Fantastic Reads Event Recap

On Wednesday, I was lucky enough to go to the Fantastic Reads event at Books of Wonder with Roshani Chokshi, Renée Ahdieh, Marie Rutkoski, and Sarah McCarry. I'd been dying to meet Roshani Chokshi for months after I fell in love with The Star-Touched Queen (it's one of my absolute favorite books!) and she's such an amazing human, so I was so excited that there was an event close by so I could actually meet her!



Fortunately, I was able to catch an early train, so my friend Izzy and I arrived at Books of Wonder around 4:15, a few hours before the event. We bought our books and got our numbers (luckily I was 31st instead of 89th like the last event I went to!) before briefly meeting up with Mariam and Ashley (from Flying through Fiction) and then heading out to grab a quick bite to eat before finding seats for the Q&A session.

Once we got decent seats, we reconvened with Mariam to catch up (and I may have squealed excessively loud when Renee Ahdieh walked by us on her way to the back of the store). I also met Emma (from Emmmabooks) and she was lovely. I'd seen her at other events before, and for some reason I thought she was intimidating (honestly I feel like most BookTubers are), but she's actually so sweet. I have no idea why I was scared to talk to her.

While we were talking to Emma, Roshani Chokshi passed by, and she RECOGNIZED ME (only because I'd told her in advance what I was going to be wearing to the event, but still!) She had to go to the back before the event started, but she gave me a quick hug and then we headed back to our seats.

We waited around a little while longer before the Q&A started, and then my friends Brittany (from Brittany's Book Rambles) and Raisa (from Wonderland Novels) showed up and we exchanged hugs before all the authors came out to start the Q&A.


The authors were all such wonderful and engaging speakers. I loved learning about their writing processes and their inspiration—it was so interesting hearing how Marie came up with the idea for The Winner's Curse (a book I still have yet to read but am planning to do soon)! She said that "the winner's curse" is an economic term for when someone wins at an auction because they had to pay more than what everyone else thought the item was worth in order to win, and thus they lose the most money in doing so (or something along those lines) and how she started with that title and wanted to see what would happen if the thing won was a person instead of an item, and the thing lost wasn't necessarily money. I love that she came up with the title first because that's what I usually do when writing—it's weird for me, I either come up with the title before the story unfolds, or I struggle to find a title to fit my story—but I digress.

Fun fact: Marie was planning on making it a stand-alone (with that same ending and everything!) but she decided against it because of how her readers might feel. Although all of the authors at the event mutually enjoy paining their readers, apparently.

After the Q&A, I chatted more with my blog friends and Izzy, and then we got in line for the signing.

I met Roshani first, and it was just as amazing as I expected! I had so much fun hanging out with her, even though I already forgot what we talked about.  All I remember is that she was so so so sweet, humble, and friendly, and that I was so excited when I gave her my drawing of Maya. Anyway, there were other people waiting, so I had to leave to meet the other authors, but I wish I had more time to talk with her.

So next, I met Marie and awkwardly stood there in silence as she signed my books because I've actually only read her MG series and even though I remember loving those books, it was years ago so I had no idea what to say. Yeah, that didn't go as great as planned, but an awkward silence (in my opinion) is better than me stumbling through a conversation that goes nowhere.

Finally, I met Renée and we talked about race (something she mentioned briefly during the Q&A). It was really cool finding out having something in common with an author I look up to and whose work I love. I meant to gush about her books because the last time I met her (at BookCon last year), I hadn't read any of her books, but I kind of forgot to tell her (so maybe next time)! But nonetheless I enjoyed talking to her and am glad I actually had something to say (since my first signing with her went much like my interaction with Marie did).


It was overall a wonderful event and experience!! After the signing I took a ton of photos with my blog friends and we hung out for a bit before Izzy and I had to catch a train home. I'd definitely say it was more successful than the last event, as I was less tired and thus more engaged and interactive, and I actually talked to the authors (or most of them) without making a complete fool of myself. And, of course, it was wonderful because I met two of my favorite authors (Roshani and Renée) at the same time.

The Rose & the Dagger (ARC Review)

The Rose and the Dagger
Series: The Wrath and the Dawn #2
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Retelling
Page Length: 416 pages (HC 432)
Format: ARC received from a friend (thank you so much for sending it to me, Cat! <3)
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Although I received a free copy of this book, my opinion of it is completely my own.

About The Rose & the Dagger (via Goodreads):

The much anticipated sequel to the breathtaking The Wrath and the Dawn, lauded by Publishers Weekly as "a potent page-turner of intrigue and romance."

I am surrounded on all sides by a desert. A guest, in a prison of sand and sun. My family is here. And I do not know whom I can trust.

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse—one that might keep them apart forever. Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid's empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan.

While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn't yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love.

Ahdieh did it again. She captured my heart with her words, tore me apart quite a few times along the way, and managed to stitch me back up again with a brilliant flourish. I was so excited to receive an ARC of the sequel of one of my absolute favorite books, but I was immensely nervous as well. It's always hard reading sequels because there's always that worry that it won't live up to expectations, but I never should have doubted because Ahdieh delivered everything I dreamed of having in the sequel. Although I admit the beginning was a tad slow, the story enthralled with a spectacular display of heart-stopping romance, thrilling fight scenes, and brilliantly-planned schemes.

Ahdieh continued to awe me with her exquisite writing and never failed to make me feel something. Whether it be happiness, gut-wrenching fear, sadness, or something else entirely, I was swept up in a vast ocean of emotions, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. My experience included extensive flailing and making weird guttural throat noises (that were sometimes meant to be squeals and other times meant to be growls). No joke. Let's just say I'm glad I read 3/4 of it while sitting alone in my cave of a room because I'm pretty sure everyone would have thought I was going crazy while reading the book. I just couldn't contain my excitement. THE ROSE AND THE DAGGER WAS JUST THAT GOOD.

FIRST OF ALL, THE CHARACTERS WERE AS GLORIOUS AS EVER. Ahdieh dove even further into the perspectives of some beloved familiar faces from the first book, while throwing a few other new and equally as intriguing characters into the fray. It was great getting to know the characters even better, and it really made the plot stronger. I've probably said this before, but I've never been a huge fan of multi-POV, but Ahdieh always pulls it off beautifully. While I wish a few of my favorite characters got some more page-time, I nonetheless enjoyed all of the characters' unique story arcs and loved seeing it all converge in the end for the final showdown.

I fell in love with each and every character all over again, and Ahdieh even managed to change my mind about a character I'd previously wanted to shove off a cliff *cough* Tariq *cough* In case you were wondering, a lot of my guttural growls were directed at him. Some growls were also because of Jahandar (Sharhzad's father), but enough about that. Not that that's anything new, but I'd prefer not to spoil anything.

Ah, now for Sharhzad and Khalid. Sharhzad, as usual, was a stubborn and sassy protagonist, and I continue to adore her for it. She is one of the strongest characters I have ever met, and she valiantly throws herself in the face of danger and death to protect those she loves and to stand up for her beliefs. Khalid continued to struggle with his inner demons, but fought hard and had so many layers to him that were further peeled away.

Ever since book one, I absolutely ADORED Khalid and Shazi, both as individuals and a couple. Book two definitely does not disappoint in regard to either matter. Their relationship continued to blossom, and although their interactions were much more limited due to the onslaught of obstacles they had to overcome, when they were together sparks flew. It was so passionate and swoony and romantic and *tears up a little* IT WAS JUST SO BEAUTIFUL AND MAGICAL AND PERFECT <3

Speaking of magical, there was even more magic in The Rose and the Dagger than in The Wrath and the Dawn! Lots of flying fireballs, winged serpents, and all that good stuff. It would have been interesting to see even more of the magic explored in the book, but Ahdieh gave me just the right dose of magic that I was left intrigued without being confused or unsatisfied.

Overall, The Rose and the Dagger was a stunning conclusion to Shazi and Khalid's story. The writing was vibrant and rich, and the characters never ceased to amaze and surprise me. I loved this book with all my heart, and hope others will fall in love with this gorgeous sequel to The Wrath and the Dawn as I have.

Rating: 4 stars

Waiting on Wednesday (19)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that you are eagerly anticipating.

The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh
Series: The Wrath and the Dawn #2

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Retelling

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Expected Publication: May 6, 2016

Via Goodreads:

The much anticipated sequel to the breathtaking The Wrath and the Dawn, lauded by Publishers Weekly as "a potent page-turner of intrigue and romance."

I am surrounded on all sides by a desert. A guest, in a prison of sand and sun. My family is here. And I do not know whom I can trust.
In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse—one that might keep them apart forever. Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid's empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan.

