Bookish Delight #11: Slayer by Kiersten White

Bookish Delight of the Month (Bookish Delight for short) is a monthly feature in which I’ll spotlight the number one book I’m most anticipating at the beginning of the month it releases. This could be a book I don’t have yet, or have an ARC of already – even a book I’m already reading, because it doesn’t matter whether I have it or not, or have read it or not – this is just all about me spotlighting the book I’m most excited for in a given month.

So, without further adieu, let’s get started!

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The book I’m most highly anticipating in January is… Slayer by Kiersten White! This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who knows me. I’m a HUGE fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer AND Kiersten White (though I read her debut trilogy before I was a blogger, so it’s not reviewed on here).

So yeah, this book has me PUMPED. I’ve been excited for it since it was first announced. I do have an ARC that an amazing friend acquired for me, but I definitely plan on buying it when it releases, as well!

Cover and synopsis time!!!

Into every generation a Slayer is born…

Nina and her twin sister, Artemis, are far from normal. It’s hard to be when you grow up at the Watcher’s Academy, which is a bit different from your average boarding school. Here teens are trained as guides for Slayers—girls gifted with supernatural strength to fight the forces of darkness. But while Nina’s mother is a prominent member of the Watcher’s Council, Nina has never embraced the violent Watcher lifestyle. Instead she follows her instincts to heal, carving out a place for herself as the school medic.

Until the day Nina’s life changes forever.

Thanks to Buffy, the famous (and infamous) Slayer that Nina’s father died protecting, Nina is not only the newest Chosen One—she’s the last Slayer, ever. Period.

As Nina hones her skills with her Watcher-in-training, Leo, there’s plenty to keep her occupied: a monster fighting ring, a demon who eats happiness, a shadowy figure that keeps popping up in Nina’s dreams…

But it’s not until bodies start turning up that Nina’s new powers will truly be tested—because someone she loves might be next.

One thing is clear: Being Chosen is easy. Making choices is hard.

Goodreads

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So, what is your most anticipated book of January? Share it in the comments!

2018 End of Year Book Survey

Dec31

Another year has come and gone, and I’m no closer to getting out of this reading/blogging/life slump I’ve been in since, like, 2015. TBH, it’s getting really old and and I’m really.. tired. And frustrated. I know why I’m in this slump (reasons I’m not ready to share), but I just can’t shake it. However, I will say that I’ve been taking certain personal steps to try to get better and I’m REALLY hoping 2019 will be my year to shine. Because, guys… I have SO many fun post ideas and SO MANY THINGS I want to share with you. And all the features I’ve started and neglected over the years? Yeah, I miss doing them.

I also hate feeling like I’ve let everyone – friends, fellow bloggers, authors, publicists, etc – down. I know blogging is a hobby and I don’t owe anyone anything, but this blog is my baby and I’m tired of missing deadlines and not finishing books and not getting things done and just… Blah. That’s all. Just.. Blah.

So anyway.. I thought 2017 was my worst reading year but this year was actually worse than 2017. I read less and struggled more. So I don’t even know how interesting my survey will be because I don’t have many books to share with you, but the ones I DID love, I loved with all my heart and I definitely want to use this survey to push those on you guys!

This survey is hosted by the lovely Jamie @ The Perpetual Page Turner. All questions and images belong to her! Thanks, Jamie!!

So yeah, we’ll see how this goes! Enjoy!

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**2018 READING STATS**

Number Of Books You Read: 30 … Which is sad and pathetic :( (I mean this for me and my personal goals. If this was your goal and you’re excited, I mean no offense! It’s just disappointing for me, considering I used to read double that or more…)
Number of Re-Reads: 3
Genre You Read The Most From: My usual science fiction/fantasy, thriller, retellings, etc.

1. Best Book You Read In 2018? There were 3 I truly loved, and since I didn’t read many I truly loved in 2018 because of my reading slump, I’ll list all 3 (in no particular order):

Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh
A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney
Renegades by Marissa Meyer

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t? There were three:

Royals by Rachel Hawkins: I LOVE Rachel’s books and I LOVE royalty stories. But this just.. didn’t do it for me, unfortunately.

My Plain Jane by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand and Jodi Meadows: With how much I LOVED My Lady Jane, I expected more from this. I struggled just to finish it :(

Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones: This book let me down so much, I can’t even talk about it. You guys know how much I LOVED Wintersong. So just.. yeah. I can’t even talk about this book. It doesn’t exist, tbh.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read? A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer. I don’t remember why, but I was hesitant to read this book when I first heard about it. And then I ended up LOVING IT so much! My review will be up in January, so stay tuned!

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)? As a bookseller, I push a LOT of books on people nowadays – even more so than when I was just a blogger. But I probably pushed Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi more than anything. IT’S SO GOOD, GUYS! PERCY JACKSON MEETS SAILOR MOON!!!!!!! I CANNOT wait for the sequel!

