Showing posts with label Megan Shepherd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Megan Shepherd. Show all posts

Saturday, September 23, 2023

Week 38 Review: Midnight Beauties

From Goodreads:
The witches, beasties, goblins, and Royals return in this spellbinding conclusion to New York Times best-selling author Megan Shepherd's Grim Lovelies duology.

Ever since she discovered her affinity for magic, seventeen-year-old Anouk has been desperate to become a witch. It's the only way to save her friends who, like Anouk, are beasties: animals enchanted into humans. But unlike Anouk, the other beasties didn't make it out of the battle at Montélimar in one piece.

With her friends now trapped in their animal forms, Anouk is forced into a sinister deal involving a political marriage with her sworn enemy, a wicked plot to overthrow London's fiercest coven of witches, and a deadly trial of fire to become a witch. The price for power has always been steep in the world of the Haute. Now, it will cost Anouk everything.

Wicked and delightful, this spellbinding sequel and conclusion to Grim Lovelies is perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Hazel Wood. 

My Review:
This book was so great! I loved the first one, and I do wish that I'd read this one sooner after that one, since I'd forgotten so much of it, but I got back into this world quickly and on this plot with the London coven, and Anouk becoming a witch herself! It was so great!

The synopsis mentions that this is wicked and delightful. And boy, is it! There are so many things and people lost, and it hurt. But there were also some really great and wonderful moments as well! And there was a great balance between the two! 

A good portion of this book is dedicated to becoming a witch, finding her focus, of what she is, that is the basis of her magic. And how things grew and grew, and I just loved seeing this unfold, as she deals with the consequences, and finds her own strength! 

I'm not sure about the ending. Maybe it'd make more sense if I'd read this sooner after reading Grim Lovelies, but I had a difficult time believing that the character would act that way. I was wondering how things were going to be resolved, but I wasn't expecting it to be in that way! 

Loved reading this book and I can't wait to read more by Megan Shepherd! 

Author: Megan Shepherd
Series: Grim Lovelies #2
Read: September 22nd, 2023
Source: Own/Library
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a End of Series 2023 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Published: August 13th 2019
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Friday, September 22, 2023

Pick-Pong-A-Thon Update 7

So I read my next book for Pick-Pong-A-Thon, and it was Midnight Beauties which was for the prompt Dark Cover 2, and I'll be reading The Boy You Always Wanted next!

My Reading Journey:

Foxglove by Adalyn Grace
Prompt Fulfilled: Fav Genre 1
Started On: September 1st
Finished On: September 1st, 10:15 PM
Pages Read: 464

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
Prompt Fulfilled: Intimidating
Started On: September 2nd
Finished On: September 2nd, 1:04 PM
Pages Read: 336

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
Prompt Fulfilled: Animal
Started On: September 10th
Finished On: September 10th, 8:53 PM
Pages Read: 464

Manslaughter Park by Tirzah Price
Prompt Fulfilled: Fav Genre 2
Started On: September 16th
Finished On: September 16th, 10:01 PM
Pages Read: 416

Tides of Fire by James Rollins
Prompt Fulfilled: Dark Cover 1
Started On: September 17th
Finished On: September 17th, 3:06 PM
Pages Read: 448

City of the Lost by Stephen Blackmoore
Prompt Fulfilled: Random Colour Generator
Started On: September 19th
Finished On: September 19th, 3:13 PM
Pages Read: 289

Midnight Beauties by Megan Shepherd
Prompt Fulfilled: Dark Cover 2
Started On: September 22nd
Finished On: September 22nd, 11:32 AM
Pages Read:  448

The Boy You Always Wanted by Michelle Quach
Prompt Fulfilled: Different Culture
Started On: September 
Currently On: Page 0 of 336

Prompts Left: None Left! 
Read: 7
Pages Read: 3065

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Pick-Pong-A-Thon Update 6

So I read my next book for Pick-Pong-A-Thon, and it was City of the Lost which was for the prompt Random Colour Generator, and I'll be reading Midnight Beauties next!

