Ohana Talks: Top 5 Most Anticipated Reads of 2017

   Hi guys!

   For today, I'm going to tell you about my most anticipated reads for 2017, or well at least my top 5 so far. Of course I'm still not sure what they're going to announce later in the year for the fall, and obviously I haven't included the final Throne of Glass book (I didn't really want to bother since a title and a cover haven't been revealed yet), but I've put together my current list for you anyway. Without further ado, my top 5 anticipated reads (so far), for 2017!

North of Happy

Adi Alsaid

HarlequinTeen

Expected: April 25th, 2017

Description from GoodReads:

   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. His friends and peers-fellow rich kids-have plans to attend college somewhere in the US or Europe and someday take over their parents' businesses. 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 US 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. 

Traitor to the Throne

Alwyn Hamilton

Rebel of the Sands, #2

Faber & Faber

Expected: February 2nd, 2017 (For the UK Edition)

Description from GoodReads:

   This is not about blood or love. This is about treason.

   Nearly a year has passed since Amani and the rebels won their epic battle at Fahali. Amani has come into both her powers and her reputation as the Blue-Eyed Bandit, and the Rebel Prince's message has spread across the desert - and some might say out of control. But when a surprise encounter turns into a brutal kidnapping, Amani finds herself betrayed in the cruellest manner possible.

   Stripped of her powers and her identity, and torn from the man she loves, Amani must return to her desert-girl's instinct for survival. For the Sultan's palace is a dangerous one, and the harem is a viper's nest of suspicion, fear and intrigue. Just the right place for a spy to thrive... But spying is a dangerous game, and when ghosts from Amani's past emerge to haunt her, she begins to wonder if she can trust her own treacherous heart.

The Dark Calling

Kresley Cole

The Arcana Chronicles, #5

Expected: 2017

Description from GoodReads:

   N/A

The Crown's Game

Evelyn Skye

The Crown's Game, #2

Balzer + Bray

Expected: May 16th, 2017

Description from GoodReads:

   Russia is on the brink of great change. Pasha’s coronation approaches, and Vika is now the Imperial Enchanter, but the role she once coveted may be more difficult—and dangerous—than she ever expected.

   Pasha is grappling with his own problems—his legitimacy is in doubt, the girl he loves loathes him, and he believes his best friend is dead. When a challenger to the throne emerges—and with the magic in Russia growing rapidly—Pasha must do whatever it takes to keep his position and protect his kingdom.

   For Nikolai, the ending of the Crown’s Game stung deeply. Although he just managed to escape death, Nikolai remains alone, a shadow hidden in a not-quite-real world of his own creation. But when he’s given a second chance at life—tied to a dark price—Nikolai must decide just how far he’s willing to go to return to the world.

   With revolution on the rise, dangerous new magic rearing up, and a tsardom up for the taking, Vika, Nikolai, and Pasha must fight—or face the destruction of not only their world but also themselves. 

A Court of Wings and Ruin

Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3

Expected: May 2nd, 2017

Description from GoodReads:

   Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin's maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit-and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.

   As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords-and hunt for allies in unexpected places. 

   And those are them! So what do you guys think? Have you guys heard of them before? Are you excited for them too? Anyways, what are you looking forward to releasing in 2017? Let me know so I can add them to my TBR pile!

Book Review: The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

Release Date: March 4th, 2014
Read: October 4th-9th, 2016
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens
Series: Throne of Glass, #0.1- 0.5
Format: Signed Hardcover, 435 pages
Source: Bought

Description from GoodReads:

   Discover where Celaena Sardothien's thrilling saga began

   Celaena Sardothien is her kingdom's most feared assassin. Though she works for the powerful and ruthless Assassin's Guild, Celaena yields to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam.

   When Celaena's scheming master, Arobynn Hamel, dispatches her on missions that take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, she finds herself acting independently of his wishes—and questioning her own allegiance. Along the way, she makes friends and enemies alike, and discovers that she feels far more for Sam than just friendship. But by defying Arobynn's orders, Celaena risks unimaginable punishment, and with Sam by her side, he is in danger, too. They will have to risk it all if they hope to escape Arobynn's clutches—and if they fail, they'll lose not just a chance at freedom, but their lives...

   A prequel to Throne of Glass, this collection of five novellas offers listeners a deeper look into the history of this cunning assassin and her enthralling—and deadly—world.

   Included in this volume:

   The Assassin and the Pirate Lord

   The Assassin and the Healer

   The Assassin and the Desert

   The Assassin and the Underworld

   The Assassin and the Empire 

Review:

   Words can be just as deadly as steel.

   This series is basically a huge part of my life now, but I never really got the chance to read The Assassin's Blade until after reading Queen of Shadows. When it comes to reading, I'm not usually a huge fan of novellas. If, like The Assassin's Blade, they come out as a bind up in print form, I will eventually pick them up. But they aren't a high priority. 

   The Assassin's Blade was just like I expected it to be, just a bunch of short stories of Celaena before she was Aelin, when Sam was still alive and they were still working for Arobynn. I really enjoyed being able to see who Celaena was and what she was like before Endovier. In Throne of Glass it sort of felt like Celaena was all talk and no action, with the novellas we got to see some of that action, even if we still never got to see why she was considered the greatest assassin next to Arobynn. 

   Sometimes novellas are all over the place position wise, with the five in The Assassin's Blade, that wasn't the case. Each novella basically took place right after each other, with only a small passing of time between them. The last one ending right as Celaena reached Endovier, I do sort of wish that we got to see her surviving in Endovier though. 

   The only thing I found with the stories was that no matter how hard I tried, I just could not love Sam. I knew what was going to happen to him since I had read the original series first, and so I just couldn't connect with him. 

   The Assassin's Blade was a sweet little bit of backstory to Celaena's story. Where I enjoyed the book as quick little stories, I still prefer reading the storyline the main series has. But I am looking forward to seeing what Chaol's novellas will be like.  

Rating:

Favourite Quote:

“There was no way in hell she was going to move to the southern continent without all of her books."

"Where do men find it in themselves to do such monstrous things? How do they find it acceptable?"

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

Young Adult, Fantasy, Supernatural, Fairies, Rebellion, Romance, Assassins, Magic, Demons

Ohana Talks: Top 5 Favourite Authors.

   Since I began my obsession with reading oh so long ago, I've come to read a lot of books over that time, and with those books, I've fallen in love with so many great authors. Today I wanted to show you all, my top favourite authors. The authors that I own almost all of their books, as well as multiple editions of them. Many of them don't need any help getting their books out there, they're already big names, but I wanted to show them off to you anyway.

   I was originally just going to do my top 5, but I found that I had two authors that were tied in 5th place. So now I have 6 total.

Marisa Meyer/ Kiera Cass

   I was lucky enough to have met both Kiera and Marissa, to be completely honest, I've met all the authors on this list, expect one. I met Kiera Cass back in 2014, at YALLfest. She still remains one of the sweetest people I have met in my entire life. She adored how loved my copy of The Selection was, as well as The Selection and The Elite earrings that my sister was wearing. (That I made, hehe) I've loved her book since that one camping trip when I happened to have picked up The Selection at the library to bring along, and finished it in one day.
   I first met Marissa at BEA 2016, when I went through what you could say was A LOT of trouble to get tickets to her Heartless signing/ARC drop. I've adored her books since I first read Cinder, oh so long ago. Her Lunar Chronicles had been instant pre-orders, the minute the next book in the series was announced. 

Richelle Mead

   The Vampire Academy series was one of the first series' that I got into when I first started reading. My mom thought that because I started reading because of Twilight, that it was the vampires that sucked me in. (LOL, excuse my pun.) And so my love of Richelle Mead started. I went from reading and loving her Vampire Academy series, to her Bloodlines series, to eventually reading all her adult series' like the Dark Swan series. As of today, I've read everything but two books that Richelle has published, and I just can't wait to read her latest upcoming book, Midnight Jewel. 

