Friday, September 29, 2017

The #FridayReads Review (9/29/17)



Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!


>> CURRENTLY READING <<
A Semi-Definitive List of Worst NightmaresThe Hollow Bettle (Poisons of Caux, #1)

A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares by Krystal Sutherland (ARC)
I've been craving light, simple reads of late and that typically means contemporaries, so I grabbed this purple pretty. Currently 45% through and while it does have some fun and snark that I'm enjoying, it also has a dark, somewhat unsettling side that I fear won't end well. Still, I'm invested enough to see it through.

Poisons of Crux: The Hollow Bettle by Susannah Appelbaum (PBK)
I'm currently out of sorts thanks to the season transition so due to a sudden desperate need for a young and magical read I pulled this randomly off the shelf. While normally I would've DNFd this wandering and non-linear story not 50 pages in (I think I actually did, long ago), for now I'm just enjoying the mindless magical adventure. 


>> DNF <<
Traveler (Traveler #1)
Traveler by L.E. DeLano (ARC)
DNF at Page 45. Another Swoon Reads bites the dust. *sigh* Despite the protagonist being a writer I just didn't connect with her, and although the alternate worlds premise was interesting I couldn't even get through the explanation of how they worked to reach the actual travelling into them. Mainly though the story didn't feel properly balanced, and I wasn't really fond of the writing style. Would recommend Claudia Gray's A Thousand Pieces of You instead.


>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<
(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)
Renegades (Renegades, #1)
Renegades by Marissa Meyer (ARC)
*FLAILS*


So what are you reading this week?

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

WoW: Heart of Iron (Ashley Poston) & Honor Among Thieves (Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blogging event in which one spotlights an upcoming release they are eagerly anticipating.

This week I have TWO pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" teen sci-fis from HarperCollins!


Heart of Iron
Title: Heart of Iron
Author: Ashley Poston
Release Date: February 27, 2018
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Summary:
Seventeen-year-old Ana is a scoundrel by nurture and an outlaw by nature. Found as a child drifting through space with a sentient android called D09, Ana was saved by a fearsome space captain and the grizzled crew she now calls family. But D09—one of the last remaining illegal Metals—has been glitching, and Ana will stop at nothing to find a way to fix him.

Ana’s desperate effort to save D09 leads her on a quest to steal the coordinates to a lost ship that could offer all the answers. But at the last moment, a spoiled Ironblood boy beats Ana to her prize. He has his own reasons for taking the coordinates, and he doesn’t care what he’ll sacrifice to keep them.

When everything goes wrong, she and the Ironblood end up as fugitives on the run. Now their entire kingdom is after them—and the coordinates—and not everyone wants them captured alive.

What they find in a lost corner of the universe will change all their lives—and unearth dangerous secrets. But when a darkness from Ana’s past returns, she must face an impossible choice: does she protect a kingdom that wants her dead or save the Metal boy she loves?

Why I'm Looking Forward To It: With a young "scoundrel and outlaw" female lead and sentient android sidekick (my catnip), what's not to look forward to? It's also supposed to be an Anastasia retelling, so of course I'm desperate to get my hands on this beauty!


Honor Among Thieves (The Honors, #1)
Title: Honor Among Thieves
Author: Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre
Release Date: February 13, 2018
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Summary:
Zara Cole has been in and out of New Detroit’s rehab facilities for treatment of her antisocial disorder. There’s no adjusting Zara’s attitude, though. A painful past has made her stronger than most, which is why she chose life in the Zone instead moving with her family to Mars. In her eyes, living inside a dome isn’t much better than a prison cell.

Still, when Zara commits a crime that has her running scared, jail might be exactly where she’s headed. Instead Zara is recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected by the Leviathan–a race of sentient alien ships—to explore the outer reaches of the universe as their passengers.

Zara seizes the chance to flee Earth’s dangers, but when she meets Nadim, the alien ship she’s assigned to along with fellow Honor Beatriz, Zara starts to feel at home for the first time, along with a devotion she’s never experienced before. Yet nothing—not her Honors training or her street smarts—could have prepared her for the dark, dangerous truths that lurk behind the glitter of starlight.

Honor Among Thieves is the first book in a daring new sci-fi series by bestselling authors Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre.

Why I'm Looking Forward To It: Two words: sentient spaceship!! Ever since I discovered Anne McCaffrey's The Ship Who Sang I've been impatiently waiting for an updated teen version. "Exploring the outer reaches of the universe" is also my favorite sci-fi premise, so I'm eager to read it ASAP!


So what book(s) are you waiting on?

