Greetings, fellow readers! It’s the beginning of another new month of reading! I have a HUGE stack of books that I need to read, plus more on Netgalley! Once you get some reviews done a few more books get approved and the ratio starts to slide again! I do plan on reading more physical books this month, so I’m hoping for a better balance.
PHYSICAL BOOKS
Sorcery of Thorns – Margaret Rogerson
The Kingdom – Jess Rothenberg
The Crowns of Croswald – D. E. Night
Sky in the Deep – Adrienne Young
The Novice – Taran Matharu
Stalking Jack the Ripper – Kerrie Maniscalco
Five Dark Fates – Kendare Blake
Merged – Jim and Stephanie Kroepfl
NETGALLEY EARC’S
The Stone Rainbow – Liane Shaw
Gravemaidens – Kelly Coon
These Wicked Waters – Emily Layne
We Met in December – Rosie Curtis
Michigan vs. The Boys – Carrie S. Allen
The Memory Thief – Lauren Mansy
Ink in the Blood – Kim Smejkal
The Throne of Five Winds – S. C. Emmett
The Sound of Stars – Alechia Dow
A Love Hate Thing – Whitney D. Grandison
18 books is a very lofty goal…. so we’ll see if I can manage it! Any of the same books showing up on your TBR this month? Let’s chat about them 🙂
The Last Magician meets A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue in this thrilling tale filled with magic and set in the mysterious Carpathian Mountains where a girl must hunt down Vlad the Impaler’s cursed ring in order to save her father.
Until Huck arrives from an expedition without her father and enlists Theodora’s help in rescuing him. Armed with her father’s travel journal, the reluctant duo learns that her father had been digging up information on a legendary and magical ring that once belonged to Vlad the Impaler—more widely known as Dracula—and that it just might be the key to finding him.
Journeying into Romania, Theodora and Huck embark on a captivating adventure through Gothic villages and dark castles in the misty Carpathian Mountains to recover the notorious ring. But they aren’t the only ones who are searching for it. A secretive and dangerous occult society with a powerful link to Vlad the Impaler himself is hunting for it, too. And they will go to any lengths—including murder—to possess it.
Review
Good morning, glorious people! Special thanks again go to Netgalley and Simon Pulse for a copy of The Lady Rogue in exchange for an honest review. I am positively ZOOMING through eARC’s these days in order to get that pesky ratio up higher!
Jenn Bennett is one of my favorite contemporary authors. I adored Starry Eyes and I am planning to read Alex, Approximately soon as I checked it out of the library a few weeks ago. When I saw The Lady Rogue available on Netgalley, I knew I wanted to read it. Unfortunately, this just didn’t end up being a good fit for me.
The Lady Rogue is a great historical fiction book, if you like those. That genre is pretty low on my favorites list, which is partially why I wasn’t as drawn to this book. The Lady Rogue follows Theodora Fox, a well off American whose father is an international treasure hunter. He has gone off searching for Vlad the Impaler’s infamous bone ring, after being hired to find it by a certain Mr. Rothwild. Theodora is in a hotel in Istanbul, when it is determined that her father is MIA and likely caught up in a dark and dangerous sequence of events. Theo’s long lost “brother” and former lover (they are not related, they just grew up together), Huck shows up to break the news and then they begin a long and harrowing adventure to find Richard Fox and solve the mystery of The Impaler’s ring.
The Lady Rogue features some a magic system that isn’t very defined, but having that definition wasn’t super important to the plot. Fantasy lovers, there is some witchcraft in this book! Theo and Huck also have a drawn out and intense romance that is as slow a burn as one can find. There is also evidence that the history was well researched and well represented. The historical nature of this book will be very interesting for folks who are drawn to this genre. I have never been very interested in Vlad Dracula and his history, but if you are then this book is for you!
Overall, I found this book hard to get through, simply because it isn’t a genre I can get into easily. It has Stalking Jack The Ripper/Enchantee/Romanov vibes for you fans out there. I highly recommend this book for those folks who enjoy this genre. It is told very well, with a solid plot line and flow. The writing is great and the characters are well told.
