Recently Read: The Rose and the Dagger

Author: Renee Ahdieh
Genre: Ya Retelling/Fantasy
Publication Date: 2016
Page Count: 416
Rating: 3/5

Add on Goodreads 

I never got around to reviewing The Wrath and the Dawn when I read it last year because I listened to it on audiobook during a busy school semester, but I have pretty similar feelings about both novels. 

I think listening to these books on audio was a great choice, as the narrator has a beautiful voice and is a great reader. I'm not sure if I would have finished these otherwise- as they are a little slow at times and the writing is extremely detailed. This dualology is a loose retelling of A Thousand and One Nights, and Ahdieh does an amazing job of making these novels feel like legends through her writing style and the atmosphere she crafts. I think the beautiful and detailed writing really adds to this atmosphere, but it does make it a bit of a slower read at times. 

I know a lot of people love these books, but I felt pretty neutral about them. I thought the romance was a bit odd in book one, but the novel was entertaining enough so I stuck around and checked out book two. I didn't feel like there was a lot of substance to The Rose and the Dagger. I found myself about fifty percent of the way through the book before the plot really started. The last quarter of the book or so really picked up, and I was interested to see how it ended, but until that point, not a lot happened. There wasn't a lot of romance, and while I appreciated the lack of a love triangle, I found the romance scenes in book one to be the most entertaining, even if the romance was a bit odd. 

Overall, I enjoyed this dualology. but it's not my favorite YA out there. I loved Ahdieh's writing, as she has a beautiful and mythical voice, but everything else was just 'okay' for me. I still recommend checking this one out if it interests you, as a lot of people love it, and book one is a really interesting twist on A Thousand and One Nights. I really enjoy retellings, but it seems like the same classics keep getting covered over and over, so I love to read retellings that are based on new classics.

And of course, I can't mention A Thousand and One Nights and not mention the Scooby Doo movie that introduced me to the story. I was (and still am) a huge fan of Scooby, so this movie was all I could think about while reading these books. Does anyone else have any idea of what I'm talking about?? 

Recently Read: Emma: A Modern Retelling

Author: Alexander McCall Smith
Genre: Contemporary/ Retelling
Status: Part of the Jane Austen Project
Publication Date: 2014
Page Count: 361
Rating: 2.5

Add on Goodreads

You May also Like:
Emma by Jane Austen Review
Recently Watched: Emma Mini-Series

This is the first book in the Austen Project that I have read. I figured this was the best one to start with because Emma is my favorite Austen I have read so far. These books have been receiving mixed reviews and I can understand why. Austen is such a beloved author and a genius that it would be such a difficult task to tackle her characters and satisfy die-hard fans.

I thought this book was just alright. It is no where near the original but I wasn't expecting it to be. I thought McCall Smith did a great job at channeling Austen's wit and humor in the character of Mr. Woodhouse, Emma's father, and his obnoxious anxieties but other elements were just off. There is so much unnecessary information in this novel. The backstory of some of the most minor characters goes on for three pages and there are random tangents about heavy topics such as imperialism and the gender of God sprinkled in that just left me a little puzzled. 

I liked the modernization of setting and most of the characters, Mr. Knightly was nicely done but I had some problems with Emma herself. The original Emma is quite unlikable for most of the novel, but she does have some redeeming qualities that encourage you to root for her despite her self-centered nature and naivety. This Emma however, did not have any redeeming qualities and was just unlikable. I also thought the pacing was a little odd as it is less than a hundred pages before the end when we meet Mr. Frank Churchill in person and Emma and Mr. Knightly have had only one or two conversations at this point in the novel. Their love felt random and I never would have bought it if I had not read the original and knew they were destined for one another. 

This was not a bad book, it was fine to read in the sun on the beach or by the pool, but it was nothing extraordinary and did not live up the the original. If you like Austen or adult contemporaries I would say it's worth a try. I have recently acquired Trollepe's Sense and Sensibility from The Austen Project and will be reading it sometime soon. Let me know your thoughts on this book or others in this series if you have read them.