Monday, September 25, 2017

Review: Murder, Magic, and What We Wore (Kelly Jones)

Murder, Magic, and What We Wore
Title: Murder, Magic, and What We Wore
Series: standalone
Author: Kelly Jones
Publisher: Knopf BYR
Release Date: September 19, 2017
Genre: Alternate Historical Mystery
Told: First Person (Annis), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (violence)
Format Read: ARC (publisher)
Find OnGoodreads
Purchase OnAmazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

The year is 1818, the city is London, and 16-year-old Annis Whitworth has just learned that her father is dead and all his money is missing. And so, of course, she decides to become a spy.

Annis always suspected that her father was himself a spy, and following in his footsteps to unmask his killer makes perfect sense. Alas, it does not make sense to England’s current spymasters—not even when Annis reveals that she has the rare magical ability to sew glamours: garments that can disguise the wearer completely.

Well, if the spies are too pigheaded to take on a young woman of quality, then Annis will take them on. And so she crafts a new double life for herself. Miss Annis Whitworth will appear to live a quiet life in a country cottage with her aunt, and Annis-in-disguise as Madame Martine, glamour artist, will open a magical dressmaking shop. That way she can earn a living, maintain her social standing, and, in her spare time, follow the coded clues her father left behind and unmask his killer.

It can’t be any harder than navigating the London social season, can it?


*          *          *

Review copy provided by publisher for an honest review. Thank you, Random House!


In a Sentence: A delightfully fun and fashionable alternate Regency mystery with an engaging story, endearing characters, and enchanting magic.

Regency fashion aficionados who also enjoy espionage and whimsical magic, you are in for a treat with Murder, Magic, and What We Wore! Outfitted with a cast of resourceful and talented females, this fast-paced intrigue was a delightful read with a light if predictable mystery, easy description and dialogue, and a thrilling, open end that left me wishing for a whole series.

While the historical intrigue was exciting and the understated magic a marvel, it was the enterprising female characters that really made the book shine. While Annis and Millie rather stumble into their amazing talents, the mastery of them doesn't come easy (well, at least for Annis), and their perseverance and hard work to make an independent living despite cultural setbacks made for a very engaging story. Skillful maid Millie, my favorite, was perhaps a little too good at most everything she set her hand to, but she was a perfect partner for fashionista Annis and I loved their occasionally inverted master-servant dynamic. I'd really like to see how their partnership will further develop and have my fingers crossed for at least a sequel featuring the dynamic duo and their international escapades.

Special Note: There are many fictional and historical cameos among the walk-ons in this book. If spotting them is your thing, be sure to peruse the Author's Note glossary at the back of the book before starting the story!

Conclusion: A delightful historical mystery with marvelous magic, intriguing espionage, and talented females. Keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel, or even a whole series! Highly recommend, especially for fans of Gail Carriger and Mary Robinette Kowal's Glamourist Histories series.


Scribble Rating
4.5 of 5 Scribbles


Friday, September 22, 2017

The #FridayReads Review (9/22/17)



Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!


>> CURRENTLY READING <<
Traveler (Traveler #1)
Traveler by L.E. DeLano (ARC)
Just starting this today. I haven't been having the best track record with Swoon Reads titles so I'm not expecting as much from this as I was before, but it still sounds like an interesting read so into the SR fray once more.


>> JUST FINISHED <<
Daughter of the Pirate King (Daughter of the Pirate King, #1)By Your Side

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller (ARC)
4 Stars. A quick and thoroughly entertaining pirate adventure with an easy writing style and truly kick-ass female protagonist. Wish I had the second book on hand! Review to come.

By Your Side by Kasie West (PBK)
3.5 Stars. Not quite as good as I'd been expecting given the partial library setting, but still a good teen contemporary romance as the female protagonist had an anxiety disorder I could relate to. Review to come.


>> DNF <<
You Don't Know My Name (The Black Angel Chronicles #1)Kat and Meg Conquer the World

You Don't Know My Name by Kristen Orlando (ARC)
DNF at Chapter 8. As much as I really wanted and expected to like this one, I found it dull. Other than a little spy training and mysterious vans there was very little going on in the first 80 pages other than "real" life, forcing A LOT of unnecessary filler description and movement to make up the word count. Although Reagan's skills were impressive, her personality and attitude weren't, and I never connected with her or really cared for her. I liked her friend Harper, and (no surprise) love interest Luke, but their relationships with Reagan weren't worth continuing the story - nor was the action that must have been coming, eventually. It was obvious from Chapter 1 that this is supposed to be predominantly a romance, and I like my spy stories to put the thrill first. I tried to read past Chapter 8 but found myself immediately skimming and then flipping whole pages, so as I really don't care what happens next or how it ends I'm passing on the rest.


