When did we leave the book pages and our life became a live-action movie of a dystopian novel? Welcome my dear friends to this post of Milky Way of Books.
It feels like weeks since the movement restriction and ban of the movement were instituted here in Greece. We are all at home, not going anywhere, unless we have special forms filled or have sent to the system a special SMSM stating our destination.
I am also working from home so that's the good thing. Due to the businesses closing everywhere at least I am no afraid of my job.
On the bright side being at home has helped me with my GoodReads challenge, although my inspiration for writing blog reviews has diminished.
So in this little update, I was to say that the blog will go on a wee bit of a hiatus until the shitshow with the covid-19 passes and all of us return back to normal. I wish you all to be safe, stay at home with your loved ones and if you can enjoy a good book.
ARC Review: "Crystal Caged" (Air Awakens: Vortex Chronicles #5) by Elise Kova
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Summary from Goodreads
The highly anticipated and breathtaking finale of Air Awakens: Vortex Chronicles by USA Today bestselling author Elise Kova.
One way or another... she will be the end of the world.
With powers that weren't supposed to be touched by mortal hands, Vi Solaris is determined to free herself and the world from the deadly vortex it's trapped in. This mission has taken her to forbidden lands and has transformed her from a sheltered princess to a fearsome warrior.
But the ultimate triumph requires the ultimate sacrifice, forcing Vi to choose between the last tethers to her humanity and the very people she's sworn to protect.
Vi's story of magic, sacrifice, triumph, and love reaches its epic conclusion in Crystal Caged. Air Awakens: Vortex Chronicles should be read in order:
Vortex Visions Chosen Champion
Failed Future
Sovereign Sacrifice
Crystal Caged
BUY ON
REVIEW
I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review
An explosive ending people! After reading the Air Awakens series and now having finished this one nothing will ever be the same! Vi and Taavin have time to save the world from both nefarious villains and a vengeful god...or do they?
As they travel through time slowly trying to find the relics and also outpace their enemies, Vi will discover more new people and also meet old loved ones. I loved this book. It was amazing to read it and see how Elise managed to cram all these surprises together and make me laugh and cry and feel for Vi and Taavin.
This series was in one word spectacular!
About the author:
In her past lives, she has graduated from an MBA program, lived in Japan for a bit, and worked for a Fortune 500 technology company. However, she finds herself much happier in her current reincarnation as full-time author. When not writing, she can usually be found playing video games, drawing, watching anime, or talking with readers on social media. She's happy to call Saint Petersburg, Florida, her home, but is always looking forward to her next trip.
Waiting on Wednesday: "A Sky Beyond the Storm" (An Ember in the Ashes #4) by Sabaa Tahir
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here, at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. If you're continuing with WOW, feel free to link those up as well! Find out more here.
Summary from GoodReads
Prepare for the jaw-dropping finale of Sabaa Tahir's beloved New York Times bestselling An Ember in the Ashes fantasy series, and discover: Who will survive the storm?
Picking up just a few months after A Reaper at the Gates left off...
The long-imprisoned jinn are on the attack, wreaking bloody havoc in villages and cities alike. But for the Nightbringer, vengeance on his human foes is just the beginning.
At his side, Commandant Keris Veturia declares herself Empress, and calls for the heads of any and all who defy her rule. At the top of the list? The Blood Shrike and her remaining family.
Laia of Serra, now allied with the Blood Shrike, struggles to recover from the loss of the two people most important to her. Determined to stop the approaching apocalypse, she throws herself into the destruction of the Nightbringer. In the process, she awakens an ancient power that could lead her to victory--or to an unimaginable doom.
And deep in the Waiting Place, the Soul Catcher seeks only to forget the life--and love--he left behind. Yet doing so means ignoring the trail of murder left by the Nightbringer and his jinn. To uphold his oath and protect the human world from the supernatural, the Soul Catcher must look beyond the borders of his own land. He must take on a mission that could save--or destroy--all that he knows.
Picking up just a few months after A Reaper at the Gates left off...
The long-imprisoned jinn are on the attack, wreaking bloody havoc in villages and cities alike. But for the Nightbringer, vengeance on his human foes is just the beginning.
At his side, Commandant Keris Veturia declares herself Empress, and calls for the heads of any and all who defy her rule. At the top of the list? The Blood Shrike and her remaining family.
Laia of Serra, now allied with the Blood Shrike, struggles to recover from the loss of the two people most important to her. Determined to stop the approaching apocalypse, she throws herself into the destruction of the Nightbringer. In the process, she awakens an ancient power that could lead her to victory--or to an unimaginable doom.
And deep in the Waiting Place, the Soul Catcher seeks only to forget the life--and love--he left behind. Yet doing so means ignoring the trail of murder left by the Nightbringer and his jinn. To uphold his oath and protect the human world from the supernatural, the Soul Catcher must look beyond the borders of his own land. He must take on a mission that could save--or destroy--all that he knows.
I mean this finale? After everything, they've been through!?
ARC Review: "Where Dreams Descend" (Kingdom of Cards #1) by Janella Angeles
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Summary from GoodReads
In a city covered in ice and ruin, a group of magicians face off in a daring game of magical feats to find the next headliner of the Conquering Circus, only to find themselves under the threat of an unseen danger striking behind the scenes.
As each act becomes more and more risky and the number of missing magicians piles up, three are forced to reckon with their secrets before the darkness comes for them next.
The Star: Kallia, a powerful showgirl out to prove she’s the best no matter the cost
The Master: Jack, the enigmatic keeper of the club, and more than one lie told
The Magician: Demarco, the brooding judge with a dark past he can no longer hide
Where Dreams Descend is the startling and romantic first book in Janella Angeles’ debut Kingdom of Cards fantasy duology where magic is both celebrated and feared, and no heart is left unscathed.
PRE-ORDER ON
REVIEW
I received an e-ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
The Star, the Master, and the Magician aka Kallia, Jack and Demarco. What can I say about these characters and this mysterious world where magic comes at a price and there are far worse creatures lurking behind mirrors?
Where Dreams Descend is a fantasy set in a world where cities are both scary and magical and at the same time exists a forest that also tries to devour one of them. Into the forest Jack lives, having a private club rife with gambling and magic. With Kallia as his 'angel'.
