Wednesday, October 31, 2018

My October 2018 Wrap Up & Book Haul!!

Happy Last Day of October, Bookworms!!

(And Happy Halloween too!!)

How did October go by so quickly?? I can't believe it's over already.
It was not the best month for me reading wise,
but it was an AMAZING month for new books!!

Here's my recap for October:

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess
Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (Movie Tie-In) by Becky Albertalli
Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
9 From the Nine Worlds by Rick Riordan
A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi
When We Caught Fire by Anna Godbersen
Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand
Broken Things by Lauren Oliver
What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor
Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa
The Crown's Fate by Evelyn Skye
Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes
Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes
Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes
After by Anna Todd
Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb
Dating You/Hating You by Christina Lauren
Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner
Damsel by Elana K. Arnold
Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman
Blacksouls by Nicole Castroman
Among the Red Stars by Gwen C. Katz
The Reader by Traci Chee
The Seeker by Traci Chee


Archenemies by Marissa Meyer
This is Kind of an Epic Love Story by Kheryn Callender
The Reckoning of Noah Shaw by Michelle Hodkin
Slayer by Kiersten White
Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody
Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto
Girls With Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young
The Cold is in Her Bones by Peternelle van Arsdale

What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera
Champion by Marie Lu
9 From the Nine Worlds by Rick Riordan
Vengeful by V.E. Schwab
Cress by Marissa Meyer
The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater *
A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi
Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare *
Renegades by Marissa Meyer
Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa
The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

* = rereads

Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks
Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel by AW Jantha
Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
The Royal Runaway by Lindsay Emory



So, October wasn't the best month for reading,
but it was an AWESOME month for new books!!
(And for new bookshelves, which I also got this month as well!!
I'm really looking forward to diving into the books I haven't read yet,
and a few of them are on my November TBR,
which I can't wait to get started on!!

What books did you read and add to your collection this month??


Waiting on Wednesday #335 - The Kiss Collector & My Favorite Half-Night Stand

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18457118-kiss-collector
Kiss Collector
by Wendy Higgins
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: December 18th 2018
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 9780062795212

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When seventeen-year-old Zae Monroe gets cheated on by the only guy she’s ever loved, then watches her parents' marriage crumble, she decides to forget about relationships and turn the tables on the boys of the world. It’s time to take what she wants, and what she wants are kisses. Athletes, musicians, poets, and bad boys—their lips are all on her agenda, and it's time to collect.

Zae proposes a contest with her friends to see who can kiss the most boys during spring break. But what starts as a harmless competition leads to a downward spiral she can’t seem to break free of. As family, academic, friend, and guy drama come to a head, Zae is forced to face the reasons behind her boy angst, and starts to wonder if she was wrong about the male race...or at least some of them.
(Goodreads)

You guys! Does this book sound super cute, or what??
I love a good contemporary story, and I can't wait to dive into this one!


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38357345-my-favorite-half-night-stand
My Favorite Half-Night Stand
by Christina Lauren
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: December 4th 2018
Publisher: Gallery Books
ISBN: 9781501197406

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From the New York Times bestselling author that “hilariously depicts modern dating” (Us Weekly) comes a sexy romantic comedy about online dating, and its many, many fails.

With a world-famous speaker at their university, Millie Morris and her four woefully single male colleagues make a pact that they’ll all find dates. Unfortunately, Millie has more success helping them make matches online than she does navigating the onslaught of lewd pics in her own feed. But when she creates a fictional name for a new account, Millie finds herself vying for the online attention of a man she sees every day in the flesh. (Goodreads)

Christina Lauren books are quickly becoming some of my most favorite reads!
I love that they put out books so quickly as well so that we don't have to wait 
very long for new ones!!
I can't wait to read this newest book ASAP!!

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Tuesday, October 30, 2018

My Thoughts: Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand (Audiobook)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38496738-winter-in-paradise
Winter in Paradise
(Paradise #1)
by Elin Hilderbrand
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: October 9th 2018
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9780316435512
Genre: Adult Fiction | Contemporary | Mystery
Source: Netgalley Review Copy

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A husband's secret life, a wife's new beginning: escape to the Caribbean with New York Times bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand.

