Cover Love: The Crown

The cover for the last book in Kiera Cass's The Selection series, The Crown hit today, and, keeping up the tradition of stunning covers, here's another beauty:

What do you think of Eadlyn's new look?

The Crown is due May 3rd 2016.

Cover Love: Remembrance

It's finally here! After all the waiting, the cover for Meg Cabot's new Mediator book, Remembrance, is officially out there!

What did you guys think?

Remembrance is scheduled for a 2016 release.

Popcorn Love

Title: Popcorn Love
Author: K. L. Hughes
Genre: Contemporary NA
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

A prominent figure amongst New York City’s fashion elite, Elena Vega is a successful businesswoman and single mother to an adorable three-year-old son, Lucas. Her love life, however, is lacking, as those closest to her keep pointing out.At the persistent urging of her closest friend, Elena reluctantly agrees to a string of blind dates if she can find a suitable babysitter for Lucas.Enter Allison Sawyer, a free-spirited senior at New York University.Elena is intrigued by Allison’s ability to push her out of her element, and the young woman’s instant and easy connection with a normally shy Lucas quickly earns Allison the job.After each blind date, Elena returns home to complain to Allison about her lacking suitors. As they bond, Elena begins to realize that the person possessing all the qualities she most desires might just be the woman who has been in front of her the entire time.The vast difference between the two women’s social statuses, however, may be an obstacle not easily overcome.

***

It's always rewarding and exciting when you're in a fandom with fanfic writers that are so amazing, their AUs get picked up and published. This method of finding new authors has given us some of the biggest names of current literature (although I hold judgment on the quality of that writing in some cases. I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about). Cassandra Clare's wildly popular The Mortal Instruments started out as (and this is still weird for me to think about if I'm honest) Draco/Ginny Harry Potter fanfiction.

I'm lucky to be in a fandom where the writers are so talented, it wasn't one AU that got picked to be published -- but three. And Popcorn Love is the first of those three to hit the shelves.

The thing about this story is that it's cute. So, so cute. And so well executed. All the characters, no matter how small their appearance, are fully fleshed out. There were no shallow characters, and the plot moves along wonderfully.

Allison and Elena are delightfully shy while also being incredibly confident - in other words, they're brilliantly human. They are flawed, and we can't help but root for them as they fumble their way to love.

Having read it in its' original version, with the original names, there were quite a few chuckles that came from reading the new names (although, Swan Queen fans, look out for an easter egg when Allison is playing the guitar! You'll know it when you see it).

Definitely recommend it to anyone wanting some nice, easy fluff to read. Perfect holiday read, or back to school de-stress read!

And dare I hope for a sequel? (I'm probably just being greedy...)

Queen of Shadows

Title: Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4)
Author: Sarah J Maas
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.

Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.  

***

I tried to write a spoiler-free review. I really did. Despite my best efforts, some of them leaked in, so... proceed with caution if you haven't read it yet.

I don't think I can say enough how much I love these books. Maas paints and weaves an intricate world, where all the characters entwine together in intricate, complicated patterns. And trying to figure out those patterns is an awesome hobby - for example, I hope like hell that Manon will side with Aelin, despite their... misgivings towards each other. And now things are looking more possible on that front... because of [spoiler] reasons.

It's all very exciting, and there wasn't a dull moment to be found; even the slower ones just tended to be tooth-rottingly sweet.

The Dorian chapters ripped my heart to shreds. All of them. Every single last one of them. Damn my weakness for fictional men with dark hair and blue eyes!
On the other hand, the Rowan chapters filled me with joy. Yay for the Rowan Fire Fanclub! And no, of course I didn't cry when Rowan showed up *shifty eyes*

But the cake for Best Character Ever goes, hands-down to Lysandra (with honorary mentions to Aelin, Manon and Elide). Such a lovely, lovely surprise to see her blossom into herself. She had me in stitches by the end of the book with her relentless teasing of Aedion. I can't wait to see more of her and Evangeline (that kid is gonna be something else; with all the people she has around her as her role models, there is no way she won't grow up to be a ball of sass, and I hope we get to see more of that sass).

I'm excited about where we left off; I think there's loads more to come in the next two books, although some of the... complications... were dealt with faster than I expected (then again, with a 600-page behemoth, is that really any surprise?).

ps: FLEETFOOT!

