Last Week I Read:
Skyhunter by Marie Lu (4 stars)
Currently Reading:
Steelstriker by Marie Lu
What I Plan to Read Next:
The Iron Sword by Julie Kagawa
Other Posts of Interest:
Let's Discuss: Remembering Books
Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays
Can't Wait Wednesday
Challenges Monthly Wrap-up: February
Books from the Backlog #20
Book Blogger Hop
Let's Discuss: Finding the Reviews
Stacking the Shelves
In a world broken by war, a team of young warriors is willing to sacrifice everything to save what they love.
The Karensa Federation has conquered a dozen countries, leaving Mara as one of the last free nations in the world. Refugees flee to its borders to escape a fate worse than death—transformation into mutant war beasts known as Ghosts, creatures the Federation then sends to attack Mara.
The legendary Strikers, Mara's elite fighting force, are trained to stop them. But as the number of Ghosts grows and Karensa closes in, defeat seems inevitable.
Still, one Striker refuses to give up hope.
Robbed of her voice and home, Talin Kanami knows firsthand the brutality of the Federation. Their cruelty forced her and her mother to seek asylum in a country that considers their people repugnant. She finds comfort only with a handful of fellow Strikers who have pledged their lives to one another and who are determined to push Karensa back at all costs.
When a mysterious prisoner is brought from the front, Talin senses there’s more to him than meets the eye. Is he a spy from the Federation? Or could he be the weapon that will save them all?
I finally picked up Marie Lu's Skyhunter and it was a pretty exciting read! Since Marie is coming to a library near me this month, I thought I would get caught up on her books prior to the new release of a new series. I know it's not necessary, but it's just how my brain works! Lol.
This was definitely an interesting start! I'll admit, it's been awhile since I read a dystopian book! I can't quite remember what I last read that could be called dystopian. Talin was an intriguing heroine, she's our storyteller, and yet, she's mute. She wasn't always this way, something happened when she was a child, something that she can't quite remember that made her voice vanish. There was a bit of chemical damage involved as well that played a part in her muteness, but whether it is the sole cause is unclear. I am not certain if she will speak again by the final book's end, but stranger things have happened.
Talin is a refugee of sorts; she lives in Mara and is apart of the elite task force called the Strikers. They are the ones designated to protect the city. They are one of the last free cities outside the Federation's control. But everyday the Federation grows stronger and it won't be long before they swarm on the city Talin calls home and she will be among the few who will die to protect it.
When out defeating Ghosts--experiments of the Federation that have gone horribly, horribly wrong--her partner and protector is killed. For ever Striker is partnered with a Shield who will help protect them in battle. Devastated at the loss, Talin isn't sure how she will be able to go on. She's looked down upon for her lack of speech and is treated poorly, but pretty much everyone except for a few loyal friends. Then that is when other Strikers bring in a captured experiment of the Federation. This is something different though, for he is no Ghost.
Red is a young man around Talin's age or so, who has wings and incredible strength. But he's wild and uncontrollable. Just before he is put to death, Talin steps in and saves him, for reasons even she is not sure of. Before she knows it, Red is made into her new Shield and she will have to learn to communicate with a boy who doesn't know the language of Mara nor the sign language she and her friends have picked up over the years.
This book was very much an us vs. them kind of story. Two sides who are meant to battle it out to the death until the very end. We do learn of secrets and betrayals, and more secrets on top of that! It's a read that will keep you intrigued throughout. While I did keep hoping for something a bit more to the story, I just never found that spark I was hoping was buried somewhere deep.
I will say that the characters did keep me mightily entertained! I love Talin's strength, she was constantly looked down upon by many of her colleagues, by her enemies, by her superiors...no one ever thought highly of her. I will say again, she did have two friends, Adena and Jeran who were always on her side and are the ones who join her and Red in her quest for answers. Red was another interesting character! I mean here we have a heroine and a hero who both are nearly incapable of speech. They do form a connection of sorts that will lead to them being able to communicate mind to mind and understand each other, regardless of language barriers. But I found myself mesmerized by this concept of a heroine and hero who couldn't physically talk to one another.
There was a good deal of action in this one coupled with a decent amount of suspense and mystery! There are quite a few secrets going on in the background of this one and when all is revealed in the end, it was pretty shocking! I'm glad I have the next book at the ready as I feel like it would be a little hard to remind myself of everything that happened! Duologies are always best binge read in my opinion! That is why there are so many of them in my TBR pile! lol.
I am very excited to continue Talin's story as there were a few cliffhangers. Nothing too dire where the wait would've devastated me, but all waits are pretty devastating come to think of it! Lol. But I am happy that I did wait and can dive in at the ready and see what new adventures will be had! Things were dicey in the end and I can't wait to see how things will be resolved by the sequel's conclusion!
Skyhunter was an entertaining dystopian read for sure! It reminded me of why I was drawn into this genre! It's a classic at heart and will be enjoyed by all with a sense of adventure set in a troubling world landscape! This one is sure to delight you as much as it did me and since you waited as long as I have you can happily dive into the next one as soon as you finish the first! A win-win!
Overall Rating 4/5 stars
Another week down in the books. Once again, nothing of note really happened. I did get some news...nothing is 100% official yet, but it was surprising to say the least! I might mention it later on once I know it's really happening but yeah. Nothing terrible and not even directly effecting me, but it was still news! This week I do have a book signing with Hannah Whitten that I am excited for! I just binged her For the Wolf duology and really liked it! I didn't read her new release as my first two months were busy preparing for February signings! Lol. Right now, as you might notice I am preparing for my Marie Lu signing at the end of the month, luckily this is the last one I need to read not counting the new release, which again, I probably won't read ahead of time due to time constraints!
Here's what I got this week:
She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran--I bought the B&N edition because I loved the purple accents on the cover. Oddly GR didn't have it up so here's the standard one.
Immortality by Dana Schwartz--another duology to binge! Maybe even this year! Lol.
Then I got my Morrighan preorder incentive! It seems all my November ones went missing in the mail or something! Weird that only the month of November ones did but what can you do? Luckily the publishers were kind enough to resend them to me!
I got this lovely print with a quote from Morrighan! I read this one years ago when it was an ebook offering and I plan to re-read it again eventually.
THANK YOU Fierce Reads!
And then I won a contest on Instagram from Megan Van Dyke! I didn't win her grand prize but was in the runners up category and got some awesome swag! I have her books in my TBR pile to read as they sound AMAZING! Fairy tale retellings New Adult style, but aren't retellings per se since they seem to follow other characters! Particularly eager to read Second Star to the Left for the Tinker Bell/Captain Hook love story!
So anyway, I was writing up a Book Blogger Hop post for April and the question really got me thinking...so much that I decided to turn it into a discussion post! Yup. But since I blogged ahead, you're seeing my full answer here first!
Where Do You Read Book Reviews?
So are there still any readers out here? Way back in the day when I first started blogging I discovered a wonderful community of people who liked to read the same kind of books I did! And sometimes they would read the books I was on the fence about. Ones I wasn't sure I wanted to read for whatever reason. So when they read and reviewed the book I would read ALL their reviews on it! Whatever blogger I followed who read and reviewed it, I read their review!
This helped me IMMENSELY! I like to know what fellow readers of the same genre thought about this book or that book that I was somewhat interested it, but also hesitant to read.
Now with the blogging community at an all time low, I find it hard to make these decisions on my own. I am reverting back to what I did wayyyy back before blogging and just going by gut instinct. Sometimes my gut would say, alright, let's give it a try. Other times, there would be that little voice that says, don't do it! Look at that one tagline RIGHT THERE!!! It's clearly going to be something you won't like!
So yeah...there's a lot of mental debate going on up there! Nowadays it really becomes more like ARE YOU SURE? You have 400+ titles to read already, do you NEED to read this one? Is it special? Does it SPEAK to you? Almost the same questions except for that reminder of my TBR number. Lol. Honestly it's 50/50 if I go for it or not!
