Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Waiting on Wednesday #558

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

RIVEN BY MINDEE ARNETT

Goodreads Description:

From acclaimed fantasy author Mindee Arnett comes an epic, adventurous story of a young mercenary magic-user trying to escape the oppressive island of Riven—and a young noblewoman trying to change it forever.

Mars Darksvane wants out. Out from under the thumb of Una, the crime boss who pulled him off the streets as a child and trained him as an assassin; out from the island country of Riven, where magic, in the form of a dangerous material called Ice, allows the rich to live in luxury and keeps the poor in thrall. Mars is a secret adept—a person born with the ability to channel the magic that flows beneath Riven—and while his power gives him abilities useful to an assassin, it also makes him a target. And when his last mission ends in tragedy, Mars finally decides it’s time to escape to the mainland. No magic, no history, a new life on his own.

But Una has other ideas. If Mars wants his freedom, he’s going to have to perform a final job: protecting Fura Torvald—the heiress of the rich and powerful Torvald kith, and the daughter of the last man Mars was sent to kill—and stealing from her a mysterious object known only as the Primer.

Mars has no interest in Fura or whatever the Primer is, nor in Riven’s corrupt and oppressive politics; he just wants to do his job and get out. But as Mars comes to know more about Fura, the Primer, and the true nature of the power in Riven, he realizes that he will soon have to take a side in a fight he has avoided his entire life. Which side, however, he does not yet know.

Mindee Arnett, the acclaimed author of Onyx & Ivory, returns with a sweeping, pulse-pounding new fantasy adventure set in an unforgettable world in which the power you have can set you free, or bind you in chains forever.

Hardcover, 400 pages
Expected publication: January 10th 2023 by Balzer + Bray
Pre-Order: Book Depository
and Amazon #ad

Eeee! New Mindee book :D I am so excited for this one. <3 It looks gorgeous. And sounds so awesome too. I am certain that I'm going to love this book a whole bunch. <3 Excited to see the cover in person :)
What are you waiting for on this magical Wednesday?

Saturday, June 25, 2022

In My Mailbox #555

Gosh, this week have been exhausting. Good, but I am so very tired and no energy left at all. Oops. I still need to read. But soon. Hopefully in the next days :) Fingers crossed. I had my hospital visit this week, got more medicine. That went fine, thankfully. Now just waiting for it to work, so I can finally feel better :) Fingers crossed for me, please. <3 Got a bit of gorgeous mail this week too :D Bunch of books, oops. Will be busy these next days and all of next week. We are finally getting a little summer weather and heat. <3 Too excited :) Hope I will be able to read as well. This week I'm waiting on Malice House :) Hope you are all doing okay and staying safe. <3 Seems like there are always bad news these days. Which fully sucks.

Juniper & Thorn. I now own two books by Ava, and hoping to read both very soon. <3 It is so pretty.
Rise of the Vicious Princess. EEE! Finally a new C. J. book :D I am SO excited about this precious. <3
Rise of the School for Good and Evil. Another version of this pretty book, haha :D Reading it soonish.
Skyborn: Sparrow Rising. Of course I had to buy this paperback edition too, haha. Such a good book :)
The Ever Never Handbook. Two copies, of course. LOVE this new cover, eee. It looks so very epic. <3
Pop Figures. A couple new ones bought while out of town :) So love the DNA one from Jurassic, haha.
Animal Crossing. More Amiibo figures bought, from Amazon Japan. <3 They are just simply gorgeous.

More Instagram photos here. <3

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Waiting on Wednesday #557

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

MALICE HOUSE BY MEGAN SHEPHERD

Goodreads Description:

New York Times bestselling author Megan Shepherd (The Madman’s Daughter) weaves a complex tale of dark magic and family secrets when a woman attempts to settle the estate of her father, an acclaimed horror novelist. Perfect for fans of Lovecraft Country, Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House, and The Babadook.

YOU CAN'T KEEP OUT WHAT'S ALREADY INSIDE

“One step away from our world lies another: a land of violent fantasies, of sharp-toothed delights. . . .”

Of all the things aspiring artist Haven Marbury expected to find while clearing out her late father’s remote seaside house, Bedtime Stories for Monsters was not on the list. This secret handwritten manuscript is disturbingly different from his Pulitzer-winning works: its interweaving short stories crawl with horrific monsters and enigmatic humans that exist somewhere between this world and the next. The stories unsettle but also entice Haven, practically compelling her to illustrate them while she stays in the house that her father warned her was haunted. Clearly just dementia whispering in his ear . . . right?