Irene Steele shares her idyllic life in a beautiful Iowa City Victorian house with a husband who loves her to sky-writing, sentimental extremes. But as she rings in the new year one cold and snowy night, everything she thought she knew falls to pieces with a shocking phone call: her beloved husband, away on business, has been killed in a plane crash. Before Irene can even process the news, she must first confront the perplexing details of her husband's death on the distant Caribbean island of St. John.

After Irene and her sons arrive at this faraway paradise, they make yet another shocking discovery: her husband had been living a secret life. As Irene untangles a web of intrigue and deceit, and as she and her sons find themselves drawn into the vibrant island culture, they have to face the truth about their family, and about their own futures.

Rich with the lush beauty of the tropics and the drama, romance, and intrigue only Elin Hilderbrand can deliver, Winter in Paradise is a truly transporting novel, and the exciting start to a new series. (Goodreads)


Winter in Paradise is only the second book that I’ve read so far by Elin Hilderbrand, (the first was The Perfect Couple, which I really enjoyed), and I am finding myself wanting to read her stories more and more! Though I have a few of Elin’s books sitting on my shelf waiting to be read, this new book seemed to be calling to me, so I decided to read it asap. I’m so glad that I did!

Winter in Paradise is the first book in Elin’s new Paradise series, and I have to say this series is off to a great start! To be honest, I did not realize that this was the first book of the series until I was nearing the last few chapters and I realized that things were not wrapping up the way that I was expecting them to. I was so engrossed in the story that I didn’t realize how quickly the end came along. Once I realize that this was going to be a series, I was pretty happy, as I have SO many questions that were left unanswered! I am really looking forward to getting my hands on the next book in the series.

The book has an interesting group of characters, (a few that I found really relatable), and a great setting as well. Reading this book made me want to be at the beach, and visit St. John Island, which sounds like a really awesome place. The details were great, and I love it when a book makes me want to visit somewhere!

Though I had an e-ARC of this book, I discovered that there was an audiobook version of the story, and I opted to listen to that instead. I’m so glad I did! Erin Bennett did a great job of narrating the book, and often times had me so hooked to the story that I had to stop what I was doing to listen along.

Overall; Winter in Paradise is an excellent start to the new Paradise series by Elin Hilderbrand! The book has interesting characters and an engrossing storyline, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book so I can see what’s going to happen next. I have not found any information on the next book yet, but I will definitely be keeping my eyes out for it, but in the meantime I have a stack of Elin’s previous books sitting on my shelf just waiting to be read, and I can't wait to dive into them. If you’re looking for a great beach read to check out during the upcoming cold months that are ahead of us, do check out Winter in Paradise!!

My Thoughts: The Royal Runaway by Lindsay Emory

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38532225-the-royal-runaway
The Royal Runaway
by Lindsay Emory
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: October 9th 2018
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pages: 290
ISBN: 9781501196614
Genre: Adult Fiction | Contemporary | Romance
Source: Edelweiss Review Copy

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For fans of The Princess Diaries and The Royal We comes a fun and daring novel about a modern-day princess who teams up with a spy to find out what happened to the fiancé who left her at the altar—and who just might get her own fairytale in the process.

Princess Theodora Isabella Victoria of Drieden of the Royal House Laurent is so over this princess thing.

After her fiancé jilted her on their wedding day, she’s finally back home after spending four months in exile—aka it’s back to press conferences, public appearances, and putting on a show for the Driedish nation as the perfect princess they expect her to be. But Thea’s sick of duty. After all, that’s what got her into this mess in the first place.

So when she sneaks out of the palace and meets a sexy Scot named Nick in a local bar, she relishes the chance to be a normal woman for a change. But just as she thinks she’s found her Prince Charming for the night, he reveals his intentions are less than honorable: he’s the brother of her former fiancé, a British spy, and he’s not above blackmail. As Thea reluctantly joins forces with Nick to find out what happened the day her fiancé disappeared, together they discover a secret that could destroy a centuries-old monarchy and change life as they know it.

