It’s a new month, which means a new “To-Be-Read” pile.
Below is a photo of the books I plan to read this month.
GOODREADS LINKS:
Happy December! I know I’m a little late, but it’s a new month,
which means a new “To-Be-Read” pile.
I’m joining a readalong and a readingathon this month, so my December TBR is filled with some holiday reads and a few more books that I cannot wait to read/reread.
GOODREADS LINKS:
I’m joining Miss Print’s “Cruel Prince Readalong” this month. You can find the full details here: #cruelprincereadalong
Along with a few of my monthly reads, I am also joining TistheSeasonathon.
Welcome to my monthly recap post, in which I highlight the books I read in the last month, bookish items I acquired, book events I attended, bookish news, and/or subscription boxes I received this month.
★★★★
Link to review below.
★★★★★
This is my second time reading The Raven Boys, and I loved it even more this time around. I love the friendships that are created in this book. And ahhh…the magic, the history, the setting, and even the side characters are perfect.
★★★★
This is my second time reading The Dream Thieves and once again this series keeps blowing me away. I enjoyed diving back into story and the lore. I wasn’t crazy about Ronan at first, but now he’s one of my favorite characters.
★★★★★
I have finally read Blue Lily, Lily Blue (it’s taken me years), but WHOA! Maggie is such a an amazing and atmospheric writer. Her characters are so real and drive this these books with so much force.
★★
Link to review below.
★★★★
I really enjoy Paranormal Romance books and this one did not disappoint. The characters are funny and strong-headed, and the romance is so swoony.
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Thank you to Jimmy Patterson Books for an early copy of Once & Future.
Synopisis:
I’ve been chased my whole life. As an illegal immigrant in the territory controlled by the tyrannical Mercer corporation, I’ve always had to hide who I am. Until I found Excalibur.
Now I’m done hiding.
My name is Ari Helix. I have a magic sword, a cranky wizard, and a revolution to start.
When Ari crash-lands on Old Earth and pulls a magic sword from its ancient resting place, she is revealed to be the newest reincarnation of King Arthur. Then she meets Merlin, who has aged backward over the centuries into a teenager, and together they must break the curse that keeps Arthur coming back. Their quest? Defeat the cruel, oppressive government and bring peace and equality to all humankind.
No pressure.
Thank you to Delacorte for an early copy of The Waking Forest.
Synopsis:
The waking forest has secrets. To Rhea, it appears like a mirage, dark and dense, at the very edge of her backyard. But when she reaches out to touch it, the forest vanishes. She’s desperate to know more—until she finds a peculiar boy who offers to reveal its secrets. If she plays a game.
To the Witch, the forest is her home, where she sits on her throne of carved bone, waiting for dreaming children to beg her to grant their wishes. One night, a mysterious visitor arrives and asks her what she wishes for, but the Witch sends him away. And then the uninvited guest returns.
The strangers are just the beginning. Something is stirring in the forest, and when Rhea’s and the Witch’s paths collide, a truth more treacherous and deadly than either could ever imagine surfaces. But how much are they willing to risk to survive?
Thank you to Fierce Reads for sending me a finished
copy of Anna and the Apocalypse to review.
Synopsis:
School’s out for the end of the world.
Anna and the Apocalypse is a horror comedy about a teenager who faces down a zombie apocalypse with a little help from her friends.
Anna Shepherd is a straight-A student with a lot going on under the surface: she’s struggling with her mom’s death, total friend drama, and the fallout from wasting her time on a very attractive boy. She’s looking forward to skipping town after graduation–but then a zombie apocalypse majorly disrupts the holidays season. It’s going to be very hard to graduate high school without a brain.
To save the day, Anna, her friends, and her frenemies will have to journey straight to the heart of one of the most dangerous places ever known, a place famous for its horror, terror, and pain…high school.
This novel is inspired by the musical feature film, Anna and the Apocalypse.
White Stag by Kara Barbieri
Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith
Romanov by Nadine Brandes
Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller
Title: The Lost Sisters (The Folk of the Air #1.5)
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: NOVL
Release Date: October 2, 2018
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Novella, Short Story
Synopsis:
Sometimes the difference between a love story and a horror story is where the ending comes . . .
While Jude fought for power in the Court of Elfhame against the cruel Prince Cardan, her sister Taryn began to fall in love with the trickster, Locke.
Half-apology and half-explanation, it turns out that Taryn has some secrets of her own to reveal.
The Lost Sisters is a companion e-novella to the New York Times bestselling novel The Cruel Prince by master writer Holly Black.
