Showing posts with label new releases challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new releases challenge. 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, October 29, 2018

Reading Challenge Wrap-Up: October


                Hello happy readers!  So there were a few changes made at work last week that changed some of my normally scheduled plans, i.e. formatting and posting from work in slow times.  No more social media access including blogs from the computer during shift so I had to do all this at the house which is taking some adjustment but I will push through.  That and I also forgot about to post this when I posted my movie corner I was focused on movies and Kingdom of Ash. So this wrap-up will focus on everything finished to the 28th!  The challenges are pretty self-explanatory but for full details on the challenges themselves please visit the challenge tab.  Also please share your yearly wrap-up / challenges as well I’d love to see how everyone else did! 

Goodreads Challenge:
Goal: 100
At: 52

2018 Debut Authors (#DebutAuthorChallenge):
Goal: 12
At: 7
No progress this month…

2018 Series Ender Challenge:
Goal: 15+
At: 13 (almost there!!!)
What I’ve Read:
Wildcard (Warcross #2) by Marie Lu
Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer #2) by Laini Taylor
Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass #7) by Sarah J. Maas


Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2018:
Goal: 48
At: 18
What I've Read:
Three Dark Crowns (Three Dark Crowns #1) by Kendare Blake

2018 New Releases Challenge:
Goal: 31-60
At: 34!!!  COMPLETE
What I've Read:
Check, Please! (#Hockey  Vol 1) by Ngozi Ukazu (review)
Wildcard (Warcross #2) by Marie Lu
The Dark Lands (Angelbound Origins #5) by Christina Bauer (review)


Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer #2) by Laini Taylor
Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass #7) by Sarah J. Maas



2018 Audiobook Challenge:
Goal: 30
At:  30 COMPLETE!!!
What I've Listened:
Three Dark Crowns (Three Dark Crowns #1) by Kendare Blake
Wildcard (Warcross #2) by Marie Lu
Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer #2) by Laini Taylor
Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass #7) by Sarah J. Maas



                So I’ve knocked out 2 whole challenges with 2 months to spare!  I am getting close to my series ender and debut challenges which are goals now the others are not looking good but still hope to get higher on the list!  I'd love to hear how you're doing so link back to your wrap up!

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Reading Challenge Wrap-Up: September


                Hello happy readers!  The challenges are pretty self-explanatory but for full details on the challenges themselves please visit the challenge tab.  Also please share your yearly wrap-up / challenges as well I’d love to see how everyone else did!  I am also having an extra two fosters for a short time while their normal foster is out of town and yeah I have been spoiler Bella is perfectly laid back for me but these two have crazy energy!  Plus 1 to 3 is huge and I love them but glad it's temporary I might have to ease on up to more!  Anywho here is my September wrap-up! 
One of the temps Texas (left) siting with Bella watching
Jackpot (not pictured) run in circles

Goodreads Challenge:
Goal: 100
At:46

2018 Debut Authors (#DebutAuthorChallenge):
Goal: 12
At:  8
Brave Enough by Kati Gardner (review)

2018 Series Ender Challenge:
Goal: 15+
At: 10
What I’ve Read:
Smoke in the Sun (Flame in the Mist #2) by Renee Ahdieh

Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2018:
Goal: 48
At: 17
What I've Read:
Wink Poppy Midnight by April Genevieve Tucholke

2018 New Releases Challenge:
Goal: 31-60
At: 29
What I've Read:

Brave Enough by Kati Gardner
Smoke in the Sun (Flame in the Mist #2) by Renee Ahdieh


2018 Audiobook Challenge:
Goal: 30
At: 26
What I've Listened:

Smoke in the Sun (Flame in the Mist #2) by Renee Ahdieh
Wink Poppy Midnight by April Genevieve Tucholke


                So some are doing pretty solid and others not so much.  I hope to get a surge here towards the end and finish a few of the challenges at least!  I'd love to hear how you're doing so link back to your wrap up!

