Showing posts with label Ryan Graudin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ryan Graudin. Show all posts

Friday, October 6, 2017

Blog Tour: Invictus by Ryan Graudin


   Hello and welcome to the Invictus Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours! I am so happy to be apart of the tour, and an not wait to introduce you to the book! I'm a huge fan of Ryan Graudin and I hope you will be too! Today I have for you my review of the book as well as a giveaway, I hope you enjoy!


Invictus by Ryan Graudin

Release Date: September 26th, 2017
Read: September 20th-28th, 2017
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Series: Standalone
Format: ARC, 464 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for honest review



Description from GoodReads:


   Time flies when you're plundering history.


   Farway Gaius McCarthy was born outside of time. The son of a time-traveling Recorder from 2354 AD and a gladiator living in Rome in 95 AD, Far's birth defies the laws of nature. Exploring history himself is all he's ever wanted, and after failing his final time-traveling exam, Far takes a position commanding a ship with a crew of his friends as part of a black market operation to steal valuables from the past. 

   But during a heist on the sinking Titanic, Far meets a mysterious girl who always seems to be one step ahead of him. Armed with knowledge that will bring Far's very existence into question, she will lead Far and his team on a race through time to discover a frightening truth: History is not as steady as it seems.


Review:


   Make a wish. Make it count.
   Three years ago I received a copy of Wolf by Wolf and could not put it down. It was full of action, adventure and mystery. Since then Ryan Graudin has become an instant buy for me, Invictus was one of those buys.

   I couldn't help but fall in love with the story of the time keeper and gladiator. The small bits we got at the beginning of the novel and at the end just weren't enough to satisfy me. I honestly could have read an entire book about the two of them, if Ryan announced a book tomorrow about the two of them I'd be the first one to pre-order.

   I found Invictus to be a little different when it came to the romance aspect of the novel. Most of the time the main characters will find love at some point in the novel, but in this case Far was already in a relationship when we met him. The developing romance were more focused on the secondary characters, and I couldn't have been happier about that. Everything about the romances in the novel were exceptional, they weren't the main focus of the novel, and they weren't anything but innocent and fun. I found their relationships rather fun to read.

   The story itself was exciting to read, I loved that they were able to time travel to whenever they wanted just because of the bargain they made. I understood how and why Far failed his exam, but I couldn't help but wonder what the story would have been like if he had passed. That's another book I would gladly read, an actual story about a time keeper going through time recording things. If she just wrote the story about Far's mom and the gladiator, and how she records time I would be so happy.

   Time traveling pirates, that's what I was expecting from Invictus. The description of the book tells us about a time traveling team who steals artifacts from historic events, oh and the captain just happens to be the product of a roman gladiator and a time traveling time keeper. Even with not particularly enjoying time travel, the premise sounded perfect. Unfortunately after reading the book I feel like the synopsis of the book did not suit the overall story that took place in the novel. In fact I feel like it put your heart in a different direction than what actually happens in the novel. Or at least, that's how it was for me.

   Invictus ended up being something completely different than what I initially expected, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. I can not wait to see what Ryan Graudin has in store for us next! Hopefully it'll be the story of his mom.... just saying.

Rating:

Favourite Quote:


"Are you you without your memories? If not, who do you become?"

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:


Young Adult, Time Travel, Saving the world, Villains turned hero, alternative universes, Guardians of the Galaxy



Ryan Graudin grew up in Charleston and graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in Creative Writing in 2009. She is the author of All That Glows and The Walled City. She resides near Charleston with her husband and wolf-dog. You can find her online at www.ryangraudin.com. 


3 winners will receive a finished copy of INVICTUS, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


   Thank you so much for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed the tour!







