~Stacking the Shelves~ May

                Welcome to a special Saturday posting!  Stacking the Shelves was created by Tynga and the full details can be found on her page here.  Basically you showcase the books you bought, they post weekly, but I decided to take part once a month for simplicity.  Basically a monthly book haul!  These are the books I got for myself in May.

Physical Books:

Prodigy (Legend #2) The Graphic Novel by Marie Lu

Happily Ever After:  Selection Novellas by Kiera Cass

The Crown (The Selection #5) by Kiera Cass

The Last Star (The 5th Wave #3) by Rick Yancey

Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell

The Mirror King (The Orphan Queen #2) by Jodi Meadows

For Review:

Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse

Dreamology by Lucy Keating

Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley

Meet Me Here by Byran Bliss

The Lost & Found by Karina Leno

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

Frost Like Night (Ice Like Fire #3) by Sara Raasch 

Stealing Snow (Stealing Snow #1) by Danielle Paige

Replica (Replica #1) by Lauren Oliver

Frostblood (Frostblood Saga #1) by Elly Blake

E-books:

Vindicate (Insight #5) by Jamie Magee

For Review:

The Conch Shell of Doom by Ryan Hill (review) 

Rite of Redemption (Acceptance #3) by Sarah Negovetich (review)

Supremacy (Supremacy #1) by Christin Lee

The Edge of Juniper by Lora Richardson

Smash & Grab by Amy Christine Parker

Rite of Redemption (Acceptance #3) & Author Giveaway

                Hello happy readers!  So some of you may remember I’ve talked before about the Acceptance series by Sarah Negovetich with the first book Rite of Rejection and the sequel Rite of Revelation which I reviewed and really enjoyed.  I also had the pleasure of interviewing her about the book (here if you'd like to see her picks for casting) and then last year I got to hang out with her during UtopYA which was pretty awesome.  The final book in the Acceptance trilogy Riteof Redemption came out just Tuesday (6/6) and I had the pleasure of receiving an early copy for review to share my thoughts with you all and join the blog tour!  I also had my copy on pre-order.

Goodreads / Amazon

Rating:  5 Stars

                At the end of the last books things were bitter sweet.  He had some major losses but we also had some victories and a sense of home among the Freeman.  The Cardinal is bound and determined to hunt her down at all costs.  When his men start to attack other Freeman villages to that end she knows without a doubt it will never stop and no one is safe from him.  She is the face of resistance, the only one people have seen stand up against him with her broadcast and escape and now it’s time to convince others it’s time to fight.

                This series has come so far that to think in the first book Rebecca was sent to the PIT by the Machine predicted she would be a horrid criminal.  Now having found out the Machine really pushes out those less than perfect or more common those who question the Cardinal and his system in any way.  Weeding out the undesirables basically.  Now as one ready to fight to remove him and his machine maybe the Machine was right, she is breaking some laws now.  It all plays back to the initial book where you wonder if they were always meant to be criminals or if they only turned to criminal type behavior because they were put in there?  I love how it all plays back around. 

All the pretties!

                It’s been two books in the making but the characters we grew attached to in book one, and the ones we found and brought into our family in books two are ready to take on the Cardinal.  It’s scary and will be hard but they know it’s no longer about escaping and hoping to find peace.  He will never let them have peace, so they must free themselves and the world from his evil.  It’s almost hard to remember where one book ended and the other picked up as the whole series flowed so smoothly between them into one seamless story.  We spent most of the last book in the Freeman villages whereas the first we spent mostly in the PIT and in book three we are constantly moving giving us new and exciting places to learn about and discover, growing the world. 

                The characters arcs from start to wherever they end up, they have all been through the wringer.  We’ve lost those we loved and we have gained some along the way as well.  While the books do seem bleak and dark at times they are also full of hope and love in a way that helps level them out and give the characters something to fight for.  Some have been changing constantly and others have had more subtle changes along the way.  Loss and grief are something many of the characters face and how each one reacts differently is so true to life it hits home. 

                The first two books were good but this conclusion really amps up what has been building in the back of the series and leads you to what I’d say is a very satisfying conclusion.  It manages to have it all and keep you guessing along the way.   

Sarah's Bio:

Website / Amazon / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Sarah Negovetich knows you don't know how to pronounce her name and she's okay with that. 

Her first love is Young Adult novels, because at seventeen the world is your oyster. Only oysters are slimy and more than a little salty; it’s accurate if not exactly motivational. We should come up with a better cliché.

Sarah divides her time between writing YA books that her husband won’t read and working with amazing authors as an agent at Corvisiero Literary Agency. Her life’s goal is to be only a mildly embarrassing mom when her kids hit their teens.

You can learn more about Sarah and her books at www.SarahNegovetich.com or follow her antics on Twitter @SarahNego. 

GIVEAWAY:

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~Waiting on Wednesday~ Frost Like Night (Snow Like Ashes #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:

Frost Like Night (Snow Like Ashes #3) Sara Raasch

Out: 9/20

From Goodreads:

                Angra is alive, his Decay is spreading—and no one is safe.

