Review: Renegades Blog Tour

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour! I'll be reviewing Renegades today, which I absolutely enjoyed. And yes, I am siding with the Anarchists, especially since I just know my cover as "innocent" is blown at this point, thanks to my *friends* that keep pointing out my mischievous side. And you know what? I do love the Anarchists in this series, so maybe I do belong with them.

Renegades by Marissa Meyer
Renegades #1
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: November 7th, 2017
Source: Blog Tour
Date Read: 9/27/17 to 10/13/17
576 pages

Secret Identities.
Extraordinary Powers.
She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies—humans with extraordinary abilities—who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice—and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both

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I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Quotes taken from ARC may or may not be in the published edition.

After loving the Lunar Chronicles (or most of it, seeing as I have yet to finish Winter because I don’t want it to end), it’s no surprised that I also enjoyed Renegades, Meyer’s newest release.

Renegades features superheros and supervillains, but it’s clear that at the start of this novel, the superheros have everything under control. They’re the winners, while the villains hide in an abandoned subway tunnel. At first glance, it seems like a black and white situation, because obviously heroes can do no wrong, right? Well, there’s always two sides to everything. For one, the heroes aren’t doing a very good job governing the city. Second, some of the Renegades are really vicious, and they justify their violence by saying they’re heroes.

I liked getting to know our two main characters, Nova and Adrian. Nova is an Anarchist, but the Renegades know almost nothing about her. Because of this, she becomes the perfect Renegade spy for the Anarchists. Adrian was born into the Renegades, but feels like he can do more with his powers. Plus, he is determined to find his mother’s killer, and believes that Nightmare (Nova in disguise) knows more than she lets on.

Overall, I really liked Renegades. Although the plot was slightly predictable, the world-building and character development were solid. I loved reading about each character’s abilities, especially since some of them were really unique (find cool character cards here!).

I’m very curious to see how the series will continue, especially with how this first book ended. And I seriously cannot believe that I have to wait at least a year before the next book!

MARISSA MEYER is the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles series, as well as the graphic novel Wires and Nerve: Vol. 1, and The Lunar Chronicles Coloring Book. Her first stand alone novel, Heartless, was also a #1 New York Times bestseller. She lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and their two daughters.

New York, NY – Feiwel & Friends will publish bestselling author Marissa Meyer’s Renegades on November 7, 2017, the first in a two book series about teen superheroes. With the blockbuster success of the Lunar Chronicles series and Heartless, Meyer has become one of the most sought after authors in young adult fiction. She will embark on a two-week national author tour at on-sale.

Blog Tour: A Million Junes (Favorite Unsolved Mysteries)

Hi everyone! Welcome to my stop of the blog tour!

Today, I'll be talking about my favorite unsolved mysteries. Why? Well, when I was younger, I would stumble upon documentaries, magazine articles, and Cracked.com articles discussing mysteries around the world that intrigued me. Sure, maybe some of these are due to photoshop, or just humans in general. BUT I CAN BELIEVE, right? Also when researching, some of the ones I stumbled upon are just downright creepy. 

One of the reasons why this idea came to me, is because of the magic surrounding A Million Junes. And how it plays a role in the story. Especially when it comes to the "thin" places, where the division between death and life is fuzzy. So you know, maybe there is magic here within these real life mysteries. WE WILL NEVER KNOW.

1. The Disappearance of Amelia Earhart. I know there is evidence that she may have been found, but I always hated, and at the same time wondered about, her disappearance. WHERE DID SHE GO? And why has it taken so long to find her? If you don't know who she is, she was the first female aviator to fly across the Atlantic Ocean solo. She disappeared (crashed?) when she was trying to circumnavigate the globe.

2. The Lost Colony of Roanoke. Remember the times we would talk about the first colony in social studies? And the fact that it just disappeared? WHAT HAPPENED TO IT? Basically what happened is that this first colony was kind of a miserable disaster, in that the land wasn't great for settling, and I think it was all swamp area? But anyways, there's a bunch of theories as to what happened, but I don't think we'll know for sure.

