What I've Been Reading Lately {11.4.16}

So, I haven't been posting much lately. Like, not much at all this week, which is becoming a pretty normal thing. And when I have posted, it's been an obligatory promotional post for a book I received for review. But that's not to say I haven't been reading...because I have. A lot. So I'm going to try to catch you up on just what I've been reading lately with this post. More on why I've gone to this format here. I'm going to separate these into categories because that's just what works best for me.

Without further ado, here's what I've been reading lately...

F A N T A S Y  |  S C I - F I

Archivist Wasp - What a strange, strange book. I liked it. It was like nothing I've ever read before. Well, that's not quite true. I felt like it drew from many other sources but was just so unique in execution and lack of romance that it felt all new. But it's definitely one of those stories that's not going to be for everyone. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Frost Like Night - Eh. I really enjoyed the first book, but the rest of the series just didn't keep the momentum of Snow Like Ashes. Or it just lost me along the way. Like, I was listening, but in that far off way you listen to a teacher lecture, not really taking in anything. This book just could not hold my attention. It wasn't bad and it ended well, I suppose, but I was still kinda bored? I don't know...I didn't love the second book either so I guess I was just really hoping for more from this finale. Also, I should have read the previous book because I kept getting details and characters confused. :( 🌟🌟🌟

Ivory and Bone - I could tell from the beginning - even on audio - that I wasn't going to enjoy this, and yet I forced myself to finish the book. I love Pride & Prejudice. I love retellings. I even loved the setting -- there were mammoths for crying out loud! And yet I did not like this book. Maybe because of the setting, I expected more than just romance. I did appreciate the scheming and the retelling aspects and the gender-swapping of a favorite story, but it was just so very dull and boring and maybe I actually did fall asleep in the middle of it and that's how I managed to make it to the end? Ugh. Remind me to go with my gut next time... 🌟🌟

Lotus and Thorn - Why is no one talking about this book? It was awesome...full of intrigue and kickass women and boasting of a post-apocalyptic world that felt genuine and realistic. AND it's a retelling of Fitcher's Bird by the Brothers Grimm. And so far, it seems to be a stand-alone, which I love because it kind of ends on the perfect note. 🌟🌟🌟🌟


The Marked Girl - It's never a good sign when the whole time you're listening, you're thinking When is this going to be over?. There was nothing inherently wrong with this novel. It was just another case of nothing really new here mixed with I'm so boooored. Which is sad when I'm essentially using an audiobook to stave off boredom while I'm working. :( 🌟🌟

The Forgetting - Wow. I was already feeling the love for this author after my re-read of Rook, but Sharon Cameron has solidified her place as a favorite. I just love that feeling when I'm reading, like I know I'm missing something, but I can't quite put my finger on it, only to be surprised again and again. Plus, she writes some of the BEST ships! I am really going to make a point of checking out her backlist titles ASAP. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Bitterblue - I've had the HC of this book on my shelf since it released. And yet, I haven't been able to bring myself to read it, until now...and only because my library finally got the audiobook version. And basically my feelings boil down to one thing: if the author wasn't going to give us any more of a resolution than this, why even bother writing a third book? I mean, it was fine...political and a little bit romantic with just a touch of fantastical, but it's not I was hoping for from the end of this series. Obviously, I would have appreciated a lot more time with Katsa and Po, but I understood that this was Bitterblue's part of the story. And that's all well and good, except why do I still feel like I'm waiting on the next book? From now on, whenever I get the urge to revisit this world, I'll just pretend only the first two books exist. 🌟🌟🌟

S E A S O N A L    R E A D S

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown - Vampire stories are not among my favorites these days, but this one I have to read or listen to it this time of year...every year. If not more often. It's creepy. It's seductive. And holy cow, that kiss! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Blood and Salt - Ugh. I hate when I don't realize a book is the first in a series until I get to the very end and there aren't any more pages to turn. Especially a book about a cult that most definitely reads like Romeo & Juliet meets Children of the Corn. Not quite as creepy as I'd hoped, but there's definite potential here. 🌟🌟🌟

The Scorpio Races - Pretty soon, I'm going to run out of alternate editions to review on Goodreads, as many times as I've re-listened to this book. This was my annual 1st of November re-read but my 8th time overall. And every single time, I'm ready to start over the second I'm finished. SEAN AND PUCK GIVE ME LIFE!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

C O N T E M P O R A R Y

Interference - Politics, Texas high school football, and Jane Austen. Those are three things I never thought I'd want to read about in the same book, but here we are. I loved First and Then which was a Pride & Prejudice retelling that also involved football. Because of that, I gave this book a chance, being that it's an Emma retelling, which is my second favorite Austen novel. And I kind of adored it. I also really loved the small town atmosphere...how no matter how long you're gone, it'll always feel like home. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Not much in the way of contemporary these last couple of weeks, and gasp, NO historical romance. What has become of me?!? :P  Have you read any of these? What did you think? Find any new titles to check out? ;0)

So, what do you think about this new format of mine? It took a long time to get this post together, but it was a lot less time than trying to review each of those books individually, especially now that I've got the format down and can add to it with each new read/listen. It's actually made "reviewing" kind of fun again because I just jot down my immediate thoughts and move on.

