Cover Reveal: THE MIRROR KING

I swear, I've practically only done cover reveals this month... Oh well.

Presenting: final book to The Orphan Queen series, The Mirror King, by Jodi Meadows!

That is beautiful.

Things I can't get over:
1. The sunset. Because the combination of orange, purple, and red is gorgeous!
2. The bridge. I would totally walk on that bridge.
3. The castle in the background. Just the background in general is fantastic!
4. The cloaks. We all could use a cloak or two like those in our lives. <3
5. Everything is simply glittering! So pretty!

This is the sequel (and find book) to The Orphan Queen, and put together, they look a little like this:

Aren't they pretty together?

The Mirror King comes out April 5th, 2016, so that's plenty of time to read the first book! I actually haven't read The Orphan Queen yet, but it's super high on my TBR list. Plus I've heard a lot of good stuff about it. Also, for those of you who have read it and are eagerly awaiting The Mirror King, there are  a whole bunch of small prequel stories too, so check them out while you're waiting!

There's a giveaway going on for this book by the author here, and you can add it to your Goodreads here.

Blurb:
Wilhelmina has a hundred enemies.

HER FRIENDS HAVE TURNED. After her identity is revealed during the Inundation, Princess Wilhelmina is kept prisoner by the Indigo Kingdom, with the Ospreys lost somewhere in the devastated city. When the Ospreys’ leader emerges at the worst possible moment, leaving Wil’s biggest ally on his deathbed, she must become Black Knife to set things right.

HER MAGIC IS UNCONTROLLABLE. Wil’s power is to animate, not to give true life, but in the wraithland she commanded a cloud of wraith mist to save herself, and later ordered it solid. Now there is a living boy made of wraith—destructive and deadly, and willing to do anything for her.

HER HEART IS TORN. Though she’s ready for her crown, declaring herself queen means war. Caught between what she wants and what is right, Wilhelmina realizes the throne might not even matter. Everyone thought the wraith was years off, but already it’s destroying Indigo Kingdom villages. If she can’t protect both kingdoms, soon there won’t be a land to rule.

In this stunning conclusion to THE ORPHAN QUEEN, Jodi Meadows follows Wilhelmina’s breathtaking and brave journey from orphaned criminal on the streets to magic-wielding queen. 

Cover Reveal: LIBRARY OF SOULS

Another cover reveal, you say? Answer: YES.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you the official cover of Library of Souls, final book to the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series by Ransom Riggs!

Blown. Away.

1.WINGS. Wings! Flying! Wings! So cool!

2. I love how the boy is just casually sitting on the pedestal, looking at you. What is he up to? What is he thinking?

3. I like the fact that they put in a curtain beside the boy. It just...completes it, gives it a sense of mystery.  What's behind the curtain? Did the boy just come out from the curtain? Was he hiding?

For reference, here's what the complete series looks like now:

Got to say, I think Library of Souls is my favourite cover of the series!

I'm super excited to read this book. Believe me when I say that these books are very unique. Kudos to Ransom Riggs!

What are your thoughts? Let me know, and don't forget to look for this book when it comes out September 22nd, 2015 :)

PS. For those of you who don't know, this series is being turned into a movie, with Tim Burton (yes, Tim Burton!) directing, starring Asa Butterfield as Jacob. It's slated to be released March 4th, 2016!

---> Add it to your Goodreads shelf here!

Blurb:

Time is running out for the Peculiar Children. With a dangerous madman on the loose and their beloved Miss Peregrine still in danger, Jacob Portman and Emma Bloom are forced to stage the most daring of rescue missions. They’ll travel through a war-torn landscape, meet new allies, and face greater dangers than ever. . . . Will Jacob come into his own as the hero his fellow Peculiars know him to be? This action-packed adventure features more than 50 all-new Peculiar photographs

Outcast Review: Quinn

My family is in charge of protecting our village.

Protecting them against "trespassers."
Killing them.

My father wants me and my sister to be like him.
To kill without thought.
To kill for entertainment.

I can't do this.
I don't want to.
I won't.

I will put a stop to it.
I will save myself and my sister.
Save us from a fate of becoming monsters.

My name is Quinn.

Words can't describe my excitement for a story about Quinn Runningbrook!

Book: Outcast
Author: C. J. Redwine
Series: Defiance
Book Standing: Book 0.5 (prequel)
POV: first person, present tense, by Quinn
Genre: YA dystopian, fantasy

Reading: first time
Favorite line: "The questions, the doubts that I've struggled with snap into focus with one clear thought: I will not become the man my father wants me to be. I will choose my own path. My own echoes."
Rating: 5 Stars!



