Waiting on Wednesday: We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme that highlights pre-publication/upcoming releases that readers cannot wait to get their hands on. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: We Hunt the Flame
Author: Hafsah Faizal 
Publication date: May 14, 2019
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis

The darkness speaks to those who listen. Those who listen are those who have accepted the darkness.

Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the king. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways.

Both are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya—but neither wants to be.

War is brewing in Arawiya, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is sent by the king on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds—and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine.

Set in a richly detailed world inspired by ancient Arabia, WE HUNT THE FLAME is a gripping story of discovery, conquering fear, and taking identity into your own hands. 

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Top Ten Tuesday: Required Books I Read and Loved

Formerly hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

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This week’s topic is…(FREEBIE) Required Books I Read in High School (and loved)

(CLICK ON THE BOOK COVER TO BE LINKED TO ITS GOODREADS’ PAGE )

What are some of your favorite books that you were required to read in high school?

Waiting on Wednesday: Give the Dark My Love by Beth Revis

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme that highlights pre-publication/upcoming releases that readers cannot wait to get their hands on. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Give the Dark My Love
Author: Beth Revis
Publication date: September 25, 2018
Publisher: Razorbill
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis

When seventeen-year-old Nedra Brysstain leaves her home in the rural, northern territories of Lunar Island to attend the prestigious Yugen Academy, she has only one goal in mind: learn the trade of medicinal alchemy. A scholarship student matriculating with the children of Lunar Island’s wealthiest and most powerful families, Nedra doesn’t quite fit in with the other kids at Yugen, who all look down on her. 

All, except for Greggori “Grey” Astor. Grey is immediately taken by the brilliant and stubborn Nedra, who he notices is especially invested in her studies. And that’s for a good reason: a deadly plague has been sweeping through the North, and it’s making its way toward the cities. With her family’s life–and the lives of all of Lunar Island’s citizens–on the line, Nedra is determined to find a cure for the plague. 

Grey and Nedra continue to grow closer, but as the sickness spreads and the body count rises, Nedra becomes desperate to find a cure. Soon, she finds herself diving into alchemy’s most dangerous corners–and when she turns to the most forbidden practice of all, necromancy, even Grey might not be able to pull her from the darkness.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Top Ten Tuesday: Books to Pull You Out of a Reading Slump

Formerly hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

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This week’s topic is…Books to Pull You Out of a Reading Slump

(CLICK ON THE BOOK COVER TO BE LINKED TO ITS GOODREADS’ PAGE OR MY REVIEW)

What are some of your favorite books that help pull you out of a reading slump?

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Review of To Be Honest by Maggie Ann Martin

Title: To Be Honest
Author: Maggie Ann Martin
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: August 21st 2018
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

Synopsis:
Savannah is dreading being home alone with her overbearing mother after her sister goes off to college. But if she can just get through senior year, she’ll be able to escape to college, too. What she doesn’t count on is that her mother’s obsession with weight has only grown deeper since her appearance on an extreme weight-loss show, and now Savvy’s mom is pressuring her even harder to be constantly mindful of what she eats.

Between her mom’s diet-helicoptering, missing her sister, and worrying about her collegiate future, Savvy has enough to worry about. And then she meets George, the cute new kid at school who has insecurities of his own. As Savvy and George grow closer, they help each other discover how to live in the moment and enjoy the here and now before it disappears.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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My Rants and Raves of To Be Honest

To Be Honest is such a feel good read that I could not put down. I wish I could tell my teenage self: “in 2018 there will be books you can relate to. They are fat positive and realistic and swoony as hell.”

In To Be Honest, I adored the main character Savannah. She is fat and healthy and proud of all her successes. Yes, she is apprehensive about big life changes and possibly dating, but this young adult rocks at math, journalism, and being an amazing friend, sister, and daughter. I loved that Savannah is bold and funny; I love that she is determined and 95% of the time says what is on her mind. 

One of my favorite parts of this novel is that the book focuses on Savannah’s internal thoughts and doesn’t sugarcoat her flaws and struggles. Instead, we are there for every verbal fight with her diet-obsessed mom, every tear-stained mascara mark, every sloppy kiss from a handsome poodle, and every laugh between half pepperoni half pineapple pizza-loving friends. I adored this book so much; every page was like a comforting hug of support and love.

If you are fan of realistic high school stories, tulle skirts, and watching young love struggle to ignite, definitely give To Be Honest a read. I loved the story and the characters and of course the white poodle named Fiyero.

Author Bio:

Maggie Ann Martin hails from Iowa City, Iowa but moonlights as a New Yorker. She has a shiny new BA in English and Journalism from the University of Iowa, the most welcoming literary community in the world. When she is not writing, you can find her binge watching TV shows or passionately fangirling over fictional characters on the Internet. The Big F is her debut novel.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!

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Friday Raves: Wonderland Booktique

FRIDAY RAVES is a feature on my blog, in which I “RAVE” about authors, book events, books, novelties, and/or other bookish announcements.

You guys, I have such happy news. A few days ago, I was announced as a Rep for Wonderland Booktique. AHHH!!!

I have been following Alison, the owner and creator of Wonderland Booktique, on Instagram for awhile. After purchasing some candles from her new shop at the end of the July, Alison asked if I would like to be a Rep for her shop. Of course, I said “OMG, YES!” So far I have bought and loved two candles from Wonderland Booktique:

“Dreaming of Luna” smells so sweet and yummy. It reminds me of my childhood. And of course, I love love love the Gilmore Girls-inspired candle “Coffee at Luke’s,” which smells like sweet cup of coffee while burning.

