REVIEW | A Gathering of Shadows by V. E. Schwab

A Gathering of Shadows by V. E. Schwab

Pages: 512
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: February 23rd 2016
Genre: Fantasy
Goodreads Rating: 4.38/5
My Rating: 4.5/5

I’m a little embarrassed, you see.  Why? Because I finished A Gathering of Shadows less than 48 hours after I finished A Darker Shade of Magic.  I just couldn’t not read it, you know?  After I wrote my review for ADSOM (check it here) I quickly realized how much I wanted to continue on with the series. So I did. It was REALLY good.

In fact,

AGOS summed up: angsty | magic everywhere | holy crap | WOW PLOT TWIST | WOW ROMANCE HAS BLOOMED | is that a dress? | CLIFFHANGERRRRRR!!?!

That’s all for non spoilers everybody, get outta here if you haven’t read this book yet.

What I Enjoyed

• There is still fantastic dialogue! I think it was even better than last time.  The storyline and characters were so much more interesting because we got past most of the slow world building in the first book.  Schwab really gets into the characters and we see sides of them of them that we didn’t see in the first book.

“What are you supposed to be?” he asked.

There was a glint of mischief in Rhy’s eyes as he bowed with a flourish. “A commoner, of course.”

Kell shook his head. It was a superficial ruse. Despite the clothing, Rhy’s black hair was glossy and combed, his fingers dotted with rings, his emerald coat clasped with pearlescent buttons. Everything about his registered as royal. “You still look like a prince.”

“Well, obviously,” replied Rhy. “Just because I’m in disguise, doesn’t mean I don’t want to be recognized.”

• I absolutely LOVED the conversation Kell and King George the IV had about religion.  It’s not often you see this type of conversation in fiction and it’s not often it’s done well.  I’m not sure why this hit home for me, but I feel like there was an underlying message here.

“I didn’t say that,” answered Kell. “I suppose you could say we worship magic. That is our higher power.”

“That’s heresy.”

Kell raised a brow, his hand slipping from the tomb’s lid. “Your Majesty, you worship a thing you can neither see nor touch, whereas I worship something I engage with every moment of every day. Which is the more logical path?”

George scowled. “It isn’t a matter of logic. It is a matter of faith.”

Faith. It seemed a shallow substitution, but Kell supposed he couldn’t blame the Grey-worlders. Everyone needed to believe in something, and without magic, they had settled for a lesser god. One full of holes and mystery and made up rules.

• I also loved the pirate privateer/thief adventure Lila was on at the beginning of the book.  I especially loved our hunky Captain Alucard Emery.  I totally envisioned him to be EXACTLY like my favorite character from Once Upon a Time, Caption Hook*.  Not only is this man captain of a ship, magical as hell, AND a Royal…

*UGGGGHHHHHH, yes please. Just look at the GIF, he’s perfect. @_@

..He’s also a past lover of Rhy Maresh (feel the fangirling below)

“You’ve come for the tournament,” said Rhy, making small talk.

Alucard pursed his lips at the attempt. “Among other things.”

Rhy hesitated, unsure what to say next. With anyone else, he would have had a flirtatious retort, but standing there, a mere stride away from Alucard, he felt short of breath, let alone words.  He turned away, fidgeting with his cuffs. He heard the shine of silver and a moment later, Alucard snaked an arm possessively around his shoulders and brought his lips to the prince’s neck, just below his ear. Rhy actually shivered.

“You are far too familiar with your prince,” he warned.

“So you confess it, then?” He brushed his lips against Rhy’s throat. “That you are mine.”

HOLY GOD THIS WAS SO UNEXPECTED AND I’M FLAILING AND THIS SCENE WAS PERFECT.  I WAS SO DONE WHEN I READ THIS AND MY SHIP HAS OFFICIALLY CHANGED. SCREW RHYLA, ALRHY FOR LIFE.*

*PS this is now high competition for my highest rated SS couple, Malec.

