Saturday's Sentence Game #5 - Assassins

Find out more about Saturday's Sentence Game click here

So today is Halloween, and also the last day of Saturday's Sentence Game (for the time being anyway!) so today I thought I would go for an assassin theme. That's right, bad-ass female main characters who aren't scared of getting rid of people permanently. As normal I have avoided any major spoiler's, so the books in this weeks Saturday's Sentence Game are:

 

The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep (adult book)

Shaedes of Gray by Amanda Bonilla (adult book)

Assassins in Love by Kris DeLake (I haven't actually read this book yet so have no idea if it's any good!!)

 

 

Page 3

I suppose it could've been the cold or the wind that stole my breath, (Shaedes of Gray) Hands fumbling, fingers shaking, head aching, Rikki leaned one shoulder against the wall, blocking the view of the airlock controls from the corridor. (Assassins in Love)

'You only think you're an assassin.' (Spider's Bite) I clench my fists to hide the trembling and cross to the rickety stairs.(Grave Mercy) Seated in the council room of the Assassins' Keep, Celaena Sardothien leaned back in her chair. (Assassin's Blade)

 

Page 8

It is the herbwitches I like most.(Grave Mercy) 

"Know any....what?"(Assassins in Love) I yanked the pen out of his chest and stabbed him twice more.(Spider's Bite) Ben. (Assassin's Blade) I hadn't seen him in a couple of weeks, and just watching him walk toward me was enough to make my stomach do a backflip. (Shaedes of Grey)

 

 

Page 12

Without looking up, she motions me towards one of the chairs. (Grave Mercy) His eyes burned into mine.(Shaedes of Gray)

One of the first things I'd done when I had been committed had been to break into the patients' repository and liberate the clothes I was wearing when the cops had bought me here. (Spider's Bite)

"They opened three airlocks," the female guard said. She raised her eye brow, but realized he couldn't see. (The Assassins Blade)

 

 

Page 18

I stabbed and then cut with the sharp blade, but all I managed to slice was thin air. (Shaedes of Gray) Long Night. (Assassin's in Love) More and more slaves were making their way into the households of Adarlan's nobility. (Assassin's Blade) I think of all those in the village who worked so hard to make my life a misery. (Grave Mercy) Besides, it was the world's oldest profession. (Spider's Bite) 

 

 

Page 130

Drawing a rasping breath, it turned and jumped, using buildings of the alley for momentum as it bounced from wall to wall, ever upward, and fled into the dark with a speed that belied it's clumsy form.(Shaedes of Grey) Humiliation courses through my veins. (Grave Mercy)"What about work?"(Spider's Bite) She sighed heavily and looked at the clothes folded on the bad next to her rucksack.(Assassin's in Love) Another wolf's head had been moulded into the pommel of her broadsword. (Assassin's Blade)

 

As always I would love to hear your thoughts about this Sentence Game, please comment below or let me know on Twitter @Hillsofbooks.

 

November 2015 Releases

There aren't as many book's being released this month that have caught my eye. However there are a few so have collected them together to share with you here:

 

 

 

Forget Tomorrow (Forget Tomorrow Series #1)  by Pintip Dunn

 Release Date: 3rd November 
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This book seem to have good reviews from people who got ARC copies which has me excited. I have in the past, enjoyed books were the main character is imprisoned so I hope I enjoy this one as much as book such as Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, ACID by Emma Pass, Shatter Me by T. Mafi and The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken.

Genres: Young Adult, Science-fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian     

 

Mystic (Mystic #1) by Jason Denzel

Release Date: 3rd November
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The 12 review which are (at the moment I am writing this) on Goodreads are all either four or fives stars! A fantasy book with magic, a competition, and a low born teenager, and the possibility of rising above the highest nobility. It sounds so action packed but hope we get a little splash of romance as well.  

Genre: High Fantasy   

 

All In (The Naturals #3) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Release Date: 3rd November
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I have to say that I haven't read any of this series yet! However I have Jennifer Barnes Raised by Wolves and The Squad series and really enjoyed them. (Check out my review of Perfect Cover: The Squad here.)

So this series seem like a teenage FBI story with murder investigations and romance. I think I might binge read this series now that three of them are out.  

Genre: Mystery, Crime, Young Adult/Teenage

 

Winter (Lunar Chronicles #4) by Marissa Meyer

Release Date: 12th November
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This is the fourth book in the popular Lunar series, the first book is called Cinder. The series so far has been retellings of fairy tales, each book is a different story and they are all inter-linked. This book I think is loosely a retelling of Snow White, and I can't wait to see what is going to happen to the character's that were introduced in the first three books.

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Fantasy, Retellings, Romance   

 

 Unforgiven: Fallen Series #5 by Lauren Kate  

Release Date: 12th November
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I had no idea that there was going to be a fifth book in this series until a few weeks ago. I always had a like for Cam as a character and always wanted to know more about him. I read this series many years ago and am a bit scared that I won't enjoy it as much again if I was to read it again. When I read the blurb for this book I wasn't hooked but I am considering maybe giving it a go... maybe. (It might be a LONG way down my TBR list..)

Genre: Teen, Supernatural, angels

 

 

 

Enigma (Schrodinger's Consortium #2) by Tonya Kuper

Release Date on Amazon: 13th November
Release Date on Book Depository: 1st November 2016!!!
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Read the first book Anomaly (My Review) earlier this year. I can't wait to see Josie's powers grow and find out more about the Consortium. Just checked this release date again it's not out till next year!! AHH #criesinthecorner 

Genre: Young Adult, Science-fiction/Supernatural Magic.  

 

 

Queen of Always (A Stolen Empire #3) by Sherry D. Ficklin

Paperback Release Date: 23rd November

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This is another series which I have not started yet. I do have the first book Queen of Someday on my kindle as it was free at amazon.co.uk. It was the covers of this series that drew me to them as they are really pretty.

 

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction  

Queen (The Blackcoat Rebellion #3) by Aimee Carter

 

Release Date: 24th November

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The Blackcoat Rebellion trilogy had been on my to-buy list for quite a while now but I have been putting it off because this book wasn't published, so now I can finally start the series.

 

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian  

 

 

 

 

So there was the new releases for November which have caught my interest. I would love to hear what books you are looking forward to being published this month, please let me know in the comments below or tweet me at: @Hillsofbooks .

Trick or Treat Book Tag

Trick or Treat Book Tag is a book tag created by pucksandpaperbacks. This is a book tag based off of US candies. I have to say that being British I have never heard of  Sugar Babies, Sour Patch Kids or Hershey Kiss but I enjoyed this tag all the same.
 

QUESTIONS:

1) Kit Kat Bar : An anticipated release.

I have so many book which I am looking forward to in the next year (keep tuned to my Waiting on Wednesday post to see them all) many of them sequels. But there are also a few new series I can't wait to explore including: Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillan ;  Rebel of the Sands by  Alwyn Hamilton ; Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie and Assassins Heart by Sarah Ahiers.

 

 

2) M&Ms: book with a colourful cover.

 

Finding colourful book was surprisingly hard, many of my book's are dark coloured but when I look at my bookcase there are two series which stand out, firstly the Throne of Glass series as they are all white, the second is the Fire and Thorns series. 

 

                                                                                                          

3) Milky Way: Name a book that makes you feel all gooey in the middle.

I don't read gooey books but I will mention that I enjoyed the romances in the Warlands series by Elizabeth Vaughan and also in the Shaede Assassin series by Amanda Bonilla .

 

 

4) Sugar Babies – An underrated book or character 

Oh there are many underrated books but I managed to limit it to just these two. 

 

5) Sour Patch Kids – A book that started off sour and ended up being sweet.

Check out my review of this book here. I almost gave up on this book but it pick up after the first 100 pages.

 

6) Hershey Kiss – Your favourite first kiss!
I wonder how many first kisses I have read? However I can't think one kiss which stands out for me other than the 'true loves first kiss' from the fairy tales!! Ahhh... 

 

7) Favourite book to read during Halloween-time?

I don't have a particular book I would read at Halloween but this year I am planning on reading  In a Dark Dark Wood by Ruth Ware.  

So that the Trick or Treat Book tag. Hope you all have a fun Halloween, me, I think I shall he curled but with a book the Sunday.

Saturday's Sentence Game #4 - Imprisoned

Find out more about Saturday's Sentence Game click here

In my opinion this weeks books are some GREAT books and I HIGHLY recommend them to you all. So the linkage between these book is that the main character is (rightly or wrongly) imprisoned  at the start on the book. So the book featured in this weeks Saturday's Sentence Game are:

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

ACID by Emma Pass

 

Page 10

Sometimes I'm so desperate to touch to be feel that I'm almost certain I'm going to fall off a cliff in an alternate universe where no one will ever be able to find me (Shatter Me). Closing my eyes, I attempted to focus my thoughts on making the inferno disappear (Poison Study).  

