Monday, February 28, 2022

Magical Readathon: Orilium - Gear Up Sign Up

So I'm signing up for the Gear Up round of Magical Readathon: Orilium! It's obviously hosted by G at Book Roast, and you can find the announcement video here! It takes place March 14-20.

Character 1:
Wand: The War of Two Queens by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pocket Dimension: Boss Witch by Ann Aguirre 

Character 2:
Bow: Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik
Familiar: Any Sign of Life by Rae Carson

Character 3:
Bone: The Bone Orchard by Sara A. Mueller 
Ausra: The Pillars of the World by Anne Bishop

Character 4:
Crystal: Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silva Moreno-Garcia
Locket of the Clear Mind: Square3 by Mira Grant

Character 5:
Dagger: League of Liars by Astrid Scholte 
Multiverse: The Weight of Stars by K. Ancrum 

Character 6:
Staff: Shadow Fire by Christine Feehan
Astral Plane: Beyond the End of the World by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner

Character 7:
Spellbook: When a Princess Proposes by Kerrelyn Sparks
Gaila: The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray

Greek God-a-Thon 2022 Sign Up

So I'm signing up for Greek God-a-Thon, hosted by Esme at Bookish Buddies, and see the announcement video here, and takes place through the month of March! 

I'm signing up to be part of Team Control, and the god I'm choosing is Athena!

Athena-Shadow Fire by Christine Feehan
Apollo-The War of Two Queens by Jennifer L. Armentrout 
Demeter-The Bone Orchard by Sara A. Mueller 
Dionysus-The Rake Gets Ravished by Sophie Jordan
Hera-Working Stiff by Rachel Caine
Hermes-Stone Heart by Katee Robert
Hestia-Boss Witch by Ann Aguirre

Aphrodite-Dark Skye by Kresley Cole
Ares-The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Artemis-An Impossible Imposter by Deanna Raybourn
Hades-(Using Athena's Power, Read a Big Book)-The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons
Hephaestus-When a Princess Proposes by Kerrelyn Sparks
Poseidon-A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross
Zeus-Gods & Monsters by Shelby Muhurin

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #560, February 28th

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week...and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well...you never know where that next "must read" book will come from!
What happened in the past week:

Weekly Memes:
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #559
Teaser Tuesday #567
WWW Wednesday #567
WOW #563
Will the Time Come #560
Third Sentence Thursday #550
Random Reads #536
First Lines Friday #563
Book Blogger Hop #229

While investigating a man claiming to be the long-lost heir to a noble family, Veronica Speedwell gets the surprise of her life in this new adventure from the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-nominated author Deanna Raybourn.

London, 1889. Veronica Speedwell and her natural historian beau Stoker are summoned by Sir Hugo Montgomerie, head of Special Branch. He has a personal request on behalf of his goddaughter, Euphemia Hathaway. After years of traveling the world, her eldest brother, Jonathan, heir to Hathaway Hall, was believed to have been killed in the catastrophic eruption of Krakatoa a few years before.

But now a man matching Jonathan's description and carrying his possessions has arrived at Hathaway Hall with no memory of his identity or where he has been. Could this man truly be Jonathan, back from the dead? Or is he a devious impostor, determined to gain ownership over the family's most valuable possessions--a legendary parure of priceless Rajasthani jewels? It's a delicate situation, and Veronica is Sir Hugo's only hope.

Veronica and Stoker agree to go to Hathaway Hall to covertly investigate the mysterious amnesiac. Veronica is soon shocked to find herself face-to-face with a ghost from her past. To help Sir Hugo discover the truth, she must open doors to her own history that she long believed to be shut for good. 
New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan returns with an all new sizzling historical romance in her Duke Hunt series about a woman determined to reclaim her family home from the dangerously handsome owner of London’s most popular gaming hell.

The owner of London's most popular gaming hell, wealthy and powerful Silas Masters is feared by men and desired by women—except Mercy Kittinger. When the blackguard wins her family home in a game of cards, Mercy steals into Silas's rooms, intent on destroying the proof. But things don't go to plan...

She would have her way with him...

