Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Wishlist Wednesday


*Wishlist Wednesday is where you show a book that is on your bookish wishlist*

MONSTERS BORN & MADE by Tanvi Berwah

PublisherSourcebooks Fire
Release Date: September 6, 2022 
Pages: 352

THE STORY:

She grew up battling the monsters that live in the black seas, but it couldn't prepare her to face the cunning cruelty of the ruling elite.
Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Fable, this South Asian-inspired fantasy is a gripping debut about the power of the elite, the price of glory, and one girl's chance to change it all.
Sixteen-year-old Koral and her older brother Emrik risk their lives each day to capture the monstrous maristags that live in the black seas around their island. They have to, or else their family will starve.
In an oceanic world swarming with vicious beasts, the Landers―the ruling elite, have indentured Koral's family to provide the maristags for the Glory Race, a deadly chariot tournament reserved for the upper class. The winning contender receives gold and glory. The others―if they're lucky―survive.
When the last maristag of the year escapes and Koral has no new maristag to sell, her family's financial situation takes a turn for the worse and they can't afford medicine for her chronically ill little sister. Koral's only choice is to do what no one in the world has ever dared: cheat her way into the Glory Race.
But every step of the way is unpredictable as Koral races against contenders―including her ex-boyfriend―who have trained for this their whole lives and who have no intention of letting a low-caste girl steal their glory. When a rebellion rises and rogues attack Koral to try and force her to drop out, she must choose―her life or her sister's―before the whole island burns.
Praise for Tanvi Berwah:
"An exhilarating race of willpower and defiance, set on an utterly unique world filled with glorious monsters." ― Xiran Jay Zhao, #1 New York Times Bestselling author of Iron Widow
"Monsters Born and Made takes well-beloved YA tropes and turns them on their heads, creating an action-packed rallying cry against oppression and a riveting tale of one girl's desperation to survive no matter the odds." ― Roseanne A. Brown, New York Times bestselling author of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin 
LINK: Goodreads


MEET THE AUTHOR


Tanvi Berwah is a South Asian writer who grew up wanting to touch the stars and reach back in time. MONSTERS BORN AND MADE, her debut YA novel, is forthcoming from Sourcebooks Fire. Her short story, Escape, is out now in Foreshadow anthology from Algonquin Young Readers. She graduated from the University of Delhi with a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Literature of English, and always found ways to fit in The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones in her academic life. A history and space enthusiast, she would’ve loved to be an astronomer, had her lack of mathematical skills allowed it. When she’s not writing, you can find her stressing over pop culture and the state of the world, often simultaneously, on Twitter and Instagram.



Want to see my entire Wishlist? Check it out on Amazon: Bookish Wishlist

Happy Reading!

Monday, April 25, 2022

Review: River of Shadows by Karina Halle

*Warning: This review may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

Publisher Karina Halle
Release Date: January 27th 2022 
Pages: 354
Source: Paperback 

THE STORY:

River of Shadows is an adult dark fantasy romance based on Finnish mythology and the underworld of Tuonela.

When 24-year old Hanna Heikkinen's estranged father dies, she reluctantly makes the trip to Northern Finland for his funeral. Being in the enchanting land of ice and snow feels miles away from Hanna's busy life back in Los Angeles, especially under the complicated circumstances.

But when Hanna discovers that her father's body is missing, that's when things really get weird. A mysterious man, Rasmus, tells Hanna the truth: her father was a powerful shaman who went into Tuonela, the Realm of the Dead, in order to barter for more life, and has been held captive by Tuoni, the God of Death. The only way her father can be freed is if she travels with Rasmus into the mythical underworld to rescue him.

Willing to do anything to have a second-chance with her father, Hanna accompanies Rasmus into the dark and bloody realm, traveling via the River of Shadows, stalked by dangerous creatures, monsters, and the living dead, until they finally come into the haunted kingdom ruled by Death and his family.

Only for her to be captured and held prisoner by the God of Death himself.

Turns out Death is intrigued by Hanna's beauty and fierceness and makes a bargain with her. If she marries him, and spends an eternity in the Realm of the Dead as his wife, he'll set her father free.

