Book Shelf: Twice Dead (The Necromancer's Song #1) by Caitlin Seal

Naya, the daughter of a sea merchant captain, nervously undertakes her first solo trading mission in the necromancer-friendly country bordering her homeland of Talmir. Unfortunately, she never even makes it to the meeting. She's struck down in the streets of Ceramor. Murdered.

But death is not the end for Naya. She awakens to realize she's become an abomination--a wraith, a ghostly creature bound by runes to the bones of her former corpse. She's been resurrected in order to become a spy for her country. Reluctantly, she assumes the face and persona of a servant girl named Blue.

She never intended to become embroiled in political plots, kidnapping, and murder. Or to fall in love with the young man and former necromancer she is destined to betray.

More info on Goodreads....


Review:

Twice Dead is Caitlin Seal’s debut novel and is a luscious and delightful fantasy novel perfect for fans of Susan Dennard and Maria V. Snyder!

The daughter of a sea merchant trader, Naya is undertaking her first solo mission in the necromancer friendly country of Ceramor near her homeland when she is struck down on her way to meet an associate. Murdered in an alleyway, death is not the end for Naya as she awakens a wraith--a ghostly creature bound by runes carved into the bones of her former corpse. Brought back by a necromancer, Naya is recruited to be a spy for her native country and assumes the identity of a servant in order to discover political secrets. Becoming involved in kidnapping and murder isn’t what she signed on for and neither is betraying the young man she’s become to care about. Naya is soon struggling to see out with her mission, but with things not what they seem, the danger to those in Ceramor may be bigger than she ever anticipated…..

I was really impressed with Twice Dead, the first novel in what will be The Necromancer’s Song series by Caitlin Seal. Twice Dead was beautifully written and well-paced, introducing readers to a fantastic paranormal fantasy world of magic and resurrection. The world within the novel was well constructed and the concept of necromancy and the way people were resurrected and tied to their bones through runes and bonds were intriguing. It was fresh concept on Seal’s part and I think it was implemented wonderfully.

The heroine of Twice Dead, Naya, comes from a land that considers the undead monsters and those that resurrect them messing with what the Creator intended. It was intriguing to follow her through her transition from an ordinary girl who wakes up as something she has always thought an abomination to being comfortable in who she now is. Loyal to her country to a fault and a product of the society she was raised in, Ceramor and its inhabitants open Naya’s eyes to the true nature of the undead; making for a lot of confliction and inner turmoil as Naya wages a battle against herself and what she has been taught to be believe.

Personally I liked Naya and thought she was easy to follow. Naya wants to do the right thing and make her father proud, however as the novel progresses she learns a lot and begins to question what she has always known. It’s the growth in Naya that I really appreciated. She shows a lot of promise as the protagonist as she begins to master her abilities as a wraith and embrace who she is.

Naya’s lifeline to her new reality as a wraith comes in the form of Corten, a former necromancer and fellow wraith who helps Naya learn how to harness her abilities and how to survive her needs. Corten becomes a friend to Naya and of course romance blossoms between the two. Honestly, I thought Corten and Naya were really sweet as a couple. They connected well and there was as innocence and sweetness to their relationship.

Twice Dead comes to a heartbreaking ending with hard choices made and developments pushing forward the course of the story. I for one cannot wait to see what Caitlin Seal does next and will be eagerly awaiting the release of the next novel to see how Naya helps those she loves!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher via Netgalley (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Charlesbridge Teen
Format: Kindle ebook via Netgalley
Release Date: September 18th 2018
Pre-Order: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Final Thoughts: I highly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read more!

Owl Post #212

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 guys and welcome to another Owl Post :) I got myself a trio of great books this week that I'm looking forward to reading.

  I Bought:

- The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang 

This book looks soooooo good. Definitely one I'm dying to read. Hope to work it into my TBR pile soon! 

- If There's No Tomorrow by Jennifer L. Armentrout 

Jennifer L. Armentrout is one of my favourite authors and I can never pass up the opportunity to snag one of her books :)

  - The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton  I've heard a lot of great things about this book so I'm keen to discover it for myself.       And that's me this week :) What did the owls bring YOU this week?  

 

Book Shelf: Ash and Quill (The Great Library #3) by Rachel Caine

Held prisoner by the Burner forces in Philadelphia, Jess and his friends struggle to stay alive in the face of threats from both sides ... but a stunning escape guarantees worse is coming. The Library now means to stop them by any means necessary, and they'll have to make dangerous allies and difficult choices to stay alive.

They have only two choices: face the might of the Great Library head on, or be erased from life, and the history of the world, for ever.

Win or die. 

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Ash and Quill is the third novel in The Great Library series by Rachel Caine and is another unforgettable story of danger, exhilaration and action which is guaranteed to leave readers breathless.