5. Best series you started in 2018? Best Sequel of 2018? Best Series Ender of 2018? Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh and Renegades by Marissa Meyer tie for best series I started in 2018. Archenemies by Marissa Meyer was definitely the best sequel of 2018. And the best series ender, hands down, would have to be A Sorrow Fierce and Falling by Jessica Cluess.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2018? L.L. McKinney and Sarah Glenn Marsh are going to tie on this one!

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone? I read out of my comfort zone a LOT this year because I host the Barnes & Noble Book Club for my store. My answer isn’t TOTALLY out of my comfort zone because it’s still sci-fi/fantasy, which I do read a lot of. But it was adult, not teen, so it still counts (right?). And that answer is An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green. It was the third B&N Book Club book and I REALLY loved it!! I didn’t review it on my blog (I don’t review books I read for work, except in special circumstances), but I would give it 4.5 stars, if I did!

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year? Definitely A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney! I’m already super pumped for the sequel (THE COVER IS FIERCE!!!!), PLUS it was optioned for television!!!!!!!

9. Book You Read In 2018 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year? I might re-read Reign of the Fallen before I read book two, and maybe A Blade So Black right before that sequel releases next September. But otherwise, I plan to do some re-reading of series books I need to catch up on or finally finish (Like Throne of Glass, Six of Crows, etc).

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2018?

11. Most memorable character of 2018? Nova from Renegades and Archenemies (Marissa Meyer). She’s definitely one of my favorite book villains of all time!

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2018? The Glass Butterfly by A.G. Howard. Anita is a master storyteller. She creates these incredible worlds and her writing just sucks you in.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2018? #Murdertrending by Gretchen McNeil. With what’s happening in our world right now, the plot of this book felt chillingly possible – like it could actually happen. It was a bit creepy to read because of that, tbh.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2018 to finally read? Renegades by Marissa Meyer. It was one of my absolute favorite books of the year, and definitely my favorite of her books. I’m KICKING myself for waiting so long to read it!

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2018? I’ve been really bad about keeping treack of quotes, so I don’t have one, unfortunately..:(

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2018? Longest was Archenemies by Marissa Meyer, shortest was Reach Higher: An Inspiring Photo Celebration of First Lady Michelle Obama by Amanda Lucidon

17. Book That Shocked You The Most I… have no idea.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!) Henrietta and Magnus from the Kingdom on Fire trilogy!

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year Errr….. I don’t know if I have one… Or I do and just can’t remember it.. Which is pathetic, but I’ll blame it on my slump.

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2018 From An Author You’ve Read Previously Definitely Renegades by Marissa Meyer… Which, for those who know me and know how much I LOVE fairy tale retellings, you know that’s saying a LOT because I really loved The Lunar Chronicles. But the Renegades series is just absolute gold.

21. Best Book You Read In 2018 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure: Again, I was in such a reading slump, I really just read within my comfort zone and based on my TBR and review pile, so… :(

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2018? Probably Magnus from the Kingdom on Fire trilogy!

23. Best 2018 debut you read? Another tie with A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney and Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year? A tie between A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney and Renegades by Marissa Meyer

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read? There were a couple that all had their moments. But I read so little and struggled so much, I couldn’t say which ones. Most likely the same ones that keep coming up as my answers for the other questions.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2018? See answer to question above… There were a couple that all had their moments. But I read so little and struggled so much, I couldn’t say which ones. Most likely the same ones that keep coming up as my answers for the other questions.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year? I mean, any book I ended up loving was a hidden gem for me, bahahaha. But seriously, I mean that. I struggled so much that any book I loved was a gem, in my opinion.

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul? I’m going to have to go with City of Bastards by Andrew Shvarts because it was super intense and super insane and OMG THAT ENDING and I NEED BOOK THREE ASAP!!! (So this one was a GOOD kind of soul crushing, haha).

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2018? Eh… I honestly don’t know. A few had unique plots, but nothing that stands out to answer this with.

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)? Shadowsong. I LOVED Wintersong so much, and HATED Shadowsong so much.. And that made me SO mad. And disappointed, tbh.

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2018? Howling Libraries

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2018? I… don’t have a favorite :( I actually feel like I need to e-evaluate my reviewing style because lately, I worry my reviews are all repetitive babble. Maybe I’m just being hard on myself because of my slump, though, idk… We’ll see how it goes in 2019, I guess!

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog? Television Tuesday: The Parallels of Emily Gilmore and Catherine de Medici

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)? Didn’t participate in any :(

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2018? In addition to my reading slump, I was also in a blogging slump so I don’t think I had any… :(

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year? My reading and blogging slump. They’ve haunted me since February 2016 and it’s been a struggle to get through the little bit of reading and blogging I HAVE managed to get done.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)? Blog Tour: Bright We Burn by Kiersten White (Excerpt)

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love? Television Tuesday: The Parallels of Emily Gilmore and Catherine de Medici

9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)? None… :( (Blame the slump).

