Showing posts with label Jessica Cluess. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jessica Cluess. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Waiting on Wednesday: (62)

A Poison Dark and Drowning 

Jessica Cluess
Kingdom on Fire, #2
Random House Books for Young Readers
Expected: September 19th, 2017


Description from GoodReads:


   The magicians want her to lead.
   The sorcerers want her to lie.
   The demons want her blood.
   Henrietta wants to save the one she loves.
   But will his dark magic be her undoing?


   Henrietta doesn't need a prophecy to know that she's in danger. She came to London to be named the chosen one, the first female sorcerer in centuries, the one who would defeat the Ancients. Instead, she discovered a city ruled by secrets. And the biggest secret of all: Henrietta is not the chosen one.

   Still, she must play the role in order to keep herself and Rook, her best friend and childhood love, safe. But can she truly save him? The poison in Rook's system is transforming him into something monstrous as he begins to master dark powers of his own. So when Henrietta finds a clue to the Ancients past that could turn the tide of the war, she persuades Blackwood, the mysterious Earl of Sorrow-Fell, to travel up the coast to seek out strange new weapons. And Magnus, the brave, reckless flirt who wants to win back her favor, is assigned to their mission. Together, they will face monsters, meet powerful new allies, and uncover the most devastating weapon of all: the truth.

Why I Want It:


   A Shadow Bright and Burning happened to be one of the many ARCs that I picked up at BEA 2016, and since I had the ARC already, I decided to sign up for the Blog Tour. Who would have thought that I'd eventually fall in love with this sudden chance of a book? Since September of last year I've been dying to get my hands on the sequel! Magicians, Sorcerers, Magic, Demons and chosen ones that aren't actually the chosen ones, who could want anything less?


   That's my Waiting on Wednesday this week! Will you be picking up A Poison Dark and Drowning? What are you waiting on this week?



Sunday, January 22, 2017

Ohana Talks: Top 10 Favourite Reads of 2016


   I had many favourite reads of 2016, and even though we're already 22 days into 2017, I still want to  share them with you! So these are the books that I continue to find myself thinking of, every now and then, even when I had read some of them last January. Some were published in 2016, some in 2017, and some in 2015! So without further ado! 




Top 10 Favourite Reads of 2016




   And those are them! Did you guys love these guys too? Which were your favourites of 2016? I'd love to hear what those were!

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Ohana Talks: Favourite Debut Authors of 2016


   Hello, hello, hello! 
   Today, on Ohana Talks, I'm going to tell you guys about my top favourite Debut authors of 2016. There were a lot of fabulous debut authors this year. Unfortunately I wasn't able to read all their books but from the year, but out of the ones I did read, here were some of my favourites! I already can't wait to read what they have next in stored for us!


Katherine McGee

HarperCollins
Released: August 30th, 2016


Description from GoodReads:


   New York City as you’ve never seen it before.

   A thousand-story tower stretching into the sky. A glittering vision of the future, where anything is possible—if you want it enough.

   Welcome to Manhattan, 2118.

   A hundred years in the future, New York is a city of innovation and dreams. But people never change: everyone here wants something…and everyone has something to lose.

   Leda Cole’s flawless exterior belies a secret addiction—to a drug she never should have tried and a boy she never should have touched.

   Eris Dodd-Radson’s beautiful, carefree life falls to pieces when a heartbreaking betrayal tears her family apart.

   Rylin Myers’s job on one of the highest floors sweeps her into a world—and a romance—she never imagined…but will her new life cost Rylin her old one?

   Watt Bakradi is a tech genius with a secret: he knows everything about everyone. But when he’s hired to spy by an upper-floor girl, he finds himself caught up in a complicated web of lies.

   And living above everyone else on the thousandth floor is Avery Fuller, the girl genetically designed to be perfect. The girl who seems to have it all—yet is tormented by the one thing she can never have.

   Amid breathtaking advancement and high-tech luxury, five teenagers struggle to find their place at the top of the world. But when you’re this high up, there’s nowhere to go but down…



Alwyn Hamilton

Viking
Released: March 8th, 2016

Description from GoodReads:


   Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mythical beasts still roam the wild and remote areas, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinn still perform their magic.  For humans, it’s an unforgiving place, especially if you’re poor, orphaned, or female.

   Amani Al’Hiza is all three.  She’s a gifted gunslinger with perfect aim, but she can’t shoot her way out of Dustwalk, the back-country town where she’s destined to wind up wed or dead.

   Then she meets Jin, a rakish foreigner, in a shooting contest, and sees him as the perfect escape route. But though she’s spent years dreaming of leaving Dustwalk, she never imagined she’d gallop away on mythical horse—or that it would take a foreign fugitive to show her the heart of the desert she thought she knew.



Jessica Cluess

Random House Books for Young Readers
Released: September 20th, 2016

Description from GoodReads:


   Henrietta can burst into flames.

