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 received two of my preorders from Indigo:
Nocturna by Maya Motayne
Broken Throne (Red Queen #4.5) by Victoria Aveyard
I received four books from Simon and Schuster Canada:
Fatal Inheritance by Rachel Rhys
The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda
Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane
The Daughter’s Tale by Armando Lucas Correa
I was approved for an ARC on NetGalley from Penguin Random House Canada:
We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra
I was approved for an ARC on NetGalley from Page Street Publishing:
Deposing Nathan by Zack Smedley
Thank you Penguin Random House Canada,Simon and Schuster Canada and Page Street Publishingfor these books!
Title: Defy Me (Shatter Me #5) Author: Tahereh Mafi Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction Publisher: HarperTeen Source: Purchased Format: Hardcover Release Date: April 2, 2019 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
The gripping fifth installment in the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Shatter Me series. Will Juliette’s broken heart make her vulnerable to the strengthening darkness within her?
Juliette’s short tenure as the supreme commander of North America has been an utter disaster. When the children of the other world leaders show up on her doorstep, she wants nothing more than to turn to Warner for support and guidance. But he shatters her heart when he reveals that he’s been keeping secrets about her family and her identity from her—secrets that change everything.
Juliette is devastated, and the darkness that’s always dwelled within her threatens to consume her. An explosive encounter with unexpected visitors might be enough to push her over the edge.
Review:
This book definitely lived up to my expectations! It was fast paced, and I flew through it. It felt short because I read it so quickly.
I can’t say much about the plot without giving away spoilers for this book or the other ones. This one had more of a scientific theme, with time spent in laboratories with medical tests and operations being conducted. There were some horrifying science experiments being conducted, including one on a newly discovered character, Emmaline. That one was disturbing and difficult to read.
As I was reading this book, I kept thinking of the first book in the series, Shatter Me, and how much has changed since then. Juliette and Warner have grown so much throughout the series. There have also been lots of new characters introduced, including some new ones in this book. There were some parts of this book that echoed the first one, with some characters being kept in a prison/asylum, like how Juliette was imprisoned in Shatter Me.
Now that I’m caught up on the series, I’ll have to wait a long time for the next one.
What to read next:
Red Queen (Red Queen #1) by Victoria Aveyard
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #1) by Michelle Hodkin
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:
“OMG, Mom’s gone insane. Not normal Mum-insane. Serious insane.”
Do you recognize these first lines?
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And the book is… Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella.
Goodreads synopsis:
Audrey can’t leave the house. she can’t even take off her dark glasses inside the house.
Then her brother’s friend Linus stumbles into her life. With his friendly, orange-slice smile and his funny notes, he starts to entice Audrey out again – well, Starbucks is a start. And with Linus at her side, Audrey feels like she can do the things she’d thought were too scary. Suddenly, finding her way back to the real world seems achievable.
Have you read Finding Audrey? What did you think of it?
This was a fun, original story! The magic in this story was in the form of magical illusions, rather than fantasy. There was more than just card tricks, including magical portals to other worlds, but it seemed a little more realistic than other stories.
Title: Order of the Majestic Author: Matt Myklusch Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy Publisher: Aladdin Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: May 7, 2019 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Fans of Brandon Mull and James Riley will love this action-packed, accessible fantasy story about one kid’s journey to discover magic as he’s caught up in an epic battle between two powerful ancient orders.
Twelve-year-old daydreamer Joey Kopecky’s life has been turned upside down. After acing a series of tests, he’s declared a genius and awarded a full scholarship at a special (year-round!) school. He’s understandably devastated, until he takes one last test, and the room around him disappears, replaced by the interior of an old theater.
There, Joey meets the washed-up magician, Redondo the Magnificent, and makes a shocking discovery…magic is real, but sadly, there isn’t much left in the world. It may be too late to save what little remains, but for the first time in his life Joey wants to try—really try—to do something big. Soon he’s swept up into a centuries-old conflict between two rival societies of magicians—the Order of the Majestic, who fights to keep magic alive and free for all, and the dark magicians of the Invisible Hand, who hoard magic for their own evil ends.
The endless battle for control of magic itself has reached a tipping point. For Redondo and the Order to survive, Joey must inherit the lost legacy of Harry Houdini. Will he prove himself worthy, or will the Invisible Hand strike him down? The answer will depend on Joey’s ability to believe, not just in magic, but in himself.
Review:
This was a fun, original story!
The magic in this story was in the form of magical illusions, rather than fantasy. There was more than just card tricks, including magical portals to other worlds, but it seemed a little more realistic than other stories. I loved that this was a world built on magic tricks, because it is more accessible to kids. I had a set of magic tricks that I loved playing with as a kid. I think this setting makes the story much more relatable for young readers.
I loved the comparison of magic and science. A few times the characters say “Magic is just science that people don’t understand yet.” I love this description of magic. Some things that people used to think of as magic centuries ago are now classified as science, such as medical advancements. I loved the way this brought the magic into the real world.
I also appreciated that Joey has both of his parents in this story. Often in children’s stories, the main character is either an orphan or from a single parent household. That is supposed to put the characters at a disadvantage right from the beginning, but it doesn’t always have to be like that. I liked that this was a different way to start a middle grade fantasy novel.
I really enjoyed this book! It’s a great magical story!
What to read next:
The Lost Prince (Seaborne #1) by Matt Myklusch
The Revenge of Magic by James Riley
Have you read Order of the Majestic? What did you think of it?
My pick this week is The Becoming of Noah Shaw by Michelle Hodkin.
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 The Becoming of Noah Shaw by Michelle Hodkin.
Goodreads Synopsis:
In the first book of the Shaw Confessions, the companion series to the New York Times bestselling Mara Dyer novels, old skeletons are laid bare and new promises prove deadly. This is what happens after happily ever after.
Everyone thinks seventeen-year-old Noah Shaw has the world on a string.
They’re wrong.
Mara Dyer is the only one he trusts with his secrets and his future.
He shouldn’t.
And both are scared that uncovering the truth about themselves will force them apart.
They’re right.
Have you read this book? What did you think of it?
Alice Alexis Queensmeadow 12 rates three things most important: Mother, who wouldn’t miss her; magic and color, which seem to elude her; and Father, who always loved her. Father disappeared from Ferenwood with only a ruler, almost three years ago. But she will have to travel through the mythical, dangerous land of Furthermore, where down can be up, paper is alive, and left can be both right and very, very wrong. Her only companion is Oliver whose own magic is based in lies and deceit. Alice must first find herself—and hold fast to the magic of love in the face of loss.
Review:
I love Tahereh Mafi’s books, so I wanted to try her middle grade stories. This book was a lot of fun.
This fantasy story reminded me of A Wrinkle in Time and Alice in Wonderland. Alice lives in a magical world called Ferenwood. She is unique because her hair and skin lack colour, when the rest of the world has tons of colourful magic. In this story, she embarks on a quest with Oliver to travel through the magical world of Furthermore to find her missing father.
This story was fast paced. Alice and Oliver traveled through many different towns in the world of Furthermore. They met different kinds of people, including tiny women in suits and people who live in tall trees. There were also a lot of funny magical parts, such as a ruler that measures the time you can spend in Furthermore.
This story was a fun read. I think kids and adults would love it!
What to read next:
Whichwood (Furthermore #2) by Tahereh Mafi
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Have you read Furthermore? What did you think of it?
The book that I’m waiting on this Wednesday is The Last Resort by Marissa Stapley. The release date is June 11, 2019.
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 Last Resort by Marissa Stapley. The release date is June 11, 2019.
