31 Aug 2015

ARC August: Week #4 Update

31 August 1 Comments
ARC August is hosted by Read. Sleep. Repeat. and runs all August! Here is my weekly update. I read two ARCs and added a lot more to my list, but considering it was my last week of exams, I am pretty proud that I even finished one!

ARCs I Read This Week:
Clockwork Menagerie (Shadows of Asphodel #2.5) by Karen Kincy. This one won't be up and reviewed until September 3rd as part of the blog tour for it!
Mini Review: SO GOOD. If you have read the first two and loved Konstantin, then this is one for you.
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Falling For Shakespeare by Erin Butler. This one won't be up and reviewed until September 8th as part of the blog tour for it!
Mini Review: I really enjoyed this but did have some issues with it.

Frostfire (Kanin Chronicles #1) by Amanda Hocking

31 August 2 Comments
Title: Frostfire
Author: Amanda Hocking 
Series: Kanin Chronicles
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: Owned Paperback (Purchased at BookOutlet)
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: January 6, 2015

Summary:
Bryn Aven is an outcast among the Kanin, the most powerful of the troll tribes.

Set apart by her heritage and her past, Bryn is a tracker who's determined to become a respected part of her world. She has just one goal: become a member of the elite King’s Guard to protect the royal family. She's not going to let anything stand in her way, not even a forbidden romance with her boss Ridley Dresden.

But all her plans for the future are put on hold when Konstantin– a fallen hero she once loved – begins kidnapping changelings. Bryn is sent in to help stop him, but will she lose her heart in the process?

28 Aug 2015

FRIDAY REVEAL: Fall For Fantasy Blitz + Giveaway!

28 August 0 Comments
M9B-Friday-Reveal Banner
 
Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal!
This week, we dare you to
Fall For Fantasy
featuring titles to satisfy your fantasy cravings,
presented by Month9Books!
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!
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Nobody's-Goddess-Cover
 NOBODY'S GODDESS by Amy McNulty
In a village of masked men, magic compels each man to love only one woman and to follow the commands of his “goddess” without question. A woman may reject the only man who will love her if she pleases, but she will be alone forever. And a man must stay masked until his goddess returns his love—and if she can’t or won’t, he remains masked forever. 
Seventeen-year-old Noll isn't in the mood to celebrate. Her childhood friends have paired off and her closest companion, Jurij, found his goddess in Noll’s own sister. Desperate to find a way to break this ancient spell, Noll instead discovers why no man has ever chosen her. 
Thus begins a dangerous game between the choice of woman versus the magic of man. And the stakes are no less than freedom and happiness, life and death—and neither is willing to lose.
add to goodreads

27 Aug 2015

September Preview

27 August 2 Comments
Hey guys!

I have officially finished all my backlist reviews this month so I wanted to give you a head's up about what's to come in September here at Books and Ladders and over at Queen of the Bookshelves.

My birthday giveaway ends on September 16th, so make sure you enter before then!
I have five blog tours planned in September (maybe more, I can never remember when I sign up for things):

September 3 is Clockwork Menagerie by Karen Kincy. This is a novella that compliments the Shadows of Asphodel series. (Spoiler alert: I loved this one)

September 8 is Falling For Shakespeare by Erin Butler. This is a young adult contemporary romance novel (that I thought was pretty cute).

25 Aug 2015

The Shadow Throne (The Ascendance Trilogy #3) by Jennifer A. Nelson

25 August 1 Comments
The Shadow Throne (The Ascendance Trilogy #3) by Jennifer A. Nelson

Goodreads Synopsis
One war.
Too many deadly battles.
Can a king save his kingdom, when his own survival seems unlikely?


War has come to Carthya. It knocks at every door and window in the land. And when Jaron learns that King Vargan of Avenia has kidnapped Imogen in a plot to bring Carthya to its knees, Jaron knows it is up to him to embark on a daring rescue mission. But everything that can go wrong does.

His friends are flung far and wide across Carthya and its neighbouring lands. In a last-ditch effort to stave off what looks to be a devastating loss for the kingdom, Jaron undertakes what may be his last journey to save everything and everyone he loves. But even with his lightning-quick wit, Jaron cannot forestall the terrible danger that descends on him and his country. Along the way, will he lose what matters most? And in the end, who will sit on Carthya's throne?

