Kaniesha Reviews: Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

Title: Scarlet
Series: Scarlet #1
Author: A.C. Gaughen
Release date: February 12, 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Genres: historical fiction, action, adventure, retellings
Goodreads, Amazon, Book Depository, abebooks, Barnes & Noble

The people of Nottinghamshire know Will Scarlet as Robin Hood’s shadow, a slip of a boy who throws daggers with deadly accuracy and an accomplished thief with an unerring eye for treasure. A select few know that Will is actually Scarlet, a young woman “recruited” by Robin two years earlier as he wandered the alleys of London. But no one knows who the real Scarlet is, what she was doing in London, and how she got that scar on her cheek. That is, no one but Gisbourne, the ruthless thief-taker just hired by the sheriff to capture Robin and his band.

Parajunkee created a New Year's Challenge for 2014. Deux Lectrices will participate! We realize we were supposed to start almost two weeks ago but life is hectic and we're doing this a bit late.

Day 2: Your Pros & Cons of Blogging

Heather:

- Pros: Getting to share thoughts about books and knowing that people are (possibly) reading. I don't get to talk to people too much about books.

- Cons: I'm scatterbrained and real life will kick my butt occasionally making it hard for me to be a regular blogger. =[ I feel bad but I am sincerely hoping to get on top of things this year.

Kaniesha:

- Pros: Keeping up with book releases is at the top of my list. I constantly get to see which books are being talked about the most and when arcs are going out and the like. I also get to see what's being liked and disliked by the majority pretty quickly too.

- Cons: Feeling like I need to keep up with the book bloggers that blog and tweet about books every day. It makes me feel a bit like a failure but books are not at the top of my interest list so I try to shrug it off.

Anyone have the same pros and cons?

Kaniesha Reviews: Silevethiel ARC by Andi O'Connor

Title: Silevethiel
Series: The Vaelinel Trilogy #1
Author: Andi O'Connor
Release date: December 24, 2013
Publisher: Purple Sun Press
Genres: high fantasy, romance
Goodreads, Amazon, Book Depository, abebooks, Barnes & Noble

«Come to me, Irewen. Follow me to the light.»
Following her father’s murder, Princess Irewen Donríel is betrayed and left for dead in the forests of Mistwood. Rescued by the elf prince, Laegon Elendell, Irewen awakes an exile with no home, no country, and no people. But as the horrific memories of murder and betrayal return, she realizes the nightmare is only beginning.

The world of Vaelinel is failing—its fate bound to her in ways no one fully understands. A mysterious elven prophecy may provide her with some answers, but continuously hunted and fighting for her life, Irewen quickly learns that unearthing the truth will be more difficult than she ever imagined. Can she accept Laegon’s love and the friendship of the Wood Elves, or will she stand alone against the terrifying evil now threatening to destroy the entire world?

Parajunkee created a New Year's Challenge for 2014. Deux Lectrices will participate! We realize we were supposed to start almost two weeks ago but life is hectic and we're starting today!

Day 1: Your Blogger Resolutions

Heather:

Review more. I wrote one and published it on DL. Granted, around the end of 2013 I started writing less and less reviews, but still.

Kaniesha:

Review more and make more book blogging friends! It's not a lot but it's difficult for me to make friends, especially in a fandom that I don't spend a majority of my time in.

Heather's Yearly Roundup: 2013

So, hello.  O_O

It's been a long time since I posted here and I'm so sorry.  One of my resolutions this year was to definitely begin posting regularly.  I have a few reviews on my other blog, but they're incomplete for the most part and I'd rather start 2014 fresh anyway.

But before I start 2014, I would like to talk about all of 2013's reads.  I'm borrowing Kan's formula for this post both because I really liked it and because I had no idea where to begin talking about this.

Kaniesha's Yearly Roundup #1: 2013

Goodbye forever, 2013!

2013 was an amazing, yet tragic year for me. I won a lot of books through blogs and websites and even got to buy some. I got my first desk, some video games, and we moved into a bigger house. Sadly, my aunt passed away November 18 and our dog - her dog - passed 16 days after that. My grandpa also lost his father and my grandma's sister lost her husband. My aunt's best friend's father passed a few days after my aunt did as well. But luckily there are always books, friends, video games, writing, music - all sorts of things to help us get through the dark times. (Since writing this paragraph, my grandfather also passed away on December 26. Things have been rough for my family). On to the good things, the books!

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!