Monday, September 3, 2018

Brave Enough


                Hello happy readers!  So a little bit of an apology.  So I have been struggling with some time management and ability to focus the last couple of weeks.  Which makes it really hard to keep on track/schedule.  Part of that is my party planning, see I was wanting to do a birthday party for myself this year but it's hard with so many of my friends having kids birthdays the same week, and it sucked and I do get a bit depressed on my birthday every year.  But this year I decided screw it I'd rather have a Halloween party anyways so yeah I decided I am going to have one of these instead and wow the amount of time spent on Pintrest looking at stuff is insane and makes you lose track of time.  But now that I have a better grip on the party and what needs to happen I am getting back to myself and I hope to get things on here back to normal too!  Anywho sorry but thanks for sticking with me! 

                Now today I am so excited to share my thoughts on not only a new release last month but a debut author as well.  Brave Enough by Kati Gardner.  The cover was so beautiful it made me click and then the summary just touched my heart and that was it for me I knew I had to get my hands on it.  I was lucky enough to snag myself an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review so here goes. 

Rating:  4 Stars

                Cason Martin is a prima ballerina at the Atlanta Ballet Conservatory.  The best.  She has spent her life at dancing t was never a choice with her mother being the artistic director making all of her decisions.  Cason is dedicated and willing to do whatever it takes….even pushing past pain and injury.  Though it is much worse than she imagined.  On the flip side Davis Channing is struggling in his own way, having beat cancer and living with his drug addiction that nearly killed him.  Staying clean isn't always easy when your past is always there in front of you.  Cason and Davis hardly know of the other but their worlds collide that all changes.

                I really enjoyed this book.  It wasn't super plot / action driven but more a journey story and I can enjoy those.  I could tell as I read, even before reading the authors note, that this is a very personal story for the author wanting to see people like herself represented in books.  They way she writes it shows this depth of understanding and authenticity which is pretty great.  There were some things happening which I thought were awesome as the story moved along quickly for me but it felt more like a misplaced.  Not bad just felt a bit odd story wise after, like a too soon climax.  This also happened a few times when a chapter would end and we'd time jump.  Sometimes we didn't immediately know and it was from things mentioned or things happening around them that made you think you missed something then "it's been "x" amount of weeks since my audition" so you realize they jumped.  This was okay and again the story went by quickly just at times it was a smidge jarring.  It also took away some of the moments between Cason and Davis and while I totally loved them together it was a bit sudden.

                Cason and Davis are both struggling with major things.  Things I don't see as much in my YA reading and I was happen to have it front and center.  I loved the idea that just because of cancer or drug addiction the struggle of being more than that label.  How you might have described yourself one way, now the first thing someone sees is something else, something you can't control.  Understanding from both of their heads what it is like in their struggles from small things that are their new every day to the larger more complex issues really came through.  However, while I enjoyed them as characters I thought they could have been a bit more developed.  Like they did that to themselves as well, confining themselves to one thing.  With Cason it makes sense before she was a dancer, that was her sole focus in life, making things that much more real for her.  But with Davis we don't learn much about him aside from cancer and drugs.  I would have liked to know more about him as a whole before the drugs.  I got enough of him and his character to adore him and want things to be better for him but still a bit more would have rounded him out more. 

                I found the story pretty uplifting overall and again I really flew through it.  I enjoyed it and was smiling for a vast majority of the time reading it and yes I admit to tearing up as well at times.  Things can get dark but that is the nature of life.  I really enjoyed this story and while there were a couple small things I think could have made it even better nothing I "disliked" as it were turned me away from the story just made me want more and that is a huge yay because who doesn't want more of what they like!  I would recommend this for sure!  This journey was one I am glad I was along for the ride. 

                Until next time…

Saturday, August 25, 2018

Reading Challenge Wrap-Up: August

Bella with her cookie!

                Hello happy readers!  The challenges are pretty self-explanatory but for full details on the challenges themselves please visit the challenge tab.  Also please share your yearly wrap-up / challenges as well I’d love to see how everyone else did!  I'm a bit later than normal but I forgot today was the 25th until I was at the adoption event.  My first one as a foster of the beautiful Bella was great she did well but still came home with me but I'm not complaining!  

Goodreads Challenge:
Goal: 100
At: 43
Not looking the best as I'm not halfway there but I still hope to finish strong!

2018 Debut Authors (#DebutAuthorChallenge):
Goal: 12
At: 6 
Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha #1) by Tomi Adeyemi (review)

2018 Series Ender Challenge:
Goal: 15+
At: 9
What I’ve Read:
 Nothing new...though when I started it I thought In the Afterlight (The Darkest Minds #3) was the last one but I was wrong...

Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2018:
Goal: 48
At:
What I've Read:
In the Afterlight (The Darkest Minds #3) by Alexandra Bracken

2018 New Releases Challenge:
Goal: 31-60
At:  27
What I've Read:
Star-Touched Stories (The Star-Touched Queen # 2.5) by Roshani Chokshi (review)
Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha #1) by Tomi Adeyemi
Catwoman: Soulstealer (DC Icons #3) by Sarah J. Maas



2018 Audiobook Challenge:
Goal: 30
At:  23
What I've Listened:
Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha #1) by Tomi AdeyemiCatwoman:  Soulstealer (DC Icons #3) by Sarah J. Maas
In the Afterlight (The Darkest Minds #3) by Alexandra Bracken



                I'd love to hear how you're doing so link back to your wrap up!

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Reading Challenge Wrap-Up: July


                Hello happy readers!  The challenges are pretty self-explanatory but for full details on the challenges themselves please visit the challenge tab.  Also please share your yearly wrap-up / challenges as well I’d love to see how everyone else did! 

Goodreads Challenge:
Goal: 100
At: 39

2018 Debut Authors (#DebutAuthorChallenge):
Goal: 12
At:  5
Nothing new to report yet.  But next month…

2018 Series Ender Challenge:
Goal: 15+
At: 9
What I’ve Read:
I’m lacking but working on it.

Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2018:
Goal: 48
At: 15
What I've Read:

Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout (review)
By Your Side by Kasie West (review)


2018 New Releases Challenge:
Goal: 31-60
At: 24
What I've Read:

A Study in Shifters (The Adventures of Marisol Holmes #1) by Majanka Verstraete (review)
Being Alpha (Alpha Girl #7) by Aileen Erin (review)
Cradled (Beholder #) by Christina Bauer

2018 Audiobook Challenge:
Goal: 30
At: 21
What I've Listened:

Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout
By Your Side by Kasie West


                I've got some serious catching up to do.  I'd love to hear how you're doing so link back to your wrap up!

Monday, June 25, 2018

Reading Challenge Wrap-Up: June


                Hello happy readers!  The challenges are pretty self-explanatory but for full details on the challenges themselves please visit the challenge tab.  Also please share your yearly wrap-up / challenges as well I’d love to see how everyone else did! 


Goodreads Challenge:
Goal: 100
At: 34
So according to my bar I’m 14 books behind schedule…..yikes.  Need to get on this!

2018 Debut Authors (#DebutAuthorChallenge):
Goal: 12
At:  5

Ash Princess (Ash Princess Trilogy #1) by Laura Sebastian (review)

2018 Series Ender Challenge:
Goal: 15+
At: 9
What I’ve Read:

Juniper Skies (Juniper #3) by Lora Richardson (review)
War Storm (Red Queen #4) by Victoria Aveyard (review)
Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before #3) by Jenny Han

Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2018:
Goal: 48
At: 14
What I've Read:

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli (review)
Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before #3) by Jenny Han

2018 New Releases Challenge:
Goal: 31-60
At: 21
What I've Read:

Ash Princess (Ash Princess Trilogy #1) by Laura Sebastian
Juniper Skies (Juniper #3) by Lora Richardson
War Storm (Red Queen #4) by Victoria Aveyard

Goal Keeper: A Pearson Players Novel by Sarah Nego (review)
Legendary (Caraval #2) by Stephanie Garber

2018 Audiobook Challenge:
Goal: 30
At: 19
What I've Listened:

Ash Princess (Ash Princess Trilogy #1) by Laura Sebastian
War Storm (Red Queen #4) by Victoria Aveyard
The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

Legendary (Caraval #2) by Stephanie Garber
Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before #3) by Jenny Han



                Still have a ways to go but I'm still proud of the progress!  I'd love to hear how you're doing so link back to your wrap up!

Friday, May 25, 2018

Reading Challenge Wrap-Up: May


                Hello happy readers!  The challenges are pretty self-explanatory but for full details on the challenges themselves please visit the challenge tab.  Also please share your yearly wrap-up / challenges as well I’d love to see how everyone else did! 