Funny, fast-paced, and full of more twists and turns than the castle Thea lives in, The Royal Runaway is a fresh romantic comedy that will leave you cheering for the modern-day royal who chucks the rulebook aside to create her own happily-ever-after. (Goodreads)


The first thing that drew me to The Royal Runaway by Lindsay Emory was the eye-catching book cover and book title. I just couldn’t resist it! Also, I’m all about reading books about royals at the moment, and this story sounded really interesting, so I couldn’t wait to check it out. This book did not disappoint!!

There was so much that I enjoyed about this book, including the storyline that was not at all what I expected. It had me completely engrossed, and I just could not turn the pages fast enough to see what was going to happen next. The book has murder and mystery, as well as romance and adventure, which is interesting enough, but add in all the royal aspects of the book, and you have all the things necessary to make a quick and fun read, which was just what I needed at the moment! 

One of the things that I liked most about the book was the interesting group of characters, and among my favorites were the flighty princess and mysterious Scotsman, both of which you can’t help but love. I enjoyed following along on their adventures throughout the story, and I kind of wish that this book was a series so I could keep reading about them!

I also really, really loved the setting for this book. It makes me want to board a plane and fly to all the places that were mentioned in the book. I was completely fascinated by the descriptions, and I would love to visit to see it all in person! The setting is definitely one of my favorite parts of the books.

Also, I want to take a moment to add that this book would make an adorable movie. Romantic comedies are my favorite, and this would definitely fit the bill!!

Overall; I enjoyed reading The Royal Runaway so much, and I’m pretty thrilled that I’ve found an interesting new author to check out with Lindsay Emory!! If you’re looking for a quick, fun and mysterious book about royals to check out, The Royal Runaway may be right up your alley! I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did!

My Thoughts: The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37880094-the-lady-s-guide-to-petticoats-and-piracy
The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy
(Montague Siblings #2)
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: October 2nd 2018
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 450
ISBN: 9780062795328
Genre: Young Adult | Historical
Source: Own

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In this highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, Felicity Montague must use all her womanly wits and wiles to achieve her dreams of becoming a doctor—even if she has to scheme her way across Europe to do it. A must-have for fans of Mackenzi Lee’s extraordinary and Stonewall Honor-winning novel.

A year after an accidentally whirlwind grand tour with her brother Monty, Felicity Montague has returned to England with two goals in mind—avoid the marriage proposal of a lovestruck suitor from Edinburgh and enroll in medical school. However, her intellect and passion will never be enough in the eyes of the administrators, who see men as the sole guardians of science.

But then a window of opportunity opens—a doctor she idolizes is marrying an old friend of hers in Germany. Felicity believes if she could meet this man he could change her future, but she has no money of her own to make the trip. Luckily, a mysterious young woman is willing to pay Felicity’s way, so long as she’s allowed to travel with Felicity disguised as her maid.

In spite of her suspicions, Felicity agrees, but once the girl’s true motives are revealed, Felicity becomes part of a perilous quest that leads them from the German countryside to the promenades of Zurich to secrets lurking beneath the Atlantic. (Goodreads)


The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy is the second book in the Montague Siblings series by Mackenzi Lee was probably one of my most anticipated new books for this month, and I absolutely couldn’t wait to get started on the story. I read the first book in the series, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, back in it was first released, and I couldn’t wait to get started on this sequel to see what would happen next in the story. I definitely was not disappointed!!

The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy is Felicity’s story, and picks up about a year after where The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue leaves off. I loved Felicity in the first book, and I was super excited to read her story to get to know more about her. She’s such an interesting character, and I enjoyed following her on her adventure. I also love that a lot of the characters that I loved from the first book make appearances in this story as well, and are included just enough to satisfy your curiosity and make you glad to see them, but not so much as to take over Felicity’s story completely. It was nice to ‘see’ them all again though!

I love that the storyline for this book is historical, but also has just a small tough of fantasy in it as well! It definitely kept me curious as I turned the pages. But, while I really enjoyed the storyline, there were also a few things in it that made me angry as well. A lot of it was the from the treatment of women and people of color, which was definitely relevant to the time period in which this book was set. These are just some of the parts of history that I hate reading about, yet I’m glad it was included in the story, because it is a great reminder of how far we have come, and how far we still need to go.

