Tag: Del Rey
Iron Gold 
Weekly Cover Reveal Recap | June 19 – June 25 (Part. 1: Fantasy/Sci-Fi)
Hey guys!
Here are the covers that were revealed during the week of June 19 – June 25. Click the author to hop on over to their GoodReads page to add it to you’re TBR!
This was a big week for reveals. Hope ya’ll enjoy.
FANTASY
Everless by Sara Holland (Untitled #1)
Published by HarperTeen
January 2nd 2018
In the land of Sempera, time is extracted from blood and used as payment. Jules Ember and her father were once servants at Everless, the wealthy Gerling family’s estate, but were cast out after of a fateful accident a decade ago. Now, Jules’s father is reaching his last hour, and she will do anything to save him.
Desperate to earn time, she arrives at the palace as it prepares for a royal wedding, ready to begin her search into childhood secrets that she once believed to be no more than myths.
As she uncovers lost truths, Jules spirals deeper into a past she hardly recognizes, and faces an ancient and dangerous foe who threatens her future and the future of time itself.
The Traitor Prince by C.J. Redwine (Ravenspire #3)
Published by Balzer + Bray
February 13th 2018
Javan Najafai, crown prince of Akram, has spent the last ten years at an elite boarding school, far away from his kingdom. But his eagerly awaited return home is cut short when a mysterious imposter takes his place—and no one believes Javan is the true prince.
After barely escaping the imposter’s assassins, Javan is thrown into Maqbara, the kingdom’s most dangerous prison. The only way to gain an audience with the king — and reveal Javan’s identity — is to fight in Maqbara’s yearly tournament. But winning is much harder than acing competitions at school, and soon Javan finds himself beset not just by the terrifying creatures in the arena, but also a band of prisoners allied against him, and even the warden herself.
The only person who can help him is Sajda, who has been enslaved by Maqbara’s warden since she was a child, and whose guarded demeanor and powerful right hook keep the prisoners in check. Working with Sajda might be the only way Javan can escape alive — but she has dangerous secrets.
Together, Javan and Sajda have to outwit the vicious warden, outfight the deadly creatures, and outlast the murderous prisoners intent on killing Javan. If they fail, they’ll be trapped in Maqbara for good—and the secret Sajda’s been hiding will bury them both.
Shatter by Aprilynne Pike (Glitter Duology #2)
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers
February 13th 2018
Danica planned to use beauty, blackmail, and a glittering drug to control her own fate. Her escape from the twisted world of the Palace of Versailles was perfectly orchestrated and paid for. Or so she thought.
Betrayed by the man who had promised her freedom, Dani is now married to the murderous King. It’s a terrifying position to be in…and yet it’s oddly intoxicating. Power may be an even stronger drug than Glitter–a drug Dani can’t resist, in the form of secrets, manipulation, and sabotage.
In her new position at the head of the court, Dani must ask herself who she really is. Can she use her newfound power to secure her real love, Saber’s freedom and a chance at a life together outside the palace? Or is being Queen too addictive to give up?
The Forgotten Book by Mechthild Glaser
Published by Feiwel & Friends
January 2nd 2018
Emma is used to things going her way. Her father is headmaster of her prestigious boarding school, her friends take her advice as gospel, and she’s convinced that a relationship with her long-time crush is on the horizon.
As it turns out, Emma hasn’t seen anything yet. When she finds an old book in an abandoned library, things really start going Emma’s way: anything she writes in the book comes true.
But the power of the book is not without consequences, and Emma soon realizes that she isn’t the only one who knows about it. Someone is determined to take it from her—and they’ll stop at nothing to succeed.
A new boy in school—the arrogant, aloof, and irritatingly handsome Darcy de Winter—becomes Emma’s unlikely ally as secrets are revealed and danger creeps ever closer.
The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden (The Bear and the Nightingale #2)
Published by Del Rey
January 9th 2018
The magical adventure begun in The Bear and the Nightingale continues as brave Vasya, now a young woman, is forced to choose between marriage or life in a convent and instead flees her home—but soon finds herself called upon to help defend the city of Moscow when it comes under siege.
Orphaned and cast out as a witch by her village, Vasya’s options are few: resign herself to life in a convent, or allow her older sister to make her a match with a Moscovite prince. Both doom her to life in a tower, cut off from the vast world she longs to explore. So instead she chooses adventure, disguising herself as a boy and riding her horse into the woods. When a battle with some bandits who have been terrorizing the countryside earns her the admiration of the Grand Prince of Moscow, she must carefully guard the secret of her gender to remain in his good graces—even as she realizes his kingdom is under threat from mysterious forces only she will be able to stop.
Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas (Throne of Glass #6)
Published by Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children’s Books
September 5th 2017
Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.
His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica—the stronghold of the southern continent’s mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.
But what they discover in Antica will change them both—and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.
Inkmistress by Audrey Coulthurst
Published by Balzer + Bray
2018
Asra is a demigod with a dangerous gift: the ability to dictate the future by writing with her blood. To keep her power secret, she leads a quiet life as a healer on a remote mountain, content to help the people in her care and spend time with Ina, the mortal girl she loves.
But Asra’s peaceful life is upended when bandits threaten Ina’s village and the king does nothing to help. Desperate to protect her people, Ina begs Asra for assistance in finding her manifest—the animal she’ll be able to change into as her rite of passage to adulthood. Asra uses her blood magic to help Ina, but her spell goes horribly wrong and the bandits destroy the village, killing Ina’s family.
Unaware that Asra is at fault, Ina swears revenge on the king and takes a savage dragon as her manifest. To stop her, Asra must embark on a journey across the kingdom, becoming a player in lethal games of power among assassins, gods, and even the king himself. Most frightening of all, she discovers the dark secrets of her own mysterious history—and the terrible, powerful legacy she carries in her blood.
Winter Glass by Lexa Hillyer (Spindle Fire #2)
Published by HarperTeen
April 10th 2018
A curse comes undone. A kingdom shatters. But some bonds can’t be broken.
Princess Aurora, torn from the dream world, plots to assassinate the faerie queen Malfleur, only to confront temptations she never expected. Isabelle, meanwhile, opens her heart to Prince William as they attempt to unite their kingdoms and wage war against Malfleur’s army. But when the appearance of an unbreakable glass slipper prompts Isabelle to discover more about her lineage, her true identity begins to take shape and her legacy becomes as clear as ice.
Devoted half-sisters Isabelle and Aurora will grapple with their understanding of love and loyalty as they face a threat even greater than that of the evil queen—the threat of losing each other forever.
Ice Wolves by Amie Kaufman (Elementals #1)
Published by HarperCollins
March 27th 2018
Everyone in Vallen knows that ice wolves and scorch dragons are sworn enemies who live deeply separate lives.
So when twelve-year-old orphan Anders takes one elemental form and his twin sister, Rayna, takes another, he has to question whether they are even related. Still, whether or not they’re family, Anders knows that Rayna is his best and only true friend. She’s nothing like the brutal, cruel dragons who claimed her as one of their own and stole her away.
To learn what he needs to rescue her, Anders will have to enlist at the foreboding Ulfar Academy, a school for young wolves that values loyalty to the pack above all else. But for Anders, loyalty is more complicated than blind obedience, and friendship is the most powerful shape-shifting force of all.
