It's Monday! What Are You Reading #472, June 22nd

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 #471
Teaser Tuesday #479
WWW Wednesday #479
WOW #475
Will the Time Come #472
Third Sentence Thursday #462
Random Reads #448
First Lines Friday #475
Book Blogger Hop #141
Last Letter, First Letter Reading Challenge Update 74
The Reward Challenge Update #457
Wheel of TBR #4
How Well I Stuck to It #309
Wrote that Review Update #306

Week 25 Reviews:
Siege and Storm
The Too-Clever Fox
Little Knife
Ruin and Rising
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Kiss Collector
American Demon
Dragon Actually
Chains and Flames
Our Year in Love and Parties
Blood Will Out
Looking for Alaska
Annie and Fia
Mind Games
Perfect Lies
Storm Glass

Magical Readathon 2020 O.W.L.'s:
Update 10
Update 11
Update 12
Update 13 and Wrap Up

Make Your Myth-Taker Readathon 2020:
Update 9
Update 10
Update 11
Update 12
Update 13

24 Hour Reading Challenge:
Update 1
Update 2
Update 3
Update 4
Update 5
Update 6
Update 7
Update 8
Update 9
Update 10
Update 11 and Wrap Up
2nd June Sign Up

OK, so I got 45 posts in 7 days, it was a pretty great read, I read a good deal, and so I posted a good deal, sometimes 4 posts for 1 book, because yeah. I'm crazy! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read An Abundance of Katherines, Artemis, Six of Crows, Crooked Kingdom, The Language of Thorns, Dark Song, Etiquette & Espionage, and Season of the Wolf.

When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type is girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy–loving best friend riding shotgun—but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl.

The bestselling author of The Martian returns with an irresistible new near-future thriller—a heist story set on the moon.

Jazz Bashara is a criminal.

Well, sort of. Life on Artemis, the first and only city on the moon, is tough if you're not a rich tourist or an eccentric billionaire. So smuggling in the occasional harmless bit of contraband barely counts, right? Not when you've got debts to pay and your job as a porter barely covers the rent.

Everything changes when Jazz sees the chance to commit the perfect crime, with a reward too lucrative to turn down. But pulling off the impossible is just the start of her problems, as she learns that she's stepped square into a conspiracy for control of Artemis itself—and that now, her only chance at survival lies in a gambit even riskier than the first.

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone. . . .

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo returns to the breathtaking world of the Grishaverse in this unforgettable tale about the opportunity—and the adventure—of a lifetime.

Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and left crippled by the kidnapping of a valuable team member, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets—a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of magic in the Grisha world.

Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns.

Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid's voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy's bidding but only for a terrible price.

Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love.

Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, these tales will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse.

This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, all of them lavishly illustrated with art that changes with each turn of the page, culminating in six stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves.

Two Carpathians find hope in the bond that ties their souls in this passionate novel in Christine Feehan's #1 New York Times bestselling series.

Stolen from her home at a young age and tormented for centuries, Elisabeta Trigovise is scared to show herself to anyone. Even though she has been rescued and is now safe within the Carpathian compound, she has lived in fear for so long she has no idea how to survive without it. She wants to answer the siren call of her lifemate--but the very thought terrifies her.

Before he found Elisabeta, Ferro Arany was an ancient warrior without emotion. Now that his senses have come alive, he knows it will take more than kind words and soft touches to convince the fractured woman that they are partners, not master and prisoner. For now, he will give her his strength until she finds hers, allowing the steady rhythm of his heart to soothe Elisabeta's fragile soul.

But even as she learns to stand on her own, the vampire who kept her captive is desperate to claim her again, threatening the song Elisabeta and Ferro are writing together.

In a world of danger and uncertainty, the Alpha has enough to worry about without him...

For Alpha Evie Kitwanasdottir, things are never easy. The Great North Pack has just survived a deadly attack. Evie is determined to do whatever is necessary to keep her Pack safe, especially from the four Shifters who are their prisoners.

Constantine lost his parents and his humanity on the same devastating day. He has been a thoughtless killer ever since. When Constantine is moved to live under Evie's watchful eye, he discovers that taking directions and having a purpose are not the same thing.

Each moment spent together brings new revelations to Constantine, who begins to understand the loneliness of being Alpha. He finds strength and direction in helping Evie, but there is no room for a small love in the Pack, so Constantine must work harder than ever to prove to Evie he is capable of a love big enough for the Great North Pack itself.

Week 25 Review: The Kiss Collector

From Goodreads:
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Sweet Evil series comes a sizzling new YA romance perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Kasie West, just in time for Valentine's Day.

Seventeen-year-old Zae Monroe is over relationships. Between getting cheated on by the only guy she's ever loved and watching her parents' marriage crumble, she decides to turn the tables and go after what she wants, and what she wants are kisses. Athletes, musicians, poets, bad boys—their lips are all on her agenda, and it's time to collect.