When Kallia discovers treachery, she escapes and embarks to the city searching for a way to make her luck. A traveling circus and a Magician competition are the ways to do so.
Too bad women aren't allowed to be Magicians.
What I liked were the rife descriptions Janella Angeles gave to her world. I could feel the cold, the dread and the sparkle all at the same time with the characters that struggled to discover the mysteries behind the falling city.
But at the same time, I felt a little annoyed with Kallia. She was too cocky for me and sometimes she could have easily consulted with her new friends and find a solution to her problems. Demarco, who surely felt like a "Raoul" for me (from the Phantom of the Opera) also held more secrets and he could also be more developed. Thankfully the last pages of the book gave me a glimpse of the strong character he can grow to be.
I both loved and hated Jack. He is mysterious and definitely scary but in a way that reminded me both a stalker and a guardian. Since there was lots of worldbuilding here and not much revelations I'll anxiously wait to see what will happen in the second book since it ended in such a cliffhanger.
About the author:
Waiting on Wednesday: "Daring and the Duke" (The Bareknuckle Bastards #3) by Sarah MacLean
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here, at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. If you're continuing with WOW, feel free to link those up as well! Find out more here.
New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean returns with the much-anticipated final book in her Bareknuckle Bastards series, featuring a scoundrel duke and the powerful woman who brings him to his knees.
Grace Condry has spent a lifetime running from her past. Betrayed as a child by her only love and raised on the streets, she now hides in plain sight as queen of London’s darkest corners. Grace has a sharp mind and a powerful right hook and has never met an enemy she could not best...until the man she once loved returns.
Single-minded and ruthless, Ewan, Duke of Marwick, has spent a decade searching for the woman he never stopped loving. A long-ago gamble may have lost her forever, but Ewan will go to any lengths to win Grace back…and make her his duchess.
Reconciliation is the last thing Grace desires. Unable to forgive the past, she vows to take her revenge. But revenge requires keeping Ewan close, and soon her enemy seems to be something else altogether—something she can’t resist, even as he threatens the world she's built, the life she's claimed…and the heart she swore he'd never steal again.
Grace Condry has spent a lifetime running from her past. Betrayed as a child by her only love and raised on the streets, she now hides in plain sight as queen of London’s darkest corners. Grace has a sharp mind and a powerful right hook and has never met an enemy she could not best...until the man she once loved returns.
Single-minded and ruthless, Ewan, Duke of Marwick, has spent a decade searching for the woman he never stopped loving. A long-ago gamble may have lost her forever, but Ewan will go to any lengths to win Grace back…and make her his duchess.
Reconciliation is the last thing Grace desires. Unable to forgive the past, she vows to take her revenge. But revenge requires keeping Ewan close, and soon her enemy seems to be something else altogether—something she can’t resist, even as he threatens the world she's built, the life she's claimed…and the heart she swore he'd never steal again.
Blog Tour+ARC Review: Unforgiven (Loveless, Texas #2) by Jay Crownover
Saturday, February 29, 2020
We are so excited to celebrate the release of UNFORGIVEN by Jay Crownover with you today by participating in the blog tour! UNFORGIVEN is part of the Loveless, Texas series and you can grab your copy now. Join Jay's Group for details about all of her titles.
UNFORGIVEN by Jay Crownover
Loveless, Texas #2 | Available Now
------------
Grab your copy of UNFORGIVEN today!
Amazon | Nook | Apple Books | Kobo
About UNFORGIVEN:
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series comes an irresistible and suspenseful romance between a tough Texas Ranger and his first love--a woman in danger who insists she doesn't need his protection. Hill Gamble is a model lawman: cool and collected, with a confident swagger to boot. Too bad all that Texas charm hasn't gotten him anywhere in his personal life, especially since the only girl he ever loved has always been off-limits. But then Hill is assigned to investigate her father's mysterious death, and he's forced back to the town--and the woman--he left behind. When Hill left Loveless, he broke Kody Lawton's already battered heart. And now that he's working on her father's case, avoiding him is impossible. She can handle Hill and her unwanted feelings--until he puts his life on the line to protect her. Suddenly, Kody realizes that Hill could be taken away from her...for good. "Crownover delivers the goods."-Lori Wilde, New York Times bestselling author "Crownover writes cowboys that make you want to pack your bags in search of a small-town ranch!" -Melissa Foster, New York Times bestselling author Includes the bonus novella Cowboy to the Rescue by A.J. Pine!
Add UNFORGIVEN to your Goodreads TBR here!
REVIEW
I received an e-ARC from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Hill and Kody have a complicated past where both have loved each other from afar. It was complicated as Kody was involved with Hill’s younger brother, Aaron who was also dealing with demons of his own. As tragedy struck both Hill Kody kept their distance.
But murder has shaken Loveless Texas and both will have to confront both their enemies but also their growing attraction.
While I liked the book, it didn't do much in the point of action. I love how Jay develops her characters but I still felt that this book was a tiny bit short of action. Overall I enjoyed it, especially with the cliffhanger I got in the end of the book!
Hill and Kody have a complicated past where both have loved each other from afar. It was complicated as Kody was involved with Hill’s younger brother, Aaron who was also dealing with demons of his own. As tragedy struck both Hill Kody kept their distance.
But murder has shaken Loveless Texas and both will have to confront both their enemies but also their growing attraction.
While I liked the book, it didn't do much in the point of action. I love how Jay develops her characters but I still felt that this book was a tiny bit short of action. Overall I enjoyed it, especially with the cliffhanger I got in the end of the book!
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About JAY CROWNOVER:
Jay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, The Point Series, Breaking Point Series, and the Getaway Series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.
Release Day Blitz+Excerpt: "Unforgiven" (Loveless, Texas #2) by Jay Crownover
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
We are so excited to celebrate the release of UNFORGIVEN by Jay Crownover with you today! UNFORGIVEN is part of the Loveless, Texas series and you can grab your copy now. Join Jay's Group for details about all of her titles.
UNFORGIVEN by Jay Crownover
Loveless, Texas #2 | Available Now
------------
Grab your copy of UNFORGIVEN today!
