Buy Local: McNally Robinson Booksellers

Today I wanted to give a shout out to my local indie, and place of employment, McNally Robinson Booksellers. 

Like most places, they're currently closed to the public, but they are still selling by phone and on their  website.

www.mcnallyrobinson.com

If you're looking to splurge a bit, or are in need of another book to read, may I recommend checking them out?

They offer $8 CAD shipping to ANYWHERE in Canada if you spend $30 CAD, and offer next day delivery within Winnipeg and Saskatoon for as low as $5 CAD. 

They also offer contactless curbside pick up at both the Winnipeg and Saskatoon locations. 

Remember, in times like these, local shops are the ones that suffer. So, don't forget to give them a little love. 

Book Review: Frozen Beauty by Lexa Hillyer

Release Date: March 17th, 2020
Read: March 21st - 23rd, 2020
Publisher: HarperTeen
Series: Standalone
Format: Hardcover, 368 pages
Source: HarperCollins

Description from GoodReads:

Everyone in Devil’s Lake knows the three golden Malloy sisters—but one of them is keeping a secret that will turn their little world inside out….

No one knows exactly what happened to Kit in the woods that night—all they have are a constellation of facts: icy blue lips and fingers cold to the touch, a lacy bra, an abandoned pick-up truck with keys still in the ignition. Still, Tessa, even in her fog of grief, is certain that her sister’s killer wasn’t Boyd, the boy next door whom they’ve all loved in their own way. There are too many details that don’t add up, too many secrets still tucked away.

But no matter how fiercely she searches for answers, at the core of that complicated night is a truth that’s heartbreakingly simple.

Told in lush, haunting prose, Frozen Beauty is a story of the intoxicating power of first love, the deep bonds of sisterhood, and a shocking death that will forever change the living.

Book Review: The Betrothed by Kiera Cass

Release Date: May 5, 2020
Read: February 28-29th, 2020
Publisher: HarperCollin's Children's Books
Series: The Betrothed, #1
Format: ARC, 400 pages
Source: McNally Robinson

Description from GoodReads:

When King Jameson declares his love for Lady Hollis Brite, Hollis is shocked—and thrilled. After all, she’s grown up at Keresken Castle, vying for the king’s attention alongside other daughters of the nobility. Capturing his heart is a dream come true.

But Hollis soon realizes that falling in love with a king and being crowned queen may not be the happily ever after she thought it would be. And when she meets a commoner with the mysterious power to see right into her heart, she finds that the future she really wants is one that she never thought to imagine. 

Book Review: All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace

Release Date: February 4th, 2020
Read: January 29th -February 11th, 2020
Publisher: Imprint
Series: All the Stars and Teeth, #1
Format: ARC, 384 pages
Source: McNally Robinson

Description from GoodReads:

She will reign.

As princess of the island kingdom Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her entire life training to be High Animancer—the master of souls. The rest of the realm can choose their magic, but for Amora, it’s never been a choice. To secure her place as heir to the throne, she must prove her mastery of the monarchy’s dangerous soul magic.

When her demonstration goes awry, Amora is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with Bastian, a mysterious pirate: he’ll help her prove she’s fit to rule, if she’ll help him reclaim his stolen magic.

But sailing the kingdom holds more wonder—and more peril—than Amora anticipated. A destructive new magic is on the rise, and if Amora is to conquer it, she’ll need to face legendary monsters, cross paths with vengeful mermaids, and deal with a stow-away she never expected… or risk the fate of Visidia and lose the crown forever.

I am the right choice. The only choice. And I will protect my kingdom.

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: Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller

Release Date: February 26th, 2019
Read: February 8-10th, 2019
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Series: Standalone
Format: ARC, 336 pages
Source: McNally Robinson

Description from GoodReads:

How do you kill a god?

As her father's chosen heir, eighteen-year-old Rasmira has trained her whole life to become a warrior and lead her village. But when her coming-of-age trial is sabotaged and she fails the test, her father banishes her to the monster-filled wilderness with an impossible quest: to win back her honour, she must kill the oppressive god who claims tribute from the villages each year or die trying.

