~Can't Wait Wednesday: Wildcard (Warcross #2)~

                Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Wishful Endings.  Basically books that are not yet out that we are dying to get our hands on.  This week’s pick is:

Wildcard (Warcross #2) by Marie Lu

Out:  9/18

From Goodreads:

                Emika Chen barely made it out of the Warcross Championships alive.  Now that she knows the truth behind Hideo’s new NeuroLink algorithm, she can no longer trust the one person she’s always looked up to, who she once thought was on her side.

                Determined to put a stop to Hideo’s grim plans, Emika and the Phoenix Riders band together, only to find a new threat lurking on the neon-lit streets of Tokyo.  Someone’s put a bounty on Emika’s head, and her sole chance for survival lies with Zero and the Blackcoats, his ruthless crew.  But Emika soon learns that Zero isn’t all that he seems—and his protection comes at a price.

                Caught in a web of betrayal, with the future of free will at risk, just how far will Emika go to take down the man she loves?

Why I’m Waiting:

                 So I really loved Warcross (review).  The way it ended….I just need to know more.  I need to know what will happen next.  I have some theories but mostly just some wild hopes.  I honestly don’t know what to expect and that has me both anxious, nervous and excited! 

                What are you waiting on?  Tell me below what you think of this title and leave a link to your CWW as well so I can check it out.

The Midnight Star (The Young Elites #3)

                Hello happy readers!  So the weather in Georgia has been a bit crazy going from a few days in the 80's then a sudden drop and it's 52 inside my house right now.  I prefer the cold because I love my fireplace and blankets and getting cozy but I could do without the sudden shifting back and forth my sinuses have no idea what is happening lol.  That said I hope you all have a wonderful weekend ahead.  I got way off schedule on my last days off because Jessica Jones season 2 dropped on Netflix and I found it as it dropped and thought it would be a good idea to binge all 13 episodes in one sitting instead of sleep so…tonight at work should be fun.  But for now let me share my thoughts on a series ender I was finally able to finish up this year:  The Midnight Star (The Young Elites #3) by Marie Lu.  I previously reviewed the first two titles The YoungElites & The Rose Society.

Rating:  5 Stars

                We have been on a wild ride with Adelina.  She was new to the world of powers and she quickly grew into her powers.  She suffered and she fought.  Now she is queen and she is set to take on the rest of the world.  She had good intentions but over time her cruelty grows and the darkness within her has begun to spiral out against even her.  The past is not that far behind her as she is forced to face old wounds and risk herself to save ever Elite including the world as a whole.  The Roses and Daggers must journey together despite the past pains for the sake of the world. 

                We have been on a journey with Adelina and over time she has gone from a girl who has been through a very harsh and tough life that you wanted to succeed.  When she was cruel it made sense given her history and what she was dealing with.  Overtime she grew more powerful and her anger and cruelty grew to exceed what was needed tipping over the point making her a real villain of the story.  She took the whole revenge thing very seriously.  I felt bad while reading because part of me totally understood her reasoning for some of it.  Her hatred for those who treated the marked badly or differently, turning the tables on them I understood in some way but I also understood it wasn't something that could last because it just flipped the script instead of fixing the problem.  She was also very quick to be suspicious and lash out.  Again I understood given what she went through and knew but it grew each time. 

                I think while this story is very fantasy I could see similarities to mental health in them.  As her own darkness turned on her it became clear that she is also the victim of her story as it was inside her pushing her.  She could know something but then her mind would somehow turn things around until she was no longer sure of things.  That is something I think many people have dealt with and can relate to.  For me I wasn't sure if I would be able to really grow to love Adelina again as I did in the beginning but as this story played on I really did start to feel for her more.  I loved seeing the Roses and the Daggers together again.  It was both hard and amazing to see them come together again both suspicious of the other.  Danger is on all sides it seems but the world is at stake and that puts them in the same boat….at least for the time being. 