Also a similar thought, whatever happened to the Mayans? I always thought about this in World History class too...hmmm.

3. Crop circles. I used to watch documentaries about this on the History channel, I think (ok maybe just one). And I remember how a couple of farmers were like "it's a hoax, we made them ourselves", and then they would proceed to demonstrate how they used a sort of rake to make them. BUT WHY. I mean, I would like to believe that aliens are out there and are trying to send us a message.

Or I guess you could be like this poor student, trying to avoid studying for finals.

4. The Bermuda Triangle. More than 1000 boats and planes have disappeared in this area. Coincidence? OR MAGIC. There's really no one theory that can explain these crashes or disappearances, but the cool thing is that the boundary of this area continues to expand, thanks to the imagination of authors, in order to cover other incidents.

And that's all I can really think of at the moment, so thanks for stopping by! Are there any mysteries that you came across that you've wondered about? Are they more like places, like the ones above, or about certain people?

A Million Junes by Emily Henry

Publisher: Razorbill

Release Date: May 16th, 2017

Source: Blog Tour

Date Read: 5/4/17 to 5/10/17

350 pages

There are two things everyone in Five Fingers knows about the O'Donnells and the Angerts. One: They've been there the longest, ever since the town was first founded in the Gold Rush days. Two: They hate each other.

June O'Donnell--a.k.a. Junior, a.k.a. Jack, a.k.a. Jonathan O'Donnell IV, a.k.a. the first female O'Donnell first-born--has always been haunted--in more ways than one--by her family's complicated legacy. When June's father and best friend, Jack III, died suddenly seven years ago, she made up her mind to skip college and live the life of adventure that her dad always wanted for himself. Now seventeen and heading into her last year of high school, June is itching to leave her ghosts behind in Five Fingers and travel the world. It's not that she's not happy--she is, mostly--grief has left her with an emptiness that she believes only real life experience can fill.

But then what kind of O'Donnell would June be if an Angert didn't swoop in at a crucial moment and ruin everything? Enter Saul Angert, the eldest son of Eli Angert, a.k.a. June's father's mortal enemy, back in town from a writing career in the city to care for his ailing father. Somehow June's path just keeps getting tangled up with Saul's, no matter how creatively she tries to avoid it, until the unthinkable happens: She finds herself intrigued by this gruff, taciturn, yet strangely tender boy whom she was born to loathe.

But when June and Saul accidentally stumble into a bit of the forest magic, they are allowed a glimpse into the past at the fateful, horrible moment that started all the trouble between their families. Now, everything is different. The only problem is, June doesn't know if this new discovery means she should hate the Angerts even more, or if it's finally time for her--and all of the O'Donnells before her--to let go.

Emily Henry is the author of The Love That Split the World. She is a full-time writer, proofreader, and donut connoisseur. She studied creative writing at Hope College and the New York Center for Art & Media Studies, and now spends most of her time in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the part of Kentucky just beneath it. She tweets @EmilyHenryWrite.

Enter for a chance to win one (1) of five (5) copies of A Million Junes by Emily Henry (ARV: $16.99 each).

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on May 15, 2017 and 12:00 AM on June 2, 2017. Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about June 7, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

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TOUR SCHEDULE:

Week One:

May 15 – The Paige-Turner – Review & Mood Board

May 16 – Adventures of a Book Junkie – Author Q&A

May 17 – The Innocent Smiley – Favorite Unsolved Mysteries

May 18 – Arctic Books – Review

May 19 – Twirling Pages – Review

Week Two:

May 22 – ButterMyBooks – Book Look

May 23 – Ex Libris – Review 

May 24 – The Children’s Book Review – Guest Post

May 25 – The Young Folks – Review 

May 26 – Brittany’s Book Rambles – Guest Post

Week Three:

