Musing Mondays – October 31st, 2016

Musing Mondays is a weekly theme hosted by the lovely MizB @ Books and a Beat, that asks you to answer one of the prompt questions and that week’s random question.

PROMPTS:

  • I’m currently reading…
  • Up next I think I’ll read…
  • I bought the following book(s) this past week…
  • I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
  • I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
  • I can’t wait to get a copy of…
  • I wish I could read ___, but…
  • I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: What’s your favorite horror novel (if you read that genre)?


I bought the following book(s) this past week…

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Two girls, two stories, one epic novel

From Lauren Oliver, New York Times bestselling author of Before I Fall and the Delirium trilogy, comes an epic, masterful novel that explores issues of individuality, identity, and humanity. Replica is a “flip book” that contains two narratives in one, and it is the first in a duology. Turn the book one way and read Lyra’s story; turn the book over and upside down and read Gemma’s story. The stories can be read separately, one after the other, or in alternating chapters. The two distinct parts of this astonishing novel combine to produce an unforgettable journey. Even the innovative book jacket mirrors and extends the reading experience.

Lyra’s story begins in the Haven Institute, a building tucked away on a private island off the coast of Florida that from a distance looks serene and even beautiful. But up close the locked doors, military guards, and biohazard suits tell a different story. In truth, Haven is a clandestine research facility where thousands of replicas, or human models, are born, raised, and observed. When a surprise attack is launched on Haven, two of its young experimental subjects—Lyra, or 24, and the boy known only as 72—manage to escape.

Gemma has been in and out of hospitals for as long as she can remember. A lonely teen, her life is circumscribed by home, school, and her best friend, April. But after she is nearly abducted by a stranger claiming to know her, Gemma starts to investigate her family’s past and discovers her father’s mysterious connection to the secretive Haven research facility. Hungry for answers, she travels to Florida, only to stumble upon two replicas and a completely new set of questions.

While the stories of Lyra and Gemma mirror each other, each contains breathtaking revelations critically important to the other story. Replica is an ambitious, thought-provoking masterwork.

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I actually already own an ARC of this masterpiece that I was able to snag and get signed at BookCon. Kristoff and Kaufman are probably two of the coolest authors ever and are incredibly nice. You can read my review for this awesome book HERE.

Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.

The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.

Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.

When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.

But relax. They’ve totally got this. They hope.

Once again told through a compelling dossier of emails, IMs, classified files, transcripts, and schematics, Gemina raises the stakes of the Illuminae Files, hurling readers into an enthralling new story that will leave them breathless.

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An epic novel of magic and mysticism, Celts and faeries, mad kings and druids, and the goddess struggling to reign over magic’s last outpost on the Earth.

What became of magic in the world? Who needed to do away with it, and for what reasons? Drawing on myth, legend, fairy tales, and Biblical mysteries, The Last Days of Magic brilliantly imagines answers to these questions, sweeping us back to a world where humans and magical beings co-exist as they had for centuries.

Aisling, a goddess in human form, was born to rule both domains and—with her twin, Anya—unite the Celts with the powerful faeries of the Middle Kingdom. But within medieval Ireland interests are divided, and far from its shores greater forces are mustering. Both England and Rome have a stake in driving magic from the Emerald Isle. Jordan, the Vatican commander tasked with vanquishing the remnants of otherworldly creatures from a disenchanted Europe, has built a career on such plots. But increasingly he finds himself torn between duty and his desire to understand the magic that has been forbidden.

As kings prepare, exorcists gather, and divisions widen between the warring clans of Ireland, Aisling and Jordan must come to terms with powers given and withheld, while a world that can still foster magic hangs in the balance. Loyalties are tested, betrayals sown, and the coming war will have repercussions that ripple centuries later, in today’s world—and in particular for a young graduate student named Sara Hill.

The Last Days of Magic introduces us to unforgettable characters who grapple with quests for power, human frailty, and the longing for knowledge that has been made taboo. Mark Tompkins has crafted a remarkable tale—a feat of world-building that poses astonishing and resonant answers to epic questions.

What’s your favorite horror novel (if you read that genre)?

I don’t really read horror novels usually so I can’t say that I have a real answer for this question. I tend to stay away from horror novels and movies, as I don’t enjoy being scared haha. Who knew, right? I am currently reading How to Hang a Witch though, and while it’s not really scary, it is very suspenseful with just a hint of creepy.


What does your most recent book haul look like? Do you have a favorite horror novel or movie? Leave a link to your Musing Monday post in the comments!

Spotlight Sunday – October 30th, 2016

Spotlight Sunday is a weekly meme created by Balie @ Nerd in New York & Closet Readers for their Goodreads book club, Nerdy Reads. Each Sunday share a book that you think is underrated and needs to be read ASAP – put it in the spotlight! *wink-wink, nudge-nudge*

Rules:

  1. Make sure to link back to the original creators in your post.
  2. Share your post on the Goodreads page so that others can read your post.

