It's that time of the year!! I've read 211 books (mostly rereads yikes) this year, but we'll see if I can fit some more in. Here are the books I've read this year, not including all the rereads!
LIST: best books of 2018
It's that time of the year!! I've read 211 books (mostly rereads yikes) this year, but we'll see if I can fit some more in. Here are the books I've read this year, not including all the rereads!
#waitingonwednesday: the descendant of the crane
This week I'm #waitingonwednesday for The Descendant of the Crane by Joan He! I'm lucky enough to have already read it, and I can definitely tell you that you need to add this book to your tbr list. It's billed as Chinese Game of Thrones, and while I've never read or seen GoT, I can tell you it's even better. It's out April 2, 2019, so write that down in your calendar! And if you preorder, there might be some really cool prizes you could get...
LIST: most anticipated 2019 releases (pt. 1)
2018 was such a great year for books, but it looks like 2019 will be also! Here are some of my most anticipated releases for the first half of 2019! (Also this isn't a complete list!! So many amazing books are out there that I might have forgotten or will hear about after it gets published.)
REVIEW: Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills
Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills
Release Date: December 5, 2017
My Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A contemporary novel about a girl whose high school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream leads her to new friends—and maybe even new love.
The day of the last party of the summer, Claudia overhears a conversation she wasn't supposed to. Now on the wrong side of one of the meanest girls in school, Claudia doesn't know what to expect when the two are paired up to write a paper—let alone when they're both forced to try out for the school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
But mandatory participation has its upsides—namely, an unexpected friendship, a boy band obsession, and a guy with the best dimpled smile Claudia's ever seen. As Claudia's world starts to expand, she finds that maybe there are some things worth sticking her neck out for.
LIST: releases you might have missed in 2018
2018 was a busy, busy year for YA, in scandals and discourse and releases, so you've probably missed a few releases on the way! Well, don't worry because I'm here to remind you (or introduce you to) some novels you might have overlooked this year.
Some of these are ones I missed or haven't gotten to yet! (Those are marked by **.) This post was actually supposed to be one book per month, but you know I couldn't just choose one...so there's three per month!
DISCUSSION: ya film adaptions that we don't talk about anymore??
Hey, remember 2011-2016 where there was a deluge of YA film adaptions that we all collectively just. Don't talk about anymore? Yeah, let's take a trip down memory lane! This is going to be written like a bad Tumblr post because I feel like that's the only way I can get my true feelings across.
REVIEW: The Matchmaker's List by Sonya Lalli
**I received an ARC from the publisher. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
The Matchmaker's List by Sonya Lalli
Release Date: January 22, 2019
My Rating: 3.75 stars
Summary: One devoted modern girl + a meddlesome, traditional grandmother = a heartwarming multicultural romantic comedy about finding love where you least expect it
Raina Anand may have finally given in to family pressure and agreed to let her grandmother play matchmaker, but that doesn't mean she has to like it--or that she has to play by the rules. Nani always took Raina's side when she tried to push past the traditional expectations of their tight-knit Indian-immigrant community, but now she's ambushing Raina with a list of suitable bachelors. Is it too much to ask for a little space? Besides, what Nani doesn't know won't hurt her...
As Raina's life spirals into a parade of Nani-approved bachelors and disastrous blind dates, she must find a way out of this modern-day arranged-marriage trap without shattering her beloved grandmother's dreams.
MINI-REVIEWS: The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare
I'll be honest, this is part-review, mostly confessional, because I have a lot of feelings and memories after marathon-reading all 6 books in 6 days. And then Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy the next day. I am so tired. So tired.
Now, I've never read all 6 books back-to-back before. I first read the series in 2011, after City of Fallen Angels came out, and I probably reread them before book 5, but by the time the last book released, I was pretty much off the series so. It was certainly very different reading them now, all at once and as I'm older. I'll expand on this more later, but when I first read the series, I was head-over-heels in love with the books, and honestly . . . I think I was dragged back in. Yes, all of this is problematic (this was mostly a nostalgic and guilty reread), but I can't help but love being back in this world again.
I also live-tweeted my reread, so I'll include some of the better tweets here. Profanity ahead, because some of all of this was so ridiculous, I couldn't help it. Also many, many spoilers ahead, for all of the series in the Shadowhunter universe. And, in case you're wondering, I use the original covers to fully express the embarrassment this series brings me. The new covers are too good.
Now, I've never read all 6 books back-to-back before. I first read the series in 2011, after City of Fallen Angels came out, and I probably reread them before book 5, but by the time the last book released, I was pretty much off the series so. It was certainly very different reading them now, all at once and as I'm older. I'll expand on this more later, but when I first read the series, I was head-over-heels in love with the books, and honestly . . . I think I was dragged back in. Yes, all of this is problematic (this was mostly a nostalgic and guilty reread), but I can't help but love being back in this world again.
I also live-tweeted my reread, so I'll include some of the better tweets here. Profanity ahead, because some of all of this was so ridiculous, I couldn't help it. Also many, many spoilers ahead, for all of the series in the Shadowhunter universe. And, in case you're wondering, I use the original covers to fully express the embarrassment this series brings me. The new covers are too good.
