Book Shelf: The Queen's Rising (The Queen's Rising #1) by Rebecca Ross

When her seventeenth summer solstice arrives, Brienna desires only two things: to master her passion and to be chosen by a patron.

Growing up in the southern Kingdom of Valenia at the renowned Magnalia House should have prepared her for such a life. While some are born with an innate talent for one of the five passions—art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge—Brienna struggled to find hers until she belatedly chose to study knowledge. However, despite all her preparations, Brienna’s greatest fear comes true—the solstice does not go according to plan and she is left without a patron.

Months later, her life takes an unexpected turn when a disgraced lord offers her patronage. Suspicious of his intent, and with no other choices, she accepts. But there is much more to his story, and Brienna soon discovers that he has sought her out for his own vengeful gain. For there is a dangerous plot being planned to overthrow the king of Maevana—the archrival kingdom of Valenia—and restore the rightful queen, and her magic, to the northern throne. And others are involved—some closer to Brienna than she realizes.

With war brewing between the two lands, Brienna must choose whose side she will remain loyal to—passion or blood. Because a queen is destined to rise and lead the battle to reclaim the crown. The ultimate decision Brienna must determine is: Who will be that queen?

More info on Goodreads......


Review:

The Queen’s Rising is Rebecca’s Ross’s debut novel and is an enchanting story of elegance, slow burning romance, beautiful familial bonds and a rebellion that will change a very kingdom forever.

Having grown up in the southern Kingdom of Valenia, seventeen year old orphan Brienna dwells at the renowned Magnalia House where young ladies study one of the five passions; art, music, dramatics, wit and knowledge. Though many display inert talents for one of these subjects, Brienna struggled for years to find hers before eventually settling on knowledge. As the summer solstice approaches where trainees will be claimed by a patron of their passion, Brienna fears that she will be deemed inadequate and passed over; a fear that later comes true much to Brienna’s horror. Remaining at Magnalia House, Brienna’s future takes a surprising turn when she begins to experience visions of another time, seemingly set in the neighbouring land of Maevana. Soon offered patronage by a disgraced lord, Brienna soon finds herself caught up in an intricate plot to overthrow the King of Maevana and restore the rightful Queen to the throne. As the plot thickens, Brienna quickly discovers that she herself is tied to this land of warrior queens and quarrelling territories in a way she never expected. Tasked with restoring a queen, Brienna must decide where her loyalty lies and ultimately what is stronger; passion or blood because her choice has the power to change the very course of a war……

I absolutely adored this novel; simply adored it! So much more than I was anticipating if I’m being perfectly honest. The story Rebecca Ross has woven together was elegantly told, perfectly paced and burning with romance and unexpected bonds of family. Set in a refined and aristocratic fantasy world reminiscent of France in the 16th century, The Queen’s Rising follows a strong willed and highly likable heroine who develops and grows immensely over the course of the novel.

There was so much about The Queen’s Rising I enjoyed; from the beautiful writing, vivid setting and likable heroine to the bonds of family and friendship that developed to the soft but passionate undertone of romance that complimented the story. Though some parts were slower than others, I loved the way Rebecca Ross built the story; I felt like Brienna’s transformation and growth was believable as it occurred over a number of months.

I also found it very refreshing that for once, the main protagonist was not destined to be queen. She was not the one who would be tasked with ruling a land and overseeing her people. Rather our heroine Brienna was someone whose actions would help bring this individual to power—I liked that; very much. I also enjoyed reading about the land of Maevana where people value daughters above sons. It’s often quite the opposite in societies, both real and fictional, so I felt it empowering that this wasn’t the case in The Queen’s Rising.

Wonderfully completed, The Queen’s Rising races towards a powerful and important battle between two opposing sides. There are a number of surprises and developments throughout the book you may, or may not, see coming as well as a perfect ending to this chapter of the series. I’m already excited to see what Rebecca Ross has plans in the sequel for Brienna, I for one cannot wait until it’s in my hot little hands and I can enjoy the beauty of this world once more!

Rating: 
Source: Sent for review by publisher via Netgalley (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Harper Collins 
Format: Kindle ebook via Netgalley (I also own a hardback copy)
Release Date: February 6th 2018
Buy: Angus & Robertson | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: I highly enjoyed this novel and cannot wait until I can read the next one!

 

Book Blitrz: The Aviary by Emily Shore- Excerpt & Giveaway

Welcome to the Book Blitz for The Aviary by Emily Shore thanks to Xpresso Book Tours! Personally I think this seems like an intriguing novel and am excited to be sharing it with you today.