FINALLY. A book about my favorite, favorite, favorite character of the Defiance series: Quinn Runningbrook! I was more than thrilled when I found out that there was a prequel about Quinn. He was easily my favorite character in the series. I just loved everything about him!
If you've read my review on Deliverance (book 3 of the series, review is here), you'll know that I dedicated an entire paragraph on Quinn. Why? Bluntly put, he's the friend and brother we all wished we had. Quinn is sweet, wise, loyal, deadly, protective, everything. When I read Deliverance, I nearly cried my eyes out every time Quinn was there. He is too perfect. Perfect. I need a Quinn in my life, I really do.

Of course, this post isn't about Deliverance. This is about Outcast, which is Quinn's story. Before Rachel and Logan's world got turned upside-down, Quinn's world was equally as painful. From the Deliverance series, we already know that Quinn was raised to be an assassin with his sister, Willow. His father was a cruel man, and killed without a conscious. Outcast takes a look at what that life was like for Quinn, working with his father, killing any who "trespassed" through their village. It explored the internal conflicts Quinn had when dealing with the bloodthirsty man known as his father.

(More under the cut!)

Cover Reveal: INSIDIOUS

Cover reveal time! For those who are fans of Dawn Metcalf's The Twist series, her third book, Insidious, finally has a cover!

Without further ado:

Yikes. I'm getting shivers just looking at it!

My Thoughts:
1. That colour pallet. The purple, the green, the pink... Reminds me a bit of the colours we see in a galaxy. And things that comes from other galaxies aren't always the friendliest things... (By the way, this book isn't about aliens, if you're wondering. It's a fantasy book.)
2. The flower. Does it look deadly or what? It's quite lovely, but at the same time, I can't help but get the feeling that it's probably very, very, very poisonous. Wouldn't want to accidentally brush those petals or anything...
3. I particularly like how the outline of the flower seems to bleed black outwards. It's a consistent theme with the other covers.
4. This cover overall has an evil feeling written all over it. Love it!

Sinister. Malicious. Insidious. This cover has it all!

Insidious, book three of Dawn Metcalf's The Twist series, comes out August 25th, 2015, so if this cover intrigues you, read the first two books before then!

Official blurb, courtesy of Goodreads:

True evil is rarely obvious. It is quiet, patient. 

Insidious. 

Awaiting the perfect moment to strike. 

Joy Malone finally knows who she is, where she comes from and how to live in two worlds at once. And now she can introduce her family and friends to her mysterious boyfriend, Indelible Ink. But when Ink's twin sister, Invisible Inq, calls in a favor, Joy must accept a dangerous mission to find a forgotten door between worlds—a door hiding a secret that some will kill to keep. 

Unseen enemies, treasonous magic and an unthinkable betrayal threaten both the Twixt and human worlds as Joy races to expose an ancient conspiracy and unleash the unalterable truth—some secrets cannot remain secret forever.

Liebster Award!

I am beyond flattered to have been nominated for the Liebster Award!

Thanks go to my amazing blogger buddy Cody, from Literary-ly Obsessed, for putting me first on her list of nominees! Thank you, Cody!

(I'd also like to thank HannahCassie at P.S. I Love that Book! and Maureen at Diaries of a Book Lover for also nominating me. However, Cody beat you guys to it, so I'll be answering her questions!)

The Liebster Award is a chain award, created as a way to welcome and introduce new bloggers to the community!

Rules:
Link back to the person that nominated you.
Give 11 random facts about yourself.
Answer 11 questions from your nominator.
Nominate 11 new and obscure bloggers.
Come up with 11 questions for them to answer.
Inform your nominees.

Random Facts About Me
1. I'm currently studying at the Herstmonceux Castle (yes, castle) in Hailsham, England, for the summer. Hello to all my fellow British bloggers!
2. I'm in the midst of obtaining a double degree in English Literature and Environmental Studies.
3. The list of television shows I watch is non-existent. Why? Because I'd rather read!
4. I have a thing about dust. I will not pick anything up that is dusty or put something on a dusty surface without wiping it first.
5. My first fictional character crush was Alviss from Mär. And then I added other fictional characters to the list to tear my heart apart.
6. I live in Canada.
7. I think mint is gross.
8. I often wish I was a fictional character, just so that I could jump into books and help the characters out.
9. During a two-hour car ride, I ranted on completely straight about The Game Trilogy by Eve Silver. I think I might have permanently scared off the people in the car.
10. I have a bad habit of spontaneously spouting various quotes from books at any given moment. 
11. My reputation is relatively normal...until people discover my book obsession. Then it goes out the window.

