Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Furyborn by Claire Legrand - Review


Release Day: May 22, 2018


The stunningly original, must-read fantasy of 2018 follows two fiercely independent young women, centuries apart, who hold the power to save their world...or doom it.

When assassins ambush her best friend, the crown prince, Rielle Dardenne risks everything to save him, exposing her ability to perform all seven kinds of elemental magic. The only people who should possess this extraordinary power are a pair of prophesied queens: a queen of light and salvation and a queen of blood and destruction. To prove she is the Sun Queen, Rielle must endure seven trials to test her magic. If she fails, she will be executed...unless the trials kill her first.

A thousand years later, the legend of Queen Rielle is a mere fairy tale to bounty hunter Eliana Ferracora. When the Undying Empire conquered her kingdom, she embraced violence to keep her family alive. Now, she believes herself untouchable--until her mother vanishes without a trace, along with countless other women in their city. To find her, Eliana joins a rebel captain on a dangerous mission and discovers that the evil at the heart of the empire is more terrible than she ever imagined.

As Rielle and Eliana fight in a cosmic war that spans millennia, their stories intersect, and the shocking connections between them ultimately determine the fate of their world--and of each other.

---------------------------- Amazon, B&N, Goodreads ----------------------------

I had heard so much about this book and was so happy to have my wish granted on Netgalley! This type of fantasy is right up my alley and I was excited to see if it lived up to the hype. I'm going to be honest in this review - this book was great in many ways and fell flat for me in others. The synopsis does a good job of explaining the basis of the book but my biggest question was how was it going to differ from other fantasies like it, and hopefully this review will help those of you with the same question! 

The story is told following two different women worlds apart. Rielle grew up in the royal court and is best friends (and has a secret crush) on the Crown Prince. She also has the secret of having a multitude of powers when the rest of the world is gifted with one, if any, and learns that she has a greater part to play. Eliana is living a different life years later as a killer for the tyrannical Emperor, before having to go rogue to protect her family. 

I personally found Eliana's story much more interesting than Rielle's. I think this is because of the prologue, which lays out the characters and relationships from the very first pages. The magic is really interesting - the lore takes a really interesting twists on angels, especially in a fantasy/medieval sense, and is done pretty well. I think the prologue does a good job of throwing the reader into the action and conflict right away, and showing that this will be a no holds barred type of adventure. That being said, knowing Rielle's fate made me disinterested in her parts of the story, whereas Eliana's was much more of a mystery. She seemed more complex to me, and her destiny was so up in the air that I wanted to know what was going to happen next, not only to her but to those she loves. 

The story isn't incredibly unique, in my opinion, but the writing makes up for a fairly predictable plot. I wanted to see how it was all going to unfold and how all the pieces that we are shown throughout will fit together (if at all) by the end. Fans of Throne of Glass and Red Queen will like Rielle and Eliana for being strong female characters that often give in to their flaws. While I skimmed through a lot of Rielle's parts, I was still engaged with the story as a whole, and can't wait for the next installment (like, REALLY can't wait). 

The story has a great balance of mystery, action, and romance, and the movement between the past and the present, or Rielle's narrative and Eliana's, work nicely with one another without being too dependent. Overall, I recommend this book for anyone that reads the synopsis and thinks it may interest them and enjoys fantasies like Throne of Glass and Red Queen
** I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. **
Read more about Claire and her books here: http://www.claire-legrand.com

Claire Legrand used to be a musician until she realized she couldn’t stop thinking about the stories in her head. Now she is a writer and librarian living in central New Jersey (although her heart will always live in her home state of Texas).

Happy Reading!

Jasmine

Saturday, May 12, 2018

Love Beyond Opposites by Molly E. Lee - Review

If high school has taught mathlete Jade Aaron anything, it's that nerds never get the guy.

So when rock star Lennon Pryor starts pursuing her, It's not rocket science. This doesn't add up.

I mean, sure, he's hot.

And charming.

And a god on the guitar...

But he's also the world's biggest player. Being with him would be a bigger mistake than 2+2=5.

Until graduation night, when a reckless moment leads to a reckless kiss. And now Jade's falling for the one guy destined to break her heart.

**************************** Amazon, B&N, Goodreads ****************************

Love Beyond Opposites is a cute summer romance starring two teenagers who are just trying to figure everything out  before college. The premise wasn't quite what I was expecting - a rock star and a nerd usually goes something like "Girl: He's so popular and I'm not, we'd never work, but I'm so attracting to him, what will I do? Boy: She has no idea how much I love her but I'm not good enough for her, what will I do?" Now, I'm totally for the story quoted above, but this played with those ideas and shifted them in good and bad ways. 

Lennon isn't a star yet. He's a high school senior with dreams of stardom and the talent to make it happen. Jade's a mathematical genius but would rather pursue art after graduation. Really, the story is about following your passions, both professionally and romantically. There are some shades of the classic story - Jade is convinced that Lennon doesn't like her, and Lennon has at this point told himself he wasn't good enough for her for four years. But the fact that the story is about high schoolers and takes place basically in one night gives it a fresh feel. 

There were some things that threw me off in a different way. The pacing seemed a little strange, the beginning covering multiple days and years, but the last two thirds taking place all in one night. Halfway through the night, I found myself wondering how long it had actually been and if it was possible to do all that without a time-turner. The other part of the story that I had a slight issue with was the dialogue. Some of it seemed stilted, and moments that were supposed to be funny or sharp snapbacks didn't quite hit. Save for the last thirty pages or so, I didn't find that the dialogue really moved anything along or reveal anything interesting about the characters. 

This is the 3rd book in the Grad Night series, and while I haven't read the first two, I can imagine that reading the entire series will create a more well-rounded, developed story. The other characters are fairly prevalent, and it would be interesting to see Jade and Lennon from other points of view. 

Overall, Love Beyond Opposites is a cute summer read that will fit right into post-graduation YA romance lulls. The characters are lovable, if not lacking a little depth, and the whirlwind adventure that takes place in a span of hours will keep you reading to see what will happen with Lennon and Jade's futures. 
** This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **
Find out more about Molly E. Lee here: https://www.mollyelee.com/about-me.html

Molly E. Lee is an author best known for her romance novels, the Grad Night series and the Love on the Edge series. She is a 1001 Dark Nights Discovery Author for 2017. Molly writes Adult and Young Adult contemporary featuring strong female heroines who are unafraid to challenge their male counterparts, yet still vulnerable enough to have love sneak up on them. In addition to being a military spouse and mother of two + one stubborn English Bulldog, Molly loves watching storms from her back porch at her Midwest home, and digging for treasures in antique stores.

Happy Reading!

Jasmine

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 29 - I Won!!