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"Gentlemen, we have a special treat for you today. Feast your eyes on this pure-blooded beauty!"

Sixteen-year-old Serenity has spent her entire life in hiding to protect her from this exact moment. In a world where beauty is bought and sold on the streets like a corporate commodity, Serenity's natural assets are more like liabilities. Despite her parents' best efforts, she's been taken—ripped from her home and the only life she's ever known—to find herself on sale to the highest bidder. And that bidder? Enigmatic and dangerous, Luc is the director of The Aviary—an elite museum where girls are displayed as living art by day…and cater to the lascivious whims of the highest bidder by night. In this elaborate and competitive world, girls go by names like Raven and Nightingale, and will stop at nothing to become top Bird.

Luc comes to idolize Serenity's purity and aims to turn her into his grandest exhibit of all time—The Swan. In no time, she becomes one of the most coveted exhibits in Aviary history. When she discovers Luc holds the key to finding her parents, she must learn to play The Swan to perfection…to win his heart and earn his trust. But she doesn't anticipate falling for him in the process. Now she faces an impossible choice: escape The Aviary and lose her only chance at finding her parents—or become Luc's Swan for good and lose her identity forever.

The Jewel by Amy Ewing meets Trix by Ellen Hopkins in this gritty Young Adult Dystopian that tells of a fear-inducing future where the world of sex trafficking has become a social norm and where woman aren't treated as humans or any more safer than they were in The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

Add on Goodreads!

Purchase:

Amazon | Kobo | iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Google + 

From The Aviary.....

My cage used to be the hotels where I grew up. There, I knew what to do and how to act. Now, I would choose to spend an eternity inside those walls, just being Serenity instead of a caged bird. At least in the hotel, I always had one constant. Sky.

Who will I become here? Girls have adopted their feathers, seemingly as easy as zipping up a jacket. But I wear my lightning on my sleeve, and I always will.

After Dove departs, I thumb my silver tattoo. Like flames and frost, it taunts my skin. Somehow, I must keep the Aviary from conquering me.

Want more? Get your copy today!

Emily Shore is a MN author with a B.A. in Creative Writing from Metro State University and was a grand prize winner of #PitchtoPublication, which led her to working with professionals in the publishing industry. She is signed with Clean Teen Publishing for her anti-trafficking dystopian The Aviary, first in the Uncaged Series. For every sale, proceeds return to trafficking rescue and to Emily and her husband's international adoption fund.

Throughout the years, Emily has connected with rescue organizations and survivors of sex-trafficking and injects the truths she's learned into her books for youth. She loves motivational speaking on the issue of sex-trafficking and always hopes for more speaking events in schools, churches, and libraries. Please contact her on her website if you are interested in hearing her speak.

Emily lives in Saint Paul with her husband and two daughters. They are currently in the process of adopting a little girl from India.

Visit Emily:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

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Book Shelf: Do You Dream of Terra-Two? by Temi Oh

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet meets The 100 in this unforgettable debut by a brilliant new voice.

A century ago, scientists theorised that a habitable planet existed in a nearby solar system. Today, ten astronauts will leave a dying Earth to find it. Four are decorated veterans of the 20th century’s space-race. And six are teenagers, graduates of the exclusive Dalton Academy, who’ve been in training for this mission for most of their lives.

It will take the team 23 years to reach Terra-Two. Twenty-three years spent in close quarters. Twenty-three years with no one to rely on but each other. Twenty-three years with no rescue possible, should something go wrong. And something always goes wrong. 

More info on Goodreads......


Review:

Do You Dream of Terra-Two? is Temi Oh’s debut novel and is a thoughtful and character driven story about possibilities and those who dare to take a chance in this interstellar adventure.

Decades ago, scientists theorized there was a habitable planet in a nearby solar system. Now, a team of astronauts are being sent on a mission to reach this planet in the hopes of beginning colonisation. Four members of the team are seasoned astronauts with years of experience under their belts while the remaining six are teenagers and the future of the mission. Having been taught at the Dalton Academy most of their lives, these six teens are highly trained and have been prepped for the journey to Terra-Two which is expected to take twenty three years. This means twenty three years in close proximity to one another and when things begin to go wrong as they always seem to do, they’ll need to rely on each other not just to complete the mission but to simply survive.

Heading into Do You Dream of Terra-Two? I wasn’t sure what do expect. The description was appealing and had me imagining a science fiction tale set amongst the stars in a futuristic world of space travel and colonisation. Instead Do You Dream of Terra-Two? was very much grounded in reality and bound by the technology and achievements of mankind today. And I found that I actually really like this concept; it made it unique and different from many other novels I have read.

