Waiting on Wednesday (22)

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

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Mythology
Page Length: 352 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: May 3, 2016

About The Star-Touched Queen (via Goodreads):

Cursed with a horoscope that promises a marriage of Death and Destruction, sixteen-year-old Maya has only earned the scorn and fear of her father's kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her world is upheaved when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. But when her wedding takes a fatal turn, Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Yet neither roles are what she expected. As Akaran's queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar's wife, she finds friendship and warmth.

But Akaran has its own secrets - thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Beneath Akaran's magic, Maya begins to suspect her life is in danger. When she ignores Amar's plea for patience, her discoveries put more than new love at risk - it threatens the balance of all realms, human and Otherworldly.

Now, Maya must confront a secret that spans reincarnated lives and fight her way through the dangerous underbelly of the Otherworld if she wants to protect the people she loves.

THE STAR-TOUCHED QUEEN is a lush, beautifully written and vividly imagined fantasy inspired by Indian mythology.

*flails* I NEED THIS BOOK. First of all, I am one of those people who obsesses over horoscopes, so that first sentence of the synopsis totally hooked me. Second, everything about the plot sounds like something I WOULD LOVE. I am a huge fan of books based on mythology, and HAVING GARDENS OF GLASS AND A TREE THAT BEARS MEMORIES INSTEAD OF FRUIT JUST SOUNDS AMAZING *flails* Oh, and that cover? Absolute perfection.

Candy Book Tag

Hey guys!! Today I'm doing the Candy Book Tag! I was tagged by Sophie (@ Sailing Through Books) before Halloween, but I'm one of those cheap people who just goes and buys all the candy that's discounted the next day, which is why I chose not to complete this tag until after Halloween... Or at least that's the reasoning I'm going with. (I'm horrible, I know.) I promise these answers aren't discounted though ;)

~

Rocky Road - A series or author that you have a complicated (er…rocky) relationship with

The Divergent trilogy. I read the first one, and it was fine, but I just couldn't really get into it. And once I was spoiled for the ending of Allegiant, I gave up on reading the series altogether.

Laffy Taffy - A book that stuck in your mind long after you finished reading it (or in the case of the candy, stuck in your teeth)

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. It's one of the few books that made me cry, and the only book that's ever made me cry several days after finishing it. But it was all worth it <33

Mint Chocolate - A book that everyone loved, but you didn’t

I don't think everyone loves this book, but I was not a huge fan of Looking for Alaska by John Green. I didn't dislike it, but it just wasn't a favorite of mine. I had trouble connecting with the characters and it just didn't quite do it for me, although I can understand why it has the praise it does.

Sugar-free Candy - A book that just didn’t make any sense

I'm going to have to go with a manga for this one, but Now Matter How I Look at It, It's You Guys Fault I'm Not Popular!, Vol. 1 just made absolutely zero sense to me. I should have known based on the title (the grammar *cringes*) that it would not be for me, but I picked it up anyway. Even as a manga, the pictures did not help make the plot any clearer. I was absolutely positively lost throughout the story. It's the only time I've ever been so confused in my whole experiencing reading books and manga. Most reviews have been positive for it, but for some reason I just did not see the point or understand what was going on.

Sweethearts - A book that made you go “Aww…”

My True Love Gave to Me. It's an anthology, but all of the stories were so precious and I ultimately just could not deal with how sweet the collection of stories was!

Kit Kat - A book that everyone needs to read

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh. That book is pure perfection in every way, shape and form.

Snickers Brand Mixed Nuts Bar (coming November 2015…) - A book that you are really excited for

Until January, my answer is going to be the same, but Truthwitch by Susan Dennard!! If you've seen my other tags (or just seen my blog or talked to me in general about books lately), you probably know that it's my most anticipated read of 2016. I. CAN'T. WAIT.

I TAG... Anyone who wants to do it :)

Waiting on Wednesday (21)

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

The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye
Genre: Young Adult/Historical Fiction/Fantasy
Page Length: 416 pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: May 17, 2016

About The Crown's Game (Via Goodreads):

Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the Tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.

And so he initiates the Crown’s Game, an ancient duel of magical skill—the greatest test an enchanter will ever know. The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the Tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.

Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?

For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip smart, imaginative—and he can’t stop thinking about her.

And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love . . . or be killed himself.

As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear . . . the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.

I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK!!! Literally everything about this book makes me happy -- the cover is gorgeous, the plot sounds glorious, and it overall just sounds perfect! I especially love competitions in books, and the fact that they're magic competitions? YES PLEASE! Oh and also their  magical abilities just sound awesome and the characters seem intriguing and I JUST WANT IT TO BE MAY ALREADY, OKAY?!?!

OCTOBER BOOK HAUL

Hey everyone!! I really apologize for my lack of substantial content the two months... School has been killing me (along with all my free time), which means no time for reading, thus no reviews, and I've been a bit of a slump trying to come up with ideas for posts. BUT I got quite a few books hat I AM SO EXCITED TO READ, so in lieu of an official monthly wrap-up, I thought I would just do a haul post :)

BOUGHT -

1. The Creeping by Alexandra Sirowy - I've heard a lot of good things about it, and I really wanted to try something new since I NEVER read books in the horror/mystery/suspense/thriller genres. Since it is October, I thought it was only fitting to buy this book.
2. The Rose Society by Marie Lu - OH MY GOSH YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW EXCITED I AM FOR THIS BOOK. As soon as I finish my five million other books I'm already reading, I am going to read it. THE FEELS FROM THE YOUNG ELITES, YOU GUYS. THE FEELS.
3. Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch - I've been meaning to read this book for a while, especially after Rachel (from APCB) reviewed it so highly several months back.
4. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo - Confession time: I have not read The Grisha Trilogy yet. I'm part of the way through Shadow and Bone, but I haven't had the time to read much of it. BUT THERE IS SO MUCH BUZZ ABOUT SIX OF CROWS NOW (AND IT WAS SO PRETTY IN THE BOOKSTORE) SO I JUST HAD TO BUY IT. And I've read an excerpt of it and fell in love instantly ;)

NEW YORK COMIC CON - I unfortunately was unable to attend NYCC this year, but my cousin was a dear and picked up a few ARCs for me!

1. Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto
2. Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan
3. Seven Black Diamonds by Melissa Marr

EBOOKS -

1. Double Life by S. Usher Evans
2. Outspoken by Lora Richardson (for review!)

Secret Truthwitch Blog Tour - Safiya fon Hasstrel Fan Art

The Truthwitch Blog Tour is a surprise blog tour hosted by Liran (@ Empress of Books). Although there is an official blog tour, Liran recruited a ton of Susan Dennard fans (or just people who are super excited for Truthwitch in general) to this blog tour in order to spread our love and appreciation for Sooz and spread the word for Truthwitch! What's different about this blog tour is that it consists of content made by fans in anticipation for Truthwitch's release.

I am absolutely IN LOVE with both the UK and US Truthwitch covers, so I thought it would be interesting to see what they would look like combined. Thus, my sketch of Safiya fon Hasstrel was created, with her UK look to the left, and the US look on the right. For reference, here are the UK (left) and US (right) covers of Truthwitch. (Aren't they absolutely GORGEOUS?!?!)

So without further ado, here's my sketch of Safi!

~Alexandra

Check out all the stops on the tour!

November 1

Liran | Empress of Books

Alexandra (yours truly!) | Literary Legionnaire

November 2

Kit | Let The Pages Reign

November 3

Hedvig | Sunroadreads

November 4

Em | Piplup's Shadowy Bookshelf

Angel | Avid Reader

November 5

Stacey | Write All About It

November 6

Jaimie | Jaimiesam

November 7

Casey Marie | Little Red's Reviews

About Truthwitch (via Goodreads): 

On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a “witchery”, a magical skill that sets them apart from others.

In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble—as two desperate young women know all too well.

Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.

Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her—but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi’s hotheaded impulsiveness.

Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

Waiting on Wednesday (20)

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

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
Genre: Young Adult/High Fantasy
Page Length: 416 pages
Publisher: Tor Teen
Publication Date: January 5, 2016

Via Goodreads: On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a “witchery”, a magical skill that sets them apart from others.

In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble—as two desperate young women know all too well.

Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.

Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her—but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi’s hotheaded impulsiveness.

Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

~

Can I just comment on how fabulous the covers are? Both the US and UK covers are PERFECTION. This is the one time where I think I'm actually going to get both the US and UK editions when they come out.

I actually chose to make Truthwitch my Waiting on Wednesday #20 because 20 is my favorite number and this book just sounds perfect and amazing and like it will be my favorite book, because let's be real... I've been waiting for this book since Sooz first announced that it was even going to be a thing, since it's a Sooz book. So it's bound to be good. And when the unofficial blurb was released and it was announced that it was going to be in the vein of Avatar: The Last Airbender (my favorite TV show pretty much ever) and Garth Nix (who I've only heard great things about), I mean, honestly, how could I not want this book? FAVORITE AUTHOR + FAVORITE TV SHOW = TRUE LOVE.

On its own though, I know Truthwitch is going be EPIC. I recently read the first three chapters and it's already so fast-paced and perfect and I just can't wait 2 more months!!!! Not to mention the excerpt that was just unlocked yesterday for #TruthwitchTuesday... *fans self* PERFECTION YET AGAIN.

Harry Potter Spells Tag

Hi guys! If you don't already know, I am a huge Harry Potter fan. I've seen the Harry Potter Spells Tag floating around the BookTube community (one was created by TurtleSympathy), and I just found a different one in the book blogging community (over at KimberlyFaye Reads), so I thought I'd do five questions from each of the tags!

TurtleSympathy's Spells:

Prior Incantato: The last book you read

Alohamora: A book that introduced you to a genre you had not considered before.

Illuminae was the first "hardcore" (for lack of a better word) sci-fi I've read. It is absolutely brilliant and I am definitely considering reading more sci-fi books with epic spaceship battles (and all that jazz) now!

Sonorus: A book you think everybody should know about.

This book is absolutely PHENOMENAL. YOU MUST READ IT!!!!!!

Obliviate: A book or spoiler you would like to forget having read.

That one really big spoiler for Allegiant... Umm thanks for that? It caused me to completely lose interest in the series (I had only read Divergent at that point), so why bother if I knew what happens in the end?

Avada Kedavra: A book that could kill (interpret as you will).

 

The version of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix that I own is hardcover and 870 pages. I am pretty sure that it could be used as a weapon.

Kimberly's Spells:

Accio - an upcoming release you wish you could get your hands on right now

I NEED THIS BOOK IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW YOU DO NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND

Cheering Charm - a book that gave you all the warm fuzzies

Pretty much any book by Jennifer E. Smith! They're such cute contemporaries!! Even though the characters do have some underlying difficulties, overall they are pretty light and fluffy.

Aguamenti - a book that made you ugly cry

It was totally worth all the crying though. It pulls at your heartstrings, this one does.

Expecto Patronum - bookish hero or heroine you want around to protect you in real life

DANIEL <33333333333333

Lumos - a book you intentionally spoiled for yourself

Okay this is kind of a long story but basically I had just been spoiled for Allegiant and wanted to make sure one of my favorite characters didn't die so I asked my friend who had finished the trilogy to tell me if the person died, and then she ended up telling me 1000000x more than I wanted to know and I was really mad at her for a while...