Stacking the Shelves (52)

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and is all about sharing the book you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Purchased/received

Gift

Review: A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic, #1)
by V.E. Schwab
Published by Titan Books
Paperback (purchased)
Fantasy

Kell is one of the last travelers--magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes connected by one magical city.

There's Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, and with one mad King--George III. Red London, where life and magic are revered--and where Kell was raised alongside Rhy Maresh, the roguish heir to a flourishing empire. White London--a place where people fight to control magic and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. And once upon a time, there was Black London. But no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red traveler, ambassador of the Maresh empire, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see. It's a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand.

Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.

Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive.

A Darker Shade of Magic was one of more heavily fantasy read I've read in a long time - and I fell in love with Schwab's world-building, which was absolutely brilliant. World-building and the magic system - the four different London's with different stages/types of magic - were astonishing, detailed, and simply brilliant. As a reader I could see everything and feel everything like I was there myself because of how detailed the descriptions were, and of course, how good Schwab is at writing.

Other thing that this book excelled at was the characters. I absolutely loved Kell who was so adorable most of the time, and a bit mysterious even though he was one of the main characters. Rhy was the one I wanted to know more of, and I really hope that he gets a bigger role in the sequel because I loved him already. And Lila was simply a badass Slytherin who I couldn't help but like. Holland was someone I felt sorry for, and I was intrigued by his past and life, and I would have loved to learn more.

The reason why I'm not giving A Darker Shade of Magic full five stars is that at times, the plot didn't seem to move at all because the descriptions of everything were so detailed. Don't get me wrong, I liked the detailed world-building but there were times when the descriptions and explanations were all there was and the plot didn't move at all. It was still fascinating but a bit tedious at times. Otherwise this was a piece of masterwork, and I'll be delighted to dive into the sequels.

4 of 5 stars.

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Review: Percy Jackson and the Greek Heroes by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and the Greek Heroes
by Rick Riordan
Published by Puffin Books
Paperback (purchased)
YA, fantasy, mythology

In this gripping follow-up to Percy Jackson and the Greek Gods, demigod Percy Jackson tells the stories of twelve of the original Greek heroes in all their gory, bloodthirsty glory.

Want to know who cut off Medusa's head? Which hero was raised by a she-bear? Who tamed Pegasus, the winged horse? Percy has all the answers...

Once again Riordan delivers Percy's snarky narrator and the best chapter titles ever invented. I can't get enough of these companion books - I really want a book about Minor Gods narrated by Percy!

This is as hilarious, funny, and tragic as the Percy Jackson and the Greek Gods. There's twelve different, the most notorious heroes of the Ancient Greek. I pride myself of knowing a lot of Ancient history, but there were a few heroes I hadn't really heard of before. The more known tales of Hercules and Jason got their own spin with Percy's witty narrate.

I highly recommend this to any fan of Percy Jackson, as it's everything a great Riordan book is supposed to be. 

5 of 5 stars

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Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books I Read In 2016

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week participating bloggers can create lists of topic given by the host, and share them with others!

I'm listing the top ten books I read in 2016 so that means there's books included in this list that have been published before 2016. In no particular order:

Strong Signal & Fast Connection by Megan Erickson & Santino Hassell
I'm sure the Megtino Dream Team is perfection, and I need more of the Cyberlove series. These first two instalments were pure perfection and I fell in love. Certainly the top of M/M romance genre.

 Percy Jackson and the Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan

This includes The Son of Neptune, The Mark of Athena & The House of Hades, all of which I read this year. I adore the brilliant Percy Jackson books, and these certainly didn't disappoint. Even if few things continue to break my fragile heart.

 Captive Prince trilogy by C.S. Pacat

Okay, I admit that the first book, Captive Prince, had a potential to be a bit hit or miss with me. But the sequels, Prince's Cambit & Kings Rising, blew my mind and I fell so hard. And now I can't help but love the whole trilogy.

Half Lost by Sally Green
My ship sailed so gloriously, and I loved every brilliant moment, even if this final book shattered my heart.

Winter by Marissa Meyer

I didn't think I could read 800 pages in a short few days, but Winter captivated me. Especially Scarlet and Wolf continued to amaze me. This finale was one of the best I've ever read.

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

I finally read a Schwab books. Okay, I read three this year but Vicious was first and the one that was so brilliant and clever that it blew my mind. Definitely one of the best books I've ever read, and one of my new favourites.

