"Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her... beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing... it's taken away. All of it. The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.But there is a cost.The Keeper likes to keep things.Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late." I haven't read a book like this in a long time — a true fairy tale-esque story. Yes I've read loads of fantasy and paranormal books, but it's been forever since I've felt complete transported back in time to a land of princesses and magic. The audiobook was extremely helpful with this particular book in regards to setting the scene and the atmosphere of the fairy tale. The narrator was superb and excellently pulled off that "In a land far away" type of voice. As for the plot — I did have a few frustrations. There are twelve little princesses — TWELVE! I found this a bit excessive and they all kind of mushed into one princess by the middle of the book. I just don't understand why it was necessary to have TWELVE princesses. Even now, after reading the book, I only remember Azalea, Bramble, and Clover as actually having a personality. I understand that Dixon wanted to illustrate that Azalea was the "mother figure" and that she had a lot on her plate — but honestly, with twelve sisters to remember I had a lot on MY plate! I was also bothered by the triviality of the main concern of this story — dancing. Now, I love to dance and I never sit out a dance (not even on my wedding night!) but really, if your life basically goes down the toilet and (I'll just say it because I think we can all assume it's going to happen) your mother dies I feel like you're going to be a bit more concerned about other things than dancing. I found this preoccupation with the hobby a bit repetitive and unbelievable. Wow. That sounds really negative. I don't mean it to be because in reality I enjoyed this audiobook. It was a great listen while walking the dog and I looked forward to those walks because of it. Those two slight annoyances were just that... annoyances. They never ruined the book for me and they didn't (obviously) make me stop listening. I enjoyed Azalea's character although some of her actions may have made me doubt her intelligence (but really, what damsel in distress do you NOT doubt the intelligence?). She was likable and headstrong and she really did have her sisters' best interests at heart. I loved the two main love interests (and the surprising third) and I especially enjoyed the King. Random point — I felt like there were three different times this book could have ended besides the actual ending. When listening to an audiobook you can't necessarily "see" the end so this was a bit confusing (when all of the tracks are downloaded so you aren't dealing with CDs) and I actually had to go into my iPod option on my phone to make sure I was on the right track. In short, had I attempted to read this book rather than listen to it I'm not sure if I would have been able to stick to it simply because it is harder to get used to this entirely different atmosphere and scene. The narrator did a fantastic job of whisking me away to this far away land whenever I put my ear phones in. The plot, while centered around the repetitive concept of the love of dancing, did actually fit the feeling of the book and the characters, who melded into a three characters (Azalea, Bramble, Clover, little sisters), were likable and fit well into this fairy tale-esque world that Dixon has created. I enjoyed the audiobook and recommend it to any reader looking to return to a world of gowns, princesses, magic, and dancing. -Visit Heather around the web here: Website | Goodreads -BUY THE BOOK: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble | Nook
To the FTC, with love: Library Loan Audiobook recommended by Michelle at Hooked to Books
As part of Wedding Week (I'M MARRIED), today we are featuring Lorren from The Story Girl! ************************** Hello everyone! I am so grateful to Miss Remmers' Review for the chance to revisit my own little fairy tale. Our story began very simply. I was locked out of my apartment, and when I went to visit my friend, I found out she was hanging out with some guys at their apartment. They invited me to come over and I spent the evening playing Scattergories with my friend and the two men that we would each end up marrying. For the rest of the summer I hung out with them, although I was dating someone else at the time. As I got to know "The Husband" better, I learned more and more things that I liked about him. While he is a goofy and fun-loving guy, he had a very deep and empathetic part of his personality that intrigued me and I found myself growing interested. He and I were each in relationships with other people, but those relationships ended at roughly the same time and in a similar way. We ended up spending more and more time together, at first discussing our broken hearts but later switching to getting to know each other better. After months of hanging out, texting songs to each other, and tentative dates, we finally became official and had our first kiss under mistletoe that he slyly hung above my door (of course, when he called me to come out I was in sweats and make-up-less, but we'll just focus on the romance part).
After an amazing five months (yes, I know) of dating, we both decided it was time to make a further commitment and get married. While I was terrified at the thought of choosing someone to be with for the rest of my life, I knew that his personality, values, and sense of humor were exactly what I wanted and needed. He popped the question on May 29, 2010 at Municipal Pier in San Francisco. I basically giggled through the proposal — I was so excited and I couldn't believe that I was actually getting married. I loved that he proposed in San Francisco because now it will be our special romantic spot for the rest of our lives.