Cassandra Clare

   Cassandra's City of Bones is what got me into her writing. The first trilogy of the series, The Mortal Instruments, was all released when I first picked up the series, and so I was able to read them all as a binge read. But it wasn't until I realized that she had a prequel series out as well, that I really became a fan of hers. I picked up Clockwork Angel, and read it, I believe in a week, although, Clockwork Prince is what really got me hooked. Will and Jem are who won my heart. Since then, I've read everything that connects to the Shadowhunters, and made it my mission to own all of them in hardcover. 

L. J. Smith

   The Night World series was another one of the series that got me into reading, reading it after Twilight but before Vampire Academy. I had picked up the Omnibus of the first three books, and so I was able to read them all at once. Even though the three should have lasted me a while, I had to go to the bookstore twice in the following two weeks to pick up the next two omnibus'. To this day, the series still has a place in my heart. Unfortunately it's been almost 19 years and we still don't have a conclusion to the series, but I still have hope. I even own the originally 1990's editions of the series. 

   I fell in love with the original few seasons of her Vampire Diaries TV show as well, even though it's totally different from the books. I still love them just the same. 

   She is the only one of my top five authors that I have yet to meet, I hope to change that one day.

Sarah J Maas

   I met Sarah J. Maas back at YALLfest 2014, along with Kiera Cass. At the time I had only read her Throne of Glass, which I hadn't really enjoyed. It wasn't until after that festival that I received the first ARC for her new book/series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, that she finally had me obsessed. I couldn't wait for the sequel, but since it was an ARC, I knew I had a long wait ahead. So I finally picked up the rest of the Throne of Glass series. Today, the A Court of Thorns and Roses series remains my all time favourite, and her Throne of Glass series is just a little bit below on that list.

   For her A Court of Mist and Fury tour, I was able to meet her again, but as a true fan. I was a blubbering mess, but at least I was able to see her and have my prized books signed for my collection.

   Those were my top 5,(6) all time favourite authors. Who are your favourites? What stories do you have behind those authors? What do they mean to you? I'd love to hear about your favourites!

Book Review: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Release Date: September 1st, 2015
Read: September 26th-30th, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens
Series: Throne of Glass, #4
Format: Hardcover, 648 pages
Source: Bought

Description from GoodReads:

  The queen has returned.

   Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .

   She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.

   She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.

Review:

Contains Minor Spoilers:

   You light up the darkness.