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: Even the Darkest Stars by Heather Fawcett

Release Date: September 5th, 2017
Read: October 18th-29th, 2017
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Series: Even the Darkest Stars, #1
Format: Hardcover, 432 pages
Source: McNally Robinson

Description from GoodReads:

   Kamzin has always dreamed of becoming one of the emperor’s royal explorers, the elite climbers tasked with mapping the wintry, mountainous Empire and spying on its enemies. She knows she could be the best in the world, if only someone would give her a chance.

   But everything changes when the mysterious and eccentric River Shara, the greatest explorer ever known, arrives in her village and demands to hire Kamzin—not her older sister, Lusha, as everyone had expected—for his next expedition. This is Kamzin’s chance to prove herself—even though River’s mission to retrieve a rare talisman for the emperor means cimbing Raksha, the tallest and deadliest mountain in the Aryas. Then, Lusha sets off on her own mission to Raksha with a rival explorer, and Kamzin must decide what’s most important to her: protecting her sister from the countless perils of the climb or beating her to the summit.

   The challenges of climbing Raksha are unlike anything Kamzin expected—or prepared for—with avalanches, ice chasms, ghosts, and other dangers at every turn. And as dark secrets are revealed, Kamzin must unravel the truth about their mission and her companions—while surviving the deadliest climb she has ever faced.

Review:

   Why do you fear me, brave one.

   At work we have this shelf of Advance Readers Copies that us booksellers are allowed to take to read and keep. That was how I first encountered Even the Darkest Stars. Unfortunately by the time I had finally decided to pick the book up and read it, someone had already taken the copy. I found that by not being able to read it anymore, it made me want to read it all the more. Long story short, I went out the next day and bought my own copy to read.

   Even the Darkest Stars was one of my favourite fantasy books of 2017. After reading it in 11 days, I could not stop talking about it to people and I still can't. I even went on about it WHILE reading it to all my book friends. The book had all my favourite elements of a fantasy; witches, kingdoms, magic, mountains and dragons. They were all blended together beautifully to create a magical world of mystique and adventure.

   I couldn't be happier with how Heather Fawcett wrote her story in a setting of hard cold and snow. I live in a setting where we are known for our harsh winters, we even have nicknames relating to how our only season is winter. Most YA novels take place in biomes that have warm temperatures or just don't have to deal with the same kind of weather as we do. It was fantastic to finally have a story where I could relate to the elements, I hope that other writers take the hint and start to have their own stories be set in a similar element.

   Even the Darkest Stars is the adventure that'll make you realize that even on the the most dangerous adventures, not everything and everyone is who they seem.

   And with that, I begin my countdown to the release of All the Wandering Light, the second and final book in the Even the Darkest Stars duology. 

Rating:

Favourite Quote:

"Your soul is rich like honeycomb. Like strawberries."

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

Young Adult, Fantasy, Witches, Magic, Mountains, Shapeshifters, Adventures

Ohana Reads 4th Blogiversary!

   For the first time since starting my Blog, I missed my Blogiversary. The last year has been almost completely different than any other year, I continued on with University, I got a job as a bookseller at my favourite place on earth, and I completely neglected Ohana Reads.

  When I first started to notice the gap between the blog and I, I blamed it on University. If this past year has taught me anything, I would say it taught me that I have changed as a person, as along with me, my determination towards the blog. With this realization, I've come to understand that I will never be like I was when I first started Ohana Reads, so this upcoming year will have some changes.

   The first being, I will no longer have a set schedule when it comes to posts, but you can still expect the odd post from me. The second, that I've somewhat gained a co-blogger. My cousin Sarah has slowly been dragged into the crazy book life along with myself, and with that I asked her if she'd like to post some reviews on Ohana Reads, and she agreed! So expect a few reviews from her in the future, and maybe a few other things!

  Anyways, time for me to tell you about my 2017!

This is my Break Down of the Year:

Over 176, 943 Total Page Views

238 Published Comments

439 Published Posts

My Top Series Enders of 2013 being my most viewed post...at 47,317 views

The Ohana Reads 3rd Blogiversary Post being my most viewed post of 2017... at 1092 views

23 GFC Followers

54 People have me in their Circles

1,138 Twitter Followers

92 Facebook likes

446 Instagram Followers

   With my total number of posts not even being close to the number I had last year, a bunch of my numbers dwindled this year. It was to be expected, and so there can't really be any hurt feelings on my part. I did however spend a lot of time on Twitter, so I'm not really surprised at how much larger that number got.