A Hundred Thousand Words by Nyrae Dawn

I spend the last few months binge reading M/M romance, and this one was one of the best I read. It was so full of feelings and it was such a perfection because it wasn't cliché at all.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Original Screenplay by J.K. Rowling

I read the screenplay before going to see the movie, and I loved both. Absolutely fantastic! Whilst The Cursed Child was a bit disappointment in some degree (but not the Malfoys, they were brilliant), this screenplay was so good, and I need so much more of this universe.

Trailer Trash by Marie Sexton

This is one of the unappreciated crown jewels of coming of age/coming out books. So brilliant and so atmospheric as it's set in 1980s.

 Focus on Me & Out of Frame by Megan Erickson

These are standalones in the same series, In Focus, and I loved both despite how different they were. Focus on Me has some dark and difficult themes while Out of Frame is a bit more light-hearted but both are fantastic in their own right.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week participating bloggers can create lists of topic given by the host, and share them with others!

In no particular order, here's ten books I'd love to get from Santa this year!

Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1)

by Leigh Bardugo

Published by Indigo

Paperback (purchased)

YA, fantasy

Criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker has been offered wealth beyond his wildest dreams. But to claim it, he'll have to pull off a seemingly impossible heist:

Break into the notorious Ice Court
(a military stronghold that has never been breached)

Retrieve a hostage
(who could unleash magical havoc on the world)

Survive long enough to collect his reward
(and spend it)

Kaz needs a crew desperate enough to take on this suicide mission and dangerous enough to get the job done - and he knows exactly who: six of the deadliest outcasts the city has to offer. Together, they just might be unstoppable - if they don't kill each other first.

Six of Crows had everything to be a thrilling, brilliant read. Impossible heist and six outcasts; I like heist stories, and outcasts are always after my heart. Bardugo's writing style was on point to make the world feel real and authentic, I like the Grisha world a lot.

Most of the characters I just fell in love. Kaz who's so perfectly cunning and brilliant, Jesper who's hilarious, and Wylan who's so adorable. All three of them stole my heart from the very begining. Matthias took a bit longer to warm up on me, mostly because he was a bit annoying with his preaches. Nina annoyed me a bit too because she was pretentious but she grew on me a bit - not enough to make me love her but enough to enjoy her chapters a bit more. However, I couldn't stand on Inej and how she's portrayed. Inej had a holier than thou attitude because she believed in different gods than the others. There's also multiple scenes where she's down right rude to a person suffering from PDST. Inej ruined most of the book for me, especially since the other characters though she was so great when she was being arrogant, and her faults were never addressed.

Besides Inej the story was so good. Full of fantastic world building, fast paced action, and so much cunning and double crossing that it was absolutely amazing! All I wish that there would have been less Inej (or none at all) and it would have been almost perfection. I hate to take stars out of review because one character, but Inej and the way all her faults were ignored annoyed me so much that I had to put the book down on multiple occasions.

3 of 5 stars.

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Stacking the Shelves (51)

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and is all about sharing the book you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Purchased

 

Review Copies

Review: You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour & David Levithan

You Know Me Well
by Nina LaCour & David Levithan
Published by Macmillan
Paperback (purchased)
YA, LGBT, contemporary

Who knows you well? Your best friend? Your boyfriend or girlfriend? A stranger you meet on a crazy night? No one, really?

Mark and Kate have sat next to each other for an entire year, but have never spoken. For whatever reason, their paths outside of class have never crossed.
That is until Kate spots Mark miles away from home, out in the city for a wild, unexpected night. Kate is lost, having just run away from a chance to finally meet the girl she has been in love with from afar. Mark, meanwhile, is in love with his best friend Ryan, who may or may not feel the same way.

When Kate and Mark meet up, little do they know how important they will become to each other -- and how, in a very short time, they will know each other better than any of the people who are supposed to know them more.

There were various things I really liked in this story. Mark was adorable, and I felt for him so much because of his unrequired love for his best friend - which was portrayed so well, because the person who does not love you back the same way you do, does not make them a bad person. In a way, I think this is the most real and relatable story about unrequired love, and it showed the both sides very well. I also liked Mark and Kate's friendship; how they just clicked and how well they understood each other, and were there when the other needed them, even if they had just known each other for a few days. Kate, however, was not as big hit for me as Mark because I struggled to relate with her. I still think the authors portrayed well how it is to struggle with being true to oneself when you feel pressured to do something you are not ready for.

So, there were very good themes, lots of emotions and feelings, good diverse set of characters, and basically everything was good. Something was missing, though, because I didn't feel overwhelming love for the story or the characters. Something lacked - maybe action, maybe some big emotion, maybe just something. You Know Me Well was a very good, solid story, and I would recommend it to those who want to read something good about friendships, taking the big steps of life after high school, and unrequired love. It might click for you. For me, sadly, it was a good story but it wasn't something that swept me off my feed or made my heart race. That's the only reason why I'm giving it only three stars.

3of 5 stars.

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Book Blitz + Giveaway: Take A Chance Anthology

Title: Take a Chance

Sub-Title: A Collection of Gay Romance for New Adults

Authors: Various

Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing

Cover Artist: Natasha Snow

Release Date: December 15th, 2016

Genre(s): Anthology, M/M Romance, New Adult

Words: 93,500

View on Goodreads

About the Book

Blurb

A single moment can change everything. A university student preparing to confront the adolescent crush who betrayed him. A demon embroiled in a battle against his very nature. A soldier, mentally scarred after fighting in The Great War, torn between propriety and his heart. Though separated by time and distance, culture and reality, these young men all have one thing in common: they each stand at a crossroads in their life and face a choice that will alter the course of their future. The twelve tales in this collection of gay romantic fiction range from sweet to erotic, contemporary to historical, paranormal to grittily realistic. Whether centred around the fear associated with coming out, the thorny issue of trust, or the struggle for survival, each story explores in its own way the courage needed to overcome personal obstacles and take a chance on love.

Stories

Reflections by Chase Potter

Stranger than Stars by J.A. Rock

Another Story by Jamie Deacon

Howl by Kelley York

A Boy Named Khwahish by Dee Aditya

Want You Bad by Lynn Michaels

Far From Texas by Eric Gober

The Right Words by Elinor Gray

Class-A by Debbie McGowan

Lockdown by Kari Jo Spear

Dream Infected by Melissa E Costa

Cheese and Pickle by Claire Davis and Al Stewart

Excerpt

Just as I sat, Mr. Keno hit the lights. Everything went black. It hadn't been so dark in my old school. The blinds over the windows must be heavy enough to be bombproof. Comforting thought. Nobody believed the worn-out phrase "it can't happen here." We all knew it could. "Keep your phones put away," Mr. Keno said. "It's going to be OK." Those would be the last words we'd hear until it was over. An instant later, someone pushed in next to me, between me and the file cabinet. Just my luck. I squished over against the wall as tightly as I could. Even so, our hips touched. It was so dark I couldn't tell anything about the person, except that he or she smelled pleasantly of some herbal shampoo. Since I'd only been in the classroom a few minutes before the lockdown started, I hadn't gotten a chance to really look at my new classmates. I pressed against the wall as if I might become one with it. What I really wanted to do was curl into a ball. I settled for bending low over my legs, crossed at the ankles. I had too much imagination. It did crazy things when I was afraid. I closed my eyes in the darkness and willed myself to be calm, but every nerve was so keyed up that my pounding heart refused to slow down. First thing in the morning was the perfect time for a gunman to attack. Kids would be in their classrooms for attendance, so he could move freely in the halls without people hanging around to either jump him or run. Since the classrooms would be full, the gunman could find victims behind every door. I focused on what I could hear. The fan in the ceiling that I hadn't noticed before became an insistent whir, so loud I couldn't believe I hadn't been aware of it the moment I'd walked into the room. It covered the sounds the kids on the other side of the filing cabinet had to be making—little sounds people couldn't help but make, like scraping a shoe across the floor when they shifted position, or a stifled cough. I listened so hard it hurt. Only the fan. Nothing in the hallway. Surely, if this were a real situation, there would be turmoil somewhere in the building. Unless the administrators were expecting something to happen that hadn't happened yet. I imagined a man prowling the corridors, intent on his destination. Or perhaps he hadn't chosen his victims yet. He might be waiting for something to speak to him, like the tone of a cell phone from behind a door, or the thump of a backpack falling off a chair. It might only take some little thing like that for him to burst in here and… Taken from Lockdown by Kari Jo Spear

Buy Links

Beaten Track Publishing | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | All Romance eBooks | Smashwords

Giveaway

Enter below for your chance to win a fabulous eBook bundle which includes the following:

Choice of backlist title by Claire Davis and Al Stewart

Caught Inside by Jamie Deacon

The King of Cups by Elinor Gray

Of the Bauble by Debbie McGowan

Cupid’s Christmas Arrow by Lynn Michaels

The Race for Second by Chase Potter

Choice of backlist title by J.A. Rock

Under the Willow by Kari Jo Spear

Suicide Watch by Kelley York

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Tour Stops

Boys on the Brink | The Bookery Review | Howling for Books | Fanatical Paranormal Romantical | Books, Dreams, Life | MM Book Escape | A Naughty Book Fling | Fire and Ice Book Reviews | BB’s Book Reviews | Happily Ever Chapter | Alpha Book Club | The Bookworm Lodge | Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents | A.M. Leibowitz | Outrageous Heroes of Romance | Nephy’s World | Angel Feathers | Rainbow Warriors | Kitty’s Book Spot | LoveBound Books | Maari Loves Her Indies | I Heart Reading | Live Laugh and Love Books | Just Us Book Blog | The Broke Book Bank | Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews

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Review: Pickup Men by L.C. Chase

Pickup Men (Pickup Men, #1)
by L.C. Chase
Published by Riptide Publishing
Ebook (free)
Adult, LGBT, western, contemporary, romance

It takes a pissed-off Brahma bull named Shockwave to show rodeo pickup man Marty Fairgrave the cold hard truth about champion bull rider Tripp Colby: Tripp will never leave the safety of his closet or acknowledge Marty in public. Sometimes loving someone just isn’t enough, and after a year of hiding what they are, Marty finally sees the light—and it’s no longer shining on Tripp.

Tripp Colby would do anything for Marty. Well . . . almost. He’s never loved anyone before, and isn’t quite sure how to handle it now. But he knows Marty is his everything, and in order to win him back, Tripp will have to overcome his darkest fears and step into the light.

But no matter Tripp’s intentions, the cost might be too high and the effort too late for these two cowboys to ride off into the sunset.

I don't think that I have read a western/cowboy book before, even though I have seen all the classic movies and some new ones, because my dad really likes them and I used to watch them with him. I like the setting, the rodeos and ranch life, and when you throw a gay cowboys there? Hello Brokeback Mountain, my favourite movie/short story. Enough chit chat.

I fell in love with the story. I loved the characters; Marty who's out and proud, sincere, warm and so damn nice person; Tripp who's in the closet but so adorable with his inner, heart-breaking conflicts; Bridge who's protective and such a good friend; same with Kent; and the paramedic Eric who's funny and nice. I just loved them and the setting, which was rodeo circles in California. I loved how they all had different jobs, Marty and Bridge being pickup men, and Tripp being a bullrider. And then, of course, the main relationship.

I liked how Marty and Tripp is an established couple, although their relationship was mostly secret one because Tripp is scared of coming out, and how he has to decide if what he wants as Marty has gotten enough of secrets and leaves Tripp. All the feels, and all the heartbreak, but there was plenty of funny, heart-warming moments with friends

The story was intriguing, the setting was a spot on and felt so authentic, and the characters were so lovable (except Scott, because he's a bastard). I devoured the book, and it left me needing more of this world and these characters. Also, because of this, I have a newly found obsession with M/M cowboy stories. I need more cowboys in my life.

I highly recommend this to anyone interested in western/contemporary/romance. It can't get more lovable, adorable, and good than this.

5 of 5 stars.

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Review: Half Lost by Sally Green

Half Lost (Half Life, #3)
by Sally Green
Published by Penguin UK
Paperback (purchased)
YA, LGBT, fantasy

Nathan Byrn is running again. The Alliance of Free Witches has been all but destroyed. Scattered and demoralized, constantly pursued by the Council's Hunters, only a bold new strategy can save the rebels from total defeat. They need the missing half of Gabriel's amulet - an ancient artifact with the power to render its bearer invincible in battle.

But the amulet's guardian - the reclusive and awesomely powerful witch Ledger - has her own agenda. To win her trust, Nathan must travel to America and persuade her to give him the amulet. Combined with his own Gifts, the amulet might just be enough turn the tide for the Alliance and end the bloody civil war between Black and White witches once and for all... 

Half Lost was utter perfection, but it shattered my heart to tiny pieces. I stand by my word: Nathan is precious and needs protection, and Gabriel is everything.

That's all I have to say. I loved every moment, even when my heart shattered. Although I have two problems with the ending but I won't spoil anything. If you've read this and want to rant about the ending, I'm always willing to do that.

5 of 5 stars.

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Review: Half Wild by Sally Green

Half Wild (Half Life, #2)
by Sally Green
Published by Penguin UK
Paperback (purchased)
YA, fantasy

After finally meeting his elusive father, Marcus, and receiving the three gifts that confirm him as a full adult witch, Nathan is still on the run. He needs to find his friend Gabriel and rescue Annalise, now a prisoner of the powerful Black witch Mercury. Most of all he needs to learn how to control his Gift – a strange, wild new power that threatens to overwhelm him.

Meanwhile, Soul O'Brien has seized control of the Council of White Witches and is expanding his war against Black witches into Europe. In response, an unprecedented alliance has formed between Black and White witches determined to resist him. Drawn into the rebellion by the enigmatic Black witch Van Dal, Nathan finds himself fighting alongside both old friends and old enemies. But can all the rebels be trusted, or is Nathan walking into a trap?

I read this over a year ago, but it has taken me so long to find the right words; and I'm sure I still haven't managed to do so. Half Wild is many things, including stunning, captivating, exceptional, breathtaking, emotional, action packed, and brilliant. Most of all, my ship sailed and I wish nothing more than it to sail even more in the last book. It has to. All the praise (except for Annalise who I despise more than anything).

The characters, oh my beloved cinnamon rolls. Nathan needs hugs. Plenty of hugs. People need to stop torturing him. There was more Gabriel in this story, and he's precious human being. I love him to the pieces, he's so brilliant and gorgeous inside and out. Marcus is so intriguing and cool, and I need a novella about him when he was younger, before Nathan was born. And all the other characters; Nesbitt, Van, and all of them. Except Annalise, I didn't like her in the first book and now I despise her more than anything because of reasons. I won't spoil the story, but if you read the book, you'll hopefully understand my extreme dislike of Annalise.

The story is intense; so intense and so many feelings that I'm not sure how I can handle it all. And I love how dark this story is, and how wild it really is. Compared to this, most YA stories are so tame, and I love how Green does not shy from difficult topics and from all the core that abuse and brewing war brings. Life's not a fairy tale, and this trilogy certainly seems to show the ugly side, too.

The first half of the book - the part were there was no Annalise - was incredible. Don't get me wrong, it was solid, good, and so full of feelings on the second half of the book, but Annalise was being so annoying that I just wanted her to disappear. But anyway, Half Wild was everything. I felt all the feels; I cried, I laughed, I swooned, I got angry, and everything that there is to feel. I love this trilogy to the pieces - I especially love Nathan and Gabriel to the pieces. Preferably together.

 5 of 5 stars.

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Top Ten Tuesday: New-To-Me Authors I Read For the First Time In 2016

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week participating bloggers can create lists of topic given by the host, and share them with others!

I've read 54 books this far this year - still six books shy from my goal but I'm determined to reach that until the end of the year - and I have read lots of familiar authors but luckily I have also had some new ones. So here's ten new to me authors I've read first time this year:

 

I finally read a book by V.E. Schwab. Vicious was so brilliant, and everything I have been searching for. So I read This Savage Song, and I have started A Darker Shade of Magic (although I'm not finished with it, yet). Schwab certainly become a must-read author for me.

Marie Sexton's Trailer Trash got me like no other, and I felt all the feels. L.C. Chase made me obsessed about westerns and cowboys (with LGBT cowboys, of course) like no other. And I'm happy that a friend got me reading Stephen Fry's The Liar because the language in that was so amazing. Fry certainly masters English language, all the nuances of it.

Captive Prince was an impulse buy, and I had some problems with it, but I'm so glad that I dived into this series because I devoured Prince's Cambit and Kings Rising because they were amazing. I still need more from this world, I need more Damen and Laurent asap.

 Oh yes, I finally read a book from Rainbow Rowell. And I know I should have probably started with Fangirl, but Carry On sounded more like on my alley, and I did devour it within one day. Jennifer A. Nielsen, well, I delved into middle grade fantasy and I really liked The False Prince, and I plan on continuing with the trilogy at some point.

I had to include one classic, and for a history student who loves Medieval times and kings and queens, Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince is pretty much a must read. It was very interesting, and I'm happy how I managed to tie it into my studies.

 

I read a book by Megan Erickson last year and loved it, so when she and Santino Hassell wrote Strong Signal together, I was all for it. Now I love the Megtino combination and I'll surely read whatever they come up with. Especially if it has something to do with the Cyberlove series. Barry Lyga has been on my TBR list for a long time, and now I finally read I Hunt Killers, and it was so good.