A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (Blood and Ash #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout - A Review

 

Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout which is the second book in her Blood and Ash series. It is a Fantasy Romance and was published in September 2020 by Blue Box Press.

I do not have words!! I loved this one too and I am eagerly awaiting for book three to come to my hands.  I never thought I would like paranormal fantasy but apparently I do. At least these books. 

I loved exploring more Poppy and Hawke's story and learning more about this world. JLA wrote this book so beautifully and she  added tension and more feelings to it. I was expecting a plot twist but not that one. 

I also liked how Poppy's character developed. She went trough many phases with her feelings and we got to experience that. This book made me love Hawke / Casteel even more, as we learned more about him and his character.

Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

A Betrayal 

Everything Poppy has ever believed in is a lie, including the man she was falling in love with. Thrust among those who see her as a symbol of a monstrous kingdom, she barely knows who she is without the veil of the Maiden. But what she does know is that nothing is as dangerous to her as him. The Dark One. The Prince of Atlantia. He wants her to fight him, and that’s one order she’s more than happy to obey. He may have taken her, but he will never have her.

A Choice  

Casteel Da’Neer is known by many names and many faces. His lies are as seductive as his touch. His truths as sensual as his bite. Poppy knows better than to trust him. He needs her alive, healthy, and whole to achieve his goals. But he’s the only way for her to get what she wants—to find her brother Ian and see for herself if he has become a soulless Ascended. Working with Casteel instead of against him presents its own risks. He still tempts her with every breath, offering up all she’s ever wanted. Casteel has plans for her. Ones that could expose her to unimaginable pleasure and unfathomable pain. Plans that will force her to look beyond everything she thought she knew about herself—about him. Plans that could bind their lives together in unexpected ways that neither kingdom is prepared for. And she’s far too reckless, too hungry, to resist the temptation.

A Secret 

But unrest has grown in Atlantia as they await the return of their Prince. Whispers of war have become stronger, and Poppy is at the very heart of it all. The King wants to use her to send a message. The Descenters want her dead. The wolven are growing more unpredictable. And as her abilities to feel pain and emotion begin to grow and strengthen, the Atlantians start to fear her. Dark secrets are at play, ones steeped in the blood-drenched sins of two kingdoms that would do anything to keep the truth hidden. But when the earth begins to shake, and the skies start to bleed, it may already be too late.

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

Athina

2021 New Releases Weekly - April 27th

 Hello everyone!!

Well, it's time for this week's new releases post. This time we look at books published in the week of April 27th. 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.

This week is a little different though. I have only one book that is being released April 27th, to share with you. 

Gilded Serpent (Dark Shores #3) by Danielle L. Jensen 

From bestselling author Danielle L. Jensen comes a thrilling new novel in the Dark Shores world, a series that Sarah J. Maas called "everything I look for in a fantasy novel."

THEIR BATTLES ENDED IN VICTORY

Lydia returns to Mudaire to enter training at the healing temple. But instead of fighting to save lives, she’s convinced she is doing more harm than good. She delves into the history of the gods only to discover a truth that will change her life forever.

His birthright as commander of the Royal Army is finally in his grasp, but Killian feels anything but victorious. Burdened by his past, he embraces the darker side of his mark—and in doing so, risks starting a war.

BUT THE WAR HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN

Having defeated the tyrant Urcon, Marcus struggles to form a lasting alliance with the Arinoquians. But he is plagued by the knowledge that there is a traitor among his friends, and it could cost him everything that he’s fought for.

Torn between her growing allegiance to the Thirty-Seventh legion and her need to liberate her people, Teriana finds herself mired in a web of secrets. She embarks upon a path that will either save everyone she loves—or put them all in their graves.

Readers may read either Dark Shores or Dark Skies first!

Suggested series reading order:

1. Dark Skies or Dark Shores

2. Dark Shores or Dark Skies

3. Gilded Serpent

Genre: YA Fantasy

Sequel to: Dark Shores

                 Dark Skies

Publisher: Tor Teen

There is also a new release that I forgot to mention last week and that is:

The Power of Geography : Ten Maps That Reveal the Future of Our World by Tim Marshall

Quite simply, one of the best books about geopolitics you could imagine: reading it is like having a light shone on your understanding' - Nicholas Lezard, Evening Standard, on Prisoners of Geography If you want to understand what's happening in the world, look at a map. Tim Marshall's global bestseller Prisoners of Geography showed how every nation's choices are limited by mountains, rivers, seas and concrete. Since then, the geography hasn't changed, but the world has. In this revelatory new book, Marshall takes us into ten regions that are set to shape global politics and power. Find out why the Earth's atmosphere is the world's next battleground; why the fight for the Pacific is just beginning; and why Europe's next refugee crisis is closer than it thinks. In ten chapters covering Australia, The Sahel, Greece, Turkey, the UK, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Space, delivered with Marshall's trademark wit and insight, this is a lucid and gripping exploration of the power of geography to shape humanity's past, present - and future. 10 Illustrations, black and white.

