Showing posts with label Milla Vane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Milla Vane. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Waiting on Wednesday #650, October 25th

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating! 
 
Shards of Glass by Michelle Sagara
Expected Publication: November 28th, 2023
From Goodreads:
The Academia, once an elite proving ground for the rulers of the world, has been frozen for centuries. Now its strange slumber has ended, and a new Chancellor, an orange-eyed dragon, has reopened its lecture halls and readied its dorms. In order to thrive once more, however, the Academia needs fresh blood—new students with a passion and talent for learning.

One such student, Robin, has the perfect recruit in his friend Raven, an orphan who lives in the dangerous Warrens. Robin grew up in the Warrens, and he wouldn't have made it if not for Raven. He knows she’ll be safe at the Academia, where her unusual gifts can be appreciated.

But when students start turning up dead, the campus threatens to collapse completely. Raven and Robin will not let that happen to their new home…if they can survive long enough to figure out who—or what—is trying to kill them.

The Endless War by Danielle Jensen
Expected Publication: November 28th, 2023
From Goodreads:
Newly crowned as king, Keris has watched powerless as his forbidden relationship with Zarrah is revealed. But when Zarrah is imprisoned by the Empress, Keris knows there is only one way to save to ally with the kingdom he nearly destroyed.

Imprisoned on the dreaded Devil's Island, Zarrah faces two prove her loyalty to the Empress who condemned her or die a traitor. Yet as she struggles to survive among violent prisoners, Zarrah uncovers a third a rebellion to overthrow tyranny entwined with a destiny she must fight to claim.

While the Empress plots a war with devastating consequences, Keris and Zarrah must find their way back to each other. Yet their greatest adversary is the fiery passion between them. Unless they overcome the bitterness of betrayal, their love will not be the bringer of peace but rather the fuel that turns the Endless War into an inferno.

A Dance of Smoke and Steel by Milla Vane
Expected Publication: November 28th, 2023
From Goodreads:
As Anumith the Destroyer's army draws nearer to the western realms, an alliance is forming to stand against him. The heir to the throne of Krimathe embarks upon a quest for the goddess Vela--a quest that the goddess has promised will give her strength enough to defeat the Destroyer.

All that Laina must do is to stay silent...and serve a man she has sworn to kill. A man who helped destroy her family.

The son of a demon warlord and only recently freed from years of torture, Saxen seeks to make amends to his people before facing the justice of the Krimathean queen's blade. When a mysterious, silent woman who wears a questing cloak joins his small band of warriors, he only wishes to rid himself of her.

But she isn't so easy to get rid of--and fulfilling her quest might come at a far higher cost than Laina could imagine. For she might gain the strength to defeat the Destroyer...but what she needs from Saxen will destroy him first.

A Grim and Sunken Vow by Ashley Shuttleworth
Expected Publication: November 28th, 2023
From Goodreads:
Arlo and her friends must decide how far they’re willing to go to depose a cruel ruler in this third book in the Hollow Star Saga that’s The Cruel Prince meets City of Bones .

The die is cast.
The era of Spring is over.

Riadne’s bloody coup on the Summer Solstice changed Arlo’s life forever. In one fell swoop and a fool’s bargain, she lost both her family and free will to the newly crowned High Queen. Now, with Arlo forced to use her powers as Luck’s Hollow Star to help summon the rest of the seven deadly sins, Riadne stands closer than ever to achieving her dark goals.

And Arlo isn’t the only one trapped in a frightening new role. Her ex-Fury girlfriend, Nausicaä, is determined to do whatever it takes to stay by Arlo’s side, even if that means becoming Riadne’s pet assassin. Aurelian and Vehan, torn apart, struggle to survive on their own.

Meanwhile, Celadon has been revealed as Riadne’s illegitimate son—and heir to both Spring and Summer, the ultimate offense in the faerie world. But the High Prince has secret plans of his own, plans made all the more complicated when the beautiful and deadly immortal Hunter Lethe takes an interest in him…

Five budding legacies will need more than luck if they hope to stand a chance against the greatest adversary the Courts have faced. For nothing’s more dangerous than a faerie tale… except the one who tells it, and maybe what they’re going to need is no longer that story’s hero but its villain .

Born to be Badger by Shelly Laurenston
Expected Publication: November 28th, 2023
From Goodreads:
The Honey Badgers are at it again in the New York Times bestselling and outstandingly witty, snarky, sexy, shape-shifting, world-building Honey Badger Chronicles. This time around, a family of clueless tiger shifter brothers have no idea how lucky they are to have caught the eye of three fierce honey badger females.

Emily “Tock” Meyerson-Jackson is on a mission to rid the world of shifters trafficking humans for hunting and cash. And now that she’s narrowed down her suspects to a brutal coalition of male lions, nothing will get between this honey badger and her prey—not even a dog-loving Tiger with absolutely no time management skills. Doesn’t matter that Shay Malone is ferociously adorable. With a war brewing between cat families, Tock doesn’t have time to lounge around with a football-playing tiger shifter. But when she realizes the coalition is also responsible for the death of Shay’s father, she’s forced to partner up with the flirtatious feline. . . .
 
