Stacking the Shelves: The My Roomie Gave Me a Book Edition

 "Stacking the Shelves" is a weekly haul meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Reading Reality. It allows book buyers to share their accumulation of books with the online book-loving community.

I didn’t buy any books this week! Woot! Woot! I was given one, however. ;)

Winter of Ice and Iron by Rachel Numeier (ARC)

My roomie gave me this ARC. She grabbed two copies at work, and when I asked her about it, she told me I could have one. Yay for friendship!

This book is giving me some GoT vibes. It’s got dragons, ice, and a guy who looks kind of like Jon Snow on the cover.

What books have you bought/received lately?

Dean Winchester Friday

Dean Winchester (or sometimes Jensen Ackles) Fridays make me a very happy fangirl. You'll see why when you look at the pic.

Aww… Dean and Ben! They’re so cute! Although, I don’t miss Dean’s season-three haircut. It’s very short.

Stacking the Shelves: The Temporarily Working Edition

 "Stacking the Shelves" is a weekly haul meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Reading Reality. It allows book buyers to share their accumulation of books with the online book-loving community.

This week actually proved to be a very nice haul period. While a majority of them aren’t books I get to keep, they’re still going to be good reads.

The Return by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

Long Way Home by Katie McGarry

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

Morning Star by Pierce Brown

All but one of these books are library copies. I put the library books on hold, not expecting Tower of Dawn to get to me so quickly, since I only put them on hold about two weeks ago. Yet, somehow, it showed up. As for Morning Star, I had that thing put on hold last week after I was three-fourths of the way through Golden Son. My review of Golden Son has been posted, and I'm currently reading book three.

Lady Midnight was a gift from my roommate. It’s the international edition that she picked up from work. (She works at Simon & Schuster. Lucky duck.

Okay, so there’s one more amazing book I need to show you, but it involves a little backstory first.

I think a lot of people who follow my blog already know that I recently moved to NYC to pursue a career in book publishing. Well, I don't have a full-time, permanent job, but I am temping at a publishing house. I’ll let you guess which based on this pic:

Still don’t know?

How about now?

Yep, that’s right. I’m temping for three weeks at Scholastic! And. AND, they gave me this:

It’s the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets! AHHHHHHH!!!!

One of my co-workers gave it to me. She said she couldn’t ship it out because it had a small tear on the dustjacket. Normally, I would care about such things, but those illustrated editions are expensive, so that tear will be quite alright until I can get my hands on some good glue.

What books have you bought/received lately?

Dean Winchester Friday

Dean Winchester (or sometimes Jensen Ackles) Fridays make me a very happy fangirl. You'll see why when you watch the Supernatural season 13 trailer.

This trailer gave me very little to work with. I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen this season beyond the major plotline that was left hanging over from season 12. All I do know is that I’m super excited for some more Dean Winchester. ;)

Review: Long Way Home by Katie McGarry

Long Way Home

Katie McGarry

(Thunder Road #3)

Publication Date: January 31, 2017

Hardcover, 448 pages, Harlequin Teen

Genres: YA, Contemporary

B&N | Book Depository | Amazon | Goodreads

Seventeen-year-old Violet has always been expected to sit back and let the boys do all the saving.

It’s the code her father, a member of the Reign of Terror motorcycle club, raised her to live by. Yet when her dad is killed carrying out Terror business, Violet knows it’s up to her to do the saving. To protect herself, and her vulnerable younger brother, she needs to cut all ties with the club—including Chevy, the boy she’s known and loved her whole life.

But when a rival club comes after Violet, exposing old secrets and making new threats, she’s forced to question what she thought she knew about her father, the Reign of Terror, and what she thinks she wants. Which means re-evaluating everything: love, family, friends . . . and forgiveness.

Caught in the crosshairs between loyalty and freedom, Violet must decide whether old friends can be trusted—and if she’s strong enough to be the one person to save them all.

My Review

I know I’ve said this before, but if you like Sons of Anarchy and YA contemporary romance, you’ll love Katie McGarry’s Thunder Road books. The main character is strong, the guy is swoon worthy, and the plot is intense.

Since this is the third book in a companion series, the story follows two characters that were introduced in books one and two. Violet wants nothing to do with her pseudo family’s motorcycle club, while Chevy doesn’t know what he wants. All of that becomes irrelevant, though, once a rival motorcycle gang becomes involved in Violet and Chevy’s lives.