Now I'm craving a reread of the original Emma but may have to satisfy myself with a rewatch of the BBC mini-series linked above.       

On my TBR... (5)

Back today with another look into what's on my physical TBR. Let me know what I should read right away!

On my TBR (1)

On My TBR (2)

On My TBR (3)

On My TBR (4)

On my TBR I have a book that is...

A re-telling

Haven't even hauled this one yet!

Receiving Mixed Reviews

Part of a series I really need to catch up on

Different from what I would normally read

A Reread

On My TBR (4): Apartment Edition

I have done three previous versions of this post (linked below) but they were all with books from my TBR at my parents house. Now that I'm back at my apartment I have a whole new set of unread books at my disposal.

On My TBR (3)
On My TBR (2)
On My TBR (1)

On my TBR I have a book that is... 

Adult Fiction:

Middle Grade Historical Fiction:

A Short Story Collection:

A Retelling: 

By a Favorite Author: 

Just Added (12)

Crane by Stacey Rourke (The Legends Saga #1)

Summary from Goodreads:

The Horseman is unending,
his presence shan’t lessen.
If you break the curse,
you become the legend.

Washington Irving and Rip Van Winkle had no choice but to cover up the deadly truth behind Ichabod Crane’s disappearance. Centuries later, a Crane returns to Sleepy Hollow awakening macabre secrets once believed to be buried deep.

What if the monster that spawned the legend lived within you?

Now, Ireland Crane, reeling from a break-up and seeking a fresh start, must rely on the newly awakened Rip Van Winkle to discover the key to channeling the darkness swirling within her. Bodies are piling high and Ireland is the only one that can save Sleepy Hollow by embracing her own damning curse.

But is anyone truly safe when the Horseman rides? 

Why I added it: You guys know I love classics, I love Young Adult, and I love retellings, so this series is right up my alley! I recently reviewed The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and I would love to read the story as a YA book! 

Air Awaken by Elsie Kova

Summary from Goodreads: 

A library apprentice, a sorcerer prince, and an unbreakable magic bond...

The Solaris Empire is one conquest away from uniting the continent, and the rare elemental magic sleeping in seventeen-year-old library apprentice Vhalla Yarl could shift the tides of war.

Vhalla has always been taught to fear the Tower of Sorcerers, a mysterious magic society, and has been happy in her quiet world of books. But after she unknowingly saves the life of one of the most powerful sorcerers of them all—the Crown Prince Aldrik—she finds herself enticed into his world. Now she must decide her future: Embrace her sorcery and leave the life she’s known, or eradicate her magic and remain as she’s always been. And with powerful forces lurking in the shadows, Vhalla’s indecision could cost her more than she ever imagined. 

Why I added It: I have heard some really great things about this fantasy novel and its sequel. I hadn't even read the synopsis before I added it to my list, the reviews were that good! It's been a while since I have read any fantasy, so I might have to pick this one up sooner rather than later.

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal

Summary from Goodreads:

Shades of Milk and Honey is an intimate portrait of Jane Ellsworth, a woman ahead of her time in a version of Regency England where the manipulation of glamour is considered an essential skill for a lady of quality. But despite the prevalence of magic in everyday life, other aspects of Dorchester’s society are not that different: Jane and her sister Melody’s lives still revolve around vying for the attentions of eligible men.

Jane resists this fate, and rightly so: while her skill with glamour is remarkable, it is her sister who is fair of face, and therefore wins the lion’s share of the attention. At the ripe old age of twenty-eight, Jane has resigned herself to being invisible forever. But when her family’s honor is threatened, she finds that she must push her skills to the limit in order to set things right–and, in the process, accidentally wanders into a love story of her own.

Why I added it: Jess @ Curiouser and Curiouser  recommended me this one on my review of Sense of Sensibility and I added it to my TBR as soon as I read the synopsis. I love historical fiction with female characters and the line "A woman ahead of her time" sucked me in right away. The magic element in this historical fiction novel sounds really interesting too. I really want to pick this one up soon!

Wishlist Wednesday!

