Waiting on Wednesday #31 - September Releases (11th - 30th Sept 2017)

After that manic flurry of releases in the first week of September the number of releases has begun to slow. Meaning that I only have three books to share with you today, but I am just as excited for them:

 

Synopsis from Goodreads

 

Before

Mira Minkoba is the Hopebearer. Since the day she was born, she’s been told she’s special. Important. Perfect. She’s known across the Fallen Isles not just for her beauty, but for the Mira Treaty named after her, a peace agreement which united the seven islands against their enemies on the mainland.

But Mira has never felt as perfect as everyone says. She counts compulsively. She struggles with crippling anxiety. And she’s far too interested in dragons for a girl of her station.

After

Then Mira discovers an explosive secret that challenges everything she and the Treaty stand for. Betrayed by the very people she spent her life serving, Mira is sentenced to the Pit–the deadliest prison in the Fallen Isles. There, a cruel guard would do anything to discover the secret she would die to protect.

No longer beholden to those who betrayed her, Mira must learn to survive on her own and unearth the dark truths about the Fallen Isles–and herself–before her very world begins to collapse.

 

Release Date: 12th September 2017

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Why Am I Waiting?

 

Jodie Meadows is a fairly well known author (one I still have my TBR for far too long) and this sounds like a unique fantasy. Dragons, I mean who can say no to a good dragon book? A main character who isn't all kick-butt (don't get me wrong I love kick-ass heroines, but sometimes it good to remember that other people have their own battles and strengths that aren't always physical). A twist on the 'chosen one' trope? can't wait to see how this one pans out.   

 

 

Synopsis from Goodreads

 

Scream meets YA in this hotly-anticipated new novel from the bestselling author of Anna and the French Kiss.

One-by-one, the students of Osborne High are dying in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasing and grotesque flair. As the terror grows closer and the hunt intensifies for the killer, the dark secrets among them must finally be confronted.

International bestselling author Stephanie Perkins returns with a fresh take on the classic teen slasher story that’s fun, quick-witted, and completely impossible to put down.

 

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Release Date: 12 Sept 2017 (Kindle Edition)

 

Why Am I Waiting?

 

This is my latest addition to my 'to-buy' list and to be honest the bright pink cover and the title is what drew me to this book. I am never been ( and can't see myself ever being) a big horror fan, but occasionally I fancy a high stake mystery, and with it being described as a 'fun, quick-witted' story I am willing to give this intriguing books a try. Plus it is Halloween relatively soon so thinking this might be a good October read? 

 

 

Shortened Synopsis from Goodreads

 

The magicians want her to lead.The sorcerers want her to lie.
The demons want her blood.
Henrietta wants to save the one she loves.
But will his dark magic be her undoing?

In this seductive and explosive second book in the Kingdom on Fire series, Jessica Cluess delivers her signature mix of magic, passion, and teen warriors fighting for survival. Hand to fans of Victoria Aveyard, Sarah J. Maas, and Kiersten White.

 

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Release Date: 19th September 2017

 

Why Am I Waiting? 

 

I read the first book in this series just the other month (find my review here), it took me a wee while to get into it but once I got into this alternative Victorian styled London I really enjoyed it. I hope to get read this sequel soon, so I can get the answers to my questions while the story is still fresh in my mind. I also can wait to see how the relationships which started in the first book develop as the time passes and new challenges present themselves.

 

***

 

 

ARC BOOK REVIEW: Fireblood (Frostblood Saga #2) by Elly Blake

Synopsis from Goodreads 

In this action-packed sequel to Frostblood, the future of Ruby's world and a court ruled by the love of her life depends on the uncovered secrets of her past.

Against all odds, Ruby has defeated the villainous Frost King and melted his throne of ice. But the bloodthirsty Minax that was trapped inside is now haunting her kingdom and everyone she loves. The answers to its demise may lie to the south in Sudesia, the land of the Firebloods, and a country that holds the secrets to Ruby's powers and past....

Despite warnings from her beloved Arcus, Ruby accompanies a roguish Fireblood named Kai to Sudesia, where she must master her control of fire in a series of trials to gain the trust of the suspicious Fireblood queen. Only then can she hope to access the knowledge that could defeat the rampaging Minax - which grows closer every moment. But as sparks fly in her moments alone with Kai, how can Ruby decide whom to trust? The fate of both kingdoms is now in her hands.

