BOOK REVIEW | Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare

Title: Lord of Shadows
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series? Yes, Lord of Shadows is the second book in The Dark Artifices trilogy, which is part of the Shadowhunter world, which includes other series, like The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices.
Pages: 701
Publication Date: May 23, 2017
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (imprint of Simon & Schuster)
Source: I checked this out from my university library.

Would you trade your soul mate for your soul?

A Shadowhunter’s life is bound by duty. Constrained by honor. The word of a Shadowhunter is a solemn pledge, and no vow is more sacred than the vow that binds parabatai, warrior partners—sworn to fight together, die together, but never to fall in love.

Emma Carstairs has learned that the love she shares with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, isn’t just forbidden—it could destroy them both. She knows she should run from Julian. But how can she when the Blackthorns are threatened by enemies on all sides?

Their only hope is the Black Volume of the Dead, a spell book of terrible power. Everyone wants it. Only the Blackthorns can find it. Spurred on by a dark bargain with the Seelie Queen, Emma; her best friend, Cristina; and Mark and Julian Blackthorn journey into the Courts of Faerie, where glittering revels hide bloody danger and no promise can be trusted. Meanwhile, rising tension between Shadowhunters and Downworlders has produced the Cohort, an extremist group of Shadowhunters dedicated to registering Downworlders and “unsuitable” Nephilim. They’ll do anything in their power to expose Julian’s secrets and take the Los Angeles Institute for their own.

When Downworlders turn against the Clave, a new threat rises in the form of the Lord of Shadows—the Unseelie King, who sends his greatest warriors to slaughter those with Blackthorn blood and seize the Black Volume. As dangers close in, Julian devises a risky scheme that depends on the cooperation of an unpredictable enemy. But success may come with a price he and Emma cannot even imagine, one that will bring with it a reckoning of blood that could have repercussions for everyone and everything they hold dear.

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Book Recommendations Based off Ariana Grande's "thank u, next"

Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog! First, I want to apologize for being so absent on here. I have barely been responding to comments, let alone commenting back and posting regularly. To make it up to you, I'm doing this post where I match books to the lyrics in Ariana Grande's latest single, "thank u, next."

Up until this year, I wasn't a mega-fan of Ariana Grande. I listened to her casually, but I didn't follow her music. But then Sweetener came out and I started playing closer attention to her. The album isn't perfect, but there are a lot of solid songs on there, and I frequently listen to it. And then she released "thank u, next." I was done for. I mean...what a BOP. To honor my favorite song at the moment, I'm going to be recommending some books based off the lyrics. 

First, if you haven't listened to the song, here it is below!

TTT | Backlist Books I Want to Read

Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni, and today I'm going to be joining in on Top Ten Tuesday, or TTT. TTT is a weekly meme hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is, "Backlist Books I Want to Read." In case you don't know, backlist books are older books avaiable from a publisher, rather than newer releases, that are sometimes referred to as the frontlist.

There are a ton of backlist books I want to read, but here are ten that I am eager to read, in no particular order!

10) Gone by Michael Grant

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Michael Grant's seven (?) book long series is so well known in the YA community. As an avid YA reader, I feel like I should give this one a look! 

9) Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

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I read Butler's Kindred last year, and absolutely loved it. I watched an operatic musical of this book, and thought it was great. So now I just need to actually read the book! 

8) Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

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I don't know how I did it, but I managed not to be spoiled about this, except for some minor things. I definitely want to read and watch the movie, but this isn't a priority right now. One day!

October Wrap Up!

Hello everyone and welcome back to my post! I'm Genni, and today I'll be wrapping up what I've read in October!

Schoolwork got pretty hectic, so I only read 8 books this month. I'm glad I managed to get to any though!

Without further ado, here are the books I read this past October!

1) Before We Were Free by Julia Alverez

Goodreads

I don't have much to say about Before We Were Free. I think I'm all talked-out, considering my class discussed this novel for over a week. It was good, and I recommend it. That is all! 

BOOK REVIEW | Analee, In Real Life by Janelle Milanes

Title: Analee, In Real Life
Author: Janelle Milanes
Series? No, Analee, In Real Life is a standalone novel.
Pages: 416
Publication Date: September 18, 2018
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: I received an e-galley of Analee, In Real Life via Netgalley. Thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Ever since her mom died three years ago, Analee Echevarria has had trouble saying out loud the weird thoughts that sit in her head. With a best friend who hates her and a dad who’s marrying a yogi she can’t stand, Analee spends most of her time avoiding reality and role-playing as Kiri, the night elf hunter at the center of her favorite online game.

Through Kiri, Analee is able to express everything real-life Analee cannot: her bravery, her strength, her inner warrior. The one thing both Kiri and Analee can’t do, though, is work up the nerve to confess her romantic feelings for Kiri’s partner-in-crime, Xolkar—aka a teen boy named Harris whom Analee has never actually met in person.

So when high school heartthrob Seb Matias asks Analee to pose as his girlfriend in an attempt to make his ex jealous, Analee agrees. Sure, Seb seems kind of obnoxious, but Analee could use some practice connecting with people in real life. In fact, it’d maybe even help her with Harris.

But the more Seb tries to coax Analee out of her comfort zone, the more she starts to wonder if her anxious, invisible self is even ready for the real world. Can Analee figure it all out without losing herself in the process?

Goodreads

TTT | 10 Best Villains!

Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni, and today I'll be participating in the weekly meme, Top Ten Tuesday. TTT is hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's topic is a spin on villains. This week, I'm showcasing my top ten favorite villains. For me, I tend to favor villains that are more complex, and have some humanity that makes us readers sympathize with them just a little bit, despite all their horrible actions. Okay so I ended up only having eight...there just aren't that many complex villains out there! Or, you know, I haven't been reading the correct books for my reading taste!

Here are 8 villains that are deliciously evil.

8) The Villains in This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada

Goodreads

I'm keeping this one real vague because of spoilers. Though I guessed who the real bad guy was, it was still a wonderful twist and I loved seeing how the reveal affected all of our MCs!

Thoughts While Listening To... | Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

Title: Ash Princess
Author: Laura Sebastian
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld
Series? Yes, a trilogy
Length: 13 hours, 17 minutes
Publication Date: April 24, 2018
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Source: I checked out Ash Princess via my online local library

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

"Made for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Sabaa Tahir" ( Bustle ), Ash Princess is an epic new fantasy about a throne cruelly stolen and a girl who must fight to take it back for her people.

Theodosia was six when her country was invaded and her mother, the Fire Queen, was murdered before her eyes. On that day, the Kaiser took Theodosia's family, her land, and her name. Theo was crowned Ash Princess--a title of shame to bear in her new life as a prisoner.

For ten years Theo has been a captive in her own palace. She's endured the relentless abuse and ridicule of the Kaiser and his court. She is powerless, surviving in her new world only by burying the girl she was deep inside.

Then, one night, the Kaiser forces her to do the unthinkable. With blood on her hands and all hope of reclaiming her throne lost, she realizes that surviving is no longer enough. But she does have a weapon: her mind is sharper than any sword. And power isn't always won on the battlefield.

For ten years, the Ash Princess has seen her land pillaged and her people enslaved. That all ends here.

"Sure to be one of the summer's most talked about YAs. . . . A darkly enchanting page-turner you won't be able to put down."-Bustle

Goodreads