Recommendation Fridays: The Lady Janies by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows and Brodi Ashton

I discovered My Lady Jane when I received a hardcover in OwlCrate's Royalty box for June 2016. I had read at least one book from each of the authors previously, I took My Lady Jane on a camping trip with me and the rest is history.

The series plays with history and adds a comedic and slight paranormal twist to those stories. My Lady Jane is the story of Jane Grey, with a hint of shapeshifters. My Plain Jane is the story of Jane Eyre, with a hint of ghosts. And the upcoming release, My Calamity Jane, is the story of Calamity Jane, with a hint of garou. Or in other words, a werewolf.

These stories area ton of fun and are perfect for fans of the original tales. I have yet to read My Calamity Jane, but I know it's going to be the best one yet.

I would recommend the series for fans of the following books and genres:

Historical Fiction, Comedy, Paranormal, Retellings, Jane Eyre, Jane Grey, Calamity Jane

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

Release Date: June 7, 2016

Publisher: HarperTeen

Series: The Lady Janies, #1

Format: Hardcover, 512 pages

Description from GoodReads:

Edward (long live the king) is the King of England. He’s also dying, which is inconvenient, as he’s only sixteen and he’d much rather be planning for his first kiss than considering who will inherit his crown…

Jane (reads too many books) is Edward’s cousin, and far more interested in books than romance. Unfortunately for Jane, Edward has arranged to marry her off to secure the line of succession. And there’s something a little odd about her intended…

Gifford (call him G) is a horse. That is, he’s an Eðian (eth-y-un, for the uninitiated). Every day at dawn he becomes a noble chestnut steed—but then he wakes at dusk with a mouthful of hay. It’s all very undignified.

The plot thickens as Edward, Jane, and G are drawn into a dangerous conspiracy. With the fate of the kingdom at stake, our heroes will have to engage in some conspiring of their own. But can they pull off their plan before it’s off with their heads?

Read Ohana Reads' Review of My Lady Jane

My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

Release Date: June 26, 2018

Publisher: HarperTeen

Series: My Lady Janies, #2

Format: Hardcover, 447 pages

Description from GoodReads:

You may think you know the story. After a miserable childhood, penniless orphan Jane Eyre embarks on a new life as a governess at Thornfield Hall. There, she meets one dark, brooding Mr. Rochester. Despite their significant age gap (!) and his uneven temper (!!), they fall in love—and, Reader, she marries him. (!!!)

Or does she?

Prepare for an adventure of Gothic proportions, in which all is not as it seems, a certain gentleman is hiding more than skeletons in his closets, and one orphan Jane Eyre, aspiring author Charlotte Brontë, and supernatural investigator Alexander Blackwood are about to be drawn together on the most epic ghost hunt this side of Wuthering Heights.

Read Ohana Reads' Review of My Plain Jane

My Calamity Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

Release Date: June 2, 2020

Publisher: HarperTeen

Series: My Lady Janies, #3

Format: Hardcover, 516

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.

   And that's The Lady Janies by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows. The series is filled with cute and hilarious scenes, I hope you guys enjoy the series as much as I do.

Recommendation Fridays: The Gold Seer Trilogy by Rae Carson

   I first read Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson for the Two Thumbs Up Program at McNally Robinson, like most of my improv picks at McNally, I picked this one up because the Twitterverse was gushing about how AMAZING it was. Having not read Rae Carson's previous series, I wasn't quite sure what I had in store for me. In the end I was seriously glad that I picked that baby up! The series has become one of my all time favourites, and has even resulted in me spending at least 10 months hunting down an ARC of Like a River Glorious, it's sequel. 

   The series is perfect for people who love giving historical things a little twist! Taking place during the Gold Rush in the USA, the main character has the power to sense gold. The book only really focuses on her power about 40% of the time, so you are really able to focus on the historical parts of it. Honestly, it's just the cutest cowboyish book that I recommend everyone pick up. 

The series would probably be best for people who like the following books:

Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Westerns, Magic, The Gold Rush

Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

Release Date: September 22nd, 2015

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Series: The Gold Seer Trilogy, #1

Format: Hardcover, 436 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   Gold is in my blood, in my breath, even in the flecks in my eyes.