My Reading Journey:

Foxglove by Adalyn Grace
Prompt Fulfilled: Fav Genre 1
Started On: September 1st
Finished On: September 1st, 10:15 PM
Pages Read: 464

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
Prompt Fulfilled: Intimidating
Started On: September 2nd
Finished On: September 2nd, 1:04 PM
Pages Read: 336

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
Prompt Fulfilled: Animal
Started On: September 10th
Finished On: September 10th, 8:53 PM
Pages Read: 464

Manslaughter Park by Tirzah Price
Prompt Fulfilled: Fav Genre 2
Started On: September 16th
Finished On: September 16th, 10:01 PM
Pages Read: 416

Tides of Fire by James Rollins
Prompt Fulfilled: Dark Cover 1
Started On: September 17th
Finished On: September 17th, 3:06 PM
Pages Read: 448

City of the Lost by Stephen Blackmoore
Prompt Fulfilled: Random Colour Generator
Started On: September 19th
Finished On: September 19th, 3:13 PM
Pages Read: 289

Midnight Beauties by Megan Shepherd
Prompt Fulfilled: Dark Cover 2
Started On: September 
Currently On: Page 0 of 448

Prompts Left: Different Culture
Read: 6
Pages Read: 2617

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Waiting on Wednesday #590, August 31st

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

A Turn of the Tide by Kelley Armstrong
Expected Publication: October 4th, 2022
From Goodreads:
In Thorne Manor there is one locked door. Behind it lies a portal to the twenty-first century, and nothing is going to stop Miranda Hastings from stepping through. After all, she is a Victorian writer of risqué pirate adventures—traveling to the future would be the greatest adventure of them all.

When Miranda goes through, though, she lands in Georgian England…and in the path of Nicolas Dupuis, a privateer accused of piracy. Sheltered by locals, Nico is repaying their kindness by being their “pirate Robin Hood,” stealing from a corrupt lord and fencing smuggled goods on the village’s behalf.

Miranda embraces Nico’s cause, only to discover there’s more to it than he realizes. Miranda has the second sight, and there are ghosts at play here. The recently deceased former lord is desperate to stop his son from destroying his beloved village. Then there’s the ghost of Nico’s cabin boy, who he thought safe in a neighboring city. Miranda and Nico must solve the mystery of the boy’s death while keeping one step ahead of the hangman.

It may not be the escapade Miranda imagined, but it is about to be the adventure of a lifetime.

Extra Witch by Ann Aguirre
Expected Publication: October 4th, 2022
From Goodreads:
After two failed marriages, Leanne Vanderpol is here for a good time, not for a long time. She only loves the witches in her coven, and she cares more about her career than happily ever after. A difficult past makes her skittish, and she doesn't trust relationships to stick. But when she decides to run for city council instead of wasting her talents cleaning up messes for the mayor's office, she fears her past could be used against her.

Unless she can find the right husband to shore up her political career...

Trevor Montgomery might have peaked in high school. He was popular then, and in college as well, but he partied away his future, met the wrong person, and everything fell apart. Now he's jobless, dateless, and hopeless, at least according to his toxic family. Then a chance meeting with the redhead of his dreams offers an unexpected ray of light just when he needs it most.

Can a woman who doesn't believe in forever find true love with a man who's stopped believing in anything at all?

The third in an adorable witchy rom-com series by New York Times bestselling author Ann Aguirre, perfect for fans of:
The bonds of sisterhood
A career-driven heroine who thinks she isn't marriage material
A pan hero who struggles with depression
And a shocking family secret

A Curse of Queens by Amanda Bouchet
Expected Publication: October 4th, 2022
From Goodreads:
Discover an all-new adventure in USA Today Bestselling author Amanda Bouchet’s thrilling, white-hot fantasy series, The Kingmaker Chronicles!

The queen has been cursed, and no one knows who’s behind the plot to threaten the realm’s fragile peace. Desperate to help, Jocasta hatches a plan to find Circe’s Garden, a fabled island where she hopes to discover an antidote. But she can’t do it alone. She needs the strong arm and unflinching bravery of the warrior she’s loved since childhood—her brother’s right-hand-man and captain of the guard, Flynn of Sinta.

Together they can do the impossible. Yet with treachery brewing on Mount Olympus, one thing is clear: Thalyria and its new royals are still pawns in an epic game of power—one that might end in a War of Gods.

A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo
Expected Publication: October 4th, 2022
From Goodreads:
Award-winning author Malinda Lo returns to the Bay Area with another masterful coming-of-queer-age story, this time set against the backdrop of the first major Supreme Court decisions legalizing gay marriage. And almost sixty years after the end of Last Night at the Telegraph Club, Lo's new novel also offers a glimpse into Lily and Kath's lives since 1955.

