Review#107 - The Caged Queen by Kristen Ciccarelli

Details:

Title: The Caged Queen

Author: Kristen Ciccarelli

Publisher: Gollancz

ISBN 13: 978-0062568014

Synopsis:

Once there were two sisters born with a bond so strong that it forged them together forever. When they were angry, mirrors shattered, and when they were happy, flowers bloomed. It was a magic they cherished - until the day a terrible accident took Essie's life and trapped her soul in this world.

Dax - the heir to Firgaard's throne - was responsible for the accident. Roa swore to hate him forever. But eight years later he returned, begging for her help. He was determined to dethrone his cruel father, under whose oppressive reign Roa's people had suffered. Roa made him a deal: she'd give him the army he needed if he made her queen.

Together with Dax and his sister, Asha, Roa and her people waged war and deposed a tyrant. But now Asha is on the run, hiding from the price on her head. And Roa is an outlander queen, far from home and married to her enemy. Worst of all: Dax's promises go unfulfilled. Roa's people continue to suffer.

Then a chance to right every wrong arises - an opportunity for Roa to rid herself of this enemy king and rescue her beloved sister. During the Relinquishing, when the spirits of the dead are said to return, Roa can reclaim her sister for good.

All she has to do is kill the king.

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Review #106 - Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix by Julie C Dao

Details:

Title: Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix

Author: Julie C Dao

Publisher: Philomel Books

ISBN 13: 978-1524738327

Synopsis:

Princess Jade has grown up in exile, hidden away in a monastery while her stepmother, the ruthless Xifeng, rules as Empress of Feng Lu. But the empire is in distress and its people are sinking into poverty and despair. Even though Jade doesn't want the crown, she knows she is the only one who can dethrone the Empress and set the world right. Ready to reclaim her place as rightful heir, Jade embarks on a quest to raise the Dragon Lords and defeat Xifeng and the Serpent God once and for all. But will the same darkness that took Xifeng take Jade, too? Or will she find the strength within to save herself, her friends, and her empire?

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Review #105 - Traitor's Blade by Sebastien de Castell

Details:

Title: Traitor's Blade

Author: Sebastien de Castell

Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books

ISBN 13: 978-1782066750

Synopsis:

The Greatcoats - legendary heroes, arbiters of justice . . . or notorious traitors?

The Greatcoats are travelling magistrates bringing justice to all . . . or at least they were, before they watched the Dukes impale their King's head on a spike. Now the land's heroes are reviled as traitors, their Greatcoats in tatters.

Falcio, Kest and Brasti have been reduced to working as mercenaries, but when they find their employer dead - and are forced to watch as the killer plants evidence framing them for the murder - they realise things are about to get even worse.

For the royal conspiracy that began with overthrowing an idealistic young king is spreading to Rijou, the most corrupt city in the land, and the life of a young girl hangs in the balance.

When every noble is a tyrant and every knight is a thug, the only thing you can really trust is a traitor's blade.

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Review #104 - Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card vol 4 by CLAMP

Details:

Title: Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card vol 4

Author: CLAMP

Publisher: Kodansha 

ISBN 13: 9781632366191

Synopsis:

Into the Labyrinth -- Sakura takes to the sky in pursuit of the "fuzzy thing" that made her friend Akiho fall asleep, and in the process gains another of the mysterious transparent cards. Then, a visit to the bakery where Yukito works goes awry when a giant labyrinth appears and swallows them both up! Syaoran makes his combat debut alongside Sakura in a fiery battle to capture the most dangerous card yet--and of course, they're both wearing outfits from Tomoyo!

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Review #103 - Secrets of a Sun King by Emma Carroll

Details:

Title: Secrets of a Sun King

Author: Emma Carroll

Publisher: Faber and Faber

ISBN 13: 978-0571328499

Synopsis:

London, 1922.

A discovery from ancient Egypt . . .
A cursed package . . .
The untold story of a young pharaoh . . .

When Lilian Kaye finds a parcel on her grandad's doorstep, she is shocked to see who sent it: a famous Egyptologist, found dead that very morning, according to every newspaper in England!

The mysterious package holds the key to a story . . . about a king whose tomb archaeologists are desperately hunting for.

Lil and her friends must embark on an incredible journey - to return the package to its resting place, to protect those they love, and to break the deadly pharaoh's curse . . .

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Review #102 - Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

Details:

Title: Norse Mythology

Author: Neil Gaiman

Publisher: Bloomsbury

ISBN 13: 978-1408891957

Synopsis:

The great Norse myths, which have inspired so much of modern fiction, are dazzlingly retold by Neil Gaiman. Tales of dwarfs and frost giants, of treasure and magic, and of Asgard, home to the gods: Odin the all-father, highest and oldest of the Aesir; his mighty son Thor, whose hammer Mjollnir makes the mountain giants tremble; Loki, wily and handsome, reliably unreliable in his lusts; and Freya, more beautiful than the sun or the moon, who spurns those who seek to control her.