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Dove by M.H. Salter

Japhy would sacrifice his freedom for people he will never meet. Ray would sacrifice all those unknown people just to protect him.

In 1970, when Japhy receives his draft notice for the Vietnam War, he and girlfriend, Ray, become Dharma Bums. They pack their lives into a duffel bag, and hitch their way to the Canadian border – a safety zone that, once a draft dodger enters, he can never leave. Ever. Not to see family. Not to help injured friends. Not even to attend a loved-one’s funeral.

On the road, Japhy and Ray are joined by flower children, Leaf and Lauren, and all four decide to find a hippie commune in Toronto where they will be free of their demons, and safe with their secrets. Or will they?

Amidst a colorful whirl of psychedelics, love-ins, original music, and political protests, Japhy and his friends discover everything has a price, freedom is not free, and true peace comes at a cost whether you are fighting for it in a war or simply within the depths of your own soul.

How far would you go for freedom?

Dove is the first book in The Freedom Series and was shortlisted for the Impress Prize For New Writers.

So I was able to snag an ARC of this book through Netgalley and Daytime Moon Publishing back at the start of the year, and boy, I am so glad I did. The premise really intrigued me as I haven’t read many books (or any actually) set during the Vietnam War. Which is weird actually because I love the late 60’s-70’s era. There’s a reason why Dazed and Confused is one of my all-time favorite movies, but I digress! Anyways, this book was definitely an adventure into experiencing the real hippie culture of that time. Japhy and Ray’s story will make you laugh, cry, cringe, and probably make you think, YIKES, at least once or twice (it did for me at least). I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning a bit more about that time period, especially the counter-culture that its known for. Seriously, go fall in love with this book like I did! You can read my full review of it HERE.

This book is an adult general fiction novel. There is sex, drug use, violence, and language aplenty throughout, so please do be aware of this if you are considering picking this book up. Just leaving this disclaimer for y’all so you aren’t surprised that it’s not a young adult book after buying it, and then blaming me for it haha!


Have you read this book? Are there any books that you would recommend that are based during the Vietnam War?  What book would you choose for Spotlight Sunday? Leave a link to your post in the comments!

Hype or Like Friday – October 28th, 2016

Woohoo, it’s Hype or Like Friday again! This meme and Goodreads group were created by myself, Jill @ Rant and Rave Books, and Britt @ Geronimo Reads. To join our group and find out more information about what it’s all about, please go to our Goodreads page HERE.

October’s BOTM is Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. The weekly topics this month are whichever ones we want to choose from a list of ideas that our members came up with. They are all so much fun! Also, today was supposed to be a review for the BOTM, but I’d already read like 3 years ago and didn’t have time for a reread this month. So if you’re interested, I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads. Instead, I’ll be doing another topic this week. Enjoy!

RULES:

  • Answer the weekly discussion topic.
  • Optional: Discuss your chosen hyped book of the week.
  • Optional: Talk about your progress on the BOTM.

TOPIC OF THE WEEK (that I chose): Magical Reads – Halloween makes me think of magic and witches. So here’s a list of some books that center around witches and magic!


The Half Bad Trilogy by Sally Green

This is such a unique take on a witches story and is a really great trilogy. It tackles the grey area of good and bad pretty well for YA. I was surprised how dark it got in certain parts but I think that made it more realistic. You can read my reviews for it HERE and HERE.

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Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Obviously, I can’t leave out our favorite “worst Chosen One ever”! I mean, this story is about a wizard and his adventures at Watford, School of Magic. You can read my review of it HERE.

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Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Because there’s a wizard, full of a creepy magical forest that is basically alive and homicidal. What more do you need?! You can find my review for this book HERE.

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The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling

This one doesn’t even need a reason.

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How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather

This book is my current read. Don’t ask me what it’s about because I won’t actually start it until tonight. I just know it has something to do with the descendants of the victims of the Salem Witch Trials. The perfect read for Halloween weekend, obviously.

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The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness

This trilogy is one of my all-time favorite general fiction series. It’s got witches, vampires, time-travel, and some seriously scientific moments that will get any science and math nerds all excited. It gets a lot of mixed reactions from people, but I love it and have no shame in saying so.


What are some of your favorite magical, witchery reads? Have you read any from my list? What are you reading this Halloween weekend?

Review: Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, #3)

Alright, alright people! I finally know who this Rowan Whitethorn fellow is that everyone seems to be going on about all of the time. Now why we had to wait until Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, #3) for him to show up, is beyond me. Get on the ball here, Maas!

Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak―but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life―and her future―forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?

