Young adult fantasy – Page 2

a Slytherin romance recommendation | ARC Review: The Shadows Between Us, written by Tricia Levenseller

The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

Publication date: February 25th, 2020
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Pages: 336
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Buy: Book Depository | Wordery

Synopsis:

Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:

1) Woo the Shadow King.
2) Marry him.
3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.

No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.

But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen?

– My Thoughts –

“They’ve never found the body of the first and only boy who broke my heart.
And they never will.”

The Shadows Between Us starts with the trope, “boy you might be hot and all, but imma still kill you as it suits me” but it quickly turned to “oh noooo.. boy you’re THE brooding hero of my fanfic dreams..how in the f-ing hell can I kill you”.

Alessandra, the second daughter of a nobleman, started off as an ambitious heroine. It seems that she has everything, riches to freedom to do whatever she wants but Alessandra knows that as a woman she has to marry someone eventually. Alessandra shocks her father when she tells him she’ll marry the Shadow King. Alessandra is confident that the King won’t be able to help himself and fall for her. When he does, Alessandra is going to kill him and rule the kingdom in his place. Of course, things don’t go her way. For starters, there are others in line ahead to kill the king.

I won’t say I didn’t enjoy the book because I loved every bit of it. There are pretty great moments( some of which I’ve included above) like Alessandra’s sense of humor, her passion for designing clothes, female friendships, moments of female empowerment, great banter and Demodocus of course! I was intrigued by the Shadow King too; not the King part but the “Shadow” part. The pacing was decent as well as I had finished reading it in two days. I loved the twist at the end as well. I couldn’t predict the villain until before two pages of the revelation but it was anticlimactic.

Now let’s talk about what I didn’t like. To me, it seemed like Alessandra quickly forgot about her plans. I didn’t like the Alessandra that we got to see after she joined the royal household. I also wanted to see her in the role of Royal Tailor or something..since there are paragraphs detailing her love for designing. There was also minimal worldbuilding so I’d advise you to steer clear of this if you prefer detailed world-building.

Overall, I would recommend this book. I think if you enjoyed The Cruel Prince, you might enjoy this! If you like anti-heroes, stabby romance, a character-driven fantasy that prioritizes romance, then go buy or borrow this YA fantasy when it hits the shelves on 25th February!

Thanks to the publisher for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

– About the Author –

Initially from a small town in Oregon, Tricia Levenseller now lives next to the Rocky Mountains with her bossy dog, Rosy. She received her degree in English Language and editing and is thrilled that she never has to read a textbook again. When she’s not writing or reading, Tricia enjoys putting together jigsaw puzzles, playing volleyball, playing OVERWATCH, and watching shows while eating extra-buttered popcorn.

Thank you for reading! Will you add The Shadows Between Us to your tbr? Have you read any of the author’s previous books? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

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!

ARC Review: The Burning Shadow, written by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Burning Shadow, written by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Burning Shadow by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publication date: October 8th, 2019
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 649
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Buy:Book Depository | Wordery

Synopsis:

#1 New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout returns to the world of the Lux with The Burning Shadow, the steamy, shocking second installment of the Origin series that will leave readers reeling.

When Evelyn Dasher crossed paths with Luc, she was thrown headfirst into the world of the Lux―only to discover that she was already far more involved in their world than she ever suspected.
Because the Luxen aren’t the only ones with a hidden past. There’s a gap in Evie’s memory, lost months of her life and a lingering sense that something happened, something she can’t remember and nobody is willing to tell her. She needs to find out the truth about who she is―and who she was. But every answer she finds only brings up more questions.
Her search for the truth brings her ever closer to Luc, the Origin at the center of it all. He’s powerful, arrogant, inhumanly beautiful, extremely dangerous…and possibly in love with her. But even as Evie falls for him, she can’t help but wonder if his attraction is to her, or to the memory of a girl who no longer exists.
And all the while, a new threat looms: reports of a flu-like, fatal virus that the government insists is being spread by Luxen. A horrifying illness that changes whoever it touches, spreading panic across a country already at its breaking point.

