Waiting on Wednesday: Yellow Brick War by Danielle Paige

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Yellow Brick War

Series: Dorothy Must Die #3

Author: Danielle Paige

Date Published: March 15th 2016

Publisher: HarperCollins

In this dark, action-packed third book in the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die series, Amy Gumm—the new girl from Kansas—must do everything in her power to save Kansas, kill Dorothy, and make Oz a free land once more.

Amy Gumm’s mission to take down Dorothy Gale is not going according to plan. Dorothy has found a way to bridge the worlds of Oz and Kansas, and if the power-hungry dictator of Oz has her way, Kansas will be destroyed forever. Now, Amy has to team up with the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked to save her home, restore the balance between the magic and nonmagic worlds, maybe get the guy—and kill that not-so-sweet Kansas farm girl once and for all.

In the third installment of the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die series, Danielle Paige’s twisted versions of beloved Oz characters are back, including the biggest, baddest, most famous of all: the Wicked Witch of the West.

Welcome to the other side of the rainbow. Here there’s danger around every corner, and magic shoes won’t be able to save.

I've had this in my want list for over a year, fortunately there have been plenty of novellas to keep me updated with this version of Oz.

Ten Characters Everyone Loves But I Just Don't Get

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and The Bookish.  Each week a new top ten list is posted, and to participate all you have to do is fill in YOUR top ten for the list.

This weeks topic:

Top Ten Characters Everyone Loves But I Just Don't Get 

Rose Hathaway

But only for the first two books, her excessive "headstrong" personality kind of annoyed me.

Clary Fray

I always found her to be a bit whiny and entitled girl, in my heads she always had that annoying voice, ironically the actress that plays her in the show has a bit of a squeaky voice that just made her the perfect choice.

Serena Van der Woodsen

I hated how the book version of Serena didn't understand why Blair was upset with her because Serena slept with her boyfriend

Celaena Sardothien

Let me be clear I don't hate Celaena I just never connected with her, I've tried to read Throne of Glass like five times but I never get past the 25% mark. Also can anyone help me pronouncing her name?

Tessa Gray

Basically the same issues I had with Clary.

Monday Book Recommendations: Defy series by Sara B. Larson

Monday is the day I choose what new books I’m going to start reading but I have so many books in my To Read Pile that sometimes it’s hard to choose so I have decided that on Monday mornings I’ll recommend some  of  my favorite books.



 Defy Series by Sara B. Larson

Title: Defy 

Series: Defy #1

Author: Sara B. Larson

Date Published: January 7th 2014

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect

Title: Ignite 

Series: Defy #2

Author: Sara B. Larson

Date Published:December 30th 2014

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Murder, abductions, and forbidden romance abound in this thrilling sequel to Sara B. Larson's acclaimed YA debut, DEFY.

Alexa remains by the newly crowned King Damian’s side as his guard, ever committed to helping him rebuild Antion and reclaim the hope of Antion's people, despite continuing to harbor a secret love for him. However, when another threat to Damian and his kingdom emerges, and blame is cast on their newly forged allies from Blevon, Alexa knows things are not what they seem. With the fate of her nation hanging in the balance once again, will Alexa be able to protect her king and uncover the true enemy—before it's too late?

Title: Endure

Series: Defy #3

Author: Sara B. Larson

Date Published:  December 29th 2015 

Publisher:  Scholastic Press

At last, Alexa and King Damian are engaged to be married. But their lives are far from safe. The kingdom of Antion is under siege, and Rylan is a prisoner of the enemy. Even worse, Alexa remains at the mercy of the evil Dansiian Rafe, who controls her mind and can force Alexa to kill or harm Damian at any moment. Despite this, Alexa is determined to rescue Rylan, which soon leads her far from Damian and deep into enemy territory.

When she arrives, what awaits her is deadlier than anything she could have ever imagined: an army of black sorcerers and a horrifying plot to destroy the world as Alexa knows it. Will she be able to gather the strength to free herself, protect the love of her life, and save the land? Will there ever be true peace?

Acclaimed author Sara B. Larson has woven a stunning, romantic, and evocative finale to the Defy trilogy that is sure to leave readers breathless until the very last page.

The Defiance series just released it's last book, and it was everything I wanted. The first book in the series was the title that got me into YA Fantasy

Weekly Recap February 29th-March 6th

Monday Book Recommendations:

Backlash by Sarah Darer Littman

Top Ten Tuesday:

Books To Read If You Are In The Mood For Mystery/Suspense

Waiting on Wednesday:

Seven Ways We Lie by Riley Redgate

Reviews:

Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre

On the Blog:

February 2016 Reading Challenge update

February 2016 Reading Challenge update

Life has definitely gotten busier thanks to school and my reading time has definitely suffered, second semester is certainly a bit more draining than I expected it to be.

I'm trying to find a way to balance school and leisure reading, definitely need to be more productive.

The Goodreads Reading Challenge 

I bumped my challenge from 50 books to 80 books but if I manage to get my life together I might bump to 100.

