Waiting on Wednesday #250

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.....  

Dark Shores by Danielle L. Jensen 

Releases on: May 7th 2019

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Piracy, blackmail, and meddling gods meet in Dark Shores, a thrilling first novel in a fast-paced new YA fantasy series by Danielle L. Jensen.

A PIRATE'S DAUGHTER
Teriana is the daughter of a trading ship captain. Her people have the sea in their bones, their ships are guarded by demigods of the Sea Goddess, and they are the only ones who know how to traverse the never-ending ocean between the East and the West.

A SOLDIER WITH A SECRET
Marcus is the leader of the Thirty-Seventh legion, the notorious army that has led the Celendor Empire to conquer the entire East. The legion is the only family he has, and even they don't know the secret he's been hiding since childhood.

A DANGEROUS QUEST
When a tyrannical ruler gains power in Celendor, he kidnaps Teriana's mother and threatens to reveal Marcus's deepest secret unless the two of them help him conquer the unknown West. The unwilling pair, distrustful of each other's motivations, join together for the sake of their families, and must decide how far they are willing to go, and how much of themselves they are willing to sacrifice. 

 

Thoughts:

Tales about pirates are very popular nowadays and I have to say I've enjoyed the ones I've read. Dark Shores is another I'm eagerly adding to me TBR list as I think it sounds very promising and has everything that I look for in a great YA fantasy!

What do you think of Dark Shores?

And what are you waiting on this week?

Book Shelf: Raging Rival Hearts (The Lost Clan #4) by Olivia Wildenstein

Raging Rival Hearts is a spinoff told from Lily's point of view.

I WAS A PRINCESS. I WAS ENGAGED. I WAS ALMOST IMMORTAL.

Breaking my engagement to the man I had loved my entire life was a dangerous move, one that got me expelled from the faerie isle. I’d known the risks, though. I’d known that if Cruz, Cat or my brother didn’t find a way to get me home, the fire in my veins would dwindle until it was gone, and with it my life.

Months slid by, and still nothing. With mere weeks left to live, I set out on a last adventure: discover if more Daneelies had survived the massacre, the same way Catori’s ancestor had. Although I’d decided to go alone, Kajika insisted on accompanying me.

I wanted to believe he was coming because he liked me. But I was still the enemy…the mute girl whom he could hear speak when no one else could…the one person who could track him when he didn’t want to be found. 

Perfect for fans of The Mortal Instruments and The Vampire Diaries.

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:   

Raging Rival Hearts is the exciting fourth novel in Olivia Wildenstein’s The Lost Clan series and is a passionate and thrilling story featuring the lovely Lily Wood and brooding hunter Kajika as they fight to save Lily’s life.

Lily Wood is dying. After breaking off her engagement, Lily was locked out of the faerie world of Neverra and as a result the fire in her veins is slowly dwindling. Months have passed and as her brother and close friends have searched for a way for her to return home her body has finally begun breaking down. With only weeks left to live, Lily wants to make the most of the time she has left and do something good for those she loves. Setting out to find the elusive Daneelies seems like a great way to give her sister-in-law Cat something; a connection to her people. Yet Lily’s travel plans take an unexpected detour when the darkly haunted hunter Kajika decides to accompany her. Lily wants to believe that the stubborn and infuriating hunter is coming along for her but with their people enemies, Lily knows there can never be anything between them. So why does he constantly haunt her thoughts? As Lily’s time begins to run out, will she be able to find a miracle? Or is her time up just when she has found something to really live for?

The Lost Clan is a series I have come to highly adore. The world and storyline Olivia Wildenstein has created has never failed to capture my heart and soul and as Cat’s story came to a close, I was thrilled to learn I would still have the opportunity to immense myself once more in this mouth-watering and addictive series with Raging Rival Hearts featuring Lily and Kajika who I have loved in the past.

Picking up where the last instalment left off, Raging Rival Hearts was a tantalising and exhilarating story. Lily has always been someone who intrigued me, especially seeing as she was mute. The opportunity to get into the head and heart of this bewitching faerie who has always been so much of a mystery was so exciting and I have to say I think Wildenstein did a fantastic job with her tale.

I genuinely loved Lily as a person. She was so good and kind and everything I had hoped she would be. I adored the building tension she had with Kajika who has always been a favourite of mine (even though I was always Team Ace) and immensely loved seeing their relationship develop. It was electric in a simple, effortless way but so consuming at the same time. Each tension charged moment they shared where it was clear they were coming to care deeply about one another was so addictive. I simply wanted to see as much Lily and Kajika as possible; they were so good together.

Raging Rival Hearts is not without its heartbreak and loss. Olivia Wildenstein keeps her readers on their toes as Lily and those around her fight for a way to get her back into Neverra in time to save her life. Ultimately this comes at a cost but this emotionally development seems to fit in very well with the storyline that is full of moments or romance, friendship and family.

