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 took part in a Raincoast blogger preview event on Saturday (look for a recap on the blog soon) and was sent a wonderful swag bag with two ARCs and other goodies. I love the Renegades buttons so much and am very excited to read these two books. I loved Ava Dellaira's Love Letters To The Dead so I am excited to get to read her newest.
A huge thank you to Raincoast books for the invite, and the review copies!
A book I preordered also arrived this week. I am a huge Stephanie Perkins fan, and loved her horror offering and needed to add the hardcover to my collection.
There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins (goodreads)
What goodies made their way into your mailbox this week? Let me know!
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.
So many things were revealed this week! Lots of covers, and other fun things to share, and I am so excited for this trend to continue as cover reveal season for summer 2018 gets underway.
I am really enjoying this series that twists these classic tales with steampunk elements and into one cohesive story. The first book was a Peter Pan retelling, the second was an Alice In Wonderland inspired tale and the last one seems to be taking us to visit the Wizard and certain Wicked Witch.
These covers always impress me. I am so excited to get my hands on this one!
Cover of Lucy Christopher's Storm-wake (goodreads)
Lucy Christopher's Stolen is one of my favourite books. I am always excited when a new novel from her is being released and this one sounds wonderful.
It sounds like there might be some magical elements to this one which is different from her usual books but I am so excited to dive in to this one!
I really enjoyed Caraval, the first novel in this series from Stephanie Garber. I was thrilled to see a release date and cover for the sequel. The cover is so pretty and will look amazing next to Caraval!
I am pretty sure that this novel may be focus on a different main character than the first, but nothing has been confirmed about the novel itself. I am still eagerly awaiting a synopsis so I can see what awaits in this sequel.
OTHER
Entertainment Weekly's Stranger Things issue
One of my favourite shows is on the cover of this week's Entertainment Weekly. It has three different covers to choose from, and I am going to, obviously, get them all.
I am beyond excited for season two to premiere and it is so close now! I plan on binge watching it as soon as it is released because I have missed the people of Hawkins so much!
There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins
Release Date - September 26, 2017
Publisher Website - Penguin Random House Publisher Social Media - Twitter Pages - 289pages My Rating - 5/5 **received for an honest review from publisher**
Scream meets YA in this hotly-anticipated new novel from the bestselling author of Anna and the French Kiss.
One-by-one, the students of Osborne High are dying in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasing and grotesque flair. As the terror grows closer and the hunt intensifies for the killer, the dark secrets among them must finally be confronted.
International bestselling author Stephanie Perkins returns with a fresh take on the classic teen slasher story that’s fun, quick-witted, and completely impossible to put down.
I wasn't surprised when Stephanie Perkins announced that her next novel would be horror. Anyone who follows her online can easily see her love of the genre. I would be an understatement to say that I was excited. I was even more excited when it was revealed that it would be slasher horror. I have always preferred this particular subsection of the horror genre as I am more terrified of real people doing horrific things than anything supernatural based. After getting my hands on Stephanie's newest novel I was pleased to discover that it was just was amazing as I had hoped. It's a smart, self aware love letter to the horror movies Stephanie so obviously enjoys and that is something that shines through this entire novel.
This novel has been compared to the movie Scream and the comparison, for me, feels pretty accurate. It revolves around a cast of high school students, has a pretty large body count, and sprinkles in some romance and friendships along the way. It's got all of the qualities that made Scream resonate and be the classic it is today. It also packs a lot of the same self awareness and humour within its pages. If you're a fan of that movie, I think you'll enjoy the time you spend within these pages.
The romance, for me, was classic Stephanie Perkins. You'll instantly be invested in these characters, and the romance that is the central focus of the novel. It's filled with the moments that make Stephanie's novels such a delight to read. It feels natural within the plot and doesn't overshadow the horror elements which was the most pleasant surprise for me. It's a balance between the two that really works.
The horror element, to me, felt very tongue in cheek. There are some tropes that Stephanie is slyly having fun with. These tropes will be recognizable to those who already have a love of horror, particular this brand of horror, and make the reading experience all the more enjoyable. It ends up being a read that is both unsettling and a lot of fun. It plays with the whole "the call is coming from inside the house' trope rather effectively. This killer's particular way of doing thing was especially unsettling to me. Your house is supposed to be a safe haven, and this rips that entire notion away from you. You'll leave this book jumping at small noises and question every item that isn't where you think it should be.
The above mentioned feelings are largely due to the pitch perfect atmosphere and tone that is within the novel. Stephanie sets the scenes perfectly and allows the tension to amp up. She knows that the build up is just as good as the bloody pay off and uses her words to create that apprehensive feeling within the reader. That tension is what made the novel for me.
As much as I appreciate the scares, I also loved that this novel never forgets that horror is also supposed to be fun. There is a humour that makes them more easily accessible and that is found right along side the bloody thrills in this one. It allows the characters to be ones that we care about so that we can immerse ourselves in the story a little more. It allows us to connect to the main character and root for them to be among the survivors.
Stephanie Perkins showcases that she can easily switch genres and produce gripping, entertaining reads that captivate your interest. She is capable of sending chills down your spine and making you a swoony mess with her romances in equal measure. I highly recommend this one for the upcoming Halloween season followed by a watch of the Scream movie even it if means sleeping with the lights on and triple checking you've locked the door.
A groomsman and his last-minute guest are about to discover if a fake date can go the distance in a fun and flirty debut novel.
Agreeing to go to a wedding with a guy she gets stuck with in an elevator is something Alexa Monroe wouldn't normally do. But there's something about Drew Nichols that's too hard to resist.
On the eve of his ex's wedding festivities, Drew is minus a plus one. Until a power outage strands him with the perfect candidate for a fake girlfriend...
After Alexa and Drew have more fun than they ever thought possible, Drew has to fly back to Los Angeles and his job as a pediatric surgeon, and Alexa heads home to Berkeley, where she's the mayor's chief of staff. Too bad they can't stop thinking about the other...
They're just two high-powered professionals on a collision course toward the long distance dating disaster of the century--or closing the gap between what they think they need and what they truly want...
I enjoy a good rom-com novel and this one immediately caught my attention thanks to both the fantastic cover, and the adorable sounding premise. I love the whole 'pretend to be dating' trope. It is one of my favourites.
This is going to be a great Valentine's Day read and it is being released at the perfect time for that happen. It sounds like it'll pair perfectly with some wine and chocolate.
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)
Only one book to share this week. A huge thank you to Penguin Random House for this review copy!
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.
Lots of fun things to share this week. It's been a great week for exciting reveals.
BOOK
Cover of The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo (goodreads)
I love the colour pallette for this cover. It's vibrant and beautiful. The model and her pose are perfect. It immedaitely fits the story being told.
It makes me want to read this book even more because of how eye catching this is!
Cover of The Unfortunates by Kim Liggett (goodreads)
Kim Liggett's covers are always eye catching and this is no exception. I love the mix of prep school uniform and blood and it definitely makes a statement about what the book is about.
The colour scheme of black and white with the red offers a striking contrast and I predict this one will stand out on bookshelves.
TV/MOVIE
American Crime Story: Versace Teaser #1
Ryan Murphy's shows always have great teasers. I vividly recall the dog teaser for the previous season of American Crime Story. Now that the second season is getting closer we have two teasers that have been released.
The first focuses on Donatella laying flowers on her brother's coffin.
The lack of music soundtrack, and the natural beach sounds being used is striking. You also immediately sense the mourning that is happening even without seeing Penelope Cruz's face.
American Crime Story: Versace Teaser #2
The second teaser is more unsettling and it manages it without really showing you anything.
The serenity of the doves being broken by the gun shots is startling, and effective. I have high hopes for this season and cannot wait for it to premiere
OTHER Yuri On Ice Funko Pops
It is no secret that I love Funko Pops. I was so excited to see them announce some for the Yuri On Ice anime. I typically don't watch anime but found this one to be entirely adorable and fun.
First up is Yuri in his skating outfit. I love the clear bluish stand that they are on. It looks like ice.
Victor, Yuri's coach, is also represented and looks great!
Lastly, they also have made the other Yuri into a Funko as well (yes, there are two Yuris) and he is also in his skate wear. I intend to preorder all three and cannot wait to add them to my collection.
Walking Dead Entertainment Weekly covers
The Walking Dead will be celebrating its 100th episode this upcoming season and Entertainment Weekly is helping them celebrate with three amazing covers.
I don't even know which one I want more. I am partial to the group shot though since it has everyone. I am excited to add one of these to my Entertainment Weekly cover collections though.
THE BATTLE FOR THE CROWN HAS BEGUN, BUT WHICH OF THE THREE SISTERS WILL PREVAIL?
With the unforgettable events of the Quickening behind them and the Ascension Year underway, all bets are off. Katharine, once the weak and feeble sister, is stronger than ever before. Arsinoe, after discovering the truth about her powers, must figure out how to make her secret talent work in her favor without anyone finding out. And Mirabella, once thought to be the strongest sister of all and the certain Queen Crowned, faces attacks like never before—ones that put those around her in danger she can’t seem to prevent.
In this enthralling sequel to Kendare Blake’s New York Times bestselling Three Dark Crowns, Fennbirn’s deadliest queens must face the one thing standing in their way of the crown: each other..
Sequels can be tricky, especially when they are middle parts to a series. A large part of them is setting up things for future installments and they can often end up feeling like a bridge between the first and final books in the series. Kendare Blake manages to both set up further installments and progress the plot in One Dark Throne. It's a perfect balance of both and a solid installment in the Three Dark Crowns series.
The cliffhanger at the end of Three Dark Crowns was one of my favourite elements from the first novel. Discovering that Arsinoe is actually the poisoner queen was a jaw dropping moment that you feel that you should have seen coming. That part of the story is only beginning to be fleshed out in this sequel but it adds another layer to this story. You really get a more clear picture of how these sisters have been manipulated since they were young children. It showcases how many people have maneuvered and kept secrets to further their own agendas with little thought to these sisters. I am looking forward to Arsinoe's real powers to be revealed because of what it probably means for Katharine and the gift she probably possesses.
My favourite Queen continues to be Katharine. Each of them have endearing and maddening qualities to them. Mirabella and Arsinoe are the more level headed sisters in this installment. Katharine's storyline, however, is the more interesting. Katharine is not the same after crawling her way back from being left for dead. She's angry and more reckless. I think there is another layer to what is driving her and I cannot wait for this part of the story, which feels more mystical or paranormal, to unravel in future installments.
The politic elements are, for me, the most compelling. Each side is scheming to get their preferred Queen on the throne, and each side is is will to make deals, and double cross when it is to their benefit. It makes it feel like a chess game, and the three sisters little more than pawns in an elaborate game they don't even know the rules for. It creates sympathy for these girls when it could perhaps to be easier to not have the reader feel that way. It makes you root for them to find a way to defy fate so that all three of them may live and experience the lives they are building for themselves.
I am not sure if the fact that this is more than a duology was well known, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this novel would not be the last in this story. I am happy to return to this world, and these characters, as I still there is still plenty to tell within this story.
Kenadare Blake has offered up an engaging story filled with complex female characters and the relationships that exist between them. It is a wonderful blend of plot and character driven and I highly recommend this to those who love books that are a mix of politics, fantasy elements, romance and stories that revolve around sisters.
