Waiting on Wednesday (128)

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How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories

The Folk of the Air Series

By: Holly Black

Release Date: November 24, 2020

Publisher: Little Brown Books

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Book Synopsis:

An illustrated addition to the New York Times bestselling Folk of Air trilogy, that started with The Cruel Prince, from award-winning author Holly Black. 

An irresistible return to the captivating world of Elfhame. 

Once upon a time, there was a boy with a wicked tongue. 

Before he was a cruel prince or a wicked king, he was a faerie child with a heart of stone . #1 New York Times bestselling author, Holly Black reveals a deeper look into the dramatic life of Elfhame’s enigmatic high king, Cardan. This tale includes delicious details of life before The Cruel Prince, an adventure beyond The Queen of Nothing, and familiar moments from The Folk of the Air trilogy, told wholly from Cardan’s perspective. 

This new installment in the Folk of the Air series is a return to the heart-racing romance, danger, humor, and drama that enchanted readers everywhere. Each chapter is paired with lavish and luminous full-color art, making this the perfect collector’s item to be enjoyed by both new audiences and old.

Why I'm Eagerly Waiting:

I love beautiful books, and I can just imagine the beauty and whimsy that will be crafted for this illustrated guide!  I have enjoyed this series immensely, and am looking for any excuse to dive right back in to this enchanting, adventurous, and magical world!

What are you waiting on?

Book Review: Rage and Ruin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Rage and Ruin
By: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Release Date: June 9, 2020
Publisher: Inkyard Press
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Source: A finished copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review

Book Summary:

Dangerous secrets and forbidden desires lead to shocking consequences… Don’t miss book two of the fantastical Harbinger trilogy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout.

“Jennifer L. Armentrout’s intoxicating new fantasy is her best yet!” —New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter on Storm and Fury

Half-angel Trinity and her bonded gargoyle protector, Zayne, have been working with demons to stop the apocalypse while avoiding falling in love. The Harbinger is coming…but who or what is it? All of humankind may fall if Trinity and Zayne can’t win the race against time as dark forces gather.

As tensions rise, they must stay close together and patrol the DC streets at night, seeking signs of the Harbinger, an entity that is killing Wardens and demons with no seeming rhyme or reason. Forbidden to be with each other, Zayne and Trinity fight their feelings and turn to unusual sources for help—the demon Roth and his cohorts. But as deaths pile up and they uncover a sinister plot involving the local high school and endangering someone dear to Zayne, Trin realizes she is being led…herded…played for some unknown end. As anger builds and feelings spiral out of control, it becomes clear that rage may be the ruin of them all. 

My Thoughts:

Rage in Ruin is the sequel to Storm and Fury, the second book in The Harbinger Series; a spinoff of The Dark Elements Trilogy! With every book she writes, Jennifer L. Armentrout cements my love for her storytelling. She has a way of completely pulling a reader in to a story. She evokes so much passion, emotion, excitement, and entertainment with her gift. I always feel like I become a part of her stories, as they completely consume me and take on a life of their own. 

Rage and Ruin was phenomenal! Zayne and Trinity are in an interesting predicament. They are forbidden to be with one another. So as they live, train, and hunt for the Harbinger together, they must constantly resist the temptation of their mutual growing attraction and feelings for one another.

I loved getting a different side of Zayne in this book. While I loved him in The Dark Elements Trilogy, I thought he lacked the same palpable passion that Roth had for Layla, which is what made me Team Roth in that series. While Zayne is a nice guy, and a fierce protector, I enjoyed seeing so much more passion and carnality to his character in this book. I loved watching him lose control of himself, as he become more passionate about Trinity! The way she pushed his buttons, and these two played off of one another had me giddy! Zayne was sweet and gently, but also passionate, seductive, and protective. Trinity was so strong, brave, independent, and loyal. She had a never quit attitude, and didn't want to rely on others. 

Zayne and Trinity had such a passionate and emotional love story! I cried and felt so many raw emotions when reading this installment. To top it off, I got an exciting plot full of surprises, twists, and action. Add in a cast of magnificent supporting characters, and you have a five star read! Roth and Peanut both kept me entertained, and laughing! Roth's loyalty, and devotion to have his friends back continues to make him a favorite character of mine.

I'd be doing a disservice if I didn't mention the epic ending to this installment. JLA put me through the wringer with non-stop action, crazy surprises and twists, as well as breaking my heart in two, as I cried my eyes out, and then offering more surprises, and a starburst of shock and hope! Now, we know who the Harbinger is, and one thing is for certain, the stakes are higher than ever! I can't wait to see how everything plays out in the final book, and in the meantime, I'm emotionally exhausted, and left reeling from the best kind of book hangover, which is the mark of having read an exceptional story!

Purchase:

Amazon | Audible | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

About the Author:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. 

Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins. 

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Blog Tour: Crave (Crave #1) by Tracy Wolff

Crave
Crave #1

By: 
Tracy Wolff

Publisher:
Entangled Teen

Published:
April 7, 2020

Source:
ARC from the publisher via FFBC 

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Goodreads

Book Synopsis:

My whole world changed when I stepped inside the academy. Nothing is right about this place or the other students in it. Here I am, a mere mortal among gods…or monsters. I still can’t decide which of these warring factions I belong to, if I belong at all. I only know the one thing that unites them is their hatred of me.

Then there’s Jaxon Vega. A vampire with deadly secrets who hasn’t felt anything for a hundred years. But there’s something about him that calls to me, something broken in him that somehow fits with what’s broken in me.

Which could spell death for us all.

Because Jaxon walled himself off for a reason. And now someone wants to wake a sleeping monster, and I’m wondering if I was brought here intentionally—as the bait. 

  

My Thoughts:

Crave was a book that immediately pulled me in.  In a challenging time where reading, watching tv, or focusing on any other enjoyable activity feels impossible, this story was the escape that I desperately needed.  

Grace has been forced to leave San Diego, after her parents were killed in a car accident.  Now she's moved to Alaska to attend Katmere Academy, where her Uncle Finn is the headmaster.  Things don't go so well when Grace arrives.  While she's impressed by the architecture of her boarding school, which resembles  an elaborate gothic castle, she gets severely ill with altitude sickness, isn't received well by most of the other students, and finds her life in danger too many times to count!

Her cousin Macy, also her new roommate, goes out of her way to try to make Grace feel welcome, but the rude, brooding, and gorgeous Jaxon Vega, comes off as cold, as he warns her that she needs to leave, because she isn't safe at Katmere. Then there's Flint, who is Jackson's opposite in every way, from his warmth, to his flirty and teasing manner.  He makes Macy comfortable, but doesn't make her heart beat or her stomach flutter the way Jackson does.  One thing is for certain, the students at Katmere Academy are very different from Grace...

Fans of the Twilight franchise, as well as the Lux franchise, are going to love this story.  We have Grace and Jaxon, two characters full of combustible chemistry, that will leave you giddy and spellbound at their every interaction. Crave is told exclusively through Grace's eyes, and I enjoyed her viewpoint.  We see Jaxon start off as a bit cold, but he still goes out of his way to protect Grace right from the very beginning of this story, and it was an Edward and Bella type of Twilight dynamic.

Ms. Wolff did a great job of entertaining me throughout the entire story.  The pacing was perfect!  For being a 592 page book, this story flew by!  The characters were fascinating, and I enjoyed the air of mystery that surrounded them all, as well as trying to guess at what kind of paranormal being they were. There was such a fun and eclectic variety too; with vampires, witches, and dragon and wolf shifters!  

Crave was such a high energy read!  Bookworms are going to love the book and movie quote references, the romance, magic, danger, and lure of a book full of exciting magical paranormal creatures. If you are looking for light, entertaining, and exciting, then look no further for the perfect reading escape!

Book Quotes:

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Google | Kobo

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Tracy Wolff wrote her first short story—something with a rainbow and a prince—in second grade, around the same time she forayed into the wonderful world of girls lit with her first Judy Blume novel. By ten she’d read everything in the young adult and classics sections of her local bookstore, so in desperation her mom started her on romance novels. And from the first page of the first book, Tracy knew she’d found her life-long love. A one-time English professor with over fifty novels to her name, she now devotes most of her time to writing romance and dreaming up heroes. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her family.

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Giveaway:

Prize: Win a copy of CRAVE by Tracy Wolff (US Only)

Starts: 7th April 2020

Ends: 21st April 2020

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Blog Tour Hosted By:

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Waiting on Wednesday (118)

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Crave

By: Tracy Wolf

Release Date: April 7, 2020

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Add to Goodreads

Book Summary:

My whole world changed when I stepped inside the academy. Nothing is right about this place or the other students in it. Here I am, a mere mortal among gods…or monsters. I still can’t decide which of these warring factions I belong to, if I belong at all. I only know the one thing that unites them is their hatred of me.

Then there’s Jaxon Vega. A vampire with deadly secrets who hasn’t felt anything for a hundred years. But there’s something about him that calls to me, something broken in him that somehow fits with what’s broken in me.

Which could spell death for us all.

Because Jaxon walled himself off for a reason. And now someone wants to wake a sleeping monster, and I’m wondering if I was brought here intentionally—as the bait.

Why I'm Eagerly Waiting:

Crave reminds me of why I got in to young adult paranormal.  It makes me think of The Vampire Academy Series, and Bloodlines Series which are two of my favorite young adult paranormal series.' I love when the young adult setting is a school, and this story sounds like it's going to be packed with danger, magic, and romance! 

