~Waiting on Wednesday~ Hunted (Hunted #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:

Hunted (Hunted #1) by Meagan Spooner

Out:  3/14

From Goodreads:

                Beauty knows the Beast's forest in her bones—and in her blood.  Though she grew up with the city's highest aristocrats, far from her father's old lodge, she knows that the forest holds secrets and that her father is the only hunter who's ever come close to discovering them.

                So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved.  Out in the wilderness, there's no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronessas…or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman.  But Yeva's father's misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one prey:  the creature he'd been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance.

                Deaf to her sisters' protests, Yeva hunts this strange Beast back into his own territory—a cursed valley; a ruined castle, and a world of creatures that Yeva's only heard about in fairy tales.  A world that can bring her ruin or salvation.  Who will survive:  the Beauty, or the Beast?

Why I’m Waiting:

                 I really enjoyed another season the author co-wrote so I was intrigued to read more.  I'm also a huge Beauty & the Beast fan.  So combine them both and I'm going to check it out.  Spin things completely on their head where the Beast doesn't seem like a romantic prospect but a real beast and I'm more eager to give it a go.

                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~ Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

                “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:

Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Out:  12/1

From Goodreads:

A year ago, Flynn Cormac and Jubilee Chase made the now infamous Avon Broadcast, calling on the galaxy to witness for their planet, and protect them from destruction.  Some say Flynn's a madman, others whisper about conspiracies.  Nobody knows the truth.  A year before that, Tarver Merendsen and Lilac LaRoux were rescued from a terrible shipwreck—now, they live a public life in front of the cameras, and a secret life away from the world's gaze.

Now, in the center of the universe on the planet of Corinth, all four are about to collide with two new players, who will bring the fight against LaRoux Industries to a head.  Gideon Marchant is an eighteen-year-old computer hacker—whiz kid and an urban warrior.  He'll climb, abseil and worm his way past the best security measures to pull off onsite hacks that others don't dare touch.

Sofia quinn has a killer smile, and by the time you're done noticing it, she's got you offering up your wallet, your car, and anything else she desires.  She holds LaRoux Industries responsible for the mysterious death of her father and is out for revenge at any cost.

When a LaRoux Industries security breach interrupts Gideon and Sofia's separate attempts to infiltrate their headquarters, they're forced to work together to escape.  Each of them has their own reasons for wanting to take down LaRoux Industries, and neither trusts the other.  But working together might be the best chance they have to expose the secrets LRIis so desperate to hide.

Why I'm Waiting:

It's the final book in the series.  I started earlier this year and enjoyed the first two (These Broken Stars and This Shattered World) and am ready to see where the stories wind and end up.  Also can we point out the beautiful covers!  OMG cover love.  

This Shattered World a strong sequel that leaves you wanting more

                Happy Hump Day!  It is currently super early (or late depending on your prospective) and I have here a new review to share with you.  But first I wanted to take a moment to announce the winner of the signed copy of ACOTAR by Sarah J Maas was Bogdana!  Thank you to all who participated and keep checking back for more giveaways in the future. 

                Now back to the reviewing, you may remember last month I reviewed These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner (if not you can find it here) and today I want to discuss the second installment in the Starbound trilogy, ThisShattered World.  This book is a sequel and while it focuses on two different main characters, Jubilee "Lee" Chase and Flynn Cormac, in a different setting there are still some spoilers as to the first book in the series but I'll keep my review spoiler free.    

Rating: 4 Stars

                First thing you have to point out is another beautiful cover.  I love the continued theme but changing it to a brighter starry background and also changed the characters.  In This Shattered World we are a bit forward from book one and are on Avon, a terraformed planet that is having some issues with rebellious colonists.  Jubilee "Lee" is a captain and meant to crush the rebellion it’s a job but also a personal mission.  She has her reasons for hating the rebels.  Then we have Flynn, a leader of the rebellion.  He has issues with terraforming corporations who promised a better life for the children of the colonists when they were recruited to make inhospitable planets livable.  It's been decades and the colonists are sick of it and fighting back.  The two should never meet.  They are on polar opposite ends of the spectrum.  Snap decisions are made and put them on paths that push them to reevaluate their beliefs and try to find a way to end this senseless war. 

                I really liked this story.  It was pretty amazing to me that the story could be so similar and yet so different all at the same time.  There are still the same elements and everything flows together and blends with what we learned in the first book but at the same time we have a vast collection of characters to interact with in this one.  These Broken Stars focused the majority of the story on the two main characters and their journey and discoveries.  This Shattered World puts you right in the middle of a war full of actions and keeps up the mystery and suspense. 

                Again the tagline for the trilogy is: Three worlds.  Three love stories.  One enemy.  We see what that really means in This Shattered World.  The romance aspect you see is a real star crossed romance for sure.  I loved though it wasn't some instant defy everything I have ever believed in because of insta-love.  There is an initial attraction, yes, but the emotions and feelings come into play is steady and natural.  It progresses in a way that is believable and doesn’t subtract anything from the overall story. 

