Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Release Spotlight: HEART OF IRON (Ashley Poston) | DAUGHTER OF THE SIREN QUEEN (Tricia Levenseller)


Today I spotlight an exciting sci-fi and sequel!

The first is YA sci-fi HEART OF IRON by Geekerella's Ashley Poston! With a young "scoundrel and outlaw" female lead and sentient android sidekick (my catnip), this Anastasia retelling has been my most anticipated winter release.

The second is sequel DAUGHTER OF THE SIREN QUEEN by Tricia Levenseller! Pirates aren't usually my thing but I thoroughly enjoyed Daughter of the Pirate King (you can read my review here) and have since been looking forward to continuing kick-ass Alosa's adventures.

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


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Heart of Iron

Title: Heart of Iron
Author: Ashley Poston
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Release Date: 2/27/18

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?


Add to Goodreads

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



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Daughter of the Siren Queen (Daughter of the Pirate King, #2)

Title: Daughter of the Siren Queen
Series: Daughter of the Pirate King #2
Author: Tricia Levenseller
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: 2/27/18

Alosa's mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ship. Still unfairly attractive and unexpectedly loyal, first mate Riden is a constant distraction, but now he's under her orders. And she takes great comfort in knowing that the villainous Vordan will soon be facing her father's justice.

When Vordan exposes a secret her father has kept for years, Alosa and her crew find themselves in a deadly race with the feared Pirate King. Despite the danger, Alosa knows they will recover the treasure first . . . after all, she is the daughter of the Siren Queen.


Add to Goodreads

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


Check out the first book!

Daughter of the Pirate King (Daughter of the Pirate King, #1)
Book 1: Daughter of the Pirate King

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Release Spotlight: PITCH DARK (Courtney Alameda)


Today I spotlight the new Sci-fi horror from Courtney Alameda: PITCH DARK! I'm typically not one for horror but I thoroughly enjoyed her debut, SHUTTER (review link at bottom), so I've been looking forward to her next story with great anticipation! If you haven't yet heard of this spooky title, check it out below!


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Pitch Dark

Title: Pitch Dark
Author: Courtney Alameda
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: 2/20/18

Set against a future of marauding space scavengers and deadly aliens who kill with sound, here is a frightening, fast-paced YA adventure from the author of the acclaimed horror novel, Shutter.

Tuck has been in stasis on the USS John Muir, a ship that houses Earth’s most valued artifacts—its natural resources. Parks and mountains are preserved in space. 

Laura belongs to a shipraiding family, who are funded by a group used to getting what they want. And they want what’s on the Muir

Tuck and Laura didn’t bargain on working together, or battling mutant aliens who use sound to kill. But their plan is the only hope for their crews, their families, and themselves. 

In space, nobody can hear you scream . . . but on the John Muir, the screams are the last thing you'll hear.


Add to Goodreads

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


Check out Courtney's horror debut!
Shutter

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Release Spotlight: SHATTER (Aprilynne Pike) | HONOR AMONG THIEVES (Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre)


Today I spotlight a long-awaited sequel, and a thrilling new sci-fi!

The first is the second book in the Glitter duology by Aprilynne Pike: SHATTER! I just finished it yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed the easy and engrossing end. If you haven't yet tried the Ni-Fi duology, I highly recommend it for a binge!

The second is HONOR AMONG THIEVES by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre. I managed to lay hands and eyes on an early ARC and found it an engrossing and exhilarating teen sci-fi with a kickass female lead and sweet but strong sentient ship. If you enjoy sci-fi, it's not to be missed!

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


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Shatter (Glitter, #2)

Title: Shatter
Series: Glitter Duology #2
Author: Aprilynne Pike
Publisher: Random House
Release Date: 2/13/18

Danica planned to use beauty, blackmail, and a glittering drug to control her own fate. Her escape from the twisted world of the Palace of Versailles was perfectly orchestrated and paid for. Or so she thought. 

Betrayed by the man who had promised her freedom, Dani is now married to the murderous King. It's a terrifying position to be in...and yet it's oddly intoxicating. Power may be an even stronger drug than Glitter--a drug Dani can't resist, in the form of secrets, manipulation, and sabotage.

In her new position at the head of the court, Dani must ask herself who she really is. Can she use her newfound power to secure her real love, Saber's freedom and a chance at a life together outside the palace? Or is being Queen too addictive to give up?


Add to Goodreads

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


Check out the first book!
Glitter
Book 1: Glitter
Goodreads Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Book Depository


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Honor Among Thieves (The Honors, #1)

Title: Honor Among Thieves
Series: The Honors #1
Author: Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: 2/13/18

Petty criminal Zara Cole has a painful past that’s made her stronger than most, which is why she chose life in New Detroit 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, Zara starts to feel at home for the first time. But nothing could have prepared her for the dark, ominous truths that lurk behind the alluring glitter of starlight.


