Reading round up (20)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress and my thoughts on each book as I read it. My blogging is slowing down for the next month, but I'm hoping to keep up with this weekly post.

24th March

Read to page 47 of Graceling (26 pages). I'm kinda bored with it right now, to be honest.

25th March

Got to 55% (33% read) of Sworn to Raise by Terah Edun. It's getting a LOT better.

26th March

Read the last 45% of Sworn To Raise, which is really fuckin' good. You all need to read it.

27th March

Giving up on Graceling for now, and moving on. I don't have the patience for a big build up.

Currently reading: Castle Behind Thorns | Merrie Haskell

Current page/percent: 9%

# of pages/percentage read today: 9%

Thoughts: Eerie and lovely. Just eerie and lovely.

28th March

Currently reading: Castle Behind Thorns | Merrie Haskell

Current page/percent: 22%

# of pages/percentage read today: 13%

Thoughts: This is so cute and unnerving.

29th March

Read 24% of The Castle Behind Thorns, taking me to 46%, and loving it. Recommend for anyone who loves fantasy, magic, and things being fixed instead of broken.

30th March

Finished Castle Behind Thorns (55%). Really REALLY impressed with this book,

Books finished this week: 2

The Castle Behind Thorns (ARC Review)

The Castle Behind Thorns | Merrie Haskell

Published by: Katherine Tegen Books, May 27th 2014

Genre: MG, Fantasy

Pages: 336

Format: Ebook

Source: Katherine Tegen Books via Edelweiss

A magical adventure set in an enchanted castle that is sure to appeal to fans of Gail Carson Levine, Karen Cushman, and Shannon Hale

When Sand wakes up alone in a long-abandoned castle, he has no idea how he got there. The stories all said the place was ruined by an earthquake, and Sand did not expect to find everything inside-from dishes to candles to apples-torn in half or slashed to bits. Nothing lives here and nothing grows, except the vicious, thorny bramble that prevents Sand from leaving. Why wasn't this in the stories?

To survive, Sand does what he knows best-he fires up the castle's forge to mend what he needs to live. But the things he fixes work somehow better than they ought to. Is there magic in the mending, granted by the saints who once guarded this place?

Unexpectedly, Sand finds the lost heir, Perrotte, a girl who shares the castle's astonishing secrets and dark history. Putting together the pieces-of stone and iron, and of a broken life-is harder than Sand ever imagined, but it's the only way to gain their freedom, even with the help of the guardian saints.

With gorgeous language and breathtaking magic, Merrie Haskell's The Castle Behind Thorns tells of the power of memory and story, forgiveness and strength, and the true gifts of craft and imagination.

Wonderful, lush, and thought-provoking, The Castle Behind Thorns is a must read for fantasy fans of all ages.

I got a galley of this because (1) I'm an impulse requester and (2) I've been yearning for a brilliant middle grade fantasy book to blow me away for SO LONG. I was on the fence with Percy Jackson and never quite managed to finish Liesl & Po (Lauren Oliver), so I wanted to broaden my middle grade reading and find something to blow me away.

And this book did not disappoint. The Castle Behind Thorns is everything I hoped it would be - enchanting, eerie at times, and undeniably cute. Sand, the main character, upon waking in a broken castle with no way out, begins to mend things, putting the castle back into place one small thing at a time. I loved that about both Sand and the story - the recurring theme that broken things don't have to stay that way, that there's always a way to repair anything if you try hard enough and have faith in what you're doing.

Perrotte was also a cutie, a brave and headstrong character who is easy to love and admire. Her back story, the magic tied up in life and death, was what made this book extra special. So many important messages! And in such a fantastical book, with so many wonderful and creepy things!

I loved it.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world building ★★★★★

Writing Style ★★★★☆

Cover reveal: Fingers In The Mist by O'Dell Hutchison

Fingers In The Mist | O'Dell Hutchison

Expected December 2nd from Month9Books

Sixteen-year-old Caitlyn Foster never believed in the legend of the Redeemers. That was before the trees started to whisper her name. Before a murder of crows attacked the town. Before she and her family came home to find a bloody handprint on their front door, marking one of them as a sacrifice. As Caitlyn’s friends are ripped from their homes, she knows it’s only a matter of time before the Redeemers come for her. Caitlyn has the power to stop the terror, but she’ll have to decide if she’s willing to sacrifice herself to save those she loves.

