Month: June 2019

Book Reviews, Products I love!!

The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1) Book Review

Megan Nicole

The Kiss of Deception – Book one of the Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson

Overall rating: ****

Romance: ***

Reading Rate: ****

Pages: 492

Buy it on Amazon: Here

The Remnant Chronicles have been on my TBR for quite some time now. When a read along was posted with some fellow Bookstagrammers I jumped at the chance to join one for the first time. Kiss of Deception The Remnant Chronicles Review

We are first introduced to Lia the Princess and First Daughter of Morrighan as she prepares to flee from her arranged marriage to the Dalbreck Prince. She and her lady in waiting escape to a beautiful seaside town to try and start their lives over where unbeknownst to Lia she meets the Prince she was meant to marry and the Barbarian Assassin who was sent to kill her.

There are a lot of pieces to the world that you are introduced to early on in the book without explanation such as the First Daughters, Gifts, and the concept of the Ancients and the Gods. I was constantly on the lookout for more information and answers to my questions. While I didn’t get all that I was looking for in the first book there were certainly a lot of gaps filled in, the author has a very “all things in due time” writing style. I know this can be frustrating for some readers but I really enjoy the way she keeps me on the hook and wanting to know more.

What I liked:

  • This book gets tons of credit for being the first in a long while to throw me for a huge loop. I am usually good at predicting things in books and I really felt while some things were the standard fantasy story line there were still a lot of elements that really surprised me.
  • I was sucked in!!  I made it through the book in about 2 days even though it is almost 500 pages long. I immediately wanted to dive into the second book but made myself hold of for the Read Along discussion 🙂
  • The detailed world and characters keep it interesting and keep me guessing. There was a decent amount of world building done in the first book and also a ton of questions that were posed. I looks forward to learning so  much more in the next two books.

What I didn’t like:

  • This really is not a negative but more a notable element.  This is firmly a YA book, while there are detailed fighting scenes and love elements to the story line so far everything has remained PG-13. I personally would like to see a little more steam, but the story is still very good without.

Synopsis:

In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn’t—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met.

On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love. 

The read along is for the Remnant Chronicles Trilogy Remnant Chronicles Trilogy as well as Pearson’s Dance of Thieves leading up the release of the final book in the duology Vow of Thieves releasing in August. So look for lots more review goodies to go!

Have you read the Remnant Chronicles or Dance of Thieves? Tell me what you think of them below in the comments.

 

Book Reviews, Products I love!!

House of Salt and Sorrows Book Review

Megan Nicole

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

Overall Rating: ***House of Salt and Sorrows Book Review

Romance: **

Reading Rate: ****

Pages: 416

Release Date: August 6, 2019

Buy it on Amazon: Here

House of Salt and Sorrows is part mythology and part murder mystery as Annaleigh tries to figure out who is killing off her family one by one. Is it a suitor, business associate, servant, a family member, or perhaps even a curse from the gods?

This book had just the right amount of creep factor that leaves you double checking dark corners without being gruesome. There was a lot of building in first part of the book that made it difficult for me to stay interested, however once I got to the second half I could not put it down and finished in a single night! The plot does jump around quite a bit (which makes sense in the end) but caused some rereading of pages or passages to try to understand what was happening. There are enough characters to build out and questions left unanswered at the end that I could see more books being written in this universe in the future. I would recommend this book to a reader over the age of 15 who was interested in horror or paranormal mystery novels.

I also have to mention that the cover of this book is completely stunning, this would have been 100% a cover buy for me alone without even reading the synopsis.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read House of Salt and Sorrows in Exchange for my honest review.

Bookish Merch, Products I love!!

My Top 5 Bookish Essentials

Megan Nicole

1. Book Sleeves

I have one heck of a book sleeve addiction. I have always been someone to take a book almost everywhere with me, which also often leads to damage to my books from floating around in my purse or car. As soon as I discovered book sleeves I started using them all of the time. I will even use them for non- bookish items like my planner, or traveling with pictures or important paperwork.

I have tried many vendors for Book sleeves but the top product that I have found comes from Book Beau. I have several of their sleeves in multiple sizes.

  • Their Jumbeau is the only sleeve I have found that fits those large hardback like your Sarah J Maas or Harry Potter.
  • Also I recently have become totally obsessed with their travelers for carrying my kindle, books, headphones, chargers etc.
  • The one down side to Book Beau is they sell out quite quickly and have the highest price point I have encountered (for something not custom).

Beau 1If you are looking for some slightly cheaper options that still have good quality a few other vendors I would recommend checking out are:

  • Book Gizmo
  • Fandom Sleeves
  • Pages Remembered

Amazon also has a few really cheap options that are available with Prime shipping:

  • The Book Sleeve fox has a medium sleeve for only $10.99 that comes in a ton of colors- check them out here
  • Yesodrine also has a really need book/e-reader/planner zip up sleeve that I am just head over heels for, the only downside being that it only comes in a small size- check them out here

2. Kindle E-reader I love love love my Kindle Paperwhite e-reader. Now I totally agree that it does not replace a physical book but for someone who reads as much as I do… and also for getting electronic ARCs I cannot replace the convenience. Kindle Paperwhite ereader- top 5 bookish essentialsThere are a lot of e-readers that do more fancy stuff but I love the basic paperwhite. Its extremely light, have incredible battery life and is easy to access existing and download new books to.

The kindle low down:

  • All-new Kindle (base model)- still has incredible battery life, 4 G of storage, adjustable lights and wi-fi compatible.
  • Kindle Paperwhite– this is the next step up from the base Kindle. While it is the same size it has higher resolution, larger storage, its waterproof, and supports Audible.
  • Kindle Oasis– this is the highest level Kindle with an inch larger screen, highest resolution and storage space as well as being waterproof. It also sports an auto adjusting light sensors and spiffy colors. But at around a $250 price point I cannot justify the splurge when I am more than satisfied with my Paperwhite.

Bookish essentials Kindle paperwhite with popsocketI know there are several other vendor who support e-reader, and you can also leverage the Kindle App on your phone or other tablet. I have used these features as well and will pull up my phone for certain locations but I have not encountered another e-reader that beats my Kindle for weight, comfort, and being easy on my eyes when reading for hours at a time.

*Little Lifehack- I dont know why it took me so long to think through adding a pop socket to my Kindle but it has been life changing!!

3. Vera Bradley Travel Pillow/Blanket

This is a little out there for a bookish supply but it is my go to when I travel or even just sitting on my couch or reading nook at home. I works as a reading pillow, arm rest, or a blanket when I want to curl up and relax… I know there are a ton of similar products out there but for the quality and softness I have not found one I like better. I even got both my mom and little sister each one for Christmas and they still use them frequently even though they are not big readers. You can find them up pretty cheap at an outlet or on Vera Bradley Travel Blanket- Bookish Essentialsclearance. I have included the link to purchase on Amazon below as well as a few cheaper but similar alternatives.

  • Vera Bradley Fleece Travel Blanket- check it out here

  • Forestfish Fleece Portable Travel Blanket- check it out here

  • Portable Cozy-Soft 2 in 1 Microfleece Blanket and Pillow- check it out here

4. Headphones

I actually use a strange mix of headphones depending on where I am. Most of the time when I am using wired headphones I take my cheap apple headphones with me wherever I go and have my nice Bose headphones at home. I have also included some details on my higher and lower end wireless headphones… I am terrible at charging things hence my limited wireless use. I got my little sister a pair of the Bose Wireless earbuds mentioned below for her Birthday in January and she literally takes them everywhere with her

  • HPHigh end wireless earbuds- Bose SoundSport Wireless Headphones, they come in several colors and run between $100-$150 depending on the sale you catch them on.
  • Low end wireless- LETSCOM IPX7 Waterproof, Wireless Sport Earphones, again they come in quite a few colors and are only $20 plus Prime shipping. Not the best quality but they are cheap and get the job done. 
  • High end wired- Bose QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones, these run between $150-$200 depending on the sale you catch. Mine are an older generation that I believe I snagged for about $70. While Bose does have some even higher end headphones I love these so much! The quality is everything I need and they are so comfortable (my husband also uses these when he DJs).
  • Low end wired- Apple Headphones.. guys I know there are a ton of opinions out there about these headphones but in my experience these things just keep on going and going!

5. Bookish Candles

Yes I know this seems still but I LOVE having bookish candles. It is so fun to me to have a candle that embodies a character or bookish place that you love! A few of my favorites shops are listed below.

  • Flickerwix– her glitter babies are amazing and all of the scents are so light and mix so well. Hands down the best candles that I have ordered. As far as individual candles go this is my go to shop, I really only order from anywhere else now if they have a box that I really want… and I have tried quite a few vendors!
  • Wick and Fable– They have an amazing collection of candles and the art on the labels is just incredible. They also have some of the best boxes I have ever seen. While shipping is a bit hit or miss for them the boxes are always worth the wait.

Do you have any Bookish Essentials or Shops you recommend? Let me know below in comments.

Book Reviews, Products I love!!

Shiver Book Review

Megan Nicole

Overall rating: ****

Romance: ***

Reading rate: **

I was a massive fan of the Raven Cycle by Stiefvater and as soon as I finished it I started trying to devour everything written by her. The Wolves of Mercy Falls popped up as a Scribd suggestion so I went for it!