Aria Tang West was looking forward to a summer on Martha's Vineyard with her best friends--one last round of sand and sun before college. But after a graduation party goes wrong, Aria's parents exile her to California to stay with her grandmother, artist Joan West.Aria expects boredom, but what she finds is Steph Nichols, her grandmother's gardener. Soon, Aria is second-guessing who she is and what she wants to be, and a summer that once seemed lost becomes unforgettable--for Aria, her family, and the working-class queer community Steph introduces her to. It's the kind of summer that changes a life forever.

Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty
Expected Publication: October 4th, 2022
From Goodreads:
Amateur detective Mallory Viridian’s talent for solving murders ruined her life on Earth and drove her to live on an alien space station, but her problems still follow her in this witty, self-aware novel that puts a speculative spin on murder mysteries, from the Hugo-nominated author of Six Wakes.

From idyllic small towns to claustrophobic urban landscapes, Mallory Viridian is constantly embroiled in murder cases that only she has the insight to solve. But outside of a classic mystery novel, being surrounded by death doesn’t make you a charming amateur detective, it makes you a suspect and a social pariah. So when Mallory gets the opportunity to take refuge on a sentient space station, she thinks she has the solution. Surely the murders will stop if her only company is alien beings. At first her new existence is peacefully quiet...and markedly devoid of homicide.

But when the station agrees to allow additional human guests, Mallory knows the break from her peculiar reality is over. After the first Earth shuttle arrives, and aliens and humans alike begin to die, the station is thrown into peril. Stuck smack-dab in the middle of an extraterrestrial whodunit, and wondering how in the world this keeps happening to her anyway, Mallory has to solve the crime—and fast—or the list of victims could grow to include everyone on board…

The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Expected Publication: October 4th, 2022
From Goodreads:
In this prequel to #1 New York Times bestselling phenomenon They Both Die at the End, two new strangers spend a life-changing day together after Death-Cast first makes their fateful calls.

It’s the night before Death-Cast goes live, and there’s one question on everyone’s mind: Can Death-Cast actually predict when someone will die, or is it just an elaborate hoax?

Orion Pagan has waited years for someone to tell him that he’s going to die. He has a serious heart condition, and he signed up for Death-Cast so he could know what’s coming.

Valentino Prince is restarting his life in New York. He has a long and promising future ahead and he only registered for Death-Cast after his twin sister nearly died in a car accident.

Orion and Valentino cross paths in Times Square and immediately feel a deep connection. But when the first round of End Day calls goes out, their lives are changed forever—one of them receives a call, and the other doesn’t. Though neither boy is certain how the day will end, they know they want to spend it together…even if that means their goodbye will be heartbreaking.

Told with acclaimed author Adam Silvera’s signature bittersweet touch, this story celebrates the lasting impact that people have on each other and proves that life is always worth living to the fullest.

The Empress of Time by Kyle Lee Baker
Expected Publication: October 4th, 2022
From Goodreads:
Half British Reaper, half Japanese Shinigami Ren Scarborough is no longer the girl who was chased out of England—she is the Goddess of Death ruling Japan’s underworld. But her problems have never been greater. Her Shinigami see her as a foreigner on the throne. Her brother, Neven, is gone, lost in the deep darkness. And her fiancé, Hiro, has been killed by her own hand.

Then Ren receives the most troubling news yet—Reapers have been spotted in Japan, and it’s only a matter of time before Ivy, now Britain’s Death Goddess, comes to claim her revenge.

Ren’s last hope is to appeal to the god of storms and seas, who can turn the tides to send Ivy’s ship away from Japan’s shores. But he’ll help Ren only if she finds a sword lost thousands of years ago—an impossible demand.

Together with the moon god Tsukuyomi, who shares an uncanny resemblance to his brother Hiro, Ren ventures across the country in a race against time. As her journey thrusts her into the middle of scheming gods and dangerous Yokai demons, Ren will have to learn who she can truly trust—and the fate of Japan hangs in the balance. 

Pretty Dead Queens by Alexa Donne
Expected Publication: October 4th, 2022
From Goodreads:
Seaview High's homecoming queen is dead . . . and she's not the first. From the critically acclaimed author of The Ivies comes a nonstop thriller about a deacades-old mystery, a copycat killing, and the teen who won't stop until she discovers the truth.

After the death of her mom (screw cancer), seventeen-year-old Cecelia Ellis goes to live with her estranged grandmother, a celebrated author whose Victorian mansion is as creepy as the murder mysteries she writes. On the surface, life is utterly ordinary in the California coastal town . . . until the homecoming queen is murdered. And she’s not Seaview’s first pretty dead queen.