About the Author:

O’Dell was born in a small rural town in Idaho. There were no Redeemers living there (that he knows of). After attending college in the Pacific Northwest, he found his way to the Houston area. By day, he is a Business Systems Analyst and at night you can either find him sitting at home, dreaming of random super powers he wishes he had, or directing plays and musicals at various theaters around Houston.

Connect with the Author:  Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway open Internationally

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Sworn To Raise (RC Review)

Courtlight: Sworn To Raise | Terah Edun

Published by: Amazon Digital, April 10th 2013

Genre: YA, High Fantasy

Pages: 265

Format: ebook

Source: All Night Reads via Netgalley (so sorry for the delay)

Seventeen-year-old Ciardis has grown up in poverty, a cleaner in a small vale on the outskirts of the empire. But beneath her empire’s seemingly idyllic surface lies a hidden secret. Whispers of an inept crown Prince are growing ever louder—intensified by the five year anniversary of the soulbond initiations.

Amidst scandalous whispers, Ciardis finds herself chosen to train for the Companion’s Guild. She leaves her home and sets off on a personal journey to become a Court Companion. A position she’d never thought possible for a lowly servant to obtain, she must prove that she has the skills to attract a Patron. 

But she must master those skills quickly. If the legends are true, only Ciardis can harness the power to raise a Prince in an Imperial Court sworn to bring him down.

This sensational series debut melds intricate storylines with remarkable characters and unforgettable magic. Sworn To Raise is ideal for fans of Kristin Cashore, Michelle Sagara, and Maria Snyder.

Why did I wait to long to read this? Short answer: it got buried under a tonne of books on my ereader. Long answer: I kept overlooking it because I'm a dumbass and judgemental of self published books, regardless of being a self pubbed author myself. I mentioned I was a dumbass, right?

Sworn To Raise is about a girl, Ciardis, who is taken from her ordinary life as a poor washerwoman, and elevated to life as a Companion, a life partner to a rich and powerful suitor. Along the way she discovers a conspiracy to unseat the Prince of her land from his position, a powerful magic that she is due to inherit, and unexpected friendships.

It doesn't sound like much when I say it like that, but this book is wonderful, truly. Ciardis is a very authentic character - she's emotional, she's strong, she's caring and kind and willing to help just about anyone. And more than anything else, I think, she wants what is best for herself and isn't afraid to make her own future. I like her a lot, and I never expected to.

My favourite thing about Sworn to Raise is how the magic and abilities are all tied up in the politics of the realm. I love the subterfuge and the building dissent, and I look forward to seeing how Ciardis and the Prince will deal with this in future books.

This book is a delight, and I recommend it to all fans of high fantasy, strong characters, original stories, and sparkling magic.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world building ★★★★☆

Writing Style ★★★★☆

Reading round up (19)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress and my thoughts on each book as I read it. *anguished noises* I'm so far behind. Also behind with posting this oops??

17th March

Currently reading: Days of Blood & Starlight | Laini Taylor

Current page/percent: page 235

# of pages/percentage read today: 72 pages

Thoughts: babies. all my babies.

18th March

Currently reading: Days of Blood & Starlight | Laini Taylor

Current page/percent: page 306

# of pages/percentage read today: 71 pages

Thoughts: 

20th March

I lost what I read for the 19th of March oops?

Currently reading: Days of Blood & Starlight | Laini Taylor

Current page/percent: page 492

# of pages/percentage read today: 186 pages

Thoughts: Why can't they just be together and BE HAPPY????

21st March

Finished Days of Blood and Starlight (26 pages) and how the heck do I wait three weeks for book three?? *wails* Also started Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea by April. G. Tucholke (5%) and wow is this irritating so far.

