Weekly Wrap-Up: Blogging, Reading, Bookstagram

Aloha everyone – it’s finally the weekend!

I have been tinkering with this blog the past two days, trying to make it look the way I want and getting frustrated. I also debated on whether to take it to wordpress.org, pay for hosting, to give me more freedom, etc…and I did. I “created” a site last night and wasn’t liking it. And I might give up on it (after one day 😂), so much to freedom. To think I built my own website, Freshman year in college, from scratch ugh…my friend pointed out that was 20+ years ago. Thanks friend. 😘 Guys and girls, I suck at it. Or I just don’t have the patience for it anymore lol – these templates and widgets are so convenient!

I’ll let that website simmer and stew…until I figure out what I want to do with it!

What I Read This Week:

The Bone Witch (The Bone Witch #1) by. Rin Chupeco ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
The Heart Forger (The Bone Witch #2) by. Rin Chupeco ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
The Orphan’s Song by. Lauren Kate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sky Without Stars by. Jessica Brody & Joanne Rendell ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Enchantée by. Grita Trelease ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What I’m Reading Right Now:

The Shadow Glass (The Bone Witch #3) by. Rin Chupeco
The Lovely War by. Julie Berry
On The Come Up by. Angie Thomas

On My TBR List:

Nocturna by. Maya Motayne
Girl of Glass by. Megan O’Russell
Ivory and Bone by. Julie Eshbaugh
Crown of Feathers by. Nicki Pau Preto
The Gilded Wolves by. Roshani Chokshi

On My NetGalley TBR List:

Heartwood Box by. Ann Aguirre
The Lady Rogue by. Jenn Bennett
The Grace Year by. Kim Liggett

Let’s hope I finish reading all of these books! Sometimes I’m too ambitious. Lately I’ve been reading while working out on the elliptical machine in my room. I need to exercise (ain’t getting any younger and my blood pressure keeps getting higher 😫) and reading while I exercise makes the time go by much faster, thank goodness. ❤️

📷 Do any of you bookstagram?

I love the book community on Instagram because I learn about a lot of new titles that way. Plus some people just have skills with a camera! I wish that was me, I love the book photos. 😊 I’ve been lazy about taking good photos but I’m going to try my best and step up my game. It’s fun finding props to use and it gives me an excuse to buy a bouquet of fresh flowers for my dining table. I use those blooms for my book photo shoots so it’s a win-win! Follow me on ig @ylmpastmidnight to check out my bookstagram photos and leave me your ig in the comments below so I can follow you too!

And that’s all I got for today ~ what are you reading? Do you have trouble making your blog look the way you want, like me? 🤔 I hope you all have a wonderful relaxing weekend. Happy Reading! 😘

Book Review: Enchantée

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Author: Gita Trelease

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 449

Categories: Historical, Young Adult, Magic, Romance, Fantasy

Book Blurb:

Paris in 1789 is a labyrinth of twisted streets, filled with beggars, thieves, revolutionaries—and magicians…

When smallpox kills her parents, Camille Durbonne must find a way to provide for her frail, naive sister while managing her volatile brother. Relying on petty magic—la magie ordinaire—Camille painstakingly transforms scraps of metal into money to buy the food and medicine they need. But when the coins won’t hold their shape and her brother disappears with the family’s savings, Camille must pursue a richer, more dangerous mark: the glittering court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

With dark magic forbidden by her mother, Camille transforms herself into the ‘Baroness de la Fontaine’ and is swept up into life at the Palace of Versailles, where aristocrats both fear and hunger for la magie. There, she gambles at cards, desperate to have enough to keep herself and her sister safe. Yet the longer she stays at court, the more difficult it becomes to reconcile her resentment of the nobles with the enchantments of Versailles. And when she returns to Paris, Camille meets a handsome young balloonist—who dares her to hope that love and liberty may both be possible.

But la magie has its costs. And when Camille loses control of her secrets, the game she’s playing turns deadly. Then revolution erupts, and she must choose—love or loyalty, democracy or aristocracy, freedom or magic—before Paris burns…

MY REVIEW

This book is true to it’s title, Enchantée – it is truly enchanting! The story is a mix of fantasy and history. It is set in the reign of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette so just knowing that brings visions of excess and debauchery to mind. There wasn’t much debauchery in this book though, but there is romance.

I visited Versailles a few years ago and so I knew I had to read this book. Just mention of the Hall of Mirrors in the story reminded me of walking down that hall myself, envisioning Marie Antoinette and her courtiers. The grounds are so grand.