Firewalker

Title: Firewalker (The Wordlwalker Trilogy #2)
Author: Josehpine Angelini
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

Worlds divide, magic slays, and love lies in the second book of Josephine Angelini’s The Worldwalker Trilogy.
"You think I’m a monster, but my choices, as ruthless as they seem, are justified."
Lily is back in her own universe, and she's ready to start a new life with Rowan by her side. True, she almost died in the Pyre that fueled their escape from New Salem, and must hide her magic for the safety of everyone she cares about, but compared to fighting the Woven, the monstrous creatures inhabiting the alternate Salem, life is looking pretty good.
Unfortunately, Lillian, ruthless ruler of the 13 Cities, is not willing to let Lily go that easily. If she can’t persuade Lily to return to her world, she will force her to come back by doing away with the ones she loves.
Picking up right where Trial By Fire left off, Firewalker is another sexy, fast-paced, heartbreaking thrill ride from internationally bestselling author Josephine Angelini!

***

The Rowan Fire Fanclub lives! Woo!
Except it took a hard blow in Firewalker... no spoilers, though.

One of the best things about Firewalker, and the way Angelini weaves her characters, is how there is no good and bad. To quote Voldemort, "There is no good and evil. There is only power". Voldy, despite his psychopathic tendencies, does describe what goes on in Firewalker pretty aptly.

As we're taken through Lillian's memories and past experiences, it becomes more and more hard to brand her as the evil bitch witch. None of Lily's choices are easy, but - and here's the true beauty of so many books recently - when it comes down to it, Lily makes her choices for her. Not for Rowan, who she knows she will hurt by agreeing with Lillian. Not for Tristan, her best friend and the only one who believes in what she says; she does it because it is the right thing to do.
For the first time in a very, very long time, I had no idea how the book would end, because it didn't hinge on who she would choose. And I cherish that uncertainty for what it is: fresh, new, different storytelling. Bravo!

And kudos to Ms Angelini for creating believable, lovable and three-dimensional characters, all in third person, allowing us to jump around. On that note, Carrick is still as creepy as ever.

Best new addition mentions have to go to Breakfast and Una - I can't wait to see more of them as we move forward!

Also, without spoiling anything... hats off to Angelini for having the guts to do the hard thing. I wasn't ready, I didn't see it coming at all, and it took me completely by surprise. I need to have a good cry over it still, but it takes courage to do something like that, and honestly, it felt true to the story, so... yay?

Shameless Self-Promotion, some news... mostly just to say I'm alive!

Hello and Happy September!

Hope you're warm and cuddly in your four-poster beds at Hogwarts, and that your first day of lessons yesterday went well.

This year has just flown by; I've been incredibly busy, and sadly, that's reflected on the blog. I know there have been less reviews and posts than I'd like, but I've been scrambling to keep up with all the changes going on. Since last year, I started and finished my first year at university (with really good grades, woo!), had two internships in publishing that went (if I say so myself) really well, got a job at YA Interrobang, moved house, and still tried to fit in reading books somewhere in there.

I didn't always manage to read those books, and, weirdly enough, now that holidays are nearly over, things should get back to normal. Having a schedule for uni really helps make sure things run smoothly in other parts of life.


Also: I have one review on backlog, that will go up later today and have started Queen of Shadows (no spoilers!!), so that should go up, hopefully early next week, as I plan on doing little else over the weekend... wish me luck ;)

The Falconer

Title: The Falconer (The Falconer #1)
Author: Elizabeth May
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

"One girl's nightmare is this girl's faery tale

She's a stunner.
Edinburgh, 1844. Eighteen-year-old Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, has everything a girl could dream of: brains, charm, wealth, a title—and drop-dead beauty.

She's a liar.
But Aileana only looks the part of an aristocratic young lady. she's leading a double life: She has a rare ability to sense the sìthíchean—the faery race obsessed with slaughtering humans—and, with the aid of a mysterious mentor, has spent the year since her mother died learning how to kill them.

She's a murderer.
Now Aileana is dedicated to slaying the fae before they take innocent lives. With her knack for inventing ingenious tools and weapons—from flying machines to detonators to lightning pistols—ruthless Aileana has one goal: Destroy the faery who destroyed her mother.

She's a Falconer.
The last in a line of female warriors born with a gift for hunting and killing the fae, Aileana is the sole hope of preventing a powerful faery population from massacring all of humanity. Suddenly, her quest is a lot more complicated. She still longs to avenge her mother's murder—but she'll have to save the world first.

The first volume of a trilogy from an exciting new voice in young adult fantasy, this electrifying thriller combines romance and action, steampunk technology and Scottish lore in a deliciously addictive read."

***

Life has been so hectic lately, it took me way longer than it should have done to finish The Falconer; especially because there's very little not to love about this book.

I'm a sucker for historicals, so that probably helps. But the plot itself is beautifully woven, and the reveals are expertly delivered. May does a great job of keeping the balance between showing the world and introducing new characters, and keeping the pace at a level that will keep the reader interested.

And Kam was an absolute delight of a narrator. Spunky and self-assured, she is deeply flawed, and she knows it. She owns her flaws and uses them to her strength.

