Book Review: Girls of Storm and Shadow by Natasha Ngan

Release Date: November 5, 2019
Read: November 21st-24th, 2019
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson Books
Series: Girls of Paper and Fire, #2
Format: ARC, 403 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Description from GoodReads:

In this mesmerizing sequel to the New York Times bestselling Girls of Paper and Fire, Lei and Wren have escaped their oppressive lives in the Hidden Palace, but soon learn that freedom comes with a terrible cost.

Lei, the naive country girl who became a royal courtesan, is now known as the Moonchosen, the commoner who managed to do what no one else could. But slaying the cruel Demon King wasn't the end of the plan---it's just the beginning. Now Lei and her warrior love Wren must travel the kingdom to gain support from the far-flung rebel clans. The journey is made even more treacherous thanks to a heavy bounty on Lei's head, as well as insidious doubts that threaten to tear Lei and Wren apart from within.

Meanwhile, an evil plot to eliminate the rebel uprising is taking shape, fueled by dark magic and vengeance. Will Lei succeed in her quest to overthrow the monarchy and protect her love for Wren, or will she fall victim to the sinister magic that seeks to destroy her?

OwlCrate Monthly Haul: November 2019

 Today I wanted to show everyone my 2019 November box from OwlCrate! In order to not spoil anything for anyone, I decided to wait and post it a good while after most people have received theirs already.

   It's been a while since I received an OwlCrate subscription. The box was my first one in over two years. When they announced the theme, I immediately knew what book it was going to be and was ecstatic. I'd loved the authors previous work and had a chance to read an early copy of this one. So when a little birdie told me that the cover was GORGEOUS, I jumped on it and bought the box. In the end, I was not disappointed. 

   OwlCrate is a monthly bookish YA subscription box, which every month features a new theme. Each box features a recently released YA book, along with a few bookish goodies created specially for the box.

This months theme is: Through the Enchanted Forest!

This months box included: 

- A Cruel Prince inspired flannel blanket designed by @bookmarkd.tattoos

- The OwlCrate annual reading calendar designed by Blue Star Press.

- Enchanted Forest stickers designed by @lovepipsticks

- A Uprooted metal tassel bookmark, designed by @herpaperworld

- The Raven Boys inspired wooden ornament designed by @juniperandivydesigns

- @ireadya promotional print about Diamond & Dawn!

- Monthly enamel pin is inspired by the Through the Enchanted Forest book, designed by @fourseasonsfox.

- And finally, my personal favourite from the box, the book was Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw. The book featured an exclusive cover, and sprayed-edges to match the cover. 

   The Through the Enchanted Forest box is probably my favourite OwlCrate box that I've ever purchased. The exclusive cover is probably my favourite out of all the other editions that they've done in the past.

   OwlCrate really outdid themselves with this box, and I'm really excited to see what they have in store for next month.

Next months theme is: Tales of Trickery!

Book Review: The How & the Why by Cynthia Hand

Release Date: November 5, 2019
Read: October 11-18th, 2019
Publisher: HarperTeen
Series: Standalone
Format: ARC, 464 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for honest review

Description from GoodReads:

Today Melly had us writing letters to our babies…

Cassandra McMurtrey has the best parents a girl could ask for. They’ve given Cass a life she wouldn’t trade for the world. She has everything she needs—except maybe the one thing she wants. Like, to know who she is. Where she came from. Questions her adoptive parents can’t answer, no matter how much they love her.

But eighteen years ago, someone wrote Cass a series of letters. And they may just hold the answers Cass has been searching for.

Alternating between Cass’s search for answers and letters from the pregnant teen who gave her up for adoption, this voice-driven narrative is the perfect read for fans of Nina LaCour and Jandy Nelson.

Waiting on Wednesday: (63)

My Calamity Jane

Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton & Jodi Meadows

The Lady Janies, #3

Harper Teen

Expected: June 2nd, 2020

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.

Why I Want It:

I'm absolutely obsessed with My Lady Jane and My Plain Jane. The Lady Janies do a retelling of sorts with the Janie books, retelling the original story but making it hilarious and adding a hint of fantasy. 

Having already known the history of Jane Grey and having read Jane Eyre, it made the stories all that more amazing. It's going to be the same with The Calamity Jane. Being already familiar with the original story, I CAN NOT WAIT to read the Janies version.

That's my Waiting on Wednesday this week! Will you be picking up My Calamity Jane? What are you waiting on this week?

Monthly TBR: December 2019

   I'm officially 8 books away from my GoodReads goal. I'm hoping by picking stuff that I'm SUPER excited for, that I'll actually get them read this month. It doesn't help that I can't start reading until my exam week is over (Friday), but I'm certainly excited to read these.

   In the end, I'll probably still cheat and read a graphic novel or two. But for now, I'm still really excited to read these!

December TBR Pile

Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff (Hardback) (Reread)

Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff (ARC)

Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto (ARC)

Here There Are Monsters by Amelinda Bérubé (Paperback)

Starsight by Brandon Sanderson (Hardcover)

All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace (ARC)

Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar (ARC)

   And that's my TBR for the month! I have some of my anticipated 2020 releases on the list, as well as some Canadian titles fro this year since I'm playing catch up for MYRCA.

   What are you reading this month?

I'm Back!

Hi friends,
Long time no see. I know it's been a while since I last posted, I hope to change that.

Starting today, I'm going to be attempt to get into a routine of things again.

So I hope you bare with me, and I promise it'll be worth it.