BOOKSTAGRAM & CREATIVE BLOG TOUR: Shadow Frost(Shadow Frost #1) by Coco Ma

Shadow Frost 

Publication date: October 1st, 2019 
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Pages: 400
Genre: YA Fantasy
Buy:Book Depository | Wordery | Blackstone Publishing | Amazon

Synopsis:

IN A WORLD OF MAGIC, NOTHING IS EVER AS IT SEEMS …

From young author Coco Ma comes a dazzling new tale of adventure, power, and betrayal, weaving together a stunning world of magic with a killer cast in an explosive, unforgettable debut.

IN THE KINGDOM OF AXARIA, a darkness rises. Some call it a monster, laying waste to the villagers and their homes. Some say it is an invulnerable demon summoned from the deepest abysses of the Immortal Realm. Many soldiers from the royal guard are sent out to hunt it down. Not one has ever returned.

When Asterin Faelenhart, Princess of Axaria and heir to the throne, discovers that she may hold the key to defeating the mysterious demon terrorizing her kingdom, she vows not to rest until the beast is slain. With the help of her friends and the powers she wields — though has yet to fully understand — Asterin sets out to complete a single task. The task that countless, trained soldiers have failed.

To kill it.

But as they hunt for the demon, they unearth a plot to assassinate the Princess herself instead. Asterin and her companions begin to wonder how much of their lives have been lies, especially when they realize that the center of the web of deceit might very well be themselves. With no one else to turn to, they are forced to decide just how much they are willing to sacrifice to protect the only world they have ever known.

That is, of course… if the demon doesn’t get to them first.

– My Thoughts –

Instead of writing a review, I’m going to list Five Reasons You Should read Shadow Frost:

I) If you love stories with multiple point-of-views

II) If you love stories about a group of misfits

III) If you love stories about princesses kicking ass and taking names!

IV) If you love quality banter!

V) If you love stories about demons wreaking havoc and gods meddling as usual

Overall, I found this debut fantasy by Coco Ma very promising and deliciously fun! Thanks to MTMC tours for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

– About the Author –

Coco Ma is a Canadian-Chinese author and pianist. She wrote her first novel, Shadow Frost, at the age of 15. Since she began playing the piano at the age of five and a half, she has also performed on some of the world’s greatest concert stages and graduated with a pre-college diploma in piano performance from The Juilliard School in New York City. Currently, she studies at Yale University. When she isn’t practicing piano, writing, or studying, you might find her bingeing Netflix or eating cake. Lots of cake.

Website | Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter

INTL Tour-Wide Giveaway

Head over to my Instagram account for a chance to win one of THREE prize packs that include: One hardcover copy of Shadow Frost + Blackstone tote bag! Open INTL!
(And don’t miss out the rest of the tour stops to get more chances to win!!!)

Tour Schedule

September 23
@thereaderandthechef – Bookstagram + Blog

September 24
@ve_xo – Bookstagram

September 25
@paperfury – Bookstagram + Blog

September 26
@thebibliolife – Bookstagram

September 27
@morrighanrose – Bookstagram + Blog

September 28
@_ckarys – Bookstagram

September 29
@novelknight – Bookstagram + Blog

September 30
@old.enough.for.fairytales – Bookstagram

September 1
@book_rambler – Bookstagram + Blog

September 2
@b.b.lynnreads – Bookstagram

Hosted by:

Thank you for reading! Have you read Shadow Frost? Are you excited to read it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! 

Advertisement

Cheltenham Literature festival 70th Anniversary Blog Tour & International Giveaway

Hi everyone!! I’m delighted to be part of the Cheltenham Literature Festival 70^th Anniversary Blog Tour. As my stop on the tour I am hosting a giveaway of Queenie, the acclaimed debut by Candice Carty Williams, who will be speaking at Cheltenham Literature Festival on 12^th October.

To enter the giveaway please follow the link below and comment on this post so that I can verify. Open internationally until 6th October.

WIN a copy of Queenie by Candice Carty Williams ( Open International)

About the Book:

Queenie

‘Inspirational, funny and wise’ – Kit de Waal, author of My Name is Leon.