After some deliberation, we decided to get married on August 17, 2010. Because we were each in school and didn't want to deal with moving in the middle of the semester or trying to hurriedly get married over Christmas break, we decided a short engagement was the best route to take. The date also had sentimental value for us — August 17 is "The Husband's" parents' wedding anniversary, and we were married in the same place my parents were married. Despite high amounts of stress before the wedding, August 17 was as perfect as I could have hoped for. My dress was a gown I'd seen in a catalogue before my wedding, and jokingly told my friends I would buy if I ever got married. I was so excited that I was actually wearing it! I had The Husband's niece and my sister as bridesmaids and The Husband's younger nieces as flower girls. We were married at 10:30 am in the Boise, Idaho Temple (I grew up in Boise and my family still lives there). We believe the marriage ceremony in the temple links us together as a family for life and after death, so it was a very special and spiritual experience. We were lucky to have our families there with us (The Husband's family kindly traveled all the way from California to be there) and several of our close friends from Utah also made the trip. Almost everyone we loved was there, and we couldn't have been happier!
That evening, we had our reception at a golf course near my parents' house. My mom and her best friend had set up everything just how I imagined it, with chinese lanterns and white flowers everywhere. The food was also exactly what I'd always wanted to have at my wedding — a chocolate fountain and amazing chocolate truffles that my grandma and aunt had spent the weekend crafting by hand. The best part by far, though, was the dancing! The Husband and I had been to so many receptions where the bride and groom just waited in a line and greeted all their guests. We did this for the first hour of the reception, but after that everyone got out and danced. I was almost sorry when the DJ called out that it was time to go and I had to hurry and change into my get-away dress... until I realized that now I could leave on my honeymoon with my handsome prince.
In my mind, everything was perfect, not because every aspect of the wedding pulled together flawlessly, but because I was surrounded by people I loved and was so happy with the person I was marrying. Our cake did turn out kind of ugly, my shoes did get ruined when the heel sunk into the mud, and my mother and I were nervous wrecks up until the day before the wedding. However, on the day of the wedding, I decided to just let things fall and enjoy the day as much as possible. In 20 years, I probably won't remember the ugly cake or the dirt that crept up onto the hem of my dress, but I will remember how it felt to dance with my friends and family surrounding me, completely in love with the man across from me.
Congratulations again to Miss Remmers (soon to be a Mrs.)! I hope your day is absolutely perfect! ************************** Lorren thank you so much for sharing! I love these beautiful pictures! I especially love the picture of you in front of the Temple! What a great story too! I hope your first year of marriage has been wonderful and I'll definitely be thinking of you on the 17th of August! Congratulations!
"Every free moment I found myself drawn to this book! My planning period, my study hall, my lunch — all I wanted was to read this book." — Miss Remmers
From Amazon.com...
"I am a beast. A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster. You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell. Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly... beastly."
Oh. My. Goodness! This was an absolutely fantastic novel! It's been on my list for a while, but it wasn't until this weekend that I saw the movie trailer (released in June) that I decided I had to read it NOW! I drove all over town (so I basically went to Walmart and Target) and was so bummed that I couldn't find it. But everything happens for a reason; the next day this book came in the mail! Turns out I had purchased it from Bookcloseouts.com! (Whoops!) I started reading it the next day and could not put it down!
I finished this book on the second day of reading it while at school. Every free moment I found myself drawn to this book! My planning period, my study hall, my lunch — all I wanted was to read! I finished a few minutes before school was out with this huge sigh. A sigh filled with happiness and with regret that it was over.
The only thing that bothered me about this book were the predictability and obvious cliches. I knew going into this novel it was going to be predictable and full of cliches, but Flinn laid them on pretty hard. Throughout the novel there these online chat dialogues. I thought these could have been left out completely. The other chatters depicted other famous fairy tales such as "The Little Mermaid" and "The Frog Prince." The story was already a cliche that everyone is familiar with, why add these minute ones? They didn't add anything to the story; they just seemed silly. Other than that, I think Flinn did a okay job of making the story as "un-cliche" and predictable as possible when retelling a fairy tale. There were only a few lines that were awkward and "sappy" (p.282), for instance. These small annoyances were noticeable when reading, but when looking at the novel as a whole these are small, minute details that don't distract from the wonderful, modern, retelling of "Beauty and the Beast."
This book is fast paced and is a real "hook, line, and sinker." I'm so excited to add this book to my classroom shelves. I think all readers would love this book, but it is aimed more towards middle school or early high school.