Other Thoughts

• KELL + LILA THOUGHHHHH. Why did it have to take so long for them to finally face each other? Also, DRESS?! LILA PUT ON A DRESS TO SEE KELL. It was so sweet and yet Kell had to have a tantrum and get all angry.
• KELL WAS ARRESTED BY ORDER OF HIS “FATHER”. Holy fuck!  I’m not really surprised, but it added a huge nail in the Maresh+Kell family coffin. He grew up with these people and now they suddenly treat him like an outsider.  He SAVED their son from death and yet the King and Queen are PISSED about it.  It will be so interesting to see what happens in the next book.

What I Didn’t Really Like

Only one thing, but I didn’t like how Lila decided to enter the tournament with other experienced wizards.  She literally came into Red London four months ago and suddenly has all these magical abilities that were on par with experienced wizards.  Delilah is great but does she really have to be that great?  I guess it would have been worse if Schwab had her actually win the tournament*.

*thank freaking god she didn’t

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So I figured instead of doing a formal review for sequels, I would just talk about things I liked/disliked.  This book was really awesome, I very much preferred it over the second. .

What did you think of AGOS?

REVIEW | A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria Schwab

(This is probably the 207475th review you’ve seen of this book but that’s ok).

A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab

Pages: 384
Published: February 27th 2015
Publisher: Titan Books
Genre: Fantasy
Goodreads Rating: 4.04/5
My Rating: 4/5

*Avoid the quotes if you really don’t want ANYTHING revealed because they’re a little spoiler-y, otherwise you are safe, friend. You are safe. They make me laugh though, so if you want to maybe giggle, read on*

Synopsis:

Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit.

Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London – but no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her ‘proper adventure’.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive — trickier than they hoped.

After turning down reading V. E. Schwab’s A Darker Shade of Magic, I finally decided to broaden my horizon and delve into her work.  I won’t lie, it was pretty good.  And YES YES, I know, I should have read it earlier. What can I say? I’m a procrastinator.

Anyways, I guess I should start off by telling you I really do recommend this book.  In fact, if you’re like me and choose books based off the cover* and don’t like this cover**, still go ahead and read this book.

*Ahem

**Confession: I really don’t like the covers and that’s why I didn’t read this series until now

Quick reasons why you should read it (if you haven’t):

1. The plot was pretty awesome
2. Alternate universes
3. PIRATES, MAGIC, ADVENTURE!
4. Perfect dialogue that ISN’T awkward and weird.

The plot was rich and well thought out.  Instead of a single world, A Darker Shade of Magic takes place throughout multiple London’s.  Kell, our main character, describes each London as having a color – grey, red, white, and black – as a way to separate them*.  Grey London is our version of London and is run by King George, completely bare of magic and extremely dull.  Red London is a place where magic exists and is ruled by the Maresh family, this is where Kell is from.  White London is a place of tyranny and violence, where civilians fight and kill for power over magic.  The last London, Black London, fell.

*This is literally the easiest way to remember, because I was kind of confused at first as to what was what

“You don’t know anything about these worlds,” [Kell] said, but the fight was bleeding out of his voice.

“Sure I do,” countered Lila cheerfully. “There’s Dull London, Kell London, Creepy London, and Dead London,” she recited, ticking them off on her fingers. “See? I’m a fast learner.”

I really loved the characters.  Instead of doing my typical BLAH BLAH *this is them*,  I decided to broaden my sweet horizons and also show you how I pictured each character (because BAES).  Schwab did an excellent job not making each character super tacky and her dialogue was on point.

Delilah Bard is now one of my favorite female characters because she isn’t one of those WOE-IS-ME weak characters*. Lila is hard.  Lila is a fighter. Lila is a thief. Lila is a woman who relies on herself and survives.  Lila seeks a great adventure in Grey London, and finds it with the help of Kell.  She’s also pretty hilarious.  She’s also gender fluid (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and chooses to dress in male clothes and have cropped hair.

*thank freaking God

She poked at the skin under her eyes, tugged at her cheeks, ran a finger along her lips.  It had been a long time since anyone had called her pretty.

Not that Lila wanted to be pretty. Pretty wouldn’t serve her well. And lord knew she didn’t envy the ladies with their cinched corsets and abundant skirts, their falsetto laughs and the ridiculous way they used them. The way they swooned and leaned on men, feigning weakness to save their strength.

Why anyone would pretend to be weak was beyond her.

