Mundie Moms

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Book Review: Burn Mark by Laura Powell


Published by: Bloomsbury Teens
Released on: June 19th, 2012
Source: Bought
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Glory is from a family of witches and lives beyond the law. She is desperate to develop her powers and become a witch herself. Lucas is the son of the Chief Prosecutor for the Inquisition—the witches’ mortal enemy—and his privileged life is very different to the forbidden world that he lives alongside.


And then on the same day, it hits them both. Glory and Lucas develop the Fae—the mark of the witch. In one fell stroke, their lives are inextricably bound together, whether they like it or not . . . quoted from Goodreads

Burn Mark intrigued me a few different levels. First there's the catchy cover followed by the synopsis. Those two alone made me want to pick this book up and read it. Two, Laura Powell's witches aren't based on the well know Salem Witch Trials. Set in the UK, her witches have ties to similar witch trials that have gone on through out the world, as well as through out history and most notably the trials that continue in Africa today. Last, I was intrigued with both of the book's MC's history and their family ties. Glory hails from a long line of powerful witches and Lucas comes from a well known family of Prosecutors, who put the Witches on trail. Given their differences, I wanted to know what their ties were together and how the heck these two were going to work through their becoming Witches.

I love a good Witch book, and I felt this one had the makings to be just that. I enjoy a book that's rich in lore, is believable and has intriguing characters that make me want to keep reading their story to learn more about them. Burn Mark has this, but there was something about the way the story was delivered that made it very hard for me to get into it. The story starts off really slow, which I understood way. There was a need to introduce both characters, and give readers a little glimpse into the lives they both live, and the family life they both hail from, but despite that, the story never really picked up for me. No matter how much I tried to get into it, I felt the plot fell flat for me. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the history and the research that went into this story, because I did. I just needed something more than what I go out of the Glory and Lucas's story, and I can't even tell you exactly what it was that I needed.

Character wise, both Glory and Lucas are good characters. I was surprised over how much I liked Lucas. He's a character who was born into wealth and privilege and I loved that those things didn't define who he was. He wasn't cocky and didn't allow those things to go to his head. I really admired him and his strong belief in being true to himself and standing up for what he feels is right. He was a strong solid character with outstanding morals, and someone I felt does the best he can in the situations he finds himself in. Glory is also a strong character in her own right. She stands up for herself, and she doesn't stop in her quest for answers. She's a solid character, and like Lucas, I admired her strength, but in the end I didn't connect with either of like I had hoped to. 

Overall this is a book that had a few things I liked about it, but not enough for me to really enjoy it like I had wanted to. I don't know if that's due to a combination of things I had going on during the time I spent reading this book, or if this is a book that really wasn't meant for me. Just because I didn't love the book, doesn't mean someone else won't. If you're in the mood for a Witch story that has a creative spin on Witch lore, and includes a touch of magic I'd recommend giving it a try.


Be sure to catch some fabulous reviews and other posts during the Burn Mark Blog Tour!

Latest YA News

Really this post should be called Cover Love, because this week's news is for some recent cover reveals that were posted this past week. First, TMI fans this one is for you!



Shadowhunters & Downworlders, A Mortal Instruments Reader, is an upcoming release from Smart Pop Books out this coming January. Edited by Cassie herself, this book will be given away in ARC form at this summer's Comic Con! Be sure to stop by the Smart Pop Books booth #4300 during the week of July 12th-15th! 


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Check out these awesome covers to some of next year's most anticipated books (as well as this years):




Hollywood Crush had the honor of unveiling Tahereh Mafi's Unravel Me, the sequel to Shatter Me this week. I LOVED the original cover to Shatter Me, but I'm really starting to dig the new covers. Per Hollywood Crush, "speaking of Warner: Don't miss the digital novella, "Destroy Me," (out in October) that offers a scary-sexy peek inside the mind of the man who tried to claim Juliette for his own...and that might just have you rethinking how you want this story to end.)" Don't worry, I won't be missing that! I'm all over the scary-sexy peek inside Warner's mind.... 


Brodi Ashton revealed the cover for her sequel, due out early next year (2013) here on her blog. She's also offering an ARC of EVERBOUND to one lucky winner! Be sure to enter HERE. I can't wait to read this!!!


The Eve Trilogy revealed this AWESOME cover, RISE, which is the 3rd book in Anna's Eve series. Again, I love what Harper Teen has done with this series's covers. I'm a huge sucker for series covers that go together and are a perfect match for the story, which I think these are. Look for RISE to be out next year!




I LOVE this series covers, okay I could say that about most of the series posted on here. I feel like these covers are perfect fit for this series. Kelly revealed her cover, The Rising, which is book 3 in her series, along with a giveaway (which has already ended) on her blog. The Rising will be out in 2013. 


Harlequin Teen revealed the title of book #2 in Julia Kagawa's Blood of Eden series, ETERNITY CODE! This book is the sequel for The Immortal Rules, and will be released in 2013! You can find out more at BloodofEden.com


DANG! Check out all those covers, title releases and news. Talk about some must have books. I can't wait to read each of these. Have a great weekend!

Giveaway Winners!

Congratulations to the following WINNERS:


Tempest Unleashed by Tracy Deebs:
#11- Jessica



That Summer by Sarah Dessen:
Per the giveaway rules, only the 1st comment made by those who entered was counted towards the giveaway, and my comments were not included into the comment count. 

#152- Danielle
#80- Kristen
#7- Ginger



30 Days of Daemon Blog Tour: Signed copy of Obsidian
#242- Faviola T


Winners 1-3 are listed. Per the giveaway, Winner #1 has their choice of 10 books, winner #2 5 books and winner #3 2 books.
#1 (#16)- Emily S
#2 (#125)- Paula C
#3 (#71)- Michelle B



#77- Shauna B



#125- Stephanie O


Want by Stephanie Lawton:
#685- Nikki




Timepiece Blog Tour:
#11- Ariadna



All the winners listed above have been notified via email and have 48 hrs to reply back, or a new winner(s) will be drawn. 

Thank you to everyone who entered! Please be sure to visit my right hand side bar for the list of current giveaways going on. 

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