Daisy Reviews Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye

Title/Author: Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye
Publisher/Date published: G.P. Putnam's Sons, March 22nd 2016
How I got this book: received it from the publisher as an egalley, thanks!

Goodreads summary: "Reader, I murdered him."

A Gothic retelling of Jane Eyre.

Like the heroine of the novel she adores, Jane Steele suffers cruelly at the hands of her aunt and schoolmaster. And like Jane Eyre, they call her wicked - but in her case, she fears the accusation is true. When she flees, she leaves behind the corpses of her tormentors.

A fugitive navigating London's underbelly, Jane rights wrongs on behalf of the have-nots whilst avoiding the noose. Until an advertisement catches her eye. Her aunt has died and the new master at Highgate House, Mr Thornfield, seeks a governess. Anxious to know if she is Highgate's true heir, Jane takes the position and is soon caught up in the household's strange spell. When she falls in love with the mysterious Charles Thornfield, she faces a terrible dilemma: can she possess him - body, soul and secrets - and what if he discovers her murderous past?

So OBVIOUSLY I was excited when I saw the summary for Jane Steele because HELLO, I have so much love for Jane Eyre and to have this be inspired by it, but with a murderous Jane, I just could not resist!

And I'm so glad I picked this up, because it was SO GOOD! I mean, wow, I was a bit anxious when I started it because of said love for Jane Eyre, and the fact that I was wondering whether or not I would be able to connect to a character who murdered people, but I ended up very much loving Jane Steele as a character and I'm really glad that it wasn't just mindless killing but I could understand why she did what she did. And in some cases I definitely cheared her on because holy wow, EVIL people!

Jane definitely has a hard life, it starts with a less than ideal childhood, a complicated family situation and then boarding school, which as in Jane Eyre, is just not run by nice people. I cannot even begin to imagine how you can get out of something like that and still have a shred of humanity left in you, but Jane managed. And in the hardships she makes a friend, but then they flee together and things go South again after that. Which is how she finally ends up at Highgate again and the real fun can begin because YES I SHIPPED IT!

I mean, I love Jane for her strength and her loyalty and that she's willing to just do anything for the people she loves and has a strong sense of what is right. And when she met Mr. Thornfield, Sardar Singh and Sahjara, I was just happy that she was finally with people who appreciated her, and Sahjara is an adorable little girl who has been through a lot, it made my heart happy to see her and Jane interact.
But now let's talk about Mr. Thornfield: I totally adore this man. He has this amazing big heart and sees all the good in Jane and her flaws and just takes it all. I loved his sardonic humour and the way he is with Sahjara, because you can just feel his love for the people at Highgate shining through in the thing she says. I loved that he and Jane both have dark things in their past, but together they find a way to deal with them. Basically, they were just better together and I totally shipped it and wanted to yell JUST KISS ALREADY and had tears in my eyes and just ALL the feelings.

So yes, I'd definitely recommend you read Jane Steele. I love the voice that Lyndsay Faye gives Jane and the whole mystery surrounding Highgate and Mr. Thornfield. And I had lots of feelings over the romance and the ending totally made me smile because what Jane describes must be the best feeling ever!

My rating: 5 stars

Jamie Reviews The Crown's Game + A Fabulous Giveaway

 I'm so happy to be sharing my thoughts on The Crown's Game on a tour stop for this book! I highly, highly recommend you check out some of the super creative posts on this tour!



Whew boy. You guys...I would be lying if I said that I LITERALLY read this all in one gulp but I *FEEL* like I did. This book is so addictive for many reasons and I feel like I'm still a little verklempt upon finishing. And by a little I mean A LOT.  I will try to get my bearings in 3....2....1...
 

Okay, so what it's about in a sentence?

 

Set in an alternate Imperial Russia, it follows Vika and Nikolai, two teens who have to compete against each other using their magic to impress the Tsar to become the The Royal Enchanter who will advise the Tsar and help keep Russia safe from an impending uprising/war -- but there can only be one and the one not victorious will die.

A short list of things you need to know about The Crown's Game

 

- historical fantasy set in alternate Imperial Russia
- a "last man standing" competition in two teens are forced to duel it out with their magical skills
- Their magic can legit do some of the coolest things I've ever seen in YA fantasy -- and like sometimes frivolous and beautiful rather than fierce and mighty (even though they CAN totally do that kind of stuff) and it's great?
- OMG THE FOOD DESCRIPTIONS -- be sure to have food handy or you might perish.
- a sort of cat and mouse game ensues between the two in the competition that is the most delightful dance to watch as they try to outdo one another but also maybe kill the other in the process to ensure their own victory? BUT ALSO MAYBE KINDA GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER WHICH COMPLICATES THINGS. AND MAKES YOU WANT TO CRAWL IN A HOLE AS THE READER.

