Friday #56, #44 Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

The Friday #56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice. Join in every Friday and share an excerpt from a book you've been reading. Here are the rules:

• Grab a book 
• Turn to page 56 or 56% in your e-reader
• Find any sentence (or a few, don't spoil it) 

**Be sure to post the links to your Friday #56 below!

Happy Reading!!

Series: The Grishaverse #1 

# of Pages: 358

Publication: June 5th, 2012

Source: Purchased Copy 

Genre: YA Fantasy 
Amazon | Goodreads | Book Depository 

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee. Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart. Shadow and Bone is the first installment in Leigh Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy.

So this week I'm reading a book that I have to finish for my young adult materials class. I'm really excited about it because it's already been fast paced and engaging. I'm hoping to finish it soon and I hope that I can go ahead and move on to the next couple of books.

"I considered refusing, but what was the point? I shrugged awkwardly out of my coat and let the Healer ease my shirt over my shoulders. The Corporalki were the Order of the Living and the Dead. I tried to focus on the living part, but I'd never been healed by a Grisha and every muscle in my body tensed with fear."

 What book are you currently reading?

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Mini Comic Book Review: Gotham Academy Second Semester Vol. 1

   Series: Gotham Academy Second Semester

   # of Pages: 144 

   Publication: July 2017 

   Source: Library Copy 

   Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

When you're Gotham Academy student Olive Silverlock, winter holidays can be a drag. Luckily, when a new student shows up at Gotham Academy to keep her company while the other students are away, Olive finds what could be a brand new friend...or a whole lot of trouble. And when Maps, Kyle, Colton, Pomeline and the rest of the students of Gotham's #1 prep school return for a new semester, the adventures are twice as mysterious and twice as dangerous!

I should start by saying that it was great to be back in the world of Gotham Academy. I was hesitant in reading this volume because the third volume of the last story arc was such a mess. The story was jumbled and the artwork did not flow. I was truly disappointed as I loved the first couple of volumes. This volume definitely got the story back on track and I feel the artwork was on a different and more complete level. I really enjoyed every single aspect of this installment. The ending itself was a cliff-hanger which ultimately made me anxious for the next volume. This introduction of a new story offered great insight to Olive's line of heritage. With that being said, if you haven't read Gotham Academy I would definitely recommend it. It has a spooky atmosphere and gives the reader an interesting insight to another part of the DC world of characters. If you're interested in where to start/begin with this series I will list the order of the series below. Overall this was a great journey into the world of Olive and her friends. I can't wait to see what the next volume has to offer as I have heard it is the last in the series. 

Books in the Series (They are in reading order)

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The Friday #56, #5 Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes

The Friday #56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice. Join in every Friday and share an excerpt from the book you've been reading. Here are the rules:

• Grab a book, any book 
• Turn to page 56 or 56% in your e-reader 
• Find any sentence (or a few, don't spoil it) that grab you
• Post it

**Be sure to post the link to your Friday 56 in the comments below. 

Happy Reading & Merry Christmas

So this week I decided to take an excerpt from Morgan Rhode's Frozen Tides which was just released this month. The Falling Kingdom's series has to be one of my favorite series of the year. I know the books were published before 2015, but it took me a while to get to them and boy am I glad I did. I cannot wait to see what Morgan Rhodes has in store in the rest of this series and the spin off series. 

"There was no one in this world who could stop them from reaching their goal. A god and a sorceress--they were the perfect match." 

I cannot wait to get more immersed in this world and figure out how Morgan Rhodes is going to continue to tie all these characters together. 

Synopsis: 

Plans are laid and the players are determined..but nothing can prepare these unlikely warriors for what the elemental gods have in store. 

Cleo: Reeling after a chaotic night of love, death, the golden princess must cast aside her feelings and look toward her kingdom with the eyes of a queen. 

Magnus: Is once again torn between love and duty, leaving him wondering whether he has what it takes to rule his people.

Jonas: The defeated rebel leader reunites with PRINCESS CLEO, only to become a pawn in the dangerous hunt for the elusive Kindred. 

Lucia: Heartbroken and blind with fury, the betrayed sorceress allies with the awoken fire god, who also seeks revenge. 

In Mytica's darkest hour, four crystal orbs will determine who will die...and who will live in glory forever. 

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The Wrath and The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Publication: 2015

# of Pages: 388

Source: Purchased Copy, Books-A-Million

Favorite Quotes:

• "My soul sees its equal in you." 
• "Some things exist in our lives for but a brief moment. And we must let them go on to light another sky." 
• "You honestly expect me to breathe in a world without air?" 
• "You have a beautiful laugh. Like the promise of tomorrow." 
• "I love you, a thousand times over. And I will never apologize for it." 

Goodreads Summary/Blurb:

In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Korasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzads' dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determine not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all. 

Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she'd imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It's an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid's life as retribution for the many lives he's stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets? 

My Review/Thoughts:

This book...I wish I could even begin to find the right words to describe it. First, if you are a fan of re-tellings and books that re-imagine classic stories then this is definitely the book to check out. The most beautiful aspect of this book was strength of the main character Shahrzad. To take on the task of killing a king after he has murdered every single woman that has harked his doorstep is truly enchanting. I'm clearly a big fan of strong female characters. It was not only her courage, but her determination to avenge a wrong that had been committed against her best friend that set the tone of the novel. It is also understandable that Ahdieh gave Shazi a softer side, a side that ended up falling for the very man that killed her best friend. The combination of her soft and more intense personas made Shazi more human and easier to relate to. Shazi illustrates that all is not what it seems on the outside. Sometimes one has to dig a little deeper to get the whole picture. 

One of the most interesting aspects of this novel was the inclusion of magical elements. Magical elements that seemed to control both the fate of the Khalid and Shazi. However, I did hope for a stronger development of these magical elements; maybe an explanation of where they come from. I'm assuming that this information will be further developed in the future novels. It was almost as if certain characters were able to harness these special powers; however, readers were not privileged in knowing and understanding their purpose or origins. 

Lastly one major concept that brings the novel together is it's reflection of the classic tale One Thousand and One Nights. Ahdieh does a beautiful job of incorporating the traditional Middle Eastern culture into the novel. It exposes readers to concepts and terms they typically would not be familiar with. The reader has a broader cultural experience which is not always guaranteed in young adult fiction. Along with the development of the characters and the various magical element, this part of the novel gives the overall story a beautiful and enriching experience rewarding to all readers. 

Rating: 4/5 Stars

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Author Spotlight: Libba Bray

Long time no see everyone!! I sincerely apologize for my long absence. Ever since the flood my responsibilities at work have been hectic and it's been extremely difficult trying to manage and balance my time, but I am back and I am definitely attempting to get to back to my normal schedule of posting at least 3 to 4 times a week. I hope you guys are as excited as I am! Since it is Monday I thought I would kick off my return with an author spotlight! :)

Name: Libba Bray

About Author: Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Libba Bray is a gifted young adult author. She was born to a father that is a preacher and a mother who is a teacher. Eventually she moved to New York where she worked for a literary advertising agency. Under a pseudonym she wrote three books for a publishing company known for romance novels. She is friends with many other young adult authors including John Green, Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, and Holly Black.

Published Works:

• The Gemma Doyle Trilogy
• A Great and Terrible Beauty (2003)
• Rebel Angels (2005)
• The Sweet Far Thing (2007)
• 21 Proms (2007)
• The Restless Dead (2007)
• Up All Night (2008)
• Vacations from Hell (2009)
• Going Bovine (2009)
• Beauty Queens (2011)
• The Diviners (2012)
• Lair of Dreams (2015)

My Recommendation: I encountered the writing of Libba Bray about two years ago when I read A Great and Terrible Beauty. I absolutely loved that the novel took place in a Victorian era and contained various magical elements; however, it was the The Diviners that made me truly fall in love with her as an author. Libba Bray has a beautiful gift for words. There has been no other author in this world that has had the ability to truly terrify me and give me nightmares just from reading their books and she single handily accomplished this task. After meeting her this past weekend at YallFest I can truly say that this woman is spectacular and if you are interested in magical elements, horror, and humor she is definitely the author to check out. 

