WAITING ON WEDNESDAY

 

 

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

 

SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK:

 

 

SERPENT AND DOVE BY SHELBY MAHURIN

 

 

PUBLISHER: Harper Teen

 

DATE PUBLISHED: 03rd September 2019

 

PAGES: 528

 

 

 

BLURB:

 

Bound as one to love, honor, or burn.

Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.

Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou’s, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.

The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou’s most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made.

And love makes fools of us all.

 

 

I know they say do not judge a book by it’s cover but that cover was mesmerising! It drew me in and then the blurb just sealed the deal. I cannot wait to start reading this book.

 

Keep Calm and Read On,

Kati

GHIBLIATHON TBR

 

 

Sorry this is up a little later than expected but I was having trouble posting my TBR.

There is a new readathon in town and it is based off of the stunning Studio Ghibli productions. I love Studio Ghibli and HAD to participate. Ghibliathon runs from the 10th to the 16th of June. The prompts are based off of Studio Ghibli films and I am fully loving this concept.

 

 

THE READING PROMPTS:

 

 

 

 

MY TBR:

 

 

Pom Poko – Read the Group Book:

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

 

The Wind Rises – An Adult Romance

Passion Unleashed by Larissa Ione

 

Arrietty – A Borrowed Book

Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillian

 

The Cat Returns – A Portal Fantasy

Akarnae by Lynette Noni

 

Porco Rosso – A Character Under A Curse

Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore

 

My Neighbour Totoro – An Otherwordly Creature

The Tea Dragon Festival by Katie O’Neill

 

 

I am so excited to be sharing my love of Studio Ghibli AND reading at once.

 

Keep Calm and Read On,

Kati

REVIEW: GIRLS OF PAPER AND FIRE

 

 

PUBLISHER: Jimmy Patterson Books

 

DATE PUBLISHED: 06th November 2018

 

PAGES: 400

 

 

 

SUMMARY:

 

Each year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. It’s the highest honor they could hope for…and the most cruel.

But this year, there’s a ninth girl. And instead of paper, she’s made of fire.

In this lush fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most oppressed class in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards still haunts her. Now, the guards are back, and this time it’s Lei they’re after–the girl whose golden eyes have piqued the king’s interest.

Over weeks of training in the opulent but stifling palace, Lei and eight other girls learn the skills and charm that befit being a king’s consort. But Lei isn’t content to watch her fate consume her. Instead, she does the unthinkable–she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens the very foundation of Ikhara, and Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide just how far she’s willing to go for justice and revenge.

TW: violence and sexual abuse.

 

 

REVIEW: 

 

A whirlwind of a book that had me hooked from the very first chapter. WHY! The brutality of the world was offset with the beauty with a stunning metaphor for the thorn behind the rose. The parallels to issues in our current world were tied in extremely well, allowing the reader to reflect on these issues whilst not taking away from the overall reading experience. I closed this book feeling conflicted and fulfilled. There are so many questions unanswered that has me highly anticipating the sequel.

The protagonist, Lei, is taken from her home as she has stunning eyes and she is to be a Paper Girl – a concubine to the king. Lei is now enmeshed in this brutal world and her journey is both beautiful and cruel. She grows as a character with the reader along for the journey.

In this world there are castes. With fully humans being the lowest caste and full demon beings the highest. The mixture of animals and human were intriguing and the prose allowed for the readers imagination to take flight.

Overall, I was wrung out after finishing this book and it will stick with me for some time to come. I loved that the main character grew in strength and she wasn’t instantly as strong as she needed to be. There was a progress that allowed for believability. Bring on Girls of Storm and Shadow.

 

 

 

I received an e-copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

Keep Calm and Read On,

Kati

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SMUTATHON ROUND 3

 

 

I am back and blogging from my hiatus in the first half of this year. What better way to come back than a readathon? I am taking part in the 3rd Round of Smutathon hosted by Riley and Lainey. This readathon is running from the 3rd to the 9th of of June.

 

 

This round is very different to the previous two rounds as there is a BINGO BOARD!

 

 

This is so exciting for me and I am all here for it! I have selected a book for each of the prompts and am going to try to get through as many as I can in this week.

 

 

MY TBR:

 

 

 

Forbidden Romance:

 

Rafe by Rebekah Weatherspoon: 

 

 

LGBTQ+:

 

The King of Bourbon Street by Thea De Salle:

 

Fake Dating:

 

Roomies by Christina Lauren: 

 

New to You Author:

 

A Lesson in Thorns by Sierra Simone:

 

 

Author of Colour:

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang: 

 

Enemies to Lovers:

 

Meet Cute by Helena Hunting:

 

 

Out of Your Comfort Zone:

 

Corrupt by Penelope Douglas:

 

Vacation Romance:

 

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren:

 

Different Worlds:

 

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare:

 

Read a Host’s Fave Romance:

 

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning:

 

Friends to Lovers:

 

Big Rock by Lauren Blakely:

 

One Word Title: 

 

Vicious by L.J Shen:

 

Finish a Book in One Day:

 

Last Dragon Standing by G.A Aiken:

 

Second Chance:

 

Blood Rights by Kristen Painter:

 

Takes Place in a Foreign Country:

 

Highland Crown by May McGoldrick:

 

Bad Boy / Bad Girl:

 

Bad Saint by Monica James:

 

 

I am so excited about all of these books and looking forward to some fabulous HEA. Are you joining in on Smutathon? If so, what are you planning on reading?

 

Keep Calm and Read On,

Kati

REVIEW: THE SHADOW OF THE FOX

 

 

PUBLISHER: Harlequin Teen

 

DATE PUBLISHED: 02nd October 2018

 

PAGES: 409

 

 

 

SUMMARY: 

 

One thousand years ago, the great Kami Dragon was summoned to grant a single terrible wish—and the land of Iwagoto was plunged into an age of darkness and chaos.

Now, for whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers, a new wish will be granted. A new age is about to dawn.

Raised by monks in the isolated Silent Winds temple, Yumeko has trained all her life to hide her yokai nature. Half kitsune, half human, her skill with illusion is matched only by her penchant for mischief. Until the day her home is burned to the ground, her adoptive family is brutally slain and she is forced to flee for her life with the temple’s greatest treasure—one part of the ancient scroll.

There are many who would claim the dragon’s wish for their own. Kage Tatsumi, a mysterious samurai of the Shadow Clan, is one such hunter, under orders to retrieve the scroll…at any cost. Fate brings Kage and Yumeko together. With a promise to lead him to the scroll, an uneasy alliance is formed, offering Yumeko her best hope for survival. But he seeks what she has hidden away, and her deception could ultimately tear them both apart.

With an army of demons at her heels and the unlikeliest of allies at her side, Yumeko’s secrets are more than a matter of life or death. They are the key to the fate of the world itself.

 

 

REVIEW: 

 

This book reads like you are watching an epic anime. The action is present from the very first scene, and so is the blood shed. This book weaves together seamlessly, and it is so difficult to put down once picked up. I wanted to devour this in one sitting. Warning: You may need to put your life on hold before jumping into the will ride that is Julie Kagawa’s Shadow of the Fox.

Yumeko is a character I instantly found endearing. Not only because, unlike her fellow Kitsumi, she had a strict moral compass that she would not waver from. But, because she was a flawed character and they are some of the best to read. Her journey, both physical and emotional, was believable and had me as a reader invested.

The action in this book was constant. I could not go a paragraph without having my heart constantly in my throat. I was so invested in the characters that I simply needed them to survive. The pacing was perfect. I never felt bored or that there were filler text, which can be a problem in fantasy novels.

Asian inspired fantasy novels are really shining through in the current book community and I couldn’t be happier for it. I love the level of diversity in these novels and learning something new about another culture whilst immersing myself in a fantastical world. I am waiting on baited breath for the sequel to this epic, heart-stopping, completely enthralling novel.

 

 

 

I received a digital review copy of this title from Netgalley.

 

 

 

Keep Calm and Read On,

Kati

I’M PARTICIPATING IN 24 IN 48

 

 

24 in 48 is back for another round from midnight on the 26th of January to 2359 on the 27th of January. The purpose of this readathon is really to get stuck into reading and aim to read for 24 hours within a 48 hour period.

 

I have completed this challenge once before and am excited to see if I can do it this time as well. I am going to post my updates on my Instagram page and am ready for the fun and chaos that is sure to ensue.

 

 

Keep Calm and Read On,

Kati

BIANNUAL BIBLIOTHON WINTER 2019 TBR

 

 

The Biannual Bibliothon is back for another round and I am so excited. I am super busy at the moment and I might not get any of the challenges done but I at least wanted to do the reading challenges, so that is what I am focusing on. If I finish the reading challenges I will be one happy reader… anything further is icing on the cake.