Caught in the act, Mercy must be bold to save herself... even if it means seducing the dangerous rogue and then disappearing with the dawn, debt voucher in hand. Safe at home and determined to settle back into her quiet, uneventful life, Mercy burns at the memory of her night spent ravishing the most compelling man she'd ever met. Thank goodness she'll never see him again!

He didn't see her coming...

No one trifles with Silas Masters. Even if he could forget the dark-haired seductress who undid him, he can't allow anyone to steal from him. He will hunt down the sultry woman who haunts his dreams and show her just how sweet payback can be.

Sunday, February 27, 2022

We Have the Cover of Rust in the Root!!!!

Yeah, we have the cover of Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland, and it's so great! 

Wrote that Review Update #395, February 27th

Create your own banner at mybannermaker.com!
If you want to participate, set a certain amount of reviews to write, and once you make that goal, you can get a reward!

My reviews to reward is writing all of the reviews of the week, and I motivated myself to write my review for The Nemesis, Beautiful Bastard, Beautiful Bitch, Beautiful Stranger, Suicide Kings, Unbirthday, The Shadowhunter Chronicles, Rhapsodic, A Strange Hymn, The Emperor of Evening Stars, Dark Harmony, 
MacRieve, so I have 7 of 7 reviews written!

And as always, I want to review this week's reviews!

What about you guys? Happy reading!

How Well I Stuck to It #397, February 27th

So I decided that I should have accountability on sticking to what should be in a week, so I'm doing How Well I Stuck to It every Sunday, because my schedule should be fixed in by now!

Week 9:
An Impossible Imposter by Deanna Raybourn, The Rake Gets Ravished by Sophie Jordan

Tour Books: NA.

Review Books: NA.

NetGalley: NA.

Edelweiss: NA.

Rereads: NA.

New Books: 2. Check.

Two new books, that I'm pretty desperate to read! Can't wait for March to start so I can read them! 

Week 8:
Nothing Planned!

vs.

The Nemesis by S.J. Kincaid, Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren, Beautiful Bitch by Christina Lauren, Beautiful Stranger by Christina Lauren, Suicide Kings by Stephen Blackmoore, Unbirthday by Liz Braswell, The Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Illustrated by Joshua Lewis, Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa, A Strange Hymn by Laura Thalassa, The Emperor of Evening Stars by Laura Thalassa, Dark Harmony by Laura Thalassa, MacRieve by Kresley Cole

I had a pretty great week, read what I wanted, and I'm happy with that! Can't wait for next month! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Wheel of TBR #92, February 27th

I saw Codie's Book Corner doing the Wheel of TBR, and I thought that sounded like a great way to pick what to read from your TBR. So thanks to her! I'll only do 3 spins, because I'm doing this every week, and so it won't make up my total TBR of the week, but it'll be a start!

Rules:
1. For each week of the month, I'll do 3 spins each week to read each week though I do have the rest of the month to read them. Once a prompt is used, I'll randomly choose one from the list, keeping track of how often a colour comes up. If colour comes up 3 or more times in month, I'll do another spin once it comes up 3 times.
2. If I don't read a book that week or at least start it before the end of the month, then for my next week of spins, I have to add a punishment for each book unread. I'll roll for each unread book, and have to apply each and every punishment chosen to the week.
3. Each month I'll get a prompt from my Binge Read Wheel (either specifically picking the prompt, or spinning the wheel) and I have to read at least 9 books, though I can read more!

Of the books from the last week, I read Suicide Kings by Stephen Blackmoore, MacRieve by Kresley Cole, and Breaking Sky by Cori McCarthy.

Binge Read Wheel:
For this month, the wheel picked Reread, and I read Beautiful Stranger by Christina Lauren, Seraphina by Rachel Hartman, so I've read 23/9+.

Some options are Becoming Jinn by Lori Goldstein, the Lords of the Underworld series by Gena Showalter, the Queen of the Tearling series by Erika Johansen, the Razorland series by Ann Aguirre, the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole, the Southlands series by Rachel Hartman, the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa, Beautiful Bastard series by Christina Lauren.

For this coming month, the wheel picked Genre. The genre I'm going to be binging is fantasy, in all shapes and forms from pure fantasy to set in our world paranormal! 

