Waiting on Wednesday (67): Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay

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



Title: Princess of Thorns
Author: Stacey Jay
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: December 9, 2014
Game of Thrones meets the Grimm's fairy tales in this twisted, fast-paced romantic fantasy-adventure about Sleeping Beauty's daughter, a warrior princess who must fight to reclaim her throne.

Though she looks like a mere mortal, Princess Aurora is a fairy blessed with enhanced strength, bravery, and mercy yet cursed to destroy the free will of any male who kisses her. Disguised as a boy, she enlists the help of the handsome but also cursed Prince Niklaas to fight legions of evil and free her brother from the ogre queen who stole Aurora's throne ten years ago.

Will Aurora triumph over evil and reach her brother before it's too late? Can Aurora and Niklaas break the curses that will otherwise forever keep them from finding their one true love?


I would have wanted to read this one regardless because it is fantasy and involves a curse. But I HAVE to read it because it's a YA fantasy standalone - almost unheard of.

What are you waiting on this week?

Review: Fiendish by Brenna Yovanoff

Title: Fiendish
Author: Brenna Yovanoff
Publisher: Razorbill (Penguin)
Release Date: August 14, 2014
Acquired Via: First to Read
Clementine DeVore spent ten years trapped in a cellar, pinned down by willow roots, silenced and forgotten.

Now she’s out and determined to uncover who put her in that cellar and why.

When Clementine was a child, dangerous and inexplicable things started happening in New South Bend. The townsfolk blamed the fiendish people out in the Willows and burned their homes to the ground. But magic kept Clementine alive, walled up in the cellar for ten years, until a boy named Fisher sets her free. Back in the world, Clementine sets out to discover what happened all those years ago. But the truth gets muddled in her dangerous attraction to Fisher, the politics of New South Bend, and the Hollow, a fickle and terrifying place that seems increasingly temperamental ever since Clementine reemerged.

My Review

When I first saw that wonderfully creepy cover, I just knew that I had to read Fiendish. The author combines a lot of elements with magical realism and the result is a beautifully written, creepy take on small town life. There's a little bit of tarot cards mixed with witches but with a little bit hillbilly thrown in as well. Add in some young star-crossed lovers and small-town prejudices. Speaking of tarot cards, this is one of several books I've read this year concerning the mystical cards, and I'm really liking all the different translations and uses of the cards. But all this adds up to a great take on magical realism that is just a little bit shy of horror. I loved the mix of bold and subtle changes of normal mysticism and magic from witches to "craft" and the elements to Dirt, Creek, Heat, Light and Breath, among others.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'm Not Sure I Want To Read

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Ten Books I'm Not Sure I Want to Read



1. Defy (Defy #1) by Sara B. Larson
I bought this because the cover was gorgeous and it was fantasy with a sorcerer. I've seen some very mixed reviews about it. Also, anything between the 3.5 to 4 rating on Goodreads always gives me pause. Which is silly because a lot of my favorite books (i.e. Grave Mercy) fall in that range.



2. The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Curse #1) by Marie Rutkoski
I'm scared of the hype-monster. But Kayla liked this one, so it's more on the read than the not-read side of the scale. You can read her review here.

Review: Dangerous Calling by A.J. Larrieu

Title: Dangerous Calling (The Shadowminds #2)
Author: A.J. Larrieu
Publisher: Carina Press
Acquired Via: NetGalley
Release Date: August 18, 2014
After years of denial, Cass Weatherfield has finally accepted her telekinetic gifts. Living with her boyfriend, Shane, has given her the confidence to be herself, but the fear of losing control and harming those around her is always present.

Knowing firsthand the hell of growing up without a mentor, she agrees to meet and help Diana, a young Shadowmind. But when Cass shows up, the terrified woman changes her mind and flees. Cass and Shane track her across New Orleans, and soon discover that Diana is being held against her will by an illicit organization that’s selling her rare clairvoyant skills to the highest bidder. In charge is an ancient creature more powerful than any they’ve ever encountered. And apparently she wants Shane dead.

Cass and Shane work to free Diana. But as Cass uses more and more power, drawing it from her friends in the fight against evil, she feels an addictive pull that challenges her control. And, in the end, Cass may be the greatest threat to those she loves the most.

My Review

Like Twisted Miracles the major positive of Dangerous Calling is the world of paranormals (And this is set in Louisiana, centering on New Orleans and even venturing into Baton Rouge this book!). We were introduced to shadowminds in Twisted Miracles, and in Dangerous Calling we get a few more paranormal creatures. I really enjoyed Diana and Ian and wish that we would have learned more about them, especially more about their personalities. I feel like we got more of a rough sketch of them rather than full characters.

Early Review: The Perfectionists by Sara Shepard

Title: The Perfectionists
Author: Sara Shepard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Acquired Via: Around the World ARC Tours
Release Date: October 7, 2014
In Beacon Heights, Washington, five high school seniors know that you don't have to be good to be perfect.

Musical genius Mackenzie is desperate to get into Juilliard, even if it means playing a duet with her best friend's boyfriend. Beautiful Ava isn't above using her assets to get an A. Athletic Caitlin is one goal away from a soccer scholarship—if she can call a time-out on her relationship drama. Popular Julie has it all—literally, thanks to her hoarder mom—and will do anything to keep her family's secret. And former It Girl Parker is experimenting with her wild side.

The five girls think they have nothing in common, until they discover they all hate the same person: rich, entitled Nolan, who's done terrible things to each of them. They come up with the perfect murder—a hypothetical murder, of course. It's all wishful thinking . . . until they wake up one morning to find that their wish came true. Nolan was killed—in exactly the way they planned. The thing is, they didn't do it. So who did?

Suddenly the girls are the prime suspects in the murder. And they need to find the real killer before their perfect lives are ended—for good.

My Review

Look at that cover.

Wow.

The Perfectionists has a beautiful cover, doesn't it? I absolutely love the use of green on that shade of blue, and the addition of the purpleish flower is just gorgeous. And it matches all of covers for Pretty Little Liars! Let's just focus on the cover.

Blog Tour (Guest Post & Giveaway): Restraint by Randi Cooley Wilson

Please join me in welcoming Randi Cooley Wilson to Bibliophilia, Please today in promotion of her new book, Restraint. On our stop, you'll find a very interesting guest post about the gargoyles (!!!) in The Revelation Series!



Title: Restraint (The Revelation Series #2)
Author: Randi Cooley Wilson
Trailer Reveal Organizer: Barclay Publicity
Release Date: August 1, 2014
A FORBIDDEN LOVE WILL BECOME DEEPER.
A LOYALTY WILL BE TESTED.
AND ONLY DARKNESS WILL REMAIN.

One revelation changed everything, turning Eve Collin’s world upside down. Now, she’s left to struggle with her identity and allegiance. Haunted by grief and tempted by her increasing attraction to her protector, will she ever truly be safe from enemies that refuse to give up?

Restraint is an addictively spellbinding continuation of Eve’s journey of self-discovery, love and sacrifice that will change everything. Readers captivated by Revelation will eagerly devour Restraint.

Praise

“I’ve read so many paranormal books; it’s hard to hook me sometimes. Especially with something unique that is a book hard to put down. I found that in this one. It’s the world building of the story that fascinated me more than anything else.” — Terri Thomas, My Book Boyfriend on REVELATION, book 1

“... Randi pens very believe characters as in who Asher and his brothers are, she brought them to life very well indeed and was a nice take on paranormal elements.” — Michelle, The Romance Vault (4 Stars) on REVELATION, book 1

Guest Post

Ten Facts About Restraint’s Gargoyles
Randi Cooley Wilson
Gargoyles have been noble beings, protectors of mankind and over the centuries, have bound themselves to a particular charge, region, or calling they’re to protect. While, gargoyles are not a new mythological creature seeing them within the pages of paranormal romance novels is a modern twist on gargoyle lore. Below are ten facts about the supernatural protectors you find in The Revelation Series books.

1. Gargoyles are fast, have excellent hearing and vision for hunting demons.

2. They speak Garish, an old form of the Gaelic dialogue.

Blog Tour (Interview): The Splintered Kingdom by James Aitcheson

Title: The Splintered Kingdom (Conquest #2)
Author: James Aitcheson
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Release Date: August 5, 2014
The brilliant second novel in James Aitcheson’s trilogy of the Norman Conquest of England.

Summer, 1070. Renowned for his valor in the battle for York, Tancred a Dinant is now a lord in his own right, with knights of his own to command and a manor to call home in the turbulent Welsh borderlands. But his hard-fought gains are soon threatened, as a coalition of enemies both old and new prepares to march against King William.

With English, Welsh and Viking forces gathering, and war looming, the Normans are forced to make common cause with some unlikely allies in defence of their newly conquered realm. For Tancred, meanwhile, there are also enemies closer to home: Norman barons envious of his fame, who regard him as a threat to their own power and who are only too eager to see him brought low.

Amidst the turmoil, Tancred is chosen to spearhead a perilous expedition into the heart of Wales. Success will bring him glory beyond his dreams. Failure will mean the ruin of the reputation that he has worked so hard to forge. As shield-walls clash and the kingdom burns, not only is his destiny at stake, but also that of England itself.

A gripping tale of battle, honor, and vengeance, The Splintered Kingdom is an epic saga of the struggle for England—and through it, the western world.

Praise

“An exciting and suspenseful post-Norman conquest saga filled with ambition, greed and betrayals...history buffs and adventure fans will definitely want to read all the exciting tales in this saga.” - Fresh Fiction

“A vigorously written, well researched tale of post-conquest England told through Norman eyes, with a rich, detailed setting, plenty of exciting battles, and a protagonist/narrator who is a real pleasure to read.” - Historical Novels Review

Interview

Kayla: Hi James, thank you so much for stopping by Bibliophilia, Please! Please tell us a little bit about The Splintered Kingdom in your own words but with a Twitter twist - 140 characters or less.

James Aitcheson: England, 1070. Shield-walls clash, a kingdom burns and a Norman knight seeks vengeance in the violent aftermath of the Battle of Hastings.

Kayla: Do we have to read Sworn Sword before reading The Splintered Kingdom?

Waiting on Wednesday (66): The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons

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



Title: The Glass Arrow (Untitled Trilogy #1)
Author: Kristen Simmons
Publisher: Tor Teen (Macmillan)
Release Date: February 10, 2015
The Handmaid’s Tale meets Blood Red Road in Glass Arrow, the story of Aya, who lives with a small group of women on the run from the men who hunt them, men who want to auction off breeding rights to the highest bidder.

In a world where females are scarce and are hunted, then bought and sold at market for their breeding rights, 15-year old Aya has learned how to hide. With a ragtag bunch of other women and girls, she has successfully avoided capture and eked out a nomadic but free existence in the mountains. But when Aya’s luck runs out and she’s caught by a group of businessmen on a hunting expedition, fighting to survive takes on a whole new meaning.


I've read a few of these The Handmaid's Tale retellings and some have been pretty good. I'm interested in seeing this new take on it. I haven't read Simmons' Article 5, although it is on my TBR, but I just adore the cover to The Glass Arrow and just might need to read it first.

What are you waiting on this week?