But what I loved, loved, loved about The Falconer was that, while the romantic elements certainly ran in an undercurrent throughout the novel (hard not to, when the society depicted is one that still places so much emphasis on marriage), it by no means eclipsed the actual plot; and, most wondrously, the love interests played other parts in the novel, rather than just pretty furniture for girls to fight over. Even more shockingly, all the attention and love wasn't instantly directed to the boys - yes, they're beautiful, but they also serve as very important plot elements (and I'm saying 'them', when really it's just 'him', but I had to include Gavin in there, because of reasons... though I adore the fact that May didn't try to make it into a love triangle with him).

Definitely give this one a read! It's filled with action, and all around amazing characters (I want a Derrick!)

Forsworn

Title: Forsworn (The Last Oracle #2)
Author: Emily Wibberley
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: 4/5
Cover: 7/10

I'd like to thank Emily Wibberley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

"It’s been a year since Clio made her sacrifice to the Deities and embraced her destiny as the Oracle to save her people.

The only family she has left is a brother who wants her dead.

The prince, her oldest friend, is a king with his own agenda.

And the man who once loved her, now hates her.

All she can do is try to forget about Riece, the enemy commander whose heart she broke to save his life, as she serves the Deities. Her days are filled with Visions and bloodshed in a never-ending war against the Untouched. To add to her problems, she must pose as King Derik’s mistress to conceal her forbidden powers from the Emperor’s spies.

When Riece unexpectedly returns to Sheehan with a new and beautiful ally, Clio knows she must put him out of her mind once and for all, but first, they are thrust together into battle against a mysterious Untouched warrior with otherworldly power. To reclaim her city, she must team up with the man she hurt, the man she still loves but can never be with, and finally confront the questions about her origin—questions with answers that Clio may not be prepared to face."

***

You can read my review of the first book of the trilogy, Sacrificed, here.

Forsworn was a delight to read. As someone who's been struggling to find a plot that captivates me long enough recently, Wibberley provided me with the perfect place to dive back into books.

Clio, continuing from Sacrificed, is still the strong, spitfire, headstrong girl she was. I loved seeing how accepting the mantle of the Oracle changed her, and it was great to see her relationship with Derik evolve and change.
Most important to me, though, was see Clio flourish on her own. Yes, she is pining after Riece (and, really, who can blame her, right?), and yes, she still loves him. That doesn't stop her from carrying on with her life without him, and kicking some serious butt. It also doesn't stop her from running into his arms the second the opportunity arises. I love that, that we were able to see Clio act on her own, that she was perfectly capable - if reluctant and saddened - to live without Riece, before we got thrown back into the romance.
And I absolutely loved her relationship with Ashira. The speech at the end, about how being strong doesn't mean being hard and unfeeling was truly beautiful, and a message young girls should be told more often. You can still be feminine and be strong and independent (part of the reason why I'm absolutely in raptures over Zarae, I think haha).

Diazon was a surprise, and, while I'm glad that was sorted, I also love the can of worms he managed to overturn while he was still kicking; I'm looking forward to what this will all mean to Clio going forward.

ps: in case you were wondering, I'm in denial over Lireen. And I will never not be.

Cover Love: Head Over Heels

If you've read my review of the last Geek Girl book, All That Glitters, you'll know I'm a big fan of Harriet Manners. And All That Glitters was a brilliant book, so here's to hoping that Head Over Heels will follow suit!
Now, covers have never been Geek Girl's strong suit, with them all being relatively similar, so not much to comment on with this new one. Still, we also got a release date, which is pretty cool ;)

Head Over Heels is scheduled for a March 3rd release.

Cover Love: Glass Sword

This just in! The stunning cover for the sequel to Red Queen. If you, like me, thought they'd have trouble topping the awesome that was the cover of Red Queen... well. I'll let you decide for yourself.
Personally, I think they're both gorgeous, but also incredibly similar? This one has less blood on it, but... yeah...

According to Yahoo! Movies, "When Glass Sword opens, Maven has betrayed Mare and his brother, Cal, and the two have been rescued by the Scarlet Guard. In addition to fighting the segregation that torments the red-blooded masses, Mare will be seeking out other Reds like her. Where the first book cover showed an upside-down crown dripping red blood, the new one follows suit, this time with a crown made of glass swords and dripping both red and silver blood, a symbol, Aveyard told us, meant to show that “both sides are going to have problems this time around.”

