Waiting on Wednesday: An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

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

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publication date: 09/26/2017

Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread, weave cloth, or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and Isobel’s paintings are highly prized among them. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes – a weakness that could cost him his life.

Furious and devastated, Rook spirits her away to the autumnlands to stand trial for her crime. Waylaid by the Wild Hunt’s ghostly hounds, the tainted influence of the Alder King, and hideous monsters risen from barrow mounds, Isobel and Rook depend on one another for survival. Their alliance blossoms into trust, then love, violating the fair folks’ ruthless Good Law. To save both their lives, Isobel must drink from the Green Well, whose water will transform her into a fair one—at the cost of her Craft, for immortality is as stagnant as it is timeless.

Isobel has a choice: she can sacrifice her art for a future, or arm herself with paint and canvas against the ancient power of the fairy courts. Because secretly, her Craft represents a threat the fair folk have never faced in all the millennia of their unchanging lives: for the first time, her portraits have the power to make them feel.

I don't know about you but this book...this book y'all! I'm ready to read this like yesterday!

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

Waiting on Wednesday: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

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

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Publication date: 05/05/2015
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses , #1
Age range: 14 - 17 Years

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 over the faerie lands is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin-and his world-forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristen Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

I've heard so many great things about this book! I'm a picky girl and all of Sarah's books have received 5 stars from me & that says a lot. She is an auto buy author for me and I just know that I'll love this book just as much as her Throne of Glass Series.

After I read this book, I'm going to come back and poll everyone on a question that I asked Sarah: On a scale of 1-10, how does Tamlin stack up against Dorian on Hotness? Her response was: This is literally the hardest question anyone has ever asked me. Well, I don't know about you people, but that says a lot so let's get this question answered! I'm so excited to meet Tamlin!


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

Blog Tour: Interview (The Torn Wing by Kiki Hamilton)

I'm today's Blog Tour Stop for Kiki Hamilton's sequel THE TORN WING. I'm so excited she agreed to answers some questions about her books. THE TORN WING is in stores now and hope that you will check it out! Kiki is going to be giving away a signed copy of THE TORN WING to someone just for commenting during the blog tour (http://www.kikihamilton.com/).

Kiki Hamilton is the author of THE FAERIE RING fantasy series. She believes in magic and the idea of hidden worlds co-existing with our own. Kiki lives near Seattle, though she dreams of living in London one day. Visit her website at: www.kikihamilton.com.

How did you choose the genre you write in? When I started my first book (not THE FAERIE RING) I thought I’d write a fun fantasy book for my daughter, who was 9 or 10 at the time. But the story took on a life of its own and ended up being YA. THE FAERIE RING was the second book I wrote. Now, several years later, I’ve written a YA contemporary novel, as well, entitled THE LAST DANCE, which I think is going to come out next month! Stay tuned. So, in answer to your question, it’s not so much me choosing the genre as choosing which story I want to tell.

Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult? There were lots of books that influenced me growing up – I loved to read. I’d read 3 books a week in high school (apparently we didn’t have as much homework back then…ahem….) But as I got older and went to college, I had less and less time and didn’t read as much. It was when I picked up Harry Potter around 2006 that I remembered the magic of reading: what it was like to fall into a book and become someone else, to live in another world and experience wondrous events. That’s when I started writing.

Can you tell us what you love the most about writing your books? Honestly, I write what I want to read, so the thing I like best is finding out what’s going to happen next! Though I often know generally what’s going to happen, it’s not unusual for characters to take over and do what they want – or for new characters to show up. I do like creating the worlds that my characters live in and creating the characters themselves – especially the secrets that they keep - and deciding when the reader gets to know some of them. ;-)

Can you share a teaser with your readers? What can we expect in the sequel? There are a number of secrets revealed in THE TORN WING, which is kind of fun. I wonder if your readers can guess what any of them are? Also, here’s one of my favorite scenes:

His gaze burned a path as tangible as a fingertip caressing her skin. She shivered—whether in pleasure or fear, she was unsure.

His words were soft. “Maybe it’s because I’ve placed my life in your hands.” He took her hand, turning her palm up and ran his fingertips gently over her skin. “Have you kept my secret?”