May 29 – Mundie Moms – Review

May 30 – Tales of the Ravenous Reader – Author Q&A

May 31 – Fiction Fare – Podcast Author Q&A

June 1 – YA Bibliophile – Guest Post

June 2 – Forever Young Adult – A Million Junes Cocktail

Review: The Vicar of Nibbleswick (Happy 100th Birthday Roald Dahl)

The Vicar Of Nibbleswicke by Roald Dahl
Publisher: Puffin Books
Release Date: May 1st, 1994
Source: Blog Tour
Date Read: 9/18/16
48 pages

Rating: ✰✰✰✰

The Reverend Lee is suffering from a rare and acutely embarrassing situation: Back-to-Front Dyslexia. It affects only his speech, and he doesn't realize he's doing it, but the parishioners of Nibbleswicke are shocked and confused by his seemingly outrageous comments.

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I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

Flashback to second grade, where my teacher read to us most of Roald Dahl's books. It was there that I learned about James and the Giant Peach, The Witches, The BFG, and more. When my teacher mentioned that that was all the books we would read by him, I distinctly remember telling her that NO those weren't all the books and there were MORE. And then I went on a frenzy looking for more of his books. It was an obsession.

The Vicar of Nibbleswicke was one of those books we never got to. Though it is a picture book and not as well known as the others, it encompasses the same quality. In The Vicar of Nibbleswicke, the main character is dyslexic, but has learned to control it. Until the day he becomes the Vicar, it all unravels! Next thing you know, he's saying "dog" instead of "God". Hilarity ensues.

(Even though I am not a speech pathologist, it seems more than a coincidence that I am reviewing this seeing as my area of interest is language production and speech planning).

I quite enjoyed The Vicar of Nibbleswicke! If you have children, or are looking for a fun, short read, then this may be the book for you! You can win it in the giveaway at the end of this post!

Roald Dahl (1916–1990) was one of the world’s most imaginative, successful and beloved storytellers. He was born in Wales of Norwegian parents and spent much of his childhood in England. After establishing himself as a writer for adults with short story collections such as Kiss Kiss and Tales of the Unexpected, Roald Dahl began writing children's stories in 1960 while living with his family in both the U.S. and in England. His first stories were written as entertainment for his own children, to whom many of his books are dedicated.

Roald Dahl’s first children’s story, The Gremlins, was a story about little creatures that were responsible for the various mechanical failures on airplanes. The Gremlins came to the attention of both First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who loved to read the story to her grandchildren, and Walt Disney, with whom Roald Dahl had discussions about the production of a movie.

Roald Dahl was inspired by American culture and by many of the most quintessential American landmarks to write some of his most memorable passages, such as the thrilling final scenes in James and the Giant Peach - when the peach lands on the Empire State Building! Upon the publication of James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl began work on the story that would later be published as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and today, Roald Dahl’s stories are available in 58 languages and, by a conservative estimate, have sold more than 200 million copies.

Roald Dahl also enjoyed great success for the screenplays he wrote for both the James Bond film You Only Live Twice in 1967 and for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, released one year later, which went on to become a beloved family film. Roald Dahl’s popularity continues to increase as his fantastic novels, including James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Matilda, The BFG, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, delight an ever-growing legion of fans.

Two charities have been founded in Roald Dahl’s memory: the first charity, Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, created in 1991, focuses on making life better for seriously ill children through the funding of specialist nurses, innovative medical training, hospitals, and individual families across the UK.

The second charity, The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre – a unique cultural, literary and education hub – opened in June 2005 in Great Missenden where Roald Dahl lived and wrote many of his best-loved works. 10% of income from Roald Dahl books and adaptations are donated to the two Roald Dahl charities.

On September 13, 2006, the first national Roald Dahl Day was celebrated, on what would have been the author’s 90th birthday. The event proved such a success that Roald Dahl Day is now marked annually all over the world. September 13, 2016 is Roald Dahl 100, marking 100 years since the birth of the world’s number one storyteller. There will be celebrations for Roald Dahl 100 throughout 2016, delivering a year packed with gloriumptious treats and surprises for everyone.