The bestselling series that has captured readers all over the world reaches new heights in this sequel to the New York Times best-selling Crown of Midnight. Packed with heart-pounding action, fierce new characters, and swoon-worthy romance, this third book will enthrall readers from start to finish.

The Good

  • Rowan – Okay, I get why people become so annoyed with the asshole guy cliché. However, I am not one of those people. I cannot get enough of them. I love their snark and sass, their antisocial behavior, and that they don’t fall in love with the MC as soon as they see them. I enjoy the buildup as we get to know more about them and learn their history. And if I’m being honest, I will always immediately choose them over the nice guy. I won’t apologize for the fact that nice guys bore me to tears in books. So basically Rowan has now replaced Chaol as my favorite. Sorry Chaol, I guess our love was never meant to last (kind of like yours and Celaena’s hahaha!… Too soon?).
  • The Climax – I really enjoyed that dramatic ending. I think it was veryyyyyy much needed after nothing really happening for the majority of the book. I also think it was a really good catalyst to start the actual climax for the entire series. It needed to happen before the story could ever reach the beginning of the end, so to speak. Does that make sense?
  • Aedion – Yeah, he’s a badass. I just wish his charm and cockiness wasn’t all an act though.

    The Bad

    • Info Dump – Guys, this book left me even more confused than I already was about all of the Fae history and mythology. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT! I feel like there’s just too much going on that it’s hard to keep track of who is who and what they did, etc. Is it just me who is suffering from WTF syndrome? Does it get any better? Is it going to get worse? Will I have completely lost my mind by the end of this series?! Stay tuned to find out!
    • Pacing – This book could’ve definitely cut out at least 100 pages and been perfectly fine. There was too much of nothing really happening during Celaena’s training. Unfortunately, I feel like this is an issue for almost all of Maas’ books. They tend to be too long which can be a turnoff for some people. I love big books, don’t get me wrong, but in this case it’s just unnecessary.
    • Chaol and Dorian – Their chapters in this book were just uninteresting to me. Chaol is suffering from some serious issues that I find completely annoying and stupid (kind of like Tamlin in ACOMAF). And I’m just bored by Dorian as a character in general, and have been since the first book. I like that he grew a backbone at the end of this book but I think it took to long to happen. And Chaol? Yeah, you did help out a bit but you need to get over yourself and stop whining!

    All in all, this was not my favorite book in this series so far. In fact, if it had just been a whole book following the sarcastic and sassy conversations between Celaena and Rowan – it would’ve been a 5 star hit! #needmoreRowan

    Final Verdict: 3/5 Stars


    What are your thoughts on this book? Do you agree with my assessment? Which book is your favorite in the Throne of Glass series so far? Are you Team Dorian, Team Chaol, Team Rowan, or even Team Aedion?

    Wonderfilled Reads 1st Annual Unhaul!

    Hello to all of my gorgeous and amazing readers! Today is going to be the start of a good weekend (and yes, I am including Thursday in the weekend), and I think doing a little bookshelf cleaning is going to be the perfect way to do that! Last night, I was sitting in my bedroom floor staring at my messy and overflowing bookshelf (thanks, Target!), and decided that I really need to get rid of some of these books. I currently have 4 stacks in my floor right now of unread books that should be up on this shelf but there’s just no room. So, I think the best way to get ready for the upcoming new year is to declutter and clean out these shelves! I’m getting rid of books that I’ve read and liked but don’t feel the need to keep, books that I just didn’t enjoy, books that I want a different edition of, and books that I have no interest in reading at all.

    Because I love all of my fellow bookworms, I thought I would give you all a chance to snag a new book for your own shelves! What do you think about that?! Below I will list the books that are up for grabs, including edition (paperback/hardback), synopsis, and link to its Goodreads page. I do have some other books available as well but there were just too many to list here. And trust me, there’s quite a few of them! If you are interested in a complete list of those, then please let me know and I can send a full list via private message on Twitter or Goodreads.

    Rules:

    • If you would like one, please leave a comment with your choice.
    • These are first come, first serve as I unfortunately do not have multiple copies available.
    • All books are undamaged and unmarked – I take good care of my babies.
    • I am interested in doing a book trade! So please let me know if you have any books that you would like to clear from your shelves and we can work out a deal!
    • Free shipping for US and Canada only! If you are international and really interested in a book, let me know so we can check on shipping prices and split the cost.
    • Try not to be too greedy! 😉

    The Winner’s Curse Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski

    Editions: 1st – paperback, 2nd – paperback, 3rd – hardcover

    Winning what you want may cost you everything you love…

    As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

    One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

    But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

    Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

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    The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

    Edition: paperback

    On the faded Island Books sign hanging over the porch of the Victorian cottage is the motto “No Man Is an Island; Every Book Is a World.” A. J. Fikry, the irascible owner, is about to discover just what that truly means.