Kat & Meg Conquer the World by Anna Priemaza (ARC)
DNF at Page 114. Although quirky Kat and Meg eventually grew on me (even Meg's rambling viewpoint), their prospective boyfriends were cute and funny, and there were a few LOL moments, the school project plot was too mundane to maintain my interest and it read more MG than YA which unbalanced Meg's occasional older teen actions. The OCD and ADHD depictions seemed realistic, and I'm sure many - especially teens - will really connect with Meg and Kat and the story, but personally I'm just not engaged enough to finish.


>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<
(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)
The Diabolic (The Diabolic #1)
The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid (ARC)
It's really about time I read this one. Keeping my fingers crossed I love it!


So what are you reading this week?

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Release Spotlight: Murder, Magic, and What We Wore (Kelly Jones) | A Poison Dark and Drowning (Jessica Cluess)


Today I spotlight an enchanting standalone, and a solid sequel!

The first is Murder, Magic, and What We Wore, a delightful alternate Regency mystery standalone by Kelly Jones. I thoroughly enjoyed the fun and fashionable read with its engaging story, endearing characters, and enchanting magic, and highly recommend it for fans of Gail Carriger and the Glamourist Histories series by Mary Robinette Kowal.

The second is the second book in the Kingdom on Fire series by Jessica Cluess: A Poison Dark and Drowning. I found it a solid and entertaining sequel with enchanting magic, vivid description, and dark twists (you can check out my 4 Scribble review here), and I look forward to the final book in the series with a little dread but great interest. Recommend for alternate historical horror fantasy lovers looking for a chilling and thrilling read.

If you haven't yet checked out these titles, see below for more info and order links!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Murder, Magic, and What We Wore
Title: Murder, Magic, and What We Wore
Author: Kelly Jones
Publisher: Knopf BYR
Release Date: 9/19/17

The year is 1818, the city is London, and 16-year-old Annis Whitworth has just learned that her father is dead and all his money is missing. And so, of course, she decides to become a spy.

Annis always suspected that her father was himself a spy, and following in his footsteps to unmask his killer makes perfect sense. Alas, it does not make sense to England’s current spymasters—not even when Annis reveals that she has the rare magical ability to sew glamours: garments that can disguise the wearer completely.

Well, if the spies are too pigheaded to take on a young woman of quality, then Annis will take them on. And so she crafts a new double life for herself. Miss Annis Whitworth will appear to live a quiet life in a country cottage with her aunt, and Annis-in-disguise as Madame Martine, glamour artist, will open a magical dressmaking shop. That way she can earn a living, maintain her social standing, and, in her spare time, follow the coded clues her father left behind and unmask his killer.

It can’t be any harder than navigating the London social season, can it?


Add to Goodreads

PURCHASE:
Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Book Depository


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Poison Dark and Drowning (Kingdom on Fire, #2)
Title: A Poison Dark and Drowning
Series: Kingdom on Fire #2
Author: Jessica Cluess
Publisher: Random House
Release Date: 9/19/17

The magicians want her to lead.
The sorcerers want her to lie.
The demons want her blood.
Henrietta wants to save the one she loves.
But will his dark magic be her undoing?

In this seductive and explosive second book in the Kingdom on Fire series, Jessica Cluess delivers her signature mix of magic, passion, and teen warriors fighting for survival. Hand to fans of Victoria Aveyard, Sarah J. Maas, and Kiersten White.

Henrietta doesn't need a prophecy to know that she's in danger. She came to London to be named the chosen one, the first female sorcerer in centuries, the one who would defeat the Ancients. Instead, she discovered a city ruled by secrets. And the biggest secret of all: Henrietta is not the chosen one.

Still, she must play the role in order to keep herself and Rook, her best friend and childhood love, safe. But can she truly save him? The poison in Rook's system is transforming him into something monstrous as he begins to master dark powers of his own. So when Henrietta finds a clue to the Ancients past that could turn the tide of the war, she persuades Blackwood, the mysterious Earl of Sorrow-Fell, to travel up the coast to seek out strange new weapons. And Magnus, the brave, reckless flirt who wants to win back her favor, is assigned to their mission. Together, they will face monsters, meet powerful new allies, and uncover the most devastating weapon of all: the truth.


Add to Goodreads

PURCHASE:
Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Book Depository

My Review


Check out the first book in the series!

A Shadow Bright and Burning (Kingdom on Fire, #1)
Book 1: A Shadow Bright & Burning

Friday, September 15, 2017

The #FridayReads Review (9/15/17)



Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!


