New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews)

I had lots of fun things arrive into my mailbox this week!

First up, my third Liv Moore Funko Pop arrived!

Love that she is holding a bowl of brains and hot sauce! 

Next up I purchased this pretty stunning hardcover!

Heartless by Marissa Meyer (goodreads)

I love how pretty the book is under the dust jacket. The chessboard is pretty perfect.

A huge thank you to HCC Frenzy/Harper Collins for the next arrival to my mailbox!

Fireworks by Katie Cotugno (goodreads)

I am so, so, so excited for this one! It's set in Florida during the 90's boy/girl band craze! I cannot wait!

Next up is a book from Penguin Random House Canada that I had not heard of but was instantly sold thanks to the amazing letter included.

Everything Beautiful Is Not Ruined by Danielle Younge-Ullman (goodreads)

It sounds amazing and I definitely recommend checking out the synopsis to see if you want to add it to your own 'tbr' shelf.

I also had to pick up this issue of Entertainment Weekly. How stunning is that dress?!

Also, the special effects for the beast are pretty awesome! I cannot wait to see this movie.

Lastly, I got a fun package from a friend that included some movies that I am excited to own!

I have not seen How To Be Single, but Cruel Intentions is one of my faves!

Happy Weekend and Happy Reading!

Heartless by Marissa Meyer *Blog Tour*

I am thrilled to be part of the Canadian blog tour for Marissa Meyer's Heartless along with some other fantastic bloggers!

I am so excited for you to meet all of these characters, but today, along with my review, I get to introduce you to one of my favourites!

Be sure to visit all the stops on this tour to meet other characters, and find out what these other amazing bloggers thought about Marissa's wonderful novel.

The character I get to introduce is mysterious, handsome, and very swoon worthy. He's a world class flirt, and the banter he shares with a certain future Queen is just as delicious as any of her baking.

Meet Jest, royal court jester, and the cause of much blushing and swooning.

See, blushing. If that is not tantalizing enough check out my review below and see if it entices you to enter into Marissa Meyer's version of Wonderland. 

Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Release Date -  November 8, 2016

Publisher Website - Raincoast Books
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 464 pages
My Rating - 5/5
**received from publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland—the infamous Queen of Hearts—she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.

Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

In her first stand-alone teen novel, the New York Times-bestselling author dazzles us with a prequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

The word 'Wonderland' fills your head with visions of Mad Hatters, white rabbits, a dangerous Queen, and disappearing cats. It's a place of magic and whimsy. Marissa Meyer takes this fantastical setting to weave a tale of a young woman who will become a queen fond of taking off heads.

If you've read anything by Marissa Meyer before it will not surprise you to find out that the world building is breathtaking. It is filled with wonder, and a sense of being tossed topsy turvy. It's like a spinning carousel, but one that you never want to have stop. This setting serves as the perfect backdrop to the characters that inhabit this story. The setting is larger than life, and the characters even larger.

Madness didn't always reign in Wonderland as the blurb so succinctly reminds us. This journey through Wonderland gives us an up close view of that madness starting to spread. It allows us to see the creation of the world and characters we loved in the classic. This not only instills a connection to the story almost immediately, but allows a sense of nostalgia. Marissa Meyer has captured the essence and whimsy of Lewis Carroll's beloved tale and makes it appear effortless to do so.  There is something so different from the writing in The Lunar Chronicles series which sets this story as something all its own, but there is still something unmistakably Marissa in it as well.

I was spellbound by each of the characters we meet. The way the Mad Hatter's story is woven into Cath's is seamlessly done and rather clever. Cheshire Cat is used perfectly for a dose of humour and, surprisingly, as a voice of reason. The best part of reading a novel that acts like a prequel is seeing these characters anew. They are not necessarily the characters you know from the classic and getting to experience them make steps towards those familiar characteristics is part of this novel's charms.

It is not a spoiler to say that Cath's journey is not a happy one and those looking for a happily ever after will not find that within this retelling. She did not become a tyrannical queen because her life handed her everything she ever wanted. This story humanizes the queen, and makes you see her as a young girl who desperately wanted to forge her own path and fall in love. It allows you to understand what drove her to become the queen we love to hate in Alice In Wonderland. The fact that she is turned into this sympathetic creature, while still retaining the edge and darkness that needs to blossom within her is one of the shining points of this novel. Cath is exactly what she needs to be for this story to work and, as a reader, you'll have conflicting emotions about this fact (and her in general). She's well written, nuanced, and a character who will capture your heart in the end.

The romance is, as expected, electric. There is a chemistry between Cath and Jest that is palpable. Jest is my favourite of the guys created by Marissa Meyer. He charms us as much as he charms Cath. If you are looking for banter there is plenty to be found between these characters which only adds to their appeal. The flip side of this romance is a ticking clock that is symbolized by the novel's page count. The stark reality of what is going to happen creates a tension within their romance that is only matched by the forbidden aspect of their blossoming feelings.