Enchantée, is ultimately a story of orphans Camille Durbonne and her sister, Sophie, who is recovering from small pox. Their brother Alain, is a drunk and has become violent towards them. They cannot rely on him to make money so they work to make ends meet.

France is on the verge of a revolution. The poor are starving and the rich keep on living their life of excess. Camille comes from a family who has had magic in their blood so she uses her skill to cheat at cards, gambling her way to wealth in Versailles. But things are not what they seem there and she must be on guard. When she is not at Versailles playing a dangerous game, she is just Camille who has fallen in love with a balloonist.

I enjoyed the writing, it wove it’s spell on me and the pages went by quickly. Camille is a strong character. She knows her brother is lost to his demons so she does her best to move on and protect her sister. But using magic and gambling in a way becomes her own addiction. There is intrigue at Versailles and she gets caught up in it. I loved the lore about Versailles being created by magic! I can so believe that.

I tried my best with pronouncing the french words in my head as I read the book. But I can’t say I was successful haha. There is a glossary of French terms in the back of the book which is a nice touch for us non-french speaking readers.

The romance was so sweet and the balloonists and inventors that Camille befriends was a part of the book I didn’t know I needed. It gave Camille balance and a way to ground her character. I liked seeing the contrast of her in disguise going to Versailles being among gamblers and aristocracy versus being herself hanging out with young people with ideas. At Versailles, they pass the time in boredom squandering their money away or playing hide and seek. Whereas these balloonists are experimenting and inventing a hot air balloon which in the book stood for hope. It’s where Camille feels the freedom to be herself.

There is mention of the revolution but it is in the background. Camille lives both sides of the story, the rich and the poor life. I like that she can stay true to herself throughout the story.

Strangely enough, the magic in the story didn’t quite grab me or the villain and his storyline. He didn’t come off sinister enough for me. I say strange because most of the book is about magic and the illusions it can create. The story doesn’t delve into the history of magic or what she does to create it. It’s just there in her bloodline. I did like learning she needed sorrow to create magic which makes sense since there is a cost to using it. We see the cost of magic use in other characters as well. But yes, I wish there was more about the magic and how it worked.

Overall, Enchantée is a truly enchanting, imaginative and enjoyable story that tells a tale of love, magic and hope.

Get it here: Amazon

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Book Review: Sky Without Stars

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Authors: Jessica Brody & Joanne Rendell

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 579

Categories: Space Opera, Young Adult, Retelling, Romance, Sci-Fi

Book Blurb:

A thief. An officer. A guardian.

Three strangers. One shared destiny . . .

When the Last Days came, the planet of Laterre promised hope. But five hundred years later, it’s now a place where an extravagant elite class reigns supreme; where the clouds hide the stars and the poor starve in the streets; where a rebel group, long thought dead, is resurfacing.

Whispers of revolution have begun—a revolution that hinges on three unlikely heroes…

Chatine is a street-savvy thief who will do anything to escape the brutal Regime, including spying on Marcellus, the grandson of the most powerful man on the planet.

Marcellus is an officer—and the son of a traitor. Groomed to command by his legendary grandfather, Marcellus begins to doubt the government he’s vowed to serve when he discovers a cryptic message that only one person, a girl named Alouette, can read.

Alouette is living in an underground refuge, where she guards and protects the last surviving library on the planet. But a shocking murder will bring Alouette to the surface for the first time in twelve years…and plunge Laterre into chaos.

All three have roles to play in a dangerous game of revolution—and together they will shape the future of a planet.

Power, romance, and destiny collide in this sweeping reimagining of Victor Hugo’s masterpiece Les Misérables.

MY REVIEW

I really wanted to love this book and maybe in the right mood and a second reading I might feel different? The writing is good and it is told between three perspectives: Chatine, Alouette and Marcellus. Each chapter is short but I think it helps keep the story moving or else it would have just dragged on much longer.

Though it was well written and the world building is detailed, I was bored. The fact that it’s a space opera Les Miserables retelling though is really cool and I think the authors did a good job with it. I could feel the desperation of Chatine and the poor people in The Frets. And the divide between the working people and the upper class sets the stage for a rebellion like in Les Miserables.

Chatine is my favorite character, she is the street urchin making ends meet not so much for her family, but for herself. It’s a harsh world out in The Frets. She’s trying to get passage to leave to another planet and leave The Frets and her family behind. Chatine gets caught up between her dreams, her family’s blackmailing and the General’s plans for her to spy on his grandson, Marcellus.

