The Age of Darkness approaches. Five lives stand in its way. Who will stop it . . . or unleash it?
For generations, the Seven Prophets guided humanity. Using their visions of the future, they ended wars and united nations―until the day, one hundred years ago, when the Prophets disappeared.
All they left behind was one final, secret prophecy, foretelling an Age of Darkness and the birth of a new Prophet who could be the world’s salvation . . . or the cause of its destruction. With chaos on the horizon, five souls are set on a collision course:
A prince exiled from his kingdom. A ruthless killer known as the Pale Hand. A once-faithful leader torn between his duty and his heart. A reckless gambler with the power to find anything or anyone. And a dying girl on the verge of giving up.
One of them―or all of them―could break the world. Will they be savior or destroyer?
Review:
I was beyond lucky to receive two advanced readers copies of There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool – an early copy at C2E2 and another copy at Book Expo! Huge thank you to Fierce Reads and Katy Rose Pool for providing me with this awesome book! There Will Come a Darkness was one of my most anticipated reads of this year and I was absolutely thrilled to get my hands on an advanced copy!
There Will Come a Darkness is an epic fantasy complete with a unique magic system and a diverse ensemble cast of characters. There is mystery, suspense, and action! Will the Age of Darkness be stopped? Or will the chaotic darkness consume this world!? There Will Come a Darkness was full of twists and turns and ends with a bang cliffhanger!
My favorite part of There Will Come a Darkness is the ensemble cast of characters. There are FIVE points of view! This many POVs could very easily become overwhelming, choppy, and even pull the reader out of the story. This was not the case with There Will Come a Darkness. Each of the main characters has their own individual story and growth, but, at some point, they all collide in one way or another. All the points of view work together beautifully! It doesn’t distract from the story all. I loved trying to guess which character would cause or prevent the oncoming Age of Darkness. I also loved that each of our leads was incredibly diverse . . . male, female, race, sexual orientation, etc. It reminded me of the Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows crew! Each lead brought something different to the story and this truly elevatedthe overall book.
There Will Come a Darkness takes place in a world where a percentage of the population is “Graced.” There are four types of Grace: Heart, Blood, Mind, and Sight. Each Grace has a different magical ability associated with it. The Grace of Heart enhances strength, agility, speed, and senses. The Grace of Blood gives and takes energy to heal or harm. The Grace of Mind creates objects imbued with unique properties. The Grace of Sight senses and locates living beings. This magic system was one of my favorite parts of There Will Come a Darkness. It was so cool seeing how different Graced used their ability differently. For example, the Pale Hand using the Grace of Blood to kill, but another minor character using it to heal. I thought that Pool did a great job of showing each of the different Graces and building the world.
Being Graced sounds amazing, but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. This is because of a terror group known as the Witnesses led by The Hierophant. This group believes that the Graced need to be eradicated and they will do anything to achieve this. The Witnesses spread hate and violence throughout the cities (sound familiar to our current world?). The Hierophant and the Witnesses were an excellent villain. They are truly evil, but also seem to be hiding something. Pool gave enough information to understand the story, but leaves enough out to keep me hooked! I want to know more about The Hierophant and his origins! Props to Pool for grabbing my attention and not letting go!
The most unique element of There Will Come a Darkness is the impending “Age of Darkness”. It adds a suspenseful mystery to the story that kept me guessing the whole time. I truly don’t know who or what will stop or bring about the Age of Darkness. I have a feeling that not everything is as it seems.
The book ends with several cliffhangers involving the Age of Darkness and our characters. I am dying to know what is going to happen next!
Congrats to Katy Rose Pool on a spectacular debut!
I already have two copies that I got signed by Katy at Book Expo, but you bet I’m getting a finished copy. I will be attending the Fierce Reads Tour stop in Chicago! I’m so looking forward to meeting Katy Rose Pool again!
There Will Come a Darkness will be released on September 3rd, 2019!
Interested in pre-ordering? Katy Rose Pool and Fierce Reads are offering an awesome pre-order incentive. Click here to check it out!
In the tropical kingdom of Rhodaire, magical, elemental Crows are part of every aspect of life…until the Illucian empire invades, destroying everything.
That terrible night has thrown Princess Anthia into a deep depression. Her sister Caliza is busy running the kingdom after their mother’s death, but all Thia can do is think of all she has lost.
But when Caliza is forced to agree to a marriage between Thia and the crown prince of Illucia, Thia is finally spurred into action. And after stumbling upon a hidden Crow egg in the rubble of a rookery, she and her sister devise a dangerous plan to hatch the egg in secret and get back what was taken from them.
Review:
I was lucky enough to grab an advanced readers copy of The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson from the Source Books booth at Book Expo! Huge thank you to Source Books and Kalyn Josephson!! So I’ve noticed a crow theme with some of my latest reads (The Storm Crow, The Merciful Crow, Godsgrave, and of course I have to include Six of Crows even though it wasn’t a recent read) and I am all for it!
The Storm Crow takes place in the Kingdom of Rhodaire, where magical crows with elemental powers are involved in all aspects of life. Thia, is the second born princess and is training to become a crow rider. But everything changes the night of the annual crow egg hatching. The neighboring kingdom of Illucia attacks the Rhodaire capital of Aris and kills all of the crows. Many people die in the attack, including Thia’s mother, the queen. The people of Aris are lost without the crows. They have depending on them for everything for so long, that it’s difficult for the society to function. Thia’s older sister, Caliza, is now queen and is forced to make an alliance with Queen Razel of Illucia. Caliza agrees to the engagement of Thia to Razel’s son, Ericen. Thia is desperate to find a way out of the engagement and to help the people of Rhodaire. She finds a crow egg and becomes determined to hatch it to help Rhodaire defeat Illucia for good.