Cody's Questions:

1. Do you have any advice for fellow bloggers?
Don't be afraid to put yourself out there! Comment on all the blogs you can, enter giveaways, anything! Just make sure your presence is known!
2. What's your favourite book?
Hmm... Probably The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa. That book holds a special place in my heart. Always will.
3. Favourite Book Boyfriend or Character?
That's impossible to answer, as my list is ridiculously long. If I had a penny for every character on that list, I would be able to afford the professional help I clearly need.
4. What's your guilty pleasure?
Reading, obviously! Haha, apart from that, it's dressing up when no one's looking :)
5. What would you put on your Bucket List?
Visit an Olympic Stadium, attend a Shakespearian play at the Globe Theatre in London (that's actually happening very soon, so I'm super excited!!!), swim with dolphins, go on a Disney cruise, read 5 novel-length books in one day, meet one of my favourite authors or fellow bloggers, and so forth. And maybe save the world or something cool like that...
6. Do you have a favourite author(s)?
Julie Kagawa, Eve Silver, Cassandra Clare, Sara Raasch, Rick Riordan, A. G. Howard, the list goes on...
7. What's your dream job?
To become an author. I hope I didn't just jinx myself. Else saving the environment :)
8. If you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be?
Hmm... I guess it would be pretty neat to say that I met J. K. Rowling.
9. The last movie you watched?
The Avengers: Age of Ultron. It was pretty good!
10. Standalone or Series?
Series. Always series. There's never enough in a standalone.
11. What was the last book you got so sucked in by you that you completely forgot everything else?
Probably Rogue, by Julie Kagawa :)

My Nominees:

1. Ang Reads!
2. Eccentric Everything
3. The Travelogue of a Book Addict
4. Flickering Lights
5. Limitless Literature
6. Lynn's Book Blog
7. BookKitty
8. The Book Dame
9. PenMarkings
10. To be or not to be me
11. My Little Corner for Books

I apologize if you've already been nominated! You don't have to do them if you really don't want to, but if you do, I'd love it if you let me know. If your blog isn't on this list, leave a comment, and I'll add you to the list!

My Questions:
1. What book is physically the nearest to you right now?
2. Would you rather get free books for a year, or a free empty library, to be stocked with your own books, to your liking?
3. First book you remember reading and loving during childhood?
4. Reading outside or inside?
5. Do you set deadlines for when you want to finish a book?
6. Last social event you attended?
7. Favorite reading snack, if any?
8. Have any pets/want any pets?
9. Hardcover, softcover, or ebook?
10. Of the four elements (water, earth, fire, air), which one is your favorite?
11. What's a book you think everyone should read at least once in their life?

Good luck, and I look forward to reading your answers! :)

New Cover Reveals: THE INFERNAL DEVICES

Look! Look! To continue along with the new covers of Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunter books, here comes the newest looks of The Infernal Devices series!

Ahh! So, like before, I'm going to have my thoughts on the covers under the cut. If you haven't read these books yet, you definitely need to! Cassandra Clare's books are to die for, and I love this prequel series!

Official blurb of Clockwork Angel (first book of The Infernal Devices) courtesy of Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7171637-clockwork-angel

In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them... 

My thoughts are below the cut :)

New Cover Reveals: THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS

Ahh! Breaking news! The new book covers to Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments is here! I'm so excited!

This use to be a series of 5 separate posts, which I have now consolidated into one massive post.That being said, this is quite long, so I'll just give you them all first, and then have my own thoughts about them under the cut.

Okay? Great! Now, may I present to you the new covers of The Mortal Instruments!

And the spines, put together, will look like this:

And there you have it! The new covers! They'll be available in stores September 1st, 2015, so if you haven't read them yet, be sure to pick them up!

Rest of my thoughts will be under the cut :)

Official blurb of City of Bones (first book), courtesy of Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/256683.City_of_Bones

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...  

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

Click to read my thoughts on the covers!

Under the Never Sky Review

Blurb:
Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered.
This was worse.
Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland--known as The Death Shop--are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild--a savage--and her only hope of staying alive. 
A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile--everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

Book: Under the Never Sky
Author: Veronica Rossi
Series: Under the Never Sky
Standing: Book 1
Setting: Earth?
POV: third person by Aria and Perry, past tense
Genre: YA paranormal, dystopian-ish, post-apocalypse-ish

Reading: first time
Rating: 3 stars






My rating might be a little biased.

