Announcing the #ADSOMreadalong!

Hi guys! Today I'm here to announce some very exciting news about V.E. Schwab's A Darker Shade of Magic! In celebration of the paperback release of ADSOM and in anticipation for the release of its sequel, A Gathering of Shadows, there will be a readalong!!!!!!!

 

Now if you don't know what A Darker Shade of Magic is about, I have included the synopsis for you below. And if you need some convincing (which I'm positive you don't) I'll just leave my gushy fangirly review right here.

A Darker Shade of Magic
(A Darker Shade of Magic #1)

by V.E. Schwab

February 24, 2015

400 pages

Goodreads  Indigo  Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit.

Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London - but no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her 'proper adventure'.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive — trickier than they hoped.


The readalong will come in the form of a weekly Twitter chat. Below is the reading schedule :) Andddd the author, V.E. Schwab will be joining us! *cue fangirly freakout*

The Schedule

TODAYish Monday Feb. 1st

#ADSOMreadalong Intro Chat at 9pm EST.

Come introduce yourself and we'll talk about all things ADSOM!

Please read Parts 1-5 so we can discuss next week.

Monday Feb. 8th

First #ADSOMreadalong at 9pm EST.

We'll be discussing Parts 1-5.

 

Monday Feb. 15th

Second #ADSOMreadalong at 9pm EST.

Parts 6-10 will be discussed.

 

Monday Feb. 22nd

Final #ADSOMreadalong at 9pm EST.

Let's discuss the final chapters and talk about theories and hopes for AGOS!

There is also a Goodreads group if you'd like to chat more! If you missed a chat, don't fret. Recaps and such will be posted in this group :D

Also also, if you're super eager, click on the title to learn about the sequel A Gathering Of Shadows. (But don't go reading it unless you've read ADSOM because there are spoilers!). Doesn't the cover just look super badass?!!

So join us using the hasshtag #ADSOMreadalong on Twitter! This is one epic adventure you don't want to miss out on!

Stacking the Shelves #81

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that lets us share what we've added to our shelves.

I have had my eyes on this book since forever so when the hardcover went on sale, I jumped on it LOL.

 

The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Thank you S&S Cdn for this review copy!

Daughters of Ruin by K.D. Castner

 

What did you guys add to your shelves this week?

Blog Tour - Review & Giveaway: The Girl Who Fell by Shannon M. Parker

The Girl Who Fell

by Shannon M. Parker

March 1, 2016

320 pages

Goodreads  Indigo  Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

His obsession.
Her fall.

In this dark kissing book, high school senior Zephyr Doyle is swept off her feet—and into an intense relationship—by the new boy in school.

Zephyr is focused. Focused on leading her team to the field hockey state championship and leaving her small town for her dream school, Boston College.

But love has a way of changing things.

Enter the new boy in school: the hockey team’s starting goaltender, Alec. He’s cute, charming, and most important, Alec doesn’t judge Zephyr. He understands her fears and insecurities—he even shares them. Soon, their relationship becomes something bigger than Zephyr, something she can’t control, something she doesn’t want to control.

Zephyr swears it must be love. Because love is powerful, and overwhelming, and…terrifying?

But love shouldn’t make you abandon your dreams, or push your friends away. And love shouldn’t make you feel guilty—or worse, ashamed.

So when Zephyr finally begins to see Alec for who he really is, she knows it’s time to take back control of her life.

If she waits any longer, it may be too late.

WoW #82: No Love Allowed by Kate Evangelista

 

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted every week by Breaking the Spine which lets us showcase an upcoming release we are excited about! 

No Love Allowed

by Kate Evangelista 

April 19, 2016

256 pages
 

Goodreads  Indigo
 

Goodreads Summary:

Caleb desperately needs a new fake girlfriend. Either he attends a series of parties with a pretty girl on his arm to schmooze for his father’s law firm, or he gets shipped off to Yale to start a future he’s not ready for and isn’t sure he wants. And sadly the last unattached girl in his social circle has just made the grievous mistake of falling in love with him. Fortunately, Didi, the waitress at the Country Club — who just lost her job due to Caleb’s too-public breakup — is open to new experiences (and art supplies are expensive!). It’s the perfect setup for them both. Caleb has only one rule for the arrangement: Didi mustn’t fall in love with him.
 