Ia Cōcha never thought she’d be working for the Olympus Commonwealth. But that was before she found out her trusted brother Einn was trying to tear apart the universe. Now, Ia, the Blood Wolf of the Skies, has agreed to help the Royal Star Force on one condition: when she finds him, she gets to kill Einn herself.
Brinn Tarver has just come to terms with her Tawny identity when the public lashes out against her people, crushing her family. At her breaking point, she starts to question everything she believes in—including Ia.
After the death of his mentor, Knives Adams is doing his best to live up to a role he didn’t ask for as Aphelion’s new headmaster. Still, with each new step deeper into war, he feels torn between his duties and the pull of Ia’s radical—sometimes criminal—ideas.
As they fight to keep darkness from eclipsing the skies, their unpredictable choices launch this breathtaking sequel to explosive new heights.
Review
Hi Friends 🙂 I started reading Eclipse the Skies immediately upon finishing Ignite the Stars. I just had to know how it ends! I love just being able to binge a whole series instead of having to wait for the next book to be released. Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
So we’re back with my babies Ia and Knives, who both find themselves in situations they never expected to be in. Ia is on the Commonwealth’s side (mostly) because her beloved brother is trying to kill her? Plot twist I did NOT see coming! Knives is now headmaster of the Academy and is very not ready for this type of responsibility. Partly because he’s hardcore crushing on Ia who is a known criminal and normally Commonwealth enemy numero uno.
I won’t go too much into the plot of this story so I’m not too spoiler-y but I did enjoy reading this follow up. There was plenty of action and more slowburn romance from our friends Ia and Knives, though if I’m being honest it was too slow of a burn for me. There were definitely aspects of this book that didn’t fully do it for me, so I had to drop the rating. Even though Ignite the Stars was a 5 star read, I had to give Eclipse the Skies a 4/5.
First off, a lot abut the plot feels unfinished. It felt like a lot of ends were not wrapped up and I still had many questions at the end of the book. The romance was lacking, I definitely prefer more romance between the main characters. Lastly, I was not happy with the ending. It felt very stiff and wasn’t a “happy” ending – which I definitely prefer. But, it seems like she left it open so she could return to this world at a later date. For this, I will postpone final judgment.
Happy last day of August! Where oh where did this month go? I feel like I was just typing July’s Wrap Up post yesterday! This month I got a good deal of reading done, including every single book that was on my TBR for August! I don’t think that has happened since I started keeping track, so I’m very impressed and happy with myself!
PHYSICAL BOOKS
So I definitely read a lot fewer physical books because I wanted to really crack down on my Netgalley TBR. I really missed reading physicals books though, so September will at least be more balanced between physical and ebooks, if not more.
Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer #1) – Laini Taylor – 5/5 stars
A Curse So Dark and Lonely (Cursebreakers #1) – Brigid Kemmerer – 5/5 stars
Ignite the Stars (Ignite the Stars #1) – Maura Milan – 5/5 stars
Fix Her Up (Hot & Hammered #1) – Tessa Bailey – 5/5 stars
EBOOKS
I managed to get my Netgalley ratio up to 50% this month by reading a bunch of the eARC’s! It would have been higher but I was also approved for more during the month 🙂
Eclipse the Skies (Ignite the Stars #2) – Maura Milan – 4/5 stars
Realm of Knights (Knights of the Realm #1) – Jennifer Anne Davis – 4/5 stars
The Weight of a Soul – Elizabeth Tammi – 4/5 stars
Crown of Coral and Pearl (Crown of Coral and Pearl #1) – Mara Rutherford – 5/5 stars
Tweet Cute – Emma Lord – 5/5 stars
The Lady Rogue – Jenn Bennett – 3/5 stars
As you can see I managed to get a lot of really good reading done, of which I am super happy for. I’m also looking forward to what the next month will bring!
