February had some great releases, but so does March! Just take a look at these beauties hitting bookshelves soon.

My most anticipated release is Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor!

Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton   - March 7th

Mere months ago, gunslinger Amani al'Hiza fled her dead-end hometown on the back of a mythical horse with the mysterious foreigner Jin, seeking only her own freedom. Now she's fighting to liberate the entire desert nation of Miraji from a bloodthirsty sultan who slew his own father to capture the throne.

When Amani finds herself thrust into the epicenter of the regime—the Sultan's palace—she's determined to bring the tyrant down. Desperate to uncover the Sultan's secrets by spying on his court, she tries to forget that Jin disappeared just as she was getting closest to him, and that she's a prisoner of the enemy. But the longer she remains, the more she questions whether the Sultan is really the villain she's been told he is, and who’s the real traitor to her sun-bleached, magic-filled homeland.


The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco - March 7th

The beast raged; it punctured the air with its spite. But the girl was fiercer.

Tea is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy makes her a bone witch, who are feared and ostracized in the kingdom. For theirs is a powerful, elemental magic that can reach beyond the boundaries of the living—and of the human.

Great power comes at a price, forcing Tea to leave her homeland to train under the guidance of an older, wiser bone witch. There, Tea puts all of her energy into becoming an asha, learning to control her elemental magic and those beasts who will submit by no other force. And Tea must be strong—stronger than she even believes possible. Because war is brewing in the eight kingdoms, war that will threaten the sovereignty of her homeland…and threaten the very survival of those she loves.


The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz - March 7th

From the multi-award-winning author of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe comes a gorgeous new story about love, identity, and families lost and found.

Sal used to know his place with his adoptive gay father, their loving Mexican-American family, and his best friend, Samantha. But it’s senior year, and suddenly Sal is throwing punches, questioning everything, and realizing he no longer knows himself. If Sal’s not who he thought he was, who is he?



Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner - March 7th


Can a text message destroy your life?

Carver Briggs never thought a simple text would cause a fatal crash, killing his three best friends, Mars, Eli, and Blake. Now Carver can’t stop blaming himself for the accident and even worse, there could be a criminal investigation into the deaths.

Then Blake’s grandmother asks Carver to remember her grandson with a ‘goodbye day’ together. Carver has his misgivings, but he starts to help the families of his lost friends grieve with their own memorial days, along with Eli’s bereaved girlfriend Jesmyn. But not everyone is willing to forgive. Carver’s own despair and guilt threatens to pull him under into panic and anxiety as he faces punishment for his terrible mistake. Can the goodbye days really help?


Hunted by Meagan Spooner - March 14th

Beauty knows the Beast’s forest in her bones—and in her blood. Though she grew up with the city’s highest aristocrats, far from her father’s old lodge, she knows that the forest holds secrets and that her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering them.





A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi - March 28th

Gauri, the princess of Bharata, has been taken as a prisoner of war by her kingdom’s enemies. Faced with a future of exile and scorn, Gauri has nothing left to lose. Hope unexpectedly comes in the form of Vikram, the cunning prince of a neighboring land and her sworn enemy kingdom. Unsatisfied with becoming a mere puppet king, Vikram offers Gauri a chance to win back her kingdom in exchange for her battle prowess. Together, they’ll have to set aside their differences and team up to win the Tournament of Wishes—a competition held in a mythical city where the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor.





Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves - March 28th

The thrilling first book in a YA fantasy trilogy for fans of Red Queen. In a world where social prestige derives from a trifecta of blood, money, and magic, one girl has the ability to break the spell that holds the social order in place.






Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor - March 28th

The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around— and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he's been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance to lose his dream forever.

Never judge a book by its cover...

Due to her involvement in an unfortunate set of mishaps between the dragons and the Fae, Librarian spy Irene is stuck on probation, doing what should be simple fetch-and-retrieve projects for the mysterious Library. But trouble has a tendency of finding both Irene and her apprentice, Kai—a dragon prince—and, before they know it, they are entangled in more danger than they can handle…

Irene’s longtime nemesis, Alberich, has once again been making waves across multiple worlds, and, this time, his goals are much larger than obtaining a single book or wreaking vengeance upon a single Librarian. He aims to destroy the entire Library—and make sure Irene goes down with it.

