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. 

Book Review: Nocturna by Maya Motayne

Release Date: May 7th, 2019
Read: April 12th-17th, 2019
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Series: A Forgery of Magic, #1
Format: ARC, 480 pages
Source: McNally Robinson

Description from GoodReads:

To Finn Voy, magic is two things: a knife to hold under the chin of anyone who crosses her…and a disguise she shrugs on as easily as others pull on cloaks.

As a talented faceshifter, it’s been years since Finn has seen her own face, and that’s exactly how she likes it. But when Finn gets caught by a powerful mobster, she’s forced into an impossible mission: steal a legendary treasure from Castallan’s royal palace or be stripped of her magic forever.

After the murder of his older brother, Prince Alfehr is first in line for the Castallan throne. But Alfie can’t help but feel that he will never live up to his brother’s legacy. Riddled with grief, Alfie is obsessed with finding a way to bring his brother back, even if it means dabbling in forbidden magic.

But when Finn and Alfie’s fates collide, they accidentally unlock a terrible, ancient power—which, if not contained, will devour the world. And with Castallan’s fate in their hands, Alfie and Finn must race to vanquish what they have unleashed, even if it means facing the deepest darkness in their pasts. 

Book Review: Brief Chronicle of Another Stupid Heartbreak by Adi Alsaid

Release Date: April 30th, 2019
Read: April 26th-28th, 2019
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Series: Standalone
Format: ARC, 384 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for honest review

Description from GoodReads:

The summer after senior year is not going as eighteen-year-old Lu Charles expected: after her longtime boyfriend unexpectedly breaks up with her, Lu can’t write a single word, despite the fact that her college scholarship is tied to her columnist job at hip online magazine Misnomer. Then, she meets Cal.

Cal’s ever-practical girlfriend Iris is looking ahead to her first year of college, and her plans do not include a long-distance boyfriend. When Lu learns that Cal and Iris have planned to end their relationship at the end of the summer, she becomes fascinated and decides to chronicle the last months the couple will spend together.

The closer she gets to the couple, the more she likes them, and the more she wants to write about them. The summer unfurls, and Lu discovers what it really means to be in love. On the page, or off it. The book is touching exploration of love and how it shapes us both during a relationship and after it has ended.

Review: The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare & Wesley Chu

Release Date: April 9th, 2019
Read: March 28th-31st, 2019
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Series: The Eldest Curses, #1
Format: ARC, 368 pages
Source: McNally Robinson

Description from GoodReads:

Magnus Bane, a centuries old High Warlock, has taken possession of one of the great relics of the supernatural world, a powerful spell book of dark magic known as The Book of the White and there are many who want to claim it for themselves.

After the Mortal War where the part-human and part-angel Shadowhunters teamed with the part human-demon Downworlders to fight against the incursion of an army of demons, Magnus and his new lover, the mortal Alec Lightwood celebrate their survival and victory by escaping the supernatural battlefield of New York City by touring the world, but the world won’t leave them alone.

Blog Tour: You Owe Me a Murder by Eileen Cook

   Hello and welcome to the You Owe Me a Murder Blog Tour, hosted by Raincoast. I'm very excited to host one of todays stops, and I've got my review and a mini interview with the author for you. So I hope you enjoy!

You Owe Me a Murder by Eileen Cook

Release Date: March 5th, 2019

Read: February 14th-18th, 201

Publisher:  HMH Books for Young Readers

Series: Standalone

Format: ARC, 368 pages

Source: Publisher in exchange for honest review.

Description from GoodReads:

17-year-old Kim never expected to plot a murder. But that was before her boyfriend dumped her for another girl. Now, Kim’s stuck on a class trip to London with him and his new soulmate and she can’t help wishing he was a little bit dead, even if she’d never really do that.

But when Kim meets Nicki, a stranger on the plane who’s more than willing to listen to Kim’s woes, things start to look up. Nicki's got a great sense of humor, and when she jokes about swapping murders, Kim plays along—that is, until Kim’s ex-boyfriend mysteriously dies.

Blackmailed by Nicki to fulfill her end of the deal, Kim will have to commit a murder or take the fall for one.