Author Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

   

Don't forget about the giveaway below!
1 winner can pick 5 books from the Roald Dahl collection! US Only.

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Harper Summer 2016 Tour

Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oakes
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 3rd, 2016
320 pages

As Princess of Wonderland Palace and the future Queen of Hearts, Dinah’s days are an endless monotony of tea, tarts, and a stream of vicious humiliations at the hands of her father, the King of Hearts. The only highlight of her days is visiting Wardley, her childhood best friend, the future Knave of Hearts — and the love of her life.

When an enchanting stranger arrives at the Palace, Dinah watches as everything she’s ever wanted threatens to crumble. As her coronation date approaches, a series of suspicious and bloody events suggests that something sinister stirs in the whimsical halls of Wonderland. It’s up to Dinah to unravel the mysteries that lurk both inside and under the Palace before she loses her own head to a clever and faceless foe.

Part epic fantasy, part twisted fairy tale, this dazzling saga will have readers shivering as Dinahs furious nature sweeps Wonderland up in the maelstrom of her wrath.

Familiar characters such as Cheshire, the White Rabbit, and the Mad Hatter make their appearance, enchanting readers with this new, dark take on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

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Colleen Oakes is the author of books for both teens and adults, including The Elly in Bloom Series, The Queen of Hearts Saga (Harper Collins 2016) and The Wendy Darling Saga. She lives in North Denver with her husband and son and surrounds herself with the most lovely family and friends imaginable. When not writing or plotting new books, Colleen can be found swimming, traveling and totally immersing herself in nerdy pop culture. She currently at work on another YA fantasy series and a stand-alone YA novel.

Author Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Hey guys! I am super excited to be participating in the Harper Summer 2016 Tour! For one, I actually reviewed Queen of Hearts exactly 2 years ago! You can find my review here, which turned out to be my first ARC review (so exciting haha!). Also at that time, it was published under a different company, and it also had a different cover.

Obviously, I am excited that Queen of Hearts will be publishing under HarperTeen, where I hope it will get SO MUCH MORE PUBLICITY.

A Harper Teen Summer 2016 Catalog prize pack of 45 books* (US Only)

*Titles not included: The Crown by Kiera Cass, Escape from Asylum by Madeline Roux, Sing by Vivi Greene, The Countdown by Kimberly Derting, & United As One by Pittacus Lore

In addition to the one massive prize winner, we will also have 4 winners who will be able to select 3 titles they want from the Summer 2016 Catalog.

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5 Finished Copies from the Harper Teen Winter 2016 Catalog (US Only)

5 books are: Front Lines by Michael Grant, Revenge & the Wild by Michelle Modesto, The Lifeboat Clique by Kathy Parks, Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin, & The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

How to enter: Collect the daily word from each blog stop during the Harper Summer 2016 Tour (a total of 50). Once you’ve collected them all, email the complete saying to: HarperTeenTour@gmail.com

The Daily Word From My Blog Is: in

Prize Rules:

1. Winner must have a valid US mailing address to receive the prize
2. Winner must be over 13
3. Only one (1) entry per person for Prize #2 – duplicates will be deleted.
4. Only a completed phrase will be accepted as an entry – do not email each word/phrase daily. Wait until you have the complete saying and then email in.
5. All email submissions must be received by 11:59 PM EST 3/31/2016.
6. Winners will be selected 4/1/2016 and will have 48 hours to claim their prize before another is selected.
7. Participating blogs and bloggers are not responsible for unsent, damaged, and/or stolen prizes offered by the publisher.


Leap Year Giveaway - 4 of the most anticipated ARCs from Summer 2016 (US Only)

Books are: My Lady Jane, Ivory & Bone, The Crown's Game and This Savage Song

How to enter:

This giveaway will only run on February 29, 2016. The rafflecopter form will work for 24 hours and a winner will be chosen on March 1, 2016.