Until next time! Happy reading!

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Labels: discussion, mini reviews, reviews, what i've been reading lately

{Promo} BLOOD FOR BLOOD Release Day Blitz & Giveaway

Yay!!! It's Blood for Blood release day and it's finally here and I can't wait for you all to read it and become overwrought with emotion like I was. =) If you thought Wolf by Wolf was amazing, you ain't seen nothing yet. Prepare your heart and gird your loins. This is one book you do not want to miss.

About the book:

Title: Blood for Blood
Author: Ryan Graudin
Series: Wolf by Wolf, book #2
Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
Publication Date: November 1, 2016
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The action-packed, thrilling sequel to Ryan Graudin's Wolf by Wolf.

There would be blood.
Blood for blood.
Blood to pay.
An entire world of it.

For the resistance in 1950s Germany, the war may be over, but the fight has just begun.

Death camp survivor Yael, who has the power to skinshift, is on the run: the world has just seen her shoot and kill Hitler. But the truth of what happened is far more complicated, and its consequences are deadly. Yael and her unlikely comrades dive into enemy territory to try to turn the tide against the New Order, and there is no alternative but to see their mission through to the end, whatever the cost.

But dark secrets reveal dark truths, and one question hangs over them all: how far can you go for the ones you love?

This gripping, thought-provoking sequel to Wolf by Wolf will grab readers by the throat with its cinematic writing, fast-paced action, and relentless twists.

About the previous book:

Title: Wolf by Wolf
Author: Ryan Graudin
Series: Wolf by Wolf, book #1
Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
Publication Date: October 20, 2015
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule the world. To commemorate their Great Victory over Britain and Russia, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito host the Axis Tour: an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The victor is awarded an audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor's ball.

Yael, who escaped from a death camp, has one goal: Win the race and kill Hitler. A survivor of painful human experimentation, Yael has the power to skinshift and must complete her mission by impersonating last year's only female victor, Adele Wolfe. This deception becomes more difficult when Felix, Adele twin's brother, and Luka, her former love interest, enter the race and watch Yael's every move. But as Yael begins to get closer to the other competitors, can she bring herself to be as ruthless as she needs to be to avoid discovery and complete her mission?

Not only is this series super exciting and gasp-worthy, it's also a lot of fun to photograph. :D

About the author:

Ryan Graudin grew up in Charleston and graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in Creative Writing in 2009. She is the author of All That Glows and The Walled City. She resides near Charleston with her husband and wolf-dog.

Find Ryan:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram | Tumblr

5 winners will receive a finished copy of WOLF BY WOLF, US Only.
Ends on November 15th at Midnight EST!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Labels: alternate history, book blitz, favorites, girl power, giveaways, hachette, historical fiction, ryan graudin, wolf by wolf

{Blog Tour} They Did It Again: GEMINA by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff - Review & Giveaway

Title: Gemina
Author: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Narrator(s): Carla Corvo, Steve West, MacLeod Andrews, P.J. Ochlan & a full cast
Series: The Illuminae Files, book #2
Length: 12 hrs 34 mins
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 18, 2016
Source: ARC and audio provided for review by publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

The highly anticipated sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller that critics are calling “out-of-this-world awesome.”

Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.

The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.

Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.

When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.

But relax. They’ve totally got this. They hope.

Once again told through a compelling dossier of emails, IMs, classified files, transcripts, and schematics, Gemina raises the stakes of the Illuminae Files, hurling readers into an enthralling new story that will leave them breathless.

Sorry, I just really like the formatting of these books. I'd write my whole review like that, but I think I'd have a massive headache by the end. Or you'd have one, and then where would we be?

The gist of that over there being: this sequel is as awesome as Illuminae, if not more so. I'm always wary of companion series because I fall hard for the characters in the first book every time. Way. Hard. So, for a duo of authors -- as amazing pants as these two are -- to make me love the characters in their second novel just as much is kind of unheard of.