The Queen’s Rising by Rebecca Ross (Untitled #1)
Published by HarperTeen
February 6th 2018
When her seventeenth summer solstice arrives, Brienna desires only two things: to master her passion and to be chosen by a patron.
Growing up in the southern Kingdom of Valenia at the renowned Magnalia House should have prepared her for such a life. While some are born with an innate talent for one of the five passions—art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge—Brienna struggled to find hers until she belatedly chose to study knowledge. However, despite all her preparations, Brienna’s greatest fear comes true—the solstice does not go according to plan and she is left without a patron.
Months later, her life takes an unexpected turn when a disgraced lord offers her patronage. Suspicious of his intent, and with no other choices, she accepts. But there is much more to his story, and Brienna soon discovers that he has sought her out for his own vengeful gain. For there is a dangerous plot being planned to overthrow the king of Maevana—the archrival kingdom of Valenia—and restore the rightful queen, and her magic, to the northern throne. And others are involved—some closer to Brienna than she realizes.
With war brewing between the two lands, Brienna must choose whose side she will remain loyal to—passion or blood. Because a queen is destined to rise and lead the battle to reclaim the crown. The ultimate decision Brienna must determine is: Who will be that queen?
SCI-FI
Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston
Published by Balzer + Bray
February 13th 2018
Ana is a scoundrel by nurture and an outlaw by nature. Found as a child drifting through space with a sentient android called D09, Ana was saved by a fearsome space captain and the grizzled crew she now calls family. But D09 — one of the last remaining illegal Metals — has been glitching, and Ana will stop at nothing to find a way to fix him.
Ana’s desperate effort to save D09 leads her on a quest to steal the coordinates to a lost ship that could offer all the answers. But at the last moment, a spoiled Ironblood boy beats Ana to her prize. He has his own reasons for taking the coordinates, and he doesn’t care what he’ll sacrifice to keep them.
When everything goes wrong, she and the Ironblood end up as fugitives on the run. Now their entire kingdom is after them — and the coordinates — and not everyone wants them captured alive.
Paris Adrift by E.J. Swift
Published by Solaris
February 2018
It is the near future and humanity is on the brink of destruction. The only way it can be saved is if the course of history is forcibly altered. In the twenty first century, misfit student Hallie Lane packs up her troubled life in England and takes the first train to Paris, where she falls in with the eclectic expat community as a bartender at the notorious Millie’s.
Here she finds a new family, and an attraction to the enigmatic Leon. But Millie’s is not all that it seems: inside, there’s a time portal in the keg room with an inescapable hold on her. As if that’s not strange enough, she receives garbled warnings from a bizarre creature and keeps meeting a mysterious woman claiming to be a time agent.
Soon, she is navigating through the city’s turbulent past and future – from the wild years after the French Revolution, through the horrors of the Nazi occupation, and to a grim near future of her own making. But with only Leon to guide her in this fractured world, it soon becomes apparent that she is an unwitting pawn in a much bigger plan and the key to humanity’s future lies in her hands.
Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine (The Honors #1)
Published by Katherine Tegen Books
February 13th 2018
Zara Cole has been in and out of New Detroit’s rehab facilities for treatment of her antisocial disorder. There’s no adjusting Zara’s attitude, though. A painful past has made her stronger than most, which is why she chose life in the Zone instead moving with her family to Mars. In her eyes, living inside a dome isn’t much better than a prison cell.
Still, when Zara commits a crime that has her running scared, jail might be exactly where she’s headed. Instead Zara is recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected by the Leviathan–a race of sentient alien ships—to explore the outer reaches of the universe as their passengers.
Zara seizes the chance to flee Earth’s dangers, but when she meets Nadim, the alien ship she’s assigned to along with fellow Honor Beatriz, Zara starts to feel at home for the first time, along with a devotion she’s never experienced before. Yet nothing—not her Honors training or her street smarts—could have prepared her for the dark, dangerous truths that lurk behind the glitter of starlight.
Genesis by Brendan Reichs (Project Nemesis #2)
Published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
March 6th 2018
Lord of the Flies meets The Matrix in Brendan Reichs’ blistering follow-up to the instant New York Times bestseller Nemesis.
Noah Livingston knows he is destined to survive.
The 64 members of Fire Lake’s sophomore class are trapped in a place where morals have no meaning, and zero rules apply. But Noah’s deaths have trained him–hardened him–to lead the strongest into the future . . . whatever that may be. And at any cost.
Min Wilder knows that survival alone isn’t enough.
Trapped in a violent world where brute force passes for leadership, it’s tempting to lay back and let everyone else fight it out. But Min’s instincts rebel against allowing others to decide who lives and who dies. She’s ready to fight for what she believes in. And against whomever might stand in her way.
The Complication by Suzanne Young (The Program #4)
Published by Simon Pulse
April 24th 2018
Every cure has a cost.
Tatum Masterson learned this after years of being monitored by The Program. She witnessed it when her boyfriend, Wes, came back changed, erased. And now, even the newest “cure” has a heavy cost—one she and Wes paid.
The Adjustment came into Tatum’s life just when she thought she needed it most, a promise for Wes to get back his forgotten memories. But when the procedure went wrong, a revelation shattered everything Tatum thought she knew.
Now, with no one left to trust, Tatum must find out what really happened last summer. And with the help of the boyfriend she lost, Tatum will have to dig into the past and future of The Program and its handlers.
And discover the true cost of a cure.
COVER REVEALS WITHOUT SYNOPSIS
Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire (Wayward Children #3) – January 9th 2018
You Won’t Know I’m Gone by Kristin Orlando (The Black Angel Chronicles #2) – January 16th 2018
Are you looking forward to any of these books? Let me know in the comments below! Stay tuned for Part 2: Contemporaries cover reveals later today!
Until next time,
Weekly Cover Reveal Recap | January 16 – January 22
Hey guys!
Here are the covers that were revealed during the week of January 16 – January 22. Click the author to hop on over to their GoodReads page to add it to you’re TBR!
This was a big week for reveals. Hope ya’ll enjoy.
FANTASY / SCI-FI
Fireblood by Elly Blake (Frostblood Saga #2)
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
September 12th 2017
In this action-packed sequel to Frostblood, the future of Ruby’s world and a court ruled by the love of her life depends on the uncovered secrets of her past..
Against all odds, Ruby has defeated the villainous Frost King and melted his throne of ice. But the bloodthirsty Minax that was trapped inside is now haunting her kingdom and everyone she loves. The answers to its demise may lie to the south in Sudesia, the land of the Firebloods, and a country that holds the secrets to Ruby’s powers and past….
Despite warnings from her beloved Arcus, Ruby accompanies a roguish Fireblood named Kai to Sudesia, where she must master her control of fire in a series of trials to gain the trust of the suspicious Fireblood queen. Only then can she hope to access the knowledge that could defeat the rampaging Minax–which grows closer every moment. But as sparks fly in her moments alone with Kai, how can Ruby decide whom to trust? The fate of both kingdoms is now in her hands.
Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray (Untitled #1)
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
April 4th 2017
Noemi Vidal is a teen soldier from the planet Genesis, once a colony of Earth that’s now at war for its independence. The humans of Genesis have fought Earth’s robotic “mech” armies for decades with no end in sight.
