Book Haul #8: September

September was a great month for me in terms of getting new books! After not having bought myself books since July, I decided to treat myself to some of the books that I’d seen floating around the bookish blogosphere.

Books Bought:

• Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
• The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West
• Reborn (Shadow Falls: After Dark #1) by C. C. Hunter
• The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle
• Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between by Jennifer E. Smith
• Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J Maas
• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

(Click each link to go to their Goodreads page)

Initial Thoughts On Each

Everything, Everything seems like it will be an extremely bittersweet and inspiring read. Also, look at that cover! It’s gorgeous!

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I bought this book because it looked adorable and hilarious. I’m reading it right now and it is exactly as fun as I expected!

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After binge-reading the Shadow Falls series, I can’t wait to try out the spin-off series that I never read the first time I read the series. I loved Della as a character, so getting an entire series dedicated to her is basically a godsend.

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I love the premise of this book: kinda creepy with just enough originality. Plus…that cover!?

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Again, I needed cute romance in my life, and this one looked like it would fit the bill. I expect it to be more bittersweet than The Fill-In Boyfriend, but I still think it will ultimately put a smile on my face.

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Do I need to explain this? THRONE OF GLASS BOOK FOUR. I bought it as soon as it came out.

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It’s another book by Sarah J. Maas, this time with Fae? How could I not buy it for myself?

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Have you read any of these books? What books have you bought for yourself recently?

Book Haul #7: SDCC is the BEST

I spent last weekend at San Diego Comic Con! It was freaking amazing. Lots of posts about it coming up, but here’s the first one. This also goes along with this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, which is the ten most recent books to come into my possession. Thirteen books came into my possession (FOR FREE!!!) this weekend. Thank you so much to Penguin Random House and Hachette for the books!!!!

The first stack of books are new books (some ARCs) that I got. The second stack is books that I already owned but that I got signed. I got to meet Brandon Sanderson, Naomi Novik, and Renee Ahdieh! I fangirled and got to talk to them about their books, and you couldn’t tell how red I turned because the lighting was kind of dim. I can die happy now.

Look at these awesome signatures!

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But let’s focus on the new books. (All descriptions are from Amazon)

The Shadow Revolution (Crown and Key #1) by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith

As fog descends, obscuring the gas lamps of Victorian London, werewolves prowl the shadows of back alleys. But they have infiltrated the inner circles of upper-crust society as well. Only a handful of specially gifted practitioners are equipped to battle the beasts. Among them are the roguish Simon Archer, who conceals his powers as a spell-casting scribe behind the smooth veneer of a dashing playboy; his layabout mentor, Nick Barker, who prefers a good pub to thrilling heroics; and the self-possessed alchemist Kate Anstruther, who is equally at home in a ballroom as she is on a battlefield.

After a lycanthrope targets Kate’s vulnerable younger sister, the three join forces with fierce Scottish monster-hunter Malcolm MacFarlane—but quickly discover they’re dealing with a threat far greater than anything they ever imagined.

What’s to love? Werewolves in Victorian London! Fog and interesting characters and magic only makes everything better.

Reawakened by Colleen Houck 

(ARC, release date August 11, 2015)

When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification. 
And she really can’t imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe.
 
But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world. 
 
From New York Timesbestselling author Colleen Houck comes an epic adventure about two star-crossed teens who must battle mythical forces and ancient curses on a journey with more twists and turns than the Nile itself.

What’s to love? ANCIENT EGYPT!!! I’m a sucker for anything related to ancient Egypt and it reminds me of a middle grade story I used to love, but I love the YA angle.

The House of Shattered Wings by Aliette de Bodard

(ARC, release date August 18, 2015)

In the late twentieth century, the streets of Paris are lined with haunted ruins, the aftermath of a Great War between arcane powers. The Grand Magasins have been reduced to piles of debris, Notre-Dame is a burnt-out shell, and the Seine has turned black with ashes and rubble and the remnants of the spells that tore the city apart. But those that survived still retain their irrepressible appetite for novelty and distraction, and The Great Houses still vie for dominion over France’s once grand capital.

