ARC Review // These War-Torn Hands by Emily Hayse

Title: These War-Torn Hands
Author: Emily Hayse
Publisher: Blue Maverick Press
Pub. Date: 22nd June 2021

Synopsis

“They say this land is bound, cursed since the beginning of the world. And it’ll be freed one day by a man with war-torn hands.” Rosamund travels across the continent to marry a governor of the cursed territory, Archer Scott. However, her plans are disrupted by the Outlaw King of western territory, Alexander Mortimer. He’s determined to start a race with Archer Scott for the win of the land. He begins with stealing his betrothed. When the governor refuses to choose the woman he loves over land, the fight begins. Mortimer sets the attacks on his people and the land around Glory Mesa. Archer is forced into a battle that may cost him everything he loves.

Book Review

Where do I start? I’ve never read any western-based story before, especially with a little mix with fantasy. When I was a kid, I loved to watch western movies with my dad, so I was very happy that I got a chance to join this blog tour. In the beginning, I was a little bit lost because of the multiple POV but you can easily get used to it when you go on with the story. Especially, that you can learn about the characters, the world, and events more.

As I said before this book is a fantasy western. To make it clearer it’s a western with dragons in it. It’s a small detail in the story but a very exciting one. The overall story was mostly about a fight between the group of outlaws and the governor and his people. The Outlaw King of western territory by all means is trying to put his hand on the governor’s land.

I don’t know why but I like when the main characters are in hands of the villain. Especially if they are as interesting as Alexander Mortimer. Hayse did a very good job with writing his character because even if you know he is not a good man, you still like him. I think he’s the most complex personality in this book, and it intrigued me already from the first chapters in the book.

Rosamund is a much more fascinating character than I thought in the beginning. She’s very smart and isn’t scared of work. Even if she cannot fight, she uses her intelligence as her weapon. I have a feeling that she chose to marry Archer mostly because she wanted to find a new purpose for herself and her brother. Her love for the governor was adorable. I would not call it full of passion love but by looking at the current events happening around their marriage, I can understand why they didn’t have much time for their love life. The book is about two people in love, but it doesn’t focus on it. This is also an interesting aspect of this tale. I would highly recommend it to people looking for an adventure.

Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I would like to thank Favorite Pages and Emily Hayse for inviting me to take part in this blog tour. I was very happy to review and spread the word about this book!

Song of the Day

Love, Karo ♥

ARC Review // Things to Do Before the End of the World by Emily Barr

Title: Things to Do Before the End of the World
Author: Emily Barr
Publisher: Penguin
Pub. Date: May 13th 2021

Synopsis

What would you do if one day you discover that you have nine months left? Not because of a disease, but because all humankind and other species will extinct. When news breaks that humans have done such damage to the earth and that it’s too late to repair it Olivia discovers that it is the time for her to start living her life. She was always a shy person who preferred to stay at home than socialize with people. Her social anxiety was always standing in her way to make new friends or tell the girls she loves about her feelings. Now she needs to decide if she will spend her last months living in a way she did before or be brave and live her life as fully as she can. However, it’s not as easy as it’s said.

Out of blue, she discovers that she has a long-lost cousin that she didn’t even know existed. She decides to contact her, and their relations get closer each day. Natasha is everything Olivia always wanted to be. Her ease and self-confidence affect Libby, that she trusts everything she says. She convinces her that she is the only person that can help her to make her life better. However, when she joins Olivia and her family on the family trip, she realizes that Natasha isn’t everything she first appears to be.

Book Review

It’s a little bit hard for me to review this book since I was prepared for a completely different story than that. I thought it will be written more in a dystopian way, however, it was a more teen contemporary novel. As much as I enjoyed this book, I was also a little bit disappointed.

I think the story overall is very well written, the plot interesting and the mystery very well structured. In the beginning, I wasn’t sure if I will like the main character Olivia, however, it’s only because I didn’t see all the qualities that we can learn about her throughout the book. I loved to watch her open and grow up. She changed a lot thanks to Natasha, and as much as she hurt her at the end I think it was kind of worth it. She broke the limits and finally started living. She spent her summer abroad learning how to forget about her fear. I really enjoyed her and Natasha running through Madrid and Paris and showing the magic tricks to people. Honestly, I would like to do it myself. Just run away to a nice city and perform to make money for hotels and food.

