Hey guys! I hope you’re all staying safe during the pandemic. I would like to take the time to show my love for some amazing indie authors and small businesses that sell bookish items.
Self published authors are self employed meaning (in some states/circumstances) they can’t get unemployment. This is at least the case for me, even though I lost my primary job I can’t get unemployment because I sell books even though I don’t make that much and it’s not enough to live on. It’s frustrating. Because I’m going through this, I assume others may be as well.
Here are a few indie authors:
1. Liz Meldon
Meldon is a romance author that has a range of erotic books like contemporary and paranormal. All of her books are on amazon and are all free with a kindle unlimited subscription! Here are a few of my favorites from her
Predator (The Hunt Book 1)
Synopsis: As the top-rated male escort in Farrow’s Hollow, incubus Severus sees the same thing night after night: human women searching for surrender, for a connection, for love. He caters to them, feeds from them, not realizing he’s desperate for all the same things. Accustomed to clients swooning over his dark stare and sinful smile, the demon meets his match when a newcomer immune to his charms schedules a session. The bewitching beauty makes his lonely heart race, the connection between them immediate–and not just between the sheets. But the intensity of it all sends grad student Moira fleeing into the night. Desperate for answers, Severus pursues her, unaware that he isn’t the only predator to have caught her scent.
Belle (Unbowed Novels Book 1)
Synopsis: Belle I’m terrified. I’ve never done this before–two months on a private island, isolated from the rest of the world, just me and my new client. A client who wants my unwavering submission. What if I’m a horrible submissive? What if I fail? Worst of all–what if I fall for the man I know I can’t have? Protect your heart, Belle, I tell myself. Protect it when he smiles at you, kisses you, binds you. Don’t let Dean Donahue have it, as tempted as you are to surrender it. Because escorts don’t get fairy tale endings. We get paid. Dean: I’ve wanted her from the first moment I saw her. Belle Bennet, escort. Darling Belle, sweet girl, on her knees, bound and gagged, writhing in pleasure–or pain. The choice is mine. She is mine. Perfect in her naivety, she’s the submissive I’ve been waiting my whole life to claim. And for the next two months, I intend to have her–mind, body, and soul–any damn way I see fit.
2. Emma Hamm
Emma Hamm writes beautiful fantasy! All of her books on amazon are available for free through kindle unlimited too. Her books are adult fairy tales that must be read! Here are a few books of hers I love—
Heart of the Fae (The Otherworld Book 1)
Synopsis: When a plague sweeps across the emerald hills of Uí Néill, leaving a young midwife’s father with months to live, Sorcha makes a deal with a dangerous Fae to save her people. She must travel across the sea, through merrow and kelpie lands, to find a forgotten king on a crumbling throne. Born king of the Seelie Fae, Eamonn fought battles unnumbered to uphold honor, duty, and freedom… until his twin brother sank a blade between his shoulders. Crystals grew from the wound, splitting open skin and bone. His people banished him to a cursed isle for his disfigurement, where he now rules as a king of criminals and fools. With the help of brownies, pixies, and will-o’-the-wisps, Sorcha battles to break through his crystalline shell and persuade him to take back his stolen throne. This determined beauty could come dangerously close to stealing his beastly heart… if his enemies don’t kill her first.
Gilded Rose (Celestials Book 1)
Synopsis: The world is plagued by creatures called the Dread. And he’s their king. I’ve tried to run. I’ve tried to hide. But there’s no escaping him. He wants to turn me into one of the creatures. Unless… I find a way to break the curse. A curse that has turned him into the monster that he is. He wasn’t supposed to destroy cities. He’s one of the Celestials meant to save humanity. As I uncover the truth and break his curse, I wonder if I’ve lost myself in the process. Can I still escape him? Or has he taken my heart forever?
3. Emma Castle
I only read one of Emma Castle’s books but the book I read left me crying. It was so good and I think everyone should experience this book—
Midnight with the Devil
Synopsis: He’s sexy as sin and hotter than hell and—oh wait. What would you do to save a loved one’s life? Make a pact with the Devil? In Diana Kingston’s defense, it was the middle of the night in the deserted hospital chapel… surely it was just a dream. She hadn’t really sold herself to a brooding stranger to save her father’s life, right? Then she wakes and her father is fully recovered and a mysterious letter arrives from the tall, dark, handsome—um, Devil? Yep, it was right there on the contract, Lucien Star, aka Lucifer Morningstar, that had been his name in the dream… Gulp. What would the Devil himself want with her? Sex. Three months of hot, sweaty, Friday night sex. Ooookay. Breaking a pact with the Devil doesn’t seem like a smart move. So she’ll do it—but she won’t like it. Not much anyway. But she starts liking it – a lot—and every night they spend together, she likes it and Lucien a little more. Being with him allows her naughty side to come out and play, but Diana starts to see more than just a sexy-as-sin, rock-hard … er…Anyway, he might be Satan, but even he was an angel once. Kind. Noble. And she sees glimpses of that man still inside him… But how in Heaven’s name do you save the Devil from himself?
4. Nissa Leder
Nissa Leder writes magical fantasy books. If you’re a fan of Seelie/Unseelie Fae’s, her Whims of Fae series is for you! I read the first book about a year ago and it exceeded my expectation. Her books are free with kindle unlimited.
Two Princes of Summer (Whims of Fae Book 1)
Synopsis: When Scarlett meets Cade, she knows he’s special. Gorgeous. Mysterious. An uncanny ability to ease the pain from the death of her mother. So, when he lures her to the land of Faerie where he’s prince of the Summer Court, Scarlett doesn’t hesitate to go. Faerie has magic and beauty, and Cade uses his power to keep Scarlett numb. At first, it seems perfect. Too perfect. Soon, Scarlett learns that the Summer Prince isn’t as caring as she first thought. Scarlett is sucked into a royal feud as Cade and his older brother Raith prepare for the Battle of Heirs where the winner earns the right to the Summer throne. Will she find a way to cope with her sorrow and untangle herself from the two princes? Or will they devour her completely? Find out in this page-turning, fantasy novel where a young woman must find light in the darkness.
5. E.M. Courier
I’m going to un-shamelessly put my name in there. I write mainly romance all free with kindle unlimited. I have my best selling Mafia Romance series—
Arranged Love (Mafia Romance Book 1)
Synopsis: Liliana Ricci – Growing up in Boston as the daughter of the mafia’s leader has its perks. I never grew up wanting anything with monetary value, never went hungry or thirsty and always had a bed to sleep in. What I craved was companionship, love, freedom. My father arranged my marriage to one of the most ruthless in the Mob, Antonio Moretti, notorious for being cold and calculating. He is the newest Don of the mafia’s Outfit in Chicago due to the death of his father. The Outfit is weakened from the Bratva and my father thinks this marriage will help our ties. I’m nothing more than a business deal. I’ve heard rumors and stories of Antonio Moretti that frighten me to my very core. I’m not ready to give up my innocence, I’m not ready to be forced into a loveless marriage like all women unfortunate enough to be born into this life. Antonio Moretti – The Bratva slaughtered my father along with eighteen others on a mission. A mission I should have been on with my younger brother. Now I am the rightful Don of the Outfit. This isn’t the first time within the past few months that the Bratva has attacked and slaughtered my soldiers, there has to be a rat. The only way to get my revenge is if I have help from Boston. Marco Ricci offers a good majority of his men in exchange that I marry his nineteen-year-old daughter, Liliana. I never once saw myself as the married type or the father type, but I know the job description and what is expected of me. I agree with the marriage because I need the men. One look into her blue eyes and already I feel…strange. She is captivating, she is innocent, but she is unlike any of the other women I have met. She is feisty and reserved and not flinging herself at me like I’m used to. I refuse to get close to her. Closeness is a weakness.
My newest book is a Word War II romance—
A Sky Apart (A World War II Romance)
Synopsis: Set in 1941; Elyse Kinney has just lost her father on the U.S.S Arizona, determined to fight, she joins the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. Stationed in the Middle-Of-Nowhere, Italy, she tends to soldiers and pilots in the Army Air Forces. First Lieutenant Elyse Kinney is Chief Nurse to a group of eleven nurses stationed with her. She tries not to get too attached to anyone, for she knows exactly what war can take from a person. When she receives a letter from home, her younger sister Daisy has also joined the Army Nurse Corps and is stationed on the front line. Elyse gets help from Captain Lawson, a pilot, to get her transferred. Captain Everett Lawson flies a B-25, his missions consist of flying over enemy territory and letting his bombardier drop the eggs. A mission sends him to the infirmary where he meets the stubborn Lieutenant Kinney. Both strong-headed and fighting each other for authority, the two grow close through a series of exchanged books. Through mutual loss, the two bond and realize they want adventure and fun like in the books they read. As their relationship grows and they start to fall in love, Lieutenant Kinney gets news of her transfer. Can their love survive when they’re a sky apart from each other?
