Top Ten Tuesday- Past Releases I haven’t Read Yet

July 4, 2017July 4, 2017 ~ Amanda @ Literary Weaponry ~ 8 Comments

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Here we are on another Tuesday so that means Top Ten Tuesday! The ladies at The Broke and the Bookish are taking a break in July so that means coming up with our own themes for the month. So as I pondered, weak and weary, an idea knocked on my chamber door. An idea, and nothing more (Oh yeah, I went there). cool-edgar-allan-poe-venus

This week I’ll be bringing you the top ten past releases that I haven’t read yet. That means books that have been out for more than a year that I haven’t taken the time to pick up yet, but I want to.

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Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1) by Laini Taylor

Published: September 27th 2011

Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious “errands”, she speaks many languages – not all of them human – and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

I know. I am probably the only jerk that hasn’t read this yet. I actually checked it out of the library over a week ago, read a couple pages, and didn’t pick it up again. I need to. From where I sit I can see it sitting on the counter. Taunting me. I’ll get to you, buddy.

Cruel Beauty (Cruel Beauty Universe #1) by Rosamund Hodge

Published: January 28th 2014

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she’s ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle—a shifting maze of magical rooms—enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex’s secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

Yeah, this one is sitting in my house as well. Directly underneath Daughter of Smoke and Bone to be honest. The duo just sits there and stares at me. They mock me with their pretty covers. I’ll get there, alright?!

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Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Published: August 16th 2011

In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade’s devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world’s digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator’s obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade’s going to survive, he’ll have to win—and confront the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.

Alright, I’m not usually into futurist type things but every time I see this book I itch to pick it up. I’m not sure I can read a book with a character named Wade without seeing Dead Pool in my head every time I see the name, though.

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The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle #1) by Patrick Rothfuss

Published: March 27th 2007

Told in Kvothe’s own voice, this is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen.

The intimate narrative of his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, and his life as a fugitive after the murder of a king form a gripping coming-of-age story unrivaled in recent literature.

A high-action story written with a poet’s hand, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that will transport readers into the body and mind of a wizard.

No, I still haven’t read this one. Fight me.

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The Memorist (Reincarnationist #2) by M.J. Rose

Published: November 1st 2008

As a child, Meer Logan was haunted by memories of another time and place, always accompanied by the faint strains of elusive music. Now the past has reached out again in the form of a strange letter that sets her on a journey to Vienna to unlock the mystery of who she once was. With each step, she comes closer to remembering connections between a clandestine reincarnationist society, a lost flute linked to Ludwig van Beethoven, and David Yalom, a journalist who understands all too well how the past affects the future. David knows loss first hand–terrorism is a reality that cost him his family. He’s seen every solution promised by security experts around the world–and he’s seen every solution fail. Now, in a concert hall in Vienna, he plans to force the world to understand the cost of those failures in a single, violent act.

I am a huge fan of Rose’s Reincarnationist series. Something I love about them is that I can read them out of order and it really doesn’t matter. I need to get my hands on this one. Admittedly, her writing isn’t for everyone but I adore it.

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Between Two Queens (Secrets of the Tudor Court #2) by Kate Emerson

Published: January 5th 2010

Pretty, flirtatious, and ambitious. Nan Bassett hopes that an appointment at the court of King Henry VIII will bring her a grand marriage. But soon after she becomes a maid of honor to Queen Jane, the queen dies in childbirth. As the court plunges into mourning, Nan sets her sights on the greatest match in the land…for the king has noticed her. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time King Henry has chosen to wed a maid of honor. And in newly Protestant England, where plots to restore the old religion abound, Nan may be the only one who can reassure a suspicious king of her family’s loyalty. But the favor of a king can be dangerous and chancy, not just for Nan, but for her family as well…and passionate Nan is guarding a secret, one that could put her future — and her life — in grave jeopardy should anyone discover the truth.

Historical fiction based on Henry VIII’s court? Sign me up. The Tudor period is one of the most fascinating times in history and my obsession with it knows no bounds. I will read pretty much anything to do with that bloody king’s time.

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Royal Mistress by Anne Easter Smith

Published: May 7th 2013

Jane Lambert, the quick-witted and alluring daughter of a silk merchant, is twenty-two and still unmarried. When Jane’s father finally finds her a match, she’s married off to the dull, older silk merchant William Shore—but her heart belongs to another. Marriage doesn’t stop Jane Shore from flirtation, however, and when the king’s chamberlain and friend, Will Hastings, comes to her husband’s shop, Will knows his King will find her irresistible.

