Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

Book Description:

Hardcover, 416 pages
Published May 5th 2015 by Bloomsbury Children's

A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it... or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

Reviewer's Copy: Hardcover

Source: Purchased 

My Thoughts:

A Court of Thorns and Roses surpassed my expectations. It was as amazing as I thought it would be and more. I was immediately lost within its charm and riveting tale. The fey winked at me and like a willing victim, I went with them.

The story world was all the sounds and sights that I have imagined and more. Prythian was a sprawling land of surprises, magic and danger. The writing was beautiful, captivating and flawless. There was no fault that I could find. It was the first thing that drew me in. The words wrapped around me like a comfortable blanket that I could not let go of, before drifting into a magical dream.

Feyre was an artist, sensitive and observant when it came down to color and texture. However, for the most part of the book, I saw her as a hunter who had the skills to survive. She was fierce and brave, going against all odds to bring food to the table, when no one else would. Living in Prythian was life-changing for Feyre. Her heart held such loneliness and I wanted to see something good happen to her. However, instead of walking into happiness, Feyre walked into a cage of pain and trials. I was constantly at the edge of my seat with the life-threatening situations and suspense that Feyre faced.

Rhysand was the one who caught my attention and held it in his night-kissed hands. He was the High Lord of the Night Court. He was perfection in my eyes. His moon-white skin, inky black hair and violet eyes were bullets against my armor. Throughout the story, I saw the good and bad sides of him. He was magnetic, devastatingly attractive and brilliant. His mind was a beautiful thing to observe and behold - always one step ahead of the game. His charm was like the stars in the sky - constant and forever. He seemed like the bad guy at times, however, behind his actions, I could see kernels of goodness. He was constantly masking his good deeds and intentions underneath smirks and threats. He has taken my heart for himself and I cannot get it back. I have fallen in love with his character right from the beginning, in Calanmai. I am looking forward to knowing him more thoroughly in the next installments.

Tamlin, the 'Beast' of the story, was good and noble. He was the High Lord of the Spring Court. Upon bursting violently through Feyre's front door, he had my eyebrow raised. He was a gentleman in his own right, however he had a layer of temper lingering underneath his skin. He tended to be overprotective and perhaps unwilling to value other's capacity to take control of themselves and be in control of a situation over his loss of control. It made me sad and a bit put off how he dealt with some things in his life.

The minor characters were brilliant and alive as well. Lucien, the Emissary of the Spring Court, was an intriguing character. He had a dark past, a quick mind and charm. It was endearing how he and Feyre slowly began to turn into friends despite their bad beginning. Alis, one of the household helps, was also a joy to read. She had a heart for a human. Her concern and compassion spoke volumes.

The action and suspense made my blood flow a little faster and my heart beat a little louder. It brought me back to the days when I read The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. The twists and turns kept things interesting. I was constantly picking up breadcrumbs left by Maas throughout the pages, following any trail and any pattern that I could find. I was forming and testing theories in my head all throughout the novel. It was fun and stimulating to read something so well-planned and well-written. The ending was a promise of better and exciting things to come. I was satisfied with it, considering that it dealt with my favorite characters.

A Court of Thorns and Roses is heart-pounding and unforgettable with its burst of colors, wonders and twists. Cloaked with magic and layers of secrets, it is relentless in delivering entertainment. I highly recommend this to readers of faeries/fey, readers of fantasy and readers who delight in stories inspired by fairytales. You need this series in your life!

Rating:

5 Cupids = Eternal book love.
I will never, ever, ever forget this book. I highly recommend this!

Celebrating Debutantes 2017: #Famous by Jilly Gagnon (Character Interview + Giveaway)

Hi guys! Today you're in for a special treat. Jilly did her magic and made this fun character interview possible - with Rachel and Kyle from #Famous! I love Instagram and I can totally see myself loving this book to bits. Hope you like it! Stick around for a special giveaway at the end.

For additional points, you could answer this question: If you could post a photo on Instagram that you wouldn't have otherwise posted on a normal day, what would it be and why?

Tomorrow, head over to Blackplume for the next feature!

Precious: mic test, mic test. Is this thing working?
*Staff scrambles to fix the sound system*
Precious: Perfeeect. Hello, Rachel and Kyle! *winks* Let's start with the interview.

Describe your happiest moment to us.
Rachel: I'm not sure what I'd even pick.
Kyle: It's when you first laid eyes on me, obviously.
Rachel: You're cute and all, but that's ridiculous.
Kyle: That's mine but for you.
Rachel: And you're a total liar.
Kyle: But it sounds good, right?
Rachel: It sounds sappy. If I put that in a play Mo would cross it out and write "cliche" in red pen all over the page. And my face. And your face.
Kyle: Alright, fair. Don't tell her I said it. Mo kinda terrifies me.

What is love, for you?
Rachel: Do you even know that at our age? I feel like I'm still finding that out, honestly.
Kyle: I think love is when you'd rather make someone else happy than yourself.
Rachel: Now I feel like a jerk. What he said. Or...I dunno, puppies.
Kyle: Love is puppies?
Rachel: It's a metaphor. Or...whatever, Kyle wins this question.
Kyle: [fist pumps]

What is your ideal "happy ending?"
Kyle: I'm pretty sure whatever I say you're gonna tell me it's a cliche again, right?
Rachel: Not if you said "and then I finally accepted that my girlfriend is, and always will be, a better bowler than I am."
Kyle: She said ending. That's not over.
Rachel: Keep telling yourself that, Kyle.