Rousing and affecting, Jaron's adventures have thrilled and moved readers in The False Prince and The Runaway King. Journey once again with the Ascendant King of Carthya, as New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen brings his story to a stunning conclusion with The Shadow Throne.

Top Ten Tuesday (4): Space 101

25 August 6 Comments
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. They'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and LOVE to see other top ten lists!
So this week's TTT is Top Ten Books You'd Teach in X Class. And since I love science fiction (especially space), I thought I should probably do something in that field. So welcome to Space 101, I will be your professor for this course and I have a lot to teach you! 
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24 Aug 2015

ARC August Week #3 Update!

24 August 0 Comments
ARC August is hosted by Read. Sleep. Repeat. and runs all August! Here is my weekly update. I read two ARCs and added a lot more to my list, but considering it was my last week of exams, I am pretty proud that I even finished one!

ARCs I finished this week:

The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore. My full review was posted on Queen of the Bookshelves
Mini Review: I loved this one. It was lyrical and beautiful and I highly recommend everyone picks it up when it comes out September 15th!
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My Secret to Tell by Natalie D. Richards. My full review will be posted on Queen of the Bookshelves.
Mini Review: I liked this one, everything was "laid out" but the twist at the end was well delivered. I thought it was a tad bit predictable, which is why I gave it 4/5 stars.

The Runaway King (The Ascendance Trilogy #2) by Jennifer A. Nelson

24 August 0 Comments
The Runaway King (The Ascendance Trilogy #2) by Jennifer A. Nelson

Goodreads Synopsis
A kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction. A king gone missing. Who will survive? Find out in the highly anticipated sequel to Jennifer A. Nielsen's blockbuster THE FALSE PRINCE!

Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?

The stunning second installment of The Ascendance Trilogy takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of treason and murder, thrills and peril, as they journey with the Runaway King!

COVER REVEAL: Fire Falling by Elise Kova

24 August 1 Comments
Remember when I gushed and raved over the cover of Air Awakens? Well the cover for FIRE FALLING, the second in the Air Awakens series by Elise Kova, is here and it is even better than the first one. (No seriously, it is) The amazingly talented zwxart has created something EXTREMELY beautiful and I'm so glad I get to be a part of the sharing experience with everyone! At the bottom is a rafflecopter giveaway for a SIGNED ARC of Fire Falling and there is a character bio of one of the main characters in the series (and the love of my life) so make sure you check that out too! Since we all got to choose our own characters, make sure you check out some of the other posts to see the other characters!
The synopsis is spoilery for the end of Air Awakens, so I am including it in here as a "Show Spoiler" so only click if you want to read it. Please do not blame me if you spoil yourself :) But the cover isn't super spoilery so here it is in all it's glory...

23 Aug 2015

The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy #1) by Jennifer A. Nelson

23 August 4 Comments
The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy #1) by Jennifer A. Nelson

Goodreads Synopsis
The False Prince is the thrilling first book in a brand-new trilogy filled with danger and deceit and hidden identities that will have readers rushing breathlessly to the end.

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.

As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.

An extraordinary adventure filled with danger and action, lies and deadly truths that will have readers clinging to the edge of their seats.

22 Aug 2015

21 Aug 2015

The Soul Thief (Angel of Death Series #1) by Majanka Verstraete

21 August 0 Comments
The Soul Thief (Angel of Death Series #1) by Majanka Verstraete

Goodreads Synopsis
The Soul Thief (Angel of Death Series, #1)When sixteen-year-old Riley is injured in a car crash and sees a girl stealing a boy’s soul, she’s convinced she’s hallucinating. But when she sees the same girl at the hospital later, she knows she wasn’t dreaming. That’s when Riley learns her secret heritage and who she really is: a halfling Angel of Death.

Riley must come to terms with her new reality and supernatural abilities, but before she can do this, girls her age start dying in mysterious circumstances. It’s up to Riley to figure out why, what the innocent victims have in common, and what she can do to stop them.



