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 Bridge of Souls (Cassidy Blake #3) by Victoria Schwab. The expected publication date is March 2, 2021.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Where there are ghosts, Cassidy Blake follows … unless it’s the other way around?
Cass thinks she might have this ghost-hunting thing down. After all, she and her ghost best friend, Jacob, have survived two haunted cities while travelling for her parents’ TV show.
But nothing can prepare Cass for New Orleans, which wears all of its hauntings on its sleeve. In a city of ghost tours and tombs, raucous music and all kinds of magic, Cass could get lost in all the colourful, grisly local legends. And the city’s biggest surprise is a foe Cass never expected to face: a servant of Death itself.
Title: Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) Author: Cassandra Clare Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Source: Purchased Format: Paperback Release Date: August 31, 2010 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
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.
Review:
1870: Tessa Gray travelled from New York to London to find her brother after the death of their aunt. She was greeted by two women who said they were sent to retrieve her. The women, called the Dark Sisters, kept Tessa locked up until she learned how to use her secret ability, which was to transform into any person. Just before Tessa is sent to marry the mysterious Magister, she is rescued by the Shadowhunters. With their help, Tessa has to find her brother and help save everyone from the Magister.
I love historical fiction and fantasy, so this story was the perfect combination. It was actually quite creepy at the beginning, when Tessa was learning how to use her power. The setting of Victorian London had a dark atmosphere, which added to the fantasy plot.
This was such a great story. I wish I had read it sooner. I can’t wait to read the next one!
What to read next:
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare
Other books in the series:
Clockwork Prince
Clockwork Princess
Have you read Clockwork Angel? What did you think of it?
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 a Valentine’s Freebie, so I made a list of Perfect Books for Valentine’s Day. Here’s my list:
1. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
2. Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
3. Well Met by Jen DeLuca
4. Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey
5. The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams
6. Intercepted by Alexa Martin
7. Rent a Boyfriend by Gloria Chao
8. The Meet-Cute Project by Rhiannon Richardson
9. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
10. The Roommate by Rosie Danan
(All book covers from Goodreads)
What’s your list of books on your Top Ten Tuesday?
Title: Girl Haven Author: Lilah Sturges, Meaghan Carter (illustrator) Genre: Middle Grade, Graphic Novel Publisher: Oni Press Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: February 16, 2021 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
When seventh-grader Ash, his crush Eleanor, and their friends are transported to a girls-only imaginary world, Ash must come to terms with the fact that he may actually be a transgender girl. Full of wonder, humor, and heart, Girl Haven is the newest original story from the author of Lumberjanes.
Three years ago, Ash’s mom, Kristin, left home and never came back. Now, Ash lives in the house where Kristin grew up. All of her things are there. Her old room, her old clothes, and the shed, where she spent her childhood creating a fantasy world called Koretris.
Ash knows all about Koretris: how it’s a haven for girls, with no men or boys allowed, and filled with fanciful landscapes and creatures. When Ash’s friends decide to try going to Koretris, using one of Kristin’s spellbooks, Ash doesn’t think anything will happen. But the spell works, and Ash discovers that the world Kristin created is actually a real place, with real inhabitants and very real danger.
But if Koretris is real, why is Ash there? Everyone has always called Ash a boy. Ash uses he/him pronouns. Shouldn’t the spell have kept Ash out? And what does it mean if it let Ash in?
Review:
Seventh-grader Ash joins the Pride club at school. The club consists of friends Eleanor, Chloe, and Junebug. After the club meeting, Ash invites his new friends to his house to show them his mom’s art. His mom created a world called Koretris in her art and stories when she was a child. Koretris is a world filled with talking rabbits, where only girls exist. His mom disappeared years ago. Ash and his friends recite a spell from the spell book she created, which transports them to Koretris. Since boys aren’t allowed in Koretris, Ash questions whether he is meant to be a boy or a girl while also searching for his mom in this fantasy world.
This was a fun fantasy story. It’s a common storyline to be transported into a fantasy world, such as Narnia or Wonderland. I would have loved to go into the worlds of my favourite novels as a kid, so I think this story is relateable.
This story also explored what it means to be a boy or a girl. Ash had always felt more like a girl, but since everyone said that he was a boy, he figured he must be a boy. He really began to question it when he was transported to the world that was only meant for girls. This shows readers that it’s okay to question your feelings and figure out who you really are, not who others say you have to be.
I loved this middle grade graphic novel!
Thank you Oni Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
Sheets by Brenna Thummler
Mooncakes by Wendy Xu and Suzanne Walker
Have you read Girl Haven? 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!
What I just finished:
This weekend I finished Girl Haven by Lilah Sturges, Meaghan Carter (illustrator).
What I’m currently reading:
I’m currently reading Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare.
What I’m reading next:
Next I will be reading Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce.
What are you guys reading this week? Have you read any of these books?
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 Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare.
Goodreads Synopsis:
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.
Title: Make Up Break Up Author: Lily Menon Genre: Romance, Contemporary Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: February 2, 2021 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Love, romance, second chances, fairy-tale endings…these are the things Annika Dev believes in. Her app, Make Up, has been called the “Google Translate for failing relationships.”
High efficiency break-ups, flashy start-ups, penthouses, fast cars…these are the things Hudson Craft believes in. His app, Break Up, is known as the “Uber for break-ups.” It’s wildly successful—and anathema to Annika’s life philosophy.
Which wouldn’t be a problem if they’d gone their separate ways after that summer fling in Las Vegas, never to see each other again. Unfortunately for Annika, Hudson’s moving not just into her office building, but into the office right next to hers. And he’ll be competing at the prestigious EPIC investment pitch contest: A contest Annika needs to win if she wants to keep Make Up afloat. As if it’s not bad enough seeing his irritatingly perfect face on magazine covers when her own business is failing. As if knowing he stole her idea and twisted it into something vile—and monumentally more successful—didn’t already make her stomach churn.
As the two rival app developers clash again and again—and again—Annika finds herself drawn into Hudson Craft’s fast-paced, high velocity, utterly shallow world. Only, from up close, he doesn’t seem all that shallow. Could it be that everything she thought about Hudson is completely wrong? Could the creator of Break Up teach her what true love’s really about?
Review:
Annika Dev is developing an app called Make Up, which will study conversations between partners and show them how to fix their relationships. Hudson Craft moves into the office down the hall from her. His app is called Break Up, which is a service that will send someone to your partner to break up with them for you. Hudson and Annika had a spontaneous fling in Vegas in the previous summer. She told him about her idea for an app and then he stole her idea to make an app to break people up. Now, they’re not only neighbors but they’re also competing for an investment that Annika needs to save her company from bankruptcy. They have to figure out how to put their differences behind them to create successful businesses.
‘Hate to love’ is one of my favourite romance tropes. There was a lot of tension between Annika and Hudson right from the beginning. Annika had strong feelings against Hudson immediately. I wasn’t sure why she hated him so much, and the complete details of what happened between them wasn’t revealed until the final pages. Her feelings would have made more sense if their first encounter was described earlier in the story.
The final quarter of the story was very intense and emotional. There were very high, exciting parts and some low, devastating parts as well. The plot became much more solid as it progressed. There were some things that were revealed in the final parts, such as the details of Annika and Hudson’s first encounter, which would have been better if they were revealed at the beginning.
This was a good ‘hate to love’ romance. I’m looking forward to reading Lily Menon’s next romances!
Thank you St. Martin’s Griffin for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
How to Hack a Heartbreak by Kristin Rockaway
Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park
Have you read Make Up Break Up? What did you think of it?
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