Revenge is most definitely on the menu for Shay and his tiger shifter brothers. But when it comes to Shay’s alluring partner in crime-solving, so is seduction. Tock might be a bad-ass of a honey badger, but she’s awfully cute when she’s flashing her fangs, which she’s pretty much doing all the time these days. Good thing revenge is a dish best served hot. Because when it comes to Tock, Shay knows just how to turn up the heat. . . .

The Talk of Coyote Canyon by Brenda Novak
Expected Publication: November 28th, 2023
From Goodreads:
She’s not here to make friends. She’s here to make trouble.

With her piercings, tattoos and spiky blond hair, Ellen Truesdale doesn’t quite fit in with the other folks in Coyote Canyon—and that’s just fine with her. She’s only here to put her father out of business, as payback for abandoning her when she was young.

Or is she more interested in finally proving that she was worth keeping?

Either way, she’s struggling to keep her rival well-drilling company afloat. And being a single woman in a male-dominated field has started to take a toll. So when Hendrix Durrant steps in to help, Ellen has no choice but to let him—even though he happens to be her father’s business partner and therefore her enemy. But the closer she works with him, the more she sees what she’s been missing…in life and love. And once she lets go of her anger long enough to learn the truth about her past, she might just find the family she’s always wanted.

Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon
Expected Publication: November 28th, 2023
From Goodreads:
Infatuation. Reincarnation. Damnation.

Gem Echols is a nonbinary Seminole teen living in the tiny town of Gracie, Georgia. Known for being their peers’ queer awakening, Gem leans hard on charm to disguise the anxious mess they are beneath. The only person privy to their authentic self is another trans kid, Enzo, who’s a thousand long, painful miles away in Brooklyn.

But even Enzo doesn’t know about Gem’s dreams, haunting visions of magic and violence that have always felt too real. So how the hell does Willa Mae Hardy? The strange new girl in town acts like she and Gem are old companions, and seems to know things about them they’ve never told anyone else.

When Gem is attacked by a stranger claiming to be the Goddess of Death, Willa Mae saves their life and finally offers some answers. She and Gem are reincarnated gods who’ve known and loved each other across lifetimes. But Gem – or at least who Gem used to be - hasn’t always been the most benevolent deity. They’ve made a lot of enemies in the pantheon—enemies who, like the Goddess of Death, will keep coming.

It’s a good thing they’ve still got Enzo. But as worlds collide and the past catches up with the present, Gem will discover that everyone has something to hide.

The Kingdom of Sweets by Erika Johansen
Expected Publication: November 28th, 2023
From Goodreads:
Bestselling author of the Queen of the Tearling series, Erika Johansen, journeys to a new kingdom in this brilliant stand-alone novel—a darkly magical take on The Nutcracker where two sisters, cursed from birth, are forever changed one memorable Christmas. . . .

Light and dark—this is the destiny placed upon Natasha and Clara, the birthright bestowed by their godfather, the mysterious sorcerer Drosselmeyer. Clara, the favorite, grows into beauty and ease, while Natasha is cursed to live in her sister’s shadow. But one fateful Christmas Eve, Natasha gets her chance at revenge. For Drosselmeyer has brought the Nutcracker, an enchanted present that offers entry into a deceptively beautiful world: the Kingdom of Sweets.

In this land of snow and sugar, Natasha is presented with a power far greater than Drosselmeyer: the Sugar Plum Fairy, who is also full of gifts . . . and dreadful bargains. As Natasha uncovers the dark destiny laid before her birth, she must reckon with powers both earthly and magical, and decide to which world she truly belongs.

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher 
Expected Publication: November 28th, 2023
From Goodreads:
Heartstopper meets A Knight’s Tale in this queer medieval rom-com YA debut about love, friendship, and being brave enough to change the course of history.

It’s been hundreds of years since King Arthur’s reign. His descendant, Arthur, a future Lord and general gadabout, has been betrothed to Gwendoline, the quick-witted, short-tempered princess of England, since birth. The only thing they can agree on is that they despise each other.

They’re forced to spend the summer together at Camelot in the run-up to their nuptials, and within 24 hours, Gwen has discovered Arthur kissing a boy, and Arthur has gone digging for Gwen's childhood diary and found confessions about her crush on the kingdom's only lady knight, Bridget Leclair.

Realizing they might make better allies than enemies, Gwen and Art make a reluctant pact to cover for each other, and as things heat up at the annual royal tournament, Gwen is swept off her feet by her knight, and Arthur takes an interest in Gwen's royal brother. Lex Croucher's Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is chock full of sword-fighting, found family, and romantic shenanigans destined to make readers fall in love.

Consort of Fire by Kit Rocha 
Expected Publication: November 28th, 2023
From Goodreads:
From cult-favorite writing duo Kit Rocha comes a fiery novel set in a lush fantasy world brimming with ancient magic, dangerous secrets, and erotic connections.

For three thousand years, an ancient dragon god has protected the borders of the Sheltered Lands. In return, he makes only one demand: every one hundred years, the mortal ruler must send their heir to serve as his consort…for as long as they can survive.

Sachielle of House Roquebarre is the thirty-first consort to be sacrificed to the monster who guards the mountain passes. She is young, beautiful—and she has three secrets.

First: she’s a disposable orphan trained in seduction.

