Waiting on Wednesday #289

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.....  

The Darkest King by Gena Showalter  

Releases on: February 25th 2020

Add on Goodreads!

A merciless prince feared by all…

Cursed by a vengeful witch, William of the Dark will die if he ever falls in love—murdered by the woman who steals his heart. His lone shot at redemption is a book filled with indecipherable code. Break the code, break the curse. Now, centuries later, he’s condemned to a string of one-night stands…until he finds the only woman in the worlds able to set him free.

A rare creature of myth and power…

One of the last living unicorn shifters, Sunday “Sunny” Lane works from the shadows as a cryptanalyst, on the run from assassins and poachers. Then the darkly seductive William abducts her, holding her captive in Hell. The closer they get, the more she hungers for his touch…and the stronger a mystical desire to kill him becomes…

Both forever doomed?

At war with his brother, Lucifer, and determined to become a king of the underworld at long last, William must resist the irreverent beauty who threatens his future. But every day Sunny tempts him more, his hunger for her unmatched. Will he risk his heart—and his life—or will the curse ensure his end? 

Thoughts:

I've been reading the Lords of the Underworld for almost a decade but I'm yet to read the most recent novel as I was really put off my Showalter's decision not to give Gilly and William a HEA together. I'm still super excited to read William's novel and will be keeping my eyes out for this when it releases!

What are you waiting on this week?

Book Shelf: Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1) by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

BRIEFING NOTE: Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

 More info on Goodreads....


Review:

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff is the first instalment in The Illuminae Files and is a uniquely told and entrancing sci-fi adventure brimming with danger, romance and excitement.

The year is 2575 and seventeen year old Kady Grant thought the hardest thing she'd have to do would be break up with her boyfriend Ezra Grant. Then their planet is invaded. With two megacorporations at war, the battle reaches the small mining planet of Kerenza and Kady and Ezra must race to evacuate with an enemy warcraft in hot pursuit. Forced into separate spaceships, the trouble for Kady and Ezra's is just getting started. A deadly virus has broken out and the artificial intelligence responsible for protecting them may actually be another enemy. As those in charge scramble to save the fleet, Kady hacks into the systems to uncover the truth. As it soon becomes clear the only person she can rely on is the ex-boyfriend she never wanted to speak to again, Kady will need to rely on Ezra if she wants to survive and live to tell about it. 

In this exciting reading experience, authors Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff join forces to draw readers into an unparralled adventure with Illuminae, a YA sci-fi story that is told through a fascinating series of emails, reports, schematics, military files, security footage and more. It's taken me a little while to find the time to read this book but I must say; I've personally never read anything quite like Illuminae. 

Kaufman and Kristoff dare to write something different with this novel and subsequent series and while it was disconcerting at first, the uncommon narrative proves to be highly intriguing reading.  The story was one I found easy to get lost as the sharp, witty dialogue and established characters fight to survive. 

The main characters are Kady Grant and her [ex] boyfriend Ezra Mason who find themselves caught up in a war they were unprepared for when an invasion sees them take refuge on different space carriers. What happens next is a viral outbreak that threatens the fleet and Kady's determination to learn the truth about what is happening that sees her hack, search and delve into military records. 

I quite liked Kady and Ezra. Kady was was intelligent, determined and sarcastically witty while Ezra was your all-star boyfriend who was lighthearted and down to earth but who also fought the good fight. I found it interesting that Kady and Ezra were in an established relationship at the start of the novel. I'm so used to seeing characters start out as strangers and fall in love that it was refreshing to see a couple who had a history and rapor with each already.

Illuminae is very fast paced and intricately plotted. There are some developments and twists readers will simply not see coming and I can't wait to start the next novel asap and see what Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff have planned for the rest of the trilogy!

Rating: 
Source: Purchased by me
Publisher: Allen & Unwin 
Format: Paperback
Release Date: November 1st 2015
Buy: Angus & Robertson | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: A unique and thrilling read--I'm ready for more.

Owl Post #240

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.  

Welcome to this weeks Owl Post! Only a copy of books this week but they're great ones!

  I Bought:

- Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

I'm super excited to see Kelley Armstrong at BABE next year and plan to read as many of Kelley's novels I'm yet to read before I meet her :)

- The Dragon's Curse by Bethany Wiggins

The Dragon's Curse is the sequel to The Dragon's Price, a novel I absolutely LOVED and am so excited to finally get myself a copy of this. Can't wait to read it!

And that's me!

What did the owls bring you this week?