"Maybe you'll listen to me next time, huh?"(ACID). We could have been in Virginia, for all I knew (The Darkest Minds).

"I should hope not!" Celaena interjected. (Throne of Glass)

 

Page 32

"I'm not sure where my room is." (Poison Study)

"It's not your fault," Mel continues (ACID).

She looked at the sunlight filtering through the canopy, how the trees swayed in the wind with their long, bony arms around each other (Throne of Glass). Screams for survival (Shatter Me). Don't do it, I told myself (The Darkest Minds).

 

Page 38

I clung to the wall and wondered if what I had just witnessed had been real (Poison Study). No, he had to remember she was an assassin with the blessing of a pretty face and sharp wit (Throne of Glass). There'll be more people during the day (ACID). I've been lying to myself, determined to deny the impossible (Shatter Me). The woman clucked her tongue and stepped back, taking her flowery fragrance with her (The Darkest Minds).  

 

Page 42

She had a young face, and it was probably a curse in the outside world (The Darkest Minds).Chaol sighed as he dismounted in the open courtyard (Throne of Glass).Tearing myself away from the window, I walked towards Valek's office, arriving at his door just as he was leaving (Poison Study).

The pain in my hip has faded to a dull ache, and the food's made me so drowsy that my anger soon subsided (ACID). I feel nothing (Shatter Me).

 

 

Page 135

Damn him for being so handsome! (Throne of Glass).The reality of the situation struck me at once, with a sharp twist in my side (The Darkest Minds).The fire dance had just ended and people poured from the tent (Poison Study).There is nothing I can use to get my bearings (ACID). 

"You blame yourself for everything" (Shatter Me). 

 

So that's this weeks Saturday's Sentence Game, I have to say that I enjoyed writing this week post, I liked exploring the idea of some of my favourite characters interacting together. Would love to hear what you thought of this weeks paragraphs in the comments below or you can tweet me at @Hillsofbooks. 

Dead and Buryd (Out of Orbit #1) by Chele Cooke

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Synopsis From Goodreads

On the planet Os-Veruh, the native Veniche have endured a decade under the oppressive rule of a race of invaders, the Adveni.

When Georgianna Lennox, a Veniche medic, discovers her childhood friend has been sold into slavery, she seeks help from a revolutionary outlaw group.

As Georgianna’s struggle to save one life ignites a battle to liberate her homeworld, is she about to discover that it is better to be dead than ‘buryd’?

 

 

 

 

 

4 Star Review

 

This book was a bit confusing to start with, the first two chapters ('Days that's Came Before' and 'The Quarter Run') are actually prologue's - something I didn't realize. Anyway I enjoyed the way in which the history of the world was told through a bed-time story it helps the reader to understand better the kind of world that the characters were living in, it also introduced us to characters which we will meet again later in the book.

 

I liked this idea of  Lyndbury it's a realistic idea 'just shove all the criminals together and forget about them' I am sure this has been suggested for various island over the years? I also thought that having slang 'buryd alive' made it feel more realistic as local slang is something that seem to naturally grow in the real world but is sometime forgotten about when it comes to creating new worlds.

 

The first few chapters of this book introduces us to a lot of different characters as our main character Georgianna seem to very well connected and knows people for every section of society.  In these first few chapters I was slightly over whelmed by the number of characters we where being briefly introduced to, but later on all theses different character came back and their stories intertwined, this made me thankful for that first brief introductions.  

 

It took me a while to get into this book as to start with there seem to be quite a few long descriptions of the history of different people and places. However by the time I was half way though I was hooked. This book is full of twists and turns, heart breaking moments and some intriguing characters (Edtroka). It also has a great ending what requires me to keep reading this series but also, I seem to have developed some strong feels (both for and against) some of these characters so I can't wait to see what happens to them later on in this series.   

Waiting on Wednesday #3 - Assassin's Heart

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating!

Release Date: 2nd February 2016

Author: Sarah Ahiers
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: 02/02/16
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In the kingdom of Lovero, nine rival Families of assassins lawfully kill people for a price. As a highly skilled member of one of these powerful clans, seventeen-year-old Lea Saldana has always trusted in the strength of her Family. Until she awakens to find them murdered and her home in flames. The Da Vias, the Saldanas’ biggest enemy, must be responsible—and Lea should have seen it coming. But her secret relationship with the Da Vias’ son, Val, has clouded her otherwise killer instinct—and given the Da Vias more reason than ever to take her Family down.