Marcellus is an officer of the Regime but the son of a traitor. It’s a stain on his past that will never go away in his grandfather’s eyes. He does his duty to the Regime, follows orders but starts to be conflicted about his feelings for his father. Will he join the rebellion? They need a face to give them hope to fight the regime.

Alouette has been raised in a refuge with her father. She doesn’t know much about the world around her but one day she escapes the refuge and helps Marcellus after seeing him get hurt. This starts her education on what is happening in Laterre and how sheltered she has been. She starts to wonder why. Alouette eventually finds out things that throw her world into upheaval.

I connected most to Chatine but unfortunately the story didn’t wow me or grab me. I appreciate what it tried to do with the space opera/Les Mis mash-up though. I caught the references to Les Mis and noticed the twist on the story, which was nice. The world building of Laterre is my favorite part of the story, I just wished I loved everything else a little more.

Get it here: Amazon

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Book Review: The Orphan’s Song

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Author: Lauren Kate

Format: eBook

Publication Date: June 25, 2019

Pages: 336

Categories: Romance, Historical, Adult Fiction

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Book Blurb:

A song brought them together.
A secret will tear them apart.

Venice, 1736. When fate brings Violetta and Mino together on the roof of the Hospital of the Incurables, they form a connection that will change their lives forever. Both are orphans at the Incurables, dreaming of escape. But when the resident Maestro notices Violetta’s voice, she is selected for the Incurables’ world famous coro, and must sign an oath never to sing beyond its church doors.

After a declaration of love ends in heartbreak, Mino flees the Incurables in search of his family. Known as the “city of masks,” Venice is full of secrets, and Mino is certain one will lead to his long-lost mother. Without him, the walls close in on Violetta and she begins a dangerous and forbidden nightlife, hoping her voice can secure her freedom. But neither finds what they are looking for, until a haunting memory Violetta has suppressed since childhood leads them to a shocking confrontation.

Vibrant with the glamour and beauty of Venice at its zenith, The Orphan’s Songtakes us on a breathtaking journey of passion, heartbreak, and betrayal before it crescendos to an unforgettable ending, a celebration of the enduring nature and transformative power of love.

MY REVIEW

Thank you to Penguin Group PUTNAM and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this eArc.

I requested this book because it takes place in Venice during the 1700’s. I fell in love with Venice when my husband and I visited the city briefly on a European tour. My time there was short but so memorable. It is a place oozing with mystery and character.

Violetta and Mino are orphans of the Hospital of the Incurables, which was a place for treatment of those suffering from syphillis. The hospital also had an orphanage attached to it. The children that grow up there are given some opportunities as they age. The girls can sing in the church coro (choir) and the boys are given apprenticeships.

Violetta wants to be a singer in the coro with all her heart. Mino plays the violin and they befriend each other, sharing moments in their secret place, the rooftop of the orphanage. There is love between them, but Violetta doesn’t see any hope for them. As a child, Violetta witnessed Mino’s mother dropping him at the orphanage and since that moment she vowed never to become a mother.

Violetta’s rejection devastates Mino. It was heartbreaking watching him lose his way, trying to find the mother that left him, and moving on from the girl that broke him. The two of them take on separate journeys and they only meet again in the later half of the book. All throughout the story it’s evident their lives are intertwined by what seems to be fate or love. I just felt awful for Mino though.

The only thing that didn’t quite work out for me was the secret of Mino’s father. When that was revealed, I thought, really? It had to be him of all people? Poor Mino, hasn’t he been through enough?

I read this book in one night. I kept rooting for Mino and Violetta, because their love was so beautiful in the beginning. I was hoping they would eventually find their way to one another. It’s a rough journey for them but I enjoyed this love story and being whisked away to the “city of masks” was a plus.

Get it here: Amazon

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Book Reviews: The Bone Witch & The Heart Forger (The Bone Witch #1 & #2)

Title: The Bone Witch

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Author: Rin Chupeco

Format: eBook

Pages: 432

Categories: Fantasy, Young Adult, Necromancy, Magic

Book Blurb:

Let me be clear: I never intended to raise my brother from his grave, though he may claim otherwise. If there’s anything I’ve learned from him in the years since, it’s that the dead hide truths as well as the living.

When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she’s a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. But Tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes Tea and her brother to another land for training.

In her new home, Tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha-one who can wield elemental magic. But dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, Tea will have to overcome her obstacles…and make a powerful choice.

