Waiting On Wednesday: This Golden Flame (Emily Victoria)

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

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Title: This Golden Flame

Author: Emily Victoria

Release Date: February 2, 2021
Publisher: Inkyard Press

Summary:

Flee across the sun-and-shadow islands of Eratia, where runes have the power to unleash monsters…

Seven years ago, Karis was forced to become an acolyte for the Scriptorium, the rune scholars who rule Eratia. For centuries, these Scriptmasters have sought the key to reanimating the country’s fearsome automaton army, and anyone they deem unable to help them achieve their goal is sent away…including Karis’s brother, Matthias.

Then Karis discovers a unique human-sized automaton and unintentionally wakes him up. Intelligent, with a conscience of his own, Alix has no idea why he was created. Or why his father—Eratia’s greatest traitor—once tried to destroy the automatons.

Upon learning Matthias is being held by the Scriptorium’s sinister leader, Alix and Karis set out to rescue him and uncover the truth about Alix’s past. But when Karis is faced with an unthinkable choice, betraying everyone she cares about may be her only desperate chance to save their world.

Add to Goodreads

Why I'm Looking Forward To It:  Asexual female MC + sentient male automaton + script magic = a me book, no question!

What book are you waiting on this week?

The #FridayReads Review (7/7/17)

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 <<

Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (PBK)

Now over 70% through and very surprised to rediscover just how different the movie is - several lesser subplots in the book were played up in the movie, and Umbridge isn't nearly as skin-crawling in the book (Imelda Staunton did an amazing job). While I'm of course enjoying the magical re-read (despite Angry Harry), I'm definitely looking forward to returning to shorter books soon.

R.O.D.: Read or Dream Series by Kurata & Ayanaga (PBK)
Another 4-volume series on the maybe pile of my purge. The anime is one of my all-time favorites - paper magic is just so me! While definitely not as good as the anime, it has some great original plots so currently on the fence.


>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody (ARC)

I'm not quite sure if this is going to be my kind of read, but it sounds very imaginative and I won an ARC so I'll give it a try.

So what are you reading this week?

Paragraph Reviews: The Shadow Society (Marie Rutkoski) | Countdown (Michelle Rowen)

Title: The Shadow Society
Series: standalone
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Release Date: October 16, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Science Fiction
Told: First Person (Darcy), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (violence, minor torture, some sensuality, a few words of language)
Format Read: ARC (trade)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

Darcy Jones doesn't remember anything before the day she was abandoned as a child outside a Chicago firehouse. She has never really belonged anywhere—but she couldn't have guessed that she comes from an alternate world where the Great Chicago Fire didn't happen and deadly creatures called Shades terrorize the human population.

Memories begin to haunt Darcy when a new boy arrives at her high school, and he makes her feel both desire and desired in a way she hadn't thought possible. But Conn's interest in her is confusing. It doesn't line up with the way he first looked at her.

As if she were his enemy.

When Conn betrays Darcy, she realizes that she can't rely on anything—not herself, not the laws of nature, and certainly not him. Darcy decides to infiltrate the Shadow Society and uncover the Shades' latest terrorist plot. What she finds out will change her world forever . . .

In this smart, compulsively readable novel, master storyteller Marie Rutkoski has crafted an utterly original world, characters you won't soon forget, and a tale full of intrigue and suspense.

*          *          *

This book turned out to be nothing like what I expected going in. I hadn't been impressed with The Winner's Curse so I didn't expect much of this earlier work, but it was surprisingly quite good! Although it began with the extremely overused "girl who appears normal but has a dark secret is drawn to a new mysterious boy at school" opening, after some rather shocking violence and alternate world twists it turned out to be an exciting read with engaging intrigue and action and a really strong female lead. I even rather liked the romance - messy and somewhat intense with a lot of baggage though it was - which is rare for me. The writing wasn't too descriptive with good dialogue and banter, and while not particularly visual I didn't have much difficulty following the movement. If I think about it too hard the parallel universes and Shades didn't make complete sense - neither are explained in great detail, and what details we did get were vague and kind of waved off for the sake of the plot - but it was an interesting and unique idea. Recommend for Contemporary Science Fiction readers as long as they're willing to let the setting slide and just enjoy the story.

Scribble Rating: 

4 of 5 Scribbles

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

Title: Countdown

Series: standalone

Author: Michelle Rowen

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: October 1, 2013

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Thriller

Told: First Person (Kira), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (violence, sensuality, some language, life/death situations)
Format Read: Paperback (purchase)

Find On: Goodreads

Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Summary:

3 seconds left to live. Once the countdown starts, it cannot be stopped. 