What is your biggest mistake?
Kyle: Oh man, these are seriously intense questions.
Rachel: I mean, on one level the picture was a mistake...
Kyle: Oh c'mon, you don't mean that.
Rachel: Let me finish! I was going to say that on another level, it turned out pretty alright in the end.
Kyle: [indignant, gestures to self] Pretty alright? This is way better than pretty alright. I'm at least...
Rachel: A good consolation prize?
Kyle: Exactly.

What is your favorite quote? Have you used it on each other?
Rachel: Wow...can I just say "all of Mrs. Dalloway?"
Kyle: There's no way you can say that.
Rachel: Fine. I guess...I like this one Thoreau quote, "the world is but a canvas to our imagination." Sometimes it helps me when I have serious writer's block.
[pause]
Kyle: Umm...put up or shut up?
Rachel: That's not even a quote.
Kyle: Sure it is. Ollie says it all the time.
Rachel: Your favorite quote is by Ollie.
Kyle: My favorite quote is...something you've written. That I'll remember later.
Rachel: Nice save. And for the record, he has totally used that on me.

If you could post a photo on Instagram right now, what would it be and what would be the caption?
Rachel: Seriously, anything but a picture of this one. I get it, every other girl on earth is into him.
Kyle: Are you jealous? I'd post a picture of you. With the caption "The most beautiful girl in the world and somehow she fell for a doofus like me."
Rachel: You are a total suck-up.
Kyle: But, like, it works, right?
Rachel rolls her eyes but can't repress a grin

Is there something you can't do now that you could do before the incident? What is it? Why?
Kyle: I can't really work at Burger Barn any more.
Rachel: That's totally a perk.
Kyle: For sure. I'm not complaining.
Rachel: Sometimes I get recognized which is utterly bizarre. But it's not like I can't go out in public or anything. Unless I straighten my hair. But I could never really do that effectively in the first place.

Is there anything you would like to change in your life?
Kyle: Honestly? Not even a little. I feel like I won the lottery or something.
Rachel: I'd like to be a Tony-winning playwright.
Kyle: Oh, fine. If we're playing that way, I want, like...a yacht?
Rachel: I'd go with castle.
Kyle: Why choose?
Rachel: Good point. So the Tony, and the yacht and the castle. Otherwise I'm content.

Thank you, Jilly!

About the Author:

Jilly Gagnon is currently based in Chicago, but is originally from Minnesota, a fact she'll likely inform you of within minutes of meeting you. Her humor writing, personal essays, and op-eds have appeared in Newsweek, Elle, Vanity Fair, Boston Magazine, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, The Toast, and The Hairpin, among others.

She writes both humor and young adult fiction. She's represented by Dawn Frederick of Red Sofa Literary (for humor) and Taylor Haggerty of Waxman Leavell (for young adult writing).

She's an especially good conversation partner if you love amazing cocktails, terrible television, or talking to your cats.

Find Jily: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Book Description:

Hardcover, 384 pages
Published February 14th 2017 by Katherine Tegen Books

In this modern-day love story, Girl likes Boy, Girl takes photo of Boy and posts it online, Boy becomes accidentally insta-famous. And what starts out as an innocent joke spirals into a whirlwind adventure that could change both their lives—and their hearts—forever. But are fame and love worth the price?

Told in alternating points of view, #famous captures the out-of-control thrill ride of falling for someone in front of everyone.

Giveaway

Thanks to Jilly for sponsoring this giveaway!
What's up for grabs: Signed ARC of #Famous
Scope: US
*If you have a mailing address in US or someone to send it to, you may join

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Get your daily dose of YA and MG debut goodness in #CelebratingDebutantes2017! 

Click the button above to be redirected to the main page where you can browse the list of novels and authors that we are featuring.

Playlist: Karmic Hearts by Jhing Bautista

Hi guys! Today I'm featuring a playlist for Karmic Hearts! Bautista chose the songs well and handpicked some of my favorite songs, such as Down from the Vampire Diaries OST.

Maricar from Blackplume described Karmic Hearts as " a light read that is perfect for those who love cute romance. It is delightful, romantic and heartwarming. Something every romance lovers will surely enjoy reading."

Here is a quote from the book that I like: “If everything is unfair in this world, then doesn’t that make it fair?”

I think that it makes perfect sense. :) Are you ready to experience Karmic Hearts?

Matchmaker by AJ Rafael



Heaven Can Wait by We The Kings



Down by Jason Walker



Her Love Is My Religion by The Cab



Ever Enough by A Rocket To The Moon



Stupid Love Letter by The Friday Night Boys



I Should Go by Levi Kreis



Beautiful Excuses by Rixton



Scars by James Bay

Book Description:

Paperback, 241 pages
Published 2017 by Summit Books, Pop Fiction

Love. Magic. Fate. Best-selling romance novel author Karmina Joan writes about these things. She believes that every person has a purpose, that every soul has a destiny to fulfill. She thought hers was simply sharing her stories.

