"The fairytales had it wrong. Robin Hood was a woman ."
The Hood by Frost Kay is a YA Romantic Fantasy and it is the fifth book in The Twisted Kingdoms series. It can, however, be read as a standalone. The book will be published on April 29th 2022.
Without any further ado here is the beautiful cover
TITLE: The Hood
SERIES TITLE: The Twisted Kingdoms, Book 5 (can be read as a standalone)
GENRE: YA Romantic Fantasy
STEAM LEVEL: Mild
TRIGGER WARNINGS: n/a
RELEASE DATE: 04.29.22
About the book:
Coming home from war wasn't what Robyn expected. Relegated as lady of the manor, with the threat of an arranged marriage to the very man trying to steal her land, she refuses to be sidelined.
When the duke's men accost a shifter family in the woods, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Robyn joins the fray and receives help from an unlikely source. A Dragon. But no good deed goes unpunished.
She never meant to become a hooded rogue wanted by the very man intent on securing her as his wife, nor falling for the rakish dragon king determined to whisk her away to his lair.
Trapped between two worlds, Robyn has to make a difficult choice. Duty and honor, or love and family.
The King of Thieves? He was a myth. The Queen of Thieves? She became a legend.
The Hood is a complete, *stand-alone novel*, inspired by the classic fairytales Robin Hood and Mulan with a "happily ever after" ending. It's a must have for romantic fantasy readers who loved The Moonfire Bride by Sylvia Mercedes and Sherwood by Megan Spooner. If you love books that feature enemies to lovers, found family, mates, dragons, and pulse pounding adventure, you need to start this fantasy retelling with epic twists.
If you like The Moonfire Bride, Realm Breaker, A Dance with the Fae Prince, you will like this one too.
There is a giveaway running until April 7th and you can learn more about it and also enter on my Instagram post @booknotes_athina .
See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
Today is the last day of March and I think that it is appropriate to talk about the books I read in the month. In March I read six books of which four were physical books and two were ebooks. There were two 5-Star reads among them that I am really happy about.
Let's see them together...
Only A Monster (Monsters #1) by Vanessa Len
To be honest with you, I wasn't expecting much from this book but I ended up really liking it. It has some classic YA tropes and a really exciting and engaging storyline.
I will definitely read the sequel when it comes out.
Rating: 4 Stars
Television was a baby crawling towards that death chamber by Allen Ginsberg
Profane and prophetic verses about sex, death, revolution and America by the great icon of Beat poetry.
It belongs to the Penguin Modern Classics Collection (Nr.2) and I read it as part of my challenge.
Rating: 2 Stars
Age Of Ash (Kithamar #1) by Daniel Abraham
I enjoyed reading Age of Ash but I didn't love it as much as I wanted. I loved the writing style and the setting which felt real. I want to learn more about the world and the magic system which I believe will happen in the next books.
Rating: 3 Stars
I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley
The Empire of Gold (The Daevabad Trilogy #3) by S. A. Chakraborty
All I can say is that I loved The Empire of Gold as I did the previous two books in the trilogy.
The whole trilogy was excellent. It had complex politics, great character development and wonderful world-building. I am sad that it is over.
Rating: 5 Stars
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
It is a contemporary fantasy where we follow Nora while she explores The Midnight Library and what her life could have been if she had made a different choice.
I loved it. It was beautifully written and it made you think about your own choices.
Rating: 5 Stars
Rebel Girls Climate Warriors - 25 Tales of Women who Protect the Earth by Rebel Girls
This book tells the stories of women, who with their ingenuity and commitment tried and try to protect the earth.
I liked the selection of the women since I got to learn about women and their work that I had never heard off.
As always with these books the illustrations were perfect.
I highly recommend it for everyone!!
Rating: 4 Stars
I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley
These were all the books that I read in March.
Have you read any of them? What did you think about it?
See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
Well, it's time for this week's new releases post. This time we look at books published in the week of March 29th. 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...
A Magic Steeped In Poison (The Book of Tea #1) by Judy I. Lin
I used to look at my hands with pride. Now all I can think is, "These are the hands that buried my mother."
For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it's her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.
When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom's greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning's only chance to save her sister's life.
But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Wild and Wicked Things by Francesca May
In the aftermath of World War I, a naive woman is swept into a glittering world filled with dark magic, romance, and murder in this lush and decadent debut.