– My Thoughts –

Today I’m going to be reviewing The Burning Shadow which is the sequel to The Darkest Star which is a spin-off of the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Obviously, there are going to be minor spoilers here so you know the drill…

*wonders*.. how did The Darkest Star end?

In The Burning Shadow, Evie is seen struggling with being Evelyn Dasher..she’s trying to figure out if Luc actually likes her or if he liked the previous her, the one who was Nadia. *I totally feel you girl* I mean She quite recently found out that her mom is an alien and that she is not “exactly” Evie..and that her best friend is an alien too. Also, her mom and Luc are never ever going to be Bffs foreva..so yeah, things are not looking so peachy in Evieland.

However, there’s no fear to be had when you’ve got ultra alien a.k.a. the origin Luc as your boyfriend. He does his best to recreate his and “Nadia”‘s old memories so that Evie can start to remember. Meanwhile in school, a classmate of Evie’s goes full psycho on everyone and had to be taken out in front of them. Rumours start to spread that the Luxen are the cause of this virus and tensions are on the rise.

This is quite a big book, not as big as The Priory of the Orange Tree or Les Miserables, but big nonetheless. This book covered a lot of things like the rising racism against the Luxen, Deadalus causing trouble yet again, reintroduction of old characters like Damon and Katy, and so many things ~~ohmygod the twist~~ that in the end, your jaw will drop as you close the book.

In the beginning, I was getting a lot of Damon and Katy vibes from Luc and Evie but as the story progressed, that feeling kinda ebbed away. As always, I got no complains about the amount of cheese and swoon I got from this book. I also got NO complaints about the action scenes *and there were a lot of them*. My only complaints would be why were we robbed of Luc’s POV? Why?

Overall, I would highly recommend this book if you’ve read and loved book one of the Origin series. If you haven’t yet started reading it yet then, “Do you not like Luc? The Origin Luc?” Well, okay! So, I obviously cannot wait for book three to get in my hands and destroy me. My body will be ready!!!

Thanks to the publisher for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

– About the Author –

Slightly unofficial bio

# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Charles Town, West Virginia and she’s one of my favourite authors. A writer of two of my favourite “like to remain shirtless” guys a.k.a Damon(lux series) and Seth(TItan series)..and also of many fantasy, paranormal, YA and romance novels and novellas…

For more about the author, visit her website and her Goodreads page, or follow her on Twitter.

Thank you for reading! Have you read The Darkest Star? or, any book she’s written? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Blog Tour: Crown of Coral and Pearl, written by Mara Rutherford | ARC Review & Giveaway

Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford

Publication date: August 27th, 2019
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 368
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Buy:Book Depository | Wordery | Amazon

Synopsis:

For generations, the princes of Ilara have married the most beautiful maidens from the ocean village of Varenia. But though every girl longs to be chosen as the next princess, the cost of becoming royalty is higher than any of them could ever imagine…
Nor once dreamed of seeing the wondrous wealth and beauty of Ilara, the kingdom that’s ruled her village for as long as anyone can remember. But when a childhood accident left her with a permanent scar, it became clear that her identical twin sister, Zadie, would likely be chosen to marry the Crown Prince—while Nor remained behind, unable to ever set foot on land.
Then Zadie is gravely injured, and Nor is sent to Ilara in her place. To Nor’s dismay, her future husband, Prince Ceren, is as forbidding and cold as his home—a castle carved into a mountain and devoid of sunlight. And as she grows closer to Ceren’s brother, the charming Prince Talin, Nor uncovers startling truths about a failing royal bloodline, a murdered queen… and a plot to destroy the home she was once so eager to leave.
In order to save her people, Nor must learn to negotiate the treacherous protocols of a court where lies reign and obsession rules. But discovering her own formidable strength may be the one move that costs her everything: the crown, Varenia and Zadie.

– My Thoughts –

“Sorrow is good for the soul, Father had said after the incident, when I had recovered from the pain and sickness but had still not grown used to the feel of the torn flesh on my otherwise flawless skin. “Those who have never known pain or adversity are as shallow as the waves lapping on the shore.”

“And what is wrong with being shallow?” I’d asked him.