Marissa Meyer's Wonderland is as whimsical as its inspiration and a world that you can easily get lost in. It's magical, heartbreaking, and filled with just enough nods to the source material to appease fans while creating something entirely new for those unfamiliar with it.  It is certainly a novel worth losing your head over. 

New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews)

Lots of exciting things arrived in my mailbox this week.

First up, my pre-order goodies from Bloomsbury for the Sarah J Maas books that were released recently. I love the notebook and the colouring pencils are a great idea!

Next up is a thank you gift from Raincoast Books for taking part in the Heartless blog tour! Check back later for more details on that tour and my stop!

Seriously, this mug is my new favourite. I love it immensely. A huge thank you to Raincoast Books (especially Melissa) for sending this along. 

Lastly, I was looking for something to store my lipstick in and once I saw this I HAD to have it. It matches my Peter Pan one and is pretty much perfect for me.

What bookish items made their way into your mailbox this week?

Happy Weekend and Happy Reading!

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

BOOK

Cover for Stalking Jack The Ripper by Kerri M  (goodreads)

This book immediately caught my eye as I've always had a sort of fascination with the Jack The Ripper case. That fact that it remains unsolved has kept it in the public eye all these years later. Not only does the premise sound amazing but the story, from what I understand, incorporates photographs as well. I have high expectations for this one and cannot wait to try to snag a copy at BEA.

The cover is perfect for the synopsis and I love that it immediately sets a tone for the story!

Simon and Schuster Canada's #ThreeScoopsOfSummer blog tour

I am thrilled to be part of this amazing blog tour highlighting some of Simon and Schuster's contemporary summer reads. The tour will feature Morgan Matson's The Unexpected Everything, Siobhan Vivian's The Last Boy and Girl In The World, and Meg Leder's The Museum of Heartbreak.

Here are all the details of the tour. Be sure to follow along for interviews, guest posts, reviews and so much more! I am very excited to be hosting Morgan and Meg on this blog during my stops.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer (goodreads)

I was fortunate to receive a VERY early copy of this book and pretty much devoured it. It is EVERYTHING I wanted it to be. It's whimsical, romantic, and captures the essence of the original effortlessly. It's a heartbreaking read but one that is classic Marissa. Be sure to pre-order it because you won't want to miss it.

TV/MOVIE

Mr Robot Season 2

We have a premiere date for season 2 of Mr Robot and I am so excited for it to return. July 13th is the day we'll finally find out #WhoIsAtTheDoor!

What are you obsessed with this week?

New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

I had some pretty squeal worthy goodies make their way into my mailbox this week!

First up is one of my most anticipated reads of 2016. I have been obsessed with this title ever since Marissa announced it and I am THRILLED to have received a review copy.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer (goodreads)

A HUGE thank you to Raincoast for sending this along! I couldn't resist reading it immediately! 

I also received my pre-order of Emery Lord's When We Collided. Vivi and Jonah's love story is perhaps my favourite of Emery's novels so I knew I needed a hardcover copy of my own.

When We Collided by Emery Lord (goodreads)

What bookish items made their way into your mailbox this week?

Happy Weekend and Happy Reading!

Waiting On Wednesday .... Heartless

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick this week is Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland — the infamous Queen of Hearts — she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the yet-unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend and supply the Kingdom of Hearts with delectable pastries and confections. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next Queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the king's marriage proposal, she meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship.

Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

Marissa Meyer is basically the queen of fairytale retellings. In Heartless she turns her talents to an origin story for the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. Rumour is that some of the characters from the classic tale will make appearances in this and I am very excited to see Marissa's twist on them.

The wait for this one is REALLY long so it'll be a torturous wait but one I am sure will be worth every agonizing minute of it.

Expected release date - November 8, 2016

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

A new year and a bunch of amazing things have already been revealed/announced. 2016 is shaping up to be incredible for fans of books, movies, and TV! Here are some of the things I am obsessed with this week...

BOOK

Cover for Marissa Meyer's Heartless (goodreads)

I have been really excited about this title since I first heard about it. I am really excited that we have a cove for it now, and that it also happens to be a fantastic cover.

Stunning right? I love how it reminds me of the Queen of Hearts but is clearly THIS version of the Queen of Hearts. I cannot wait to see what turns her into the Queen we love to hate in Alice in Wonderland (and for all the other Wonderland characters who will make an appearance).

TV/MOVIE

Bates Motel Season 4 Premiere Date

Very excited that Bates Motel will return on March 7th. I cannot wait to check back in and see the incredible performance that, I am sure, Freddie Highmore will give. If you're not already obsessed with this show make sure you catch up in time for the new season.

