Book Blogger Hop #344, May 10th

Book Blogger Hop

The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Jennifer from Crazy-For-Books in March 2010 and ended on December 31, 2012. With Jennifer's permission, Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer relaunched the meme on February 15, 2013. Check out the hop here! 

Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end on Thursday. There will be a weekly prompt featuring a book related question. The hop's purpose is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.

The Question of the week is: May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Are there any books with themes or characters dealing with issues related to mental health that you have found to be enlightening or comforting? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

Made You Up by Francesca Zappia, it's such a great read. What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Waiting on Wednesday #614, February 15th

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

Conrad: Falling for the Gravekeeper by Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe

Expected Publication: March 27th, 2023
From Goodreads:

Jane Ladling told her side of the story. Now Special Agent Conrad Ryan tells his.

Welcome to Aurelian Hills, a small town rich in history and community, and six feet deep in murder.

When a local playboy doctor is found dead in an unearthed grave, Conrad is on the case. But this loner by choice is ill prepared for the cemetery’s quirky owner. A beautiful brunette with a curious nature, a fascination with cats, hats and a talent for distracting him. Doesn’t help when she, well, tries to help, and constantly inserts herself into the investigation.

With suspects stacking up, wild theories flying and a would-be amateur sleuth giving him a run for his money, Conrad must do what he does best. Buckle down, piece together the evidence and save the day. What he won’t do? Fall for the enchanting gravekeeper. Not him. No way.

The Gargoyle's Captive by Katee Robert

Expected Publication: March 28th, 2023
From Goodreads:

Grace is a monster hunter who went into her demon deal with eyes wide open. Years ago, her mother made the same choice and was never seen again, and the answers Grace seeks can only be found in the demon realm.

She doesn’t care that she’s auctioned off to a gargoyle. She doesn’t plan to stay with him longer than strictly necessary.

Unfortunately, she didn’t read the small print of her contract.

Every time she tries to escape, she’s transported back into Bram’s tender care. He never hurts her, never punishes her, just meets her fury with an easy charm she doesn’t know how to fight.

She doesn’t mean to give in, to stop fighting. But the moment she does, she starts to forget what brought her to this place and what her goals are. After a life starved of pleasure, she’s all willing to let Bram seduce her again and again…

At least until the past comes calling.

Chaos & Flame by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland

Expected Publication: March 28th, 2023

From Goodreads:

From New York Times bestselling author Justina Ireland and Tessa Gratton comes the first book in a ferocious YA fantasy duology featuring ancient magic, warring factions, and a romance between the two people in the world with the most cause to hate one another.

Darling Seabreak cannot remember anything before the murder of her family at the hands of House Dragon, but she knows she owes her life to both the power of her Chaos Boon and House Kraken for liberating her from the sewers where she spent her childhood. So when her adoptive Kraken father is captured in battle, Darling vows to save him--even if that means killing each and every last member of House Dragon.

Talon Goldhoard has always been a dutiful War Prince for House Dragon, bravely leading the elite troops of his brother, the High Prince Regent. But lately his brother's erratic rule threatens to undo a hundred years of House Dragon's hard work, and factions are turning to Talon to unseat him. Talon resists, until he's ambushed by a fierce girl who looks exactly like the one his brother has painted obsessively, repeatedly, for years, and Talon knows she's the key to everything.

Together, Darling and Talon must navigate the treacherous waters of House politics, caught up in the complicated game the High Prince Regent is playing against everyone. The unlikeliest of allies, they'll have to stop fighting each other long enough to learn to fight together in order to survive the fiery prophecies and ancient blood magic threatening to devastate their entire world.

Greymist Fair by Francesca Zappia

Expected Publication: March 28th, 2023
From Goodreads:

The villagers of Greymist Fair know that the woods are a dangerous and magical place, and that they should never set foot off the road. But when a young tailor discovers a body, her search for the culprit reveals even more strange and dark happenings around her town.

From acclaimed author Francesca Zappia, Greymist Fair is a suspenseful and inventive murder-mystery infused with magic and inspired by the lesser-known fairytales of the Brothers Grimm.

Two roads lead into a dark forest. They meet at Greymist Fair, the village hidden in the trees, a place kept alive by the families that never leave. The people of Greymist Fair know the woods are a dangerous and magical place, and to set foot off the road is to invite trouble.

When Heike, the village's young tailor, discovers a body on the road, she goes looking for who is responsible. But her quest only leads to more strange happenings around Greymist Fair.

Inspired by the original, bloody, lesser-known fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, acclaimed author Francesca Zappia crafts an enthralling murder-mystery that will keep readers turning the pages. Told from multiple points of view, with each narrative building on the crime discovered by Heike, Greymist Fair examines the themes of childhood fears, growing into adult responsibilities, and finding a place to call home amid the trials of life and death.

Features chapter decorations by the author throughout, as well as a map.

The Countess by Sophie Jordan

Expected Publication: March 28th, 2023
From Goodreads:

New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan kicks off her amazing new high concept series, The Scandalous Ladies of London, which chronicles the lives of a group of affluent ladies reigning over glittering, Regency-era London, vying for position in the hierarchy of the ton. They are the young wives, widows, and daughters of London's wealthiest families. The drama is big, the money runs deep, and the shade is real. Life is different in the ton.