LIST: a book for every mood
for every sad mood:
for when you're feeling sad and want to laugh:feel-good contemporaries with distracting plots:
- Royals by Rachel Hawkins
- Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
- Save the Date by Morgan Matson
- Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly
- I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo
low fantasies with a whole lot of jokes:
- The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee
- Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
- In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan
for when you're feeling down and need something cute and fluffy:cute YA contemporaries:
- To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
- When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
- From Twinkle, with Love by Sandhya Menon
- The Secret of a Heart Note by Stacey Lee
- I See London, I See France by Sarah Mlynowski
- Love & Luck by Jenna Evans Welch
- The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo
steamy adult romances:
- Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren
- Dating You / Hating You by Christina Lauren
- The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
for when you're feeling melancholy and need some hope:tales of low points and healing:
- Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta (cw: depression)
- Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
- The Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta (tw: rape)
- Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore (tw: mentions of rape)
- Solitaire by Alice Oseman (cw: depression, suicide)
- Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno (tw: rape)
- The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan (tw: depression, suicide)
- Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi
- Final Draft by Riley Redgate
- We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
- Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman (tw: rape)
- The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
- Saints & Misfits by S.K. Ali (tw: attempted rape, sexual assault)
- Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman (tw: parental abuse, emotional abuse, child abuse)
cloudy mindsets and happy endings:
- Cloudwish by Fiona Wood
- First & Then by Emma Mills
- Places No One Knows by Brenna Yovanoff
- American Panda by Gloria Chao
- I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
- You Know Me Well by Nina Lacour and David Levithan
for when you're feeling angsty and still want more angst in your life (but with some happiness mixed in):
- The Lynburn Legacy by Sarah Rees Brennan
- Summer Skin by Kirsty Eagar
- To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
- The Only Thing Worse than Me Is You by Lily Anderson
- This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills
- Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills
- Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
- Noteworthy by Riley Redgate
- Curseworkers series by Holly Black
for every happy mood:
for when you're feeling DRAMATIC and you want some exuberance:
contemporary novels filled with *insert Skam gif* dramaaaa
- Royals by Rachel Hawkins
- Prince in Disguise by Stephanie Kate Strohm
- Not Now, Not Ever by Lily Anderson
- Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
- The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall
- Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett
- Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett
- Blood for Blood by Catherine Doyle
lush fantasies/sci-fi with breathtaking prose:
- For a Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig
- Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore
- Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao
- The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi
- A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi
- Rebel Seoul by Axie Oh
- A Spark of White Fire by Sangu Mandanna
- Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan (tw: sexual abuse, violence)
- Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
- The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
- Want by Cindy Pon
for when you're feeling a spin-around-the-room, bask-in-the-warmth kinda mood and you want to smile/laugh even more:
adorable YA contemporaries:
- To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
- When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
- From Twinkle, with Love by Sandhya Menon
- The Secret of a Heart Note by Stacey Lee
- The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo
- This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills
- Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills
- Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno (tw: rape)
- Cloudwish by Fiona Wood
bonus!!
for when you're feeling angry:
books with angry protagonists (features uh some hero-to-villain/antihero stories):
- The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee
- The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
- The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang (so many tw's, pls google them before reading)
- Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton
stories with facing injustice and handling it like a pro and/or with just kicking ass:
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
- Dear Martin by Nic Stone
- The Lines We Cross by Randa Abdel-Fattah (cw: racism, anti-immigration)
- Lucy and Linh by Alice Pung (cw: racism, racial slurs, bullying)
- Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin
- Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee
- Heroine's Complex by Sarah Kuhn
- Jade City by Fonda Lee (tw: violence)
for when you're feeling nostalgic:(I personally think that sometimes, you just gotta give into the nostalgia and read those books you maybe read 10 years ago and haven't really touched since then. if you're feeling low, it honestly helps tbh)
books you might have read a billion years ago but haven't touched since then:
- Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
- Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan
- Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling (I know...problematic, but HP is a world that I personally return to for a feel-good read. just don't forget all of its flaws)
- The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare (I always reread this when I'm feeling like reliving the cringeyness bc honestly, it's hilarious and a great pick-me-up)
- The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare (this one...sometimes I just like reliving the pain)
- Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
- Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
- Gallagher Girls by Ally Carter
- Heist Society by Ally Carter
- Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
for when you're in a book slump:books that you physically can't put down (i.e. books I read in 1-2 sittings):
fantasy/sci-fi:
- A Spark of White Fire by Sangu Mandanna
- Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan (tw: sexual abuse, violence)
- Rebel Seoul by Axie Oh
- To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
- In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan
- Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf
- Jade City by Fonda Lee (tw: violence)
contemporary:
- This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills
- Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills
- Royals by Rachel Hawkins
- When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
- From Twinkle, with Love by Sandhya Menon
- The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo
- I See London, I See France by Sarah Mlynowski
- Summer Skin by Kirsty Eagar
- Dating You / Hating You by Christina Lauren
TOUR / REVIEW: This Cruel Design by Emily Suvada
**I received an ARC for this tour. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
This Cruel Design by Emily Suvada
Release Date: October 30, 2018
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Summary: Cat thought the Hydra epidemic was over, but when new cases pop up, Cat must team up with an enemy to fix the vaccine before the virus spirals out of control in this thrilling sequel to This Mortal Coil, which New York Times bestselling author Amie Kaufman says “redefines ‘unputdownable.’”
