Monthly Archives: October 2017

Book Title:
Forest of a Thousand Lanterns
Book Author:
Julie C. Dao
Book Series:
Rise of the Empress, #1
Page Count:
363
Publishing Date:
October 10th, 2017
Publisher:
Philomel Books
Date Read:
October 30th, 2017
Source:
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!

Synopsis

An East Asian fantasy reimagining of The Evil Queen legend about one peasant girl's quest to become Empress--and the darkness she must unleash to achieve her destiny.

Eighteen-year-old Xifeng is beautiful. The stars say she is destined for greatness, that she is meant to be Empress of Feng Lu. But only if she embraces the darkness within her. Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village on the edge of the map, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng's majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high?

Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and exploit the callous magic that runs through her veins--sorcery fueled by eating the hearts of the recently killed. For the god who has sent her on this journey will not be satisfied until his power is absolute.

My Review

Another 5 star review – I’m so excited to be coming across so many amazing books these past few weeks! Forest of a Thousand Lanterns was nothing like I was expecting, and I’m not even entirely sure what that was.  … Continue reading

5 stars
12 Comments
Book Tour

Author: Michelle Madow Narrator: Andrea Emmes Series: The Transcend Time Saga, Book 1.5 Length: 1 hours 8 minutes Publisher: Dreamscape Publishing Released: Jul. 31, 2017 Genre: Clean Romance How far would you go to get revenge? When Chelsea Givens discovered … Continue reading

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Book Tour

Us Kids Known Author: JJ Strong Publication Date: October 24th, 2017 Publisher: Razorbill Synopsis: We all knew about Cullen Hickson.  Siblings Bri and Ray O’Dell are lost. Anxious. Restless. Ray—bullied at his Catholic school for being small and timid—wants to be … Continue reading

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Book Tour

Never Apart Author: Romily Bernard Publication Date: October 3rd, 2017 Publisher: Entangled Teen Synopsis: How many times would you die for love? What if you had to relive the same five days over and over? And what if at the … Continue reading

4 Comments
Book Tour

Author: Michelle Madow Narrator: Andrea Emmes Series: The Transcend Time Saga, Book 1 Length: 7 hours 5 minutes Publisher: Dreamscape Publishing Released: Jul. 31, 2017 Genre: Clean Romance They’re reincarnated soulmates. So why is he pushing her away? Lizzie Davenport … Continue reading

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Book Tour

Carry Me Home Author: Jessica Therrien Publication Date: September 26th, 2017 Publisher: Acorn Publishing Genres: Contemporary, Thriller, Young Adult Synopsis: “A riveting page-turner… Jessica Therrien broke my heart into a million pieces — and then put it back together again. … Continue reading

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Book Title:
Vanilla
Book Author:
Billy Merrell
Page Count:
320
Publishing Date:
October 10th, 2017
Publisher:
Push
Date Read:
October 19th, 2017
Source:
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!

Synopsis

Vanilla and Hunter have been dating since seventh grade. They came out together, navigated middle school together, and became that couple in high school that everyone always sees as a couple. There are complications and confusions, for sure. But most of all, they love each other.As high school goes, though, and as their relationship deepens, some cracks begin to show. Hunter thinks they should be having sex.Vanilla isn't so sure. Hunter doesn't mind hanging out with loud, obnoxious friends.Vanilla would rather avoid them. If they're becoming different people, can they be the same couple? Falling in love is hard. Staying in love is harder.

My Review

Boy this is a hard review to write.  Vanilla has been getting a bit of backlash from the book community lately, and I wasn’t sure why – I mean, don’t get me wrong, the book isn’t perfect, but as a … Continue reading

3 stars
4 Comments
Book Title:
Spellbook of the Lost and Found
Book Author:
Moïra Fowley-Doyle
Page Count:
368
Publishing Date:
October 20th, 2017
Publisher:
Kathy Dawson Books
Date Read:
August 22nd, 2017
Source:
I received a copy from the publisher - Thank you!

Synopsis

If you’re not careful, you can spend your whole life looking for what you’ve lost.

One stormy summer in a small Irish town, things begin to disappear. It starts with trivial stuff—hair clips, house keys, socks—but soon it escalates to bigger things: a memory, a heart, a classmate.

Olive can tell that her best friend, Rose, is different all of a sudden. Rose isn’t talking, and Olive starts to worry she’s losing her. Then diary pages written by someone named Laurel begin to appear all over town. And Olive meets three mysterious strangers: Ivy, Hazel, and her twin brother, Rowan, secretly squatting in an abandoned housing development. The trio are wild and alluring, but they seem lost too—and like Rose, they’re holding tightly to painful secrets.

When a tattered handwritten spellbook falls into the lives of these six teenagers, it changes everything. The spellbook is full of charms to conjure back that which has been lost, and it lists a part for each of them to play in the calling. It might be their best chance to set everything back to rights, but only if they’re willing to pay the price.

My Review

“If you don’t get lost, you’ll never be found.” Spellbook of the Lost and Found is one of those books that I honestly didn’t expect to find myself enjoying nearly as much as I did.  I tend to stay away … Continue reading

4.5 stars
2 Comments
Book Tour

A Line in the Dark Author: Malinda Lo Publication Date: October 17th, 2017 Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers Synopsis: The line between best friend and something more is a line always crossed in the dark. Jess Wong is Angie … Continue reading

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Book Tour
Book Title:
Gray Wolf Island
Book Author:
Tracey Neithercott
Page Count:
336
Publishing Date:
October 10th, 2017
Publisher:
Knopf Books for Young Readers
Date Read:
October 19th, 2017
Source:
eARC from publisher via NetGalley - Thank you!

Synopsis

Right before Sadie died, she begged her sister, Ruby, to do the one thing she could never do herself: Find the treasure on Gray Wolf Island.

With just a mysterious treasure map as a guide, Ruby reluctantly allows some friends to join her on the hunt, each of whom is touched by magic: a boy allegedly born to a virgin, a girl who never sleeps, a boy who can foresee his own death, and a boy with deep ties to the island. Each of them is also keeping a secret—something they’ll have to reveal in order to reach the treasure.

As the secrets come to light, Ruby will have to decide: Can she make peace with her friends’ troubled pasts and continue to trust them? Can she forgive herself for doing the unspeakable? Deep in the wilderness of Gray Wolf Island, Ruby’s choices will determine if they make it out with the treasure—or merely with their lives.

From debut author Tracey Neithercott comes a darkly compelling tale of profound friendship, adventure, and finding the strength to tell the truth.

My Review

I went in to Gray Wolf Island not knowing too much of what it was about – I mean, I read the synopsis and all, but this was months and months ago, so when I started reading it, I didn’t … Continue reading

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