The story started off so strong. The first few chapters started off with a bang and pulled me in immediately. Unfortunately the story kind of plateaued after that. It was still good, but slow and not a lot happened until the very end. This probably won’t make sense but even though I found the plot slow, there were elements of the story that happened too quickly. For example, it seemed like Thia was in Illucia for about five minutes before the big ending. This also connects to the relationships. This review is spoiler free so I won’t include any details, but the romances progressed way to quickly. Thia met a man and was in love with him within a few chapters. It all happened too fast and almost felt forced. But speaking of romances, I did love the representation of a LGBTQ relationship. It was only alluded to so I hope there is more in the next book.
The plot was also fairly predictable. The ending felt a little rushed and was a tiny bit disappointing, but I’m still curious to see what happens next.
Now to what I loved about The Storm Crow!
I absolutely loved the magic system. The giant crows with elemental magic was beyond cool! In Rhodaire, there are eight types of crows and each has a corresponding power . . .
Shadow Crow
Battle Crow
Wind Crow
Water Crow
Earth Crow
Storm Crow
Fire Crow
Sun Crow (Healers)
This was such a fresh and original magic system. Props to Kalyn Josephson for creating a new, unique world that was so fascinating!
My absolute favorite part of The Storm Crow was the accurate and beautifully done representation of mental health and depression. I can’t say enough about how impressed I am by Josephson’s depiction of depression. It was so well done. Josephson shows that depression is a huge part of life and it is not a choice. As someone who struggles with anxiety and depression on a daily basis, it was so meaningful to see such a beautiful depiction. Depression will always be a part of Thia’s life, but it isn’t her whole life.
I have several quotes that I absolutely have to include . . .
“Yet even as I had the thought, it felt distant and detached, as if it’s come from another person. Trying to hold onto it was like trying to hold smoke with my bare hands. I knew what I needed to do, but working up the will to do it felt like trying to fight my way above water in a depthless ocean. It was so hard not to drown.”
“This is how it was. One moment, I was moving forward, and the next, I couldn’t move at all. No matter how important the day or what I needed to do, the feeling come and refused to leave.”
“There had been nothing shameful about my pain, nothing I’d needed to hide or hide from. I’d been afraid to face what the pain he meant, that my life as I’d known it was over, that I had to choose a new path.”
“I had survived the loss and the depression thick as mud that came after it, and I would keep surviving them.”
“I am more than my emotions, more than my depression and fear.”
“That heavy feeling might never leave me, but I could live with it. I’d survived, and I would continue to survive.”
Talking about Thia’s depression brings me to her friendship with Kiva. I adored Kiva and Thia’s friendship. The way the two women support and love one another is just amazing. I especially appreciate how supportive Kiva is when dealing with Thia’s depression. She is a perfect balance for Thia. Kiva pushes her, but also understands when not to push. She fully accepts and loves Thia. Once again, excellent job to Kalyn Josephson for writing a powerful and supportive female friendship.
One last thing that I loved about The Storm Crow . . . the glossary in the back of the book! I love when authors include glossaries. It is helpful to keep the world building straight and it also provides so much more fun information!
Overall, The Storm Crow was a fairly predictable story that started out strong, but plateaued in the middle. Despite this, I totally recommend it due to the awesome and creative magic system with the crows, and the amazing representation of depression and mental health. The Storm Crow ends with a cliffhanger and I am definitely looking forward to finding out what happens next.
The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson is out now! Go check it out!!
In the sequel to New York Times bestselling A Curse So Dark and Lonely, Brigid Kemmerer returns to the world of Emberfall in a lush fantasy where friends become foes and love blooms in the darkest of places.
Find the heir, win the crown. The curse is finally broken, but Prince Rhen of Emberfall faces darker troubles still. Rumors circulate that he is not the true heir and that forbidden magic has been unleashed in Emberfall. Although Rhen has Harper by his side, his guardsman Grey is missing, leaving more questions than answers.
Win the crown, save the kingdom. Grey may be the heir, but he doesn’t want anyone to know his secret. On the run since he destroyed Lilith, he has no desire to challenge Rhen–until Karis Luran once again threatens to take Emberfall by force. Her own daughter Lia Mara sees the flaws in her mother’s violent plan, but can she convince Grey to stand against Rhen, even for the good of Emberfall?
The heart-pounding, compulsively readable saga continues as loyalties are tested and new love blooms in a kingdom on the brink of war.
Review:
I was lucky enough to meet Brigid Kemmerer and receive an advanced readers copy of A Heart So Fierce & Broken at Book Expo! Huge thank you to Bloomsbury and Brigid Kemmerer!
So here’s the thing . . . I liked A Curse So Dark & Lonely. It was a simple, easy, and fast-paced read that was very predictable. It was fun, but overall just good. To me, there was nothing immensely special about the story. I did enjoy it though and I was looking forward to reading the sequel.
I have very similar feelings about A Heart So Fierce & Broken. It was incredibly engrossing and addictive, but once again I found the story predictable and simple. Again, it was just good. It was a nice easy read that was a good palate cleanser in between more complex books. I will say that Kemmerer has a gift for writing incredibly addictive stories! I flew through both books in this series.