Her story unfolds with Cupid, the Angel of Love himself. He brings with him a mysterious vessel and a message from on high. It turns out Karmina has a bigger purpose after all—a mission that will make or break humanity as we know it.

As Cupid teaches her the tricks of his trade, Karmina unknowingly gives him something unexpected in return— something the angel of love will find oddly familiar. This may become the one flaw in an otherwise perfect plan that destiny had in store for them.

Does love truly conquer all or are there limits to what humanity can do in the name of love? Witness as Karmina struggles to find the answers before time runs out on true love.

Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Whenever I'm With You by Lydia Sharp

Hi guys! Today, we're featuring a YA romance novel on #CelebratingDebutantes2017. Whenever I'm With You is written by Lydia Sharp, who also happens to be an editor at Entangled Pub! The book is set in Alaska, so readers looking for a little bit of nature in their books would enjoy this. Aside from the fun interview, Lydia is also presenting an exclusive deleted scene from Whenever I'm With You that has never been shared before in other platforms! I hope you guys enjoy this. :)

What or who inspired you to write Whenever I'm with You?

The story of Chris McCandless was a huge inspiration for this story. If you haven’t read Into the Wild by John Krakaur yet, I highly recommend it. I’ve been fascinated with Chris’s story since I first heard of it—what made him do what he did? Then I took that question and asked it of a fictional character who does something similar, takes a journey into dangerous territory on his own without telling anyone. Kai’s story and Chris’s story are NOT the same, but Chris was a big inspiration for the story idea that led to this book, and you’ll find a lot of nods to him throughout.

What was the hardest scene or part to write?

The ending chapters, hands down. Not the very last chapter, which wraps everything up, but the cluster of chapters right before it that make up the finale and climax. From first draft to finished book, I rewrote the finale at least three times. And I mean *complete* rewrites—totally different things happened in each version. I also went back and forth a few times on whether the twins would find their dad alive or dead at the end of the journey. My editor and I discussed that particular point at length before we agreed on what would work best.

I can’t go into more detail without giving away spoilers for those who haven’t read it yet, but I can say the original finale included a scene where Hunter and Gabi jump out of a helicopter in flight. I really liked that part, so I found a way to have Gabi and Kai do something similar in the final version. You’ll have to read the book to see what it is. :)

Was it easy or difficult to distinguish Kai from Hunter and vice versa? While you were writing how did you choose which twin would be the one to disappear and stay with Gabi?

The decision was made in the idea stage of the book, before the story was written. I developed the twins’ personalities *after* I knew which would leave and which would accompany Gabi on her journey to find the other.

Knowing that ahead of time helped me figure out who they were as individuals. Since Kai is the one who takes off on his own, I thought about what kind of person would do what he did, and went from there. He is energetic and impulsive, goal-driven, likes a challenge, doesn’t always make the right decision but has good intentions. He also prefers to solve things on his own, without help. And when I thought about how Hunter might react to his disappearance, I realized he was much more levelheaded than Kai. He thinks long and hard before making a decision, weighs all the options, does what’s best for everyone, not just himself. He also has a very protective spirit and often takes on the role of caregiver.

So their personalities complement each other but also cause friction between them sometimes because they have differing views. Once I figured that out, it was easy to keep them as separate people in my head. They aren’t physically identical, either, so that helped, too.

Could you share your favorite line from the book? How did you come up with this line?

My favorite line was actually *so much* my favorite—and my editor’s—that we put it at the beginning of the book, on its own page, before the story starts.

“Wherever you go, let your heart lead your feet.”

I honestly don’t remember how I came up with that! But it’s been a life motto for me ever since. :)

Did you draw from personal experiences while writing this story?

Yes, several. :) But I’ll just mention a couple. I sometimes work as an extra in movies, which Gabi also did when she lived in SoCal. There is a part in the book where she relays one of her experiences on set with her mom, and much of what she says was drawn from what I learned as an extra. Working in movies can be fun, but I don’t think most people realize that when you’re not playing a big role, the majority of your day is spent just waiting around to be called in for a scene. Always bring a book!

Another thing I drew from personal experience was Gabi’s position as a child of divorced parents. The views she has mirror how I felt when my parents divorced, and I didn’t want to hold back from showing the ugly side of that situation. Her dad falls into a terrible depression. Gabi and her mother are not on speaking terms. And Gabi doesn’t always think rationally when the topic comes up, because she’s still too emotional about what happened. If your parents were married your whole life, coming to terms with their divorce when you’re a teen is extremely difficult. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but for those who have gone through it or who are going through it now, I wanted them to know they aren’t alone and what they feel is perfectly valid—even the dark stuff.

Could you share with us a deleted scene from Whenever I'm with You?
Sure! I’ve never shared this one anywhere yet, so you’re getting an exclusive. :)

After dinner, I go to bed early. In my state of half-asleep, half-awake, I hear Kai talking to Vicki in the other room. Hunter’s voice never joins them, and I can’t understand what they’re saying. The world fades in and out a few times, then I hear Kai tending the fire in our room, and he tosses another blanket over me. Over us. He huddles up in bed next to me. The tip of his nose touches my cheek, and he whispers, “If you can hear me, Gabi, I love you.”