What stood out to me?

1. The setting -- an alternate Imperial Russia: I looove historical fantasy and I love alternate history so adding a setting like Imperial Russia into the mix? I almost launched my panties in the air like the true history geek I am. And, boy, did Evelyn Skye deliver on the setting. It was richly and vividly written so I felt like I was dropped in the middle of St. Petersburg or Ovchinin Island or the ballroom of the Royal Palace or anywhere the Dream Benches took you. It was in the little details that Skye just wove together to make every change of setting in this book to feel like it was before your eyes. It was utterly impressive and I have to say I really enjoyed the way she played with the history of this time and the things she added or subtracted from history to make it this great alternate world.

2.  The magic: I loved that it was set in a world where magic was rare and that Vika and Nikolai were the only two enchanters in the same generation which doesn't happen a lot. I don't want to reveal a whole lot about the kinds of things that Vika and Nikolai can do but their magic was very different from one another yet both ridiculously powerful and awe-inspiring. I also enjoyed that it was set in a world where the majority of the people don't believe that magic actually exists. Plus the magic is ancient and rooted in Russia itself but there's only so much magic to go around hence only ONE Royal Enchanter. I just really had a lot of fun seeing all the things they could do. I felt like their magic was refreshing from all that I've read.

3. The way the Crown's Game works: The way they compete is that they each have 5 turns to outdo the other and impress the tsar with their magical skill. So one would perform an enchantment and then the next would have to answer to it...it could be hours or days in between. The stakes are death, in the end, but also if they don't perform fast enough they can die. The setup was so fun for how it worked and it became this beautiful sort of dance they did as they each performed their enhancement to outdo the other but also it becomes more personal conversation between the two of them each time they do yet another. I just loved watching them duel back and forth in the way that they did.

4. The relationship between Vika and Nikolai: Oh, you guys. It reminded me so much of The Hunger Games in a way and not in that it was a copycat, not at all, but that FEELING you get between two people who are up against each other and knowing they care about one another but will be responsible for the others demise. I felt their reluctance to even know who the other was because it would be easier to kill the other or basically sentence them to death when they were crowned victor. But the allure you could feel between these two people who are the only of their kind. It was so bittersweet for them to even get to know each other through their conversations but also between their back and forth enchantments for each other for The Crown's Game -- because you KNOW one of them is going to die. The whole time you are reading you are just HOPING there is a way around this clause.

My Last Thought: 

Reading this book felt very much like a dance in it of itself -- you start out with this slow and deliberate waltz around as they find their bearings in the Crown's Game, then the tempo picks up as the stakes get higher and by the end of the book I found myself whirling and twirling around as the tempo is almost impossible to keep up with until the final dizzying pages that just had me falling to the ground in a frenzy of exhaustion and emotions. It was so exhilarating and I thoroughly enjoyed it. To be honest, it kind of exceeded my expectations for it.  I NEED BOOK 2 THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

My Rating:

4.5 stars!! I really loved this one

Official Synopsis If My Bare Bones One Wasn't Enough: 

Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the Tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.

And so he initiates the Crown’s Game, an ancient duel of magical skill—the greatest test an enchanter will ever know. The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the Tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.

Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?

For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip smart, imaginative—and he can’t stop thinking about her.

And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love . . . or be killed himself.

As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear . . . the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.

Book Details:

Hardcover, 416 pages

Expected publication: May 17th 2016 by Balzer + Bray

About The Author & Where To Find Her On The Interwebs:

Evelyn Skye was once offered a job by the C.I.A., she not-so-secretly wishes she was on "So You Think You Can Dance," and if you challenge her to a pizza-eating contest, she guarantees she will win. When she isn't writing, Evelyn can be found chasing her daughter on the playground or sitting on the couch, immersed in a good book and eating way too many cookies. THE CROWN'S GAME is her first novel. Evelyn can be found online at www.evelynskye.com and on Twitter @EvelynSkyeYA.