(Back) Cover Love: Queen of Shadows

It's up, it's up, it's up! The gorgeous back cover of Queen of Shadows! I have to say, I've never seen back covers provide such excitement anywhere other than the Throne of Glass fandom. Still, who can blame us, since we get these awesome Aelin poses + beautiful dresses, right? ;)

I haven't read the first three chapters, because I know it'll only make the wait worse. Have any of you read it? (no spoilers if you have!)

ps: okay, I know, I know. It's been nearly a month. I'm sorry. Real life got in the way. I snapped my ACL during an (unusual) bout of sport (this is why I don't do the damn things normally, I tell you), so had to have surgery, and now I've got an awesome work experience at Michael O'Mara Books for two weeks, doing publicity. So it's all been a little busy, as you can imagine, and I've had zero time to actually sit down and read more than 10 pages at a time. I have a long train journey in front of me this weekend though, so planning on getting some quality time with my TBR then; hopefully have a review up early next week.

The Heir

Title: The Heir (The Selection #4)
Author: Kiera Cass
Genre: Dystopian
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

"Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.
But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.
Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought."

***

I had forgotten why I loved these books so much. Cass' writing is like a breath of fresh air in the sameness of YA today.
I was a bit wary, because historically, I don't deal too well with authors changing the POV of their books. Usually, that happens after one book though, and the reason I don't like it is because I've only just started getting that character as the protagonist, so to have another one shoved at me is disconcerting and unpleasant. With this though, it was obvious that America's story was done. She'd said her piece, so changing narrator actually felt pretty organic. It helped that Eady was an absolute delight.
It was wonderful to read about this young girl who is terrified to love because she thinks it will make her weak. The thought of Eadlyn being aromantic actually occurred to me quite a few times, but I guess we'll see how that plays out. Seeing her go from "no, I will not find a husband, ew husbands!" to actually wondering about the merit of the entire thing was a great journey.
And for the most part, I loved seeing Mer and Maxon as parents, and meeting all their crazy kids.
And the boys from the Selection were awesome. It feels weird to have finished the book and not have a favourite in mind. I've grown very attached to Henri, Kile and Erik, and I seriously hope that, whatever happens, she and Henri are still friends by the end of it. Really looking forward to the next instalment!

Feminist Fridays: A Court of Thorns and Roses

Welcome to the first Feminist Fridays! This is a new feature I'm trying out on the blog, because of some issues I've been finding more and more in some books. Please, please read the disclaimer on the Feminist Fridays page before going off on a rant in the comments. Understand that what I say in these reviews in no way means the book is bad, just that it has some issues that could do with being changed, to make it more equal. They do not, in any way, shape or form, reflect my views on the authors or their lives, and I am not blaming them for anything.

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses

General Rating: 3/5

FF Rating: 2/5

This review contains spoilers for the ending of the book.

For the general review for ACOTAR, go here.

Like I said in the main review, there were some problematic points with ACOTAR that I feel should be addressed.
First of all, even though Tamlin isn't exactly Feyre's jailor, he isn't warm and fuzzy either; in fact, throughout the first part of the novel, she is terrified of him. Now, I don't know about you, but I find it deeply disturbing that a man who once scared her so much went from tormentor and scary guy, to lover in just a few chapters. Maybe, if the relationship had evolved over the whole book, it would have been less disturbing. Although I know why she wrote it like that, considering the plot, it still didn't sit well with me at all.
It's quite sad that a Disney movie aimed at children, that couldn't have been longer than an hour and half, managed to portray a more likeable and slightly less creepy romance than a book with hundreds of pages. I mean, I get that the naga were meant to be the wolves, and let's face it, there's always been grumblings over Beauty & the Beast and Stockholm Syndrome (grumblings I always sort of ignored good-naturedly, because, come on, it's a fairytale, you have to cut it some slack, especially considering the context of production for that movie. Also, even though the Beast keeps Belle in the castle, there's never really any hint that he'd physically harm her, and we see him actively trying to be nice and make her feel at home. With ACOTAR, not only did Feyre's very physical reactions of distaste and fear of Tam create the idea that he might physically try to hurt her, because the narrative was told solely through Feyre's first person POV, it's hard to see any real evidence of Tamlin actually trying to be nice; instead, he's dismissive, and only offers to buy her stuff to paint with in what feels like almost a way to trap here there. It's creepy, it's scary and it did nothing to help me believe that they could have a healthy, loving relationship). So, maybe the problem was with the nature of the fairytale itself, rather than with the book. Still, in a retelling of a Victorian fairytale, some aspects always need to be changed, because that's what fairytales do: they adapt to the society they're being told to, and that was sorely missing here.