I received both an ARC and an audiobook*** of Gemina for review, and being the visual person that I am, I followed along the text while I listened. Because with a book like this, you can't just hear an E X P L O S I O N on the audio without seeing it, not the way this series is presented. This sequel is just like Illuminae, told through a dossier of emails, text-like chats, and even files from AIDAN. You didn't think you'd seen the last of him IT, did you?

If you thought Kady and Ezra had a struggle on their hands in the previous book, what with a BeiTech ship on the warpath and a deranged AI taking charge, you ain't see nothin' yet. In this installment of the Illuminae Files, the characters are subjected not only to more BeiTech goons out for blood but also an alien life form that none of them are prepared for. All I can say is, Poor cow cows.

Our heroine this time around may be a pampered princess whose daddy runs Heimdall station, but Hanna's more dangerous than she looks. And she reminded me a lot of Lilac from These Broken Stars. Except harder to kill. Nik is a good guy with a bad boy rep, but he set his sights on Hanna long ago. He's good in a tough spot and also hard to kill. Which makes their pairing in this novel all the more fun. Add in Ella, his wise-hacking cousin and Hanna's smokin' hot boyfriend -- narrated by the incomparable Steve West on the audiobook, YUM! -- plus some seriously ruthless BeiTech mercenary-types who want to take them all out, and you've got a legit cast of characters.

Lots of action, too...and laughs and sobs and all the feels, really. Just like the first book. But more so. And with a psychedelic angle. Ha, you'll see what I mean. There is nothing I don't like about this book or series, but my favorite part might just be the action as reported by that analyst. That guy is hysterical. And he's got a British accent on the audio, which makes it even funnier.

Seriously. I don't care if you're not a fan of sci-fi or haven't read anything by these authors before. YOU NEED THIS SERIES IN YOUR LIFE. It's equal parts clever and funny and action-packed and soul-crushing and you are seriously missing out if you don't give it a chance. It's rare that I can say a sequel lived up to my expectations, but that's exactly what Gemina does. So go forth and grab this book and then live long and prosper.

GIF it to me straight:

***Slight spoiler if you're listening to the audio version*** OH! There is one thing I should mention about the audio: because I'm so familiar with narrators, I was able to figure out one thing much sooner than I probably should have. No biggie; it just left me incensed on behalf of some of the characters a lot earlier in the book. If you don't listen to much audio, you probably won't even notice. ;) And I think it would be much harder to guess if you're reading the text version.

About the Authors:

Amie Kaufman is the New York Times bestselling co-author of the Starbound series. Jay Kristoff is the award-winning author of the Lotus War series. Collectively, they are 12’5” tall and live in Melbourne, Australia, with two long-suffering spouses, two rescue dogs, and a plentiful supply of caffeine. They met, thanks to international taxation law, and stuck together due to a shared love of blowing things up and breaking hearts.

Find Amie:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Tumblr

Find Jay:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram

One winner will receive a finished copy of Gemina. US only. Prizes provided by Penguin/Random House.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Labels: amie kaufman, audiobooks, blog tours, favorite authors, favorite narrators, favorite series, favorites, giveaways, jay kristoff, penguin, reviews, sci-fi, the illuminae files

VASSA IN THE NIGHT: Gorgeous Cover, Weird Book, Ideal Halloween Read

Title: Vassa in the Night
Author: Sarah Porter
Narrator(s): Madeleine Maby
Series: stand-alone
Length: 10 hrs 47 mins
Publisher: Tor Teen
Publication Date: September 20, 2016
Source: ARC received from publisher, purchased audiobook
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

In the enchanted kingdom of Brooklyn, the fashionable people put on cute shoes, go to parties in warehouses, drink on rooftops at sunset, and tell themselves they’ve arrived. A whole lot of Brooklyn is like that now—but not Vassa’s working-class neighborhood.

In Vassa’s neighborhood, where she lives with her stepmother and bickering stepsisters, one might stumble onto magic, but stumbling out again could become an issue. Babs Yagg, the owner of the local convenience store, has a policy of beheading shoplifters—and sometimes innocent shoppers as well. So when Vassa’s stepsister sends her out for light bulbs in the middle of night, she knows it could easily become a suicide mission.

But Vassa has a bit of luck hidden in her pocket, a gift from her dead mother. Erg is a tough-talking wooden doll with sticky fingers, a bottomless stomach, and a ferocious cunning. With Erg’s help, Vassa just might be able to break the witch’s curse and free her Brooklyn neighborhood. But Babs won’t be playing fair…

What a lovely, weird little book. It was so different and unique and definitely something you have to be in the right mood or frame of mind for. But it was definitely MY kind of book. :D I'm all about the weird. It's also a retelling of sorts, but as I'm not very familiar with the original story, I can't attest to how closely this novel follows the tale of Vassilissa the Beautiful. But I can say that I'm very much in the mood for more Russian folklore now because of this book.