Author Links: Twitter | Goodreads | Tumblr | Instagram | Facebook

Pre-order links and info: http://www.evelynskye.com/pre-order/

Check out the rest of the tour:

Monday, February 29: Bookish Lifestyle - Review + Pinterest Boards
Tuesday, March 1: One Less Lonely Blog - Review
Wednesday, March 2: It Starts at Midnight - Review
Thursday, March 3: Stories & Sweeties - Review + Russian Tea Cake Recipe
Friday, March 4: The YA Book Traveler - Review + Dreamcast & Book Trailer
Saturday, March 5: Pandora's Books - Review
Sunday, March 6: Seeing Double in Neverland - Review
Monday, March 7: Out Of Time - Review + Song
Tuesday, March 8: Book Nerd Addict - Review + Favorite Quotes
Wednesday, March 9: Paper Fury - Review + Reasons to Read This Book!
Thursday, March 10: A Reader Under The Sea - Review
Friday, March 11: The Broke and the Bookish - Review

 

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

One lucky winner will get an arc of The Crown's Game to devour for themselves plus the most gorgeous tote bag.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Daisy's Review of The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May

Title/Author: The Vanishing Throne (The Falconer #2) by Elizabeth May
Publisher/Date published: Gollancz, November 19th 2015
How I got this book: received it from the publisher as an egalley, thanks!

Goodreads summary: My name is Lady Aileana Kameron.

First the fae murdered my mother. Then they destroyed my world.

Now I’m fighting for more than revenge.

Aileana took a stand against the Wild Hunt, and she lost everything: her home, her family and her friends. Held captive by her enemy, and tormenting herself over her failure, escape seems like only the faintest possibility. But when she gets her chance, she seizes it... to rejoin a world devastated by war.

The future is bleak. Hunted by the fae, running for her life, Aileana has only a few options left. Trying to become part of a society scarred by – and hiding from – the Wild Hunt; trusting that a fragile alliance with the fae will save her; or walking the most dangerous path at all: coming in to her own powers as the last of the Falconers...

***SPOILER FREE FOR THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES***

So I totally adored The Falconer, the first book in the series. If you haven't read it, you really should be doing that instead of reading this post. You can also see some of my fangirling over it here. But really, just go on and read it and then we'll talk some more about this sequel.

For some reason fae books and I don't normally seem to click, which is a shame, cause in theory I should love them. But Elizabeth May makes it work for me! I feel like this series doesn't get nearly enough attention and A Court of Thorns and Roses (though admittely amazing) steals all the spotlight, I think that if you like ACOTAR, you will also really like The Falconer and The Vanishing Throne, but I might be biased as they're basically the only fae books I've liked so far.

I was totally going GAAAAAAAH at the ending of The Falconer, because OMG CLIFFHANGER!! And then I had to wait for what felt like FOREVER for The Vanishing Throne, but you guys, the wait it totally worth it! I loved that Aileana is still her amazing ass-kicking self, but with a little extra something because of everything she's experienced. I love seeing how the relationships shift and how we meet new characters like Kiaran's sister, who fast became of my favourites, along with Derrick, who is still adorable while also being more than a little dangerous.

I also really liked tat Elizabeth May gave us more of the backstory of all the major players and how the Falconers came into being and while I did kinda see what happened at the end coming, I'm SO intrigued to find out how Elizabeth May will make this work in the third book! And also: I totally can't wait to read it because these characters are part of my heart and I think I loved The Vanishing Throne even more than I did The Falconer. This is one of those novels that absolutely did NOT suffer from second book syndrome, like so often happens in a series (and which never fails to annoy me).

And also, this quote:
"Your scars aren't flaws, Galloway. They're not imperfections. They're stories written on your skin."

LOVE.

Mostly, what I'm trying to say is: if you like your fantasy filled with fae (and even if that's not usually your thing), a kickass heroine, a ship that is very much worth shipping, BANTER, lots of characters to love, worldbuilding that is beautiful mixed with a historical setting, you definitely need to pick up this series!

My rating: 5 stars

Jamie Talks About The Last 3 Books She Read

Hey all! September was an awful reading month for me as I've mentioned on here earlier in the month (great month otherwise!). I only read 2 books and, while that's great compared to probably the rest of the world, it's so bizarre to have read so few books for me. But October is here and I've already read one book so hopefully I'll get back into the swing of reading!

Let's talk about the last 3 books I did read though!

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman: 

This was such an adventurous romp through the Wild West! Definitely digging the Western setting -- gold mining, shootouts, lots of horse riding, gangs, etc. I enjoyed this book but it didn't quite make me LOVE it because I just didn't feel much for the characters. The main character is someone I felt badly for -- she lost her mother early on in life and now her dad just got murdered by a notoriously awful gang and she is driven by revenge to go find them and settle the score. But the problem was I didn't feel like she ever became more to me than a girl who was hellbent on exacting revenge. You see hints of other aspects of her character but I never felt anything except this revenge. There were some surprises in this book and I thought as far as the action and adventure went it was compelling but it was lacking in the character department for me.
I received this book for review consideration and this did not affect my opinion in any way.