Kell Maresh is our other MC who belongs to Red London and is an Antari, meaning he can travel between the London’s.  He is responsible for delivering messages between all the royalty, and we get a great insight as to how he does this in the beginning of the book*.  In each world he is considered royalty but seems to think of himself as an outsider in the Maresh family.  Regardless of his insecurity, he loves his family and will do anything for them.

*Fun fact: At first, I actually envisioned Kell as a younger version of Willy Wonka because of his magical coat of coats in coats.

**I also learned from Schwab’s wiki page on him that he’s also a cat person and would be sorted into Gryffindor.  SO FITTING.  Totally makes me love him even more.

Rhy Maresh isn’t necessarily a main character but we see bits and pieces of him throughout the storyline.  He is the Prince of Red London and also Kell’s brother.  He’s a womanizer and acts as a sort of comic relief.  He’s a looker, hence the Brazilian hunk.

“I don’t like the way the guards are looking at me,” she said before glancing up and seeing the prince’s gold eyes on her. “I’m sorry,” she added. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”

“Then what did you mean to do?” challenged Kell.

Rhy held up his hand. “You are surely not an intrusion,” he said, pushing himself up in the bed. “Though I fear you’ve met me rather out of my usual state of grace. Do you have a name?”

“Delilah Bard,” she said. “We’ve met before. And you looked worse.”

Rhy laughed silently. “I apologize for anything I might have done. I was not myself.”

“I apologize for shooting you in the leg,” said Lila. “I was myself entirely.”

Rhy broke into his perfect smile.

*MY SHIP: RHY AND LILA. AKA RHYLA. TELL ME YOU SHIP THEM BECAUSE EEEEEEE.  

There is a fluttering of romance, barely a tickle, barely a whisper.  And I, the romance loving queen, have to say that it was PERFECTLY FINE.  IF YOU’RE READING THIS AND YOU JUST GOT TURNED AWAY BY THIS COME BACK.

Why should I? – says you

WELL, the main focus of this storyline is the adventure and romance would have really dampened everything. Even though our two main characters were male and female, they weren’t forced into a weirdly awkward couple-thing you would see in a typical YA book.  Delilah legitimately doesn’t need no man, and Kell was just… Kell.  Not every hero and heroine needs a significant other to accomplish something, and not every man and woman in REAL LIFE needs someone to complete them.  Characters can be perfectly capable without a significant other, and this storyline proves just that.

Schwab’s comment on Lila: “Lila is not a sidekick, she’s the hero of her own story. She’s not a love interest, and she’s not a plot device. Her purpose isn’t just to please the reader or Kell, it’s to be true to herself, and that self happens to be a total self-serving badass.“

I keep saying this, but I LOVED the dialogue!  This may seem pretty harsh, but some authors who write YA create pretty cringeworthy dialogue.  It’s almost as if they were trying too hard to relate to us* younger folk and don’t realize how tacky it comes off.  Schwab seems to grasp the idea that young people can be snarky, intelligent, diverse, well versed, and interesting.

*LOL I’m 23 but hey, young at heart.

WARNING WARNING SPOILER QUOTE BELOW BUT IT’S SO DAMN FUNNY

“How did you know?” she asked, looking down at the rubble of the queen. “How did you know she wasn’t me?”

Well managed an exhausted smile. “Because she said please.”

Lila stared at him, aghast. “Is that a joke?”

Kell shrugged slightly. It took a lot of effort. “I just knew,” he said.

“You just knew,” she echoed

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So, my final thoughts? I really enjoyed it.  It wasn’t a 5/5, but a 4/5.  I was a little “meh” with the actual world building because I wanted to get into the good stuff.  I will absolutely be continuing on with the series and I hope you pick it up.

If you’ve read the book, how’d you like it? Do you ship anyone?  How’d you like my choices for the characters, or did you envision other people as a better fit?  I’m trying to open up my reviewing style (because god damn stagnant reviews bore me, and they probably bore you too).

Do You Have a Twitter?

I just made one and am searching for fellow book bloggers!  Leave me your name below or you can follow me @lepetitecat 🙂

TOP 5 WEDNESDAY | Most Recent Additions To My TBR

1. My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand.  To be honest, I’m most excited about Gifford.

Edward (long live the king) is the King of England. He’s also dying, which is inconvenient, as he’s only sixteen and he’d much rather be planning for his first kiss than considering who will inherit his crown…

Jane (reads too many books) is Edward’s cousin, and far more interested in books than romance. Unfortunately for Jane, Edward has arranged to marry her off to secure the line of succession. And there’s something a little odd about her intended…

Gifford (call him G) is a horse. That is, he’s an Eðian (eth-y-un, for the uninitiated). Every day at dawn he becomes a noble chestnut steed—but then he wakes at dusk with a mouthful of hay. It’s all very undignified.

The plot thickens as Edward, Jane, and G are drawn into a dangerous conspiracy. With the fate of the kingdom at stake, our heroes will have to engage in some conspiring of their own. But can they pull off their plan before it’s off with their heads?

2. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff.  Doesn’t this synopsis sound awesome?  I really can’t wait to get my hands on this.

Destined to destroy empires, Mia Covere is only ten years old when she is given her first lesson in death.

Six years later, the child raised in shadows takes her first steps towards keeping the promise she made on the day that she lost everything.

But the chance to strike against such powerful enemies will be fleeting, so if she is to have her revenge, Mia must become a weapon without equal. She must prove herself against the deadliest of friends and enemies, and survive the tutelage of murderers, liars and demons at the heart of a murder cult.

The Red Church is no Hogwarts, but Mia is no ordinary student.

The shadows love her. And they drink her fear.

3. Dawn Study by Maria V. Snyder.  NO QUESTION I am so freaking excited for this book ~flailing forever~.

Despite the odds, Yelena and Valek have forged an irrevocable bondand a familythat transcends borders. Now, when their two homelands stand on the brink of war, they must fight with magic and cunning to thwart an Ixian plot to invade Sitia.

Yelena seeks to break the hold of the insidious Theobroma that destroys a person’s resistance to magical persuasion. But the Cartel is determined to keep influential citizens and Sitian diplomats in thralland Yelena at bay. With every bounty hunter after her, Yelena is forced to make a dangerous deal.

With might and magic, Valek peels back the layers of betrayal surrounding the Commander. At its rotten core lies a powerful magicianand his latest discovery. The fate of all rests upon two unlikely weapons. One may turn the tide. The other could spell the end of everything.

4. And I Darken by Kiersten White. Oh the woes of siblings becoming rivals.

No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwyla likes it that way.

Ever since she and her brother were abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman sultan’s courts, Lada has known that ruthlessness is the key to survival. For the lineage that makes her and her brother special also makes them targets.

Lada hones her skills as a warrior as she nurtures plans to wreak revenge on the empire that holds her captive. Then she and Radu meet the sultan’s son, Mehmed, and everything changes. Now Mehmed unwittingly stands between Lada and Radu as they transform from siblings to rivals, and the ties of love and loyalty that bind them together are stretched to breaking point.

The first of an epic new trilogy starring the ultimate anti-princess who does not have a gentle heart. Lada knows how to wield a sword, and she’ll stop at nothing to keep herself and her brother alive.

5. The Scribe by Elizabeth Hunter. I enjoyed Elizabeth’s writing in her series Elemental Mysteries, so I was really excited to see that there was another series by her!

Hidden at the crossroads of the world, an ancient race battles to protect humanity, even as it dies from within.

Ava Matheson came to Istanbul looking for answers, but others came looking for her. A reckless warrior guards her steps, but will Malachi’s own past blind him to the truth of who Ava might be? While ancient forces gather around them, both Ava and Malachi search for answers.

Whispering voices. Deadly touch. Their passion should be impossible… or it could be the only thing that will keep them alive.

THE SCRIBE is the first book in the Irin Chronicles, the new paranormal romance series from Elizabeth Hunter, author of the Elemental Mysteries.

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I actually found 4/5 books from others here on WordPress, so I am too excited!  These books sound so gooooood.  What’s new on your TBR?  Do any of the books I listed appeal to you?

