Top Ten Tuesday (8) - Top Ten Books on My Fall TBR!

Top Ten Tuesday is a an original feature/ weekly meme that was created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new topic is presented and this week's is:

Top Ten Books on My Fall TBR (in no order whatsoever!)

1. 

Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J. Maas

Queen of Shadows might actually be one of my later books on my fall TBR; I'm still two books behind. Nevertheless, I have my signed copy lined up to read what happens to our favorite female assassin! Also, don't reveal any spoilers for me hehe. 

Release Date: September 1st 2015

2. 

Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) by Marissa Meyer

The Lunar Chronicles is a great series, and Meyer does such a great job of creating a diverse range of characters. I finally caught up with Cress a few weeks ago, and I must say, I'm really glad Cinder and Kai are back together again! I can't wait to see what happens in Winter - I have faith in the Rampion crew! (Also really hope they get Scarlet back b/c it seems like she's going through hell)

Release Date: November 10th 2015

3. 

A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire #5) by George R.R. Martin

I've been reading this series since... Junior year of high school. And because of the extreme length, it has taken me years to finally get to this point of catching up. Actually, I've just been really lazy about books until this year. Nevertheless I can't wait to see what ADWD has in store, and really hope (although it probably won't happen) that Winds of Winter comes out soon!

Published: July 12th 2011

4. 

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

For a really long time, I've wanted to read this book, as the premise resonates so well with me! And I also read Shug as a child, only recently realizing that she wrote this book too. I wonder what happens, when you send out love letters to your former loves. I can't wait to read it - I just got it in the mail!

Published: April 15th 2014

5. 

Fire Falling (Air Awakens #2) by Elise Kova

Everyone on this blog can tell you how in love I was with Air Awakens. It was so amazing and poignant and wonderful - before I go on, I must say, I can't wait for Fire Falling to come out this November! I'm thoroughly anticipating this one (UGH SO MANY GOOD NOVEMBER RELEASES) because I need more Aldrik and Vhalla and Fritz and Larel in my life! This is also basically me throwing my recommendation to everyone to read Air Awakens!

Release Date: November 19th 2015

6. 

Ten Thousand Skies Above You (Firebird #2) by Claudia Gray

I picked up A Thousand Pieces of You while I was on vacation, and it blew me away. Romance across parallel dimensions written well - I loved how the Firebird technology worked, and how you can be yourself, and also the person of that dimension, when you dimension-hope. I might be explaining this in a confusing fashion, but it was a fast-paced compelling read for me I'm excited to get! I really want to hear more about the other dimensions, especially the Russia-verse. 

Published: November 3rd 2015

7. 

The Crimson Crown (The Seven Realms #4) by Cinda Williams Chima 

I got into the Seven Realms series because I was searching for a book with my name in it, and stumbled upon it. There are not that many books with a Raisa in 'em, and this one did not disappoint. Princess Raisa transformed throughout the books and she's now the most powerful Queen of the Fells. What will happen to her and Han in this conclusion? Or the Bayars? This is high fantasy and court intrigue at its finest. Also, all the chills reading about the awesome things 'I'm' doing.

Published: October 23rd 2012

8. 

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

My interest in this book came from the sampler I got at this year's Bookcon. From what I got out of it, it's really something different than my usual high fantasy or contemporary novels. It seems darker and much more mature, as well. Now, this is one of the books that is out in stores at the moment, but I don't have a copy of it yet. Hopefully I get one soon, as this looks like a read I shouldn't miss. 

Published: April 28th 2015

9. 

Illuminae: The Illuminae Files #1 by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

I picked up the ARC of this at Bookcon, and this one takes a totally different style of writing than the usual left-to-right line after line. And that's pretty awesome! It's a futuristic dystopia out there, complete with the action and adventure. I'll be reading and reviewing this one sometime in October.

Release Date: October 20th 2015

10. 

Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

Coincidentally, today is the release day of Walk on Earth a Stranger! Check out my fellow blogger Yiling's post here with some release day blitz and giveaway fun. Does the sensing gold power seem similar to King Midas's everything he touches turns to gold, or is it just me? Regardless, it's a cool power, and it's a historical novel too! (I love my historical fiction)

Release Date: Today! 

Well that's my top ten fall TBR. Are any of these books on your TBR list? Let me know in the comments below! 

[Release Day Blitz & Giveaway] Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

I am so excited that WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER by Rae Carson releases today and that I get to share the news, along with an awesome giveaway!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful new series by Rae Carson, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a set of the GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS 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: WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER

Author: Rae Carson

Pub. Date: September 22, 2015

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Pages: 448

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

The first book in a new trilogy from acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Rae Carson. A young woman with the magical ability to sense the presence of gold must flee her home, taking her on a sweeping and dangerous journey across Gold Rush–era America.

Lee Westfall has a secret. She can sense the presence of gold in the world around her. Veins deep beneath the earth, pebbles in the river, nuggets dug up from the forest floor. The buzz of gold means warmth and life and home—until everything is ripped away by a man who wants to control her. Left with nothing, Lee disguises herself as a boy and takes to the trail across the country. Gold was discovered in California, and where else could such a magical girl find herself, find safety? Rae Carson, author of the acclaimed Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy, dazzles with this new fantasy that subverts both our own history and familiar fantasy tropes.

Walk on Earth a Stranger, the first book in this new trilogy, introduces—as only Rae Carson can—a strong heroine, a perilous road, a fantastical twist, and a slow-burning romance. Includes a map and author’s note on historical research. 

Read chapter 1 of WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER annotated by Rae Carson HERE!

About Rae:

Rae Carson is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the acclaimed Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy. Her next book, Walk On Earth A Stranger, will be available September 22, 2015. She lives in Arizona with her husband.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a set of the 3 GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS series (in paperback format). US Only.

Ends on September 30th at Midnight EST!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

[Release Day Blitz & Giveaway] Sweet Temptation by Wendy Higgins

I am so excited that SWEET TEMPTATION by Wendy Higgins 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 Wendy Higgins, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a a paperback of the book with a signed bookplate and bookmarks! 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: SWEET TEMPTATION

Author: Wendy Higgins

Pub. Date: September 8, 2015

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 485

Format: Paperback, eBook, audiobook

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

Bad boy Kaidan Rowe has never wanted for anything—money, popularity, musical talent…hot girls—but seducing them is part of his duty as a Nephilim, slave to the demon Dukes. As the son of the Duke of Lust, Kaidan has learned his father’s ways, becoming a master of passion, a manipulator of chemistry. Disobeying his father would mean certain death. Thankfully for Kaidan, he’s good at his job. And he enjoys it.

Until he meets Anna Whitt—sweet, smart, feisty, and inexplicably good—the one girl seemingly immune to his charms. The daughter of a guardian angel and a fallen one, she has a certain power over him, one that makes him wish for more than he could ever deserve.

Determined to save all the Neph from their dark lives as the influencers of sin, Anna joins forces with Kaidan to overcome the demons’ oppressive ways. In the light of her affections, Kaidan must undergo his toughest test of all, a battle of the heart.

Sensual and swoon worthy, this companion volume to the acclaimed Sweet Evil series from New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins, told from the perspective of the irresistibly sexy and mysterious Kaidan Rowe, gives readers revealing insights into his struggle, his intense connection to Anna, and most of all, the true emotions that drive him.

Author Note:

Sweet Temptation will encompass the entire trilogy in a condensed version, beginning with Kai's life before he met Anna, and taking readers through the epilogue of Sweet Reckoning. Sweet Temptation is a companion novel, not meant to be a stand alone story. It will definitely be a richer experience for those who have read the original trilogy.

Go HERE to read an excerpt fro SWEET TEMPTATION!

Also check out Wendy's PINTEREST board for KAI!

About Wendy Higgins:

Wendy Higgins is the USA Today and NYT bestselling author of the Sweet Evil series from HarperTeen and her independently published Irish fantasy, See Me. She is a former high school English teacher who now writes full time, and lives on the Eastern Shore of Virginia with her veterinarian husband, daughter, son, and doggie Rue. 

Wendy earned a bachelor's in Creative Writing from George Mason University and a master's in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford. Writing Young Adult (YA) stories gives her the opportunity to delve into the ambiguities of those pivotal, daunting, and exciting years before adulthood.

Connect with the author:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | PINTEREST | TUMBLR | INSTAGRAM

Giveaway Details:

1 Paperback of SWEET TEMPTATION and a signed bookplate and bookmarks. US Only.

Ends on September 18th at Midnight EST!

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[Release Day Blitz & Giveaway] Serpentine by Cindy Pon

Release Day Blitz: Serpentine by Cindy Pon with Giveaway

 

Happy Release Day to

Serpentine by Cindy Pon!!

Join us in celebrating this release from Month9Books!

Enter the giveaway found at the end of the post.

Happy Book Birthday, Cindy!

 

 

SERPENTINE is a sweeping fantasy set in the ancient Kingdom of Xia and inspired by the rich history of Chinese mythology.

Lush with details from Chinese folklore, SERPENTINE tells the coming of age story of Skybright, a young girl who worries about her growing otherness. As she turns sixteen, Skybright notices troubling changes. By day, she is a companion and handmaid to the youngest daughter of a very wealthy family. But nighttime brings with it a darkness that not even daybreak can quell.

When her plight can no longer be denied, Skybright learns that despite a dark destiny, she must struggle to retain her sense of self – even as she falls in love for the first time.

“Vivid worldbuilding, incendiary romance, heart-pounding action, and characters that will win you over–I highly recommend Serpentine.” Cinda Williams Chima, best-selling author of the Seven Realms and Heir Chronicles fantasy novels

“Serpentine is unique and surprising, with a beautifully-drawn fantasy world that sucked me right in! I love Skybright’s transformative power, and how she learns to take charge of it.” ~Kristin Cashore, NYT Bestseller of the Graceling Realm Series

“Serpentine’s world oozes with lush details and rich lore, and the characters crackle with life. This is one story that you’ll want to lose yourself in.” ~ Marie Lu, New York Times bestselling author of Legend and The Young Elites

Amazon | B&N | BAM | Chapters | Indiebound | Kobo | TBD | Google Play | iTunes

We have an exclusive excerpt from Serpentine as well!

“Skybright … ” He tugged her gently to him. “I never feel

as if I can speak of my past with the other monks. Because of

my birthmark. Because I’m different. But with you, I … ” He

didn’t finish the thought, but instead leaned in and kissed her.

It was like a jolt, quickening her pulse. His mouth was full,

firm against her own. He smelled of camphor wood and sweat.

Of boy. His tongue flicked across her lips and instinctively she

opened her mouth to him. She gasped when their tongues met.

Warmth pooled in her stomach and spread, till her entire body

was roused.

Lit.

His hands had wound around her waist, sneaked under

her sleep tunic so she could feel his rough palms against her

midriff. They met at the small of her back and slid upward,

till his fingers caressed her shoulder blades, and they were

crushed against each other.

They kissed until the blood roared in her ears and she felt

drunk with desire. Then something ignited inside of her, that

now familiar heat, writhing through and pulsing down her

legs. Terrified, she shoved his shoulders hard, and he stumbled

back, dazed.

Skybright clutched her head between tight fists, willing the

blazing heat away. Willing herself not to change. No. Not now.

Not in front of Kai Sen. Her body shook with the effort, still

trembling from the kiss they had shared. Terror constricted her

chest.

His thumb stroked her cheek, and she jerked away from him.