Having escaped the clutches of the Library by the skin of their teeth, Jess and his band of ragtag friends now find themselves prisoners of the Burners and held in the walled cited of Philadelphia. The Great Library is determined to stop them by any means necessary and with Thomas’s inventions offering a new era in knowledge and literacy, staying one step ahead of their enemies is more important than ever. Jess will have to come up with his best plan yet if they want to find a way to take control back from the Library and even the playing field, but some costs are too much to pay and Jess and his friends may end up losing their souls in the process…..

Rachel Caine thrills again with the third instalment in The Great Library series. Navigating an enchanting world of danger and war, Ash and Quill see’s Jess, Morgan, Thomas, Wolfe, Santi, Dario, Glain and Khalida continue on in their fight against the unjustly Great Library. This novel is once again wonderfully written and paced and I am personally very captivated by the world which Caine has created. A world that is passionate about books is a world after my own heart and the nuances that Rachel Caine explores throughout the series bring the society to life with such flourish and flair.

Weaving elements of ancient cultures with modern, and occasionally magical, technology, Rachel Caine effortlessly brings excitement and enchantment to the story. Main protagonist Jess is a solid lead to follow throughout the story and the various characters Caine has included alongside Jess really bring life to the tale. The close bond between Jess and his friends continues to shine and the closeness and familial feel is wonderful. There’s moments of humour, danger and just that perfect hint of romance to keep readers highly entertained.

This series truly is beautifully unique. Captivating and powerful, Ash and Quill is a fantastic addition that is as easily as good as its predecessors. Racing towards a shocking ending, Ash and Quill marks a turning point in the series and leaves Jess and his friends in an even more dangerous position than when the story began.

I was not expecting some of the developments Rachel Caine from this thrilling story and am desperately looking forward to reading the next instalment as soon as it comes out!

Rating:
Source: Purchased by me
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Format: Paperback
Australian RRP: $16.99
Release Date: July 11th 2017
Purchase: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: Another great book; this one leaves me dying for the next one!

Waiting on Wednesday #232

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.....  

Sherwood by Meagan Spooner 

Releases on: March 19th 2019

Add on Goodreads!

 

Robin of Locksley is dead.

When news comes that he's fallen in battle at the King's side in the Holy Land, Maid Marian doesn’t know how she’ll go on. Betrothed to Robin, she was free to be herself, to flout the stifling rules of traditional society and share an equal voice with her beloved when it came to caring for the people of her land.

Now Marian is alone, with no voice of her own. The people of Locksley, persecuted by the Sheriff of Nottingham, are doomed to live in poverty or else face death by hanging. The dreadful Guy of Gisborne, the Sherriff’s right hand, wishes to step into Robin’s shoes as Lord of Locksley, and Marian’s fiancé. Society demands that she accept her fate, and watch helplessly as her people starve.

When Marian dons Robin's green cloak, and takes up his sword and bow, she never intended that anyone should mistake her for Robin, returned from the Holy Land as a vigilante. She never intended that the masked, cloaked figure she created should stand as a beacon of hope and justice to peasant and noble alike. She never intended to become a legend.

But all of Nottingham is crying out for a savior. So Marian must choose to make her own fate and become her own hero...

Robin Hood.

Thoughts:

Oh boy does this sound good! I love retellings on the best of days but this one looks like it's going to step outside the traditional gender roles and that makes it even more exciting! Can't wait to see what Meagan Spooner does with Sherwood as I do so love her novels!

What do you think of Sherwood? Are you a Robin hood fan?

And what are you waiting on this week?

Book Shelf: Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

OND ELDR. BREATHE FIRE.

Raised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen in an ancient rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: fight and survive. Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield — her brother, fighting with the enemy — the brother she watched die five years ago.

Faced with her brother's betrayal, she must survive the winter in the mountains with the Riki, in a village where every neighbor is an enemy, every battle scar possibly one she delivered. But when the Riki village is raided by a ruthless clan thought to be a legend, Eelyn is even more desperate to get back to her beloved family.

She is given no choice but to trust Fiske, her brother’s friend, who sees her as a threat. They must do the impossible: unite the clans to fight together, or risk being slaughtered one by one. Driven by a love for her clan and her growing love for Fiske, Eelyn must confront her own definition of loyalty and family while daring to put her faith in the people she’s spent her life hating.

More info on Goodreads......


Review: 

Sky in the Deep is Adrienne Young’s debut novel is a powerful and vivid story set against an icy landscape and infused with Viking mythology, brutal and bloody violence and unexpected romance.

Seventeen year old Eelyn is a warrior; a fighter; a survivor. As a member of the Aska clan, Eelyn fights alongside her family and clan mates against their enemies, the Riki, in an ancient tradition and long standing rivalry. It’s simple; fight and survive. Until one day on the battlefield, Eelyn catches a glimpse of her long dead brother….fighting with the enemy clan. Soon taken prisoner by the Riki, Eelyn struggles to comprehend her brother’s betrayal. She must find a way to survive the harsh mountain winter even if it means relying on her brother’s best friend Fiske, a Riki warrior who only sees her as a threat. Torn between her loyalty to her clan and her growing feelings for Fiske, Eelyn will have to reassess her definition of loyalty and family as she finds herself caring for people she has always viewed as the enemy. And when the Riki village is attacked by a ruthless clan thought only to be legend, Eelyn will have to find a way for the Aska and Riki to work together before both clans are destroyed….forever.

