Saturday Spotlight A River of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy

October 19, 2019ACourtofCoffeeandBooks Leave a comment

Title: A River of Royal Blood

Author: Amanda Joy

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Release Date: October 29, 2019

Page Count: 368 pages

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy

Summary:

An enthralling debut perfect for fans of Children of Blood and Bone set in a North African-inspired fantasy world where two sisters must fight to the death to win the crown.

Sixteen-year-old Eva is a princess, born with the magick of marrow and blood–a dark and terrible magick that hasn’t been seen for generations in the vibrant but fractured country of Myre. Its last known practitioner was Queen Raina, who toppled the native khimaer royalty and massacred thousands, including her own sister, eight generations ago, thus beginning the Rival Heir tradition. Living in Raina’s long and dark shadow, Eva must now face her older sister, Isa, in a battle to the death if she hopes to ascend to the Ivory Throne–because in the Queendom of Myre only the strongest, most ruthless rulers survive.

When Eva is attacked by an assassin just weeks before the battle with her sister, she discovers there is more to the attempt on her life than meets the eye–and it isn’t just her sister who wants to see her dead. As tensions escalate, Eva is forced to turn to a fey instructor of mythic proportions and a mysterious and handsome khimaer prince for help in growing her magick into something to fear. Because despite the love she still has for her sister, Eva will have to choose: Isa’s death or her own.

A River of Royal Blood is an enthralling debut set in a lush North African inspired fantasy world that subtly but powerfully challenges our notions of power, history, and identity.

Purchase Links

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

INDIE BOUND

Please note: A Court of Coffee and Books receives a small commission for any purchases made through the links above. All commission earned goes toward supporting and maintaining this blog.

About the Author

Hi! I’m a writer and bookstagrammer. I currently live in Chicago with my dog Luna.

I grew up in a family of readers. My Dad first gifted me a set of the Chronicles of Narnia and sparked my unending love of fantasy and children’s literature. Years later, my older brother gave me the Wheel of Time series, which went on to inspire me to create my own worlds. I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a writer and spent most of high school staying up all night reading and writing. I studied English and Psychology at the University of Missouri, and went on to earn my MFA in Writing for Children at the New School. While at the New School, I began writing about a Princess who felt out of place in her family and was quite literally under siege in her home. That became my first novel, A River of Royal Blood.

You can find me touring the city’s coffeeshops, taking pictures of my ever expanding library, and trekking around Chicago with my dog. Follow my instagram and twitter @amandajoywrites.

(Bio provided from author’s website and Photo provided from Goodreads)

Blog Tour + Giveaway The Never-Tilting World by Rin Chupeca

October 18, 2019ACourtofCoffeeandBooks 5 Comments

Title: The Never Tilting World (The Never Tilting World #1)

Author: Rin Chupeco

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: October 15th 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis:

Frozen meets Mad Max in this epic teen fantasy duology bursting with star-crossed romance, immortal heroines, and elemental magic, perfect for fans of Furyborn.

Generations of twin goddesses have long ruled Aeon. But seventeen years ago, one sister’s betrayal defied an ancient prophecy and split their world in two. The planet ceased to spin, and a Great Abyss now divides two realms: one cloaked in perpetual night, the other scorched by an unrelenting sun.

While one sister rules Aranth—a frozen city surrounded by a storm-wracked sea —her twin inhabits the sand-locked Golden City. Each goddess has raised a daughter, and each keeps her own secrets about her sister’s betrayal.

But when shadowy forces begin to call their daughters, Odessa and Haidee, back to the site of the Breaking, the two young goddesses —along with a powerful healer from Aranth, and a mouthy desert scavenger —set out on separate journeys across treacherous wastelands, desperate to heal their broken world. No matter the sacrifice it demands.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

iTunes | Kobo | Google Books

Author Information

Despite an unsettling resemblance to Japanese revenants, Rin always maintains her sense of hummus. Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, she keeps four pets: a dog, two birds, and a husband. Dances like the neighbors are watching.

