I Can't Wait For... King of Scars!

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released.

It's almost time for the return of one of my favorite bookish characters! Guess who...

King of Scars

(Nikolai Duology #1)
By Leigh Bardugo
YA Fantasy
eBook, Hardcover, Paperback(UK Edition) Audiobook, 527 Pages
January 29,  2019 by Macmillan



Blurb

Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.

Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried—and some wounds aren’t meant to heal.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository

Book Review: SLASHER GIRLS and MONSTER BOYS

Slasher Girls and Monster Boys: An Anthology

Blurb:

For fans of Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Lois Duncan, and Daphne Du Maurier comes a powerhouse anthology featuring some of the best writers of YA thrillers and horror 

A host of the smartest young adult authors come together in this collection of scary stories and psychological thrillers curated by Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea’s April Genevieve Tucholke.

Each story draws from a classic tale or two—sometimes of the horror genre, sometimes not—to inspire something new and fresh and terrifying. There are no superficial scares here; these are stories that will make you think even as they keep you on the edge of your seat. From bloody horror to supernatural creatures to unsettling, all-too-possible realism, this collection has something for any reader looking for a thrill.

Fans of TV’s The Walking Dead, True Blood, and American Horror Story will tear through tales by these talented authors:

Stefan Bachmann

Leigh Bardugo

Kendare Blake

A. G. Howard

Jay Kristoff

Marie Lu

Jonathan Maberry

Danielle Paige

Carrie Ryan

Megan Shepherd

Nova Ren Suma

McCormick Templeman

April Genevieve Tucholke

Cat Winters

My Review:

I really enjoyed this collection of stories overall. Some were creepy, some made you think, and most stayed with me long after I read the last page.

The thing I really like about anthologies like this one is that I'm able to discover authors that I've heard of but maybe never picked up a book by and these stories give you a taste of their writing style. It also gives you a taste of some of your favorite authors (like Leigh Bardugo and April Genevieve Tucholke in my case) works while you wait for their next book to come out.

Some of my favorites in this collection were In the Forest Dark and Deep by Carrie Ryan, Emmeline by Cat Winters, Verse Chorus Verse by Leigh Bardugo, and Hide and Seek by Megan Shepherd. 

I also really loved that these stories were inspired retellings of movies, books, and legends. April Genevieve Tucholke's reimagining of I Know What You Did Last Summer was spot on and has me craving to watch the movie again. 

I docked a star because there were a couple stories that I didn't like as much or skipped over but it doesn't diminish my love for this book as a whole.

Overall, if you like scary stories and psychological thrillers this anthology is a must-read!

My Rating:

🌟🌟🌟🌟

4 of 5 Stars!

Book Review: Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows Duology #2) by Leigh Bardugo

Blurb:

When you can't beat the odds, change the game.

Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.

My Review:

The crew is back after their adventure in the Ice Court - but one of their own has been kidnapped, another fights the withdrawal of jurda parem, and they've been screwed over by Jan Van Eck. 

Kaz isn't going to let Van Eck get away with using his crew or taking his Wraith, he will stop at nothing to bring him down. Through a series of intricate plans and the dazzling sleight of hand we were introduced to in Six of Crows the crew will aim to get everything they every wanted. But will that piece of everything come at too high a cost? 

While I loved this book, possibly more than Six of Crows, it felt like it took me a really long time to read. I found myself reading this book in fits and starts, the story would grab me then I'd lose interest for a little while. Don't get me wrong, the book is excellently written and plotted - I'm probably the one at fault for how long it took me to read.

I loved seeing more depth to Wylan in this book and he and Jesper were two of my favorite characters, they were so awesome together. I also really loved seeing Genya, Zoya, and "Sturmhond" in this book! It just gets me so much more excited for King of Scars. Inej and Kaz's romantic tension was heartbreaking and encouraging to read. You could see how much they wanted to be together but they demons from their past just kept it from happening. Maybe in the 3rd book to come someday??? And Nina and Matthias... no, I just can't go there yet. My heart is broken. 

Overall, this book will give you all the feels from triumph and pulse-pounding schemes to heartbreak and grief and hope for the future. Ms. Bardugo may steal the spot for my favorite author yet.

My Rating:

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

5 of 5 Stars!

"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #117

This "WIR"-Wednesday I'm reading the second book in a duology I finally gave a chance last month...

Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows Duology #2) by Leigh Bardugo

Blurb:

When you can't beat the odds, change the game.

Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.

Why I Chose This Book | What I Think So Far:

I was pleasantly surprised with how much I loved Six of Crows and the day I finished it and returned it to the library I ordered Crooked Kingdom signed from Books of Wonder and I'm just getting around to reading it now. I'm enjoying it so far, and I'm loving Jesper's father's arrival in Ketterdam. I wonder what's going to happen there and I'm eager to see whether the crew will be able to rescue Inej, collect their money, and have a happy ending... though from the non-spoilery things I've heard from other people, the happy ending might end in let down. Either way, I can't wait to see... 

Book Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows (Six of Crows Duology #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Blurb:

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price–and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone…

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

My Review:

Welcome to the Barrel, the slums of Ketterdam. A place ruled by gangs and filled with gambling dens and pleasure houses. And at the center of the Barrel is possibly the most powerful gang of all - the Dregs led by criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is infamous in the Barrel, there's not a job he won't take and he has an uncanny ability to unearth dirt on anyone to use as leverage. 

When Kaz is presented with an impossible mission, breaking into the impenetrable Ice Court of Fjerda to retrieve a Shu scientist capable of creating jurda parem - an addictive drug that heightens Grisha abilities and turns them into weapons - Kaz sees a huge pay day, 30 million kruge. 

All he needs is to assemble a crew... 

Inej, a Suli girl known for her ability to fade into the shadows and gather information. Jesper, a sharpshooter deeply in debt and needing a big payout. Wylan, the son of a merchant who knows his way around explosives. Nina, a Grisha trying to make amends to a man she's done wrong. And Matthias, a convict out for revenge. 

But can they achieve the impossible, break the scientist out of the Ice Court and come out alive on the other side? Or will their best laid plans blow up in their faces. This quest is more dangerous than anything they've faced before, but what is life without a little danger?

I'm actually surprised by how much I loved this book. I waited a long time before deciding to read this book and it was only after reading and loving the Grisha Trilogy that I decided to give it a chance. Before I might have said I liked that series better but I love them both equally. I love the worldbuilding and character development in this book, each character shines in their own way, although I would have liked to have seen sections in Wylan's perspective. Maybe in the next book?

I both liked and disliked the passages that delved into the character's pasts and how they ended up with the Dregs. They showed the origins and paths the characters took that led them to who they would become but at times I found them a little boring. The storyline moved steadily for the most part but I felt like it took me a long time to actually get through this book. 

Overall, this book surprised me. It kept me hooked and invested in whether the crew could pull off the heist or get caught in the process and the ending has me eager to get the next book and see how it ends. 

My Rating:

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

4.5 of 5 Stars!

"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #113

This "WIR"-Wednesday I'm 2/3 through with a popular book that I finally caved and read and I'm also re listening to Caraval in audiobook ahead of Legendary's May release (and yes, I've preordered!). This is what I'm reading this week...

Six of Crows (Six of Crows Duology #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Blurb:

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price–and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone…

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

Why I Chose This Book | What I Think So Far:

I finally caved and picked up this book at the library because it seems like everyone in the world has read and loved this book except me and I was finally ready to give it a chance. I debated between getting the audiobook and buying the new paperback edition off Amazon but decided to check it out from the library first. I'm actually surprised that I like it as much as I do. I don't like it as much as the Grisha trilogy, but I'm invested in the storyline and the characters and I'm interested to see if the crew can make it into the Ice Court and break Bo Yul-Bayur out. There are sections of this book that seem to lag as the characters delve back into their pasts but I'm learning to get used to it. 

#BookTag Saturday: The Six Of Crows Book Tag

This week I started reading Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo so what better Book Tag to choose than the Six of Crows Book Tag! This particular book tag was created by Ashley at The Infinite Library! 

THIEF

1: Kaz Brekkar: A Layered or Complex Character

A: Abby Williams from Bonfire by Krysten Ritter

WRAITH

2: Inej Ghafa: A Book With A Twist You Didn’t See Coming

A. As She Fades by Abbi Glines 

SHARPSHOOTER

3: Jesper Fahey: An Author Who Never Misses The Mark

A: Wendy Higgins

HEARTRENDER

4: Nina Zenik: A Book That Broke Your Heart or Gave You All the Feels

A: Sharing Sam by Katharine Applegate

CONVICT

5: Matthais Helvar: A Character Caught Between Two Worlds

A: Claire Fraser from Outlander 

EXPLOSIVES EXPERT

​6: Wylan Van Eck: A Book That Went Out With A Bang or A Cliff-Hanger

​A: Paper Princess by Erin Watt

Fandom Friday: Book Map Wall Hanging

This Fandom Friday I'm sharing with you a quick easy project for the crafty bookworm... A Book Map Wall Hanging!

Are you like me? Do you love book maps? How would you like to display your favorite book map on your wall? Now you can with this super easy project! These also make great gifts! I put this Ketterdam Wall Book Map together for my Bookstagram Secret Santa recipient. 

What You'll Need:

- A Printer

- A Canvas (I used an 8"x10" canvas for this map)

- Scissors

- Modge Podge

- A Paintbrush or Sponge brush

How To Make It:

1. Use a search engine (like Google) to find the image of the map you want to use. (I typed in "Ketterdam Map" on Google Images and pulled this one up. Save a copy of the map on your computer then print it according to the size you want your wall hanging to be. (For instance, I printed this as an 8x10 image on 8.5x11" paper. You may have to resize the image to avoid blurriness.)

2. Trim the excess whitespace around your printed map so the map fits your canvas.

3. Set up your workspace. Place paper towels or magazines/newspapers you are no longer using under your canvas to protect your work surface from the modge podge. 

4. Using your paintbrush paint a thin, even layer of modge podge onto the canvas. It's important to have an even layer free of big lumps to avoid bumps on the finished map.

5. Carefully place your printed map on top of the modge podge treated canvas in your desired layout. Once you have the map placed how you would like it to be, smooth out any wrinkles with your fingers or a ruler, careful not to smudge the ink. 

6. Allow the map to dry completely. If you have any excess edges hanging over the side of your canvas, wait for the first (top) layer to dry then modge podge the excess edges to the side of the canvas or simply trim them off with a scissors. 

7. Hang your map on your desired place on the wall and enjoy! 

#BookMail Thursday #37

This week's book mail post is less about books I received in the mail and more about books I purchased at Half Price Books during their sale last week. Being short on cash, I did limit myself to two books although there were 3-4 more that was dying to pick up. Ah... if I didn't have holiday shopping to do... Anyway, here are the two new books on my shelf:

Shadow and Bone (Grisha Trilogy #1)by Leigh Bardugo and The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

I've read Shadow and Bone but I wanted a copy of my own (I have the audiobook and I got the hardcover from the library). My goal now is to get copies of Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising with the original paperback covers. I don't like the new covers. Also, I really loved Fiendish by Brenna Yovanoff and I was interested in reading more by her. Luckily I was able to find a (slightly battered) copy of The Replacement during my book hunt.

November Book Mail I'm Waiting On:

- My signed, personalized copy of Renegades by Marissa Meyer

- My Grishaverse Box from Wick and Fable

I'm also doing Bookstagram Secret Santa so I'll be picking things out for my person and waiting for those items to get here!

Man Crush Monday: Book Boyfriend Edition #1

This week I'm doing something a little different, once a week on Mondays unless I have another post planned, I'll be sharing with you my book boyfriend of the week. This book boyfriends will most likely come from whatever book I've been reading in the previous week.