“What was that?” She tried to catch her breath, and the

words came unevenly.

“I’ve always wondered what it was like, to kiss.” His voice

sounded low and thick.

“So you decided to experiment on the first handmaid you

came across?”

The first handmaid he came across naked in the forest.

Humiliation and anger wound tight within her, and she

welcomed the emotions. Anything to smother the heat that

threatened to rise below.

Kai Sen made a choking noise. “No. Of course not. I

wanted to kiss you.” He lifted his hand to touch her again and

she slapped it aside. “I like you,” he said quietly. “I’ve seen

plenty of servant girls in town, wandering the markets. But

you were the only I ever knew brave enough to climb a giant

cypress to spy on monks.” He smiled. “You’re the only one

I’ve felt I could share my past with–”

“You don’t even know me,” she said. And it felt as if her

heart was shattering like brittle porcelain, because Kai Sen

could never truly know her. Not ever. “Please go.”

He took a step back, and she hated him for obeying her.

“Will you still meet me in the morning by the creek?” he asked.

Cindy Pon is the author of Silver Phoenix (Greenwillow, 2009), which was named one of the Top Ten Fantasy and Science Fiction Books for Youth by the American Library Association’s Booklist, and one of 2009′s best Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror by VOYA. The sequel to Silver Phoenix, titled Fury of the Phoenix, was released in April 2011. Serpentine, the first title in her next Xia duology, will be published by Month9Books in September 2015. She is the co-founder of Diversity in YA with Malinda Lo and on the advisory board of We Need Diverse Books. Cindy is also a Chinese brush painting student of over a decade. Visit her website at www.cindypon.com.

 

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads • Tumblr

 

Complete the Rafflecopter for a chance to win!

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[Review] Nightmares! by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller

Nightmares! by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller

Rating: 3.5 stars

Series: Nightmares! #1

Version: Paperback

Release Date: September 9, 2014

Goodreads synopsis:

Sleeping has never been so scary. And now waking up is even worse!

Charlie Laird has several problems.

1. His dad married a woman he is sure moonlights as a witch.
2. He had to move into her purple mansion, which is NOT a place you want to find yourself after dark.
3.He can’t remember the last time sleeping wasn’t a nightmarish prospect. Like even a nap.

What Charlie doesn’t know is that his problems are about to get a whole lot more real. Nightmares can ruin a good night’s sleep, but when they start slipping out of your dreams and into the waking world—that’s a line that should never be crossed.

And when your worst nightmares start to come true . . . well, that’s something only Charlie can face. And he’s going to need all the help he can get, or it might just be lights-out for Charlie Laird. For good.

Charlie is unable to sleep due to the horrible nightmares he has and he is desperate to stay awake. He thinks that his "stepmonster" is causing them and goes on a trip though the Netherworld to stop the Nightmares from invading the real world.

The book was so charming! It reminded me a lot of Monsters Inc. mixed with Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas. It had the same idea of how most of the Nightmares were just appearing/acting scary but they were only doing their jobs. I loved the journey that Charlie went through of exploring the Netherworld and the Nightmares that were in it. The Nightmares were such great creatures! I thought that they would be a more outright grr-I'm-inhuman-and-scary, and while they were inhuman, they were so funny and I would find myself smiling at their antics.

The illustrations throughout the book added such a nice touch to the story. You could really picture the story more through Charlie's point of view. They were especially wonderful when it came to picturing the nightmares that he was having and the creatures in the Netherworld.

I really enjoyed the concept of the story- although I felt that I would have enjoyed the book more if I was in the target age range. Charlie's adventure was still really fun to follow and also surprisingly deep at times. There were so many great lessons about facing your fears and heartwarming scenes about family. While going to the Netherworld to battle their fears, Charlie and his friends also learn more about themselves.

I can't wait to see where Charlie's story goes next! Things wrapped up nicely in this book but I'm happy that we get to further explore Charlie's world in the next book.