Waiting on Wednesday: Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson

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

Dance of Thieves (Dance of Thieves, #1) by Mary E. Pearson


Publication date: 8/07/2018
Series: Dance of Thieves, #1
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company

A new novel in the New York Times–bestselling Remnant Chronicles universe, in which a reformed thief and the young leader of an outlaw dynasty lock wits in a battle that may cost them their lives—and their hearts.

When the patriarch of the Ballenger empire dies, his son, Jase, becomes its new leader. Even nearby kingdoms bow to the strength of this outlaw family, who have always governed by their own rules. But a new era looms on the horizon, set in motion by a young queen, which makes her the target of the dynasty's resentment and anger.

At the same time, Kazi, a legendary former street thief, is sent by the queen to investigate transgressions against the new settlements. When Kazi arrives in the forbidding land of the Ballengers, she learns that there is more to Jase than she thought. As unexpected events spiral out of their control, bringing them intimately together, they continue to play a cat and mouse game of false moves and motives in order to fulfill their own secret missions.

The Remnant Chronicles is one of my favorite series and I'm so excited that I get to revisit the richly imagined world that Pearson has created.

So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Review: Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao
Publisher: Philomel Books
Publication date: 10/10/17
Series: Rise of the Empress, #1
Source: Bought

An East Asian fantasy reimagining of The Evil Queen legend about one peasant girl's quest to become Empress--and the darkness she must unleash to achieve her destiny.

Eighteen-year-old Xifeng is beautiful. The stars say she is destined for greatness, that she is meant to be Empress of Feng Lu. But only if she embraces the darkness within her. Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village on the edge of the map, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng's majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high?

Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and exploit the callous magic that runs through her veins--sorcery fueled by eating the hearts of the recently killed. For the god who has sent her on this journey will not be satisfied until his power is absolute.

First off, this book is unlike anything I’ve ever read. I honestly don’t recall reading a story through the eyes of an anti-heroine. But gosh darn it, I enjoyed every page of this book. Dao’s writing is impressive and captivating. I couldn’t put this book down if I wanted to!

Xifeng’s journey was dark and twisted and I LOVED it! I never thought I would be rooting for someone to partake in nefarious activities to achieve power. Dao did not disappoint in crafting this beautifully vivid world with complex characters, fascinating, culture, and flawless plot.

That ending couldn’t have been more perfect. I didn’t want the story to end and after I turned the last page, I just wanted more of this richly imagined book that is PERFECTION. This book for sure is in my top 10 books of 2017.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday: Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh

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

Reign of the Fallen (Reign of the Fallen, #1) by Sarah Glenn Marsh


Publication date: 1/23/2018
Publisher: Razorbill

Odessa is one of Karthia's master necromancers, catering to the kingdom's ruling Dead. Whenever a noble dies, it's Odessa's job to raise them by retrieving their souls from a dreamy and dangerous shadow world called the Deadlands. But there is a cost to being raised--the Dead must remain shrouded, or risk transforming into zombie-like monsters known as Shades. If even a hint of flesh is exposed, the grotesque transformation will begin.

A dramatic uptick in Shade attacks raises suspicions and fears among Odessa's necromancer community. Soon a crushing loss of one of their own reveals a disturbing conspiracy: someone is intentionally creating Shades by tearing shrouds from the Dead--and training them to attack. Odessa is faced with a terrifying question: What if her necromancer's magic is the weapon that brings Karthia to its knees?

~An LGBT fantasy series that follows a talented necromancer who must face down a deadly nemesis who has learned how to turn her magic into a weapon.~This is a fantasy series that I can definitely get behind. Zombies - Yes, you can count me in!

So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Blog Tour Review: Haunting the Deep by Adriana Mather

Haunting the Deep (How to Hang a Witch, #2) by Adriana Mather

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Series: How to Hang a Witch, #2
Publication date: 10/03/2017
Source: Publisher

The Titanic meets the delicious horror of Ransom Riggs and the sass of Mean Girls in this follow-up to the #1 New York Times bestseller How to Hang a Witch, in which a contemporary teen finds herself a passenger on the famous “ship of dreams”—a story made all the more fascinating because the author’s own relatives survived the doomed voyage.

Samantha Mather knew her family’s connection to the infamous Salem Witch Trials might pose obstacles to an active social life. But having survived one curse, she never thought she’d find herself at the center of a new one. 