6. Emilie MacCauley
This is another alias of mine. It’s the name I published my debut fantasy book under. Fight for the Crown is Throne of Glass meets Caraval. It has circus vibes, fae royalty, dark broody males, and has twists and turns.
Fight for the Crown
Synopsis: Being eighth in line to the Silver Throne, the powerless princess Rowan Greenfallow, has never cared much about becoming the Queen of Ovhka. When heir to the throne, her brother Prince Arlo, finds out a life-altering secret about her that not even Rowan knows herself, she is no longer safe at the castle.Fleeing from her home with no chance of returning, Rowan meets Shadow who brings her to Cirvka. Cirvka, a sanctuary for low bloods who have been outcasted in their villages by high bloods, becomes her solace. There she learns about her secret past and meets friends who will help her fulfill her fate of becoming queen. Rowan must learn to control her new magic and overthrow the male she once called Father. As Rowan grows closer to the friends she has met at Cirvka, she soon finds out the haven is anything but. Dark deception runs deep in the roots of Cirvka. Rumors of the mysterious Overseer, leader of Cirvka, are true and his vindictive plans leave Rowan to act fast. Rowan must take the throne, detangle the truth from the lies, and save her friends from an evil and manipulative force.
Leigh’s mugs are beautiful! They are high quality with various unique bookish designs. She has mugs for fandoms including Ninth House, Red Rising, Vicious, and more! You can also use CASSIAN15 for 15% off your final purchase! She also has pins, bookmarks, pin hoops, and prints!
Laura has tons of different bookish and non-bookish custom crochet mermaids. They are so beautiful and I own 12! Each month she has different themed mermaids and she even does your own custom made ones. I had her do one of Nancy Drew for me!
Bri makes booksleeves and even has pins and more new items to come. There are many fandoms to chose from. The booksleeves have beautiful art from JemlinCreations. I also have a code for this shop, use CASSIAN15 at checkout!
They probably have the most beautiful bookish candles I own. They have a lot more on their site too, they have prints, pins, tapestries, pillowcases…just check everything out!
They have the most beautiful bookish themed pins I have ever seen! They have wondermail with themes and exclusive pins that fit the theme that you can get every month. If you are a fan of ACOTAR they have tons of pins based of that series!
Prythian Pin by Read&Wonder
Considering helping out your favorite indie authors and small business whether it’s buying their products or promoting them on your social media or telling your friends and family about them! Any help helps!
Comment below some of your favorite indie authors and small businesses and take a look at what other people commented! Spread some love!
Are you partaking in the O.W.L’s Readathon this year? I’ve never taken part but I’d like to try! This post is going to give you a few options of what you could read this month!
Let’s start with the first class:
Ancient Ruins: Heart on the cover or in the title
1. Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf
Synopsis: Zera is a Heartless—the immortal, unaging soldier of a witch. Bound to the witch Nightsinger, Zera longs for freedom from the woods they hide in. With her heart in a jar under Nightsinger’s control, she serves the witch unquestioningly. Until Nightsinger asks Zera for a prince’s heart in exchange for her own, with one addendum: if she’s discovered infiltrating the court, Nightsinger will destroy Zera’s heart rather than see her tortured by the witch-hating nobles. Crown Prince Lucien d’Malvane hates the royal court as much as it loves him—every tutor too afraid to correct him and every girl jockeying for a place at his darkly handsome side. No one can challenge him—until the arrival of Lady Zera. She’s inelegant, smart-mouthed, carefree, and out for his blood. The prince’s honor has him quickly aiming for her throat.So begins a game of cat and mouse between a girl with nothing to lose and a boy who has it all. Winner takes the loser’s heart.
2. Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Synopsis: Long before she was the terror of Wonderland―the infamous Queen of Hearts―she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love. Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen. Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.
Arithmancy: Read something outside your favorite genre
Here are a mix of genres:
1. The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons – HISTORICAL FICTION/ROMANCE
Synopsis: Called “a Russian Thorn Birds,” The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons is a sweeping saga of love and war that has been a monumental bestseller all over the world. The acclaimed author of Tully, Simons has written a stirring tale of devotion, passion, secrets, betray, and sacrifice. “A love story both tender and fierce” (Publishers Weekly )that “Recalls Dr. Zhivago” (People Magazine), The Bronze Horseman is rich and vivid historical fiction at its finest.The golden skies, the translucent twilight, the white nights, all hold the promise of youth, of love, of eternal renewal. The war has not yet touched this city of fallen grandeur, or the lives of two sisters, Tatiana and Dasha Metanova, who share a single room in a cramped apartment with their brother and parents. Their world is turned upside down when Hitler’s armies attack Russia and begin their unstoppable blitz to Leningrad.Yet there is light in the darkness. Tatiana meets Alexander, a brave young officer in the Red Army. Strong and self-confident, yet guarding a mysterious and troubled past, he is drawn to Tatiana—and she to him. Starvation, desperation, and fear soon grip their city during the terrible winter of the merciless German siege. Tatiana and Alexander’s impossible love threatens to tear the Metanova family apart and expose the dangerous secret Alexander so carefully protects—a secret as devastating as the war itself—as the lovers are swept up in the brutal tides that will change the world and their lives forever.
2. The A.B.C Murders by Agatha Christie – MYSTERY
Synopsis: There’s a serial killer on the loose, working his way through the alphabet and the whole country is in a state of panic. A is for Mrs. Ascher in Andover, B is for Betty Barnard in Bexhill, C is for Sir Carmichael Clarke in Churston. With each murder, the killer is getting more confident—but leaving a trail of deliberate clues to taunt the proud Hercule Poirot might just prove to be the first, and fatal, mistake.
3. Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth – SCIENCE FICTION
Synopsis: CYRA is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra’s currentgift gives her pain and power–something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother’s hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.AKOS is the son of a farmer and an oracle from the frozen nation-planet of Thuvhe. Protected by his unusual current-gift, Akos is generous in spirit, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get his brother out alive–no matter what the cost.Then Akos is thrust into Cyra’s world, and the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. Will they help each other to survive, or will they destroy one another? Carve the Mark is Veronica Roth’s stunning portrayal of the power of friendship–and love–in a galaxy filled with unexpected gifts.
4. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell – HISTORICAL FICTION/CLASSIC
Synopsis: Since its original publication in 1936, Gone With the Wind—winner of the Pulitzer Prize and one of the bestselling novels of all time—has been heralded by readers everywhere as The Great American Novel. Widely considered The Great American Novel, and often remembered for its epic film version, Gone With the Wind explores the depth of human passions with an intensity as bold as its setting in the red hills of Georgia. A superb piece of storytelling, it vividly depicts the drama of the Civil War and Reconstruction. This is the tale of Scarlett O’Hara, the spoiled, manipulative daughter of a wealthy plantation owner, who arrives at young womanhood just in time to see the Civil War forever change her way of life. A sweeping story of tangled passion and courage, in the pages of Gone With the Wind, Margaret Mitchell brings to life the unforgettable characters that have captured readers for over seventy years.
Synopsis: The only purebred vampire left on the planet and the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who killed his parents centuries ago. But when his most trusted fighter is killed—orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate—Wrath must put down his dagger and usher the beautiful female into another world.
5. Dark Lover by JR Ward – PARANORMAL ROMANCE
Synopsis: Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn’t there before, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of the Brotherhood and blood frighten her. Yet his touch ignites a dawning new hunger—one that threatens to consume them both…
6. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo – ADULT FANTASY
Synopsis: Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug-dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. In fact, by age twenty, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most prestigious universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her? Still searching for answers, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. Their eight windowless “tombs” are the well-known haunts of the rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street’s biggest players. But their occult activities are more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive. They tamper with forbidden magic. They raise the dead. And, sometimes, they prey on the living.
Astronomy: Night Classes Read Majority of This Book at Night
A little self explanatory. You can pick whatever book you want for this. Here’s a few suggestions of books I think are perfect night time reads.
1. Vicious by VE Schwab
Synopsis: Victor and Eli started out as college roommates―brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong. Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find―aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge―but who will be left alive at the end? In Vicious, V. E. Schwab brings to life a gritty comic-book-style world in vivid prose: a world where gaining superpowers doesn’t automatically lead to heroism, and a time when allegiances are called into question.
