Book Review | Star Cursed | Jessica Spotswood

I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Book Review | Star Cursed | Jessica SpotswoodStar Cursed by Jessica Spotswood
Series: The Cahill Witch Chronicles #2
Published by Putnam Juvenile on June 18, 2013
Genres: Alternate History, Historical Fiction, Magic, Paranormal YA, Witches, Young Adult
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Also in this series: Born Wicked, Sister's Fate
Also by this author: Born Wicked, Sister's Fate
Source: the publisher via NetGalley
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five-stars

With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate’s friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.

Cate doesn’t want to be a weapon, and she doesn’t want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood’s schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she’ll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.

In the highly anticipated sequel to Born Wicked, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura and Tess’s quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England.

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Waiting on Wednesday (29): The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

Waiting on Wednesday

The House of Hades: Heroes of Olympus #4 by Rick Riordan

Book cover for The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy’s instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea’s forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape?

They have no choice. If the demigods don’t succeed, Gaea’s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus.

Guys, I am so in love with Percy Jackson. You know, in that “aww, what an ADORABLE teenager!” kind of way. I’ve been in his corner since I read the first Percy Jackson book while I was in library school. In the Heroes of Olympus series, Percy is growing up FAST, friends, and book 4 (of 6) sees our young made-of-awesome hero trapped in the very depths of mythological hell with his also-made-of-awesome girlfriend, Annabeth. THEY ARE MY FOR REAL FAVORITES. LOOK AT THEM ON THAT COVER!

THE MARK OF ATHENA was one of my favorite books in this new series, so I’m beyond excited–and, if I’m being honest, worried–about where things are going in THE HOUSE OF HADES. Spoiler: things did not end on a happy note at all in TMoA. And, like Leo in that synopsis, I am wondering how Percy and Annabeth will escape Tartarus. The one thing I’m not worried about? Loving this book. That’s basically written in stone already. #nobrainer

THE HOUSE OF HADES comes out October 8, 2013 from Hyperion Books

Amazon | Goodreads

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. I love it because it is basically a squee-fest where book lovers can choose one book that they are DYING to get their hands on. Check it out!

Top Ten Tuesday (82)

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Favorite Reads of 2013…So Far

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. It’s awesome. Every week, the lovely ladies over there post a topic so that book lovers like you and me can pour over our shelves and MAKE A LIST. WORD.

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Stacking the Shelves (24)

Stacking the ShelvesWeeks of June 8th-22nd

Lots of things going on this month, friends! Which, as you will all know, is almost over now. I’ve been on a road trip to Canada and I’ve been working and it’s just been hectic. Of course, this doesn’t mean I haven’t been keeping an eye on my books, though. In fact, I managed to snag quite a few this last couple of weeks. I even came home from my road trip with books, so let’s get down to business!

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Book Review + Giveaway: Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Book cover for Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Siege and Storm
Author: Leigh Bardugo (web | twitter)
Series: The Grisha Trilogy #2
Genre: Fantasy YA
Amazon | Goodreads
Publisher: Henry Holt
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Source: Borrowed an ARC from Tara

Summary: Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.
The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

 

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Top Ten Tuesday (81)

Top Ten Tuesday Top Ten Summer Releases on My TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. It’s awesome. Every week, the lovely ladies over there post a topic so that book lovers like you and me can pour over our shelves and MAKE A LIST. WORD.

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Reading Recommendations: A Challenge Update

Reading Recommendations

Remember how just about two months ago I decided that I was going to read more books that people recommended to me, so I made up a challenge for myself? And then I talked about it once more and then…*crickets*? Well, the good news is that, even during my silence, I was reading the books in my initial pile of recs! YAY! I even managed to review a few. LOOK AT ME GO. But you know what the BEST part is? My friends know me well and didn’t steer me wrong, because I’ve loved all of the books that they’ve recommended to me. In fact, I loved them so much that I’m adding a few more! HUZZAH!

reading RecommendationsSo, of the books in my original pile–UNDER THE NEVER SKY, THE SCORPIO RACES audiobook, something by Sarah Ockler, BOOK OF A THOUSAND DAYS, THE AVIARY, the FABLES graphic novels, and INCARNATE, I’ve read four of them, and reviewed three: UNDER THE NEVER SKY, THE SCORPIO RACES audiobook, and THE BOOK OF BROKEN HEARTS by Sarah Ockler. The only one I read but haven’t reviewed yet is the first volume of the FABLES graphic novels by Bill Willingham, but let this be an indication to you all how much I loved it: before I’d even finished reading volume 1, I ordered volumes 1–3 online and now own them. SO GOOD.

caged graves bannerThis book is the best kind of recommendation for two reasons: One, I had not even heard of it until April from Good Books and Good Wine recommended it to me on Goodreads, so it was a completely new book to me. I instantly added it to my shelf and put it on my radar because HELLO, it sounds awesome. And two, not long after April told me about it, my darling friend Alyssa from Books Take You Places told me that I needed to read it as well. BOOM. DOUBLE REC. I requested it on NetGalley and have it on my kindle to read. Thanks, ladies. It sounds EXCELLENT. These two lovelies are behind my new love of Juliet Marillier, so I know they’re on the money.

keturah and lord death bannerI’ve known about this book for awhile–I think I read somewhere that Maggie Stiefvater loved it and because she’s AMAZE I put it on my radar–but shout out again to my girl Alyssa, who read a little ways back and basically told me to get off my duff and read it. YES, MA’AM. On my kindle.

school for good and evil bannerI just realized that these three books were recommended to me by the same two ladies. Not intentional, mind you, just a coincidence! But just this weekend I saw that April read and LOVED this book, AND that she recommended it to me on Goodreads, where she assured me that it’s an Amy book. Seriously, her recs have never led me astray, so I’m glad that I waited on line for this one at BEA this year because I have a copy all ready to go. It really does look so amazing. The map in itself is STUNNING, friends.

So that’s where we stand right now: Four books read, three reviewed, three more added to the list. I CANNOT WAIT TO READ THEM ALL. What about you guys? Have any books that your friends have told you are right up your alley? Read them along with me! It’s THE BEST TIME. 

Tripping Over June

Tripping Over

Five Books I’m Looking Forward to This Month!

So, let’s just disregard the fact that the month of June is closer to be over than beginning because there’s so many GREAT books out this month! I can’t wait to dive into all of them, but these are the five that I’m looking forward to the most. (And yes, I’ve read some of them already. The benefit of both a road trip and putting this post off for three weeks.)

Book cover for The Sea of Tranquility by Katja MillayThe Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

I actually read this book several months ago when it first came out, and I loved it. Nastya and Josh are two pretty effed up kids with lots of baggage and horrible pasts. I might have to reread it before I write my review because, of course, I took no notes months ago.  Not like that’s a hardship at all. (June 4, 2013 from Atria)

Book cover for Siege and Storm by Leigh BardugoSiege and Storm: The Grisha Trilogy #2 by Leigh Bardugo

I really, REALLY enjoyed book one in this series, SHADOW AND BONE, and this second installment was just as good, maybe better. The world in this series is unfolding in such an interesting, complex way and I’m loving it. I’ll be reviewing this one AND giving away some goodies soon!! (June 4, 2013 from Henry Holt)

Book cover for Star Cursed by Jessica SpotswoodStar Cursed: The Cahill Witch Chronicles #2 by Jessica Spotswood

The cliffhanger at the end of book one, BORN WICKED, was pretty insane. I just finished reading this one while I was on my roadtrip, and things are not getting any easier or better for the Cahill sisters. Jessica Spotswood knows how to end her books in ways that just make me CRAZY with anticipation!! (June 18, 2013 from Putnam Juvenile)

Book cover for Every Day After by Laura GoldenEvery Day After by Laura Golden

YAY middle grade! This one sounds just charming and lovely and a little sad: historical fiction in the South where a little girl’s family is kind of falling apart and a mean girl shows up in town determined to make Lizzie Hawkins’ life even worse by taking her friends away. (June 11, 2013 from Delacorte Press)

Book cover for The Lost Sun by Tessa GrattonThe Lost Sun: The United States of Asgard #1 by Tessa Graton

So, I don’t think this cover is doing this book any favors, but it’s got NORSE MYTHOLOGY in it. Like, Percy Jackson kind of Norse mythology, where the Norse gods exist in the modern world. YES FOREVER. PLUS! There’s a prophetess, a main character who fears he’ll turn into a crazy berserking warrior like his father, and a ROAD TRIP to find a missing god’s son. WORD. (June 25, 2013 from Random House BFYR)

Book Review: The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

book cover for The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Title: The Book of Broken Hearts
Author: Sarah Ockler (twitter | web)
Genre: Contemporary YA
Amazon | Goodreads
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release date: May 21, 2013
Source: Borrowed ARC

Summary: Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.

Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?

Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?

Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.

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Five Favorite Things: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

five favorite things

So, I’ve decided to start something new, friends, and I’m pretty stoked about it. No idea how often I’ll do it, but I’ll tell you a little bit about why and how I’ve started it. I used to do this feature/review called Five-Star Friday, where I would review books that I just adored and wanted to spotlight in a more obvious way. I enjoyed it, I did. But I always felt a little ridiculous having a feature on my blog that hinted at a rating system, which I don’t use. So it’s been on hiatus for a while, alas.

Fast-forward to earlier last month when I decided to challenge myself to read more books that have been recommended to me. Like, directly. One of the books on my list was the audio version of one of my ABSOLUTE favorite books of ever, THE SCORPIO RACES, a book that, quite frankly, I’m astonished never made it on my Five-Star Friday feature. But I’m glad it didn’t guys because as I was listening to the audio–itself the fourth time I’ve read this book–things I’d never noticed before struck me, and made me swoon anew. As I was trying to figure out how to review this particular reading of THE SCORPIO RACESthis feature cropped up in my brain. And thus, Five Favorite Things was born.

Of course, narrowing my favorite things about THE SCORPIO RACES–or any book I love, really–down to just five is bound to sometimes be a challenge. So perhaps there will be a time or two (or three or four) when I cheat. Also, it’s my intention to use this feature to talk to you guys about books that I love SO MUCH that I just have to read them all the time. I don’t anticipate reviewing new books this way because, hey, I don’t want to feel hemmed in by the whole “favorite” part if there was something that bothered me. Suffice it to say, though, that when I highlight a book on Five Favorite Things, there won’t be very much at all–if anything–that bothered me about whatever book I’m shouting out.

Now that I’ve explained this whole thing to DEATH, and probably not made sense at least once, let’s just get to it already! Without further ado (drumroll, please…), my five FAVORITE things about:

THE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater, narrated by Steve West and Fiona Hardingham

Book cover for The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

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