Amazon | Nook | Apple Books | Kobo
About UNFORGIVEN:
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series comes an irresistible and suspenseful romance between a tough Texas Ranger and his first love--a woman in danger who insists she doesn't need his protection. Hill Gamble is a model lawman: cool and collected, with a confident swagger to boot. Too bad all that Texas charm hasn't gotten him anywhere in his personal life, especially since the only girl he ever loved has always been off-limits. But then Hill is assigned to investigate her father's mysterious death, and he's forced back to the town--and the woman--he left behind. When Hill left Loveless, he broke Kody Lawton's already battered heart.And now that he's working on her father's case, avoiding him is impossible. She can handle Hill and her unwanted feelings--until he puts his life on the line to protect her. Suddenly, Kody realizes that Hill could be taken away from her...for good. "Crownover delivers the goods."-Lori Wilde, New York Times bestselling author "Crownover writes cowboys that make you want to pack your bags in search of a small-town ranch!" -Melissa Foster, New York Times bestselling author Includes the bonus novella Cowboy to the Rescue by A.J. Pine!
Add UNFORGIVEN to your Goodreads TBR here!
Excerpt:
As I stood in the doorway, I took in the bar. It had a decent-size crowd considering it was a Tuesday night. The mix of patrons was as eclectic as the decor. It was all very Kody. The building was an old barn, so the interior had a lot of western elements, including old whiskey barrels for tables. But there were also brightly colored artwork and neon signs brightening up the space. Instead of the big lighting fixture in the middle of the bar being made out of antlers or wrought iron, it was an intricate mix of colorful glass beads. The whole thing was very country and western meets boho chic. The people filling up the seats were mostly Loveless residents. They included the guys gathered near the bar dressed in leather, covered in tattoos, and rocking club colors. The Sons of Sorrow motorcycle club had moved into the hill country on the outskirts of Loveless years after I’d left town. Now their flashy bikes and intimidating presence were as commonplace as pickup trucks and horse trailers. It made sense they liked Kody’s bar since it was between town and their clubhouse, but I didn’t have to like it.
I really didn’t like the way the large, dark-haired man leaning across the bar looked at Kody. I knew from Case that Palmer “Shot” Caldwell was the current president of the Texas branch of the club. I’d taken it upon myself to learn more about the man when he ended up in the middle of the last case that brought me home. Shot was a former marine, a decorated sniper, the son of the founder of the club, and someone Kody was inexplicably close to. Everything about her relationship with the biker set my teeth on edge and had me wanting to make a claim I had no right to stake.
As I stepped forward, the heavy wooden door shut with a bang behind me and drew the eyes of the people sitting closest to me. I saw a couple of looks of recognition, and some people purposely looking away. I nodded and touched the tip of my finger to the brim of my hat in a fairly polite greeting. These people weren’t my friends. No one in this town had tried to help my brother when he needed it the most, and I would never forget that. Unlike the Lawton kids, I’d left Loveless in the rearview mirror and planned on never looking back. All of my worst memories were here. So was the one person I wanted more than anything but knew I could never have.
Under the dim bar lights, I met Kody’s gaze across the room. She looked pale. Her wild mane of multicolored blond hair was messier than usual, and she appeared to be swaying slightly every time she let go of her hold on the bar. Her eyes narrowed, and at first, I thought she was giving me a dirty look, but the next instant her entire body lurched and she toppled over, listing to the side and disappearing behind the wide, long bar.
My heart stopped for a split second and I had to bite my tongue to stop from screaming her name. I found myself in dangerous, deadly situations due to my job, but I couldn’t recall a single instance when I had been as terrified as I was in that moment Kody went down.
I heard the biker shout her name and was vaguely aware of him kicking back his bar stool as he jumped to his feet. I was moving before I had time to weigh whether it was a good idea. Kody didn’t like it when I was in her space. She’d told me she hated me and ordered me to leave her alone on more than one occasion, but none of that stopped me from reaching the bar in record time. It didn’t slow me down when I planted a hand near the
biker’s empty drink and vaulted over the top of the bar.
I landed on the floor in front of Kody, ignoring the shouts and commotion coming from all directions. I waved off the bartender hovering uncertainly behind Kody and quietly asked, “Are you okay, Kody?”
The answer was obvious when, instead of biting my head off, her big, bright-green eyes flooded with tears and her shoulders started to shake with silent sobs. Having people burst into tears as I was talking to them, was a pretty common occurrence considering my line of work. I’d developed a natural immunity to tears of all kinds. But not to Kody’s. Hearing her breath catch and watching her eyelashes get spiky and damp as she struggled to hold the tears back made my heart twist painfully in my chest.
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About JAY CROWNOVER:
Jay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, The Point Series, Breaking Point Series, and the Getaway Series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.Connect with her: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Reader Group
Release Day Blitz+ARC Review: "Finding Him" (Covet #2) by Rachel Van Dyken
A shattered family, broken hearts, and healing love.
Finding Him, an all-new standalone in the Covet duet by New York Times bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken is LIVE!
Coming out of a coma was one hell of a wake-up call. While I was in the dark, my estranged twin brother, Bridge, had replaced me in the company I owned and swept up my fiancée in the takeover. With my ruthless reputation, can I blame them for falling in love? I have to look long and hard at where I’ve been and where I’m headed. Alone time? The universe has other plans.
Our family’s secluded Vermont cabin comes with a gorgeous—if at first unwelcoming—surprise. She’s renter Keaton Westbrook, a social media superstar struggling with her own private grief. As a winter storm bears down, we’ve found something to keep us warm—an intimacy neither of us expected and both of us need.
After we say goodbye, what happens then? Keaton and I are longing to reconcile with our painful pasts. I can’t bear to do it without her. Is it too much to ask of fate to give us a second chance at life and love?
Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QZWRAK
Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/FindingHimRVD
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/36BuTSB
REVIEW
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The sequel to the Cover duology follows Jullian as he tries to come in terms with the tragedy of the first book. I loved how Rachel gave insight to both his and Keaton's emotions, how grief and tragedy can separate but also bring people closer. This sweet sequel was equal parts funny, swoony and emotional.
The ending was very satisfying too! You can't read a Rachel van Dyken book and not become emotional!
The sequel to the Cover duology follows Jullian as he tries to come in terms with the tragedy of the first book. I loved how Rachel gave insight to both his and Keaton's emotions, how grief and tragedy can separate but also bring people closer. This sweet sequel was equal parts funny, swoony and emotional.