2. The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh
Synopsis: In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans is a safe haven after she’s forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent in the middle of the carnival season, Celine is quickly enraptured by the vibrant city, from its music to its fancy soirées and even its danger. She becomes embroiled in the city’s glitzy underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group’s enigmatic leader, Sébastien Saint Germain. When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in Sébastien’s own lair–the second dead girl to turn up in recent weeks–Celine battles her attraction to Sébastien and suspicions about his guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret. After a third murder, New Orleans becomes gripped by the terror of a serial killer on the loose–one who has now set Celine in his sights. As the murderer stalks her, Celine finally takes matters into her own hands, only to find herself caught in the midst of an age-old feud between the darkest creatures of the night, where the price of forbidden love is her life.
Care of Magical Creatures: Hippogriffs: Creature with a Beak on the Cover
1. Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
Synopsis: Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she’ll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There’s just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job. Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia’s task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise. And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor’s reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined. Steeped in Chinese culture, sizzling with forbidden romance, and shimmering with magic, this young adult fantasy is pitch-perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas or Renée Ahdieh.
2. House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City) by Sarah J Maas
Synopsis: Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life―working hard all day and partying all night―until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths. Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose―to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach. A s Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion―one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it. With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Timesbestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom―and the power of love.
3. Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto
Synopsis: I had a sister, once… In a world ruled by fierce warrior queens, a grand empire was built upon the backs of Phoenix Riders—legendary heroes who soared through the sky on wings of fire—until a war between two sisters ripped it all apart. I promised her the throne would not come between us. Sixteen years later, Veronyka is a war orphan who dreams of becoming a Phoenix Rider from the stories of old. After a shocking betrayal from her controlling sister, Veronyka strikes out alone to find the Riders—even if that means disguising herself as a boy to join their ranks. But it is a fact of life that one must kill or be killed. Rule or be ruled. Just as Veronyka finally feels like she belongs, her sister turns up and reveals a tangled web of lies between them that will change everything. And meanwhile, the new empire has learned of the Riders’ return and intends to destroy them once and for all. Sometimes the title of queen is given. Sometimes it must be taken.Crown of Feathers is an epic fantasy about love’s incredible power to save—or to destroy. Interspersed throughout is the story of Avalkyra Ashfire, the last Rider queen, who would rather see her empire burn than fall into her sister’s hands.
Charms: Lumos; White Cover
1. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Synopsis: Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences. In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.
2. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
Synopsis: Nevernight is the first in an epic new fantasy series from the New York Times bestselling author, Jay Kristoff. In a land where three suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a school of assassins, seeking vengeance against the powers who destroyed her family. Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is barely able to escape her father’s failed rebellion with her life. Alone and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god, hunted by the Senate and her father’s former comrades. But her gift for speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer, and a future she never imagined. Now, a sixteen year old Mia is apprenticed to the deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic ― the Red Church. Treachery and trials await her with the Church’s halls, and to fail is to die. But if she survives to initiation, Mia will be inducted among the chosen of the Lady of Blessed Murder, and one step closer to the only thing she desires. Revenge.
3. Daughters of the Storm by Kim Wilkins
Synopsis: FIVE ROYAL SISTERS. ONE CROWN. They are the daughters of a king. Though they share the same royal blood, they could not be more different. Bluebell is a proud warrior, stronger than any man and with an ironclad heart to match. Rose’s heart is all too passionate: She is the queen of a neighboring kingdom who is risking everything for a forbidden love. Ash is discovering a dangerous talent for magic that might be a gift—or a curse. And then there are the twins—vain Ivy, who lives for admiration, and zealous Willow, who lives for the gods. But when their father is stricken by a mysterious ailment, these five sisters must embark on a desperate journey to save him and prevent their treacherous stepbrother from seizing the throne. Their mission: find the powerful witch who can cure the king. But to succeed on their quest, they must overcome their differences and hope that the secrets they hide from one another and the world are never brought to light. Because if this royal family breaks, it could destroy the kingdom.
Defense Against the Dark Arts: Book Set at Sea or Coast
1. Sea Witch by Sarah Henning
Synopsis: Ever since her best friend Anna died, Evie has been an outcast in her small fishing town. Hiding her talents, mourning her loss, drowning in her guilt. Then a girl with an uncanny resemblance to Anna appears on the shore, and the two girls catch the eyes of two charming princes. Suddenly Evie feels like she might finally have a chance at her own happily ever after. But magic isn’t kind, and her new friend harbors secrets of her own. She can’t stay in Havnestad—or on two legs—without Evie’s help. And when Evie reaches deep into the power of her magic to save her friend’s humanity—and her prince’s heart—she discovers, too late, what she’s bargained away.
2. Bride of the Sea by Emma Hamm
Synopsis: Once upon a time…Saoirse dreams of land. Her father has other plans, and intends to marry her off as soon as possible. When a ship sinks near her home, she carries the only surviving sailor to a faerie blessed isle and plans her escape. Who better to help her than a man with few scruples and little cares in the world? Manus dreams of the sea. He spent every coin in his pockets to get back on a ship but never expected the vessel to sink. When a merrow saves him, he realizes the chance meeting is an opportunity. She could make him rich and become his good luck charm, so the legends say. Now, he just needs to get off the isle she’s trapped him on. They intend to use each other, but find their souls drawn together bit by bit. Can either leave the isle and the sea without losing their hearts in the bargain?
3. House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
Synopsis: In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor with her sisters and their father and stepmother. Once there were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls’ lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last–the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge–and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods. Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that her sister’s deaths were no accidents. The girls have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn’t sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who–or what–are they really dancing with? When Annaleigh’s involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it’s a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family–before it claims her next. House of Salt and Sorrows is a spellbinding novel filled with magic and the rustle of gossamer skirts down long, dark hallways. Get ready to be swept away.
Divination: Assign Numbers to Your TBR and Use a Random Number Generator to Pick Your Read
Herbology: Title Starts with ‘I’
1. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Synopsis: Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up—she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true. Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place. As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan—her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.
2. In Restless Dreams by Wren Handman
Synopsis: Sylvia is just a normal girl with huge, normal problems – her mother’s attempted suicide; how to adjust to life on the Upper East Side; trying to make friends in a rich prep school where she doesn’t belong; whether or not to trust the cute boy with the dangerous eyes. She thinks that’s more than she can handle, but she tests the limits of her endurance when she learns that she is the long awaited Phantasmer, a human who can change the fabric of Fairy simply by believing in a new story. Sylvia’s life is thrown off course as two warring Courts, the Seelie and Unseelie, both attempt to co-opt her gift to fight the other Court, which she has to deal with while trying not to get kicked out of school for fighting. And it doesn’t help matters that the fairies begging for her help are both attractive young men – with their own agendas.
History of Magic: Book featuring Witches/Wizards
1. Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
Synopsis: Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned. As a huntsman of the Church, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. But when Lou pulls a wicked stunt, the two are forced into an impossible situation—marriage.Lou, unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, must make a choice. And love makes fools of us all.
2. The Near Witch by VE Schwab
Synopsis: All-new deluxe edition of an out-of-print gem, containing in-universe short story “The Ash-Born Boy” and a never-before-seen introduction from V.E. Schwab. The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. There are no strangers in the town of Near. These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life. But when an actual stranger, a boy who seems to fade like smoke, appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true. The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy. Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.
3. Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw
Synopsis: Be careful of the dark, dark wood…Especially the woods surrounding the town of Fir Haven. Some say these woods are magical. Haunted, even. Rumored to be a witch, only Nora Walker knows the truth. She and the Walker women before her have always shared a special connection with the woods. And it’s this special connection that leads Nora to Oliver Huntsman—the same boy who disappeared from the Camp for Wayward Boys weeks ago—and in the middle of the worst snowstorm in years. He should be dead, but here he is alive, and left in the woods with no memory of the time he’d been missing. But Nora can feel an uneasy shift in the woods at Oliver’s presence. And it’s not too long after that Nora realizes she has no choice but to unearth the truth behind how the boy she has come to care so deeply about survived his time in the forest, and what led him there in the first place. What Nora doesn’t know, though, is that Oliver has secrets of his own—secrets he’ll do anything to keep buried, because as it turns out, he wasn’t the only one to have gone missing on that fateful night all those weeks ago.
Muggle Studies: Books from the Perspective of a Muggle/Contemporary Book
1. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
Synopsis: In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tätowierer (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners.Imprisoned for over two and a half years, Lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarism—but also incredible acts of bravery and compassion. Risking his own life, he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive.One day in July 1942, Lale, prisoner 32407, comforts a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm. Her name is Gita, and in that first encounter, Lale vows to somehow survive the camp and marry her.A vivid, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful re-creation of Lale Sokolov’s experiences as the man who tattooed the arms of thousands of prisoners with what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is also a testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions.
