Mini Review The Wicked Deep- Shea Ernshaw

July 1, 2020ACourtofCoffeeandBooks 1 Comment

Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…

Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.

Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.

Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.

Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.

But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.

My Review

“Love is an enchantress—devious and wild. It sneaks up behind you, soft and gentle and quiet, just before it slits your throat.”

Everyone that knows me knows that I’m a huge whore for everything Witches. So this book was a double win for me because this author is one of my favorites.

This book was freaking amazing. Some of the major twists in this book were very predictable but Shea has such a wonderful way of building the perfect captivating atmosphere that none of that mattered. Usually, predictability will ruin a book for me but not this one.

Everything about this was perfect to me. It had some creep factor along with mystery, and a sisterly bond that can’t be beaten. I’m so in love with this mysterious and haunting tale of witches and lore.

ARC Review The Crow Rider by Kalyn Josephson

June 29, 2020ACourtofCoffeeandBooks 2 Comments

Title: The Crow Rider (The Storm Crow #2)

Author: Kalyn Josephson

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: July 7, 2020

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy

Summary:

Princess Thia, her allies, and her crow, Res, are planning a rebellion to defeat Queen Razel and Illucia once and for all. Thia must convince the neighboring kingdoms to come to her aid, and Res’s show of strength is the only thing that can help her.

But so many obstacles stand in her way. Res excels at his training, until he loses control of his magic, harming Thia in the process. She is also pursued by Prince Ericen, heir to the Illucian throne and the one person she can’t trust but can’t seem to stay away from.

As the rebel group prepares for war, Res’s magic grows more unstable. Thia has to decide if she can rely on herself and their bond enough to lead the rebellion and become the crow rider she was meant to be.

Preorder Today!

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Book Depository

And if you preorder, make sure to submit your receipt here to receive 1 of 2 bonus scenes (either in Ericen’s or Kiva’s point of view)!

Author Information

Kalyn Josephson is the author of THE STORM CROW duology. By day, she’s a Technical Writer in Silicon Valley, which leaves room for too many bad puns about technically being a writer. She grew up in San Luis Obispo, CA, but now lives in the Bay Area with four awesome friends (because it’s the Bay and she’d like to be able to retire one day) and two black cats (who are more like a tiny dragon and an even tinier owl).

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

My Review

If you would like to read my review of The Storm Crow, click here. Please be aware that this review may include some spoilers from book one. Thank you Sourcebooks Fire for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All quotes below are from an early copy of the book and may not be in the final story.

“Maybe leading didn’t mean just making decisions and enforcing them. That was what Razel would have done. What my mother would have done. Maybe leading meant being the kind of person people wanted to follow.”

Kalyn Josephson has done it again! The Crow Rider is one heck of a ride. Bustling with countless action scenes, gripping emotional character interactions, and beautiful relationships, it’s a sequel that truly outdoes its predecessor. And The Storm Crow was one of my favorite reads of 2019, one I didn’t think many fantasy reads could top, but the sequel is absolutely breathtaking. This sequel is overflowing with emotion and magic and exquisite writing.

“A thousand feelings bubbled to the surface: the need to prove myself capable, to be strong. To handle things myself for once. To be a leader. And with that, the fear that I would fail, only to slip back into that heavy darkness.”

In The Storm Crow, Thia dealt with a deep depression and a lingering hopelessness. She didn’t know how to move on from tragedy. But then she grew, she fought her darkness and found the light she needed to fight her demons. And now Thia knows her life, her world, is worth fighting for and she will stop at nothing until the one who hurt her kingdom is dead. She still faces challenges with her mental health (and so do many side characters), and that’s what helps make her character feel so real. Thia’s character development is so strong and beyond relatable. She’s no longer afraid to speak her mind and fight battles. She knows she can rely on those closest to her for support, even when there are downfalls and hard decisions. And that knowledge is part of what makes her one of my all-time favorite book characters.

