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Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Waiting on Wednesday: Ink, Iron, and Glass (Ink, Iron, and Glass #1) by Gwendolyn Clare

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're super jazzed about.

Title: Ink, Iron, and Glass

Series: Ink, Iron, and Glass #1
Authors: Gwendolyn Clare
Publisher: Macmillan/Imprint
Publication Date: February 20, 2018
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BD | Kobo | Google

Can she write a world gone wrong?

A certain pen, a certain book, and a certain person can craft entirely new worlds through a branch of science called scriptology. Elsa comes from one such world that was written into creation by her mother—a noted scriptologist.

But when her home is attacked and her mother abducted, Elsa must cross into the real world and use her own scriptology gifts to find her. In an alternative 19th-century Italy, Elsa finds a secret society of pazzerellones—young people with a gift for mechanics, alchemy or scriptology—and meets Leo, a gorgeous mechanist with a smart mouth and a tragic past. She recruits the help of these fellow geniuses just as an assassin arrives on their doorstep.

In this thrilling debut, worlds collide as Elsa unveils a deep political conspiracy seeking to unlock the most dangerous weapon ever created—and only she can stop it.

MY THOUGHTS

Apart from the gorgeous cover, this sounds really awesome. Scriptology sounds so freaking cool! I love reading books set in alternative worlds. I think this one will be incredible!

If you were a scriptologist, what kind of world would you craft? Feel free to link to your WoW post!

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Have Been On My TBR the Longest and I Still Haven’t Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week there is a different question for bloggers to ponder over.

This week's topic is "Books That Have Been On My TBR the Longest and I Still Haven’t Read".

1. Fallen (Fallen #1) by Lauren Kate

Goodreads

Everyone has read this series except for me. I will get to it one of these days. Scout's honor. =P

2. The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings #1) by J.R.R. Tolkien

Goodreads

This is probably my most epic fail of my TBR. Am I the only one? I have started this book so many times and I never manage to get through it. I WILL read this series. I WILL. (Won't I?)

3. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Goodreads

Another classic that I need to shave off my TBR. But it's so looooong.

4. The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon #2) by Dan Brown

Goodreads

Yeah, I've never read this. And I can hardly remember the movie if I'm being honest. EVERYONE has read this book. I need to be brave and leave my fantasy worlds behind for just a few days and knock this one off the TBR.

5. Tithe (Modern Faerie Tales #1) by Holly Black

Goodreads

This was one of the first young adult titles to grace my TBR list. It is still one that I desperately want to read. Anyone else need to read this?

6. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Goodreads

I am quite ashamed that this one is on this list. I have come to the conclusion that the public school system is in a precarious state because most of the classics that I should have read in school I was never made to read. This being one of them.

7. Jurassic Park (Jurassic Park #1) by Michael Crichton

Goodreads

This one has been on my TBR since I was an 11-year-old in the nineties. Yeah, I'm old. And so is my TBR list. This book will bring me joy one of these days if I can get around to it.

8. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Goodreads

This book has been on my TBR since high school. And I graduated high school in 2001. Yeah. That long. I remember my best friend reading it and praising it over and over and I still never got around to reading it. -le sigh-

9. Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush #1) by Becca Fitzpatrick

Goodreads

Another popular young adult paranormal book that I have yet to read. This has been here forever.

10. Interview with the Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles #1) by Anne Rice

Goodreads

Yet another older title from my middle school days. I had all of the Anne Rice books on my shelves when I was 12, but I never picked the first one up! This is a series that I definitely have to make time for.

What are some of the books that have graced your TBR list the longest? Any of them that you are particularly razzled about? Feel free to link me to your Top Ten Tuesday post!

Monday, February 5, 2018

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Assassin of Truths (Library Jumpers #3) by Brenda Drake

Title: Assassin of Truths

Series: Library Jumpers #3
Author: Brenda Drake
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Publication Date: February 6, 2018
Pages: 403
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: ARC

The gateways linking the great libraries of the world don’t require a library card, but they do harbor incredible dangers.

And it’s not your normal bump-in-the- night kind. The threats Gia Kearns faces are the kind with sharp teeth and knifelike claws. The kind that include an evil wizard hell-bent on taking her down.

Gia can end his devious plan, but only if she recovers seven keys hidden throughout the world’s most beautiful libraries. And then figures out exactly what to do with them.