2. Regretting You by Colleen Hoover
Synopsis: Morgan Grant and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Clara, would like nothing more than to be nothingalike.Morgan is determined to prevent her daughter from making the same mistakes she did. By getting pregnant and married way too young, Morgan put her own dreams on hold. Clara doesn’t want to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Her predictable mother doesn’t have a spontaneous bone in her body. With warring personalities and conflicting goals, Morgan and Clara find it increasingly difficult to coexist. The only person who can bring peace to the household is Chris—Morgan’s husband, Clara’s father, and the family anchor. But that peace is shattered when Chris is involved in a tragic and questionable accident. The heartbreaking and long-lasting consequences will reach far beyond just Morgan and Clara. While struggling to rebuild everything that crashed around them, Morgan finds comfort in the last person she expects to, and Clara turns to the one boy she’s been forbidden to see. With each passing day, new secrets, resentment, and misunderstandings make mother and daughter fall further apart. So far apart, it might be impossible for them to ever fall back together.
3. Road to Paradise by Paullina Simons
Synopsis: There’s no telling where a journey will lead you…Shelby Sloane has big plans for the summer of 1981. She’ll drive cross country in her graduation present—a classic yellow Mustang. In California, she hopes to find the mother who left her behind long ago, and then return East in time to start college. Her childhood friend Gina is desperate to reunite with her boyfriend in Bakersfield and has convinced Shelby to bring her along. With Gina on board, Shelby’s carefully mapped-out itinerary is quickly abandoned. Soon, so is their “no hitchhikers” rule when Shelby picks up a mysterious girl named Candy Cane, who sets them all on a new and dangerous course. Streetwise beyond her years and decked out with tattoos, piercings, and spiky hair, Candy is on the run from a past darker than anything the two suburban girls have ever known. Candy draws Shelby and Gina into her terrifying world, where life as they know it is turned upside down and there is no place left to hide.
Potions: Shrinking Solution: Book under 150 pages
1. The Lost Sisters by Holly Black
This short book should be read after The Wicked King and is only available for ebook
Synopsis: While Jude fought for power in the Court of Elfhame against the cruel Prince Cardan, her sister Taryn began to fall in love with the trickster, Locke. Half-apology and half-explanation, it turns out that Taryn has some secrets of her own to reveal. The Lost Sisters is a companion e-novella to the New York Times bestselling novel The Cruel Prince, by master writer Holly Black.
2. The Tell-Tale Heart and Other Short Stories by Edgar Allan Poe
Just over 100 pages; A new, beautifully laid-out, easy-to-read edition of eight of Edgar Allan Poe’s most beloved short stories. This edition includes:
The Tell-Tale Heart
The Pit and the Pendulum
The Cask of Amontillado
The Masque of the Red Death
The Black Cat
William Wilson
The Oval Portrait
The Fall of the House of Usher
3. Last Seance by Agatha Christie
The book may be 300 pages but it has a collection various short stories definitely under 150 pages
Synopsis: From the Queen of Crime, the first time all of her spookiest and most macabre stories have been collected in one volume.
‘From behind the curtains there still sounded the terrible high long-drawn scream – such a scream as Raoul had never heard. It died away with a horrible kind of gurgle. Then there came the thud of a body falling…’
For lovers of the supernatural and the macabre comes this collection of ghostly and chilling tales from Agatha Christie. Acknowledged the world over as the undisputed Queen of Crime, in fact she dabbled in her early writing career with mysteries of a more unearthly kind – stories featuring fantastic psychic visions, spectres looming in the shadows, encounters with deities, eerie messages from the Other Side, even a man who switches bodies with a cat…
This haunting compendium gathers together all of Christie’s spookiest and most macabre short stories, some featuring her timeless detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Finally together in one volume, it shines a light on the darker side of Agatha Christie, one that she herself relished, identifying ten of them as ‘my own favourite stories written soon after The Mysterious Affair at Styles, some before that’.
Transfiguration: Book/Series that includes shape shifting
1. House of Earth and Blood Crescent City by Sarah J Maas (see Care of Magical Creatures suggestion 2 for synopsis)
2. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Synopsis: Love is the most dangerous magic of all… First in the bestselling prequel series to The Mortal Instruments, set in Victorian London. Something terrifying is waiting for Tessa Gray in London’s Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Tessa seeks refuge with the Shadowhunters, a band of warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons. Tessa finds herself fascinated by – and torn between – two best friends…
3. Fortress of Wolves by E.M. Courier
Synopsis: In the land of Tarrkin lives four segregated clans. Humans with the capability of shifting into wolves on command as soon as they hit maturity at the age of thirteen. The clans are broken up based on color on their wolf’s coat; gray, brown, black, and white. A rivalry between the black wolves and white wolves, a rivalry that has lasted since the beginning of time, is finally coming to an end. Binding the two heirs of both the Whitefangs clan and the Blackhearts clan. Valenthia Percival is the leader’s daughter of the white wolves’ clan—Snowfangs. She is sent off to marry the Blackhearts, leader’s son—Ariston Armadyl. The treaty is to end their long-spanned rivalry and prevent a new war from erupting. This treaty holds the power to bond them together…forever. For the first time ever, a white wolf and a black wolf are to have a child. As part of the treaty Valenthia is forced to marry her nemesis, Ariston, and bear his child. The treaty is to bring peace amongst them, but while in Blackheart territory Valenthia experiences nothing but rejection, hate, and conflict. Treaties are broken, and new schemes unravel.
I hope you all do well on your O.W.L’s! Tell me what you have planned read?
Synopsis: In the violent urban jungle of an alternate 1828 Paris, the French Revolution has failed and the city is divided between merciless royalty and nine underworld criminal guilds, known as the Court of Miracles. Eponine (Nina) Thénardier is a talented cat burglar and member of the Thieves Guild. Nina’s life is midnight robberies, avoiding her father’s fists, and watching over her naïve adopted sister, Cosette (Ettie). When Ettie attracts the eye of the Tiger–the ruthless lord of the Guild of Flesh–Nina is caught in a desperate race to keep the younger girl safe. Her vow takes her from the city’s dark underbelly to the glittering court of Louis XVII. And it also forces Nina to make a terrible choice–protect Ettie and set off a brutal war between the guilds, or forever lose her sister to the Tiger.
If you haven’t heard the news, Bloomsbury is changing the covers of the new ACOTAR series. Whether the Nesta/Cassian books will follow that cover theme or the originally, no one really knows.
Bloomsbury showed off the covers on this Instagram post https://www.instagram.com/p/B-TFNDmhes_/ and if you look at the comments, majority are not happy and it’s not hard to tell why.
So let’s talk about that. Why don’t we start with the pro’s and con’s of these new covers? Most of the pros/cons are opinion based so what I find a pro might be a con for you and vice versa.
The ACOTAR covers aren’t all that pretty to begin with. I’m not the biggest fan of the look of Feyre or if you aren’t a fan of character based covers these new covers are a positive! But at least the character on the cover fit the theme of the books! The new covers show a wolf (okay that one is understandable), a crow, a sword (understandable too), and a flower. But the crow and flower? I’m confused. Was there any symbolism in ACOMAF with a crow? And why a flower for ACOFAS…it takes place in winter! So the meaning of the covers I feel has just diminished. If these new covers were the original covers and I saw them and never read the book…I don’t think I would ever pick up the series. I definitely don’t find them photogenic for bookstagram either. But the point is a cover is to represent the story and these new ones…definitely don’t.
Don’t get me started on the covers. The original covers have (in order) red, blue, green, and black. They aren’t neon, they’re subtle and they make the books distinguishable. The new covers insert person vomiting emoji. The first cover follows the red and has the title in yellow (I’m talking about the paperback). So the first book just reminds me of McDonalds, red and yellow are an ugly mix. The hardback, the gray with red writing is a little better. I might actually buy the first hardcover but that’s it. And it also may be because my ACOTAR book is paperback compared to the rest of the series I have in hardback and it’s also ripped. The colors for the next three are even more atrocious! ACOMAF is green (why green when ACOWAR is green?) but is bright green and still the paperback has the yellow title writing. Green and yellow is an ugly mix too! And let’s talk about the WORST one ACOWAR it’s pink! Bright pink! Why?! It’s so bad! ACOFAS is bright blue and just…just why with these colors? They look almost childish and that seems to be a consensus with the comments on the Bloomsbury post.
The hardcovers aren’t as bad as the paperbacks though, the gray isn’t too bad and the splash of color in the title isn’t horrible, but still it doesn’t do the ACOTAR series justice!