Release Date: April 22nd

Genre: Non-fiction / Politics

Publisher: Elliott & Thompson Limited

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

King of Scars (King of Scars #1) by Leigh Bardugo - A Review

 

Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo, the first book in the duology. It is a YA Fantasy and was published in 2019 by Imprint.

King of Scars is about King Nikolai Lantsov and I really liked reading about him. 

We follow the dashing young king, Nikolai Lantsov, who has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country's bloody civil war--and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, Nikolai must find a way to refill Ravka's coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.  

Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha general, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren't meant to stay buried--and some wounds aren't meant to heal. 

I have said it before that I like the writing style of Leigh Bardugo and the world-building she does. Grishaverse is incredible and there are so much more in Grisha history that we learn in this book.

While reading the book I enjoyed more the chapters with Nikolai and Zoya. Zoya has become one of my favourite characters after reading King of Scars. On the other hand I didn't like Nina's chapters and I thought that they weren't necessary to the book. They didn't add something to the plot in my opinion.

That being said the rest of the book was excellent. Nikolai and Zoya's storyline was action-packed and had me turning the pages to see what will happen next. 

The ending was really good and made the whole story more interesting as I honestly wasn't expecting it. 

On to book two, Rule of Wolves, now.

Rating: 4 Stars

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

Athina

The Gilded Ones (Deathless #1) by Namina Forna - A Review

 

Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna, which is the first book in the Deathless series , a YA Fantasy published in February 2021 by Delacorte Press.

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

There are many messages in the story as the setting is a deeply patriarchal  kingdom with little or no respect for women and this story is about empowerment. 

We follow sixteen-year-old Deka who lives in Otera,  where a woman's worth is tied to her purity, and she must bleed to prove it. But when Deka bleeds gold - the colour of impurity, of a demon - she faces a consequence worse than death. She is saved by a mysterious woman who tells Deka of her true nature: she is an Alaki, a near-immortal with exceptional gifts. The stranger offers her a choice: fight for the Emperor, with others just like her, or be destroyed.

Deka is a beloved character, who faces discrimination and who just wants to belong. All that is happening to deka and the other female characters is not far from what women still face today. 

There are amazing friendship dynamics between the women in this book that show how powerful women can be when they are together as a team. 

I also loved how action-packed it was and all the plot twists and revelations. 

This book is supposed to be a trilogy but for me it can stand perfectly as a standalone. The ending wrapped up everything really good. Nevertheless, I am curious to see how it will continue from there.

TW: Graphic violence, mention of abuse and rape

Rating: 4 Stars

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

Athina

Book of Love by Erin Satie - A review & Book Tour

 

Hello everyone!!

Today we have a review and a book tour for Book Of Love by Erin Satie, which is a historical romance and also the second book in the Sweetness and Light series but can be read as a standalone as it is not a direct sequel. 

The book released yesterday April 20th and I am very grateful to the author and Inkslinger PR for providing me with an early copy. Of course all opinions are my own.

 So check it out and be sure to get your copy today!

Title: Book of Love

Author: Erin Satie

Genre: Historical Romance

About Book of Love:

She's trying to make ends meet. He's out for a bit of fun.   

Cordelia Kelly is busy, focused, worried about the future of her fledgling bookbinding business. When a handsome man stops her on the street to pester her with questions, she gives him the consideration he deserves: none. That handsome man happens to be the Duke of Stroud, and he finds Cordelia's hostility hilarious. He gives chase, if only for the pleasure of provoking her again.   He thinks life is a game. She doesn't play around.   

Within days of meeting Cordelia, Stroud sets a marching band on a matchmaking mama, defaces a local monument, and ropes Cordelia into a round of his favorite game. In that same time, Cordelia stitches together the complete works of Mary Wollstonecraft, enthusiastically devotes herself to a petition demanding expanded legal rights for married women, and beats Stroud at his own game.   