Zae proposes a contest with her friends to see who can kiss the most boys during spring break. But what starts as a harmless competition leads to a downward spiral of drama. Zae is forced to face the reasons behind her boy angst and starts to wonder if she was wrong about the male race...or at least some of them.

Bestselling author Wendy Higgins delivers a searing YA romance filled with endless flirting, heartthrob boys, and of course, lots of kisses!

My Review:
This book was a lot of fun to read! I really enjoyed Zae go on this adventure, one that inadvertently heals the hurts that life has caused her. To learn that while love can hurt, it can also bring joy, and it does have pros, and that the males of the species aren't always going to betray that love.

Oh, man, the drama! I mean, Zae is right about one fact-that a lot of boys just want the good times without committing to a relationship. And that she's going for the same thing, well, it stirs up some conflict, but was oh, so great to read!

While this book is about Zae kissing boys, I really enjoyed her relationship with her close group of friends, and with her family. There's drama in both, from wanting the same boy, to her parents separating, but it was a good chunk of this book, and I enjoyed it!

That ending! While the relationship had been growing and developing over the course of this book, that ending with the year abroad, that was a bit unexpected. Well, the desires behind it weren't, but that it actually happened, yeah, that was, and I'm so glad that she got that opportunity!

I enjoyed this book, it was a nice, quick and easy read and I really enjoyed it!

Author: Wendy Higgins
Read: June 15th, 2020
Source: Own/Edelweiss
Reason Why: I enjoy her writing, and it's a SAC 2020 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: December 18th 2018

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

24 Hour Reading Challenge Update 2

I read my next book, Kiss Collector, and I'm going to be reading Dragon Actually next! Yeah, I only took 2 minutes over, so that really counts for being read on the 15th, since I had to make my bed which took about 4 minutes, and clean up after doggie puke again. Poor Jax, that's the 5th time he's thrown up in the past 3 days. But now for sleep, and then more reading!

My Reading Journey:

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Started On: June 15th
Finished On: June 15th, 8:35 PM
Pages Read: 540

Kiss Collector by Wendy Higgins
Started On: June 15th
Finished On: June 16th, 12:01 AM
Pages Read: 307

Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken
Started On: June 16th
Currently On: Page 0 of 352

Goals: 6-8
Read: 2
Pages Read: 847

Magical Readathon 2020 O.W.L.'s Update 11

So I read my next book of the O.W.L.'s, and it was Kiss Collector, which is for Muggle Studies. I'll be reading Dragon Actually next! Wow, I can't believe I only have 2 more books to read before I complete the O.W.L.'s! Given that I'm doing a reading challenge, I should finish them both up later today, the 16th!

My Reading Journey:

His Hideous Heart Anthology
Prompt Fulfilled: Ancient Ruins
Started On: June 6th
Finished On: June 6th, 10:28 AM
Pages Read: 253

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
Prompt Fulfilled: Transfiguration
Started On: June 6th
Finished On: June 6th, 7:47 PM
Pages Read: 484

The Lasaran by Dianne Duvall
Prompt Fulfilled: Astronomy
Started On: June 6th
Finished On: June 6th, 10:33 PM
Pages Read: 460

To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Cristo
Prompt Fulfilled: Defense Against the Dark Arts
Started On: June 8th
Finished On: June 8th, 11:20 AM
Pages Read: 344

Without a Trace by Amanda Stevens
Prompt Fulfilled: Arithmancy
Started On: June 8th
Finished On: June 8th, 7:58 PM
Pages Read: 256

The Ghosts of Sherwood by Carrie Vaughn
Prompt Fulfilled: Potions
Started On: June 9th
Finished On: June 9th, 10:02 PM
Pages Read: 128

Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
Prompt Fulfilled: Herbology
Started On: June 10th
Finished On: June 10th, 6:00 AM
Pages Read: 464

Here, There, Everywhere by Julia Durango and Tyler Terrones
Prompt Fulfilled: Muggle Studies
Started On: June 11th
Finished On: June 11th, 10:23 PM
Pages Read: 304

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Prompt Fulfilled: History of Magic
Started On: June 12th
Finished On: June 12th, 8:58 PM
Pages Read: 356

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Prompt Fulfilled: Care of Magical Creatures
Started On: June 15th
Finished On: June 15th, 8:35 PM
Pages Read: 540

Kiss Collector by Wendy Higgins
Prompt Fulfilled: Muggle Studies
Started On: June 15th
Finished On: June 16th, 12:01 AM
Pages Read: 307

Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken
Prompt Fulfilled: Dragon Tamer Training
Started On: June 16th
Currently On: Page 0 of 352

Prompts Left: Divination
Read: 11
Pages Read: 3896

24 Hour Reading Challenge Update 1

I read my first book, A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and I'm going to be reading Kiss Collector next! Well, I got off to a decent start, I started reading about 3, so while that's almost 6 hours of read, well, it is 540 pages to read! I think I can get Kiss Collector done either today or early tomorrow, and I can't wait to read more!