After a surprise attack, Noemi finds herself stranded in space on an abandoned ship where she meets Abel, the most sophisticated mech prototype ever made. One who should be her enemy. But Abel’s programming forces him to obey Noemi as his commander, which means he has to help her save Genesis–even though her plan to win the war will kill him.
Together they embark on a daring voyage through the galaxy. Before long, Noemi begins to realize Abel may be more than a machine, and, for his part, Abel’s devotion to Noemi is no longer just a matter of programming.
Black Bird of the Gallows by Meg Kassel
Published by Entangled TEEN
September 5th 2017
A simple but forgotten truth: Where harbingers of death appear, the morgues will soon be full. Harbingers settle in places where tragedy is about to strike, then feed on the energy of the dying. Then, they leave. Off to the next doomed place. No one wants a family of harbingers of death as neighbors, but that’s exactly what seventeen-year-old Angie Dovage gets when Reece Fernandez moves in next door.
Angie knows the mysterious boy is more than he appears, but can’t imagine that his presence heralds a tragedy that will devastate her small community. But her fears run deeper than Reece’s inevitable departure, because where harbingers of death go, grotesque, ruined creatures called Beekeepers follow. And where Beekeepers go, fear and chaos and death follows.
Angie wants to protect everyone she cares about, but stopping the Beekeepers involves a choice that will claim her life or Reece’s soul. She will learn the price of both.
Redux by A.L. Davroe (Tricksters #2)
Published by Entangled: Teen
March 21st 2017
The domed city of Evanescence is in ruins. With nowhere to go, prodigy hacker Ellani “Ella” Drexel and a small band of survivors flee to the Undertunnel below their city.
To escape the wasteland she unknowingly created.
But sanctuary is hard to find. With malfunctioning androids and angry rebels at their backs, the group hopes to press on for the neighboring city of Cadence. But Ella’s chosen path is challenging…life-threatening, even. Worse, the boy she loves is acting distant, and not at all like the person she first met in Nexis.
But then Ella learns a secret…and it changes everything.
Ella knows she needs to turn back and make a stand to reclaim her home. She’s determined to bring a new—and better—life to all who’ve suffered.
Or die trying.
Ally by Anna Banks (Nemesis #2)
Published by Feiwel & Friends
October 3rd 2017
Princess Sepora of Serubel and King Tarik of Theoria have formed an uneasy truce between their kingdoms since the deadly plague began to rip through Theoria. Since their feelings for each other are entangled in politics and power, they must use their own trusted resources to find common ground.
But when traitors with powerful allies arise from unexpected places, Tarik and Sepora face challenges that will change both of their kingdoms forever. Will they learn whom to trust—including each other—in time to save their kingdoms, their relationship and even their lives?
Alone by Scott Sigler (The Generations Trilogy #3)
Published by Del Rey
March 7th 2017
Pawns in a millennia-old struggle, the young people known only as the Birthday Children were genetically engineered to survive on the planet Omeyocan—but they were never meant to live there. They were made to be “overwritten,” their minds wiped and replaced by the consciousness of the monsters who created them.
Em changed all of that.
She unified her people and led a revolt against their creators. Em and her friends escaped an ancient ghost ship and fled to Omeyocan. They thought they would find an uninhabited paradise. Instead, they found the ruins of a massive city long since swallowed by the jungle. And they weren’t alone. The Birthday Children fought for survival against the elements, jungle wildlife, the “Grownups” who created them . . . and, as evil corrupted their numbers, even against themselves.
With these opponents finally defeated, Em and her people realized that more threats were coming, traveling from across the universe to lay claim to their planet. The Birthday Children have prepared as best they can against this alien armada. Now, as the first ships reach orbit around Omeyocan, the final battle for the planet begins.
Seriously Hexed by Tina Connolly (Seriously Wicked #3)
Published by Tor Teen
November 14th 2017
Teen witch Cam has resigned herself to being a witch. Sort of. She s willing to do small things, like magically help her boyfriend Devon get over his ongoing stage fright. But tangling with other witches is not on her wishlist. Joining her mother s wicked witch coven is right out.
New acquaintance Poppy Jones is a Type A, A+ Student of True Witchery. She s got all the answers, and she s delighted to tangle with a bunch of wicked witches. She doesn t need any reluctant witch getting in her way, especially one who knows less than a dozen spells, and has zero plans for witch college.
Then a coven meeting goes drastically awry. A hex is taking down all thirteen members of the coven, one by one putting both girls mothers in jeopardy. Now the two teens are going to have to learn to work together, while simultaneously juggling werewolf puppies, celebrity demons, thirteen nasty hexes, and even nastier witches. They may have to go through hell and high water to save their mothers but they also might find a new friendship along the way.
Seize Today by Pintip Dunn (Forget Tomorrow #3)
Published by Entangled: Teen
October 3rd 2017
Seventeen-year-old precognitive Olivia Dresden is an optimist. Since different versions of people’s futures flicker before her eyes, she doesn’t have to believe in human decency. She can literally see the path to goodness in each person—if only he or she would make the right decision. No one is more conflicted than her mother, Chairwoman Dresden, and Olivia is fiercely loyal to the woman her mother could be.
But when the Chairwoman captures Ryder Russell, a boy from the rebel Underground, Olivia is forced to reevaluate her notions of love and faith. With Ryder’s help, Olivia must come to terms with who her mother is in the present—and stop her before she destroys the world.
CONTEMPORARY
At First Blush by Beth Ellyn Summer
Published by Bloomsbury Spark
April 4th 2017
Who would have thought that a teenager could have a successful career creating makeup tutorial videos on YouTube? For Lacey Robbins, this dream has been her reality. An up-and-coming YouTuber, she has thousands of fans and can’t wait for the day when her subscriber count reaches the one million mark. And when she is offered a high school internship at On Trend Magazine, she figures that this could be the make it or break it moment.
But sometimes your dream job isn’t all that it seems. Her editor is only interested in promoting junk products, and her boss in the Hair and Makeup department introduces her to the larger world of makeup artistry, making her wonder if making tutorials online is all she is meant to do. To top it all off, when the magazine’s feature subject , musician Tyler Lance, turns his broodingly handsome smile her way, falling for him could mean losing her fans, forcing her to make a decision: her YouTube life or her real life?
Wishbones by Virginia Macgregor
Published by HQ
March 9th 2017
Feather Tucker has two wishes:
1)To get her mum healthy again
2) To win the Junior UK swimming championships
When Feather comes home on New Year’s Eve to find her mother – one of Britain’s most obese women- in a diabetic coma, she realises something has to be done to save her mum’s life. But when her Mum refuses to co-operate Feather realises that the problem run deeper than just her mum’s unhealthy appetite.
Over time, Feather’s mission to help her Mum becomes an investigation. With the help of friends old and new, and the hindrance of runaway pet goat Houdini, Feather’s starting to uncover when her mum’s life began to spiral out of control and why. But can Feather fix it in time for her mum to watch her swim to victory? And can she save her family for good?
MYSTERY / HORROR / THRILLER
Gray Wolf Island by Tracey Neithercott
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
October 10th 2017
Right before Sadie died, she begged her sister, Ruby, to do the one thing she could never do herself: Find the treasure on Gray Wolf Island.
