Anticipated 2020 releases - Part 1

It wouldn't be a new year if I didn't have some anticipated new releases. In this post we will talk about some of the books that are coming out in 2020 and I am excited to get my hands on them.

This is going to be Part 1 because as the year goes by I am pretty sure that there will be more mew releases that I want to read.

So, let's begin with books that are coming out in February.

Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon

This book comes out on 18th of February and it's the first book in the St. Rosetta's Academy. It's about an elite international boarding school, and it's a contemporary spin on Beauty and the Beast. 

It's a young adult romance contemporary book and having read previous works of Menon I think I would like this one too.

The Queen's Assassin by Melissa De La Cruz

This is the first novel in Queen's Secret, a sweeping YA fantasy-romance duet about a deadly assassin, his mysterious apprentice, and the country they are sworn to protect.

If you want me to like a book just put the word assassin in it...

It come out on February 4.

House of earth and blood by Sarah J. Maas

It is the first book in the new Crescent  City series and it is the story of half-Fae and half-human Bryce Quinlan as she seeks revenge in a contemporary fantasy world of magic, danger, and searing romance.

It's the first adult book from the author and I am intrigued. 

It comes out on March 3.

The City we became by  N. K. Jemisin

In this book five New Yorkers must come together in order to defend their city in the first book of a new series by Hugo award-winning and NYT bestselling author N. K. Jemisin.

It is an adult fantasy book and comes out on March 26.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

This is a book about a magical island, a dangerous task and a burning secret.
It's an LGBTQ+ fantasy book and the synopsis is interesting.

It comes out on March 17.

Unravel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim

I cant't wait for this book. It's the second book in The Blood of Stars series and I can;t wait to get back in this world.
If you haven't, you should definitely read Spin the Dawn because it's amazing

It comes out on July 7.





Piranesi by Suzanna Clarke

16 years after Dr. Strange and Mr. Norrell we have a new novel from the author. It is an adult fantasy and according to  Goodreads Piranesi who has always lived in the House. It has hundreds if not thousands of rooms and corridors, imprisoning an ocean. A watery labyrinth. Once in a while he sees his friend, The Other, who needs Piranesi for his scientific research into A Great and Secret Knowledge. Piranesi records his findings in his journal. Then messages begin to appear; all is not what it seems. A terrible truth unravels as evidence emerges of another person and perhaps even another world outside the House’s walls.

It comes out in September 2020.

Blood & Honey by Shelby Mahurin

Another sequel that I can't wait to get my hands on. It's the second book in the Serpent & Dove series  and if you haven't yet read the first book do it now. It's a tale of serpents, doves, and lost loves.

It comes out on September 1.

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

It's the first book in the Kingdom of the wicked series in which a beautiful young witch, a troubled demon, and a lush 19th century Italian setting come together to create a dark, intoxicating romance for the ages.

It's a young adult historical fantasy and comes out on September 15.

The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue by V. E. Schwab

There is no possibility that Victoria writes a new book and I won't read it ASAP.
This is about a love story between a French girl and the devil over 300 years. She sells her soul for the ability to live forever, and the devil curses her to be forgotten by everyone she meets.
It sounds just perfect!!

It comes out sometime in Autumn.


These are some of the books that are coming in 2020 and I am very excited to read.
I am sure that when this post is published I would have found many more books to anticipate, so be sure to check back for a Part 2. Until then...

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

2019 - My Favorite books

Another year has passed and with it many great books. I read some amazing books this year that went straight to my all time favorites. 

Today we will see together the books that I liked most in 2019 and that I highly recommend to check out if you haven't already. The majority of them belong to the fantasy genre. 

I chose one book for every month of the year and I will also link my reviews, if I have one for the books mentioned.

January  2019

The Gilded Wolves ( The Gilded Wolves #1) - Roshani Chokshi

This is the first book I read in 2019 and went straight to my year favorites. It's a young adult fantasy book that takes place in 1889 Paris and it's a mix of a treasure hunt, ancient magic and mythology.

Check my review here

February 2019

Northern Lights (His Dark Materias #1) - Philip Pulman

This was the first time I read this series and I regret not doing it earlier. It's incredible. Philip Pullman is an amazing storyteller.

Check my review for the full series here

March 2019

Spinning Silver - Naomi Novik

The book is a very loose retelling of the story of Rumpelstiltskin and you would recognize some elements of it like turning things into gold and the importance of names.  The books of Naomi Novik have this magical and atmospheric thing that you want from a fairy tale.