I haven't been buying books lately because I'm back at school and away from my favorite local bookstore, and I've been too busy to do much online browsing, so my wishlist is growing at a rapid rate. Here's a sampling of the books I'm really itching to purchase.

Book Titles Link to Goodreads

The Uninvited by Cat Winters

I loved The Cure for Dreaming so I'm really eager to pick up Winters latest work. This is her first adult novel, and of course it's a historical fiction paranormal read. Winters is a master at this genre, and I love the way she weaved old photography into her last novel (well her last two novels, but I still need to get my hands on her debut novel, which is also on my wishlist.) This one is about the Spanish flu in 1918, the perfect setting for creepyness!

Viper Wine by Hermonie Eyre 

This book sounds so weird and interesting! It's another historical fiction novel, but I think it involves time travel and some other magical elements. I love the cover of this book, and the premise sounds so interesting. I haven't read too many reviews for it, though I have seen it around for a while.

Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth

This is a retelling of Rapunzel, which fairy tale retellings aren't usually my cup of tea, but this one has really caught my eye. I have seen a couple of good reviews for it, and it seems like the perfect book to curl up with while drinking a cup of tea this fall. 

Lair of Dream by Libba Bray 

This sequel has been on my wishlist for a very long time. I read the first book in this series The Diviners when it first came out two years ago and enjoyed it. I was eager to carry on with the series but the release date for this one kept getting pushed back and it finally came out last month. Now I really need a reread of the first book, which is no easy task because it is about 800 pages long, and this sequel is about 700 pages. I want to pick this one up, but the need for a reread of the first one is keeping me from ordering this one right away. 

Have you read any of these? Let me know your thoughts! And tell me what's on your wishlist. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Which of These Fairy Tale Inspired Books Should I Read First?

I haven't read very many fairy tale retellings, despite their popularity, but there are a few on my radar. Let me know which ones of these you have read,and which ones I should read ASAP!

Hosted by: The Broke and the Bookish

Book Titles Link to Goodreads

 

1. Stray, Elissa Sussman- Fairy Godmothers 

2. The Wrath and the Dawn, Renee Ahdieh - 1,001 Nights (not a fairy tale, but I'm including it)

3. Uprooted, Naomi Novik - Fairy Tale Inspired

 

4. The Bloody Chamber, Angela Carter - Bluebeard and Other Fairy Tales

5. The Sacred Lives of Minnow Bly, Stephanie Oakes - The Handless Maiden

6. The Sleeper and the Spindle, Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell - Sleeping Beauty

 

7. A Wicked Thing, Rhiannon Thomas - Sleeping Beauty 

8. Snow White illustrated by Camille Rose Garcia -Snow White 

9. Monstrous, MarcyKate Connolly - Fairy Tale Inspired

10. Heartless, Marissa Meyer - A Prequel to Alice in Wonderland

Release Date: November 2016 

Just Added (10): YA Retellings

It's no secret that I love classics and young adult, so young adult retellings of classics are right up my alley. Here are some that I have added to my Goodreads TBR recently. Let me know some of your favorite retellings.

Just Added (7): Adult Fiction
Just Added (8)
Just Added (9): Biographies

Ophelia by Lisa M. Klein 

Summary from Goodreads:

He is Hamlet, Prince of Denmark; she is simply Ophelia. If you think you know their story, think again.
In this reimagining of Shakespeare's famous tragedy, it is Ophelia who takes center stage. A rowdy, motherless girl, she grows up at Elsinore Castle to become the queen's most trusted lady-in-waiting. Ambitious for knowledge and witty as well as beautiful, Ophelia learns the ways of power in a court where nothing is as it seems. When she catches the attention of the captivating, dark-haired Prince Hamlet, their love blossoms in secret. But bloody deeds soon turn Denmark into a place of madness, and Ophelia's happiness is shattered. Ultimately, she must choose between her love for Hamlet and her own life. In desperation, Ophelia devises a treacherous plan to escape from Elsinore forever . . . with one very dangerous secret.
Lisa Klein's Ophelia tells the story of a young woman falling in love, searching for her place in the world, and finding the strength to survive. Sharp and literary, dark and romantic, this dramatic story holds readers in its grip until the final, heartrending scene. 

Why I added it: I really love Hamlet and the characters in the play. Ophelia is one of my favorite female Shakespeare charaters, and I would love her to take center stage.

Every Breath by Ellie Marney 

Summary from Goodreads:

Rachel Watts is an unwilling new arrival to Melbourne from the country. James Mycroft is her neighbour, an intriguingly troubled seventeen-year-old genius with a passion for forensics. Despite her misgivings, Rachel finds herself unable to resist Mycroft when he wants her help investigating a murder. And when Watts and Mycroft follow a trail to the cold-blooded killer, they find themselves in the lion's den - literally.

A night at the zoo will never have quite the same meaning again... 

Why I added it: I LOVE Sherlock Holmes!! So a Australian Watson and Mycroft sounds so interesting. Just try and ignore that awful cover. 


This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel 

Summary from Goodreads:

Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein and inseparable until Konrad falls gravely ill. In the forbidden Dark Library, Victor finds an ancient formula, and seeks an alchemist to recreate the Elixir of Life. With friends Elizabeth and Henry, he scales highest trees in the Strumwald, dives deepest lake caves, and each sacrifices a body part.

Why I added it: I have heard mixed things about this one, so let me know if you have read it. There is quite a few Frankenstein retellings out there, and this is one I have seen around quite a bit. 

Recently Read: A Court of Thorns and Roses

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy/ Retelling
Status: First in trilogy or series (If you know which one, please let me know!)
Publication Date: 2015
Page Count: 416
Rating: 5/5

Also by Sarah J. Maas:
The Assassin's Blade
Throne of Glass
Crown of Midnight
Heir of Fire

Feyre is providing for her crippled father and two older sisters at the age of nineteen. She teaches herself to hunt after her family's fall from riches to poverty and the death of her mother in a world where fairies and humans both exist but are now separated. The fairies killed and owned the humans for years, and Feyre and the other humans have a deep dislike of them. One day Feyre finds herself at the mercy of a fairy and is forced to live in their world, but soon Feyre discovers there is more to her captor than she thought, and his world and her world are in trouble. 

Of course I was super excited to pick this one up as soon as it came out because I love Maas' Throne of Glass Series and I love Beauty and the Beast which this is a loose retelling of, and of course I loved this book. It was so addicting and had the perfect amount of action, emotion, romance, and suspense. My favorite thing about the  Throne of Glass Series and Maas' writing in general, is how real and raw her characters are, and this book is no exception. I am obviously more attached to  the TOG characters because I have read more about them and know them better, but I think these characters have the potential to be just as important to me. 

Feyre is another strong, kick-ass female character, and although I was a little afraid she would be too similar to Celaena, she was her own character with her own strong voice. I loved the Beauty and the Beast retelling elements in the story and the new twists on the fairy tale. The villain is viscous and so hate-able, and I'm sensing an even more evil and more hate-able villain will appear later in the series. 

I'm not sure how long this series will be, but I do think it has great potential. The world and characters are rich and so intriguing, and I'm not sure where this series will end up. The romance in this one is quite steamy, but not over-the-top. I'm hoping to get more character development out of the love interest in the next book in the series, but I really liked him in this book (although I couldn't help but picture him as the prince from Disney's Beauty and the Beast.) Maas is forever on my auto-buy authors list!

What did you think of this one? Are you as excited as I am for Queen of Shadows? 

Recently Watched: Death Comes to Pemberly

Based on the novel Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

Produced by the BBC 

Released in 2013

Consists of three sixty minute episodes

Staring: Matthew Rhys, Anna Maxwell Martin, and Jenna Coleman

So in between writing papers last weekend, I watched the BBC's Death Comes to Pemberly. I have not read the book, I know, I know, I've committed a book lover's sin, but I've been wanting to watch this mini-series since it came out so I went for it. 