Of course, her relationship with Res is the absolute best. They remind me of my relationship with my dog, which gave me a new love for this story. Res is brave, courageous, willing to protect those he loves, outspoken, and also has just a little bit of a sweet tooth. I constantly caught myself smiling and reminiscing during these scenes; Thia and Res’s relationship is so similar to mine with my dog that it made this story extra meaningful and special. I could relate to just about everything and everyone in Thia’s life in some type of way and that was something I truly loved about this story.

“You have every bit the potential to become a monster as I do.”

On the villain side, Razel is a notable opponent. She is every bit the monster people fear, and Thia will stop at nothing until her reign ends. Josephson brought a power-hungry villain to life within these pages. She is, without a doubt, an equal foe for Thia. The battles were intense and had me gripping the book and my eyes glued to Josephson’s words. Razel is a villain that believes friends and love are a weakness, but Thia is set on proving her wrong; Thia knows that it’s not a weakness, it’s a strength. And that strength is what will hopefully change the tide of the war.

Josephson’s writing is poetic and lyrical, her story filled to the brim with lush world building and phenomenal character development. Josephson has created an intricate world with a wonderful magic aspect. What I liked is that Josephson further explores the magical elements of this world. I loved the new information on the elemental crows and the captivating storytelling behind the Sellas. This world, this story, is remarkable and stunning and everything I love about fantasy books.

The Storm Crow duology is by far one of my top favorite series. There’s not a single thing I do not love about this series. It’s a duology I will continue to support and recommend to anyone looking for a great fantasy. And I cannot wait for Josephson’s next story!

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Instagram Giveaway

Visit my Instagram page to enter to win The Storm Crow duology set, hosted by myself and lily at Lily’s Latest Reads! All rules and disclaimer information will be found on my The Crow Rider Instagram post! Giveaway closes Friday, July 3, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. CDT.

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? 6/29/20

June 29, 2020ACourtofCoffeeandBooks 8 Comments

Good Morning and Happy Monday!

This week is going to be a strange one. Places are fully opening back up and I don’t think we’re ready for that. Alas, I don’t make the rules. Stay safe out there.

I’ve read last week’s books so fast that I’ve read more than I posted, so I’m going to share those and then what I plan on reading this week.

Last week I additionally read a sequel that just arrived in the mail and a very short story by an Irish Author. This week I’m going to attempt to read a book that I’ve planned on reading numerous times before (fantastic surprise book mail kept getting in the way), an arc that I’ve picked up at ALA Midwinter, and a book that I want to read before watching the tv show.

What are you reading?

Our Dark Duet (Monsters of Verity #2)- V.E. Schwab

Kate Harker is a girl who hunts monsters. And she’s good at it. August Flynn is a monster who can never be human. Nearly six months after Kate and August were first thrown together, the war between the monsters and the humans is a terrifying reality. In Verity, August has become the leader he never wished to be, and in Prosperity, Kate has become the ruthless hunter she knew she could be. When a new monster emerges from the shadows -one who feeds on chaos and brings out its victim’s inner demons- Kate must face a monster she thought she’d killed, a boy she thought she knew and a demon all her own …

Mr. Salary- Sally Rooney

My love for him felt so total and so annihilating that it was often impossible for me to see him clearly at all.

Years ago, Sukie moved in with Nathan because her mother was dead and her father was difficult, and she had nowhere else to go. Now they are on the brink of the inevitable.

Sally Rooney is one of the most acclaimed young talents of recent years. With her minute attention to the power dynamics in everyday speech, she builds up sexual tension and throws a deceptively low-key glance at love and death.

Autoboyography- Christina Lauren

Fangirl meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda in this funny and poignant coming-of-age novel from New York Times bestselling author Christina Lauren about two boys who fall in love in a writing class—one from a progressive family and the other from a conservative religious community.

Three years ago, Tanner Scott’s family relocated from California to Utah, a move that nudged the bisexual teen temporarily back into the closet. Now, with one semester of high school to go, and no obstacles between him and out-of-state college freedom, Tanner plans to coast through his remaining classes and clear out of Utah.