A lot of people are worrying that the nesta/Cassian book coming out in 2021 is going to follow these new covers which causes problems amongst the bookish community. People want a matching series (I know I do) so if the Nessian book doe follow the new covers some people will feel forced to buy the new ACOTAR covers so they have a matching series. I guess some of us can only pray that these new covers are just a sort of collectors edition and the Nessian book coming out will following the original covers.
Here’s a sort of last note: the artist who was commissioned to these covers, the art isn’t bad at all! In fact I love the way the wolf, crow, sword, and flower al have an almost Chinese feel to the drawings and the colors aren’t horrible by themselves. I’m a big fan of pink and I love pink but they just do not fit ACOTAR. My problem and many others, have a problem with Bloomsbury decision to make these the new ACOTAR covers. They just don’t go with the series and do the story justice. It’s not the artist fault and the art is beautiful for something else or by itself, just not the book.
Same goes for SJM, she is my favorite author and I would hate for her to feel horrible or saddened over the criticism going on. ACOTAR is still an AMAZING story that should be read despite what the cover looks like. Who knows if SJM really had a say in the covers? This is not a reflection her nor is it a criticism on her books/writing. It’s the overall fact that the colors and drawings don’t reflect the amazing series that is ACOTAR!
I might buy the first hardback cover (ACOTAR) but that’s it. I’ll have to see if the Nessian spinoff will follow these covers because I might have to buy the rest of the hardcovers to match. As for the paperbacks, it’s a no from me.
The first book is up on Amazon for pre-order they come out June 2nd 2020. I’m not sure if the other books are available for preorder yet but here is the link for the first book.
The new hardcover is (as of right now) $25.76
The new paperback is (as of right now) $18.00
So let’s briefly look at the prices of the original ACOTAR book. The hardcover is $8.79 and paperback is $8.33. That is CHEAP compared to these new covers and yes I know the new covers are NEW so of course they’re more expensive and ACOTAR did come out 2015 (five years ago). It’s just something to keep in mind.
Exciting news! My latest romance book will be coming out on April 11th! The pre order link in live for kindle ($3.99). Later it will be available for kindle unlimited and paperback.
Synopsis:
Set in 1941; Elyse Kinney has just lost her father on the U.S.S Arizona, determined to fight, she joins the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. Stationed in the Middle-Of-Nowhere, Italy, she tends to soldiers and pilots in the Army Air Forces. First Lieutenant Elyse Kinney is Chief Nurse to a group of eleven nurses stationed with her. She tries not to get too attached to anyone, for she knows exactly what war can take from a person. When she receives a letter from home, her younger sister Daisy has also joined the Army Nurse Corps and is stationed on the front line. Elyse gets help from Captain Lawson, a pilot, to get her transferred.
Captain Everett Lawson flies a B-25, his missions consist of flying over enemy territory and letting his bombardier drop the eggs. A mission sends him to the infirmary where he meets the stubborn Lieutenant Kinney. Both strong-headed and fighting each other for authority, the two grow close through a series of exchanged books. Through mutual loss, the two bond and realize they want adventure and fun like in the books they read. As their relationship grows and they start to fall in love, Lieutenant Kinney gets news of her transfer. Can their love survive when they’re a sky apart from each other?
Sarah J. Maas’s brand-new CRESCENT CITY series begins with House of Earth and Blood: the story of half-Fae and half-human Bryce Quinlan as she seeks revenge in a contemporary fantasy world of magic, danger, and searing romance.
Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life―working hard all day and partying all night―until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.
Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose―to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.
As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion―one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.
With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Timesbestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom―and the power of love.
Here is my review:
What can I say about this book other than SJM has done it again!
At first I wasn’t sure about the book meaning the first 100 pages didn’t grab me like they did in ToG or ACOTAR and I think I attribute that to it being 800 pages compared to 300 page books. I found myself frustrated with the events of what happens in the first 100 pages (I won’t give a spoiler). But I kept reading because what really always grabs me about her books is her world building. I was so interested in Crescent City and all the houses. I was amazed at all the different types of creatures, a sprite, shapeshifters, mers, demons, fae, angels and archangels…vampire and werewolves (essentially but with different spelling and wolves are just shifters) anyways…the entire world is magical and that alone should be a reason to pick up the book.
Let’s talk about our main characters; Bryce and Hunt. Bryce is a party girl, she’s half-fae. Bastard daughter of a powerful fae father who knocked up her mother and left them. Within the first handful of chapters we skip two years. Bryce has experienced tragedy that has changed her point of view and ruined her in ways no one understands. Yet, she still lets people believe she was the party girl she once was—drinking, drugs, and hookups. When the crimes of what happened two years ago happens again, the governor asks Bryce and Hunt (Shadow of Death) a deadly angel assassin working/a slave to the governor Micah. Hunt is a 200-something year old angel, a warrior for a rebellion decades ago now a slave killing for Micah for his freedom. Hunt is not without tragedy either. He’s experienced loss and his lack of freedom and slave tattoo fills him with desperation to do whatever it takes to be free again. The two get under each other’s skin as Hunt sees her as a spoiled party girl and Bryce sees him as someone all business with a stick up his butt. The unlikely pair soon finds out just how likely they are. Their many differences are soon outweighed by their similarities as the work as a team to find out who is behind the murders and how other crimes going on in the city are related.
What I think makes a book good is the fact that you aren’t able to guess the ending not even when there’s 100 or even 50 pages left. The last 300 pages of the book I couldn’t stop reading because it was one twist after the other. This book alone deserves five stars for messing with my head. Making me believe once thing and then another. I was shocked at the ending when everything came to together and just when everything came together it was all a lie. Do not trust any of the characters in this book, there are so many lies. So much deception and it is all riveting. My jaw was dropped for those last 300 pages. It was action packed along with a lot of adventure and mystery. The romance factor was a slow burn with a lot of frustration but I know in book two we may see a lot more romance/smut factor. Yes you heard right, there will be a book 2 because based off the ending…there is still something fishy going on. Things are not completely resolved as bad guys still linger with more surprising shocks.
The character development is developed across the 800 pages. We slowly see the shell of person Bryce was in the beginning to someone who is able to find closure and is able to live her life again. We slowly get to see her open up in the most beautiful way to Hunt, who in turn opens up to her. There is a lot of hurt, betrayal, and work to do to keep their relationship. The question is, will they fight for each other? Will they put everything aside for a life together? For eternity together?
Another notable character is Ruhn, Bryce’s distant “cousin.” Ruhn is a prince, Starborn, chosen one…. He is a rebel, he is a complicating character who may care about Bryce more than initially let on and for many reasons. Their relationship together is another demonstration of amazing character development. Ruhn and Bryce who fight, who at times want nothing to do with each other start to realize how much the other means to each other. It takes a tragedy, it takes almost losing each other for them to realize how much love they have for the other. It takes something big for the two of them to put their differences aside and to lay hurtful words to rest… but is it enough?
House of Blood and Earth has pieces of a puzzle scattered throughout the entire book. Pieces you don’t even know are pieces that fit together to give you the solution. Who killed who and for what reason. Each piece is shocking, surprisingly and will have you slapping your forehead for not having put it all together sooner. This epic fantasy book is fantasy, mystery, action, and adventure all in one. It will leave you breathless, it will leave your heart aching, it will leave you in tears but you will love this book so fiercely because it is a book of overcoming hardship and dealing with painful loss. You will feel so much empathy for the characters and experience the book as if you are there with the characters. This beautifully written book is so epic, so amazing that it has to be read to appreciated.
There is nothing more I can say, the best parts of the book are spoilers so do yourself a favor and read the book! Fall in love with the characters, the world, and see if you can figure out who to trust and who is beyond the crimes.
Aurora Burning is book two in the Aurora Cycle series. Let’s start this post off with the synopsis (May contain spoilers from book 1)
Our heroes are back . . . kind of. From the bestselling co-authors of the Illuminae Files comes the second book in the epic Aurora Cycle series about a squad of misfits, losers, and discipline cases who just might be the galaxy’s best hope for survival.
First, the bad news: an ancient evil–you know, your standard consume-all-life-in-the-galaxy deal–is about to be unleashed. The good news? Squad 312 is standing by to save the day. They’ve just got to take care of a few small distractions first.
Like the clan of gremps who’d like to rearrange their favorite faces.
And the cadre of illegit GIA agents with creepy flowers where their eyes used to be, who’ll stop at nothing to get their hands on Auri.
Then there’s Kal’s long-lost sister, who’s not exactly happy to see her baby brother, and has a Syldrathi army at her back. With half the known galaxy on their tails, Squad 312 has never felt so wanted.
When they learn the Hadfield has been found, it’s time to come out of hiding. Two centuries ago, the colony ship vanished, leaving Auri as its sole survivor. Now, its black box might be what saves them. But time is short, and if Auri can’t learn to master her powers as a Trigger, the squad and all their admirers are going to be deader than the Great Ultrasaur of Abraaxis IV.