But even the most noble sacrifices come with hidden costs, and Hanna's might involve the most unexpected of all things: her heart. 
BUY LINKS: Goodreads


RATING

ONE-WORD REVIEWINTRIGUING

OPENING LINE:

"We come from the land of ice and snow, where the midnight sun and the hot springs flow," Robert Plant sings through my noise-canceling headphones as the plane begins its descent.



REVIEW:

This was my first read by Karina Hale. Although I’ve been following her for years on Instagram and always wanted to read a book written by her this one finally caught my attention because it has Hades and Persephone vibes and if you know anything about me I love Hades and Persephone retellings. Moreover, the premise sounded really interesting.

π’«π“‡π‘’π“‚π’Ύπ“ˆπ‘’:

The story centers around Hanna, a young social media manager whose father suddenly dies. On the first plane to his home in northern Finland, she discovers her father was more than what he led her to be. He was a powerful shaman who was dying of cancer. Wanting more time to spend with his daughter he descends into the Underworld to make a bargain with the God of Death in order to cure his cancer. Trouble is: he never returned. And there were two other evil shamans who didn't want Hanna to save him. But that didn't stop Hanna because she would do and give anything to save her father's life.

Including selling herself to the God of Death to do whatever she so pleased with her.

π’«π“π‘œπ“‰: 

However, fair warning, the beginning was pretty slow for me and it was a little boring. Some plot points were random I thought but I still wanted to know how it was going to turn out. I wanted to meet the God of Death and see what the dynamic between him and Hanna would be like. When we finally met the God of Death, to be honest, he is a huge dick not just literally but figuratively speaking. He was a jerk and based on how feisty and strong Hanna is at the beginning of the book I honestly thought she would’ve given more of a fight against him. I thought it would be a little spicier between them in the power struggle sense. More Death being like do this and Hanna like no! That was definitely a missed opportunity there but the sex? The sex scenes were chef's kiss and I honestly wish there were more of them. And maybe kinkier because it seems like the God of Death depicted in RIVER OF SHADOWS would have his kind.

𝐸𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 & 𝒫𝒢𝓇𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 π’―π’½π‘œπ“Šπ‘”π’½π“‰π“ˆ:

The ending? Prepare. It was a cliffhanger ending. I can't wait to see what’s gonna go on in the next book the sequel CROWN OF CRIMSON. I love that at the end of RIVER OF SHADOWS we had a chapter from Death’s point of view it was interesting to see things from his perspective


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Karina Halle is a screenwriter, a former music & travel journalist, and the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of The Pact, A Nordic King, and Sins & Needles, as well as sixty other wild and romantic reads.

She, her musician husband, and their adopted pit bull, Bruce, live in a rainforest on an island off the coast of British Columbia during the summer, and in Los Angeles in the winter. For more information, visit www.authorkarinahalle.com/books.

Halle is represented by Root Literary and is both self-published, and published by Simon & Schuster, Hachette, Penguin, and Montlake. Her books have been published in numerous languages around the world.

Karina isn't on Goodreads and does NOT check her messages here - please contact her via Instagram (@authorhalle) instead :)

Happy Reading!

 
Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Wishlist Wednesday


*Wishlist Wednesday is where you show a book that is on your bookish wishlist*

THE DRAGON'S BRIDE by Katee Robert

PublisherTrinkets and Tales LLC Readers
Release Date: March 29, 2022 
Pages: 180

THE STORY:

Briar Rose might have a name out of a storybook, but she learned at a very young age that no prince was coming to save her. She’ll have to save herself. Unfortunately, even that is an impossible task in her current situation—trapped in a terrifying marriage to a dangerous man.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, which is how she finds herself making a deal with a demon. Freedom from her husband…in return for seven years of service.
She expects the service to be backbreaking and harsh. She doesn’t expect to be put on an auction block in a room full of literal monsters and sold to the highest bidder.
To Sol.
A dragon.
He might seem kinder than his fearsome looks imply, but she knows better than to trust the way he wants to take care of her, or how invested he is in her pleasure. In her experience, if something seems too good to be true, it certainly is.
Falling for Sol is out of the question. She’s suffered enough, and she has no intention of staying in this realm…even if she leaves her heart behind when she returns to her normal life.
Author's Note: Please check the author's website for all tropes, tags, and CWs. 
LINK: Goodreads


MEET THE AUTHOR






New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her 2015 title, The Marriage Contract, was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it 'a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension." When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. 