    A. J. Fikry’s life is not at all what he expected it to be. His wife has died, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. Slowly but surely, he is isolating himself from all the people of Alice Island—from Lambiase, the well-intentioned police officer who’s always felt kindly toward Fikry; from Ismay, his sister-in-law who is hell-bent on saving him from his dreary self; from Amelia, the lovely and idealistic (if eccentric) Knightley Press sales rep who keeps on taking the ferry over to Alice Island, refusing to be deterred by A.J.’s bad attitude. Even the books in his store have stopped holding pleasure for him. These days, A.J. can only see them as a sign of a world that is changing too rapidly.

    And then a mysterious package appears at the bookstore. It’s a small package, but large in weight. It’s that unexpected arrival that gives A. J. Fikry the opportunity to make his life over, the ability to see everything anew. It doesn’t take long for the locals to notice the change overcoming A.J.; or for that determined sales rep, Amelia, to see her curmudgeonly client in a new light; or for the wisdom of all those books to become again the lifeblood of A.J.’s world; or for everything to twist again into a version of his life that he didn’t see coming. As surprising as it is moving, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry is an unforgettable tale of transformation and second chances, an irresistible affirmation of why we read, and why we love.

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    The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams

    Edition: paperback

    Passion, redemption, and a battered suitcase full of secrets: the New York Times-bestselling author of A Hundred Summers returns with another engrossing tale.

    Manhattan, 1964. Vivian Schuyler, newly graduated from Bryn Mawr College, has recently defied the privilege of her storied old Fifth Avenue family to do the unthinkable for a budding Kennedy-era socialite: break into the Mad Men world of razor-stylish Metropolitan magazine. But when she receives a bulky overseas parcel in the mail, the unexpected contents draw her inexorably back into her family’s past, and the hushed-over crime passionnel of an aunt she never knew, whose existence has been wiped from the record of history.

    Berlin, 1914. Violet Schuyler Grant endures her marriage to the philandering and decades-older scientist Dr. Walter Grant for one reason: for all his faults, he provides the necessary support to her liminal position as a young American female physicist in prewar Germany. The arrival of Dr. Grant’s magnetic former student at the beginning of Europe’s fateful summer interrupts this delicate détente. Lionel Richardson, a captain in the British Army, challenges Violet to escape her husband’s perverse hold, and as the world edges into war and Lionel’s shocking true motives become evident, Violet is tempted to take the ultimate step to set herself free and seek a life of her own conviction with a man whose cause is as audacious as her own.

    As the iridescent and fractured Vivian digs deeper into her aunt’s past and the mystery of her ultimate fate, Violet’s story of determination and desire unfolds, shedding light on the darkness of her years abroad . . . and teaching Vivian to reach forward with grace for the ambitious future––and the love––she wants most.

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    I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

    Edition: paperback

    A brilliant, luminous story of first love, family, loss, and betrayal for fans of John Green, David Levithan, and Rainbow Rowell

    Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new force in her life. The early years are Noah’s story to tell. The later years are Jude’s. What the twins don’t realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.

    This radiant novel from the acclaimed, award-winning author of The Sky Is Everywhere will leave you breathless and teary and laughing—often all at once.

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    Passenger (Passenger, #1) by Alexandra Bracken

    Edition: hardcover

    Passage, n.
    i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.
    ii. A journey by water; a voyage.
    iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.

    In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.

    Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them—whether she wants to or not.

    Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home… forever.

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    Six Months Later by Natalie Richards

    Edition: paperback

    She has everything she’s ever wanted. But not her memory…

    When Chloe fell asleep in study hall, it was the middle of May. When she wakes up, snow is on the ground and she can’t remember the last six months of her life.

    Before, she’d been a mediocre student. Now, she’s on track for valedictorian and being recruited by Ivy League schools. Before, she never had a chance with super jock Blake. Now he’s her boyfriend. Before, she and Maggie were inseparable. Now her best friend won’t speak to her.

    What happened to her? Remembering the truth could be more dangerous than she knows…

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    Starcrossed (Starcrossed, #1) by Josephine Angelini

    Edition: paperback

    How do you defy DESTINY?

    Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is – no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it’s getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she’s haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood… and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they’re destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

    As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together – and trying to tear them apart.

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    Illuminate (Gilded Wings, #1) by Aimee Agresti

    Edition: paperback

    Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything changes when she moves into Chicago’s swanky Lexington Hotel for a prestigious internship shadowing the powerful, alluring, and startlingly young owner, Aurelia Brown. Here, Haven has her first taste of decadence as she meets the city’s A-listers, works alongside Aurelia’s stunning minions known as the Outfit, and frequents the hotel’s exclusive nightclub.