Once the most powerful and formidable, House Silverspires now lies in disarray. Its magic is ailing; its founder, Morningstar, has been missing for decades; and now something from the shadows stalks its people inside their very own walls.

Within the House, three very different people must come together: a naive but powerful Fallen angel; an alchemist with a self-destructive addiction; and a resentful young man wielding spells of unknown origin. They may be Silverspires’ salvation—or the architects of its last, irreversible fall. And if Silverspires falls, so may the city itself.

What’s to love? I was sucked in by the title. The alternate historical setting and a destroyed Paris (with magic!) sealed the deal.

Illuminae (The Illuminae Files 01) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

(ARC, release date October 20, 2015)

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.

This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto one of the evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it’s clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

What’s to love? Just flipping through this book is fascinating. The dossier format looks really well done, and I’m interested to see how it will convey the story. Also, the idea of two exes having to work together in an apocalyptic situation is unique and intriguing–I wonder if I will want them to get back together or to go their separate ways.

The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich

(ARC, release date September 15, 2015)

Three students: dead.

Carly Johnson: vanished without a trace.

Two decades have passed since an inferno swept through Elmbridge High, claiming the lives of three teenagers and causing one student, Carly Johnson, to disappear. The main suspect: Kaitlyn, “the girl of nowhere.”

Kaitlyn’s diary, discovered in the ruins of Elmbridge High, reveals the thoughts of a disturbed mind. Its charred pages tell a sinister version of events that took place that tragic night, and the girl of nowhere is caught in the center of it all. But many claim Kaitlyn doesn’t exist, and in a way, she doesn’t – because she is the alter ego of Carly Johnson.

Carly gets the day. Kaitlyn has the night. It’s during the night that a mystery surrounding the Dead House unravels and a dark, twisted magic ruins the lives of each student that dares touch it.

What’s to love? I don’t usually read scary novels, but the premise of this one is just amazing. I love the diary format and the fact that everything happened twenty years ago. I just feel like this will be a really unique and hair-raising read.

Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho

(ARC, release date September 1, 2015)

The Royal Society of Unnatural Philosophers, one of the most respected organizations throughout all of England, has long been tasked with maintaining magic within His Majesty’s lands. But lately, the once proper institute has fallen into disgrace, naming an altogether unsuitable gentleman—a freed slave who doesn’t even have a familiar—as their Sorcerer Royal, and allowing England’s once profuse stores of magic to slowly bleed dry. At least they haven’t stooped so low as to allow women to practice what is obviously a man’s profession…

At his wit’s end, Zacharias Wythe, Sorcerer Royal of the Unnatural Philosophers and eminently proficient magician, ventures to the border of Fairyland to discover why England’s magical stocks are drying up. But when his adventure brings him in contact with a most unusual comrade, a woman with immense power and an unfathomable gift, he sets on a path which will alter the nature of sorcery in all of Britain—and the world at large…

What’s to love? The Royal Society of Unnatural Philosophers is a really great title. Add in fairyland and a historical setting with a promise of a discussion of social issues and I’m sold.

The Young World by Chris Weltz

After a mysterious Sickness wipes out the rest of the population, the young survivors assemble into tightly run tribes. Jefferson, the reluctant leader of the Washington Square tribe, and Donna, the girl he’s secretly in love with, have carved out a precarious existence among the chaos.

But when a fellow tribe member discovers a clue that may hold the cure for the Sickness, five teens set out on a life-altering road trip, exchanging gunfire with enemy gangs, escaping cults and militias, braving the wilds of the subway–all in order to save humankind.

What’s to love? Dystopian road trip with gunfire and cults?! A society run by teens? I’m in.

