & Fangirling

Matt @ That Crazy Fanboy

Jessica & Amber @ The Book Bratz

Stacie & Kayla @ A Wonderland of Reading

Meredith @ Pandora's Books

Emma @ Awkwardly Emma

Regina @ The Sunflower Pages

And a few others that I didn't mention!

   Along with meeting all these fabulous bloggers I also joined a few street teams which also helped me meet so many people! I even made my own street team with a few people, and let me tell you being apart of these teams is like being apart of a family.

   Along with Stephanie (Doodle's Book Reviews), Matt ( That Crazy Fanboy), Kira, Eli and Krystan. We started out little group on Twitter, and since we are always talking, books, movies, everything. These people are some of my favourite people to talk too, and I'm definitely glad I meet them this year. Like I said above, we are one big Gummy Bear Family.

Other Street Team's I joined :

(I have a few other, I just don't have any buttons for them. Check out my Street Team page for more info)

    I also got to meet many different authors and become great friends with them along the way, online and in person.

Highlights of Ohana Reads 2014:

   Everyone has their own highlights of the year, mine just happen to narrow down to 3 particular events.

1. Requesting ARC's for the very first time and actually being accepted and having them come in the mail. ( Burning Kingdoms by Lauren DeStefano & Eternal by C.C Hunter)

2. Getting an ARC of Diamonds in the Rough by Michelle Madow in the mail and discovering my name in the acknowledgements page. This event was one of the best events of 2014, having my name in a book was apart of a dream of mine and to have it fulfilled was heart whelming. I cried. 

3. Finally going to YALLFest 2014, since I became a book nerd I'd only had one author come to Winnipeg, and that was Kelley Armstrong. I have no problems with that, but I would have loved another chance at meeting authors. So when YALLFest finally come around, I was in heaven. Having meet some of my bookish idols was incredible. Then being able to be in my zone with hundred of other book people, I couldn't have been happier. 

Goals for 2015:

   2014 for me was the year of buying books (Oops) so hopefully 2015 will be the year of actually reading them. So you could say that that'll be my goal for 2015, to catch up on my reading from last year.  Another goal of mine for 2015 is to actually find a blog layout that I like, as you can see I'm still messing with the designs and such, so hopefully I'll find something that is right for me.


  2014 was way better then I could have ever asked for, and I hope to that 2015 will be just as great and maybe better. Without everyone that's helped me out throughout the year I definitely wouldn't be here today. From Jess helping me get set up last year and answering all my questions ( Girl you are my absolute favourite, thank you for all your help. I heart you.) to having all my friends on Twitter help me whenever I needed it. Thank you all so much, you don't understand how much it means to me that you guys are always there for me. Thanks again.


   To end my post, and say a finally thank you I have a giveaway for you all.

   Today's giveaway I have for you, is for 2 Compulsion by Martina Boone book pendants along with a bunch of Heir's of Watson Island book swag to go with it! The reason I picked Compulsion for my giveaway is because I am apart of her street team! So I thought I'd share my love for the team and book here!

Rules:

-Ohana Reads Giveaway Policies apply. (Check out the policies page)

-Open to US/CA only. (Sorry INT. peeps I'm broke!)

- Giveaway runs from January 3rd, 2015 to January 17th, 2015 12:00am

- Examples of my book pendants can be seen in my Book Jewellery page.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

   Check out Twitter for another Ohana Reads Blogiversary Giveaway!  (Link)

   Once again I'd like you thank you all for making 2014 so wonderful and welcoming Ohana Reads and I with loving arms. I hope you'll stick with us for another year and see what 2015 brings us!