I did it! I finished Camp NaNoWriMo and a whole day early too! Still have about 20,000 words left in my project goals overall, but I'm so happy that I did it!

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 3, 643

Words Total (Camp): 50, 284

Words Total (Overall): 65, 201

Music: Emperor's New Clothes by Panic! At the Disco

Excerpt:

Now that I knew this place was here, I wanted to bring one of the books from The Widow’s shelves and sit in the sunshine and read all day. As much as I loved fighting, the thrill of it, the exhilaration, reading was like training for my imagination.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 28

Hey guys!

I did it! I won today (a whole day early, just like NaNoWriMo 2017)! I will post a picture of my progress bar from the site on the page for April 30th, so if you want, you can see how I did. I'll also post some tips and advice!

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 3,295

Words Total (Camp): 46,700

Words Total (Overall): 61,906

Music: Emperor's New Clothes by Panic! at the Disco

Excerpt:

“You don’t agree with your father.” I said plainly and Quasim’s eyes widened in surprise. He looked away, studying the darkness of his cell.

“No.” He said. “I don’t. He is weak-minded but ambitious. Devany gave him the means to gain what he wants without much work. It’s difficult. I don’t disagree with everything Devany wishes to see in the world, but I strongly disagree with the ways in which she wants to achieve them. Of course, my father is the third king to rule under Devany’s…guidance.” Qasim rolled his eyes at that word, the way she had twisted what had once been a partnership into a tyranny. He swallowed. “I didn’t expect him to stand up to her, to see her vision but gentle her hand, but a king could, theoretically. It may do no good but he could’ve. But he didn’t. And that’s what I can’t seem to forgive him for.”

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Friday, April 27, 2018

CampNanoWrimo Day 27

I didn't write at all today! This is how I felt the next day! πŸ™ƒπŸ™ƒπŸ™ƒπŸ™ƒ

Happy Writing! (lol)

Jasmine

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 26

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 875

Words Total (Camp): 43,405

Excerpt:

“Good.” He said. “It’s what makes you human.”

The way he said it made it sound as though we were the most amazing things he’d ever seen. As if I was the most amazing thing he’d ever seen. And even though being human came with being messy and complicated and making poor decisions and a mortality that terrified me, I couldn’t help the small smile that I gave him in return.

This war between the gods started a hundred years ago, but it would end with a mortal girl and a star.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 25

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 1,854

Words Total (Camp): 42,530

Excerpt:

“I can’t see the future,” He said and this time the glimmer in his eyes was amusement, “But the stars can. And they like to gossip.”

“About me?” I asked incredulously.

“About everything. Don’t think yourself so special.” He said with a laugh.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 24

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 1,796

Words Total (Camp): 40,676

Excerpt:

“When I take someone to the After, they tend to tell me things. If I chose, I can see their whole life, beginning to end, and their mother’s life, and her mother’s life and so on. History may repeat itself but each and every experience is unique. It’s amazing the marks people leave on the world, Farrow. Each and every one.”

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Monday, April 23, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 23

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 109 (lol, still counts!)

Words Total (Camp): 38,880

And now, a sweet moment between Heden, or resident nerd, and Farrow.

Excerpt:

But I realized now that I think one of the reasons why we were such strange kindred spirits was that we often let ourselves become the worst versions of what people though we were.

Happy Reading!

Jasmine 

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 22

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 1764

Words Total (Camp): 38,771

Excerpt:
I hadn’t realized how much of me was defined by who I was with him. Now, I felt like I was in a state of remaking. It was exhilarating and terrifying and I was caught between marveling and hating myself.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 21

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 1,043

Words Total (Camp): 37,007

Excerpt:

“To see who could gather the most secrets.” Jean said. She turned towards him and showed her true talents, her gifts from Perclarion. Angling her head and lowering her lashes, she gave Jonsy a look that made even him, who had seen her vomit into a potted plant after drinking too much wine when we were fifteen, gulp and blush.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Friday, April 20, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 20

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 452

Words Total (Camp): 35,964

Excerpt:
Letting him go, though, forwarded the movements of the rebellion and backpedaled the movement of freeing Hunter. I took a deep breath. It felt a little like betrayal to my brother. But it also felt a little like a justice to me.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 19

Hi all,

So for the next ten days or so (until April 27th), the posts may look a little different. I actually completely fell off the bandwagon updating my progress on here (though I didn't fall off the wagon of NaNoWriMo!) so while the word counts and stuff are correct, the excerpts may be from the wrong sections, I don't remember what music I listened to, and I'm not sure what the total word count for the whole project would be. Still, I hope you enjoy!

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: None!

Words Total (Camp): 35,512

Excerpt:

Qasim stood proud, tall, looking like a prince for the first time since I’ve met him. I studied his handsome features, the rich, brown skin and the intelligent brown eyes. Hunter always was attracted to strength, and Qasim contained a strength of a different sort, but just as beautiful, and perhaps even more dangerous.

The serious set of his mouth faltered and his lips slipped upward. That’s when I saw it. The mischief. The challenge. The knowing that you had a fighting chance of winning and looking forward to the fight. All things that held my brother’s heart.

“Most of the nobles haven’t seen me for two years.” He said. “They’ll think I am the same quiet, shy boy I was before.”

“And that’s not who you are now?” I asked.

“Oh, Farrow.” Qasim said, his grin turning into a charming smile. He relaxed his shoulders. “They have no idea what I’m capable of.”

Happy Writing!

Jasmine

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 18

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 3,171

Words Total (Camp): 35,512

Words Total (Overall): 50,396

Music: Mars (Instrumental) by Sleeping At Last

Excerpt:

At first I thought that Cricket and Jonsy had just lost their minds. But then I tilted my head a certain way and I realized that there was something in my eye. A grayish mark just to the left of my iris that glimmered when the light hit it just right. In the shape of a starburst.

Dear Gods. The Queen of Stars.

A faint giggle sounded in the back of my head, lilting and magical.

“Shit.” I whispered.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 17

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 4,967 (a lot of this was a refurbished scene from the last draft but still!)

Words Total (Camp): 32,341

Words Total (Overall): 47,225

Music: Believer by Imagine Dragons

Excerpt:

"How did you do that?” Tauron asked.

“Fight? We all know how to do that.” I went to the tree and picked up my dagger where it had been dropped.

“We know how to fight.” Tauron growled and the beastly growl in response from the shadows behind me made my heart stop for a moment. “We don’t know how to do…that.” He waved a hand towards the bodies strewn about.

“We each have our talents.” I said.

“And yours happens to be killing?”

“That might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.” I said drily.

