Wednesday 31 March 2021

March 2021 Wrap up

 Hello everyone!!

March is gone and that means only one thing. It is time for my monthly reading wrap up. In March I read 7 books (3 physical books and 4 ebooks) and among them there were two 5 star reads that I am really happy about.


Let's start...

Unravel the Dusk (The Blood of Stars #2) - Elizabeth Lim

I read Spin the Dawn in 2019 and it became one of my favourite books. So, I was highly anticipating the sequel and thankfully I really liked it. It was good to be back in this world

Rating: 4 Stars


Check back tomorrow for my review.



From Blood And Ash (Blood and Ash #1) - Jennifer L. Armentrout

There are no words for this book. It is very hyped and I can assure you that the hype is very real. I loved it! I am currently reading book 2 and I cannot wait for book 3 later this month.

Rating: 5 Stars

Review later in the month.




The Lives of Saints (Grishaverse) - Leigh Bardugo

This is a beautifully illustrated replica of the Istorii Sankt'ya which features tales of saints from the Grishaverse novels. I really liked it and it is a very good companion to the novels.

Rating: 4 Stars


Review later in the month.



Legacy (Starlatten #3) - Darby Cupid

I really enjoyed reading Legacy. I liked the story, the world building and the multiple POVs. The final book in the Starlatten trilogy is action packed and the ending is very satisfying. Every character is well developed and they feel very real.

Rating: 4 Stars
Read my review here

I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review 


Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) - Leigh Bardugo

The second book in the duology was as good as the first one. Full of action and with the same incredible set of characters and impossible mission.

Rating: 5 Stars

Review later in the month.





The Gilded Ones (Deathless #1) - Namina Forna

I read this together with the girls from #booktalkwithwifey readalong and I really liked it.. The story, the world building , the characters were just beautiful.

Rating: 4 Stars

Review later in the month.





The Madman's Library: The Strangest Books, Manuscripts and Other Literary Curiosities from History - Edward Brooke-Hitching

Books about books are my favourite. This one compiles the most unusual and obscure books from around the world and throughout history. 
A must have for every bibliophile.

Rating: 4 Stars
Review later in the the month

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



Here you have it! My March reading wrap up.
Have you read any of these? What did you think?

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



Tuesday 30 March 2021

Fighting the Fire by Laura Kaye - Release Day Tour

 

Hello everyone!!

Today we have the release day blitz for Laura Kaye’s new contemporary romance, FIGHTING THE FIRE! Check it out and order yours now!


Title: Fighting the Fire
Author: Laura Kaye
Genre: Contemporary Romance
 

Here’s what you’ll get in Fighting the Fire:

Smart-ass firefighter hero who's also a closet nerd

Kick-ass ER nurse heroine

Frenemies to lovers when she nurses him back to health

Superhero movie marathon fun

Snarky banter for days!

A Note from Laura:

Dear Readers,

I’m so excited to share my new standalone romance, Fighting the Fire! This is the fourth book in my Warrior Fight Club contemporary romance series, which mixes military and sports romance elements to tell the story of an MMA training club which creates a found family for veterans transitioning to civilian life and dealing with their war-borne demons. In Fighting the Fire, Sean and Daniela are two of my favorite characters I've ever written--they're both strong, loyal, snarky, and hiding some pretty deep hurts that in the end make them so perfect for each other. And all that frenemies tension makes the chemistry between them hot AF! I hope you love them as much as I do!

xx Laura Kaye
 

About Fighting the Fire:

One night is never enough… For firefighter Sean Riddick, Warrior Fight Club keeps the demons of his past at bay, even though it means seeing Daniela England. Her ball-busting sarcasm drives him nuts, and he knows he’s damaged goods anyway, but he can’t help but remember how good they were together that one time. Now he wants to take her to the mats no matter how much they go toe to toe. ER nurse Daniela England has lost so much that she’s vowed never to need anyone again. Fight club helps her beat back her survivor’s guilt, but it means dealing with Riddick. The hot-but-infuriating firefighter is everything she wants to avoid, which is why their one-night stand was a mistake. Now she needs to keep her distance so it doesn’t happen again. But when Dani witnesses Sean’s motorcycle accident, she steps up to help him recover. One on one, they get beneath all the snark and find a connection neither expected. As Sean heals, the sparks between them burst into red-hot passion—and ignite old wounds. Now there are fires all around—and they have to decide which they’ll fight and which they’ll let consume them.

  
Order Today!