A Heart So Fierce & Broken picks up a few months after the events of A Curse So Dark & Lonely. This story focuses on Grey and a new character, Lia Mara. I knew going in that this story was primarily about Grey, but I was expecting at least some POV chapters from Harper. There was exactly one chapter from Harper’s POV. I was disappointed by this, because I really enjoyed her character in this first book. She was so smart, snarky, and fierce. Also, as a NICU nurse, I love seeing differently abled people represented in popular culture. I care for a lot of premature babies who end up with Cerebral Palsy, so it was really cool to see CP represented in a lead character. Although I missed Harper’s POVs, I did absolutely love hearing the story from Grey’s POV. I adored Grey in the first book and I love him even more now. You know who I didn’t like in the first book and now hate even more? RHEN! He was definitely meant to be a villain in this story.
The other main POV was a new character, Lia Mara. Lia Mara is the eldest daughter of Karis Luran, the queen of Syhl Shallow. Lia was a nice romance (that’s not a spoiler because it’s obvious from the synopsis) for Grey. I liked the idea of her character, but she was just too one-note. There was nothing about her that stood out. I obviously loved that she strives for peace, but that seemed to be her only defining character trait. However, one of my favorite scenes (and quotes) of the whole book was with Lia Mara and Grey where Grey is totally supportive of her . . . “You did not think you could do it, and then you did. That is more than just physical strength.”
There were a couple other of new characters that I really liked. Tycho was my absolute favorite new addition to this world. He was just the sweetest and such a good friend to Grey. I also was very intrigued by Isiak, the scarver. He was super cool and interesting, but I found the scarver history kind of confusing. I am hoping that the next book delves into the scarvers more.
The world of A Curse So Dark & Lonely definitely grew in this book. We get to travel to the adjacent kingdom of Syhl Shallow and explore a little of its land and customs. I definitely want to explore more of the world outside of Emberfall. Fingers crossed for more world exploring (including the scarvers) in the next book.
A Heart So Fierce & Broken ends on a pretty big cliffhanger. I wasn’t completely surprised by the ending, but I am totally hooked. I want to see where the story goes next!
Thank you again to Bloomsbury and Brigid Kemmerer for this awesome ARC!
A Heart So Fierce & Broken will be released January 7th, 2020. A Curse So Dark & Lonely is currently for sale at all major retailers! Go check it out!
Debut author Margaret Owen crafts a powerful saga of vengeance, survival, and sacrifice–perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Kendare Blake–in The Merciful Crow.
“Rich, harrowing, and unafraid to tackle discrimination―perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Tomi Adeyemi.”―Kirkus, Starred Review
One way or another, we always feed the crows.
A future chieftain
Fie abides by one rule: look after your own. Her Crow caste of undertakers and mercy-killers takes more abuse than coin, but when they’re called to collect royal dead, she’s hoping they’ll find the payout of a lifetime.
A fugitive prince
When Crown Prince Jasimir turns out to have faked his death, Fie’s ready to cut her losses―and perhaps his throat. But he offers a wager that she can’t refuse: protect him from a ruthless queen, and he’ll protect the Crows when he reigns.
A too-cunning bodyguard
Hawk warrior Tavin has always put Jas’s life before his, magically assuming the prince’s appearance and shadowing his every step. But what happens when Tavin begins to want something to call his own?
Review:
HOLY COW!! Or should I say HOLY CROW!! The Merciful Crow was amazing!!! MASSIVE thank you to Fierce Reads and Margaret Owen for the advanced readers copy. I was lucky enough to get a copy at C2E2 this past March.
The first time I saw the cover of The Merciful Crow I was immediately drawn in. And then I read the synopsis. I knew that I absolutely had to read The Merciful Crow. I was thrilled when I was able to get a copy at C2E2. I absolutely LOVED this book. The Merciful Crow is an action-packed adventure in an amazing, creative world! It is an incredible story of survival, vengeance, and sacrifice. It absolutely lived up to the hype and I can’t wait to find out where the story goes next.
The Merciful Crow takes place in the world made up of twelve castes, with each represented by a different bird. These castes were founded by thousands of gods who created the castes in their image and gifted each with a birthright (power). All of the castes have a birthright (fire, stealth, etc.) except for the Crows. There are also witches (who have stronger powers) born within each caste. The top caste is the Phoenixes, who make up the royalty and rule this world. The lowest caste is the Crows. They have no birthright and are universally looked down upon. They are abused, hated, and discriminated against. The treatment of the Crows is appalling. However, the castes rely on the Crows for a very important purpose . . . the Crows are the only ones immune to the Sinner’s Plague. The Sinner’s Plague is a horrible disease, highly contagious, and is fatal to anyone who contracts it. In order to stop the spread of the disease, any time someone contracts the Plague, the Crows are summoned to deliver mercy killings and to burn the bodies. This is why they are known as “The Merciful Crows.”
Our story follows Fie, a member of the Crows. Fie was born a witch and is therefore training to become chief of her clan. Crow witches are known as Bone Thieves. This is because they are able to draw out power from bones and teeth. The Crows carry teeth and use the powers associated with the tooth’s former owner. For example: Sparrows have the birthright to hide in plain sight. Fie often calls upon Sparrow teeth to hide from enemies.
Fie’s life is turned upside down when two of her clan’s mercy killings turn out to be alive and stowaways. To make matters worse . . . the two stowaways are the Prince, Jas, and his body double, Tavin! Fie (and her clan) make a deal with Jas and Tavin and start on an adventure full of twists and turns.