Title: Crown of Coral and Pearl (Crown of Coral and Pearl #1)
Author: Mara Rutherford
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Publication Date: August 27, 2019
432 pages
4.75/5
Goodreads Synopsis
For generations, the princes of Ilara have married the most beautiful maidens from the ocean village of Varenia. But though every girl longs to be chosen as the next princess, the cost of becoming royalty is higher than any of them could ever imagine…
Nor once dreamed of seeing the wondrous wealth and beauty of Ilara, the kingdom that’s ruled her village for as long as anyone can remember. But when a childhood accident left her with a permanent scar, it became clear that her identical twin sister, Zadie, would likely be chosen to marry the Crown Prince—while Nor remained behind, unable to ever set foot on land.
Then Zadie is gravely injured, and Nor is sent to Ilara in her place. To Nor’s dismay, her future husband, Prince Ceren, is as forbidding and cold as his home—a castle carved into a mountain and devoid of sunlight. And as she grows closer to Ceren’s brother, the charming Prince Talin, Nor uncovers startling truths about a failing royal bloodline, a murdered queen… and a plot to destroy the home she was once so eager to leave.
In order to save her people, Nor must learn to negotiate the treacherous protocols of a court where lies reign and obsession rules. But discovering her own formidable strength may be the one move that costs her everything: the crown, Varenia and Zadie.
Review
Greetings 🙂 Crown of Coral and Pearl was one of my most anticipated approvals that I’ve gotten from Netgalley, and I was crazy stoked to read it.. Shoutout to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for the copy in exchange for an honest review!
I can never get enough of YA Fantasy, I truly believe that. I was immediately drawn into the world of Varenia and Ilara. I found the idea of a village at sea to be very fascinating, and the world building was very on point. I left with few questions about the world, and information was provided in well timed and paced chunks. Varenians are obsessed with beauty, as the only Varenian ever allowed to leave the village and walk on land is the most beautiful woman in the village – once every generation when a Prince is ready to be married. It is seen as a high honor to be chosen, and families will do just about anything to send their daughters away.
Nor and Zadie are twins (their names mean Coral and Pearl, respectively). They are easily the most beautiful women in Varenia, at least until Nor is injured saving Zadie from drowning. Zadie is now a shoe in to win, and Nor is a cast off in her mother’s eyes. The catch is that Zadie is in love with the Varenian Governor’s son, Sami. She will do anything to be able to stay with him, instead of bringing her family the highest honor. After Zadie makes some ill advised decisions, Nor is sent in Zadie’s place – but she must pretend to be Zadie. Both girls are strong in their own ways. Nor is the main focus, but she handles (most) of what’s thrown at her with grace.
The Princes are great. Ceren is a smol and hurt boy who is a classic villain. Very cruel, but enough sad moments to make you question whether he is actually bad. Talin is gorgeous and kind, but unfortunately the younger brother. They have an obvious, and predictable rivalry with Ceren being jealous of the more liked brother and Talin being jealous that he wasn’t born first.
My single critique of this book is that it was highly predictable. If you read enough YA Fantasy, you begin to see a common framework for most novels. A lot of the plot moved through predictable lines. The ending also seemed very rushed, and not as well thought out. This did not severely impact my enjoyment of the book, so it only bumped the book down from 5 stars slightly.
This book brings light romance, political intrigue, and strong, confident women. Originally intended to be a duology, but sold as a stand alone, Crown of Coral and Pearl has an ending that leaves more to be told while still being wrapped up. A sequel has been ordered by the publisher though, so more Nor and Zadie will be upon us next year (hopefully). I for one, will be purchasing a copy of Crown of Coral and Pearl – along with Kingdom of Sea and Stone when released!
Everyone in the universe knows his name. Everyone in the universe fears him. But no one realizes that notorious outlaw Ia CĹŤcha is a seventeen-year-old girl.
A criminal mastermind and unrivaled pilot, Ia has spent her life terrorizing the Olympus Commonwealth, the imperialist nation that destroyed her home. When the Commonwealth captures her and her true identity is exposed, they see Ia’s age and talent as an opportunity: by forcing her to serve them, they will prove that no one is beyond their control.