 

                Avon is so different from the setting of the first book that it's like discovering a new world all over again because we are.  I'm beyond excited to see where we go for book three.  Avon is suffering and is not prospering and there is a mystical element, leading many to become superstitious about the area.  The play between the military and the rebels was great fun.  Seeing from both characters perspectives was ideal because as a reader you are taken on both sides of the argument.  You can see the good and bad to both sides and see it more clearly.

                The idea to focus on different characters in a different part of space was genius.  It just makes sense and it doesn't ruin the first story by dragging things out but instead gives you a fresh idea and continues with things you were left with questions about in the first one.  I enjoyed the way the two stories pulled together throughout the story but it waited long enough to let the reader really get invested in the current story.  Well done to both authors.  I admit that wasn't my first reaction.  I wanted more of my characters I knew.  Ones I was already invested in.  I think I even complained about that part to a friend.  But as I read I became attached to this new story and everything happening in the world.   I was also able to appreciate the more action packed pace that was set. 

                That's all I can really say without spoiling it for anyone.  Read them in order! That's the only real suggestion I have for you.  I chatted with someone who read This Shattered World first and was somewhat confused when the stories started to merge into a larger overall story.  I think this book was a good sequel and I can't wait for the next one to come out and see how it all plays out in the span of the trilogy.  That's all for today.  Comments make me happy!  Spread the love and tell me your thoughts I'd love to discuss!  Until next time…

These Broken Stars: Cover love and thoughts

                Welcome back book lovers for another fun review.  I hope you all are doing well.  First, I wanted to discuss my plans to try and be more punctual/regular with my posts.  I'm working on a redesign to make things cleaner and easier.  This would include a posting schedule and various items.  Feedback is always welcome, really I want to hear from you.  Let me know in the comments what you'd like, dislike or want to see more of. 

                Announcement over.  Today I want to share with you my thoughts on These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner.  I read this book a couple months back and have been wanting to do a review and now is the time.  First, I have to point out why I was first pulled to it, the beautiful cover.  Look at it.  Night sky with stars and this fetching image and a billowy dress.  I wanted to know more about such a pretty cover.  Then I heard Sasha (abookutopia) rave about it on Booktube and knew I had to have it on my shelf and in my life.  Book two in the series is already out (review coming soon) with another amazing cover and best news I recently saw the cover for book three which I assume is coming out soon, and it keeps to the theme meaning all my covers will match!  I just love it when I can finish a series and have the same cover design.  Moving on.

                These Broken Stars, book one in The Starbound Trilogy , focuses on two characters; one is Lilac LaRoux, the daughter of the richest man in the universe.  Yes, universe because this book takes place in space and other planets.  Our other character is Tarver Merendsen, a war hero who is pretty cynical about the way the system is set up.  They seem like complete opposites but they meet on the luxury spaceliner Icarus and are bound together when the spaceliner falls from hyperspace and begins to break apart.  They are the lone survivors, landing on an unknown planet without much in their favor.  They are stuck together as they search for help or a way off the planet, but things are not what they seem as the planet holds secrets that will push both Lilac and Tarver. 

                The bulk of the story takes place with only our two characters around but the planet itself is like it's own character.  Lilac isn't what you expect, she's different than the media portrays her, the perfect princess who does nothing but enjoy daddy's money.  She has a brain and thoughts of her own.  Best of all, she has a legit reason behind her actions, something the reader can understand.  Tarver has his own issues and struggles to deal with.  A war hero who is being paraded around like a performing monkey able to look at the fancy life but not good enough to really be more than a pet in it.  Watching as these two very different and yet similar characters struggle with their surroundings kept me turning the page as did the changing POV that let me see how one reacted to something the other did and seeing how each perceived the other and how perceptions morphed as the story progressed.

                 The tagline for the trilogy is: Three worlds.  Three love stories.  One enemy.  If you didn't figure it out yet there is a romantic element playing into this.  There wasn't any insta-love though.  Maybe some good old fashioned insta-attraction but insta-love, no way.  Far from it.  The story focuses less on the romance, letting anything happen naturally, and more on the plot.  A goal to survive and solve the mystery.  Because I'll tell you one thing this book has some serious mystery and creep factor to it.  I was not expecting it but wow was I surprised.  In a good way.  I won't spoil you or anything but yes the planet is interesting to say the least. 

                The last quarter of the book completely caught me off guard and was a tad bit confusing at first, and I wasn't sure how I felt about it,  but after reflecting on it I was okay with it.  There was also so things that occur that went against the past character development that I had a small issue with.  There were some 'conveniences' here and there that seemed a bit on the nose but otherwise I really enjoyed the book.  It was more about the journey and character growth and development, and you know how I love my characters.  It left me satisfied but still wanting more and made me with up book two, This Shattered World.  Overall I gave this book 4 stars. 

Rating: 4 Stars

                Have you already read this title?  Planning to?  Comments are love, share some below.  Until next time.