Well, as good as it sounds, I knew from the start that there was something wrong with Natasha. There were a lot of signs on the way that were screaming at Libby “Run”. I was so surprised that her parents let her go with her to Madrid and then Paris when they knew that there was something wrong. I think this was one of these moments in the book that I could not understand, it was just so stupid. Besides, Natasha was a very sneaky person that knows how to sell her lies. On one side I dislike her for what she did to Libby for the faults of Natasha’s father. I could feel the anxiety coming from Olivia after what Natasha did to her. If I would be in her place, I would die from a heart attack. It would be so terrifying. However, there was this one side that even I wanted to believe that she is there with Olivia just because she wants to get to know her better. I wanted her to be like a sister to her because Libby deserves to have more people that love her in her life.

The aspect of the end of the world situation was shown in this book from the perspective of “how people would behave if they know that they have only nine months left. I think that even if the chaos I expected to find in this book wasn’t there, the whole situation hit me hard. Especially in the situations when many species just started dying. This kind of situation opens your eyes because you can clearly see that there’s no coming back, no solution that will help you to survive. It was a very interesting background to show the change in the person. However, it’s very upsetting that when Olivia finally gets to the point she wants to live, she loses her time for a person that only wants to trick her, instead of with people that she loves.

Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I would like to thank TheWriteReads, Emily Barr, and Penguin for inviting me to join this tour. I was enjoying reading this book a lot and I was happy to review it. I hope you guys enjoyed my review and will read this book yourself soon.

Song of the Day

Twitter Goodreads Instagram ♥

Book Review // Blood & Honey by Shelby Mahurin

• 

• 

• 

Title: Blood & Honey
Author: Shelby Mahurin
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pub. Date: September 1st 2020

Synopsis

After escape from Dame Blanches, Lou and Reid are constantly on the run. They are not alone though. They’re accompanied by Coco, Beau, Ansel and Lady Labelle. They have no plan and nowhere to go. They want to try to look for help from Coco’s aunt, however, their plan changed when Morgane leave’s the message for Lou, which points out that she’s planning an attack on Cesarine during the Archbishop. It’s a good time to run as far from there as they can. However, they decide that they will play Morgane’s game and try to defeat her. To do so they need strong allies. It won’t be an easy task, since they are wanted in the whole kingdom.

Book Review

I have so many mixed emotions about this book. I have a love – hate relationship with it. There were moments I really enjoyed but most of the time I was very annoyed by the characters in it. Let’s start with Lou; I think that below her confidence there was a fear of losing her love and friends. They were constantly in danger and she would give everything to keep them safe. She made many sacrifices to keep Reid safe. She started to change with each time when she was using magic. However, she couldn’t care less about her life when her husband had to be rescued once again. I wish everyone around her could see it how much she gives to all of them and don’t ask for anything back. She’s scared of becoming a monster the same as her mother is. Reid doesn’t help her with his hate for anything that is magical.

Since, I already started to talk about Reid, I think it’s a good time to discuss his part in this book. I remember that after long time I finally started to like his character in the first book. Well, everything has its beginning and the ending. I cannot stand him. I understand that he was taught to hate magic his whole life. However, since he knows now that not all witches are evil, he could finally open his eyes and see that he hurts Lou with his behaviour. I know he’s worried about her; however, if she saves his life it would be a nice thing to appreciate it a little. He’s bragging all the time about how much she changed and that she’s not the same Lou he met. Well, maybe for once stay out of trouble so she wouldn’t need to do it once again? This book is like a long story of Reid’s unsuccessful plans. I’m wondering how it is possible that he was a captain of Chasseures, if he cannot see how bad his plans are.

I think my favorite scene in this book that actually made me very interested what will happen next was the time when they joined Troup de Fortune. Claud Deveraux in my opinion brought color to this story. He made it more interesting and mysterious. I didn’t know how big role he will play in it but thankfully he didn’t disappear after one chapter.