But when his best friend Autumn dares him to take Provo High’s prestigious Seminar—where honor roll students diligently toil to draft a book in a semester—Tanner can’t resist going against his better judgment and having a go, if only to prove to Autumn how silly the whole thing is. Writing a book in four months sounds simple. Four months is an eternity.

It turns out, Tanner is only partly right: four months is a long time. After all, it takes only one second for him to notice Sebastian Brother, the Mormon prodigy who sold his own Seminar novel the year before and who now mentors the class. And it takes less than a month for Tanner to fall completely in love with him.

Cemetery Boys- Aiden Thomas

Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him.

When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.

However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He’s determined to find out what happened and tie up some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.

NOS4A2- Joe Hill

NOS4A2 is a spine-tingling novel of supernatural suspense from master of horror Joe Hill, the New York Times bestselling author of Heart-Shaped Box and Horns.

Victoria McQueen has a secret gift for finding things: a misplaced bracelet, a missing photograph, answers to unanswerable questions. On her Raleigh Tuff Burner bike, she makes her way to a rickety covered bridge that, within moments, takes her wherever she needs to go, whether it’s across Massachusetts or across the country.

Charles Talent Manx has a way with children. He likes to take them for rides in his 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith with the NOS4A2 vanity plate. With his old car, he can slip right out of the everyday world, and onto the hidden roads that transport them to an astonishing – and terrifying – playground of amusements he calls “Christmasland.”

Then, one day, Vic goes looking for trouble—and finds Manx. That was a lifetime ago. Now Vic, the only kid to ever escape Manx’s unmitigated evil, is all grown up and desperate to forget. But Charlie Manx never stopped thinking about Victoria McQueen. He’s on the road again and he’s picked up a new passenger: Vic’s own son.

First Line Friday 6/26/20 The Kinder Poison (The Kinder Poison #1)-Natalie Mae

June 26, 2020ACourtofCoffeeandBooks 6 Comments

Perfect for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Holly Black, this enthralling fantasy adventure follows a teenage girl chosen to be the human sacrifice in a deadly game between three heirs who will do anything for the crown.

Zahru has long dreamed of leaving the kingdom of Orkena and having the kinds of adventures she’s only ever heard about in stories. But as a lowly Whisperer, her power to commune with animals means that her place is serving in the royal stables until the day her magic runs dry.

All that changes when the ailing ruler invokes the Crossing: a death-defying race across the desert, in which the first of his heirs to finish—and take the life of a human sacrifice at the journey’s end—will ascend to the throne and be granted unparalleled abilities.

With all of the kingdom abuzz, Zahru leaps at the chance to change her fate if just for a night by sneaking into the palace for a taste of the revelry. But the minor indiscretion turns into a deadly mistake when she gets caught up in a feud between the heirs and is forced to become the Crossing’s human sacrifice. Zahru is left with only one hope for survival: somehow figuring out how to overcome the most dangerous people in the world.

“All good stories start with bad decisions. This is the questionable mantra I repeat in my head as we watch the boat come in.”

Book Review The Archer at Dawn (The Tiger at Midnight Trilogy #2)- Swati Teerdhala

June 23, 2020ACourtofCoffeeandBooks Leave a comment

40304179. sy475 The Sun Mela is many things: a call for peace, a cause for celebration, and, above all, a deadly competition. For Kunal and Esha, finally working together as rebel spies, it provides the perfect guise to infiltrate King Vardaan’s vicious court.

Kunal will return to his role as dedicated Senap soldier, at the Sun Mela to provide extra security for the palace during the peace summit for the divided nations of Jansa and Dharka. Meanwhile, Esha will use her new role as adviser to Prince Harun to keep a pulse on shifting political parties and seek out allies for their rebel cause. A radical plan is underfoot to rescue Jansa’s long-lost Princess Reha—the key to the stolen throne.

But amid the Mela games and glittering festivities, much more dangerous forces lie in wait. With the rebel Blades’ entry into Vardaan’s court, a match has been lit, and long-held secrets will force Kunal and Esha to reconsider their loyalties—to their country and to each other. Getting into the palace was the easy task; coming out together will be a battle for their lives.