                I enjoyed getting to see all my favorite characters and see their interactions.  I loved seeing how the different relationships melded together.  Everyone has changed through the series and watching as the different characters react and grow over time both separate and together was beautiful.  I don't know how much more I can say about the story without reaching into spoilers but to say that for the end…I had the feels.  I was not 100% sure how I felt about it right away but really had to think on it after I had processed it a bit more.  I was expecting my heart to be broken but then it happened in a way that just ripped it out even more roughly than I planned for.  Lots of tears and feels but in the end it was a fitting end to the story that we started telling in book one.  I enjoyed the store Lu wrote for us with these Elites and the world that they sought to save even when it wasn't always good to them. 

                Until next time…

Batman: Nightwalker (DC Icons #2)

                Hello happy readers!  I'm a bit behind today I had some serious sleep issues the last few days with appointments during the day (aka my normal sleep time on nights) and am just now finding a free moment for the day.  So today I have my thoughts on another Marie Lu title and the next DC Icons story, Batman:  Nightwalker (DC Icons #2) by Marie Lu.  Just a heads up my good friend is hosting a giveaway for a signed copy of this title on her blog, Bogdana the Booknerd open for a few more days!  I previously reviewed the first DC Icons book :  Wonder Woman:  Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo though they are both in the "series" they are not connected but by the DC universe.  

Rating: 4 Stars

                Bruce Wayne before he was Batman.  Coming into his trust fund and finding some trouble.  Being one of the city’s elites is dangerous with the Nightwalkers about.  Money also can’t get you out of everything and after a run-in with the police Bruce must do community service…at Arkham Asylum.  Inside he sees and hears police interrogate an inmate of his age who seems to be baffling them all.  More so when she chooses to speak to him.  Madeleine is a mystery and he is determined to unravel it.  She is brilliant and dangerous and while he is trying to figure her out, Bruce may be giving her everything she needs on him. 

                I really liked this story.  I enjoyed that it was different sort of origins story.  It’s teenage years / coming into adult hood.  It’s not him becoming Batman but more how he handles his life and what could easily be seen turned into that life.  He has friends and normal issues to deal with on top of the more serious issues that come with being rich and powerful and having so much expected of you.  I enjoyed getting to see this side of him.  His friends in particular.  I really liked the idea of him having friends because as much as I love Alfred, and I do, a teenage boy needs more friendship than in his guardian.  Bruce is struggling with some things and it had showed and had real consequences. 

                So he is put to work in Arkham enduring attitudes as well as real menial physical labor.  Bruce is smart.  He has the money and the company to have all the newest gadgets and such but he understands how they work with a sharp mind which is something I enjoyed.  I liked the back and forth, cat and mouse, with Madeline.  You can never be sure what is going on; who has the upper hand.  Madeline is a very different and complex type of criminal and I really love Lu’s take on her as the villain.  She isn’t easy to pin down and that really created a complex character image of this girl. 

                I really got caught up in the mind game and trying to figure things out just like Bruce.  The idea of the Nightwalkers and what they were doing.    The overall pacing and suspense of the book was on par.  It was a rather quick listen really and a pretty short book.  I enjoyed this look at Bruce Wayne.

                Until next time…

Warcross (Warcross #1) & Signed Copy Giveaway

                Hello happy readers.  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  I know I did.  I got to go up and visit a fellow blogger friend, Bogdana the Booknerd, where we attended the Marie Lu event and then got to do out Christmas.  This is progress last year we didn't get to do Christmas until March so big steps!  We also got the chance to discuss our plans for revamping our reading group, Perpetual YA Bookworms and hope you will join us this year.  That said the Marie Lu event was one of the main reasons for the trip as she had the release of the new Batman:  Nightwalker (DC Icons #2) but also mid last year she also had the release of Warcross (Warcross #1) both of which I have read and very much enjoyed.  So having finished Warcross before the event and my Twitter poll on which one to get for a giveaway was at a tie I went with Warcross.  The giveaway will be at the bottom of the post with all the details.  First my thoughts on the book itself.