Monday, April 16, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 16

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 647

Words Total (Camp): 27,377

Words Total (Overall): 42,796

Music: The album Atlas: Year One by Sleeping At Last 

Excerpt:

“I can’t believe I”m saying this,” I said, collecting sticks with Heden, “But I wish we were in the library.”

Heden snorted. Despite my love my books and stories, a love that was one of the few things that Heden and I had in common, being in this place, with Rychon and Sian and The Widow, not to mention the gods and their insane plan, had made me a little bloodthirsty.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 15

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 2,249

Words Total (Camp): 26,730

Words Total (Overall): 42,181

Music: Bagbak By Vince Staples (Black Panther Trailer Music)

Excerpt:

“You going to tap out?” Oron asked. I couldn’t see his face but I could hear the smugness in his words. I suppose knocking a god into the dirt once should have been enough. But not for me. And not this particular god.

“Never.” I wheezed.


Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 14

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 1,885

Words Total (Camp): 24,481

Words Total (Overall): 39,934

Music: Believer by Imagine Dragons

Excerpt:

“We stood next to you when you and Hunter had the stupid idea to try and save the pig set for slaughter from Mr. Barner. That was almost assured destruction but we dragged that squealing pig to freedom through the streets anyway.”

“This is a little different, Jean.”

“We helped you plan a crazy scheme to get into the most secure prison on the continent.” Heden said. I tilted my head in acknowledgement.

“Fair enough.” I said.

Happy Writing! 

Jasmine 

Friday, April 13, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 13

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 138 (lol guys)

Words Total (Camp): 22,596

Words Total (Overall): 38,329

Music: Listened to YouTube videos in the background!

Excerpt:

“I’m glad you’re feeling better but I can’t help but wonder why. And I’m worried it’s because you’ve maimed someone.”

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Thursday, April 12, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 12

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 1,838

Words Total (Camp): 22,458

Words Total (Overall): 38,191

Music: Sweet Dreams (Wrinkle In Time Trailer Song) ft. Dresage

Excerpt:

“Do not be afraid.” I said to myself, and saying the words made them feel more real. I said it again and again and again until it felt like a song on my tongue and a truth in my soul.

I’d prove the stars wrong. I’d play this game of gods and monsters, not as a pawn, but as a queen.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 11

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 2,303

Words Total (Camp): 20,620

Words Total (Overall): 36,353

Music: Absent-minded Keys by Michael Harris

Excerpt:

I had forgotten how much I loved it, seeing someone experience something wondrous for the first time.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 10

For Brightly She Burns

Today was a struggle guys.

Words Written: 605

Words Total (Camp):18,317

Words Total (Overall): 34,050

Music: I don't think I listened to anything?

Excerpt:

“No one really knows what Devany is capable of anymore. Even if it hadn’t of killed you, it probably would have hurt like hell. So you’re welcome.”

I glared at him and he smiled back at me.

“So this is the God of Death.” I said finally. The smile widened. He put his hands in the pockets of his trousers.

“At your service.”

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Monday, April 9, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 9

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 1,806

Words Total (Camp): 17,712

Words Total (Overall): 36,325

Music: Sweet Dreams (A Wrinkle In Time Trailer Song) ft. Dresage

Excerpt:

I closed my eyes and imagined myself running a hand across the surface of the water that filled the well of my magic, frozen for so long. I rubbed the frost that came away between my fingers. I opened my eyes and the goddess was sharper, clearer.

So were the heads of the Pantheon, her brothers and sisters, speared atop the poles held by the nine men.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine

Sunday, April 8, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 8

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 2,305

Words Total (Camp): 15,906

Words Total (Overall): 34, 533

Music: Saturn by Sleeping at Last

Excerpt:

“Thanks.” I said dryly. “Are you here to make good on our deal?”

Oron tilted his head side to side in a maybe, maybe not motion.

“I think now would be the perfect time.” I said, watching as he walked towards me. “And if it’s not, then I have no interest in listening to anything you have to say.”

“Now that’s not very nice.” He sounded so much like Hunter when he said things like that, looked like him when he glanced up at me, spinning the arrow through his fingers without a second thought.

“I’m known for a lot of things. Being nice isn’t really one of them.”

Happy Writing! 

Jasmine
 

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 7

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 369

Words Total (Camp): 13,601

Words Total (Overall): 32,228

Music: Start a War by Klergy & Valerie Broussard

Excerpt:
“I know that we are in the business of being reckless,” Jean threw in, holding up a hand as if she were about to share a fun fact, “But this is a lot. Even for us. And we are a lot.”

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Friday, April 6, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 6

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 576

Words Total (Camp): 13,232

Words Total (Overall): 31,859

Music: Probably The Way (again) *shrug emoji*

Excerpt:
“No. You know what? Yes. I saw how they all looked at me in that room. I saw the way they looked at all of us. I saw the way they looked at you and Cricket and Jean and Heden when they saw how I looked at you.” Jonsy was chewing on the inside of his cheek now. Jean, Cricket, and Heden froze at that last part. “They don’t care about us, Jonsy. They've let us burn for the last hundred years."

Happy Writing! 

Jasmine 

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 5

It was so hard to write today guys. Like, so hard that I'm updating yesterday's post today (though I did do all the writing yesterday, promise!) and making blogger say I posted yesterday. Some days it's just like pulling teeth but you push through anyway. *collapses in an exhausted heap*

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 1,151

Words Total (Camp): 12,656

Words Total (Overall): 31, 283

Excerpt:

I began to make a list.

1. Find Oron and get him to show me the star’s vision of Hunter.

2. Find Aediel and ask him what the hell was going on.

3. Talk to The Widow alone and ask if she knew any ways to kill a goddess.

4. Ask The Widow if there is a way to kill a god, because I was fairly sure by then I’d want to kill them all.

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 4

For Brightly She Burns

I added this picture on my Camp NaNoWriMo page!


Words Written: 2,239 (some repurposed from draft 2 but still)

Words Total (Camp): 11,505

Words Total (Overall): 30,133 (broke 30K woo!)

Music: Start a War by Clergy & Valerie Broussard

Excerpt:

When Heden finished, Jean began to talk about how one of the teachers, who had taught her to stitch skin together with needle and thread while also explaining where to stab someone with the same needle in order to paralyze, was the most beautiful and terrifying person she’s ever met.

“Is she scary because she’s beautiful?” Cricket asked. “Or beautiful because she’s scary?" Jean sighed longingly.

“Oh Cricket,” She said and signed*, “Both. I can only dream to be her.”

*Cricket is deaf so Farrow and co. often speak and sign in tandem! 

Happy Writing! 