As this fourth novel ends beautifully and better than I could have ever asked for, Olivia Wildenstein leaves me dying for the release of the fifth and final novel Reckless Cruel Heirs that is set to feature a certain baby I came to love in Raging Rival Hearts and another faerie child who we’re yet to meet but I just know I’m going to adore based on who I’m sure her parents are!

A fantastic novel in a breathtaking and addictive series, I highly recommend Raging Rival Hearts and the entire Lost Clan series for those who love adventure, excitement and thrilling romance with bite and flair!

Rating: 
Source: Sent for review by author (Thank you Olivia!)
Publisher: Olivia Wildenstein
Format: Kindle ebook
Release Date: October 18th 2018
Purchase: Angus & Robertson | Booktopia | The Book Depository
Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Final Thoughts: I just love this series and can't wait for the next one Reckless Cruel Heirs!

Waiting on Wednesday #249

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 Beckoning Shadow by Katharyn Blair

Releases on: July 2nd 2019

Add on Goodreads!

 

The Magicians meets Fight Club in this heart-stopping contemporary fantasy stand-alone about a teen girl with special powers who seeks redemption through a dangerous tournament that guarantees the winner a chance to undo the past. Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare and The Young Elites, and written by debut author Katharyn Blair.

Vesper Montgomery can summon your worst fear and turn it into a reality—but she’s learned the hard way that it’s an addicting and dangerous power. One wrong move and you could hurt someone you love.

But when she earns a spot in the Tournament of the Unraveling, where competitors battle it out for a chance to rewrite the past, Vesper finally has a shot to reverse the mistakes that have changed her forever. She turns to Sam Hardy, a former MMA fighter who’s also carrying a tragedy he desperately wants to undo. However, helping heal Sam’s heart will mean breaking her own, and the competition forces her to master her powers—powers she has been terrified of since they destroyed her life.

Thoughts:

In a world where pretty much every novel marks the beginning of a series, I'm stoked to come across a fabulous sounding novel set to be a standalone! The Beckoning Shadow seems really promising and I'm very much looking forward to reading it. 

What do you think of The Beckoning Shadow?

And what are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday #248

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 Beholder by Anna Bright

Releases on: June 4th 2019

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Pitched as Cinderella meets The Odyssey and The Selection.

When Selah, Seneschal-elect of Potomac, is publicly rejected on the eve of her engagement, her stepmother forces her to set sail across the Atlantic with an itinerary full of suitors to court before she can return home. But as she navigates the rough waters of political alliances, friendship, and love, Selah realizes that her stepmother has her own dark motives for sending her on the journey.

Thoughts:

The description of this novel doesn't give too much away but I have to say I'm highly intrigued.  Cinderella meets The Odyssey just has me hooked! I'm imagining tales of Sinbad mixed with romance and adventure. I have no doubt The Beholder will be a novel to look out for in 2019 and I can't wait to get lost in it myself!

Do you like the sound of The Beholder?

And what are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Book Shelf: Broken Compass (Supernatural Prison Story #1) by Jaymin Eve

Maximus Compass is a vampire without direction. Without heart. And without soul. He lost his true mate in the great battle against the dragon king, and now must face life alone.

And yet … something is happening to his agony. It’s fading away, leaving him with barely a memory of the female he believed to be his one and only.
As his mind clears he starts to wonder if the mate bond had been nothing more than a manufactured ploy? This suspicion explodes within him right around the time he runs back into a certain wolf shifter.

Mischa Lebron is a complication he doesn’t need in his life. He can’t erase her from his mind though, and while memories of his supposed true mate continue to fade into mere shadows, his one night with Mischa is blazingly strong. But they’re not of the same supernatural race, so there’s no way for a a true bond to exist between them.

Right?

When an old threat rips apart their pack, Maximus will come to realize that he would do anything to save Mischa. That the mate he thought was perfect and precious was nothing on the shifter he walked away from. Now Maximus truly has everything to lose.

More info on Goodreads....


Review: 

Broken Compass is the first novel in the Supernatural Prison spin-off series by Jaymin Eve that features Compass brother Maximus and wolf-shifter Mischa. Kicking off a new series of stories that will feature all remaining unmated Compass brothers (and Louis!) on their roads to happily ever after, Broken Compass is a fast paced, easily devourable read that fans of the original novels are sure to adore.