Blog Tour: The Cold is in Her Bones by Peternelle van Arsdale

   Hello and welcome to The Cold is in Her Bones by Peternelle van Arsdale blog tour, hosted by JeanBookNerd! I'm so excited to be able to show you all my review and an excerpt from the book! If you're a fan of Medusa then you're certainly in for a treat. 

And don't forget to check out the rest of the tour stops, which I've linked at the bottom of the post.

The Cold is in Her Bones by Peternelle van Arsdale

Release Date: January 22nd, 2019

Read: January 18th-

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Series: Standalone

Format: ARC, 288 pages

Source: McNally Robinson

Description from GoodReads:

   Milla knows two things to be true: Demons are real, and fear will keep her safe.

   Milla’s whole world is her family’s farm. She is never allowed to travel to the village and her only friend is her beloved older brother, Niklas. When a bright-eyed girl named Iris comes to stay, Milla hopes her loneliness might finally be coming to an end. But Iris has a secret she’s forbidden to share: The village is cursed by a demon who possesses girls at random, and the townspeople live in terror of who it will come for next.

   Now, it seems, the demon has come for Iris. When Iris is captured and imprisoned with other possessed girls, Milla leaves home to rescue her and break the curse forever. Her only company on the journey is a terrible new secret of her own: Milla is changing, too, and may soon be a demon herself.

Blog Tour: The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Hello and welcome to The Darkest Star blog tour, hosted by Raincoast Books! I'm very excited to be apart of the tour, as I've been the biggest fan or Jennifer and her Lux series since basically forever. I can't wait for you all to continue the Lux universe with The Darkest Star! So hopefully you enjoy the tour!

The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Release Date: October 30th, 2018

Read: September 20th - October 1st, 2018

Publisher: Tor Teen

Series: Origin, #1

Format: ARC, 368 pages

Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

Description from GoodReads:

   When seventeen-year-old Evie Dasher is caught up in a raid at a notorious club known as one of the few places where humans and the surviving Luxen can mingle freely, she meets Luc, an unnaturally beautiful guy she initially assumes is a Luxen...but he is in fact something much more powerful. Her growing attraction for Luc will lead her deeper and deeper into a world she'd only heard about, a world where everything she thought she knew will be turned on its head...

Book Review: The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee

Release Date: October 2nd, 2018
Read: October 1st-5th, 2018
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Series: Montague Siblings, #2
Format: ARC, 450 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for honest review.

Description from GoodReads:

   A year after an accidentally whirlwind grand tour with her brother Monty, Felicity Montague has returned to England with two goals in mind—avoid the marriage proposal of a lovestruck suitor from Edinburgh and enroll in medical school. However, her intellect and passion will never be enough in the eyes of the administrators, who see men as the sole guardians of science.

   But then a window of opportunity opens—a doctor she idolizes is marrying an old friend of hers in Germany. Felicity believes if she could meet this man he could change her future, but she has no money of her own to make the trip. Luckily, a mysterious young woman is willing to pay Felicity’s way, so long as she’s allowed to travel with Felicity disguised as her maid.

   In spite of her suspicions, Felicity agrees, but once the girl’s true motives are revealed, Felicity becomes part of a perilous quest that leads them from the German countryside to the promenades of Zurich to secrets lurking beneath the Atlantic.

Book Review: Sea Witch by Sarah Henning

Release Date: July 31st, 2018
Read: August 25th-26th, 2018
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Series: Standalone
Format: Hardcover, 368 pages
Source: McNally Robinson

Description of GoodReads:

   Everyone knows what happens in the end. A mermaid, a prince, a true love’s kiss. But before that young siren’s tale, there were three friends. One feared, one royal, and one already dead.

   Ever since her best friend, Anna, drowned, Evie has been an outcast in her small fishing town. A freak. A curse. A witch. 

   A girl with an uncanny resemblance to Anna appears offshore and, though the girl denies it, Evie is convinced that her best friend actually survived. That her own magic wasn’t so powerless after all. And, as the two girls catch the eyes—and hearts—of two charming princes, Evie believes that she might finally have a chance at her own happily ever after.

   But her new friend has secrets of her own. She can’t stay in Havnestad, or on two legs, unless Evie finds a way to help her. Now Evie will do anything to save her friend’s humanity, along with her prince’s heart—harnessing the power of her magic, her ocean, and her love until she discovers, too late, the truth of her bargain. 