Week One:

9/25/2017- Mary Had a Little Book Blog- Review
9/26/2017- The Petite Book Blogger- Review
9/27/2017- Seeing Double In Neverland- Review
9/28/2017- Mom with a Reading Problem- Review
9/29/2017- That Book Gal- Review

Week Two:

10/2/2017- Feed Your Fiction Addiction- Review
10/3/2017- The Book Nut- Review
10/4/2017- Omg Books and More Books- Review
10/5/2017- Wonderland Novels- Review
10/6/2017- Ohana Reads- Review


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Friday, February 10, 2017

Book Review: Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin

Release Date: November 1st, 2016
Read: December 30th 2016-January 3rd, 2017
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Series: Wolf by Wolf, #2
Format: ARC, 481 pages
Source: BEA 2016


Description from GoodReads:


   There would be blood. Blood for blood. Blood to pay. An entire world of it.

   For the resistance in the Third Reich, the war may be over, but the fight has just begun. Death camp survivor Yael, who has the power to skinshift, is on the run: the world has just seen her shoot and kill Hitler. But the truth of what happened is far more complicated, and its consequences are deadly. Yael and her unlikely comrades dive into enemy territory to try to turn the tide against Hitler’s army, and there is no alternative but to see their mission through to the end, whatever the cost.

   But in the midst of the chaos, Yael’s past and future collide when she comes face to face with a ghost from her past, and a spark with a fellow rider begins to grow into something more. Dark secrets reveal dark truths and one question hangs over them all—how far can you go for the ones you love?


Review:


   Why was she always the only one left?
   Wolf by Wolf was one of my favourite books of 2015, it surprised me with its hint of fantasy in the story that was obviously historical fiction. I went to BEA 2016 with only four books that I wanted to leave with, Blood for Blood was one of them, and I certainly did leave with it. With not wanting the series to end, I put off reading my ARC until roughly two months after it's release. Eventually I knew that I was going to have to read it.
   Blood for Blood was not what I was expecting, for all the hype I heard, and with everything that happened in the first book, I had some high expectations for its sequel. Unfortunately, the book didn't meet those expectations. Where Wolf by Wolf was planned out, and had direction, I found Blood for Blood didn't. I kind of feel like Graudin didn't really have a solid solution when it came to the ending of the series, especially with how it all went down. I understand that people had to die in the end, the story takes place in WWII, so they kind of have too. But with Wolf by Wolf we had the book take place throughout different terrain because of the race, with this one, it was all over the place with no purpose.
   Although I found the plot of Blood for Blood to be a bit disappointing, I loved that Yael was her same old self, the same as she was in the first book. Even when things were tough, she was still true to herself. I really liked how she still kept up with the tattoos when the whole thing was over. In the first book, I also felt myself connecting with Felix. In this one, I couldn't have hated him more. There was a rather large shift when it came to his character, and I just couldn't get over it. What I loved about him was just gone, and so I just wanted his parts to be over.
   I didn't love Blood for Blood, and when I think about it, I get a disappointed feeling. Having only read this series by Ryan Graudin and none of her others, I probably wouldn't pick up any more of her books if it wasn't for how much I enjoyed Wolf by Wolf. Hopefully in the future, I'll enjoy her next books more. 

Rating:


Favourite Quote:


"Fear is not an excuse, fear is being human."

"Talking a life takes something from you."

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:


Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, World War 2, War, Shapeshifters



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Tuesday, January 31, 2017

January Wrap Up 2017!

