The meme that dares to ask what book has been in your bed this morning? Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed, or which book you wish you had time to read today! This meme is hosted by Midnight Book Girl.
This Sunday I’m reading The Last Namsara (Iskari #1) by Kristen Ciccarelli.
Goodreads Synopsis:
In the beginning, there was the Namsara: the child of sky and spirit, who carried love and laughter wherever he went. But where there is light, there must be darkness—and so there was also the Iskari. The child of blood and moonlight. The destroyer. The death-bringer.
These are the legends that Asha, daughter of the king of Firgaard, has grown up learning in hushed whispers, drawn to the forbidden figures of the past. But it isn’t until she becomes the fiercest, most feared dragon slayer in the land that she takes on the role of the next Iskari—a lonely destiny that leaves her feeling more like a weapon than a girl.
Asha conquers each dragon and brings its head to the king, but no kill can free her from the shackles that await at home: her betrothal to the cruel commandant, a man who holds the truth about her nature in his palm. When she’s offered the chance to gain her freedom in exchange for the life of the most powerful dragon in Firgaard, she finds that there may be more truth to the ancient stories than she ever could have expected. With the help of a secret friend—a slave boy from her betrothed’s household—Asha must shed the layers of her Iskari bondage and open her heart to love, light, and a truth that has been kept from her.
Title: Mirror, Mirror (Twisted Tales #6) Author: Jen Calonita Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy Publisher: Disney Book Group Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: April 2, 2019 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
What if the Evil Queen poisoned the prince?
Following her beloved mother’s death, the kingdom falls into the hands of Snow White’s stepmother, commonly referred to as “the Evil Queen” by those she rules. Snow keeps her head down at the castle, hoping to make the best of her situation.
But when new information about her parents resurfaces and a plot to kill her goes haywire, everything changes for Snow. With the help of a group of wary dwarfs, a kind prince she thought she’d never see again, and a mysterious stranger from her past, Snow embarks on a quest to stop the Evil Queen and take back her kingdom. But can she stop an enemy who knows her every move and will stop at nothing to retain her power… including going after the ones Snow loves?
Review:
This is the first book that I’ve read in the Twisted Tales series. I love adaptations of fairytales, so I knew I would love this book!
This book is a modern adaptation of the classic Disney movie Snow White. It follows both Snow and the Evil Queen, Ingrid. I liked how familiar the story was, since I grew up watching the movie. It’s been many years since I watched it, but the characters were the same, so I could imagine what they looked like.
Though this story is based on the Disney movie, it has more modern themes. Snow is a leader who takes charge of the plan to remove the Evil Queen from power. She has more power than the original Snow White would have had in the 1937 movie. Gender roles were reversed when her prince was placed in a glass coffin instead of her (This is not a spoiler because it happens in the prologue). Snow is a much more active character in this modern story.
I loved this story! I’ll definitely have to check out the other books in the series.
Thank you to Disney Book Group for providing me an e-galley of this book via NetGalley.
What to read next:
Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen by Serena Valentino
Part of Your World (Twisted Tales #5) by Liz Braswell
Have you read Mirror, Mirror? What did you think of it?
This is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and Reading Reality. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!
I bought received six books I ordered from the Book Outlet:
A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena
Alex and Eliza by Melissa de la Cruz
Batman: Harley Quinn by Paul Dini, Neil Googe
Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner
I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo
The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo
I received six books from Thomas Allen and Son:
Changeling (The Oddmire #1) by William Ritter
A Gentlewoman’s Guide to Murder by Victoria Hamilton
Title: Since We Last Spoke Author: Brenda Rufener Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Publisher: HarperTeen Source: Publisher Format: Paperback Release Date: April 2, 2019 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
When true love is shattered by tragedy—how much would you risk to save it all?
When Aggi Frank and Max Granger finally admitted their feelings for each other last December, it felt like love was beautiful and endless… until it wasn’t.
A fatal car accident involving their older siblings throws their lives into sudden chaos. And with a restraining order now in place between the two bitter households, Aggi and Max’s love runs cold. Being together again seems like a distant fantasy, even though they share the same driveway.
Still, Plum Lake is a small town, and staying apart can’t last forever. Aggi and Max eventually reunite at a lake-house party hosted by a mutual friend and break the ice after a year of silence. But just as they begin to rebuild their relationship, the unthinkable happens when Aggi’s little sister, Grace, flees from home after their father spirals into a fit of rage. With a support system of friends close by, Aggi and Max must confront each other and their families in the hopes of mending all the broken pieces.
Perfect for fans of Jennifer Niven and Nicola Yoon, Brenda Rufener’s (Where I Live) second heartbreaking and uplifting novel captures the ups and downs of star-crossed lovers in the face of unimaginable grief, the fragile balance of their family relations, and the rocky journey to healing, peace, and forgiveness.
Review:
I loved this story!
This story was very emotional. The two main characters both lost their older siblings in a car accident. Max’s brother was killed in the accident, in which Aggi’s sister was driving. Aggi’s sister couldn’t live with the guilt of killing her boyfriend, so she killed herself. That was bad enough, but the two families, which had always been close neighbours, had a huge feud. Aggi’s dad sued Max’s dad, causing a lot of paranoia and driving a wedge between Max and Aggi. There was a lot of tension whenever the two families came face to face.
This story deals with a lot of serious issues, including suicide and abuse. Aggi’s sister commits suicide, because she was being blamed for a car crash, which was just an accident. Max’s friend, Henry, was abused by his father and brothers. Aggi’s dad abused her mother and sister as a way to show his pain. All of these things were difficult to read, but they are real parts of life that happen sometimes. There are hotlines listed at the end of the book for anyone who needs to talk about these problems.
The only thing I would change about this book is to make the two narratives more distinct. The narrative switches between Aggi’s and Max’s perspectives. Sometimes I was confused as to who was talking, because they sounded the same. This was especially confusing when they were together and the narrative switched quickly between both of them to create more tension. It would have been a much smoother read if their voices were more distinct.
I really enjoyed this story. It was a quick, but emotional, read.
What to read next:
Where I Live by Brenda Rufener
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Have you read Since We Last Spoke? What did you think of it?
This is a weekly meme hosted by Wandering Words, where you give the first few lines of a book to hook your readers before introducing the book.
Here are my first lines:
“After a year of slavery in the Salt Mines of Endovier, Celaena Sardothien was accustomed to being escorted everywhere in shackles and at sword-point. Most of the thousands of slaves in Endovier received similar treatment – though an extra half-dozen guards always walked Celaena to and from the mines. “
Do you recognize these first lines?
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And the book is… Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas.
Goodreads synopsis:
In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king’s champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.
The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass–and it’s there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena’s fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.
Have you read Throne of Glass? What did you think of it?
Title: Sky Without Stars (System Divine #1) Author: Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction Publisher: Simon and Schuster Canada Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: March 26, 2019 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
A thief. An officer. A guardian.
Three strangers, one shared destiny . . .
When the Last Days came, the planet of Laterre promised hope. A new life for a wealthy French family and their descendants. But five hundred years later, it’s now a place where an extravagant elite class reigns supreme; where the clouds hide the stars and the poor starve in the streets; where a rebel group, long thought dead, is resurfacing.
Whispers of revolution have begun—a revolution that hinges on three unlikely heroes…
Chatine is a street-savvy thief who will do anything to escape the brutal Regime, including spy on Marcellus, the grandson of the most powerful man on the planet.
Marcellus is an officer—and the son of a renowned traitor. In training to take command of the military, Marcellus begins to doubt the government he’s vowed to serve when his father dies and leaves behind a cryptic message that only one person can read: a girl named Alouette.
Alouette is living in an underground refuge, where she guards and protects the last surviving library on the planet. But a shocking murder will bring Alouette to the surface for the first time in twelve years…and plunge Laterre into chaos.
All three have a role to play in a dangerous game of revolution—and together they will shape the future of a planet.
Power, romance, and destiny collide in this sweeping reimagining of Victor Hugo’s masterpiece, Les Misérables.
Review:
This new YA series follows the new trend in YA Fantasy books which have French settings. I really like these settings, because most of the cities are lavish and extravagant, but they also have secret societies and criminals.
The story followed three characters: Chatine, Marcellus, and Alouette. They all come from different levels in society, but they become mixed up in each other’s lives. Since there were three different perspectives, the different areas that they come from were explored, giving a complete image of the world they live in.
This story is a retelling of Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. I also love adaptations. However, I’ve never read or watched Les Misérables, so this story was very new to me. I read a graphic novel adaptation last year, so I know the general story, but this story is a unique take on the original. I really liked how it was adapted to a futuristic setting on a different planet.
There were lots of twists that kept me guessing throughout the story. The ending was so good. Each character’s story had a bit of a cliffhanger, which made me wonder what was going to happen next. I can’t wait to read the next book when it comes out!
What to read next:
Enchantée by Gita Trelease
Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd
Have you read Sky Without Stars? What did you think of it?
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 A Gathering of Shadows (Shades of Magic #2) by V.E. Schwab.
Goodreads Synopsis:
It has been four months since a mysterious obsidian stone fell into Kell’s possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Prince Rhy was wounded, and since the nefarious Dane twins of White London fell, and four months since the stone was cast with Holland’s dying body through the rift–back into Black London.
Now, restless after having given up his smuggling habit, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks as she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games–an extravagant international competition of magic meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries–a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port.
And while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night will reappear in the morning. But the balance of magic is ever perilous, and for one city to flourish, another London must fall.
Have you read this book? What did you think of it?
Title: Fracture Me (Shatter Me #2.5) Author: Tahereh Mafi Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction Publisher: HarperTeen Source: Purchased Format: Paperback Release Date: December 17, 2013 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
In this electrifying sixty-page companion novella to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, discover the fate of the Omega Point rebels as they go up against The Reestablishment. Set during and soon after the final moments of Unravel Me, Fracture Me is told from Adam’s perspective.
As Omega Point prepares to launch an all-out assault on The Reestablishment soldiers stationed in Sector 45, Adam’s focus couldn’t be further from the upcoming battle. He’s reeling from his breakup with Juliette, scared for his best friend’s life, and as concerned as ever for his brother James’s safety. And just as Adam begins to wonder if this life is really for him, the alarms sound. It’s time for war.
On the battlefield, it seems like the odds are in their favor—but taking down Warner, Adam’s newly discovered half brother, won’t be that easy. The Reestablishment can’t tolerate a rebellion, and they’ll do anything to crush the resistance . . . including killing everyone Adam has ever cared about.
Review:
I’m obsessed with this series! I love that there are novellas to read between novels. They fill in the gaps in time between the novels.
I didn’t realize that this novella was written from Adam’s point of view. I thought they were all from Warner’s perspective, just like the first one. I was so excited that this one was told by Adam, because he wasn’t in the previous book as much. He’s a complicated character, who had to make some tough decisions in this story.
One of my favourite parts of these novellas is that they show parts of the story that couldn’t be shown in the other novels. Since the novels are told from Juliette’s perspective, only her side of the story is told. There are important things going on around her, so it is great to see those events too. This was especially important for this part of the story, because Juliette wasn’t present for a lot of the battle at the end of Unravel Me.
I loved this novella! I can’t wait to read Ignite Me very soon!
What to read next:
Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi
Have you read Fracture Me? What did you think of it?
Jill's Book Blog 