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Thursday, December 29, 2016

November/ December Book Haul

Didn't manage to haul that many books in November so decided that I would pop them into this haul. I have - as a result of Christmas presents and my own last of will power - quite a few books to share with you today. I also found time to do a wee photo shoot with my new books, so here we are:
 
 
 
Shortened Synopsis
Tasked with sensing the intentions of would-be assassins, Sonya is under constant pressure to protect the emperor. But Sonya’s power is untamed and reckless, and she can’t always decipher when other people’s impulses end and her own begin.As she struggles to wrangle her abilities, Sonya seeks refuge in her tenuous alliances with the charming-yet-volatile Emperor Valko and his idealistic younger brother, Anton, the crown prince. But when threats of revolution pit the two brothers against each other, Sonya must choose which brother to trust—and which to betray
 
 
Shortened Synopsis
A collection of all-new and previously published short stories featuring Mercy Thompson, “one of the best heroines in the urban fantasy genre today” (Fiction Vixen Book Reviews), and the characters she calls friends…
 
 
Shortened Synopsis
A blood war rages on the streets of Chicago.
The third and final instalment in the explosive YA Blood for Blood series which started with Vendetta and Inferno.
 
 
Shortened Synopsis
The sequel to the much loved Six of Crows. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of magic in the Grisha world.
 
 
Trilogy Synopsis   
The Young Elites is set in a Renaissance-like world where magic is new, chaotic, and misunderstood, and three rival societies with supernatural abilities battle for power. And a girl transforms from an unwanted daughter into a fearsome leader, igniting panic and sparking war between seven nations.
 
 
Shorten Synopsis
With each passing day, Kelsea Glynn is growing into her new responsibilities as Queen of the Tearling. But as the Mort army draws ever closer, Kelsea develops a mysterious connection to a time before the Crossing, and she finds herself relying on a strange and possibly dangerous ally: a woman named Lily, fighting for her life in a world where being female can feel like a crime. The fate of the Tearling —and that of Kelsea’s own soul—may rest with Lily and her story, but Kelsea may not have enough time to find out.
 
 
Shortened Synopsis
McKenzie was a normal college student, save for one little twist: she’s a shadow reader, someone who can both see the fae and track their movements between our world and the Realm. But when her best friend, Paige, disappears McKenzie knows her wish is, for now, just a dream. McKenzie is the only one who can rescue her friend, but if she’s not careful, her decisions could cost the lives of everyone she’s tried so hard to save.
 
 

Shortened Synopsis
Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her sense of self, Lia must make powerful choices that will affect her country... and her own destiny.


Shorted Synopsis
Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her.Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, she slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbor, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognizes him?
 
***
 
11 new books have now been added to my TBR bookcase and I am once again running out of space for unread books!! As well as these book above I have received some mysterious book mail which I am still trying to workout where it came from!
 
What books did you get for Christmas?


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Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday # 13 - Top Ten Best Books Of 2016

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

So 2016 is coming quickly to an end, so it is time to look back at some of amazing books I have read over the last 12 months. I shall hopefully be doing a more comprehensive bookish review of 2016 once we start the new year. For now let have a look at the books I gave 5 Stars to this year: 

 

Fantasy

 
My 5 Stars Reviews:
 
 
I also gave Glass Sword (Red Queen #2) by Victoria Aveyard 5 stars this year but didn't end up writing a review for this book!  Also a quick mention of A Court of Mist and Fury which only got 4.9 stars but I feel a bit mean ignoring such an amazing book.  
 

Contemporary Romance

 
Broken Prince (The Royals #2) by Erin Watt
Twisted Palace (The Royals #3) by Erin Watt  
 

Re-Reads

 (when was just as amazing the second, third or fourth time!)
 
The Elsker Saga (Including Elsker, Endre and Tro) by S.T. Bende
Poker Face (#1) by Jess Sturman-Coombs
An Ember In The Ashes (#1) by Sabaa Tahir
Inferno (Blood for Blood #2) by Catherine Doyle
 
***
 
Predictably quite a few of my 5 Star reads this year have been within the YA Fantasy genre, but can't wait to see some further trends when I write my more in-depth 2016 review later.
 
What have been some of your 5 star reads of 2016? 
 
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Thursday, December 22, 2016

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

 

Add on Goodreads
Buy From: Amazon (UK) || Book Depository

Published: April 26th 2016 by St. Martin's Griffin
ISBN13: 9781250085474
Series: The Star-Touched Queen #1

Synopsis from Goodreads

Fate and fortune. Power and passion. What does it take to be the queen of a kingdom when you’re only seventeen?

Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of death and destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father’s kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar’s wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire…

But Akaran has its own secrets—thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most…including herself.  
 

Review: 3.75 Stars

 
This book had a huge amount of hype surrounding it, and there are so many people who just love this book. I can't say that this a bad thing this book is full of diverse characters and was definitely unique. I got drawn to this book back before it was released when I was reading ARC reviews and the teaser quotes. I picked the book up months after it's release still full of anticipation. To start with I could understand the hype the first half of the book was magical, Chokshi's writing was so poetic and beautiful. I loved the mysteriousness of Akaran, and his palace with it's hidden and dangerous doors and magical tapestries. It was wonderful to read the growth of Maya and Akaran's relationship as we progressed though this first half, as they spend more time together and Maya settled into the palace. I also enjoyed the friendship that develops between Maya and Gupta, and their interactions as two scholars.
 
Unfortunately, the saying goes 'all good things must come to an end' and that was the case here as I started to read the second half of the book. To be honest it just got a bit ... weird. Now I know it is a fantasy book and I have read some pretty wacky fantasy books, but this one just wasn't my cup of tea. Also because of a certain plot 'twist' I found that the Maya at the end of the book wasn't the Maya that I loved so much in the first half - I don't want to go into this too much. I understand that Maya would and should change as a result of her journey in this book but I felt it was more the 'remembering' that changed her so much.
 
I have mixed opinions for this popular book. I loved the first half but didn't enjoy the second half. So, I think I would recommend reading it yourself and seeing if it is your cup of tea.
 
Have you read The Star-Touched Queen? I would love to know what you thought in the comments below.
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Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday #21 - Daughter of the Pirate King

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating!
 
Release Date: 28th February 2017 (Hardback not released in the UK until 1st March)  
 
Pre-order from: Amazon (UK) || Amazon (US) || Book Depository
 
 

 Synopsis From Goodreads

If you want something done right....
 
When the ruthless Pirate King learns of a legendary treasure map hidden on an enemy ship, his daughter, Alosa, knows that there's only one pirate for the job—herself. Leaving behind her beloved ship and crew, Alosa deliberately facilitates her own kidnapping to ensure her passage on the enemy ship. After all, who's going to suspect a seventeen-year-old girl locked in a cell?
 
Then she meets the (surprisingly perceptive and unfairly attractive) first mate, Riden, who is charged with finding out all her secrets. Now it's down to a battle of wits and will... Can Alosa find the map and escape before Riden figures out her plan?
 
Debut author Tricia Levenseller blends action, adventure, romance, and a little bit of magic into a thrilling YA pirate tale.
 

Why am I Waiting?

I discovered this book several months ago on Goodreads, and I liked the sound of it so added it to my 'Want to Read' list. I didn't immediately link the book I had added on Goodreads, to the new cover real when I saw it on my Twitter feed. I wasn't wowed by the cover but is slowly beginning to grow on me, defiantly prefer the darker one of the two though.
 
The synopsis is what obviously drew me in, I haven't read a pirate story in a while. I have several on my to-buy and to-read lists, but I can always do with more swashbuckling females going to dangerous - and swoon worthy- adventures.     
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Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Teaser Tuesday #14 - Cling to the Quiet

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of 
Books And A Beat.


Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser. 


Title: Burning Glass
Author: Kathryn Purdie
Add on Goodreads

Today's Teaser
'I would not let Anton frighten me with his words. I would find that quiet space within myself, and I would cling to it. Emperor Valko would not be the end of me.'
(Page 66)

Synopsis from Goodreads

 Sonya was born with the rare gift to feel what those around her feel—both physically and emotionally—a gift she’s kept hidden from the empire for seventeen long years. After a reckless mistake wipes out all the other girls with similar abilities, Sonya is hauled off to the palace and forced to serve the emperor as his sovereign Auraseer.

Tasked with sensing the intentions of would-be assassins, Sonya is under constant pressure to protect the emperor. But Sonya’s power is untamed and reckless, and she can’t always decipher when other people’s impulses end and her own begin. In a palace full of warring emotions and looming darkness, Sonya fears that the biggest danger to the empire may be herself.

As she struggles to wrangle her abilities, Sonya seeks refuge in her tenuous alliances with the charming-yet-volatile Emperor Valko and his idealistic younger brother, Anton, the crown prince. But when threats of revolution pit the two brothers against each other, Sonya must choose which brother to trust—and which to betray.
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Monday, December 19, 2016

November Reading Wrap-up

I have finally got around to collecting together the books I read in November. There isn't that many as -like blogging- reading has been low priority as deadlines have been closing in. No five star reads in November either, in fact in regards to books it isn't going to be a very rememberable month.
 
I did enjoy the books but nothing amazing. If you want to know more thoughts on a book, feel free to ask me about it in the comments and I will let you know some thoughts on it (seeing as I haven't written any mini reviews this month).  
 
Urban Fantasy
 
The Shadow Reader (#1) by Sandy Williams
4 Stars

Hidden Queen by S.C Cummins
3.5 Stars

Fantasy
 
The Duchess Quest (Jorinia #1) by C.K Brooke
3 Stars

Snow Like Ashes (#1) by Sara Raasch
Re-read
4 Stars

Opal Cowan Trilogy
Re-read
4.5 Stars

Shattered Glass (Opal Cowan Novella)
3.5 Stars (Review)
 
 
Contemporary Romance

Capture (Crowns and Gowns #2)
Add on Goodreads
3 Stars  

Texas Kissing by Helena Newbury
4 Stars

His Princess by Abigail Graham
4 Stars
 
***
 
What was your favourite book that you read in November?  
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Sunday, December 18, 2016

Novella Review - Shattered Glass by Maria V.Snyder

Add on Goodreads
Buy from: Amazon (UK) || Amazon (US)
Series: A Glass Series Novella (#3.5)
Kindle Edition, 86 pages
Published November 19th 2016

Synopsis from Goodreads

While trying to teach her adopted daughter, Reema, how to work with molten glass, Opal receives a letter from Master Magician Zitora Cowan requesting Opal's immediate help. Zitora resigned from the Sitian Council over two years ago to search for her lost sister, and no one has heard from her since. The letter is probably a trick, but Opal refuses to pass up the opportunity to help her mentor, who may be in genuine trouble. Good thing Opal isn't that easy to fool. With her two soldier friends Nic and Eve providing backup, the three travel to a small town in the Jewelrose Clan. But can they rescue the Master Magician without being caught in the same trap?
 

Review

3.5 Stars
 
I feel as though I haven't talk too much about this series here on Hills of Books, but the Glass series (the  glass trilogy not the wider chronicles) is one of my all time favourite fantasy books. So when I heard that we were going to get a novella following my favourite character Opal, I can't express how expectant I was. However, I wasn't wowed by this book. There were parts that I didn't quite understand I think this may be due to me not being up to date on Yelena's story, but it was a bit confusing. I also wanted to have see more of Devlen and his interactions with Opal, and it would have nice to have seen the family dynamic. It also was very short and although it is a novella the 'challenge' set before Opal was seeming difficult, but it felt as though it was resolved really fast. Opal needs another full length book or two (maybe three or four??!) - at least in my opinion.  
 
Despite these issues I have mentioned I loved seeing all my favourite characters from the glass trilogy. I really hope that once Maria V. Synder has finished with her soulfinder trilogy she will return to Opal's story. 
 
Has anyone read the Soulfinder trilogy yet? How much of Opal do we get to read about? 
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Friday, December 16, 2016

Paper Princess (The Royals #1) by Erin Watt

Add on Goodreads
Buy From: Amazon (UK) || Amazon (US) ||

Kindle Edition, 370 pages
Published April 4th 2016 by Timeout LLC
ASIN: B01DT9ZWNI
 
Synopsis from Goodreads
 
From strip clubs and truck stops to southern coast mansions and prep schools, one girl tries to stay true to herself.

These Royals will ruin you…

Ella Harper is a survivor—a pragmatic optimist. She’s spent her whole life moving from town to town with her flighty mother, struggling to make ends meet and believing that someday she’ll climb out of the gutter. After her mother’s death, Ella is truly alone.

Until Callum Royal appears, plucking Ella out of poverty and tossing her into his posh mansion among his five sons who all hate her. Each Royal boy is more magnetic than the last, but none as captivating as Reed Royal, the boy who is determined to send her back to the slums she came from.

Reed doesn’t want her. He says she doesn’t belong with the Royals.

He might be right.

Wealth. Excess. Deception. It’s like nothing Ella has ever experienced, and if she’s going to survive her time in the Royal palace, she’ll need to learn to issue her own Royal decrees. 
 
Review - 4.75 - 5 Stars
 
This book has been one of those which Amazon and my fellow reads have been recommending to me for years. I have put off reading this book, as I have always been more of a fantasy reader, rather than contemporary romance. However, seeing as the third book has recently been released I thought I would download a sample of this book, and I was hooked and soon had bought the this book. 
 
I really enjoyed this book it is defiantly aimed at the upper age of young adult or maybe it is meant to be a new adult novel? Either way, this book does have strong language and many sexual situations, and innuendoes, just to warn anyone who is wants to avoid those kind of things.
 
Ella, is such a great character she has this strong feisty persona which she uses as a barrier to protect herself in her harsh reality. I love how she stands up the hostility present by the Royal brothers, when she is dragged from the 'rags to riches' of their home. 
 
The Royal brothers (once you get past the domineering shell) have this protective streak and they are still very mysterious and complicated characters. I can't wait to explore more of there characters and unwrap them (in more ways than one )in the sequels. We do get to see the individual characteristic of these five brothers (a part from the twins which are interchangeable), which was good as I always worry when there is a group of brother that I might not be able to tell who is who. This wasn't the case here at all, they all have their own issues and twisted love lives and histories. It was interesting to see Ella's interactions between the other rich kids at school as well as the brothers, develop through the book as they deal with the 'poor charity case' girl infringing on their snobby, spoiled rich kid territory! 
 
I really enjoyed this book and that cliff hanger has left me hanging on the edge of my seat, ready to download book 2, within the hour.  
 
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Thursday, December 15, 2016

December 2016 New Releases I Want to Read

I had handed in my last essay and I am finally free for Christmas!!! I have so many blog posts to catch up with, that I had planned on sharing with you all over the last few weeks but didn't have time to write. However, I am aiming to get lots of them done before Christmas.

Today, I want to share some of the book that have been or are going to be released in December, not too many but lets get started:

 
 
 
The Fate of the Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling #3) by Erika Johansen
 
 
Released: 1st December 2016 (Hardback)
 
 
Synopsis from Goodreads
 
In less than a year, Kelsea Glynn has transformed from a gawky teenager into a powerful monarch.

(Synopsis sorted due to some spoilers)
 
Now the endgame begins and the fate of Queen Kelsea - and the Tearling itself - will finally be revealed . . .  
 
 
 
Take the Key and Lock Her Up (Embassy Row #3) by Ally Carter
 
 
Released: 27th December 2016
Pre-order from: Amazon (UK) || Book Depository
 
Synopsis From Goodreads
 
THE PRINCESS IS DEAD.
LONG LIVE THE PRINCESS.
Centuries ago, the royal family of Adria was killed . . . or so everyone thought.
Now Grace Blakely knows the truth:
 
     (Synopsis shorted due to spoilers, find the first book here)
 
 
 

Ever the Hunted (Clash of Kingdom #1) by Erin Summerill
 
Released: 27th December 2016
Pre-order from: Amazon (UK) || Book Depository  
 
Synopsis From Goodreads  
 
Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, the legendary bounty hunter for the King of Malam—that is, until her father is murdered. Now outcast and alone and having no rights to her father’s land or inheritance, she seeks refuge where she feels most safe: the Ever Woods. When Britta is caught poaching by the royal guard, instead of facing the noose she is offered a deal: her freedom in exchange for her father’s killer.
 
However, it’s not so simple.
 
The alleged killer is none other than Cohen McKay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a daunting and dangerous force.
 

***

So there we have it, the books I have added to my TBR from those released in December. The first two are sequels for some great books which I have read and the last one is a new series which I have seen a lot on social media.

 

I would love to know what you have added to your TBR recently, let me know in the comments.



 
 
 
 


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