The Merciful Crow was exceptionally written. Margaret Owen created a vivid world that I truly felt like I was a part of. The castes and birthrights were fascinating! It was such a unique and original world and plot. And the magic system!? It was so cool!! At first I was a little creeped out by the use of teeth, but I got over it real quick. I was constantly wondering which teeth Fie would use next! The magic system was so interesting and well thought out. It also felt super fresh, which is hard to do in today’s overcrowded YA fantasy market. I loved watching Fie use different teeth to accomplish different tasks. I was fascinated by the magic!
The Merciful Crow has the perfect amount of romance. When I read the synopsis I was a little nervous that there was going to be a love triangle, but (MINOR SPOILER) I am happy to say that there was not. The romance was expertly done . . . it wasn’t rushed and it added to the characters, but didn’t take over the plot. The two characters involved in the love story are strengthened by their love. The romance does not distract from the plot or take away from each party’s personal character growth. The two characters still exist and function outside of the romance. I think it can be very easy to let a romance take of the story, but Owen was able to write a beautiful love story that enhanced the book. AND I now have a mega fictional crush on the male character involved 🙂
The Merciful Crow is part one of a duology series. I am so glad that this series isn’t over because I want more of this world and its magic. The ending is a perfect mix of wrapping up this story, but keeping me hooked to find out what happens next. And trust me . . . I am totally hooked! One thing that I really liked about The Merciful Crow is that this story has a conclusion. Don’t get me wrong . . . there is a cliffhanger and I am dying to know what happens next! However, it was nice to have this part of the plot resolved. It reminds me of the saying . . . “the battle has been won, but the war isn’t over.”
The Merciful Crow was an action-packed, fun adventure full of magic, romance, and superb world-building. It is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year so far.
I can’t wait to see what happens next! It is going to be a long, hard wait!! Congratulations to Margaret Owen! She is definitely on my list of new favorite authors!
The Merciful Crow will be released July 30th, 2019!
The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch…
A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates A smart-ass techwiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder An alien warrior with anger management issues A tomboy pilot who’s totally not into him, in case you were wondering
And Ty’s squad isn’t even his biggest problem—that’d be Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, the girl he’s just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler’s squad of losers, discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.
They’re not the heroes we deserve. They’re just the ones we could find. NOBODY PANIC.
Review:
Our favorite sci-fi writing duo is back!!! I don’t know how they do it, but Amie and Jay have done it again!!! I was a little nervous because I didn’t know how Amie and Jay could possibly follow The Illuminae Files, but I did not need to worry at all! Aurora Rising is an epic, fast-paced, action-packed adventure!!
Aurora Rising follows Squad 312 from the Aurora Legion. Tyler, aka the Golden Boy, is the Aurora Academy’s top student. He’s meant to be the Alpha of the best squad. But that all changes when he decides to go on a solo trip into the Fold to clear his mind before the squad draft. While in the Fold, Tyler comes across an abandoned ship and discovers a girl in cryo-sleep. He successfully rescues her, but misses the draft. Tyler is now stuck leading a squad with his sister, best friend, and the rejects from the draft. Squad 312 leaves on their first mission and chaos ensues.
Aurora Rising was NON-STOP! From the very first page, the story grabbed me and did not let go! Squad 312 is a magnet for danger! Everywhere they go they get into trouble! The plot is fun and full of action and epic battle scenes. The story flows and is well paced. Amie and Jay built the world of Aurora Rising perfectly. There is never information overload or dumping. I especially loved the Illuminae Files-esc pages. It was such a cool way to provide the reader insight and more information into this world.
I absolutely LOVED this cast of characters. Jay and Amie create the most original, complex, and hilarious characters. Seven point of views could be a lot, but it was not overwhelming at all. I enjoyed every single point of view chapter. My ONLY complaint would be to have more Zila. However, I have a feeling that more is coming in the next books.
If I had to pick a favorite character it would probably be Finian with Scarlett as a very close second. I just love Fin’s sarcasm and little quips. And Scarlett is just so bad ass! She is fierce!!
Aurora Rising was absolutely incredible. Amie and Jay are GENIUSES! I seriously don’t know how they do it. It is going to be a very long wait for the next book!!
This past week I attended Book Expo in New York City with my book bestie, Kelsea. We had previously attended Book Con 2016 in Chicago and 2018 in NYC. After dealing with the pure chaos of Book Con, we decided to try to get into Book Expo. We were incredibly lucky to both get approved and in! It is important to note that Con is a fan event open to everyone and Expo is an industry event for publishers, authors, booksellers, educators, librarians, book clubs, and bloggers. We qualified in the blogger category.
Book Expo was absolutely incredible and totally worth it! It was so much less chaotic and more enjoyable than Book Con was. While BEA still had a large crowd, it was much more manageable than Book Con. The show floor is bigger and more spread out than at Con. There were still lines and a couple of areas with large masses of people (looking at you A Heart So Fierce and Broken and anything to do with Penguin). Overall, the vibe was so much more enjoyable at Book Expo. While there are obviously outliers and a few exceptions to this, the majority of people were polite, friendly, and mature. I couldn’t be happier with my experience at Book Expo.
Like Book Con, if you are going for advanced reader copies and signings, you MUST PLAN ahead of time for Book Expo. I had a schedule for each day with the panels, signings, and ARC drops I wanted to attend. Publishers release their Expo schedules in the week leading up to the event.
And now to recap my incredible three days. . .