Overall; The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy was an excellent sequel to The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue! I really enjoyed the story so much, but I also hate to see the series end. If Makenzi wanted to write more books with these characters, I would totally read them. If you’re looking for a quick, fun series to read that includes diversity and eye-opening historical issues that are still somewhat relevant today, do check out The Montague Siblings series by Mackenzi Lee!!

Monday, October 29, 2018

My Thoughts: 9 From the Nine Worlds by Rick Riordan

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38463343-9-from-the-nine-worlds
9 From the Nine Worlds
(Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard)
by Rick Riordan
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: October 2nd 2018
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 178
ISBN: 9781368024044
Genre: YA/MG | Fantasy | Mythology
Source: Own

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The Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard trilogy may have concluded, but we haven't heard the last of our favorite peeps from the Nine Worlds. Join Hearthstone, Blitzen, Samirah, Alex, Jack, T.J., Mallory, Halfborn, and more on a hilarious and unforgettable journey through Rick Riordan's unique take on Norse mythology. While Magnus is off visiting his cousin, Annabeth, his friends find themselves in some sticky, hairy, and smelly situations as they try to outwit moronic giants, murderous creatures, and meddlesome gods. Can they stave off Ragnarok at least until Magnus gets back? (Goodreads)


I don’t know about you guys, but I was super excited to get my hand on 9 From the Nine Worlds by Rick Riordan! I just recently finished a binge-read of ALL of his books, and after finally reading all of his books, I found myself having major Rick Riordan withdrawals! 9 From the Nine Worlds was just what I needed to temporarily fill the Rick Riordan sized void that I’m currently experiencing at the moment.

9 from the Nine Worlds is a short story by Rick Riordan that is set in the The Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard world. Though that series has already come to an end, this book was a nice little update on what the characters in the series have been up to. Unfortunately, we don’t get to see Magnus Chase in the story at all, (he’s visiting his cousin Annabeth at the time), but we do get to read this story from ALL the fascinating characters that were in the series! Each character that you know and love from the series gets a chapter in this book, and they were all completely fascinating to read.

I have to say it was super fun to go along on the adventures with the characters in this book as they try to stop Ragnarok. Some of the adventures were crazy, and I loved reading them! I would love it if Rick would decide to add more books in the Magnus Chase series, as I totally didn’t want the series to end when it did. I love the series, the storyline, and most especially, the characters!!

Overall, If you’re like me and having major withdrawals after the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series ended, you definitely need to check out 9 From the Nine Worlds!! This book was lots of fun to read, and will definitely fill the void that you may be experiencing after having finished the series. (We can always hope that Rick will one day extend the series, right?!) Add 9 From the Nine Worlds to your TBR today!!

My Thoughts: The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes (Audiobook)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34966353-the-storm-runner
The Storm Runner
(The Storm Runner #1)
by J.C. Cervantes
Website | Twitter

Publication Date: September 18th 2018
Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents
Pages: 448
ISBN: 9781368016346
Genre: Middle Grade | Fantasy | Mythology
Source: Publisher Collaboration

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Zane has always enjoyed exploring the dormant volcano near his home in New Mexico, even though hiking it is challenging. He'd much rather hang out there with his dog, Rosie, than go to middle school, where kids call him Sir Limps a Lot, McGimpster, or Uno — for his one good leg. What Zane doesn't know is that the volcano is a gateway to another world and he is at the center of a powerful prophecy.

A new girl at school, Brooks, informs him that he's destined to release an evil god from the ancient Maya relic he is imprisoned in — unless she can find and remove it first. Together they return to the volcano, where all kinds of crazy happens. Brooks turns into a hawk, a demon attacks them in a cave, and Rosie gives her all while trying to protect Zane. When Zane decides to save his dog no matter the cost, he is thrust into an adventure full of surprising discoveries, dangerous secrets, and an all-out war between the gods, one of whom happens to be his father. To survive, Zane will have to become the Storm Runner. But how can he run when he can't even walk well without a cane?

