WWW Wednesday 6/15/16

WWW Wednesday 6/15/16

Edit: Hi, all. Sorry, I just realized I am a day ahead of myself. This is what happens when I don’t have to go to work. So, you get my WWW Wednesday a day early. Enjoy!

This is my weekly WWW Wednesday post in which I answer three simple questions.  It is hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. Go check her out, her blog is great!  Each week I will answer the following three questions about what is happening in my book world.

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you are going to read next?

So, here we go.

What are you currently reading?

**These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

This book only gets better, and I am loving the main characters, Jo and Eddie!

**Crystal Crowned by Elise Kova

What did you recently finish reading?

**So I didn’t finish anything this week, but I’m about to finish These Shallow Graves, and now that I’m done with work for the summer, I should powering through books a bit faster than normal.

What do you think you’ll read next?

(All synopses are from Goodreads)

**A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

**A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Timesbestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beastwith faerie lore.

 

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it… or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

**Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court–but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms–and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future–and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas’s masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

**Wrecked by Maria Padian

Everyone has heard a different version of what happened that night at MacCallum College. Haley was already in bed when her roommate, Jenny, arrived home shell-shocked from the wild Conundrum House party. Richard heard his housemate Jordan brag about the cute freshman he hooked up with. When Jenny formally accuses Jordan of rape, Haley and Richard find themselves pushed onto opposite sides of the school’s investigation. But conflicting interests fueling conflicting versions of the story may make bringing the truth to light nearly impossible–especially when reputations, relationships, and whole futures are riding on the verdict.

Maria Padian offers a kaleidoscopic view of a sexual assault on a college campus. Wrecked will leave readers thinking about how memory and identity, what’s at stake, and who sits in judgment shape what we all decide to believe about the truth.

I can’t wait to hear what all of you are reading!  Let me know in the comments below.

Happy Reading!

Erin

WWW Wednesday 5/11/16

WWW Wednesday 5/11/16

This is my weekly WWW Wednesday post in which I answer three simple questions.  It is hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. Go check her out, her blog is great!  Each week I will answer the following three questions about what is happening in my book world.

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you are going to read next?

So, here we go.

What are you currently reading?

**A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

**The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

**Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

 

What did you recently finish reading?

 

**Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley

You can find my review on this highly enjoyable book here.

 

 

What do you think you’ll read next?

(All synopses are from Goodreads)

**A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

Time is out of joint. The summer of peace and plenty, ten years long, is drawing to a close, and the harsh, chill winter approaches like an angry beast. Two great leaders—Lord Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon—who held sway over an age of enforced peace are dead…victims of royal treachery. Now, from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns, as pretenders to the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms prepare to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war.

As a prophecy of doom cuts across the sky—a comet the color of blood and flame—six factions struggle for control of a divided land. Eddard’s son Robb has declared himself King in the North. In the south, Joffrey, the heir apparent, rules in name only, victim of the scheming courtiers who teem over King’s Landing. Robert’s two brothers each seek their own dominion, while a disfavored house turns once more to conquest. And a continent away, an exiled queen, the Mother of Dragons, risks everything to lead her precious brood across a hard hot desert to win back the crown that is rightfully hers.

A Clash of Kings transports us into a magnificent, forgotten land of revelry and revenge, wizardry and wartime. It is a tale in which maidens cavort with madmen, brother plots against brother, and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside.

Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, the price of glory may be measured in blood. And the spoils of victory may just go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel…and the coldest hearts. For when rulers clash, all of the land feels the tremors.

Audacious, inventive, brilliantly imagined, A Clash of Kings is a novel of dazzling beauty and boundless enchantment; a tale of pure excitement you will never forget.

**Children of Icarus by Caighlan Smith

It’s Clara who’s desperate to enter the labyrinth and it’s Clara who’s bright, strong, and fearless enough to take on any challenge. It’s no surprise when she’s chosen. But so is the girl who has always lived in her shadow. Together they enter. Within minutes, they are torn apart forever. Now the girl who has never left the city walls must fight to survive in a living nightmare, where one false turn with who to trust means a certain dead end.”

 

 

I can’t wait to hear what all of you are reading!  Let me know in the comments below.

Happy Reading!

Erin

Water’s Wrath Cover Reveal! and Giveaway!

Water’s Wrath Cover Reveal! and Giveaway!

I am so excited to bring you this today!! I have several things for you all:

1. The cover reveal of Elise Kova’s fourth book in the Air Awakens series: Water’s Wrath.
2. The synopsis for Water’s Wrath.
3. A Cover Reveal Exclusive featuring Elise Kova’s thoughts on the covers of her novels.
4. A Giveaway!

Air Awakens Series

If you haven’t already heard of or taken the time to check out the Air Awakens series by Elise Kova, I would strongly encourage you to do so, especially if you are into YA Fantasy literature.  Here is all the information you could possibly need to check it out:

Air Awakens

A library apprentice, a sorcerer prince, and an unbreakable magic bond…

The Solaris Empire is one conquest away from uniting the continent, and the rare elemental magic sleeping in seventeen-year-old library apprentice Vhalla Yarl could shift the tides of war.