The nightmare of the outbreak is finally over, but Cat’s fight has only just begun.
Exhausted, wounded, and reeling from revelations that have shaken her to her core, Cat is at a breaking point. Camped in the woods with Cole and Leoben, she’s working day and night, desperate to find a way to stop Lachlan’s plan to reprogram humanity. But she’s failing—Cat can’t even control her newly regrown panel, and try as she might to ignore them, she keeps seeing glitching visions from her past everywhere she turns.
When news arrives that the Hydra virus might not be as dead as they’d thought, the group is pushed into an uneasy alliance with Cartaxus to hunt down Lachlan and fix the vaccine. Their search takes them to Entropia, a city of genehackers hidden deep in the desert that could also hold the answers about Cat’s past that she’s been searching for.
But when confronted with lies and betrayals, Cat is forced to question everything she knows and everyone she trusts. And while Lachlan is always two steps ahead, the biggest threat to Cat may be the secrets buried in her own mind.
#waitingonwednesday: girls of paper and fire
This week's #waitingonwednesday book is Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan! I'm fortunate to have already read it (check out my review here), but I'm still so, so excited for this beautiful masterpiece of a book to be released into the world. It comes out in a little less than 2 weeks: November 6, 2018, and there are some cool preorder prizes!
REVIEW: The Wicked King by Holly Black
**I received an ARC from a trade. In no way was I compensated for my review, and these are my honest opinions.**
The Wicked King by Holly Black
Release Date: January 8, 2019
My Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The enchanting and bloodthirsty sequel to the New York Times bestselling novel The Cruel Prince.
You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring.
The first lesson is to make yourself strong.
After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.
When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.
TOUR: The Geography of Lost Things by Jessica Brody
The Geography of Lost Things by Jessica Brody
Release Date: October 2, 2018
Summary: In this romantic road trip story perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Morgan Matson, a teen girl discovers the value of ordinary objects while learning to forgive her absent father.
After Ali’s father passes away, he leaves his one and only prized possession—a 1968 Fire-bird convertible—to his daughter. But Ali doesn’t plan on keeping it. Not when it reminds her too much of all her father’s unfulfilled promises. So when she finds a buyer three hundred miles up the Pacific coast willing to pay enough money for the car to save her childhood home, Ali can’t wait to get going. Except Ali has no idea how to drive a stick shift. But guess who does?
Ali’s ex-boyfriend, Nico. And Nico has other plans.
He persuades Ali that instead of selling the car, they should “trade up” the items they collect on their trip to eventually reach the monetary amount Ali needs. Agreeing with Nico’s crazy plan, Ali sets off on a unique adventure that is unlike anything she ever could have ex-pected.
And it’s through Ali’s travels, through the strangers she meets and the things that they val-ue—and why they value them—that Ali eventually comes to understand her father and how his life may not have been as easy and carefree as she previously thought. Because just like the seemingly insignificant objects Ali collects, not everything is exactly as it appears.
TOUR: A Spark of White Fire by Sandanna Mangu
A Spark of White Fire by Sangu Mandanna
Release Date: September 11, 2018
Summary: In a universe of capricious gods, dark moons, and kingdoms built on the backs of spaceships, a cursed queen sends her infant daughter away, a jealous uncle steals the throne of Kali from his nephew, and an exiled prince vows to take his crown back.
Raised alone and far away from her home on Kali, Esmae longs to return to her family. When the King of Wychstar offers to gift the unbeatable, sentient warship Titania to a warrior that can win his competition, she sees her way home: she’ll enter the competition, reveal her true identity to the world, and help her famous brother win back the crown of Kali.
It’s a great plan. Until it falls apart.
Inspired by the Mahabharata and other ancient Indian stories, A Spark of White Fire is a lush, sweeping space opera about family, curses, and the endless battle be-tween jealousy and love.
LIST: if you like antiheroes...
I know that a lot of people (including me) enjoy reading books with antihero/morally gray protagonists, so here's a list of recommendations!!
if you like antiheroes/morally gray protagonists . . .
REVIEW: For a Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig
**I received an ARC through a third party giveaway. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
For a Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig
Release Date: September 25, 2018
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Summary: A young woman with a dangerous power she barely understands. A smuggler with secrets of his own. A country torn between a merciless colonial army, a terrifying tyrant, and a feared rebel leader. The first book in a new trilogy from the acclaimed Heidi Heilig blends traditional storytelling with ephemera for a lush, page-turning tale of escape and rebellion. For a Muse of Fire will captivate fans of Sabaa Tahir, Leigh Bardugo, and Renée Ahdieh.