He loves me. He’s never said that before. Does he expect me to say it back? I feel more strongly for him than anyone else I’ve been with. I’m incredibly concerned for his welfare. I care for him, a lot. But is that love? I’m not sure. The lengths we’ve gone to for each other on this trip might qualify as some kind of love, but I don’t think that’s what he meant. I think he meant love love. The biggest kind. The kind of expression that shouldn’t be met with silence, and like a dummy that’s all I’m giving him.

Unfazed by my lack of response, he fingers my hair, brushes a thumb over my cheek. He kisses me lightly on the lips and curls an arm around me, pulling me close. “We’ll be all right now. All of us. Everything’s going to be okay.”

“Promise?” I whisper.

“That and more,” he says. “I’d promise you the sun, moon, and stars if I could, make them shine just for you.”

“I don’t want all that, Kai. I just want you.” Even so, I still can’t get myself to say those three little words that flowed so easily from his lips a moment ago. He doesn’t seem to care, though, as he uses those same lips to show me how much he meant every syllable, over and over and over again.

—end of excerpt—

Thank you so much for having me here!

Thank you, Lydia!

About the Author:

Lydia Sharp worked a number of different jobs, everything from retail management to veterinary medicine, before turning their passion for stories into a career. They are now an editor for Entangled Publishing and write young adult novels with lots of kissing and adventures. Lydia lives in Ohio with their husband, son, and an ever-growing collection of owls. When not completely immersed in a book, Lydia binges on Netflix, pines for Fall, and hosts mad tea parties in Wonderland. Follow on Twitter @lydia_sharp for writing updates and other shenanigans. Life is an adventure—turn the page.

Find Lydia: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Book Description:

Hardcover, 304 pages
January 3, 2017, Scholastic Press

A missing boy.

A road trip into the Alaskan wilderness.

A week that will change everything…

After Gabi’s parents’ divorce, she moves to Alaska with her dad. At first, it feels like banishment—until she meets Kai. He welcomes her into his life, sharing his family, his friends, and his warmth. Until suddenly, Kai pulls away for seemingly no reason at all. He’s quiet, withdrawn. Then one day, he disappears.

Kai’s twin, Hunter, believes Kai’s retracing their missing father’s steps in the wilderness north of Anchorage. When they learn there’s a blizzard on the way, Gabi’s hurt at Kai’s coldness swiftly turns to serious concern. He’s alone out there. This is the boy who saved her from the dark. She can’t lose him to it.

So Gabi convinces Hunter to join her on a wild journey north—a trip that will challenge them physically and emotionally, as they try to convince the boy they love to return home.

Giveaway

Thanks to Lydia for sponsoring this giveaway!

What's up for grabs:

For US residents: A signed hardcover of Whenever I'm With You
For International readers: A hardcover of Whenever I'm With You shipped from the Book Depository

Scope: International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get your daily dose of YA and MG debut goodness in #CelebratingDebutantes2017! 

Click the button above to be redirected to the main page where you can browse the list of novels and authors that we are featuring.

Release Day Blitz: Infallible by Bailey Quinn

Title: Infallible


Author: Bailey Quinn


Genre: Detective/Mystery crime


Release Date: 24th June 2016


Pulbisher: Fire Quill Publishing


ISBN: 9780996974882

BLURB

From the moment Detective Scarlet Anne Martins steps into that prison, her heart begins to take over her head. Unable to deny her feelings for Alaric any longer, her desperation to save him will ultimately be what will kill them both. For a super cop, her judgement in men has truly failed her. And if matters of the heart weren’t distracting enough, she has to survive the next twenty-four hours without killing someone. Finding herself a fugitive in a foreign country, she has to rely on her charming personality, which she has long since learned to turn on when needed. But with her distinctive South African accent, and stunning good looks, she is at risk of being turned in to the authorities at any moment. With nowhere to run, she has no alternative but to face the peril head on, and ensnare the evil that is chasing her down. But with so few resources, the only way to do that is to give them exactly what they want – herself.

AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bailey Quinn is a pen name Carlyle Labuschagne writes her crime fiction under, she is an South African award wining author, with a flair for mixing genres and adding loads of drama to every story she creates. For now she is happy to take over the world and convert non Sci-fi believers.
Her goal as an author is to touch people's lives, and help others love their differences and one another by delivering strong messages of faith, love and hope within each world she writes about.

"I love to swim, fight for the trees, and am a food lover who is driven by my passion for life. I dream that one day my stories will change the lives of countless teenagers and have them obsess over the world literacy can offer them instead of worrying about fitting in. Never sacrifice who you are, its in the dark times that the light comes to life."

Carlyle used writing as a healing tool and that is why she started her very own writers support event - SAIR - "To be a helping hand for those who strive to become full times writers, editors, bloggers, readers and cover artists - its a crazy world out there you dont have to go it alone!"

About Fire Quill Publishing


.

