Waiting on Wednesday (18) - The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma

Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers

Publication Date: March 24th 2015

Goodreads summary:

“Ori’s dead because of what happened out behind the theater, in the tunnel made out of trees. She’s dead because she got sent to that place upstate, locked up with those monsters. And she got sent there because of me.”

The Walls Around Us is a ghostly story of suspense told in two voices—one still living and one long dead. On the outside, there’s Violet, an eighteen-year-old dancer days away from the life of her dreams when something threatens to expose the shocking truth of her achievement. On the inside, within the walls of a girls’ juvenile detention center, there’s Amber, locked up for so long she can’t imagine freedom. Tying these two worlds together is Orianna, who holds the key to unlocking all the girls’ darkest mysteries.

We hear Amber’s story and Violet’s, and through them Orianna’s, first from one angle, then from another, until gradually we begin to get the whole picture—which is not necessarily the one that either Amber or Violet wants us to see.

Nova Ren Suma tells a supernatural tale of guilt and innocence, and what happens when one is mistaken for the other.

Why Walls?
The premise of this book sounds so interesting! The two vastly different viewpoints- a dancer and a girl in a juvenile detention center- are so intriguing and I wonder how they are related?? Nova Ren Suma also has such a wonderful writing style so I can't wait to read this one.  

[Blog Hop] Q&A & Giveaway With YA Author Bree Despain

As most of you know, Egmont USA recently announced that it was shutting down, which has left its authors to fend for themselves. In the wake of this event, Cuddlebuggery established the Last List Blog Hop -  a blog hop designed to promote the authors and their books of Egmont's Spring 2015 book list.

Fan-favorite author Bree Despain continues her modern-day romance trilogy inspired by the Greek myth of Persephone and Hades with this second book in her Into the Dark series.  

Haden Lord, the disgraced Prince of the Underrealm, has chosen love over honor and will do everything in his power to protect Daphne Raines, the human girl he was supposed to bring to the Underrealm. Haden’s choice is put to the test as the Skylords and a figure from his past arrive in Olympus Hills with a plan that could destroy all of the realms.

Embracing her destiny as the Cypher, Daphne begins to understand the immense power of her musical ability to control the elements, but she must come to terms with her feelings for Haden and what she must sacrifice in order to protect him and her friends.

Believing the Key of Hades is the only thing that can stop the Underrealm Court from releasing the monstrous Keres on the mortal world, Haden, Daphne, and their friends set out to find the Key before Persephone’s Gate opens again on the spring equinox.

We are happy to host Bree Despian, author of the Into the Dark series for a Q&A about her latest book, The Eternity Key!

1. What was your inspiration for The Eternity Key?
The Into the Dark series as a whole was inspired by my love for Greek mythology--especially the myths of Orpheus and Eurydice an Persephone and Hades. I wanted to explore an earlier version of the Persephone myth that says that Persephone chose to go into the Underworld out of her own free will and not that she was kidnapped (as the most well known version of the myth says). I wanted to explore the theme of following someone "into the dark" (or the unknown) for the sake of love.  In The Eternity key I also got to have some fun with the Cupid and Psyche myth.

2. If there was a movie, who do you see playing the character?

This is a good question and one I don't quite have an answer for. I never really pictured any particular actors while writing. I've been into The 100 lately. I could see Bob Morley (Bellamy Blake) as Haden because he has the right build and complexion. (And he's pretty hot!) If I could get my hands on a time machine, I might go back a few years and see if Jensen Ackles or Jared Padalecki were up for the part. (Mostly just so I could stare at them. Heheh.)

3. What was one of your favorite scenes to write?

My favorite scene in The Eternity Key is a scene where Daphne teaches Haden how to cook. Haden (being from the underworld and all) doesn't know much about living in the mortal world so Daphne decides that he needs some "how to human" lessons. Haden has never had to cook for himself before, so Daphne teaches him how to make french toast and scrambled eggs so he won't die of malnutrition from eating fast food tacos. There are a lot of crazy, action packed scenes in the book, but I love this one the best because I think it turned out to be such a nice, genuine, intimate scene between the two main characters.

Be sure to check out The Eternity Key, the second book in the series, when it releases on May 12, 2015!

About the Author

Bree Despain is the author of the Dark Divine trilogy and the upcoming Into The Dark trilogy.  Bree rediscovered her childhood love for creating stories when she took a semester off college to write and direct plays for at-risk, inner-city teens from Philadelphia and New York. She currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband, two young sons, and her beloved TiVo.​​

Bree has generously provided an ARC of The Eternity Key for us to give away! Open internationally. Winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected. a Rafflecopter giveaway






Follow the rest of the blog hop here.

Waiting on Wednesday (17) - Valiant by Sarah McGuire

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Valiant by Sarah McGuire

Publisher:  Egmont USA

Publication Date: April 28th 2015

Goodreads summary:

A debut fairy tale retelling featuring a strong female character and a daring quest just right for fans of Shannon Hale, Jessica Day George, and Gail Carson Levine.

Saville despises the bolts of velvet and silk that her father loves- he's always prized them more than he's ever loved her. Yet when he's struck ill, she'll do anything to survive, even donning boys' clothes and begging a commission to sew for the king.

Piecing together a fine coat is far simpler than unknotting court gossip about an army of giants led by a man who cannot be defeated. And they're marching toward Reggen to seize the throne. But Saville knows giants are just stories, and no man is immortal.

Then she meets them, two scouts as tall as trees. She tricks them into leaving, but tales of the daring tailor's triumph quickly spin into impossible feats of giant-slaying. And mere stories won't deter the Duke and his larger-than-life army.

Now only a courageous and clever tailor girl can see beyond the rumors to save the kingdom again.

Valiant richly reimagines "The Brave Little Tailor," transforming it into a story of understanding, identity, and fighting to protect those you love most.

Why Valiant?

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this book for review so I'm currently in the process of reading it and it is great! It reminds me of some of my favorite books as a kid, like Ella Enchanted, so it isn't exaggerating when it says it's perfect for fans of Gail Carson Levine! While I have read a bunch of YA fairy tale retellings, this one is unique and has more of a middle grade style to it with YA elements. I can't wait to see what everyone thinks.

February YA Releases

As we near the end of February, I have rounded up some February YA releases that I am super excited for; February has been an awesome month for YA novels! Since there are so many February releases, I decided to stick to only the new series/first-in-series.

 I had the opportunity to review some of these early, so be sure to check out my reviews.


Red Queen (Red Queen Trilogy #1) by Victoria Aveyard
Released February 10th 2015 by HarperTeen

This is Victoria's debut novel and has made the New York Times Bestselling list already, which is pretty awesome!









The Sin Eater’s Daughter (The Sin Eater’s Daughter #1) by Melinda Salisbury
Released February 5th 2015 by Scholastic Press

I reviewed this earlier early on in the month an gave this a solid five stars - you can read my review here. It definitely has one of the most unique plot lines in YA lit and some pretty interesting and twisted characters.






Seeker (Seeker #1) by Arwen Elys Dayton
Released February 10th 2015 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

The title, cover, and premise reminds me so much of the TV show Legend of the Seeker! I'll be reading and reviewing this later in the year.







Shadow Study (Soulfinders #1) by Maria V. Snyder
Will be Released February 24th 2015 by Mira INK

Depending on how you look at it, you may or may not consider this a new series. Although it is officially listed as the first in the Soulfinders series, many, including myself, see it as the fourth book in the Study series. However, I had to include it as it's one of my favorite series ever and I am so excited that Maria is bringing it back after six years.
I reviewed this all the way back in December, so check out my five star review here.



Do you plan on reading any of these? What are some of your favorite February releases? Let me know in the comments!

[Review] Of Breakable Things by A. Lynden Rolland

Of Breakable Things by A. Lynden Rolland

Rating: 4.5 stars

Series: Of Breakable Things #1

Release Date: April 2014

Goodreads Synopsis:

A captivating debut about the fragility of life, love, and perspective.

When Chase dies tragically, Alex embraces her own mortality. What she didn’t expect was that she’d have to make a choice: forget the years of pain and suffering once and for all, or linger as a spirit and get another chance at life and love.

Alex doesn’t hesitate to choose; she’d follow Chase anywhere. But the spirit world is nothing like she expected, and Alex finds she's forced to fight for her life once more. For even in a world where secrets are buried much deeper than six feet under, a legacy can continue to haunt you—and in a place this dangerous, no one is resting in peace.

When I first picked this book up, I thought it would be another "star-crossed" lovers story. But it turned out to be so much more. 

In the world Rolland created, you are allowed a second chance. Especially for those who died young and weren't able to live out their lives to the best of their abilities. Now for these "newburies", as they are called, they are sent to a school to learn how to control and use their newfound powers. 

It sounded like the makings of another Harry Potter story. Not quite. Of Breakable Things was written like an out of body experience - everything you think becomes real. Moving objects with your mind, moving through cell phone waves as a form of transportation, having connections between the spirit and the real world, all of this is possible in Eidolon. 

The characters, from Alex Ash to the Lasalles and to all the other families, multigenerational or otherwise, all were unique. The Bonds were quiet and stranger while the Darwins were aggressive. Seeing Alex grow accustomed from being unfamiliar with her abilities to being able to accept and use them was great. As a protagonist, I was happy that her love of Chase Lasalle didn't weaken her, and instead it gave her strength. 

Now instead of focusing on the school and learning aspect of how everything works in this world, there was more of a focus on the mysteries surrounding Alex Ash's powers and her mother, as well as some friction and tension, with Alex and the Lasalle brothers, Jonas and Chase, and between the different families in the school. I will admit, I would have liked to know more about how the Lasalles ended up dying, and many of the others' pasts, which prevents me from giving this book 5 stars, but perhaps we'll see this in the second book. 

Despite this, I was absorbed in the world of Eidolon from beginning to end. I could practically picture this "better" version of our world, this world of spirits surrounded by vibrant colors and thoughts. Rolland even created her own unique take on the scariness of haunted houses; it's because of the spirits! Halloween must be an exciting time for them. 
Even the use of banshees in this world is well placed, as former spirits who have lost their minds. 

Nothing played out the way I expected it to, with so many plot twists and turns. Sure, Alex and Chase ended up together. But Eidolon isn't as perfect as we think it is; it's not heaven for everyone who has died. I felt bad for Jonas - not only does he not have the girl of his dreams, he's exiled, too. It ends on a cliffhanger of sorts; with the secrets of the spirit world slowly revealing themselves. That being said, I can't wait to read Of Breakable Things #2.