This is my unboxing for the Litjoy December 2018 box!
I love this travel cup! It says “I’ll rule the world. As soon as I finish one… more… chapter.”
I’m obsessed with this pin! Weasley is our king!!
These are the perfect socks for any fantasy reader!
This is a beautiful notebook with illustrations from the Chronicles of Narnia.
The book is Once a King by Erin Summerhill. I haven’t read any of the books in this series but they’ve been on my TBR for a while now. Unfortunately, the book didn’t have the special inserts that they requested from the printer. To make up for it, Litjoy is including an extra book in the next box. That is great customer service!
The cards feature characters from Throne of Glass!
Title: An Affair of Poisons Author: Addie Thorley Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy Publisher: Page Street Kids Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: February 26, 2019 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
No one looks kindly on the killer of a king.
After unwittingly helping her mother poison King Louis XIV, seventeen-year-old alchemist Mirabelle Monvoisin is forced to see her mother’s Shadow Society in a horrifying new light: they’re not heroes of the people, as they’ve always claimed to be, but murderers. Herself included. Mira tries to ease her guilt by brewing helpful curatives, but her hunger tonics and headache remedies cannot right past wrongs or save the dissenters her mother vows to purge.
Royal bastard Josse de Bourbon is more kitchen boy than fils de France. But when the Shadow Society assassinates the Sun King and half of the royal court, he must become the prince he was never meant to be in order to save his injured sisters and the petulant dauphin. Forced to hide in the sewers beneath the city, Josse’s hope of reclaiming Paris seems impossible―until his path collides with Mirabelle’s.
She’s a deadly poisoner. He’s a bastard prince. They are sworn enemies, yet they form a tenuous pact to unite the commoners and former nobility against the Shadow Society. But can a rebellion built on mistrust ever hope to succeed?
Review:
This fantasy story is based on the real events of the seventeenth century, referred to as the Affair of Poisons. I didn’t realize that it was a real event until I read the author’s historical notes at the end. That made it more fascinating!
This story was fast paced. Many things happened in this fairly short novels. I liked that it was a stand alone story, because many contemporary fantasy novels turn into long series.
For some reason, I didn’t feel connected to the main character, Mirabelle. Compared to her mother and sister, she was a great person, but I wasn’t rooting for her in the story. I liked Josse much more! He was determined to help his family no matter the costs. He was an admirable hero.
I enjoyed this historical fantasy story!
What to read next:
Grim Lovelies (Grim Lovelies #1) by Megan Shepherd
Enchantée (Enchantée #1) by Gita Trelease
Have you read An Affair of Poisons? 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 Hurricane Season by Nicole Melleby. The release date is May 7, 2019.
Goodreads Synopsis:
This debut novel—about taking risks and facing danger, about love and art, and about growing up and coming out—will make its way straight into your heart.
Fig, a sixth grader, wants more than anything to see the world as her father does. The once-renowned pianist, who hasn’t composed a song in years and has unpredictable good and bad days, is something of a mystery to Fig. Though she’s a science and math nerd, she tries taking an art class just to be closer to him, to experience life the way an artist does. But then Fig’s dad shows up at school, disoriented and desperately searching for Fig. Not only has the class not brought Fig closer to understanding him, it has brought social services to their door.
Diving into books about Van Gogh to understand the madness of artists, calling on her best friend for advice, and turning to a new neighbor for support, Fig continues to try everything she can think of to understand her father, to save him from himself, and to find space in her life to discover who she is even as the walls are falling down around her.
Nicole Melleby’s Hurricane Season is a stunning novel about a girl struggling to be a kid as pressing adult concerns weigh on her. It’s also about taking risks and facing danger, about love and art, and about coming of age and coming out. And more than anything else, it is a story of the healing power of love—and the limits of that power.
Title: Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Magic Within, Vol. 2 Author: Tania del Rio Genre: Young Adult, Manga Publisher: Archie Comics Source: Library Format: Ebook Release Date: June 4, 2013 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
The magic continues in SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH: THE MAGIC WITHIN!
Sabrina Spellman’s life is intense. On top of the usual stresses of being a teenager, she’s a witch! And that means two schools and twice the work, from her Mortal Realm high school and the Magic Realm’s Charm School.
It should be simpler. But in addition to a regular spelling bee, she has to study for a magical spell-ing bee. She’s finally dating her childhood Sweetheart—but he doesn’t know she’s a witch! She also has a crush on a cute young wizard—but he’s dating her best friend! On top of the drama, Sabrina keeps being dragged into the middle of strange and dangerous events in the Magic Realm.
Written and illustrated by acclaimed artist Tania del Rio, THE MAGIC WITHIN 2 is the second collection of Archie’s critically praised American manga!
Review:
I love this series! It’s a lot of fun. It isn’t like the other Sabrina the Teenage Witch comics or shows I’ve watched before.
There are a lot of fantasy elements to the story. The magic realm plays an important part in the series. Sabrina and her friend discover that the Mana Tree is dying, which represents the life of their queen. They also travel under the sea to the world of merpeople. I love these fantasy elements of the story. Rather than seeing a witch in the real world, which is what the other series are usually about, we get to see the magical world that Sabrina comes from.
One part that I found surprising with this series is Harvey. I can’t stand him in these stories! He can’t make up his mind about liking Sabrina. He likes her, but once they get together, he changes his mind. I was rooting for her and Shinji to get together (even though he is dating her best friend).
I highly recommend this series for fans of Sabrina! It’s a refreshing look at the teenage witch!
What to read next:
Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Magic Within, Vol. 3 by Tania del Rio
Have you read Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Magic Within, Vol. 3? 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 Places in Books I’d Like to Visit. For this list, I’m going to look at fictional places, rather than places in the real world. Here’s my list:
1. Narnia (The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis)
2. Hogwarts (Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling)
3. Hundred Acre Woods (Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne)
4. River Heights (Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene)
5. City of Sin (Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody)
6. Genovia (The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot)
7. Westeros (A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin)
8. Riverdale (Road to Riverdale by Mark Waid)
9. Ravka (Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo)
10. Kingdom of Norta (Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard)
Title: The Dysasters (The Dysasters #1) Author: P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy Publisher: Wednesday Books Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: February 26, 2019 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Foster Stewart knows she’s different. Her life has never been “normal.” Talking to plants and controlling cloud formations aren’t things most seventeen year olds are into. Tate “Nighthawk” Taylor is perfect. Star quarterback and all around dreamy boy next door he never thought about his “extra” abilities. What quarterback wouldn’t want night vision? That’s not weird, right? It’s cool!
But on the night of their first meeting a deadly tornado brings them together and awakens their true abilities – the power to control the element air. Unbeknown to Tate and Foster, they are the first in a group of teens that were genetically manipulated before birth to bond with the elements. Which truly sucks for Foster, as she has to face the fact that Dr. Rick Stewart, her beloved scientist father, betrayed her and now wants to use her and the others for his own nefarious world domination plot.
Foster and Tate must stop Dr. Stewart and his minions before he destroys their lives and the world.
Review:
This is a great start to a new fantasy series.
P.C. and Kristin Cast have been huge fantasy writers for years, but I haven’t read one of their books before. I loved this one! It was very detailed and fast paced. It was never a dull moment while reading this story!
There were lots of characters that were introduced throughout the story. There are the two main characters, Foster and Tate, who have special powers that control the air. There are also Foster’s adoptive siblings, Mark, Matthew, Luke, and Eve. Later in the story, two more main characters are introduced, named Charlotte and Bastien. There were loads of other important characters as well.
I felt like there were so many characters, that we were barely introduced to some of them. I’m not sure how long this series is going to be, but this seemed like a brief introduction, even though it was a full book. The ending was really a huge climax in the story! I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
What to read next:
Marked (House of Night #1) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Isle of Blood and Stone (Tower of Winds #1) by Makiia Lucier
About the Authors:
#1 New York Times & #1 USA Today bestselling author P.C. Cast was born in the Midwest, and, after her tour in the USAF, she taught high school for 15 years before retiring to write full time. PC is a member of the Oklahoma Writers Hall of Fame. Her novels have been awarded the prestigious: Oklahoma Book Award, YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, Booksellers’ Best, and many, many more. Ms. Cast is an experienced teacher and talented speaker who lives in Oregon near her fabulous daughter, her adorable pack of dogs, her crazy Maine Coon, and a bunch of horses.
Kristin Cast is a #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today bestselling author who teams with her mother to write the wildly successful House of Night series. She has editorial credits, a thriving t-shirt line, and a passion for all things paranormal. When away from her writing desk, Kristin loves going on adventures with her friends, family, and significant other, playing with her dogs (Grace Kelly and Hobbs the Tiny Dragon), and is currently obsessed with her baby.
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 The Dysasters by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.
What I’m currently reading:
I’m currently reading An Affair of Poisons by Addie Thorley.
What I’m reading next:
Next I will be reading The Homecoming by Andrew Pyper.
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 The Dysasters by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Foster Stewart knows she’s different. Her life has never been “normal.” Talking to plants and controlling cloud formations aren’t things most seventeen year olds are into. Tate “Nighthawk” Taylor is perfect. Star quarterback and all around dreamy boy next door he never thought about his “extra” abilities. What quarterback wouldn’t want night vision? That’s not weird, right? It’s cool!
But on the night of their first meeting a deadly tornado brings them together and awakens their true abilities – the power to control the element air. Unbeknown to Tate and Foster, they are the first in a group of teens that were genetically manipulated before birth to bond with the elements. Which truly sucks for Foster, as she has to face the fact that Dr. Rick Stewart, her beloved scientist father, betrayed her and now wants to use her and the others for his own nefarious world domination plot.
Foster and Tate must stop Dr. Stewart and his minions before he destroys their lives and the world.
Jill's Book Blog 