Cover Reveal: Colorless by Rita Stradling

Colorless
Rita Stradling
Publication date: August 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Synopsis: In Domengrad, there are rules all must live by: Fear the Gods. Worship the Magicians. Forsake the Iconoclasts.
To Annabelle Klein, the rules laid down by the Magicians are the mere ramblings of stuffy old men. As far as she’s concerned, the historic Iconoclasts, heretics who nearly destroyed the Magicians so long ago, are nothing but myth. She has much more important matters to worry about.
Heiress to a manor mortgaged down to its candlesticks and betrothed to her loathsome, lecherous cousin, sixteen-year-old Annabelle doubts the gods could forsake her more.
Then Annabelle is informed of her parents’ sudden and simultaneous deaths, and all of the pigment drips out of her skin and hair, leaving her colorless. Within moments, Annabelle is invisible and forgotten by all who know her.
Living like a wraith in her own home, Annabelle discovers that to regain her color she must solve the mystery behind her parents’ murders and her strange transformation.
Meanwhile, hundreds of the Magicians’ monks, with their all-black eyes and conjoined minds, have usurped control of Annabelle’s family manor. An Iconoclast is rumored to be about—a person who they claim goes unseen, unheard, and lost to memory, yet is the greatest threat to all of Domengrad. For the first time in a hundred years, the monks plan to unleash the dire wolves of old.
Their only target: Annabelle.

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Author Bio:
Rita Stradling is the author of The Deception Dance series, the Dakota Kekoa series and The Fourteen Day Soul Detox Novella Serial. She has a BA in Art History and a particular love for modern and medieval art.
Rita lives with her husband and son in Northern California.
She has an insatiable novel addiction and mostly reads young adult and adult: romance, paranormal, urban fantasy and high fantasy.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

April Wrap-Up

Hello everyone. This year I've decided to update you guys with a monthly wrap-up, where I let you know everything that has been happening on Angelic Book Reviews this past month.

What Happened This Month
The school year is finally over for me. I finished my last exams this past week and the first thing I did after was race to the library to get some reading material, even though my TBR pile at home is already overflowing. I read very little during April, since I was too busy focusing on my finals, but May will definitely change that around. My plans for May are to work my part time job, spend time with my dog and read as much as possible.

Books Reviewed This Month

Maid of the King's Court by Lucy Worsley | Rating 4/5 stars

The Whole Thing Together by Ann Brashares | Rating 3/5 stars

Things I Should Have Known by Clair LaZebnik | Rating 3/5 stars

The Traitor's Kiss by Erin Beaty | Rating 4/5 stars

Slumber by J.L. Weil | Rating 5/5 stars

Party Games by R.L. Stine | Rating 4/5 stars

Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill | Rating 4/5 stars

Reading Challenge Progress
Goodreads Reading Challenge: 26/40 books read
Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge: 11/25 books read
Audiobook Challenge: 5/10 audiobooks

Did you have a good April?

Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. With this amazing meme, you can check out which books I've gotten this past week.

Won From Goodreads

Blood Sisters by Jane Corry

Three little girls set off to school one sunny May morning. Within an hour, one of them is dead. 

Fifteen years later, Alison and Kitty are living separate lives. Kitty lives in a care home. She can't speak, and she has no memory of the accident that put her here, or her life before it.

Art teacher Alison looks fine on the surface. But the surface is a lie. When a job in a prison comes up she decides to take it - this is her chance to finally make things right. 

But someone is watching Kitty and Alison.

Someone who wants revenge for what happened that day. 

And only another life will do...

From the Library

Truthwitch (The Witchlands #1) by Susan Dennard 

In a continent on the edge of war, two witches hold its fate in their hands.

Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.

Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she's a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden - lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult's true powers are hidden even from herself.

In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls' heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

Empire of Night (Age of Legends #2) by Kelley Armstrong

SISTERS MORIA AND ASHYN ARE THE KEEPER AND SEEKER OF EDGEWOOD.

OR AT LEAST, THEY WERE.

