[Review] The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory

The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory 

Series: The Wedding Date #3

Rating: 4 stars

Published: July 16th 2019

Goodreads Synopsis:

Maddie and Theo have two things in common:
1. Alexa is their best friend
2. They hate each other
After an “Oops, we made a mistake” kiss, neither one can stop thinking about the other. With Alexa’s wedding rapidly approaching, Maddie and Theo both share bridal party responsibilities that require more interaction with each other than they’re comfortable with. Underneath the sharp barbs they toss at each other is a simmering attraction that won’t fade. It builds until they find themselves sneaking off together to release some tension when Alexa isn’t looking.
But as with any engagement with a nemesis, there are unspoken rules that must be abided by. First and foremost, don’t fall in love.

The Wedding Party just reminded me how much I adore romances? This was so cute.

Theo and Maddie are complete opposites (supposedly), but must work together for the sake of their best friend Alexa's wedding in a few months! When they first meet after some time, sparks fly, and they assure each other it won't happen again... until it keeps on happening. They devise up a plan to stop this little arrangement the moment Alexa gets married, but they don't take into consideration the feelings that emerge.

[Review] The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson

The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson

Rating: 3 stars

Published: July 9th 2019

Goodreads Synopsis:

In the tropical kingdom of Rhodaire, magical, elemental Crows are part of every aspect of life...until the Illucian empire invades, destroying everything.
That terrible night has thrown Princess Anthia into a deep depression. Her sister Caliza is busy running the kingdom after their mother's death, but all Thia can do is think of all she has lost.
But when Caliza is forced to agree to a marriage between Thia and the crown prince of Illucia, Thia is finally spurred into action. And after stumbling upon a hidden Crow egg in the rubble of a rookery, she and her sister devise a dangerous plan to hatch the egg in secret and get back what was taken from them.

Anthia, or Thia, is Princess of Rhodaire, who is forced to marry the crown prince of Illucia, a country whose Queen attacked Rhodaire's capital city several months prior. This attack kills Thia's mother and her aunt Estrel, and it leaves Thia suffering from depression.

[Review] Summer of Sloane by Erin L. Schneider

Summer of Sloane by Erin L. Schneider

Rating: 4 stars 

Published: May 3rd 2016

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Warm Hawaiian sun. Lazy beach days. Flirty texts with her boyfriend back in Seattle.
These are the things seventeen-year-old Sloane McIntyre pictured when she imagined the summer she’d be spending at her mom’s home in Hawaii with her twin brother, Penn. Instead, after learning an unthinkable secret about her boyfriend, Tyler, and best friend, Mick, all she has is a fractured hand and a completely shattered heart.
Once she arrives in Honolulu, though, Sloane hopes that Hawaii might just be the escape she needs. With beach bonfires, old friends, exotic food, and the wonders of a waterproof cast, there’s no reason Sloane shouldn’t enjoy her summer. And when she meets Finn McAllister, the handsome son of a hotel magnate who doesn’t always play by the rules, she knows he’s the perfect distraction from everything that’s so wrong back home.
But it turns out a measly ocean isn’t nearly enough to stop all the emails, texts, and voicemails from her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, desperate to explain away their betrayal. And as her casual connection with Finn grows deeper, Sloane’s carefree summer might not be as easy to find as she’d hoped. Weighing years of history with Mick and Tyler against their deception, and the delicate possibility of new love, Sloane must decide when to forgive, and when to live for herself.

A novel about moving on, accepting, and finding yourself, as corny as it sounds. This really pulled at my heart - though not really for the romance, but for the loss of friendship, as Sloane struggles to put herself together after her best friend and boyfriend sleep together twice behind her back, and now her best friend is pregnant. But luckily for Sloane, she can avoid her troubles over the summer when she goes to Hawaii to stay with her mom, and runs into old friends and new. One new friend, Finn, might be just the guy to help her get over her ex-boyfriend, Tyler. But Finn has some skeletons in his closet.

[Review] Song of the Current by Sarah Tolcser

Song of the Current by Sarah Tolcser

Series: Song of the Current #1

Rating: 4 stars

Published: June 6th 2017

Goodreads Synopsis:

Caroline Oresteia is destined for the river. For generations, her family has been called by the river god, who has guided their wherries on countless voyages throughout the Riverlands. At seventeen, Caro has spent years listening to the water, ready to meet her fate. But the river god hasn’t spoken her name yet—and if he hasn’t by now, there’s a chance he never will.
Caro decides to take her future into her own hands when her father is arrested for refusing to transport a mysterious crate. By agreeing to deliver it in exchange for his release, Caro finds herself caught in a web of politics and lies, with dangerous pirates after the cargo—an arrogant courier with a secret—and without the river god to help her. With so much at stake, Caro must choose between the life she always wanted and the one she never could have imagined for herself.

The Oresteia family has spent generations on the river, hearing the voice of the river god. Caro thought she would be next in line after her father, but has not yet heard the god's voice. But now Caro is tasked to deliver a mysterious box, and becomes embroiled in the politics and deceit of several nations. Without her father and without her river god, Caro must battle the waters alone.

[Review] Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

Series: The Blood of Stars #1

Rating: 3.5 stars

Published: July 9th 2019

Goodsreads Synopsis:

Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she'll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There's just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.
Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia's task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.
And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor's reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.

I've been reading so many Asian-inspired fantasies by #ownvoices authors and I am all for this. This Project Runway x Mulan crossover (with a little bit of Uprooted in there) was a delight from start to finish.

[Review] King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

Series: Nikolai Duology #1

Rating: 4.5 stars

Published: January 29th 2019

Goodreads Synopsis:

Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.
Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried—and some wounds aren’t meant to heal.

The monster is me and I am the monster. - p. 89

What a pleasure it was to jump back into the Grishaverse again!

This time we're back in Ravka (and also in Fjerda, a new change of pace), with three POVs: Nikolai, Zoya, and Nina. Nikolai has to fight to contain the monster that's within him from the time he was captured by the Darkling's creatures in the original trilogy. Zoya, General of the Grisha Army, is there to protect him. Nikolai's got to consolidate his rule by finding a consort, and eventually have an heir. Meanwhile, Nina is off in Fjerda saving missing Grisha and trying to lay Matthias to rest. But while this is all happening, a young priest, Yuri, wishes to expand his worship of the Darkling to the rest of Ravka.

[Review] Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Series: Graceling Realm #1

Rating: 4 stars

Published: October 1st 2008

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.
She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po.
She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace—or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.
With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.

Recommended by Yiling!

Graceling reminded me of Tamora Pierce's books, in which a girl is given the means to break free from the misogynist and overly sexist society she was placed in.

Katsa is born with the Grace of killing, making her the personal hitman of King Randa, her uncle. This ability of her makes her feared among her peers, which keeps her alone and isolated. But, she meets Po, who has the Grace of combat, and soon becomes his friend. The two embark on a mission to discover the truth of Po's kidnapped grandfather and the mysteriously kind King Leck of Monsea.

[Review] The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg

The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg

Rating: 4 stars

Published: May 28th 2019

Goodreads Synopsis:

Welcome to the Kingdom... where 'Happily Ever After' isn't just a promise, but a rule.
Glimmering like a jewel behind its gateway, The Kingdom is an immersive fantasy theme park where guests soar on virtual dragons, castles loom like giants, and bioengineered species--formerly extinct--roam free.
Ana is one of seven Fantasists, beautiful "princesses" engineered to make dreams come true. When she meets park employee Owen, Ana begins to experience emotions beyond her programming including, for the first time... love.
But the fairytale becomes a nightmare when Ana is accused of murdering Owen, igniting the trial of the century. Through courtroom testimony, interviews, and Ana's memories of Owen, emerges a tale of love, lies, and cruelty--and what it truly means to be human.

I feel like people have been sleeping on The Kingdom but they honestly shouldn't. Going to plug my ShelfLove Crate subscription here and say I got this from July's box.