TOP TEN TUESDAY | Ten Books I Enjoyed Set Outside of the US

Sup y’all.  I’m still reading HP but am TOO EXCITED because Cursed Child comes out next week and you best know I’ll be reviewing it ASAP.  My TBR list for August is so exciting and I cannot wait! 🙂

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$8.53

$15.29

$7.47

1. Harry Potter by JK Rowling:  I promise guys, I won’t keep using HP but hello it’s probably the best fiction series of all time and it takes place in the UK…ish.
2. Intertwine by Nichole Van: Perfect for all of you searching for some romantic historical fiction.  This takes place in the UK.
3. The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare.  One of my all time favorite series!  This takes place in England and is SO GOOOOOD.  If you want a love triangle to end you this will do the job ;).
4. The Rose & The Dagger (The Wrath & The Dawn) by Renee Abdieh:  This series definitely put me out of my comfort zone.  I had never read a book that took place in the Middle East.  Based off A Thousand and One Nights, this is a really great read!
5. Saving Wishes by G. J. Walker-Smith: My favorite contemporary series!  It takes place in Tasmania primarily, but later on goes to different settings all around the world.  I really loved Charli and Adam.  I believe this book is free on iBooks!
6. Soundless by Richelle Mead:  A quick and easy read that takes place in China.  I loved the setting (isolated village on a mountain), completely unique when compared to other books!
7. Ruby Red by Kersten Gier: Taking place in Germany, this is an EXCELLENT fantasy read.  These were also adapted into movies, if you’re curious you can find the first one dubbed online.  #buydon’tsteal #notadvocatingstealing #justlettingyouknow
8. Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren: Swoon, another historical romance.  This takes place in modern day Italy and medieval Italy (think around the Black Plague).  This is an awesome series that sounds really tacky in the synopsis.  Give it a chance if you’re curious.
9. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke.  Another lovely series taking place in Italy(?)… Europe? Something like that.  If you have not read this series you DEFINITELY need to.  Read the synopsis via the link provided, it’s fantastic.
10. The Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor: This wasn’t my favorite storyline but I loved the setting – Prague!  It was so well done and interesting.

Hope you guys liked my list n_n.  Comment your link below I would love to see your versions! 🙂

THIS OR THAT THURSDAY | Do You Lend Out Your Books?

Hell no.

Guys, look.. If you’re considering lending your books to people, STOP AND REEVALUATE EVERYTHING.  I have lost some of my favorite books to close friends who never bothered giving them back.  I lost Hunger Games, Perks of Being a Wallflower, Harry Potter, Twilight (HEY IT MATTERED TO ME THEN), etc.  It’s the worst!

Then it’s this awkward limbo of,

Me: “Hey so you have my book from like 7 years ago”

Person: “Oh really?  I think it’s my book”

Me: “No… no.  It’s definitely mine.”

Person: “Oh right! I remember now, I guess it is”

Me: “…Yeah…. So…. I want it back….”

Person: “After all this time?”

Me: “Always“

See what I did there? Yeah, never got the book back.  I do believe sharing is caring but when people keep your stuff? Ultimate regrets.

TOP 5 WEDNESDAY | Books I Want Sequels For

OH GOOD PUGS I LOVE THIS TOPIC.  I’ll make this short and sweet because I have so much to dooooooo ~flailing forever~.

1. Harry Potter series by JK Rowling.  Is this even a question?  I feel like Rowling could have definitely pulled a Cassandra Clare or Maria V. Snyder and made the HP world a chronicle and just followed different characters throughout time.  I really think that she would have done an exquisite job, and that’s partially why I’m SO excited for the “American” wizarding world.
2. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater.  Okay, this standalone book should have DEFINITELY had a sequel.  It was so. freaking. good.  At least teenage-me thought so.
3. The Queen of All That Dies (+2 sequels) by Laura Thalassa.  I just wanted more.  I really loved the MC and King Montes and I really loved the progression of their love and the character development.
4. Tiger’s Curse (book 5 in Tiger’s Curse series) by Colleen Houck.  Yes, hello, Ms. Houck?  WHERE THE F IS TIGER’S DREAM?  DO I HAVE TO TURN 30 BEFORE IT’S RELEASED? THIS THING HAS BEEN A “SECRET PROJECT” FOR 30947504973 YEARS.
5. Saving Wishes by G. J. Walker-Smith. Truth be told, this contemporary book (YES, I actually read and loved a contemporary book) is already part of a series but I loved the characters and the world.  It truly was a romance that went through hell and it was just so well done to me.