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Val's Own Giveaway of Queen of Hearts ARC (US & International!)

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Lastly, you can RSVP for the first ever Facebook Authors Chat where you will have a chance to win more books and goodies! The cat will be on 2/16/2016 at 8PM EST. Click HERE for more info!

Review: We Are The Ants Blog Tour + Giveaway

We Are The Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: January 26th, 2016
Source: Irish Banana Tours + Edelweiss
Date Read: 1/25/16 to 1/27/16
400 pages

Rating: ✰✰✰✰

Henry Denton doesn’t know why the aliens chose to abduct him when he was thirteen, and he doesn’t know why they continue to steal him from his bed and take him aboard their ship. He doesn’t know why the world is going to end or why the aliens have offered him the opportunity to avert the impending disaster by pressing a big red button.

But they have. And they’ve only given him 144 days to make up his mind.

Since the suicide of his boyfriend, Jesse, Henry has been adrift. He’s become estranged from his best friend, started hooking up with his sworn enemy, and his family is oblivious to everything that’s going on around them. As far as Henry is concerned, a world without Jesse is a world he isn’t sure is worth saving. Until he meets Diego Vega, an artist with a secret past who forces Henry to question his beliefs, his place in the universe, and whether any of it really matters. But before Henry can save the world, he’s got to figure out how to save himself, and the aliens haven’t given him a button for that.

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Shaun is a major geek and all about nerdy shenanigans. He is the author of The Deathday Letter, fml, and the forthcoming The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley. He can be reached at shaun@shaundavidhutchinson.com. He currently lives in South Florida with his partner and dog and watches way too much Doctor Who.

Author Website | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Quotes taken from ARC may or may not be in the published edition.

What did I just read? Wow. All I can say, is that this is incredibly underrated. I know initially I thought that this would be strictly science fiction, but man was I wrong. Instead, I was hit with the harshness of reality.

Henry Denton has been nicknamed Space boy. Ridiculed for claiming that he was abducted by aliens, he faces bullying in school almost every day. And along with that, he also needs to learn to deal with the loss of his boyfriend, who committed suicide without any warning whatsoever. For Henry, there really isn't anything stopping him from not pressing the button, the button that determines whether the Earth is saved or not.

Although I wasn't expecting a huge focus on contemporary, surprisingly, I didn't mind it. Every character had their place in their novel, from Henry to his science teacher, Ms. Faraci. I grew to love Henry's family, which although a little dysfunctional, still managed to come together in times of need. Like his Nana has Alzheimer's, and it was heartbreaking watching her forget names or people. Then there was also the brother, Charlie, who was such an asshole to Henry, yet still worried about him when he went missing due to the abductions.

And speaking of these alien abductions, it made me wonder whether this was something that really happened to Henry, or if it was a huge metaphor in regards to Henry's view on life. This is something the reader has to decide for themselves, and in this way, We Are The Ants reminded me a little of We All Looked Up. Is the world really going to end? Or is it all just Henry's imagination? And also, was he going to press the button or not?

We Are The Ants is a story of all the up's and down's of life, but mainly the more negative parts of it. Henry blames himself for Jesse's death. He can't seem to move on, especially when Diego comes into the picture. He can't even find a way to reform his friendship with his best friend Audrey. And yet even when everything seems to be alright, life finds a way to fuck it up again. This is life, and you just have to accept and acknowledge it.

Overall, there were a lot of things in We Are The Ants that really touched me in some way, and there is no way I'll be able to put it all into my own words. All I can say is that THIS IS REALLY GOOD, and YOU SHOULD READ THIS. 

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Review: Steam Blog Tour + Giveaway

Steam by Stacey Rourke
The Legends Saga #3
Publisher: Anchor Group
Release Date: September 10th, 2014
Source: Xpresso Blog Tour
Date Read: 9/14/15 to 9/16/15
209 Pages
Rating: ✰✰✰✰

Time passes, sins forgotten.
The bodies of the victims long since rotten.

Trapped within the essence of the Headless Horseman by the guilt of slaughtering her best friend, Ireland Crane follows the father of science fiction, HG Wells, in search of freedom from the curse that binds her. Instead, she discovers even he has a hidden agenda. A dark, relentless passion to be reunited with the woman he loves has driven him to manipulate time and a murderous Horseman.

Yet heed my warning, as the Raven flies,
The Hessian will come … and you will die.

All that prevents Ireland from abandoning Wells’ twisted pursuit, or introducing him to her sword, are the undead witches haunting her. Begging for freedom from a vile succubus, the ghoulish coven leads Ireland and her crew on a journey through Salem’s sordid past. There, they learn there is more to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s history than a scarlet letter, and the secret they’ve uncovered seeks to destroy them all.

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RONE Award Winner for Best YA Paranormal Work of 2012 for Embrace, a Gryphon Series Novel
Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012
Turning Pages Magazine Winner for Best YA book of 2013 & Best Teen Book of 2013

Stacey Rourke is the author of the award winning YA Gryphon Series, the chillingly suspenseful Legends Saga, and the romantic comedy Adapted for Film. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant dogs. She loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction, and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head.

Author Website | Blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

It's not a huge surprised that I signed up for the Legends Saga blog tour, seeing as I have read her first book, and fell in love with it, so obviously I'm going to finish up the series.

In the first two books, we were introduced to a number of characters. The first focused on Ireland Crane, who has the Hessian, or the Headless Horseman, inside of her. She views it as a curse, since she can't exactly control the crazy, bloodthirsty Hessian that's inside her just waiting to take over her body. In the second book, we're also introduced to Ridley, who is connected to Edgar Allen Poe. When he isn't around Ireland, he ends up seeing these weird visions.

There's also Rip and Noah and then H. G. Wells appears, promising Ireland answers to all her questions. But really? There's definitely more to what he appears to be. And plus, a couple new characters, Peyton and Malachi, join the group.

I'm going to be honest and say I kind of got lost at the beginning, and I do wish that there was some summary or flashback to what happened in the previous book (seeing as I read it a year ago). But the more I read, the more I was drawn into the story. Especially since it went into the Salem Witch Trials, and with this character, Preen, who actually did end up being a part of a Wiccan group. And then I really wasn't expecting what happened to her in the end.

One of the only gripes I had with the novel, and maybe the entire series itself, was that I was often times confused at what was going on with the Sleepy Hollow group POV. Like in Steam, the story jumps from being in a club, to a train, and this quick transitions weren't clearly written out. Also, I didn't understand the use of Peyton.

Overall, I still really liked the series, and I'm glad I stuck out with it as it was published. Though I'm assuming that this is the last installment in this trilogy, and I actually don't know if this is true? (What does the term "Saga" actually mean?) Either way, that ending pretty much killed me, and I was left wondering what could happened after the epilogue. And what that epilogue means in general. But yes, I'm so glad I was given this opportunity to read this series! 

Oh look! A giveaway

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ARC Review: The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly Blog Tour

The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes
Publisher: Dial/Penguin
Release Date: June 9th, 2015
Source: FFBC Blog Tour
Date Read: 4/5/15 to 4/8/15
400 pages

Rating: ✰✰✰1/2 

With a harrowing poetic voice, this contemporary page-turner is perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak, Julie Berry's All The Truth That's in Me, and the works of Ellen Hopkins.

The Kevinian cult has taken everything from seventeen-year-old Minnow: twelve years of her life, her family, her ability to trust.

And when she rebelled, they took away her hands, too.

Now their Prophet has been murdered and their camp set aflame, and it's clear that Minnow knows something—but she's not talking. As she languishes in juvenile detention, she struggles to un-learn everything she has been taught to believe, adjusting to a life behind bars and recounting the events that led up to her incarceration. But when an FBI detective approaches her about making a deal, Minnow sees she can have the freedom she always dreamed of—if she’s willing to part with the terrible secrets of her past.