If you are interested in purchasing from Wonderland Booktique, you can visit the shop HERE. And please feel free to use my Rep Code–  CASS15 — and you can save 15% on any candle order. Alison currently has candles inspired by pop culture, books, fandoms, and TV shows. Right now, I am most excited for the AMOK! candle, because I love Hocus Pocus and I am so ready for autumn to be here!

Waiting on Wednesday: An Assassin’s Guide to Love and Treason by Virginia Boecker

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme that highlights pre-publication/upcoming releases that readers cannot wait to get their hands on. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: An Assassin’s Guide to Love & Treason
Author: Virginia Boecker
Publication date: October 23, 2018
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Genres: Young adult, Historical

Synopsis

When Lady Katherine’s father is killed for being an illegally practicing Catholic, she discovers treason wasn’t the only secret he’s been hiding: he was also involved in a murder plot against the reigning Queen Elizabeth I. With nothing left to lose, Katherine disguises herself as a boy and travels to London to fulfill her father’s mission, and to take it one step further–kill the queen herself.

Katherine’s opportunity comes in the form of William Shakespeare’s newest play, which is to be performed in front of Her Majesty. But what she doesn’t know is that the play is not just a play–it’s a plot to root out insurrectionists and destroy the rebellion once and for all.

The mastermind behind this ruse is Toby Ellis, a young spy for the queen with secrets of his own. When Toby and Katherine are cast opposite each other as the play’s leads, they find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another. But the closer they grow, the more precarious their positions become. And soon they learn that star-crossed love, mistaken identity, and betrayal are far more dangerous off the stage than on.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

If It’s Not A Rant, It’s A Rave: Mood Board of The Wicked King by Holly Black

Title: The Wicked King
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: January 8, 2019
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy

 

Synopsis:

The enchanting and bloodthirsty sequel to the New York Times bestselling novel The Cruel Prince.

You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring.

The first lesson is to make yourself strong.

After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.

When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.

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Remember how floored I was after reading The Cruel Prince. Well, I’m not going to hold anything back, but you guys, The Wicked King is just as enticing and brutal as the first book. Jude is still badass and fighting tooth and nail to survive in the Faerie folk world; Cardan is slouched on the throne in a state of boredom and drunken bliss; and every character that we encounter throughout the story is just as biting and cutthroat as the other.

And instead of going into a full review of The Wicking King where I talk about how my heart cannot take much more of these twists, turns, and acts of betrayal inked by Holly Black’s storytelling, I decided to dabble in creating an mood board, which I hope gets you more excited for this sequel. Because honestly, right now, I cannot fathom to express my thoughts on the angst and treachery ingrained in this book into words. I just CANNOT! *sobs uncontrollably* . . . I need The Queen of Nothing now. 

My Rating of The Wicked King:

Note:   I was not provided a copy of this book by the author or the publisher in exchange for a review. I received an early copy of this book from a friend, and I reviewed the book at my own discretion.  All statements and opinions in this review are mine. Please note that not all pictures/photos used in the mood board are mine, but were found on stock photo sites and Pinterest. 

Waiting on Wednesday: When the Sky Fell on Splendor by Emily Henry

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme that highlights pre-publication/upcoming releases that readers cannot wait to get their hands on. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: When the Sky Fell on Splendor
Author: Emily Henry
Publication date: March 12, 2018
Publisher: Razorbill
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction

Synopsis

The Serpent King meets Stranger Things in Emily Henry’s gripping novel about a group of friends in a small town who find themselves dealing with unexpected powers after a cosmic event.

Almost everyone in the small town of Splendor, Ohio, was affected when the local steel mill exploded. If you weren’t a casualty of the accident yourself, chances are a loved one was. That’s the case for seventeen-year-old Franny, who, five years after the explosion, still has to stand by and do nothing as her brother lies in a coma. 

In the wake of the tragedy, Franny found solace in a group of friends whose experiences mirrored her own. The group calls themselves The Ordinary, and they spend their free time investigating local ghost stories and legends, filming their exploits for their small following of YouTube fans. It’s silly, it’s fun, and it keeps them from dwelling on the sadness that surrounds them.

Until one evening, when the strange and dangerous thing they film isn’t fiction–it’s a bright light, something massive hurdling toward them from the sky. And when it crashes and the teens go to investigate…everything changes.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Top 5 Tuesday: Books You Read as an ARC

Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme created and hosted by The Bionic Book Worm. 

Today’s topic: Top 5 Books You Read as an ARC

Click on my photographs to be linked to my review or the book’s Goodreads page.

This was one of the first ARCs I ever owned. I won it from a Twitter giveaway hosted by Fierce Reads. I love this trilogy and I am hoping to reread it again before the end of the year. 

A Million Junes was my favorite book of 2017 and I haven’t stopped raving about it since.

I adored this retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I’m so excited for Meagan Spooner’s Robin Hood retelling called Sherwood. Is it 2019, yet?

If there is one contemporary writer I highly recommend to readers it’s Emma Mills. Her books are always so swoony and realistic. Definitely give Foolish Hearts a read–the Froot Loops will make sense after you read the book, lol. 

I was so lucky to receive a manuscript ARC of Legendary from Flatiron Books. I love the world of Caraval, and this book did not disappoint. 

What are some of your favorite books you read as an ARC?