Release Day Blitz: Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4) by Sarah J Maas

I am so excited that QUEEN OF SHADOWS by Sarah J. Maas releases today and that I get to share the news, along with an awesome giveaway!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful series by Sarah J. Maas, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a set of the first 3 books in the series (in paperback format). US only. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

About The book:

Title: QUEEN OF SHADOWS

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Pub. Date: September 1, 2015

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Pages: 656

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Goodreads

Sarah J. Maas's New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series reaches new heights in this sweeping fourth volume.

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.

Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

Read Chapters 1-5 of QUEEN OF SHADOWS HERE!

Sarah J. Maas is the author of the New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling Throne of Glass series–Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, and Heir of Fire, and the series’ prequel, The Assassin’s Blade–as well as the New York Times and USA Today bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses. She wrote the first incarnation of the Throne of Glass series when she was just sixteen, and it has now sold in twenty-three languages. Queen of Shadows, the fourth book in the Throne of Glass series, will release worldwide on September 1st, 2015.

A New York native, Sarah currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and dog. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hamilton College in 2008 with a degree in Creative Writing and a minor in Religious Studies. 

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Pinterest | Instagram| Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive the first 3 books (in paperback) in the THRONE OF GLASS Series. US Only.

Ends on September 11th at Midnight EST!

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Review: Reawakened (Reawakened, #1) by Colleen Houck

Reawakened (The Reawakened, #1)
Colleen Houck
Young Adult Fantasy
August 11th 2015
Goodreads Link

Synopsis:

When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification.

And she really can't imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe to find his brothers and complete a grand ceremony that will save mankind.

But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world.

From New York Times bestselling author Colleen Houck comes an epic adventure about two star-crossed teens who must battle mythical forces and ancient curses on a journey with more twists and turns than the Nile itself.

My Review:

 

My Rating:

5 out of 5 Freaking Stars

 

My absolute favorite subject to learn about is Ancient Egypt, so when I heard that my favorite author was writing a series based on my favorite subject, I was ecstatic!

 

As always, Colleen does a superb job weaving fantasy and history and creating an epic, yet tragic tale of love and devotion.

 

This book was laugh out loud funny, nail-bitingly intense, heart-breakingly sad, and full of swoon worthy princes. What else could someone want in a book?

 

Amon, Ahmose, Asten, Dr. Hassan, and Lily were all wonderful characters that brought me to tears and made me laugh till it hurt. Lily transformed from Lilliana the follow-the-orders-New-Yorker-coward to Lily the brave-follow-her-heart-devotee. I loved Lily's character and felt her to be extremely likable and relatable. Dr. Hassan was an adorably funny worshiper that surprised me by the end of this book with how amazing he was.

 

My heart hurt by the end of this book that I was on the brink of flooding my room with tears. But!!! The epilogue saved my heart from being forever broken! There's hope yet!!!! I am extremely anxious for book 2 right now that it hurts!!!

 

 

Eden (E, #3) by Kate Wrath Release Blast!!

Announcing the release of the third book in the E series, Eden, by Kate Wrath:

THE THIRD BOOK IN THE E SERIES Both friends and enemies are keen to get their hands on the information inside Eden’s head—information that could take down the Sentries and change the world. But there are costs that no one realized, and Eden’s not so sure she’s willing to pay them. Refusing to do so could create dangerous problems within the tribe she’s only just come back to. Eden has her own agenda for learning Lily’s secrets. With hope refusing to die, she’s spurred forward by memories of Oscar and thoughts of finding him again. But Lily’s hold on her is greater than she knows, compelling her to chase after strange clues and confusing visions. With love and longing weighing on her, Eden must determine the reality of her fractured identity in order to decide which path to take. The choices she makes could tear her away from Jonas and Apollon, from everything she’s ever known. Eden’s future will not be determined solely by choices. Fate has her own cards to play, and they just might take the game.

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Kate Wrath on writing Eden, and what's to come....

Only a year ago, I released the first book in The E Series, not knowing what to expect in reaction or whether it would be well-received. To my surprise, the first book did incredibly well, and though it’s still relatively unknown, many of you who did read it went on to become followers of the series, eagerly awaiting the next installment. The second book, Evolution, was released in November of 2014, and took the story of E and the adventure to a whole new level as the characters undertook a trek across the dystopian landscape of the world. You’d been dying for answers to certain questions, and finally, the answers had begun to be revealed. Now, in the third book, Eden, our favorite characters return to their long-sought-after home only to find that things aren’t as simple as they seem. This third book focuses on the relationships between certain characters, ups the heat level of the romantic thread, and yes, throws some more wrenches into the works. The end of this book, I believe, will possibly make you want to throw something at me. Questions, questions, always questions. And I know you’ll want the answers. …Which is why the release of Jason and Lily, the prequel to The E Series is only a month and ten days away. At long last, answers. All the things you’ve been dying to know about Eden’s past are written in this volume, along with a love story that I hope will touch you as much as it touched me. But will it leave you wanting more? I certainly hope so, because The E Series is not done yet! The final volumes will bring you even more answers, including one of the biggest questions: How did the world in E come to be the way it is? Happy reading, everyone, and don't forget to drop by the Facebook Release Day Party from 8-12 pm Eastern, today, June 13th!  