Book Review: Legendary by Stephanie Garber

Release Day: May 29th, 2018
Read: August 5th-8th, 2018
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Series: Caraval, #2
Format: ARC, 451 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for a honest review

Description from GoodReads:

   A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.

   After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.

   The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister's. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice. But now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever.

   Welcome, welcome to Caraval...the games have only just begun. 

Book Review: The Traitor's Ruin by Erin Beaty

Release Day: July 10th, 2018
Read: July 18th, 2018
Publisher: Imprint
Series: The Traitor's Cycle, #2
Format: ARC, 384 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Description from GoodReads:

   After proving her worth in book one as a deft spy and strategic matchmaker, Sage Fowler is now comfortably positioned in high society as the royal tutor. When she’s called upon to teach his majesty’s soldiers how to read and write, she jumps at the chance to serve her kingdom of Demora—and to be reunited with her fiancé, Captain Alex Quinn. 

   During a skirmish, Sage and Alex are separated. She watches him die before he can deliver important military intel—or so she thinks. She escapes from the enemy and makes an unlikely alliance with a mysterious soldier from a third nation. As Sage tries to rally their support against a common foe, the important political alliance is plagued by secrets and betrayal. 

   Can Sage complete Alex’s mission and save her kingdom once more? 

Book Review: The Deepest Roots by Miranda Asebedo

Release Date: September 18th, 2018
Read: June 14th - 24th, 2018
Publisher: HarperTeen
Series: Standalone
Format: ARC, 320 pages
Source: McNally Robinson Booksellers

Description from GoodReads:

   Cottonwood Hollow, Kansas, is a strange place. For the past century, every girl has been born with a special talent, like the ability to Fix any object, Heal any wound, or Find what is missing.

   Best friends Rome, Lux, and Mercy all have similar talents, but to them, their abilities often feel like a curse. Rome may be able to Fix anything she touches, but that won’t help her mom pay rent or make it any easier to confide in Lux and Mercy about what’s going on at home. And Rome isn’t the only one. Lux has been hiding bigger, more dangerous secrets.

   As Rome struggles to keep her friendships close, she discovers the truth about life in Cottonwood Hollow—that friends are stronger than curses, that trust is worth the risk, and sometimes, what you’ve been looking for has been under your feet the whole time.

Book Review: To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

Release Date: March 6th, 2018
Read: March 26th-April 2nd, 2018
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Series: Standalone
Format: ARC, 342 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for honest review

Description from GoodReads:

   Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

   The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?

Book Review: North of Happy by Adi Alsaid

Release Date: April 25ht, 2017
Read: August 6-9th, 2017
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Series: Standalone
Format: Hardcover, 368 pages
Source: Bought

Description from GoodReads:

   His whole life has been mapped out for him…

   Carlos Portillo has always led a privileged and sheltered life. A dual citizen of Mexico and the US, he lives in Mexico City with his wealthy family, where he attends an elite international school. Always a rule follower and a parent pleaser, Carlos is more than happy to tread the well-worn path in front of him. He has always loved food and cooking, but his parents see it as just a hobby.

   When his older brother, Felix—who has dropped out of college to live a life of travel—is tragically killed, Carlos begins hearing his brother’s voice, giving him advice and pushing him to rebel against his father’s plan for him. Worrying about his mental health, but knowing the voice is right, Carlos runs away to the United States and manages to secure a job with his favorite celebrity chef. As he works to improve his skills in the kitchen and pursue his dream, he begins to fall for his boss’s daughter—a fact that could end his career before it begins. Finally living for himself, Carlos must decide what’s most important to him and where his true path really lies.

Review:

   What a world.

   As most of you know, I am the biggest Adi Alsaid fan. I own all his books, and am always impatient for his next latest and greatest. It was no different with North of Happy.

   One thing I learned right away from North of Happy, was that I was going to be constantly hungry while reading the book. The book is about Carlos, a kid with a love of cooking and food. With saying this, you get a lot of different recipes that keep popping up while you read, the same with at the beginning of each chapter. The book starts out with a recipe to start off each chapter, so you get somewhat of an idea of what each character is eating and of what you suddenly want to eat. One thing I didn't enjoy about the book was that the recipes were not whole/complete recipes, so you were left wondering how to actually make the dish.