Also, the imbalance of power between Feyre and Tamlin, at the start of the book (because of course, by the end, it's been erased... sort of. More on that later), with Tam being a High Fae immortal who can turn into a beastie and use magic, and Feyre a lowly illiterate human. It's a massive imbalance, and in no way makes for anything even resembling a healthy relationship. Feyre would always be second to Tam, always less important, less noticeable, less valuable... less.
And, yes, by the end of the novel she's High Fae herself. Which breaks some of that imbalance pretty neatly, so I'm looking forward to seeing how that will play out in the second book; but there's still the fact that Tam is still a High Fae of something, while Feyre will always just be Tamlin's girlfriend (or whatever it is we're calling them).
So she's Tamlin's girlfriend, Rhys' property for a week every month... why is it that woman are so defined by men in this book? Can they not exist on their right?

Which brings me on to the thing that quite possibly bothered me the most. I could sort of overlook the creepiness of the romance if I squinted real hard and ignored the first half of the book. What I couldn't ignore was the fact that about 90% of the conversations in this novel would not pass the Bechdel Test. I didn't actually count them all, but around the time Feyre goes back home, this was seriously bothering me.
Not only are there very few women in the book (other than Feyre and Amarantha, who, surprise, surprise, is a seductive older woman, out to corrupt the incorruptible Tamlin *groans*, the only other women are Alis, who is a secondary character at best, and Feyre's sisters, who are maybe tertiary characters if they're lucky), but the few conversations they have between them, generally are about men. I think the only ones that would pass would be Feyre chatting with the worshippers of the Fae at the beginning, and her conversations with her sisters before they found out the truth. And maybe some chats with Alis, though even those mostly were about Tamlin.

All in all, points for the plot and the idea, but dear god, this book pissed me off sometimes. I will read the next one, because I'm curious, but I'm lowering my expectations exponentially.

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3/5
Cover: 8/10

A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Timesbestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.
When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.
As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.
Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

Oh, boy.
Where to even start. First of all, I love Beauty & the Beast, it's my favourite fairytale, and I generally quite enjoy the retellings of it; in fact, fairytale retellings are my crack. I love reading them, I love analysing them, and I love comparing how different they are to the tales I grew up with. So, I was pretty excited for ACOTAR.
I mean, a Beauty & the Beast retelling by one of my favourite authors, and the book had been getting rave reviews? It was like a dream come true. But somewhere along the way, something went horribly, terribly wrong.
Don't get me wrong, the last ¼ of the book was actually pretty amazing. But until I got there, the story dragged by, filled stuff that could be seen as necessary filler background if it had actually been used to develop the romance. Instead, one day Feyre wakes up, essentially trapped in this house, and decides that the guy who can turn into a lion and who had scared her witless, to the point where she flinched away from him, no longer scared her, and actually, he's really quite handsome.
Now, okay, I know the nature of the fairytale involves some rather questionable romance aspects, but it really says something when a Disney movie, that cannot be longer than an hour and a half manages to make romance more believable than a 400 pages book. But I'm going to keep that rant for the feminist review, so suffice it to say, I didn't buy what Maas was selling.

And maybe it was just that, even though the book was in first person, it felt like it would have benefitted from being in third. I lost count of the amount of times I was jarred out of the narrative by Feyre thinking 'I', when I'd been pretty sure it would be a 'he/she'. It's possible that's just me being used to Maas' books being in third person, but I felt like that was maybe not the best decision in the world.
And then there were the characters. I loved Lucien so much, and, like I mentioned before, did not buy the Tamlin-is-an-awesome-guy routine. Feyre was a good, solid narrator at most times, although she did have her annoying moments.
But, the characters that most intrigued me was also the one we saw less of?! I wanted to get to know Rhys. I wanted to sink my teeth into his character, find out of what made him tic; we sort of almost got there in Feyre's cell, but there are still so many questions left. What was that look he gave Feyre at the end? Why did he protect her? What's his angle? I NEED TO KNOW! And Nesta, she was awesome, and I'd love to have seen so much more of her.

The most amusing thing for me was solving Amarantha's riddle in seconds. I'm thinking either my Ravenclaw-ness is rearing its' head, or that riddle was way too easy!

All in all, a fun book that kept me entertained. Despite my misgivings with it, it had a solid plot and interesting characters, plus awesome world building.

Cover Love: Dangerous Lies

Stella Gordon is not her real name. Thunder Basin, Nebraska, is not her real home. This is not her real life.
After witnessing a lethal crime, Stella Gordon is sent to the middle of nowhere for her own safety before she testifies against the man she saw kill her mother’s drug dealer.
But Stella was about to start her senior year with the boyfriend she loves. How can she be pulled away from the only life she knows and expected to start a new one in Nebraska? Stella chafes at her protection and is rude to everyone she meets. She’s not planning on staying long, so why be friendly? Then she meets Chet Falconer and it becomes harder to keep her guard up, even as her guilt about having to lie to him grows.
As Stella starts to feel safer, the real threat to her life increases—because her enemies are actually closer than she thinks… 

Dangerous Lies is due to be published November 10th.