    In her old life, Haven was ordinary. But at the Lexington, she’s being transformed – and being pursued by Lucian Grove, the guy of her dreams and Aurelia’s second-in-command. As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that the beautiful people on the Lexington’s staff are not quite what they seem – and that they have a horrifying plan in store for the hotel’s unsuspecting guests. Aurelia and company are in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them, or will she rise up and fight back in time to save her classmates on prom night at the hotel?

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    The Siren by Kiera Cass

    Edition: hardcover

    Love is a risk worth taking.

    Years ago, Kahlen was rescued from drowning by the Ocean. To repay her debt, she has served as a Siren ever since, using her voice to lure countless strangers to their deaths. Though a single word from Kahlen can kill, she can’t resist spending her days on land, watching ordinary people and longing for the day when she will be able to speak and laugh and live freely among them again.

    Kahlen is resigned to finishing her sentence in solitude…until she meets Akinli. Handsome, caring, and kind, Akinli is everything Kahlen ever dreamed of. And though she can’t talk to him, they soon forge a connection neither of them can deny…and Kahlen doesn’t want to.

    Falling in love with a human breaks all the Ocean’s rules, and if the Ocean discovers Kahlen’s feelings, she’ll be forced to leave Akinli for good. But for the first time in a lifetime of following the rules, Kahlen is determined to follow her heart.

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    The Cellar (The Cellar, #1) by Natasha Preston

    Edition: paperback

    Nothing ever happens in the town of Long Thorpe – that is, until sixteen-year-old Summer Robinson disappears without a trace. No family or police investigation can track her down. Spending months inside the cellar of her kidnapper with several other girls, Summer learns of Colin’s abusive past, and his thoughts of his victims being his family…his perfect, pure flowers. But flowers can’t survive long cut off from the sun, and time is running out…

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    Jessie’s Girl by Miranda Kenneally

    Edition: paperback

    Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya Henry said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she’d get to shadow *the* Jesse Scott, Nashville’s teen idol.

    But spending the day with Jesse is far from a dream come true. He’s as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he’s accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya’s lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse’s pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya’s playing back up to other people’s dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart—and go solo?

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    The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

    Edition: paperback

    Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years before, when she lived and made love with her husband, Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now…


    Remember to leave a comment to claim the book you want! There are more books available, so don’t forget to ask for a full list if you don’t see one here that you’d be interested in! Please leave a list of any books that you want to clean from your shelves too and we can have a community unhaul!

    WWW Wednesday -October 26th, 2016

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    Welcome to WWW Wednesday which is currently being hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words. It’s really just a place to do little update on what all you’ve been reading lately. Anyone is welcome to join, just leave a link to your post in the comments and be sure to give the appropriate credit to Sam!

    The Three Ws are:

    • What are you currently reading?
    • What did you recently finish reading?
    • What do you think you’ll read next?

    What are you currently reading?

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    Paper and Fire (The Great Library, #2) by Rachel Caine

    This series is so unique and fun. It really tackles some interesting topics that I wasn’t really expecting when I first picked up Ink and Bone. I had never imagined what life would be like if the government was basically controlled by a library, THE library if we’re really nitpicking. Usually in dystopian novels, the government has completely eradicated or kept books and knowledge away from the masses, whereas in this series, its the complete opposite. It really makes you think, is there really any difference between the two?

    What did you recently finish reading?

    The Midnight Star (The Young Elites, #3) by Marie Lu

    Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, #2) & Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, #3) by Sarah J. Maas

    I’m highly entertained by my experiences with the Throne of Glass series so far. I’ve only read the first 3 books in the series, so this could certainly change as I continue on with the next 2 books. However, while I was expecting to hate it, they’re actually a pretty fun read. Are they riddled with problems? Hell yes! But I made the comparison recently in that I view this series along the lines of Percy Jackson and The Mortal Instruments – these books are pure entertainment. You can read my review for Crown of Midnight HERE.

    As for The Midnight Star…. WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING, LU?! This book was entirely too short for it to rap up such an intriguing and engrossing trilogy. I just feel extremely let down by how this story ended. Maybe it’s my fault for having such high hopes and pent up anticipation, or maybe Lu just really dropped the ball on this one. I’m going to go with the latter.

    What do you think you’ll read next?

    How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather

    I’m going to start this one next – just in time for Halloween. I’m pretty intrigued by the premise for this book and cannot wait to see how it turns out. I’m also purposefully staying trying to stay away from too many reviews about it so I can go into as blind as possible.

    Like a River Glorious (The Gold Seer Trilogy, #2) by Rae Carson

    I was pleasantly surprised by the first book in this series, as I was afraid it was going to be slow and boring. SO WRONG. I’ve been itching to read this sequel ever since and now I finally have my hands on it! And y’all, just look at that gorgeous over.

