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?