Jasmine


 

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 3

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 3,894

Words Total (Camp): 9,292

Words Total (Overall): 27,894

Music: Find You by Ruelle and The Way (Instrumental) by Zach Hemsey

Excerpt:

“I know that you almost just choked that kid to death,” Jonsy said as we neared the table, “But if you had made me miss lunch, I don’t know if you could have stopped me from strangling you.” He grinned at me. I laughed as he winked at one of the servers and she gave him an extra scoop of stew.

And with that, the last bit of cold melted away.

Happy Writing! 

Jasmine 

Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence - Release Day Review

In Mystic Class Nona Grey begins to learn the secrets of the universe. But so often even the deepest truths just make our choices harder. Before she leaves the Convent of Sweet Mercy Nona must choose her path and take the red of a Martial Sister, the grey of a Sister of Discretion, the blue of a Mystic Sister or the simple black of a Bride of the Ancestor and a life of prayer and service.

All that stands between her and these choices are the pride of a thwarted assassin, the ambition of a would-be empress wielding the Inquisition like a blade, and the vengeance of the empire’s richest lord.

As the world narrows around her, and her enemies attack her through the system she has sworn to, Nona must find her own path despite the competing pull of friendship, revenge, ambition, and loyalty.

And in all this only one thing is certain.
There will be blood.

************************** Amazon, B&N, Goodreads **************************

Anyone who knows me well knows that I absolutely loved Red Sister. I recommended it all the time when I worked at Barnes and Noble last year. Grey Sister was no different - the world just gets more complex, the characters more interesting and developed, and the situation concerning magic and the kingdom more dire in this sequel. 

I did an amateur blogger thing where I read this a while ago and forgot to write the review afterwards so I may be a little scatterbrained in this review. But the best part is, is there are parts that I remember even from so long ago because I enjoyed it so much. 

The social system and learning systems in this world are so interesting. In Grey Sister, you really get to see Nona struggling with conforming and with being teased by her envious peers. Mark Lawrence does something great with this series in that he has all the storylines of a great, classic fantasy while playing will all those tropes just a little along the way. The Chosen One is super chill and nonchalant. People who do horrible things tend to get their way. Instead of the bully getting her due justice, it is Nona that must run and figure out how to survive in response. She gets beat up and put down and truly struggles along the way and doesn't really follow the hero's journey as one would think. 

The secondary characters really come to forefront in this sequel. There are many different focuses throughout the book and we follow various people all around the kingdom as all of the parts begin to get moving. If I remember correctly, I did get confused at times about what was really happening and where I was and who was doing what. I always found my way back, though. As a fan of Nona, I did wish that we were with her a little more often, and I have to say her journey and destination were not what I was expecting. 

I told my coworkers that Red Sister reminded me of an adult version of the Alanna series by Tamora Pierce. While I think that this sequel definitively diverts from that comparison, I do think that fans of those classic fantasties, with really developed worlds with complicated politics and a large cast of diverse characters, will enjoy this series and this book in particular as we move forward to the last installment. 
** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. **
Find out more about Mark and his books here: http://www.marklawrence.buzz

Mark Lawrence was born in Champagne-Urbanan, Illinois, to British parents but moved to the UK at the age of one. He went back to the US after taking a PhD in mathematics at Imperial College to work on a variety of research projects including the ‘Star Wars’ missile defence programme. Returning to the UK, he has worked mainly on image processing and decision/reasoning theory. He says he never had any ambition to be a writer so was very surprised when a half-hearted attempt to find an agent turned into a global publishing deal overnight. His first trilogy, THE BROKEN EMPIRE, has been universally acclaimed as a ground-breaking work of fantasy. Following The Broken Empire comes the bestselling RED QUEEN’S WAR trilogy. The BOOK OF THE ANCESTOR trilogy, in an entirely new setting, commences with RED SISTER in 2017. Mark is married, with four children, and lives in Bristol.

Happy Reading! 

Jasmine 

Monday, April 2, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 2

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 2,607

Words Total (Camp): 5,398

Words Total (Overall): 24,000

Music: Where's My Love (Alternate Version)  - SYML

Excerpt:

He made my heart speed up but not from fear and not from anger.

He stopped and looked down at me. He was a handful of inches taller, and my eyes looked squarely upon his collar bone. If I leaned forward, my head would fit nicely in the space between his neck and shoulder, and his chin would hit the top of my head. I bit my lip. Why would I even think that. Insulting gods and goddesses I could do. Cuddling with them? No. Definitely not.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Sunday, April 1, 2018

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 1

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 2,781

Words Total (Camp): 2,781

Words Total (Overall): 21,393

Excerpt: 

Hunter had sat in that prison for over a day, untouched by the Goddess of the Sun. Him and Garrett, but it had been Garrett that was killed that morning. She'd let Hunter live. “Why him?” I didn’t mean for it to be a whisper. Oron heaved a sigh. His eyes met mine and I couldn’t help but gulp. He wasn’t looking at me like a god to a mortal, or even a parent to a child. He was looking at me like a god would look at a god, a king to a queen. I clenched the fabric of my pants to hide the fact that my hands were shaking.

“She had to be sure.” He said finally. He sounded…sad. I waited. “She had to be sure it was you.”

Happy Writing! 

Jasmine 

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Writing Update #9

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 2, 010

Words Total: 18, 574

Music: Didn't listen to music this time!

Teaser:

I expected him to snap back at me, or at least demand some respect. But instead he just leaned away from me so his weight was on his arm, the fingers of his other hand running over his chin.

“I am not the only one who has acknowledged that Devany’s action have gotten a bit out of hand-"

“Out of hand? She burned your brother’s Own out of existence.” I interrupted.

Note: A god or goddess's "Own" is how they describe the people in each god or goddess's land/territory, like a people in a unified sense. 

Happy Writing! 

Jasmine 

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Writing Update #8: I Really Should've Slept

Guess who signed up for Camp NanoWrimo!

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 2,759

Words Total: 16,571

Music: The Way (Instrumental) by Zack Hemsey

Fave Passage:

It wasn’t that I didn’t trust him. I did. But there was a sinking feeling in my stomach that I couldn’t shake that wherever he was taking us, it was going to change everything. I should have noticed when I saw a goddess in the flesh. Or maybe I did, and it had just taken a few days and strange dreams and wolves made of darkness to get my brain to understand that the rules of the world were shifting. But something told me that it wasn’t just a refugee camp we were heading towards.

Rychon taught me to survive. He also taught me that no one gives anything without expecting something return, and that there was often more than one reason why anyone did anything.

Happy Writing! 

Jasmine 

Monday, March 26, 2018

Writing Update #7

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 1577

Words Total: 13814

Music: Start a War by Klergy & Valerie Broussard

Favorite Passage*:

I could barely make out Rhys’s constellation through the trees, but I followed the stars along the first ridge, then the second. Two twin triangles. Rhys and Feyre, who loved each other so eternally they became the two stars that shined at the peaks of the two mountains in the sky, shining forever.