    A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes, #2) by Sabaa Tahir

    I was less impressed with An Ember in the Ashes than most people were. However, I did think it ended on a strong note so I figured I’ll stick with this series to see where it leads. I’m not as excited about reading this book as I am the other two on my TBR, but hopefully it surprises me. Fingers crossed!


    What does your WWW Wednesday look like? Have you read any of the books on my list? What are your thoughts on them?

    Teaser Tuesday – October 25th, 2016

    Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme currently being hosted by MizB @ Books and a Beat. All are welcome to participate!

    Rules:

    • Grab your current read.
    • Open to a random page.
    • Share two ‘teaser’ sentences from somewhere on that page.
    • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! You don’t want to give too much away so as to not ruin the book for others!
    • Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

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    Paper and Fire (The Great Library, #2) by Rachel Caine

    Wolfe slowly raised his head. His color was terrible and his eyes looked dull and strange, but they were open, and after a blank moment that seemed to stretch forever, he looked directly at Santi and said, “It must have been terrible if you look so worried.”

    -page 147

    I cannot say enough good things about this series. The first book, Ink and Bone, was a wonderful reimagining of what society would be like if The Great Library of Alexandria had never burned down, but instead became the single place that controls all of the books and writing from history. It was an exciting book and it’s looking like this sequel shall continue that trend. I feel like this is an underrated series and doesn’t have the following like I would have thought it would. But maybe you’ll pick it up, enjoy it as much as I do, and will help spread the word! I mean, this is a book about the importance of books and what booknerd doesn’t love that?


    What does your Teaser Tuesday look like? Have you read The Great Library series yet? What are your thoughts on it?

    Review: Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, #2)

    If I’m being honest with myself, I was kind of wanting to hate this series before I started it. There was just so much hype surrounding it that I was fully looking forward to being a curmudgeon and dog this series. Dammit, my plans were thwarted and I ended up finding Throne of Glass fairly entertaining. I never wrote a review of it but I gave it 4 stars. However, I definitely saw an improvement when it came to this second book, Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, #2) by Sarah J. Maas. (Side note – I accidentally typed Gals just now and then I started laughing picturing a series called Throne of Gals.)

    “A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached.

    It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend.”

    From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

    Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

    Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena’s world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie… and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

    The Good

    • Plot – Okay, the plot in this book was 100x more entertaining than in the first. There was plenty of action and mystery going on throughout the story and I didn’t find myself getting bored as I did in the first book. There’s nothing worse than reading a fantasy story and being bored.
    • Chaol – Yeah, I liked him in the first book but he was even better in this one. He went through some growing pains and is starting to feel the pressure of having feelings for Celaena and being able to complete his duties. He’s loyal to a fault and suffers from some serious issues. I like my men to be really flawed and I’ll be damned if that isn’t Chaol all the way.
    • Celaena – I found myself liking Celaena a bit more in this book, than I did in the first one. We actually get to see her in action some – FINALLY. Also, she wasn’t as immature acting as she was in Throne of Glass. We actually get to see that her past is finally starting to weigh on her, which I think added a much needed layer to her character, especially in terms of development.

    Roland gave her a courtier’s smile. “And what sort of work do you do for my uncle?”Dorian shifted on his feet and Chaol went very still, but Celaena returned Roland’s smile and said, “I bury the king’s opponents where nobody will ever find them.”.png

    The Bad

    • Nehemia – I cannot stand her character. Don’t ask me why that is, because I don’t know. There’s just something very annoying about her and gives me an irrational dislike towards her. I was insanely pleased with where her character ended up. Too mean?
    • Convoluted History – Maybe I’m just too dense to get it, but the history and mythology in this series is so damn confusing to me. All of historical references and explanations are just too messy for me, and bring up more questions than they answer. I’m not really sure I understand all of the different connections between the myths and current events. Every single time there’s some backstory or myth mentioned, all I can think is – WTF are they talking about? I feel like the reader is already supposed to know some of this information and I clearly do not.

    Because this book was too damn entertaining for its own good, I’m gonna have to give it all the stars. As much as it pains me to admit, I was hooked. This series is like a guilty pleasure read – you know it’s got lots of issues but you can’t help but love it anyways. I’m curious to see how it progresses (pssst.. I already finished Heir of Fire too). I’ve seen where EoS has gotten some very mixed reviews, so I think this is going to be interesting.

    Final Verdict: 5/5 Stars


    What are your thoughts on this book or series? Do you think I’m being too mean to Nehemia? Am I the only one who has a hard time following all of the myths and history? Am I taking crazy pills? Why can’t I like Dorian?

    Review: Half Lost (The Half Bad Trilogy, #3)

    You know the stories where the ending is all they-live-happily-ever-after? Well, Half Lost (The Half Bad Trilogy, #3) by Sally Green isn’t one of those stories.