 

 

READING CHALLENGES:

1. Read the Group Book

2. Read one of the hosts’ 5 star reads

3. Read a book that got you into reading

4. Read an adult genre

5. Combine your favorite genre with your least favorite format or the opposite

6. Read a book with a cover you don’t like

7. Read a book by an author you’ve never read before

 

 

MY TBR:

 

 

Empress of all Seasons by Emiko Jean

This is the Group Book for this round of the Biannual Bibliothon and I am extra excited for this.

 

 

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

I have had this book on many TBR’s through 2018 and haven’t gotten to it yet. When I saw it as one of the hosts 5 star picks I could’t resist putting it on my TBR.

 

Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone by J.K. Rowling

I have said many times that the Harry Potter series are the books that got me into reading in the 5th grade. I love this series and am so excited to do a re-read of the series in 2019.

 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This is an adult novel that has been majorly hyped in 2018 and I am so keen to see what all the hype is about.

 

 

Golden Curse by M. Lynn

My favourite genres is retellings and this is a retelling of Rapunzel. I really enjoy any format of book, but if I were to choose one I would have to say e-book. So, I am going to read this one via e-book.

 

 

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

I am not particularly fond of this cover. I loved the TV Series and am interested to read the books it was based off of.

 

 

Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi

I have never read a novel by Mary H.K. Choi and this is one that has been liked by many a reader out there and I am very interested to read this modern contemporary romance.

 

 

 

Keep Calm and Read On,

Kati

BLOG TOUR: COURT OF MEMORIES

 

 

Today, I am a host for the Blog Tour of Court of Memories by Dyan Chick. This Blog Tour is coordinated by Rockstar Book Tours.

 

 

 

PUBLISHER: Illaria Publishing

 

DATE PUBLISHED: 24th December 2018

 

PAGES: 202

 

 

 

BLURB:

 

Magic comes with a price. If Cassia wants a happily ever after in the Fae realm, she’ll have to join a brutal fight for a crown she doesn’t even want.

Cassia is so close to the life she always wanted. A changeling who was always out of place in the human world, she is on her way to finding love, magic, and happiness with four Fae princes. The monster threat against her life has been contained. For now. But they are attracted to her power and her untrained magic, and it’s a race against time before they break through again.

And the monsters aren’t the only ones trying to kill Cassia. The Queen’s Trial is approaching, and her power makes her a target and a threat to the other noble houses vying to be queen.

With her enemies piling up and only Four Fae Princes on her side she’s running out of options. There’s only one rule in Queen’s Trial: Survive.

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

My story is probably similar to a lot of other writers out there. As a kid, I was creative, imaginative, and loved to write. I’d write scripts for plays and make my sisters act them out. I got excited about the writing prompts for standardized tests in elementary school. I started writing my first (unfinished) novel in 5th grade. Then started another one in middle school. For a long time, I was a closet writer. I didn’t tell anybody that I had a hard drive full of abandoned stories. After years of not finishing anything, I finally took the plunge and started taking writing, and myself as a writer, seriously. My first novel, Heir of Illaria, published January 23, 2017. Book 2 is right around the corner. It’s gone from closet hobby to full on addiction. Thankfully, I have a wonderfully supportive husband who doesn’t look at me like I’m crazy when I talk about my characters as if they’re real.

 

 

Sign up for Dyan’s Newsletter!

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

BOOK 1:

Goodreads, Amazon

 

 

BOOK 2:

Goodreads, Amazon

 

 

GIVEAWAY:

 

 

1 Winner will receive a $10 Amazon GC, International.

 

 

If you would like to enter this giveaway, click here.

 

 

TOUR SCHEDULE:

 

Week One:

12/24/2018- A Dream Within A Dream– Excerpt

12/24/2018- Two Chicks on Books– Excerpt

 

12/26/2018- Adventures Thru Wonderland– Review

12/26/2018- Burgandy Ice– Excerpt

 

12/27/2018- BookHounds– Excerpt

12/27/2018- Good Choice Reading– Spotlight

 

12/28/2018- Texan Holly Reads– Excerpt

12/28/2018- Smada’s Book Smack– Spotlight

 

Week Two:

12/31/2018- Books a Plenty Book Reviews– Review

12/31/2018- Bookbriefs– Excerpt

 

1/1/2019- Sweet Things– Excerpt

1/1/2019- Jaime’s World– Excerpt

 

1/2/2019- To Be Read– Review

 

1/3/2019- Oh Hey! Books.– Excerpt

1/3/2019- Parajunkee– Excerpt

 

1/4/2019- Owl Always Be Reading– Excerpt

 

 

 

Keep Calm and Read On,

Kati

 

BLOG TOUR: LADY SMOKE

 

 

 

 

Today I am a host for the Blog Tour of Lady Smoke by Laura Sebastian. This tour is coordinated by Rockstar Book Tours.

