Review: Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody

Daughter of the Burning City
Author: Amanda Foody
Series: Standalone
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Mystery
Release Date: July 25th 2017
Book Length: 384

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Sixteen-year-old Sorina has spent most of her life within the smoldering borders of the Gomorrah Festival. Yet even among the many unusual members of the traveling circus-city, Sorina stands apart as the only illusion-worker born in hundreds of years. This rare talent allows her to create illusions that others can see, feel and touch, with personalities all their own. Her creations are her family, and together they make up the cast of the Festival’s Freak Show.

But no matter how lifelike they may seem, her illusions are still just that—illusions, and not truly real. Or so she always believed…until one of them is murdered.

Desperate to protect her family, Sorina must track down the culprit and determine how they killed a person who doesn’t actually exist. Her search for answers leads her to the self-proclaimed gossip-worker Luca, and their investigation sends them through a haze of political turmoil and forbidden romance, and into the most sinister corners of the Festival. But as the killer continues murdering Sorina’s illusions one by one, she must unravel the horrifying truth before all of her loved ones disappear.

Goodreads / Amazon UK / Amazon US

Waiting on Wednesday: Renegades by Marissa Meyer

Renegades
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: Renegades #1
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Release Date: November 7th 2017
Book Length: 576

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

From #1 New York Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer, comes a high-stakes world of adventure, passion, danger, and betrayal.

Secret Identities. Extraordinary Powers. She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies—humans with extraordinary abilities—who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice—and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.

Goodreads / Amazon UK / Amazon US  

Top Ten Tuesday: Books On My Fall TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

ARC Review: The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden

The Girl in the Tower
Author: Katherine Arden
Series: The Bear in the Nightingale #2
Genre: Fantasy, Historical, Fairytales
Release Date: January 25th 2018
Book Length: 384

Publisher: Ebury

For a young woman in medieval Russia, the choices are stark: marriage or a life in a convent. Vasya will choose a third way: magic...

The court of the Grand Prince of Moscow is plagued by power struggles and rumours of unrest. Meanwhile bandits roam the countryside, burning the villages and kidnapping its daughters. Setting out to defeat the raiders, the Prince and his trusted companion come across a young man riding a magnificent horse.

Only Sasha, a priest with a warrior's training, recognises this 'boy' as his younger sister, thought to be dead or a witch by her village. But when Vasya proves herself in battle, riding with remarkable skill and inexplicable power, Sasha realises he must keep her secret as she may be the only way to save the city from threats both human and fantastical...

Goodreads / Amazon UK / Amazon US / YA Books Central

Review: Remember Yesterday by Pintip Dunn

Remember Yesterday
Author: Pintip Dunn
Series: Forget Tomorrow #2
Genre: YA, Science-Fiction, Dystopian
Release Date: October 4th 2016
Book Length: 400

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Follow-up to the New York Times bestselling novel, Forget Tomorrow!

Would you change the past to protect your future?

Sixteen-year-old Jessa Stone is the most valuable citizen in Eden City. Her psychic abilities could lead to significant scientific discoveries, if only she’d let TechRA study her. But ten years ago, the scientists kidnapped and experimented on her, leading to severe ramifications for her sister, Callie. She’d much rather break into their labs and sabotage their research—starting with Tanner Callahan, budding scientist and the boy she loathes most at school.

The past isn’t what she assumed, though—and neither is Tanner. He’s not the arrogant jerk she thought he was. And his research opens the door to the possibility that Jessa can rectify a fatal mistake made a decade earlier. She’ll do anything to change the past and save her sister—even if it means teaming up with the enemy she swore to defeat.

Goodreads / Amazon UK / Amazon US / YA Books Central

Waiting on Wednesday: Forest of a Thousand Lanterns

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns
Author: Julie C. Dao
Series: Rise of the Empress #1
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Re-tellings
Release Date: October 10th 2017
Book Length: 384

Publisher: Philomel Books

An East Asian fantasy reimagining of The Evil Queen legend about one peasant girl's quest to become Empress--and the darkness she must unleash to achieve her destiny.

Eighteen-year-old Xifeng is beautiful. The stars say she is destined for greatness, that she is meant to be Empress of Feng Lu. But only if she embraces the darkness within her. Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village on the edge of the map, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng's majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high?

Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and exploit the callous magic that runs through her veins--sorcery fueled by eating the hearts of the recently killed. For the god who has sent her on this journey will not be satisfied until his power is absolute.

Goodreads / Amazon UK / Amazon US  

Top Ten Tuesday: Older Books I Still Haven't Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

ARC Review: Invictus by Ryan Graudin

Invictus
Author: Ryan Graudin
Series: Standalone
Genre: YA, Science-Fiction, Time Travel
Release Date: September 26th 2017
Book Length: 464

Publisher: Little Brown

Time flies when you're plundering history.

Farway Gaius McCarthy was born outside of time. The son of a time-traveling Recorder from 2354 AD and a gladiator living in Rome in 95 AD, Far's birth defies the laws of nature. Exploring history himself is all he's ever wanted, and after failing his final time-traveling exam, Far takes a position commanding a ship with a crew of his friends as part of a black market operation to steal valuables from the past.

But during a heist on the sinking Titanic, Far meets a mysterious girl who always seems to be one step ahead of him. Armed with knowledge that will bring Far's very existence into question, she will lead Far and his team on a race through time to discover a frightening truth: History is not as steady as it seems.

Goodreads / Amazon UK / Amazon US / YA Books Central

Bye Bye August, Hello September!

Can someone tell me where August went? How are we already a week into September. It's crazy! Although I do wish time would stop going by so quickly I am rather excited for Autumn, I adore this season and can't wait to watch all the leaves change colour and fall. So here's a quick look back on my favourite August reads and my planned September to-be-reads....

Waiting on Wednesday: Warcross by Marie Lu

Warcross
Author: Marie Lu
Series: Warcross #1
Genre: YA, Science-Fiction
Release Date: September 12th 2017
Book Length: 416

Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons

For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. Needing to make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

Goodreads / Amazon UK / Amazon US  

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Were A Chore To Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Review: The Tiger's Watch by Julia Ember

The Tiger's Watch
Author: Julia Ember
Series: Ashes of Gold
Genre: YA, Fantasy, LGBT
Release Date: August 22nd 2017
Book Length: 180

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press

Sixteen-year-old Tashi has spent their life training as a inhabitor, a soldier who spies and kills using a bonded animal. When the capital falls after a brutal siege, Tashi flees to a remote monastery to hide. But the invading army turns the monastery into a hospital, and Tashi catches the eye of Xian, the regiment’s fearless young commander.

Tashi spies on Xian’s every move. In front of his men, Xian seems dangerous, even sadistic, but Tashi discovers a more vulnerable side of the enemy commander—a side that draws them to Xian.

When their spying unveils that everything they’ve been taught is a lie, Tashi faces an impossible choice: save their country or the boy they’re growing to love. Though Tashi grapples with their decision, their volatile bonded tiger doesn't question her allegiances. Katala slaughters Xian’s soldiers, leading the enemy to hunt her. But an inhabitor’s bond to their animal is for life—if Katala dies, so will Tashi.

Goodreads / Amazon UK / Amazon US / YA Books Central