   There are a lot of times when in YA when the character does and acts a completely different way than teens do in real life, by them being the "outcast" or "stood out from the others". North of Happy actually has realistic characters. Carlos and his friends did things that I would have done right before going into University, drinking after work, hanging out late into the night, making the mistake of choosing one thing over another, heck, I still do all of that. It was refreshing to actually be able to relate to a character for the first time in a long time.

   Finally, I really enjoyed how the novel showed how Carlos got over his grief. Grief never goes away, you just have to learn how to live with it, and that's exactly what Carlos did. The grief was always a constant in the novel, and how Carlos eventually came to terms with it. It was all nicely written and I couldn't have done it better myself.

   North of Happy has quickly become one of my favourite contemporary novels, and like always, I can't wait to see what Adi Alsaid has in store for us next. 

Rating:

Favourite Quote:

"Plain Omelet: 3 eggs, who the fuck knows?"

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Food, Grief, Being hungry while reading

Blog Tour: Invictus by Ryan Graudin

   Hello and welcome to the Invictus Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours! I am so happy to be apart of the tour, and an not wait to introduce you to the book! I'm a huge fan of Ryan Graudin and I hope you will be too! Today I have for you my review of the book as well as a giveaway, I hope you enjoy!

Invictus by Ryan Graudin

Release Date: September 26th, 2017

Read: September 20th-28th, 2017

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Series: Standalone

Format: ARC, 464 pages

Source: Publisher in exchange for honest review

Description from GoodReads:

   Time flies when you're plundering history.

   Farway Gaius McCarthy was born outside of time. The son of a time-traveling Recorder from 2354 AD and a gladiator living in Rome in 95 AD, Far's birth defies the laws of nature. Exploring history himself is all he's ever wanted, and after failing his final time-traveling exam, Far takes a position commanding a ship with a crew of his friends as part of a black market operation to steal valuables from the past. 

   But during a heist on the sinking Titanic, Far meets a mysterious girl who always seems to be one step ahead of him. Armed with knowledge that will bring Far's very existence into question, she will lead Far and his team on a race through time to discover a frightening truth: History is not as steady as it seems.

Review:

   Make a wish. Make it count.

   Three years ago I received a copy of Wolf by Wolf and could not put it down. It was full of action, adventure and mystery. Since then Ryan Graudin has become an instant buy for me, Invictus was one of those buys.

   I couldn't help but fall in love with the story of the time keeper and gladiator. The small bits we got at the beginning of the novel and at the end just weren't enough to satisfy me. I honestly could have read an entire book about the two of them, if Ryan announced a book tomorrow about the two of them I'd be the first one to pre-order.

   I found Invictus to be a little different when it came to the romance aspect of the novel. Most of the time the main characters will find love at some point in the novel, but in this case Far was already in a relationship when we met him. The developing romance were more focused on the secondary characters, and I couldn't have been happier about that. Everything about the romances in the novel were exceptional, they weren't the main focus of the novel, and they weren't anything but innocent and fun. I found their relationships rather fun to read.

   The story itself was exciting to read, I loved that they were able to time travel to whenever they wanted just because of the bargain they made. I understood how and why Far failed his exam, but I couldn't help but wonder what the story would have been like if he had passed. That's another book I would gladly read, an actual story about a time keeper going through time recording things. If she just wrote the story about Far's mom and the gladiator, and how she records time I would be so happy.

   Time traveling pirates, that's what I was expecting from Invictus. The description of the book tells us about a time traveling team who steals artifacts from historic events, oh and the captain just happens to be the product of a roman gladiator and a time traveling time keeper. Even with not particularly enjoying time travel, the premise sounded perfect. Unfortunately after reading the book I feel like the synopsis of the book did not suit the overall story that took place in the novel. In fact I feel like it put your heart in a different direction than what actually happens in the novel. Or at least, that's how it was for me.

   Invictus ended up being something completely different than what I initially expected, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. I can not wait to see what Ryan Graudin has in store for us next! Hopefully it'll be the story of his mom.... just saying.

Rating:

Favourite Quote:

"Are you you without your memories? If not, who do you become?"

