Reading Right Now! (169)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...

Kiss of the Royal

By Lindsey Duga

I was lucky enough to get this for free for honest review from Entangled Teen. It comes out into the world July 3, 2018, and I'd feel pretty bad if I didn't read it on time since I did ask for it.

This one has a very fairytale fantasy vibe to it, but a little darker. It has princes, princesses, dragons, and griffins. Oh My! All the royals in this world have to fight the evil darkness that spawns dangerous creatures that wreak havoc. This magic darkness comes from an evil witch, according to legend. The Princesses are gifted with magic that can be transferred through a kiss. They are partnered with a Prince, who upon receiving their spelled kiss, can fight with the strength of 20 men.

Ivy is a pure princess, which makes her kiss more powerful than all the others. Four of her Prince Partners have died and she needs another one. She gets it in a foreign prince named Zach. The only problem is, he doesn't want her kisses.

It's a different kind of book, interesting. I'm enjoying it. I really do enjoy the books that Entangled Teen publishes. They tend to be really fun and addictive. 

So I hope to finish this one and have my review out soon.

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you reading?

Review: City of Bastards (Royal Bastards #2) by Andrew Shvarts

Title: City of Bastards (Royal Bastards #2)

Author: Andrew Shvarts

Published by: Disney-Hyperion

Released: June 5, 2018

Source: Review Copy from Disney-Hyperion through Netgalley

Summary: Tilla has finally entered the fabled city of Lightspire. The citizens don't know if they should treat her like a hero or villain. She helped save the Princess, Yay! Buuut her father is a big traitor who killed a very important mage and is now involved in a war, Boo. Tilla feels very out of place in Lightspire, as does Zell. In the six months she's been there, she's started taking classes at University, is trying to protect Lyriana from self destruction, and is just feeling a little homesick.

The war is still going on. The rebel forces aren't being beaten back as quickly as the Kingdom of Lightspire hoped.

Lightspire is not the magical, peaceful town Tilla heard in all the stories. Things are happening in the dark, hidden alleys. When a schoolmate of Tilla's dies suddenly, Tilla gets involved in something she never would have imagined. There are no breaks for Tilla the Bastard.

My Thoughts: I received a free copy for honest review from Disney-Hyperion through Netgalley. Thank you Disney-Hyperion for providing me with a copy. I needed this sequel after reading and loving Royal Bastards.

I read Royal Bastards and loved it so much! I needed to know what happened next. I wondered how everything was going to go, what was going to happen. Tilla's journey in City of Bastards is different from her journey in Royal Bastards. I'm happy to say that I enjoyed this sequel so much. It was full of action, adventure, mystery, intrigue, danger, and humor, like the first book. It was exciting to read. I now need to know what happens next, and I have such a long, long wait for the third book.

This was a different book from Royal Bastards. Royal Bastards was very much a journey book of misfits becoming friends. City of Bastards starts off in a very different place. The journey is over and the group has changed. They've made it to Lightspire, which is supposed to be a safe harbor, the end of their journey, but it isn't as safe as they thought. But just because City of Bastards is different doesn't mean that it's bad, it was really, really good!

I really enjoy Tilla as a character. She's funny. I also enjoy reading her struggle and how she deals with things.

Zell and Tilla, I love together. They had a little bit of trouble in this phase of their relationship, which made me sad. So, not everything was great with them, but I know they'll make it through everything.

There is a gap in the group that makes me sad. No Spoilers, but I am missing some people.

There was a ton of action in this one. The ending was crazy. I need to know what happens next. This series is a lot of fun. I'd definitely recommend it. I do think Royal Bastards is slightly more fun than this sequel, but that might not even be a fair assessment. Royal Bastards and City of Bastards have different vibes from each other, which makes it interesting. I really like this series. I need to know what happens next with Tilla, Zell, Ellarion, Lyriana, and Miles.

Thank you again Disney-Hyperion for providing me with a free copy. I loved it!

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4.2/5

Yayy! I love it.