“What lies beneath the surface of shallow waters? Nothing. It’s only when you go deeper that the ocean comes alive. The deeper you go, the more mysteries and surprises await.”

Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford is a fantasy about how love can destroy and how it can rebuild.

Nor and Zadie are two sisters from a place called Varenia that has been oppressed by the people of Ilara for centuries. It is a tradition that every time an Ilarian Prince is of age, a Varenian daughter of great beauty must be married to him. Nor and Zadie like every other girl in Varenia have to abide by strict rules of beauty. Every girl in Varenia must be nothing short of perfect. Fortunately( or, unfortunately) Nor doesn’t have to worry about keeping to her beauty regimen as she’s already been scarred since she was seven years old. When the time comes for the new Prince of Ilara to be married, the village elders choose Zadie as the bride-to-be. Zadie not only doesn’t want to get married to the Prince but she also doesn’t want to leave her beloved twin sister.
So, she devises a plan that has devastating consequences. Not only is Zadie gravely injured but the sisters’ mother thinks that Nor was the one who did it. Amidst the suspicious gaze of the villagers, Nor readies herself to take Zadie’s place as the future queen of Ilaria.

I loved the first half of the book more than its second half. Althought the summary tells us what happens in the first half, it’s still enjoyable due to the atmospheric world-building, beautiful description of the various relationships, history of Varenia and Ilara. My heart cried out when Nor was leaving Varenia and Zadie; their love was so pure and captivating that I fell in love with the book at that very moment.

The second half was interesting but lost the magic of the first half. Nor arrives in court and lo and behold, the emissary of Ilara Talin whom she met in Varenia is one of the Ilarian princes. She is to marry his older brother Ceren and he is such a Joffrey ( you know..from GOT!!). I don’t know if I should warn about an insta-love trope between Talin and Nor because it felt more like insta-attraction to me. I read through some of their chapters and they didn’t exactly say they love each other. I really hope to see more development on both of their parts in the sequel rather than fall headfirst into love.

Ceren was a Joffrey sure but you will sympathize with him in some parts of the book and then you know.. fall in utter hate with him. With that said..am I looking forward to the sequel? Definitely! There were a lot of things that were open ended and I need a book two for those and I’m definitely here for more Nor and Zadie!!

Overall, I would highly recommend this book if you love books about the bond between sisters, engaging YA fantasy in a unique setting, wonderful worldbuilding, and easy writing to immerse yourself in.

Thanks to the publisher for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

– About the Author –

Mara Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but quickly discovered she far preferred fantasy to reality. Originally from California, Mara has since lived all over the world, from Russia to Peru, along with her Marine-turned-diplomat husband and two sons. A triplet born on Leap Day, Mara holds a Master’s degree in Cultural Studies from the University of London and would rather study the folklore of her next post than the language (which she has found is a lot more fun but not nearly as useful). She is a former Pitch Wars mentee and three-time mentor. Her debut YA fantasy, CORAL AND PEARL, will release from Harlequin Teen in Fall 2019.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter

– Giveaway –

Win (1) of (15) copies of CROWN OF CORAL AND PEARL by Mara Rutherford (US ONLY)! Ends on 2nd September 2019. Just click on the button below to enter:

Win A Copy of CROWN OF CORAL AND PEARL by Mara Rutherford (US ONLY)

– Tour Schedule –

Click on this link to view the entire tour schedule!

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What are some of your favourite bookish sisters? This new release, Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford, has one of the best sister relationships I've read in a long time. Nor and Zadie's love for each other was one of the best things about the book including the wonderful world-building and pacing. This read as a standalone to me but I definitely wouldn't mind a sequel🙌🙌 . . . Thanks to @inkyardpress for an ARC of this superb fantasy debut novel!! . . #crownofcoralandpearl #yafantasy #bookramblerreads #discoverbooks #bookphotographer #bookstagramers #vscobooks #warmaesthetic #bookstagramfeatures #epicreads #bookbloggers #booksbooksbooks #bookmail #bookster #bookishaesthetic #booksandshares #bookfeaturepage ##bookstagramindia #readerforlife #readersofig #flatlaybooks #bookpics #bookbloggersofinstagram

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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: