Raybearer Platform Tour Announcement

Hey everyone! If any of you follow me on twitter then you may have an inkling on what this is about. Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko is a phenomenal book that deserves nothing but absolute love. From the storytelling to the characters, she has created a world anyone can easily get submersed into. Raybearer did have some publisher ran blog and instagram tours before it’s release, but I wanted to give it even more love. So I rounded up some people who were equally as interested, and BOOM the Raybearer Platform Tour was formed. 

Over the next TWO WEEKS (Sept 7th-Sept 17th) there will be a post every day, either on a blog or on an instagram account. These posts will consist of reviews, spotlights, and anything you can imagine. Today, I am kicking off the platform tour with a mini review! Tomorrow Lili, is doing an instagram post over at @utopia.state.of.mind !

Title: Raybearer                                            

Author: Jordan Ifueko

Publication Date: August  

Publisher: Amulet 

Pages: 368

Description: Nothing is more important than loyalty. But what if you’ve sworn to protect the one you were born to destroy?

Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as The Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince’s Council of 11. If she’s picked, she’ll be joined with the other Council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai, whohasalways wanted to belong somewhere. But The Lady has other ideas, including a magical wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey: Kill theCrown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn—but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself

I finished Raybearer almost two weeks ago, and I still haven’t been able to pick up another book. Every time I think I’m ready I find myself rereading passages from it. Between the storyline and characters, Jordan Ifueko has created a beautiful masterpiece that will draw any reader in. The story was refreshing in a way YA fantasy had been depleating me recently. It quickly became my top read of the year.

Every character resonates with your soul in a way that I cannot put into words. To start, Tarisai is such a beautiful character, whom has stolen my heart and likely will never give it back. Her resilience throughout the novel is brilliant, and the strength of her character is unmatched. Dayo, where do I even begin, he is almost impossible not to love him. From first exposure to his character, you become instantly attached and want nothing bad to come his way. As the story progresses, every single member of the Prince’s Council slowly finds a way into your heart and you are left with nothing but love for each of them. The platonic relationships in the story as well are just so well done and beautiful. 

The world itself is a masterpiece that fills your mind with imagery you’d never thought you would see. I love the amount of areas we as readers get to see, and how many you wish you personally could go back to. As a reader, we spend a lot of time in the Children’s Palace, and imagining the youth running around but also attending lessons was a lot of fun. Overall the world will leave you completely enthralled and you will not know what to do when you have to leave it. 

All in all, I highly recommend Raybearer for its fantastic world-building, and character growth. It’s a book that will leave you will all the feelings, and anticipating the next one. 

Remember to check out the rest of the tour dates! I'll be reposting them all on my twitter page.

The Beauty of the Moment ~ Blog Tour

Hello readers! I know it's been quite some time, but today I am excited to announce that I was apart of the The Beauty of the Moment Blog Tour hosted by the lovely people over at Penguin Teen Canada. Today on my stop I will be sharing with you my review and a brief excerpt. Enjoy!

Blog tour ~ Mirage

Hello readers! I know it's been quite some time, but today I am excited to announce that I was apart of the Mirage Blog Tour hosted by the lovely people over at Raincoast books. Today on my stop I will be sharing with you my review and a brief excerpt. Enjoy!

Title: Mirage
Author: Somaiya Daud
Publication Date: August 28th, 2018
Publisher: Flatiron
Pages: 320 pages
Format: Advanced Readers Copy
Description:In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated moon.

But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place.

As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty—and her time with the princess’ fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection...because one wrong move could lead to her death.

Disclaimer: I have received a free copy of this book from the publishing house and chose to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion of the novel.

Kirkus wrote "Though the machinations of politics and identity create a slowly burning narrative, readers will appreciate the rich world and prose built by a much-needed diverse voice." and I'd have to say that I completely agree with this statement. The world building of this book was phenomenal, and though I sometimes found myself lost among the politics, it didn't make the story any less interesting. The characters also had great character building and story lines.

This book is action pack filled with raging internal conflicts due to the way the world is ran. However, that did not lead away from the romance that was within this book. The book's romance wasn't a focal point, nor did it draw away from the main plot. However, it was there and it was done in a way that supported the story. The romance also allowed for the story to have a little lightheartedness to it. 

My only complaint is that of which I mentioned in the first paragraph, due to the politics I found it to be a little slow at times. However, it did not take away from my reading experience whatsoever.

All in all, I would highly recommend this book to fantasy lovers, and everyone above. This book is lyrical and I cannot wait to read the sequel to Mirage.

Prologue

He is the only one of his family without the daan. They say this makes him ideal; no traditional markings on his face to identify him should he die. No way to trace him back to his family. He is young, not yet fifteen, too young for the daan ceremony. This is what she says to him when she comes to choose him.