While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn't yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love.

~

The Wrath and the Dawn was one of my favorite books of 2015, and definitely in the top two for favorite debuts this year! And if you haven't seen or heard me going off about the perfection that is The Wrath and the Dawn (and my ultimate OTP that is Shazi and Khalid), you know now. THE BOOK WAS PERFECTION. So naturally I am SO EXTREMELY SUPER EXCITED LIKE OH MY GOSH I NEED THIS SEQUEL RIGHT THIS SECOND GIVE IT TO ME (SORRY FOR BEING RUDE).

The Wrath and the Dawn (Review)

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

Series: The Wrath and the Dawn #1

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Retelling

Page Length: 388 pages

Format: Hardcover (purchased)

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh left me breathless.  It took me several months to work up the courage to read this highly-anticipated and highly-reviewed book, but I am so glad that I finally dove in.  From the very beginning, Ahdieh weaves a tale to remember.  Her writing is absolutely exquisite, flowing from one chapter to the next like liquid gold.  She truly has a way with words, and I was captivated by every page.  Ahdieh made sure that the reader was fully immersed in the story and culture, constructing mouth-watering descriptions of the meals and beautiful imagery to make the story shine.

What shined the most for me, however, were the characters.  In fact, with the exception of three or four people, I loved each and every character in the book.

Shahrzad was a fantastic female protagonist, who was sharp-tongued, stubborn, but also very honest.  Although I’ve found that characters with similar traits in other books can be frustrating, I could not help but love her as a character, especially her sheer determination and willpower.  She fights her own battles, with the worst ones seeming to be ones from within.  Despite all her turmoil and struggles, she manages to stay strong and make decisions.  Some of her antics I would consider crazy, but that just made her a better, more intriguing protagonist.  She acknowledged her flaws, and was willing to look past others’ to see their full potential.  Shahrzad was a wonderful and fascinating character, and I loved following her on her journey from the first page until the very end.

Khalid was an enigma of his own.  He could come across as cold at many points during the story, but during others I couldn’t help but fall in love with him as Shahrzad did.  He had many demons, and although he had his secrets, he almost always had Shahrzad’s best interest at heart.  I think out of all the characters, Khalid was my favorite (with Shahrzad coming in a close second, or perhaps tied with him).  I am often a sucker for mysterious and gorgeous royals with secrets, so it was not much of a surprise when I found myself loving Khalid.  He was hard to crack, but when he did, he was passionate and caring and just… So adorable.  Yes, the “monster” is adorable.  Once you break down his walls and thaw his icy and tormented heart, he is really just a boy.

I will not go into detail in fear of spoilers, but let’s just say I hated both Tariq and Shahrzad’s dad even more than the “bad guys”.  And that’s saying something, considering the fact that the bad guys were pretty... well… bad.  It had nothing to do with the writing at all, but something about them both just completely rubbed me the wrong way even from the start, so I hated reading from their perspectives...

Shahrzad and Khalid both resisted their romance for so long, but the whole time it just felt so right.  The romance grew slowly, and when it finally blossomed, it was stunning.  Although their relationship often seemed like two steps forward and one step back, I just felt so much joy knowing that they were moving somewhere.  Shahrzad and Khalid often contrasted like day and night, the sun and the moon, or even dawn and dusk, yet they also seemed so similar--so broken--that together, they just seemed whole.  They loved each other with such radiance that even a million suns could not outshine the beauty of their love.

Overall, Ahdieh wove a masterpiece of a story: the characters were each unique and (mostly) loveable, with even the minor characters having a special depth to them, the world-building was stunning and informative without a single info-dump in sight, and everything about the novel was just brilliant.  The ending left me reeling, and if anything could make me truly happy right now, it would be having the sequel in my hands.  I cannot wait to read the rest of Shahrzad and Khalid's beautiful tale, and I could never thank Renée Ahdieh enough for making her wonderful retelling of A Thousand and One Nights a reality.

Rating: ✪✪✪✪✪

About The Wrath and the Dawn (via Goodreads):

One Life to One Dawn.

In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all.

Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she'd imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It's an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid's life as retribution for the many lives he's stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?

Inspired by A Thousand and One Nights, The Wrath and the Dawn is a sumptuous and enthralling read from beginning to end.