22nd March

Got to 24% of Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea and whoa no, I can't stand the characters/writing. So I started Graceling around mid evening (21 pages) and Sworn To Raise at night (8%), thus I began two books because of my antsy mood and may not carry on with either of them. Sigh.

23rd March

Got to 22% of Sworn To Raise. I can see where this is going, just wish it'd get there already.

Books finished this week: 1

Cover reveal: Prophecy of the Most Beautiful by Diantha Jones

Prophecy of the Most Beautiful | Diantha Jones 

(Oracle of Delphi #1) 

Released March 1st 2012

She has a destiny so great that even the gods fear her.

Constant hallucinations and the frequent conversations with the voices in her head, have earned eighteen-year-old Chloe Clever the not-so-coveted title of “Whack Job” in her home town of Adel, Georgia. With the onslaught of prescription medications and therapists threatening to push her over the edge, she wishes for a life far away from the one she has, a life where she is destined to be more than the butt of everyone’s jokes and mockery.

Be careful what you wish for has never rung more true.

After living through an attack from her worst nightmare, she awakens to find herself far from home, surrounded by glorious riches and servants…and a few demigods who enjoy killing things. Upon learning that her favorite rockstar is an Olympian god, she is thrust into her new life as the Oracle of Delphi, the prophesier of the future, and the great Pythia that the gods have been anxiously awaiting to arrive for centuries. Setting out to fulfill the prophecy she has been given and to keep her family safe from a demigod Princess that wants her dead, Chloe learns of how great she is to become, all the while fighting mythical monsters, evading divine assassins and trying to outwit the ever-cunning Greek gods who harbor secrets of their own. In the hopes of discovering the Most Beautiful and the truth of her destiny, she strives to uncover the mysteries of the demigod Prince who has sworn to protect her with his life…and threatens to win her heart in the process.

About the Author

Diantha was born on Thanksgiving Day so that explains why her mother calls her a "turkey." She spent the first 16 years of her life as an official Army brat (now she's a retired one), and has spent the last twelve years living in Georgia (Atlanta, then Savannah). She now resides in Washington D.C. She loves to read and watch movies (Quentin Tarantino is her fave director), and she loves cold weather and french fries (with cheese if possible).

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5815616.Diantha_Jones

http://www.diantha-jones.com/

https://www.facebook.com/dianthajones

https://twitter.com/DianthaJones

Days of Blood and Starlight (One liner)

Daughter of Smoke & Bone: Days of Blood and Starlight | Laini Taylor

Published by: Hodder & Stoughton, November 8th 2012

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Fantasy, ENCHANTING MAGICALISM!

Pages: 518

Format: Hardback

Source: Purchased

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil held a wishbone between them.

And its snap split the world in two.

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a new way of living – one without massacres and torn throats and bonfires of the fallen, without revenants or bastard armies or children ripped from their mothers’ arms to take their turn in the killing and dying.

Once, the lovers lay entwined in the moon’s secret temple and dreamed of a world that was a like a jewel-box without a jewel – a paradise waiting for them to find it and fill it with their happiness.

This was not that world.

A wonderful sequel, Days of Blood and Starlight is mesmerising, engrossing, and everything I ever wanted.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world building ★★★★★

Writing Style ★★★★★

Cover reveal: A Soul To Take by Emily Taylor

A Soul to Take | Emily Taylor

Released April 29, 2014

(Tentative Paperback Publication Date: May 13, 2014)

Dying is the least of Elixia’s worries.

The world has changed. Demons are no longer a legend, but a part of life, integrated into our society… or so the Government has attempted. But things are never that simple. Neither side favors this new union, and Elixia knows firsthand the dark nature of Demons and will do everything in her power to protect the innocent from their wrath. When her only living family is kidnapped, it means to even commit the greatest taboo for an Agent:

Sell her soul.

Yet when a mission from the Agency goes sour, Elixia finds herself in predicament. Murdered, her only hope is an offer from those she despises: a demon. However, it’s no ordinary demon who has offered Elixia the contract and his motive for such a deal is unclear. Her past may hold answers, but what happens when her investigation in human trafficking turns up something far more sinister?