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Source: e-ARC via netgalley 

Release Date: 7th -12th September 2017 

REVIEW

(3.75 STARS)

 

I has been quite a while since I read the first book but I found it quite easy to slip back into the story. We are given just enough information to know what happened in the last book - as so to understand what is happening in this one - but it doesn't go into long details that you feel as though you were re-reading the first book.

I was worried when I read the synopsis 'But as sparks fly in her moments alone with Kai, how can Ruby decide whom to trust?' i was worried about a love triangle. As I rediscovered Ruby and Arcus's love, I loved the sweet moments between them in the first few chapters. I still can't decide if their parting was sweet or just cheesy/ sickly / needy. Yet as Ruby and Kai spend more time together -despite his lies- I began to change the direction of my ship. But when the full emotional effect of the love triangle comes into play later in the book I am not sure which couple I ship.

Although Kai - as I have mentioned- does lie I do like him as a character, he is uncannily cleaver, quick to change moods, tuned into others emotions and seemly well liked by those around him. The queen remains a bit of a mystery, when Ruby first meets her she seems so harsh but during their second meeting you can see her love for her people.

Once Ruby gets to Sudesia I felt as though Fireblood became a quite paced novel with one obstacle after another presenting itself. We get some surprise revelations and some edge of the seat encounters, although Fireblood did begin at a slow plod it soon drew me back into this world of fire and ice and soon swept me away.   

WEE REVIEW: Blind Reader Wanted

Shortened Synopsis from Goodreads

 

Lara.

I was born into darkness. Just like a puppy, only my darkness is eternal. Everyone else sees a world I can only imagine, but hey, don't pity me. I don't. I've got a lot of imagination, and I’ve made my world beautiful more beautiful that you can know.

When I grew older I understood that the world is not built for blind people. I needed a white cane and I needed to trust my bestie, Elaine, and jump when she yelled, “Puddle”. 

Now, I’m all grown up and she tells me that the most mysterious man in Durango Falls has stuck a job vacancy on her noticeboard and that I should apply for it.

Apparently Kit Carson needs a blind reader.
To be honest it sounds a bit like those times she yelled puddle and there was no puddle. But what the hell? I’ll give her a laugh and jump once again.
This is the story of what happened when I jumped.

Kit.

I came to Durango Falls because it was the perfect place to hide. The townsfolk here don't like strangers and I don't like people. So I don’t talk to no one and no one talks to me. Suits me just fine.
For five years now I’ve been livin’ alone at the edge of this forest. Just me and the wolves I’ve adopted, but this winter my soul has started hankering for something more.

Maybe I’m just hankering for a woman’s sweet voice reading to me the way my mother used to when I was five. Just before she died. Think I’ll advertise for a blind reader. A female blind reader.
That’s what I thought I wanted.

Well all that shit went out the window when I laid eyes on her.
Now this woman’s body is all I can think about …

 

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Buy from Amazon

Source: Kindle Unlimited

Genre: New Adult/ Adult Contemporary Romance

 

Wee Review

(4 Stars)

 

I was a bit hesitant about this book to start with. I wasn't a great fan of how Lara was persuaded by her friend to apply for this blind reader job, and now that I look back at it I feel as though the situation doesn't really fit her personality. Lara - although blind- is strong minded, confidant and sassy, I just couldn't see her doing something she didn't want to. Anyway that aside, I loved this book, once I got past the first two chapters and Lara meets Kit I adored this small town romance. I loved the way that their love for each other grows, despite the few cheese moments (sometimes cheese makes it all the better). The wolves where a unique aspect to this novel which I quite enjoyed and the way in which the small town life style and gossiping is portrayed made me smile, sadly realistic! Throughout the book you know there is some kind of secret laying in wait to smash the seemingly easy HEA, but when it happened it was still heart breaking.

Blind Reader Wanted, was a emotionally intense romance between Kit a isolated military man with a haunting past, and Lara a blind artist who has issues of her own waiting to come out of the shadows. Set in a small town, full of gossipers this is a novel I flew through watching Kit and Lara fall in love and waiting for their pasts to catch up with them. I thoroughly enjoyed the romance and the suspense all wrapped into one.

 

***

Waiting on Wednesday #30 - September Releases (1st - 10th Sept 2017)

Yesterday was a major release day in the YA fantasy publishing industry. Three highly anticipated sequels in the same week!! So firstly I wanted to talk about those as well as some of other releases from both well known authors and some lesser known ones. Looks like a bankruptcy month (if I can justify buy them all to myself?)

 

 

 Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass #6) by Sarah J. Maas

 

In the next installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, follow Chaol on his sweeping journey to a distant empire.

 

Release Date: 5th September 2017

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Why Am I Waiting?

 

Okay so like a lot of YA fantasy readers I fell in love with the Throne of Glass series and have enjoyed  watching the world expand, the secrets come out and the relationships develop. However, it is  Celaena Sardothien who I have become attached to as a character and the prospect of 700 pages in this world without her just doesn't have the same appeal, the two previous books I have trudged through the other POV's to get back to her story, so I am not as excited about this book as the others in this series. Yet, saying that, I am looking forward to seeing how/if this book will link in with The Assassin's Blade novella's. I am also happy that Sarah J. Maas did what she wanted with this book, if that's the way she felt she should go with her series, then I salute her for putting aside her planned direction and following what she felt Chaol needed to share.

 

 

Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Mellissa Bashardoust

 

Synopsis from Goodreads

 

Frozen meets The Bloody Chamber in this feminist fantasy reimagining of the Snow White fairytale

At sixteen, Mina's mother is dead, her magician father is vicious, and her silent heart has never beat with love for anyone—has never beat at all, in fact, but she’d always thought that fact normal. She never guessed that her father cut out her heart and replaced it with one of glass. When she moves to Whitespring Castle and sees its king for the first time, Mina forms a plan: win the king’s heart with her beauty, become queen, and finally know love. The only catch is that she’ll have to become a stepmother.

Fifteen-year-old Lynet looks just like her late mother, and one day she discovers why: a magician created her out of snow in the dead queen’s image, at her father’s order. But despite being the dead queen made flesh, Lynet would rather be like her fierce and regal stepmother, Mina. She gets her wish when her father makes Lynet queen of the southern territories, displacing Mina. Now Mina is starting to look at Lynet with something like hatred, and Lynet must decide what to do—and who to be—to win back the only mother she’s ever known…or else defeat her once and for all.

Entwining the stories of both Lynet and Mina in the past and present, Girls Made of Snow and Glass traces the relationship of two young women doomed to be rivals from the start. Only one can win all, while the other must lose everything—unless both can find a way to reshape themselves and their story.

 

Release Date: 5th September 2017

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Why Am I Waiting?

 

I think it is probably this whole I deal of reinventing a fairy tale which has me interested in this one. It also suggests a complex relationship between step-mother and step-daughter. Some of my fellow book blogs loved it and praised it's uniqueness, so I've gotta give it a go!

 

 

 

Godsgrave (Nevernight #2) by Jay Kristoff   

 

A ruthless young assassin continues her journey for revenge in this new epic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Jay Kristoff.

 

Release Date: 7th September 2017

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Why Am I Waiting? 

 

So, it's not that I am waiting for this one (was blessed enough to get a ARC of this book), but more that I need to get into a fantasy reading mood. I don't know about you, but for me my genre of reading goes through fazes and at the moment I am in a contemporary and urban fantasy mood. And Nevernight (see my review here) was quite a heavy fantasy book but I hope to get it read soon all the same, so keep an eye out for a review later this month (hopefully!)

 

 

 

 

Fireblood (Frostblood Saga #2) by Elly Blake  

 

In this action-packed sequel to Frostblood, the future of Ruby's world and a court ruled by the love of her life depends on the uncovered secrets of her past. Perfect for fans of Red Queen and Throne of Glass.

 

Release Date: 7th September 2017

Add on Goodreads 

 

Why Am I Waiting? 

 

This is another sequel I have been waiting for, but to be honest I haven't been waiting for it with bated breath. I read the first book beginning of this year (see my review here) and although I gave it 5 stars and I really enjoyed this book, it overly unique. I do hope to read this book this month though, to see if Blake can direct this story off somewhere new and exciting .

 

 

 

*** 

 

Any new releases coming out that you are waiting this Wednesday for?

August Book Haul

Four books added to my bookshelf this month, The Mafia and his Angel is a new release this month with I have been waiting for (adored the Wattpad edition before it was published). The other three are some sequels to books I have read these last couple of months (I hope to get around to a reading wrap-up soon I promise!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What books did you add to your bookshelf in August?