 

 

 

PUBLISHER: Delecorte Press

 

DATE PUBLISHED: 05th February 2019

 

PAGES: 512

 

 

 

BLURB:

 

The Kaiser murdered Theodosia’s mother, the Fire Queen, when Theo was only six. He took Theo’s country and kept her prisoner, crowning her Ash Princess–a pet to toy with and humiliate for ten long years. That era has ended. The Kaiser thought his prisoner weak and defenseless. He didn’t realize that a sharp mind is the deadliest weapon.

Theo no longer wears a crown of ashes. She has taken back her rightful title, and a hostage–Prinz Soren. But her people remain enslaved under the Kaiser’s rule, and now she is thousands of miles away from them and her throne.

To get them back, she will need an army. Only, securing an army means she must trust her aunt, the dreaded pirate Dragonsbane. And according to Dragonsbane, an army can only be produced if Theo takes a husband. Something an Astrean Queen has never done.

Theo knows that freedom comes at a price, but she is determined to find a way to save her country without losing herself.

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

 

Laura Sebastian was born and raised in South Florida (the Redlands and Key Largo) and has always loved telling stories–many apologies to her little brother who often got in trouble because of them. No copies of her first book, a Cinderella retelling about angels circa 2nd grade, remain. Thankfully.

 

After getting her BFA from Savannah College of Art and Design, she moved to New York City thinking that she would stay for a couple of years before going somewhere better suited for a small-town, sun-loving girl. Five years later, she’s still here and madly in love with it.

 

When Laura isn’t writing, she’s probably reading, baking cookies or cupcakes, buying more clothes than her overstuffed closet can fit, or forcing her lazy dog Neville to take a walk.

 

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

BOOK 1: ASH PRINCESS

 

 Goodreads, Amazon, Audible,  B&N,  iBooks, TBD

 

 

BOOK 2: LADY SMOKE

Goodreads, Amazon, Audible,  B&N, iBooks, TBD

 

 

GIVEAWAY:

 

3 winners will receive a finished copy of LADY SMOKE, US Only.

 

If you would like to enter this giveaway, click here.

 

 

TOUR SCHEDULE:

 

Week One:

1/1/2019- To Be Read– Review

1/2/2019- A Dream Within A Dream– Review

1/3/2019- Here’s to Happy Endings– Review

1/4/2019- Random Bookish Banter– Review

 

Week Two:

1/7/2019- Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews– Review

1/8/2019- Jrsbookreviews– Review

1/9/2019- Omg Books and More Books– Review

1/10/2019- Fiction Fare– Review

1/11/2019- Du Livre– Review

 

Week Three:

1/14/2019- Loie Dunn– Review

1/15/2019- A Court of Coffee and Books– Review

1/16/2019- Paws and Paperbacks– Review

1/17/2019- A Gingerly Review– Review

1/18/2019- Lifestyle of Me– Review

 

Week Four:

1/21/2019- Paper Reader– Review

1/22/2019- Adventures and Reading– Review

1/23/2019- Popthebutterfly Reads– Review

1/24/2019- Adventures Thru Wonderland– Review

1/25/2019- YA Books Central– Interview

 

Week Five:

1/28/2019- Confessions of a YA Reader– Review

1/29/2019- Colorimetry– Interview

1/30/2019- Smada’s Book Smack– Review

1/31/2019- Kat’s Books– Review

 

 

 

 

Keep Calm and Read On,

Kati

ADVENT READATHON DAY 24 CHALLENGE

 

 

 

Welcome to Day 24 of the Advent Readathon and Christmas Eve. I hope you have enjoyed your time in the Advent Readathon and this festive season. The time has gone so fast. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 

 

The Challenge for today is:

 

Wrap Up your experience though the Advent Readathon.

 

 

Keep Calm and Read On,

Kati