Waiting on Wednesday #14

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! This week I will be participating in Waiting on Wednesday. WoW is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. Every week we showcase upcoming releases that we are excited about. Tressa @ Wishful Endings has recently taken lead in this meme, considering Jill hasn't been posting on for a while. Learn more here!

This week I chose Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse!

Here are some stats!
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Pages: 336
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Expected Publication Date: March 7, 2017 

Sophia has seven days left in Tokyo before she moves back to the States. Seven days to say good-bye to the electric city, her wild best friend, and the boy she’s harbored a semi-secret crush on for years. Seven perfect days…until Jamie Foster-Collins moves back to Japan and ruins everything.

Jamie and Sophia have a history of heartbreak, and the last thing Sophia wants is for him to steal her leaving thunder with his stupid arriving thunder. Yet as the week counts down, the relationships she thought were stable begin to explode around her. And Jamie is the one who helps her pick up the pieces. Sophia is forced to admit she may have misjudged Jamie, but can their seven short days of Tokyo adventures end in anything but good-bye?

MOVIE REVIEW | Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Movie: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Book: Same title, by Ransom Riggs
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Release Date: September 30, 2016
Length: 127 minutes

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of curious photographs.

A horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

DISCUSSION | Why Throne of Glass was a huge disappointment

So this month, I finally picked up Throne of Glass. After years of being pushed to read this book, I made the decision and checked it out from my library. And maybe it's because of the years of anticipating/dreading reading the book, or maybe it's the lack of execution, but Throne of Glass was lackluster for me. 

My biggest issue lies in the characters. To give you a backstory, my best friend read Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, and Heir of Fire last summer. She dnf'd Queen of Shadows. Her main reason was that Dorian and Chaol are basically thrown away by the time Queen of Shadows rolls around. According to her, there are not a lot of chapters in their POVs and neither of them are endgame for Celeana. Knowing this, it was so hard to invest in any relationship in Throne of Glass. I was connecting with Dorian and Chaol, but I kept stopping myself. Because what is the point in rooting for Chaol and Celeana to end up together if I know that their ship sinks already? I had a hard time balancing knowing that the series goes in a completely different direction and still enjoying the book. Also, is Nehemia even in the sequels?? Because I genuinely liked her character.

Waiting on Wednesday #13

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! This week I will be participating in Waiting on Wednesday. WoW is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. Every week we showcase upcoming releases that we are excited about. Tressa @ Wishful Endings has recently taken lead in this meme, considering Jill hasn't been posting on for a while. Learn more here!

This week I chose Bad Blood by Demitria Lunetta!

Here are some stats!
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Pages: 272
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Expected Publication Date: March 14, 2017

A girl discovers a family secret and a past full of magic that could both save her and put her in mortal danger in this suspenseful novel that’s perfect for fans of Katie Alender and Natasha Preston.

All sixteen-year-old Heather MacNair wants is to feel normal, to shed the intense paranoia she’s worn all year like a scratchy sweater. After her compulsion to self-harm came to light, Heather was kept under her doctor’s watchful eye. Her family thinks she’s better—and there’s nothing she wants more than for that to be true. She still can’t believe she’s allowed to spend her summer vacation as she always does: at her aunt’s home in Scotland, where she has lots of happy memories. Far away from all her problems save one: she can’t stop carving the Celtic knot that haunts her dreams into her skin.

Good friends and boys with Scottish accents can cure almost anything…except nightmares. Heather can’t stop dreaming about two sisters from centuries ago, twins Prudence and Primrose, who somehow seem tied to her own life. Their presence lurks just beneath the surface of her consciousness, sending ripples through what should be a peaceful summer. The twins might hold the key to putting Heather’s soul at rest…or they could slice her future deeper than any knife.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW | Spellcaster by Claudia Gray

Title: Spellcaster
Series: Spellcaster Trilogy
Author: Claudia Gray
Publication Date: March 5, 2013
Length: 11 hours and 11 minutes
Source: I listened to the audiobook via my online local library.

When Nadia's family moves to Captive's Sound, she instantly realizes there's more to the place than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia can sense that a spell has been cast over the tiny Rhode Island town—a sickness infecting everyone and everything in it. The magic at work is darker and more powerful than anything she's come across and has sunk its claws most deeply into Mateo . . . her rescuer, her friend, and the guy she yearns to get closer to even as he pushes her away.

Mateo has lived in Captive's Sound his entire life, shadowed by small-town gossip and his family's tormented past. Every generation, the local legends say, one member of the family goes mad, claiming to know the future before descending into insanity. When the strange dreams Mateo has been having of rescuing a beautiful girl from a car accident actually come true, he knows he's doomed.

Despite the forces pulling them apart, Nadia and Mateo must work together to break the chains of his terrible family curse, and to prevent a coming disaster that even now threatens the entire town, including Nadia's family, her newfound friends, and her own life. Shimmering with magic and mystery, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray's new novel depicts a dark and unforgettable world of witches, curses, buried secrets, and star-crossed romance.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Goodreads 

Waiting on Wednesday #12

Hey everyone and happy New Year! To kick things off this year, I will be participating in Waiting on Wednesday. WoW is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. Every week we showcase upcoming releases that we are excited about.

This week I chose Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza!  

Here are some stats!
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Pages: 344
Publisher: Razorbill
Expected Publication Date: February 7, 2017 

Empress
Rhee, also known as Crown Princess Rhiannon Ta’an, is the sole surviving heir to a powerful dynasty. She’ll stop at nothing to avenge her family and claim her throne.

Fugitive
Aly has risen above his war refugee origins to find fame as the dashing star of a DroneVision show. But when he’s falsely accused of killing Rhee, he's forced to prove his innocence to save his reputation – and his life.

Madman
With planets on the brink of war, Rhee and Aly are thrown together to confront a ruthless evil that threatens the fate of the entire galaxy.

A saga of vengeance, warfare, and the true meaning of legacy.

BOOK REVIEW | Torn by Amanda Hocking

Title: Torn
Series: Trylle Trilogy #2
Author: Amanda Hocking
Publication Date: November 15, 2010
Pages: 291
Source: I bought a bound up of the trilogy on BookOutlet!

When Wendy Everly first discovers the truth about herself—that she’s a changeling switched at birth—she knows her life will never be the same. Now she’s about to learn that there’s more to the story… She shares a closer connection to her Vittra rivals than she ever imagined—and they’ll stop at nothing to lure her to their side. With the threat of war looming, her only hope of saving the Trylle is to master her magical powers—and marry an equally powerful royal. But that means walking away from Finn, her handsome bodyguard who’s strictly off limits…and Loki, a Vittra prince with whom she shares a growing attraction. Torn between her heart and her people, between love and duty, Wendy must decide her fate. If she makes the wrong choice, she could lose everything, and everybody, she’s ever wanted…in both worlds. As a special gift to readers, this book contains a new, never-before-published bonus story, “One Day, Three Ways,” set in the magical world of the Trylle.

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December Wrap Up!

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! Today I'll be wrapping up all the books I read in December! I was pretty behind in my reading challenge last year and had to read 18 things in December to complete the goal. I say things because not all of these are novels. Some are graphic novels or manga, etc.

Here we go! The links are to my reviews. :)

18) Truthwtich by Susan Dennard
Truthwitch is the first book in the Witchlands series by Susan Dennard. I enjoyed this book, but I couldn't keep track on the politics that well. The world building was a bit shaky. However, I really liked the characters and I will be continuing on with the series. 3.75 Stars!

17) The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
I really enjoyed The Sun is Also a Star! Yoon's debut novel, Everything, Everything, was one of my favorite books of 2015. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy The Sun is Also a Star as much. Sometimes the characters annoyed me and I couldn't relate to them. Nevertheless, the book was a great love story and I would recommend it. I never actually came up with a rating for this. 

16) Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini
Trial by Fire is another first in a series! This one also deals with witches, but in a completely different way than Truthwitch. The world building worked a bit better for me in this one. Like Truthwitch, I will be continuing on with series as well! 4 Stars!

Waiting on Wednesday #11

Hey everyone and happy New Year! To kick things off this year, I will be participating in Waiting on Wednesday. WoW is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. Every week we showcase upcoming releases that we are excited about.

This month I picked Poison's Kiss by Breeana Shields!

Here's some stats:
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 304
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Expected Publication Date: January 10, 2017

A teenage assassin kills with a single kiss until she is ordered to kill the one boy she loves. This commercial YA fantasy is romantic and addictive—like a poison kiss—and will thrill fans of Sarah J. Maas and Victoria Aveyard.

Marinda has kissed dozens of boys. They all die afterward. It's a miserable life, but being a visha kanya—a poison maiden—is what she was created to do. Marinda serves the Raja by dispatching his enemies with only her lips as a weapon.

Until now, the men she was ordered to kiss have been strangers, enemies of the kingdom. Then she receives orders to kiss Deven, a boy she knows too well to be convinced he needs to die. She begins to question who she's really working for. And that is a thread that, once pulled, will unravel more than she can afford to lose.

This rich, surprising, and accessible debut is based in Indian folklore and delivers a story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

BOOK REVIEW | Breath of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

Title: Breath of Fire
Series: Kingmaker Chronicles #2
Author: Amanda Bouchet
Publication Date: January 3, 2017
Pages: 448
Source: I received Breath of Fire via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Sourcebooks Casablanca!

SHE'S DESTINED TO DESTROY THE WORLD...
"Cat" Catalia Fisa has been running from her destiny since she could crawl. But now, her newfound loved ones are caught between the shadow of Cat's tortured past and the threat of her world-shattering future. So what's a girl to do when she knows it's her fate to be the harbinger of doom? Everything in her power.

BUT NOT IF SHE CAN HELP IT
Griffin knows Cat is destined to change the world-for the better. As the realms are descending into all-out war, Cat and Griffin must embrace their fate together. Gods willing, they will emerge side-by-side in the heart of their future kingdom...or not at all.

Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Music Monday #2 | Bridgit Mendler

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni and today I'll be participating in my second Music Monday post! Music Monday is hosted by my good friend Lauren @ Always Me. I've always wanted to participate for a while and I finally am! 

Here are the rules:

Every Monday share one or two of songs you've been enjoying lately.  It doesn't have to be a specific genre, new, or one of your favorites - just something you'd like to share with others.  If possible, share a music or lyric video of the song and your thoughts on the song(s), artist(s), and/or music video(s).

This month I decided to showcase some Bridgit Mendler! In 2016 she released an EP called  Nemesis. You might have heard her music around 2012 when she released her album Hello My Name Is... I didn't really like this album that much; it's very much cookie cutter pop music. However, her newest EP isn't cookie cutter at all. It's still pop, but definitely is more..funky? I guess that is the right word. The EP is pretty bittersweet; it's all inspired by her breakup with her boyfriend of four or so years and you can feel her genuine emotion through her songs.

The EP is only four songs long, and I love all of them. However, my two favorites have to be Do You Miss Me At All? and Atlantis. However, Library and Snap My Fingers are jams as well.

Here's Do You Miss Me At All?

And here's Atlantis! Warning, the music video is pretty weird. :)

Have you heard Mendler's new EP or her earlier music? 

Thanks so much for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW | The Rose Society by Marie Lu

Title: The Rose Society
Series: The Young Elites #2
Author: Marie Lu
Audio Publication Date: October 13, 2015
Length: 11 hours and 7 minutes
Source: I got this through my local library! 

Once upon a time, a girl had a father, a prince, a society of friends. Then they betrayed her, and she destroyed them all.

Adelina Amouteru’s heart has suffered at the hands of both family and friends, turning her down the bitter path of revenge. Now known and feared as the White Wolf, she and her sister flee Kenettra to find other Young Elites in the hopes of building her own army of allies. Her goal: to strike down the Inquisition Axis, the white-cloaked soldiers who nearly killed her.

But Adelina is no heroine. Her powers, fed only by fear and hate, have started to grow beyond her control. She does not trust her newfound Elite friends. Teren Santoro, leader of the Inquisition, wants her dead. And her former friends, Raffaele and the Dagger Society, want to stop her thirst for vengeance. Adelina struggles to cling to the good within her. But how can someone be good, when her very existence depends on darkness?

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