Some options are A Chorus of Dragons by Jenn Lyons, Boss Witch by Ann Aguirre, The Bone Orchard by Sara A. Mueller,  Becoming Jinn series by Lori Goldstein, the Lords of the Underworld series by Gena Showalter, the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole, the Southlands series by Rachel Hartman, the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa, Star Mother series by Charlie N. Holmberg, Sisters of Salem Series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast. 

Prompts Used This Week:
No Article Words Title, #Currentlyreading, Reading Challenge, ARC Published.

No Article Words Title-Red-Edgewood by Kristen Ciccarelli-This title only has one word, so it doesn't have an article in the title! 

#Currentlyreading-Green-The Rake Gets Ravished by Sophie Jordan-This book was posted by whittenwifey.reads, here!

Reading Challenge-Green-An Impossible Imposter by Deanna Raybourn-This book is on my A Game of Tomes TBR, so that works! 

Bonus Spin for Green-ARC Published-Blue-Little Girl Gone by Amanda Stevens-I got this book as an ARC from NetGalley, it was published at the end of January! 

Colour Totals:
Red: 2
Orange: 1
Yellow: 0
Chartreuse: 1
Green: 4
Spring Green: 2
Cyan: 0
Azure: 1
Blue: 2
Violet: 0
Magenta: 1
Rose: 2

Prompts for Next Week:
Short Book-Red
Treat Yo' Shelf-Orange
Month As Last Read-Yellow
Genre-Chartreuse
Odd Chapters-Green
For Fans Of-Spring Green
Booktuber Read-Cyan
Read a Book while writing a review at the end of each chapter-Azure
Representation-Blue
Physical Book to Read in 2022-Violet
Epigraph-Magenta
DAC Book-Rose

So those are some of the books I'm going to try to read this week. What about you guys? Happy reading!

The Reward Challenge Update #545, February 27th

The Reward Challenge is almost the complete opposite to a book buying ban as you'll end up buying lots of new books throughout the challenge but only after you've completed a certain amount of reading. It was hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly, so thanks to her for starting it!

OK, so I read The Nemesis which counts6 times as a 2022 Dystopia Book, End of Series 2022 Book, LLFL Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book and a WoW Book, Beautiful Bastard which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book, Beautiful Bitch which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book, Beautiful Stranger which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book, Suicide Kings which counts 4 times as a NetGalley Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book and a WoW Book, Unbirthday which counts 4 times as a 2022 Retelling Reading Challenge Book, NetGalley Book and a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book, The Shadowhunter's Codex which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book, Rhapsodic which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book, A Strange Hymn which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book,
The Emperor of Evening Stars which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book, Dark Harmony which counts 3 times as a End of Series 2022 Book and a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book, MacRieve which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book.

So I have 33 counts which translates to $16.50 this week! I'll use it to buy books!

Saturday, February 26, 2022

Book Battle March 2022 TBR

Well it's time to choose my March TBR for Book Battle. So here are the books that I've picked this month: 
5pts-Set in a boat, train, or plane-Any Sign of Life by Rae Carson
5pts-Vacation book-The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
5pts-Book with a country in the title-Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite 
5pts-Adventurous main character-An Impossible Imposter by Deanna Raybourn
5pts-CRITERIA CHOICE 1-Book with a map in it-The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons
5pts-CRITERIA CHOICE 2-Set in a place that you haven't been-The Name of All Things by Jenn Lyons 
10pts-CLUB READ 1-The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
10pts-CLUB READ 2-Now a Major Motion Picture by Cori McCarthy
10pts-Book with another language in it-Gods & Monsters by Shelby Muhurin 
15pts-Set in a team's country*-Greece-Go the Distance by Jen Calonita
20pts-Set in your team's continent**-Europe-The Rake Gets Ravished by Sophie Jordan

How did I do last month?
5pts-Badass main character-House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas-Read!
5pts-Book about a curse-The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh-Read!
5pts-Dark book-At Any Moment by Brenna Aubrey-Read!
5pts-Retelling-Unbirthday by Liz Braswell-Read!
5pts-CRITERIA CHOICE 1-Romance book-At Any Turn by Brenna Aubrey-Read!
5pts-CRITERIA CHOICE 2-Set in a castle-Protect the Prince by Jennifer Estep-Read!
10pts-CLUB READ 1-All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman-Read!
10pts-CLUB READ 2-The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood-Read!
10pts-Book about corruption-Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep-Read!
15pts-Villain POV-The Invasion of Tearling by Erika Johansen-Read!
20pts-Book with your team in it*-Evil Queen-Capture the Crown by Jennifer Estep-Read!

Another TBR down! I read some really great books that I'm really happy with, and I can't wait for next month! 

Week 8 Review: MacRieve

From Goodreads:
In this pulse-pounding Immortals After Dark tale, #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole delves into the darkest mysteries and deepest passions of Clan MacRieve. . .

A Beast In Torment

Uilleam MacRieve believed he'd laid to rest the ghosts of his boyhood. But when a brutal torture revives those ancient agonies and destroys his Lykae instinct, the proud Scot craves the oblivion of death. Until he finds her—a young human so full of spirit and courage that she pulls him back from the brink.

A Beauty In Chains

Seized for the auction block, Chloe Todd is forced to enter a terrifying new world of monsters and lore as a bound slave. When offered up to creatures of the dark, she fears she won't last the night. Until she's claimed by him—a tormented immortal with heartbreaking eyes, whose touch sets her blood on fire.

A Full Moon On The Rise 

With enemies circling, MacRieve spirits Chloe away to the isolated Highland keep of his youth. But once he takes her to his bed, his sensual mate becomes something more than human, evoking his savage past and testing his sanity. On the cusp of the full moon, can he conquer his worst nightmare to save Chloe . . . from himself?

My first review of MacRieve
My Review:
I really enjoyed reading this book again! Again, it's been 8 years since I first read it, and in that time I've read thousands of books since, so it was really was like reading it for the first time, just with a bit of insight into what was happening!

MacReive has been through hell, twice. First was when he was a kid, with Lady Ruelle, and what she did to him, and what happened when his family found out. The other was much more recent, when he was held prisoner by the Order, and was tortured. So finding his mate, that was a miracle! 

I really enjoyed their relationship, how it was so great in the beginning-and how bad it got when it was revealed that she was a succubus. I get why he treated her that way, but it still wasn't right, and I'm glad that she stuck up for herself! And how things worked out in the end! 

Two bits of information that I forgot was her dad, who he was and the appearances he had in this book, and her mom's side of the family. And both were fairly important, though the later was more so, because of the new and vital information about succubus's! 

Loved reading this story, and the bits that were woven in of Munro's story, the one that just came out, and the reason I've been rereading this series! I'm almost there! 

Author: Kresley Cole
Series: Immortals After Dark #13
First Read: August 29th, 2014
Read: February 25th, 2022
Source: Own
Reason Why: Rereading, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book!
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: November 26th 2013
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 8 Reviews: Rhapsodic, A Strange Hymn, The Emperor of Evening Stars, Dark Harmony




From Goodreads:
Callypso Lillis is a siren with a very big problem, one that stretches up her arm and far into her past. For the last seven years she's been collecting a bracelet of black beads up her wrist, magical IOUs for favors she's received. Only death or repayment will fulfill the obligations. Only then will the beads disappear.

Everyone knows that if you need a favor, you go to the Bargainer to make it happen. He's a man who can get you anything you want … at a price. And everyone knows that sooner or later he always collects.

But for one of his clients, he's never asked for repayment. Not until now. When Callie finds the fae king of the night in her room, a grin on his lips and a twinkle in his eye, she knows things are about to change. At first it’s just a chaste kiss—a single bead's worth—and a promise for more.

For the Bargainer, it's more than just a matter of rekindling an old romance. Something is happening in the Otherworld. Fae warriors are going missing one by one. Only the women are returned, each in a glass casket, a child clutched to their breast. And then there are the whispers among the slaves, whispers of an evil that’s been awoken.

If the Bargainer has any hope to save his people, he'll need the help of the siren he spurned long ago. Only, his foe has a taste for exotic creatures, and Callie just happens to be one.

Siren and soulmate to the King of Night, Callypso Lillis survived the clutches of Karnon, the mad king, and his twisted prison. But the nightmare isn't over. Callie wears the physical reminders of her time as a captive, and mounting evidence suggests the Thief of Souls is still out there.

When a fae celebration thrusts Callie and her mate, Desmond Flynn, into the Kingdom of Flora, they take their investigation with them. But under the bright lights and striking blooms of the realm, they find there are more immediate issues to deal with. No place is more uniquely savage than the great fae halls, and no amount of bargains can save Callie from royal intrigues.

Fairies play dangerous games. Some want love, some want vengeance, some want flesh, and some want things too unspeakable to utter. One thing is for sure: no one is who they appear to be. Not even Des, who only grows more enigmatic with every passing secret.

But the Kingdom of Flora has its own secrets, from bleeding trees to branded slaves and missing guards. Something is stirring in the land of all that grows, and if Callie isn't careful, it will claim everything and everyone she loves—and her along with it.

In the beginning, there was darkness.
Before he met Callie, before he became the Bargainer, there was Desmond Flynn, the bastard son of a scribe. A boy born to a weak mother, cursed with little magic, and destined to marry a slave.

But fate had something else in mind.

Till darkness dies.
From the barren caves of Arestys to the palace of Somnia to the streets of earth, this is how Desmond Flynn, a fairy who began with nothing, became the Emperor of Evening Stars. 

From Goodreads:
There are worse things than death. Things that lurk in the shadows and slip into your dreams. Things that have no business existing. Things that once slept … but have now awoken.

For Callypso Lillis, the fae magic that now runs through her veins is equal parts curse and good fortune. For the very thing that bonds her to Desmond Flynn, the King of the Night, also makes her vulnerable to the Thief of Souls, a man who wants to break the world … and Callie along with it.

But it's not just the Thief whose shadow looms over the Otherworld. Des’s father is back from the dead, and he wants revenge on the son who sent him to the grave in the first place.

Des and Callie must figure out how to stop both men, and time is running out. Because there are forces at play working to tear the lovers apart once and for all … and unfortunately for them, death is no longer the worst thing to fear. 

My Review:
Oh, I had an excellent time reading this series! I really enjoyed getting to know Callie, Des, and their world, and I had such a great time reading their story! They were such great characters, and I really enjoyed the steam and the politics! 

I really enjoyed in the first book, that we went back and forth between the present when the Bargainer is back after 7 years, and the past, of when the first met, how their relationship developed, and ultimately how it ended. That was really great!

The first book was their romance, and the set up for this world, while the second one explored more both deeply, and I really enjoyed getting to see the Otherworld! The politics because of the actions at the end of Rhapsodic, of Des being a king, and Callie being his mate, just absolutely loved!

The overarching plot with the Thief of Souls, I really enjoyed how it all played out, and how it tied into with everything that was going on, and how Des's father was back! It was such an intriguing story, and I enjoyed every minute of it! 

This was a fantastic series, and I can't wait to read more by Laura Thalassa!

Author: Laura Thalassa
Series: The Bargainer #1, 2, 2.5, 3
Read: February 23rd, 24th, 24th, 24th, 2022
Source: Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Books, and Dark Harmony is a End of Series 2022 Book! 
Publisher: Lavabrook Publishing Group
Published: November 15th 2016, May 26th 2017, October 15th 2017, October 28th 2018

Rhapsodic:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars








A Strange Hymn:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars








The Emperor of Evening Stars:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars








Dark Harmony:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 8 Review: The Shadowhunter's Codex

From Goodreads:
The Clave is pleased to announce the newest edition of the Nephilim's oldest and most famous training manual: the Shadowhunter's Codex. Since the thirteenth century, the Codex has been the young Shadowhunter's best friend. When you're being swarmed by demons it can be easy to forget the finer points of obscure demon languages or the fastest way to stop an attack of Raum demons. With the Codex by your side, you never have to worry.