The last thing she needs is a distraction in the form of falling in love. But when an impossible evil is unleashed, love might be the only thing left to help Gia save the world.

MY REVIEW

I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher/author and volunteered to review it.

This review MAY contain SPOILERS. Read at your own risk.

I have been eagerly awaiting the finale to the Library Jumpers series, and the wait was worth it! This series has grown so much since the first book. This series really captured my heart with its unique take on magic and fantasy. And what book lover wouldn't adore books where the main characters are warriors that visit libraries around the world on a regular basis?

So yes, one of the most incredible things about this book and this series is Drake's addictive brand of urban fantasy. The world that she has created is untouchable by other young adult urban fantasy reads. There really isn't anything like it on the market. At least, not that I have read. I love the original concepts. There may be individual similarities to other young adult fantasy books, but the heart of this world is in a league of its own. The magic system and the hierarchy of different races are totally captivating.

The characters throughout this series are ones that you come to truly love. Drake writes her characters in such a way that they become a part of you and you rapidly become attached to them. I love the relationships that are built in this series. They make the characters really stand out and speak loudly to the reader. No matter where the plot was going, I was always invested in the lives of the characters. I was overjoyed in their happiness, and I cried along with them in their pain.

The plot was strong and I really enjoyed the story and how things ended. There were surprises and twists in the story that I just didn't see coming. This book kept me on my toes. The pacing was perfect and I have no complaints about the execution. I didn't feel like the boss fight at the end of the book could have been more climactic when everything was said and done. There was a lot of buildup to it, but then it just sort of ends abruptly.

The romance in this book didn't feel as swoon-worthy as in the last book, but I have to say that I liked where things went. I liked the person that Gia ended up with in the end. I was rooting for them the whole time. And as far as the other boy that had her affections, I am glad that they were able to work things out and stay friends in the end. It really ended well after all the drama in the last book where the romance was concerned. I also liked seeing some of the side characters end up happy in their love lives as well. It was a pretty perfect end.

Overall, this is just a fantastic series! This book really met my expectations in every way. If you are a fan of young adult fantasy, then this series should be on your radar! With its unique premise and lovable characters, you will not be disappointed! I am eager to read more fantasy from Brenda Drake!

OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES:

Thief of Lies (Library Jumpers #1)

Goodreads | Amazon

My Review

Guardian of Secrets (Library Jumpers #2)

Goodreads | Amazon

My Review

Brenda Drake grew up the youngest of three children, an Air Force brat, and the continual new kid at school. Her fondest memories growing up is of her eccentric, Irish grandmother's animated tales, which gave her a strong love for storytelling. With kids of all ages populating Brenda's world, it was only fitting that she would choose to write stories with a bend toward the fantastical for both younger readers and the young at heart. And because she married her prince charming, there's always a romance warming the pages. Her favorite books are The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, Kings Row by Henry Bellamann, and Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. When she's not writing, she hosts workshops and contests for writers such as Pitch Wars and Pitch Madness on her blog, and holds Twitter pitch parties on the hashtag, #PitMad. In her free time, Brenda enjoys hanging out with her family, haunting libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops, or just reading someplace quiet and not at all exotic (much to her disappointment).

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

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Follow the Tour!

Cover Reveal: Dominion (Life After #3) by Julie Hall

Today Julie Hall and Rockstar Book Tours are revealing the cover and an exclusive excerpt for DOMINION, book 3 in her Life After series, which releases March 20, 2018! Check out the gorgeous cover and enter to win a Signed copy of Book 1 HUNTRESS, Swag, and a $10 Amazon Gift card!

On to the reveal!

Title: Dominion

Series: Life After #3

Author: Julie Hall

Pub. Date: March 20, 2018

Publisher: Julie Hall

Formats: eBook

Goodreads | Amazon

After defeating the red dragon’s legion of bloodthirsty demons, Audrey can finally settle into the afterlife with the knowledge her family is safe. But her quest for a perfect existence shatters the moment Logan is kidnapped in an attempt to bend her to Satan’s will.

Audrey must now travel to the one place no hunter has ever ventured to save the man she loves . . . Hell.

Savage demons, desiccated corpses, life-sucking zombie trees, and a land of death and rot await Audrey and her friends as they battle through the fiery realm.