Their village is gone. Their friends have betrayed them. And now, they are all but prisoners in court, forced to watch and wait while the Emperor decides whether to help the children of Edgewood, who remain hostages of the treacherous Alvar Kitsune.

But when the emperor finally sends the girls on a mission to rescue the children - accompanied by Prince Tyrus and a small band of men - the journey proves more perilous than any of them could have imagined. With lies and unrest mounting in the empire, Moria and Ashyn will have to draw on every bit of influence and power they possess to unite their people and avert an all-out war.

In this second book in her epic and captivating Age of Legends trilogy, #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong blends romance, danger, and magic to send readers on a heart-racing journey through an unforgettable world.

Forest of Ruin (Age of Legends #3) by Kelley Armstrong

In a world at war, who can you trust?

The empire rests on the edge of a knife, and sisters Ashyn and Moria are the handle and the blade. Desperate to outmaneuver the evil Alvar Kitsune, whose hold on the people grows stronger every day, Emperor Tatsu begs Moria to put aside past grievances and ally with Gavril—at least long enough to make an attempt on Alvar’s life. Meanwhile, reunited with her long-lost grandfather, Ashyn discovers that she is the key to a ritual that could reawaken an ancient dragon and turn the tide of the coming battle in their favor.

But with lies and betrayal lurking around every corner, Ashyn and Moria will have to decide once and for all where their allegiances are. And it may not be where their hearts would lead them…

In this breathtaking final book in her epic trilogy the Age of Legends, #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong blends fantasy, action, and romance to give readers the unforgettable ending they’ve been waiting for.

What did you guys get this week? Let me know in the comments.

Review: Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill

Series: Clash of Kingdoms #1
Publication Date: December 27th 2016
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&N

Synopsis: Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, the legendary bounty hunter for the King of Malam—that is, until her father is murdered. Now outcast and alone and having no rights to her father’s land or inheritance, she seeks refuge where she feels most safe: the Ever Woods. When Britta is caught poaching by the royal guard, instead of facing the noose she is offered a deal: her freedom in exchange for her father’s killer.

However, it’s not so simple.

The alleged killer is none other than Cohen McKay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a daunting and dangerous force.

My Rating

4/5 stars

My Review

“Bravery is a choice that is yours to make. Don't let fear steal your will.” 

Her father is murdered, and her best friend is gone. Because Britta is a girl, she cannot legally inherit her land, and because she is an outcast in her town, no one is there to help her during her grieving. Nearly starving to death, Britta decides to kill a deer for food, unfortunately poaching is illegal. Not long after, Britta is caught and sentenced to death. Her only way to stay alive, is to hunt her father's killer, her only friend Cohen, whom she's been in love with for years.

Ever the Hunted is a wonderful adventure. The book will suck you in and make you want to keep reading right from the start.

There were so many things I loved about this book, unfortunately because of the main character and the romance I couldn't bring myself to give this book 5 stars.

Britta is depicted as a strong, independent and brilliant women. Most of the time she is, but sometimes she misses the little things that make the reader believe she's not as smart and strong as everyone calls her. Right from the beginning of the book we see the strong side of her, she's dealt with the death of her father, she can take care of herself and she's smart enough to escape death. It's later on in the story that we find out that Britta has the power to tell whether someone is lying to her or not, so this is what has me confused, Britta's father lied to her (avoided the truth) about a lot of things, including his work, her mother's death, her powers. So how on earth did Britta not question him or see that he was lying to her? She should have seen at least some of this stuff coming, right? There were also a lot of times where Britta played the damsel in distress, which really didn't help with making her look independent near the end.

What I loved about the romance is that it's not insta-love. It's about reuniting with an old love, and feeling that spark again. While I did ship the main love interest, I wasn't too happy with it. There were a few things that really bugged me about Cohen. He kind of treats Britta like a little fragile girl throughout most of the book, rather than an equal. And he's not the most trustworthy at times. There are many instances where he just does something and then tells Britta about it later. I'm not sure about you, but if he was my boyfriend I would be pretty pissed if he treated me like a little girl and did all the thinking for me.

I found myself really liking two side characters more than the main characters. Leif and Enat both become really important characters later on, I won't talk about it so I don't spoil anything.

