Showing posts with label Neal Shusterman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Neal Shusterman. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Waiting on Wednesday #714, January 15th

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

Bonded in Death by J.D. Robb
Expected Publication: February 4th, 2025
From Goodreads:
The #1 New York Times bestselling author spins an epic tale of loyalty, treachery, murder, and the long shadow of war…

His passport read Giovanni Rossi. But decades ago, during the Urban Wars, he was part of a small, secret organization called The Twelve. Responding to an urgent summons from an old compatriot, he landed in New York and eased into the waiting car. And died within minutes…

Lieutenant Eve Dallas finds the Rossi case frustrating. She’s got an elderly victim who’d just arrived from Rome; a widow who knows nothing about why he’d left; an as-yet unidentifiable weapon; and zero results on facial recognition. But when she finds a connection to the Urban Wars of the 2020s, she thinks Summerset―fiercely loyal, if somewhat grouchy, major-domo and the man who’d rescued her husband from the Dublin streets―may know something from his stint as a medic in Europe back then.

When Summerset learns of the crime, his shock and grief are clear―because, as he eventually reveals, he himself was one of The Twelve. It’s not a part of his past he likes to revisit. But now he must―not only to assist Eve’s investigation, but because a cryptic message from the killer has boasted that others of The Twelve have also died. Summerset is one of those who remain―and the murderous mission is yet to be fully accomplished…

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
Expected Publication: February 4th, 2025
From Goodreads:
A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis.

Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury that almost ended her career. She has no time for relationships—at least, that’s what she tells herself.

Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.

So they start an arrangement. And as the pressure leading to the Olympics heats up, so does their relationship. It was supposed to be just a temporary, mutually satisfying fling. But when staying away from Lukas becomes impossible, Scarlett realizes that her heart might be treading into dangerous water...

A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall
Expected Publication: February 4th, 2025
From Goodreads:
A woman invited to her wealthy fiance’s family retreat realizes they are hiding a terrible secret—and that she’s been there before, by the bestselling author of What Lies in the Woods.

A whirlwind romance.
When Theodora Scott met Connor—wealthy, charming, and a member of the powerful Dalton family—she fell in love in an instant. Six months later, he’s brought her to Idlewood, his family’s isolated winter retreat, to win over his skeptical relatives.

Stay away from Connor Dalton.
Theo has tried to ignore the threatening messages on her phone, but she can’t ignore the footprints in the snow outside the cabin window or the strange sense of familiarity she has about this place. Then, in a disused cabin, Theo finds something impossible: a photo of herself as a child. A photo taken at Idlewood.

I’ve been here before.
Theo has almost no recollection of her earliest years, but now she begins to piece together the fragments of her memories. Someone here has a shocking secret that they will do anything to keep hidden, and Theo is in terrible danger. Because the Daltons do not lose, and discovering what happened at Idlewood may cost Theo everything.

This Ends in Embers by Kamilah Cole
Expected Publication: February 4th, 2025
From Goodreads:
Perfect for fans of Raybearer and Fourth Wing, this astonishing sequel to the bestselling novel So Let Them Burn doesn't hold back. After all, there are no easy endings in war—especially when sisters are forced to fight on opposite sides.

Faron Vincent was once the saint of San Irie. Now, she’s done the unthinkable: betrayed her country. Alone, disgraced, and kidnapped, Faron is forced to help Iya grow his bloody empire. With her soul bonded to a ruthless killer, Faron has become an enemy to her people… and she fears they might be right.

Elara Vincent—the new Empyrean—must undo the damage her sister has caused. San Irie has been brought back to the brink of war as Iya proclaims no nation will be safe from his brutal invasion. But how can Elara save her sister, her best friend, her country, and her world when she’s already cracking under the pressure?

This heart-pounding conclusion to the Divine Traitors duology pushes these unforgettable heroines to their breaking point and beyond. Because when the lines between hero and villain are blurred, deadly sacrifices must be made.

A Burning in the Bones by Scott Reintgen
Expected Publication: February 4th, 2025
From Goodreads:
Ren’s quest to dismantle Kathor’s corrupt system comes to a head as political machinations and a mysterious disease take hold of the city in this edge-of-your-seat conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Waxways series.

After taking control of House Brood, Ren and Theo dreamed of using their newfound influence to change the rest of Kathor, but now they find their efforts being countered by the other great houses, who have no interest in a world where they enjoy less power.

No one understands that better than the Tin’Vori siblings. The return of their ancestral home was a decade in the making, but they’re eager to keep rising from the ashes. Nevelyn begins researching House Brood—and ends up face-to-face with an enemy that’s already slouching toward the gates of the city. The one enemy no one can a plague.

The victims experience strange bruising, an unquenchable thirst, and a temporary disruption in magic. When doctors trace the illness to its source, they find another corpses placed in strategic locations around the city. As Ren leads the hunt for the culprits, she’ll find herself two steps behind a devious enemy whose sights are set on an unexpected the city’s magic.

Survival will require every ounce of their skill, every bond old and new, or else the future Ren and Theo have worked to build will burn down with the rest of the world.