Queenie Jenkins can’t cut a break. Well, apart from one from her long term boyfriend, Tom. That’s definitely just a break though. Definitely not a break up. Stuck between a boss who doesn’t seem to see her, a family who don’t seem to listen (if it’s not Jesus or water rates, they’re not interested), and trying to fit in two worlds that don’t really understand her, it’s no wonder she’s struggling.

She was named to be queen of everything. So why is she finding it so hard to rule her own life?

A darkly comic and bitingly subversive take on modern life, QUEENIE will have you nodding in recognition, crying in solidarity, and rooting for this unforgettable character every step of the way.

Perfect for fans of Dolly Alderton, Bryony Gordon and Dawn O’Porter, and anyone who loved Fleabag and Dear White People.

Queenie by Candice Carty Williams is out now (Orion, £12.99)

About The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival:

The world’s first literature festival celebrates its 70th birthday in 2019. It still leads the way in celebrating the written and spoken word, presenting the best new voices in fiction and poetry alongside literary greats and high-profile speakers, while inspiring over 9,000 school children with a love of books through its Literature for Schools programme. All set in a beautiful Regency town with free pop-up events galore and festivities continuing late into the night.

Cheltenham Literature Festival is a charity delivering a pioneering year-round educational programme including its flagship Reading Teachers = Reading Pupils outreach project which is being rolled out nationally this year enabling teachers and their pupils to rediscover the joy of reading. The award-winning Beyond Words is a creative writing project working with vulnerable young people unable to access mainstream education in Gloucestershire. Cheltenham Festivals supports Amnesty International in the development of Words That Burn, a national human rights poetry project, and develops new talent with programmes such as Write Now, a unique mentoring, workshop and networking project that nurtures young people’s creative writing abilities.

www.cheltenhamfestivals/literature

Review + Giveaway: Truly Madly Royally, written by Debbie Rigaud

Truly Madly Royally by Debbie Rigaud

Publication date: July 30, 2019
Publisher: Point 
Pages: 304
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance
Buy:
Book Depository | Wordery | Amazon

Fiercely independent and smart, Zora Emerson wants to change the world. She’s excited to be attending a prestigious summer program, even if she feels out of place among her privileged, mostly white classmates. So she’s definitely not expecting to feel a connection to Owen, who’s an actual prince of an island off the coast of England. But Owen is funny, charming…and undeniably cute. Zora can’t ignore the chemistry between them. When Owen invites Zora to be his date at his big brother’s big royal wedding, Zora is suddenly thrust into the spotlight, along with her family and friends. Everyone is talking about her, in real life and online, and while Owen is used to the scrutiny, Zora’s not sure it’s something she can live with. Can she maintain her sense of self while moving between two very different worlds? And can her feelings for Owen survive and thrive in the midst of the crazy? Find out in this charming romantic comedy that’s like The Princess Diaries for a new generation.

– My Thoughts –

Truly Madly Royally was like a mash-up of The Princess Diaries, The Prince and me and of course, the story of Harry and Meghan. I loved our protagonist Zora, who was smart, driven, kind and compassionate. Zora falls for our prince charming Owen while she was studying at a prestigious college and the rest is, as they say, history. The romance was way too fast and unbelievable for me. The problem I had was with Owen; he was such an unrelatable character that every scene of him with Zora made me cringe.

Overall, this was a light rom-com which can be enjoyed during the summer or whenever you’re looking for a quick read.

Thanks to The Fantastic Flying Book Club and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

About the Author:

YA author Debbie M. Rigaud began her writing career covering news and entertainment for magazines. She’s interviewed celebs, politicians, social figures and “real” girls. Her writing has appeared in Seventeen, CosmoGIRL!, Essence, J-14, Trace, Heart&Soul and Vibe Vixen, to name a few. Her first YA fiction writing was published in the anthology HALLWAY DIARIES (KimaniTru Press/September 2007). Her first standalone YA book–a Simon Pulse romantic comedy titled PERFECT SHOT–is due out in the Fall of 2009

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

Tour-wide Giveaway:

Click the button below to enter a US-only Giveaway! Open until 7th August ’19

WIN one of two copies of TRULY MADLY ROYALLY by Debbie Rigaud

Tour Schedule:

Click on this link to read the rest of the blog tour posts!