Day 1
Day 1 at Book Expo was a shorter because the show floor was only open from 12:00-5:00. Despite the smaller time period, I still got so much in and done. Our first stop was to attempt to get tickets to Leigh Bardugo’s signing and Ninth House ARC drop. Going into this we knew that Leigh’s ticket was the hot item of the day. I knew that everyone would head to the ticket drop first and that it would go quickly. My philosophy was that I would try, but I was totally ok if I didn’t get it. And that’s exactly what happened. The line at Macmillan capped almost immediately after the show floor opened. I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get to meet Leigh, but I’m not devastated about missing out on Ninth House. I always remind myself that these books will be released within the next year.
Anyway, after our fail at Leigh’s signing we explored the show floor and did some shopping at the Unbound show floor. Throughout the day I was able to grab a ton of books and swag. I purchased a jumbo booksleeve from Book Beau, and a “Rattle the Stars” pin board, a Terrasen pin, and a Children of Blood & Bone pin from Wick and Fable.
I also attended the panel “Leigh Bardugo Discusses Ninth House.” It was a great panel and I am so pumped to read Ninth House. It was so cool to hear Leigh talk about her writing process. She is so fabulous!
Day 1 Haul
Here There Are Monsters
Queen of the Conquered
Beyond the Black Door
Winterwood
Cursed
Shatter City
Tarnished are the Stars
Queen of Ruin
The Storm Crow
Rise
Call Down the Hawk (Sampler)
Day 2
Day 2 was the longest day at Book Expo. The show floor was open from 9:00-5:00. We started the day with a bunch of ARC drops courtesy of Source Books and Fierce Reads. Then, while walking the floor, we found free mimosas! So good!!
Jenny Slate
One of the hardest parts of Book Expo/Con is having to choose between two events. This was the case for me on Day 2 when I had to choose between going to a highly anticipated ARC drop (The Memory Thief by Lauren Mansy) or going to Jenny Slate’s signing. Although I was bummed about missing out on The Memory Thief, it was a no brainer for me to choose to meet Jenny Slate. I will be able to read The Memory Thief when it is released, but I probably wouldn’t ever have another chance to meet Jenny Slate. I am so happy with my decision because I still can’t believe I got to meet Jenny Slate!! She is one of my favorite actresses/comedians! Her new book, Little Weirds, looks hilarious and I can’t wait to read it. Unfortunately there were no pictures, so please enjoy my creeper picture of Jenny signing!
After the Jenny Slate signing, I headed over to one of the biggest ARC drops of the day . . . A Heart So Fierce and Broken, the follow up to Brigid Kemmerer’s A Curse So Dark and Lonely. This drop was one of the more dramatic drops, but it still went smoothly and I was able to snag a copy!! One of the best things happened later that afternoon . . . National Geographic brought puppies and kittens to their booth!!! We obviously went and met them all! I wanted to adopt a kitten so badly!
For the last part of the day I had a ticket for Marie Lu’s signing for a sampler of Rebel. I have seen Marie before and I wasn’t super excited about the signing so I gave my ticket away to a fellow book lover who was super pumped about meeting her. Instead of going to Marie’s signing I went to another panel. This time it was Laugh Out Loud with Jenny Slate, Pete Holmes, and John Hodgman. It was hilarious!!
While walking around on day 2 I bumped into someone. As I turned to apologize I realized that the person I bumped into was the one and only LEIGH BARDUGO! I literally froze and was so star struck!
Day 2 Haul
Wicked as You Wish
A Heart so Fierce and Broken
Little Weirds – Signed
Last Bus to Everland
Havenfall (Sampler)
Eight Will Fall
Day 3
Our final day at Book Expo was probably the most epic (and most crowded). The show floor was open from 9:00-3:00. Our first stop was to bolt over to the Macmillan booth to get tickets for their signings of the day. Macmillan is the only booth that required tickets for their in booth signings. We rushed over to the booth and I was able to grab the tickets I wanted . . . Katy Rose Pool and Cora Carmack!
After grabbing my tickets, I explored the floor for a while. This is one of the ways to get books and swag. I would just wander the booths and look for ARCs and swag. I stopped by the Penguin booth while wandering and was able to grab an ARC of Ruta Sepetys’s new book. This was super lucky because Penguin is the most frustrating booth. They don’t release any ARC drop schedules and are very sly about when anything will happen. The play dumb and then get mad when people crowd and loiter by their tables. I tried to get my hands on a copy of The Starless Sea all week, but I was never able to. I’m totally fine with not getting the book because it comes out in the fall, but Penguin made it super frustrating.
After this I headed off to my first signing of the day . . . There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool. I actually got an early ARC of this book at Chicago Comic Con (C2E2) and brought it with me to get signed. I wasn’t sure if Katy would be able to sign the ARC and the one I brought (sometimes the publisher/agent is very specific about what can and can’t be signed) but she did! She was actually so excited that I had two editions of the book to be signed. After Katy, I darted over to Blackstone Publishing for a signing with Coco Ma and Jill Criswell. I am excited about both books, but Coco’s Shadow Frost is one of my most anticipated reads from Book Expo!
After Blackstone, I headed over to Renée Ahdieh’s signing for her new book The Beautiful. I knew this line would be super long so I saved my front of the line pass (which came with my purchased avid reader pass) to use. The front of the line pass was my savior for this line and was so useful! I was like the tenth person to meet Renée which was so cool! She was so nice and her makeup looked fierce as always!!
Brigid Kemmerer, author of A Curse So Dark & Lonely
After Renée’s signing I met up with Kelsea and one of the coolest things happened. We were sitting on the floor reorganizing and posting to our instagram stories, when Kelsea spotted Brigid Kemmerer!!! We said hi and started up a conversation. She was so incredibly kind and welcoming. She actually sat down on the floor with us, signed our stuff, and even took pictures!