With so much at stake, Irene will need every tool at her disposal to stay alive. But even as she draws her allies close around her, the greatest danger might be lurking from somewhere close—someone she never expected to betray her...

The thrilling conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Tearling trilogy.

In less than a year, Kelsea Glynn has transformed from a gawky teenager into a powerful monarch. As she has come into her own as the Queen of the Tearling, the headstrong, visionary leader has also transformed her realm. In her quest to end corruption and restore justice, she has made many enemies—including the evil Red Queen, her fiercest rival, who has set her armies against the Tear. 

To protect her people from a devastating invasion, Kelsea did the unthinkable—she gave herself and her magical sapphires to her enemy—and named the Mace, the trusted head of her personal guards, Regent in her place. But the Mace will not rest until he and his men rescue their sovereign, imprisoned in Mortmesne. 

Now, as the suspenseful endgame begins, the fate of Queen Kelsea—and the Tearling itself—will finally be revealed.


The Fate of the Tearling was my most anticipated read of 2016 – I’ve had it pre-ordered since July – and was sitting on pins and needles until it arrived at my doorstep. I had been dying to know the fate of Queen Kelsea after The Invasion of the Tearling, not to mention the Guard, and everyone else!

I was excited yet reluctant to start the beginning of the end of this journey. As the final installment, I knew my time with Kelsea and the Tearling was coming to an end and I wanted to savor it, but I also needed to know how it ended. Fate is written from several different points of view, which I thought blended nicely. Each gave a different perspective of the kingdom, Kelsea, and Johansen’s world, as well as a nice mix of past and present – one of the main concepts of these books that I’ve loved. These books are fantasy and sci-fi, in a cross between the medieval and modern.

There is magic, intense battles, drama, mystery and so much more. While there is some romance, it’s not the main point or focus of the story. It’s secondary, possibly even tertiary to everything else; so refreshing!  Kelsea fiercely loves her country and wants nothing more than to set right the wrongs and evils that are eating away it. She is rational (most of the time), educated, well read, and resilient. Some of the things I love most about this series is it’s gritty, it’s dark, and it’s not afraid to show the ugly side of religion and humanity, but it also has hope. That is the underlying theme - even though things have gotten so turned upside down and seem so far gone, there is still hope of making it right if only Kelsea can find the way.

I was not disappointed but I wasn’t 100% fully captivated as I had been with the previous books, and you know what? I’m okay with that. The ending is not what I expected, but it was perfect in its way. Johansen did an amazing job wrapping up an incredible series. I know some readers will be disappointed and find it a bit lackluster, but it was good. It left me with a sense of completeness. I’m sad that it's over but I'm happy with the ending.

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don't.

As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

Aelin's journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?

I want to preface this review with the fact that I was absolutely crushed by Empire of Storms. It was everything I wanted, and so much more, and it broke my heart! How does Sarah J. Maas do it? Actually, HOW COULD YOU??

This was a book of FINALLY!!’s and WHAT?!’s and why?!?!’s. The gang is all back, save for Choal who is off on Dorian’s errand from Queen of Shadows. Hopefully we’ll see him in the next installment.

I was so happy to see Aelin and Rowan together again doing what they do best – kicking ass and taking names. Aelin is a total BAMF and I’m not afraid to say that I want to be her when I grow up. She’s brilliant, always ten steps ahead of everyone else in the game, and not afraid to make sacrifices when necessary. Aelin and Rowan. Together. It made my heart ache. Aelin finally happy; them finally side by side. How can any couple be so perfect for each other?

We learn so much more about Elide and her character. She’s such a strong person and I love the way she doesn’t take Lochran’s crap. She's fierce, and loyal, and finally gets the appreciation she deserves. Lochran is back, terrorizing people and being loyal to his queen, yet we do get to see a different side of him. Oh, and I can't forget Manon, Aedon, or Dorian! Manon is quickly becoming another favorite. So much happens with the Wing Leader and her coven. I can't even begin to express how much happens in this book!

I am a huge fan of Maas’s writing and her characters. She writes strong, thoughtful women who aren’t afraid to stand up for themselves or their beliefs. Women who can think for themselves, as well as men who respect women. Men who aren’t afraid to stand by these women, and raise them up. This is an amazing thing and I love that it’s available for young adults to see and read.