Blog Tour: Sea Witch Rising( Sea Witch #2), written by Sarah Henning

Sea Witch Rising(Sea Witch #2) by Sarah Henning

Publication date: August 6, 2019  Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 416
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Buy:
Book Depository | Wordery | Amazon

Synopsis:

“The Little Mermaid” takes a twisted turn in this thrilling sequel to villainess origin story Sea Witch, as the forces of land and sea clash in an epic battle for freedom, redemption, and true love.
Runa will not let her twin sister die. Alia traded her voice to the Sea Witch for a shot at happiness with a prince who doesn’t love her. And his rejection will literally kill her—unless Runa intervenes.

Under the sea, Evie craves her own freedom—but liberation from her role as Sea Witch will require an exchange she may not be willing to make. With their hearts’ desires at odds, what will Runa and Evie be willing to sacrifice to save their worlds?

Told from alternating perspectives, this epic fairy tale retelling is a romantic and heart-wrenching story about the complications of sisterhood, the uncompromising nature of magic, and the cost of redemption.

Should You read Sea Witch Rising?

Sea Witch Rising is the sequel to Sea Witch by Sarah Henning, which tells the story of Ursula or the sea witch(from Little Mermaid). I loved Evie, the protagonist of Sea Witch and when her story came to an end, I was heartbroken but satisfied with the story. When the sequel to Sea Witch was announced, I was curious and this is what I thought.

In this sequel, we look beyond the story of the Sea Witch; we are introduced to a new protagonist, a mermaid named Runa and her father, the Sea King and other characters from the sea and the land. There is more action in this book than its predecessor and we get a better glimpse of Evie life after being bound to her lair as a sea witch. Set against the backdrop of the second world war(I assume), there are higher stakes at play as both Runa and Evie try to save people both above and below land.

Overall, I would recommend this book to you if you read and liked Sea Witch.

About the Author:

Sarah Henning is a recovering journalist who has worked for the Palm Beach Post, Kansas City Star and Associated Press, among others. While in South Florida, Sarah lived and worked through five hurricanes, which gave her an extreme respect for the ocean. When not writing, she runs ultramarathons, hits the playground with her two kids and hangs out with her husband Justin, who doubles as her longsuffering IT department. Sarah lives in Lawrence, Kansas, which, despite being extremely far from the beach, happens to be pretty cool.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

Tour-wide Giveaway:

Click the button below to win two books! Open until 30th July 2019.

Win a SEA WITCH set: 1 copy of Sea Witch + 1 copy of Sea Witch Rising by Sarah Henning (US Only)

Tour Schedule:

July 16th

The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club – Welcome Post

July 17th

NovelKnight – Interview
The Reading Corner for All – Review + Favourite Quotes + Dream Cast
Jrsbookreviews – Review
Adventures Thru Wonderland – Review

July 18th

Luchia Houghton Blog – Review + Favourite Quotes
The Reading Chemist – Review + Favourite Quotes
A Dream Within A Dream – Review
L.M. Durand – Review + Favourite Quotes

July 19th

Moonlight Rendezvous – Review + Favourite Quotes
Library of a Book Witch – Review
Utopia State of Mind – Review + Favourite Quotes
Dazzled by Books – Review + Playlist

July 20th

Confessions of a YA Reader – Guest Post
Here’s to Happy Endings – Review
The Book Nut – Review + Playlist
Morgan Vega – Review + Favourite Quotes + Playlist

July 21st

Kait Plus Books – Interview
Frayed Books – Review
Bookish_Kali – Review + Favourite Quotes
Bookishly Nerdy – Review + Favourite Quotes

July 22nd

The Reading Life – Guest Post
Amy’s Booket List – Review
The Desert Bibliophile – Review
Book Rambler – Review

Blog Tour: The Shortest Distance Between Love & Hate, written by Sandy Hall | Excerpt + Giveaway

---

The Shortest Distance Between Love & Hate by Sandy Hall

Publication date: July 30, 2019 Published by: Swoon Reads
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance 
Buy:
Book Depository | Wordery | Amazon

Synopsis:

A teen girl starting at a new school is torn between long-held loyalties and a bright new love in this irresistible new YA contemporary romance from the author of A Little Something Different.