Jetta’s family is famed as the most talented troupe of shadow players in the land. With Jetta behind the scrim, their puppets seem to move without string or stick—a trade secret, they say. In truth, Jetta can see the souls of the recently departed and bind them to the puppets with her blood. But the old ways are forbidden ever since the colonial army conquered their country, so Jetta must never show, never tell. Her skill and fame are her family’s way to earn a spot aboard the royal ship to Aquitan, where shadow plays are the latest rage, and where rumor has it the Mad King has a spring that cures his ills. Because seeing spirits is not the only thing that plagues Jetta. But as rebellion seethes and as Jetta meets a young smuggler, she will face truths and decisions that she never imagined—and safety will never seem so far away.
Heidi Heilig creates a vivid, rich world inspired by Asian cultures and French colonialism. Her characters are equally complex and nuanced, including the bipolar heroine. Told from Jetta’s first-person point-of-view, as well as chapters written as play scripts and ephemera such as telegrams and letters, For a Muse of Fire is an engrossing journey that weaves magic, simmering romance, and the deep bonds of family with the high stakes of epic adventure.
REVIEW: Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria
Release Date: October 9, 2018
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Summary: In the city of Eldra, people are ruled by ancient prophecies. For centuries, the high council has stayed in power by virtue of the prophecies of the elder seers. After the last infallible prophecy came to pass, growing unrest led to murders and an eventual rebellion that raged for more than a decade.
In the present day, Cassa, the orphaned daughter of rebels, is determined to fight back against the high council, which governs Eldra from behind the walls of the citadel. Her only allies are no-nonsense Alys, easygoing Evander, and perpetually underestimated Newt, and Cassa struggles to come to terms with the legacy of rebellion her dead parents have left her — and the fear that she may be inadequate to shoulder the burden. But by the time Cassa and her friends uncover the mystery of the final infallible prophecy, it may be too late to save the city — or themselves.
TOUR / REVIEW: Mirage by Somaiya Daud
**I received an ARC from Netgalley for this tour. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Mirage by Somaiya Daud
Release Date: August 28, 2018
My Rating: 3.75 stars
Summary: In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated moon.
But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place.
As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty—and her time with the princess’ fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection...because one wrong move could lead to her death.
DISCUSSION: my (complicated) thoughts on the TATBILB movie
REVIEW: A Spark of White Fire by Sangu Mandanna
**I received an ARC from Edelweiss. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
A Spark of White Fire by Sangu Mandanna
Release Date: September 11, 2018
My Rating: 5 stars
Summary: In a universe of capricious gods, dark moons, and kingdoms built on the backs of spaceships, a cursed queen sends her infant daughter away, a jealous uncle steals the throne of Kali from his nephew, and an exiled prince vows to take his crown back.
Raised alone and far away from her home on Kali, Esmae longs to return to her family. When the King of Wychstar offers to gift the unbeatable, sentient warship Titania to a warrior that can win his competition, she sees her way home: she’ll enter the competition, reveal her true identity to the world, and help her famous brother win back the crown of Kali.
It’s a great plan. Until it falls apart.
Inspired by the Mahabharata and other ancient Indian stories, A Spark of White Fire is a lush, sweeping space opera about family, curses, and the endless battle between jealousy and love.
REVIEW: The Darkest Legacy by Alexandra Bracken
The Darkest Legacy by Alexandra Bracken
Release Date: July 31, 2018
My Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Five years after the destruction of the so-called rehabilitation camps that imprisoned her and countless other Psi kids, seventeen-year-old Suzume "Zu" Kimura has assumed the role of spokesperson for the interim government, fighting for the rights of Psi kids against a growing tide of misinformation and prejudice. But when she is accused of committing a horrifying act, she is forced to go on the run once more in order to stay alive.
Determined to clear her name, Zu finds herself in an uncomfortable alliance with Roman and Priyanka, two mysterious Psi who could either help her prove her innocence or betray her before she gets the chance. But as they travel in search of safety and answers, and Zu grows closer to the people she knows she shouldn't trust, they uncover even darker things roiling beneath the veneer of the country's recovery. With her future-and the future of all Psi-on the line, Zu must use her powerful voice to fight back against forces that seek to drive the Psi into the shadows and save the friends who were once her protectors.
From #1 New York Times best-selling author Alexandra Bracken comes a harrowing story of resilience, resistance, and reckoning that will thrill loyal fans and new readers alike.
LIST: if you like Asian SFF...
here's a list of YA fantasy and science fiction by Asian authors!! Note that some of these authors write about their own culture and some have been inspired by others, but this doesn't necessarily diminish their works! also, these books are ones that I've read or have heard of, so this is not a complete list. Feel free to send me some recs!
This is a list of mostly YA books, with a few MG and adult books sprinkled in. These will be noted!
This is a list of mostly YA books, with a few MG and adult books sprinkled in. These will be noted!
if you like Asian SFF...
