Midnight Bloom Reads

You Owe Me a Murder Blog Tour! Review and Q&A with Eileen Cook

2019-02-19T13:45:00.000-05:00

Title: You Owe Me a Murder
Author: Eileen Cook
Release Date: March 5, 2019
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 368
Source: ARC provided by Raincoast Books
Add to Goodreads | Amazon.ca | Indigo

Overall: 4 STARS

SUMMARY

Seventeen-year-old Kim gets more than she bargained for when she is set up for murder. Perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying, E. Lockhart, and Gillian Flynn.

17-year-old Kim never expected to plot a murder. But that was before her boyfriend dumped her for another girl. Now, Kim’s stuck on a class trip to London with him and his new soulmate and she can’t help wishing he was a little bit dead, even if she’d never really do that.

But when Kim meets Nicki, a stranger on the plane who’s more than willing to listen to Kim’s woes, things start to look up. Nicki's got a great sense of humor, and when she jokes about swapping murders, Kim plays along—that is, until Kim’s ex-boyfriend mysteriously dies.

Blackmailed by Nicki to fulfill her end of the deal, Kim will have to commit a murder or take the fall for one.

MY THOUGHTS
I always know I'm in for a good time whenever I read an Eileen Cook novel. They're addictive and entertaining—just the kind of book I love to read in one sitting. And when I first read the awesome plot description for You Owe Me a Murder, I just knew I had to read it right away too. Secrets. Lies. Blackmail. Murder. I was definitely immediately hooked!

When Kim is stuck on a summer program to London with her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend, she's not exactly in her happy place. She thought she'd be holding hands with Connor as they took in all the historical sights, but now she has to watch him with his hands all over another girl instead. While waiting for their flight to depart from Vancouver, things start looking up for Kim when she meets Nicki, a fellow traveler on her flight.

Nicki is British and returning home. She's posh and bold, and a willing listener as Kim tells her all about Connor and the awkward situation she's in. So when Nicki jokes that they can solve all their problems with murder—she'll kill Connor and Kim can kill Nicki's alcoholic mother—that's all Kim thinks it is. A joke. But Kim's not laughing when a few days later, Connor mysteriously dies and Nicki comes calling. After all, Kim now owes her a murder...

I probably made some interesting expressions while I was reading You Owe Me a Murder. I definitely cringed and shook my head in dismay when Kim told unnecessary lies. Well, not really lies. She was just really good at withholding certain details and telling the bare minimum. But with an ongoing police investigation, I kept wondering if/when the police would look more closely into her statements and it stressed me out a little every time they interacted.

As for Nicki, well, she is one scary, unpredictable girl! Nicki seemed to know exactly what buttons to push to pressure Kim and make her feel cornered. She came and went like a ghost, appearing before Kim to remind her that time was running out before she had to return home to Canada. Ominous music started playing in my head whenever Nicki was around because you knew things would take a turn or Kim would have to adjust her plans to counter her all over again.

With several thrillers under her belt now, Eileen Cook is getting really good at layering the tension, distorting the truth, and throwing out misdirections to keep you on the edge of your seat. While I did guess a couple of the twists correctly this time around, I had no idea how the ending would ultimately play out, so I still eagerly turned the pages to discover what would happen next. If you're looking for your next compelling and devious YA thriller to read, I highly recommend checking out You Owe Me a Murder.

Q&A With Eileen Cook

In With Malice, Jill is experiencing amnesia and can't recall the car accident that killed her best friend. In The Hanging Girl/One Lie Too Many, Skye gives fake psychic readings and gets swept into a police investigation for a missing girl. Now, in You Owe Me a Murder, Kim is blackmailed into committing murder or she'll take the fall for one. If you had to switch places with one of your heroines in these thrillers, who would you choose and why?

Oooh, hard question! I’m pretty miserable to all my characters and put them in horrible situations. I’d rather have my boring life any day of the week. I like a no-drama existence when possible except on the pages of books. If I have to choose one, I would trade places with Kim. My reason being that despite the horrible situation she’s in, she does have some good people on her side—a bit more than my other two characters. Her parents drive her crazy, but they love her. She has a best friend (granted, miles away) and she becomes friends with Alex, so she’s got some support as she struggles through this situation.

I’ve come to believe having been through some hard situations (full transparency- never murder!) that the most important thing you can have is friends. People who will be there to help pick you up during the times that that you don’t believe you can do it yourself.

Blog Tour! Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean

2018-11-08T13:36:00.000-05:00

Title: Empress of All Seasons
Author: Emiko Jean
Release Date: November 6, 2018
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 384
Source: ARC provided by Raincoast Books
Add to Goodreads | Amazon.ca | Indigo

Overall: 5 STARS

SUMMARY

In a palace of illusions, nothing is what it seems.

Each generation, a competition is held to find the next empress of Honoku. The rules are simple. Survive the palace's enchanted seasonal rooms. Conquer Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Marry the prince. All are eligible to compete-all except yokai, supernatural monsters and spirits whom the human emperor is determined to enslave and destroy.

Mari has spent a lifetime training to become empress. Winning should be easy. And it would be, if she weren't hiding a dangerous secret. Mari is a yokai with the ability to transform into a terrifying monster. If discovered, her life will be forfeit. As she struggles to keep her true identity hidden, Mari's fate collides with that of Taro, the prince who has no desire to inherit the imperial throne, and Akira, a half-human, half-yokai outcast.

Torn between duty and love, loyalty and betrayal, vengeance and forgiveness, the choices of Mari, Taro, and Akira will decide the fate of Honoku in this beautifully written, edge-of-your-seat YA fantasy.

MY THOUGHTS
Each generation, a deadly competition is held to choose the next Empress of Honoku. All are eligible to compete—except yōkai, supernatural monsters and spirits whom the human emperor is determined to enslave or destroy. Renee Ahdieh's Flame in the Mist meets Kiera Cass' The Selection, Emiko Jean's Empress of All Seasons is a thrilling and utterly captivating standalone Japanese-inspired fantasy. You'll definitely want to set aside some time to read Empress of All Seasons in one sitting because you won't be able to put the book down! It's just SO good and suspenseful. I loved reading it!

Mari has never felt comfortable in her skin nor among her clan of Animal Wives, female yōkai who marry rich husbands and then steal their fortunes before returning to Tsuma, their remote village in the mountains. When it became apparent that Mari didn't inherit her mother's beautiful features, all the better to lure potential husbands, she was forced to train for the competition instead. Conquer the seasons. Marry the prince. Steal his fortune. Surviving in the Palace of Illusions is the only way Mari can ever return home.

Akira has always been an outcast; half-human, half-yōkai, he's known as the Son of Nightmares. His friendship and love for Mari has been a lifeline since they were children, but he wishes he could be as strong and brave as her. He follows Mari to the Imperial City, seeking out the mysterious Weapons Master to train him and finds himself joining the yōkai resistance. And then there's Taro, the prince who dreams of leaving the palace and doesn't want to be anyone's prize.

I loved that the book alternated POVS between Mari, Akira, and Taro. It gave us the opportunity to understand their thoughts and actions, to empathize with their self-doubts and insecurities, and hope they could all make it out of the precarious situation alive. They were each struggling in their own way, torn between their responsibilities, duty, vengeance and love. And I really loved the world-building in Empress of All Seasons! All the little details, from the descriptions of the various kinds of yōkai to the samurai and the kimonos that Mari wears—it all brought the story absolutely to life.

Lately, I've been feeling kind of burned out with the YA fantasy genre because half the books seem to have similar plots or covers. It's #ownvoices books like Empress of All Seasons that I appreciate for giving me something entirely new and exciting to read from a fresh perspective. Dear publishers, more Asian-inspired fantasy books by POC authors, please!

Sylvia McNicoll's Body Swap Blog Tour! Review & Excerpt

2018-09-22T11:54:00.000-04:00

Title: Body Swap
Author: Sylvia McNicoll
Release Date: September 15, 2018
Publisher: Dundurn
Pages: 248
Source: PDF provided by publisher
Add to Goodreads | Amazon.ca | Indigo

Overall: 4 STARS

SUMMARY

A fatal collision — who’s to blame? Two bodies, two souls switch in search of justice.

When fifteen-year-old Hallie gets knocked flying by a Hurricane SUV, her life ends without her ever having kissed a boy. At an otherworldly carnival, she meets and argues with the eighty-two-year-old driver, Susan. Both return to life, only with one catch — they’ve swapped bodies.

Now Hallie has wrinkled skin and achy joints while Susan deals with a forehead zit and a crush on a guy who’s a player. Hallie faces a life in a long-term care residence. Susan gets picked up for shoplifting.

As they struggle with technology, medications, and each other’s fashion foibles, they start to understand and maybe even like each other. But can they work together to prove that a defect in the Hurricane caused the deadly crash? Or will their time run out?

MY THOUGHTS
When a twist of fate causes 15-year-old Hallie and 82-year-old Susan to switch bodies, how will they return to their own bodies? When I first read the plot description for Sylvia McNicoll's Body Swap, I was immediately intrigued! For many of you, the plot might bring to mind something along the lines of Freaky Friday, but my first thought was actually a Chinese movie called 20 Once Again. It's about a grandmother who becomes a teen again and experiences love and family from a new perspective. The movie was funny and sweet, and I'd hoped Body Swap could evoke those same feelings.

And it sure did! Hilarious and heartwarming, Sylvia McNicoll's Body Swap is an unforgettable story of life and death, a very unlikely friendship, and an engaging look at how technology can both help and harm us. Hallie's reaction when she finds herself an old lady were laugh-out-loud funny. Wrinkly skin! Bulging blue veins! Aching joints! And then there's Susan, who's absolutely enjoying feeling young and athletic again, who doesn't need to worry about arthritis or taking her daily pills.

To get their bodies back, Hallie and Susan must team up to prove there's a brake defect in Hurricane SUVs, the vehicle which struck Hallie and killed her, and caused Susan to have a heart attack... and basically got them all into this mess. But before they can begin their investigation, Hallie and Susan must convince their families that everything is normal. They immediately buy the latest smartphone to help them text/call/video chat each other (thanks Susan's Visa card!) and invent a reason for the pair to be together in front of their friends and family.