>> CURRENTLY READING <<
You Don't Know My Name (The Black Angel Chronicles #1)No Plot? No Problem! Revised and Expanded Edition: A Low-stress, High-velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days

You Don't Know My Name by Kristen Orlando (ARC)
Decided to catch up on some early 2017 releases in case I want to request the sequels, and as this one has always looked awesome it was top of the pile. Just started it this morning so still on the Prologue, but so far so thrilling!

No Plot? No Problem! Revised by Chris Baty (PBK)
I'll be helping teens at my library with Nano this year so I'm brushing up on the basics! The original of this book was a lot of fun when I read it for my first Nano and I'm hoping it helps me recall what it's like to be a young writer again.


>> JUST FINISHED <<
Nyxia (The Nyxia Triad, #1)
Nyxia by Scott Reintgen (ARC)
3 Stars. An entertaining teen sci-fi thriller with an engrossing competition and relatable, diverse characters but extremely confusing description and WAY too many characters to keep straight. Review to come.


>> DNF <<
Warcross (Warcross, #1)The Young Elites (The Young Elites, #1)

Warcross by Marie Lu (ARC)
DNF at Chapter 3. I really wanted to love this one, and given the video game setup and Japanese elements I really should have. But the illogically ruled first chapter frustrated me, the wallowing and introspective second chapter was dull and heavy with description, and when the end of the second finally promised the world of Warcross but the third chapter began with even more reminiscence instead, I just couldn't force myself to read any more. Perhaps I'll try it again some day - I did love Legend back when it released - but as I also recently tried and failed with The Young Elites as well, I doubt it.


The Young Elites by Marie Lu (ARC)
DNF at Page 45. I was warned a while ago that this may be too dark a read for me, but while it does have dark and somewhat disturbing elements, I found it rather dull and unengaging. The story claims an interesting premise with interesting magic, but Adelina's magic was extremely confusing as described in action, and I found Adelina and her desperate situation uninteresting. I loved Legend back when it released, but as I just DNFd Warcross as well it appears I've grown out of Marie Lu's style.


>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<
(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)
Daughter of the Pirate King (Daughter of the Pirate King, #1)
Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller (ARC)
Next on the early 2017 release pile. I've heard great things, so while pirates aren't typically my read I'll give it a try.


So what are you reading this week?

Monday, September 11, 2017

Blog Tour Review: A Poison Dark & Drowning (Jessica Cluess) + Giveaway


Welcome to the first stop on the blog tour for A Poison Dark and Drowning, the second book in the Kingdom on Fire series by Jessica Cluess from Random House! I found the first book, A Shadow Bright and Burning, an engrossing and enchanting read (you can peruse my full review here), so I am excited to start off the tour for the second book! Check out my review of A Poison Dark and Drowning below, and enter to win a shiny finished copy at the end!


A Poison Dark and Drowning (Kingdom on Fire, #2)
Title: A Poison Dark and Drowning
Series: Kingdom on Fire, Book 2
Author: Jessica Cluess
Publisher: Random House
Release Date: September 19, 2017
Genre: Young Adult Alternate Historical Horror Fantasy
Told: First Person (Henrietta), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (scary situations, some gore, magical battles, some sensuality)
Format Read: ARC (publisher)
Find OnGoodreads
Purchase OnAmazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

The magicians want her to lead.
The sorcerers want her to lie.
The demons want her blood.
Henrietta wants to save the one she loves.
But will his dark magic be her undoing?

In this seductive and explosive second book in the Kingdom on Fire series, Jessica Cluess delivers her signature mix of magic, passion, and teen warriors fighting for survival. Hand to fans of Victoria Aveyard, Sarah J. Maas, and Kiersten White.

Henrietta doesn't need a prophecy to know that she's in danger. She came to London to be named the chosen one, the first female sorcerer in centuries, the one who would defeat the Ancients. Instead, she discovered a city ruled by secrets. And the biggest secret of all: Henrietta is not the chosen one.

Still, she must play the role in order to keep herself and Rook, her best friend and childhood love, safe. But can she truly save him? The poison in Rook's system is transforming him into something monstrous as he begins to master dark powers of his own. So when Henrietta finds a clue to the Ancients' past that could turn the tide of the war, she persuades Blackwood, the mysterious Earl of Sorrow-Fell, to travel up the coast to seek out strange new weapons. And Magnus, the brave, reckless flirt who wants to win back her favor, is assigned to their mission. Together, they will face monsters, meet powerful new allies, and uncover the most devastating weapon of all: the truth.


*          *          *

Review copy provided by publisher for an honest review. Thank you, Random House!