Rating -- 3/5 stars

 

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr: 

 This book was soooo hyped so I added myself to the library request list and waited until like literally 500 other people read it before me. FINALLY I received it! And guess what? It was JUST AS GOOD AS EVERYONE SAID. I loved it so much! I'm always a sucker for a WWII setting (probably one of my favorite settings for historical fiction) and I loved both POVs so much. I love the way it flipped timeframes and how that allowed their stories to unravel as we awaited how their path's would cross. COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. Worthy of the praise!

Rating -- 4.5/5 stars

 

 

 

The Status of All Things by Liz Fenton & Liz Steinke: 

This was a quick and enjoyable read! It's about a woman whose marriage-to-be has fallen apart and she gets the chance to go back and change things. It had a supernatural sort of method like Landline by Rainbow Rowell for how she gets to go back and change things to make it better between she and her fiance though I found Landline to be more impactful and thoughtful for me. I also really enjoyed the conversation about social media and how it can be good but also how it can be deceiving. 

Rating -- 3/5 stars

 

 

Have you read any of these books? Thoughts? Tell me the last 3 books YOU read!!

 

 

Kimberly's review of "The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line (Veronica Mars!)

Book: Thousand-Dollar Tan Line

Author: Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham

Why I read it: As a Marshmallow I couldn't resist!

Rating: 5 stars

 

“Ten years after graduating from high school in Neptune, California, Veronica Mars is back in the land of sun, sand, crime, and corruption. She's traded in her law degree for her old private investigating license, struggling to keep Mars Investigations afloat on the scant cash earned by catching cheating spouses until she can score her first big case.

Now it's spring break, and college students descend on Neptune, transforming the beaches and boardwalks into a frenzied, week-long rave. When a girl disappears from a party, Veronica is called in to investigate. But this is not a simple missing person's case. The house the girl vanished from belongs to a man with serious criminal ties, and soon Veronica is plunged into a dangerous underworld of drugs and organized crime. And when a major break in the investigation has a shocking connection to Veronica's past, the case hits closer to home than she ever imagined.”

As a proud Marshmallow, I eagerly downloaded the audio book for this, especially after I learned that it was narrated by VMars herself, Kristen Bell.

It was everything I could have hoped for! (Well, minus ONE thing. I could have used a bit more of a certain character… ;) ) It has the sass, the mystery, the genius, the laughter and tension of the TV series and movie. It was so fun to be back with these characters! Every time a familiar character entered the scene it was like a reunion for me. Old favorites back together again. All of the references and inside jokes! It kept me on my toes and challenged my Veronica Mars trivia! I was weirdly pleased every time I made the connection and remembered the right facts and details.

The mystery itself kept me guessing throughout the story. I’d start to suspect someone, then change my mind. Then I’d start wavering again. The “who done it” was pretty surprising, and I was so pleased that I was actually surprised, that doesn’t happen all that often! I did guess a few of the twists.

Overall, it was a great story. Made even better by Kristen Bell’s narration. If you haven’t watched the series, you’d probably be very very lost. I also recommend the audio over print. I’ve been told that the style of writing is a bit too script-like, which makes for a great audio book.

5 stars! 

Now... Where are my fellow Marshmallows???  

Daisy Reviews Rebel Mechanics by Shanna Swendson

Title/Author: Rebel Mechanics (Rebel Mechanics #1) by Shanna Swendson
Publisher/Date published: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, July 14th 2015
How I got this book: received it from the publisher through NetGalley

Goodreads summary: "It’s 1888, and sixteen-year-old Verity Newton lands a job in New York as a governess to a wealthy leading family — but she quickly learns that the family has big secrets. Magisters have always ruled the colonies, but now an underground society of mechanics and engineers are developing non-magical sources of power via steam engines that they hope will help them gain freedom from British rule. The family Verity works for is magister — but it seems like the children's young guardian uncle is sympathetic to the rebel cause. As Verity falls for a charming rebel inventor and agrees to become a spy, she also becomes more and more enmeshed in the magister family’s life. She soon realizes she’s uniquely positioned to advance the cause — but to do so, she’ll have to reveal her own dangerous secret."

So I haven't really gotten into the steampunk genre all that much, mostly just because the ones I did read didn't really work for me all that much. BUT I'd read the Enchanted Inc. series by Shanna Swendson and really enjoyed her writing, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to give steampunk another try.

And guys, it was a good life decision! I love the combination of this alternate history US and the steampunk! I mean, what if the US never became independant because the magical British overlords remained in power? That is a question I had NEVER asked myself before, but it's really interesting to think and read about and I love that Shanna Swendson did come up with this question.

I really liked Verity, she's intelligent and while she isn't all that enthusiastic about getting involved with the Rebel Mechanics at first (it's a scary thing when you could lose your job and all the security you have through that), she does believe in the cause and I liked seeing how she slowly works out how she feels about all of it, complicated by the feelings she has for the people involved in it.
So I'm just gonna come out and say that there's a bit of a love triangle in Rebel Mechanics, and it didn't bother me in the slightest. I already knew that I enjoy Shanna Swendson's way of writing a romance and she really does it very well in Rebel Mechanics as well. Mostly I felt that while Verity develops feelings for two men, it never felt like the love triangles in paranormal romance that have irked me so in the past. There's a natural flow of things and no insta-love, but there is attraction that feels real. Also, I have a big preference for one of the guys, but that's just because I love gentleman pirates/Robin Hood type of characters and he's AWESOME.

As a bonus to this gentleman pirate, there are also the children that Verity is a governess to, and I just adore the little girl and the boy was great too in all his boyness. The eldest girl was a bit ditzy and elitist and I do appreciate her as a character, but she's not much my type of person.

Mostly, I just really enjoyed the worldbuilding and the characters and it's a high stakes kinda plot that I liked. I could definitely sympathize with Verity in the things she does and the restrictions society puts on her and how she is an awesome lady spy. So yeah, I'm very much recommending Rebel Mechanics and looking forward to the sequel!

My rating: 4,5 stars

Jana Reviews OwlCrate's YA Subscription Box

Thanks so much to OwlCrate for giving me a free box to review on the blog! I so appreciate being given the opportunity to receive one, as I cannot afford it on my own at this time. I've had my eye on OwlCrate's fun bookish subscription boxes for quite some time now, so I was really excited when I was offered the opportunity to receive one for review last month (Receiving a free box, however, did not sway my opinion in one direction or the other. My thoughts are my own!)! Who doesn't love bookish mail? OwlCrate focuses on YA books (or sometimes an adult book that is appealing to YA readers), and each box is centered around a theme. Each month subscribers receive one newly released hardback YA book, along with some extra goodies that relate to the theme of the book. I love this use of themes, and think it's a really cool idea.

These boxes run at $29.99 + $6.99 shipping per month (shipping to Canada is $10.59 and anywhere else is $19.99), but selecting 3 or 6-month subscriptions save you some money.

June's theme was: Diversity

I really love the OwlCrate box! It was like a little treasure box sitting on my porch when I arrived home the other day. The logo is crisp and detailed, and I love the little owl footprints on the side of the box. I was immediately impressed before I even opened the box. I trust companies that care about making the little things, like packaging, professional and an extension of their service. 

This is what I saw upon opening the box. I like their sense of humor, and their owl puns. Puns just make me happy. I'll admit that I was slightly disappointed with the theme, just because I was hoping for cultural diversity. LGBTQ books are very popular and are generating a lot of buzz right now, so I was hoping to be introduced a to book with culturally diverse elements, which I have a harder time finding. This is just a personal preference, though, and since June is Gay Pride month the theme totally makes sense. I bypassed the postcard because I did not want my presents spoiled! I'll show it at the end, as it highlights each item in the box. Nice touch. Anyway, here's what I got!

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera was packaged in a clear plastic bag with an exclusive poster and temporary tattoo. This book has gotten amazing reviews! As the host of the Debut Author Challenge on my personal blog, I was also happy to discover they were pushing one of this year's debut YA novelists! Adam is a really nice guy.

Shwings claim to "Make old shoes new. Make new shoes fly." I can't imagine myself wearing these as an adult, but perhaps kids or teens would like them!

These cute "Read More Diverse Books" earrings were custom designed by Snark Factory exclusively for OwlCrate, which I thought was pretty cool! I'm a huge supporter of diversity in books, so I can totally see myself sporting these at the library or bookish events especially.

OwlCrate a little pricey for me, so I won't be subscribing at this point. Also, if you're not into the theme of the month, you're kind of out of luck. It would be kind of cool if they had two monthly themes that you could choose from, but I bet that would up the price of the box. It's also a bit of a gamble, especially if you're a YA book reviewer who receives many of the new releases from publishers, because you never know if you're going to get a book you already own. In this case, I had already been offered a copy of More Happy Than Not from the publisher. I will most likely be giving my copy away either to the library or to a friend who might enjoy it.

Concerns and personal preferences aside, I think OwlCrate is a great subscription service! I love the mystery and the anticipation of receiving a box and tearing into it to see what I got. Surprises make life so much fun. I love the details on the packaging, the themed box idea is so much fun, and I can tell that the creators of OwlCrate really care and have fun putting together boxes they think people will like. The entire service feels very personal, and I think it's so nice that this couple is so interested in spreading their love of books. I'd definitely recommend it to YA lovers and fans of bookish do-dads, especially if you're not as current on new releases or are looking to expand your reading comfort zone.

Daisy Does an Early Spotlight on The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon

Title/Author: The Mime Order (The Bone Season #2) by Samantha Shannon
Publisher/Date published: Bloomsbury, January 27th 2015
How I got this book: borrowed it from my friend Debby, as she was lucky enough to get an ARC!

Goodreads summary: Paige Mahoney has escaped the brutal penal colony of Sheol I, but her problems have only just begun: many of the fugitives are still missing and she is the most wanted person in London.

As Scion turns its all-seeing eye on Paige, the mime-lords and mime-queens of the city’s gangs are invited to a rare meeting of the Unnatural Assembly. Jaxon Hall and his Seven Seals prepare to take center stage, but there are bitter fault lines running through the clairvoyant community and dark secrets around every corner.

Then the Rephaim begin crawling out from the shadows. But where is Warden? Paige must keep moving, from Seven Dials to Grub Street to the secret catacombs of Camden, until the fate of the underworld can be decided. Will Paige know who to trust? The hunt for the dreamwalker is on.

Ok, first off: have you read The Bone Season? If not, why not? Cause you should. You should probably stop what you're doing right now, including reading this post and go read it. Just go. Go and be blown away by the awesomeness of Samantha Shannon's writing.

So now that we've got that established. Let's move onto me telling you exactly why you should be hovering around your mailbox on January 27th or stalking your bookstore or whatever method you decide on to get your hands on The Mime Order:

-While The Bone Season had a whole lot of info-dump in it (which I was ok with, because hello amazing worldbuilding!), The Mime Order doesn't and it just builds and expands on this knowledge we've gathered in The Bone Season and it was AWESOME. I love re-immersing myself in this world and the characters and just gloriously revelling in Samantha Shannon's beautiful words.

-Paige grows and grows as a character and she's just this strong, badass person who isn't afraid to make hard choices and fights for what she believes in and actually has a LOT of common sense and just, I love her ok?

-WARDEN! I can go all caps on him because he's AMAZING and just LOVE! We read The Bone Season with our book club and all three of us who were there to discuss the book just went *sigh* after someone mentioned him. He's very swoonworthy and he becomes even more so in The Mime Order. Also, the chemistry he and Paige have is just wow. It is SO good.

-THAT ENDING!!! Basically I have ALL THE FEELS and I had some serious book hangover after finishing this and even though I slightly saw it coming I was still like WHATTTT??

So go forth and covet this book. I'm DYING for the next one!

My rating: 5 stars

Daisy's Review of Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Title/Author: Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Publisher/Date published: Dutton, August 14th 2014
How I got this book: bought a shiny hardcover

Goodreads summary: Love ignites in the City That Never Sleeps, but can it last?

Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart.

So we read Isla for Book Club October and it was AMAZING! 3 of us loved it and our fourth member not so much, she actually DNF-ed it, but we still gushed about it over dinner (sorry Mel!). It was probably one of the most anticipated books of 2014 and it was very much worth the wait!

Let me start off by saying that I'm a huge fan of Stephanie Perkins' writing. She manages to pull me into the story and it just flows and I wanted to keep reading and had me laughing and going NOOOOOO!!! and just made me FEEL everything. It was awesome.

I liked Isla, she and Josh made sense together and the way their relationship developed felt real. And then they were blissfully happy and I was like: we have over half of the book left, this has to go wrong somehow right?? And it did. And it was painful and I wanted to shake Isla and tell her to stop sabotaging her relationship and just OMG I could just SEE it go down like that and it was awful.
But the book isn't called Isla and the Happily Ever After to mess with you, it's really a happy ending and I adored it. It was sweet and just fit Isla and Josh's personality and their bond and it made me swoon and just all the happy sighs.

I really liked the way sex was handled in this book. It was realistic and even though it's obviously a big deal, it wasn't overly so. Am I making sense? It was just a natural part of their relationship and also: I can now never look at bunnies the same way again (you'll know what I mean if you've read the book), so thanks for that.

I also loved the return of Anna, Etienne, Cricket and Lola, I so love those characters, especially Etienne with his 'Anna and I are headed out for a celebratory dessert. I'd ask you all to join us, but I don't want you there', AWESOME. If Anna one day decides she doesn't want him anymore, I volunteer to soothe his broken heart!

I could probably go on and on about all the things I loved about Isla and the Happily Ever After, especially after re-reading some of the quotes (which are all AMAZING), but I'm just going to say this: READ THIS BOOK. And Anna and the French Kiss (which is still my favourite of the 3 and now I'm dying to re-read it) and Lola and the Boy Next Door and let them make your heart happy, like they did mine.

My rating: 5 stars

Lori Reviews Make Your Own Rules Diet

Title:  Make Your Own Rules Diet

Author:  Tara Stiles

Publication Information:  November 11th 2014 by Hay House, Inc.

How I Got a Copy of This Book:  I was sent an abridged ebook version for review purposes...but I am totally preordering a copy!



Goodreads Synopsis:  In Make Your Own Rules Diet, Tara Stiles introduces readers to easy and fun ways to bring yoga, meditation, and healthy food into their lives.  As the designer and face of Reebok’s first yoga lifestyle line, author of Yoga Cures and Slim, Calm, Sexy Yoga, and the founder of Strala—the movement-based system that ignites freedom, known for its laid-back and unpretentious vibe—Tara has long been a proponent of creating a tension-free healthy life by tapping into the unique needs of her clients.  In this new book, she teaches readers how to apply this inward-looking philosophy to themselves.  When people understand what they need for true well-being, they can make their own rules—rules that will help them become their best selves.  In her rulebook, it’s no pain, much gain.  In fact, Tara stresses the importance of practicing with ease—leaving the discomfort and tension behind—because what you practice is what you manifest.  Readers will not only learn to create their own rules but also to understand when something isn’t working anymore, so they can update their rules as circumstances change.  Her approach takes readers from the kitchen, to the mat, to the cushion, in an effort to help them get to know themselves.  After leading them through some basic guidelines about how to write their rulebooks, Tara lays out tips, techniques, and practices, including:        

• A step-by-step goal setting process so readers can figure out where they want to focus
• Six yoga routines specifically designed to up energy levels, curb cravings, drop pounds, and enhance peace
• Eight breathing and meditation practices to soothe the soul
• 50 simple, delicious, plant-based recipes that can be made in minutes
• A 7-day kick-start program and a 30-day transformation plan to launch readers on their healthy, happy, radiant path

So join Tara today as she opens readers’ eyes to a new way of living well that anyone can do—no matter where they are now.


My Thoughts:  I have been excited about this book since I first saw it announced earlier this spring or summer.  I own a copy of Stiles's other book Slims, Calm, Sexy Yoga and really like its laid-back approach to yoga.  From what I can tell, this approach carries over not only to the yoga routines in this book, but also the meditation techniques and the recipes she provides as well.

I love that Stiles encourages readers to be true to themselves, constantly reminding them that what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another.  We are all different.  The only way to be successful at life and weightloss is to be true to yourself or you will wind up doing more harm than good.  She encourages a self-loving approach that cuts out all of the guilt and stress that come with many other diet plans.  Actually, this isn't even really a diet plan, though she does provide a couple of templates at the end of the book to show you how to make it into a plan.

The book has three main components that Stiles believes are necessary to create a healthier person, who will lose weight as a result of these lifestyle changes--yoga, meditation, and healthy food.

So, the yoga.  Stiles includes several shorter routines to incorporate into your day.  I like that there are shorter routines.  For me this is doable.  My job requires me to be at work at 6am three days a week, so I don't have a huge amount of time before going in, but I could totally squeeze in ten minutes first thing to get my day going right.  When I come home from work I am totally ready to collapse, but I could easily squeeze in an afternoon routine.  Then before bed, I can do the Easygoing Winding Down the Evening Flow routine before collapsing into bed.  On my days off or when I go into work later, I can easily do loner routines.  Stiles provides a thorough explanation and picture of each pose in the routine so you know what you need to do and how you should breathe in or transition into the pose.  This makes the yoga accessible to beginners.

The meditation...I have never done much meditation.  So I am really excited about learning more about it with the full book.  The plans Stiles creates for readers have both a morning and an evening meditation.  The explanations that I saw encouraged readers to be comfortable.  Maybe you sit on the floor.  But maybe you'd rather sit in a cushy chair.  It's up to you.  I love that.  Comfort is key otherwise you totally won't want to do it.

As for the food, I am really excited to try many of the recipes.  Stiles encourages a plant-based diet, which is totally not me.  Plus, based on my living situation, it's not realistic for me to follow the eating plan she proposes at the end of the book.  But I can definitely make some of these recipes regularly.  Just for me at lunch or for me and my dad at supper (my mom is way too picky of an eater to try any of these).

I am really excited to try out the ideas introduced in this book and to adapt them to what works for my life.  And I would highly recommend checking out the book when it is published.

In the meantime, you can go to this website for more information, including a book trailer and information about a giveaway.

Namaste.

Jamie Reviews Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White

Title:  Illusions of Fate
Author:  Kiersten White
Publication Information: HarperTeen - September 2014
How I Got This Book:  Sent for review consideration.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Summary: Jessamin has been an outcast since she moved from her island home of Melei to the dreary country of Albion. Everything changes when she meets Finn, a gorgeous, enigmatic young lord who introduces her to the secret world of Albion’s nobility, a world that has everything Jessamin doesn’t—power, money, status…and magic. But Finn has secrets of his own, dangerous secrets that the vicious Lord Downpike will do anything to possess. Unless Jessamin, armed only with her wits and her determination, can stop him.




I'm so series weary but it breaks my heart that this book is a standalone to be honest. There is SO much that can be explored..I know it. The world was sparsely built but it worked and I think there could be SO much to explore within it and the magic introduced. It's a fantasy world but it feels a lot like London to me. I loved the magic element placed in a normal world and how it was only people with royal bloodlines that had access to it. I think that's something that could be explored even further. YES THIS IS ME BEGGING FOR ANOTHER BOOK. (I promise it's such a complete book but you are going to want more!).

The characters are AWESOME. Jessamin -- she's so badass. She's overcome a lot and she's currently living far away from home, is judged by the color of her skin and is trying so hard to excel in school. She refuses to let anything get in her way. I instantly rooted for her. And then there's Finn. Their path's cross and I enjoyed every moment of it. The BANTER. THE ROMANCE. It went instantly to my swoon-swoon-swoon shelf on Goodreads.  And then honestly? MY FAVORITE CHARACTER. Eleanor. So underestimated but she's a force to be reckoned with. 

The plot went full speed ahead and surprised me at times! I loved watching them try to work together to take down the baddie! 

If you like fantasy and are looking for a standalone (trust me you are going to be wishing you could have more), CHECK THIS OUT. It's soooo underrated and didn't get nearly enough attention -- plus it contains a good romance and the banter is plentiful!

Have you read this one? What did YOU think? Also, tell me any other fantasy standalones!

 

Kimberly Reviews the Fated Sky

Title: The Fated Sky

Author: Henrietta Branford

Why I Read It: Book Club Book

Rating: 1 Star

When her father and brothers are killed in battle, Ran, a young Viking woman, has no one to protect her. And as she travels with her unloving mother and a cruel stranger to take part in a winter sacrifice, Ran's safety and future are uncertain. Now sixteen-year-old Ran must learn to fend for herself -- and discover that she has the ability to control her own destiny. Henrietta Branford, Guardian award-winning author of Fire, Bed, and Bone, brilliantly recreates the mysticism and the harsh realities of the Viking world in this tale of strength, romance, and thwarted fates.

So... Apparently this style of book is NOT for me.

When we chose this book for July's read, I was interested. Vikings! That will be cool, right? I always enjoy a good historical romance too.

It was not what I expected at ALL.

I think the author was trying for a particular style... I really don't know. All I know is that I did not care for any of the characters in the slightest. Each death was just words on the page. I felt no emotional connection whatsoever to the story or the characters. I think that the author was trying to reflect a harsh world and the way people living in that time would have reacted. I think. As it is, they felt far too passive aggressive.

We're meeting today to discuss the book, I'm interested to hear what the others thought of it.

Unfortunately, this was not an enjoyable read. But you might like it! There are several 5 star reviews on goodreads.  (There are also a lot of 1 star ratings). Some readers even think it was very historically accurate. (I'm not too sure about that...)

Share some of your favorite historical fiction novels in the comments!