I really enjoyed seeing Hallie mature over the course of the book. This little adventure is sort of blessing for Susan because she's already experienced life and raised her children; feeling young again for a few days is a joy. But for Hallie, it feels like the end of the world. She's never even kissed a boy! She's much more indignant about being in an old body, and it gives her a deeper sense of appreciation for her own body, one she felt was always a little too short and thighs too big. And by pretending to be Susan, Hallie realizes it's actually hard to be elderly. Your body is slowly failing you, people don't trust your memory or judgement, and you can feel lonely. Susan's son also keeps encouraging her to live in a nursing home.

I absolutely enjoyed reading Syvia McNicoll's Body Swap! It had compassion. It had heart. It brought the laughs. I just had all the feels by the time I finished reading it. I really wanted Hallie and Susan to get their bodies back, to find a happy peace with their lives. And with the novel set in Burlington, Ontario, I loved catching all the Canadian references like Alice Munro, the Blue Jays baseball team, and the QEW. A story set in a Canadian city and written by a Canadian author. Yes! So. Awesome.

Excerpt

Please enjoy listening to Canadian author Sylvia McNicoll read a thrilling excerpt from Body Swap, in which driving a Hurricane SUV gives Hallie and Susan quite a scare!

Julia Unbound by Catherine Egan

2018-09-14T17:19:00.000-04:00

Title: Julia Unbound (Witch's Child #3)
Author: Catherine Egan
Release Date: August 28, 2018
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Pages: 480
Source: Hardcover provided by Penguin Random House Canada
Add to Goodreads | Amazon.ca | Indigo

Overall: 4 STARS

SUMMARY

In this heart-pounding conclusion to the Witch’s Child trilogy, Catherine Egan’s masterful world-building and fiercely flawed heroine will thrill fans of The Rose Society, Graceling and Six of Crows.

Julia has been ensnared in so many different webs it’s hard to see how she’ll ever break free. She must do Casimir’s bidding in order to save the life of her brother. She must work against Casimir to save the lives of most everyone else she knows.

Casimir demands that Julia use her vanishing skills to act as a spy at court and ensure that a maleable prince is installed on the throne of Frayne. But Julia is secretly acting as a double agent, passing information to the revolutionaries and witches who want a rebel princess to rule.

Beyond these deadly entanglements, Julia is also desperately seeking the truth about herself—how is it she can vanish? Is she some form of monster? Is her life her own anyway?

With every move she makes, Julia finds herself tangled ever tighter. Should she try to save her country? Her brother? A beloved child? Can she even save herself?

MY THOUGHTS
The Witch's Child trilogy comes to an exhilarating finish with Julia Unbound. Casimir is still searching for Theo, determined to claim the last third of the Book of Disruption. Julia has temporarily hidden Theo at Ragg Rock, just beyond the Xianren's reach, but it won't stop him for long. Threatening her brother Dek's life, Casimir has implanted a nuyi into Julia's arm, and now she has just over a week until she loses her free will and he can control her.

As if that wasn't enough, Zara and the not-actually-executed Lady Laroche are planning a rebellion in Frayne against the dying King Zey and Agoston Horthy, his powerful prime minister. It's because of Horthy's terrible influence that witches have been hunted and drowned for decades. Everyone seems to have their own agenda... and everyone wants a piece of Julia. Using her exceptional ability to vanish, Julia must act the part of double agent, keeping an eye on Horthy and passing information to both Casimir and the witches.

Julia Unbound was stressful to read! But like in a good way? As you can see, there was A LOT happening in this book. Spying. Rebellion. A race against time. The threat of discovery. Allies you weren't entirely sure you could trust. I don't know how Julia kept it all together without falling apart, but she did her best. She stayed focused, kept her convictions, and when there wasn't much choice, she tried to pick the lesser of two evils. I really admired Julia's strength and tenacity in Julia Unbound, and it reminded me just how much she's changed and grown since the first book.

I think the best surprise about this series has been the unlikely friendship that's developed between Julia and Pia. When we first met Pia in Julia Vanishes, she was the scary henchwoman of Casimir. In Julia Defiant, Pia unexpectedly saved Julia from harm, and we learned about her tragic, heart-breaking past. She still worked for Casimir, yes, but she didn't seem like such a villain anymore. In Julia Unbound, we saw another side of Pia yet again; she was defiant and willing to side with her friend.

I feel like the witches of Frayne still didn't quite get the vengeance they absolutely deserved, but I was more than satisfied with how Julia Unbound concluded. As long as Julia and her loved ones could make it through calamity safe and together, then I was happy was for her. I've absolutely enjoyed reading the Witch's Child trilogy, with all its wonder and suspense, detailed world-building, and intriguing cast of characters. I can't wait to read whatever Catherine Egan writes next!

House of Darken by Jaymin Eve

2018-09-10T10:00:00.000-04:00

Title: House of Darken (Secret Keepers #1)
Author: Jaymin Eve
Release Date: June 1, 2018
Publisher: Jaymin Eve
Pages: 340
Source: Bought
Add to Goodreads | Amazon.ca

Overall: 3 STARS

SUMMARY

Some rules are made to be broken.

When Emma moves to Astoria, Oregon, she is given two rules:

#1 – Don’t cross to “their” side of the street.

#2 – Don’t mess with the elites, especially Lexen Darken, top elite and resident bad boy.

While she finds this both weird and insulting, Emma has no actual intention of breaking these rules - until her guardians go missing. Now all bets are off. Only a single line separates her side of the street from the elites', and she's crossing it.

Captured and held by Lexen and his brothers, she learns the rules are in place for a very good reason. There's a secret world hidden in this small town which goes far beyond the one she knows and understands.

A world not for humans.

MY THOUGHTS
Jaymin Eve's House of Darken is pure entertainment. It's one of those books where I just enjoy it and try not to question certain plot/characters because I know I'll just start picking things apart. Does it make sense that Emma moves into a gated community where one side of the street is filled with beautiful mansions while the other is rundown, small houses? No, it really doesn't at all... but whatever, just roll with it.

The plot spans over the course of maybe a week or so, and while the action and fantastical elements were fun to explore, I thought the character relationships were undeveloped. Emma simply didn't have enough time to get to know the new people in her life. I think I would've liked Emma more if her character didn't feel so inconsistent at times, mostly when it was an obvious ploy to bring her and Lexen together.

Emma and Lexen's relationship didn't have any naturalness; it was just expected that they'd be together. I like having some tension and chemistry in a developing romance, and this one felt forced. Lexen was supposed to be the resident bad boy... and I didn't see that at all. He was a protective brother and friend—there's nothing bad about that. I did enjoy unraveling the mystery/strangeness behind Astoria and learning the secret Lexen and his family were hiding. It's too bad the villain wasn't a surprise though.

I liked House of Darken, but I didn't fall in love with it. I mainly read it because I was in the mood for something paranormal, and at the time, I'd been impatiently waiting for the release for Strength to be released so I could have more Willa Knight and the hot Abcurse brothers. I still much prefer the Curse of the Gods series, which Jaymin Eve co-writes with Jane Washington.

Sadie Blog Tour! Review and Q&A with Courtney Summers

2018-09-06T13:57:00.001-04:00

Title: Sadie
Author: Courtney Summers
Release Date: September 4, 2018
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 320
Source: ARC provided by Raincoast Books
Add to Goodreads | Amazon.ca | Indigo

Overall: 5 STARS

SUMMARY

A missing girl on a journey of revenge and a Serial―like podcast following the clues she's left behind.

Sadie hasn't had an easy life. Growing up on her own, she's been raising her sister Mattie in an isolated small town, trying her best to provide a normal life and keep their heads above water.

But when Mattie is found dead, Sadie's entire world crumbles. After a somewhat botched police investigation, Sadie is determined to bring her sister's killer to justice and hits the road following a few meager clues to find him.

When West McCray―a radio personality working on a segment about small, forgotten towns in America―overhears Sadie's story at a local gas station, he becomes obsessed with finding the missing girl. He starts his own podcast as he tracks Sadie's journey, trying to figure out what happened, hoping to find her before it's too late.

Courtney Summers has written the breakout book of her career. Sadie is propulsive and harrowing and will keep you riveted until the last page.

MY THOUGHTS
It's been three years since Courtney Summers' All the Rage was released. Three years! But the wait for her new book was oh so worth it. In the same vein as All the Rage, Sadie is an unflinching, emotionally-charged novel. It will make you feel angry. And helpless. Because Sadie may be a fictional novel, but the events that unfold aren't so far from reality.

"And it begins, as so many stories do, with a dead girl."

When Sadie's thirteen-year-old sister Mattie is found dead just outside their small town, her world crumbles. Life in Cold Creek, Colorado has never been easy for Sadie and Mattie, not with an addict mother who was always high on drugs and switched boyfriends, but they had each other at least. When the police investigation goes cold, Sadie decides to take justice into her own hands and track down her sister's killer.

West McCray, a longtime radio producer, is working on a segment in nearby town when he overhears the tragedy of Mattie's death. However, it's not until a year later that he's contacted by May Beth Foster, Sadie and Mattie's neighbour and a grandmother figure in their lives. She asks him to help her find Sadie, who's been missing for three months. Girls go missing all the time. It's not a new story. Yet the more West McCray learns about Sadie through interviews and retracing her steps across thousands of miles, the more he's curious and invested in finding her.

The alternating POVs each chapter, from Sadie's perspective in real time to West McCray's podcast transcripts, made Sadie such a unique read. I wouldn't exactly call Sadie a thriller, yet there's a real sense of urgency in uncovering the truth. Why did Sadie run away? How did she know who killed her sister? It was like an addiction. I had to know what happened, even though I knew it wasn't going to pretty.

An unforgettable and gripping mystery, Sadie is Courtney Summers' best book yet. The ending was haunting and perfect, and when I turned the last few pages, I didn't even realize tears had welled up in my eyes. It was such an intense experience! I really can't imagine Sadie concluding any other way. If I had to pick some of my fave books of the year so far, Sadie would definitely be among them.

Q&A With Courtney Summers

Sadie is not an ordinary YA thriller. While half the book is told in Sadie's perspective as she searches for her sister's murderer, the other half is written as podcast transcripts by West McCray, a popular radio journalist who learns about Sadie's disappearance and begins his own investigation. What were the challenges of writing two very different narratives styles--first person vs. transcript--for the book?

One of the greatest challenges switching between Sadie’s close, first person narrative and West’s podcast transcripts was making sure that each perspective propelled the other forward. It was a little complicated, because they both exist on different timelines and have access to different information at any given moment, but with the help of my editor, I think we achieved a great balance and I’m proud of it.

The Witch's Child Trilogy! Q&A with Catherine Egan

2018-08-31T10:00:00.000-04:00

Hi, everyone! I have a special post on the blog today... a Q&A with Canadian author Catherine Egan on her amazing YA fantasy series, The Witch's Child trilogy!

The third and final book in the series, Julia Unbound, was released earlier this week and promises to be a heart-pounding, thrilling conclusion! If you're the kind of reader who likes waiting for all the books to be available, now's the perfect time to begin. And if you're already an avid fan, then I hope you have Julia Unbound at the top of your TBR stack. 😊

My review for Julia Unbound will be up on the blog early next week, but in the meantime, please enjoy learning more about this fantastic trilogy! Spies. Magic. Witches. Danger. Absolutely gorgeous book covers! What's not to love?

Julia Unbound - Catherine Egan
Add to Goodreads | Amazon.ca | Indigo | Review for Julia Vanishes | Review for Julia Defiant

In this heart-pounding conclusion to the Witch’s Child trilogy, Catherine Egan’s masterful world-building and fiercely flawed heroine will thrill fans of The Rose Society, Graceling and Six of Crows.

Julia has been ensnared in so many different webs it’s hard to see how she’ll ever break free. She must do Casimir’s bidding in order to save the life of her brother. She must work against Casimir to save the lives of most everyone else she knows.

Casimir demands that Julia use her vanishing skills to act as a spy at court and ensure that a maleable prince is installed on the throne of Frayne. But Julia is secretly acting as a double agent, passing information to the revolutionaries and witches who want a rebel princess to rule.

Beyond these deadly entanglements, Julia is also desperately seeking the truth about herself—how is it she can vanish? Is she some form of monster? Is her life her own anyway?

With every move she makes, Julia finds herself tangled ever tighter. Should she try to save her country? Her brother? A beloved child? Can she even save herself?

When you first began writing Julia Vanishes, did you already have an idea in mind of how the Witch's Child series would progress and Julia's adventures would eventually come to an end in Julia Unbound? Or have you made significant changes along the way?

Both! The basic outline has stayed the same from the beginning – I had a good idea of where I was going by the time I started drafting the first book. But how I got there and a number of important details along the way have changed. The final scene has been in my head from very early on and finally writing it was such a joy.

In the Witch's Child series, there is a unique cast of characters that I love reading about. Julia can mysteriously vanish. Her brother Dek designs weapons and gadgets. Mrs. Och is ancient and powerful, but her intentions are never clear. Jun is a very clever spy. That's just briefly naming a few... Is there a certain character that has a soft spot for you, one that you particularly liked writing more than the others?

Pia. I originally wrote her as the villain of another book that didn’t work out, but she was my favorite thing about that book, so I transplanted her whole into Julia Vanishes and her relationship with Julia only made me love her more. Every conversation between the two of them seemed to leap onto the page with so much energy. I also loved writing her physicality, and the murderous way she eats fruit.

I’m very fond of all my witches, too. Lady Laroche, in Julia Unbound, was loads of fun to write. I have elaborate backstory for Bianka – I could easily write a book from her perspective – and although Julia’s mother, Ammi, never appears in the books “in person” (due to being dead), she is so vivid in my mind and I really enjoyed thinking about her, what she was like, the choices she made. She can’t explain herself to her children, and so they have to piece together what they remember of her and draw whatever conclusions they can. The idea that Julia and her brother Dek would remember their mother’s expression at her execution-by-drowning so differently felt like a revelation.

In Julia Vanishes, the novel is mainly set in the kingdom of Frayne, where magic is forbidden and witches are drowned. In Julia Defiant, the setting is in Yongguo, a East Asian-inspired country where magic is openly practiced but controlled by the government. Though both Frayne and Yongguo are inspired by cultures from our world, was it challenging to create these complex fantasy kingdoms with very different views on magic and practices of life?

My difficulty with world-building tends to be that I over-complicate. It’s fun, in the beginning, to think about the politics, religion, landscape, history, culture, language, etc. of each place. The hard part is putting into the book itself only what the book needs, while still creating a complete picture – that tricky sweet spot between too much information and a watered-down world. I am just plain bad at inventing geography, though, and so that’s where I borrow the most shamelessly from the real world.

What are some fantasy books that you really love and would like to recommend to other readers? (Clicking on the book covers below will lead you to their Goodreads pages!)

One of my all-time favorite fantasy novels is Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. I think that one must be considered a classic by now, no? Best faeries ever.

I adore Rachel Hartman’s books – Seraphina, Shadow Scale, and the recent, brilliant, shattering, recovery-from-trauma-road-trip-novel Tess of the Road.

N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy is unlike anything else out there, and I cannot recommend the books highly enough: The Fifth Season, The Obelisk Gate, and The Stone Sky. They are completely original, stunning achievements, and gave me actual nightmares (diamond-toothed stone-eaters chewing their way up out of the sidewalk).

I have been loving Kiersten White’s gender-bent Vlad the Impaler novels – I suppose they are more alternate history than fantasy, there is no magic, but I’m going to include them here anyway because they are so good. And I Darken, Now I Rise, and I am so eager to finally read the conclusion to the trilogy, just out this summer: Bright We Burn.

I recently read Justina Ireland’s Dread Nation, a reconstruction-era zombie novel that really is as good as all the rave reviews say it is, so I was thrilled to hear a sequel will be coming.

Cherie Dimaline’s The Marrow Thieves has won pretty much every award Canada has to offer, and I hope that readers in the U.S. are going to discover it in the same numbers. It is a harrowing page-turner, the prose is beautiful, the characters unforgettable, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

I’m hugely looking forward to Heather Fawcett’s All the Wandering Light, sequel to Even the Darkest Stars, with witches and dragons (my faves!) as you’ve never seen them before, and heart-pounding mountain-climbing scenes.

Two SFF novels I always like to recommend, because I feel like neither one quite became the massive phenomenon that it ought to have become, are Zen Cho’s totally charming Sorcerer to the Crown, which balances high stakes and farce so deftly, and Alaya Dawn Johnson’s The Summer Prince, which has possibly the coolest world-building of any SFF novel I’ve ever read, while also being a gorgeously written coming-of-age story about love, art, and revolution. Thank you, Catherine Egan, for your time and thoughtful answers! And much thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to host a Q&A with Catherine Egan on my blog. 😍

Julia Defiant by Catherine Egan

2018-08-30T21:41:00.002-04:00

Title: Julia Defiant (Witch's Child #2)
Author: Catherine Egan
Release Date: June 13, 2017
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Pages: 464
Source: Bought
Add to Goodreads | Amazon.ca | Indigo

Overall: 4.5 STARS

SUMMARY

The heart-pounding follow-up to Julia Vanishes and the second book in the Witch's Child trilogy. Catherine Egan's masterful world-building and fiercely flawed heroine will thrill fans of The Rose Society, Graceling, and Six of Crows

In this compelling and action-packed novel, Julia and her allies travel to the other side of the world in their efforts to thwart Casimir's quest for power. They rescued the baby Theo from his fortress once, but Casimir is relentless. He needs this child. Or rather, he needs the magical power that has been written into the child's very being. And so Julia and a mismatched band of revolutionaries, scholars, and thieves journey to Yongguo, searching out the witch who worked that dark spell. They must find a way to separate the magic from Theo without killing him--a nicety that Casimir won't bother with. Julia is also searching for answers about herself. Her ability to vanish to a place just out of sight has grown--she can now disappear from her world so completely that it's like stepping into another world. A dark and fiery world that that feels disturbingly like hell. Where the creatures seem to recognize her--and count her as one of their own. Caught between a web of ruthless, powerful people, and a world seemingly dredged from her nightmares, Julia must decide not just who but what she really is if she wants to survive.

MY THOUGHTS
When I had the chance to read an ARC of Julia Vanishes, my initial thought was that the Witch's Child series had so much potential. The kingdom of Frayne was such a terrifying, awful world. Magic was forbidden. Witches were drowned. But our understanding was limited to Julia's perspective and the information she collected while spying on Mrs. Och in her home. It was really just a taste of this dangerous fantasy world, leaving me yearning for more. So when I finished the sequel, Julia Defiant, I was really happy to see the book exceed those high hopes I had for it!

Exhilarating adventure. Higher stakes. More action and world-building. I loved everything about Julia Defiant! Sequels can be tough because sometimes they feel like filler for what's to come in the final book, but Julia Defiant expands beyond the borders of Frayne and drives our curiosity to learn more about Julia's heritage and Mrs. Och's mysterious intentions. The book picks up two months after events unfolded in Julia Vanishes, with Julia and her misfit group of thieves, witches and scholars finding themselves in the powerful empire of Yongguo.

In Yongguo, they are determined to find a witch named Ko Dan, the man who bound Theo's essence to a fragment of the powerful Book of Disruption, the oldest origin of magic in their world. Meanwhile, Casimir is still relentlessly hunting them as well, and he doesn't care if removing the magic will kill Theo or not. Julia's gift is an important asset to their mission. While her friends separate to stay in different areas of the capital city, hiding and keeping an ear out for news of Ko Dan, Julia is traveling across Tianshi and taking on the most danger.

Julia is trying to atone for her mistakes and the harm she almost brought to cute, innocent baby Theo. But while she may have turned a new leaf in some ways, Julia's still the same in others. She's still eager to learn how she can move unseen, slipping into the shadows beyond everyone else's senses. And, of course, she still loves to spy and collect secrets. She's just unsure how much she can trust Mrs. Och, who always seems to have her own agenda.

If Julia Vanishes is considered an appetizer, then Julia Defiant is definitely the main course—satisfying full and absolutely delicious. I loved reading the book! I think what I especially loved about Julia Defiant was the setting. Yongguo was very obviously East Asian-inspired, so vibrant and contrasting to Frayne; it was a place where magic was controlled, but openly accepted. I really appreciated Catherine Egan's attention to detail in the world-building. It completely brought the story to life. And now I'm excited/anxious to find out how the trilogy ends with Julia Unbound!

** Check back on my blog tomorrow for a Q&A with Catherine Egan! **

Bound to You by Alyssa Brandon

2018-05-11T10:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Bound to You
Author: Alyssa Brandon
Release Date: April 10, 2018
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 304
Source: Bought
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Overall: 4 STARS

SUMMARY

A stubborn teen faces off with her brooding, indifferent (but super hot) soulmate in this unique and sexy take on a classic paranormal romance story.

She's met her mate . . . and he's met his match.

Megan Ross has been waiting her whole life for her mate to come and sweep her off her feet. But the wolf she meets on the beach is NOT the sweet gentle boy she's been dreaming of. Instead, he's a warrior, one whose suffering has led him to lock his heart away in a prison as cold and hard as a diamond, who fights to resist the bond and their deep attraction.

Far from home, with a soulmate who is still a stranger, Megan learns that the path to true love isn't quite as straight and easy as she thought . . .

Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads, Alyssa Brandon’s debut novel Bound to You is guaranteed to make readers swoon, sigh, and maybe even cry before it's over.

MY THOUGHTS
It feels like it's been forever since I last read a YA paranormal book! Adult, yes... Karen Marie Moning's High Voltage and Ella Summers's Psychic Spell recently come to mind... But YA? Sadly, no. Fantasy is such a popular genre right now, which I also love, but sometimes a girl just really wants a story with a hot vampire, werewolf or faerie. So when I heard about Swoon Reads publishing Alyssa Brandon's YA debut Bound to You, I immediately added it to my TBR!

"She's met her mate... And he's met his match."

I can be really terrible at remembering names, yet I've somehow memorized this enticing tagline. Right away, it tells me to expect a romance that will not come easily. And I love this cover! The red ribbon weaving through her fingers and the moons in the title. Bound to You isn't trying to be subtle—it screams paranormal romance! Megan might be happy to finally find her mate, but James definitely doesn't return the sentiment... I was eager to watch this unlikely pair open up to each other and fall in love. And okay, I also really had to know if this book was going to turn up the heat!

Megan was so hopeful and earnest in finding love. All she's ever dreamed about is finding her mate and bonding with him, having a protector that would always cherish her. I liked that she acknowledged it wasn't necessarily a modern idea, to put her college aspirations on hold and move to another country, all for the possibility of being with James and joining his pack. I completely empathized with her reasoning, of wanting attention and to feel noticed when her parent's priorities always seemed to be on her younger sisters or leading their large pack.

James, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with the mating bond. He was cynical and so cold to Megan, and a piece of my heart broke for her every time he rejected or ignored her good intentions. Bound to You is no insta-romance. Magic might help werewolves find their destined mate, but forming a relationship and building trust and love is all up to the individuals. If the book had only been from Megan's perspective, I would have been like, "Girl, you deserve someone better!" But we did get James's POV, so it gave us some understanding into why he was ignoring his wolf instincts and treating Megan poorly. I just wished the book delved even deeper into his traumatic past.

Alyssa Brandon's Bound to You was everything I'd hoped it would be! The wraiths added some danger and thrills to the story, but the central focus is definitely the romance and rooting for Megan and James to get their happily every after. I'm really hoping there will be a sequel! Not just because I want more new and fresh YA paranormal books to read, but also to get a greater glimpse into this world of werewolves, witches and wraiths that we've only scratched the surface upon.

Waiting on Wednesday - Between Frost and Fury by Chani Lynn Feener

2018-05-09T10:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Release Date: July 24, 2018

Publisher: Swoon Reads

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SUMMARY

Delaney might have done her job a little TOO well...and now her life has once again been turned upside down by aliens, this time by a deadly (and devastatingly handsome) alien prince in this explosive second installment of Chani Lynn Feener's The Xenith Trilogy.

Delaney has been kidnapped by aliens. Again. After only a month back on Earth with her hot new alien boyfriend Ruckus, the deadly and devastatingly handsome prince Trystan has dragged her right back to his planet.

While some girls may dream of winning a prince’s heart, Delaney just wishes this one would leave her alone. Instead, she finds herself at the center of both a tense political battle between two alien kingdoms and Trystan’s romantic attentions, both of which are absolutely ruining the life she’s built on Earth. Not to mention the fact that she’s about to be crowned queen of a planet she’s barely even visited. Just another day in the life of an ordinary human girl.

Readers won’t want to miss Between Frost and Fury, the compelling, fast-paced sequel to Chani Lynn Feener’s Amid Stars and Darkness.

I think Chani Lynn Feener's Amid Stars and Darkness was a book that fell under the radar last year, which is a shame because I really enjoyed reading it! It was fun and thrilling, a light sci-fi romance I read in one sitting, utterly addicted to the plot and characters. Delaney had to pretend to be an alien princess, all the while avoiding assassination attempts, falling for her bodyguard, and deceiving an alien prince. You see, doesn't that sound awesome? You really should read Amid Stars and Darkness.

And now I'm so excited the sequel, Between Frost and Fury, will be releasing in just a couple more months! I can't wait to find out what misadventures Delaney finds herself in next. The book's description sounds soooo good! And I'm not so secretly hoping there will be some romantic developments between her and Trystan. Sorry, Ruckus.

If you missed it before, you can read my review of Amid Stars and Darkness here.

As She Fades by Abbi Glines

2018-05-04T10:00:00.000-04:00

Title: As She Fades
Author: Abbi Glines
Release Date: April 3, 2018
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 272
Source: ARC provided by Raincoast Books
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Overall: 4 STARS

SUMMARY

From the #1 New York Times- and USA Today-bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach and The Vincent Boys series, Abbi Glines delivers another smoldering, compulsively readable YA romance with As She Fades.

On the night of her high school graduation, Vale McKinley and her boyfriend Crawford are in a terrible car accident that leaves Crawford in a coma. They were supposed to spend the summer planning for college, for a bright future full of possibility. Together. Instead, Vale spends long days in the hospital, hoping Crawford will awaken.

Slate Allen, a college friend of Vale’s brother, has been visiting his dying uncle at the same hospital. When he and Vale meet, she can’t deny the flutter of an illicit attraction. She tries to ignore her feelings, but she's not immune to Slate's charm. Slowly, they form a cautious friendship.

Then, Crawford wakes up . . . with no memory of Vale or their relationship. Heartbroken, Vale opts to leave for college and move on with her life. Except now, she’s in Slate’s territory, and their story is about to take a very strange turn.

Glines’ millions of fans will adore As She Fades, a novel as romantic as it is full of twists and unexpected turns.

MY THOUGHTS
It's been quite a few years since I last read a book by Abbi Glines. When the NA genre was just starting to emerge, I liked reading her earlier Sea Breeze and Rosemary Beach novels. They were quick, easy contemporary reads with just the right amount of sexy romance and drama I was craving at the time. But after awhile, I grew really tired of reading her books. Nothing ever changed... The characters always seemed to talk the same and make similar terrible decisions, and the plot never really varied. It felt like I was reading the exact same book over and over again, just with a different name.

So I told myself to stop buying her books; I wasn't going to spend anymore hours of my time reading something that brought me frustration rather than happy contentment. But when I first heard about As She Fades at a Raincoast TeensRead Preview, the premise really intrigued me. A heroine spending her summer visiting the hospital after a terrible car accident left her boyfriend in a coma? It didn't sound like a Abbi Glines book! I couldn't resist adding it to my TBR and making a review request when the opportunity struck.

Although a part of me was wondering if I was going to be disappointed yet again, I'm relieved to say that As She Fades didn't let me down. As She Fades had that addictive quality I loved in Abbi Glines's earlier books, and most importantly, the plot and characters finally felt fresh. It was really nice to see Vale come from such a loving, supportive family who always had her back. Her parents and older brothers were so concerned for her, but they also always respected Vale's decisions and gave her the space she needed.

I didn't envy Vale's circumstances in As She Fades. One moment Vale has her life all planned out—spending sunny summer days with her football star boyfriend and then college together in the fall—and then it's all ripped away in an instant. Crawford is left in a coma, and the doctors are unsure when he'll wake up. As Vale visits the hospital daily, faithfully waiting for him to gain consciousness, she finds herself becoming friends with Slate Allen, her brother's handsome fraternity brother who's also frequently stopping by the hospital to see his dying uncle.

When fall arrives, Vale must decide if she's ready to set off for college without Crawford... or if she's willing to acknowledge her growing feelings for Slate. On campus, Slate has a reputation for being a major player, someone who'd never commit to a relationship, but Vale is the only one who's seen a sensitive, caring side to him that he doesn't share with anyone else. But there was also more to As She Fades than Vale trusting her heart to pick the right boy. She's entering college as a freshman, moving into her dorm, and trying to make new friends. It's nerve-wracking and a challenge on its own, and in the process, Vale is realizing that she's changing; she's already not the same girl she was in high school.

Abbi Glines's As She Fades was a book with a lot of emotion and heart, angsty romance, some tough growing up... and even a surprise twist! I definitely recommend adding As She Fades to your list of books to read this spring/summer.

Waiting on Wednesday - Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa

2018-05-02T12:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Release Date: October 2, 2018

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

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SUMMARY

Once Every Thousand Years...

Every millennium, one age ends and another age dawns...and whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers holds the power to call the great Kami Dragon from the sea and ask for any one wish. The time is near...and the missing pieces of the scroll will be sought throughout the land of Iwagoto. The holder of the first piece is a humble, unknown peasant girl with a dangerous secret.

Demons have burned the temple Yumeko was raised in to the ground, killing everyone within, including the master who trained her to both use and hide her kitsune shapeshifting powers. Yumeko escapes with the temple’s greatest treasure—one part of the ancient scroll. Fate thrusts her into the path of a mysterious samurai, Kage Tatsumi of the Shadow Clan. Yumeko knows he seeks what she has...and is under orders to kill anything and anyone who stands between him and the scroll.

A WISH WILL BE GRANTED AND A NEW AGE WILL DAWN.

I didn't realize my life was incomplete until I heard about Julie Kagawa's Shadow of the Fox! I mean, look at this amazing cover! And the book's description! It's a Japanese-inspired fantasy! Demons, kitsune shapeshifters and magical ancient scrolls! Sorry, not sorry, for the exclamations marks but I'm REALLY excited for this book!!!! Shadow of the Fox has just become one of my most anticipated books of the year!!!!