Exclusive Excerpt:

The next thing Dani knew, she was over Sean’s shoulder and being carried into the house. Up the stairs. “Sean, put me down. You’re gonna hurt yourself, you big idiot!” She tried to twist out of his hold, but his arm was tight around the backs of her legs. “I’m fuckin’ fine,” he said in a sexy growl. “And we both know you like getting held down, so don’t pretend that this isn’t making you wet.” “Damn you,” she said, dizzy more from the force of her arousal than hanging upside down. He let out a sexy chuckle as he started up the stairs to his second floor. Her thinking brain wanted her to tell him he was going to hurt himself again, but she surrendered to the baser part of herself. The part that knew Sean was right. She was already wet. He dropped her unceremoniously on his big bed. The gray-and-white-striped sheets were messy, and the hunter green comforter was folded back, all as if Sean had just rolled out of bed. It made it feel more intimate, somehow, like she was seeing into a part of his life that she wasn’t meant to see. She rolled to find Sean tearing the button-down off, exposing those muscled shoulders and ridged abdomen. His bruising wasn’t quite as dark now, and in places was turning yellow-green as it healed. Dani’s gaze dropped down to the considerable bulge that filled out the front of his jeans. God, she wanted him to absolutely overwhelm her. And she knew he was one hundred percent capable of it, too. 


About the Author:

Laura Kaye is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over 40 books in contemporary, erotic, and paranormal romance and romantic suspense, and has sold nearly two million books in the U.S. alone. Laura grew up amid family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses, cementing her life-long fascination with storytelling and the supernatural. A former college history professor, Laura also writes bestselling historical women's fiction as Laura Kamoie. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters, and and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.   

Connect with the Author:


Enter Laura’s Giveaway:

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2021 New Releases Weekly - March 30th

 Hello everyone!!

Well, it's time for this week's new releases post. This time we look at books published in the week of March 30th. There are a lot of books that are in my most anticipated list, but as I said before this list is of course incomplete as it includes only books that I am interested in and the majority of them are in the Fantasy genre.


Let's start...

Rule of Wolves (King of Scars #2) by Leigh Bardugo 

The wolves are circling and a young king will face his greatest challenge in the explosive finale of the instant #1 New York Times-bestselling King of Scars Duology. 
The Demon King. As Fjerda's massive army prepares to invade, Nikolai Lantsov will summon every bit of his ingenuity and charm—and even the monster within—to win this fight. But a dark threat looms that cannot be defeated by a young king's gift for the impossible. 
The Stormwitch. Zoya Nazyalensky has lost too much to war. She saw her mentor die and her worst enemy resurrected, and she refuses to bury another friend. Now duty demands she embrace her powers to become the weapon her country needs. No matter the cost. 
The Queen of Mourning. Deep undercover, Nina Zenik risks discovery and death as she wages war on Fjerda from inside its capital. But her desire for revenge may cost her country its chance at freedom and Nina the chance to heal her grieving heart. 
King. General. Spy. Together they must find a way to forge a future in the darkness. Or watch a nation fall. 

Genre: YA Fantasy
Sequel to : King of Scars
Publisher: Orion Children's Books 

The Accidental Apprentice (Wilderlore #1) by Amanda Foody 

A boy who accidentally bonds with a magical Beast must set off on an adventure in the mysterious Woods. 
The last thing Barclay Thorne ever wanted was an adventure. 
Thankfully, as an apprentice to the town’s mushroom farmer, Barclay need only work hard and follow the rules to one day become the head mushroom farmer himself. No danger required. But then Barclay accidentally breaks his town’s most sacred rule: never ever EVER stray into the Woods, for within the Woods lurk vicious magical Beasts. 
To Barclay’s horror, he faces a fate far worse than being eaten: he unwittingly bonds with a Beast and is run out of town by an angry mob. Determined to break this bond and return home, Barclay journeys to find the mysterious town of Lore Keepers, people who have also bonded with Beasts and share their powers. 
But after making new friends, entering a dangerous apprenticeship exam, and even facing the legendary Beast of the Woods, Barclay must make a difficult choice: return to the home and rules he’s always known, or embrace the adventure awaiting him. 

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Publisher:  Margaret K. McElderry Books


Bone Crier's Dawn (Bone Grace #2) by Kathryn Purdie 

Love is a matter of life and death. 
Bone Criers have been ferrying the dead into the afterlife for centuries, a dangerous duty only possible with the powers they gain from sacrificing their amourés the men destined to love them and die. But Bone Criers Ailesse and Sabine—along with Ailesse’s love, Bastien—are working to chart their own course and rewrite the rules of the afterlife. If they don’t break the soul between Ailesse and her amouré, she could die—just as Bastien’s father did. 
Sabine struggles to maintain her authority as matrone of her famille—the role always destined for her sister—even as she fights to control the violent jackal power within her. 
Bastien is faced with a new dilemma as the spirits of the Underworld threaten the souls of his friends—and his father. 
Ailesse attempts to resist her mother’s siren song as she’s drawn into her own version of the Underworld. How will she save her friends once she’s cut off from their world? 
This pulse-pounding follow-up to Bone Crier’s Moon is a story of love, sisterhood, and determination as three friends find the courage and power to shatter the boundary between the living and the dead. 