   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 2017 Great:

Kristie from Lost in Ever After

Ola and Lauren from The Autumn Bookshelf

I can always rely on the three girls above to talk about the latest and greatest teen novels, new book covers, as well as anything really. I can't wait to see what our group chat has in store for 2018!

Lainey from McNally Robinson Kids

Learning a knew job is always tough, and so I'm so glad to have this girl help with all my ridiculous questions as well as suggest and shove new contemporary teen novels in my face. I look forward to our Outlander and gossip nights in the future!

Steph from Doodle's Book Reviews

Of course no list would be complete without mentioning my online sister and name twin, Steph. It was a long and tough year for you, especially with the heart transplant, but I'm so happy to have been there alongside you, even if it was only through a phone screen. I can not wait to see your face in person again in July! 

and finally

 Sabrina from Behind the Book Reviews

I literally would not have been able to get through this year without Sabrina, she helped me get through University classes by taking them with me and making them actually interesting, as well as joining me with my insanity and obsession of books. You're so much more than just a book friend now, and I can't wait to spend the next year fingerling over books, clothes and so much more, with you!

Highlights of Ohana Reads 2017:

   1. Half of 2017 was my new job at McNally Robinson, and the job was definitely my #1 highlight for the year. I've made so many new friends, and who would have thought that someone could actually enjoy working for 8 hours straight? Along with being able to work with books constantly, the job itself has kept me mentally sound with all the other craziness that has happened in my life. I look forward to the upcoming years at McNally Robinson!

   2. As part of working at McNally Robinson I've learned a bunch of new things about the publishing industry. One of those new things, being how bookstores decide what to carry in their stores. One of my managers knew how fascinating I find the industry, as well as the fact that I'm going to school to work in the industry, and so she let me sit in on a few buys. In the end I got to see a Simon and Schuster buy, as well as a Raincoast one. I can not wait to be apart of the next buy!

   3. This one isn't really that book related, but a highlight of my year was being able to see Stephanie finally get a heart transplant. I've known her for longer than my blog was even a thing, and so I know how much of a big deal this was for her and her family, and I couldn't be happier for her.

Goals for 2018:

   1. This is a weak goal, but my top goal is to at least have one post every week or second week. It doesn't sound like much, but I'd really love to at least try and get back into a routine.

   2. I want to mentally prepare myself and be able loosen the reigns for Ohana Reads. I'm very obsessive when it comes to possession, and so I want to be able to not freak out when my cousin starts posting on Ohana Reads.

   3.  Then finally, my final goal as well as my new years resolution. I want to read all my ARCs before their publication date. So far I'm already behind by one, but I really hope to stick to this and actually read them all.

Giveaway

To celebrate another year passing, I have a giveaway for you all. The giveaway features my favourite 2017 releases that I read in 2017! 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 closes February 6th, 2018!

To enter the giveaway click the link below.

ENTER GIVEAWAY.

   Thank you guys, always, for your continued support for Ohana Reads. Hopefully 2018 will take it easy on us all, and that it'll be a good one!

Book Review: The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

Release Date: March 6th, 2017
Read: September 6th-7th, 2017
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Series: Standalone
Format: ARC, 320 pages
Source: McNally Robinson

Description from GoodReads:

   Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…

   Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.

   Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.

   Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.

   Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.

   But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.

Review:

   Do you ever think about leaving this town?

   I am always subconsciously seeking out mermaid and witch books, that is how The Wicked Deep came to my attention, and of course the gorgeous cover. I'm a sucker for covers with moons, stars and trees. 

   When it comes to villains or the bad guy, I really enjoy learning about their story and how they get to where they were, how they became who they are. The Wicked Deep was perfect for that because we got two different kinds of chapter styles, flashbacks to the past, which focused on the three sisters' history, and the present with the protagonist Penny. Shea Ernshaw wrote the two kinds of chapters perfectly to the point where they both blended together in the end.

   I couldn't help but fall in love with the sisters and their story. They were three independent sisters that would sometimes cause a little mischief, but didn't deserve to die the way they did. The mysteriousness to the sisters made them all that more appealing to me, and I couldn't help but look forward to their chapters.