In a Sentence:  A solid and entertaining sequel with enchanting magic, vivid description, and dark twists.

Series Note: This is the second book in the Kingdom on Fire series. I re-read the first book, A Shadow Bright and Burning, right before reading this sequel. You can check out my review of the first book here.

After quite enjoying A Shadow Bright & Burning last year, I was eager to get my hands on the sequel and continue Henrietta's endeavors to control her powers and defeat the horrific Ancients that terrorize her alternate historical England. A Poison Dark & Drowning opens some two months after the end of the first book, with Henrietta settling into her secondary Sorcerer training and required duties. Determined to learn more about the otherworldly Ancients, her investigations soon lead her to a mysterious and magical house in search of weapons that could possibly turn the tide of the war. But as Henrietta and her companions struggle to wield the unnatural tools, information about the Ancients' origins as well as Henrietta's past and connection to them is uncovered, revealing dark and painful truths that may destroy them all.

This was a solid middle book with vivid description and a good pace. The first few chapters were a little quiet as we delved more into the Sorcerers' world, but things quickly picked up as the team began to reassemble and travel and soon there was plenty of action and tension and mystery to engross me. As with the first book a lot of the twists were generally predictable, but a few did take me by surprise, especially one complete shock near the climax whose fallout I enjoyed right to the end. The action finished a little too early for me leaving the last few chapters a bit sedate, but they wove a disquieting hopefulness for the final book that has me looking forward to the series end with a little dread but great interest. While I still hold to a few small unresolved predictions, given the surprising dark turns of the first two books I'm excited to say I really don't know what to expect with the third.

Henrietta continued to be the powerful but floundering girl of the first book, inexperienced and unsure how to proceed but desperate to do something to save those she cared about. Her fumbled failures - and even successes - tended to mire everyone deeper into trouble and tragedy, but for the most part her heart was in the right place and her fierce loyalty to Rook was commendable. The unfortunate first-book love triangle grew into an uncomfortable second-book square as a new and possessive prospect threw his hat into Henrietta's ring. Due to an unsettling personality turn, and my still firmly held predictions about him, I didn't like his addition even more than Marcus, so all his romantic overtures were rather hard for me to read. I also didn't like Henrietta's reaction to his advances (or to Marcus's before) as every time a boy shows her a hint of affection our strong heroine goes weak in the knees and questions her feelings for the one she really loves. I guess it could be considered realistic given her childhood insecurities and the mountain of pressure she's under, but I felt sorry for Rook being in love with an unassured girl like Henrietta. Still, despite serious spoilers, I will continue to root for Henrook (Rooketta?) to the series end.

Conclusion: A solid second book with good tension, interesting magic, and a few surprising plot twists, even if other twists were predictable and I had problems with the romance. Not much is currently predictable about the final book, so I will be going into it with definite excitement!

Scribble Rating
4 of 5 Scribbles




Jessica Cluess is a writer, a graduate of Northwestern University, and an unapologetic nerd. After college, she moved to Los Angeles, where she served coffee to the rich and famous while working on her first novel. When she’s not writing books, she’s an instructor at Writopia Lab, helping kids and teens tell their own stories.



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Friday, September 8, 2017

The #FridayReads Review (9/8/17)



Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!


>> CURRENTLY READING <<
Nyxia (The Nyxia Triad, #1)
Nyxia by Scott Reintgen (ARC)
The author is coming to my local indie this month so I gave it a try and was surprised by now engrossed I quickly found myself. There are WAY too many characters to keep straight and the competition is nothing new, but the forefront characters are interesting and memorable and the story and mystery are engaging. Currently 70% through.


>> JUST FINISHED <<
A Poison Dark and Drowning (Kingdom on Fire, #2)Murder, Magic, and What We Wore

A Poison Dark & Drowning by Jessica Cluess (ARC)
4 Stars. A solid and magical second book with good tension and a few surprisingly dark plot twists, even if most of the other twists were highly predictable. I did have some minor problems with the somewhat unbalanced Henrietta and the romance, but otherwise it was an entertaining read and I really look forward to the final book next year. Review to come this Monday.

Murder, Magic, & What We Wore by Kelly Jones (ARC)
4.5 Stars. 2nd read for the review and still a delightfully fun and fashionable alternate Regency mystery with marvelous magic and intriguing espionage for fans of Gail Carriger and the Glamourist Histories by Mary Robinette Kowal! Review to come later this month.


>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<
(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)
Warcross (Warcross, #1)
Warcross by Marie Lu (ARC)
Had to set this aside for a bit after the illogically ruled first chapter infuriated me, but I'll try to continue/finish it before I see the author later this month.


So what are you reading this week?