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?

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: The Armored Saint by Myke Cole

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

The Armored Saint (The Sacred Throne #1) by Myke Cole


Publication date: 2/20/2018
Publisher: Tor Books

"Cole weaves a fantasy world that feels comfortably familiar, then goes to places you’d never expect. You won’t stop turning pages until the stunning finish." ―Peter V. Brett
Myke Cole, star of CBS's Hunted and author of the Shadow Ops series, debuts the Sacred Throne epic fantasy trilogy with The Armored Saint, a story of religious tyrants, arcane war-machines, and underground resistance that will enthrall epic fantasy readers of all ages.

In a world where any act of magic could open a portal to hell, the Order insures that no wizard will live to summon devils, and will kill as many innocent people as they must to prevent that greater horror. After witnessing a horrendous slaughter, the village girl Heloise opposes the Order, and risks bringing their wrath down on herself, her family, and her village

I'm ready for another great fantasy read and I have a feeling I'm going to love the heck out of this one!

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: A Plague of Giants by Kevin Hearne

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

A Plague of Giants by Kevin Hearne


Publication date: 10/03/2017
Publisher: Del Ray Books

In the start of an enchanting new series, the New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Druid Chronicles creates an unforgettable fantasy world . . . one that is forever changed when an army of giants invades. The kingdom's only hope? The discovery of a form of magic that will call the world's wondrous beasts to fight by the side of humankind.

I'm so excited for this book to be released. The premise sounds so good and I'm just ready for another great fantasy read.

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

Waiting on Wednesday: Markswoman by Rati Mehrotra

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

Markswoman by Rati Mehrotra
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication date: 01/23/2018

An order of magical-knife wielding female assassins brings both peace and chaos to their post-apocalyptic world in this bewitching blend of science fiction and epic fantasy—the first entry in a debut duology that displays the inventiveness of the works of Sarah Beth Durst, Marie Lu, and S. J. Kincaid

Kyra is the youngest Markswoman in the Order of Kali, a highly trained sisterhood of elite warriors armed with telepathic blades. Guided by a strict code of conduct, Kyra and the other Orders are sworn to protect the people of Asiana. But to be a Markswoman, an acolyte must repudiate her former life completely. Kyra has pledged to do so, yet she secretly harbors a fierce desire to avenge her dead family.

When Kyra’s beloved mentor dies in mysterious circumstances, and Tamsyn, the powerful, dangerous Mistress of Mental Arts, assumes control of the Order, Kyra is forced on the run. Using one of the strange Transport Hubs that are remnants of Asiana’s long-lost past, she finds herself in the unforgiving wilderness of desert that is home to the Order of Khur, the only Order composed of men. Among them is Rustan, a young, disillusioned Marksman whom she soon befriends.

Kyra is certain that Tamsyn committed murder in a twisted bid for power, but she has no proof. And if she fails to find it, fails in her quest to keep her beloved Order from following Tamsyn down a dark path, it could spell the beginning of the end for Kyra--and for Asiana.

But what she doesn’t realize is that the line between justice and vengeance is razor thin . . . thin as the blade of a knife.

Let's see...female assassins, post-apocalyptic, and magic. Check, check and double check! Just this synopsis has me begging to read this.

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

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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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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?

Review: Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Series: Daughter of the Pirate King, #1
Publication date: 02/28/2017
Source: Bought

There will be plenty of time for me to beat him soundly once I’ve gotten what I came for.

Sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient hidden map—the key to a legendary treasure trove—seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship.

More than a match for the ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has only one thing standing between her and the map: her captor, the unexpectedly clever and unfairly attractive first mate, Riden. But not to worry, for Alosa has a few tricks up her sleeve, and no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King.

So, with her resolve steeled, Tia set off on a quest to make it happen while avoiding her mug shot being splayed across the five o’clock news.

The journey no doubt will make for one hell of a story.

This book was filled with so many unexpected surprises. Daughter of the Pirate King wasn’t even on my radar and I have no idea how I completely missed amazing pirate adventure. This book is a definite page turner that’s for sure. Once I started, I was quickly submerged into Alosa’s world and her quest.

Alosa is my kind of heroine. She’s strong, confident, and can hold her own. This girl is fierce and I wouldn’t want to go up against her at no certain point. I enjoyed her interactions with Riden. You just never knew what was going to happen between the two. I can’t name anything that I didn’t like about this book. I enjoyed every aspect of this book. From the world building, to the richly imagined characters, I loved every bit of it.

I went into this book blind. I didn’t read any reviews. I saw the book as I was scrolling through Goodreads new releases and found myself intrigued by the synopsis. I’m so glad I took a chance, this book isn’t one that I’ll be forgetting anytime soon. As a matter of fact, I wish I had the sequel. I can only imagine what’s in store for Alosa and crew next.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

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The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon

The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon

Publisher: CreateSpace Publising
Publication date: 05/06/2016
Source: Bought

Swallow, Daughter, pull them in, those words that sit upon your lips. Lock them deep inside your soul, hide them ‘til they’ve time to grow. Close your mouth upon the power, curse not, cure not, ‘til the hour. You won’t speak and you won’t tell, you won’t call on heav’n or hell. You will learn and you will thrive. Silence, Daughter. Stay alive.

The day my mother was killed, she told my father I wouldn’t speak again, and she told him if I died, he would die too. Then she predicted the king would trade his soul and lose his son to the sky.

My father has a claim to the throne, and he is waiting in the shadows for all of my mother’s words to come to pass. He wants desperately to be king, and I just want to be free.

