Waiting on Wednesday (40)

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

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
Series: Untitled #1
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy
Page Length: 416 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: September 20, 2016

About Three Dark Crowns (via Goodreads):

Fans of acclaimed author Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Bloodwill devour her latest novel, a dark and inventive fantasy about three sisters who must fight to the death to become queen.

In 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.

I originally wasn't sure whether I wanted to pick up this book, but Sarah @ YA Book Traveler made an INCREDIBLE book trailer for it, and I just fell in love with the concept as she made it come to life on the screen. I can't wait to see how the story plays out within the pages, and I'm interested to see what I'll think of (likely) the first Kendare Blake book I'll ever read.

Waiting on Wednesday (39)

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

RoseBlood by A.G. Howard

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Retelling
Page Length: 400 pages
Publisher: Abrams
Publication Date: January 10, 2017

About RoseBlood (via Goodreads):

In this modern day spinoff of Leroux’s gothic tale of unrequited love turned to madness, seventeen-year-old Rune Germain has a mysterious affliction linked to her operatic talent, and a horrifying mistake she’s trying to hide.

Hoping creative direction will help, Rune’s mother sends her to a French arts conservatory for her senior year, located in an opera house rumored to have ties to The Phantom of the Opera. At RoseBlood, Rune secretly befriends the masked Thorn -- an elusive violinist who not only guides her musical transformation through dreams that seem more real than reality itself, but somehow knows who she is behind her own masks.

As the two discover an otherworldly connection, a soul-deep romance blossoms. But when Thorn’s dark agenda comes to light, he’s forced to make a deadly choice: lead Rune to her destruction, or face the wrath of the phantom who has haunted the opera house for a century, and is the only father he’s ever known. Slated to launch January 2017.

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

April SST: 4 Reasons Why You Should Read The Island by S. Usher Evans

The Island by S. Usher Evans
Series: The Madion War Trilogy #1
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Page Length: 260 pages
Publication Date: April 26, 2016

About The Island (via Goodreads):

Prince Galian is third in line to the throne, but prefers his place as a resident at the Royal Kylaen Hospital. When his father urges him to join the military to help reclaim their colony, Galian is forced to put aside his oath to Do No Harm and fight a war he does not believe in.

Across the great Madion Sea, Captain Theo Kallistrate dreams of a day when she is no longer bound by conscription to fight for her country's independence. But when the Kylaens threaten, honor and duty call her to the front lines to fight off the oppressors.

When an air skirmish goes wrong, both Theo and Galian crash on a remote island hundreds of miles from either nation. Grievously injured, Theo must rely on Galian's medical expertise, and Galian must rely on Theo's survival skills, to live another day in a harsh and unforgiving terrain.

Can they put aside their differences long enough to survive? Or will the war that brought them to the island tear them apart?

The Island is the first in a new romance trilogy by S. Usher Evans, author of the Razia series and Empath.

1. THE CHARACTERS. I loved Theo and Galian as protagonists! They were very flawed and opinionated at the beginning, but went through a huge transformation throughout the book. While being opinionated obviously isn't a bad thing (it's a great thing!), they started out unable to compromise their ideas of what the enemy is supposed to be like. They were able to overcome so many obstacles, both physical and mental, and I was rooting for them the whole time. It was great seeing them transform as people and become more aware of the world around them.

2. CONNECT-ABILITY/LIFE LESSONS. It's important that what we read teaches us to be good people. Although this trilogy takes place in a fantasy world, we can definitely learn things from The Island. It teaches a lot about the issues that arise from discrimination and ignorance. Although it does not go into a lot of depth about specific customs or cultural differences between the Kylaen and the Raven peoples, the relationship between Theo and Galian and the development of said relationship shows the importance of making a better effort to be more accepting of other cultures and other people. Obviously we shouldn't have to be stuck on a deserted island in order to make such progress in our world today, but a lot of conflicts probably would not occur if we were willing to learn and listen, instead of making false assumptions about people we might not know as well as we think. I guess this lesson is one we should already know, but it seems like a lot of people still discriminate against people simply out of ignorance or past grudges we barely understand. And sometimes we miss out on meeting the most incredible people because we are too afraid to give them a chance.

3. THE ROMANCE. I can guarantee that this one is a slowwww burn. Although they could be awkward at times, Theo and Galian complemented each other really well. At the beginning, they never failed to throw some snarky comments at each other, which I loved. And then when they get together... it actually gets pretty steamy ;) Overall, their relationship was just so wonderful *spins around happily* They started off as enemies, but they gradually warmed up to each other and once they finally realized they love loved each other... *flails spastically* IT WAS TOO CUTE.

4. QUOTABILITY (AKA SNARK AND SWEET NOTHINGS). From hilariously snarky sayings that I can't repeat because of somewhat inappropriate language to sweet nothings, The Island had a variety of quotes I just couldn't help but laugh or smile at. I'm going to share a few quotes I like, just so you can get a taste. Some of them are neither snarky remarks nor sweet nothings, but I adore them all the same:

“She stared back at me with those beautiful dark eyes. In them, I could see the years of abuse, of fear, of living every day as if it were her last. She was Raven by birth, but they'd never loved her the way a country should love its child. They'd put her to work, enslaved her to a fighting force caught in a losing battle."

 This quote ^ is probably one of my favorite quotes from the book. There's just something so emotionally raw and powerful about it.

"'So, Princeling...' 'I'm sorry, what?' He blinked at me. 'Princeling.' The horrified look on his face tugged a smile onto my lips. 'It's what we call you in Rave.'" 

 "'Oh, go to hell,' she hissed at me. 'I'd rather drink my own piss than accept anything from you.'"

And these last two quotes are just a bit of a peek at how sassy Theo is to Galian. And these aren't even the best ones. Some of her comments are absolutely hilarious, but also outlandishly inappropriate, so I didn't want to share them. If you're curious though, I really suggest reading it and finding out for yourself!

Blog Tour - Never Stop Falling (REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!)

Never Stop Falling by Ashley Drew

Publication date: March 1, 2016
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes

About Never Stop Falling: She didn’t expect to fall for her best friend.

He was always waiting to catch her.

Corinne Bennett lives in the moment. Whether she’s skydiving out of an airplane, or setting off on the road to anywhere, she’s ready to dive into the next adventure. That is, if best friend and always-by-the-book Nicholas Kelley doesn’t put his foot down on her wild stunts first.

When Corinne gives in to her growing feelings for Nicholas the summer before their freshman year of college, she takes the ultimate risk, making this one adventure he has longed to explore with her.

But the moment they take that irrevocable leap, a shocking revelation blindsides Corinne, exposing her vulnerabilities, baring her fears, and shattering her beliefs about love. With their future—and most importantly, their friendship—now clouded in doubt, she must decide if love is really worth the risk.

Because when it comes to love, you never stop falling.

I adored this book more than should be humanly possible. The characters, the relationships, the romance, the story… I just adored everything about this book.

Okay, so maybe I didn't agree with the fact that Cori and Nick were engaged to other people and stuff still happened between them anyway, but I couldn't help but ache for them when their relationship became rocky. Especially because I got to see them together before they even met their fiancées, and I loved them so much. It was heartbreaking to see things fall apart between them, so I couldn't help but want them to be together together when they were finally reunited. They were meant to be together. As much as I am a logical person, I do have a romantic's heart, and I just wanted them to have the Happily Ever After they deserved.

The characters were so real. I know that might not sound like some major feat, but I've rarely felt as connected to characters as I was with the ones in Never Stop Falling. I laughed with them, I screamed at them, I cried for them. It was a roller-coaster of emotions, but it was all so worth it. Seeing Cori and Nick transform and realize who they are and where they are meant to be—it was something else. Even at 24, they still had a lot of growing up to do. And I was so proud to watch them flourish into wonderful human beings and stop letting their mistakes hold them back. They overcame so many obstacles throughout the book, and eventually faced their fears head on.

Ashley Drew's writing was absolutely lovely. Every word seemed to hold a deeper meaning in the grand scheme of things, and I loved putting the puzzle pieces together along the way. Her writing was easy to follow, while also being eloquent and beautiful. The story was so sweet and heartfelt, but also held so much more meaning than a simple love story.

I sped through Never Stop Falling in less than a day. It captured my attention from the start, and may have stolen a piece of my heart along the way. I wasn't sure what to expect when I decided to pick this book up, but it defied all my expectations and was a joy to read.

Rating: 4.5 stars

About the Author:

A San Francisco Bay Area native, Ashley Drew currently lives in Los Angeles. When she’s not going cross-eyed after writing for five hours straight, or burying her nose in a book, you’ll find her sprawled on her couch watching General Hospital, having alien conspiracy discussions with her husband over a bottle of bubbly, and dancing to Taylor Swift’s 1989 album with her daughter.

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Waiting on Wednesday (38)

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

Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Genre: Young Adult/Science Fiction
Page Length: 672 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: October 18, 2016

About Gemina (via Goodreads):

Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.

Hanna Donnelly is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik Malikov the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy's most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion. 

When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station's wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own surivival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.

But relax. They've totally got this. They hope.

In Which I Start to Ramble about the Complexity of Rating Systems

Before I started blogging, my review/rating system was non-existent. I would rate based on how much I liked a book, and that was it. Looking back, I realized that it's much more complicated than that. There are so many different things one can like or dislike about a book, and it's rare to like every single aspect of a book (or hate every single aspect of a book, for that matter).

Even after blogging for about six months, my rating system was still volatile. And I still continue to find myself becoming more and more critical of books that I probably would have given 4, 4.5, or 5 stars rather easily a few months ago. Years ago, I used to be that person who gave 5 stars to anything that kept my attention and had no grammatical issues, even if there were tons of underlying problems with the characters, plot, and romance. But that isn't me anymore.

For a while now, I've been breaking down my ratings into five categories and rate each book on a 5-star scale per category, then average the them out to get the overall star rating. I'm pretty sure a bunch of people also do this (or something similar), although I definitely still need to rethink and tweak my system. The five categories (at this point) are as follows:

1. Writing Style
2. Creativity
3. Characters
4. Plot
5. Romance (if applicable)

Since I read so much fantasy, I am considering adding a world-building category, but there are obviously other problems to the system other than lacking rating categories for specific genres. For example, I value certain categories more than others, but I don't weigh the ones I value more more heavily than the ones I don't care as much about. Also, there are tons of sub-categories I could be rating to determine the overall category rating (like rating the main characters, secondary characters, and villains separately to get the overall character category rating), but then it gets super complicated. Do the main characters have more of an influence on the character rating than the secondary characters? And if yes, how much more influential to the story are they? Because honestly, secondary characters are more important than I initially thought.

I understand the importance of rating books, and I try my best to be fair with the books I read, but it's definitely more complicated than I imagined. Obviously we all have different opinions of books, and therefore will have different ratings, but everyone's rating scales are very different. Some people are really easily blown away by books, while others find problems with almost every book they read. And since we all are unique individuals, we're bound to love certain things about books that other people will hate.

Is there (or can there ever be) some sort of universal rating system? What rating scale do you use to rate and review books?