I'll skip the part where I talk about how much I love everything the BBC puts out, because you guys have heard it a million times, but I really enjoyed this series! I was fully entertained. At first I was a little unsure of the casting, (I'm still a little annoyed by the obvious incorrect age gap between Lizzie and Darcy, but then adaptions rarely portray ages correctly so I 'll let it slide,) and I thought that Jenna Coleman might be too beautiful for her role as Lydia, but all those doubts faded away during the first episode. The acting was great and I thought the characters were very believable and accurate to Austen's original characters. 

And ladies, there are some very handsome men in this one. I loved hearing what happened to the characters of P&P and thought that everything was believable and perfect for the characters. I would still be willing to pick up the novel sometime in the future even though I already know what happens because I enjoyed this series that much. 

If you have read the book and seen this, tell me what you think? Did it stay pretty true to the book? What did you think of the casting? 

Recently Read: Love in the Time of Global Warming

Author: Francesca Lia Block
Genre: Young Adult: Classic Retelling
Publication Date: 2013
Status: Has a sequel novel entitled The Island of Excess Love 
Page Count: 154
Rating: 3/5

I finally found a few free evenings this past week and decided to pick up something quick. I've had this one on my Nook for quite a while, so I just decided to pick it up, and I'm glad that I did.

Love in the Time of Global Warming by Francesa Lia Block is a loose retelling of Homer's The Odyssey. The world has ended in a natural disaster, and Penelope's family is missing. On her journey to find her family, she finds a group of unlikely kids who have survived the disaster as well, and they must ban together for survival.

I really enjoyed this read. I really enjoyed the connections with The Odyssey and thought this story was just the right amount of retelling and unique story. This novel has a mythological feel to it, which fits perfectly with the retelling elements, and makes for a fun and whimsical read. This novel has a darker tone and a number of dark elements, which Block juxtapositions with a number of famous art pieces that Pen calls to mind while wandering the newly ended world. This overlay of art and the end of the world is really interesting. 

I loved the inclusion of these art pieces, and I actually discovered a few new artists while reading this, and I loved looking up the artists and pictures as they were mentioned in the book. Another positive about this book is that in true Francesca Lia Block style, it deals heavily with LGBTQ issues. But this element of the story seemed natural and unforced and blended in with the story nicely. 

This novel does have a sequel entitled The Island of Excess Love which is a loose retelling of Virgil's Aeneid, which I have not read, and takes place right after the events of this novel. I'm not planning on picking that one up right away, but I might pick it up sometime soon. I recommend giving this one a go, especially if you enjoy Young Adult retellings of Classics or mythological stories.    

Just Added (3)

I've been busy with school and and just got hooked on Scandal so I haven't been doing a lot of non-required reading, so I thought today was a great time for another installment of Recently Added; so as usual here are the last three books I've added to my Goodreads TBR. 

The House of Hawthrone, Ericka Robuck

Release Date: May 5, 2015

 Summary from Goodreads:

Beset by crippling headaches from a young age and endowed with a talent for drawing, Sophia is discouraged by her well-known New England family from pursuing a woman’s traditional roles. But from their first meeting, Nathaniel and Sophia begin an intense romantic relationship that despite many setbacks leads to their marriage. Together, they will cross continents, raise children, and experience all the beauty and tragedy of an exceptional partnership. Sophia’s vivid journals and her masterful paintings kindle a fire in Nathaniel, inspiring his writing. But their children’s needs and the death of loved ones steal Sophia’s energy and time for her art, fueling in her a perennial tug-of-war between fulfilling her domestic duties and pursuing her own desires.
 
Spanning the years from the 1830s to the Civil War, and moving from Massachusetts to England, Portugal, and Italy, The House of Hawthorneexplores the tension within a famous marriage of two soulful, strong-willed people, each devoted to the other but also driven by a powerful need to explore the far reaches of their creative impulses. It is the story of a forgotten woman in history, who inspired one of the greatest writers of American literature…

Why I'm Excited: I love reading fictional accounts of author's wives, they are a guilty pleasure of mine, and this one looks good. Who knew Nathaniel Hawthorne was a passionate romantic! 

Emma: A Modern Retelling, Alexander Smith

Release Date: April 7, 2015 

Summary from Goodreads: 

The summer after university, Emma Woodhouse returns home to the village of Highbury, where she will live with her health-conscious father until she is ready to launch her interior-design business and strike out on her own. In the meantime, she will do what she does best: offer guidance to those less wise in the ways of the world than herself. Happily, this summer brings many new faces to Highbury and into the sphere of Emma's not always perfectly felicitous council: Harriet Smith, a naive teacher's assistant at the ESL school run by the hippie-ish Mrs. Goddard; Frank Churchill, the attractive stepson of Emma's former governess; and, of course, the perfect Jane Fairfax. This Emma is wise, witty, and totally enchanting, and will appeal equally to Sandy's multitude of fans and the enormous community of wildly enthusiastic Austen aficionados.

Why I'm Excited: I love Austen, and I want to start in on some of the retellings that have come out in the past few years.

Our Endless, Numbered Days, Clarie Fuller

Release Date: March 17, 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

Peggy Hillcoat is eight years old when her survivalist father, James, takes her from their home in London to a remote hut in the woods and tells her that the rest of the world has been destroyed. Deep in the wilderness, Peggy and James make a life for themselves. They repair the hut, bathe in water from the river, hunt and gather food in the summers and almost starve in the harsh winters. They mark their days only by the sun and the seasons.

When Peggy finds a pair of boots in the forest and begins a search for their owner, she unwittingly unravels the series of events that brought her to the woods and, in doing so, discovers the strength she needs to go back to the home and mother she thought she’d lost.

After Peggy's return to civilization, her mother begins to learn the truth of her escape, of what happened to James on the last night out in the woods, and of the secret that Peggy has carried with her ever since.

Why I'm Excited: This sounds so interesting and unique! And I love the cover. 

Recently Read: For Darkness Shows the Stars

Author: Diana Peterfreund
Status: Has a companion novel titled Across A Star Swept Sea
Page Count: 402
Publication Date: 2012
Rating: 4/5

This is a Young Adult Science-fiction retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion- which is such a cool concept. This book takes place after what is called The Reduction. Humanity started to experiment and genetically enhance everything around them, including themselves. But something went wrong, and people became Reduced- unable to speak more than a few syllables. But the Luddites resisted the experiments of the past and have risen as the elite. Elliot is a Luddite who has been holding her family's farm together after the death of her mother. Her father and older sister take no interest in the farm or business of keeping the family- and all those who live and work on the farm feed and clothed. She turned down the chance to run away with her childhood sweetheart and best friend, Kai, four years ago, but now he's back- and different than Elliot remembers him- in many ways.  

This book has the perfect amount of Austen's story and the perfect amount of new story. I loved seeing all of the connections to Austen's story, and I loved the new additions Peterfreund added. The setting is really unique and really makes this classic plot line into something totally new. Between each chapter, there are a few old letters that Elliot and Kai had written to each other as children. I loved this added element to the story- it really allowed the old relationship that Elliot and Kai shared to develop beside the new strained relationship that was developing in the present.   

I really enjoyed the added element of the fear of technology and invention in this novel. This book turned out to be very thought provoking. The idea that some innovations bring humans to close to "playing god" and the story of how the Luddites gained and kept their power was really interesting as well. I'm glad there is a companion novel that takes place in the same world, as I am interested to read more about this world and how it came to be.

Perhaps my favorite thing about this novel was that it captured two of the most important aspects of Austen's novels: the independent heroine and the suspenseful romance. Elliot is a true Austen heroine, she defies the limitations other try to place on her because of her age and gender and always thinks for herself and makes her own decisions. I love how Austen creates such suspense within her romances and this book had that element as well.

Overall, I was really impressed with this novel, and I'm very eager to pick up the companion novel Across a Star Swept Sea.

If you have any recommendations for retellings of any kind, let me know!   

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten 2015 Releases

I can't believe it's December already, but I'm so ready for it. My winter break from classes starts the second week of December and I am so ready for this semester to end! Here's a list of books I'm looking forward too in 2015. I'll be checking lots of lists today with my Goodreads open, so leave me your link! P.S. a lot of books from my Top Ten Sequels I Need Right Now List could have made this list too, but I'm going to try and feature books that aren't sequels today.