Lair of Dreams (The Diviners #2) by Libba Bray

(ARC, release date August 25, 2015)

After a supernatural showdown with a serial killer, Evie O’Neill has outed herself as a Diviner. Now that the world knows of her ability to “read” objects, and therefore, read the past, she has become a media darling, earning the title, “America’s Sweetheart Seer.” But not everyone is so accepting of the Diviners’ abilities…

Meanwhile, mysterious deaths have been turning up in the city, victims of an unknown sleeping sickness. Can the Diviners descend into the dreamworld and catch a killer?

What’s to love? LIBBA FREAKING BRAY. I’ve been waiting for this book to come out for ages! Getting an ARC of it basically made my weekend.

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What books have you guys gotten recently? Do any of these books look good?

Book Haul #6, AKA My Summer TBR

For a while, I had been keeping a mental list of books I wanted to buy and read this summer. Finally, last week, I used up some old gift cards and splurged on six new books to read this summer. (They were actually shockingly cheap, which was pretty nice.)

As far as a summer TBR list goes, these books are the only books I know for sure I will try to read. They won’t get me to my goal of reading 20 books this summer, but I plan to reread books and catch up on sequels as well.

(All plot descriptions are from Amazon)

His Majesty’s Dragon (Temeraire #1) by Naomi Novik

Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors rise to Britain’s defense by taking to the skies . . . not aboard aircraft but atop the mighty backs of fighting dragons.

When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes its precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Capt. Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future–and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature. Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France’s own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte’s boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into their own baptism of fire.

Napoleonic Wars with dragons?! Count me in! After taking AP European history last school year, I’ve found myself enjoying alternate/fantasy historical fiction more than I used to, mainly because I actually know the historical context. After reading (and LOVING) Uprooted by Naomi Novik, I had to pick up her other series, even if isn’t young adult.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The critically acclaimed debut novel from Stephen Chbosky, Perks follows observant “wallflower” Charlie as he charts a course through the strange world between adolescence and adulthood. First dates, family drama, and new friends. Sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Devastating loss, young love, and life on the fringes. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it, Charlie must learn to navigate those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

This book has been on my radar for a while (what with it being famous and everything), but I haven’t read it. I am always in the mood for high-quality YA contemporary stories, and I hope that this “classic” lives up to its reputation.

Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson

When seventeen-year-old Sophia Petheram’s beloved father dies, she receives an unexpected letter. An invitation—on fine ivory paper, in bold black handwriting—from the mysterious Monsieur Bernard de Cressac, her godfather. With no money and fewer options, Sophie accepts, leaving her humble childhood home for the astonishingly lavish Wyndriven Abbey, in the heart of Mississippi.

Sophie has always longed for a comfortable life, and she finds herself both attracted to and shocked by the charm and easy manners of her overgenerous guardian. But as she begins to piece together the mystery of his past, it’s as if, thread by thread, a silken net is tightening around her. And as she gathers stories and catches whispers of his former wives—all with hair as red as her own—in the forgotten corners of the abbey, Sophie knows she’s trapped in the passion and danger of de Cressac’s intoxicating world.

Glowing strands of romance, mystery, and suspense are woven into this breathtaking debut—a thrilling retelling of the “Bluebeard” fairy tale.

Well, I’ve never heard of the Bluebeard fairy tale, but the premise of this book sounds interesting anyway. I love the eerie tone of the description and can’t wait to see where the story goes.

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler

The youngest of six talented sisters, Elyse d’Abreau was destined for stardom—until a boating accident took everything from her. Now, the most beautiful singer in Tobago can’t sing. She can’t even speak.

Seeking quiet solitude, Elyse accepts a friend’s invitation to Atargatis Cove. Named for the mythical first mermaid, the Oregon seaside town is everything Elyse’s home in the Caribbean isn’t: an ocean too cold for swimming, parties too tame for singing, and people too polite to pry—except for one.

