Showing posts with label Maria Z. Medina. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maria Z. Medina. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Waiting on Wednesday #741, July 23rd

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

Kingdom of Tomorrow by Gena Showalter
Expected Publication: August 5th, 2025
From Goodreads:
From New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter comes a fusion of modern and fantastical worlds, where a young woman must navigate a secret society, uncover a shocking enemy…and resist an undeniable attraction.

Twenty-year-old Arden Roosa knows only Ourland. Two worlds split and stitched together, with broken pieces from each, statues of fallen gods, and heavenly artifacts that are worshipped…or feared.

But nothing is more fearsome than the night.

A strange madness haunts the darkest hours, turning innocents into gleeful killers. Arden does her best to stay safe, until she reads a book written about her life―The Book of Arden―and everything changes.

Forced to join Fort Bala Royal Academy, Arden is paired with the ruthless High Prince Cyrus Dolion. But while he trains her for combat against a mystical adversary, she can’t deny the sparks burning between them.

If her panic attacks and war games aren’t enough, Arden is also tapped to join the Tome Society, rumored guardians of an invisible library with books that foretell the future. But the more she learns about the society, the less she understands about Ourland, the gods…and the person she’s destined to be.

Scorched Earth by Danielle L. Jensen
Expected Publication: August 5th, 2025
From Goodreads:
The thrilling finale in Danielle L. Jensen's Dark Shores series, which Sarah J. Maas calls "everything I look for in a fantasy novel."

Lydia and Killian escaped their enemy’s grasp, but not without consequences. While they race to destroy the blight, Lydia fights an internal war against the Corrupter’s influence knowing defeat means death for those she loves. Tormented by a battle that can’t be won with blades, Killian must find the queen they risked everything to rescue without falling prey to Corrupter’s weapons, both living and dead.

Teriana and Marcus thwarted assassination, but now must live with the dark truths that have been revealed. As Teriana hunts for allies, she must face the dire circumstances of her imprisoned people, driving her to strike a dangerous deal with the Empire. Consumed by guilt over his crimes, Marcus embarks on an ambitious campaign to save those he condemned, which risks him becoming the conqueror the Empire desires him to be.

With the blight consuming everything in its path and the Empire crushing everyone who stands before it, Reath is falling beneath the tide of evil. Secrets will be revealed that break hearts even as they forge new alliances, but only the greatest sacrifices of all will turn the tide in the battle for the liberty of every nation on Reath.

Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Expected Publication: August 5th, 2025
From Goodreads:
THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES

Once Upon a Time meets The Office in Hannah Nicole Maehrer’s laugh-out-loud viral TikTok series turned novel, about the sunshine assistant to an Evil Villain…and their unexpected romance.

REWARD OFFERED: Apprentice to The Villain wanted for treason (light), magical property damage (alleged), and one incident involving a weaponized scone (accurate). Frequently seen with a grumpy frog (crowned, judgmental). Answers to “Evie” or “Stop that.”

Evie Sage didn’t mean to become the right-hand woman to the kingdom’s most terrifying villain. One minute, she was applying for an entry-level position that promised “light paperwork and occasional beheadings,” and the next, she was knee-deep in magical mayhem, murder plots, and an entirely inappropriate crush on her brooding, sharp-jawed, walking disaster of a boss.

Now, with a magical prophecy unraveling, assassins showing up in the break room, and a suspicious amount of frogs wearing crowns, Evie has to figure out how to survive her job without setting the kingdom on fire—or her dignity, which is hanging by a very sarcastic thread.

Being evil-adjacent was never part of the five-year plan. But then again…neither was falling for The Villain.

A magical office comedy with grumpy bosses, snarky frogs, and definitely-not-feelings.

The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent
Expected Publication: August 5th, 2025
From Goodreads:
New York Times bestselling author and BookTok sensation Carissa Broadbent returns with a brand new novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk.

Mische made the ultimate sacrifice to save those she loves – and plunged the world into an eternal night. Now, imprisoned by the gods and obsessed with revenge, Asar is desperate to find her again.

When a goddess offers them a final path to redemption – and back to each other – Asar and Mische embark on an extraordinary mission. Together, they must seize the power of the god of death so Asar may do the impossible: ascend to true divinity.

Their journey will take them through mortal and immortal realms, alongside both old friends and ruthless enemies. But as the underworld teeters on the brink of collapse and the gods prepare for a war, Asar and Mische must decide what they are willing to sacrifice for the power to defy death. In a game of vengeful gods and ancient betrayals, there are some debts that even love may not be able to repay.


The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold by Ally Carter
Expected Publication: August 5th, 2025
From Goodreads:
Ten years ago, they joined the CIA.

Six years ago, he left the game.

Five years ago, they fell in love.

One year ago, she ran out into the cold with absolutely no intention of ever coming back.

And two minutes ago, they woke up, bloody and bruised and handcuffed together in the dark.