ALPHA BLITZ POST!!! Alpha (The Infinity Division #3) by Jus Accardo

Alpha
Jus Accardo
(The Infinity Division #3)
Published by: Entangled: Teen
Publication date: July 3rd 2018
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

“A fun YA sci-fi story with a compelling cast of characters.” —Kirkus Reviews on Infinity
Sera is the obsession of a killer chasing a ghost. G is a soldier with too much blood on his hands.
Dylan lost the only person he ever loved—and will stop at nothing to get her back.
In a whirlwind chase that takes them back to where it all started, Sera, G, and Dylan will have to confront their demons—both physical and mental—and each other, in order to win their freedom.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

The rain stopped, and the wind outside had settled, leaving an uncomfortable silence in its wake. I didn’t have a problem with the quiet. I liked it, in fact. But this was something a little different. This was uncomfortable. The kind of stillness that came from forced proximity to someone or something that made your skin itch and your stomach roil. The kind of hush that usually set in right before a devastating storm or a natural disaster.
He did this sometimes. Just sat across from me and stared. He usually wouldn’t even say anything. I didn’t think he expected me to say anything, either. He just looked. Sometimes it lasted a few minutes, just long enough to send that chill skittering up and down my spine. Other times it would go on for hours. He’d blink and breathe and fidget, but his eyes…those remained locked on me, his unhealthy mix of sadness and lust and greed and anger crushing me to the point of breathlessness.
We were at it again, and I was just about out of patience. It was one thing to have been ripped away from my home, from my life, by that madwoman, Cora Anderson. It was another to have her poke and prod and use me as a science experiment. She’d altered my mind. Made me forget most of my life before the day I woke up a prisoner on the floor of her cold, dank cell. Those things were all bad, but having been “rescued” by this bastard and forced to stay by his side at all times? That was an entirely new level of torture.
“You’re thinking about him again, aren’t you?” His tone was acidic and his jaw tight. He had a temper, this guy. I’d seen it multiple times. He’d never done anything more than scream at me, but it was only a matter of time with people like this. I wasn’t sure how I knew that, but I felt it in my bones. Maybe I’d known someone like him at home. Maybe it was just intuition.
“Yes,” was all I replied. I found that simple, one-word responses went over the best. Or, more accurately, the worst. When I said too little, he grew agitated. He wanted me to talk to him, yet the things that came out of my mouth weren’t ever what he wanted to hear. I didn’t act like he’d hoped I would, didn’t say the things he longed to hear. Some days he was determined to change me. Others, he was rabid, blaming me for not behaving like myself and demanding that I wake up.
Forget that I had no idea who I was.
“While it’s not okay, I understand.” He offered me a smile—a small, tentative twitch of his lips and gentle shrug of his shoulders. He was making an effort to be kinder today, going out of his way to speak softer and move slower.
That made me even angrier.
“You understand? Then my life is complete. All I’ve ever wanted was the understanding of a serial killer.” Even if I hadn’t been thinking about…someone else, I would have lied. The fact that I wasn’t focused on him, and him alone, drove Dylan—my savior, my captor—crazy. But the truth was, I was thinking of him. That other him. How could I not? Even if I didn’t find myself missing him every moment of every day in an almost physical way, I wouldn’t be able to put him out of my mind because he was technically sitting here across from me.

Author Bio:
JUS ACCARDO spent her childhood reading and learning to cook. Determined to follow in her grandfather's footsteps as a chef, she applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America. But at the last minute, she realized her true path lay with fiction, not food.
Jus is the bestselling author of the popular Denazen series from Entangled publishing. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for checking out my Blitz Post for Alpha! Thanks to Xpresso Book Tours and Entangled Teen for letting me be a part of it.

BLOG TOUR: No Reception by Maisie Porter

Welcome to my Blog Tour Stop for No Reception by Maisie Porter. I'm really excited to be a part of this tour. As soon as I read the synopsis for this story, I was interested. Slightly deranged characters, stealing another's identity, revenge! Those are just all buzz words for me. I received a free copy for honest review from Rachel's Random Resources and Maisie Porter. Thanks to them for letting me be a part of this tour.

No Reception

by Maisie Porter

Goodreads  Amazon  Amazon US

Synopsis: For hyper-successful wedding photographer and blogger, Zody Lee Swabler, anonymous death threats come with the territory. When warned by email not to continue booking jobs, she responds by accepting the next request that comes in. 

When a strangely eager woman approaches her about the emails, she accepts the woman’s invitation to visit her home. So begins Helena Hoath’s elaborate plan to take over the life and profession of the photographer she wishes she could be. 