I have to admit; I was somewhat apprehensive when I began Sky in the Deep as I hadn’t had any experience reading Viking themed novels in the past, nor am I a big fan of the violence and brutality that comes along with them. That being said, I had heard so many positive things about this story that I decided to give it a go….and I’m very glad I did. I really did enjoy Sky in the Deep and was delighted by the story that Adrienne Young has created.

Told through the poignant and powerful voice of Eelyn, Sky in the Deep is a compelling story. Beautifully written and with a genuine and authentic feel without author Adrienne Young feeling the need to bombard her reader with complex and complicated Norse and Viking history, Sky in the Deep is a very fast paced and exciting novel, that also features nice undertones of family and romance.

I liked the characters within the story very much including love interest Fiske and protagonist Eelyn who is a strong and easy to follow main character. Young sets up many moments of reflection and development as her characters struggle—again Eelyn most importantly—with the new reality of their lives. Decades of distrust and rivalry do not disappear overnight and I liked seeing Eelyn slowly begin to trust members of the Riki clan, even as she faced an internal war with what she had always known and what she was now witnessing.

Adrienne Young has created a great story of survival and romance that bridges the gap between clans and age old rivalry. Perfect for anyone wishing to dip their toes in the Viking genre while discovering a conflicting world of brutality and simmering hope, Sky in the Deep is a great read and proves Adrienne Young is an author to keep an eye on!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher via Netgalley (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Format: Kindle ebook via Netgalley
Release Date: April 24th 2018
Purchase: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: I really enjoyed this and am keen to read more from Adrienne Young in the future!

Owl Post #211

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 welcome to another week's Owl Post!

  For Review:

 From Pantera Press: -  I Had Such Friends by Meg Gatland-Veness I've heard a lot of great things about this debut novel--looking forward to reading it!   Thank you Anabel!   I Bought:

- Burying Water by K.A. Tucker 

- Becoming Rain by K.A. Tucker 

I really adored Tucker's Ten Tiny Breath series and can't wait to read these two books. I was lucky to find them at my local second hand bookshop when I when to exchange some titles I didn't want anymore. 

- Sweet Ruin by Kresley Cole 

I LOVE the Immortals After Dark but I'm a little bit behind in the series but will be able to continue it with Sweet Ruin. Love what Kresley Cole does with this series!

  And that's me this week! What did the owls bring YOU this week?  

 

Book Shelf: The Wren Hunt by Mary Watson

Every Christmas, Wren is chased through the woods near her isolated village by her family's enemies—the Judges—and there’s nothing that she can do to stop it. Once her people, the Augurs, controlled a powerful magic. But now that power lies with the Judges, who are set on destroying her kind for good.

In a desperate bid to save her family, Wren takes a dangerous undercover assignment—as an intern to an influential Judge named Cassa Harkness. Cassa has spent her life researching a transformative spell, which could bring the war between the factions to its absolute end. Caught in a web of deceit, Wren must decide whether or not to gamble on the spell and seal the Augurs’ fate.

More info on Goodreads....

Review:

The Wren Hunt by Mary Watson is a unique and mysterious novel full of Irish folklore, deception and unexpected betrayals.

Every Winter Wren Silke is chased through the woods as part of a distorted childhood game by the boys of her village. As an augur, these boys are her sworn enemies, judges, but lucky for Wren her heritage remains a secrets from them. With their powers diminishing, Wren's grove send her undercover to intern at Harkness Foundation, the headquarters for some of the most powerful judges out there. Hoping to discover their secrets, Wren soon finds herself caught in a twisted game of cat and mouse and as her time at Harkness House begins to change her, Wren must make the ultimate choice in order to decide where her loyalties lay.

Having recently finished The Wren Hunt, I'm not completely sure how to wrap my mind around the book. Mary Watson has no doubt created a vivid and unique story; there's definitely nothing out there like The Wren Hunt but at the same time I feel as though the novel fell flat in many regards. Considering the uniqueness that was it's story, it had plenty of potential but there were elements of the novel that ultimately failed it in my eyes.

Set in a very atmospheric country Ireland, The Wren Hunt introduces the concept of two ancient magic practitioner’s; augurs and judges. From what I could wrap my head around, both groups practice magic through the use of natural means and rely on nature to harness and use its essence to fuel their power and abilities. Honestly, for the most part I struggled to really comprehend much of what Wren and her people did as well as the age old feud they had with the judges. I feel like Watson could have potentially set things up better whilst still harnessing in the Irish folklore and heritage she wove into the story. The Wren Hunt was still easy to follow as long as I didn’t get too caught up in this.

It wasn’t easy connecting with the characters of The Wren Hunt either. Though Wren was nice enough, I didn’t really care for anyone else within the story and found them bland and lacklustre. I liked her love interest Tarc and thought him likable, but I also struggled with the fact that he himself seemed to be a pivotal part in the plot development. Romance aside, I wanted Wren to make her choices based on what she learnt about the judge world and its people, not just because she liked a boy. All of Wren’s driving forced changed when she fell for Tarc and even though I appreciated their love story, I feel like the story could have benefited if it wasn’t written this particular way.

Despite my misgivings, there was something alluring about The Wren Hunt that kept be reading. Featuring a dreamlike aura and being rich in imagery, The Wren Hunt is a unique read for those who dare to try something a little different.

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Bloomsbury Australia
Format: Paperback
Australian RRP: $14.99
Release Date: February 8th 2018
Purchase: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: Though it didn't blow me away, The Wren Hunt was a unique story that might appeal to readers wanting something a bit different.

Blog Tour: Between Frost and Fury by Chani Lynn Feener- Guest Post & Giveaway

Welcome to Between Frost and Fury by Chani Lynn Feener presented by Xpresso Book Tours! Yesterday I posted my 4 star review of Between Frost and Fury and today I have an excerpt to share. Personally I love this series and am excited to be sharing it with you today :)

________________________

Delaney has been kidnapped by aliens. Again. After only a month back on Earth with her hotnew alien boyfriend Ruckus, the deadly and devastatingly handsome prince Trystan has dragged her right back to his planet.

While some girls may dream of winning a prince’s heart, Delaney just wishes this one would leave her alone. Instead, she finds herself at the center of both a tense political battle between two alien kingdoms and Trystan’s romantic attentions, both of which are absolutely ruining the life she’s built on Earth. Not to mention the fact that she’s about to be crowned queen of a planet she’s barely even visited. Just another day in life of an ordinary human girl. 

Add on Goodreads or check out my review!

Purchase:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

By Chani Lynn Feener

Writing Between Frost and Fury, the second book in my Xenith trilogy, was a lot of fun! Getting to revisit the same world and characters again is always a blast, and it’s sort of like catching up with old friends. Of course, for me, the wait isn’t nearly as long as it is for the reader. I started work on Between Frost and Fury about a month after the copy edits of Amid Stars and Darkness were completed. For most of you, it might have been about a year since you last read about Delaney and her aliens! So, with that in mind, I thought this might be a great time to reintroduce you all—or introduce you, if you haven’t yet had the chance to read book one (please do)—to the characters of this world. Starting with…

Delaney Grace, the girl mistaken for alien royalty in book one. She’s an eighteen year old who lives in Maine with her best friend and, by the end of Amid Stars and Darkness, her boyfriend. The end of book one took place midsummer, so she’s only got a little time left before she’s supposed to start her first semester of college. She tries to always stay positive, but has a tendency to get frustrated and say things she probably shouldn’t.

Ruckus Wux, the Ander (commander) who initially mistook Delaney for the Vakar Lissa (princess). The youngest person to ever hold the ander title, Ruckus is very dedicated to his job. He has a lot of respect from his fellow soldiers, however there aren’t many people who feels he can be himself with, as he feels like he always has to be in charge as his position dictates. Because of this, there are only a handful of people throughout the books we see him interact on a more friendly basis with, and it’s clear he’s been a little lonely on Xenith for a while.

Trystan End, the Zane (prince) of Kint. Trystan is beloved by his people, but everyone who’s been around him knows he’s very intimidating. He likes to be in charge wherever he goes, and he doesn’t like letting people forget it. He’ll do whatever he thinks is best for his people, no matter what, which sometimes crosses a line. Even though he takes being the Zane very seriously, he hates his father, the Rex. Like Ruckus, Trystan doesn’t have many people in his life he can consider true friends, though there are many loyal to him.

These are three of the main characters of the trilogy, though there are a few others, like Pettus, Gibus and Fawna, who are all friends of Ruckus, and later Delaney. There’s also the Basilissa (queen) of Vakar, Olena, the Lissa of Vakar, and the Rex of Kint, all of whom are royal pains in Delaney’s you know what. The rest, like Sanzie and Dom, you’ll have to read the book and discover yourself!

Chani Lynn Feener has wanted to be a writer since the age of ten during fifth grade story time. She majored in Creative Writing at Johnson State College in Vermont, and graduated in 2012. To pay her bills, she has worked many odd jobs, including, but not limited to, telemarketing, order picking in a warehouse, and filling ink cartridges. When she isn’t writing, she’s binging TV shows, drawing, or frequenting zoos/aquariums. Chani is the author of Amid Stars and Darkness and the teen paranormal series the Underworld Saga, originally written under the penname Tempest C. Avery. She currently resides in Connecticut, but lives on Goodreads.com.