   January was good, January was really good. In the last months, I'd been on hiatus because of the stress of my University classes. This month I started a new bunch of classes, with a lighter load, as well as classes that actually interest me. It's safe to say that this course load is just what I needed.
   I said I'd do two things last month, one was try to get motivated to blog again, and the other was to start a TBR pile for the month, and try to get through them all. One of the two was successful, unfortunately it wasn't the blogging part. I ended up being able to read practically all of the books I had added to my TBR but, in the end I just couldn't review them. I'm still going to work on that, especially when it comes to other blog posts too. For now I'm just going to keep up with all all the reading I've been doing, and hope that I can stick with that as well!
   In the last month I was able to participate in two bookish events, one being my Winnipeg Blogger Groups' Secret Santa party, and the other being an IndigoTeen Hangout. Both were amazing, but I mean, I got to hang out with the same set of friends both times, so they were bound to be great. My Secret Santa, Sarah from Just Another Story, was SUPER AMAZING and got me an ARC of Scarlet by Marissa Meyer, and The Throne of Glass Covering Book, so you can tell that I am over the moon excited. Then at the IndigoTeen Hangout I was lucky enough to have won an ARC of 100 Hours by Rachel Vincent, and Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee. Both events were fantastic, and so much fun, from bookish trivia to just discussing books. I love my group of bookish ladies, and can't wait to see them again next month!
   Outside of the bookish world, my friends and I did a fancy dinner night at one of my favourite restaurants. We all dressed up in some of our nicest outfits, and literally just went out for dinner. It was a lot of fun just dressing up, and going out. I can't wait to do it again sometime in the future.  (Please enjoy our lovely selfie.)
   And finally, the last two weeks, and still going, I've been sick. Everyone has been getting sick recently, and I guess it was just my turn. This time around has been a bit worse than usual, especially since my asthma kicks in whenever I get a cold, but I've been slowly getting better, so hopefully that goes away soon. 
   That was my January 2017! I'd say that it was a good start off to the year, if you completely ignore the fact that Trump is the president of the United States anyway. Anyways, here are the stats for this month!
   

   P.S. You guys have to go see A Dogs Purpose, it was such a beautiful movie, and I honestly can't stop tearing up when I think about the movie. It was also actually filmed maybe 15 minutes away from my home, the diner that the characters go to is actually a favourite place for me to go eat in the summer! So definitely make time to go see it!


Books Read:



Book Haul:



A huge thank you to IndigoTeen, OwlCrate, Lauren @ The Autumn Bookshelf, Sarah @ Just Another Story,  and Sabrina @ Beyond the Book Reviews

Books Reviewed:





February Releases That I'm Excited For:



    That was the month! February is usually a super busy month for my family and I, so we'll have to see what's in store for us. I know that I've already got a bunch of things planned, like our late Staff Christmas Party, a Book Signing, and my 19th Birthday Party! So already, I know that'll be a lot of fun, until next time!




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Monday, January 2, 2017

January TBR Pile


   Hi all! 
   Starting this month, I'm going to (try and), start a new monthly feature! I'm going to start creating a monthly tbr post. Each month I'm going to pick a pile of books to read, or at least pick through to read. I know for the most part, that I won't finish the pile each month, especially with School starting again in a few days, but I will have a small pile to choose my next read from. Without further ado, my January TBR pile. 

January TBR Pile








   That's my TBR for the month! Let's hope that I can finish at least half of it!

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Friday, August 26, 2016

Ohana Talks: Top Ten Anticipated Releases of Fall 2016


   With the end of August slowly approaching, in my mind that automatically means it's time for the fall. So today I'm going to be showing you my top 10 anticipated releases of Fall 2016. Most of the time my most anticipated reads release in the fall, so expect some pretty amazing books on this list! 

   The list will slowly graduate to my most anticipated!

Stalking Jack the Ripper

Kerri Maniscalco
Jimmy Patterson
Expected: September 20th, 2016


Description from GoodReads:


   Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

   Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.


   My friend Kristie from Lost in Ever After was the one who got me pumped for Stalking Jack the Ripper, originally I was a little excited when I saw it's reveal but it wasn't until her freak out when I was at BEA 2016 that I slowly started anticipating this fall release. 


Dead Girl Society

Michelle Krys
Delacorte Press
Expected: November 8th, 2016


Description from GoodReads:


   You are cordially invited to participate in a game of thrills and dares. Tell no one, and come alone. If you dare.

   Hope is sick of everyone treating her like she’s breakable. Sure, she has cystic fibrosis (basically really bad lungs), but she’s tired of being babied by her mom and her overprotective best friend, Ethan, not to mention worrying about paying for her expensive medication and how she’s going to afford college.And she’s bored with life in her run-down New Orleans suburb. 