My Review

“When I think of you, Esha, I imagine the monsoon. Warm and life-giving. Fierce and powerful. A contradiction, just like a warrior poet.”

Writing a sequel has to be one of the hardest books to accomplish as an author. There’s a lot of pressure to write something that is just as amazing as the first. It can make or break an entire series. And Swati stepped up with a sequel that was even better than the first. My mind is blown by the way my expectations were exceeded.

From the start, I knew that I was hooked. Every word struck me like a sharp and cold wind, it left me wide-eyed and breathless in the best way possible. The story flowed like nothing I’ve read before and it bloomed like a beautiful flower.

The author created a world where the characters and the setting had a lot of room to grow and she definitely hit the mark. The visionary descriptions of those aspects made it easy to imagine. It was mesmerizing. Now I’m desperate for book three.

The Archer at Dawn was an action-packed filled story with a tale worth swooning over. The stakes were raised with political intrigue, gore, and a little bit of romance. The books in this series get better and better and I’m ecstatic to find out how this all concludes. All I know is that I won’t be disappointed.

stacy

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? 6/22/20

June 22, 2020ACourtofCoffeeandBooks 4 Comments

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone is doing good and reading a lot of awesome books.

This week I’m going to read a book for an anti-racist book club that I’d help start, a book that I’ve just received in the mail, and an ebook that I’ve received from Book Expo Online.

What are you reading this week?

The Nickel Boys- Colson Whitehead

Winner of the 2020 Pulizer Prize for Fiction.

As the Civil Rights movement begins to reach the black enclave of Frenchtown in segregated Tallahassee, Elwood Curtis takes the words of Dr. Martin Luther King to heart: He is “as good as anyone.” Abandoned by his parents, but kept on the straight and narrow by his grandmother, Elwood is a high school senior about to start classes at a local college. But for a black boy in the Jim Crow South of the early 1960s, one innocent mistake is enough to destroy the future. Elwood is sentenced to a juvenile reformatory called the Nickel Academy, whose mission statement says it provides “physical, intellectual and moral training” so the delinquent boys in their charge can become “honorable and honest men.”

In reality, the Nickel Academy is a grotesque chamber of horrors. Stunned to find himself in such a vicious environment, Elwood tries to hold onto Dr. King’s ringing assertion “Throw us in jail and we will still love you.” His friend Turner thinks Elwood is worse than naive, that the world is crooked, and that the only way to survive is to scheme and avoid trouble.

The tension between Elwood’s ideals and Turner’s skepticism leads to a decision with repercussions that will echo down the decades. Formed in the crucible of the evils Jim Crow wrought, the boys’ fates will be determined by what they endured at the Nickel Academy.

The book is based on the real story of a reform school in Florida that operated for one hundred and eleven years and warped the lives of thousands of children.

The Black Flamingo- Dean Atta

I masquerade in makeup and feathers and I am applauded.

A boy comes to terms with his identity as a mixed-race gay teen – then at university he finds his wings as a drag artist, The Black Flamingo. A bold story about the power of embracing your uniqueness. Sometimes, we need to take charge, to stand up wearing pink feathers – to show ourselves to the world in bold colour.

Once a Girl, Always a Boy: A Family Memoir of a Transgender Journey- Jo Ivester

Jeremy Ivester is a transgender man. Thirty years ago, his parents welcomed him into the world as what they thought was their daughter. As a child, he preferred the toys and games our society views as masculine. He kept his hair short and wore boys’ clothing. They called him a tomboy. That’s what he called himself.

By high school, when he showed no interest in flirting, his parents thought he might be lesbian. At twenty, he wondered if he was asexual. At twenty-three, he surgically removed his breasts. A year later, he began taking the hormones that would lower his voice and give him a beard—and he announced his new name and pronouns.
Once a Girl, Always a Boy is Jeremy’s journey from childhood through coming out as transgender and eventually emerging as an advocate for the transgender community. This is not only Jeremy’s story but also that of his family, told from multiple perspectives—those of the siblings who struggled to understand the brother they once saw as a sister, and of the parents who ultimately joined him in the battle against discrimination. This is a story of acceptance in a world not quite ready to accept.

Blog Tour + Giveaway Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross

June 19, 2020ACourtofCoffeeandBooks Leave a comment

Book Title: Sisters of Sword and Song

Author: Rebecca Ross

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: June 23rd 2020

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis:

From the author of The Queen’s Rising comes a thrilling YA stand-alone fantasy about the unbreakable bond between sisters. Perfect for fans of Ember in the Ashes, Sky in the Deep, and Court of Fives.

After eight long years, Evadne will finally be reunited with her older sister, Halcyon, who has been proudly serving in the queen’s army. But when Halcyon appears earlier than expected, Eva knows something has gone terribly wrong. Halcyon is on the run, hunted by her commander and charged with murder.

Though Halcyon’s life is spared during her trial, the punishment is heavy. And when Eva volunteers to serve part of Halcyon’s sentence, she’s determined to find out exactly what happened. But as Eva begins her sentence, she quickly learns that there are fates much worse than death.

Preorder Today!

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iTunes | Kobo | Google Books

Author Information

Rebecca Ross grew up in Georgia, where she continues to reside with her husband, lively dog and endless piles of books. She received her bachelor’s degree in English from UGA. In the past she has worked at a Colorado dude ranch, as a school librarian, and as a live-time captionist for a college.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

My Review

“Failure is never final unless you choose it to be.”

I was already a big fan of Rebecca Ross’s work from her first book, The Queen’s Rising. But Sisters of Sword and Song made me an even bigger fan of her writing and her worlds. It’s a beautifully crafted and tightly woven tale, filled to the brim with Ancient Greek mythology, the power of a sisterly bond, and emotional trepidations. This powerful stand-alone is deserving of all the praise and more.

At the center of this story is that powerful sibling relationship. Halcyon and Evadne are sisters who both lead two very different lives. Halcyon is a warrior while Evadne is a scribe. When Halcyon is accused of treason, Evadne agrees to work for five years for Lord Straton in exchange for her sister’s freedom. But Evadne uncovers secrets about Halcyon and her world that ultimately place both girls in the front lines of danger.

“There is steel within me. I will not bend. I will not break.”

The bond between Halcyon and Evadne is the heart of this story. Both sisters would do absolutely anything for one another. I loved being able to read from both of their perspectives and see how each handled the danger set in their path. Halcyon had secrets she had to keep hidden deep and Evadne had secrets she had to discover to prove her sister’s innocence. Both girls suffer from different types of pain, but that and all their grief is something each has to learn to overcome. And it wasn’t just the main relationship that hooked this story for me; I loved the side relationships and the budding romance. Everything about this book – the characters, the world, the story – was just magical and mesmerizing and I cannot wait to read this book again.

And let me just add: this world and its occupants are marvelous. Ross does a magnificent job of bringing this magical world to life. It’s so beautifully descriptive and filled with lush and vivid scenery. I fell in love with this world and the characters. It’s a world with darkness and light, magic and life. It’s a story with an intricately woven plot with gods and magic and love. I cannot express enough how captivating Ross’s writing is: she has created such an abundant and extraordinary world that I can still picture everything clear as day weeks after finishing the story.

I know Sisters of Sword and Song is a stand-alone, but I’m really hoping Ross visits this world again sometime in the future. It’s such a magical story steeped with breathtaking Greek mythology. Sisters of Sword and Song is a strong and powerful story, one I hope many readers fall in love with. This is, without a doubt, my favorite Rebecca Ross book so far – it’s a story I highly recommend!

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Tour Schedule

Check out the amazing bloggers on this book tour!

Giveaway

Prize: Win a copy of SISTERS OF SWORD AND SONG by Rebecca Ross + 4 myth cards (The Fall of Kirkos, Ari’s Shawl of Stars, The Entrapment of Pyrrhus, and Acantha’s Crown) [US Only]

Starts: June 17^th 2020

Ends: July 1^st 2020

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

First Line Friday 6/19/20 The Court of Miracles- Kester Grant

June 19, 2020ACourtofCoffeeandBooks Leave a comment

Les Misérables meets Six of Crows in this page-turning adventure as a young thief finds herself going head to head with leaders of Paris’s criminal underground in the wake of the French Revolution.