Check my review here

April 2019

Circe - Madeline Miller

I have heard so many good things about it but I didn't know exactly what to expect, only that it was a retelling of Circe's story. It was much more than that and I really liked it. I've heard that it is optioned to become a TV series by HBO and I can wait.

Review to come pretty soon

May 2019

Ever Alice - H. J. Ramsay

Ever Alice is a kind of retelling for Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

When you read the synopsis of this book it sounds like a sequel to the original Alice's story set some years in the future. 

I liked the way the author imagined the future and the way she wrote it.

Check my review here

June 2019

Finale (Caraval #3) - Stephanie Garber

I have no words for this book. It's one of my all time favorites , in fact the whole trilogy is. I loved everything about it and I want more stories in this world.

Review to come pretty soon

July 2019

Mooncakes - Suzanne Walker & Wendy Xu

This is all I needed in a graphic novel.  It's a beautiful story of love, family and of course witchcraft. It is also a very diverse read and that made it even more enjoyable for me.

Check my review here

August 2019

Spin the Dawn ( The Blood of stars #1) - Elizabeth Lim

When I read the synopsis of this book I wasn't so interested in it, but when I started reading it I was pleasantly surprised. It became one of my favorites. I love everything about it and I can't wait for the next one.

Check my review here

September 2019

The House of Salt and Sorrows - Erin A. Craig

I read this book as a buddy read and I really liked it, especially the second half of it where it gets more fast paced and dark. I liked the characters and the bond between the sisters.

Check my review here

October 2019

The Attic's ghosts ( Τα φαντάσματα της σοφίτας) - Manos Kontoleon (Μάνος Κοντολέων) --Greek Book--

Beautiful story with beautiful messages. I have read it before as a child and when I saw it I grabbed it immediately. 

This is a Greek children's book that I highly recommend.

Review to come soon

November 2019

Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove #1) - Shelby Mahurin

It is a book that I wasn't expecting to like based on its synopsis, but I loved it and became one of my favorites. The story, which has a great hate to love trope, is very good and the writing of it is beautiful and vivid.

Check my review here

December 2019

A Curse so dark and lonely (Cursebreakers #1) - Brigid Kemmerer

It's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I really enjoyed reading it, even though I had some issues at the beginning.

Review to come pretty soon

Now that I look back on these books I see that some of them pleasantly surprised me even though I wasn't expecting to like them (i.e. Serpent & Dove) and some of them even made it to my all time favorite books (i.e. Spin the Dawn). You never know with books unless you read them for yourselves. Something that you like might not be for somebody else and vice versa.

Here to new year with many amazing reads.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

You can buy these books from Book Depository using this link (affiliate link)

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig - A Review

Today's review is about House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig. It is a debut novel that is published by Delacorte. It's a mixture of fantasy and "thriller" and it is a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses story but in a more dark way.  

This book was another one that I read thanks to #booktalkwithwifey and their readalongs. If it wasn't for them I wouldn't have picked this one to read or I would read it much much later. 

Anyway, back to the book now...

We follow Annaleigh who  lives a sheltered life at Highmoor, a manor by the sea, with her sisters, their father, and stepmother. Once they were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.

Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that the deaths were no accidents. Her sisters have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn't sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who—or what—are they really dancing with?

When Annaleigh's involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it's a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family—before it claims her next. 

I really liked  House of Salt and Sorrows, especially the second half of it. It's well-written with an interesting story. The fantasy element was very subtle and well introduced to the story. 

It is a kind of spooky read, for me anyways, and I wasn't prepared. When I though I knew who was responsible for everything, something happened and made me doubt it. The mystery of the story was done very well by the author. 

I liked the characters and especially the bond between the sisters. Also Cassius was one of my favorites. The romantic aspect of the book was not too much. It was sweet and so real. 

As I said, this is a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses story but it is a dark retelling of the original fairy tale, brilliantly executed. 

This book keeps you hooked all the time and you should definitely read it!

Rating : 4 Stars

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

You can buy this book from Book Depository using this link (affiliate link)

Keystone by Katie Delahanty - A Review

Hello everyone!!

Today we are talking about Keystone by Katie Delahanty that came out on January 7th by Entangled Teen. This is a young adult science fiction dystopian book with a very unique concept that is very apt for our days. In this not so distant future social media is above everything and in a way controls everything.

Keystone is full of plot twists and secrets until the very end and that made it even more enjoyable for me. Did I mention there is also a heist?

It's about a future dystopian world where everyone is graded on the Social Stock exchange market and if you don't rank high enough or you are Unrankable life is too difficult for you. This is the life of the Influencers and our protagonist Ella is one of them, at least at the beginning...

On the other hand we have the Disconnects who live without all this technology and social media madness. There is also Keystone, a school that teaches you how to be a thief for everything analog and original so that history cannot be changed by those in power.

There are a lot of beautiful characters in the story and I enjoyed the connection between our two main characters, Ella and Garrett. I liked how their secrets unraveled as the story progresses. 

The book ends in a cliff-hanger so I am assuming that it's going to be a series and I am very excited about it. At this moment the only thing I can find online is just a title , Disconnect, and a publication date for October 2020.

If you like dystopian books which feature heists you will love this book.

Rating: 4 Stars

Synopsis from GoodReads:

When Ella Karman debuts on the Social Stock Exchange, she finds out life as a high-profile "Influencer" isn't what she expected. Everyone around her is consumed by their rankings, in creating the smoke and mirrors that make them the envy of the world.

But then Ella’s best friend betrays her, her rankings tank, and she loses—everything.

Leaving her old life behind, she joins Keystone, a secret school for thieves, where students are being trained to steal everything analog and original because something—or someone—is changing history to suit their needs.

Partnered with the annoyingly hot—and utterly impossible—Garrett Alexander, who has plenty of his own secrets, Ella is forced to return to the Influencer world, while unraveling a conspiracy that began decades ago.

One wrong move and she could lose everything—again. 

Disclaimer

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley and the publisher  in exchange for an honest review

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim - A Review

Today's book review is about Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim and I can tell you from the beginning that this has become one of my favorite books of 2019 and not only. It's the first book in The Blood and Stars series with the second book Unravel the Stars coming out in July 2020.

In the book we follow Maia Tamarin who  dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she'll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There's just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.

Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia's task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.

And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor's reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.

When I read the synopsis of this book I wasn't so interested in it, but when I started reading it I was very pleasantly surprised. 

I love the story, the characters and the world that Elizabeth Lim has created. The writing is just beautiful. I really liked the pacing of the book which was fast and kept you interested and engaged all the time. 

I loved the characters and especially Edan who is amazing. 

The whole series is  inspired by Chinese culture, and is full with  forbidden romance and magic. 

I loved the ending of the first book and I can't wait for the next one.

Rating: 5 Stars

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

You can buy this book from Book Depository using this link (affiliate link)

December 2019 Wrap up

Hello everyone and Happy New Year!!!

What better way to start 2020 than a post about the books I read in December. Do not worry, there will be a post about my favorite books of 2019 but that would be later in the month.

In December, as you will see, the majority of the books I read where ARCs and more specific children's' books / picture books. I love reading and reviewing those, especially now that I have a child myself. 

So, without further ado let's see the books...

A Curse so Dark and Lonely - Brigid Kemmerer

This is the first book in the Cursebreakers series and it's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I really enjoyed reading it, even though I had some issues at the beginning.

A review will follow pretty soon.

Fly, fly again - Katie Jaffe & Jennifer Lawson

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley 

This is a beautiful picture book,

It's the story of a little girl who dreamed to fly.

Through reading this book you understand that with persistence, teamwork and determination you can achieve what you are dreaming even if it looks difficult in the beginning.

Snoopy: First Beagle in Space (PEANUTS AMP Series Bok 14): A PEANUTS Collection  - Charles M. Schulz

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley 

I must say that this is the first time I read a Peanuts comic and I can assure you that it will not be my last. I really liked reading the adventures of Snoopy and his friends and his efforts to be the first beagle in space. This is a very good collection of different comic strip with various themes. I would like it even better if it had more space themed ones, as the title suggests.

Dr. Wangari Maathai Plants a forest - Rebel Girls

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley 

This is a chapter book written by Rebel Girls and its purpose is to inspire young girls to explore their passions and dreams. In this one we read about the life of Kenyan activist Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to win the Nobel Prize. It gives you what you need to know about her and how she followed her dreams and passions despite the difficulties. Beautiful illustrations, too.

Stephen Hawkin: My first Stephen Hawkin - Ma Isabel Sanchez Vegara& Matt HUnt (ill.)

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley 

I love the picture books that Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara does. They are perfect for little children.

This one is a board book that introduces the little readers to the incredible life of the genius physicist and author Stephen Hawking. It is written in simple sentences, which are perfect for the little ones and it offers them inspiring messages.

David Attenborough (Little People, Big Dreams #40) - Ma Isabel Sanchez Vegara & MIkyo Noh (ill.)

 I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley 

In this beautiful picture book we discover the life of the inspiring broadcaster and conservationist, David Attenborough.

I truly enjoy this series and I find every book to be inspiring for little children. This one was no exception.

Beautiful illustrations too.

Martin Luther King, Jr.  (Little People, Big Dreams) - Ma Isabel Sanchez Vegara 

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley 

This one is a picture book that introduces the little readers to the incredible life of the inspiring minister and civil rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr. It is written in simple sentences, which are perfect for the little ones and it offers them inspiring messages.

I love how quirky the illustrations are.

Gudetama : Love for the lazy  - Wook-Jin Clark

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley 

Gudetama is a grumpy and very lazy egg that gives dating advice that is good even if you are lazy like Gudetama.

This is the first time I read something with this character and I found it pretty enjoyable.

Also the illustrations are beautiful and funny.

Muhammad Ali: My first Muhammad Ali - Ma Isabel Sanchez Vegara & Brosmind

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley 

This one is a board book that introduces the little readers to the incredible life of the famous boxer Muhammad Ali

It is written in simple sentences, which are perfect for the little ones and it offers them inspiring messages.

I love how quirky the illustrations are.

Heir of Lies: Black Dawn Series 1 - Mallory McCartney

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley 

Unfortunately this book didn't work for me. It didn't connect with me and I found it very confusing and I couldn't understand what was going on for the majority of the time.

There were different POVs in the story that I didn't enjoyed. The story is about Emory but we didn't see her POV.

Also, I couldn't understand the world and the magic system in it.

I liked the writing though.

Maybe I wasn't in the right mood for this book, maybe it isn't for me.

You can't scare me -  Bonnie Grubman & Judi Abbot (ill.)

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley 

This is a beautiful picture book about two best friends who are having a sleepover and one of them finds it funny to scare the other.

It's a story about friendship and respect to each other.

Very cute and colorful illustrations

Big Ideas for Little Philosophers Series:

1. Imagination with Rene Descartes

2. Happiness with Aristotle

3. Equality with Simone de Beauvoir

I received an ARC of this book via Edelweiss +

These board books ask deep questions in a very accessible way. They have beautiful illustrations and they pass great messages to little children.

A review will follow pretty soon.

Short stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies - J. K. Rowling & MinaLima (ill).

This book contains short stories from the Harry Potter world, something like a behind the scenes or "origin" stories of some characters. All the stories have the common theme of heroism, hardship and dangerous hobbies in the wizarding world. Minerva McGonagall  and Remus Lupin are featured in this one.


I really like dreading about their stories and what inspired J.K. Rowling to write them.

Short stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky POltergeists - J.K. Rowling & MinaLima (ill.)

This one has stories from the Harry Potter world and all have the common theme of power and politics and of course poltergeists.
It's a good look at the past of some characters and also at what inspired J. K. Rowling to write them.

These ones were a little bit darker than the previous ones. We learn about Dolores Umbridge and Horace Slughoorn as well as Azkaban.

Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide - J. K. Rowling & MinLima (ill.)

This book takes you on a journey through Hogwarts in its own way. It is by no means complete but it's a good enough extra dose of Harry Potter and Hogwarts magic.

The Guinevere Deception ( Camelot Rising #1) - Kiersten White

I had high hopes for this one but unfortunately it didn't fulfill them. I still enjoyed reading it but not as much as I wanted.


A review will follow pretty soon.

Dictionary for a better world: Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z - Irene Lathau, Charles Waters & Mehrdokht Amini (ill.)

The idea behind this book is very good. It's goal is to inspire young readers to create a better world. I liked the alphabet format of the book and also the bold illustrations that accompanied the poems. Unfortunately the book wasn't something I particularly liked, probably because I am not into poetry as much as I wanted. Also I think that this book is more appropriate for older children due to its length.

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Beatrix Potter Illustrated Collection

I haven't read this as a child and now I regret it. I would have loved it then.
I really liked reading the stories about all these little animals. They are very sweet.

Very beautiful illustrations too.

 Finally, I read some comic books with stories from Disney with the characters of Donald Duck etc. and All About History magazine.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

You can buy these books from Book Depository using this link (affiliate link)