Review: Seasons of the Storm

Title: Seasons of the Storm

Author: Elle Cosimano

Page Count: 480pgs

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

One cold, crisp night, Jack Sommers was faced with a choice—live forever according

to the ancient, magical rules of Gaia, or die.

Jack chose to live, and in exchange, he became a Winter—an immortal physical embodiment

of the season on Earth. Every year, he must hunt the Season who comes before him.

Summer kills Spring.

Autumn kills Summer.

Winter kills Autumn.

And Spring kills Winter.

Thoughts:

I`m a fan of the term show me don`t tell me. The romance here is all tell and no

show sadly. I wanted a Jack Frost type story or so I thought unfortunately this

one just didn't fit the bill.

I did enjoy the lore of the seasons and how the second half of the story was

better paced. The hunt itself was a little odd but I could see how it was

needed to fit into the storyline.

Overall I'm hopeful for the potential of another book but I won't be making

it a priority. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: A Song of Wraiths and Ruin

Title: A Song of Wraiths and Ruin

Author: Roseanne A. Brown

Page Count: 480

Rating:3.5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

For Malik, the Solstasia festival is a chance to escape his war-stricken home and

start a new life with his sisters in the prosperous desert city of Ziran. But when a

vengeful spirit abducts his younger sister, Nadia, as payment to enter the city,

Malik strikes a fatal deal - kill Karina, Crown Princess of Ziran, for

Nadia’s freedom.

But Karina has deadly aspirations of her own

Thoughts:

Solstasia is a festival I would like to attend to watch..not participate in. Malik has

an old soul for such a young boy. His life hasn't always been the easiest and now

it's up to him to save his youngest sister and keep his family together. Karina has

lost an awful lot prior to the book starting as well as the first five chapters. Now it's

her time to show the world how deadly she truly is.

The pacing had a bit of info dumping in the beginning but as with fantasies the

information was needed. I enjoyed the Aladdin type vibe Karina created with the

marriage gamble. There is a fair amount of character growth but the plot had a

predictable theme.

I did like seeing characters that suffer with migraines and anxiety. It helped to

see parts of me in the story even if I`m not the intended audience. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Between Burning Worlds

Title: Between Burning Worlds

Author: Jessica Brody & Joanna Rendell

Page Count: 688

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

The planet Laterre is in turmoil. A new militant revolutionary group has emerged calling

themselves “The Red Scar” and claiming responsibility for a spate of recent bombings.

The infamous rebels known as the Vangarde believe that in order to bring about a peaceful

revolution, their charismatic leader, Citizen Rousseau must be freed from prison right away.

Otherwise the bloodshed will only escalate.

Thoughts:

Thank you Netgalley for a review copy, this in no way influences my opinion of this novel.

( I already preordered the audiobook and physical of it prior to being approved)

Tons of information dumping in the start which happened in Sky Without Stars. After that info the

story picks up where it left off. Well paced and full of drama, leaves you satisfied yet wanting more.

There better be a book three.

I enjoyed the internal thoughts each character had and it truly kept the story flowing. There is so

much more drama and the stakes are higher than before. Marcellus is still infuriating in his

weakness and I found myself disappointed in him and his choices. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2019

Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2019

Kenz: The Blood Spell by CJ Redwine

         A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

         Rayne and Delilah’s Midnite Matinee by Jeff Zentner

         Deviant by Jay Kristoff

         King of Fools by Amanda Foody

       

        

Ashley: King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

            The Devouring Grey by Christine Lynn Herman

            We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Fazial

            Circle of Shadows by Evelyn Skye

            Ransacker by Emmy Laybourne

            Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

Michaela:

            The Everlasting Rose by Dhonielle Clayton

            Finale by Stephanie Garber

Rayne and Dehlilah’s Midnite Matinee by Jeff Zentner

Ransacker by Emmy Laybourne

Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard

The Exhalted by Kaitlyn Sage Patterson

Top Ten Tuesday: Books that Lived up to Hype

Popular Books that Lived Up to the Hype

Ashley

       Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adyeta

       Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kauffman

       Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Michaela

The Diminshed by Kaitlyn Sage Patterson

Pacifica by Kirsten Simmons

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

Mackenzie

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Legendary by Stephanie Garber  

What books lived up to the hype for you?

Top Ten Tuesday: Sensory Reading Memories

Books with Sensory Reading Memories (where I was, what time of year it was, who I was with, what I was eating, etc.) (Submitted by Jessica @ A Cocoon of Books)

Ashley

       Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn

       My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

       Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling

       The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

Michaela

Escaping From Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco

Lost Crow Consipracy by Rosalyn Eves

The Traitor Prince by C.J. Redwine

Mackenzie

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

The Wish Granter by C.J. Redwine

Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

Top Ten Tuesday: Summer TBR

This week we opted for the Summer TBR portion.

Books to Read By the Pool/At the Beach (This can also serve as your Summer TBR)

Ashley

       Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

       The Knowing by Shannon Cameron

       The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

       Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalo

       Ever the Brave by Erin Summerhill

       Ensnared by AG Howard

       

Michaela

Seafire by Natalie C. Parker

The Wicked Deep- Shea Ernshaw

Traitor to the Throne/ Hero at the Fall by Alwyn Hamilton

Queens of Fennbirn by Kendare Blake

Honor Among Theives- Rachel Caine

Mackenzie

The Spy with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke

Muse of Nightmares  by Laini Taylor

Invictus by Ryan Graudin

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

North of Happy by Adi Alsaid

The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Awaken the Travel Bug In Us

This weeks topic is pretty amazing.

Books That Awaken the Travel Bug In Me

Ashley:

I love to travel (see old instagram account @bookz4nerdz)

Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

The Precious Stones Trilogy by Kerstin Gier

Michaela:

North Of Happy - Adi Alsaid

The Gentlemens guide to Vice and Virtue- Mackenzi Lee

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Beserker by Emmy Laybourne

Mackenzie:

I’ve always liked traveling.

The Serpent King by Jeff Zetner

The Gold Seer Trilogy by Rae Carson

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Character Names

Best Character Names

Ashley:

Lorelai- CJ Redwine`s The Shadow Queen

Inej- Leigh Bardugo`s Six of Crows

Elisa- Rae Carson`s Girl of Fire and Thorns

Karou- Laini Taylor`s Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Michaela: Britta and Finn-Erin Summerill’s Ever the Hunted

& Ever the Brave

Magnus- Morgan Rhodes’s falling Kingdoms

Sadja- C.J. Redwine’s The Traitor Prince

Percy and Felicity- Mackenzi Lee’s The Gentleman’s Guide

to Vice and Virtue

Mackenzie:

Amani- Alwyn Hamilton’s Rebel of the Sands Trilogy

Amarathine(Mare)- Audrey Coulthurst’s Of Fire and Stars

Top Ten Tuesday: I`s Slay a Lion to Get Early

Books I’d Slay a Lion to Get Early

Ashley:

Whisper of The Tide by Sarah Tolscer- 5/29

Hullmetal Girls by Emily Skurtskie- 7/17

The Spy with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke- 10/2

Michaela: Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalo- 9/18  

A Sorrow Fierce and Falling 10/16

The Blood Spell by C.J. Redwine - 2/12/2019

Mackenzie: I would team up with my sisters to slay

the lion for some of the books they have picked! Now to

pick some of my own.

Rayne and Delilah’s Midnite Matinae by Jeff Zetner 2019

(TBH ANYTHING by Jeff)

Rebel of the Sands Triology + Tales from Sand and Sea Novella

by Alwyn Hamilton

Top Ten Tuesday: Frequently Used Words

April 24: Frequently Used Words In [Insert Genre/Age Group] Titles

Ashley:This was an interesting topic. I`ve noticed over the years certain

trends in titles but I`ve never really based a book off of title alone.

Daughter of…

Something with Fire…

Something with Roses..

Girl of...

Michaela:

Something with Blood

The words Reign and Rebel

Mackenzie: I’ve noticed that a lot of the books I have read lately that

some of the titles have words in common.

Traitor(s)

Something with Fire or Burning

Thieves

Rebel

Top Ten Tuesday: TBR

April 17: Freebie (TBR)

Ashley: My TBR is ever growing. There are few back listed titles that

I really want to get to before the year is over. A few of them are series

enders from years ago.

Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor

Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier

Rise of Fire by Sophie Jordan

Ensnared by A.G. Howard

The Girl at The Center of the World by Austin Aslan

Michaela: The TBR is ever growing as more books are released. I haven’t

accomplished as much reading as I want to this year but the year isn't

even close to being over yet.

Current TBR:

Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston

Seige and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Lost Crow Conspiracy by Rosalyn Eves

Mackenzie: I don’t  think that my TBR list will ever stop growing. There quite

a few books that I’ve wanted to read for a while now and haven’t gotten to yet

because of new releases from some of my favorite authors, or just not enough

time in the year. I unfortunately am ill equipped to read in the car for long

periods of time unlike both Ashley and Michaela so I don’t usually get as many

books read as they do.

Currently on my TBR that I plan on reading this year are:

The Girl with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke

Strange the Dreamer- Laini Taylor

The Grisha Trilogy and Six of Crows Duology- Leigh Bardugo