In the violent urban jungle of an alternate 1828 Paris, the French Revolution has failed and the city is divided between merciless royalty and nine underworld criminal guilds, known as the Court of Miracles. Eponine (Nina) Thénardier is a talented cat burglar and member of the Thieves Guild. Nina’s life is midnight robberies, avoiding her father’s fists, and watching over her naïve adopted sister, Cosette (Ettie). When Ettie attracts the eye of the Tiger–the ruthless lord of the Guild of Flesh–Nina is caught in a desperate race to keep the younger girl safe. Her vow takes her from the city’s dark underbelly to the glittering court of Louis XVII. And it also forces Nina to make a terrible choice–protect Ettie and set off a brutal war between the guilds, or forever lose her sister to the Tiger.

“It is a time of famine, a time of hungering want that threatens to eat you from the inside out, leaving you good only to wait for the coming of death. And Death the Endless always comes.”

Blog Tour + Review The Boundless by Anna Bright

June 18, 2020ACourtofCoffeeandBooks 2 Comments

Title: The Boundless (The Beholder #2)

Author: Anna Bright

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: June 9th 2020

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retellings

Synopsis:

This breathtaking sequel to The Beholder will take you on a journey into a darkly sparkling fairy tale, perfect for fans of The Selection and Caraval.

When Selah found true love with Prince Torden of Norway, she never imagined she’d have to leave him behind. All because the Beholder’s true mission was a secret Selah’s crew didn’t trust her to keep: transporting weapons to the rebels fighting against the brutal tsarytsya, whose shadow looms over their next port of Shvartsval’d. A place Selah hoped she’d never go.

But gone is the girl who departed Potomac filled with fear. With a stockpile of weapons belowdecks and her heart hanging in the balance, Selah is determined to see the Beholder’s quest to its end.

Preorder Today!

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Author Information

Anna Bright is an indie bookseller by day and an author by night who still gets in trouble for reading when she’s supposed to be doing other things. When not hiding out among books, she loves concerts, roller coasters, and adventures at home and abroad. Anna lives with her husband and cat in a charming cobblestoned neighborhood in Washington, DC, but you can find her online at www.annabrightbooks.com and on Twitter and Instagram at @brightlyanna.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

My Review

Avast! This is a review for the sequel to The Beholder. Please know that are some spoilers below that give away some plot points from the first book. If you would like to read my review of the first book, you can find that here.

I loved the story of The Beholder but the sequel’s story is full of more adventure and high stakes and that makes for one heck of a thrilling ride. I truly could not put this book down – and I may have been hoping for some Selah and Torden scenes (don’t worry fellow shippers, there are!). Romance does take a more background role in this story, but that’s to make room for the heart of this sequel and that’s to showcase rebellion and bravery. I usually don’t love sequels more than the first book, but The Boundless exceeded all my expectations. It’s a sequel worth all the praise.

”I already know where my journey ends. It leads me home, to you.”

Selah becomes such an exceptional character in The Boundless. She’s stronger, braver, and she realizes she has the power to change her fate. I loved how Selah was no longer as shy as she was in The Beholder; she grasped the potential she knew she had and used that to become the person she knew she was meant to be. She has the capabilities to help the rebels and change the pace in the war. Her growth is extraordinary as a character and really demonstrates just how much a journey like Selah’s can change every outcome. But what’s also great is that Selah isn’t the only character readers will see grow and develop.

In the sequel, the readers get the opportunity to learn more about the characters from the first book, especially Lang and the crew. But I also loved the addition of some of the new characters. They added a new element to the story, and all the characters constantly challenged Selah, which was an aspect that led her to her new found confidence. Even though Selah is the main character, it was great to see some of the side characters take a much larger role in this story and grow in their own way.

“Not only monsters awaited us in Shvartsval’d, inside the gray boundaries of the Imperiya Yotne. We would meet plots already in motion, characters in masks designed to deceive.”

Bright’s writing is just as strong and lush as The Beholder. She beautifully depicts every scene and character and truly makes this story a delightful ride. Bright also sprinkles in plenty of twists that keep readers on their toes and presents magnificently well-written villains. And the world building is vibrant and well depicted. I loved the world building more in this book than The Beholder. Bright’s writing was, overall, charming and rich, filled with dazzling storytelling and relatable characters.

It was sad to see this story come to an end, but everything wraps up wonderfully. The ending is beyond perfect and just what I was hoping for for Selah and her friends. I’m a fan of Bright’s storytelling and writing and I cannot wait to see where her next story takes us.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Pre-Order Campaign

The author is giving away two BOUNDLESS-themed cross-stitches, both pictured above.

Giveaway ends June 24^th 2020.

Original Post

Rules

#BeBoundless Campaign

The author is giving away a fairytale-themed necklace to one person who photoshops THE BOUNDLESS’s cover into a photo of themselves on an adventure.

Giveaway ends June 8th 2020.

Original post with information

Rules

Tour Schedule

Check out the amazing bloggers part of this tour!

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

Nerd Blast Genes (International Sensory Assassin Network #3)- Mary Ting

June 16, 2020ACourtofCoffeeandBooks Leave a comment

*Click on the banner above to find out more information about this release*

SYNOPSIS

ALLEGIANCES WILL BE TESTED.
IDENTITIES WILL BE REVEALED.
NO ONE IS SAFE.

While searching for the HelixB88 anti-serum on the black market, Ava uncovers valuable intel that may help the rebels in their fight to bring down ISAN—the location of a hidden facility. But first, the insurgents must find the female citizens unexpectedly displaying powers without use of the Helix serum before ISAN captures them.

As the rebels join forces with other sectors, ISAN plans their destruction by using someone they don’t suspect at the rebel home base. A traitor within.

Now, Ava must make a dangerous decision, one that could risk their capture—or worse.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

Praise for ISAN Series

“A stunning sequel! Mary Ting takes us once again into the inventive world of ISAN–one of intrigue and betrayal–but this time, with deadly consequences. A must read!” —Jonas Saul, Bestselling Author of the Sarah Roberts Series

“Captivating from the very beginning, this sci-fi novel explores issues of autonomy and survival in a world where there are few remaining citizens after meteors crashed into Earth… this thrilling dystopian drama has a splash of romance and tons of action. The fast-paced chapters will engage reluctant readers and fans of postapocalyptic scenarios.” —School Library Journal

“Addictive and impossible to put it down!” —Addison Moore, New York Times Bestselling Author

Giveaway

—Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

– 1 Winner will receive a Swag of GENES (Book, Coaster, Bookplate and Postcard) by Mary Ting.

– 1 Winner will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card (Pre-Order Incentive). For every GENES purchased, you will receive the Rhett Lip Balm and be entered to win the gift card.

ENDS: JULY 6, 2020

Click on the image below to enter. Good Luck!

BOOK TRAILER

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mary Ting is an international bestselling, award-winning author. She writes soulful, spellbinding stories that excite the imagination and captivate readers around the world. Her books span a wide range of genres, and her storytelling talents have earned a devoted legion of fans, as well as garnered critical praise.

Becoming an author happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she had in high school. After realizing she wanted to become a full-time author, Mary retired from teaching after twenty years. She also had the privilege of touring with the Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children’s chapter book: No Bullies Allowed.

Mary resides in Southern California with her husband, two children, and two little dogs, Mochi and Mocha. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Being a huge Twilight fan, Mary was inspired to make book-themed jewelry and occasionally gives it away as prizes to her fans.

PHOTO CREDIT: MICHELLE ENGLAND DELAVARA

WEBSITE: http://www.tangledtalesofting.com/
TWITTER: @MaryTing
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4388953.Mary_Ting
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMaryTing
INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/authormaryting

Thank you, Jean, and Mary, for allowing us to be a part of this amazing nerd blast.

For more information about this release and other upcoming releases, click on the button below. Happy Reading!