   Lee Westfall has a strong, loving family. She has a home she loves and a loyal steed. She has a best friend—who might want to be something more.

   She also has a secret.

   Lee can sense gold in the world around her. Veins deep in the earth. Small nuggets in a stream. Even gold dust caught underneath a fingernail. She has kept her family safe and able to buy provisions, even through the harshest winters. But what would someone do to control a girl with that kind of power? A person might murder for it.

   When everything Lee holds dear is ripped away, she flees west to California—where gold has just been discovered. Perhaps this will be the one place a magical girl can be herself. If she survives the journey.

Check out Ohana Reads' Review Here!

Like A River Glorious by Rae Carson

Release Date: September 27th, 2016

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Series: The Gold Seer Trilogy, #2

Format: Hardcover, 412 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   After a harrowing journey across the country, Leah Westfall and her friends have finally arrived in California and are ready to make their fortunes in the Gold Rush. Lee has a special advantage over the other new arrivals in California—she has the ability to sense gold, a secret known only by her handsome best friend Jefferson and her murdering uncle Hiram.

   Lee and her friends have the chance to be the most prosperous settlers in California, but Hiram hasn’t given up trying to control Lee and her power. Sabotage and kidnapping are the least of what he’ll do to make sure Lee is his own. His mine is the deepest and darkest in the territory, and there Lee learns the full extent of her magical gift, the worst of her uncle, and the true strength of her friendships. To save everyone, she vows to destroy her uncle and the empire he is building—even at the cost of her own freedom.

Check out Ohana Reads' Review here!

Into the Bright Unknown by Rae Carson

Release Date: October 10th, 2017

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Series: The Gold Seer Trilogy, #3

Format: Hardcover, 432 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   Leah Westfall, her fiancé Jefferson, and her friends have become rich in the California Territory, thanks to Lee’s magical ability to sense precious gold. But their fortune has made them a target, and when a dangerous billionaire sets out to destroy them, Lee and her friends decide they’ve had enough—they will fight back with all their power and talents. Lee’s magic is continuing to strengthen and grow, but someone is on to her—someone who might have a bit of magic herself. The stakes are higher than ever as Lee and her friends hatch a daring scheme that could alter the California landscape forever. With a distinctive young heroine and a unique interpretation of American history, Into the Bright Unknown strikes a rich vein of romance, magic, and adventure, bringing the Gold Seer Trilogy to its epic conclusion. Includes a map and an author’s note.


   And that's the Gold Seer Trilogy by Rae Carson! I hold this series very dearly to my heart, so I hope you guys will pick it up and give it a try!

Recommendation Fridays: The Night World Series by L.J. Smith

   I've been a fan of the Night World series by L.J. Smith, since I first discovered the Twilight Saga.  After just starting my obsession with reading, the Night World series was the first series I picked up after finishing the Twilight Saga. It was the perfect series to get me out of my slump. Originally I had only picked up the first omnibus, but surprisingly I finished that in a week. And so the trend started, I would finish the omnibus in a week and then head to a store and pick up the next omnibus. The series had me hooked, with the first 6 books being their own little stories, and then the last 3 slowly connecting them all. Even though it's been 7 years since I read the last omnibus, and 19 years since the last book was released, I'm still awaiting the day when the final book in the series will be released. (The series is being published in hardcover, with new covers for the first time since the omnibus'. So I have hope that this means the series is finally coming to an end.)

   The series is full of vampires, witches, werewolves, shapeshifters, it has everything really. If you're looking to go back to the good old days, where the YA books were filled with simplistic but entertaining reads, as well as vampires, then this is the series for you. 

   Since first picking up the series, I've collected the omnibus', the original 1990s first published editions, some of the german editions and you bet your butt that I'll be picking up the hardcover editions! You could say I'm a bit obsessed.