My Reading Journey:

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Started On: June 15th
Finished On: June 15th, 8:35 PM
Pages Read: 540

Kiss Collector by Wendy Higgins
Started On: June 12th
Currently On: Page 0 of 307

Goals: 6-8
Read: 1
Pages Read: 540

Make Your Myth-Taker Readathon 2020 Update 9

So I read my next book of this readathon, and it was The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which is for Anticipated Read. I'll be reading Dragon Actually next!

My Reading Journey:

Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
Prompt Fulfilled: Friend Pick
Started On: June 10th
Finished On: June 10th, 6:00 AM
Pages Read: 464

The Last Hope by Krista & Becca Ritchie
Prompt Fulfilled: Dark Cover
Started On: June 11th
Finished On: June 11th, 8:21 PM
Pages Read: 371

Here, There, Everywhere by Julia Durango and Tyler Terrones
Prompt Fulfilled: Secret
Started On: June 11th
Finished On: June 11th, 10:23 PM
Pages Read: 304

The Graveyard Shift by Darynda Jones
Prompt Fulfilled: Quick Read
Started On: June 11th
Finished On: June 11th, 11:49 PM
Pages Read: 153

Death of Darkness by Dianne Duvall
Prompt Fulfilled: Highest Rated
Started On: June 5th
Finished On: June 5th, 8:04 PM
Pages Read: 511

To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Cristo
Prompt Fulfilled: Featuring Water
Started On: June 8th
Finished On: June 8th, 11:20 AM
Pages Read: 344

Without a Trace by Amanda Stevens
Prompt Fulfilled: Outside Comfort Zone
Started On: June 8th
Finished On: June 8th, 7:58 PM
Pages Read: 256

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Prompt Fulfilled: Occult Themes
Started On: June 12th
Finished On: June 12th, 8:58 PM
Pages Read: 356

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Prompt Fulfilled: Care of Magical Creatures
Started On: June 15th
Finished On: June 15th, 8:35 PM
Pages Read: 540

Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken
Prompt Fulfilled: Fun Book
Started On: June 13th
Currently On: Page 0 of 352

Prompts Left: Steal a Book, Featuring Woodland, Myth-Take Book, Featuring a Journey, Bargain, Banned Book, Outsourced Book, Disliked Book, Queen Main Character, Royal Colours, Highest Rated, Reread a Favourite, Big Cast of Characters, Continue a Series, Read a Host Favourite, Heard Great Things, Underhyped, Book About Books, Performance Elements, Non-Human Main, Foiled Cover, Randomize TBR, Featuring an Animal, Magical Battle, Featuring Fae, Go Into a Book Blind, 5 Star Prediction, Favourite Author, Cover has a Weapon, Over 500 Pages, Inspired by History, Set in a Cold Place, Overhyped Book
Read: 9
Pages Read: 3199

Magical Readathon 2020 O.W.L.'s Update 10

So I read my next book of the O.W.L.'s, and it was The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which is for Care of Magical Creatures. I'll be reading Kiss Collector next!

My Reading Journey:

His Hideous Heart Anthology
Prompt Fulfilled: Ancient Ruins
Started On: June 6th
Finished On: June 6th, 10:28 AM
Pages Read: 253

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
Prompt Fulfilled: Transfiguration
Started On: June 6th
Finished On: June 6th, 7:47 PM
Pages Read: 484

The Lasaran by Dianne Duvall
Prompt Fulfilled: Astronomy
Started On: June 6th
Finished On: June 6th, 10:33 PM
Pages Read: 460

To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Cristo
Prompt Fulfilled: Defense Against the Dark Arts
Started On: June 8th
Finished On: June 8th, 11:20 AM
Pages Read: 344

Without a Trace by Amanda Stevens
Prompt Fulfilled: Arithmancy
Started On: June 8th
Finished On: June 8th, 7:58 PM
Pages Read: 256

The Ghosts of Sherwood by Carrie Vaughn
Prompt Fulfilled: Potions
Started On: June 9th
Finished On: June 9th, 10:02 PM
Pages Read: 128

Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
Prompt Fulfilled: Herbology
Started On: June 10th
Finished On: June 10th, 6:00 AM
Pages Read: 464

Here, There, Everywhere by Julia Durango and Tyler Terrones
Prompt Fulfilled: Muggle Studies
Started On: June 11th
Finished On: June 11th, 10:23 PM
Pages Read: 304

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Prompt Fulfilled: History of Magic
Started On: June 12th
Finished On: June 12th, 8:58 PM
Pages Read: 356

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Prompt Fulfilled: Care of Magical Creatures
Started On: June 15th
Finished On: June 15th, 8:35 PM
Pages Read: 540

Kiss Collector by Wendy Higgins
Prompt Fulfilled: Muggle Studies
Started On: June 12th
Currently On: Page 0 of 307

Prompts Left: Divination, Dragon Tamer Training
Read: 10
Pages Read: 3589

Waiting on Wednesday #388, October 17th

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

Kiss Collector by Wendy Higgins
Expected Publication: December 18th, 2018
From Goodreads:
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Sweet Evil series comes a sizzling new YA romance perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Kasie West, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Seventeen-year-old Zae Monroe is over relationships. Between getting cheated on by the only guy she’s ever loved and watching her parents' marriage crumble, she decides to turn the tables and go after what she wants, and what she wants are kisses. Athletes, musicians, poets, bad boys—their lips are all on her agenda, and it's time to collect.

Zae proposes a contest with her friends to see who can kiss the most boys during spring break. But what starts as a harmless competition leads to a downward spiral of drama. Zae is forced to face the reasons behind her boy angst and starts to wonder if she was wrong about the male race...or at least some of them.

Bestselling author Wendy Higgins delivers a searing YA romance filled with endless flirting, heartthrob boys, and of course, lots of kisses!

The Disasters by M.K. England
Expected Publication: December 18th, 2018
From Goodreads:
The Breakfast Club meets Guardians of the Galaxy in this YA sci-fi adventure by debut author M. K. England.

Hotshot pilot Nax Hall has a history of making poor life choices. So it’s not exactly a surprise when he’s kicked out of the elite Ellis Station Academy in less than twenty-four hours. But Nax’s one-way trip back to Earth is cut short when a terrorist group attacks the Academy.

Nax and three other washouts escape—barely—but they’re also the sole witnesses to the biggest crime in the history of space colonization. And the perfect scapegoats.

On the run, Nax and his fellow failures plan to pull off a dangerous heist to spread the truth. Because they may not be “Academy material,” and they may not even get along, but they’re the only ones left to step up and fight.

Full of high-stakes action, subversive humor, and underdogs becoming heroes, this YA sci-fi adventure is perfect for fans of Illuminae, Heart of Iron, or the cult classic TV show Firefly and is also a page-turning thrill ride that anyone—not just space nerds—can enjoy. 

The Cursed Sea by Lauren DeStefano
Expected Publication: December 18th, 2018
From Goodreads:
Wilhemina Heidle, the exiled princess of Northern Arrod, the girl thought dead by her family and friends, must return home. The only way to save Loom, the cursed prince of the Southern Isles, is to revisit the castle and discover the origins of her own curse.

But home is very different from how she left it—Wil’s unstable elder brother is now king, leading a war against the Southern Isles. And the rest of her family must reckon with the truth of what happened to lead to Wil’s exile. With time running out, Wil must navigate the dangerous secrets within her family if she’s going to find the truth and save the boy she loves.

When she’s finally able to reach Pahn, nothing goes as planned, and suddenly Wil and her allies are fighting for their lives, again and again, as the Southern King is out to punish his children for all they’ve done. Traveling across cursed seas and treacherous kingdoms, Wil, Loom—and his ruthless sister Espel—have to work to make peace with their own struggles if they hope to secure the future of their kingdoms.

But when their plans lead them right back to evil marveler Pahn, and to Baren—who is more dangerous than ever—can Wil and her friends outsmart their enemies, this time, for good? 

Oh, yeah, some really great, fantastic books! I actually read The Disasters months ago, and it was so amazing! All these books, I'm really excited for! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Week 52 Review: Sweet Temptation

From Goodreads:
This swoonworthy, romantic companion novel to Wendy Higgins's New York Times bestselling Sweet Evil series is told from irresistible bad-boy Kaidan's point of view. Readers will love getting inside Kaidan's head, especially fans of the Divergent series by Veronica Roth, the Selection series by Kiera Cass, and Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire.

When bad-boy drummer Kaidan Rowe encounters good girl Anna Whitt, the girl chosen to vanquish the demons from earth, he can't stop thinking about her. The Nephilim son of the Duke of Lust, Kaidan tries to help Anna embrace a life of sin, but she gradually helps him see that he's meant to do more with his life. Their relationship is as tortured as it is passionate, for Nephilim are forbidden to fall in love. But as hard as they may try to obey, Kai can't seem to stay away from Anna, nor Anna from Kai.

Full of chemistry and high-stakes drama, this companion book is darker, hotter, and completely satisfying.

My Review:
Yeah! It was so great to read this book, which is Kaidan's POV during the events of the first 3 books! And yeah, there were scenes where Anna wasn't there, so that was a big bonus! Plus, spending more time in this world. Yeah!

You have to feel bad for Kai, he's grown up in this pretty horrible world, of girls being trafficked and with him supposed to educate them. Of having a demon for a dad. Sure, if you didn't know about it, from the outside, it would be a pretty sweet life. But those elements were there, too.

Knowing what was going to happen, that didn't make the surprises and everything less. There was still the whole, what did Kai think while these things were going on! He does have a different frame of reference and knew more about this world. So yeah, that was great!

One thing I noticed, was the big fight scene at the end was slightly different then from Sweet Reckoning, just missing a few snippets of conversation, or maybe Kai wasn't paying attention? It was strange, but yeah, it could be because my copy of Sweet Reckoning was an ARC!

Loved this book, and I can't wait to read more by Wendy Higgins!

Author: Wendy Higgins
Series: The Sweet Series #4
Read: December 29th, 2017
Source: Bought
Reason Why: Love this series, and it's a End of series 2017 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2017 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: September 8th 2015

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

First Lines Friday #346, December 29th

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. We encourage all of our fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

-Grab your current read(s)
-Share the first line(s)
-Include the title and author so that other FLF participants can add the book to their TBR Lists!

"'Sit down, son.' Young Kaidan did as his father asked, obediently sitting in the oversized leather chair beside him in the sitting room of their London home. Kai's stomach buzzed with nervousness. He rarely had his father's full attention, so he felt heavy and exposed under his intense stare." -Sweet Temptation by Wendy Higgins

Knowing what this series has to offer, I know this is not good at all! But it's a very good beginning to this book! What about you guys? Happy reading!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #303, March 27th

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 #302
Teaser Tuesday #310
WWW Wednesday #310
WOW #307
Will the Time Come #301
Third Sentence Thursday #292
Random Reads #278
First Lines Friday #297
The Reward Challenge Update #288
Follow Friday #280
LLFL Reading Challenge Update 65
How Well I Stuck to It #131
Wrote that Review Update #137

Week 12 Reviews:
The Great Pursuit
All Hallows Eve
Haunted Destiny
Elite
The Struggle
Truthwitch
Nemesis
The Death Code
The Unlikeable Demon Hunter
Slay
Literally
The Word for Yes
Girl on the Wire
Girl in the Shadows

Random:
We Have the Cover of All the Crooked Saints!!!!
We Have the Cover of The Nevernight Chronicles #2!!!!
Deborah Wilde Author Page
Mercedes Lackey Author Page

OK, so I got 28 posts in 7 days, so yeah, a pretty good week, and I can't wait to read this week! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read whatever I want to read!

Week 12 Review: The Great Pursuit

From Goodreads:
In The Great Pursuit, the dramatic sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Great Hunt, Wendy Higgins delivers another thrilling fantasy filled with dangerous enemies, political intrigue, searing romance, and a princess who is willing to do everything to protect her kingdom.  

One hunt has ended, but the pursuit for love and justice continues.

The kingdom of Lochlanach has traded the great beast that once terrorized the realm of Eurona for something far more dangerous: the ire of powerful Lashed woman Rosaria Rocato. Rosaria demands that Eurona overturn the laws prohibiting magic, or an innocent will be killed each day.

Despite the king's resistance, Princess Aerity believes they must make peace with the Lashed, and though she's accepted a betrothal to the man who took down the beast, she cannot help thinking about Paxton, the Lashed man who stole her heart and disappeared.

Aerity soon discovers that Paxton has joined Rosaria's army in the war against her family. Though her feelings for him are still strong, her duty to her kingdom and her family is stronger—especially when her parents are kidnapped and she has to step up to the throne and once again put aside what's best for her in order to do what's best for her people. Paxton and Princess Aerity must fight to see what is more powerful: their love or the impending war between the magical Lashed and the non-magic humans.

My Review:
This book was really fantastic! I enjoyed being with these characters again, even though they're split up across the continent in this book! And a good part of this book, was getting everybody together again! Aerity and Paxton's reunion was amazing and totally unexpected!

It's kinda funny. It took one book to face one beast. Then it takes like, one chapter to face another. Because they've learned from the first time. And that leaves room for the bad guy behind it all. Well, there were two of them. Anyways.

It was kinda like they were treating the symptoms, not the disease. Because no matter how many creatures that they killed, well, more could be created. But also, there was the why people treated and viewed the Lashed. Because that wasn't cool or good at all!

Some bad guys, they really deserve to go down! Like, they either know they're bad and they like it it, or they're the type that thinks what they're doing is just, the right thing to do and are so annoying and overbearing. This guy, was the former. And I was so glad that they took him down, and how everything worked out! There was a battle, there was losses, but a victory for the good guys!

This book was fantastic, and I enjoyed reading it so much!

Author: Wendy Higgins
Series: Eurona Duology #2
Read: March 19th, 2017
Source: Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Love her books and her writing! And it's a 2017 Retelling Reading Challenge Book, End of Series 2017 Book, Historical Fiction 2017 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2017 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: March 7th 2017

/5 Hearts

/5 Books

/5 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday #296, January 11th

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

Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs
Expected Publication: March 7th, 2017
From Goodreads:
Attacked and abducted in her home territory, Mercy finds herself in the clutches of the most powerful vampire in the world, taken as a weapon to use against alpha werewolf Adam and the ruler of the Tri-Cities vampires. In coyote form, Mercy escapes--only to find herself without money, without clothing, and alone in the heart of Europe... 

Unable to contact Adam and the rest of the pack, Mercy has allies to find and enemies to fight, and she needs to figure out which is which. Ancient powers stir, and Mercy must be her agile best to avoid causing a war between vampires and werewolves, and between werewolves and werewolves. And in the heart of the ancient city of Prague, old ghosts rise...

The Great Pursuit by Wendy Higgins
Expected Publication: March 7th, 2017
From Goodreads:
In The Great Pursuit, the dramatic sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Great Hunt, Wendy Higgins delivers another thrilling fantasy filled with dangerous enemies, political intrigue, searing romance, and a princess who is willing to do everything to protect her kingdom.  

One hunt has ended, but the pursuit for love and justice continues.

The kingdom of Lochlanach has traded the great beast that once terrorized the realm of Eurona for something far more dangerous: the ire of powerful Lashed woman Rosaria Rocato. Rosaria demands that Eurona overturn the laws prohibiting magic, or an innocent will be killed each day.

Despite the king’s resistance, Princess Aerity believes they must make peace with the Lashed, and though she’s accepted a betrothal to the man who took down the beast, she cannot help thinking about Paxton, the Lashed man who stole her heart and disappeared.

Aerity soon discovers that Paxton has joined Rosaria’s army in the war against her family. Though her feelings for him are still strong, her duty to her kingdom and her family is stronger—especially when her parents are kidnapped and she has to step up to the throne and once again put aside what’s best for her in order to do what’s best for her people. Paxton and Princess Aerity must fight to see what is more powerful: their love or the impending war between the magical Lashed and the non-magic humans. 

The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
Expected Publication: March 7th, 2017
From Goodreads:
When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she’s a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. But Tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes Tea and her brother to another land for training.

In her new home, Tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha — one who can wield elemental magic. But dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, Tea will have to overcome her obstacles…and make a powerful choice.

Memoirs of a Geisha meets The Name of the Wind in this brilliant new fantasy series by Rin Chupeco!

How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks
Expected Publication: March 7th, 2017
From Goodreads:
From the brilliant imagination of Kerrelyn Sparks comes a bold new fantasy romance series in which passion and magic collide. Behold the Embraced...

As one of the Embraced—one born with magical powers—the beautiful, innocent Luciana escaped certain death after her father hid her away on the Isle of Moon. Now, nineteen years later, her father has returned with a frightening request. He will be executed unless Luciana returns to the mainland and marries a man feared throughout the land: a terrifying brute known as the Beast.

Luciana accepts her fate and agrees to wed the Beast—Lord Leo—in order to save her father. Soon she learns that her betrothed is also one of the Embraced. With the ability to wield lightning, Leo’s immense power strikes fear into the hearts of men. . .and his mere touch can put an end to a woman’s life. But Luciana cannot deny the passion that burns between them. How can she resist the man who scorches her soul and makes her feel intoxicated with desire—even if surrendering to him could destroy them both?

Souljacker by Yasmine Galenorn
Expected Publication: March 7th, 2017
From Goodreads:
Lily O'Connell, a succubus, owns Lily Bound, an elite sex salon in the Blood Night District of Seattle. When a client is murdered in her house, a patch of skin missing from his chest, she knows there's something evil afoot. Then comes the news that the Souljacker—a tattoo-artist-turned-vampire—has escaped from an institution for criminally deranged Supernaturals. And he's hunting and killing everyone he has ever inked. 

With one of the Souljacker's tattoos on her thigh and nowhere else to turn, Lily hires Archer Desmond, a chaos demon and PI, to help her track down the vampire before he finds her and her friends. But Lily didn't plan to fall for Archer. And as the old tales say—a succubus who falls in love will destroy the heart of the one she seeks to claim. 

Oh, wow, some really great books coming out on the 7th! I can't wait for these books to be out! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Unrest: Cover Reveal

Yeah, we have the cover of Unrest by Wendy Higgins!

We Have the Cover of Eurona Duology #2!!!!

Yes, we have the cover (and title) of The Great Pursuit by Wendy Higgins!

Random Reads #238, June 16th

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 5188 which turned out to be Sweet Temptation by Wendy Higgins! It's been on my TBR pile since October 13th 2014, and I added it because I love her books! Happy reading! 

We Have the Cover of Unknown #1!!!!

Yeah, we have the cover of Unknown by Wendy Higgins! So excited!

Waiting on Wednesday #248, February 10th

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

Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs
Expected Publication: March 8th, 2016
From Goodreads:
Mercy Thompson has been hailed as “a heroine who continues to grow and yet always remains true to herself.”* Now she’s back, and she’ll soon discover that when the fae stalk the human world, it’s the children who suffer...

Tensions between the fae and humans are coming to a head. And when coyote shapeshifter Mercy and her Alpha werewolf mate, Adam, are called upon to stop a rampaging troll, they find themselves with something that could be used to make the fae back down and forestall out-and-out war: a human child stolen long ago by the fae.

Defying the most powerful werewolf in the country, the humans, and the fae, Mercy, Adam, and their pack choose to protect the boy no matter what the cost. But who will protect them from a boy who is fire touched?

The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins
Expected Publication: March 8th, 2016
From Goodreads:
Kill the beast. Win the girl.

A strange beast stirs fear in the kingdom of Lochlanach, terrorizing towns with its brutality and hunger. In an act of desperation, a proclamation is sent to all of Eurona—kill the creature and win the ultimate prize: the daughter of King Lochson’s hand in marriage.

Princess Aerity understands her duty to the kingdom though it pains her to imagine marrying a stranger. It would be foolish to set her sights on any particular man in the great hunt, but when a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention, there’s no denying the unspoken lure between them…or his mysterious resentment.

Paxton is not keen on marriage. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He’s determined to keep his focus on the task at hand—ridding the kingdom of the beast and protecting his family—yet Princess Aerity continues to challenge his notions with her unpredictability and charm. But as past secrets collide with present desires, dire choices threaten everything Paxton holds dear.

Inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ tale, “The Singing Bone,” New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins delivers a dark fantasy filled with rugged hunters, romantic tension, outlawed magic, and a princess willing to risk all to save her people.

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
Expected Publication: March 8th, 2016
From Goodreads:
The Shadowhunters of Los Angeles star in the first novel in Cassandra Clare’s newest series, The Dark Artifices, a sequel to the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series. Lady Midnight is a Shadowhunters novel.

It’s been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and avenging her losses.

Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn’t lead her in treacherous directions…

Making things even more complicated, Julian’s brother Mark—who was captured by the faeries five years ago—has been returned as a bargaining chip. The faeries are desperate to find out who is murdering their kind—and they need the Shadowhunters’ help to do it. But time works differently in faerie, so Mark has barely aged and doesn’t recognize his family. Can he ever truly return to them? Will the faeries really allow it?

Glitz, glamours, and Shadowhunters abound in this heartrending opening to Cassandra Clare’s Dark Artifices series.

Relic by Gretchen NcMeil
Expected Publication: March 8th, 2016
From Goodreads:
From Gretchen McNeil, the author of Ten and Possess, comes this teen horror novel perfect for young fans of Stephen King, and Lois Duncan's I Know What You Did Last Summer.

For Annie Kramer, the summer before college is bittersweet—both a last hurrah of freedom and the last days she'll spend with her boyfriend, Jack, before they head off to different colleges. So she and her friends plan one final adventure: a houseboating trip on Shasta Lake, complete with booze, romance . . . and an off-limits exploration of the notorious Bull Valley Mine.

The legends of mysterious lights and missing persons on Shasta Lake have been a staple of sleepovers and campouts since Annie was a kid. Full of decrepit bridges that lead to nowhere, railroad tunnels that disappear into the mountains, and terrifying stories of unexplained deaths and bodies that were never recovered, Bull Valley Mine is notorious and frightening—perfect for an epic conclusion to their high school lives.

The trip is fun and light—at first. But when a deranged stranger stumbles upon their campsite, spouting terrifying warnings and pleas for help, it's clear that everyone is in danger. And when their exploration of the mine goes horribly wrong, Annie and her friends quickly discover that the menace of Bull Valley Mine doesn't stay at Shasta Lake—it follows them home.

As one by one her friends fall victim to this mysterious and violent force, Annie must do whatever it takes to discover the ancient secrets of the mine and save her friends . . . if she's not already too late. 

Map of Fates by Maggie Hall
Expected Publication: March 8th, 2016
From Goodreads:
Two weeks. 



That’s how long it took for Avery West’s ordinary life to change forever: In two weeks, she discovered she was heiress to a powerful secret society known as the Circle, learned her mother was taken hostage by the Circle’s enemies, and fell for a boy she’s not allowed to love, just as she found out another was her unwelcome destiny. 



Now, Avery crosses oceans in private jets to hunt for clues that will uncover the truth about the Circle, setting her mom and herself free before it’s too late. By her side are both the boys: Jack—steady, loyal, and determined to help her even at the expense of his own duty—and Stellan, whose connection to Avery grows stronger by the day despite her best intentions, making her question what she believes at every turn.
 


But at the end of a desperate hunt from the islands of Greece to the red carpet at Cannes comes a discovery that not only changes everything, but could bring the whole world to its knees. And now Avery is forced to face the truth: in the world of the Circle, no one is what they seem.

On the Edge of Gone by Corinne Duyvis
Expected Publication: March 8th, 2016
From Goodreads:
January 29, 2035. That’s the day the comet is scheduled to hit—the big one.

Denise and her mother and sister, Iris, have been assigned to a temporary shelter outside their hometown of Amsterdam to wait out the blast, but Iris is nowhere to be found, and at the rate Denise’s drug-addicted mother is going, they’ll never reach the shelter in time.

A last-minute meeting leads them to something better than a temporary shelter: a generation ship, scheduled to leave Earth behind to colonize new worlds after the comet hits. But everyone on the ship has been chosen because of their usefulness. Denise is autistic and fears that she’ll never be allowed to stay. Can she obtain a spot before the ship takes flight? What about her mother and sister?

When the future of the human race is at stake, whose lives matter most?

Shades of Darkness by A.R. Kahler
Expected Publication: March 8th, 2016
From Goodreads:
Islington Arts Academy is not an average high school. Nestled in the forests of Michigan, surrounded by trees and nature and virtually no evidence of civilization, it is an oasis for those looking to get away. Perfect for a student like Kaira Winters, who wants nothing more than to put her past behind her and focus on the present…and her looming graduation, just a few months away.

But the past has a way of returning when least expected.

Kaira knows that what happened before, at her old school, wasn’t normal. She knows that what happened to her ex-boyfriend wasn’t natural. But she refuses to believe that the recent death on campus, the one that left everyone on edge, has anything to do with her. She refuses to believe that she could be at fault again.

But just as the past always returns, the truth can never stay hidden for long.

Even if Kaira didn’t cause the first death at Islington, or the second, or the third, she has the ability to find out who did. She has the obligation to stop whatever is coming to campus. To end the darkness that is falling with the same snow that once blanketed the woods in beauty.

But to embrace this power—to relinquish herself to the ancient entity that has been lurking in the corners of her mind–is to let go of her humanity…and Kaira doesn’t know how far she can go before she loses herself completely.

The Keeper of the Mist by Rachel Neumeir
Expected Publication: March 8th, 2016
From Goodreads:
A lush new fantasy about finding the will to lead against all odds, perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone.

Keri has been struggling to run her family bakery since her mother passed away.  Now the father she barely knew—the Lord of Nimmira—has died, and ancient magic has decreed that she will take his place as the new Lady. The position has never been so dangerous: the mists that hide Nimmira from its vicious, land-hungry neighbors have failed, and Keri's people are visible to strangers for the first time since the mists were put in place generations ago. 

At the same time, three half-brothers will their own eyes on the crown make life within the House just as dangerous as the world outside. But Keri has three people to guide her: her mysterious Timekeeper, clever Bookkeeper, and steadfast Doorkeeper. Together they must find a way to repair the boundary before her neighbors realize just how vulnerable Nimmira is.

With a spunky main character, lyrical storytelling, and hidden romance, The Keeper of the Mist is an engrossing story that is full of adventure.

The Steep & Thorny Way by Cat Winters
Expected Publication: March 8th, 2016
From Goodreads:
A thrilling reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, The Steep and Thorny Way tells the story of a murder most foul and the mighty power of love and acceptance in a state gone terribly rotten.

1920s Oregon is not a welcoming place for Hanalee Denney, the daughter of a white woman and an African-American man. She has almost no rights by law, and the Ku Klux Klan breeds fear and hatred in even Hanalee’s oldest friendships. Plus, her father, Hank Denney, died a year ago, hit by a drunk-driving teenager. Now her father’s killer is out of jail and back in town, and he claims that Hanalee’s father wasn’t killed by the accident at all but, instead, was poisoned by the doctor who looked after him—who happens to be Hanalee’s new stepfather.

The only way for Hanalee to get the answers she needs is to ask Hank himself, a “haint” wandering the roads at night.

These books! Look and sound so good! I want it to be March 8th so much! What about you guys? Happy reading!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #227, October 12th

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey 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 #226
Teaser Tuesday #234
WWW Wednesday #234
WOW #231
Will the Time Come #227
Third Sentence Thursday #217
Random Reads #202
First Lines Friday #221
The Reward Challenge Update #212
Follow Friday #204
How Well I Stuck to It #56
Wrote that Review Update #61

Week 41 Reviews:
Ash & Bramble
The House of the Stone
The White Rose
It's a Wonderful Death
Da Vinci's Tiger
The Rest of Us Just Live Here
Tangled Webs
The Great Hunt
Prince of Conjurers
A Madness So Discreet
Dumplin'
Don't Touch
Dangerous Lies

Random:
Patrick Ness Author Page
Cammie McGovern Author Page
R.J. Anderson Author Page
Julie Murphy Author Page

OK, so I got 28 posts in 7 days, which is pretty good, considering the packing going on! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read Jane Unwrapped.

Some tombs should never be opened...

Fluorine uranium carbon potassium. Jane's experiment really went wrong this time. After a fatal accident, teen scientist Jane becomes the first modern-day...mummy. Waking up in the Egyptian underworld without a heart certainly isn't the best—especially when it means Anubis, god of embalming, has to devour her soul. Yuck. But when Jane meets the drop-dead gorgeous god, suddenly she's thinking this might not be the worst thing to happen. And then she is pushed to do the impossible—just time-travel and kill King Tut. Well, every experiment has variables which can end in disaster... Jane just wishes she could decide whether she wants to strangle Anubis or kiss him.