WWW Wednesday – November 16th, 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?

Three Dark Crowns (Three Dark Crowns, #1) by Kendare Blake

Wolf by Wolf (Wolf by Wolf, #1) by Ryan Graudin

I’m currently about 60 pages into Three Dark Crowns. It’s been interesting so far, but there have been a whole lot of character introductions and I’m still trying to remember who is who. Hopefully that gets easier as the story moves along and we actually get to all of the action. Also, Kat is annoying. If I have to read one more mention about her being too small, I’m going to pull my hair out.

I started my first buddy read ever last night with Britt @ Geronimo Reads. We both realized that we had Wolf by Wolf for ages but hadn’t actually read it, so we decided to read it together. I didn’t get far at all into it last night but I plan to do some reading during my lunch break today. I’ve heard great things about this book so I’m looking forward to it!

What did you recently finish reading?

  • The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid – review to come in the next few days
  • Like a River Glorious (The Gold Seer Trilogy, #2) by Rae Carson – Review

Both of these books were really good. I’m a tad bit obsessed with The Gold Seer Trilogy and I wish more people would give it a shot. It’s such a good series and deserves more recognition! And The Diabolic actually lived up to all of the hype! It was a really good YA science fiction standalone that was dark, exciting, and unique. I definitely recommend both of these!

What do you think you’ll read next?

  • Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4) by Sarah J. Maas
  • Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, #5) by Sarah J. Maas
  • The Secret History by Donna Tartt
  • Moon Chosen (Tales of a New World, #1) by P.C. Cast

All of these books for the Tome Topple Readathon that starts on the 18th. There will be an official post tomorrow about this readathon for those of you who are interested!


Have you read any of the books on my list? What are your thoughts on them? Which ones should I be excited about? What are you currently reading? Leave a link to your WWW post in the comments below!

Book Review:Like A River Glorious (The Gold Seer Trilogy, #2)

The Gold Seer Trilogy is one of those series that I just wish everyone knew about and would read. This is such a great story about an independent young woman traversing America to start anew during the California Gold Rush. Westerns seem to be the new trend in YA genres and I’m definitely okay with that. And Like A River Glorious (The Gold Seer Trilogy, #2)  by Rae Carson is a perfect example of that.

After a harrowing journey across the country, Leah Westfall and her friends have finally arrived in California and are ready to make their fortunes in the Gold Rush. Lee has a special advantage over the other new arrivals in California—she has the ability to sense gold, a secret known only by her handsome best friend Jefferson and her murdering uncle Hiram.

Lee and her friends have the chance to be the most prosperous settlers in California, but Hiram hasn’t given up trying to control Lee and her power. Sabotage and kidnapping are the least of what he’ll do to make sure Lee is his own. His mine is the deepest and darkest in the territory, and there Lee learns the full extent of her magical gift, the worst of her uncle, and the true strength of her friendships. To save everyone, she vows to destroy her uncle and the empire he is building—even at the cost of her own freedom.

The second epic historical fantasy in the Gold Seer trilogy by Rae Carson, the acclaimed author of The Girl of Fire and Thorns.

The Good

  • The Characters- I love that everyone in this series is super independent and tough. I guess that makes sense if you think about what kind of people survived the wagon train across the US back in the 1800’s. Also, diversity!!! You’ve got biracial characters, people of color, LGBTQ… I mean for a series that’s set in the 19th century, I’d say that’s pretty damn unique and wonderful. We need more of this!
  • Leah – Leah is one of my favorite female heroines. She’s super badass and doesn’t need anyone else saving her. In fact, she’s always the one saving everyone else. I also enjoy watching her develop as a character throughout these first few books. She’s starting to see the bigger picture, rather than just focusing on saving herself. In this book, her eyes are much more open to all of the injustice that is going on around her – especially in regards to the treatment of the Native Americans in California.
  • Plot – The plot in this book was a bit more fast-paced than in the first novel, especially once Leah gets entangled with Hiram. Also, I appreciated how the injustices done to the Native Americans takes focus in this book. This was a real issue during the migration into California that doesn’t get touched on often. I saw that some people were offended by it and thought that not enough focus was placed on it. There was also mention that Leah’s attitude towards the Native Americans was terrible, and that she shouldn’t have been the ones to save them. Well I saw it differently. To me, this was definitely shedding light on the terrible injustices done towards them and while showing the ignorance and selfishness of Leah. I believe we will see even more of this in the next book in the series, as Leah and Jefferson have to deal with the backlash personally in regards to their relationship and Jefferson’s heritage. Don’t give up on this one yet!