On Crow Island, people whisper, real magic lurks just below the surface.
Neither real magic nor faux magic interests Annie Mason. Not after it stole her future. She’s only on the island to settle her late father’s estate and, hopefully, reconnect with her long-absent best friend, Beatrice, who fled their dreary lives for a more glamorous one.
Yet Crow Island is brimming with temptation, and the biggest one may be her enigmatic new neighbor.
Mysterious and alluring, Emmeline Delacroix is a figure shadowed by rumors of witchcraft. And when Annie witnesses a confrontation between Bea and Emmeline at one of the island's extravagant parties, she is drawn into a glittering, haunted world. A world where the boundaries of wickedness are tested, and the cost of illicit magic might be death.
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Redhook
The Bloody Throne (Hostage of Empire #3) by S. C. Emmett
A richly detailed epic of ambition, honor, and sacrifice, The Bloody Throne is the masterful conclusion to Hostage of Empire, a medieval East Asia-inspired fantasy trilogy.
The great Zhaon empire is in turmoil. The emperor is dead and the crown prince has fallen to hidden schemes, leaving the most dangerous prince to assume the throne. The imperial court is seething, and whispers of war grow to shouts. The once vanquished kingdom of Khir marches again to regain their honor, the savage Tabrak raid the borders after ravaging the South, and assassins lurk in the shadows seeking imperial favor.
Komor Yala, her position deeply uncertain, finds shelter in marriage to the cunning Third Prince―but there is little safety in Zhaon. Death and destruction mount as a blood-drenched summer ends, and to the victor will be left an empire—if it is not turned to smoking ruins first.
The wheel of destiny is turning, and all will be caught under its weight...
Genre: Fantasy
Sequel to: The Throne of the Five Winds
The Poison Prince
Publisher: Orbit
A Forgery of Roses by Jessica S. Olson
Myra Whitlock has a gift. One many would kill for.
She’s an artist whose portraits alter people’s real-life bodies, a talent she must hide from those who would kidnap, blackmail, and worse in order to control it. Guarding that secret is the only way to keep her younger sister safe now that their parents are gone.
But one frigid night, the governor’s wife discovers the truth and threatens to expose Myra if she does not complete a special portrait that would resurrect the governor's dead son. Desperate, Myra ventures to his legendary stone mansion.
Once she arrives, however, it becomes clear the boy’s death was no accident. Someone dangerous lurks within these glittering halls. Someone harboring a disturbing obsession with portrait magic.
Myra cannot do the painting until she knows what really happened, so she turns to the governor’s older son, a captivating redheaded poet. Together, they delve into the family’s most shadowed affairs, racing to uncover the truth before the secret Myra spent her life concealing makes her the killer’s next victim.
From Sing Me Forgotten author Jessica S. Olson comes a gothic fantasy murder mystery perfect for fans of Kerri Maniscalco and Erin A. Craig.
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Inkyard Press
The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
The New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code returns with an unforgettable World War II tale of a quiet bookworm who becomes history's deadliest female sniper. Based on a true story.
In 1937 in the snowbound city of Kiev (now known as Kyiv), wry and bookish history student Mila Pavlichenko organizes her life around her library job and her young son--but Hitler's invasion of Ukraine and Russia sends her on a different path. Given a rifle and sent to join the fight, Mila must forge herself from studious girl to deadly sniper--a lethal hunter of Nazis known as Lady Death. When news of her three hundredth kill makes her a national heroine, Mila finds herself torn from the bloody battlefields of the eastern front and sent to America on a goodwill tour.
Still reeling from war wounds and devastated by loss, Mila finds herself isolated and lonely in the glittering world of Washington, DC--until an unexpected friendship with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and an even more unexpected connection with a silent fellow sniper offer the possibility of happiness. But when an old enemy from Mila's past joins forces with a deadly new foe lurking in the shadows, Lady Death finds herself battling her own demons and enemy bullets in the deadliest duel of her life.
Based on a true story, The Diamond Eye is a haunting novel of heroism born of desperation, of a mother who became a soldier, of a woman who found her place in the world and changed the course of history forever.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: William Morrow & Company
Give Your Heart To The Burrow (Bluebeard's Secret #3) by Sarah K.L. Wilson
GIVE YOUR HEART TO THE BARROW is the third book in the Bluebeard's Secret series following the eerie and romantic story of DANCE WITH THE SWORD.