That he is young and that he is skilled and that he is steady. This, she says, is all that matters.

He does not feel young. He feels hungry, the sort of hungry that gnaws at him day and night, until it is so much his companion he does not know how to live without it. He feels hard, because he knows how to take a beating, how to fall just so when a guard hits him with a baton. He feels angry, so angry, the sort of anger that does not need fuel.
He is invisible in a sea of invisible faces.

The crowd is silent, but then the crowds at these events are always silent. They are solemn. Too solemn. The nobles sit on velvet cushions behind gold rope, but those who stand, who look up at the podium waiting for her to appear, they are the poor. The hungry. The weak. They are here because they must be here.

The makhzen titter among themselves like jeweled birds, gowns glittering in the sunlight, scabbards flashing as men shift in the uncomfortable summer air. It is a wonder any of them are Andalaan; they all look Vathek now. They have accepted Vathek rule. They would not dress so, not if they truly were Andalaan in their hearts.

He thinks of his younger sister as he moves through the crowd. Dead for two summers now, her stomach bloated from hunger. His father, long gone, too weak to support them, to stay.

He has one sister left, and a brother besides, and his mother. All to be taken care of after this. She’d sworn. A husband for Dunya. A cottage away from the city for them all, with access to grain and a garden, and mayhap even livestock. Away from everything they know, but a chance for a new life.

His hands sweat. He has trained for this, he is ready, but he has never taken a life.

The blood never dies, he remembers. The blood never forgets.

This is for a higher purpose — one more important than his life, more important than any life. These things must be done, he thinks. In the name of Andala. In the name of freedom.

He marvels, as she climbs the steps to the dais, that one who looks so much like his kin is capable of causing such terror. He has heard the stories, knows that these things are often twisted through the telling. But his life, the lives of his siblings and neighbors, bear witness to some truth. The occupation is cruel. Its heirs crueler still.

The sun flashes against the silver metal of his blaster. He lifts it, aims, fires.

Twice.

Blog Tour~Furyborn

Hello readers! I know it's been quite some time, but today I am excited to announce that I was apart of the Furyborn Blog Tour hosted by the lovely people over at Raincoast books. Today on my stop I will be sharing with you guys my review and a brief Q & A with the author herself, Claire Legrand. Enjoy!

Title: Furyborn {Empirium #1} 
Author: Claire Legrand 
Publication Date: May 22nd, 2018 
Publisher: SourceFire Books
Pages: 512 pages
Format: ARC received from Raincoast books
Description: When assassins ambush her best friend, the crown prince, Rielle Dardenne risks everything to save him, exposing her ability to perform all seven kinds of elemental magic. The only people who should possess this extraordinary power are a pair of prophesied queens: a queen of light and salvation and a queen of blood and destruction. To prove she is the Sun Queen, Rielle must endure seven trials to test her magic. If she fails, she will be executed...unless the trials kill her first.
A thousand years later, the legend of Queen Rielle is a mere fairy tale to bounty hunter Eliana Ferracora. When the Undying Empire conquered her kingdom, she embraced violence to keep her family alive. Now, she believes herself untouchable--until her mother vanishes without a trace, along with countless other women in their city. To find her, Eliana joins a rebel captain on a dangerous mission and discovers that the evil at the heart of the empire is more terrible than she ever imagined.
As Rielle and Eliana fight in a cosmic war that spans millennia, their stories intersect, and the shocking connections between them ultimately determine the fate of their world--and of each other.

Disclaimer: I have received a free copy of this book from the publishing house and chose to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion of the novel.

I believe Furyborn is going to be one of those books that people are either going to love or they are going to hate. They aren't going to hate it for the story or the characters, but more for not being able to connect with the authors writing style. It's told in a unique way that generally speaking, I didn't have a problem with. However, I have been exposed to the author's middle-grade work, which though the content is different, style same. So I could understand why someone may not be able to connect with it right away or at all.

Blog Tour~ Reign the Earth

Hello everyone, today on the blog I am joining Reigh the Earth blog tour hosted by Bloomsbury. Today's post is all about who we would want to team up with to essentially reign the earth. The choice was completely up to the bloggers, and this person could be fictional or a real. Be sure to check out the end of my post, as there is a giveaway in store as well!

While picking who I would want to reign the earth with I had a couple of ideas come to my mind. I could pick a person I knew in real life, like one of my blogger friends (Stephanie from OhanaReads, or Alexis from Mad For Books, Luv). However, I can actually explore the world with them. So I decided it would be cool to imagine a fictitious person to room and reign the earth with.

Blog Tour~ The Hazel Wood

Hello everyone! Today is my stop on The Hazel Wood blog tour hosted by Raincoast Books. 

I will be reviewing this book, which reminded me of my childhood and my fairytale obsession. As well, us bloggers were given an opportunity to ask the author one question, so stay tuned to the end of the post to see what Melissa Albert's answer was to my question.