Shiver Stiefvater book review

The first book in the series is Shiver and while it is a very different type of story from the Raven boys I loved it all the same. One of my favorite things about Stiefvater’s writing is how all of the people and little details always end up being important… and it may not come back around to even register until much later. The love story that she weaves between Sam and Grace is wonderful and all of the twists and turns that the story takes are on that “hurt so good” level. The author even said in an interview that she set out to make her readers cry and she delivered! The book switches back and forth between each of their points of view throughout.

What I liked:

  • I love all of the characters and the way that they are done, even when it is a character that I dont “like as a person”. I always feel like I was given real insight into they someone is good or terrible and what led them to their actions.
  • This was a take on werewolves that I have never encountered before. It was made to be more of a real world issue than a paranormal or magic phenomenon that you traditionally see.
  • I genuinely could not get enough of how cute Sam and Grace are!

 

What I didn’t like:

  • I felt like the characters were just skipping over all kinds of important details and could have resolved the issues much faster had they paid more attention. I felt like when watching a movie when you are yelling at the person no to go in somewhere scary.
  • The one down side of the detailed writing of Stiefvater is that these books are not easy to consume quickly. I had a hard time trying to stay tuned in to the physical book so had to go back to audio, and will finish the rest of the series that way.

 

Synopsis:

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can’t seem to live without.

Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It’s her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Book Reviews, Products I love!!

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness Book Review

Megan Nicole

Overall Rating: ****

Romance: ***

Reading Rate: ***

A Discovery of Witches is one of those books that I kept hearing rave reviews for,  plus it is now a TV series so I wanted to read before I started watching. I started out loving the this book and I wanted to love it so so much, for me it just started to get a little off and slow towards the end but overall was a good read.

Discovery of Witches- All Souls- Harkness

What I liked:

  • I like the magical world set up with Witches, Daemons and Vampires all living alongside the human population.
  • I am a huge inta love fan so I love the immediate steam between Matt and Diana
  • I loved all of the nerdy elements to the story. Matt being a scientist and Diane a historian. A book that is largely about books is usually pretty wonderful.

What I didn’t like:

  • At times conversations seemed to go down the rabbit hole of history or science to the point I found it hard to get through.
  • I feel like the main characters were very reasonable throughout the book and seemed to start losing their grip on their feelings towards the end. I know this happens after certain experiences, I just felt like they were suddenly almost different characters then the people I had grown to enjoy.
  • There is a lot of typical stereotyping between humans and types of creatures. It bugs me when the main cause of an issue is being with endless experience and knowledge just being narrow minded.

This is actually the first book in Harkness’s All Souls trilogy. I started reading the second book right away as the ending of this one left me needing to know what happens next. About 150 pages in I lost interest and have placed the book in my Did Not Finish pile for the time being. I still plan to come back around and finish the whole series at some point… might try to use audio book to help me make it through.

Synopsis:

Deep in the stacks of Oxford’s Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.

Have you read the series? Does it get better and worth reading through to the end? Let me know in the comments below.

Book Reviews, Products I love!!

Wicked Saints by Emily Duncan Book Review

Megan Nicole

Overall Rating: ****

Romance: ***

Reading Rate: ****

Wicked Saints was so hyped I was nervous to read it as I thought there was no way it could live up to everything being said about it, but it did! Not to mention the gorgeous covers that were available! I am always a sucker for a pretty book. Wicked Saints by Emily Duncan Book Review

I loved how dark this whole book was from the characters to the countries. I thought the author did a great job of raising a lot of religious and moral questions without being pushy in either direction. It was more of “In a world where all everyone knows is war are anyone’s hands really clean”? It was serious Shadow and Bone vibes,  Malachiasz and The Darkling may have to battle for my dark little heart…

What I liked:

  • I found myself really enjoying all of the characters, but at the same time not knowing if I should trust any of them (which I also loved)
  • Because of the morally grey and mysterious nature of the characters I think readers could choose different sides or a variety of ships. I think this book would be great for a book club discussion.
  • I think the author did a great job of giving just enough information about the world and characters to allow you to understand the story, but left you wanting more and forming so many more questions.

What I didn’t like:

  • It was not very original. While I did feel that it elevated elements of other series it also made a lot of things predicable. This is why I left it a 4 stars instead of 5. Had this been a series I read before the Grishaverse books or Sarah J Maas I would have rated 5 stars. I am really hoping to see some deviation from the inspired story line into something more original and surprising in future installments.

This is the first book in the Something Dark and Holy series by Duncan so I am so sad I have to wait until next year to read the sequel!! If you are a fan of the Grishaverse or Throne of Glass I would highly recommend giving a read.

Official Synopsis:

A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself.

A prince in danger must decide who to trust.

A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings.

Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war.

In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light. Wicked Saints is the thrilling start to Emily A. Duncan’s devastatingly Gothic Something Dark and Holy trilogy…

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Release Date: April 2, 2019