And then to make the moment even cooler . . . we said goodbye to Brigid and turned and saw V. E. SCHWAB! Kelsea called out her name and she turned and said “I am very attuned to my name.” She was also so kind and inviting, so we walked up to her and had a quick conversation. She gave us each a hug and then headed off to get her own ARCs.
Obviously, we were freaking out!!! I kept saying “what!?” and “what just happened!?” for the rest of the day. It was so cool to meet some of our favorite authors in such a natural way. This is a perfect example of how different Book Expo is compared to Con. If authors just walked around like that at Con they would be mobbed!! At Expo, the authors walked around and were approached by fans, but everyone was respectful and acted appropriately! It was such a cool experience!!!
Anyway, after all that excitement, we went to our last two events of the day. We went to Brigid Kemmerer’s official signing (yes even though we had just met her) and then to Cora Carmack’s signing. We thought our day was over, but we were wrong. Kelsea is a member of Cora Carmack’s street team. Cora sent out an invite to her street team (and friends) to meet up after Book Expo was over. In case you don’t know, Cora wrote Roar and its sequel Rage which will be coming out later this year. We decided to go and it was so much fun! Cora, Kelsea, myself, and three other women sat around and talked for almost 2 hours! It was so cool to sit in and have a real conversation with an author in such a natural environment. It was definitely one of the highlights of my week.
Day 3 Haul
A Heart So Fierce and Broken – signed
The Fountains of Silence
The Beautiful – signed
Beasts of a Frozen Sun – signed
Shadow Frost – signed
Rage – signed
Imaginary Friend
There Will Come a Darkness – signed, Book Expo copy
There Will Come a Darkness – signed, C2E2 copy
Book Expo was a huge success!! I had an absolute blast and I couldn’t be happier with my experience. I was able to meet so many cool authors and fellow bookstagrammers. I received a ton of amazing advanced reader copies and swag! I had the best time celebrating all things books!!
A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for.
It’s been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn’t really exist.
With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she’s going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.
Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time: only those who will win, and those who will lose everything.
Welcome, welcome to Finale. All games must come to an end. . .
Review:
Contains spoilers for Caraval and Legendary
Welcome, welcome back to the world of Caraval! I absolutely adore Stephanie Garber’s writing and the magical world she has created in Caraval and Legendary.
After the ending of Legendary, I didn’t know what to expect. I knew that Finale would be different because the actual Caraval games are over and that the Fates would come into play, but beyond that I had no ideas. I definitely enjoyed the story of Finale, but it didn’t capture my heart and imagination as much as Caraval and Legendary did.
The story of Finale follows Scarlett, Julian, Tella, and Legend as they deal with the repercussions of the Fates being freed. It follows the different love that the characters share for one another (Tella and Scarlett, Tella and Legend, Scarlett, and Julian, Legend and Julian). This sounds ridiculous, but I just love all the love!! And where can I find my own Julian!? SWOON!
The part of Finale that fell flat for me was the Fates. After the Fates were released from the Deck of Destiny at the end of Legendary, I was expecting them to be the focus of Finale. This was only slightly the case. The Fates were in the story, but minimally and sporadically. I was disappointed by this because the Fates are such cool villains and characters! I wanted more interaction, epic fight scenes, and more magic! I wanted more fun adventure like we experienced in Caraval and Legendary. We only get to see little moments of the Fate’s terrifying powers. It just wasn’t what I expected. Finale was primarily a love story with a couple moments with the Fates. And that’s ok. It just wasn’t what I was hoping for.
That all being said . . .
Stephanie’s writing is as magical as ever. I was only eleven pages in and I had already written down three quotes. Stephanie is a master at using beautiful quotes to create exquisite imagery and a stunning atmosphere.
“Caraval might have been over, but here Tella was, inside of a dream with Legend, floating over waters of stardust and midnight while fireworks continued to fall from the sky as if the heavens wanted to crown him.”
One of my favorite images that Stephanie writes is the clothing!! I don’t know how she comes up with all the fantastical dresses! I love watching Scarlett’s magic dress change, or Tella wear the most extravagant gowns. The clothing is more than just outfits . . . It is part of the characters and their personalities.
Overall, I liked Finale. It was a love story with gorgeous imagery. I still adore Stephanie’s world and magic. I will definitely miss being in the magical world of Caraval.
On an island junkyard beneath a sky that glows with radiation, a deadly secret lies buried in the scrap. Seventeen-year-old Eve isn’t looking for trouble–she’s too busy looking over her shoulder. The robot gladiator she spent months building has been reduced to a smoking wreck, she’s on the local gangster’s wanted list, and the only thing keeping her grandpa alive is the money she just lost to the bookies. Worst of all, she’s discovered she can somehow destroy machines with the power of her mind, and a bunch of puritanical fanatics are building a coffin her size because of it. If she’s ever had a worse day, Eve can’t remember it. The problem is, Eve has had a worse day–one that lingers in her nightmares and the cybernetic implant where her memories used to be. Her discovery of a handsome android named Ezekiel–called a “Lifelike” because they resemble humans–will bring her world crashing down and make her question whether her entire life is a lie. With her best friend Lemon Fresh and her robotic sidekick Cricket in tow, Eve will trek across deserts of glass, battle unkillable bots, and infiltrate towering megacities to save the ones she loves…and learn the truth about the bloody secrets of her past.
Review:
Well that was a rollercoaster ride! LIFEL1K3 is my second venture into reading Jay Kristoff’s books and I. AM. HOOKED. He is becoming one of my favorite authors!
