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: 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?

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.

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?

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?

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?

Monthly TBR: January 2020

My GoodReads Reading Challenge for 2020 is 75 books. My goal has basically stayed the same for the past few years, and every year I've failed by maybe 10 books. I always loose it by the end of November and can never catch up. Either way, I'm determined to make my goal this year. 

February TBR Pile

Infinity Son by Adam Silvera (ARC)

Here There Are Monsters by Amelinda Bérubé (Paperback)

Starsight by Brandon Sanderson (Hardback)

A Treason of Thorns by Laura E. Weymouth (Hardback)

Dark of the West by Joanna Hathaway (ARC)

A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer (Hardback)

All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace (ARC)

 And that's my TBR for the month! I feel like I'm going to be playing MYRCA catch up for a while, so expect a bunch of Canadian titles for the next few months.

 What are you reading this month?

Ohana Reads' 6th Blogiversary!

Hello friends! I'm sorry I've been neglecting you. Like my previous years excuses, it has been a busy year and one that I have not been able to get myself into a routine of things. 

I'm always trying my best to post when I can, so hopefully I post more this year.

As always, I am very active on Twitter and in the book community. So if you ever want to chat, do not be afraid to hit me up!

Break Down of the Year:

Over 226, 469 Total Page Views

247 Published Comments

488 Published Posts

My Top Series Enders of 2013 being my most viewed post...at 47, 349 views

The Ohana Reads' 5th Blogiversary Post being my most viewed post of 2019... at 232 views

33 GFC Followers

1, 470 Twitter Followers

562 Instagram Followers

Like every year, I wouldn't have been able to survive the year without the help of some amazing friends and people in my life. Here are the people that made my year amazing.

People Who Made 2019 Great:

The Brothelsprouts 

This insanely talent group of people are who helped me stay sane throughout the year. Even though they are constantly nagging me to visit them at BEA, and sometimes to rob banks, I do not know what I would do without them.

So please give them a follow: Jessica, Amber, Ellie, Taylor, Katie, Rose, Angel, Cody, Mou, Kitty, Camille, Chloe, Lili, Caro, Darnell, Ben, and Kayla.

Sabrina from Behind the Book Reviews

Sabrina is one of my favourite booknerds, but she is also my best friend. Honestly, there is nothing I can say on here that she does not already know or that she will not groan at if she reads it. 

Highlights of Ohana Reads 2019:

1. I have been at McNally Robinson Booksellers for 2.5 years now. Even though it's a job, it's almost like it's become a second home to me. I love everyone that I work with and can not imagine what it would be like if they were not there with me. 

2. In January, I became a liaison for MYRCA. Basically, I became a librarian for the committee. It's been a lot of fun organizing and requesting books for the committee. I've been apart of the committee for, I believe, almost 4 years now and couldn't be happier to bee apart of something so important to my community. 

Goals for 2020:

1. Blog. Blog. Blog. I just want to force myself to blog more. Even if it's just a review here and there. 

2. I want to get in the habit of immediately posting my reviews on GoodReads and book outlets, right as I've posted them on Ohana Reads. It's one thing I always forget and I want to get in the habit of correcting that. 

3. I literally just want to complete my GoodReads Reading Challenge. Since 2014, when I first started the challenge, I've never completed it. My goal is 75 books, I'm hoping that this year will be the year. 

Giveaway

- 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 CAD.

- 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 closes February 27th, 2020!

To enter the giveaway click the link below.

ENTER GIVEAWAY.

 And finally, a huge thank you to all of you for supporting Ohana Reads and I. It really means a lot to know that people are actually reading my content. 

Here's to 2020!