STARS ABOVE! I Never Want This Series To End!!!

Title: Stars Above
Author: Marissa Meyer
Narrator(s): Rebecca Soler
Series: The Lunar Chronicles, a collection of short stories
Length: 9 hrs 58 mins
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: February 2, 2016
Source: purchased hardcover for shelf and audiobook for immediate immersion =)
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

The enchantment continues....

The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies?

With nine stories—five of which have never before been published—and an exclusive never-before-seen excerpt from Marissa Meyer’s upcoming novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.

--

The Little Android: A retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” set in the world of The Lunar Chronicles.
Glitches: In this prequel to Cinder, we see the results of the plague play out, and the emotional toll it takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch….
The Queen’s Army: In this prequel to Scarlet, we’re introduced to the army Queen Levana is building, and one soldier in particular who will do anything to keep from becoming the monster they want him to be.
Carswell’s Guide to Being Lucky: Thirteen-year-old Carswell Thorne has big plans involving a Rampion spaceship and a no-return trip out of Los Angeles.
The Keeper: A prequel to the Lunar Chronicles, showing a young Scarlet and how Princess Selene came into the care of Michelle Benoit.
After Sunshine Passes By: In this prequel to Cress, we see how a nine-year-old Cress ended up alone on a satellite, spying on Earth for Luna.
The Princess and the Guard: In this prequel to Winter, we see a game called The Princess
The Mechanic: In this prequel to Cinder, we see Kai and Cinder’s first meeting from Kai’s perspective.
Something Old, Something New: In this epilogue to Winter, friends gather for the wedding of the century...

I'd read a couple of these short stories previously, but I am beyond excited to have them all together in one collection, especially with some new stories, too! I'll be getting a copy of this book signed tomorrow at the Stars Above tour stop here in North Texas tomorrow, but I couldn't wait to read it, so I downloaded the audiobook earlier this week. =)

The Keeper - 4 stars
If you've read the Lunar Chronicles in full, you'll already know how Cinder and Scarlet's paths came to cross. But this story does more to add to Scarlet's grandmother's backstory than to either of the girls'. And from it, you can determine that Scarlet is basically the spitting image of her grand-mère, personality-wise, anyway. It is because of Michelle Benoit that Scarlet is so prepared for what's to come...

Glitches - 4 stars (originally reviewed 12/2/12)
Short and sweet, this prequel story shows us Cinder's introduction to her new family and not only her reaction but their reaction to her. I think it was pretty evident in Cinder that Adri was not happy with Cinder's addition to her family, but Glitches presents a little more background as to why.

I thought it was rather endearing to see how Cinder was acclimating not only to her new role in a family that mostly objected to her presence but also to her new status as a cyborg. She can't remember the accident or much of anything of her life before coming to New Beijing, but it's obvious to her how very different she is now. I loved Cinder's character in the first full-length novel in this series, and it hurts my heart to see how her situation in that novel came about.

The Queen's Army - 4 stars (originally reviewed 12/2/12)
I would be fine if we never encountered the Lunar queen again in this series, but I know that's not going to happen. Having the ability to compel others to bend to one's will makes a person a very worthy adversary, and so I know we have much more of Levana's presence to tolerate. Though, I do hope she gets her comeuppance, especially now that I know the full extent of the atrocities she is willing to commit.

I did like the introduction to Z in this short story, and I hope that his character is featured prominently in the upcoming Scarlet. Possibly as Wolf? Scarlet is a retelling of Red Riding Hood, so it would make sense. And after reading this short story, it seems totally possible that Z becomes known as Wolf, who is described in the synopsis of Scarlet as "a street fighter" who "clearly has a few dark secrets of his own".

Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky - 5 stars
Oh, I just knew Carswell Thorne was a good guy, even when he pretended he was just that rakish guy who got by on his good looks and charm. Sure, his scams are criminal -- criminal but funny -- even as a teenager, but Cress isn't the only girl he played knight-in-shining-armor to her damsel-in-distress for. Thorne has long been my favorite character in this series, and I could honestly read a whole other series based on his exploits alone. A ne'er-do-well who's actually a swoonworthy rogue with a heart of gold? YES, PLEASE.

After Sunshine Passes By - 4 stars
*sniff* I think Cress' backstory was probably the hardest to get through. I mean, none of the heroines of the Lunar Chronicles has had an easy go of it, but Cress is just so isolated and...sad. And to see her at nine years old, cast off and unwanted, left to man a satellite ON HER OWN. I knew Sybil was a monster, but she is just. So. HEARTLESS. The song was sweet, though. o_O

The Princess and the Guard - 5 stars
I'll admit, I was very intrigued to see how Winter and Jacin fared through their childhoods into young adulthood on Luna, and I was not disappointed. I loved getting a peek at Winter before she stopped using her Lunar gift and succumbed to the crazy. And Jacin was as devoted in those early days as we find him later in the series, though definitely a little more easy-going. Of course, becoming part of the Royal Guard changes a man, especially when the queen is Levana. Even so, this story was full of the feels and left me even more enamored of the friends-to-more couple from Winter.

The Little Android - 4 stars
I think I started reading this one when it was up on Wattpad, but I definitely don't remember finishing because I would remember THE SADS. I mean, that's some serious heartbreak right there. And I feel like this short story stays truer to the text of the original tale than any of the other characters arcs. Which is probably why it's so devastatingly brutal: the original fairy tales were not the bearers of sunshine and rainbows that the Disney versions are.

The Mechanic - 4 stars
I'm not always sure I'm going to like getting another character's perspective on a scene I've already read, but this short and sweet story of Cinder and Kai's first meeting from Kai's point-of-view is adorable. I always wondered what made Kai come back himself and ask Cinder to the ball...what intrigued him so much about Cinder. And now I know and love his character a little bit more now. Not that I didn't like him before...he just wasn't my first choice for Cinder. :P

Something Old, Something New - 5 stars
Wow. This story made it all worth it. I like to pretend I'm an unfeeling monster sometimes, but I was seriously tearing up while listening to this one. And it wasn't even necessarily who was getting married, but just the fact that the gang's all together again and doing what they do best: being there for each other. I've really loved going on adventure after adventure (or dangerous mission after dangerous mission, if we want to get technical), and I'm really going to miss this cast of characters. I'm supremely glad that Marissa Meyer decided to give them this send-off...they deserve it as much as her readers do.

From my previous reviews of the audiobooks, just in case you needed further convincing: Sooo worth it to hear Rebecca Soler bring these characters to life again. I don't think I'd like these books half as much if it weren't for her narration. That's a lie. I'd still love them, but it just wouldn't be as much fun because I wouldn't make Cinder sound as feisty in my head, Kai wouldn't seem nearly as regal, Scarlet wouldn't have that slight French accent, and Thorne, well, okay, Captain Carswell Thorne will always be that swoonworthy rogue. But you get the picture. Some audiobooks are just books that are being read to you via some unknown narrator, but the Lunar Chronicles on audio is like having a movie going inside your head. It's impossible not to put yourself in the story, to imagine everything as it's happening and hope for the best right along with the rest of the crew. Rebecca Soler's narration of this series is pure magic, and just. So. Much. Fun.

Stars Above features some old stories and some new ones and backstories galore, plus a sneak peak at the author's new stand-alone, Heartless. And it's worth every penny. I'm dragging my husband to the signing and I was telling him about the series, how the author rewrites favorite fairy tales and then weaves them so that each heroine is a apart of the others' stories, and he was quite intrigued. I'm sure his agreeing to go with me had nothing to do with the Thai food I promised him afterward. ;0) This will be my first time meeting the author and I am SO VERY EXCITED!!!

GIF it to me straight:

About the author:

Marissa Meyer lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and three cats. She’s a fan of most things geeky (Sailor Moon, Firefly, color-coordinating her bookshelf . . .), and has been in love with fairy tales since she was given a small book of them when she was a child. She may or may not be a cyborg. Cinder is her first novel.

Find Marissa:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

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Labels: audiobooks, beautiful covers, fairy tales, fantasy, favorites, lunar chronicles, macmillan, marissa meyer, must-read, novellas, retellings, reviews, sci-fi

{Mini Reviews} WOLF BY WOLF and STARFLIGHT

Title: Wolf by Wolf
Author(s): Ryan Graudin
Narrator(s): Christa Lewis
Series: Wolf by Wolf, book #1
Length: 10 hrs 31 mins
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Publication Date: October 20, 2015
Source: purchased audiobook
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?

So, I wasn't all that interested in this book when it came out last year and everyone was talking about it. Which is weird because I always interested in studying and reading about World War II. But people just kept talking about this book, and now there's a novella releasing and a sequel, and I figured, why the hell not? I've got 7 Audible credits to use up. :P

And it was legitimately good. I'm also VERY glad I went the audio route because the narrator was much more adept at the accents than I could ever dream of being. And because of the narrator, I felt every bit of Yael's fear of discovery, her loss of self as she became someone else.

Yael's character is something else. Revisiting her pain through flashbacks and following her along the race gives you so much insight into her character. And though there's not a ton of action, the pacing is still quick, making you feel as if you're racing toward an unseen ending, too. And then there's Luka, whom I absolutely must know more about.

I'm glad I finished this book knowing that another is in the works. It was a satisfying ending but definitely one that left me wanting more.

About the author:

Ryan Graudin was born in Charleston, South Carolina, with a severe case of wanderlust. When she’s not traveling, she’s busy writing and spending time with her husband and wolf dog. She is the author of the All That Glows series, The Walled City, and Wolf by Wolf.

Find Ryan:

Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

Title: Starflight
Author(s): Melissa Landers
Narrator(s): Amanda Dolan
Series: Starflight, book #1
Length: 9 hrs 44 mins
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Publication Date: February 2, 2016
Source: purchased audiobook
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Life in the outer realm is a lawless, dirty, hard existence, and Solara Brooks is hungry for it. Just out of the orphanage, she needs a fresh start in a place where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. She's so desperate to reach the realm that she's willing to indenture herself to Doran Spaulding, the rich and popular quarterback who made her life miserable all through high school, in exchange for passage aboard the spaceliner Zenith.

When a twist of fate lands them instead on the Banshee, a vessel of dubious repute, Doran learns he's been framed on Earth for conspiracy. As he pursues a set of mysterious coordinates rumored to hold the key to clearing his name, he and Solara must get past their enmity to work together and evade those out for their arrest. Life on the Banshee may be tumultuous, but as Solara and Doran are forced to question everything they once believed about their world—and each other—the ship becomes home, and the eccentric crew family. But what Solara and Doran discover on the mysterious Planet X has the power to not only alter their lives, but the existence of everyone in the universe...

Oh, man, this book was so much fun! I've never seen Firefly -- I know...I know -- but this story was so action-packed and funny that I can't imagine sci-fi fans, and fans of the show alike, not enjoying it to some extent. It was one of those stories where Heaven help the person who interrupts me while I'm listening to it because violence may result. And I'm only kind of kidding.

There was banter and spaceships and a one-legged captain (and his pet sugar bear) and a wedding and explosions and death and conspiracies and space chases and pirates and anything and everything your little sci-fi loving heart could want. And there was not one but three groups of bad guys chasing the Banshee as they worked their way to Planet X and did they mean business!

Also, a hate-to-love romance. One of my favorites because it has to be a slow-burn...unless hate-sex is involved, in which case all bets are off. Not the case here, though. Doran has been ruthless where Solara is concerned, and it was nice to see the tables turned for a bit, even if it didn't last all that long. They made great strides toward becoming friends and then something more in this book, and I really liked how the author developed their relationship.

Starflight was just such a captivating listen from start to finish. I've listened to several novels narrated by Amanda Dolan, but this is by far my favorite. And though a sequel is planned, I am inordinately happy with how this first book ended. This was just an all-around FUN book.

About the author:

Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives outside Cincinnati in the small town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.” For more information or just to say hello, visit www.melissa-landers.com.

Find Melissa:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: alternate history, audiobooks, disney hyperion, hachette, historical fiction, melissa landers, mini reviews, reviews, ryan graudin, sci-fi, starflight, wolf by wolf

{WOW} Bound by Blood and Sand by Becky Allen

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selection is...








's Pick:

Title: Bound by Blood and Sand
Author: Becky Allen
Series: untitled series, book #1
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: October 11, 2016

A new YA fantasy series in the vein of Tamora Pierce, exploring class and power. The novel follows a slave girl in a desert world where the magical Well is running dry; when she discovers a source of magic, she may have the power to save the water and her world, but returning the water means saving her slavers.

I already know that I need this book. I've only read one of Tamora Pierce's series but it was amazing and I'll forever be indebted to those who told me to read it. And so I am doing myself a favor by putting this book at the top of my TBR. For October. But I'm probably not going to be able to stop thinking about it until then...


What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!

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Labels: becky allen, bound by blood and sand, fantasy, grabby hands, magic, random house, waiting on wednesday (wow)

{Promo} STARFLIGHT Launch Blitz & Giveaway

The following is promotional material provided by Melissa Landers in celebration of the release of Starflight today. I haven't had the opportunity to read this book yet, but after loving her previous two books, it is high on my TBR list.

Hey there, booklovers!

I’m author Melissa Landers, and I’m thrilled to announce the release of STARFLIGHT, the first in a brand new sci-fi series from Disney-Hyperion. I originally pitched this story to my editor as “Overboard” (one of my favorite romantic comedies) meets “Firefly” (an amazing show that was tragically cancelled after one season). STARFLIGHT follows the misadventures of Solara Brooks, a penniless felon who indentures herself to her high school nemesis, Doran Spaulding, in exchange for passage to a new world. But when Doran’s memory is temporarily erased, Solara convinces him their roles are reversed—that she’s the master and he’s the servant—and leads him onto a renegade spaceship, where intergalactic shenanigans ensue. STARFLIGHT is very different in tone from the Alienated trilogy, but the story is still filled with all the things I love: humor, heart, and adventure.

What do reviewers have to say?

“Get ready for blast-off! Action-packed and utterly addictive, nobody writes like Melissa Landers. A smart, satisfying romance set in a vividly detailed world, Starflight was just plain fun!” – New York Times bestselling author Amie Kaufman

“Teens will be bracing themselves during the swashbuckling action scenes. A great choice for fans of raw sci-fi action, reminiscent of the lawlessness presented in the television series Firefly.” – School Library Journal

“A lively tale of romance, space pirates, conspiracy, and made (as opposed to genetic) families.” – Booklist

If you like your sci-fi adventure served with a side of romance, I hope you’ll pick up a copy of STARFLIGHT today. It’s now available in stores and online.

Title: Starflight
Author: Melissa Landers
Series: Starflight, book #1
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Publication Date: February 2, 2016
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

Life in the outer realm is a lawless, dirty, hard existence, and Solara Brooks is hungry for it. Just out of the orphanage, she needs a fresh start in a place where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. She's so desperate to reach the realm that she's willing to indenture herself to Doran Spaulding, the rich and popular quarterback who made her life miserable all through high school, in exchange for passage aboard the spaceliner Zenith.

When a twist of fate lands them instead on the Banshee, a vessel of dubious repute, Doran learns he's been framed on Earth for conspiracy. As he pursues a set of mysterious coordinates rumored to hold the key to clearing his name, he and Solara must get past their enmity to work together and evade those out for their arrest. Life on the Banshee may be tumultuous, but as Solara and Doran are forced to question everything they once believed about their world—and each other—the ship becomes home, and the eccentric crew family. But what Solara and Doran discover on the mysterious Planet X has the power to not only alter their lives, but the existence of everyone in the universe...

To celebrate my book birthday, I’m offering one lucky winner a STARFLIGHT swag pack, complete with custom nail wraps, bookmarks, and a mini poster! The giveaway is open internationally. Due to sweepstakes laws, entrants must be 18 years or older to participate.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck, and happy reading!

About the author:

Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives outside Cincinnati in the small town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.” For more information or just to say hello, visit www.melissa-landers.com.

Find Melissa:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: aliens, beautiful covers, disney hyperion, giveaways, melissa landers, promotions, sci-fi, starflight

TELL THE WIND AND FIRE Because Heartbroken Doesn't Even Begin to Describe It

Title: Tell the Wind and Fire
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Series: stand-alone
Publisher: Clarion Books
Publication Date: April 5, 2016
Source: from publisher via Edelweiss
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Tell the Wind & Fire is about a young girl called Lucie who lives in a New York very different from the New York we know: the city is torn between two very different kinds of magic, and Lucie’s own family was torn apart years ago by that conflict. Lucie wears magic rings and carries a burden of guilt she can’t share with anyone.

The light in her life is her sweetheart boyfriend Ethan, but it turns out Ethan has a secret too: a soulless doppelganger created by dark magic, who has to conceal the face identical to Ethan’s with a hood fastened by a collar nobody but a Light magician with magical rings can take off… and who introduces himself to both of them by, for reasons nobody can understand, saving Ethan’s life…

Sarah Rees Brennan novels are always a breath of fresh air for me, but SRB retelling A Tale of Two Cities? Brilliant. I loved it from start to finish, and even knowing how it would end, I still feel as heartbroken as the first time I read the original story. Which I now want to pick up again since it's been ages. (And since Audible recently had it on sale and I may have picked it up on a whim.) My love for Sydney Carton's character has been renewed and seems even more justified to me as an adult, sobbing for a similar character imbued with his sense of self-sacrifice.

So far as retellings go, this one was pretty great. It bore just enough resemblance to the original tale to call itself a retelling, but it was also vividly different and very much its own story when all was said and done. The underlying message is still present and the need for revenge is still very much ingrained in the story. But while the characters do mirror their counterparts from A Tale of Two Cities to some extent, I feel that the author explored their hidden depths and growth as characters in a way that made them wholly unique to this story.

As with SRB's Lynburn Legacy series, the magic took a back seat to the battle between good and evil at times in this story. Even so, it doesn't take magic to make Lucie Manette a force to be reckoned with. When the story begins, Lucie seems to be a meek slip of a girl, but as the story progresses, we see hints of what she's done to get to this point and how far she'll go to protect those she loves. Her life thus far has been tragic and full of loss, especially compared to that of her boyfriend Ethan who's lived a charmed life. But just as Lucie isn't what she seems, neither is Ethan. His own secret is about to change everything.

I always expect some level of predictability when it comes to retellings, but there were times when I was reading and I'd forget that this story was based on another. It felt uniquely SRB...I don't know any other way to say it. If you've read her books before, you'll probably understand that sentiment. (Otherwise, you should rectify that immediately.) This book was a little less sassy and sarcastic than the author's previous works, but it was no less witty or well-written.

I'm glad I hadn't re-read A Tale of Two Cities prior to picking this up because I would have inevitably spent too much time comparing the two stories and not enough time just enjoying this beautiful book for what it was. That said, I do hope that reading this story might entice those who are hesitant to read the classics to give the original story a chance. It's one of my favorites, even though it's one of those they forced us to read in school. But even having a general idea of the story because of the book that inspired it didn't prepare me for how much this novel was going to hurt. Heartbroken doesn't even begin to describe it.

GIF it to me straight:

About the author:

Sarah Rees Brennan is Irish and currently lives in Dublin. For a short stint, she lived in New York and became involved with a wide circle of writers who encouraged and supported her, including Holly Black and Cassandra Clare. She has developed a wide audience through her popular blog, mistful.livejournal.com, where she writes movie parodies, book reviews and some stories.

Find Sarah:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter

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Labels: a tale of two cities, beautiful covers, classics, favorite authors, grabby hands, houghton mifflin harcourt, retellings, reviews, sarah rees brennan, tell the wind and fire