So I am not quite ready to post another review, but I have been feeling an urge to post lately, so here is my newest thing I am doing: What's On My Shelf?
This is where I get to show you how many books I have on my to-read list and also a way to remind myself that I need to learn to read faster than I already do haha! So here it is:
This is just my current list. I seem to be receiving more and more each day, so who knows what is going to happen tomorrow.
So just to let you all know what is going on here, it is sorted by release date (which is either when the book is due to be published or when I am supposed to be putting out my review depending on publisher). You will notice some from 2012. No I am not that late on my reviews haha. Those are books that I got from NetGalley that don't have an archive date. So yes they have been out a while but they still need reviews!
If it is highlighted then that means I have been approved or won the book but haven't received it yet.
Well that is the post for today. Time to jump off here and put my nose back in my book.
Buy from Kindle for $15.68 or Hardcover for $24.99 ($16.50 with Prime)
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Plot
The bad girls of Gotham meet the good girls of Riverdale!
Hiram Lodge (Veronica’s father) wants to invest in the future by building a university with free tuition for Riverdale’s residents. His site is a protected swamp on the outskirts of town, and once news of the plan reaches Gotham City, a certain eco-warrior (a.k.a. Poison Ivy) is determined to prevent the dream from becoming reality.
However, once Poison Ivy and her bestie Harley Quinn arrive, they get mixed up in the sort of hijinks that can only happen in Riverdale. At a superhero-themed costume party, the night’s entertainment–Zatanna– manages to place the personas of the Gotham City Sirens into the bodies of the town’s notorious frenemies: Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge. While Ivy (in Ronnie’s body) seeks to derail Lodge’s agenda from within, more than a few nefarious forces–from Jason and Cheryl Blossom to the Clown Prince of Crime himself–have their own foul plans.
This groundbreaking miniseries teams up two of fandom’s best-known duos, bringing the ladies of Gotham and Riverdale together for the first time! This madcap mayhem comes courtesy of Paul Dini (Harley Quinn) and Marc Andreyko (Wonder Woman ‘77), with art by Laura Braga (DC Comics: Bombshells)! Collects Harley & Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica #1-6.
How I Got This
I received this as an ARC from the publisher using NetGalley
The Good
Literally everything. I am not even joking right now. I am a huge fan of my Gotham City Sirens, and this one has two of them as the main characters. The artwork was beautiful with rich colors, amazingly drawn outfits, and fantastic panels. The story was fluid and never got boring. You get to meet many of the Riverdale characters, many of whom I was not familiar with as I have never really read the Archie comics, and many of the Gotham City characters as well. There were so many surprise characters in this comic and I wish I could tell you about all of them. I don’t want to ruin anything for you though. Just know that you get to see some of your favorite Gotham villains, meet some new ones, and see some of your favorite heroes as well.
The plot of this comic was straightforward for the most part. What you thought was going to be the plot ends up changing and the new one keeps you on the edge of your seat. (It is so hard to do reviews for something as amazing as this without giving it all away!)
I have to stop myself from gushing about this comic here, but if anyone is interested and doesn’t mind SPOILERS feel free to message me. I will tell you everything you want to know!
The Bad
Nothing. There was nothing bad about this comic. Parts that seemed dull quickly became action filled. I guess the only bad thing I can say is that if you aren’t familiar with Riverdale characters, or for some reason Gotham City characters, then sometimes you may get confused on who everyone is. By the end of the comic though you have everyone figured out and you are ready for more.
Final Thoughts
When I first requested this comic off of Netgalley I really didn’t think that I was going to be lucky enough to be chosen as one of the ARC readers. I am so thankful that I was. I want to tell everyone who reads this to go and order yourself a copy as you won’t be disappointed. You can order it on Kindle, or do what I am planning on doing and have a Kindle version and a hardback version!
Read with Kindle Unlimited for free, or $2.99 Kindle version/$11.99 Paperback
Part of Fairytales of Folkshore Series
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
UPDATE: I emailed the author because I wanted her to read my review. SHE EMAILED ME BACK! I may have had a small freak out moment when that happened. She did end up sending me a gift card to purchase the novel from the amazon store so that the review would be a verified purchase. This did not change my review in any way other than to become verified by amazon.
Plot
The Selection meets Aladdin
ONE MONTH. FIFTY CONTESTANTS. ONE PRINCE. AN IMPOSSIBLE HEIST.
You have been summoned to Sunstone Palace to compete in our search for the future Queen of Cahraman.
After years on the run, Adelaide thinks her lonely and dangerous life as a thief is finally over. But her world is upended when a witch steals her away to a faraway kingdom, to perform an impossible heist. If Adelaide fails, her newfound family would be sacrificed to a beast.
To complete her mission, she’s forced to assume the role of a noblewoman and enter a royal competition. The prize is the hand of the elusive Crown Prince. Elimination means certain death.
As the witch’s literal deadline approaches, Adelaide has one last gamble to save the day, and to escape to a new life with Cyrus, the handsome and mysterious fellow thief who stole her heart.
But everything falls apart when the prince finally reveals himself…
This is a full-length novel at 80,000 words. Book 1 of 3 in the Cahraman Trilogy
Fairytales of Folkshore is a series of interconnected fairytale retellings. Ada’s story continues in PRINCE OF CAHRAMAN.
(TAGGING THIS REVIEW AS
HAVING A POTENTIAL FOR
MINOR SPOILERS!! YOU HAVE
BEEN WARNED)
The Good
This is such an amazing start to a series. Adelaide is a young woman who just wants a place to call home, and she finally thinks that she found one. All of this changes the night of the town festival when Adelaide and her “adopted family” are kidnapped by a witch needing her special talents as a thief. For those of you who play video games (and for many who don’t) the Easter eggs hidden in this novel easily show you what they mean by it being a series of interconnected fairytale retellings. Adelaide’s best friend is named Bonnie, a girl who always has her nose in a book and lives alone with her father. Adelaide has a run in with a girl who lives with her stepmother and stepsisters and is forced to do their chores. During the “princess test” as I am going to call it she hears gossip that there are two families who have a beast in their family. That is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fairytale references found in this book.
Adelaide as a character is highly relatable, even for those who have never imagined themselves as a thief in a fantasy world. She is an orphan who has lived her life running from place to place, sometimes homeless, always having to lie to be able to survive. She just wants somewhere she can call home, somewhere where she can live her life without worry or stress (something many of us dream of). She would do anything to save the lives of those that she cares about (which is proven many times during this amazing novel). She is guarded, but also wears her heart on her sleeve. She is goal oriented but is willing to make time for those who need her. Overall, she is a strong female lead who also has a soft side.
The story is supposed to be reminiscent of Aladdin, which it is, but it also tells its own story in a fantastical new way. I have always been a fan of those books that are fairytale retellings, they give you new stories related to those that you loved before. Lucy Tempest easily has done this with this novel.
The Bad
There aren’t many things that I can say are bad about this novel. I know that I say this a lot in my reviews, but I feel like I am just getting so lucky with the ARC’s that I am receiving. At times it seemed like the plot was forgotten in lieu of descriptions of the scenery or the people. This could be a nod to the fact that Adelaide is a commoner who is having to deal with seeing all of these wasted riches, so I don’t know that I would fully consider this a bad thing. It did cause me to want to skip over the descriptions at times to get back to the action though. My biggest complaint about this book was THAT IT ENDED ON A CLIFFHANGER! I know that it says in the description that her story continues, but I need more now! I read this book in less than a day, and I wish I would have taken more time. The next book (which I am planning on preordering if I don’t get lucky again to get an ARC copy) isn’t due to be published until the end of October. My heart is devastated right now, I need to know what is going to happen. This is a bad thing, but also shows just how amazing Lucy Tempest is as a writer.
