Deja Vu Thursday #6

Deja Vu Thursday is a weekly post that I am starting on my blog. It focuses on similar book covers, may it be design, cover model, etc. It's like seeing doubles! And, let's face it, midweek, everyone feels like they are loosing their mind anyway.

image link

The first picture is the actual book cover of "Chosen" the third book in the HoN series. The one to the right is what's called a stock photo. Cover artists buy the photo's and their rights to it from either individual photographers or companies like ShutterStock. When they have the photo's they usually use software like PhotoShop to manipulate the photo in a way they (the cover artist) sees suitable for the cover and the image they have in mind. In this particular cover, they replaced the cross for the half-moon symbol of Nix that creates the necklace of the Dark Daughters in the book.

Chosen by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Dark forces are at work at the House of Night and fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird’s adventures at the school take a mysterious turn. Those who appear to be friends are turning out to be enemies. And oddly enough, sworn enemies are also turning into friends. So begins the gripping third installment of this “highly addictive series” (Romantic Times), in which Zoey’s mettle will be tested like never before. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling to maintain a grip on her humanity. Zoey doesn’t have a clue how to help her, but she does know that anything she and Stevie Rae discover must be kept secret from everyone else at the House of Night, where trust has become a rare commodity. Speaking of rare: Zoey finds herself in the very unexpected and rare position of having three boyfriends. Mix a little bloodlust into the equation and the situation has the potential to spell social disaster. Just when it seems things couldn’t get any tougher, vampyres start turning up dead. Really dead. It looks like the People of Faith, and Zoey’s horrid step-father in particular, are tired of living side-by-side with vampyres. But, as Zoey and her friends so often find out, how things appear rarely reflects the truth…

Waiting on Wednesday: Darkness Before Dawn

Author: J.A. London (website)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 20, 2012
Synopsis:

The war is over. The humans lost. And in the shattered world that arises, the vampires are king. They rule over the remaining walled cities with an iron fist, none more terrifying than Lord Valentine. His concern is with blood and blood alone, and seeing that it is ‘donated’ on time.
It’s Dawn Montgomery’s duty to ensure the safety of her fellow humans within the city, but also to serve as Delegate to Lord Valentine. She is the conduit between the two worlds, the human and vampire, and the youngest to ever do so.
But when Lord Valentine’s son, Victor, steps into her life, everything changes. She assumes he wants her blood, like all vampires. But he’s after more: her heart.






* Awesome cover and it sounds like a very interesting vampire book.  Adding to me "to-read" pile of books :)
**Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event is hosted by Breaking the Spine to share upcomming releases we are eagerly waiting for :)

Waiting on Wednesday: Destined

Author:  P.C. + Kristin Cast
Publisher RazorBill
Release date: October 25, 2011
Synopsis:

In Destined, the forces of Light and Dark collide as their epic struggle focuses on Tulsa’s House of Night. Zoey is home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side – and preparing to face off against Neferet. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx’s gift of a human form, he and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together – if Rephaim can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father’s shadow.

But is Zoey really safe? Does she truly know those who are closest to her? And will love win when it is tested by the very soul of Darkness? Find out what’s destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series.

*Maybe I should reread and review Marked soon :) But for now, I'll just stare at this cover for a bit....

**Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event is hosted by Breaking the Spine to share upcomming releases we are eagerly waiting for :)

Waiting on Wednesday: Bloodlines

Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: RazonBill
Release date: August 23, 2011
Synopsis:

I wasn't free of my past, not yet.

Sydney’s blood is special. That’s because she’s an alchemist—one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of human and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives. But the last encounter Sydney had with vampires got her in deep trouble with the other alchemists. And now with her allegiances in question, her future is on the line.

When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she’s still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir RoseHathaway. But what unfolds is far worse.  Jill Dragomir—the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir—is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill’s guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the unlikeliest of places—a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathizing with vampires. And now she has to live with one.

The Moroi court believe Jill and Sydney will be safe at Amberwood Prep, but threats, distractions, and forbidden romance lurk both outside—and within—the school grounds. Now that they’re in hiding, the drama is only just beginning.

*Plus, here is a link to the book trailer and first four chapters :D Right Here

**Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event is hosted by Breaking the Spine to share upcomming releases we are eagerly waiting for :)

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Title: Vampire Academy (first in the series)
Author: Richelle Mead (her website)
Release: August 2007
Synopsis:

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond to the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest and most dangerous vampires--the ones who never die.

The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a Dhampir; she is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making her one of them.

After two years of illicit freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. Rose will continue her Dhampir education. Lissa will go back to being Queen of the elite Moroi social scene. And both girls will resume breaking hearts.

Fear made Lissa and Rose run away from St. Vladimir's--but their world is fraught with danger both inside and out of the Academy's iron gates. Here, the cutthroat ranks of the Moroi perform unspeakable rituals and their secretive nature and love of the night creates an enigmatic world full of social complexities. Rose and Lissa must navigate through this dangerous world, confront the temptation of forbidden romance, and never once let their guard down, lest the Strigoi make Lissa one of them forever...


Review:


In my first order of business, I would like to say: I loved every second of this book. Who cares if vampire novels are burnt out? This book will have you take a different view on the whole "oh, look another vampire book" thought that's probably, most likely running through your brain at this very moment. Richelle Mead takes alot of what you think about vampires and throws it out the window (and I mean that in the most positive and honest way I can). I've heard of evil vampires and half vampires and half vampires that kill the evil vampires... well and to be honest we have all heard of "good" vampires (coughTwilightcough). But all at the same time? With awesome elemental powers or the good ones? Raise your hand if you have heard of that, because I haven't. It's good to see some more original vampire stories for once. Speaking of originality, I love the government set up she created for the moroi with the royals and the dhampir being guardians that keep the moroi safe from strigoi.
Now, moving on to characters. Rose Hathaway: a sarcastic, flirty, funny, smart-mouthed dhampir teen who, despite her wild nature, will let no harm come to her best friend. I think what i like most about Rose, other than her extremely sarcastic wit, is how strong she is. And not just physically. She could face down accusations and humiliation without shedding a tear in public and she knows how to push everything aside for Lissa. Speaking of Lissa... I like Lissa's character, despite her many weaknesses. She's kind, caring, sweet and charismatic, but looks are deceiving. Underneath all that adorable mask, Lissa is scared and unstable. Also, she, like Rose, will make sure nothing harms her best friend, and if someone does... well, let's just say you don't want to do that. 
Then there's Dimitri and Christian... well, I'll leave that to you to discover more about them.
Again, moving on. The story line was exciting from beginning to end, you always had something to keep you entertained, whether it be, romance, drama, action, jealousy, sarcastic remarks, or evil interference. Those aspects were nearly always there. I bet your wondering, "Evil interference? What?", well I won't spoil that for anyone. All you need to know is someone/thing is after Lissa. And it's not till the end that you discover how, why and to what extent they will go to just to get her.
So, if by now you haven't picked up on how much I love this book, i'll say it one more time. Vampire Academy is bomb! I would definitely recommend this book to any YA reader, actually, if I had a Must Read List to hand out to people, this would be on the top. In fact... I might just do that, at lesast once I get more entires and stuff on this blog.
Anyway, remember, vampires are not all what you think :). I am sure this book will captivate many of you so don't be hesitante in reading it, you won't regret it.

P.S. my Twilight comment above was not meant to be a bad thing, all you Twilight fans, I happened to be a Twilight fan and I am proud!