Check out my review on Bone Crier's Moon here

Genre: YA Fantasy
Sequel to: Bone Crier's Moon
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books


These are some of the new releases of this week.
Are you excited about them?
Do you have other ones on your radar that I should know of?

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



Saturday 27 March 2021

Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1) by Leigh Bardugo - A Review

 



Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo which is the first book in the duology. It is a YA fantasy book published in 2015 by Henry Holt & Company. 

I have said it for other books too, but I should have read Six of Crows earlier. I finished it this month and it is certainly a five - star read for me. 

I loved the story of an impossible heist and I really liked the setting of it. Ketterdam sounds like a place I would like to see. It has excellent world-building and the story is dark, action packed and with magic and some romance. I also really liked the characters, they are so mixed up in their own way. I love how morally grey all of them are. 
I was hooked from the beginning and it continued until the last page with many plot twists. I also liked the mention of characters from Shadow and Bone.

My favourite characters are Inej and Kaz and I really enjoyed their interactions. Inej has gone through a lot but she has come out strong. Kaz is a very complex character. he is manipulative, smart and an antihero. He also cares for his friends even if he doesn't admit it. I love The Dregs as a group. Their relationships and dynamics are everything.

Highly recommend it but I believe most of you have already read it.

Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone. . .  
A convict with a thirst for revenge 
A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager 
A runaway with a privileged past 
A spy known as the Wraith 
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums 
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes 
Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first. 


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

Friday 26 March 2021

Shades of Magic Vol. 3: The Rebel Army by V. E. Schwab - A Mini Review

 



Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing Shades of Magic Vol. 3: The Rebel Army by V. E. Schwab which is a graphic novel based on her famous Shades of Magic series. and it published in 2020 by Titan Comics. It collects Shades of Magic: The Rebel Army #9 - 12. 

It is actually a prequel to the main series as we follow King Maxim Maresh when he was still a prince.
We are back in the world of Shades of Magic and its incredible magic system. It felt so good to be back in this world even if it was for a short time.
I read this volume I believe in an hour and I loved every bit of it. The story continues and concludes beautifully and the illustrations were stunning as always. 
This volume was more intense and action packed than the previous ones. 
I definitely need more from this world.

Rating: 5 Stars

Read my reviews for Volume 1 here and Volume 2 here.

Synopsis from Goodreads: 
Written by #1 New York Times bestselling author V.E. Schwab and torn from the universe of the Shades of Magic sequence, this third volume in the all-original comic book adventure series sees the saga of the the story begun in The Steel Prince - perfect for fans of bloody, swashbuckling adventure and gritty fantasy! 
Once just a single ship, now the pirate fleet of the Rebel Army numbers in its thousands. Made up of traitors from each of the three empires, the fleet, who once made the open waters of the Blood Coast their home, have set their sights on establishing their own land based empire with London as their capital. 
The Rebel Army is a battalion made up of traitors to each of the three empires, who've claimed the open waters of the Blood Coast as their territory. Led by a Faroan, a Veskan, and an Arnesian (Rowan, the Antari from the Night of Knives), the RA started as a rag-tag gang, a single ship, but in the last few months, they've gained momentum. Once content to claim the open water as their empire, they've grown in ambition, and scope, and now they're claiming ports, creeping toward a full-on land assault. Their goal? London. But first, they'll have to cross Verose, where Maxim, Isra, and the royal guard are waiting. 


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

Thursday 25 March 2021

Fate and Flame (Fae Rising #3) by Miranda Lyn - Cover Reveal

 


Hello everyone!!

Today in  collaboration with Literary Bound Tours, I am really excited to show you the cover for Fate and Flame by Miranda Lyn, which is the third book in the Fae Rising trilogy.

Without further ado, here is the stunning cover...


Title: Fate and Flame (Fae Rising #3)
Author: Miranda Lyn
Release Date: April 20, 2021
Page Count: 450
Genre: New Adult – High Fantasy
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook


Synopsis

This gripping series comes to a nail-biting conclusion with Fate and Flame.

Ara brings more of her notorious sass and Temir is still the cinnamon roll, trying to save the world. If you haven’t started this series yet, you’re in for an adventure of a lifetime. You will swoon for this fae series, noted for being unlike any other. Fate and Flame will hold you on the edge of your seat, make you laugh, keep you fanning yourself in the steamy moments, and wiping away tears through the conclusion. This is a series with a full cast of characters you will instantly love.

You can start this journey on Kindle Unlimited right now. Blood and Promise is also free to download between March 25th and 26th. 

Author Bio

Blood and Honor is the debut novel for Miranda Lyn. She grew up smack dab in the middle of the United States with nothing to do but dream up stories of fantastical creatures and powerful heroines. Now married with three children of her own, an idea sparked a buried passion within her to follow a dream and teach her children that anything is possible if you’re willing to work hard for it.