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year? I beat my Goodreads Challenge, but only because I aimed low. I set my goal at 12 books (1 a month) and read 30.

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2018 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2019? HAHAHAHA…. With a reading slump that’s going on for almost three years now? Too many to list..

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2019 (non-debut)? Slayer by Kiersten White

3. 2019 Debut You Are Most Anticipating? Never-Contented Things by Sarah Porter

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2019? Capturing the Devil (Stalking Jack the Ripper #4) by Kerri Maniscalco (despite the fact that I haven’t gotten to Escaping from Houdini yet.. Eek! Stupid, stupid reading slump!!!)

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2019? I REALLY MORE THAN ANYTHING want to get out of this blogging and reading slump. I’m so frustrated by them, I just want to cry. I miss reading and I have SO many blog discussion post ideas and blog features I want to share with you guys..

6. A 2019 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone (if applicable): Haven’t read enough to recommend any :(

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So there you have it! Hope you guys enjoyed the survey, despite how sad and pathetic my answers were *sobs.* Don’t forget to head over to the Perpetual Page Turner to see the linky list of all the other blogs who participated. And of course, feel free to leave a comment with a link to your best of 2018 survey so I can check it out, or just answer a few of the questions in the comments!

Happy New Year, and may 2019 be better than 2018!!

Spotlight Post: Keep Her Close by Erik Therme (Author Interview)

Dec30

Hey everyone! I’m so excited to have Erik Therme here for an interview! First, here’s more about Keep Her Close:

Someone took your daughter. And nobody believes you…

Then:
Three-year-old Ally was found alone in a parking lot.
She was barefoot and dressed only in a yellow sundress. In the middle of winter.
What kind of person would abandon their daughter?

Now:
Fifteen years later and Ally has a new family.
But her real father has sent her a letter.
And now Ally is missing.

A gripping twist-filled thriller that will have you looking over your shoulder. Perfect for fans of Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train and Teresa Driscoll.

Goodreads | The Book Depository | IndieBound

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And now for the interview! Enjoy!

Describe your book in ten words or less. Go!
Someone took your daughter. No one believes you.

What inspired you to write this story?
When my daughter left for college last year, I found myself in a state of constant worry, and my imagination ran wild at the thought of something terrible happening to her. I knew I was being ridiculous, and I figured writing about it would be a good way for me to address my fears in a safe, fictional environment.

What scene do you most regret having to cut? On the flip side, what was your favorite scene that got added during edits?
The first draft of Keep Her Close had more sequences with a character named Tucker, but my editor thought he was too “quirky” (he carried a fake samurai sword and wheeled around in a wheelchair because of his severe bunions), and we ended up scaling back his tone and presence. In hindsight, it was probably for the best, but I really liked the character, and I would have loved to show more of him.

On the flip side: my editor had me add a flashback scene (detailing an affair with one of the main characters) that I was reluctant to add, but once it was written, it did give good depth to the character and story.

If you could create an “alternate ending” for your book, what – if anything – would you do differently? Why?
I’ve had a lot of readers feel the ending of Keep Her Close is too open-ended (I can’t give specifics without ruining the story), and while I stand by my ending, I could have easily added another paragraph that would have resolved the issue. That said, I’ve always been a fan of ambiguous endings, but they’ve definitely cost me reviews (and readers), so I don’t know what the right answer is.

Craziest thing you’ve had to Google for a work in progress?
The sounds (and smells) of a corpse. I’ll spare you the results.

What books would you recommend to a reader who loved yours, and wants to read something similar?
Joseph Souza and Sarah A. Denzil write thrillers that are similar to mine in substance and style. Souza’s latest—Pray for the Girl—is available for preorder, and Denzil’s newest—Only Daughter—releases in March of 2019.

What are three must-have items when you sit down to write?
Mt. Dew (chilled in the freezer); Mogwai slippers (from the movie Gremlins); and background music (in the form of movie soundtracks). Inspiration is also a bonus!

Are you working on anything new?
I’m currently finishing edits on my fifth novel (untitled), which has a tentative release date of April, 2019.

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And now for the giveaway! Thanks to Erik, we have 10 (!!!) US Amazon Kindle copies of Keep Her Close to give away! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the Author

Erik Therme has thrashed in garage bands, inadvertently harbored runaways, and met Darth Vader. When he’s not at his computer, he can be found cheering on his youngest daughter’s volleyball team, or watching horror movies with his oldest. He currently resides in Iowa City, Iowa—one of only twenty-eight places in the world that UNESCO has certified as a City of Literature.

Website
Twitter | Facebook | Amazon

Review: Archenemies by Marissa Meyer

Dec20

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Archenemies by Marissa Meyer
Series: Renegades #2
Published by Feiwel & Friends on November 6, 2018
Pages: 471
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Time is running out. Together, they can save the world. But are they each other's worst nightmare?