The Queen's Rising by Rebecca Ross

2018-04-30T10:00:00.000-04:00

Title: The Queen's Rising (The Queen's Rising #1)
Author: Rebecca Ross
Release Date: February 6, 2018
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 464
Source: Bought
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Overall: 2 STARS

SUMMARY

Grave Mercy meets Red Queen in this epic debut fantasy, inspired by Renaissance France, about an outcast who finds herself bound to a disgraced lord and entangled in his plot to overthrow the current king.

Brienna desires only two things: to master her passion and to be chosen by a patron. Growing up in Valenia at the renowned Magnalia House should have prepared her. While some are born with a talent for one of the five passions—art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge—Brienna struggled to find hers until she chose knowledge. However, Brienna’s greatest fear comes true—she is left without a patron.

Months later, her life takes an unexpected turn when a disgraced lord offers her patronage. Suspicious of his intent, she reluctantly accepts. But there is much more to his story, for there is a dangerous plot to overthrow the king of Maevana—the rival kingdom of Valenia—and restore the rightful queen, and her magic, to the throne. And others are involved—some closer to Brienna than she realizes.

And now, with war brewing, Brienna must choose which side she will remain loyal to: passion or blood.

MY THOUGHTS
I have a lot of mixed feelings about Rebecca Ross's The Queen's Rising... I really wanted to fall in love with this YA fantasy debut. It seemed to check all my boxes: a beautiful cover, a premise involving overthrowing a corrupt king, a heroine who doesn't quite fit in, and more. The passions aspect didn't interest me as much, but I thought, "Oh well, I'll just go with it and hope for the best."

It took me over a MONTH to get through the first third of the book. Because the information we learn about the two different kingdoms of Valenia and Maevana is narrated to us like a school lesson, it became so dry and boring to read. I mean, yes, Brienna's passion is knowledge and she has a mixed heritage, so she's naturally curious about Maevana, but surely there could have been a more interesting way to learn about this fantasy world. And then there was all the pomp and ceremony for Brienna to find a patron, which we all knew she was going to fail, so it was more pages to slog through.

By now, you're probably wondering why I kept reading The Queen's Rising if it was taking so long to finish, but it's hard for me to give a DNF. What if the book gets better? And it did! Well, sort of. Once Brienna accepts her patron and departs from Magnolia House, the pace really began to pick up and the adventure begins. Brienna uses the memories of a family ancestor to seek out the Stone of Eventide, the key to restoring the throne to the rightful queen of Maevana. I loved how Brienna was strong-willed and courageous, learning how to defend herself and volunteering to take on a dangerous mission that would help her Maevan friends.

But while the beginning of the book was too slow for me, the second half of the book was much too fast. The Queen's Rising could've easily been split into another novel to really take its time to build up the tension and plan out the rebellion against the cruel King Lannon. There was nothing surprising that happened. Everything literally went according to plan! I kept waiting for that moment when I'd be shocked by a twist, for someone to make a mistake, but everything went so smoothly! I was swept into the excitement and danger of the looming final battle while reading the book, but looking back now, I feel let down that nothing truly memorable happened.

(Oh, by the way, DO NOT read the family trees provided in the beginning of the book. It totally spoils the identity of Brienna's father... not that it's too hard to surmise later in the book anyways.)

As it stands, I'm really not sure why The Queen's Rising will be a trilogy because everything seemed to get wrapped up in this book... at least for Brienna's story. Maybe the sequel, The Queen's Resistance, will be told from another character's perspective?

Waiting on Wednesday - Defy the Worlds by Claudia Gray

2018-02-07T14:18:00.001-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Release Date: April 3, 2018

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

ADD TO GOODREADS

SUMMARY

This is the thrilling and romantic sequel to Defy the Stars from the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Lost Stars and Bloodline.

An outcast from her home -- Shunned after a trip through the galaxy with Abel, the most advanced cybernetic man ever created, Noemi Vidal dreams of traveling through the stars one more time. And when a deadly plague arrives on Genesis, Noemi gets her chance. As the only soldier to have ever left the planet, it will be up to her to save its people...if only she wasn't flying straight into a trap.

A fugitive from his fate -- On the run to avoid his depraved creator's clutches, Abel believes he's said good-bye to Noemi for the last time. After all, the entire universe stands between them...or so he thinks. When word reaches him of Noemi's capture by the very person he's trying to escape, Abel knows he must go to her, no matter the cost.

But capturing Noemi was only part of Burton Mansfield's master plan. In a race against time, Abel and Noemi will come together once more to discover a secret that could save the known worlds, or destroy them all.

In this thrilling and romantic sequel to Defy the Stars, bestselling author Claudia Gray asks us all to consider where--and with whom--we truly belong.

Last year, I absolutely loved reading Claudia Gray's Defy the Stars! It was not only thrilling and adventurous, but surprisingly, also very compassionate. It made you think about what it meant to be human; all the while, Noemi and Abel are racing against time to travel across the galaxy and save her planet. And as soon as I finished the book, I was left yearning for the sequel and hoping Noemi and Abel would reunite. I'm glad there's just a couple more months to wait for Defy the Worlds!

Release Day Blast & Giveaway! Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

2018-02-06T11:33:00.001-05:00

Happy book birthday to Chanel Cleeton's NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA!

If you love reading adult contemporary romances, you'll probably recognize Chanel Cleeton for her Wild Aces and Capitol Confessions trilogies. She's also the author of the NA thriller Between Shadows and the NA romance International School trilogy. Next Year in Havana is a change of pace in genre—it's historical. It's also a novel very dear to Chanel Cleeton's heart, inspired by her own family and Cuban roots.

I hope you add Next Year in Havana to your TBR!

Release Date: February 6, 2018

Publisher: Penguin/Berkley

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Canadian Retailers: Amazon.ca | Indigo

After the death of her beloved grandmother, a Cuban-American woman travels to Havana, where she discovers the roots of her identity--and unearths a family secret hidden since the revolution...

Havana, 1958. The daughter of a sugar baron, nineteen-year-old Elisa Perez is part of Cuba's high society, where she is largely sheltered from the country's growing political unrest--until she embarks on a clandestine affair with a passionate revolutionary...

Miami, 2017. Freelance writer Marisol Ferrera grew up hearing romantic stories of Cuba from her late grandmother Elisa, who was forced to flee with her family during the revolution. Elisa's last wish was for Marisol to scatter her ashes in the country of her birth.

Arriving in Havana, Marisol comes face-to-face with the contrast of Cuba's tropical, timeless beauty and its perilous political climate. When more family history comes to light and Marisol finds herself attracted to a man with secrets of his own, she'll need the lessons of her grandmother's past to help her understand the true meaning of courage.

Praise for Next Year in Havana

Chanel Cleeton's Next Year In Havana is a flat-out stunner of a book, at once a dual-timeline mystery, a passionate romance, and paean to the tragedy and beauty of war-torn Cuba. The story of sugar heiress Elisa, watching Cuba fall into revolution as Castro rises, is intertwined with the modern-day tale of Elisa's granddaughter Marisol as she returns to Cuba after Castro's death. Both women fall for fire-brand revolutionaries, but Cuba itself emerges as their true love-interest, threatening to break both women's hearts as Elisa and Marisol each grapple in their own way with what it is to be Cuban, what it is to be an exile, and how to love and live in a homeland riven by revolution. Simply wonderful!

- Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network

An evocative, passionate story of family loyalty and forbidden love that moves seamlessly between the past and present of Cuba’s turbulent history— how one young woman’s sacrifice becomes the key to her granddaughter’s future—how culture and spirit survive against all odds. Next Year in Havana kept me enthralled and savoring every word.

- Shelley Noble, New York Times bestselling author of Whisper Beach

In Next Year in Havana, Chanel Cleeton's prose is as beautiful as Cuba itself, and the story she weaves--of exile and loss, memory and myth, forbidden love and enduring friendship--is at once sweeping and beautifully intimate. This is a moving, heartfelt, and gorgeously realized story that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. - Jennifer Robson, USA Today bestselling author of Somewhere in France

About Chanel Cleeton

Originally from Florida, Chanel Cleeton grew up on stories of her family's exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution. Her passion for politics and history continued during her years spent studying in England where she earned a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master's degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. She loves to travel and has lived in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia.

AUTHOR LINKS:
Website: www.chanelcleeton.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorchanelcleeton
Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1545366192398558/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/chanelcleeton
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/chanelcleeton
Newsletter: www.chanelcleeton.com/mailing-list/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/chanelcleeton/

Learn more about Next Year in Havana including downloading the book club guide and more at: http://www.chanelcleeton.com/next-year-in-havana/

Add Beatriz Perez’s story WHEN WE LEFT CUBA on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38193131-when-we-left-cuba

Giveaway! To celebrate the long-awaited release of Next Year in Havana, Chanel Cleeton is giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Just enter the Rafflecopter form below... a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Hazel Wood Blog Tour! Review and Q&A with Melissa Albert

2018-01-23T14:00:00.000-05:00

Title: The Hazel Wood (The Hazel Wood #1)
Author: Melissa Albert
Release Date: January 30, 2018
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Pages: 368
Source: ARC provided by Raincoast Books
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Overall: 4 STARS

SUMMARY

Welcome to Melissa Albert's The Hazel Wood—the fiercely stunning contemporary fantasy with five starred reviews everyone is raving about:

“Thoroughly, creepily captivating.” —Kristin Cashore, author of Graceling and Jane, Unlimited
“Will be your next obsession.” —Stephanie Garber, author of Caraval
“Destined to be a classic.” —Kami Garcia, author of The Lovely Reckless
“Breathtaking.” —Seanan McGuire, author of Every Heart a Doorway
“Mesmerizing.” —Karen McManus, author of One of Us Is Lying
“One of the best books I’ve read in years.” —Jennifer Niven, author of All the Bright Places

Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent most of Alice’s life on the road, always a step ahead of the uncanny bad luck biting at their heels. But when Alice’s grandmother, the reclusive author of a cult-classic book of pitch-dark fairy tales, dies alone on her estate, the Hazel Wood, Alice learns how bad her luck can really get: Her mother is stolen away—by a figure who claims to come from the Hinterland, the cruel supernatural world where her grandmother's stories are set. Alice's only lead is the message her mother left behind: “Stay away from the Hazel Wood.”

Alice has long steered clear of her grandmother’s cultish fans. But now she has no choice but to ally with classmate Ellery Finch, a Hinterland superfan who may have his own reasons for wanting to help her. To retrieve her mother, Alice must venture first to the Hazel Wood, then into the world where her grandmother's tales began—and where she might find out how her own story went so wrong.

MY THOUGHTS
If you love fairy tales, then you will absolutely love Melissa Albert's debut YA novel The Hazel Wood. It's uncanny and magical, grim like a classic fairy tale, and completely leaves you spellbound as you're reading. I always seem to remember the happily ever after part of a fairy tale, forgetting just how cruel and dark they can truly be. The Hazel Wood was a reminder that fairy tales can be so bloody, strange, and outright creepy, giving you shudders down your spine.

Seventeen-year-old Alice has spent much of her life shuffling between new schools and homes, and driving on endless stretches of highway with her mother, constantly trying to outrun the bad luck that always seems to follow right behind them. There weren't many rules for Alice during her unconventional childhood, but she's always been forbidden to speak about her grandmother, Althea Proserpine, the reclusive author of a collection of fairy tales called Tales from the Hinterland.

While Alice has never met her grandmother, it hasn't stopped her from secretly trying to learn everything about her... but the details are very sparse. Tales from the Hinterland may have a devoted cult following, but the book itself is an elusive find. And even the location of the Hazel Wood, her grandmother's grand estate, is an alluring mystery. Alice has always imagined what her life would've been like living in the Hazel Wood, and wondered why her mother refuses to speak of the past.

But maybe it was for a very good reason... Alice's mother is suddenly stolen away, kidnapped by figures claiming to be from the Hinterland, the cruel world where all her grandmother's stories are set. It sounds crazy and impossible, but Alice would do anything to get her mother back, including reluctantly enlisting the help of her classmate Ellery Finch, an avid fan of Tales from the Hinterland.

Alice is used to being a loner, independent and distant to everyone except her mother, but even their relationship has its ups and downs. When you think moody and angry teen, Alice fits right in. I know she's frantically trying to find her mom and the Hinterland creeping into the edges of our world is scary, so sometimes she's mean and bitchy and lashes out at Finch, but really, that's just part of her personality. Alice is not always a very likeable heroine, but that was fine with me. She doesn't need to be perfect and always kind. I just felt bad Finch was stuck in a car with her for hours.

The Hazel Wood was a perfect blend of dreamy storytelling, classic fairy tale and contemporary setting. It was enchanting and grim, with magic and eeriness and tension pervading my heart as I read along. I didn't know what to expect, what surprises and twists awaited ahead to stumble upon. I wasn't even sure how much I could trust Alice's narration. This book was just so, so good. I completely understand why so many people have already fallen in love with The Hazel Wood. And the ending left me feeling a little empty and lost, like a part of the Hinterland had stolen a part of my soul too. I'm just glad to know there will be a sequel.

Q&A With Melissa Albert

What fairy tales would you recommend to fans of The Hazel Wood searching for similar creepy and dark tales, that leave you gasping and looking over your shoulder, which fall more on the lesser known side than a Disney version?

Definitely check out Helen Oyeyemi’s Boy, Snow, Bird, a brilliant feminist retelling of Snow White that is not just gorgeous and fascinating, but also a master class in showing empathy to even your cruelest characters. You cannot miss Catherynne Valente’s incredible Deathless, which starts out like a classic fairy tale—birds that turn into men, beautiful brides, strange occurrences that happen in threes—unfolds into a lush and intoxicating riff on the Russian tale of Koschei the Deathless, then jumps into a very real, very impoverished wartime Russia, nesting the real and the magical side by side in a way I find completely irresistible. You must also check out Katherine Arden’s The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower, more wonderful Russian-inspired fantasy, and the eerie, dreamlike short fiction of Kelly Link, which combines fairy-tale elements with horror with breathtaking modern weirdness. I want to take a guided tour of her writer brain.

Just Friends by Tiffany Pitcock

2017-08-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Just Friends
Author: Tiffany Pitcock
Release Date: August 1, 2017
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 320
Source: ARC provided by Raincoast Books
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Overall: 3 STARS

SUMMARY

A new spin on the classic smart-girl-and-bad-boy setup, this witty contemporary romance shows how easily a friendship – even one built on an elaborate lie – can become so much more.

Jenny meets Chance for the very first time when she is assigned as his partner in their Junior Oral Communications class. But after they rescue a doomed assignment with one clever lie, the whole school is suddenly convinced that Little-Miss-Really-Likes-Having-A’s and the most scandalous heartbreaker in school have been best friends forever. It’s amazing how quickly a lie can grow—especially when you really, really want it to be the truth.

With Jenny, Chance can live the normal life he’s always kind of wanted. And with Chance, Jenny can have the exciting teen experiences that TV shows and movies have always promised. Through it all, they hold on to the fact that they are “just friends.” But that might be the biggest lie of all.

Debut author Tiffany Pitcock delivers a spot-on depiction of first love and the high school rumor mill in Just Friends, chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads.

MY THOUGHTS
I'm a sucker for friends-to-lovers type romances, so when I heard about Tiffany Pitcock's Just Friends, I immediately knew I had to read it! Just Friends was a cute YA contemporary romance, perfect for some light summertime reading. Friendship. Teen angst. Confused feelings. Yes! Give me all the high school drama. Told in alternating point of views, you'll be rooting for Jenny and Chance to be more than just friends from the very beginning.

I loved the easy, effortless banter between Chance and Jenny, how they would make up creative fictional stories about their childhoods and finish each other's sentences. When Chance is with Jenny, he can pretend his life is normal and that his parent's marriage isn't falling apart at home. And for Jenny, hanging out with Chance is a way for her to break out of her usual comfort zone. She's a very sheltered teen, and attending parties and drinking alcohol are first time experiences for her.

Chance is described as a major player, a popular boy with a scandalous reputation, but I wasn't entirely convinced that was true. At least, the Chance we see around Jenny isn't like that at all. He's kind, trustworthy, and really nice, but I didn't imagine him as a big flirt around girls. And Chance's parents constantly argue at home, leaving him tense and uncomfortable, but it always seemed to happen off the pages after he'd already escaped to Jenny's house. We never really got a chance to meet his parents at all.

There is some miscommunication between Jenny and Chance, which I can find frustrating in a book, but in this case, I accepted it because it occurred naturally. It takes courage to put yourself out there, so I could understand why Jenny and Chance were so hesitant to take a risk and change the dynamics of their very close friendship and admit their true feelings. I could see why they felt the fear of rejection, that their feelings may not be reciprocated. (Also, it's a standard trope in these kind of books, so I wasn't too surprised it happened.)

I wasn't struck with all the feels for Just Friends, but it was a very enjoyable read that provided me with a few hours of entertainment! I felt invested in finding out how Jenny and Chance would eventually (finally!) be together. Tiffany Pitcock's debut novel is a very sweet romance story, with two very relatable, utterly ordinary teens experiencing the ups and downs of falling in love in high school.

Amid Stars and Darkness by Chani Lynn Feener

2017-07-13T10:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Amid Stars and Darkness (The Xenith Trilogy #1)
Author: Chani Lynn Feener
Release Date: July 18, 2017
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 368
Source: ARC provided by Raincoast Books
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Overall: 4 STARS

SUMMARY

A high-stakes space opera that combines science fiction and romance, this debut novel features plenty of action and a heroine whose unique brand of humor and tenacity make her easy to root for.

Delaney’s entire world is thrown into chaos after she is mistaken for Lissa Olena, an alien princess hiding out on earth in order to escape an arranged marriage. Kidnapped by the princess’ head bodyguard, Ruckus, and imprisoned in an alien palace, Delaney is forced to impersonate the princess until Olena can be found. If she fails, it will lead to an alien war and the eventual enslavement of the entire human race.

No pressure or anything.

Factor in Trystan—the princess’ terrifying betrothed who is intent on unraveling all her secrets—and her own growing feelings for Ruckus, and Delaney is in way over her head.

Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads, Chani Lynn Feener’s debut novel Amid Stars and Darkness is a thrilling space adventure complete with perfectly detailed alien planets and a super sexy secret romance.

MY THOUGHTS
When Delaney is mistaken for Lissa Olena, an alien princess from Xenith who'd been hiding on earth to avoid an arranged marriage, her life is completely thrown into disarray. Delaney has never been interested in aliens, even when the Vakar and Kints made their existence known to humanity three years ago. Taken off-world by Olena's head bodyguard, Ruckus, now Delaney is stuck on Xenith for the foreseeable future, forced to impersonate Olena until the errant princess can be found and fulfill her duty.

But not everyone supports the impending royal marriage uniting the Vakar and Kint people, which will seal a peace treaty and prevent war from recurring, also ensuring the safety of Earth. There's a conspiracy at work to kill the princess before she can wed Zane Trystan, the prince of the Kint. Delaney must survive assassination attempts, tread carefully around an unwanted betrothed, and learn an entirely different culture without giving herself away as a normal human.

I loved Delaney's tenacity, bravery, and sensibility. She had her moment to cry and despair about being held on Xenith against her will, and then she found the courage to pull herself together, realizing the importance of pretending to be Olena. And if she had to be an alien princess, then she'd do it on her own terms. She could never act really bratty and spoiled like the true Olena. I really liked that she made the best of the situation, and didn't go running off into danger like some heroines might have done.

Ruckus was a loyal and trustworthy bodyguard, exactly the kind of person Delaney needed by her side when she was all alone on an unfamiliar world. He became her closest friend and confidante, sharing her fears and secrets to him the more time passed in the palace. It's easy to see why Delaney slowly found herself falling for Ruckus, even though he'd mistakenly brought her to Xenith in the first place. Yet Ruckus didn't inspire the same passion in me, probably because I was too busy shipping Delaney and Trystan together instead.

I'm definitely Team Trystan. Sorry, Ruckus. I just found myself drawn to Trystan immediately. His cold demeanor and commanding presence inspired fear, yet his actions never implied he was a cruel person. Early on, Ruckus warns Delaney to keep her distance from Trystan, that the Kints would love to take over Earth, but I'm still not ready to blindly trust that opinion. After all, the Vakar and Kints have never gotten along, so Ruckus's words could've been prejudiced. Trystan always protected Delaney when it counted, and was naturally curious (and suspicious) about the fiancee he was being forced to wed too.

Chani Lynn Feener's Amid Stars and Darkness is a fun, thrilling light science fiction romance! It was such an entertaining and addictive read, more than satisfying all my expectations. I only wish the book went into greater detail about the differences between the Vakar and the Kints, rather than just saying the Kints were essentially the bad guys. The world-building was a little vague in that area, but that's something that can be expanded upon in the sequel.

And I definitely need the next book! RIGHT NOW. I wasn't ready for Amid Stars and Darkness to come to an end, especially not after that epilogue left us hanging there! I absolutely can't wait to find out what happens next. I'm hoping there's even more danger and intrigue and alien drama. And more Trystan, of course!

Missing by Kelley Armstrong

2017-06-30T10:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Missing
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Release Date: April 18, 2017
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Pages: 384
Source: ARC provided by Penguin Random House Canada
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Overall: 4 STARS

SUMMARY

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong comes a new romantic thriller that will leave fans trembling for more.

The only thing Winter Crane likes about Reeve's End is that soon she'll leave it. Like her best friend did. Like her sister did. Like most of the teens born in town have done. There's nothing for them there but abandoned mines and empty futures. They're better off taking a chance elsewhere.

The only thing Winter will miss is the woods. Her only refuge. At least it was. Until the day she found Lennon left for dead, bleeding in a tree.

But now Lennon is gone too. And he has Winter questioning what she once thought was true. What if nobody left at all? What if they're all missing?

MY THOUGHTS
Kelley Armstrong's latest YA thriller is an intense, chilling read that kept me guessing until the very end. But first, I should probably preface this review by saying that Missing does come with some trigger warnings. There is cruelty towards animals, a flashback to a suicide, and domestic violence experienced. While I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Missing for anyone looking for a gripping summer mystery/thriller, this book is definitely intended for a more mature YA audience.

Some of the gruesome descriptions (especially of the feral dogs left for dead) made myself even uncomfortable at times, even though it did ramp up the terror and emphasize the horror of the murderer's actions. Missing was fast-paced and addictive, always leaving me feeling tense and anxious to discover what would happen next. The culprit was playing a sick game with Winter and Jude, taunting them over and over again, and I just had to know how they would finally be caught.

Winter Crane dreams of leaving the tiny town of Reeve's End as soon as she graduates. Her best friend Edie already left a few months ago, and now Winter is on her own, focused on maintaining her high grades and earning a scholarship. She spends much of her time hunting in the woods and avoiding her drunk father's fists at home in their worn down trailer. She's a tough girl, capable of fending for herself when most kids have the luxury of caring parents or food in their fridge.

But Winter's life is soon in danger when she finds a young man named Lennon unconscious and bleeding in the woods. He had come to town to find Edie, who thought she was being followed and abruptly ended their phone call when she was on her way back to Reeve's End. And then Lennon is soon gone too, recklessly disappearing on his own to search for Edie. Winter begins to question if the other kids who left town ever really left for the city and better prospects. What if they're actually missing? Winter is all the more worried because her older sister left for college last year and hasn't been in touch since then...

I'm very curious to find out what kind of YA book Kelley Armstrong will write next! Return to paranormal? More fantasy? Another thriller/mystery in the works? The genre doesn't really matter—if Kelley Armstrong writes it, I'll read it!

Waiting on Wednesday - A Poison Dark and Drowning by Jessica Cluess

2017-06-28T12:26:00.000-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Release Date: September 19, 2017

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

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SUMMARY

“Devastatingly magical and monstrously romantic. I can’t decide if this book stole my heart or ripped it out of my chest.” —Stephanie Garber, author of Caraval

The magicians want her to lead.
The sorcerers want her to lie.
The demons want her blood.
Henrietta wants to save the one she loves.
But will his dark magic be her undoing?

In this seductive and explosive second book in the Kingdom on Fire series, Jessica Cluess delivers her signature mix of magic, passion, and teen warriors fighting for survival. Hand to fans of Victoria Aveyard, Sarah J. Maas, and Kiersten White.

Henrietta doesn’t need a prophecy to know that she’s in danger. She came to London to be named the chosen one, the first female sorcerer in centuries, the one who would defeat the Ancients. Instead, she discovered a city ruled by secrets. And the biggest secret of all: Henrietta is not the chosen one.

Still, she must play the role in order to keep herself and Rook, her best friend and childhood love, safe. But can she truly save him? The poison in Rook’s system is transforming him into something monstrous as he begins to master dark powers of his own. So when Henrietta finds a clue to the Ancients’ past that could turn the tide of the war, she persuades Blackwood, the mysterious Earl of Sorrow-Fell, to travel up the coast to seek out strange new weapons. And Magnus, the brave, reckless flirt who wants to win back her favor, is assigned to their mission. Together, they will face monsters, meet powerful new allies, and uncover the most devastating weapon of all: the truth.

After absolutely falling in love with Jessica Cluess's A Shadow Bright and Burning last year, I've been highly anticipating the next installment in the Kingdom of Fire series, A Poison Dark and Drowning. Alternate Victorian London. Exhilarating magic. Feuding sorcerers and magicians. Deadly clashes against the terrifying Ancients. A heroine up for a challenge. I can't wait to find out what's in store for Henrietta next in A Poison Dark and Drowning as she continues to train and hone her powerful magic in the war against the Ancients. And I need more Blackwood! I totally ship him and Henrietta together.

Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves

2017-06-26T10:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Blood Rose Rebellion (Blood Rose Rebellion #1)
Author: Rosalyn Eves
Release Date: March 28, 2017
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 416
Source: Bought
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Overall: 1 STAR

SUMMARY

The thrilling first book in a YA fantasy trilogy for fans of Red Queen. In a world where social prestige derives from a trifecta of blood, money, and magic, one girl has the ability to break the spell that holds the social order in place.

Sixteen-year-old Anna Arden is barred from society by a defect of blood. Though her family is part of the Luminate, powerful users of magic, she is Barren, unable to perform the simplest spells. Anna would do anything to belong. But her fate takes another course when, after inadvertently breaking her sister’s debutante spell—an important chance for a highborn young woman to show her prowess with magic—Anna finds herself exiled to her family’s once powerful but now crumbling native Hungary.

Her life might well be over.

In Hungary, Anna discovers that nothing is quite as it seems. Not the people around her, from her aloof cousin Noémi to the fierce and handsome Romani Gábor. Not the society she’s known all her life, for discontent with the Luminate is sweeping the land. And not her lack of magic. Isolated from the only world she cares about, Anna still can’t seem to stop herself from breaking spells.

As rebellion spreads across the region, Anna’s unique ability becomes the catalyst everyone is seeking. In the company of nobles, revolutionaries, and Romani, Anna must choose: deny her unique power and cling to the life she’s always wanted, or embrace her ability and change that world forever.

MY THOUGHTS
Ever since I first heard about Rosalyn Eves's debut Blood Rose Rebellion, I've been so excited to read it. Alternate historical Hungary, dazzling magic, and a girl leading a revolution? I definitely needed this book in my hands. But to my great disappointment, everything just started to go downhill once I'd read a third of the book. My connection to the characters and storyline simply began to wither, and I struggled to stay engaged and even finish Blood Rose Rebellion.

I didn't believe in the romance. I didn't believe in the friendships formed. And despite the large passages of information dropping, the magic system of the Luminate confused me, or maybe it was just its lack of consistency. It seemed like, depending on the convenience for the plot, magic would or would not go haywire around Anna. Need to ruin her sister's debutante ball? Spell broken! Need to cross a large distance with a portal? Oh, look at that, the spell works just fine.

Anna really annoyed me. I'm cursed! Next chapter: No, I'm powerful and strong! A few chapters later: No, I'm weak! And then later: I'll break the binding! No, I won't break the binding! UGH. Girl, make up your mind! She was just so frustrating and failed to keep her word. Anna only seemed to think about the consequences when the damage was already done, so I didn't feel sympathetic for her at all. And why was everyone so convinced Anna could break the Binding, which controls the use of magic in her world? Talk about an ambitious plan. She's always believed she was Barren and has received zero training. Why didn't she even practice breaking smaller spells first, which would have been a lot more practical!? It didn't make sense!

And what purpose did the Romani boy, Gábor, serve in the story? Well, Anna uses him to teach her the Romani understanding of magic, a different style compared to the Luminate's elitist views. I don't even know why Gábor is teaching forbidden knowledge to an outsider girl he barely knows, but whatever. I thought he was a love interest, but then his character kind of faded into the background. Actually, that happened to most of the side characters in this book. They showed up when it was convenient, and then disappeared when they weren't needed. It made it hard to feel a sense of connection to anyone.

Blood Rose Rebellion had so much potential! I wish I could include more positive aspects (I did really enjoy the rich historical detail and Hungarian setting), but after anticipating the book for so long, I've just been hit hard with bitter disappointment that I didn't fall in love with it.

These Ruthless Deeds by Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas

2017-06-23T10:00:00.000-04:00

Title: These Ruthless Deeds (These Vicious Masks #2)
Author: Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas
Release Date: March 14, 2017
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 320
Source: Bought
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Overall: 4 STARS

SUMMARY

Everyone’s favorite sarcastic Victorian healer is back in the sequel to These Vicious Masks, and this time she’s struggling with both a sinister secret society and an increasingly tangled love life...

England, 1883. Recovering from a devastating loss, Evelyn has become determined to use her powers to save other gifted people from those who would study and oppress them. But when her rescue of a young telekinetic girl goes terribly wrong, Evelyn finds herself involved with a secret society devoted to recruiting and protecting people like Evelyn and her friends.

Like magic, Evelyn’s problems start to disappear. Her reputation is repaired, her friends are provided for, and her parents are thrilled at all her new suitors. She’s even been reunited with the dashing Mr. Kent and the reclusive Mr. Braddock (who is much less brooding now that the society is helping him to control his dangerous power). Yet, somehow Evelyn can’t help fearing that there is something sinister going on…

Don’t miss These Ruthless Deeds, Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas’ gripping, action-filled sequel to These Vicious Masks, chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads.