This time, Sam is having recurring dreams about the Titanic . . . where she’s been walking the deck with first-class passengers, like her aunt and uncle. Meanwhile, in Sam’s waking life, strange missives from the Titanic have been finding their way to her, along with haunting visions of people who went down with the ship. 

Ultimately, Sam and the Descendants, along with some help from heartthrob Elijah, must unravel who is behind the spell that is drawing her ever further into the dream ship . . . and closer to sharing the same grim fate as its ghostly passengers.

Haunting the Deep is the follow up to How to Hang a Witch which follows Sam on another ghostly mission to break a spell that could quite possibly send Sam to watery grave. Anything and everything Titanic related intrigues me and the fact that this book follows Sam as she tries to navigate the mysterious workings that kept luring her onto the Titanic was just as spellbinding. Mather continues to impress by magically weaving a fascinating tale which was inspired by her own relatives surviving the voyage.

This book kept me immersed in its wonderfully woven mystery and never let go. I couldn’t put this book down no matter how many times I knew I needed to get some sleep before work. I couldn’t be more satisfied with how everything unfolded in this book. It was so great to live and experience with these characters. Fans of How to Hang a Witch will be thrilled that this book is just as captivating.

Haunting the Deep is a great follow up to How to Hang a Witch. The history, the magic, and yes the ghosts are just as enchanting. I would recommend this book to readers of all ages! It’s just that impressive!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Check out the book trailer!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Dark Calling by Kresley Cole

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

The Dark Calling (The Arcana Chronicles, #5) by Kresley Cole


Publication date: 2018?
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers

I've been waiting on pins and needles for this book! I can't find a publication date or anything! If someone knows, please share and put me out of my misery.

So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Waiting on Wednesday: Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu

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

Batman: Nightwalker (DC Icons #2) by Marie Lu



Publication date: 1/02/2018
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Before he was Batman, he was Bruce Wayne. A reckless boy willing to break the rules for a girl who may be his worst enemy.

The Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City, and Bruce Wayne is next on their list.

One by one, the city's elites are being executed as their mansions' security systems turn against them, trapping them like prey. Meanwhile, Bruce is turning eighteen and about to inherit his family's fortune, not to mention the keys to Wayne Enterprises and all the tech gadgetry his heart could ever desire. But after a run-in with the police, he's forced to do community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison that holds the city's most brutal criminals.

Madeleine Wallace is a brilliant killer . . . and Bruce's only hope.

In Arkham, Bruce meets Madeleine, a brilliant girl with ties to the Nightwalkers. What is she hiding? And why will she speak only to Bruce? Madeleine is the mystery Bruce must unravel. But is he getting her to divulge her secrets, or is he feeding her the information she needs to bring Gotham City to its knees? Bruce will walk the dark line between trust and betrayal as the Nightwalkers circle closer.

I'm a big fan of DC comics and I'm so pumped to read this one! I don't how the idea came about to write these novels but I'm going to read every last one of them and it doesn't hurt that they're written by some of my favorite authors!

So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Waiting on Wednesday: The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

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

City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy #1)
 by S.A. Chakraborty


Publication date: 11/14/2017
Publisher: Harper Voyager

Step into The City of Brass, the spellbinding debut from S. A. Chakraborty—an imaginative alchemy of The Golem and the Jinni, The Grace of Kings, and One Thousand and One Nights, in which the future of a magical Middle Eastern kingdom rests in the hands of a clever and defiant young con artist with miraculous healing gifts

Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of 18th century Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trade she uses to get by—palm readings, zars, healings—are all tricks, sleights of hand, learned skills; a means to the delightful end of swindling Ottoman nobles. 

But when Nahri accidentally summons an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior to her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to accept that the magical world she thought only existed in childhood stories is real. For the warrior tells her a new tale: across hot, windswept sands teeming with creatures of fire, and rivers where the mythical marid sleep; past ruins of once-magnificent human metropolises, and mountains where the circling hawks are not what they seem, lies Daevabad, the legendary city of brass--a city to which Nahri is irrevocably bound. 

In that city, behind gilded brass walls laced with enchantments, behind the six gates of the six djinn tribes, old resentments are simmering. And when Nahri decides to enter this world, she learns that true power is fierce and brutal. That magic cannot shield her from the dangerous web of court politics. That even the cleverest of schemes can have deadly consequences. 

