My Thoughts: Legend by Marie Lu (Series Review)

Legend
by Marie Lu
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publisher: Speak
Genre: YA | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Dystopia

Legend (Legend #1)
November 29th 2011 • 305 Pages
ISBN: 9780141339603

Prodigy (Legend #2)
January 29th 2013 • 371 Pages
ISBN: 9780399256769

Champion (Legend #3)
November 5th 2013 • 369 Pages
ISBN: 9780399256776

In a violent, futuristic, half-flooded Los Angeles governed by martial law, fifteen year old Day lives on the streets as the country's most wanted criminal. When a murder forces him to cross paths with June--a wealthy, brilliant fifteen year old girl loyal to the state--the two are thrown into direct opposition and combat. But are they truly meant to be enemies? Or is there more to their society than meets the eye? (Marie Lu)

I was more than a little late to jump on the bandwagon for Marie Lu’s Legend series, but the series had been sitting on my bookshelf for THE LONGEST, and I was determined to finally read it, (as well as the Warcross series), this year. Now that I’ve finished the series, I’m totally kicking myself for not having read it sooner!! Here are my thoughts on the books!

(I thought about reviewing each book individually, but decided instead to try something new, and review the WHOLE series together. This is my first time doing this for a book series, if I remember correctly, so bear with me during this new process!!)

I went into Legend not really knowing what to expect, because even though the series is super popular, I never really looked up to see what it was about. I’m actually glad that I did this, because I went into the first book completely clueless to the storyline, and I just settled in for the ride.

So, what did I like about the series?? First, the storyline. I really enjoyed the fantasy and dystopian storyline. It has been a while since I last read a good dystopian, and even though I have read a LOT of them, I’m always curious to start a new one. Sometimes the story can seem so familiar, that I instantly lose interest, but that didn’t happen at all with the Legend series. The storyline was completely fascinating, and I was completely hooked.

Another thing I really liked about the series were the characters. June and Day come from completely different worlds, yet whose paths cross in the most unexpected way, and they end up having to work together, even though it’s the last thing either of them want. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow over the course of the series, and I LOVED their ending when I read the very last chapter of Champion. There are some pretty great secondary characters in the story as well, one of my most favorites being Eden, Day’s brother.

I also want to add that I even though I own all of the books for this series, I opted to listen to it in audio format, and I’m so glad that I did. All of the audiobooks for this series are narrated by Mariel Stern and Steven Kaplan, and they both did such a fantastic job with the voices and narration.

Overall; The Legend series by Marie Lu was on my list of book series to *finally* read this year, and I’m so thrilled that I have finally read it! I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters, and it was a great series all-around. I’m super curious for more info on the newly announced 4th book in the series, which is set to release sometime in 2019! While I wait for more news on that book, I will be working my way through Marie’s The Young Elites series, and then I will be officially caught up on her books!! If you’re a fan of good dystopian, sci-fi stories, do check out the Legend series!!

My Thoughts: Renegades by Marissa Meyer

Renegades
(Renegades #1)
by Marissa Meyer
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: November 7th 2017
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 552
ISBN: 9781250044662
Genre: YA | Fantasy | Sci-Fi
Source: Own

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Secret Identities. Extraordinary Powers. She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies — humans with extraordinary abilities — who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone... except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice — and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both. (Goodreads)

I’ve had a copy of Renegades by Marissa Meyer sitting on my shelf since it was first released last year, and for some reason I’m just now getting to read it. (I can’t explain why, just that it kept getting pushed back farther and farther on my TBR for some reason.) BUT, I was determined to finally read the book this year, especially with the sequel, Archenemies, releasing this year as well. I am thrilled to tell you that I finally read the book, and I am now kicking myself for not having read it sooner!!

There are so many things to like about Renegades. I love the storyline, which is all about humans, (both heroes and villains), with all kinds of interesting superpowers and how they use them for both good and evil. I think the superpower parts was one of my most favorite things about the book, as I found them, along with how they were used, to be extremely fascinating. And since the story is told from two different characters’ viewpoints, one who is a Renegade, and one who is an Anarchist, we get to see both sides of the story, which was awesome. The book ends with a pretty massive cliffhanger, and thank goodness the next book is fixing to release, because I really want to dive into it ASAP!

Another thing I really enjoyed about this book were the characters. There are SO many in the story to like! Nova was definitely my favorite, and I totally found her quite relatable at times. I’m super curious to follow her, Adrian, and all the rest of the characters through the rest of this series to see what happens next for them!

Overall; Renegades was a really fun read, and I am seriously kicking myself for having not read the book sooner! I will most definitely be diving into Archenemies right away, and I’m thrilled that I don’t have to wait a for the sequel to be released, because I’m dying to know what’s going to happen next!! Fans of Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles series, which I am also reading at the moment, definitely need to check out the Renegades series. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!!

