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.

 

"'Of all the things you might apologize for,' she drawled, 'telling me that you are in love with a sadistic demon who died three hundred years ago would not even make the list.'" p 29*

*Quote comes from the ARC, therefore it and its page number are not final.

 

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE: Cursed
AUTHOR: Marissa Meyer
PUBLISHER: Feiwel Friends
GENRE: YA Fantasy (Fairy Tale Retelling)
RELEASE DATE: November 8, 2022

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 Bookish Wishes

 

*in no particular order
**this is basically an impossible list, so I basically need Genie to help me out! Lol. Though ironically, after I drafted this post, I tracked down 2 of the editions I wrote down!

10. ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART by Stephanie Garber UK ARC
9. LEGENDARY by Stephanie Garber UK ARC
8. FINALE by Stephanie Garber UK ARC

7. THE BALLAD OF NEVER AFTER by Stephanie Garber US ARC
6. BLOOD REVELATION by Jamie Manning--despite what Goodreads said, I could never track down a copy of this final book to a series I adored.
5. THE FINAL INTERTWINED BOOK by Gena Showalter

4. FINAL NIGHTSTRUCK BOOK by Jenna Black
3. THE CURSED HEIR by Morgan Rhodes
2. SEQUEL TO NOCTURNE by Syrie James

 

 

 

1. FROM THE GRAVE by Kresley Cole--at least this one is in the works!

ARC Review--Stealing Infinity by Alyson Noel

 

My life goes completely sideways the moment I meet the mysterious Braxton. Sure, he’s ridiculously hot, but he’s also the reason I’ve been kicked out of school and recruited into Gray Wolf Academy—a remote island school completely off the grid. I never should have trusted a face so perfect.

But the reality of why Gray Wolf wanted me is what truly blows my mind. It’s a school for time travelers. Tripping, they call it. This place is filled with elaborate costumes and rare artifacts, where every move is strategic and the halls are filled with shadows and secrets.

Here, what you see isn’t always what it appears. Including Braxton. Because even though there’s an energy connecting us together, the more secrets he keeps from me, the more it feels like something is pulling us apart. Something that has to do with this place—and its darker purpose. It’s all part of a guarded, elaborate puzzle of history and time…and I might be one of the missing pieces.

Now I have all the time in the world. And yet I can’t shake the feeling that time is the one thing I’m about to run out of…fast.

 

I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

  

Stealing Infinity is Alyson Noel’s latest book after a long writing hiatus. It’s also my first book of hers and it definitely won’t be my last! This was an intriguing story of time-traveling woven with many mysteries and secrets and I’m dying to find out what happens next!

Natasha has had a rough go of it lately. Really, ever since her father disappeared when she was nine. When she’s betrayed by someone she thought was her friend, Natasha finds herself with the opportunity of a lifetime. 

Braxton, boy if absolute mystery offers her an opportunity to give her mother the life of luxury and also give herself a better future than she could ever hope for. Gray Wolf Academy is no ordinary school; Natasha soon learns it’s a school for time travelers and Natasha is on the fast track to becoming one. 

Run by a mysterious and enigmatic billionaire, Arthur is even more mysterious than Braxton. While trying to adapt to new social norms and hierarchical statuses, Natasha is just trying to do well and survive. It doesn’t help that the girl who brought her here, Elodie, seems to be intent on making her life hell all while wearing a smile on her face. 

This book is definitely one to keep you on your toes with all the secrets and mysteries going on. Natasha feels like there’s more to their going back in time just to steal jewels and gems. She learns a bit about what Arthur is up to, but she feels like she’s not getting the whole story. There’s also a very odd prologue that leaves you wondering what it was all about and how it ties into the current story. I have my theories though. 

I think one thing that perplexed me about this story was the time traveling parts. No surprise there! It’s either done by science or magic and in this case it feels more like the former. But also how they just go back to basically steal a few jewels from the royals? I just felt like rules weren’t all that strict. Like they are told to avoid people, I mean they are told to limit their interactions. But it just seemed like they were sent back willy-nilly and Natasha wasn’t given much advice or rules on what to do or not to do. How does robbing people not somehow change the course of history? I don’t know, I was just left floundering a bit with that part. 

There was a bit of romance between Braxton and Natasha of course. It was a bit of a slow buildup but first reactions were fast and hot. So take that as you will. Lol. There’s potential for a problematic love triangle though I’m not certain about that entirely. I do wonder if Braxton’s secrets will present a future hurdle for them though. 

There are still some unanswered questions by the end of this one. Nothing extremely burning that will make the year wait more painful than usual, which is always a blessing! Lol. I’m kind of curious to see where this series will go. There are still a few mysteries I want answers to, time will only tell what the outcome will be, who was acting genuine, and who the deceivers are. Needless to say…I’m hooked!

If you’re a fan of time traveling and intricately woven mysteries, secrets, romance and possible betrayals, you’re going to want to check Stealing Infinity out!!

Overall Rating 4/5 stars

Stealing Infinity releases June 28, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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:

 

Stealing Infinity by Alyson Noel (ARC)--Review to come later today! I got my dates mixed up thinking I'd have this one on my blog last week but then realize it would be up 2 weeks before its release, so I had to reschedule it.
At Midnight edited by Dahlia Adler (ARC)--Review to come at a later date

Currently Reading:

  

Cursed by Marissa Meyer (ARC)

What I Plan to Read Next:

The Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Other Posts of Interest:

Let's Discuss: ARC Boxes
Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays
Can't Wait Wednesday
Random Thursday
Book Blogger Hop
Stacking the Shelves--Vampires & The Cursed

 

 

 

 

 

Stacking the Shelves--Vampires and The Cursed

 

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.

 

Well it was another week. Not bad. Not great. Just glad it's over. Lol. The weekend was too busy to actually enjoy. I'm looking forward to my weekend getaway next weekend...even if it's going to be a little more crowded than originally anticipated. But oh well. As far as books go, I didn't do too horribly this week! I ordered two this week that I am SUPER excited to receive...eventually. But other than that everything was pretty boring (week-wise...minus the books part!).

 

Here's what I got:

Go Hunt Me by Kelly deVos
The Vampire's Sunny Sweetheart by Kristen Painter--need to get caught up in this series! I didn't even know she was still writing in it!
Trouble with the Cursed by Kim Harrison--SIGNED Keeper Copy!

For review I received:

Cursed by Marissa Meyer (ARC)

THANK YOU Macmillan!!

Then I also, finally, got my YA Fairy Loot book for May. It's not one I'm familiar with, but a friend of mine really enjoyed it, so hopefully I will too!

Yes, I decided not to share even though I believe the photo challenge was this week. But yeah. I'm weird like that.

And that was it for me! I didn't even realize that my four books (not counting the FL one) had similar titles and themes, vampires and curses! Lol. Kind of funny that it panned out that way this week! 

What all did you get?

 

Book Blogger Hop

 

 

This meme is hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addict!

 

 

This week's question is: Do you post your reviews before publication day or wait until close to or on publication day? (submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews) 

MY ANSWER: When it comes to ARC reviews, I always post it one week or so--sometimes less if I have more than one review from the same release date--before release date. I figure any earlier and people will likely forget about the book. I know I will. I just never like to read reviews for upcoming books more than a week or so earlier because I don't need to get my excitement drummed up more than it already is when there's still weeks or more to go for the book to be in my hands!

Random Thursday

 

Time for another fun round of interesting facts from history in True Facts That Sound Like Bull$#*t by Shane Carley!

(image borrowed from Wikipedia)

General Joseph Hooker was apparently well supplied with prostitutes that his soldiers were credited with giving the word "hooker" its start. Although, linguists have found evidence that show the word was in use before General Hooker's time.

Never knew that!

(image borrowed from Wikipedia)

Did you know President John Adams had a dog named Satan?

Back then? Seriously?!

 

(image borrowed from Wikipedia)

Did you know that Buzz Aldrin had a rap gig with Snoop Dogg as his producer? He went on to rap the song called "The Rocket Experience."

(image borrowed from Biography)

For some reason the book questioned whether Ivan the Terrible was the inspiration for Dracula, when everyone knows that was Vlad the Impaler!

(image borrowed from The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

The Roman Emperor Caligula was known for pampering his horses very much indeed. Some think he appointed one to the Senate, but that is false. This idea came from the novel, I, Claudius.

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.

 

The Haunting of Hill House meets Knives Out in a bid for an inheritance that will leave Helen Vaughan either rich...or dead.

Helen Vaughan doesn't know why she and her mother left their ancestral home at Harrowstone Hall, called Harrow, or why they haven't spoken to their extended family since. So when her grandfather dies, she's shocked to learn that he has left everything—the house, the grounds, and the money—to her. The inheritance comes with one condition: she must stay on the grounds of Harrow for one full year, or she'll be left with nothing.

There is more at stake than money. For as long as she can remember, Harrow has haunted Helen's dreams—and now those dreams have become a waking nightmare. Helen knows that if she is going to survive the year, she needs to uncover the secrets of Harrow. Why is the house built like a labyrinth? What is digging the holes that appear in the woods each night?And why does the house itself seem to be making her sick?

With each twisted revelation, Helen questions what she knows about Harrow, her family, and even herself. She no longer wonders if she wants to leave…but if she can.

 

I was sold after The Haunting of Hill House! I loved the first book I read by Marshall and still have another on my TBR but I love a good scary read! So I'm totally psyched for this one!!

 

TITLE: These Fleeting Shadows
AUTHOR: Kate Alice Marshall
PUBLISHER: Viking Books for Young Readers
GENRE: YA Horror
RELEASE DATE: August 9, 2022