Christian Kane is a notorious playboy—insolent, arrogant, and completely charming. He’s also the only person in Atargatis Cove who doesn’t treat Elyse like a glass statue. He challenges her to express herself, and he admires the way she treats his younger brother, Sebastian, who believes Elyse is the legendary mermaid come to life.

When Christian needs a first mate for the Cove’s high-stakes Pirate Regatta, Elyse reluctantly stows her fear of the sea and climbs aboard. The ocean isn’t the only thing making waves, though—swept up in Christian’s seductive tide and entranced by the Cove’s charms, Elyse begins to wonder if a life of solitude isn’t what she needs. But changing course again means facing her past. It means finding her inner voice. And scariest of all, it means opening her heart to a boy who’s best known for breaking them…

Of all the books in this haul, I am the most weary of this one. Contemporary books that focus on damaged protagonists often don’t work for me. Romances that center on playboys are also a mixed bag. But I love the title, and the cover, and the mermaid motif, and I’ve heard some good things about this story, so I’ll willing to be proven wrong.

PS I Still Love You (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before #2) by Jenny Han

Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.

She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever.

When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

Again, I am weary of this book. The description basically spells out a love triangle, and promises lots of cringe-worthy awkward moments. However, I enjoyed the first book in this series, and it left me curious to see how a sequel would go. I am hopefully that this book, like the first installment, pulls off a love triangle and continues to deliver a fairly unique story.

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi’s wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.

She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all.

This book is a retelling of A Thousand and One Nights–another story I don’t know. The description promises such an amazing story, however, so I don’t care what the original plot was. I feel like I’m going to love the protagonist of this story, and I hope that the romance will be appropriately swoon-worthy. My sister has already read this book (in all of one day), and (from the sounds she was making) seemed to enjoy it–though she screamed a lot about the cliffhanger ending. Also, I love the cover–it breaks from stereotypical YA covers and creates a breathtaking effect. (I didn’t even notice the girl standing there the first time I looked at the cover!)

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Have you read any of these books? Which ones do you recommend?

And what books are on your summer TBR or just joined your shelves?

 

Book Haul #5: Catching Up on New Releases

I had kept myself from buying new books because I got so many during the holiday seasons. However, some sequels came out and I couldn’t resist.

Firefight (Reckoners #2) by Brandon Sanderson

I loved Steelheart so much! The characters, the plot, the world-building, the romance–everything worked. The ending was such a cliffhanger (but in a good way) and I can’t wait to read the next installment. Brandon Sanderson’s writing is horribly perfect, so I can’t wait to see where he takes this series. And I’m ready for more stunning reveals and plot twist. *clicks seatbelt*

Shadow Scale (Seraphina #2) by Rachel Hartman

Seraphina was so unique, managing to pull off a dragon story and a star-crossed romance all at once. I will definitely have to reread Seraphina to remember all the specifics, but I remember being impressed by Seraphina in a way few books impress me. I have no doubt that Shadow Scale will be just as enjoyable.

Miss Mayhem (Rebel Belle #2) by Rachel Hawkins

Rachel Hawkins is a master of hilarious and ridiculous paranormal romance. Her light, saracastic style was great in Rebel Belle and I can’t wait to read more in Miss Mayhem. It’s vampire slaying meets Southern belles–who wouldn’t want to read that?

Black Dove White Raven by Elizabeth Wein

Technically, this isn’t a sequel. But after reading Code Name Verity, Wein is an auto-buy author of mine. This book, WWI historical fiction with a heavily racial focus, promises to be exactly as heart-wrenching as Code Name Verity. However, I’m willing to cry when the writing is this amazing.

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Have you read any of these books? Are you as excited as I am to continue these amazing series? What books have you recently added to your TBR shelf?

 

Book Haul #4: Christmas and Birthday Presents

Hey guys! My birthday was two days ago and Christmas was right before that and I got a ton of books. Usually for book haul posts I write about each book individually, but there are too many in this one (all of the books I got, plus the books my sister received). Also, since I didn’t buy any of the books, I can’t exactly explain why I bought them (as I usually do). I’ve decided to group the books together based on how excited I am about them and/or why. I’ll write little blurbs for some of the books.