With a copycat killer on the loose, Cecelia throws herself into the investigation, determined to crack the case like the heroines in her grandmother’s books. But the more Cecelia digs into the town’s secrets, the more she worries that her own mystery might not have a storybook ending.

Malice House by Megan Shepherd
Expected Publication: October 4th, 2022
From Goodreads:
YOU CAN'T KEEP OUT WHAT'S ALREADY INSIDE

“One step away from our world lies another: a land of violent fantasies, of sharp-toothed delights. . . .”

Of all the things aspiring artist Haven Marbury expected to find while clearing out her late father’s remote seaside house, Bedtime Stories for Monsters was not it. This secret handwritten manuscript is disturbingly different from his Pulitzer-winning works: its interweaving short stories crawl with horrific monsters and enigmatic humans that exist somewhere between this world and the next. The stories unsettle but also entice Haven, practically compelling her to illustrate them while she stays in the house that her father warned her was haunted―clearly just dementia whispering in his ear.

Reeling from a failed marriage, Haven hopes an illustrated Bedtime Stories can be the lucrative posthumous father-daughter collaboration she desperately needs to jump-start her art career. However, everyone in the nearby vacation town wants a piece of the manuscript: her father’s obsessive literary salon members, the Ink Drinkers; her mysterious yet charming neighbor, who has a tendency toward 3:00 a.m. bonfires; a young barista with a literary forgery business; and of course, whoever keeps trying to break into her house. But when a monstrous creature appears under Haven’s bed right as grisly deaths are reported in the nearby woods, it’s clear she is about to uncover dark, otherworldly family secrets―and completely rewrite everything she ever knew about herself.

The Restless Dark by Erica Waters
Expected Publication: October 4th, 2022
From Goodreads:
Enter Cloudkiss Canyon at your own risk.

The Cloudkiss Killer is dead. Now a true-crime podcast is hosting a contest to find his bones.

Lucy was almost the serial killer’s final victim. Carolina is a true-crime fan who fears her own rage. Maggie is a psychology student with a little too much to hide.

All of them are looking for answers, for a new identity, for a place to bury their secrets.

But there are more than bones hiding in the shadows…sometimes the darkness inside is more frightening than anything the dead leave behind.

Perfect for fans of Sadie and Wilder Girls, this newest novel from Erica Waters follows three girls at a true-crime contest to find the bones of a lost killer—even as a mysterious force pulls at the contestants’ darkest desires.

Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison
Expected Publication: October 4th, 2022
From Goodreads:
A young woman in need of a transformation finds herself in touch with the animal inside in this gripping, incisive novel from the author of Cackle and The Return.

Rory Morris isn’t thrilled to be moving back to her hometown, even if it is temporary. There are bad memories there. But her twin sister, Scarlett, is pregnant, estranged from the baby’s father, and needs support, so Rory returns to the place she thought she’d put in her rearview. After a night out at a bar where she runs into an old almost-flame, she hits a large animal with her car. And when she gets out to investigate, she’s attacked.

Rory survives, miraculously, but life begins to look and feel different. She’s unnaturally strong, with an aversion to silver—and suddenly the moon has her in its thrall. She’s changing into someone else—something else, maybe even a monster. But does that mean she’s putting those close to her in danger? Or is embracing the wildness inside of her the key to acceptance?

This darkly comedic love story is a brilliantly layered portrait of trauma, rage, and vulnerability.

The start of October is starting off with a bunch of excellent books, both authors and series, I've read a few and enjoyed them, and I can't wait for these all to come out! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Sunday, May 22, 2022

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
Star Father 

Magical Readathon: Orilium:

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge: 

Becca's BookoplAthon: 

Random:

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! 

Saturday, May 21, 2022

Week 20 Reviews: The Hunt, The Gauntlet


They've left the cage—but they're not free yet.

After their failed escape attempt, Cora, Lucky, and Mali have been demoted to the lowest level of human captives and placed in a safari-themed environment called the Hunt, along with wild animals and other human outcasts. They must serve new Kindred masters—Cora as a lounge singer, Lucky as an animal wrangler, and Mali as a safari guide—and follow new rules or face dangerous consequences. Meanwhile, Nok and Rolf have been moved into an enormous dollhouse, observed around the clock by Kindred scientists interested in Nok's pregnancy. And Leon, the only one who successfully escaped, has teamed up with villainous Mosca black-market traders.

The former inhabitants of the Cage are threatened on all fronts—and maybe worst of all, one of the Hunt's Kindred safari guests begins to play a twisted game of cat and mouse with Cora. Separated and constantly under watch, she and the others must struggle to stay alive, never mind find a way back to each other. When Cassian secretly offers to train Cora to develop her psychic abilities—to prove the worthiness of humanity in a series of tests called the Gauntlet—she'll have to decide fast if she dares to trust the Kindred who betrayed her, or if she can forge her own way to freedom. 

From Goodreads:
The Maze Runner meets Scott Westerfeld in the final novel in the gripping and romantic Cage series, about teens abducted from Earth by an otherworldly race.

Cora and her friends have escaped the Kindred station and landed at Armstrong—a supposed safe haven on a small moon—where they plan to regroup and figure out how to win the Gauntlet, the challenging competition to prove humanity's intelligence and set them free. But Armstrong is no paradise; ruled by a power-hungry sheriff, it's a violent world where the teens are enslaved and put to work in mines. As Nok's due date grows closer, and Mali and Leon journey across space to rescue Cassian, the former inhabitants of the cage are up against impossible odds.

With the whole universe at stake, Cora will do whatever it takes, including pushing her body and mind to the breaking point, to escape Armstrong and run the Gauntlet. But it isn't just a deranged sheriff she has to overcome: the other intelligent species—the Axion, Kindred, Gatherers, and Mosca—all have their own reasons to stop her. Not knowing who to trust, Cora must rely on her own instincts to win the competition, which could change the world—though it might destroy her in the process.

My Review:
Man, I was apprehensive about reading these books! I loved the first, and I love her books in general, but I did hear some mixed things about these two, specifically The Gauntlet. But I had a really great time reading them, and I'm so glad that I did, finish out this series!

Cora is reeling after the events of The Hunt, after the way that Cassian betrayed her, and how their escape attempt failed. Which means her circumstances have changed-and worsened, being in The Hunt. Now she's there for entertaining for the Kindred and others, and that's not a great position.

I really enjoyed watching her abilities progress, and how it ultimately lead to her undertaking the Gauntlet. Though things were going on for the other characters, what with the pregnancy and all. There was always something going on!

Both endings were pretty intense, which makes sense. I had such a blast reading them! Though The Gauntlet was the biggest, given that it was the end of the series. But oh, I imagine that the books continues after, because I need a happy ending! 

These were some really great reads, and I can't wait to read more from Megan Shepherd! 

Author: Megan Shepherd
Series: The Cage #2, 3
Read: May 15th, 16th, 2022
Source: Edelweiss/Bought
Reason Why: Love her other books, and it's a 2022 Dystopia Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book and a WoW Books! And The Gauntlet is a End of Series 2022 Book and a WTC Book! 
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Published: May 24th 2016, May 23rd 2017

The Hunt:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars








The Gauntlet: 
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Monday, May 16, 2022

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge Update 14

Ok, so I read my next book for Clean Sweep ARC Challenge, and it was The Gauntlet and I'll be reading Clown in a Cornfield: Frendo Lives 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 17th
Currently On: Page 0 of 416

Books Read: 14
Goal: 25 Books
Pages Read: 5384

Sunday, May 15, 2022

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge Update 13

Ok, so I read my next book for Clean Sweep ARC Challenge, and it was The Hunt and I'll be reading Gauntlet 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
Currently On: Page 0 of 400

Books Read: 13
Goal: 25 Books
Pages Read: 4984

Saturday, May 14, 2022

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge Update 12

Ok, so I read my next book for Clean Sweep ARC Challenge, and it was 'Til the World Ends and I'll be reading The Hunt 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
Currently On: Page 0 of 384

Books Read: 12
Goal: 25 Books
Pages Read: 4600

Monday, August 12, 2019

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #427, August 12th

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 #426
Teaser Tuesday #434
WWW Wednesday #434
WOW #430
Will the Time Come #427
Third Sentence Thursday #417
Random Reads #403
First Lines Friday #430
The Reward Challenge Update #412
Book Blogger Hop #96
How Well I Stuck to It #264
Wrote that Review Update #261

Week 32 Reviews:
Hunter
Elite
Apex
The Anatomist's Wife
House of Salt and Sorrows
Grim Lovelies
Save the Date
#murdertrending
The Long Paw of the Law
Let's Call it a Doomsday

Tours:
T-Minus: Review

OK, so I got 21 posts in 7 days, I read a decent amount of books, and yeah, I'm really happy with this week! Can't wait for next week!What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read The Beckoning Shadow, Burn Out, Strange Skies, Crown of Coral and Pearl, Crown of Oblivion, The Duke's Stolen Bride, Fan the Fame, The How & the Why, The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe, Midnight Beauties, and Sisters of Shadow and Light.

The Magicians meets Fight Club in this heart-stopping contemporary fantasy stand-alone about a teen girl with special powers who seeks redemption through a dangerous tournament that guarantees the winner a chance to undo the past. Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare and The Young Elites, and written by debut author Katharyn Blair.

Vesper Montgomery can summon your worst fear and turn it into a reality-but she's learned the hard way that it's an addictive and dangerous power. One wrong move and you could hurt someone you love.

But when she earns a spot in the Tournament of the Unraveling, where competitors battle it out for a chance to rewrite the past, Vesper finally has a shot to reverse the mistakes that have changed her forever. She turns to Sam Hardy, a former MMA fighter who's also carrying a tragedy he desperately wants to undo. However, helping heal Sam's heart will mean breaking her own, and the competition forces her to master her powers-powers she has been terrified of since they destroyed her life.
For generations, the princes of Ilara have married the most beautiful maidens from the ocean village of Varenia. But though every girl longs to be chosen as the next princess, the cost of becoming royalty is higher than any of them could ever imagine…

Nor once dreamed of seeing the wondrous wealth and beauty of Ilara, the kingdom that’s ruled her village for as long as anyone can remember. But when a childhood accident left her with a permanent scar, it became clear that her identical twin sister, Zadie, would likely be chosen to marry the Crown Prince—while Nor remained behind, unable to ever set foot on land.

Then Zadie is gravely injured, and Nor is sent to Ilara in her place. To Nor’s dismay, her future husband, Prince Ceren, is as forbidding and cold as his home—a castle carved into a mountain and devoid of sunlight. And as she grows closer to Ceren's brother, the charming Prince Talin, Nor uncovers startling truths about a failing royal bloodline, a murdered queen… and a plot to destroy the home she was once so eager to leave.

In order to save her people, Nor must learn to negotiate the treacherous protocols of a court where lies reign and obsession rules. But discovering her own formidable strength may be the one move that costs her everything: the crown, Varenia and Zadie.
Astrid is the surrogate for Princess Renya, which means she bears the physical punishment if Renya steps out of line. Astrid has no choice—she and her family are Outsiders, the lower class of people without magic and without citizenship.

But there is a way out of this life—competing in the deadly Race of Oblivion. To enter the race, an Outsider is administered the drug Oblivion, which wipes their memory clear of their past as they enter a new world with nothing to help them but a slip of paper bearing their name and the first clue. It's not as simple as solving a puzzle, however—for a majority of the contestants, the race ends in death. But winning would mean not only freedom for Astrid, but citizenship and health care for her entire family. With a dying father to think of, Astrid is desperate to prevail.

From the beginning, the race is filled with twists and turns. One of them is Darius, a fellow racer Astrid meets but isn't sure she can trust. Though they team up in the race, as Astrid's memories begin to resurface, she remembers just who he was to her—a scorned foe who may want revenge. Astrid also starts to notice she has powers no Outsider should—which could help her win the race, but also make her a target if anyone finds out. With stakes that couldn’t be higher, Astrid must decide what is more important: risking her life to remember the mysteries of the past, or playing a cutthroat game in order to win her—and her family's—freedom.
An urgent dilemma…

To save her impoverished family, Marian Langley will become a mistress. But she will not be just any mistress. Marian intends to become so skilled, so coveted, that she can set her own terms, retaining control over her body and her fate. Only one problem remains: finding a tutor…

A scandalous solution…

Other men deprive themselves of pleasure for propriety's sake. Nathaniel, Duke of Warrington, would much rather be depraved. He slakes his desires with professionals who ask nothing of him but his coin. Marian's proposal—that he train her without taking her virtue—is an intriguing diversion, until their lessons in seduction spin out of control.

And a most unlikely duchess…

When Marian is blackmailed into engagement by a man she despises, Nate impulsively steals her away. Though he never intended to take a wife, he can't tolerate the idea of Marian forfeiting her freedom to another. But can he bear to give her what she demands—a real marriage?
Equal parts Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl and Jennifer Mathieu's Moxie, this fiercely crafted, feminist YA novel takes on fandom, accountability, and doing the right thing. Even when it hurts.