But freedom will require escape, and I’m a prisoner of my mother’s curse and my father’s greed. I can’t speak or make a sound, and I can’t wield a sword or beguile a king. In a land purged of enchantment, love might be the only magic left, and who could ever love . . . a bird?

I just have to start by saying, ‘WOW!’ I’ve read some of Harmon’s novels and let me tell you, this woman can write about anything in any genre. All of her books are different and everyone that I’ve read, was beautifully written. She has a way with words and you can’t help but be fascinated with her stories.

The Bird and the Sword ensnared me then had me wrapped up in its pages from beginning to end. I didn’t want the story to end. After I finished reading it, I immediately went to Goodreads to see if this would be a series because I would definitely love to read more about this wonderfully unique world that Harmon created.

Short and Simple: You should read this book! You won’t be disappointed.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

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Review: Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

Publisher: Sourcebooks
Publication date: 08/02/2016
Series: Kingmaker Chronicles, #1
Source: Bought

Catalia "Cat" Fisa is a powerful clairvoyant known as the Kingmaker. This smart-mouthed soothsayer has no interest in her powers and would much rather fly under the radar, far from the clutches of her homicidal mother. But when an ambitious warlord captures her, she may not have a choice…
Griffin is intent on bringing peace to his newly conquered realm in the magic-deprived south. When he discovers Cat is the Kingmaker, he abducts her. But Cat will do everything in her power to avoid her dangerous destiny and battle her captor at every turn. Although up for the battle, Griffin would prefer for Cat to help his people willingly, and he's ready to do whatever it takes to coax her…even if that means falling in love with her.

Promise of Fire is one of those books that once you start reading it, you won’t be able to stop. The world that Bouchet has created is fascinating. Greek Gods, dragons, magic, and unforgettable characters – what more could I ask for? Cat and Griffin have become one of my favorite couples. The tension between these two had me rooting for them throughout the book. I guess what they have could be called EPIC.

The secondary characters are just as likeable. I would find myself thinking of the team as “grinning idiots.” And I say this with love because what’s not to love when you have three warriors whose fierce loyalty goes beyond anything that Cat has ever experienced. Cat’s world is brutal and has made her stronger for it. She’s fierce - one of the things that I love about my heroines.

I can only imagine what book 2 has in store for the Beta Team. I’m thinking it’s about to go down for Cat and she’s going to have to face her past head on and I’m dreading the outcome. But who knows, she’s like a cat with nine lives. I’m ready to dive into the next book right now.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

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Waiting on Wednesday: The Rose Society 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.

**Spoiler Alert - Do not read Synopsis if you have not read the first book!

The Rose Society  by Marie Lu
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Series: The Young Elites, #2
Publication date: 10/13/2015

From New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu comes the second book in the exhilarating Young Elites series

Once upon a time, a girl had a father, a prince, a society of friends. Then they betrayed her, and she destroyed them all.

Adelina Amouteru’s heart has suffered at the hands of both family and friends, turning her down the bitter path of revenge. Now known and feared as the White Wolf, she and her sister flee Kenettra to find other Young Elites in the hopes of building her own army of allies. Her goal: to strike down the Inquisition Axis, the white-cloaked soldiers that murdered her love, the Crown Prince Enzo Valenciano.

But Adelina is no heroine. Her powers, fed only by fear and hate, have started to grow beyond her control. She does not trust her newfound Elite friends. Teren Santoro, leader of the Inquisition, wants her dead. And her former friends, Raffaele and the Dagger Society, want to stop her thirst for vengeance. Adelina struggles to cling to the good within her. But how can someone be good, when her very existence depends on darkness?

I fell in love with The Young Elites. As with anything Marie Lu writes, I've come to the  conclusion that I'll be taken on a roller coaster ride. I can't imagine what's going to go down in this book but if the last scene was anything to go by, then  we're going to be in for some major thrills.

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

Blog Tour: Stone Rider by David Hofmeyr

Stone Rider by David Hofmeyr

Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication date: 07/14/2015
Age range: 12 and Up
Source: Publisher

In the vein of The Outsiders and the early Western novels of Elmore Leonard, this inventive debut novel, a cross between the cult classic Mad Max movie series and Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, blends adrenaline-fueled action with an improbable yet tender romance to offer a rich and vivid portrayal of misfits and loners forced together in their struggle for a better life.

Adam Stone wants freedom and peace. He wants a chance to escape Blackwater, the dust-bowl desert town he grew up in. Most of all, he wants the beautiful Sadie Blood. Alongside Sadie and the dangerous outsider Kane, Adam will ride the Blackwater Trail in a brutal race that will test them all, body and soul. Only the strongest will survive.

The prize? A one-way ticket to Sky-Base and unimaginable luxury.

And for a chance at this new life, Adam will risk everything.

The beginning of this book was so intriguing that i couldn't help but be pulled into its pages. I kept having flash backs of Mad Max which made me appreciate Adam's journey even more. He's one fierce character and it was always an adventure, filled with action and danger where he was concerned. I fell completely in love with the world that David created. 

I couldn't imagine being in Adam's shoes and it's no wonder he did everything in his power to escape Blackwater. Seeing life through his eyes was downright fascinating and I felt like I was on a never-ending roller coaster with non-stop action. I can't forget to mention Sadie and Kane and how I enjoyed delving more and more into their characterizations as the story progressed.

I was completely caught off guard at how much I enjoyed this book. The time and pages just flew by as I gobbled up this story. I would without a doubt pick up the next book that this author publishes!

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

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