The Sacred Lies of Minnow By is a hard-hitting and hopeful story about the dangers of blind faith—and the power of having faith in oneself.

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Stephanie Oakes is a teacher and YA author from Washington State. Her debut novel, THE SACRED LIES OF MINNOW BLY (Dial/Penguin, June 9, 2015), about a girl who escapes from a religious commune only to find herself at the center of a murder investigation, is based on the Grimm fairy tale, "The Handless Maiden."

THE ARSONIST, her second YA mystery through Dial/Penguin, is scheduled for publication in fall 2016.

Author Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Tumblr

The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly was completely different from what I expected at all. Actually, the cover reminded me of those Salem Witch Trials (which I live a couple towns over from), and though it is not about witches, it is about a cult. Same thing right?

This reminds me that I should keep watch AHS: Coven, I started it 2 years ago.

Minnow is part of this Kevinian cult that's in the middle of the woods. In the beginning, she follows the rules like the good little girl she is, but then over time she discovers that she's been brainwashed. And the boy in the woods who she's attracted to doesn't help. After a turn of events, Minnow ends up in juvie, which is where she tells her story to the FBI detective helping her.

To be honest, I wasn't expecting Minnow to be in juvie in the beginning. I expected a more linear narrative of what happened, without flashbacks. I didn't exactly know why she was there in the first place until more than two-thirds of the way into the novel. (I'm going to honest and say I'm starting to avoid novels about prison life because I end up pitying the characters in prison and I am also not very fond of authority and I NEED CHAOS). Actually, this book very much reminded me of The Walls Around Us, except without any paranormal aspects, and without hands.

SPEAKING OF HANDS, there were none in this book. Ha! Just kidding. But seriously, Minnow has no hands because it was punishment for fleeing the community. Books like this make me seriously question the existence of cults, and why they are exempted from the law (at least in this book). I felt bad for Minnow, but other than that, I didn't really connect with her. Sometimes I wonder if her disability should've caused more trouble than it did, but then again the emphasis wasn't on her missing body parts but more on her story.

And speaking of said story, this book REALLY keeps you in the dark until the last few chapters. Everything including the murder of the cult leader, to how Minnow got to juvie in the first place, and the fate of her "boyfriend" Jude. Of course, this is to be expected since the title IS The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly, but it's not like the narrator was unreliable or anything, like seen in Code Name Verity.

I did enjoy the book, even though I didn't connect to the characters. The only character I did like was Angel, who was Minnow's cell mate, and I actually was more interested in her story over everything else. But other than that, I'm glad that I got to read this. Thanks FFBC tours!  

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Giveaway!: Tiny Pretty Things

Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra & Dhonielle Clayton

Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: May 28th, 2015

Black Swan meets Pretty Little Liars in this soapy, drama-packed debut novel featuring diverse characters who will do anything to be the prima at their elite ballet school.

Gigi, Bette, and June, three top students at an exclusive Manhattan ballet school, have seen their fair share of drama. Free-spirited new girl Gigi just wants to dance—but the very act might kill her. Privileged New Yorker Bette's desire to escape the shadow of her ballet star sister brings out a dangerous edge in her. And perfectionist June needs to land a lead role this year or her controlling mother will put an end to her dancing dreams forever. When every dancer is both friend and foe, the girls will sacrifice, manipulate, and backstab to be the best of the best.

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Hey guys! I'm here to basically just spread the word about Tiny Pretty Things, and showcase this amazing giveaway the authors and publishers are hosting through Rafflecopter!

One of the reasons I am very excited to read this is 1) it's about ballet, and even though I don't seem like the type that would like it, I actually DO like reading about it. I used to take ballet classes when I was younger, I mean who didn't hahah. And also 2) the cover for Tiny Pretty Things is gorgeous! It really caught my eye while I was scrolling through Edelweiss.

And with that, I hope you guys enter the giveaway!

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Review: This Shattered World Blog Tour

This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner 
Starbound #2
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: December 23rd, 2014
Source: The Midnight Garden Blog Tour
Date Read: 12/9/14 to 12/20/14
390 Pages
Rating: ✰✰✰✰

The second installment in the epic Starbound trilogy introduces a new pair of star-crossed lovers on two sides of a bloody war.

Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac should never have met.

Lee is captain of the forces sent to Avon to crush the terraformed planet's rebellious colonists, but she has her own reasons for hating the insurgents.

Rebellion is in Flynn's blood. Terraforming corporations make their fortune by recruiting colonists to make the inhospitable planets livable, with the promise of a better life for their children. But they never fulfilled their promise on Avon, and decades later, Flynn is leading the rebellion.

Desperate for any advantage in a bloody and unrelentingly war, Flynn does the only thing that makes sense when he and Lee cross paths: he returns to base with her as prisoner. But as his fellow rebels prepare to execute this tough-talking girl with nerves of steel, Flynn makes another choice that will change him forever. He and Lee escape the rebel base together, caught between two sides of a senseless war.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

First off, thank you to the Midnight Garden for hosting this blog tour! I didn't realize it had to be a weekdate until now since I was going to post it on Sunday, but I guess today will have to do. (Been a bit bogged down by finals the past few days, sadly)

Tomorrow is the release day of This Shattered World!

To the review! To be honest, even though this was the sequel to These Broken Stars, I feel that you could just read this without reading the prequel. The book features two new characters, though I do have to mention that we get to see Lilac and Tarver from the first book.

Onto the review!

This Shattered World features our star-crossed lovers, Captain Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac, each from two different sides of a conflict on the underdeveloped, or currently being developed planet Avon. Unfortunately the inhabitants on Avon are not happy with the current situation on their planet. The terraforming is going poorly, and there are always clouds in the skies, and swamps everywhere.

And soldiers everywhere. All in all, it's not a very safe place.

Jubilee chase, a captain stationed on Avon, is simply put, kick-ass and always in line. UNTIL SHE MEETS FLYNN CORMAC, from the rebellion! Flynn, who has the guts to kidnap her because he wants information about the secret facility in the swamps that no one knows about. But no, he doesn't want to kill her. Unfortunately the other rebels do.

Personally, I loved This Shattered World better than These Broken Stars. The characters were amazing, I loved both Flynn and Jubilee (even though I wasn't as attached to them as I thought I would be). Though I did like Lilac and Tarver just as much, I felt there was just more action overall surrounding Jubilee and Flynn. The whole novel was full of action, and the ending answered all my questions from the first book. In These Broken Stars, the ending felt a little off for me because I was extremely confused. But now, I understand what is going on, kind of. More than before at least. 

Also, there were little snippets of Jubilee's dreams between the chapters, which were written in an almost lyrical way, in that they were analogous to what was happening to her at that moment. It definitely gave her more depth as a character. 

Also, is it just me, but did anyone else think that Tarver was 40 years old when we first met him? I don't know why I thought that! But apparently This Shattered World took place 8 months after the first book. So I am completely wrong haha. 

BUT YEAH TARVER AND LILAC APPEAR. Just letting anyone who are hardcore fans of them hahah.

But yeah! Overall, I really enjoyed This Shattered World, even though I felt that it could've been better in the 3rd person (I'm in no position to say that though). I think the beginning of the novel was teensy weensy bit info-dumpy, AND I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD'VE FELT THE FEELS, but I didn't? Plus, I'm sure the ending wasn't as plot-twisty as its prequel (but then again I did NOT understand the ending to TBS until, well, nope I still don't) Other than that, THIS WAS A GOOD BOOK. 

BUT WHO'S READY FOR A GIVEAWAY?

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