My Thoughts: A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi (Audiobook)

A Very Large Expanse of Sea
by Tahereh Mafi
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: October 16th 2018
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9780062866561
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Own

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

It’s 2002, a year after 9/11. It’s an extremely turbulent time politically, but especially so for someone like Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who’s tired of being stereotyped.

Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be. She’s tired of the rude stares, the degrading comments—even the physical violence—she endures as a result of her race, her religion, and the hijab she wears every day. So she’s built up protective walls and refuses to let anyone close enough to hurt her. Instead, she drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons break-dancing with her brother.

But then she meets Ocean James. He’s the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin. It terrifies her—they seem to come from two irreconcilable worlds—and Shirin has had her guard up for so long that she’s not sure she’ll ever be able to let it down. (Goodreads)

I have read all of Tahereh Mafi’s books in the past, most of them the moment they were released, so of course I was super curious to check out A Very Large Expanse of Sea right away as well! Unlike Tahereh’s previous books, which are mostly fantasy and dystopian, A Very Large Expanse of Sea is a contemporary fiction novel. I think I was the most curious about this, because contemporary stories are my FAVORITE, and I couldn’t wait to get started on the very first one by her. The story did not disappoint.

With A Very Large Expanse of Sea, we get a small look into what life was like for a young Muslim girl, Shirin, a year after the attacks of 9/11. Looking back, I remember it to be quite an unsettling time for our country, but getting to read the story from the perspective of Shirin was an eye-opening experience. Reading about some of things she, and to other people of color, went through in the book were heartbreaking to read, and some parts, unfortunately, are still relevant today.

One thing I really enjoyed about this book were the characters. Shirin was such an interesting girl, and I didn’t really want her story to end once I finished the book. (I would also REALLY love to see her, her brother, and their friends break dance. It sounded awesome!) Ocean was quite an interesting character as well, and I enjoyed watching the relationship grow between he and Shirin.

Another thing that I really enjoyed about this book was the nostalgia! It brought back so many memories from that time period. For instance, I totally remember my first cell phone, and having to watch how many minutes I used, because unlimited was not a thing yet. And text messages were just becoming a thing at that time as well! Also, AOL Instant Messenger. I remember that was the best thing ever at the time!! Hah!

I also want to add that though I have a finished copy of this book, I opted to listen to the audiobook instead, mostly because I listened to a sample of the audiobook before I started the actual book, and I completely captivated by Priya Ayyar’s narration of the story. If you have the opportunity to check out this book in audio format, I highly recommend it.

Overall; I really, really enjoyed A Very Large Expanse of Sea, and I think Tahereh Mafi has another hit on her hands with this book! While parts of the book were heartbreaking to read, I loved the story, and the characters, and I am glad that these stories are being told, because, as I mentioned above, they are definitely eye-opening experiences. If you don’t already have this book on your TBR, definitely add it right away. I hope you enjoy the story as much as I did!!

My Thoughts: What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

What If It's Us
by Becky Albertalli
Website | Twitter | Instagram
& Adam Silvera
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: October 9th 2018
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 437
ISBN: 9780062795250
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | LGBT
Source: From Publisher for Review

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it.

Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.

But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them?

Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated.

Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited.

But what if they can’t quite nail a first date . . . or a second first date . . . or a third?

What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work . . . and Ben doesn’t try hard enough?

What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play?

But what if it is?  (Goodreads)

What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera was definitely one of my most anticipated reads for this fall, and I was absolutely thrilled to finally get started on the book! Becky Albertalli is one of my most favorite authors ever, and I was excited to read something new by her. I’ve also wanted to read something by Adam Silvera for the longest as well, so that had doubly excited to read the book. It definitely did not disappoint!!

What if it’s Us is the story of Arthur and Ben, and how they meet one summer in New York. That sentence alone basically sums up the storyline for the book, and if you’re wondering if the story is as cute as it sounds, please know that it totally is. Following along in the story as Ben and Arthur meet, get separated, and find each other again, is completely captivating, and you will find yourself totally engrossed in the story as you fly through the pages to see what is going to happen next. 

And not only is the storyline really great, but this book has an amazing cast of characters as well. Not only were Ben and Arthur completely awesome, but they both had really awesome families, which I LOVE, and friends as well. There are SO many people to like in this book!!

I also really enjoyed the setting of the book. I don’t think I could actually handle visiting New York in real life, but it’s definitely a fascinating place to read about. I loved all of the descriptions of the places Ben and Arthur visit throughout the story.

Overall; What If It’s Us was a quick, fun read, and I enjoyed the story SO much! Fans of Becky Albertalli’s will definitely love this book, and I’m sure fans of Adam Silvera’s will as well! Now that I have finally read something by Adam, I am super curious to check out his previous books, and I will definitely be keeping my eye out for new books by him and Becky as well! If you’re looking for an great contemporary read, do check out What If It’s Us!!

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

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

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

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

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

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

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

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

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

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!!

My Thoughts: 9 From the Nine Worlds by Rick Riordan

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

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

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)

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

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

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

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

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

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!

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

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

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

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.

Audiobook Spotlight: All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover (Audiobook)

All Your Perfects
by Colleen Hoover
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: July 17th 2018
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Narrated By: Madeleine Maby
Audio Length:  7 hrs and 43 mins
ISBN: 9781508253662
Genre: Adult | Contemporary | Romance
Source: Overdrive Library Borrow

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Audible | Barnes & Noble | The Book Dep

Quinn and Graham's perfect love is threatened by their imperfect marriage. The memories, mistakes, and secrets that they have built up over the years are now tearing them apart. The one thing that could save them might also be the very thing that pushes their marriage beyond the point of repair.

All Your Perfects is a profound novel about a damaged couple whose potential future hinges on promises made in the past. This is a heartbreaking page-turner that asks: Can a resounding love with a perfect beginning survive a lifetime between two imperfect people? (Goodreads)

I hadn’t originally planned to read All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover just yet, but I happened to run across the audiobook while browsing my local library’s Overdrive selection, and my curiosity got the better of me. I’ve read a few of Colleens books in the past which I really enjoyed, and something told me that I had to check this book out right away. I’m really glad I did!

All Your Perfects is the story about Quinn and Graham, a young married couple who are dealing with some trials in their relationship. The story is told from present day point of view, which includes all the problems they are facing as their marriage slowly falls apart, as well as through the past when they meet and fall in love. Both parts were equally interesting, though the parts in the present day were the hardest to read. I definitely sympathized with them both for all they were going through, and found so many parts relatable as well. I especially understood Quinn’s pain.

This book was a really quick read, and I found myself flying through the story a lot faster than I anticipated. As I mentioned above, I listened to this book in audio format, and I’m really glad I did. The narrator, Madeleine Maby, did a great job of reading the story, and I instantly recognized her voice from an audiobook that I listened not too long ago, The Room on Rue Amélie. I’m also pretty thrilled to discover that she narrates in a few audiobooks that I plan to listen to soon, and I can’t wait to check those out.

Overall; All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover was a quick, interesting read that I really enjoyed. It definitely makes me want to read that I own of Colleens that I haven’t yet read, and I plan to work more of those into my TBR as soon as possible, starting with It Ends with Us, and hopefully Ugly Love as well! If you love a good realistic contemporary novel, do check out All Your Perfects!

My Thoughts: Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand

Sawkill Girls
by Claire Legrand
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: October 2nd 2018
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 447
ISBN: 9780062696601
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Horror | LGBT
Source: Edelweiss Review Copy / Own

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Beware of the woods and the dark, dank deep.

He’ll follow you home, and he won’t let you sleep.

Who are the Sawkill Girls?

Marion: the new girl. Awkward and plain, steady and dependable. Weighed down by tragedy and hungry for love she’s sure she’ll never find.

Zoey: the pariah. Luckless and lonely, hurting but hiding it. Aching with grief and dreaming of vanished girls. Maybe she’s broken—or maybe everyone else is.

Val: the queen bee. Gorgeous and privileged, ruthless and regal. Words like silk and eyes like knives, a heart made of secrets and a mouth full of lies.

Their stories come together on the island of Sawkill Rock, where gleaming horses graze in rolling pastures and cold waves crash against black cliffs. Where kids whisper the legend of an insidious monster at parties and around campfires.

Where girls have been disappearing for decades, stolen away by a ravenous evil no one has dared to fight… until now. (Goodreads)

I was super excited to dive into Sawkill Girls, not only because it sounded really awesome, but also because it is written by Claire Legrand! I read Furyborn by Claire earlier this year, and really enjoyed the story, so I was super curious to see what this new book was about. If you read no future than this, then let me just say… This. Book. Was. Awesome!

If you haven’t yet read the summary for the book, you should totally do that now. It has just enough information to lure you in, but once you actually start reading the book, the story is SO much more than you will ever expect. I don’t want to say too much to give anything away, but the storyline was both completely engrossing, and, at times, absolutely terrifying as well. I’m not much of a fan of horror, and, to be honest, I didn’t realize that this was a horror story until I got a little way into the book, then had to stop and look. So, yeah, it’s not usually much cup of tea, but with this book, I absolutely couldn’t stop reading it! I don’t want to say anymore, so do check it out!

I also want to say that this book has some really great characters as well. The story is told from the three main characters, Zoey, Marion, and Val’s, viewpoints. It was interesting to read the book this way, as all the girls were interesting, yet so similar in thoughts as well. Following along on this insane adventure was both nerve-wracking, yet completely engrossing as well. I also love the diversity in the book as well.

Overall; If you don’t already have Sawkill Girls on your TBR, you definitely want to add it now! The story is completely captivating, and it will draw you in and leave you leave you hooked as you fly through the pages. It will make a great addition to your Halloween TBR!! Check it out, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!