Vhalla has always been taught to fear the Tower of Sorcerers, a mysterious magic society, and has been happy in her quiet world of books. But after she unknowingly saves the life of one of the most powerful sorcerers of them all—the Crown Prince Aldrik—she finds herself enticed into his world. Now she must decide her future: Embrace her sorcery and leave the life she’s known, or eradicate her magic and remain as she’s always been. And with powerful forces lurking in the shadows, Vhalla’s indecision could cost her more than she ever imagined.

Air Awakens on Goodreads

Fire Falling

Vhalla Yarl marches to war as property of the Solaris Empire. The Emperor counts on her to bring victory, the Senate counts on her death, and the only thing Vhalla can count on is the fight of her life. As she grapples with the ghosts of her past, new challenges in the present threaten to shatter the remnants of her fragile sanity. Will she maintain her humanity? Or will she truly become the Empire’s monster?

Fire Falling is the second book in the Air Awakens Series.

Fire Falling (Air Awakens #2) on Goodreads

Earth’s End

Vhalla Yarl has made it to the warfront in the North. Forged by blood and fire, she has steeled her heart for the final battle of the Solaris Empire’s conquest. The choices before Vhalla are no longer servitude or freedom, they are servitude or death. The stakes have never been higher as the Emperor maintains his iron grip on her fate, holding everything Vhalla still has left to lose in the balance.

Earth’s End (Air Awakens #3) on Goodreads

And finally…

Water’s Wrath

Release Date: April 26, 2016

Synopsis:

Librarian turned sorcerer. Sorcerer turned hero. Hero turned puppet.

The Solaris Empire found victory in the North and, at the cost of her heart and her innocence, Vhalla Yarl has earned her freedom. But the true fight is only beginning as the secret forces that have been lurking in the shadows, tugging at the strings of Vhalla’s fate, finally come to light. Nowhere is safe, and Vhalla must tread carefully or else she’ll fall into the waiting arms of her greatest foe. Or former lover.

***

Isn’t it beautiful!?!?  The blues are so pretty!! And, oh my gosh, the synopsis! What’s gonna happen??? But, we don’t have to wait for long! In just over 8 weeks it will be available, so make sure to pre-order it!!  Here’s everything you need to do that:

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│iTunes│Amazon UK

Cover Reveal Exclusive: My Thoughts on the

Covers’ Symbolism So Far

Six months ago, almost to the day, Air Awakens came out. It was my debut novel as an independent author, no publisher and no agent behind me, and I had no idea what would come of it. Now, six months later, I can’t believe I’m revealing the cover on the fourth book of the Air Awakens series.

I say every cover is my favorite, because it gets harder and harder to pick. Each of the covers, in their own way, has been perfect for the book they belong with. My cover artist, Merilliza Chan, is amazing at taking direction and incorporating my suggestions.

Part of why each cover is perfect is because there are little hints, teasers, and call-outs to the story within. Without giving too many spoilers, here’s a couple notes on each of the Air Awakens covers so far!

Air Awakens

First off, notice how Vhalla’s sash is black. In the book, the sash that goes with her apprentice robes is cerulean. This, combined with her robes slowly turning black around the back of the cover is indicative of sorcery making a mark on her. But she hasn’t yet committed, she has yet to don all-black robes. The wind in her hair and sense of movement is a call-out to her affinity. The book in her hands, is representative of three things: her work in the library, the book she exchanges notes in, and the book she brings to the garden. Which, speaking of, the roses around her… well, if you’ve read the book you know what, or who, those are meant to symbolize. But I told Meril I wanted something ominous, something wicked about them. And the thorns going through them were perfect!

Fire Falling

Here is the first cover we see our dark prince on. Fire Falling is named after three incidents in the book… When Aldrik falls to his knees before Vhalla in the Crossroads, the Rites of the FALLen in the Crossroads for another, and the end of the book. Since two of the three aspects of the title of the book related to Aldrik it was only natural that he had to be on the cover. In Fire Falling, Aldrik is beginning to function as a guiding force for Vhalla and, on the cover, he’s looking over his shoulder at her. He can’t openly admit to their association. Vhalla’s eyes are glowing orange and she’s alight, immersed in flame. This was done to symbolize their Bond andJoining. That not only can his flames not harm her, but that he is connected on a mental and magical level. She is also wearing the armor Aldrik crafted for her.

Earth’s End

Now, the symbolism is beginning to get heavy. Vhalla is alone again on the cover, venturing into the wilderness. She’s almost facing the camera, symbolizing how she is growing into her own and becoming a more realized person. In the sky above her is a fire bird. We literally see this formed in the book, but it also is symbolic of a phoenix,
rising from its own ashes. I think this works for Vhalla and Aldrik in their own ways through Earth’s End. The cloak she’s wearing is the one she receives from Tim with slash marks. The watch in her hand was gifted to her. And, in her other hand, we see a special sort of magic… Finally, one other note… Carved into a tree that’s on the back of printed books is a symbol –that is actually the symbol of Shaldan!

