Will the Time Come #752, October 30th

Every Thursday I am going to list a book which I really want to read/keep meaning to get to. These are mostly books which have been on my shelf for awhile now but don't have to be, maybe you got it two weeks ago and really want to read it! Thanks to Jodie from Books for Company for this meme!

Want to Join?

-Pick a book you have been meaning to read

-Do a post telling us about the book    

-Link the post up in the linky  

-Visit the other blogs

From Goodreads:

She Gets the Girl meets Bottoms in this “thoroughly charming and entertaining” (Kirkus Reviews) young adult sapphic rom-com about two teens who want revenge on the flaky popular girl they’re both crushing on.

Cynical but sensitive Beau Carl is on a mission. She needs to know if ultra-popular Maia Moon—the girl she’s been secretly hooking up with for months—really has feelings for her. But when she shows up at the last big party of the year before prom, she sees Maia about to kiss someone else.

Sweet, inexperienced Charm Montgomery is the “someone else.” And she’s ecstatic that she’s been reading Maia’s flirty behavior in their tutoring sessions correctly. But when the kiss is interrupted and Maia accepts an elaborate promposal from her douchey, popular boyfriend just a few days later, both Charm and Beau end up heartbroken.

There’s only one thing for them to do—get her back. And the only way to do that is for Beau to tutor Charm on how she can get their former crush to fall for her so hard that Maia will dump her ex…and then get dumped for once.

As their plan starts working, Beau and Charm grow closer too, in a way neither expected. But are either of them ready to let go of their scheme to take a chance on something a little sweeter—and scarier—than revenge?

Why the time hasn't come yet...

I don't know, I love Olivia A. Cole's writing and it sounds really good. I want to read it! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Waiting on Wednesday #736, June 18th

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

Isles of the Emberdark by Brandon Sanderson

Expected Publication: July 1st, 2025
From Goodreads:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson comes a legendary standalone novel that navigates the seas and the stars of a far-future Cosmere. Illustrated by Esther Hi’ilani Candari.

All his life, Sixth of the Dusk has been a traditional trapper of Aviar—the supernatural birds his people bond with—on the deadly island of Patji. Then one fateful night he propels his people into a race to modernize before they can be conquered by the Ones Above, invaders from the stars who want to exploit the Aviar.

But it’s a race they’re losing, and Dusk fears his people will lose themselves in the effort. When a chance comes to sail into the expanse of the emberdark beyond a mystical portal, Dusk sets off to find his people’s salvation with only a canoe, his birds, and all the grit and canniness of a Patji trapper.

Elsewhere in the emberdark is a young dragon chained in human Starling of the starship Dynamic. She and her ragtag crew of exiles are deep in debt and on the brink of losing their freedom. So when she finds an ancient map to a hidden portal between the emberdark and the physical realm, she seizes the chance at a lucrative discovery.

These unlikely allies might just be the solution to each other’s crisis. In their search for independence, Dusk and Starling face perilous bargains, poisonous politics, and the destructive echo of a dead god.

Sanderson expands his thrilling novella “Sixth of the Dusk” into a mythic novel of legends, lore, and warring galactic superpowers.

Tenderly, I Am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone

Expected Publication: July 1st, 2025
From Goodreads:

Perfect for fans of Saltburn, For the Wolf, and House of Hollow, Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a moody, monstrously Gothic romantasy in which a young woman must bind herself to a dangerous chthonic demon with the help of the son of a rival family to save her family's legacy―and herself―from ruin.

Expelled from her prestigious boarding school following a violent incident, eighteen-year-old Lacrimosa Arriscane returns home in disgrace to discover her family on the point of financial ruin. Desperate to save them, she accepts a marriage of convenience… to Therion, the chthonic god worshipped by Lark’s isolated coastal hometown.

But when her betrothal goes horribly wrong, Lark begins to vanish from the mortal realm. Her only hope is to seek help from Alastair Felimath: the brilliant, arrogant boy who was her first heartbreak, and his alluring older sister, Camille. As the trio delve into the folklore of gods, Lark falls under the spell of the Felimath siblings.

Ensnared by a fervent romance, they perform a bacchanalia with hopes the hedonistic ritual will repair the connection between Lark and her bridegroom. Instead, they draw the ire of something much darker, which seeks to destroy Therion―and Lark as well.

Den of Liars by Jessica S. Olson

Expected Publication: July 1st, 2025
From Goodreads:

A young thief attempting a daring casino heist during a high-stakes tournament is torn between two warring brothers in Den of Liars, a thrilling YA fantasy romance by acclaimed author Jessica S. Olson.

Lola St. James is the world’s best kept secret. When her father’s loss in the Liar’s Dice Tournament–a high-stakes competition where players are forced to gamble with their deepest secrets–made her a target, she was rescued by the Thief, the notorious leader of the Tentacles. But the Thief’s kindness came with a Lola’s heart. In the years that followed, she and the Thief formed a bond like no other, able to feel each other’s emotions because of their shared heart.

Now, living under the pseudonym Astra, she is determined to prove herself and become a full-fledged Tentacle. But when a critical heist goes sideways, the only way forward is for Lola to compete in the Liar’s Dice Tournament herself. Lola is confident in her ability to pull off any heist, but the Thief's mysterious brother, the Liar, runs the game and he turns out to be more than she bargained for. As her attraction for him grows and illusions run wild, she will be forced to confront the secrets of her past, the truth of the brothers’ shared history, and the lies she tells herself.