I read an excerpt of this one and it's super good! Can't wait to read the whole thing :D

 

What are you guys waiting on this week?

Review: The Year We Fell Apart by Emily Martin

They Year We Fell Apart

by Emily Martin

January 26, 2016

320 pages
 

Goodreads  Indigo
 

Goodreads Summary:

In the tradition of Sarah Dessen, this powerful debut novel is a compelling portrait of a young girl coping with her mother’s cancer as she figures out how to learn from—and fix—her past.

Few things come as naturally to Harper as epic mistakes. In the past year she was kicked off the swim team, earned a reputation as Carson High’s easiest hook-up, and officially became the black sheep of her family. But her worst mistake was destroying her relationship with her best friend, Declan.

Now, after two semesters of silence, Declan is home from boarding school for the summer. Everything about him is different—he’s taller, stronger…more handsome. Harper has changed, too, especially in the wake of her mom’s cancer diagnosis.

While Declan wants nothing to do with Harper, he’s still Declan, her Declan, and the only person she wants to talk to about what’s really going on. But he’s also the one person she’s lost the right to seek comfort from.

As their mutual friends and shared histories draw them together again, Harper and Declan must decide which parts of their past are still salvageable, and which parts they’ll have to let go of once and for all.

In this honest and affecting tale of friendship and first love, Emily Martin brings to vivid life the trials and struggles of high school and the ability to learn from past mistakes over the course of one steamy North Carolina summer.

Stacking the Shelves #80

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that lets us share what we've added to our shelves.

 

The rest of my holiday haul! Obviously I need these books in my life!

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

 

Biggest thank you to S&S Cdn for this review copy. Ripple's in his pirate mode ;) We already read and loved this one!

Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell

 

This is a win from Carmel and Kyla during the blog tour, thank you!!

 

How to Be Brave by E. Katherine Kottaras

What did you guys add to your shelves this week?

Blog Tour - Q&A & Review: Firsts by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

 

Hello everyone and welcome to my stop on the Canadian Blog Tour for FIRSTS! Today I'll be sharing a little Q&A with Laurie and then my thoughts on the story. Many thanks to Raincoast Books for the opportunity to read the book early and for organizing this tour!
 

 

Q & A with Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

 

BCP: Did you always know how Firsts was going to end?

 

LEF: In one word—no! I’m a pantser, so when I started writing, I really didn’t know how the events were going to unfold or what was going to happen. But as I neared the end, I let my instincts take over and wrapped things up in a way that I hope does justice to the story.

 

BCP: What is one thing you hope readers take away from your book?
 

LEF: I hope readers take away that it’s easy to judge a person, but not to really know them. We all have secrets. We’ve all been through things, and it’s impossible to know everything about someone else—especially someone you just see in the halls at school or know through rumors. Mercedes only puts forward the version of herself she wants other people to see. She doesn’t trust anyone to know her real self or what has happened in her past. She reminds me how important it is to be kind to everyone, because you never know what someone is going through or has been through.

Thank you so much Laurie for answering my questions today and a huge congratulations on the publication of FIRSTS! Read on to find out what I thought of the book :)
 

WoW #81: Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman

 

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted every week by Breaking the Spine which lets us showcase an upcoming release we are excited about! 

Blackhearts

by Nicole Castroman

February 9, 2015

320 pages

Goodreads  Indigo
 

Goodreads Summary:

Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors. But once he was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands. Nothing could stop him—until he met the one girl who would change everything. This is their story.

Edward "Teach" Drummond, son of one of Bristol's richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean he’d begun to call home. There's just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back.

Following her parents' deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to Curaçao—where her mother was born—when she's stuck in England?

From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, they’re trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay.

 

This sounds amazing! I had the pleasure of talking to the author on Twitter and she's super nice! She has a twin too :D

What are you guys waiting on this week?

Review: Forever Summer (Summer Series #4) by C.J. Duggan

 

Forever Summer

(Summer Series #4)

by C.J. Duggan

December 29, 2015

266 pages

 

Goodreads  Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

You see there’s this boy.
He makes me smile, forces me to listen, serenades me out of tune and keeps me sane, all the while driving me insane. He's really talented like that. But for the first time in since, well, forever, things are about to change. The question is, how much am I willing to lose in order to potentially have it all?

