Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday #43: "Bound by Blood and Sand" by Becky Allen

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Bound by Blood and Sand 


Title: "Bound by Blood and Sand"
Author: Becky Allen
Expected Publication: October 11, 2016

Jae is a slave in a dying desert world.

Once verdant with water from a magical Well, the land is drying up, and no one remembers the magic needed to keep the water flowing. If a new source isn’t found soon, the people will perish. Jae doesn’t mind, in a way. By law, she is bound by a curse to obey every order given her, no matter how vile. At least in death, she’ll be free.

Lord Elan’s family rules the fading realm. He comes to the estate where Jae works, searching for the hidden magic needed to replenish the Well, but it’s Jae who finds it, and she who must wield it. Desperate to save his realm, Elan begs her to use it to locate the Well.

But why would a slave—abused, beaten, and treated as less than human—want to save the system that shackles her? Jae would rather see the world burn.

Though revenge clouds her vision, she agrees to help if the kingdom’s slaves are freed. Then Elan’s father arrives. The ruler’s cruelty knows no limits. He is determined that the class system will not change—and that Jae will remain a slave forever.

A slave girl who gains magic and, instead of using it to punish those who have hurt her, she decides to use it to help other slaves? A terrible ruler? I want it. Plus, I smell a forbidden romance, and I tend to be a sucker for those.
 
Preorder
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble 

What are you waiting on?

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday #68: Ten Books On My Fall TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
 
This Week's Topic:
Ten Books On My Fall TBR
 
1.
Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows, #2)
Ohmygod it releases today and I can't wait to get my copy.
 
2.
Heartless
I've heard some really mixed reviews, but I can't wait to finally have this book in my hands even if I don't like the cover at all.
 
3.
Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, #5)
I started this the moment I got it at Target, but I haven't had much time since then because of school.
 
4.
Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, #4)
I'm hoping to finish the Vampire Academy series because I really want to get to Sydney's spin off.
 
5.
The Problem with Forever
I'm really excited to try JLA's YA contemporary, even if it is a lot longer than most other contemporary novels.
 
6.
Black Iris
I'm really excited for Bad Boy, so I want to read his other books while I wait.
 
7.
The Star-Touched Queen (The Star-Touched Queen, #1)
Everyone loves this book so I obviously need to read it.
 
8.
Champion (Legend, #3)
I WILL finish this series this year!
 
9.
Scarlet (Scarlet, #1)
I've heard such great things and I have it on my bookshelf, so I have to read it!
 
10.
Earth's End (Air Awakens, #3)
While I was a bit disappointing by Fire Falling, I do want to continue the series and see if it gets better.
 
My (tentative) Fall TBR has a bunch of new releases and backlist books that I'm trying to read to catch up on those series. So many books, too little time.
 
What's on your Fall TBR?
 

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Review ~ "Queen of Shadows" by Sarah J. Maas

Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4)Title: "Queen of Shadows"
Series: Throne of Glass, #4
Author: Sarah J. Maas

Website ~ Blog ~Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Tumblr

Published: September 1, 2016
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 648
Format: Hardcover
Source: Bought

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

The queen has returned.

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 has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. 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.

The fourth volume in the New York Times bestselling series continues Celaena’s epic journey and builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday #42: "Gemina" by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Gemina (The Illuminae Files, #2) 


Title: "Gemina"
Authors: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Expected Publication: October 18, 2016 

The highly anticipated sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller that critics are calling “out-of-this-world awesome.”
 
Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.
The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.
Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy's most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.
When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station's wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.
But relax. They've totally got this. They hope.
Once again told through a compelling dossier of emails, IMs, classified files, transcripts, and schematics, Gemina raises the stakes of the Illuminae Files, hurling readers into an enthralling new story that will leave them breathless
.

While I didn't love Illuminae as much as everyone else seemed to, I still really liked it. I'm really excited to get to know these new characters, and I'm hoping to see some of the characters from the first book make an appearance as well!
 
Preorder
 
What are you waiting on?

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Bloggiesta ~ Fall 2016

I'm really excited that it's time for Bloggiesta again. I've been super busy with school. It's only been a week and a half and I'm already behind. Because of this I've had pretty much no time to work on blogging, but I'll be honest and admit that I've been slacking for a while due to just not having much motivation. And I'm hoping Bloggiesta helps fix that! If you don't know what Bloggiesta is, you can look it up here!