The Lost Sisters is an e-novella that provides Taryn’s , Jude’s twin sister’s, point of view of the events that took place in The Cruel Prince. And you guys, it feels so good to back in Elfhame even if it is through a handful of pages. I enjoyed this short story because we get another person’s perspective of the twisted dynamics that play between Cardan and Jude. And more importantly, we watch and understand the relationship that blooms between Taryn and Locke. UGH, and LOCKE! He is such a weasel. I hope his trickster ways finally catch up to him.
I also liked that Taryn puts her heart and soul in this confession to Jude–we begin to understand Taryn’s motivations and heartache. But overall, even with Taryn’s actions explained, I still do not sympathize with her.
Taryn, I swear, you need to get it together, because Jude doesn’t take betrayal too lightly!
My Rating of :
Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme created and hosted by The Bionic Book Worm.
Click on my book cover or my photographs to be linked to my review or the book’s Goodreads page.
(CLICK ON THE BOOK COVER TO BE LINKED TO MY REVIEW OR ITS GOODREADS’ PAGE)
Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme created and hosted by The Bionic Book Worm.
Click on my photographs or book cover to be linked to my review or the book’s Goodreads page.
The UK edition of Caraval has five different mystery “under the covers,” which include a dress, clock, tent, rose, or top hat.
While trying to collect different versions of The Night Circus, I found this beauty.
I can’t find a personal picture that I have taken of the naked hardcover of The Cruel Prince, but if you ever lift up the jacket–behold the beauty!
I am currently collecting all four “under the cover” hardcovers of Legendary. My favorite so far is the Shattered Crown edition.
Once again, I cannot find a personal picture, but you guys, trust me, the naked hardcover of The Wicked Deep is beautiful. If you ever find a copy, the hardback has a moon and stars foiled into the hardback. I love it.
Welcome to my monthly recap post, in which I highlight the books I read in the last month, bookish items I acquired, book events I attended, bookish news, and/or subscription boxes I received this month.
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I received one of the Spring 2018 ARC boxes from Fierce Reads. Thank you, Fierce Reads. I cannot wait to read and review these beauties.
Sarah Barley from Flatiron Books made my biggest dream come true and provided me an early copy of Legendary. Spoiler: I read it and LOVED IT! Review to come soon.
My friend Cassidy sent me a copy of Brightly Burning, and then a week later HMHTeen sent me a review copy. Now I have two copies, so expect a giveaway on one of my social media accounts soon. Also, I read it, and really enjoyed it.
Title: The Cruel Prince
Author: Holly Black
Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date: January 2, 2018
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Synopsis:
Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.
And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.
Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.
To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.
In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository
You guys this book broke me in the best ways possible. At first, The Cruel Prince shocked me with its grim and gruesome first chapter. But then I was slowly dangled into the cruel politics of the fairy world. At first, I liked the story, but I felt like something was missing. My stubborn self craved so much more than family history and fae politics. Plus I was not a big fan of the sister dynamics that were wearing down on my last nerve.
Once I got to the 150ish page mark, I could not put this book down. I was engrossed with the storyline’s darkness, the espionage, the secrets, the twists, and OHMYGOD that ending!
The Cruel Prince is a gorgeous and gritty read. It’s simply a stunner from the beautiful cover to the unique characters and all the unexpected plot twists. This book has everything from mouth-dropping scenes, several punch in the gut romances, and the most unforeseen betrayal that had me grasping for more pages.
I am floored that this book did a 180 on me and I cannot wait for book two. If there is one book that I highly recommend that you TREAT YO SHELF to at the beginning of 2018, please for the love of all fairies, pick up The Cruel Prince. You will not regret it.
NOTE: I was not provided a copy of this book by the author or the publisher in an exchange for a review. I received an advance reader’s copy through a blogger book trade and reviewed it at my own discretion. All statements and opinions in this review are mine.
Welcome to my monthly recap post, in which I fangirl over the books I read in the last month, bookish items I acquired, book events I attended, bookish news, and/or subscription boxes I received this month.
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Thank you to Fierce Reads/Macmillan for an ARC of To Kill A Kingdom.
A huge thank you to Sarah Barley and Flatiron Books for The Hazel Wood tote bag and an ARC of I’m Not Missing by Carrie Fountain.
Thank you to Jaime at Fiction Fare for the trade. I read The Cruel Prince immediately and loved it.
Icey Designs created an Uprooted themed candle and it smells so good.
My friend Shannon gifted me this beautiful book sleeve that is A Million Junes themed. EEKKK…THANK YOU, SHAN!
rants and raves of a bibliophile 