Okay, so the main reason I enjoyed Violet’s character so much in the first half of the book was how adamant she was about how ridiculous the motorcycle club is sometimes. The macho rules the club puts in place seriously irk me, so Violet raging against them had me very much on board; however, she seemed to lose her spirit towards the end. I’m not sure how I felt about that because the semi-cult-like lifestyle the motorcycle club portrays always bothers me. Chevy, on the other hand, was a perfect mess. He doesn’t know what he wants to do with his life, and he accepts that.

As for the plot of the story, it was definitely a quick-paced read. I read and finished this book in less than 24 hours. The storyline starts out with a major bang, and it keeps up a solid stride along the way. I do wish that the action could have continued farther in the book, rather than fizzle to a more angsty level, though. I guess that’s why it’s a contemporary romance, not a contemporary action story. *sigh*

All in all, Long Way Home is a good possible ending (Are there going to be more books, Katie?) to a fun, if sometimes frustrating, series. There are motorcycles, cute boys, and crazy plotlines to keep readers’ noses stuck in this book.

*Note: I borrowed a copy of this book from my local library. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Waiting on Wednesday: Runebinder by Alex R. Kahler

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, what's really got my pages in a twist is...

Runebinder

Alex R. Kahler

(The Runebinder Chronicles #1)

Publication Date: November 14, 2017

Hardcover, 400 pages, Harlequin Teen

Genres: YA, Fantasy

B&N | Book Depository | Amazon | Goodreads

Magic is risen.

When magic returned to the world, it could have saved humanity, but greed and thirst for power caused mankind's downfall instead. Now once-human monsters called Howls prowl abandoned streets, their hunger guided by corrupt necromancers and the all-powerful Kin. Only Hunters have the power to fight back in the unending war, using the same magic that ended civilization in the first place.

But they are losing.

Tenn is a Hunter, resigned to fight even though hope is nearly lost. When he is singled out by a seductive Kin named Tomás and the enigmatic Hunter Jarrett, Tenn realizes he's become a pawn in a bigger game. One that could turn the tides of war. But if his mutinous magic and wayward heart get in the way, his power might not be used in favor of mankind.

If Tenn fails to play his part, it could cost him his friends, his life…and the entire world.

My Thoughts

I just recently heard of this book, and I don’t know why it wasn’t on my radar before. It’s an LGBT fantasy that sounds awesome! Also, that cover is very pretty. I’m keeping my eye on this one.

What book are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Review: Golden Son by Pierce Brown

Golden Son

Pierce Brown

(Red Rising Saga #2)

Publication Date: January 6, 2015

Hardcover, 430 pages, Del Rey

Genres: Sci-Fi

B&N | Book Depository | Amazon | Goodreads

With shades of The Hunger Games, Ender’s Game, and Game of Thrones, debut author Pierce Brown’s genre-defying epic Red Rising hit the ground running and wasted no time becoming a sensation.

Golden Son continues the stunning saga of Darrow, a rebel forged by tragedy, battling to lead his oppressed people to freedom from the overlords of a brutal elitist future built on lies. Now fully embedded among the Gold ruling class, Darrow continues his work to bring down Society from within.

A life-or-death tale of vengeance with an unforgettable hero at its heart, Golden Son guarantees Pierce Brown’s continuing status as one of fiction’s most exciting new voices.

My Review

It took me a while to get to this Red Rising sequel, but boy, am I glad I did. I don’t know how Pierce Brown makes this crazy sci-fi world so addicting, but I dig it.

One major reason I love this series so much is how I never know what’s going to happen next. The storyline constantly surprised me, and that ending was so brutal. If I would have had book #3, Morning Star, with me, I would have immediately started reading it just because I need to know what happens next. Golden Son leaves off on a crazy, terrible, brutal cliffhanger.

Of course, the characters are mostly the same from book one, but I did love Darrow’s development in this book. At first, I was getting sick of his underlying holier-than-thou, I’m-the-man attitude, but by the end of the book, he’d redeemed himself so very much. I felt like his development was a natural progression within the storyline.