I couldn't give this anything less than five stars. Did you know it's printed in extremely thin paper to accommodate the 800+ pages so it wouldn't be massive? I read it in two days. I couldn't put it down!! I’m already dying for the next book, but I guess I’ll have to satisfy myself with a re-read of the series until then because I’m not ready to say goodbye to these characters yet! I'm not even sure I've written a coherent review here as I can't express all of my feelings for this book. Despite spending the last 40-50 pages crying my eyes out, I still want more. I needs it... All I can say is read it for yourself and I hope you love it as much I as did!

Librarian-spy Irene is working undercover in an alternative London when her assistant Kai goes missing. She discovers he's been kidnapped by the fae faction and the repercussions could be fatal. Not just for Kai, but for whole worlds.

Kai's dragon heritage means he has powerful allies, but also powerful enemies in the form of the fae. With this act of aggression, the fae are determined to trigger a war between their people - and the forces of order and chaos themselves.

Irene's mission to save Kai and avert Armageddon will take her to a dark, alternate Venice where it's always Carnival. Here Irene will be forced to blackmail, fast talk, and fight. Or face death.


The Masked City is book two in Genevieve Cogman’s The Invisible Library series (you can read my review of book one here). It was once again full of action, danger, suspense, magic, fae, dragons, werewolves, and chaos. Also, multidimensional travel!

Right off the bat we’re thrown into action with the kidnapping of Irene’s assistant Kai, and there’s barely a dull moment after. We see the return of characters from The Invisible Library, such as the Sherlockian Detective Vale and the overbearing fae, Lord Silver, and we’re introduced to many new characters, from Kai’s family, to those who’ve orchestrated Kai’s kidnapping, and more.

Irene is a bad-ass who risks everything to save Kai and, at the same time, try to prevent a war that could destroy worlds. She ventures into unknown worlds with nothing but her brilliant mind, a tentative and reluctant allegiance to help free Kai, and the Language. Once again, her beloved Library leaves her to fend for herself and take the weight of this task on her own shoulders, and she does a magnificent job. I love Irene. She knows she’s not super human, she knows her limits, and still manages to keep pushing on and fighting to get the job done. I liked getting to know Vale more and I hope to see his and Irene’s relationship (working or more) develop more in the next book.

If you’re a fan of world building, Cogman is a great author choice for you. She describes her alternate Venice in beautiful detail, along with the rest of the alternate worlds. I could picture myself sitting at the opera or wearing a Carnival mask on a gondola ride. I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll stop there, but I recommend you read it and find out for yourself!


Cogman delves deep into this world and knows every inch of her universe. I got lost a few times trying to keep up, and I’ll admit I have a few questions as to how the rules of chaos and order work, and how the Library manages to keep things in order, but in the end it didn’t matter. The story was engrossing, fast paced, and so, so smart. Cogman is brilliant. The only reason I didn’t give this a 5-star review is because the ending didn’t feel like an ending! It seemed like there should have been at least another chapter or two. I couldn’t believe that was the end. It felt unfinished. There is a third installment coming this December, The Burning Page, and that’s most likely why but I felt robbed! How could you do that to me Genevieve?!

The Masked City is available in the US on September 6, 2016

Nothing says Happy Birthday like summoning the spirits of your dead relatives.

I fall to my knees. Shattered glass, melted candles and the outline of scorched feathers are all that surround me. Every single person who was in my house – my entire family — is gone.

Alex is a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation…and she hates magic. At her Deathday celebration, Alex performs a spell to rid herself of her power. But it backfires. Her whole family vanishes into thin air, leaving her alone with Nova, a brujo boy she can’t trust. A boy whose intentions are as dark as the strange markings on his skin.

The only way to get her family back is to travel with Nova to Los Lagos, a land in-between, as dark as Limbo and as strange as Wonderland…

Beautiful Creatures meets Daughter of Smoke and Bone with an infusion of Latin American tradition in this highly original fantasy adventure.
The opening scene of Labyrinth Lost hooked me immediately, it got a little shaky in the first third, but after that it was smooth sailing.