The Beasts We Bury by D.L. Taylor 
Expected Publication: February 4th, 2025
From Goodreads:
Deceit and betrayal abound in this dark YA romantasy about an heir to the throne who can summon an army of animals and a thief who plans to manipulate her to pull off a once-in-a-lifetime heist.

Will he steal her heart... or her chance at the throne?

Daughter and heir to the throne, Mancella Cliff yearns for a life without bloodshed. But as a child, she emerged from the Broken Citadel with the power to summon animals—only after killing them with her bare hands. Her magic is a constant reminder of the horrors her father, the ruler of the realm, has forced upon her to strengthen their power.

Silver is a charming thief struggling to survive in a world torn apart by Mancella’s father’s reign. When a mysterious benefactor recruits him for the heist of a lifetime, a chance to rob the castle, Silver relishes the opportunity for a real future—and revenge. But he'll have to manipulate Mance and earn her trust to pull it off.

As the deception and carnage mount, Mance must find a way to save her realm without becoming the ruthless monster she's been bred to be. And when Silver discovers that his actions are fueling the violence that Mance wants to prevent, he'll have to choose between his ambition and the girl he’s falling for.

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith
Expected Publication: February 4th, 2025
From Goodreads:
The Cruel Prince meets The Selection in this captivating duology opener brimming with heart-pounding romance, vicious competition, and beautiful, cruel fae, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Witch Haven, Sasha Peyton Smith.

Every citizen of England is granted one bargain from their immortal fae queen.

High society girls are expected to bargain for qualities that will win them suitors: a rare talent for piano in exchange for one’s happiest childhood memory. A perfect smile for one’s ability to taste.

But Ivy Benton’s debut season arrives with a shocking twist: a competition to secure the heart of the Queen’s fae son, Prince Bram. A prize that could save Ivy’s family from ruin… and free her sister from the bargain that destroyed her.

Yet every glittering fae deal has a rotting heart—and at the center of this contest is a dark plot that could destroy everything Ivy knows.

Sweepingly romantic and deceptively enchanting, this alternate history romantasy will enthrall readers of Holly Black, Stephanie Garber, and Adalyn Grace.

Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours
Expected Publication: February 4th, 2025
From Goodreads:
In this debut speculative YA mystery, a Black teen with premonition-like powers must solve her friend's disappearance before she finds herself in the same danger.

Sariyah Lee Bryant can hear what people need—tangible things, like a pencil, a hair tie, a phone charger—an ability only her family and her best friend, Malcolm, know the truth about. But when she fulfills a need for her friend Deja who vanishes shortly after, Sariyah is left wondering if her ability is more curse than gift. This isn’t the first time one of her friends has landed on the missing persons list, and she’s determined not to let her become yet another forgotten Black girl.

Not trusting the police and media to do enough on their own, Sariyah and her friends work together to figure out what led to Deja’s disappearance. But when Sariyah’s mother loses her job and her little brother faces complications with his sickle cell disease, managing her time, money, and emotions seems impossible. Desperate, Sariyah decides to hustle her need-sensing ability for cash—a choice that may not only lead her to Deja, but put her in the same danger Deja found herself in.

All Better Now by Neal Schusterman
Expected Publication: February 4th, 2025
From Goodreads:
From New York Times bestselling author Neal Shusterman comes a young adult thriller about a world where happiness becomes contagious and the teens caught in the conspiracy by the powers that be to bring back discontent.

An unprecedented condition is on the rise. It behaves like a virus, with the first symptom being a fever, but those who contract it experience long-term effects no one has ever seen utter contentment. Soon after infection, people find the stress, depression, greed, and other negative feelings that used to weigh them down are gone.

Almost everyone revels in this mass unburdening. But people in power—who depend on malcontents tuning into their broadcasts, prey on the insecure to sell their products, and convince people they need more, new, faster, better everything—know this new state of being is bad for business. Soon, campaigns start up convincing people that being happy all the time is dangerous. There’s even a vaccine developed to rid people of their inner peace and get them back to normal because, surely, without anger or jealousy as motivators, productivity will grind to a halt and the world will be thrown into chaos.

It’s nearly impossible to determine the truth when everyone with a platform is pushing their own agendas, and two teens from very different backgrounds who’ve had their lives upended in different ways by the virus find themselves enmeshed in the center of a dangerous power play. Can they reveal the truth?

There's a great collection of books kicking of the month of February, some I've read and loved, some that I can't wait to read! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Monday, January 23, 2023

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #607, January 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 #606
Teaser Tuesday #614
WWW Wednesday #614
WOW #610
Will the Time Come #607
Third Sentence Thursday #597
Random Reads #583
First Lines Friday #610
Book Blogger Hop #276
22 Books to Read in 2022 Update 11
The Reward Challenge Update #592
Wheel of TBR #139
How Well I Stuck to It #444
Wrote that Review Update #441

Week 3 Reviews:
Roxy

Random:
Polarthon Readathon February 2023 Sign Up

OK, so I got 24 posts in 7 days, it was a pretty quiet week, but I have my doggies, and will for another 2 weeks, so I'm getting lots of cuddles in! Plus I've booked off the end of this week off, so 5 day weekend for me this week, plenty of time for reading and blogging! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read In Her Highlander's Bed!