Goodreads Challenge:
Goal: 100
At:27

2018 Debut Authors (#DebutAuthorChallenge):
Goal: 12
At: 4
What I’ve Read:

The Queen’s Rising (The Queen’s Rising #1) by Rebecca Ross (review)
Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young (review)


2018 Series Ender Challenge:
Goal: 15+
At: 6
What I’ve Read:

Hero at the Fall (Rebel of the Sands #3) by Alwyn Hamilton (review)


Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2018:
Goal: 48
At: 12
What I've Read:

King’s Cage (Red Queen #3) by Victoria Aveyard (review)

2018 New Releases Challenge:
Goal: 31-60
At: 16
What I've Read:

The Queen’s Rising (The Queen’s Rising #1) by Rebecca Ross
Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young
A Court of Frost & Starlight (ACOTAR #3.1) by Sarah J. Maas (review)
Hero at the Fall (Rebel of the Sands #3) by Alwyn Hamilton
Moonlight & Midtown (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #1.5) by Christina Bauer (review)


2018 Audiobook Challenge:
Goal: 30
At: 14
What I've Listened:
         
The Queen’s Rising (The Queen’s Rising #1) by Rebecca Ross
A Court of Frost & Starlight (ACOTAR #3.1) by Sarah J. Maas
King’s Cage (Red Queen #3) by Victoria Aveyard
Hero at the Fall (Rebel of the Sands #3) by Alwyn Hamilton


                I have a few more I’m enjoying including the new War Storm which will count for several challenges so even better!  I also have some ARC’s to dive into so lots to keep me busy!  I'd love to hear how you're doing so link back to your wrap up!

Friday, May 4, 2018

Sky in the Deep


                Hello happy readers!  As you may have seen I already posted once today and now I am here with the promised second belated review.  Again I am very thankful that I was provided a copy in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.  This book is also a new release that came out on 4/24 and an anticipated read for me of this year, Sky in the Deep by debut author Adrienne Young.

Rating:  5 Stars

                Raised as a Aska warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her clansmen each fighting season against the Riki clan.  Her life is simple and brutal.  Until the day she sees something impossible, her brother she watched die years ago fighting with the Riki.  She chases after him desperate to understand what is happening and finds herself trapped in the mountains with the Riki as a prisoner.  She comes to learn many truths she never wanted to know, that the Riki are not so different from her own people and the truth of what happened to her brother those years past.  Still he Riki and Aska are enemies as old as time.  Until one night when another ruthless class raids all of the villages Riki and Aska alike showing a common enemy may force an unlikely alliance.  Beliefs and loyalties are tested and formed as war blooms.

                I knew instantly from the summary and the cover I wanted to read this.  A new debut that sounded epic and it was a standalone so that was even more impressive as most books I was starting/reading seemed to be part of a series.  Plus it seemed like a pretty awesome story.  I wasn’t wrong.  I really enjoyed this debut.  Eelyn is a fierce warrior and won’t let anything slow her down.  We learn how the Aska live, believe, and fight.  Then as things progress we get to see the same things from the Riki side.  More we see the Riki side through the eyes of an Aska, one who is very upset about being there.  Still as she gets to know the people, one familiar in particular she is able to see them as people rather than simply enemies. 

                The story has some pretty well flushed out characters.  I of course loved Eelyn.  I enjoyed getting to know both Riki and Aska, though it does seem we get to know more of Riki.  This didn’t hit me until just now because I still felt while we spent less time with the Aska they were equally understood because our MC is Aska.  Each character from Myra, Iri, Runa, Inge, Fiske, and Halvard were all different and had their own qualities both good and bad.  I had some strong words for each at one time or another to be sure.  Both have their own prejudices and issues to be sure as any groups with contrasting opinions normally do.  More so in this regard as they have spent years past going to war with one another and that leads to a lot of bloodshed. 

                There is a lot of action and fighting in this one for sure but one of my favorite parts was the struggle for the characters.  Warring with their beliefs and history.  Trying to overcome so many years of prejudice and the like.  Reconciling everything you were raised with to what you see in front of you.  What is more important?  What can be forgiven?  I love all of that.  This book had a lot of deeper meaning and struggles inside of it.  It had its share of pain and loss but also hope and love.  It was a full and satisfying standalone.  I look forward to checking out the author’s next book.   

                Until next time…