Waiting on Wednesday 17: Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder

 

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine and is meant to showcase upcoming releases that we're eagerly awaiting or just books which we are dying to read...

 

  

 

My Waiting on Wednesday this week is Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder, the next book in the Poison Study series.

 

Synopsis:

Once, only her own life hung in the balance.

Oddly enough, when Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. But she'd survived to become a vital part of the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia. Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands and protect her relationship with Valek.

Suddenly, though, they are beset on all sides by those vying for power through politics and intrigue. Valek's job - and his life - are in danger. As Yelena tries to uncover the scope of these plots, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked. She must keep that a secret - or her enemies will discover just how vulnerable she really is - while searching for who or what is responsible for neutralizing her powers.

Yes, the days of tasting poisons were much simpler. And certainly not as dangerous.

 

Why Can't I Wait?

When Maria V. Snyder announced that she was writing another book about the characters from the Study Series I was grinning like a Cheshire cat! Poison Study, Magic Study and Fire Study are some of my favourite books of all time. I have also read the Healer, Insiders and Glass series by Maria and absolutely loved them! However, the Study series has always remained my favourite. I cannot wait for Yelena and Valek's journey to continue in Shadow Study when it comes out around February 24th, 2015.

 

What Book Are You Waiting For?

 

 

Amy

Top Ten Book Series I Feel Everyone Has Read But Me

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where you design top ten lists which have a connection with books. This week is a freebie week. For this week, I have chosen to write about the top ten book series that I feel everyone has read except me. In no particular order, they are:

 

1. Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling: As one of the most talked about childrens/ young adult series, Harry Potter has taken the world by storm. Whilst I have watched all of the movies, I have not yet read any of the books (Gasp!). They are definitely a high priority in my TBR pile for 2015.
2. Heroes of Olympus Series by Rick Riordan: Rick Riordan novels have always appealed to me, so I'm not sure why I still haven't read them. Gods, demigods, mythology and heroes. Yet, here I am having not read a single one of his books.
3. Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan: Again, I have no idea why I haven't read these books yet!
4. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer: Since the release of Cinder, there has been a lot of hype surrounding this series by book bloggers and vloggers. I've always been interested in fairy tales, but I think the fact that the books have cyborgs has just never appealed to me. Is this a series that I should definitely consider?
5. Across the Universe Series by Beth Revis: Space and I have never done well together. Just the thought that there is so much yet to be discovered makes me feel so tiny. I mean, there could be creatures on planets in other galaxies that know we are here but we have never found them. It just freaks me out!
6. The Maze Runner Series by James Dashner: I loved the movie adaptation of The Maze Runner! After leaving the cinemas, I really wanted to read the novel. But, I always do some research about each book that I want to read to find out what other people think. Whilst a lot of people have read this series, I don't feel like everyone enjoyed it as much as I had hopes. I suppose it depends on the individual, but I don't know if I will ever get around to reading this series.
7. Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas: The Throne of Glass series is high up on my TBR series for this year. The books sound fantastic, and I have heard so many good things about this them!
8. Daughter of Smoke and Bone Series by Laini Taylor: I must admit, I don't know much about this series. Just that I haven't read it and a whole bunch of people have raved about it.
9. The Raven Cycle Series by Maggie Stiefvater: I struggled to get through the Shiver series by Maggie Stiefvater. Whilst I have heard that these books are fantastic once you get into them, I'm still not convinced. Are these books really as good as people say?
10. The Lux Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout: Aliens. Space. We've already talked about this.

Amy

Life and Blog Update

Hello Everyone!

 

Long time no write! To be honest, when I stopped blogging at the end of 2013, I had no idea that the break I took was going to be so long. But alas, here we are in 2015. Happy New Year! When I stopped writing blog posts in 2013, school and other commitments were making life too hectic and I couldn't find the time to write posts. In 2014, I was a senior in high school. My life became what seemed like a never ending cycle of schoolwork, sport, work and college and university applications. But now, everything has finally slowed down (thank goodness!).

 

For years I have chopped and changed what I wanted to become and what I wanted to study once I left school. At the end of the year, however, it all seemed so clear to me what I want to do with my life. I thought about the things that I loved to do and that I seemed to be good at - reading books and studying English. My life plan now is to have a gap year and then go to university in Brisbane to study a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Creative and Professional Writing) to one day work in the publishing industry. Because I have finally figured out what to do with my life, my passion for reading books and some time freed up because I no longer have school, I have decided to resume blogging!

 

Now I'm not going to promise to post every day of the week. Instead, I can tell you what you can look forward to me writing about. I will be doing reviews, Waiting on Wednesdays, Top Ten Tuesdays, some In My Mailbox posts, as well as any other topics relating to books that I find interesting. I am also re-vamping pretty much everything about the layout, colour, etc about my blog, so please be patient until this is done! I hope you are all as excited as I am about the year ahead and fulfil all of your goals!