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An excerpt from Eden:

It seems unfair that everything I learn only makes me more confused. How do you reconcile these things? The world you knew—the world torn to pieces and reconstructed in a different shape. The self you knew, the torn self. What other things can we rip to pieces? What else can we destroy and recreate? This question weighs on me at so many levels. I've lost my place. I don't know where to begin or end. I don't even know what I want out of it all. Morning is stretching through the window, yawning its light-filled mouth. Jonas rolls over onto his side and looks at me. Smiles gently. Touches my cheek. But it's that smile like Poor thing. She's so lost. And I am. How is he not lost? How did I whisper these revelations to him in the darkness, and by light, he's the one who seems fine? I push his hand away, close my eyes, and roll onto my back. My shirt sticks to my side, sweaty from being beneath me. I imagine drifts of snow, crisp air. My visible breath, like smoke from a fire. I never liked the cold, when I had it. Now I don't like the heat either. I can't even make up my mind about that. Deep breaths. Ninety-nine. Ninety-eight. Ninety-seven. The numbers fall away, and I focus deep within myself. What do I want, when it comes down to it? A fraction of a dream interrupts my soul-searching. A flash of an alligator. It's that damned alligator again. What the hell? "Are you OK?" Jonas asks softly, and sighs when I don't respond. He rolls over and gets up. I cling to the reptilian vision. A flash of scaly green skin and the unsettling curve of a toothy smile. And nothing. Absolutely nothing. I sigh, too, but I don't open my eyes. I frown and focus again. Deeper. What really matters? There's an easy answer. It's been there all along. I want to find Oscar. Until I do, I won't ever really be OK. I've been putting it off, wrapped up in so many insignificant things. Worried about pretending to be someone else—why? Worried about Jonas, and some incomprehensible future where Sentries don't exist. I have one thing I can hold onto. I fix it in my heart. I'm not going to let this go. Whatever I don't know, whatever I may not understand, Oscar is real. Oscar matters. And right at this moment, he could be suffering, could be in danger. And I'm sitting around on my ass doing nothing to find him. Vacation. Over. I open my eyes and climb out of bed. Jonas is in the kitchen, taking out his frustrations on an orange. Slicing it vehemently. I walk to his side and watch as he grabs another and attacks it like he's cutting its throat. Then I squint at his face. "Are you mad at me?" He glances at me, and there is definitely anger in his eyes. "No," he says. "I'm just mad." I wait for a moment to see if he means to elaborate, but he doesn't. So I guess I was wrong that he's OK. "Do you want to talk about it?" He stops suddenly and his eyes slice into me. He hesitates, obviously restraining himself. Jonas is always so restrained. Finally, he lets out a long breath and turns back to the orange, more gently. "We have to do this. We have to take them down." "...The Sentries?" His jaw tightens when I say the word. He answers in a level but deadly voice. "Yes." I know that look of grim determination. I know how Jonas is when he makes up his mind. Cards begin to fall into place in my mind, a deck that tells our future. I see the beginning of the path. But I'm not sure I want to take it. Too many questions, not enough answers. I have only one answer, and for now, I'm sticking to it.   You can purchase Eden on Amazon.

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About the Author:

Kate Wrath lives in the Southwestern US. Much like other authors, she has both a [family] and a [pet]. [family = three crazy-but-lovable, exceedingly adorable people with longer eyelashes and better sense of humor than Kate] [pet = lovable-but-crazy giant German Shepherd who seems to be able to read, but pretends not to understand when something is required of him] Kate is the author of the E series: E (Book #1), Evolution (Book #2), Eden (Book #3, June 13, 2015), and Jason and Lily (prequel, July 23, 2015). She has also written two fantasy novels that are soon to be released. Kate believes in literature as an art form, world peace, and animal rights, but aspires to write total trash that is full of senseless violence, with characters who eat house pets.    

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Stay tuned for my review of Eden, coming soon!

Review: Gates Of Thread & Stone (Gates Of Thread & Stone, #1) by Lori M. Lee

Gates Of Thread & Stone (Gates Of Thread & Stone, #1)
Lori M. Lee
Young Adult Fantasy
August 5th 2014
Goodreads
The Book Depository
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

In the Labyrinth, we had a saying: keep silent, keep still, keep safe.

In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret—she can manipulate the threads of time. When Kai was eight, she was found by Reev on the riverbank, and her “brother” has taken care of her ever since. Kai doesn’t know where her ability comes from—or where shecame from. All that matters is that she and Reev stay together, and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth. Kai’s only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper’s son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her.

Then Reev disappears. When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him. She will leave the only home she’s ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making. But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power.


My Review:


My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Kai lives a semi-normal life in the Labryinth with her adoptive brother, Reev. Well as normal as living in the slums can be, with no memory of who she was before her brother found her when she was 8, and to add to all that she harbors a magical secret. A magical secret she must keep hidden or risk being caught by king Ninu. Kai is able to keep her abilities hidden until a fateful day delivering mail she's attacked, uses her ability to save herself, & ends up stabbing her attacker. That whole event spirals and turns Kai's whole world upside down and sends her along with Avan to travel outside of Ninurta to save her brother.

Secrets are unraveled, truths are found, and new questions arise.

Nothing is as it seems in Ninurta.

I completely adored this book! As questions were answered in this book, new questions arose. Every time I think I know what is happening (or going to happen) the tables are turned and I'm left speechless. 

Kai is such a sweet and courageous main character. I love how strong she was throughout this entire novel. Even when everything seemed at a loss, she refused to give up. She also didn't allow anybody to push her around or let people make her do what she didn't want to. Kai's relationship with Avan was adorable and I was rooting for them through the entirety of the book. & the ending of this book was so.. ugh! Need book 2 now! Gimmee Gimmee please!

There is literally nothing I'd like to see changed in this novel. Completely amazing!