The ending was very satisfying too! You can't read a Rachel van Dyken book and not become emotional!
About Rachel:
Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.
She keeps her home in Idaho with her husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!
Connect with Rachel:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelVanDyken
ARC Review: "Wild at Heart" (The Simple Wild #2) by K.A. Tucker
Monday, February 24, 2020
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Summary from GoodReads
From the internationally best-selling author of The Simple Wild comes the continuation of a woman’s journey to Alaska and a life she never imagined for herself.
Calla Fletcher returns to Toronto a different person, struggling to find direction and still very much in love with the rugged bush pilot she left behind. When Jonah arrives on her doorstep with a proposition she can’t dismiss, she takes the leap and rushes back to Alaska to begin their exciting future together.
But Calla soon learns that even the best intentions can lead to broken promises, and that compromise comes with a hefty price—a log cabin in interior rural Alaska that feels as isolating as the western tundra.
With Jonah gone more than he’s home, one neighbor who insists on transforming her into a true Alaskan, and another who seems more likely to shoot her than come to her aid, Calla grapples with forging her own path. In a world with roaming wildlife that has her constantly watching over her shoulder and harsh conditions that stretch far beyond the cold, dark, winter months, just stepping outside her front door can be daunting.
This is not the future Calla had in mind, leaving her to fear that perhaps she is doomed to follow in her mother’s fleeing footsteps after all.
BUY ON
REVIEW
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Calla's and Jonah's story continues in this much-anticipated sequel! To be honest I had hoped for one after the ending of the first book and I was glad that K.A. Tucker delved more into their story! Th story is told in months and shows both the beauty and the hardships of living in Alaska and how both characters try to settle and overcome their struggles.
And it was also exciting to see the other characters that complemented this amazing story of love and slightly adventure.
"Wild at Heart" was an amazing book and I can't recommend it enough!
And don't miss the first book of this amazing series!
About the author:
She is the internationally bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series, He Will Be My Ruin, Until It Fades, Keep Her Safe, The Simple Wild, Be the Girl, and Say You Still Love Me. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Oprah Mag, and First for Women. She has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance 2013 for TEN TINY BREATHS and Best Romance 2018 for THE SIMPLE WILD. KEEP HER SAFE made Suspense Magazine's Best of 2018 list for Romantic Suspense.
K.A. Tucker currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto.
Join Tucker's Troop on Facebook! >>
https://www.facebook.com/groups/14685...
Signup for her newsletter >> https://www.katuckerbooks.com/newslet...
Blog...and life update!
Saturday, February 22, 2020
Hello, my beautiful souls of the blogsphere! Alex is here after this...blog/radio silence.
The truth is that January and the beginning of this month were pretty hard for me. I don't usually want to vent on my blog, which is mostly a place to connect and share our love for books, but I was very frustrated with my surroundings.
And while I have a very, very loving and supporting family, I still needed more. And that reflected here. Almost no blog spots and no energy for book reviews.
Ok not to the point of that but you get my meaning! Apart from holidays and self-inducting hiatus it never happened before.
But anyway the point is that when you have people around you who support and are there for you anything can be resolved.
On the bright side, by looong job-hunting finally bore results! I finally got a job! And I couldn't be happier! Which also means that Milky Way of Books will have to adapt.
Will that decrease my posts?
In a way yes. I'll have to coordinate any new posts according to the days I work and how often I finish the book/s I decide to read per week.
I' also continue to participate in book blogs since it's an activity I enjoy so much!
And yes I'll defenitely be around in order to share anything bookish related!
So this is new era for the blog and me and I'll surely be around for all of you!
I wish you the best and I hope you'll enjoy the upcoming reviews I have planned!
ARC Review: "The Glass Magician" by Caroline Stevermer
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Summary from GoodReads
A gilded menagerie rules a Gilded Age: Bears and Bulls are not only real, but dominate humanity in The Glass Magician, an amazing historical fantasy by Caroline Stevermer
What if you could turn into the animal of your heart anytime you want?
With such power, you’d enter the cream of New York society, guaranteed a rich life among the Vanderbilts and Astors, movers and shakers who all have the magical talent and own the nation on the cusp of a new century.
You could. If you were a Trader.
You could. If you were a Trader.
Pity you’re not.
Thalia is a Solitaire, one of the masses who don’t have the animalistic magic. But that is not to say that she doesn’t have talent of another kind—she is a rising stage magician who uses her very human skills to dazzle audiences with amazing feats of prestidigitation. Until one night when a trick goes horribly awry…and Thalia makes a discovery that changes her entire world. And sets her on a path that could bring her riches.
Or kill her.
PRE-ORDER ON
REVIEW
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story carries an air of New York somewhere between the 1800s-1900s. In a world where shapeshifting carries prestige and riches, Thalia lives in the show business and tries to prove that being a simple human can also bring joy and magic.
When rivals and secrets try to destroy Thalia and her friends, she will race against all odds to discover who framed her friend and also discover the power within her. While the plot reminded me of Muggles and magicians the idea behind the book was interesting. There's a hint of urban fantasy and the transformations were great.
But I didn't feel invested in the plot and on many occasions I felt that Thalia was thrown into all the hardships of the world, with almost no one to help her. Not to mention that the centuries mentioned above didn't work in favor of women's rights.
Also despite the great magic system and classes, those weren't as detailed explained as I hoped and I ended up guessing most of the time.
Overall, this is an interesting book, and I hope you'll enjoy it.
About the author:
ARC Review: "Disavow" (The Dumonts #3) by Karina Halle
Monday, February 10, 2020
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Summary from GoodReads
From New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle comes a seductive novel of riches, romance, and redemption.
In the Dumont fashion empire, no heir has a reputation as decadent, arrogant, and ruthless as that of Pascal Dumont. Every transgression, an indecent pleasure. Every woman, a conquest. And none is more challenging than his new personal assistant, Gabrielle Caron. She’s defiant, alluring, and a mystery Pascal can’t wait to solve.
A former family servant and daughter of the head maid, Gabrielle’s returned as suddenly as she left eight years ago. No longer an awkward teen, the ethereal young beauty has amassed a wealth of resolve. She’ll need it. In hire to the devilishly charming scion, she’s come back for one reason only. And she dare not whisper why.
But as the nights grow more intimate at the Dumont maison, Gabrielle realizes that the last man she believed in is the one man she can trust with her secrets. For Pascal, falling in love means more than his own redemption. It could mean saving Gabrielle’s very life as they confront a dark and scandalous past…together.
PRE-ORDER ON
REVIEW
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have to admit that I didn't expect to like Pascal in his book. Knowing him from what he did, or didn't do, in the previous books I was prepared for lots of tongue-lashing and humiliation. So I found it poetic that he would meet Gabrielle, a woman with her own secrets and pain, who taught him what it means to be humane and accepting your mistakes.
The romance was signature Karina Halle, the setting also gorgeous, from Paris to the Canary islands, and the ending very action-packed and with memorable moments. Pascal's book ends this series in high fashion and I couldn't have asked for a better ending!
And don't miss the other two books of the series!
About the author:
Halle is represented by Root Literary and is both self-published and published by Atria Books/Simon & Schuster and Hachette. Her books have been published in France, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Hungary, Brazil, Bulgaria, Israel and Croatia.
You can also hit her up on Instagram at @authorHalle, on Twitter at @MetalBlonde and on Facebook. You can also visit www.authorkarinahalle.com and sign up for the newsletter for news, excerpts, previews, private book signing sales and more.
ARC Review: "Deathless divide" (Dread Nation #2) by Justina Ireland
Friday, February 7, 2020
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Summary from GoodReads
The sequel to Dread Nation is a journey of revenge and salvation across a divided America.
After the fall of Summerland, Jane McKeene hoped her life would get simpler: Get out of town, stay alive, and head west to California to find her mother.
But nothing is easy when you're a girl trained in putting down the restless dead, and a devastating loss on the road to a protected village called Nicodermus has Jane questioning everything she thought she knew about surviving in 1880's America.
What's more, this safe haven is not what it appears - as Jane discovers when she sees familiar faces from Summerland amid this new society. Caught between mysteries and lies, the undead, and her own inner demons, Jane soon finds herself on a dark path of blood and violence that threatens to consume her.
But she won't be in it alone.
Katherine Deveraux never expected to be allied with Jane McKeene. But after the hell she has endured, she knows friends are hard to come by - and that Jane needs her, too, whether Jane wants to admit it or not.
Watching Jane's back, however, is more than she bargained for, and when they both reach a breaking point, it's up to Katherine to keep hope alive - even as she begins to fear that there is no happily-ever-after for girls like her.
BUY ON
REVIEW
I received an e-ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say that Justina Ireland makes a glorious comeback with the second and final book in the Dread Nation series! The friendship, the girl power, and the plot twist! Holy wow I didn't see all these clues coming together and exploding like a bomb!
I have to say that while Jane kind of annoyed me I loved Katherine's POV! She is smart, reliable and also trusted all the right people! You won't regret reading this!
About the author:
ARC Review: "Infinity Son" "Infinity Cycle #1) by Adam Silvera
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Summary from GoodReads
Balancing epic and intensely personal stakes, bestselling author Adam Silvera’s Infinity Son is a gritty, fast-paced adventure about two brothers caught up in a magical war generations in the making.
Growing up in New York, brothers Emil and Brighton always idolized the Spell Walkers—a vigilante group sworn to rid the world of specters. While the Spell Walkers and other celestials are born with powers, specters take them, violently stealing the essence of endangered magical creatures.
Brighton wishes he had a power so he could join the fray. Emil just wants the fighting to stop. The cycle of violence has taken a toll, making it harder for anyone with a power to live peacefully and openly. In this climate of fear, a gang of specters has been growing bolder by the day.
Then, in a brawl after a protest, Emil manifests a power of his own—one that puts him right at the heart of the conflict and sets him up to be the heroic Spell Walker Brighton always wanted to be.
Brotherhood, love, and loyalty will be put to the test, and no one will escape the fight unscathed.
BUY ON
REVIEW
I received an e-ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
This was a well-executed book with fantasy, magic the bonds of brotherhood and vigilante books. You can never miss with an Adam Silvera book. I liked the plot and while I found it all very interesting I struggled with the multiple POVs, something I don't usually have an issue with but in this case I did.
But it will surely appeal to those who love Adam Silvera and his books.
About the author:
He writes full-time in New York City and is tall for no reason.
Blog Tour+Excerpt+Giveaway+ARC Review: "Below" (North #1) by Alexandria Warwick
Monday, February 3, 2020
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Synopsis:
From the author of The Demon Race comes
a YA dark fantasy series inspired by Inuit mythology.
In the heart of the frigid North, there
lives a demon known as the Face Stealer. Eyes, nose, mouth—nothing and no one
is safe. Once he returns to his lair, or wherever it is he dwells, no one ever
sees those faces again.
When tragedy strikes, Apaay embarks on
a perilous journey to find her sister's face—yet becomes trapped in a labyrinth
ruled by a sinister girl named Yuki. The girl offers Apaay a deal: find her
sister's face hidden within the labyrinth, and she will be set free. But the
labyrinth, and those who inhabit it, is not as it seems. Especially Numiak:
darkly beautiful, powerful, whose motives are not yet clear.
With time slipping, Apaay is determined
to escape the deadly labyrinth with her sister's face in hand. But in Yuki's
harsh world, Apaay will need all her strength to survive.
Yuki only plays the games she wins.
BOOK LINKS
EXCERPT
Original Source: http://www.alexandriawarwick.com/below-chapter-1/
CHAPTER 1
A white silence blanketed the land. Newly fallen snow,
hushed. Pure, crystalline ice hardening against the pale bark of the trees. The
chilled air that swelled with the slow, sleeping breaths of a world that had
yet to wake.
And a girl cloaked in heavy furs, waiting.
Apaay studied the breathing hole in the ice. Her joints
ached with cold and the hours she’d crouched, alone save her dog Nakaluq, who
lay quietly curled by her side. It was the third time this week she had come to
the frozen plain that was Naga, the Eastern Sea, and she vowed it to be the
last. Above, the sky was a spill of black ink. The long night was only in its
first month, which left five months of darkness to endure. The moon, a shard of
pale light, cast a watery sheen upon the ground. It was not enough.