REVIEW: Outrun the Wind by Elizabeth Tammi
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. In no way was I compensated for this review, and these are my honest opinions.**
Outrun the Wind by Elizabeth Tammi
Release Date: November 27, 2018
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Summary: The Huntresses of Artemis must obey two rules: never disobey the goddess, and never fall in love. After being rescued from a harrowing life as an Oracle of Delphi, Kahina is glad to be a part of the Hunt; living among a group of female warriors gives her a chance to reclaim her strength, even while her prophetic powers linger. But when a routine mission goes awry, Kahina breaks the first rule in order to save the legendary huntress Atalanta.
To earn back Artemis’s favor, Kahina must complete a dangerous task in the kingdom of Arkadia— where the king’s daughter is revealed to be none other than Atalanta. Still reeling from her disastrous quest and her father’s insistence on marriage, Atalanta isn’t sure what to make of Kahina. As her connection to Atalanta deepens, Kahina finds herself in danger of breaking Artemis’ second rule.
She helps Atalanta devise a dangerous game to avoid marriage, and word spreads throughout Greece, attracting suitors willing to tempt fate to go up against Atalanta in a race for her hand. But when the men responsible for both the girls’ dark pasts arrive, the game turns deadly.
REVIEW: Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
**I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you Jimmy Books!). In no way was I compensated for this review, and these are my honest opinions.**
Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
Release Date: November 6, 2018
My Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Each year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. It's the highest honor they could hope for...and the most cruel.
But this year, there's a ninth girl. And instead of paper, she's made of fire.
In this lush fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most oppressed class in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards still haunts her. Now, the guards are back, and this time it's Lei they're after--the girl whose golden eyes have piqued the king's interest.
Over weeks of training in the opulent but stifling palace, Lei and eight other girls learn the skills and charm that befit being a king's consort. But Lei isn't content to watch her fate consume her. Instead, she does the unthinkable--she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens the very foundation of Ikhara, and Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide just how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge.
TW: violence and sexual abuse.
MINI-REVIEW: Hard Sell by Lauren Layne
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. In no way was I compensated for this review, and these are my honest opinions.**
Hard Sell by Lauren Layne
Release Date: September 4, 2018
My Rating: 3.75 stars
Summary: He’s a Wall Street wolf. She’s been hired to tame him. From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne comes a wildly sexy novel of business and pleasure.
Twenty-eight and filthy rich, Matt Cannon is the youngest broker on Wall Street. He may be a “boy wonder,” but he’s every inch a man. Ask any woman—any night. But when Matt’s latest fling makes scandalous headlines, his clients get anxious, and his bosses at Wolfe Investments level an ultimatum: keep his assets zipped, get a “real” girlfriend, and clean up his act. Only one woman can help Matt with something this hard.
For PR genius Sabrina Cross, the best fixer in Manhattan, playing Matt’s steady is going to be a challenge, even if it’s just for show. They already have an explosive history, she can’t stand the cocky party boy, and worse—she can’t stop thinking about him. So who’ll dare to break her “no touching” rule first? Because when that happens, Matt and Sabrina’s game of let’s pretend will get so hot it could set both their reputations on fire.
REVIEW: Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno
Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno
Release Date: June 5, 2018
My Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A magic passed down through generations . . .
Georgina Fernweh waits with growing impatience for the tingle of magic in her fingers—magic that has been passed down through every woman in her family. Her twin sister, Mary, already shows an ability to defy gravity. But with their eighteenth birthday looming at the end of this summer, Georgina fears her gift will never come.
An island where strange things happen . . .
No one on the island of By-the-Sea would ever call the Fernwehs what they really are, but if you need the odd bit of help—say, a sleeping aid concocted by moonlight—they are the ones to ask.
No one questions the weather, as moody and erratic as a summer storm.
No one questions the (allegedly) three-hundred-year-old bird who comes to roost on the island every year.
A summer that will become legend . . .
When tragedy strikes, what made the Fernweh women special suddenly casts them in suspicion. Over the course of her last summer on the island—a summer of storms, of love, of salt—Georgina will learn the truth about magic, in all its many forms.
REVIEW: Heroine's Journey by Sarah Kuhn
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. In no way was I compensated for this review, and these are my honest opinions.**
Heroine's Journey by Sarah Kuhn
Release Date: July 5, 2018
My Rating: 4.75 stars
Summary: The final book in the smart, snarky, and action-packed Heroine series completes the "Heroic Trio" as Bea Tanaka joins her sister, Evie, and diva Aveda Jupiter in their quest to free San Francisco from its demon portal problem
If there's one thing Beatrice Tanaka never wanted to be, it's normal. But somehow, her life has unfolded as a series of "should haves." Her powers of emotional projection should have made her one of the most formidable superheroes of all time. And she should have been allowed to join her older sister Evie as a full-fledged protector of San Francisco, pulverizing the city's plethora of demon threats.
But Evie and her superheroing partner, Aveda Jupiter, insist on seeing Bea as the impulsive, tempestuous teenager she used to be--even though she's now a responsible adult. And that means Bea is currently living a thoroughly normal life. She works as a bookstore lackey, hangs out with best friends Sam Fujikawa and Leah Kim, and calms her workplace's more difficult customers. Sure, she's not technically supposed to be playing with people's mental states. But given the mundanity of her existence, who can blame her?