I enjoyed Labyrinth Lost because it opened up an unknown world to me. I know very little of this spiritual culture and their superstitious beliefs. Alex and the women in her family are bruja’s, each possessing some form of magic. On their Deathday celebration, they bind to their family and fully embrace their powers. Unfortunately Alex thinks she’s cursed and wants nothing to do with her magic, so she tries to cast a counter-spell to rid herself of her magic and everything goes sideways.

She’s pulled into a world she once thought was make-believe, used as children’s bedtime stories to make them behave. Once there, she’s forced to face demons, the river of the dead, an unholy queen of the underworld, and betrayals of the worst kind. It’s not all bad though. She comes out stronger for it in the end and finds those who matter most to her. She also finds herself along the way.

I appreciated Córdova’s character development. I thought I would be tired of a story where the main character has this amazing gift and doesn’t want it. Way to be unappreciative of this wonderful power the universe has seen fit to bestow upon you, but Alex actually seems to have a legitimate reason. Although it’s only hinted at in LL, I think it will be fully explored in book 2.
While I wouldn’t rate Labyrinth Lost as excellent, I’d give it a solid 4 stars. It held my attention and took some interesting twists. I think this would be a good read for those who enjoy fantasy, something you can probably breeze through in a weekend.

Available September 6, 2016

Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the Tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.

And so he initiates the Crown’s Game, an ancient duel of magical skill—the greatest test an enchanter will ever know. The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the Tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.

Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?

For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip smart, imaginative—and he can’t stop thinking about her.
And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love... or be killed himself.

As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear... the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.


I had very high hopes for The Crown’s Game but I’m sad to say this was not a 5 star book for me.
If you read the synopsis, it had an amazing premise. I mean, magical duels to the death between two enchanters to become the Imperial Enchanter? I was expecting all out death matches, obstacle courses, arenas, and the like, a la A Gathering of Shadows, but it was nothing like this. Instead it was much more like The Night Circus. Which, don’t get me wrong, isn’t a bad thing, it’s just not what I was expecting and not what I was lead to believe was going to happen.

Skye’s world building is wonderful. She created a 19th century Russia that no longer believes in magic, but once was surrounded by it. Only a select few still know of magic and the enchanters, including the Tsar, the enchanters themselves, and their mentors. A few more people find out along the way, but the masses pass of the enchantments as extremely detailed mechanics/engineering works, rational ways of explaining things that cannot be explained. She’s dedicated to the Russian theme and 19th century feel. The details used to describe St. Petersburg and Ovchinin Island left me feeling like I was there on those wintry days. I could have been walking down those cobblestone streets.

Where I feel it fell flat was with the characters and their story. Vika and Nikolai are supposed to be in the Crown’s Game, this ultimate game to the death, to reach their full potential and serve their Empire. Something they’ve each trained for their whole life, but when the time comes they, predictably, pull their punches and drag out the fight. Which, turns out, isn’t really even a fight but more of a back and forth competition to see who can impress the Tsar more – not what I was expecting to say the least. They manage to throw some barbs in here and there but with no real weight behind them. Ludmilla, Ovchinin’s resident baker and Vika’s friend/confidante/motherly figure, was one of the only characters I really liked and felt a real connection to. Not to mention I wanted to eat every one of her delectable treats!

In the end I rated The Crown’s Game 3.5 out of 5 stars. I found the “long-buried secrets” predictable (I managed to figure them out long before they were revealed), and it lacked the action I was hoping for, but it overall it was a good story and has a lot of potential for the sequel, The Crown’s Heir.

This is a good read for fans of The Night Circus, which I loved, so don’t necessarily take my word for it. Read The Crown’s Game for yourself! I think I just went into this one expecting one thing and got blindsided by a completely different type of story.

Hey everyone, how goes it? I saw this fun The Coffee Book Tag by Ashlee over at Her Geekery and thought it was such a clever idea and wanted to play along! You can check out her Coffee Book Tag post here. I'm sure you can figure it out, but the idea is to take the prompt and think of a book or series that matches the type of beverage.



Black: A series that's tough to get into but has hard core fans - Game of Thrones

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While I have read this series, I had to listen to the audiobooks to do it. I tried to read through hard copies but with over 1,000+ pages each and teeny, tiny font on tissue thin paper it was too much for me. They can be very tough to sit and read through (for some) but man is the force strong in their fan base! They're crazy dedicated to their theories and (not to mention the show). Hey, I'm one of them! I know it's not for everyone - there's so much world building and information overload that even the tiniest of details could come back to be a big plot point four books from now, that even just that can turn people off. With that being said, if this is a series you've been wanting to read but have been afraid to because it seems a bit daunting, you're not alone. I was once the same way. I recommend the audiobooks! The narrator is awesome and it's so much easier to keep track of people and places. Plus if you use an app like Overdrive or Smart Audiobook Player you can listen at 2x speed and be done in only 23 hours instead of 46!


Peppermint Mocha: A book that gets more popular during the winter or a festive time of year - A Christmas Carol

Definitely a winter classic!

Hot chocolate: A favorite children's book - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory


I loved this book growing up and I'm not sure why I haven't continued re-reading it. While Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is still one of my favorite movies, the book just has those special touches Roald Dahl was perfect at. I can't wait to read this with my kids some day.

Starbucks: A book you see everywhere - Lady Midnight


I don't know about you, but I've seen this one everywhere books are sold lol and all over the interwebs. It's everywhere. Even on my own Instagram feed.

The Hipster Coffee Shop: A book by an indie author (a shout out) - Penryn & the End of Days Series


I haven't read this series yet, but it's been on my TBR for a very long time and those that have read it seem to have nothing but good things to say.  Also it's free on Kindle Unlimited - just putting that out there - which my husband got me for Valentine's Day and I need to do a better job of taking advantage of while I have it! But I digress. From what I know, this series is worth my time.

In Ink and Bone, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine introduced a world where knowledge is power, and power corrupts absolutely. Now, she continues the story of those who dare to defy the Great Library—and rewrite history…

With an iron fist, The Great Library controls the knowledge of the world, ruthlessly stamping out all rebellion, forbidding the personal ownership of books in the name of the greater good.

Jess Brightwell has survived his introduction to the sinister, seductive world of the Library, but serving in its army is nothing like he envisioned. His life and the lives of those he cares for have been altered forever. His best friend is lost, and Morgan, the girl he loves, is locked away in the Iron Tower and doomed to a life apart.

Embarking on a mission to save one of their own, Jess and his band of allies make one wrong move and suddenly find themselves hunted by the Library’s deadly automata and forced to flee Alexandria, all the way to London.

But Jess’s home isn’t safe anymore. The Welsh army is coming, London is burning, and soon, Jess must choose between his friends, his family, or the Library willing to sacrifice anything and anyone in the search for ultimate control…
In Ink and Bone Rachel Caine managed to build a unique world where the Alexandria Library did not burn down but survived. By doing so, the Great Library managed to grow and eventually control the world’s knowledge, and in turn the world.

Paper and Fire brings us back to this world and the story of Jess Brightwell, where we delve deeper into the workings of the Library and its dark secrets. Jess and his friends are in danger, the Library is not what they thought, and nowhere is safe.

I cannot tell you how much I love The Great Library series. I don’t think it gets enough attention or the praise it deserves! The idea, at least to me, is completely unique and frightening. To think that a Great Library has ultimate rule over the world with the idea that its goal is to spread knowledge to all, when in fact it’s true mission is to maintain power no matter the cost. Knowledge is more important than lives. Containment is key. Keep people happy and suppressed just enough that they don’t ask questions. Keep information filtered and censored. It sounds a lot like living in North Korea actually, but I digress.

Paper and Fire answers many questions left by Ink and Bone and opens up more that we’ll have to wait for Volume III to answer. We finally get to see Rome and more of London, the automatons are creepy as all get on, and the gang is reunited at last. It’s not all happy, it’s actually more morose than happy, which fits with Jess and his life. Caine has done a fantastic job bringing the reader into his mindset and immersing them into the somber tone of the world and story surrounding the characters. I found myself having to know what happened next, not wanting to put the book down. The proverbial "one more chapter" and managed to read it in a weekend. It's just so good! A book (and series) definitely worth your time.


Overall I give it 5 out of 5 stars and cannot wait for the next installment to see how Jess’s story plays out! I enjoyed Paper and Fire more than Ink and Bone which isn't always the case with a series (enjoying the second book more than the first!). It’s fast paced, dramatic in all the right places, and managed to get me right in the feels. It’s a great read for anyone who loves fantasy, sci-fi, or steam-punk.

Paper and Fire is available on July 5, 2016