With just a mysterious treasure map as a guide, Ruby reluctantly allows some friends to join her on the hunt, each of whom is touched by magic: a boy allegedly born to a virgin, a girl who never sleeps, a boy who can foresee his own death, and a boy with deep ties to the island. Each of them is also keeping a secret—something they’ll have to reveal in order to reach the treasure.
As the secrets come to light, Ruby will have to decide: Can she make peace with her friends’ troubled pasts and continue to trust them? Can she forgive herself for doing the unspeakable? Deep in the wilderness of Gray Wolf Island, Ruby’s choices will determine if they make it out with the treasure—or merely with their lives.
Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart
Published by Delacorte Press
September 5th 2017
From the author of the unforgettable New York Times bestseller We Were Liars comes a masterful new psychological suspense novel—the story of a young woman whose diabolical smarts are her ticket into a charmed life. But how many times can someone reinvent themselves? You be the judge.
Imogen is a runaway heiress, an orphan, a cook, and a cheat.
Jule is a fighter, a social chameleon, and an athlete.
An intense friendship. A disappearance. A murder, or maybe two.
A bad romance, or maybe three.
Blunt objects, disguises, blood, and chocolate. The American dream, superheroes, spies, and villains.
A girl who refuses to give people what they want from her.
A girl who refuses to be the person she once was.
COVER REVEALS WITHOUT SYNOPSIS
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Iron Gold by Pierce Brown (Iron Gold #1)
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Devil in Ohio by Daria Polatin
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Contagion by Teri Terry (Dark Matter #1)
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Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson
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Freefall by Joshua David Bellin
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The Hollow Girl by Hillary Monohan
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Truth or Dare by Non Pratt
Are you looking forward to any of these books? Let me know in the comments below! Stay tuned for next weeks cover reveals!
Until next time,
Weekly Cover Reveal Recap | December 26 – January 1
Hey guys!
Here are the covers that were revealed during the week of December 26 – January 1. Click the author to hop on over to their GoodReads page to add it to you’re TBR!
This was a big week for reveals. Hope ya’ll enjoy.
FANTASY / SCI-FI
Reign of Serpents by Eleanor Herman (Blood of Gods and Royals #3)
Published by Harlequin Teen
June 27th 2017
New York Times bestselling author Eleanor Herman entwines the real scandals of history with epic fantasy in this action-packed follow-up to EMPIRE OF DUST.
In REIGN OF SERPENTS, the ancient power of Snake Blood threatens the known world. While Prince Alexander struggles with a very deadly inner demon, his betrothed, Zofia, is on her way to him, to unite their kingdoms…even as she begins to realize where her true allegiance lies. The fierce Cynane meets her match-not in her future husband, the deranged king of Illyria, but in her great-great-grandfather, Talus, possessor of Smoke Blood, who will teach her the true meaning of betrayal. And marooned together on an island in the Mediterranean, romantic tension blooms between Katerina and Hephaestion as they learn of lost civilizations and discover a device that could help them do the impossible: kill the last living god.
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Published by St. Martin’s Griffin
May 9th 2017
Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who’s ever been chosen
That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.
Half the time Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here – it’s their last year at Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.
Carry On is a love letter to love stories and the power of words – to every ‘chosen one’ who ever had more on their mind than saving the world…
Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly
Published by Disney Press
January 31st 2017
An original addition to the beloved Beauty and the Beast fairy tale, Lost in a Book follows the lonely, bookish Belle as she finds an enchanted book in the Beast’s library called Nevermore that carries her into a glittering new world. There, Belle is befriended by a mysterious countess who offers her the life she’s always dreamed of.
But Nevermore is not what it seems, and the more time Belle spends there, the harder it is to leave. Good stories take hold of us and never let us go, and once Belle becomes lost in this book, she may never find her way out again.
This deluxe hardcover novel expands upon the beautiful story and world seen in the new Walt Disney Studios’ film, Beauty and the Beast.
Umberland by Wendy Spinale (Everland #2)
Published by Scholastic Press
May 9th 2017
Gwen, Pete, and the others have escaped from Everland. But the safe haven they hoped to find at Alnwick Castle doesn’t exist. With the Queen of England on her deathbed, Duchess Alyssa has stepped in to lead, but things have gotten worse as the cure Doc created for the Horologia virus has mutated, accelerating the disease. The only possible solution he can think of is to go back to the virus’s origin: an extinct poisonous apple.
Legend has it a tree bearing the apple might be found at the center of a deadly labyrinth hidden deep within Germany. A place that no one in their right mind enters. Leaving Pete in charge of the survivors, Alyssa sets out with only her sword, her wits, and the help of Maddox Hadder, a wild boy who oversees the castle gardens. To get to the center of the maze, she’ll be forced to battle monsters more terrifying than her darkest nightmares.
But can anyone truly survive the madness of the maze? And what if there’s no apple to be found there?
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
Published by Del Rey
January 10th 2017
At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn’t mind—she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse’s fairy tales. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil.
After Vasilisa’s mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa’s new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.
And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa’s stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.
As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed—this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse’s most frightening tales.
The Seafarer’s Kiss by Julia Ember
Published by Duet Books
May 4th 2017
Having long-wondered what lives beyond the ice shelf, nineteen-year-old mermaid Ersel learns of the life she wants when she rescues and befriends Ragna, a shield-maiden stranded on the mermen’s glacier. But when Ersel’s childhood friend and suitor catches them together, he gives Ersel a choice: say goodbye to Ragna or face justice at the hands of the glacier’s brutal king.
Determined to forge a different fate, Ersel seeks help from Loki. But such deals are never as one expects, and the outcome sees her exiled from the only home and protection she’s known. To save herself from perishing in the barren, underwater wasteland and be reunited with the human she’s come to love, Ersel must try to outsmart the God of Lies.
Unraveling by Sara Ella (Unblemished #2)
Published by Thomas Nelson
July 11th 2017
One kiss changed her future. Can another alter her past?
Eliyana Ember doesn’t believe in true love. Not anymore. After all she’s been through between capturing the Void and saving the Second Reflection, El only trusts what’s right in front of her. The tangible. The real. Not some unexplained Kiss of Infinity she once shared with the ghost of a boy she’s trying to forget. She has more important things to worry about—like becoming queen of the Second Reflection, a role she is so not prepared to fill.
But why does she feel like something—or someone—Is missing?
When the Callings, those powerful magical gifts, become threatened, Eliyana discovers her connection with Ky Rhyen may have something to do with it. El needs answers before the Callings disappear altogether. Can she find a way to sever her tie with Ky without killing him, and keep herself from truly falling for him in the process?
Julia Defiant by Catherine Egan (Witch’s Child #2)
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
June 13th 2017
Julia and a mismatched band of revolutionaries, scholars, and thieves have crossed the world searching for a witch. But for all the miles traveled, they are no closer to finding Ko Dan. No closer to undoing the terrible spell he cast that bound an ancient magic to the life of a small child. Casimir wants that magic will happily kill Theo to extract it and every moment they hunt for Ko Dan, Casimir s assassins are hunting them.
Julia can deal with danger. The thing that truly scares her lies within. Her strange ability to vanish to a place just out of sight has grown: she can now disappear so completely that it s like stepping into another world. It s a fiery, hellish world, filled with creatures who seem to recognize her and count her as one of their own.
So . . . is Julia a girl with a monster lurking inside her? Or a monster wearing the disguise of a girl?If she can use her monstrous power to save Theo, does it matter?