In saying that it’s very clear that Temi Oh has put a lot of time, effort and research in getting the elements right. Told through the varying perspectives of our six main characters, teenage astronauts Jesse, Juno, Astrid, Harry, Poppy and Elliot, Do You Dream of Terra-Two? is a very character focused novel following the characters both prior to the launch of the mission and during their time in space. All six characters are very different—some I liked more than others and others I didn’t quite connect with. They all had distinctly different personalities, fears, dreams and drives. They’re far from perfect and wonderfully flawed individuals.

Their interwoven relationships with each other are a focal point within the story, especially seeing they are in such close confines and very reliant on each other to survive. My personal favourites were Jesse and Juno, but there was no denying that Elliot, Astrid, Poppy and Harry all had a purpose and subsequent role within the story. Oh deeply details their thoughts and fears as she switches back and forth through their perspectives during the story, highlighting their developments and their struggles.

Most of the action in Do You Dream of Terra-Two? occurs in the final stages of the novel. Life altering occurrences change the course of the mission and as our protagonists fight to both survive and determine if they want to move forward, Temi Oh brings the novel to a close within both emotional and heartfelt moments.

Ending with both closure and promise in a way you might not anticipate, Do You Dream of Terra-Two? is a great read for readers wanting to enjoy something set in reality but filled with intergalactic possibilities.

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia
Format: Paperback ARC
Australian RRP: $24.99
Release Date: March 7th 2019
Buy: Angus & Robertson | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: An intriguing space adventure--worth reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #260

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on.....  

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin 

Releases on: September 3rd 2019

Add on Goodreads!

 

For her sixteenth birthday, Louise le Blanc’s mother gave her three things: a sacrificial altar, a ritual knife, and a wicked scar.

Lou’s death would have ended the ancient war between the Church and witches, but Lou refuses to become a martyr. Forsaking her coven, she escapes to the gloomy city of Cesarine and hides her magic as a thief in the criminal underworld. But life in Cesarine has its own dangers. Huntsmen roam the city revered as holy men. Witches burn without trial. And the Archbishop, the Church’s austere patriarch, revels in violence.

As a huntsman, Reid Diggory lives by one verse: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

He's devoted his entire life to eradicating the occult and making his surrogate father, the Archbishop, proud. Finally given the chance to capture a witch of his own, Reid is devastated when a foul-mouthed thief thwarts him—and doubly devastated when she too disappears. Hell-bent on bringing her to justice, Reid vows she won't escape again. But when Lou tricks him into public scandal trying to avoid capture, the two are forced into an impossible situation—marriage.

Marriage to a huntsman could provide real protection from the witches—if Lou can convince Reid she isn’t one herself. The secret proves difficult to keep as Lou begins practicing magic in secret within the heart of the Church, determined to prepare for her mother’s inevitable return. As time passes, however, Lou discovers yet another danger lurking: her own growing feelings for her husband. But Reid is still dangerous. He’s just as likely to tie her to the stake as defend her if he learns her true identity. With enemies closing in—and more than her own life at stake—Lou must decide who she can trust before it's too late…and she's not the only one with a secret.

Thoughts:

Witchcraft, huntsmen, marriage under impossible circumstances? Yes, please! Serpent & Dove sounds fantastic and right up my alley. The last novel I adored where a character marries and then falls in love with her husband was The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel and this novel has certainly caught my attention with it's description--can't wait to read it!

Do you like the sound of Serpent and Dove?

And what are you waiting on this week?

Book Shelf: Trickery (Curse of the Gods #1) by Jaymin Eve & Jane Washington

Willa Knight: Dweller. Slave. Non-magical being.

In Minatsol, being a dweller means that you are literally no better than dirt. In fact, dirt might actually be more useful than Willa. Her life will be one of servitude to the sols, the magic-blessed beings who could one day be chosen to become gods.

At least her outer village is far removed from the cities of the sols, and she won’t ever be forced to present herself to them... Until one small mistake changes everything, and Willa is awarded a position to serve at Blesswood, the top sol academy in the world—a position that she definitely did not earn.

Under the sudden, watchful eye of the gods, she will be tasked to serve the Abcurse brothers, five sols built of arrogance, perfection and power. They are almost gods themselves, and under their service she is either going to end up sentenced to death, or else they are going to ruin her so badly that she will wish for it.

Either way, she is in trouble. 

More info on Goodreads..... 