Rating:  5 Stars

                Warcross isn't just a game but a way of life.  The ten year obsession that spans the world is a place of escape from reality.  It's also a way to make a profit.  Hacker struggling to get by Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down players who bet illegally.  Like most things the world is competitive and not always easy.  Needing quick cash fast Emika risks a hack of the opening game of the international Warcross Championships, only she accidently glitches herself into the game and becomes an overnight sensation.  Not exactly subtle.  Convinced she's going to jail Emika is surprised when instead she gets a job offer and a wild card spot to this years tournament.  Warcross creator and young billionaire Hideo Tanaka wants her to play but also help discover a security problem, much like the one she exploited when she glitched in.  Swept up in the fame and fortune of this world she quickly uncovers much less glamorous plot that would have major consequences for all of Warcross. 

                Emika is in a difficult spot trying to make it in the world.  Things are not easy and despite how hard she tries her past has put a bit of a damper on her ability to make ends meet.  So after a series of disappointments she makes a split second decision to try and make a play to help herself.  And her anonymity goes out the window as everyone suddenly knows who she is.  So when the Warcross company contacts her….a lot….she isn't surprised.  What does surprise her is the offer to fly her to headquarters and offer her a job rather and punishment for her breach.  Even more amazing is that she gets to talk to, and is on the way to meet, Hideo Tanaka, Warcross creator and boy genius who she has had a crush on since she first started coding.  The job seems straight forward: she'll participate in the game and get all the perks of being a player in the tournament but she is also to work from within to try and find this security breach.  She is on a bounty hunt with much higher stakes and the prize is well over any bounty she's took on before.  But hunting in the shadows is a bit more difficult than she originally thought.

                Emika is really easy to like.  She has had a tough run at things and despite her less than legal actions at times she has a good heart.  But as amazing a character as I found her I say the biggest character in the book was Warcross.  It is not only a game but a way of life.  Glasses you wear all the time as everything comes up with a second layer.  This is so amazing and futuristic but at the same time something that we could end up with a version of in our lifetime which is kind of amazing.  The intricate world that is described just blew me away and for a book that isn't super long this is a huge thing.  One I think Lu manages so well in her books.  So yes all the different worlds within Warcross and what it is capable of just astounds me.  So it's almost like adding in fun and vivid characters like Emika and Hideo are just icing on the cake.  Hideo is a rather complex character himself as he is guarded and a bit closed off but we get to see more about him as we get deeper into the story.  He is very focused and likes to build and fix things. 

                Plus that doesn’t even mention her team in the game.  Because the game itself, her cover, is amazing.  All the press and parties sure but the games themselves.  Training to get up to the proper level with everyone being an unknown she is behind on many areas but while it is a cover she doesn't want to let her team down.  I loved that aspect.  That she was good at it but she did have to train, she wasn't just an instant know it all.  She had to learn the higher levels like others who have been playing on them have done.  Plus while I knew it was virtual and all it didn't take away a single moment of action in the games.  As the attacks happen I was just as invested and concerned if they were really injuring one another because the VR is that intense in the book and really pulls you into it.  Everything is very in the moment. 

                 Another thing I found really compelling in this book is the play on right and wrong.  Lu is great at having characters who are on either side but she also has this amazing talent for walking the grey line.  This is something the characters play with yes, but also the idea of technology.  When one side is fighting to destroy it to understand their actions you learn a different side of things than you normally would have.  I liked this back and forth on if technology was good or bad.  Can we as flawed humans really be in charge of something so powerful?  At the signing Lu mentioned something along those lines as well and I found that to be something the resonated in the book and I have no doubt will continue to be a factor in the sequel. 

                I really enjoyed this book and I think it is my favorite book by the author yet and that is saying something since I haven't disliked a single thing.  Still I am super excited for the sequel which at the moment doesn't have a title, cover, or release date, though I do have my suspicions.  That said I am thrilled to have a SIGNED copy of Warcross to giveaway.  All the ways to enter are in the option below and I'll leave it open until Friday 2/2/18.  Good luck! 