MY REVIEW

“Lady Mykaela was telling me the reason bone witches were feared: not because we could control daeva but because daeva were not the only ones we could choose to compel.“
The Bone Witch, by. Rin Chupeco

I finally read this book! I’ve been meaning to read it for the past two years and even tried to read it and put it away. I’m glad I put it aside until I was ready to read it. This time, I decided to read it slowly and put it down when I wanted to but picked it up again the next day and the next until I couldn’t stop.

But let me tell you what bothered me before that prevented me from connecting to this book. The past/present storytelling would throw me off. This time around I took it for what it was and treated it like a mystery. It made me want to know who Tea is talking to and why she is telling this tale. Something horrible seems to have happened and we don’t know why yet. This kept me in the story and then suddenly I was immersed in this world of ashas and daeva. The world building is wonderful, but again, you have to be patient with it.

This story is written beautifully. It is like a fairy tale or like folklore actually. It appears like nothing happens for much of the story because Tea is learning how to be an asha. And yes in my head I kept calling her “Tea” until a character she meets says, “Tey-uh”. 😂 Oops. But I liked calling her Tea, like the drink, so I kind of stuck with it.

Tea finds out she is an asha when she accidentally resurrects her brother, Fox. An asha is basically a witch who can control the elements with runes or help with healing among other things. They are also like geisha – they cultivate skills to entertain people with dance and song. But Tea, is a Dark Asha, she can raise the dead and kill daeva, which are demonic creatures that cause havoc in their world. The people in this world wear heartglasses, a necklace that is similar to a mood ring. Certain colors of the heartglass can reveal what a person is feeling or if the person is ill. The world Rin Chupeco builds is detailed, lush and vivid, so I really enjoyed this part, slow as it is. I even got hungry reading about the foods they were eating in the book, that’s when I knew I had been transported to this fictional world.

Tea and her brother Fox (now her familiar) leave their home and family to journey with the current bone witch, Lady Mykaela. Mykaela becomes her mentor and teacher. Tea is thrusted into this world of ashas and learning to become one of them takes dedication and learning in all the disciplines from combat, healing, dancing, singing, casting runes and killing daeva. But she’s also navigating this world and how to be a proper asha in it, which includes mingling with politicians, attending parties and learning about current affairs.

There are other things happening in the story other than Tea learning about her powers. There is the mystery of Lady Mykaela’s missing heartglass, Tea’s strange connection with daeva, and her crush on Prince Kance. The story picks up in the second half and it gets good!

Don’t look for romance in this first book of the series, if you do, you will be disappointed. But there is love, sibling love between Tea and her brother, which I wasn’t expecting to endear me so much. This book didn’t need romance because I love how Fox looked out for Tea and vice versa. It doesn’t mean a love interest isn’t building for Tea, the past/present storytelling aspect reveals a few things at the end! And it’s a good ending which led me to continuing the series right away with book two…see review below!

But I wouldn’t have gotten to amazing book two if I didn’t stick out book one, so I’m glad I finished this one. It is a slow start but a fantastic build-up to the next book.

Get it here: Amazon

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Title: The Heart Forger (The Bone Witch, #2)

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Format: eBook

Pages: 528

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Necromancy

Book Blurb:

No one knows death like Tea. A bone witch who can resurrect the dead, she has the power to take life…and return it. And she is done with her self-imposed exile. Her heart is set on vengeance, and she now possesses all she needs to command the mighty daeva. With the help of these terrifying beasts, she can finally enact revenge against the royals who wronged her—and took the life of her one true love.

But there are those who plot against her, those who would use Tea’s dark power for their own nefarious ends. Because you can’t kill someone who can never die…

War is brewing among the kingdoms, and when dark magic is at play, no one is safe.

MY REVIEW

“Take a girl and remove her heart. Add a touch of tragedy and a thirst for vengeance. Divide her into equal part of grief and rage, then serve her cold.“
The Heart Forger by. Rin Chupeco

This second book of The Bone Witch series, slayed me. And let me tell you, I read book one in four days, and book two in one day! I didn’t want to leave this rich world that Rin Chupeco has written. I’m even afraid to read the last book of the series. It’s a good thing I don’t have it on me, or else I would get no sleep tonight. 😅

The Heart Forger starts off with the past/present storytelling again, this time I’m used to it and look forward to it. It beings with Tea telling the Bard another story but these stories make me apprehensive. The tale she tells isn’t a happy one and that scares me, for her and her loved ones.