Enter a world of sweltering Aussie summers, fabulously addictive characters and sweet intoxicating romance in C.J Duggan’s FOREVER SUMMER.

 

Stacking the Shelves #79

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that lets us share what we've added to our shelves.

A little late but here's my holiday shopping haul! I still have a few coming in the mail XP

Untamed by A.G. Howard

Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray

The Immortal Heights by Sherry Thomas

I won this from Twitter and yay I finally have a physical copy! I was planning on buying it during Christmas so I can't believe I won a copy~ Yippy!

Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen

What did you guys add to your shelves this week?

Blog Tour - Review & Giveaway: Shade Me (Nikki Kill #1) by Jennifer Brown

Shade Me
(Nikki Kill #1)

by Jennifer Brown

January 19, 2016

448 pages

Goodreads  Indigo

Goodreads Summary:

Nikki Kill does not see the world like everyone else. In her eyes, happiness is pink, sadness is a mixture of brown and green, and lies are gray. Thanks to a rare phenomenon called synesthesia, Nikki’s senses overlap, in a way that both comforts and overwhelms her.

Always an outsider, just one ‘D’ shy of flunking out, Nikki’s life is on the fast track to nowhere until the night a mysterious call lights her phone up bright orange—the color of emergencies. It’s the local hospital. They need Nikki to identify a Jane Doe who is barely hanging on to life after a horrible attack.

The victim is Peyton Hollis, a popular girl from Nikki’s school who Nikki hardly knows. One thing is clear: Someone wants Peyton dead. But why? And why was Nikki’s cell the only number in Peyton’s phone?

As she tries to decipher the strange kaleidoscope of clues, Nikki finds herself thrust into the dark, glittering world of the ultra-rich Hollis family, and drawn towards Peyton’s handsome, never-do-well older brother Dru. While Nikki’s colors seem to help her unravel the puzzle, what she can’t see is that she may be falling into a trap. The only truth she can be sure of is that death is a deep, pulsing crimson.

Shade Me is award-winning author Jennifer Brown’s first book in a thrilling suspense series about Nikki Kill.

WoW #80: These Vicious Masks (These Vicious Masks #1) by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas

 

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted every week by Breaking the Spine which lets us showcase an upcoming release we are excited about! 

 

These Vicious Masks
(These Vicious Masks #1)
by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas

February 9, 2016

352 pages

Goodreads  Indigo
 

Goodreads Summary:

Jane Austen meets X-­Men in this gripping and adventure-­filled paranormal romance set in Victorian London.

England, 1882. Evelyn is bored with society and its expectations. So when her beloved sister, Rose, mysteriously vanishes, she ignores her parents and travels to London to find her, accompanied by the dashing Mr. Kent. But they’re not the only ones looking for Rose. The reclusive, young gentleman Sebastian Braddock is also searching for her, claiming that both sisters have special healing powers. Evelyn is convinced that Sebastian must be mad, until she discovers that his strange tales of extraordinary people are true—and that her sister is in graver danger than she feared.

I'm just too excited for this one! I even wrote a slightly-crazed letter to the authors XD

What are you guys waiting on this week?

Review: First Touch (First and Last #1) by Laurelin Paige

 

First Touch
(First and Last #1)

by Laurelin Paige

December 29, 2015

384 pages
 

Goodreads  Indigo
 

Goodreads Summary:

When Emily Wayborn goes home to visit her mom while on hiatus from her hit TV show, she receives a voicemail from her former best friend, Amber. Though the two were once notorious party girls, they haven't spoken in years. Although the message might sound benign to anyone else, Amber uses a safe word that Emily recognizes, a word they always used to get out of sticky situations during their wild days. And what's more chilling than the voicemail: it turns out that Amber has gone missing.

Determined to track down her friend, Emily follows a chain of clues that lead her to the enigmatic billionaire Reeve Sallis, a hotelier known for his shady dealings and play boy reputation. Now, in order to find Amber, Emily must seduce Reeve to learn his secrets and discover the whereabouts of her friend. But as she finds herself more entangled with him, she finds she's drawn to Reeve for more than just his connection to Amber, despite her growing fear that he may be the enemy. When she's forced to choose where her loyalty lies, how will she decide between saving Amber and saving her heart?

 

2015 Challenge Wrap-Up!

 

2015 was my first year trying out book challenges and I'm really happy I did because I had a great time! I especially had fun with the'Real' Book Challenge and Debut Author Challenge (I've already signed up for the 2016 challenge)!

2015 Debut Author Challenge hosted by that Artsy reader girl.

1. A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas
2. Solitaire by Alice Oseman
3. Lola Carlyle's 12-Step Romance by Danielle Younge-Ullman
4. The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker
5. Velvet by Temple West
6. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
7. First & Then by Emma Mills
8. This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee
9. Inherit the Stars by Tessa Elwood
10. Madly by Amy Alward
11. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Flights of Fantasy Reading Challenge 2015 hosted by Alexa Loves Books and Hello, Chelly.

1. The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon
2. A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas
3. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
4. The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski
5. Snow Like Ashes by Sarah Raasch
6. Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
7. Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay
8. Hidden Huntress by Danielle L. Jensen
9. The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker
10. Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay
11. Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
12. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
13. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
14. Air Awakens by Elise Kova
15. Fire Falling by Elise Kova
16. Madly by Amy Alward
17. The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski
18. Thief of Lies by Brenda Drake

2015 Discussion Challenge hosted by Feed Your Fiction Addiction and It Starts at Midnight.

1-12 – Discussion Dabbler

1. Tabby Talk: Reading Time
2. Tabby Talk: Thought Processing
3. Tabby Talk: What About ARCs?
4. Tabby Talk: Taking Notes~
5. Tabby Talk: Drafting and Saving Reviews
6. Tabby Talk: Cover Changes
7. Tabby Talk: Reading Reviews

2015 "Real" Book Challenge hosted by Swoony Boys Podcast and Fic Fare.

 

31-40 - Real Book Aficionado

1. The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon
2. Landine by Rainbow Rowell
3. A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas
4. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
5. The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski
6. Solitaire by Alice Oseman
7. Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo
8. The Truth About Us by Janet Gurtler
9. Kissing Ted Callahan (and Other Guys) by Amy Spalding
10. Snow Like Ashes by Sarah Raasch
11. Lola Carlyle's 12-Step Romance by Danielle Younge-Ullman
12. The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West
13. Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
14. Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay
15. Awakening by Shannon Duffy
16. Seriously Wicked by Tina Connolly
17. Velvet by Temple West
18. The Other Daughter by Lauren Willig
19. Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay
20. Brown-Eyed Girl by Lisa Kleypas
21. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
22. Paper Towns by John Green
23. Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
24. A Curious Tale of the In-Between by Lauren DeStefano
25. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
26. First & Then by Emma Mills
27. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
28. This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee
29. Tonight the Streets Are Ours by Leila Sales
30. A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis
31. My Secret to Tell by Natalie D. Richards
32. Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young
33. Air Awakens by Elise Kova
34. The Lies About Truth by Courtney C. Stevens
35. The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett
36. Madly by Amy Alward
37. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
38. The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski
39. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
40. My True Love Gave to Me edited by Stephanie Perkins
41. Instruction for the End of the World by Jamie Kain
42. First Touch by Laurelin Paige

Stacking the Shelves #78

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that lets us share what we've added to our shelves.

I bought this limited edition box set for myself as a Christmas present and I love it so much! I was even quoted in the second book!!

Stolen Empire series by Sherry D. Ficklin

I won this one from the Goodreads giveaway! So excited!!

The Dark Days Club by Allison Goodman

What did you guys add to your shelves this week?

Review: Instructions for the End of the World by Jamie Kain

Instructions for the End of the World

by Jamie Kain

December 8, 2015

224 pages

Goodreads  Indigo

Goodreads Summary:

He prepared their family for every natural disaster known to man—except for the one that struck.

When Nicole Reed’s father forces her family to move to a remote area of the Sierra Foothills, one without any modern conveniences, her life is completely turned upside down.

It’s not that Nicole isn’t tough. She’s learned how to hunt, and she knows how to build things—she’s been preparing for the worst-case scenario for what seems like forever.

But when she and her sister, Izzy, are left alone in this remote landscape to fend for themselves, her skills are put to the ultimate test. She’s fine for a while, but then food begins to run out, the pipes begin to crack, and forest fires start to inch closer every day.

When Wolf, a handsome boy from the neighboring community, offers to help, Nicole feels conflicted. She can take care of herself. But things have begun to get desperate, and there’s something about this boy she can’t shake.

As feelings develop between these two—feelings Nicole knows her father would never allow once he returns—she must make a decision. With her family falling apart, will she choose to continue preparing for tomorrow’s disasters, or will she take a chance and start living for today?

Review: Thief of Lies (Library Jumpers #1) by Brenda Drake

Hi guys! I hope you all had a wonderful winter holiday! This review should've gone up three days ago but work has been crazy busy for me so I didn't have time to finish my review till now, sorry! Anyways, here are my thoughts on this library adventure ;)

Thief of Lies
(Library Jumpers #1)

by Brenda Drake

January 5, 2016

400 pages
 

Goodreads  Indigo
 

Goodreads Summary:

Gia Kearns would rather fight with boys than kiss them. That is, until Arik, a leather clad hottie in the Boston Athenaeum, suddenly disappears. While examining the book of world libraries he abandoned, Gia unwittingly speaks the key that sucks her and her friends into a photograph and transports them into a Paris library, where Arik and his Sentinels-magical knights charged with protecting humans from the creatures traveling across the gateway books-rescue them from a demonic hound.

Jumping into some of the world's most beautiful libraries would be a dream come true for Gia, if she weren't busy resisting her heart or dodging an exiled wizard seeking revenge on both the Mystik and human worlds. Add a French flirt obsessed with Arik and a fling with a young wizard, and Gia must choose between her heart and her head, between Arik's world and her own, before both are destroyed.

WoW #79: A Gathering of Shadows (A Darker Shade of Magic #2) by V.E. Schwab

 

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted every week by Breaking the Spine which lets us showcase an upcoming release we are excited about! 

A Gathering of Shadows
(A Darker Shade of Magic #2)

by V.E. Schwab

February 23, 2015

512 pages
 

Goodreads  Indigo
 

Goodreads Summary:

Four months have passed since the shadow stone fell into Kell’s possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Rhy was wounded and the Dane twins fell, and the stone was cast with Holland’s dying body through the rift, and into Black London.

In many ways, things have almost returned to normal, though Rhy is more sober, and Kell is now plagued by his guilt. Restless, and having given up smuggling, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks like she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games—an extravagant international competition of magic, meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries—a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port.

But while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life, and those who were thought to be forever gone have returned. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night reappears in the morning, and so it seems Black London has risen again—meaning that another London must fall.

 

Who isn't waiting for this one?!? NEED!

What are you guys waiting on this week?

2015 "Real" Book Challenge December Wrap-Up

2015 "Real" Book Challenge hosted by Swoony Boys Podcast and Fic Fare.
 

For the month of December, I read these 'real' books.
 

December turned out to be a very slow reading month. I was busy with being festive and spending time with family :) Three's still not too bad right?!
 

How many 'real' books did you read in the month of December?

 

 

I can't believe it's been a year already. I really want to thank the ladies at Swoony Boys Podcast and Fic Fare for hosting the 2015 "Real" Book Challenge! I've definitely been more productive at reading 'real' books because of this challenge so THANK YOU!!

Stacking the Shelves #77

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that lets us share what we've added to our shelves.

I bought some books before the holidays and I forgot to share them oops! I really want to read The Lumatere Chronicles so I'm buying the hardbacks before they become obsolete. Finnikin is out of stock right now but I only need it to start reading the books!

A Book of Spirits and Thieves by Morgan Rhodes

Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta

This one was sent to me for review. I think it was delayed at the border because it took the longest time to get to me lol... Thank you SMP! I already read it since it's a short one.

 

Instruction for the End of the World by Jamie Kain

What did you guys add to your shelves this week?