Reeling from a failed marriage, Haven hopes an illustrated Bedtime Stories can be the lucrative posthumous father-daughter collaboration she desperately needs to jump-start her art career. However, everyone in the nearby vacation town wants a piece of the manuscript: her father’s obsessive literary salon members, the Ink Drinkers; her mysterious yet charming neighbor, who has a tendency toward three a.m. bonfires; a young barista with a literary forgery business; and of course, whoever keeps trying to break into her house. But when a monstrous creature appears under Haven’s bed right as grisly deaths are reported in the nearby woods, she must race to uncover dark, otherworldly family secrets—completely rewriting everything she ever knew about herself in the process.

“Haunting and beautifully written . . . an exploration of the mysterious power of stories.”
—Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls and The Last to Vanish

Hardcover, 384 pages
Expected publication: October 4th 2022 by Hyperion Avenue
Pre-Order: Book Depository
and Amazon #ad

I'm pretty excited about this one, eee :D I have been a fan of Megan for so many years now. <3 I also do not read a lot of adult books. But I will read this one, ha :) It sounds creepy and awesome. Cannot wait.
What are you waiting for on this haunted Wednesday?

Saturday, June 18, 2022

In My Mailbox #554

Another week gone by. And gone by so fast too. How rude. I have not had a good week. I am always exhausted. And so very behind on everything. I have no energy at all, so I'm not getting anything done. My health is worse than ever, which really, really sucks. And so I need to start medicine again, got an appointment for next week already. I wanted a longer break, but not possible, as all of me hurts so badly. So yeah. Medicine soon, and hoping that will make me much better. Fingers crossed. I got gorgeous mail this week, though, so yay for that :D I just hope I will be able to read again soon, once I feel better again. Oh! I did manage to go see Jurassic World: Dominion yesterday. <3 And I loved it a bunch :) This week I'm waiting on The Dream Runners :D I hope you are all doing well. <3 I'm waiting for summer to return :)

The Midnight Orchestra. I'm very excited for this second book, eee :D As I adored the first one so much.
Rise of the School for Good and Evil. My personalized copy arrived. <3 And the sampler from Alyssa :D
Gilded Swag. EEE! Thank you so much Alyssa for helping me get this pre-order swag. <3 Hugs. Love!
Feather and Flame. Bought this because I have been a fan of Livia for so many years. It looks awesome.
For the Throne. US and UK editions :D As I have both editions of the first. <3 Hoping to read both soon.
Wretched Waterpark. Still buying all Kiersten books, ha :) Only read a few by her, yet so excited for this.
Mario Strikers. New Mario game for my Nintendo Switch :D Yay! Not a fotball fan, but it looks so great.
Pop Figures. First four are from Funko Nordic, eee. <3 Thank you so so much :D All new, all stunning.
Animal Crossing. Two new Amiibo figures for me :D Love. I'm missing more, but slowly buying them all.

More Instagram photos here. <3

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Waiting on Wednesday #556

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

THE DREAM RUNNERS BY SHVETA THAKRAR

Goodreads Description:

A lush tapestry of dreams, myth, and magic--perfect for fans of Holly Black, Roshani Chokshi, and Margaret Rogerson.

Seven years ago, Tanvi was spirited away to the subterranean realm of Nagalok, where she joined the ranks of the dream runners: human children freed of all memory and emotion, who collect mortal dreams for the entertainment of the serpentine, immortal naga court.

But when one of Tanvi's dream harvests goes awry, she begins to remember her life on earth. Panicked and confused, she turns to the one mortal in Nagalok who might be able to help: Venkat, the dreamsmith responsible for collecting the dream runners' wares and shaping them into the kingdom's most tantalizing commodity. And as they search for answers, a terrifying truth begins to take shape--one that could turn the nagas' realm of dreams into a land of waking nightmare.

From the author of the Indie Next selection and Andre Norton Award finalist Star Daughter, this stand-alone contemporary fantasy, inspired by the nagas and garudas of Hindu mythology, is full of slow-burning romance, haunting intrigue, and shimmering magic.

Hardcover, 448 pages
Expected publication: June 28th 2022 by Harperteen
Pre-Order: Book Depository
and Amazon #ad

I am pretty excited about this one :D Got an ARC of it last week, eee. <3 First print ARC in ages. And I will be reading it this month. I'm hoping to end up loving it :) As it looks so gorgeous and seems great :D
What are you waiting for on this dreamy Wednesday?