   When an invitation arrives from a mysterious group that calls itself the Society, Hope jumps at the chance for some excitement. This could be her ticket out. All she has to do is complete a few dares and she just might win some real money. 
But the Society isn’t all that it seems . . . and soon Hope finds that playing the game isn’t a choice—it’s a requirement. 


   When Michelle Krys' Witch Hunter series was first published I was super excited, who doesn't love witches, especially coming from another Canadian like myself? I have yet to pick up the series, but either way I still can't wait for this particular read to release!


Labyrinth Lost

Zoraida Córdova
Brooklyn Brujas, #1
Sourcebooks Fire
Expected: September 16th, 2016


Description from GoodReads:


   Nothing says Happy Birthday like summoning the spirits of your dead relatives.

   Alex is a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation...and she hates magic. At her Deathday celebration, Alex performs a spell to rid herself of her power. But it backfires. Her whole family vanishes into thin air, leaving her alone with Nova, a brujo boy she can't trust. A boy whose intentions are as dark as the strange marks on his skin.

   The only way to get her family back is to travel with Nova to Los Lagos, a land in-between, as dark as Limbo and as strange as Wonderland...


   Back in the beginning of the year I was super excited to get my hands on this book, Day of the Dead is a low key obsession of mine. Raincoat Publishing was the magical being that gifted me an ARC to review, and at this point I've read it already so I won't say anymore about it but you can definitely expect a very magical adventure in this book.


Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, & Robin Wasserman
Margaret K. McElderry 
Expected: November 15th, 2016


Description from GoodReads:


   Simon Lewis has been a human and a vampire, and now he is becoming a Shadowhunter. The events of City of Heavenly Fire left him stripped of his memories, and Simon isn’t sure who he is anymore. So when the Shadowhunter Academy reopens, Simon throws himself into this new world of demon-hunting, determined to find himself again. Whomever this new Simon might be.

   But the Academy is a Shadowhunter institution, which means it has some problems. Like the fact that non-Shadowhunter students have to live in the basement. At least Simon’s trained in weaponry—even if it’s only from hours of playing D&D.

   Join Simon on his journey to become a Shadowhunter, and learn about the Academy’s illustrious history along the way, through guest lecturers such as Jace Herondale, Tessa Gray, and Magnus Bane. Written by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, and Robin Wasserman, these moving and hilarious short stories are perfect for the fan who just can’t get enough of the Shadowhunters.


   Honestly at this point Cassandra Clare is a auto buy for me, so you really shouldn't be surprised that I want this book. 


The Black Key

Amy Ewing
The Lone City, #3
HarperTeen
Expected: October 4th, 2016


Description from GoodReads:


   For too long, Violet and the people of the outer circles of the Lone City have lived in service to the royalty of the Jewel. But now the secret society known as the Black Key is preparing to seize power.

   And while Violet knows she is at the center of this rebellion, she has a more personal stake in it—her sister, Hazel, has been taken by the Duchess of the Lake. Now, after fighting so hard to escape the Jewel, Violet must do everything in her power to return to save not only Hazel, but the future of the Lone City.


   After receiving the first two books in this series, and binging them in a week, I just could not wait for The Black Key. The series is coming to its conclusion and I can't wait to see what Amy has ins tore for us!


Heartless

Marissa Meyer
Feiwel and Friends
Expected: Novemeber 8th, 2016


Description from GoodReads:


   Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the yet-unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend and supply the Kingdom of Hearts with delectable pastries and confections. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next Queen.

   At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the king's marriage proposal, she meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship.

   Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.


   Marissa is another auto buy of mine, her Lunar Chronicles is phenomenal. As much as I'm anticipating this read, I actually have a signed ARC. So the wait for this one isn't that bad!


Hardcover Editions of the Night World Series

L.J.Smith
Night World, #1-3
Simon Pulse
Expected: December 6th, 2016


Description from GoodReads:


   The pain was something Poppy couldn’t ignore. The diagnosis was death. There was no hope—until James appeared in the darkened hospital room.

   James, her best friend and secret love, the most handsome boy in El Camino High. But this was a James she didn’t know, menacing yet irresistible as he offered Poppy the gift of eternal life.

   Only he could open the door to the Night World, and spirit her into its lonely, secret universe.

   One dizzying kiss and she can see into his soul. She finds that he has always loved her. They’re soul mates—but can she follow him into death and beyond? It’s a desperate choice, and Poppy’s time is running out...


   There’s something strange about the new girls in town. Briar Creek, Oregon, has never seen anything like the supernatural grace of Rowan, Kestrel, and Jade, three sisters who move into the dilapidated old house next to Mark and Mary-Lynnette Carter.

   Mark is obsessed with Jade—but she and her sisters have a secret. And when Mark and Mary-Lynnette follow them into the woods one night, they are plunged into a nightmare beyond their imagination.

   Because the sisters are fugitives from the Night World, and their brother Ash is hot on the trail behind them. He’s ruthless, gorgeous, and he has orders to bring the girls back at all costs. And when he sees Mary-Lynette, he decides to take her too…


   Her name is Blaise and she’s irresistible to boys. Her dark, smoldering beauty is an invitation to jealousy and madness. And now she’s ready for the kill. Eric Ross is the perfect catch, a star athlete who wants to be a vet. But her cousin Thea, is determined to protect this particular human boy from the girl who was born to destroy men.

   Blaise’s black magic is powerful. The only way Thea can fight back is to use her own white magic, to bewitch Eric herself as a bluff. But soon Thea finds herself getting too close to Eric, feeling forbidden emotions, breaking Night World laws. Falling in love. As Halloween and the Night of the Witch draw closer, can Thea save Eric—and herself—from Blaise’s vengeance?


   The Night World series is an absolute favourite of mine, I'd say in the top 5. I own so many editions of this series including the original editions. With the series getting hardcovers, and new covers, I'm in desperate hope that they plan on finishing the series finally after 18 years of waiting.


Blood for Blood

Ryan Graudin
Wolf by Wolf, #2
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Expected: November 1st, 2016


Description from GoodReads;


   There would be blood.
   Blood for blood.
   Blood to pay.
   An entire world of it.

   For the resistance in 1950s Germany, the war may be over, but the fight has just begun.

   Death camp survivor Yael, who has the power to skinshift, is on the run: the world has just seen her shoot and kill Hitler. But the truth of what happened is far more complicated, and its consequences are deadly. Yael and her unlikely comrades dive into enemy territory to try to turn the tide against the New Order, and there is no alternative but to see their mission through to the end, whatever the cost.

   But dark secrets reveal dark truths, and one question hangs over them all: how far can you go for the ones you love?


   I finished Wolf by Wolf last fall, in I think it was one night. Ever since I made it my mission to get my hands on the ARC of Blood for Blood. Now i'm just waiting for my friend to finally have a chance to read her copy so we can read it together. 


Like a River Glorious

Rae Carson
The Gold Seer Trilogy, #2
Greenwillow Books
Expected: September 27th, 2016


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.


   Most of you probably saw my Waiting on Wednesday a little while ago of this one, so I won't say much. But I will say, MAGIC, ADVENTURE, AND HISTORICAL FICTION.


Empire of Storms

Sarah J. Maas
Throne of Glass, #5
Bloomsbury USA Children's
Expected: September 6th, 2016


Description from GoodReads:


   The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those don't.

   As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

   Aelin's journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?


   At this point if you still haven't read Throne of Glass then I don't know what you're doing with your life. But otherwise for everyone else that has read the series, you know why I'm dying to get my hands on it! No words are needed from here on that front!


   Those are my most anticipated reads for the Fall 2016, what about you guys? What are you excited for? 


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