Oct 4, 2024

Re-Review--Caraval by Stephanie Garber

 

A legendary competition.
A mesmerizing romance.
An unbreakable bond
between two sisters.


Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . beware of getting swept too far away.



So yeah I decided to re-read Stephanie Garber’s Caraval trilogy in anticipation for Spectacular’s release near the end of the month. I had anticipated devoting a week to each book because my work is in the busy season and yet I find myself finished with Caraval at least a day early!

I mean what more can I say about this series and this book in particular? Needless to say I was reminded with how much I absolutely love this series! I have a somewhat shoddy memory at times but I could remember the main details of the story, so while I wasn’t taken completely by surprise this go around I was able to see things early on. Like different little hints that make more sense down the road. It was great! Lol.

I positively love the sisterly bond between Scarlett and Tella! That still has not changed! These are sisters who would do anything for the other, like having an argument about who their abusive father would punish. Each one is willing to take the hit to protect the other. 

If you’re new here, let me tell you that Stephanie Garber’s books are among my absolute favorites! I don’t do much re-reading these days but Stephanie has a way of getting me to do just that! In this story we see Scarlett enter a game to solve a mystery and find her sister before time runs out and the winner gets a wish. Scarlett has plans to marry a count within a week and she knows the marriage is the best chance she and Tella have at escaping her father. 

But needless to say, the game is more challenging and dangerous than Scarlett expected. 

Then of course there’s Julian, the enigmatic boy who confounds her and makes her heart flutter all while driving her crazy!

Caraval remains to be a book of pure magic! Once again I was held captivated by the magic and mystery of Stephanie’s worlds. The endearing sisterly bond and the heartfelt romance were added bonuses! 

Now onto Legendary to revisit from favorite Dragna sister!


Overall Rating remains 5/5 stars








Book Blogger Hop #326

 
This meme is hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addict!
 
 
 
 
 
This week's question is: Are there any books that you find particularly creepy or unpleasant, even if they aren't horror novels? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)  




MY ANSWER: Honestly, I cannot think of a single book that I thought was disturbing that didn't fit the genre. I've read thrillers that had quite a few disturbing moments, that feeling of fear that's not quite horror? But since I kind of categorize thrillers as a subgenre of horror, I don't feel like those can be adequate answers.

I do love a good thriller where the "monsters" are human entities with no conscience. They are like horror novels, but more real. To me, horror usually involves a flair of something otherworldly. I mean serial killers who just keep coming back? Come on, there's something paranormal there even if it's not truly explored!

So essentially I could give you a list of thrillers, that aren't "horror" novels per se, but that feels more like cheating.

I guess the closest book I can give, that's still a thriller, but has a different brand of disturbing is You by Caroline Kepnes!

 
What makes You disturbing is that it is from Joe's point of view. He's not a raging serial killer, even though he is still a killer. He feels like he's just a guy looking for love in all the wrong places but then he obsesses over woman after woman. It's disturbing, but it's meant to be since it is a thriller. But it's definitely one of the more disturbing series I've read! It's enjoyable and the Netflix series is interesting enough. I still need to read the latest book which may be the final one, I am not 100% sure on that, although I do know the next season of the show is the last one. Joe's story is definitely of the disturbing variety.

 

Oct 3, 2024

RELEASE DATE BLITZ--13 to Life by Shannon Delany

I am so excited that 13 TO LIFE by Shannon Delany is available now and that I get to share the news!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book, be sure to check out all the details below. I read this way back when it first came out and it all started with an obsession over the original cover! I love that this new one embodies elements of the old and yet has a fresh new look!

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a limited editions of the book with sprayed edges and swag courtesy of Shannon & Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, check out the giveaway info below.

 

About The Book:

Title: 13 TO LIFE

Author: Shannon Delany

Pub. Date: October 3, 2024

Publisher: Inimitable Books

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 360

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/13-to-life

I raised my chin. “I am no Thisbe, scared of a lion,” I challenged.
“And I am no Pyramus,” he confided. “And,” he added, leaning closer, his body casting me in shadow as a smirk twisted his lips, “I am no lion...”

After the sudden death of her mother, all Jessie Gillmansen wants is to deal with the loss in her own time, avoiding any more life-altering changes and regaining some sense of control. Living in the slow-moving town of Junction and focusing on school and the strangeness surrounding the wolf attack in a nearby city may be her best bet—

—until Pietr Rusakova moves in.

Pietr is more than good looks and a fascinating accent—he's a guy with a dangerous secret whose mysterious past is about to catch up to him and turn Jessie's life upside down all over again, threatening everything she thinks she knows about life and the world she lives in.

With secrets coming to light and danger closing in from all sides, time's running out for Pietr and Jessie, and it seems change is one thing Jessie definitely can't avoid.