Edward IV has everything: power, majestic bearing, superior military leadership, a sensual nature, and charisma. And with Jane as his mistress, he also finds true happiness. But when his hedonistic tendencies get in the way of being the strong leader England needs, his life, as well as that of Jane Shore and Will Hastings, hang in the balance.

What can I say, historical fiction is my jam. Is that still a saying? It should be. Historical fiction certainly isn’t the most popular of genres but it pulls on my little heart strings.

So, Top Seven Tuesday. Doesn’t have the same ring but those are seven books all released more than two years ago that I want to read.

What are some blast from the past books you’ve been wanting to pick up?

Down the TBR Hole #2

July 3, 2017 ~ Amanda @ Literary Weaponry ~ 1 Comment

Today it is time for another installment of Down the TBR Hole. This is my second time traversing this dangerous hole. Let’s see what we find down here today!

This meme is hosted by Lia @ Lost in a Story.

Here is what you do:

Go to your goodreads to-read shelf.
Order on ascending date added.
Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
Read the synopses of the books
Decide: keep it or should it go?

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The Seance by John Harwood

Wraxford Hall, a decaying mansion in the English countryside, has a sinister reputation. Once, a family disappeared there. And now Constance Langton has inherited this dark place as well as the mysteries surrounding it. Having grown up in a house marked by the death of her sister, Constance is no stranger to mystery, secrets, and the dark magic around us. Her father was distant. Her mother was in perpetual mourning for her lost child. In a desperate attempt to coax her mother back to health, Constance took her to a seance hoping she would find supernatural comfort. But tragic consequences followed, leaving her alone in the world– alone with Wraxford Hall. Saddled with this questionable bequest, she must find the truth at the heart of all these disappearances, apparitions, betrayal, blackmail, and villainy, even if it costs her life. John Harwood’s second novel delivers on the great promise proven by his first with this gripping mystery set in the heart of Victorian England.

The reviews for this one on Goodreads are all over the board and it is currently averaging a 3.56. Despite that, I still think it sounds like it could be great story. I probably won’t get to this book anytime soon but I’m going to keep it around.

Verdict: KEEP

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The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss

Mary Jekyll, alone and penniless following her parents’ death, is curious about the secrets of her father’s mysterious past. One clue in particular hints that Edward Hyde, her father’s former friend and a murderer, may be nearby, and there is a reward for information leading to his capture…a reward that would solve all of her immediate financial woes.

But her hunt leads her to Hyde’s daughter, Diana, a feral child left to be raised by nuns. With the assistance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Mary continues her search for the elusive Hyde, and soon befriends more women, all of whom have been created through terrifying experimentation: Beatrice Rappaccini, Catherine Moreau, and Justine Frankenstein.

When their investigations lead them to the discovery of a secret society of immoral and power-crazed scientists, the horrors of their past return. Now it is up to the monsters to finally triumph over the monstrous.

This book comes out this August and may I just say it sounds amazing? I cannot wait to get my hands on it. I also just realized that next month is August and that completely freaked me out. Yikes!

Verdict: KEEP

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The Legend of Sithalkaan (The Legend of Sithalkaan #1) by J.N. de Bedout

The feudal strife of the Sengoku Jidai has soaked Japan in blood. Despite the perils, an ambitious young musketeer is chosen to guide a group of Jesuit priests deep into the Japanese hinterlands in search of an ancient and terrifying artifact. Alas, they are not the only ones pursuing it. A fanatical enemy willing to devastate the country in its wake has already launched its own campaign to seize it.

Villages vanish beneath the marching feet of bloodthirsty marauders.

Cauldrons of intolerant faith scorch the populace.

Lust for vengeance boils beneath the surface.

An eternity of pain hangs in the balance.

Unfathomable horrors grate the musketeer and his pious patrons. Blood will stain them. Grief will besiege them. But can they defy the odds and safeguard the artifact before this savage enemy unleashes a cataclysm on the country?

You ever look at a book on your TBR and wonder how it got there? I have no memory of this book. I think it is going to stay that way. Goodbye.

Verdict: tenor

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The Axeman’s Jazz by Ray Celestin

New Orleans, 1919. As a dark serial killer – The Axeman – stalks the city, three individuals set out to unmask him.

Though every citizen of the ‘Big Easy’ thinks they know who could be behind the terrifying murders, Detective Lieutenant Michael Talbot, heading up the official investigation, is struggling to find leads. But Michael has a grave secret and – if he doesn’t find himself on the right track fast – it could be exposed.