About the Author

Elise Kova has always had a passion for storytelling. She wrote her first novella, a high-fantasy, in sixth grade. Over the years she’s honed her love of literature with everything from fantasy toromance, science fiction to mystery, and whatever else catches her eye.Elise lives in Saint Petersburg, Florida, where she’s currently working on the next installment inher debut YA fantasy series: Air Awakens. She enjoys video games, anime, table-top role playing games, and many other forms of “geekdom.” She loves talking with fans on Twitter (@EliseKova) and Facebook (/AuthorEliseKova). Visit her website, EliseKova.com/, for news and extras about her books!

Author Links: Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

GIVEAWAY!

Win an ARC of Water’s Wrath!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Cover Reveal Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

 

January Wrap-Up/ February TBR

January Wrap-Up/February TBR

January Books:

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee – I read this one with my students in Freshman English, so that was fun.  It had been awhile since I’d read, probably high school, so it was fun to return to it.  I can definitely say that I liked it better this time around than I did the first time.

Keesha’s House by Helen Frost- This is another one I read in preparation of reading it with my students.  I must say I really enjoyed it.  It tackles some tough topics, but is written entirely in poetic form, so it is an easy read.  Typically, I don’t like poetry, but the sestina format that Helen Frost writes in flows very nicely and is easy to understand.

Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett – This was a bit of an odd book. I was thrown off by the description of the book, which said it was a cross between Romeo & Juliet and Children of the Corn.  I thought it was good though.  Read my full review on it here.

Significance by Shelly Crane – If you are a fan of Twilight, you’ll love this book. But instead of vampires and werewolves, you get humans with extra abilities, which I think is so much cooler.  If you liked Twilight for the love story, this one is so much better.  Read my review on it right here.

Here are the books I plan on reading in February. I have to read at least four of them to keep up with my reading challenge goal.  I am in the middle of A Thousand Pieces of You and Finding the Sky right now, so that’s a start.  All of the synopses are from Goodreads.

 

February Books:

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

Cloud Atlas meets Orphan Black in this epic dimension-bending trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray about a girl who must chase her father’s killer through multiple dimensions.

Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their groundbreaking achievements. Their most astonishing invention, called the Firebird, allows users to jump into multiple universes—and promises to revolutionize science forever. But then Marguerite’s father is murdered, and the killer—her parent’s handsome, enigmatic assistant Paul— escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite refuses to let the man who destroyed her family go free. So she races after Paul through different universes, always leaping into another version of herself. But she also meets alternate versions of the people she knows—including Paul, whose life entangles with hers in increasingly familiar ways. Before long she begins to question Paul’s guilt—as well as her own heart. And soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is far more sinister than she expected.

A Thousand Pieces of You explores an amazingly intricate multi-universe where fate is unavoidable, the truth elusive, and love the greatest mystery of all.

Why I want to read it: This book has been sitting on my TBR for way too long. No joke, it sitting there taunting me on my bookshelf for over a year, and I am FINALLY getting to it!! YAY!!

Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray:

Ever since she used the Firebird, her parents’ invention, to cross into alternate dimensions, Marguerite has caught the attention of enemies who will do anything to force her into helping them dominate the multiverse—even hurting the people she loves. She resists until her boyfriend, Paul, is attacked and his consciousness scattered across multiple dimensions.

Marguerite has no choice but to search for each splinter of Paul’s soul. The hunt sends her racing through a war-torn San Francisco, the criminal underworld of New York City, and a glittering Paris where another Marguerite hides a shocking secret. Each world brings Marguerite one step closer to rescuing Paul. But with each trial she faces, she begins to question the destiny she thought they shared.

The second book in the Firebird trilogy, Ten Thousand Skies Above You features Claudia Gray’s lush, romantic language and smart, exciting action, and will have readers clamoring for the next book.

Why I want to read it: This book just came in the mail two days ago. I need to finish A Thousand Pieces of You, which I am loving, immediately!!

Finding the Sky by A.M. Burns:

Dillon Smith is so ready for the school year to be over, because he’ll get some relief from the gang that’s been pressuring him to join them. Unfortunately, when he stops for a soda, he’s implicated in the gang robbing a convenience store. Given his late father’s association with the gang, even his mother doesn’t believe him when he says he wants no part of it, and she sends him to live with his Uncle Bryan for the summer.

On the way to his uncle’s house in the country, he and Bryan rescue a hawk that was hit by a semi-truck. They take it to some wildlife rehabbers living down the street, and they help open Dillon to experiences he never imagined.

When Dillon meets Scott, the son of the rehabbers, he falls in love, but the gang has a rough summer planned for him.

Why I want to read it: I found this book on NetGalley, read the description, and wanted to read it immediately. The main character, Dillon, is a male person of color, which in YA literature both of those things are hard to come by separately, so to come together is outstanding.  In addition, the book also discusses the topic of homosexuality, which I think needs to be talked about more in YA fiction.

Earth’s End by Elise Kova

A woman awoken in air, a soldier forged by fire, a weapon risen from blood.