The new edition of the book which started as a serial story on TextNovel.com in 2008, won the first-ever cell phone novel contest in the Western world in 2009, and was published by St. Martin's Press in 2010 is now greatly expanded and packed with even more action, adventure, romance, and angst!

 

Excerpt from Chapter Twelve of 13 to Life by Shannon Delany, 2nd edition:

He stood beside me, heat pouring off of him. He’d shed the denim jacket a while ago and had pushed up his sweatshirt’s sleeves, revealing muscular forearms. I could smell the mingled scents of pine-laced sweat and sweet timothy hay on him and I thought that, together, they made a fine cologne.

“Are you going to Homecoming?” I swallowed. “Amy and Sarah want me to. I think Sarah wants to show you off.”

He grunted and leaned the pitchfork against a stall. He picked up a pail of water and began to refill Rio’s bucket. I asked the next question before I could stop myself. “Did you kiss her?”

He froze, mid-pour, thinking. Water dribbled over the bucket’s edge and onto Rio’s floor.

I righted the pail, taking it from him, my hands brushing his. I trembled at the touch.

“Did you want me to?” he pressed, his beautiful blue eyes dark, hooded.

I blinked up at him. God, he was so frustrating. I set the pail down, letting it slosh to show my frustration. “Do what you want,” I commanded.

I stood, transfixed, as he pulled off his gloves slowly, finger by tantalizing finger, before dropping them to the hay at our feet, his eyes never leaving mine. “Da?” he asked, the single syllable like the rumble of an oncoming thunderstorm so strong it made my stomach quiver.

My heart raced and, though the breath grew tight in my throat, I challenged, “Da.” Absolutely flippant.

And then he was kissing me again, steering me backward until I was pressed against the wall, bridles and reins rustling against my head and toying with my hair. His tongue traced the edges of my lips, tentative and tender, and something inside me softened, urging me to respond. To do what I wanted, too. My spine loosened, became rubber.

I wanted to be wanted, didn’t I?

The way Pietr kissed me left no doubt in my mind that he wanted me — just as I was, no more and no less. Damage included.

But I knew that no matter how much I wanted to be kissing Pietr — to be dating Pietr — I couldn’t. Not right now. So, I pulled my mouth away from our kissing and dodged beneath his arm. “I can’t do this . . .” I leaned over, hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath and focus.

He stood back, arms across his chest, observing me coolly. “Please tell me what you can’t do,” he said, the softest hint of his accent edging back into his voice. “Because it seems like you can kiss me back just fine.”

 

About Shannon Delany:

Author, book coach, and ghostwriter for intriguing people! Author of the 13 to Life series, the Weather Witch series (both originally published through St. Martin's Press), articles for national children's magazines, and several ongoing serials through Kindle Vella. A much-abbreviated version of 13 to Life (written in just five weeks) won the grand prize in the western world's first-ever cell phone novel contest. Previously a teacher, the Educational Director at a zoo, a Library Director (and many other things!) Shannon is most importantly a mom and a wife who raises heritage livestock and occasionally makes intricate papercutings in upstate New York. She holds an MA in Holocaust and Genocide Studies, and has always been fascinated by history, myths, legends, paranormal research, and romance.

Subscribe to Shannon’s newsletter!

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Pinterest | Bluesky | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a Limited Edition of 13 TO LIFE (of only 113), sprayed edges, etc. and wolfie swag pack. US Only.

Ends October 12th, Midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway











Books from the Backlog #103

Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks. This is a fun meme hosted by Carole's Random Life in Books!

 

 

Isabella Harpe, last in a long line of witches, drifts with the wind. Her tarot cards always ready to bring in enough to live on, and her instincts keep her mostly out of trouble. Unfortunately, bad boyfriends and even worse luck strand her near the most dangerous place for a witch to land—beside a cursed town, and an even more cursed man. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I added Lilith Saintcrow's Rose & Thunder to my TBR in January of 2016. It's giving off The Beauty and the Beast vibes so I am sure that's why I bought it! Lol. But I honestly can't remember much more about it than that guess. It's been so long since I've read a Saintcrow book so this ought to be a good one to comeback to!

 

 

 

 

 


 

Oct 2, 2024

Can't Wait Wednesday

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.

 

Darkness ascends the throne in this electrifying conclusion to the Domionions trilogy, all wrapped up in a gorgeous cover package! Preorder coming soon!

The hidden princess, must find a way to stop the ageless king—and the Shadowraith she’s fallen for—in the upcoming final installment of Abigail Owen’s sprawling, sexy upper YA fantasy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am hoping this release date sticks this time! I think it's been moved back three times now and since it's a series finale, I am dying to read it! Lol!

 

TITLE: The Shadow Rules All
AUTHOR: Abigail Owen

PUBLISHER: Entangled Teen
GENRE: YA Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: November 12, 2024

 
 

 

 


 

Oct 1, 2024

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Purple Princess of The Purple Booker



Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a page
3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE
4. Name the title, author, etc.


Due to possible travel constraints and whatnot and not being 100% certain of my current read today, I bring you a teaser from my latest read.


"'We all have demons. What defines us is how we choose to face them.'" p 228










TITLE: A Dawn of Onyx
AUTHOR: Kate Golden
PUBLISHER:
Berkley
GENRE: NA Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: October 10, 2023



Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and The Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. 



This week's topic is: Top Ten Books I Read Because of the Hype & LOVED!



*in no particular order
**all of these books were chosen because of how much I was seeing them in the blogosphere, back when it was hopping! It was enough that I got curious about them and picked up a copy and pretty much all were winners in some sense! 





10. ANGELFALL by Susan Ee
9. SCYTHE by Neal Shusterman
8. THE 5TH WAVE by Rick Yancey




7. LEGEND by Marie Lu
6. SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi--
I remember what ultimately led me to read this one was finding this particular hardcover in the bargain section at the bookstore, I think it was BAM back when we had one here. It was definitely one that took me by surprise
5. A TOUCH OF DARKNESS by Scarlett St. Clair






4. HUSH, HUSH by Becca Fitzpatrick
3. THERE'S SOMEONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE by Stephanie Perkins--definitely got help from the blogosphere on this one! When I see contemp authors journey into a different genre, I always find myself hesitant but luckily the hype was real on this one! Loved it!
2. POISON PRINCESS by Kresley Cole--ironically another bargain section find too! I think it might have been the case of ordering too many hardcover copies because there was nothing wrong with the copy I bought! And omg, my love for this series runs deep!






1. OBSIDIAN by Jennifer L. Armentrout--the hype definitely helped direct me to this one. I think I had just read Half Blood and thought, okay, a book that sounds like Roswell, let's try it! So I bought the kindle copy which had been on sale or something and then I loved it so much I had to buy the paperback and managed to get this copy just before it became hard to find!











Sep 30, 2024

Challenges Monthly Wrap-up: September

CHALLENGE 1: 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge


Scourged by Kevin Hearne (The Iron Druid Chronicles)


Only 1 series finished this month, which is still good considering I had 3 books to read to finish said series. I'm pretty much okay with finishing one series a month at this point! Although I do believe in October I might have 1 or 2 already done as they were ARC reads that were final books! I know one is coming in November, though, so I might just have the one already done for October! Lol. I've read 12/10 so far this year!




CHALLENGE 2: 2024 Discussion Challenge




Only 3 discussions this month. I had ideas for maybe 2 more...but I was working at the time and forgot to jot the idea down so I could remember it for later. Hopefully those ideas will flicker back into my mind when I can write it down. If it comes when I am driving this week I will be very unhappy with my brain! Lol. Based on the level I chose for myself, I am thinking my goal was 25 discussions, but I am now at 43/25. I am lowkey hoping I can get up to 50 before the end of the year! Only 7 to go!




CHALLENGE 3: 2024 Beat the Backlist Reading Challenge


The Return by Rachel Harrison (3/24/20)
My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine (8/29/23)
Shattered by Kevin Hearne (6/17/14)
Staked by Kevin Hearne (1/26/16)
Scourged by Kevin Hearne (4/3/18)
A Spark Within the Forge by Sabaa Tahir (2/8/22)
A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden (12/15/22)



I am killing it with this challenge! I guess my goal to read more of my TBR books and try to request less review books has been going well! I've read 46/25 TBR books and my original goal was 20! Although a few new releases are calling out to me since we're in fall, so I might be nearing the end of my TBR streak here!









It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It's a fun meme where we gather to share what we've read last week and our reading plans for this week.



Last Week I Read:

A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden (5 stars)



Currently Re-Reading:


Caraval by Stephanie Garber



What I Plan to Re-Read Next:


Legendary by Stephanie Garber



Other Posts of Interest:

Let's Discuss: Event Mode Reading
Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays
Can't Wait Wednesday
Books from the Backlog #102
Book Blogger Hop #325
BLOG TOUR SPOTLIGHT POST: Hunterlore by Dana Claire
MIA
Stacking the Shelves






Sep 29, 2024

Review--A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden

 

Captured by a king of darkness. Forced to find the light within.

Arwen Valondale never expected to be the brave one, offering her life to save her brother’s. Now she’s been taken prisoner by the most dangerous kingdom on the continent, and made to use her rare magical abilities to heal the soldiers of the vicious Onyx King.

Arwen knows better than to face the ancient, wicked woods that surround the castle on her own, which means working with a fellow prisoner might be her only path to freedom. Unfortunately, he’s as infuriating as he is cunning—and seems to take twisted pleasure in playing on Arwen’s deepest fears.

But here in Onyx Kingdom, trust is a luxury she can’t afford.

To make it out of enemy territory, she'll have to navigate back-stabbing royals, dark magic, and dangerous beasts. But untold power lies inside Arwen, dormant and waiting for a spark. If she can harness it, she just might be able to escape with her life—and hopefully, her heart.


Kate Golden’s A Dawn of Onyx was a fun and enthralling fantasy read! I’m always up for a new fantasy read with different kinds of magic and new worlds! Golden writes of a lush kingdom with different countries taking on the names of precious stones. It really was quite fascinating!

Arwen is a magical healer who keeps her abilities under wraps. If people knew, it just wouldn’t be good for her. Living in a world where the fearsome Onyx king rules with an iron fist, it’s always best to just keep your head down. But then when her brother defects from the army after a brutal attack, Arwen with her mother and younger sister must flee with him to another province. Only as fate would have it, Arwen finds herself at the mercy of the very army her brother ran away from. By showing them her abilities as she saves one of the soldiers from dying she saves her own life while also condemning it. She is now a prisoner of the Onyx king. 

When she’s not performing her healing duties she is locked away in a cell. It’s when her mysterious and enigmatic neighbor starts talking to her she finds some stability in a very scary situation. It’s not until she makes an escape attempt that her life changes even more. 

Soon she meets Kane, the Onyx king and he’s as terrifying as everyone says and yet he’s also…different. She makes a new deal with him that gets her out of the cells and has him look for her family so she can send word that she’s as safe as she can be. 

It’s kind of like a Beauty and the Beast scenario where the terrifying ruler shows a kinder side to his imprisoned beauty. But despite the circumstances I never really felt like we had the Stockholm Syndrome going even though you could say that’s what’s happening. But eventually Arwen doesn’t really hold the “imprisoned captive” title. But we still have this very intense connection brewing between Arwen and the king.

As the story moves along we get word of prophecies and destinies and we see a greater plot beginning to unfold and the mysteries and secrets begin to grow. Some become predictable and some were something of a surprise! Needless to say I was thoroughly enchanted while reading this one! It was a very spellbinding read, no pun intended. 

This was a most fantastical read and I enjoyed it immensely! The slow burning romance between these enemies to lovers was superb! I positively love it when the love and feelings take time to build and since we’re at book one it’s definitely going to take awhile til we get to something like happily for now if not ever after!

A Dawn of Onyx was a mesmerizing fantasy read that kept me at the edge of my seat! With all the secrets and mysteries and a spine-tingling romance between these two characters this is a series all romantasy lovers will want to check out!


Overall Rating 5/5 stars 







Stacking the Shelves

 

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! The meme is now hosted by Reading Reality.


I write this post earlier than I intended because I plan on being in Memphis on Saturday and I wouldn't be home until late and I know I'll be too tired to write this post then, so I'm doing it on Friday night. Lol. So basically if any newly acquired goodies from Saturday will be showcased next week. So no biggie. The week was one of the mundane kind. I went in person to work on Tuesday for a meeting and it was nice seeing some of my team members in person--a few others are located in Arizona and Tampa--thankfully all are doing good after the storm, some have a bit of flooding and power outages and the usual debris from storms, but from the sounds of it, nothing overtly terrible. But other than that the week was the usual boring kind. This coming week though I am PACKED with signings! Okay, just 3 and one of them requires a road trip again and taking two half days at work, so yeah, I'm likely going to be running on empty when it comes to sleep. Maybe it can help train my body to not need it anymore! Lol.

Anyway, here's what I got this week and oh, yes, my B&N preorders were once again only 1 day late, which honestly is way better than a week late!




The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig--B&N edition
The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig--standard edition
A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan
The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson
Paper & Blood by Kevin Hearne




Then my Fairy Loot book for September came! sadly the cover wasn't put on correctly and it was dented at the bottom. Not sure if it's worth contacting them to try to get a replacement cover or not. No spoilers for what it is, so scroll happily! ;)


The book itself was fairly new to me but sounds interesting enough that I will definitely read it eventually. You know, among all the other books I want to read! Lol. Really wish I didn't need sleep and could still be healthy and functional!




And that was it for me this week! Not a bad one but waiting for my books that I needed by Friday night at the latest for my traveling to a Saturday signing was stressful. Even waiting on Amazon to ship my remaining books for my Tuesday traveling signing was stressful, and naturally one of those was a little beat up too, but nothing to be done about that given the time.

What all did you get this week?