As for why I’m only giving the book 4.5 stars instead of the full five, well… there’s really two reasons. One reason has to do with the lack of competent, powerful women in this series. I feel like sometimes the few women who are in the book rely too much on Darrow and other men to make things better, or they’re made out to be martyrs. The women on the opposing/evil side are, of course, made out to be wicked stepmother-ish. It wasn’t a huge problem for me while I was reading, but I did catch it happening.

Another small complaint I have is the jargon. Sometimes, it was hard to follow because of the crazy language. I know that that’s what a good sci-fi novel is based on, its ability to create new and unique worlds, but it got a little crazy at times, especially during battle scenes. But, man, were those battle scenes crazy. Again, every scene completely surprised me.

All in all, this series is one I’m happy to continue with. I have Morning Star on hold at my local library, and I’m going to be impatiently waiting for Iron Gold to release next year.

*Note: I purchased a copy of this book for myself. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Jodi Meadows and Co. Launch Event Recap

So if you saw my Stacking the Shelves post yesterday, you know that I went to the Jodi Meadows launch event for Before She Ignites in NYC. Jodi Meadows wasn’t the only YA author there, however. C.J. Redwine, Erin Summerill, and Dhonielle Clayton were also there to promote their books.

C.J. Redwine was one of the authors on my list of authors I wanted to meet, so I knew I had to go to this event, even if it meant spending more money than I should. What was really sad about the signing, though, is that C.J. Redwine is one of my favorite authors. I LOVE The Courier’s Daughter trilogy (Logan + Rachel = OTP), but I left the entire trilogy and the first book in her Ravenspire companion series at my parents’ house! ACK!

I also left The Orphan Queen, the first book in Jodi’s fantasy duology, at my parents’ house as well. I was so sad when I realized I wouldn’t be able to get my favorite trilogy by C.J. signed. I’m still a little bitter, but I guess the world goes on… *sigh*

Anywho, I forced my roommates to come to the NYC Books of Wonder launch event with me, and I just thought I’d share as many details as I remember/took notes over.

***

The event itself wasn’t very large. There were about 20 chairs set up, and even though I was there only a half an hour early, I still got a seat. It also started a little late because Dhonielle, author of Tiny Pretty Things, was running late (she continuously joked throughout the panel that she runs late when she’s on deadline).

Once things got started, the moderator asked some questions. I’ve provided them below, but I don’t have a photographic memory; thus, they won’t be word-for-word transcriptions.

Q: How do fairytales and fantasy stories provide inspiration for you in your writing?

CJ: Fairytales were, in the past, verbal stories. They always seem like brief synopses of larger stories. I wanted to look in between the cracks of those fairytales and answer the whys. Also, fairytales translate scary things from real life into fantasy. Witches and goblins are lenses for real life problems.

Dhonielle: I made up my own fairytales for The Bells. (Note: The Bells is her upcoming release.)

Erin: Fairytales connect.

Dhonielle (left), some random woman's head, and Erin (right)

Jodi: They provide social commentary.

CJ: I got frustrated with stories like Snow White’s where she would be okay with cleaning some random dudes’ house.

 Q: What is a book that has been influential to you that has its issues, but is still good? And, what is a book that is good and revisionist?

Dhonielle: Narnia and The Indian in the Cupboard have their issues, but they’re good stories. Dread Nation by Justina Ireland is just good.

Erin: Robin McKinley has misogynistic elements. The Babysitters Club and The Giver by Lois Lowry have their issues.

CJ: Narnia and the Grimm’s fairytales have problematic elements. Rae Carson’s Girl of Fire and Thorns turned tropes.

Jodi: Mercedes Lackey is influential but has issues. Girls Made of Snow and Glass, a fairytale retelling, is really good.

Q: What’s your writing process like?

Jodi: I stress knit and cry. I knit a cape and Outlander gloves. I used to binge write, but I don’t do that anymore.

CJ: I don’t outline, but I develop my characters beforehand.

C.J. (left) and Jodi (right)

Erin: My process involves a lot of Hot Tamales and Coke Zero. I also plot out my characters, as well as the story’s middle. Then, I go to the beginning and end. I also write with my eyes closed.

Jodi: I watched her type with her eyes closed once without Erin knowing.

Dhonielle: My writing partner helps me outline, or I wouldn’t do it. I have to handwrite everything, then type it all up. I also leave the country if I’m on deadline so I can gain extra hours. I plan on going to Australia next. I might visit Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff.

Basically, Dhonielle recommended time travel to aspiring writers.