The Bad

  • The Ending – I think it felt a bit rushed once the climax ended. I understand that Carson was trying to make a transition towards what the finale’s Big Bad will be, but it didn’t really work for me. It was a little sloppy and didn’t really fit with the tone of the rest of the book. It’ll be very interesting to see how this all turns out in the next book since it came across as though all of the problems had been wrapped up and taken care of.

Just read this series, people! It’s so fun and unique, you won’t be disappointed. 🙂

Final Verdict: 4/5 Stars


Have you read The Gold Seer Trilogy? What are your thoughts on Like A River Glorious? What did you think of the ending?

WWW Wednesday – November 9th, 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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The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid

A Diabolic is ruthless. A Diabolic is powerful. A Diabolic has a single task: Kill in order to protect the person you’ve been created for.

Nemesis is a Diabolic, a humanoid teenager created to protect a galactic senator’s daughter, Sidonia. The two have grown up side by side, but are in no way sisters. Nemesis is expected to give her life for Sidonia, and she would do so gladly. She would also take as many lives as necessary to keep Sidonia safe.

When the power-mad Emperor learns Sidonia’s father is participating in a rebellion, he summons Sidonia to the Galactic court. She is to serve as a hostage. Now, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia. She must become her. Nemesis travels to the court disguised as Sidonia—a killing machine masquerading in a world of corrupt politicians and two-faced senators’ children. It’s a nest of vipers with threats on every side, but Nemesis must keep her true abilities a secret or risk everything.

As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns there is something more to her than just deadly force. She finds a humanity truer than what she encounters from most humans. Amidst all the danger, action, and intrigue, her humanity just might be the thing that saves her life—and the empire.

I’m almost halfway through this book. I was expecting to be almost done but I got sidetracked by the absolutely shocking clusterfuck that occurred last night. I do expect to read an insane amount tonight as this book is turning out to be living up to all of the hype. I’m usually letdown by overly hyped books, so I’m really excited this book didn’t fall prey to statistics! It’s brutal, intense, mature, and dark. It’s also filled with one of the most fun characters ever – crazy ass, Tyrus. Seriously, he is totally stealing the show with his personality. Also, I think his supposed insanity is actually all a ruse, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself with that thought process!

What did you recently finish reading?

  • Like A River Glorious (The Gold Seer Trilogy, #2) by Rae Carson – review coming this week!
  • How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather – full review HERE
  • Paper and Fire (The Great Library, #2) by Rachel Caine – review will be posted later today

I enjoyed all 3 of these! I’ve actually had a fairly good reading experience since that awful run-in with The Midnight Star, which you can read about HERE.

What do you think you’ll read next?

  • Wolf by Wolf (Wolf by Wolf, #1) by Ryan Graudin – I’ll be buddy reading this book with the lovely Britt @ Geronimo Reads. Apparently we’ve both had this book for a super long time and keep pushing it back on the TBR, so we decided to finally make ourselves read it!
  • Three Dark Crowns (Three Dark Crowns, #1) by Kendare Blake – This is the November BOTM for Hype or Like Friday. I decided to read it fairly early in the month as the Tome Topple Readathon begins on the 18th, and this book doesn’t qualify for it as it is below the +500 page minimum requirement. You can learn more about this readathon at Sam’s booktube channel, Thoughts on Tomes.

What does you WWW Wednesday look like? What are you currently reading? Have you read any of the books on my list? What are your thoughts on them?  Have you been having good book luck lately? Leave a link to your WWW Wednesday in the comments!

WWW Wednesday – November 2nd, 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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Like a River Glorious (The Gold Seer Trilogy, #2) by Rae Carson

Do you know what else is glorious? That book cover. I’m usually not a huge fan of people on book covers, but this one totally works. LOVE it. I’m only a few chapters into this book but so far, so good. I had forgotten just how much of a badass Leah is. You can read my review of the first book in the trilogy, Walk on Earth a Stranger, HERE.

Side Note: To all of you people who can read more than one book at a time – what is your secret? Hell, I’ve seen some of you even list like 5 books at once! How is that even possible?!

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

I haven’t read any reviews of Starflight, but I’ve been wanting to read it ever since it came in my Uppercase box back in February or March. Unfortunately, its been a victim of my insane TBR and kept getting pushed back until I decided to end the vicious cycle this month!

I’ll be honest – I’m not really looking forward to A Torch Against the Night. In fact, you could almost say I’ve been dreading it. That’s right, folks, I was not enamored with the first book like most people were. I thought it ended strong but not enough to make me crave more of this story. Hopefully this one ends up being a pleasant surprise and not a harbinger of the dreaded reading slump!


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 – November 1st, 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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Like a River Glorious (The Gold Seer Trilogy, #2) by Rae Carson

“Someone set those fires on purpose,” Henry says. “They knocked out the men we had on watch, shot our dog, and set those fires. We’re just not sure it’s safe to stay.”

Old Tug chortles. “Course it ain’t safe, you lily-livered pretty boy. It’s California.

– page 109

I haven’t actually started on this book yet but I will as soon as I finish this post. I really enjoyed the first book in this trilogy, Walk on Earth a Stranger, and have been eagerly waiting for this one to be released. I just love to stare at the covers of these books too. So pretty! Also, I’m totally down with this new YA Western trend. Maybe it’s because I’m from Texas?


Have you read Like a River Glorious yet? Have you read the first book, Walk on Earth a Stranger? What are your thoughts on it? Leave a link to your Teaser Tuesday post in the comments!

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?

Musing Mondays – October 17th, 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: Who are the key players in your current book? (or current themes, if nonfiction)


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

I got paid on Friday so I thought I’d have a little Treat Yo’self Day, which obviously included a trip to the bookstore. I think I did really good yesterday as two of the books were found in the bargain price section! Don’t you just love saving money?

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As the daughter of a meth dealer, Wavy knows not to trust people, not even her own parents. Struggling to raise her little brother, eight-year-old Wavy is the only responsible “adult” around. She finds peace in the starry Midwestern night sky above the fields behind her house. One night everything changes when she witnesses one of her father’s thugs, Kellen, a tattooed ex-con with a heart of gold, wreck his motorcycle. What follows is a powerful and shocking love story between two unlikely people that asks tough questions, reminding us of all the ugly and wonderful things that life has to offer.

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The thrilling finale to the New York Times bestselling Young Elites series from “hit factory” Marie Lu.

There was once a time when darkness shrouded the world, and the darkness had a queen.

Adelina Amouteru is done suffering. She’s turned her back on those who have betrayed her and achieved the ultimate revenge: victory. Her reign as the White Wolf has been a triumphant one, but with each conquest her cruelty only grows. The darkness within her has begun to spiral out of control, threatening to destroy all that she’s achieved.

Adelina’s forced to revisit old wounds when a new danger appears, putting not only Adelina at risk, but every Elite and the very world they live in. In order to save herself and preserve her empire, Adelina and her Roses must join the Daggers on a perilous quest—though this uneasy alliance may prove to be the real danger.

Bestselling author Marie Lu concludes Adelina’s story with this haunting and hypnotizing final installment to the Young Elites series.

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After a harrowing journey across the country, Leah Westfall and her friends have finally arrived in California and are ready to make their fortunes in the Gold Rush. Lee has a special advantage over the other new arrivals in California—she has the ability to sense gold, a secret known only by her handsome best friend Jefferson and her murdering uncle Hiram.

Lee and her friends have the chance to be the most prosperous settlers in California, but Hiram hasn’t given up trying to control Lee and her power. Sabotage and kidnapping are the least of what he’ll do to make sure Lee is his own. His mine is the deepest and darkest in the territory, and there Lee learns the full extent of her magical gift, the worst of her uncle, and the true strength of her friendships. To save everyone, she vows to destroy her uncle and the empire he is building—even at the cost of her own freedom.

