Waiting on Wednesday #41

This week I am IMPATIENTLY waiting on...

Hosted by Breaking the Spine

Given to the Sea by Mindy McGinnis

Khosa is Given to the Sea, a girl born to be fed to the water, her flesh preventing a wave like the one that destroyed the Kingdom of Stille in days of old. But before she’s allowed to dance – an uncontrollable twitching of the limbs that will carry her to the shore in a frenzy – she must produce an heir. Yet the thought of human touch sends shudders down her spine that not even the sound of the tide can match.

Vincent is third in line to inherit his throne, royalty in a kingdom where the old linger and the young inherit only boredom. When Khosa arrives without an heir he knows his father will ensure she fulfills her duty, at whatever cost. Torn between protecting the throne he will someday fill, and the girl whose fate is tied to its very existence, Vincent’s loyalty is at odds with his heart.

Dara and Donil are the last of the Indiri, a native race whose dwindling magic grows weaker as the island country fades. Animals cease to bear young, creatures of the sea take to the land, and the Pietra – fierce fighters who destroyed the Indiri a generation before – are now marching from their stony shores for the twin’s adopted homeland, Stille.

Witt leads the Pietra, their army the only family he has ever known. The stone shores harbor a secret, a growing threat that will envelop the entire land – and he will conquer every speck of soil to ensure the survival of his people.

The tides are turning in Stille, where royals scheme, Pietrans march, and the rising sea calls for its Given.

I love Mindy McGinnis books and this one is a FANTASY with such an original premise! And look at that beautiful cover. Check it out on Goodreads. 

2017 is so far away! *cries*

Review: Starflight

A must-read with shenanigans in space!

Starflight by Melissa Landers 
Life in the outer realm is a lawless, dirty, hard existence, and Solara Brooks is hungry for it. Just out of the orphanage, she needs a fresh start in a place where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. She's so desperate to reach the realm that she's willing to indenture herself to Doran Spaulding, the rich and popular quarterback who made her life miserable all through high school, in exchange for passage aboard the spaceliner Zenith.

When a twist of fate lands them instead on the Banshee, a vessel of dubious repute, Doran learns he's been framed on Earth for conspiracy. As he pursues a set of mysterious coordinates rumored to hold the key to clearing his name, he and Solara must get past their enmity to work together and evade those out for their arrest. Life on the Banshee may be tumultuous, but as Solara and Doran are forced to question everything they once believed about their world—and each other—the ship becomes home, and the eccentric crew family. But what Solara and Doran discover on the mysterious Planet X has the power to not only alter their lives, but the existence of everyone in the universe...

Ooooh! This was such a fun read; I could not put Starflight down! If you love fun space adventures and a super cute romance pick this series up immediately. 

You won't regret it. 

Okay, so first order of business in the wonderfulness that is Solara and Doran. They start off hating each other- Doran is basically a terrible person- but then shenanigans ensue and all of the sudden they are amazing as a couple. Doran starts off rich, bratty, and insufferable. Cassia is orphaned and very smart, but after commiting a crime and being branded, she needs to find a way to the outer realm. Solara ends up indenturing herself to Doran to get there, but that arrangement doesn't last long. They end up having more of a codependent relationship and then the hate slowly goes away... It's very sweet!

Basically, after a lot of schemes, both Dorian and Solara end up on The Banshee, an old ship with character, and a lot less luxurious then their original "space liner" ship. The fun begins, though, when they become friends with the rest of the eccentric and lovable crew. *squee* I am so excited to read more about the crew in the next book! 

In the end, after many fun space episodes, it all ties together with a showdown. Very early in the novel, we learn Doran is accused of some serious crimes. The ending brings to light why he was framed and who masterminded the whole ordeal. 

Overall, Starflight was a read-it-all-in-one-sitting kind of book. It's not a new favorite but I still really loved the ride! I enjoyed it a lot more than Alienated (also by Melissa Landers). I am super excited for the next book, it focuses on two supporting characters from this book: Cassia and Kane! Their backstory was intense and I'm excited for it to all go down in book 2. 

(Also, if you loved Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach, I have a feeling you'll also adore Starflight. Just sayin'. )

Review: The Long Game

I loved this book so much.... GO READ IT!

The Long Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The Kendricks help make the problems of the Washington elite disappear…but some secrets won’t stay buried.

For Tess Kendrick, a junior at the elite Hardwicke School in Washington, D.C., fixing runs in the family. But Tess has another legacy, too, one that involves power and the making of political dynasties. When Tess is asked to run a classmate’s campaign for student council, she agrees. But when the candidates are children of politicians, even a high school election can involve life-shattering secrets.

Meanwhile, Tess’s guardian has also taken on an impossible case, as a terrorist attack calls into doubt who can—and cannot—be trusted on Capitol Hill. Tess knows better than most that power is currency in D.C., but she's about to discover firsthand that power always comes with a price.