Paisley is really looking forward to college. She is ready to take charge of her destiny and embrace some new experiences! Finding a hot guy to make out with at her first ever college party seems like a great start . . . until her best friend informs her that mystery guy is actually Carter Schmitt, Paisley’s sworn enemy who basically ruined their lives in middle school. 

So much for new people and exciting new experiences. Oh well. Paisley will just pretend he doesn’t exist. Of course that would be easier if Carter, AKA her super-hot-sworn-enemy, hadn’t ended up in three of her classes AND the same work study. Is it too late to rethink this college thing?

Excerpt:

-Paisley-  Record scratch. Freeze frame. Yup, that’s me. Paisley Turner. Making out with a random guy at my first college party. You’re probably wondering how I got into this situation.  Not that it really matters at the moment, seeing as how all I can think about is this guy’s hand on my waist and his fingers in my hair and, oh my god, there’s his tongue in my mouth.   WE HAVE TONGUE, PEOPLE.  This is the weirdest, most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me.  Should I be thinking so much?  I turn my brain to silent mode and concentrate on the kissing.  When that doesn’t work, I take to cataloging the moment, so I can remember it always. The way his fingers lightly brush my neck and send a chill down my spine. How the pulsing bass seems to beat along with my heart. The way the dark basement around us fades from existence. The slightly minty flavor on his lips that makes me wish I had brushed my teeth before leaving my dorm room.  But I wasn’t thinking about making out when I left my dorm! I was thinking, I’ve never had beer before, and I don’t want the first time I taste it to be tainted by toothpaste breath.  Is this how college is going to be? Walking into parties and being swept away in a kiss?  This was not in the brochure. Did I even get a brochure? Focus, Paisley! All too soon he pulls away from me. I want to chase his lips with my own, but I realize I’m breathless and a bit dazed and could probably use a break. I look up at his face. He’s so tall I want to climb him like a tree. Just scamper up him and perch on his shoulder and hang out there in his sandy-brown hair. But then I wouldn’t be able to see his eyes, which are dark brown, at least in the dim light of the basement.  I am the whitest white person, there’s no denying that, but my hand on his neck practically glows white because he’s got this tan that’s like something you’d see in a teen drama that takes place near the beach.  “That was . . . ,” I say. “Yeah,” he responds when I don’t finish my sentence. I lean back and try to ignore the way the damp of the wall immediately seeps into my shirt.  “I could use a beer,” Mystery Boy says. “You want a beer?”  I nod and almost as soon as he walks away, my new roommate, Stef, ambushes me “What the hell is going on?” she asks. Her voice isn’t accusing, more intensely curious. Which I understand. This is a very curious situation.  “I don’t know!” I stage-whisper, glancing over at The Boy. He’s standing in the beer line, waiting for a new keg to be tapped. I turn my back to him because I don’t want him to be able to read my lips. I start talking. Fast. I need to get this full story relayed before he comes back over.  “So, I’m standing here in the corner, playing with my phone, trying to talk myself out of begging you to leave early. Then that guy comes up to me and he was like, ‘Remember me?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, totally!’ Because I didn’t want to admit to not knowing him. I figure he’s prob- ably one of the guys who was in our group at the choosing- a-major thing earlier.”  “Yeah, maybe. I don’t remember him either,” Stef says. “But I’m following you so far.”

Thanks to the Xpresso Tours for including me on the blog tour!

About the Author:

I’m a teen librarian from New Jersey where I was born and raised. I have a BA in Communication and a Master of Library and Information Science from Rutgers University. When I’m not writing, or teen librarian-ing, I enjoy reading, slot machines, marathoning TV shows, and long scrolls through Tumblr. A LITTLE SOMETHING DIFFERENT is my first novel.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter

Giveaway:Tour-wide giveaway (US/CAN)

enter to Win a finished copy of The Shortest Distance Between Love & Hate

---

You can find the entire Blog Tour Schedule here: