Showing posts with label Amélie Wen Zhao. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amélie Wen Zhao. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Waiting on Wednesday #769, February 4th

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

Green & Deadly Things by Jenn Lyons
Expected Publication: March 3rd, 2026
From Goodreads:
Centuries ago, necromancy almost destroyed the world. That’s how history remembers it.

History remembers it wrong.

Mathaiik has trained all his life to join the sacred order of the Idallik Knights, charged with defending their world from the forces of necromancy. Only vestiges of that cursed magic remain, nothing like the fabled days of the Grim Lords, the undead wizards who once nearly destroyed the world.

But when an even stranger kind of monster begins to wake, the Knights quickly prove powerless to stop them. Whole forests are coming alive and devouring anyone so foolish as to trespass, as if the land itself has turned upon humanity.

It’s a good thing, then, that the Grim Lords were never truly destroyed. One of their number sleeps below the Knights' very fortress. And when an army of twisted tree monsters attacks the young initiates in his charge, Math decides to do the unthinkable: he wakes her up.

This is only the beginning of his problems. Because said necromancer, Kaiataris, knows something history has forgotten. The threat of this wild magic is part of a cycle that has repeated countless times–life after death, chaos after order. And if she and Math can’t find a new way to balance the scales, this won't just be the end of the world as they know it, but the end of all life, everywhere.

A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn
Expected Publication: March 3rd, 2026
From Goodreads:
Veronica and Stoker are practically dying for a new adventure but when their wish is granted, they find themselves up against a secret society and a darkly seductive duo in this landmark historical mystery from beloved New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author Deanna Raybourn.

When the corpse of an entitled young man is found entirely drained of blood in a carriage next to Highgate Cemetery, Veronica’s interest is piqued. And then a second victim is found, his death made to look like a suicide, and Veronica and her intrepid beau, Stoker, know the hunt is on. The two men share one link: they were both members of a society so secretive that only a singular mention of it can be found anywhere.

Thirsty for more clues, Veronica and Stoker hear that a young Roma boy may know more about their first victim, but the only way to the boy is through an old acquaintance of Stoker’s, Lady Julia Brisbane. Lady Julia and her dashing husband, Nicholas, occasionally track down murderers and are only too happy to help. But as it becomes clear the secret society is a dangerous sect looking to entice immortality seekers, Veronica and Stoker find themselves ensnared by a decidedly more sinister couple.

The professed leader of the society claims to be a creature of the night; his partner practices witchcraft and they both fancy themselves emissaries of the otherworldly. Just as Veronica and Stoker get closer to learning the true purpose of the society and unraveling this macabre mystery, another body turns up, and they quickly discover they’ve gone from being the hunters to the hunted. . . .

The Library of Amorlin by Kayln Josephson
Expected Publication: March 3rd, 2026
From Goodreads:
A brilliant con artist and a secretive librarian collide in New York Times bestselling author Kalyn Josephson’s enchanting new adult fantasy debut packed with twists, tricks, and magical creatures, perfect for fans of S.A. MacLean’s The Phoenix Keeper and The Book that Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence.


Kasira used to be a masterful con choosing her target, building trust, judging the precise moment to make her move. Now, she’s working off a lengthy prison sentence by hunting dangerous magical creatures on behalf of the fanatical kingdom of Kalthos.


But Kasira’s past catches up to her when the ambassador from Kalthos arrives at her camp with a her freedom in exchange for infiltrating and destabilizing the magical institution meant to protect all six kingdoms—the Library of Amorlin.


When Kasira assumes the role of the new Assistant Librarian, she enters an enchanting world brimming with books and beasts, tempting her with a life she can never have. But Kasira’s real future depends on her long con to bring down the Librarian. Unfortunately, Allaster is as prickly as he is handsome, and his monstrous secrets are about to catch up with them both . . .

The Half-Hearted Queen by Charlie N. Holmberg
Expected Publication: March 3rd, 2026
From Goodreads:
In this spellbinding dark fantasy from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg that concludes the Shattered King duology, Nym must escape the clutches of her captors and find her way back to Renn even as forbidden love, magic, and secrets collide with the weight of the crown and the war between kingdoms.

Nym never told Prince Renn she loved him. And now, as a captive and political pawn to the ruthless King Nicosia, Nym finds herself guarding more than her forbidden feelings for Renn as the kingdoms of Cansere and Sesta clash and the bloodshed of war rages. Nym’s connection to Renn is more than just romantic—it’s magical, and King Nicosia will stop at nothing to find Renn’s weakness and claim the kingdoms as his.

Now Nym must find a way to escape the cruel and twisted fate of imprisonment as she faces the unimaginable horrors and dangerous secrets hidden within King Nicosia’s palace walls. With the succession of kings on the line and a dangerous prophecy unfolding, Prince Renn faces his own impossible choice. The future of the throne hinges on a political alliance that means forsaking his love for Nym. If he can’t fulfill his destiny and unite the kingdoms, King Nicosia will destroy them all.

The Sisters of Book Row by Shelley Noble
Expected Publication: March 3rd, 2026
From Goodreads:
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The Dragon and the Sun Lotus by Amélie Wen Zhao
Expected Publication: March 3rd, 2026
From Goodreads:
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March is starting off with some pretty fantastic books and authors, I have a couple, and I can't wait for them all to be out! What about you guys? Happy reading! 




Monday, April 21, 2025

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #724, April 21st

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 #723
Teaser Tuesday #731
WWW Wednesday #731
WOW #727
Will the Time Come #724
Third Sentence Thursday #714
Random Reads #700
First Lines Friday #727
Book Blogger Hop #393
Monthly ARC's Update 111
The Reward Challenge Update #709
Wheel of TBR #256
How Well I Stuck to It #561
Wrote that Review Update #558

Week 16 Reviews:

Phase Out Your Seriesathon: 

Magical Readathon: Orilium: 

Phase Out Your TBR: 

Random:

OK, so I got 64 posts in 7 days, and I've been doing a lot of reading, and family dinners and falling behind on blogging, but I'm about where I should be now. I have a bit over a week to go hard, and I'm then looking forward to taking things maybe a little slower. What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read whatever I want! 

Saturday, April 19, 2025

Week 16 Review: The Scorpion and the Night Blossoms

From Goodreads:
In a world invaded by demons, one girl will face the ultimate test when she is forced to enter into an ancient, deadly competition for the chance to save her mother's soul… before she loses her forever. From the New York Times bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night comes the beginning of a dark and opulent fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Throne of Glass.

Nine years ago, the war between the Kingdom of Night and the Kingdom of Rivers tore Àn'yīng's family apart, leaving her mother barely alive and a baby sister to fend for. Now the mortal realm is falling into eternal night, and mó—beautiful, ravenous demons—roam the land, feasting on the flesh of humans and drinking their souls.

Àn'yīng is no longer a helpless child, though. Armed with her crescent blades and trained in the ancient art of practitioning, she has decided to enter the Immortality Trials, which are open to any mortal who can survive the journey to the immortal realm. Those who complete the Trials are granted a pill of eternal life—the one thing Àn'yīng knows can heal her dying mother. But to attain the prize, she must survive the competition.

Death is common in the Trials. Yet oddly, Àn'yīng finds that someone is helping her stay alive. A rival contestant. Powerful and handsome, Yù'chén is as secretive about his past as he is about his motives for protecting Àn'yīng.

The longer she survives the Trials, the clearer it becomes that all is not right in the immortal realm. To save her mother and herself, Àn'yīng will need to figure out whether she can truly trust the stranger she's falling for or if he's the most dangerous player of all . . . for herself and for all the realms.

My Review:


Author: Amélie Wen Zhao
Series: The Three Realms Duology #1 
Read: April 13th, 2025
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really good, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Published: March 4th 2025
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Sunday, April 13, 2025

Phase Out Your TBR Update 16

So I've read my next book for the Phase Out Your TBR, and it was The Scorpion and the Night Blossom which is for the prompt Red 7, and I'll be reading Fireworks next! 

My Reading Journey:

The Dixon Rule by Elle Kennedy 
Prompt Fulfilled: Red 5
Started On: April 1st
Finished On: April 1st, 7:29 PM
Pages Read: 496

My Stolen Crown by Steffanie Holmes 
Prompt Fulfilled: Green 6
Started On: April 2nd
Finished On: April 2nd, 2:04 PM 
Pages Read: 384

My Broken Crown by Steffanie Holmes 
Prompt Fulfilled: Green 4
Started On: April 2nd
Finished On: April 2nd, 10:03 PM
Pages Read: 376

My Savage Empire by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Yellow 8
Started On: April 3rd
Finished On: April 3rd, 3:04 PM
Pages Read: 398

Mistress of Bones by Maria Z. Medina 
Prompt Fulfilled: Yellow 9
Started On: April 3rd
Finished On: April 3rd, 8:34 PM
Pages Read: 336

No Place Left to Hide by Megan Lally
Prompt Fulfilled: Yellow 7
Started On: April 4th
Finished On: April 4th, 10:46 AM
Pages Read: 264

The Nightshade God by Hannah Whitten
Prompt Fulfilled: Green 12
Started On: April 4th
Finished On: April 4th, 8:39 PM
Pages Read: 480

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
Prompt Fulfilled: Green 5
Started On: April 7th
Finished On: April 7th, 10:48 AM
Pages Read: 351

XOXO by Axie Oh
Prompt Fulfilled: Green 7
Started On: April 7th
Finished On: April 7th, 7:43 PM
Pages Read: 352

ASAP by Axie Oh
Prompt Fulfilled: Green 7
Started On: April 8th
Finished On: April 8th, 8:25 PM
Pages Read: 352

Fearless by Lauren Roberts
Prompt Fulfilled: Yellow 5
Started On: April 9th
Finished On: April 9th, 12:28 PM
Pages Read: 608

She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick 
Prompt Fulfilled: Yellow 6
Started On: April 9th
Finished On: April 9th, 2:18 PM
Pages Read: 354

The Stolen Bride by Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe 
Prompt Fulfilled: Yellow 10
Started On: April 10th
Finished On: April 10th, 2:03 PM
Pages Read: 282

Petals on the River by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
Prompt Fulfilled: Yellow 4
Started On: April 12th
Finished On: April 12th, 3:03 PM
Pages Read: 560

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Prompt Fulfilled: Red 12
Started On: April 12th
Finished On: April 12th, 11:08 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao
Prompt Fulfilled: Red 7
Started On: April 13th
Finished On: April 13th, 12:04 PM
Pages Read: 400

Fireworks by Katie Cotugno 
Prompt Fulfilled: Red Wild (Red 5)
Started On: April 13th
Currently On: Page 0 of 336

Prompts Left: Green 5, Blue 2, Yellow 4, Blue 7, Blue 9
Books Read: 16
Pages Read: 6329

Magical Readathon: Orilium Update 29

So I read my next book for Magical Readathon: Orilium, and it was The Scorpion and the Night Blossom which was for the prompt Shapeshifting, and I'll be reading Fireworks next!

My Reading Journey:

The Summer I Ate the Rich by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite
Prompt Fulfilled: Conjuration
Started On: April 1st
Finished On: April 1st, 10:28 AM
Pages Read: 400

The Dixon Rule by Elle Kennedy 
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 1st
Finished On: April 1st, 7:29 PM
Pages Read: 496

My Stolen Crown by Steffanie Holmes 
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 2nd
Finished On: April 2nd, 2:04 PM 
Pages Read: 384

My Secret Heart by Steffanie Holmes 
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 2nd
Finished On: April 2nd, 6:27 PM
Page Read: 386

My Broken Crown by Steffanie Holmes 
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 2nd
Finished On: April 2nd, 10:03 PM
Pages Read: 376

My Savage Empire by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 3rd
Finished On: April 3rd, 3:04 PM
Pages Read: 398

Mistress of Bones by Maria Z. Medina 
Prompt Fulfilled: Demonology
Started On: April 3rd
Finished On: April 3rd, 8:34 PM
Pages Read: 336

No Place Left to Hide by Megan Lally
Prompt Fulfilled: Apothecary Keeper 1
Started On: April 4th
Finished On: April 4th, 10:46 AM
Pages Read: 264

The Nightshade God by Hannah Whitten
Prompt Fulfilled: Psionics & Divination
Started On: April 4th
Finished On: April 4th, 8:39 PM
Pages Read: 480

Of Mice and Murder by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 5th
Finished On: April 5th, 1:47 PM
Pages Read: 266

Pride and Premeditation by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 5th
Finished On: April 5th, 7:17 PM
Pages Read: 308

Memoirs of a Garroter by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 6th
Finished On: April 6th, 2:52 PM
Pages Read: 278

Prose and Cons by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 6th
Finished On: April 6th, 6:19 PM
Pages Read: 288

A Novel Way to Die by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 6th
Finished On: April 6th, 10:35 PM
Pages Read: 286

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
Prompt Fulfilled: Inscription
Started On: April 7th
Finished On: April 7th, 10:48 AM
Pages Read: 351

XOXO by Axie Oh
Prompt Fulfilled: Lore
Started On: April 7th
Finished On: April 7th, 7:43 PM
Pages Read: 352

ASAP by Axie Oh
Prompt Fulfilled: Lore
Started On: April 8th
Finished On: April 8th, 8:25 PM
Pages Read: 352

Fearless by Lauren Roberts
Prompt Fulfilled: Apothecary Keeper 2
Started On: April 9th
Finished On: April 9th, 12:28 PM
Pages Read: 608

She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick 
Prompt Fulfilled: Demonology
Started On: April 9th
Finished On: April 9th, 2:18 PM
Pages Read: 354

Dead River by Cyn Balog
Prompt Fulfilled: Inscription
Started On: April 9th
Finished On: April 9th, 8:38 PM
Pages Read: 256

Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite
Prompt Fulfilled: Animal Studies
Started On: April 10th
Finished On: April 10th, 8:03 AM
Pages Read: 112

The Stolen Bride by Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe 
Prompt Fulfilled: Alchemy
Started On: April 10th
Finished On: April 10th, 2:03 PM
Pages Read: 282

Nightingale by Amy Lukavics
Prompt Fulfilled: Lore
Started On: April 10th
Finished On: April 10th, 9:36 PM
Pages Read: 352

Alchemy and a Cup of Tea by Rebecca Thorne
Prompt Fulfilled: Shapeshifting
Started On: April 11th
Finished On: April 11th, 10:49 AM
Pages Read: 320

Pretty Girls Make Graves by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Alchemy
Started On: April 11th
Finished On: April 11th, 4:38 PM
Pages Read: 370

Brutal Boys Cry Blood by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Alchemy
Started On: April 11th
Finished On: April 11th, 11:47 PM
Pages Read: 424

Petals on the River by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
Prompt Fulfilled: Bog Cataloger
Started On: April 12th
Finished On: April 12th, 3:03 PM
Pages Read: 560

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Prompt Fulfilled: Apothecary Keeper 1
Started On: April 12th
Finished On: April 12th, 11:08 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao
Prompt Fulfilled: Shapeshifting
Started On: April 13th
Finished On: April 13th, 12:04 PM
Pages Read: 400

Fireworks by Katie Cotugno 
Prompt Fulfilled: Inscription
Started On: April 13th
Currently On: Page 0 of 336

Prompts Left: Artificery, Spells & Incantations, Astronomy, Elemental Studies, Elemental Studies, Animal Studies, Astronomy, Conjuration, Spells & Incantations, Astronomy, Psionics & Divination, Conjuration, Elemental Studies, Alchemy, Animal Studies, Animal Studies, Demonology, Spells & Incantations, Conjuration, Elemental Studies, Alchemy, Spells & Incantation, Psionics & Divination, Conjuration, Elemental Studies, Alchemy, Restoration, Shapeshifting, Art of Illusion, Psionics & Divination, Restoration
Read: 29
Pages Read: 10371

Saturday, April 12, 2025

Phase Out Your TBR Update 15

So I've read my next book for the Phase Out Your TBR, and it was What Happens in Amsterdam which is for the prompt Red 12, and I'll be reading The Scorpion and the Night Blossom next! 

My Reading Journey:

The Dixon Rule by Elle Kennedy 
Prompt Fulfilled: Red 5
Started On: April 1st
Finished On: April 1st, 7:29 PM
Pages Read: 496

My Stolen Crown by Steffanie Holmes 
Prompt Fulfilled: Green 6
Started On: April 2nd
Finished On: April 2nd, 2:04 PM 
Pages Read: 384

My Broken Crown by Steffanie Holmes 
Prompt Fulfilled: Green 4
Started On: April 2nd
Finished On: April 2nd, 10:03 PM
Pages Read: 376

My Savage Empire by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Yellow 8
Started On: April 3rd
Finished On: April 3rd, 3:04 PM
Pages Read: 398

Mistress of Bones by Maria Z. Medina 
Prompt Fulfilled: Yellow 9
Started On: April 3rd
Finished On: April 3rd, 8:34 PM
Pages Read: 336

No Place Left to Hide by Megan Lally
Prompt Fulfilled: Yellow 7
Started On: April 4th
Finished On: April 4th, 10:46 AM
Pages Read: 264

The Nightshade God by Hannah Whitten
Prompt Fulfilled: Green 12
Started On: April 4th
Finished On: April 4th, 8:39 PM
Pages Read: 480

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
Prompt Fulfilled: Green 5
Started On: April 7th
Finished On: April 7th, 10:48 AM
Pages Read: 351

XOXO by Axie Oh
Prompt Fulfilled: Green 7
Started On: April 7th
Finished On: April 7th, 7:43 PM
Pages Read: 352

ASAP by Axie Oh
Prompt Fulfilled: Green 7
Started On: April 8th
Finished On: April 8th, 8:25 PM
Pages Read: 352

Fearless by Lauren Roberts
Prompt Fulfilled: Yellow 5
Started On: April 9th
Finished On: April 9th, 12:28 PM
Pages Read: 608

She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick 
Prompt Fulfilled: Yellow 6
Started On: April 9th
Finished On: April 9th, 2:18 PM
Pages Read: 354

The Stolen Bride by Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe 
Prompt Fulfilled: Yellow 10
Started On: April 10th
Finished On: April 10th, 2:03 PM
Pages Read: 282

Petals on the River by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
Prompt Fulfilled: Yellow 4
Started On: April 12th
Finished On: April 12th, 3:03 PM
Pages Read: 560

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Prompt Fulfilled: Red 12
Started On: April 12th
Finished On: April 12th, 11:08 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao
Prompt Fulfilled: Red 7
Started On: April 13th
Currently On: Page 0 of 400

Prompts Left: Red Wild (Red 5), Green 5, Blue 2, Yellow 4, Blue 7, Blue 9
Books Read: 15
Pages Read: 5929

Magical Readathon: Orilium Update 28

So I read my next book for Magical Readathon: Orilium, and it was What Happens in Amsterdam which was for the prompt Apothecary Keeper 1, and I'll be reading The Scorpion and the Night Blossom next!

My Reading Journey:

The Summer I Ate the Rich by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite
Prompt Fulfilled: Conjuration
Started On: April 1st
Finished On: April 1st, 10:28 AM
Pages Read: 400

The Dixon Rule by Elle Kennedy 
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 1st
Finished On: April 1st, 7:29 PM
Pages Read: 496

My Stolen Crown by Steffanie Holmes 
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 2nd
Finished On: April 2nd, 2:04 PM 
Pages Read: 384

My Secret Heart by Steffanie Holmes 
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 2nd
Finished On: April 2nd, 6:27 PM
Page Read: 386

My Broken Crown by Steffanie Holmes 
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 2nd
Finished On: April 2nd, 10:03 PM
Pages Read: 376

My Savage Empire by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Restoration
Started On: April 3rd
Finished On: April 3rd, 3:04 PM
Pages Read: 398

Mistress of Bones by Maria Z. Medina 
Prompt Fulfilled: Demonology
Started On: April 3rd
Finished On: April 3rd, 8:34 PM
Pages Read: 336

No Place Left to Hide by Megan Lally
Prompt Fulfilled: Apothecary Keeper 1
Started On: April 4th
Finished On: April 4th, 10:46 AM
Pages Read: 264

The Nightshade God by Hannah Whitten
Prompt Fulfilled: Psionics & Divination
Started On: April 4th
Finished On: April 4th, 8:39 PM
Pages Read: 480

Of Mice and Murder by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 5th
Finished On: April 5th, 1:47 PM
Pages Read: 266

Pride and Premeditation by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 5th
Finished On: April 5th, 7:17 PM
Pages Read: 308

Memoirs of a Garroter by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 6th
Finished On: April 6th, 2:52 PM
Pages Read: 278

Prose and Cons by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 6th
Finished On: April 6th, 6:19 PM
Pages Read: 288

A Novel Way to Die by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Art of Illusion
Started On: April 6th
Finished On: April 6th, 10:35 PM
Pages Read: 286

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
Prompt Fulfilled: Inscription
Started On: April 7th
Finished On: April 7th, 10:48 AM
Pages Read: 351

XOXO by Axie Oh
Prompt Fulfilled: Lore
Started On: April 7th
Finished On: April 7th, 7:43 PM
Pages Read: 352

ASAP by Axie Oh
Prompt Fulfilled: Lore
Started On: April 8th
Finished On: April 8th, 8:25 PM
Pages Read: 352

Fearless by Lauren Roberts
Prompt Fulfilled: Apothecary Keeper 2
Started On: April 9th
Finished On: April 9th, 12:28 PM
Pages Read: 608

She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick 
Prompt Fulfilled: Demonology
Started On: April 9th
Finished On: April 9th, 2:18 PM
Pages Read: 354

Dead River by Cyn Balog
Prompt Fulfilled: Inscription
Started On: April 9th
Finished On: April 9th, 8:38 PM
Pages Read: 256

Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite
Prompt Fulfilled: Animal Studies
Started On: April 10th
Finished On: April 10th, 8:03 AM
Pages Read: 112

The Stolen Bride by Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe 
Prompt Fulfilled: Alchemy
Started On: April 10th
Finished On: April 10th, 2:03 PM
Pages Read: 282

Nightingale by Amy Lukavics
Prompt Fulfilled: Lore
Started On: April 10th
Finished On: April 10th, 9:36 PM
Pages Read: 352

Alchemy and a Cup of Tea by Rebecca Thorne
Prompt Fulfilled: Shapeshifting
Started On: April 11th
Finished On: April 11th, 10:49 AM
Pages Read: 320

Pretty Girls Make Graves by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Alchemy
Started On: April 11th
Finished On: April 11th, 4:38 PM
Pages Read: 370

Brutal Boys Cry Blood by Steffanie Holmes
Prompt Fulfilled: Alchemy
Started On: April 11th
Finished On: April 11th, 11:47 PM
Pages Read: 424

Petals on the River by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
Prompt Fulfilled: Bog Cataloger
Started On: April 12th
Finished On: April 12th, 3:03 PM
Pages Read: 560

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Prompt Fulfilled: Apothecary Keeper 1
Started On: April 12th
Finished On: April 12th, 11:08 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao
Prompt Fulfilled: Shapeshifting
Started On: April 13th
Currently On: Page 0 of 400

Prompts Left: Artificery, Spells & Incantations, Astronomy, Elemental Studies, Elemental Studies, Animal Studies, Astronomy, Conjuration, Spells & Incantations, Astronomy, Psionics & Divination, Conjuration, Elemental Studies, Alchemy, Animal Studies, Animal Studies, Demonology, Spells & Incantations, Conjuration, Elemental Studies, Alchemy, Spells & Incantation, Psionics & Divination, Conjuration, Elemental Studies, Alchemy, Restoration, Shapeshifting, Art of Illusion, Psionics & Divination, Restoration
Read: 28
Pages Read: 9971

Sunday, March 2, 2025

Amélie Wen Zhao Author Page

The Story: I saw the Blood Heir trilogy around on the book internet, and it sounded really good. So when I saw it as a library audiobook, and was prompted, I picked it up, and I loved it, and I loved all the rest of her books that I've read, and I can't wait to read more by Amélie Wen Zhao! 

Website

Series: Blood Heir Trilogy, Song of the Last Kingdom, The Three Realms Duology


Song of the Last Kingdom: Song of Silver, Flame Like Night and her site, my review, Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White and her site, my review. 

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Waiting on Wednesday #719, February 19th

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

The Ragpicker King by Cassandra Clare
Expected Publication: March 4th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
In the epic follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Sword Catcher, praised by George R. R. Martin as “everything I look for in fantasy,” Lin and Kel must chart a perilous course between love and lies.

Kel Saren, body double to Conor, crown prince of the dazzling city of Castellane, is caught between two worlds. In order to protect his beloved prince, Kel must find the culprits responsible for a massacre at the royal palace—and the only clues are held by the Ragpicker King, the notorious criminal who rules Castellane’s underworld. The trail Kel follows leads back to the Hill, where among decadent nobles and glittering parties a dark conspiracy to destroy the royal family has taken hold—a conspiracy headed up by the monstrous Artal Gremont, the man engaged to marry the woman Kel adores.

Meanwhile, Lin Caster must face the aftermath of the greatest risk she’s ever taken. To save the life of a dying friend, Lin has falsely claimed to be the Goddess Reborn, the legendary heroine destined to save her people. Now the terrifying—but strangely magnetic—leader of her people has arrived to test her powers. The price of failure is exile, and only through her alliance with the Ragpicker King can she continue to access the magic that may save her.

Then Prince Conor reappears in her life, demanding that she use her healing powers to cure the madness of his father, the King. Lin soon realizes the King is gripped by an ancient and terrible magic, one whose lure she cannot deny any more than she can deny her growing passion for Conor.

As the simmering tensions in Castellane reach a fever pitch, Lin and Kel must decide who to trust when any false move means death—or worse.

Kills Well With Others by Deanna Raybourn
Expected Publication: March 4th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
Four women assassins, senior in status—and in age—sharpen their knives for another bloody good adventure in this riotous follow-up to the New York Times bestselling sensation Killers of a Certain Age.

After more than a year of laying low, Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie are called back into action. They have enjoyed their rest, but the lack of excitement is starting to a professional killer can only take so many watercolor classes and yoga sessions before she gets the itch to get back in the game. When they receive a call from Naomi Ndiaye, the head of the elite assassin organization known as the Museum, they are ready tackle the greatest challenge of their careers.

Someone on the inside has compiled a list of important kills committed by Museum agents, all of them connected to a single, shadowy figure, an Eastern European gangster who rules her business empire with an iron fist and plays puppet master in international affairs. Naomi is convinced this criminal queen is bent upon revenge, killing off the agents who attempted to thwart her, and the aging quartet of killers is next.

Together the foursome embark on a wild ride across the globe on the double mission of rooting out the Museum’s mole and hunting down the gangster and her assassin. But their nemesis is unlike any they’ve faced before, and it will take all their experience and a whole lot of luck to get out of this mission alive.

Oathbound by Tracy Deonn
Expected Publication: March 4th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
Severed from the Legendborn. Oathbound to a monster.

Bree Matthews is alone. She exiled herself from the Legendborn Order, cut her ancestral connections, and turned away from the friends who can’t understand the impossible cost of her powers. This is the only way to keep herself—and those she loves—safe.

But Bree’s decision has come with a terrible price: an unbreakable bargain with the Shadow King himself, a shapeshifter who can move between humanity, the demon underworld, and the Legendborn secret society. In exchange for training to wield her unprecedented abilities, Bree has put her future in the Shadow King’s hands—and unwittingly bound herself to do his bidding as his new protégé.

Meanwhile, the other Scions must face war with their Round Table fractured, leaderless, and missing its Kingsmage, as Selwyn has also disappeared. When Nick is detained by the Order’s Merlins, he invokes an ancient law that requires the High Council of Regents to convene at the Northern Keep and grant him an audience. No one knows what he will demand of them...or what secrets he has kept hidden from the Table.

As a string of mysterious kidnappings escalates and Merlins are found dead, it becomes clear that no matter how hard Bree runs from who she is, the past will always find her.

Shadow's Heart by Kresley Cole
Expected Publication: March 4th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
In this heart-stopping installment in the #1 New York Times bestselling Immortals After Dark series, a vampire swordswoman and a ruthless sorcerer become inmates in a hell-plane prison.

A FALLEN PRINCESS

Sheltered Kosmina Daciano always yearned for adventure. Yet her first trip to the mortal world turns dark when a foe curses her with bloodlust—ensuring her exile in the sinister dimension of Nightside.

AN OUTLAW SORCERER

For millennia, Silt Harea flouted the laws of the Lore with all the arrogance of a king, remaining one step ahead of ruination. Yet then a mysterious bounty hunter schemes to capture him, dispatching him straight to hell.

FIGHT TO ESCAPE A DYING REALM . . .

In Nightside, Silt clashes with the hunter’s sister, also condemned. Never imagining that she might be the key to his escape—and his future—he vows revenge against her. But Mina is no easy quarry.

Can two doomed immortals survive long enough to salvage a nightmare, turning hatred into love and vengeance into bliss?

Tea You at the Altar by Rebecca Thorne
Expected Publication: March 4th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
The Princess Bride meets Travis Baldree in Tea You at the Altar, the third cosy fantasy in Rebecca Thorne's bestselling Tomes & Tea series. Our sapphic adventurers must navigate the ultimate maelstrom – their own wedding!

Kianthe and Reyna are ready to finally walk down the aisle, and in just seven days their wedding of a wifetime will become a reality. There's still so much to do but, like all best-laid plans, everything seems to be going awry.

Their baby dragons are causing mayhem in the town of Tawney, and Kianthe’s uptight parents have invited themselves to the wedding. Yet, worst of all, Reyna has become embroiled in a secret plot to overthrow Queen Tilaine. The world seems against them – and how are they going to live long enough to say ‘I do’?


Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano
Expected Publication: March 4th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
From New York Times bestseller and Edgar-Award nominee Elle Cosimano, comes Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave—the hugely anticipated next installment in the fan-favorite Finlay Donovan series.

Finlay Donovan may have skeletons in her closet . . . but at least there's not a body in her backyard.

Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with Finlay’s elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, the community busybody and president of the neighborhood watch. But when a dead body is discovered in her backyard, Mrs. Haggerty needs their help. At first a suspect, Mrs. Haggerty is cleared by the police, but her house remains an active crime scene. She has nowhere to go . . . except Finlay’s house, right across the street.

Finlay and Vero have no interest in getting involved in another murder case—or sacrificing either of their bedrooms. After all, they’ve dealt with enough murders over the last four months to last a lifetime and they both would much rather share their beds with someone else.

Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid
Expected Publication: March 4th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
The Last of Us meets The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in this standalone dystopian romance about survival, sacrifice, and love that risks everything.

By encouraging massive accumulations of debt from its underclass, a single corporation, Caerus, controls all aspects of society.

Inesa lives with her brother in a half-sunken town where they scrape by running a taxidermy shop. Unbeknownst to Inesa, their cruel and indolent mother has accrued an enormous debt—enough to qualify one of her children for Caerus’s livestreamed assassination spectacle: the Lamb’s Gauntlet.

Melinoë is a Caerus assassin, trained to track and kill the sacrificial Lambs. The product of neural reconditioning and physiological alteration, she is a living weapon, known for her cold brutality and deadly beauty. She has never failed to assassinate one of her marks.

When Inesa learns that her mother has offered her as a sacrifice, at first she despairs—the Gauntlet is always a bloodbath for the impoverished debtors. But she’s had years of practice surviving in the apocalyptic wastes, and with the help of her hunter brother, she might stand a chance of staying alive.

For Melinoë, this is a game she can’t afford to lose. Despite her reputation for mercilessness, she is haunted by painful flashbacks. After her last Gauntlet, where she broke down on livestream, she desperately needs redemption.

As Mel pursues Inesa across the wasteland, both girls begin to question everything: Inesa wonders if there’s more to life than survival, while Mel wonders if she’s capable of more than killing.

And both wonder if, against all odds, they might be falling in love.

Shadow and Tide by Rachel Greenlaw
Expected Publication: March 4th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
The second irresistible adventure in the Compass and Blade trilogy, full of intrigue, sizzling romance, dark magic and monstrous beings.

A magical bargain always comes at a cost.

On Rosevear, Mira is plagued by nightmares. She is lost and untethered – and then the watch strike, burning her home. The attack ignites a spark within her, and Mira knows it’s time to call in her bargain with Elijah, and tear down Captain Renshaw and the watch.

Mira must find allies and she turns to the witches for help unlocking her siren abilities. But the witches aren’t all on Mira’s side; and what they ask of her may be her undoing.

As she desperately fights for a way to keep her home safe, with Elijah by her side, more deadly and seductive than ever, Mira realises she is being hunted. For in the eyes of the ruling council, Mira is a monster, and monstrous creatures must be tamed …

Wizard of Most Wicked Ways by Charlie N. Holmberg
Expected Publication: March 4th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
When dead enemies rise, grave matters of the heart, mind, and body clash in the fantastical fourth Whimbrel House novel by Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg.

Whimbrel House is changing. Merritt and Hulda are raising a family. Owein has signed a marriage contract with the magically compatible Lady Cora, a heavyweight of British nobility who’s an ocean away. And the lovely shape-shifting druid Fallon makes a distractingly fetching friend for Owein. But another change is in the air, and this time it’s something wicked.

The greatest wizard of the millennium, Silas Hogwood, is back—after five years dead. New body, same foul scent, and driven by madness and revenge. Owein, fearing he isn’t strong enough to fend him off, seeks Cora’s help and influence in England. Alarms ringing, Queen Victoria dispatches her League of Magicians, including her personal necromancer, to aid in Owein’s defense.

As magic, both good and evil, converges on Blaugdone Island, Owein realizes how harrowing the forces against them are. Combating them will require some digging—literally—for half-formed secrets of magic Hulda doesn’t want him to have. But no promise, lock, or government red tape will keep Owein from doing what’s necessary to protect those he loves; one way or another, Silas will only take Whimbrel House over Owein’s third dead body.

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao
Expected Publication: March 4th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
In a world invaded by demons, one girl will face the ultimate test when she is forced to enter into an ancient, deadly competition for the chance to save her mother's soul… before she loses her forever. From the New York Times bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night comes the beginning of a dark and opulent fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Throne of Glass.

Nine years ago, the war between the Kingdom of Night and the Kingdom of Rivers tore Àn’yīng’s family apart, leaving her mother barely alive and a baby sister to fend for. Now the mortal realm is falling into eternal night, and mó—beautiful, ravenous demons—roam the land, feasting on the flesh of humans and drinking their souls.

Àn’yīng is no longer a helpless child, though. Armed with her crescent blades and trained in the ancient art of practitioning, she has decided to enter the Immortality Trials, which are open to any mortal who can survive the journey to the immortal realm. Those who complete the Trials are granted a pill of eternal life—the one thing Àn’yīng knows can heal her dying mother. But to attain the prize, she must survive the competition.

Death is common in the Trials. Yet oddly, Àn’yīng finds that someone is helping her stay alive. A rival contestant. Powerful and handsome, Yù’chén is as secretive about his past as he is about his motives for protecting Àn’yīng.

The longer she survives the Trials, the clearer it becomes that all is not right in the immortal realm. To save her mother and herself, Àn’yīng will need to figure out whether she can truly trust the stranger she’s falling for or if he’s the most dangerous player of all . . . for herself and for all the realms.

We Were Warned by Chelsea Ichaso
Expected Publication: March 4th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
Everyone knows the legend of Fairport twenty years ago, a shocking murder closed the place down. This year, the ruins will be bulldozed at last. But tonight, it's not too late to die.

All her life, Eden Stafford has heard the lore about the abandoned beach resort at the edge of ever since the notorious murder there, anyone who sets foot on the property is cursed to die, It's more than just a over the years, two high school students who dared to explore the ruins of Fairport Village were killed there.

Eden is no stranger to notoriety, having endured a family scandal that's made her a target at school. So when she reluctantly attends an overnight party at the ruins, she's on edge—not because of some legend, but because the clique that has made her life hell for years is there, too, including Caleb Durham, the worst of them all.

Yet out of all the things Eden expected to happen that night, finding another student dead at Fairport Village wasn't one of them.

Though the death is ruled an accident, Eden knows she saw something suspicious at the ruins—and Caleb and her other longtime tormentors did too. Now they're all being followed by a deadly stranger, and to save themselves, they must work together to uncover the truth about Fairport Village. But after all that's happened, can Eden really trust Caleb and his friends? Or will they leave her to face a killer alone?

Emberclaw by L.R. Lam
Expected Publication: March 5th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
Long-banished dragons, revered as gods, return to the mortal realm in the second book in this magical, romantic, epic fantasy trilogy from a London Times bestselling author

One volume has closed and the next opened. But a different Archivist writes this now, for the last has flown out to the horizon and never returned. I wish I could promise all turned out well. That fate arced its way straight and true towards fairness and justice. If there is one thing I have learned, it is that life, even one touched by magic and fate, is never tidy.

But no matter how difficult things became, I cannot shy away from putting it all down, tempting as it is to burn certain pages. I made a pact and a promise that I would show it all. The good, the bad, the intimacy, and the betrayal. I am, for better or worse, the new archivist. I have to let it stand.  

Stories often begin with either a life or a death. This one is the latter.

Queen of Shadows and Ruin by Nisha J. Tuli
Expected Publication: March 6th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
Zarya must become the darkness…

Soaring through the sky to the frozen mountains of Andhera, Zarya knows that only she can save her home from annihilation. Ruthless armies hunt her friends and toxic dark magic spreads through the land, consuming all it touches. To fight back, she and Rabin must find dangerous new allies.

In a palace of black marble, Zarya finally meets her father—the mysterious Raja Abishek. She approaches warily. For years she was told to fear this man, that he seeks to steal her power. But Abishek welcomes her with open arms, with gifts and lavish celebrations.

Rabin is sure the king can help them, turning the tide of war and decay. And when the magic binding Zarya’s heart to Rabin begins to fail, only Abishek can offer a cure. Zarya dreads the thought of placing their lives in his hands… But can she hesitate, when Rabin might be torn from her forever?

As Zarya makes her choice, ancient magic breaks loose, and her world shatters. In a ruined and long forgotten city, her love for Rabin will be tested to its limits. An army of shadows marches against her, destroying all in its path, and everything Zarya loves will be lost, unless she can face the darkness inside her—and release its devastating power.

An absolutely gripping fantasy romance that’s perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Rebecca Yarros, and Carissa Broadbent, Queen of Shadows and Ruin is the epic final volume in the Nightfire Quartet.

The start of March has some really excellent releases, from authors and series that are so good, and I need them all to be out! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Monday, September 25, 2023

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #642, September 25th

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 #641
Teaser Tuesday #649
WWW Wednesday #649
WOW #645
Will the Time Come #642
Third Sentence Thursday #632
Random Reads #618
First Lines Friday #645
Book Blogger Hop #311
Monthly ARC's Update 50
The Reward Challenge Update #627
Wheel of TBR #174
How Well I Stuck to It #479
Wrote that Review Update #476

Week 38 Reviews:
The Heiress

Magical Readathon: Orilium: 

SeasonAthon Academy: 

Pick-Pong-A-Thon: 

Becca's Spookoplathon: 
Update 15

OK, so I got 44 posts in 7 days, and yeah, this was a week. I hustled, because I have a lot of books that I want and need to fit in before the end of the month, and I'm a bit tuckered by that. And Dobby hasn't been doing well. 

The day that he had his annual vet check up in July, I noticed when I took him out that his pee was red, which turned out to be blood. At that appointment, she booked his 6th cancer surgery for 2 weeks later. She also tested his blood, and prescribed some meds, and that if he still had whatever was causing it, then the surgery would have to be postponed. 

Day of the surgery, pee was tested and was fine, so he had the surgery. But he was still peeing blood, and I thought maybe it was a side effect of his post surgery meds. But a month later, late August, he was still peeing blood. So he was given a different kind of med then last time. Still peeing blood. Then 2 weeks ago, a new type of med. Still. And at this point, an infection is probably ruled out, so it's most likely crystals in his urine. And his attitude is normal, but his behaviours, he's drinking more water. And he's an old man at 15 1/2. 

So last Thursday, he got a sample drawn, and it's going in for testing, that we won't get back until sometime this week. I had them Friday night to Sunday afternoon. Saturday night, he wakes up to go pee multiple times in the night, wanting to go out right after coming in, even though he was getting into position to pee, he wasn't really going. So that was not a good night, with little sleep and little patience and fear about how much longer we're going to have him with us. 

Because besides this problem, there's the cancer. It doesn't spread, but it's aggressive, which is why he's had 4 surgeries in the fall for the last 4 years. But there's already a lump in the area again, a month after this past one. Previously it took until December/January for it to come back, so this is not a good sign. he's my first dog, he's my old man, we got him just before my 14th birthday, I've had him in my life longer then I haven't. Losing him is going to be devastating, and I'm crying now just thinking of it. He's my silly weirdo butt who sometimes frustrates me, but he's the one that gives me all the kisses and cuddles. 

So yeah, also dealing with all those emotions this week. Hopefully we find out specifical what's causing this, and how to treat it and he gets better. What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read Aftermarket Aftermath!

Seanan McGuire's New York Times -bestselling and Hugo Award-nominated urban fantasy InCryptid series continues with the thirteenth book following the Price family, cryptozoologists who study and protect the creatures living in secret all around us

Mary Dunlavy didn't intend to become a professional babysitter. Of course, she didn't intend to die, either, or to become a crossroads ghost. As a babysitting ghost, she's been caring for the Price family for four generations, and she's planning to keep doing the job for the better part of forever.

With her first charge finally back from her decades-long cross-dimensional field trip, with a long-lost husband and adopted daughter in tow, it's time for Mary to oversee the world's most chaotic family reunion. And that's before the Covenant of St. George launches a full scale strike against the cryptids of Manhattan, followed quickly by an attack on the Campbell Family Carnival.

It's going to take every advantage and every ally they have for the Prices to survive what's coming—and for Mary, to avoid finding out the answer to a question she's never wanted to where does a babysitting ghost go when she runs out of people to take care of?