After all, there is a reason they say be careful what you wish for . 

I can't tell you how thrilled I am about this book. I'm ready for this action packed adventure! Magic - check, a strong heroine - check, a djinn warrior - check, AND a diverse cast of characters - CHECK!

So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Waiting on Wednesday: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

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

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Publisher: Henry Holt Books for Young Readers
Publication date: 03/06/2018

Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zelie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were targeted and killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now, Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers—and her growing feelings for the enemy. 

If the first six chapters are anything to go by, I feel like this book will be gold!  I can't wait! You can read the first 6 chapters via NetGalley here.

So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Waiting on Wednesday: Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller

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

Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication date: 02/27/2018

The capable, confident, and occasionally ruthless heroine of Daughter of the Pirate King is back in this action-packed sequel that promises rousing high seas adventures and the perfect dash of magic.

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

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

In Daughter of the Siren Queen, Tricia Levenseller brings together the perfect mix of thrilling action, tense battle scenes, and a heart-pounding romance.

I enjoyed the first book in this series. It was stock full of everything that I love in a great adventure. You can check out my review of book 1, Daughter of the Pirate King here.

So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Waiting on Wednesday: Whichwood by Tahereh Mafi

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

Whichwood by Tahereh Mafi
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Publication date: 11/14/2017

A new adventure about a girl who is fated to wash the bodies of the dead in this companion to Furthermore.

Our story begins on a frosty night…

Laylee can barely remember the happier times before her beloved mother died. Before her father, driven by grief, lost his wits (and his way). Before she was left as the sole remaining mordeshoor in the village of Whichwood, destined to spend her days washing the bodies of the dead and preparing their souls for the afterlife. It’s become easy to forget and easier still to ignore the way her hands are stiffening and turning silver, just like her hair, and her own ever-increasing loneliness and fear.

But soon, a pair of familiar strangers appears, and Laylee’s world is turned upside down as she rediscovers color, magic, and the healing power of friendship.

Tahereh is one of my favorite authors and I'll read anything that she writes about. It sounds so mysterious!

So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Review: Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh

Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Series: Flame in the Mist, #1
Publication date: 05/16/2017

The only daughter of a prominent samurai, Mariko has always known she’d been raised for one purpose and one purpose only: to marry. Never mind her cunning, which rivals that of her twin brother, Kenshin, or her skills as an accomplished alchemist. Since Mariko was not born a boy, her fate was sealed the moment she drew her first breath.

So, at just seventeen years old, Mariko is sent to the imperial palace to meet her betrothed, a man she did not choose, for the very first time. But the journey is cut short when Mariko’s convoy is viciously attacked by the Black Clan, a dangerous group of bandits who’ve been hired to kill Mariko before she reaches the palace.

The lone survivor, Mariko narrowly escapes to the woods, where she plots her revenge. Dressed as a peasant boy, she sets out to infiltrate the Black Clan and hunt down those responsible for the target on her back. Once she’s within their ranks, though, Mariko finds for the first time she’s appreciated for her intellect and abilities. She even finds herself falling in love—a love that will force her to question everything she’s ever known about her family, her purpose, and her deepest desires.

Flame in the Mist was one of my most anticipated reads of this year and I'm so thrilled that it lived up to my expectations. It's one of those books that grabs hold right from the start and never lets up. I enjoyed reading about Mariko's journey at times treacherous as she tried to navigate in the unknown to find answers behind the plot of her death.

I'm glad that this book provided insight with some of the main characters as I like Mariko wasn't sure who to trust. I'm a fan of the world that Renee Ahdieh created. Richly imagined and beautifully written, I couldn't get enough of this book.

I can say without a doubt that I can't wait to see where this series leads. I couldn't have imagined how the events in this story unfolded but I'm so excited to see where they lead. The plot thickens! The ending was something that caught me completely by surprise.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Order FLAME IN THE MIST

Waiting on Wednesday: Gray Wolf Island by Tracey Neithercott

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

Gray Wolf Island by Tracey Neithercott
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication date: 10/10/2017

Right before Sadie died, she begged her sister, Ruby, to do the one thing she could never do herself: Find the treasure on Gray Wolf Island.

With just a mysterious treasure map as a guide, Ruby reluctantly allows some friends to join her on the hunt, each of whom is touched by magic: a boy allegedly born to a virgin, a girl who never sleeps, a boy who can foresee his own death, and a boy with deep ties to the island. Each of them is also keeping a secret—something they’ll have to reveal in order to reach the treasure.

