Showing posts with label Young Adult. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Young Adult. Show all posts

The only thing that makes a witch burn | Seventh Born By Monica Sanz



Title: Seventh Born
By: Monica Sanz
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 400
Release Date: September 4th, 2018
Publisher: Entangled: Teen

Summary from Goodreads: Abomination. Curse. Murderer. All names hurled at eighteen-year-old Seraphina Dovetail. As the seventh-born daughter to a witch, she's the cause of her mother losing her powers and, in turn, her life.

Abandoned as a child, Sera dreams of becoming an inspector and finding her family. To do that, she must be referred into the Advanced Studies Program at the Aetherium's Witchling Academy. Her birth order, quick temper, and tendency to set things on fire, however, have left her an outcast with failing marks…and just what Professor Nikolai Barrington is looking for.

The tall, brooding, yet exceedingly handsome young professor makes her a proposition: become his assistant and he'll give her the referral she needs. Sera is quickly thrust into a world where witches are being kidnapped, bodies are raised from the dead, and someone is burning seventhborns alive. As Sera and Barrington grow ever closer, she'll discover that some secrets are best left buried…and fire isn't the only thing that makes a witch burn.



Review: A seventh born is considered to be the lowest of the low. They have to fight for everything they want, and are discarded like trash. This book seems to follow along with the Harry Potter craze. They go to school to learn the ways of magic so they can make their way in the magical world. The story was hard to get into for me. It seemed slow and daunting. The story did pick up eventually and I really enjoyed the twists and turns. The ending was great, it was just getting there. If you liked Harry Potter, you will probably like this book. Three stars for Seventh Born. 

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.



Is it a Tale or a Truth? | Star-Touched Stories by Roshani Chokshi



Title: Star Touched Stories
By: Roshani Chokshi
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 304
Release Date: August 7th, 2018
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Summary from Goodreads: Three lush and adventurous stories in the Star-Touched world.

Death and Night

He was Lord of Death, cursed never to love. She was Night incarnate, destined to stay alone. After a chance meeting, they wonder if, perhaps, they could be meant for more. But danger crouches in their paths, and the choices they make will set them on a journey that will span lifetimes. 

Poison and Gold

Now that her wish for a choice has come true, Aasha struggles to control her powers. But when an opportunity to help Queen Gauri and King Vikram's new reign presents itself, she is thrown into the path of the fearsome yet enchanting Spy Mistress. To help her friends, Aasha will have to battle her insecurities and perhaps, along the way, find love. 

Rose and Sword

There is a tale whispered in the dark of the Empire of Bharat-Jain. A tale of a bride who loses her bridegroom on the eve of her wedding. But is it a tale or a truth?



Review: Other than the fact that I can never remember the name of this author, I loved this book. It's a collection of three stories, all set in the world the author has built. They all tie together and create a wonderful mystery about them. Are they a tale or truth? My favorite was the first story Death and Night. I might read that one again, just because it was so good.

Read it... And read the first two... And then read them again...

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.



What price would you pay for freedom? | Bright Ruin by Vic James



Title: Bright Ruin
By: Vic James
Genre: Dystopian / Urban Fantasy
Pages: 416
Release Date: October 9th, 2018
Publisher: Del Rey

Summary from Goodreads: As the dystopian trilogy that began with Gilded Cage and Tarnished City concludes, the people of Britain rise up against their magically gifted masters. They must break the system—or be broken.

MAGIC RUINS. WE RISE.

The rules are simple, the system cruel: the lower classes must give ten years in service to Britain’s powerfully gifted rulers. With one uprising crushed by the glittering elite, commoners and aristocrats alike now take sides for a final confrontation.

At the center of it all are two ordinary siblings: Abi Hadley and her brother, Luke. Each has reason to hate the ruling Jardine family. Abi was once their servant—and now seeks revenge for a terrible wrong. Luke was imprisoned on their whim—but his only hope may be an alliance with the youngest and most powerful of the clan, the cold and inscrutable Silyen Jardine.

Staking everything to end a bright and shining tyranny, Abi, Luke, and Silyen find themselves bound by a single destiny. Their actions will change their fates—and change everything. But at a cost almost too terrible to contemplate.

What price would you pay for freedom?


Review: I have to tell you, I was a little disappointing with this book. The first two books in the series were great. Lots of action, magic and intrigue, but this one felt more like a mystery/treasure hunt. Not what I'm used to with Vic James. It wasn't bad, don't get me wrong, just not what I wanted in this series. 

Take that for what it is, and go out and read this awesome book when it comes out.  

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.



Never Fear Death | The Raging Ones by Krista & Becca Ritchie



 Title: The Raging Ones
By: Krista & Becca Ritchie
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 352
Release Date: August 14th, 2018
Publisher: Wednesday Books

Summary from Goodreads: In a freezing world, where everyone knows the day they will die, three teens break all odds.

