IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ
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TOUR / REVIEW: Jade War by Fonda Lee
**I received a finished copy from the publisher (thank you, Orbit Books!) for this tour. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Jade War by Fonda Lee
Release Date: July 23, 2019
My Rating: 5 stars
Summary: In Jade War, the sequel to the World Fantasy Award-winning novel Jade City, the Kaul siblings battle rival clans for honor and control over an Asia-inspired fantasy metropolis.
On the island of Kekon, the Kaul family is locked in a violent feud for control of the capital city and the supply of magical jade that endows trained Green Bone warriors with supernatural powers they alone have possessed for hundreds of years.
Beyond Kekon's borders, war is brewing. Powerful foreign governments and mercenary criminal kingpins alike turn their eyes on the island nation. Jade, Kekon's most prized resource, could make them rich - or give them the edge they'd need to topple their rivals.
Faced with threats on all sides, the Kaul family is forced to form new and dangerous alliances, confront enemies in the darkest streets and the tallest office towers, and put honor aside in order to do whatever it takes to ensure their own survival - and that of all the Green Bones of Kekon.
Jade War is the second book of the Green Bone Saga, an epic trilogy about family, honor, and those who live and die by the ancient laws of blood and jade.
REVIEW: Girls of Storm and Shadow by Natasha Ngan
**I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you, Jimmy Books!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Girls of Storm and Shadow by Natasha Ngan
Release Date: November 5, 2019
My Rating: 4.25 stars
Summary: In this mesmerizing sequel to the New York Times bestselling Girls of Paper and Fire, Lei and Wren have escaped their oppressive lives in the Hidden Palace, but soon learn that freedom comes with a terrible cost.
Lei, the naive country girl who became a royal courtesan, is now known as the Moonchosen, the commoner who managed to do what no one else could. But slaying the cruel Demon King wasn't the end of the plan---it's just the beginning. Now Lei and her warrior love Wren must travel the kingdom to gain support from the far-flung rebel clans. The journey is made even more treacherous thanks to a heavy bounty on Lei's head, as well as insidious doubts that threaten to tear Lei and Wren apart from within.
Meanwhile, an evil plot to eliminate the rebel uprising is taking shape, fueled by dark magic and vengeance. Will Lei succeed in her quest to overthrow the monarchy and protect her love for Wren, or will she fall victim to the sinister magic that seeks to destroy her?
#waitingonwednesday: harley in the sky
This week, I'm #waitingonwednesday for Harley in the Sky by Akemi Dawn Bowman! I'm lucky enough to be a part of the street team for this book, and it's been so fun so far. I can't wait for this book, especially because I've loved Akemi's past few books. Harley in the Sky releases March 10, 2020; be sure to preorder it today!
MINI-REVIEW: This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Release Date: July 16, 2019
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Summary: Among the ashes of a dying world, an agent of the Commandant finds a letter. It reads: Burn before reading.
And thus begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents hellbent on securing the best possible future for their warring factions. Now, what began as a taunt, a battlefield boast, grows into something more.
Except discovery of their bond would be death for each of them. There’s still a war going on, after all. And someone has to win that war. That’s how war works. Right?
LIST: if you like to all the boys i've loved before
READ ON MY NEW BLOG!!!
TOUR / REVIEW: The Shortest Distance Between Love & Hate by Sandy Hall
**I received an ARC for this tour. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
The Shortest Distance Between Love and Hate by Sandy Hall
Release Date: July 9, 2019
My Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A teen girl starting at a new school is torn between long-held loyalties and a bright new love.
Paisley is really looking forward to college. She is ready to take charge of her destiny and embrace some new experiences! Finding a hot guy to make out with at her first ever college party seems like a great start . . . until her best friend informs her that mystery guy is actually Carter Schmitt, Paisley's sworn enemy who basically ruined their lives in middle school.
So much for new people and exciting new experiences. Oh well. Paisley will just pretend he doesn't exist. Of course that would be easier if Carter, AKA her super-hot-sworn-enemy, hadn't ended up in three of her classes AND the same work study. Is it too late to rethink this college thing?
REVIEW: The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
Release Date: August 6, 2019
My Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The searing follow-up to 2018’s most celebrated fantasy debut – THE POPPY WAR.
In the aftermath of the Third Poppy War, shaman and warrior Rin is on the run: haunted by the atrocity she committed to end the war, addicted to opium, and hiding from the murderous commands of her vengeful god, the fiery Phoenix. Her only reason for living is to get revenge on the traitorous Empress who sold out Nikan to their enemies.
With no other options, Rin joins forces with the powerful Dragon Warlord, who has a plan to conquer Nikan, unseat the Empress, and create a new Republic. Rin throws herself into his war. After all, making war is all she knows how to do.
But the Empress is a more powerful foe than she appears, and the Dragon Warlord’s motivations are not as democratic as they seem. The more Rin learns, the more she fears her love for Nikan will drive her away from every ally and lead her to rely more and more on the Phoenix’s deadly power. Because there is nothing she won’t sacrifice for her country and her vengeance.
The sequel to R.F. Kuang’s acclaimed debut THE POPPY WAR, THE DRAGON REPUBLIC combines the history of 20th-century China with a gripping world of gods and monsters, to devastating effect.
MINI-REVIEW: Unsung Heroine by Sarah Kuhn
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Unsung Heroine by Sarah Kuhn
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Summary: This new installment in the smart, snarky, and action-packed Heroine series follows personal superhero trainer Lucy Valdez and friends Aveda Jupiter and Bea and Evie Tanaka as they combat a new supernatural threat.
Lucy Valdez is many things: fight trainer/bodyguard to superheroines, fabulous vintage fashion plate, undisputed karaoke queen at local joint, The Gutter. She is also one of the toughest fighters in all of San Francisco without superpowers. So why can't she seem to confess her feelings to her longtime crush Rose Rorick, head of the San Francisco Police Department's Demon Unit?
Well.... actually, she knows why. She's afraid Rose won't like the real Lucy, the Lucy underneath all the fabulous bravado. (She is still fabulous underneath that bravado--just in a different way.)
When a mysterious new karaoke star rises up at The Gutter and eclipses her, Lucy finds her confidence further shaken--and when strange, seemingly supernatural happenings threaten both this new star and The Gutter's very existence, she must rise to the challenge and investigate alongside Rose. Will Lucy be able to vanquish the demonic threat to her beloved karaoke haven, confess her true feelings to Rose, and reclaim her karaoke throne?
SUMMARY: june
June was a weirdly productive month for me, reading- and blogging-wise. I really should be doing anything more productive, but sometimes you just need a break honestly. Anyways, I've (very belatedly) decided to bring back my monthly summaries so I can keep you all up-to-date with what I've been reading! Although if you actually want to keep up with all this, I would recommend friending me on goodreads.
I somehow managed to read 33 books this month? It's all because of a combination of library holds coming through, actually feeling like reading my ARCs, and having Kindle Unlimited for a month. Trust me, this reading spurt will not last.
Don't forget to check out the second half of my most anticipated 2019 releases! And check out this post for information on how to win exclusive street team swag packs for The Gilded Wolves!
DISCUSSION: we need to talk about these iconic ya movie soundtracks (part 1)
Hello, I am back to say that we need to talk about these iconic YA movie soundtracks. And yes, this is a part one because I had to split the post in half. YA adaption soundtracks just go too hard!! Anyways this started because I had Thoughts on Twitter (apparently a lot of my discussion post ideas come from some random thing I tweet . . . sorry about that), and thought, THAT, that right there is a post in and of itself.
LIST: most anticipated 2019 releases (pt. 2)
As we're approaching the middle of the year, I thought it was time to (finally) do a part two to the list of my most anticipated 2019 releases. Of course, these aren't all of the releases for the rest of the year; rather, these are just the ones I'm looking forward to! Now, only to catch up on my tbr lists before all these great releases come out . . .
REVIEW: Wicked Fox by Kat Cho
**I received an ARC from a giveaway (thank you BookishHQ and PenguinTeen!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Wicked Fox by Kat Cho
Release Date: June 25, 2019
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Summary: A fresh and addictive fantasy-romance set in modern-day Seoul.
Eighteen-year-old Gu Miyoung has a secret--she's a gumiho, a nine-tailed fox who must devour the energy of men in order to survive. Because so few believe in the old tales anymore, and with so many evil men no one will miss, the modern city of Seoul is the perfect place to hide and hunt.
But after feeding one full moon, Miyoung crosses paths with Jihoon, a human boy, being attacked by a goblin deep in the forest. Against her better judgment, she violates the rules of survival to rescue the boy, losing her fox bead--her gumiho soul--in the process.
Jihoon knows Miyoung is more than just a beautiful girl--he saw her nine tails the night she saved his life. His grandmother used to tell him stories of the gumiho, of their power and the danger they pose to humans. He's drawn to her anyway.
With murderous forces lurking in the background, Miyoung and Jihoon develop a tenuous friendship that blossoms into something more. But when a young shaman tries to reunite Miyoung with her bead, the consequences are disastrous . . . forcing Miyoung to choose between her immortal life and Jihoon's.
TOUR / REVIEW: Screen Queens by Lori Goldstein
**I received an ARC for this tour. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Screen Queens by Lori Goldstein
Release Date: June 11, 2019
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Summary: The Bold Type meets The Social Network when three girls vying for prestigious summer internships through a startup incubator program uncover the truth about what it means to succeed in the male-dominated world of tech.
This summer Silicon Valley is a girls' club.
Three thousand applicants. An acceptance rate of two percent. A dream internship for the winning team. ValleyStart is the most prestigious high school tech incubator competition in the country. Lucy Katz, Maddie Li, and Delia Meyer have secured their spots. And they've come to win.
Meet the Screen Queens.
Lucy Katz was born and raised in Palo Alto, so tech, well, it runs in her blood. A social butterfly and CEO in-the-making, Lucy is ready to win and party.
East Coast designer, Maddie Li left her home and small business behind for a summer at ValleyStart. Maddie thinks she's only there to bolster her graphic design portfolio, not to make friends.