Visit Chani:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Shelf: Between Frost and Fury (The Xenith Trilogy #2) by Chani Lynn Feener

Delaney has been kidnapped by aliens. Again. After only a month back on Earth with her hotnew alien boyfriend Ruckus, the deadly and devastatingly handsome prince Trystan has dragged her right back to his planet.

While some girls may dream of winning a prince’s heart, Delaney just wishes this one would leave her alone. Instead, she finds herself at the center of both a tense political battle between two alien kingdoms and Trystan’s romantic attentions, both of which are absolutely ruining the life she’s built on Earth. Not to mention the fact that she’s about to be crowned queen of a planet she’s barely even visited. Just another day in life of an ordinary human girl. 

More info on Goodreads.....


Review: Warning: Spoilers Ahead

Between Frost and Fury is the second novel in The Xenith Trilogy by Chani Lynn Feener and is an exhilarating and enjoyable sci-fi tale that takes readers back into an intriguing and appealing intergalactic world full of colourful characters.

Delaney Grace was only back on Earth with her new boyfriend Ruckus for one month before she was kidnapped by aliens; again. Now she is being held prisoner by the devastatingly handsome and determined alien prince Trystan who wants to use Delaney to enter into a peace treaty with his people’s enemies…..through holy matrimony. Trystan is sure the best way to unite the Kint and Vakar people is through a marriage and seeing as Delaney was technically the person he was bound to when she was impersonating the Vakar heir, Trystan is determined to make Delaney follow through with her promise. Stuck in the middle of a political battle between two kingdoms, Delaney must navigate Trystan’s romantic attentions as well as find a way to get back home to earth before she is named queen of a planet she desperately wants to escape. Yet as it becomes clear that Trystan’s plan isn't the biggest danger out there, will Delaney's loyalties change or will she continue to only be a pawn in someone else's game?

Heading into Between Frost and Fury I was somewhat perplexed. I immensely enjoyed the first novel, Amid Stars and Darkness, and given it’s shocking cliff-hanger ending was eager to see what Chani Lyn Feener did next, but I was also worried. Not over the quality of writing or the excitement I was sure was to come with the storyline. I was worried about a potential love triangle. I’ve probably said this before, but one of my biggest pet peeves is the dreaded love triangle and I was afraid that this would become an issue within this story. Something that eventually came to pass….but boy if I don’t like the way in which Chani Lyn Feener writes this particular love triangle. If there’s one thing I hate more than love triangles it’s love triangles where I genuinely love both love interests. And this is what Feener has done with Between Frost and Fury!

I very much enjoyed the relationship between Delaney and Ruckus in the first novel, but oh how my heart bleeds for Trystan in this instalment. It’s very rare that I switch teams after making my choice, but in this instance I may have to make an exception as there’s just something so captivating about Trystan. The depth and nuances Chani Lyn Feener explores and introduces within him in Between Frost and Fury truly make me adore the guy even if I can see why he continues to frustrate and enrage Delaney. I do feel like he deserves happiness so I'll be keen to see if he's the one to get the girl. 

Chani Lyn Feener has a likeable protagonist in Delaney who is sarcastic and fiery in all the right ways. She's sharp and quick on her feet and I've enjoyed following her throughout the trilogy so far although I do admit I very much appreciated the chapters and glimpses through Trystan's eyes in this instalment. This made it much easier to see where he was coming from and what he was feeling while still being able to stand with Delaney as she navigated the circumstances she found herself in. 

Between Frost and Fury builds to another climactic ending which sees Delaney come to some unwanted truths about her feelings and leaves the characters in a situation where they'll need to all come together to defeat a massive threat. Chani Lyn Feener leaves me dying for the third and final instalment, once again eager to see what will happen next with this thrilling trilogy.

Rating:  
Source: Sent for review by Xpresso Book Tours and the author (Thank you ladies!)
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Format: Kindle ebook
Release Date: July 24th 2018
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
Final Thoughts: Thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I can't wait until the next one comes out!

Waiting on Wednesday #231

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.....  

Only a Breath Apart by Katie McGarry 

Releases on: January 22nd 2019

Add on Goodreads!

 

Are our destinies written in stone? Do we become nothing more than the self-fulfilling prophesies of other people's opinions? Or can we dare to become who we believe we were born to be?

Jesse Jameson is in line to inherit the land that's been in his family for generations--there's just one catch: to prove his maturity, he has to win the approval of his former best friend, Scarlett Copeland, and her father. But when Jesse finds out that Scarlett's father is abusing her, he must decide what truly matters most: his family's land or helping the girl he's fallen in love with. 

Thoughts:

When it comes down to it, I would read Katie McGarry's shopping list! Anything this woman is golden and I'm adding Only a Breath Apart to my MUST READ list of 2019 as this just sounds fabulous!

Are you at Katie McGarry fan?

What are you waiting on this week?