I love stories of fair maidens trying to outwit spiteful, underhanded tricksters. Enter sarcastic, unflinching Vassa as the fair maiden and old, seemingly harmless Babs as the trickster, and I was hooked. I really enjoyed reading to discover the connection between these two and where Erg, the faithful wooden sidekick fit in. Lest you be worried, a talking wooden doll is probably the least creepy thing about this book.

Honestly, I loved Vassa and Erg separately, but it was their banter and every encounter that made this story fun. This book could have simply been menacing and creepy, but those two together brought a hint of levity to the story that was sorely needed. Especially since there were other factors that made this novel just completely bizarre, including the fact that the store dances upon a pair of chicken legs, there are hands sans bodies that govern the store, and the security for the store (besides the severed hands, obvi) is a man-who-is-not-a-man-at-all riding a circuitous route around the store.

You discover all of these things very early on and they're not even the weirdest part of the story. Yep, it gets even weirder. For example, how all of these things are linked and why there's a witch's curse to begin with. There's little romance and a whole lot of dismemberment, so it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but I kind of liked how nonchalant the book was about all of that.

And even though I had a copy from the publisher, I waited to listen to this story because there are just some stories you know are going to be better on audio, and this is one. Madeleine Maby gets every bit of Vassa's snark right and her voices for the other characters are kinda perfectly creepy. This was actually the ideal novel to read (or listen to) right before Halloween.

GIF it to me straight:

After this book, I really shouldn't have been surprised at how easy it was to find a dancing house GIF.

About the author:

I write stories that seem to me to be quite true enough for all practical purposes. Among them are VASSA IN THE NIGHT, THE LOST VOICES TRILOGY, and the forthcoming WHEN I CAST YOUR SHADOW and TENTACLE AND WING. Realism makes little sense to me and I experience more truth in the fantastic. I always have new novels underway, both Young Adult and Grownup/ Literary/ Speculative. When not writing my own weird stuff, I can often be found leading creative writing workshops with amazing young NYC public-school writers via Teachers & Writers Collaborative. Or I might be drawing, or gardening, or wandering wraithlike through the streets. I live in Brooklyn, land of mystery, with my awesome husband Todd and our two cats, Jub Jub and Delphine.

Find Sarah:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram

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Labels: audiobooks, beautiful covers, favorites, magical realism, retellings, reviews, sarah porter, tor, vassa in the night

{The Weekend Update} 10.22.16

So, since my end-of-the-week post isn't just about what I got in my mailbox or on my Kindle each week -- though that is a big part of it, I won't lie -- I decided to change up the title and intro a bit.  I might tweak the format a bit over time, but for the most part, it'll contain the same stuff: stuff I got, stuff I did, and stuff that's coming up on the blog.  Plus, I get to use the awesome GIF you see here and blow kisses to all the people who sent me lovely books and bookish things.  Oh, and I've started linking up to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer since I'm not using a specific meme title anymore.

I missed posting a Weekend Update last week and kinda fell off blogging altogether this week, so today's post will be a catch up...not that there's all that much to catch up on, lol.

Anyway, here's what I scored this week...

Purchased:



I received my first-ever Owlcrate this week! I've already read the book and LOVED it. I'll share my unboxing next week, just to avoid spoilers for those who haven't gotten their boxes yet. :D

Library:



Rook was a phenomenal re-read via audio. Highly recommend. The Problem with Forever was subpar, even for JLA. I Woke Up Dead at the Mall was less adorable and more touchy-feely than I was expecting, but I enjoyed it. And I'm going to read Wax as one of my spooky reads closer to Halloween. :D


So, that's my haul. =) What fabulous bookmail did you get this week?

The Week in Review:

Reviews:

• What I've Been Reading Lately - 10.21.16

Current Giveaways:

Check back soon!


Promotional/Discussion Posts:

• #WWW - Thick as Thieves by Megan Whalen Turner
• My Moment of Zen

Currently Reading:

I'm trying to get my scary read on, can you tell? :P My #otspsecretsister got this for me last Halloween and I didn't get to it in time, so now it's on this year's spooky reads TBR. :D Corn fields be creepy, yo...





Currently Listening:

I don't even know what re-read/listen I'm on this time, but it's a must for me this time of year. Or whenever I can't find anything new to listen to, lol. It's just that good. Plus, that kiss...OMG!!!

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Labels: in my mailbox (imm), stacking the shelves, the weekend update