Title: The Soul Thief
Series: Angel of Death #1
Author: Majanka Verstraete
Genre:  Paranormal Fantasy
Publication Date: November 1, 2014
Publisher: Booktrope Publishing

20 Aug 2015

Third Sentence Thursday (13): What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

20 August 0 Comments
Third Sentence Thursday (13) - August 20, 2015
What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

This week's Third Sentence Thursday features What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang. I got this one at BookOutlet because at least 70% of my books come from there. It seems like something I would be super interested in, especially since I actually liked The Host by Stephanie Meyer and it seems to follow a similar premise.
P.S. Don't forget to check out my Birthday Giveaway! It ends September 16th!

Matched Series by Ally Condie: Alternatively, Why This Is My Favourite Dystopian Series

20 August 0 Comments
The Matched Series by Ally Condie has a not so great star rating on Goodreads, so when I first picked up Matched I was a little skeptical. I usually find that whatever the rating is on Goodreads, I rate the book about 1 star lower. But that was not the case at all with the Matched Series. I adored it and today I am going to be an advocate for telling you why you should read it, even though lots of people do not like it.


I gave Matched 4.5/5 stars, Crossed 4/5 stars, and Reached 4/5 stars.

19 Aug 2015

Raging Star (Dust Land #3) by Moira Young

19 August 0 Comments
Raging Star (Dust Lands #3) by Moira Young

Goodreads Synopsis
Her passion kept them alive. Now it may destroy them all.

Saba is ready to seize her destiny and defeat DeMalo...until she meets him and finds herself drawn to the man and his vision of a healed earth, a New Eden. DeMalo wants Saba to join him, in life and work, to build a stable, sustainable world…for the chosen few. The young and the healthy. Under his control.

Jack’s choice is clear: to fight DeMalo and try to stop New Eden. Presumed dead, he's gone undercover, feeding Saba crucial information in secret meetings. Saba hides her connection with DeMalo and commits herself to the fight. Joined by her brother, Lugh, and her sister, Emmi, Saba leads a small guerilla band against the settlers and the Tonton militia. But the odds are overwhelming. Saba knows how to fight—she's not called the Angel of Death for nothing. But what can she do when the fight cannot be won? Then DeMalo offers Saba a chance—a seductive chance she may not be able to refuse. How much will she sacrifice to save the people she loves?

The road has never been more dangerous, and betrayal lurks in the most unexpected places in the breathtaking conclusion to the Dust Lands Trilogy. 

18 Aug 2015

Rebel Heart (Dust Lands #2) by Moira Young

18 August 0 Comments
Rebel Heart (Dust Lands #2) by Moira Young

Goodreads Synopsis
Saba thought her world would return to normal after they defeated the Tonton and rescued her kidnapped brother Lugh. The family head west for a better life and a longed-for reunion with Jack. But a formidable enemy is on the rise. What is the truth about Jack? And how far will Saba go to get what she wants?

Release Day Blitz: INTO THE DARK by Caroline T. Patti + GIVEAWAY

18 August 0 Comments
Happy Release Day to
Into the Dark by Caroline T. Patti!!
Join us in celebrating this release from Month9Books!
Enter the giveaway found at the end of the post.


Happy Book Birthday, Caroline!


About INTO THE DARK

A girl’s sweet sixteen party is supposed to be among the most memorable events of her life. But on the night of hers, Mercy Clare wakes in the waiting room of a hospital with no memory of how she got there. To make matters worse, she’s wearing something she’d never be caught dead in: her best friend Lyla’s clothes.

Mercy’s nightmare is just beginning. The doctor arrives to tell her that it’s she who lies in the hospital bed waiting to die. A trip to the bathroom confirms Mercy’s fears, as Lyla’s face stares back at her and Lyla’s curvy figure pokes through her tight clothes.

But finding out what’s really going on won’t be easy. Because if Mercy wants her body back, it might just cost her Lyla’s life.
AMAZON | KOBO | B&N | CHAPTERS | iBOOKS | BAM | TBD

17 Aug 2015

Blood Red Road (Dust Lands #1) by Moira Young

17 August 0 Comments
 
Blood Red Road (Dust Lands #1) by Moira Young


Goodreads Synopsis
Saba lives in Silverlake, a wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms where her family scavenge from landfills left by the long-gone Wrecker civilization. After four cloaked horsemen kidnap her beloved twin brother Lugh, she teams up with daredevil Jack and the Free Hawks, a girl gang of Revolutionaries.

Saba learns that she is a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Saba and her new friends stage a showdown that change the course of her civilization.

16 Aug 2015

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith

16 August 2 Comments
Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith

Goodreads Synopsis
On the night before they leave for college, Clare and Aidan only have one thing left to do: figure out whether they should stay together or break up. Over the course of twelve hours, they'll retrace the steps of their relationship, trying to find something in their past that might help them decide what their future should be. The night will lead them to friends and family, familiar landmarks and unexpected places, hard truths and surprising revelations. But as the clock winds down and morning approaches, so does their inevitable goodbye. The question is, will it be goodbye for now or goodbye forever?

This new must-read novel from Jennifer E. Smith, author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, explores the difficult choices that must be made when life and love lead in different directions.


The Diviners (The Diviners #1) by Libba Bray

16 August 0 Comments
 
The Diviners (The Diviners #1) by Libba Bray

Goodreads Synopsis
Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.

Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.

As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened.

15 Aug 2015

#ARCAugust Update!

15 August 2 Comments
Here is my update for #ARCAugust (I forgot to do one last week but here I am doing one now!)

ARCs I've Read:
Chimera (Weaver Series #1) by Vaun Murphey. See my full review on QotB!
Mini Review: This was good but slow. I also thought the characters were a little underdeveloped in my opinion. Will still finish out the rest of the series though!
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Into a Million Pieces by Angela V Cook. See my full review!
Mini Review: I loved the succubus idea and thought that was well executed, but I wasn't a fan of the plot twist at the end because it wasn't hinted at.
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A Sky Unbroken (Earth & Sky #3) by Megan Crewe. See my full review on QotB on Monday!
Mini Review: I was disappointed by this one but still enjoyed the overall story and ending.
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Inherit The Stars by Tessa Elwood. See my mini review! My full review will post on QotB sometime in October/November.
Mini (mini) Review: I loved this one. I thought it was such an interesting concept and loved the writing style! A definite recommend.
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The Soul Thief by Majanka Verstraete. See my review on August 21st!
Mini Review: I liked the majority of this one but there were some parts of this one that I wasn't keen on.
ARCs I DNFed:
Righteous by Kim Lehman
Why I DNFed? I thought the story was extremely predictable. I am okay with that if it is well written but this one just was not.
Out of the Original List I Still Have To Read:
The Jack of Souls by Stephen C. Merlino.
Changeling, Vector, and Phoenix by Vaun Murphey. 
Celtic Viking by Lexy Timms.
ARCs I've Added:
The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore.
Summary: For twenty years, the Palomas and the Corbeaus have been rivals and enemies, locked in an escalating feud for over a generation. Both families make their living as traveling performers in competing shows—the Palomas swimming in mermaid exhibitions, the Corbeaus, former tightrope walkers, performing in the tallest trees they can find.

Lace Paloma may be new to her family’s show, but she knows as well as anyone that the Corbeaus are pure magia negra, black magic from the devil himself. Simply touching one could mean death, and she's been taught from birth to keep away. But when disaster strikes the small town where both families are performing, it’s a Corbeau boy, Cluck, who saves Lace’s life. And his touch immerses her in the world of the Corbeaus, where falling for him could turn his own family against him, and one misstep can be just as dangerous on the ground as it is in the trees.

Beautifully written, and richly imaginative, The Weight of Feathers is an utterly captivating young adult novel by a talented new voice.



Estranged by Alex Fedyr.
Summary: Kalei hates touching, especially if it is a hug. After all, it was a hug that killed her mother.

Kalei was born and raised in Celan, the first city to have an Estranged problem. It was seventeen years ago when they appeared, and the citizens learned the hard truth: that it only takes a bit of skin-on-skin contact to turn their loved ones into corpses, or Estranged. No one really knows why some people turn and some people die, they just know that anyone touched is gone.

And Kalei wants them to stay gone. But, being a police officer in the city, she witnesses every day the damage done by Estranged. Seeking the high they get from every piece of skin they touch, the Estranged crush the lives of Celan's citizens with alarming ease.

They had killed her mother for a high, and now Kalei wants to wipe them out of existence before they can seek another. But she can't. Only the Wardens are allowed to fight the Estranged, they are the only ones equipped to do so. And Kalei had made a promise to stay out of the fight until she is inducted into their ranks.

But will they accept her now that she has turned Estranged?