"My husband is a good man... just ask all the women he has bedded."

Wealthy society maven Lady Gertrude knows how the world works. If her husband is less than faithful, it's an acceptable price to pay for her coveted position at the apex of London's most fashionable set. No exclusive soiree or lavish ball is complete without her and her group of decadent, well-connected friends. And this Season promises more excitement than usual: Tru is launching her daughter into Society, helping her navigate the cutthroat Marriage Mart, complete with fortune hunters, jealous debutantes, and malicious gossips.

As skilled as Tru is at playing the high-stakes games of the ton, she never expects to meet her match--until Jasper Thorne begins to court her daughter. Jasper needs a titled bride, but when he meets Tru, all his carefully laid plans go up in smoke. The attraction between Tru and Jasper is undeniable...and unacceptable. To indulge in an affair with her daughter's suitor would be ruinous. If it becomes public, she'll never survive the scandal. Especially as it becomes clear that he wants more than one night...he wants the impossible. He wants forever.

A sizzling story of scandalous ladies, irresistible temptation, and the dangers--and joys--of being true to yourself.

A Door in the Dark by Scott Reintgen

Expected Publication: March 28th, 2023
From Goodreads:

One of Us is Lying meets A Deadly Education in this fantasy thriller that follows six teenage wizards as they fight to make it home alive after a malfunctioning spell leaves them stranded in the wilderness.

Ren Monroe has spent four years proving she’s one of the best wizards in her generation. But top marks at Balmerick University will mean nothing if she fails to get recruited into one of the major houses. Enter Theo Brood. If being rich were a sin, he’d already be halfway to hell. After a failed and disastrous party trick, fate has the two of them crossing paths at the public waxway portal the day before holidays—Theo’s punishment is to travel home with the scholarship kids. Which doesn’t sit well with any of them.

A fight breaks out. In the chaos, the portal spell malfunctions. All six students are snatched from the safety of the school’s campus and set down in the middle of nowhere. And one of them is dead on arrival.

If anyone can get them through the punishing wilderness with limited magical reserves it’s Ren. She’s been in survival mode her entire life. But no magic could prepare her for the tangled secrets the rest of the group is harboring, or for what’s following them through the dark woods…

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu

Expected Publication: March 28th, 2023
From Goodreads:

The Hating Game meets Mission: Impossible in Stars and Smoke, a smoldering new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu about a superstar tapped to become a secret agent and the reluctant young spy assigned to be his partner.

Meet Winter Young—rookie backup dancer turned global pop phenomenon. His star power has smashed records, selling out stadiums from LA to London. Now he’s bringing his swoon worthy assets to a whole new arena. . .

Infamous criminal tycoon Eli Morrison has just one weakness—his daughter, Penelope. And Penelope has just one wish for her nineteenth birthday—a private concert with Winter Young. When covert ops organization The Panacea Group approaches Winter with this once-in-a-lifetime chance to infiltrate Morrison’s inner circle, Winter must use his fame, cunning, and charisma to pull it off—only he won’t be on his own.

Posing as Winter’s bodyguard is the fiery Sydney Cossette, Panacea’s youngest spy. Sydney may be the only person alive impervious to Winter's charms, but as the mission brings them closer, she's forced to admit there's more to this A-lister than slick dance moves and a handsome face. Panacea's unlikeliest partners just might become its biggest heroes—and maybe even more—if they can survive each other first.

Unbreakable by Mira Grant

Expected Publication: March 31st, 2023
From Goodreads:

The girls of Unbreakable Starlight were part of an ancient tradition of magical warriors defending the Earth from the forces of the Outside. They knew their powers and their place, and they planned to fight to the very end. They just didn't think the end would come so very soon.

And they never dreamt that when the dust settled, two of their members would be the last magical protectors in the world.

For Piper, her time as a member of Unbreakable Starlight was the best part of her life, the first and only time that she had been truly happy. She'd had friends, she'd had powers, and she'd had her animal companion to make sure that she understood the patterns she saw in all things. Until it all came crashing down.

For Yuina, whose sister died on the night of the assault that killed most of the world's magical protectors, forgetting what she used to be is all that's mattered to her for years. She's been trying her best to toe the line and be the good little symbol of a forbidden calling that her government wants her to be, and she'll keep trying even if it kills her.

But magical protectors existed for a reason, and even if they've all died and the heralds who used to invite replacements to the fight have been forced into hiding. And if the magical protectors aren't holding the line against the Outside, who is?

Lines exist because somebody drew them, and now, with the world left undefended, the lines are getting blurred. Soon enough, something's going to break.

We made a vow, unshakable:

In starlight, we're unbreakable.

We’ll protect the world with all we are,

And when we fall, we’ll fall like stars.

Secret Project #2 by Brandon Sanderson

Expected Publication: April 1st, 2023

From Goodreads:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson meshes Jason Bourne and epic fantasy in this captivating adventure that throws an amnesiac wizard into time travel shenanigans—where his only hope of survival lies in recovering his missing memories.

A man awakes in a clearing in what appears to be medieval England with no memory of who he is, where he came from, or why he is there. Chased by a group from his own time, his sole hope for survival lies in regaining his missing memories, making allies among the locals, and perhaps even trusting in their superstitious boasts. His only help from the “real world” should have been a guidebook entitled The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, except his copy exploded during transit. The few fragments he managed to save provide clues to his situation, but can he figure them out in time to survive?