When a mysterious being starts communicating with Bea, hinting at an evil that's about to overtake the city, she seizes the opportunity, hoping to turn her "should haves" into the fabulous heroic life she's always wanted. But gaining that life may mean sacrificing everything--and everyone--she holds dear...
REVIEW: Final Draft by Riley Redgate
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Final Draft by Riley Redgate
Release Date: June 12, 2018
My Rating: 4.25 stars
Summary: The only sort of risk 18-year-old Laila Piedra enjoys is the peril she writes for the characters in her stories: epic sci-fi worlds full of quests, forbidden love, and robots. Her creative writing teacher has always told her she has a special talent. But three months before her graduation, he's suddenly replaced—by Nadiya Nazarenko, a Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist who is sadistically critical and perpetually unimpressed.
At first, Nazarenko’s eccentric assignments seem absurd. But before long, Laila grows obsessed with gaining the woman’s approval. Soon Laila is pushing herself far from her comfort zone, discovering the psychedelic highs and perilous lows of nightlife, temporary flings, and instability. Dr. Nazarenko has led Laila to believe that she must choose between perfection and sanity—but rejecting her all-powerful mentor may be the only way for Laila to thrive.
LIST: happy pride month!
Happy pride month!! I put together a list of LGBTQIAP+ books, which I totally meant to post yesterday but time got away from me. Special shout outs to Charlotte (inkslippers.blogspot.com), who helped me put a lot of this list together and to Alexis (lacyliteracy.com), who helped proofread this. Also check out LGBTQ Reads, a great resource with way more books!
Please note that I am human and make mistakes, so if there is one in this list, just @ me! (I haven't read everything on this list either.) And also, this is not a complete list of the books available nor will it ever be a complete list because of all the books that unfortunately escape the mainstream radar and/or that are being written right now, and this list only includes YA books. Next, not all tw's are noted, so please google them. Again, I haven't read all of these books, but usually you can find major ones in non-spoiler reviews. Final note, please don't forget to read some #ownvoices books this month and not just mlm books written by white women; there's so much more out there for you.
MINI-REVIEW: Geekerella by Ashley Poston
**I received a review copy from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Geekerella by Ashley Poston
Release Date: April 4, 2017
My Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic science-fiction series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck and her dad's old costume, Elle's determined to win - unless her stepsisters get there first.
Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons - before he was famous. Now they're nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he has ever wanted, but Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake - until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise. But when she disappears at midnight, will he ever be able to find her again?
Part-romance, part-love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom.
REVIEW: Summer Skin by Kirsty Eagar
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and I was in no way compensated for this review.**
Summer Skin by Kirsty Eagar
Release Date: May 29, 2018
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Summary: From Kirsty Eagar, Summer Skin is a young adult novel about a modern-day riot grrl and an alpha male jock who explore love, trust, and double standards against the backdrop of today's hookup culture.
Jess Gordon is out for revenge. Last year the jocks from Knights College tried to shame her best friend. This year she and a hand-picked college girl gang are going to get even.
The lesson: Don't mess with Unity College girls.
The target: Blondie, a typical Knights stud, arrogant, cold . . . and smart enough to keep up with Jess.
A neo-riot grrl with a penchant for fanning the flames meets a rugby-playing sexist pig--sworn enemies or two people who happen to find each other when they're at their most vulnerable?
It's all Girl meets Boy, Girl steals from Boy, seduces Boy, ties Boy to a chair, and burns Boy's stuff. Just your typical love story.
Kirsty Eagar expertly handles a searingly honest and achingly funny story about love and sex amid the college hookup culture.
TOUR: Nothing Happened by Molly Booth
Today I'm a part of the blog tour for Nothing Happened by Molly Booth! Check out some excerpts and a giveaway. Don't forget to check out the rest of the blog tour in the schedule below.
Nothing Happened by Molly Booth
Release Date: May 15, 2018
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Summary: This modern-day retelling of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing takes place at the idyllic Camp Dogberry, where sisters Bee and Hana Leonato have grown up. Their parents own the place, and every summer they look forward to leading little campers in crafts, swimming in the lake, playing games of capture the flag and sproutball, and of course, the legendary counselor parties.
This year, the camp drama isn’t just on the improv stage. Bee and longtime counselor Ben have a will-they-or-won’t-they romance that’s complicated by events that happened—or didn’t happen—last summer. Meanwhile, Hana is falling hard for the kind but insecure Claudia, putting them both in the crosshairs of resident troublemaker John, who spreads a vicious rumor that could tear them apart.
As the counselors juggle their camp responsibilities with simmering drama that comes to a head at the Fourth of July sparkler party, they’ll have to swallow their pride and find the courage to untangle the truth, whether it leads to heartbreak or happily ever after.
REVIEW: Furyborn by Claire Legrand
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. In no way was I compensated for this review, and these are my honest opinions.**
Furyborn by Claire Legrand
Release Date: May 22, 2018
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Summary: Follows two fiercely independent young women, centuries apart, who hold the power to save their world...or doom it.