CONTEMPORARY
The Lake Effect by Erin McCahan
Published by Dial Books
July 11th 2017
lake effect | n.
The effect of any lake, especially the Great Lakes, in modifying the weather in nearby areasIt’s the summer after his senior year, and driven, focused Briggs Henry is ready to leave behind his ex-girlfriend, his comically aggressive grandmother, and his parents’ money troubles for Lake Michigan and its miles of sandy beaches. He’s lined up a summer job working as a personal assistant and living in a gorgeous Victorian on the water—exactly the kind of house Briggs plans to buy his parents once he’s a multi-millionaire. But when he arrives, his boss, the eccentric Mrs. Bosic, tells him to get dressed for her funeral. Uh . . . It’s the first of many funerals they’ll attend this summer—to hilarious and eye-opening effect. Add to this a new set of friends-cum-enemies-cum-friends-again, and Abigail, the mysterious girl next door on whom Briggs’s charms repeatedly fail, and “the lake effect” is beginning to take on a whole new meaning.
Pushing the Boundaries by Stacey Trombley (Off Limits #1)
Published by Entangled: Crush
January 16th 2016
Myra goes to Haiti with one goal: take the photograph that will win a scholarship and prove to her uber-traditional family that she has what it takes to be a photographer instead of a doctor. Her camera has always been her shield against getting too close to anyone, but she didn’t expect the hot teen translator who has an ability to see past her walls.
Elias needs his job as a translator to provide for his siblings. He can’t afford to break the rule forbidding him from socializing with a client. Except this girl Myra insists on going outside the city to capture the perfect picture, and he steps in as her guide in order to keep her safe.
The deeper they travel into the country, the harder they fall for each other. Now they’re both taking risks that could cost each other their dreams.
If they get too close—it could ruin both their lives.
Mr. 60% by Clete Barrett Smith
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers
August 22nd 2017
Matt Nolan is the high school drug dealer, deadbeat, and soon-to-be dropout according to everyone at his school. His vice principal is counting down the days until Mr. 60% (aka Matt) finally flunks out and is no longer his problem. What no one knows is the only reason Matt sells drugs is to take care of his uncle Jack, who is dying of cancer.
Meet Amanda. The overly cheerful social outcast whose optimism makes Matt want to hurl. Stuck as partners during an after-school club (mandatory for Matt), it’s only a matter of time until Amanda discovers Matt’s secret. But Amanda is used to dealing with heartbreak, and she’s determined to help Matt find a way to give life 100 percent.
The Secret Science of Magic by Melissa Keil
Published by Hardie Grant Egmont
April 1st 2017
The unsolvable problem: If Sophia is a genius, why can’t she crack the puzzle of what to do with her life?
Fact: Sophia is smart. As in, certified-child-prodigy, breezing-through-uni-subjects-even-though-she’s-only-in-year-twelve smart. This terrifies her, because geniuses have a tendency to end up as recluses and weirdos – and with her current social ineptness, she’s halfway there already.
Truth: Joshua is good at magic tricks, ignoring most things about year twelve, and not thinking at all about life after high school.
Fact: Sophia can’t even talk to her best friend Elsie about her anxieties, because Elsie is firmly focused on her own future – and on plans that will mean leaving Sophia behind.
Truth: Joshua has had a secret crush on Sophia since forever, but he doesn’t have forever to act on it.
Fact: There are some things no amount of genius can prepare you for … and the messiness of the real world is one of them.
Truth: Timing is everything.
Cheesus Was Here by J.C. Davis
Published by Sky Pony Press
2017
Nothing ever happens in tiny Clemency, Texas, until the day a gas clerk finds the image of Baby Jesus inside a Babybel cheese wheel. When more crazy miracles turn up, Clemency turns into a full blown media circus. While everyone else seems ready to accept that God has a dairy fetish, 16-year-old Delaney Delgado hasn’t believed in miracles since her kid sister died. Del’s determined to prove this whole thing is one big hoax and nothing and no one is going to convince her otherwise.
Sure her best friend, Gabe, is a pastor’s kid and on the side of the angels, but even Gabe has to admit things look a bit fishy. When Del finds proof the miracles are fake, however, she has to decide whether to disgrace her town and risk losing Gabe’s friendship or support a lie that mocks the miracle her family prayed for and never received.
MYSTERY / HORROR
Count All Her Bones by April Henry (Girl, Stolen #2)
Published by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
May 2nd 2017
Cheyenne sets out to save her former captor in this much-anticipated sequel to Girl, Stolen.
Six months ago, Griffin Sawyer meant to steal a car, but he never meant to steal the girl asleep in the backseat. Panicked, he took her home. His father, Roy, decided to hold Cheyenne―who is blind―for ransom. Griffin helped her escape, and now Roy is awaiting trial. As they prepare to testify, Griffin and Cheyenne reconnect and make plans to meet.
But the plan goes wrong and Cheyenne gets captured by Roy’s henchmen―this time for the kill. Can Cheyenne free herself? And is Griffin a pawn or a player in this deadly chase?
The Merciless III: Origins of Evil by Danielle Vega (The Merciless #3)
Published by Razorbill
July 11th 2017
Brooklyn knows that there’s no good without evil, no right without wrong. And when a helpless girl calls her teen helpline, whispering that someone is hurting her, Brooklyn knows that she needs to save her anonymous caller, even if it means doing something bad.
Her parents and friends assure her the call was probably a prank but Brooklyn has always had a tendency to take over, whether someone has asked for help or not.
She discovers the call came from Christ First Church and finds herself plunged into the cultish community of its youth group. She’s especially drawn to Gavin, the angelic yet tortured pastor’s son.
Torn between an unstoppable attraction to Gavin and her obsession with the truth, Brooklyn is forced to make a devastating choice to rid Christ Church of evil once and for all. . . . But the devil has plans for Brooklyn’s soul.
HISTORICAL
An Uninterrupted View of the Sky by Melanie Crowder
Published by Philomel Books
June 13th 2017
It’s 1999 in Bolivia and Francisco’s life consists of school, soccer, and trying to find space for himself in his family’s cramped yet boisterous home. But when his father is arrested on false charges and sent to prison by a corrupt system that targets the uneducated, the poor, and the indigenous majority, Francisco’s mother abandons hope and her family. Francisco and his sister are left with no choice: They must move into the prison with their father. There, they find a world unlike anything they’ve ever known, where everything—a door, a mattress, protection from other inmates—has its price.
Prison life is dirty, dire, and dehumanizing. With their lives upended, Francisco faces an impossible decision: Break up the family and take his sister to their grandparents in the Andean highlands, fleeing the city and the future that was just within his grasp, or remain together in the increasingly dangerous prison. Pulled between two equally undesirable options, Francisco must confront everything he once believed about the world around him and his place within it.
In this heart-wrenching novel inspired by real events, Melanie Crowder sheds light on a little-known era of modern South American history—where injustice still darkens the minds and hearts of people alike—and proves that hope can be found, even in the most desperate places.
Orphan, Agent, Prima, Pawn by Elizabeth Kiem (Dukovskaya #3)
Published by Soho Teen
August 22nd 2017
The year is 1958, and sixteen-year-old Svetlana is stuck in a Moscow orphanage designated for the unwanted children of Stalin’s enemies. Ballet is her obsession and salvation, her only hope at shedding a tainted family past. Shveta’s dream is to make a new life as a dancer.