Emily Taylor on Twitter | Facebook

Reuts Pub on Twitter | Facebook

Cover reveal courtesy of Reuts Publications.

Reading round up (18)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress and my thoughts on each book as I read it. IT'S MY WEEK OFF! HURRAH!

10th March

Currently reading: Daughter of Smoke & Bone | Laini Taylor

Current page/percent: page 134

# of pages/percentage read today: 75 pages

Thoughts: !!!!!!!!!!!! This is dark and wonderful!!

11th March

Currently reading: Daughter of Smoke & Bone | Laini Taylor

Current page/percent: page 244

# of pages/percentage read today: 110 pages

Thoughts: Akivaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I read forward so I'm already 99% sure Karou is Madrigal. Oops.

12th March

Currently reading: Daughter of Smoke & Bone | Laini Taylor

Current page/percent: page 244

# of pages/percentage read today: 110 pages

Thoughts: I'm in love.

13th March

Currently reading: Daughter of Smoke & Bone | Laini Taylor

Current page/percent: page 364

# of pages/percentage read today: 120 pages

Thoughts: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

14th March

Finished Daughter of Smoke & Bone (54 pages). It was SO GOOD.

15th March

Started Days of Blood & Starlight (53 pages) because I need more of this series right now.

16th March

Currently reading: Days of Blood & Starlight | Laini Taylor

Current page/percent: page 163

# of pages/percentage read today: 110 pages

Thoughts: This is awesome. I love the new characters already.

Books finished this week: 1

Daughter of Smoke and Bone (One line review)

Daughter of Smoke & Bone: Daughter of Smoke & Bone | Laini Taylor

Published by: Hodder & Stoughton, September 29th 2011

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Fantasy, ENCHANTING MAGICALISM!

Pages: 418

Format: Hardback

Source: Purchased

"Errand requiring immediate attention. Come.

The note was on vellum, pierced by the talons of the almost-crow that delivered it. Karou read the message. 'He never says please', she sighed, but she gathered up her things.
When Brimstone called, she always came."

In general, Karou has managed to keep her two lives in balance. On the one hand, she's a seventeen-year-old art student in Prague; on the other, errand-girl to a monstrous creature who is the closest thing she has to family. Raised half in our world, half in 'Elsewhere', she has never understood Brimstone's dark work - buying teeth from hunters and murderers - nor how she came into his keeping. She is a secret even to herself, plagued by the sensation that she isn't whole.

Now the doors to Elsewhere are closing, and Karou must choose between the safety of her human life and the dangers of a war-ravaged world that may hold the answers she has always sought.

This book was lovely and wondrous and dark and edgy and consuming and everything I have ever wanted. Those are all the words I have.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world building ★★★★★

Writing Style ★★★★★

The Shadow Prince (DNF Review)

Into The Dark: The Shadow Prince | Bree Despain

Published by: EgmontUSA, March 11th 2014

Genre: YA, Mythology, Urban fantasy (Or at least it's meant to be?)

Pages: 304

Format: Ebook

Source: Egmont USA via Edelweiss (thank you)

Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High—a haven for children of the rich and famous—Haden must single out the one girl rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race.

Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realizes she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong.

Haden and Daphne—destined for each other—know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails. As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realizes something he never intended—he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds.

What is with all these books I'm DNF'ing this year? Either the books I'm reviewing are outstanding or terrible. There's no in between.

To put it simply: this was not outstanding.

It just bored me, from start to finish. I liked the initial opening with Hayden but then ... bleh. I don't think I've ever been so completely uncaring about a book before. I read about half of it but I'm not sure now how I even got there. I was just ambling along, hopeful something good would happen. It didn't.

In the vein of my last DNF review, I'm gonna list things I liked and things I didn't about The Shadow Prince.

Plus points:

Really awesome world building of the Otherworld or Underworld or whatever it was called
The Keres was kind of cool?

Bad points:

The characters are just ... dull
The plot is dull
Where is the romance, the danger, the intrigue? Everything just fell flat.
What happened to that awesome mythology? Where did that go?

This book is just not for me.

No star rating since I DNF