My (Tentative) To-Do:
~Cross post 20 reviews to Amazon
~Cross post 20 reviews to B&N
~Cross post recent reviews to Goodreads
~Schedule a weeks worth of posts
~Write (at least) 4 reviews
~Write Waiting on Wednesdays for the rest of this month and part of next's
~Write (at least) 2 Top Ten Tuesdays
~Clean e-mail inbox
~Work on Nori's 365 Commenting Challenge
~Update reading challenge lists 
~Start thinking about theme changes
~Update About Me page
~Update Contact Me page
~Update Reviews page
~Maybe learn how to make a drop down menu list
~Work on bullet journal
 
So this looks like a lot, and feels like a lot, but some of these should be really easy tasks. I just need to actually make myself do it. Fortunately I don't work Friday and Sunday, and work is super slow Saturday, so I should be able to get things done then. Wish me luck!

Friday, September 9, 2016

What's on My Radar ~ September '16 Releases

What's on My Radar highlights the releases for that month that I'm excited for and gives the opportunity to discuss what everyone is looking forward to.
 
September 6
Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, #5) 



The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those don't.

As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

Aelin's journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?
 
The Throne of Glass Coloring Book




Enter the world of Throne of Glass

Experience the vivid imagery of Sarah J. Maas's expansive world in her breathtaking New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass saga. Celaena on the rooftops of Rifthold, Chaol in the gardens of the glass castle, Manon riding her wyvern through the Crossing, and many other favorite moments, characters, and objects from the vibrantly detailed realm of Throne of Glass come to life. With stunning original black-and-white drawings, The Throne of Glass Coloring Book is a must-have companion for any reader looking to be swept up in the adventure of a lifetime.
 
Diplomatic Immunity 



Aspiring reporter Piper Baird decides to write a scathing exposé on the overprivileged students at an elite Washington, DC, school, only for her life to change when she begins to fall for the story's main subject, in this new realistic contemporary romance from Brodi Ashton, the author of the Everneath trilogy.

Raucous parties, privileged attitudes, underage drinking, and diplomatic immunity...it’s all part of student life on Embassy Row.

Piper Baird has always dreamed of becoming a journalist. So when she scores a scholarship to exclusive Chiswick Academy in Washington, DC, she knows it’s her big opportunity. Chiswick offers the country’s most competitive prize for teen journalists—the Bennington scholarship—and winning will ensure her acceptance to one of the best schools in the country.

Piper isn’t at Chiswick for two days before she witnesses the intense competition in the journalism program—and the extreme privilege of the young and wealthy elite who attend her school. And Piper knows access to these untouchable students just might give her the edge she’ll need to blow the lid off life at the school in a scathing and unforgettable exposé worthy of the Bennington.

The key to the whole story lies with Rafael Amador, the son of the Spanish ambassador—and the boy at the center of the most explosive secrets and scandals on Embassy Row. Rafael is big trouble—and when he drops into her bedroom window one night, asking for help, it’s Piper’s chance to get the full scoop. But as they spend time together, Piper discovers that despite his dark streak, Rafael is smart, kind, funny, and gorgeous—and she might have real feelings for him. How can she break the story of a lifetime if it could destroy the boy she just might love?

 
September 13
The Peculiar Night of the Blue Heart 



Lionel is a wild boy, who doesn’t much like to be around other people. He’d rather be a purring cat or a wolf stalking the woods.

Marybeth is a nice girl. She doesn’t need to be told to comb her hair or brush her teeth, and she’s kind to everyone at the orphanage . . . Lionel most of all.

Different though they are, Lionel and Marybeth are best friends in a world that has forgotten about them. So when a mysterious blue spirit possesses Marybeth—and starts to take control—they know they must stop it before the real Marybeth fades away forever.
 
September 20
The Queen of Blood  (The Queens of Renthia, #1) 



An idealistic young student and a banished warrior become allies in a battle to save their realm in this first book of a mesmerizing epic fantasy series, filled with political intrigue, violent magic, malevolent spirits, and thrilling adventure

Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow . . .

But the spirits that reside within this land want to rid it of all humans. One woman stands between these malevolent spirits and the end of humankind: the queen. She alone has the magical power to prevent the spirits from destroying every man, woman, and child. But queens are still just human, and no matter how strong or good, the threat of danger always looms.

With the position so precarious, young women are chosen to train as heirs. Daleina, a seemingly quiet academy student, is under no illusions as to her claim to the throne, but simply wants to right the wrongs that have befallen the land. Ven, a disgraced champion, has spent his exile secretly fighting against the growing number of spirit attacks. Joining forces, these daring partners embark on a treacherous quest to find the source of the spirits’ restlessness—a journey that will test their courage and trust, and force them to stand against both enemies and friends to save their land . . . before it’s bathed in blood.
 