I just finished this wonderful, soul gutting book... and I am a mess. I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW! Everybody has to start this series. If you like smart, thrilling reads definitely pick up The Fixer books. The Long Game was an amazing sequel; Barnes developed and built on her amazing characters and intensified the plot to perfection. 

Tess, our main character, is smart, determined, meddlesome, and amazing. She gets herself into many wild schemes and plots that had me on the edge of my seat. Our other characters, Ivy, Henry, Asher, Vivvie, Emilia, Bodie, and Adam, are all interesting, unique, and lovable in their own way (sometimes). The relationship between Ivy and Tess is so wonderful and tough and emotionally hard to read about. 

I was enjoying the ride (A LOT) for the first half of the novel. BUT then the ending came and it killed me. I'm dead. So many twists... So many political games and intense scenes. My heart couldn't handle it all. 

The Long Game is dark, sometimes funny, smart as a whip, twisty, and overall brilliant.. Read this book. Also, I really really really want book #3. So tell all your friends about this series! PLEASE for my sake and well being.

5/5 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday #40

Hosted by Breaking the Spine

This Week I am IMPATIENTLY WAITING ON...

Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi
There are only three things that matter to twelve-year-old Alice Alexis Queensmeadow: Mother, who wouldn’t miss her; magic and color, which seem to elude her; and Father, who always loved her. The day Father disappears from Ferenwood he takes nothing but a ruler with him. But it’s been almost three years since then, and Alice is determined to find him. She loves her father even more than she loves adventure, and she’s about to embark on one to find the other.

But bringing Father home is no small matter. In order to find him she’ll have to travel through the mythical, dangerous land of Furthermore, where down can be up, paper is alive, and left can be both right and very, very wrong. Her only companion is a boy named Oliver whose own magical ability is based in lies and deceit—and with a liar by her side in land where nothing is as it seems, it will take all of Alice's wits (and every limb she's got) to find Father and return home to Ferenwood in one piece. On her quest to find Father Alice must first find herself—and hold fast to the magic of love in the face of loss.


I LOVE the Shatter Me series. Juliet's character development is A+ and the writing is soooooo beautiful! Now I am excited for Mafi's newest work and have high expectations (eeeeep!) The cover is very busy but I think I like it, plus I am excited to see how Mafi handles middle grade. 

-Emily Anne 

(While you are here go check out my review for The Long Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Yeah? Maybe? No? Okay.) 

Review: Truest

TRUEST by Jackie Lea Sommers

Silas Hart has seriously shaken up Westlin Beck's small-town life. Brand new to town, Silas is different than the guys in Green Lake. He's curious, poetic, philosophical, maddening-- and really, really cute. But Silas has a sister-- and she has a secret. And West has a boyfriend. And life in Green Lake is about to change forever.

Truest is a stunning, addictive debut. Romantic, fun, tender, and satisfying, it asks as many questions as it answers.

Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes and Noble





Wow, it is going to be hard to do Truest justice in this review! When a friend on twitter sent this to me, I was excited but had no real expectations. I knew I loved the cover, but had not heard a lot of buzz about the novel. However, Truest definitely made my top books of 2015!!!

Firstly, this charming debut has such a cute setting. Green lake features a quirky cast, and cool scenery. Still, with such a small town, it is easy to understand why West, the protagonist, finds her home frustrating at times.

Along with the delightful setting, the novel came along with multi-dimentional lovable main characters. I was rooting for West and Silas the entire time. I loved their stint detailing cars, their banter, and Silas's love of poetry. The side characters were amazing as well. Silas's sister gives the book a darker edge and ventures into the subject of mental illness, which Sommer wrote about with impressive insight. Gordon, an elderly blind friend of West's, was wise and a great quirky grandfather figure. There were also family dynamics and conflicts brought up that touched me. 

The romance was amazing. The ending was amazing. Overall, I am recommending this book to everybody. It is addicting, well-written, and a beautiful, fun, quirky tale!

5 out of 5 stars!!! I can't stop thinking about this book :)

Blog Tour: Underwater + Giveaway!

Underwater
by Marisa Reichardt
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux
Release Date: January 12th 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Psychology, Realistic Fiction, Mental Illness
Rate: 4 Stars

Synopsis:

Morgan didn’t mean to do anything wrong that day. Actually, she meant to do something right. But her kind act inadvertently played a role in a deadly tragedy. In order to move on, Morgan must learn to forgive—first someone who did something that might be unforgivable, and then, herself.

But Morgan can’t move on. She can’t even move beyond the front door of the apartment she shares with her mother and little brother. Morgan feels like she’s underwater, unable to surface. Unable to see her friends. Unable to go to school. 

When it seems Morgan can’t hold her breath any longer, a new boy moves in next door. Evan reminds her of the salty ocean air and the rush she used to get from swimming. He might be just what she needs to help her reconnect with the world outside. 

Underwater is a powerful, hopeful debut novel about redemption, recovery, and finding the strength it takes to face your past and move on.

This book is published on my birthday!!! 

Underwater is a compelling, beautiful read that deals with tough subject matters. This was a great contemporary to start 2016 off with, and I'm excited to see what this debut author writes next. 

From the beginning of the novel, the story and beautiful writing pulled me in. I was curious about why Morgan wouldn't leave her apartment, I wanted to know what traumatic event had happened in the past. I also felt like Morgan's character was fleshed out and I could feel her fear and shame, along with other emotions, in the writing. 

While the connection between Evan and Morgan is sweet, I also enjoyed the fact the novel focused on other character dynamics, such as sister-brother, daughter-father, therapist-client, etc. The novel definitely has a focus on family problems. 

While a lot happens in Underwater, I particularly like the fact that the story ultimately is the aftermath of a tragedy, and shows how a broken person can find the strength to recover from a horrible, life-shattering event. 

Overall, I really enjoyed Underwater. It took me a bit to get into it, but after I got through the first few chapters, I began to really appreciate the story. The characters and emotions are spot on, along with the prose. I would recommend Underwater to fans of Jandy Nelson or A.S. King

Follow the Underwater by Marissa Reichardt Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

I'm a SoCal native and high school writing instructor. I currently live in Los Angeles and can usually be found huddled over my laptop in coffeehouses or swimming in the ocean. 

My debut YA contemporary novel, UNDERWATER, will be out 1/12/16 from Macmillan/FSG and 4/7/16 Macmillan Children's UK.

I love all books and all genres. While I do keep track of all the books I've read here, I generally don't do ratings or reviews

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Review: The Clockwork Scarab

The CLOCKWORK SCARAB
by Colleen Gleason

Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes never meant to get into the family business. But when you’re the sister of Bram and the niece of Sherlock, vampire hunting and mystery solving are in your blood. And when two society girls go missing, there’s no one more qualified to investigate.

Now fierce Evaline and logical Mina must resolve their rivalry, navigate the advances of not just one but three mysterious gentlemen, and solve murder with only one clue: a strange Egyptian scarab. The stakes are high. If Stoker and Holmes don’t unravel why the belles of London society are in such danger, they’ll become the next victims.

Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes and Noble
*Recieved for free in exchange for an honest review*

Are you a fan of Sherlock, British mysteries, or paranormal reads? Well, you have hit the jackpot with the new Stoker and Holmes series. I absolutely adored this novel! The Clockwork Scarab has amazing characters, an awesome plot, hints of romance, paranormal aspects, danger, and humor.

First of all, Mina Holmes and Evaline Stoker are an amazing team and each girl has their own distinct voice and talents. Sure, they many not be BFFs yet. At first, they didn't even necessarily like each other. However, I can tell they will grow to be close friends in future books...

Mina definitely proves herself worthy to call herself Sherlock's niece. Her observation skill and knowledge are most admirable. Evaline was equally as awesome. She is super strong, popular in London society, and over all kickbutt... although she does have a problem with blood. One of my favorite scenes is when she goes to a pub and establishes dominance over Pix in an arm wrestling match. Pix is an awesome character who I loved!!! Other great male characters included Inspector Grayling and a really sweet time traveler. Personally, I am rooting for Mina to end up with Grayling. Both guys are awesome but he is a much better match for her!

The plot was great too! There is a mysterious, scary villain, Egyptian goddesses, scarabs, time travel, and, of course, murder. And the mystery starts with a task set from no one other than Irene Addler! Although the plot was full of danger and life-or-death situations, the author still managed to incorporate witty lines that made me laugh!

Overall, The Clockwork Scarab is definitely a new favorite. I cannot wait for the next book!
4.5/5 Stars

Non YA Reviews: Bend Your Brain, The Thug Kitchen, and Hope in Ballet Shoe

Received for review from Blogging for Books. All opinions are honest and my own! Yeah, this is a strange one! However,  I wanted to try out this blogger's reviewing site and none of the fiction interested me :)                                  

I had a lot of fun flipping through the pages and testing my brain! There were five main sections, my favorites being Coordination and Visual Perception. As soon as I got it, I got to work solving... and I can imagine this book would be great for car rides and any time you're bored in public. Or, just challenge yourself to a few pages every night before bed.         

Also, Bend Your Brain was very witty and funny at times, and the problems were very clever. My dad and I had fun challenging each other. I wasn't so impressed with this book that I would consider buying more books like it, but I did enjoy stretching my brain and I feel very sophisticated having it on my shelf!

I bought this book... and I have no regrets. Thug Kitchen is hilarious with delicious looking recipes! I'm not even vegan, but I'm immensely loving this cookbook. My friend and I laughed so hard while flipping through the pages... Warning: there is profanity. 

I first saw Michaela DePrince in the documentary, First Position. Then, while in London, I came upon this book! The book was inspiring and had me rooting for Michaela the entire time. Her childhood was unimaginable... but she overcame the bad and became a dancer. I especially loved how one magazine cover started her dream!

Any dancers or fans of inspirational, true stories will love this novel to pieces.

I hope you enjoyed these Non-YA Reviews!