The series would probably be best for people who like the following books:
Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Vampires, Werewolves, Shapeshifters, Witches, Soulmates, Ghouls

Night World, No. 1 by L.J. Smith

Release Date: June 3rd, 2008

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Series: Night World, #1-3

Format: Omnibus Paperback, 729 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   Includes:

   Book 1 - Secret Vampire

   Book 2 - Daughters of Darkness 

   Book 3 - Spellbinder 

   Vampires, werewolves, witches, shapeshifters -- they live among us without our knowledge. Night World is their secret society, a secret society with very strict rules. And falling in love breaks all the laws of the Night World.

   In Secret Vampire, Poppy thought the summer would last forever. Then she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Now Poppy's only hope for survival is James, her friend and secret love. A vampire in the Night World, James can make Poppy immortal. But first they both must risk everything to go against the laws of Night World.

   Fugitives from Night World, three vampire sisters leave their isolated home to live among humans in Daughters of Darkness. Their brother, Ash, is sent to bring the girls back, but he falls in love with their beautiful friend.

   Two witch cousins fight over their high school crush. It's a battle between black magic and white magic in Spellbinder.

Night World, No. 2 by L.J. Smith

Release Date: November 18th, 2008

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Series: Night World, #4-6

Format: Omnibus Paperback, 662 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   Includes:

   Book 4 - Dark Angel

   Book 5 - The Chosen

   Book 6 - Soulmate

   Vampires, werewolves, witches, shapeshifters -- they live among us without our knowledge. Night World is their secret society, a secret society with very strict rules. And falling in love breaks all the laws of the Night World.

   In Dark Angel, Gillian is saved from drowning by her guardian angel. Only visible to Gillian, Angel will fulfill her heart's every desire. But when Angel starts making strange and sinister requests, Gillian must question who he truly is and where he came from.

   Armed with a wooden stake, martial arts, and the will to resist a vampire's mind control, Rashel struggles to avenge her mother's death in The Chosen. Then she meets Quinn, her soulmate, who is part of the world she has vowed to destroy.

   Hannah receives notes warning her of incredible danger in Soulmate. But if death is her destiny, is the Lord of the Night World's love strong enough to save her?

Night World, No. 3 by L.J. Smith

Release Date: April 7th, 2009

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Series: Night World, #7-9

Format:

Description from GoodReads:

   Includes:

   Book 7 - Huntress

   Book 8 - Black Dawn

   Book 9 - Witchlight

   Vampires, werewolves, witches, shapeshifters - they live among us without our knowledge. Night World is their secret society, a secret society with very strict rules. And falling in love breaks all the laws of the Night World.

   The apocalypse is drawing near. But four Wild Powers can save the world from the impending doom. Circle Daybreak, an underground organization with both Night World and human members, is searching for the four who can stop the darkness.

   A vampire hunter - who is half vampire - stalks her own kind to protect humans in Huntress.

   In Black Dawn, Maggie stumbles upon an old Night World kingdom where the ruling vampire prince is both an enemy and an ally.

   And Circle Daybreak hires Keller, a shapeshifting panther, to guard a new Wild power in Witchlight. But when Keller falls in love with the Wild Power's soulmate, her love could destroy everything...

   That is the Night World series for you! I hope you guys pick up the series, I hold it close to my heart!

Recommendation Fridays: The Selection Series by Kiera Cass

   Years ago on a random camping trip, I had picked up The Selection to bring along with me from my local public library. It was one of the last ones that I decided to read from the pile of books that I had brought, but I can definitely say, that I had no regrets when it finally came down to reading it. After finishing it within a day, I threw it at my sister to read the minute she asked me for something to read. She read it 3 times during that trip. 

   From that day on, the series became one of our all time favourites in the years to come. From pre-ordering each book in the series, to begging our mother to allow us to go to YALLFest 2014 mostly to see Kiera Cass. 

   The series is full of Princesses, Royalty, and a chance of a lifetime, and for the people who love hearing stories about what happens to the characters after their happily ever after, then this series is also for you.  

   You will not regret picking up The Selection series, it'll be one of the best decisions you've ever made.

The series would probably be best for people who like the following books:

Royalty, Princesses, Tiaras, Dresses, Drama, True Love

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Release Date: April 24th, 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

Series: The Selection, #1

Format: Hardcover, 336 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

   But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.


   Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

The Elite by Kiera Cass

Release Date: April 23rd, 2013

Publisher: HarperTeen

Series: The Selection, #2

Format: Hardcover, 336 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   The Selection began with thirty-five girls.

   Now with the group narrowed down to the six Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon's heart is fiercer than ever—and America is still struggling to decide where her heart truly lies. Is it with Maxon, who could make her life a fairy tale? Or with her first love, Aspen?

   America is desperate for more time. But the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want—and America's chance to choose is about to slip away.

The One by Kiera Cass

Release Date: May 6th, 2014

Publisher: HarperTeen

Series: The Selection, #3

Format: Hardcover, 323 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

   When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

Check out Ohana Reads' Review 

The Heir by Kiera Cass

Release Date: May 5th, 2015

Publisher: HarperTeen

Series: The Selection, #4

Format: Hardcover, 346 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won Prince Maxon’s heart. Now the time has come for Princess Eadlyn to hold a Selection of her own. Eadlyn doesn’t expect her Selection to be anything like her parents’ fairy-tale love story. But as the competition begins, she may discover that finding her own happily ever after isn’t as impossible as she always thought. 

Check Out Ohana Reads' Review

The Crown by Kiera Cass

Release Date: May 3rd, 2016

Publisher: HarperTeen

Series: The Selection, #5

Format: Hardcover, 279

Description from GoodReads:

   When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection, she didn’t think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.

   Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined.

Check Out Ohana Reads' Review

   What do you think? Love it? Hate it? Will you be interested in picking up The Selection series, sometime in the future? If you do, then let me know! I'd love to talk to another Selection Fan!

Recommendation Fridays: The Twixt by Dawn Metcalf

   I had first discovered this glorious series when I had won Indelible in a GoodReads Giveaway, at first I was a little nervous and not sure what to expect from it's description. But the minute I started reading it I was in, I couldn't put it down. Although I've only read the first two books at this point, I still adore the series because of it's uniqueness and 100% plan on reading the other two in the future, I just haven't got tent a chance at reading them quite yet!

   

   When you think of Fey or fairies you think of beauty and a species of being that are completely whacked up. You haven't seen anything until you've read this series. The Fey or The Twixt in this case are the weirdest beings you'd ever see, when reading the series you give your imagination a run for it's money. 

   If you want a series that tripy and out of this world, then this is the series for you.

The series would probably be best for people who like the following books:

Fantasy, Paranormal, Fey, Fairies, Magic, Urban Fantasy, Tattoos/Markings

 Indelible by Dawn Metcalf

Release Date: July 30th, 2013

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Series: The Twixt, #1

Format: Paperback, 384 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   Some things are permanent.

   Indelible.

   And they cannot be changed back.

   Joy Malone learns this the night she sees a stranger with all-black eyes across a crowded room—right before the mystery boy tries to cut out her eye. Instead, the wound accidentally marks her as property of Indelible Ink, and this dangerous mistake thrusts Joy into an incomprehensible world—a world of monsters at the window, glowing girls on the doorstep, and a life that will never be the same.

   Now, Joy must pretend to be Ink’s chosen one—his helper, his love, his something for the foreseeable future...and failure to be convincing means a painful death for them both. Swept into a world of monsters, illusion, immortal honor and revenge, Joy discovers that sometimes, there are no mistakes.

   Somewhere between reality and myth lies…

   THE TWIXT 

Invisible by Dawn Metcalf

Release Date: September 30th, 2014

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Series: The Twixt, #2

Format: Paperback, 380 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   Some things lie beneath the surface. 

   Invisible. 

   With the power to change everything. 

   Joy Malone wants it all—power, freedom and the boyfriend who loves her. Yet when an unstoppable assassin is hired to kill her, Joy learns that being the girl with the Sight comes with a price that might be too high to pay. Love will be tested, lives will be threatened, and everyone Joy knows and cares about will be affected by her decision to stand by Ink or to leave the Twixt forever. 

   Her choice is balanced on a scalpel's edge and the consequences will be more life-altering than anyone can guess. 

Check Out Ohana Reads' Review Here

Insidious by Dawn Metcalf

Release Date: August 25th, 2015

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Series: The Twixt, #3

Format: Paperback, 432 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   True evil is rarely obvious. It is quiet, patient. 

   Insidious. 

   Awaiting the perfect moment to strike. 

   Joy Malone finally knows who she is, where she comes from and how to live in two worlds at once. And now she can introduce her family and friends to her mysterious boyfriend, Indelible Ink. But when Ink's twin sister, Invisible Inq, calls in a favor, Joy must accept a dangerous mission to find a forgotten door between worlds—a door hiding a secret that some will kill to keep. 

   Unseen enemies, treasonous magic and an unthinkable betrayal threaten both the Twixt and human worlds as Joy races to expose an ancient conspiracy and unleash the unalterable truth—some secrets cannot remain secret forever.

Invincible by Dawn Metcalf

Release Date: July 26th, 2016

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Series: The Twixt, #4

Format: Paperback, 304 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   Love must be stronger than fear, stronger than fate. 

   Invincible. 

   The future of two worlds depends on it. 

   Joy Malone has learned to live between two realities, surviving mortal threats and agonizing betrayals. And she's found true love. But the world of the Twixt is in chaos, and the Council wants someone to blame… Facing a danger greater than any she's ever known, Joy must find the strength to rely on herself as her allies fall away, because Joy is no longer sure just who—or what—she is. She knows only that her deepest secret is also her greatest vulnerability and the key to saving them all. 

   As she fights to protect her friends and family and to unite two disparate worlds, Joy has to trust that some bonds are stronger than magic.

   What do you think? Love it? Hate it? Will you be interested in picking up The Twixt series, sometime in the future? If you do, then let me know! I'd love to talk to another Twixt Fan!

Recommendation Fridays: The Host by Stephenie Meyer

   A little while after I finished the last book in the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer, I felt like I would never find another book that I'd love as much as that series. (I was a very moody 12 year old.) Then my mom suggested Meyer's other series, The Host series. At first I assumed it was an adult novel, but feeling a little bit desperate I went ahead and read it. 

   The Host has become one of my all time favourite novels, from loving the characters, to the plot. I'd even say that I prefer it over The Twilight Saga. Filled with adventure, love, and aliens I couldn't of asked for a better book. 

   Just a heads up on the series though, it's been 8 years and we don't have a sequel yet.....

   Also, in my opinion the movie is fabulous! But I'll let you decide on that!

The series would probably be best for people who like the following books:

 Sci-Fi, Romance, Paranormal, Aliens, Inhabiting Human Bodies

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Release Date: May 6th, 2008

Publisher: Little Brown and Company

Series: The Host, #1

Format: Hardcover, 620 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, didn't expect to find its former tenant refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

   As Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of Jared, a human who still lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she's never met. Reluctant allies, Wanderer and Melanie set off to search for the man they both love. 

   That's The Host! What do you think, will you be picking it up? Let me know if you do!

Recommendation Fridays: The Arcana Chronicles by Kresley Cole

   This series is an obsession of mine, the idea of the Arcana Cards fighting to survive against the world, and against each other is my favourite. I have yet to experience another book based on Tarot cards, and so The Arcana Chronicles have filed that hole in my heart.

   The powers, the apocalypse, the characters. It's all fabulous, Kresley Cole is an already experienced author who knows everything she needs in order to write a novel that'll break you. Honestly, who could ask for more?

The series would probably be best for people who like the following books:

 Fantasy, Romance, Dystopian, Post Apocalyptic, Urban Fantasy, Fight for Survival

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

Release Date: July 9th, 2013

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Series: The Arcana Chronicles, #1

Format: Paperback, 369 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   She could save the world--or destroy it.

   Sixteen year old Evangeline"Evie" Greene leads a charmed life--until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, killing everyone she loves, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future--and they're still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

   But she can't do either alone.

   With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can't totally trust Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

   Who can Evie trust?

   As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it's not always clear who is on which side...

Endless Knight by Kresley Cole

Release Date: October 1st, 2013

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Series: The Arcana Chronicles, #2

Format: Paperback, 336 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   Shocking secrets 

   Evie has fully come into her powers as the Tarot Empress, and Jack was there to see it all. She now knows that the teens who've been reincarnated as the Tarot are in the throes of an epic battle. It's kill or be killed, and the future of mankind hangs in the balance.

   Unexpected allies 

   With threats lurking around every corner, Evie is forced to trust her newfound alliance. Together they must fight not only other Arcana, but also Bagmen zombies, post-apocalyptic storms, and cannibals.

   Gut-wrenching treachery 

   When Evie meets Death, things get even more complicated. Though falling for Jack, she's drawn to the dangerous Endless Knight as well. Somehow the Empress and Death share a history, one that Evie can't remember--but Death can't forget... 

Dead of Winter by Kresley Cole 

Release Date: January 6th, 2015

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Series: The Arcana Chronicles, #3

Format: Hardcover, 336 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   Heartbreaking decisions 

   Evie was almost seduced by the life of comfort that Death offered her—until Jack was threatened by two of the most horrific Arcana, the Lovers. She will do anything to save him, even escape Death’s uncanny prison, full of beautiful objects, material comforts…and stolen glances from a former love.

   Uncertain victory 

   Despite leaving a part of her heart behind with Death, Evie sets out into a perilous post-apocalyptic wasteland to meet up with her allies and launch an attack on the Lovers. Such formidable enemies require a battle plan, and the only way to kill them may mean Evie, Jack, and Death allying. Evie doesn’t know what will prove more impossible: surviving slavers, plague, Bagmen and other Arcana—or convincing Jack and Death to work together.

   Two heroes returned 

   There’s a thin line between love and hate, and Evie just doesn’t know where she stands with either Jack or Death. Will this unlikely trio be able to defeat The Lovers without killing one another first...? 

Check Out Ohana Reads' Review of Dead of Winter

   What do you think? Sounds fabulous right? Will you be picking up The Arcana Chronicles? 

Recommendation Fridays: Fire & Flood Series by Victoria Scott

   I came across Fire & Flood because I loved Victoria Scott's Dante Walker series. It was full of sass and awesome sauce. So when I found out about Fire & Flood I could not have ran to the closest pre-order site to order. My copy may have a different cover than the one they advertise now, either way it's still my precious baby. 

   At this point Victoria Scott has mastered the art of playing with your heart, thus making the series one of the biggest tear-jerkers yet.

   The Fire & Flood series is everything you needed in a epic race, inspiring characters, Animals with powers beyond imagination. Definitely a series you'll need to pick up. 

   

The series would probably be best for people who like the following books:

Science Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Action, Dystopian, Survival

 

Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

Release Date: January 27th, 2015

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Series: Fire & Flood, #1

Format: Paperback, 320 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   Time is slipping away.... 

   Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

   Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

   The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

Salt & Stone by Victoria Scott

Release Date: February 24th, 2015

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Series: Fire & Flood, #2

Format: Hardcover, 320 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   What would you do to save someone you love? What about risking...everything?

   In Fire & Flood, Tella Holloway faced a dangerous trek through the jungle and a terrifying march across the desert, all to remain a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed for a chance at obtaining the Cure for her brother. She can't stop—and in Salt & Stone, Tella will have to face the unseen dangers of the ocean, the breathless cold of a mountain, and the twisted new rules in the race.

   But what if the danger is deeper than that? How do you know who to trust when everyone's keeping secrets? What do you do when the person you've relied on most suddenly isn't there for support? How do you weigh one life against another?

   The race is coming to an end, and Tella is running out of time, resources, and strength. At the beginning of the race there were 122 Contenders. As Tella and her remaining friends start the fourth and final part of the race, just forty-one are left...and only one can win.

Check Out Ohana Reads' Review Here

   What do you think? Will you be picking up the series anytime soon? Let me know!