Shocking revelations, bank heists, mysterious gifts, inappropriately tight bodysuits, and an epic firefight will determine the fate of the Aurora Legion’s most unforgettable heroes–and maybe the rest of the galaxy as well.
Shocking revelations are right. This book was one big twist and turn of amazing excitement! I definitely also might have cried at the end. I totally was sobbing like a baby.
My review is spoiler free so feel free to read it without fearing!
First things first FIVE STARS⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SQUAD 312 is back!
I’m so thankful to have been sent an ARC but also so frustrated because NOW I NEED BOOK 3! Jay and Amie are masters of wrenching hearts out. I found myself going through every emotion during this book. I cried, smiled, wanted to throw the book, and more. They are geniuses when it comes to twisting a plot. Aurora Burning is on fire as an amazing second book in the series. Immediately the book grabbed my attention and thrust me back into the world I so dearly missed.
It was amazing to rekindle with Ty, Scarlett, Fin, Aurora, Zila, and of course my favorite—Kal. I almost forgot how much I LOVE these character. Each one is unique and that is I think what makes this book special. A group of misfits with their own quirks and varying personalities come together and forge a bond for the ages. I absolutely loved reading about them, I love the different POV’s even more as we see inside what makes each character their own.
I was so happy when the cover reveal showed my favorite space baby, Kal, on the cover. I was even lore excited that this book focuses around him in a big way. Meaning; we get insight into Kal’s family and childhood as they play a role in the plot. Aurora grows as a person in this book too which is fun to see. We get to see her strength and purpose. Ty and Zila, I found more interesting this time around. Ty got his own story line with a new character that really showed just how much an Alpha he truly is. We get to see in action as a leader and we also learn more about him and his feelings—specifically toward Cat, his sister, his squad, and his parents. We learn more about his past (most of which is SHOCKING). We watch as Ty and his quick thinking as he formulated plans, gets himself in danger, and undergoes torture. Zila became a lot more interesting than book 1 because as this “unfeeling” girl grows to like her friends/squad, we begin to learn the dark past behind what made the girl so “unfeeling.” Scarlett as always was comical, bada*s, and fierce. I love her to death. Her empowerment and fiery wit is what makes her so d*mn likable. Fin, was a bit disappointed he didn’t have as much a big role as book 1, but nonetheless we get to see his character development too. I love that sassy alien.
Aurora Burning is action based with a sprinkle of romance, a heaping of sarcasm, 5 and half cups of sexy characters, and just a pinch more of plot twists and shocks that I can handle!! This book is just as amazing as the first, if not better, if you loved Squad 312 you will love them in this new addition to the series. Watch as they grow closer, learn from their mistakes, make new mistakes, and go on a mission that will change them forever!
FIVE STARS — well done Jay and Amie…now give me BOOK 3 because you CANT just end a book like that!!!
Hope you all enjoyed my mini review of Aurora Burning! I tried not to say too much because all of the exciting and epic things that happened would all be spoilers! The book releases MAY 5th 2020 and is available for pre-order on most retail websites. You won’t want to miss out.
Have you read Aurora Rising? Are you excited for Aurora Burning? & Who is your favorite Squad 312 member?
I am so incredibly excited to announce that I have a YA fantasy book coming out MARCH 17th 2020! It’s called “Fight for the Crown” by Emilie MacCauley. It will be the first book in the series.
Here’s the synopsis:
Being eighth in line to the Silver Throne, the powerless princess Rowan Greenfallow, has never cared much about becoming the Queen of Ovhka. When heir to the throne, her brother Prince Arlo, finds out a life-altering secret about her that not even Rowan knows herself, she is no longer safe at the castle.
Fleeing from her home with no chance of returning, Rowan meets Shadow who brings her to Cirvka. Cirvka, a sanctuary for low bloods who have been outcasted in their villages by high bloods, becomes her solace. There she learns about her secret past and meets friends who will help her fulfill her fate of becoming queen. Rowan must learn to control her new magic and overthrow the male she once called Father.
As Rowan grows closer to the friends she has met at Cirvka, she soon finds out the haven is anything but. Dark deception runs deep in the roots of Cirvka. Rumors of the mysterious Overseer, leader of Cirvka, are true and his vindictive plans leave Rowan to act fast. Rowan must take the throne, detangle the truth from the lies, and save her friends from an evil and manipulative force.
You will be able to find the print book on retailer sites like amazon and Barnes and Noble and the ebook on kindle and ebooks. You can follow my author accounts Instagram @authoremiliemaccauley for updates. As soon as links to pre-order are live I will post them! As for now, set your calendar because MARCH 17th Fight for the Crown will be available!
This month I read four book and all of them were AMAZING. Two years ago I used to read a book a day, mind you they were usually romance books I got through kindle unlimited for my kindle. For 2020 I really want to focus my reading on physical books. Mainly books I bought within the past three years that have just been sitting on my shelves.
Here are my reviews for each book:
1. November 9 by Colleen Hoover (Five Stars)
At first I wasn’t sure about this book. The characters didn’t capture me and I thought about 50 pages in, should I DNF? I put the book down for a while until I realized I was thinking about the characters and wondering what was going to happened. So I continued reading and here I am just a handful of hours later with tears in my eyes and the book finished.
Let’s start with Fallon. I really liked the flaws of this character along with her scars. She was very strong-headed and I loved her sass. I mostly felt very empathic toward her. Ben I admittedly did not like in the beginning. I found his character very juvenile. He wasn’t like the typical “bad boys” I read about in romance books. Eventually as he grew, I watched him grow and I fell in love. Every year on Nov 9th we watch these characters mature and fall in love with their story.
The entire concept was amazing. It was the reason I bought the book because I loved the movie with Anne Hathaway One Day. I loved this book a lot, a lot more than expected. I really enjoyed that these characters are unlike the gorgeous heroine and sexy jacka** alpha male. These were people, related people, who make mistakes, who go through life and experience tragedy and depression and insecurities.
This is my first Colleen Hoover book and I’m so happy too, because now I have to read MORE. This book without a single doubt in my mind deserves FIVE STARS. It is an emotional adventure worth reading, and worth loving.
2. The Grace Year by Kim Liggett (Five Stars)
I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. It was a beautiful and realistically tragic story. Words cannot adequately describe the genius behind this story. It was mind blowing, soul crushing, and heart wrenching.
This book is one of very few books that doesn’t necessarily have a happy ending. It has trial and error, it has love as well as hate, it has real world problems, misogyny, death. Even though we do not go through “the grace year” the tale is something women can relate to. To be seen as the lesser sex, to experience sexism…
I cried at the ending. The 400 page book doesn’t “solve the problem” but it works toward the issue. It shows baby steps, not an over night fix. It shows that people with time can be persuaded to change beliefs they’ve grown up with. The Grace Year is a story of a land ruled by men who think women posses power. They send the girls away at 16 to live out their grace year getting rid of their magic.
Tierney has been through so much in this book. But she is the start of the change along with a usurper whose identity isn’t figured out (yet). With her knowledge of survival she tries her best to endure her grace year without trouble. But of course there is trouble, there is death, talk of ghosts, poachers who kill in the forest and girls who turn on each other.
Ryker is the love interest in this book and just thinking of him I could cry. He is a poacher and he is different. He has a different view on the world. The two of them together make them realize what they truly want.
I do not want to spoiler but, this book hits a hard truth. It will make you cry and make you feel heartbroken. There is so much deception and lies, so much hatred as well as the judgement of what is right and wrong. Even though this book is fiction it feels relatable to our history as women for years were oppressed. This book has action and adventure and keeps you turning the page hooking you with the delicious thrill of what is going to happen next. Trust no one, believe nothing, and grab a box of tissues.
3. The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten (4.5-5 Stars)
4.5 STARS!
I cried and loved it so much. I’m so glad I decided to read this book, I am pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
SPOILER-FREE* REVIEW
Elizabeth was “adopted” into the Frankenstein household to be a friend to Victor, who from the start seems emotionally disturbed. Many times Elizabeth catches him throwing tantrums, hurting his little brother, etc and Elizabeth is always there to calm him. She is obsessed with Victor, she in fact loves him. And he loves her, too, in his own twisted way.
It starts off with Elizabeth going to find Victor. He hasn’t written any letters and is worried. Elizabeth goes to great lengths to be Victor’s “protector” she even hides “evidence” of his projects.
I love these two character so much in the beginning. I love their love for each other. I love their devotion and obsession, there intense need to be together no matter what.
