June 2018 – Jill's Book Blog

Blog Tour Review: Kiss of the Royal

Title: Kiss of the Royal
Author: Lindsey Duga
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Release Date: July 3, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In the war against the Forces of Darkness, the Royals are losing. Princess Ivy is determined to end this centuries-long conflict once and for all, so her new battle partner must succeed where the others failed. Prince Zach’s unparalleled skill with a sword, enhanced by Ivy’s magic Kiss, should make them an unstoppable pair—but try convincing Zach of that.

Prince Zach has spent his life preparing for battle, but he would rather be branded a heretic than use his lips as nothing more than a way to transfer magic. A kiss is a symbol of love, and love is the most powerful weapon they have—but try convincing Ivy of that.

With the fate of their world on the line, the battlefield has become a testing ground, and only one of them can be right. Falling for each other wasn’t part of the plan—but try convincing their hearts of that.

Review:

I really enjoyed this book.

The world in this story is a matriarchal society. The Princesses hold the power of the Kisses to protect their Prince partners. There was a hierarchy of who has the most royal blood. The more royal blood, the stronger the Kiss’s power.

The arrival of Zach disrupted Ivy’s life in many ways. He had a different belief system, which threatened their relationship. But they had to find a way to work together.

I really liked that Ivy grew as a character throughout the story. When she was given evidence that there are other options out in the world, she listened. She didn’t just dismiss them without hearing both sides of the story. She was also willing to try new things.

This was a great story. Have you read this book or are you planning on reading it? What did you think?

What to read next:

The Queen’s Rising
Shadow and Bone

About the Author:

Lindsey Duga is a middle grade and young adult writer with a passion for fantasy, science fiction, and basically any genre that takes you away from the real world. She wrote her first novel in college while she was getting her bachelor’s in Mass Communication from Louisiana State University.

Other than writing and cuddling with her morkie puppy, Delphi, Lindsey loves catching up on the latest superhero TV show and practicing yoga.

Tour Schedule:

June 25th

Pink Polka Dot Books– Welcome Post

June 26th

Book Slaying– Review & Favorite Quotes
The Clever Reader– Q&A

June 27th

Feed Your Fiction Addiction– Guest Post
Library of a Book Witch– Review

June 28th

Flyleaf Chronicles– Review
Velvet Spade Reads– Review & Favorite Quotes

June 29th

Rambling of A Book Nerd– Q&A
The Reading Corner for All– Review

June 30th

Jill’s Book Blog– Review
Sincerely Karen Jo– Review & Favorite Quotes

July 1st

The Reading Faery– Creative Option
Donnie Darko Girl– Review

July 2nd

Vicarious Bookworm– Review & Favorite Quotes
The Lovely Books– Review
Book Lady’s Reviews– Review

July 3rd

BookCrushin– Creative Option
Rattle the Stars– Guest Post

July 4th

F A N N A– Review
The Book Dutchesses– Review
Lisa Loves Literature– Review

July 5th

The Bibliophagist– Review & Favorite Quotes

Thank you to Fantastic Flying Book Club for letting me participate in this blog tour.

Review: Batgirl, Vol. 1: The Darkest Reflection

Title: Batgirl, Vol. 1: The Darkest Reflection
Author: Gail Simone, Ardian Syaf, Vicente Cifuentes
Genre: Graphic Novel
Publisher: DC Comics
Source: Library
Release Date: July 7, 2018
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

As a part of the acclaimed DC Comics—The New 52 event of September 2011, Barbara Gordon is finally back as Batgirl!

The nightmare-inducing brute known as Mirror is destroying the lives of Gotham City citizens seemingly at random. Will Barbara be able to survive her explosive confrontation with this new villain, as well as facing dark secrets from her past? A new chapter in the riveting adventures of Batgirl continue in stunning fashion, with script by fan-favorite Gail Simone and stellar art by superstar Ardian Syaf!

This volume collects issues 1-6 of Batgirl, part of the DC Comics—The New 52 event.

Review:

I really liked this graphic novel.

Barbara is a complex character in this story. She is targeted by the villain Mirror. Mirror is trying to kill everyone who survived accidents where others died, and they should have died too, but by some miracle they survived. Barbara is one of the people on his list. She has to track him down, and stop him from killing all of those survivors.

The graphics were great. Sometimes, the images were too dark because Batgirl and the Mirror were both wearing black. Their battle scenes were a little complicated because I couldn’t tell them apart when they were fighting. But that also shows the intensity of their fighting.

This is a great introduction to this Batgirl series. I’m looking forward to continuing it.

What to read next:

Batgirl, Vol. 2: Knightfall Descends
Gotham Academy, Vol. 1: Welcome to Gotham Academy

Have you read this volume of Batgirl or any others? What did you think?

Review: Outlander (Outlander #1)

Title: Outlander (Outlander #1)
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Dell
Source: Purchased
Release Date: July 26, 2005 (originally June 1, 1991)
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is just back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of Our Lord…1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life, and shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire—and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

Review:

I originally read this book when the TV series came out. I’m so glad I started this series!

I loved the way the story slowly unraveled. We gradually learn more about Claire’s life when she travels through Scotland. Her life in the twentieth century haunts her in the eighteenth century, especially with her husband’s ancestor, Black Jack Randall.

This is a very emotional story. There is love and pain. There are regrets and promises. Some scenes are hard to read, such as when Jamie was abused in the past. But there are happy scenes as well.

I like the way Claire’s medical knowledge makes people think she’s a witch. It’s also amazing how some of her medical advice has become everyday knowledge today, but back then, no one knew these things.

I love this book. Have you read it? What did you think?

TBR Thursday – June 27

TBR Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly Faye Reads, where you post a title from your shelf or e-reader and find out what others think about it.

My pick this week is Heartless by Marissa Meyer.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland—the infamous Queen of Hearts—she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.

Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

In her first stand-alone teen novel, the New York Times-bestselling author dazzles us with a prequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Have you read this book? What did you think of it?

Review: How To Be a Supervillain: Born To Be Good

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Title: How To Be a Supervillain: Born To Be Good
Author: Michael Fry
Genre: Middle Grade
Publisher: jimmy patterson
Source: Library
Release Date: May 1, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A sequel has never been this good…at being bad! In this highly anticipated follow-up to the bestselling How to Be a Supervillain, Victor Spoil must save the world from an evil scheme to enslave the superheroes and villains–to his parents’ utter disappointment.

Victor Spoil hates the Junior Super Academy. It makes him cranky–and his parents couldn’t be prouder, because supervillains aren’t meant to be nice. Until Victor confesses he wants to leave and become a librarian. The horror!

But when superheroes and villains–including his parents–start disappearing, only a dedicated do-gooder like Victor can track them down. He discovers that the supers are being captured to square off against aliens in gladiator-like shows. And unlike the scripted fights that the supers usually sign up for, these battles are to the death!

Victor and his fellow super students must join together and harness their super powers to battle this dastardly mega-villain. But to be a hero, Victor finally has to embrace his inner villain. Will he be able to stoop that low?

Review:

This series is so funny. Victor is the son of super villains, but he doesn’t want to be a villain. In the first book, he learned that his super power is tickling. It’s not a very ferocious power for a super villain.

In this book, Victor decides that he doesn’t want to be a super villain, and wants to be a librarian instead. But before he can quit being a super, all of the parents of kids at the super academy disappear. Victor has to work with his friends and his mentor, the Smear, to get them back.

This was a very funny book. The narrative is interspersed with pictures, like a graphic novel. This format reminds me of the Captain Underpants books. The super villain characters with odd powers reminded me of the Incredibles. This book would be great for fans of both Captain Underpants and The Incredibles.

Have you read this series? What did you think of it?

‘Waiting on’ Wednesday – June 2

This is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. In this post we highlight a book that’s highly anticipated.

The book that I’m waiting on this Wednesday is Fawkes by Nadine Brandes.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Thomas Fawkes is turning to stone, and the only cure to the Stone Plague is to join his father’s plot to assassinate the king of England.

Silent wars leave the most carnage. The wars that are never declared, but are carried out in dark alleys with masks and hidden knives. Wars where color power alters the natural rhythm of 17th century London. And when the king calls for peace, no one listens until he finally calls for death.

But what if death finds him first?

Keepers think the Igniters caused the plague. Igniters think the Keepers did it. But all Thomas knows is that the Stone Plague infecting his eye is spreading. And if he doesn’t do something soon, he’ll be a lifeless statue. So when his Keeper father, Guy Fawkes, invites him to join the Gunpowder Plot—claiming it will put an end to the plague—Thomas is in.

The plan: use 36 barrels of gunpowder to blow up the Igniter King.

The problem: Doing so will destroy the family of the girl Thomas loves. But backing out of the plot will send his father and the other plotters to the gallows. To save one, Thomas will lose the other.

No matter Thomas’s choice, one thing is clear: once the decision is made and the color masks have been put on, there’s no turning back.

What books are you waiting on this week?

Review: The Showrunner

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Title: The Showrunner
Author: Kim Moritsugu
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Dundurn
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Release Date: June 26, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Rising-star showrunner Stacey McCreedy has one goal: to leave behind her nerd-girl origins and become a power player — like Ann Dalloni, her former mentor and current producing partner. Ann, meanwhile, is feeling her age and losing her mind. But she’ll be damned if she cedes control of their hit primetime TV show to Stacey.

After Ann hires Jenna, a young actress hoping to restart her stalled career, as an assistant, the relationship between Ann and Stacey deteriorates into a blood feud. Soon, Jenna must choose whom to support and whom to betray to achieve her own ends. And Stacey will find out if she possesses the killer instinct needed to stay on top.

Review:

This story was entertaining and unpredictable!

I enjoy stories that are about television or movie production. It’s an industry that I don’t know much about, in terms of the behind the scenes work, but I watch TV and movies. It’s interesting to see how movies and shows are created, as well as the drama behind the camera.

I liked the dynamic of the three main characters. Ann is the matriarch, who is close to retiring age, though she won’t give up the reins of the show. Stacey is her business partner, who is constantly put down by Ann. Jenna is a young actress who is trying her hand behind the scenes. This gave three different perspectives of the industry from three different generations and positions of power.

There was an interesting scene of inappropriate behaviour in the work place between a man and a woman. It was initiated by the woman, and made the man uncomfortable. This wasn’t taken as seriously, because she was a woman who was abusing her position of power, rather than a man. It’s interesting to see how these gender dynamics can play out, even though they aren’t right. Women can be abusers just like men.

The ending was so shocking! I never would have predicted what would happen when I started reading this book. It was very dramatic!

I really enjoyed this story! Have you read it? What did you think?

Harry Potter Day – Hogwarts Tag

Today is the 21st anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. I’m a huge fan! Luana @ Book Storm Girl tagged me in this last week, and I’m so excited to do it! So let the fun begin!

What house are you in?

I’m a Ravenclaw all the way!

What is your wand?

“Laurel wood with a Phoenix feather core 9 ¾” and Slightly Yielding flexibility”

So a laurel wand cannot do a dishonourable act, and it doesn’t tolerate laziness. Phoenix feathers are picky because they come from independent creatures. There’s so much information about wands on the Pottermore website! I had no idea they were so complex.

What is your Patronus?

It’s a Chow dog! I’m not sure how helpful it would be against dementors…

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What would your boggart be?

I took this quiz to find out (the same as Book Storm Girl) and I got Dementor! This makes sense, since they’re so creepy… I wouldn’t want to meet one in a dark alley, or on the Hogwarts Express.

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What position would you play in Quidditch?

I did the Buzzfeed quiz for this one, because I had no idea what position I would play in Quidditch. I got chaser, just like one of my favourite witches, Ginny Weasley!

Would you rather take Divination or Care of Magical Creatures as an elective?

This is a hard one. I would like Divination, but I can’t stand Trelawney. But at the same time, I don’t want to be outside all the time with all kinds of strange creatures that Hagrid would choose for us to study. So I’ll have to go with Divination.

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What pet would you take to Hogwarts?

I would definitely bring an owl!

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Which of the Deathly Hallows would you choose?

Hmm.. this is another tough one. I’m torn between the elder wand and the invisibility cloak, but I think I’d choose the cloak.

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Would you enter your name for the Triwizard Tournament?

Nope. Nope. Nope.

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Would you rather drink Butterbeer or Pumpkin Juice?

I would like to try both, but I have a sweet tooth, so I think I would prefer Pumpkin Juice.

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Favorite teacher at Hogwarts?

I love McGonagall. She’s so tough, but she really cares about her students and wants them to do well.

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Least favorite teacher at Hogwarts?

Umbridge. All the way. I can’t stand her. She’s even worse than Voldemort.

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Would you rather have the marauder’s map or a time-turner?

This is another tough one. I would rather have the map, because I think I would mess up the timeline by doing something wrong with the time-turner.

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What Hogwarts ghost would you like the most?

I like Nearly Headless Nick. He’s funny and nice to Harry.

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Would you join the Frog Choir?

Haha, nope. I don’t sing.

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Would you rather get a pygmy puff or Weasleys’ Wildfire Whiz-bangs?

Is this even a question? Pygmy puff, for sure! They’re so adorable! How can you resist!

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The Hogwarts Express trolley is passing by, what do you get from it?

Pumpkin Pasties because they sound delicious.

Would you sneak into the restricted section of the Hogwarts library?

I probably would if I needed a book from there, or if I ran out of reading material in the rest of the library!

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If you could save one character from the Battle of Hogwarts, who would it be?

This question is going to make me cry. I’m torn between Fred and Lupin. Probably Lupin… no Fred. No Lupin. It’s hard to say because if Fred survived, the Weasley twins would live on, but if Lupin survived then his son wouldn’t be an orphan. However, that continues Harry’s story by repeating history, since Harry is the godfather of the new orphan just like Sirius was to him. Okay, since I like the way history would repeat if Lupin died, I choose to save Fred.

I tag you!

So I realize this is the last day of the Harry Potter week celebrations, but I’m still going to tag some people. And anyone else who would like to do this tag is welcome to do it. Tag me so I can see your answers.

Thanks for reading!

(All images taken from Pottermore.com and Pottermore.wikia.com)

Top Ten Tuesday – Series I’d Like to Finish One Day

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and it is now hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s theme is Series I’ve Given Up On, but I want to put a more positive spin on things, so I’ve changed it to Series I Want To Start/Finish One Day. Here’s my list:

1. Throne of Glass

2. A Court of Thorns and Roses

3. Pretty Little Liars

4. The Lying Game

5. Percy Jackson and the Olympians

6. Lumberjanes

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7. Giant Days

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8. Red Queen

9. The Raven Cycle

10. Stalking Jack The Ripper

(All photos taken from Goodreads)

Review: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Vol. 1: The Crucible

Title: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Vol. 1: The Crucible
Author: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Robert Hack
Genre: Graphic Novel
Publisher: Archie Comics
Source: Library
Release Date: August 16, 2016
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

On the eve of her sixteenth birthday, the young sorceress Sabrina Spellman finds herself at a crossroads, having to choose between an unearthly destiny and her mortal boyfriend, Harvey. But a foe from her family’s past has arrived in Greendale, Madame Satan, and she has her own deadly agenda. Archie Comics’ latest horror sensation starts here! For TEEN+ readers. Compiles the first six issues of the ongoing comic book series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

Review:

It’s been a long time since I thought I shouldn’t read a particular book before bed. This one was so creepy and disturbing, that I thought it would give me nightmares!

This definitely isn’t the same Sabrina the Teenage Witch that I grew up reading and watching on TV. She lives in a much darker town with murdering witches and dark spells. I didn’t realize just how “chilling” this graphic novel would be.

My favourite character has always been Salem, and he was just as great in this book. He’s sarcastic and funny, but he’s always looking out for Sabrina.

I also liked the cameo appearances of the gang from Riverdale. Two witches from their coven come to visit and help out at the end: Betty and Veronica!

I enjoyed this graphic novel, though I had to look away from the bloody graphics at times. Have you read it? What did you think?