Hosted by: The Broke and the Bookish

Book Tittles Link to Goodreads

1. A Darker Shade of Magic. V.E. Schawb 

I've yet to read anything by Schawb, but all of her books appeal to me, and this one is no exception

Expected Publication: February 24th 

2. The Conspiracy of Us, Maggie Hall

This looks fun and action packed. 

Expected Publication: January 13th

3. The Sin Eater's Daughter, Melinda Salisbury

This just sounds so interesting, and I love the cover. 

Expected Publication: February 24th 

4. Six of Crows, Leigh Bardugo 

This sounds great, plus I enjoyed Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy so I'm excited.

Expected Publication: October 8th 

5. Magonia, Maria Dahvana Headly 

Another beautiful cover, this one sounds like it contains some magical realism, which I am all about. 

Expected Publication: April 28th 

6. A Court of Thorns and Roses, Sarah J. Maas

Yay! I love Maas and I'm excited to see how she does adult fantasy. Something tells me this is going to be even more involved and lengthier than her Throne of Glass series, I'm also patiently awaiting the fourth book in that series, but it hasn't been given a release date. Major sad face.  

Expected Publication: May 5th 

7. Red Queen, Victoria Aveyard

I'm pretty excited about this one too. This is the first in a new series, and the world sounds so interesting! And can I say, 2015 is looking like the year of the gorgeous cover! So many of these books are so pretty. 

Expected Publication: February 10th 

8. Passenger, Alexandra Bracken 

There's not a lot of information out on this one yet, but so far it's a dualogy about a girl who can time travel. Bracken has a good reputation and I plan on marathoning her Darkest Minds trilogy over break, so this one is definitely on my radar. 

Expected Publication: Fall 2015

9. The Walls Around Us, Nova Ren Suma

This one sounds a little haunting and very suspenseful and mysterious. 

Expected Publication: March 24

10. The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly, Stephanie Oaks

This is a modern retelling of the Grimm Fairy Tale, The Handless Maiden which I have never even heard of, but that excites me. I love the idea of fairy tale retellings and I love that this one is unique. Plus this book sounds hella creepy. Anything with religious cults gives me nightmares! 

Expected Publication: June 9th

 

 

 

 

So many good books are coming out next year, my list could have been twice as long! Looks like 2015 will be a good reading year! Let me know which books are on your list! 

Next to Buy

Here's a sampling of the books that are very high up on my wishlist. Let me know if you have read any of these and what's on your wish list.


The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters 
Summary from Goodreads
Olivia Mead is a headstrong, independent girl—a suffragist—in an age that prefers its girls to be docile. It’s 1900 in Oregon, and Olivia’s father, concerned that she’s headed for trouble, convinces a stage mesmerist to try to hypnotize the rebellion out of her. But the hypnotist, an intriguing young man named Henri Reverie, gives her a terrible gift instead: she’s able to see people’s true natures, manifesting as visions of darkness and goodness, while also unable to speak her true thoughts out loud. These supernatural challenges only make Olivia more determined to speak her mind, and so she’s drawn into a dangerous relationship with the hypnotist and his mysterious motives, all while secretly fighting for the rights of women. Winters breathes new life into history once again with an atmospheric, vividly real story, including archival photos and art from the period throughout. 

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
Summary from Goodreads

Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new force in her life. The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.




Stray by Elissa Sussman
Summary from Goodreads
Princess Aislynn has long dreamed about attending her Introduction Ball, about dancing with the handsome suitors her adviser has chosen for her, about meeting her true love and starting her happily ever after.
When the night of the ball finally arrives and Nerine Academy is awash with roses and royalty, Aislynn wants nothing more than to dance the night away, dutifully following the Path that has been laid out for her. She does not intend to stray.
But try as she might, Aislynn has never quite managed to control the magic that burns within her-magic brought on by wicked, terrible desires that threaten the Path she has vowed to take.
After all, it is wrong to want what you do not need. Isn’t it?