Delia Meyer taught herself how to code on a hand-me-down computer in her tiny Midwestern town. Now, it's time for the big leagues--ValleyStart--but super shy Delia isn't sure if she can hack it (pun intended).
When the competition kicks off, Lucy, Maddie, and Delia realize just how challenging the next five weeks will be. As if there wasn't enough pressure already, the girls learn that they would be the only all-female team to win ever. Add in one first love, a two-faced mentor, and an ex-boyfriend turned nemesis and things get...complicated.
Filled with humor, heart, and a whole lot of girl power, Screen Queens is perfect for fans of Morgan Matson, Jenny Han, and The Bold Type.
#waitingonwednesday: girls of storm and shadow
Today, I'm #waitingonwednesday for Girls of Storm and Shadow by Natasha Ngan! Girls of Paper and Fire was one of my favorite books of 2018, and I am so, so excited for the sequel. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from the publisher (thank you Jimmy Patterson Books!), and let me tell you, it is a stunning sequel. Girls of Storm and Shadow releases on November 5, so don't forget to preorder it / request it from you library / add it to your tbr list!
REVIEW: Wilder Girls by Rory Power
**I received an ARC at a festival. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Wilder Girls by Rory Power
Release Date: July 9, 2019
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Summary: It's been eighteen months since the Raxter School for Girls was put under quarantine. Since the Tox hit and pulled Hetty's life out from under her.
It started slow. First the teachers died one by one. Then it began to infect the students, turning their bodies strange and foreign. Now, cut off from the rest of the world and left to fend for themselves on their island home, the girls don't dare wander outside the school's fence, where the Tox has made the woods wild and dangerous. They wait for the cure they were promised as the Tox seeps into everything.
But when Byatt goes missing, Hetty will do anything to find her, even if it means breaking quarantine and braving the horrors that lie beyond the fence. And when she does, Hetty learns that there's more to their story, to their life at Raxter, than she could have ever thought true.
Please see author's website for trigger and content warnings.
TOUR: Stronger than a Bronze Dragon by Mary Fan
**I received an ARC for this tour, and I was not compensated for this post.**
Stronger than a Bronze Dragon by Mary Fan
Release Date: June 11, 2019
Summary: When a powerful viceroy arrives with a fleet of mechanical dragons and stops an attack on Anlei’s village, the villagers see him as a godsend. They agree to give him their sacred, enchanted River Pearl in exchange for permanent protection—if he’ll marry one of the village girls to solidify the alliance. Anlei is appalled when the viceroy selects her as a bride, but with the fate of her people at stake, she sees no choice but to consent. Anlei’s noble plans are sent into a tailspin, however, when a young thief steals the River Pearl for himself.
Knowing the viceroy won’t protect her village without the jewel, she takes matters into her own hands. But once she catches the thief, she discovers he needs the pearl just as much as she does. The two embark on an epic quest across the land and into the Courts of Hell, taking Anlei on a journey that reveals more is at stake than she could have ever imagined.
With incredibly vivid world building and fast-paced storytelling, Stronger Than a Bronze Dragon is great for readers who are looking for something fresh in epic fantasy.
BOOK REC FRIDAYS: i wish you all the best
So I do a thing on Twitter where I recommend a book, complete with an aesthetic, every Friday. Or I try to. But anyways! I wanted to bring it to my blog, particularly for Pride Month, so I could recommend more books! Don't forget to check out my masterlist of 2019 LGBTQ+ ya releases for more recs.
⚞💜⚟
I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver
Release Date: May 14, 2019
REVIEW: Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi
**I borrowed an ARC from a friend. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi
Release Date: June 11, 2019
My Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Sana Khan is a cheerleader and a straight A student. She's the classic (somewhat obnoxious) overachiever determined to win.
Rachel Recht is a wannabe director who's obsesssed with movies and ready to make her own masterpiece. As she's casting her senior film project, she knows she's found the perfect lead - Sana.
There's only one problem. Rachel hates Sana. Rachel was the first girl Sana ever asked out, but Rachel thought it was a cruel prank and has detested Sana ever since.
Told in alternative viewpoints and inspired by classic romantic comedies, this engaging and edgy YA novel follows two strongwilled young women falling for each other despite themselves.
REVIEW: Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins
Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins
Release Date: May 7, 2019
My Rating: 4.75 stars
Summary: Millie Quint is devastated when she discovers that her sort-of-best friend/sort-of-girlfriend has been kissing someone else. And because Millie cannot stand the thought of confronting her ex every day, she decides to apply for scholarships to boarding schools . . . the farther from Houston the better.
Millie can't believe her luck when she's accepted into one of the world's most exclusive schools, located in the rolling highlands of Scotland. Everything about Scotland is different: the country is misty and green; the school is gorgeous, and the students think Americans are cute.
The only problem: Mille's roommate Flora is a total princess.
She's also an actual princess. Of Scotland.
At first, the girls can barely stand each other--Flora is both high-class and high-key--but before Millie knows it, she has another sort-of-best-friend/sort-of-girlfriend. Even though Princess Flora could be a new chapter in her love life, Millie knows the chances of happily ever afters are slim . . . after all, real life isn't a fairy tale . . . or is it?
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