Meet the Author - Veronica Roth

 

Hello, Reader Fans! I have a quick announcement!

VRONICA ROTH is coming to OHIO USA to promote her new book, Carve the Mark!

She will be in CINCINNATI

JANUARY 19, 2017

7 PM - 9 PM

Location: Joseph-Beth Cincinnati

If you live in Ohio and you want to meet the author of Divergent,  this is your chance.

The original news post can be found on the Epic Reads website. Just click the link for more details.

I am posting the link to the event page on Facebook which is also provided by Epic Reads. Facebook event - Carve the Mark

 

MARK your calendars folks!

No pun intended :))  

 

 

On-Sale Date: January 17 2017

 

Book synopsis - Carve the Mark

 

On a planet where violence and vengeance rule, in a galaxy where some are favored by fate, everyone develops a currentgift, a unique power meant to shape the future. While most benefit from their currentgifts, Akos and Cyra do not—their gifts make them vulnerable to others’ control. Can they reclaim their gifts, their fates, and their lives, and reset the balance of power in this world?

Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra’s currentgift gives her pain and power—something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother’s hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.

Akos is from the peace-loving nation of Thuvhe, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Though protected by his unusual currentgift, once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get his brother out alive—no matter what the cost. When Akos is thrust into Cyra’s world, the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. They must decide to help each other to survive—or to destroy one another.  

 

 



Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson

DNF Zone O_o

Book synopsis

The Bluebeard fairy tale retold. . . .
When seventeen-year-old Sophia Petheram’s beloved father dies, she receives an unexpected letter. An invitation—on fine ivory paper, in bold black handwriting—from the mysterious Monsieur Bernard de Cressac, her godfather. With no money and fewer options, Sophie accepts, leaving her humble childhood home for the astonishingly lavish Wyndriven Abbey, in the heart of Mississippi. Sophie has always longed for a comfortable life, and she finds herself both attracted to and shocked by the charm and easy manners of her overgenerous guardian. But as she begins to piece together the mystery of his past, it’s as if, thread by thread, a silken net is tightening around her. And as she gathers stories and catches whispers of his former wives—all with hair as red as her own—in the forgotten corners of the abbey, Sophie knows she’s trapped in the passion and danger of de Cressac’s intoxicating world. Glowing strands of romance, mystery, and suspense are woven into this breathtaking debut—a thrilling retelling of the “Bluebeard” fairy tale. Strands of Bronze and Gold

My opinion

1.5/5 starts according to Goodreads

DNF
I start reading the book and listening the audiobook in the same time. I got bored with the narrative. I start reading some reviews (good and bad) about it and it lead to me browsing through the book. I know it is not a good thing... I am not sorry for doing that. :))
The story was not able to captivate my attention. It dragged and I was not in mood for that. I was attracted to the book by its cover and by the fact that it was a fairy tale retelling. I was not able to connect with the heroine either.
I am probably not going to pick it up again in the future even though I blame my mood for not giving this book a shot. :')
If you like fairy tales retellings, go for it! Although, the beginning is slow and a turnoff.

Original Review at: Strands of Bronze and Gold - Goodreads Review

 

The following comment is from when I was reading the book:

 

"a little annoyed by this book; the story was not for me; frustrated by the main character acting like a naïve fan-girl over the guy(she might change by the end of the book), and like a damsel in distress(sad cause she had other good qualities).I was not the mood for this book and I had other expectations when I started it. I read just 11 chapters in case I want to turn back to it someday."

Genre: YA, Retellings, Fairy Tales, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Romance
Language: I do not know (IDK)
Sexual content: IDK
Violence: IDK
Drugs/Alcohol: IDK

Alienated by Melissa Landers

Book synopsis

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.  Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket. Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking. But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class. Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet. Alienated

 

My opinion

3/5 starts according to Goodreads rating.

The book had an amazing story overall. It reminded me of that CW tv show, Star Crossed (I think). I loved the whole concept. The main female character was strong with an open mind, while the main male character was a pain in the bottom most of the time. He redeemed towards the end. 
This book did a good job showing how humans use violence when they fear and how powerful peer pressure can be. And lets not forget about stereotypes and misconceptions, they also play an important role. Lack of data and information lead to very bad things. On the other hand, it also approach how the people who want the greater good and with an open mind can be fooled sometimes.
The book lacked in description. The book was full of clichés, including the characters. The story took over the relationship and character development. There was not enough information to make me root for the characters and to understand their motives. For me the love felt forced, especially during the ending events. There is also no origin story. There is no depth to the characters and the plot. It felt too quick for me.

This book had a lot a potential and it did not live up to it. Plus, I had high expectations too since I love space/aliens stories. Thus, I fell slightly disappointed. It was more of an high-school-save-the-world-soap-opera than I expected.
Despite all the no-no's in the story, I still want to see how this trilogy ends. Although, this depends on how I feel about this story line in the future.

If you like space/aliens/high school stories, you should give it a try.
Also, the story is told from dual point of view.

 

Original review: Alienated - Goodreads Review

 

Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance
Language: mild
Sexual content: moderate (at one point in the book quite steamy, nothing explicit thou)
Violence: moderate to heavy (nothing too graphic)
Drugs/Alcohol: none to mild (I do not remember exactly)

 

 

 

Booksplosion Book Club - January's Book

Hello! The second book club I am in is called Booksplosion (hence the title of this post). Its creators are the well known book-YouToube-ers Christine (polandbananasBooks), Jesse (jessethereader), and Kat (Katytastic). Their channels are great because they have diverse content. Plus, they offer a lot of book related news.

The January book pick is Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken. It is the second and last instalment in the Passenger duology. I will leave a book description for book one, Passenger.  From what I know, this is a time travel story. If you are interested, please join the club or just read the books! :D Additionally, I will post pictures with the book covers for both of them.

Book synopsis

 

Passage, n.
i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.
ii. A journey by water; a voyage.
iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.
In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.
Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them—whether she wants to or not.
Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home... forever.

 

Obsidian Blade by Morgan Rhodes

A Falling Kingdoms spinoff

Book synopsis

Magnus from Falling Kingdoms and Maddox from A Book of Spirits and Thieves are on an epic quest through time in this series-bridging novella.
In a garden of ancient ruins on the cliffs of Limeros, Prince Magnus comes face-to-face with a witch. The old woman incapacitates him with a spell, presses a single object into his hand—an obsidian blade—and tells him to bring it to a woman named Samara before the sun sets and his portal home closes forever.
A flash of dark magic transports Magnus back in time to a Mytica he’s only heard about in storybooks. Lost in this foreign land, Magnus sets out to find Samara. But a chance encounter with the rumored Witch Boy derails his journey. Magnus saves Maddox from a beating, but the cruel Livius is now on their tail. The sun is starting to set. Time is running out. Both boys must fight for their lives.
Follow legendary bad boy Magnus and the enigmatic Maddox as their worlds collide in this high-stakes adventure.

My opinion

5/5 starts according to Goodreads rating.
It is an amazing short story. The cross between the two storylines happening in Mytica was genius. It is a must read if you like Falling Kingdoms and Spirits and Thieves series. Magnus and Maddox have an excellent dynamic. It foreshadows the two series’ future. We also get to see M&M (no pun intended :D) when they were younger and how their past selves reacted in different circumstances.
This short addition to the two major storyline offers a great opportunity to know M&M better. Think about it: unrecognized prince working with a famous witch-boy-forced-con artist.
Indeed, it is a time travel story.

This is my personal opinion.

Obsidian Blade
Original review: Obsidian Balde - Goodreads Review

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Short Stories, Novella
Language: none to mild
Sexual content: none (just some flirting)
Violence: moderate
Drugs/Alcohol: none to mild

Perustopia Book Club

Perustopia Book of the Month for January 

I am a member of the Perustopia book founded by the Sasha -  abookutopia - and Regan - PeruseProject. They are excellent book-YouToube-ers. You should check them out.

January's book of the month is Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill. I will leave a book description below. If you are interested, you should join.

 

 

Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, the legendary bounty hunter for the King of Malam—that is, until her father is murdered. Now outcast and alone and having no rights to her father’s land or inheritance, she seeks refuge where she feels most safe: the Ever Woods. When Britta is caught poaching by the royal guard, instead of facing the noose she is offered a deal: her freedom in exchange for her father’s killer.
However, it’s not so simple.
The alleged killer is none other than Cohen McKay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a daunting and dangerous force.  

Cover Reveal

Hello, everyone! This is a quick post. We finally have the cover for the fourth instalment in the Zodiac series.

Drum Roll, Please...

 

 

TA-DAH!

 

 

Source: Thirteen Rising