But Logan’s freedom comes with a price . . . the destruction of Audrey’s happily ever after.

As Satan schemes for dominion over all the realms, Audrey learns that some acts may be beyond redemption.

We sat on his bed, tucked up against the headboard, Logan sitting with one knee bent and an outstretched leg, and me curled into a ball against his chest, practically cuddled on his lap.

When my tears were spent, I let out a shaky breath of air.

“Audrey, I can’t—” Logan’s voice caught on something. His head rested on top of mine. When he continued, his voice dropped an octave, thickened with emotion. “I can’t imagine what you went through down there. I’m so very sorry. I should never have bonded with you.”

I savored the warm thud of his heartbeat on my cheek for several seconds before what he’d said sunk in. The leakage from my eyes along with a bad case of the feels must have dulled my reactions.

I jerked to a sitting position to stare at him in disbelief—and anger. My face was crusted with the salt of dried tears. There was no doubt I was a hot mess and a half. But that was nothing compared to the mess he’d just spewed.

He reached for me again, but I put a hand up to ward off his movements and curled my upper lip.

Where to even start?

“What I went through? Are you insane?” His gaze jumped around my face as if he couldn’t decide on a safe place to land. “Logan, I actually felt an echo of what you went through. I even experienced some of it in a dream or a weird out of body experience where I was you. What I went through was nothing.”

He opened his mouth to speak, but I slashed a hand through the air to stop him. “Nothing compared to what had been done to you. You were torn to shreds. Literally, in some spots.”

His face paled. I shouldn’t have gone there and instantly regretted bringing it up—but I couldn’t handle his concern for me when he had been tortured. We’d get to the “should never have bonded with you” comment next.

“You experienced some of . . . of what I went through?” he asked.

Shoot, I gave him another reason to beat himself up. Rookie mistake. “Never mind about that. And what’s this business about regretting bonding with me? Frankly, that’s kind of—hey!”

He grabbed my upper arms and held me still as I tried to push away even farther. His blue eyes flashed, and his face was hard as stone. “If bonding with you caused you to feel even a second of what I endured in that place, then yes, it’s something I deeply regret and would do anything to take back.”

Buried under the caveman response was something sweet, but I wasn’t feeling it.

“Argh. You . . .” I pointed a finger at his face. “You just . . .”

As I sputtered to find the right words, the corners of Logan’s lips just barely tipped up. I stopped talking when I spotted his involuntary reaction. Of course I’d find a guy who thought it was cute when I got mad. Actually, that was probably pretty lucky considering I did tend to have a short fuse.

I pressed my lips together and narrowed my eyelids before performing another visual sweep of his body.

Yep, he looked to be relatively healthy.

I launched myself at him and grabbed the sides of his face, and then I planted my lips right over his. Just like the first time I’d surprised him with a kiss, he was momentarily stunned.

I gently but firmly bit down on his full bottom lip in a silent demand for him to get with the program. Then I pulled back a fraction, just far enough that my lips grazed his when I spoke.

“Less talking, more kissing,” I ordered.

I’d gone to Hell and back for this guy. I wanted to collect my reward . . . with interest.

Life After Book 1

Goodreads | Amazon

Life After Book 2

Goodreads | Amazon

Life After Book 2.5

Goodreads | Amazon

Julie Hall is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author of young adult fantasy fiction.

Before writing her first novel Julie worked as a film publicist and rubbed elbows with the rich and famous . . . as
in she would gently nudge them to let them know their meal had arrived during press interviews.

She now spends most of her "office hours" with her two furry writing buddies, Bear and Coco. Her daughter thinks that mommy's superpower is “sleeping all day,” but that’s because she’s often awake until the wee hours of the morning weaving tales of adventure in worlds of her own creation. When asked in an interview what she wanted to be when she grew up, she’s quoted to have answered, “to never have to grow up.”

She currently lives in Portland, Oregon with her four favorite people--her husband, daughter, and two fur babies (because dogs are people too).

Connect with Julie here, or on social media.

1 winner will receive a signed paperback

of HUNTRESS, the first book in the series as well as LIFE AFTER series swag

(signed character cards, magnets, bookmarks and stickers) and a $10 Amazon GC,

US Only.

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Saturday, February 3, 2018

Series Crackdown 3.0 Read-a-thon!