2 pawns thrown into a brutal underground reality game. 

Kira Jordan survived her family's murder and months on plague-devastated city streets with hard-won savvy and a low-level psi ability. She figures she can handle anything. Until she wakes up in a barren room, chained next to the notorious Rogan Ellis. 

1 reason Kira will never, ever trust Rogan. Even though both their lives depend on it. 

Their every move is controlled and televised for a vicious exclusive audience. And as Kira's psi skill unexpectedly grows and Rogan's secrets prove evermore deadly, Kira's only chance of survival is to risk trusting him as much as her instincts. Even if that means running head-on into the one trap she can't escape. 

GAME OVER

*          *          *

With its surprise Psi abilities, advanced AI, and dystopian world, this book was nothing like the straight thriller I anticipated. Middling characters and a subpar world left me wanting, and when the deadly game I was reading for ended with still over 100 pages to go I found what little interest I had floundering in too long a rest and romantics period before the teens headed off to "save the world." At Page 245 (of 367), after not picking the book up for almost a week I started a new book instead and pretty much threw in the towel, but after skimming the last chapter I gave it a few weeks distance and then decided I was curious enough to polish it off. Overall not quite engaging enough for my tastes, but lovers of teen dystopian thrillers might enjoy it as a guilty pleasure read.

Scribble Rating: 

2 of 5 Scribbles

The #FridayReads Review (1/6/17)

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 <<

The Alchemists of Loom by Elise Kova (ARC)
I really thought I'd love this one, but so far this fantasy is a little too fantastical for my brain to wrap around, and with three narrators (soon to be four, or is it five?) the timeline is skewing and I'm getting confused. This is my first Kova book though and wow, what an imagination! In late December I set it aside to finish two other novels I'd started before it (see Just Finished below), but now they're finished and I'm back to this today - fingers crossed I connect with it better this time around!

>> JUST FINISHED <<

Prophecy by Ellen Oh (PBK)
3 Stars. A fast and relatively entertaining young teen fantasy with an interesting Asian base. The pretty standard fantasy plot made the story highly predictable and the minimalist action was difficult to follow and left me wanting, but it had decent characters and a quick pace. Would recommend as a guilty pleasure read, and imagine the entire trilogy could be effortlessly binged. I do have the second book on hand, but this first book wrapped up nicely enough that I might just leave the story here, we'll see.

Countdown by Michelle Rowen (PBK)
2 Stars. With surprise Psi abilities, advanced AI, and a dystopian world, this book was nothing like the straight thriller I anticipated. Middling characters and a subpar world left me wanting, and when the deadly game I was reading for ended with still over 100 pages to go I found what little interest I had floundering in too long a rest and romantics period before the teens headed off to "save the world." At Page 245 (of 367), after not picking the book up for almost a week I started a new book instead and pretty much threw in the towel, but after skimming the last chapter I gave it a few weeks distance and then decided I was curious enough to polish it off. Overall not quite engaging enough for my tastes, but lovers of teen dystopian thrillers might enjoy it as a guilty pleasure read.

In/Spectre vol. 1 by Kyo Shirodaira & Chashiba Katase (PBK)
3 Stars. A very interesting premise I haven't come across before, but extremely wordy and drawn out - almost the entire volume read like a prologue. Might try the second if it's more action than dialogue, although while I loved the premise the series plot is so-so so far.


>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

Tsubasa: World Chronicle: Niraikanai vol. 3 by CLAMP (PBK)
After a bit of a slump I'm back into manga again! Looks like this is the last volume, so I'm thinking I may re-read the first two volumes first and try for a review? We'll see.

So what are you reading this week?

2016 End of Year Book Survey

It's time for the 2016 End of Year Book Survey hosted by The Perpetual Page-Turner!

Number Of Books You Read: 186
Number of Re-Reads: 9 novels (?? manga)
Genre You Read The Most From: YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy

1. Best Book You Read In 2016?

YOUNG ADULT: Starflight by Melissa Landers (review)
MIDDLE GRADE: The Scrivener's Bones [Alcatraz #2] by Brandon Sanderson
[NEW] ADULT: Imprudence by Gail Carriger
NON-FICTION: The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey
MANGA: Horimiya vol. 1 by Hero & Daisuke Hagiwara

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

The Continent by Keira Drake

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read? 

Bad: Harry Potter & the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling (review)

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson (review)

5. Best series you started in 2016? Best Sequel of 2016? Best Series Ender of 2016?

All three = Alcatraz Series by Brandon Sanderson

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2016?