The mystery of Lady Mykaela’s heartglass takes precedence in book two because she is dying without it. Tea wants to help find Mykkie’s heartglass, and the mystery of it reveals some nefarious things going on in Odalia. There is more political intrigue between the other kingdoms in this book also, which moved this story along quicker than the last one. There is action, mystery, romance, sibling love, friendship and always the fantastic world-building. We even get a glimpse of Tea’s family again, just for a quick minute, but that was so nice to see because we don’t get much of them in book one.

In this book we get to know more about the evil enemy, the Faceless and watch as Tea gets stronger in her dark powers. I love her bond with the daeva, especially the aiz (a three headed monster with wings). This book has more than one love story going on and I am here for all of it and the diversity! Tea’s love story made me sigh with happiness, but knowing what is revealed in the past/present storytelling makes me dread what happens. Obviously in the present, Tea has been pushed beyond what she used to be, she’s chosen to do drastic things for vengeance and my heart aches for her.

I’ve read the books back to back and have seen Tea grow powerful as she learns the dark and secret runes. And I love Tea – yes she’s sometimes impulsive and doesn’t listen to the elders, but she always tries her best. Tea usually uses her powers to save those she love but no matter what she does, she has the stigma of being a dark asha and walks a fine line of doing what she thinks is right or coming off as power hungry. People trust her to a point and I hurt for her. There are people who don’t want her achieving so much power, which is understandable. Tea is also afraid that she will become the monster everyone thinks she is deep down inside when she is caught up in her powers. How far will Tea go to help the ones she love?

I have to wait until book three becomes available at my library to read it and I hope that’s very soon. Or I may just have to buy the set since I am in love with the series. I am so invested in this story: the relationships, the characters, the creatures, the world building and they storytelling. It is all beautifully done. I’m so glad I committed to this series and now I don’t want to see it end. ❤️

Get it here: Amazon

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Happy Book Birthdays! – June 4, 2019

Happy Tuesday everyone! I’m going to try and do a book birthdays post every Tuesday to showcase the new books being published.

There are so many book birthdays today! Some of these books I can’t wait to get my hands on and some I already read through NetGalley. So 🥳Happy Book Birthday🥳 to all these books:

Breakout by. A.M. Rose

Published: June 3rd, 2019

My Review: Click HERE

Links: Goodreads * Amazon

That’s the amount of time until Lezah’s execution.

She’ll die never knowing what got her locked up in this godforsaken prison in the first place. Her only chance of survival is to escape. Except the monitoring bracelet that digs into her wrist, the roaming AI, and the implant in her neck make freedom close to impossible.

Her best chance is to team up with the four other inmates who are determined to break out, even if one of them is beyond (gorgeous) annoying—oh, and in for murder. But he has a secret of his own. One that could break Lezah if she finds out, but could also set him free.

Figuring out how to work with him and the rest of this mismatched group of criminals is the only way Lezah will survive to see the outside world again.

But nothing in this prison is as it seems. And no one.

Cinder & the Prince of Midnight by. Susan Ee

Published: June 3, 2019

Links: Goodreads * Amazon

An orphan girl. A dark and twisted kingdom. An ongoing shadow war resulting in enslaved fairies.

This is the world of Cinder. A world where a girl like her can be sold to be human prey for a ritualistic hunt.

But on this night, even the predators might have something to fear. On this night, even a royal prince might find himself trapped by the expectations of the Dark King…and a girl like no other.

Rebel Born by. Amy A. Bartol

Published: June 4, 2019

My Review: Click HERE

Links: Goodreads * Amazon

Roselle faces a mind-reeling showdown with the deep state agent controlling her psyche in the conclusion to the Wall Street Journal bestselling Secondborn series.

Roselle St. Sismode is many things: victim of a conspiracy, unwilling host of an ever-evolving mind algorithm, spy for a rebel army, and heir to the Fate of Swords. As a warrior, she’s also the anticipated main event at the Secondborn Trials. When the opening ceremonies erupt in chaos, Roselle is abducted by a sadistic agent with a diabolical plan: transform Roselle into a mind-controlled assassin to topple society. But a rogue scientist has implanted Roselle with a genius technology that is far more powerful. It renders her untouchable. Faster. Stronger. And maybe immortal.

With her enhanced abilities come the highest stakes yet, as Roselle confronts shifting realities at every turn as well as her own mother’s stunning betrayal. Racing against time with a determined resistance group, can Roselle overthrow the forces of destruction and reclaim the most valuable of commodities—her humanity?

The Rest of the Story by. Sarah Dessen

Published: June 4, 2019

Links: Goodreads * Amazon

Emma Saylor doesn’t remember a lot about her mother, who died when she was ten. But she does remember the stories her mom told her about the big lake that went on forever, with cold, clear water and mossy trees at the edges.

Now it’s just Emma and her dad, and life is good, if a little predictable…until Emma is unexpectedly sent to spend the summer with her mother’s family—her grandmother and cousins she hasn’t seen since she was a little girl.

When Emma arrives at North Lake, she realizes there are actually two very different communities there. Her mother grew up in working class North Lake, while her dad spent summers in the wealthier Lake North resort. The more time Emma spends there, the more it starts to feel like she is divided into two people as well. To her father, she is Emma. But to her new family, she is Saylor, the name her mother always called her.

Then there’s Roo, the boy who was her very best friend when she was little. Roo holds the key to her family’s history, and slowly, he helps her put the pieces together about her past. It’s hard not to get caught up in the magic of North Lake—and Saylor finds herself falling under Roo’s spell as well.

For Saylor, it’s like a whole new world is opening up to her. But when it’s time to go back home, which side of her will win out?

Sorcery of Thorns by. Margaret Rogerson

Published: June 4, 2019

Links: Goodreads * Amazon

All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.

Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.

As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost for you. Thanks!

Book Review: Sweetbitter

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Author: Stephanie Danler

Format: eBook

Pages: 353

Categories: Food, Coming of Age, Contemporary Fiction

Book Blurb:

Newly arrived in New York City, twenty-two-year-old Tess lands a job working front of house at a celebrated downtown restaurant. What follows is her education: in champagne and cocaine, love and lust, dive bars and fine dining rooms, as she learns to navigate the chaotic, enchanting, punishing life she has chosen. The story of a young woman’s coming-of-age, set against the glitzy, grimy backdrop of New York’s most elite restaurants, in Sweetbitter Stephanie Danler deftly conjures the nonstop and high-adrenaline world of the food industry and evokes the infinite possibilities, the unbearable beauty, and the fragility and brutality of being young and adrift.

MY REVIEW

“Being remade was the same thing as being constantly undone.”
Sweetbitter by. Stephanie Danler

I decided to read this book because I watched season one of the tv series on STARZ just recently. I remember seeing this book cover everywhere when it was published and hyped up a few years ago. I also saw the polarizing reviews of the book, lots of love and lots of hate too. My review might be a bit influenced by what I saw in the show. The tv show itself is interesting, because I’m not sure if I love it. I like it and I am intrigued by it. Tess’s character annoys me, Jake as well, but Simone is pretty amazing on the show. I love the mysteriousness of their characters. And the secondary characters like Sasha, and Ariel are so wild. It’s interesting to see Tess and how she develops, with these people pushing her, molding her from all sides.

As for the book, Sweetbitter, I love the writing. It is gorgeous. I cheated because I watched the show so it gave me a visual of the characters. If I didn’t see the show, I’m not sure how I would visualize Tess. In the book, I might not have been interested in her at all if I didn’t watch the show. She’s boring, bland even and trying to find herself which made me impatient at times. She isn’t sure how to fit in with these dynamic personalities around her. Tess is not sure what she wants in life, she has no ambitions but to get through a work shift, usually high on some kind of drug. She reminded me of twenty-two year old me (minus the drug use), which is probably why she annoyed me at times. 😂

I didn’t even really know her name for a few pages, just “new girl”, she’s in the background getting yelled at and ordered around, whereas the characters around her are so loud. Her character in the show, says the city is “confrontational”, whereas she is not. In the book, I love how she describes how her world starts revolving around her job – she basically starts to eat, sleep and dream about her job.

“My life had been so full I couldn’t glimpse beyond it. I didn’t want to.“
Sweetbitter by. Stephanie Danler

The people around her are so pretentious it was hilarious! I used to work in a massage clinic and then a high-end day spa and we didn’t quote Kant, 😂 but we had to deal with our various bouts of pretentiousness from coworkers or managers. I could relate to the book so much with the work aspect. It made me remember how I used to sell “relaxation”. I sold this idea of body care, but I myself was so stressed and not relaxed, my feet hurt, and my back hurt. I was crazy slammed at work some days but I had to take care of our guests and pretend I was all zen. I used to wash our guests feet before their massages, and guests would tell me I was like the feet washer in Jesus’ day…um okay. 😂🤷🏻‍♀️ The things people would say! It was a crazy place to work, and I could do it in my 20’s, deal with all the b.s. with a smile on my face but I wouldn’t have the patience for it now that I’m 40.

This book reminded me of the people that work in our service industry and how much crap they can take. 🤣 👏🏼 It made me relive memories for sure and that’s partly why I devoured this story.