Feisty heroes, tricky gods, murderous demons, and spirited giants are just some of the pleasures that await in this fresh and funny take on Maya mythology, as rich and delicious as a mug of authentic hot chocolate. (Goodreads)


The Storm Runner is the first book in a brand series by J.C. Cervantes, brought to you by Rick Riordan Presents, which is a brand-new imprint started by Rick Riordan to bring us diverse stories by diverse authors! The Storm Runner is the second book that I’ve read from Rick Riordan Presents, (The first book was Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi, which was absolutely fantastic), and I couldn’t wait to get started on this new book to go on another new adventure! It definitely did not disappoint!!

The Storm Runner is a middle grade fantasy that is full of diversity and lots of Maya mythology. Admittedly, I have not read nearly enough books on Maya Mythology, and that made the storyline for this completely fascinating. Add in lots of interesting characters, and I was hooked. This book seriously has it all, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book as soon as possible to see what’s going to happen next!

Though I have a gorgeous finished copy of this book sitting on my shelf, I opted to read-along with the audiobook as I read, and I’m so glad I made this decision! The audio for this book is fantastic, and Ozzie Rodriguez did an excellent job with the voices and narration. I really enjoyed it!!

I also want to add how much I appreciate Rick Riordan and Disney for starting this imprint. These are the diverse stories that the children of today need to read, and I’m so glad that are getting out there in the world to check out. I absolutely can't wait to read more and more great stories from this imprint.

Overall; The Storm Runner by is the great start to what should prove to be an awesome series by J.C. Cervantes!! If you’re looking for a book that is full of diverse characters and interesting mythology, you should definitely add this book to your TBR. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series, The Fire Keeper, which is currently set to release September 2019! And don’t forget to check out Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi as well!!

My Thoughts: Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel by A.W. Jantha

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36244389-hocus-pocus-the-all-new-sequel
Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel
by A.W. Jantha

Publication Date: July 10th 2018
Publisher: Freeform
Pages: 512
ISBN: 9781368020039
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Witches
Source: Publisher Collaboration

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Hocus Pocus is beloved by Halloween enthusiasts all over the world. Diving once more into the world of witches, this electrifying two-part young adult novel, released on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the 1993 film, marks a new era of Hocus Pocus. Fans will be spellbound by a fresh retelling of the original film, followed by the all-new sequel that continues the story with the next generation of Salem teens.

Shortly after moving from California to Salem, Massachusetts, Max Dennison finds himself in hot water when he accidentally releases a coven of witches, the Sanderson sisters, from the afterlife. Max, his sister, and his new friends (human and otherwise) must find a way to stop the witches from carrying out their evil plan and remaining on earth to torment Salem for all eternity.

Twenty-five years later, Max and Allison's seventeen-year-old daughter, Poppy, finds herself face-to-face with the Sanderson sisters in all their sinister glory. When Halloween celebrations don't quite go as planned, it's a race against time as Poppy and her friends fight to save her family and all of Salem from the witches' latest death-defying scheme. (Goodreads)


Hocus Pocus is one of my most favorite Halloween movies ever, so imagine my excitement when I discovered Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel! I have to say that I was super curious to see what would happen in this sequel, especially considering how the movie ended. Now that I’ve read the book, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with the story!

I managed to get a copy of this book when it first released, but I opted to wait until this month, (October), to read it because I thought it would make a great Halloween read. (It did.) Reading this book definitely put me in the Halloween spirit, and brought back so many memories of all the hundreds of times I’ve watched the movie, which never gets old.

There were a lot of things that I enjoyed about this book. I love that the story and characters were familiar, yet new as well. The first 100 or so pages of the story are a recap of the movie, and I love that this was included, because even though I have watched the movie a million times, it was fun to be able to read it as a story as well. I feel like I picked up on a few things that I never really noticed in the movie by doing this. The second half of the book is the new story, and the storyline was fun and interesting, and I loved the diverse group of characters we meet throughout the story. There is a little bit of cliffhanger at the end of the book, which makes me wonder if there will be yet another sequel in the future. I want to say so much more, but I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone would like to read the book, so I will just say that if you’re super curious after reading my thoughts, do check out the book!

Overall; Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel was a really fun read, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to finally check it out! I hear there maybe be a movie sequel in the future, and I am super curious to know if the movie will follow this book. If so, I will most definitely watch it! Fans of the original Hocus Pocus movie, do check out this sequel, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpWhygfg4VU/


Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Waiting on Wednesday #334 - Queen of Air and Darkness & Evermore

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13541056-queen-of-air-and-darkness
Queen of Air and Darkness
(The Dark Artifices #3)
by Cassandra Clare
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: December 4th 2018
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
ISBN: 9781442468436

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Dark secrets and forbidden love threaten the very survival of the Shadowhunters in Cassandra Clare’s Queen of Air and Darkness, the final novel in the #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling The Dark Artifices trilogy.

What if damnation is the price of true love?

Innocent blood has been spilled on the steps of the Council Hall, the sacred stronghold of the Shadowhunters. In the wake of the tragic death of Livia Blackthorn, the Clave teeters on the brink of civil war. One fragment of the Blackthorn family flees to Los Angeles, seeking to discover the source of the blight that is destroying the race of warlocks.

Meanwhile, Julian and Emma take desperate measures to put their forbidden love aside and undertake a perilous mission to Faerie to retrieve the Black Volume of the Dead. What they find in the Courts is a secret that may tear the Shadow World asunder and open a dark path into a future they could never have imagined. Caught in a race against time, Emma and Julian must save the world of Shadowhunters before the deadly power of the parabatai curse destroys them and everyone they love. (Goodreads)

You guyyyyyys. Are you as excited for this book as I am??
I am currently working through my re-read of Lady Midnight,
and I have Lord of Shadows to re-read next month,
then I'll be nice and refreshed before Queen of Air and Darkness releases in December!!
I. Can't. Wait!!


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37693552-evermore
Evermore
(Everless #2)
by Sara Holland
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: December 31st 2018
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 9780062653710

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Available for Pre-Order:
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The highly anticipated sequel to New York Times bestseller, Everless!

Jules Ember was raised hearing legends of the ancient magic of the wicked Alchemist and the good Sorceress. But she has just learned the truth: not only are the stories true, but she herself is the Alchemist, and Caro—a woman who single-handedly murdered the Queen and Jules’s first love, Roan, in cold blood—is the Sorceress.

The whole kingdom believes that Jules is responsible for the murders, and a hefty bounty has been placed on her head. And Caro is intent on destroying Jules, who stole her heart twelve lifetimes ago. Jules must delve into the stories that she now recognizes are accounts of her own past. For it is only by piecing together the mysteries of her lives that Jules will be able to save the person who has captured her own heart in this one. (Goodreads)

Ah! This is yet another book that I'm super excited for this December!
I read Everless back when it was first released, and really enjoyed the story!
I'm hoping to re-read it soon to refresh before I start Evermore,
and I can't wait to read both books!!
**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Monday, October 15, 2018

My Thoughts: Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa (Audiobook)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37004954-shadow-of-the-fox
Shadow of the Fox
(Shadow of the Fox #1)
by Julie Kagawa
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: October 2nd 2018
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 409
ISBN: 9781335145161
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
Source: Own

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Available for Purchase:
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One thousand years ago, the great Kami Dragon was summoned to grant a single terrible wish—and the land of Iwagoto was plunged into an age of darkness and chaos.

Now, for whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers, a new wish will be granted. A new age is about to dawn.

Raised by monks in the isolated Silent Winds temple, Yumeko has trained all her life to hide her yokai nature. Half kitsune, half human, her skill with illusion is matched only by her penchant for mischief. Until the day her home is burned to the ground, her adoptive family is brutally slain and she is forced to flee for her life with the temple’s greatest treasure—one part of the ancient scroll.

There are many who would claim the dragon’s wish for their own. Kage Tatsumi, a mysterious samurai of the Shadow Clan, is one such hunter, under orders to retrieve the scroll…at any cost. Fate brings Kage and Yumeko together. With a promise to lead him to the scroll, an uneasy alliance is formed, offering Yumeko her best hope for survival. But he seeks what she has hidden away, and her deception could ultimately tear them both apart.

