Showing posts with label Wolves and Roses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wolves and Roses. Show all posts

Monday, November 12, 2018

Shifters & Glyphs (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #2)


                Hello happy readers!  Well it has been a crazy weekend to be sure.  Three days of all day adopt-a-thon action which will leave you surprisingly sore each day and a double birthday party for my bestie ad her smallest mini-me.  That said while I sit in my comfy robe and sit on ice I am finally able to type and post my review of a recent release for you!  That book in question is Shifter and Glyphs (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #2) by Christina Bauer.  I previously reviewed the first book Wolves and Roses and the following novella Moonlight and Midtown which I highly recommend as this is a series I really enjoy and look forward to continuing on in but even more the author is one of my auto-buy authors!

Rating:  5 Stars

                Bry is about to start school, real school for the first time and it's all she has dreamed of for so long, but the dreams she has had her whole life of pyramids and papyri have turned much darker.  It should be enough to worry about with three different types of magic to work on and an inner wolf who wants to chomp on a 1/3 of your classmates but that's not enough pressure for Bry.  As the equinox approaches and those she love most seem to be in danger Bry must step away from her dream of school life and solve the mystery of her life and the attraction to the pyramids or face untold consequences for herself and the world.

                So Bry has her un-shredable outfit to help ease her modesty should she have to shift and her best friend, her mate, and her newest friend all with her in this endeavor that is school.  And the search for the fountain of course.  Things should go well.  But Knox has been looking rather unwell as of late and the nightmares Bry has and can't remember are only making things worse.  The sense of time running out and the search is kicked up into high gear.  Everyone's magic is acting a bit wonky as the equinox approaches.

                Things move quickly as we have fights of will, power, and kick butt action.  Still the characters are why we really care as much as we do.  I love Bry for sure but I think I love the best friend dynamic between Bry and Elle above most else.  They are friendship goals and remind me of some of the stuff my bestie and I would say and/or do though less magically, like make fun of people in horror movies doing the stupidest things….yep that's us.  Then you have Knox because you can't forget the sexy werewolf mate!  Speaking of mate the inner conversations Bry has with her wolf had me rolling most of the time.  Like she has a literally voice in her head trying to convince her to do things, like chowing down on your mates ex, when they pop up.  Knox and Bry the story is sweet and amazing as always, he could save me anytime!  And Alec who is basically Knox's Elle.  Their brotherly dynamic is on point and adorable.  Plus no matter how hard they try to play as friends Elle and Alec are super cute and impossible not to ship. 

                We dig deeper as we approach the conclusion to the fountain search.  Things that are translated always have multiple meanings as anyone well knows but in this care old papyri is no exception.  Mysteries are solved, truths revealed, and life templates are put to the test.  I was so excited to go on this ride for the search for the fountain and the hope to fix magic.  And maybe get a little bit of normal high school time if you're lucky!  So I can't say much else without spoiling things and that will not do.  The book flies by so pick it up and give it a go!

                Until next time…

Monday, November 6, 2017

Wolves & Roses (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #1)

                Hello happy readers!  I hope you all had a fantastic weekend yet again.  For me I worked but I also had lots of time to read and drink some tea (I got a simple electric kettle for me and my co-worker to use) which I call a win.  Sinuses are starting to act up but I'm hopeful that will pass.  However, today what I'm thrilled to talk about is a new book that came out last week on Halloween, Wolves and Roses (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #1) by Christina Bauer.  I had previously gave a quick review on a sampler I got a few months back and then was lucky enough to get an ARC thanks to NetGalley and Monster House Books.  As the book came out last week my pre-ordered copy has also arrived so yay!  This is book one in a new series by an author I already adore.

Rating: 5 Stars

                Wolves and Roses is a fairy-tale retelling with a modern and unique twist.  Bryar Rose is almost eighteen and one of the Magicorum-part of three magical races of shifters, fairies, or witches and they follow a fairy tale life template.  Bryar's is Sleeping Beauty.  She isn't too fond of this and has no desire for it.  Some parts make sense but others couldn't be further from the truth.  Like the part where she can't stand her so call Prince Philpot but does have dreams of a hottie and a compulsion with finding ancient papyri from Egypt.  So  not the typical Sleeping Beauty she is supposed to be.  So when she meets the literal man of her dreams the powerful werewolf Knox her already interesting life takes an unexpected turn.