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Book Tag: Harry Potter Style

Good morning readers!! Coming to you from Florida (yes, I'm on vacation haha). So I wasn't tagged by anyone to do this, but I saw it on You, Me, and a Cup of Tea and I couldn't resist. I mean it's Harry Potter related after all. Here are the questions and my answers! Feel free to do this tag!!

1. Favorite Book: I love all of the Harry Potter books, but if I had to choose a favorite it would probably be The Goblet of Fire.
2. Least Favorite Book: I love all of the books but I had to choose a least favorite it would probably be the Prisoner of Azkaban. 
3. Favorite Movie: Now this one is a tough one! I would say it's a tie between the Goblet of Fire (seeing the Triwizard Tournament come to life was epic) and the 2nd part of the Deathly Hallows. 
4. Least Favorite Movie:  I would probably have to say the Prisoner of Azkaban again. 
5. Favorite Quote: "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." -Dumbledore, Chamber of Secrets
6. Favorite Weasley: The twins Fred & George of course! They are hilarious! 
7. Favorite Female Character: Hermione Granger--she's always the brains behind the
   
   operation. 
8. Favorite Villain: Probably Professor Umbridge because she truly is psychotic. 
9. Favorite Male Character: Sirius Black 
10. Favorite Professor: I definitely would have to say Professor McGonagall! 
11. Is there any character you felt different about in the movies vs. the books: I feel like Cho Chang had a bigger role in the books than she did in the movies. 
12. Is there a movie you prefer over book: Definitely not!
13. Richard Harris or Michael Gambon as Dumbledore: I can't choose. They both did an amazing job. 
14. The top thing (person or event) which wasn't included in the movie that annoyed you the most: In the fourth movie I didn't like that parts of the maze challenge was missing or in the second movie they don't include the potions challenge. 
15. If you could remake any of the Potter movies, which would it be: I don't know if I would. They are all pretty good to me. 
16. Which house was your first gut feeling you'd be part of: Gryffindor 
17. Which house were you actually sorted into on Pottermore: Gryffindor lol! Good gut feeling huh? 
18. Which class would be your favorite: I think it would be defense against the dark arts and transfiguration. 
19. Which spell do you think would the most useful to learn: I probably would need to learn expelliarmus. :) Great defense spell. 
20. Which character do you think at Hogwarts you would instantly become best friends with: Probably the Weasley twins! Our need to laugh and joke around all the time would be instantaneous bonding. 
21. If could own one of the three hallows which would it be: The invisibility cloak! 
22. Is there any aspect of the books you'd want to change: DEFINITELY NOT!
23. Favorite Marauder: Lupin of course :) 
24. If you could bring one character back to life who would it be: SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS Sirius Black...I think Harry really needed him. 
25. Hallows or Horcruxes: Hallows definitely!

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Author Spotlight: Rick Riordan

Name: Richard Russel "Rick" Riordan

About Author: Best known for his ability to incorporate mythology into spell-binding novels, Rick Riordan has become a world-renowned author. Born in San Antonio, Texas, Rick has successfully developed several different series that were initialed inspired by his children as a bed-time story.

Published Works:

• Percy Jackson & The Olympians 
• The Lightning Thief (2005)
• The Sea of Monsters (2006)
• The Titan's Curse (2007)
• The Battle of the Labyrinth (2008)
• The Last Olympian (2009)
• The Heroes of Olympus
• The Lost Hero (2010)
• The Sun of Neptune (2011)
• The Mark of Athena (2012)
• The House of Hades (2013)
• The Blood of Olympus (2014)
• The Kane Chronicles
• The Red Pyramid (2010)
• The Throne of Fire (2011)
• The Serpent's Shadow (2012)
• Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard
• The Sword of Summer (Fall 2015)
• Tres Navarre Series

• Big Red Tequila (1997)
• The Widower's Two Step (1998)
• The Last King of Texas (2001)
• The Devil Went Down to Austin (2002)
• Southtown (2004)
• Mission Road (2005)
• Rebel Island (2008)

My Recommendation: Rick Riordan is turning out to be one of my new favorite authors. His stories not only exhibit fantastic world building, but they also illustrate his ability to pay attention to the smallest of details. If you are looking for books that not only exhibit adventure, passion, but also humor look no further than this author. Although most of his books are written and published as middle grade novels, it is without a doubt that Riordan has written books to captivate the world. 

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Author Spotlight: J.K. Rowling

Every Monday I will be spotlighting or highlighting some of my favorite authors. This will be a "Author Spotlight" series. For the first in the series I will be spotlighting one of my favorite authors of all time: J.K. Rowling.

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The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Page

Published: HaperCollins, 2015

# of Pages: 293 

Source: Books-A-Million, Purchased Copy

Goodreads Blurb/Summary: To make Oz a free land again, Amy Gumm was given a mission: remove the Tin Woodman's heart, steal the Scarecrow's brain, take the Lion's courage, and then Dorothy must die...

But Dorothy still lives. Now the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked has vanished, and the mysterious Princess Ozma might be Amy's only ally. As Amy learns the truth about her mission, she realizes that she's only just scratched the surface of Oz's past--and that Kansas, the home she couldn't wait to leave behind, may also be in danger. In a place where the line between good and evil shifts with just a strong gust of wind, who can Amy trust--and who is really Wicked?" 

"In this dark, high-octane sequel to the New York Times bestsellingDorothy Must Die, Amy Gumm must do everything in her power to kill Dorothy and free Oz.

________________________________________________________________________

My Thoughts/Review: Ladies and gentleman, Danielle Paige has done it once again! In her second installment of the Dorothy Must Die series, Paige beautifully and successfully continues the story of Amy's descent into the twisted and dark world of Oz. What's truly unique and captivating about this book is Paige's ability to give the reader further insight to the internal struggle and battle of our main character Amy. 

In the first novel, the reader is given the opportunity to perceive Amy as this young, naive, and quite frequently bullied teenage girl who is thrown into a power struggle between what we originally thought was good vs. evil. However, through the pages of The Wicked Will Rise we see a new found confidence and power in Amy, a power, ironically, that has the ability to both build and destroy her as a character.  As Amy tries to rectify the "mistakes" made in this last novel she must truly decide her own fate, identity, and gain a pinch of faith in who she is and who she will become. 

Paige's writing has a sense of fluidity about it that always seems to catch my attention. She utilizes words to create a sense of imagery that places the reader in the world of her characters. In this novel she truly captures Amy's struggles with her identity. While reading, I, like Amy, felt the beckoning issue of what it feels like to have so much power, yet fall so closely between doing what's considered to be right and what's considered to be wrong. Even the brief dialogue between Princess Ozma (who may not be as lost as we think) and Amy warranted a greater sense of meaning. It is not easy for an author to convey so much depth and meaning when so little is said and Paige beautifully accomplishes this task. 

The plot of the book was relatively slow at first and took some time to catch my attention especially since the first novel moved at such a quick pace; however, I think Paige wanted to utilize this novel to build towards a greater and more in-depth finale. This novel was less about action and more so about self-discovery and the dangers hidden in the power and beauty of OZ. The ending truly was a twist that was greatly unexpected, one that I had no power to see coming. With a cliff hanger that left me at the edge of my seat, Paige once again reminded me that nothing is ever as it seems in the beautiful land of Oz. 

Rating: 4.5 Stars

If you're interested check out my video review of her first novel Dorthy Must Die below: 

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