                Until next time…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~Waiting on Wednesday~ Batman: Nightwalker (DC Icons #2)

                “Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.  Basically books that are not yet out that we are dying to get our hands on.  This week’s pick is:

Batman: Nightwalker (DC Icons #2) by Marie Lu

Out:  1/2

From Goodreads:

                Before he was Batman, he was Bruce Wayne.  A reckless boy willing to break the rules for a girl who may be his worst enemy.

                The Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City, and Bruce Wayne is next on their list.

                One by one, the city’s elites are being executed as their mansions’ security systems turn against them, trapping them like prey.  Meanwhile, Bruce is turning eighteen and about to inherit his family’s fortune, not to mention the keys to Wayne Enterprises and all the tech gadgetry his heart could ever desire.  But after a run-in with the police, he’s forced to do community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison that holds the city’s most brutal criminals.

                Madeleine Wallace is a brilliant killer…and Bruce’s only hope.

                In Arkam, Bruce meets Madeleine, a brilliant girl with ties to the Nightwalkers.  What is she hiding?  And why will she speak only to Bruce?  Madeleine is the mystery Bruce must unravel.  But is he getting her to divulge her secrets, or is he feeding her the information she needs to bring Gotham City to its knees?  Bruce will walk the dark line between trust and betrayal as the Nightwalkers circle closer.

Why I’m Waiting:

                First it’s Marie Lu.  Second it’s Batman.  Enough said.

                What are you waiting on?  Tell me below what you think of this title and leave a link to your WoW as well so I can check it out.  Also don't forget to check out my giveaway it's open until the 7th!

~Waiting on Wednesday~ Warcross (Warcross #1)

                “Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.  Basically books that are not yet out that we are dying to get our hands on.  This week’s pick is:

Waycross (Warcross #1) by Marie Lu

Out:  10/3

From Goodreads:

                From #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu—when a game called Warcross takes the world by storm, one girl hacks her way into its dangerous depths.

                For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life.  The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit.  Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down players who bet on the game illegally.  But the bounty hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy.  Needing to make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

                Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer.  He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem…and he wants Emika for the job.  With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of.  But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

                In this sci-fi thriller, author Marie Lu conjures an immersive, exhilarating world where choosing who to trust may be the biggest gamble of all.            

Why I’m Waiting:

                 I have really loved her other series so this is an auto-buy for me based on that alone but the cover is awesome and it sounds super interesting.  So yeah I’m totally in! 

                What are you waiting on?  Tell me below what you think of this title and leave a link to your WoW as well so I can check it out.

~Waiting on Wednesday~ The Midnight Star (The Young Elites #3)

                “Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.  Basically books that are not yet out that we are dying to get our hands on.  This week’s pick is:

The Midnight Star (The Young Elites #3) by Marie Lu

Out: 10/11

From Goodreads:

                The thrilling finale to the New York Times bestselling Young Elites series from “hit factory” Marie Lu.

                There was once a time when darkness shrouded the world, and the darkness had a queen.

                Adelina Amouteru is done suffering.  She’s turned her back on those who have betrayed her and achieved the ultimate revenge:  victory.  Her reign as the White Wolf has been a triumphant one, but with each conquest her cruelty only grows.  The darkness within her has begun to spiral out of control, threatening to destroy all that she’s achieved.

                Adelina’s forced to revisit old wounds when a new danger appears, putting not only Adelina at risk, but every Elite and the very world they live in.  In order to save herself and preserve her empire, Adelina and her Roses must join the Daggers on a perilous quest—though this uneasy alliance may prove to be the real danger.

                Bestselling author Marie Lu concludes Adelina’s story with this haunting and hypnotizing final installment to the Young Elites series.

Why I’m Waiting:

                Ummm OMG do you have to ask?  This series has been so different and so dark following Adelina who has morphed through the first two books I’m dying to see where she ends up next!  Plus it’s the last book and with how things left off in The Rose Society I need to know more!!!!