Tiki stared into his eyes, powerless to look away. “Yes,” she whispered.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why? I re-wrote this book a number of times, but in the end I’m so glad I did, because I ended up with exactly the story I wanted to tell. There are many parts in THE TORN WING that I love so it’s hard to pick a favorite, but I’d probably say the last few chapters – and you’ll have to read them to figure out why.

What's next for you and your books? Is there anything you would like to share with readers? I am back to work full-time in the ‘real’ world in a job I love, so my writing time (and marketing time!) is much more limited, but I’m hoping to have Book Three, THE SEVEN YEAR KING, out next May with the cover reveal in January. Here’s the cover now:

And as I mentioned above, my YA contemporary THE LAST DANCE will be coming out in October. Here’s the cover and the blurb:

Two people couldn't be more opposite...

Kellen Peterson, the gorgeous star quarterback of the Griffin High football team, seems to have it all. Until the night of the Homecoming game, when Kellen gets tacked and suffers a traumatic brain injury - an injury that changes his life - including his ability to walk, talk and throw a football.

Ivy Ly is a senior and counting down the days until she can escape to college. Though her parents have big plans for her to be a doctor, Ivy is afraid to tell them she'd rather pursue music as a career.

Ivy's best friend, Mira, is obsessed with Kellen. When Ivy is asked to tutor the injured football player upon his return to school, she thinks it's the perfect opportunity for Mira to get to know him better - but sparks fly - in more ways than one...

So stay tuned for those new books! Also, anyone willing to post reviews on online buying sites, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads etc. I would be very grateful! 

Thanks for stopping by Kiki!

To check out the other tour stops for Kiki's books, please visit the following sites for a chance to win a signed copy of THE TORN WING.

Monday, Oct 1st Book Briefs www.bookbriefs.blogspot.com
Tuesday, Oct 2nd Step into Fiction http://stepintofiction.blogspot.com
Wednesday, Oct 3rd Good Choice Reading www.goodchoicereading.com
Thursday, Oct 4th Patricia's Particularity www.patriciasparticularty.com

Review: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

CLOCKWORK PRINCE (Infernal Devices, #2) by Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication date: 12/6/2011
Pages: 528
Age range: 14 - 17 Years
Series Title: Infernal Devices Series
Source: Publisher (ARC)

The situation at the London Institute has never been more precarious. With Mortmain and his clockwork army still threatening, the Council wants to strip Charlotte of her power and hand the running of the Enclave over to the unscrupulous and power-hungry Benedict Lightwood.

In the hope of saving Charlotte and the Institute, Will, Jem, and Tessa set out to unravel the secrets of Mortmain's past—and discover unsettling Shadowhunter connections that hold the key not only to the enemy's motivations, but also to the secret of Tessa's identity. Tessa, already caught between the affections of Will and Jem, finds herself with another choice to make when she learns how the Shadowhunters helped make her a "monster." Will she turn from them to her brother, Nate, who has been begging her to join him at Mortmain's side? Where will her loyalties—and love—lie? Tessa alone can choose to save the Shadowhunters of London...or end them forever.

Fans of CLOCKWORK ANGEL will be thrown back into the wondrous world that is the Infernal Devices. In this installment, Clare pulls the reader deeper into the inner workings of Shadowhunter politics as Tessa, Will, Jem, and friends try to hunt down the illusive Magister. This series is so addictive – you don’t want to put it down!

This book broke my heart. All of these characters are fighting or yearning for something. I got to know each and every one of these characters on a deeper level. Clare continues to keep up in suspense as far as Tessa’s origins. But, we do get some shockers as the twists continue to throw you for a loop. Let me state again how much I adore love triangles. CLOCKWORK PRINCE had me twisted up all inside as Tessa tried to understand her feelings for Will and Jem. It’s a good one – that’s all I’m going to say on that!

It’s amazing that Clare can continue to craft these amazing books filled with lovable characters and great story telling. It always comes down to that last chapter/page. I always dread turning to the last page of these books. I never know what to expect because surely the wait is mind-boggling. I’ve fallen in love with these characters and I can’t wait to continue their journey in the next installment.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

---

Check out the Book Trailer!

