Sundays in Bed With… Dragon Pearl

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 Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Rick Riordan Presents Yoon Ha Lee’s space opera about thirteen-year-old Min, who comes from a long line of fox spirits. But you’d never know it by looking at her.

To keep the family safe, Min’s mother insists that none of them use any fox-magic, such as Charm or shape-shifting. They must appear human at all times. Min feels hemmed in by the household rules and resents the endless chores, the cousins who crowd her, and the aunties who judge her. She would like nothing more than to escape Jinju, her neglected, dust-ridden, and impoverished planet. She’s counting the days until she can follow her older brother, Jun, into the Space Forces and see more of the Thousand Worlds.

When word arrives that Jun is suspected of leaving his post to go in search of the Dragon Pearl, Min knows that something is wrong. Jun would never desert his battle cruiser, even for a mystical object rumored to have tremendous power. She decides to run away to find him and clear his name.

Min’s quest will have her meeting gamblers, pirates, and vengeful ghosts. It will involve deception, lies, and sabotage. She will be forced to use more fox-magic than ever before, and to rely on all of her cleverness and bravery. The outcome may not be what she had hoped, but it has the potential to exceed her wildest dreams.

This sci-fi adventure with the underpinnings of Korean mythology will transport you to a world far beyond your imagination.

What book are you in bed with today?

Review: Backlash

Title: Backlash
Author: Sarah Darer Littman
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Source: Borrowed from a friend
Format: Paperback
Release Date: April 28, 2015
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

He says: You’re an awful person.
He says: What makes you think I would ever ask you out?
He says: The world would be a better place without you in it.

Lara just got told off on Facebook.

She thought that Christian liked her, that he was finally going to ask her to his school’s homecoming dance. They’ve been talking online for weeks, so what’s with the sudden change? And where does he get off saying horrible things on her wall? Even worse–are they true?

It’s been a long time since Lara’s felt this bad, this depressed, this ugly. She’s worked really hard to become pretty and happy – and make new friends after what happened in middle school.

Bree used to be best friends with overweight, depressed Lara, but constantly listening to Lara’s issues got to be too much. Secretly, Bree’s glad Christian called Lara out. Lara’s not nearly as amazing as people think. But no one realized just how far Christian’s harsh comments would push Lara. Not even Bree.

As online life collides with real life, things spiral out of control, and not just for Lara. Because when the truth starts to come together, the backlash is even more devastating than anyone could have ever imagined

Review:

This story deals with the important topic of cyberbullying.

Lara attempts suicide after a boy she was chatting with online tells her to kill herself. She survives, but that incident spirals into problems for two different families. Ultimately, the bully gets in trouble for pushing Lara too far, but the story asks the question of who is really to blame for the whole situation.

Cyberbullying is a problem in today’s society. Things that are said online can really affect someone, and cause them permanent damage, just like how Lara attempted to take her own life. However, the bully can turn into the victim when they face the backlash of their actions. This story shows how bullying can spiral out of control and affect the bully’s family.

What to read next:

Want to go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman

Anything But Okay by Sarah Darer Littman

Have you read Backlash? What did you think of it?

Owlcrate Unboxing – October 2018

This is my unboxing of the October 2018 Owlcrate box!

I’m obsessed with bookish socks, so these are a great addition to my collection!

I love tea! This tea strainer is great because it is made of rubber, which makes it easy to clean out and it doesn’t leave a metallic or plastic taste in my tea. 

This is a print with the Mirror of Erised from Harry Potter. Of course it has books and Hedwig in it, because that is what I would see if I looked in it!

I love this cute pouch!

The first book in the box was Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa.

The second book in the box was Pride by Ibi Zoboi. This one has a special edition cover, which I love!

Did you get this box? What did you think of it?

Litjoy Unboxing – October 2018

Here is my unboxing for the October 2018 Litjoy box!

This is a pillowcase, which is based on the movie Hocus Pocus!

I love this small purse, which has an owl and clock from the book included in the box.

These are great notecards. I needed some new cards, so these will work perfectly.

The book of the month is Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd. I loved this book when I read it, so I’m excited to have a copy of it!

I love the trading cards in the Litjoy boxes! These ones have the couples from the Lunar Chronicles: Scarlet and Wolf, Winter and Jacin, Cress and Carswell. The Lunar Chronicles is one of my favourite series so I love these cards!

Did you get this box? What did you think of it?

Stacking the Shelves – January 12

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 book from Pajama Press:

Girl of the Southern Sea by Michelle Kadarusman

Thank you Pajama Press for this book!

What books did you get this week?

Review: From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess

Title: From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess
Author: Meg Cabot
Genre: Middle Grade
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Source: Library
Format: Ebook
Release Date: May 19, 2015
Rating: ★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Olivia Grace Clarisse Harrison has always known she was different. Brought up by her aunt’s family in New Jersey, book-and-music-loving Olivia feels out of place in their life of high fashion and fancy cars. But she never could have imagined how out of place she really was until Mia Thermopolis, Princess of Genovia, pops into her school and announces that Olivia is her long-lost sister. Olivia is a princess. A dream come true, right? But princesses have problems too.

In FROM THE NOTEBOOKS OF A MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCESS a new middle grade series, readers will see Genovia, this time through the illustrated diaries of a spunky new heroine, 12 year old Olivia Grace, who happens to be the long lost half-sister of Princess Mia Thermopolis.

Review:

I was curious about this series because it is about the sister of Mia from The Princess Diaries. In this story, Olivia is the daughter of Mia’s father. She is in middle school, and lives with her aunt and uncle. Her mother died when she was a baby, so her aunt had to look after her. However, her mother didn’t want Olivia to be raised as a princess, so it was kept a secret.

Some parts of this book were quite uncomfortable. It made Olivia and Mia’s father look horrible, because he had kept his daughter a secret for all these years. Her aunt and uncle were portrayed in a negative light because they didn’t give Olivia many things. For example, their other children were given new toys and clothes, but Olivia wasn’t given anything. It focused more on material items. They reminded me of the Dursley’s from Harry Potter, but not as obviously abusive.

I think the story would have been better if the main character wasn’t Mia’s sister, but maybe a cousin or perhaps her own daughter. Otherwise, I enjoyed the premise of the story. I liked where it ended, so I will still continue to read the rest of the series.

What to read next:

Royal Wedding Disaster (From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess #2) by Meg Cabot

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

Have you read From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess? What did you think of it?

First Lines Friday – January 11

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:

“I offered my hand to the fire. Sparks leaped from the hearth and settled onto my fingers, heat drawn to heat, and glittered like molten gems against my skin. With my free hand, I pulled a bucket of melting snow closer and edged forward on my knees, ready to douse myself if the sparks flared into something much larger.”

Do you recognize these first lines?

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And the book is… Frostblood (Frostblood Saga #1) by Elly Blake.

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Goodreads synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Ruby is a Fireblood who has concealed her powers of heat and flame from the cruel Frostblood ruling class her entire life. But when her mother is killed trying to protect her, and rebel Frostbloods demand her help to overthrow their bloodthirsty king, she agrees to come out of hiding, desperate to have her revenge.

Despite her unpredictable abilities, Ruby trains with the rebels and the infuriating – yet irresistible – Arcus, who seems to think of her as nothing more than a weapon. But before they can take action, Ruby is captured and forced to compete in the king’s tournaments that pit Fireblood prisoners against Frostblood champions. Now she has only one chance to destroy the maniacal ruler who has taken everything from her – and from the icy young man she has come to love. 

Have you read Frostblood? What did you think of it?

Blog Tour Review: White Stag (Permafrost #1)

Title: White Stag
Author: Kara Barbieri
Genre: Young Adult, Middle Grade
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: January 8, 2019
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

The first book in a brutally stunning series where a young girl finds herself becoming more monster than human and must uncover dangerous truths about who she is and the place that has become her home.

As the last child in a family of daughters, seventeen-year-old Janneke was raised to be the male heir. While her sisters were becoming wives and mothers, she was taught to hunt, track, and fight. On the day her village was burned to the ground, Janneke—as the only survivor—was taken captive by the malicious Lydian and eventually sent to work for his nephew Soren.

Janneke’s survival in the court of merciless monsters has come at the cost of her connection to the human world. And when the Goblin King’s death ignites an ancient hunt for the next king, Soren senses an opportunity for her to finally fully accept the ways of the brutal Permafrost. But every action he takes to bring her deeper into his world only shows him that a little humanity isn’t bad—especially when it comes to those you care about.

Through every battle they survive, Janneke’s loyalty to Soren deepens. After dangerous truths are revealed, Janneke must choose between holding on or letting go of her last connections to a world she no longer belongs to. She must make the right choice to save the only thing keeping both worlds from crumbling. 

Review:

This story was a little slow to start, but once I got into it, I flew through it. I found the goblins to be very unusual creatures in this book. I always think of them as ugly little creatures, but they were more human-like and beautiful in this story. They were more like how elves and vampires are usually described.

The hunt was very exciting in the story. The goblins must compete in the hunt to kill the white stag, making the one who kills it the next Goblin King. There are two main competitors, who are the two most powerful goblins. Janneke and Soren had to battle some other strange creatures throughout the hunt.

I loved the ending, which had a little twist that I suspected was going to happen. I can’t wait to see what happens in the rest of the series!

What to read next:

Wintersong (Wintersong #1) by S. Jae-Jones

The Goblins of Bellwater by Molly Ringle

About the Author:

Kara Barbieri is a writer living in the tiny town of Hayward, Wisconsin. An avid   fantasy fan, she began writing White Stag at eighteen and posting it to Wattpad soon after under the name of ‘Pandean’. When she’s not writing, you can find her marathoning Buffy the Vampire Slayer, reviving gothic fashion, and jamming to synthpop.

Follow Kara:

Twitter – @PandeanPanic

Buy the book – http://wednesdaybooks.com/galaxies-and-kingdom/white-stag/

Thank you to Wednesday Books for letting me participate in this blog tour.

TBR Thursday – January 10

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 Pride by Ibi Zoboi.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Pride and Prejudice gets remixed in this smart, funny, gorgeous retelling of the classic, starring all characters of color, from Ibi Zoboi, National Book Award finalist and author of American Street.

Zuri Benitez has pride. Brooklyn pride, family pride, and pride in her Afro-Latino roots. But pride might not be enough to save her rapidly gentrifying neighborhood from becoming unrecognizable.

When the wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street, Zuri wants nothing to do with their two teenage sons, even as her older sister, Janae, starts to fall for the charming Ainsley. She especially can’t stand the judgmental and arrogant Darius. Yet as Zuri and Darius are forced to find common ground, their initial dislike shifts into an unexpected understanding.

But with four wild sisters pulling her in different directions, cute boy Warren vying for her attention, and college applications hovering on the horizon, Zuri fights to find her place in Bushwick’s changing landscape, or lose it all.

In a timely update of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, critically acclaimed author Ibi Zoboi skillfully balances cultural identity, class, and gentrification against the heady magic of first love in her vibrant reimagining of this beloved classic. 

Have you read this book? What did you think of it?

Review: All’s Faire in Middle School

Title: All’s Faire in Middle School
Author: Victoria Jamieson
Genre: Middle Grade, Graphic Novel
Publisher: Dial Books
Source: Library
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 5, 2017
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

The author of Roller Girl is back with a graphic novel about starting middle school, surviving your embarrassing family, and the Renaissance Faire.

Eleven-year-old Imogene (Impy) has grown up with two parents working at the Renaissance Faire, and she’s eager to begin her own training as a squire. First, though, she’ll need to prove her bravery. Luckily Impy has just the quest in mind–she’ll go to public school after a life of being homeschooled! But it’s not easy to act like a noble knight-in-training in middle school. Impy falls in with a group of girls who seem really nice (until they don’t) and starts to be embarrassed of her thrift shop apparel, her family’s unusual lifestyle, and their small, messy apartment. Impy has always thought of herself as a heroic knight, but when she does something really mean in order to fit in, she begins to wonder whether she might be more of a dragon after all. 

Review:

This is a great story about fitting in.

It can be difficult to find your place in middle school, but it’s even harder when you’ve been homeschooled all of your life. Imogene grew up at the renaissance fair where her family works, but she decides she wants go to public school for middle school. She faces problems that she has never encountered before.

Imogene wants to fit in with the other kids in her class, but she has a very different family life from theirs. The popular girls won’t let her associate with the one other student who goes to the renaissance fair. Imogene has to deal with all of the typical problems of peer pressure and pressure to get good grades, while hiding the truth about her family’s background.

The renaissance fair looks like so much fun! This is a great story with a medieval twist.

What to read next:

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

El Deafo by Cece Bell

Have you read All’s Faire in Middle School? What did you think of it?