Racked with guilt and shattered over Val’s probable betrayal, Lea sets out to even the score, with her heart set on retaliation and only one thought clear in her mind: make the Da Vias pay.

With shades of The Godfather and Romeo and Juliet, this richly imagined fantasy from debut author Sarah Ahiers is a story of love, lies, and the ultimate vengeance.

Why I am Waiting

Almost everything about this book draws me in, firstly a female assassin as the main character, then having what sounds like mafia style families. Then there it's a forbidden romance, and the strive for revenge and justice. It sounds as though it's going to be packed with romance, betrayal and lot of action.

Current Blog Tour - Out of Orbit

As you can tell from the title of this post I thought I would share with you guys about a Blog Tour

that is currently taking place.

The Out of Orbit Blog Tour has already started and will run until the end of  October it's focus is the Out of Orbit Series by Chele Cooke:
Dead and Buryd
Fight or Flight
Rack and Ruin (Out 29th Oct 2015)

I recently downloaded Dead and Buryd from Amazon for FREE, and it is worth a read and my full review will be up before the end of the month, I think I will also be checking out the sequels as well due to an ...interesting ending. This series is a action packed Sci-fi /Fantasy Series written by a UK based independent author!

 

Synopsis For Dead and Buryd: 

On the planet Os-Veruh, the native Veniche have endured a decade under the oppressive rule of a race of invaders, the Adveni. When Georgianna Lennox, a Veniche medic, discovers her childhood friend has been sold into slavery, she seeks help from a revolutionary outlaw group. As Georgianna’s struggle to save one life ignites a battle to liberate her homeworld, is she about to discover that it is better to be dead than ‘buryd’?

I hope you all give this series a try and check out a few of the Blog posts in the Blog tour. (Oh.. and guys just checked out Chele Cooke's website and she has a project updates section showing what she is working on and how far along she is! I wish all authors had one of those!!)    



Top Ten Tuesday - 10 Wishes I'd Ask The Book Genie To Grant Me

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish

 

When I read what the subject for this weeks Top Ten Tuesday I thought of so many bookish things (mainly unpublished books in NEED) that I would wish, but I have managed to limit to 10. I'd wish for;

1) The last few books of the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

2) The rest of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas

3) The rest of The Wrath & The Dawn series by Renee Ahdieh

4) All the books I own to magically tuned into Hardbacks, I love the look of shelves of hardback books they are so pretty with them all the same height.

5) More books from Ally Carter including the end of the Embassy Row series.

6) More books featuring Xylara and Keir as main characters (from the Chronicles of the Warlands by Elizabeth Vaughan) 

7) I would love a walk in wardrobe with book shelves rather than clothes.

8) Would loved have more books in the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi

9) I would love to be able to stop cover designs changes part way through series (I hate when half the series is one design and the other half a 'new' design). 

10) A new cover design for the Pellinor series Hardback (I am not a great fan of the current design which is putting me off buying the hardcopy even though my paper copies are actually falling apart). 
        

So there is 10 from a long list on bookish things I would ask the book genie if the ever graced me with his/her presence.  Please comment down below some of your bookish wishes.

Saturday's Sentence Game #3 - Retellings

I have say that I haven't quite stuck to the 'rules' this week and for one or two of these and the second sentence on the page as the first sentence was kind of a spoiler.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J.Maas
Scarlet by A.C.Gaughen
Cinder by Marissa Meryer
Wild Orchid by Cameron Dokey
The Wrath &The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh



Page 22
The netscreen above the heatless flame was showing footage from the market. (Cinder)
"Sorry you didn't get back to Bess," I said. (Scarlet)
The emir nodded. (The Wrath & The Dawn) As always I headed for the ancient plum tree. (Wild Orchid) Spices, salt, sugar - rare commodities for most of our village, impossible for us to afford. (A Court of Thorns and Roses)

Page 57
I don't care. (The Wrath & The Dawn) She huffed a laugh. (A Court of Thorns and Roses) She wasn't sick. (Cinder) We kept digging through [his] belongings, and the only thought that cheered me up were [his] mug when he found out. (Scarlet)
"This was a lot easier when I could wear clothes like a boy's," I said. (Wild Orchid)