Review: The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

THE IRON WITCH by Karen Mahoney

Pub. Date: February 2011
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd.
Format: Paperback , 299pp
Age Range: Young Adult
Source: Publisher

Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.

When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

Mini Review
I love the cover of this book and the synopsis is what really made me want to get my hands on it. With high praise from and a comparison to some of my favorite authors, I had a feeling I would enjoy THE IRON WITCH immensely. This book immediately pulled me into the life of Donna as she tried to remain in the background while keeping her secrets. A secret that she’s kept from her best friend Navin until an attack blows the lid off of her hidden world.

I really liked how Donna met Xan. I think their meeting really set the story up for me and I realized as I read along how I kept wanting to read more and more scenes with them. About half-way through the book, the plot seemed to drag a bit. I wanted the story to speed up and get into the nit and grit of things. There were times when I thought conversations were redundant and a bit childish at times. I was hoping that the fey in this book would be scarier and darker but they served their purpose - not at all like Julie Kagawa’s or Leslie Livingston’s fey which I already have on a high pedestal. I had high expectations going into this book but overall, it was a good read just not what I had in mind.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Review: The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

THE REPLACEMENT by Brenna Yovanoff

Pub. Date: September 2010

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Format: Hardcover, 352pp

Age Range: Young Adult

Source: Publisher

Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a ReplacementÑleft in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.

Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate. But when TateÕs baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.

Edward Scissorhands meets The Catcher in the Rye in this wildly imaginative and frighteningly beautiful horror novel about an unusual boy and his search for a place to belong.

The town of Gentry is eerie and captivating. What’s so mysterious about this place and what are the dark secrets that it holds? The answers are disturbing indeed. Mackie Doyle, a replacement switched years ago with a human baby now lives his life in the shadows. He knows things are not right but he has to stay inconspicuous to avoid the dangers of standing out in a town where different is targeted. This book is creepy and oh so good. I didn’t know what to expect going into this book but I finished it with relish.

I love the whole eerie town of Gentry where steel and iron is placed to keep the evil away. I was surprised with Mackie’s family and how they treated him considering but I was even more shocked with at the town’s indifference of the strange workings going on with the replacements. I felt so bad for Mackie and how his surroundings were poisonous to his very being. He had it rough and I couldn’t wait for him to come out of the shadows and take back his life or at least try to truly live without having to worry about what people thought. Brenna created this creepy and disturbing world of Gentry and I couldn’t get enough of it. Now that I think about it, the cover is disturbingly beautiful but now I see why. Oh and the Underworld, one word – SCARY! I was 100% creeped out!

If you’re a lover of Faerie, be ready for the darker and disturbing mysteries of these creatures inside Mackie’s world. Lock your doors and bar the kids’ rooms with iron and steel! You never know what’s waiting in the shadows. I enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more books by Brenna Yovanoff.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

---

Check out the book trailer!

Review: The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

THE IRON DAUGHTER by Julie Kagawa

Pub. Date: August 2010

Publisher: Harlequin

Format: Paperback, 304pp

Age Range: Young Adult

Series: The Iron Fey Series, #2

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

Meghan Chase, the poor girl can't catch a break. Well, this is nothing new for the half-fey daughter of Oberon, king of the summer court. With danger lurking around every corner and enemies hiding in every shadow, The Iron Daughter is a non-stop page turner.

After reading this book, this series has become one of my favorite YA series. The Iron King, the first book in this series was perfect and I wondered if the sequel would be able to hold a flame to it. This action packed, fast paced sequel did more that meet its predecessor - it burned it up! There was never a dull or slow paced moment in this book. This book had it all! Action, romance, suspense, danger, and humor littered the pages - turning this book into an unforgettable and highly entertaining read.

I love Kagawa's writing style and the amazing job/recreation that she did with the characters in this book. I have so many favorites that I can't write down everything that I loved about them. One of my favorite lines and I always snicker when I read it comes from the Great and lovable feline Grimalkin - "I am a cat." I have to mention my two favorite faeries in this series - Ash and Puck. Is there a thing such as Team Pash (It means a passionate kiss; snog, make out, kiss) I can tell you that these two are definitely kissable! Just ask Meghan! If you are new to this series, you don't know what you're missing. This series is a must read!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars