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:
“The narrows remind me of August nights in the South.”
Do you recognize this first line?
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And the book is… The Archived (The Archived #1) by Victoria Schwab.
Goodreads synopsis:
Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.
Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.
Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was: a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.
Being a Keeper isn’t just dangerous—it’s a constant reminder of those Mac has lost, Da’s death was hard enough, but now that her little brother is gone too, Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself may crumble and fall.
In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.
The whole world seemed to tilt at that moment, like a painting on a wall that gets knocked a little crooked. Everything she had known as real up until now was slightly altered, and she seemed to be standing on the edge of a huge, dark, trembling world that was just a little different than it had been one minute before. Ghosts were real.
There is no dark like the Newfoundland dark. These ominous words beckon young readers onward in this spooky collection of ghost stories by celebrated ghost story-teller and award-winning middle-grade author Charis Cotter. Reimagined from family stories told across Newfoundland and passed down over generations, these 10 spine-tingling tales traverse centuries and introduce readers to the Rock’s nooks and crannies. From a ghostly blueberry-picker on the barrens to a visit from the notorious Old Hag, from a mysterious ballet troupe in a St. John’s mansion to a haunted house in an outport community on the cusp of resettlement, these stories bring the island of Newfoundland to vibrant new life (and death) as the thread of these years-old yarns is unravelled for a whole new generation.
Featuring ghostly black-and-white illustrations from Newfoundland artist Genevieve Simms, as well as an overview of the Newfoundland storytelling tradition, and a Story Behind the Story for each tale including context on the story’s history, its original teller, its featured ghost, and setting, along with tips for spooky storytelling and a Glossary of Newfoundland terms, Screech! is equal parts eerie and educational, making it a riveting read as well as a great resource for budding historians and storytellers.
Review:
This book has a collection of ghost stories from Newfoundland. These stories are based on real events from the last few centuries. Newfoundland has a long history of shipwrecks, illnesses, and hard living conditions. These elements created the atmosphere for ghost stories.
One thing that I loved about these stories was that after each story, there was a description of the origins of the story. The location of the story was described, because every town in Newfoundland has it’s own history and different living conditions. The type of ghost was described, because some were ghost stories that have appeared throughout time, such as a loved one appearing at their time of death. The author also talked about where she heard the story. I loved this historical explanation of the stories.
This is a great collection of ghost stories from Newfoundland!
Thank you Nimbus Publishing for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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 Bone Crier’s Moon (Bone Grace #1) by Kathryn Purdie.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Bone Criers have a sacred duty. They alone can keep the dead from preying on the living. But their power to ferry the spirits of the dead into goddess Elara’s Night Heavens or Tyrus’s Underworld comes from sacrifice. The gods demand a promise of dedication. And that promise comes at the cost of the Bone Criers’ one true love.
Ailesse has been prepared since birth to become the matriarch of the Bone Criers, a mysterious famille of women who use strengths drawn from animal bones to ferry dead souls. But first she must complete her rite of passage and kill the boy she’s also destined to love.
Bastien’s father was slain by a Bone Crier and he’s been seeking revenge ever since. Yet when he finally captures one, his vengeance will have to wait. Ailesse’s ritual has begun and now their fates are entwined—in life and in death.
Sabine has never had the stomach for the Bone Criers’ work. But when her best friend Ailesse is taken captive, Sabine will do whatever it takes to save her, even if it means defying their traditions—and their matriarch—to break the bond between Ailesse and Bastien. Before they all die.
Have you read this book? What did you think of it?
Title: The Last to See Her Author: Courtney Evan Tate Genre: Thriller, Mystery Publisher: MIRA Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: December 15, 2020 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
A woman disappears into the dark city night…
Gen is on the verge of a divorce from her cheating husband. When her sister, Meg, has a convention to attend in the Big Apple, she invites Gen along to celebrate her newly found freedom. But the perfect sisters’ getaway quickly goes awry when a tipsy Gen defiantly throws her wedding ring off the hotel room’s balcony. Then, wanting some fresh air, she decides to take a late-evening walk alone and vanishes without a trace.
The investigation that follows uncovers secrets–and betrayals–between sisters and spouses that will twist the truth in on itself until nothing is clear.
What really happened to Gen and who, besides Meg, was the last to see her?
Review:
Gen is about to finalize her divorce. Her sister, Meg, invites her on a girl’s weekend in New York City to celebrate. After they get drunk on the first night, Gen goes out for a walk by herself in the middle of the night. She doesn’t return. Now, Meg is frantic trying to find her missing sister. Both of them have devastating secrets, which are revealed during the investigation of Gen’s disappearance.
This is another thriller that I thought I had figured out at the beginning, but I was very wrong. The clues to the mystery of Gen’s disappearance were slowly revealed, which kept me guessing. At first, I wondered why there was so much focus on Gen’s and Meg’s pasts, from before that night in New York. Their histories actually played an important part in revealing the truth, so I was glad that was included.
There were some parts about mental health that I didn’t really agree with. Mental health was blamed for some of the characters’ problems. There was a character who had brain damage and was developmentally delayed. I can’t say much without giving anything away, but I think that the ending of the story relied too heavily on that character’s actions. I didn’t think that part of the plot was believable.
Regardless, this was a gripping thriller that I couldn’t put down!
Thank you MIRA for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
Hurry Home by Roz Nay
The End of Her by Shari Lapena
About the author:
Courtney Evan Tate is the nom de plume (and darker side) of the New York Times and USAToday bestselling author Courtney Cole. As Courtney Evan Tate, she is the author of Such Dark Things and I’ll Be Watching You. Courtney grew up in rural Kansas and now lives with her husband and kids in Florida, where spends her days dreaming of new characters and storylines and surprising plot twists and writing them beneath rustling palm trees. Visit her on Facebook or at courtneycolewriters.com
Have you read The Last to See Her? What did you think of it?
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 The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins. The expected publication date is January 5, 2021.
Goodreads Synopsis:
A delicious twist on a Gothic classic, Rachel Hawkins’s The Wife Upstairs pairs Southern charm with atmospheric domestic suspense, perfect for fans of B.A. Paris and Megan Miranda.
Meet Jane. Newly arrived to Birmingham, Alabama, Jane is a broke dog-walker in Thornfield Estates––a gated community full of McMansions, shiny SUVs, and bored housewives. The kind of place where no one will notice if Jane lifts the discarded tchotchkes and jewelry off the side tables of her well-heeled clients. Where no one will think to ask if Jane is her real name.
But her luck changes when she meets Eddie Rochester. Recently widowed, Eddie is Thornfield Estates’ most mysterious resident. His wife, Bea, drowned in a boating accident with her best friend, their bodies lost to the deep. Jane can’t help but see an opportunity in Eddie––not only is he rich, brooding, and handsome, he could also offer her the kind of protection she’s always yearned for.
Yet as Jane and Eddie fall for each other, Jane is increasingly haunted by the legend of Bea, an ambitious beauty with a rags-to-riches origin story, who launched a wildly successful southern lifestyle brand. How can she, plain Jane, ever measure up? And can she win Eddie’s heart before her past––or his––catches up to her?
With delicious suspense, incisive wit, and a fresh, feminist sensibility, The Wife Upstairs flips the script on a timeless tale of forbidden romance, ill-advised attraction, and a wife who just won’t stay buried. In this vivid reimagining of one of literature’s most twisted love triangles, which Mrs. Rochester will get her happy ending?
Title: Christmas from the Heart Author: Sheila Roberts Genre: Romance Publisher: MIRA Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: September 24, 2019 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
USA TODAY bestselling author Sheila Roberts takes readers to the charming, snowbound town of Pine River in this irresistible holiday romance.
Sometimes you need to look beyond the big picture to see what really matters
Olivia Berg’s charity, Christmas from the Heart, has helped generations of families in need in Pine River, Washington, but this year might be the end of the road. Hightower Enterprises, one of their biggest donors since way back when Olivia’s grandmother ran the charity, has been taken over by Ebenezer Scrooge the Second, aka CFO Guy Hightower, and he’s declared there will be no more money coming to Christmas from the Heart.
Guy is simply being practical. Hightower Enterprises needs to tighten its belt, and when you don’t have money to spare, you don’t have money to share. You’d think even the pushy Olivia Berg could understand that.
With charitable donations dwindling, Olivia’s Christmas budget depends on Hightower’s contribution. She’s focused her whole life on helping this small town, even putting her love life on hold to support her mission.
When Guy’s Maserati breaks down at the edge of the Cascade foothills, he’s relieved to be rescued by a pretty young woman who drives him to the nearby town of Pine River. Until he realizes his rescuer is none other than Olivia Berg. What’s a Scrooge to do? Plug his nose and eat fruitcake and hope she doesn’t learn his true identity before he can get out of town. What could go wrong?
Review:
Livi Berg runs a charity called Christmas from the Heart in her small town of Pine Rivers. She inherited the charity from her mother and grandmother. One of their biggest donors is a company in Seattle, who been donating since Livi’s grandmother ran the charity. When Livi emails them to ask about their donation, she’s told that they can’t give her one this year. She speaks to the CFO, Guy Hightower, who says he can’t spare the donation this year. Livi has to make do with the small donations that she receives in town. Then one day, Livi stops to help a wealthy man, whose Maserati broke down on the side of the road. She hopes that he will be generous enough to help with her charity. However, the man is Guy Hightower. He recognizes Livi’s name, so he makes up a fake name since he knows she hates him. Guy has to stay in town for a few days, waiting for his car to get fixed. He spends time with Livi, getting to know her and her charity. He soon realizes that he may have been too quick to toss Livi and her charity away, but he may be in too deep to reveal his true identity.
This is a great Christmas story. There were some heartwarming parts of this story when Livi worked with her charity to give those less fortunate in her town a happy Christmas. The people in the town were so generous with each other, even when they didn’t have much to spare.
There was also a lot of tension, since Guy was pretending to be someone else. I could tell he would be a good match for Livi, but he was lying to her. I knew she would find out who he really was eventually, but I couldn’t put the book down. It didn’t end exactly the way I predicted, which was a nice surprise.
This is a fun Christmas romance!
Thank you MIRA for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
A Wedding in December by Sarah Morgan
Finding Christmas by Karen Schaler
Have you read Christmas from the Heart? 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 Holiday Freebie so I’m doing a list of Christmas Themed Books. Here’s my list:
1. Finding Christmas by Karen Schaler
2. Christmas Island by Natalie Normann
3. In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
4. All I Want for Christmas by Wendy Loggia
5. A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday
6. The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
7. Mistletoe and Mr. Right by Sarah Morgenthaler
8. 25 Days Til Christmas by Poppy Alexander
9. Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
10. A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig
(All photos taken from Goodreads)
What’s your list of books on your Top Ten Tuesday?
Title: A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic #1) Author: V.E. Schwab Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Tor Books Source: Purchased Format: Hardcover Release Date: February 24, 2015 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Kell is one of the last Antari—magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black.
Kell was raised in Arnes—Red London—and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see.
Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they’ll never see. It’s a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand.
After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.
Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they’ll first need to stay alive.
Review:
Kell is an Antari, a magician who can travel between the parallel Londons: Red, Grey, White, and Black. Kell acts as a messenger between the different leaders of the parallel worlds, but he also collects items that he smuggles between the worlds. After making a bad deal, Kell meets Lila Bard, a wanted pick pocket. Together, they have to battle against a dangerous magic that is not from their worlds.
I read this book a few years ago, but I loved it so much, I wanted to read it again. I read it as a buddy read over a few weeks. I got so much more out of the story reading it all at once.
I love V.E. Schwab’s poetic language in this story. She has so many memorable quotes. One of my favourites is “I’d rather die on an adventure than live standing still.” Schwab is such an amazing world builder, and her beautiful phrases make the story a work of art.
This book is an exciting introduction to the Shades of Magic series!
What to read next:
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
Shades of Magic, Vol. 1: The Steel Prince by V.E. Schwab, Andrea Olimpieri (illustrator)
Other books in the series:
A Gathering of Shadows
A Conjuring of Light
Have you read A Darker Shade of Magic? 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 A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic #1) by V.E. Schwab.
What I’m currently reading:
I’m currently reading Christmas from the Heart by Sheila Roberts.
What I’m reading next:
Next I will be reading The Last to See Her by Courtney Evan Tate.
What are you guys reading this week? Have you read any of these books?
Jill's Book Blog 