Dean Winchester (or sometimes Jensen Ackles) Fridays make me
a very happy fangirl. You'll see why when you look at the image.
Why?! This
is terrible!
Friday, March 18, 2016
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Waiting on Wednesday: Let the Wind Rise by Shannon Messenger
This
week, what's really got my pages in a twist is...
(Sky Fall #3)
Publication Date: April 26,
2016
Hardcover, 320 pages, Simon
Pulse
Genres: YA, Paranormal
The breathtaking action and whirlwind adventure build to a climax
in this thrilling conclusion to the “remarkably unpredictable” (BCCB) Sky Fall
trilogy from the bestselling author of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series.
Vane Weston is ready for battle. Against Raiden’s army. Against
the slowly corrupting Gale Force. Even against his own peaceful nature as a
Westerly. He’ll do whatever it takes, including storming Raiden’s icy fortress
with the three people he trusts the least. Anything to bring Audra home safely.
But Audra won’t wait for someone to rescue her. She has Gus—the
guardian she was captured with. And she has a strange “guide” left behind by
the one prisoner who managed to escape Raiden. The wind is also rising to her
side, rallying against their common enemy. When the forces align, Audra makes
her play—but Raiden is ready.
Freedom has never held such an impossible price, and both groups
know the sacrifices will be great. But Vane and Audra started this fight
together. They’ll end it the same way.
My Thoughts
Am
I the only one irked at this cover change? The first cover was gorgeous, the
second was good, but this one… This one reminds me of a Middle Grade book or
something. Why must publishers constantly do this to me? Anywho, I’m looking
forward to seeing how Vane and Audra’s story ends.
What
book are you waiting on this Wednesday?
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Short Blogging Break
Hola,
fellow booklovers! I just wanted to let you all know that I will be around a
little bit less over the next week or so. I know I’ve had a few posts up this
past week, but most of those were scheduled a long time ago. I’m presenting a
poster project at a conference next weekend, so I’m trying to devote more of my
writing to that particular headache. ;)
I
should have a few things coming up pretty soon, though. I’ll have my review for
Symptoms of Being Human and The Shadow Queen up, as well as a recap
of the Penguin signing event with Sabaa Tahir, Rachel Hawkins, and more up
sometime after March 25th.
I
promise I’ll get back to my regularly scheduled blog posting soon!
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Stacking the Shelves: The Two Borrowed, One Bought Edition
This
past week has been my spring break, so to reward myself for making it this far,
I bought a book. Surprise, surprise. I would have bought more except I have to
buy 6-7 new books for the signing event I’m going to at the end of March. I
also was pleasantly surprised to get a notification from my library that the
books I’d put on hold were in. I put them on hold 2+ months ago, so I
completely forgot I even requested them.
The
Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine (Bought)
Symptoms
of Being Human by Jeff Garvin (Borrowed)
Assassin’s
Heart by Sarah Ahiers (Borrowed)
I’ve
already read Symptoms of Being Human.
I actually read it in one sitting. I'll have my review up soon.
What
books have you bought/received lately?
Friday, March 11, 2016
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 image.
This is so
cute! Are their chairs actually labeled with those nicknames? I feel like they
are, but I can’t remember for sure. Somebody tell me!
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Waiting on Wednesday: Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima
This
week, what's really got my pages in a twist is...
(Shattered Realms #1)
Publication Date: April
19, 2016
Hardcover, 544 pages, HarperCollins
Genres: YA, Fantasy
The first in a thrilling new four-book fantasy series from New
York Times bestselling author Cinda Williams Chima, set in the same world as
her beloved Seven Realms series, a generation later
Adrian sul’Han, known as Ash, is a trained healer with a powerful
gift of magic—and a thirst for revenge. Ash is forced into hiding after a
series of murders throws the queendom into chaos. Now Ash is closer than he’s
ever been to killing the man responsible, the cruel king of Arden. As a healer,
can Ash use his powers not to save a life but to take it?
Abandoned at birth, Jenna Bandelow was told that the mysterious magemark
on the back of her neck would make her a target. But when the King’s Guard
launches a relentless search for a girl with a mark like hers, Jenna assumes
that it has more to do with her role as a saboteur than any birth-based curse.