Cover Love: The Mirror King

Look at the pretty! If The Orphan Queen was stunning, this one is just... *drools*

Wilhelmina has a hundred enemies.

HER FRIENDS HAVE TURNED. After her identity is revealed during the Inundation, Princess Wilhelmina is kept prisoner by the Indigo Kingdom, with the Ospreys lost somewhere in the devastated city. When the Ospreys’ leader emerges at the worst possible moment, leaving Wil’s biggest ally on his deathbed, she must become Black Knife to set things right. 

HER MAGIC IS UNCONTROLLABLE. Wil’s power is to animate, not to give true life, but in the wraithland she commanded a cloud of wraith mist to save herself, and later ordered it solid. Now there is a living boy made of wraith—destructive and deadly, and willing to do anything for her.

HER HEART IS TORN. Though she’s ready for her crown, declaring herself queen means war. Caught between what she wants and what is right, Wilhelmina realizes the throne might not even matter. Everyone thought the wraith was years off, but already it’s destroying Indigo Kingdom villages. If she can’t protect both kingdoms, soon there won’t be a land to rule.

In this stunning conclusion to THE ORPHAN QUEEN, Jodi Meadows follows Wilhelmina’s breathtaking and brave journey from orphaned criminal on the streets to magic-wielding queen.

The Mirror King is scheduled for an April 5th release.

Cover Love: Red's Untold Tale

Just up today, the cover for the companion piece to ABC's show Once Upon a Time, Red's Untold Tale looks gorgeous and might actually help me get my Ruby fix - I've missed her pretty face on my screen!


Being released on September 22nd, Red's Untold Tale will "explore an earlier chapter in the life of one of our most beloved characters. Plagued by nightmares she doesn't understand and a temper she can't control, 16 year-old Red struggles to save Granny's troubled business and to nurture her budding romance with Peter even as the betrayal of her classmates awakens the wolf within."

To those of you who don't watch the show (you should!), Red is their retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. I won't give anything away, but they definitely put a twist to the story!

Pre Order Queen of Shadows + Goodies!

Quick stop before my next review goes up to let you all know about a giveaway Bloomsbury is doing for Queen of Shadows. All info in the picture:

I have a button bag that will look absolutely stunning with these on it! ;)
As a reminder, Queen of Shadows is out September 1st.

Spotlight Wednesdays: Mercy Thompson Series

 Info
Title: Mercy Thompson
Title of First Book: Moon Called
Author: Patricia Briggs
Genre: UF
Rating: 4/5


Why You Should Read it

Putting it simply, it's awesome.

Mercy is a shapeshifter coyote that was brought up by a pack of werewolves. She got sick and tired of always be the outsider, and left to live in the human world. She's a pretty decent mechanic, and she likes the life she has.


Except when the job fixing a bus for a vampire customer gets weird, Mercy has to consider asking for help from the werewolf pack that moved in next door to her years before.

It's got everything anyone could possibly want - mystery, romance, supernatural uglies, danger, explosions and a badass lead.

Did I mention she has two hot as hell werewolves fighting over her, and a weirdly chivalrous vampire has shown interest? Yeah, everyone either wants to be Mercy, date Mercy or kill Mercy.

No, I'm serious.

Cover Love: Endure

Just out today, hot off the press, is the gorgeous cover for the third - and final, sadly - novel in the Defy series.

The remarkable third novel in Sara B. Larson's bestselling Defy series!
At last, Alexa and King Damian are engaged to be married. But their lives are far from safe. The kingdom of Antion is under siege, and Rylan is a prisoner of the enemy. Even worse, Alexa remains at the mercy of the evil Dansiian Rafe, who controls her mind and can force Alexa to kill or harm Damian at any moment. Despite this, Alexa is determined to rescue Rylan, which soon leads her far from Damian and deep into enemy territory.
When she arrives, what awaits her is deadlier than anything she could have ever imagined: an army of black sorcerers, and a horrifying plot to destroy the world as Alexa knows it. Will she be able to gather the strength to free herself, protect the love of her life, and save the land? Will there ever be true peace?
Acclaimed author Sara B. Larson has woven a stunning, romantic, and evocative finale to the Defy trilogy, that is sure to leave readers breathless until the very last page. 

Endure is scheduled for publication on Jan 5th 2016.