*Yes, this is a direct ode to Sarah J. Maas and also I just finished rereading the Court of Thorns and Roses series for the hundredth time and I JUST LOVE THEM SO MUCH okay?

Happy Reading! 

Jasmine 

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Writing Update #6

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 1,171

Words Total: 12,237

Music: This Place Is a Shelter by Olafur Arnalds and Love & Loss by Mattia Cupelli

Fave Passage:
They all looked so tired. Tired but not unhappy. Displaced but not homeless. The house was just a house but everything that mattered was here. It was dangerous, choosing people to love.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Writing Update #5: We Tried Yoga

Hey guys! Thought I'd just let you know that these titles are completely random and just a statement about what I did that day. I don't know why. Maybe because I always end up writing these updates right before midnight and I'm very tired. Anywho. I had a dream last night, woke up, and wrote almost 1000 words on my phone that I then texted to myself. So.

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 3,212

Words Total: 11,067

Music: Walk Through the Fire by Zayde Wolf Ft. Ruelle (I'm one of those on repeat people, oops)

Fave Passage:

I shouted in surprise and waived my hand around, causing the wolf’s slobber to be flung everywhere. Making a noise, I wiped my hand on my pants and looked back at the creature. The wolf didn’t have a face, per se, but I was sure that it was grinning, and I could see the strange, shadowy tongue wagging in pleasure.

“For a shadow you sure have a lot of spit.”

This line always makes me laugh (it's made it through multiple rewrites of this story). 

Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Friday, March 16, 2018

Writing Update #4: So Tired

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 1,520

Words Total: 7,855

Music: Mr. Sandman by SYML and Walk Through the Fire by Zade Wolf & Ruelle

Fave Passage:

Do not worry, Farrow. The voice, smooth and deep and quiet, whispered sung hummed across my mind. It almost sounded like another language, the words lilting and light. The world blinked in and out as I uselessly fought unconsciousness. You have nothing to fear. Sleep.

And then I let the darkness take me.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Writing Update #3: On a Roll

For Brightly She Burns

Words Written: 2,281

Words Total: 6,334

Music: The Born King by Daniel Pemberton

Fave Passage:

A dress that looked made of molten gold clung to her body, her dark hair pooling on the armrest where she rested her head on her bent arm. She was too bright, too beautiful. She was life and death and the last moment of brilliance before the sun sank below the mountains that stood in the north.

Nails, long and sharp and painted black, tapped against a pale, pale cheek. The Goddess of the Sun was sitting in the room, mere feet away from me.

And she was smiling as though she had just won a prize.


Happy Writing!

Jasmine 

Monday, March 12, 2018

Writing Update #2: Damn You, Daylight Savings

So. Children of the Sun and Moon. That one that had almost 60,000 words? Yeah. I scrapped it. *laughs hysterically*

BUT I restarted it as the story that I think it was supposed to be all along so I am proud to present

... *drumroll please*....

FOR BRIGHTLY SHE BURNS (formerly Children of the Sun and Moon)

Date: Monday, March 12, 2018

Words Written: 2,252

Words Total: 4,060

Music:  Sweet Dreams (A Wrinkle In Time Trailer Song) ft. Dresage

Fave Passage:

There were ten gods in the Pantheon of Trectoros, each with their own kingdom. Devany was in the center, as was fitting I suppose, in the dry desert climate and a palace made of gold. Then there was Strata with her schools of logic, Perclarion and his brothels, Grera with her fields, Rhys hidden in his mountains, and Seron, doing whatever the hell the God of Trickery does. At the farthest points of the compass were Huron in the south with his jungles and dense forests and the greatest hunters on the continent; Fost in the north, the island surrounded by waves so rough they were said to break ships completely in half; Egon to the east, a collection of islands and people who were rumored to be able to breath underwater; and then finally Oron to the west, where there once stood a grand temple made of white stone that shone in the moonlight and where stars used to fall to the earth and dance. Or so the stories went.

Happy Writing!

Jasmine

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Writing Update #1: Let's Get Started, Shall We?

Hi all!

In case you didn't know, along with reading books, I also have dreams of being writer! After participating in NanoWrimo this last November (I won! And a day early too!) I have really gotten back into the swing of things with writing and thought I'd share my journey with you! I saw a post like this on another blog - I cannot remember for the life of me the name so forgive me - and thought it was a great way to share and also give myself a sense of accountability 😬😬.

I actually have three different WIPs right now, because I hate myself, so I'll give a little rundown of each.

Children of the Sun and Moon:
  • Current Word Count: 58,919
  • Alanna the Lioness meets Dividing Eden: A young woman training to be an assassin must battle her classmates, her twin brother, and the gods to kill the king and save the world from ruin. 
  • Not a fan of the title (lol)
  • New Adult Fantasy. 
  • A kickass heroine
  • A brother who makes bad choices 
  • Gods who have too much time on their hands. 
  • Assassins. 
  • Kings. 
  • A sexy god of death, an irritating god of the moon, and a bloodthirsty goddess of the sun. 

114 Griffiths Hall:
  • Current Word Count: 252 (plus a mock newsletter, so more!)
  • You've Got Mail meets Fangirl: A girl gets attached to mystery classmates when she decides to write an unsolicited "Ask Annie"-esque column in her dorm's newsletter after she realizes she can hear all the conversations that happen in the stairwell outside her room. 
  • YA/NA Contemporary
  • Exposes the seedy underbelly of college band parties (just kidding)
  • One person may or may not be the hot guy from English class
  • Based on an actual experience

Strong Are the Wicked:
  • Current Word Count: 11,735
  • I don't have a good pitch for this yet, except that there are traces of Cruel Prince. Casten lives in Wicked, a city that rewards those who do evil with magic. When her sister is taken as part of game of power by the ruling class, called the Fair Ones, Casten follows her to the palace with the goal of proving that there are different forms of power. 
  • A land that's alive and likes people who do bad things
  • A girl who fights back by being kind
  • Sisters
  • Sexy fae-esque creatures
  • Some really horrible fae-esque creatures
  • A ferret-like creature named Sid who is literally darkness but I still imagine as being very cute.
And here is my first writing update! 

Strong are the Wicked

Words written today: 1, 729

Favorite Line(s): 
"But she wanted power, more so than the rest of us. She wanted more. She wanted. Wanting was fine, anywhere other than Wicked. Here, wanting came with the caveat of horrible things, of cruelty and blood. She wanted and was willing to do something about it and that made her all that much better and all that much worse."



Thanks for reading! 