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

Young Adult, Time Travel, Saving the world, Villains turned hero, alternative universes, Guardians of the Galaxy

Ryan Graudin grew up in Charleston and graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in Creative Writing in 2009. She is the author of All That Glows and The Walled City. She resides near Charleston with her husband and wolf-dog. You can find her online at www.ryangraudin.com. 

3 winners will receive a finished copy of INVICTUS, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

   Thank you so much for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed the tour!

Week One:

9/25/2017- Mary Had a Little Book Blog- Review

9/26/2017- The Petite Book Blogger- Review

9/27/2017- Seeing Double In Neverland- Review

9/28/2017- Mom with a Reading Problem- Review

9/29/2017- That Book Gal- Review

Week Two:

10/2/2017- Feed Your Fiction Addiction- Review

10/3/2017- The Book Nut- Review

10/4/2017- Omg Books and More Books- Review

10/5/2017- Wonderland Novels- Review

10/6/2017- Ohana Reads- Review

Book Review: The Traitor's Kiss by Erin Beaty

Release Date: May 9th, 2017
Read: April 18th-20th, 2017
Publisher: Imprint
Series: Traitor's Trilogy, #1
Format: ARC, 352 pages
Source: Publisher/Raincoast Books in exchange for honest review

Description from GoodReads:

   An obstinate girl who will not be married. 

   A soldier desperate to prove himself. 

   A kingdom on the brink of war.

   With a sharp tongue and an unruly temper, Sage Fowler is not what they’d call a lady―which is perfectly fine with her. Deemed unfit for marriage, Sage is apprenticed to a matchmaker and tasked with wrangling other young ladies to be married off for political alliances. She spies on the girls―and on the soldiers escorting them.

   As the girls' military escort senses a political uprising, Sage is recruited by a handsome soldier to infiltrate the enemy ranks. The more she discovers as a spy, the less certain she becomes about whom to trust―and Sage becomes caught in a dangerous balancing act that will determine the fate of her kingdom. 

Review:

   After living the longest and worst days of my life, I can not wait any longer to hold you again.
   Before getting my hands on Traitor's Kiss to read and review, I heard quite a few different things about the book. Things ranging from it being a Mulan retelling, to receiving backlash for offending POC. In the end I received a copy for review, and even though I'd usually avoid something that's received bad praise for cases like this, I still ended up reading it for the publisher.

   Right as you begin the book you notice why there is the backlash, just as the characters are being described, Erin Beaty insensitively refers to the Asian characters as dark when their complexion is described, and in some cases even refers to them "fading in the shadows". This happens throughout the book, sometimes frequently and sometimes not. With this being Beaty's first novel, one can hope that she has learned from her mistakes when it comes to future novels.

   Although I was first introduced to the novel as a Mulan retelling, I wouldn't recommend it to people as one, I find that introduction to be a bit of a stretch from the truth. The novel itself does feature a lot of resemblances to the beloved story, but the story itself as a whole can't be seen as one. With connections to matchmakers, soldiers, and even some disguised deception, it's understandable why it was originally described as such.

   I've read a lot of fantasy in my days of being an avid reader, a lot of them featuring soldiers and generals, etc. Never have I read a fantasy so in depth when regarding the tactics and strategies of the soldiers. The way Beaty described how Captain Quinn and his men acted was so intriguing and different all at once. Once I finished the novel I learnt that this was because Beaty was once a weapons specialist as well as a leadership instructor and actually knew her stuff. I found her expertise made the novel all that much more exciting, and found myself wanting to continue on with the book just because of the tactics and strategies.

   I was a bit conflicted with our female protagonist Sage, her character fell into the trope of believing that she wasn't like the other girls in the regard that she shouldn't be given to the matchmaker to have her wed. Throughout the book when she travels with the Matchmaker, she even looks down upon the girls who her Matchmaker is setting up with people. When it came to her in these regards, I couldn't stand her. But in another case, I also admired and liked her for her spying techniques. I think the spying made her all that more interesting, but I wouldn't say that I'm a fan of hers.

   If you're willing to look past the why Beaty describes her characters complexions, then I think Traitor's Kiss was a hit! I do not believe that a sequel has been purchased by the publisher quite yet, but when it does you can certainly see me on the top of the list of people who want to read it!

Rating:

Favourite Quote:

"You're a complication, Sage, one I never could have planned for."

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Military, Matchmaking, Strategy