Waiting on Wednesdays #9: Ice Like Fire

Waiting on Wednesdays is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

Title: Ice Like Fire (Snow Like Ashes #2)
Author: Sara Raasch
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: October 13th

"It’s been three months since the Winterians were freed and Spring’s king, Angra, disappeared—thanks largely to the help of Cordell.
Meira just wants her people to be safe. When Cordellan debt forces the Winterians to dig their mines for payment, they unearth something powerful and possibly dangerous: Primoria’s lost chasm of magic. Theron sees this find as an opportunity—with this much magic, the world can finally stand against threats like Angra. But Meira fears the danger the chasm poses—the last time the world had access to so much magic, it spawned the Decay. So when the king of Cordell orders the two on a mission across the kingdoms of Primoria to discover the chasm’s secrets, Meira plans to use the trip to garner support to keep the chasm shut and Winter safe—even if it means clashing with Theron. But can she do so without endangering the people she loves?
Mather just wants to be free. The horrors inflicted on the Winterians hang fresh and raw in Januari—leaving Winter vulnerable to Cordell’s growing oppression. When Meira leaves to search for allies, he decides to take Winter’s security into his own hands. Can he rebuild his broken kingdom and protect them from new threats?
As the web of power and deception weaves tighter, Theron fights for magic, Mather fights for freedom—and Meira starts to wonder if she should be fighting not just for Winter, but for the world."

What are you looking forward to?

Spotlight Wednesdays: True Love Story

Info
Title: True Love Story
Author: Willow Aster
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Rating: 5/5

Why You Should Read It

This is one of those books that is so good, you just sit in shock after you finish it, wondering what the hell you're supposed to do with yourself now.
It's also one of those that rips your heart in two gleefully.
And you love it for it.

Sparrow's and Ian's story is absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking. The characters are beautifully dimensional, the plot makes sense, and the flashbacks just make you want to crawl into a corner and sob.

The pain is worth it for falling in love with these perfectly flawed characters.

Waiting on Wednesdays #8: Truly, Madly, Famously

Waiting on Wednesdays is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

Title: Truly, Madly, Famously (Famous in Love #2)
Author: Rebecca Serle
Genre: YA
Release Date: October 13th

"In this romantic sequel to Famous in Love, new Hollywood "It Girl" Paige must navigate love with her co-stars, both on and off screen and all in the public eye.
Lights, camera, love!
After being plucked from obscurity, Hollywood's newest starlet, Paige Townsen, has a hit film to her name and Rainer Devon on her arm. But being half of the world's most famous couple comes with a price, and soon Paige finds herself dodging photographers; hiding her feelings for her other costar, Jordan Wilder; and navigating tabloid scandals that threaten to tear her and Rainer apart-and end her career as quickly as it began.
Rebecca Serle's sequel to Famous in Love is filled with the kind of celebrity drama and swoon-worthy romance fit for the silver screen."

Now, you may have noticed that I *slightly* fangirled over Famous in Love, and, truth be told, I'm still not over that ending. Which is why I'm ticking down the days until I can get my hands on this beauty.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

As promised, I'm back from my mad week in Hogwarts, am already desperately missing the toasty Florida heat, and come armed with plenty of pictures for you guys to enjoy.

It was my second time to the amazing park, this time there because they opened the expansion (Diagon Alley) three months after my last visit, and I could not rest easy knowing I'd only just missed what would surely be another awesome addition to the already incredible world that Universal had brought to life with Hogsmeade.

The entire week was amazing beyond words, but I'm pretty sure one of the highlights of my week was being chosen in Ollivanders first thing on my birthday morning (oh yeah, the reason why I went there was because of the expansion, but the reason why everyone else came was because I was turning 21. Yay! The satisfaction of handing over my ID that first time on my birthday was something else, let me tell you), and getting my very own interactive wand made of yew, with unicorn hair core; I also got quite a kick out of texting my aunt at 7am that I was outside Leicester Square, then giggling madly to myself because it was 7am, I was still half asleep, and it occurred to me that I had just flown over an entire ocean, only to find myself outside a tube station again.

I'm of the opinion that every Harry Potter fan deserves to go to this park at least once in their life. Years after my first visit, I still had incredibly vivid dreams of walking in Hogwarts, and going to the bathroom, only to hear Moaning Myrtle sob violently through the pipes (by the way, that's not a joke, if you go, you need to stop by the toilets in Hogsmeade, it's hilarious; I'm told she's also in the men's toilets, so it shouldn't be an impediment to hear Myrtle flirt with Harry). Hogwarts has always been my home away from home, and finally having concrete images, feelings and memories to go with the place was indescribable.

The expansion itself was breathtaking. They really outdid themselves with it, and even though the dragon doesn't hold a candle to the beauty of Hogwarts, it does have its' own unique quirks (handy hint and tip: don't stand directly under/in direct proximity to it for very long, or you will have the fright of your life).

And the train journey is truly something to behold. The best part, arguably, is crossing the wall between Muggle Kings Cross and Wizarding Kings Cross. If possible, try to get someone to film you going through, it looks really cool on video - but if that's not an option, make sure to stop for a bit and watch others go through before you do.