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Review #101 - Onyx and Ivory by Mindee Arnett

Details:

Title: Onyx and Ivory

Author: Mindee Arnett

Publisher: Harper Collins

ISBN 13: 978-0062652669

Synopsis:

They call her Traitor Kate. It’s a title Kate Brighton inherited from her father after he tried to assassinate the high king of Rime.

Cast out of the nobility, Kate now works for the royal courier service. Only the most skilled ride for the Relay and only the fastest survive, for when night falls, the drakes—deadly flightless dragons—come out to hunt. Fortunately, Kate has a secret edge: She is a wilder, born with forbidden magic that allows her to influence the minds of animals.

And it’s this magic that leads her to a caravan massacred by drakes in broad daylight—the only survivor Corwin Tormaine, the son of the king. Her first love, the boy she swore to forget after he condemned her father to death.

With their paths once more entangled, Kate and Corwin must put the past behind them to face this new threat and an even darker menace stirring in the kingdom.

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Review #100 - New Avengers AIM vol 1 by Al Ewing

Details:

Title: New Avengers AIM vol 1

Author: Al Ewing

Publisher: Marvel

ISBN 13: 978-0785196488

Synopsis:

Everything is new. In the wake of Secret Wars, the old order changeth - and Bobby DaCosta, Sunspot, is just the man to changeth it. Welcome to Avengers Idea Mechanics - a super-scientific global rescue squad of tomorrow's heroes... today! America doesn't want them! S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't know what to do with them! But Earth might not survive without... the New Avengers!

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Review #99 - Ms Marvel vol 1 by G Willow Wilson

Details:

Title: Ms Marvel vol 1

Author: G Willow Wilson

Publisher: Marvel

ISBN 13: 978-0785198284

Synopsis:

Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City - until she's suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts. But who truly is the new Ms. Marvel? Teenager? Muslim? Inhuman? When Kamala discovers the dangers of her newfound powers, she also unlocks a secret behind them. Is Kamala ready to wield these immense gifts? Or will the weight of the legacy before her prove too much to bear? 

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Review #98 - Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J Maas

Details:

Title: Catwoman: Soulstealer

Author: Sarah J Maas

Publisher: Penguin

ISBN 13: 978-0141386881

Synopsis:

When the Bat's away, the Cat will play. It's time to see how many lives this cat really has. . . .

Two years after escaping Gotham City's slums, Selina Kyle returns as the mysterious and wealthy Holly Vanderhees. She quickly discovers that with Batman off on a vital mission, Batwing is left to hold back the tide of notorious criminals. Gotham City is ripe for the taking.

Meanwhile, Luke Fox wants to prove he has what it takes to help people in his role as Batwing. He targets a new thief on the prowl who seems cleverer than most. She has teamed up with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, and together they are wreaking havoc. This Catwoman may be Batwing's undoing.

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Review #97 - New World Ashes by Jennifer Wilson

Details:

Title: New World Ashes

Author: Jennifer Wilson

Publisher: Oftomes Publishing

ISBN 13: 978-0995679238

Synopsis:

After Phoenix, a 17-year-old orphan rogue, sacrifices herself for her loved ones, her world again takes an unexpected turn. She may have forgotten her past, but it hasn’t forgotten her. A war is coming and her role in it will be pivotal.

That is... if she survives.

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Review #96 - Poe Dameron vol 4 by Charles Soule

Details:

Title: Poe Dameron vol 4

Author: Charles Soule

Publisher: Marvel

ISBN 13: 978-1302907433

Synopsis:

The galaxy's greatest pilot flies on! General Leia Organa gave Poe Dameron an important task: locate the mysterious Lor San Tekka. and our hero may be closer than he thinks...but can he get the job done in time? Then, Black Squadron faces their next assignment. Is it mission impossible? Not for Poe's crew...and that means it's prison break time! Plus, Poe Dameron has never been one to follow the rules. So when he disobeys a direct order from General Organa and gets stranded in First Order space - with no ship and little oxygen - how will he survive?

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Review #95 - Nyxia by Scott Reintgen

Details:

Title: Nyxia

Author: Scott Reintgen

Publisher: Michael Joseph

ISBN 13: 978-0718186876

Synopsis:

Emmett Atwater is just a poor kid plucked from the streets of Detroit.

But now he and nine teenagers like him are travelling to a distant planet aboard the Babel corporation's lightship.

Before they get there, they are told, two of them will be eliminated.

The eight who make it will land on an alien world, where they will hunt for Nyxia, the most extraordinary substance in the universe.

But first Emmett must endure frightening tests, rivalry with his fellow chosen ones and the fear that Babel aren't telling the truth.

Because if Babel aren't, they'll be trapped, light years from home.

And all alone . . .

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Review #94 - Heart of Thorns by Bree Barton

Details:

Title: Heart of Thorns

Author: Bree Barton

Publisher: Harper Collins

ISBN 13: 978-0062447685

Synopsis:

In the ancient river kingdom, where touch is a battlefield and bodies the instruments of war, Mia Rose has pledged her life to hunting Gwyrach: women who can manipulate flesh, bones, breath, and blood. The same women who killed her mother without a single scratch.