What are you waiting on?

Waiting on Wednesday (117)

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The Glass Queen

The Forest of Good and Evil #2

By: Gena Showalter

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Release Date: July 28, 2020

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Book Summary:

Dare to enter the Forest of Good and Evil, where strength is weakness and weakness is strength. Don’t miss book two of New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter’s magical, romantic and fascinating fairy-tale series, in which the fairy tales we know and love are prophecies of the future… 

Pitied. 

Sickly. 

Unfit to rule. 

Princess Ashleigh Charmaine is known as the Glass Princess, fragile enough to shatter with a whisper of wind. Born with a weak heart, she dreams of being treated like anyone else. Unlike her headstrong sisters, she received no magical ability at birth and lives every day expecting to die. Until an oracle announces that Ashleigh is fated to play the part of Cinderella, wed a handsome royal and save the Kingdom of Sevon from the evil king and queen who once ruled the land.

As war rages, Ashleigh begins to doubt her role in the fairy-tale prophecy. Animals despise her, she can’t carry a merry tune and she has zero social graces. Worse, the king she’s supposed to enchant is the newly crowned sovereign of the winged warriors known as the Avian…and he despises her, too. 

When Ashleigh develops a terrifying magical ability to commune with dragons and create fire from air—a power she cannot control—she must work with King Saxon to save their kingdoms and their lives. By the stroke of midnight, she must warm his icy heart…or forever break her own. Will Ashleigh ever become the queen she’s prophesied to be…or will she lose everything she’s come to love?

Why I'm Eagerly Waiting:

I read the first book in this series, The Evil Queen and loved it!  So, I am excited to read the rest of this series.  I enjoy a good fairytale retelling.  The Evil Queen was based on Snow White, and The Glass Queen is based on Cinderella.  I can't even express how excited I will be to have this book in my hand!

What are you waiting on?

Book Review: Glow of the Fireflies by Lindsey Duga

Glow of the Fireflies
By: Lindsey Duga
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release Date: October 1, 2019
Source: eARC from the publisher in exchange for a honest review
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Briony never planned to go back to the place she lost everything.

Firefly Valley, nestled deep within the Smoky Mountains, is better kept in her past. After an unexplained fire gave Briony amnesia, her mother disappeared and her dad moved them to Knoxville.

But now her grandmother needs a caretaker and Briony's dad volunteers her to help. The moment she returns, her whole world shifts. She feels a magical connection to this valley, as if it's literally part of her somehow.

And when she meets a hot guy who claims he was her childhood friend but now mysteriously keeps his distance, Briony starts piecing together her missing past...and discovers her mother didn't leave to start a new life somewhere. She's trapped in the hidden world within the valley.

Now, Briony will do whatever it takes to rescue her, even if it means standing up against dangerously powerful nature spirits. Even if it means giving up her first love.

My Thoughts:

Glow of the Fireflies was a unique, and adventurous fantasy.  It was simplistic and imaginative. This story is perfect for middle schoolers.  I loved the vivid imagery that Lindsey Duga crafted with the setting of Firefly Valley.  I could clearly see the Smoky Mountains, the wisps, the animal spirits, and all of nature.

Briony has both literal and metaphorical scars from a fire that occurred in her old home in the Smoky Mountains.  She suffered amnesia after the incident and can't remember her past.  Shortly after, her mother left and Briony always blamed herself; thinking that it was because her mother couldn't handle her amnesiac condition.  

Briony's father moved them to Knoxville, but after her maternal grandmother needs a caretaker, she is tasked with returning to the Smoky Mountains.  She meets the gorgeous and mysterious Alder, and together, they are about to embark on a perilous journey to rescue her mother from a dangerous nature spirit...

Glow of the Fireflies had beautiful and descriptive writing.  The pacing was moderate, and I loved the main characters Briony, and Alder.  Briony persevered against all of her obstacles and never even thought of giving up when circumstances were at their bleakest.  I loved Alder, because he was loyal, heroic, sweet, and willing to sacrifice himself for Briony.  He encompassed unconditional love, and gave me all of the feels.  My only critique of the story was that I expected the plot to be a little more layered, and complex.  Like I said, it was a pretty simple story, and I think it would be perfect for middle schoolers.

If you are an animal and nature lover, and enjoy a unique and imaginative story with lovable characters, adventure, and beautiful visuals, I highly recommend Glow of the Fireflies!

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound | TBD

About the Author:

Lindsey Duga is a middle grade and young adult writer with a passion for fantasy, science fiction, and basically any genre that takes you away from the real world. She wrote her first novel in college while she was getting her bachelor’s in Mass Communication from Louisiana State University.

Other than writing and cuddling with her morkie puppy, Delphi, Lindsey loves catching up on the latest superhero TV show and practicing yoga.

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Book Review: The Evil Queen (The Forest of Good and Evil #1) by Gena Showalter

The Evil Queen
The Forest of Good and Evil #1
By: Gena Showalter
Release Date: June 25, 2019
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: eArc from publisher for honest review
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Welcome to the Forest of Good and Evil. A dream come true, and a living nightmare. 

Evil isn’t born, it’s made. One thought and action at a time. Take a good look at what you’ve made. 

Far, far away, in the realm of Enchantia, creatures of legend still exist, magic is the norm and fairy tales are real. Except, fairy tales aren’t based on myths and legends of the past—they are prophecies of the future. 

Raised in the mortal realm, Everly Morrow has no idea she’s a real life fairy tale princess—until she manifests an ability to commune with mirrors. 

Look. See… What will one peek hurt? 

Soon, a horrifying truth is revealed. She is fated to be Snow White’s greatest enemy, the Evil Queen. 

With powers beyond her imagination or control—and determined to change Fate itself—Everly returns to the land of her birth. There, she meets Roth Charmaine, the supposed Prince Charming. Their attraction is undeniable, but their relationship is doomed. 

As bits and pieces of the prophecy unfold, Everly faces one betrayal after another, and giving in to her dark side proves more tempting every day. Can she resist, or will she become the queen—and villain—she was born to be?

My Thoughts:

The Evil Queen was a thrilling and adventurous page-turner, that I didn't want to stop reading, for even a moment.  For being over five hundred pages long, this story didn't lull or have any boring parts!  The characters and plot kept me on my toes, and made the story fly by!  

Ms. Showalter delivered a unique and enthralling Snow White retelling, where fairytale is prophecy, and our main character has to figure out which role she will play.  Everly Morrow strongly believes that her destiny is to be that of the Evil Queen. 

The author whisked me away to Enchantia, a beautiful, but dangerous place.  The imagery of the enchanted forest was magical.  The descriptions of the characters and animals were so vivid that I could see them perfectly and their unique personalities emanated from every page.   I loved being inside of Everly's head.  At certain times I connected with her, and with all that happened to her, I could see how it could lead to her becoming the evil queen, but hoped that she would find a way to be better than everyone expected her to be.  I loved reading about her powers of sorcery and all that she could do.  

Roth, Everly's love interest, was a total alpha male.  The dynamic between these two was sexy, flirty, and intense at times.  He was highly loved and respected by his people,.  There were parts of him that I loved, and some decisions that he made that really frustrated me.  Roth was battle worn, and very stoic.  I loved how Everly brought out a less serious side in him.

All of the secondary characters were so much fun to read about.  We got a witch, an oracle, and various family members that were a part of the Snow White Prophecy.  I enjoyed getting to know all of these characters, and reading about all of their magical abilities.  Along the way we encountered fairies, trolls, sirens, and a variety of other mythical creatures!

I contemplated the real life parallels that Ms. Showalter addressed.  As we go through life, at some point we will encounter rejection, betrayal, tragedy, and grief.  We have free choice. We can become bitter, selfish, and angry, or we can pick ourselves up, and strive to accomplish positive growth, learn important life lessons, and become the best version of ourselves.

Everything in The Evil Queen fascinated me, from the setting, to the characters, to wanting to know who was who in the prophecy, and how everything would play out.  Ms. Showalter shows readers that people are complex and aren't usually all of one thing.  At different times and under different circumstances, each of us could fulfill the essence of what it means to be Snow White, The Evil Queen, The Huntsman, or one of the seven protectors.  Important themes and questions such as how much of our life is destiny, and how much of what happens is based on our free will, and the decisions that we make, had me in deep thought.  Self-fulfilling Prophecy was something I heavily pondered as well.

I am thrilled that this book in the first in The Forest of Good and Evil Series.  In the story, we learned that in different lands, different fairytale prophecies were playing out, such as Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid.  I can't wait to continue this series and read each of these fairytale retellings.

If you are looking for a magical journey, where you are transported to a different place, this is the story for you.  If you are a reader, who enjoys a unique  and romantic fairytale retelling with a twist, a beautiful setting, fascinating characters, and an addictive plot, I highly recommend you read, The Evil Queen by Gena Showalter.

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound | TBD 

About the Author:

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the spellbinding Lords of the Underworld, Otherworld Assassins, and Angels of the Dark series, as well as two young adult series--Everlife and the White Rabbit Chronicles--and the highly addictive Original Heartbreakers series. 

In addition to being a National Reader's Choice and two time RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan (Red Hot Read) and Seventeen magazine. She was interviewed on Nightline and has been mentioned in Orange is the New Black. Her books have been translated in multiple languages. 

She’s hard at work on her next novel, a tale featuring an alpha male with a dark side and the strong woman who brings him to his knees. Check back often to learn more about Gena, her menagerie of rescue dogs, and all her upcoming books.

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