Book: The Crown
Author: Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection #5 (final)
Genre: YA dystopian romance
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 279
Release: May 3rd, 2016
When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection, she didn’t think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.
Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined.
Book: Poison Princess
Author: Kresley Cole
Series: The Arcana Chronicles
Genre: YA post-apocalyspe
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 369
Release: August 19th, 2014
#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole introduces The Arcana Chronicles, post-apocalyptic tales filled with riveting action, the dark mysticism of Tarot cards, and breathtaking romance.
She could save the world-or destroy it.
Sixteen year old Evangeline "Evie" Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future-and they're still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Derveaux.
But she can't do either alone.
With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can't totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?
Who can Evie trust?
As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it's not always clear who is on which side...
It's been...a very long time since I've done a tag. I'm sorry to everyone who tagged me, but when the summer started, I was on a read-all-the-books-I-can-get-my-hands-on-and-write-reviews wave. It's definitely time for me to go back to basics now!
Thank you to Zoey from Magiverse for tagging me for the Musical Book Tag! I love musicals and broadway. Love, love, love them, even though I haven't been to many. But of those I have gone to, The Lion King and The Phantom of the Opera are at a tie for my favourites!
Let's get started :)
Here's a not well known secret about me: I am a HUGE fan of C.J. Redwine. She is a wordsmith, and her writing is extraordinary. Her Defiance series blew my mind away, and when she announced a series of standalone epic fantasy retellings all set in adjourning kingdoms, I was ecstatic. I mean, they're not the typical retellings; this book alone is a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. Be honest, how many retellings of Rumpelstiltkin have you read, or even heard of? Not a lot!
Ready for it? Here it is!
I want to begin by saying how the cover itself looks innocent enough, until you take a closer look. Kind of like Rumpelstiltskin himself, who seemed innocent enough and offered aid, until he showed his true colours. The beautiful icons all remind me of clues, or maybe a code, which is appropriate since the original story of Rumpelstiltskin revolved around trying to guess his name. But when you take a closer look, you can't help but notice the needle dripping with blood. Stitching this pretty patter clearly didn't come without a cost, and in this case, my guess is that the price is one paid with blood... If the synopsis doesn't already indicate, this is definitely not going to be your simple "heroine figures out the name and poof, Rumpelstiltskin disappears" kind of story. It's going to be filled with action and magic, bloodshed and tears in true C.J. Redwine fashion!
Book: The Shadow Hour
Author: Melissa Grey
Series: The Girl at Midnight #2
Genre: YA fantasy
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 432
Release: July 12th, 2016
A battle has been won. But the war has only just begun.
Everything in Echo’s life changed in a blinding flash when she learned the startling truth: she is the firebird, the creature of light that is said to bring peace.
The firebird has come into the world, but it has not come alone. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and Echo can feel a great and terrible darkness rising in the distance. Cosmic forces threaten to tear the world apart.
Echo has already lost her home, her family, and her boyfriend. Now, as the firebird, her path is filled with even greater dangers than the ones she’s already overcome.
She knows the Dragon Prince will not fall without a fight.
Echo must decide: can she wield the power of her true nature—or will it prove too strong for her, and burn what’s left of her world to the ground?
Welcome to the shadow hour.
Book: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Author: J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany & Jack Thorne
Series: Harry Potter #8
Genre: fantasy
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Pages: 328
Release: July 31st, 2016
The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later.
Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016.
It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.
While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.
Book: Wicked
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: A Wicked Saga #1
Genre: NA paranormal
Pages: December 8th, 2014
Release: 375
Things are about to get Wicked in New Orleans.
Twenty-two year old Ivy Morgan isn’t your average college student. She, and others like her, know humans aren’t the only thing trolling the French Quarter for fun… and for food. Her duty to the Order is her life. After all, four years ago, she lost everything at the hands of the creatures she’d sworn to hunt, tearing her world and her heart apart.
Ren Owens is the last person Ivy expected to enter her rigidly controlled life. He’s six feet and three inches of temptation and swoon-inducing charm. With forest-green eyes and a smile that’s surely left a stream of broken hearts in its wake, he has an uncanny, almost unnatural ability to make her yearn for everything he has to offer. But letting him in is as dangerous as hunting the cold-blooded killers stalking the streets. Losing the boy she loved once before had nearly destroyed her, but the sparking tension that grows between them becomes impossible for Ivy to deny. Deep down, she wants… she needs more than what her duty demands of her, what her past has shaped for her.
But as Ivy grows closer to Ren, she realizes she’s not the only one carrying secrets that could shatter the frail bond between them. There’s something he’s not telling her, and one thing is for certain. She’s no longer sure what is more dangerous to her—the ancient beings threatening to take over the town or the man demanding to lay claim to her heart and her soul.
Hi guys! I am beyond thrilled to welcome you my stop of Colleen Houck's blog tour for Recreated!
From Colleen Houck, New York Times bestselling author of The Tiger’s Curse, comes Recreated, the second book in the epic Egyptian-inspired Reawakened series, in which a seventeen-year-old must literally go to hell to save the love of her life.
Lily Young thought traveling across the globe with a reawakened sun prince was a grand adventure. Now she’s about to embark on the journey of a lifetime.
When Amon and Lily part tragically, he transports himself to the Netherworld—what mortals call hell. Tormented by the loss of his one true love, he’d rather suffer in agony during Lily’s mortal years than fulfill his duty to protect humanity.
Heartbroken, Lily seeks refuge on her grandmother’s farm. Yet she can feel Amon’s pain, and she has been having dreams—dreams of Amon continually suffering.
For before he departed, Amon gave Lily something very special, an item that connects them even though they are worlds apart. Now Lily must use this object to free him, and to free their realms from darkness and utter chaos. She will do whatever it takes.
If you haven't checked this series out yet, you definitely should. It's modern Egyptian mythology, complete with romance, action, and adventure! It is definitely worth a read if you're looking for something both fresh and traditional. Plus we get not one, not two, but three rather attractive princes (but don't worry--it's not a love triangle) to swoon over!
Now on to the tour! I have the pleasure of sharing with you Colleen Houck's answers to the popular question game Never Have I Ever. Enjoy!
Book: Stars Above
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #4.5 (final)
Genre: YA sci-fi, retelling
Publisher: Feiwei & Friends
Pages: 400
Release: February 2nd, 2016
The enchantment continues....
The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies?
With nine stories—five of which have never before been published—and an exclusive never-before-seen excerpt from Marissa Meyer’s upcoming novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.
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The Little Android: A retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” set in the world of The Lunar Chronicles.
Glitches: In this prequel to Cinder, we see the results of the plague play out, and the emotional toll it takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch….
The Queen’s Army: In this prequel to Scarlet, we’re introduced to the army Queen Levana is building, and one soldier in particular who will do anything to keep from becoming the monster they want him to be.
Carswell’s Guide to Being Lucky: Thirteen-year-old Carswell Thorne has big plans involving a Rampion spaceship and a no-return trip out of Los Angeles.
The Keeper: A prequel to the Lunar Chronicles, showing a young Scarlet and how Princess Selene came into the care of Michelle Benoit.
After Sunshine Passes By: In this prequel to Cress, we see how a nine-year-old Cress ended up alone on a satellite, spying on Earth for Luna.
The Princess and the Guard: In this prequel to Winter, we see a game called The Princess
The Mechanic: In this prequel to Cinder, we see Kai and Cinder’s first meeting from Kai’s perspective.
Something Old, Something New: In this epilogue to Winter, friends gather for the wedding of the century...
Book: This is Me.
Author: C.E. Wilson
Series: Standalone
Genre: NA sci-fi contemporary
Source: author (thank you, C.E.!)
Pages: 330
Release: August 11th, 2016
A-SIST
Anthropomorphic Sentient Individualized Servile uniT
Rogan is a robot. More specifically, he is an Asist – a personalized humanoid servant that provides protection, assistance, and companionship for a lonely young woman living on her own in the city. Chloe is trying to get her big break, singing at bars and clubs all over the city at night while she pays the bills as a substitute teacher during the day. Ever since she activated him many months ago, Rogan has been her beautiful, dependable, obedient, dead-eyed security blanket.
One morning she is shocked when he disobeys a direct command in an attempt to please her and his dull artificial eyes flash a hint of something new. Is this the result of the adaptive Asist servility programming or is Rogan actually thinking? Can a robot think? Can a robot feel?
As Chloe struggles with these thoughts she is blindsided by the singular Niven Adams, a handsome, confident man with the voice of an angel who is everything she’s ever wanted in a boyfriend. He’s the perfect guy for her, except for one problem. Niven doesn’t approve of Asists and takes an immediate dislike to Rogan. As Niven charms his way deeper and deeper into Chloe’s heart, Rogan tries to convince her that he is more than a mass-produced disposable servant.
With Rogan doing everything in his power to prove that his thoughts and feelings are real and Niven trying to persuade her to abandon her robot and have a normal human relationship, Chloe is trapped between the two things that mean the most to her. Does she embrace her relationship with the blond newcomer, or face that her Asist’s feelings may be more than features of his programming?
What really makes a person a person?
Is it a ticking muscle inside their chest, or is it something more?