The world-building was incredible in this story. The characters spend a lot of time in the woods, as well as little villages and towns. Every scene is described perfectly, and it really makes you feel like you're in the story yourself. I was excited to see more of the world that Summerill created.

The storyline is a bit slow in the beginning, but it has just enough action to keep you interested. It really starts to pick up about 30% into the book, and at that point I just wanted to finish the rest in one sitting.

Overall, I really recommend this book, its perfect for all fantasy and adventure lovers. Although I would skip this one if you're a feminist and/or hate reading books with a bit of sexism in them. I absolutely can't wait to read the next book in this series.

Happy Reading,
Aneta

Waiting on Wednesday: Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare

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

Series: The Dark Artifices #2
Publication Date: May 23rd 2017
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books 
Genre: YA, Fantasy 
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&N

Synopsis: Sunny Los Angeles can be a dark place indeed in Cassandra Clare’s Lord of Shadows, the sequel to the #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Lady Midnight.

Emma Carstairs has finally avenged her parents. She thought she’d be at peace. But she is anything but calm. Torn between her desire for her parabatai Julian and her desire to protect him from the brutal consequences of parabatai relationships, she has begun dating his brother, Mark. But Mark has spent the past five years trapped in Faerie; can he ever truly be a Shadowhunter again?

And the faerie courts are not silent. The Unseelie King is tired of the Cold Peace, and will no longer concede to the Shadowhunters’ demands. Caught between the demands of faerie and the laws of the Clave, Emma, Julian, and Mark must find a way to come together to defend everything they hold dear—before it’s too late.

Review: Party Games by R.L. Stine

Series: Fear Street Relaunch #1
Publication Date: September 30th 2014
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffith 
Genre: YA, Fiction, Horror
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&N

Synopsis: Her friends warn her not to go to Brendan Fear's birthday party at his family's estate on mysterious Fear Island. But Rachel Martin has a crush on Brendan and is excited to be invited. Brendan has a lot of party games planned. But one game no one planned intrudes on his party—the game of murder. As the guests start dying one by one, Rachel realizes to her horror that she and the other teenagers are trapped on the tiny island with someone who may want to kill them all. How to escape this deadly game? Rachel doesn't know whom she can trust. She should have realized that nothing is as it seems… on Fear Island.

R.L. Stine makes his triumphant return to Shadyside, a town of nightmares, shadows, and genuine terror, and to the bestselling series that began his career writing horror for the juvenile market, in the new Fear Street book Party Games.

My Rating

4/5 stars

My Review

If you love classic spooky stories by R.L. Stine, then definitely give this one a try. It will definitely get you spooked.

Rachel has always had a crush on Brendan Fear, and when he invites her to his birthday party of course she had to say yes, this could be her one chance to get to know him. Even though Rachel was warned by people not to trust Brendan Fear and go to the party, the opportunity was too good to turn down. Finding herself on a summer island home, completely cut off from the rest of the world, Rachel is ready to play some party games. But who wants to play party games that involve a murderer in the house with their own twist to the game?

This isn't the first Fear Street Relaunch book I've read, the other two had given me such high expectations (mostly because they were both so amazing I couldn't put them down) but sadly this one just wasn't as good at the others.

I'm sure if I didn't have such high expectations, I probably would have liked this book much more. But here is why I didn't think it was as good.

While I get this book was supposed to be a mystery, the constant change of the plot, and new mysteries appearing once one was solved, just left me kind of bored. It felt like I was reading three books in one. And unfortunately, the plot didn't get me in that "I need to stay up till I finish this book" mood, and I just ended up putting it off.

The main character was alright. She was nice and normal, but she didn't have anything special about her. She was a plane Jane in an exciting story, and she didn't always handle it very well. It's not that I didn't like reading in her perspective, but I didn't love it, which was very unfortunate. As for the other characters, I really did like a few of them, especially Brendan and Eric. I found them to be more entertaining than the main character herself.

The one aspect I loved was the world building, we get a chance to explore the mansion and the rest of Fear Island, and the descriptions of the places were absolutely amazing. It really made you feel like you were almost there.