She defies all expectations. So does he.   Most people dismiss Stroud as a fool--himself included. When Cordelia sees past his lighthearted facade, he's terrified and also... in love? Stroud barges into Cordelia's life, offering her all the material and sensual temptations she's learned to do without. She usually has willpower to spare, but turning him down takes all of it, and then some. He's oddly irresistible. Or maybe they're perfect for one another.   

Get Your Copy Today!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes | Google Play

 

My review

Reading historical fiction books is something that I really enjoy and when they are combined with romance it is even better. Book of Love is exactly like this. It is set in 19th century London  and I really like that. I loved the setting, the story and the writing style of the author and I really liked the fact that the author touched on some feminist themes of the time. 

I liked both our main characters, Cordelia and Alistair and how their relationship evolved. I enjoyed the banter between them. It looks like a lighthearted read but it has a strong and smart female protagonist that I loved.

Rating: 4 Stars

About Erin Satie:

Erin Satie is the author of the dark and elegant No Better Angels series, historical romances set in the early Victorian period. She’s currently hard at work on her upcoming series, Sweetness & Light, which should be just as elegant but not quite so dark.   Erin is a California native who’s lived on the coasts and in the heartland, in tiny city apartments and on a working farm. She studied art history in both college and graduate school—research is always her favorite part of starting a new book.   Her favorite part of finishing a book, whether reading or writing, is the happily ever after.   

Connect with Erin:

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout - Book Tour

 

"Jennifer L. Armentrout has absolutely blown me away with this entire series! I've turned into a swooning fangirl!" -- Larissa Ione, New York Times bestselling author

The day you’ve been waiting for is FINALLY here!

The Crown of Gilded Bones, the highly anticipated third book in bestselling Blood and Ash series from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout is out now!

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes book three in her Blood and Ash series.

She's been the victim and the survivor…

Poppy never dreamed she would find the love she’s found with Prince Casteel. She wants to revel in her happiness but first they must free his brother and find hers. It’s a dangerous mission and one with far-reaching consequences neither dreamed of. Because Poppy is the Chosen, the Blessed. The true ruler of Atlantia. She carries the blood of the King of Gods within her. By right the crown and the kingdom are hers.

The enemy and the warrior…

Poppy has only ever wanted to control her own life, not the lives of others, but now she must choose to either forsake her birthright or seize the gilded crown and become the Queen of Flesh and Fire. But as the kingdoms’ dark sins and blood-drenched secrets finally unravel, a long-forgotten power rises to pose a genuine threat. And they will stop at nothing to ensure that the crown never sits upon Poppy’s head.

A lover and heartmate…

But the greatest threat to them and to Atlantia is what awaits in the far west, where the Queen of Blood and Ash has her own plans, ones she has waited hundreds of years to carry out. Poppy and Casteel must consider the impossible—travel to the Lands of the Gods and wake the King himself. And as shocking secrets and the harshest betrayals come to light, and enemies emerge to threaten everything Poppy and Casteel have fought for, they will discover just how far they are willing to go for their people—and each other.

And now she will become Queen…

Grab your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pGJq9l
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/CrownofGildedBone
Apple Books: https://apple.co/35KztA5
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3pFzRHW
Nook: https://bit.ly/35JKgu9
Google Play: https://bit.ly/2ISWebS

Hardback: https://bit.ly/3nG8L1z
Paperback: https://amzn.to/35J310H

Add The Crown of Gilded Bones to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/34D4N31

About Jennifer L. Armentrout

#1 New York Times and #1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. She spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, hanging out with her husband and her Border Jack Apollo. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her Wicked Series has been optioned by PassionFlix. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was an Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

She is the owner of ApollyCon and The Origin Event, the successful annual events that features over a hundred bestselling authors in Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Fiction, panels, parties, and more.

Connect with Jennifer
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2xSL7u5
Instagram: @jennifer_l_armentrout http://bit.ly/33GWn8R
Twitter: @JLArmentroutnews http://bit.ly/2QvDYpT
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3dnOSIi
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2U5Jemy
BookBub: http://bit.ly/2U2Fe63
Stay up to date with Jennifer by joining her mailing list: https://bit.ly/2qBce5m
Website: https://jenniferlarmentrout.com

Connect with Blue Box Press
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Website: https://theblueboxpress.com/
Stay up to date on all 1001 Dark Nights and Blue Box Press releases, join their mailing list today! https://bit.ly/2zgxaHu

2021 New Releases Weekly - April 20th

 Hello everyone!!