Final Thoughts
Please please please pick up this book. It is an amazing read, and this author is an amazing writer. If you are a fan of fantasy, strong female leads, story retellings, thieves, princes, princesses, or tests. If you aren’t a fan of any of these but need a new book to read. If you like to judge a book by the cover and saw how beautiful the cover of this one is. No matter why you pick this book up, pick it up! Read it! Preorder the next book! Support this amazing writer. It is available on the Kindle Store for $2.99, which is a steal for a book as great as this one. The sequel (Prince of Cahraman) is available for preorder for $3.99.
A woman who doesn’t die. A human who isn’t easy to kill. A man who murders for power.
Death doesn’t come easy to Dr. Mona Signoretti, who is closing in on a killer she has tracked for two thousand years. As part of a special FBI unit, her failure to stop him puts at risk the population of Earth as well as the mission to save her part-human race from destruction. When Mona’s undercover role is discovered, and her life-sustaining energy threatened, human FBI agent, Grant Thornton, is assigned to work the case and keep her alive–not an easy task in a world where enemies refuse to die.
Book one of this modern-day thriller series set in the ordinary world, mixes adventure with technology, and politics with science fiction.
If you enjoy memorable characters, strong heroes and heroines, and a touch of romance, then dive into the world of Infinitas.
Pick up To Die Again today by an author of four national writing awards.
How I Got This Book
I received this book as an early reader copy from Hidden Gems
The Good
This novel starts off with a bang. The first part of it is a fast-paced action ride that keeps you turning the pages. But that is about where it stopped for me. But since this is the good section, I will get to that later. Dr. Mona Signoretti is a special person, with special powers, for lack of a better word, imbued in her due to her unique racial physiology. She can survive things that many in this world wouldn’t. She is a well-rounded character that is simple to relate to, even though not many of us are a different species and as intelligent as she is. She is an excellent example of a strong female lead for a novel. Grant Thornton is another example of a great character. He is tough, handsome, and intelligent. He is a no-nonsense kind of guy who is there to do his job, and when that gets screwed up he refuses to be left in the dark.
The Bad
Unfortunately, this book didn’t keep my attention throughout it. I do my best to never stop reading a book, even if it can’t hold my interest. Well at least I try to keep reading it if I plan on reviewing it here on my blog. This one took me way too long to make it through. I can’t even tell you half of what happened honestly, because I kept putting it down and when I finally picked it back up I wasn’t as interested in reading it anymore. It could be because I am more a fantasy reader then I am science fiction (which I need to remember when I am requesting arcs…) but this was a novel that I was unable to get in to.
Final Thoughts
Okay so I may not have enjoyed this, but I am sure that any avid science fiction readers would absolutely love this book. This won’t affect my rating, as that is my opinion, but I would say that for the low price, it could be worth it to pick this book up. It is $3.99 in the Kindle store. You don’t have a Kindle? If you have a smart phone the app is free. Don’t want the app? This book is also available in paperback!
Published June 21st 2018
Free on Kindle Unlimited or buy for $0.99
Part of a new Series (Scarlet Jones #1)
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Plot
My name is Scarlet Jones, and I’m a witch…of some kind. Probably.
Those who knew me growing up, thought of me as a spoiled little brat they didn’t want to have anything to do with. I did break things on purpose, stole others, and I may or may not have set half my school on fire, but come on! They were being too hard on me.
I grew up in a family full of strong Blood witches, in which my strange magic never belonged. I thought I was the only one of my kind out there, a true freak of nature, and I liked it that way. I lived on my own, learning to hunt these creatures nobody seemed to know anything about, a bunch of mindless thingies who were in the habit of sucking my magic dry wherever they found me. I even set up a party for them, just so I could teach them some manners.
But my plan went to hell when four strangers crashed the party, people who apparently were like me. Just like that, I no longer felt like a special little flower. With four unconscious bodies at my feet and no idea what was going on, I thought that was the worst it was going to get. Boy, was I wrong…
The rest of my life is only just beginning, and by the looks of it, it is not going to be a smooth ride.