Unfortunately not every book can be a hit, but I will definitely continue reading this series. Hoping that the next books are better than this one.

Happy Reading,

Aneta 

Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. With this amazing meme, you can check out which books I've gotten this past week.

Won from Author 
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
"One of Us Is Lying is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has something to hide.

Pay close attention and you might solve this.
On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.
    Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule.
    Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess.
    Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.
    Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.
    And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High’s notorious gossip app.

Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention Simon's dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn’t an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he’d planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who’s still on the loose?

Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them. "

Karen was kind enough to give away a UK ARC of this book. I can't believe I won, I'm so stoked to start this book.

Won from Amy @ A Magical World of Worlds

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter
The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women is a fairly typical all-girls school - that is, it would be if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses, but it's really a school for spies. Cammie Morgan is a second-generation Gallagher Girl, and by her sophomore year she's already fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways (one of which involves a piece of uncooked spaghetti). But the one thing the Gallagher Academy hasn't prepared her for is what to do when she falls for a boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, and track him through town without his ever being the wiser - but can she have a relationship with a regular boy who can never know the truth about her? Cammie may be an elite spy-in-training, but in her sophomore year, she's beginning her most dangerous mission - falling in love.

Thank you Amy for hosting a wonderful giveaway. I've never read this series and this gives me the perfect excuse to start it. I can't wait :)

From Netgalley 

Piglettes by Clementine Beauvais
A wickedly funny and life-affirming coming-of-age roadtrip story - winner of France's biggest prize for teen and YA fiction. Awarded the Gold, Silver and Bronze trotters after a vote by their classmates on Facebook, Mireille, Astrid and Hakima are officially the three ugliest girls in their school, but does that mean they're going to sit around crying about it?
Well... yes, a bit, but not for long! Climbing aboard their bikes, the trio set off on a summer roadtrip to Paris, their goal: a garden party with the French president. As news of their trip spreads they become stars of social media and television. With the eyes of the nation upon them the girls find fame, friendship and happiness, and still have time to consume an enormous amount of food along the way. 

What did you guys get this week? Let me know in the comments.

Review: Slumber by J.L. Weil

Series: Beauty Never Dies Chronicles #1
Publication Date: January 10th 2017
Genre: YA, Romance, Fantasy 
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&N

Synopsis: There is no such thing as happily ever after.

Everything Charlotte Winston thought she knew has been thrown out the window. From the moment she opens her eyes, the world she remembered ceases to exist, and in its place is a post-apocalyptic realm filled with unimaginable dangers. And one very smoking hot guy who has an uncanny ability to make her blood sing, then boil in a blink of an eye.

Dash Darhk is everything her parents would hate. He’s six feet and two inches of dark temptation and a killer smile, that’s surely left a stream of broken hearts in his wake. But her parents are nowhere to be found. Charlotte is alone in this new world. Destroyed by a toxic mist, the land isn’t the only thing altered, but the inhabitants as well.

As Charlotte begins the hunt for her family, gifts she’s never fathom awake inside her. And with the gifts come problems. Enormous ones. Charlotte is running out of options and places to hide. If she can’t figure out who to trust—and fast—she will lose more than her heart.

Fans of Hunger Games, The 100, and Divergent will fall in love with Slumber.

My Rating

5/5 stars

My Review

The only gift I want is the next book in this series.

When Charlotte wakes up the first person she sees is Dash, and he tells her to run. After a mist spread over North America, it changed the land. Strange and deadly creatures roam the land, with vegetation that kills, no one is safe. After over a 100 year slumber, its Charlottes turn to wake up. Running away from the institute is hard on its own, its even harder when you're running away with a dashing former guard. The only way Charlotte can find her family is by tagging along with Dash, even though he gives Charlotte goosebumps one second, and makes her want to kick him in the balls the next. Can the duo survive the dangers of the land on their mission to find their love ones?

I am so in love with this new series form J.L. Weil. The story is so creative, I love the world, the characters... well just about everything.

I loved Charlotte as a main character. She was a privileged American girl before the mist, and when she wakes up we see her grow, adapt to the new world and become a stronger and better person. She goes from pretty cheerleader to a fighter and strong woman. There wasn't a thing I didn't love about her.