Fire Quill Publishing is located in sunny South Africa. We strive to only publish and distribute pre-eminent novels to our audience, and work to offer superb marketing services to our authors. Each division is run by a team of experts in their respective fields in order to make your experience in the publishing industry as fun and exciting as possible, whilst still offering the highest quality and professionalism.

Fire Quill Publishing operates internationally, and supports international authors.
Take a look at our titles and new titles coming soon, and for those that like to read before novels are released, you can grab some of our titles before publication on Netgalley

Our aspiration is to market popular genres such as fantasy, paranormal, and science fiction, in South Africa. However, we are most certainly open to other genres as well. Please visit our Submission Guidelines for detailed instructions on how to submit your manuscript to Fire Quill Publishing.

GIVEAWAY FOR INFALLIBLE!

1 $25 Amazon Gift card

5 Infallible e-copies

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for participating in Infallible's release Day Blitz.

Review: The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh

Book Description:

Hardcover, 416 pages
Published April 26th 2016 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

The darker the sky, the brighter the stars.

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad is forced from the arms of her beloved husband, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once thought Khalid a monster—a merciless killer of wives, responsible for immeasurable heartache and pain—but as she unraveled his secrets, she found instead an extraordinary man and a love she could not deny. Still, a curse threatens to keep Shazi and Khalid apart forever.

Now she’s reunited with her family, who have found refuge in the desert, where a deadly force is gathering against Khalid—a force set on destroying his empire and commanded by Shazi’s spurned childhood sweetheart. Trapped between loyalties to those she loves, the only thing Shazi can do is act. Using the burgeoning magic within her as a guide, she strikes out on her own to end both this terrible curse and the brewing war once and for all. But to do it, she must evade enemies of her own to stay alive.

The saga that began with The Wrath and the Dawn takes its final turn as Shahrzad risks everything to find her way back to her one true love again.

Reviewer's Copy: Hardcover

Source: Purchased

Note: This is the sequel of the duet. You guys can read my review of the first book here: The Wrath and the Dawn.

My Thoughts:

The long wait was finally over, I thought, as I held the copy of The Rose and the Dagger in my hands. It took me months to finally spot a copy in the wild and purchase it. It took me a few hours, a sleepless dream, and the rest of the morning to finish this bad boy. It was worth the wait.

I got a bird's eye view of Khorasan, getting a glimpse into Rey, the Badawi camps, Fire Temple and Parthia. Ahdieh, as always, delivered searing images of the unforgiving desert, the magical temple and the opulence of palaces. The attention to detail involved in this book was flawless. Every breath, every swallow and bite of food, every movement and every word gave off a Middle Eastern vibe for me. I thoroughly appreciated how the culture was written into the story and was a vital element of the story. The Rose and the Dagger felt alive in my hands.

Shahrzad was stuck in the Badawi camp, under the watchful eye of everyone in camp, including Tariq, Rahim, Irsa, the sheikh and Reza bin-Latief, the father of Shiva, Shazi's best friend. The Calipha of Khorasan was determined to fight against all odds and to be reunited with Khalid Ibn al-Rashid, her king. Shazi has always been resilient and positive, despite the utter hopelessness of the situation. Shahrzad was fiery, with a silver tongue, a temper and knack for trouble. I have always found Shahrzad to be strong and fierce, the reflection of a modern woman fighting for what she believes in.

Khalid was still the boy-king living in shadows, still a bit distanced from the world. However, in the sequel, Khalid stepped out of the shadows and out into the light. In pursuit of ending the curse, Khalid joined Shahrzad in the search for the cure. He was still always a breath away from unleashing rage, but he was able to stay his hand and his shamshir sheathed. This male continued to amaze me with his flawless manners, such good decorum and such wise words. He earned more of my respect with his interaction with Tariq. The face off of the two lovers of Shahrzad was filled with electric energy and antagonism. It was one of the things I looked forward to, since in the first few pages of The Wrath and the Dawn, I was Team Tariq (prior to meeting Khalid fully.)

There were new characters in the sequel, such as Artan Temujin, a young but powerful magus residing in the Fire Temple. The personalities, struggles and relationship of Rahim and Irsa were also tackled in the book. Their story left a bittersweet, nostalgic taste in my mouth. The characters from The Wrath and the Dawn grew and became more complex in The Rose and the Dagger. There were a lot of changes in the characters, a lot of growth as they went through their own struggles with life. This made me more interested and invested in the book.

The plot was twisty, winding in and out of the central loop of the story. There were a lot of twists and turns in the book, jumping from marble to sand and vice versa. I found myself sitting at the edge of my seat, flipping the pages so fast, only to go back and reread exquisite sections of the book. The beautiful writing was still there: cut as sharp and fine as crystals, dripping with emotion and ever so fluid. This sequel cemented Renee Ahdieh's spot as one of my most favorite authors ever.

The Rose and the Dagger was unforgettable, bursting with romance, palpable tension, and the promise of disaster and wonder. The Rose and the Dagger was an exotic elixir, standing out in the field of fantasy romance, with the flavor of surprises. I highly recommend this series to all readers of fantasy and romance, readers who are looking for Middle East-inspired tales and exotic setting.

Rating:

5 Cupids = Eternal book love.
I will never, ever, ever forget this book. I highly recommend this!

Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Book Description:

Hardcover, 383 pages
Published February 10th 2015 by HarperTeen

This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart ...