I shave off .5 stars because of the end. About halfway through the book Victor changes in ways that I won’t go into depth because this is the spoiler free version. If want spoilers continue reading at the end in my spoiler section and I will name exactly why the ending bothers me.
I am a romantic and I loved the love story but this is the DARK descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein. The story of the mad scientist Victor Frankenstein. This story is deliciously disturbing and frightening. It has twists and turns, some predictable, but shocking nonetheless. It is heartbreaking, it is strengthening, it is a tale to be read! I highly recommend it. The time period is accurately portrayed in a way that when picturing the scenes playing out in your head, you almost see black and white. The character development is amazing, White does an amazing job showing Victor and Elizabeth change as they get older. The plot twists are enough to pick up the book. You’re not going to know what to expect in this page-turning Frankenstein retelling!
~
*SPOILER REVIEW BELOW STOP READING IF YOU DONT WANT TO BE SPOILED*
~
Here I will explain why I shaved off .5 stars making me rating only 4.5. I mainly has to do with the fact that like I said, I’m a romantic. I felt like Elizabeth, blind to Victor’s insanity. Blind to his sociopathic ways. I really loved his particular sweet side to Elizabeth. I loved them and rooted for them to be together. I thought they would be end game only because Elizabeth was blind all those years. She helped cover him from getting into trouble. Like a scene where Victor had cut his little brother so bad it requires stitches. She knew Victor had done it, yet she still loved him. I thought the same thing was going to happen throughout the story. That she knew he was doing all these insane things and yet she was going to stay by his side.
Victor with his jealously and his obsession with Elizabeth, he does some bad stuff that effects her life including what he does to Justine and the horror he does to his own little brother and their best friend Henry. She realizes just how out of his mind he is.
Worse off she realizes his on their wedding night. She rejects his love wanting nothing to do with him and he admits her to a psychiatric hospital. This is a major shift in the story. There is no retribution. Victor is never going to be forgiven by Elizabeth, so this is the end of their romance and the start of Elizabeth’s drive to bring him down.
I love the story so much I just wish it could’ve ended in a way that Victor is redeemed and Elizabeth and Victor stay in love. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The development and growth of the characters, the insanity and disturbing experiments are thrilling.
Highly recommend!!
4. Red Rising by Pierce Brown (Five Stars)
After YEARS of having this series on my TBR I FINALLY got to it! And I am so so happy I did. This book is epic. It is everything you’d want in a science fiction novel. It has action, adventure, betrayal, space themes, hardship, and badass characters!
Let’s start off with the basis of the story. I am not spoiling anything you wouldn’t see on the back of the cover. Although if you’re like me and you don’t read the back of the cover this may* be a spoiler, but it is also something that happens 40 pages in. Darrow’s wife Eo is hung for her “crimes.” Darrow is a Red living on Mars, they are the low of the low. Golds are the rulers. Reds are oppressed and virtually slaves. Eo has had enough, she dreams big and wishes her husband Darrow had the same fight. When they are caught in restricted territory they received lashings but Eo with her courage and need to be heard—sings. The governor who is a Gold, sentences her to death.
This sparks Darrows need/want to change. He never wanted to fight the Golds. He was happy living his own life with his family. As long as he had them and Eo by his side he thought life to be fulfilled. But now that Eo is gone, Darrow finds himself lost. This is where we begin our journey to see Darrow’s character development. Although he isn’t necessarily “weak” at the beginning of the story, he isn’t exactly dominant. Through the way of the Gods, Darrow is turned into a Gold and is to start a revolution for his people, but first, he must infiltrate.
Darrow goes to this Gold school where they are all sorted into houses (almost like Harry Potter but with killing). He meets a lot of Golds who become kinda special to him. This is where you see a shift. You see Darrow as ruthless, vicious, and in need of vengeance for Eo. He truly becomes a leader at this school and it’s amazing to see him at the end of the book compared to the end.
The setting and world building makes this book a hard read, but it’s worth it. If you like science fiction and you like reading about other worlds or interstellar type books this is for you! I loved the concept of the book, although the characters in themselves are worth reading alone, the setting is a plus. I love the concept of colors and the hierarchy. I love the language and the vivid pictures that are painted each chapter.
If you like gore, if you like strong characters that are, at times, morally gray and flawed. If you like war. Stories of vengeance. Stories of revolution. Stories of growth. This is the book for you! How else can I convince you? This series is worth reading—or at least the first book because I haven’t started book 2 yet. You will fall in love with the characters, the plot will have you turning the page and straining your eyes to continue until you just can’t anymore. The setting is dense but will blow you away with its imagery. Pierce Brown is the king of science fiction with this amazing book and I can’t wait to continue. I love Darrow and his strength and resilience, I love Sevro and his ability to adapt and overcome and I love the fiery Mustang and her secrets.
So what are you doing? Don’t be like me and start this book three years later. Start it now! You won’t regret it! FIVE STARS.
Those are the four books I’ve read for January 2020. Now for what I’m reading next month (hopefully I stick to it)
The Spring Girls by Anna Todd
Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
Golden Son (Red Rising #2) by Pierce Brown
It Ends With Us (Colleen Hoover)
What did you finish in January and what are you reading for February?
Here are a few books that I am highly anticipating for 2020!
Crescent City by Sarah J Maas
Synopsis:
Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life-working hard all day and partying all night-until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.
Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose-to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.
As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion-one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.
With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Timesbestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom-and the power of love.
I am most excited for this book. SJM is one of my favorite authors ever and this will be her first adult book even though throne of glass and a court of throne and roses are basically adult books. The release date is for March 3rd and it can’t come any sooner!
Bone Crier’s Moon by Kathryn Purdie
Synopsis:
Bone Criers are the last descendants of an ancient famille charged with using the magic they draw from animal bones to shepherd the dead into the afterlife—lest they drain the light from the living.
Ailesse has been prepared since birth to become their matriarch, but first she must complete her rite of passage: to kill the boy she’s destined to love.
Bastien’s father was slain by a Bone Crier and he’s been seeking revenge ever since. Now his vengeance must wait, as Ailesse’s ritual has begun and their fates are entwined—in life and in death.
I’m super excited for this. I will admit that I was drawn to it because of the cover. The cover is beautiful but what really sells the book is the synopsis. I have never read this author before but it’s highly anticipated by me and along with many others from what I’ve seen. The release date is also March 3rd.
The Damned (book 2) By Renee Ahdieh
Synopsis: (May contain spoilers from book 1):
Following the events of The Beautiful, Sébastien Saint Germain is now cursed and forever changed. The treaty between the Fallen and the Brotherhood has been broken, and war between the immortals seems imminent. The price of loving Celine was costly.
But Celine has also paid a high price for loving Bastien. Still recovering from injuries sustained during a night she can’t quite remember, her dreams are troubled. And she doesn’t know she has inadvertently set into motion a chain of events that could lead to her demise and unveil a truth about herself she’s not quite ready to learn.
Forces hiding in the shadows have been patiently waiting for this moment for centuries. And just as Bastien and Celine begin to uncover the danger around them, they learn their love could tear them apart.
The Damned, Renee’s latest installment in The Beautiful series is just as decadent, thrilling, and mysterious as her last, as she continues her most potent fantasy series yet.
IF YOU HAVEN’T READ BOOK 1: The Beautiful YOU MUST!
Here is my review from The Beautiful:
We follow the main protagonist Celine as she leaves France to go to a convent in New Orleans. We find out that Celine has a dark past that she is running away from. In New Orleans there is even more darkness lurking. Celine finds herself caught up in The Court of Lions. A murder has happened and Celine is thrust into the dark world of other-worldly creatures. Celine meets Sebastien who is dark and luring. The Beautiful is a fantastic book full of mysterious characters, a dark world, plot twists, deception, secrets, and murder. You’ll love the world building and romance and although the beginning may feel slow for some it is so utterly worth the read. Five stars!
The Damned releases on June 2nd
TRUEL1F3 by Jay Kristoff (Book 3)
Here are my first two reviews for LIFEL1K3 (book 1) and DEV1AT3 (book 2)
As I sit here writing this review, I have tears in my eyes. I am confused as well as speechless and shocked. There are no words to truly describe how incredible this book is. The plot twists on top of plot twists have my head spinning.
This book is so much more than what we are lead to believe. Don’t believe anything. I feel utterly mind-fucked and the ending left me heartbroken and hungry for more.
The characters themselves are constructed so beautifully, I have attached myself to all of them. Eve, Ana, Zeke, Lemon… I love them all and I’m trying to write this without spoiling, but I thought things were going to go one way with a happy ending, but things turned for the darker and left more journeys, more confusion, and more adventure. I NEED book 2, I need it so bad that I am tempting to grab my car keys and drive 45 minutes to my nearest Barnes & Noble.