Franny Bluecastle, a tough city teen, dreams of dying in opulence, to see wealth she’s never known. Like the entire world, she believes it’s impossible to dodge a deathday.

Until the day she does.

Court Icecastle knows wealth. He also knows pain. Spending five years in Vorkter Prison, a fortress of ice and suffering, he dreams of life beyond the people that haunt him and the world that imprisoned him.

Mykal Kickfall fights for those he loves. The rugged Hinterlander shares a frustrating yet unbreakable connection with Court—which only grows more lawless and chaotic as their senses and emotions connect with Franny.

With the threat of people learning they’ve dodged their deathdays, they must flee their planet to survive. But to do so, all three will have to hide their shared bond as they vie for a highly sought after spot in the newest mission to space. Against thousands of people far smarter, who’ll live longer, and never fear death the way that they do.


Review: This was a refreshing new read. It was nice to finally come across a new book with a new story to tell. So often we find that unheard of books copy the greats. Its faltering, but I want to read something new.

You dive right into a world where people know their death day and they aren't afraid of it. The story takes a turn when Franny lives through her death day and is thrown into a new word of uncertainty. When will she die? There is no way to tell.

The only complaint I have is that the story felt like it was actually two stories in one. You have the first part of the story where the characters live passed their death day and it something taboo and they have to hide. Then there is the part of the story where they are trying out for a mission to space.

Either way, it was a good original read and I was enthralled the whole story. 

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.





Catch the Wave or Die | Tsunami Riders by Rita Stradling



Title: Tsunami Riders 
By: Rita Stradling
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 
Release Date: June 12th, 2018
Publisher:

Summary from Goodreads: 2036 was the year that the ocean goddess Tiamat woke up and unleashed her wrath.
Daily tsunamis.
Sharks the size of merchant vessels.
Humans survive by cluttering into mountaintop settlements. Cut off from natural resources, they only have one hope for survival.
Us.
The tsunami riders.
Risks high and survival rates low, we ride at the peak of a mountain of water at five hundred miles an hour and love it. The rag-tag crew of the Ištar and I never miss a wave or lose a shipment container.
But the ocean isn’t the only bitch we have to contend with.
Admiral Parker wants to monopolize the trade routes with her state-of-the-art schooners, and she’s not opposed to taking out riders who won’t yield the wave. If she wins, all of the settlements in North America will live or starve at her say so.
We’re not going to let that happen.
Surf’s up, and as all tsunami riders know: you got to catch the wave or die.



Review: I'm always excited to share with you another book by an author that I'm excited about. This book is part of the Empire of Shadow and Ash anthology. Rita Stradling has come out with another wonderful story. Who rides Tsunamis? That's just cray, but that is exactly what the characters in this book do. There is more to it than that thought, we follow a love triangle and a deep unrest among the settlements as the world succumbs to the ocean. A thrilling dystopian that will keep you on the seat of your pants. I read this book in one sitting, cover to cover. Great read. 

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.





One Final Battle | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling



Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
By: J.K. Rowling
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 759
Release Date: July, 2007
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books

Summary from Goodreads: Harry Potter is leaving Privet Drive for the last time. But as he climbs into the sidecar of Hagrid’s motorbike and they take to the skies, he knows Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters will not be far behind.

The protective charm that has kept him safe until now is broken. But the Dark Lord is breathing fear into everything he loves. And he knows he can’t keep hiding.

To stop Voldemort, Harry knows he must find the remaining Horcruxes and destroy them.

He will have to face his enemy in one final battle.
--jkrowling.com


Review: It has taken me way too long to finish this series, but I'm finally done. A lot of people are probably saying "Well, its about time," but trust me, If I had more time to read this series I would have. To tell you the truth though, the writing style of Rowling isn't really my favorite. At times, I was bored and thought that some of the stuff was filler content. Even though I have my reviewer hat on, the story was amazing and the creativity was to die for. There is nothing out there like this series and Rowling should be very proud of herself. 