She is represented by Rebecca Podos of the Helen Rees Agency. She is also fond of speaking in the third person, and may as well finish this short bio in this manner. While she does not always get to check her Goodreads page, she does answer questions posed to her here as promptly as she is able to.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Tour Schedule

Check out the other amazing bloggers on this blog tour!

My Review

Rin Chupeco creates a dangerous and beautiful world that will captivate you from the first word until the last page. She creates a story that is unique and magnetic and unlike any fantasy world. It’s truly a great fantasy book with many tropes and elements.

If you’re wondering what this book is about, the cover gives you a great idea. It demonstrates the construction of the world – there’s a kingdom masked in eternal night and a kingdom under eternal sunlight. The cover is one of my favorite things because it’s unique and captures the beauty of this world and the differences. The world masked in night is filled with dangerous monsters, while the world under sunlight is stuck with desert-like hills and unbearable heat. And then the world starts dying and it’s up to two girls to save the world from total destruction.

“A demoness is what men call a goddess they cannot control.”

The Never-Tilting World follows four people, two from each kingdom. What I liked about this is how each perspective was unique and how Chupeco brought everything together. I’m usually not a fan of books that have more than two point of views, but Chupeco did an amazing job. I have a soft spot for all these characters; they are all so well-developed with relatable backstories. The characters are witty and sarcastic and I loved it. Plus, it was great to see so much diversity represented: there’s a f/f romance (which will make you swoon!), mental health, disabled character, and much more.

Chupeco does an absolutely beautiful job bringing this world and story to life. Her writing is magnetizing and filled with such emotion. Some of the scenes the characters go through are so well described that I could easily place a picture in my head. And the characters themselves are truly noteworthy – they are all so different, yet share a strong and unbreakable bond. I was, overall, very surprised and excited by this book.

I’m looking forward to read the sequel, especially after how this book wraps up. The Never-Tilting World is out now, and it’s a perfect book for readers who love fantasy with enemies-to-lovers and gods and goddesses.

Giveaway

Prize: Win a finished copy of THE NEVER TILTING WORLD by Rin Chupeco, character stickers and art prints for all four characters of the NEVER TILTING WORLD (INT)

Stars: 15^th October

Ends: 29^th October 2019

Thank you, Fantastic Flying Book Club, for having us on this wonderful blog tour!

Blog Tour + Giveaway Fireborne by Rosaria Munda

October 15, 2019ACourtofCoffeeandBooks Leave a comment

Title: Fireborne (The Aurelian Cycle #1)

Author: Rosaria Munda

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Release Date: October 15th 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dragons

Synopsis:

Seraphina meets Red Rising in a debut young adult fantasy that’s full of rivalry, romance… and dragons.

Annie and Lee were just children when a brutal revolution changed their world, giving everyone—even the lowborn—a chance to test into the governing class of dragonriders.

Now they are both rising stars in the new regime, despite backgrounds that couldn’t be more different. Annie’s lowborn family was executed by dragonfire, while Lee’s aristocratic family was murdered by revolutionaries. Growing up in the same orphanage forged their friendship, and seven years of training have made them rivals for the top position in the dragonriding fleet.

But everything changes when survivors from the old regime surface, bent on reclaiming the city.

With war on the horizon and his relationship with Annie changing fast, Lee must choose to kill the only family he has left or to betray everything he’s come to believe in. And Annie must decide whether to protect the boy she loves . . . or step up to be the champion her city needs.

From debut author Rosaria Munda comes a gripping adventure that calls into question which matters most: the family you were born into, or the one you’ve chosen.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

iTunes | Kobo | Google Books

Author Information

Rosaria grew up in rural North Carolina, where she climbed trees, read Harry Potter fanfiction, and taught herself Latin. She studied political theory at Princeton and lives in Chicago with her husband and cat.

For book recs and updates, follow her on instagram: @rosariamunda

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

Tour Schedule

Check out the other amazing bloggers on the Fireborne blog tour!

My Review

“And as she turned, it was revealed by her tread that she was fireborne.”