Former detective Luca d’Andrea has spent the last six years in Angola state penitentiary, after Michael, his protégée, blew the whistle on his corrupt behaviour. Now a newly freed man, Luca finds himself working with the mafia, whose need to solve the mystery of the Axeman is every bit as urgent as the authorities’.

Meanwhile, Ida is a secretary at the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. Obsessed with Sherlock Holmes and dreaming of a better life, Ida stumbles across a clue which lures her and her musician friend, Louis Armstrong, to the case and into terrible danger . . .

As Michael, Luca and Ida each draw closer to discovering the killer’s identity, the Axeman himself will issue a challenge to the people of New Orleans: play jazz or risk becoming the next victim. And as the case builds to its crescendo, the sky will darken and a great storm will loom over the city . . .

Inspired by a true story, The Axeman’s Jazz, set against the heady backdrop of jazz-filled, mob-ruled New Orleans, is an ambitious, gripping thriller announcing a major new talent in historical crime fiction.

When I first saw this book I thought it sounded amazing. I still do. I think it is going to be bumped up the TBR list.

Verdict: KEEP

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The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand

On Christmas Eve five years ago, Holly was visited by three ghosts who showed her how selfish and spoiled she’d become. They tried to convince her to mend her ways.

She didn’t.

And then she died.

Now she’s stuck working for the top-secret company Project Scrooge–as the latest Ghost of Christmas Past.

Every year, they save another miserly grouch. Every year, Holly stays frozen at seventeen while her family and friends go on living without her. So far, Holly’s afterlife has been miserable.

But this year, everything is about to change. . .

Alright. What was I thinking. This sounds all kinds of lame. Buh- bye!

Verdict: tenor

Ah, nothing like a good cleanse…of the reading list. Two books down, that means I get to add three more, right? Isn’t that the rule?

June Wrap Up

July 1, 2017July 3, 2017 ~ Amanda @ Literary Weaponry ~ 11 Comments

Another month of 2017 has passed us by. Here, summer is upon us with long, warm days by the pool and watching fireflies at night. My daughter thinks that the fireflies are tiny little faeries and it is adorable watching her chase them in the evening. Of course, then the dog tries to eat them which leads to a bit of a meltdown but it is still adorable. Other than the first day of summer, June was a fairly productive month after I got over the reading slump at the beginning…

Outside of Books

June included my fifth wedding anniversary! I got married on June 24th, 2012 in Groton, Connecticut. My now husband had just joined the Navy and he wasn’t permitted to live off base or given a housing allowance unless he was married. So, standing on a rocky beach looking out at the water on a sunny morning we were married with only the priest and my parents in attendance.

Now, to the part that makes me chuckle. The 24th rolled around this year and my husband suggested going kayaking on the lake. Sure! Sounds fun. So the three of us head to the lake and besides a small incident where my husband and daughter fell out of the boat we had a great time. I ended up with a horrible sunburn on my shins and ankles but it was still fun. The day passes, we come home, I’m making dinner and he STILL has not mentioned our anniversary. It was curious but not particularly odd as my husband isn’t exactly emotionally outspoken so I let it go.

My husband LOVES shellfish, especially lobster, but we don’t get it outside of special occasions now. Living so far from the water (I miss the ocean) it is just too expensive. When we lived in Connecticut it was cheaper than beef! So when he comes down for dinner and sees lobster he seems confused as to why. The big dolt thought our anniversary was the next day. I gave him a hard time but it was a good laugh. He went out to the car and brought in my present which was a new FitBit Charge 2 as my old FitBit Charge HR was literally falling apart. All in all, it was a memorable day.

Look at me sharing personal stuff. I never do that! But it was a really great day so I wanted to share it with you wonderful folks.

That is all for this month! I hope you all have a wonderful July!

Morning Star by Pierce Brown

June 30, 2017 ~ Amanda @ Literary Weaponry ~ Leave a comment

“This is always how the story would end,” he says to me. “Not with your screams. Not with your rage. But with your silence.”

Oh, I am silent. This book left me in a bad place. If any of you caught my rambling, emotion driven review of Golden Son you’ll know that I was over the moon about getting my hands on this book. I needed it like I need air. I thought my world was going to crash down around me if I didn’t get my weirdly small adult hands on this book. I had to have it.

Well, I got it and it has left me in a deep, dark place.

