Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Waiting on Wednesday: (66)

Instant Karma 

Marissa Meyer
Feiwel & Friends
Expected: November 3, 2020

Description from GoodReads:

In this young adult contemporary romance, a girl is suddenly gifted with the ability to cast instant karma on those around her—both good and bad.

Chronic overachiever Prudence Daniels is always quick to cast judgment on the lazy, rude, and arrogant residents of her coastal town. Her dreams of karmic justice are fulfilled when, after a night out with her friends, she wakes up with the sudden ability to cast instant karma on those around her. Pru giddily makes use of the power, punishing everyone from public vandals to karaoke hecklers, but there is one person on whom her powers consistently backfire: Quint Erickson, her slacker of a lab partner and all-around mortal enemy. Soon, Pru begins to uncover truths about Quint, her peers, and even herself that reveal how thin the line is between virtue and vanity, generosity and greed . . . love and hate. 


Why I Want It:

As you all know, I've been a fan of Marissa Meyer ever since I saw Cinder advertised in a magazine before its release. Since then, she's an auto buy author for me.

Although, I'm not usually as big of a contemporary fan as I am a fantasy fan, but I can't help but count down the days until Instant Karma's release. 

Fun fact about Prudence and her karma casting abilities, she was originally a character in Meyer's Renegades series, until the idea for this book struck her. I've been excited for Instant Karma ever since I read that interview. 


That's my Waiting on Wednesday this week! Will you be picking up Instant Karma? What are you waiting on this week?


Friday, June 12, 2020

Recommendation Fridays: The Lady Janies by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows and Brodi Ashton


I discovered My Lady Jane when I received a hardcover in OwlCrate's Royalty box for June 2016. I had read at least one book from each of the authors previously, I took My Lady Jane on a camping trip with me and the rest is history.

The series plays with history and adds a comedic and slight paranormal twist to those stories. My Lady Jane is the story of Jane Grey, with a hint of shapeshifters. My Plain Jane is the story of Jane Eyre, with a hint of ghosts. And the upcoming release, My Calamity Jane, is the story of Calamity Jane, with a hint of garou. Or in other words, a werewolf.

These stories area ton of fun and are perfect for fans of the original tales. I have yet to read My Calamity Jane, but I know it's going to be the best one yet.

I would recommend the series for fans of the following books and genres:
Historical Fiction, Comedy, Paranormal, Retellings, Jane Eyre, Jane Grey, Calamity Jane

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

Release Date: June 7, 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Series: The Lady Janies, #1
Format: Hardcover, 512 pages


Description from GoodReads:


Edward (long live the king) is the King of England. He’s also dying, which is inconvenient, as he’s only sixteen and he’d much rather be planning for his first kiss than considering who will inherit his crown…

Jane (reads too many books) is Edward’s cousin, and far more interested in books than romance. Unfortunately for Jane, Edward has arranged to marry her off to secure the line of succession. And there’s something a little odd about her intended…

Gifford (call him G) is a horse. That is, he’s an Eðian (eth-y-un, for the uninitiated). Every day at dawn he becomes a noble chestnut steed—but then he wakes at dusk with a mouthful of hay. It’s all very undignified.

The plot thickens as Edward, Jane, and G are drawn into a dangerous conspiracy. With the fate of the kingdom at stake, our heroes will have to engage in some conspiring of their own. But can they pull off their plan before it’s off with their heads?

Read Ohana Reads' Review of My Lady Jane


My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

Release Date: June 26, 2018
Publisher: HarperTeen
Series: My Lady Janies, #2
Format: Hardcover, 447 pages


Description from GoodReads:


You may think you know the story. After a miserable childhood, penniless orphan Jane Eyre embarks on a new life as a governess at Thornfield Hall. There, she meets one dark, brooding Mr. Rochester. Despite their significant age gap (!) and his uneven temper (!!), they fall in love—and, Reader, she marries him. (!!!)

Or does she?

Prepare for an adventure of Gothic proportions, in which all is not as it seems, a certain gentleman is hiding more than skeletons in his closets, and one orphan Jane Eyre, aspiring author Charlotte Brontë, and supernatural investigator Alexander Blackwood are about to be drawn together on the most epic ghost hunt this side of Wuthering Heights.

Read Ohana Reads' Review of My Plain Jane



My Calamity Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

Release Date: June 2, 2020
Publisher: HarperTeen
Series: My Lady Janies, #3
Format: Hardcover, 516


Description from GoodReads:


Welcome ​to 1876 and a rootin’-tootin’ America bursting with gunslingers, outlaws, and garou.

JANE (a genuine hero-eene)

Calamity’s her name, and garou hunting’s her game—when she’s not starring in Wild Bill’s Traveling Show, that is. She reckons that if a girl wants to be a legend, she should just go ahead and be one.

FRANK (*wolf whistle*)
Frank “the Pistol Prince” Butler is the Wild West’s #1 bachelor. He’s also the best sharpshooter on
both sides of the Mississippi, but he’s about to meet his match. . . .

ANNIE (get your gun!)
Annie Oakley (yep, that Annie) is lookin’ for a job, not a romance, but she can’t deny there’s something about Frank she likes. Really likes. Still, she’s pretty sure that anything he can do,
she can do better.

A HAIRY SITUATION
After a garou hunt goes south and Jane finds a suspicious-like bite on her arm, she turns tail for Deadwood, where there’s been talk of a garou cure. But things ain’t always what they seem—meaning the gang better hightail it after her before they’re a day late and a Jane short.


   And that's The Lady Janies by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows. The series is filled with cute and hilarious scenes, I hope you guys enjoy the series as much as I do.


Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Waiting on Wednesday: (65)

Rebecca Schaeffer
Market of Monsters, #3
HMH Books for Young Readers 
Expected: September 8th, 2020


Description from GoodReads:


Nita finally has Fabricio, the boy who betrayed her to the black market, within her grasp. But when proof that Kovit’s a zannie—a monster who eats pain in order to survive—is leaked to the world, Nita must reevalute her plans.
 
With enemies closing in on all sides, the only way out is for Nita and Kovit to take on the most dangerous man in the world: Fabricio’s father. He protects the secrets of the monsters who run the black market. Stealing those secrets could be the one thing that stands between Nita and Kovit and certain death in the thrilling conclusion to the trilogy that began with the critically acclaimed Not Even Bones.

Why I Want It:


Anything bloody and murderous is right up my alley, add some paranormal and you know I'm your gal. When I first picked up Not Even Bones, I hand sold it to anyone at work who would listen.  I read Only Ashes Remain this past summer and have been dying to get my hands on When Villains Rise ever since. 


That's my Waiting on Wednesday this week! Will you be picking up When Villains Rise? What are you waiting on this week?



Monday, April 20, 2020

Bookstagram Mondays: (3)


My family on my dad's side is german, my grandparents were from Germany. My sisters and I went to a german immersion school growing up. I took german classes until I was in grade 10. 

While I've grown rusty over the years, I still collect german editions of books. I don't have a huge selection as it's expensive to ship from Germany, and the books are just expensive in general, but I'm proud of my collection. 

Do you collect different language books?

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Buy Local: McNally Robinson Booksellers

Today I wanted to give a shout out to my local indie, and place of employment, McNally Robinson Booksellers. 

Like most places, they're currently closed to the public, but they are still selling by phone and on their  website.

If you're looking to splurge a bit, or are in need of another book to read, may I recommend checking them out?

They offer $8 CAD shipping to ANYWHERE in Canada if you spend $30 CAD, and offer next day delivery within Winnipeg and Saskatoon for as low as $5 CAD. 

They also offer contactless curbside pick up at both the Winnipeg and Saskatoon locations. 

Remember, in times like these, local shops are the ones that suffer. So, don't forget to give them a little love. 

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Book Review: Frozen Beauty by Lexa Hillyer

Release Date: March 17th, 2020
Read: March 21st - 23rd, 2020
Publisher: HarperTeen
Series: Standalone
Format: Hardcover, 368 pages
Source: HarperCollins


Description from GoodReads:


Everyone in Devil’s Lake knows the three golden Malloy sisters—but one of them is keeping a secret that will turn their little world inside out….

No one knows exactly what happened to Kit in the woods that night—all they have are a constellation of facts: icy blue lips and fingers cold to the touch, a lacy bra, an abandoned pick-up truck with keys still in the ignition. Still, Tessa, even in her fog of grief, is certain that her sister’s killer wasn’t Boyd, the boy next door whom they’ve all loved in their own way. There are too many details that don’t add up, too many secrets still tucked away.

But no matter how fiercely she searches for answers, at the core of that complicated night is a truth that’s heartbreakingly simple.

Told in lush, haunting prose, Frozen Beauty is a story of the intoxicating power of first love, the deep bonds of sisterhood, and a shocking death that will forever change the living.

Friday, April 10, 2020

Book Review: The Betrothed by Kiera Cass

Release Date: May 5, 2020
Read: February 28-29th, 2020
Publisher: HarperCollin's Children's Books
Series: The Betrothed, #1
Format: ARC, 400 pages
Source: McNally Robinson



Description from GoodReads:


When King Jameson declares his love for Lady Hollis Brite, Hollis is shocked—and thrilled. After all, she’s grown up at Keresken Castle, vying for the king’s attention alongside other daughters of the nobility. Capturing his heart is a dream come true.

But Hollis soon realizes that falling in love with a king and being crowned queen may not be the happily ever after she thought it would be. And when she meets a commoner with the mysterious power to see right into her heart, she finds that the future she really wants is one that she never thought to imagine. 


Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Waiting on Wednesday: (64)

Alicia Jasinska
The Dark Tide, #1
Sourcebooks Fire
Expected: June 2nd, 2020

Description from GoodReads:

Every year on St. Walpurga's Eve, Caldella's Witch Queen lures a boy back to her palace. An innocent life to be sacrificed on the full moon to keep the island city from sinking.

Lina Kirk is convinced her brother is going to be taken this year. To save him, she enlists the help of Thomas Lin, the boy she secretly loves, and the only person to ever escape from the palace. But they draw the queen's attention, and Thomas is chosen as the sacrifice.

Queen Eva watched her sister die to save the boy she loved. Now as queen, she won't make the same mistake. She's willing to sacrifice anyone if it means saving herself and her city.

When Lina offers herself to the queen in exchange for Thomas's freedom, the two girls await the full moon together. But Lina is not at all what Eva expected, and the queen is nothing like Lina envisioned. Against their will, they find themselves falling for each other. As water floods Caldella's streets and the dark tide demands its sacrifice, they must choose who to save: themselves, each other, or the island city relying on them both.

Why I Want It:

Besides the obviously gorgeous cover, I'm really excited to The Dark Tide because I'm obsessed with anything and everything witchy. Sprinkle some sapphric love, and you've got me hooked.  

I've been lucky enough to get an ARC of The Dark Tide and will hopefully read it this month, so I'll let you guys know how much I love it when I'm done. 


That's my Waiting on Wednesday this week! Will you be picking up The Dark Tide? What are you waiting on this week?



Monday, April 6, 2020

Bookstagram Mondays: (2)


There is something fancy about lining up book spines and seeing them all from the same publisher. To me, it just goes to show you how many different kinds of styles of books are being published.

For my Bookstagram photo for today, I'm focusing on the HarperTeen imprint with some of my past favourites and some new books that I'm anticipating.

Are there any publishers that you just gravitate towards, or any imprint logos that you just can't help but like looking at?


Saturday, April 4, 2020

Book Review: All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace

Release Date: February 4th, 2020
Read: January 29th -February 11th, 2020
Publisher: Imprint
Series: All the Stars and Teeth, #1
Format: ARC, 384 pages
Source: McNally Robinson



Description from GoodReads:


She will reign.

As princess of the island kingdom Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her entire life training to be High Animancer—the master of souls. The rest of the realm can choose their magic, but for Amora, it’s never been a choice. To secure her place as heir to the throne, she must prove her mastery of the monarchy’s dangerous soul magic.

When her demonstration goes awry, Amora is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with Bastian, a mysterious pirate: he’ll help her prove she’s fit to rule, if she’ll help him reclaim his stolen magic.

But sailing the kingdom holds more wonder—and more peril—than Amora anticipated. A destructive new magic is on the rise, and if Amora is to conquer it, she’ll need to face legendary monsters, cross paths with vengeful mermaids, and deal with a stow-away she never expected… or risk the fate of Visidia and lose the crown forever.

I am the right choice. The only choice. And I will protect my kingdom.


Thursday, April 2, 2020

Monthly TBR: April 2020



My GoodReads Reading Challenge is really suffering bad this year. I just can't seem to get out of my slump. So for April, I've decided to read some titles that I've been highly anticipating as well as focusing on some Canadian titles that I've been anticipating.

April TBR Pile







 And that's my TBR for the month! We'll see if I actually get all or any of these read, but only time will tell.

 What are you reading this month?


Thursday, January 23, 2020

Book Review: Infinity Son by Adam Silvera

Release Date: January 14, 2020
Read: January 14th-22nd, 2020
Publisher: HarperTeen
Series: Infinity Cycle, #1
Format: ARC, 368 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for honest review




Description from GoodReads:


Growing up in New York, brothers Emil and Brighton always idolized the Spell Walkers—a vigilante group sworn to rid the world of specters. While the Spell Walkers and other celestials are born with powers, specters take them, violently stealing the essence of endangered magical creatures.

Brighton wishes he had a power so he could join the fray. Emil just wants the fighting to stop. The cycle of violence has taken a toll, making it harder for anyone with a power to live peacefully and openly. In this climate of fear, a gang of specters has been growing bolder by the day.

Then, in a brawl after a protest, Emil manifests a power of his own—one that puts him right at the heart of the conflict and sets him up to be the heroic Spell Walker Brighton always wanted to be.

Brotherhood, love, and loyalty will be put to the test, and no one will escape the fight unscathed. 

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Book Review: The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

Release Date: February 25, 2020
Read: October 20-22th, 2019
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Series: Standalone
Format: ARC, 336 pages
Source: McNally Robinson


Description from GoodReads:
Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:

1) Woo the Shadow King.
2) Marry him.
3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.

No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.


But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen?

Friday, January 17, 2020

Book Review: Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki & Rosemary Valero-O’Connell

Release Date: May 21st, 2019
Read: May 18, 2019
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Series: Standalone
Format: Paperback, 304 pages
Source: McNally Robinson




Description from GoodReads:


All Freddy Riley wants is for Laura Dean to stop breaking up with her. The day they got back together was the best one of Freddy’s life, but nothing’s made sense since. Laura Dean is popular, funny and SO CUTE … but she can be really thoughtless, even mean. Their on-again, off-again relationship has Freddy’s head spinning — and Freddy’s friends can’t understand why she keeps going back.

When Freddy consults the services of a local mystic, the mysterious Seek-Her, she isn’t thrilled with the advice she receives. But something’s got to give: Freddy’s heart is breaking in slow motion, and she may be about to lose her very best friend as well as her last shred of self-respect. Fortunately for Freddy, there are new friends, and the insight of advice columnist Anna Vice, to help her through being a teenager in love.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Waiting on Wednesday (64)

Night of the Dragon

Julie Kagawa
Shadow of the Fox, #3
Inkyard Press
Expected: March 31, 2020

Description from GoodReads:


Kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko has given up the final piece of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers in order to save everyone she loves from imminent death. Now she and her ragtag band of companions must journey to the wild sea cliffs of Iwagoto in a desperate last-chance effort to stop the Master of Demons from calling upon the Great Kami dragon and making the wish that will plunge the empire into destruction and darkness.

Shadow clan assassin Kage Tatsumi has regained control of his body and agreed to a true deal with the devil—the demon inside him, Hakaimono. They will share his body and work with Yumeko and their companions to stop a madman and separate Hakaimono from Tatsumi and the cursed sword that had trapped the demon for nearly a millennium.

But even with their combined skills and powers, this most unlikely team of heroes knows the forces of evil may be impossible to overcome. And there is another player in the battle for the scroll, a player who has been watching, waiting for the right moment to pull strings that no one even realized existed…until now.


Why I Want It:


I love Julie Kagawa's writing. Julie is one of my auto-buy authors, and has been since The Iron King, back when I read it in 2011. 

The Night of the Dragon is the third and final book in the Shadow of the Fox trilogy. Full of monsters, magic and a little bit of mischief, this series is perfect for anyone looking to start a mythical new series.

That's my Waiting on Wednesday this week! Will you be picking up Night of the Dragon? What are you waiting on this week?

Monday, January 13, 2020

Bookstagram Mondays: (1)


Illustrated covers have been a major trend in the past year for teen books. And as much as I like cover models, I love illustrated covers so much more. 

Charlie Bowater is one of my all time favourite illustrators. She's currently ruling the YA illustrated kingdom with so many gorgeous covers. She's known for the Skyward, and Aurora Cycle series covers, as well as the various standalone Margaret Rogerson covers. 

Above is what my collection of Charlie Bowater covers, with a few more on pre-order. 

Do you have a favourite illustrator?

Are you a fan of Charlie Bowater?

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Top 10 Most Anticipated Reads of the First Half of 2020

A new year, a lot of new books. And with every new year, comes a bunch that you're dying to read. Below are 10 of my most anticipated reads of the first half of 2020. Because, of course, there will be 10 more that I'm dying read come fall.

  

And those are them. What are some of your anticipated reads for 2020? Are you excited for any of these titles?