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Sequel to: Fly with the arrow
Dance with the sword
Until the Last of Me (Take them to the stars #3) by Sylvain Neuvel
The First Rule is the most important: "Always run, never fight."
Over 100 generations, Mia's family has shaped Earth's history to push humanity to the stars, making brutal, wrenching choices along the way.
And now Mia finds herself about to help launch the first people into space. She can't take them to the stars, not quite yet. But with her adversary almost upon her, and with the future of the planet at stake it's becoming clearer that obeying the First Rule is no longer an option.
For the first time since her line's first generation, Mia will have to choose to stand her ground, knowing that the overwhelming odds mean that she risks not only her bloodline, but also the future of the human race.
A darkly satirical thriller, as seen through the eyes of the women who sacrifice all to make progress possible and the men who are determined to stop them...
Always run, never fight.
Preserve the knowledge.
Survive at all cost.
Take them to the stars.
Genre: Science Fiction
Sequel to: A History of What Comes Next
Publisher: Tordotcom
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!!!
Just One Wish, an all new spicy, second chance novella set in the Kingston/Dare Family world from New York Times bestselling author Carly Phillips and 1,001 Dark Nights is available now!
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Carly Phillips returns to her sexy Kingston—Dare world of rich billionaire heroes in her new Kingston Family series.
He was her first love. She was his.
They broke up to follow their dreams.
Axel Forrester became a world famous drummer.
Tara Stillman became a veterinarian.
Years later, he’s scrolling social media and sees they’re both in East Hampton, NY.
Fate? Or Coincidence?
What’s a rockstar to do other than borrow his friend’s dog as an excuse to see the good doctor.
And—show up at her office after all this time.
Axel wants a second chance with the one who got away. He’s not going to let Tara go this time.
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestseller, Carly Phillips gives her readers Alphalicious heroes to swoon for and romance to set your heart on fire. She married her college sweetheart and lives in Purchase, NY along with her three crazy dogs: two wheaten terriers and a mutant Havanese, who are featured on her Facebook and Instagram. The author of 50 romance novels, she has raised two incredible daughters who put up with having a mom as a full time writer. Carly’s book, The Bachelor, was chosen by Kelly Ripa as a romance club pick and was the first romance on a nationally televised bookclub. Carly loves social media and interacting with her readers. Want to keep up with Carly? Sign up for her newsletter and receive TWO FREE books at www.carlyphillips.com.
Connect with Carly Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2FIG6FH Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QyGiLl Instagram: http://bit.ly/2TI6LX9 Facebook: http://bit.ly/2Nk4bID Stay up to date with Carly by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/2FKDasp Sign up for Text Updates of New Releases: http://tinyurl.com/p3upm5s Join Carly’s Addicts: http://bit.ly/2CM78tY Twitter: http://bit.ly/2FJRa5y Website: www.carlyphillips.com Blog: http://bit.ly/2HQaYXg
For More information about 1001 Dark Nights Visit Facebook: https://bit.ly/37fl0uT Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Y7uBQp Website: https://bit.ly/2AIIr3A Stay up to date on all 1001 Dark Nights releases, join their mailing list today! https://bit.ly/2zgxaHu
Today I am really excited to share with you the beautiful cover of Rising Shadows by Sydney Hawthorn, which is the third book in The Navarre Chronicles. It is a dark NA fantasy book and since the release date is not set yet, you can start preordering the book from April 25th 2022.
Without further ado here is the beautiful cover...
Synopsis:
(For Awakening Shadows, book 1, since the blurb for book3 is not complete!)
A Princess. A Warrior. A Slave. A kingdom falling to ruin. And a Queenmeant to save them all.
Navarre has been at peace for three hundred years, the prophecies of the promised princess no more than a whispered memory of the past. Sheltered from the world around her, naïve Princess Joseline is no stranger to the responsibility and isolation of being heir. But when an attack on her eighteenth birthday reveals the looming return of the legendary demon king, shattering every protective boundary around her, Joseline is thrown full force into the long-forgotten prophecy and the role she plays in his demise.
Saved from Aeron’s clutches by a secret organization of warriors trained to protect her, Joseline is forced to choose between her curiosity to understand their motives and her duty to her people’s safety. Swept into the impending war threatening her country, Joseline must learn at all costs not only to fight, but to control the ancient magical power awakening within her.
Her life and the lives of her people depend on it.
See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
Mythology was always one of my favourite subjects. I really like reading about the myths of different cultures and learning from them. Since I am Greek it is natural that I know more about Greek Mythology than any other. However, I want to change that and read more books based in classic mythology from around the world.
This is where this list of recommendations comes. It is here to help me and everyone who wants to, to read more books based in mythology from around the world.
Let's start...
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
It is inspired by Greek Mythology and especially the ancient myth of Theseus and the Minotaur.
Ariadne gives a voice to the forgotten women of one of the most famous Greek myths, and speaks to their strength in the face of angry, petulant Gods.
It is inspired by the vilified queen from the Ramayana in Indian Mythology and it is a stunning debut from a powerful new voice. Kaikeyi is a tale of fate, family, courage, and heartbreak—of an extraordinary woman determined to leave her mark in a world where gods and men dictate the shape of things to com
This is another Greek Mythology inspired book by the author. This time is about the House of Atreides and especially the story of Elektra who is the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra.
It is inspired by the Greek myth of Pandora and it is set in Georgian London, where the discovery of a mysterious ancient Greek vase sets in motion conspiracies, revelations and romance.
Pandora is a story of secrets and deception, love and fulfilment, fate and hope.
The Silence of the Girls ( Women of Troy #1) by Pat Barker
This book tells us the story of the Trojan War through the eyes of the women and especially Queen Briseis who has been stolen from her conquered homeland and given as a concubine to a foreign warrior. The warrior is Achilles. Briseis's fate is now indivisibly entwined with his.
No one knows it yet, but there are just ten weeks to go until the Fall of Troy, the end of this long and bitter war. This is the start of The Iliad: the most famous war story ever told. The next ten weeks will be a story of male power, male ego, male violence. But what of the women? The thousands of female slaves in the soldiers' camp - in the laundry, at the loom, laying out the dead? Briseis is one of their number - and she will be our witness to history.
You can also check the follow up to the story The Women of Troy here
Circe by Madeline Miller
It is a retelling of the story of the mythological witch Circe who is famous from the Greek epic poem The Odyssey. This time who see the story and the events through Circe's point of view which is fascinating.
Breathing life into the ancient world, Madeline Miller weaves an intoxicating tale of gods and heroes, magic and monsters, survival and transformation.
Daughter of The Moon Goddess (The Celestial Kingdom Duology #1) by Sue Lynn Tan
A captivating debut fantasy inspired by the legend of Chang'e, the Chinese moon goddess, in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess begins an enchanting, romantic duology which weaves ancient Chinese mythology into a sweeping adventure of immortals and magic—where love vies with honor, dreams are fraught with betrayal, and hope emerges triumphant.
These are my recommendations regarding books based in Classic Mythology. I know that the list is incomplete, since it has more Greek mythology inspired books than I wanted but I am always open to your own suggestions.
See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
Well, it's time for this week's new releases post. This time we look at books published in the week of March 22nd. 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...
Destiny of the Dead (The Shroud of Prophesy #2) by Kel Kade
No more heroes.
The wealthy and powerful. The kings and queens. They all abandoned the world to fate when the chosen one died. All except a small group of broken people. Through dogged determination and maybe a bit of stupid bravery, Aaslo and his friends fought on. They continued the fight even when far greater heroes had given up.
Now, Aaslo must turn the tides. In a world swifly falling to chaos, Aaslo is determined to win this war...at any cost. He's made a deal with fickle fae, setting him and his friends on a collosion course with the gods themselves.
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Sequel to: Fate of the Fallen
Publisher: Tor Books
The Bone Orchard by Sara A. Mueller
Charm is a witch, and she is alone. The last of a line of conquered necromantic workers, now confined within the yard of regrown bone trees at Orchard House, and the secrets of their marrow.
Charm is a prisoner, and a survivor. Charm tends the trees and their clattering fruit for the sake of her children, painstakingly grown and regrown with its fruit: Shame, Justice, Desire, Pride, and Pain.
Charm is a whore, and a madam. The wealthy and powerful of Borenguard come to her house to buy time with the girls who aren't real.