   After reading Heir of Fire last March, I broke. It ripped me to shreds. I had to put myself back together again after it. Then once I fixed myself, I pre-ordered Queen of Shadows and the wait was on. For a while in August people had gotten their copies early and I thought for sure someone was gonna spoil it for me, but I lucked out and everything went perfect for me.
   Finally my copy came in the mail and I had just started rereading Throne of Glass, so it was perfect timing. Then when I finished Heir of Fire, I was ready to die, or in other words read Queen of Shadows.
   First of all, since Heir of Fire I can't picture Aelin without Rowan. So when the book started without them together my heart cried a little bit. Just kidding, it full on sobbed. Anyway my heart fixed itself about a third of the way through the book. From there on the sauciness only got better and I couldn't believe it. I found myself giggling hysterically every time Aelin and Rowan were alone together, or cried, crying happened too. They had so many perfect moments together, that it was beautiful. The Rowaelin ship, honestly its so precious you just won't understand until you read Queen of Shadows, just wait and see. But yo could also never forget the hot damn moments, because HOT DAMN.
   Where there was a lot of sass between Aelin and Rowan, there was an equal amount of testosterone flowing when Aedion and Rowan were in a room together, both wanting to assert dominance. Let's just say I was practically a pig and was continuously snorting whenever these scenes popped up.
   Aedion! So if you read my Heir of Fire Review then you'd know that in Heir of Fire I found him creepy and a little possessive of Aelin at times, even when he didn't even know if she was alive or not. I'm happy to say that my feelings towards him changed with Queen of Shadows. Where he was still very possessive of her, he did it within reason because he knew she could take care of herself. Then there's that little fact of his parentage, oh boy. I do hope Maas takes that further, it will be tremendously exciting to see what unfolds from there!
   I got the chills when it came to reading Dorians parts, the first time I read chapter one I didn't even realize it was him until I reread it. Poor Dorian, I feel like that's what dementia does to a person on some levels. So I deeply concerned, to be trapped with no control of yourself.
   FINALLY WE GOT SOME KICK ASS GIRLS. After Crown of Midnight with Nehemia dying, we were left with no female companion for Aelin. Don't get me wrong I loved Nehemia and no one could have replaced her, but I felt bad for Aelin she really just needed a girlfriend. Queen of Shadows gave me the companions that I knew Aelin needed, she got not just one but two girlfriends. (Maybe even three? Who knows yet.)  I don't think Aelin could have done better in picking friends if I didn't say so myself.
   Awe my babe Manon, I've become obsessed with her since I originally finished Heir of Fire. She's badass and fierce in all the ways Aelin is not. She went through a rather large character development in the book that hopefully has lead her to be her own person now and stand up to her Grandmother. I loved how she turned out, and I'm SUPER excited to see what Maas has in mind for Manon and her (Maybe?) special someone.
   One of my favourite scenes in the book would have to be the battle scene between Aelin and Manon, it showed the two sides coming together showing us just how deadly they were, their strengths and weaknesses. Honestly I can't wait to see if they battle again in the future or if they fight side by side. With the direction Manon took in Queen of Shadows I wouldn't be surprised if the latter happened, I'm rather hoping for it.
   WHAT A PLOT TWIST THAT WAS AT THE END. I couldn't believe it when we learnt the truth about the King, I don't think Aelin or Dorian did either with that ending. As much as I wanted to forgive the King for what he'd done, you just couldn't. One mistake can't fix the damage he'd done. I was glad to hear of what happened though, honestly it made a bunch of sense if you think through the series.
   Sarah J Maas stole my heart with Queen of Shadows, it has definitely become my favourite of the series and if I wasn't hooked before for whatever reason I am now. Maas has mastered the art of keeping you second guessing what you think you know, and what you assume is going to happen, the perfect balance that locks you into the book and never letting you go. She has mastered it to an art that iT ACTUALLY GAVE ME CHEST PAINS.
   2016 can't come fast enough, I now live off of Sarah J Maas books and need to feed my addiction. The sequel to A Court of Thorns and Roses is ret to release May 3rd, 2016 an the 5th novel in the Throne of Glass series is set to release Fall 2016. Let's just hope I can survive until then.

Rating:

Favourite Quotes:

"She was a wolf. She was death, devourer of worlds."

"He'd never realized how precious the calm moments were." ~ Rowan

"We're not going to hell, Aelin. But wherever we go, we'll go together." ~ Rowan

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, High Fantasy, Magic, Fairies, CHEST PAINS.

Book Blitz: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

   IT'S HERE, IT'S FINALLY HERE. THE RELEASE DATE FOR QUEEN OF SHADOWS.

   This series has given me so many feels it's unbelievable. So I hope you guys decide to give it a try!

  Don't forget to enter the giveaway as well!

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Release Date: September 1, 2015

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Series: Throne of Glass, #4

Format: Hardcover, 656 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .

   She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.

   Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

Read Chapters 1-5 of QUEEN OF SHADOWS HERE!

   Sarah J. Maas is the author of the New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling Throne of Glass series–Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, and Heir of Fire, and the series’ prequel, The Assassin’s Blade–as well as the New York Times and USA Today bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses. She wrote the first incarnation of the Throne of Glass series when she was just sixteen, and it has now sold in twenty-three languages. Queen of Shadows, the fourth book in the Throne of Glass series, will release worldwide on September 1st, 2015.

A New York native, Sarah currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and dog. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hamilton College in 2008 with a degree in Creative Writing and a minor in Religious Studies. 

   1 winner will receive the first 3 books (in paperback) in the THRONE OF GLASS Series.
    US Only.

   Ends on September 11th at Midnight EST!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

   I hope you guys give the series a chance! I already have Queen of Shadows pre-ordered and on its way!

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