MY THOUGHTS
In this thrilling sequel to These Vicious Masks, Evelyn is still reeling from the sudden loss of her sister and finds herself recruited by the Society of Aberrations, an organization dedicated to helping people with extraordinary powers. Evelyn is wary of joining the Society; after all, they funded Dr. Beck's research, which led to Rose being kidnapped and everything going so terribly wrong. But the Society insists they only want to help Evelyn and her friends, and more importantly, they can help Mr. Braddock suppress his deadly abilities.

As Evelyn reluctantly begins to heal people for the Society, she finds her reputation restored and her parent's debts erased. Other than her mother's awful attempts at matchmaking, encouraging a courtship with a very boring earl, Evie's life has settled once again. Her friends are learning to hone their abilities and Sebastian is finally getting the help he needs. Evie should be happy and content, yet why can't she shake the feeling that something is still not right? That the Society is still keeping dark secrets?

Poor brooding Mr. Braddock, so alone and terrified of his powerful ability to kill someone with his touch. He keeps everyone at a distance, though only Evie can touch him without fear. I know Evie greatly cares for Sebastian, but I've been infected with second male lead syndrome. Dear Mr. Kent, why do I love you so? I know you probably won't be with Evie in the end, but I hope another girl comes along who fully appreciates your very charming self. You're just so loyal and you make me laugh with your ridiculous remarks. Honestly, this series wouldn't be half as fun without Mr. Kent.

Evie can be quick to jump to conclusions, but even though I rolled my eyes at some of her impulsive actions, I know her heart is in the right place. There is definitely more action, danger and intrigue to be found in These Ruthless Deeds. Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas raise the stakes ever higher, leading to a shocking ending that left me reeling! It was thrilling and heartbreaking and dramatic and oh my goodness, I need book three right now, please.

Cover Reveal! The Sound of Light by Claire Wallis

2017-06-19T12:13:00.000-04:00

I'm so thrilled to be helping reveal the cover for Claire Wallis's new standalone book The Sound of Light! If you're looking for a romance that's a bit unconventional, and with a dash of suspense, you'll want to add The Sound of Light to your TBR pile right now!

And the full cover for the print version:

Release Date: July 17, 2017

Publisher: Claire Wallis

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*Print and Nook versions will be available on July 17th*

SUMMARY

My littlest girl has always been a bit peculiar. It was nothing I could ever put a finger on, but I always knew there was something inside her that made her a different kind of special. A deeper kind.

K'acy's got a light around her, one that'll just about knock you over, especially if you don't see her coming. She's got music in her soul, too. Deep, resonating music that echoes and hums, just like the notes that come from the bass guitar she's had attached to her hip since the day she turned thirteen years old.

She's got a hell of a secret, yes, but she does what she's got to do to make it one worth having. She takes care of people. She changes their stories. I spent my life telling both of my girls that you always gotta do what's right, even when it hurts, and it makes me proud to know she was listening.

I saw the way she looked at that boy on the day they met, and I knew right then that things were going to change. Two different people from two different worlds is nothing but a recipe for heartbreak, and when the lies pile higher and higher, it can change a person into something they're not.

It took me dying all those years ago to finally figure out just exactly how special my K'acy really is, and even though I'm not with her anymore, I don't want that boy and his family to change her. I want her to keep doing what's right, even when it hurts.

Because that's who she is inside. That's her deeper kind of special.

**This stand-alone novel from Claire Wallis is intended for readers age 17 and up.**

About Claire Wallis:
Claire Wallis has penned hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles over the last ten years, with science playing the lead role in almost all of them. Now, in addition to writing about rocks, plants, insects, and microbes, Claire also puts human characters in the lead. She is the author of three novels, PUSH, PULL, and THE SOUND OF LIGHT.

She lives in Pennsylvania with her amazingly awesome husband and son.

AUTHOR LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Don't miss Claire Wallis's previous NA novels...

Hunted by Meagan Spooner

2017-04-11T10:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Hunted
Author: Meagan Spooner
Release Date: March 14, 2017
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 384
Source: Bought
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Overall: 3 STARS

SUMMARY

New York Times bestselling author Meagan Spooner spins a thoroughly thrilling Beauty and the Beast story for the modern age, expertly woven with spellbinding romance, intrigue, and suspense that readers won’t soon be able to forget.

Beauty knows the Beast's forest in her bones—and in her blood. After all, her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering its secrets. So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters out of their comfortable home among the aristocracy and back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved. Out in the wilderness, there’s no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronessas…or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman. But Yeva’s father’s misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one prey: the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance. The Beast.

Deaf to her sisters’ protests, Yeva hunts this strange creature back into his own territory—a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of magical creatures that Yeva’s only heard about in fairy tales. A world that can bring her ruin, or salvation. Who will survive: the Beauty, or the Beast?

MY THOUGHTS
Ever since I first heard that Meagan Spooner's Hunted was a "Beauty and the Beast" retelling, I've been so excited to read it. I love it when an author breathes new life into a beloved fairy tale, making it fresh and unique, but still familiar at its core. Hunted actually blends "Beauty and the Beast" with a Russian fairy tale called "Tsarevich Ivan, the Firebird and the Gray Wolf", one I had no prior knowledge of reading, which made me all the more intrigued about this retelling.

When Yeva's merchant father loses their entire fortune, her family moves to his old, abandoned hunted lodge far on the outskirts of town. The small lodge is a far cry from their privileged life in genteel society, but Yeva is secretly relieved. She's never been satisfied in town, always feeling a deep, restless yearning in her heart for the forest her father taught his young Beauty to hunt in as a child. But after her father disappears in the woods one day, Yeva sets out to find him, leading her to a ruined castle and a terrifying creature simply called the Beast.

For all its lovely prose and gorgeous descriptions of the wintry landscape and the ruined castle that lies in the Beast's territory, the plot for Hunted seemed to drag for me. The pacing was slow and not much seemed to really happen, despite the long length of the book. When Yeva wasn't hunting or training with the Beast for a purpose he couldn't say, her feelings were torn between her desire for vengeance or her tentative friendship with the mysterious Beast. I guess you could call it a slow-burn romance, but I say that very loosely. Yeva's not exactly one for romantic notions. I was actually much more curious about what would break the enchantment cursed upon the Beast, and how he lost his humanity in the first place.

I just wished there was more conflict or drama in the story. Yeva's two eldest sisters are genuinely nice and caring, rather than being shallow and selfish like in the fairy tale. And even Yeva's potential suitor is actually a good match for her, someone who is considerate, accepts her love of hunting, and would provide a good home for her. He was no awful Gaston, that's for sure. But with everyone being so nice, it was actually kind of, well, boring. And the ending! It was unexpectedly anti-climatic. The pacing finally began to pick up with frenetic urgency for Yeva to return to the Beast and help him... and then it was all over within a few pages. I'm not even sure I fully understood what happened.

Honestly, I liked Meagan Spooner's Hunted, but I was still left feeling rather disappointed in this YA fairy tale retelling. The flowing style of writing may have been perfect for weaving together the fairy tale aspects, but with such little conflict for a fantasy, the book simply didn't leave a deep impression on me.

Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer

2017-04-03T10:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Letters to the Lost
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Release Date: April 4, 2017
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Pages: 400
Source: ARC provided by Raincoast Books
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Overall: 4 STARS

SUMMARY

Juliet Young always writes letters to her mother, a world-traveling photojournalist. Even after her mother's death, she leaves letters at her grave. It's the only way Juliet can cope.

Declan Murphy isn't the sort of guy you want to cross. In the midst of his court-ordered community service at the local cemetery, he's trying to escape the demons of his past.

When Declan reads a haunting letter left beside a grave, he can't resist writing back. Soon, he's opening up to a perfect stranger, and their connection is immediate. But neither Declan nor Juliet knows that they're not actually strangers. When life at school interferes with their secret life of letters, sparks will fly as Juliet and Declan discover truths that might tear them apart.

MY THOUGHTS
Juliet Young's mother was a renowned photojournalist who traveled the world documenting countries torn apart by war. Since she was more often thousands of miles away on assignment than not, Juliet got in the habit of exchanging letters with her mom from a young age. And now that her mother is gone, killed in a hit-and-run accident on the way home from the airport months ago, Juliet still continues to write her letters and leave them at her grave.

Declan Murphy is doing his court-ordered community service at the local cemetery when he stumbles upon a letter beside a grave. He immediately connects to the haunting words and leaves a reply. At first, Juliet is stunned and angry that someone could read something so personal, and writes back in turn. But soon enough, Juliet and Declan are exchanging letters and emails daily, sharing their fears and secrets and hopes as their connection deepens. Anonymity is both freeing and safe, allowing them to share their most raw thoughts and feelings.

But neither Juliet nor Declan are aware they're not actually strangers in real life, that their paths have already crossed in school. Juliet is trusted by her teachers, the good girl going through a tough time. Declan is the troubled bad boy with a reputation, who most have written-off as not going far in life. Juliet feels like nobody understands the depth of her grief, that everyone just wants her to move on. And Declan feels like the world is against him, and it makes him lash out in defense. They're both struggling and trying to cope with their grief, lost in self-recrimination and wishing they could change the past.

Sometimes I just really wanted to reach into the pages and give both Juliet and Declan a comforting hug. They each have supportive best friends—Rowan and Rev—who pull them from their melancholy, yet they still feel utterly alone. They don't know how to ask for the help or second chances they desperately need, so they make mistakes and push others away. You just know that Declan and Juliet need to come to terms with everything the hard way as they learn for themselves that sometimes it's the ones we love the most who let us down and cause the most hurt.

Heartfelt and poignant, Brigid Kemmerer's Letters to the Lost is a realistic approach to the different ways we experience grief, loss, and healing. I loved the positive and influential roles portrayed by Declan and Juliet's teachers, who were patient and helped their students by recognizing their worth. And even Frank, Declan's "supervisor" at the cemetary, for looking beyond appearances. I wouldn't consider Letters to the Lost a romantic story, yet there is still much friendship and love to be found. I would absolutely recommend the book to fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Sarah Dessen and Katie McGarry in a heartbeat.