    This is the final battle.

    The Alliance is losing the war, and their most critical weapon, seventeen-year-old witch Nathan Byrn, is losing his mind. Nathan’s tally of kills is rising, and yet he’s no closer to ending the tyrannical rule of the Council of White Witches in England. Nor is Nathan any closer to his personal goal: getting revenge on Annalise, the girl he once loved before she committed an unthinkable crime. An amulet protected by the extremely powerful witch Ledger could be the tool Nathan needs to save himself and the Alliance, but this amulet is not so easily acquired. And lately Nathan has started to suffer from visions: a vision of a golden moment when he dies, and of an endless line of Hunters, impossible to overcome. Gabriel, his closest companion, urges Nathan to run away with him, to start a peaceful life together. But even Gabriel’s love may not be enough to save Nathan from this war, or from the person he has become.

    Set in modern-day Europe, the final book in the Half Bad trilogy is more than a story about witches. It’s a heart-achingly visceral look at survival and exploitation, the nature of good and evil, and the risks we take for love.

    The Good

    • Underlying Theme – I think the underlying themes in this entire series has been good, but I wanted to really highlight it in this review. Green does a great job about introducing topics such as discrimination, and being able to really extend them throughout the entire story. Some authors introduce themes at the beginning of a book or series and then let them get lost in shuffle and pushed aside. However, Green never does this. The reader is fully aware of the awareness and prejudice throughout the series. Nathan is constantly being the victim of discrimination because he’s a Half-Code and I loved how Green portrayed this.
    • Plot – If you like stories where the plot gets dark, messy, and kind of depressing, then you will love how the plot of this trilogy develops throughout all three books. But in Half Lost, shit gets really dark. Revenge, murder, and inner demons are all alive and well here. Let’s be honest, Nathan doesn’t have the happiest of lives.
    • The Ending – Dammit, that ending wrecked me. It was both beautiful and sad, and I really wasn’t prepared for it.

    The Bad

    • The Romance – Yes, yes, yes… I’m still not completely sold with this relationship. I mean it’s portrayed wonderfully and all, but I just still have a hard time with it. I feel like I missed the buildup and because of that, I can’t fully get behind it. It started too soon and ended too soon.
    • Messy Climax – I feel that the final battle and culmination of this entire series was just a bit messy. I think things were wrapped up too easily and lacked information that would have helped answer some questions that I still had. I think this could be said for quite a few trilogy finales, actually.

    Overall, this was a great book and series. I enjoyed the darker aspects of the characters and plot. I thought it was also a really unique approach to the overdone witches storyline. It was also much more mature than your typical YA paranormal series which I really appreciated. And for me, the cons weren’t enough to detract from my overall experience with this book. Yay!

    Final Verdict: 5/5 Stars


    Have you read Half Lost? What are your thoughts on this series? Do you think I’m being too generous with my rating?

    Musing Mondays – October 24th, 2016

    Musing Mondays is a weekly theme hosted by the lovely MizB @ Books and a Beat, that asks you to answer one of the prompt questions and that week’s random question.

    PROMPTS:

    • I’m currently reading…
    • Up next I think I’ll read…
    • I bought the following book(s) this past week…
    • I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
    • I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
    • I can’t wait to get a copy of…
    • I wish I could read ___, but…
    • I blogged about ____ this past week…

    THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Take a guess at what might happen in the book you’re currently reading.


    I bought the following book(s) this past week…

    I feel like this is like one of my most chosen prompts each week but I can’t help it. I have a seriously horrible habit about buying way too many books. Which definitely wasn’t helped by Book Outlet having a sale last week! So thank you, Book Outlet, for feeding my insatiable book buying appetite and for helping be my topic for this week’s Musing Monday!

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    Walk on Earth a Stranger (The Gold Seer Trilogy, #1) by Rae Carson

    I actually read this book back in the spring when I checked it out from the library. But now that I’ve bought a copy of the second book in the trilogy, I figured I had to have the entire collection! You can read my review of it HERE.

    Gold is in my blood, in my breath, even in the flecks in my eyes.

    Lee Westfall has a strong, loving family. She has a home she loves and a loyal steed. She has a best friend—who might want to be something more.

    She also has a secret.

    Lee can sense gold in the world around her. Veins deep in the earth. Small nuggets in a stream. Even gold dust caught underneath a fingernail. She has kept her family safe and able to buy provisions, even through the harshest winters. But what would someone do to control a girl with that kind of power? A person might murder for it.

    When everything Lee holds dear is ripped away, she flees west to California—where gold has just been discovered. Perhaps this will be the one place a magical girl can be herself. If she survives the journey.