Nova's double life is about to get a lot more complicated:

As Insomnia, she is a full-fledged member of the Renegades, a syndicate of powerful and beloved superheroes. She works with Adrian's patrol unit to protect the weak and maintain order in Gatlon City.

As Nightmare, she is an Anarchist—a group of villains who are determined to destroy the Renegades. Nova wants vengeance against the so-called heroes who once failed her when she needed them the most.

But as Nova, her feelings for Adrian are deepening, despite the fact that he is the son of her sworn enemies and, unbeknownst to Nova, he has some dangerous secrets of his own.

In this second installment of the Renegades trilogy, Nova, Adrian, and the rest of their crew—Ruby, Oscar, and Danna—are faced with escalating crime in Gatlon City, while covert weapons and conflicting missions have Nova and Adrian questioning not only their beliefs about justice but also the feelings they have for each other.

The line between good and evil has been blurred, but what's clear to them both is that too much power could mean the end of their City—and the world—as they know it.

I don’t think there are words adequate enough to describe my love for this series. After reading this book, I can say with 100% certainty that this is my favorite Marissa Meyer series – which, for those who know me and know how much I LOVE fairy tale retellings, you know that’s saying a LOT because I really loved The Lunar Chronicles. But the Renegades series is just absolute gold. The characters are some of my favorite characters ever. The plot is intriguing and exciting. And I’m BEYOND excited that there’s a third book because two definitely would NOT have been enough.

Nova is, without a doubt, my favorite book villain ever. She’s spunky and fierce and I love everything about her. Like I mentioned in my review of Renegades, when I picture Nova in my head, I picture Mal from the Descendants movie, purple hair and all. I love everything about Nightmare – her powers, her background – even just the name Nightmare and the feelings it evokes.

Adrian was awesome, once again. Adrian’s secret is on the cusp of unraveling and I’m getting anxious for certain people to find out. I love him and Nova so much, I’m terrified for when the truth – about both of them – is revealed because I NEED them to be endgame.

Now I have to be vague because spoilers BUT… Some absolutely incredible/terrifying/shocking/holy crap things happened in this book, and the majority of them kept me on the edge of my seat. And some of the things that DIDN’T happen frustrated me – but in a good way!! There were a couple things that I was positive would happen in this book, but I guess Marissa Meyer is saving them for the finale. I guess that just means book three is going to give me a freaking heart attack!!!!! AND THE WAIT FOR BOOK THREE IS WAYYYYY TOOOO LONGGGG!!!!!!

I don’t really know what else to say. This review doesn’t do this book justice AT ALL. But to be honest, I was enjoying it so much, I sorta forgot to take better review notes – I was just too captivated and enthralled by the story to stop to make note of things as I read them. So all I can say is READ THIS BOOK – THIS SERIES – ASAP BECAUSE IT’S AMAZING AND WILL MESS WITH YOU IN THE BEST WAY!

*Clears Throat.*

I mean, I don’t think I even need to say how much I recommend this book – i would hope it’s obvious. But, just in case it’s not, I seriously highly recommend this book. If you’ve read Marissa Meyer’s other books, you’ll love it! And if you haven’t read anything by her, I recommend picking this series up first! Also, if you’re a fan of superheroes and villains, this one is definitely for you!

Spotlight Post: Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Nov9

Hey everyone! Little White Lies (Debutantes #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (November 6, 2018 – Freeform) came out this week, and it looks ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! Have you purchased it yet??

“I’m not saying this is Sawyer’s fault,” the prim and proper one said delicately. “But.”

Eighteen-year-old auto mechanic Sawyer Taft did not expect her estranged grandmother to show up at her apartment door and offer her a six-figure contract to participate in debutante season. And she definitely never imagined she would accept. But when she realizes that immersing herself in her grandmother’s “society” might mean discovering the answer to the biggest mystery of her life-her father’s identity-she signs on the dotted line and braces herself for a year of makeovers, big dresses, bigger egos, and a whole lot of bless your heart. The one thing she doesn’t expect to find is friendship, but as she’s drawn into a group of debutantes with scandalous, dangerous secrets of their own, Sawyer quickly discovers that her family isn’t the only mainstay of high society with skeletons in their closet. There are people in her grandmother’s glittering world who are not what they appear, and no one wants Sawyer poking her nose into the past. As she navigates the twisted relationships between her new friends and their powerful parents, Sawyer’s search for the truth about her own origins is just the beginning.

Set in the world of debutante balls, grand estates and rolling green hills, Little White Lies combines a charming setting, a classic fish-out-of-water story, and the sort of layered mystery only author Jennifer Lynn Barnes can pull off.

Goodreads | Amazon

The Book Depository | Kobo | IndieBound

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About the Author:

Jennifer Lynn Barnes (who mostly goes by Jen) is the author of more than a dozen critically acclaimed young adult novels. She has advanced degrees in psychology, psychiatry, and cognitive science, including graduate degrees from Cambridge University, where she was a Fulbright Scholar, and Yale University, where she received her Ph.D. in 2012. Jen wrote her first published novel when she was nineteen-years-old and sold her first five books while still in college. In additional to writing YA novels, Jen has also written original pilot scripts for television networks like USA and MTV, and she is one of the world’s leading experts on the psychology of fandom and the cognitive science of fiction and the imagination more broadly. Jen is an Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma, where she holds a dual appointment in Psychology and Professional Writing.

Website | Twitter

Bookish Delight #9 and #10: October/November Mash-Up

Nov6

So, without further adieu, let’s get started!

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Sooooo…… I kinda messed up (again). October was insanely busy and I’ve been sick the last week, so I COMPLETELY forgot to post my Bookish Delight picks. Sooooo…… Even though October is WAY over and we’re already a week into November, I’m still gonna share both! I haven’t read my October pick yet, and my November pick is releasing TODAY, so it will still be fun to share and discuss both of them. Okay.. Ready? Ready!!

October Pick:
The book I was most highly anticipating in October was… The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy (Montague Siblings #2) by Mackenzi Lee! I haven’t read The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue yet (I know, I know!!! It’s on my Immediate TBR!!!), but I’ve been excited for this book ever since it was announced. I can’t wait to dive into both the books in this series, they just look absolutely amazing and I’ve heard nothing but good things about them!

In this highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, Felicity Montague must use all her womanly wits and wiles to achieve her dreams of becoming a doctor—even if she has to scheme her way across Europe to do it. A must-have for fans of Mackenzi Lee’s extraordinary and Stonewall Honor-winning novel.

A year after an accidentally whirlwind grand tour with her brother Monty, Felicity Montague has returned to England with two goals in mind—avoid the marriage proposal of a lovestruck suitor from Edinburgh and enroll in medical school. However, her intellect and passion will never be enough in the eyes of the administrators, who see men as the sole guardians of science.

But then a window of opportunity opens—a doctor she idolizes is marrying an old friend of hers in Germany. Felicity believes if she could meet this man he could change her future, but she has no money of her own to make the trip. Luckily, a mysterious young woman is willing to pay Felicity’s way, so long as she’s allowed to travel with Felicity disguised as her maid.

In spite of her suspicions, Felicity agrees, but once the girl’s true motives are revealed, Felicity becomes part of a perilous quest that leads them from the German countryside to the promenades of Zurich to secrets lurking beneath the Atlantic.

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November Pick:
Happy Book Birthday to my November pick, Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean! I can’t even put into words how epic this book sounds – Intriguing mythology, an enchanted palace, supernatural monsters and spirits? Yes, please!!!! I CANNOT wait to get my hands on this book!!!

In a palace of illusions, nothing is what it seems.

Each generation, a competition is held to find the next empress of Honoku. The rules are simple. Survive the palace’s enchanted seasonal rooms. Conquer Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Marry the prince. All are eligible to compete—all except yōkai, supernatural monsters and spirits whom the human emperor is determined to enslave and destroy.

Mari has spent a lifetime training to become empress. Winning should be easy. And it would be, if she weren’t hiding a dangerous secret. Mari is a yōkai with the ability to transform into a terrifying monster. If discovered, her life will be forfeit. As she struggles to keep her true identity hidden, Mari’s fate collides with that of Taro, the prince who has no desire to inherit the imperial throne, and Akira, a half-human, half-yōkai outcast.

Torn between duty and love, loyalty and betrayal, vengeance and forgiveness, the choices of Mari, Taro, and Akira will decide the fate of Honoku in this beautifully written, edge-of-your-seat YA fantasy.

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So, there you have it! My (belated) October and November picks for Bookish Delight! Now, tell me: What was your most anticipated book in October? November? Have you read it/them? Did you enjoy it/them? Share it in the comments!

Review: A Sorrow Fierce and Falling by Jessica Cluess (Blog Tour)

Oct31

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: A Sorrow Fierce and Falling by Jessica Cluess (Blog Tour)

A Sorrow Fierce and Falling by Jessica Cluess
Series: Kingdom on Fire #3
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on October 16, 2018
Pages: 432
Format: Hardcover
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-half-stars

It's time for war.

After suffering terrible losses, Henrietta and Lord Blackwood have led their warriors to Sorrow-Fell, a vast estate where only those invited by a Blackwood may enter--and the ideal place to plan a final assault against the Ancients.

It's time for a wedding.

Henrietta nervously awaits her marriage to Blackwood, but when the ritual to become his bride reveals a dark secret, she realizes that Sorrow-Fell is not a safe haven; it's a trap. Convincing the sorcerers of this, however, is not easy. So with Maria, the true chosen one, and Magnus, the young man who once stole her heart, at her side, Henrietta plots a dangerous journey straight into the enemy's lair. Some will live. Some will die. All will be tested.

In this stunning conclusion to the Kingdom on Fire series, Henrietta must choose between the love from her past, the love from her present, and a love that could define her future. While battles rage, the fate of the kingdom rests on her decision: Will she fall or rise up to become the woman who saves the realm?

It's time for Henrietta to make her stand.

Hey, everyone! I’m SO excited to be on the blog tour for A Sorrow Fierce and Falling by Jessica Cluess (October 16, 2018 – Random House Books for Young Readers)! Without further adieu, here’s my review!

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This entire trilogy has been absolutely amazeballs. This book has been particularly epic in its craziness and WTF moments! The revelations and discoveries have had me on the edge of my seat, and I’ve basically just been going “?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!” and “Well shit….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” on my Goodreads updates.

Henrietta has grown sooo much from book one to book three. As I mentioned in my review of book two, she did have some stagnation in her growth; however, with this book, she really came into her own. I hate being super vague but spoilers, so let’s just say I loved her role in this story, the things that happened to her, and how her story ended. I was a little bit conflicted with two things that happened to her, but it worked out in the end, so it’s cool.

Magnus is literally my absolute favorite. He was THE BEST in this book for MANY reasons, but mainly one big reason. Again, spoilers – ugh – but.. READ THE BOOK AND YOU SHALL SEE! I love him, I loved his story arc, and I loved how his story ended. Like, it couldn’t have been any more perfect.

My love for Maria grew in this book. She was just absolutely brilliant – strong, fierce, powerful, etc. My only issue is, I thought she’d have a bigger role in the end game, and I’m surprised she didn’t. But I loved her character, and I’d kinda love to see a spin-off with her because I really want to learn more about her.

Blackwood… He had his moments, but overall, I didn’t really like him. And he did some especially awful things in this book. I don’t really think he redeemed himself in the end, but I think I understand him a bit better, and I’m.. at peace with him.. Mostly.. Another character I was meh on from the beginning was Rook, but I was shocked at how his story ended. Not sure I’ll ever get over that..

The deaths in this series have all been shocking and, for the most part, unexpected. I’ve mourned the loss of many great characters throughout this series, but this book in particular really “JK ROWLING-D” it. One death in particular broke my heart. Two other deaths shocked me because I didn’t see them coming at all. On the flip side, there were some characters that lived that shocked me, as well, because I fully expected them to die or (in some cases) remain dead.

The ending was insane and crazy and ridiculous and I still can’t wrap my mind around all that happened. Like I mentioned earlier, the revelations and discoveries were really mind-blowing in this book. I LOVED the ending, though some of it broke my heart. Yet I don’t think it could have ended any other way. I LOVED the “One Year Later” epilogue and the way it wrapped certain things up.

I highly recommend this amazing trilogy. The plot is beyond intriguing, the characters are epic, and the twists and turns will have you on the edge of your seat! I can’t wait to see what Jessica Cluess does next – she’s DEFINITELY going on the Auto-Buy Author List!

Review: A Poison Dark and Drowning by Jessica Cluess

Oct30

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: A Poison Dark and Drowning by Jessica Cluess

A Poison Dark and Drowning by Jessica Cluess
Series: Kingdom on Fire #2
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on September 19, 2017
Pages: 432
Format: Paperback
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

The magicians want her to lead. The sorcerers want her to lie. The demons want her blood. Henrietta wants to save the one she loves. But will his dark magic be her undoing?

Henrietta doesn’t need a prophecy to know that she’s in danger. She came to London to be named the chosen one, the first female sorcerer in centuries, the one who would defeat the bloodthirsty Ancients. Instead, she discovered a city ruled by secrets. And the biggest secret of all: Henrietta is not the chosen one.

Still, she must play the role in order to keep herself and Rook, her best friend and childhood love, safe. But can she truly save him? The poison in Rook’s system is transforming him into something monstrous as he begins to master dark powers of his own.

So when Henrietta finds a clue to the Ancients’ past that could turn the tide of the war, she persuades Blackwood, the mysterious Earl of Sorrow-Fell, to travel up the coast to seek out strange new weapons. And Magnus, the brave, reckless flirt who wants to win back her favor, is assigned to their mission. Together, they will face monsters, meet powerful new allies, and uncover the most devastating weapon of all: the truth.

I need to apologize to this book. The beginning started out intriguing, but a little slow, so I accused it of having Second Book Syndrome. But I was SOOO wrong. The last 100 pages were SUPER EPIC INTENSE and had me GASPING AND FLAILING AND CRYING AND SCREAMING. I’m emotionally exhausted from this book, and I’m diving RIGHT into book three because I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!!!!!!!!

For the most part, the characters remained steady in their development. I think they grew a LOT near the end, but they otherwise were on point with where they were in book one. I still adore Henrietta, though I didn’t always agree with her choices in this book. She’s still bold and fierce and I LOVE that she’s … not what she thought she was… I don’t know how else to say that without spoilers, so.. If you read the book, you know what I mean. She defies a certain trope.

I STILL love Magnus and STILL want him and I Henrietta to be End Game. But, just as I said in my review of book one, he did have some moments where I hated him and the way he behaved and the way he treated Henrietta. I’m anxious, re: the way his story ended. And I’m nervous to see where it’ll go from here. I’m still a bit confused on how I feel about Blackwood. He was kind of an ass in this book, so I don’t like him as much as I did in the first book. But I’m still intrigued by him… is that weird??

I LOVED Maria. Right off the bat, I liked her but didn’t trust her. And then I had a super wild-ass theory about her and then I WAS RIGHT AND I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THIS MEANS FOR HER IN BOOK THREE I’M SO INTRIGUED I NEED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!!!!!!

I still don’t really like or care about Rook, and I don’t ship him and Henrietta. And I know it wasn’t his fault (not completely), but he did some pretty unforgivable stuff in this book… I’m a little bit curious to see what happens with him in book three, but I also can’t see him possibly getting any redemption, particularly after that one incident…

The revelations in this book – especially, as I mentioned, in the last 100 pages – were INSANE and INTENSE and CRAZY, but also super intriguing – and many of them made complete sense. I had another wild-ass theory regarding one of the Ancients and in that I was right as well and !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVED Faerie. It was dark, twisted and creepy and I LOVE dark Faerie realms. It gave me Wintersong vibes, to a certain extent. Also, Holly Black/Tithe vibes.

Overall, this book was a bit slow in the beginning, but the ending absolutely made up for it. I HIGHLY recommend IT!!!

Blog Tour: Anna and the Apocalypse by Katharine Turner and Barry Waldo (Spotlight Post)

Oct24

Hey guys! I’m so excited to be on the blog tour for Anna and the Apocalypse by Katharine Turner and Barry Waldo (October 23, 2018, Imprint)! This book looks hilarious and epic, and I’m super excited to read it!

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.

Goodreads | Book Depository | IndieBound

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ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE Official Trailer

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About the Authors

Katharine Turner is a British writer who lives in Los Angeles, California. She loves reading books, watching movies, the otters at The Los Angeles Zoo, piña coladas and getting caught in the rain.

Barry Waldo started telling stories at a young age in rural Arkansas. He went from his first job at Showbiz Pizza Place to getting an MBA at The University of Chicago Booth School. After working at Disney, he led a team crafting the story for Mattel’s Monster High and worked with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers to launch the bestselling Monster High book series by Lisi Harrison. He’s also worked with Shana and Ahmet Zappa to create the world of Star Darlings, and with will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas.

When Barry found himself on a rainy train ride from London to Scotland, listening to a young Scottish gent explain how he was developing a zombie Christmas musical, Anna and the Apocalypse was born. Barry lives in Scotland with his husband.

Spotlight Post: Twilight of the Elves by Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos (Interview + Giveaway)

Oct23

Hey everyone! I’m so excited to have Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos here for an interview! First, here’s more about Twilight of the Elves:

I should probably start at the beginning, Zed wrote, when things first went wrong?

Zed, Brock, and their friends may have saved Freestone from destruction, but the fight against the Dangers is far from over. No one knows what to expect next from the dark power that forced the elves to abandon their city. And the influx of elf refugees in Freestone strains resources and brews resentment among the townspeople. Things have shifted between best friends Zed and Brock, as well, with their friendship crumbling under the weight of the secrets they’re keeping from each other.
When tensions reach an all-time high, Queen Me’Shala, leader of the elves, approaches the Adventurers Guild with a mission. She wants a small group of adventurers to go behind the king’s back on a covert mission to save her city, and Zed, Brock, Liza, Jett, Micah, and their elven friend Fel join the quest. To face a powerful form of magic thought to be extinct, the adventurers will have to learn how to rely on each other and fight harder than ever before.

Don’t miss this second installment of Zack Loran Clark and Nicholas Eliopulos’s Adventurers Guild trilogy, where the stakes are raised, the action is breathless, and the dangers will stop even the bravest of hearts.

Goodreads | The Book Depository | IndieBound

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And now for the interview! Enjoy!

A note from the authors: Hello, Pandora’s Books readers! We’re Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos—best friends, unapologetic super-nerds, and authors of the middle-grade fantasy novel The Adventurers Guild and its sequel, Twilight of the Elves—which comes out November 13th! We’re here to talk about elves, books, and our writing process. Thank you for having us!

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Describe your book in ten words or less. Go!
Zack: Knights, wizards, and monsters—but the monsters already won!

Nick: Yikes! (“Yikes” makes ten.)

How was working on book two different from working on book one? Most important thing you’ve learned so far?
Nick: Writing a sequel was tougher than I expected! Book 1 was all about invention—throwing in new ideas, adding new characters, constantly building this world and this story until we got to the big showdown and put a bow on it. With Book 2, we had to do right by the huge cast and detailed world we’d already established—while continuing to add to them and push in new directions.

At the same time, we knew we had to keep some developments in reserve for Book 3. It was a delicate balancing act to tell a compelling and satisfying story that also served as a bridge between the previous and forthcoming books.

Zack: Probably the most important lesson I’ve learned is to be flexible, narratively speaking. So many of our favorite ideas and plot twists weren’t in the outline—or even the first draft. Writing is like adventuring! Sometimes you have to break off the path, because it’s swarmed with undead horrors.

If you could go back to book one, and give ONE character a piece of advice, who would you give advice to and what would the advice be?
Zack: Oh man, so much of storytelling is characters making mistakes, though! Ours certainly make plenty, the consequences of which won’t be clear until even Book 3 in some cases. I’d probably warn Zed to cool it with the sugar at the initiation party, though.

Nick: And I’d tell Brock to enjoy that party while it lasted. Pretty much everything after that point is a parade of nightmares!

Craziest thing you’ve had to Google for a work in progress?
Zack: We’ve searched high and low for monster inspiration, but the most nitty-gritty Googling I’ve done for TAG involves urban planning. Where does a closed-off city like Freestone get its water? How do they tell the time? And would a pseudo-medieval society have a comprehensive filing system? (The answer is yes!)

Nick: Zack is sort of my Google for our own world-building stuff. “Did we say which planar realm slime creatures come from? How is anima different from mana, again? Do we have an elven word for ‘cool’ yet?” I’m pretty sure he’s memorized an encyclopedia’s worth of magic systems from across all media, and I’ve made use of that.

What are three must-have items when you sit down to write?
Zack: Coffee, a comfortable chair, and an outline. (I still like a plan! Even if I end up breaking it.)

Nick: Snacks, an uncomfortable chair, and music. (If I get too comfortable, I doze off as soon as the plotting gets tough.)

What books would you recommend to a reader who loved yours, and wants to read something similar?
Nick: Oh, it’s a great time to be a fantasy reader. Off the top of my head, I’d recommend The Serpent’s Secret by Sayantani DasGupta, which has the balance of thrills and laughs that we strive for. Karuna Riazi’s The Gauntlet is all about a close-knit group of friends thrown into an impossibly dangerous situation, and the sibling dynamic at its heart will resonate with fans of Zed and Brock, I think. And I love Lou Anders’ Thrones and Bones series, which pulls from some of the same sources of inspiration that we do (like tabletop gaming!).

Zack: I edited the Spirit Animals series in my day job as an editor, where each book featured a new author picking up the sprawling fantasy narrative. Nick actually wrote a few stories for me there, which were so popular they got compiled into a book of their own! It has a similar tone and themes to TAG, especially the ensemble cast of great kids. I’m also a big fan of Tui T. Sutherland’s Wings of Fire books, and anything Jonathan Stroud writes.

But like Nick mentioned, if you loved our books, you should definitely check out tabletop adventures like Dungeons & Dragons! They are basically just an exercise in collaborative storytelling.

What’s it like writing a book with your best friend? Do you split the writing 50/50? If not, how do you divide the work up? Who writes what?
Zack: We split the writing between our two viewpoint characters, Zed and Brock, in alternating chapters. Honestly, it’s been a blast. We get instant feedback on our chapters, and then we pass the baton for a while. And having a buddy there to celebrate the wins or air my nerves with has made the experience so much richer. (I’m not sure Nick would agree on the nerves part. I’m capable of great feats of anxiety.)

Nick: My favorite part is the element of surprise that it brings. While Zack and I do plan some plot points out in advance, we tend not to discuss what’s happening chapter-by-chapter. So I never know exactly where things will be when it’s my turn to take the reins. And I enjoy throwing Zack curveball cliffhangers, including some really challenging situations that he has to get the characters out of!

Are you working on anything new?
Nick: As of this writing, we have JUST turned in our first draft of The Adventurers Guild #3. It’s the big finale, where we get to blow everything up! Look for that in late 2019.

Zack: Yeah, wrapping up the story for this trilogy was a surprisingly emotional experience! We’re taking a moment to decompress before we discuss our next adventure. And playing a lot of D&D in the meantime.

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About the Authors:

ZACK LORAN CLARK and NICK ELIOPULOS are both editors based in New York. Best friends, they take a coffee break together every day and play Dungeons & Dragons every week. Twilight of the Elves is the second book in their The Adventurers Guild trilogy. Learn more at www.theadveturersguildbooks.com. Visit them on twitter at @zackloranclark and @NickEliopulos.

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And now for the giveaway! Thanks to Disney, one lucky winner will receive one copy of each book! Giveaway is US only. To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below!

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