SOCIAL LINKS:


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


Tuesday 23 March 2021

2021 New Releases Weekly - March 23rd

 Hello everyone!!

Well, it's time for this week's new releases post. This time we look at books published in the week of March 23rd. There are a lot of books that are in my most anticipated list, but as I said before this list is of course incomplete as it includes only books that I am interested in and the majority of them are in the Fantasy genre.



Let's start...

Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas

When children go missing in the small coastal town of Astoria, people look to Wendy for answers.

It's been five years since Wendy and her two brothers went missing in the woods, but when the town’s children start to disappear, the questions surrounding her brothers’ mysterious circumstances are brought back into light. Attempting to flee her past, Wendy almost runs over an unconscious boy lying in the middle of the road, and gets pulled into the mystery haunting the town.

Peter, a boy she thought lived only in her stories, claims that if they don't do something, the missing children will meet the same fate as her brothers. In order to find them and rescue the missing kids, Wendy must confront what's waiting for her in the woods.


Genre: YA Fantasy / Retellings / LGTB+
Publisher: Swoon Reads


The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers 

Paris, 1925: To enter the Secret Circus is to enter a world of wonder-a world where women tame magnificent beasts, carousels take you back in time, and trapeze artists float across the sky. But each daring feat has a cost. Bound to her family's strange and magical circus, it's the only world Cecile Cabot knows-until she meets a charismatic young painter and embarks on a passionate love affair that could cost her everything.

Virginia, 2005: Lara Barnes is on top of the world-until her fiancé disappears on their wedding day. Desperate, her search for answers unexpectedly leads to her great-grandmother's journals and sweeps her into the story of a dark circus and a generational curse that has been claiming payment from the women in her family for generations.


Genre: Historical Fiction / Fantasy
Publisher: Redhook

These are some of the new releases of this week.
Are you excited about them?
Do you have other ones on your radar that I should know of?

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

Saturday 20 March 2021

The Language of Thorns : Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo - A Mini Review

 



Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing The Language of Thorns : Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo which is a collection of short stories that takes place in the Grishaverse. It was published in 2017 by Imprint.

This is an atmospheric collection of short stories. They are full with revenge, sacrifice, love  and betrayal. All of them are set in the Grishaverse world and are something like the fairytales of this world but more dark than usual fairytales. 
There are six stories and all of them all beautifully illustrated. My favourite was Ayanna and the Thorn Wood and my least favourite was The Soldier Prince.

Rating: 4 Stars

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid's voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy's bidding but only for a terrible price. 
Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore. 
Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, these tales will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse.
This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, all of them lavishly illustrated with art that changes with each turn of the page, culminating in six stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves

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

Thursday 18 March 2021

The Near Witch by V. E. Schwab - A Review

 


Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing The Near Witch by V. E. Schwab which is a YA fantasy novel originally published in 2011. It was the debut novel of Victoria Schwab and didn't get the recognition it deserved, so in 2019 Titan Books released it again in the world.

In the book we follow Lexi who lives in a small town named Near, where there are stories about The Near Witch. 

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. 
If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. There are no strangers in the town of Near. 

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life. But when an actual stranger, a boy who seems to fade like smoke, appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true. The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

I loved this book as much as the other works of V. E. Schwab that I have read so far. 
First of all, I love the setting of the book, a small town near a moor where nothing ever changes. It feels so atmospheric and mysterious at the same time. The book reads like a fairytale and the story centers around folktales about witches and strange things that begin to happen in the town of Near. 
I loved the writing and the characters. Lexi is so caring for her family but also smart, strong and determined to find the truth.

Highly recommend it!

Rating: 5 Stars

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

Tuesday 16 March 2021

Legacy (Starlatten #3) by Darby Cupid - Book Tour & Review

 


Hello everyone!!

Today we are going to talk about Legacy by Darby Cupid which is the third book in the Starlatten trilogy. I am really excited to be part of the book tour that Literary Bound Tours organized.

Check out the tour schedule here.


Title: Legacy (Starlatten Book 3)
Author: Darby Cupid
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: March 21, 2021
Page Count: 380
Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Format: Paperback, Ebook
Amazon: Order here

Synopsis

“Their loyalty and love is what’s likely going to get them killed.”

Whose blood is next? 
Reeling from Danikai’s last words, Crystal leads her council to Zenai. When the dangerous planet pushes them to breaking point, she must decide just how much she’s willing to sacrifice for her people—for her legacy. 

I’m not a king. I’m barely a man. 
Thrust into a world of spacecraft and war, Dylan must find the strength to face not only the dangers of battle, but the unravelling truth inside his heart. 