Vhalla Yarl has made it to the warfront in the North. Forged by blood and fire, she has steeled her heart for the final battle of the Solaris Empire’s conquest. The choices before Vhalla are no longer servitude or freedom, they are servitude or death. The stakes have never been higher as the Emperor maintains his iron grip on her fate, holding everything Vhalla still has left to lose in the balance.

Book Three of the Air Awakens Series

Why I want to read it: If you haven’t read the first two books in the Air Awakens series, Air Awakens and Fire Falling, you need to do it immediately.  Elise Kova is a genius when it comes to writing YA fantasy.  Her genius and the first two amazing books in the series are exactly why I want to read Earth’s End

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.

As Warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand. His honour weighs him down at court where a true man does what he will, not what he must … and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty.

The old gods have no power in the south, Stark’s family is split and there is treachery at court. Worse, the vengeance-mad heir of the deposed Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.

Why I want to read it: I have loved the TV show since it started, and can’t wait to see what the books have in store. That, and my wonderful roommate and friend has been yelling at me about reading this series for about nine months now, so I decided it was finally time to get into it.

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule the world. To commemorate their Great Victory over Britain and Russia, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito host the Axis Tour: an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The victor is awarded an audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor’s ball.

Yael, who escaped from a death camp, has one goal: Win the race and kill Hitler. A survivor of painful human experimentation, Yael has the power to skinshift and must complete her mission by impersonating last year’s only female victor, Adele Wolfe. This deception becomes more difficult when Felix, Adele twin’s brother, and Luka, her former love interest, enter the race and watch Yael’s every move. But as Yael begins to get closer to the other competitors, can she bring herself to be as ruthless as she needs to be to avoid discovery and complete her mission?

Why I want to read it: I am doing a read along of this book with Flying Through Fiction.  It starts February 15th, and I’m super excited about it.  I really think the next trend in YA fiction is going to be historical fiction, and that is exactly where Wolf by Wolf falls. I love historical fiction, and now that it is making its way into the YA world, I am super psyched about it!

What are you guys reading this month??

Happy Reading!

Erin

 

December Wrap-Up/January TBR

December Wrap-up/January TBR

Here is my December Wrap-Up.  I was proud of myself this month. I averaged a book a week and got my Netgalley account back up and running this month.  Each of my full reviews is available for these books.I hope you enjoy!

December Books:

Ice Like Fire by Sarah Raasch – Find my full review here.  It was a good book. It definitely suffered from “middle book” syndrome.  Sara Raasch seemed to be setting up a bunch of things for the third book, which I am now really excited for.

Crystallum by Laney McMann- This was a fun fantasy read. Check out my full review here.  This was a new release in November and the first book in a new series.  I’m definitely going to check out the next one because this one was just that much fun.

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In-Between by Jennifer E. Smith – This one was my first Jennifer E. Smith read. I was skeptical about picking it up, but it wasn’t just a love story.  It was so much more. My full review is here, check it out!

Girl of Myth and Legend by Giselle Simlett – I wasn’t a big fan of this one. It started off strong, but kinda went downhill from there. This was a new release this month, debut novel, and first book in a series.  I think I’m going to check out the next book in the series with the hopes that it will get better. Full review here.

Ok. So my goal for 2016 is to expand my reading genres, or become a more well-read person, however you want to look at it.  Part of this will include taking on a reading challenge by reading books that span several centuries.  More about that will be coming soon.  This reading goal of becoming more well-read will start in January with The Song of Fire and Ice series.  As a result of this goal, there will probably be fewer YA reviews on my blog, but don’t worry I am hoping to keep up with those reviews and just read more books, overall, this year.  I am really going to work to read more ARCs from my NetGalley account this year as well.  So, finally, here are my books that I plan on reading in January.  All of the synopses are from Goodreads.

January Books:

Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett:

Romeo and Juliet meets Children of the Corn in this one-of-a-kind romantic horror.

“When you fall in love, you will carve out your heart and throw it into the deepest ocean. You will be all in—blood and salt.”

These are the last words Ash Larkin hears before her mother returns to the spiritual commune she escaped long ago. But when Ash follows her to Quivira, Kansas, something sinister and ancient waits among the rustling cornstalks of this village lost to time.

Ash is plagued by memories of her ancestor, Katia, which harken back to the town’s history of unrequited love and murder, alchemy and immortality. Charming traditions soon give way to a string of gruesome deaths, and Ash feels drawn to Dane, a forbidden boy with secrets of his own.

As the community prepares for a ceremony five hundred years in the making, Ash must fight not only to save her mother, but herself—and discover the truth about Quivira before it’s too late. Before she’s all in—blood and salt.

Why I want to read it: This has been on my TBR since September, and I just haven’t gotten around to it, so this will be the month that happens.

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray:

Every Day meets Cloud Atlas in this heart-racing, space- and time-bending, epic new trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray.

Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer—her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite can’t let the man who destroyed her family go free, and she races after Paul through different universes, where their lives entangle in increasingly familiar ways. With each encounter she begins to question Paul’s guilt—and her own heart. Soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is more sinister than she ever could have imagined.

A Thousand Pieces of You explores a reality where we witness the countless other lives we might lead in an amazingly intricate multiverse, and ask whether, amid infinite possibilities, one love can endure.

Why I want to read it: This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for over a year. My roommate has read it, my sister has read, and they both loved it. Now that the sequel is out, I decided it is about time to finally read this one.

Spring 2016 Penguin Teen Preview:

I got this collection from Netgalley.  Get a sneak peek at Spring 2016’s hottest books!

THE DARK DAYS CLUB by Alison Goodman, SALT TO THE SEA by Ruta Sepetys, REBEL OF THE SANDS by Alwyn Hamilton, WINK POPPY MIDNIGHT by April Genevieve Tucholke, and THE PASSION OF DOLSSA by Julie Berry

Why I want to read it: I read a collection like this around this time last year, and it helped me pick out and read some of the best books I read in 2015, so I thought this one my do the same for 2016.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin:

Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.

As Warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand. His honour weighs him down at court where a true man does what he will, not what he must … and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty.

The old gods have no power in the south, Stark’s family is split and there is treachery at court. Worse, the vengeance-mad heir of the deposed Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.

Why I want to read it: I have loved the TV show since it started, and can’t wait to see what the books have in store. That, and my wonderful roommate and friend has been yelling at me about reading this series for about nine months now, so I decided it was finally time to get into it.

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin:

Time is out of joint. The summer of peace and plenty, ten years long, is drawing to a close, and the harsh, chill winter approaches like an angry beast. Two great leaders—Lord Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon—who held sway over an age of enforced peace are dead…victims of royal treachery. Now, from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns, as pretenders to the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms prepare to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war.

As a prophecy of doom cuts across the sky—a comet the color of blood and flame—six factions struggle for control of a divided land. Eddard’s son Robb has declared himself King in the North. In the south, Joffrey, the heir apparent, rules in name only, victim of the scheming courtiers who teem over King’s Landing. Robert’s two brothers each seek their own dominion, while a disfavored house turns once more to conquest. And a continent away, an exiled queen, the Mother of Dragons, risks everything to lead her precious brood across a hard hot desert to win back the crown that is rightfully hers.

A Clash of Kings transports us into a magnificent, forgotten land of revelry and revenge, wizardry and wartime. It is a tale in which maidens cavort with madmen, brother plots against brother, and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside.

Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, the price of glory may be measured in blood. And the spoils of victory may just go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel…and the coldest hearts. For when rulers clash, all of the land feels the tremors.

Audacious, inventive, brilliantly imagined, A Clash of Kings is a novel of dazzling beauty and boundless enchantment;a tale of pure excitement you will never forget.

Why I want to read it: I am so excited to finally be starting this series!! It is jumpstarting my new goals as a reader in 2016.  So looking forward to this new year!!

I can’t wait to hear what you’re reading this month. I always love new book suggestions!

Happy Reading!

Erin

 

 

WWW Wednesday 12/16/15

WWW Wednesday 12/16/15

This is my weekly WWW Wednesday post in which I answer three simple questions.  It is hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. Go check her out, her blog is great!  Each week I will answer the following three questions about what is happening in my book world.

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you are going to read next?

So, here we go.

What are you currently reading?

Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch

Girl of Myth and Legend by Giselle Simlett

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I’m still working my way through Ice Like Fire and To Kill a Mockingbird.  Girl of Myth and Legend is something I picked off of Netgalley.  Here’s the synopsis:

**Leonie Woodville wants to live an unremarkable life. She wants routine, she wants repetition, she wants predictability. So when she explodes in a blaze of light one morning on the way to her college, it’s enough to put a real crimp in her day.

And things only get weirder…

Leonie learns from her father that she is last of the Pulsar, a phenomenally powerful member of a magical species called the Chosen. It will be her sole duty to protect the Imperium, a governing hierarchy, from all enemies, and to exceed the reputation of the Pulsar before her. So – no pressure there, then.

Leonie is swept away from her rigorous normality and taken to a world of magic. There, she is forced into a ceremony to join her soul to a guardian, Korren, who is both incredibly handsome and intensely troubled, a relationship for which ‘it’s complicated’ just really doesn’t cut it.

But Leonie is soon to learn that this ancient world is no paradise. With violent dissidents intent to overthrow the Imperium, and dark entities with their own agenda, she and Korren find themselves caught in a war where they will have to overcome their differences if they are to survive.

Dare to dream. Dare to hope. Dare to be a legend.

What did you recently finish reading?

Crystallum by Laney McMann

You can find my review for it here! I enjoyed it. It was a fun, relaxing, and somewhat mindless read.

 

 

What do you think you’ll read next?

(All synopses are from Goodreads)

Still looking forward to reading these:

Blood and Salt

Romeo and Juliet meets Children of the Corn in this one-of-a-kind romantic horror.

“When you fall in love, you will carve out your heart and throw it into the deepest ocean. You will be all in—blood and salt.”

These are the last words Ash Larkin hears before her mother returns to the spiritual commune she escaped long ago. But when Ash follows her to Quivira, Kansas, something sinister and ancient waits among the rustling cornstalks of this village lost to time.

Ash is plagued by memories of her ancestor, Katia, which harken back to the town’s history of unrequited love and murder, alchemy and immortality. Charming traditions soon give way to a string of gruesome deaths, and Ash feels drawn to Dane, a forbidden boy with secrets of his own.

As the community prepares for a ceremony five hundred years in the making, Ash must fight not only to save her mother, but herself—and discover the truth about Quivira before it’s too late. Before she’s all in—blood and salt.

I came across this one around Halloween time, and have been looking forward to it ever since it showed up on my doorstep.  

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In-Between by Jennifer E. Smith

On the night before they leave for college, Clare and Aidan have only one thing left to do: figure out whether they should stay together or break up. Over the course of twelve hours, they retrace the steps of their relationship, trying to find something in their past that might help them decide what their future should be. The night leads them to family and friends, familiar landmarks and unexpected places, hard truths and surprising revelations. But as the clock winds down and morning approaches, so does their inevitable goodbye. The question is, will it be goodbye for now or goodbye forever?

Charming, bittersweet, and full of wisdom and heart, this irresistible novel from Jennifer E. Smith, author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, explores the difficult choices that arise when life and love lead in different directions

I’ve heard so many great things about this book and The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight (which I also want to read) that I thought I would pick this one up soon.

I can’t wait to hear what the rest of you are reading!! Let me know in the comments.

Happy Reading!
Erin

WWW Wednesday 12/9/15

WWW Wednesday 12/9/15

This is my weekly WWW Wednesday post in which I answer three simple questions.  It is hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. Go check her out, her blog is great!  Each week I will answer the following three questions about what is happening in my book world.

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you are going to read next?

So, here we go.

What are you currently reading?

Crystallum by Laney McCann

Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Still reading all the same things.  I’m so annoyed with how busy life has been, with the holidays coming up and going shopping for Secret Santas and Christmas.  Don’t get me wrong, I love gift giving and the holidays, but it is annoying that it cuts into my reading time

What did you recently finish reading?

“I didn’t finish anything this week. Sad day. Definitely hoping to have a couple books done by the time I see you for WWW Wednesday next week.”

Up there is what I wrote in for this question last week. Still didn’t finish anything, but I will finish both books this coming week, so you guys can hear all about them.

What do you think you’ll read next?

(All synopses are from Goodreads)

Still looking forward to reading these:

Blood and Salt

Romeo and Juliet meets Children of the Corn in this one-of-a-kind romantic horror.

“When you fall in love, you will carve out your heart and throw it into the deepest ocean. You will be all in—blood and salt.”

These are the last words Ash Larkin hears before her mother returns to the spiritual commune she escaped long ago. But when Ash follows her to Quivira, Kansas, something sinister and ancient waits among the rustling cornstalks of this village lost to time.

Ash is plagued by memories of her ancestor, Katia, which harken back to the town’s history of unrequited love and murder, alchemy and immortality. Charming traditions soon give way to a string of gruesome deaths, and Ash feels drawn to Dane, a forbidden boy with secrets of his own.

As the community prepares for a ceremony five hundred years in the making, Ash must fight not only to save her mother, but herself—and discover the truth about Quivira before it’s too late. Before she’s all in—blood and salt.

I came across this one around Halloween time, and have been looking forward to it ever since it showed up on my doorstep.  

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In-Between by Jennifer E. Smith

On the night before they leave for college, Clare and Aidan have only one thing left to do: figure out whether they should stay together or break up. Over the course of twelve hours, they retrace the steps of their relationship, trying to find something in their past that might help them decide what their future should be. The night leads them to family and friends, familiar landmarks and unexpected places, hard truths and surprising revelations. But as the clock winds down and morning approaches, so does their inevitable goodbye. The question is, will it be goodbye for now or goodbye forever?

Charming, bittersweet, and full of wisdom and heart, this irresistible novel from Jennifer E. Smith, author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, explores the difficult choices that arise when life and love lead in different directions

I’ve heard so many great things about this book and The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight (which I also want to read) that I thought I would pick this one up soon.

I can’t wait to hear what the rest of you are reading!! Let me know in the comments.

Happy Reading!
Erin

November TBR

November TBR

I was such a slacker last month, and didn’t finish the books I said I was going to read, so I will be continuing on with them in the month of November.  To be fair, work and my personal life got in the way in a major way. . . so much drama! And anyone who knows me knows I am not a big fan of drama. But I am moving past that now and focusing on the reading that I really want to get done.  This month is just a lofty a goal as the last, but I really want to get these read.  Here is a list of books that I want to get done for the month of November.  Most of them are left over from last month, so I ‘m just going to list those.  If you want to read more about the books and why I want to read them. you can read my October TBR here.

November Books:

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo: I’m almost done with this one and will be posting on it soon. I swear!