Well, it's time for this week's new releases post. This time we look at books published in the week of April 20th. 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...

Today is the release day of one of my most anticipated books of the year, so let's start with that one!

The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

She's been the victim and the survivor… 

Poppy never dreamed she would find the love she’s found with Prince Casteel. She wants to revel in her happiness but first they must free his brother and find hers. It’s a dangerous mission and one with far-reaching consequences neither dreamed of. Because Poppy is the Chosen, the Blessed. The true ruler of Atlantia. She carries the blood of the King of Gods within her. By right the crown and the kingdom are hers.

The enemy and the warrior… 

Poppy has only ever wanted to control her own life, not the lives of others, but now she must choose to either forsake her birthright or seize the gilded crown and become the Queen of Flesh and Fire. But as the kingdoms’ dark sins and blood-drenched secrets finally unravel, a long-forgotten power rises to pose a genuine threat. And they will stop at nothing to ensure that the crown never sits upon Poppy’s head.

A lover and heartmate… 

But the greatest threat to them and to Atlantia is what awaits in the far west, where the Queen of Blood and Ash has her own plans, ones she has waited hundreds of years to carry out. Poppy and Casteel must consider the impossible—travel to the Lands of the Gods and wake the King himself. And as shocking secrets and the harshest betrayals come to light, and enemies emerge to threaten everything Poppy and Casteel have fought for, they will discover just how far they are willing to go for their people—and each other.

And now she will become Queen…

Genre: Fantasy / Romance

Sequel to: From Blood and Ash

                 A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire

Publisher: Blue Box Press

Witches Steeped in Gold (Witches Steeped in Gold #1) by Ciannon Smart

Divided by their order. United by their vengeance. 

Iraya has spent her life in a cell, but every day brings her closer to freedom - and vengeance. 

Jazmyne is the Queen’s daughter, but unlike her sister before her, she has no intention of dying to strengthen her mother’s power. 

Sworn enemies, these two witches enter a precarious alliance to take down a mutual threat. But power is intoxicating, revenge is a bloody pursuit, and nothing is certain - except the lengths they will go to win this game. 

This Jamaican-inspired fantasy debut about two enemy witches who must enter into a deadly alliance to take down a common enemy has the twisted cat-and-mouse of Killing Eve with the richly imagined fantasy world of Furyborn and Ember in the Ashes.

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publisher: HarperTeen

How to Save a Queendom by Jessica Lawson

From critically acclaimed author Jessica Lawson comes a whimsical fantasy about an orphaned twelve-year-old girl who is called upon to save her queendom when she finds a tiny wizard in her pocket. 

Life’s never been kind to twelve-year-old Stub. Orphaned and left in the care of the cruel Matron Tratte, Stub’s learned that the best way to keep the peace is to do as she’s told. No matter that she’s bullied and that her only friend is her pet chicken, Peck, Stub’s accepted the fact that her life just isn’t made for adventure. Then she finds a tiny wizard in her pocket. 

Orlen, the royal wizard to Maradon’s queen, is magically bound to Stub. And it’s up to her to ferry Orlen back to Maradon Cross, the country’s capital, or else the delicate peace of the queendom will crumble under the power of an evil wizard queen. Suddenly Stub’s unexciting life is chock-full of adventure. But how can one orphan girl possibly save the entire queendom?

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

These Feathered Flames (These Feathered Flames #1) by Alexandra Overy 

A queer retelling of “The Firebird,” a Russian folktale 

When twin heirs are born in Tourin, their fates are decided at a young age. While Izaveta remained at court to learn the skills she’d need as the future queen, Asya was taken away to train with her aunt, the mysterious Firebird, who ensured magic remained balanced in the realm. 

But before Asya’s training is completed, the ancient power blooms inside her, which can mean only one thing: the queen is dead, and a new ruler must be crowned. 

As the princesses come to understand everything their roles entail, they’ll discover who they can trust, who they can love—and who killed their mother.

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publisher: Inkyard Press

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

Would you sacrifice yourself for the world? 

Ara’s found her soulmate and accepted the bond, but now she must journey south with her team, keeping her secret while fighting against the power that’s threatening to destroy her and the world at every turn. Though fate is non-negotiable, can she find a way to escape it? Or will she have to do the unthinkable before she becomes the victim? The hunted? 