Now in its twenty-seventh edition, the Codex covers it all: the history and the laws of our world; how to identify, interact with, and if necessary, kill that world's many colorful denizens; which end of the stele is the end you write with. No more will your attempt to fight off rogue vampires and warlocks be slowed by the need to answer endless questions from your new recruits: What is a Pyxis? Why don't we use guns? If I can't see a warlock's mark, is there a polite way to ask him where it is? Where do we get all our holy water? Geography, History, Magic, and Zoology textbook all rolled into one, the Codex is here to help new Shadowhunters navigate the beautiful, often brutal world that we inhabit.

Do not let it be said that the Clave is outdated or, as the younger Shadowhunters say, "uncool": this new edition of the Codex will be available not only in the usual magically-sealed demonskin binding, but also in a smart, modern edition using all of today's most exciting printing techniques, including such new features as a sturdy clothbound cover, a protective dust jacket, and information about title, author, publisher, and so on conveniently available right on the cover. You'll be pleased to know that it fits neatly into most satchels, and unlike previous editions, it rarely sets off alarm wards.

The old woodcuts and engravings have been replaced as well: instead, you'll find lavish modern illustrations by some of the brightest luminaries of the fantastic. Creatures, weapons, people, and places have been carefully and accurately rendered by the likes of Rebecca Guay, Charles Vess, Jim Nelson, Theo Black, Elisabeth Alba, and Cassandra Jean. Chapters are beautifully introduced by the drawings of Michael Kaluta, and along with our condensation of the classic 2,450-page tome, A History of the Nephilim, you will find a selection of the best of the lovely illustrations of that volume by John Dollar.

This edition of the Codex will be available in Institute libraries and what mundanes sometimes call "book stores" in October 2013.

My Review:
I had a great time reading this, I didn't know what to expect, but it is a manual, a textbook for Shadowhunters, so I was a bit apprehensive. But the way it was written, oh, was there sarcasm and humor, it wasn't dry, and it delivered the information!

But I do have to say, my favourite parts were the notes that Clary, Simon, and Jace wrote, because you could just see them commenting that, and I'm really glad that it was a part of this book! Such a fun addition to this book! 

In the children's rhyme when we go to armor and other tools, the last line was "and bronze to summon wicked powers." Which is the name of the 5th Shadowhunter series, that I'm pretty sure is going to star the younger Blackthorn children. So really liked that line!

Getting to know this information about Shadowhunters, some of it we've learned through the course of reading about this world, but here it was laid out and it was really nice. It also really made me appreciate just how hard it is to be a Shadowhunter, how much work, because either we have Clary and Tessa who are learning, or we have basically everybody else, who's grown up with the training. So that was great! 

Loved reading this, can't wait to read more of the Shadowhunter world!

Author: Cassandra Clare, Illustrated by Joshua Lewis 
Series: Shadowhunter Chronicles 
Read: February 23rd, 2022
Source: Library 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book! 
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: October 29th 2013
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 8 Review: Unbirthday

From Goodreads:
What if Wonderland was in peril and Alice was very, very late?

Alice is different than other eighteen-year-old ladies in Kexford, which is perfectly fine with her. She'd rather spend golden afternoons with her trusty camera or in her aunt Vivian's lively salon, ignoring her sister's wishes that she stop all that "nonsense" and become a "respectable" member of society. Alice is happy to meander to Miss. Yao's teashop or to visit the children playing in the Square. She's also interested in learning more about the young lawyer she met there, but just because she's curious, of course, not because he was sweet and charming.

But when Alice develops photographs she has recently taken about town, familiar faces of old suddenly appear in the place of her actual subjects--the Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter, the Caterpillar. There's something eerily off about them, even for Wonderland creatures. And as Alice develops a self-portrait, she finds the most disturbing image of all--a badly injured dark-haired girl asking for Alice's help. Mary Ann.

Returning to the place of nonsense from her childhood, Alice finds herself on a mission to stop the Queen of Hearts' tyrannical rule and to find her place in both worlds. But will she able to do so ... before the End of Time?

My Review:
Oh, this was a fun book to read! I've never read the Lewis Carroll books, and if I've seen the Disney movie, it was either forever ago or only snippets, because all I know of the original is more the memes around it, the things that have leaked into the common social knowledge. 