With an army of demons at her heels and the unlikeliest of allies at her side, Yumeko’s secrets are more than a matter of life or death. They are the key to the fate of the world itself. (Goodreads)


Admittedly, it’s been too long since I’ve read a new book by Julie Kagawa, but as soon as I discovered Shadow of the Fox, I knew I HAD to read the book, and as soon as I possibly could! The summary for the book sounded really great, and I couldn’t wait to check out the story! It was, as with all of Julie’s books, an AMAZING read!!

Let me get started by saying that there are SO many things that I love about this book, and the number one thing being the characters! There are a lot of characters in this book, and I seriously loved them all. We get to read a few different viewpoints throughout the story, including that of two of the main characters, Yumeko, who is half kitsune, and Kage Tatsumi, a mysterious samurai. Yumeko and Tatsumi have to work together throughout the story to reach the same goal, but each for different reasons. I loved watching their relationship grow as the story went along, and I really loved both of these characters. And it’s not just these characters, there are also quite a few awesome secondary characters in the story as well, and I loved ‘meeting’ them all! I can’t want to see what’s in store for them in the next book.

I also really enjoyed the storyline for the book. Not only was the story of the ancient scroll interesting, but the adventure that the characters took along the way was completely fascinating as well. I was so engrossed in this story, that I breezed through it, and now I desperately need the next book in my hands ASAP! (The second book, I should add, is named Soul of the Sword, and is currently expected to release June 2019!)

Though I have a finished copy of this book, I opted to listen to the audiobook version of the story, and it was absolutely fantastic!! The narrators for the story were Joy Osmanski, Brian Nishii, and Emily Woo Zeller, and they did an excellent job reading this story to me. I loved all the voices for the characters and those for the actual story as well. It was very easy to follow along with their narration. I hope they will be narrating the rest of the books in this series as well!

Overall; I loved SO much about Shadow of the Fox, and I’m so glad that I had the book on my TBR this month! I definitely can’t wait to get my hands on the second book next year, and while I wait for that book to release, I’m totally going to make time to read the Talon series, also by Julie, and I will probably kick myself for not having read it sooner!! Fans of Julie Kagawa, or just fans of fantasy stories in general, do check out Shadow of the Fox! I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did.
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Sunday, October 14, 2018

My Week in Review • Week 40-41



Happy Sunday, Bookworms!!

Welcome to my weekly Week in Review post!

Here I share all the things I've been up to during the past week.
Check back every Sunday for new updates!

Now, here's what I've been up to this week!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37880094-the-lady-s-guide-to-petticoats-and-piracy https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36341204-what-if-it-s-us https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672988-shadow-of-the-fox https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38463343-9-from-the-nine-worlds

It's been a while since I posted an update, and it's been a pretty slow month so far, thanks to a slump that I'm currently in, (and not just a reading slump. Sigh.) But, I did manage to get a few books read this week, finally, and they were all pretty great reads!

The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by McKenzie Lee was a great sequel to The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, and I really enjoyed reading Felicity's story!! I also really enjoyed the newest book by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera, What If It's Us. It was a super cute read!!

Julie Kagawa's newest book, Shadow of the Fox, was SOOO good, and I can't believe it's been so long since I last read one of her books. I LOVE her writing, and I adored everything about this story.

And lastly, I finally read 9 from the Nine Worlds by Rick Riordan! This was a short read, but definitely gave me happy vibes, and should hold me over until the next Trials of Apollo book is released next year.

I'm hoping to have all my thoughts for these books up this coming week!
*fingers crossed*

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107120/mediaviewer/rm3543799552 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101272/?ref_=nv_sr_1 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106220/?ref_=nv_sr_4

Since it is finally October, I officially started watching Halloween Movies, and while I haven't watched as many as I had hoped, I did watch a few favorites! I could seriously watch Hocus Pocus over and over again and have no regrets at all. :)

See my Bookstagram HERE!!



So yeah... if you haven't noticed, my month totally hasn't gone as planned. I had hoped to read ALL the books this month, and do ALL the blogging, and I've done none of these things, even though I started the month with so much ambition! And it's not just these things, but life in general is in a slump. Sigh. I'm hoping for a better week this coming week, and a better update next week as well!

I hope you're all having a great month so far!