“And really, would it be as loud? As satisfying?”
Sweetbitter by. Stephanie Danler

Sweetbitter has no real plot but for me, it works. This book is a glimpse of the life of a twenty-two year old trying to find her way in life and is definitely at that age where she is about to learn some harsh life lessons. The people around her are trying to be “somebody” but are they really? They tell her she needs to be somebody. In the end I feel like she becomes one of them or at least has perfected the way to pretend to be like them.

A good part of the book focuses on Tess’s strange obsession with two characters, Simone and Jake. Simone is a server who has been at the restaurant awhile and basically runs the place. Simone is so invested in the restaurant, it is her life. She knows her wines and takes Tess on as an understudy and teaches her what she knows. But there is a guy, Jake. He’s bad news and I just wanted to give her some serious girl talk that would have not made a lick of difference, but Jake and Simone have a strange relationship. They grew up together and some things about their relationship are implied in the end but not confirmed. They remain a mystery, like everyone else in the book I suppose and Tess will never belong with them. It’s a lesson she learns the hard way of course, she starts to unravel but she shows her strength in the end. The ending is bittersweet. It’s not a happy ending, but not a sad ending either.

Sweetbitter made me reflect on my past with some good memories, and plenty bittersweet ones. Even though Tess annoyed me, it’s only because I used to be her in some ways, chasing something – freedom? A different life than the one we were trained to have? It’s a book that crept up on me – I didn’t think I’d relate to it at all, then I was finding things that were resonating deeply with me. I actually really enjoyed this book and will continue watching season two when it is airs. It’s a great book especially if you are in a reflective mood.

Get it here: Amazon

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Monthly Wrap Up: May 2019

Another month is done! Wow, I can’t we are in June…I’m not ready for the second half of the year. I think I did pretty good this month despite not reading anything before the GoT finale. 😂 Here’s what I read:

Lady Smoke by. Laura Sebastian – ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Pretty Reckless by. L. J. Shen – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Living God by. Kaytalin Platt – ⭐️⭐️

The Bluestocking by. Christi Caldwell – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Storm And Fury by. Jennifer L. Armentrout – ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

What The Woods Keep by. Katya De Becerra – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Four Dead Queens by. Astrid Scholte – ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Some Like it Scandalous by. Maya Rodale – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rebel Born by. Amy A. Bartol – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Broken Trust by. Jaymin Eve & Tate James – ⭐️⭐️

Kingdom of Exiles by. Maxym M. Martineau – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Memory Thief by. Lauren Mansy – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Brazen and the Beast by. Sarah MacLean – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Supernatural Academy: Year One by. Jaymin Eve – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Children’s Books:

I did manage to review some Children’s Books – I read so many of these to my kids, I haven’t been able to keep up with reviewing them. I will probably be moving all my Children’s book reviews to a new blog to keep things separate. Stay tuned with that!

Stinky Science by. Edward Kay – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Boy From The Dragon Palace by. Margaret Read MacDonald – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bye Bye Big! by. Margaret Read MacDonald – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Look Inside Space by. Rob Lloyd Jones – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Llama Llama Mess, Mess, Mess by. Anna Dewdney – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m caught up on my NetGalley reads, just waiting to get approved for a few books. Since I’ll be waiting on that, I can catch up on the hardcover books I have waiting on my shelf and books I borrowed online as well. 😄 There are a few books I am really looking forward to reading in June. 🤗

Happy reading everyone! And hello June…😘

Book Review: Supernatural Academy – Year One

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Author: Jaymin Eve

Format: eBook

Pages: 403

Categories: Academy, New Adult, Urban Fantasy, Magic, Sexual Themes

Book Blurb:

Maddison James is about to discover some truths about the world. Firstly … supernaturals exist. WTF? Secondly … she is one, even though no one seems to know exactly what kind. Double WTF. Thirdly … she’s about to go back to school. Well, things just got a little more interesting. The Supernatural Academy is where shifters, vampires, magic users, and fey are educated. Where they are taught about their abilities, and how to function in the human world. Maddison already has the human part down, but this supernatural thing is an entirely new dangerous game. Example one: mean girls who can actually turn you into a frog. Example two: Asher Locke, a god at the Academy. Not literally … well, who knows for sure. He certainly acts the part, as do all of his minions who worship him. Asher drives her crazy, because apparently gorgeous and arrogant is her thing. Sparks fly between them, and the more they’re thrown together, the more Asher is determined to figure out what’s been blocking her abilities.Until the moment the truth is revealed, and they find out nothing in this supernatural world is what they thought. Including each other.