And when Zody unleashes her own revenge scheme, she discovers that the unhinged woman may still have the wit to turn a successful photographer’s own talents against her. 

Zody and Helena's lives begin to intertwine in ways that neither could have foreseen…

My Reading Right Now! Thoughts: What a ride! This was pretty crazy and pretty fun. It was full of off kilter characters, jealousy, revenge, and just general craziness. This was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed reading it.

I loved the setting of Australia. That's definitely a place that I would like to go visit one day.

I also enjoyed experiencing the life of a photographer. This one had a lot of craziness to it, but it was an interesting career to explore.

This was a really fast read to. I flew through it.

I'd definitely recommend this one if you're looking for something quick and fun to read. It's got some screwball characters, a lot of action, and thrills. It's fun!

About the Author:

Maisie Porter works as a professional photographer in Australia,

with wide experience covering weddings, though she has neither abducted

nor been abducted by any competitors. No Reception is Maisie's first novel.

Twitter

Thank you for stopping by my Blog Tour Stop for No Reception by Maisie Porter. Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources and Maisie Porter for letting me be a part of such a fun tour.

BLOG TOUR: Just by Jenny Morton Potts

Hello! And Welcome to my Blog Tour Post for Just by Jenny Morton Potts. I'm really excited to be part of the tour. Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources and Jenny Morton Potts for letting me join in on the fun! I received a free copy for honest review. This is a fun one!

Just

By: Jenny Morton Potts

Goodreads  Amazon

Synopsis: How far would you go to save a life?

On golden Mediterranean sands, maverick doctor Scott Langbrook falls recklessly in love with his team leader, Fiyori Maziq. If only that was the extent of his falling, but Scott descends into the hellish clutches of someone much more sinister.

‘Just’ is a story of love and loss, of terror and triumph. Set in idyllic Cambridge and on the shores of the Med and Cornwall, our characters fight for their very lives on land and at sea. 

An unforgettable novel which goes to the heart of our catastrophic times, and seeks salvation.

My Reading Right Now! Thoughts: Wow wow wow wow wow. This was intense! I went on a crazy journey with this story. It was full of action, danger, and thrill rides. The characters were human too. They weren't always nice, but they were believable.

It really was a globe trotter of a book. I loved the different settings and getting to experience some different places.

I enjoyed the writing style. It kept me interested and turning pages.

This book was one crazy ride. If you enjoy an intense action story with thrills and chills, then I'd definitely recommend giving this one a shot.

Jenny is a novelist, screenplay writer, and playwright. After a series of ‘proper jobs’, 

she realized she was living someone else’s life and escaped to Gascony to make gîtes.

Knee deep in cement and pregnant, Jenny was happy. Then autism and a distracted spine

surgeon wiped out the order. Returned to wonderful England, to write her socks off.

Jenny would like to see the Northern Lights but worries that’s the best bit and 

should be saved till last.Very happily, and gratefully, settled with the family. 

She tries not to take herself too seriously.

Author Amazon Page Website Twitter Goodreads Facebook

HOW ABOUT A GIVEAWAY!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you for stopping by my Blog Tour Stop for Just by Jenny Morton Potts. I highly recommend you check it out for yourself. Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources and Jenny Morton Potts for letting me be a part of the Blog Tour. I had a lot of fun.

Reading Right Now! (168)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...

 

-- A House At The Bottom Of A Lake by Josh Malerman -- I've never read anything by Josh Malerman before and I've heard such good stuff about his work. I checked this out from the library and now someone has it on hold, I can't renew it *wahh*. To be fair though, I've had it sitting around unread for quite a while now. Anyway, I don't really know that much about this. It's very short, which is why I think I can finish it before I have to turn it back in. I know that it's horror. And I know that it's two teenagers canoeing on their first date. I think I'm ready for whatever surprise this gives me.