Reviewer's Copy: Hardcover

Source: Purchased

My Thoughts:

Red Queen was a surprise for me. I had avoided the book for a year now, in fear of being disappointed. I was halfway through the first chapter when I decided that it was worth trying. The imagery was vivid, painting the story world in vibrant colors. The author had an amazing writing style. She made everything appear movie-esque and cinematic, especially the action scenes. I loved these parts most of all. I savored every cinematic scene in the book as much as I could. It reminded me a bit of Marie Lu's writing style, as we've seen it in Legend. The plot was exciting and action-packed, with just the right amount of humor, sarcasm and drama. The dystopic setting made it all the more appealing to me.

Mare as a heroine was fierce and daring. She was a bright flame in a dark room, filling up the pages with snark, courage and determination. She was street smart, having been a thief who outsmarted several people on a daily basis. However, I felt that she made some unwise decisions on the book, despite her rational, logical and suspicious characteristics. I liked how she stuck with the rebellion all throughout the novel, never putting down the crimson flag. She kept fighting for the equality of Reds and for that she earned my respect. As she navigated the court of Silvers, she kept her heart beating Red. She bore two faces: the Silver, cold and calculating mask of Lady Mareena; and the open and fierce face of a Red ready to fight and survive.

There were two princes in the book: Cal, the first born and heir; and Maven, the second prince. Cal was like the "summer prince" for me, warm, thoughtful, gentle but also fierce and lethal. He seemed out of the place in the gentry, with his easy and sincere smiles. I instantly loved him. How could I not? He protected Mare, a Red, and offered her kindness over and over again. Maven, on the other hand, was the overlooked prince. He was the shadow of the flame, always a step behind his brother. He was the lonely prince and Mare and I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Maven seemed to appear at the right time and say the right words. He has become a companion to Mare, helping her adjust and bear the eyes of the Silvers. To make things more interesting, there was actually a third boy: Kilorn, Mare's longtime friend. With green eyes, a mouth that said the funniest, silliest things, he was quite a handful. But that didn't stop Mare from caring about him. He was a Red and an orphan, making him one of the most vulnerable characters in the book. However, Kilorn was nothing if not a fighter. He was tired of the system, just like all the Reds. He wanted a change and he would do anything to see it come to pass.

There were two classifications of men: Red and Silver. Reds were the people born without abilities, without that special something in their blood to make them stand out. They served the Silvers endlessly, breathing and living to make the life of Silvers easy. They worked hard, bled and most of them died in the war. The conscription was mandatory and every individual aged 18 and non-working, would be sent to the war to fight a century-old battle. The Silvers were the upper class, the special ones who had special abilities. They lorded over the Reds, controlling and ruling the population. The divide made me feel so angry at the unfairness of it all. It was like racism, only worse: it zeroed in on the presence of special abilities. Since Reds and Silvers didn't really mix, and there was no 'marrying in,' (at least not mentioned in Red Queen) then this meant that Red families would continue to be sans special abilities forever. It might just be me but the reader in me, saw similarities of the situation in modern life: the divide between the marginalized sector and the upper class. It was almost impossible to get through that wall dividing the two.

Initially, I thought the Silvers to be faeries because of the exposure to faery-like powers in the early parts of the book. But as the story progressed, I realized that the type of powers in the book was much more diverse and bordered on similarities with X-Men. I would have liked a much more detailed discussion on the historical aspect of Silvers and Reds because I was so curious about the origin of Silvers. Where did they come from? How did they came to be? Was it like the Lord of the Rings, where they had various types of creatures co-existing in a single world? I wanted to know. I was a bit sad that this question went unanswered.

Red Queen was a startlingly violent and engrossing fantasy, tinged with intense emotions, class struggle and oppression. It was not a perfect book, there were holes in the story, but do not let this stop you from trying to read the book. It was an enjoyable tale, with an entertaining cast. I recommend it to readers of fantasy, readers who like cinematic action scenes, and readers who like super powers in YA.

Rating:

4 Cupids = Strong book love.
I really enjoyed this. I recommend this!

Celebrating Debutantes 2016: The Girl Who Fell by Shannon M. Parker (Interview, Review + Giveaway)

Today, I'm featuring one of the 2016 debuts that I've read so far. A lot of readers are looking forward to The Girl Who Fell by Shannon M. Parker. If you're not one of them yet, let me convince you with this review and interview. We're giving away a copy of the book + swag later!

Book Description:

Hardcover, 368 pages
Expected publication: March 1st 2016 by Simon Pulse

His obsession.
Her fall.

In this dark kissing book, high school senior Zephyr Doyle is swept off her feet—and into an intense relationship—by the new boy in school.

Zephyr is focused. Focused on leading her team to the field hockey state championship and leaving her small town for her dream school, Boston College.

But love has a way of changing things.

Enter the new boy in school: the hockey team’s starting goaltender, Alec. He’s cute, charming, and most important, Alec doesn’t judge Zephyr. He understands her fears and insecurities—he even shares them. Soon, their relationship becomes something bigger than Zephyr, something she can’t control, something she doesn’t want to control.