They don’t know where they are. They don’t know how they got there. And they have absolutely no idea who is after them or what this nameless, faceless villain wants.

The only thing that’s clear is that, after ten years of covers and chemistry, secrets and lies, these two rival spies have been sucked into their greatest mission yet, and now they’re going to have to team up to stay alive. (If they don’t kill each other first.)

Zomromcom by Olivia Dade
Expected Publication: August 5th, 2025
From Goodreads:
Teaming up with your neighbor during a zombie outbreak is a no-brainer, but if it turns out he’s a vampire . . . the stakes couldn’t be higher, in this infectious new paranormal romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Spoiler Alert.

When Edie Brandstrup attempts to save her sweet, seemingly harmless human neighbor from the first major zombie breach in two decades, she’s stunned to be saved by him—and his ridiculously large sword—instead. As it turns out, he's actually a super-old, super-surly vampire. But for all her neighbor's newly revealed cynicism and lethality, Gaston "Max" Boucher (yes, Gaston) is unexpectedly protective. He wants her to stay in his safety bunker until the breach is resolved. Edie can’t risk more innocent people getting killed, though—and Max won’t let her save them alone.

As they unravel a sinister conspiracy to set zombies loose on the world (again), the duo meet a host of lovable allies and discover they're not the only ones willing to fight for the future of humanity. Despite the awful timing, Edie finds herself falling for the vampire who’s helping her save the world . . . but all their dangerous plans could end their future before it even begins. As she and Max battle side by side, Edie must decide whether having a love worth living for also means having a love you'd die for—and, in a world that grows deadlier by the minute, whether that’s a risk she’s willing to take.

Mistress of Bones by Maria Z. Medina 
Expected Publication: August 5th, 2025
From Goodreads:
"Like stepping into one of my favorite RPGs." - Susan Dennard, New York Times bestselling author of the Witchlands series

An epic, multi-POV debut fantasy perfect for fans of The Bone Shard Daughter and Six of Crows, where a necromancer trying to resurrect her sister gets embroiled in bigger, world-ending plans instead.

Necromancer Azul del Arroyo only wants one thing: to steal her sister back from Death by reclaiming her sister’s bones. But the Emissary of the Lord Death will do anything to stop her, no matter how alluring he finds her . . .

As their paths collide, they’re drawn into a deadly game of pawns and power with a count who begrudgingly works for a child king, a faceless witch who transforms the bones of gods into dreams she can peddle, and a long-lost half-brother with a secret of his own—and soon realize the fate of the lands is hanging in the balance.

For long ago the gods raised the continents, binding them with their own bones to keep humanity alive. But in an era when the gods’ sacrifice has been forgotten, Death might not be the only resentful god Azul must defy.

Swashbuckling, grand, and tragically romantic, Mistress of Bones is a can't-miss start to a duology about love, loss, and, of course, death.

August is kicking things off with some pretty excellent books! I've read a few and they were so good, and I love these authors and series, and I can't wait for them all to be out in the world! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Monday, April 7, 2025

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #722, April 7th

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 #721
Teaser Tuesday #729
WWW Wednesday #729
WOW #725
Will the Time Come #722
Third Sentence Thursday #712
Random Reads #698
First Lines Friday #725
Book Blogger Hop #391
The Reward Challenge Update #707
Wheel of TBR #254
How Well I Stuck to It #559
Wrote that Review Update #556

Week 14 Reviews:
Hemlock & Silver

Phase Out Your Seriesathon: 

Magical Readathon: Orilium: 

Phase Out Your TBR: 

Random:

OK, so I got 64 posts in 7 days, and it was a busy week, I read a lot, posted a fair amount about those books, and I had a pretty good time though I'm pretty tired, and there's still the rest of the month to go, though there is a 4 day weekend coming up which will be nice! Not this coming weekend, but the following one, so counting today, 9 business days. What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read Fearless!

Paedyn and Kai are reunited but face a terrible decision in this thrilling conclusion to the New York Times bestselling romantic fantasy trilogy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and The Red Queen.

Paedyn Gray and Kai Azer return to the Kingdom of Ilya…

And Paedyn has a life-altering choice to make. Whatever she decides will determine her fate—and the fate of those around her—forever.

In the ultimate battle of love and loyalty, who wins?

Saturday, April 5, 2025

Week 14 Review: Mistress of Bones

From Goodreads:
An epic and romantic debut adventure fantasy, where a necromancer trying to resurrect her sister gets embroiled in bigger, world-ending plans instead

It's been thousands of years since the gods lifted the continents into the air so humanity could thrive, chaining the lands down with their bones and turning them into Anchor.

Azul del Arroyo doesn't care about gods or Anchor; she cares about being responsible for her sister's death and getting her bones from the capital so she can bring her back to life. Again. But in her way stands the Emissary of the Lord Death, who will do anything in his power to stop her, because a necromancer like her shouldn't exist—no matter how alluring.

As Azul and the Emissary's cat-and-mouse game leads them to the dangerous Court of Cienpuentes, their fate becomes entwined with a count who begrudgingly works for a child king, a faceless witch who transforms Anchor into dreams she can peddle, and a long-lost half-brother with a secret of his own. It's a time of enlightenment, of rapiers and scientific prowess, in a country where Anchor ceased to be something worth revering a long time ago, and people have forgotten the gods' sacrifice.

But the gods haven't. Because the gods want their bones back, and they're not opposed to becoming players in their own game.

Swashbuckling, grand, and tragically romantic, Mistress of Bones is a can't-miss debut about love, about loss, and, of course, about death.

My Review:
This was a really interesting book! The synopsis sounded really good, and the idea of this cat and mouse game between this two sounded really interesting! Getting to know these characters as they plotted and navigated others plans was so thrilling to read! 

The way that this book was told, with a lot of the chapters starting with a period of time in the past, at different lengths away, then following that character in the present, it was a bit complicated, trying to pin down the timeline down, but it was certainly entertaining.

Watching as the story built, of the different desires, and the history of these characters, how they got to this point, was just great! There were a lot of hidden motives, and we slowly got to understand them and their actions as the story progressed. 

I really hope that this becomes a series. The way things ended, with all the plot points, there's plenty left still to do, that I really want to watch happen! Like the deal that she made, or that bit with ? and her brother. Plus the opening mentions how the gods might not be happy about having given up their bones for the humans, and then it wasn't an obvious part of the story. Maybe it'll be motivations, which I really hope we see in this theoretical sequel. 

Loved reading this book, and I really hope that it becomes a series! 

Author: Maria Z. Medina
Read: April 3rd 2025
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a DAC Book, SAC 2025 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Wednesday Books 
Expected Publication: August 5th 2025
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Phase Out Your TBR Update 5

So I've read my next book for the Phase Out Your TBR, and it was Mistress of Bones which is for the prompt Yellow 9, and I'll be reading No Place Left to Hide 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
Currently On: Page 0 of 264

Prompts Left: Yellow 5, Red Wild (Red 5), Green 5, Green 5, Yellow 6, Blue 2, Yellow 4, Yellow 4, Green 7, Green 7, Red 7, Blue 7, Blue 9, Yellow 10, Red 12, Green 12
Books Read: 5
Pages Read: 1942

Magical Readathon: Orilium Update 7

So I read my next book for Magical Readathon: Orilium, and it was Mistress of Bones which was for the prompt Demonology, and I'll be reading No Place Left to Hide 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
Currently On: Page 0 of 264

Prompts Left: Alchemy, Inscription, Artificery, Spells & Incantations, Astronomy, Art of Illusion, Lore, Animal Studies, Elemental Studies, Psionics & Divination, Shapeshifting, Elemental Studies, Shapeshifting, Animal Studies, Astronomy, Conjuration, Alchemy, Spells & Incantations, Astronomy, Inscription, Psionics & Divination, Conjuration, Demonology, Lore, Elemental Studies, Alchemy, Animal Studies, Animal Studies, Demonology, Spells & Incantations, Conjuration, Elemental Studies, Alchemy, Alchemy, Art of Illusion, Spells & Incantation, Psionics & Divination, Conjuration, Lore, Elemental Studies, Alchemy, Restoration, Shapeshifting, Art of Illusion, Psionics & Divination, Restoration
Read: 7
Pages Read: 2714

Phase Out Your TBR Update 4

So I've read my next book for the Phase Out Your TBR, and it was My Savage Empire which is for the prompt Yellow 8, and I'll be reading Mistress of Bones 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
Currently On: Page 0 of 336

Prompts Left: Yellow 5, Red Wild (Red 5), Green 5, Green 5, Yellow 6, Blue 2, Yellow 4, Yellow 4, Yellow 7, Green 7, Green 7, Red 7, Blue 7, Blue 9, Yellow 10, Red 12, Green 12
Books Read: 4
Pages Read: 1606

Magical Readathon: Orilium Update 6

So I read my next book for Magical Readathon: Orilium, and it was My Savage Empire which was for the prompt Restoration, and I'll be reading Mistress of Bones 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
Currently On: Page 0 of 336

Prompts Left: Alchemy, Inscription, Artificery, Spells & Incantations, Astronomy, Art of Illusion, Lore, Animal Studies, Elemental Studies, Psionics & Divination, Shapeshifting, Elemental Studies, Shapeshifting, Animal Studies, Astronomy, Conjuration, Alchemy, Spells & Incantations, Astronomy, Inscription, Psionics & Divination, Conjuration, Demonology, Lore, Elemental Studies, Alchemy, Animal Studies, Animal Studies, Demonology, Spells & Incantations, Conjuration, Elemental Studies, Alchemy, Alchemy, Art of Illusion, Spells & Incantation, Psionics & Divination, Conjuration, Lore, Elemental Studies, Alchemy, Restoration, Shapeshifting, Art of Illusion, Psionics & Divination, Restoration
Read: 6
Pages Read: 2378