Y’all, this book has everything; Fireborne is a fierce and masterful debut that is sure to spark fire everywhere. There’s dragons, political intrigue, slow-burn romance (like real slow burn, the kind that makes you want to pull your hair out, but in a good way), outstanding character development, hidden identities, and so much more. Fireborne is honestly one of the best books I have read this year (and probably one of the best debuts), and is easily one of my top favorites of 2019.

Annie and Lee were such relatable and strong protagonists. Fireborne bounces between their point of views, which is one of the reasons I loved this story so much. I felt that their combined point of views really developed the story nicely, and that without both of their perspectives, it would feel like something is missing. Both characters were flawed yet delicate, and I really enjoyed seeing that in multiple ways in each character.

“I felt how those words tasted, yes sir, to a dragonlord’s son, sour and familiar, like old milk turned. And I realized that if I don’t like how those words taste, it’s up to me to do something about it. I’m done thinking from my knees. It’s time to think from my feet.”

Annie is an orphan who watched her family burn at the hands of a dragonlord. She’s one of the candidates who has a shot at making Firstrider, a position she could only dream of having. But in order to become Firstrider, she will have to fight against her best friend (and love), Lee. Overall, I thought Annie was a well-developed character. Her past horrors and present life mingle together nicely, and the readers gets a great idea of who she is as a person and a dragon rider.

“It is difficult, knowing that your choices are ones whose consequences others suffer.”

And then there’s Lee. Lee became an orphan after his family was slaughtered before his eyes. But he’s determined to prove that he can be just as great as his family, if not better. He can taste Firstrider on the tip of his tongue, a hope he has always wanted to come true, but he doesn’t want it at the cost of losing Annie. And what happens when someone from his past shockingly waltzes into his life? How do you balance a past that’s completely distant from your future? Lee learns all this the hard way, and that’s truly what builds his character. It was great to see him grow from his past mistakes and fight for a future he wants.

Bring what fury you have and I will answer it with ours.

The world building is absolutely phenomenal. The dragons are a fantastical aspect and the world is built around them, which I thoroughly enjoyed; the dragons are not there just to amuse the readers, but they fit so well into the world that it’s hard to imagine this story without them. There’s so many intricate parts that make this world function and Munda describes them all beautifully. Her writing is flawless and emotional and poetic; as the reader, I could sense the hurt and despair many civilians went through at the hands of the dragonlords and their dragons.

I cannot recommend Fireborne enough. This epic fantasy debut blew me away and set the record high for books to follow. If you love dragons and an intense, yet magnetic romance with hardships and mistakes and past trauma, then definitely read Fireborne. And read it soon, as I have a feeling you will thank yourself for reading this book earlier than later! 🙂

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Giveaway

Prize: Win (1) of (2) copies of Fireborne (The Aurelian Cycle #1) by Rosaria Munda (US/CAN Only)

Starts: 9^th October 2019

Ends: 9^th October 2019

Thank you, Fantastic Flying Book Club, for having us on this wonderful blog tour!

ARC Review In the Hall with the Knife by Diana Peterfreund

October 2, 2019ACourtofCoffeeandBooks Leave a comment

Title: In the Hall with the Knife

Author: Diana Peterfreund

Publisher: Amulet Books

Release Date: October 8, 2019

Page Count: 304 pages

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller

Summary:

A murderer could be around every corner in this thrilling YA trilogy based on the board game CLUE!

When a storm strikes at Blackbrook Academy, an elite prep school nestled in the woods of Maine, a motley crew of students—including Beth “Peacock” Picach, Orchid McKee, Vaughn Green, Sam “Mustard” Maestor, Finn Plum, and Scarlet Mistry—are left stranded on campus with their headmaster. Hours later, his body is found in the conservatory and it’s very clear his death was no accident. With this group of students who are all hiding something, nothing is as it seems, and everyone has a motive for murder. Fans of the CLUE board game and cult classic film will delight in Diana Peterfreund’s modern reimagining of the brand, its characters, and the dark, magnificent old mansion with secrets hidden within its walls.

Purchase Links

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

INDIE BOUND

Please note: A Court of Coffee and Books receives a small commission for any purchases made through the links above. All commission earned goes toward supporting and maintaining this blog.

My Review

In the Hall with the Knife is a Clue mystery fans will love filled with thrilling dialogue and intrigue. This first book is loaded with Easter eggs from the original movie and game and multiple mysteries outside of a murder. This book is not just about solving a murder: it’s also about determining who everyone can trust when everyone has something to hide.

I thought Peterfreund did a great job staying true to the movie and boardgame while also adding her own personal twists to the story. You get the original characters but here’s a twist: they’re teenagers at an elite boarding school who have to solve a murder with no real murder solving skills. But that easily proves difficult when all of them start to suspect one another. Orchid has a potentially deadly past she’s trying to keep buried. Peacock has a secret that could ruin her life and career. Vaughn is living a double life – and no one suspects that he is. Mustard just transferred to this boarding school with a reason he’s not quite ready to reveal. Plum is the golden boy, but being the golden boy comes at a cost. And Scarlet will do anything to succeed at this school – even go to drastic means to come out on top. And then someone turns up dead – someone that each of them has a motive for murdering. But the question is – who really murdered someone?

One of my favorite aspects about this book is how Peterfreund revealed something about each character in each of their chapters. Each chapter is a different perspective, and every time something is revealed about that specific character. Some of the secrets I guessed but some I did not see coming. But I thought it was brilliant to reveal a secret in each chapter (and not all of them were outright revealed, some you had to read between the lines or put two and two together). It’s like tiny puzzle pieces fitting together over the length of this novel to create an almost complete puzzle. And with how the story ends, I’m suspecting even more character secrets will be revealed in the next book.

There are multiple point of views, as each of the main Clue characters has a voice, but I thought the chapters and voices really flowed well together. Though there isn’t quite a ton of romance, this first book sets the stage for potential romances between some characters in the next two books (and I’m rooting for two in particular!). It was great to see the characters start to rely on one another and trust their instincts and also develop some key life skills that they wouldn’t be able to learn in a classroom.

Overall, I thought this was a great book perfect for mystery genre fans and teens that are looking for a way to experience a classic board game in a new way. The killer was slightly easy to guess, but I still thought this was a fun and thrilling mystery read and I cannot wait to read the sequel. In the Hall with the Knife comes out next Tuesday, but you can preorder this fun book now!

My rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 stars

Saturday Spotlight Fireborne by Rosaria Munda

September 28, 2019ACourtofCoffeeandBooks Leave a comment

Title: Fireborne

Author: Rosaria Munda

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Release Date: October 15, 2019

Page Count: 448 pages

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dragons

Summary:

Game of Thrones meets Red Rising in a debut young adult fantasy that’s full of rivalry, romance… and dragons.

Annie and Lee were just children when a brutal revolution changed their world, giving everyone—even the lowborn—a chance to test into the governing class of dragonriders.

But everything changes when survivors from the old regime surface, bent on reclaiming the city.

From debut author Rosaria Munda comes a gripping adventure that calls into question which matters most: the family you were born into, or the one you’ve chosen.

Purchase Links

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

INDIE BOUND

Please note: A Court of Coffee and Books receives a small commission for any purchases made through the links above. All commission earned goes toward supporting and maintaining this blog.

About the Author

For book recs and updates, follow her on instagram: @rosariamunda

(Bio and photo provided from Goodreads)

Blog Tour + Giveaway Shadow Frost by Coco Ma

September 27, 2019ACourtofCoffeeandBooks 2 Comments

Title: Shadow Frost

Author: Coco Ma

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

Release Date: October 1st 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis:

IN THE KINGDOM OF AXARIA, a darkness rises.

Some call it a monster, laying waste to the villagers and their homes.

Some say it is an invulnerable demon summoned from the deepest abysses of the Immortal Realm.

Many soldiers from the royal guard are sent out to hunt it down.

Not one has ever returned.