   I really enjoyed how Shea Ernshaw give the little town the same mysterious vibes as she did the sisters, it made everything that much more entertaining and intriguing. I've read a lot of stories that take place in small unknown towns, and after a while the trend burnt me out, but The Wicked Deep was a refreshing twist on the trend that I'm glad I gave a chance.

   Then finally, I loved the little witch hunt that occurred in the novel. Where all the students attempted to hunt down, and figure out which sister was stowed away in whomever's body. It was a thrill to read about, and I was continuously trying to figure out what sister was where before the characters in the book did. Boy was I wrong!

   Normally standalones don't appeal all that much to me, I, for the most part feel that standalones don't wrap up nicely the way the author intended them too. The Wicked Deep sure showed me differently. The story kept me intrigued, surprised and in love throughout the whole novel.

   The Wicked Deep was a thrilling and magical witch hunt that I'd recommend to all lovers of witches and possibly mermaid tales. I look forward to what Shea Ernshaw has in store for us next!

Rating:

Favourite Quote:

"If only love were so easily conjured, there wouldn't be so many broken hearts."

Recommend to People Who Enjoy: 

Young Adult, Paranormal, Witches, Mystery Vibes, Magic, Courses, Redemption 

June Wrap Up 2017

   Like most of the months, June was all over the place for me. From graduations, to my sisters finally being done school for the summer, and to getting a new job! So it was busy and hectic as usual, and of course all the days blurred together. 

   Unfortunately for June, I wasn't able to get out of my book slump, which was my fault. I ended up picking two books that I just could not enjoy, resulting in me not wanting to pick anything else up after them. Hopefully the next thing I pick up ends up being really good and fixes my mistake for June.

   Some of you may follow me on Instagram, or maybe just noticed that I changed my Bio on most of my social media platforms, but for those of you who haven't noticed or heard, I got another job! Come the last week of June, I got a call for an interview to one of my favourite places, McNally Robinson. Also known as my local Indie bookstore, one which I occupy more frequently than not. Anyways, shortly after the interview they called me back and I was hired! I've already had my first shift, and I couldn't be happier working there. Having already known most of the people in the department that I'm in, from always stopping by, everything has been so easy to adjust too! You'll probably be hearing much more about the store in the next upcoming months!

  Like I mentioned at the beginning of the post, June time brings graduations, and one that I went to this Spring was for my good friend Sabrina, who you all know from the book blog Beyond the Book Reviews. So if you guys have a spare moment, definitely head on over to her blog and congratulate her!

   That pretty much sums up my month, so now onto the monthly stats!

Books Read:

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Dividing Eden by Joelle Charbonneau 
The Sandcastle Empire by Kayla Olson

Book Haul:

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (ARC)
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare (ARC)
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (ARC)
The Chosen by L.J. Smith (Hardcover)
Soulmate by L.J. Smith (Hardcover)
The Wood by Chelsea Boubulski (ARC)
A Map For Wrecked Girls by Jessica Taylor (ARC)
North of Happy by Adi Alsaid (Hardcover)
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco (Hardcover)

Books Reviewed:

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard 
Dreamfall by Amy Plum
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
The Traitor's Kiss by Erin Beaty
The Sandcastle Empire by Kayla Olson
Dividing Eden by Joelle Charbonneau
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

July Releases I'm Excited For:

Waste of Space by Gina Damico (11th)

The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell (18th)

The Library of Fates by Aditi Khorana (18th)

The Color Project by Sierra Abrams (18th)

First We Were IV by Alexandra Sirowy (25th)

Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody (25th)

   That's it for this month! Come back next month to see what shenanigans I partook in during the month of July!

Book Review: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Release Date: June 27th, 2017
Read: June 4th-7th, 2017
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Series: Standalone
Format: ARC, 528 pages
Source: McNally Robinson/ Be First Book Club

Description from GoodReads:

   An unforgettable tale of two friends on their Grand Tour of 18th-century Europe who stumble upon a magical artifact that leads them from Paris to Venice in a dangerous manhunt, fighting pirates, highwaymen, and their feelings for each other along the way.

   Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

   But as Monty embarks on his grand tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

   Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

Review:

   Wait until you fall for the boy who can't love you back.