Want to see my entire Wishlist? Check it out on Amazon: Bookish Wishlist

Happy Reading!

Thursday, April 14, 2022

Review: The Boundless by Anna Bright




*Warning: This review may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

Publisher
HarperTeen
Release Date: 
June 9, 2020 
Pages: 491
Source: Hardcover 

THE STORY:

This breathtaking sequel to The Beholder will take you on a journey into a darkly sparkling fairy tale, perfect for fans of The Selection and Caraval.

When Selah found true love with Prince Torden of Norway, she never imagined she’d have to leave him behind. All because the Beholder’s true mission was a secret Selah’s crew didn’t trust her to keep: transporting weapons to the rebels fighting against the brutal tsarytsya, whose shadow looms over their next port of Shvartsval’d. A place Selah hoped she’d never go.

But gone is the girl who departed Potomac filled with fear. With a stockpile of weapons belowdecks and her heart hanging in the balance, Selah is determined to see the Beholder’s quest to its end.  
BUY LINKS: Goodreads


RATING

ONE-WORD REVIEWSIGH

TAG LINE:

Selah found her happily ever after—and had to leave him behind.

OPENING LINE:

A storm was building.



REVIEW:

Livestream thoughts:

Page 45: WTF isn’t Selah supposed to be in love with Torden she literally justtttt left him behind
Also, what does Lang even look like??
How old is he even?
What is even his first name?

Page 49: Seriously????? Not even a little guilt over Torden? Where’s the heartbreak? The warring feelings? How Selah is bouncing back so easily? Gross.

Page 55: Eww like that man is the king for and he married a horrid woman who treated you like shit while he stood by and allowed it. He’s the king and your father for God's sake and you care about how he feels when it’s not mutual.

A major issue I had with Book 1-THE BEHOLDER: Where’s Selah's anger towards her useless father who chose his second wife and their unborn child over her time and time again?

I DNF'd because I was super annoyed with Selah (for many reasons). However, I may pick it up in the future in hopes I get to see Torden again.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


I believe in woods, mountains, highways, cobblestones, roller coasters, dancing, concerts, cherry Pop Tarts, books, and magic.
When I'm not reading or writing on my couch, I'm dragging my husband off on an adventure, snuggling my new baby daughter, communing with Salem (my kitten/spiritual familiar), or causing trouble at One More Page Books, where I work.


Happy Reading!

 
Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Wishlist Wednesday


*Wishlist Wednesday is where you show a book that is on your bookish wishlist*

BOUND BY FIRELIGHT by Dana Swift

PublisherDelacorte Press
Release DateJanuary 18, 2022 
Pages: 448

THE STORY:

After a magical eruption devastates the kingdom of Belwar, royal heir Adraa is falsely accused of masterminding the destruction and forced to stand trial in front of her people, who see her as a monster. Adraa's punishment? Imprisonment in the Dome, an impenetrable, magic-infused fortress filled with Belwar’s nastiest criminals—many of whom Adraa put there herself. And they want her to pay.
Jatin, the royal heir to Naupure, has been Adraa’s betrothed, nemesis, and fellow masked vigilante... but now he’s just a boy waiting to ask her the biggest question of their lives. First, though, he’s going to have to do the impossible: break Adraa out of the Dome. And he won’t be able to do it without help from the unlikeliest of sources—a girl from his past with a secret that could put them all at risk.
Time is running out, and the horrors Adraa faces in the Dome are second only to the plot to destabilize and destroy their kingdoms. But Adraa and Jatin have saved the world once already... Now, can they save themselves?
The heart-pounding sequel to Cast in Firelight, perfect for fans of epic, sweepingly romantic fantasy by Sabaa Tahir, Susan Dennard, and Mary E. Pearson.
LINK: Goodreads


MEET THE AUTHOR

Dana Swift started making up fantasy worlds when she was eleven years old and hasn’t stopped since. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned degrees in English and Advertising. While in college, Dana competed as a saber fencer and learned a thing or two about fighting, parrying and how it feels to fall in love with your sparring partner. She currently lives with said husband in Miami, Florida. 