Soon, Ia is trapped at the Commonwealth’s military academy, desperately plotting her escape. But new acquaintances—including Brinn, a seemingly average student with a closely-held secret, and their charming Flight Master, Knives—cause Ia to question her own alliances. Can she find a way to escape the Commonwealth’s clutches before these bonds deepen?
Review
If she was going down, she was going to do it one way and one way alone. Gloriously.
Maura milan, Ignite the stars
Happy Monday book friends! I picked up Ignite the Stars from the library this past weekend as I was granted an eARC of the sequel, Eclipse the Skies, from Netgalley. Hard to read and review the second book without reading the first, right?? I’ve seen this duology around the bookstagram world but hadn’t picked it up yet. If you’ve been reading my blog posts, you’ll know that space themed sci-fi isn’t always up my alley. BUT. Ignite the Stars has my heart and I will do anything for Ia and Knives, okay? Don’t hurt my precious babes.
Ignite the Stars introduces Ia (eye-yah) Cocha, a renegade fighting against the Commonwealth because they destroyed her home planet. She is known by many names, but everyone believes her to be a man. When she is captured assisting refugees, her true identity is discovered and she is given a choice. Go to prison forever, or serve at Aphelion – the Commonwealth’s top training academy. She chooses to train at Aphelion, so she can learn all of their secrets. What she doesn’t count on, is meeting Brinn and Knives, two people who will make her question her allegiances.
Knives is my new book boyfriend. Love the name, and love the banter between him and Ia. He is a the general’s son who has no love for the Commonwealth himself. He is hurting, which is probably why I like him so much and why he and Ia work so well together. Definitely a slow burn romance here for all you fans of that.
Ignite the Stars has all the epic elements of a sci-fi novel; space travel, interplanetary war, otherworldly aspects, etc. but also has a not so slight racial undertone. It brings up a conversation around race and refugees that is very pertinent in today’s society. It is still a YA book, but I enjoy the more serious undertones and themes.
For fans of Once & Future and Illuminae, Ignite the Stars is a captivating beginning to this duology.
Title: A Curse So Dark and Lonely (Cursebreakers #1)
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication Date: January 29, 2019
484 pages
5/5 stars
Goodreads Synopsis
Fall in love, break the curse.
Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year, Prince Rhen, the heir of Emberfall, thought he could be saved easily if a girl fell for him. But that was before he turned into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. Before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.
Nothing has ever been easy for Harper. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, Harper learned to be tough enough to survive. When she tries to save a stranger on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s pulled into a magical world.
Break the curse, save the kingdom.
Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. A prince? A curse? A monster? As she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.
Review
The choices we face may not be the choices we want, but they are choices nonetheless.
A Curse so dark and loney, brigid Kemmerer
It’s finally Friday! The end of the week always makes me so happy, even when I took two days off work in the beginning of the week! I started ACSDAL while away in Lewes, DE over the weekend and finished it all in one day. Vacation reading really is the best. I’ve had ACSDAL since Memorial Day and I’ve been super stoked to read it. After reading her most recent YA Contemporary, Call It What You Want, I knew I needed to read more of her work.
In a new Beauty and the Beast retelling, Kemmerer creates a kingdom that resides in a universe adjacent to ours. Emberfall was cursed when Prince Rhen messed around with an enchantress who went on to curse the kingdom. Rhen needs to make a woman fall in love with him, otherwise the curse will continue on forever while Emberfall is left defenseless. Oh, and at the end of every season Rhen turns into a scary monster, so there’s that.
Harper is the latest woman taken from Washington, DC for Rhen to charm. His Army Commander travels to DC to find women, though Harper wasn’t his first choice – just a concerned citizen who noticed a hulking man carrying and unconscious woman down an alleyway in a city. Totally normal. Harper is stolen from her very ill mother and brother who is doing unspeakable things to make up for their dad’s drug debts.