                What are you waiting on?  Tell me below what you think of this title and leave a link to your WoW as well so I can check it out!

Review & Giveaway! The Rose Society by Marie Lu

                Welcome everyone I have something a bit more exciting today and that is my first giveaway of 2016!  That’s right it’s for a signed copy of the very book I’m going to be reviewing!  All the details will be down below in the rafflecopter.  I had to the pleasure of meeting Marie Lu when she visited Little Shop of Stories in Decatur GA (if you’re ever in the area I highly suggest swinging by the staff are great and make my 3.5-4 hr drive to come to their events worth every minute).  While I was there getting my copy of The RoseSociety signed I thought that there would be others who wouldn’t have the chance to meet her and I got a second copy and had her sign it as well so I could do this very thing!  Sorry for the delay but the end of the year with holidays, baking galore, and such it was a bit crazy.  So that’s enough of that, here are my thoughts on The Rose Society by the wonderful Marie Lu.  This is the sequel to The Young Elites (review) so if you haven’t read that yet there will be some spoilers for that one.

Rating:  5 Stars

                This is a villains story.  We pick up where we left off.  Adelina has suffered in life.  She has been treated badly by both family and friends.  All of this has turned her already dark thoughts down the bitter path of revenge.  When she was with the Daggers she was given the name White Wolf, and now everyone shall fear the White Wolf.  She has fled Kenetta with her sister after being cast out by those she thought of as friends.  Now looking for other Elites to create her own army with one goal, to strike down the Inquisition Axis and anyone who stands in her way.

                This book is intense.  Adelina is not a hero.  She is a villain.  Her powers are fed by fear and hate and they have grown out of her control.  There is a quote, a tagline for the book, and it pretty much sums it up and sends shivers down my arms:  Once upon a time, a girl had a father, a prince, a society of friends.  Then they betrayed her, and she destroyed them all.  See!  Adelina has found a small piece of family with her sister and their new journey and understanding, their one rule, never use their powers against one another.  Still the sins of the past still linger in her dark mind.  In The Young Elites, I know she was supposed to be the villain even then, but I still thought of her as the hero trying to do right but being put in pretty rough spots.  The Rose Society I never had any grand delusions that she was the hero and what’s more is that I don’t think there is a hero of the book.  Everyone is dark and devious and has their own agenda.  Still I found many instances where she did ‘hero-like’ things, but as her power rages on and out of control she becomes more sinister.  I was blown away by the depth of it all.  I was constantly unsure what I wanted to happen next.

                I can’t say this enough but wow.  Everything is so expanded upon much more.  We see a wider picture of the world they live in and different characters are moving about like pieces on a game board.  Each hungry for something.  I just loved how intricate everything was.  The way characters are developed is just astounding.  More on the Daggers, even getting to know more about Teren had me on edge and considering my thoughts on that man that is something.  We also get to know new Elites, as Adelina builds her own society, two of my favorites are Magiano and Sergio.  Also while her sister was central in the last book, having been kidnapped and providing motivation, in this we get to know her more as a person and see her power unfold. 

                There is so much happening, the last half of the book was just beyond insane.  I was shocked, happy, mad, and everything in between.  The chaos and confusion of emotions was just spot on.  Marie Lu did a spectacular job in this sequel.  I can’t wait for the next book to come out so I can know more.

                 I’d love to hear your thoughts on the sequel and the series as a whole so let me know in the comments below.   Now for the giveaway, it’s pretty simple.  I’m leaving this open for three weeks and announce the winner on February 1^st.  It's also going to be open internationally so everyone can enter!  So share and spread the love!  I’ll be checking the entries of course but look forward to sending this one out!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo ~Plus pictures from the last couple events!

                Hello everyone!  Okay so first let me say I’m sorry about skipping out on my Friday post.  I ended up staying in Atlanta and extra day and came home Friday and by the time I got home and settled it was much too late to post (and I hadn’t prepared one able to post by phone for Friday, bad planning on my part).  Bright side is I have a review of an amazing book for you today and photos from my trip so score!  Today is the first day back to work in a week so I’m getting back into the swing of things.

                Today I’m going to be talking about another book that the author was on the Fierce Reads team, Leigh Bardugo with Six of Crows.  Now some of you know I only read the Grisha trilogy earlier this year but that I really enjoyed them.  My past reviews can be found here: Shadow & Bone, Siege & Storm, and Ruin &Rising.  Before I go into the review a couple things in case you didn’t know.  Six of Crows does take place in the same world as the Grisha trilogy.  You do not need to read them in order to understand or enjoy Six of Crows but there is mention, very briefly, about a couple of characters from the trilogy and the after events of the trilogy that might spoil you.  That’s all the notes now onto review, I’ll try to keep it as spoiler free as possible.

Rating: 5 Stars

                Six of Crows in short is about a heist.  It’s about so much more but it starts in Ketterdam, the place known for crime.  Our leader is Kaz, criminal prodigy who is offered a HUGE payday for a specific heist.  He can’t do it alone so he assembles his team.  To steal someone from the impregnable location that could ruin the world.  A convict with a thirst for revenge, a sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager, a runaway with a privileged past, a spy known as the Wraith, a Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums, and himself a thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.  All six of them are dangerous in their own right but together they could be the perfect team or a hot mess.  Many different personalities fighting for different purposes.

                I have to say this: I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!  It was amazing!  I was captured from the start.  First can we talk about the dark and beautiful cover…and the black edges?  Are they important to the story?  Okay not really but we all first see a cover and it just adds to the feel of it.  A little added touch.  Plus two maps!  One we are familiar with in the world if you’ve read the Grisha trilogy and one of the Ice Court which is all new and shiny!  Again just added details.

                There are also several POV’s.  We get to see inside the heads of out different team members.  This really adds to the perspective of seeing what is pushing each towards this apparent suicide mission as well as what in their past has brought them to be the criminal they are today. With this you also get to see how one thing can be seen in different ways and how ones prejudices and past experiences influence their thought process.  While sometimes I wanted to stay in certain characters longer, needing answers to my questions, I was just as eager to read from someone else.  I hated putting it down but I stayed with my read-along plans (until the day before I was meeting Leigh and HAD to have it finished).

                 There is so much happening in this story both in the world, the characters, and the overall plot. There is some serious plotting and scheming going on and it.  I’ve heard someone reference Oceans 11 meets Game of Thrones and I love that!  I did get a very master thief vibe.  It was masterful.  With a larger core group of characters for me no one felt under developed.  I felt like I got to know each one of them, some a bit more than others but as this is a new series I hope some will be developed even further in the next book.  Still I knew enough about them to be invested in them.  For those who are familiar with the Grisha world as this story doesn’t take place in Ravka but in a much different place where thoughts on Grisha are vastly different. 

                I can’t really discuss what happens in the story without fear of giving much away so I will simply say you are constantly going.  There is a ton of action from chases, fights, gun fights, and explosions as there is subtle thievery that uses more stealth.  I was never bored.  I just adored this book.  It ends in a way that left me frantically trying to turn the page for more and not finding more.  My most important question at the event was asking when could readers expect to see their next books out?  Mostly it was for Leigh and Josephine as they are involved in series that left you hanging in a serious way but still.  No confirmed dates but Leigh did say her first draft went to her editor so cheers to progress.  Also side note Josephine Angelini stated the next World Walker book should be out next September so an almost date there.

                So my review is finished let’s enjoy some beautiful pictures.  All the ladies were super sweet and engaging.  They were happy to sign books and take photos and jabber for a bit without rushing.  Yay!  Also I didn’t take a photo of it, because I forgot, but Fierce Reads gave out these awesome tote bags with a really long and wide strap!

Bogdana and I waiting to go up!  Plus the penny floor!  How cool!