Finn Wittrock's dual roles in Abe

Forbes announced that Finn Wittrock has signed on to play two roles in a new movie entitled Abe. One character is a sexy rock-star bad boy  named Logan, and the other is a sexy (because Finn Wittrock) introvert named Abe who spends most of his time playing video games. The catch? Logan only exists in Abe's imagination. Apparently they were going to cast two different actors for the roles until Finn auditioned for both. To say that I am excited for this movie is an understatement. I am already desperate for a trailer and more details.

OTHER

Emery Lord's When We Collided pre-order campaign

I have already devoured and loved Emery Lord's newest novel. Vivi and her story are unforgettable. It's a beautifully written, thoughtful book and I was ridiculously thrilled to see this pre-order campaign pop up. How amazing are these postcards?!

Visit Bloomsbury's Twitter account for details on how to submit your receipt to secure your own set of these amazing postcards! I am so excited to have already submitted mine. You won't want to miss this incredible book.

What are you obsessed with this week?

2016 Most Anticipated - Heartless, Caraval and Glass Sword

As an end to the Most Anticipated of 2016 feature I am offering a round up of a few titles that are on my radar and should really be on yours, too.

These are titles that make me feel extremely lucky for the wealth of amazing books that are about to come our way in the new year.

I have chosen three to highlight and will provide a few reasons I am looking forward to each of them!

Heartless by Marissa Meyer (goodreads)

This one seems like an obvious pick. Pretty sure everyone is anticipating this. Here are my reasons for needing to get my hands on this magical retelling!

1 This is Alice in Wonderland before Alice drops in. It's al about how the Queen of Hearts becomes the Queen of Hearts that we know from the classic tale.

2 There is a character named Jest whom I have heard is very swoon worthy!

3 Some beloved Alice in Wonderland characters are said to make an appearance. Here is hoping we see Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat, and more!

4 It's Marissa Meyer. We know she'll deliver a fantastic retelling and completely make us fall in love with the characters.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber (goodreads)

1 The Hollywood Reporter deal announcement. Hype is already strong for this one!

2 The focus being on a sibling relationship. I love that two sisters are the main focus.

3 Everything about Roshani Chokshi's Goodreads review has me VERY excited to read it.

4 Caraval itself. It's being compared to The Night Circus and that setting was so vivid. The idea of a setting just as magical has me really excited AND the game itself has my curiosity piqued. 

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard (goodreads)

1 The ending to Red Queen. That ending pretty much ensures you'll NEED to get your hands on Glass Sword. I need to know what happens next.

2 The continued expansion of the incredible world Victoria Aveyard has crafted. The hint that there are more people like Mare possibly out there, and that they may try to find them has me really excited.

3 Without spoilers for Red Queen.. one of the things that make me MOST excited to read this is finding out more about the characters and their motivations after certain events that happened. Are things what they seem, or does that betrayal have other layers to it? Cannot wait to find out.

4 This video! Victoria basically gives us three reasons to get Glass Sword and I agree with all of them! I cannot wait to meet these new characters she mentions!

This officially closes the 2016 Most Anticipated event on the blog! However, be sure to stop by tomorrow to see how you can win one of the books I've featured, an ARC of A Criminal Magic, and some fun swag!

What is your own most anticipated novel of 2016? Let me know in the comments!

Melissa From Raincoast's Most Anticipated of 2016

Today I have the lovely Melissa from Raincoast Books stopping by to dish on her list for Most Anticipated of 2016. There are some great sounding books on this list and a few that are own my own list for this year (looking at you, Heartless!!)

2016 Most Anticipated Titles

Hi Kathy! Thank you for inviting me back to share some of my most anticipated titles.  I have to say, 2016 is going to be an incredible year of books.  Since there’s so many wonderful books coming out (and I have trouble choosing titles at the best of times), I’ve selected 5 YA titles to keep an eye out for in 2016, as well as some highly anticipated sequels you won’t want to miss. So get ready to increase your to-read pile exponentially with these awesome 2016 reads.

YA Books to look for in 2016:

Heartless by Marissa Meyer: I know I’m not alone in anticipating this one. I will read anything that Marissa writes, and I can’t wait to see how she tackles the story of the Queen of Hearts. Knowing Marissa, she won’t disappoint!

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard:  The first book in a brand new fantasy series from the lovely Susan Dennard, this is definitely one to look for in 2016. Truthwitch has something for everyone—a wonderfully strong female friendship, tons of thrilling action and high stakes, and even a handsome love interest thrown in for good measure—you really can’t go wrong.

With Malice by Eileen Cook:  Eighteen-year-old Jill wakes up from a coma after an  accident. Or at least, that’s what she was told. Since her memory of the last few weeks is gone, she isn’t sure of exactly what happened. But what if it wasn’t an accident? Written by a fellow Vancouverite and with a super intriguing premise, I can’t wait to 
dive into With Malice in 2016.