When Asterin Faelenhart, Princess of Axaria and heir to the throne, discovers that she may hold the key to defeating the mysterious demon terrorizing her kingdom, she vows not to rest until the beast is slain. With the help of her friends and the powers she wields — though has yet to fully understand — Asterin sets out to complete a single task. The task that countless, trained soldiers have failed.

To kill it.

But as they hunt for the demon, they unearth a plot to assassinate the Princess herself instead. Asterin and her companions begin to wonder how much of their lives have been lies, especially when they realize that the center of the web of deceit might very well be themselves. With no one else to turn to, they are forced to decide just how much they are willing to sacrifice to protect the only world they have ever known.

That is, of course… if the demon doesn’t get to them first.

From young author Coco Ma comes a dazzling new tale of adventure, power, and betrayal, weaving together a stunning world of magic with a killer cast in an explosive, unforgettable debut.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Kobo | Google Books

Author Information

Coco Ma is a Canadian-Chinese author and pianist. She wrote her first novel, Shadow Frost, at the age of 15. Since she began playing the piano at the age of five and a half, she has also performed on some of the world’s greatest concert stages and graduated with a pre-college diploma in piano performance from The Juilliard School in New York City. Currently, she studies at Yale University. When she isn’t practicing piano, writing, or studying, you might find her bingeing Netflix or eating cake. Lots of cake.

Follow Coco on Twitter @shadowfrost2019 and Instagram @CakeForCoco or visit her website at Coco-Ma.com!

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

My Review

Before I even read the summary of Shadow Frost, I knew I had to read this book because of the cover (isn’t it absolutely gorgeous?!). And the written words behind this cover are just as beautiful. Coco Ma brings to the YA fantasy genre a fast-paced, epic adventure that teens across the world will love.

The magic system in Shadow Frost is unique and fits the story setting well. But the one thing I really liked the most about this book was the characters, especially Asterin. She’s head strong and caring and really wants to prove to her mother and kingdom that she is good enough to be Queen. I enjoyed the other characters part of the squad, as each character was different and brought a new personality and perspective to the story. I will admit I was not a big fan of the multiple point of views, but it made sense to have them.

Even though I was not a big fan of the multiple perspectives, it was a good way to learn about the characters’ backstories and history with Princess Asterin. One character is in love with Asterin, but Asterin is oblivious to it (which is, honestly, one of my favorite tropes), and it makes for fun interactions between the two. The characters in this story, though, are what sold this story for me, as I am a huge fan of character-driven stories.

I thought the writing and world building were beautiful. One aspect of fantasy books I love is the world building and Coco Ma did a wonderful job. The world was descriptive and felt like it was a world that should exist in the real world. It was, overall, a fun and beautiful read.

If you’re looking for a fantasy read with numerous plot twists, then definitely pick up Shadow Frost. It was twist after twist after twist and that grabbed my attention from the beginning and kept it until the last page. There were some twists I saw coming and saw that blew my mind.

Pre-Order Campaign

Blackstone Publishing is giving away (1) signed bookplate, (1) Shadow Frost bookmark, (1) Shadow Frost button, and (1) Blackstone Publishing tote bag to the first 150 people pre-ordering SHADOW FROST (Before October 1^st). Click on the image below to access the giveaway.

Tour Schedule

Click the banner below to see the amazing book bloggers on this tour!

Tour Giveaway

Prize: Win (1) of (2) Shadow Frost bundles:

-1 Hardcover copy of Shadow Frost

-1 Signed bookplate

-Shadow Frost swag (bookmark and button)

Giveaway Starts on: October 1^st 2019

Giveaway Ends on: October 15^th 2019

Thank you, Fantastic Flying Book Club, for having us on this wonderful blog tour!

Blog Tour + Giveaway Glow of the Fireflies by Lindsey Duga

September 26, 2019ACourtofCoffeeandBooks Leave a comment

Title: Glow of the Fireflies

Author: Lindsey Duga

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Release Date: October 1st 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis:

Briony never planned to go back to the place she lost everything.

Firefly Valley, nestled deep within the Smoky Mountains, is better kept in her past. After an unexplained fire gave Briony amnesia, her mother disappeared and her dad moved them to Knoxville.

But now her grandmother needs a caretaker and Briony’s dad volunteers her to help. The moment she returns, her whole world shifts. She feels a magical connection to this valley, as if it’s literally part of her somehow.

And when she meets a hot guy who claims he was her childhood friend but now mysteriously keeps his distance, Briony starts piecing together her missing past…and discovers her mother didn’t leave to start a new life somewhere. She’s trapped in the hidden world within the valley.

Now, Briony will do whatever it takes to rescue her, even if it means standing up against dangerously powerful nature spirits. Even if it means giving up her first love.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

iTunes | Kobo | Google Books

Author Information

Lindsey Duga is a middle grade and young adult writer with a passion for fantasy, science fiction, and basically any genre that takes you away from the real world. She wrote her first novel in college while she was getting her bachelor’s in Mass Communication from Louisiana State University.

Other than writing and cuddling with her morkie puppy, Delphi, Lindsey loves catching up on the latest superhero TV show and practicing yoga.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

My Review

Glow of the Fireflies is a fast-paced and character driven story. Briony wants to uncover the childhood she can no longer remember and also figure out why her mother left her and her father.

“Falling through the mist, I expected to feel wet, or at the very least, damp, but I stayed dry. I also expected to die.”

Briony is a strong and determined main character, especially after she goes back home to take care of her estranged grandmother and stumbles upon an impossible magic valley. A magical valley she feels deeply connected to. I really enjoyed watching her develop throughout this story; as she pieced her past together, she discovered a new part about herself, which really came full circle for her as a person. She knew there was always a part missing from her and that it was hidden in her past, so seeing Briony discover that was great.

One of my favorite parts of Glow of the Fireflies was the magical valley. I thought it was unique and wonderfully described. I knew that the valley would be a place I would definitely have to visit, if I could. The nature spirits in this valley were really cool; the imagination flowed off the pages and made me feel like this valley and the stunning spirits could really exist, and it makes me wish I had the ability to visit them. But I did feel like I was visiting the valley through Briony and Alder, which was a great reader experience.

“Maybe he was more like heat lightning. A storm off in the distance, where the thunder was too far to hear and the summer lightning would flash against high clouds on the horizon, illuminating the sky. He had all the mystery and wonder of a storm, but none of its destruction.”

Alder was such a great character. He’s thoughtful, protective, loving, and, of course, gorgeous. He was Briony’s closest childhood friend but now keeps his distance for unknown reasons. Alder was definitely part of some of my favorite scenes, especially when little pieces about who (and what) he is comes together. The connection between Briony and Alder felt natural and I really loved their shared moments

“It shouldn’t have hurt as bad as it had. Had I even loved her yet? Maybe not then, but I’d trusted her. Trusted her to be there for me, to help me navigate a world without memories, without a past. Without an identity. And she’d failed me.”

The relationship between Briony and her mom is fragile and almost nonexistent. Briony believes her mom left her behind to start a new life. But as Briony explores this magical valley with Alder, she comes across shocking and alarming news: her mom never wanted to leave her behind, but had to to keep her safe. And if Briony wants her mom back, she will have to go against gods and guardians to retrieve her spirit and body. But, of course, nothing is ever that easy. In order to save her mom, Briony will have to piece her past together and finally accept the person she has always been.

Overall, Lindsey Duga’s sophmore novel was beautiful and well-written. Duga does a great job of capturing character moments and describing intense and romantic scenes. If you like fast-paced books with a captivating fantasy element and dashing characters, then I recommend reading Glow of the Fireflies!

Tour Schedule

Click the banner below to see the amazing bloggers on this book blog tour!

Giveaway

PRIZES:

Gold Prize (Grand Prize- US only)
Annotated Book
Amazon Gift Card $25
Commissioned Art Print
Catching Fireflies Soy Candle
Fireflies Key Chain

Two Silver Prizes (Runner-Up Prizes-US only)
Annotated Book
Amazon Gift Card $10

Commissioned Art Print (plus various swag)

Thank you, Fantastic Flying Book Club, for having us on this wonderful blog tour!