I love read-a-thons! I stumbled upon this one today and knew that I had to sign up! This read-a-thon centers around reading books that are part of a series, and that is my jam!

Series Crackdown 3.0 will run from February 9 - 18, 2018.

For this read-a-thon you can participate ANYWHERE! It will be run mostly from Twitter, but participants can participate anywhere they like. (Score!) Fill in the sign-up form at the link below and you will be good to go!

#SCReadathon

Friday, February 2, 2018

Review: The Demon King (Seven Realms #1) by Cinda Williams Chima

Title: The Demon King

Series: Seven Realms #1
Author: Cinda Williams Chima
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Publication Date: October 6, 2009
Pages: 506
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: Ebook

Times are hard in the mountain city of Fellsmarch. Reformed thief Han Alister will do almost anything to eke out a living for his family. The only thing of value he has is something he can't sell—the thick silver cuffs he's worn since birth. They're clearly magicked—as he grows, they grow, and he's never been able to get them off.

One day, Han and his clan friend, Dancer, confront three young wizards setting fire to the sacred mountain of Hanalea. Han takes an amulet from Micah Bayar, son of the High Wizard, to keep him from using it against them. Soon Han learns that the amulet has an evil history—it once belonged to the Demon King, the wizard who nearly destroyed the world a millennium ago. With a magical piece that powerful at stake, Han knows that the Bayars will stop at nothing to get it back.

Meanwhile, Raisa ana'Marianna, princess heir of the Fells, has her own battles to fight. She's just returned to court after three years of freedom in the mountains—riding, hunting, and working the famous clan markets. Raisa wants to be more than an ornament in a glittering cage. She aspires to be like Hanalea—the legendary warrior queen who killed the Demon King and saved the world. But her mother has other plans for her...

The Seven Realms tremble when the lives of Hans and Raisa collide, fanning the flames of the smoldering war between clans and wizards.

MY REVIEW

This review MAY contain SPOILERS. Read at your own risk.

Wow! This was such a great start to this series! This is my first venture into the Cinda Williams Chima world, and I do not regret it!

I have to admit that when I first picked up this book I found the pacing in the beginning to be a little slow for my tastes. I wouldn't say that I was bored, but I didn't feel fully invested in the book until several chapters in.

The world building was fleshed out really well. The first few chapters had a lot of world-specific lingo and terms to get familiar with and I felt that there may have been too many of those so early on in the book. Apart from that, once you get used to this book's world structure, it is apparent that The Demon King really boasts a colorful fantasy world full of rich details. Plus, this fantasy world has a queendom, not a kingdom, and that is rad to the max!

The characters in this were really great. They were fleshed out extremely well and I had a clear vision of each character and the life that they lived. The only thing about the characters that I didn't love was that I didn't feel a strong connection to them. I read about them, I understood them and their motives, but I didn't care as much as I would have liked to. It's strange to see wonderful characters with excellent stories to tell, like them, but feel disconnected from them. I can't put my finger on what exactly they are missing, but perhaps some depth.

The plot of this story is fantastic! Some things in the book are fairly predictable, but not overly so. Some things definitely surprised me. There were some twists and turns lying in there and plenty of story growth. I liked the big reveal at the end of the book and I think that it was orchestrated beautifully throughout the developing plot.

This book does cover a lot of mature themes in the backdrop of things, which I really liked. Some Young Adult books can shy away from serious issues and flawed characters. This book is very upfront about them.

I didn't really care for the romance. Granted, these are teenagers and they aren't tied down to serious relationships, but I expected a little more in that regard. These teens hop from one love interest to another just kissing everyone in sight all willy nilly. I would have preferred a more mature approach to relationships, but maybe I'm just old-fashioned. I never like romance to dominate my books, but I also want some feels when it comes around.

Overall, I was quite impressed with this vivid fantasy story. I am so eager to read the next book in this series! I have a feeling that this series is going to be something special. Cinda Williams Chima has gained a new fan and I cannot wait to devour her current library of already published books! If you are a fan of high fantasy, then this is the read for you! Don't hesitate on this one.

THIS BOOK CONTRIBUTED TO THESE 2018 READING CHALLENGES

- Beat the Backlist Challenge

- Try Something New Challenge

Check out my 2018 Challenge Page to see my progress!