The Square Root of Summer by Harriet Reuter Hapgood: Let me just preface this by mentioning that the author wrote her Masters thesis on Dawson’s Creek. Need I say more? A debut novel by UK author Harriet Reuter Hapgood, The Square Root of Summer features romance, time travel, and beautiful writing. Don’t miss out on this one!

Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan: There are only a couple things you need to know about this one to include it on your TBR list in 2016: it’s a reimagining of A Tale of Two Cities but with magic, and it’s written by Sarah Rees Brennan. Plus, have you seen that cover?! I can’t wait to find out what Sarah has in store for us.

Bonus: Much-anticipated sequels

The Winner’s Kiss by Marie Rutkoski: I don’t know what else to say about The Winner’s Kiss other than: if you haven’t started this series already, what are you waiting for? Marie Rutkoski’s gorgeous writing and intricately detailed plot makes this series a must-read. I am beyond excited to see how she will wrap up the trilogy.

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo: It will come as no surprise to anyone in the Raincoast office, or really anyone who knows me for that matter, that this is one of my most anticipated books of 2016. Crooked Kingdom is the follow-up to Six of Crows: a masterfully written and plotted heist story with a cast of characters who will easily capture your attention—and affection—from the very beginning. I am sure that Crooked Kingdom will be no different and exceed my already high expectations.

The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May: The Vanishing Throne is the much-anticipated second book in the Falconer trilogy. With more thrilling action and suspense, not to mention romance, this is definitely one to watch out for in 2016.

Thank you to Melissa for sharing her list and I cannot wait to read so many of these! What title makes your own list? Let me know in the comments.

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

BOOK

Cover for Sing by Vivi Greene (goodreads) 

The cover for this amazing sound novel was just revealed and I LOVE it. The synopsis offers up a Taylor Swift inspired vibe and the cover only increases that comparison.

Fun, right? I definitely want to get my hands on this as it sounds like a book I am going to really enjoy.

Heartless by Sarah Henning (goodreads)

As someone who loves fairytales and fairytale retellings this book immediately caught my attention. I've seen lots of Little Mermaid inspired stories but this one sounds like a delightful twist on the classic tale as it is told from a unique perspective.

Pitched as the never-before-told origin story of the sea witch from Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" told in the vein of Wicked – from the villainess's point of view

Amazing right? And the fact that it is based off Hans Christian Andersen's version lends itself to a darker, much unhappier ending (as least for the mermaid). I am excited to see a cover, and eventually read this amazing sounding premise.

TV/MOVIE

Me Before You Release Date Moved

JoJo Moyes recently announced that the release date for the Me Before You movie has been moved up to March! Very exciting news as this means a trailer will be right around the corner along with other promotion material (like movie posters and stills). This novel is one of my favourites and the cast has me anticipating a spectacular movie.

What are you obsessed with this week?

Weekly Obsession

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Here are my obsessions this week:

BOOK

Marissa Meyer New Book Deal

Did you miss the news? Marissa Meyer has a new book in the works. Heartless, according to Goodreads, is 'a prequel to “Alice in Wonderland,” HEARTLESS will tell the tale of how a marquis’ teenage daughter became the infamous Queen of Hearts. It will be a story of whimsy and madness, passion and tragedy, ravens and writing desks'. I was sold as soon as they mentioned Alice in Wonderland. Extra excited that it's a prequel story. I am intrigued with what Marissa will do with the Queen of Hearts. 2015 can not come fast enough.

Cover of Amy Plum's After The End

It fits the novel perfectly. Read the synopsis and you'll see. I am pretty excited about this nove, and am looking forward to getting my hands on it in May.

Synopsis of Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

The full synopsis has been revealed for Dorothy Must Die. I knew it was going to be amazing, but this...OH.MY.GOD. It's jumped to the top of my Must Read in 2014 list.

I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.
But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.
What happened?
Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman's heart.
Steal the Scarecrow's brain.
Take the Lion's courage.
Then and only then—Dorothy must die!

Remove the Tim Woodman's Heart? Steal the Scarecrow's brain? Take the Lion's courage? YES! YES! YES! Can I have this NOW please?

Cora Carmack's New Series

I was sold as soon as they mentioned Friday Night Lights. I will read it. It sounds fun, and I've heard nothing but amazing things about her first books.

TV/MOVIE

Robbie Kay as Peter Pan on Once Upon A Time

If you have to make Peter Pan evil, at least have someone who impresses me in the role. Robbie Kay is PERFECT! He looks the part, he can act, and I am all over his version of Peter. I can't wait to see what else Once Upon A Time does with his character, and how the twists and turns will present themselves. I've been hearing rumblings that he REALLY impresses in the second episode, so I am looking forward to discussing that in my recap.

So what are you obsessed with this week?