How I Got This Book:I got this book as an ARC through Hidden Gems.
The Postives
Once I was finally able to immerse myself into this book I was hooked. Scarlet is a badass who doesn’t quite see in herself what other people see in her. Many times throughout the novel she has people look to her to lead them and train them. Each time we read her thoughts of how she doesn’t think she is strong enough to be able to help them. This helped to make Scarlett seem relatable to the reader. Another way that I personally was able to connect with her is that she is a loner who realizes that she doesn’t want to be alone. In the beginning of the book she keeps telling herself that she doesn’t want a group to belong to, that it is safer for her if she stays on her own. By the middle she has realized that she is truly lonely and that she needs companionship.
The story unfolds at a good pace that keeps you hooked while giving you a short breather between the actions scenes.
The Negatives
Okay so literally the only thing that is negative, and that made me give this book four stars instead of five, is that it was so hard to get into at first. I picked the book up and put it down numerous times. Finally, I forced myself to read it and I am so glad that I did.
Final Thoughts
Pick this book up if you can. It is only $0.99 in the Kindle store, and free if you have kindle unlimited. You don’t have a Kindle? If you have a smart phone you can download the Kindle app for free.
88 Pages
ISBN13: 9780996603096
Publication Date: June 26, 2018
Available on Amazon for $9.99 ($7.99 with Prime)
My Rating: 5/5
Plot
When a series of brutal murders linked to Mr. Lewis’ past leads Detective Inspector Singh to Lady Mechanika’s doorstep, the Inspector is finally forced to consider: is Lady Mechanika a crime-fighting hero or a cold blooded killer?
This review is going to be organized a little bit different than any of my other ones so far. The reason, there are not any true negatives about this comic. Therefore I see no reason to add a negatives section.
I have been a fan of Lady Mechanika since the first day I went to Free Comic Book day in my area and picked up her comic. Ever since I have done my best to stay up to date with all of her exploits. When I saw this ARC on Netgalley, well I jumped at my chance to continue reading her story.
I was not disappointed.
The story was thrilling from beginning to end. I ended up falling into the trap of believing the most obvious to be the villain, before the big reveal at the end blew my mind completely. Lady Mechanika, falsely accused of being a murderer, helps Inspector Signh to solve the case of the Clockwork Assassin, both to clear her name and to protect her friend from being the next victim.
Aside from the storyline, the artwork was once again phenomenal. Each small detail that was painstakingly drawn works with the others to give new life to this comic, and makes it feel as though it was a little more real. The outfits are true to the time period and drawn in a way that makes you wish that you were wearing them yourself.
I have to say, even though I was lucky enough to receive an ARC, I am most likely going to be purchasing a physical copy of this comic when it is released so that I can add it to my ever growing collection of Lady Mechanika comics.
I am curious, how many of you read the Lady Mechanika comics? Which is your favorite? Let me know.
Romeo and Juliet is the classic tragedy of western literature. Created by William Shakespeare, it is tale of two very young lovers from Verona, Italy who defy the wishes of their feuding families, get married then, and tragically, end their own lives in the name of love. It is their deaths that ultimately help the rival families of the Capulet’s and Montague’s find reconciliation. Manga Classics brings an incredible new reading experience with this adaptation of Shakespeare’s most popular and frequently performed plays: Romeo and Juliet.
How I got this Book
I got to read this book through Netgalley.
The Positives
v This is a great way to revisit a story that most people read multiple times in school. The beautiful artwork gives it a new feeling that allows you to enjoy the story multiple times.
v Reading this story as a manga gives new meaning to Old English. Words that didn’t quite make sense the first time you read it? Well now you have gorgeous works of art to help you see and feel what you should have the first time around.
v The characters are portrayed to perfection how I feel Shakespeare meant for them to be seen. You feel the innocence of some of the characters, you feel the tension caused by the feud, and you feel the infatuation between Romeo and Juliet. If you are anything like me you also have a renewed revulsion for the disgustingly slimy Count Paris.
The Negatives
So I am not really sure that I can count this as a negative of the book, or if I should just count it as a negative based on my personal feelings. I knew when I picked this manga up that it was going to be a classic, and therefore would be written in the original way. This became an issue for me as I kept wanting to stop and lost track of what was going on at times. This isn’t really a flaw with the book, but it did give me a slightly negative view of it, which is what caused me to give it a solid 4 out of 5.
Overall
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who loves the classics, loves Shakespeare, and loves manga. I personally found it harder to enjoy because of the flowery language Shakespeare was so known for, but it truly is a masterpiece that combines the past with the present.
In a world where every word and gesture is copyrighted, patented or trademarked, one girl elects to remain silent
Speth Jime is anxious to deliver her Last Day speech and celebrate her transition into adulthood. The moment she turns fifteen, Speth must pay for every word she speaks, for every nod, for every scream and even every gesture of affection. She’s been raised to know the consequences of falling into debt, and can’t begin to imagine the pain of having her eyes shocked for speaking words that she’s unable to afford.
But when Speth’s friend Beecher commits suicide rather than work off his family’s crippling debt, she can’t express her shock and dismay without breaking her Last Day contract and sending her family into Collection. Rather than read her speech—rather than say anything at all—she closes her mouth and vows never to speak again, sparking a movement that threatens to destroy her, her family and the entire city around them.
How I got this Book
I got this book from signing up for the Harlequin Teen newsletter. There was an ad on Facebook for it and I love getting up to date news from publishers, so I couldn’t resist. Plus, a new book to read just made it a no brainer.
The Positives
Where to begin with this book?? I was hooked from the moment that I first opened the file on my Kindle app.
v Starting with the main character. Speth is a character who is impulsive, and you love to yell at while you are reading. She got the short end of the stick in her life, having to have a cheap name, a public domain haircut, and not having her parents in her life because of, well I will let you find out why yourself. The book in in her point of view, so you get a very in depth look at the type of person she is, and how she in just as confused as everyone else in her life. She makes a decision without thinking of the consequences, and this throws everything out of wack for her family.
v The supporting characters are just as good as Speth, some of them even better. Kel, Henri, and Margot are three of my favorite characters in this novel. They are known as Product Placers, people who you just knew would be important from the beginning with how obsessed Speth and her brother, Sam, were with finding one. The dynamics between this already established team, and how each of them reacted to Speth joining them and everything that happened between them, it all felt real.
v The plot was well paced and kept you wondering what was going on. I liked that the author didn’t give too much information away as he was writing this novel. The story is from Speth’s point of view, and therefore it makes sense that we only know as much as she does. This does of course leave you with some questions on what other people in the novel are doing, especially the other Silent’s, but it makes the novel feel as though it could be playing out in real time.
The Negatives
So this is going to be a fairly short section for this novel. I can say that Gregory Scott Katsoulis did an amazing job with his writing. The biggest negative of this book was an event that was absolutely HEARTBREAKING towards the end. This was an event that almost seemed unnecessary to the plot, more like it was thrown in just to make the reader angry. Not only that, but for a few moments I grew to truly hate Speth because of what happened. I want to tell you all more, but I definitely am not going to spoil this. I would love to hear from you guys who read this what you think though after you read it.
Overall
Overall, I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys YA fiction, which I almost feel like is everyone. There are certain parts of the novel where you want to yell and scream, but I feel that it is important for a novel to evoke every type of emotion when you are reading it. I was lucky enough to receive this novel for free, but honesty this is one that I wouldn’t hesitate to pay for.
Information about the Sequel: The sequel to this novel (Access Restricted) is currently available for preorder on the Kindle Store for $9.99. It releases on August 28, 2018. That gives you all plenty of time to go and pick up this first novel and read it before the sequel comes out!