Vampire Maximus Compass was left broken after his mate was killed in the recent battle against the dragon king. Unable to cope with his loss Max chose to leave his home and those he loves to loose himself amongst his grief. Yet the more time passes the more his connection to his late mate seems to dissipate, leaving Max to wonder if the true mate connection he felt was even real at all. Wolf shifter Mischa Lebron has been through a lot recently and she has a lot of regrets where her actions were concerned, but the one thing she can’t regret is her one night with Max, even if he then went on to find his mate and turned away from her. Expecting his child certainly wasn’t the plan either, but with the birth looming closer, Mischa knows that sooner or later she will have to tell Max about the child she carries. Max’s guilt over the thoughts he has about Mischa consumes him; he’s struggling to recall his mate, but his time with Mischa blazes within his memory. They’re of different races and therefore  can’t be true mates but as their attraction burns stronger than ever, will Max and Mischa discover that they’re meant to be together after all?

Having enjoyed the initial series Supernatural Prison—after getting off to a shaky start—I was very excited about beginning Broken Compass. I honestly feel these books have just gotten better with each instalment and having followed Jessa for three tales, I was looking forward to following Mischa and Maximus for a little bit. And I was very satisfied with the results.

Set in the same world and told in the dual POV of both Mischa and Maximus, Broken Compass had a fresh feel but also included all the elements I enjoyed about the previous series as well as the characters I loved in the past. Unfolding in both main characters back and forth perspectives allowed for a well-rounded tale that gave me the chance to get to know both main characters in a way I really enjoyed. This wasn't the case in Supernatural Prison as we only followed Jessa and I do definitely prefer dual prospective where romance is concerned so Broken Compass appealed to me in this respect.

I found that I liked Mischa and Maximus more in Broken Compass than I have previously in any of the other books. Perhaps it’s that so much of their actions and attitudes were finally explained. They also both seem to have attitude adjustments and their ideas of what is important have changed. This made them much more likable characters in my eyes. Their relationship has grown and I very much enjoyed their connection.

Exciting and adorable at times, Broken Compass was a great read and concludes Mischa and Maximus's story beautifully. I can't wait to begin Tyson and Grace's story next and will be diving straight in and well as awaiting the day when I can get my hands on Louis and Jacob's stories too!

Rating: 
Source: Read via Kindle Unlimited (I also own a signed paperback copy)
Publisher: Published by author
Format: Kindle ebook
Release Date: August 21st 2016
Purchase: The Book Depository | Amazon | Barnes & Noble 
Final Thoughts: I really enjoyed this tale and will be keen to read the next one.

Waiting on Wednesday #247

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.....  

Soul in Darkness by Wendy Higgins 

Releases on: February 12th 2019

Add on Goodreads!

People travel from afar to the small isle in the Aegean Sea hoping for a single glimpse of Princess Psyche. Their adoration for the mortal woman is so all-consuming that citizens begin to shower her with the very gifts and offerings they once left at the alter of Venus, goddess of love and beauty.

But gods are known for their jealousy.

Cupid, the god of love, takes pleasure in causing strife and mischief in the lives of humans. He uses love as a weapon, humoring in the weakness of people at the whims of their feelings. When his mother Venus approaches him about punishing the human girl who dares to steal her offerings and affections from the people, Cupid gladly accepts.

Psyche's punishment is to be given to a mysterious creature who only comes to her in the dark of night under the pact that she will never lay eyes on him. She is terrified of this stranger, who the oracle described as a serpent. Her mate, however, is masterful in his dealings with his bride. He takes his time, morphing her fears into different sensations completely.

Based on the Roman/Greek mythology of Cupid and Psyche by Lucius Apuleius, New York Times bestseller Wendy Higgins brings the tale to life, weaving layers that show exactly how a sacrificial lamb can be enchanted by an unseen monster.

YA/adult crossover. Historical Fantasy. Standalone.

Thoughts:

Even though I've heard a lot of great things about her books, I'm yet to read anything by Wendy Higgins yet, but boys does this novel sounds great. Greek mythology is explored a lot in fiction recently but Cupid and Psyche is one of the tales that isn't really explored. I'm keen to see if this is as good as it sounds however! Oh and isn't that cover just to DIE FOR!?!

What do you think of  Soul in Darkness?

What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday #246

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.....    

Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard 

Releases on: February 12th 2019

Add on Goodreads!

Fans of Susan Dennard's New York Times bestselling Witchlands series have fallen in love with the Bloodwitch Aeduan. And now, finally, comes his story.

High in a snowy mountain range, a monastery that holds more than just faith clings to the side of a cliff. Below, thwarted by a lake, a bloodthirsty horde of raiders await the coming of winter and the frozen path to destroy the sanctuary and its secrets.

The Bloodwitch Aeduan has teamed up with the Threadwitch Iseult and the magical girl Owl to stop the destruction. But to do so, he must confront his own father, and his past.

Thoughts:

Bloodwitch is one of my most anticipated releases. February seems like sooooo far away but I can't wait until I can read Aeduan's story! I'm also super excited to see what our Australian cover looks like and how it fits in with the first two books!

Are you a fan of the Witchlands series?
And what are YOU waiting on this week?