Review: 

Trickery is the first novel in the Curse of the Gods series by authors Jaymin Eve and Jane Washington and is an exhilarating and entertaining reverse harem fantasy introducing readers to a determined heroine and five men who are about to change her world…..

Willa Knight is a dweller; a slave and one of the lowest class of person in the land of Minastol. As a dweller her whole purpose in life is to serve magical infused beings known as sols who could one day be chosen to become gods. Willa expects to live out her clumsy and disaster filled life in her simple dweller village until a mistake sees her chosen to be sent to Blesswood; an academy catering to the most powerful sols. Alongside her best friend, Willa travels to Blesswood, but when she finds herself caught up with the five gorgeous, but infuriating and egotistical Abcurse brothers—who are potentially the strongest sols in existence—Willa’s simple life soon becomes a thing of the past. Wanting to survive, Willa quickly discovers that being connected to the Abcurse’s will not only change her status but her entire destiny forever.

Personally, I don’t read a lot of reverse harem. I’ve only recently began to find my feet where they are concerned but if ever there were two authors who would manage to capture my attention from start to end, I should have known it would be Jane Washinton and Jaymin Eve! These gals are authors who always capture my imagination with their world building and characters and Trickery is no exception!

Kicking off their Curse of the Gods series, Trickery is a promising start to what looks like an intriguing and adventure filled series. Eve and Washington set the building blocks of the series, introducing readers to a fantasy world of slavery, magic and beings with god-like abilities whilst still promising more. There’s a lot I still want to know about the characters and the world they inhabit, especially as the authors give tidbits of information over time.

Readers will be forgiven if they find themselves somewhat confused by the various Abcurse brothers in the beginning of the novel—I know I was. Five brothers with various gifts; Yael (Persuasion), Aros (Seduction), Rome (Strength), Coen (Pain) and Siret (Trickery) are the love interests of our clumsy and hilariously vocal but still likable heroine Willa. Personally I found I liked the brothers the further the novel progressed. In the beginning they do come off as real uncaring jerks, but as their relationship will Willa grows their actions and attitudes become more likable.

Honestly, Willa really does seem like she is spoiled for men with the Abcurse brothers. They’re all so different with distinct personalities but it’s clear they all desire Willa even if she remains ignorant to what is right in front of her. As a reverse harem novel I’m keen to see how these romances develop as the authors continue the series. With five men I’m expecting a lot of physicality and sex even if Trickery only included small moments of romance and tension. I’m hoping for a gradual build and will keep my fingers crossed that Jaymin Eve and Jane Washington continue to keep the pace they have already set.

Featuring hilarious and admittedly sometimes rambling inner dialogue from the protagonist as well as five swoon worthy love interests, Trickery was a novel I definitely enjoyed and I look forward seeing what Jane Washington and Jaymin Eve do with the rest of the series!

Rating:
Source: Purchased by me via Kindle Unlimited
Publisher: Published independently by authors
Format: Kindle ebook via Kindle Unlimited (I also own a signed paperback)
Release Date: February 28th 2017
Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Final Thoughts: This was an enjoyable novel and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Owl Post #230

Inspired by The Story Siren's In My Mailbox, Owl Post allows us bloggers to showcase the books we've bought, won or received throughout the week and is hosted by Brodie over at Eleusinian Mysteries. We all know that the Owl Post is the fastest way to send and receive mail and they certainly make me happy every time they drop a book off.  

Hi book lovers and happy Monday! Hope you all had a fantastic weekend and are ready more book infused days :)

  For Review:

 From Pan Macmillan Australia:

- We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal 

We Hunt the Flame sounds SOOO fantastic and I can't wait to read it very soon!

 

 ....Thank you team! 

 

 

What did the owls bring you this week?

 

 

Free Ebooks

Hello lovelies! I have some fantastic amazon freebies to share with you today. Enjoy!

Girl of Glass by Megan O'Russell

The Medium by C.J. Archer

Bitter Rivalry by Heather Hildenbrand & SM Reine

Zephyra by Andrea B Lamoureux

Sea of Darkness by Isadora Brown & Rebecca Hamilton

Entranced by Jessica Sorensen

Called by Magic by Jasmine Walt

His Beloved by Anna Santos

Rise of the Alpha Huntress by Neo Edmund

Lockdown by Samie Sands

The Unbreakable Curse by Alexia Purdy

A Diamond in My Pocket by Lorena Angell

The Spell of Three by Casey Morgan

Blood, Smoke and Mirrors by Robyn Bachar

The Gilded King by Josie Jaffrey

Looking for Dei by David A. Willson

Did you snag something new?

I certainly did!