Goodreads Synopsis:
The Harmony Resort promises hope for struggling marriages. Run by celebrity power couple Drs. Miles and Grace Markell, the “last resort” offers a chance for partners to repair their relationships in a luxurious setting on the gorgeous Mayan Riviera.
Johanna and Ben have a marriage that looks perfect on the surface, but in reality, they don’t know each other at all. Shell and Colin fight constantly: after all, Colin is a workaholic, and Shell always comes second to his job as an executive at a powerful mining company. But what has really torn them apart is too devastating to talk about. When both couples begin Harmony’s intensive therapy program, it becomes clear that Harmony is not all it seems—and neither are Miles and Grace themselves. What are they hiding, and what price will these couples pay for finding out?
As a deadly tropical storm descends on the coast, trapping the hosts and the guests on the resort, secrets are revealed, loyalties are tested and not one single person—or their marriage—will remain unchanged by what follows.
This week’s prompt is Bookish Things I’ve Changed My Mind About. I’m listing the characters that I changed my mind about throughout the book/series. Here’s my list:
This meme is hosted by Lainey from Thoughts on Tomes. The Goodreads Group for Top 5 Wednesday can be found here.
This week’s prompt is Bookish Things I’ve Changed My Mind About. I’m listing the characters that I changed my mind about throughout the book/series. Here’s my list:
1. Severus Snape (Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling)
I loved this story. It was fast paced, with short chapters, so it was a quick read for me.
Title: The Daughter’s Tale Author: Armando Lucas Correa Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Simon and Schuster Canada Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: May 7, 2019 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
The internationally bestselling author of The German Girldelivers an unforgettable family saga of love and redemption during World War II, based on the true story of the Nazi massacre of a French village in 1944.
New York City, 2015: Elise Duval, eighty years old, receives a phone call from a woman recently arrived from Cuba bearing messages from a time and country that she’s long forgotten. A French Catholic who arrived in New York after World War II, Elise and her world are forever changed when the woman arrives with letters written to Elise from her mother in German during the war, unravelling more than seven decades of secrets.
Berlin, 1939: Bookstore owner and recent widow Amanda Sternberg is fleeing Nazi Germany with her two young daughters, heading towards unoccupied France. She arrives in Haute-Vienne with only one of her girls. Their freedom is short-lived and soon they are taken to a labor camp.
Based on true events, The Daughter’s Tale chronicles one of the most harrowing atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis during World War II: the 1944 massacre of all the inhabitants of Oradour-Sur-Glane, a small, idyllic village in the south of France. Heartbreaking and immersive, The Daughter’s Tale is a beautifully crafted family saga of love, survival, and hope against all odds.
Review:
I loved this story. It was fast paced, with short chapters, so it was a quick read for me.
The story was mostly set during World War II. The beginning and the end were in 2015, which looked at the main character in her later life. The first chapter didn’t really make sense until about halfway through the book. There was so much that happened, so it was always exciting.
The concept of family was fluid in this story. Depending on the situation they had to call different people family. For example, parents had to give up their children to give them a better life, with the strong possibility of never seeing them again. This sometimes meant giving them to friends or even strangers, and hoping that they would be looked after. It was heartbreaking to see families being separated like that, but it was necessary for their survival.
This was a powerful story! I highly recommend it.
What to read next:
The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa
Have you read The Daughter’s Tale? 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 Inspirational Book Quotes, but I changed it to Best Harry Potter Quotes. Here’s my list:
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 Inspirational Book Quotes, but I changed it to Best Harry Potter Quotes. Here’s my list:
1. “We could all have been killed – or worse, expelled.” – Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
2. “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.” – Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
3. “But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” – Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
4. “It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow up to be.” – Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire
5. “Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect.” – Luna Lovegood, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
6. “It does not do well to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” – Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
7. “Just because you have the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn’t mean we all have.” – Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
8. “After all this time?” “Always.” – Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
9. “Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” – Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
10. “All was well.” – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Jill's Book Blog 