A Past You Can't Outrun | Splash by M.E. Rhines #Giveaway


Splash
M.E. Rhines
(Mermaid Royalty #3)
Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: June 12th 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Fawna is happy with the new life she has made for herself on land. She has her child and her youngest sister Pauline by her side—plus an amazing new human boyfriend named Randy. So when an old friend from Atargatis shows up, she immediately feels the weight of everything she stands to lose. But the news can’t be ignored – there’s been an attack on their kingdom; her aunt Myrtle is dead and her mother is missing. Angelique, their middle sister, is now ruling a kingdom to the north, leaving Fawna as the only royal left to help save Atargatis. Torn between responsibilities in two different worlds, the decision is made for her when the powerful sea witch who attacked the kingdom also takes Fawna’s son. Now she has no choice—to save her life on dry land, she’ll have to dive back into the ocean…
The final installment in the beloved Mermaid Royalty series, Splash is a heart-pounding fantasy romance that will have you feeling like you need to come up for air!
Grab book 1 – SINK – for FREE!
EXCERPT:
”And if you’d acted before you did, defied your mother and refused her order to kill him, do you believe you could’ve won?”
“Honestly? I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. For all we know we could’ve stopped it long before Gene. Aunt Margaret just kept telling us to be patient, that the catalyst would show itself. We rallied against my mother more because Pauline was in danger, not so much because of Eddie. To me, that was the ultimate incentive to proceed. Seeing her in danger was the reason we stood so strong together.”
“Maybe your aunt knew a human wasn’t a strong enough reason to fight such an epic war. I mean, you might’ve rallied behind Gene, but could you say the others in your resistance would? With everything Gilcrest has told you, you’ve got magic in you, Fawna. You stood a chance against your mother. Your aunt probably knew that.”
“You may be right, but it doesn’t matter. I’ve committed some terrible atrocities.”
“Because you were scared! You didn’t have a choice. I wasn’t even here and I can see that.” He clanged his knuckles against the cast iron frame of the cauldron. “You said you wanted to give this old heirloom a second chance, an opportunity to be used for good. Why can’t you give yourself that chance? Cut yourself a break.”
A smile cracked on my lips, and I shook my head in exasperation. “Why is it you always insist on seeing the good in me, even now when there’s none to be found?”
“There’s plenty of good in you, Fawna. If there wasn’t, you wouldn’t be so ready to risk your soul to rescue the ones you love the most.”
“There’s no talking any sense into you, is there?” I wrapped my arms around his torso, using his weight to anchor myself in place.
“Not a chance,” he grinned, planting a sweet kiss on my cheek. “I’m not going anywhere. It’s like I said before, Queen, my heart is yours and only yours. The sea is in my blood, always has been. Now I know why. I was meant for this life, down here with you and Sebastian. Don’t take it away from me because of a past you can’t outrun.”


Author Bio:
ME Rhines a southwest Florida native currently living in North Port with her two beautiful children and a third, much larger child whom she affectionately calls husband.
She writes young adult paranormal romance to feed her belief that fairy tales are real and
nonsense is necessary.
You can visit her on most major social media sites:
www.facebook.com/merhines
www.twitter.com/merhines
She also writes adult romances under her edgier alter-ego, Mary Bernsen.

XBTBanner1

This Started With Me | Relegation by Karri Thompson #Giveaway


Relegation
Karri Thompson
(The Van Winkle Project #3)
Published by: Entangled: Teen
Publication date: June 4th 2018
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult
The end is near—and I’m fated to save humanity.
I’m feared, yet revered. The presidents are leery of me, but I’ve read the files. And I know the truth—at least, I think I do. And I’m the one who is going to tell the clones. They deserve to know.
Michael and I have been forced to fight, to kill. We’ll do anything to keep our daughters safe and free. But we can’t do it alone. There’s a rumor about a secret society eager for battle… and we’re going to find them. Help them end the government’s corruption.
It’s my duty, my calling as the first mother of the new world I want to create.
This started with me, and that’s where it’s going to end.
EXCERPT:
“What’s going on?” Michael asked. I thought it was Michael. No, maybe it was Travel. Everything spun, my head stretching and coming back as if I’d rocketed down an elevator shaft.
Hands caught me under my arms. Whose hands? I didn’t know. My feet hit the floor, but my knees buckled, and as I was lifted again, I opened my eyes and caught a blur of the room—wood paneling, a pedestal holding a vase of red flowers, and an oriental carpet under my feet.
What was wrong with me? My heartbeat thumped in my ears, the muscles in my legs refused to respond to my mental commands, and my skin hurt as tiny dots of pain erupted from my bones and spread to the surface of my limbs.
“They need to be separated,” a male shouted.
They? Who was they?
His words were sharp and desperate, bordering on panic. The grip under my arms shifted to my waist and my upper body. Limp and trembling with each beat of my heart, I fell against the person holding me. It was Michael. I recognized his spicy cologne and the width of his shoulders against mine.
“Michael, don’t you see what’s happening?” It was Travel. Now I recognized his voice, too, a voice marked with the same cast of anxiety in
Michael’s.
“Travel,” I tried to say. Or maybe I did say it. Had my lips even moved? A numbing heat whipped up my spine and spread through my shoulders and neck. My chin dropped to my chest, and the fuzzy red, white, and green colors I’d seen were replaced with the grey blur of my prison uniform.
“Take her away—now!” Michael shouted, his words seeping deep into my ear where the sounds writhed and burned, the sensation spreading to my forehead.
With each exhale, my hot breath pooled against my chest, stoking my lightheadedness.
“Get her out of here,” Michael said again. “Hurry!”
Her? Who? Me? VW2? Where was my daughter? Michael’s arms were empty, and my own still hung loosely at my sides and hit dumbly against my body when he shifted me closer to him.
“That’s his niece. You just can’t…” Whose voice was that? It was a presidential voice with its commanding yet concerned tone. It had to be Dabner. I wasn’t his niece. I wasn’t anybody’s niece in this century. Who was he talking about?


Author Bio:
Growing up in San Diego, California, Karri Thompson spent much of her years at the beach, reading novels, tanning, and listening to music. At SDSU, she earned a BA in English, MA in education, and her teaching credential. As a wife, mother, and high-school English teacher, she began writing novels, giving all of the compelling plots and unique characters in her head a home. Victorian literature rocks her socks, and when she’s not writing, jogging, going to concerts, or watching her son play football, she’s reading Dickens.

XBTBanner1

Its Release Day! | City of Bastards by Andrew Shvarts



Title: City of Bastards
By: Andrew Shvarts
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 320
Release Date: June 5th, 2018
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

It's release day for City of Bastards and I'm super excited to add this awesome read to my collection. Check out my review here

Summary from Goodreads: Tilla, bastard of House Kent, has it made. Safe from her murderous father in the dazzling capital of Lightspire, she lives a life of luxury under the protection of the Volaris King, alongside her boyfriend Zell and best friend, Princess Lyriana.

So why isn’t she happy? Maybe it’s the whispers and stares that follow her wherever she goes, as the daughter of the traitor waging war against Lightspire. Or maybe it’s the memories of her beloved brother, Jax, who lies cold in his grave even as she tries to settle into a life in the city's prestigious University.

Then, Tilla stumbles upon the body of a classmate, a friend. The authorities are quick to rule it a suicide and sweep it under the rug, but when Tilla herself is attacked by a mysterious man with terrifying powers, she’s convinced of a conspiracy. Her friends beg her to stay silent; what she's suggesting is impossible... and treasonous.

But Tilla can't, won't, let it go. And the deeper she digs, the more questions she uncovers. How is the West beating the supposedly invincible Lightspire Mages in battle? Is it connected to the shadowy cult wreaking havoc in Lightspire? Nothing is as it seems in the glorious capital, and Tilla’s presence might just be the spark that sets the Kingdom aflame.Tilla, bastard of House Kent, has it made. Safe from her murderous father in the dazzling capital of Lightspire, she lives a life of luxury under the protection of the Volaris King, alongside her boyfriend Zell and best friend, Princess Lyriana.

So why isn’t she happy? Maybe it’s the whispers and stares that follow her wherever she goes, as the daughter of the traitor waging war against Lightspire. Or maybe it’s the memories of her beloved brother, Jax, who lies cold in his grave even as she tries to settle into a life in the city's prestigious University.

Then, Tilla stumbles upon the body of a classmate, a friend. The authorities are quick to rule it a suicide and sweep it under the rug, but when Tilla herself is attacked by a mysterious man with terrifying powers, she’s convinced of a conspiracy. Her friends beg her to stay silent; what she's suggesting is impossible... and treasonous.

But Tilla can't, won't, let it go. And the deeper she digs, the more questions she uncovers. How is the West beating the supposedly invincible Lightspire Mages in battle? Is it connected to the shadowy cult wreaking havoc in Lightspire? Nothing is as it seems in the glorious capital, and Tilla’s presence might just be the spark that sets the Kingdom aflame.


Confront the Real World | Ready Player One by Ernest Cline


Title: Ready Player One
By: Ernest Cline
Genre: Dystopian Scifi
Pages: 374
Release Date: August 16th, 2011
Publisher: Crown Publishers

Summary from Goodreads: In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape. 



Review: I don't usually review older books that I've been dying to ready, just for the fact that I'm super busy during the week and my time is limited. I'm going to start though, because I've been reading a lot of good books that have been out for a couple of years now, and I know you are always looking for your next read.

My husband picked up this book the other day and after a few short bursts of reading, he quickly convinced me to try it out. I was sucked in right away. No wonder this book was turned into a movie (which I haven't seen yet, but am excited to do so). 

We follow a high school boy as he searches through virtual reality to find a hidden treasure. The search turns deadly as a group of Sixers start killing of players in real life. The book dives deeply into 80 pop culture and games. Shows and movies that I know all too well. It was a really fun and exciting read from the first page to the last. 

If you are a fan of any and everything geeky, you have to read this book. Its a must!


This book received a Blogger's Choice Award from Confessions of an ExBallerina