Robison Wells: Dark Energy (review)

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand & Brodi Ashton & Jodi Meadows

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

A Shadow Bright & Burning by Jessica Cluess

9. Book You Read In 2016 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

The Dark Talent [Alcatraz #5] by Brandon Sanderson (review)

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2016?

Glitter by Aprilynne Pike

11. Most memorable character of 2016?

Bastille from the Alcatraz Series by Brandon Sanderson

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2016?

Railhead by Philip Reeve (review)

13. Most Thought-Provoking/Life-Changing Book of 2016?

The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2016 to finally read? 

The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2016?

"Some people assume that authors write books because we have vivid imaginations and want to share our vision. Other people assume that authors write because we are bursting with stories, and therefore must scribble those stories down in moments of creative propondidty.

Both groups of people are completely wrong. Authors write books for one, and only one, reason: because we like to torture people."

--Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson (review)

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2016? 

SHORTEST: The End by David LaRochelle & Richard Egielski
LONGEST: Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (re-read)

17. Book That Shocked You The Most (Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)

The Dark Talent [Alcatraz #5] by Brandon Sanderson (review)

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!) (OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar)

Hori & Miyamura from Horimiya by Hero & Daisuke Hagiwara

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Crew of the Spotted Custard from The Custard Protocol series by Gail Carriger

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2016 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Starflight by Melissa Landers (review)

21. Best Book You Read In 2016 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand & Brodi Ashton & Jodi Meadows

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2016?

Aoi from the So Cute It Hurts!! series by Go Ikeyamada

23. Best 2016 debut you read?

A Shadow Bright & Burning by Jessica Cluess

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Railhead by Philip Reeve (review)

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Adulthood is a Myth: A Sarah's Scribbles Collection by Sarah Andersen

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2016?

Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan (review)

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Railhead by Philip Reeve (review)

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan (review)

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2016?

Railhead by Philip Reeve (review)

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

The Continent by Keira Drake

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2016 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2017?

The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2017 (non-debut)?

Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray

3. 2017 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

Traveler by L.E. DeLano

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2017?

Starfall by Melissa Landers

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2017?

Read more backlog!

6. A 2017 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

Shadow Run by AdriAnne Strickland & Michael Miller (review)

*          *          *

And that's it! Did you read any of these? What did you think of them? And if you filled out the survey as well, leave a link to your post in the Comments!

The #FridayReads Review (12/16/16)

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 <<

Prophecy by Ellen Oh (PBK)
I haven't been feeling much like fiction this week, but this caught my eye so yesterday afternoon I just sat down and started it. The writing is a little hard to follow at times and the world a bit much to keep straight, but it's an interesting enough Asian fantasy so far.

The Library: An Illustrated History by Stuart A. P. Murray (HBK)
When my interest in fiction wanes, my interest in non-fiction grows. I love reading about books and libraries, so of course I immediately reached for this. It's rather heavy so it's been slow going (hardcovers, *sigh*), but so far so interesting! What I wouldn't give to have seen the Nineveh library...

>> JUST FINISHED <<

Yona of the Dawn vol. 2 by Mizuho Kusanagi (PBK)
3 Stars. While this volume was a little better than the first because of the action and the basic plot is interesting, Yona is just so bland a character and THE STORY NEEDS MAGIC. Might give the series one more volume if I see it at the library, but Yona had better start growing a personality. Or at least discover some magic.


>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

Noragami vol. 11 by Adachitoka (PBK)
I have 6 volumes of this backed up so it's time for a binge!

So what are you reading this week?

The #FridayReads Review (12/9/16)

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 <<

Countdown by Michelle Rowen (PBK)
Finally picked this up as inspiration for Project P edits, but it turned out to be not quite what I expected. It was pretty interesting and engaging to start, but now halfway through I'm rather tired of the main character's slowly lowering intelligence in the face of her slowly elevating mental powers, which I had not anticipated and feel kind of ruin the thriller story. Currently struggling to maintain interest.

>> JUST FINISHED <<

The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski (ARC)
4 Stars. I wasn't impressed with Winner's Curse so I didn't expect much of this earlier work, but it was surprisingly quite good! Although it began with the extremely overused "girl who appears normal but has a dark secret is drawn to a new mysterious boy at school" opening, after some rather shocking violence and alternate world twists it turned out to be an exciting read with engaging intrigue and action and a really strong female lead. I even rather liked the romance, which is very rare for me. Review to come.