Dash was, well.. dreamy! He's tall, muscular, and he's got a bad boy attitude. He's exactly my type. Unlike Charlotte though, there were moments in the book where Dash's attitude did make me mad at times, and I sort of found him to be a little dumb at times, but his cuteness definitely makes up for it. I mean, not all boys can be perfect. 

The thing I loved about this book the most, was the world. It was so creative. The dangerous creatures, the poisoned land, and even a few creatures that didn't try to kill the main characters. I really hope that in the next book we get to see more of the land, and more interesting creatures.

I cannot wait for the next book to be out. As soon as I can I will pre-order it because I need it right away. I highly recommend this series, and if you have time definitely check out her other series called White Raven.

Happy Reading,
- Aneta 

Waiting on Wednesday: Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh

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

Series: Flame in the Mist #1
Publication Date: May 16th 2017
Publisher: Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers 
Genre: YA, Fantasy 
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&N

Synopsis: The daughter of a prominent samurai, Mariko has long known her place—she may be an accomplished alchemist, whose cunning rivals that of her brother Kenshin, but because she is not a boy, her future has always been out of her hands. At just seventeen years old, Mariko is promised to Minamoto Raiden, the son of the emperor's favorite consort—a political marriage that will elevate her family's standing. But en route to the imperial city of Inako, Mariko narrowly escapes a bloody ambush by a dangerous gang of bandits known as the Black Clan, who she learns has been hired to kill her before she reaches the palace.

Dressed as a peasant boy, Mariko sets out to infiltrate the ranks of the Black Clan, determined to track down the person responsible for the target on her back. But she's quickly captured and taken to the Black Clan’s secret hideout, where she meets their leader, the rebel ronin Takeda Ranmaru, and his second-in-command, his best friend Okami. Still believing her to be a boy, Ranmaru and Okami eventually warm to Mariko, impressed by her intellect and ingenuity. As Mariko gets closer to the Black Clan, she uncovers a dark history of secrets, of betrayal and murder, which will force her to question everything she's ever known.

Cover Reveal: Crowned by Christina Bauer

Crowned
Christina Bauer
Series: Beholder #4
Published by: Monster House Books
Publication date: November 28th 2017
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis: Beauty. Romance. Power. It’s all in the eye of the BEHOLDER.
At last, Elea has found the love of her life. Unfortunately, the evil Tsar Viktor is about to unleash an army of twisted mages bent on killing everyone Elea cares about… including the man who’s stolen her heart.
So what’s a powerful witch to do? Why, organize a league of magical warriors, of course!
Elea recruits and trains a fighting force to take down the Tsar. That’s challenge enough, but on the eve of battle, Elea realizes that her true enemies may be far more powerful than even Viktor: The deities Oni and Yuri could be out to destroy her as well. With major battles brewing on two fronts, Elea’s not sure that she’ll win, but with true love to inspire her, she’s certainly ready to fight.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

Previous books in the series:

Author Bio:
Christina Bauer knows how to tell stories about kick-ass women. In her best selling Angelbound series, the heroine is a part-demon girl who loves to fight in Purgatory’s Arena and falls in love with a part-angel prince. This young adult best seller has driven more than 500,000 ebook downloads and 9,000 reviews on Goodreads and retailers. It is now available as an audiobook on Audible and iTunes.
Bauer has also told the story of the Women’s March on Washington by leading PR efforts for the Massachusetts Chapter. Her pre-event press release—the only one sent out on a major wire service—resulted in more than 19,000 global impressions and redistribution by over 350 different media entities including the Associated Press.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.
Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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Book Blitz & Giveaway: Serenade by Heather McKenzie

Serenade
Heather McKenzie
Series: The Nightmusic Trilogy #1
Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: April 17th 2017
Genres: Mystery, Romance, Suspense, Young Adult

Synopsis: Kidnapped and held hostage in the Rockies, a teenage heiress falls for her abductor while her corrupt father and devoted bodyguard fight to get her back. The discovery of true love and dark family secrets turns deadly in this epic coming of age adventure.
Kaya Lowen dreams of living like a normal eighteen-year old, but being heiress to a billion-dollar company has put her life in constant danger. Fiercely guarded by her powerful and corrupt father, she develops close bonds with those who protect her, especially Oliver – a bodyguard who has proven his devotion to her time and again. He wins her heart – until a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger has her questioning everything she believes in. Haunted by true love and reeling from a guilty conscience, Kaya’s world unravels when she’s kidnapped.
Held captive in a rugged wilderness fraught with raging storms, mystical caves and deadly predators, Kaya’s father scours the forest and her bodyguard fights to get her back. But, the discovery of a dark family secret makes Kaya wonder if staying in the arms of her blue-eyed abductor—a captivating stranger with dark secrets of his own – is a safer place to be. At least, that’s what her heart is telling her, her head is saying run…
An epic adventure centered on a smoldering love-triangle, Serenade sings a timeless tale of courage, self-discovery, and life-or-death love that will leave you breathless.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

This was it, now or never.

I gathered every single ounce of energy I had and steadied my mind to ignore the pain in my foot and the dizziness in my head. Then, with everything I had, I turned and bolted toward the dense forest. The darkness instantly enveloped me. I could see well enough not to run into tree trunks, but branches caught me at every turn. My head felt as if it was spinning like a top, but I forced my legs to keep going. I could hear the men’s voices yelling at each other in an organized manner.
I tripped and found myself on all fours. Get up, girl. There’s nothing wrong with you—get up…
I made it a few more steps before my head connected with a blue spruce, and then I collapsed in a pathetic heap. My arms were so wobbly I could barely wipe at the gash across my forehead. My body was completely failing me. I prayed to God that the dog would just snap my neck and get it over with quickly…
Human footsteps approached. I gulped in some air and tried to push myself up, but the world tipped on its side and I fell with it. Within moments, large hands had my wrists pinned to the ground. I struggled and fought with everything I had left, which wasn’t much.
“Stop fighting,” he said.
His voice created such confusion inside me. I kicked harder.
“Stop… please,” he begged.
His body pinned mine to the ground. I could feel tears welling up in my eyes.
“Please, Kaya, trust me. I won’t let anyone hurt you, I promise.” He leaned forward and pressed his sleeve to my bleeding forehead, dabbing and inspecting it closely while I had no choice but to gaze up him. How could this beautiful man be a kidnapper? It just didn’t fit.
“It’s just a scratch; no stitches required,” he said, voice trailing off as his eyes met mine.
We stayed like that for a while: me on the ground, him kneeling over me, and our line of sight only on each other—until an unmistakable sound broke through the tree tops.
“They’ll find me,” I said softly, wondering if Oliver was in the helicopter circling over our heads.
He positioned his arms under my body, and, in one graceful motion, he picked me up and into his arms. “Just don’t run. Promise me that, please. I’ll keep you safe. You have my word. Okay?”
He held me tightly—protectively—waiting eagerly for my reply with turmoil in his blue eyes. My whole body hurt, and admittedly, I couldn’t have walked another inch. The wolves or that beast would have got to me long before Oliver would have. I was at my kidnapper’s mercy, laying helplessly in his arms and falling harder for him by the second.
“I promise,” I said.

Author Bio:
Heather McKenzie is a Canadian author and Serenade is her first novel. A professional singer/songwriter with five albums to date, she has been telling stories through music for years and pulls from her extraordinary experiences as a musician to fuel her passion for creating Young Adult fiction. A rocker at heart, a mom of three, an aspiring painter, and a lover of animals, she is kept grounded by her husband at their home in Edmonton.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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Review: The Traitor's Kiss by Erin Beaty

Series: Traitor's Trilogy 
Publication Date: May 9th 2017
Publisher: Imprint
Genre: YA, Fantasy 
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ Book Depository 

Synopsis: An obstinate girl who will not be married. 
A soldier desperate to prove himself. 
A kingdom on the brink of war.

With a sharp tongue and an unruly temper, Sage Fowler is not what they’d call a lady―which is perfectly fine with her. Deemed unfit for marriage, Sage is apprenticed to a matchmaker and tasked with wrangling other young ladies to be married off for political alliances. She spies on the girls―and on the soldiers escorting them.

As the girls' military escort senses a political uprising, Sage is recruited by a handsome soldier to infiltrate the enemy ranks. The more she discovers as a spy, the less certain she becomes about whom to trust―and Sage becomes caught in a dangerous balancing act that will determine the fate of her kingdom.

My Rating

4/5 stars

My Review

The Traitor's Kiss has a captivating story line, a fearless main character and enough action to keep you reading until the AM.

Yes, I know this book is getting a ton of backlash from many reviewers for offending POC (more about this later in my review). While I don't support this at all, taking colour out of the story, this book was actually really good. The main character is very relatable, and she's the type of independent and tough character that I absolutely love, the romance is ship-worthy and there is tons of action.

Sage Fowler is force to reckon with. She is the exact opposite of what a girl in her society should look and act like. She doesn't like make-up and acting like a helpless girl who needs the help of man. Sage would rather read books or spend time outdoors, she is not afraid to get down and dirty and work for her living. Sage is intelligent, sassy and caring to those who care about her. I absolutely loved her as a main character.

The romance in this story is great. The two main character are able to relate to one another, teach each other new things, and they just compliment each other so well. I was so happy that this book didn't have an insta-love romance, or a love-triangle. I found myself shipping the couple early on in the book and I still do. It was a very well written romance.

The antagonists of the story is where the author made a lot of big mistakes. The author chose to describe the antagonists as "dark" and "darker" which is already offensive enough, but she also went on to say things like "they faded into the shadows" and a lot of stereotyping when it comes to tattoos and such. I was really surprised by reading some of these lines in the story. I feel like the editing team going through this book during its first stages should have pointed it out and changed it. I'm just hoping that Erin has learned from her mistakes (since this is her first published book), and won't do this again in the future.

Overall, it was such an amazing book. I really recommend it, as long as you're able to put colour aside when you read this book. I know its not for anyone, and if you don't want to support the book/author for this reason I completely understand, I just as you not to rate the book (especially on goodreads) without reading it first.

Happy Reading,
Aneta

Book Blitz & Giveaway: Immortal Fire by Annette Marie

Immortal Fire
Annette Marie
Series: Red Winter Trilogy #3
Publication date: April 11th 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis: Once, Emi believed the heavenly gods were righteous and wise, while the earthly yokai spirits were bloodthirsty and evil. But with a traitorous deity poised to destroy her world, and the yokai standing as humanity’s only defense, the lies of her upbringing have toppled to reveal a far more terrifying reality.

Despite the looming threat, Emi can’t escape her greatest distraction: Shiro, the fox yokai who has so deftly claimed her heart for his own. Soon—too soon—she will have to break the curse that binds his magic and memories. And once the ancient power inside him awakens, the yokai she loves will be changed forever.
As the earthly gods gather to wage war against the heavens, Emi and Shiro must gamble everything to turn the tide against their immortal, all-powerful foes. Together, they will find a way to save her world—even if it means losing each other.

Goodreads / Amazon

Each book in the Red Winter Trilogy includes ten stunning illustrations by award-winning artist Brittany Jackson.

This is an exclusive preview of one illustration featured in Immortal Fire.

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EXCERPT:

Violent shivers pulled Emi from the depths of sleep. The chill in the room cut right through the layers of blanket and kimono, and her toes ached from the cold. Curled in a tight ball beneath her blankets, she exhaled harshly, half expecting her breath to fog the air.
Beyond the thin partition that separated her sleeping quarters from the rest of the room, the windows rattled in a fierce wind. A winter storm? A feverish ache throbbed in her muscles, though she didn’t think she had slept for more than a few hours.
Yawning, she forced her tired body off the futon. Cold hit her like a splash of frigid water but even that wasn’t enough to dispel her drowsy daze. A short, fumbling search uncovered no extra blankets in the closet within her small alcove. Wrapping an arm around herself for warmth, she slid a panel open and peeked into the main room.
The remains of Shiro and Yumei’s late dinner had been cleared from the table, and the unlit brazier was devoid of light or warmth. Across the room, a second futon had been laid out near Shiro’s, and dark shapes filled both.
Trust the yokai to sleep right through the freezing cold. Behind their futons was a larger closet where bedding was stored. Surely there would be an extra blanket in there. She stumbled toward it in exhaustion. Her chest felt hollow and empty, and some of the chill that plagued her emanated from within.
As she crossed the room, an icy breeze rushed across her. Jerking back a step, she turned toward the sliding garden doors. A six-inch gap revealed the night-swathed garden beyond, where snow flew almost horizontally in the wind.
Why on earth had they left the door open? With a tired scowl, she yanked it shut. The room immediately felt warmer. Shaking her head, she stopped at the foot of Shiro’s futon, the light from the window glimmering on his white hair. Not that long ago, she had woken him from a nightmare, and he had thrown her into a wall before rousing enough to realize he was about to rip her throat out. Attempting to sneak between their futons to reach the closet was probably unwise.
“Shiro?” she whispered. “Are you awake?”

He didn’t stir. Neither did Yumei, who slept on his back with his head turned away, his hair splayed untidily across his face in a way that was very unlike the usually reserved yokai. He rarely slept when anyone else was nearby, at least as far as she’d seen. Maybe her ki had tired him.
“Shiro?” she tried again more loudly.
When he again didn’t move, not even a twitch of his ears, a nervous prickle climbed her spine. Shiro
wasn’t that deep of a sleeper. And why hadn’t her clumsy banging of the garden door woken them? A spike of adrenaline cut through her drowsiness as she realized how unlikely it was that Shiro and
Yumei would go to sleep with a door ajar. Had the wind blown it open? Or … something else?
She scoured the room, but it was clearly empty. Biting the inside of her cheek, she stepped between the futons and crouched.
“Shiro,” she called. “Wake up!”
No reaction. Hoping he wouldn’t attack her, she touched his shoulder. He slept on, eyes closed, face slack. Her apprehension intensified into real fear.
“Shiro!” She gripped his shoulder and shook it, but he still didn’t wake or so much as stir. Was she dreaming? Was this a nightmare? She spun around and reached for Yumei.
“Yumei, wake up! Please wake up!” She shook him but he was as unresponsive as Shiro. In desperation, she hit his shoulder with her open palm, yelling his name. “What’s wrong with you? Wake up!”
As she turned, intending to grab a handful of snow from outside to shove in Shiro’s face, the air above him shimmered strangely. She went rigid, squinting into the darkness.
A shadow took form. A small body, thin limbs, ragged black hair. The ghostly child crouched on Shiro’s chest, her blank, bottomless stare fixed on Emi.
Her heart thudded in her ears. A kanashibari, the dream-weaving yokai that had been watching Emi in the bath. That was what she’d forgotten to warn Shiro about! And now it was sitting on him, and he wouldn’t wake up.
She lurched back to Yumei. A second kanashibari appeared before her, perched on his torso. The new one, another little girl with short, stringy hair and a pale kimono, looked up at Emi with empty black eyes.
The child’s lips pulled up in a rictal grin, and her tiny arm shot out.
Emi shoved the yokai away, but her hands passed right through the spectral body, feeling nothing but frosty air.
The yokai reached for her face and a small, frigid, solid palm pressed against her forehead. A wave of burning ice surged into Emi’s skull, blanketing her thoughts. Impossible, unyielding drowsiness crashed through her.
Before she could react, before she could even think about resisting, she collapsed on top of Yumei’s unconscious body and slid into darkness.

The complete trilogy:

Available now on Amazon!

Author Bio:
Annette Marie is the author of the Amazon best-selling Steel & Stone series, which includes Goodreads Choice Award nominee Yield the Night, and fantasy trilogy Red Winter. Her first love is fantasy, but fast- paced urban fantasy and tantalizing forbidden romances are her guilty pleasures. She lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, it's not quite that bad) with her comparatively sensible husband and their furry minion of darkness—sorry, cat—Caesar. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in one art project or another while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.

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