The thing I hate the most in this book is that the book is written in a way that you really adore Ansel’s character. You feel pity for him for the way everyone is treating him. You think that he is such a pure soul and with each chapter you like him more and more. Then the ending is coming, and it destroys you in every possible way. I don’t want to give you any spoilers but be prepared for it.

Overall, I didn’t like the ending. I feel like it was forced so the author can continue with the third book. I think it completely ruined my opinion about this book. I feel that instead of creating a new plot, it will repeat once again. I think the ending is always the most important part of the book because it’s decides about how you will feel about, and I don’t think I ever was that disappointed when it comes to this part. If not the ending I would easily give four stars for this book but know I’m considering three or three and half. Well, I hope that at least the author has a good idea for the continuation, and it won’t be as bad as I feel it will be.

Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Song of the Day

Twitter Goodreads Instagram ♥

Blog Tour ~ Review // Historically Inaccurate by Shay Bravo

Title: Historically Inaccurate
Author: Shay Bravo
Publisher: Wattpad Books

Book Review

After Soledad Gutierrez’s mother is deported, her life changes the way she was always scared. She and her father try everything to bring her mother back; however, it is not possible until she will be twenty-one. Since she can’t change it, she tries to focus on the new college. She desperately wants to fit in. Her friend convinces her to join a history club of which he’s a member. However, to join the club she needs to get through the initiation process, which is dangerous and most of the time an illegal task. She needs to break into Westray’s oldest house and still a fork as proof. As crazy as it is, she agrees to do it. However, she didn’t think she will be cut by the old couple’s grandson. She barely escapes the house, but she cannot escape him, since he’s a student at the college she attends.

Sol is a very complicated character. I could never guess what’s going on in her head, it was a huge mess in my opinion. She doesn’t want to be in the club but she still does everything to get in. She doesn’t want to get in trouble and then she does everything that will bring trouble into her life. She fights with herself through the book. She is lost after her mom is deported and her life changes in a way she hates. I’m still not sure if she was doing all of this just to fit in or maybe to feel alive. She was most of the time upset about how her life is complicated but honestly, she was the only person that was complicating it.

Ethan is this cute boy from the neighborhood you don’t know you want to date until you see him without a shirt. It’s a joke but I’m sure it was one of the reasons Sol started to view him differently. I don’t know how to feel about their romance in this book. It was sweet, but also a little bit boring? I think it will bring something new to the story but it didn’t change much in the story.

This story wasn’t bad, I enjoyed reading some part of this book. However, it didn’t engage me in a way that I cannot put the book down. This story and the characters were very average. I know it’s a debut book so the author can still surprise us in the future. She isn’t a bad writer. It’s just that the story didn’t click with me. In the beginning, I thought it will mostly touch the subject of Latin people living in the United States and about deportations. However, it covered a very small part of the story. It focused more on the club that no one wanted to be a part of. I cannot understand what interesting this club had so people want to join so badly. I know it made them feel that they belong somewhere, but I am sure it wasn’t the only club they could join. Maybe I didn’t look deep enough into this subject and I missed something. Well, I will never know.

Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I would like to thank Shannon Donaghy and Shay Bravo for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I hope you guys enjoyed my review!

Song of the day

Twitter Goodreads Instagram ♥

August Giveaway // Kindle Fire and 17 Fantasy Books Contest

Hello and Happy Monday!

I recently met Abby Arthur, author of TWINS OF SHADOW, and I’m excited to share that she’s running a HUGE giveaway this month.

She’s giving away a total of 17 YA Fantasy novels and a new eReader from Amazon – the Kindle Fire 7, over the course of the next 4 weeks.

YOU GET 4 CHANCES TO WIN A PRIZE!

Every entrant will also receive a FREE eCopy of TWINS OF SHADOW

Rules:

1. Follow Abby on social platforms, and also follow my blog and like this post (Gives you 50X more chances to win!)
2. Go to the link below
3. Enter your email address
4. Share your lucky URL (extra 20X chances to win per friend to enter)

Click this link to enter: https://abbyarthur.com/giveaways/august2020

Here’s the details:

On August 7^th

Abby’s drawing a winner for the current books in Sabaa Tahir’s AN EMBER IN THE ASHES series, which includes:

• AN EMBER IN THE ASHES
• A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT
• A REAPER AT THE GATES

These will be HARDCOVER COPIES! With a total value of $60 US Dollars

Here’s the link to enter: https://abbyarthur.com/giveaways/august2020

On August 14^th

Abby’s drawing a winner for 3 books from New York Times Best Selling Authors.