>> DNF <<

Dream a Little Dream by Kerstin Gier (ARC)
DNF at Page 37. Opened with too much normal living (not even a hint of the magic to come) and too many character introductions (I couldn't keep anyone straight) for too long. The writing was a bit dense (which admittedly can happen with translations), the main character read younger than I believe she was supposed to be, I really can't stand selfish parents, and I just couldn't find enough interest in the story to keep going. Might just be my current mood, but I'm going to pass. Other dream fantasy lovers would probably really enjoy it though, if they don't mind a probably 50+ page wait for the fantasy part to begin. 

>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

Black Butler vol. 22 by Yana Toboso (PBK)
Finally got my hands on this! Hopefully this volume will finally finish up the latest plot arc.

So what are you reading this week?

The #FridayReads Review (11/4/16)

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 <<

My Lady Jane by Hand & Ashton & Meadows (ARC)
I'm typically not much for historical fiction, but once I found out how hilarious this was I just had to read it. The first chapter was a little repetitive, but by Chapter 2 I was engaged and I've been really enjoying the Ardagh-esque humor and characters!

>> JUST FINISHED <<

The Continent by Keira Drake (ARC)

2 Stars. A sadly simple and twistless dystopian-esque tale with realistic and likable characters but too little action, too much contemplation, and a message that left me frustrated. Review to come.

>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

Witch's Pyre by Josephine Angelini (HBK)
This FINALLY came in at the library so I think I'll be tackling it next! Seriously tempted to re-read the first two books beforehand, though...

So what are you reading this week?

The #FridayReads Review (10/28/16)

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 <<

The Continent by Keira Drake (ARC)
This sounded like just my sort of read so I've been excited to get to it, but I'm two chapters in and so far not really impressed. A lot of people have really loved it though, so I'm hoping it gets better!

>> DNF <<

Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly (ARC)

DNF at Chapter 4. There's something off about the writing for me that makes it harder to follow, I'm not crazy about the characters or setting, and I'm not interested in the slightly creepy mystery plot (granted I'm not much for mystery plots in general). Sad this didn't work out but going to pass.

>> JUST FINISHED <<

Glitter by Aprilynne Pike (ARC)

4 Stars. A near-future suspense with lots of intrigue, tension, and historical glamour. Review to come!

>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

Not Lives vol. 3 by Wataru Karasuma (PBK)
I really enjoyed the first two volumes so I'm excited to continue the series!

So what are you reading this week?

Top Ten Books On My Fall TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

Top Ten Books on my Fall TBR List

1. Glitter (Aprilynne Pike) - I had the pleasure of beta-reading this a while ago and am excited to see how it's changed and grown since that draft! I've heard nothing but great things so far. 
2. Caraval (Stephanie Garber) - I've been seeing so much excitement for this that since I have an ARC I simply must find out what all the fuss is about as soon as possible. 
3. The Continent (Keira Drake) - Another title with great social media excitement right now, although I must say I discovered it before the excitement and couldn't have been happier to acquire an early ARC! 
4. Ten Thousand Skies Above You (Claudia Gray) - I loved the first book but never got around to reading this second last year, so now that the third is out it's time to finally continue and finish this amazing series!
5. Illuminae (Kaufman & Kristoff) - I won an ARC of the second book and am constantly hearing how good the series is so I've finally moved this to the short pile.
6. The Diabolic (S.J. Kincaid) - This one has really intrigued me since the epic cover was revealed! Currently working to acquire an ARC.
7. Witch's Pyre (Josephine Angelini) - I loved the first two books so much I'll be acquiring the hardcover (yes, hardcover - that's how excited I am to read this ASAP!) from the library and cannot wait to see how it all ends!
8. Lies I Live By (Lauren Sabel) - Despite mixed reviews this has consistently intrigued me, so now that I've finally acquired an ARC I'm eager to read it.
9. The Young Elites (Marie Lu) - I keep hearing how amazing this series is, although some have said it may be a little too dark for me? Moved it to the short pile to determine just how dark my tastes actually run for future reference.
10. The Iron Trial (Black & Clare) - Despite being on the fence about Black books (loved Curseworkers, disliked Tithe) and possessing a general disinterest of Clare books, this catches my eye on the shelf every time I pass it so I think I'll finally give it a try and see if it's been worth hanging on to.
11. Horimiya vol. 5 (Hero & Hagiwara) - Being me I of course have to include a manga title! This is my favorite contemporary romance series, and I still praise my library for stocking it for me to discover! After a drastic haircut of a cliffhanger in vol. 4, I'm dying to find out what happens next! (Releases October 25th.)

So what books are on your fall TBR list? Have you read any on mine? If so, what did you think?