It’s over for Temir. He’s lost everything, including his freedom. His mate, who has refused him, has all the answers but can he escape the king and find a way to get that information from her? How can he save the world when he can’t even save himself? 

It’s time for war in Alewyn and fate has decided that no one is safe. 

One Savior. One Prisoner. One Epic Battle.

Genre: Fantasy

Sequel to: Blood and Promise

                 Chaos and Destiny

Publisher: by the author

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

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

 

Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout , the first book in the Blood and Ash series which is a Fantasy Romance book and was published in March 2020 by Blue Box Press.

There are no words for this book! It is very hyped and I can assure you that the hype is real. I loved everything about it. The story, the world, the characters and of course Hawke and everything about him.

I was hooked from the first chapters and I would have binge read it if it wasn't for my little toddler. 

There are many twists and unexpected turns to the story that made it even better. It is a little slow at the beginning but that is perfectly fine because we got to know the characters better. 

On to the characters now. I loved Poppy as a character. She is smart, strong and knows what she wants. Hawke is also perfect. He is smart, handsome and very mysterious. The relationship between Poppy and Hawke is exactly what I like in a romance. It was evolving as slow as it was needed. 

The world-building in the book is very interesting and I cannot wait to learn more in the sequels.

All in all, I loved From Blood and Ash and I cannot wait to read the next one, A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire. 

This was the first Jennifer L. Armentrout book I read and I will definitely read more from her.

If you haven't already, read this book now!!

Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A Maiden 

Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers. 

A Duty 

The entire kingdom’s future rests on Poppy’s shoulders, something she’s not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because a Maiden has a heart. And a soul. And longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question everything she believes in, and tempts her with the forbidden.

A Kingdom  

Forsaken by the gods and feared by mortals, a fallen kingdom is rising once more, determined to take back what they believe is theirs through violence and vengeance. And as the shadow of those cursed draws closer, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes blurred. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that holds her world together begins to unravel.  

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

Athina

Goldilocks by Jay Crownover - Blog Tour

 

We are so excited to celebrate the release of GOLDILOCKS by Jay Crownover with you today by participating in the blog tour! GOLDILOCKS is a standalone, new adult title. 

You can grab your copy now. 

Join Jay's Group for details about all of her titles. 

Scroll at the bottom to read an excerpt from the book.

 

GOLDILOCKS by Jay Crownover

Standalone New Adult Romance   |   Available Now

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Grab your copy of GOLDILOCKS today!

Amazon US  |  Amazon CA  |  Amazon UK  |  Amazon AU

Purchase in Paperback

About GOLDILOCKS: 

For Olivia Adams, the world has always been too big or too small. Forced to live her life caught between what she wanted for herself and the unfair choices and crazy obsession of those around her for as long as she could remember, Ollie has always felt confined and trapped. It was hard for her to imagine a future beyond the crushing control of those who wanted to make sure she paid the price for her role in a tragic accident that ruined several young lives. However, having no hope and living in a constant state of fear never stopped Ollie from dreaming of different ways to break free and how to reunite with the one person who always made her feel safe. 

Huck is the only one who ever made her feel like there was a place in his world, right by his side, that would fit her just right. The world has always forced Huck Snyder to be a guy who runs either too hot or too cold. Unwanted and barely tolerated, his temper burned hot and bright, often leading him into trouble. After the accident, he was tossed out, disowned, and forced to fend for himself. Struggling to survive, Huck quickly realized the only way he would make it was to freeze out every single memory and moment from his past. Especially those surrounding Ollie. He allowed his heart to harden into a block of ice and refused to let anyone close enough to melt it. Years have passed, and Huck has adjusted to the constant cold that permeates through his new life. He was in no way prepared for the only girl who could ever control his inner fire to show back up. Ollie is on the run and doesn't seem to mind the chilly reception she receives when she shows up unannounced on Huck's doorstep. Fire and ice no longer define Huck because when he's with Ollie, it's easy to remember that the temperature between the two of them has always been just right.

Add GOLDILOCKS to your Goodreads TBR here!

---------------------

About JAY CROWNOVER:

   Jay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, The Point Series, Breaking Point Series, and the Getaway Series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.   

Connect with her: Website| Facebook| Instagram| Goodreads| Reader Group

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Read an excerpt from the book:

I  was a girl born to be caught forever between two extremes. And between two brothers. I grew up in a home that was opulent and over-the top massive. Everything was accented in gold, and the artwork on the walls were originals from the masters. There were rugs and silverware that cost more than my mother made in a year as the head housekeeper of the sprawling estate. Before I could even talk, I was juxtaposed between outrageous wealth and abject poverty. I was never sure on which side of the coin I fell, because while I was privileged enough to attend the fancy private school where the homeowners sent their two sons, I was by far the poorest kid attending the academy. I received the best education money could buy, but it was no secret I was a kid bound for community college or trade school, not the Ivy League like the rest of my classmates.

I was also trapped in a bitter back and forth between good and evil throughout my entire existence. I grew up in the shadow of two boys who were as different as night and day. My mom cared for both of them like they were her own…and treated all three of us the same. That couldn’t be said for the rest of the adults who haunted the halls of the ostentatious mansion. Both boys were the same age, born mere weeks apart. One was the rightful heir to the family fortune, his mother the reigning society queen of the small, ritzy New England town where we lived. She called all the shots and was scary powerful in the right circles. Her child was the favored son. He could do no wrong in the eyes of the elite. I knew better.

He might look like the prince of the castle, and the hero of every fairytale, but I knew he was the villain. He didn’t look it with his blond hair and bright blue eyes. He hid it well behind a perfect, pearly white smile and carefully crafted charm. He looked like a dreamboat, but underneath the polished façade, he was a living, breathing nightmare. The other son was always an afterthought. No one wanted him. Not the mother who had him in order to blackmail his father and had quickly abandoned him after she got paid. Not the father who couldn’t be bothered to focus on either of his sons or care how hateful his wife was to his bastard child. He was gone for most of the boys’ childhoods, and when he was around, it was never pleasant. I learned at a very young age it didn’t matter how big your home was or how hefty your bank account was, you could never escape a fractured family by avoiding the problems that created the cracks in the first place.

The forgotten son didn’t fit in with the rich kids and social climbers any better than I did. He was an outcast. A blemish on the image of one of the most well respected families in the nation. He was a burden and a problem that couldn’t simply be swept under the rug. I never understood why the father brought him home and promptly washed his hands of the boy, but as I got older and started to pick up on subtle clues, I wondered if he hated his wife. Forcing her to raise the dark-haired boy who looked exactly like him was his ultimate revenge on the bossy, demanding woman who took no joy in anything other than looking down on those she deemed beneath her. The illegitimate son should’ve been bitter and angry that he’d been born into a family that only acknowledged him when they wanted to hurt each other. But unlike the golden child, he was easygoing and affable, not taking much of anything too seriously. He was a jokester and liked to play around. He was cute, and so much softer than his half brother. He looked for trouble and liked to cause a ruckus because he was bored in that fancy school

and didn’t care about gaining anyone’s favor. He was the ultimate rebel and my very best friend in the whole wide world from the time I could walk until the moment I betrayed him.

He wasn’t the kind of guy who popped up in fairytales very often. He was too goofy, and his unpredictable temper could be scary. He generally saved his anger for only one person, his brother, but when it was unleashed, he was like a whole different person. For me, he was always the hero in every situation and story. There wasn’t a person with whom I wanted to spend all my time, or one I looked up to more than the second son. Next to my mother, he was my favorite part of my forever-conflicted life.

Much to the annoyance of the supposedly perfect son.

One treated me like a beloved little sister and watched out for me from the get-go. The other treated me like a possession, like something that belonged to him and him alone. I figured out the hard way that it was very possible to be caught between right and wrong. Anyone removed from obscene wealth would think those two things were absolute with no room for interpretation. When money was involved, right was more like a suggestion, and wrong was a judgment call. I lost count of how many times the second son was punished for outshining the first simply because it made the family look bad. It was predetermined who was supposed to shine and who was supposed to fade away, but the bastard child had nothing to lose, so he refused to play by the rules that were created against him. I grew immune to the legitimate son receiving praise for abhorrent behavior. He was a bully and a beast, and his mother encouraged the hell out of him, making everyone around him feel like they were less than. Especially his half brother. I was enamored with one boy and terrified of the other. I lived my life like a human ping pong ball bouncing back and forth between them. One was my savior, the other an enemy I couldn’t escape. One tried to protect me with everything he had, while the other used my one and only weakness—my mother—to manipulate me and make me behave exactly the way he wanted. If my life were a fairytale, when the second son promised me a life beyond everything I knew, I would have believed him. I would have waited and trusted that there was going to be a happily ever after for at least one of us.

But my life was more like a horror story. The golden child always got his way, and not only did I throw away my life and any chance at happiness, I also betrayed the only boy who ever made me feel like I belonged. In the end, I was more of a villain than the perfect, wicked boy I hated with every fiber of my being ever was.

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

 

Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo which is the second book in her Six of Crows duology that was published in 2016 by Henry Holt and Company.

We follow again Kaz Brekker and his crew of deadly outcasts who have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. 

Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties.  

A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets - a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world. 

The second book in the Six of Crows duology was as good as the first one. 

Full of action, with the same incredible characters and another impossible heist/mission again.

In this book we learn more about our characters' past and we get to see some of the Shadow and Bone characters as well.  In Crooked Kingdom it took me a little longer to get into the story but when I did I was hooked. There are twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. 

I liked that the ending was bittersweet and I loved Kaz and Inej's scene.

Highly recommend it if you haven't read it already.

Rating: 5 Stars

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

Athina

A Battle of Blood and Stone by Sawyer Bennett - Book Tour

 

From New York Times Bestselling Author Sawyer Bennett comes the Chronicles of the Stone Veil, a five book urban fantasy/paranormal romance series. A departure from contemporary romance, the Chronicles of the Stone Veil is a return to fantasy/paranormal romance, where Sawyer started her fiction publishing journey. Readers can expect to find all the elements they love from Sawyer’s books—strong heroines, alpha heroes, and an epic romance—with a fantastical element to add to their reading experience.  

You can get the fourth book in the series, A Battle of Blood and Stone, now!

Details for the Chronicles of the Stone Veil series are below: 

You can start the series today with The Revelation of Light and Dark. 

Go to Sawyer's website for details: Click here to learn more about The Chronicles of the Stone Veil series

A Battle of Blood and Stone is available now: 

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A Battle of Blood and Stone

Chronicles of the Stone Veil, book #4

An Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance Series   |   AVAILABLE NOW

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Book Blurb:

Another day, another step closer to Hell on Earth being unleashed. With every piece that falls into place for the queen of the Underworld, Kymaris gains strength and power that will make it more difficult to defeat her when the time comes. It feels as if we’re in a desperate race to get just one step ahead of her, but my demise feels closer than it ever has before with still so much to do. The first order of business is to unlock the angelic powers with which I was gifted at birth, and Carrick insists on getting help from my archnemesis to do so. Yes, I have to save the world, but my priority has now become rescuing my sister from the Underworld. While there are many questions still to be answered about my long-lost twin, I know I will not win this battle without her by my side. In the midst of all the doom and gloom, Carrick has become my beacon of shining light. Our connection unimaginable, my heart recognizes his as the other half of its whole. Inexplicable and deeper than one could ever imagine, the love I hold for him is forged by destiny, however ill-fated it may turn out to be. And those are the feelings I must hold close…to keep me going. Because a painful lesson is on the horizon—betrayal never comes from your enemies. A Battle of Blood and Stone is book four of the Chronicles of the Stone Veil series and is best enjoyed if read in series order.   

A Battle of Blood and Stone is available now: 

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AVAILABLE NOW

The Revelation of Light and Dark

Chronicles of the Stone Veil, book #1  |  Available Now

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A Discovery of Secrets and Fate

Chronicles of the Stone Veil, book #2  |  Available Now

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The Evolution of Fae and Gods

Chronicles of the Stone Veil, book #3  |  Available Now

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A Battle of Blood and Stone

Chronicles of the Stone Veil, book #4  |  Available Now

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Add it to Goodreads

   

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COMING SOON

The Rise of Fortune and Fury

Chronicles of the Stone Veil, book #5  |  Coming May 4, 2021

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Add it to Goodreads

 

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.

If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).

 

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2021 New Releases Weekly - April 13th

 Hello everyone!!

Well, it's time for this week's new releases post. This time we look at books published in the week of  April 13th. 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...

The Light of the Midnight Stars by Rena Rossner

An evocative combination of fantasy, history, and Jewish folklore, The Light of the Midnight Stars is fairytale-inspired novel from the author of The Sisters of the Winter Wood. 

Deep in the Hungarian woods, the sacred magic of King Solomon lives on in his descendants. Gathering under the midnight stars, they pray, sing and perform small miracles - and none are more gifted than the great Rabbi Isaac and his three daughters. Each one is blessed with a unique talent - whether it be coaxing plants to grow, or predicting the future by reading the path of the stars. 

When a fateful decision to help an outsider ends in an accusation of witchcraft, fire blazes through their village. Rabbi Isaac and his family are forced to flee, to abandon their magic and settle into a new way of life. But a dark fog is making its way across Europe and will, in the end, reach even those who thought they could run from it. Each of the sisters will have to make a choice - and change the future of their family forever.

Genre: Fantasy / Historical Fiction

Publisher: Redhook

Malice by Heather Walter 

The princess isn't supposed to fall for an evil sorceress. But in this darkly magical retelling of Sleeping Beauty, true love is more complicated than a simple fairy tale. Perfect for fans of Naomi Novik and Holly Black.

Once upon a time, there was a wicked fairy who cursed a line of princesses to die, and could only be broken by true love's kiss. You've heard this before, haven't you? The handsome prince. The happily-ever-after. 

Utter nonsense. 

Let me tell you, no one actually cares about what happens to our princesses. I thought I didn't care, either. Until I met her. 

Princess Aurora. The last heir to the throne. The future queen her realm needs. One who isn't bothered that I am the Dark Grace, abhorred and feared for the mysterious dark magic that runs in my veins. Aurora says I should be proud of my gifts. That she . . . cares for me. Even though it was a power like mine that was responsible for her curse. 

But with less than a year until that curse will kill her, any future I might see with Aurora is swiftly disintegrating - and she can't stand to kiss yet another insipid prince. I want to help her. If my power began her curse, perhaps it's what can lift it. Perhaps, together, we could forge a new world. 

Nonsense again. Because we all know how this story ends, don't we? Aurora is the beautiful princess. And I- 

I am the villain.

Genre: Fantasy / Retelling

Publisher: Del Rey

Love in Colour: Mythical Tales from Around the World, Retold by Bolu Babalola

A high-born Nigerian goddess, who has been beaten down and unappreciated by her gregarious lover, longs to be truly seen.  

A young businesswoman attempts a great leap in her company, and an even greater one in her love life. 

A powerful Ghanaian spokeswoman is forced to decide whether she should uphold her family’s politics or be true to her heart. 

In her debut collection, internationally acclaimed writer Bolu Babalola retells the most beautiful love stories from history and mythology with incredible new detail and vivacity. Focusing on the magical folktales of West Africa, Babalola also reimagines Greek myths, ancient legends from the Middle East, and stories from long-erased places.  

With an eye towards decolonizing tropes inherent in our favorite tales of love, Babalola has created captivating stories that traverse across perspectives, continents, and genres. 

Genre: Short stories / Mythology / Romance

Publisher: Headline

Book Nerd by Holly Maguire

You know you’re a Book Nerd when… 

—You have a minimum of 5 books on your night table. 

—You never thought one the movie was better. 

—Your favorite mug says “I’d rather be reading.” 

—You use words like librocubicularist in casual conversation (though no conversation about books is ever casual”). 

Charming, affectionate, and unabashed in its celebration of bookishness, this little love letter is for every avid reader

Genre: Graphic novel

Publisher: Workman Publishing Company

The Prison Healer (The Prison Healer #1) by Lynette Noni 

Seventeen-year-old Kiva Meridan has spent the last ten years fighting for survival in the notorious death prison, Zalindov, working as the prison healer. 

When the Rebel Queen is captured, Kiva is charged with keeping the terminally ill woman alive long enough for her to undergo the Trial by Ordeal: a series of elemental challenges against the torments of air, fire, water, and earth, assigned to only the most dangerous of criminals. 

Then a coded message from Kiva’s family arrives, containing a single order: “Don’t let her die. We are coming.” Aware that the Trials will kill the sickly queen, Kiva risks her own life to volunteer in her place. If she succeeds, both she and the queen will be granted their freedom. 

But no one has ever survived. 

With an incurable plague sweeping Zalindov, a mysterious new inmate fighting for Kiva’s heart, and a prison rebellion brewing, Kiva can’t escape the terrible feeling that her trials have only just begun.

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

The Girl and the Mountain (Book of the Ice #2) by Mark Lawrence 

The second pulse-pounding novel in an epic fantasy series set in the same world as the wildly popular Red Sister. 

Yaz must fight for survival in this thrilling novel set on the unforgiving planet of Abeth.

Genre: Fantasy

Sequel to: The Girl and the Stars

Publisher: Ace 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