Keeping her attention on the breathing hole, Apaay
slowly removed the harpoon slung across the bulk of her fur parka. She supposed
there were worse things in life than lack of sunlight. Here on the frozen sea,
she knew true peace. The sea was sleeping beneath the ice. And the seals were,
too.
Her gaze slid to Nakaluq’s still form. Unsurprisingly,
he was sleeping as well. She nudged his flank with one of her sealskin boots.
“Wake up.” A white cloud streamed from her lips.
His eyebrows twitched, and he curled his body tighter,
bushy tail draped across his nose. A clear dismissal that he should not be
disturbed.
Apaay rolled her eyes, for this was his absolute
favorite game: feed me, and I will awaken. “You’re supposed to be my lookout.
You know, to alert me when danger is near?”
One of his large, triangular ears flicked west, toward
the direction of her village. No sound, no danger. He grumbled, burrowing
further into his warmth. The wind had begun to pick up, and it was cutting.
“I guess you don’t want your treat then,” she crooned.
Immediately, Nakaluq sprang to his feet, prancing around
as if to say, Look at me, I’m awake!
Apaay snorted at the ridiculous display before wrapping
an arm around his neck, pulling him close, and pressing a brief kiss to his
snout. His pelt was a perfect reflection of the tundra—white flecked with gray.
Snow on stone. “Sit still. You’re making me tired.”
Nakaluq side-eyed her.
“Don’t look at me that way.” The look that implied maybe
she wouldn’t be so tired if she were dreaming with Mama, Papa, and Eska in
their ice house, warm and safe in slumber.
Dreaming. What a lovely notion.
It was simple, really. They needed to eat. They needed
clothes, tools, oil for their lamps. Over the last few years, the seal
population had dwindled, and she wondered if someone had disrespected the old
rules. The Sea Mother did not take offense lightly. Without her favor, the
marine life would travel elsewhere for the remainder of the season, proving for
a difficult hunt. Decades had passed since anyone had sighted the Sea Mother
beyond her watery silence. The sea grew restless.
Apaay did as much as she could, but often it was not
enough. Her earlier attempts at harpooning a seal had ended in failure. The
first time, she had struck too soon. The second, too late. Like this,
Eska would say. Try again. And Apaay loved Eska. She did. But she could
love her sister with the whole of her heart while also wishing things did not
come so easy for her.
When she thought deeper on the issue, it was actually
quite ironic. Her parents would be displeased to know she was out here alone,
and yet who would come, if not her?
As if sensing her sadness, Nakaluq sidled closer.
“You know how Papa is,” she told her friend. “How can he
expect to hunt with a broken leg? Or Mama, already busy with sewing and cooking
and cleaning?”
A heavy paw settled on top of Apaay’s hand, the rough
pads scraping against her mittens. She squeezed it. “Or Eska, too busy drooling
over Lusa?” Her sister scowled whenever Apaay teased her about it, though
admittedly she did drool over the girl. A lot.
Leaning close, Apaay whispered to Nakaluq, “Though not
as much as you.”
The dog huffed as if offended.
Her smile fell as she again examined the breathing hole,
huddling only a few feet beyond its slick edge. Black water struck the hard,
icy rim. She did not have to worry. Even when her breathing shallowed out, she
did not have to worry. This time of year, the ice was frozen four feet solid.
There would be no cracks.
Still, she shuffled back to put another foot of distance
between herself and the ledge. Her fingers tightened on the harpoon, the head a
glint of carved ivory, the line curling along the ground. Drifting snowflakes
clung to the ruff of wolverine fur encircling her hood.
Movement in the water.
Apaay held herself absolutely still. She was night, and
snow, and hard, glinting ice.
The seal’s slick head breached the dark liquid, whiskers
twitching, its skin a mottled blue-gray. Its pupils were wet and black, no
white to see.
It hadn’t yet spotted her. As he’d been trained to do,
Nakaluq remained motionless beside her, little more than a boulder among the
ice as she lifted her harpoon in an unhurried motion so the animal wouldn’t
startle. It would only take a few breaths before submerging again.
Her harpoon came down.
The seal vanished in a splash of water.
Apaay swore and lurched to her feet. Two hours of
waiting and what did she have to show for it? Nothing. Her stomach hollowed out
from the sense of failure, the anxiety of her family’s diminishing food stores,
which would not last another week.
She waited another thirty minutes despite the
unlikelihood of the seal returning. It would instead travel to another
breathing hole, one without a sharp stick aimed at its head. The nearest one
lay a half-mile north and wasn’t frequented as often as this one. It would be
so nice to return home and slip beneath her furs. Rest, refuel, maybe even
dream.
But they needed to eat.
Apaay whistled for Nakaluq as she approached the sled
parked some yards away. Grabbing the harness, she looped it around his body and
front legs so it hit him high on the chest. He was of stocky build, with
powerful haunches built for endurance and a dense, double coat.
“My sweet, sweet boy,” she murmured, rubbing behind his
ears. He nuzzled his nose against her chest like he used to do as a pup. The
memory softened her hunting frustrations, and she buried her face in his neck
before mounting the sled.
Two short whistles sent him north, the sled’s
walrus-bone runners cutting lines through the thin layer of powder dusting the
frozen sea. The runners’ smoothness pleased her, as they had only been recently
completed after she had run the last sled, quite literally, into the ground. An
accident, she’d claimed, but Papa had been furious nonetheless. Never one to
waste anything, she had recycled the old material to build a swifter, lighter
sled body, large enough to lash multiple seals to its base.
Above, the stars were hard pinpricks of light. The wind
was a brutal, shredding force, stinging her cheeks and eyes, scouring her
rough, chapped lips. There was nothing that was not hardened or chiseled in the
North. It was a land of contrasts, white and black and gray, uncolored,
unhospitable to all except those who had been born here. This was why Apaay
admired the land. And this was also why she feared it.
With the temperature far below freezing, the second
breathing hole had already iced over when she arrived. Using the tip of her
harpoon, Apaay chipped away the thin film, the splintering sound causing her to
flinch. She had just settled down to wait when a whistle carried high upon the
wind. Three short bursts, followed by a longer note—the signal for friend.