   Last year I had picked up My Lady Jane to read, after receiving it in the June 2016 OwlCrate, and I fell in love with the historical and comical aspects of the book. Since then, I've kept an eye out for that particular kind of book, and that's how The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue came into my radar. I was also lucky enough to have picked up a copy for McNally's Be First Book Club.

   Even though the book was from a completely different author than My Lady Jane, I couldn't help but compare TGGtVaV to My Lady Jane for the entirety of the book.  My Lady Jane contained magical aspects to the book, aspects that I couldn't help but feel like were needed in TGGtVaV, and thus I just couldn't help but not feel a big pull of interest to the book. In this case I blame myself for not being a big fan of contemporary novels, as well building the book up to be something completely different in my head.

   Although I had ruined the book for myself, I was still able to enjoy different aspects of the book, the characters and relationships in particular. The main character, Monty, is a bisexual who lives sometime in the 18th century, and life in the 18th century certainly isn't easy for a bisexual. Along with being a bisexual, being a person of colour or even a woman, aren't any easier when it comes to that time period. The three main characters that we encounter in the book happen to fit one or more of these categories. Although the novel pays more attention to the bisexual aspects of the book, and how the people of the time period don't support it or even view it as appriotate, Lee does a terrific job of also drawing attention to the way people of colour were/are treated poorly, and how the women of the time had to fit the mold that was created for them. Lee would throw in little facts throughout the book that made you pause and consider the truth in what was being said, instances like, "There is nothing good about watching another man claim your ship because your skin is too dark to do it yourself" and "Ladies haven't the luxury of being squeamish about blood.". Lee would never tiptoe around the truth, and would give you the facts as they were, you couldn't help but love the book because of this.

   Out of the main characters, I absolutely hated Monty. He was always so ignorant, could only ever care about himself, and not to mention he made so many problems for Percy and Felicity. In the end Lee could have made him perfect, but she made him imperfect which I couldn't help but enjoy, even if he infuriated me. The same went with the other two characters, Lee made them both imperfect as well, like all people are. It was different from most YA novels, and I hope to finally see that become a norm.

   And finally, I know it's only a small piece but I really enjoyed how the cover's little sketches predicted what was to come in the novel. The little sketches seemed like they were just kind of there when I began the novel, but I can't help but love them now.

   The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue was not what I had hoped it to be, but it did have some phenomenal parts to it and I would certainly recommend to to anyone who needs a "Big Gay European Road Trip Novel".  I will probably end up picking up the books companion spin-off, The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy when it releases in 2018.


Rating:

Favourite Quote:

"What we once were, that you are now. What we are now, soon you shall be."

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Contemporary, LGBTQA+ Stories, Fantasy, Romance, Adventure

Book Review: Dividing Eden by Joelle Charbonneau

Release Date: June 6th, 2017
Read: June 8th-16th, 2017
Publisher: HarperCollins
Series: Dividing Eden, #1
Format: ARC, 336 pages
Source: McNally Robinson/Two Thumbs Up Program

Description from GoodReads:

   Twins Carys and Andreus were never destined to rule Eden. With their older brother next in line to inherit the throne, the future of the kingdom was secure.

   But appearances—and rivals—can be deceiving. When Eden’s king and crown prince are killed by assassins, Eden desperately needs a monarch, but the line of succession is no longer clear. With a ruling council scheming to gain power, Carys and Andreus are faced with only one option—to take part in a Trial of Succession that will determine which one of them is worthy of ruling the kingdom.

   As sister and brother, Carys and Andreus have always kept each other safe—from their secrets, from the court, and from the monsters lurking in the mountains beyond the kingdom’s wall. But the Trial of Succession will test the bonds of trust and family.

   With their country and their hearts divided, Carys and Andreus will discover exactly what each will do to win the crown. How long before suspicion takes hold and the thirst for power leads to the ultimate betrayal?

Review:

   Do you wish to refuse the task, Princess?

   The cover of Dividing Eden was one of the reasons I had originally picked up an ARC at McNally Robinson for their Two Thumbs Up Program. Simplicity in covers is one of my favourite book cover trends, so that was definitely a factor when picking up a copy, but once I read into Dividing Eden a bit more, I was also intrigued with the synopsis and couldn't help but be excited to read the book.