-- Rebel Seoul (#1) by Axie Oh --  I've been reading this for the past week and I'm almost done with it. I've got maybe 70 pages left. It's pitched as Pacific Rim meets Korean Drama. If you're participating in a reading challenge or readathon, and you have to fill a bracket for diverse read or small publisher, I think this would work. I'm enjoying this so far, but I'm not in love with it. I find the dialogue to be a little clunky sometimes. I think the relationship needs more build up. There are some parts that make me go awww these two are so cute, but he just fell for her very quickly and I don't know if I feel all the feels. There are some good action bits in this, but they go too quickly. I want more of that Pacific Rim vibe, because it's a cool concept, and I do like the very minimal parts where it's featured. And for those that don't know, Pacific Rim is like fighting huge robots with human pilots inside of them. It's very cool, it was a movie. So yeah, I like it, but it's probably not going to be one of my favorite or most memorable books of the year.

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you reading?

Review: Breaker by Kat Ellis

Title: Breaker

Author: Kat Ellis

Published by: Running Press Teen

Released: 2016

Source: Library

Summary: A killer known as the Bonebreaker terrorized the mountains of North Carolina. He liked to hurt women, break their hands and feet so they couldn't run or fight back. Naomi and Kyle's lives were changed by the Bonebreaker in different ways. Once the Bonebreaker was caught and executed, Kyle and Naomi still have scars.

Naomi's mother was the last victim of the Bonebreaker. She saw things that can never erase from her mind. Naomi goes to live with her grandparents at Killdeer Academy. 

Kyle is the son of the Bonebreaker. His name is now mud. He's judged for the sins of his father. Kyle and his mother want a fresh start. They move and he enrolls in Killdeer Academy.

Naomi notices the new kid, introduces herself to Kyle, who can't believe his eyes. He can't tell her who he is, what his father did to her mother, and he's falling for her.

Things start happening at Killdeer Academy, things that bring to mind the Bonebreaker

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this book. It was an interesting thing. I was probably most drawn to the premise. I find myself very curious and sad for families of serial killers. What would that be like? I don't even want to know, my mind can't even compute. To think you know someone, love someone, and then find out they've done horrible things. To live the rest of your life under that shame. So yeah, Kyle's struggle really intrigued me.

I also really liked the atmosphere of this book. The whole thing felt kind of dark, mysterious, and not right. It had this dark undertone to it that was really fun to read.

As far as the mystery went, it wasn't bad, but it was super easy to figure out. There was no twist because it was so easy to figure out who the baddie was. I wish the twist/ending had been a little more surprising.

I also think more could have been done with the story and characters. Kit and Fletcher were really interesting and I expected more from their stories. Also the principal, she seemed like she had something going on, but then she kind of just disappeared. I also would have liked some resolution with Naomi's grandpa's story. Just something to see how it ended. There were a lot of interesting/suspicious characters in here that I thought would have more of a story then they did.

I really enjoyed this book. I was interested in the story, and figuring out where everything was going to go. The atmosphere was dark and mysterious, which I liked. The premise was something that definitely drew me in. I thought it was good, but there were things that kept it from being awesome. I'm definitely going to read more of Kat Ellis's books, because I'm interested.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.7/5

I'm not mad at it.

Fresh Releases: June 19, 2018

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris Goodreads and Amazon

That's the only one I've got for this week, but I know there is more out there. What exciting releases are you looking forward to?

BLOG TOUR: The Hanging Women by John Mead

I'm very excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Hanging Women by John Mead!! When I got the email for this, I was interested. I really do enjoy reading Historical Fiction from time to time. I find it fun, and I love going back to a different time and experiencing that world. I just want to thank Rachel's Random Resources and John Mead for letting me be a part of this tour.

The Hanging Women

by John Mead

Buy it on Amazon UK or Amazon US

Goodreads

Summary: A historical crime thriller set in 1886 Chicago; the power house of America, a sink of corruption and vice which is haunted by riots and gangland killings.  A story of weak men and strong women.

Jack Stevens discovers the bodies of two women, Philomena Blackstaff and Mary Walsh, tied together and hung by their ankles in a position resembling the symbol for treachery as depicted on tarot cards. Though retired and now wealthy, Stevens is an ex-sheriff and involves himself in the subsequent investigation.

As a result of Jack `stealing' Philomena's diary and his association with the Pinkerton detective agency, it is discovered that Mary Walsh worked undercover for the Pinkertons, investigating the Knights of Labour (the fastest growing workers' rights movements in America of the late 1800's). The women had been working together, tracing the man who was selling guns and dynamite to the more extremest factions of the workers movement. This led them to Ruby's, a secret `nightclub for deviants', where Stevens and Inspector O'Leary believe the pair fell foul of the man they were looking for, gang leader Joseph Mannheim.