As the secrets come to light, Ruby will have to decide: Can she make peace with her friends’ troubled pasts and continue to trust them? Can she forgive herself for doing the unspeakable? Deep in the wilderness of Gray Wolf Island, Ruby’s choices will determine if they make it out with the treasure—or merely with their lives.

From debut author Tracey Neithercott comes a darkly compelling tale of profound friendship, adventure, and finding the strength to tell the truth.

This book sounds like it's going to be full of danger and adventure. It's right up my alley!

So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Spotlight: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication date: 09/0/2015

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

With the much anticipated movie release, I had to hurry up and read this book. I'd heard so many great things about it and I finally stopped what I was doing to immerse myself in the story. I enjoyed reading about Maddie and Olly. I'm sure I'm not the only one but that bundt cake scene was hilarious! From the cute drawings, diagrams, and the text messages between Maddy and Olly, I appreciated how their relationship progressed. I couldn't get enough of them. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was such a sweet story and I'm so excited to see the movie this weekend. Who else is going out to see the movie?

Check out the movie trailer!

Waiting on Wednesday: Unearthed by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

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

Unearthed by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication date: 01/19/2018

When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution the planet has been waiting for. The Undying's advanced technology has the potential to undo environmental damage and turn lives around, and Gaia, their former home planet, is a treasure trove waiting to be uncovered.

For Jules Addison and his fellow scholars, the discovery of an alien culture offers unprecedented opportunity for study... as long as scavengers like Amelia Radcliffe don't loot everything first. Mia and Jules' different reasons for smuggling themselves onto Gaia put them immediately at odds, but after escaping a dangerous confrontation with other scavvers, they form a fragile alliance.

In order to penetrate the Undying temple and reach the tech and information hidden within, the two must decode the ancient race's secrets and survive their traps. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more their presence in the temple seems to be part of a grand design that could spell the end of the human race... 

I'm really looking forward to reading this book! It sounds like it's going to be full of adventure.

So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Review: Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Series: To All the Boys I've Loved Before, #3
Publication date: 05/02/2017
Source: Bought

Lara Jean’s letter-writing days aren’t over in this surprise follow-up to the New York Times bestselling To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You.

Lara Jean is having the best senior year a girl could ever hope for. She is head over heels in love with her boyfriend, Peter; her dad’s finally getting remarried to their next door neighbor, Ms. Rothschild; and Margot’s coming home for the summer just in time for the wedding.

But change is looming on the horizon. And while Lara Jean is having fun and keeping busy helping plan her father’s wedding, she can’t ignore the big life decisions she has to make. Most pressingly, where she wants to go to college and what that means for her relationship with Peter. She watched her sister Margot go through these growing pains. Now Lara Jean’s the one who’ll be graduating high school and leaving for college and leaving her family—and possibly the boy she loves—behind.

When your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?

I blew right through this series. I read the first back when it came out so I re-read it so I could refresh my memory before I delved into the other books. This is such a heartfelt and endearing series. I had so many nostalgic moments while reading this book. This book is so relatable and I found myself wanting to know more and more about what happens with the characters as they embark on the next chapter in their lives.

There were so many “Oh Lara Jean” and “Oh Peter” moments. Lara Jean is such a quirky and cute character. I had so many laugh out loud moments with this series. I’m actually sad to see it end. To be honest, If Jenny Han decides to write more books with Lara Jean, I’ll be there ready to buy it. I love the family dynamics. Kitty was such a character. I enjoyed reading about their lives and their interactions which warmed my heart. This was such a great series and I’m going to miss it. I don’t know, I feel like I just lost a friend. That’s how connected I felt to these characters.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Order ALWAYS AND FOREVER, LARA JEAN

Waiting on Wednesday: Last Star Burning by Caitlin Sangster

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

Last Star Burning by Caitlin Sangster
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication date: 10/10/2017

To escape execution for a crime she didn’t commit, seventeen-year-old Sev is forced to run away from the only home she’s ever known in this exciting start to a brand-new fantasy series from debut author Caitlin Sangster.

Sev has been branded a criminal since she was eight. That’s the penalty for being the daughter of the woman who betrayed their entire nation.