                I already adore this author and her other series but this one was something new and exciting.  I love how quickly her books fly by.  It's the style of writing that just go straight forward no holds barred where you are captivated in every second and don't realize where the last few hours went.  There is a beautiful middle between kick butt female characters, action, mystery, magic, romance, and drama!  It's a magical little bubble full of all the feelings you want in a story.  I was instantly intrigued with Bry and her life.  Anytime she got too excited or wound up she'd start to have an "episode" and could freeze like her SB counterpart if she didn't take her meds.  Kind of sucks.  But as we go on there is much more to the story and you just feel for her.  Who wouldn't want to live their own life and not have it pre-arranged for her?  Then her bestie Elle, whom I adore, and her constant cons were just amazing.  Had some White Collar and Leverage feels come up, what can I say I love a good con story. 

                And of course we have Knox, the second POV in the story.  I dig his story as well.  A reluctant leader type.  Powerful and flawed.  Broading and sexy.  He has his reasons to brood don't get me wrong and he makes some mishaps along the way but I loved his POVs and hearing him have internal debates with his wolf they had me cracking up.  His friendship with Alec is grounding.  It's the male version of Bry and Elle.  I love that while they do spend time together they still have their special bond between original friends.  That is important.  I love how the friendship is strong and plays an important part and not just to talk about boys (or girls for the guys) though there is some of that.

                As for the story itself there is a lot going on.  Not only did we get to know and love all of these characters as well as despise some others.  We have a larger hunt for a magical fountain going on and tons of little side plots afoot including Bry finding herself.  I can't say much more there because I don't want to give away any of the fun but with the Denarii and all the different types of magic in the world and how they interact with the modern world I just love it and can't wait to see more.  I enjoyed this story and am looking forward to Spring of 2018 for the next book Moonlight and Midtown so I can see what happens next.  I highly recommend this series to anyone who is a fan of retellings, magic, or just an intense fast paced story!


                Until next time…

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Wolves & Roses Tour RSVP

RSVP for the WOLVES & ROSES Tour now…Get a T-Shirt Later

Hello happy readers!  I am beyond excited to share the news of this book and tour with you all.  As all of my followers will know I adore this author and all of her other books and this one has been on my anticipated reads list since I heard about it.  The sampler I got was amazing and I can't wait to get my copy.  I am excited to see a tour is happening though a bit jealous I live nowhere near any of the stops.  That said I am hoping the stops are much closer to you!

WOLVES AND ROSES is the new young adult shifter fairy tale by best-selling author Christina Bauer which “blends magical fantasy, swooning romance, and a bucketful of teenage sass” (Booklist) and is “a fun romp for Twilight fans” (School Library Journal).

And now they’re having a bookstore tour where you can get your copy of WOLVES AND ROSES signed, meet characters from the novel, and even take home a swag bag full of goodies…including a themed t-shirt!  Bottom line?  You don’t want to miss the WOLVES AND ROSES book launch tour.

Be sure to RSVP today and arrive early to the event (links down below) –there’s only a limited amount of swag bags given out on a first-come, first served basis to folks who purchase a new copy of WOLVES AND ROSES.

BOSTON, MA AREA
Barnes & Noble, Prudential Center, Boston, MA
Wednesday, November 1st, 5:00 PM EST

Barnes & Noble, Framingham, MA
Thursday, November 2nd, 7:00 PM EST

NEW YORK CITY, NY
Bluestockings, Manhattan
Friday, November 3rd, 7:00 PM EST



SAN FRANCISCO, CA AREA
Barnes & Noble, Corte Madera, CA
Saturday, November 4th, 12:00 NOON PST

COMING SOON:  San Jose, CA

CHICAGO, IL AREA
Barnes & Noble, Oakbrook IL
Wednesday, November 7th, 7:00 PM

The Book Cellar, Chicago, IL
Wednesday, November 8th, 7:00 PM CST

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

~Waiting on Wednesday~ Wolves & Roses

                “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:

Wolves & Roses (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #1) by Christina Bauer
Out:  10/31

From Goodreads:
                Seventeen-year-old Bryar Rose has a problem.  She’s descended from one of the three magical races—shifters, fairies, or witches.  That makes her one of the Magicorum, and Magicorum always follow a fairy tale life template.  In Bryar’s case, that template should be Sleeping Beauty.