Young Adult Book Club's A-Z Reading Challenge 2016 

Progress: 24/26

A.The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman

B.Backlash by Sarah Darer Littman

C. Edgewater by Courtney Sheinmel

D. Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

E.Endure by Sara B. Larson

F. Fans of the Impossible Life by Kate Scelsa

G.Arrows by Melissa Gorzelanczyk

H. The Heir and the Spare by Emily Albright 

I.  The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine

J.I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

K. The Institute by Kayla Howarth

L. Lies I Told by Michelle Zink

M. I Am Her Revenge by Meredith Moore

N. This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

O. Between Two Kings: A Novel of Anne Boleyn

P. The Preyby Tom Isbell

Q.

R.Resistance by Kayla Howarth

S. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

T. The Foxglove Killings by Tara Kelly

U.Underwater by Marisa Reichardt

V. Vanished E.E. Cooper

W.The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne

X.

Y.You Are Not Here by Samantha Schutz

Z. Thicker Than Water by Kelly (Fiore) Stultz

Young Adult Book Club's Quarterly Challenge #20 (Dec 1, 2015-Feb 28, 2016)

I finished this one with a few days to spare and I'm already preparing for the next quarterly challenge

1. new release: Thicker Than Water by Kelly (Fiore) Stultz 

2. award winner: I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

3. winter/winter holiday: Crown of Ice by Vicki L. Weavil

4. WINTER: This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

5. short story: Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout 

6. euro day:  Vowed by Liz de Jager

7. science fiction: The Institute by Kayla Howarth

8. library book: There Will Be Lies by Nick Lake

9. fairy tale: Spelled by Betsy Schow

10. flowers: You Are Not Here by Samantha Schutz

TBR Pile Reading Challenge

I added 7 books to my goal of 50 books so I have a total of 29 books. If you want to see the books I read in January check here.

You Are Not Here by Samantha Schutz (October 1st 2010)

Resistance  by Kayla Howarth ( May 14th 2015)

 Crown of Ice  by Vicki L. Weavil (September 9th 2014)

The Bargaining by Carly Anne West (February 17th 2014)

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (November 16th 1998)

Charlie, Presumed Dead by Anne Heltzel ( May 27th 2015)

Dead Upon a Time by Elizabeth Paulson (August 25th 2015)

Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre Review

Title: Mortal Danger 

Series: Immortal Game #1

Author: Ann Aguirre 

Date Published: August 5th 2014

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Edie Kramer has a score to settle with the beautiful people at Blackbriar Academy. Their cruelty drove her to the brink of despair, and four months ago, she couldn't imagine being strong enough to face her senior year. But thanks to a Faustian compact with the enigmatic Kian, she has the power to make the bullies pay. She's not supposed to think about Kian once the deal is done, but devastating pain burns behind his unearthly beauty, and he's impossible to forget.

In one short summer, her entire life changes, and she sweeps through Blackbriar, prepped to take the beautiful people down from the inside. A whisper here, a look there, and suddenly... bad things are happening. It's a heady rush, seeing her tormentors get what they deserve, but things that seem too good to be true usually are, and soon, the pranks and payback turns from delicious to deadly. Edie is alone in a world teeming with secrets and fiends lurking in the shadows. In this murky morass of devil's bargains, she isn't sure who—or what--she can trust. Not even her own mind... 

I'm a huge fan of Ann Aguirre, her Razorland trilogy is one of my favorite series ever so I admitt I started to read thos book with incredibly high expectations so I'm blaming that for being a bit underwhelmed.

I really liked the overall concept of the series I think that the way it was executed wasn't great for my prefferences.  I missed the way I was instantlhy hooked in the authors past books.

Things I liked:

-I liked that the members of the "Teflon Crew" had a back story so we could understand their behaviour yet their actions werent excused.

-Even though I put it off, the ending was good enough to convince me to buy the next book.

Things I didn't like:

-I'm over charcters thinking they are superior to everyone else because they are "nerdy" and don't care about appearances.

-Kian: He honestly creeped me out a little bit  with the way he absessed over Edie, he came off as a bit of an Edward Cullen type of character.

Final Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday: Seven Ways We Lie by Riley Redgate

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title:  Seven Ways We Lie 

Series: -

Author: Riley Redgate

Date Published: March 8th 2016 

Publisher: Amulet Books

Paloma High School is ordinary by anyone’s standards. It’s got the same cliques, the same prejudices, the same suspect cafeteria food. And like every high school, every student has something to hide—whether it’s Kat, the thespian who conceals her trust issues onstage; or Valentine, the neurotic genius who’s planted the seed of a school scandal.

When that scandal bubbles over, and rumors of a teacher-student affair surface, everyone starts hunting for someone to blame. For the unlikely allies at the heart of it all, the collision of their seven ordinary-seeming lives results in extraordinary change.

 Another cover that convinced me to buy the book, I just fell in love with the "Hello my name is…" Tags