Page 64
She was talking to herself, but the words stung. (Cinder) And faeries couldn't lie. (A Court of Thorns and Roses) It should never matter. (The Wrath &The Dawn)
"But she usually did this when I was upset about something, so I thought she was just trying to comfort."(Wild Orchid)
"Let's get inside." (Scarlet)

Page 128
 You're coming up with all the plans from now on, you know. (Scarlet)"I've been in one tent or another poring over maps and arguing with my brothers since early this morning."(Wild Orchid)
"Ask your questions, human, and then free me." (A Court of Thorns and Roses)
"I'll comm you." (Cinder) And it was not the tea , as [she] had first suspected.(The Wrath & The Dawn)

Page 140
The ones who are born age quite a bit slower. (A Court of Thorns and Roses)
How could she know? (Cinder)
The Desert sun bore down on Tariq with the heat of a brazen fire. (The Wrath & The Dawn) I pulled my head away, flushed and not sure what to do, or say, or think. (Scarlet)
"It's not only your shooting of course," Li Po went on. (Wild Orchid)

The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds #1) by Alexandra Bracken

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Synopsis from Goodreads  

 When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

4.75 Star Review

This book has a lot of hype sounding it, everyone I have see talking about it has loved it, because of this I was cautious about reading it encase I hated it . However I shouldn't have worried I loved this book, it was a great dystopian full of action and with a growing romance.
 

This book dives straight into the action, often the prologue of books are relevant later on but are confusing when you first read them, but in this book the prologue is a great introduction to the harshness of the society it also really captures the readers attention.
 

The first few chapters so much happens, I enjoyed the way in which at this stage the disease is so mysterious. I also loved the way in which the author reveals what is happening in the world only as the main charter learns things and we get to read these thought processes.
 

Understandably Ruby is very naïve about the 'outside' world however she see's quite happy to 'go it alone' which seem either very brave or just stupid. There are quite a few different groups in the 'outside' world which was a bit confusing to start with. There were so great characters in this book and so many of them had two faces which kept me on my toes.  However I liked these mystery element of the story, it kept me turning the pages so I could find out more. 

 

 

The ending of this book!!!! Without spoiler's all I can say is that I understand why she had to do what she did and it shows how brave Ruby is. We are however, left with lots of questions, and I can't wait to see how things work out after such a dramatic ending to this book.
 

Waiting on Wednesday #2 - Glass Sword

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating!

  Release Date: 9th February 2016

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Publisher: HarperTeen

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Release date: Hardback - 09/02/16

                 Paperback - 11/02/16

Mare Barrow’s blood is red—the colour of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control.

The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors.

But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat. Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?

The electrifying next instalment in the Red Queen series escalates the struggle between the growing rebel army and the blood-segregated world they’ve always known—and pits Mare against the darkness of her own heart.

Why I am Waiting

After reading the last book and all the twists and turns it threw at us I can't wait to find out what else Victoria Aveyard will throw at us. I'm looking forward to see how Mare's love life will turn out and what part she will play in the rebellion.

Top Ten Tuesday - Author Duos I'd LOVE To See Write A Book Together

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

So this weeks top ten is duo's of authors I would like to write a book together, I found this quite hard bur have managed to think of 5 pairs that I think if they put their head together create an interesting book.

1) Sarah J. Maas and Maria V. Snyder

(I would love an epic high fantasy book from this pair)

2) Ally Carter and Julie Kagawa

(I think they could create a great urban fantasy heist/spy novel)

3) Kate Elliott and Elizabeth Vaughan

(An amazing High Fantasy)

4) Victoria Aveyard and Alexandra Bracken

(This pair I think would make a great dystopian)

5) Ilona Andrews and Jennifer Estep

(Urban fantasy would be ruled by any book these pair published)

So that's some of the author combination I think would create some amazing books if they worked together. I would love to know what author duos you would love to see please comment any below.   

The Wrath & The Dawn (The Wrath & The Dawn #1) by Renee Ahdieh

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Synopsis From Goodreads

 

 

One Life to One Dawn.

In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all.

Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she'd imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It's an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid's life as retribution for the many lives he's stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?

Inspired by A Thousand and One Nights, The Wrath and the Dawn is a sumptuous and enthralling read from beginning to end.