Want to see my entire Wishlist? Check it out on Amazon: Bookish Wishlist

Happy Reading!

Monday, April 4, 2022

Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

*Warning: This review may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

Publisher Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Release Date: 
September 2, 2014 
Pages: 565
Source: Hardcover 

THE STORY:

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


RATING

ONE-WORD REVIEW
HEARTBREAKING


OPENING LINE:

Gods, it was boiling in this useless excuse for a kingdom.




REVIEW:

The most interesting thing about this book was Mannon and her dragon. Mannon was such a badass and her cinnamon roll dragon that loves sniffing flowers. *squeal* I lived for her POV chapters.

“𝐼𝓉 π“Œπ‘œπ“Šπ“π’Ή π“ƒπ‘œπ“‰ 𝓉𝒢𝓀𝑒 𝒢 π“‚π‘œπ“ƒπ“ˆπ“‰π‘’π“‡ π“‰π‘œ π’Ήπ‘’π“ˆπ“‰π“‡π‘œπ“Ž 𝒢 π“‚π‘œπ“ƒπ“ˆπ“‰π‘’π“‡ - π’·π“Šπ“‰ 𝓁𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉, 𝓁𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 π“‰π‘œ 𝒹𝓇𝒾𝓋𝑒 π‘œπ“Šπ“‰ π’Ήπ’Άπ“‡π“€π“ƒπ‘’π“ˆπ“ˆ.”

As for Caelana, she was easier to bear because I really couldn’t stand her in the first two books. She honestly grated on my nerves. But In book 3 she was broken down and needed to build herself back up. I was able to sympathize with her more which helped me barrel through the story. Have to say though, all of the POVs reminded me why I hate multiple POVs—it was so distracting.

“π΅π‘’π’Έπ’Άπ“Šπ“ˆπ‘’ 𝐼 𝒢𝓂 π“π‘œπ“ˆπ“‰," π“ˆπ’½π‘’ π“Œπ’½π’Ύπ“ˆπ“…π‘’π“‡π‘’π’Ή π‘œπ“ƒπ“‰π‘œ 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑒𝒢𝓇𝓉𝒽. "π’œπ“ƒπ’Ή 𝐼 π’Ήπ‘œ π“ƒπ‘œπ“‰ π“€π“ƒπ‘œπ“Œ 𝓉𝒽𝑒 π“Œπ’Άπ“Ž.”

Rowan was a major prick. And not in the fun way …

Chaol was absolutely useless! Someone, please remind me why and how is he the Captain of the Guard.

Dorian is a cinnamon roll with cool ass powers o hope to see put to good use. But I’m terrified to see how long he’ll hold out against that monster collar and what’ll happen when he can’t any longer …

“𝒯𝒽𝑒 π“…π‘’π‘œπ“…π“π‘’ π“Žπ‘œπ“Š π“π‘œπ“‹π‘’ 𝒢𝓇𝑒 π’Ώπ“Šπ“ˆπ“‰ π“Œπ‘’π’Άπ“…π‘œπ“ƒπ“ˆ 𝓉𝒽𝒢𝓉 π“Œπ’Ύπ“π“ 𝒷𝑒 π“Šπ“ˆπ‘’π’Ή π’Άπ‘”π’Άπ’Ύπ“ƒπ“ˆπ“‰ π“Žπ‘œπ“Š.”


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



Sarah J. Maas is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Crescent City, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and the Throne of Glass series. Her books have sold more than twelve million copies and are published in thirty-seven languages. A New York native, Sarah lives in Philadelphia with her husband, son, and dog. To find out more, visit sarahjmaas.com or follow @therealsjmaas on Instagram. 




Happy Reading!

 
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