When assassins ambush her best friend, the crown prince, Rielle Dardenne risks everything to save him, exposing her ability to perform all seven kinds of elemental magic. The only people who should possess this extraordinary power are a pair of prophesied queens: a queen of light and salvation and a queen of blood and destruction. To prove she is the Sun Queen, Rielle must endure seven trials to test her magic. If she fails, she will be executed...unless the trials kill her first.
A thousand years later, the legend of Queen Rielle is a mere fairy tale to bounty hunter Eliana Ferracora. When the Undying Empire conquered her kingdom, she embraced violence to keep her family alive. Now, she believes herself untouchable--until her mother vanishes without a trace, along with countless other women in their city. To find her, Eliana joins a rebel captain on a dangerous mission and discovers that the evil at the heart of the empire is more terrible than she ever imagined.
As Rielle and Eliana fight in a cosmic war that spans millennia, their stories intersect, and the shocking connections between them ultimately determine the fate of their world--and of each other.
REVIEW: The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. I was in no way compensated for this review, and these are my honest opinions.**
The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton
Release Date: March 27, 2018
My Rating: 3.75 stars
Summary: A kingdom at risk, a crown divided, a family drenched in blood.
The erratic decisions of a prophecy-obsessed king have drained Innis Lear of its wild magic, leaving behind a trail of barren crops and despondent subjects. Enemy nations circle the once-bountiful isle, sensing its growing vulnerability, hungry to control the ideal port for all trade routes.
The king's three daughters—battle-hungry Gaela, master manipulator Reagan, and restrained, starblessed Elia—know the realm's only chance of resurrection is to crown a new sovereign, proving a strong hand can resurrect magic and defend itself. But their father will not choose an heir until the longest night of the year, when prophecies align and a poison ritual can be enacted.
Refusing to leave their future in the hands of blind faith, the daughters of Innis Lear prepare for war—but regardless of who wins the crown, the shores of Innis will weep the blood of a house divided.
MINI-REVIEW: Out of Left Field by Kris Hui Lee
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Out of Left Field by Kris Hui Lee
Release Date: May 1, 2018
My Rating: 3.75 stars
Summary: There’s no playing it safe in love or baseball in this sparkling debut, perfect for fans of Morgan Matson and Kasie West.
Marnie has never had a hard time fitting in with the guys. It would take a lot more than their goofy antics to keep her from joining them at the neighborhood sandlot to do what she loves best: play ball.
An added perk of hanging out at the sandlot? Spending time with Cody Kinski, their high school’s star pitcher and Marnie’s best friend. Sure, he can be stubborn and annoying. He also knows how to make her laugh and respects her skills on the mound. And when he gets nailed in the arm by a bone-fracturing pitch, Marnie becomes the team’s best chance at making it to the playoffs. Except no one told the guys they’re supposed to be on her side.
With her own team against her, Marnie begins questioning her abilities. And when fate throws her a curveball, can she play without losing the game, Cody, and her belief in herself?
TOUR / REVIEW: Trouble Never Sleeps by Stephanie Tromly
**I received an ARC as a part of this blog tour. In no way was I compensated for this review, and these are my honest opinions.**
Trouble Never Sleeps by Stephanie Tromly
Release Date: April 24, 2018
My Rating: 4.25 stars
Summary: Happily Ever After gets a serious makeover in this swoony, non-stop, thrill-ride of a conclusion to the Trouble Is a Friend of Mine trilogy
No one makes getting into trouble look as good as Philip Digby—and he looks good doing it. Now that he's back in town, he's plunged Zoe (and their Scooby Gang of wealthy frenemy Sloane, nerd-tastic genius Felix, and aw-shucks-handsome Henry) back into the deep end on the hunt for his kidnapped sister. He's got a lead, but it involves doing a deal with the scion of an alarmingly powerful family, not to mention committing some light treason. Zoe and Digby are officially together now, and she's definitely up for whatever closure this new caper might offer, even though this mystery will come with a twist neither expected.
With acerbic banter, steamy chemistry, and no small amount of sarcasm, Zoe and Digby are the will-they-or-won't-they, charismatic crime solving couple you've been waiting for.
REVIEW: Royals by Rachel Hawkins
**I received an ARC from the publisher. I was in no way compensated for this review, and these are my honest opinions.**
Royals by Rachel Hawkins
Release Date: May 1, 2018My Rating: 4.5 stars
Summary: Meet Daisy Winters. She’s an offbeat sixteen-year-old Floridian with mermaid-red hair; a part time job at a bootleg Walmart, and a perfect older sister who’s nearly engaged to the Crown Prince of Scotland. Daisy has no desire to live in the spotlight, but relentless tabloid attention forces her to join Ellie at the relative seclusion of the castle across the pond.
While the dashing young Miles has been appointed to teach Daisy the ropes of being regal, the prince’s roguish younger brother kicks up scandal wherever he goes, and tries his best to take Daisy along for the ride. The crown–and the intriguing Miles–might be trying to make Daisy into a lady . . . but Daisy may just rewrite the royal rulebook to suit herself.