There's some really great books coming out at the end of the month that I'm really excited for, and I can't wait for them to be released! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #595, October 31st

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 #594
Teaser Tuesday #602
WWW Wednesday #602
WOW #598
Will the Time Come #595
Third Sentence Thursday #585
Random Reads #571
First Lines Friday #598
Book Blogger Hop #264

Monthly ARC's Update 26
The Reward Challenge Update #580
Wheel of TBR #127
How Well I Stuck to It #432
Wrote that Review Update #429

Week 43 Reviews:
Where Dreams Descend

Meddling Kids

Fumiko and the Finicky Nestmate

Pimiko and the Uncharted Island

Ivory

Temptress

A Darkness at the Door

Pestilence

War

Raven Unveiled

Whiteout 

How I'll Kill You

Greymist Fair

For the Wolf

Reader, I Murdered Him

Silver in the Mist

Becca's BookoplAthon: 

Update 34

Update 35

Update 36

Update 37

Update 38

Update 39

Update 40

Update 41

Update 42

Update 43

Update 44

Update 45

ARCtober: 

Update 16

Update 17

Update 18

Update 19

Update 20

Update 21

Update 22

Update 23

Random:

We Have the Cover of A Rip Through Time #2!!!!

OK, so I got 40 posts in 7 days, and yeah, read some really great books. Personally in the week wasn't great, I hurt my finger, and the pain caused me to faint, and I hit my head, and had to go to urgent car to make sure I didn't have a concussion. I didn't, and my finger is fine, and the goosebump on my head has gone away, but yeah, that wasn't fun. What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read Awakening, The Witch King, and The Fae Keeper.

Set in alternate world of art deco beauty and steampunk horror, MONSTRESS tells the epic story of Maika Halfwolf, a teenage survivor of a cataclysmic war between humans and their hated enemies, the Arcanics. In the face of oppression and terrible danger, Maika is both hunter and hunted, searching for answers about her mysterious past as those who seek to use her remain just one step behind… and all the while, the monster within begins to awaken…

Collects MONSTRESS #1-6. 

To save a fae kingdom, a trans witch must face his traumatic past and the royal fiancé he left behind. This debut YA fantasy will leave you spellbound.

Wyatt would give anything to forget where he came from—but a kingdom demands its king.

In Asalin, fae rule and witches like Wyatt Croft…don't. Wyatt's betrothal to his best friend, fae prince Emyr North, was supposed to change that. But when Wyatt lost control of his magic one devastating night, he fled to the human world.

Now a coldly distant Emyr has hunted him down. Despite transgender Wyatt's newfound identity and troubling past, Emyr has no intention of dissolving their engagement. In fact, he claims they must marry now or risk losing the throne. Jaded, Wyatt strikes a deal with the enemy, hoping to escape Asalin forever. But as he gets to know Emyr, Wyatt realizes the boy he once loved may still exist. And as the witches face worsening conditions, he must decide once and for all what's more important—his people or his freedom.

In the heart-stopping sequel to The Witch King, Wyatt and Emyr attempt to rebuild Asalin despite unexpected new enemies within their kingdom.

Two weeks after the door to Faery closed once more, Asalin is still in turmoil. Emyr and Wyatt are hunting Derek and Clarke themselves after having abolished the corrupt Guard, and are trying to convince the other kingdoms to follow their lead. But when they uncover the hidden truth about the witches' real place in fae society, it becomes clear the problems run much deeper than anyone knew. And this may be more than the two of them can fix.

As Wyatt struggles to learn control of his magic and balance his own needs with the needs of a kingdom, he must finally decide on the future he wants—before he loses the future he and Emyr are building… 

Week 43 Review: Greymist Fair

From Goodreads:

The people of Greymist Fair know that the woods are a dangerous and magical place, and that they should never set foot off the road. But when a young tailor discovers a body on the road, her search for the culprit reveals even more strange and dark happenings around her town. From acclaimed author Francesca Zappia, Greymist Fair is a suspenseful and inventive murder-mystery inspired by the lesser-known fairytales of the Brothers Grimm. Greymist Fair will bewitch readers of Rachel Vincent's Red Wolf, Liz Braswell's A Twisted Tale series, and fans of Into the Woods.

Features chapter decorations by the author throughout, as well as a map.

Two roads lead into a dark forest. They meet at Greymist Fair, the village hidden in the trees, a place kept alive by the families that never leave. The people of Greymist Fair know the woods are a dangerous and magical place, and to set foot off the road is to invite trouble.

When Heike, the village's young tailor, discovers a body on the road, she goes looking for who is responsible. But her quest only leads to more strange happenings around Greymist Fair.

Inspired by the original, bloody, lesser-known fairytales of the Brothers Grimm, acclaimed author Francesca Zappia crafts an enthralling murder-mystery that will keep readers turning the pages. Told from multiple points of view, with each narrative building on the crime discovered by Heike, Greymist Fair examines the themes of childhood fears, growing into adult responsibilities, and finding a place to call home amid the trials of life and death.

My Review:
Man, this book was so great! Francesca Zappia really writes off kilter books, with just that bit of weirdness, and that weirdness has gotten bigger with every book, and I really love that! This latest read was creepy and amazing and I loved reading it!

This isolated town of Grimist Fair, with each story we got to know it just a little bit better. Heike's story was first, and set things up, and each story built up something else, and we were in a variety of people's heads for these various stories. And boy, some of them were pretty dark! 

The stories of the present, they happened in chronological order, but between them, there were stories of the past, that why things were the way they where when the book started. It gave us a rounded view of the goings on in this town, and I really enjoyed that! 

We know right off the bat that one of the characters is Death, we meet him in the opening page. And from the synopsis we know that these are the darker tales. But there's still some hope in at least some of them, and the way things ended in the last one was pretty great! 

This was a fantastic book, and I can't wait to read more by Francesca Zappia! 

Author: Francesca Zappia
Read: October 27th, 2022
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really good, and it's a SAC 2022 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Expected Publication: March 28th 2023

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

ARCtober Update 19

So I've read my next book for the ARCtober, and it was Greymist Fair which is for the prompt Graphic Novel, and I'll be reading Reader, I Killed Him next! 

My Reading Journey:

Somebody That I Used to Know by Dana L. Davis

Prompt Fulfilled: Author of Colour

Started On: October 1st 

Finished On: October 1st, 4:01 PM 

Pages Read: 336

Dark Room Etiquette by Robin Roe

Prompt Fulfilled: October Release

Started On: October 2nd

Finished On: October 2nd, 3:56 PM

Pages Read: 512

I Am Margaret Moore by Hannah Capin

Prompt Fulfilled: Already Released

Started On: October 3rd

Finished On: October 3rd, 5:15 PM

Pages Read: 336

A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones

Prompt Fulfilled: A Highly Anticipated ARC

Started On: October 9th

Finished On: October 9th, 1:25 PM

Pages Read: 416

A Forgery of Roses by Jessica S. Olson

Prompt Fulfilled: An ARC You Forgot You Had

Started On: October 9th

Finished On: October 9th, 6:52 PM

Pages Read: 368

The Greatest Zombie Movie Ever by Jeff Strand

Prompt Fulfilled: An Ugly Cover

Started On: October 9th

Finished On: October 9th, 9:38 PM

Pages Read: 266

A Familiar Stranger by A.R. Torre

Prompt Fulfilled: Free Choice

Started On: October 10th

Finished On: October 10th, 1:04 PM

Pages Read: 290

The Luminaries by Susan Dennard

Prompt Fulfilled: 1st in a Series

Started On: October 10th

Finished On: October 10th, 8:00 PM

Pages Read: 384

The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix

Prompt Fulfilled: Favourite Colour on the Cover

Started On: October 11th

Finished On: October 14th, 7:45 PM

Pages Read: 416

Wizard's Masquerade by Jay Pellegrin

Prompt Fulfilled: Debut Author

Started On: October 14th

Finished On: October 14th, 10:11 PM

Pages Read: 550

The Ivory Tomb by Melissa Caruso

Prompt Fulfilled: Newest ARC

Started On: October 20th

Finished On: October 20th, 6:06 PM

Pages Read: 544

Tokyo Dreaming by Emiko Jean

Prompt Fulfilled: Underhyped/Nobody is Talking About It

Started On: October 21st

Finished On: October 21st, 5:41 PM

Pages Read: 336

A Long Stretch of Bad Days by Mindy McGinnis

Prompt Fulfilled: Fits the Season

Started On: October 21st

Finished On: October 21st, 11:20 PM

Pages Read: 368

Ivory by Lola Dodge

Prompt Fulfilled: Indie Published

Started On: October 23rd

Finished On: October 23rd, 9:35 PM

Pages Read: 135

Temptress by Lola Dodge

Prompt Fulfilled: Shortest ARC

Started On: October 23rd

Finished On: October 23rd, 11:02 PM

Pages Read: 126

Raven Unveiled by Grace Draven

Prompt Fulfilled: An ARC from Your Favourite Publisher

Started On: October 26th

Finished On: October 26th, 4:56 PM

Pages Read: 350

Whiteout Anthology

Prompt Fulfilled: Own Voices Rep/Marginalized Community

Started On: October 26th

Finished On: October 26th, 9:24 PM

Pages Read: 304

How I'll Kill You by Ren DeStefano

Prompt Fulfilled: Cover Request

Started On: October 27th

Finished On: October 27th, 4:30 PM

Pages Read: 352

Greymist Fair by Francesca Zappia

Prompt Fulfilled: Graphic Novel

Started On: October 27th

Finished On: October 27th, 6:59 PM

Pages Read: 336

Reader, I Murdered Him by Betsy Cornwell

Prompt Fulfilled: Non-Fiction

Started On: October 28th

Currently On: Page 0 of 288

Prompts Left: Everyone Is Talking About It, Oldest ARC, A Sequel, LGBTQ+ Representation, Heard About from Another BookTuber

Books Read: 19

Pages Read: 6725

ARCtober Update 18

So I've read my next book for the ARCtober, and it was How I'll Kill You which is for the prompt Cover Request, and I'll be reading Greymist Fair next! 

My Reading Journey:

Somebody That I Used to Know by Dana L. Davis

Prompt Fulfilled: Author of Colour

Started On: October 1st 

Finished On: October 1st, 4:01 PM 

Pages Read: 336

Dark Room Etiquette by Robin Roe

Prompt Fulfilled: October Release

Started On: October 2nd

Finished On: October 2nd, 3:56 PM

Pages Read: 512

I Am Margaret Moore by Hannah Capin

Prompt Fulfilled: Already Released

Started On: October 3rd

Finished On: October 3rd, 5:15 PM

Pages Read: 336

A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones

Prompt Fulfilled: A Highly Anticipated ARC

Started On: October 9th

Finished On: October 9th, 1:25 PM

Pages Read: 416

A Forgery of Roses by Jessica S. Olson

Prompt Fulfilled: An ARC You Forgot You Had

Started On: October 9th

Finished On: October 9th, 6:52 PM

Pages Read: 368

The Greatest Zombie Movie Ever by Jeff Strand

Prompt Fulfilled: An Ugly Cover

Started On: October 9th

Finished On: October 9th, 9:38 PM

Pages Read: 266

A Familiar Stranger by A.R. Torre

Prompt Fulfilled: Free Choice

Started On: October 10th

Finished On: October 10th, 1:04 PM

Pages Read: 290

The Luminaries by Susan Dennard

Prompt Fulfilled: 1st in a Series

Started On: October 10th

Finished On: October 10th, 8:00 PM

Pages Read: 384

The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix

Prompt Fulfilled: Favourite Colour on the Cover

Started On: October 11th

Finished On: October 14th, 7:45 PM

Pages Read: 416

Wizard's Masquerade by Jay Pellegrin

Prompt Fulfilled: Debut Author

Started On: October 14th

Finished On: October 14th, 10:11 PM

Pages Read: 550

The Ivory Tomb by Melissa Caruso

Prompt Fulfilled: Newest ARC

Started On: October 20th

Finished On: October 20th, 6:06 PM

Pages Read: 544

Tokyo Dreaming by Emiko Jean

Prompt Fulfilled: Underhyped/Nobody is Talking About It

Started On: October 21st

Finished On: October 21st, 5:41 PM

Pages Read: 336

A Long Stretch of Bad Days by Mindy McGinnis

Prompt Fulfilled: Fits the Season

Started On: October 21st

Finished On: October 21st, 11:20 PM

Pages Read: 368

Ivory by Lola Dodge

Prompt Fulfilled: Indie Published

Started On: October 23rd

Finished On: October 23rd, 9:35 PM

Pages Read: 135

Temptress by Lola Dodge

Prompt Fulfilled: Shortest ARC

Started On: October 23rd

Finished On: October 23rd, 11:02 PM

Pages Read: 126

Raven Unveiled by Grace Draven

Prompt Fulfilled: An ARC from Your Favourite Publisher

Started On: October 26th

Finished On: October 26th, 4:56 PM

Pages Read: 350

Whiteout Anthology

Prompt Fulfilled: Own Voices Rep/Marginalized Community

Started On: October 26th

Finished On: October 26th, 9:24 PM

Pages Read: 304

How I'll Kill You by Ren DeStefano

Prompt Fulfilled: Cover Request

Started On: October 27th

Finished On: October 27th, 4:30 PM

Pages Read: 352

Greymist Fair by Francesca Zappia

Prompt Fulfilled: Graphic Novel

Started On: October 27th

Currently On: Page 0 of 336

Prompts Left: Everyone Is Talking About It, Oldest ARC, A Sequel, LGBTQ+ Representation, Heard About from Another BookTuber, Non-Fiction

Books Read: 18

Pages Read: 6389

Waiting on Wednesday #576, May 25th

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

Red on the River by Christine Feehan

Expected Publication: June 28th, 2022
From Goodreads:

The new romantic thriller set in the deadly yet beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains by #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan.

Quiet and serene, Sunrise Lake is the perfect place for travelers and vacationers to get away. But with dangers both natural and man-made in the surroundings, no one is safe.

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

Expected Publication: June 28th, 2022
From Goodreads:

A disillusioned millennial ghostwriter who, quite literally, has some ghosts of her own, has to find her way back home in this sparkling adult debut from national bestselling author Ashley Poston.

Florence Day is the ghostwriter for one of the most prolific romance authors in the industry, and she has a problem—after a terrible breakup, she no longer believes in love. It’s as good as dead.

When her new editor, a too-handsome mountain of a man, won’t give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye. But then she gets a phone call she never wanted to receive, and she must return home for the first time in a decade to help her family bury her beloved father.

For ten years, she’s run from the town that never understood her, and even though she misses the sound of a warm Southern night and her eccentric, loving family and their funeral parlor, she can’t bring herself to stay. Even with her father gone, it feels like nothing in this town has changed. And she hates it.

Until she finds a ghost standing at the funeral parlor’s front door, just as broad and infuriatingly handsome as ever, and he’s just as confused about why he’s there as she is.

Romance is most certainly dead . . . but so is her new editor, and his unfinished business will have her second-guessing everything she’s ever known about love stories. 

Blade Breaker by Victoria Aveyard

Expected Publication: June 28th, 2022
From Goodreads:

In the sequel to Victoria Aveyard's instant #1 New York Times bestselling Realm Breaker, a divided world must rally, an unstoppable enemy must be defeated, and the fate of the world rests on a blade's edge.

Andry, a former squire, continues to fight for hope amid blood and chaos.

Dom, a grieving immortal, strives to fulfill a broken oath.

Sorasa, an outcast assassin, faces her past when it returns with sharpened teeth.

Valtik, an old sorceress, summons a mighty power.

And Corayne, a pirate's daughter with an ancient magic in her blood, steps closer to becoming the hero she's destined to be.

Together they must assemble an army to face Queen Erida and Taristan's wicked forces. But something deadly waits in the shadows, something that might consume the world before there's any hope for victory.

The sequel to the instant #1 New York Times bestselling Realm Breaker features breathless action, deadly twists, and gripping magic, making it perfect for fans of Garth Nix and J. R. R. Tolkien.

Katzenjammer by Francesca Zappia

Expected Publication: June 28th, 2022
From Goodreads:

American Horror Story meets the dark comedy of Kafka's The Metamorphosis as Cat searches for a way to escape her high school. A tale of family, love, tragedy, and masks--the ones others make for us, and the ones we make for ourselves. Katzenjammer will haunt fans of Chelsea Pitcher's This Lie Will Kill You and E. Lockhart's We Were Liars.

Cat lives in her high school. She never leaves, and for a long time her school has provided her with everything she needs. But now things are changing. The hallways contract and expand along with the school's breathing, and the showers in the bathroom run a bloody red. Cat's best friend is slowly turning into cardboard, and instead of a face, Cat has a cat mask made of her own hardened flesh.

Cat doesn't remember why she is trapped in her school or why half of them--Cat included--are slowly transforming. Escaping has always been the one impossibility in her school's upside-down world. But to save herself from the eventual self-destruction all the students face, Cat must find the way out. And to do that, she'll have to remember what put her there in the first place.

Using chapters alternating between the past and the present, acclaimed author Francesca Zappia weaves a spine-tingling, suspenseful, and haunting story about tragedy and the power of memories. Fans of Marieke Nijkamp's This Is Where It Ends and Karen McManus's One of Us Is Lying will lose themselves in the pages of this novel--or maybe in the treacherous hallways of the school.

Stealing Infinity by Alyson Noel

Expected Publication: June 28th, 2022
From Goodreads:

My life goes completely sideways the moment I meet the mysterious Braxton. Sure, he’s ridiculously hot, but he’s also the reason I’ve been kicked out of school and recruited into Gray Wolf Academy—a remote island school completely off the grid. I never should have trusted a face so perfect.

But the reality of why Gray Wolf wanted me is what truly blows my mind. It’s a school for time travelers. Tripping, they call it. This place is filled with elaborate costumes and rare artifacts, where every move is strategic and the halls are filled with shadows and secrets.

Here, what you see isn’t always what it appears. Including Braxton. Because even though there’s an energy connecting us together, the more secrets he keeps from me, the more it feels like something is pulling us apart. Something that has to do with this place—and its darker purpose. It’s all part of a guarded, elaborate puzzle of history and time…and I might be one of the missing pieces.

Now I have all the time in the world. And yet I can’t shake the feeling that time is the one thing I’m about to run out of…fast.

The Song That Moves the Sun by Anna Bright

Expected Publication: June 28th, 2022
From Goodreads:

This sweeping YA fantasy romance full of star-crossed love, complex female friendship, and astrological magic is perfect for fans of Laini Taylor, Alexandra Bracken, and V.E. Schwab. From the acclaimed author of The Beholder.

Best friends Rora and Claudia have never felt more like their lives are spiraling out of control. And when they meet Major and Amir--two boys from one of the secret cities of the spheres, ruled by the magic of the astrological signs--they discover they're not alone. There is a disruption in the harmony between the spheres, and its chaos is spreading.

To find the source of the disharmony, Rora and Claudia will embark on a whirlwind journey of secrets, romance, and powerful truths--about themselves, each other, and two long-ago explorers named Dante and Beatrice, who were among the first to chart this course toward the stars.

Inspired partly by the classic works of Dante Alighieri, this gorgeous stand-alone contemporary fantasy will captivate readers of Lore and Star Daughter.

Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow

Expected Publication: June 28th, 2022
From Goodreads:

I Killed Zoe Spanos meets The Cheerleaders in this haunting mystery about an island town with a history of unsolved deaths—and a girl desperate to uncover the mystery behind it all.

Luca Laine Thomas lives on a cursed island. To the outside world, Parris is an exclusive, idyllic escape accessible only to the one percent. There’s nothing idyllic about its history, though, scattered with the unsolved deaths of young women—deaths Parris society happily ignores to maintain its polished veneer. But Luca can’t ignore them. Not when the curse that took them killed her best friend, Polly, three years ago. Not when she feels the curse lingering nearby, ready to take her next.

When Luca comes home to police cars outside her house, she knows the curse has visited once again. Except this time, it came for Whitney, her sister. Luca decides to take the investigation of Whitney’s death into her own hands. But as a shocking betrayal rocks Luca’s world, the identity Whitney’s killer isn’t the only truth Luca seeks. And by the time she finds what she’s looking for, Luca will come face to face with the curse she’s been running from her whole life.

The Dream Runners by Shveta Thakrar

Expected Publication: June 28th, 2022
From Goodreads:

A lush tapestry of dreams, myth, and magic--perfect for fans of Holly Black, Roshani Chokshi, and Margaret Rogerson.

Seven years ago, Tanvi was spirited away to the subterranean realm of Nagalok, where she joined the ranks of the dream runners: human children freed of all memory and emotion, who collect mortal dreams for the entertainment of the serpentine, immortal naga court.

But when one of Tanvi's dream harvests goes awry, she begins to remember her life on earth. Panicked and confused, she turns to the one mortal in Nagalok who might be able to help: Venkat, the dreamsmith responsible for collecting the dream runners' wares and shaping them into the kingdom's most tantalizing commodity. And as they search for answers, a terrifying truth begins to take shape--one that could turn the nagas' realm of dreams into a land of waking nightmare.

From the author of the Indie Next selection and Andre Norton Award finalist Star Daughter, this stand-alone contemporary fantasy, inspired by the nagas and garudas of Hindu mythology, is full of slow-burning romance, haunting intrigue, and shimmering magic.

This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede

Expected Publication: June 28th, 2022
From Goodreads:

Three weddings.

Three funerals.

Her divine "gift" is supposed to magnify a partner’s magic, not kill everyone she touches.

With only weeks before she has to protect her island home from an apocalyptic invasion, Alessa is running out of time —and suitors. And when a powerful priest convinces the faithful that killing Alessa is their only hope, her own soldiers turn against her. With mutiny growing inside the Citadel and rebellion erupting beyond the walls, Alessa coaxes a cynical outcast marked as a killer to become her personal bodyguard as she tries one last time to find a compatible partner.

But Dante has dark secrets of his own.

He might be the one person who can help her master her gift... or destroy her once and for all.

Set on an island inspired by Italy's colorful, lemon-soaked Amalfi coast, The Last Finestra is a high-stakes Young Adult fantasy full of intrigue, excitement, humor, and romance.

A Secret Princess by Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz

Expected Publication: June 28th, 2022
From Goodreads:

A surprising and romantic YA retelling-mashup of A Little Princess and The Secret Garden by bestselling authors Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz.

Best friends Mary Lennox, Sara Crewe, and Cedric Erroll have each other, and they are the only reason boarding school isn’t completely insufferable.

Tragically, Mary’s father passes away after he's stripped of his fortune, leaving her orphaned and with just one possession: a ticket to a ship that will bring her to the home of her last living relative, in America. But Cedric can't bear to say goodbye, and reveals that he’s the son of an earl with endless riches . . . and a huge estate that the three of them can run away to, leaving the boarding school--and thoughts of America--behind.

That’s when Sara and Cedric discover that there's more to them than friendship, and Mary begins spending time with a handsome local boy--a relationship that quickly blossoms into romance.

It turns out that Maythem Estate is more than just a getaway--it's a secret garden of budding romance.

Filled with charm, romance, and swoon, and inspired by some of classic literature's most beloved characters, The Secret Princess is the perfect blend of A Little Princess and The Secret Garden-- and the perfect companion to Jo & Laurie. 

Yeah, there's some really great books coming out at the end of the month! I'm so excited for these books! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #572, May 23rd

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 #571
Teaser Tuesday #579
WWW Wednesday #579
WOW #575
Will the Time Come #572
Third Sentence Thursday #562
Random Reads #548
First Lines Friday #575
Book Blogger Hop #241

Monthly ARC's Update 10
The Reward Challenge Update #557
Wheel of TBR #104
How Well I Stuck to It #409
Wrote that Review Update #407

Week 20 Reviews:
'Til the World Ends

Saga #55

Saga #56

Saga #57
Saga #58

The Hunt

The Gauntlet

Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives

Katzenjammer 

Anatomy

Loveboat Reunion 

Trouble With the Cursed

Carve the Mark

Star Mother 

Star Father 

Magical Readathon: Orilium:

Update 62

Update 63

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge: 

Update 14

Update 15

Update 16

Update 17

Update 18

Update 19

Update 20

Update 21

Update 22

Update 23

Update 24

Update 25

Update 26

Becca's BookoplAthon: 

May 2022 48 Hour Round Sign Up

Update 1

Update 2

Update 3

Update 4

Update 5

Update 6

Update 7

Update 8 and Wrap Up

Random:

We Have the Cover of Guild Hunter #15!!!!

We Have the Cover of Little Thieves #2!!!!

We Have the Cover of The Last Hours #3!!!!

OK, so I got 43 posts in 7 days, and I had a great time relaxing. I also finished writing my 2020 reviews because I'm ridiculously behind! And it's my birthday tomorrow, and have the next two days off still, so that's nice! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read whatever I want! 

Week 20 Review: Katzenjammer

From Goodreads:

American Horror Story meets the dark comedy of Kafka's The Metamorphosis as Cat searches for a way to escape her high school. A tale of family, love, tragedy, and masks--the ones others make for us, and the ones we make for ourselves. Katzenjammer will haunt fans of Chelsea Pitcher's This Lie Will Kill You and E. Lockhart's We Were Liars.

Cat lives in her high school. She never leaves, and for a long time her school has provided her with everything she needs. But now things are changing. The hallways contract and expand along with the school's breathing, and the showers in the bathroom run a bloody red. Cat's best friend is slowly turning into cardboard, and instead of a face, Cat has a cat mask made of her own hardened flesh.

Cat doesn't remember why she is trapped in her school or why half of them--Cat included--are slowly transforming. Escaping has always been the one impossibility in her school's upside-down world. But to save herself from the eventual self-destruction all the students face, Cat must find the way out. And to do that, she'll have to remember what put her there in the first place.

Using chapters alternating between the past and the present, acclaimed author Francesca Zappia weaves a spine-tingling, suspenseful, and haunting story about tragedy and the power of memories. Fans of Marieke Nijkamp's This Is Where It Ends and Karen McManus's One of Us Is Lying will lose themselves in the pages of this novel--or maybe in the treacherous hallways of the school.

Includes interior illustrations from the author.

My Review:
This was such a fantastic read! I loved the way that it was told, going back and forth between the progression of her life from a child to a junior in high school, and the present, stuck in this school with no way out, and the mask for a fox made out of the hardened skin of her face. Yeah, it was a bit off kilter, and it was amazing!

Watching Cat's life in the past, leading up to this, was a little bit depressing. She has a crush on her best friend's brother-and he's kinda an asshole. And throughout the book, he and his gang of friends do things that are just so unfair for Cat to have to experience.

In the present, is the investigation as to who is killing them. There's this whole mystery of why they're there in the first place, and how are they getting out, but that is slowly explained by the past chapters. And oh, when they line up, that was just unputdownable, I had to know what was going to happen next! 

I do kinda have a theory. The way things end, and the reveals there, combined with some throw off lines, makes me think that this has happened before, and will continue to happen for all those that don't experience what Cat did at the end of the book. Maybe. 

I loved reading this book, and I can't wait for more from Francesca Zappia! 

Author: Francesca Zappia 
Read: May 17th, 2022 
Source: Edelweiss 
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really good, and it's a SAC 2022 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Greenwillow Books 
Expected Publication: June 28th 2022

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Monthly ARC's Update 10

So I read my next book for Monthly ARC's and it was Katzenjammer by Francesca Zappia and Trouble with the Cursed by Kim Harrison from the June list!

Here's the link to this month's post with my journey.

How it Works: 

This is my monthly ARC accountability challenge, to list out the books that I have as ARC's that are being published in the coming month, rounding them up at the start of the month, and seeing how well I did at the end, as well as rounding up the next month's books. 

WWW Wednesday #579, May 18th

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you'll read next?

Thanks to MizB of Should Be Writing now A Daily Rhythm for starting this meme! And thanks now to Taking on a World of Words for reviving it! 

I'm currently reading Anatomy, and yeah, really enjoying it!

I read Katzenjammer, and oh, it was an amazing read!

I'm going to be reading Loveboat Reunion, and I can't wait to read this sequel! 

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge Update 16

Ok, so I read my next book for Clean Sweep ARC Challenge, and it was Katzenjammer and I'll be reading Anatomy next! 

My Reading Journey:

The Life She Had by K.L. Armstrong

Started On: May 1st
Finished On: May 1st, 8:55 PM
Pages Read: 320

A Curse of Queens by Amanda Bouchet 

Started On: May 3rd

Finished On: May 3rd, 9:20 PM
Pages Read: 496

Heroic Hearts Anthology 

Started On: May 4th

Finished On: May 4th, 10:21 PM
Pages Read: 368

Alone Out Here by Riley Redgate

Started On: May 5th

Finished On: May 5th, 9:34 PM
Pages Read: 400

Claws for Suspicion by Deborah Blake

Started On: May 6th

Finished On: May 6th, 4:02 PM
Pages Read: 288

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

Started On: May 6th

Finished On: May 6th, 8:40 PM
Pages Read: 368

Game Changer by Neal Shusterman

Started On: May 7th

Finished On: May 7th, 9:45 PM
Pages Read: 400

Wolf in the Shadows by Maria Vale

Started On: May 8th

Finished On: May 8th, 9:10 PM

Pages Read: 360

The Stars Between Us by Cristin Terrill

Started On: May 9th

Finished On: May 9th, 8:36 PM

Pages Read: 400

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

Started On: May 11th

Finished On: May 11th, 8:12 PM

Pages Read: 384

Blue Hearts of Mars by Nicole Grotepas

Started On: May 12th

Finished On: May 12th, 9:34 PM

Pages Read: 368

'Till the World Ends Anthology

Started On: May 14th

Finished On: May 14th, 10:30 PM

Pages Read: 448

The Hunt by Megan Shepard 

Started On: May 15th

Finished On: May 15th, 7:30 PM

Pages Read: 384

The Gauntlet by Megan Shepard 

Started On: May 16th

Finished On: May 16th, 9:32 PM

Pages Read: 400

Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives by Adam Cesare

Started On: May 16th

Finished On: May 16th, 11:34 PM

Pages Read: 416

Katzenjammer by Francesca Zappia 

Started On: May 17th

Finished On: May 17th, 11:06 AM

Pages Read: 304

Anatomy by Dana Schwartz

Started On: May 17th

Currently On: Page 0 of 320

Books Read: 16

Goal: 25 Books

Pages Read: 6104