It’s okay to be scared. 
Watching someone else live the life he deserves, Jaik is determined to find somewhere he belongs. When his past comes back to haunt him, however, he must face his demons one more time. 


My Review

I really enjoyed reading Legacy. I liked the story, the world building and the multiple POVs. The final book in the Starlatten trilogy is action packed and the ending is very satisfying. 
Every character is well developed and they feel very real. 

Author Bio

Darby is a cheese and wine obsessed teacher, living in the desert with her husband, kids and dog. Legacy is the sequel to Rebel and the final book in the Starlatten Trilogy. Darby writes true YA, which means the reality of teenage life including a healthy dose of all the awkwardness and feelings.







SOCIAL LINKS:


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

Monday 15 March 2021

2021 New Releases Weekly - March 16th

 Hello everyone!!

Well, it's time for this week's new releases post. This time we look at books published in the week of  March 16th. There are a lot of books that are in my most anticipated list, but as I said before this list is of course incomplete as it includes only books that I am interested in and the majority of them are in the Fantasy genre.




Let's start...

Namesake (Fable #2) by Adrienne Young 

Trader. Fighter. Survivor. 
With the Marigold ship free of her father, Fable and its crew were set to start over. That freedom is short-lived when she becomes a pawn in a notorious thug’s scheme. In order to get to her intended destination she must help him to secure a partnership with Holland, a powerful gem trader who is more than she seems. 
As Fable descends deeper into a world of betrayal and deception she learns that her mother was keeping secrets, and those secrets are now putting the people Fable cares about in danger. If Fable is going to save them then she must risk everything, including the boy she loves and the home she has finally found. 
Filled with action, emotion, and lyrical writing, New York Times bestselling author Adrienne Young returns with Namesake, the final book in the captivating Fable duology. 


Genre: YA Fantasy
Sequel to: Fable
Publisher: Wednesday Books

Delicates (Sheets #2) by Brenna Thummler

Following the events of the bestselling graphic novel, Sheets, Delicates brings Brenna Thummler’s beloved characters, artwork, and charm back to life. 
Marjorie Glatt’s life hasn’t been the same ever since she discovered a group of ghosts hiding in her family’s laundromat. Wendell, who died young and now must wander Earth as a ghost with nothing more than a sheet for a body, soon became one of Marjorie’s only friends. But when Marjorie finally gets accepted by the popular kids at school, she begins to worry that if anyone learns about her secret ghost friends, she’ll be labeled as a freak who sees dead people. With Marjorie’s insistence on keeping Wendell’s ghost identity a secret from her new friends, Wendell begins to feel even more invisible than he already is. 
Eliza Duncan feels invisible too. She’s an avid photographer, and her zealous interest in finding and photographing ghosts gets her labeled as “different” by all the other kids in school. Constantly feeling on the outside, Eliza begins to feel like a ghost herself. Marjorie must soon come to terms with the price she pays to be accepted by the popular kids. Is it worth losing her friend, Wendell? Is she partially to blame for the bullying Eliza endures? 
Delicates tells a powerful story about what it means to fit in, and those left on the outside. It shows what it’s like to feel invisible, and the importance of feeling seen. Above all, it is a story of asking for help when all seems dark, and bringing help and light to those who need it most.

Genre: Graphic Novel
Sequel to : Sheets
Publisher: Lion Forge/Caracal

The Dragon in the Library (Kit the Wizard #1) by Louie Stowell, Davide Ortu (illustrator)

In a fast-paced and funny adventure, Kit must use the magic of books to save the library—and its resident dragon—from a power-hungry tycoon. 
Kit Spencer can’t stand reading. She’d rather be outside playing and getting muddy than stuck inside with a book. But when her best friends, Josh and Alita, drag her to the local library, Kit makes an incredible discovery: she’s a wizard—and books are the key to her abilities. Unfortunately, a greedy businessman wants to tear down the beloved library, destroying all its magic. To make matters worse, there’s a sleeping dragon hidden there, and if she’s awakened, her wild power will wreak havoc. With the help of a friendly dragon-dog hybrid named Dogon, Kit and her companions will have to find a way to save the dragon in the library—and maybe the world! A humorous romp full of library enchantment, with a diverse cast of characters and dynamic illustrations.

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Publisher: Walker Books US

A ​Queen of Gilded Horns (A River of Royal Blood #2) by Amanda Joy

In this sequel to A River of Royal Blood, Eva and Isa must find a way to work together if they want to save their queendom in the thrilling conclusion to this royal fantasy duology. 
Now on the run, Eva is desperate for answers about her transformation and her true heritage. Along with Aketo, a small contingent of guards, and the sister she could not kill, Eva flees Ternain in hopes of finding friends and allies to the north--not to mention Baccha--to help her decide what to do next. Princess Isa is a difficult, unremorseful captive, and Eva knows better than to trust her sister, but she wants to. Despite their history, Eva is convinced that to survive the growing unrest in the queendom, she and her sister must make peace. Since the Entwining ceremony, Eva's and Isa's lives have been bonded, and each can only die by the other's hand. This perhaps provides an opening for a truce and a more hopeful future for both the sisters and the queendom, if only Isa would see reason and give up the battle for the throne. 
With the two princesses on the run, the Queendom of Myre is on the brink of a revolution. And without Baccha to guide and train her magick, Eva must find a way not only to survive her own metamorphosis, but to unite all the people of Myre, including her sister, by finally taking the Ivory Throne.

Genre: YA Fantasy
Sequel to : A River of Royal Blood
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books For Young Readers


These are some of the new releases of this week.
Are you excited about them?
Do you have other ones on your radar that I should know of?


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




Saturday 13 March 2021

Ruin and Rising (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy #3) by Leigh Bardugo - A Review

 



Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo, the third and final book in the Shadow and Bone trilogy, a YA fantasy book published in 2014 by Henry Holt and Company.

Well, The Darkling is back!

I enjoyed this one more than book two but I wasn't ready and I would have preferred a different ending.
To be honest the first part of the book was a little boring but then it picked up and was full of action. 
I understand that the ending had to be that way because it is fair but...

Leigh Bardugo created a wonderful and dark world with characters that felt real, even the villain of the story.

Rating: 4 Stars

Synopsis from Goodreads:
The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne. 
Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army. 
Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives. 
Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

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

Thursday 11 March 2021

The Curse And The Prince by Day Leitao - Book Tour

 Hello everyone!!

Together with Raven's Bookish Network we present you The Curse And The Prince by Day Leitao, the addicting continuation of the Kingdom of Curses and Shadows series! The book was published on January 14th, 2021 by Sparkly Wave.


About the book: 

A troubled prince. 
A deadly curse. 
A mysterious cup.
And the power to save or doom the kingdom. 

Of course things didn’t go as planned at the Royal Games. When do things go as planned?  
Now Zora is on the run and has to join a disgraced prince in order to retrieve a magical artifact that might undo her valley’s curse. For the first time in her life, she has real hope for her people. The problem is, for the second time in her life, she’s falling for someone she shouldn’t. Finding a hidden object is hard enough on its own, she could do without the heart palpitations and lack of air.  
But the real trouble is that there’s more than one curse in the kingdom. And not enough objects or time to get rid of them all.

Here is a small excerpt from the book:

Zora shivered at the way he mentioned the princess’ lies. He would probably hate her too if she didn’t tell him the truth soon. Well, he would probably hate her regardless, which at least would make it easier to avoid him. But she tried to say something to console him. “Well, people are irrational when they are guided by their hearts, so…”

“I wasn’t in love. I thought I was, but I wasn’t. And you’re right that it only makes it worse.”

“Then it was not the heart. Another body part. Still irrational.”




The first book in the series is The Cup and the Prince and was published in October 2020.

Synopsis of the book:

One prince wants her out.
Another wants her as a pawn.
Someone wants her dead.
Zora wants to win the cup and tell them all to screw themselves. 
Yes, 17-year-old Zora cheated her way into the Royal Games, but it was for a very good reason. Her ex-boyfriend thought she couldn't attain glory on her own. Just because she was a girl. And he was the real cheater. So she took his place. 
Now she's competing for the legendary Blood Cup, representing the Dark Valley. It's her chance to prove her worth and bring glory for her people. If she wins, of course. 
But winning is far from easy. The younger prince thinks she's a fragile damsel who doesn't belong in the competition. Determined to eliminate her at all costs, he's stacking the challenges against her. Zora hates him, hates him, hates him, and will do anything to prove him wrong. 
The older prince is helping her, but the cost is getting Zora entangled in dangerous flirting games. Flirting, the last thing she wanted. 
And then there's someone trying to kill her.

About the author

Day Leitao loves stories with humor, magic and heart. She's the author of the YA fantasy series Portals to Whyland, the sci-fi standalones Star-Spark and Sphere of Infinity, and is currently writing the series Kingdom of Curses and Shadows. She's originally from Brazil and lives in Montreal, Canada. 

Follow the Author:


Purchase the book:

                                                     Amazon      Book Depository      Barnes & Noble


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

Tuesday 9 March 2021

On These Black Sands by Vanessa Rasanen - Cover Reveal

 


Hello everyone!!

Today in  collaboration with Literary Bound Tours, I am really excited to show you the cover for On These Black Sands by Vanessa Rasanen.

Without further ado, here is the stunning cover...



Synopsis of the book

AN HEIR ON THE RUN 
In one month, Aoife Cascade will turn twenty and take her seat on the Council of Cregah, an honor she’s been preparing for her whole life. But when she lets a secret slip to her mother with devastating consequences, all her plans for the future crumble. Believing her people to be better off without her, she flees Cregah, stowing away aboard a pirate ship bound for dangerous waters. 

A PIRATE CAPTAIN WHO NEEDS HER HELP 
Captain Declan McCallagh is young compared to the pirate lords, but after twelve years on the grueling Aisling Sea, he has earned a well respected ship and the attention of the lords, who seek to put him in his place. All he wants is to leave the Aisling Sea—and his past—behind him, and finding the enchanted dagger is the final key to making that happen… the same dagger his sister and her rebel group need to overthrow the council. He’ll have to decide whether to help a people he no longer claims as his own or take the dagger for himself. 

With murder and betrayal at every turn, can Aoife and Declan learn to rely on one another? Or will the secrets they carry destroy their people—and each other? 


The book comes out on August 10, 2021 in paperback and ebook form. The audiobook release date is TBD. It's a New Adult Fantasy book (436 pages) and it is available for preorder on Amazon, B&N and other major retailers starting March 9th. Signed copies available for preordert hrough Crab Apple Books. 

Author Bio

Vanessa sets sail into the waters of new adult fantasy with On These Black Sands, the first book in her world of pirates, fae, and ruthless rulers. By day she wrangles her four children, works as a data analyst, and runs a small business creating gifts for book nerds like herself. A lifelong early bird, she writes in the early morning hours with her coffee, praying for the kids to sleep past sunrise. When not at her keyboard, she is likely hiding somewhere with a good book, watching movies with her family, or dreaming of future travels.




C o n t a c t




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

Monday 8 March 2021

2021 New Releases Weekly - March 9th

 Hello everyone!!

Well, it's time for this week's new releases post. This time we look at books published in the week of March 9th. There are a lot of books that are in my most anticipated list, but as I said before this list is of course incomplete as it includes only books that I am interested in and the majority of them are in the Fantasy genre.




Let's start ...

Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley

In this charming debut fantasy perfect for fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Girls of Paper and Fire, a witch cursed to never love meets a girl hiding her own dangerous magic, and the two strike a dangerous bargain to save their queendom. 
Tamsin is the most powerful witch of her generation. But after committing the worst magical sin, she’s exiled by the ruling Coven and cursed with the inability to love. The only way she can get those feelings back—even for just a little while—is to steal love from others. 
Wren is a source—a rare kind of person who is made of magic, despite being unable to use it herself. Sources are required to train with the Coven as soon as they discover their abilities, but Wren—the only caretaker to her ailing father—has spent her life hiding her secret. 
When a magical plague ravages the queendom, Wren’s father falls victim. To save him, Wren proposes a bargain: if Tamsin will help her catch the dark witch responsible for creating the plague, then Wren will give Tamsin her love for her father. 
Of course, love bargains are a tricky thing, and these two have a long, perilous journey ahead of them—that is, if they don't kill each other first..

Genre: YA Fantasy /LGBTQ+
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter & Angela Slatter

Long ago Miren O'Malley's family prospered due to a deal struck with the Mer: safety for their ships in return for a child of each generation. But for many years the family have been unable to keep their side of the bargain and have fallen into decline. Miren's grandmother is determined to restore their glory, even at the price of Miren's freedom. 
A spellbinding tale of dark family secrets, magic and witches, and creatures of myth and the sea; of strong women and the men who seek to control them

Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Titan Books





Spellmaker (Spellbreaker Duology #2) by Charlie N. Holmberg

Dead wizards, stolen enchantments, and broken promises force a young spellbreaker out of the shadows in the next thrilling installment of the Spellbreaker series by the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Paper Magician. 
England, 1895. An unsolved series of magician murders and opus thefts isn’t a puzzle to Elsie Camden. But to reveal a master spellcaster as the culprit means incriminating herself as an unregistered spellbreaker. When Elsie refuses to join forces with the charming assassin, her secret is exposed, she’s thrown in jail, and the murderer disappears. But Elsie’s hope hasn’t vanished. 
Through a twist of luck, the elite magic user Bacchus Kelsey helps Elsie join the lawful, but with a caveat: they must marry to prove their cover story. Forced beneath a magical tutor while her bond with Bacchus grows, Elsie seeks to thwart the plans of England’s most devious criminal—if she can find them. 
With hundreds of stolen spells at their disposal, the villain has a plan—and it involves seducing Elsie to the dark side. But even now that her secret is out, Elsie must be careful how she uses the new abilities she’s discovering, or she may play right into the criminal’s hands.

Genre: Fantasy / Historical
Sequel to : Spellbreaker
Publisher: 47North


Act Your Age, Eve Brown (The Brown Sisters #3) by Talia Hibbert

In Act Your Age, Eve Brown the flightiest Brown sister crashes into the life of an uptight B&B owner and has him falling hard—literally. 
Eve Brown is a certified hot mess. No matter how hard she strives to do right, her life always goes horribly wrong—so she’s given up trying. But when her personal brand of chaos ruins an expensive wedding (someone had to liberate those poor doves), her parents draw the line. It's time for Eve to grow up and prove herself—even though she's not entirely sure how… 
Jacob Wayne is in control. Always. The bed and breakfast owner’s on a mission to dominate the hospitality industry—and he expects nothing less than perfection. So when a purple-haired tornado of a woman turns up out of the blue to interview for his open chef position, he tells her the brutal truth: not a chance in hell. Then she hits him with her car—supposedly by accident. Yeah, right. 
Now his arm is broken, his B&B is understaffed, and the dangerously unpredictable Eve is fluttering around, trying to help. Before long, she’s infiltrated his work, his kitchen—and his spare bedroom. Jacob hates everything about it. Or rather, he should. Sunny, chaotic Eve is his natural-born nemesis, but the longer these two enemies spend in close quarters, the more their animosity turns into something else. Like Eve, the heat between them is impossible to ignore—and it’s melting Jacob’s frosty exterior.

Genre: Romance / Contemporary
Sequel to: Get a Life, Chloe Brown
                 Take a Hint, Dani Brown
Publisher: Avon



City of Spells (Into the Crooked Place #2) by Alexandra Christo 

Threats are like promises. Don't make ones you can't keep.

With Wesley as their prisoner, Dante Ashwood and Zekia tear through the streets of Uskhanya, conquering cities at a time with their army of Crafters and enthralled citizens. As Wesley realises the truth of his power and Zekia tries to lure him to darkness, he must fight against the deadly magic that invades his mind and find a way back to his friends before it's too late. 
Meanwhile, as the cities fall, Tavia, Saxony and Karam prepare for a fight unlike any other. With tensions running high and battles at every turn, they must unite an army of Crafters, crooks and even politicians if they truly want to take down Ashwood once and for all. 
But things are never simple: with dark magic circling and old secrets clawing from the grave, the unlikely friends have to decide just how far they'll go to do what's right and if they're willing to sacrifice everything to win - including each other.

Genre: YA Fantasy
Sequel to: Into the Crooked Place
Publisher: Hot Key Books


The Bone Maker by Sarah Beth Durst

From award-winning author Sarah Beth Durst, a standalone epic fantasy set in a brand-new world of towering mountains and sparkling cities, in which a band of aging warriors have a second chance to defeat dark magic and avenge a haunting loss. 
Twenty-five years ago, five heroes risked their lives to defeat the bone maker Eklor—a corrupt magician who created an inhuman army using animal bones. But victory came at a tragic price. Only four of the heroes survived.  
Since then, Kreya, the group’s leader, has exiled herself to a remote tower and devoted herself to one purpose: resurrecting her dead husband. But such a task requires both a cache of human bones and a sacrifice—for each day he lives, she will live one less. 
She’d rather live one year with her husband than a hundred without him, but using human bones for magic is illegal in Vos. The dead are burned—as are any bone workers who violate the law. Yet Kreya knows where she can find the bones she needs: the battlefield where her husband and countless others lost their lives. 
But defying the laws of the land exposes a terrible possibility. Maybe the dead don’t rest in peace after all.   
Five warriors—one broken, one gone soft, one pursuing a simple life, one stuck in the past, and one who should be dead. Their story should have been finished. But evil doesn’t stop just because someone once said, “the end.”

Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Harper Voyager

Ravage the Dark (Scavenge the Stars #2) by Tara Sim

Step into an opulent world filled with risk, romance, and revenge and find out whether two unlikely heroes can save the world and stop corruption. 
For seven long years, while she was imprisoned on a debtor's ship, Amaya Chandra had one plan: to survive. But now, survival is not enough. She has people counting on her; counting on her for protection, for leadership, for vengeance. And after escaping Moray by the skin of her teeth, she's determined to track down the man who betrayed her and her friends. 
Cayo Mercado has lost everything: his money, his father, his reputation. Everything except his beloved sister. But he's well on his way to losing her, too, with no way to afford the treatment for her deadly illness. In a foreign empire also being consumed by ash fever, Cayo has no choice but to join Amaya in uncovering the mystery of the counterfeit currency, the fever, and how his father was involved in their creation. But Cayo still hasn't forgiven Amaya for her earlier deception, and their complicated feelings for each other are getting harder and harder to ignore. 
Through glittering galas, dazzling trickery, and thrilling heists, Cayo and Amaya will learn that the corruption in Moray goes far deeper than they know, and in the end the only people they can trust are each other. 

Genre: YA Fantasy
Sequel to: Scavenge the stars
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers


These are some of the new releases of this week.
Are you excited about them?
Do you have other ones on your radar that I should know of?

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