Monday, October 31, 2016

Shon's October Reading Wrap Up & Book Haul

Hello Bookworms!  Another month has come to an end and that means it's time for my monthly wrap up!  I read one Books this month.

October Wrap Up



Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast 

After a Vampire Tracker Marks her with a crescent moon on her forehead, 16-year-old Zoey Redbird enters the House of Night and learns that she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess Nyx and has affinities for all five elements: Air, Fire Water, Earth and Spirit. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school’s most elite club, is mis-using her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny – with a little help from her new vampyre friends (or Nerd Herd, as Aphrodite calls them)

I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars.



October Book Haul

Yellow Brick War (Dorothy Must Die #3) by Danielle Paige

Once upon a time, there was a girl from Kansas named Dorothy.

You might know her as the Girl Who Rode the Cyclone. She ended up in Oz, where she became friends with the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion. But the temptation of magic was too much for her. She let it change her. Her friends became twisted versions of their former selves.

The magical land of Oz is now a dark and menacing place.

My name is Amy Gumm. Tornadoes must have a thing about girls from Kansas, because I got swept away on one too. I also landed in Oz, where Good is Wicked, Wicked is Good, and the Wicked Witches clued me in to my true calling:

Assassin.

The only way to stop Dorothy from destroying Oz—and Kansas—is to kill her. And I’m the only one who can do it.

But I failed. Others died for my mistakes. Because of me, the portal between the worlds has been opened and Kansas and Oz are both in danger. And if I don’t find a way to close it?

Dorothy will make sure I never get to go home again.



Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto

The two-bit town of Rogue City is a lawless place, full of dark magic and saloon brawls, monsters and six-shooters. But it’s perfect for seventeen-year-old Westie, the notorious adopted daughter of local inventor Nigel Butler.

Westie was only a child when she lost her arm and her family to cannibals on the wagon trail. Nine years later, Westie may seem fearsome with her foul-mouthed tough exterior and the powerful mechanical arm built for her by Nigel, but the memory of her past still haunts her. She’s determined to make the killers pay for their crimes—and there’s nothing to stop her except her own reckless ways.

But Westie’s search ceases when a wealthy family comes to town looking to invest in Nigel’s latest invention, a machine that can harvest magic from gold—which Rogue City desperately needs as the magic wards that surround the city start to fail. There’s only one problem: the investors look exactly like the family who murdered Westie’s kin. With the help of Nigel’s handsome but scarred young assistant, Alistair, Westie sets out to prove their guilt. But if she’s not careful, her desire for revenge could cost her the family she has now.

This thrilling novel is a remarkable tale of danger and discovery, from debut author Michelle Modesto.



Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare

In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them...



Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer

 In this third book in Marissa Meyer's bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they're plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and prevent her army from invading Earth.

Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl trapped on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she's being forced to work for Queen Levana, and she's just received orders to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is splintered. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a higher price than she'd ever expected. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai, especially the cyborg mechanic. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.


Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) by Marissa Meyer

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won't approve of her feelings for her childhood friend--the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn't as weak as Levana believes her to be and she's been undermining her stepmother's wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that's been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters? Fans will not want to miss this thrilling conclusion to Marissa Meyer's national bestselling Lunar Chronicles series.


Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won't approve of her feelings for her childhood friend--the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn't as weak as Levana believes her to be and she's been undermining her stepmother's wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that's been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters? Fans will not want to miss this thrilling conclusion to Marissa Meyer's national bestselling Lunar Chronicles series.


Unrivaled (Beautiful Idols #1) by Alyson Noel 

Everyone wants to be someone.

Layla Harrison wants to leave her beach-bum days for digs behind a reporter’s desk. Aster Amirpour wants to scream at the next casting director who tells her “we need ethnic but not your kind of ethnic.” Tommy Phillips dreams of buying a twelve-string guitar and using it to shred his way back into his famous absentee dad’s life.

But Madison Brooks took destiny and made it her bitch a long time ago.

She’s Hollywood’s hottest starlet, and the things she did to become the name on everyone’s lips are merely a stain on the pavement, ground beneath her Louboutin heel.

That is, until Layla, Aster, and Tommy find themselves with a VIP invite to the glamorous and gritty world of Los Angeles’s nightlife and lured into a high-stakes competition where Madison Brooks is the target. Just as their hopes begin to gleam like stars through the California smog, Madison Brooks goes missing. . . . And all of their hopes are blacked out in the haze of their lies.

Unrivaled is #1 New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël’s first book in a thrilling suspense trilogy about how our most desperate dreams can become our darkest nightmares. 



The Mirror King (The Orphan Queen #2) by Jodi Meadows

Wilhelmina has a hundred enemies.

HER FRIENDS HAVE TURNED. After her identity is revealed during the Inundation, Princess Wilhelmina is kept prisoner by the Indigo Kingdom, with the Ospreys lost somewhere in the devastated city. When the Ospreys’ leader emerges at the worst possible moment, leaving Wil’s biggest ally on his deathbed, she must become Black Knife to set things right.

HER MAGIC IS UNCONTROLLABLE. Wil’s power is to animate, not to give true life, but in the wraithland she commanded a cloud of wraith mist to save herself, and later ordered it solid. Now there is a living boy made of wraith—destructive and deadly, and willing to do anything for her.

HER HEART IS TORN. Though she’s ready for her crown, declaring herself queen means war. Caught between what she wants and what is right, Wilhelmina realizes the throne might not even matter. Everyone thought the wraith was years off, but already it’s destroying Indigo Kingdom villages. If she can’t protect both kingdoms, soon there won’t be a land to rule.

In this stunning conclusion to THE ORPHAN QUEEN, Jodi Meadows follows Wilhelmina’s breathtaking and brave journey from orphaned criminal on the streets to magic-wielding queen.



Ten Thousand Skies Above You (Firebird #2) by Claudia Gray

Ever since she used the Firebird, her parents' invention, to cross into alternate dimensions, Marguerite has caught the attention of enemies who will do anything to force her into helping them dominate the multiverse—even hurting the people she loves. She resists until her boyfriend, Paul, is attacked and his consciousness scattered across multiple dimensions.

Marguerite has no choice but to search for each splinter of Paul’s soul. The hunt sends her racing through a war-torn San Francisco, the criminal underworld of New York City, and a glittering Paris where another Marguerite hides a shocking secret. Each world brings Marguerite one step closer to rescuing Paul. But with each trial she faces, she begins to question the destiny she thought they shared. 



Seven Black Diamonds (Seven Black Diamonds #1) by Melissa Marr 

Lilywhite Abernathy is a criminal. Her father’s “unconventional” business has meant a life of tightly held secrets, concealed weaponry, and a strict code. But Lily’s crime isn’t being the daughter of a powerful mob boss. Her guilt lies in the other half of her DNA—the part that can coax ancient rumors from stones and summon fire with a thought. Lily is part fae, which is a crime in her world.

From the time before she was born, a war has been raging between humanity and fae. The Queen of Blood and Rage, ruler of both the Seelie and Unseelie courts, wants to avenge the tragic death of her heir—a death that was the fault of reckless humans.

Lily’s father has shielded her from the repercussions of her ancestry…until she is sent to the prestigious St. Columba’s school, straight into the arms of the Black Diamonds.

Mysterious, glamorous, and bound together in their mission but constantly at odds, Zephyr, Creed, Will, Roan, Violet, and Alkamy are a Sleeper cell of fae, planted in the human world to help destroy it from within. With covers as rock stars and celebrity children, the Black Diamonds carry out the queen’s war against humanity. And unbeknownst to Lilywhite, she’s been chosen to join them.

Now more than ever, Lily’s heritage puts her in peril, and even the romantic attention of the fae singer Creed Morrison isn’t enough to keep Lily from wanting to run back to the safer world of organized crime.

Melissa Marr returns to faery in a dramatic story of the precarious space between two worlds and the people who must thrive there


Morning Star (Red Rising #3) by Pierce Brown 

Red Rising thrilled readers and announced the presence of a talented new author. Golden Son changed the game and took the story of Darrow to the next level. Now comes the exhilarating conclusion to the Red Rising Trilogy: Morning Star.

Darrow would have lived in peace, but his enemies brought him war. The Gold overlords demanded his obedience, hanged his wife, and enslaved his people. But Darrow is determined to fight back. Risking everything to transform himself and breach Gold society, Darrow has battled to survive the cutthroat rivalries that breed Society’s mightiest warriors, climbed the ranks, and waited patiently to unleash the revolution that will tear the hierarchy apart from within.

Finally, the time has come.

But devotion to honor and hunger for vengeance run deep on both sides. Darrow and his comrades-in-arms face powerful enemies without scruple or mercy. Among them are some Darrow once considered friends. To win, Darrow will need to inspire those shackled in darkness to break their chains, unmake the world their cruel masters have built, and claim a destiny too long denied—and too glorious to surrender.


Bloodline (Star Wars canon) by Claudia Gray

A thrilling prequel to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, set roughly six years before the events of the film.

WITNESS THE BIRTH OF THE RESISTANCE

When the Rebellion defeated the Empire in the skies above Endor, Leia Organa believed it was the beginning to a lasting peace. But after decades of vicious infighting and partisan gridlock in the New Republic Senate, that hope seems like a distant memory.

Now a respected senator, Leia must grapple with the dangers that threaten to cripple the fledgling democracy—from both within and without. Underworld kingpins, treacherous politicians, and Imperial loyalists are sowing chaos in the galaxy. Desperate to take action, senators are calling for the election of a First Senator. It is their hope that this influential post will bring strong leadership to a divided galaxy.

As the daughter of Darth Vader, Leia faces with distrust the prospect of any one person holding such a powerful position—even when supporters suggest Leia herself for the job. But a new enemy may make this path Leia’s only option. For at the edges of the galaxy, a mysterious threat is growing. . . .



Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: The Illustrated Edition 

(Harry Potter, Book 2) by J.K. Rowling, Jim Kay (Illustrator)

The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.

And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.

But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone -- or something -- starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects... Harry Potter himself?

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

"Waiting On" Wednesday #9: Twisted Palace

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



Title: Twisted Palace (The Royals #3)
Author:  Erin Watt
Publisher: EverAfter Romance
Paperback Expected publication: Nov. 2nd 
Kindle & KOOK Publication: October 17th
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository 




Synopsis

These Royals will ruin you…  

From mortal enemies to unexpected allies, two teenagers try to protect everything that matters most. 

Ella Harper has met every challenge that life has thrown her way. She’s tough, resilient, and willing to do whatever it takes to defend the people she loves, but the challenge of a long-lost father and a boyfriend whose life is on the line might be too much for even Ella to overcome. 

Reed Royal has a quick temper and even faster fists. But his tendency to meet every obstacle with violence has finally caught up with him. If he wants to save himself and the girl he loves, he’ll need to rise above his tortured past and tarnished reputation. 

No one believes Ella can survive the Royals. Everyone is sure Reed will destroy them all. 

They may be right. 

With everything and everyone conspiring to keep them apart, Ella and Reed must find a way to beat the law, save their families, and unravel all the secrets in their Twisted Palace.  

By the time the paperback come out, (hopefully) our review for this book will be up.  What happen to the Kindle and paperback having the same release date? 

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday #44: Halloween related freebie



Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is Halloween related freebie: ten scary books, favorite horror novels, non-scary books to get you in the Halloween/fall mood, bookish halloween costumes, scariest covers), scary books on my TBR, etc.

Ten Picks to get into the mood of Halloween

 
 
 
Touched (series) by Elisa Amore
 
 
 
Empire of Night (Age of Legends series) by Kelley Armstrong
 
 
 
Torment (Fallen series) by Lauren Kate
 
 
 
This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
 
 
 
 World After (Penryn & the End of Days series) by Susan Ee
 
 
 
The Sin Eater’s Daughter (series) by Melinda Salisbury
 
 
 
Blessed (series) by Tonya Hurley
 
 
 
Ivory and Bone (series) by Julie Eshbaugh
 
 
 
Nevernight (series) by Jay Kristoff
 
 
 
 Rook by Sharon Cameron
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

The Cake Book Tag


The Cake Book Tag! We first discovered this tag from Cait on Paper Fury. We tag anyone who wants to do this book tag, we'd love to see your answers.


1. Flour - A book that was a little slow to start off but really picked up as it went along
  • Tina:  The Young Elites by Marie Lu (I wasn't sure if I'd like it until halfway through the book)




2. Butter - A book that had a rich, great plot
  • Tina:  A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas (omg did the story deliver! currently 4.77 rating on goodreads)




3. Eggs - A book you thought was going to be bad but actually turned out quite enjoyable
  • Tina:  Starflight by Melissa Landers (this book came in my Uppercase subscription, I wasn't sure how I feel about sci-fic and it surprised me by how quickly it captured my attention)



4. Sugar - A sugary, sweet book
  • Tina:  Not sure




5. Icing - A book that covered every single element that you enjoy about a book (funny moments, action, sad, etc.)
  • Tina:  Daughter of the Blood (The Black Jewels series) by Anne Bishop (wow this is an epic read, fully elaborated full world full bodied story that encompasses everything)




6. Sprinkles - A book series that you can kind of turn back to for a little pick me up when you're feeling down
  • Tina:  Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor (always a great series to lull me into calmess) 






7. The cherry on top - Your favorite book this year so far
  • Tina:  A Court of Mist & Fury and Ruin and Rising (The Grisha trilogy) - it's a tie for me





Friday, October 14, 2016

Friday 56! October 14, 2016





The Friday 56 is a weekly blog meme hosted by Freda’s Voice

  1. Grab a book, any book. 
  2. Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader. 
  3. Find any sentence, or few, just don't spoil it. 
  4. Post it.

"Out here, the houses go farther and farther apart until there was nothing but empty land and, tucked away in an almost-hidden drive, the Orchard. I slowed as I got closer. the entrance was always, by design I was sure, blink-and-you'll-miss-it. I was contemplating turning around and backtracking when I saw the faded sign and the narrow gravel driveway. I put on my blinker, even though I hadn't seen any other cars on the road, and turned in, pausing for a moment to look at the sign again."



From the book Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Happy Friday Everyone! 
XO,
Wendy 

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Tina Reviews: Three Dark Crowns



Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
Published September 20th 2016 by HarperTeen
Genres: Fantasy, Magic, Young Adult
Page: 398
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Review by: Tina


Synopsis


In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born—three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.

But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.

The last queen standing gets the crown.




 

Review

When I first started reading, the chapters captured my attention completely. Around halfway through it, I started to lose interest. The book isn't long and it frustrated me. It was partly because the story was dragging and the characters were extensive. Each queen is fostered by a family. So you have 9 to 12 new characters to remember. I was constantly flipping back pages to find out who is who.
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Onto the juicy bits... (warning: spoilers)

Katharine's foster family is completely dark unlike her sweet soft nature. I knew this story would be but it still shook me at how easily they talk and plot about death.

Arsinoe wasn't much of a character but she developed into a powerful force.
She is wild and rejects weakness. I like her personality and she grew on me.

What grabbed my interest was Mirabella's sentimentality. She was favored by the priestesses and I was taken aback by her emotional ties and loyalty to her sisters. I completely love that about her.

As the story progressed, Katharine's story fell through the cracks. She seemed to be the center of the story when it first began, then all of a sudden, the other two sisters took up the majority of the storyline. I didn't like how she became irrelevant.

My theory is that all 3 will rule. The story seemed to be heading in that direction. I feel it can be the start of a new era. There was a mention of circumstances before that change the outcome of the winner.


The last 80 pages were the most exhilarating.

Overall, I give it 3.5 stars. Great premise. The execution of the scene setups need more work. 








Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday #42: All About Books You Read Because of Recommendation



Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is All About Books You Read Because of Recommendation -- Ten Books I've Read Because Of Another  Blogger (Or Book Person) or Ten Books I Read On Recommendation From People Outside Of This Community or you could talk about recommendations of books you read from other sources -- a magazine, a podcast, a "because you read this" algorithm.

 

This is a list of books I'm adding to my TBR based on recommendations!

 

Tina's Picks 

 
The Novice (Summoner Series) by Taran Matharu
 
 
 
The Dreamer (Dreamland Series) by E.J. Mellow
 
 
 
The Bone Witch (series) by Rin Chupeco
 
 
 
 
Steelheart (Reckoners Series) by Brandon Sanderson

 
 
Fire and Blood (series) by Victoria Scott
 
 
 
The Stars Never Rise (series) by Rachel Vincent
 
 
 
A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird series) by Claudia Gray
 
 
 
Replica by Lauren Oliver
 
 
 
Sabriel (Abhorsen series) by Garth Nix
 
 
 
The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg
 
 

 

Friday, October 7, 2016

Friday 56!

The Friday 56 is a weekly blog meme hosted by Freda’s Voice

  1. Grab a book, any book. 
  2. Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader. 
  3. Find any sentence, or few, just don't spoil it. 
  4. Post it.
"He should be the vaivode, the warlord prince, but his brother sat on the throne, while he was governor of Saxos squatting on his own country's land. Soon he would show them his honor on the end of a sword." 


From the book And  I Darken by Kiersten White 
Happy Friday! 
Xo, 
Wendy 

The Seven Deadly Sins Tag


The Seven Deadly Sins Tag! We first discovered this tag on Crazy for YA 





1. Greed ~ What is your most inexpensive book? What is your most expensive book?

Tina: Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson ($0.99 on bookoutlet) / Winter by Marissa Meyer (B&N retail price)



Shon: Landline by Rainbow Rowell, I got it for $2.99 at Book Outlet. Soundless by Richelle Mead, paid over $20 for this book at BookCon.



2. Wrath ~ What author do you have a love/hate relationship with?

Tina: Marie Lu - I abhor the Legend series, however, she did a really good job writing The Young Elites



Shon: Sarah J Maas. I like her as a person and I enjoy watching her interviews they're always funny but her books, they put me to sleep.



3. Gluttony ~ What book have you devoured over and over again with no shame?

Tina: Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor, the only time I find peace is reading this series over and over again.


Shon: The Harry Potter series




4. Sloth ~ What book have you neglected reading due to laziness?

Tina: Marked (House of Night series) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (I do believe this series has not ended)






 


Shon: The Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan



5. Pride ~ What book do you talk about most in order to sound like an intellectual reader?

Tina: The Martian by Andy Weir (I have the best conversations with the most random people - books unite people)




 

6. Lust ~ What attributes do you find attractive in male characters?

Tina: A natural blend of cockiness and gentleness

Shon: Rock hard body, bad boy, cocky and sexy.


 

7. Envy ~ What book would you most like to receive as a gift?

Tina: Any international edition of Harry Potter

Shon: The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer