Thursday, February 27, 2020

{Review} Woven In Moonlight by Isabel Ibanez

45045612Page Count: 384
Published On: January 7, 2020
Published By: Page Street Kids
Genre(s): YA Fantasy
Source: ARC provided by the publisher and Bookish First
Where To Find It: Amazon // Book Depository

My Rating: 5 stars



Goodreads synopsis:

A lush tapestry of magic, romance, and revolución, drawing inspiration from Bolivian politics and history.

Ximena is the decoy Condesa, a stand-in for the last remaining Illustrian royal. Her people lost everything when the usurper, Atoc, used an ancient relic to summon ghosts and drive the Illustrians from La Ciudad. Now Ximena’s motivated by her insatiable thirst for revenge, and her rare ability to spin thread from moonlight.

When Atoc demands the real Condesa’s hand in marriage, it’s Ximena’s duty to go in her stead. She relishes the chance, as Illustrian spies have reported that Atoc’s no longer carrying his deadly relic. If Ximena can find it, she can return the true aristócrata to their rightful place.

She hunts for the relic, using her weaving ability to hide messages in tapestries for the resistance. But when a masked vigilante, a warm-hearted princess, and a thoughtful healer challenge Ximena, her mission becomes more complicated. There could be a way to overthrow the usurper without starting another war, but only if Ximena turns her back on revenge—and her Condesa.


~ ~ ~

Content Warning: Forced/arranged marriage, oppression, war, violence, on-page death, executions

Hey, guys!

Back in early January, my fiance and I decided to go to a book event in the Indianapolis/Franklin area for Isabel Ibanez's debut tour. Tour perk! Shelby Mahurin was also speaking with her. 

I had just finished Shelby's debut release, Serpent and Dove, and I was so excited to meet her. But because WIM was Isabel's debut, I had to hurry and read the book so I could potentially gush about it with Isabel and anyone I met at the event. I decided to get a copy from Book of the Month and hope that I got it before the event. The next thing I knew, I was winning a copy from Bookish First and it came the day the book came out. *victory pose*

This book was absolutely phenomenal. An instant new favorite and auto-buy author. I cannot wait for book #2! I have so many predictions for the companion story. This was everything I could have hoped for. 

Woven in Moonlight follows Ximena, the decoy Condesa for a warring country. When the usurper Illustrian, Atoc, demands the Condesa's hand in marriage (promising peace, of course), it's Ximena's job to go for the real Condesa. If Ximena can find a relic that could stop the war, she can fix everything that the usurping Illustrians destroyed. Unfortunately, when she arrives in La Ciudad, not everything is as black and white as it seems. When she meets a group of kind, funny, and thoughtful people, she has to rethink her position and do what is best for every citizen. 

This book was masterfully written. Not only were the characters realistic, compelling, and wonderful to read about; the story was lush with Bolivian culture, the politics were spot on, and the magic was everything I could have hoped for. I loved this book so so so much!

I have a massive soft spot for the arranged marriage trope. I love to see how the character or characters escape the marriage or defy the person they don't want to be with. It's strangely one of my favorite tropes because it can either be done well or terribly. I think I just like those odds. 

This book's plot and conflict were just so compelling. I didn't want to stop reading and I couldn't stop reading. I think that this book was just what I needed. The books I had read before picking this up were either let downs or just meh reads. I'm so glad I pick up this magical story. Please pick it up!


They were so kind and lovely to meet!

Happy reading:
Olivia
Liv the Book Nerd ~
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Tuesday, February 18, 2020

{Review} Beyond the Shadowed Earth by Joanna Ruth Meyer

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Page Count: 400
Published On: January 14, 2020
Published By: Page Street
Genre(s): YA fantasy
Source: ARC provided by the publisher
Where To Find It: Amazon // Book Depository

My Rating: 4 stars



Goodreads synopsis:

It has always been Eda’s dream to become empress, no matter the cost. Haunted by her ambition and selfishness, she’s convinced that the only way to achieve her goal is to barter with the gods. But all requests come with a price and Eda bargains away the soul of her best friend in exchange for the crown.

Years later, her hold on the empire begins to crumble and her best friend unexpectedly grows sick and dies. Gnawed by guilt and betrayal, Eda embarks on a harrowing journey to confront the very god who gave her the kingdom in the first place. However, she soon discovers that he’s trapped at the center of an otherworldly labyrinth and that her bargain with him is more complex than she ever could have imagined.

Set in the same universe as Joanna’s debut, Beneath the Haunting Sea, Beyond the Shadowed Earth combines her incredible world-building and lush prose with a new, villainous lead.
 


 ~

This ARC was sent to me for an honest review. All thoughts, feelings, and opinions are my own. No monetary compensation was provided for this review.


Hey guys, 

If you've been following me for a while, you'd likely know of my deep love for all things Norse mythology and Norse-inspired. In 2019, I had the pleasure of reading Joanna Ruth Meyer's Echo North, a retelling of the Norse tale of "East o' the Sun, West o' the Moon." I enjoyed it so much and I instantly started to follow Joanna's writing journey through her Twitter and Instagram. I love her style and she's such a kind human with an adorable family. 

In June, I had commented on one of her photos of her ARCs for Earth and she DM'd me and asked for my info so that she could have her publisher send me a copy. I yelled. However, I was so excited that I decided to wait until closer to the publishing date so that I didn't have to wait even longer for her next book. Like a buffoon, I waited too long. School became intense, life was happening, and I had to finish other books for scheduled reviews. Long story short, I didn't finish the book until the beginning of February. What a journey.

Beyond the Shadowed Earth is a beautifully crafted story. It reminds me of my favorite stories from my childhood mixed with the badass women that I encountered as I started reading YA. The story follows Eda, an ambitious and selfish girl who just wants to be the empress of her country. In order to do that, she has to barter everything she loves to the gods. She makes risky deals with the god, Tuer, and begins to lose everything she loves. To reclaim her empire and to recover all that she loses, she has to adventure to the mountain that Tuer is trapped in and kill him. 

Joanna has a way of crafting worlds that I could get lost in for the rest of my life. The world that she's created in this novel is just so fantastic and I want to dive deeper into the mythology and the intricacies that follow a large pantheon. She did such a great job when creating spiritual and religious characters. I was completely captivated. However, in this book, I felt like I didn't know as much about the magic system or the processes of conjuring or calling the gods. Maybe that's because I haven't read the companion novel, Beneath the Haunting Sea, but I wish I had been given a bit more to grasp. 

Additionally, Joanna creates a fantastic cast of characters. I really loved to be irritated with Eda. She was so completely selfish and made the worst decisions, but it was so fun to yell at her whenever she did something dumb. She was really terrible at being politically savvy. She really didn't know what to do other than bully her way into power. I felt like she didn't really care at all about her country by the middle of the book. She was so focused on fixing her mistakes that she would just up and leave via horse and go to the temple. I really didn't enjoy the political aspects of this book because I felt like they weren't particularly believable. The parts of the novel where Eda was in the palace was where it fell flat for me. It just was a stretch to me. However, once she left to go on her quest, that's when I felt like the book picked up. The first hundred pages were excellent, the second hundred fifty were slow because we were trying to get to the quest and it just got slower and slower for me, and the last 250 were excellent because we were on the quest. I just wish that some of the filler stuff would have been cut down. It just slowed down the pacing. It was an excellent story, but the middle's pacing was just slow. 

I really loved the overall vibe of the story; however, I just wish that there had been more of an emphasis on the magic and the gods' influence on the worlds. It was a very character-driven novel, but I would have liked even more of the world. Eda was on my nerves enough that I wanted another perspective or something. 

Overall, this book was so much fun. I can't wait to read Joanna's next novel, Of Leaves and Stars. It hits all of the buzz-tropes and buzz-words that I adore in the books I read. I hope that I can get my hands on an ARC or something. 


Happy reading:
Olivia
Liv the Book Nerd ~
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Friday, February 14, 2020

{Cover Reveal} The Consequences of Loving Me by Kat Singleton



Guys!

I have the immense pleasure of being a part of Kat's cover reveal for her debut, The Consequences of Loving Me. I'm so freaking excited for this novel. I'm already so obsessed and I cannot wait for March 19! I'm definitely going to order a physical copy of this beautiful romance once their released too. 

THE CONSEQUENCE OF LOVING ME

By Kat Singleton
Release Date: March 19th
Available through Kindle Unlimited

PRE-ORDER HERE: {link}

What can you expect?

~ new adult / college romance
~ enemies to lovers
~ angst
~ small town romance

BLURB
Veronica Cunningham was as shallow as they came—until new depths dragged her under at just seventeen. Now—aside from her art—she prefers all things surface-level, at best.

Maverick Morrison needs a new roommate—and as a loyal man in a long-term relationship with his best friend, that’s all he needs. But when he meets Veronica, he finds himself slowly pulled into her past—and her sorrow, which threatens to swallow them both.

To her, Maverick is annoying—with a stubbornness that rivals even her own—but safe. Though his ocean-eyes remind her of all that she’s lost. To him, she’s captivating. A beautiful mystery.

Until he discovers that her guarded heart is a riptide—and that his has been in the wrong hands all along…

What happens when a love-destructive girl accidentally falls for a boy who’s vowed to never again accept a love that doesn’t mend? 







Happy reading:
Olivia
Liv the Book Nerd ~
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Wednesday, February 5, 2020

January 2019 Reading Wrap Up & Mini Reviews



Hey, guys!

I'm not sure if you noticed, but I've been able to post more consistently. I'm so excited that I can write more reviews because I missed it so freaking much. School is killer, but this semester is less intense...and it's my last. Prepare yourself for more reading after May hits. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself. If you would like me to write some blog posts about my college experience and my degree, comment below! I'd love to ramble about it, but if you're uninterested, I won't put it on here. ☺️

This month was a really fun reading month. One of my friends, Katherine, loaned me her manga volumes of Ouran High School Host Club (my absolute favorite anime of all time, just sayin') and I was able to read 3 of the eighteen (not including the first volume because I had already read it before). I was also able to read 18 books/graphic novels and mangas/short stories. In February I plan on reading books that are only from my physical TBR, so brace yourself for more reading. Hopefully, I can read more than January. 


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Wild Game by Adrienne Brodeur
3.5 stars

This book was so beautiful, heartbreaking, and so engaging. I didn't want to put this book down, but I was so appalled that a girl would have to go through this...not just a girl, but I felt so terrible that any child would have to face this trauma.

At the age of 14, Adrienne is swept into her mother's affair. She quickly becomes her mother's confidant and accomplice in the entire charade. It puts so much stress upon her, causing her to become sick and to develop anxiety and depression. As Adrienne's life continues on, she has to realize that putting her mother before her own well-being is more damaging than anything and that she needs to take care of herself.

This memoir is so heart-breaking. Just reading about her chaotic and stressful mother made me stressed out. Therefore, I had so much empathy for the poor woman. It was really wonderful to read about Adrienne's personal growth and journey toward self-love and romantic love.

This book made me really think about my own relationship with my mother, as well as how I approach self-care and self-love.

This is absolutely a must-read. I think so many people would benefit from Adrienne's life experience. She is truly talented and lovely. She deserves so much happiness.

Purchase here: 

Get your first book from Book of the Month for $9.99 when you use the coupon code: HEART
You can also get a discount when you use my link: {click here}


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Steven Universe: Just Right (Volume 4 & Volume 5) by Rebecca Sugar, Grace Kraft, and Rii Abrego

Thoughts on Volume 4: 
3.5 stars 

This was such a cute addition to the comic series. I loved the little vignettes that surrounded all of the side characters. It was so nice to get little slices of life that follow my favorites from the show. The art style was also just very very lovely. I really enjoyed the similarities to the show and the more-bubbly versions that are so signature of Rebecca Sugar's style.

Thoughts on Volume 5:
3 stars

Another addition to the series! While I didn't enjoy the little stories in this volume as much as the previous, I still really loved the continuation of the various characters' development and the beautiful art style. I just adore this world and these characters. I'll be reading more and more of these as the year continues on. 


Check them out here: 
Volume 4's {Goodreads}
Volume 5's {Goodreads}



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Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
3.75 stars

I had the pleasure of reading this delightful rom-com early. I was a part of the blog tour for its release and I was able to share an excerpt provided by the publisher. 

If you would like to read the review, I definitely recommend check it out, then please click {here}!

Purchase Here:
Amazon // Book Depository // Goodreads


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Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
4 stars

Another early release that I had the pleasure of reading. Lyssa Kay Adams is quickly becoming one of those authors that I adore. She is so talented when it comes to creating dynamic characters and swoon-worthy romances. 

Click {here} for my full review!

Purchase Here: 
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Sadie by Courtney Summers
3 stars

This book was a real thinker, but not really my cup of tea. Granted, it was written really well and the twists and turns were very entertaining. However, I just don't really jive well with thrillers or mysteries. I often find myself guessing the twists or just getting bored by the concept half way through. I quit listening to the audio half way through because I was getting bored, but I still wanted to know what happened in the end. Overall, this book was just okay for me. I definitely think that others will enjoy it, but I'm still on the hunt for a thriller that I absolutely adore. 

Purchase here:

Little Bird: The Flight for Elder's Hope by Darcy Van Poelgeest and Ian Bertram
2 stars

I was really hoping for more from this book, but I was mainly just disappointed and confused. The art, I think, was the best part of this graphic novel. It was gory, haunting, and beautifully done. However, the story-line was just messy and not very interesting. I was wholly confused for the majority of the novel. I think that I was missing some sort of context that would have helped my reading experience, but after sledging through the novel, I don't particularly care to search around for the details. 


Purchase here:
Amazon // Book Depository // Goodreads


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Ark by Veronica Roth
2 stars

I'm a fairly enthusiastic fan of Veronica Roth, but this short story was just boring to me. I probably have to read the story collection in order and continuously, but I really do not care to after reading that first story. This was overall just very disappointing. 


Purchase here:


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Ouran High School Host Club Volume 2, 3, & 4 by Bisco Hatori

Thoughts on Volume 2: 
4 stars

This was such a wonderful nostalgic read. I loved the little differences that peeked through when compared to the animated show. I'm eager to continue on with the series and see where the show and book series branch off. 

Thoughts on Volume 3: 
4 stars 

I really enjoyed this volume! I loved how some of the chapters were so different from the show and added an extra cultural element that the show lacked.

Thoughts on Volume 4:
3 stars

This was still such a fun volume, but I felt like the story was quite slow and the out-dated language and probable differing meanings because of the translation caused a bit of discomfort when it came to describing Ranka. I think that it's mainly because this was originally published in 2006 when 

Series' Goodreads Page: {click here}


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What He Doesn't Know by Kandi Steiner
2.75 stars


I picked this up because of the emphatic recommendation from my friend, Bethany, because Kandi Steiner is one of her favorite authors and this series is her favorite of the books Steiner has published. Unfortunately, this just wasn't for me. I didn't like the relationship that started to develop -- it just felt stale and forced. I didn't like the characters much at all. They didn't communicate with each other and it was just obnoxious. The conflict that was revealed was quite tragic and really broke my heart, but the love-triangle and drama that progressed throughout just annoyed me. 

This book is definitely beloved by Steiner's readers. However, I don't think that her style is my cup of tea. I won't be continuing on with the series in the future. 


Purchase Here:

Goodreads // Amazon // Book Depository


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A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf

3 stars

When it comes to classic lit, I'm not usually too keen on diving into older literature because I'm not too fond of most older writers' styles. The style that has come from the 20s and 30s is usually not my cup of tea. However, I felt like this collection of essays is an important step and representation of the struggles of women and the discrimination and marginalization that women have had to face.

Purchase Here:
Amazon // Book Depository // Goodreads


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Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibanez
5 stars

This book is by far my favorite from the month. I was so nervous that one of my most anticipated reads would be disappointing or lack some sort of element, but this was exactly what I needed and the exact sort of story that I adore. It was so gloriously whimsical and such a delight to read. 

First of all, the characters were so wonderfully developed. Each was fabulously flawed and realistic. I was rooting for Ximena, slowly starting to love with our mysterious love interest, and unabashedly despising Atoc. These characters were so engaging and I couldn't help but get attached to their lives. I cannot wait for our companion book. I have some guesses of who it will follow, but we don't have any clues quite yet. I'm so excited to dive into book #2 in 2021!

If you love intricate magic systems, beautifully described settings, lush and captivating storytelling, and the desire to dive deep into the Bolivian culture -- you will adore this book! Please pick it up and give it a read. This is bound to be another favorite and one of my top favorites of 2020. 

I will have a full review up for this book in the next couple of weeks!

Where to Purchase:
Amazon // Book Depository // Goodreads

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Sea of Strangers by Lang Leav
3.5 stars

On January 3rd, my fiance turned 25. Since we started recreationally going to bookstores, he always managed to find books that he wanted, but didn't want to pay the expensive price for ($15+ is so ridiculous for a paperback) or he'd say he wanted a book but wouldn't want to buy it at that time. This poetry collection was one of them. About a week before his birthday, we made a trip to Barnes and Noble and he found this book and decided that he was going to get it soon. I told him "no," and said I'd maybe get it for him for his birthday. I ended up ordering it online (cheaper price!) and gave it to him. 

After he read it (he enjoyed it), he let me read it. Poetry collections are usually hit or miss for me. Some of the most popular poetry collections, I've found, were just so meh to me. However, this one was quite nice. I really enjoyed Lang Leav's voice and the emotional journey that they take the reader on. I really enjoyed that this collection was a story made up of both poetry and prose. It was a very nice mixture that didn't leave strange gaps like just poetry could. 

The themes and discussions throughout this collection were done so well. The imagery and word choices and formatting of the story that was told was so beautifully done. 

Where to Purchase:
Amazon // Book Depository // Goodreads


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Koko Be Good by Jen Wang
3 stars

Once again, Jen Wang has fully impressed me with her beautiful art style and ability to create such intricate and complex story-lines. 

I really enjoyed the overall moral of this story, however, I feel as if the synopsis does not really fully tell the reader what sort of story they are about to dive into. 

I just want to say that I really enjoyed this surprise of a book. Maybe just go into it with the vague synopsis. It was just very nice to read. Very hopeful. 

Where to Purchase:
Amazon // Book Depository // Goodreads
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The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
4 stars

Trigger/Content Warning: sexual assault, physical assault, sexism, general inequality

This is one of those stories that will sit with you for (probably) the rest of your life. When going into this story, I didn't know what to expect. I was eager to read such a popular and impactful novel that had never really reached my radar until I had to read it for class. However, I didn't think this would impact me the way that it did. It's powerful. It's important. It's beautifully crafted. 

The House on Mango Street follows a young Esperanza through a series of vignettes through a year of her life. The novel begins when she is 14 and continues for about a year into her 15th year of life. 

This novel is an intricate piece that follows women, the effects of a misogynistic world on a woman's life experience, and how equal treatment and feminism can create and form a better world. 

Read this book, friends. It's so important.

Where to Purchase:
Amazon // Book Depository // Goodreads



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Find Me Their Bones (Bring Me Their Heart #2) by Sara Wolf
3 stars

If you've followed me for a bit, you'll know of my deep love for Sara Wolf's Bring Me Their Hearts. Find Me Their Bones follows where BMTH ends and continues to take the readers one a freaking wild journey. 

Though this book was a bit of a disappointment -- it definitely suffered from second-book-syndrome -- I still quite enjoyed it. Getting to know Zera and seeing her struggle with understanding her Heartlessness and trying to stay in-touch with her humanity was so nice to read. This struggle, however, really slowed down the pacing and didn't keep me completely engaged. It just felt a bit repetitive in some spots and the book just felt like a lot of filler information. 

The interactions were Lucien also felt really lackluster and I just didn't like him much at all anymore. He was borderline imbecilic to me and I was just annoyed with his character. Zera's relationships with anyone but Yorl. It just felt really superficial.

Overall, I think that there was too much "telling" rather than "showing." 

Where to Purchase:
Goodreads // Amazon // Book Depository


Average Rating: 3.3 stars
Number of Pages Read: 4,133 pages

Format, Genre, & Age Break-down:

- YA: 8
- Adult: 8
- Children's: 2

- Audio: 2
- Physical: 11
- eBook: 5

- Graphic Novels: 7
- Nonfiction: 1
- Contemporary/Romance: 3
- Thriller/mystery: 1
- Sci-Fi: 1
- Class reading: 2
- Fantasy: 2
- Poetry: 1

What did you read in January? What was your favorite read? Comment below!

Happy reading:
Olivia
~ Liv the Book Nerd ~
Twitter // Instagram // Tumblr // Goodreads // YouTube // Bloglovin // Book Depository Affiliate Code // Ko-Fi // Book of the Month