Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year

 

 Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish.

 

Christmas is rapidly approaching and all I've heard from the last month or so is, "what do you want for Christmas?" My answer is usually always books, which earns me 'that look' from my husband. Those with significant others probably know which 'look' I'm referring to.

I started this last year sometime, but I was not in a fantasy mood at that time, so I returned it to the library. I really do want to read it because I was enjoying it, so I'd love to own the box set.

I keep hearing about this series, so I really want to check it out for myself. I'm definitely in a fantasy mood.

 

Me Before You killed me earlier this year, and I need to read this one. ASAP.

I have a love/hate relationship with Hoover's books, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to read them all.

 

I NEED THIS BOOK. I read all the others in eBook or got them from the library, so I'm currently waiting for my library to process this book. I'm first in line and I want it immediately.



This isn't out yet, and I haven't read anything by Bracken, but I really like the sound of this book.

 

This is apparently out in the UK, but not here yet and this is another book that I NEED. I loved The Seven Sisters and I can't wait for this.

 

I've heard mixed reviews about this book/series, so I want to check it out for myself.

I need this in paperback to complete my set. I also need to read Clockwork Princess (which I own) and then I can finally read this one.

 

I own all of these in hardcover, but I absolutely love these covers and have started buying them. I own 5-7, so I'd love for Santa to bring me 1-4.

Those are all the books I'd love for Santa to leave under my tree this year. Some of them aren't even out yet, but we all know that Santa is magical. Are there any on here that you'd like to find underneath your tree on Christmas morning?

 

Mini-Reviews: Ink and Bone and Off The Page

The last two months have not been very good reading months for me. I always seem to get a bit slumpy during the beginning of fall, which makes no sense as fall is such a good reading time. I think I'm finally getting out of the slump, as it's only November 9th and I've already read 3.5 books. In an effort to make this blog more active, I have two mini-reviews today.

 



 

First off, this cover is gorgeous! The spine looks like an old leather bound hardcover, and I just love it. The reason I was so drawn to this book was because it's about books, and because it had a lot of Harry Potter comparisons. It is definitely nothing like Harry Potter. They both take place in a learning environment, but there is no awesome school like Hogwarts in this book. The only real similar thing was a chess set that moves itself, which to be honest, kind of bugged me. Oh, and there's a train that transports them, but it's much more fancy than the Hogwarts Express.

 

I spent the first half of this book not really caring about it. I was liking it enough, but it wasn't completely holding my attention. The premise is really interesting. Real books are kept controlled by the Library and to be in possession of them is a crime. There's a group of students who are being trained to work for the Library (there are different job titles), and then they are sent to war-torn England to try and smuggle out some books. Naturally, people are trying to kill the students. This was when the story got really interesting.

 

At times I found it hard to care about the characters. I thought they were well-written and such, but I just didn't care that much until about the middle of the book. It probably sounds like I didn't enjoy this book, and that's not true. I did like it, but I did have some issues. I didn't really like/care about the romance . It felt forced and rushed and just off. I do plan to read the next one because once I finally became invested in the story, I really needed to know what happens.

 

I gave this a 3 out of 5 stars because it was a bit slow at first, but it ending up picking up in the latter half.

 

 

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time then you know that Jodi Picoult is one of my favourite authors, and I will basically try anything that she writes. Off The Page is the companion book to her book Between The Lines, which was co-written with her daughter Samantha van Leer. I read Between The Lines back in 2012 and really liked it.

 

Between The Lines is about a girl who falls in love with a prince from a book, and about how they try to get him out of the book. Off The Page is about the boy, Oliver, out of the book and living in the real world. I'll mention right away that you do need to suspend your beliefs in order to read this book, but I really loved it. I had such a good time reading this book. It's fun, and cute, and maybe a bit cheesy, but there are also some serious undertones to it.

 

In order for Oliver to leave the book, someone had to take his place. The authors son, Edgar, happened to be the one who took Oliver's place.  The author doesn't know that the boy living with her is the character she created, and most definitely not her son.

 

Watching Oliver try to navigate modern life/high school was funny and sweet, until something happens to the author and it's decided that Oliver needs to go back to the book so that Edgar can come out and be with his mom. Problems arise when they try to get Edgar back out and Oliver back in. I loved the cast of characters, both in the book and in the real world. I will never forgive Picoult and van Leer for a particular THING that happened, though. I just don't think IT had to happen.

 

Like I said before, I had a lot of fun reading this book. It's almost like a modern day fairy tale, and is perfect for anyone who hasn't read a good old fairy tale in a long time. After all, who hasn't fallen for a book character and wished they could be a real person?

 

 



Top Ten Tuesday: Fall TBR

 

I'm not the greatest at sticking to TBRs because I like to read whatever I'm in the mood for, but I'll try my best. I love fall and everything about it, except that it leads to winter. I hate winter.

My husband loves Halloween and horror, so come October horror movies are constantly on our TV. October always makes me want to read some darker books, so there will be some of those on here.

The Green Mile by Stephen King - I've never read Stephen King (I know), and a co-worker lent me The Green Mile awhile ago, so I should probably get to it. The Green Mile was originally released as a serial. I thought that was really cool, and I'd love to see another book release that way.

Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning - I read Darkfever earlier this month and liked it. It wasn't super amazing or anything, but it kept my interest and I want to know what happens next.

 

Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine - I'm really interested in checking out the book that has received some Harry Potter comparisons. It sounds good, but nothing will ever live up to Harry Potter.

 

Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman - This is a historical fiction YA, which I haven't read much of, so I'm really looking forward to it. Plus, it's beautiful. Look at that cover!

 

Pretending to Dance by Diane Chamberlain - Chamberlain is one of my favourite authors, so I'm definitely excited to check out her new release out on October 6th.

 

The Illegal by Lawrence Hill - I absolutely loved The Book of Negroes (loved so much that I read it in two days), so I cannot wait to get to this. I'm currently #30 in line at the library for this, which means I'll probably end up just buying it.

 

Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes - This comes out in December and may end up being a winter TBR book, but who knows. I recently fell in love with the Falling Kingdoms series and think everyone should check it out! This is book 4.

 

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy - I've been hearing nothing but great things about this book, so I definitely need to check it out soon.

 

The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon - I've been feeling the urge to jump back into Jamie and Claire's world, and fall is the perfect time to settle in with this series.

 

The last slot is reserved for the mystery/thrillers that I love so much.

 My mom and I both love them, so we pass them back and forth between us, which is something I really love. The above are just a few that I have waiting for me.

 

What do you plan on reading this season? Are you horrible at sticking to TBRs, too?

 

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Look at how pretty this cover is! It shines in the sun!

This book has been so hyped for the last few months, which automatically makes me nervous. You want it to live up to all the hype, and when it doesn't, it always feels more disappointing. This book definitely lived up to all the hype for me. I loved it, and I need a sequel asap. I'm so glad it's been selling well, because that means the odds of the publisher wanting to buy another book are much greater.

From Goodreads: AN EMBER IN THE ASHES is a thought-provoking, heart-wrenching and pulse-pounding read. Set in a rich, high-fantasy world with echoes of ancient Rome, it tells the story of a slave fighting for her family and a young soldier fighting for his freedom.

Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

Sounds crazy, right? This book is not for the faint of heart. There is lots of violence and rape threats, which can make it a difficult read, but that's the entire premise of the Empire.

The characters are varied and so interesting. Laia isn't the super brave heroine that we've come to see in YA fantasy lately. She is strong in her own ways, and does what she does in order to save her brother. She grows a lot throughout the book, and doesn't let any of her hardships sway her from her mission.

The Commandant is absolutely insane, but also fascinating. I liked that we got to see a bit of her back story, because while it didn't make me sympathetic towards her, it did leave me more intrigued.