The second epic historical fantasy in the Gold Seer trilogy by Rae Carson, the acclaimed author of The Girl of Fire and Thorns.

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Once a city of enormous wealth and culture, Prague was home to emperors, alchemists, astronomers, and, as it’s whispered, hell portals. When music student Sarah Weston lands a summer job at Prague Castle cataloging Beethoven’s manuscripts, she has no idea how dangerous her life is about to become. Prague is a threshold, Sarah is warned, and it is steeped in blood.
Soon after Sarah arrives, strange things begin to happen. She learns that her mentor, who was working at the castle, may not have committed suicide after all. Could his cryptic notes be warnings? As Sarah parses his clues about Beethoven’s “Immortal Beloved,” she manages to get arrested, to have tantric sex in a public fountain, and to discover a time-warping drug. She also catches the attention of a four-hundred-year-old dwarf, the handsome Prince Max, and a powerful U.S. senator with secrets she will do anything to hide.

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An audacious, darkly glittering novel set in the eerie days of civilization’s collapse, Station Eleven tells the spellbinding story of a Hollywood star, his would-be savior, and a nomadic group of actors roaming the scattered outposts of the Great Lakes region, risking everything for art and humanity.

One snowy night Arthur Leander, a famous actor, has a heart attack onstage during a production of King Lear. Jeevan Chaudhary, a paparazzo-turned-EMT, is in the audience and leaps to his aid. A child actress named Kirsten Raymonde watches in horror as Jeevan performs CPR, pumping Arthur’s chest as the curtain drops, but Arthur is dead. That same night, as Jeevan walks home from the theater, a terrible flu begins to spread. Hospitals are flooded and Jeevan and his brother barricade themselves inside an apartment, watching out the window as cars clog the highways, gunshots ring out, and life disintegrates around them.

Twenty years later, Kirsten is an actress with the Traveling Symphony. Together, this small troupe moves between the settlements of an altered world, performing Shakespeare and music for scattered communities of survivors. Written on their caravan, and tattooed on Kirsten’s arm is a line from Star Trek: “Because survival is insufficient.” But when they arrive in St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who digs graves for anyone who dares to leave.

Spanning decades, moving back and forth in time, and vividly depicting life before and after the pandemic, this suspenseful, elegiac novel is rife with beauty. As Arthur falls in and out of love, as Jeevan watches the newscasters say their final good-byes, and as Kirsten finds herself caught in the crosshairs of the prophet, we see the strange twists of fate that connect them all. A novel of art, memory, and ambition, Station Eleven tells a story about the relationships that sustain us, the ephemeral nature of fame, and the beauty of the world as we know it.

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I am Henrietta Howel. The first female sorcerer. The prophesied one. Or am I?

Henrietta Howel can burst into flames. When she is brought to London to train with Her Majesty’s sorcerers, she meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, young men eager to test her powers and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her. As Henrietta discovers the secrets hiding behind the glamour of sorcerer life, she begins to doubt that she’s the true prophesied one. With battle looming, how much will she risk to save the city–and the one she loves?

 Who are the key players in your current book? (or current themes, if nonfiction)

Well, I’m currently in the middle of Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, #3) by Sarah J. Maas. I’m sure most of you are aware of the main characters in this series but there are a couple of newly introduced ones in this book. The most important main character in this book is obviously Celaena Sardothien, and then we have our other mains – Dorian and Chaol. However, now added to the playing field are Aedion Ashryver, Manon Blackbeak, and Rowan Whitehorn (my personal favorite asshole). I’m really enjoying Aedion and Rowan (obviously!), but I am pretty much bored to tears during Manon’s chapters. I just don’t really care about the witches if I’m being honest. I’ll compare her to how I felt about Nehemia – boring and uninteresting. And if she can meet the same fate as the princess, (and hopefully sooner rather than later), I’ll be one happy camper.


Have you read any of the books that I bought this week? If you have, please leave a link to your review of them (if you have one)! What are some of your recent book purchases? Who are the key players in your current read?