Feature // Highly Anticipated Upcoming Books

Let me just start off by saying this...I kind of suck at blogging.

At least I do right now, but I am kind of hoping that it is one of those things that you slowly get better about as you learn about all of the things that it has to offer. But just to sum it up for those of you who are new, here is a list of my blogging accomplishments:

• 2 posts on Twitter and reaching 4 (cough cough) followers
• Some impromptu "Oh my goodness I forgot to take pictures so let me just use my phone to snap a horrendous close up of these two books on my carpet..." posts on Instagram (refer below)
• A total of, oh I don't even know, three weeks without a post? Wait, I think I might have posted last week...or the week before...

You get what I'm saying. I'm not a complete slacker...homework reacher a new high for this year last week and I was swamped with one essay and six tests over the course of four school days. I even spent the entire weekend studying for an AP Euro test...but now that's over and life seems to be returning to its regular routine!

As for an update on building the blog, we added links to all of our social media pages on the "About Us" page and added a quotes page. Also check out our "Must Reads" page for inspiration on what to read next. (I couldn't remember if I included this in any other posts...so here it is anyway...)

Today, I am not bringing you our typical TV Thursday post, but instead I am compiling a list of my most anticipated books for the coming months. I might include a few books that *just* came out, mainly because, as you can probably tell, I am running behind in life. 

Yes, this might sound like something that I could do for a Top 10 Tuesday post, but I want to do it now, so sorry. Stay tuned for a school related Top 10 Tuesday post next week, as I have something in mind to commemorate the beginning of school. 

A Collection of Upcoming Books I Wish to Read (In Order of Release Dates)

The Reader by Traci Chee

"Sefia knows what it means to survive. After her father is brutally murdered, she flees into the wilderness with her aunt Nin, who teaches her to hunt, track, and steal. But when Nin is kidnapped, leaving Sefia completely alone, none of her survival skills can help her discover where Nin’s been taken, or if she’s even alive. The only clue to both her aunt’s disappearance and her father’s murder is the odd rectangular object her father left behind, an object she comes to realize is a book—a marvelous item unheard of in her otherwise illiterate society. With the help of this book, and the aid of a mysterious stranger with dark secrets of his own, Sefia sets out to rescue her aunt and find out what really happened the day her father was killed—and punish the people responsible.

With overlapping stories of swashbuckling pirates and merciless assassins, The Reader is a brilliantly told adventure from an extraordinary new talent."

For some reason, I love reading books about reading...it is always something that I can relate to. As soon as I read the description for this book, I knew that it was something that I wanted to read, and I am hoping that I can read it soon. I have a few books ahead of it on my TBR, but it is pretty high up there. 

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

"A Torch Against the Night takes readers into the heart of the Empire as Laia and Elias fight their way north to liberate Laia’s brother from the horrors of Kauf Prison. Hunted by Empire soldiers, manipulated by the Commandant, and haunted by their pasts, Laia and Elias must outfox their enemies and confront the treacherousness of their own hearts.

In the city of Serra, Helene Aquilla finds herself bound to the will of the Empire’s twisted new leader, Marcus. When her loyalty is questioned, Helene finds herself taking on a mission to prove herself—a mission that might destroy her, instead."

Now this book is an automatic read, one that is actually the next book on my TBR. I am currently rereading An Ember in the Ashes to prepare for this, and I am loving it just as much as I did the first time through. Someone please remind me to go and order this book RIGHT NOW!

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

"Three dark queens

are born in a glen,

sweet little triplets

will never be friends

Three dark sisters

all fair to be seen,

two to devour

and one to be Queen

Every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.

But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins. The last queen standing gets the crown."

Something about this book caught my attention. For one thing, look at that cover...I mean, just look at it! How gorgeous is it? I need to get this book and then take some beautifully creepy pictures of it for Instagram. But also I love how unique the story line is, and I love how it has QUEENS! Queens, not kings are the heirs to the throne.

A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess

"I am Henrietta Howel. The first female sorcerer. The prophesied one. Or am I?

Henrietta Howel can burst into flames. When she is brought to London to train with Her Majesty's sorcerers, she meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, young men eager to test her powers and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her. As Henrietta discovers the secrets hiding behind the glamour of sorcerer life, she begins to doubt that she's the true prophesied one. With battle looming, how much will she risk to save the city--and the one she loves?"

With a huge Harry Potter reread hangover, I need some magical books to quench my thirst for all things wonderfully and (literally) magically not real. What better book to read than one about sorcerers? Not only sorcerers, but Her Majesty's sorcerers. I'm in.

Replica by Lauren Oliver

"From Lauren Oliver, New York Times bestselling author of Before I Fall and the Delirium trilogy, comes an epic, masterful novel that explores issues of individuality, identity, and humanity. Replica is a “flip book” that contains two narratives in one. Turn the book one way and read Lyra’s story; turn the book over and upside down and read Gemma’s story. The stories can be read separately, one after the other, or in alternating chapters. The two distinct parts of this astonishing novel combine to produce an unforgettable journey. Even the innovative book jacket mirrors and extends the reading experience.

