May 4 2014

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April 2014: Review Recap!

This month I made a concerted effort to post more reviews. After all, it’s not as if I’m lacking in material to write about – I think at last counts I was almost 20 books behind in reviewing (ouch!). As a book blogger, that’s not a horrible problem to have, but I’m looking forward to the day when I’m only, say, five books behind. The trouble is that I have been on a huge YA kick and those books take practically no time at all to read. I think maybe as early as June I will be able to get back to reading robust fantasy novels again… In the meantime, here’s a look at what went down in April on The Obsessive Bookseller:

Book Reviews:

The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas

Abandon by Meg Cabot

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas – 5/5 stars!

Abandon by Meg Cabot – 1/5 stars

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins – 4.5/5 stars

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

Rush by Eve Silver

The Eighth Day by Dianne K. Salerni

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau – 2.5/5 stars

Rush by Eve Silver – 3/5 stars

The Eight Day by Dianne K. Salerni – DNF

And my favorites this month:

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Kushiel’s Scion by Jacqueline Carey

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson – 5/5 stars!

Kushiel’s Scion by Jacqueline Carey – 5/5 stars!

These books were epic!

Waiting on Wednesday Features:

: September 16, 2014

: Firefight by Brandon Sanderson

Normally, I mention which WoW book I most excited to read. This month I’m choosing ALL of them!

Top Ten Tuesday Features:

Top Ten Books You Might Like If You Enjoyed Throne of Glass!

Top Ten Female Characters That Inspire Me!

Top Ten Most Unique Books I’ve Ever Read!

The Top Ten Gateway Books of My Reading Journey!

I almost didn’t participate in a couple of these TTTs but found myself inspired at the last minute.

April’s Escape Reality Book Club Pick:

Scarlet

(ERBC is for anyone who wants to geek out about YA. If you’re interested, check out our official launch post).

That about sums up my month! What great books did you read in April?

Apr 29 2014

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Coming Soon: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Title: Heir of Fire

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Series: Throne of Glass #3

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Release Date: September 2, 2014

The Overview: Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy. While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

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Hosted by Breaking the Spine

I kind of jumped the gun on this post by including the new cover for Heir of Fire in yesterday’s TTT (Top Ten Books You Might Like If You Enjoyed Throne of Glass). What can I say? I couldn’t help myself… it’s gorgeous.

I think most people who like YA Fantasy are waiting on Heir of Fire, and it’s not hard to see why! This series is absorbing, heart-wrenching, and an absolute blast to read. If you haven’t picked it up yet, you are missing out on one of the most promising series I’ve read in ages (start with Assassin’s Blade… you won’t regret it)! You better believe I’m devouring Heir of Fire the day it comes out.

What book are you waiting on?

by Niki Hawkes

Apr 22 2014

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Coming Soon: Firefight by Brandon Sanderson

Title: Firefight

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Series: Reckoners #2

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Release Date: January 8, 2015

The Overview: They told David it was impossible–that even the Reckoners had never killed a High Epic. Yet, Steelheart–invincible, immortal, unconquerable–is dead. And he died by David’s hand. Eliminating Steelheart was supposed to make life more simple. Instead, it only made David realize he has questions. Big ones. And there’s no one in Newcago who can give him the answers he needs. Babylon Restored, the old borough of Manhattan, has possibilities, though. Ruled by the mysterious High Epic, Regalia, David is sure Babylon Restored will lead him to what he needs to find. And while entering another city oppressed by a High Epic despot is a gamble, David’s willing to risk it. Because killing Steelheart left a hole in David’s heart. A hole where his thirst for vengeance once lived. Somehow, he filled that hole with another Epic–Firefight. And he’s willing to go on a quest darker, and more dangerous even, than the fight against Steelheart to find her, and to get his answers.

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Hosted by Breaking the Spine

With the premise of superheroes gone bad, Steelheart could have easily been cheesy and overdone… instead, it was one of the most unique books I’ve read in a long time. I found it cheeky, action-packed, and thoroughly engaging and am practically chomping at the bit to get my hands on this sequel. Sanderson is quickly creeping up my list of favorite authors – everything I read by him is just so different and amazing… is there anything he can’t do? Who would’ve thought the man that brought us the most epic fantasy ever (Way of Kings) could also write a comic book adventure with a twist? It’s almost not fair. If you haven’t read the Sanderson yet, pick up anything – you won’t regret it. I had so much fun reading Steelheart, I can only imagine Firefight will be just as good!

What book are you waiting on?

by Niki Hawkes

Apr 15 2014

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Coming Soon: The Jewel by Amy Ewing

jewel Title: The Jewel

Author: Amy Ewing

Series: Not Specified

Genre: Teen Romance

Release Date: September 2, 2014

The Overview: The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty––because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring. Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life. Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence . . . and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.

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Hosted by Breaking the Spine

I don’t usually feature debut titles for Waiting on Wednesday, probably because I’m not excited about an author or series until I’ve already read something from them. I made an exception here because this book sounds like a more robust version of The Selection (which I absolutely loved) and the elements of intrigue sound awesome. When the girls from the Epic Reads #ArcParty started geeking out about it, I knew I had to add it to my shelves. I hope it’s as good as it sounds!

What book are you waiting on?

by Niki Hawkes

Apr 8 2014

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Coming Soon: Shifting Shadows by Patricia Briggs

Title: Shifting Shadows

Author: Patricia Briggs

Series: Mercy Thompson Novellas

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Release Date: September 2, 2014

The Overview: Mercy Thompson’s world just got a whole lot bigger… A collection of all-new and previously published short stories featuring Mercy Thompson, “one of the best heroines in the urban fantasy genre today” (Fiction Vixen Book Reviews), and the characters she calls friends…

Includes the new stories: Silver, Roses in Winter, Redemption, Hollow.

And reader favorites: Fairy Gifts, Gray, Alpha and Omega, Seeing Eye, The Star of David, In Red, and Pearls.

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Hosted by Breaking the Spine

The only complaint I have about this series is that the wait between releases feels sooooooo long that I have to go back and reread if I want to keep the momentum going for myself (although rereading one of the best urban fantasies on the market is hardly a sacrifice). The absolute awesome thing about the release of Shifting Shadows is that it will definitely help hold me over until Mercy Thompson #9 comes out in 2015. It gets better – the only short story I’ve read out of these is the Alpha and Omega, so it’s like getting a whole new book! Needless to say, I’m excited for this one. :-)

What book are you waiting on?

by nikihawkes

Apr 2 2014

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Coming Soon: The Infinity Sea by Rick Yancey

Title: The inciden Sea

Author: Rick Yancey

Series: The Fifth Wave #2

Genre: Teen Dystopian – post-apocalyptic

Release Date: September 16, 2014

The Overview: How do you rid the Earth of seven billion humans? Rid the humans of their humanity. Surviving the first four waves was nearly impossible. Now Cassie Sullivan finds herself in a new world, a world in which the fundamental trust that binds us together is gone. As the 5th Wave rolls across the landscape, Cassie, Ben, and Ringer are forced to confront the Others’ ultimate goal: the extermination of the human race. Cassie and her friends haven’t seen the depths to which the Others will sink, nor have the Others seen the heights to which humanity will rise, in the ultimate battle between life and death, hope and despair, love and hate.

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Hosted by Breaking the Spine

I was hooked on this series from the prologue of the first book. The writing is amazing, the story is intense, and the characters are awesome. If the second book is half as good as the first one, it’s going to be one wild ride! What more is there to say? If you haven’t already read The Fifth Wave, you are missing out on the best books on the market…I say this at the risk of overselling it, but that’s honestly how I regard it. :-)

What book are you waiting on?

by Nik Hawkes