 

5 Star Review

The first thing I have to mention is the beautiful cover and first few pages of this book. I love the way in which the cover shows us the girl through these star/sun shaped windows, and then in the inside page we get to see the full picture. Another thing I should mention is their is a glossary (it has all the different characters and what the different titles mean), which would have been really good to know about before starting to read however I didn't find it till I was about three quarters of the way though. I think it would have been better of it to have been at the front of the book, rather than the end as this would have made it easier to find.

 

I have to say that I have never read A Thousand and One Nights (the tale which inspires this story) and I wasn't to knowledgeable about the storyline so I can't comment on how close it is to the original, but it is a amazing story either way. 

 

The prologue is (as with most prologues) slightly confusing but we do get -even at this stage- hint as to why the he does what he does. Also as the prologue is from a male point of view -we can guess who he is- and we get this introduction to his vulnerability and the burden that he carries. 

 

This book get straight into the action and the first chapter we get this great introduction to the main character as a strong-headed, stubborn, caring  yet murderous woman who is full of hate and grief. The relationships between the different characters in the book are slowly revealed to us, some of them taking me by surprise. 

 

The main theme in this book mystery not only about the king but all the charters have secrets that aren't fully explained for a long time. The ways in which people avoid answering questions come in so many varied forms in this book, I enjoyed Shahrzad's stories and the power that these words had. I loved all the character's in this book and enjoyed the way in which each one interacted with Shahrazad. I especially enjoyed the banter that she exchanges with her handmaiden. I also enjoyed the way in which Shahrazad was friendly but also always wary and on the look out for betrayal.   

 

I enjoyed the setting of this book and I can wait to get to read more about the wider world in following books. I am also intrigued to see what part magic will play in sequels as in this book I feel as though we have only just brushed the idea of magic.

 

This is a roller-coaster, action packed, romance and I can't recommend it enough. The ending will leave you needing the next book and when book 2 does come out in 2016, I stall be there will my list of unanswered questions hoping for some answers.  

 

I think the main question I thought of while reading this book is; how far will people go for love and for hate?    

 

  

Saturday's Sentence Game #2 - Reread Fantasy

(To find out more about Saturday's Sentence Games click here)

So for this weeks Saturday's Sentence Game I shall be using my top 5 reread fantasy books (see more about this books here);

Graceling by Kristen Cashore
The Gift by Alison Croggon
Dragonfly by Julie Golding
Storm Glass by Maria V.Snyder
Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughan



Page 9
It occurred to her, with a pang of surprise, that she didn't feel afraid; although in that split second, she ought to be.(The Gift) Such was her Grace.(Graceling)
     "You're a hero and those children can't stand it." (Storm Glass)
Times had changed for the kingdom: no enemies had come knocking at the door for so long that the palace had spread down hill in more elegant and much less defensible buildings.(Dragonfly) I had a fairly long walk ahead of me. (Warprize)

Page 28
 "Of course, Your Highness."(Dragonfly)But as his energy waned Xymund had to try to fill in the holes (Warprize)
    "The downfall of the Nameless One is long and hard and desperate, and many parts of that tale never returned from the darkness," he continued (The Gift).
    "The Council sends two students to help the Stormdance clan?" (Storm Glass) A spoon clattered from the lord's hand onto the table (Graceling).


Page 42

Helda had come to work at the nurseries around about the same time Katsa began to dole out Randa's punishment (Graceling) I kept it simple, and positive, and made no mention of the truth.(Warprize).Yendral stood up. (Dragonfly)
    "We finished the orbs for the cooling season storms" (Storm Glass).
An intolerable anguish possessed [her], beyond even the grief she had felt at her mother's death; it was as if all the pain she had ever experienced gathered into a white hot node in the centre of her mind (The Gift).

Page 89
    "Now, your room should be ready," said Silvia.(The Gift)
    "Nor anyone else", Katsa said, " except a handmaiden to bring them meals."(Graceling).                  I stomped back outside and hollered at those lazy dolts.(Warprize)
    "Go on then your highness show us what you can do!" (Dragonfly)
    "No," I said, hoping his powers were weak.(Storm Glass)


Page 178
It seemed almost like a ritual, although they had done it only once before and this time was so different (The Gift).
   "The soul is made of fire, and sits within the left hand." (Warprize)
It seemed to work (Graceling).
    "Oh, Tashi, I don't know." (Dragonfly)
 I should have known better (Storm Glass).
   

Page 201

It was not easy for her to walk helplessly through the forest, Po deciding where to go and knowing when and where to hide, freeze in his tracks at the sense of things she couldn't see or hear.(Graceling) Every sound caused my hear to jump and sweat dampened my shirt, but I persisted until my arms were full. (Storm Glass)
    "Dernhil?" said Maerad. (The Gift)
    "Battle Rage, eh?"(Warprize)
    "Coded messages may pass where people cannot."(Dragonfly)

So let me know what you guys think of this week's Sentence Games and would love to know if any of you have read these books so please comment down below.

Waiting on Wednesday #1 - Sword and Verse

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating!

 

Written by Kathy MacMillan
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: 16th January 2016 (kindle)
                           25 February 2016 (hardback)
Add on Goodreads
Preorder at Amazon.co.uk

Release Date: 16th January 2016 (Kindle)

                        25 February 2016 (Hardback) 

 

Raisa was just a child when she was sold to work as a slave in the kingdom of Qilara. Despite her young age, her father was teaching her to read and write, grooming her to take his place as a Learned One. In Qilara, the Arnathim, like Raisa, are the lowest class, and literacy is a capital offense. What’s more, only the king, prince, tutor, and tutor-in-training are allowed to learn the very highest order language, the language of the gods. So when the tutor-in-training is executed for teaching slaves this sacred language, and Raisa is selected to replace her, Raisa knows any slipup on her part could mean death.

Keeping her secret is hard enough, but the romance that’s been growing between her and Prince Mati isn’t helping matters. Then Raisa is approached by the Resistance—an underground army of slave rebels—to help liberate Arnath slaves. She wants to free her people, but that would mean aiding a war against Mati. As Raisa struggles with what to do, she discovers a secret that the Qilarites have been hiding for centuries—one that, if uncovered, could bring the kingdom to its knees.

Why I am Waiting

I have to say that I have never read or in fact even heard of this author. As far as I can workout this is her first Young Adult fantasy novel and I am intrigued about it, firstly because of the combination of the slave rebels and romance. Also I have heard that it's can be read as a standalone (will be part of a series but the other books will focus on different main characters), I have found it really hard to find standalones in the YA fantasy genre so if this book is good it will make a nice change.   

 

 

Frozen (Heart of Dread #1) by Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston

This book has three different covers and they are all so pretty I love each one for diffrent reasons. I personally think the edition of the left (below) is the prettiest with the greener/turquoise colours.
  

Get a copy of this book at: 

Amazon.co.uk link

Amazon.com link

Wordery link

 

Synopsis from Goodreads 

Welcome to New Vegas, a city once covered in bling, now blanketed in ice. Like much of the destroyed planet, the place knows only one temperature—freezing. But some things never change. The diamond in the ice desert is still a 24-hour hedonistic playground and nothing keeps the crowds away from the casino floors, never mind the rumors about sinister sorcery in its shadows.

At the heart of this city is Natasha Kestal, a young blackjack dealer looking for a way out. Like many, she's heard of a mythical land simply called “the Blue.” They say it’s a paradise, where the sun still shines and the waters are turquoise. More importantly, it’s a place where Nat won’t be persecuted, even if her darkest secret comes to light.

But passage to the Blue is treacherous, if not impossible, and her only shot is to bet on a ragtag crew of mercenaries led by a cocky runner named Ryan Wesson to take her there. Danger and deceit await on every corner, even as Nat and Wes find themselves inexorably drawn to each other. But can true love survive the lies? Fiery hearts collide in this fantastic tale of the evil men do and the awesome power within us all.

 

3.75 Star Review

This book is firstly very mysterious, everyone we meet has secret history and will do almost anything to protect that secret. Even though the reader has a idea of what Nat is we do get hints but, it isn't until late in the book that we fully release what her purposes is. Also with Wes there are regular references to his past but it isn't revealed what happen until much later. The post-apocalyptic world in which this is set is at first glance just a frozen version of the USA but as we continue to read the world slowly become less recognisable and more fantasy, with scary creatures and unexpected discoveries.  

 

I enjoyed the idea of trashbergs as I don't see why these couldn't exist with the amount of junk that's produced. It also sparks the question of; will that be all that remains of  the human race; piles of washing machines and sofas?

 

I loved the way in which the romances in this book develops and how loyalties are tested. There are a few heart stopping moments and we are left with an ending that leaves you curious about the next book. Overall it was a good book, however for some reason it just didn't grab me.