Book Shelf: The Gala (Vampire Royals #2) by Leigh Walker

FOUR WEEKS. TWENTY CONTESTANTS. ONE PRINCE.
 
The Pageant is almost over, and Gwyneth West knows she can win—except the prince is a vampire, and some of the other contestants are turning out to be quite beastly.

What do you do when the person you love…might want to eat you alive?

Struggling to hold onto her position in the palace, Gwyn knows her vampire prince could slip through her fingers in an instant. And when human rebels threaten to storm the vampire royals once more, Gwyn finds herself caught between two worlds: her people, and the vampire she loves.

Leigh Walker writes action packed futuristic sci-fi, sweet romantic vampire novels, and stories that capture your heart and then make it race.

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

The Gala is that second novel in Leigh Walker's Vampire Royals series and is another exciting and romantic vampiric adventure readers will once again fall in love with.

Gwyneth West never expected that participating in the Pageant would see her end up with very real feelings for the prince. He makes her feel like no one before....if only he wasn't a vampire and she didn't have to compete against twenty other young ladies for his affections. Falling in love was never the plan but as Gwyn and Dallas spend more time together it becomes clear that what they have is special. Gwyn's time at the palace has seen her eyes opened to a world she never expected but as the rebels remain a very real threat against the royal family will Gwyn find herself torn between her people and her heart?

Picking up where the first novel left off, The Gala is another exciting and romantic instalment. This series is simply such fun to read and if you're a hopeless romantic at all like me you'll be easily swept away and hooked by Gwyn's romance with the swoon worthy vampire Dallas and their relationship.

I haven't read The Selection so I don't have the ability to compare the two but I imagine the novels are somewhat alike even if only due to the fact there's a competition to find the princes bride. Personally I find I enjoy The Bachelor like feeling to the series and that Leigh Walker doesn't shy away from the feelings of jealousy expressed by not only main character Gwyn but all the contestants in the pageant. I imagine it's only natural to feel this way in that kind of situation and appreciate that Walker explores this.

What can I say other than that I love Gwyn and Dallas! They have such an adorable relationship and I'm honestly falling in love with them as they are falling in love with each other. They're both such wonderful characters and the chemistry between them is perfect. Leigh Walker writes them electric together while also been soft and under spoken at times too. The slow burn is magnificent.

As book two comes to a close I can't wait to begin the next one. I simply HAVE to have more of Gwyn and Dallas and an excited to see what Leigh Walker has planned next. I know it going to be as brilliant as the first two have been!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by the author (Thank you Leigh!)
Publisher: Independently published
Format: Kindle ebook
Release Date: May 4th 2018
Purchase: Amazon
Final Thoughts: I'm just addicted to the tension and connection between Gwyn and Dallas and I can't wait to read the next one!

Owl Post #210

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 lovelies and welcome to another Owl Post. I've got a couple of great books to share this week!

  For Review:

From Allen & Unwin (Hot Key Books):

- Charmcaster by Sebastien de Castell 

I'm soooooo excited to read the third Spellslinger book. I really adore this series and am eager to jump straight in!

....Thank you guys! 

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From Scholastic Australia:

 -  The Happiness Quest by Richard Yaxley

I'm not really sure if this novel is for me but it sounds sound like it could be very thought provoking. We'll see if I read this.

.....Thank you team!  

I Bought:

- The Darkest Warrior by Gena Showalter

I've been loyaly reading this series for 9 years now and as a Gilliam fan I'm a bit disheartened by this novel. I'm still dying to read it but I'm very sad that Gena Showalter didn't give what most fans like myself wanted.....

 

And that's me this week! 

What did the owls bring YOU?

 

Book Shelf: To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy? 

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

To Kill A Kingdom is Alexandra Christo’s debut novel and is a dark and exhilarating The Little Mermaid retelling full of adventure, danger and slow developing and understated romance.

Siren Princess Lira is revered across both land and sea as the Princes Bane, a vicious killer whose preference for the hearts of princes is well known. As the daughter of the Sea Queen, Lira knows her destiny is to one day take over the throne, until an act of rebellion against her mother sees her turned into the very thing she hates the most; a human. The only way for Lira to return home and to her true form is to bring her mother the heart of the sirens biggest enemy. Prince Elian is known as the golden prince but it’s his title of Siren Killer he treasures the most. More comfortable at sea on board his ship the Saad than he is at court, Elian and his crew are at home on the ocean, hunting sirens and ridding the world of the ruthless monsters. When Elian rescues a drowning woman from the middle of the ocean, he knows she’s more than she appears but he could never expect her true nature. Elian is Lira’s ticket home but as her time on two legs begins to change her, will she dare wish for more than the war that simmers between their two races? And will Elian learn to trust the very thing he hunts? Or will a shared enemy be the destruction of them both?

