Waiting on Wednesday (#321): The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Publication Date: September 3, 2019

Summary (from Goodreads):

The new gut-wrenching epic from the New York Times bestselling author of Sky in the Deep.

For as long as she can remember, Tova has lived among the Svell, the people who found her washed ashore as a child and use her for her gift as a Truthtongue. Her own home and clan are long-faded memories, but the sacred symbols and staves inked over every inch of her skin mark her as one who can cast the rune stones and see into the future. She has found a fragile place among those who fear her, but when two clans to the east bury their age-old blood feud and join together as one, her world is dangerously close to collapse.

For the first time in generations, the leaders of the Svell are divided. Should they maintain peace or go to war with the allied clans to protect their newfound power? And when their chieftain looks to Tova to cast the stones, she sets into motion a series of events that will not only change the landscape of the mainland forever but will give her something she believed she could never have again—a home.

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

I loved Sky in the Deep! This new book by Adrienne Young is not related to Sky in the Deep, but I'm sure it will be just as amazing. I can't wait!

Reread Campaign and Giveaway: The Triumphant by Lesley Livingston

Happy Thursday, book fam! Unfortunately I dropped the ball with this post - it's late, but I figured, better late than never. My father passed away unexpectedly on February 16th, and I've not been able to think about my blog since then. So I'm creating this post on February 25th and backdating it. The giveaway is still active!

Check out The Triumphant!

The Triumphant by Lesley Livingston

Book Three of The Defiant series

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: February 12, 2019

Summary (from Goodreads):

The final book in the Valiant series takes Fallon and her warrior sisters on an epic journey from the corrupt Roman Republic to the wonder of the ancient world: Alexandria, Egypt.

“You are from a world, Fallon, that values honor over everything else. Rome is not that world.”

In the wake of their victorious fight to win back the Ludus Achillea, Fallon and her gladiatrix sisters have become the toast of the Republic. Only for Fallon, glory turns to ashes when she learns that Cai has been stripped of his Decurion rank and declared infamia, cast down to serve as one of Caesar’s gladiators. All because he chose his love for her over the life of his treacherous father during the ludus uprising.

But treachery in Rome runs far deeper than Fallon ever suspected. While she is fighting for Cai’s freedom, the unthinkable happens and the Republic begins to tear itself apart at the seams. In the chaos that follows, the Achillea gladiatrices lose any protection they might have had once and for all. They’re not the only ones. 

When Fallon discovers that Cleopatra is in grave danger, she and her sister Sorcha rally their war band in an attempt to spirit the Queen of Aegypt out of Rome, embarking on a remarkable journey that will take them to Alexandria—the wonder of the ancient world—and beyond. Far beyond. Along the way, Fallon will have to decide where her heart truly lies, as well as what—and who—she is willing to sacrifice to get there.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository | The Ivy Bookshop

Check out the series:

  

(Click on the covers to go to Goodreads!)

About the Author:

Lesley Livingston is the author of Once Every Never, winner of the inaugural Copper Cylinder Award and shortlisted for the CLA Young Adult Book Award and the BC Stellar Book Award. She is also the author of the Wondrous Strange and Starling trilogies. She lives in Toronto.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Lesley's Top Five Moments of The Triumphant:

My top five moments while writing The Triumphant... in chronological order! 

First? Getting the gig! I knew I wanted Fallon’s story to be a trilogy and when my fabulous editrix Jessica at Razorbill agreed, I was thrilled. 

Second, sitting down in front of my trusty laptop, opening up a new document and typing the title page. That moment, truthfully, is always a mix of elation, anticipation... and sheer bloody-minded terror. Fun!

Third, writing the ultimate fate of a certain character that I’d known about since well before I’d even started writing the series. 

Fourth: choreography! Or, figuring out that one particular perfect moment in a fight sequence (and that one particular perfect moment in a kissing sequence...)

Fifth... getting to take Fallon and her friends and family (and foes!) all the way to the end of this journey. And knowing that they would have a fantastic loyal war band of readers coming with us along the way!

The Giveaway:

Thanks to Penguin Teen, I've got a paperback copy of The Valiant and The Defiant for one lucky winner! This will be open to USA only. Ends on 02/28, 11:59 PM EST. Good luck!

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Reread Campaign and Giveaway: The Defiant by Lesley Livingston

Happy Thursday, fellow book lovers! It's another reread campaign day, this time for The Defiant! Plus, I've got a giveaway for you!

Check out The Defiant!

The Defiant by Lesley Livingston

Book Two of The Valiant series

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: January 23, 2018

Summary (from Goodreads):

Gladiator Fallon and her warrior sisters must face off against a rival gladiator academy in this lush sequel to the highly anticipated historical fantasy The Valiant.

They call her "Victrix" now. Victory.

But winning the highest honor ever bestowed upon a gladiatrix in Rome has earned Fallon more deadly enemies outside the arena than she ever faced within it. And it is those dearest to Fallon who will pay the price for her success. 

Now, Fallon and her warrior sisters are thrust into a vicious conflict with a rival gladiator academy, one that will threaten not only Fallon's heart - and her love for Roman soldier Cai - but the very heart of the Roman Empire.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository | The Ivy Bookshop

Check out the series:

  

About the Author:

Lesley Livingston  is the author of Once Every Never, winner of the inaugural Copper Cylinder Award and shortlisted for the CLA Young Adult Book Award and the BC Stellar Book Award. She is also the author of the Wondrous Strange and Starling trilogies. She lives in Toronto.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

My Top Five Moments of The Defiant:

(I'm going to cheat a little... instead of moments, I'm going to list five things I loved about this book!)

5. Female friendships. This is a huge part of the series in general. Feminism is so important, in a bold yet subtle way. Fallon and her gal pals are so fierce!

4. Gladiator battles. I'll admit, some of them got pretty gore-y. Just a heads-up!

3. Secondary characters' romance. Elka and Quint! Love love love.

2. Political intrigue. Betrayals abound! I personally love it when books delve deep into politics, so this was pretty cool, especially given the time period.

1. Caius and Fallon. I SHIP THEM SO HARD! The romance in The Valiant was lovely, and the romance in The Defiant is too. (Also, hurray for no love triangle - not that there was one hinted, but it's always nice when none appears at all.) Read a swoon from The Defiant HERE!

The Giveaway:

Thanks to Penguin Teen, I've got a paperback copy of The Valiant and The Defiant for one lucky winner! This will be open to USA only. Ends on 02/28, 11:59 PM EST. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday (#320): Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

Book One of the Serpent & Dove series

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: September 3, 2019

Summary (from Goodreads):

For her sixteenth birthday, Louise le Blanc’s mother gave her three things: a sacrificial altar, a ritual knife, and a wicked scar.

Lou’s death would have ended the ancient war between the Church and witches, but Lou refuses to become a martyr. Forsaking her coven, she escapes to the gloomy city of Cesarine and hides her magic as a thief in the criminal underworld. But life in Cesarine has its own dangers. Huntsmen roam the city revered as holy men. Witches burn without trial. And the Archbishop, the Church’s austere patriarch, revels in violence.

As a huntsman, Reid Diggory lives by one verse: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. 

He's devoted his entire life to eradicating the occult and making his surrogate father, the Archbishop, proud. Finally given the chance to capture a witch of his own, Reid is devastated when a foul-mouthed thief thwarts him—and doubly devastated when she too disappears. Hell-bent on bringing her to justice, Reid vows she won't escape again. But when Lou tricks him into public scandal trying to avoid capture, the two are forced into an impossible situation—marriage.

Marriage to a huntsman could provide real protection from the witches—if Lou can convince Reid she isn’t one herself. The secret proves difficult to keep as Lou begins practicing magic in secret within the heart of the Church, determined to prepare for her mother’s inevitable return. As time passes, however, Lou discovers yet another danger lurking: her own growing feelings for her husband. But Reid is still dangerous. He’s just as likely to tie her to the stake as defend her if he learns her true identity. With enemies closing in—and more than her own life at stake—Lou must decide who she can trust before it's too late…and she's not the only one with a secret.

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

This sounds fantastic! And with a gorgeous cover, no less! I'm excited. =)

Reread Campaign: The Valiant by Lesley Livingston

Hello! Happy Thursday, fellow bibliovores. I'm excited to be a part of the re-read campaign for The Valiant, The Defiant, and The Triumphant. This trilogy by Lesley Livingston is coming to a close, so what better time to re-read (or read!) the first book. 

Check out The Valiant!

The Valiant by Lesley Livingston
Book One of The Valiant series

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: February 14, 2017

Summary (from Goodreads):

Lost to history, the story of the female gladiator has never been told. Until now.

Fallon is the daughter of a proud Celtic king and the younger sister of the legendary warrior Sorcha. When Fallon was just a child, Sorcha was killed while defending their home from the armies of Julius Caesar.

On the eve of her seventeenth birthday, Fallon is excited to follow in her sister's footsteps and earn her place in her father's war band. She never gets the chance.