Infinite Archive by Mur Lafferty

Expected Publication: July 1st, 2025
From Goodreads:

Amateur sleuth Mallory Viridian has just about got her bearings aboard the space station she calls home, but now the physical embodiment of the Internet is on its way, and it's bringing murder with it.

Mallory Viridian has had a quiet few months. Even with the increased influx of humans visiting Station Eternity, she hasn’t seen so much as a bar brawl. Used to people dying left and right around her, the lack of murders to solve has left her unexpectedly…bored.

But humanity's favorite way to waste time is on its way to her sector of the galaxy. The Alexandria, a giant data ship that contains the entire Internet from Earth, docks outside of Eternity and offers access to the world wide web to anyone on board who's interested.

Which is exactly when another killer decides to strike. When Mallory finds her book agent dead, she knows she has to work fast to find the murderer. What with alien influencers, a lonely living comprehensive Internet, and a deadly crime to solve, Mallory has her work cut out for her . . . .

The Curse That Binds by Laura Thalassa 

Expected Publication: July 1st, 2025
From Goodreads:

The prequel to the Bewitched series.

Two thousand years before there was Selene, there was Roxilana. Her love fated, her life doomed, and her story forgotten—until now.

When young Roxilana first hears a voice in her head, she thinks she has gone mad. The truth, however, is stranger still. Because Memnon, the boy who speaks to her, claims he is real. Not only that, he insists they both are god-touched soul mates with the ability to wield magic.

As wild as his claims are, they gradually come to pass. First, Roxilana’s power Awakens. Then his. But nothing is nearly as startling as the day Memnon, now the sorcerer king of the Sarmatians, arrives at Roxilana’s doorstep, proclaiming the witch his wife and shepherding her off to his homeland.

Her fate is everything ardent Roxi could have hoped for. But there are things Memnon hasn’t told her—about his magic, about life as a Sarmatian and what, as queen, she will be asked to endure. Roxilana’s trials are only beginning. And as she’ll soon discover, there is nothing so dangerous as love mixed with power. For while the combination can build empires and shape legacies, it also has the potential to destroy everything in its path. And, if they’re not careful, Roxilana and Memnon could be destroyed along with it.

The Spirit of Love by Lauren Kate

Expected Publication: July 1st, 2025
From Goodreads:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Kate comes a magical time-slip love triangle about a man split into two—one version young and carefree, the other suave but jaded—and one woman’s quest to reunite his broken pieces.

Two loves. One soul. One choice.

Fenny’s got that boss glow. Not only did she just have the best sex of her life, but she’s finally about to direct the TV show she’s been a screenwriter on for ten years. Only one thing could floor her—finding out she’s been replaced by a hotshot director named Jude. Wait, no. Two things. Jude looks exactly like the guy who just turned her bones to jelly. Same dimples, same eyes, but he looks older and has a sadness Fenny wants to fix.

Last weekend, Fenny met Sam when he movie-style rescued her from a storm on Catalina Island. Here he is again, just … different. Can Sam and Jude be the same man? And if they are, will Fenny’s love be enough to put him back together?

The Nightblood Prince by Molly X. Chang

Expected Publication: July 1st, 2025
From Goodreads:

Two kingdoms on the brink of battle. One prophesied empress to unite them, who finds herself caught between two princes, and the fact that love alone may not stop the coming war. A thrilling romantasy from the bestselling author of To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods.

"Beautifully written and brimming with defiance."

—Xiran Jay Zhao, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Iron Widow

*The first edition hardcover of The Nightblood Prince will feature stunning decorative sprayed edges!*

Two princes. One prophecy. A fate she cannot outrun.

The night Fei was born, a prophecy was made: she would one day become the Empress of All Empresses.

Torn from her family as a child and raised in the palace to one day marry the Crown Prince of the most powerful empire in the land, Fei has only ever known loneliness. When the opportunity arises to seize her own destiny for the first time in her life, Fei sets out to hunt a legendary tiger, knowing it might cost her everything. What she doesn’t expect is to fall under the mercy of Yexue, the beautiful runaway prince from a rival kingdom. Blessed by the night, harboring a dangerous magic, and capable of commanding an army of deadly vampires, Yexue could be the key to Fei gaining more than just her freedom.

But to outrun destiny, Fei must spark a wave of events that will change the world as she knows it. Torn between two princes and plagued by nightmares of bloodshed, she finds that the stars might be more inescapable—and more irresistible—than she ever considered before. . . .

Call Your Boyfriend by Olivia A. Cole and Ashley Woodfolk
Expected Publication: July 1st, 2025
From Goodreads:

She Gets the Girl meets Bottoms in this fun and flirty young adult sapphic rom-com about two teens who want revenge on the flaky popular girl they’re both crushing on.

Cynical but sensitive Beau Carl is on a mission. She needs to know if ultra-popular Maia Moon—the girl she’s been secretly hooking up with for months—really has feelings for her. But when she shows up at the last big party of the year before prom, she sees Maia about to kiss someone else.

