Friday, July 31, 2015

Book Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Thorns & Roses
By Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Thorns & Roses #1
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publication Date: May 5, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ( 4 out of 5 Stars )

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Related Reviews: | Wicked | The Lost Prince |
Categories: Faerie, Fae, Magic


When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Book Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen
By Victoria Aveyard
Red Queen #1
Hardcover: 383 pages
Publication Date: February 10, 2015
Publisher: Orion
Rated: ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
4 out of 5 Stars

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Related Reviews: | An Ember In the Ashes | The Young Elites |
Categories: Dystopian, Fantasy, Magic


The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Book Review: Talon by Julie Kagawa

Talon
By Julie Kagawa
Talon #1
Hardcover: 449 pages
Publication Date: October 28, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Rated: ✯ ✯
2 out of 5 Stars

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Related Reviews: | Blood of Eden | The Elementalists |
Categories: Dragons, Fantasy, Magic


Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons..

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Book Review: Written in Red by Anne Bishop

Written In Red
By Anne Bishop
The Others #1
Hardcover: 433 pages
Publication Date: March 5, 2013
Publisher: ROC
Rated: ✯ ✯
2 out of 5 Stars
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Related Reviews: | Blood of Eden | Nightshade |
Categories: Fantasy, Magic, Werewolves, Vampires


As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut—a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg’s Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard—a business district operated by the Others.

Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she’s keeping a secret, and second, she doesn’t smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she’s wanted by the government, he’ll have to decide if she’s worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Book Review: The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson

The Heart of Betrayal
By Mary E. Pearson
The Remnant Chronicles #2
Hardcover: 470 pages
Publication Date: July 7, 2015
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Rated: ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
5 out of 5 Stars
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Related Reviews:
| Kiss of Deception (#1) | Snow Like Ashes |
Categories: Fantasy, Magic, Young Adult


Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape. Desperate to save her life, Lia's erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komizar that she has the gift, and the Komizar's interest in Lia is greater than anyone could have foreseen.

Meanwhile, nothing is straightforward: there's Rafe, who lied to Lia, but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom Lia always believed to be barbarians. Now that she lives amongst them, however, she realizes that may be far from the truth. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her sense of self, Lia must make powerful choices that will affect her country... and her own destiny.

Book Review: Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes

Rebel Spring
By Morgan Rhodes
Falling Kingdoms #2
Hardcover: 401 pages
Publication Date: December 03, 2013
Publisher: Razorbill
Rated: ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
4 out of 5 Stars
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Related Reviews:
| Falling Kingdoms (#1) | Gathering Darkness (#3) |
Categories: Fantasy, Magic, Young Adult


The road to power...is paved with blood and magic.

Cleo is now a prisoner in her own palace, forced to be an ambassador for Mytica as the evil King Gaius lies to her people.
Magnus stands to eventually inherit the new kingdom but is still obsessed with his feelings for his adopted sister, Lucia.
Lucia is haunted by the outcome of the breathtaking display of magic that allowed her father to capture the kingdoms.
Jonas watched at the palace gates a troop of rebels behind him, waiting for him to tell them how he plans to overtake King Gaius.

After a bloody siege, Auranos has been defeated, its young queen orphaned and dethroned. The three kingdoms—Auranos, Limeros, and Paelsia—are now unwillingly united as one country called Mytica. But the allure of ancient, dangerous magic beckons still, and with it the chance to rule not just Mytica, but the whole world over....

At the heart of the fray are four brave young people grappling for that magic and the power it promises. For Cleo, the magic would enable her to reclaim her royal seat. In Jonas's hands, it frees his nation, and in Lucia's, it fulfills the ancient prophecy of her destiny. And if the magic were Magnus's, he would finally prove his worth in the eyes of his cruel and scheming father, King Gaius, who rules Mytica with a punishing hand.

When Gaius begins to build a road into the Forbidden Mountains to physically link all of Mytica, he sparks a long-smoking fire in the hearts of the people that will forever change the face of this land. For Gaius's road is paved with blood, and its construction will have cosmic consequences.

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Book Review: Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

Falling Kingdoms
By Morgan Rhodes
Falling Kingdoms #1
Hardcover: 305 pages
Publication Date: December 11, 2012
Publisher: Razorbill
Rated: ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
4 out of 5 Stars
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Related Reviews:
| Rebel Spring (#2) | Gathering Darkness (#3) |
Categories: Fantasy, Magic, Young Adult


In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest now simmers below the surface.

As the rulers of each kingdom grapple for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed... and four key players, royals and rebels alike, find their fates forever intertwined. Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus are caught in a dizzying world of treacherous betrayals, shocking murders, secret alliances, and even unforeseen love.

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

It's the eve of war.... Choose your side.

Princess: Raised in pampered luxury, Cleo must now embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of magic long thought extinct.

Rebel: Jonas, enraged at injustice, lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished. To his shock, he finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Sorceress: Lucia, adopted at birth into the royal family, discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Heir: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, firstborn son Magnus begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword....

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Book Review - An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

An Ember in the Ashes
By Sabaa Tahir
An Ember in the Ashes #1
Hardcover: 446 pages
Publication Date: April 28, 2015
Publisher: Razorbill
Rated: ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ - 5 out of 5 Stars

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Related Reviews: | The Young Elites | Snow Like Ashes |
Categories: Dystopian, Urban Fantasy


Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

Saturday, May 2, 2015

Updated Ramblings of a Book Nerd..

Hey beautiful readers! I have been extremely busy this year, and haven't had a whole lot of time for reading or blogging. Spring classes are coming to a close; this has been one hell of a semester, for sure! Finals are almost over, papers have been written, hundreds of text book pages highlighted and more notes taken than I thought my hand was capable of writing. A breath of fresh air as the spring weather is getting warmer and the busyness of my life is slowing. Sigh. I have every intention of spending as much time as possible curled up under my favorite tree with a good book and a cup of coffee! I'm so close, I can feel it in my bones.. (:

I recently found out that my favorite series EVER.. The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater is apparently never going to end. The release date was originally set for September of this year, but it has been pushed back until February of 2016. Are you freaking kidding me Maggie?! It feels as if I have been waiting for the final book in this amazing series for forever and a half, dammit! I am beyond disappointed in this news because, honestly, I just don't think I'm going to find a series out there that I like better than this one. Seriously. It was that fantastic and wonderfully written. If you have been living under a rock and have yet to read this series, I fully suggest that you do! Now. Yesterday, actually. (:

As for what to read right now.. I have been away from the blogging world for so long, I would love any suggestions. What books have you folks read recently that you absolutely loved? I look forward to hearing from all of you.. I have missed you book nerds! I am so happy to be back with all of you!

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Project Earth, Spring Semester, & Ramblings...

Hey all of you beautiful readers! I have been so busy lately.. classes started for my spring semester and life has been hectic! While adjusting to my new professors and what exactly they are expecting of me, I will probably be sporadic in my reviews and posts in general. One of my favorite series- The Arcana Chronicles by Kresley Cole, the third book in the series was recently released. I haven't even had a chance to read it yet, dammit! But I can guarantee that will be my very next review. I am so excited to see where Miss Cole takes the story. If you haven't checked this series out yet, I highly recommend it. The story is so original and written beautifully!

I have also been getting orders for my business that I am trying to catch up with! If you have followed my blog for a while, you know that I run a business called Threads of the Earth. I design and create wearable artwork for the more free spirited folks. I hand dye all of my fabrics, draw my own artwork, and sew every piece from scratch. It is extremely time consuming, but an excellent artistic outlet for me. I have been doing this for a few years, and it has taken me all over the country. I have worked / vended close to a hundred music festivals, from All Good Music Festival in Ohio to California Roots and Wanderlust on the big island of Hawaii! It has been an amazing adventure, and I'm not ready to give up the starving artist dream just yet. I have met many amazing bands and musicians while doing this; my hands down favorite being Nahko Bear from Medicine for the People. Which leads me to my next mission: Project Earth Music Festival in Minnesota.

Project Earth
This festival is put on by a band called Wookiefoot, and ALL proceeds are given to their charity called Be the Change. They spend a few months every year in Thailand, building women's shelters and schools for the less fortunate. They are not only donating all of the money, but their time as well. It is an amazing and beautiful thing that they, as well as all of the bands performing do every year. Nahko & Medicine for the People are one of these bands, which only makes me love them that much more. I have started saving every extra dollar that I get so that I can travel all the way to Minnesota in June to chill with these beautiful people! It is a magical weekend, indescribable to anyone that has never been there. Upon leaving, you have an entirely new family of folks that will be there for you when you need them, that love you unconditionally, and it is incredible! There is so much love pouring out of these people, you can see it in everything that they do. Project Earth is all about coexisting, acceptance, and love; you will be a changed person upon leaving. That, I can promise you. Check it out folks, give it a listen on You Tube if you have some free time. I've gotten close to a lot of you bloggers, and I think it is something you may find interesting! Thank you so much for taking the time to read my ramblings. It has become a necessary past-time for me to spill my thoughts and feelings to all of you, and I can't be more thankful that some of my readers actually enjoy what I have to say! (I think..ha!)

Important links from this post

Threads of the Earth - My business page
Wookiefoot - Host of Project Earth
Nahko & Medicine for the People
The Project Earth Page
Be the Change Charity Page


Friday, January 2, 2015

Book Review - Wicked by Jennifer Armentrout

Wicked
By Jennifer L. Armentrout
A Wicked Saga #1
Ebook: 459 pages
Publication Date: December 8, 2014
Publisher: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Rated:
3.5 out of 5 Stars
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Related Reviews: | Lux | Covenant | Stone Cold Touch |
Categories: Faerie, New Adult, JLA


Twenty-two year old Ivy Morgan isn’t your average college student. She, and others like her, know humans aren’t the only thing trolling the French Quarter for fun… and for food. Her duty to the Order is her life. After all, four years ago, she lost everything at the hands of the creatures she’d sworn to hunt, tearing her world and her heart apart.

Ren Owens is the last person Ivy expected to enter her rigidly controlled life. He’s six feet and three inches of temptation and swoon-inducing charm. With forest-green eyes and a smile that’s surely left a stream of broken hearts in its wake, he has an uncanny, almost unnatural ability to make her yearn for everything he has to offer. But letting him in is as dangerous as hunting the cold-blooded killers stalking the streets. Losing the boy she loved once before had nearly destroyed her, but the sparking tension that grows between them becomes impossible for Ivy to deny. Deep down, she wants… she needs more than what her duty demands of her, what her past has shaped for her.

But as Ivy grows closer to Ren, she realizes she’s not the only one carrying secrets that could shatter the frail bond between them. There’s something he’s not telling her, and one thing is for certain. She’s no longer sure what is more dangerous to her—the ancient beings threatening to take over the town or the man demanding to lay claim to her heart and her soul.


The first word that comes to mind when I think about this book is meh. I didn't realize that this was possible from a JLA book at all, let alone one about the fae. Sigh. The worst part of all of this is the fact that I cannot even pinpoint exactly what it is about Wicked that I don't like. It could possibly be that the synopsis is so similar to The Dark Elements Series that I just wasn't impressed with the idea in general. Or maybe the simple fact that the fae were portrayed to be mindless enemies with a taste for blood and little else. I was taught that the faerie world is a beautiful place; not some hell-like dimension that spawns mutant blood thirsty monster things. Ugh. I hated it, and I hate that I hated it, dammit!

The characters were well written, of course. This is still a JLA book we're talking about here! Ivy is the typical kick-your-ass protagonist that readers have come to know and love from this lady's books. Ivy has no problem with telling you like it is, and drop kicking your ass in the process. She is spunky, mouthy, outgoing, and all the things I wish I was! I thoroughly enjoyed her character, although she is so alike most of JLA's female protagonists. And then there is Ren. Oh, Ren. He is also JLA's typical male love interest; cocky in a confident sort of way, sexy as hell, and a complete pain in the ass. My dream boy wrapped up in a book cover. The fact that I didn't enjoy this book has nothing to do with Ren. Let's face it ladies, JLA can write the kind of book boyfriend that you have dreams about afterward. Sigh.

I really do wish that I could have fallen in love with this story. I wanted to. Maybe I unfairly built it up in my mind so much that let-down was inevitable? Or maybe it was just that repetitive and uneventful? Maybe I read far too many JLA books..?! If you read it and have an opinion, leave me a comment! I would love to hear what you folks thought of this one. Is it just me, or did this book kind of suck?! Muah!


“Why in the world was I going to college? I could be in bed, all cuddled up and shit, dreaming about hot men with abs covered in powdered sugar.” -Ivy by Jennifer L. Armentrout

"“If you tell me to leave, I'll turn and walk away. I swear that, Ivy, but I had to try one more time. I'm not going to possibly go to my grave without trying. Please. Don't let me go.”" -Ren by Jennifer L. Armentrout

"“I bet you have the softest pair of lips out there. And I bet you taste sweet—sweeter than one of those beignets you've got me addicted to." His hand squeezed around the back of my neck. "But you got one hell of a bite—a kick to that sweetness. It'll be rough getting in there, and you're going to fight it every step of the way, but it'll be smooth once I'm there.”" -Ren by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Related Reviews
| Lux | Covenant | Stone Cold Touch | White Hot Kiss |

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