For fans of Outlander, New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands' newest installment of the Highland Brides series brings us a sweeping tale of passion as a laird's swim in a loch leads to the love of a lifetime.

An invigorating swim in the loch was exactly what Calan Campbell, Laird of Kilcairn, needed after defeating his enemies in battle. What he didn't need was a thief running away with his plaid while he swam. Calan gave chase and managed to catch the lad, only the lad turned out to be a lass, and obviously a lady. Having hit her head when he'd tackled her to the ground, the woman was now unconscious and couldn't explain how she had ended up bruised and naked in his woods. He'd have to take her back to his castle and tend her wounds to learn that.

Kidnapped and forced to wed her clan's enemy, Allissaid MacFarlane had risked death to escape. But after a struggle over a plaid she tried to "borrow," she awakens in a strange bed with a strange man seated in a chair beside her. Unsure if he is friend or foe, she claims not to remember her own name or how she'd come to be in the clearing. However, the more time she spends with Calan, the more she falls for this strong, honorable laird. She soon decides she can trust him with her life. . . but can she trust him with her heart?

Saturday, January 21, 2023

Week 3 Review: Roxy

From Goodreads:
From the team that brought you the New York Times bestselling Dry comes a riveting new thriller that proves when gods play games, even love is a lie.

The freeway is coming.

It will cut the neighborhood in two. Construction has already started, pushing toward this corridor of condemned houses and cracked concrete with the momentum of the inevitable. Yet there you are, in the fifth house on the left, fighting for your life.

Ramey, I.

The victim of the bet between two manufactured gods: the seductive and lethal Roxy (Oxycontin), who is at the top of her game, and the smart, high-achieving Addison (Adderall), who is tired of being the helpful one, and longs for a more dangerous, less wholesome image. The wager—a contest to see who can bring their mark to "the Party" first—is a race to the bottom of a rave that has raged since the beginning of time. And you are only human, dazzled by the lights and music. Drawn by what the drugs offer—tempted to take that step past helpful to harmful…and the troubled places that lie beyond.

But there are two I. Rameys—Isaac, a soccer player thrown into Roxy's orbit by a bad fall and a bad doctor and Ivy, his older sister, whose increasing frustration with her untreated ADHD leads her to renew her acquaintance with Addy.

Which one are you?

My Review:
This was a really great, but really difficult, book to read. Because it's about drugs, about abusing them, and we know it's going to end poorly for one of the Ramey siblings. But which one is the question, since they're both using different drugs, drugs that are in a competition with the Party.

I don't know personally anyone who has been addicted to drugs, as far as I'm aware. I'm lucky, I'm sheltered, but I also don't have a lot of social interaction. Books are my drug, so in some ways it was really easy to see how addicting they can be, to make poor choices. But it's a really tough topic.

The whole thing with the Party that the drugs were having, trying to bring people there, to the VIP area where they go to die...it's kinda terrifying. Especially since "Roxy" and "Addison" were both meant to help, not hurt. Which can be done, and is easier with the later then the former, if you take it as prescribed. 

That ending was just incredible sad. We knew it was coming, it was in the synopsis, and the first chapter. But it was still hard to read about that death, when we watched the 2 months leading up to it, all the poor choices that were being made. It was hard, and it was sad. The good news is that the other sibling does make it through, and turns their life around.

This was a really great book, and I'm glad that it exists!

Authors: Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman  
Read: January 14th, 2023
Source: Bought 
Reason Why: Love his writing and it sounded really good, and it's a SAC 2023 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: November 9th 2021
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
1/5 Stars

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Waiting on Wednesday #595, October 5th

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

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn
Expected Publication: November 8th, 2022
From Goodreads:
The powerful sequel to the instant New York Times bestselling and award-winning Legendborn—perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare and Margaret Rogerson!

The shadows have risen, and the line is law.

All Bree wanted was to uncover the truth behind her mother’s death. So she infiltrated the Legendborn Order, a secret society descended from King Arthur’s knights—only to discover her own ancestral power. Now, Bree has become someone new:

A Medium. A Bloodcrafter. A Scion.

But the ancient war between demons and the Order is rising to a deadly peak. And Nick, the Legendborn boy Bree fell in love with, has been kidnapped.

Bree wants to fight, but the Regents who rule the Order won’t let her. To them, she is an unknown girl with unheard-of power, and as the living anchor for the spell that preserves the Legendborn cycle, she must be protected.

When the Regents reveal they will do whatever it takes to hide the war, Bree and her friends must go on the run to rescue Nick themselves. But enemies are everywhere, Bree’s powers are unpredictable and dangerous, and she can’t escape her growing attraction to Selwyn, the mage sworn to protect Nick until death.

If Bree has any hope of saving herself and the people she loves, she must learn to control her powers from the ancestors who wielded them first—without losing herself in the process.

Raven Unveiled by Grace Draven
Expected Publication: November 8th, 2022
From Goodreads:
A woman with the gift to speak to the dead—and the assassin pursuing her—may be the only chance a crumbling empire has of holding back true evil, in this electrifying fantasy romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Radiance.

Siora has been on the run for longer than she cares to remember, from her past and her gift. Born with the ability to see and speak to ghosts, she has heard their desperate pleas as an otherworldly predator stalks the dead amid the fertile killing fields of the collapsing Krael Empire. The creature’s power and reach are growing with every soul it consumes, but Siora is preoccupied with her own troubles: namely an assassin who has sworn an oath of vengeance against her.

Gharek of Cabast was once the right-hand man of the reviled empress but is now a wanted fugitive. Although his reasons for hunting Siora are viscerally personal, what Gharek can’t anticipate is that when he finally does find her, she will hold the key to saving his world, or what’s left of it. To make good on old debts and protect the vulnerable dead from a malevolent force, Gharek and Siora will both need to make an ally out of an enemy—and trust that will be enough to save each other.

Sugar Plum Spies by Jennifer Estep
Expected Publication: November 8th, 2022
From Goodreads:
Bestselling author Jennifer Estep serves up an action-packed holiday adventure in her Section 47 urban-fantasy world of secrets, lies, and superspies with amazing magical abilities. Perfect for fans of Alias, Die Hard, James Bond, Jason Bourne, Nikita, and Netflix’s Bodyguard.

VISIONS OF SUGAR PLUMS . . .

Most spies take a break for the holidays, but not me, Charlotte Locke. As an analyst for Section 47, a secret spy organization, I normally use my magical form of synesthesia to uncover lies and track paramortal bad guys from the comfort of my cubicle. But tonight I’m going out into the field, along with my partner, Desmond Percy, a powerful galvanist.

Instead of enjoying Christmastime in the city, I’m in a German castle, dressed like a toy soldier and masquerading as a waitress at a swanky Christmas Eve party. My mission? To gather information that will help Section 47 track down a dangerous enemy.

Despite the glitz and glamour, I can’t shake the sense that something is wrong—and that Desmond and I might not leave the party alive.

DANCES OF DEATH . . .

My name is Desmond Percy, although I’ve had many aliases during my years working as a cleaner for Section 47. But I’ve never had a real partner until Charlotte Locke.

My part of the mission is simple: pretend to be a guest and keep an eye on things at the party while Charlotte uses her synesthesia to track down the information we need. But what starts out as a sugar plum dream quickly turns into a holiday nightmare.

Forget the mission. All I want for Christmas is to keep Charlotte safe.

Gleanings by Neal Shusterman
Expected Publication: November 8th, 2022
From Goodreads:
The New York Times bestselling Arc of the Scythe series continues with thrilling stories that span the timeline. Storylines continue. Origin stories are revealed. And new Scythes emerge!

There are still countless tales of the Scythedom to tell. Centuries passed between the Thunderhead cradling humanity and Scythe Goddard trying to turn it upside down. For years humans lived in a world without hunger, disease, or death with Scythes as the living instruments of population control.

Neal Shusterman—along with collaborators David Yoon, Jarrod Shusterman, Sofía Lapuente, Michael H. Payne, Michelle Knowlden, and Joelle Shusterman—returns to the world throughout the timeline of the Arc of a Scythe series. Discover secrets and histories of characters you’ve followed for three volumes and meet new heroes, new foes, and some figures in between.

Gleanings shows just how expansive, terrifying, and thrilling the world that began with the Printz Honor–winning Scythe truly is.

Scattered Showers by Rainbow Rowell
Expected Publication: November 8th, 2022
From Goodreads:
Rainbow Rowell has won fans all over the world by writing about love and life in a way that feels true.

In her first collection, she gives us nine beautifully crafted love stories. Girl meets boy camping outside a movie theater. Best friends debate the merits of high school dances. A prince romances a troll. A girl romances an imaginary boy. And Simon Snow himself returns for a holiday adventure.

It’s a feast of irresistible characters, hilarious dialogue, and masterful storytelling—in short, everything you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell book.

The Q by Amy Tintera
Expected Publication: November 8th, 2022
From Goodreads:
In this action-packed adventure from a New York Times bestselling author, two teenagers from opposite worlds must fight their way through a vast walled quarantine zone in a dystopian America toward their only chance for survival.

Seventeen-year-old Maisie Rojas has spent her entire life in the Q—a post-pandemic quarantine zone that was once Austin, Texas. Born and raised behind the high security walls that sealed their fate, she's now a trusted lieutenant for one of the territory's controlling families.

Lennon Pierce, the charismatic son of a US presidential candidate, has just been kidnapped by his father's enemies and dropped out of a plane into the Q with nothing but a parachute strapped to his back. Lennon is given a temporary antidote to the disease and crucial intel for his father, but Maisie must get him out of the zone within forty-eight hours--or he will be permanently infected and forced to remain.

With unrest brewing both inside and outside the Q, reaching the exit is a daunting and dangerous task. But if Maisie and Lennon fail, it could mean disaster for the entire quarantine zone and its inhabitants—and could cost Lennon his life.

Strap in for breakneck action and compelling characters in this timely, nonstop thriller.

Cursed by Marissa Meyer 
Expected Publication: November 8th, 2022
From Goodreads:
In Cursed, #1 New York Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer brings the haunting fairytale-inspired Gilded duology to a thrilling conclusion that will have fans—old and new—spinning.

Be still now, and I will tell you a tale.

Adalheid Castle is in chaos.

Following a shocking turn of events, Serilda finds herself ensnared in a deadly game of make-believe with the Erlking, who is determined to propel her deeper into the castle’s lies. Meanwhile, Serilda is determined to work with Gild to help him solve the mystery of his forgotten name and past.

But soon it becomes clear that the Erlking doesn’t only want to use Serilda to bring back his one true love. He also seeks vengeance against the seven gods who have long trapped the Dark Ones behind the veil. If the Erlking succeeds, it could change the mortal realm forever.

Can Serilda find a way to use her storytelling gifts for good—once and for all? And can Serilda and Gild break the spells that tether their spirits to the castle before the Endless Moon finds them truly cursed?

Romance and adventure collide in this stunning finale to the Rumpelstilskin-inspired fairy tale.

There's some really amazing reads coming out on the 9th, and I can't wait to read them! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Monday, July 25, 2022

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #581, July 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 #580
Teaser Tuesday #588
WWW Wednesday #588
WOW #584
Will the Time Come #581
Third Sentence Thursday #571
Random Reads #557
First Lines Friday #584
Book Blogger Hop #250
The Reward Challenge Update #566
Wheel of TBR #113
How Well I Stuck to It #418
Wrote that Review Update #415

Week 29 Reviews:
The Heir

Page-a-Thon: 
Update 37

Random:

OK, so I got 38 posts in 7 days, and it was a pretty fantastic read, I read some fantastic books and I had a decent week, and I can't wait for next week! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read whatever I want! 

Saturday, July 23, 2022

Week 29 Reviews: Scythe, Thunderhead, The Toll, Gleanings




Two teens must learn the "art of killing" in this Printz Honor–winning book, the first in a chilling new series from Neal Shusterman, author of the New York Times bestselling Unwind dystology.

A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery: humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now Scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.

Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the "art" of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.

Scythe is the first novel of a thrilling new series by National Book Award–winning author Neal Shusterman in which Citra and Rowan learn that a perfect world comes only with a heavy price.

From Goodreads:
Rowan and Citra take opposite stances on the morality of the Scythedom, putting them at odds, in the chilling sequel to the Printz Honor Book Scythe from New York Times bestseller Neal Shusterman, author of the Unwind dystology.

The Thunderhead cannot interfere in the affairs of the Scythedom. All it can do is observe—it does not like what it sees.

A year has passed since Rowan had gone off grid. Since then, he has become an urban legend, a vigilante snuffing out corrupt scythes in a trial by fire. His story is told in whispers across the continent.

As Scythe Anastasia, Citra gleans with compassion and openly challenges the ideals of the "new order." But when her life is threatened and her methods questioned, it becomes clear that not everyone is open to the change.

Will the Thunderhead intervene?

Or will it simply watch as this perfect world begins to unravel?

From Goodreads:
In the highly anticipated finale to the New York Times bestselling trilogy, dictators, prophets, and tensions rise. In a world that’s conquered death, will humanity finally be torn asunder by the immortal beings it created?

Citra and Rowan have disappeared. Endura is gone. It seems like nothing stands between Scythe Goddard and absolute dominion over the world scythedom. With the silence of the Thunderhead and the reverberations of the Great Resonance still shaking the earth to its core, the question remains: Is there anyone left who can stop him?


The answer lies in the Tone, the Toll, and the Thunder.

The New York Times bestselling Arc of the Scythe series continues with thrilling stories that span the timeline. Storylines continue. Origin stories are revealed. And new Scythes emerge!

There are still countless tales of the Scythedom to tell. Centuries passed between the Thunderhead cradling humanity and Scythe Goddard trying to turn it upside down. For years humans lived in a world without hunger, disease, or death with Scythes as the living instruments of population control.

Neal Shusterman—along with collaborators David Yoon, Jarrod Shusterman, Sofía Lapuente, Michael H. Payne, Michelle Knowlden, and Joelle Shusterman—returns to the world throughout the timeline of the Arc of a Scythe series. Discover secrets and histories of characters you've followed for three volumes and meet new heroes, new foes, and some figures in between.

Gleanings shows just how expansive, terrifying, and thrilling the world that began with the Printz Honor–winning Scythe truly is.

My first review of Scythe, Thunderhead, The Toll
My Review:
It was so great to reread this series! I wasn't really planning on doing so this soon after I first read them, but then we have Gleanings, so I had to reread the rest of the series before reading it, because rereading vs. rereading and then a new book changes the timeline on rereading! 

Citra and Rowen, or Scythe Anastasia and Scythe Lucifer, are both so fantastic to read about. This world is about the morals of killing, and while they started on the same path, it was wildly diverged, and they both learned different things. But oh, did I enjoy them so much! 

The thing about Goddard is that he's the worst of humanity. And it's funny, at one point he put down the founders for their rules-but he's the kind of thing that they were trying to prevent. But he's all high and mighty and evil. Bah!

Now that I knew where things were building up to, it was great to see the clues, see it all come together. To know about how the Scythedom sabotaged the Thunderhead's space efforts...And the possibilities there could've been if they hadn't. Alas! 

And oh, the stories in Gleanings. Some of them were almost happy, given this world and all, and some of them were really interesting to read, and some of them were sad. Like the one about Kila, Kohl's sister, and the one with Ben, Citra/Anastasia's brother. I loved the Antarctica one, it was great to explore the dreaming world. And the one with Scythe Dali was fantastic. Oh, and the one with Scythe Boo and her wayward niece. And the space ones, giving us post-The Toll looks at the world! That one with the dog, I didn't know where it would go, but it was so great! It was really great to read all of them, learn these things about this world! 

Loved rereading this series, and continuing with the anthology, and I had a great time reading them! 

Author: Neal Shusterman
Series: Arc of the Scythe #1, 2, 3, 3.5
First Read: January 28th, 29th, 2019, November 5th, 2019
Read: July 18th, 19th, 19th, 20th, 2022
Source: Own, NetGalley
Reason Why: Rereading, and they're 2022 Dystopia Books and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Books! And Gleaning is a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: November 22nd 2016, January 9th, 2018, November 5th 2019
Expected Publication: November 8th 2022

Scythe:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars








Thunderhead:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars








The Toll:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars








Gleanings:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Page-a-Thon Update 36

So I read my next book for Page-a-Thon, and it was Gleanings, and I'll be reading Someone is Always Watching next! 

My Reading Journey:

Killing Time by Brenna Ehrlich
Started On: July 2nd 
Finished On: July 2nd, 3:03 PM
Pages Read: 336

Josh and Hazel's Guide for Not Dating by Christina Lauren
Started On: July 2nd
Finished On: June 2nd, 10:44 PM
Pages Read: 320

The Hob's Bargain by Patricia Briggs
Started On: July 3rd
Finished On: July 3rd, 7:27 PM
Pages Read: 288

Monsters Born and Made by Tanvi Berwah
Started On: July 4th
Finished On: July 4th, 9:00 PM
Pages Read: 352

Below Zero by Ali Hazelwood
Started On: July 5th
Finished On: July 5th, 3:31 PM
Pages Read: 139

Heart of the Dragon by Gena Showalter
Started On: July 5th
Finished On: July 5th, 7:33 PM
Pages Read: 384

Jewel of Atlantis by Gena Showalter
Started On: July 6th
Finished On: July 6th, 6:9 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Nymph King by Gena Showalter
Started On: July 6th
Finished On: July 6th, 9:44 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Vampire's Bride by Gena Showalter
Started On: July 7th
Finished On: July 7th, 2:24 PM 
Pages Read: 416

The Amazon's Curse by Gena Showalter
Started On: July 7th
Finished On: July 7th, 3:15 PM
Pages Read: 41

The Law by Jim Butcher
Started On: July 7th
Finished On: July 7th, 5:35 PM
Pages Read: 102

Off Planet by Aileen Erin
Started On: July 7th
Finished On: July 7th, 84:5 PM
Pages Read: 405

Off Balance by Aileen Erin
Started On: July 8th
Finished On: July 8th, 4:12 PM
Pages Read: 516

In Command by Aileen Erin
Started On: July 8th
Finished On: July 8th, 6:04 PM
Pages Read: 165

In Mission by Aileen Erin
Started On: July 8th
Finished On: July 8th, 9:56 PM
Pages Read: 464

Shadow & Flame by Mindee Arnett 
Started On: July 8th
Finished On: July 8th, 10:23 PM
Pages Read: 496

In Destiny by Aileen Erin
Started On: July 9th
Finished On: July 9th, 8:40 PM
Pages Read: 546

Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews
Started On: July 10th
Finished On: July 10th 7:38 PM
Pages Read: 406

White Hot by Ilona Andrews
Started On: July 10th
Finished On: July 10th, 10:14 PM
Pages Read: 416

Wildfire by Ilona Andrews
Started On: July 11th
Finished On: July 11h, 8:4 PM
Pages Read: 400

Diamond Fire by Ilona Andrews
Started On: July 11th
Finished On: July 11th, 10:08 PM
Pages Read: 160

No One is Alone by Rachel Vincent
Started On: July 12th
Finished On: July 12th, 9:52 PM
Pages Read: 432

The Red Palace by June Hur 
Started On: July 13th
Finished On: July 13th, 7:14 AM
Pages Read: 336

Eclipse the Moon by Jessie Mihalik
Started On: July 13th
Finished On: July 13th, 7:53 PM
Pages Read: 448

Archangel's Resurrection by Nalini Singh
Started On: July 14th
Finished On: July 14th, 11:02 PM
Pages Read: 368

Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland
Started On: July 15th
Finished On: July 15th, 11:32 PM
Pages Read: 448

The Heir by Kiera Cass
Started On: July 16th
Finished On: July 16th, 1:06 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Crown by Kiera Cass
Started On: July 16th
Finished On: July 16th, 9:39 PM
Pages Read: 304

Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews
Started On: July 17th
Finished On: July 17th, 1:42 PM
Pages Read: 393

Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews
Started On: July 17th
Finished On: July 17th, 6:15 PM
Pages Read: 392

Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs
Started On: July 18th
Finished On: July 18th, 3:30 PM
Pages Read: 400

Hate Machine by Stephen Blackmoore
Started On: July 18th
Finished On: July 18th, 7:40 PM
Pages Read: 304

Scythe by Neal Schusterman
Started On: July 18th
Finished On: July 18th, 10:02 PM
Pages Read: 448

Thunderhead by Neal Schusterman
Started On: July 19th
Finished On: July 19th, 5:13 PM
Pages Read: 504

The Toll by Neal Schusterman
Started On: July 19th
Finished On: July 19th, 9:56 PM
Pages Read: 625

Gleanings by Neal Schusterman
Started On: July 20th
Finished On: July 20th, 4:50 PM
Pages Read: 432

Someone is Always Watching by Kelley Armstrong
Started On: July 20th
Currently On: Page 0 of 360

Goal: 25
Read: 36
Pages Read: 13338

WWW Wednesday #588, July 20th

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

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

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

I'm currently reading Gleanings, and I'm really enjoying these short stories! 
I read The Toll, and it was a really fantastic read! 
I'm going to be reading Crown of Coral and Pearl, and I can't wait, it sounds really great! 

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Page-a-Thon Update 35

So I read my next book for Page-a-Thon, and it was The Toll, and I'll be reading Gleanings next! 

My Reading Journey:

Killing Time by Brenna Ehrlich
Started On: July 2nd 
Finished On: July 2nd, 3:03 PM
Pages Read: 336

Josh and Hazel's Guide for Not Dating by Christina Lauren
Started On: July 2nd
Finished On: June 2nd, 10:44 PM
Pages Read: 320

The Hob's Bargain by Patricia Briggs
Started On: July 3rd
Finished On: July 3rd, 7:27 PM
Pages Read: 288

Monsters Born and Made by Tanvi Berwah
Started On: July 4th
Finished On: July 4th, 9:00 PM
Pages Read: 352

Below Zero by Ali Hazelwood
Started On: July 5th
Finished On: July 5th, 3:31 PM
Pages Read: 139

Heart of the Dragon by Gena Showalter
Started On: July 5th
Finished On: July 5th, 7:33 PM
Pages Read: 384

Jewel of Atlantis by Gena Showalter
Started On: July 6th
Finished On: July 6th, 6:9 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Nymph King by Gena Showalter
Started On: July 6th
Finished On: July 6th, 9:44 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Vampire's Bride by Gena Showalter
Started On: July 7th
Finished On: July 7th, 2:24 PM 
Pages Read: 416

The Amazon's Curse by Gena Showalter
Started On: July 7th
Finished On: July 7th, 3:15 PM
Pages Read: 41

The Law by Jim Butcher
Started On: July 7th
Finished On: July 7th, 5:35 PM
Pages Read: 102

Off Planet by Aileen Erin
Started On: July 7th
Finished On: July 7th, 84:5 PM
Pages Read: 405

Off Balance by Aileen Erin
Started On: July 8th
Finished On: July 8th, 4:12 PM
Pages Read: 516

In Command by Aileen Erin
Started On: July 8th
Finished On: July 8th, 6:04 PM
Pages Read: 165

In Mission by Aileen Erin
Started On: July 8th
Finished On: July 8th, 9:56 PM
Pages Read: 464

Shadow & Flame by Mindee Arnett 
Started On: July 8th
Finished On: July 8th, 10:23 PM
Pages Read: 496

In Destiny by Aileen Erin
Started On: July 9th
Finished On: July 9th, 8:40 PM
Pages Read: 546

Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews
Started On: July 10th
Finished On: July 10th 7:38 PM
Pages Read: 406

White Hot by Ilona Andrews
Started On: July 10th
Finished On: July 10th, 10:14 PM
Pages Read: 416

Wildfire by Ilona Andrews
Started On: July 11th
Finished On: July 11h, 8:4 PM
Pages Read: 400

Diamond Fire by Ilona Andrews
Started On: July 11th
Finished On: July 11th, 10:08 PM
Pages Read: 160

No One is Alone by Rachel Vincent
Started On: July 12th
Finished On: July 12th, 9:52 PM
Pages Read: 432

The Red Palace by June Hur 
Started On: July 13th
Finished On: July 13th, 7:14 AM
Pages Read: 336

Eclipse the Moon by Jessie Mihalik
Started On: July 13th
Finished On: July 13th, 7:53 PM
Pages Read: 448

Archangel's Resurrection by Nalini Singh
Started On: July 14th
Finished On: July 14th, 11:02 PM
Pages Read: 368

Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland
Started On: July 15th
Finished On: July 15th, 11:32 PM
Pages Read: 448

The Heir by Kiera Cass
Started On: July 16th
Finished On: July 16th, 1:06 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Crown by Kiera Cass
Started On: July 16th
Finished On: July 16th, 9:39 PM
Pages Read: 304

Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews
Started On: July 17th
Finished On: July 17th, 1:42 PM
Pages Read: 393

Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews
Started On: July 17th
Finished On: July 17th, 6:15 PM
Pages Read: 392

Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs
Started On: July 18th
Finished On: July 18th, 3:30 PM
Pages Read: 400

Hate Machine by Stephen Blackmoore
Started On: July 18th
Finished On: July 18th, 7:40 PM
Pages Read: 304

Scythe by Neal Schusterman
Started On: July 18th
Finished On: July 18th, 10:02 PM
Pages Read: 448

Thunderhead by Neal Schusterman
Started On: July 19th
Finished On: July 19th, 5:13 PM
Pages Read: 504

The Toll by Neal Schusterman
Started On: July 19th
Finished On: July 19th, 9:56 PM
Pages Read: 625

Gleanings by Neal Schusterman
Started On: July 20th
Currently On: Page 0 of 432

Goal: 25
Read: 35
Pages Read: 12906

Page-a-Thon Update 34

So I read my next book for Page-a-Thon, and it was Thunderhead, and I'll be reading The Toll next! 

My Reading Journey:

Killing Time by Brenna Ehrlich
Started On: July 2nd 
Finished On: July 2nd, 3:03 PM
Pages Read: 336

Josh and Hazel's Guide for Not Dating by Christina Lauren
Started On: July 2nd
Finished On: June 2nd, 10:44 PM
Pages Read: 320

The Hob's Bargain by Patricia Briggs
Started On: July 3rd
Finished On: July 3rd, 7:27 PM
Pages Read: 288

Monsters Born and Made by Tanvi Berwah
Started On: July 4th
Finished On: July 4th, 9:00 PM
Pages Read: 352

Below Zero by Ali Hazelwood
Started On: July 5th
Finished On: July 5th, 3:31 PM
Pages Read: 139

Heart of the Dragon by Gena Showalter
Started On: July 5th
Finished On: July 5th, 7:33 PM
Pages Read: 384

Jewel of Atlantis by Gena Showalter
Started On: July 6th
Finished On: July 6th, 6:9 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Nymph King by Gena Showalter
Started On: July 6th
Finished On: July 6th, 9:44 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Vampire's Bride by Gena Showalter
Started On: July 7th
Finished On: July 7th, 2:24 PM 
Pages Read: 416

The Amazon's Curse by Gena Showalter
Started On: July 7th
Finished On: July 7th, 3:15 PM
Pages Read: 41

The Law by Jim Butcher
Started On: July 7th
Finished On: July 7th, 5:35 PM
Pages Read: 102

Off Planet by Aileen Erin
Started On: July 7th
Finished On: July 7th, 84:5 PM
Pages Read: 405

Off Balance by Aileen Erin
Started On: July 8th
Finished On: July 8th, 4:12 PM
Pages Read: 516

In Command by Aileen Erin
Started On: July 8th
Finished On: July 8th, 6:04 PM
Pages Read: 165

In Mission by Aileen Erin
Started On: July 8th
Finished On: July 8th, 9:56 PM
Pages Read: 464

Shadow & Flame by Mindee Arnett 
Started On: July 8th
Finished On: July 8th, 10:23 PM
Pages Read: 496

In Destiny by Aileen Erin
Started On: July 9th
Finished On: July 9th, 8:40 PM
Pages Read: 546

Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews
Started On: July 10th
Finished On: July 10th 7:38 PM
Pages Read: 406

White Hot by Ilona Andrews
Started On: July 10th
Finished On: July 10th, 10:14 PM
Pages Read: 416

Wildfire by Ilona Andrews
Started On: July 11th
Finished On: July 11h, 8:4 PM
Pages Read: 400

Diamond Fire by Ilona Andrews
Started On: July 11th
Finished On: July 11th, 10:08 PM
Pages Read: 160

No One is Alone by Rachel Vincent
Started On: July 12th
Finished On: July 12th, 9:52 PM
Pages Read: 432

The Red Palace by June Hur 
Started On: July 13th
Finished On: July 13th, 7:14 AM
Pages Read: 336

Eclipse the Moon by Jessie Mihalik
Started On: July 13th
Finished On: July 13th, 7:53 PM
Pages Read: 448

Archangel's Resurrection by Nalini Singh
Started On: July 14th
Finished On: July 14th, 11:02 PM
Pages Read: 368

Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland
Started On: July 15th
Finished On: July 15th, 11:32 PM
Pages Read: 448

The Heir by Kiera Cass
Started On: July 16th
Finished On: July 16th, 1:06 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Crown by Kiera Cass
Started On: July 16th
Finished On: July 16th, 9:39 PM
Pages Read: 304

Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews
Started On: July 17th
Finished On: July 17th, 1:42 PM
Pages Read: 393

Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews
Started On: July 17th
Finished On: July 17th, 6:15 PM
Pages Read: 392

Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs
Started On: July 18th
Finished On: July 18th, 3:30 PM
Pages Read: 400

Hate Machine by Stephen Blackmoore
Started On: July 18th
Finished On: July 18th, 7:40 PM
Pages Read: 304

Scythe by Neal Schusterman
Started On: July 18th
Finished On: July 18th, 10:02 PM
Pages Read: 448

Thunderhead by Neal Schusterman
Started On: July 19th
Finished On: July 19th, 5:13 PM
Pages Read: 504

The Toll by Neal Schusterman
Started On: July 19th
Currently On: Page 0 of 625

Goal: 25
Read: 34
Pages Read: 12281