Saturday, June 11, 2022

In My Mailbox #553

This week have been preeetty exhausting. Been having headaches every day, ugh. A little better now, but not too good. Have also been walking a lot this week, as I'm playing pokemon go, haha :) I suppose it's good for me, but it do make my body feel pretty dead. But anyway. This week have still been good :) Just busy and exhausting. Haven't done any kind of catching up yet. Gah. But have taken a few new photos, so I'm happy with that :) Got some books this week in the mail too, eee. <3 Waiting on more awesome mail too. This week I'm waiting on The Foxglove King :D Hope you're all doing well and staying safe. <3

The School for Good and Evil. Oops. I already own all of these paperbacks, ha. But wanted the box :D
Rise of the School for Good and Evil. Prequel story is here, eee. <3 And it looks so very gorgeous. Yess.
The Dream Runners. EEE! Thank you so much Harper360YA for sending me this ARC :D So excited.
Loungefly. Oops. I bought another Loungefly item, ha. A new purse. Which is just all kinds of adorable.
Pop Figure. Only one new pop this week, ha :D This was supposed to come last fall.. ha. But love him :)

More Instagram photos here. <3

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Waiting on Wednesday #555

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

THE FOXGLOVE KING BY HANNAH WHITTEN

Goodreads Description:

In this lush, romantic new epic fantasy series from New York Times bestselling author Hannah Whitten, a young woman's secret power to raise the dead plunges her into the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King's royal court.

When Lore was thirteen, she escaped a cult in the catacombs beneath the city of Dellaire. And in the ten years since, she’s lived by one rule: don’t let them find you. Easier said than done, when her death magic ties her to the city.

Mortem, the magic born from death, is a high-priced and illicit commodity in Dellaire, and Lore’s job running poisons keeps her in food, shelter, and relative security. But when a run goes wrong and Lore’s power is revealed, she’s taken by the Presque Mort, a group of warrior-monks sanctioned to use Mortem working for the Sainted King. Lore fully expects a pyre, but King August has a different plan. Entire villages on the outskirts of the country have been dying overnight, seemingly at random. Lore can either use her magic to find out what’s happening and who in the King’s court is responsible, or die.

Lore is thrust into the Sainted King’s glittering court, where no one can be believed and even fewer can be trusted. Guarded by Gabriel, a duke-turned-monk, and continually running up against Bastian, August’s ne’er-do-well heir, Lore tangles in politics, religion, and forbidden romance as she attempts to navigate a debauched and opulent society.

But the life she left behind in the catacombs is catching up with her. And even as Lore makes her way through the Sainted court above, they might be drawing closer than she thinks.

Paperback, 400 pages
Expected publication: March 16th 2023 by Orbit Books
Pre-Order: Book Depository
and Amazon #ad

I am pretty excited about this book :D I have yet to read anything by Hannah, oops, but I own her first book, and her second that just came out, is on the way :) I just know that I will love all her books, haha. Just need the time and energy to read them. Soon, I hope. <3 And this newest looks so gorgeous, eee.
What are you waiting for on this glittering Wednesday?

Saturday, June 4, 2022

In My Mailbox #552

Another week gone by. I finished reading Lightbringer, eee :D In less than a week, ha! I'm proud of that :) Considering it took me three weeks to re-read Kingsbane. Oops. But yeah. I'm dead now. These books killed me. And I need a little healing time. I know what I'm reading next, but first going to spend some time re-watching some movies, haha :) This week we had several days with heat and sun. It was perfection. I spent hours outside and loved it so much. <3 I get tan just sitting outside for a moment, ha, so very tan now :) The sun didn't last too long, as we now have some days with rain. Rude. But still so happy to have had a few days of summer. <3 My health still sucks. Of course I got another cold this week, just a couple of weeks after my last one. Uuugh. But feels like this one is just small, ha, and hopefully almost over with already. Fingers crossed. I'm exhausted. But doing good. Busy with Animal Crossing New Horizons. <3 And pokemon go too :) Especially this weekend, as there is an event. This week I'm waiting on Strike the Zither :D And I shared my review of Lightbringer, eee. <3 I hope you are all doing well and staying safe :)


Pop Figures. A few more pre-orders arrived, ha :D Christmas one ordered last summer. So slow. Cute.
Loungefly. Eee! Isn't this Tigger the cutest thing? :D It's my second backpack. And I love it so very much.