I have to admit I had some misgivings heading into To Kill A Kingdom. Seeing as the novel was set to unfold through the eyes of a self-proclaimed monster and murderer, I worried I would struggle with connecting and enjoying the novel…..but boy was I wrong! Alexandra Christo has created a very luscious and entertaining retelling with To Kill A Kingdom and manages to hit every nail on the head; action, adventure, character development, entertaining dialogue, romance. I felt the whole novel was very well rounded and well written on Christo’s part.

Unfolding through both Lira and Elian’s POV’s, To Kill A Kingdom is a very entertaining story. Based on the traditional Little Mermaid tale, Alexandra Christo gives it darker twist featuring sirens and pirates while also enjoying the elements that make so much fun to begin with. Allowing readers to witness the story unfold through both Lira and Elian’s eyes makes for a well-rounded tale—you are in on the secret of who Lira truly is while Elian is oblivious. You can’t help but desperately read waiting for everything to be revealed.

Female protagonist Lira is a stubborn and fiery soul who undertakes so much growth within the story to overcome her upbringing and nature. I genuinely liked Lira even when she was still a murderous siren; she was sharp tongued and quick witted, something she finds she shared with male counterpart and second protagonist Elian who is both prince and pirate. I loved the dialogue Christo shared from Elian who is very much the charming pirate and who is both hero and scoundrel. He was a fun male lead who often made me laugh or brought a smile to my face.

As you would expect, romance plays a role in the building storyline of To Kill A Kingdom, but it’s not as prominent as you would think. Ultimately Lira’s feelings for Elian play a big part in some choices she makes but the relationship between them is only a small part of the story, blending effortlessly with the adventure and excitement throughout the novel. It’s highlights include the sharp and smart quips and teasing comments shared between them and the understated connection that develops overtime. I actually felt their romance was perfectly written within the story and wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Building to course changing altercation between our main characters and the Sea Queen, To Kill A Kingdom is a fast paced and solid standalone tale with a great cast of supporting characters. Alexandra Christo offers to YA audiences a well-rounded debut that doesn’t disappoint and guarantee’s she’ll be an author I’ll have my eye on moving forward!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Format: Paperback
Australian RRP: $19.99
Release Date: March 6th 2018
Purchase: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: Thoroughly adventurous and highly enjoyable, I very much enjoyed To Kill a Kingdom and am keen to see what Alexandra Christo releases next!

Blog Tour: The Supervillain and Me by Danielle Banas- Guest Post & Giveaway

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Supervillain and Me by Danielle Banas thanks to Xpresso Book Tours! I recently had the pleasure of reading and reviewing this adorable and fun novel and am thrilled to share it with you today.

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As witty as it is heartpounding, this fresh take on the beloved superhero genre is all about finding your own way to shine even when it seems everyone else around you is, well... super.
 
Never trust a guy in spandex.
 
In Abby Hamilton’s world, superheroes do more than just stop crime and save cats stuck in trees—they also drink milk straight from the carton and hog the television remote. Abby’s older brother moonlights as the famous Red Comet, but without powers of her own, following in his footsteps has never crossed her mind.

That is, until the city’s newest vigilante comes bursting into her life.

After saving Abby from an attempted mugging, Morriston’s fledgling supervillain Iron Phantom convinces her that he’s not as evil as everyone says, and that their city is under a vicious new threat. As Abby follows him deeper into their city’s darkest secrets, she comes to learn that heroes can’t always be trusted, and sometimes it’s the good guys who wear black.

Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads, The Supervillain and Me is a hilarious, sweet, and action-packed novel by debut author Danielle Banas that proves no one is perfect, not even superheroes.

Add on Goodreads or check out my 4 star review!

Purchase:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Story time with Danielle! 

This one is for all of you lovely folks who cower in fear at the mere thought of anyone reading anything that you have written. Here's a secret: I too was once one of you. Yes, I know. I wrote an entire book that (hopefully) you'll read. I also wrote this blog post that you're reading right now. That fear is gone. (Most of the time.) But it wasn't always that way. So let's travel back in time seven years to a place that I would rather not revisit: my senior year of high school. 

The setting was world literature class. Period one. Here’s how it went down: My teacher, who will remain nameless, gave my class a poetry assignment right before Christmas break. I forget exactly what qualities the poem had to possess, but I can tell you that I didn’t put a lot of work into it. Like basically no work at all. And can you blame me? I was just trying to get all my homework done before break started; I didn’t care if I did a good job or not, which in retrospect was probably my number one mistake. 

There is only one line from that stupid poem that I still remember to this day. I compared knowledge to a juicy steak. Why? I don’t remember, but I did. A juicy steak. And then, when I let two of my best friends read it, they laughed in my face and told me it was ridiculous. 

Yay me. 

I mean, it kind of was ridiculous, but I didn’t really care. Like I said, I just wanted to go on Christmas vacation. 

Fast forward about a week and a half, and I was back in hell (AKA period one world literature). The class was boring, as usual. And I most definitely was counting down the minutes until I got to leave, as usual.

