Star-Touched Stories (The Star-Touched Queen #2.5)

                Hello happy readers!  My days are a bit off but it works out even better because yesterdays review actually comes out today so win!  Yes I was lucky enough to snag an ARC of Star-Touched Stories (The Star-Touched Queen #2.5) by Roshani Chokshi.  I had the pleasure of meeting her a few times at book events before she was published as just a fellow book lover and since her publication and she is so sweet and I have enjoyed this world, I reviewed the previous two books here:  The Star-Touched Queen and A Crown of Wishes.

Rating:  5 Stars

                Star-Touched Stories is a set of short stories or novellas.  There are three lush stories full of beauty and adventure. The three stories are : Death & Night, Poison & Gold, and Rose & Sword.  All three were brilliant and beautiful.  They each were a very decent size/length and just expanded the world we already knew.  I loved seeing characters I knew in a different and new way, and what has become of some.  There is such a beauty to the way Chokshi has written this world.  Everything is so vivid and jumps right off the page.  I can't really get into much more of these as I wouldn't want to spoil anything.  Just pull up a chair and enjoy these short stories as they pull you deeper into the rich and marvelous world of magic!  This is an enchanting addition to the series that anyone who has enjoyed the other books will devour instantly! 

                Until next time!

~Stacking the Shelves #48~

                Welcome to Stacking the Shelves was created by Tynga and the full details can be found on her page.  Basically you showcase the books you bought or received each week.  Little, or not so little, weekly book hauls. 

E-Book (Review):

Star-Touched Stories (The Star-Touched Queen #2.5) by Roshani Chokshi

                Another good small week.  I have some pre-orders I’m waiting on but I never count them until they arrive.  Share a link below with what goodies you got this week. 

~Waiting on Wednesday~ Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

                “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:

Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare

Out: 11/15

From Goodreads:

                The New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling collection of short stories chronicling the adventures of Simon Lewis as he trains to become a Shadowhunter is now available in print for the first time with ten brand-new comic illustrations!

                Simon Lewis has been a human and a vampire, ad now he is becoming a Shadowhunter.  The events of City of Heavenly Fire left him stripped of his memories, and Simon isn’t sure who he is anymore.  So when the Shadowhunter Academy reopens, Simon throws himself into this new world of demon-hunting, determined to find himself again.  Whomever this new Simon might be.

                But the Academy is a Shadowhunter institution, which means it has some problems.  Like the fact that non-Shadowhunter students have to live in the basement.  At least Simon’s trained in weaponry—even if it’s only from hours of playing D&D.

                Join Simon on his journey to become a Shadowhunter, and learn about the Academy’s illustrious history along the way, through guest lecturers such as Jace Herondale, Tessa Gray, and Magnus Bane.  Written by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, and Robin Wasserman, these moving and hilarious short stories are perfect for the fan who just can’t get enough of the Shadowhunters.

Why I’m Waiting:

                 Okay so I know I could read them now but come on I want them on my shelf with my other books!  Plus it makes me feel better to read them as a whole book rather than individual short stories.  Doing that makes my Goodreads challenge shoot up and makes me feel like I’m cheating!  Plus again need it on my shelf to help fill out my Shadowhunter shelf because yes they need their own shelf at this point.  Plus if you look at the cost it seems cheaper to buy the physical bind-up than each individual book if you are patient enough. 

                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!

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~ Dorothy Must Die Stories Vol. 2 by Danielle Paige

                “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:

Dorothy Must Die Stories Vol. 2 by Danielle Paige

Out:  2/16

From Goodreads:

A collection of three prequel novellas to the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die series!

Follow Dorothy’s iconic companions from the beloved classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as each of their gifts becomes key to the downfall of Oz.  After Dorothy Gale wished her way home and long before Amy Gumm found herself in Oz, Dorothy’s friends left the Road of Yellow Brick to go their separate ways.  But in a place like Oz, where magic and temptation lurk, the gifts from the Wizard begin to take on a life of their own.  The Tin Woodman becomes twisted with longing.  The Scarecrow develops a taste for plotting.  And doubt consumes the Cowardly Lion.

Kiss the land where troubles melt like lemon drops good-bye.  Here there’s danger around every corner, and magical shoes won’t be able to save you.

Why I’m Waiting:

                I enjoyed the first two books and the first novella bind up and look forward to continuing the series and that includes the novellas and seeing how the characters I knew from TV turned into the creatures of nightmares when Amy comes to town.  

~Waiting on Wednesday~ Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

                “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:

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

Out:  2/2

From Goodreads:

The enchantment continues….

The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories – and secrets – that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic.  How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing?  How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer?  When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies?

With six stories – two of which have never before been published – and an exclusive excerpt from Marissa Meyer’s upcoming novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.

Why I’m Waiting:

               The Lunar Chronicles novellas?  Yes please!  I haven’t read any of them yet because I’d rather them be in matching format (aka hardcover).  Plus the cover just released and it looks beautiful and much like the original series ones that makes me all happy J