And the ride itself, Escape from Gringotts, is exhilarating to the last second. I'm not a big roller coaster fan myself, but absolutely loved this ride - it had just the right amount of coaster, mixed in with simulation, to make it good for both people who love roller coasters, and those who aren't too keen on them.

Having gone on it extensively (you won't believe the miracles of the singles line! It's a godsend, but do make sure to go through the full queue at least once, or you'll miss tons of fun stuff), I can say with absolute certainty that front row on the first cart is the place to be on that ride. The further back you get, the less awe-inspiring the effects are, because you can see all the heads in front of you, and it sort of takes away from the action going on in front of you -- unlike with Forbidden Journey, where, again, having been on it to exhaustion (less so this time around; I must have ridden that thing at least 100 times a couple of years ago), all four seats are pretty amazing, though the fourth seat is more likely to get sprayed by beasties.

That's my week for you guys. I'm going to go curl up in a ball and sleep for the next week, probably, but it was definitely worth it!

Waiting on Wednesdays #7: Very Good Lives

Waiting on Wednesdays is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.


Title: Very Good Lives
Author: J. K. Rowling
Genre: Nonfiction
Release Date: April 14th

"J.K. Rowling, one of the world's most inspiring writers, shares her wisdom and advice. 
In 2008, J.K. Rowling delivered a deeply affecting commencement speech at Harvard University. Now published for the first time in book form, VERY GOOD LIVES presents J.K. Rowling's words of wisdom for anyone at a turning point in life. How can we embrace failure? And how can we use our imagination to better both ourselves and others?
Drawing from stories of her own post-graduate years, the world famous author addresses some of life's most important questions with acuity and emotional force.
Sales of VERY GOOD LIVES will benefit both Lumos, a charity organization founded by J.K. Rowling, which works to transform the lives of disadvantaged children, and university-wide financial aid at Harvard University."

I knew this was coming out, and I had a vague idea that it would be this year, but I didn't realise until the other day how soon it was! I'm very excited to read it; I don't usually do nonfiction, but this woman's story is such an inspiring one, and the fruits of it have been such a huge part of my life, that reading up on her past never ceases to fill me with awe and respect. There's a real-life fairytale if ever there was one.

April Releases

Three books are out this month that you'll definitely want to get your hands on!

April 7th: Miss Mayhem (Rebel Belle #2) by Rachel Hawkins

Life is almost back to normal for Harper Price. The Ephors have been silent after their deadly attack at Cotillion months ago, and best friend Bee has returned after a mysterious disappearance. Now Harper can return her focus to the important things in life: school, canoodling with David, her nemesis-turned-ward-slash-boyfie, and even competing in the Miss Pine Grove pageant.
Unfortunately, supernatural chores are never done. The Ephors have decided they’d rather train David than kill him. The catch: Harper has to come along for the ride, but she can’t stay David’s Paladin unless she undergoes an ancient trial that will either kill her . . . or connect her to David for life.

April 14th: Dream a Little Dream by Kerstin Gier

Mysterious doors with lizard-head knobs. Talking stone statues. A crazy girl with a hatchet. Yep, Liv’s dreams have been pretty weird lately. Especially this one where she’s in a graveyard at night, watching four boys perform dark magic rituals. 
The really weird thing is that Liv recognizes the boys in her dream. They’re classmates from her new school in London, the school where’s she’s starting over because her mom has moved them to a new country (again). But they seem to know things about her in real life that they couldn’t possibly know, which is mystifying. Then again, Liv could never resist a good mystery. . . .

April 28th: Broken Juliet (Starcrossed #2) by Leisa Rayven

How do you fix a love that’s been broken beyond repair?
For years, Cassie Taylor tried to forget about Ethan Holt. He was the one great love of her life, and when he failed to return her love, a part of her died forever. Or so she thought. Now she and Ethan are sharing a Broadway stage, and he’s determined to win her back. Claiming to be a changed man, he’s finally able to say all the things she needed to hear years ago, but can she believe him? What makes this time different from all his other broken promises?
Ethan knows he can’t change their tumultuous past, but if he’s going to have any chance of being with the woman he loves, he’ll need to convince Cassie that her future belongs with him. 
Don’t miss this stunning conclusion to the unforgettable love story that captivated over two million fans online.

And, if you're willing to delve into non-fiction, J. K. Rowling's book that centres around her Harvard speech a few years back (which, by the way, is beautiful, so if you haven't seen it - it's on YouTube - then you should definitely buy this book!) is out on the 14th and is called Very Good Lives. It's tomorrow's Waiting on Wednesday, so if you want to know more about it, it's all gonna be here :)