Tag: Ya

Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this Arc!!

This was a whole new style of Fairytale and I loved it!

I have to say that at first I was conflicted. The author writes a note in the beginning describing the reasons for the main character’s traits.. How Violet was written to be a realist. An in-between of good and bad. Not really fitting into a box. So at first, I found it hard to like her character. But after continuing to read, I wound up really appreciating her.

Violet is a Seer for a king, and really the whole kingdom. She saved the Prince’s life at age 7 and now they have a shaky relationship usually based on insults. However, the land is changing and Violet is seeing scary visions of what is to come; Monsters, blood and roses.

Enemies to lovers! An ending that I never could have seen coming! And, fairytale! What more does a reader need?

Out July 26, 2022!

🌟Arc Review 🌟 Horror Hotel by Victoria Fulton and Faith McClaren!

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Thank you Random House and Netgalley for this read!

I loved this book! Chrissy, Chase, Emma and Kiki are the members of The Ghost Gang! They usually are lurking around haunted locales in Las Vegas. However, Chase has bigger plans for this ghost hunting troop on Halloween; a haunted hotel in LA and his dream of 1 million followers on YouTube coming true after this epic adventure. The Hearst Hotel is very creepy and things really escalate quickly because Chrissy can legitimately see ghosts, has real feelings from the other side and even can pick up on thoughts from the living!

I had so much fun reading this. There was a piece to this puzzle that did seem a bit predictable but it was handled in a way that I didn’t see coming. I loved the murder/mystery along with really creepy descriptions of ghosts and all supernatural. Definitely caused some goosebumps and chills running down my arms at several points.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in then I definitely recommend this. Just a trigger warning for frightening scenes, some blood and gore and unsettling imagery.

Coming out on February 1st!

🌟 Arc Review 🌟 Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long!

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Thank you Netgalley for this stunning Arc!

Stunning.  That’s the perfect word to describe this book.  I did not know what to expect but this story swept me off my feet. 

Sena is a 17 year old young woman trying to make it through life on a planet that cannot find a way to respect anyone with Scavver blood.  Sena lost her mothers 5 years ago when they took part in a famous sled race on this world.  Sena feels alone and, even though she doesn’t know it,  she needs help.

Sena goes through an amazing transition from loner to a team leader throughout this story.  I think the most emotional element was her connection to a fighting wolf that kind of adopted her as a partner.   The author did an amazing job describing the relationship between a human and an animal.  It was very real and reminded me of how attached to my pets I am on a psychological level and going through forming that attachment and the overwhelming love I feel for them.

This was an incredible read that was fast-paced and full of action.   I highly recommend this!!

Look for this in 2022 on January 11th!!

🌟 Holiday Bookstack and current reads! 🌟

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🍬🍬Candy Cane Stack 🍬🍬

I am absolutely thrilled to be only one week away from Christmas! I can’t wait to hand out presents, overdose on sugar while watching Elf and of course spend time with family!

I am currently reading a few things that are not exactly Christmas related but I am certainly enjoying:

A snowy thriller!

I am loving this cryptic suspense and mystery in Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney! I have fallen in love with the thriller genre this year and there is no turning back now! 😮

Lexi Ryan is amazing!! I bow down to her as I read this story full of manipulations and lies… not to mention two absolutely gorgeous Faerie Prince’s!!! And, there is going to be a sequel??? I am so not ready for whatever cliffhanger I’m heading towards!!

Stop! Just stop and write on your calendar for 2022… January 4th is the release date for this very unique and indescribable really, thriller following Molly the Maid during a murder investigation at her high end hotel of employment. I hope to finish this soon to tell you more bc it is incredible!

This is everything I’m reading right now! I am wishing all of you the very best and would love to hear your thoughts on any of these books! Please feel free to message me anytime! Cheers!

🌟Arc Review 🌟 Heart of a Witch by Rebecca L. Garcia

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Thank you Netgalley for this Arc!

I love a good revenge story that shows how the MC is formed into a villainous character.   In that aspect, I feel like this book is perfect for readers looking for this type of story.   Also, the fact that it’s a family that practices witchcraft running from the Witch hunters with a little romance mixed in makes it a really fun read. 

However, there were some quirks to the writing style that bothered me a bit.  Just certain descriptions that seemed off and I also felt like the dialogue was a little choppy which created a distance between myself and the story.

I definitely think this is worth a read and recommend it for anyone who loves a good villain origin story!

🌟 Arc Review 🌟 The Violent Season by Sara Walters

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Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this thrilling arc!

The Violent Season by Sara Walters is a quick read, fast-paced and has an absolutely shocking twist at the end! I enjoyed every second of this thrill ride even if I was constantly trying to connect the dots attempting to see the whole picture.

Wyatt is a 17 yo girl that really became more and more of a confusing Main Character to me. She would have these very natural young adult moments and somehow it would turn around into her seeming completely strange. She spends most of her time with a boy named Cash and their relationship is confusing and just straight up unhealthy. She finds herself involved with Porter, a popular boy that Cash hates, and this really elevates many problems.

The town itself is strange as well. Wolf Ridge is small and secluded. However, there are many random unexplainable deaths in the month of November. Wyatt refers to this as a sickness, somewhat personifies the town as a place that creates violence during this month. Her mother was also murdered a year ago in November making Wyatt quite obsessive with her ideas.

There is so much I loved about this book! It kept me on my toes and I really could not ever figure out what was really going on. It’s a wild ride and I definitely recommend it.

A few trigger warnings for mental health, sexual assault, violence and grief.

Look for this out on Oct. 5th!

🌟 Arc Review 🌟 As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson

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Thank you Netgalley and Random House for this incredible arc, the finale to one of my favorite series, As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson.

Wow! Where to begin? This book was serious!! I mean the 2nd book had a serious ending but this just…. it’s EVERYTHING!! Holy cow, ya’ll (yes, I try not to actually use bad language) but yeah… holy freaking cows ya’ll. This is intense!

To start from the start, Pip is really struggling with PTSD symptoms. She is hypervigalante as in a loud noise sounds like gunfire, sweaty palms feeling like her hands covered in blood. All that fun stuff. She is unfortunately still dealing with Max Hastings who is accusing her of libel (definite asshat) (am I allowed to say that?)

All of this is made so much worse when she realizes she is being stalked…. and it’s super creepy, dead pigeons and chalk drawings getting closer to her house. The only person who listens and tries to help is Ravi (I love you RAVI!!!) This stalker is well known in the area but it is believed he was caught and is now and forever in jail.
But is he?
Pip is on the case of her life! Will she find the .killer before it’s too late?

I definitely recommend this series! And the last book, this finale, is amazing (chef’s kiss 💋).

Look for this on Sept. 28th!

🌟 Arc Book 🌟 The Bones of Ruin by Sarah Raughley

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Thank you Netgalley for this arc!!

Iris is an African tightrope dancer in a circus and the setting of Victorian London (which is so cool!). And, Iris has a secret she holds very close… she cannot die! However, she has absolutely no memory of who she is exactly and this search for her past becomes a big part of the plot. But when she meets Adam Temple everything begins to get more complicated and she is pulled into a tournament with many other characters that have really cool powers and abilities.

This book was so interesting and I’m curious to know where the next book will take me. However, I did not love the characters and the way they interacted. I feel like they just weren’t as complete feeling to me so I didn’t feel a strong connection and that made the dialog feel slightly forced at times.

I loved this world, especially at the time period, and do recommend this as a unique look at dark historical fantasy that is heaped in magic!

I’d like to add a trigger warning for racism that is taking place in the Victorian London setting, definitely part of this time period but I want anyone reading this to be aware of it.

Look for this coming out on Sept. 1st!

🌟 Arc Review 🌟 The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith

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This was an incredible read that had me in it’s clutches from the very beginning to the last page!

I loved following Frances from shopgirl to murderess and then to a school of witchcraft.  Six months prior Frances lost her brother.  He was murdered but the whole scenario remains mysterious and plagues Frances daily. 

I loved The group of friends surrounding Frances, not to mention a plot that made me keep turning pages throughout the whole story.  The setting is 1911 in NYC and to watch all of this unfold at that time was simply remarkable.  

I cannot recommend this book enough! It really does have something for everyone and will keep you on your toes! Do yourself a favor and don’t miss out on this one!

🌟 Arc Review 🌟 The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould

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Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for this incredible arc!

Wow! What a great creepy read! This is perfect for fans of spooky and chilling reads that are YA and LGBTQIA+ friendly.   All of these things combined made this one of my favorites while also getting me in the mood for Halloween and October and Fall in general,  lol. Ya’ll it’s so hot where I live, give me some autumn feels!

Logan arrives to Snakebite (a very small town in Oregon) with her dad, Alejo, to meet up with her other dad, Brandon.   However,  so much makes them stand out in this town.  Gay dads with a gay daughter and not only that (yes, this town is totally backwards) but when Brandon arrived 6 months prior to Logan and Alejo, a kid went missing and everyone thinks it’s their fault.  Oh, and I forgot to mention that the dads have their own ghost hunting show called Paraspectors! (So cool). 

Now, meet Ashley Barton.  A popular girl in this small town and also girlfriend to the missing kid, Tristan.   Get ready for a slow burn romance () and some serious ghost hunting once Logan and Ashley start hanging out (to the rest of the town’s dismay).

This book deals with some serious issues like, homophobia, grief, and true loneliness.   Snakebite is a town full of secrets and the Dark is waiting for it’s next victim.  

I love Ashley and Logan so much!! And this book fr gave me CHILLS  and goosebumps! Highly recommend for a scary read.  I need to give trigger warnings for violence, grief and homophobia.