Alice is all grown up now, pretty much, with her own interests. I really enjoyed that time that we spent in our world at the beginning, setting up the politics of this town, and who Alice is as a person. It felt very full circle at the end! We did go back and forth between our world and Wonderland, and I enjoyed how they were tied into each other! 

It was interesting, that the Queen of Hearts-and the White Rabbit-were the bad guys. I mean, of course the Queen of Hearts, she's the one that wants to decapitate everyone. But the White Rabbit, as far as I can tell, was more of an underling, not a bad guy, so I really enjoyed that twist!

The thing about Alice is that she has a bit of nonsense to not fit into our world, and too much sense to fit into Wonderland. That her place is in part of both worlds. So I really enjoyed that, of Alice finding out who she was!

Loved that ending, both in Wonderland, and in our world. Alice had to be smart and creative, and I really enjoyed how things worked out. I especially loved the epilogue, where it answered our 3 main questions! 

I had a great time reading this book, and I can't wait to read the next Twisted Tales book! I've almost caught up, yeah! 

Author: Liz Braswell 
Series: Twisted Tales #10
Read: February 23rd, 2022
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a 2022 Retelling Reading Challenge Book and a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book! 
Publisher: Disney
Published: September 1st 2020
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
/5 Stars

Week 8 Review: Suicide Kings

From Goodreads:
The seventh book of this dark urban fantasy series follows necromancer Eric Carter through a world of vengeful gods and goddesses, mysterious murders, and restless ghosts.

Family is murder.

When Eric Carter helps a friend with a deadly ritual that could determine the fate of the most powerful mage family in Los Angeles he steps into the middle of centuries-long feuds with people who make the Borgias look like the Brady Bunch.

Eric's just fine with the murder, soul eaters, and death magic. He's just having trouble adjusting to being brought back from the grave.

If he's not careful, somebody's going to put him right back.

My Review:
I loved reading this book! I devoured it, it was so quick and easy to read! I loved continuing to watch Eric deal with all these supernatural problems! He is very flawed, he's in a pretty violent world, and he's still in this weird situation where he doesn't know who he is.

The bulk of this story is that this wickedly powerful magical family is all coming together for a meeting, and they're all jockeying for power, and Amanda needs a knight, basically, and Eric is skilled and unconnected enough to serve in that role. And wow, were the relations and politics between the various members of this family volatile! Eric was kept on his toes!

There's this one detail about his grandfather, and I'm not sure if it's been mentioned or not, but given that his grandfather's body now hosts him, I really hope that we explore that in the future! That it's not just because Eric's a necromancer. 

That ending though? That was pure evil, and up their for cliffhanger-ness of Ghost Money! So now I need to know what's going to happen next in Hate Machine! The ball was started rolling in this book to get a certain outcome-now to find out why! 

This was such a fantastic book, and I need the next book now! 

Author: Stephen Blackmoore 
Series: Eric Carter #7
Read: February 23rd, 2022 
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Love his writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Daw Books 
Expected Publication: March 22nd 2022
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 8 Reviews: Beautiful Bastard, Beautiful Bitch, Beautiful Stranger



From Goodreads:
An ambitious intern. 
A perfectionist executive. 
And a whole lot of name calling. 

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He's exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard. 

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family's massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who'd been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he's never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe's so tempting he's willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office. 

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they're willing to lose in order to win each other. 

From Goodreads:
Picking up where Beautiful Bastard left off, Chloe Mills and Bennett Ryan continue their steamy, combative relationship.

Just when Chloe's career starts to take off, Bennett wishes it would all slow down long enough to spend a wild night alone with his girlfriend. But after he refuses to take no for an answer, Chloe and Bennett find themselves with two plane tickets, one French Villa, and a surprising conversation that, predictably, leaves them wrestling under the covers.

From Goodreads:
A charming British Playboy. A girl determined to finally live. And a secret liaison revealed in all too vivid color. Book two in the NYT Bestselling series. 