ACSDAL is a good retelling novel that follows the fairy tale pretty closely with the added benefit of some seriously snarky characters. Harper also has cerebral palsy, which adds a layer of disability rep. She is portrayed as not letting her CP stand in her way, but accepting her limitations and learning to work around then – without letting anyone believe she is lacking. To Rhen’s credit, he only underestimated her once in the beginning.
Kemmerer wove a tale that will captivate you and feel all the feels for Rhen, Harper, and Grey. The ending is a small level cliffhanger, but will lead into the next book seamlessly. This was also announced to be a trilogy, so I’m really excited to keep going in Harper and Rhen’s story for another two books – praying for a happy ending for my two love birds.
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.
Review
It was impossible, of course. But when did that ever stop any dreamer from dreaming.
Strange the dreamer, laini taylor
Hello, friends 🙂 Back with an actual physical book review instead of a Netgalley review! I finished this book up while on the beach in Lewes, DE and I have to say, it was the best possible setting to fall in love with Lazlo and Sarai.
Y’all I think this book broke me. It was beautiful and amazing and heart wrenching and I’m not sure how to feel. I want to give it all the stars but no stars because of that ending!!
Let me back up. Strange the Dreamer is a beautifully written, evocative book that has some of the best world building I’ve ever read. Laini Taylor has such a way with words. I know you’re thinking, “Girl, of course she does, she’s and aUtHoR”, but I’m talking LEAPS and BOUNDS better than other books I’ve read. The setting really comes alive without feeling TOO bogged down in descriptive language.
In this book Lazlo is Strange the Dreamer. His last name is Strange as he is an orphan and it is the given last name of all orphans in his kingdom. Very GoT vibes. He is a dreamer because he has been obsessed with the city of “Weep” for his whole life, and he lives with his nose stuffed in a book (don’t we all, amirite??). Weep is this huge mystery after it went off the grid 200 years before, and Weep isn’t the real name. One day, the real name of the city was wiped from everyone’s memory, with no explanation. Lazlo’s dream is to find the explanation, and he is given the opportunity when the Godslayer comes knocking on the door…
Sarai is Godspawn, a resident of Weep and part of the reason why Weep went off the grid. Her existence is unknown, along with her 4 Godspawn companions. They all have powers, to be used for good and evil. Sarai is able to go into everyone’s dreams and manipulate them. She fears for her life as if anyone in Weep knew she existed, she and her siblings would be hunted to extinction…
The ending to this book broke my heart wholly. I was so mad reading it, because it was the worst possible conclusion while also forcing me to read the next one! I strongly suggest everyone pick up this book as it was so captivating and well written. The plot twist at the end will hurt, but I’m hoping for a happy ending at the end of the sequel!
The witches, beasties, goblins, and Royals return in this spellbinding conclusion to New York Times best-selling author Megan Shepherd’s Grim Lovelies duology.
With her friends now trapped in their animal forms, Anouk is forced into a sinister deal involving a political marriage with her sworn enemy, a wicked plot to overthrow London’s fiercest coven of witches, and a deadly trial of fire to become a witch. The price for power has always been steep in the world of the Haute. Now, it will cost Anouk everything.
Wicked and delightful, this spellbinding sequel and conclusion to Grim Lovelies is perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Hazelwood Wood.
Review
Bookish darlings! I’m back with another eARC review from my friends at Netgalley! Special thanks to Netgalley and HMH Teen for this eARC of Midnight Beauties! I got Grim Lovelies in a Shelflove Crate box one month in 2018 and I really enjoyed it, so I knew I had to read the sequel.
Midnight Beauties picks up about 6 weeks after Grim Lovelies ends. The beasties we know and love are still in their original animal form, and Anouk must find a way to save them, the Goblins, and eventually the world. Prince Rennar shows up at the townhouse’s door step with a proposition for her. Marry him, and he will restore the beasties to their human form. But there’s a catch. Terrible things are happening in London, and Anouk has to help. To help though, she needs more magic than the tricks and whispers she can do now. She must travel to The Black Forest to cross the Coals with her crux to be granted a witch’s powers. On average, only one girl will successfully become a witch every year through this process. But in order to save her friends, and the world, Anouk is willing to do anything.