Her dream comes true: she’s invited to join The Bolshoi Ballet, whose power as a symbol of Soviet prowess is unmatched—except perhaps by the dreaded KGB secret police. Sveta is stunned when officers show up at her door. Inexplicably, they know about a fainting spell she once had: a trance she slipped into. Something like a vision.
Some very powerful people believe Sveta is capable of serving the regime as much more than a dancer. They want to enlist her against the West as a psychic spy. She must explore this other talent if she is to erase the sins of her family, if she is to dance on the world stage for the Motherland—if she is to survive.
COVER REVEALS WITHOUT SYNOPSIS
Are you looking forward to any of these books? Let me know in the comments below! Stay tuned for next weeks cover reveals!
Until next time,
Morning Star by Pierce Brown (Red Rising #3) | REVIEW
Morning Star by Pierce Brown (Red Rising #3)
Published by Del Rey on February 9th 2016
Genres: Young Adult, Sci-Fi, Action & Adventure
Pages: 524
Format: Hardcover
LINKS: Good Reads | Amazon | Indigo | Book Depository
Darrow would have lived in peace, but his enemies brought him war. The Gold overlords demanded his obedience, hanged his wife, and enslaved his people. But Darrow is determined to fight back. Risking everything to transform himself and breach Gold society, Darrow has battled to survive the cutthroat rivalries that breed Society’s mightiest warriors, climbed the ranks, and waited patiently to unleash the revolution that will tear the hierarchy apart from within.
Finally, the time has come.
But devotion to honor and hunger for vengeance run deep on both sides. Darrow and his comrades-in-arms face powerful enemies without scruple or mercy. Among them are some Darrow once considered friends. To win, Darrow will need to inspire those shackled in darkness to break their chains, unmake the world their cruel masters have built, and claim a destiny too long denied – and too glorious to surrender.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
5 Stars
*** CHECK OUT THE REVIEW FOR BOOK ONE: RED RISING
AND BOOK TWO: GOLDEN SON ***
** MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS: READ AT OWN RISK!!!**
First Line:
I rise into darkness, away from the garden they watered with the blood of my friends.
Review
COVER 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 PLOT 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
CHARACTERS 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 ROMANCE 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
WRITING 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 WORLD 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Forget a man’s name and he’ll forgive you. Remember it, and he’ll defend you forever.
Morning Star – Pierce Brown
The Good
- Let me start by saying this one took me a while to read. I started it back in when it came out in February, but had to put it down. I wasn’t ready for it to end. I was worried and afraid. But I recently took part in Tome Topple, a big book read-a-thon, and thought there will be no better time to read this book. So I did.
- If you’re looking for a book and series that will destroy you, put you back together again, and then rip you to shreds soon after, then the Red Rising Trilogy is for you!
- Brown wrote the most satisfying ending I could have ever wanted. It wasn’t a happy ending, but it wasn’t sad on either. It was just perfect.
Justice isn’t about fixing the past, it’s about fixing the future. We’re not fighting for the dead. We’re fighting for the living. And for those who aren’t yet born.
Morning Star -Pierce Brown
- The trials and tribulations that Darrow, Mustang, Sevro, Ragnar, Victra and many of our other beloved characters go through was heart breaking, but beautiful.
- The world expands even broader, opening up your imagination for even more space exploration. We get to meet new characters, say good bye to some old ones (oh my heart hurts for that one), and see justice slowing beginning to be achieved.
- Everything about this series is A++. You couldn’t ask for a better series!
The Bad
- GUYS, I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH. THERE IS NOTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED UPON. OK??
Man is no island. We need those who love us. We need those who hate us. We need others to tether us to life, to give us a reason to live, to feel.
Morning Star – Pierce Brown
This finale broke me, but in all the right places. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending and I cannot wait for Iron Gold Trilogy, the continuation of this world! Ok, that’s it. Let me know what you guys thought of Morning Star by Pierce Brown! I would love to hear your opinions as well!
Until next time,
#TeamHowlersUnite
Pierce Brown spent his childhood building forts and setting traps for his cousins in the woods of six states and the deserts of two. Graduating college in 2010, he fancied the idea of continuing his studies at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have a magical bone in his body. So while trying to make it as a writer, he worked as a manager of social media at a startup tech company, toiled as a peon on the Disney lot at ABC Studios, did his time as an NBC page, and gave sleep deprivation a new meaning during his stint as an aide on a U.S. Senate Campaign.
Now he lives in Los Angeles, where he scribbles tales of spaceships, wizards, ghouls, and most things old or bizarre.
Weekly Cover Reveal Recap | May 30 – June 5
Hey guys!
Here are the covers that were revealed during the week of May 30 – June 5. Click the author to hop on over to their GoodReads page to add it to you’re TBR!
CONTEMPORARY
Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer
Published by Bloomsbury
April 4th, 2017
Juliet Young has always written letters to her mother, a world-traveling photojournalist. Even after her mother’s death, she leaves letters at her grave. It’s the only way Juliet can cope.
Declan Murphy isn’t the sort of guy you want to cross. In the midst of his court-ordered community service at the local cemetery, he’s trying to escape the demons of his past.
FANTASY
Bad Blood by Demitria Lunetta
Published by Delacorte Press
March 14th 2017
Scotland is in my blood…
All sixteen-year-old Heather MacNair wants is to feel normal, to shed the intense paranoia she’s worn all year like a scratchy sweater. Ever since her compulsion to self-harm came to light, Heather has been kept under her doctor’s watchful eye. Her family thinks she’s better – and there is nothing she wants more than for that to be true. She still can’t believe she’s allowed to spend her summer vacation as she always does: at her aunt’s home in Scotland, where she has lots of happy memories. Far away from all her problems save one: she can’t stop carving the Celtic knot that haunts her dreams into her skin.
Echoes of Memory (Ravenborn #2) by A.R. Kahler
Published by Simon Pulse
February 7th 2017
After witnessing a terrible event that left Kaira changed in unimaginable ways, Chris knows he has to find a way to defy his destiny in this second novel in the suspenseful Ravenborn trilogy.
In the aftermath of the deaths plaguing Islington’s campus, a terrible pall has fallen over the students. Kaira is passed-out sick, and Chris—the only witness to the night Kaira invoked something otherworldly—is questioning his sanity. Everyone is willing to believe the deaths were normal, and without Kaira backing him up, his claims that there was something supernatural at work are getting harder and harder to believe. Even to himself.
Gilded Cage (Dark Gifts #1) by Vic James
Published by Del Rey
February 14th, 2017
NOT ALL ARE FREE.
NOT ALL ARE EQUAL.
NOT ALL WILL BE SAVED.
Our world belongs to the Equals aristocrats with magical gifts and all commoners must serve them for ten years.
But behind the gates of England s grandest estate lies a power that could break the world.
Order of the Wicked (Dorothy Must Die #0.7) by Danielle Paige
Published by HarperCollins
June 28th, 2017
Dorothy Gale’s armies killed Lanadel’s entire family, and she’s determined to seek revenge. She sets off to find the elusive, secretive group known as the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked. They’re rumored to be training their own army to defeat Dorothy. But when she finds them, Lanadel soon learns that she’s seriously underprepared both in fighting skills, as well as magical abilities, and she has to prove herself in order to join the Order and become one of them.
SCI-FI / DYSTOPIAN
Exo by Fonda Lee
Published by Scholastic
January 31st, 2017
It’s been a century of peace since Earth became a colony of an alien race with far reaches into the galaxy. Some die-hard extremists still oppose alien rule on Earth, but Donovan Reyes isn’t one of them. His dad holds the prestigious position of Prime Liaison in the collaborationist government, and Donovan’s high social standing along with his exocel (a remarkable alien technology fused to his body) guarantee him a bright future in the security forces. That is, until a routine patrol goes awry and Donovan’s abducted by the human revolutionary group Sapience, determined to end alien control.
Shadow Run (Kaitan Chronicles #1) by Adrianne Strickland & Michael Miller
Published by Delacorte Press
March 21st, 2017
Nev has just joined the crew of the starship Kaitan Heritage as the cargo loader. His captain, Qole, is the youngest-ever person to command her own ship, but she brooks no argument from her crew of orphans, fugitives, and con men. Nev can’t resist her, even if her ship is an antique.
As for Nev, he’s a prince, in hiding on the ship. He believes Qole holds the key to changing galactic civilization, and when her cooperation proves difficult to obtain, Nev resolves to get her to his home planet by any means necessary.
The Thousandth Floor (The Thousandth Floor #1) by Katharine McGee
Published by HarperCollins
August 30th, 2016
New York City as you’ve never seen it before. A thousand-story tower stretching into the sky. A glittering vision of the future, where anything is possible—if you want it enough.
Welcome to Manhattan, 2118.
A hundred years in the future, New York is a city of innovation and dreams. But people never change: everyone here wants something…and everyone has something to lose.
Well that’s it for this week! Are you looking forward to any of these books? Let me know in the comments below! Stay tuned for next weeks cover reveals!
Until next time,
#TEAMHOWLERS // A Golden Son Review
Golden Son by Pierce Brown
Published by Del Rey on January 6th 2015
Genres: Sci-fi, Action & Adventure, Fantasy
Pages: 442
Format: Hardcover
LINKS: Good Reads | Amazon | Indigo | Book Depository
Golden Son continues the stunning saga of Darrow, a rebel forged by tragedy, battling to lead his oppressed people to freedom from the overlords of a brutal elitist future built on lies. Now fully embedded among the Gold ruling class, Darrow continues his work to bring down Society from within. A life-or-death tale of vengeance with an unforgettable hero at its heart, Golden Son guarantees Pierce Brown’s continuing status as one of fiction’s most exciting new voices.
First Line:
My silence thunders.
Review
Golden Son by Pierce Brown is the Sci-fi sequel to his critically acclaimed novel, Red Rising. It picks up a couple years after the events of the first book at the end of Darrow’s academy training. With plans in upheaval, Darrow must figure out on his own how to take down the Gold’s from within.
Action in full throttle
Things promptly hit the ground running when it came to action with Golden Son. It’s as though we are moved starting with one significant circumstance then onto the next with simply enough downtime between each to give you a chance to catch your breath. At times it was a bit overwhelming trying to keep pace. And I did have to re-read a couple paragraphs to fully grasp all the information, but it was very well written! In Golden Son every circumstance conveys major plot developments that was key in driving the story in a specific course. I felt like there wasn’t a word squandered. Everything held a purpose in the gran scheme of things!
Flash forward
Regularly when a second book makes a flash forward in time it doesn’t generally work out however I thought it was well done here. We get just enough insight into Darrow’s life between the flash forward to not be confused. Not everything that happened between the first and second book was pivotal to the story line and I respect Brown’s decision in the matter. Darrow and his companions are 20 now and he’s working for the man that sentenced his dear wife Eo to death. He’s having some internal battles with keeping up his double life. He struggles being left in the dark from the Sons of Ares while trying to make the right decisions. He doesn’t comprehend what else he needs to do as such he keeps doing the things he supposes will best position him for the future battle. Being human we get to see his errors in judgement and how he handles the consequences!
Friends of all colors
This time around, a lot of emphasis is placed on the symbolism of friendship, which I absolutely loved. Darrow truly drives home how vital companions are to him and how far he’ll go to stay true and protect the ones he cares for, even if they’re Golds. For the larger part of the book this symbolism is prevalent in the decision making process of Darrow and it was nice to see these connections grow and break apart as the story developed! On top of that we got the opportunity to see a greater amount of other colors being brought into the mix. I particularly cherished the expansion of Obsidian. The supporting characters were better fleshed out this time around, particularly the females. That was a major issue I had with the primary book, none of the females were extremely solid characters to me aside from Mustang towards the very end. Some stand out characters this time around were Sevro, Victra, and Roque!
Narrative choices
I found this time around the narration to be a lot easier to follow and more fleshed out then in Red Rising. Pierce Brown submerged himself into the story and character’s voices more clearly. There was less confusion this time around, although all the character names kept getting mixed up in my head at points. All the characters were clear and distinctively their own person and it was great to see them interact with each other.
Ok, that’s it. Let me know what you guys thought of Golden Son by Pierce Brown! I would love to hear your opinions as well!
Until next time,
#TEAMHOWLERSUNITE
Now he lives in Los Angeles, where he scribbles tales of spaceships, wizards, ghouls, and most things old or bizarre.
February 2016 Book Haul | Books at Dawn
Hey guys!
I know February is not over yet and it hasn’t been long since I last posted a book haul. But for two reasons I am posting My February Book Haul today. One of them being, I happened to accumulate quite a few books in such a short amount of time… (bad Jesse!). The other reason being, with my birthday coming up, I am refraining from buying any books just in case I get some for my birthday wishlist!
So let’s get started!
Morning Star by Pierce Brown
Published by Del Rey
Released February 9th 2015
Series: Red Rising #3
Hardcover
Purchased From Indigo Books
Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard
Published by HarperTeen
Released February 9th 2016
Series: Red Queen #2
Hardcover
Purchased From Indigo Books
Starflight by Melissa Landers
Published by Disney-Hyperion
Released February 2nd 2016
Series: Starflight #1
Hardcover
Purchased From Indigo Books
These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker
Published by Swoon Reads
Released February 9th, 2016
Series: These Vicious Masks #1
Paperback
Purchased From Indigo Books
We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson
Published by Simon Pulse
Released January 19th 2016
Series: Standalone
Hardcover
Purchased From Indigo Books
The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston
Published St. Martin’s Griffin
Released December 24th 2013
Series: Standalone
Paperback
Purchased From BookOutlet.com
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Published by St. Martin’s Press
Released September 10th 2013
Series: Standalone
Hardcover
Purchased From BookOutlet.com
Wayward Vol. 1: String Theory by Jim Zub
Published by Image Comics
Released March 25th 2015
Series: Wayward Graphic Novel
Trade Paperback
Purchased From BMV Used Books
Wayward Vol. 2: Ties That Bind by Jim Zub
Published by Image Comics
Released August 26th 2015
Series: Wayward Graphic Novel
Trade Paperback
Purchased From BMV Used Books
The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 1: The Faust Act by Keiron Gillen & Jamie McKelvie
Published by Image Comics
Released November 12th, 2014
Series: The Wicked + The Divine Graphic Novel
Trade Paperback
Purchased From BMV Used Books
So yeah… that’s 10 books in 3 weeks? Books are my happy ok? And no I don’t need help!