    The acclaimed Rae Carson begins a sweeping new trilogy set in Gold Rush-era America, about a young woman with a powerful and dangerous gift.

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    Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto

    I really think that I’m on a Western kick right now. The last few Westerns that I’ve read have all been really good. And when you add steampunk and the fantastical to it? I need it!

    The two-bit town of Rogue City is a lawless place, full of dark magic and saloon brawls, monsters and six-shooters. But it’s perfect for seventeen-year-old Westie, the notorious adopted daughter of local inventor Nigel Butler.

    Westie was only a child when she lost her arm and her family to cannibals on the wagon trail. Nine years later, Westie may seem fearsome with her foul-mouthed tough exterior and the powerful mechanical arm built for her by Nigel, but the memory of her past still haunts her. She’s determined to make the killers pay for their crimes—and there’s nothing to stop her except her own reckless ways.

    But Westie’s search ceases when a wealthy family comes to town looking to invest in Nigel’s latest invention, a machine that can harvest magic from gold—which Rogue City desperately needs as the magic wards that surround the city start to fail. There’s only one problem: the investors look exactly like the family who murdered Westie’s kin. With the help of Nigel’s handsome but scarred young assistant, Alistair, Westie sets out to prove their guilt. But if she’s not careful, her desire for revenge could cost her the family she has now.

    This thrilling novel is a remarkable tale of danger and discovery, from debut author Michelle Modesto.

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    The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore

    Romeo and Juliet was never my favorite of Shakespeare’s plays, but this book just sounds way too good to pass up!

    For twenty years, the Palomas and the Corbeaus have been rivals and enemies, locked in an escalating feud for over a generation. Both families make their living as traveling performers in competing shows—the Palomas swimming in mermaid exhibitions, the Corbeaus, former tightrope walkers, performing in the tallest trees they can find.

    Lace Paloma may be new to her family’s show, but she knows as well as anyone that the Corbeaus are pure magia negra, black magic from the devil himself. Simply touching one could mean death, and she’s been taught from birth to keep away. But when disaster strikes the small town where both families are performing, it’s a Corbeau boy, Cluck, who saves Lace’s life. And his touch immerses her in the world of the Corbeaus, where falling for him could turn his own family against him, and one misstep can be just as dangerous on the ground as it is in the trees.

    Beautifully written, and richly imaginative, The Weight of Feathers is an utterly captivating young adult novel by a talented new voice.

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    Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell

    Peter Pan retelling?! Yes, please!

    For as long as she can remember, Gwendolyn Allister has never had a place to call home—all because her mother believes that monsters are hunting them. Now these delusions have brought them to London, far from the life Gwen had finally started to build for herself. The only saving grace is her best friend, Olivia, who’s coming with them for the summer.

    But when Gwen and Olivia are kidnapped by shadowy creatures and taken to a world of flesh-eating sea hags and dangerous Fey, Gwen realizes her mom might have been sane all along.

    The world Gwen finds herself in is called Neverland, yet it’s nothing like the stories. Here, good and evil lose their meaning and memories slip like water through her fingers. As Gwen struggles to remember where she came from and find a way home, she must choose between trusting the charming fairy-tale hero who says all the right things and the roguish young pirate who promises to keep her safe.

    With time running out and her enemies closing in, Gwen is forced to face the truths she’s been hiding from all along. But will she be able to save Neverland without losing herself?

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    The Mime Order (The Bone Season, #2) by Samantha Shannon

    I think I may have to reread the first book in this series before reading this one, because I don’t really remember anything at all about it other than that I loved it.

    Paige Mahoney has escaped the brutal prison camp of Sheol I, but her problems have only just begun: many of the survivors are missing and she is the most wanted person in London…

    As Scion turns its all-seeing eye on the dreamwalker, the mime-lords and mime-queens of the city’s gangs are invited to a rare meeting of the Unnatural Assembly. Jaxon Hall and his Seven Seals prepare to take centre stage, but there are bitter fault lines running through the clairvoyant community and dark secrets around every corner. Then the Rephaim begin crawling out from the shadows. But where is Warden? Paige must keep moving, from Seven Dials to Grub Street to the secret catacombs of Camden, until the fate of the underworld can be decided.

     Take a guess at what might happen in the book you’re currently reading.

    Well I started Paper and Fire (The Great Library, #2) by Rachel Caine last night. I have a feeling that our favorite group of rebellious teens are going to break in to the Alexandrian Library and do a little prison rescue. I’m really excited about this second book, as I’m only about 70 pages into it and it’s been non-stop excitement from the first page. I highly recommend this series to any fans of alternate history, steampunk, or dystopian. The second book just came out in July so you aren’t far behind if you start on it now!


    What books have you bought lately? Have you read any of the ones from my book haul? Leave a link to your Musing Monday in the comments below!