MY REVIEW

I don’t know why I have an addiction to these “academy” books but I think my addiction may be tapering off. 🤷🏻‍♀️😅 These academy titles have been flooding my Kindle Unlimited recommendations lists, which sort of bugs me because I want to see what else is available to read outside of what they recommend. But here we go, another academy book…

I do enjoy reading about supernatural beings all in one school, learning about their abilities and getting along with each other. It just makes the whole typical school story so much more extra. This is a new adult urban fantasy with sex scenes so it definitely gets hot and steamy.

Maddison James had been living among humans all her life, thinking she was human until she finds out she’s not. Other supernaturals can’t quite figure out what she is though, but she is very powerful and has an affinity for water. Being at the academy has given her a new life with structure and friends, something she didn’t have growing up. She learns about the origins of supernaturals and the lost kingdom of Atlantis. I really like Maddi, she’s fun, spunky and knows herself. She embraces her uniqueness and can stand up for herself against the mean girls. Maddi also got herself some cool new friends in Ilia and Larissa.

The lore of Atlantis has always been fascinating to me and I thought this book did a fun take on it. There are five very hot guys at the academy and they are nicknamed the Atlantean Five. Of course she is drawn to the hottest guy of the group, Asher Locke, and he to her. I was afraid this was going to be a reverse harem book and I’m not so much into that, so I’m glad it wasn’t. Also it’s not a bully romance, hooray for me, I had way enough of that last one so it kind of turned me off.

As you see in the blurb there is a lot of WTF’s and cursing going on in the book so if you don’t like cursing, this book isn’t for you. There was action, humor, and romance which was a nice balance and made it a quick read. I will be reading the next book because I need to find out what Maddi is exactly and if the bad guys are really bad. See, I’m already looking forward to the next book, why are these academy books so addicting? 😂 WTF. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Get it here: Amazon

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Book Review: Brazen and the Beast

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Author: Sarah MacLean

Format: eBook

Pages: 400

Publication Date: July 30, 2019

Categories: Historical Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Book Blurb:

The Lady’s Plan

When Lady Henrietta Sedley declares her twenty-ninth year her own, she has plans to inherit her father’s business, to make her own fortune, and to live her own life. But first, she intends to experience a taste of the pleasure she’ll forgo as a confirmed spinster. Everything is going perfectly…until she discovers the most beautiful man she’s ever seen tied up in her carriage and threatening to ruin the Year of Hattie before it’s even begun.

The Bastard’s Proposal

When he wakes in a carriage at Hattie’s feet, Whit, a king of Covent Garden known to all the world as Beast, can’t help but wonder about the strange woman who frees him—especially when he discovers she’s headed for a night of pleasure . . . on his turf. He is more than happy to offer Hattie all she desires…for a price.

An Unexpected Passion

Soon, Hattie and Whit find themselves rivals in business and pleasure. She won’t give up her plans; he won’t give up his power . . . and neither of them sees that if they’re not careful, they’ll have no choice but to give up everything . . . including their hearts.

MY REVIEW

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for giving me this opportunity to read this eArc.

Whenever I want to read a historical romance novel there are only a handful of authors I turn to, one of them being Sarah MacLean. Her books always come through for me, ticking every box I need in a historical romance: humor, delicious banter and sex, and of course, a happy ending.

Book two of the Bareknuckle Bastards series definitely came through on all the things I love in a romance novel. And I love, love, love Hattie.

Lady Henrietta Sedley, or Hattie has concluded that her twenty-ninth birthday be christened the Year of Hattie. She has plans to accomplish and no one will get in her way of them. Well, at least that’s what she thinks. A dangerous and gorgeous man by the name of Beast, puts a wrench in her plans – but I blame her brother for that.

Hattie is funny, smart, brave, ambitious and determined. Her best friend Nora who is basically a sister to her helps her along the way with her plans. I love their friendship and glad Hattie had someone believing in her dreams. As for Beast, who is Saviour Whittington or Whit for short, he has a harsh past which makes it difficult for him to believe he deserves love. Least of all Hattie’s love. But these two are a perfect match. He admires her mind and ambition. She loves that he believes in her.

I really enjoyed their banter and there are some very sexy scenes between them. Hattie managed to accomplish all her goals in the end, bravo for her. She did it all with class and sass!

This is a wonderful second installment to the Bareknuckle Bastards and am looking forward to the next one!

Get it here: Amazon

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