Our #fiercereads ladies on the couches and introduced by the one and only Kim! <3 Little Shop of Stories

Josephine Angelini & Leigh Bardugo answering some fan questions!

Marie Lu did a chat, reading, and Q&A before signing and photos!

Stuart Woods and his dog Fred #7 (I believe)!  I love dogs so score plus Woods...this was his 61st fiction book out! OMG! Thank you Eagle Eye Books

~Waiting on Wednesday~ The Rose Society by Marie Lu

                “Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.  Basically books that are not yet out that we are dying to get our hands on.  This week’s pick is:

The Rose Society by Marie Lu

Out October 13^th

Once upon a time, a girl had a father, a prince, a society of friends.  Then they betrayed her, and she destroyed them all.

From Goodreads:

Adelina Amouteru’s heart has suffered at the hands of both family and friends, turning her down the bitter path of revenge.  Now known and feared as the White Wolf, she and her sister flee Kenettra to find other Young Elites in the hopes of building her own army of allies.  Her goal:  to strike down the Inquisition Axis, the white-cloaked soldiers that murdered her love, the Crown Prince Enzo Valenciano.

But Adelina is no heroine.  Her powers, fed only by fear and hate, have started to grow beyond her  control.  She does not trust her newfound Elite friends.  Teren Santoro, leader of the Inquisition, wants her dead.  And her former friends, Raffaele and the Dagger Society, want to stop her thirst for vengeance, Adelina struggles to cling to the good within her.  But how can someone be good, when her very existence depends on darkness?

My thoughts:

                I read The Young Elites with a friend, last month and it was amazing.  I wasn’t sure what to expect I hadn’t read a middle grade book (that’s what I heard this was labeled as) since I hadn’t read one in forever!  Not what I would expect kids read but what do I know.  It was amazing and intense.  I was completely floored and I wanted more.  I’m also super happy I didn’t have to wait long for this!  A positive of procrastination! 

                That’s one I’m waiting on.  What are you waiting on?  Share in the comments below!

~The Young Elites by Marie Lu~

                Hi!  Hope everyone had a good weekend.  Mine was somewhat productive but not nearly as productive as I would have liked.  Okay mostly I slept.  I also did some reading which is what is most important.  I also wrote up some reviews to share with my fellow book lovers.  One of those is The Young Elites by Marie Lu.  I had previously read the Legend trilogy and really enjoyed it and was excited to start a new series by her, but after buying it as a new release it sat on the shelf until recently.  It's an ever growing problem but I like to buy books!

Rating: 5 Stars

                Adelina is a survivor of the blood fever.  A decade ago this illness swept through the nation and killed most everyone infected.  Many of the children who survived were left marked, for Adelina her black hair turned silver and she lost an eye (this part always crept me out and made my eyeballs water whenever it is mentioned) and only has a scar.  She is a malfetto, an abomination.  Her father is a cruel type and doesn't take well to her sullying the family name.  Some malfetto's are said to have developed powers/gifts, known as the Young Elites.  We follow as Adelina is thrust into a cruel world and finds herself among the Dagger Society between them and the Inquisition Axis.  Her powers are something different than they have seen.  Something darker, a vengeful heart and a desire to destroy all who cross her.  Her life collides with Enzo, a Young Elite and Dagger member, and Teren, Lead Inquisitor for the Axis, and she must find her place and a way to survive it all. 

                I have to say first that I was completely blown away.  I was also somewhat thrown.  I went into this thinking it was going to be a middle grade book.  I don't know how or why this idea was in my head, I swear I read/saw it somewhere.  It was clear from the start this is so not a middle grade book.  It deals with much darker themes, so if you also had this misconception here is your update.  Adelina was easy for me to like from the start.  She is rough around the edges and bitter but given her life, I thought she was handling herself pretty well.  Throughout the book my affection and understanding did waver here and there but I think that was well done by Lu in the development in the character starts and stops.  No one do straight upward, everyone falls back, it's a work in progress.  Plus it’s never clear if she will be the hero or the villain of the story, which is very intriguing.