Fallon is captured by ruthless brigands who sell her to an elite training school for female gladiators owned by none other than Julius Caesar himself. In a cruel twist of fate, the man who destroyed Fallon's family might be her only hope of survival. 

Now, Fallon must overcome vicious rivalries, deadly fights in and out of the arena, and perhaps the most dangerous threat of all: her irresistible feelings for Cai, a young Roman soldier and her sworn enemy.

A richly imagined fantasy for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Cinda Williams Chima, "The Valiant" recounts Fallon s gripping journey from fierce Celtic princess to legendary gladiator and darling of the Roman empire."

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository | The Ivy Bookshop

Check out the series:

  

About the Author:

Lesley Livingston  is the author of Once Every Never, winner of the inaugural Copper Cylinder Award and shortlisted for the CLA Young Adult Book Award and the BC Stellar Book Award. She is also the author of the Wondrous Strange and Starling trilogies. She lives in Toronto.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

My Mood Board:

Have you read any of the books in this series? Are you excited about the conclusion? What are some of your favorite aspects of the series? (I personally am a huge fan of the romance!)

Waiting on Wednesday (#319): Dark Shores by Danielle L. Jensen

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

Dark Shores by Danielle L. Jensen

Book One of the Dark Shores series

Publisher: Tor Teen

Publication Date: May 7, 2019

Summary (from Goodreads):

Piracy, blackmail, and meddling gods meet in Dark Shores, a thrilling first novel in a fast-paced new YA fantasy series by Danielle L. Jensen.

A PIRATE WITH A WILL OF IRON

Teriana is the second mate of the Quincense, a ship beholden to the Goddess of the Seas. Her people are born of the waves, and they alone know how to cross the impassable oceans between East and West. 

A SOLDIER WITH A SECRET

Marcus is the commander of the Thirty-Seventh, the notorious legion that has led the Celendor Empire to conquer the entire East. The legion is his only family, and even they don't know the secret he's been hiding since childhood.

A DANGEROUS QUEST

When a power-hungry ruler captures Teriana's crew and threatens to reveal Marcus's secret unless they help him conquer the unknown West, the two are forced into an unlikely–and unwilling– alliance. They unite for the sake of their families, but both must decide how far they are willing to go, and how much they are willing to sacrifice.

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

I didn't like Jensen's previous series, but I am willing to try this new book. I hope it's good!

Character Reveal: Stain by A.G. Howard

Happy Monday, bibliovores! Today is a reveal day! You're about to get an exclusive first look at a certain swoony crown prince from Stain by A.G. Howard. 

Meet Vesper!

Here's a little bit of info about Vesper:

Cursed by sunlight, Vesper must find his other half & marry the real Eldorian princess to save his life and heal his kingdom. You will be able to "meet" him in a little over a week! Stain publishes on January 15th. If you preorder a copy of Stain, you'll receive some amazing goodies:

Alice the Absent short story

rose enamel pin

signed bookplate

Details can be found HERE.

About the Book:

Stain by A.G. Howard

Publisher: Abrams/Amulet Books

Publication Date: January 15, 2019

Summary (from Goodreads):

A high-fantasy gothic fairytale inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea.

Once upon a nightmare, her fairy tale begins...

After Lyra—a princess incapable of speech or sound—is cast out of her kingdom of daylight by her wicked aunt, a witch saves her life, steals her memories, and raises her in an enchanted forest ... disguised as a boy known only as Stain. Meanwhile, in Lyra's rival kingdom, the prince of thorns and night is dying, and the only way for him to break his curse is to wed the princess of daylight, for she is his true equal. As Lyra rediscovers her identity, an impostor princess prepares to steal her betrothed prince and her crown. To win back her kingdom, save the prince, and make peace with the land of the night, Lyra must be loud enough to be heard without a voice, and strong enough to pass a series of tests—ultimately proving she’s everything a traditional princess is not. 

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

Just throwing this out there - B&N has an Exclusive Edition available for preorder!

My Favorite Adult Romance Illustrated Covers of 2019 (So Far!)

Happy Sunday, bibliovores! I haven't done one of these favorites posts in about a month, so I'm doing one today! You can check out my other favorites posts in a previous posts (for example). 

It's the beginning of a new year, and I wanted to share some of my favorite illustrated covers of 2019 adult romance novels. I am looking forward to reading these as well, but I wanted to appreciate the gorgeous illustrated covers. Enjoy!

    

    

  

(Click on any cover to go to the book's Goodreads page!)

Don't quote me on this, but the illustrated cover trend in adult contemporary romance all started with The Hating Game, published in 2016. I love this cover! I still need to read the book though. 

Do you know of any other 2019 adult romance novel with an illustrated cover that I missed? Please let me know!

Waiting on Wednesday (#313): We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal

Book One We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Publication Date: May 14, 2019

Summary (from Goodreads):

People lived because she killed.

People died because he lived.

Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the king. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways. 

Both are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya—but neither wants to be.

War is brewing in Arawiya, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is sent by the king on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds—and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine.

Set in a world inspired by ancient Arabia.

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

This sounds great! Anything inspired by ancient Arabia is fine by me. Did you know that Hafsah used to blog (as a book blogger)? I can't wait to read her trad-published debut!

Swoon Thursday (#308): Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd!

She left Toblerone to guard the entrance and returned to the château, to the west bedroom, where Beau was still in bed but awake now, groggy, rubbing his head as though it ached. It was cold, and she pulled on her Faustine jacket.

"Anouk. The time -"

She climbed onto the bed and pressed a finger to his mouth.

"For once, let's not think about time."

Then impulsively, she replaced her finger with her lips.

He stirred awake quickly after that, stiff with surprise at first, but then his arms circled her waist and an exhale slipped from his throat. He kissed her back, sending magic shooting between her two ears, all the way to her ten fingers and her eight dirt-caked toes. 

One of his hands found her hair, and she, in turn, found herself touching his cheekbones, his chest, his arms, every inch of him. She felt those champagne bubbles churning like they never had before, going straight to her head, making her feel giddy and thirsty and like she was a fool too, that she should have kissed him long ago, that they had wasted too much precious life already.

- ARC, pages 157-158

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

Such a swoony scene! Did you see that the cover of book two was revealed? It's beautiful!

Waiting on Wednesday (#312): Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Publication Date: June 4, 2019

Summary (from Goodreads):

From the New York Times bestselling author of An Enchantment of Ravens comes an imaginative fantasy about an apprentice at a magical library who must battle a powerful sorcerer to save her kingdom.

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.

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

This sounds fantastic! I loved Rogerson's debut and can't wait to read this new standalone.

Waiting on Wednesday (#310): The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen

Book One of The Merciful Crow series

Publisher: Henry Holt (BYR)
Publication Date: July 30, 2019

Summary (from Goodreads):

A future chieftain

Fie abides by one rule: look after your own. Her Crow caste of undertakers and mercy-killers takes more abuse than coin, but when they’re called to collect royal dead, she’s hoping they’ll find the payout of a lifetime.

A fugitive prince

When Crown Prince Jasimir turns out to have faked his death, Fie’s ready to cut her losses—and perhaps his throat. But he offers a wager that she can’t refuse: protect him from a ruthless queen, and he’ll protect the Crows when he reigns.

A too-cunning bodyguard

Hawk warrior Tavin has always put Jas’s life before his, magically assuming the prince’s appearance and shadowing his every step. But what happens when Tavin begins to want something to call his own?

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

The cover of this book was revealed recently, and it is AWESOME! I am looking forward to reading the book. Hoping for no love triangle though!

Waiting on Wednesday (#308): The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: May 14, 2019

Summary (from Goodreads):

Fatima lives in the city of Noor, a thriving stop along the Silk Road. There the music of myriad languages fills the air, and people of all faiths weave their lives together. However, the city bears scars of its recent past, when the chaotic tribe of Shayateen djinn slaughtered its entire population -- except for Fatima and two other humans. Now ruled by a new maharajah, Noor is protected from the Shayateen by the Ifrit, djinn of order and reason, and by their commander, Zulfikar. 

But when one of the most potent of the Ifrit dies, Fatima is changed in ways she cannot fathom, ways that scare even those who love her. Oud in hand, Fatima is drawn into the intrigues of the maharajah and his sister, the affairs of Zulfikar and the djinn, and the dangers of a magical battlefield. 

Nafiza Azad weaves an immersive tale of magic and the importance of names; fiercely independent women; and, perhaps most importantly, the work for harmony within a city of a thousand cultures and cadences. 

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

I saw this on Goodreads and was immediately taken aback because I'd never seen or heard of this book! It has a lovely cover and sounds fantastic. I'm in!

Waiting on Wednesday (#305): Castle of Lies by Kiersi Burkhart

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

Castle of Lies by Kiersi Burkhart

Publisher: Carolrhoda Books 

Publication Date: May 7, 2019

Summary (from Goodreads):

Thelia isn't in line to inherit the crown, but she's been raised to take power however she can. She's been friends with Princess Corene her whole life, and she's scheming to marry Bayled, the heir to the throne. But her plans must change when an army of elves invades the kingdom. Thelia, her cousin Parsival, and Corene become trapped in the castle. An elf warrior, Sapphire, may be Thelia's only hope of escape, but Sapphire has plans of their own. Meanwhile, an ancient magic is awakening within the castle, with the power to destroy the whole kingdom. Can Thelia find a way to protect her future--and her life?

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

This is new to me! I love the cover and the story sounds pretty cool. Plus, elf warrior? Yes please!

Swoon Thursday (#299): Carols and Chaos by Cindy Anstey

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from Carols and Chaos by Cindy Anstey!

And so, when they were finally at touching distance, Kate dropped her basket on the ground and threw herself in his arms.

Matt was not hesitant then. She felt his arms go around her, heard his sharp intake of breath, smelled his musky, manly scent, but she could not see him... because her eyes were closed. Closed so that she could wallow in this glorious moment to its fullest, revel in the sensations as Matt kissed her until her toes curled and then trailed his lips down her neck, back up to her mouth, and started all over again. 

- ARC, page 269

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

Cindy Anstey's books are amazing! I love this scene towards the ending of the book. Carols and Chaos is now available - get your copy today! 

Waiting on Wednesday (#303): The Waking Forest by Alyssa Wees

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

The Waking Forest by Alyssa Wees

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: March 12, 2019

Summary (from Goodreads):

Pan's Labyrinth meets The Hazel Wood in this novel about a girl with terrifying visions and a wish-granting witch whose lives collide in the most unexpected of ways.

The waking forest has secrets. To Rhea, it appears like a mirage, dark and dense, at the very edge of her backyard. But when she reaches out to touch it, the forest vanishes. She's desperate to know more--until she finds a peculiar boy who offers to reveal its secrets. If she plays a game.

To the Witch, the forest is her home, where she sits on her throne of carved bone, waiting for dreaming children to beg her to grant their wishes. One night, a mysterious visitor arrives and asks her what she wishes for, but the Witch sends him away. And then the uninvited guest returns.

The strangers are just the beginning. Something is stirring in the forest, and when Rhea's and the Witch's paths collide, a truth more treacherous and deadly than either could ever imagine surfaces. But how much are they willing to risk to survive?

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

This one had me at Pan's Labyrinth! And the author has a ~great~ name. =)

Waiting on Wednesday (#300): Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard

Book Three of the Witchlands series

Publisher: Tor Teen

Publication Date: February 12, 2019

Summary (from Goodreads):

Fans of Susan Dennard's New York Times bestselling Witchlands series have fallen in love with the Bloodwitch Aeduan. And now, finally, comes his story.

High in a snowy mountain range, a monastery that holds more than just faith clings to the side of a cliff. Below, thwarted by a lake, a bloodthirsty horde of raiders await the coming of winter and the frozen path to destroy the sanctuary and its secrets.

The Bloodwitch Aeduan has teamed up with the Threadwitch Iseult and the magical girl Owl to stop the destruction. But to do so, he must confront his own father, and his past.

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

If you missed the cover reveal last week, well, here it is! I LOVE this cover - possibly my favorite of the series - and I can't wait to read the book. February could not come soon enough!

Waiting on Wednesday (#298): A Soldier and a Liar by Caitlin Lochner

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

A Soldier and a Liar by Caitlin Lochner

Publisher: Swoon Reads

Publication Date: February 19, 2019

Summary (from Goodreads):

In a world on the brink of war, four superpowered teens must learn to work together for peace in Caitlin Lochner's action-packed debut novel. 

Lai Cathwell is good at keeping secrets. As a Nyte, a supernaturally gifted teenager who is feared and shunned by the ungifted, this skill is essential to survival. Orchestrating her own imprisonment to escape military duty has only honed her ability to deceive others. But when rebels start attacking the city, Lai is dragged back into the fight with a new team of Nytes.

Thrown together with Jay, a self-conscious perfectionist consumed by the desire to be accepted; Al, a short-tempered fighter lying for the sake of revenge; and Erik, an amnesiac hell-bent on finding his memories and his place in the world, Lai realizes she's facing an entirely different kind of challenge--one that might just be impossible. But if this team can't learn to work together, the entire sector will be plunged into war.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

I saw this on Goodreads recently and I think it sounds great! More people need to be talking about this book! And that cover is wonderful.