• CHAINS OF GOLD by Cassandra Clare
• A BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES by Suzanne Collins
• HOUSE OF EARTH AND BLOOD by Sarah J Maas

These will be HARDCOVER COPIES! With a total value of $80 US Dollars

On August 21st

Abby’s drawing a winner for Holly Black’s series: FOLK OF THE AIR.

• THE CRUEL PRINCE
• THE WICKED KING
• THE QUEEN OF NOTHING

These will be HARDCOVER COPIES! With a total value of $80 US Dollars

On August 28^th

Abby’s giving away the grand prize, which includes the eReader and 8 eBooks at a $150 value:

• Kindle Fire 7
• 1 A SONG OF WRATHS AND RUIN by Roseanne A Brown
• 2 THE KINGDOM OF BACK by Marie Lu
• 3 WICKED SAINTS by Emily A. Duncan
• 4 THE GUINEVERE DECEPTION by Kiersten White
• 5 CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE by Tomi Adeyemi
• 6 THE CURSED CHILD by J.K Rowling
• 7 SIX OF CROWS by Leigh Bardugo
• 8 SORCERY OF THORNS by Margaret Rogerson

Enter NOW for your chance to WIN!

Click here => https://abbyarthur.com/giveaways/august2020

Good Luck!

Karo x

Twitter Goodreads Instagram ♥

ARC Review // Tigers, Not Daughters by Samantha Mabry

Title: Tigers, Not Daughters
Author: Samantha Mabry
Pub. Date: 24 Mar 2020 
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers

Book Synopsis:

The Torres sisters dream of escape. Escape from their needy and despotic widowed father, and from their San Antonio neighborhood, full of old San Antonio families and all the traditions and expectations that go along with them. In the summer after her senior year of high school, Ana, the oldest sister, falls to her death from her bedroom window. A year later, her three younger sisters, Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa, are still consumed by grief and haunted by their sister’s memory. Their dream of leaving Southtown now seems out of reach. But then strange things start happening around the house: mysterious laughter, mysterious shadows, mysterious writing on the walls. The sisters begin to wonder if Ana really is haunting them, trying to send them a message—and what exactly she’s trying to say.

(Goodreads, 2020)

Book Review:

A strong story about sisterly love that lost their way after they lost one of them. They grow apart and drown in they own problems. In the first part of the book we can get to know them separately. Jessica cannot accept that her favorite big sister is gone, she feels angry all the time and tries to live the life her sister lived. She takes her room, wears her clothes, even starts dating her ex-boyfriend just to feel closer to her sister. Iridian is a strange character. She seems to be far away from the reality. She lives in her own world of words and doesn’t leave her house even if she seems to hate it. Rosa is a soft and nature loving person who spends most of the time to look for answers. Their lives go on until the ghost of their lost sister appears in their house. She makes their life even harder than it is and they cannot understand what the message is she tries to send her.

The book is very dark, so it leaves goosebumps on your skin while reading it. It contains a subject like abuse behavior, deep depression and addictions. The book would be very boring if it wouldn’t contain the part of the haunted house. However, the part that was the best in the books was how special were all the sisters. They saw the world in completely other way than most people do. I think that the book was mostly led by Jessica and we didn’t get to know Iridian and Rosa as much as her, but the author gave us enough to understand their personalities and part of the story.

The ending of the book was unexpected and amazing. I feel like an author was leading us into thinking that together with the story lives of girls will be more and more miserable but thankfully the plot changed and gave them what they really deserved.

In the book we met two characters that were destroying Torres sisters’ lives: their father and Josh (Jessica’s boyfriend). Sometimes I felt bad for their father because it must be so hard to lose a wife and then also a daughter but as the book goes, I understood that he was one of the villains in the book. The way he treated his daughters and ruined their lives was unacceptable, but the worst thing that really moved me was the way he treated Iridian. However, Josh isn’t any better. He’s abusing and controlling Jessica every time he gets close to her. I couldn’t understand how she could just stand and let him do what he wanted with her. I think that it’s the part that shows how deep depressed she was that she didn’t even care what is happening to her.

Thankfully, beside all of this we also meet a character that brings hope to our hearts. Peter’s is a guy that works with Jessica at pharmacy. He’s clearly trying to help her to get through all of what happens in her life from the beginning and she also sees it. Peter is a sweet boy that wants to be a superhero that will save a girl that he’s in love with. Even if at the beginning he can’t even make her to talk with him, they become much closer with the time Jessica realizes that it’s the time to change the way she lives.

Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️, 5

I would like to thank Netgalley, Algonquin Young Readers and Algonquin Young Readers for providing me copy of this book.

Twitter Goodreads Instagram ♥

ARC Review // Coral by Sara Ella

Author: Sara Ella
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Book Review

Coral is the youngest sister in the royal family. She is going to join her sisters in the mermaid ballad as soon as she will be sixteen. As much as she is concern about this event, she worries about her sister that suffers from a Disease. She tries to support and help her somehow, but before she gets closer to her the Red Tide takes her right out of her hands. She cannot resign herself to live without her. Because of her disobedience to her father during her birthday party, he orders her to leave the castle. Her grandma is on Coral’s side and helps her during this hard time. The best way to do so is to take her away to the world of humans.

Merrick’s life isn’t as easy as it seems. His family has everything: money, class, prestige life but things like love and closeness are lacking. His father is very strict with the rules that include him and his younger sister. The hate he feels toward his father deepens when his sister tried to commit suicide. At the same time as he arrives at the hospital to see his little sister, his mom decides to leave them all for good. He can’t understand how she could do it at the time they need her the most. He decides to get his sister and run away far from the father and try to find their mother.

Brooke is in a bad place for a long time now. She is sent to the recovery place where people are supposed to help with her loss. She feels worthless and alone. Instead of trying to let people in she pushes them away. She doesn’t want to heal. She just wants to disappear in the blue sea weaves far from the pain and loneliness. One accident helps her to look differently in her life and shows her a new way how to live again.

The story brings all of them together and helps to understand the importance of family, friends, and life. Not everything looks like we see it. They need to let people in to understand they are not alone.

My thoughts:

The first time when I started to read this book, I was sure I am holding a fantasy book in my hands. However, with the time I found out how wrong I was. Instead of a beautiful fairytale about mermaids, this book was based on the mental health issues and teenage suicides. Don’t let it push you away because the story is worth reading even if it’s not fully about mermaids we love.

The book shows the effects of mental illness on the people and that it’s not always how we think how it works. To be honest, I also had no idea that about a few things that were brought in the book. It’s a complicated and hard subject but it should be the knowledge all of us should have. 

Going back to the story and its characters, it’s hard to say if you like any of them or not. It’s not kind of characters that all of us can empathize with. They reach a point in their life from which it’s hard to decide what to do next and how to live after what happened to them. Thanks to the people around them as hard as it is, they choose to recover.

I think it’s the first book I read about people that go through the mourning of close people that took their own lives. I know there is a lot of them but this one focuses on this issue and isn’t just a back story. I was surprised how the story went on because I was sure it will be a retelling of Little Mermaid. It was kind of in the beginning, but it didn’t have much connected the story we all love. However, it was a very original idea to tell a story.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I would like to thank NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Sara Ella for providing me this book. It was a challenge to go through this book without crying but I enjoyed reading it as much as I expected.

Instagram, Goodreads, Twitter❤️

Ultimate Blog Tour // Venators: Magic Unleashed by Dervi Walls

Author: Devri Walls
Publisher: Brown Books Publishing Group

Book Review

Rune is tired of her life. The only things her life is moving around is keeping her grades high and her twin brother who does everything their mother disaprove. Beside all her worries she feels different in a way she can’t even explain. She is concerned how supernatural world draws her in more and more everyday. She tries to talk about it with one person that shows similar interests. She knew Grey for a long time but never was close to him because of her brother’s behavior. He was a victim of Ryker for a long time and it didn’t change even now when they are in college.