                “Should” being the key word.
               
                Trouble is, Bryar is nowhere near the sleeping beauty life template.  Not even close.  She doesn’t like birds or woodland creatures.  She can’t sing.  And she certainly can’t stand Prince Philpot, the so-called “His Highness of Hedge Funds” that her aunties want her to marry.  Even worse, Bryar’s having recurring dreams of a bad boy hottie and is obsessed with finding papyri from ancident Egypt.  What’s up with that?

                All Bryar wants is to attend a regular high school with normal humans and forget all about shifters, fairies, witches, and the curse that Colonel Mallory the Magnificent placed on her.  And she might be able to do just that—if only she can just keep her head down until her eighteenth birthday when the spell that’s ruined her life goes buh-bye.

                But that plan gets turned upside down when Bryar Rose meets Knox, the bad boy who’s literally from her dreams.  Knox is a powerful werewolf, and his presence in her life changes everything, and not just because he makes her knees turn into Jell-O.  If Bryar can’t figure out who—or what—she really is, it might cost both her and Knox their lives…as well as jeopardize the very nature of magic itself.

Why I’m Waiting:
                I love this author.  Obviously.  Auto-buy aside I like the idea of the book with the fairy tale template being turned around on its head.  Should be fun!  Plus the three chapter sampler I read and reviewed has me super pumped for this one! 


                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.

Friday, June 30, 2017

Sampler Review: Wolves and Roses

                Hello happy readers!  Looks like the weekend is upon us.  Sadly it’s a working weekend for myself but provided my sinuses calm down some next week should be better.  Since I am a bit behind and foggy headed the timing for this short review is perfect.  One of the authors I adore, Christina Bauer who writes the Angelbound and Beholder series that I am in love with has a new book/series coming out towards the end of this year, Wolves and Roses (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #1).  So when a sampler was available I was all on board to get a taste. 

Rating:  EXCITED!!!

                So here’s the summary per Goodreads:

                Seventeen-year-old Bryar Rose has a problem.  She’s descended from one of the three magical races—shifters, fairies, or witches.  That makes her one of the Magicorum, and Magicorum always follow a fairy tale life template.  In Bryar’s case, that template should be Sleeping Beauty.
                  “Should” being the key word.

                  Trouble is, Bryar is nowhere near the sleeping beauty life template. Not even close.  She doesn’t like birds or woodland creatures.  She can’t sing.  And she certainly can’t stand Prince Philpot, the so-called “His Highness of Hedge Funds” that he aunties want her to marry.  Even worse, Bryar’s having recurring dreams of a bad boy hottie and is obsessed with finding papyri from ancient Egypt.  What’s up with that?
                 All Bryar wants is to attend a regular high school with normal humans and forget all about shifters, fairies, witches, and the curse that Colonel Mallory the Magnificent placed on her.  And she might be able to do just that—if only she can just keep her head down until her eighteenth birthday when the spell that’s ruined her life goes buh-bye.
                  But that plan gets turned upside down when Bryar Rose meets Knox, the bad boy who’s literally from her dreams.  Knox is a powerful werewolf, and his presence in her life changes everything, and not just because he makes her knees turn into Jell-O.  If Bryar can’t figure out who—or what—she really is, it might cost both her and Knox their lives…as well as jeopardize the very nature of magic itself.
  
Thoughts thus far:
                So this was only a short, three chapters, sampler so I don’t have a ton to go on but those chapters really got me excited.  Of course I was ready to read it given the summary and the author but seeing Bryar, in only that short bit I really like her.  I’m curious about the growling Knox character and I love the friendship between Bryar and Elle that has been shown thus far.  I am intrigued about the Magicorum and these mysterious disappearances, dreams and the like.  I can’t wait to get my hands on the full and finished copy but for now I can say this sampler really has me anticipating the book even more.  Plus come on fairytale retellings/re-imaginings are always fun and exciting.  Taking characters/stories/templates we know and turning them all around and remolding them is fascinating but this whole take on the life templates, just from what I have seen might be the most creative way yet! 

                Basically I need it to be out now but sadly I have to wait until October.