Lyra’s story begins in the Haven Institute, a building tucked away on a private island off the coast of Florida that from a distance looks serene and even beautiful. But up close the locked doors, military guards, and biohazard suits tell a different story. In truth, Haven is a clandestine research facility where thousands of replicas, or human models, are born, raised, and observed. When a surprise attack is launched on Haven, two of its young experimental subjects—Lyra, or 24, and the boy known only as 72—manage to escape.

Gemma has been in and out of hospitals for as long as she can remember. A lonely teen, her life is circumscribed by home, school, and her best friend, April. But after she is nearly abducted by a stranger claiming to know her, Gemma starts to investigate her family’s past and discovers her father’s mysterious connection to the secretive Haven research facility. Hungry for answers, she travels to Florida, only to stumble upon two replicas and a completely new set of questions.

While the stories of Lyra and Gemma mirror each other, each contains breathtaking revelations critically important to the other story. Replica is an ambitious, thought-provoking masterwork."

I love how unique this book sounds. A book that flips so that the stories intertwine together? That reminds me of a Snow White picture book I had when I was little. I also love the idea for the story. All in all, count me in!

Thank you all for reading this post, and I am sorry for neglecting to post recently. I am working on it, I promise!

Book Review // My Lady Jane

Hello everyone! Sorry for the lack of posts these past few weeks. I went on vacation with my family and then school started, so there has been a lot of transition over the past few days. That is also why I have not been able to post on social media. I need to find time to take Bookstagram photos (hopefully this weekend!), so stay tuned for that. For now, here is a book review.

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

"Who on earth could feel comfortable enough to sleep in a room with no books?"

I really, really liked this book for so many reasons. It gets five stars. For one thing, it was centered around books. I mean, a book about books! What could get better than that? But that's not all...here is a list of all of the things that I loved about this book!

Things I Loved:

• The main characters - they are all so unique and really grew as the novel progressed. They also all possess traits that you would expect the actual people in history to have while being adapted to relate to our modern society.
• Magic, but not normal magic. This was magic that was used to show the disagreements between two religions - talk about plot device! Basically, people have the ability to turn into their animals - randomly or not at all at the beginning and with control as they learn to embrace their abilities and believe in themselves.
• Evil advisers, evil sisters, and evil animal-people-magic things. 
• Backstabbing and attempted (and believed) murder!
• I also really loved the whole (SPOILER ALERT) arranged marriage = falling in love thing. 
• The fact that the authors stole Shakespeare and had G write his poems. There was controversy anyway...
• The comedy! I was laughing so hard throughout this book. If you want to laugh, read this. 
• The dedication. Trust me.
• And lots, lots, LOTS more! I read this book a while back and I absolutely loved it, but I can no longer remember specifically why. Argggghhhh! Anyhow, I really want to read it again at some point, and I highly recommend it. Read it. Now. Seriously, I mean it.

Things I Didn't Like

• I can honestly think of nothing bad about this book. I'll get back to you on that if I thing of anything. 

Thanks for reading! I hope to be back with more posts soon! But until then, have a wonderful everything! :)

Book Review // The Girl From Everywhere

Hello Everyone! I come to you today with a book review - and my first one for that matter.

The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

“His eyes were so inviting that for a moment, everything in me wanted to reveal this part of myself, as though the truth was a butterfly, wings fluttering, green and gold and quivering to be free. I was a closed book, a rolled map, a dark territory, uncharted; I was surprised by my urgency, but after all, to be known was to exist.” 

I really enjoyed this book. It is hard for me to put my feelings about it in words, but let me try.

Things I Loved:

• The characters, who were all fully fleshed out and had deep personalities. Each one had their own quirks and was very much their own person. They were all really deep and had great connections with one another. The author also created in-depth backstories for each one, which is really impressive considering they are all from different countries AND time periods. 
• This leads to the next point: DIVERSITY. This book was full of it! Each character seemed to be from a different place, some of which include modern day New York, 1860s Hawaii, Africa, and China. There is yet another character who is Persian. I loved it!
• The storyline is great! Is it unique, compelling, and has lots of conflict. 
• The prose! This was probably the best part of the book for me. Everything was written so poetically, and the book was rich with metaphors, similes, and allusions.
• I love how the author incorporated so many myths! Some of the locations that they visit are even "mythical," as the version of the place that they are sent to is based on what the mapmaker believed. My favorite was the pocket-sized dragon (I want one!). 
• Another thing that I almost forgot: the way that they time traveled. I found it very creative! I especially loved how it allowed people to go to mythical places, as I mentioned above. It literally made the story magical. 

Things I Didn't Like:

• The romance. Honestly, I was shipping Nix and Kash the whole time and there was very little romance. I wanted more!
• Some parts of the novel were slow and I felt like they didn't contribute to the book overall.

When all is said and done, I really liked this book. Not my favorite book ever - the four stars is because I felt like it could have been more compelling overall. And the romance... 

Other than that I loved it! I highly recommend it.