“Apaay!”
Uh-pai.
Two figures approached, their silhouettes bulked in
thick layers. Nakaluq perked up, and his tail, curled over his back in alertness,
began to wag back and forth.
Apaay waved to Eska and her good friend, Chena. “Over
here!”
They joined her at the breathing hole, her younger
sister ruffling Nakaluq’s fur in greeting. “You know most people are asleep
right now,” Eska said with amusement. “Right?”
Her mouth widened, more smirk than smile. The world was
cold, but in her heart, she felt warm. “You know I’m not most people.”
“Trust me, I’m aware.”
Her attention slid to Chena, who was unusually silent,
her small mouth grim. Silver limned the soft line of her friend’s jaw.
Apaay said to her sister, “You speak as if that’s a bad
thing.”
“Not everyone is so sure of themselves.”
A snort sprang free at how untrue that statement was.
What was more, that Eska would think such a thing. Apaay was stumbling along in
life, chasing at the heels of those ahead. She shrugged. “Maybe. But let’s talk
about what’s really important: my new joke.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“What did the shark say to the whale?”
Eska made a show of thinking deep thoughts, even though
she probably already knew the answer. It was a game they sometimes played. Who
could think of the most cringe-worthy joke? “I give up.”
“What are you blubbering about!” She snorted out a
laugh. “Get it? Blubbering? Because—because the whale has blubber—”
Eska sighed, her face softening with affection. “That
was terrible, you know.”
Apaay had always thought her sister beautiful, even as a
child, and for the longest time, Apaay hadn’t the words to describe why that
beauty was admired. People would mention how bright her eyes were, how smooth
and round her cheeks were, how precious was her dimpled chin, her mouth like a
rosy bud.
But now she understood what had eluded her for years. In
a land that knew no warmth, Eska exuded what people craved: light, and a
feeling of comfort, and peace.
“Anyway,” Apaay said, lifting her eyebrows, “you’re one
to talk. Why are you out now, except to annoy me? You should be in bed.”
“Oh.” Her sister ran a mitten over Nakaluq’s back and
sent Chena an unreadable look. “No reason.” She glanced at the sled, its empty
base. “Any luck?”
Apaay offered a brief, close-mouthed smile, trying to
ignore the sudden tension she felt at so few words. “Not yet.” Her sister
didn’t know how truly dire their situation was, and she would like to keep it
that way.
“If you need a break soon, let me know.”
And risk Eska taking the kill? “I’m fine, but thank
you.” She turned to Chena. A definite paleness washed out the warmer undertones
of her skin. It was concerning, but not uncommon. It was easy to catch a cold
at this time of year. “How is Muktuk doing?” Apaay asked, speaking of Chena’s
brother. “Has he learned the name of his new baby yet?” She tucked her braid
back inside her hood.
“Not yet. My father is supposed to arrive sometime this
week.”
Apaay nodded and returned to studying the breathing
hole. Chena’s father had traveled to one of the neighboring villages, where his
mother—Chena’s grandmother—currently lived. She and the elders would assemble
to discuss the baby’s name-soul. This was the Analak way.
Someday when she was old enough, Apaay hoped for the
opportunity in choosing a baby’s name-soul too. Names did not simply continue
individual lives. They continued the life of the community. When the village
celebrated a birth, they both celebrated a new person as well as the return of
the namesake, or the deceased person from whom the name-soul was taken. These
names, these kinship ties, were the threads that bound their community
together.
After a few minutes, Eska said, with an absurd amount of
nonchalance, “Pana was asking for you last night.”
She very nearly gagged. “Ugh. Spare me.”
“Apaay!”
“What? The man is softer than whale intestines. And
anyway—” She slid her harpoon free as the water rippled, lowering her voice.
“—he doesn’t actually like me. He just wants to . . . you know.”
Chena murmured, “You won’t even give him a chance?”
Apaay shot her friend a cutting look. The only reason
she’d spent time with him was because he sometimes gave her the smaller of the
seals if he killed two. But they didn’t need to know that. She had no patience
for softness like Pana. It was a hard, jagged world out there. The North would
carve you up, spit you out if you let it. There was no place for vulnerability
on the ice. “Not all of us have someone like Silla in our lives. And can you
both please lower your voices? You’ll scare the seals away.”
At the young man’s name, a flush deepened the bronze of
Chena’s cheeks. “Right. Silla.” Strained laughter bubbled up, and she clamped
her lips together.
Apaay looked at her friend. Really looked at her.
She was about to ask what was wrong when Eska stated loudly, “It’s probably for
the best. No doubt you’d chew Pana up if given the chance.”
It was not untrue. “Yes, he’d sob into his bear skins
and then where would we be? Now hush. A seal’s coming.”
“Apaay—”
The ripple flattened into calmness, and Apaay waited,
hoping a seal would breach its warm, liquid safety for the chance to take a
breath of air, but their voices must have chased it back into the water’s deep.
Apaay sat back on her heels, glaring at her sister.
At least Eska had the grace to look apologetic. “Sorry.”
Apaay took a breath to quell her frustration. Since the
animal would probably not return, she’d have to come back tomorrow. Tonight,
she would go home empty-handed. Again.
Eska reached for the harpoon. “I can get a seal for you.
I know of another place—”
“I can manage on my own,” Apaay said, snatching it away.
“I’ll come back tomorrow.”
“But the breathing hole isn’t far.”
“I said I’ll come back tomorrow.”
Something about Eska shrank, became small. “I’m just
trying to help.”
Apaay hated herself for saying it, because it had been
an accident, and Eska was kind, and her sister, whom she loved more than
anything, but she said, “You’ve helped enough, don’t you think?”
Chena glanced between them, clearly uncomfortable.
“Apaay—”
“What?” If she had come all this way, done all this
work, it was not so Eska could take the kill from her. Call it selfishness, but
for once, just once, Apaay wanted to prove she was as equally capable a
hunter as Eska. The seal would be hers. Hers to kill, hers to claim. “Every day
that passes is a day closer to starvation. So I’m sorry if I want to make sure
we have something to eat next week. If it had been quiet as I had asked, maybe
our problem would be solved.” It was hurtful, what she said. Disappointment in
her performance made her cruel when she should be kind. “But I guess we’ll
never know.”