Lemon and Eve have the friendship you have always wishes for…
“Stronger Together.”
“Together Forever.”
You root for these two in all that they do. They have an unbreakable bond that when strained, you feel like you are losing apart of yourself.
Eve—she has been through so much. My heart aches for her and yet in this story more gets thrown at her. You see her as this person in the beginning happy with her grandfather and her best friend Lemon, but as the story progresses it’s like she loses sense of who she is. And do we even know who she truly is at the end. Yes, but no.
Zeke is my favorite lifelike. He is so charismatic and charming and he clearly became a book boyfriend of mine. I love him because he says things that every girl wishes a boy would say to them. Despite the revenge lifelikes took on humans—he never stopped being loyal. Although, he hides some truths. My heart breaks for Zeke at the end and I can’t wait to follow his new journey in search of the thing he wants most.
We are left with so much mystery and there is so much the reader is still wondering. Kristoff has constructed the perfect book to rip your heart out, give it back to you, and then tear it out again. The setting and the world building is simply amazing—you truly feel like you are in their world. You love and hate certain characters and you feel their bewilderment, their sense of “who am I?”
I am still recovering from reading this, I finished it about five minutes ago and I just had to write this. Had to put my crazy thoughts down because I do not know what to really think of this. I don’t know what going to happen and I can say with complete honesty I have no predication for book 2 because this book and Kristoff’s writing style is unpredictable.
If you pick up this book: you are in for a treat.
I highly recommend this to everyone who love a good book with a mind-boggling twists and lovable characters.
Review for Dev1at3:
Jay Kristoff never fails to disappoint. This books is full of adventure, action, a pinch of romance, 2 and half cups of plot twists and a full serving size of heartbreak.
I didn’t expect this to leave on a cliffhanger…but it did. I didn’t even realize when I was on the last page that I was on the last page. I need more!
The book mostly follows Lemon Fresh and boy does she have a journey. Her chapters were the most interesting as we explore her powers as a Deviate and meet more just like her. (Grimm is swoon-worthy). The other main POV were in Cricket and Ezekiel (with a few from Eve and The Preacher). I found Crickets chapters to be boring—but I found myself laughing at times especially when he’s with Solomon. Ezekiel—my love—my heart aches for him as he searches for his lost love, Ana.
I thought we would’ve got more on Ana but the ending left a lot unsaid and a lot left unresolved so I am looking forward to reading book 3. This series is amazing and I can’t wait for more!
This series is a FIVE STAR series. Here is the synopsis for book 3
Best friends have become enemies. Lovers have become strangers. And deciding whose side you’re on could be the difference between life and death. For Eve and Lemon, discovering the truth about themselves–and each other–was too much for their friendship to take. But with the country on the brink of a new world war–this time between the BioMaas swarm at CityHive and Daedalus’s army at Megopolis, loyalties will be pushed to the brink, unlikely alliances will form and with them, betrayals. But the threat doesn’t stop there, because the lifelikes are determined to access the program that will set every robot free, a task requiring both Eve and Ana, the girl she was created to replace. In the end, violent clashes and heartbreaking choices reveal the true heroes . . . and they may not be who you think they are.
RELEASING ONJUNE 30th
The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant
Synopsis: In the violent urban jungle of an alternate 1828 Paris, the French Revolution has failed and the city is divided between merciless royalty and nine underworld criminal guilds, known as the Court of Miracles. Eponine (Nina) Thénardier is a talented cat burglar and member of the Thieves Guild. Nina’s life is midnight robberies, avoiding her father’s fists, and watching over her naïve adopted sister, Cosette (Ettie). When Ettie attracts the eye of the Tiger–the ruthless lord of the Guild of Flesh–Nina is caught in a desperate race to keep the younger girl safe. Her vow takes her from the city’s dark underbelly to the glittering court of Louis XVII. And it also forces Nina to make a terrible choice–protect Ettie and set off a brutal war between the guilds, or forever lose her sister to the Tiger.
This Six of Crows meets Les Mis book releases on JUNE 2nd and I have high hopes for it!
Aurora Burning by Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman (book 2)
Here’s my review for Aurora Rising book 1:
FIVE STARS
I quickly fell in love with all of the characters. It was hard not to love all the members of squad 312. I do love the occasional space-travel sci-fi book but sometimes if the galaxy building is so dense they are hard to get into. This book I found to be easy to follow and actually enjoyed learning about the Aurora compound and the different alien races.
My favorite squad member was Kal, before reading this on Jay/Amie’s page they had character art and quizzes and I loved Cat and also took the quiz and got Ace so I was most excited about her. Turns out, I didn’t like her as much as I thought I would. I did end up really caring for her as the story progressed. I ended up caring for all of them. Fin was super funny and I loved him for his quirky, sarcastic, personality. But also felt for him with his exo-suit. I like Tyler, but to me he’s not a favorite. I’m neutral. Scar at times I liked her at others times I was like, eh. Aurora, I loved her but mainly for the love interest that blossoms throughout the book. As for the Brain of this squad, you don’t really learn much but toward the end she says something heartwarming and I definitely want to know more of her backstory. I can tell it’ll be good. But Kal especially, there was just something about his character that made me fall in love with him—also, I’m pretty sure all my reasons would be spoilers so I won’t list them. But, I will say he’s more than what he leads on. Moral of this, I loved them all!
The plot makes this story—of course—very interesting. Why do the “good guys” want Aurora? Well it seems they may not be the “good guys” we learn that there have been secrets kept and deception. It’s up to squad 312 save the galaxy and to also figure out what the heck is going on!
This story has definitely been a page turner. I found it very hard to put down. There were twists and turns I didn’t personally predict and as I’m writing this at 3 am I actually cried. Granted—I am a very emotional person, but I didn’t expect to cry. I’ve seen many ARC reviews curse Jay and Amie about how the book made them cry and I just though they cried because a good story was done. No. Nope. They break our hearts. Let’s just hope they can mend them back in book 2.
Can’t wait to read more about the squad and my new favorite intergalactic hotty, Kal.
I absolutely loved the first book and that is why I am SO extremely excited for book 2! Not to mention Kal my favorite space elfbaby is on the front cover! The art is so beautiful.
Here’s the SYNOPSIS:
First, the bad news: an ancient evil–you know, your standard consume-all-life-in-the-galaxy deal–is about to be unleashed. The good news? Squad 312 is standing by to save the day. They’ve just got to take care of a few small distractions first.
Like the clan of gremps who’d like to rearrange their favorite faces.
And the cadre of illegit GIA agents with creepy flowers where their eyes used to be, who’ll stop at nothing to get their hands on Auri.
Then there’s Kal’s long-lost sister, who’s not exactly happy to see her baby brother, and has a Syldrathi army at her back. With half the known galaxy on their tails, Squad 312 has never felt so wanted.
When they learn the Hadfield has been found, it’s time to come out of hiding. Two centuries ago, the colony ship vanished, leaving Auri as its sole survivor. Now, its black box might be what saves them. But time is short, and if Auri can’t learn to master her powers as a Trigger, the squad and all their admirers are going to be deader than the Great Ultrasaur of Abraaxis IV.
Shocking revelations, bank heists, mysterious gifts, inappropriately tight bodysuits, and an epic firefight will determine the fate of the Aurora Legion’s most unforgettable heroes–and maybe the rest of the galaxy as well
There is no synopsis up on Amazon I believe you can find it on the authors page. Here are some reviews on the book—
Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar
“Shveta Thakrar’s prose is as beautiful as starlight.” (Holly Black, New York Times bestselling author)
“Absolutely magical. Thakrar weaves her words so tightly around you that you are completely immersed in her world, a victim of its lyrical starsong.” (Ellen Oh, author of the Prophecy series and editor of A Thousand Beginnings and Endings)
“ Star Daughter is a love letter to every desi girl wanting to believe in her own magic.” (Tanaz Bhathena, author of A Girl Like That and Hunted by the Sky)
“A luminous debut. Star Daughter’s sparkling coming-of-age tale of transformation and love is among the best kinds of fantasy: one that reminds us to reach for the stars while keeping our feet firmly on the ground.” (Fran Wilde, Nebula Award-winning author of The Bone Universe series andRiverland)
This book is on my anticipated release list for many reasons. This book is unique with minority representation and a dash of fantasy. From what I gathered (correct me if I’m wrong) the book deals with Hindi mythology. This is the authors debut and I’m excited for it! The cover art too is stunning!
The release date is AUGUST 11th.
There’s my list of books I’m most excited to read this year! There’s probably more—but as of right now these are the ones I already have pre ordered and am insanely excited for!
What books are you excited to read for 2020? Comment and let me know!
lovingcassian 