An audience member also asked a question about writing other books and how easy/hard it was to write another book once that first book/series is complete.

Jodi: Each book is challenging in different ways, and each is harder than the last.

After the writing- and book-related questions, a HarperCollins editor asked about the stuffed bat that was sitting in front of Erin on the table. Because I don’t remember exactly who said what, I’ll just sum it up.

From left: Erin, the stuffed bat, and C.J.

 

C.J., Jodi, and Erin were all staying in the same hotel room for the NYC event the night before. While C.J. and Jodi were sleeping and Erin was doing work on her laptop, a bat started flying around their room. Erin was apparently very traumatized and she started to scream. She threw her bedcovers over her head and yelled. Eventually, they ushered the bat into the hallway and called the front desk. Apparently, later on, they heard and saw two guys trying to catch the bat with giant trash bags. No one else in the hotel was disturbed by all of this.

Last moderator question: What’s next for you?

Jodi: The sequel to My Lady Jane, called My Plain Jane, which I like to describe as Jane Eyre meets Ghostbusters.

CJ: The Traitor Prince, the third companion book in the Ravenspire series.

Erin: Ever the Brave, which is out in December. I also have a standalone book set in the same world as Ever the Hunted coming out next year.

Dhonielle: The Belles is out in February, but I also have a secret project in the fall and a middle grade series out in the summer of 2019.

***

Okay, so that was the panel portion. It was hilarious! I don’t know if my brief summation really gave it justice. That bat story and the time traveling comments had the audience in stitches.

The signing part went by very quickly since there weren’t a ton of people. I was actually sixth in line because I had bought my books at Books of Wonder before the event started.

Jodi was first in the signing line, so I was able to get a quick pic with her. 

Jodi (left) and me (right).

She signed the book with "You are fine."

C.J. was next, and I pretty much acted like a complete fool. I told her that I owned all of her books but I left them back in Missouri.  I rambled. Then, I just went silent. My roommate (who I nominated to take pics for me while I got my books signed) was probably embarrassed by my weirdness.

I didn’t get a picture with C.J., simply because the table was set up weird. I couldn’t really get around it and the other authors to do so. The same thing happened with Erin.

Erin was super nice. She knew how to pose for a picture too, even though she joked that she probably had a weird grimace in one of them.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have anything for Dhonielle to sign. I didn’t have a lot of money at the time to buy everyone’s books. However, Dhonielle lives in NYC and, from what the moderator said, is a frequent author at their events. Thus, I’ll probably get the chance to get a book signed by her again.

All in all, this event was a little hectic for me. It was my first NYC book signing event, and it was the first one that happened right after I got off work. I was mess, but it was still fun. I just hope I get the rest of my C.J. Redwine collection signed by her at some point in my lifetime…

Stacking the Shelves: The Jodi Meadows Launch Event Edition

 

 "Stacking the Shelves" is a weekly haul meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Reading Reality. It allows book buyers to share their accumulation of books with the online book-loving community.

I did a thing this week. A good/bad thing. I went to a book signing/launch event for Jodi Meadows’s new release. However, it wasn’t just Jodi Meadows who was there. C.J. Redwine (the amazing goddess) and Erin Summerill were there too. That obviously meant I had to buy their books in addition to Before She Ignites, right?

I’m never going to have any money. *sigh*

Oh, and I’ll have a recap of the launch event on the blog tomorrow, so stay tuned! You can read all about how traumatizing it was to have left all my C.J. Redwine and Jodi Meadows’s books at my parents’ house.

The Wish Granter by C.J. Redwine

Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill

Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows

The next book was a random find. One of my Brooklyn neighbors had set out a bunch of books for grabs on the building’s fence. Most of the titles left were not to my particular tastes, but the one I grabbed sounded good. I still don’t know a lot about it.

Keep Her Safe by Sophie Hannah (ARC)

All in all, it was a pretty good book week. I spent too much money, though. 

What books have you bought/received lately?

Dean Winchester Friday

Dean Winchester (or sometimes Jensen Ackles) Fridays make me a very happy fangirl. You'll see why when you look at the pic.

I have no idea what Dean’s doing here or what episode this is from. It’s obviously and early season. Dean looks so young! While I love how the character has progressed over the seasons, I do miss Sam and Dean’s naïve younger days.