Kaniesha's Waiting on Wednesday #12: The Winner's Curse

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Title: The Winner's Curse
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Series: Stand-Alone
Release date: March 4, 2014

Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Kestrel is an aristocratic citizen of Valoria, a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers. Here, a girl like Kestrel has two choices: join the military or get married. Despite her skills in military strategy, Kestrel’s real passion is music.Which is why she feels compelled to buy Arin, a slave with a talent for singing, at auction. It’s not long before she finds herself falling in love with Arin, and he seems to feel the same for her. But Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for Arin is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a new world, The Winner’s Curse is a story of wicked rumors, dirty secrets, and games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

So many people are excited about this one and I'm not going to lie that I've been caught up in it too.

Kaniesha's Waiting on Wednesday #11: The Seers by Julianna Scott

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Title: The Seers
Author: Julianna Scott
Series: The Holders #2
Release date: February 4, 2014

Synopsis: After nearly being drained of her ability and betrayed by a man her father trusted, Becca Ingle was left with one clue — Ciaran Shea. He holds the key to the downfall of the power-mad Holder, Darragh, and can ensure the safety of both Holder and Human kind alike... but is he willing to help? 

Becca, Alex, Jocelyn, and Cormac set out Adare Manor to meet with the Bhunaidh, an aristocratic group of pure blooded Holders of whom Ciaran is a rumored member. However, when Becca discovers that they might not be the only ones after the information Ciaran has, everyone begins to wonder if Bhunaidh might not be as uninvolved with Darragh as they claim. 

A race to uncover Ciaran’s secrets begins, where the line between friend and foe is blurred, and everyone seems to have their own agenda. Becca will have to call on every ability at her disposal to uncover the truth, all the while knowing that sometimes the answer is more dangerous than the question.

If you guys read it, you know that I reviewed The Holders by Julianna Scott! It was a really good book and I'm really looking forward to The Seers!

Kaniesha's Waiting on Wednesday #10: Death Sworn by Leah Cypress

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Title: Death Sworn
Author: Leah Cypress
Series: Death Sworn #1
Release date: March 4, 2014

Synopsis: When Ileni lost her magic, she lost everything: her place in society, her purpose in life, and the man she had expected to spend her life with. So when the Elders sent her to be magic tutor to a secret sect of assassins, she went willingly, even though the last two tutors had died under mysterious circumstances.

But beneath the assassins’ caves, Ileni will discover a new place and a new purpose… and a new and dangerous love. She will struggle to keep her lost magic a secret while teaching it to her deadly students, and to find out what happened to the two tutors who preceded her. But what she discovers will change not only her future, but the future of her people, the assassins… and possibly the entire world.

Combined Reads: December 2013

Hello everyone! We've decided on more changes for our blog reading choices! Instead of just two books per month we've increased it to four (we read too fast for our own good) and we'll be reading them whenever throughout the month instead of a set period of time.

1: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
2: Sorrow's Knot by Erin Bow
3: The Princess Bride by William Goldman
4: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Please feel free to read along with us and look forward to our (possible) feedback/reviews!

Heather's Monthly Roundup: November

By now, we're in our second month of doing this and I'm still working out the kinks in my posts.  For now, I'm following the same format as last months and putting a small blurb about why I read the book or my reaction to it and placing a star by my absolute favorites for the month.

Kaniesha's November 2013 Roundup

Finished:

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin / Rating: 4.5/5 stars

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross / Rating: 5/5 stars

Hover by Melissa West / Rating: 2/5 stars
The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross / Rating: 4/5 stars
Champion by Marie Lu / Rating: 5/5 stars
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell / Rating: 5/5 stars
A Dawn Most Wicked by Susan Dennard / Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Something Strange & Deadly by Susan Dennard / Rating: 5/5 stars
The Moth in the Mirror by A.G. Howard / Rating: 4/5 stars

Started:

The Thousand Names by Django Wexler
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas

Still reading:

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
Purge by Sofi Oksanen
Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Approved on Netgalley:

Defy by Sara B. Lawson
Sorrow's Knot by Erin Bow

Bought:

Angelfall and World After by Susan Ee

Dropped:

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
I couldn't seem to get into this one at the moment. I love her work though so I'll try again later!

Kaniesha's Waiting on Wednesday #9: The Shadow Throne by Jennifer Nielsen

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Title: The Shadow Throne
Author: Jennifer Nielsen
Series: The Ascendance Trilogy #3
Release date: February 25, 2014

Synopsis: War is Coming...

Kaniesha's Top Ten Tuesday #8: Top Ten Things I Am Thankful For

Top Ten Tuesday is a book blog meme created and hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. This week's Top Ten Tuesday is about the top ten things I am thankful for.

1. My family

My family is dysfunctional and we don't get along a majority of the time but they're not abusive or homophobic or racist or any number of things that are wrong with the world.

2. K-Pop

Korean pop music has been a part of my life for about six years and I don't know where I'd be without it. Because of it, I learned how to do all sorts of things including web design and video editing.

3. Books

Books have helped me a lot! I'm not sure where I'd be without them either. I've learned and lived a lot through them.

4. My dog

I love my dog. I just really, really love my dog. He could go into the family category because he is my son but I love my dog.

5. My friends

I don't have many but the handful I do have are all sorts of wonderful. They're my favorite people! I wish them the best always!

6. My laptop

Without my laptop, very many things would not be possible.

7. Myself

I think I'm pretty neat sometimes.

8. My clothes

I'd be naked all the time without them.

9. My mouse

I'd have gone crazy if I were just using the touchpad.

10. Ex-friends

A weird thing to be thankful for but these people taught me not to be so trusting (an actual problem I have!) and to be wary of people out only for their own gain.

What are you guys thankful for?

Kaniesha Reviews: Hover by Melissa West (Spoiler Warning)

Title: Hover
Series: The Taking #2
Author: Melissa West
Release date: August 13, 2013
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Genres: dystopia, science fiction, romance, paranormal
Goodreads, Amazon, Book Depository, abebooks, Barnes & Noble

On Earth, seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander was taught to never peek, but if she hopes to survive life on her new planet, Loge, her eyes must never shut. Because Zeus will do anything to save the Ancients from their dying planet, and he has a plan.

Thousands of humans crossed over to Loge after a poisonous neurotoxin released into Earth's atmosphere, nearly killing them. They sought refuge in hopes of finding a new life, but what they became were slaves, built to wage war against their home planet. That is, unless Ari and Jackson can stop them. But on Loge, nothing is as it seems...and no one can be trusted.

Review warning: I ramble a lot in this one and there are spoilers. Read on under the cut!

Kaniesha's Waiting on Wednesday #8: Secret by Brigid Kemmerer

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Title: Secret
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Series: Elemental #4
Release date: January 28, 2014

Synopsis: Nowhere is safe. Not even home…

Nick Merrick is stretched to the breaking point.

Keep his grades sky-high or he’ll never escape his hometown.
Keep his brother’s business going or the Merricks will be out on the street.
Keep the secret of where he’s going in the evenings from his own twin—-or he’ll lose his family.

Keep his mind off the hot, self-assured dancer who’s supposed to be his “girlfriend’s” partner.

Of course there’s also the homicidal freak Quinn has taken to hanging around, and the Elemental Guide counting the hours until he can try again to kill the Merrick brothers.

There’s a storm coming. From all sides. And then some.

Nick Merrick, can you keep it together?

Heather's Waiting on Wednesday #6: Strange and Ever After

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine designed to showcase upcoming releases that we're excited about.  Check out my pick for this week after the jump.

Heather's Waiting on Wednesday #5: Dodger's Guide to London

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine designed to showcase upcoming releases that we're excited about.  Check out my pick for this week after the jump.

Heather's Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Covers I Wish I Could Redesign

Top Ten Tuesday is the creation of The Broke and the Bookish, each week they post a list and one of their writers answers.  This week's topic is Top Ten Covers I Wish I Could Redesign

Kaniesha's Top Ten Tuesday #7: Top Ten Sequels I Can't Wait To Get My Hands On

Top Ten Tuesday is a book blog meme created and hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. This week's Top Ten Tuesday is about the top ten sequels I can't wait for.

I've posted a lot here so click past the jump for the list!

Kaniesha Reviews: The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White

Title: The Chaos of Stars
Series: -
Author: Kiersten White
Release date: September 10, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genres: mythology, romance, humor, paranormal
Goodreads, Amazon, Book Depository, abebooks, Barnes & Noble

Isadora’s family is seriously screwed up.
Of course, as the human daughter of Egyptian gods, that pretty much comes with the territory. She’s also stuck with parents who barely notice her, and a house full of relatives who can’t be bothered to remember her name. After all, they are going to be around forever—and she’s a mere mortal.