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And that’s it!  If you did a T5W send me over your link.  If you didn’t, what books would you like to see have a sequel/prequel?

TOP TEN TUESDAY | Ten Facts About Me

Happy Tuesday everybody! Since I didn’t melt today, I thought I’d participate in TTT.

1. I’ve been doing a lot of research into paganism.  I was indoctrinated into Catholicism as a child (and I have never been spiritual in general) so this has been a very interesting read.
2. I really enjoy vintage shopping for my Etsy shop!  I can usually find really cute things people will like and it’s awesome.
3. I am a glam planner.  I really like using stickers all throughout my planner and I enjoy making my own stickers.  I was actually thinking of producing a sticker shop but the market is so flooded nowadays!
4. This year has been #projectme. I’m trying to take care of myself and change things I don’t like or have always bugged me.  I’m trying to get out there.. even if it means doing stuff by myself.  This Thursday I’m going to am music festival by myself and I’m okay with it.  I started going to the gym, I’ve started Invisalign, I cut my hair off.  The time is now, and I think that I’m finally doing me.
5. Growing up makes me nervous.  I have always been aware of my age and the significance of it, maybe even more so than others.  When I was 11, I knew I made an adult decision that would affect my entire life.  When I was 12, I recognized that 18 was old.  When I was 18, I recognized that I was at my “old” threshold.  When I turned 20, I got a little freaked.  I miss my younger years and wish I could have stayed there.
6. I reported someone for suspicious actions yesterday and it was pretty upsetting.  I won’t go into detail, but it was pretty emotional trying to figure out what to do.
7. I am a firm believer that evil never wins, and I think that has transcended into my particular dislike of anti-hero books.
8. I was never bullied until college and it was something I couldn’t escape from until I transferred schools.  It resulted in me having social anxiety, something I still struggle with to this day.
9. Half of my generation is getting married and having (some have had!!!!) kids.  The other half is playing Pokemon Go and living with parents, suffocating from debt.
10. Although I question the existence of God, I firmly believe that ghosts and spirits and the devil exist.  There are just some things that are utterly unexplainable and some things that should never be dabbled with.

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Okay, I really tried to be as random as possible.  I hope this fills all your nosy whims ;). If you have any more questions, let me know!  I’m more than open to talk to y’all about life and whatnot n_n

TAG | The Secret Life of a Book Blogger

Helllooooo everyone!  Here’s a quick post for you.  I’m still reading Mark of Cain but I’m hoping I can finish it soon and review it!  I TAG YOU ALL.

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HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A BLOGGER?

About seven months now, but five if you aren’t counting my two month hiatus n_n.

AT WHAT POINT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL STOP BLOGGING?

Maybe when I stop reading.  :]

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BLOGGING?

I really like seeing different people’s perspectives.  I also love that I find out about really great books through other bloggers.

WHAT IS THE WORST THING?

Having nothing to post about!

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE OR FIND PICTURES TO USE?

Honestly, I’ve seen some beautiful pictures on here.  However I don’t have time for that, hehe.

WHO IS YOUR BOOK CRUSH?

OH FUCK.

I don’t know.

Oh god.

The pressure.

Rhysand.

Maybe Valek?

No, Rhysand.

BUT ROWAN.

No, no, Rhysand.

WHAT AUTHOR WOULD YOU LOVE TO HAVE ON YOUR BLOG?

I would absolutely love to have a conversation with SJ Maas

WHAT DO YOU WEAR WHEN YOU WRITE YOUR BLOG POSTS?

Whatever I have on!  It’s always comfy though 🙂

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO PREPARE A POST?

However long necessary.  It took 2 hours for me to do a post once, and 15 minutes for another.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE BOOK BLOGGER COMMUNITY?

I love it!  It’s great seeing so many like minded individuals sharing their love of books.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ONE SHOULD DO TO GET A SUCCESSFUL BLOG?

 

Be creative.

Be friendly.

Be interactive.

THIS MONTH IN YA | July Releases (HP OBVS + others)

After skimming my TBR shelf, I quickly realized that I have very few “New Release” books.  And I feel like as a book blogger, this is a pretty big problem. Right? Right.  SO, in order to get my butt back into knowing what’s going on in the YA-world I thought I would make a new series on my blog called “This Month in YA” which will be released near the beginning of every month.