Please comment if you recognize any of the books and feel like they are in the wrong category! I will be out of town (with no internet) for the weekend, but I’ll look at and respond to comments when I get back!

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I’ll Read It Eventually…

Tsarina by J Nelle Patrick

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Sounds Interesting Enough

The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas

I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Hexed by Michelle Krys

Excited Because the Premise Sounds Unique

A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff

A Girl Called Fearless by Catherine Linka

The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry

The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings

Ink by Amanda Sun

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Firebug by Lish McBride

I’m really excited for this book. The premise sounds unique and just really works for me.

Salt and Storm by Kendall Kulper

When the Sea is Rising Red by Cat Hellisen

Excited Because I Love the Cover

Splintered by A. G. Howard

Love and Other Unknown Variables by Shannon Lee Alexander

Puddle Jumping by Amber L. Johnson

 Excited Because I’ve Read Something Else by the Author and It Was Great

Gone Girl and Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

I loved Sharp Objects, even if it made my skin crawl, and I’m excited to read more by Gillian Flynn.

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana PeterFreund

When I read Across a Star-Swept Sea, I didn’t realize it was a companion novel. I’m excited to read the book that came before such a great story.

Elantris and The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson

I loved the Mistborn series so much that I simply can’t resist more books that take place in the same universe (The Alloy of Law) or more of his writing.

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What books did you guys get this holiday season?

 

Book Haul #2: Continuing Series and Starting New Ones

Hey guys! Surprise, surprise–I bought more books.

1. Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Mass

Why I Bought It: I’m not posting a synopsis of this one, because I haven’t actually read the second book, Crown of Midnight, yet. My sister has. I read book one, and I am desperately avoiding spoilers for the rest of the series. Anyway, my sister wanted to read it, and I’m going to read the whole series one of these days.

2. Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle #3) by Maggie Stiefvater

Amazon description:

Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs.

The trick with found things, though, is how easily they can be lost.

Friends can betray.

Mothers can disappear.

Visions can mislead.

Certainties can unravel.

Why I Bought It: I preordered this book about a million years ago and I can’t wait to read it. I love the Raven Cycle sooooo freakin’ much, and the ending of The Dream Thieves was a cliffhanger.

3. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

I didn’t ask for any of this. I didn’t ask to be some kind of hero. But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I’ve read the books. I’ve seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can’t be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There’s still a road of yellow brick—but even that’s crumbling.

What happened? Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I’m the other girl from Kansas. I’ve been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked. I’ve been trained to fight. And I have a mission: Remove the Tin Woodman’s heart. Steal the Scarecrow’s brain. Take the Lion’s courage. And—Dorothy must die.

Why I Bought It: I’ve seen a lot of reviews for this book floating around, and it caught my attention. I love twisted versions of fairytales, and this definitely fits the bill. I’ve already started reading it, and while the writing isn’t anything amazing, the story has pulled me in. I’m excited to see where it (and the rest of the series) goes.

4. Invisible (The Twixt, book 2) by Dawn Metcalf

 

Amazon description:

Some things lie beneath the surface.

Invisible.

With the power to change everything.

Joy Malone wants it all—power, freedom and the boyfriend who loves her. Yet when an unstoppable assassin is hired to kill her, Joy learns that being the girl with the Sight comes with a price that might be too high to pay. Love will be tested, lives will be threatened, and everyone Joy knows and cares about will be affected by her decision to stand by Ink or to leave the Twixt forever.

Her choice is balanced on a scalpel’s edge and the consequences will be more life-altering than anyone can guess.

Why I Bought It: I loved the first book in this series, Indelible. It was completely unique and kind of reminded me of a YA Alice in Wonderland. I honestly don’t remember much of the plot, but I remember really enjoying it, so I’m excited to reread book one and continue the series.

Book Haul #1

As a Back-to-School treat, my sister and I went to Vromans Bookstore and spent probably more money than we should have.

 

1. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Amazon description:

Anna can’t wait for her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a good job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she’s not too thrilled when her father unexpectedly ships her off to boarding school in Paris – until she meets Etienne St. Clair, the perfect boy. The only problem? He’s taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her crush back home. Will a year of romantic near-misses end in the French kiss Anna awaits?

I’ve seen a lot of excited review for the third book in this series, Isla and the Happily Ever After. I needed more Chicklit to look forward to, so I decided to buy book one.

2. Half a King by Joe Abercrombie

Amazon description:

“I swore an oath to avenge the death of my father. I may be half a man, but I swore a whole oath.”
 
Prince Yarvi has vowed to regain a throne he never wanted. But first he must survive cruelty, chains, and the bitter waters of the Shattered Sea. And he must do it all with only one good hand.

The deceived will become the deceiver.
 
Born a weakling in the eyes of his father, Yarvi is alone in a world where a strong arm and a cold heart rule. He cannot grip a shield or swing an axe, so he must sharpen his mind to a deadly edge.

The betrayed will become the betrayer.
 
Gathering a strange fellowship of the outcast and the lost, he finds they can do more to help him become the man he needs to be than any court of nobles could.

Will the usurped become the usurper?
 
But even with loyal friends at his side, Yarvi finds that his path may end as it began—in twists, and traps, and tragedy.

This book reminds me of The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner. I like this brand of not-really-historical-fiction-not-really-fantasy, and I want to read more. The title is interesting as well.

3. The Ring and the Crown by Melissa de la Cruz

Amazon description:

Magic is power, and power is magic… Once they were inseparable, just two little girls playing games in a mighty castle. Now Princess Marie-Victoria, heir to the mightiest empire in the world, and Aelwyn Myrddyn, a bastard mage, face vastly different futures. Quiet and gentle, Marie has never lived up to the ambitions of her mother, Queen Eleanor the Second. With the help of her Merlin, Eleanor has maintained a stranglehold on the world’s only source of magic. While the enchanters faithfully serve the crown, the sun will never set on the Franco-British Empire. As the annual London Season begins, the great and noble families across the globe flaunt their wealth and magic at parties, teas, and, of course, the lavish Bal du Drap d’Or, the Ball of the Gold Cloth. But the talk of the season is Ronan Astor, a social-climbing American with only her dazzling beauty to recommend her. Ronan is determined to make a good match to save her family’s position. But when she falls for a handsome rogue on the voyage over, her lofty plans are imperiled by her desires. Meanwhile, Isabelle of Orleans, daughter of the displaced French royal family, finds herself cast aside by Leopold, heir to the Prussian crown, in favor of a political marriage to Marie-Victoria. Isabelle arrives in the city bent on reclaiming what is hers. But Marie doesn’t even want Leopold—she has lost her heart to a boy the future queen would never be allowed to marry. When Marie comes to Aelwyn, desperate to escape a life without love, the girls form a perilous plan that endangers not only the entire kingdom but the fate of the monarchy.

Honestly, I haven’t really looked at this book yet. My sister read the first few pages and fell in love, so I’m sure it will be good.

4. The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Amazon description:

In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn’t—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met.

On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love.

I also read a very positive review for this book. The premise of this book sounds amazing and it’s a genre of books I haven’t read much of, so that will be interesting.

5. Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

I don’t think you guys need an amazon description for this one.

I’ve always love this story, but I’ve never read the book. I meant to read it over summer but I just didn’t get around to it. I got it off of PaperbackSwap.com (a website you guys should definitely check out).

 

The seventh Stephanie Plum book should arrive soon as well. I’m currently reading Insanity by Susan Vaught, which is creepy as hell.

 
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