Except on Tuesdays, which is when the Emperor himself lays claim to his mistress, Charm herself.
now—Charm is also the only person who can keep an empire together, as the Emperor summons her to his deathbed, and charges her with choosing which of his awful, faithless sons will carry on the empire—by discovering which one is responsible for his own murder.
If she does this last thing, she will finally have what has been denied her since the fall of Inshil—her freedom. But she will also be betraying the ghosts past and present that live on within her heart.
Charm must choose. Her dead Emperor’s will or the whispers of her own ghosts. Justice for the empire or her own revenge.
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Tor Books
Wrath & Mercy (The Bright & The Pale Duology #2) by Jessica Rubinkowski
Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sara Raasch, this epic second book in Russian folklore–based YA fantasy duology The Bright & the Pale follows Valeria as she works to truly free her people from the Czar and the Bright God—at whatever the cost.
Surviving the ill-fated expedition to Knnot, Valeria, Alik, and the others have found refuge in Valeria’s village. With her family at long last released from the curse that trapped them in ice for a decade, Valeria should find comfort in their reunion. But everything has changed—including herself. For now, Valeria is the Pale God’s chosen champion. And she is ready for revenge on the Czar.
With the power gifted to her by the Pale God, she will do whatever it takes to liberate her people. Even if that means stealing the Czar’s son away from the safety of the Winter Palace. As Alik watches Valeria struggle to maintain control over the god she holds captive, he begs her to sever the connection. For it is clear the Pale God plans a revenge of his own.
The inevitable is coming—one final battle. And Valeria must be ready to sacrifice everything—even her love for Alik—to win.
Genre: YA Fantasy
Sequel to: The Bright & The Pale
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
The City of Dusk (The Dark Gods #1) by Tara Sim
Set in a gorgeous world of bone and shadow magic, of vengeful gods and defiant chosen ones, The City of Dusk is the first in a dark epic fantasy trilogy that follows the four heirs of four noble houses—each gifted with a divine power—as they form a tenuous alliance to keep their kingdom from descending into a realm-shattering war.
The Four Realms—Life, Death, Light, and Darkness—all converge on the city of dusk. For each realm there is a god, and for each god there is an heir.
But the gods have withdrawn their favor from the once vibrant and thriving city. And without it, all the realms are dying.
Unwilling to stand by and watch the destruction, the four heirs—Risha, a necromancer struggling to keep the peace; Angelica, an elementalist with her eyes set on the throne; Taesia, a shadow-wielding rogue with rebellion in her heart; and Nik, a soldier who struggles to see the light— will sacrifice everything to save the city.
But their defiance will cost them dearly.
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Orbit
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!!!
GOUDA FRIENDS by Cathy Yardley is out now! Check out the gorgeous friends-to-lovers romcom and grab your copy today!
Title: Gouda Friends
Author: Cathay Yardley
Genre: RomCom
About Gouda Friends:
Two high school BFFs reunite and endeavor to fix each other’s lives in this geeky romance from the author of Love, Comment, Subscribe.Tam Doan dumped her boyfriend after he threw away her gourmet cheese. Sure, it’s a little more complicated than that, but the point is, he had it coming. Newly single and unemployed, Tam calls up her best friend from high school and utters the emergency code word—goldfish. Next thing she knows, she’s on a plane back home.Josh O’Malley was a troubled, unconfident teenager. Now he’s the successful owner of a multimillion-dollar ghost kitchen. Tam, his high school BFF and fellow member of the Nerd Herd friend group, was instrumental in building his self-esteem. When she calls him out of the blue, he jumps at the chance to return the favor.Josh and Tam immediately get to work fixing her life—but again, it’s complicated. Their close friendship was always a lifeline between them; a blooming romance might confuse things. Still, at least one thing is for certain: their chemistry is un-brie-lievable.
He probably should just ignore it, let it go to voice mail. But . . .Damn it. He knew people in New York, and maybe it was an emergency.You only know two people in New York, at least well enough for them to call this late, and it’s been years.He grimaced, then accepted the call. “Hello?”There was a pause, a long one. And he was ready to hang up when he heard a short impatient huff, then a woman’s low voice. “Goldfish.”Every muscle in his body tensed.He knew that voice. And he knew what it meant when she said that word.“Do I need to kill someone, baby girl,” he said automatically, “or just help you hide ‘em?”
About the Author:
Cathy Yardley is an award-winning author of romance, chick lit, and urban fantasy, who has sold over 1.2 million copies of books for publishers like St. Martin's, Avon, and Harlequin. She writes fun, geeky, and diverse characters who believe that underdogs can make good and sometimes being a little wrong is just right. She likes writing about quirky, crazy adventures, because she's had plenty of her own: she had her own army in the Society of Creative Anachronism; she's spent a New Year's on a 3-day solitary vision quest in the Mojave Desert; she had VIP access to the Viper Room in Los Angeles. Now, she spends her time writing in the wilds of East Seattle, trying to prevent her son from learning the truth of any of said adventures, and riding herd on her two dogs (and one husband.)
“I think I might fetch you the moon if only to spare your tears again.”
This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi is a YA Fantasy book and it is the first book in This Woven Kingdom series. It was published in February 2022.
This Woven Kingdom is an epic, romantic trilogy inspired by Persian mythology and it has clashing empires, forbidden romance, and a long-forgotten queen destined to save her people.
We follow Alizeh, who to all the world, she is a disposable servant, not the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom forced to hide in plain sight. We also follow the crown prince, Kamran, who has heard the prophecies foretelling the death of his king. But he could never have imagined that the servant girl with the strange eyes, the girl he can’t put out of his mind, would one day soon uproot his kingdom and the world.
I enjoyed reading This Woven Kingdom as I liked the story and the fact that it is inspired by Persian Mythology. I really liked the author's writing style and I am intrigued to read more of her books since this one was the first one of hers that I have read.
I liked our main characters and their dynamics. The book was a little slow paced for me but the twist at the last chapters was really good and the ending was intense.
I believe that this book is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Tomi Adeyemi, and Sabaa Tahir.
Rating: 3 Stars
See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
"Nothing will stop Poppy from freeing her King and destroying everything the Blood Crown stands for."
The War of Two Queens, the stunning continuation in the Blood and Ash series from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout is available now!
War is only the beginning…
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes book four in her Blood and Ash series.
From the desperation of golden crowns…
Casteel Da’Neer knows all too well that very few are as cunning or vicious as the Blood Queen, but no one, not even him, could’ve prepared for the staggering revelations. The magnitude of what the Blood Queen has done is almost unthinkable.
And born of mortal flesh…
Nothing will stop Poppy from freeing her King and destroying everything the Blood Crown stands for. With the strength of the Primal of Life’s guards behind her, and the support of the wolven, Poppy must convince the Atlantian generals to make war her way—because there can be no retreat this time. Not if she has any hope of building a future where both kingdoms can reside in peace.
A great primal power rises…
Together, Poppy and Casteel must embrace traditions old and new to safeguard those they hold dear—to protect those who cannot defend themselves. But war is only the beginning. Ancient primal powers have already stirred, revealing the horror of what began eons ago. To end what the Blood Queen has begun, Poppy might have to become what she has been prophesied to be—what she fears the most.
The click and drag of claws drew closer as the weak flame above the lone candle sputtered and then went out, pitching the cell into darkness.
A thicker mass of shadows appeared in the open archway—a misshapen form on its hands and knees. It halted, sniffing as loudly as a godsdamn barrat, scenting blood. My blood.
The smooth bands of shadowstone tightened around my throat and ankles as I shifted, bracing myself. The damn stone was unbreakable, but it did come in handy. A low-pitched wail came from the creature.
“Mother—” The thing exploded out of the archway, scurrying forward, its keening moan becoming an ear-piercing screech. “—fucker.”
I waited until its stench of decay reached me and then pressed my back against the wall, lifting my legs. The length of the chain between my ankles was only about half a foot, and the shackles wouldn’t give an inch, but it was enough. Planting my bare feet into the creature’s shoulders, I got a good, most unfortunate look at the thing as its foul breath blasted me in the face.
Man, the Craven was not a fresh one.
Patches of gray flesh clung to its hairless skull, and half of its nose was gone. One entire cheekbone was exposed, eyes burning like hot coals. Lips torn and mangled— The Craven twisted its head down, sinking its fangs into my calf. Its teeth tore through the breeches and into flesh and muscle. Air hissed between my gritted teeth as fiery pain burned its way up my leg.
Worth it.
The pain was more than worth it.
I would spend an eternity taking these bites if that meant she was safe. That it wasn’t her in this cell. That she wasn’t the one in pain.
Shaking the Craven free, I dragged the short chain over the thing’s neck as I crossed my feet. I twisted at the waist, pulling the dull bone chain tight across its throat, ending the Craven’s screams. The shackle clamped down on my throat as I kept turning, cutting off my air as the chain dug into the Craven’s neck. Its arms flailed on the floor as I jerked my legs in the opposite direction, snapping the creature’s spine. The spasming became more of a twitching as I hauled it within reach of my bound hands. The chain between my wrists, connected to the shackle at my throat, was much shorter—but long enough.
I grasped the Craven’s cold, clammy jowls and brought its head down hard, slamming it against the stone floor by my knees. Flesh gave way, spraying rotting blood over my stomach
and chest. Bone split open with a wet-sounding crack. The Craven went limp. I knew it wouldn’t stay down, but it bought me some time.
Lungs burning, I unwound the chain and kicked the creature away from me. It landed by the archway in a tangled mess of limbs as I relaxed my muscles. The band around my neck was slow to loosen, eventually allowing air into my burning lungs.
I stared at the Craven’s body. At any other time, I would’ve kicked the bastard into the hall like usual, but I was weakening.
I was losing too much blood.
Already.
Not a good sign.
Breathing heavily, I looked down. Just below the shadowstone bands, shallow slices ran up the insides of my arms, past both elbows and over the veins. I counted them. Again. Just to be sure.
Thirteen.
Thirteen days had passed since the first time the Handmaidens swarmed this cell, dressed in black and as quiet as a tomb. They came once a day to cut into my flesh, siphoning my blood as if I were a damn barrel of fine wine.
A tight, savage smile twisted my mouth. I’d managed to take out three of them in the beginning. Ripped their throats out when they got too close, which was why they’d shortened the chain between my wrists. Only one of them actually stayed dead, though. The damn throats of the other two had stitched themselves closed within minutes—impressive and also infuriating to witness.
Learned something valuable, though.
Not all of the Blood Queen’s Handmaidens were Revenants.
I wasn’t sure how I could use that information yet, but I guessed they were using my blood to make brand-spanking-new Revs. Or using it as a dessert for the lucky.
Tipping back my head against the wall, I tried not to breathe too deeply. If the stench of the downed Craven didn’t choke me, the damn shadowstone around my throat would. I closed my eyes. There had been more days before the Handmaidens showed the first time. How many? I wasn’t exactly sure. Two days? A week? Or—?
I stopped myself there. Shut it the fuck down.
I couldn’t go down that road. I wouldn’t. I’d done that the last time, trying to clock the days and weeks until there came a point when time simply ceased to move. Hours became days. Weeks became years. And my mind became as rotten as the blood seeping from the Craven’s ruined head.
But things were different in the here and now.
The cell was larger, with no barred entrance. Not that there needed to be one with the shadowstone and the chains. They were a mix of iron and deity bone, connected to a hook in the wall and then to a pulley system to lengthen or shorten them. I could sit up and move a little, but that was about it. However, the cell was windowless like before, and the dank, musty smell told me they once again held me underground. The freely roaming Craven were also a new addition.
My eyes opened to thin slits. The fuck by the archway had to be the sixth or seventh one that had found its way into the cell, drawn by the scent of blood. Their appearance made me think there was one hell of a Craven problem aboveground.
I’d heard of Craven attacks inside the Rise surrounding Carsodonia before. Something the Blood Crown blamed on Atlantia and angry gods. I’d always assumed it was due to an Ascended
getting greedy and leaving mortals they’d fed on to turn. Now, I was beginning to think the Craven were possibly being kept down here. Wherever here was. And if that were the case, and they could get out and get aboveground, so could I.
If only I could get these damn chains to loosen. I’d spent an ungodly amount of time pulling on the hook. In all those attempts, it may have slipped a half-inch from the wall—if that. But that wasn’t the only thing different about this time. Other than the Craven, I’d only seen the Handmaidens. I didn’t know what to think about that. I’d figured it’d be like the last time. Too-frequent visits from the Blood Crown and their cronies, where they spent their time taunting and inflicting pain, feeding, and doing whatever they wanted.
Of course, my last go-around with this captivity bullshit hadn’t started that way. The Blood Queen had tried to open my eyes first, coax me to her side. Turn me against my family and my kingdom. When that hadn’t worked, the real fun had begun.
#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.
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