   Forced to reveal her power to save a friend, she’s shocked when instead of being executed, she’s named the first female sorcerer in hundreds of years and invited to train as one of Her Majesty’s royal sorcerers.

   Thrust into the glamour of Victorian London, Henrietta is declared the prophesied one, the girl who will defeat the Ancients, bloodthirsty demons terrorizing humanity. She also meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, handsome young men eager to test her power and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her.

   But Henrietta is not the chosen one.

   As she plays a dangerous game of deception, she discovers that the sorcerers have their own secrets to protect. With battle looming, how much will she risk to save the city—and the one she loves?



Evelyn Skye

Balzer + Bray
Released: May 17th, 2016

Description from GoodReads:

   Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.

   And so he initiates the Crown’s Game, an ancient duel of magical skill—the greatest test an enchanter will ever know. The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.

  Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?

   For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip-smart, imaginative—and he can’t stop thinking about her.

   And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love…or be killed himself.

   As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear—the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.


   Those were my favourites from the year! Who were your favourite debut authors from the year? Are there any debuts that you're looking forward to next year?



Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Ohana Reads 3rd Blogiversary!

   It's been another year already, holy crap, oh how time flies when you're having fun. In the past year, so much has happened, for better or worst. I've started University, wither I like it or not, I joined more bookish things, and I overall got a lot of things done. I didn't let 2016 break me, that's for sure.

   Although a lot was accomplished, I didn't stick to some of my goals like I said I would. I didn't host any giveaways, I didn't really advertise my posts, but I did talk to bloggers and my online friends more! This year, things will definitely be different than last year, although I'm not sure if that's for the best yet.


This is my Break Down of the Year:


Over 140, 950 Total page views
208 Published Comments
384 Published Posts
My Top Series Enders of 2013 being my most viewed post...at 47, 310 views
The Ohana Reads 2nd Blogiversary Post being my most viewed post of 2016... at 731 views
59 Bloglovin Followers
14 GFC Followers
53 People have me in their Circles
895 Twitter Followers
86 Facebook likes
381 Instagram Followers

   Like every year, I say I only ever focus on a few sites in particular, and this year is no different. Twitter was definitely a priority this year, and in my mind GFC is as well, even if I don't boost it often. 
   Although it varies everyday, I'm really satisfied with my average number of pageviews per day, this year. I find that I get around 250 pageviews, roughly each day. To think that 250 people visit my blog a day, honestly just amazes me. That number sure has grown since I first started out. 
   I know I said this last year as well, but this year I think I'm really going to drop Facebook. I don't even check my blogs Facebook page anymore, and so I think that it's really time to go. I guess we'll see, what happens with that.


   Like always, the year wouldn't have been anything with out amazing friends and amazing people in general. Here are the people that made my year great. (Definitely give them a follow)


People Who Made 2016 Great:


Joy from Joyousreads

Kristie from Lost in Ever After

Sara from Just Another Story

Mari, Ola and Lauren from The Autumn Bookshelf

Brittany from Brittany's Book Rambles

and

   Like usual, Stephanie was a huge part of my year, I even got to meet her for the first time. It was the best feeling, finally being able to meet one of your best friends for the first time. Lots of tears were shed, but I honestly had the best time being able to spend a whole week with her. I love this girl, with all my heart and I can't wait to see her again soon. I love you lots girl. 



Highlights of Ohana Reads 2016:


   1. Since I first started blogging, I've encountered a few Winnipeg Bloggers to talk with online. For the first time this year I've actually had the chance to meet them all in person, and become super close with them. This group consists of Joy from Joyousreads, Kristie from Lost in Ever After, Sara from Just Another Story, Sabrina from Behind the Book Reviews, and Mari, Old and Lauren from The Autumn Bookshelf. We try to hang out at least once every month, and its become something that I look forward to. I love hanging out with these girls, and I can't wait to hang out with them more this year!

   2. This year, I was asked to become a member of MYRCA, the Manitoba Young Readers Choice Award. I couldn't be more excited to be apart of something that encourages young readers to read, and honestly, I get to read as a job. MYRCA has already made my life all that more fun, with getting to meet Kenneth Oppel, to just getting to meet every month and discuss Canadian Books that we love. I've only been apart of MYRCA for half a year, but I'm super excited to see where else it takes me. 

   3. In 2016, I was able to go to my second book convention. I was able to go to BEA 2016, with one of my best friends, Stephanie from Doodle's Book Review. It was sort of a last minute decision on our part, but in the end it was the best decision. Besides meeting Stephanie in person for the first time, I was also able to meet so many other book friends that I had been able to befriend online in the past few years. Obviously bringing home 80+ books was also another highlight, but just making so many memories to look back on was a favourite. Just looking back at that trip, always brings a smile to my face. Although I probably won't be able to do BEA again, anytime soon, I look forward to seeing more friends and attending more signings and conventions in the future! 