TOUR / REVIEW: Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett
**I received an ARC for this tour. I was in no way compensated for this review, and these are my honest opinions.**
Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett
Release Date: April 3, 2018
My Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern day, Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets.
But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.
What could go wrong?
With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely.
And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of the fresh forest air and the magic of the twinkling stars?
TOUR / REVIEW: The Heart Forger by Rin Chupeco
**I borrowed an ARC from a friend. These are my honest opinions and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
The Heart Forger by Rin Chupeco
Release Date: March 20, 2018
My Rating: 5 stars
Summary: In The Bone Witch, Tea mastered resurrection―now she's after revenge...
No one knows death like Tea. A bone witch who can resurrect the dead, she has the power to take life...and return it. And she is done with her self-imposed exile. Her heart is set on vengeance, and she now possesses all she needs to command the mighty daeva. With the help of these terrifying beasts, she can finally enact revenge against the royals who wronged her―and took the life of her one true love.
But there are those who plot against her, those who would use Tea's dark power for their own nefarious ends. Because you can't kill someone who can never die...
War is brewing among the kingdoms, and when dark magic is at play, no one is safe.
MINI-REVIEW: Barbed Wire Heart by Tess Sharpe
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Barbed Wire Heart by Tess Sharpe
Release Date: March 6, 2018
My Rating: 4.25 stars
Summary: Never cut the drugs--leave them pure.Guns are meant to be shot--keep them loaded.
Family is everything--betray them and die.
Harley McKenna is the only child of North County's biggest criminal. Duke McKenna's run more guns, cooked more meth, and killed more men than anyone around. Harley's been working for him since she was sixteen--collecting debts, sweet-talking her way out of trouble, and dreading the day he'd deem her ready to rule the rural drug empire he's built.
Her time's run out. The Springfields, her family's biggest rivals, are moving in. Years ago, they were responsible for her mother's death, and now they're coming for Duke's only weak spot: his daughter.
With a bloody turf war threatening to consume North County, Harley is forced to confront the truth: that her father's violent world will destroy her. Duke's raised her to be deadly--he never counted on her being disloyal. But if Harley wants to survive and protect the people she loves, she's got to take out Duke's operation and the Springfields.
Blowing up meth labs is dangerous business, and getting caught will be the end of her, but Harley has one advantage: She is her father's daughter. And McKennas always win.
TOUR / REVIEW: Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough
**I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions. I was in no way compensated for this review.**
Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough
Release Date: March 6, 2018
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Summary: **TW: rape**
"When I finished this novel, I knew I would be haunted and empowered by Artemisia Gentileschi's story for the rest of my life." --Amanda Lovelace, award-winning author of the princess saves herself in this one
Her mother died when she was twelve, and suddenly Artemisia Gentileschi had a stark choice: a life as a nun in a convent or a life grinding pigment for her father's paint.
She chose paint.
By the time she was seventeen, Artemisia did more than grind pigment. She was one of Rome's most talented painters, even if no one knew her name. But Rome in 1610 was a city where men took what they wanted from women, and in the aftermath of rape Artemisia faced another terrible choice: a life of silence or a life of truth, no matter the cost.
He will not consume
my every thought.
I am a painter.
I will paint.
Joy McCullough's bold novel in verse is a portrait of an artist as a young woman, filled with the soaring highs of creative inspiration and the devastating setbacks of a system built to break her. McCullough weaves Artemisia's heartbreaking story with the stories of the ancient heroines, Susanna and Judith, who become not only the subjects of two of Artemisia's most famous paintings but sources of strength as she battles to paint a woman's timeless truth in the face of unspeakable and all-too-familiar violence.
REVIEW: Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman
**I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. In no way was I compensated for this review.**
Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman
Release Date: February 27, 2018
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Summary: In the medieval kingdom of Goredd, women are expected to be ladies, men are their protectors, and dragons get to be whomever they want. Tess, stubbornly, is a troublemaker. You can't make a scene at your sister's wedding and break a relative's nose with one punch (no matter how pompous he is) and not suffer the consequences. As her family plans to send her to a nunnery, Tess yanks on her boots and sets out on a journey across the Southlands, alone and pretending to be a boy.
Where Tess is headed is a mystery, even to her. So when she runs into an old friend, it's a stroke of luck. This friend is a quigutl--a subspecies of dragon--who gives her both a purpose and protection on the road. But Tess is guarding a troubling secret. Her tumultuous past is a heavy burden to carry, and the memories she's tried to forget threaten to expose her to the world in more ways than one.
REVIEW: American Panda by Gloria Chao
**Thank you, Simon Teen, for this ARC! These are my honest opinions, and I was in no way compensated for this review.**
American Panda by Gloria Chao
Release Date: February 6, 2018
My Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An incisive, laugh-out-loud contemporary debut about a Taiwanese-American teen whose parents want her to be a doctor and marry a Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer despite her squeamishness with germs and crush on a Japanese classmate.
At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents' master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies.
With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can't bring herself to tell them the truth--that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls asleep in biology lectures, and (3) has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese.
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