Grey was fascinated by supernatural world for a long time. His interests started when he discovered his abbility to run faster than any mortal. He tried to hide his abilities and interests from other people but people still kept talking. It changed at the time he was attacked. He survived only thank to blue skined warrior who appeared to come to this world with purpose of finding two Venators, humans with supernatural abbilities. He was one of them and soon as they got atacked one more time he revealed that the second chosen was Rune.

They were followed by servants of evil Zio, who sent her gobblins to kill chosen Venators. As soon as they crossed the portal there was no coming back. They lives were going to change and they were not prepared for it. The time of trial just started.

My thoughts:

Amazing story of bravery and kindness. Rune and Grey weren’t brought to Eon in good purpose. The council needs them to their own needs so they won’t use their pedestal. However, they expected to receive heartless venators and that’s not what Rune and Grey are. Grey has a soft heart and he can’t stand hurting anyone. He would like to save the world even if the price would be his own life. However, Rune is new in this world and until now she didn’t even know about her abilities. I need to admit, she is kind of childish and annoying but I can forgive her as I would go crazy if that would happen to me. Even if she acts like a victim from the beginning, she finds her bravery and shows what she is capable of.

Beside the main characters, the book has a lot of great side characters like Tate, Verida, Beltran and Tashara. Without them this book wouldn’t be the same. I think without Beltran in the first book I wouldn’t like this book as much. He gives it a character and even if he acts like a cocky shapeshifter who cares only about having fun and games to play he definitely has more in his character than it’s shown at first. He doesn’t show it but he is kind and caring. He sacrificed a lot just to help the venators than anyone else in this book.

My second favorite character is Tashara. She is a seductive demon that feeds on people through sexual intercourse. She is a dangerous as also smart. We don’t see her a lot in the first book but she already makes me feel like she’s more than demon. She is also one of the people in the castle that helps young venators, more precisely Grey. I can’t wait to see more of her in the second book.

The world they are dragged in is very dangerous, especially that they already have there many enemies. There is no coming back and I feel that they also wouldn’t go back even if they could as they finally can be themselves.

I would like to recommend this book to all fans of Cassandra Clare’s books about shadowhunters. You will definitely like this one! After I finished reading first book I couldn’t stop on this one so I started reading second one right away. I’m more than happy that I could be a part of this blog tour and be able to read this book.

Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

About the Author

Devri Walls is a US and international bestselling author. Having released five novels to date, she specializes in all things fantasy and paranormal. She is best known for her uncanny world building skills and her intricate story lines, and her ability to present this all in an easy-to-digest voice. Now gearing up for her first national release, Devri is excited to introduce her sixth novel, book one in the Venators series. She loves to engage with her loyal following through social media and online sessions she organizes for her readers. Devri lives in Meridian, Idaho with her husband and two kids. When not writing she can be found teaching voice lessons, reading, cooking or binge watching whatever show catches her fancy.

Ultimate Blog Tour

I would like to thank TheWriteReads and Devri Walls for including me in this tour and providing me a copy of this amazing book! Check out also the other reviews of this book from the other book bloggers included in the tour under #ultimateblogtour on twitter. They are all amazing!

Twitter Goodreads Instagram ♥

About me

My story

Hello! My name is Karolina and I’m 20 years old. My story begins in Poland, a place where I was born. I lived there 17 years until things got hard for my family and we decided to move out to Germany. The first year there was horrible. I couldn’t speak German. I didn’t know anyone there so the only people who I could talk to were my family members. After one year I did huge progress in German language and my teachers decided to move me to the normal, German class. I wasn’t fluent in German so I had to work much harder than other students in my class. Finally, after 2 years I graduated my high school with good grates. This year I started to study Logistics Engineering at HZ University Of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands.

• 

  Monte Carlo, 2018

• 

  Vlissingen, 2019

My love for books

My love for books started when I was 13. I started first class in middle school where I met two new girls, which were book lovers. They introduce me to the book world, which completely consumed by it. My books series I fell in love were Precious Stone Trilogy. I read all three books in three days. Next, I read all six books of The Vampire Academy and The Mortal Instruments. Thanks to this three book series I fell in love with books and reading.

Vlissingen, 2019