Though Jenna doesn’t know why she’s being hunted, she knows that she can’t get
caught.
Eventually, Ash’s and Jenna’s paths will collide in Arden. Thrown
together by chance and joined by their hatred of the king, they will come to
rescue each other in ways they cannot yet imagine.
Set in the world of the acclaimed Seven Realms series a generation
later, this is a thrilling story of dark magic, chilling threats, and two
unforgettable characters walking a knife-sharp line between life and death.
My Thoughts
Chima’s
Seven Realms series was fantabulous, so I know this spin-off series will be
just as amazing. I just have to get my hands on it…
What
book are you waiting on this Wednesday?
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Stacking the Shelves: The No Books Edition
"Stacking the Shelves" is a weekly haul meme that is hosted by Tynga's Reviews. It allows book buyers to share their accumulation of books with the online book-loving community.
No
books this week. Boo. However, I did get some other awesome things:
Look at these frickin’ Supernatural socks! Aren’t they adorable!? I love the Cas ones! They’re blue! Don’t get me wrong, I’m a Dean girl 100%, but those Cas socks are just too cute.
What
goodies or books have you bought/received lately?
Friday, March 4, 2016
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 image.
Look at
those arms! Arms!
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Review: Kings Rising by C.S. Pacat
(Captive
Prince #3)
Publication
Date: February 2, 2016
Paperback, 352 pages, Berkley
Genres:
Adult, Fantasy, LGBT
Damianos of
Akielos has returned.
His identity
now revealed, Damen must face his master Prince Laurent as Damianos of Akielos,
the man Laurent has sworn to kill.
On the brink
of a momentous battle, the future of both their countries hangs in the balance.
In the south, Kastor's forces are massing. In the north, the Regent's armies
are mobilising for war. Damen's only hope of reclaiming his throne is to fight
together with Laurent against their usurpers.
Forced into
an uneasy alliance the two princes journey deep into Akielos, where they face
their most dangerous opposition yet. But even if the fragile trust they have
built survives the revelation of Damen's identity - can it stand against the
Regent's final, deadly play for the throne?
My
Review
It’s over! This beautiful fantasy trilogy is over! What am I
going to do with myself now that Laurent and Damen are no longer a part of my
reading life?! Wallow. That’s what.
This book starts off right where book two left off. This is
great because I didn’t remember a whole heck of a lot from the previous books. I
completely forgot some of the side characters’ names, as well as the places. (It’s
been years since I read the first books, don’t look at me like that!) Although,
I did notice that Damen is just as conflicted and sexy as he’s been in the past
and Laurent is just as snarky and mischievous. I honestly didn’t realize how
much I missed the two until I read the first page of Kings Rising.
Everything up until this point has been ridiculously hard
for these troubled boys. They’ve been attacked, sold into slavery, and so much
more, yet everything is kind of coming together. Maybe it came together a
little too easily, though… All of the events just tumbled into each other like
dominos and there simply didn’t seem to be a lot of hardship to get there. Don’t
get me wrong, there were some difficult tasks and battles, but none of them
really screamed “We’re at war!” to me.
I think this story is really just a fun fantasy read. It’s
not light-hearted because it deals with some very difficult subject matters
(rape, slavery, etc.), especially in the first two books, but there was more
action-y fun than angst.
All in all, this was a good addition to a really great
fantasy story. Now that it’s over, all I can hope for is that C.S. Pacat writes
some more beautiful LGBT stories in the future.
*Note: I
purchased a copy of this book for myself. This in no way affected my
opinion/review.
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Waiting on Wednesday: Walk the Edge by Katie McGarry
"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...
(Thunder Road #2)
Publication Date: March 29,
2016
Hardcover, 384 pages, Harlequin
Teen
Genres: YA, Contemporary
One moment of recklessness will change their worlds
Smart. Responsible. That's seventeen-year-old Breanna's role in
her large family, and heaven forbid she put a toe out of line. Until one night
of shockingly un-Breanna-like behavior puts her into a vicious cyber-bully's
line of fire—and brings fellow senior Thomas "Razor" Turner into her
life.
Razor lives for the Reign of Terror motorcycle club, and good
girls like Breanna just don't belong. But when he learns she's being
blackmailed over a compromising picture of the two of them—a picture that turns
one unexpected and beautiful moment into ugliness—he knows it's time to step
outside the rules.
And so they make a pact: he'll help her track down her
blackmailer, and in return she'll help him seek answers to the mystery that's
haunted him—one that not even his club brothers have been willing to discuss.
But the more time they spend together, the more their feelings grow. And
suddenly they're both walking the edge of discovering who they really are, what
they want, and where they're going from here.
My Thoughts
I
want this book. I read Nowhere But Here a few months ago and I adored it! But
Razor is the character I really want to learn about. I hope Katie continues to
deliver in this book.
What
book are you waiting on this Wednesday?
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books to Read If You're in the Mood for Fantasy
I have decided to join the awesomeness that is Top Ten Tuesday! This feature/weekly meme was created here by The Broke and the Bookish to highlight bookish things in bookish lists. How’s that for specificity?
This
week’s topic is “Ten Books to Read If You Are In The Mood For X” and for my
post, I decided to go with fantasy, just because I’m in the mood for some
fantasy so I thought some of you might be as well. I’m going to share some less
popular fantasy reads with you. I know Red
Queen and Throne of Glass are
great, but you’ve already heard so much about those, I figured something new
was in order.
Now,
onto the Top 10!
Scarlet
by A.C. Gaughen
Okay,
so technically this book is historical fiction, but it’s about Robin Hood!
Robin Hood’s a fantasy all unto himself, right? Even if you love fantasy and
are iffy on historical fiction, I’d encourage you to give this trilogy a try.
Plus, all of the books are already out. ;)
Fall
of a Kingdom by Hillari Bell
This
isn’t your typical YA fantasy. There’s no romance and it actually reads like an
adult fantasy trilogy. If the characters were older, then I would classify it
as such. The characters in this book go through some crazy stuff and have to
make some difficult choices. That’s what really dragged me into this book.
The
Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Gosh.
I read this series so long ago that I can barely remember what all happened.
What I do remember, though, is that this series is a very fun in-between middle
grade and YA read. Each book is told from a different perspective, but the world
is the same. If you’re looking for a book about a young boy thief on a new
adventure, then you should check this book out.
Captive
Prince by C.S. Pacat
I’ve
been going gaga over this series since it was available for free on the author’s
website. Now it’s in book form and I couldn’t be happier. This series features
gay main characters in a fantasy setting! It also is kind of like a New
Adult/Adult Romance. I’m not exactly sure how to categorize it. Nevertheless,
it’s amazing.
Child
of the Dark Prophecy by T.A. Barron
Because
I put the original Merlin books on here (see #5), I have to include the
spin-off series. Now, you don’t have to read the original books to read this
trilogy, but it could help you understand what’s going on. But this book has
magic, adventure, and some very interesting secrets…
The Lost
Years of Merlin by T.A. Barron
LOVE
THIS SERIES! If you love King Arthur or any retelling of Merlin, the Knights
of the Round Table, etc., then you will love this five-book series! It’s got
action, adventure, surprise revelations, and so much more! Please, please,
please, go check it out.
The
Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima
This
series is fantasy at its finest. There’s magic, complicated plots, queens,
kings, wizard schools, and so much more!
The
Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski
The
hype for this book is kind of up there, and sometimes I agree with it,
sometimes I don’t, but the second book in the series, The Winner’s Crime, is
fantastic! If you’re like me and you found yourself not too terribly impressed
with book one, just keep reading.
The
Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
Oh
my gosh! Every time I see this book I fall in love with it all over again.
There’s a heart-stopping romance, crazy-awesome secrets, and a fierce heroine
to rock your socks off!
Defiance
by C.J. Redwine
I
really wish this trilogy wasn’t over. It’s actually supposed to be a dystopian,
not a fantasy, but it reads so well as a fantasy book. There’s strange monster-ish
creatures, barbaric customs, and some kick-ass characters. Plus, Logan’s just
about as cute as the boy next door can get.
***
Well,
there you have it. Those are the top ten fantasy books I’m recommending to you. You
should definitely give them a go! If you have other fantasy books you’d like to
mention, feel free to do so in the comments!
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