The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1): Spoiler Free Review Feat. Gretchen @ChicNerdReads

Title: The Cruel prince (The Folk of the Air #1)

Author: Holly Black

Pub. Date: January 2nd, 2018

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 384

Format: Physical ARC

Content warning: Suicide and Graphic Violence

Buddy Read: w/my Twin Gretchen @ChicNerdReads (Q & A at the end of this review)

*Thank you Little Brown Books for Young Readers and Holly Black for the early review copy in exchange for my honest opinion

Where to begin?….well maybe with the fact that up until now I hadn’t come across a fae character that I liked in any of the books that I’ve read. This all has changed of course now that I’ve read this magnificently twisted book by Holly Black. I get it now! I get why you all call her the Queen of the Fae! The Cruel Prince was EVERYTHING I never knew I needed & now I simply cannot get enough of this world.

The opening scene is one of the most cold blooded I’ve ever read, we meet our MC Jude in her home with her two sisters Taryn & Vivi. A knock on the door brings a stranger into their home changing the course of their lives. Jude’s sister Vivi is half Fae & her father Madoc has come to take her back to Elfhame, the home her mother took her away from when she left him. Murdering both their parents, Madoc is now responsible for his daughter Vivi and her two human siblings. We fast forward 10 years from the date he stole them away to find them all grown up into teenagers with very different personalities and feelings towards their new home & Madoc himself. Elfhame is no easy place to live in especially if you’re a human which is why our MC Jude has given it her all to try & fit in by earning a place in the royal guard. Always having to look over her shoulder, Jude knows the fae world is a treacherous place to live in & the only way to survive is to always be ten steps ahead.

Our antagonists are Prince Cardan and his fae friends who look down on all humans which make Jude & Taryn easy targets. For the most part, the bullying is directed towards Jude for wanting to be in the royal guard so badly that she is actively competing in the tournament. Taryn on the other hand tries to lay low & encourages a non-yielding Jude to do the same. Jude however, is not the type to stay down for long & pushes back each & every single time. She manages to capture the attention of Prince Dain who is rumored to be chosen by the king as heir to the throne. Dain offers her a position with his royal spies & Jude begins to unravel court secrets one by one. She soon realizes that nothing is at it seems & the kingdom of Elfhame is in danger. The Cruel Prince is filled with political intrigue, ruthless double-crossings, and tons of twists & turns that will leave you second guessing all of your theories. If you enjoy watching pieces on a Chess board move Game of Thrones Style, then chances are you’re going to LOVE this book!

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It’s rare that I end up loving the MC of a Fantasy so hardcore & yet even more impossible…that I end up loving the MC as much as the antagonist haha! I’m still not sure that any of the characters in this book can be described as wholly good or bad, they’re all so complex & deeply layered. Starting with our MC Jude who can be seen as a outcast & a bit of a anti-hero, she is going to put the kingdom and its people above all else. Jude was unpredictable & resilient to the very end, very much a product of her environment. Her twin sister Taryn who is also human has a very different mindset although ultimately she’d also like to just fit in. Unlike Jude, Taryn has no interest in training for battle & instead plans to marry a fae of the royal court. We find these two siblings at odds throughout the book as they struggle to make a place for themselves in a strange land that doesn’t want them.

Madoc is also an interesting character, described as blood lustful and a winner of wars. He also is the person who murdered their parents & then gave them a new home with everything they could’ve possibly ever wanted/needed. Each of the girls has a difficult relationship with Madoc who is the only father figure they’ve known since the age of 7. Vivi who is his legitimate daughter by blood has never accepted Madoc or Elfhame. We see her often steal away in the human world where she hides her true identity. Vivi has held onto a lot of her anger & resentment towards Madoc & we see her rebel against him at every turn.

Prince Carden & his crew of friends who go out of their way to make Jude’s life all the more difficult, are just as complex as our three siblings. There’s definitely a lot more underneath the malice & I ended up really enjoying this character’s development.

There are plenty more characters in this book the I truly enjoyed, the cast is large & I could talk about each one for days but then that would take the fun away from meeting them for yourselves. Besides the main characters and group of antagonists we also have another set of players in the background who are just as crucial to the story. When we first start this story, it’s on the heels of a coronation where the King would choose his heir. You can bet on there being tons of moves being made between his heirs for the highly coveted seat. With so many players on the board I found myself HOOKED! with many theories that ultimately didn’t even come close to the final play for the throne 😉

Never have I ever entered a Fantasy world & felt the need to watch my own back! Such was the case with this book & I can’t even begin to explain just how deeply fleshed out this story, it’s characters, and world really are. The plot alone is FLAWLESS!!! well executed & guaranteed to leave you holding your theories with a big Oh So You Thought That’s What’s Happening Here? HA! Think Again! I am in awe of how Black brought all the pieces together, she thought of its all! past, present, and future. As if that weren’t enough, the characters were morally gray & really hard to turn away from. There isn’t a heroine in this Fantasy, this isn’t that type of book & I found this to be ingenious! EVERYONE is effed up at some point or another & EVERYONE is flawed. The world building is A+ bookworms! yet again in awe of how Holly Black managed to give us so much in under 400 pgs. Elfhame comes to life with its many different races of fae, their customs, food to tempt any human, and a high court filled dangerous characters. I couldn’t get enough & every time I opened this book, I found myself sucked into the land of the fae very easily. I didn’t see the ending coming and had to pick my jaw up off the floor at the very end. The good news is that Black leaves us with an amazing epilogue to hold us over & I’m going to need the sequel like yesterday! *sobs* It’s not too early to place this book on my Top 2018 reads, already have. If you haven’t picked up a copy yet, please do not hesitate! the hype is well deserved with this one & I just know you won’t regret it 😉

It’s been a while since my BFF & I buddy read a book so when she suggested it I wasn’t going to say no! LOL. I cleared all of my planned TBR books because buddy reads with my twin are always fun & I knew this would be no different. I’m so glad it was a book we both really enjoyed & are now totally OBSESSED with! Check out her full spoiler free review here!

When I asked Gretchen how her experience reading Holly Black for the first time went, she immediately gushed on how AMAZING It was! “I loved the world building, characters, and how they took me by surprise. I loved how dark the characters were because the match my soul!” *she LOL’d when she said this* Gretchen LOVED Carden who plays the antagonist, she admits not liking him at first but then realized he had reasons for being the way he is.

The world building as I mentioned in my review, is one of my favorite aspects of this book. Although this was my first Holly Black, it isn’t my first book with Fae & I found myself wondering why this time I ended up LOVING them so much. I asked Gretchen, compared to other Fae books she’s read, what made the world of Elfhame in The Cruel prince stand out? “The many different races of not just Fae, the inclusion of termites, Goblins, and pixies”…we both agreed that this book had so much detail in the best of ways & we soaked it all up.

The main characters in this book also battled internally with whether they were given a choice, would they stay in Elfhame or return to the human world. Vivi who is the Fae sibling, hasn’t accepted Madoc as her father or her new home. She can be seen often sneaking away to the human world & clinging on to human things. We also see Jude struggle with the desire to be one of the Fae. I asked Gretchen if she were give the choice would she live in the human world as a Fae? or would she continue to live in the Fae world as a human? “I’d prefer to be a Fae living in the the human world, living undercover with modifications to keep people from finding out my true identity”…for those that are wondering, it’s totally possible with the help of some contacts & our wonderful author herself has surgically re-shaped her ears to those of the fae 😉

Lastly, I asked Gretchen whether she plans on picking up any of Holly Black’s other books that have already been published & she said ABSOLUTELY! Gretchen is interested in reading Tithe 🙂

Holly Black is the author of bestselling contemporary fantasy books for kids and teens. Some of her titles include The Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi), The Modern Faerie Tale series, the Curse Workers series, Doll Bones, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, the Magisterium series (with Cassandra Clare), The Darkest Part of the Forest, and her new series which begins with The Cruel Prince in January 2018.

She has been a a finalist for an Eisner Award, and the recipient of the Andre Norton Award, the Mythopoeic Award and a Newbery Honor. She currently lives in New England with her husband and son in a house with a secret door.

Hello Bookworms! Hope you’re all having a wonderful day, possibly even a snow day for some like myself fingers crossed Sound off in the comments if you plan on reading The Cruel Prince? & if you’ve already devoured it like we did, how was it for you?

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80’s Freestyle Keep Me Hanging On…

Hello Bookworms! Hope you’re all having a wonderful day and if you’re anything like me, you are looking at the clock waiting for the end of the work day. Find the person who thought it was a good idea to work any day past Christmas & you have your Grinch #jussayin

When I sat down to make my list of top 2018 books I’m looking forward to, I quickly realized my post would be a mile long and I just couldn’t do that to you lovely Bookworms. So instead I opted to split my list into two posts, this post will be for 2018 sequels I’m anticipating in the new year. The second post will be stand-alone/series starters. I have 12 sequels I’m super stoked for so grab your fave snack & or beverage cause ya girl has compiled a bit of a list (no particular order)…

1. The Winter of the Witch (Winternight Trilogy #3) by Katherine Arden aka the book I NEED like air!

I recently read & reviewed The Girl in the Tower (my spoiler free review here) which was utter PERFECTION! Just when I thought this trilogy could not get any better, Arden gave us The Girl in the Tower & now my nights are consumed thinking about the final installment in the world *sobs* This is not the final cover btw, I’m sure the final one will be GLORIOUS as they all have been! Scheduled for August 2018, a little earlier than the December release dates I’ve gotten grown accustomed to with these wintry books but HOORAY regardless!

2. Obsidio (The Illuminae Files #3) by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

Anyone who has read the first two books in the Illuminae Files can probably tell you how addictive this series really is smh. I was initially intimidated by the format of these books & it took me about a year to finally decide to read the first one…NEVER looked back after that! I will most likely devour Obsidio in one sitting, March 13th you have been claimed!

3. Nyxia Unleashed (The Nyxia Triad #3) by Scott Reintgen

Having recently read Nyxia (my review here), the adrenaline I felt reading this book is still pretty vivid. Not only was the plot fast paced edge of your seat FANTASTIC! the characters are easily some of my favorite in all of YA. Coming from all corners of the world, the crew of Nyxia offers up the diversity we are currently lacking in YA Sci-Fi. Nyxia Unleashed is set to hit the shelves July 2018 *eeeeK*

4. The Heart Forger (The Bone Witch #2) by Rin Chupeco

Last year I read The Bone Witch (my review here) & fell in love with the world building Rin Chupeco had created. I was actually surprised that it wasn’t labeled Adult Fantasy considering the expanse & complexities of the world. This was a real treat for myself seeing as I love details & lush writing which The Bone Witch pulled off beautifully often times reminding me of Memoirs of a Geisha. This wonderful sequel is set to be released March 2018!

5. Iron Gold (Red Rising #4) by Pierce Brown

The Red Rising Trilogy (I can’t call it this anymore) is one that I am a hardcore fan of…no seriously though, I’m a Howler through & through! If this now series had ended with Morning Star, I would’ve been Ok because it was one of the BEST most EPIC endings I’ve ever read. To have read the news of that the world would be expanding was AMAZING for both myself & the hubby who is also a big fan. I read these books before creating Lair Of Books & missed out on fangirling with other Blogger buddies. Well, January 16th is almost upon us & I cannot wait to get my hands on this book! any Howler fans out there?

6. Defy the Worlds (Constellation #2) by Claudia Gray

Defy the Stars (my review here) was my 1st Claudia Gray book & it won’t be my last. I had heard of Gray’s books before getting a galley for Defy the Stars & now I can see why. The world building in the start of this series is fun & introduces us to a A.I. whose dry humor will leave you smiling in disbelief. I was lucky to get my hands on a arc copy of Defy the Worlds but I’m still including it in this list because I will be buying a finished copy on release day. Gray has some of the BEST covers I’ve come across & I’m already obsessed with this one, April 3rd will be the day I get my hands on this pretty little book *heart eyes*

7. Whisper of the Tide (Song of the Current #2) by Sarah Tolcser

If you’re looking for high seas adventure, Song of the Current (my review here) is probably the book for you! I enjoyed the authentic pirate talk and the world building was on point with clothing, way of life, and mythos behind the Gods. What I loved most is that we get a POC MC who knows her calling in life and won’t easily be thrown off by a love interest. Caro is non-traditional & won’t settle for societal norms. June 5th I’m hoping you’re a warm day I can count on for a iced drink & return to the treacherous waters in this world 🙂

8. Daughter of the Siren Queen (Daughter of the Pirate King #2) by Tricia Levenseller

Oh goodness! I can’t even begin to describe my excitement over the follow-up to Daughter Of the Pirate King (my review here). I was so very lucky to have a arc recently gifted to me by the wonderful Ashley over at Socially Awkward Bookworm, she made my year! DOTPK offered up so many laughs alongside a kick a** MC who is the female Jack Sparrow. If Pirates of the Caribeean (prior to Depps shameful behavior) brought you much enjoyment, chances are DOTPK will be a hit for you as well. Ahoy Mateys! February 27th is the day the sequel finds its way to our shores 🙂

9. Grey Sister (Book Of the Ancestor #2) by Mark Lawrence

I read my very first Mark Lawrence earlier this year & I’m so happy It was a good place to start after hearing so much about this well known author. Red Sister (my review here) was a 5 star gloriously bloody EPIC start to the Book of the Ancestor series! In my review I described the setting for Red Sister as Hogwarts mixed with a Ludus (like in Spartacus). Vivid fight scenes, positive female friendships and positive LGBTQIA representation are just some of the things you’ll find in this new Fantasy. Red Sister is perfect for those who read only YA Fantasy and are looking to get their feet wet in adult Fantasy. April 19th is the date set to return this ruthless world 🙂

10. Catwoman SoulStealer (DC Icons #3) by Sarah J. Maas

I don’t really have much to say about this one…I own a copy of Wonder Woman which I haven’t read yet. I came to the decision that I wanted to wait for a few of these books in the series to be out before starting cause I reallllllly dislike waiting haha! I am VERY interested in how Selina Kyle is written considering she is half white/half Cuban. We’ll know more on August 7th!

11. My Plain Jane (The Lady Janies #2) by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, and Brodi Ashton

I’d link my review for My Lady Jane but it’s soOo old when I was still in my baby stages of blogging so no thanks hehe! My Lady Jane was the book to make my water almost come out through my nose smh LOL! So silly & filled with hilarious banter, I LOVED that book! from that book came the formation of The Lady Janies which are the 3 awesome authors who brought the characters I fell in love with to life. My Plain Jane is a MUST HAVE & THAT cover is giving me all the Summer vibes! I’ll see you on June 26th Jane 🙂

12. The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy (Guide #2) by Mackenzi Lee

You may have noticed the cover for this title isn’t displayed above and that’s because there hasn’t been a cover reveal. Earlier this year I read The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue (my review here) which was a ton of fun. I’ve really been enjoying YA Historical Fiction lately & this is definitely one of my top favorites. Although I loved the MC Henry oh so much! I really ended up intrigued by his little sister Felicity & I know I’m not alone in this. The Goodreads Synopsis has the following listed:

A sequel to The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, narrated by Felicity and featuring travel, pirates, and a science girl gang.

I mean…who can resist this?!?! Not I said Lilly…October 2nd is the day to pick up a copy!

Happy Wednesday Bookworms! this list took me a bit longer to type up than expected which is making me give post II the stink eye haha! (wayyyyy longer) & i’m sure I’ve forgotten others. Also, If I didn’t list a sequel it’s possible I haven’t read the 1st cause waiting sucks (Strange the Dreamer & Lady Midnight/Lord of Shadows I’m looking at ya). Please sound off below with any titles that come to mind <3’s!

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The Books Under the Tree Tag

Happy Saturday Bookworms!!! I’m currently enjoying my Christmas Eve Eve with the family but I’m taking a little break to come in here & spread a little tag joy. The Books Under the Tree Tag was originally created by Game Of Tomes two Booktubers that are new to me & I’ve already binge watched a TON of their videos, their channel is super cozy to watch. I was tagged by the wonderful Mel over @ Mel To The Any who I discovered just this year & OMYGAHHHH! seriously bookworms, check out her content & see for yourselves why she’s my newfound favorite!

Ok, it’s now 3:30am & I can’t sleep so I’ve returned to this tag since earlier today was hectic & I couldn’t finish. I’m beginning to wonder if my childhood excitement for Christmas Eve has stayed with me sub-conciously, keeping me up all night 🤔 not sure but my mind & body are not aligned 😂 not saying I’m grinching it but…On to the tag ☃️

What book would you like to find under the tree this year?

There’s only one book I’m looking for under my tree & it’s the U.K. edition of The Bear and the Nightingale *sighhhh* sold out on Book Depository, I’ve got notifications turned on for a re-stock but I’m not confident in that happening. Instead I will be ordering a copy from AbeBooks as a Christmas/Birthday gift to myself 🎁 and maybe I’ll even have it gift wrapped 😂

What is the best book you have ever received for Christmas?

2 years ago my sister got me the Deluxe 1st Edition of Fables. It’s hardcover and pretty and I LOVE it! the illustrations are BEAUTIFUL and eye catching. 2018 is the year I binge Fables 🤗

When a savage creature known only as the Adversary conquered the fabled lands of legends and fairy tales, all of the infamous inhabitants of folklore were forced into exile.
Di
the normal citizens of modern-day New York, these magical characters created their own secret society-within an exclusive luxury apartment building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side-called Fabletown. But when Snow White’s party-girl sister, Rose Red, is apparently murdered, it is up to Bigby, Fabletown’s sheriff, and a reformed and pardoned Big Bad Wolf, to determine if the culprit is Bluebeard, Rose’s ex-lover and notorious wife killer, or Jack, her current live-in boyfriend and former beanstalk-climber.

What book gives you all the Christmas feels?

Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling always stirs up Christmas feels for me. Specifically the arrival of the Beauxbatons & Durmstrang schools at Hogwarts. There’s also a Christmas tree scene in The Goblet of Fire movie that is pretty vivid in my mind…

What book do you plan on reading to put you in the Christmas spirit this year?

I’ve actually already done this when I picked up The Girl in the Towerby Katherine Arden in anticipation of snow & Christmas. Although this book isn’t about Christmas, there really is no other book (other than Harry Potter) that puts me in the wintery holiday spirit. Atmospheric and covered in snow, this sequel was the perfect book to put me in the X-mas state of mind ☃️

What book have you read this year that you would like to throw out with the Christmas tree after the holidays?

Ha! a bit of a mean one here 😂 & I don’t typically have books that I’d toss out BUT there is one this year 😱…I really had high hopes for my very first Andy Weir read & it just didn’t even come close to what others felt about his other book The Martian. In fact, it really made me feel uncomfortable so no, I don’t plan on keeping my copy.

What is a book from this year that you would like to place under a friend’s tree?

Mel & I have the same book in mind for this prompt & that’s because this book should be read by EVERYONE. I have my sister currently reading The Hate U Give & can’t wait to discuss the themes with her. Poignant, relevant, soul searching, impactful, and heart-breaking are only a few of the words that come to mind when describing this book. 2018 is the year we see it hit the big screen & I for one am trying to have as many loved ones read the book before then 💙

Challenge: Create a stack of books in which the spines alternate green and red! Share the titles.

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The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. Who do you tag?

I am a bit late with this tag since it’s now officially Christmas Eve 🙈but better late than never amiright? 😂 If you’re in the mood to do this tag, consider yourself tagged but in the spirit of the holiday, here are a few bloggers I have in mind for this tag (no pressure bookworms, it is the day before 😂)

Kristin Kraves Books

Socially Awkward Bookworm

Nerd Narration

WonderfilledReads

I wish you all a happy & wonderful holiday surrounded by those you love! 💕May your trees have a few books from your WISH-LISTS (if not all) waiting for you to unwrap. I will return next week with my highly anticipated 2018 reads🤗

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Spoiler Free Review: The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden

Title: The Girl in the Tower (Winternight Trilogy #2)

Author: Katherine Arden

Pub. Date: December 5th, 2017

Genre: Historical Fiction/Fantasy

Publisher: Del Rey

Pages: 363

Format: eGalley & Physical ARC

Words? what are they? I seriously don’t think I can do this book justice but because I feel EVERYONE should read this trilogy, I will pull myself together & let you all know why Katherine Arden is a force to be reckoned with. I thought Arden’s debut The Bear and the Nightingale was AMAZING! If this author never wrote anything again, I would’ve been saddened but also would’ve felt like I had found a diamond I could treasure for the rest of my life! a lush & vivid world I can see myself returning to on a cold winter night year after year. I was NOT expecting to be blown away by its sequel The Girl in the Tower! not only has our MC grown since the last time we saw her but the world itself has expanded & developed to give us readers a better picture of Vasya’s travels & adventures outside her small village & woods. We last left off with Vasya having no choice but to leave her only known home once she was labeled a witch. It was expected that she’d be sent to her sister Olya in Moscow to be paired off in marriage & spend her days with the other women who live in a tower child rearing & running their households. Vasya however has never had an interest in these things & could never be tied down for the rest of her days. Having always found comfort in “boys clothing” she finds she can see the world without restrictions.

Choosing instead to map out her own destiny, Vasya sets off into the woods on her horse Solovey. If The Bear and the Nightingale was mostly world-building & the fleshing out of characters, this follow-up introduces a fast paced plot while also balancing & building upon its predecessor. Villages are being pillaged and burned, their little girls are being stolen away from their families. Vasya finds herself in the middle of it all as she fights the bandits and eventually captures the attention of the Grand Prince of Moscow with her bravery. We follow Vasya as she uncovers the sinister forces threatening the kingdom all whilst keeping her true identity hidden.

Vasya- still holds the title of my Most Favorite MC in all of Fantasy! Her independence, self worth, bravery, fierceness and determination not to conform to society’s gender norms speak to my soul. In The Bear and the Nightingale we are introduced to a young Vasya who is considered very wild and rebellious. In this follow-up, we get to see how much she’s matured while still staying true to who she is at her core. I loved seeing older Vasya experience new things and emotions.

”Sudden anger burned out Vasya’s gathering hurt. She pushed back her chair and stood again. “I am not your dog”, she snapped. “You May tell me to go home, but I may choose not to. Do you think that is all I want, in all my life—a royal dowry, and a man to force his children into me?”

Morozko aka Frost Demon aka King of Winter – Morozko plays a integral role in this story but it wasn’t until this follow-up that I truly grew to love this character. Think of him a mix of Father Winter & Grimm Reaper, his broodiness was on another level & for some reason I found this to be so endearing smh #dontjudgeme haha!

Solovey – My fave character in this whole book is Solovey who is Vasya’s horse & UGH! my heart can’t contain the love I have for this sassy four legged creature! besides the sass he is SUPER protective & loyal to Vasya which is always admirable.

Sasha aka Aleksandr – Vasya’s older brother who also decided to carve his own path & become a monk. This however doesn’t mean he is a peaceful monk lol, Sasha can be found protecting his cousin The Grand Prince which means swords a plenty. I LOVE the sibling relationship between Vasya and Sasha, moments where he wishes she’d just conform to the norm & marry but then quickly realizes that the thought alone sounds absurd. Sasha accepts & many times admires Vasya on the battlefield. He’s seriously the brother I wish I’d always had 🙂

Olya – Vasya’s older sister, last we heard of her she had gotten married and left to Moscow to tend to her household. Olya has always been sort of a mother figure to her siblings so it was interesting seeing her very different relationship with Vasya. Olya loves all of her siblings & doesn’t always understand the things they do but she’s always represented home for them.

Marya – One of the newest characters introduced towards the end, Marya is Olya’s young daughter. Although she didn’t have a huge role in this book, we get the feeling there will be more to her story. Marya is free spirited just like Vasya & as such looks up to her aunt. I got a vivid picture of young Marya who will remind many of the Vasya we were first introduced to however, she is definitely more outspoken 😉

Last but definitely not least are the spirits aka Chyerti you will find hidden in the ovens, bath houses, horse stables, and door yards. These are perhaps some of my most favorite characters in this world. I’m totally considering leaving an offering in my oven to see if my Domovoi shows up *fingers crossed* 😉

It comes as no surprise that I am absolutely OBSESSED with Katherine Arden’s writing! I would’ve never guessed when I was handed a copy of the book by the author herself at Comic Con that she was giving me the BEST gift ever! I can think of no other books that better capture the magic and beauty of winter. A cozy blanket on a cold winter night is what I always use to describe this book to my book blogging buddies & wrap you up it will. Many who found The Bear and the Nightingale to be on the slower side might find themselves really enjoying the faster paced plot in The Girl in the Tower. I for one don’t mind a slow paced world as long as it’s rich & inviting like these are. Also, there is a clear cut villain this time which felt like the connecting puzzle piece & I just loved seeing it all come together. I am SUPER STOKED for The Winter of the Witch in 2018!!! as sad as I’m sure I will be to see it end, I am confident Katherine Arden will give us all a EPIC ending to this amazing trilogy 🙂

*Many thanks to Del Rey, Netgalley, and Katherine Arden for the eGalley copy of The Girl in the Tower in exchange for an honest review.

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Top Ten Tuesday 12/19/2017

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! Each week, a new topic is put into place and bloggers share their top ten accordingly. This weeks topic is: Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings (If you celebrate a different Winter holiday, adapt this topic to fit it!). I don’t always have 10 to actually list for this meme & so being the rule follower that I am smh lol, I usually pass. I also didn’t think I’d have many to list for this week seeing as I have a self confessed problem with book shopping & for the most part I’m very blessed to own the books that I do. This list won’t contain much Young Adult because again lol, I book shop all year long & own my favorites. No, this list will appeal to my book vanity…yea, don’t judge me, chances are you too love a beautiful cover. It’s a weakness & I fully embrace it!

Book covers—> Book Depository = U.K. Covers

Amazon = U.S. Covers

On to the list…

Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings

1. The U.K. edition of The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

If you’ve been around my blog for a while now, you probably know how much I love this book! It’s become an all time favorite of mine & I’m a bit OBSESSED with Katherine Arden’s writing & world building. I own a copy of the U.S. Edition & missed out on the opportunity to get a U.K hardback Edition when it was still available at Bookdepository. I’ve got my notifications on for whenever it’s re-stocked but chances are it’s not going to happen anytime soon so Santa if you’re listening I’ve been too good this year! HAHA!

2. The U.K. edition of The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

I actually just finished reading this AMAZING sequel to The Bear and the Nightingale & ahHHH!!! how can this have been even better than The Bear?!?!? How?!?! I still can’t believe it & will treasure these books FOREVER! I am in the process of getting my thoughts together for a GUSH review this week. I have an arc of this book & am patiently waiting for this hardback to be released in the U.K *eeeeeK*

3. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Illustrated edition by J.K. Rowling/illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gil

I mean…C’mon! if you’re a Potter head, chances are you either already own a copy or it’s on your wishlist. I was surprised to not have known this was even a thing! I’ve seen the U.K. edition which is a nice soft blue but there’s something about this red that I am in LOVE with! Really looking forward to flipping through what I can imagine are STUNNING illustrations *heart eyes*

4. An Illustrated History of Shadowhunters and Denizens of Downworld

This one has been on my wishlist for WAY TOO LONG! I started reading the Shadowhunter books way before I became a blogger & it’s probably one of the longest series I’ve pretty much stayed committed to. I haven’t loved all of the books but I have for the most part enjoyed most of them. The Infernal Devices trilogy will forever be one of my top faves. I’ve seen so much of the artwork in this Edition all over Bookstagram & OHMYGOODNESS! hats off to the illustrator! *heart eyes emoji*

5. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

I have not yet picked this one up & it’s not for lack of want. I do want to read this but there’s also a part of me that needs to mentally prepare for this read. I know it will rock me to my core & it’s one that I absolutely MUST read as I myself am a mother of a tiny human who one day will be a young black man. I will be reading Long Way Down in the New Year.

6. Tarnished City (Dark Gifts #2)

I thought I had completely gotten over Dystopia as a whole…until I came across Vic James’ Gilded Cage which was the first book in the Dark Gifts series. I am SOOOO ready to read Tarnished City which I’ve heard from some trusted bookworms, is EPIC!!! Well, unfortunately this isn’t out yet in the U.S. only in the U.K. & I am quite split between the covers…I love them all lol! but I’ve recently decided to go with the U.K. editions but then again that might just be me trying to read the sequel NOW! haha 😉

7. The Name of the Wind: 10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Kingkiller Chronicle)

*Usher voice* This is my confession…jeje!I haven’t read Name of the Wind but again it isn’t for lack of want lol. I know I’m going to love this book, call it Bookworm radar? well, I haven’t started the series because I’ve heard that there are extensive waiting periods between books & I already have enough of that with dear Ol’ George RR Martin. Anyways, this Edition has red sprayed edges & that is yet another one of my bookish weaknesses I’ve come to accept so yea this is definitely on my Christmas wishlist 🙂

8. The Secret History: 25th Anniversary Edition by Donna Tartt

I’ve had Donna Tartt on my list of authors I’d like to get around to but haven’t been able to decide between The Goldfinch & The Secret History as a stepping stone. I finally decided after reading several non-spoilers reviews that this is the one I want to start with. TBH, a college setting just seemed more appealing to myself over the art world The Goldfinch is set in. This isn’t to say I wouldn’t read The Goldfinch, I just can’t resist college drama bahhha! also, I love the all white minimilistic paperback edition currently in the U.K. a ton more than the U.S. Edition, please don’t ask me why LOL!

9. Gray Sister (Book of the Ancestor #2) by Mark Lawrence

This is a arc I have requested from the Publisher & I’m REALLY hoping the book Gods put in a good word for me. I LOVED Red Sister to the moon & back! So I guess you can call this a Christmas wish to the publishers? I’m counting it! lol. Look at that cover?!?! Nona is one kick a** MC & I am SO ready to return to this world *fingers crossed*

10. The Heart Forger (The Bone Witch #2) by Rain Chupeco

one of MOST highly anticipated sequels of 2018 & I CANNOT contain my excitement!!! It wouldn’t be a Christmas list if I didn’t include at least 2 Christmas miracles lol so this is my 2nd wish. I e-mailed the Publisher for a arc & was shooketh when I received response that a copy would be sent my way. I still haven’t received my copy & am patiently awaiting its arrival. Legit, I’m probably going to faint a million faints when it arrives!!! *fingers crossed*

Happy Tuesday Bookworms!!! If it isn’t a book or bookish related, I really don’t know what to say when over ones ask me what I want for Christmas smh. I think they’ve come to expect it by now lol, what are some of the books on your Christmas wish list? sound off in the comments below <3’s!

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Spoiler Free Review: Haunting the Deep (How to Hang a Witch #2)

Title: Haunting the Deep (How to Hang a Witch #2)

Author: Adriana Mather

Pub. Date: October 3rd, 2017

Genre: YA Historical Fiction/Paranormal

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Pages: 368

Format: eGalley & Physical ARC

Haunting the Deep is the follow-up to How to Hang a Witch & so I’ll leave out the Goodreads synopsis for fear of spoilers. In the same manner its predecessor was based on real life historical events, this sequel is centered around the Titanic. A YA Historical Fiction mixed with paranormal, Haunting the Deep picks up right from where we left off and the same characters are back. I truly enjoyed this follow-up a million times more for so many reasons but most of all it’s the character depth & fast moving plot that was fun and easy to follow, that make Haunting a 5 star read for me. This time around there was less of a Mean Girls vibe (not completely without) & more of the 1966 cult classic The Craft. After the events of HTHAW, our MC Sam is a bit shaken up & avoiding any and all interaction with a group of girls in Salem that are known as The Descendants. This group is known for their family lineage, each having descended from those accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials, Sam herself (like the author) is descended from Cotton Mather who stands on the accusing side. This bad blood pits Sam against the Descendants in the first book however, in Haunting we see a meeting of the minds. Since Sam & the Descendants saw themselves in a terrible predicament in HTHAW, this time around calls for them to set their differences aside. Ghosts have always made themselves visible to Sam but this time around they’ve multiplied and need the help of the living. We follow Sam & the Descendants as they try to piece together what really is going on with the ghosts of those who passed away in The Titanic. The paranormal aspects were tuned up & Sam’s witchy abilities have further developed allowing her to leave her body and enter the spiritual world. I could NOT put this book down for long! I found that it had the perfect balance of paranormal & historical and soaked up all of the details Mather had to have heavily researched.

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If you found yourself wanting more from the characters in HTHAW, this is the follow-up you’re going to want to pick up 😉 although we still get a bit of the mean girl vibe, it quickly develops into something else that I found myself really enjoying. Sam still managed to slightly annoy me but she also grew on me by the end. The real stars of the book (beside the ghosts) were The Descendants Susannah, Mary, and Alice aka MY FAVORITE! haha! Mary unfortunately gets the ditsy role but she also has a heart of gold that makes it hard to dislike her. Susannah is the calmer more mature of the crew and is able to see things before they happen. Alice is unapologetically unfiltered & every time she put Sam in her place I chuckled. I got more of Mrs. Meriwether & her wonderfully tempting pastries and good cheer, I honestly could smell her baking through the pages haha! We also get to see Elijah aka the hot Ghost who has a thing for Sam & who Sam can’t stop thinking about. There was definitely less romance this time around & more of a focus on friendship which I feel, boosted my interest ten fold. I still couldn’t get enough of those Elijah scenes but I really enjoyed The Descendants & fast moving plot so much so that I didn’t miss the romance too badly. There are a few ghosts we meet along the way & everything from their manner of talk & dated clothing fleshed this world out so well, I just couldn’t get enough of the story.

The amount of research that had to have been done to re-create the night of the Titanic down to the music playing is pretty awesome! We get descriptive writing on the clothes worn, the ship itself, way of life for those on the Titanic, and so much more! I feel as if author Adriana Mather’s writing has grown in such a short matter of time leading me super excited for what’s to come in 2018. I absolutely plan on continuing on with this series, I care for these characters & am curious to see how much more developed their witchy abilities get in the next book. Also, Elijah and Sam…essentially both a living person and a deceased one have managed to catch feelings for one another…how is this going to work? I have questions lol! each of the characters in Jaunting the Deep had their own distinct voice & each personality jumped off the page. I found myself transfixed by this story & how well it blended the historical with the Paranormal. I love when a book makes me Google the real life facts to compare & the surprise I receive when I realize how close to the real deal the author kept it. It’s no secret that I love Fantasy but when it comes to Paranormal, witches are my achilles heel & I cannot resist a good story. Haunting the Deep is a treat to those who enjoy Historical Fiction & Paranormal. The title couldn’t be more fitting as the pages truly did leave a haunting impression every night (spooky x 1,000) & I may have possibly needed to leave my nightstand lamp on to fall asleep. Need book 3 but I’ll settle for a release date at the very least Haha! 😉

*Many thanks to Knopf Books for Young Readers, Netgalley, and Adriana Mather for the eGalley copy of Haunting the Deep in exchange for an honest review.

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Black Friday Bookoutlet Haul

Happy Sunday Bookworms! I am currently trying to squeeze in some ME time at home. I don’t usually post on Sunday’s but I missed the blogosphere on the weekends where I get to see another wave of bloggers not usually on during the week. I also promised to post my Black Friday Book Haul to a few book blogging buddies on Twitter & so here I am <3’s! Before Black Friday, it had been 1 whole year since I last purchased anything on Bookoutlet (I checked my past orders lol) & so I thought it wise to take advantage of this yearly sale. I completely had forgotten about the anxiety that comes with actually completing a purchase during this sale…

Yea…I set the alarm for this sale & had my cart full with titles I “had to have” haha! & I was almost successful. Unfortunately as is to be expected, the world of Bookworms were all trying to get in on the deals & the site experienced several gateway errors. My first order looked as if it had gone through and my Credit Card showed a charge pending however their site knocked my order off as if it never existed. So, I quickly placed another order with the exception of Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra & Dhonielle Clayton which is book one in a duology. I had this book checked out from the library & read about 45% too little too late & had to return it lol. This book seems to not want to get read by me smh, but in true bookworm fashion I still went through with getting the sequel lol! anyways, on to the book haul…

Hardcovers

Confession…I am a bookworm addicted to books. I have 3 sequels listed here that I can’t read just yet lol, but I do own the first book in each series & plan on getting to them early 2018 so there’s me rationalizing…

Paperbacks

So my paperback haul is about 90% recommendations from either Blogging buddies or Booktubers I LOVE to the moon & back haha! I’ll start with Darque Dreamer Reads who reviewed Jackaby & left me smiling & thinking I really NEED to meet this Jackaby character. The Hating Game is highly recommended by Chelsea over at ChelseaDolling Reads who I friggin LOVE! so it was a MUST BUY (she also influenced my Young Jane Young purchase lol). We are the Ants & Random Family have been on my TBR for way too long & I couldn’t believe Random Family was only $.75 cents *gasp*

I peeped a couple of you tweeting about the Bookoutlet sale, if you posted a unboxing (or happen to have purchased my copy of Tiny Pretty Things right from under my nose lol) drop those links down below <3’s!

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December TBR

Happy FriYay Bookworms!!! I’m so excited for the weekend & no I don’t have any reason in particular other than running as far away as humanly possible from my cubicle at work. It’s been one of those weeks, some of you may have noticed me stepping into your blog posts & hitting like, I always comment but this week work really got their monies worth out of me cuz ya girl practically had to ask to use the bathroom *sobs* Lol! so here I am taking a break from the madness *shhhh don’t tell anyone* to write up my December TBR & now that I’m looking at it i’m beginning to doubt my ability to pull this off but I’m going to try my hardest.

Last month I posted my very first TBR here on Lair Of Books & of the 8 I listed, I only read 4 but this was mainly due to personal family matters. I mentioned briefly in my Wrap-up how November saw me in a position of stepping up to the plate & providing strength & support to my loved ones. We’re definitely playing it more low key this holiday season while we uplift & provide strength to one of our well loved family members. That being said, I may be spending more time on the road during the weekends traveling from New York to New Jersey which means tons of time to read. So, here goes my quite ambitious TBR…

Haunting the Deep

Congratulations to myself! I’ve already completed this read lol, it was actually on my November TBR but I couldn’t get around to it. Well I am SO glad that I picked it up in December cuz it was FANTASTIC! I have a Gush Review in the works & maybe even a aesthetic cause it’s worthy 😉

Girl in the Tower (The Winternight Trilogy #2)

My current read & OBSESSION! last year The Bear and the Nightingale made me a fan of Katherine Arden, this year the sequel will probably solidify my love for this author. The world building is just so vivid and rich, I legit feel transported each & every time I sit down with her books. Vasya aka Vasilisa is back & more fierce than ever! She is hands down one of my all time favorite protogs & I think this quote really captures her spirit…”Sudden anger burned out Vasya’s gathering hurt. She pushed back her chair and stood again. “I am not your dog”, she snapped. “You May tell me to go home, but I may choose not to. Do you think that is all I want, in all my life—a royal dowry, and a man to force his children into me?”

Everless (Untitled #1)

“In the kingdom of Sempera, time is currency—extracted from blood, bound to iron, and consumed to add time to one’s own lifespan. The rich aristocracy, like the Gerlings, tax the poor to the hilt, extending their own lives by centuries.”—The concept of trading time intrigues the ish outta me so I was over the moon excited to get this galley from Harper, hope to love it cuz that cover is EVERYTHING!

Meet Cute: Some People Are Destined to Meet

I’m finding it enjoyable to throw in anthologies into my monthly reading to balance out my Fantasy streaks. This is a collection of Contemporary short stories & I got a bit star struck when I saw the line-up of authors. Really looking forward to reading Dhonielle Clayton, Sona Charaipotra, and Nina LaCour *excited emoji*

Love, Hate, & Other Filters

I have been Dyiiiiiing to read this one! I got a physical arc from the publisher a couple of months ago but I like to read & review closer to publication date so I held off. This is a MUST read for me this month & just based off the feedback I’ve come across, I’m very excited and happy that I requested this title.

“A searing #OwnVoices coming-of-age debut in which an Indian-American Muslim teen confronts Islamophobia and a reality she can neither explain nor escape–perfect for fans of Angie Thomas, Jacqueline Woodson, and Adam Silvera.”

Unearthed (Unearthed #1)

“When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution the planet has been waiting for. The Undying’s advanced technology has the potential to undo environmental damage and turn lives around, and Gaia, their former home planet, is a treasure trove waiting to be uncovered.”

Recently I’ve been enjoying Sci-Fi in YA & when I saw Amie Kaufman & Megan Spooner were coming out with a book I almost did a back flip LOL! it seems like a short read & I’ve heard it’s also very light & fun which yay for that! 🙂

The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1)

The self control I’ve practiced to NOT have devoured this book a few months ago is worthy of a medal smh lol. Next to Love, Hate, and Other Filters this is one I am for certain reading this month. THAT cover!!! *heart eyes* I am really trying to steer clear of reviews & thoughts & whatnot cause I’d like to go in blind and see why this book is making everyone lose their ish haha! 🙂

“Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.”

Whelp! there you have it bookworms! my December TBR will probably make me a hermit but that’s ok cause I can’t deal with snow. Yes, it’s beautiful to look at on days 1-3 but by day 4 in NYC we’re looking at a very different story & so instead I’ll escape to the land of the fae where everything is green & willowy 😉 On another note, are any of these titles on your TBR? Sound off in the comments below <3’s!

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ARCstravaganza #14

ARCstravaganza is a weekly meme hosted by the wonderful Flavia over @Flavia the Bibliophile where book bloggers/bookstagrammers have a chance to show off their ARCs/eARCs/Galleys!

Hello Readers! This is my 14th week participating in #ARCstravaganza Monday & this week I’ve chosen Daughter of the Siren Queen (Daughter of the Pirate King #2). I’m coming to you lovely readers with a really late post, i typically blog in the mornings or afternoons but work has been off the charts busy & I barely get a moment to breathe once I step in my cubicle. I did get a notification from the Post Office letting me know this book had been delivered & it legit was all I could think about for the rest of my day smh haha! I am VERY thankful to Ashley over at Socially Awkward Bookworm for offering me her copy when she saw me tweet my search for it, she ROCKS & also happens to take AMAZING photos so check her out <3’s!

Earlier this year I was very happy to have been approved for a galley of Daughter of the Pirate King & wrote a GUSH review (here) where I also stated how badly I would need the sequel lol. Whelp my bookish wish has been answered & I CANNNNNNOT tell you how excited I am to read DOTSQ!!! I am currently working on my December TBR & there will be some shuffling cuz I need to dive back into this world ASAP! There isn’t much I can really say about this one since it is a sequel & I don’t want to spoil anyone but PLEASE pick up Daughter of the Pirate King if you’re looking for a fun read with a awesome kick a** female MC 🙂

*currently pinching myself…can’t believe it’s here!

*Since this is a sequel, I won’t include the Goodreads synopsis for fear of spoilers.

What are some ARCS/eGalleys you’re excited to have Bookworms? Have you read Daughter of the Pirate King? Alosa really is the female Jack Sparrow! this is such a fun series (might be a duology) if you’re looking for an adventure packed with amazing characters & tons of laughs…oh & let’s not forget the on-the-page-Chemistry! ❤ ❤ ❤

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ARCstravaganza #13

#ARCstravaganza is a weekly meme hosted by the wonderful Flavia over @Flavia the Bibliophile where book bloggers/bookstagrammers have a chance to show off their ARCs/eARCs/Galleys!

Hello Readers! This is my 13th week participating in #ARCstravaganza Monday & this week I’ve chosen Defy the Worlds (Constellation #2) by Claudia Gray & it legit makes me happy every time I walk past my shelf. Earlier this year I had the awesome opportunity of reading & reviewing Defy the Stars (my review) & ahhhhh! Bookworms! if you’re a fan of Illuminae & Gemina then please treat yo selves to this new series & thank me later HAHA! A++ world building & amazing characters have me looking into Gray’s other books that I’ve also heard great things about. One thing’s for certain, whoever Gray has as a cover artist deserves EPIC praise! they’re all so eye catching & vibrant that it makes walking past them damn near impossible.

Funny story on how I came to actually owning this arc copy…while walking past The NOVL/Little Brown booth at NYCCC my peripherals caught a flash of pink, purple, and orange hidden behind a curtain. Now, it was clear they were hidden for a surprise ARC drop later that day but I’m a sucker for vibrant book covers & so I knew I had to ask The NOVL people if it was what I thought It was (jumble of nerves be damned). Yea, like many of you out there I love a good cover reveal & so I knew Defy the Worlds fit the description lol. Well, they were more than gracious to confirm my suspicions & told me when to come back for the drop. I nearly fainted a million faints right on the showroom floor as I set my alarm on my phone. Of all the arcs I acquired that day, Defy the Worlds really got me the most excited 🙂