Sweet, inexperienced Charm Montgomery is the “someone else.” And she’s ecstatic that she’s been reading Maia’s flirty behavior in their tutoring sessions correctly. But when the kiss is interrupted and Maia accepts an elaborate promposal from her douchey, popular boyfriend just a few days later, both Charm and Beau end up heartbroken.

There’s only one thing for them to do—get her back. And the only way to do that is for Beau to tutor Charm on how she can get their former crush to fall for her so hard that Maia will dump her ex…and then get dumped for once.

As their plan starts working, Beau and Charm grow closer too, in a way neither expected. But are either of them ready to let go of their scheme to take a chance on something a little sweeter—and scarier—than revenge?

Some really great books kicking off July, and I'm so excited to read them all! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Random Reads #661, July 18th

Random Reads is a monthly meme (that I'm going to do weekly) hosted by I'm Loving Books to read some books that have been on our TBR piles for a long time. Using Random.org, I got 2323 which turned out to be The Truth About White Lies by Olivia A.Cole! It's been on my TBR pile since February 8th, 2022, and I added it because I really enjoy her writing and it sounded really good! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Magical Readathon: Orilium Update 32

So I read my next book for Magical Readathon: Orilium, and it was Love, Theoretically which was for the prompt Break Into the Main Lab, and I'll be reading The Truth About White Lies next!

My Reading Journey:

Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman

Prompt Fulfilled: Turn Left

Started On: January 2nd

Finished On: January 2nd, 2:35 PM

Pages Read: 384

Fox Forever by Mary E. Pearson

Prompt Fulfilled: Turn Right

Started On: January 3rd

Finished On: January 3rd, 3:40 PM

Pages Read: 320

King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair 

Prompt Fulfilled: Turn Left

Started On: January 3rd

Finished On: January 3rd, 10:12 PM

Pages Read: 402

Dragon Bones by Patricia Briggs

Prompt Fulfilled: Turn Left

Started On: January 5th

Finished On: January 5th, 12:44 AM

Pages Read: 308

Lovely Bad Things by Trisha Wolfe 

Prompt Fulfilled: Turn Left

Started On: January 6th

Finished On: January 6th, 6:10 PM

Pages Read: 386

Wrath & Mercy by Jessica Rubinkowski

Prompt Fulfilled: Turn Right

Started On: January 7th

Finished On: January 7th, 6:49 PM

Pages Read: 416

All Of Our Demise by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman

Prompt Fulfilled: Turn Right

Started On: January 13th

Finished On: January 13th, 4:30 PM

Pages Read: 480

The Accidental Pinup by Danielle Jackson

Prompt Fulfilled: Go the the Castle
Started On: February 9th

Finished On: February 9th, 8:18 PM

Pages Read: 320

A Show for Two by Tashie Bhuiyan

Prompt Fulfilled: Go the the Castle
Started On: February 25th

Finished On: February 25th, 6:35 PM

Pages Read: 416

A Tempest at Sea by Sherry Thomas 

Prompt Fulfilled: Go Towards a Lake
Started On: February 25th

Finished On: February 25th, 10:11 PM

Pages Read: 336

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg

Prompt Fulfilled: Go the the Castle
Started On: February 26th

Finished On: February 26th, 2:51 M

Pages Read: 348

The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Prompt Fulfilled: Go to the Forest
Started On: February 26th

Finished On: February 26th, 8:30 PM

Pages Read: 352

Bitter Falls by Rachel Caine

Prompt Fulfilled: Go Towards a Lake
Started On: February 27th

Finished On: February 27th, 5:50 PM

Pages Read: 336

Heartbreak Bay by Rachel Caine

Prompt Fulfilled: Go Towards a Lake
Started On: February 27th

Finished On: February 27th, 9:35 PM

Pages Read: 336

The Queen's Price by Anne Bishop

Prompt Fulfilled: Fight a Giant

Started On: March 7th

Finished On: March 7th, 7:15 PM

Pages Read: 544

A Crown of Ivy and Glass by Claire Legrand

Prompt Fulfilled: Fight a Giant
Started On: March 8th

Finished On: March 8th, 7:20 PM

Pages Read: 560

Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto

Prompt Fulfilled: Fight a Wizard

Started On: March 11th

Finished On: March 11th, 7:20 PM

Pages Read: 464

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon

Prompt Fulfilled: Fight a Giant

Started On: March 13th

Finished On: March 13th, 8:45 PM

Pages Read: 880

A Fire Endless by Rebecca Ross

Prompt Fulfilled: Fight a Giant
Started On: March 15th

Finished On: March 15th, 9:14 PM

Pages Read: 512

Magic Word by A.S. Fenichel

Prompt Fulfilled: Fight a Wizard 

Started On: March 15th

Finished On: March 15th, 6:17 PM

Pages Read: 322

More Than Meets the Eye by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen

Prompt Fulfilled: Fight a Wizard 

Started On: March 24th

Finished On: March 24th, 1:54 PM

Pages Read: 432

Ghostly Game by Christine Feehan

Prompt Fulfilled: Stay in Orilum

Started On: May 2nd

Finished On: May 2nd, 7:55 PM
Pages Read: 400 

Capture the Sun by Jessie Mihalik

Prompt Fulfilled: Stay at Orilum

Started On: May 3rd

Finished On: May 3rd, 8:00 PM

Pages Read: 432

Painted Devils by Margaret Owen

Prompt Fulfilled: Stay at Orilum

Started On: May 5th

Finished On: May 5th, 11:28 AM

Pages Read: 512

Girls Save the World in This One by Ash Parsons

Prompt Fulfilled: Travel to Kerador

Started On: May 6th

Finished On: May 6th, 5:21 PM

Pages Read: 448

Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Prompt Fulfilled: Stay at Orilum

Started On: May 7th

Finished On: May 7th, 12:19 PM

Pages Read: 336

The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston

Prompt Fulfilled: Stay at Orilum

Started On: May 7th

Finished On: May 7th, 5:32 PM

Pages Read: 336

Bookish and the Beast by Ashley Poston

Prompt Fulfilled: Stay at Orilum

Started On: May 7th

Finished On: May 7th, 9:27 PM

Pages Read: 320

Court of the Undying Seasons by AM Strickland

Prompt Fulfilled: Break Into the Main Lab

Started On: June 3rd

Finished On: June 3rd, 3:46 PM

Pages Read: 400

The Girl of Widow Hill by Megan Miranda

Prompt Fulfilled: Visit a Wizard Tower

Started On: June 6th

Finished On: June 6th, 9:54 PM

Pages Read: 336

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Prompt Fulfilled: Break Into the Main Lab

Started On: June 12th

Finished On: June 12th, 10:28 PM

Pages Read: 662

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

Prompt Fulfilled: Break Into the Main Lab

Started On: June 13th

Finished On: June 13th, 7:32 PM

Pages Read: 336

The Truth About White Lies by Olivia A. Cole

Prompt Fulfilled: Visit the Locked Library

Started On: June 

Currently On: Page 0 of 384

Prompts Left: Visit the Locked Library, Visit the Locked Library

Read: 32

Pages Read: 13114

48-Hour Mini Star Hop Readathon Update 5

I read my next book for the 48-Hour Mini Star Hop Readathon, and it was Unbreakable which is for the prompt Star-Short (<300 pgs), and I'll be reading The Truth About White Lies next! 

My Reading Journey:

XOXO by Axie Oh

Prompt Fulfilled: Moon-Hardcover

Started On: June 9th

Finished On: June 9th, 10:22 PM

Pages Read: 352

Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert

Points: Sun-Star-Beautiful

Started On: June 10th

Finished On: June 10th, 12:01 PM

Pages Read: 400

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

Prompt Fulfilled: Black Hole

Started On: June 10th

Finished On: June 10th, 3:53 PM

Pages Read: 433

I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee

Prompt Fulfilled: Moon-Standalone

Started On: June 10th

Finished On: June 10th, 7:59 PM

Pages Read: 336

Unbreakable by Mira Grant

Prompt Fulfilled: Star-Short (<300 pgs)

Started On: June 10th

Finished On: June 10th, 10:02 PM

Pages Read: 152

The Truth About White Lies by Olivia A. Cole

Prompt Fulfilled: Moon-Standalone

Started On: June 11th

Currently On: Page 0 of 384

Books Read: 5

Pages Read: 1673

Waiting on Wednesday #562, February 16th

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

Crowbones by Anne Bishop

Expected Publication: March 8th, 2022
From Goodreads:

In this engrossing and gripping fantasy set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Others series, an inn owner and her friends must find a killer—before it’s too late.…

Crowbones will gitcha if you don’t watch out!

Deep in the territory controlled by the Others—shape-shifters, vampires, and even deadlier paranormal beings—Vicki DeVine has made a new life for herself running The Jumble, a rustic resort. When she decides to host a gathering of friends and guests for Trickster Night, at first everything is going well between the humans and the Others.

But then someone arrives dressed as Crowbones, the Crowgard bogeyman. When the impostor is killed along with a shape-shifting Crow, and the deaths are clearly connected, everyone fears that the real Crowbones may have come to The Jumble—and that could mean serious trouble.

To “encourage” humans to help them find some answers, the Elders and Elementals close all the roads, locking in suspects and victims alike. Now Vicki, human police chief Grimshaw, vampire lawyer Ilya Sanguinati, and the rest of their friends have to figure out who is manipulating events designed to pit humans against Others—and who may have put Vicki DeVine in the crosshairs of a powerful hunter.

From Dust, a Flame by Rebecca Podos

Expected Publication: March 8th, 2022
From Goodreads:

Hannah’s whole life has been spent in motion. Her mother has kept her and her brother, Gabe, on the road for as long as she can remember, leaving a trail of rental homes and faded relationships behind them. No roots, no family but one another, and no explanations.

All of that changes on Hannah’s seventeenth birthday when she wakes up transformed, a pair of golden eyes with knife-slit pupils blinking back at her from the mirror—the first of many such impossible mutations. Promising that she knows someone who can help, her mother leaves Hannah and Gabe behind to find a cure. But as the days turn to weeks and their mother doesn’t return, they realize it’s up to them to find the truth.

What they discover is a family they never knew, and a history more tragic and fantastical than Hannah could have dreamed—one that stretches back to her grandmother’s childhood in Prague under the Nazi occupation, and beyond, into the realm of Jewish mysticism and legend. As the past comes crashing into the present, Hannah must hurry to unearth their family’s secrets—and confront her own hidden legacy in order to break the curse and save the people she loves most, as well as herself. 

Star Father by Charlie N. Holmberg

Expected Publication: March 8th, 2022
From Goodreads:

When the heavens go dark, hearts still glow for a mortal woman and a god in an exhilarating fantasy by Charlie N. Holmberg, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Star Mother.

In a heavenly war, the moon is prevailing…

It happens in an instant, filling Aija with dread: the Sun is suddenly cast from the sky, throwing the Earth into midday darkness. On the fourth day of endless night, Aija finds an unconscious man by the river. His skin is as hot as her lantern’s glass and just as golden. To Aija, a farmhand with the soul of an artist, this beautiful stranger is an inspiration—and a mystery. He calls himself Saiyon. He bleeds light. His friends are celestial. His enemies, godlings of the moon.

Between Aija and Saiyon, attraction grows warmer. For Aija, an unfathomable revelation: she’s falling in love with the earthbound Sun God. When Saiyon’s faltering powers are restored to full glory, what then? There’s a way Aija can become immortal, too. Saiyon can’t support such a risk.

Aija chooses to follow her heart to places darker and more dangerous than she realizes. Whatever sacrifices lie ahead, they’re the only way to make an impossible true love last forever.

Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye

Expected Publication: March 8th, 2022
From Goodreads:

A young girl with forbidden powers must free her people from oppression in this richly layered epic fantasy from debut author Deborah Falaye, inspired by Yoruba-Nigerian mythology and perfect for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and An Ember in the Ashes.

This is what they deserve.

They wanted me to be a monster.

I will be the worst monster they ever created.

Fifteen-year-old Sloane can incinerate an enemy at will—she is a Scion, a descendant of the ancient Orisha gods.

Under the Lucis’ brutal rule, her identity means her death if her powers are discovered. But when she is forcibly conscripted into the Lucis army on her fifteenth birthday, Sloane sees a new opportunity: to overcome the bloody challenges of Lucis training, and destroy them from within.

Sloane rises through the ranks and gains strength but, in doing so, risks something greater: losing herself entirely, and becoming the very monster that she ahbors.

Following one girl’s journey of magic, injustice, power, and revenge, this deeply felt and emotionally charged debut from Deborah Falaye, inspired by Yoruba-Nigerian mythology, is a magnetic combination of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin and Daughter of Smoke and Bone that will utterly thrill and capture readers.

Killing Time by Brenna Ehrlich

Expected Publication: March 8th, 2022
From Goodreads:

“Deathly smart, twisty, and at times wickedly funny, Killing Time is a pitch-perfect mystery.” — Kara Thomas, author of The Cheerleaders

Summer in Ferry, Connecticut, has always meant long, lazy days at the beach and wild nights partying in the abandoned mansions on the edge of town. Until now, that is.

 

Natalie Temple, who’s never been one for beaches or parties in the first place, is reeling from the murder of her favorite teacher, and there’s no way this true-crime-obsessed girl is going to sit back and let the rumor mill churn out lie after lie—even if she has to hide her investigation from her disapproving mom and team up with the new boy in town…

 

But the more Natalie uncovers, the more she realizes some secrets were never meant to be told. 

Squire by Sara Alfageeh and Nadia Shammas

Expected Publication: March 8th, 2022
From Goodreads:

Aiza has always dreamt of becoming a Knight. It's the highest military honor in the once-great Bayt-Sajji Empire, and as a member of the subjugated Ornu people, Knighthood is her only path to full citizenship. Ravaged by famine and mounting tensions, Bayt-Sajji finds itself on the brink of war once again, so Aiza can finally enlist in the competitive Squire training program.

It's not how she imagined it, though. Aiza must navigate new friendships, rivalries, and rigorous training under the unyielding General Hende, all while hiding her Ornu background. As the pressure mounts, Aiza realizes that the "greater good" that Bayt-Sajji's military promises might not include her, and that the recruits might be in greater danger than she ever imagined.

Aiza will have to choose, once and for all: loyalty to her heart and heritage, or loyalty to the Empire.

The Truth About White Lies by Olivia A. Cole

Expected Publication: March 8th, 2022
From Goodreads:

For fans of I'm Not Dying with You Tonight, this gripping YA novel digs into the historical and present-day effects of white supremacy and the depths of privilege.

Shania never thinks much about being white. But after her beloved grandmother passes, she moves to the gentrifying town of Blue Rock and is thrust into Bard, the city's wealthiest private school. At Bard, race is both invisible and hypervisible, and Shania's new friends are split on what they see. There's Catherine, the school's queen bee, who unexpectedly takes Shania under her wing. Then there's Prescott, the golden boy who seems perfect…except for the disturbing rumors about an altercation he had with a Black student who left the school.

But Prescott isn't the only one with secrets. As Shania grieves for the grandmother she idolized, she realizes her family roots stretch far back into Blue Rock's history. When the truth comes to light, Shania will have to make a choice and face the violence of her silence.

Some really great authors here, and a bunch of new to me authors, and I can't wait for these books to be out! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #470, June 8th

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 #469
Teaser Tuesday #477
WWW Wednesday #477
WOW #473
Will the Time Come #470
Third Sentence Thursday #470
Random Reads #446
First Lines Friday #473
Book Blogger Hop #139
The Reward Challenge Update #455
Wheel of TBR #2
How Well I Stuck to It #307
Wrote that Review Update #304

Week 23 Reviews:
The Obsidian Tower
Terraformer
Of Silver and Shadow
An Anatomy of Beasts
A Killing Frost
Shine in Pearl
Death of Darkness

Magical Readathon 2020 O.W.L.'s:
Sign Up
Update 1
Update 2
Update 3

Random:
Wheel of TBR Prompts 2020
Mini Magical Readathon 2020 Visit Hogsmeade Sign Up

OK, so I got 25 posts in 7 days, my personal life was pretty decent, though the world is going through some much needed upheaval. What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read A Curse So Dark and Lonely, On the Come Up, To Kill A Kingdom, and Without a Trace.

Fall in love, break the curse.

Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year, Prince Rhen, the heir of Emberfall, thought he could be saved easily if a girl fell for him. But that was before he turned into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. Before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, Harper learned to be tough enough to survive. When she tries to save a stranger on the streets of Washington, DC, she's pulled into a magical world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom.

Harper doesn't know where she is or what to believe. A prince? A curse? A monster? As she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what's at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.

Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of her neighborhood one day. As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit big, Bri's got big shoes to fill. But now that her mom has unexpectedly lost her job, food banks and shutoff notices are as much a part of Bri's life as beats and rhymes. With bills piling up and homelessness staring her family down, Bri no longer just wants to make it—she has to make it.

On the Come Up is Angie Thomas's homage to hip-hop, the art that sparked her passion for storytelling and continues to inspire her to this day. It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; of the struggle to become who you are and not who everyone expects you to be; and of the desperate realities of poor and working-class black families.

Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most--a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian's heart to the Sea Queen and or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby--it's his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she's more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good--But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind's greatest enemy?

Rae Cavanaugh would do anything to find her kin.

Even join forces with Tom Brannon.

The disappearance of Rae Cavanaugh's sister rocked the community of Echo Lake. So when Rae's niece mysteriously goes missing fifteen years later, county sheriff Tom Brannon is determined to find her. But as the electricity between the two sparks, Rae soon discovers—despite her misgivings—that Tom is the only one she can trust…

Week 23 Review: An Anatomy of Beasts

From Goodreads:
In the forty years since the Vagantur landed on Faloiv, the planet has existed in a tenuous peace between the humans who live in the enclosed community of N'Terra and the Faloii, the indigenous population. But after uncovering the shadowy secrets of the Council's newly elected leader and helping a kidnapped Faloii man escape, sixteen-year-old Octavia knows that conflict is looming. Her discovery of a separate population of humans—including her grandparents—only serves to show her how out of touch humans are with reality on Faloiv.

Then the Faloii discover the N'Terran's latest experiment: an artificially weaponized creature, and Octavia realizes that it's up to her to prevent her people from causing any further destruction. More determined than ever, Octavia and her friends set out to understand the scope of humanity's history. However, nothing can prepare them for the full weight of what they discover about both their home on Faloiv and the Origin planet. And as she learns to control her ability to communicate through the Artery, the network that connects everything on Faloiv, Octavia must act to change her people's future before the natural balance on the planet shifts forever.

My Review:
I really enjoyed this book! I really enjoyed the first, but it'd been over a year, maybe closer to 2, so I kinda forgot a lot of what happened, but getting back into this world with these characters, I couldn't put the story down!

We learn so much in this book. There's a lot of history that was covered up, or that they didn't even know existed. And I loved going on that adventure, to learn more about the world. There's the present threat that the Faloii would decide against humanity-and the planet would rebel. So that was a ticking time bomb she was up against!

Octavia goes through a lot of changes in this book. She draws closer to the Faloii and Faloiv, away from humans. Which causes clashes with her friends, who think she should pick humanity. But honestly, after all the horror that we've caused, why should she?

I went in knowing that that there should be a 3rd book in this series, that it was written, but hadn't been bought by a publisher. And to know that the story's ending, that we might not get it, that's a hard pill to swallow. There's a lot left still to go, and I really hope that we get that 3rd book! I need to know how it ends!

I enjoyed this book so much, and I'm hoping that we get that 3rd book!

Author: Olivia A. Cole
Series: Faloiv #2
Read: June 3rd, 2020
Source: Bought
Reason Why: Really enjoyed the first book, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2020 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books
Published: April 16th 2019

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

WWW Wednesday #477, June 3rd

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

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

Thanks to MizB of Should Be Writing now A Daily Rhythm for starting this meme!

I'm currently reading An Anatomy of Beasts, and yeah, really enjoying! 

I'm going to be reading Of Silver and Shadow, and it was a fantastic read, I enjoyed it a lot!

I'm going to be reading Death of Darkness, and I can't wait, I really enjoy her writing and this series!

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Teaser Tuesday #477, June 2nd

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Today's teaser comes from An Anatomy of Beasts by Olivia A. Cole, page 132.

"The beast int eh white coat takes me out into the hall, away to where they will prod at my anatomy as if it is I who is the monster. I keep snarling. I can't stop."

Well, that doesn't sound like a good situation to be in! Must read more! What about you guys? Happy reading!

WWW Wednesday #475, May 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!

I'm currently reading An Anatomy of Beasts, and I'm really enjoying this sequel! 

I read Clown in a Cornfield, and it was really creepy and great, I really enjoyed it!

I'm going to be reading I See London, I See France next, and I can't wait, it sounds like a lot of fun!

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge Update 26

Ok, so I read Clown in a Cornfield and now to read my next book, An Anatomy of Beasts!

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
Finished On: May 18th, 12:20 AM
Pages Read: 448

Misleading a Duke by A.S. Fenichel
Started On: May 18th
Finished On: May 18th, 4:21 PM
Pages Read: 243

Dark Shores by Danielle L. Jensen
Started On: May 18th
Finished On: May 18th, 9:29 PM
Pages Read: 360

Dark Skies by Danielle L. Jensen
Started On: May 19th
Finished On: May 19th, 3:15 PM
Pages Read: 464

Burn by Patrick Ness
Started On: May 19th
Finished On: May 19th, 4:27 PM
Pages Read: 384

Through the White Wood by Jessica Leake
Started On: May 19th
Finished On: May 19th, 9:32 PM
Pages Read: 398

Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare
Started On: May 19th
Finished On: May 20th, 12:13 AM
Pages Read: 398

An Anatomy of Beasts by Olivia A. Cole
Started On: May 20th
Currently On: Page 0 of 421

Books Read: 26

Goal: 25 Books

Pages Read: 9852

Reading Next: I See London, I See France, Just a Boy and a Girl in a Small Canoe, Seeing Darkness, Deadly Touch

Waiting on Wednesday #406, February 20th

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

An Anatomy of Beasts by Olivia A. Cole
Expected Publication: April 16th, 2019
From Goodreads:
In the forty years since the Vagantur landed on Faloiv, the planet has existed in a tenuous peace between the humans who live in the enclosed community of N’Terra and the Faloii, the indigenous population. But after uncovering the shadowy secrets of the Council’s newly elected leader and helping a kidnapped Faloii man escape, sixteen-year-old Octavia knows that conflict is looming. Her discovery of a separate population of humans—including her grandparents—only serves to show her how out of touch humans are with reality on Faloiv.

Then the Faloii discover the N’Terran’s latest experiment: an artificially weaponized creature, and Octavia realizes that it’s up to her to prevent her people from causing any further destruction. More determined than ever, Octavia and her friends set out to understand the scope of humanity’s history. However, nothing can prepare them for the full weight of what they discover about both their home on Faloiv and the Origin planet. And as she learns to control her ability to communicate through the Artery, the network that connects everything on Faloiv, Octavia must act to change her people’s future before the natural balance on the planet shifts forever.

I loved the first book, and I'm really excited to read this book! I can't wait to see where things are going to go! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Olivia A. Cole Author Page

The Story: A Conspiracy of Stars was on Edelweiss, and yeah, I had to read it! And it was really great, and I can't wait to read the sequel!

Website

Series: Faloiv.

Faloiv: A Conspiracy of Stars and her site, my review, An Anatomy of Beasts and her site, my review.

Stand Alone's: The Truth About White Lies and her site, my review.

Week 43 Review: A Conspiracy of Stars

From Goodreads:
Octavia has only ever had one goal: to follow in the footsteps of her parents and become a prestigious whitecoat, one of the scientists who study the natural wonders of Faloiv. The secrets of the jungle's exotic plants and animals are protected fiercely in the labs by the Council of N'Terra, so when the rules suddenly change, allowing students inside, Octavia should be overjoyed.

But something isn't right. The newly elected leader of the Council has some extremist views about the way he believes N'Terra should be run, and he's influencing others to follow him. When Octavia witnesses one of the Faloii—the indigenous people of Faloiv—attacked in front of her in the dark of night, she knows the Council is hiding something. They are living in separate worlds on a shared planet, and their fragile peace may soon turn into an all-out war.

With the help of Rondo, a quiet boy in class with a skill for hacking, and her inquisitive best friend, Alma, Octavia is set on a collision course to discover the secrets behind the history she's been taught, the science she's lived by, and the truth about her family.

My Review:
I loved reading this book! It just grabbed me, and I had to read more! I really enjoyed reading about Octavia, Rondo and Alma! Their world was so interesting, though the focus on science was a bit much, there has to be a balance!

Octavia is different, though she didn't know it at first. Differences became apparent while society was starting to drown in fear, which means poor decision making! There were also secrets, and a new direction in goals. Which wasn't good for anybody, not they they knew that, or if they did, they didn't care. Well, besides the good guys! But that's that's something that separates good guys from bad guys!

The thing about the bad guys in this book, well, that attitude that of "I'm human, I deserve what I want, and I want more," it's why the Origin Planet, AKA Earth, is no longer hospitable for humans. It's like, haven't we learned, already? So aggravating!

The ending was really heart-pounding! Some pretty awful things were done, like altering the native species to fit our needs, eating meat, which they weren't supposed to do. But yeah, that ending took the cake, and added a milkshake with a cherry on top! Wow! So much potential of where to go from here!

This book was just incredible, and I can't wait for the 2nd book!

Author: Olivia A. Cole
Series: Untitled Duology #1
Read: October 23rd, 2017
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Sounded really fantastic, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2017 Book!
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books
Expected Publication: January 2nd 2018

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday #335, October 11th

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

Dragon Blood by Eileen Wilks
Expected Publication: January 2nd, 2018
From Goodreads:
The battle against a vengeful goddess reaches a climactic point as Lily Yu must now face the ultimate challenge in a dangerous new realm—without her husband, Rule...

When a mission to rescue five children stolen by an Old One falls apart under the assault of a demon prince, Lily wakes up in a strange reality—and is immediately taken captive by the dragon spawn who rule there. Jumping worlds has fractured her party, and Cynna is her only companion. 

Although the clock is ticking, time works differently, and Lily has miraculously gained a week. That means seven days to free herself, find Rule and the others, rescue the children, and make it home alive. All before the dragon spawn holding her hostage trade her to the Old One. It would almost be doable if this weren’t Lóng Jia—also known as Dragonhome: the birthplace of dragons.

Heart on Fire by Amanda Bouchet
Expected Publication: January 2nd, 2018
From Goodreads:
Who is Catalia Fisa?
With the help of pivotal figures from her past, Cat begins to understand the root of her exceptional magic, her fated union with Griffin Sinta, and Griffin's role in shaping her destiny.

Only Cat holds the key to unlocking her own power, and that means finally accepting herself, her past, and her future in order to protect her loved ones, confront her murderous mother, and taking a final, terrifying step--reuniting all three realms and taking her place as the Queen of Thalyria.

What doesn't kill her will only make her stronger...we hope.

A Conspiracy of Stars by Oliva A. Cole
Expected Publication: January 2nd, 2018
From Goodreads:
Octavia has only ever had one goal: to follow in the footsteps of her parents and become a prestigious whitecoat, one of the scientists who study the natural wonders of Faloiv. The secrets of the jungle’s exotic plants and animals are protected fiercely in the labs by the Council of N’Terra, so when the rules suddenly change, allowing students inside, Octavia should be overjoyed.

But something isn’t right. The newly elected leader of the Council has some extremist views about the way he believes N’Terra should be run, and he’s influencing others to follow him. When Octavia witnesses one of the Faloii—the indigenous people of Faloiv—attacked in front of her in the dark of night, she knows the Council is hiding something. They are living in separate worlds on a shared planet, and their fragile peace may soon turn into an all-out war.

With the help of Rondo, a quiet boy in class with a skill for hacking, and her inquisitive best friend, Alma, Octavia is set on a collision course to discover the secrets behind the history she’s been taught, the science she’s lived by, and the truth about her family.

Between the Blade and the Heart by Amanda Hocking
Expected Publication: January 2nd, 2018
From Goodreads:
Valkyries have one great responsibility: to return immortals to the afterlife by slaying them. As a Valkyrie, Malin has always known that the balance of the world rests on her ability to carry out orders. But when Malin discovers that her mother spared the life of an immortal who was destined to die, her world is thrown into chaos. 

Malin not only wrestles with the knowledge that her mother might not be who she thought—she’s also thrust into the path of a gorgeous blue eyed guy named Asher who needs her help slaying the rogue immortal who destroyed his family. The balance of the world is at stake. And, as Asher competes with Malin’s ex for her love and loyalty, so is her heart.

Everless by Sara Holland
Expected Publication: January 2nd, 2018
From Goodreads:
In the kingdom of Sempera, time is currency—extracted from blood, bound to iron, and consumed to add time to one’s own lifespan. The rich aristocracy, like the Gerlings, tax the poor to the hilt, extending their own lives by centuries.

No one resents the Gerlings more than Jules Ember. A decade ago, she and her father were servants at Everless, the Gerlings’ palatial estate, until a fateful accident forced them to flee in the dead of night. When Jules discovers that her father is dying, she knows that she must return to Everless to earn more time for him before she loses him forever.

But going back to Everless brings more danger—and temptation—than Jules could have ever imagined. Soon she’s caught in a tangle of violent secrets and finds her heart torn between two people she thought she’d never see again. Her decisions have the power to change her fate—and the fate of time itself. 

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Expected Publication: January 2nd, 2018
From Goodreads:
By #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, the first book in a stunning new series about a mortal girl who finds herself caught in a web of royal faerie intrigue.

Of course I want to be like them. They're beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him—and face the consequences.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

Someone to Love by Melissa de la Cruz
Expected Publication: January 2nd, 2018
From Goodreads:
I hate mirrors.

Glass is dangerous.

Water is dangerous.

Windows are dangerous.

Anything that reflects me back at myself is a threat.

Olivia "Liv" Blakely knows how important it is to look good. Her father is running for governor, and Liv will be making public appearances with her family. Liv has an image to uphold — to her maybe-boyfriend, to the new friends who suddenly welcome her into their circle, and to the public who love to find fault on social media. Everyone is looking.

Liv's sunny, charming facade hides a dark inner voice that will settle for nothing less than perfection. No matter who she has to give up to get there. No matter what she has to lose to do it. Liv is working for the day that what she sees in the mirror is worthy...worthy of confidence. Worthy of success. Worthy of love. But as the high price of perfection takes a toll, placing her body and soul at risk, Liv herself has to realise what she has to live for.

No.1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz's powerful new novel depicts one teen's battle with self-doubt and bulimia, and shows that the struggle to find someone to love starts with oneself.

Oh, yeah, the books coming out on the 2nd, I'm really desperate to read them! They look and sound so great, and I'm really excited! What about you guys? Happy reading!