Jasmine 

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Burn Bright (Alpha & Omega #5) by Patricia Briggs - Review

Release Day: March 6, 2018

They are the wild and the broken. The werewolves too damaged to live safely among their own kind. For their own good, they have been exiled to the outskirts of Aspen Creek, Montana. Close enough to the Marrok’s pack to have its support; far enough away to not cause any harm.

With their Alpha out of the country, Charles and Anna are on call when an SOS comes in from the fae mate of one such wildling. Heading into the mountainous wilderness, they interrupt the abduction of the wolf–but can’t stop blood from being shed. Now Charles and Anna must use their skills–his as enforcer, hers as peacemaker–to track down the attackers, reopening a painful chapter in the past that springs from the darkest magic of the witch born…



---------------------------- Amazon, B&N, Goodreads ----------------------------

The Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series are some of my favorite paranormal romance/adventure/mysteries...it checks all the boxes, really. I was so happy to be approved on Netgalley for Burn Bright and I devoured it in one day (I went to bed very late). 

I really like the Alpha and Omega series because of the vastly different voice compared to the Mercy Thompson series. Don't get me wrong, I love Mercy, but the calmness and the narrative of this series is a nice break. That being said, this book is jam packed with action and mystery and killer plants. No really. Everything becomes potentially killer in this book and you can't trust anyone since there is a traitor in the pack and skinwalkers and all sorts of dangers. I think that the lore in this series is fantastic, and I love the touches of Native American legend that is tied in with the touches of Welsh lore with Bran and werewolves and witches. Patricia Briggs is a queen when it comes to having well developed worlds, even within the one we know. 

As always, Charles and Anna are adorable and wonderful. I like that the conflict in the book had nothing to do with their relationship - in fact, it's their respect and trust that usually seems to get them out of tough situations. I really appreciate a female main character whose strength is her kindness and quietness, for lack of a better term. I really enjoy seeing Anna and how her personality works within a story with so many strong characters. They are both much more calculation and internal than the other characters in the series, and it's always fun to see how they will solve the problems that arise in each book. 

Personally, I kind of miss the days when the plot could be a little more focused because there were less moving parts. There is now so much moving around in multiple series that I long for the book that was just a tad more...simple, I suppose. I understand the need to keep the story forward with so many books, but I kind of miss watching the development of Charles and Anna's relationship and their own characters. While the plot is a magical romp forward, sometimes I found Charles and Anna's interactions a little stagnant. 

In Burn Bright, the werewolves are thrown into the fire when it comes to other fantastical creatures that had previously existed semi-peacefully alongside the pack. Now everything is in chaos all across the supernatural world and as usual, it seems to always gravitate towards Charles, Anna, and Bran and Company. Fans of the Mercy Thompson series might miss some of the snark but fans of Charles and Anna will find this latest installment a wonderful fit and will be left excited about what's to come.
** I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. **
Read more about Patricia Briggs here: http://www.patriciabriggs.com/Patty/about.shtml

Happy Reading! 

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Leaving Everest by Megan Westfield - Review

Twenty-year-old Emily Winslowe has had an adventurous upbringing. Daughter of a Himalayan mountain guide, she has climbed Mount Everest and other peaks most Americans only dream of. But for all her mountaineering prowess, she's lacking some key experiences. Namely, guys. Especially one guy in particular—Luke Norgay, her childhood best friend who she hasn't seen since he left for college in the United States two years ago.

Luke unexpectedly reappears as a guide just in time for the Everest climbing season. He's even more handsome than she remembers, and that something that had been building between them during their last season together is back in front of them, bigger than ever.

The problem is, there's a detail about Emily's past that Luke doesn't know. It's the reason she ended up in the Himalayas in the first place...and the reason she must make it to the summit of Mount Everest this year. It's also the reason she would never consider following him back to Washington after the climbing season ends.

But first, they'll have to survive the mountain.

---------------------------- Amazon, B&N, Goodreads -----------------------------

I have to preface this by admitting that anything having to do with Mount Everest is a guilty pleasure of mine. Into Thin Air by John Krakauer is one of my favorite books and I've seen every documentary about the mountain. So when I read this description I was so excited to see how it combined something so severe and extreme as Mount Everest and one of my favorite genres, romance!

I loved Leaving Everest. I think that the great thing about this book is that it has the perfect balance of the conflict of climbing this very dangerous mountain with the conflict of doing other less dangerous but just as scary things in your life. Emily is afraid to leave Nepal and Luke is afraid of coming back, and their fears don't have much to do with climbing the highest mountain at all. Rather, their fears and insecurities lie in much more normal problems, such as loss and the pressure to succeed and feeling out of place, which are all just heightened by their situation on the mountain.

Emily is a fantastic narrator, who is struggling to figure out what she wants out of life when all she's known in climbing, and doing so with her dad. Making life and death decisions while on all the deadliest peaks in the world make her decisions concerning things like putting off college seem pretty easy. However, when Luke comes back to visit family after two years in college in Washington state, she realizes just how much she's been missing. Emily and Luke have fantastic chemistry and an ease to them that really establishes their past relationship to each other. The way they support each other, despite their spats, is great. I like that their relationship is built on trust, a trust that's only strengthened by the danger of climbing Everest. The way their relationship, both friendly and romantic, evolves throughout this story is heartwarming and heart wrenching and made me smile like a crazy person on the subway while I was reading.

I also liked that Luke is the child of a former Sherpa that worked with Emily's dad, and his feelings of coming back "Westernized" and climbing as visitor, rather than as someone who had grown up there. Ideas of displacement and growth are really interesting in the book, and I liked that Luke struggles with his identity when he comes back.

While this might not appeal to fans of Into Thin Air, anyone who has a strange fascination (like me) with Everest or K2 who likes romance will love this book. And for anyone who could care less about extreme sports, you will still love this book. At its heart, Leaving Everest is about facing your fears, whether it be leaving for college, telling the boy you've always loved how you feel, or climbing the highest mountain in the world. Funny and riveting and romantic.

I liked this book so much that I downloaded Megan's first book, Lessons on Gravity, which focuses on rock climbing, right after I finished Leaving Everest. I liked it too - 4 cupcakes!
** I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review **
Find out more about Megan and her books here: http://meganwestfield.com

Megan Westfield has dabbled in many hobbies and pastimes over the years, ranging from playing the cello to cake decorating (i.e., icing-eating) to a dozen different outdoor adventure sports. Eventually, she discovered the only way to do it all was though writing—her first and strongest passion. She writes new adult fiction because she loves exploring the powerful and formative years between high school and the quarter-life crisis. As a reader, her favorite books are those with a truly unique, real-world setting, and, of course, a love story.

Megan grew up in Washington state, attended college in Oregon, and lived in Virginia, California, and Rhode Island during her five years as a navy officer. She is now a permanent resident of San Diego where she and her husband count family beach time with their two young kids as an adventure sport. Megan was formerly the editor of a small weekly newspaper in Southern California and is represented by Melissa Edwards of Stonesong.

Happy Reading!

Jasmine

Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman - Release Day Review

Release Day: February 27, 2018

In the medieval kingdom of Goredd, women are expected to be ladies, men are their protectors, and dragons get to be whomever they want. Tess, stubbornly, is a troublemaker. You can't make a scene at your sister's wedding and break a relative's nose with one punch (no matter how pompous he is) and not suffer the consequences. As her family plans to send her to a nunnery, Tess yanks on her boots and sets out on a journey across the Southlands, alone and pretending to be a boy.

Where Tess is headed is a mystery, even to her. So when she runs into an old friend, it's a stroke of luck. This friend is a quigutl--a subspecies of dragon--who gives her both a purpose and protection on the road. But Tess is guarding a troubling secret. Her tumultuous past is a heavy burden to carry, and the memories she's tried to forget threaten to expose her to the world in more ways than one.

---------------------------- Amazon, B&N, Goodreads ----------------------------

So I haven't read Seraphina but this cover grabbed me when I was browsing titles on Netgalley. It's absolutely GORGEOUS and the story is just as stunning and dark and beautiful. 

I went into this story completely blind to the world and the characters. I loved following Tess on her journey, especially since we get to have a peek into her life as a child and her relationships with her parents and siblings. She is an incredibly complex and emotional character, and the way that Rachel weaves the issues into Tess's everyday life was nuanced and natural. I never felt like I was being hit with all these issues or moments of the past, despite the fact that once you realize what happened in Tess's past reader's can see how it has been a part of the book from the beginning. 

The world is colorful and interesting. I have to admit I was slightly confused by the different people/ species (like dragons and half dragons) and the way they fit, or didn't fit, into the society. By the end I had a good idea but I think that reading the previous two books would have really helped with this in particular. There were also times I thought the plot dragged on a little, and though sometimes it really worked, since Tess is kind of figuring it out as she goes, as I neared the end I found myself trudging along slightly. That being said I thought that the medieval ideas mixed with the old lore of Saints and dragons and magic was unique and enchanting. Seraphina's character was especially fun to experience and helped set up all the complexities of this world. 

If you were a fan of the previous two books, I can't help but think you will love this one as well. From what I could tell, Seraphina and Tess are very, very different women, but have shared traits of strength and resilience and intelligence that any fantasy-loving feminist will love. I also think that if you liked Unrooted, you will like this book, and probably this series (if you haven't read it already. 

Smart and enchanting, Tess of the Road is a magical story of a woman who doesn't know where she's going but pushes forward anyway, taking each and every obstacle in stride and still finding a way to stay true to herself and the things of her past that has shaped her into the woman she is.
** I received a copy of the book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Random House! **
Find out more about Rachel's and her books here: https://rachelhartmanbooks.com

Rachel was born in Kentucky, but has lived a variety of places including Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, England, and Japan. She has a BA in Comparative Literature, although she insists it should have been a BS because her undergraduate thesis was called “Paradox and Parody in Don Quixoteand the satires of Lucian.” She eschewed graduate school in favour of drawing comic books. She now lives in Vancouver, BC, with her family, their whippet, and a talking frog and salamander (who fight zombies)(really. There are a lot of zombies in the Pacific Northwest).

Happy Reading!

Jasmine 

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce - Release Day Review

Release Date: February 6, 2018

Arram. Varice. Ozorne. In the first book in the Numair Chronicles, three student mages are bound by fate . . . fated for trouble.

Arram Draper is a boy on the path to becoming one of the realm’s most powerful mages. The youngest student in his class at the Imperial University of Carthak, he has a Gift with unlimited potential for greatness–and for attracting danger. At his side are his two best friends: Varice, a clever girl with an often-overlooked talent, and Ozorne, the “leftover prince” with secret ambitions. Together, these three friends forge a bond that will one day shape kingdoms. And as Ozorne gets closer to the throne and Varice gets closer to Arram’s heart, Arram begins to realize that one day soon he will have to decide where his loyalties truly lie.

In the Numair Chronicles, readers will be rewarded with the never-before-told story of how Numair SalmalΓ­n came to Tortall. Newcomers will discover an unforgettable fantasy adventure where a kingdom’s future rests on the shoulders of a talented young man with a knack for making vicious enemies.

---------------------------- Amazon, B&N, Goodreads ----------------------------

First of all, I have to preface this by saying that The Immortals series by Tamora Pierce is one of my favorite series of all time. I was so excited (SO EXCITED) to hear about this series and someone at Random House was nice enough to give me a copy. I may have screamed (I definitely screamed). But I have to say that this book met all my expectations and was not only a fantastic return to Tortall and some beloved (and not so beloved) characters, but also a fantastic book that stands strong on its own merits. 

Daine and Numair are my favorite characters that Tamora Pierce has written and I was so excited to learn more about Numair (Arram's) past and his time before Wild Magic. Tempests and Slaughter is, at its heart, a really great story about growing up when you are aware that you have all the potential in the world but don't take it for granted. Arram is just as awkward (so awkward) and charming as he was in the original series, but this time it is supported by being an adolescent and gifted and lonely and hormonal and all the things that come from being an adolescent. 

Very real, very believable relationships with friends and girls and teachers are all nuanced with the fantastically well-developed magical world. While fans of the series, particularly the Immortals and Song of the Lioness series, will recognize characters and stories and love the added information to characters you already love, new readers will also love the story of a young mage with unimaginable potential and a naive but well-meaning heart of gold in a society that is built to use people such as him for their own gain. Fans of Harry Potter will gravitate towards his friendships with Varice and Orzone and his time in school but will get a taste of this unique, vast world.

I personally think that the writing and storytelling is Tamora Pierce at her best, and that the fact that it has been so long since the last book in Tortall has only strengthened Numair's story. To me it read as story that has been stewing so long that all the flavors - the humor, the complexity, the magic systems, the world - have blended and balanced perfectly. This book was everything I wanted and, honestly, more than I imagined. I was smiling through the whole thing, stayed up far too late finishing it, and was so sad when it was over. I cannot wait (I CAN'T GUYS) for the next installment. 

Bravo Tamora! I'm so happy you are back and killing it!
** I received a copy of this book from the publisher. ** 

Find out more about Tamora Pierce and her books here: http://www.tamora-pierce.net

Happy Reading!

Jasmine 

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones - Review!

Release Day: February 6, 2018

Six months after the end of Wintersong, Liesl is working toward furthering both her brother’s and her own musical careers. Although she is determined to look forward and not behind, life in the world above is not as easy as Liesl had hoped. Her younger brother Josef is cold, distant, and withdrawn, while Liesl can’t forget the austere young man she left beneath the earth, and the music he inspired in her.

When troubling signs arise that the barrier between worlds is crumbling, Liesl must return to the Underground to unravel the mystery of life, death, and the Goblin King—who he was, who he is, and who he will be. What will it take to break the old laws once and for all? What is the true meaning of sacrifice when the fate of the world—or the ones Liesl loves—is in her hands?



---------------------------- Amazon, B&N, Goodreads ----------------------------

Shadowsong is the sequel to Wintersong, and picks up shortly after the first book. A little time has passed, Liesl's brother Josef having risen to semi-stardom under the tutelage of his musical master in Vienna. Trying to outrun her small town, suffocating family, and heartbreak concerning the Goblin King, Liesl and her sister Kathe travel to him after the untimely and suspicious death of his master's death. 

I enjoyed reading about the Underground and the wild magic infiltrating more civilized, urban life. The way that Liesl and Kathe function in a different world, with nobility and outside of their contained, rugged inn, is interesting and reveals more about the characters. I also enjoyed Josef and Francois and the relationship they have in the time period and society in which the story takes place. Liesl's conflict between wanting to do what's best for siblings and trying to ignore her own impulses to follow her heart is dark and grinding and pained. This isn't your normal fairytale, in the way that Wintersong wasn't your traditional fairytale. 

There are moments, especially in the beginning, where I felt the plot lagged a little. So much of the struggles are internal, and while I appreciate that aspect of the story (for it is an integral part), I felt that it sometimes caused what is already a fairly slow moving plot stagnate a little. It wasn't until Leisl and Kathe were in Vienna, which doesn't happen until around 100 pages in. I was also annoyed with Josef, for he never really seems to understand everything Liesl has done to try and give him the best life, even at the cost of her own success and happiness. 

Shadowsong is the story of what happens when what you thought you wanted is no longer an option and you do your best with what is left. It's hard but it's also beautiful and shows not only Liesl's but Kathe's and Josef's perseverance as well. While the writing style and the content might not be everyone's cup of tea, those who are looking for a twisty, complex, dark fairytale with a strong female character will like this book. 


** I received a copy of this book from Netgally in exchange for an honest review. **
Find out more about the author and her books here: http://sjaejones.com

S. Jae-Jones was born and raised in sunny Los Angeles, where she spent summers on the beach and winters on the slope until she was convinced by Sesame Street (and university) to move to New York City. A native Angelena and a New Yorker at heart, she now lives in Dixie, where she is comfortably growing fat on grits and barbecue. When not writing, she can be find rock-climbing, skydiving, taking photographs, drawing pictures, and dragging her dog on ridiculously long hikes. Find her on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/sjaejones

Happy Reading!

Jasmine 

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Prince in Disguise by Stephanie Kate Strohm - Review

Someday I want to live in a place where I never hear “You’re Dusty’s sister?” ever again.

Life is real enough for Dylan—especially as the ordinary younger sister of Dusty, former Miss Mississippi and the most perfect, popular girl in Tupelo. But when Dusty wins the hand of the handsome Scottish laird-to-be Ronan on the TRC television network’s crown jewel, Prince in Disguise, Dylan has to face a different kind of reality: reality TV.

As the camera crew whisks them off to Scotland to film the lead-up to the wedding, camera-shy Dylan is front and center as Dusty’s maid of honor. The producers are full of surprises—including old family secrets, long-lost relatives, and a hostile future mother-in-law who thinks Dusty and Dylan’s family isn’t good enough for her only son. At least there’s Jamie, an adorably bookish groomsman who might just be the perfect antidote to all Dylan’s stress . . . if she just can keep TRC from turning her into the next reality show sensation.

---------------------------- Amazon, B&N, Goodreads ----------------------------

GUYS. THIS BOOK IS SO CUTE. 

Sorry, I had to get that off my chest. 

Prince in Disguise is a hilarious romance between two really nerdy awkward people. It's also a story about trying to define yourself and the relationship between two sisters. It is so incredibly smart and funny and romantic and I was so in love that I finished it at the table during dessert at Christmas with my family (they all expect this of me, honestly, so it was fine). 

Dylan and Dusty are so different and I liked that they didn't really get along. Plenty of people I know love their sister in the way that Dylan loves Dusty - by being stubborn and annoyed and wanting to be anywhere but near them. And it's for the same reason - it's hard living in the shadow of your sibling, especially if that sibling 1) likes attention and 2) in on TV and 3) is marrying into European nobility. I really liked their relationship and the fact that they were at odds for almost the entire book. Dusty isn't often the villain, but she is an opposing force (and sometimes a very funny one) and I appreciated that. 

Dylan and Jamie are A-DOR-A-BLE. The dialogue was witty and fast and I LOVED the fact that Dylan questioned/was slightly weirded out by all of Jamie's references. It's surprising how often characters just understand the most obscure references, but here it seemed realistic and added to the awkwardness. The friendship developed naturally and reminded me of Stephanie Perkins and Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. 

I knew exactly where the plot was going but I was 100% in the whole time. I couldn't wait to see what Dylan and Jamie would do next, how Dusty would deal with her overbearing future mother-in-law, and how everything would turn out in the end. I was fully invested in watching Dylan grow throughout the book, finding her confidence and learning how to assert herself to the world that often overlook her in light of her sister. The way that the romance, and Jamie, are along for the ride but do not drive it, was fantastic and refreshing and I loved it. 

Prince in Disguise is perfect for fans of royal romances, The Prince and Me, Fangirl, and Stephanie Perkins. Dylan's outlook on life is cynical and hilarious and her interactions and comments create a fun, romantic story where at the heart, a young woman is learning to define herself and her place in her family, as well as her future. 
Find out more about Stephanie and her books here: http://www.stephaniekatestrohm.com/index2.html

Stephanie Kate Strohm is the author of It's Not Me, It's You; The Taming of the Drew; Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink; Confederates Don't Wear Couture and the upcoming The Date to Save and Prince in Disguise (Fall 2017). She grew up on the Connecticut coast, where a steady diet of Little House on the Prairie turned her into a history nerd at an early age. After graduating with a joint major in theater and history from Middlebury College, she acted her way around the country, performing in more than 25 states.

Although she was born in New York, she currently lives in Chicago, and doesn't discriminate against any type of pizza. When she's not writing, she loves baking, walking her dog Lorelei, taking dance cardio classes too seriously, and playing board games with her husband.

Happy Reading!

Jasmine