More Instagram photos here. <3

Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Review: Lightbringer by Claire Legrand

These books have ruined me. And I do not know if I will be able to find all the words to describe how very much I loved this final book. Will begin by sharing that it is a five star, of course. I loved this with all of my heart. Well, what is left of it. Because this book completely ruined it. Not sure if there is anything left of me, haha.

There is so much that happens in this book. So much for me to write about. But feeling like I will not be able to share much about it at all. I feel a little empty. Lightbringer was just so good. So epic and fantastic. And so goddamn evil and hurtful. It took me almost two years to finally read this final book. To be brave enough for it.

And I needed that time, I feel like. But I'm glad I was finally brave enough, though. That I at last re-read Furyborn and Kingsbane. It took me less than a week to read Lightbringer, as I could not stop reading. It was exciting and thrilling from beginning to end. It also ruined me from the very beginning. So rude. I had been putting off reading this book for so long, as I peeked back then. I knew how it ended. I knew I would love it so, so much. But I also knew how very much it would break me. Ever since I read Kingsbane years ago, I have known what was to come between Rielle and Corien. And I did not want to read it. Not one bit. Because it would make me so very angry and sad and simply completely ruin my heart. It did. It really, truly did. But I also dealt with it better now, I think. It wasn't as bad as I feared. So I'm thankful too.

Okay, only thankful that it was not as awful as I feared it would be, haha. I still wish it had not been there. I wish it had not been that way. Yet I fully understand that the story had to go there. But still wishing it had not, ha. Because I never once liked Corien. Not one bit. The most evil angel to ever exist. He completely controlled Rielle, for a long time. And that ruined me most. Anyway. Enough about that for now. I simply can't get it out of my mind, ugh. It wasn't focused on too much, yet more than enough for my poor heart.

There is so, so much going on in this final book. Everything is coming together, everything is ending. And it was goddamn epic. Written so well and done so perfectly. Well, too much pain, ha. But I loved that too. I very much loved how this book was told from many different point of views. So we could know everything that was going on. We get to read from Rielle and Eliana. Also Audric and Ludivine and Navi and others too. All the point of views were important and I truly loved reading from every one of them. Sigh. So good.

I haven't really mentioned the magic at all in my reviews of my re-reads of the first two books. And so I will mention it now. The Empirium. What is really at the heart of this series. How it is a part of every living thing in this world created. First in Rielle's time, then when it is gone in Eliana's time. How it completely controls Rielle. We learn so much more about it in this. And it was truly interesting and exciting too. A bit scary. But I loved getting to know more. I loved how many of the people had different elemental powers.

I do not know what to say about this book. I cannot get my thoughts to focus. So much happens. And it takes place over several months. Which was even more heartbreaking to me, haha. Because this book begins with Rielle having run away from Audric, from her home. And gone to Corien instead. We get to see her with him. Get to see her change more and more. And it was completely heartbreaking. It ruined me. I loved her so. In this book I had so many issues with her, oh, but it all made sense. Still, the rudest.

What especially broke my heart was how long Rielle and Audric were apart. The whole book, almost. Uuugh. I know, we got their love in book one and two. But I still wanted more and more. Because they truly are the most amazing couple. And this book ruined it. Somewhat. Okay, it just made me really sad. Rielle is caught up in Corien and everything he promises her, that she can do with her powers. And she does so much. So many horrible things. Tt fully changes her too, which was even more heartbreaking.

Just thinking about it all is making me sad. But do not get me wrong. This book ruined me. But it was so good and I loved every moment of it. It was beyond epic and fantastic. It just hurt so, so goddamn much. Ugh. Not sure my heart will ever heal. Anyway. We learn so much more about Rielle in this story. Mostly bad things, ha, but good things too. And I loved her most near the ending. We learn more about Ludivine too, bad and good. I still love this rebellious angel a whole lot. But oh, she made so many mistakes. Sobs.

Then there was Audric. And I cannot with this man. I love him with all my heart. And seeing how much he suffered in the beginning of this book killed me. The most. He hurt so much. Because of how he pushed Rielle away. How it was his fault that she ran from them all. And yes, that it was, but what he said to her needed to be said as well, because all of her lying was not okay either. But yeah. It was very painful. But Audric grew in this book. His power as well. And I loved reading about all of that. He was my favorite one.

And then there was Eliana, in the future, a thousand years forward. Who got captured and was on her way to the emperor, to Corien. Shudders. Her chapters were the most difficult to read, I think. Because they truly had the most pain there has been in these books. She was tortured at Corien's for months and months. It was heartbreaking and so painful and so evil and yet so very good and perfect too. Oops. Just written so well. Sigh. This story killed me. Eliana changed very much too. And I loved her beyond words.

Of course, her story had the most pain, I think. Reading about Remy was going through as well was so sad too. He was changing too. And Jessamyn, who was now a different person altogether, was also a big part of Eliana's story. I did not like her. Except for a tiny bit, maybe. We got to read more about Navi as well, and her I did truly love. She was awesome. And Simon. Sigh. His betrayal. That was the worst and so hard to read about. His story was complicated. And learning it all, at last, was pretty much amazing.

Okay, I will say that there is one thing that bothers me. It is a small thing, but I noticed it, and I cannot forget it. How rude. Harkan died in book two, in such a heartbreaking way. And Eliana did not know this. When she finally learns about some of her other friends, she does not once ask about Harkan. It is not mentioned if someone tells her what happened to him. And that, to me, was so so painful. He deserved much more love. Sobs. Okay, fine. He was her best friend. Not really an important part. But I loved him.

There was so much going on in this final book. So many characters, all of them amazing. Audric's mom, as one of them. I hated her in the first books, but I loved the small parts of her that were in this final one. Sigh. There was a war happening. So many deaths. So much hurt and pain. Yet this book was not only about the pain. It was about hope too, hoping there would be a change, that this book would not end like we all knew it would. That the past could be changed, that Eliana could change it. If given the chance to.

And so I will mention a little about the ending. I very, very much loved it. It was the best part of the book. So fully exciting and evil and so perfect. I don't think I would have wanted to change anything about that final battle. Wait. No. There was one death I did not approve of. Hmph. But so good, even so. But then what came after the battle. I wish there had been more details, more love. I wished to know so, so much more. I feel like there could be more books coming. It hinted at it. And oh, how badly I wish that may be.

Reading these books took a lot out of me, emotionally. They are so heavy with everything. Full of grief and rage and hurt. But also full of love and family and hope. But yeah. Mostly pain, ha. I feel exhausted. I love these books the most. But oh, my mind is tired. Full, but tired. It was such a good ending too. I need more, of course, but I'm happy. I do feel like Rielle and Audric and Eliana got the endings they deserved, needed. I feel like one ending can be changed in the future. And I very much hope that will happen, ha.

Lightbringer was everything I wanted this final book to be. It ruined every part of me. But I loved it beyond words. It was perfect. I also want to mention that I love the covers for this series. I think they are so pretty. But I also would have loved covers with Rielle in dresses. Sigh. Would have been gorgeous. And Audric included too. Hoping that there might be covers like that coming out one day, haha. I would love them so. I very much think that you should all read this trilogy. It is so full of pain but fully worth every moment of it.

Waiting on Wednesday #554

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

STRIKE THE ZITHER BY JOAN HE

Goodreads Description:

An epic YA fantasy about found family, rivals, and identity, from New York Times and Indie bestselling author Joan He, inspired by Three Kingdoms, the first of the Four Classics of Chinese Literature.

The year is 414 of the Xin Dynasty, and chaos abounds. A puppet empress is on the throne. The realm has fractured into three factions and three warlordesses hoping to claim the continent for themselves.

But Zephyr knows it’s no contest.

Orphaned at a young age, Zephyr took control of her fate by becoming the best strategist of the land and serving under Xin Ren, a warlordess whose loyalty to the empress is double-edged—while Ren’s honor draws Zephyr to her cause, it also jeopardizes their survival in a war where one must betray or be betrayed. When Zephyr is forced to infiltrate an enemy camp to keep Ren’s followers from being slaughtered, she encounters the enigmatic Crow, an opposing strategist who is finally her match. But there are more enemies than one—and not all of them are human.

Hardcover, 368 pages
Expected publication: October 25th 2022 by Roaring Brook Press
Pre-Order: Book Depository
and Amazon #ad

EEE! Look at that beauty of a cover :D Gooosh. It is so pretty. <3 And I am SO very excited for this book :D Yesss. I adore Joan. And her two other books were amazing. And so I simply cannot wait to read this beauty. It sounds so good. And I just know that I am going to love it a whole bunch. So beyond excited :)
What are you waiting for on this striking Wednesday?