Eska’s eyes swam with unshed tears. Saltwater lapped
against the ice, gently. “I’m going to go home then,” she whispered.
Apaay nodded, looking to the tops of her boots. “I think
that would be best.”
“I am sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t know about—I
didn’t know.” With one last look to Chena, she left. Darkness soon swallowed
her.
A few minutes passed before Chena spoke. Her face was
grave. “That was a bit harsh, don’t you think? She’s only fourteen.”
“I know that, but everything comes so easy to
her.” The last word she choked off. Apaay blinked rapidly against the sting in
her eyes. Truly, it wasn’t Eska’s fault. All Apaay asked for was a chance.
“Every time I fail to bring in a seal, or forget to replenish the oil stores,
or ruin some other task, it’s another mark against me. You know I want to lead
the hunt this summer.”
The men had long ago told her no, and yet she was a burr
they could not remove, clinging to their clothes, blowing back in with the
force of a blizzard whenever one of the younger men puffed out his chest,
claiming this was not her place.
Apaay knew why they told her no. She was too flighty,
some claimed. Too lost, others said. A leader commanded respect, exuded
confidence, and built trust, acting as a beacon in the dark. Why would they
ever choose someone like her, unreliable and drifting, to lead? To which Apaay
would counter, how could she prove herself if not given the chance?
“You are under a lot of pressure,” Chena agreed. “It
would make anyone’s patience short.”
But. She heard a but in there.
Apaay rubbed a palm over her face, dislodging the ice
that had condensed around her nose and mouth and eyes. Guilt swam through her.
“I’ll apologize.” Chena was right. She had acted unnecessarily harsh toward
Eska out of her own insecurity.
With the hunt a failure, they decided to return home.
Nakaluq hauled the sled while she and Chena traveled on foot until they reached
the shore. A cairn, as tall and wide as a man, the stones in browns and grays
and stacked atop one another, signified the break between sea and unsea, as
well as marked the direction to their community.
Snow crunched and caved beneath their boots. This was a
still, silent land. Its hush sank deep into the earth, rooting down with those
of the bracken and the trees. Their village was located two miles southwest.
Boreal forest, thick and lush and evergreen, lay to the south. Open tundra lay
to the north.
Chena, normally doing everything she could to fill the
silence, was unusually quiet. A slight furrowing of her brow had Apaay resting
a palm on her friend’s arm. “Is everything all right? You don’t look well.”
Chena shook her head, gaze elsewhere.
Apaay pulled her friend to a stop and turned the shorter
girl to face her. “There is something wrong.” The realization was bright.
“Apaay—”
“Tell me.”
Chena’s glare cut through the gloom. Apaay noticed her
fingers digging into her friend’s shoulders, and she loosened her grip.
“Sorry.” There was something between them she couldn’t see, filling up the
space, pressing out her certainty and ease. The regret she felt for snapping at
Eska didn’t help.
A shuddering sigh slipped through the chill air. Chena
rubbed her mittens over her face, cheeks red and chapped from the wind. “It’s
about Silla. We slept together last month.”
“So?”
“As in we slept together.”
Oh. Oh.
“Was it—I mean—”
Chena cupped her elbows in her palms. “He was good to
me.” Her throat worked, as if she wished to hide these words by swallowing them
down. “But I realized afterward I wasn’t wearing my pregnancy charm.”
Her mouth parted in understanding as her stomach
dropped. And dropped. She glanced at Chena’s belly, its softness shielded
behind layers of fur. Life swelled beneath it and would one day open its eyes
to the world.
Clearing her throat, she looked away, unsure of what to
say.
“Eska told me to come to you,” Chena whispered. “I need
help. I don’t know what to do.” The words wavered, a touch desperate. “We’re
not even married. I’m not sure if he’ll be able to support me and the child. I
mean, he’s a capable hunter, a hard worker, and while he’s excited to be a
father, I can’t—I mean—” Her eyes glittered, so dark, so very wide. “I’m not
ready for this.”
Apaay pulled her friend along, wanting to keep their
blood flowing. Chena, pregnant. She could hardly wrap her mind around it.
They walked for perhaps half a mile in silence before
Apaay asked, “Have you told your mother?”
“No. I’m afraid to.”
The hill they climbed steepened, but once they reached
the top they’d be able to see their village. Apaay glanced over her shoulder to
check on Nakaluq and was not surprised to find him only a few feet behind, the
sled’s runners having carved deep tracks into the snow.
Apaay said, through shallow huffs, “I think you should
tell her.”
“What if she hates me?”
“She won’t hate you. She loves you. You’re her
daughter.”
“Yes, and now a pregnant one.”
Reaching down, Apaay squeezed Chena’s hand. So delicate,
so small. “I know it doesn’t feel like a joyous occasion, but it will. You’re
going to be a mother.” Not even the worthiest of hunters could overshadow the
act of raising and caring for another. “You also have me. If there’s anything
you need, I will do whatever I can to help.”
Chena nodded, the lines bracketing her mouth easing into
smoothness. A moment later, her nose crinkled in distaste. She lifted it to the
wind. “Do you smell that?”
The scent hit as they crested the hill: sharp and acrid,
unclean. Nestled in between clumps of frozen trees, sixty ice houses lay like
small mounds of snow upon the ground. Except they were not greeted by
glittering white domes. Gray streaks sullied the ice—a spattering of filth. The
world rained ash as black smoke hissed from down below, pouring into the sky
like blood from an open wound.
REVIEW
I received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A book inspired by the Innuit mythology? Yes, this is something you don't see every day and it's also the reason that made this particular story very enjoyable. I loved the setting, the struggles, and the trials Apaay had to face in order to find the demon who stole her sister's face and rescue her sister.
It is a slow read too but it picks up quickly and you don't feel slowed down. You are going to enjoy this, I'm sure.
AUTHOR INFORMATION
AUTHOR LINKS
Website: http://www.alexandriawarwick.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexandriawarwick/
GIVEAWAY
Prize #1: Win (1) signed paperback copy of
BELOW by Alexandria Warwick (US Only)
Prize #2: Win (1) e-copy of BELOW by
Alexandria Warwick (INT)
Starts: 29th January 2020
Ends: 12th February 2020
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