With the May 4th Haymarket riots and bombings looming, Stevens must uncover the truth about The Hanging Women before it's too late.

My Reading Right Now! Thoughts: I really enjoyed this mystery and this step back into a turbulent time in history. I really tend to enjoy historical fiction. I like going back to a past time, seeing what life was like. Now don't get me wrong, I'm glad I live in the time I do. I like having internet, cell phones, and a plethora of great books published every month. I also like not having to wear dresses all the time, I really like pants. Anyway...

This was a fun read! I liked that it was a mystery and that we experienced it through the eyes of Jack Stevens. He was a character. I liked how he did his own thing.

I liked the time period that it covered. It was eye-opening in all the things that took place and happened.

The mystery was good too. It kept me on my toes, guessing and scratching my head.

Overall, I definitely enjoyed this. If Historical Fiction and Mysteries are something you like to read, I'd definitely recommend checking this one out.

Meet the Author John Mead!

John was born in the mid-fifties in Dagenham, London, on part of the largest council estate ever built, and was the first pupil from his local secondary modern school to attend university. He has now taken early retirement to write, having spent the first part of his life working in education and the public sector. He was the director of a college, a senior school inspector for a local authority, and was head of a unit for young people with physical and mental health needs. When he is not travelling, going to the theatre or the pub, he writes.

His inspiration for his debut novel came whilst attending a lecture in Denver about the history of the American midwest, describing a time and place that was very different from that espoused by popular culture, which started him thinking this would make a excellent period in which to set a crime story.  
His book describes how Chicago was a prototype of much that we consider both good and bad in the current age, it had a vibrancy and decadence that allowed a few enterprising individuals to prosper whilst violence and intolerance held back many others. The situation for some African Americans and women was improving but it was still a time when to be anything other than white and male made you a second class citizen.  The city was the manufacturing and transport hub of America, the vast influx of immigrants swelling its already booming population brought great wealth but also corruption and criminality. The midwest and Chicago typified a way of life, the ‘gun culture’ which is a euphemism for individualism, from which much of modern American social values have grown.

John is currently working on a trilogy of novels set in modern day London. These police procedurals examine the darker side of modern life in the East End of the city: a Whitechapel noir.

Twitter Goodreads Amazon

Thank you for stopping by my Tour Stop for The Hanging Women by John Mead. Be sure to check out all the other stops on this fun tour! Thanks again to Rachel's Random Resources and John Mead for letting me be a part of it.

Reading Right Now! (167)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...

Title: City of Bastards (Royal Bastards #2)

Author: Andrew Shvarts

Provided with a free review copy from Disney-Hyperion through Netgalley

I was lucky enough to get an arc of this through Netgalley. Thank you Disney-Hyperion!! Sadly, I did not read it before it was released. Good news for you, it's out now! But I'm a baaaad reviewer.

Anyway, I read and reviewed the first book Royal Bastards not that long ago and I really liked it. I was excited to see what would happen in the sequel. I wondered what it would feel like, because the first book is very much a band of misfits, journey book. In this sequel, the dynamic of the group has changed and they've reached their destination.

I'm so so close to being done with this sequel, so I can give you my thoughts at the moment. I think I enjoyed the first book a little bit more, but this one is still really good. It's different from the first book and I miss some of those differences. It's still funny and I like seeing things from Tilla's POV. There's also some shocks, twists and turns. 

As of right now, I think this is a pretty good sequel and it's definitely a series I enjoy. My full review will be up when I finish the book, which should be soon.

My Plans For What To Read Next

idk...

But Maybe These:

 

Widows (Dolly Rawlins #1) by Lynda La Plante -- I really need to read this one because I won it from the BookishFirst website annnd if I want to win more then I need to review what I've already won, if that makes sense. This is also going to be a movie, so that makes me more interested. I think it's about a group of women and their husbands have died in a crime gone wrong. They think their husbands' were double crossed, so they decide to carry out the crime for themselves and get revenge.

Weave a Circle Round by Kar Marren -- I got an arc of this one through Netgalley too from Tor. Again, I did an awful job of reading it before it got released. There's just something about me and ebooks, I'd rather go for a physical book first. So, I checked out a physical book from the library and am excited to read it. I think this is about weird neighbors who move next door and mystery!

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! and plan on reading next. What are you reading?

BLOG TOUR: Chilling Tales of the Unexpected by Ann Girdharry

I'm really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Chilling Tales of the Unexpected by Ann Girdharry! I was provided with a free copy for honest review. Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources and Ann Girdharry for letting me be a part of the tour. Chilling Tales of the Unexpected is a boxed set of four short, twisty tales that will give you goosebumps. When I got the email for this set of dark tales, it sounded like so much fun and I knew I had to take part. I love a good twisty, turny, scary tale, and these did not disappoint!

Chilling Tales of the Unexpected Boxed Set

by Ann Girdharry

Summary: 

Four twisty, short reads.

Addictive works of suspense,
That will leave you breathless and give you goose bumps…

Trading with Death
What sacrifice might we make for those we love? In the face of death, will we be selfish or selfless?

Tell Me a Secret
Deceit, lies and secrets – how well do we know those close to us?

Sweet Justice 
We follow Tess as she confronts the dark side…
​
Written on the Apple Tree 

A moment from a past life, a possession, or a simple meeting between strangers?

My Reading Right Now! Thoughts: I really enjoyed these stories. They were fun, fast, and chilling! I didn't think there was a bad story in the bunch. Sometimes with short story collections, I have one or two I really like and the others tend to be just meh, but each story in this collection was good. I enjoyed the topics presented and the ideas that they brought up. They were fun to read. They had some good twists, a little bit of scare, and were satisfying. These stories were a good time. I don't think I had a favorite out of the bunch, I enjoyed them all. I'm really glad I got a chance to read and review this collection.

Amazon UK  Amazon US  Goodreads

About the Author: Born and educated in the UK, Ann Girdharry is a trained psychotherapist and has worked as a manager in the not-for-profit sector for many years.

Today she lives in Montpellier, France with her husband and two children.
​
She writes suspense and thrillers, is a book reviewer and occasionally blogs for the Huffington Post UK. Her crime thriller novel, GOOD GIRL BAD GIRL, was an Eric Hoffer Book Award Finalist 2017. Two of her thrillers are READERS’ FAVOURITE Five Star Books. 

Facebook Twitter Goodreads BookBub

Thank you for stopping by my Blog Tour stop for Chilling Tales of the Unexpected Boxed Set by Ann Girdharry. If it sounds like something you would like, I'd definitely recommend giving it a read. Thanks again to Rachel's Random Resources and Ann Girdharry for including me in the tour.

Fresh Releases: June 5 - June 12

Welcome to a little something different. I'm a book addict, which is fairly obvious. I wanted to showcase some new releases. I get books to review through Netgalley and some Physical arcs, and I'm not always the best at reading them on time. I thought this could be a way to show off some of the new, exciting releases. Let's Do It!

June 5, 2018

 

City of Bastards (Royal Bastards #2) by Andrew Shvarts: Goodreads and Amazon

Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf: Goodreads and Amazon

June 12, 2018

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hiller: Goodreads and Amazon

Review: Royal Bastards (Royal Bastards #1) by Andrew Shvarts

Title: Royal Bastards (Royal Bastards #1)

Author: Andrew Shvarts

Published by: Disney-Hyperion

Released: May 2017

Source: Library

Summary: Tillandra is a Bastard. Her father is Lord Kent of the Western Province, her mother is dead. As a Bastard, Tillandra lives in the castle, but is not part of the royal family. There is the slight chance her father might legitimize her, but that will never happen. Tilla spends her time avoiding history lessons and hanging out with her half-brother Jax.

The castle is set to host the Princess of Lightspire and her Uncle. Lightspire controls all the kingdoms, so her visit is important. At the feast, the Princess does the unthinkable, she sits at the Bastard Table! Tilla is now stuck entertaining a princess, which involves sneaking out of the castle with a Zitochi warrior named Zell, the Bastard of Hempstadt Miles, who harbors a crush on her, her brother Jax, and the Princess Lyriana. They stumble on something that they were never supposed to see, become aware of information they were never supposed to know. They are now fugitives on the run, trying to stay ahead of vicious mercenaries and stop a war. These Bastards have their work cut out for them.

My Thoughts: I liked this a lot more than I thought I was going to. I thought it was going to be a standard YA Fantasy kind of thing, but it turned out to be a great adventure, band of misfits story. It was great! It had a lot of humor to it and I just really enjoyed reading it. It reminded me of an older YA version of The Hero's Guide To Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy, which is one of my favorites. It's a band of Bastards who are thrown together by fate, make an epic journey, and become friends.

I enjoyed the way it was written. It drew me in and had a lot of humor to it. It wasn't typical fantasy writing, which might be why I enjoyed it more.

I enjoyed all the characters too. Tilla was cool. Jax was funny and genuine. Miles was a nerd whose knowledge proved useful. Zell was the perfect brooding bad boy. Princess Lyriana had some nice moves. I really enjoyed getting to know them all on their journey.

This also did a great job of giving me conflicting feelings on what was right and wrong for our characters. They are trying to do what is right, but what really is right?

Tilla's struggle with her feelings for her father was also very interesting. There was a good conflict there. All her life she's sought his love and approval, but is it even worth it? He's her dad and will always be her dad, but he puts her in a tough position.

I'm also not a big crier when it comes to books, but this one made me shed a tear. I'm still not over it. There was also a twist that is still getting me.

Royal Bastards was AWESOME! I had such a good time reading it. I can't wait to see how their journey continues. If you like band of misfit stories, then read this one!

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4.5/5

Bastards Unite!

Reading Right Now! (166)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...

Title: Magic Bites (Kate Daniels #1)

Author: Ilona Andrews

I've decided to unofficially commit myself to a goal of starting older urban fantasy series and trying to read a book each month, at least. I say unofficially, because I'll probably fail, and that way I won't feel as bad when I do. Makes sense right? right.

So, I've been hearing about the Kate Daniels series for a while. I've heard good things about it, that it is a good series. So I thought I'd try my hand at reading it.

I do have other series that I want to read too. Like the Patricia Briggs books, the Dresden Files, and that one about the witch. I have big plans haha.

So far, I'm a little meh about Magic Bites. It's all right, but I'm not in love with it. This is the first book, the introduction to the series, and I guess I just expected more introduction. I feel like I got thrown into a thing where I'm already supposed to know the characters and backstories and world, but I don't because it was never explained. My main struggle so far with this is the world, I don't really get it. I'm thinking it's set in the future and the world as I know it now was somehow destroyed by magic? I don't know where the magic came from or how it's destroyed everything, but basically it made buildings crumble. And there's gross looking, animal like vampires that are controlled by people like puppets. There are shape shifters that can turn into all kinds of animals, but they don't sound that cute. And then there's Kate Daniels, a mercenary with secrets that I don't know yet.

I just feel very thrown into the deep end with this one. I've got 100 pages left to read. Right now, I'm leaning towards giving it a 3/5. It's just okay. But, I am going to continue on with the series. Maybe I'll understand more in the next books and get everything.

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you reading?

Review: Doubt, Volume 2 (Doubt #3-4) by Yoshiki Tonogai

Title: Doubt, Volume 2 (Doubt #3-4)

Author: Yoshiki Tonogai

Published by: Yen Press

Released: July 2013

Source: Library

Summary: A real life horror is happening to six kids who only thought they were playing an online game. A group of rabbits must find out who is the wolf in disguise before he/she kills them all.

Drugged, waking up in an abandoned warehouse they can't escape from, the horrifying game comes to life. Each kid is tattooed with a barcode that can be used to open just one door. No one can be trusted. Everyone is suspect. Can they find the identity of the Wolf before it kills them all? Welcome to the game Rabbit Doubt!

My Thoughts: Oh what a ride this was! I read the first Volume a couple of months ago and really enjoyed it. I kind of regret waiting to read this second Volume. I should have read both Volumes back-to-back so I didn't take a break from the whole experience. This is a Japanese horror manga that I think would make a great movie. It had a very creepy, tense atmosphere. I never knew what twist or surprise was waiting around the corner.

I do think this second Volume could have used a recap at the beginning of it, just so I could remember who was who, and what happened in the last one. I suffered from a little confusion trying to catch-up.

I will say, I called it with the who-done-it in the first Volume, kinda. Although, this manga did trick me into thinking I was wrong. So, well played Doubt, well played.

The ending was crazy! I didn't see it coming, and it made for a shock.

I enjoyed this horror manga a whole lot. It surprised me. It was a fun, crazy, twisted ride.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5

Oh My!

Review: Invictus by Ryan Graudin

Title: Invictus

Author: Ryan Graudin

Published by: Little, Brown and Company

Released: September 2017

Source: Review Copy from Netgalley and Publisher

Summary: Farway Gaius McCarthy lives in a world where time travel is routine. There are rules, not just anyone can travel. Farway's mother was a famous time traveler, but then she got lost in time. Farway is determined to follow in her footsteps by becoming a time traveler, and maybe even one day finding out what happened to her.

His dreams come crashing down when he flunks his final Corps exam. Farway is approached by a mysterious man offering a time traveling ship in exchange for stealing histories treasures right before they are destroyed.

Far becomes Captain of the Invictus. He and his crew travel through time, swiping famous historical artifacts. On a trip to the Titanic to take a very valuable book, a mysterious girl gets in Far's way. She sneaks on his ship, demands to join the crew, but who is she and what does she want?

So begins an adventure the crew of the Invictus never expected, with questions, danger, and changing everything they thought they knew.

My Thoughts: Thank you Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing me with with an e-arc of Invictus for honest review.

I LOVED THIS! From the first page, I knew I was getting something good. I loved the concept. I loved the Crew. I loved the adventure. I loved all of it! It was a story that took me on a crazy ride and I was sad when it ended. I really got sucked in to Ryan Graudin's writing. I'm definitely going to read more by her.

Invictus reminded me of Firefly, which is a show that I looove. It had that fun aspect of a crew who are like family, going on different adventures. It also reminded me of another popular book that came out a couple of years ago, but if I told you what it was, it would spoil the surprise. I won't spoil that surprise for you.

I really enjoyed the premise of this. Time traveling thieves stealing precious historical treasures before they are lost or destroyed is just everything I want to read. It's such a fun premise. I wish there had been a couple more time traveling heists, because I enjoyed the ones that were included, I just wanted more of it.

This is also a standalone book, as far as I know. Part of me selfishly wishes there would be more books in this series, but I know how rare it is to get a good standalone YA.

I just enjoyed every minute of this. I think it would make a great movie. It had action, adventure, excitement, and I loved every minute of it. I'd definitely recommend. Go read it and let me know what you think.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 5/5

Read It Now! I love it so much!

Reading Right Now! (165)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...

Title: Royal Bastards (Royal Bastards #1)

Author: Andrew Shvarts

Sooo I requested the second book on Netgalley and got approved, but I have to read them in order obviously. I don't know what I was expecting from this book, but I'm having a lot of fun reading it. There's something about having Bastards in the title that just calls to me haha.

So our main character Tilla is a Bastard. What does that mean? She was born out of wedlock to a powerful man and a common woman. As a Bastard, Tilla gets to live in the royal castle, but she must be kept separate from her father's legitimate children. Tilla really craves her father's love and to be legitimized. 

Tilla's kingdom is in a tizzy because the Princess of Lightspire, who rules over all the kingdoms, is coming to visit. On the very important feast day, this very important princess chooses to sit at the Bastard Table *gasp*! Think of it like the kids table at Thanksgiving, it's not exactly the most hopping place to be. As Tilla tries to entertain the princess shocking things happen that lead to more shocking things. I'm being vague, but it's more fun not exactly knowing what you're getting into.

I'm really enjoying this more than I thought I was going to. So far, it's been really fun, really exciting, and it has a great sense of humor to it. In a way, it's reminding me a little of one of my favorite middle grade series The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy. It's got a little bit of that lighthearted humor to it. I am going to finish this and try to jump into the sequel. I probably won't be able to finish it before the release date, but I'll try.

Title: City of Bastards (Royal Bastards #2)

By: Andrew Shvarts

RELEASE DATE: JUNE 5, 2018!!!

If the first book is any indication, I think I'm going to enjoy this a lot. Thank you to Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for providing me with a review copy. I'm gonna have fun with this.

And that's what I'm Reading Right Now! and planning to read next. What are you reading?