For all you contemporary lovers, I’m more of a fantasy reader but I will try to include some contemporary in my lists!

This list is obviously just books I thought sounded interesting, if I find anything new I will update!

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JULY 5th

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

There’s no such thing as safe in a city at war, a city overrun with monsters. In this dark urban fantasy from author Victoria Schwab, a young woman and a young man must choose whether to become heroes or villains—and friends or enemies—with the future of their home at stake. The first of two books.

Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters. One who can steal a soul with a simple strain of music. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate, who’s just been kicked out of her sixth boarding school and returned home, August jumps at it. But Kate discovers August’s secret, and after a failed assassination attempt the pair must flee for their lives.

The Memory Book by Lara Avery

They tell me that my memory will never be the same, that I’ll start forgetting things. At first just a little, and then a lot. So I’m writing to remember.

Sammie was always a girl with a plan: graduate at the top of her class and get out of her small town as soon as humanly possible. Nothing will stand in her way–not even a rare genetic disorder the doctors say will slowly start to steal her memories and then her health. What she needs is a new plan.

So the Memory Book is born: Sammie’s notes to her future self, a document of moments great and small. It’s where she’ll record every perfect detail of her first date with longtime crush, Stuart–a brilliant young writer who is home for the summer. And where she’ll admit how much she’s missed her childhood best friend, Cooper, and even take some of the blame for the fight that ended their friendship.

Through a mix of heartfelt journal entries, mementos, and guest posts from friends and family, readers will fall in love with Sammie, a brave and remarkable girl who learns to live and love life fully, even though it’s not the life she planned.

JULY 7th

And I Darken by Kiersten White

No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwyla likes it that way.

Ever since she and her brother were abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman sultan’s courts, Lada has known that ruthlessness is the key to survival. For the lineage that makes her and her brother special also makes them targets.

Lada hones her skills as a warrior as she nurtures plans to wreak revenge on the empire that holds her captive. Then she and Radu meet the sultan’s son, Mehmed, and everything changes. Now Mehmed unwittingly stands between Lada and Radu as they transform from siblings to rivals, and the ties of love and loyalty that bind them together are stretched to breaking point.

The first of an epic new trilogy starring the ultimate anti-princess who does not have a gentle heart. Lada knows how to wield a sword, and she’ll stop at nothing to keep herself and her brother alive.

JULY 12th

Hollow City (Graphic Novel) by Ransom Riggs

After fleeing an army of terrible monsters, Jacob Portman and his peculiar friends find themselves lost at sea, but the only person who might be able to get them ashore safely, their illustrious headmistress Miss Peregrine, is stuck in the form of a bird! Hoping to find a way to get Miss Peregrine back to normal–or as normal as a peculiar can get–the children journey to London. But no matter where they go, trouble lurks after them… Cassandra Jean’s evocative visuals once again work seamlessly with Hollow City’s vintage photographs and Ransom Rigg’s twisting fantasy narrative to make for a wholly immersive reading experience for fans of the original novels, fans graphic novels, and fans of reading great stories alike!

JULY 19th

Torn (Wicked Saga #2) by Jennifer Armentrout

Torn between duty and survival, nothing can be the same.

Everything Ivy Morgan thought she knew has been turned on its head. After being betrayed and then nearly killed by the Prince of the Fae, she’s left bruised and devastated—and with an earth-shattering secret that she must keep at all costs. And if the Order finds out her secret, they’ll kill her.

Then there’s Ren Owens, the sexy, tattooed Elite member of the Order who has been sharing Ivy’s bed and claiming her heart. Their chemistry is smoking hot, but Ivy knows that Ren has always valued his duty to the Order above all else—he could never touch her if he knew the truth. That is, if he let her live at all. Yet how can she live with herself if she lies to him?

But as the Fae Prince begins to close in on Ivy, intent on permanently opening the gates to the Otherworld, Ivy is running out of options. If she doesn’t figure out who she can trust—and fast—it’s not only her heart that will be torn apart, but civilization itself.

JULY 31st

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a new play by Jack Thorne, is the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. It will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on 30th July 2016 

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband, and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes darkness comes from unexpected places.