                 This story is rather dark.  It deals with the darkness and hate inside of a person and how it can consume them.  I rather liked the darkness of the story, it was a huge change from what I had been expecting.  Also while the book is rather short it packs one hell of a punch.  Struggling along through the mess she finds herself in.  Life dealt her a bad hand for sure but seeing how she deals with it and rises above was enthralling. 

                The world Lu created and flushed out so nicely had me on the edge of my seat, not a place I’d like to visit myself on vacation but a great one to read about from the safety of my PJs.  Adelina might be the main character but she was not the only character by far.  There were so many different personalities among the Young Elites and then add in Teren, who always gave me the creeps.  Everyone is working towards their own end but what made it more interesting is that everyone was operating under the belief that they were doing what is right.  The strength of their convictions makes you think about their cause even if you know they are wrong.  One thing Lu can write for sure is determination and strength of conviction, they have it in spades.

                Overall I really loved this book.  It was a quick one day read that left me wanting more.  Because while I won’t spoil it for you shit hits the fan and it leaves you with your mouth hanging open needing more!  That’s it.  Well and I’m excited I don’t have much longer to wait for the sequel.  I’d love to hear your thoughts on this book and the series so far. 

                Until next time…

~Top Ten Tuesday~ Auto-buy Authors!

               Hello everyone!  It’s Top Ten Tuesday time.  If you don’t know Top Ten Tuesday is just how it sounds, a topic is picked and we put our Top Ten for that in a post and share and check out everyone’s answers.  Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke andthe Bookish.

The top today is a Freebie:  Top Ten Auto-buy Authors!

Richelle Mead - So many amazing series and one of the few on this list I haven't yet had the pleasure to me (hoping to change it at YALLfest this year!) I just love the different worlds she creates and brings to life.

P.C. Cast - I got into the HoN series when I got back into reading again and just couldn't stop the humor she weaves through her story where I just suddenly snort with laughter or have to put it down because wow that was just wow I need a tissue I'm cry laughing. I also adore the way she mixes the different gods and goddesses in her series.

Maggie Stiefvater - Can we just say cover love.  I fell in love with Shiver by the cover and then knew with the way she writes that I would read anything she put out.  She is also a fascinating person who wears so many different hats but is still totally down to earth and hilarious.  

Jennifer L. Armentrout (J Lynn) - I fell in love with the Lux series and just knew I had to read more by her.  I own several of her books, though I am still making my way through them because, seriously, this woman can put out some books.  Between two names I'm constantly buying a new book of hers and trying to catch up.  But they are all so different and fun I like the game!  

Sarah J. Maas - Do I really need to explain.  I jumped on the Throne of Glass bandwagon last year and OMG is all I can say.  It's amazing and then she came out with another series and it also blew me away so whatever she does I'll read. 

Cassandra Clare - The Shadowhunter world is amazing.  I'm so glad when she started this that she knew she had many different series to tell in the same world.  Each one is fun and I just love how some of the characters overlap.   

Ink Monster - Technically it's a publisher but the authors work together and have several series that are just amazing so anything they put out I buy!  Christina Bauer & Aileen Erin They are amazing.  I am so glad I found them on NetGalley because this series I have re-read a few times.  Just the best.  

Rainbow Rowell - I own all of her books, though I've only read two thus far but they were amazing and I've heard just as many good things about the others and I'm dying to see for myself.  

Marie Lu - I marathoned the Legend series after it took me a while to start them and I just loved the whole set up and world.  They were also rather short and quick reads.  Then when she had a new series coming out I knew I had to try it as well.  Now The Rose Society is one of my most anticipated books!

Krystal Wade - I discovered her on NetGalley with her first series and I was just in love.  Cover love.  Story love.  OMG the Wilde's Fire series is just...amazing!  She's also an amazing person as well and I finally got to meet her in person at UtopYA this year, kind of the reason I found out and went lol.  She also has other books along with a creepy take on a fairy-tale retelling and another in the works!