I hate to say it, but I have issues with this book. I wanted to adore it the way I adored Golden Son. I wanted to have that same connection with Morning Star as I had with Golden Son that gave me the burning desire to read more. I just wanted to love it. Is that so wrong?

Cons

Sevro – For the first two books Brown has given us a very clear impression of Sevro. Things we know we can expect from him and how he behaves. In Morning Star that seems to have been thrown out the window. I have adored Sevro and rooted for him for two books only to be annoyingly frustrated with him in this one. He wouldn’t shut up, made very poor choices without thinking anything through, and generally just got on my nerves to the point I wanted to skim the scenes with his dialogue.
Jackal – Those of you who have read the books know how Golden Son ended. The Jackal was the end of that book. The entire plot revolved around him at the end. In Morning Star, despite the fact that large parts of the plot still depended on him, we hardly saw him. All we got were mentions of him and, I’m sorry, but that just wasn’t enough for me.
Deaths – Brown did not shy away from killing off characters for two books. If it worked for the plot, they got the ax. Period. No remorse. With this conclusion that wasn’t the case. Characters whose deaths I felt could greatly further the plot line were left alive and useless while the one who I thought deserved to live was killed. I don’t understand. I just don’t.
Mustang – I still don’t like her. In Golden Son I got the impression that she was just trying to figure things out and hadn’t quite found her place in the world. I was greatly looking forward to watching her claim her place, whatever that happened to be. However, I don’t think she actually grew as a character in the slightest. Sure, things happened to her but they didn’t change her. The Mustang we ended with is the same one we started with. How could Sevro change so much and Mustang so little? Irksome.
Loose end – Did I miss something? I admit, I skimmed a page or two, but I don’t recall Harmony being given an ending. I think for the story to have truly closed, she needs one. Her story line needed to be distinctly wrapped up and instead she is in the wind.

“If you’re watching, Eo, it’s time to close your eyes. The Reaper has come. And he’s brought hell with him.”

Pros

Battles – Of course we have the epic space battles in this book. I simply cannot fault Brown for how he puts these scenes together. You can feel the urgency, hear the singing of a slashing blade, and see the dance of battle unfolding. It is masterful.
Darrow – Through Red Rising and Golden Son we came to know Darrow as an overconfident yet lovable, militaristic, single minded, pain in the butt. I say that fondly. In Morning Star, he becomes something more. He has been completely broken apart and rose from the ashes a better man.
Roque – Even though I’m probably the last person to read this book, I’m going to try to leave out anything spoilery about Roque. I will just say that his end felt right and was well done.

As you can obviously see, my con list is longer than my pro list. For some reason, though, I still find myself giving it 4 stars on Goodreads. While I didn’t particularly like how the third book went, it still felt true to the story that Pierce had already set up.

We’ve all read those trilogies or series that, after a couple of books, they stop feeling true to themselves. The rules within their universe change and the characters change without reason but simply to move a story line along. At no point in Morning Star did that feel like it was the case.

Except the very end. The last scene felt incredibly forced and awkward, but besides that…

In a nutshell, did I love this book as much as I did the first two in the the trilogy? No. Was it still a good book? Yes. Do I think Brown could have done better? Absolutely.

Find this book on

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Book Depository

Throwback Thursday – June 29

June 29, 2017June 29, 2017 ~ Amanda @ Literary Weaponry ~ Leave a comment

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Renee began Throwback Thursday at Its Book Talk as a way to share some of her old favorites as well as sharing books that she wants to read that were published over a year ago. Books that were published over a year ago are almost always easier to find at libraries or at a discounted sale price. As I have been sifting through my TBR list and purging those books that no longer hold my interest, I came across several from years past that I’d love to share with you!

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Title: Best Served Cold (First Law World #4) by Joe Abercrombie
Published: June 2009
Publisher: Gollancz
Average Goodreads Rating: 4.16

Springtime in Styria. And that means war. Springtime in Styria. And that means revenge.

There have been nineteen years of blood. The ruthless Grand Duke Orso is locked in a vicious struggle with the squabbling League of Eight, and between them they have bled the land white. While armies march, heads roll and cities burn, behind the scenes bankers, priests and older, darker powers play a deadly game to choose who will be king.

War may be hell but for Monza Murcatto, the Snake of Talins, the most feared and famous mercenary in Duke Orso’s employ, it’s a damn good way of making money too. Her victories have made her popular – a shade too popular for her employer’s taste. Betrayed, thrown down a mountain and left for dead, Murcatto’s reward is a broken body and a burning hunger for vengeance. Whatever the cost, seven men must die.