Until next time,
January 2016 Book Haul | Books at Dawn
Hey guys!
So now that the holidays are over and January as rolled around, I had quite a bit of money and bookstore giftcards that needed to be spent. So I think I might have went a teeny bit over board this month with my book buying… But what else is new?
So let’s just get right into it shall we?
Golden Son by Pierce Brown
Published by Del Rey
Released January 6th 2015
Series: Red Rising #2
Hardcover
Purchased From BookOutlet.com
A Dance of Mirrors by David Dalglish
Published by Orbit
Released December 30th 2013
Series: Shadowdance #3
Paperback
Purchased From BookOutlet.com
Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff
Published by Thomas Dunne Books
Released September 18th 2012
Series: The Lotus War #1
Paperback
Purchased From BMV Used Books
Firefight by Brandon Sanderson
Published by Delacorte Press
Released January 6th 2015
Series: Reckoners #2
Paperback
Purchased From Indigo Books
The Rest of Us Live Here by Patrick Ness
Published by Walker Books
Released August 27th 2015
Series: Standalone
Hardcover
Purchased From Indigo Books
Anne & Henry by Dawn Ius
Published by Simon Pulse
Released September 1st 2015
Series: Standalone
Hardcover
Purchased From BookOutlet.com
The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent
Published by Delacorte Press
Released June 9th 2015
Series: The Stars Never Rise #1
Hardcover
Purchased From BookOutlet.com
Lovely, Dark and Deep by Amy McNamara
Published by Simon & Schuster Books
Released October 16th 2012
Series: Standalone
Hardcover
Purchased From BookOutlet.com
The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman
Published by Viking Books
Released January 26th 2016
Series: Lady Helen #1
Hardcover
Purchased From Indigo Books
How to Love by Katie Cotugno
Published by Balzer + Bray
Released October 1st 2013
Series: Standalone
Paperback
Purchased From BookOutlet.com
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Published by Doubleday
Released September 13th 2011
Series: Standalone
Hardcover
Purchased From BMV Used Books
11 books later…. and my wallet is empty. But February is a new month with more books that need to be bought! I think I need some therapy…
Until next time,
Red Rising by Pierce Brown | Review
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Published by Del Rey on January 28th 2014
Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Sci-fi, Dystopia
Pages: 382
Format: Hardcover
The Earth is dying. Darrow is a Red, a miner in the interior of Mars. His mission is to extract enough precious elements to one day tame the surface of the planet and allow humans to live on it. The Reds are humanity’s last hope.
Or so it appears, until the day Darrow discovers it’s all a lie. That Mars has been habitable – and inhabited – for generations, by a class of people calling themselves the Golds. A class of people who look down on Darrow and his fellows as slave labour, to be exploited and worked to death without a second thought.
Until the day that Darrow, with the help of a mysterious group of rebels, disguises himself as a Gold and infiltrates their command school, intent on taking down his oppressors from the inside. But the command school is a battlefield – and Darrow isn’t the only student with an agenda.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown is the first book in the Sci-fi Dystopian trilogy Red Rising. It follows Darrow, a Red miner that is in the process of cultivating the planet Mars with the res of his people. After a tragedy he is swept up to be the spear head of a revolution against the Golds. He must become one and infiltrate the system from within.
With a lot of action and adventure we get to see Darrow overcome every obstacle as he climbs the Gold ladder and make his wife, Eo’s dream come true.
Darrow is a Red. In a world many years into the future, civilization is split into a caste system by eye color. Reds are miners, Obsidian are soldiers/police, Browns are servants etc. Then there are the Golds, the elite class. They reign over all other colors. The best humanity has to offer. Darrow is not a Gold, and could care less. He enjoys being a Helldiver, making a difference for the future of humanity. Cultivating a new planet for future inhabitants, but after one wrong move and an act of defiance by Eo which doesn’t end well, Darrow knows things have to change and Eo was the fuel to his fire.
“We grew together, and now are grown. In her eyes, I see my heart. In her breath, I hear my soul. She is my land. She is my kin. My love.”
With a lot of plot specific terms, it made it quite difficult to follow the story at times. I found myself often getting confused with the new lingo and the effects they had on the plot line. But besides that, I found the plot line really enjoyable. There was a lot of growth and eye opening sequence of events that always kept me on my toes as the reader. I began getting really invested in the story when Darrow was being transformed into a Gold that I began asking myself curious questions. “How is Darrow going to handle this? Darrow’s in real trouble now, is he going to get out of it? OMG, what just happened? etc”
Pierce Brown took an over used plot line (Hunger Games style), and made this journey a remarkable, and refreshing experience. He brought the world to life with story specific lingo, a great cast of a variety of different types of characters, deep plot lines, and a cruel hierarchy. What may have been a simple premise transforms itself into a highly brutal and violent setting, full of blood, hate, vengeance, and ultimately hope – a hope to make a difference amidst the sins of the world, amidst the blood on their hands. He turned a savage story into a story that was vastly thought provoking.
There were many notable characters in the story worth mentioning but I strictly want to talk about Darrow. He was so complicated and intricate that no one else really compared to his level. He starts off as a hard working, yet sometimes reckless teenage boy who is so involved with his family and community of Reds. It’s not until he is truly tested after Eo’s act of defiance do we get to really see his true character.
Never in my life have I read a character that has gone through so many emotions and hardships in one book like Darrow has. We see him in love, dealing with grief, and have suicidal thoughts. We see him angry and vengeful, broken down and vulnerable. We see his bravery and leadership skills, and we see him struggle morally. My heart weeps for him and his experiences. His growth throughout the story is insurmountable and he is truly a hero who fights for whats right.
“You do not follow me because I am the strongest. Pax is. You do not follow me because I am the brightest. Mustang is. You follow me because you do not know where you are going. I do.”
In the future installments I would like more insight like this with more of the characters! Especially Mustang and Sevro~
I haven’t read many stories set in space so I didn’t have too much experience in the genre of Science Fiction. So because of that my eyes were open to the creative world Brown created. With vivid descriptions and the vast landscapes it really felt like I was on Mars! My favorite part of the story was when Darrow and Eo sneak off to find this little green forest habitat on the vastly red planet. They lay on their backs in the grass and star up at the sky. All their hopes and dreams for a better future are all brought to life through the scenery. A calm, peaceful, and lively scene before the chaos of the story ensues. Beautiful way to end such a happy moment in the book.
“ ‘I live for the dream that my children will be born free. That they will be what they like. That they will own the land their father gave them.’
‘I live for you,’ I say sadly.
She kisses my cheek. ‘Then you must live for more.’ ”
Brown has given us glimpses into a vast and complicated world. We have only seen a small part of it so far but what I’ve seen is dark, cruel and intricate. I could use a little less confusing lingo and more insight into other characters as much as Darrow was explored though. But it was an amazing read and definitely worth continuing on! I can’t wait to see what happens next in book two!
If you’ve read Red Rising by Pierce Brown, I would love to hear what you thought of it! Was it as great for you as it was for me? Let me know in the comments and let’s start a conversation!
Until next time,
Now he lives in Los Angeles, where he scribbles tales of spaceships, wizards, ghouls, and most things old or bizarre.
Books at Dawn 