Add to Goodreads

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

Saturday, January 6, 2018

2017 End of Year Book Survey




Number Of Books You Read: 170
Number of Re-Reads: 6 novels
Genre You Read The Most From: YA Fantasy



1. Best Book You Read In 2017?

Honor Among Thieves (The Honors, #1)The Crown's Game (The Crown's Game, #1)Murder, Magic, and What We WoreThe Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and OrganizingThe Ancient Magus' Bride, Vol. 6

SCIENCE FICTION: 
Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre
FANTASY: The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye (review)
CONTEMP/HISTOR: Murder, Magic, & What We Wore by Kelly Jones (review)
NON-FICTION: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
MANGA: The Ancient Magus' Bride vol. 6 by Kore Yamazaki

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

Starfall by Melissa Landers (review)

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


Good: Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller (review)


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


Murder, Magic, and What We Wore by Kelly Jones (review)

5. Best series you started in 2017? Best Sequel of 2017? Best Series Ender of 2017?


STARTED: The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye (review)
SEQUEL: A Poison Dark & Drowning by Jessica Cluess (review)
ENDER: Kamisama Kiss vol. 25 by Julietta Suzuki

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2017?


A. Lee Martinez (via The Last Adventure of Constance Verity)

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


Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller (review)

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


Nyxia by Scott Reintgen

9. Book You Read In 2017 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?


Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2017?


Roar (Stormheart, #1)

Roar by Cora Carmack

11. Most memorable character of 2017?


Nadim from Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2017?


The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye (review)

13. Most Thought-Provoking/Life-Changing Book of 2017?


The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2017 to finally read? 


Top Ten Clues You're Clueless by Liz Czukas

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2017?


I didn't mark any this year (I'm so bad about quotes)...

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2017? 

SHORTEST: Explorer: The Mystery Boxes by Kazu Kibuishi

LONGEST: Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix 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.)


A Poison Dark & Drowning by Jessica Cluess (review)

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


Zadim from Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year


Zadim from Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2017 From An Author You’ve Read Previously


Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray (review)

21. Best Book You Read In 2017 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:


Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller (review)

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2017?


Abel from Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray (review)

23. Best 2017 debut you read?


Nyxia by Scott Reintgen

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


The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye (review)

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


Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight vol. 1 by Rin Mikimoto

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2017?


Kamisama Kiss vol. 25 by Julietta Suzuki

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?


Murder, Magic, and What We Wore by Kelly Jones (review)


28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

A Poison Dark & Drowning by Jessica Cluess (review)

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2017?


Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre

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


Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre




1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2017 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2018?

Pitch Dark by Courtney Alameda

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2018 (non-debut)?


Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston

3. 2018 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?


Ink, Iron, and Glass by Gwendolyn Clare

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2018?


Defy the Worlds by Claudia Gray

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading Life In 2018?


Read more backlog!

6. A 2018 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:


Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre



*          *          *


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 below!

Friday, December 29, 2017

The #FridayReads Review (12/29/17)



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 <<
Prince in Disguise
Prince in Disguise by Stephanie Kate Strohm (ARC)
After passing on three fantasy books I decided to give this teen contemporary romance a try. The banter is slightly odd, but the characters are realistically engaging and the story has proven fun and interesting enough to hold my interest. Currently half a dozen chapters in and happily sneaking pages whenever I can.


>> JUST FINISHED <<
Honor Among Thieves (The Honors, #1)
Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre (ARC)
5 Stars. ALL THE STARS. An engrossing and exhilarating teen sci-fi with a kick-ass female lead and sweet but strong sentient ship. Review to come.


>> PASSED <<
Tempests and Slaughter (The Numair Chronicles, #1)Walk on Earth a Stranger  (The Gold Seer Trilogy, #1)

Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce (ARC)
I've heard such amazing things about Tamora Pierce, so when an ARC appeared from the publisher I decided it was time to give her a try. Sadly I didn't even make it through the first chapter - I didn't mesh with the writing style, where I'd expected YA I instead found MG, and I got the feeling the story would be a slower one with little action (not my cup of tea). For my full review, see my Goodreads comments here.

Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson (ARC)
Passed after 2 chapters. As much as I enjoyed Rae Carson's Fire & Thorns series, I'm just not much for westerns and with its slower journey story and little magic to speak of I sadly passed.


>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<
(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)
Honey So Sweet, Vol. 8
Honey So Sweet vol. 8 by Amu Meguro (PBK)
Time to finish this utterly adorable series!


So what are you reading this week?

Friday, December 15, 2017

The #FridayReads Review (12/15/17)



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 <<
Honor Among Thieves (The Honors, #1)
Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre (ARC)
This sounded right up my alley, and it turned out to be true! Really enjoying this teen sci-fi about suspicious sentient spaceships and the tough girl who gets mixed up with them.


>> JUST FINISHED <<
Top Ten Clues You're Clueless
Top Ten Clues You're Clueless by Liz Czukas (PBK)
4 Stars. A fun and relaxed read with a relatable and realistic story and characters. Bonus: it takes place Cmas Eve, so I highly recommend it right now! Review to come.


>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<
(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)
Love, Life, and the List
Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West (ARC)
The ARC keeps tricking me with its 2018 release date, but this releases in just a few weeks so it's top of my TBR pile!


So what are you reading this week?

Tuesday, December 12, 2017