Wednesday 30 March 2016

WoW: Heir to the Sky by Amanda Sun


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, my most anticipated release is:


Heir to the Sky by Amanda Sun
Anticipated Release Date: April 26th, 2016
As heir to a kingdom of floating continents, Kali has spent her life bound by limits—by her duties as a member of the royal family; by a forced betrothal to the son of a nobleman; and by the edge of the only world she’s ever known—a small island hovering above a monster-ridden earth, long since uninhabited by humans. She is the Eternal Flame of Hope for what’s left of mankind, the wick and the wax burning in service for her people, and for their revered Phoenix, whose magic keeps them aloft.

When Kali falls off the edge of her kingdom and miraculously survives, she is shocked to discover there are still humans on the earth. Determined to get home, Kali entrusts a rugged monster-hunter named Griffin to guide her across a world overrun by chimera, storm dragons, basilisks, and other terrifying beasts. But the more time she spends on earth, the more dark truths she begins to uncover about her home in the sky, and the more resolute she is to start burning for herself.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25502639-heir-to-the-sky

I'm a YA author and proud Nerdfighter. I was born in Deep River, Canada, a very small town without traffic lights or buses, and where stranger safety is comprised of what to do if you see a bear-- or skunk. I started reading fantasy novels at 4 and writing as soon as I could hold a pencil. Hopefully my work's improved since then.

In university I took English, Linguistics, and Asian History, before settling into Archaeology, because I loved learning about the cultures and stories of ancient people. Of course, I didn't actually become an archaeologist -- I have an intense fear of spiders. I prefer unearthing fascinating stories in the safety of my living room.

The Paper Gods is inspired by my time living in Osaka and travelling throughout Japan. That and watching far too many J-Dramas. I currently live in Toronto with my husband and daughter. When I'm not writing, I'm devouring YA books, knitting nerdy things like Companion Cubes and Triforce mitts, and making elaborate cosplays for anime cons.



Tuesday 29 March 2016

TTT: Best Books I've Loved Recently


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week they post a new topic that the participants come up with a top ten list for.

This week topic is:

Ten Of The Best Books I've Read Recently


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23846013-the-rose-societyhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11297.Norwegian_Wood

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23431526-under-my-skinhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17465456-shadows

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20643052-ink-and-bonehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8572704-always-a-witch

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24930075-wandering-starhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25885733-red

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20821111-the-young-eliteshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19547848-the-uninvited



Wednesday 23 March 2016

WoW: Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, my most anticipated release is:


Flamecaster (Shattered Realms #1) by Cinda Williams Chima
Anticipated Release Date: April 5th, 2016
The first in a thrilling new four-book fantasy series from New York Times bestselling author Cinda Williams Chima, set in the same world as her beloved Seven Realms series, a generation later

Adrian sul’Han, known as Ash, is a trained healer with a powerful gift of magic—and a thirst for revenge. Ash is forced into hiding after a series of murders throws the queendom into chaos. Now Ash is closer than he’s ever been to killing the man responsible, the cruel king of Arden. As a healer, can Ash use his powers not to save a life but to take it?

Abandoned at birth, Jenna Bandelow was told that the mysterious magemark on the back of her neck would make her a target. But when the King’s Guard launches a relentless search for a girl with a mark like hers, Jenna assumes that it has more to do with her role as a saboteur than any birth-based curse. Though Jenna doesn’t know why she’s being hunted, she knows that she can’t get caught.

Eventually, Ash’s and Jenna’s paths will collide in Arden. Thrown together by chance and joined by their hatred of the king, they will come to rescue each other in ways they cannot yet imagine.

Set in the world of the acclaimed Seven Realms series a generation later, this is a thrilling story of dark magic, chilling threats, and two unforgettable characters walking a knife-sharp line between life and death.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23253083-flamecaster
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cinda Williams Chima grew up with talking animals and kick-butt Barbies. She began writing poetry and stories in third grade and novels in junior high school. These days she writes fantasy fiction for teens of all ages. Her Heir Chronicles contemporary fantasy series includes The Warrior Heir (2006), The Wizard Heir (2007), The Dragon Heir (2008), The Enchanter Heir (2013) and The Sorcerer Heir (2014).


Chima’s high fantasy Seven Realms series launched with The Demon King (2009), followed by The Exiled Queen (September, 2010) The Gray Wolf Throne (2011) and The Crimson Crown (2012).
Both series have been New York Times bestsellers.
Chima’s Shattered Realms high fantasy series is forthcoming from HarperCollins. The first novel, Flamecaster, is scheduled for Spring, 2016.   


Tuesday 22 March 2016

TTT: Books I Haven't Talked About in a While


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week they post a new topic that the participants come up with a top ten list for.

This week topic is:

Ten Books I Really Love But Feel Like I Haven't Talked About In A While


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20643052-ink-and-bonehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18506004-forest-of-whispers

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17904985-gates-of-thread-and-stonehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20553857-the-infinite

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13112915-in-the-shadow-of-blackbirdshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19547848-the-uninvited

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20821111-the-young-eliteshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20702018-the-cure-for-dreaming

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22295304-shadowshaperhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22571365-a-book-of-spirits-and-thieves



Wednesday 16 March 2016

WoW: The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, my most anticipated release is:


The Raven King (The Raven Cycle #4) by Maggie Stiefvater
Anticipated Release Date: April 26th, 2016
The fourth and final installment in the spellbinding series from the irrepressible, #1 New York Times bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater.

All her life, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love's death. She doesn't believe in true love and never thought this would be a problem, but as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.

In a starred review for Blue Lily, Lily Blue, Kirkus Reviews declared: "Expect this truly one-of-a-kind series to come to a thundering close."
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17378527-the-raven-king

New York Times bestselling author of The Shiver Trilogy, The Raven Cycle, and The Scorpio Races. Artist. Driver of things with wheels. Avid reader.

All of Maggie Stiefvater's life decisions have been based around her inability to be gainfully employed. Talking to yourself, staring into space, and coming to work in your pajamas are frowned upon when you're a waitress, calligraphy instructor, or technical editor (all of which she's tried), but are highly prized traits in novelists and artists. She's made her living as one or the other since she was 22. She now lives an eccentric life in the middle of nowhere, Virginia with her charmingly straight-laced husband, two kids, two neurotic dogs, and a 1973 Camaro named Loki.