                Meira will do anything to save her world.  With Angra trying to break through her mnetal defenses, she desperately needs to learn to control her own magic—so when the leader of a mysterious Order from Paisly offers to teach her, she jumps at the chance.  But the true solution to stopping the Decay lies in a labyrinth deep beneath the Season Kingdoms.  To defeat Angra, Meira will have to enter the labyrinth, destroy the very magic she's learning to control—and make the biggest sacrifice of all.

                Mather will do anything to save his queen. He needs to rally the Children of the Thaw, find Meira—and finally tell her how he really feels.  But with a plan of attack that leaves no kingdom unscathed and a major betrayal within their ranks, winning the war—and protecting Meira—slips farther and farther out of reach/

                Ceridwed will do anything to save her people.  Angra had her brother killed, stole her kingdom, and made her a prisoner.  But when she's freed by an unexpected ally who reveals a shocking truth behind Summer's slave trade, Ceridwen must take action to save her true love and her kingdom, even if it costs her what little she has left.

                As Angra unleases the Decay on the world, Meira, Mather, and Ceridwen must bring the kingdoms of Primoria together…or lose everything.    

Why I’m Waiting:

                So I finally caught up with this series this year and OMG I need to know what happens next.  How the last one left off just….NO.  People are dying and everything is just all sorts of out of whack and I need answers!  ****Update**** I had this post ready to go but I just got an ARC of this in the mail the day before and OMG OMG OMG!!!

                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!

Top Ten Tuesday: Reasons I love book events!

                Hello everyone!  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 and the Bookish.  

But first I want to announce the winner of the giveaway winner that ended last night for a signed copy of The Last Star by Rick Yancey and that winner is.....Lara F.  Congrats!

The top ten(ish) today is:  Reasons I love book events!

Meeting authors- Being able to hear them talk about their work and ask questions about the book/character/anything is amazing!

The atmosphere- there is just this giddy feeling when you go to events that you can't get elsewhere.

Making friends!  I've made some great friends at events because it's so easy to talk to strangers because….well you're all there for the same reason you LOVE books!

Group reads / discussions- I've been finding more and more of these and they started because I meet some people at book events.

Travel- I have so much fun going to different events!  I only wish I had more money to go to all the events!

Experience- I'm kind of a shy person in life but at book events I'm normally a different person, I don't know if it's being surrounded by fellow book nerds or just excitement but since I started going to them I've found it has helped me break out of my shell in everyday life as well.

New book recommendations- because you always get more at an event!

Inspiration- I'm an aspiring author myself and as I go to these events they are full of encouragement!

Passion-I always love reading but when I go to events it sometimes feels like I have even more passion reading the books from them because I can remember!

                 Tell me what you think of my list in the comments below.  Which would you recommend so I know which ones to get first?  Also please link back to your Top Ten as well so I can check out your list and see what I missed!

The Rose & the Dagger (The Wrath & the Dawn #2)

                Hello everyone!  So first things my giveaway for a signed copy of the Last Star by Rick Yancey (here) closes later today and I look forward to announcing the winner tomorrow with my Top Ten Tuesday post!  So get your last minute entries in!  That said yesterday I finished a book I had been highly anticipating since January of this year when I finished the first book, The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh (review).  I was so enthralled when I finished that book that I was dying to get my hands on the sequel in the duology, The Rose and theDagger.  When it came out I was in a bit of a slump/behind on some reading and couldn't dive right in, that and I was planning to read it with a friend.  But now that I have finished it I can't wait to discuss it and share all my feels.  If you haven't yet read the first book I highly suggest you do before continuing reading this review or you will be spoiled.

Rating:  5 Stars

                All the feels!  OMG I am in love!  All the things I loved about the first book with the beautiful writing, complex characters, and enticing storyline all continued into the sequel but this time they were upped another notch even I didn't think was possible.  This book will rip out your heart and punch you in the feels hard several times.  I remember reading and feeling my heart literally pounding in my chest.  I also read most of this while at work so I would have to read something that made me want to cry and have to suck it up, no crying at work.  I had read the novellas released up to this point which only amped up my desire to read more. 

                Shazi and Khalid.  They are…epic.  I love them so much.  They went through so much to get where they were and now they are seperated and neither wants it but both are looking after the people of Khorasan and the curse set on them.  Khalid misses her terribly and he hates what has happened to his people.  Shazi is a captive almost in the camp of her first love, the man trying to bring down her husband and true love for the wrongs he has done that she can't explain.  She has her family, her father and sister back but still she wants to find a way to break the curse and save the people before more destruction happens, but most find a way back to the man she loves. 

                Shazi is pretty much a  badass because not only is she faced with so many obstacles she also has her internal ones as well, ie her temper.  But she doesn't let anything stop her.  Khalid you just fall more in love unsure how you could ever have thought anything less of him.  The love he has for her is so rare and true it's impossible to not see and feel.  Still as he loves Shazi he also loves his people and wishes to do anything he can to help them or let those he is close to think he is a monster, OMG his fight with one person in particular wrecked me.