Ice Like Fire by Sarah Raasch

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In-Between by Jennifer E. Smith

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy

Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett

The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman

New addition this month:

Fire Falling by Elise Kova

**Synopsis (from Goodreads): Vhalla Yarl marches to war as property of the Solaris Empire. The Emperor counts on her to bring victory, the Senate counts on her death, and the only thing Vhalla can count on is the fight of her life. As she grapples with the ghosts of her past, new challenges in the present threaten to shatter the remnants of her fragile sanity. Will she maintain her humanity? Or will she truly become the Empire’s monster?

Fire Falling is the second book in the Air Awakens Series.

**Release Date: November 19, 2015

**Why I want to read it:

You guys!! I’m SO EXCITED for this book!!! I’m doing a re-read of Air Awakens with Elise Kova and a bunch of others on Facebook right now. The discussion has been great and getting to hear everyone else’s thoughts as well as hearing from the author and getting deleted scenes from the original draft.  I can’t wait to see where the story is going.  I want to find out how Vhalla and Aldrik’s relationship develops, how Vhalla grows as a Windwalker, and what plans the Solaris Empire has for her. I CAN’T WAIT!!

Also this month, is the cover reveal of the third book in the Air Awakens series, Earth’s End!  I’ll have that right here for you all on November 16th!

What are you all reading this month? I’d love to hear from you.

Happy Reading!!

Erin

What’s Your Air Awakens Affinity? I’m a Waterrunner. . .

What’s Your Air Awakens Affinity? I’m a Waterrunner. . .

With Elise Kova’s sequel to Air Awakens being released in about a month, I am getting all psyched up for it by posting what type of sorcerer I am.  All of us who are fans of Elise Kova and those of us who are a part of the Air Awakens Fan Club on Goodreads are figuring out what our Air Awakens Affinity is.  You can do it too by going to this quiz that Elise made herself so all of us could get involved.  

You can find it here.

As can be seen above, I am a Waterrunner.

Most Well-Known Air Awakens Waterrunner: Fritznangle Chareem 

(My favorite casting of Fritz)

Magic:

The magic of the Waterrunner is control over water in all its forms.

The ability to command the smallest amount of moisture makes Waterrunners practical sorcerers with a variety of applications. They can manipulate droplets of water in the air to make illusions. Waterrunners also have the ability to form ice weaponry by conjuring the element, should they be forced to fight.

Because of the fluid nature of their element they are able to feel and observe magical channels in other sorcerers.

Waterrunners Affinity of the Self is the ability to hear the past recorded in items, brought out from the ripples of water.

They are not easily deceived.  You are also at peace with the past, hearing its whispers in ripples and waves.

If you haven’t already, make sure to put Air Awakens and Fire Falling on your GoodReads To-Read list and join us for the Air Awakens Read-Along starting October 25th.   New readers and those who have already enjoyed the first book are welcome to join the Pre-Fire Falling Read-Along! The read-along will have discussions, questions, teasers, deleted scenes, giveaways and more! All starting on October 25th.

Liebster Award

It feels like it has been forever since I posted.  You would think that being on summer break would allow me to post more often, but with filling out applications for a new job and going on a family vacay this past weekend, it has been a little difficult to get all the reading done that I would like to get done.

Moving on. . . Thank you very much to my wonderful sister, Vicki, over at Between Pages for nominating me for the Liebster Award a few  weeks ago.  Make sure to check out her blog, here! It is full of really fun book reviews and other super entertaining posts.

Questions I Was Given

1. What are your top 5 favorite series of all time?

In no particular order. . .

**Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien

**The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

**The Grisha Series by Leigh Bardugo

**The Daughter of Smoke and Bone Series by Laini Taylor

**The Shatter Me Series by Tahereh Mafi

Note: The only reason the Maze Runner Series does not reside on this list is because I haven’t finished it yet.  I am in the middle of it right now.

2. What book do you love that most people seem to hate?

This one definitely has to be The Da Vinci Code.  So many people hate this book and movie, and, I agree, the movie is terrible.  But, I love this book!  It is just fun and entertaining, and I always love a good conspiracy theory.

3. What genres of books do enjoy reading the most?

I love reading YA fiction.  I don’t have a favorite YA genre, but most of the YA books I own would fall in the fantasy category.  I love reading what my students read.  And I like it even more when I have conversations with my students and they get really excited about recommending their favorite YA novels to me.

4. Whose story do you want to hear more of after a book/series finished?

I always want to learn more about the secondary characters.  What happens to them during the story that we don’t get to see because we are too busy paying attention to the main characters.  Or what happens to the secondary characters once the story ends for our main characters.  It is one of the reasons I love the fact that Laini Taylor wrote Night of Cake and Puppets as an addition to her Daughter of Smoke and Bone series because we, as readers, get to see what happens to the secondary characters in the story when we are too caught up in the main characters and what is going on with them.  It gives an insight into the relationship of two secondary characters that we wouldn’t normally get to see.

5. If you could live in any fantasy world, which would you choose and why?

If I could live in a fantasy world, I would choose Middle Earth, and more specifically, Hobbiton.  My roommate and I already joke that we are hobbits.  We even named our apartment just like hobbits do for their hobbit holes.  Hobbiton is so beautiful and green, and like Samwise, I don’t need much to be happy.

6. Do you eat while reading or do you fear for your book?

I’ll eat while I’m reading, but with a real book that’s hard, so I try to avoid reading while eating with a real book.  I’m pretty careful when I eat and read.  If I’m reading a book on my phone or iPad, I definitely read while I’m eating.  Besides, it allows my anti-social side to take over, especially when I’m at work and I just really need a break from people.

7. What are your top 3 books you have read so far this year?

The Wrath and the Dawn, review here.

An Ember in the Ashes, review here.

A Court of Thorns and Roses, review here.

The first two are debuts from very talented authors, and are probably a couple of the best debut novels I’ve read.  All three books are the first books in series, and I am super excited for the next book in each series to come out.

8. What is your favorite book to movie adaptation?

I just finished The Maze Runner by James Dashner and I have to say that it is probably the best book to movie I’ve seen in a while, but my favorite book to movie adaptation has to be the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

It was so well done and on a majorly epic scale.  Yes, some of people’s favorite characters were left out, like Tom Bombadil, but personally, (and you can all get mad at me for this, that’s fine) Tom Bombadil annoys the crap out of me.  I have never understood why people like him so much.

An honorable mention has to go to Insurgent by Veronica Roth as one of my more recent favorite book to movie adaptations due to the fact that the screenwriters were able to take a book that dragged on for no reason and turned it into a really entertaining movie that didn’t leave out any of the essential information.

9. What author would you most like to meet and why?

This question is ridiculously hard, so I am going to cheat by giving two answers, one author who is alive and one who is dead because how can you give just one author with this question?

The author who is currently alive that I would want to meet is probably John Green.  I know, it seems super obvious, and what person most interested in YA fiction wouldn’t want to meet John Green?  But, as someone who works with teenagers on a daily basis as part of her job and through volunteer work, I want to know how he gets into the mind of a teenager so well.  I also want to ask him about all the things he does with Nerdfighteria and how he got started with all those things.

The author who is dead that I would want to meet is J.R.R. Tolkien.  I read a really great biography on him, and learned so much about everything he did outside of writing the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings.  I would want to ask him about all of those things.  The languages that he developed and how he became interested in linguistics.

10. If you could become a character in a book who would you choose and why?

I would want to be Shahrzad in The Wrath and the Dawn. Although the world that she lives in a cruel one, Shahrzad has many of the qualities that I wish I had.  She is quietly strong, but at the same time, can be gentle when she needs to be.  She cares for those around her when they truly need it .  And she follows her heart, which I am not very good at doing, my head has a tendency to get in the way.

11. What book are you most looking forward to being released this year?

I’m super excited for a book called Air Awakens. It’s a debut from Elise Kova.  I joined her street team earlier this year and have been promoting her book on my blog and just about every other other social media platform I’m on.  It’s a YA fantasy novel about a library apprentice and a sorcerer and the part the library apprentice plays in the future of the world.  It comes out August 20th.  You can pre-order it by clicking here.

11 Random Facts About Me

**I am a huge sports fan, from hockey all the way to ballet, and yes, I consider dance a sport.

**Speaking of dance, I was a dancer for 13 years.

**I am a total beer snob.

**If I could wear yoga pants every day of the week, I would.

**I had a brain aneurysm at the age of 16.

**I majored in history in college, because you can do so much with a history degree.  ::Rolls eyes::

**I currently have 3 bookshelves.  One for all my books from my undergrad and graduate degrees, one for YA fiction and one for all other books.  In my mind, this is not enough bookshelves.

**I currently work at the same high school I attended as a student.

**My Chromebook (the computer I use most) has a skin on it dedicated to fantasy themes and books, and it is awesome.

**I collect Stephen King books.

**I just back from a vacation in Florida, and the weather at home is over 30 degrees cooler than it was in Florida.

My nominees for the Liebster Award are. . .

Bookshelves & Paperbacks

Girl in Bookland

Radiant Reads

Skipping Through the Stacks

allthingswordy

Azmi’s Amygdalae

Authorkdrose

#LoveBooks

Heart Full of Books

ScribbledImagination

The Sleepy Booknerd

Your questions are the following. . .

1. What are you top five books or book series of all time?

2. Do you have a favorite genre to read and why do you prefer that genre?  If you don’t have a favorite genre, what is it that you like about jumping around from genre to genre?

3. What book would you most recommend to a good friend of yours?

4. If you had the chance to be any character from a book you’ve read, which character would you be and why?

5. If you could live in any book, which one would it be and why?

6. What 3 authors would you most like to meet?  (Yes, they can be dead or alive.)

7. What book are you most looking forward to reading this year?

8. In which format (hardcover, paperback, ebook) do you most like to read books in and why?

9. What book would you most like to see made into a movie?

10. Where is your favorite place to read and why?

11.  What inspired you to start a blog?

I can’t wait to hear from you all.  I hope you have as much fun with this as I did.  Happy reading!