Elias is more the hero we're used to, but like everyone in the book, he has secrets. I really liked his character because he seems to be one of the only people in the Empire (the actual military part of it) with any sort of brain. He has compassion, wit, and the guts to do what's right. He stands up to his best friend(s), which is never an easy thing.

I did have a few slight issues with the love triangle, but honestly, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. I'm interested to see how that plays out if there's a second book.

I'm probably not doing a great job of reviewing this, but I did really, really like it. The world building was gradual, but sufficient in that there wasn't an overload of information, but you understand the world and its ways. You hate some of the characters and the world, but you also cheer for them. I can't say enough good things about this book. I need a sequel!

Definitely pick this one up if you're in fantasy with a diverse set of characters, and a world that is equally horrible and fascinating.

 

**Photos belong to me, please do not take them without permission

Traitor's Blade by Sebastien De Castell: You'll want to read this one!

 

The King is dead, the Greatcoats have been disbanded, and Falcio Val Mond and his fellow magistrates Kest and Brasti have been reduced to working as bodyguards for a nobleman who refuses to pay them. Things could be worse, of course. Their employer could be lying dead on the floor while they are forced to watch the killer plant evidence framing them for the murder. Oh wait, that’s exactly what’s happening…

Now a royal conspiracy is about to unfold in the most corrupt city in the world. A carefully orchestrated series of murders that began with the overthrow of an idealistic young king will end with the death of an orphaned girl and the ruin of everything that Falcio, Kest, and Brasti have fought for. But if the trio want to foil the conspiracy, save the girl, and reunite the Greatcoats, they’ll have to do it with nothing but the tattered coats on their backs and the swords in their hands, because these days every noble is a tyrant, every knight is a thug, and the only thing you can really trust is a traitor’s blade.

I will be the first to admit that I don't read a lot of fantasy books, so when Penguin Canada offered me the chance to be part of the blog tour, I jumped right on it. To say I'm happy that I did would be an understatement. This book is one of those books that will make non-fantasy readers become fantasy readers.

The description tells all you need to know about the plot, so I'll give you three reasons why you should be adding this to your to-read pile immediately.

1.) The characters - the characters are fantastic! Falcio, while a major swordsman, also has a big heart that leads his decisions, which may not always be the best thing. Kest seems to have secrets that guide him, and Brasti is a bit of a charmer/ladies man. The way the three of them interact is often hilarious and just plain good writing. I do wish there'd been more of Kest and Brasti, but luckily, this is going to be a series of books.

If you're like me, you're tired of female characters who are portrayed as weaker than their male counterparts. Well, the women in Traitor's Blade are awesome! Yeah, some of them are perhaps a little evil, but the others are badass, strong women who can definitely hold their own.

2.) The fight scenes - there are a lot of battle/fight scenes, but they're not overdone, and you don't get tired of them. They're well done, and necessary for plot development. Plus, who doesn't like swords, rapiers, and bows and arrows? There's humour in the battle scenes, too, and perhaps a little bit of magic.

3.) The background - since this is the first book in a series, there has to be some background in it to get the most out of the present story. The background scenes in this novel are done in my favourite way, which is to have the character reflect on what happened. You don't get the back story all in one go; instead, it's spread out throughout the novel and is in the perfect spots. It's not information overload, and enhances the story. Some of the background scenes were actually my favourite parts of the book.

Not being a typical fantasy reader did not deter me from reading this, and if you don't read fantasy, you shouldn't stay away from this book. I read this on my Kobo, and will definitely be purchasing a copy on March 4th when it comes out because it's one of those books that I feel like I need to own a physical copy of, partially so I can shove it in the hands of my friends and make them read it.

This book is going to be a hit, I can feel it! I finished this book more than a week ago, and I'm still thinking about it. To me, that means it was a fantastic book. 5 out of 5 stars for sure.

For more info go to:

Penguin Canada

Sebastien de Castell's website

Goodreads