Her allies include Styria’s least reliable drunkard, Styria’s most treacherous poisoner, a mass-murderer obsessed with numbers and a Northman who just wants to do the right thing. Her enemies number the better half of the nation. And that’s all before the most dangerous man in the world is dispatched to hunt her down and finish the job Duke Orso started…

Springtime in Styria. And that means revenge.

This book sounds like it has everything. Murder? Check. Betrayal? Check. A yearning for revenge? Double check and not a love story in sight. I have been in the mood for a violent, fast paced story that doesn’t include a love plot. From the reviews this one sounds like a perfect fit. I’m so glad I saw this hanging out on my TBR this morning. I’m going to check to see if my library has it right now. Happy reading, everyone!

Find this book on

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Book Depository | Thriftbooks

WWW Wednesday – June 28

June 28, 2017 ~ Amanda @ Literary Weaponry ~ 3 Comments

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WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words and was formerly hosted by A Daily Rhythm. It is open for anyone to participate, even without a blog you can comment on Sam’s post with your own answers. It is a great way to share what you’ve been reading! All you have to do is answer three questions and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.

The three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

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“But death was her curse and her gift, and death had been her good friend these long, long years.”

Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) by Sarah J. Maas. Even though I was utterly bored and annoyed by the first book in this series, Throne of Glass, I still decided to give the second book a try after several recommendations to do so. So far it is definitely better than the first of the series but I still want to punch Chaol in the face. How can he act so seemingly innocent and kind when he is a king’s guard who has had to kill people in his service? It doesn’t jive with me.

What did you recently finish reading?

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“Only the very weak-minded refuse to be influenced by literature and poetry.”

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare. My full review of this book will be up next week but for now I will say that I will not be continuing with this series. Nothing is going to change my mind on this one. I am one of those people who usually feels the need to finish a series even if the books aren’t particularly great but not doing it this time. Tessa is one of the top ten most annoying literary creatures ever created. The other characters weren’t much better.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Sigh. I’m not even sure. Everything I’ve picked up lately has been a let down. I’m starting to think it’s me and not the books themselves. Maybe a little reading break is in order. Help a girl out, recommend me a good book without flimsy, wishy washy characters that in no way has a love story attached and doesn’t delve too far into the sci-fi realm. I’m good with horror, mystery, fantasy, and historical fiction. I also have a weirdly specific love of historical mysteries. Happy reading, everybody!

Top Ten Tuesday – Best Reads of 2017

June 27, 2017 ~ Amanda @ Literary Weaponry ~ 13 Comments

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Hello, and welcome again to Top Ten Tuesday. This week’s theme is Best Books You’ve Read In 2017 So Far. 2017 has been an amazing year of reading for me, there are so many books I’ve truly enjoyed! On a side note, the hosts of Top Ten Tuesday, The Broke and the Bookish, have chosen to take a break until August so that means no organized themes in July. I think I’ll still try to come up with my own but we will see how that goes.

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The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon

Following a bloody battle against foes on every side, Paige Mahoney has risen to the dangerous position of Underqueen, ruling over London’s criminal population.

But, having turned her back on Jaxon Hall and with vengeful enemies still at large, the task of stabilising the fractured underworld has never seemed so challenging.

Little does Paige know that her reign may be cut short by the introduction of Senshield, a deadly technology that spells doom for the clairvoyant community and the world as they know it…

This is the third book in Shannon’s The Bone Season series and to say I loved it would be an understatement. I had been looking forward to this book for ages and completely devoured it the moment it was in my hot little hands. Wonderful read.

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A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn

London, 1887. After burying her spinster aunt, orphaned Veronica Speedwell is free to resume her world travels in pursuit of scientific inquiry—and the occasional romantic dalliance. As familiar with hunting butterflies as with fending off admirers, Veronica intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime.

But fate has other plans when Veronica thwarts her own attempted abduction with the help of an enigmatic German baron, who offers her sanctuary in the care of his friend Stoker, a reclusive and bad-tempered natural historian. But before the baron can reveal what he knows of the plot against her, he is found murdered—leaving Veronica and Stoker on the run from an elusive assailant as wary partners in search of the villainous truth.

I stumbled across this book entirely by accident early this year and I am ever so glad I did. I love historical fiction and I love mysteries and this book is both. Throw in that the main character is a strong willed, intelligent woman and you’ve got yourself a winner.

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A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

Kell is one of the last Antari—magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black.

Kell was raised in Arnes—Red London—and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see.

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.

After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then 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.