The novellas

                The magic in the first book is small but builds along with the magical tales she weaves and with this one they grow.  Shazi understands she has power and looks to learn more to the purpose of breaking the curse.  We get more about Khalids old tutor and his magic carpet, I'm in the mood to put in my Aladdin DVD as I type this.  Yep solves it I' watching that tonight!  We make even more friends along the way and discover more about old ones as well. I really liked getting to know her sister some more in all of this.  Her first love, Tariq, literally built an army to save her but even he can see he wasn't saving her in the end but that she loved the monster boy-king and having to stay in the same camp, to interact knowing that was as tense and awkward as you would imagine.

                So much is happening in this book.  There is something for everyone and it will make your heart race, break, soar, and more.  It was a never ending thrill ride and I was sad to have reached the end because while I am beyond satisfied with the story it has played out in my heart and mind I don't want it to be over.  I want more of this beautiful world and writing. But this was a duology and it was perfect.  I couldn't ask for anything more.

                 That's it for this one.  PLEASE share your thoughts and feels in the comments below because I am dying to discuss this book.  What did you think of the ending?

                Until next time…

The One (Selection #3)

                Hello happy readers!  So quick heads up there is still a giveaway open for the SIGNED copy of The Last Star by Rick Yancey until 6/6 here so don’t forget to enter!  Now back to matters, you may have noticed that I’ve been working my way through the Selection series by Kiera Cass.  I have finished the original trilogy now and the bind-up of novellas and now plan to finish the newest two books in the series.  Today I’m going to be reviewing The One (Selection #3) and Happily Ever After the novella bind-up so there will be spoilers for the first two books just be warned. 

Rating: 5 Stars

                So when we left off we found out that the founder wasn't as awesome as we first thought, rather vindictive to his own family really.  He created the caste systems and after a bout of misunderstanding, anger, and hurt feelings America pitched dismantling the castes as her 'per project' on air to all the country to see.  As one can imagine the king was not pleased.  She was almost sent home but a raid by the rebels forced America and Maxon into a safe room together for the night where they could get some things cleared up between them and give Maxon a good story for his father to let her stay.  Things aren't that easy though because now she has broken Maxon's trust and he wants her to earn it back.  Things both inside and outside the palace are heating up as America gets closer to being the one, something she never thought she could want and now as she is close to losing it, him really, she will have to stop sitting back and waiting and fight for what she wants.

                This series I marathoned pretty closely back to back mostly listening in audiobook form.  I only ever got upset with America in this one finally for a few of her 'agh' moments.  At the time I remember remarking that I was so irritated with her at one point near the front but as time has let things sit I realize it was less annoyance at her and more my desire for things to go my way quickly in the story.  America did some things I wasn't thrilled about sure but the same personality traits I liked in the first two books are what got me upset in this one.  She is the same character who is coming to terms with her past and her present and understanding what it is she wants and who she wants to be.  That said I also had a few moments of annoyance with Maxon as well but that is par for the course when mix-up and misunderstandings keep popping up and interfering with what you want to happen.

                That said I was really excited to meet Georgia and August and learn more about the rebels and the country and where it stands overall.  There is much more going on than a simple selection and Maxon has more to worry about than choosing the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with and also with how he can save his people.  Neither task is made simple with interference by pretty much every outside force imaginable.  Violence erupts and we discover more and more that leaves everything in question.

                Overall as a series I really enjoyed the ride and the way things from all the books would come back into play or something I remembered thinking it was important coming back up later proving me right.  Lots of things happened.  Emotions run high and things are intense.  Overall while I found the series as a whole somewhat predictable I didn't find myself caring because it was still fun and while I knew what to expect how it got to those points were always interesting. 

                Now for Happily Ever After, the novella bind-up.  I dove into this directly because I knew it contained a story of where everyone was as well as scenes after The One.  I read the novellas totally out of order but that was okay.  I think my favorite, pun intended, might have been The Favorite followed by the after scenes and even the scenes from Celeste.  None of them are necessary to enjoy the series by any means they only add to them and give a better sense of some of the characters and I have to say The Queen may have been the most interesting one just to have that glimpse.  The Guard was my least favorite of the stories and it wasn't that I disliked it but more that I like Maxon more and even seeing Aspens side of some things didn't change much for me so it didn't really add much for me. 

                That's all for this I look forward to continuing on and finishing the last two books, the final one should be arriving via Amazon this week.  I would love to hear your thoughts on the first three books and how everything played out.  How everything ended?  Did you see it coming?  Were you rooting for it? Tell me in the comments below.

                Until next time…

~Waiting on Wednesday~ Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #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:

Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) Leigh Bardugo

Out: 9/27

From Goodreads:

                Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn’t think they’d survive.  But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they’re right back to fighting for their lives.  Double-crossed and left crippled by the kidnapping of a valuable team member, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope.  As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drung known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz’s cunning and test the team’s fragile loyalties.  A war will be waged on the city’s dark and twisting streets—a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of magic in the Grisha world.

Why I’m Waiting:

                Six of Crows (review) was amazing!  I mean it was epic and awesome and all things great and then that ending.  Do what now???  Yes I’ve been waiting to know what happens next and come on my Inej!  So much went down in the last book and I need to know what happens.

                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!