But yeah, how do you make your book reading decisions these days? I do occasionally refer to Goodreads for help, trying to look to see if friends have read said book and that can help me in my decision making process as well. I honestly miss the bloggers though. Though I still post my reviews to Amazon, I kind of abhor it! I don't trust the reviewers there anymore. I'd rather read their same review on Goodreads. If they post there, then I know they are book people. I only trust book people's book reviews.
So got off topic again, kinda, how do you make your book reading decisions? When there's that book you kind of want to read but are hesitant...what do you do first?
This week's question is: Have you joined the library reading app, Libby? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)
MY ANSWER: Honestly, I have never heard of this app, so no. My problem with going to the library is that when I am set on reading a particular book, I want to read it then and there. The library doesn't always have what I want when I'm ready to read it, so I just end up buying the books.
Josie Barrett brings out the animal in men. Literally. As the local veterinarian in a town that's approximately seventy percent Others—mostly shapeshifters—Josie deals with beastly situations all the time. It's practically part of her job description. But when the werewolves of Stone Creek, Oregon, start turning downright feral, Josie smells a rat—among other, more dangerous critter.
Teaming up with the ferociously sexy Eli Pace, a full-time sheriff and part-time were-lion, Josie tries to contain the shapeshifting problem before it spreads like a virus. But when more shifters get infected—and stuck in their animal forms—the fur really begins to fly. Josie and Eli have to find the cause, fast, before the whole town goes to the dogs. But first, they have to wrestle with a few animal urges of their own.
Christine Warren's Born to Be Wild is the final book of The Others and like with the majority of the series I added it to my pile at the end of April in 2013 just before I went to RT when I got to meet her! One day I hope to dive back into this series...and it should be with ease since they all stand alone! Lol!
CHALLENGE 1: 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge
For the Throne by Hannah Whitten (For the Wolf)
Only one completed this month, but I'm still doing pretty good with my challenge as that makes 3/5 series completed! I may have to up my number after all!
CHALLENGE 2: 2023 Discussion Challenge
Book Signing Preparations
The Anti-Valentines Book Tag (Belated)
Remembering Books
Three discussions done this month! I'll admit, I lost a bit of steam after a rockin January! Right now I am at 8/15 so I'm already halfway there! I might up this one too at some point!
CHALLENGE 3: 2023 New Release Challenge
Pieces of Me by Kate McLaughlin (ARC)--review to come at a later date
Okay, only 1 read, I'm actually not too disappointed that I've only read 2 2023 books! My TBR pile needs some love, but I've some new release ARCs lined up so soon I will be back to 2023 reads and all will be well!
CHALLENGE 4: The Backlist Reader Challenge 2023
Finlay Donovan is Killing it by Elle Cosimano (2/2/21)
Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano (2/1/22)
For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten (6/1/21)
For the Throne by Hannah Whitten (6/7/22)
Doing really good here! I am already halfway through my challenge with 10/20 done! I might up this one as well...but since I think the months will soon turn to all new releases this one might not change much!
All in all, I feel like I am doing pretty good! How are you doing on your challenges?
Blythe and her friends—Gabrielle, and brother and sister Tucker and Tanya—have always been a tight friend group, attending a local high school and falling in and out of love with each other. But an act of violence has caused a rift between Blythe and Tucker . . . and unexpected bursts of aggression and disturbing nightmares have started to become more frequent in their lives.
The strange happenings culminate in a shocking event at school: Gabrielle is found covered in blood in front of their deceased principal, with no memory of what happened.
Cracks in their friendship, as well as in their own memories, start appearing, threatening to expose long-forgotten secrets which could change the group’s lives forever. How can Blythe and her friends trust each other when they can’t even trust their own memories?
So many Kelley Armstrong books, so little time! I seem to be behind on some of her thrillers lately! I keep buying them because I love her books, but man, I wish I didn't need to sleep!
TITLE: Someone is Always Watching
AUTHOR: Kelley Armstrong
PUBLISHER: Tundra Books
GENRE: Thriller
RELEASE DATE: April 11, 2023
