August ARC List

August 11, 2020August 10, 2020 thebookishpuffLeave a comment

HAPPY AUGUST! Wow, it has been a minute, hasn’t it? I would make up some excuse as to why I have not posted on here in a while but to be honest…life just got in the way! Which happens and that is totally okay! BUT here I am, ready to POST POST POSTTTT away and annoy you all with my love of all the books 🙂 I thought a great thing to share would be my current list of ARCs so that way my fellow bloggers can know what I have selected for review (and maybe give them a lil’ inspo!) but also so y’all can see what books I will be reviewing within the next couple of weeks/months. So here we go!

Netgalley ARC List as of August 9th 2020:

Fable by Adrienne Young (*Finished – review coming soon!)
On Borrowed Crime by Kate Young
Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella
You Have a Match by Emma Lord
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

SOOOO, what do you guys think of my list? Anything you are excited to read or pick up yourself? I can’t wait to share these reviews with you!

Always,

Alicia

Book Reviews

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass Book Review

July 8, 2019July 7, 2019 thebookishpuff5 Comments

My Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars Genre: YA Fantasy Pages: 406 Publication Date: 8/7/12

“You could rattle the stars,” she whispered. “You could do anything, if only you dared. And deep down, you know it, too. That’s what scares you most.”

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king’s council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for four years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her … but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead … quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

Okay, so let me start this review off by saying I know I am so incredibly late to this game. But in my defense I have heard so many mixed reviews about this series that I just kept putting it off. I can see now why there were so many mixed reviews…

Sarah J. Mass always does such a wonderful job at painting a picture and building a world rich with magical lore. Which is really the only thing about this book that I enjoyed. I found Celaena to be incredibly whiny considering she is suppose to be one of the best assassins in this world. I was hoping that she would develop as character as the story went on but she only had a change in tune for the sake of a BOY! Gross! Also we witness yet another love triangle…not my favorite trope.

Considering Celaena’s insane talent/power she seems to be so one dimensional. There was paragraph after paragraph describing what dress she was wearing or how someones hair looked but I would have much rather read less fluff and more about this beautiful world these characters are living in! However, I think I will continue to read this series if only to learn more about the history but something tells me I will DNF this series…I am not sure.

Have you read this series? Should I continue? Please let me know in the comments below! I really would love to hear some different perspectives because I truly do want to like these books. I simply adored ACOTR so I am hoping as the books go on I will fall in love with this series as well.

Always,

Alicia

Book Reviews

Queen of Ruin by Tracy Banghart ARC Review

July 1, 2019June 30, 2019 thebookishpuffLeave a comment

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars Genre: YA Fantasy Pages: 336 Publication Date: 7/2/19

A fierce sequel full of sisterhood, heart pounding action, betrayal, and intrigue in the royal court in a series that “breathes new life into the feminist story of oppression and resistance” (Publisher’s Weekly).

Banished by Asa at the end of Grace and Fury, Nomi and Malachi find themselves powerless and headed towards their all-but-certain deaths. Now that Asa sits on the throne, he will stop at nothing to make sure Malachi never sets foot in the palace again. Their only hope is to find Nomi’s sister, Serina, on the prison island of Mount Ruin. But when Nomi and Malachi arrive, it is not the island of conquered, broken women that they expected. It is an island in the grip of revolution, and Serina–polite, submissive Serina–is its leader.

Betrayal, grief, and violence have changed both sisters, and the women of Mount Ruin have their sights set on revenge beyond the confines of their island prison. They plan to sweep across the entire kingdom, issuing in a new age of freedom for all. But first they’ll have to get rid of Asa, and only Nomi knows how.

Separated once again, this time by choice, Nomi and Serina must forge their own paths as they aim to tear down the world they know, and build something better in its place.

Be still my feminist heart!!! When I first picked up Grace and Fury last year I honestly did not know too much about it but the moment I started reading it sucked me right in! Tracy Banghart has done it again in this absolutely stunning sequel. It is just as satisfying as it is empowering.

Set in a lush yet harsh world, the characters are being pushed even further to help rise above their roles of submission in a patriarchal society to help make the necessary decisions for a better future for their kingdom. The women in this book are so strong and complex that you can’t help but to fall in love with them. Also holy character development! I can’t help but be proud of who the characters have become. This book is filled with twists and turns while painting a beautiful picture of true sisterhood. While it is bittersweet that this is the end for this series, the ending is extremely satisfying and will leave you with a sense of hope! I highly recommend everyone pick up a copy of this book…it is an ABSOLUTE MUST!

Book Reviews

The Evil Queen by Gena Showalter ARC Review

June 24, 2019June 23, 2019 thebookishpuffLeave a comment

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who will perish when I call?

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars Genre: YA Fantasy Pages: 544 Publication Date: 6/25/19

In this tale of vengeance and woe, foe may be friend and friend may be foe.

WELCOME TO THE FOREST OF GOOD AND EVIL.

A DREAM COME TRUE…AND A LIVING NIGHTMARE.

Far, far away, in the realm of Enchantia, creatures of legend still exist, magic is the norm and fairy tales are real. Except, fairy tales aren’t based on myths and legends of the past—they are prophecies of the future.

Raised in the mortal realm, Everly Morrow has no idea she’s a real-life fairy-tale princess—until she manifests an ability to commune with mirrors.

Look. See… What will one peek hurt?

Soon, a horrifying truth is revealed. She is fated to be Snow White’s greatest enemy, the Evil Queen.

With powers beyond her imagination or control, Everly returns to the land of her birth. There, she meets Roth Charmaine, the supposed Prince Charming. Their attraction is undeniable, but their relationship is doomed. As the prophecy unfolds, Everly faces one betrayal after another, and giving in to her dark side proves more tempting every day. Can she resist, or will she become the queen—and villain—she was born to be?

The battle between good and evil is on.

When I found out that Gena Showalter was coming out with a snow white retelling and that it would be a series I did the happiest of dances. Then when I received an ARC from Inkyard Press in the mail I actually cried happy tears. I love Gena Showalter and I LOVE a good retelling. This book absolutely did not disappoint!

Gena Showalter has this amazing gift of being able to create highly immersive and enchanting (see what I did there?) worlds. With every page you want to learn more and more about the world that she is building being hopelessly entranced by this insanely unique and visual setting.

The characters in this story are so multi-faceted and often fall into a “gray” moral area, which is SO REFRESHING! There is no clear definition on who is bad or good which makes them totally relatable. You very quickly become invested in these characters and their storylines.

I would like to note that while this is a retelling it is by no means your typical fairy tale. It is a dark story with unpredictable twists and turns that explores the meaning of what is right and what is wrong as well as passion, destiny, romance, family dynamics, and self discovery. I can’t wait to see more of this world and see where the story continues to take us.

If you enjoyed Gena’s White Rabbit Chronicles then this book is an absolute MUST! I devoured that series and it was so satisfying to read this story as the writing was very similar to those. Even if you are new to Gena Showalter I still highly recommend picking this one up as it is one of the most entertaining books I have read so far this year!

Are you a fan of Gena or retellings? Let me know in the comments below. Can’t wait to chat with you!

Always,

Alicia