When I first picked this book up, I had no idea exactly what genre it fell under. I guess I sort of knew it was a dystopian/post-apocalyptic mix, but I was hoping it had some kind of fantasy element to it. I might have misled myself a little. Turns out it was more so post-apocalyptic, with the crazy environment and desperate survival means. I generally avoid these kinds of books, as dystopian and post-apocalyptic books aren't really my favorite genre. But I had already started it, so might as well finish it.

The beginning half was hard to get into for me. The introduction to the perfect world, Reverie, and how it was related to the outside world was good, but the characters frustrated me. Aria was exiled from Reverie, thrown into the "savage wilderness." Perry was the complete opposite, a survivor in the outside world, completely independent. Both didn't seem compatible with each other. Aria was extremely dependent on Perry, and given Perry's independent character, I seriously questioned why he didn't just up and leave her. That being said, both Perry and Aria's actions were relatively realistic given their upbringings (Aria having been sheltered, Perry feeling the need to take care of weak and helpless people like his nephew), but it also drove me a little crazy.

It wasn't until the second half that I was more involved with the story. The pacing was better, more easy to follow. And once Aria was capable of handling herself, or being independent, I found her more likeable. (However, her character growth was very sudden, and I'm not sure how I feel about that.) The ending was quite satisfying; they both accomplished what they originally set out to do, and new questions and events have risen as a means to continue moving the plot forward to the next books. I was extremely skeptical of the book 50 pages in, but the last 50 pages turned out to be pretty good.

All in all, if the beginning was a bit faster, I probably would have enjoyed the book more, regardless of the post-apocalyptic and primal survival themes going on. Would I re-read this book again? Maybe. Am I going to continue the series? Again, maybe. Not sure. I'm not big on these primal themes of survival,  where the world is conspiring against you. Mainly because I feel inadequate after reading them, as I know for a fact I wouldn't last a week out in the wilderness. But the plot is interesting enough that I do want to know what happens. So we'll see if I keep reading it!

Give it a read, and let me know what you guys think!

Extraordinary Means Book Tag!

Yes, it's another book tag time!

Much like my last book tag, I was "tagged" by Team Epic Reads, in which they sort of tagged everyone watching. And I never turn down an excuse to nerd out on books, so here we are!

Technically, you're supposed to do a video, but I'm sticking to a blog post. Mainly because a) I suck at videos and b) I don't have a good camera.

Let's get started!

1. I would give up the internet for a mouth for a signed, first-edition copy of...

Oh god. So many choices. I feel like I should be going with a classic here, so I'm going to go with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. Image: a leather-bound, signed, first edition copy of Narnia!

2. I would give up pizza for a year to sit next to this author on a long plane ride...

Sara Raasch, author of Snow Like Ashes. I know for a fact that I'm going to be wishing that the plane never touches down so that I can keep on talking to her. But realistically, I feel like she would be really creeped out by my staring and would probably do her best to not make eye contact with the crazy fangirl sitting beside her.

3. I would sit through 1000 hours of commercials if this book was made into a movie...

The Splintered series by A. G. Howard. But this had better be a good adaptation of it, though. I won't sit through 1000 hours if it's nothing less than spectacular.

4. I would never read a new book again if I could live inside this book...

Easy answer: Harry Potter, by J. K. Rowling. I want to live in a world where magic exists, where I can wield a wand like a weapon. Not as a muggle, of course; I want to live in the magic side of that world, as a bright young witch. Maybe second to Hermione Granger herself, because that would be cool.

5. I would make my Google search history public if I could be best friends with this author...

Julie Kagawa, author of The Iron Fey series, The Immortal Rules series, and Talon series. Because that would be pure awesome. You know, just call her up whenever, and demand to know what's going to happen to all her characters. Oddly enough, my Google search history mainly includes books, so I would easily give it up for this.

6. I would donate everything I own to Goodwill if I could date this book character...

I'd have to take this one step further: this character also wouldn't ever break up with me. And he'd have to be dating me because he wants to, not because he's been set up to, and really, really hates me because of it. But as for who...ugh, hard choice. Ash, from The Iron Fey? Jackson Tate from Push? Daemon Black from Obsidian? William Herondale from The Clockwork Angel? I CAN'T CHOOSE.


And that's it! Now, as for tagging, I'm tagging YOU lovely people. It doesn't matter if you're reading this tag a minute after I post this or a few months later. Do it! If not for me, do it for your own entertainment! Mull over all those books, revisit the reasons why you've fallen in love with characters, everything! And let me know if you do!

Well? What do you guys think of my choices? Do you strongly agree or disagree? Let me know!