Man Crush Monday: Book Boyfriend Edition #1:

NIKOLAI LANTSOV

Books Nikolai Appears in:

- Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

- Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

- King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo (Coming in 2019)

Why I'm Crushing:

Nikolai is charming, confident, and humorous, yet he makes a great leader. True, Alina never quite gives into his charm and claims she doesn't feel anything for him when he kisses her in Ruin and Rising, but I think he would make a great love interest for some character and I really hope he gets partnered up with someone in King of Scars. I'm eager to see how what the Darkling did to him has affected his personality and the way he sees himself in his own book. Will the affable character become a little more brooding and self-reflective? I could definitely see that. 

Book Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone (Grisha Trilogy #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Blurb:

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

My Review:

I first started reading Shadow and Bone back in July. I'd heard a lot of things about the book at the time - both good and bad - and was curious to read it myself. The mistake I made at the time was to get the audiobook instead of the physical book. Now I have nothing against the audiobook, I liked the narrator and the story moved but my issue stems from a dislike for audiobooks in general. I don't like being read to and can't seem to focus on the story. 

And Shadow and Bone was definitely not a story I wanted to miss anything of! From the beginning, I was enthralled by the world-building. Yes, Ravka and the Grishaverse reminded me of Russia - from the names to the setting to the accent the narrator put on for the audiobook, which I know some people find issue with but I saw it merely as a stylized version. 

Alina was a little difficult to like in the beginning as I couldn't figure out why she had to make everything so difficult. I remember the part where the Darkling suggests she have a black kefta like his but she balks and prefers the blue and I couldn't help thinking "just take the damn robe-thing! You're supposed to stand out! You're unique!" But I supposed Ms. Bardugo did that as a way to show the character was humble and modest. However, I enjoyed watching Alina grow throughout the book and her loyalty to Mal was commendable although I still don't quite see the appeal. 

Sure, by the end of Shadow and Bone I liked Alina with Mal (sort of) but I don't give much credit to a character that doesn't realize he cares for a girl until he sees her with someone else. I don't think guys are quite that dumb. I also would have appreciated more of why Mal was such a good tracker - is there something special about him that makes him so?

But my favorite character in this book (until the end) was the Darkling. He makes a superb villain although I wish things would have worked out between him and Alina. There was so much potential there, so much passion. But the Darkling was corrupt and he wanted power and that ruined everything. Let's all mourn for what could have been. 

The Darkling slumped back in his chair. “Fine,” he said with a weary shrug. “Make me your villain.

Overall, I really enjoyed Shadow and Bone once I read the actual book (I'm officially done with audiobooks). The book itself is gorgeous, I love the map and the chapter headings but the story is wonderful as well. It moved fast and there wasn't anything forced about the storyline. I could definitely see myself reading this book again and devouring the other two books in the trilogy just as quickly.

My Rating:

🌟🌟🌟🌟1/2

4.5 of 5 Stars!

Book Review: The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo

The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo

Blurb:

Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns.

Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid's voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy's bidding but only for a terrible price.

Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love.

Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, these tales will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse.

This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, all of them lavishly illustrated with art that changes with each turn of the page, culminating in six stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves.

My Review:

Ohmigod, where do I begin?? First off this book is beautiful to look at, photos do not do it justice at all. From the gorgeous dust jacket to the gold embossing (is that what it's called?) on the hardback itself to the stunning illustrations inside, this may very well be one of the prettiest books I own! 

This book is comprised of six stories and not a single one let me down, I loved them all. Each story was a pleasure to read and you could clearly picture the children of the grishaverse being told these stories as children. I don't want to spoil any of the individual stories but if I had to pick one ultimate favorite I think I'd go with The Witch of Duva.

These stories and the book itself was like opening up a darker version of Grimm's Fairytales and it transported me back to my childhood when my grandmother read me fairytales before bed. This is the sort of collection of stories I've been craving all year and I didn't want to put The Language of Thorns down once I started reading.

Overall, this book is perfect for old fans of Leigh Bardugo as well as newcomers and great for readers of almost all ages. My only complaint (that's not really a complaint) is that I would have loved to keep reading more stories like these. 

As Jane Austen said, “but for my own part, if a book is well written, I always find it too short.” 

My Rating:

★★★★★

5 of 5 Stars!