Zephyr swears it must be love. Because love is powerful, and overwhelming, and…terrifying?

But love shouldn’t make you abandon your dreams, or push your friends away. And love shouldn’t make you feel guilty—or worse, ashamed.

So when Zephyr finally begins to see Alec for who he really is, she knows it’s time to take back control of her life.

If she waits any longer, it may be too late.

Reviewer's Copy: e-ARC

Source: Author + Edelweiss

My Thoughts:

Right from the start, I was sucked into the story. The writing was simply magical. It was the kind that wrapped around the my heart and refused to let go, sending me wave after wave of emotion - emotion that shouldn't belong to me in the first place, emotion that radiated from the protagonist, but for some unfathomable reason, I felt it, owned it and accepted it in the moment. I am not usually an emotional reader. It is typically hard to break through my shell and my walls of protection, but Parker did just that, disarming me in a way that was both soothing and overwhelming. I loved how Parker got under my skin so fast with just a few chosen words. I was swimming in her prose, lost and wandering and unwilling to go back to the surface.

Zephyr was the kind of protagonist that I didn't normally get close to, as well. She was sporty - something I have never been in my entire life - and she was quick to avoid emotional problems, related to her father who left her and her mother four months ago. Zephyr was the co-captain of her field hockey team, soldiering her way to the finals. She was also the best friend of Lizzie, the detective and editor-in-chief of the school paper, and Gregg, the ice hockey star of the school. Zephyr was avoiding boys and commitment for the moment. She was all-too-focused on her goal: Boston College and field hockey. Through Parker's superfluous writing, I met Zephyr, walked a step behind her throughout the story and at some point, I just got her. I understood her reasoning, her logic and her dreams. There were moments though, that I felt that she wasn't exactly doing the wisest things despite her solid logic and understanding of things.

The book tackled different relationships, with family, friends and lovers. I enjoyed reading about friends Zephyr, Gregg and Lizzie, but zeroed in on Gregg and Zephyr. From the beginning, I wanted Gregg to end up with Zephyr. Gregg was undeniably sweet and thoughtful towards Zephyr. There were fireworks all over the pages. However, Zephyr wasn't prepared for him to make a move, so their friendship spiraled into an awkward state of avoidance and adjusting. I would have loved to get to know Gregg more, though.

Alec, the perfect boy who was new in school, was an individual of mystery. He was sweet, said the right things at the right time, and seemed to appear at the right moment. The attraction between Alec and Zephyr was instantaneous. They gravitated towards one another, finding each other in stolen moments. The attraction magnified into something more intense and harder to pull away from. Zephyr was so in love, so much so that she experienced this momentary blindness, which came hand in hand with being in love. She was willing to do anything and everything for Alec. It was so convincing and felt so strong that it reminded me of my past relationship.

The plot was winding and smooth. Each twist added flavor to the story, making it more interesting. Every character was a piece in the puzzle, building and completing the whole picture. There was an element in the book that reminded me of a suspense novel. While reading, I was mostly at the edge of my seat, ready to flip to the next page This was proof that The Girl Who Fell really got me hooked.

The Girl Who Fell swept me off my feet, overdosed me with the feels and slammed me right back to the ground of reality. It was an intoxicating read that was romantic and suspenseful at the same time. I recommend this to readers of contemporary romance and psychology.

Rating:

4 Cupids = Strong book love.
I really enjoyed this. I recommend this!

*****
The Girl Who Fell is a sweeping contemporary with psychological themes. What kind of research did you do for The Girl Who Fell?

Most of my research was anecdotal. I’d heard a lot of stories from too many girls about how a boy manipulated their feelings and decisions. Hearing their stories made one rise in me.

Character development is very important in this kind of story. How did you mold Zephyr and Alec's character?

The trickiest thing to do was to have the reader fall for Alec the way that Zephyr does. Alec needed to earn Zephyr’s trust, earn the reader’s trust. Alec’s character had to have value and depth so that the reader could see why an intelligent, driven girl like Zephyr would fall for him. And Zephyr had to be smart. My hope has always been that this book will help end discussions that start with: “How could she let this happen?”. I wanted the character development to be so realistic that readers could see how a girl could fall. Any girl. And that maybe books like mine will help to end a culture of shaming the victim for her choices.

How did you develop the romance between the two?

I focused on the intoxication of first love. The intensity, the heat. The fear and exhilaration of trusting another person with your emotions, your secrets.

What were the challenges that you encountered while writing the book, if any? How did you deal with it?

Self-doubt is always my biggest challenge. I have a lot of it and I haven’t found a way to silence it yet. I’m open to any and all suggestions.

How different was the final version from the original version?

The most significant edits happened in relation to the tone of the book. I removed a lot of funnier dialogue and scenes in order to preserve the intensity of the story.

Thanks so much!

About the Author:

Shannon Parker lives on the Atlantic coast in a house full of boys. She’s traveled to over three dozen countries and has a few dozen more to go. She works in education and can usually be found rescuing dogs, chickens, old houses and wooden boats. Shannon has a weakness for chocolate chip cookies and ridiculous laughter—ideally, at the same time. The Girl Who Fell is her first novel.

Follow Shannon: Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram



Giveaway

Thank you to Emily for this giveaway!
What's up for grabs: HC of The Girl Who Fell; GIRL lip gloss; GIRL mood pencil.
Scope: US

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Treat yourself to a complete #CelebratingDebutantes2016 experience. Click the image below for the full schedule and links to the posts!

Celebrating Debutantes 2016: Arrows by Melissa Gorzelanczyk (Review + Giveaway)

Hi guys! For today, I'm reviewing one of my favorite Cupid novels so far. Cupid stories have always been my weakness but Arrows was just it for me. I loved it a lot. All the feels kept coming back to me days after I read the book.

Book Description:

Hardcover, 240 pages
Published January 26th 2016 by Delacorte Press

A modern cupid story set in present-day Wisconsin combining the fantastical elements of Greek mythology with the contemporary drama of MTV's Teen Mom.

People don’t understand love. If they did, they’d get why dance prodigy Karma Clark just can’t say goodbye to her boyfriend, Danny. No matter what he says or does or how he hurts her, she can’t stay angry with him . . . and can’t stop loving him. But there’s a reason why Karma is helpless to break things off: she’s been shot with a love arrow.
Aaryn, son of Cupid, was supposed to shoot both Karma and Danny but found out too late that the other arrow in his pack was useless. And with that, Karma’s life changed forever. One pregnancy confirmed. One ballet scholarship lost. And dream after dream tossed to the wind.

A clueless Karma doesn’t know that her toxic relationship is Aaryn’s fault . . . but he’s going to get a chance to make things right. He’s here to convince Danny to man up and be there for Karma. But what if this god from Mount Olympus finds himself falling in love with a beautiful dancer from Wisconsin who can never love him in return?

This fast-paced debut novel explores the internal & external conflicts of a girl who finds herself inexplicably drawn to a boy who seemingly doesn't reciprocate her feelings, touching on the issues of love, sex and responsibility, with a heroine struggling to control her destiny--perfect for fans of Katie McGarry's novels and MTV’s 16 and Pregnant.

Reviewer's Copy: e-ARC

Source: Edelweiss

My Thoughts:

My first impression of Arrows was that it was quite tragic from the start. The promise of tragedy and pain in the beginning jump started my reading experience. I am fond of Greek mythology and am quite well-versed with the levels of tragedy, pain, agony and heartbreak that are usually involved with these stories, but to witness the beginning of a fresh disaster was something else. It added to the excitement of the story since the readers are part of it right from the start.

The story was told from two perspectives, Aaryn's and Karma's. Aaryn was my favorite narrator. He was the son of Eros, Cupid himself. He was devastatingly charming that I couldn't quite move on from the story. He was handsome, so painfully sweet and thoughtful that my heart just melted all over the pages. He has to be one of the most caring gods I have ever encountered. His time on earth humanized him, making him see the situation of people, especially the lovestruck ones, up close. Interacting with Karma and witnessing the difficult time that she was going through on a day to day basis enabled Aaryn to understand the consequences of his work. Cupid stories have always been a weakness of mine. Arrows was another chink in my armor.

Karma was a heartfelt character. I felt her love, passion, sadness and pain. She was a victim of Aaryn's arrow and it was hurting more and more every day to be desperately, hopelessly in love with a person who didn't love her the same way she loved him. She was a dedicated mom, a passionate dancer and a loyal girlfriend. It was equally painful and amazing to read about a person who gave her best in everything that she did and yet wasn't receiving the appreciation and goodness that she was giving to the universe. It broke my heart to see an achiever settle for something inferior to her big dreams just to be with a person who didn't even want to be with her.

When Karma was with Aaryn, fireworks would explode, flowers would bloom and the side effects of all the feels would crawl all over my skin. The chemistry was palpable, although in the beginning Karma would deny it or shut it down because she was still in love with her boyfriend, the boy Aaryn was supposed to have shot with the second arrow so he could pair them for life. Now back on Earth, Aaryn would do everything he could to right his mistake, even if it meant saving the Karma himself. As he realized the magnitude of the effects of his failed pairing, he also found more and more reasons to love Karma. I loved reading about their interactions and conversations. It was like watching something beautiful and fragile unfurl.

Arrows is a heart-wrenchingly beautiful debut that will leave readers entranced and encapsulated in a cocoon of feels. I recommend this to readers of romance, readers who are looking for Cupid-related stories, or stories inspired by the Greek mythology. Give this gem a chance. You won't regret it.

Rating:

4 Cupids = Strong book love.
I really enjoyed this. I recommend this!

About the Author:

Melissa Gorzelanczyk is a former magazine editor and columnist who believes love is everything. She is a proud member of the SCBWI, The Sweet Sixteens and the Class of 2k16. She lives in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with her husband and family.

Her debut novel ARROWS is available now from Delacorte Press, a division of Penguin Random House. She is represented by agent Carrie Howland of Donadio & Olson.

Follow Melissa: Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter


Giveaway

Thank you to Melissa for this giveaway!
What's up for grabs: Signed Swag
Scope: US


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Treat yourself to a complete #CelebratingDebutantes2016 experience. Click the image below for the full schedule and links to the posts!