Now her mother’s body is displayed above Traitor’s Arch, kept in a paralyzed half-sleep by the same plague that destroyed the rest of the world. And as further punishment, Sev must do hard labor to prove that she’s more valuable alive than dead.

When the government blames Sev for a horrific bombing, she must escape the city or face the chopping block. Unimaginable dangers lurk outside the city walls, and Sev’s only hope of survival lies with the most unlikely person—Howl, the chairman’s son. Though he promises to lead her to safety, Howl has secrets, and Sev can’t help but wonder if he knows more about her past—and her mother’s crimes—than he lets on.

But in a hostile world, trust is a luxury. Even when Sev’s life and the lives of everyone she loves may hang in the balance.

I'm really intrigued by the synopsis. Life or death stakes - Count me in!

So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Review: Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Series: Strange the Dreamer, #1
Publication date: 03/28/2017
Source: Bought

The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?

The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?

Welcome to Weep.

This review is going to be short and sweet. I just have no words to express how amazing this book is. Laini is the queen of extraordinary. I love to live in the worlds that she creates. Her world building and characters are incomparable. The originality and storytelling is beyond words. I’m in awe of her books. Once I started STRANGE THE DREAMER, I knew I wouldn’t be able to put it down. I was so wrapped up in the magical musings of Lazlo Strange and the mysteries of Weep that I had no choice but to lock myself up in a room so I wouldn’t be bothered.

These characters are fantastical. I loved everything about them and their stories are beautiful and heartbreaking. I’m just speechless and I can’t praise Laini’s ability to create these magical worlds enough. This book took me on a journey and I didn’t want the story to end. Gosh, that was one heck of an ending! I really didn’t know what to do with myself after finishing this book. All I can say is I’ll be pre-ordering the sequel as soon as it’s available. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

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Review: Shadow Run by Michael Miller & AdriAnne Strickland

Shadown Run by Michael Miller & AdriAnne Strickland

Publisher: Delacorte Press
Series: Kaitan Chronicles, #1
Publication date: 03/21/2017
Source: Bought

Firefly meets Dune in this action-packed sci-fi adventure about a close-knit, found family of a crew navigating a galaxy of political intrigue and resource-driven power games.

Nev has just joined the crew of the starship Kaitan Heritage as the cargo loader. His captain, Qole, is the youngest-ever person to command her own ship, but she brooks no argument from her crew of orphans, fugitives, and con men. Nev can't resist her, even if her ship is an antique. 

As for Nev, he's a prince, in hiding on the ship. He believes Qole holds the key to changing galactic civilization, and when her cooperation proves difficult to obtain, Nev resolves to get her to his home planet by any means necessary. 

But before they know it, a rival royal family is after Qole too, and they're more interested in stealing her abilities than in keeping her alive. 

Nev's mission to manipulate Qole becomes one to save her, and to survive, she'll have to trust her would-be kidnapper. He may be royalty, but Qole is discovering a deep reservoir of power--and stars have mercy on whoever tries to hurt her ship or her crew.

You had me at Firefly. That mention is what piqued my interest in reading this book. It was a great hook too and I’m thrilled that Shadow Run lived up to my expectations. With its mash-up of interesting and unforgettable characters, Shadow Run lured me deeper into its action-packed galactic universe. I enjoyed this book immensely!

Qole represents all that I love about heroines in books. She’s strong but still has her vulnerable moments. She will fight for her crew no matter what’s at stake. Simply put, she’s a total bad-ass.  But you know what? Nev had to be my favorite character. He embodied everything that I could hope for and more in a hero. He was so unexpected and refreshing. I looked forward to reading his POV.

From its rich descriptions of the Kaitan and the different planets to the constant adrenaline rush of excitement and danger, Shadow Run kept me immersed in its pages. This book is one of those gems that caught me completely by surprise. I’m looking forward to reading the next chapter in this exciting new series.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Order SHADOW RUN

Waiting on Wednesday: Iron Gold by Pierce Brown

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

Iron Gold (Iron Gold, #1) by Pierce Brown
Publisher: Del Ray
Publication date: 10/31/2017

Pierce Brown expands the size and scope of his #1 New York Times bestselling Red Rising series with a brand-new adventure of revolution and betrayal among the stars.

If you want to know more about Iron Gold, read this article by Entertainment Weekly. 

Pierce's Red Rising Series was one of my favorites and I can't wait to delve back into the world of Darrow.

So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?