And then my teacher did the unthinkable. 

She pulled out the stack of poems we had turned in before break, grinning at us like she just won the lottery, and announced that we were going to play a game. She was going to read our poems out loud, and we were going to guess which one of our classmates was the author. 

Now let me repeat that for the folks in the back. She was going to read my stupid juicy steak poem that my friends had made fun of out loud.

No. No, no, no. Because, you see, when I was in school I had an inherent fear of anyone reading anything that I wrote out loud. I was totally fine with my teacher reading my crappy poem in the privacy of her own home while she drank herbal tea and graded papers, but she was not, under any circumstances, going to read about my juicy steak for the entire class to hear. 

I still remember that moment so well. My face was on fire, blood pounding in my ears. My heart was skipping beats, and I somehow felt both hot and cold at the same time. She was going to do it. The first poem she picked up off the stack was going to be mine, and everyone was going to laugh at me and I was going to spend the rest of my senior year getting made fun of for comparing steak to knowledge and I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t breathe – 

And the first poem she picked up… miraculously wasn’t mine. 

But she reached for another… 

And then the bell rang. 

Yes! I was saved by the freaking bell. Literally. I had two days before I would have to sit in my world literature class again, and because my stupid steak poem had turned me into a sweating ball of anxiety, I knew that I had to fix this. 

So I wrote another poem. This one was about flowers and sunshine – exactly what everyone else in my class had written about (because I was the only weirdo who chose to write about steak). Then the next day, after school was over and the building emptied out, I snuck into my teacher’s classroom with the intention of digging through her desk and swapping my crappy poem for my brand new, good one. 

Now if you’re reading this and thinking that I sound crazy and desperate, you’re absolutely right. I was crazy. And desperate. But I couldn’t stomach the thought of any of my classmates reading this lousy thing that I wrote. It was like giving them access to a part of my brain that was way too intimate and vulnerable, something that I wasn’t prepared to share with the world quite yet at seventeen years old. In my mind, there was no other option. I would pull this off, or I would melt into a puddle of embarrassment and die. 

So I snuck into my world lit teacher’s classroom, creeping across the linoleum floor in the dark, a January blizzard raging outside the windows, listening to every hum and creak the building made, terrified that the night janitor or the vice principal or my teacher herself would walk in on me. (Now is probably a good time to point out that I went to a Catholic school, and if I got caught then the devil himself would smite me and drag me to the depths of hell. Well…maybe that’s dramatic. But I would have received a ton of detention.) 

I held my breath as I shuffled through the folders on my teacher’s desk, removing them gently, careful not to disturb the papers so that I could put everything back perfectly the way it was. Guys, I was like James-freaking-Bond. 

The first few folders didn’t have anything interesting, but the third one…eureka. I saw the names of my classmates, and I flipped through until I found mine, positive that someone was going to walk in front of the classroom door at any moment and spot me. 

I found my name, found my lame steak-knowledge poem staring up at me, mocking me. I gripped it in my hands, ready to switch it for something far better. But…then I realized that I couldn’t. Because she had already graded my poem. 

Right there, on top of my lame “knowledge is like a juicy steak” poem that my friends had laughed at, the poem that caused me almost 36 hours of sheer panic and anxiety…was a big…fat…A. 

She gave me an A. 

I looked back and forth from the steak poem to my brand new flower poem. Surely, I was in some kind of sit-com or alternate universe because there was no way this was happening. But it was. And I knew deep down inside that I couldn’t switch the poems. She would notice. And, I mean, I was pretty happy to take the A. 

So I returned the steak poem to the folder, put her desk back exactly the way I’d found it, and then I grabbed my flower poem and walked out the door. 

I went home. And no one ever found out what had transpired in my teacher’s classroom on that January afternoon. And you know what else? She never finished playing the poem game. Meaning that the horrible steak poem, the thing that made me physically sick, was never read out loud. All the stress had been for nothing. 

So moral of the story: Don’t be ashamed of your writing. If I wrote the same boring flower and sunshine poem as the rest of my classmates, then maybe I wouldn’t have gotten that A. And if I was afraid of people reading my novel about a bunch of quirky superheroes, then I never would have been published. It’s definitely easier said than done, but I’m trying to have more faith in my writing abilities. I hope that this story helps you to do the same.

I have to say; as someone petrified of anyone reading their writing, this is a great story to hear about. Thanks for sharing Danielle!

Danielle Banas, a Pittsburgh native, earned a degree in communication from Robert Morris University. After years spent dreaming up characters instead of paying attention in class, Danielle joined the storytelling platform Wattpad, where her work has received millions of views online. When she isn’t writing, she can be found loudly singing show tunes, spouting off Walt Disney World trivia, and snuggling with her puppy. THE SUPERVILLAIN AND ME is her debut novel.

Follow her on Twitter or Instagram @daniellebanas

Visit Danielle:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

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