I read my first Schwab book this year and it made me sad that I had been missing out on her books up until this point. A Darker Shade of Magic is the stuff dreams are made of.

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Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland and a favorite of the unmarried King, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, she wants to open a shop and create delectable pastries. But for her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for a woman who could be a queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the King’s marriage proposal, she meets handsome and mysterious Jest. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into a secret courtship.

Cath is determined to choose her own destiny. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

I debated whether to put this one on the list. When I read it, I LOVED it. However, I feel like if I read it now, months later, I’d DNF it. I’m a grumpy goat that wouldn’t be able to tolerate the love story at this point.

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A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas

Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas’s masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

I read this book twice the week that I got it. It’s ridiculous, I know, this book is a monster, but I couldn’t help myself. The story pulled me in and wouldn’t let me go. I only wish the third book hadn’t been such a horribly mediocre conclusion to the trilogy.

Victoria

Victoria by Daisy Goodwin

In 1837, less than a month after her eighteenth birthday, Alexandrina Victoria – sheltered, small in stature, and female – became Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. Many thought it was preposterous: Alexandrina — Drina to her family — had always been tightly controlled by her mother and her household, and was surely too unprepossessing to hold the throne. Yet from the moment William IV died, the young Queen startled everyone: abandoning her hated first name in favor of Victoria; insisting, for the first time in her life, on sleeping in a room apart from her mother; resolute about meeting with her ministers alone.

One of those ministers, Lord Melbourne, became Victoria’s private secretary. Perhaps he might have become more than that, except everyone argued she was destined to marry her cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. But Victoria had met Albert as a child and found him stiff and critical: surely the last man she would want for a husband….

I’m a big ole softy for good historical fiction. Just can’t seem to help myself. Victoria is well written and the story stuck with me long after I set this book down.

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The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman

Irene must be at the top of her game or she’ll be off the case – permanently…

Irene is a professional spy for the mysterious Library, which harvests fiction from different realities. And along with her enigmatic assistant Kai, she’s posted to an alternative London. Their mission – to retrieve a dangerous book. But when they arrive, it’s already been stolen. London’s underground factions seem prepared to fight to the very death to find her book.

Adding to the jeopardy, this world is chaos-infested – the laws of nature bent to allow supernatural creatures and unpredictable magic. Irene’s new assistant is also hiding secrets of his own.

Soon, she’s up to her eyebrows in a heady mix of danger, clues and secret societies. Yet failure is not an option – the nature of reality itself is at stake.

The Invisible Library was an easy read but that made it no less engrossing. How could I resist a story about a magical library and a librarian spy?

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Golden Son by Pierce Brown

Golden Son continues the stunning saga of Darrow, a rebel forged by tragedy, battling to lead his oppressed people to freedom from the overlords of a brutal elitist future built on lies. Now fully embedded among the Gold ruling class, Darrow continues his work to bring down Society from within.

A life-or-death tale of vengeance with an unforgettable hero at its heart, Golden Son guarantees Pierce Brown’s continuing status as one of fiction’s most exciting new voices.

You know a book is excellent when, after finishing it, you literally hug it and don’t want to let it go. Golden son is quite simply amazing.

This week ended up being a Top Eight Tuesday instead but no matter. These eight books are the ones I’ve enjoyed most this year. No, most of them weren’t released in 2017 but there is nothing wrong with reading books a year or more old.

What books have been your favorites in 2017?

Down the TBR Hole #1

June 26, 2017 ~ Amanda @ Literary Weaponry ~ 6 Comments

I’ve been seeing Down the TBR hole around the bloggosphere for a while and have been tempted to do it. For whatever reason, I hadn’t yet. So, armed with a pot of coffee, I’m going down the hole on this dreary Monday morning.

This meme is hosted by Lia @ Lost in a Story.

Here is what you do:

Go to your goodreads to-read shelf.
Order on ascending date added.
Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
Read the synopses of the books
Decide: keep it or should it go?

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A Fierce and Subtle Poison by Samantha Mabry

Everyone knows the legends about the cursed girl–Isabel, the one the señoras whisper about. They say she has green skin and grass for hair, and she feeds on the poisonous plants that fill her family’s Caribbean island garden. Some say she can grant wishes; some say her touch can kill.

Seventeen-year-old Lucas lives on the mainland most of the year but spends summers with his hotel-developer father in Puerto Rico. He’s grown up hearing stories about the cursed girl, and he wants to believe in Isabel and her magic. When letters from Isabel begin mysteriously appearing in his room the same day his new girlfriend disappears, Lucas turns to Isabel for answers–and finds himself lured into her strange and enchanted world. But time is running out for the girl filled with poison, and the more entangled Lucas becomes with Isabel, the less certain he is of escaping with his own life.

This book could either be completely amazing or epicly horrible. I just don’t think there is room for a middle ground on it.

Verdict: KEEP

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Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer #1) by Laini Taylor

The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?

The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?

Welcome to Weep.

I hate the cover of this book with the fiery passion of a thousand suns. Hate it so much it makes me tempted to not read it. That is some serious cover hate. Despite that, it still sounds like it could be a good book.

Verdict: Keep

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Everless (Untitled #1) by Sara Holland

In the land of Sempera, time is extracted from blood and used as payment. Jules Ember and her father were once servants at Everless, the wealthy Gerling family’s estate, but were cast out after of a fateful accident a decade ago. Now, Jules’s father is reaching his last hour, and she will do anything to save him. Desperate to earn time, she arrives at the palace as it prepares for a royal wedding, ready to begin her search into childhood secrets that she once believed to be no more than myths. As she uncovers lost truths, Jules spirals deeper into a past she hardly recognizes, and faces an ancient and dangerous foe who threatens her future and the future of time itself.

Jules sounds like she is going to be dreadfully dull and single minded. I want nothing to do with her.

Verdict:

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Scarlet (Scarlet #1) by A.C. Gaughen

Will Scarlet is good at two things: stealing from the rich and keeping secrets – skills that are in high demand in Robin Hood’s band of thieves, who protect the people of Nottingham from the evil sheriff. Scarlet’s biggest secret of all is one only Robin and his men know…that she is posing as a thief; that the slip of a boy who is fast with sharp knives is really a girl.

The terrible events in her past that led Scarlet to hide her real identity are in danger of being exposed when the thief taker Lord Gisbourne arrives in town to rid Nottingham of the Hood and his men once and for all. As Gisbourne closes in a put innocent lives at risk, Scarlet must decide how much the people of Nottingham mean to her, especially John Little, a flirtatious fellow outlaw, and Robin, whose quick smiles have the rare power to unsettle her. There is real honor among these thieves and so much more – making this a fight worth dying for.

I like storied that include the potential for a badass female lead. It sounds like there may be a bit of a love triangle in this one, which is usually frustrating, but I’ll still give it a shot.

Verdict: Keep

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Mistress of Rome (The Empress of Rome #1) by Kate Quinn

Thea is a slave girl from Judaea, passionate, musical, and guarded. Purchased as a toy for the spiteful heiress Lepida Pollia, Thea will become her mistress’s rival for the love of Arius the Barbarian, Rome’s newest and most savage gladiator. His love brings Thea the first happiness of her life-that is quickly ended when a jealous Lepida tears them apart.

As Lepida goes on to wreak havoc in the life of a new husband and his family, Thea remakes herself as a polished singer for Rome’s aristocrats. Unwittingly, she attracts another admirer in the charismatic Emperor of Rome. But Domitian’s games have a darker side, and Thea finds herself fighting for both soul and sanity. Many have tried to destroy the Emperor: a vengeful gladiator, an upright senator, a tormented soldier, a Vestal Virgin. But in the end, the life of the brilliant and paranoid Domitian lies in the hands of one woman: the Emperor’s mistress.

I have a love affair with good historical fiction and this one certainly sounds like it has the potential to be great.

Verdict: Keep

That is it for my first Down the TBR Hole post. Only gave one book the axe but it is still nice to weed the TBR garden from time to time. Have a lovely day!

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

June 23, 2017 ~ Amanda @ Literary Weaponry ~ 4 Comments

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“You could rattle the stars,” she whispered. “You could do anything, if only you dared. And deep down, you know it, too. That’s what scares you most.”

Throne of Glass is the fourth Maas book that I’ve read, the first three being her A Court of Thorns and Roses trilogy. Those three books had a varying amount of success in entertaining me. The best, at least in my opinion, was the second book, A Court of Mist and Fury. While the conclusion, A Court of Wings and Ruin, fell well short of my expectations I still decided to give her Throne of Glass series a chance. I had high hopes that this book would contain the same spark that I had found with Mist and Fury or at least something close to it.

Throne of Glass begins in a labor camp with the prisoner Celaena. Celaena, we quickly come to find out, is a very successful assassin that was sentenced to the prison camp for her deeds. This is something I like about Maas. She isn’t afraid to make her main characters powerful females. It is certainly something that has been happening more and more across the genre but credit where credit is due.

Our assassin is recruited from the camp by the crown prince to participate in a series of tests set forth by the king. The winner of these tests will be given a contract under the king as a killer/spy/whatever need be for his kingdom. After the contract is fulfilled, this champion will be granted their freedom.

“Second place is a nice title for the first loser.”

Now, this premise certainly sounds wonderful. I expected all of the different champions to brutally demonstrate the attributes that got them selected to participate in these tests. With every turn of the page I anticipated a blood bath with swords and fists. Despite all of these trained killers all being in the same place, everything was really pretty tame. What violence there was is mostly given to us second hand. There are slightly vague and watery descriptions of gore and mutilated remains but no first hand accounts of fights to the death. No heroic swordplay or quietly slit throats. Just, “Oh, look at that blood in that hallway over there. How interesting.” Not exactly interesting, no.

What did this book focus on instead of bawdy dialogue and clashing blades? A love triangle.

EyeRoll — I wasn’t feeling it either, Dean

There is no way for me to make this sound interesting so I’ll just throw it to you as it is. Celaena, our would be daring assassin, may be able to kill people but she is frightfully boring. She likes puppies and frilly dresses and pouts like a petulant child. For some reason the prince is enamored with her and so is her guard. The prince is a womanizer and the guard is a pansy. I do, however, like the prince more than the guard. He at least doesn’t try to hide the fact that he enjoys the company of females enthusiastically. While I appreciate his unapologetic attitude, it doesn’t make him any less boring.

Other stuff happens. Magic is involved. And a badass lady with a staff. And a ghost. You’d think those things would make the story great but all it did was salvage an otherwise dying plot.

While I did find this book predictable and average, Swetlana @ Reading Through The Nights has convinced me to give the next book in the series a shot. I’m told the second one is much better. I could feel the makings of a good story in this book it just never quite got there. Hopefully Crown of Midnight has that spark I was hoping for in this series.

Throwback Thursday – June 22

June 22, 2017June 22, 2017 ~ Amanda @ Literary Weaponry ~ 4 Comments

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Renee began this Throwback Thursday meme at Its Book Talk as a way to share some of her old favorites as well as sharing books that she wants to read that were published over a year ago. Books that were published over a year ago are almost always easier to find at libraries or at a discounted sale price. As I have been sifting through my TBR list and purging those books that no longer hold my interest, I came across several from years past that I’d love to share with you!

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Title: Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1) by Laini Taylor
Published: August 2012
Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks
Average Goodreads Rating: 4.04

“Errand requiring immediate attention. Come.”

The note was on vellum, pierced by the talons of the almost-crow that delivered it. Karou read the message. ‘He never says please’, she sighed, but she gathered up her things.

When Brimstone called, she always came.

In general, Karou has managed to keep her two lives in balance. On the one hand, she’s a seventeen-year-old art student in Prague; on the other, errand-girl to a monstrous creature who is the closest thing she has to family. Raised half in our world, half in ‘Elsewhere’, she has never understood Brimstone’s dark work – buying teeth from hunters and murderers – nor how she came into his keeping. She is a secret even to herself, plagued by the sensation that she isn’t whole.

Now the doors to Elsewhere are closing, and Karou must choose between the safety of her human life and the dangers of a war-ravaged world that may hold the answers she has always sought

I know it’s not just me that sees Laini Taylor’s books everywhere. Her newest release, Strange the Dreamer, appears to be incredibly popular. But you know what? I was being shallow and a little odd and refused to look up books by Taylor because I hate the cover (US) of Strange the Dreamer so much. I mean, it is an intense hate. Don’t ask me why, I can’t figure it out myself. I’m being a terrible person and judging a book by it’s horrendous cover.

However, I stumbled across Daughter of Smoke and Bone and the story synopsis certainly interests me. My local library currently has it on hold for me and I’ll be picking it up today. I’m trying not to judge it by the fact that the Goodreads description compares it to Twilight. How did the publishers ever think that comparison was a good selling point? Boy, I’m being a negative Nancy. I think I’ll go brew some coffee and read a few pages of my current book before the day has to begin. Happy Thursday, everyone!

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Down the TBR Hole #2

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WWW Wednesday

Throwback Thursday

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Morning Star by Pierce Brown

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Throwback Thursday – June 29

WWW Wednesday – June 28

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Top Ten Tuesday – Best Reads of 2017

Down the TBR Hole #1

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

Throwback Thursday – June 22