"When everything sucks, change everything... And that's exactly what Hannah Friedman set out to do in an ambitious attempt to bust out of a life of obscurity and absurdity and into an alternate world of glamour, wealth, and popularity. Being dubbed 'That Monkey Girl' by middle school bullies and being pulled out of sixth grade to live on a tour bus with her agoraphobic mother, her smelly little brother, and her father's hippie band mates convinces Hannah that she is destined for a life of freakdom. But when she enters one of the country's most prestigious boarding schools on scholarship, Hannah transforms herself into everything she is not: cool. By senior year, she has a perfect millionaire boyfriend, a perfect GPA, a perfect designer wardrobe, and is part of the most popular clique in school, but somehow everything begins to suck far worse than when she first started. Her newfound costly drug habit, eating disorder, identity crisis, and Queen-Bee attitude lead to the unraveling of Hannah's very unusual life. Putting her life back together will take more than a few clicks of her heels, or the perfect fit of a glass slipper, in this not-so-fairy tale of going from rock bottom to head of the class and back again." I began and finished this book on a plane from Minneapolis to Texas. It was a quick and interesting read, I'd definitely recommend it. I loved that it was a memoir, as a future teacher I am always on the look out for a good piece of non-fiction. I will definitely be keeping this book for my students. While I was not able to relate to Hannah in pretty much ANY way — I loved the voice and the tone of this book (which I can definitely relate too). I love how honest she is and how deliberate her wording is. I felt like I was given a first class seat at the premiere of her life — really. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for something new because this is the first book of it's kind that I've ever read.
Today is the release day for The Near Witch and I have the wonderful Victoria Schwab here today to talk about the book.
I am super excited to talk to her because I will be meeting her on August 7th in Knoxville as part of the Ash to Nash tour!
1. You have explored quite a few college majors and careers. Can you tell us a little about what you learned from your experiences? --I learned that physics wasn't for me, drama had too much drama, art history was too quiet to be a morning class, every religion has its own gorgeous stories, the majority of creative writing students are not very creative when it comes to writing (and goodness help you if you want to be a PUBLISHED one *cough*sellout*cough*), film doesn't give you credit for enjoying the films too much to take notes, and art students have perfected a method of staying up all night using only a bag of skittles.
2. How did you first get into writing? --By writing really, really bad poetry. And then by writing slightly better poetry. By the time I decided to try writing a book, I had NO idea what I was doing, but I knew I could assemble words in lovely ways. Next I had to learn structure. That took a little while and a good deal of rejection. Thankfully.
3. What has been the most surprising thing to happen to you since The Near Witch started grabbing everyone's attention? --I have two favorites. One is authors I adore/admire knowing that I even exist, let alone several of them having read (and enjoyed!!) NW. That's just beyond surreal and surprising. The second was hearing from a friend that their non-reader friend suggested my book to her, after the non-reader's mother, a high-school teacher, had mentioned it to her, after having overheard students in her hall talking about books they wanted to read that summer. That was pretty dang cool.
4. If you could tell people one thing about The Near Witch, what would it be? --It's a fairy tale. And it's written that way. It's meant to be airy, and sparse, a bit blurred at the edges, a window into a world, rather than a door. Go in knowing that.
5. You will be going on tour with Beth Revis and Myra McEntire soon. What crazy things do you all have planned? --OH THE ANTICS. There are planned ones, and ones that we couldn't plan if we tried. But rest assured, there will be lots of laughing.We are three loud and largely inappropriate people.
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab Publisher: Hyperion Books (August 2nd, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 288 pages The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. And there are no strangers in the town of Near.These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life. But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true. The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him. As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.
Find Victoria Schwab Victoria Schwab | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter
Purchase The Near Witch Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
"'Goddess Interrupted' whisked me away at a time when I needed it most... It was a book I knew I was going to love and therefore it was the perfect companion as I escape[d] my sorrow. " — Miss Remmers
"Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, 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."
Okay, I feel like "The Goddess Test" is extremely underrated — I hardly see anything online about it and this book completely blew my mind away! Why are more people not talking about this book and it's sequel: Goddess Interrupted! I'm not sure if it's a lack of advertising or what — but, to me, this book should be book talked and reviewed everywhere! I love this world, these characters, and the mythology!
"Goddess Interrupted" whisked me away at a time when I needed it most. I'm so thankful that this was the book I was in the middle of when my dad passed away last week. It was a book I knew I was going to love and therefore it was the perfect companion as I struggled to escape my sorrow. There was a moment in the beginning where I thought it was going to be pull a "Fever" and whisk my fairy-tale... err mythological hero away from me; like Kate, I wasn't feeling the love like I expected to. But by the end... let's just say I was satisfied.
What stood out the most throughout this book for me was that on my Nook there were at least four moments toward the end of the novel where I was afraid to click the button to turn the page because I was afraid that the page I was currently on was the last page. Does that make sense? Sometimes with Galleys it will say there are 299 pages but the last four pages are copyright information, acknowledgements, or other information so you just never know when that last sentence is going to appear! And for the first time, this really scared me! I was like, "NO! I'm not ready yet!" I'm so thankful I had the opportunity to read this book at this time in my life. It was the "pick me up" I've been needing for sure.
Can I just say... I LOVE HENRY!!!! I definitely need some more of him. He (and Linden) might be the only reason(s) that I would read fanfiction again.:)
-Connect with the Author: Website | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter -BUY THE BOOK: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble | Nook
BBAW is finally here and I am so excited to welcome Chachic from Chachic Book's Nook.
You're from the Philippines! That is so cool! Are there other book bloggers in your area? If so, what are they! I'd love to visit their blogs! I'm so glad you think it's cool that I'm from the Philippines! There are actually a number of book bloggers here. I only started blogging this year but I noticed that there have been Filipino book bloggers for several years and more and more are popping out lately. I noticed that we didn't have a site that brings together all Filipino book bloggers so I decided to create Filipino Book Bloggers (http://filipinobookbloggers.wordpress.com/) . I know the name isn't that creative but I'm happy to get to know some of the book bloggers out there. We're having our first meet up soon and I'm really excited for that.
That's so awesome about the meet up! I hope it goes awesome! Because English is your second language, is it hard to read YA novels written in English? What about writing the reviews? Here in the Philippines, we actually use English as the medium of instruction. The Philippines was colonized by the United States and it was Americans who established education in the Philippines. All of our subjects, starting from nursery up to college, are taught in English except for Filipino and a couple of other History subjects. That's why English books aren't translated to Filipino over here and I'm comfortable with reading books and writing reviews in English. Also, I've never mentioned this on my blog but I actually work with Americans. I'm a research analyst for a Business Process Outsourcing company and I report directly to people in the US.
As an international book blogger, what differences in book blogging have your noticed between international and US book blogging? One of the main differences is we don't get review copies. International shipping is really expensive so I understand that publishers would have a hard time sending review copies and it also takes a couple of weeks for the books to get here. I've never received a copy for review and most of the other Filipino book bloggers that I've talked to also haven't received any review copies. The books that I review on the blog are given as gifts, bought, or borrowed.
On a positive note, I love it when US book bloggers are amazed with some of the things that I mention in reviews like how I've never seen snow or how we don't have public libraries over here. You don't have public libraries! Wow, that really makes me appreciate my library. You host a meme called "Want Books?" where readers can highlight books that they want but can't have either to it not being released in their country yet, not having the money for it, a far-out release date, etc. Where did you come with the idea? When is your weekly post up? How many bloggers generally participate? I love the photo too! Are you familiar with the meme Waiting on Wednesday (WoW), which is hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine (http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/) ? In WoW, you can feature upcoming releases that you're eagerly waiting for. I used to use that meme but then I realized that it would be better if there's a meme that lets you feature books that have already come out that you can't get for some reason. Instead of complaining about books not being available here, I thought it would be better if I could create a meme to highlight them. So that's how I came up with Want Books. I put up a post every Saturday and anyone can participate. It isn't a popular meme though and only a handful of book blogger friends have participated. I don't mind because I don't think I'll ever run out of material for the meme, there will always be books in my wishlist.:)
I see that you have a giveaway ending TOMORROW! What is it and who is eligible? Yes! I have a Mortal Instruments giveaway but sadly, it's only for residents of the Philippines. All you need to do to enter is tell me what review of mine is your favorite and why. Learn more about it here. We both read a lot of YA, what books would you recommend to struggling young adult readers? Oh gosh, I have so many recommendations! Here you go:
Fantasy The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith Sasharia En Garde duology by Sherwood Smith The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud The Changeover by Margaret Mahy
Fairy Tale Retellings Beauty by Robin McKinley The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
YA Contemporary Fiction Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols Jessica Darling books by Megan McCafferty
Historical Fiction Sunbird, The Lion Hunters, The Empty Kingdom by Elizabeth Wein A Countess Below Stairs, The Reluctant Heiress and A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson Thanks for all the great recommendations! Wow! I'm going to steal one of your questions because it was so good! What is your "good read" preference — contemporary YA, epic fantasy, urban fantasy, science fiction or dystopian? I read read books from all of those genres but I have a special place in my heart for epic fantasy.
What are your comfort reads? Books that you go to on a rainy day for a reread when nothing seems to be going your way. The books that I listed in the recommendations section are my favorites so they're really my comfort reads. I've reread most of those several times already.
What book are you pinning for — that you can't wait to get your hands on? Oh so many! Check out my Want Books meme because I have weekly posts on books that I'm pining for. Although if you're asking for books that are yet to be released, I can't wait to get Bayou Moon and Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews, Pegasus by Robin McKinley and Seer of Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier.
Chachic, thank you so much for stopping by! It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know you and discovering your blog. Readers, please remember to stop by and visit Chachic at Chachic Book's Nook.
Hey everyone. We wanted to do a wrap-up post to thank everyone for all your hard work. You have blogged, vlogged, facebooked, and tweeted about our team, changed your avatars to Dauntless buttons, added the buttons to your pages, shared your fears and accomplishments, and truly showed your Dauntless pride! We cannot thank you enough for your effort. You all went above and beyond to help us out and it was so incredible to have so much support. We will post the Street Team winners on the 1st. Now, it's time to share more answers to the question"Why do you want to join the Dauntless faction" Dauntless are the brave, they don't let anything define them! They are free and determined. I want to join the Dauntless faction because I am free and determined and this is where i belong! - Book Sisterhood
I wish to join the Dauntless faction because it feels like I would belong there. <3 - Carina's Books
In Diveregent, I related most towards the dauntless faction I try to as determined as possible, sometimes it can even be a bad thing. I am impulsive like the dauntless of the book. - Danasquare
I want to be Dauntless because I believe courage and bravery are the most important qualities a person can have! It's not always easy to be courageous; in fact, it's one of the hardest things for a person to do. I admire bravery more than anything else in the world. Also, I really like ziplines! - Freeverse
I have become fearless in the face of being a single parent. I have faced a parents worse fear in seeing my son be treated as the"second-best" to his fathers DOG. To seeing him take all his daily medications without so much as one complaint. (What a trooper). I am lucky enough to know he is smart and more intuitive then I ever was at his age. I have been able to stand up to his father and say,"Hey! That's not how you treat your kid! Get your act in gear and man up." I've faced him in court and maintained my dignity and in the face of loss and also in keeping calm when I have also been victorious. I am a mother and I stand up for what I believe is right, even in front of many. - Picked by Poison
To be brave and face all fears is what everyone should strive for! Who better than to FIGHT for what is right than the DAUNTLESS?! - Booksforme2
Because I value bravery and courage. Plus Dauntless is just awesome! What other reason should there be? - Sam C.
I want to join team dauntless because I want to be brave. I might not be all the way but I want to be free and dauntless will push me to be how I want to be. - Janenifer Lee
I'd rather be brave and do something than sit in an Ivory Tower like the Erudite. I would rather fight than be passive and always give myself to others like Abnegation. I would rather be able to lie when I need to as opposed to Candor, and I would like the option of defending myself as opposed to doing nothing with Amity. - Birth of a New Witch
I want to join DAUNTLESS because I enjoy the rush and excitement of taking risks and facing my fears. - Doodle's Book Blog
I want to join the Dauntless because I want to do things that I never thought I could do and be a part of something strong. - Em and Em's Reviews
I want to join Dauntless because they believe in freedom from fear, and I'm sick of being afraid. I hate being scared or cowardly, it makes me feel weak and useless, and helpless. I also want to join Dauntless because I believe in shouting for those who can only whisper, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another. I believe in action, and I believe in ordinary acts of bravery. I want to be brave. I want to face my fears and laugh and conquer them. I'm sick of sitting idly by and watching while others act, while others are brave. I want to join then. I WILL join them. Even the thought of Dauntless makes me brave. Dauntless has quite literally changed my life. Since choosing Dauntless, I have become more confident, bolder, less afraid. I know where I belong, and, sure Erudite has a pull for me, but I do not belong with them. I belong among the bold and brave. I belong in a place where I am free from the fear that has tied me down for years. I believe in realizing the extent to which fear rules us, and denying it the chance to change my decisions and control my life. I believe that no other virtue is more important than bravery. - Shout for Those Who Can Only Whisper
Besides the fact that Tris and Four are members, the Dauntless are brave and determined, which is what I am. I have had to be brave and strong to deal with my medical problems, so clearly Dauntless is where I belong. - Shooting Stars Mag
I love the idea of Dauntless, this team seems to encompass many values found in the others teams, but makes those values"their own." - Live to Read
I admire people who are brave and willing to do what must be done to accomplish great things. I want to be more brave and courageous in my actions. - Hope Love Happy Endings
Divergent and Dauntless has saved me from going crazy, and this fandom tooootally needs to be bigger than it is because it was such a deserving book. - Divergent for Life
Something exciting is always happening. It is challenging. You fight for your place. Its YOU who gets to decide. That's why i want to join Dauntless. - Nic
Because I abide by the Team Motto. - Reviewing Shelf
Because its the best team ever!: ) - Monica
We stand up and face our fears. We never back down, no matter what. A person can be truthful or smart or charitable, but it takes real courage and determination to face the worst of the days. And that's what Dauntless is about. - Raven Fic
Dauntless is by far the best faction! I've always had a thirst for adventure and to be carefree and strong so Dauntless is the best faction for that! =] - Booktastic Reviews
I am Dauntless! Nothing will stop me from standing up for what I believe in! - Words from the Tampa Bookworm
Why? Hmm… well, I'll start out with this. At first, I thought I was Erudite because I like reading about things, but then, I analized myself, and I can't say I like the fact that's all they ever do. I like adventure and risk, even if I still can't do some of them because I'm underage. (Which sucks). Anyway, what I'm saying is, that I value bravery a bit more than knowledge, both are important, but I feel that anyone can have knowledge, no matter what it is. Dauntless is a faction that promotes bravery, which is something not everyone has. I feel that with Dauntless, I can more so face my fears and kick butt while doing so. Plus, I can't be selfless, I'm not a fan of total peace, and I can't only tell the truth.: ) There you have it. - Reading in Paradise
Because I am Dauntless! =) - Orchid
Because I'm fearless, strong, determined! I have the strenght to be in this faction! #TEAMDAUNTLESS TILL DEATH! - Trayche
I am fearless! I also love Divergent! - Diana
Because it is the best faction!! I am brave and fearless. Team Dauntless is where I belong. Faction Before Blood!! - Book Loving Mom
Because I AM DAUNTLESS - F.
I want to join Dauntless because I believe everything I do in my life makes.me not only strong but brave too. - Dee
It suits me well or at least better than anywhere else - Taylor
Because of my obsession of divergent (soon to be insurgent also!), tris, four/tobias, and most of all because i am totally DAUNTLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Janena
I want to be a part if the Dauntless faction because I want to be with othets who share my respect for bravery and fearlesness and are both of those qualities: ). - Halee
This faction is the most powerful in the sense that they're fit in their minds and bodies. They're poweful in multiple aspects, while other factions are solely based on one. I want this faction to make me well-rounded and able to defend the people of my faction and those inside the city. - Maela
“We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.” Need I say more? - Thoughts of the Chronically Indecisive
I'm fearless, and LOVE to take risks! - Just a Girl Geek
Cuz we all need to let go and face our fears, no matter how large or small - Heather
Because being on the street team is the next best thing to actually being in the Dauntless faction! Not to mention being as close as possible to Four… - Christa
Because Dauntless is in my blood. -Kayla
Because I was raised not to be afraid. To be strong and fearless. If I lived in Tris and Four's world I would absolutely be Dauntless! Go team Dauntless!!! - Book Addictions by Christina
Bravery is something to value. I LOVE Four which is just one fabulous reason to join! - Nocturne Romance Reads
Cauz I can stop a blackwidow spider with one stomp. - The Optimistic Pessimist
I want to join the DAUNTLESS faction because I believe courage and standing up for the things you believe in is most important. You have to not be afraid to change the world for the BETTER and save it from the worse. I do not believe violence is DAUNTLESS but rather being able to change the world without it. I am strong. I am courageous. I AM DAUNTLESS. - Sophie
Tattoos - Colleen
Because I wish that I could be so brave IRL, lol. Also, there's FOUR. My heart has always been drawn to Dauntless. FACTION BEFORE BLOOD! - Book Breather
Life is too short to let fear overcome your chance to be brave and truly live. - Cupcake Girly
Because I AM Dauntless =] - The Consumption of Books
Dauntless has always seemed like the most exciting faction to me. To be honest, I've never really been very into the other factions. I always wanted to learn more about Dauntless and was kind of sad when I never really did.: ( Plus, I work part-time in an independent bookstore (Next Chapter Bookshop) so I would love to give people even more reasons to buy Divergent. - Zoey's Uncreatively Titled Blog
Because they fight their fears. They have courage. - My Life is a Fairy Tale
Because I am not afraid to take risks, to enjoy life, and to face the world and stand up to what I believe in. How more dauntless can one get?; ) - Maji Bookshelf
They say the Dauntless are brave and bold.They say the Dauntless are not afraid of heights and have few fears. Well, I want to show them that, though I may have fears, they won't be a problem when the time comes for me to be the bravest person on earth. - Melissa
Because I believe that everyone needs a little bravery in their everyday life. There's a quote by Winston Churchill:"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." Standing up for your beliefs is something that takes guts to do, and guts are exactly what Dauntless has to offer. - Brave New Shelf
I choose Dauntless because I believe that selflessness, knowledge, peace and kindness are worthless if you don't have the courage to stand up for your convictions and for others when it comes to the test. - Songs and Stories
Above all else bravery is the quality that I value most in myself. I also want to see that quality strengthened even further. That is why I want to join the Dauntless faction! - The Hapa Chick
It's SO obvious that this the best faction of them all. Tris was in that faction too so it has to be DAUNTLESS: ) - Mina
The Dauntless are fearless. They love to challenge themselves, and have a streak of adventure. But at the same time they are loyal, fierce and strong, and that is what makes you Dauntless! - The Girl in a Cafe
I love that the Dauntless are so fearless and brave. I also love that Dauntless is somewhat intertwined with Abnegation. The Dauntless seem to have lots of fun and seem to care a lot about one another. - Reviews from the Hammock
I want to join because in Divergent the Dauntless are strong and unforgiving. Also, they jump on trains! Don't you tell me that's not cool. - Tara
Because i believe in bravery and the freedom to choose my own destiny. - Fatoch
Everything worth having is worth fighting for. You can hope you don't have to fight, but you have an obligation to be ready. - Claire G.
Because I like to think of myself as brave. - Srvaid
Because Dauntless is fearless, their badassery is just soo.inpiring. And the fact it can kill you is just… WOW. Dauntless also is far from perfect, but out imperfections let us rise. - Kandee
I want to join the Dauntless faction because I love what Dauntless stands for. Like the manifesto says I believe in facing my fears, and in ordinary acts of bravery. I believe that if people were brave enough to speak their minds, the world would be a scarier, but better place. Out of all my friends, I was always the one who seeked adrenaline, the one who was not afraid, the one that was always the first person to go on the tallest and scariest roller coaster. Ever since Veronica Roth came out with the Dauntless manifesto, I stood by it. - Nancy
I would love too join the Dauntless faction because being dauntless is about being fearless, brave and courages. I believe I am all of those and would support the faction at all costs. - Ashleigh
I was born Dauntless. Trust me. (Or ask my Dad--I'm 1/2 of him). - Nicole
My reason for joining undaunted is: i wanted to be surrounded with like minded people. i believe in justice. i believe in courage. i believe there is no point in limiting life. no point in silence. - Travis
I want to be brave, courageous, determined, and strong. Thought at first people might not think I am that but deep down inside, I am brave, courageous, determined, and strong! - FireStarBooks
I am a brave, courageous person and will fight for what I believe is right. - Vicky's Volume's
Because I love taking new risks, and because it's the closest place to Four. (; - Christa
Bravery is only as good as the fears one stands up to. I don't want to be fearless. I want to be brave. - Eldabee
Because recently my life has been full of challenges and I've had to take crucial and important decisions with no fears. Specially if I have to protect my family. That's how I noticed I can be Dauntless. Well, there's also the test, of course xD It confirmed I'm Dauntless all the way! - Librarian Mouse
To be brave is to be strong, loyal, and face your fears. This is a constant struggle for those who face it head on and what i try and do everyday. Being dauntless means being able to protect not just yourself but all those you love and to be able to help those you don't know. This is what i strive to do. - K.D. G.
Being Dauntless, in my opinion, means something beyond just having courage and no fear. You can be courageous, but now what? What you do with that courage is what really matters. That courage should be used to correct the unbalanced, unfair, corrupt world we live in. Tris inspired me to be Dauntless. I FELT it when she came to that revelation. I decided to stand up for the little guys. In my life, I've displayed Dauntless qualities. Recently, the Board of Education and High School administrators in my town have committed an injustice. Currently, I, along with my senior class, are fighting against that injustice. I am living a Dauntless life. I already am Dauntless. - Amy B.
Why do I want to join Dauntless?? Here's why: 1) Tris and Four!!!!!!!!! 2) In a hypothetical, unrealistic situation where they are cut off from all their sources and forced to live on their own, the Dauntless will survive. 3) They're cool and badass. 4) If you were to throw this faction into the Hunger Games, it'd be one heck of a show. They'd definitely be the ones to beat. 5) They're cool. 6 This is probably the only faction where training involves a paintball fight. 7) Probably the most fun to join. And they're all physically fit. 8) You can get tattoos and battlescars and stuff. 9) Even the name"Dauntless" sounds awesome. 10) They're cool. - Anna V.
There is nothing more important than bravery. It leads us to stand up for what is right when no one else will. It allows us to be ourselves and defend ourselves. To be Dauntless means to be free. Plus, they clearly have the most fun. - Not So Epic A.M.Y.- A
I wanted to join dauntless to remind me that to truely live you must be brave. You must let go of your fears to make way for experiences. You must find the strength and the courage to build yourself up again when you are knocked down. And you must grasp every opportunity as it comes to you or risk never getting the chance to again. - Mischievous Pixie
I need to face my fears! - Amy's Book Den
I've always wanted to be brave. - Farin
I've always felt like I fit in with the Dauntless! I've been slowly overcoming some of my fears and I want to continue to be brave and overcome the rest of them! And not to mention, The DAUNTLESS ROCK!: ) - Hope, Faith, and Books
Dauntless are brave and not afraid to fight for what is right. They live on the edge and experience life to the fullest. - Lai
I love adventure. I love risk. Sitting in one place isn't me, I want action. - Anastasia
Because I believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives on person to stand up for another. - The Maniacal Bookworm
I admire the bravery in this faction. Not only that, though I firmly believe in fighting for what you believe in, no matter what the cost may be. - Geraldine
I want to stand up for other people, I want to be braver. Only the Dauntless faction can give me that! - Isabella C.
I have vowed to be in the Dauntless faction because this is the faction I belong in! I like to believe I'm a thrill seeker but I know I'm not — I want to be and I want to be able to face my fears. Having that courage will allow me to take risks and maybe one day be as brave as Tris and Four. They risk their very lives for what's important to them; be it friends, family, or love, and I want to be in a faction that promotes that type of bravery. I am ready to be Dauntless!! P.S. So when is knife practice? - The Bookworm is Here!
I want to join Dauntless because they are brave and exciting. - Page Turner
They are brave people. Willing to do what needs to be done. They can do big things and understand whats important. Plus they are super cool! - R. Mae
Well hells bells! Why wouldn't I? Slight addiction to tattoos? Check. Willingly jumps out of perfectly good airplanes? Check. Been known to have a problem with 'following the rules?' Check. Busts out in mama bear mode when someone I care about is being brought down? Check. Dauntless is to push the boundaries of WHO you are and WHAT you are willing to do to get what you want/need. Dauntless is to lead, not to follow. Dauntless is to DO when others say it can't be DONE. Dauntless is — ME. - Panic Written
Who wouldn't want to be Dauntless!!!!!!!!!!! Like its the best faction out there!: ) - Yasmine
I want to join cause I have very few fears, I love archery and things that gt my pulse going. I find life boring without things that scare me so im always bored. I am good with knives and a bow, I am decent with guns. This also seems fun - Nitro
The Dauntless faction represents not only fearlessness, but bravery and selflessness. All of these things are important to me as I continue to grow in my life and in the book worlds created by many wonderful writers. The least I can do to represent how important Divergent has been in my life is to join TEAM DAUNTLESS! - Miranda B.
I believe that Justice must be served in any way possible, and bravery is one of the most important traits, for how would anything ever have been done without someone being brave, taking a risk? Everyone is weak, but we can be strong if we believe, are brave, and take those chances. - Rachel M.
It's where I belong! - Ciji
I am in Dauntless because i will be brave and strong no matter what comes my way. - Kendra
Because cowards can not be tolerated. because there needs to be justice, and i will fight till the end to see that justice is served. because i will fight for my brothers and sisters just as they will fight for me. because you don't always know where you stand until you know that you wont run away, and this is where i make my stand this is where i make my choice to stand shoulder to shoulder with my Dauntless brothers and sisters and prove there is nothing to fear, except fear itself. - Mohawk
Why I want to join: 1. Because I believe that justice is more important than peace 2. Because I want to be free from fear 3. Because I believe in ordinary acts of bravery 4. And in Tris's words,"It was just because of the food.": ) - The Journey of a Young Writer
I personally love Dauntless. The strong, the brave, and the AMAZING all join together in one fabulous faction. I love to think that I'm all of the above. And the other factions? Well, they're going down. DAUNTLESS ALL THE WAY! - My Adventures in Wonderland
I am brave like the Dauntless. I am the kind of person who takes things head on and not care what happens. - Cole R.
Thanks again for helping #TEAMDAUNTLESS for #DivergentNation!