Blog Tour~ TimeKeeper

Hello everyone! In celebration of the upcoming release of the paperbacks for TimerKeeper by Tara Sim releasing, Thomas Allen & Son has teamed up with some bloggers to put together an awesome Blog Tour. This blog tour will include exclusive excerpts for Chainbreaker (book 2), a review, and a chance to win a paperback of TimeKeeper. 

Blog Tour~The Hanging Girl

Hello everyone! Today is my stop on The Hanging Girl blog tour hosted by Raincoast Books. Also along with having my tour stop today, it is also the release of this book. So happy release day, and make sure to pick up your copy.

I will be reviewing this book, which I loved quite a bit. As well, us bloggers were given an opportunity to ask the author one question, so stay tuned to the end of the post to see what Eileen Cook's answer was to my question.

Announcing The Knights of Whitechapel blog Tour

Hello readers! Today I get to announce a very special thing that a few bloggers have help me put together. Last year before the release of Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco, The Knights of Whitechapel hosted a street team blog tour. Ava the head of the group had put it together.

This year, Ava has been a little busy, so she let me take on the role of organizing a blog tour that will for a month before the release date of Hunting Prince Dracula. The posts have all been created by the bloggers who wanted to partake, and this street team has been amazing.

The Hunting Prince Dracula blog tour will start on August 21st and end on September 20th, along the way you can enter every day for a chance at winning an ARC of Hunting Prince Dracula, that will be international for all to enter on each blog a post is featured. The giveaway will also be at the end of this post as well, but does not start until the 21st. 

RoseBlood Release Blitz

I am so excited that ROSEBLOOD by A.G. Howard releases today and that I get to share the news!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author A.G. Howard, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a signed ROSEBLOOD poster and a mask courtesy of A.G. and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

The Alchemists of Loom by Elise Kova ~Blog tour & Interview

Hello everyone! Today I am very excited to share with you all that I am apart of The Alchemists of Loom blog tour hosted by Rockstar Blog Tours. This tour spans over the next two weeks and has an exclusive giveaway for one hardcover copy and 3 swag packs. Check out the tour stops to see how to enter.

For my tour stop today I will be sharing with you all an exclusive interview with two of the main characters from The Alchemists of Loom. Cvareh and Ari.

Now before we get to the interview, here's a little bit about LOOM

~About the Book~

Title: The Alchemists Loom {Loom Saga #1}
Author: Elise Kova
Publisher: Keymaster Press
Publication Date: January 10th, 2017
Genre: Adult (YA Crossover) High Fantasy, Steampunk
Description: Her vengeance. His vision.

Ari lost everything she once loved when the Five Guilds’ resistance fell to the Dragon King. Now, she uses her unparalleled gift for clockwork machinery in tandem with notoriously unscrupulous morals to contribute to a thriving underground organ market. There isn’t a place on Loom that is secure from the engineer turned thief, and her magical talents are sold to the highest bidder as long as the job defies their Dragon oppressors.

Cvareh would do anything to see his sister usurp the Dragon King and sit on the throne. His family’s house has endured the shame of being the lowest rung in the Dragons’ society for far too long. The Alchemist Guild, down on Loom, may just hold the key to putting his kin in power, if Cvareh can get to them before the Dragon King’s assassins.

When Ari stumbles upon a wounded Cvareh, she sees an opportunity to slaughter an enemy and make a profit off his corpse. But the Dragon sees an opportunity to navigate Loom with the best person to get him where he wants to go.

He offers her the one thing Ari can’t refuse: A wish of her greatest desire, if she brings him to the Alchemists of Loom.

Now it's time for the interview...

Sabrina: Hello Ari and Cvareh, it's truly a pleasure to have you both on my blog today for a special little interview!

Ari: Let’s keep this quick and efficient.

Cvareh: Sabrina thank you so much for having us. It is an absolute delight to be here. And may I just say you’re looking lovely today? The cut of your blouse is so flattering, so very in this season.

Sabrina: What did you two think of each other when you first met?

Ari: What else can one think of a Dragon? They come down without having any understanding of our society and dictated how they think we should live… I thought the same thing I think about all Dragons I see—fresh organs.

Cvareh: She hardly made a good first impression with all her attacking and, “I’m going to cut out your heart” insistence. But she did seem like someone who wasn’t going to be deterred by the King’s Riders after me.

Sabrina: What is one of your most fondest memories?

Ari: When Florence and I found our hideaway in Old Dortam. I remember it because it was the moment where I saw her beginning to come out of her shell and relax into being my pupil. All the potential she had and hopefulness to learn.

Cvareh: Sparring with my sister in the old Xin estate in Napole when we were children. She would always get the upper hand on me, but I always enjoyed our time together.

Sabrina: From getting to know each other, what is one of your favourite traits about the other, and your least favourite?

Ari: Least favorite is easy. It would be exceptional if Cvareh could be less of a Dragon and truly be logical and upfront, less flowery language.

Cvareh: My favorite about Arianna… Wait, Ari, you never said your favorite.

Ari: I know.

Cvareh: Are you—

Ari: Next question, please.

Sabrina: if you could describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Ari: Rebel. Loyal. Logical.

Cvareh: Fashionable. Classy… and I’ll say loyal too.

Ari: A loyal Dragon? I’ll believe it when I see it…

Sabrina: if you could use any weapon, what would be your weapon of choice?

Ari: My teachings and knowledge. I can defeat far more enemies with my intellect with that than any gun or bow or armory on Loom or Nova.

Cvareh: My claws. Any Dragon is only as good as their claws.

Sabrina: it's been a pleasure interviewing the both of you!

Ari: You as well. If I may say one more thing, it’s that I want all of your Fenthri and Chimera readers to know that they are powerful of their own merits—to never forget who we are. In that remembrance we find power and authenticity to revolt against the Dragons to prosper and survive.

Cvareh: It’s been an absolute delight! Should you ever find yourself on Nova, seek out House Xin. I would be more than happy to personally show you around Napole.

Now that concludes my tour stop.. check the schedule below to see who's blog to travel to next!

Week 1:

1/2/2017- Beyond the Book Reviews- Interview

1/3/2017- Emily Reads Everything- Review

1/4/2017- Once Upon A Twilight- Excerpt

1/5/2017- NovelKnight- Review

1/6/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Interview

Week 2:

1/9/2017- Zach's YA Reviews- Review

1/10/2017- A Gingerly Review- Excerpt

1/11/2017- Always Me- Review

1/12/2017- BookHounds YA- Interview

1/13/2017- Lost in Ever After- Review

Xpresso Blog Tour~ The Alchemists of Loom

I'm sure that by now you have gathered that I am a devoted fangirl to everything Elise Kova writes. So when the opportunity arose to be apart of Xpresso blog tours, tour for her latest release...I just couldn't resist.

For today's blog tour stop, and the concluding day of this blog tour, Elise will be sharing with us the "Top Ten YA Authors" she would want to collab with.

But first here is a little information about the book...

The Bound~ Blog Tour

Hello all! Today I am apart of the The Bound Blog Tour hosted by InkSlingerPR, I've been on a couple of their tours, including The Affiliate (The first book in this series). So I was pretty happy to be apart of this tour.

We travel back into the world K.A. Linda created for The Ascension with her new sequel The Bound. I'll be telling you my thoughts about the book later on in the post, but before we get there I'll share with you some information about the book

Stalking Jack the Ripper: Chapter Thoughts

Hello readers! 

Not sure if you were aware, but for the past week a Stalking Jack the Ripper read along has been taking place. I and my fellow bookish friend who runs Knights of the White chapel teamed up with Kerri to put together an awesome read along. 

Within this read along not only did we get the author's exclusive thoughts on the chapter break ups but there is also a gift in store for those who partake (More about this at the bottom of the post).

Kickoff day for The Head of Medusa blog tour

This marks the first day of The Head of Medusa blog tour hosted by Barclay Publicity. Today is also the release day for it as well, which is super exciting. I will be sharing my ARC review and thoughts on this book, and let me tell you, it was absolutely astounding. Also make sure to check the bottom of the post for a special giveaway; Michelle is giving one(1) signed copy of the first Elementals book.

New World Ashes~ Blog Tour

I am sure by now that most are familiar with Ofttimes publishing; the publishing company that booktuber Benjaminoftomes created and started. Well today I am one of the lucky partaking in the New World Ashes blog tour. New World Ashes is the sequel to New World Rising. On today's stop I will be reviewing the 6 chapter sneak peak! Enjoy!

Blackheath Blog tour~ Review

Hello Everyone! Today's special post will be for Blackheath by Gabriella Lepore. It's a review tour hosted by Xpresso Book Tours. Make sure to check out the giveaway at the bottom of this post!

The Affiliate is on SALE!!!

****The Affiliate by K.A. Linde is on sale!!!*****

Grab The Affiliate today for .99!!

 Amazon |Itunes | BN 

~Earth's End Blitz~

Hello Everyone! Today's special post will be for Earth's End book BLITZ blog tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours. Check out the exclusive playlist orientated towards Earth's End and don't forget to check out the giveaway at the bottom of this post.

Thief of Lies ~ Character Tour Launch

Welcome to Brenda Drake’s THIEF OF LIES Character Tour kick off! Each stop will feature a character profile from book one of the Library Jumpers Series! There is a tour wide giveaway so be sure to check out all the characters for chances to win. You can find a list of the tour dates HERE. Today, we’re getting to know Bastien.