Isadora’s sick of living a life where she’s only worthy of a passing glance, and when she has the chance to move to San Diego with her brother, she jumps on it. But Isadora’s quickly finding that a “normal” life comes with plenty of its own epic complications—and that there’s no such thing as a clean break when it comes to family. Much as she wants to leave her past behind, she can’t shake the ominous dreams that foretell destruction for her entire family. When it turns out there may be truth in her nightmares, Isadora has to decide whether she can abandon her divine heritage after all.

Combined Reads: November 2013

Sorry we didn't set any books for us to read in October! Though to stay consistent we've decided we'll set books to read every other month instead of every month.
November 1-14:  The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross
November 15-30: Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

Please feel free to read along with us and look forward to our (possible) feedback/reviews!

Heather Reviews: The 13½ Lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers

Heather's Monthly Roundup: October

This is a new thing we wanna try. We read quite a bit and sometimes we just don't have anything to say that warrants a full review for the books we read.  This will give you a little overview about what we've read and why we read it.  My recommendations will have stars by them.

Kaniesha's October 2013 Roundup

Finished:

Crown of Midnight by Sarah Maas / Rating: 6 of 5 stars
House of Hades by Rick Riordan / Rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Holders by Julianna Scott / Rating: 5 of 5 stars (reviewed!)
The Transfer by Veronica Roth / Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Legend by Marie Lu / Rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White / Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars (review soon)
Prodigy by Marie Lu / Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Started:

Hover by Melissa West
I really can't decide if I want to drop this one. But I really want to drop it. (I started it before I started House of Hades and look where we are now).
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Re-read(ing):

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Still reading (when will I finish these?)

Purge by Sofi Oksanen
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling

Books obtained: 

Marked by P.C. Cast
A friend sent me a paperback copy. (I'll be sending her my hardcover copy of Railsea in return!)

Insurgent Collector's Edition by Veronica Roth
Eragon Paperback Copy by Christopher Paolini
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Where Do You Get Your Ideas? by Fred White
Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
(I went book shopping!!)

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Crown of Midnight by Sarah Maas
I won these two beauties from Jenn and Mary over at yabooktwins! Thank you so much! After I read Fangirl, I plan on sending it over to Heather :-D

General excitement:

WORLD AFTER IS SO SOON!!!!! Soon... Then Night of Cake & Puppets! Then Snakeroot!! Then.. whoa, Christmas. Then 2014. Whoa. Did this year seem to go by super fast for anyone but me?

Kaniesha Reviews: The Holders by Julianna Scott

Title: The Holders
Series: Holders #1
Author: Julianna Scott
Release date: March 5, 2013
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Genres: fantasy, supernatural, romance
Goodreads, Amazon, Book Depository, abebooks, Barnes & Noble

17-year-old Becca has spent her whole life protecting her brother – from their father leaving and from the people who say the voices in his head are unnatural. When two strangers appear with apparent answers to Ryland’s “problem” and details about a school in Ireland where Ryland will not only fit in, but prosper, Becca is up in arms.

She reluctantly agrees to join Ryland on his journey and what they find at St. Brigid’s is a world beyond their imagination. Little by little they piece together information about their family’s heritage and the legend of the Holder race that decrees Ryland is the one they’ve been waiting for—but, they are all, especially Becca, in for a surprise that will change what they thought they knew about themselves and their kind.

Heather's Waiting on Wednesday #4: Dreams of Gods & Monsters

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine designed to showcase upcoming releases that we're excited about.  Check out my pick for this week after the jump.

Heather's Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Was Forced to Read

Top Ten Tuesday is the creation of The Broke and the Bookish, each week they post a list and one of their writers answers.  This week's topic is Ten Books I Was "Forced" to Read

Kaniesha's Top Ten Tuesday #6: Top Ten Books I Was "Forced" to Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a book blog meme created and hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. This week's Top Ten Tuesday is about the top ten books I was "forced" to read.

Required reading, recommended reading; anything like that goes, right? In middle school there were things that required/highly recommend that we read 10 books though I can't remember it that well. I remember starting the Charlie Bone series because of it and reading Milkweed so I'll start the list!

1. Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo
2. Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli
3. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
4. The Discovery by Gordon Korman
5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinback
7. Blue Fingers by Cheryl Aylward Whitesel
8. Animal Farm by George Orwell

Sadly, this is all I can remember having to read throughout middle and high school. Charlie Bone, Blue Fingers and The Discovery really inspired/motivated me to read more. I read a lot in middle school but stopped in high school. Did anyone else have to read some of these.. less known titles?

Kaniesha's Waiting on Wednesday #7: Unbreathable by Hafsah Laziaf

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Title: Unbreathable
Author: Hafsah Laziaf
Series: Stand-Alone(?)
Release date: October 29, 2013

Synopsis: One hundred and fifty years ago, Earth was destroyed, and the remaining humans fled to the dusty red planet of Jutaire, where the only oxygen is manufactured, food is scarce, and death strikes often. 

When Lissa's father discovers Earth still exists, she accidentally inhales the toxic air of Jutaire, and in one breath, discovers she isn't quite human. 

Her father hangs for his discovery, and Lissa knows the Chancellors will come for her, for she saw the Earth that night too. With nothing to lose, she sets out to expose the truth. It isn't long before she meets Julian, a beautiful boy who can breathe the toxic air like she can - and shows her that the Jute, the original inhabitants of the planet, are more tangled in their lives than she knows.

But the Chancellors are only pawns in a greater game - one where the Jute control everything. Worse, the Jute plan to leave Jutaire for Earth, but to get there, they need her. And they'll stop at nothing until Lissa is in their clutches, even if they kill every human in the process. 

The race for Earth has begun.

Owner of the blog IceyBooks, has become a published author! The cover is gorgeous - as is the physical copy of the book. I'm very excited to read it!

Heather's Waiting on Wednesday #3: Raising Steam

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine designed to showcase upcoming releases that we're excited about.  Check out my pick for this week after the jump.

Kaniesha's Top Ten Tuesday #5: Top Ten Best/Worst Series Enders

Top Ten Tuesday is a book blog meme created and hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. This week's Top Ten Tuesday is about the top ten best/worst series enders.

I'd say I don't like focusing on the negatives but for today's TTT that's exactly what I'll be doing!

Best:

Boundless by Cynthia Hand
Charlie Bone and the Red Knight by Jenny Nimmo
The Soldiers of Halla by D.J. MacHale
Endlessly by Kiersten White
The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima
The Hunters by John Flanagan
The Blood by D.J. Machale

Worst:

Nevermore by James Patterson
Please don't read this series. Looking back at it, it's very.... not recommendable. Awkward and creepy and literally gave me nightmares. The conclusion to the series is the worst, but there are also a few books in the series that are downright awful at as well.

Neither:
Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer
I only remember the very ending of this book and I can't say I loved it. But I did enjoy the series in general.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
I read The Hunger Games in 2011 and can't remember much but major plot points. I never fell in love with the books the way some people did though I do enjoy many aspects of it and occasionally participating in the fandom. The books are surreal and written really well when you keep in mind with who is telling the story. More importantly - I can only remember the epilogue of Mockingjay. I suppose I should re-read it (and probably Catching Fire) before seeing the movies.

Heather's Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books On My Fall 2013 TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is the creation of The Broke and the Bookish, each week they post a list and one of their writers answers.  This week's topic is Ten On My Fall 2013 TBR List

Kaniesha's Top Ten Tuesday #4: Top Ten Books On My Fall 2013 TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is a book blog meme created and hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. This week's Top Ten Tuesday is about the top ten books on my fall 2013 TBR list.

My list isn't going to be in any particular order but I need these books! (Though I'm not sure what the fall cutoff is, I'm going to include releases between September and November).

1. The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas
2. The House of Hades by Rick Riordan
3. Bang by Lisa McMann
4. Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken
5. Allegiant by Veronica Roth
6. World After by Susan Ee
7. The Kingdom of Little Wounds by Susann Cokal
8. The Falconer by Elizabeth May
9. Sign of the Throne by Melissa Eskue Ousley
10. The Lord of Opium by Nancy Farmer

I really, really hate waiting and quite a few of these are sequels, though a few are the first in a series/trilogy. Anyone else waiting for these books too?