LIFEL1K3 is an epic sci-fi dystopian adventure story full of action and mystery. LIFEL1K3 takes place in a post apocalyptic USA or the Grande Ol’ Yousay as our lead, Eve, refers to it. This future world is a vivid wasteland that is dreary and gritty. It is the perfect setting for this fast paced story. The world is full of robots, scientists, and technology. A large part of the story focuses on the dynamic and power struggle between between robots and humans.
Before I move on, I have to take a moment to point out how stunning Jay’s writing is. It is so incredibly descriptive and imaginative. One perfect example is the scene inside the sea monster. Jay’s writing was so descriptive and vivid that I felt like I was there. I was totally grossed out!! This truly is a testament to Jay’s genius writing.
LIFEL1K3 focuses on Eve Carpenter, a skilled mechanic living in the Dregs. Eve and her bestest, Lemon Fresh, stumble upon a the damaged remains of a Lifelike. Lifelikes are androids that were created by a giant tech company. These androids were created in the image of humans, hence the name lifelike. The story follows Eve, Lemon, their bots, Cricket and Kaiser, and the Lifelike through an action packed journey full of crazy battles, twists, and epic reveals. LIFEL1K3 was so exciting and I truly didn’t know where the story was going to go next!
My favorite part of LIFEL1K3 is the characters. Every single one of our leads is absolutely delightful. I love each of their unique personalities. I love the way Jay incorporates humor into his stories through the characters. However, my absolute favorite part is the friendship between Eve and Lemon. They are each others “bestest” and it is the most beautiful relationship. The only thing I love more than strong female protagonists is strong and supportive female friendships! Their love and support for one another is so pure and I loved every minute. This quote from Eve illustrates their relationship perfectly. . .
“She couldn’t help but smile. The ache eased off, just a breath. No matter how bleak it got, how dark the places in her head grew, she’d always have Lemon. She was a rock. Always ready to dole out the sass. It meant more to her than her bestest would ever know.”
LIFEL1K3 is full of twists and turns and the ending is no different. LIFEL1K3 ends with a huge reveal and major cliffhanger! I am so curious where Jay will take the story next! I can’t wait to find out in DEV1AT3!
I wanted to include a couple of beautiful quotes from LIFEL1K3 . . .
“Most of them already exist in our computer archives, but there’s nothing quite the same as sitting with a real book in your hands. Breathing in the ink and feeling all those wonderful lives beneath your fingertips. In between the pages, I’m an emperor. An adventurer. A warrior and wanderer. In between the pages I’m not myself — and more myself than in any other place on earth.”
“Maybe it was time to acknowledge who she’d been yesterday, and decide who she wanted to be tomorrow.”
“Your scars tell who you are. Your skin is the page, and your scars are the ink, telling the story of your life.”
I don’t know if this officially counts as a spoiler because in retrospect it was super obvious.
BUT just in case I decided to put it at the end.
SPOILER AHEAD?
It took me WAY too long to realize that the Monrova family was inspired by the Romanovs. Once I realized it I was like COME ON LISA! Ha! I still can’t believe it took me so long to put it together! 😂
Set in a richly detailed world inspired by ancient Arabia, Hafsah Faizal’s We Hunt the Flame–first in the Sands of Arawiya series–is a gripping debut of discovery, conquering fear, and taking identity into your own hands.
People lived because she killed. People died because he lived.
Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the sultan. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways. Both Zafira and Nasir are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya―but neither wants to be.
War is brewing, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is sent by the sultan on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds―and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine.
Review:
I was super fortunate to receive an advanced reader copy of We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal from Fierce Reads at C2E2! HUGE thank you to Fierce Reads for this amazing arc!
First I have to mention the absolutely gorgeous arc cover of We Hunt the Flame. I love the official release cover, but look at how stunning the arc edition is! I love it so much!
Much like the cover, We Hunt the Flame is a gorgeous masterpiece! We Hunt the Flame is an incredible debut from Hafsah Faizal. I loved everything about this story and I can’t wait to read more from her.
We Hunt the Flame is an epic fantasy adventure full of political intrigue, mystery, a slow-burn romance, and bad ass feminism. It is set in a beautifully created world and narrated by two main characters, Zafira “The Huntress” and Nasir “The Prince of Death.” Both leads are written so well — they each have a history and backstory that shows the reader how they have become the Huntress and the Prince of Death. Faizal was able to do this without information dumping! Zafira and Nasir both experience huge growth and development throughout their journey. They both must confront their emotions, past traumas, and inner demons. The journey changes both for the better which brings them closer. I liked that the change wasn’t immediate or easy. Zafira and Nasir truly had to go on a journey – both physically and emotionally. Side note – the cast of side characters was also so good! Each character was very well done and added to the story.
The story takes place in the world of Arawiya. There is a ton of history and culture in this world, but as I said earlier, it felt natural and not like information dumping. Arawiya is a nation made up of five caliphates (or states). Magic has disappeared from Arawiya and left a curse throughout the land, including the forest of darkness known as the Arz and the island of Sharr. Although it is a place, Sharr was a character on its own. It was all encompassing and had its own personality and desires. I haven’t read a lot of books where the setting/world is an actual character. It really elevated the story and showed how talented Faizal’s writing is.
I can’t get over the writing of We Hunt the Flame. Hafsah Faizal is able to create lyrical, poetic, and enchanting words that flow perfectly together to craft a wholly original story. Faizal’s beautiful writing is incredibly lush and descriptive. This world and setting is super detailed and intricate, but still completely captivating. The intense detail didn’t seem overwhelming and actually added to the beautiful setting. I truly saw the world that Faizal created. I was on the journey with Zafira and Nasir.
My ONLY complaint/suggestion is that a glossary would be nice. I did need to pause to look up some of the Arabic words in order to better understand some scenes.
I can’t say enough good things about We Hunt the Flame. I feel like a lot of YA fantasy blends together lately, but not Hafsah Faizal’s masterpiece. We Hunt the Flame starts off a bit slower, but kept me pulled in the entire time. The ending is full of reveals, twists, and cliffhangers. I cannot wait for the rest of the series!
We Hunt the Flame will be released on May 14th. Fun fact – that’s my birthday! You should all preorder We Hunt the Flame as a birthday present to me 🥳😝
PS: Did you submit your preorder receipt for We Hunt the Flame?! You can receive 5 gorgeous limited edition character cards if you submit your receipt. Here’s the link if you are interested: https://www.wehunttheflame.com/
Spensa’s world has been under attack for decades. Now pilots are the heroes of what’s left of the human race, and becoming one has always been Spensa’s dream. Since she was a little girl, she has imagined soaring skyward and proving her bravery. But her fate is intertwined with her father’s–a pilot himself who was killed years ago when he abruptly deserted his team, leaving Spensa’s chances of attending flight school at slim to none.
No one will let Spensa forget what her father did, yet fate works in mysterious ways. Flight school might be a long shot, but she is determined to fly. And an accidental discovery in a long-forgotten cavern might just provide her with a way to claim the stars.
Review
This is my first Brandon Sanderson book (I know I am super behind on the Sanderson train) and I AM NOW HOOKED! Skyward is an incredible action-packed sci-fi adventure with a twist ending that I did not see coming! And how gorgeous is that cover?!
Skyward follows Spensa (Callsign – Spin), a teenage girl on the planet Detritus, who dreams of being a pilot for the Defiant Defense Force. She wants to be like her father and defend the planet from the evil Krell aliens. The only problem . . . her father died while fleeing a battle and is branded a coward. Spensa must live with her father’s reputation while fighting for her dreams.
The world Brandon Sanderson created in Skyward is absolutely incredible. Everything was so well done – from the cavern cities to flight school to the EPIC starfighter battles. The world was immersive and full of detail, but I never felt overwhelmed. I saw myself with Spensa and the rest of Skyward Flight as they trained and battled. I felt like I was part of Skyward Flight.
All of Sanderson’s characters in Skyward were so well done. I felt like I really got to know the main cast. However, I’ll be honest. Spensa annoyed me at first. She starts off as this overly cocky girl with a huge chip on her shoulder. She needed some sense slapped into her. Cue flight school. As soon as Spensa starts flight school, she realizes that she is not even close to the best. This reality check changed her for me and made me absolutely love the character. Spensa experiences so much growth throughout flight school. She matures so much. Spensa must deal with friendship, loss, and finding herself. She has an existential crisis and must confront her knowledge of herself, her father, and her world. Spensa must decide what it means to be a good pilot or to be a coward. I really enjoyed watching how much Spensa grew and how she confronted these challenges.
My favorite thing about Spensa is how freaking weird she is. She is so imaginative with her speech . . .
“When you are broken and mourning your fall from grace, I will consume your shadow in my own, and laugh at your misery.”
“Firstborn will be Executioner Destructorius. But you can have number two.”
“Ha! Your children will weep tonight, you holographic Krell bastard!”
One thing that I really liked about Skyward was that there was no romance! There is definitely some beginnings for the potential of a romance for Spensa and Jorgen, but it didn’t feel forced, rushed, or insta-lovey. I liked watching Spensa and Jorgen’s relationship grow from hate to pure friendship and admiration for one another. I can totally see them slowly falling for one another in books to come.
Now, before I move on from characters, I HAVE TO talk about my absolute favorite . . . M-BOT!! M-Bot is the most hilarious and sassy AI that ever was. The one liners from him/it? were on point and made me laugh out loud. I could probably write an entire review of just quotes from M-Bot, but I’ll save you from that and just include some of my favorites (and yes . . . this was me cutting down the number of quotes I wanted to include).
“Good night, sweet prince,” M-Bot whispered as the junk crashed to the ground. “Or princess. Or, most likely, gender less piece of work inanimate space junk.”
“Ah yes. Human squishiness quotient. Is that why you’re so mad at that space junk? Jealousy is not pretty, Spensa.”
“You have slightly under two minutes until you die a fiery death and I’m left with only Rig and the slug. I haven’t been able to compute which of those two is the less engaging conversationalist.”
“It can appreciate something at a million times per second. So you could say your comment is likely the single most appreciated thing you’ve ever done.”
“Hello!” M-Bot said to me form the cockpit. “You have nearly died, and so I will say something to distract you from the serious, mind-numbing implications of your own mortality! I hate your shows.” I laughed, nearly hysterical. “I didn’t want to be predictable,” M-Bot added. “So I said that I hate them. But actually, I think those shoes are quite nice. Please do not think I have lied.”
The best is when M-Bot starts to talk like Spensa . . . “Tremble and fear, all enemies! For we shall shake the air with thunder and blood! Your doom is imminent!”
While the entire book was full of action, the last ~75 pages were on a whole other level! I couldn’t put it down! The battles were insane and so epic! My heart was beating so fast throughout the battle sequences. I had no idea what to expect! There are twists and turns and huge reveals that changes all we know about the Krell. I loved the ending and I am so excited to see what happens next!
Tales of an Avid Reader 