Escaping a cheating ex, finance whiz Sara Dillon's moved to New York City and is looking for excitement without a lot of strings attached. So meeting the irresistible, sexy Brit at a dance club should have meant nothing more than a night's fun. But the manner--and speed--with which he melts her inhibitions turns him from a one-time hookup and into her Beautiful Stranger.

The whole city knows Max Stella loves women, not that he's ever found one he particularly wants to keep around. Despite pulling in plenty with his Wall Street bad boy charm, it's not until Sara--and the wild photos she lets him take of her--that he starts wondering if there's someone for him outside of the bedroom.

Hooking up in places where anybody could catch them, the only thing scarier for Sara than getting caught in public is having Max get too close in private.

My first review of Beautiful Bastard, Beautiful Bitch, Beautiful Stranger 
My Review:
I really enjoyed reading these books again! Christina Lauren has very much blown up as a writing duo, but I don't see much talk of their first few books, and I'd only read the one the one time, and I wanted to spend this time with these characters again!

Chloe and Bennett do not get along together. They're too similar, and they clash too much, but he's the boss, and she's the assistant for now. And then things really heat up, and I really enjoyed their encounters as things start to progress!

I thought that the guy she was set up with was going to play a bigger roll in their relationship conflict, but I guess I remembered wrong. I also thought in Beautiful Bitch that the vacation to France was a bigger part, and that her delayed flight took up more time, but I'm glad how it all worked out! 

Loved reading Max and Sara's story, because I really enjoy them together, and their kinks. I was so nervous about the photo taking, because I knew that it was going to cause drama, but yeah, I just really enjoy their story! 

Loved reading these stories, and I can't wait to continue my reread of this series!

Author: Christina Lauren
Series: Beautiful Bastard #1, 1.5, 2
First Read: April 24th, July 28th, 29th, 2013
Read: February 19th, 19th, 2022
Source: Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Rereading, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Books!
Publisher: Gallery Books
Published: February 12th 2013, July 9th 2013, April 16th 2013

Beautiful Bastard: 
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars








Beautiful Bitch:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars








Beautiful Stranger:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 8 Review: The Nemesis

From Goodreads:
In the heart-pounding conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Diabolic series, the Empire teeters on the edge of destruction as rumors spread that Nemesis is still alive.

Three years ago, Tyrus Domitrian shocked the universe by killing the woman he swore to love forever. The woman for whom he upended the Empire. The woman with whom he wanted to build a new, and brighter, future.

Now, the once-idealistic heir apparent has become the cruel Emperor Tyrus, wielding his authority with an iron fist, capable of destroying galaxies with a single word, controlling all technology with a simple thought. He has bent the Grandiolquy to their knees, and none have the power to stand against him.

But there is a muttering among the Excess. They say that Nemesis is not truly gone. They mutter of her shadow spotted in distant galaxies. They say that Nemesis lives. That she will rise, and rally the people to topple man who was once her truest love—and is now her fiercest enemy. 

My Review:
I loved reading this book! After the ending of The Empress, I needed to know what was going to happen! Plus this was the ending of the series, so I had to know how it would all wrap up! And it was such a fantastic story!

Nemesis feels betrayed by Tyrus. He killed her, when she was begging for him to run away with her. And the end of Empress has her ready to kill him. This was a wild ride, but it was totally unexpected! Loved where it started and where it went from there! 

There were plots within secrets and secrets within plots, and I loved learning all of them! They were some pretty interesting and important reveals-though some of them did hurt! But loved what they did to this series, and how important they were! 

Ok, I know things are serious. But I laughed out loud, a big belly laugh, at Tyrus's war against the star. I mean it had an important job-to use up all the weaponry, so that the crumbling of the empire had one less obstacle, but I can't stop laughing, because it also was another way to highlight why power shouldn't be in the hands on one person. That one person might be ill-suited for that power. At least this example is a hilarious one, vs one that causes pain, and it's one that makes the transition cause less pain so win win!

Loved reading this book so much, it was a great read even if the ending was bittersweet, it was such a great book! 

Author: S.J. Kincaid 
Series: Diabolic #3
Read: February 19th, 2022
Source: Bought
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a 2022 Dystopia Book, End of Series 2022 Book, LLFL Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: August 25th 2021
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars