Review: The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid

The Diabolic

by S.J. Kincaid

November 1, 2016

416 pages

Goodreads  Indigo

Goodreads Summary:

Red Queen meets The Hunger Games in this epic novel about what happens when the galaxy’s most deadly weapon masquerades as a senator’s daughter and a hostage of the galactic court.

A Diabolic is ruthless. A Diabolic is powerful. A Diabolic has a single task: Kill in order to protect the person you’ve been created for.

Nemesis is a Diabolic, a humanoid teenager created to protect a galactic senator’s daughter, Sidonia. The two have grown up side by side, but are in no way sisters. Nemesis is expected to give her life for Sidonia, and she would do so gladly. She would also take as many lives as necessary to keep Sidonia safe.

When the power-mad Emperor learns Sidonia’s father is participating in a rebellion, he summons Sidonia to the Galactic court. She is to serve as a hostage. Now, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia. She must become her. Nemesis travels to the court disguised as Sidonia—a killing machine masquerading in a world of corrupt politicians and two-faced senators’ children. It’s a nest of vipers with threats on every side, but Nemesis must keep her true abilities a secret or risk everything.

As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns there is something more to her than just deadly force. She finds a humanity truer than what she encounters from most humans. Amidst all the danger, action, and intrigue, her humanity just might be the thing that saves her life—and the empire.
 

Stacking the Shelves #119

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

I'm really excited to have won Sometimes We Tell the Truth from Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl! Kim is so sweet! Thank you for personalizing it and sending me some swag :D
 

I also won a huge giveaway from author Katie McGarry! The Metaltown ARC is signed and the other books are signed and personalized eeeeep~ I feel so lucky and grateful, thank you Katie!

What did you add to your shelves this week?

Review: How to Keep a Boy from Kissing You (Aurora Skye #1) by Tara Eglington

How to Keep a Guy from Kissing You

(Aurora Skye #1)

by Tara Eglington

October 25, 2016

320 pages

Goodreads  Indigo

Goodreads Summary:

Sweet sixteen and never been kissed . . .

That’s Aurora Skye’s big secret. And the way she wants it to stay. She’s not going to give away her first kiss to just anyone. Busy dodging suitors and matchmaking for her best friends, Aurora (not so) patiently awaits her prince.

But everything changes when Aurora is coerced into a lead role in the school production of Much Ado about Nothing. Which means she’ll have to lock lips with her co-star Hayden Paris—the smart and funny boy next door who also happens to be the bane of her existence, always around to see her at her worst.

Now Aurora is more determined than ever to have her first kiss with the one who’s truly worthy of it. But first she’ll have to figure out just who that person is.

Romantic and funny, Tara Eglington's How to Keep a Boy from Kissing You is a feel-good tale of finding love where you least expect it.
 

WoW #120: The Alchemists of Loom (Loom Saga #1) by Elise Kova

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

 

The Alchemists of Loom
(Loom Saga #1)

by Elise Kova

January 10, 2017

352 pages

Goodreads  Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

Her vengeance. His vision.Ari lost everything she once loved when the Five Guilds’ resistance fell to the Dragon King. Now, she uses her unparalleled gift for clockwork machinery in tandem with notoriously unscrupulous morals to contribute to a thriving underground organ market. There isn’t a place on Loom that is secure from the engineer turned thief, and her magical talents are sold to the highest bidder as long as the job defies their Dragon oppressors.

Cvareh would do anything to see his sister usurp the Dragon King and sit on the throne. His family’s house has endured the shame of being the lowest rung in the Dragons’ society for far too long. The Alchemist Guild, down on Loom, may just hold the key to putting his kin in power, if Cvareh can get to them before the Dragon King’s assassins.

When Ari stumbles upon a wounded Cvareh, she sees an opportunity to slaughter an enemy and make a profit off his corpse. But the Dragon sees an opportunity to navigate Loom with the best person to get him where he wants to go.He offers her the one thing Ari can’t refuse: A wish of her greatest desire, if she brings him to the Alchemists of Loom.
 

New book from Elise! YAYYYY!

What are you guys waiting on this week? 

Blog Tour - Excerpt: How to Keep a Boy from Kissing You (Aurora Skye #1) by Tara Eglington

Hey guys! Today I'm here to share with you a little excerpt from Tara Eglington's How to Keep a Boy from Kissing You. Trust me, it's fun! I'll also be sharing my thoughts on the book in the coming days!

 

How to Keep a Boy from Kissing You

(Aurora Skye #1)

by Tara Eglington

October 25, 2016

320 pages

Goodreads  Indigo

Goodreads Summary:

Sweet sixteen and never been kissed . . .

That’s Aurora Skye’s big secret. And the way she wants it to stay. She’s not going to give away her first kiss to just anyone. Busy dodging suitors and matchmaking for her best friends, Aurora (not so) patiently awaits her prince.

But everything changes when Aurora is coerced into a lead role in the school production of Much Ado about Nothing. Which means she’ll have to lock lips with her co-star Hayden Paris—the smart and funny boy next door who also happens to be the bane of her existence, always around to see her at her worst.

Now Aurora is more determined than ever to have her first kiss with the one who’s truly worthy of it. But first she’ll have to figure out just who that person is.

Romantic and funny, Tara Eglington's How to Keep a Boy from Kissing You is a feel-good tale of finding love where you least expect it.
 

Stacking the Shelves #118

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

 

I finally got Empire of Storms and Crooked Kingdom!

Big thank yous to Thomas Allen and Son for these review books! I've heard awesome things about the Jackaby series :D

What did you add to your shelves this week?

Review: Kiss Cam by Kiara London

Kiss Cam

by Kiara London

October 18, 2016

272 pages

Goodreads  Indigo

Goodreads Summary:

In Kiss Cam, teen author Kiara London asks, what's a little harmless kissing between friends?

Juniper, Jasper, and Lenny have been friends forever and co-own a vlog channel called WereVloggingHere. Their fans are huge "shippers" who believe that Juniper and Jasper are perfect for each other, and, despite warnings from friends and family, a simple Truth-or-Dare inspired kiss soon spirals out of control into a whole new world of making out and surprise kisses.

Juniper and Jasper's relationship begins to shift. But as fan requests for different "Kiss Cam" segments keep pouring in, Juniper puts her worries aside and convinces herself that it doesn't mean anything. After all, it's just kissing… right?
 

WoW #119: Our Dark Duet (Monsters of Verity #2) by Victoria Schwab

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

Our Dark Duet
(Monsters of Verity #2)

by Victoria Schwab

June 13, 2017
368 pages

Goodreads  Indigo
 

Goodreads Summary:

Kate Harker is a girl who isn’t afraid of the dark. She’s a girl who hunts monsters. And she’s good at it. August Flynn is a monster who can never be human, no matter how much he once yearned for it. He’s a monster with a part to play. And he will play it, no matter the cost.

Nearly six months after Kate and August were first thrown together, the war between the monsters and the humans is terrifying reality. In Verity, August has become the leader he never wished to be, and in Prosperity, Kate has become the ruthless hunter she knew she could be. When a new monster emerges from the shadows—one who feeds on chaos and brings out its victim’s inner demons—it lures Kate home, where she finds more than she bargained for. She’ll face a monster she thought she killed, a boy she thought she knew, and a demon all her own.
 

More of Victoria's chilling story? YES! More Kate and August? HELL YES!

What are you guys waiting on this week?

Review: This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills

This Adventure Ends

by Emma Mills

October 4, 2016

320 pages

Goodreads  Indigo

Goodreads Summary:

Sloane isn't expecting to fall in with a group of friends when she moves from New York to Florida—especially not a group of friends so intense, so in love, so all-consuming. Yet that's exactly what happens.

Sloane becomes closest to Vera, a social-media star who lights up any room, and Gabe, Vera's twin brother and the most serious person Sloane's ever met. When a beloved painting by the twins' late mother goes missing, Sloane takes on the responsibility of tracking it down, a journey that takes her across state lines—and ever deeper into the twins' lives.

Filled with intense and important friendships, a wonderful warts-and-all family, shiveringly good romantic developments, and sharp, witty dialogue, this story is about finding the people you never knew you needed.
 

Stacking the Shelves #117

 

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

 

I love surprise bookmail~ Thank you so much HBGCanada for this lovely copy of Conspiracy of Ravens!

Another surprise bookmail from Thomas Allen & Son! Thank you! Kingdom of Ash and Briars is one of my favourite reads this year!

 

This surprise bookmail actually came last week but I had to wait till this week to take a picture of Ripple with them. I'm on the blog tour for Speed of Life and Heartless so thank you Raincoast Books for these goodies!

 

What did you add to your shelves this week?

Blog Tour - Guest Post: Speed of Life by J.M. Kelly

 

Hey guys! Today, author J.M. Kelly is on the blog with a guest post on promises! Find out what it means for her and her writing and make sure you check out her debut novel, Speed of Life!

 

 

Speed of Life

by J.M. Kelly
October 11, 2016

352 pages

Goodreads  Indigo

Goodreads Summary:

Twins Crystal and Amber have the same goal: to be the first in their family to graduate high school and make something of their lives. When one gets pregnant during their junior year, they promise to raise the baby together. It’s not easy, but between their after-school jobs, they’re scraping by.

Crystal’s grades catch the attention of the new guidance counselor, who tells her about a college that offers a degree in automotive restoration, perfect for the car buff she is. When she secretly applies—and gets in—new opportunities threaten their once-certain plans, and Crystal must make a choice: follow her dreams or stay behind and honor the promise she made to her sister.

WoW #118: Congress of Secrets by Stephanie Burgis

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

Congress of Secrets

by Stephanie Burgis

November 1, 2016
340 pages

Goodreads  Indigo
 

Goodreads Summary:

In 1814, the Congress of Vienna has just begun. Diplomats battle over a new map of Europe, actors vie for a chance at glory, and aristocrats and royals from across the continent come together to celebrate the downfall of Napoleon…among them Lady Caroline Wyndham, a wealthy English widow. But Caroline has a secret: she was born Karolina Vogl, daughter of a radical Viennese printer. When her father was arrested by the secret police, Caroline’s childhood was stolen from her by dark alchemy.

Under a new name and nationality, she returns to Vienna determined to save her father even if she has to resort to the same alchemy that nearly broke her before. But she isn’t expecting to meet her father’s old apprentice, Michael Steinhüller, now a charming con man in the middle of his riskiest scheme ever.

The sinister forces that shattered Caroline’s childhood still rule Vienna behind a glittering façade of balls and salons, Michael’s plan is fraught with danger, and both of their disguises are more fragile than they realize. What price will they pay to the darkness if either of them is to survive?
 

I recently stumbled upon this one on GR and I just love the sound of it!

What are you guys waiting on this week?

Blog Tour - Review & Giveaway: Clanless (Nameless #2) by Jennifer Jenkins

Clanless

(Nameless #2)
by Jennifer Jenkins
October 4, 2016

300 pages

Goodreads  Indigo

Goodreads Summary:

Striker Gryphon has lost his position of honor among the Ram, and is now a hunted man. A traitor.

Zo, the object of his affection, was murdered by members of his former clan. To honor her memory, he journeys to the highly secretive Raven “Nest” to warn strangers of their impending demise—though it could cost him more than just his pride.

He doesn’t know that Zo is very much alive and in another part of the region assisting Nameless refugees over a mountain swarming with wild men known as “Clanless.”

As each struggle to make sense of what their lives have become, they fight and claw to reach the Allied Camp, their last hope in bringing peace to the region.

But the road back to one another is treacherous and uncertain. And freedom will come with a price.

Stacking the Shelves #116

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

For the last week of September I was in New York for vacation~ I got to visit the Strand Book Store where I bought Like a River Glorious, The Forgetting and The Loose Ends List. Then I attended the Kerri Maniscalco signing at Books of Wonder where I got a signed finished copy <3 I was also given the ARC of The Sleeping Prince by a nice lady at BoW. Thank you so much!

What did you add to your shelves this week?

Review: Nemesis (Nemesis #1) by Anna Banks

Nemesis
(Nemesis #1)

by Anna Banks
October 4, 2016

368 pages

Goodreads  Indigo

Goodreads Summary:

The princess didn't expect to fall in love--with her nemesis.

Princess Sepora of Serubel is the last Forger in all the five kingdoms. The spectorium she creates provides energy for all, but now her father has found a way to weaponize it, and his intentions to incite war force her to flee from his grasp. She escapes across enemy lines into the kingdom of Theoria, but her plans to hide are thwarted when she is captured and placed in the young king's servitude.

Tarik has just taken over rulership of Theoria, and must now face a new plague sweeping through his kingdom and killing his citizens. The last thing he needs is a troublesome servant vying for his attention. But mistress Sepora will not be ignored. When the two finally meet face-to-face, they form an unlikely bond that complicates life in ways neither of them could have imagined.

Sepora's gift could save Tarik's kingdom from the Quiet Plague. But should she trust her growing feelings for her nemesis, or should she hide her gifts at all costs?

WoW #117: Dare You (Nikki Kill #2) by Jennifer Brown

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

Dare You
(Nikki Kill #2)

by Jennifer Brown

February 14, 2017
480 pages

Goodreads  Indigo
 

Goodreads Summary:

In the second book of the suspenseful Shade Me trilogy, Nikki Kill becomes embroiled in another mystery where only her synesthesia can help her unravel the dark truth.

Nikki Kill didn’t realize that trying to find out who killed Peyton Hollis would tangle her in a web of dangerous family secrets that would rock her identity to the core. But now that Nikki knows the truth, the all-powerful Hollises want to frame her for Peyton’s murder.

And now Nikki’s only chance at escaping the cold black bars of prison or the crimson grip of death is teaming up with the enigmatic Detective Martinez and relying on an ever-shifting kaleidoscope of clues....
 

I read Shade Me last year and really enjoyed it! I'm really interested to see where the story goes.

What are you guys waiting on this week?

Review: Broken Prince (The Royals #2) by Erin Watt

 

Broken Prince
(The Royals #2)

by Erin Watt

July 25, 2016
370 pages

Goodreads  Indigo
 

Goodreads Summary:

These Royals will ruin you…

From wharf fights and school brawls to crumbling lives inside glittery mansions, one guy tries to save himself.

Reed Royal has it all—looks, status, money. The girls at his elite prep school line up to date him, the guys want to be him, but Reed never gave a damn about anyone but his family until Ella Harper walked into his life.

What started off as burning resentment and the need to make his father’s new ward suffer turned into something else entirely—keep Ella close. Keep Ella safe. But when one foolish mistake drives her out of Reed’s arms and brings chaos to the Royal household, Reed’s entire world begins to fall apart around him.

Ella doesn’t want him anymore. She says they’ll only destroy each other.

She might be right.

Secrets. Betrayal. Enemies. It’s like nothing Reed has ever dealt with before, and if he’s going to win back his princess, he’ll need to prove himself Royally worthy.

Stacking the Shelves #115

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

What do you do when there's a sale? You buy some books of course~~ I'm getting closer to completing some series yay!

What did you add to your shelves this week?