 

 

Amy

 

 

Waiting on Wednesday 16: Fuse by Julianna Baggott

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine and is meant to showcase upcoming releases that we're eagerly awaiting or just books which we are dying to read...

 

 

 

My Waiting on Wednesday this week is Fuse by Julianna Baggott which is the second book in the Pure series.

 

Synopsis:

After a young Wretch is abducted by the Dome and ‘cleansed’ of her fusings and imperfections, she is only able to repeat the Dome’s latest message: ‘We want our son returned. This girl is proof that we can save you all. If you ignore our plea, we will kill our hostages one at a time.’ Willux will go to any lengths to get his son Partridge back, including murder. Partridge sacrifices himself and returns, in the hope of taking over the Dome from within, only to uncover more of his father’s chilling, dark secrets.

Outside the Dome, Pressia, Bradwell, and El Capitan are decoding the secrets from the past – tucked away in one of the Black Boxes – to uncover the truth that might set the wretches free of their fusings forever. Those fighting Willux will be pushed over boundaries, both land and sea, heart and mind, in their quest – further than they ever imagined.

 

Why Can't I Wait?

Pure by Julianna Baggott was an amazing book! It was a little bit creepy at times, but the plot and the world which the author created was just so different from anything I have ever read that I was hooked by the first chapter! I can't wait to read the next book in the series! Fuse comes out on February 14, 2013.

 

What Book Are You Waiting For?

 

 

Amy

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

 

Title: A Game of Thrones

Author: George R. R. Martin

Pages: 819

Publication Date: Aug. 1st, 1996

 

 

Back Cover: Kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars, lords and honest men. All will play the Game of Thrones

Summers span decades.Winter can last a lifetime.And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.It will stretch from the south where heat breeds plot,lusts and intrigues to the vast frozen north,where a 700-foot wall of ice protects the kingdom from the dark forces that lie beyond. The Game of Thrones. You win,or you die.

Book One of A Song of Ice and Fire begins the greatest fantasy epic of the modern age.

First Lines: "We should start back," Gared urged as the woods began to grow dark around them. "The wildlings are dead."

"Do the dead frighten you?" Ser Waymar Royce asked with just the hint of a smile.

My Thoughts: If you're looking for a book chock-a-block full of characters, schemes, romance, action and adventure which has a medieval setting, then this is the book for you!

If you thought some books had a wide range of complex characters, you know nothing until you have read A Game of Thrones. The amount of characters itself is astounding, but what is even more outstanding is that each character has a completely unique and complex personality. Martin positions the readers to feel the same way about the characters that he did when he wrote the book. Some of the characters are annoying, some you hate with a passion and some are ridiculously hilarious! Some of my favourite characters in the book were Tyrion, Arya and Danearys.

The intricate plot is extremely interesting and made me not want to put the book down. I even ran out and grabbed the second book in the series before I finished reading A Game of Thrones so that when I finished reading it I would be able to continue the story straight away! What I liked the most about the plot is that you nearly always didn't have a clue about what was going to happen.

Another thing which I particularly liked about this book is that Martin wrote it using amazing punctuation and the book was thoroughly edited to minimise even the most minute mistakes which could have occurred.

If you have nothing to do and have quite a bit of time to read a big book, you won't be disappointed if you pick up A Game of Thrones. The intricate plot, characters, history and humour makes this book a compelling read.

Rating: 4/5

 

Goodreads Reviews and Rating



 

Amy

Waiting on Wednesday 15: The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine and is meant to showcase upcoming releases that we're eagerly awaiting or just books which we are dying to read...

 

 

 

My Waiting on Wednesday this week is The Indigo Spell by Richelle mead. The Indigo Spell is the third book in the Bloodlines series.

 

Synopsis:

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realises that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.

 

Why Can't I Wait?

I LOVE all of Richelle Mead's young adult books. The ending of The Golden Lily which is the second book in the Bloodlines series left me dying with questions which hadn't been answered. I can't wait for The Indigo Spell to come out!!

 

Amy

Waiting on Wednesday 14: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine and is meant to showcase upcoming releases that we're eagerly awaiting or just books which we are dying to read...

 

 

 

 

My Waiting on Wednesday this week is The Evolution of Mara Dyer which is the second book in the 'Mara Dyer' series by Michelle Hodkin.

 

Synopsis:

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

 

Why Can't I Wait?

I absolutely loved The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer which is the first book in the series. There were a lot of intense scenes and there was something new happening all the time. The book was just so gripping, so of course I can't wait to get my hands on this book!



 

 

Amy