   Whenever I look back at Dividing Eden, I will only have happy memories of the cover, because in the end the book did not meet my expectations. Throughout the 336 pages of the book, I was constantly bored and found the plot to be extremely predictable. At times I even wanted to just give up on the book because I just couldn't stand it anymore.

   Then there was the vagueness that clung to everything. There were many occasions throughout the book that information was given, but it was so vague that you couldn't help but wonder what the point was. Especially when they brought it up so frequently. One major point would be the Xhelozi, they were continuously mentioned throughout the book and were considered a major threat but in the end they only had a minor role for a few pages and then were done. It was disappointing.

   Dividing Eden wasn't what I wanted it to be, at all. I was disappointed and bored throughout the whole book, it is more than likely that I will not be picking up the sequel when it releases. 

Rating:

Favourite Quotes:

"I'm worth more than the few coppers you have in your pockets."

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

Young Adult, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Royalty, Princesses, Princes, Monsters, Competitions 

Book Review: Shadow Run by AdriAnne Strickland and Michael Miller

Release Date: March 21st, 2017
Read: March 29th-April 5th, 2017
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Series: Kaitan Chronicles, #1
Format: ARC, 400 pages
Source: McNally Robinson/ Two Thumbs Up Program

Description from GoodReads:

   Nev has just joined the crew of the starship Kaitan Heritage as the cargo loader. His captain, Qole, is the youngest-ever person to command her own ship, but she brooks no argument from her crew of orphans, fugitives, and con men. Nev can't resist her, even if her ship is an antique. 

   As for Nev, he's a prince, in hiding on the ship. He believes Qole holds the key to changing galactic civilization, and when her cooperation proves difficult to obtain, Nev resolves to get her to his home planet by any means necessary. 

   But before they know it, a rival royal family is after Qole too, and they're more interested in stealing her abilities than in keeping her alive. 


   Nev's mission to manipulate Qole becomes one to save her, and to survive, she'll have to trust her would-be kidnapper. He may be royalty, but Qole is discovering a deep reservoir of power--and stars have mercy on whoever tries to hurt her ship or her crew.

Review:

   What am I supposed to do?
   I can be a big space person depending on the day, depending on the book or movie. So I thought that Shadow Run would be up my ally, the reviews I saw from friends certainly made me think so. Unfortunately in the end I was wrong.

   Right away Shadow Run put off bad vibes for me, it took me a week to get into it, but only one day to finish, and that was only because I wanted to be done with it already. If I was one of those people that DNF books (I don't for the most part), then I would have done just that with this book.

  Overall I think that the story felt like it was missing backstory, so when it jumped right into the main plot it was like I had missed so much. I felt like the world, or I guess I should say universe in this case, could have been so much more. Even if the story took place in a spaceship, I felt as if the story literally locked me in a metal box. I didn't feel anything creative about the story, nothing to hook me in.

   Honestly, I felt like Shadow Run was just way too similar to the movie Jupiter Ascending. I felt the exact same way as I did with the movie as I did with the book, they were both wasted potential.

   I had had hope for Shadow Run, that it would be a next favourite of mine. In the ends things didn't work out that way, and I probably won't be picking up the sequel in the future.  

Rating:

Favourite Quote:

"Do I drink blood?"- Qole

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

Young Adult, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Spaceships, Royalty, Bounty's

Book Review: Freeks by Amanda Hocking

Release Date: January 3rd, 2017
Read: December 26th-27th, 2016
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Series: Standalone
Format: Hardcover, 400 pages
Source: McNally Robinson/ Two Thumbs Up Program

Description from GoodReads:

   Welcome to Gideon Davorin’s Traveling Sideshow, where necromancy, magical visions, and pyrokinesis are more than just part of the act…

   Mara has always longed for a normal life in a normal town where no one has the ability to levitate or predict the future. Instead, she roams from place to place, cleaning the tiger cage while her friends perform supernatural feats every night.

   When the struggling sideshow is miraculously offered the money they need if they set up camp in Caudry, Louisiana, Mara meets local-boy Gabe…and a normal life has never been more appealing.

   But before long, performers begin disappearing and bodies are found mauled by an invisible beast. Mara realizes that there’s a sinister presence lurking in the town with its sights set on getting rid of the sideshow freeks. In order to unravel the truth before the attacker kills everyone Mara holds dear, she has seven days to take control of a power she didn’t know she was capable of—one that could change her future forever.

Review:

   God is good, but the devil is not so bad to those he likes.
   I've been a huge fan of Amanda Hocking since I picked up Switched, back in 2012. I've read her Trylle series, her Watersong Series, and I've even picked up her Kanin series, although I haven't read them yet. So when Freeks was announced, I obviously had to get my hands on the book. McNally Robinson's Two Thumbs Up program came to the rescue, just like usual.
   Freeks ended up being something different than what I was expecting, but never the less it was still something I found myself really enjoying. Where I expected a story almost completely based on Carnival life, I found myself more focused on the people with exceptional abilities and the surrounding town where the Carnival sets up. It was really intriguing to see all these different abilities that the people had, along with being able to learn about the different mysteries that the town had in store.
   It took me roughly half the book to realize that the book took place in 1987. Most of the time, you find that newly released books either take place in the present or in an obvious time where things are almost completely different like in the Wild West, or in the future with really new technology, etc. With Freeks, having it take place in 1987 you still get that feeling that you're in the present but with a lot of little things that are different. You'd think that the tarot card headers with the date on the front would be an indicator, or even the way the characters dressed would have tipped me off, but apparently not. Even though I was completely clueless for half the book, I was really intrigued with the setting for the other half of the book. Once you paid attention to it, you began to notice a lot of minor world details that Hocking put into the book. It was definitely a time period I'd like to find more YA books set in.
   Although the book is a standalone, I felt like the book could have also been a series. With the way things ended, I feel like the characters still had a large mystical world to discover. If Amanda Hocking decides that she wants to continue the series, you'll find my name #1 on the list to read the next one.
   Filled with magic, creatures, and tattoos, Freeks was just what I needed to settle my paranormal book love. I can't wait to see what Amanda Hocking has in store for us next. 

Rating:

Favourite Quote:

"I've been alive for thirty-seven years, and I have seen all kinds of things that defy the laws of nature. But I've never seen a monster. Only those that are misunderstood and mistreated." 

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Circus', Carnivals, Magic, Werewolves, Monsters

Book Review: The Graces by Laure Eve

Release Date: September 6th, 2016
Read: August 22nd- 25th, 2016
Publisher: Amulet Books
Series: The Graces, #1
Format: ARC, 352 pages
Source: BEA 2016

Description from GoodReads:

   In The Graces, the first rule of witchcraft states that if you want something badly enough, you can get it . . . no matter who has to pay.

 

   Everyone loves the Graces. Fenrin, Thalia, and Summer Grace are captivating, wealthy, and glamorous. They’ve managed to cast a spell over not just their high school but also their entire town—and they’re rumored to have powerful connections all over the world. If you’re not in love with one of them, you want to be them. Especially River: the loner, new girl at school. She’s different from her peers, who both revere and fear the Grace family. She wants to be a Grace more than anything. And what the Graces don’t know is that River’s presence in town is no accident.

Review:

   Some people are ordinary. 

   Going to BEA 2016, I was able to pick up many treasures. To my delight the Be First Book Club book for August 2016, just happened to be one of the books I picked. That book being The Graces. Where I was originally really excited to read The Graces, the book was not what I was expecting.

   The witchcraft was really confusing to me, it felt like for the most part the author wanted you to think that there weren't any actual witches at all. It all felt so fake, until eventually closer to the end where stuff actually starts to happen. The book was not portrayed correctly in my opinion, if you wanted magic, then you've definitely come to the wrong place. 

   Honestly, the only thing I really enjoyed in The Graces, was the villain, and that was because they were the last person you'd ever expect to be it.

   The Graces was not what I wanted, and did not live up to any of my expectations, although it did make for a good book club discussion book. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a magical read.

   

   Insider among friends:

   The house is the witch.

Rating:

Favourite Quote:

"I love woods. When you're in them, you feel like the world has disappeared on you. Like you could step into a different reality if you could just find the right path. "

Recommend to People Who Enjoy: 

Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Witches, Magic, Villains