Lainey wouldn't mind lugging a camera around a video game convention for her brother, aka YouTube superstar Codemeister, except for one big problem. He's funny and charming online, but behind closed doors, Cody is a sexist jerk.

SamTheBrave came to this year's con with one mission: meeting Codemeister—because getting his idol’s attention could be the big break Sam needs.

ShadowWillow is already a successful streamer. But when her fans start shipping her with Code, Shadow concocts a plan to turn the rumors to her advantage.

The three teens' paths collide when Lainey records one of Cody's hateful rants on video. Because she's determined to spill the truth to her brother’s fans—even if that means putting Sam and Shadow in the crosshairs.

Told through three relatable voices and arriving on the heels of the author's widely praised debut novel, Kat and Meg Conquer the World, this sophomore novel is a nuanced and timely story about followers, fame, and fighting for what's right.
A poignant exploration of family and the ties that bind, perfect for fans of Far From the Tree, from New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand.

Today Melly had us writing letters to our babies…

Cassandra McMurtrey has the best parents a girl could ask for. They've given Cass a life she wouldn’t trade for the world. She has everything she needs—except maybe the one thing she wants. Like, to know who she is. Where she came from. Questions her adoptive parents can't answer, no matter how much they love her.

But eighteen years ago, someone wrote Cass a series of letters. And they may just hold the answers Cass has been searching for.

Alternating between Cass's search for answers and letters from the pregnant teen who gave her up for adoption, this voice-driven narrative is the perfect read for fans of Nina LaCour and Jandy Nelson.

Poe Blythe is the young captain of her failing city's last mining ship, travelling the Serpentine River and dredging up gold.

But it isn't gold on her mind. Two years ago, river raiders robbed Poe of everything. And she wants revenge.

As she navigates the treacherous waters and realises there's a traitor among her crew, Poe is forced to confront the dangerous truth about why she has been sent on this journey - and reckon with who she has become.
The witches, beasties, goblins, and Royals return in this spellbinding conclusion to New York Times best-selling author Megan Shepherd's Grim Lovelies duology.

Ever since she discovered her affinity for magic, seventeen-year-old Anouk has been desperate to become a witch. It's the only way to save her friends who, like Anouk, are beasties: animals enchanted into humans. But unlike Anouk, the other beasties didn't make it out of the battle at Montélimar in one piece.

With her friends now trapped in their animal forms, Anouk is forced into a sinister deal involving a political marriage with her sworn enemy, a wicked plot to overthrow London's fiercest coven of witches, and a deadly trial of fire to become a witch. The price for power has always been steep in the world of the Haute. Now, it will cost Anouk everything.

Wicked and delightful, this spellbinding sequel and conclusion to Grim Lovelies is perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Hazel Wood.
From the acclaimed author of Defy, Sara B. Larson, Sisters of Shadow and Lights is a timeless and fantastical tale of sisterly love and powerful magic

The night my sister was born, the stars died and were reborn in her eyes….

Zuhra and Inara have grown up in the Citadel of the Paladins, an abandoned fortress where legendary, magical warriors once lived before disappearing from the world—including their Paladin father the night Inara was born.

On that same night, a massive, magical hedge grew and imprisoned them within the citadel. Inara inherited their father's Paladin power; her eyes glow blue and she is able to make plants grow at unbelievable rates, but she has been trapped in her own mind because of a "roar" that drowns everything else out—leaving Zuhra virtually alone with their emotionally broken human mother.

For fifteen years they have lived, trapped in the citadel, with little contact from the outside world…until the day a stranger passes through the hedge, and everything changes.

Saturday, August 10, 2019

Week 32 Review: Grim Lovelies

From Goodreads:
Seventeen-year-old Anouk envies the human world, where people known as Pretties lavish themselves in fast cars, high fashion, and have the freedom to fall in love. But Anouk can never have those things, because she is not really human. Enchanted from animal to human girl and forbidden to venture beyond her familiar Parisian prison, Anouk is a Beastie: destined for a life surrounded by dust bunnies and cinders serving Mada Vittora, the evil witch who spelled her into existence. That is, until one day she finds her mistress murdered in a pool of blood—and Anouk is accused of the crime.

Now, the world she always dreamed of is rife with danger. Pursued through Paris by the underground magical society known as the Haute, Anouk and her fellow Beasties only have three days to find the real killer before the spell keeping them human fades away. If they fail, they will lose the only lives they've ever known…but if they succeed, they could be more powerful than anyone ever bargained for.

From New York Times bestselling author Megan Shepherd, Grim Lovelies is an epic and glittering YA fantasy. Prepare to be spellbound by the world of Grim Lovelies, where secrets have been long buried, friends can become enemies, and everything—especially humanity—comes at a price.

My Review:
This book was so fantastic! I'd been reading it, a few pages at the time, but then I hit a point and I couldn't put it down! And that had excellent timing, because Midnight Beauties comes out next week, so I don't have to wait for it! So I'm very happy!

Anouk and the other beasties are slaves. The name isn't used, they aren't paid for their work, and they can't do anything else. There's no physical chains keeping them there, but Mada Vittora has their pelts, which is why they can't leave. And Anouk didn't know any better. Until Vittora was murdered and they go on this adventure.

Anouk learned about herself in this book, that she was strong, and deserved more in life then what she was getting. I really enjoyed watching her on this journey-even if there was a count down until they were turned back into animals, well, that just put pressure on everything.

I really enjoyed spending time in this world with magic and goblins and witches and Royals. And of course beasties. It was so interesting, and with what we learned in this book, and what Anouk's intentions at the end, well, I can't wait to see where things are going to go from here!

This book was so excellent, and I can't wait to see how things are going to go in the sequel!

Author: Megan Shepherd
Series: Grim Lovelies #1
Read: August 7th, 2019
Source: Bought
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounds good, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2019 Book!
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Published: October 2nd 2018
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

WWW Wednesday #434, August 7th

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!

I'm reading Grim Lovelies, and yeah, it's strange and so enjoyable! Must read more! 
I read House of Salt and Sorrows, and it was a fantastic read, I loved everything about it!
I'm going to be reading Crown of Feathers, and I can't wait, it sounds so excellent!

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Waiting on Wednesday #422, June 12th

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

Midnight Beauties by Megan Shepherd
Expected Publication: August 13th, 2019
From Goodreads:
The witches, beasties, goblins, and Royals return in this spellbinding conclusion to New York Times best-selling author Megan Shepherd’s Grim Lovelies duology.

Ever since she discovered her affinity for magic, seventeen-year-old Anouk has been desperate to become a witch. It’s the only way to save her friends who, like Anouk, are beasties: animals enchanted into humans. But unlike Anouk, the other beasties didn’t make it out of the battle at Montélimar in one piece.

With her friends now trapped in their animal forms, Anouk is forced into a sinister deal involving a political marriage with her sworn enemy, a wicked plot to overthrow London’s fiercest coven of witches, and a deadly trial of fire to become a witch. The price for power has always been steep in the world of the Haute. Now, it will cost Anouk everything.

Wicked and delightful, this spellbinding sequel and conclusion to Grim Lovelies is perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Hazel Wood.

Of Ice and Shadows by Audrey Coulthurst
Expected Publication: August 13th, 2019
From Goodreads:
The long-awaited sequel to the acclaimed YA fantasy Of Fire and Stars! Mare and Denna travel to a new and dangerous kingdom where Denna will be trained to tame her magic by a mysterious queen who is not all she seems. Perfect for fans of Malinda Lo and Kristin Cashore. 

Princesses Denna and Mare are in love and together at last—only to face a new set of dangers.

Mare just wants to settle down with the girl she loves, which would be easier if Denna weren’t gifted with forbidden and volatile fire magic. Denna must learn to control her powers, which means traveling in secret to the kingdom of Zumorda, where she can seek training without fear of persecution. Determined to help, Mare has agreed to serve as an ambassador as a cover for their journey.

But just as Mare and Denna arrive in Zumorda, an attack on a border town in Mynaria changes everything. Mare’s diplomatic mission is now urgent: she must quickly broker an alliance with the queen of Zumorda to protect her homeland. However, the queen has no interest in allying with other kingdoms; it’s Denna’s untamed but powerful magic that catches her eye. The queen offers Denna a place among her elite trainees—an opportunity that would force her to choose between her magic and Mare.

As Denna’s powers grow stronger, Mare struggles to be the ambassador her kingdom needs. By making unconventional friends, her knowledge of Zumorda and its people grow, and so too do her suspicions about who is truly behind the attacks on Zumorda and her homeland.

As rising tensions and unexpected betrayals put Mare and Denna in jeopardy and dangerous enemies emerge on all sides, can they protect their love and save their kingdoms? 

Yeah, there's two great books coming out, and yeah, they're both authors that I enjoy! Can't wait to read these books! What about you guys? Happy reading!