A Shadow Bright and Burning (Kingdom on Fire, #1) 



I am Henrietta Howel.
The first female sorcerer in hundreds of years.
The prophesied one.
Or am I?


Henrietta Howel can burst into flames.
Forced to reveal her power to save a friend, she's shocked when instead of being executed, she's invited to train as one of Her Majesty's royal sorcerers.

Thrust into the glamour of Victorian London, Henrietta is declared the chosen one, the girl who will defeat the Ancients, bloodthirsty demons terrorizing humanity. She also meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, handsome young men eager to test her power and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her.

But Henrietta Howel is not the chosen one.
As she plays a dangerous game of deception, she discovers that the sorcerers have their own secrets to protect. With battle looming, what does it mean to not be the one? And how much will she risk to save the city—and the one she loves?

Exhilarating and gripping, Jessica Cluess's spellbinding fantasy introduces a powerful, unforgettably heroine, and a world filled with magic, romance, and betrayal. Hand to fans of Libba Bray, Sarah J. Maas, and Cassandra Clare.
 
Three Dark Crowns 



Fans of acclaimed author Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood will devour her latest novel, a dark and inventive fantasy about three sisters who must fight to the death to become queen.

In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.

But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose...it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.

The last queen standing gets the crown.
 
September 27
Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows, #2) 




Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and left crippled by the kidnapping of a valuable team member, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of magic in the Grisha world.

Some of these books have been released already, but I'm currently reading Empire of Storms and am so excited/nervous. Of course I have Crooked Kingdom preordered, and I plan to get A Shadow Bright and Burning. Have you read any of these books so far, and what did you think of them? 

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday #41: "Nemesis" by Anna Banks

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Nemesis (Nemesis #1) 


Title: "Nemesis
Author: Anna Banks
Expected Publication: October 4, 2016
 
The princess didn't expect to fall in love--with her nemesis.

Princess Sepora of Serubel is the last Forger in all the five kingdoms. The spectorium she creates provides energy for all, but now her father has found a way to weaponize it, and his intentions to incite war force her to flee from his grasp. She escapes across enemy lines into the kingdom of Theoria, but her plans to hide are thwarted when she is captured and placed in the young king's servitude.

Tarik has just taken over rulership of Theoria, and must now face a new plague sweeping through his kingdom and killing his citizens. The last thing he needs is a troublesome servant vying for his attention. But mistress Sepora will not be ignored. When the two finally meet face-to-face, they form an unlikely bond that complicates life in ways neither of them could have imagined.

Sepora's gift could save Tarik's kingdom from the Quiet Plague. But should she trust her growing feelings for her nemesis, or should she hide her gifts at all costs?

I really liked Anna Banks Syrena Legacy trilogy, so I was excited to find out that she was writing another series. I'm hoping that the writing is much better than the cover... 

Preorder
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

What are you waiting on?

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday #67: Ten Of My Favorite TV Shows

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
 
This Week's Topic:
Ten Of My Favorite TV Shows
 
I actually don't watch too much TV, so I'm posting TV shows that are currently on, as well as those that aren't.
 
1.
America's Next Top Model
Not the most mentally stimulating show, but I LOVE it. Not sure if I'll watch this next season. I feel like I'd be cheating on Tyra.
 
2.
Orphan Black
I still need to catch up on Season 4, but I love the creepiness. And Tatiana is incredible!
 
3.
Dead Like Me
I'll never get over the fact that there are only two seasons. It deserved so much more.
 
4.
iZombie
I watched it religiously, but then I got busy on the nights it played, so I missed most of Season 2. I'll catch up soon!
 
5.
The Daily Show
While Trevor Noah is good (and super hot), I much prefer John Stewart's version. But I still love it.
 
6.
Full Frontal With Samantha Bee
I loved her on TDS, so I was super excited when she got her own show. I just love her delivery!
 
I guess that's it! I've never been someone that gets super into TV shows, so this prompt was a little challenging. But I guess it's good I don't watch too much TV because then I'd lose time for reading!
 
What are some of your favorite TV shows?
 

Saturday, September 3, 2016

Review ~ "Illumiae" by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Illuminae (The Illuminae Files, #1)Title: "Illuminae"
Series: The Illuminae Files, #1
Author: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
 
Website ~ Twitter
 
Website ~ Twitter
 
Published: October 20, 2015
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Adventure
Pages: 599
Format: Hardcover
Source: Bought
 
Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble
 
This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.

This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.