But when Mia's father announces an alliance with the royal family, she is forced to trade in her knives and trousers for a sumptuous silk gown. Determined to forge her own path forward, Mia plots a daring escape, but could never predict the greatest betrayal of all: her own body. Mia possesses the very magic she has sworn to destroy.

Now, as she untangles the secrets of her past, Mia must learn to trust her heart…even if it kills her.

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Review #93 - Saga vol 7 by Brian K Vaughan

Details:

Title: Saga vol 7

Author: Brian K Vaughan

Publisher: Image Comics

ISBN 13: 978-1534300606

Synopsis:

Finally reunited with her ever-expanding family, Hazel travels to a war-torn comet that Wreath and Landfall have been battling over for ages. New friendships are forged and others are lost forever in this action-packed volume about families, combat and the refugee experience. 

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Literary Book Gifts Review

I recently placed an order with Literary Book Gifts and was extremely pleased with everything I received.

Literary Book Gifts is a website which has a wide selection of bookish gifts to chose from.

The first item I ordered was a Ladies XL tshirt with a Peter Rabbit design, it's super cute. The sizes are a little on the small size, I am a UK size 16 and this fits snugly. But in all fairness the website does say the sizes come up on the small side. And the quality of the material is very high.

Next I went for a man's Large shirt with a Call of the Wild design, which I think is so beautiful. It's a lovely shirt, again on the small side but again this was stated on the website. Again the quality is great and I cannot wait to wear it!

You can also chose your own colours for these shirts and I was very impressed with the choice and range.

The last of the item I ordered was a tote bag and this was so incredibly impressive. It is large, sturdy and stylish. It's made of a very robust material and I am going to get a lot of use out of it. There are a lot of designs and I already know my collection will be growing. 

Also I was very impressed with the shipping costs, usually ordering from the US can be expensive but there is a flat rate of $10 for international shipping and I did not get any charges from customs either. 

If you would like to try them out I have a special 20% off code which has no minimum spend and can be used as many times as you like just use CAREFULOFBOOKS20 at check out!

NEWTs - Magical Readathon TBR

For the whole August the NEWTs Magical Readathon will be taking place and since I passed my OWLs earlier in the year I have decided to continue on.

I will leave a link to a video explaining it all here.

The NEWTs run a little differently to the OWLs, the main thing being you cannot take a NEWT in a subject you didn't pass at OWL level. Luckily for me I passed all my NEWTs with the one exception of Muggle Studies.

The other difference is also that each subject have 3 levels of passing (meaning 3 different books to read for each subject)

Pass grades are [A] Acceptable, [E] Exceeds Expectations & [O] Outstanding at least one subject needs an Outstanding in order to pass NEWTs overall.

The video above explains it far better than I can so check that out.

Without further ado onto my TBR...

July Wrap Up and August TBR

So in July 2018 I managed to read a total of 12 books, 

In order of reading I completed Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen, Star Wars: Phasma by Delilah S. Dawson, Floored by 7 YA authors, Paper Girls vol 1 by Brian K Vaughan, A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir, The Mermaid by Christina Henry, All of this is true by Lygia Day Penaflor, Blackwing by Ed McDonald, New World Rising by Jennifer Wilson, Saga vol 5 by Brian K Vaughan, Saga vol 6 by Brian K Vaughan and Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers.

 

 

  

Stats -  

Hardback = 1

Paperback = 4

Graphic Novel/Manga = 3

Audiobook = 3

Ebook = 1

 My 5 star reads were Reaper at the Gates, New World Rising and Record of a Spaceborn Few. Reaper at the Gates was an incredible book which broke my heart and made me want the final book in the series right now! New World Rising was one of the best dystopian books I have ever read and I cannot wait to read the rest of the trilogy. Record of a Spaceborn Few was yet another marvel from Becky Chambers who is fast becoming my favourite sci-fi writer. The most disappointing read for me this month was probably All of this is true, which was a fairly average contemporary mystery without much mystery. 

So in August I am going to be doing the NEWT's Magical Readathon and my TBR for that will follow shortly.

Review #92 - Record Of A Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers

Details:

Title: Record Of A Spaceborn Few

Author: Becky Chambers

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

ISBN 13: 978-1473647602

Synopsis:

Centuries after the last humans left Earth, the Exodus Fleet is a living relic, a place many are from but few outsiders have seen. Humanity has finally been accepted into the galactic community, but while this has opened doors for many, those who have not yet left for alien cities fear that their carefully cultivated way of life is under threat.

Tessa chose to stay home when her brother Ashby left for the stars, but has to question that decision when her position in the Fleet is threatened.

Kip, a reluctant young apprentice, itches for change but doesn't know where to find it.

Sawyer, a lost and lonely newcomer, is just looking for a place to belong.

And when a disaster rocks this already fragile community, those Exodans who still call the Fleet their home can no longer avoid the inescapable question:

What is the purpose of a ship that has reached its destination?

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