 

Book Shelf: Mission: Improper (London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy #1) by Bec McMaster

Three years ago, London society changed forever, with a revolution placing the widowed Queen firmly on the throne her blue blood husband tried to take from her. Humans, verwulfen and mechs are no longer considered the lesser classes, but not everybody is happy with the new order…
 
Entire families have gone missing in the East End. When Caleb Byrnes receives an invitation to join the Company of Rogues as an undercover agent pledged to protect the crown, he jumps at the chance to find out who, or what, is behind the disappearances. Hunting criminals is what the darkly driven blue blood does best, and though he prefers to work alone, the opportunity is too good to resist.

The problem? He’s partnered with Ingrid Miller, the fiery and passionate verwulfen woman who won a private bet against him a year ago. Byrnes has a score to settle, but one stolen kiss and suddenly the killer is not the only thing Byrnes is interested in hunting.

Soon they’re chasing whispered rumours of a secret project gone wrong, and a monster that just might be more dangerous than either of them combined. The only way to find out more is to go undercover among the blue blood elite… But when their hunt uncovers a mysterious conspiracy, Byrnes and Ingrid must set aside their age-old rivalry if they have any chance at surviving a treacherous plot.

More info on Goodreads....


Review: 

Mission: Improper is the first instalment in Bec McMaster’s London Steampunk spin off series, London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy and is the continued exploration of her already wonderful steampunk world with new—and old—characters, new romances and new dangers.

Three years ago London society changed forever when a revolution brought down the prince consort and put the Queen on the throne. Many changes have occurred in the years since. Humans, mechs and verwulfen are no longer considered lessor than their blue blood counterparts and a time of peace has raged. Yet not everyone is pleased with the new order and when a series of disappearances occur an elite group of individuals are put together to discover the culprit, including Nighthawk Caleb Byrnes, a darkly driven investigator who prefers to work alone. To his dismay, Byrnes is partnered with Ingrid Miller a verwulfen who won a bet against him a year ago and who he hasn’t stopped thinking about since. Determined to settle the score, Byrnes sets about winning Ingrid’s set challenges but as stolen kisses burn, it soon becomes clear the thing Byrnes wants to win isn’t Ingrid in his bed...it’s her heart.

After I devoured the London Steampunk series I was stoked to discover I could jump straight into this spin-off. Of Silk and Steam ended so well but there were still so many characters I wanted to know more about and I’m super excited that Bec McMaster will explore them in this series.

Both Byrnes and Ingrid are two individuals we saw throughout the previous series and it was fantastic to see them front and center in Mission: Improper. Byrnes has always managed to get under everyone’s skin so well but this controlled and calculating Nighthawk has always been someone I wanted to know more about, while Ingrid has intrigued me since we met her and Rosa and Lynch’s story.

McMaster wonderfully explores the relationship and romance between Byrnes and Ingrid in this novel. Both are such strong individuals that it was somewhat surprising to see them so afraid to explore the connection between them. Fantastic chemistry and hilarious banter made for highly entertaining reading as they eventually acknowledged the depth of their feelings.

One of the things I love about Bec McMaster’s novels is that there are real story’s within books. There’s genuinely a mystery to solve or a killer to catch that the romance, sex and characterisation only enhance the storyline. McMaster litters her novels with funny, endearing and larger than life personalities that compliment her storylines. Intricate and addictive, I’m invested in the lives and happiness of all those McMaster introduces us to. Ava, Kincaid, Gemma, Charlie, Malloryn—-I want to read about them all and am excited to have that chance.

Fun, passionate and explosive, Mission Improper is a great start to this new world of London Steampunk I am excited to learn about. I have no doubt Bec McMaster has much in store as she offers readers new branches and aspects to her steampunk world. I can’t wait to begin Ava and Kincaid’s tale next and then all the ones that follow!

Rating:
Source: Purchased by me via Amazon
Publisher: Lochaber Press
Format: Kindle ebook
Release Date: August 16th 2016
Buy: The Book Depository | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Final Thoughts: Another brilliant novel from Bec McMaster---I'm ready to read more!

Waiting on Wednesday #288

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.....  

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Releases on: May 19th 2020
Add on Goodreads!

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will revisit the world of Panem sixty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the Tenth Hunger Games.

Thoughts:

Although the description really doesn't give too much away, I'm super excited about revisiting the world of The Hunger Games. The idea of seeing what happens before Katniss's story is really intriguing. Can't wait!

Are you a THG fan?

Will you be reading this when it comes out?

Owl Post #239

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.  

Hello book lovers and happy Monday! I have a bunch of great books to share with you this week :)

  For Review:

From Pantera Press:

 - Weapon by Lynette Noni 

I'm sooooo excited to read Weapon. I LOVE Lynette Noni's books and can't wait to dive into her latest release. 

Thank you SO much Anabel!

I Bought:

 - Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco

This book is quite possibly my most anticipated novel of this year. I don't remember the last time I was so excited for a book to come out. Think this will be my next read as soon as I finish what I'm reading now!!

- Chaser by Kylie Scott

I always enjoy Kylie Scott's novels and have been meaning to get around to getting a copy of this. Now I just need to find the time to read it.

- Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller 

I admit I still need to read the first book, Daughter of the Pirate King but I do own a copy and seeing as this sequel was on sale I couldn't pass up on a copy.

  - Conjuror by John Barrowman & Carole E. Barrowman  I totally bought this book on a whim without knowing too much about it. Mainly because I LOVE John Barrowman!! Oh and it was a hardback for only $8. Who could say no?    And that's me! What did the owls bring you this week?  

 

Book Shelf: Queen of Ruin (Grace and Fury #2) by Tracy Banghart

Nomi and Malachi find themselves powerless and headed towards their all-but-certain deaths. Now that Asa sits on the throne, he will stop at nothing to make sure Malachi never sets foot in the palace again.

Nomi's sister, Serina, is far away on the prison island of Mount Ruin - but it is in the grip of revolution and Serina leads. The women there have their sights set on revenge beyond the confines of their island prison. They will stop at nothing to gain freedom for the entire kingdom. But first they'll have to get rid of Asa, and only Nomi knows how.

Separated once again, this time by choice, Nomi and Serina must forge their own paths as they aim to tear down the world they know, to build something better in its place.

More info on Goodreads.....


Review: 

Queen of Ruin by Tracy Banghart is the sequel to Grace and Fury and conclusion of the duology by the same name in this fast paced and action filled story.

Nomi and Malachi are powerless and facing almost certain death. Having tricked them, Asa now sits on the throne and is proving to be an even crueller ruler than his late father. He will stop at nothing to assure that Malachi never takes his rightful place as ruler, even if that means killing his brother and the woman he betrayed. Across the sea, Nomi’s sister Serina sits on Mount Ruin, having recently led a coup to overthrow the guards and take control of the prison where woman have been forced to fight to the death. The women of Mount Ruin will do anything to keep their freedom and killing Asa is the only way to guarantee this. Torn apart by a cruel dictator, Nomi and Serina soon find themselves together again, but when it becomes clear the way to stop Asa lies in Nomi, the sisters will need to separate once more. Before they were fighting for their lives, now they’re fighting for something even more important; their freedom.

Tracy Banghart is an author I’ve always enjoyed. I read and adored her independently published Rebel Wing series and absolutely loved Grace and Fury, but I was somewhat underwhelmed with Queen of Ruin. I still felt it was a great fantasy read; it just seemed to fall flat in some respects whereas the first novel really blew me away. I felt empowered by the characters and their circumstances during the first book and was prepared to metaphorically fight by their side. In Queen of Ruin, although the stakes were higher than ever, I felt like some of this drive was missing.

The novel also seemed rushed, especially towards the end and I felt that the defeat of Asa was anticlimactic. After the big twist in the previous novel and the way in which he manipulated Nomi into seizing power, his destruction was just too easy. I wanted more oomph, more fight. I wanted Banghart to truly wow me with this conclusion to her duology and although it was a decent ending and promising, it was too simple for my liking.

I still liked the characters including sisters Nomi and Serina. It’s been a reversal of roles with obedient Serina now a fierce warrior for womankind while defiant Nomi is more demure and uncertain, having seen a new side to the Heir during her time as a Grace and whose mistakes have paved the way for Asa’s reign. I think that Banghart developed the characters well. I actually came to like Serina over Nomi in this novel where before it was the younger sister I enjoyed following more. I think both young women have been through a lot and can’t deny that as characters they have driven the storyline forward well.

Though not as good as I was anticipating, Queen of Ruin was still an overall solid read and a fair conclusion to the duology. I appreciated the romances Tracy Banghart included for both Serina and Nomi with Val and Malachi exactly what the gals needed and I’m satisfied that the women of Viridia will have a new prosperous future now that a new dawn has been brought in for the kingdom where they will have rights and opportunities the same as men.

Rating:
Source: Purchased by me
Publisher: Hachette Children's Group
Format: Paperback
Release Date: July 11th 2019
Buy: Angus & Robertson | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: Not quite as good as the first one, I still very much enjoy Tracy Banghart's books and am looking forward to her next release!