Wow. What a good sequel to Grim Lovelies. Our girl Anouk is out here living her best life, going places and accomplishing more than anyone would expect from a simple beastie. Gotta hand it to her because she reached for the stars and got to the moon. I enjoyed returning to this magical world full of Pretties, Goblins, Witches, and Royals. Sometimes it can be confusing with just how many types of people there are, but it flows well. I like Megan Shepherd’s writing style and I would continue to read her work.
Downfalls to this book include an ending I didn’t like. The last decision Anouk makes breaks my heart because I wanted her to pick differently in her love triangle. This love triangle reminded me strongly of the Caraval trilogy where Tella has to decide between Jacks and Legend. I also docked it down a point because I di find it hard to keep up with the book at times. But again, I read it all in one day so I definitely enjoyed it immensely.
If you read Grim Lovelies, you have to read the sequel. Megan left it open to return to the world and write a follow up book(s), which I think would be very cool.
On the run from the FBI. Targeted by a murderous cult. Labeled a cyber-terrorist by the media. Irritated texts from his best friend. Eye contact with a nice-looking guy on the train. Aidan has a lot to deal with, and he’s not quite sure which takes top priority.
Finding himself alone in a posh New York City hotel room for the night, Aidan does what any red-blooded seventeen-year-old would do—he tries to hook up with someone new. But that lapse in judgement leads to him waking up next to a dead guy, which sparks an epic case of mistaken identity that puts Aidan on the run from everyone—faceless federal agents, his eccentric family, and, naturally, a cyber-terrorist group who will stop at nothing to find him.
He soon realizes the only way to stop the chase is to deliver the object everyone wants, before he gets caught or killed. But for Aidan, the hardest part is knowing who he can trust not to betray him—including himself.
Review
Howdy, friends! August is the month I will really be cracking down on my Netgalley ARC’s so my ratio will improve. I have been denied a lot lately so I feel like that is impairing my approval. Special thanks to Netgalley and jimmy patterson for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book starts off FAST. First 20 pages and you’re blasted off onto an epic adventure of a lifetime. Seventeen year old Aidan makes the GIANT mistake (we all make) of making some late night social media connections (wink wink) while in New York City for the night. Aidan is unapologetically gay (which is amazing). After having the most awkward encounter with a guy from his school (who doesn’t seem sure of his orientation) Aidan is left wanting more so he returns to the app. This is the problem, as a SERIOUS case of mistaken identity puts him in the middle of a murder, a hacker, a terrorist group, and he has NO IDEA what to do or better yet, who to trust.
Swipe Right grabs your attention immediately. There is no denying the action and thrilling drama that this kid is going through. You start to wonder how he is keeping his cool as well as he is. He also has secrets, which are divulged piecemeal throughout the book. They provide a new level of dimension to his character, so his arc is really cool to see.
Side characters are good, if not kind of generic. I wasn’t really connected to any of the characters who make up his friend group. But, this may be on purpose as Aidan really is the star of this show.
The last third of the book is a web that you have to try to untangle, because you have no idea who is telling the truth and who is lying. Aidan really struggles with this himself as these events that he should not have been a part of keep happening to him.
For the most part, I enjoyed this book. I read it all in one day (which is generally my baseline for telling definitively whether I’ve liked a book) so it definitely grabbed my attention and held it. The writing was a bit hard to understand and follow at times, but as this is the unedited edition I give it the benefit of the doubt that this will be improved before publication. The ending however, left much to be desired. After the BIG EVENT ending, there were still several chapters of wrap up. After each chapter concluded I thought to myself, “Okay, that’s a good stopping point”, but there would be a whole other chapter after that! This happened a few times. I definitely didn’t need that level of follow up. For these reasons, I knocked it down a star.
Swipe Right For Murder will be great for fans of action and thrillers. There is no slow build up, the book basically punches you in the face with plot. Buckle your seat belts and get ready for a wild ride!
Baltimore Bibliophile 