Goals for 2017:


   1.  With the end of 2016 being a little iffy for me blog wise, one of my goals for 2017 is to actually make time to plan and write posts for the blog. I love running this blog, and I don't want to give it up or let it die, so I gotta keep up with posts.

   2. I've only ever seen Ohana Reads as my own, but it's always nice to switch things up and have other people bring their ideas to the blog. For 2017, I'm going to try to have multiple guest posts on the blog. So if you're interested in maybe having a post or two on Ohana Reads, shoot me an email and I'll try to work something out!

   3.  It's not really a goal for Ohana Reads, but I want to actually write a book. I've plotted out a few already, and started little things but I'd like to actually write it this year. I'm one of the biggest procrastinators I know, so we'll see how that turns out. 



Giveaway

To celebrate another year passing, I have a giveaway for you all. The giveaway features my favourite 2016 releases that I read in 2016! Good luck!

- Ohana Reads Giveaway Policies apply. (Check out the policies page)
- Open to any country that can receive books from Book Depository!
-Price of book limited to $25 Canadian.
- Winner gets to choose from any book pictured or any book from one of the series pictured.
- Must have followed @OhanaReads on Twitter, and had Retweeted the Tweet. (I will be checking)
- Giveaway runs until February 6th, 2016.


To enter the giveaway click the link below.

ENTER GIVEAWAY.


   Thank you guys so much for all your support in the last year, I wouldn't have done it without you all! Hopefully 2017 will take it easy on us all, we sure as heck need it!

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Blog Tour: A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess


   Hello and welcome to the A Shadow Bright and Burning Blog Tour! Today I have for you a giveaway and a review of the book from myself! I can't wait to introduce you to the world of the Kingdom of Fire!

A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess


Release Date: September 20th, 2016
Read: August 25th-29th, 2016
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Series: Kingdom on Fire, #1
Format: ARC, 416 pages
Source: BEA 2016


Description from GoodReads;


I am Henrietta Howel.
The first female sorcerer in hundreds of years.
The prophesied one.
Or am I?

   Henrietta Howel can burst into flames.
   Forced to reveal her power to save a friend, she's shocked when instead of being executed, she's invited to train as one of Her Majesty's royal sorcerers.

   Thrust into the glamour of Victorian London, Henrietta is declared the chosen one, the girl who will defeat the Ancients, bloodthirsty demons terrorizing humanity. She also meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, handsome young men eager to test her power and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her.

   But Henrietta Howel is not the chosen one. 
   As she plays a dangerous game of deception, she discovers that the sorcerers have their own secrets to protect. With battle looming, what does it mean to not be the one? And how much will she risk to save the city—and the one she loves?


Review:


   Some monsters wear human faces.
   I won't lie to you, it wasn't until I checked my sister's list of books to pick up at BEA 2016 for her, that I first heard about A Shadow Bright and Burning. I honestly had not idea what the book was even about, until on the last day of the expo when I found a huge pile of leftover ones, when I grabbed one.  After that, I was continuously hearing about the book everywhere, from blogger friends, to different anticipated lists everywhere, I knew from there that A Shadow Bright and Burning was going to be something to be excited about.
   The weekend I first picked up the book, was a hectic one, but I still managed to get a bunch of reading done. This was mostly do to the amazing beginning of the book. Cluess had you hooked from the very first pages, from those first few pages, you were already on the edge of your seat. In a world where witches are the enemy, you're sort of bound to be on edge most of the time, especially when you are one, right?
   Instead of just having your average witch, A Shadow Bright and Burning has a whole lot of different mystically beings, from witches to magicians, to sorcerers. Even the bad guys were a new thing entirely, they were definitely a treat for people who really enjoy witch books, like myself. The descriptions of them all were horrifically disgusting, I loved it. Cluess was definitely not afraid of not holding anything in.
   My favourite thing about A Shadow Bright and Burning was that instead of making the main character something amazingly special, like most YA books with prophecies, she wasn't actually the prophesied one. She just happened to be in the wrong place and the wrong time. This new take was something I'd love to see more of.
   A Shadow Bright and Burning was one of the best books I've read in a while, it had me hooked from the beginning, and held me captivated throughout the whole way. I adored the book, and can not wait to pre-order it's sequel.


Rating:

Favourite Quote:


   "The brighter it burns, the more it devours."

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:


Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Magic, Witches, Wizards, Sorcerers, Magicians, Darkness




Jessica Cluess is a writer, a graduate of Northwestern University, and an unapologetic nerd. After college, she moved to Los Angeles, where she served coffee to the rich and famous while working on her first novel. When she’s not writing books, she’s an instructor at Writopia Lab, helping kids and teens tell their own stories.



3 winners will receive a signed copy of A SHADOW BRIGHT AND BURNING
US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

   A huge thank you for stopping by my stop on the tour! I can't wait for the world to read A Shadow Bright and Shadow Burning, and I hope you now feel the same way!




Week One:

9/15/2016- Ohana Reads

Week Two: