Happy Pub Day to all of these new books!
What books are you most excited for this week?
Title: The Princess Will Save You (Kingdoms of Sand and Sky #1)
Author: Sarah Henning
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Tor Teen
Source: Litjoy
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: July 7, 2020
Rating: ★★★★★
When a princess’s commoner true love is kidnapped to coerce her into a political marriage, she doesn’t give in—she goes to rescue him.
When her warrior father, King Sendoa, mysteriously dies, Princess Amarande of Ardenia is given what would hardly be considered a choice: Marry a stranger at sixteen or lose control of her family’s crown.
But Amarande was raised to be a warrior—not a sacrifice.
In an attempt to force her choice, a neighboring kingdom kidnaps her true love, stable boy Luca. With her kingdom on the brink of civil war and no one to trust, she’ll need all her skill to save him, her future, and her kingdom.
The Princess Will Save You is a YA fantasy adventure inspired by The Princess Bride, in which a princess must rescue her stable boy true love, from the acclaimed author of Sea Witch, Sarah Henning.
After Princess Amarande’s father dies suddenly, she is given orders to marry before she can become Queen. The Kings and Princes from the surrounding kingdoms arrive with marriage proposals, but she doesn’t like any of them. Amarande is in love with Luca, the stable boy. One evening, she goes to see Luca and finds a note that says he has been kidnapped and will only be returned if she marries Prince Rennard. Amarande leaves, following the tracks they left behind. She must save her love and her kingdom.
This story was inspired by The Princess Bride. I’ve never actually read or watched The Princess Bride, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. I really loved this story!
I thought I had the story figured out pretty early. There was a note that appeared in the first few chapters after Amarande left to find Luca, and I thought that note had the solution to the kidnapping. There were some bombshell reveals in the final chapters, which really surprised me. I love it when a story can completely shock me at the end, even when I think I have it all figured out.
This was such a great story with a surprising ending! I can’t wait to read the sequel!
Have you read The Princess Will Save You? What did you think of it?
This blog meme is hosted by Book Date. It is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organize yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever growing TBR pile!
This weekend I finished The Princess Will Save You by Sarah Henning.
I’m currently reading Tigers, Not Daughters by Samantha Mabry.
Next I will be reading The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly.
What are you guys reading this week? Have you read any of these books?
Here are my reviews for the week with my ratings:
I did 9 weekly blogging memes:
How was your week? What did you guys read?
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 Princess Will Save You (Kingdoms of Sand and Sky #1) by Sarah Henning.
When a princess’s commoner true love is kidnapped to coerce her into a political marriage, she doesn’t give in—she goes to rescue him.
When her warrior father, King Sendoa, mysteriously dies, Princess Amarande of Ardenia is given what would hardly be considered a choice: Marry a stranger at sixteen or lose control of her family’s crown.
But Amarande was raised to be a warrior—not a sacrifice.
In an attempt to force her choice, a neighboring kingdom kidnaps her true love, stable boy Luca. With her kingdom on the brink of civil war and no one to trust, she’ll need all her skill to save him, her future, and her kingdom.
The Princess Will Save You is a YA fantasy adventure inspired by The Princess Bride, in which a princess must rescue her stable boy true love, from the acclaimed author of Sea Witch, Sarah Henning.
What book are you in bed with today?
This meme is hosted by Steph at A little but a lot. The weekly prompts for 2019 can be found here.
This week’s prompt is Blue and Green Books. Here’s my list:
(All book covers from Goodreads)
Did you make a Six for Sunday list?
Title: Getting It Together, Vol. 1
Author: Sina Grace, Omar Spahi, Jenny Fine
Genre: Graphic Novel
Publisher: Image Comics
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Format: Ebook
Release Date: March 30, 2021
Rating: ★★
Marvel Comics and GLAAD nominated award Iceman writer SINA GRACE and co-creator OMAR SPAHI deliver the all-new modern dramedy you didn’t know you needed! Sam and Jack are best friends, and Sam is dating Lauren, Jack’s indie rocker sister and roommate. Tensions skyrocket when Sam and Lauren open up their long-term relationship, sending social shockwaves through their friend group and the entire Bay Area, leaving poor Jack caught in the middle! Life gets pretty messy when you’re in your 20s and your friends are your family. Newcomer artist JENNY D. FINE shines in this series about love, friendship an rock n’ roll!
Collects GETTING IT TOGETHER #1-5
This graphic novel is about a group of friends in San Francisco. Sam and Jack are best friends, and Sam is dating Lauren, Jack’s sister. After Sam and Lauren decide to have an open relationship, Lauren sleeps with her her band mate. That devastates Sam, leading them to break up. Jack ends up in the middle of the break up, between his best friend and his sister. Meanwhile, Jack is constantly using dating apps to meet new guys. They all have lots of drama in their lives.
I was drawn to this graphic novel because of the cover, which resembles the cast of the tv show Friends. This story was also about a group of friends in their 20s, and it opened with a couple breaking up because one of them misunderstood what it meant to be “on a break.” However, that’s where the resemblance ended.
I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. There wasn’t a lot of plot either, other than them having random romantic encounters. The graphic novel began with Sam and Jack, but they had disappeared from the story by the end. Some plot points were so dramatic, I think they were just included for a shock factor, rather than actually moving the plot forward.
The art style changed, and improved, in the final chapter of the book. At the beginning, the images were less defined and detailed, which made many characters look alike. I’m not sure if it was part of the story or just in my advanced copy, but I wish the later art style was throughout the story.
Unfortunately, this graphic novel didn’t work for me.
Thank you Image Comics for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Have you read Getting It Together? What did you think of it?
This is a weekly meme hosted Devouring Books. This week’s prompt is Desert Books. Here’s my list:
(All book covers from Goodreads)
If you’d like to do this list too, consider yourself tagged!
Did you make a Top 5 Saturday list?
Title: The Accidental Apprentice (Wilderlore #1)
Author: Amanda Foody
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: March 30, 2021
Rating: ★★★★★
A boy who accidentally bonds with a magical Beast must set off on an adventure in the mysterious Woods.
The last thing Barclay Thorne ever wanted was an adventure.
Thankfully, as an apprentice to the town’s mushroom farmer, Barclay need only work hard and follow the rules to one day become the head mushroom farmer himself. No danger required. But then Barclay accidentally breaks his town’s most sacred rule: never ever EVER stray into the Woods, for within the Woods lurk vicious magical Beasts.
To Barclay’s horror, he faces a fate far worse than being eaten: he unwittingly bonds with a Beast and is run out of town by an angry mob. Determined to break this bond and return home, Barclay journeys to find the mysterious town of Lore Keepers, people who have also bonded with Beasts and share their powers.
But after making new friends, entering a dangerous apprenticeship exam, and even facing the legendary Beast of the Woods, Barclay must make a difficult choice: return to the home and rules he’s always known, or embrace the adventure awaiting him.
Barclay Thorne is an apprentice to a mushroom farmer in Dullshire. He’s an orphan, whose parents were killed by a massive beast. In Barclay’s town, they keep the beasts away. No one is allowed to go into the forest where the beasts live. When his friend goes running into the forest while they’re gathering mushrooms one day, Barclay follows him. Barclay’s worst nightmare comes true when he encounters a beast, who creates a bond with him, turning Barclay into a Lore Keeper. Barclay is run out of town when the townspeople realize he has a magical connection to a beast. He meets Violet in the forest, who brings Barclay to a town to have his bond with the beast removed. However, the bond is not easily broken, so Barclay is convinced to participate in an apprenticeship contest in order to get his beast bond removed.
This was a fun twist on the middle grade fantasy story. Usually, the main characters in fantasy stories are eager to find and connect with animals. In this case, that was the worst thing that Barclay could imagine. His bond with a beast ruined the plans he had to live a quiet life in his town as a mushroom farmer. The life he wanted to live was so quiet, that the town is actually called “dull.” He didn’t want to go on an adventure, unlike most fantasy characters.
There were some surprising twists throughout the story. Some characters weren’t what they seemed, which really surprised me. The story ended with another adventure beginning, so I’m excited to see what happens in the next book.
This was a fun middle grade fantasy.
Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Have you read The Accidental Apprentice? 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 is my first line:
“The demon exploded in a shower of ichor and guts.”
Do you recognize this first line?
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And the book is… Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare.
Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London’s Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.
Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa’s power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm’s length…everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world…and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.
Check out my review of Clockwork Angel here.
Have you read Clockwork Angel? What did you think of it?
Jill's Book Blog 