Second: her handmaid, Zanya, is an assassin and the only person she has ever loved.

Third—and most dangerous: she’s cursed. Sachi and Zanya have five weeks to murder the Dragon in his bed. If they fail, the mortal king’s curse will steal not just Sachi’s life, but her very soul.

The Dragon has only one secret: he is nothing like what they have been told. And he will do whatever it takes to possess them both.

A Demon's Guide to Wooing a Witch by Sarah Hawley
Expected Publication: November 28th, 2023
From Goodreads:
Calladia Cunnington curses the day she met Astaroth the demon, but when he shows up memoryless, why does she find him so helpless . . . and sort of hot?

Calladia Cunnington knows she's rough around the edges, despite being the heir to one of small-town Glimmer Falls' founding witch families. While her gym obsession is a great outlet for her anxieties and anger, her hot temper still gets the best of her and manifests in bar brawls. When Calladia saves someone from a demon attack one night, though, she's happy to put her magic and rage to good use . . . until she realizes the man she saved is none other than Astaroth, the ruthless demon who orchestrated a soul bargain on her best friend.

Astaroth is a legendary soul bargainer and one of the nine members of the demon high council--except he can't remember any of this. Suffering from amnesia after being banished to the mortal plane, Astaroth doesn't know why a demon named Moloch is after him, nor why the muscular, angry, hot-in-a-terrifying-way witch who saved him hates him so much.

Unable to leave anyone in such a vulnerable state--even the most despicable demon--Calladia grudgingly decides to help him. (Besides, punching an amnesiac would be in poor taste.) The two set out on an uneasy road trip to find the witch who might be able to restore Astaroth's memory so they can learn how to defeat Moloch. Calladia vows that once Astaroth is cured, she'll kick his ass, but the more time she spends with the snarky yet utterly charming demon, the more she realizes she likes this new, improved Astaroth . . . and maybe she doesn't want him to recover his memories, after all.

Oh, yeah, the month is wrapping up with some really amazing reads, I love these authors and series, and I need these books to be out! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Waiting on Wednesday #472, May 27th

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

A Touch of Stone and Snow by Milla Vane
Expected Publication: July 7th, 2020
From Goodreads:
Milla Vane returns to her exhilarating A Gathering of Dragons series, into a world of fire, demons, and passion in the midst of a great evil that will bring only death and destruction.

Danger lurks in the western realms. Though an evil king has been defeated, a sorcerer warlord has risen and nobody is safe. This demon-possessed warlord creates magical terrors, attacking nations with the ultimate goal to weaken and demolish them before the Destroyer's imminent return.

When Lizzan leads the Kothan army against these terrors, only to see her soldiers massacred and to emerge as the only survivor, she is called a coward. A disgrace. A failure. Shunned from her home, Lizzan now wanders in solitude through the lands as a mercenary for hire, until she encounters a group of warriors seeking new alliances with the northern kingdoms--a group that includes Aerax, the bastard prince of Koth, and the man who sent her into exile. Though they were former childhood friends, Aerax cannot trust the woman whose failure led to the fall of a kingdom. But when a goddess's demand binds them together, Lizzan and Aerax must find a way to overcome their painful pasts. Or there will be no future for the western realms... 

The Lost City by Amanda Hocking
Expected Publication: July 7th, 2020
From Goodreads:
New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking returns to the magical world of the Trylle with The Lost City, the first book in the final Trylle arc.

Nestled along the bluffs of the forested coast lays the secret kingdom of the Omte—a realm filled with wonder...and as many secrets.

Ulla Tulin was left abandoned in an isolated Kanin city as a baby, taken in by strangers and raised hidden away like many of the trolls of mixed blood. Even knowing this truth, she’s never stopped wondering about her family.

When Ulla is offered an internship working alongside the handsome Pan Soriano at the Mimirin, a prestigious institution, she jumps at the chance to use this opportunity to hopefully find her parents. All she wants is to focus on her job and the search for her parents, but all of her attempts to find them are blocked when she learns her mother may be connected to the Omte royal family.

With little progress made, Ulla and Pan soon find themselves wrapped up in helping Eliana, an amnestic girl with abilities unlike any they have ever seen before—a girl who seems to be running from something. To figure out who she is they must leave the city, and possibly, along the way, they may learn more about Ulla’s parents. 

All These Monsters by Amy Tintera
Expected Publication: July 7th, 2020
From Goodreads:
From New York Times best-selling author Amy Tintera, a high-stakes sci-fi adventure about a teen girl who will do anything to escape her troubled home--even if that means joining a dangerous monster-fighting squad. Perfect for fans of Warcross and Renegades.

Seventeen-year-old Clara is ready to fight back. Fight back against her abusive father, fight back against the only life she's ever known, and most of all, fight back against scrabs, the earth-dwelling monsters that are currently ravaging the world. So when an opportunity arises for Clara to join an international monster-fighting squad, she jumps at the chance.

When Clara starts training with her teammates, however, she realizes what fighting monsters really means: sore muscles, exhaustion, and worst of all, death. Scrabs are unpredictable, violent, and terrifying. But as Clara gains confidence in her battle skills, she starts to realize scrabs might not be the biggest evil. The true monsters are the ones you least expect.

The Princess Will Save You by Sarah Henning
Expected Publication: July 7th, 2020
From Goodreads:
The Princess Will Save You is a YA fantasy adventure inspired by The Princess Bride, in which a princess must rescue her stable boy true love, from the acclaimed author of Sea Witch, Sarah Henning.

When a princess’s commoner true love is kidnapped to coerce her into a political marriage, she doesn’t give in—she goes to rescue him.

When her warrior father, King Sendoa, mysteriously dies, Princess Amarande of Ardenia is given what would hardly be considered a choice: Marry a stranger at sixteen or lose control of her family’s crown.

But Amarande was raised to be a warrior—not a sacrifice.

In an attempt to force her choice, a neighboring kingdom kidnaps her true love, stable boy Luca. With her kingdom on the brink of civil war and no one to trust, she’ll need all her skill to save him, her future, and her kingdom.

The Crow Rider by Kalyn Josephson
Expected Publication: July 7th, 2020
From Goodreads:
Princess Thia, her allies, and her crow, Res, are planning a rebellion to defeat Queen Razel and Illucia once and for all. Thia must convince the neighboring kingdoms to come to her aid, and Res’s show of strength is the only thing that can help her.

But so many obstacles stand in her way. Res excels at his training, until he loses control of his magic, harming Thia in the process. She is also pursued by Prince Ericen, heir to the Illucian throne and the one person she can’t trust but can’t seem to stay away from.

As the rebel group prepares for war, Res’s magic grows more unstable. Thia has to decide if she can rely on herself and their bond enough to lead the rebellion and become the crow rider she was meant to be.

Found by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Expected Publication: July 7th, 2020
From Goodreads:
Fog rolls into Tulsa, and with it comes Darkness. Zoey knows something is up, and that the something involves Neferet, but Neferet can't possibly be freed, right?

Other Neferet and her companion, Lynette, arrive in Woodward Park to set this world's Neferet free from her grotto prison, and discover there may be those who sympathize with their cause. Meanwhile, Other Kevin and Other Stark are hot on their trail, but how can the new friends travel to this world without invoking Old Magick and paying a costly, perhaps deadly, price?

In 'FOUND', the culmination of the House of Night Other World series, a surprisingly talented fledgling, an immortal, and the unlikeliest of allies will band together with Zoey and the Nerd Herd. Will they be powerful enough to defeat her old nemesis, or will two worlds be destroyed and claimed by Darkness? Find out in the thrilling conclusion to the House of Night Other World series!

Unravel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim
Expected Publication: July 7th, 2020
From Goodreads:
The thrilling sequel to SPIN THE DAWN, a magical series steeped in Chinese culture.

Maia Tamarin’s journey to sew the dresses of the sun, the moon and the stars has taken a grievous toll. She returns to a kingdom on the brink of war. The boy she loves is gone, and she is forced to don the dress of the sun and assume the place of the emperor’s bride-to-be to keep the peace.

But the war raging around Maia is nothing compared to the battle within. Ever since she was touched by the demon Bandur, she has been changing . . . glancing in the mirror to see her own eyes glowing red, losing control of her magic, her body, her mind. It’s only a matter of time before Maia loses herself completely, but she will stop at nothing to find Edan, protect her family, and bring lasting peace to her country.

YA fantasy readers will love the sizzling forbidden romance, mystery, and intrigue of UNRAVEL THE DUSK. 

Faith by Julie Murphy
Expected Publication: July 7th, 2020
From Goodreads:
From Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin’, comes the first in a two-book origin story of Faith, a groundbreaking, plus-sized superhero from the Valiant Entertainment comics.

Faith Herbert is a pretty regular teen. When she’s not hanging out with her two best friends, Matt and Ches, she’s volunteering at the local animal shelter or obsessing over the long-running teen drama The Grove.

So far, her senior year has been spent trying to sort out her feelings for her maybe-crush Johnny and making plans to stay close to Grandma Lou after graduation. Of course, there’s also that small matter of recently discovering she can fly….

When the fictional world of The Grove crashes into Faith’s reality as the show relocates to her town, she can’t believe it when TV heroine Dakota Ash takes a romantic interest in her.

But her fandom-fueled daydreams aren’t enough to distract Faith from the fact that first animals, then people, have begun to vanish from the town. Only Faith seems able to connect the dots to a new designer drug infiltrating her high school.

But when her investigation puts the people she loves in danger, she will have to confront her hidden past and use her newfound gifts—risking everything to save her friends and beloved town.

A Peculiar Peril by Jeff VanderMeer
Expected Publication: July 7th, 2020
From Goodreads:
An epic about three friends on a quest to protect the world from a threat as unknowable as it is terrifying.

Jonathan Lambshead stands to inherit his deceased grandfather’s overstuffed mansion—a veritable cabinet of curiosities—once he and two schoolmates catalog its contents. But the three soon discover that the house is filled with far more than just oddities: It holds clues linking to an alt-Earth called Aurora, where the notorious English occultist Aleister Crowley has stormed back to life on a magic-fueled rampage across a surreal, through-the-looking-glass version of Europe replete with talking animals (and vegetables).

Swept into encounters with allies more unpredictable than enemies, Jonathan pieces together his destiny as a member of a secret society devoted to keeping our world separate from Aurora. But as the ground shifts and allegiances change with every step, he and his friends sink ever deeper into a deadly pursuit of the profound evil that is also chasing after them.

Desolation Road by Christine Feehan
Expected Publication: July 7th, 2020
From Goodreads:
Take the ride of your life with the Torpedo Ink motorcycle club in this thrilling romance novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan. 

Torpedo Ink is Aleksei “Absinthe” Solokov’s whole life. They’re his brothers, his family—his everything. But that doesn't stop him from wanting something that only belongs to him. That’s why the tough biker has spent the last six weeks at the library, reading every book he can get his hands on and watching the prim and proper librarian who makes his blood rush. 

For the past six weeks, Scarlet Foley has been fantasizing about the handsome, tattooed man whose eyes follow her every move. She senses he's dangerous. She wants him to get close enough to touch. She wishes she could let him know the real woman, not the one she pretends to be. But Scarlet has a plan to carry out, and she can’t afford any distractions.

Absinthe is well aware that Scarlet is hiding something. She’s a puzzle he intends to solve, piece by intoxicating piece….

Wow, there's some really great books coming out July 7th! Really excited for these, I've read a few and mostly enjoyed them, and I can't wait for them to be out! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Monday, May 25, 2020

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #468, May 25th

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

What happened in the past week:

Weekly Memes:
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #467
Teaser Tuesday #475
WWW Wednesday #475
WOW #471
Will the Time Come #468
Third Sentence Thursday #458
Random Reads #444
First Lines Friday #471
Book Blogger Hop #137
The Reward Challenge Update #453
How Well I Stuck to It #305
Wrote that Review Update #302

Week 21 Reviews:
A Dress for the Wicked
A Touch of Stone and Snow
Heroine
Misleading a Duke
Dark Shores
Dark Skies
Burn
Through the White Wood
Clown in a Cornfield
Sucker Punch
I See London, I See France
Just a Boy and a Girl in a Small Canoe

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge:
Update 21
Update 22
Update 23
Update 24
Update 25
Update 26
Update 27
Update 28
Update 29
Update 30

24 Hour Reading Challenge:
Update 1
Update 2
Update 3
Update 4
Update 5
Update 6 and Wrap Up

Random:
We Have the Title of Jane Yellowrock #14!!!!

OK, so I got 39 posts in 7 days, and yeah, it was my birthday yesterday, though it basically was a regular day. I read a decent number of books, and a good deal of posts, so yeah, I'm happy with that! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read whatever I want, it's a free week!

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Week 21 Review: A Touch of Stone and Snow

From Goodreads:
Milla Vane returns to her exhilarating A Gathering of Dragons series, into a world of fire, demons, and passion in the midst of a great evil that will bring only death and destruction.

Danger lurks in the western realms. Though an evil king has been defeated, a sorcerer warlord has risen and nobody is safe. This demon-possessed warlord creates magical terrors, attacking nations with the ultimate goal to weaken and demolish them before the Destroyer's imminent return.

When Lizzan leads the Kothan army against these terrors, only to see her soldiers massacred and to emerge as the only survivor, she is called a coward. A disgrace. A failure. Shunned from her home, Lizzan now wanders in solitude through the lands as a mercenary for hire, until she encounters a group of warriors seeking new alliances with the northern kingdoms--a group that includes Aerax, the bastard prince of Koth, and the man who sent her into exile. Though they were former childhood friends, Aerax cannot trust the woman whose failure led to the fall of a kingdom. But when a goddess's demand binds them together, Lizzan and Aerax must find a way to overcome their painful pasts. Or there will be no future for the western realms...

My Review:
Yeah, wow, I really enjoyed this book! I loved the first one, and I was really excited to read this one, as well! We get to see more of this world, to the North, which was really fantastic, and there were a few familiar faces going on the quest that they left on at the end of book 1, so I'm so excited!

I really enjoyed getting to know Lizzan and Aerax. They're a couple who knew each other really well, they had struggles, and they stayed together. But then disaster struck, and they separated. And there were a ton of emotions to deal with, and secrets to be revealed, and it was just so fascinating!

There's some overarching plot lines, like we meet the lead characters of the next book, and this book is them working on alliances to unite the whole continent, and while this threat is one that's focused, well, it's someone who followed the Destroyer. So taking down one of his allies before he arrives, that's just smart!

One thing that I would like, is a map of the Destroyer's path. I think I have it in my head, but I'm not quite sure, and this detail, while not a major plot point at the moment, well, it's a detail about the main bad guy, and I'd like to know it!

Loved reading this book, it was so fantastic, I enjoyed it so much, and I'm filled with anticipation for book 3!

Author: Milla Vane
Series: A Gathering of Dragons #2, Barbarians #3
Read: May 17th, 2020
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Sounded really great and I really enjoyed the first book, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2020 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Berkley Books
Expected Publication: July 7th 2020
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Monday, May 18, 2020

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #467, May 18th

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 #466
Teaser Tuesday #474
WWW Wednesday #474
WOW #470
Will the Time Come #467
Third Sentence Thursday #457
Random Reads #443
First Lines Friday #470
Book Blogger Hop #136
The Reward Challenge Update #452
How Well I Stuck to It #304
Wrote that Review Update #301

Week 20 Reviews:
No Parking At the End Times
Again, but Better
Desolation Road
Ever Cursed
The Sandcastle Empire
The Fascinators
A Heart of Blood and Ashes
This Darkness Mine

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge:
Update 12
Update 13
Update 14
Update 15
Update 16
Update 17
Update 18
Update 19
Update 20

Bout of Books:
Update 1
Update 2
Update 3
Update 4
Update 5
Update 6
Update 7
Update 8
Update 9
Update 10 and Wrap Up

Random:
We Have the Cover of The Wallflowers of West Lane #2!!!!
We Have the Cover of Lady Sherlock #5!!!!
We Have the Cover of Warrior Bards #2!!!!
We Have the Cover of Silver Springs #7!!!!
We Have the Cover of The Babysitters Cover #2!!!!
24 Hour Reading Challenge 3rd May Sign Up

OK, so I got 54 posts in 7 days, because I had two challenges to do posts for the same book, each time, and I read a decent number of books, so it added up. But I'm happy with what I got done! Also, it's the holiday that circles my birthday today, though it's the biggest spacing between them this year, given that my birthday falls on next Sunday. Yeah for 26! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read whatever I want, another free week! Can't wait to read whatever freely!

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Bout of Books Update 9

Bout of Books
So yeah, I've finished my next book for Bout of Books, and it was A Touch of Stone and Snow! I'm going to be reading Heroine next!

My Reading Journey:

Again, but Better by Christine Riccio
Started On: May 10th
Finished On: May 10th, 9:04 PM
Pages Read: 373

Desolation Road by Christine Feehan
Started On: May 12th
Finished On: May 13th, 2:12 AM
Pages Read: 480

Ever Cursed by Corey Ann Haydu
Started On: May 13th
Finished On: May 13th, 10:28 PM
Pages Read: 304

The Sandcastle Empire by Kayla Olson
Started On: May 13th
Finished On: May 13th, 4:55 PM
Pages Read: 455

The Fascinators by Andrew Eliopulos
Started On: May 14th
Finished On: May 14th, 11:11 PM
Pages Read: 304

A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane
Started On: May 15th
Finished On: May 15th, 3:53 PM
Pages Read: 560

This Darkness Mine by Mindy McGinnis
Started On: May 15th
Finished On: May 15th, 10:08 PM
Pages Read: 400

A Dress for the Wicked by Autumn Krause
Started On: May 16th
Finished On: May 16th, 7:13 PM
Pages Read: 400

A Touch of Stone and Snow by Milla Vane
Started On: May 17th
Finished On: May 17th, 2:52 PM
Pages Read: 416

Heroine by Mindy McGinnis
Started On: May 17th
Currently On: Page 0 of 448

Goals: 10
Read: 9
Pages Read: 3192

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge Update 19

Ok, so I read A Touch of Stone and Snow and now to read my next book, Heroine!


My Reading Journey:

Goldilocks Laura Lam
Started On: May 1st
Finished On: May 1st, 11:25 PM
Pages Read: 352

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning
Started On: May 2nd
Finished On: May 2nd, 4:13 PM
Pages Read: 348

Sea Witch Rising by Sarah Henning
Started On: May 3rd
Finished On: May 3rd, 6:34 PM
Pages Read: 416

If These Wings Could Fly by Kyrie McCauley
Started On: May 3rd
Finished On: May 3rd, 10:07 PM
Pages Read: 400

The Fiery Kingdom by Jeffe Kennedy
Started On: May 4th
Finished On: May 4th, 10:05 PM
Pages Read: 400

Umbertouched by Livia Blackburne
Started On: May 7th
Finished On: May 7th, 1:22 PM
Pages Read: 382

The Lost City by Amanda Hocking
Started On: May 8th
Finished On: May 8th, 12:01 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Morning Flower by Amanda Hocking
Started On: May 8th
Finished On: May 8th, 6:04 PM
Pages Read: 352

Beyond a Darkened Shore by Jessica Leake
Started On: May 8th
Finished On: May 8th, 9:12 PM
Pages Read: 421

Corpse & Crown by Alisa Kwitney
Started On: May 8th
Finished On: May 9th, 12:07 AM
Pages Read: 314

No Parking at the End Times by Bryan Bliss
Started On: May 10th
Finished On: May 10th, 12:40 PM
Pages Read: 267

Again, but Better by Christine Riccio
Started On: May 10th
Finished On: May 10th, 9:04 PM
Pages Read: 373

Desolation Road by Christine Feehan
Started On: May 12th
Finished On: May 13th, 2:12 AM
Pages Read: 480

Ever Cursed by Corey Ann Haydu
Started On: May 13th
Finished On: May 13th, 10:28 PM
Pages Read: 304

The Sandcastle Empire by Kayla Olson
Started On: May 13th
Finished On: May 13th, 4:55 PM
Pages Read: 455

The Fascinators by Andrew Eliopulos
Started On: May 14th
Finished On: May 14th, 11:11 PM
Pages Read: 304

This Darkness Mine by Mindy McGinnis
Started On: May 15th
Finished On: May 15th, 10:08 PM
Pages Read: 400

A Dress for the Wicked by Autumn Krause
Started On: May 16th
Finished On: May 16th, 7:13 PM
Pages Read: 400

A Touch of Stone and Snow by Milla Vane
Started On: May 17th
Finished On: May 17th, 2:52 PM
Pages Read: 416

Heroine by Mindy McGinnis
Started On: May 17th
Currently On: Page 0 of 448

Books Read: 19
Goal: 25 Books
Pages Read: 7158
Reading Next: Misleading a Duke, Dark Shore, Dark Skies, Burn, Though the White Wood, An Anatomy of Beasts

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Week 20 Review: A Heart of Blood and Ashes

A generation past, the western realms were embroiled in endless war. Then the Destroyer came. From the blood and ashes he left behind, a tenuous alliance rose between the barbarian riders of Parsathe and the walled kingdoms of the south. That alliance is all that stands against the return of an ancient evil—until the barbarian king and queen are slain in an act of bloody betrayal.

Though forbidden by the alliance council to kill the corrupt king responsible for his parents' murders, Maddek vows to avenge them, even if it costs him the Parsathean crown. But when he learns it was the king's daughter who lured his parents to their deaths, the barbarian warrior is determined to make her pay.

Yet the woman Maddek captures is not what he expected. Though the last in a line of legendary warrior-queens, Yvenne is small and weak, and the sharpest weapons she wields are her mind and her tongue. Even more surprising is the marriage she proposes to unite them in their goals and to claim their thrones—because her desire for vengeance against her father burns even hotter than his own… 

My Review:
This book was so fantastic! I really enjoyed the short stories that we've gotten so far, and it was so great to have a full length book in this world! And getting to know these characters was so great, and I'm so excited to read more of this series!

This book was pretty darned violent and sexual. And there was a fair amount of politics as well, given the ranks of both of these characters. And the relationship between them was so rocky, and I loved going on this journey with them, as it evolved and changed and grew! So many complications arose, and it was so entertaining to read!

There were several conflicts that could've been avoided if these two had just communicated with each other better. Like with her knee. She assumed that the group knew about it, and that was a pretty big situation there. Another big one was the whole, his mother accepted her, but he didn't believe it and called it a lie, when it wasn't. That caused a lot of heartache and drama before it was all sorted out!

That ending really proved just how much these characters grew over the course of this book. Maddek needed the heart of a king, and to be more than a warrior, to think strategically about more than just battle, though it did help him with battle! And Yvenne had confidence to be a Warrior Queen, and it was just so great to read!

This book was an epic read, it was so enjoyable to read, and I can't wait to read more!

Author: Milla Vane
Series: A Gathering of Dragons #1, Barbarian #2
Read: May 15th, 2020
Source: Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Sounded really great, and it's a Prequel && Sequel Challenge 2020 Book!
Publisher: Berkley
Published: February 4th 2020
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Friday, May 15, 2020

Bout of Books Update 6

Bout of Books
So yeah, I've finished my next book for Bout of Books, and it was A Heart of Blood and Ashes! I'm going to be reading This Darkness Mine next! Changed my plans, but yeah, finished another book, now to read This Darkness Mine!

My Reading Journey:

Again, but Better by Christine Riccio
Started On: May 10th
Finished On: May 10th, 9:04 PM
Pages Read: 373

Desolation Road by Christine Feehan
Started On: May 12th
Finished On: May 13th, 2:12 AM
Pages Read: 480

Ever Cursed by Corey Ann Haydu
Started On: May 13th
Finished On: May 13th, 10:28 PM
Pages Read: 304

The Sandcastle Empire by Kayla Olson
Started On: May 13th
Finished On: May 13th, 4:55 PM
Pages Read: 455

The Fascinators by Andrew Eliopulos
Started On: May 14th
Finished On: May 14th, 11:11 PM
Pages Read: 304

A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane
Started On: May 15th
Finished On: May 15th, 3:53 PM
Pages Read: 560

This Darkness Mine by Mindy McGinnis
Started On: May 15th
Currently On: Page 0 of 400

Goals: 10
Read: 6
Pages Read: 2076

Monday, March 2, 2020

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #456, March 2nd

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 #455
Teaser Tuesday #463
WWW Wednesday #463
WOW #459
Will the Time Come #456
Third Sentence Thursday #446
Random Reads #432
First Lines Friday #459
Book Blogger Hop #125
The Reward Challenge Update #441
How Well I Stuck to It #293
Wrote that Review Update #290

Week 9 Reviews:
Magic and the Shinigami Detective
Charms and Death and Explosions (oh my!)
Magic Outside the Box
Angel Mage
Imaginary Numbers
Follow the Lady
The Shadows Between Us
Smoke Bitten
The Beast of Blackmoor
Silent Night

Random:
24 Hour Reading Challenge 1st March Sign Up

OK, so I got 19 posts in 7 days, some really fantastic books were read, and some really great ones are planned for this week, so I'm happy! Also we've now had our dog Jax for just over a year now! I'm trying to convince my family to adopt another dog, because she's perfect, she's young, she's a small breed, and she's a female, so it'll be even. What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read The Alcazar, Chain of Gold, House of Earth and Blood, and The Virgin and the Rogue.

Sera has finally recognized the true power of her Cerulean blood. But in order to return home, she'll need help from Agnes, Leo, and their grandmother—the only person with knowledge about the mysterious island of Braxos, where the Cerulean tether is anchored. Though the journey will be treacherous, Sera will risk anything to see her City again.

Meanwhile, the High Priestess's power has reached new heights in the City Above the Sky. And when Leela begins having visions of Sera, alive, she knows she's the key to saving the City. But to bring Sera home, Leela must channel the strength, courage, and curiosity that once got her friend exiled.

With the help of friends, family, and Cerulean magic, Leela and Sera could soon return to their normal lives. But when that time comes, will Leela be able to serve her City as blindly as she once did? And will Sera be able to leave everything and everyone she's grown to love on the planet behind?
Chain of Gold is the first novel in a new trilogy that stars the Shadowhunters of Edwardian London.

Welcome to Edwardian London, a time of electric lights and long shadows, the celebration of artistic beauty and the wild pursuit of pleasure, with demons waiting in the dark. For years there has been peace in the Shadowhunter world. James and Lucie Herondale, children of the famous Will and Tessa, have grown up in an idyll with their loving friends and family, listening to stories of good defeating evil and love conquering all. But everything changes when the Blackthorn and Carstairs families come to London…and so does a remorseless and inescapable plague.

James Herondale longs for a great love, and thinks he has found it in the beautiful, mysterious Grace Blackthorn. Cordelia Carstairs is desperate to become a hero, save her family from ruin, and keep her secret love for James hidden. When disaster strikes the Shadowhunters, James, Cordelia and their friends are plunged into a wild adventure which will reveal dark and incredible powers, and the true cruel price of being a hero…and falling in love.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas launches her brand-new CRESCENT CITY series with House of Earth and Blood the story of half-Fae and half-human Bryce Quinlan as she seeks revenge in a contemporary fantasy world of magic, danger, and searing romance.

Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She'll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss's enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he's offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.

As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City's underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion—one that could set them both free, if they'd only let it.

With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom—and the power of love.

Continuing her bestselling Rogue Files series, Sophie Jordan brews up a scintillating romance about a timid wallflower who discovers a love potion and ends up falling for a dashing rogue.

A love potion…

Charlotte Langley has always been the prudent middle sister, so her family is not surprised when she makes the safe choice and agrees to wed her childhood sweetheart. But when she finds herself under the weather and drinks a "healing" tonic, the potion provokes the most maddening desire... for someone other than her betrothed.

With the power…

Kingston's rakehell ways are going to destroy him, and he's vowed to change. His stepbrother's remote estate is just the place for a reformed rogue to hide. The last thing he wants is to be surrounded by society, but when he gets stuck alone with a wallflower who is already betrothed... and she astonishes him with a fiery kiss, he forgets all about hiding.

To alter two destinies.

Although Charlotte appears meek, Kingston soon discovers there's a vixen inside, yearning to break free. Unable to forget their illicit moment of passion, Kingston vows to relive the encounter, but Charlotte has sworn it will never happen again—no matter how earth-shattering it was. But will a devilish rogue tempt her to risk everything for a chance at true love?

Saturday, February 29, 2020

Week 9 Reviews: The Beast of Blackmoor, Silent Night


From Goodreads:
From Milla Vane—a warrior princess must tame The Beast of Blackmoor to earn a place among her people. But she quickly discovers that the beast isn't a monster, but a barbarian warrior who intends to do some taming himself.

This is a short piece that I wrote for a blog and features Mala's cousin, Laina, who was mentioned in "The Beast of Blackmoor." This takes place after that story but there are no spoilers for it.

My Review:
Wow, I really enjoyed both of these! And yeah that we're going to get more with at least 2 full length books, because these were both under 150 pages combined. I need more of this world, and I can't wait to learn more!

Beast of Blackmoor, well, this book was graphic, both with the violence and with the sex. Both of these characters are warriors, and they live life large in both of those arenas, so it makes sense. And I think we'll be seeing a lot of that in this series!

I was rooting for the both of them. Mala was on her quest to tame the beast, who happens to be Kavic, and if she succeeds, she gets the strength of 10,000 warriors, which her country needs for the return of a great evil. If she loses, she's outcast. So there's a lot riding on this!

Kavic on the other hand, has a pretty rough past, and made a poor decision to anger Mala's goddess, who told him that the end was near when the red lady came. The red lady being Mala. So yeah, there was a lot of complex, fun times, because the taming, he has a pretty different and negative thorough about it than what Mala intends! Made for fantastic reading!

Silent Night is a short scene, and we get to see Laina, Mala's cousin. And it is so short, I want to know what her main quest is, and why she can't speak because of it. Maybe this story is part of the reason why, but I hope that we learn more in the full length book!

Really enjoyed the both of these, and I can't wait for more!

Author: Milla Vane
Series: Barbarians #1, 1.1
Read: February 28th, 28th, 2020
Source: Ebook.bike, Online
Reason Why: Sounded really great, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2020 Books!
Publisher: Berkley
Published: November 24th 2014, December 3rd 2014

The Beast of Blackmoor:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars








Silent Night:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars