Month: April 2020

Book Reviews, Products I love!!

COVER REVEAL: The Curse of the King, by Winnie Lyon

Megan Nicole

***COVER REVEAL*** for THE CURSE OF THE KING, by Winnie Lyon! The Curse of the King is set to release September 1st, 2020 by The Parliament House Press.

Don’t forget to add to your GoodReads TBR!
COVER REVEAL: The Curse of the King, by Winnie Lyon
Synopsis:
“Laura Wilson is the heir to an ancient curse.

As a young witch descending from the very powerful trio of witches that had cursed Macbeth, the pressure she faces daily is non-stop. When Laura is forced to participate in her school’s rendition of the classic play, she gives herself a single task: breaking the curse once and for all.

This task proves itself to be more difficult than she ever could have imagined when a miscast spell leads to the summoning of her dead ancestor, Cecily Wilson, one of the very witches that cursed Macbeth.

As Laura attempts to send her resurrected relative back beyond the veil, she is faced with one of the harsh realities of high school—having a crush on her best friend, Holly. However, things only get more complicated as Holly pines after Peter, a lonely, quick-witted vampire.

While she grows closer to Cecily, Laura sees first-hand the true horrors of being a witch in Elizabethan England as demonic forces arise in her little town of Shipley Hollow.

Can Laura break the curse and save her family name before the curtains rise on opening night?

Brought to you by Winnie Lyon, The Curse of the King is an action-packed novel with mysterious and magical twists at every turn.”
Parliament Press:
Instagram: @theparliamentpress
Twitter: @parliamentbooks
Facebook: @theparliamenthouse
Winnie Lyon:
Instagram: @winnieclyon
Twitter: winnieclyon
Facebook: Winnie Lyon
Book Reviews, Products I love!!

Book Review: The Black Witch by Laurie Forest

Megan Nicole

The Black Witch (Book #1 The Black Witch Chronicles) by Laurie Forest Book Review

  • Overall rating : ****
  • Reading rate: ***
  • Romance: ***
  • Pages: 601
  • Release date: May 2, 2017
  • Publisher: Harlequin Teen
  • Recommended if you liked: Serpent & Dove, Shadow & Bone

I have had The Black Witch on my TBR for a VERY long time, so when some fellow Bookstgrammers put together a read along I jumped on the chance.

I actually went back and forth between audio and physical book for this read and I think starting with audio really helped with some of the heavy world building in the begging. Once things started to take off later in the book I picked up the physical book to finish off because I wanted to absorb all of the details.

What I liked: This books has all the feels

  • A great mix of politics, people and magic system.
  • Lots of great characters, I found myself caring for (and hating) so many people in just the first book.
  • I 100% know I am in for a serious heartbreak at some point, there are LOTS of great love lines going on in this series. While there are love interests in this book there are no explicit scenes so keeps it YA.

What I struggled with:

  • There is a lot of prejudice and bullying in this book, some of it was a bit hard to get through but it essential to the story and things pick up as it goes
  • There were quite a few scenes that felt a little repetitive and the story could have been a bit shorter and been just as good if not better for me

Overall I HIGHLY recommend this book… and no spoilers but I finished the sequel in a single day and it gets even better!!

Synopsis:

A new Black Witch will rise…her powers vast beyond imagining.

Elloren Gardner is the granddaughter of the last prophesied Black Witch, Carnissa Gardner, who drove back the enemy forces and saved the Gardnerian people during the Realm War. But while she is the absolute spitting image of her famous grandmother, Elloren is utterly devoid of power in a society that prizes magical ability above all else.

When she is granted the opportunity to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an apothecary, Elloren joins her brothers at the prestigious Verpax University to embrace a destiny of her own, free from the shadow of her grandmother’s legacy. But she soon realizes that the university, which admits all manner of people—including the fire-wielding, winged Icarals, the sworn enemies of all Gardnerians—is a treacherous place for the granddaughter of the Black Witch.

As evil looms on the horizon and the pressure to live up to her heritage builds, everything Elloren thought she knew will be challenged and torn away. Her best hope of survival may be among the most unlikely band of rebels…if only she can find the courage to trust those she’s been taught to fear.

Have you read The Black Witch? If so, what did you think of it? Any similar recommendations?

Book Reviews, Products I love!!

Book Review: The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska

Megan Nicole

The Dark Tide (The Dark Tide #1) by Alicia Jasinska Review

THe Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinksa

  • Overall rating : ***
  • Reading rate: ****
  • Romance: **** Lots of love, but nothing steamy
  • Pages: 336
  • Release date: June 2, 2020
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
  • Recommended if you liked: The Wicked Deep
  • Purchase on Amazon here

As soon as I saw this cover I knew I had to request! Gorgeous right!!! Between that and the description I could not wait to get my hands on this book.

What I liked:

  • This was a fast-paced dark fantasy read with Beauty and the Beast vibes…. well, with a gorgeous Witch Queen as the “beast”.
  • The story dives right into the action and does not let up until the very end.
  • I enjoyed the concept of the world Jasinska set up, the way magic works and the idea of the island being a sanctuary where witches and humans escaped persecution from the mainlanders.

What I struggled with:

  • The book fell a little short for me due the lack of broader world building and predictability. I felt like I came into an already rolling story line and while some background was filled in as we went, I was still left with a lot of questions.
  • The way the story was set up also allowed you to predict characters actions and the overall outcome of the story but was still overall a good read.

The book is listed as being a series but I felt it worked well as a standalone and was not set up to have an immediate next issue to resolve.

Synopsis:

Every year on St. Walpurga’s Eve, Caldella’s Witch Queen lures a boy back to her palace. An innocent life to be sacrificed on the full moon to keep the island city from sinking.

Lina Kirk is convinced her brother is going to be taken this year. To save him, she enlists the help of Thomas Lin, the boy she secretly loves, and the only person to ever escape from the palace. But they draw the queen’s attention, and Thomas is chosen as the sacrifice.

Queen Eva watched her sister die to save the boy she loved. Now as queen, she won’t make the same mistake. She’s willing to sacrifice anyone if it means saving herself and her city.

When Lina offers herself to the queen in exchange for Thomas’s freedom, the two girls await the full moon together. But Lina is not at all what Eva expected, and the queen is nothing like Lina envisioned. Against their will, they find themselves falling for each other. As water floods Caldella’s streets and the dark tide demands its sacrifice, they must choose who to save: themselves, each other, or the island city relying on them both.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for a copy of The Dark Tide in exchange for honest opinion.

Book Reviews, Products I love!!

COVER REVEAL: Shades of the City, by Danielle K. Roux

Megan Nicole

**🖤Cover Reveal🖤**

I am so excited to be a part of the reveal of this amazing cover for SHADES OF THE CITY (This Will Kill That #2), by Danielle K. Roux!!

Shades of the City is set to release December 1st, 2020 by The Parliament House Press. Don’t forget to add to your Good Reads TBR. 

SOTC

Synopsis:

“Welcome back to District City, a place haunted by a tragic past, ravaged by monsters,
and divided into rival factions by mysterious aura Colors.In the aftermath of the events at the Blue Embassy, murderous Calen plots revenge and uses his dark power to further his influence. New trials bring Alan and Kazuki closer together as they continue their quest to unlock the secrets of the city. Mysterious newcomer, Tanith might have all the answers, if they can figure out how to get rid of the voices in their head. As relationships are torn apart, sacrifices must be made to gain power over others to survive. In this city, the dead don’t stay dead, and dreams reveal fragments of truth. The world may have ended once, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen again..”

Parliament Press:

Instagram: @theparliamentpress

Twitter: @parliamentbooks

Facebook: @theparliamenthouse

Danielle K. Roux:

Instagram: @daniellekroux

Facebook: DanielleKRoux

Twitter: DKRoux

Book Reviews, Products I love!!

Book Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Megan Nicole

Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi Book Review

  • Overall: ****
  • Romance: ****
  • Reading Rate: *****
  • Pages: 338
  • Publication Date: November 15, 2011
  • Publisher: Harper Voyager 
  • Recommend if you like: Divergent, The Remnant Chronicles
  • Purchase on Amazon here

Shatter Me is one of those series I keep hearing about over and over and with the final book in the series releasing this month I decided I needed to finally dive in…. and of course to try and avoid some spoilers if possible.

For the record I LOVE Dystopian worlds in print and in movies…though this genre may not be your cup of tea I think there is enough of a romance element that it could still draw in some readers who normally would not take the plunge.

What I liked:

  • Really great mix of dystopian and YA romance. Adam and Juliette give me Tris and Four vibes from Divergent but with a little more steam.
  • I really liked the overall concept of the book. I normally don’t do well not having a lot of information but the book is set up to keep you guessing on whats real and who you can trust and I just ate it up. I feel like it was a great set up for a series with endless possibilities.
  • Fast paced. I listened to the audio book  through Scribd and blew through it I 2 days (admittedly during “social distancing”).

What I struggled with:

  • The writing style and the repeating of words a lot was a bit challenging to listen to so I imagine would have been much harder to read. The way things were written do give you good insight into Juliette’s mental state which overall was valuable to the story.

Overall I really enjoyed the story and dove right into listening to the sequel to find out what happens next… and if my ship can sail!

Synopsis:

I have a curse
I have a gift

I am a monster
I’m more than human

My touch is lethal
My touch is power

I am their weapon
I will fight back

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.
The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.
The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

 

 

Book Boxes, Products I love!!

Alchemy + Ink March Candle Cult Unboxing and Review

Megan Nicole

Alchemy + Ink March Candle Cult Unboxing and Review

  • Theme: Star-crossed- Luxe Level
  • Overall: ****
  • Price: $58 USD including shipping
  • Quality: ****
  • Value for Money: ***
  • Shipping: **** Boxes ship around the end of the month and you receive a confirmation email. They go through USPS but box arrived quickly and in good condition.

When I saw that Alchemy + Ink was launching a subscription box I knew I had to get in on it right away! This is the very first month for this box and I the first purchase was well in advance so I was super excited to get it.

I was pretty surprised by how small the box was for the cost, and really thought there would be a little more to it. But its really the extra $12 in shipping that kills it, $45 for the amount of product in the box does make sense. Not something I will be purchasing every month though.

My cost concerns aside, what you receive is well packed, gorgeous and smells heavenly. There is attention to detail in each of these high quality items, anyhow goofy is it that I think the matches might totally be my favorite thing lolol.

Alchemy & Ink Starcrossed Candle Cult Unboxing and Review

Whats in the box:

Alchemy & Ink Starcrossed Candle Cult Unboxing and Review

Book Reviews, Products I love!!

COVER REVEAL: The Swansong Conspiracy, by Nick Vossen

Megan Nicole

**🖤Cover Reveal🖤**

I am so excited to be a part of the reveal of this gorgeous cover for The Swansong Conspiracy (The Eldritch Twins #1), by Nick Vossen!

The Swansong Conspiracy, by Nick Vossen

Synopsis:

Weirdness is in their blood
“After a near cataclysmic worldwide event shook the foundations of society and unleashed numerous supernatural hazards onto the Earth, twins Quincy and Lilly just want to lead their lives as normally as possible. However, this proves to be quite difficult. The twins are the heirs of legendary horror writer and occultist W.A. Swansong, who has been declared a prophet now that many of his gruesome creations appear to really exist.

When a mysterious inheritance falls into the twins’ hands, a strange and violent secret organization becomes hell-bent on finding them. Quincy and Lilly are forced to flee their hometown of New Orleans, leading them on a wild, supernatural chase throughout the southern United States. With only a handful of allies and a trapped Fire Vampire named Tim, the twins uncover a great mystery tied to their inheritance, the source of all pandemonium, and even the true origins of mankind.”

 

The  Swansong Conspiracy is set to release October 6th, 2020 by The Parliament House Press. Dont forget to add to your Good Reads TBR. 

 

Parliament Press:

Instagram: @theparliamentpress

Twitter: @parliamentbooks

Facebook: @theparliamenthouse

Nick Vossen:
Instagram: @nickcronomicon
Facebook: nickvossenauthor
Book Reviews, Products I love!!

Book Review: Storybound by Emily McKay

Megan Nicole

Storybound (Book #1) by Emily McKay

  • Overall: ****
  • Romance: *
  • Reading Rate: ****
  • Pages: 320
  • Publisher:  Entangled: Teen
  • Release Date: May 5th 2020
  • Recommend if you like: The Unicorn Chronicles
  • Purchase on Amazon here

Such as cute book!!! This book is on the younger side of the YA scale but was still a fun and unique read for all ages. What book lover can’t relate to wishing they could get sucked into their favorite series and meeting their Book Boyfriend?

What I liked:

  • The whole premise of the book is super fun and they way the author tied the parallel worlds together
  • I feel like it was a little love letter to use bookworms.
  • Really fast paced story all the way through, I almost finished the entire book the first night I picked it up.

What I struggled with:

  • There was still a lot left unsaid and unknown, but this is the first book in a series so I am sure a lot more information to come in future installments.

The book did wrap up in a way that left me satisfied (no cliffhanger) while leaving the door wide open for a lot more. I will definitely be on the look out for future books in this series to find out what happens next!

Synopsis:

I’ve lived in nine towns in the past six years. I know my mom feels bad about it, but I don’t mind. Who wants friends anyway?

All I’ve ever needed are my books. I’ve lived a thousand lives, had adventures I couldn’t even begin to imagine. To me, the places I discovered between the pages of a book are as real as the world I live in.

When I walk into my favorite bookstore, the last thing I expect is to walk out onto the pages of the kingdom of Mithres…or that the book boyfriend I’ve loved more than life, Kane the Traveler, really exists. And he has no clue the fate that awaits him in book five…

Now that I know the truth, I have a chance to save Kane. But if I change the story, will I ever find my way home?

 

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled:Teen for a copy of Storybound in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Reviews, Products I love!!

Book Review: Dark Skies by Danielle L. Jensen

Megan Nicole

Dark Skies (Book #2 Dark Shores) by Danielle Jensen Book Review

  • Dark Skies (Dark Shores, #2)Overall rating: *****
  • Reading rate: *****
  • Romance: **
  • Pages: 464
  • Release date: May 5th 2020
  • Publisher: Tor Teen
  • Recommended if you liked: Dark Shores, Throne of Glass,  The Remnant Chronicles

Jensen does it again!! I read Dark Shores last year and loved it but was nervous about the sequel due to the change in Main Characters but it 100% delivered.

What I liked:

  • This book was action packed from start to finish. While being very different from the first book it still tied into the world perfectly.
  • We got to learn more about the Gods of the Dark shores and the Corrupted, less Pirates of the Caribbean and more Mythology meets The Walking Dead!
  • I thoroughly enjoyed the main characters Lydia and Killian… and oh my goodness the “bad guys”!

What I “struggled” with:

  • While the events of this book run concurrent with the events of Dark Shores I do recommend reading Dark Shores first. It houses more world building and background information that I thing was valuable for me to enjoy Dark Skies as much as I did. Dark Skies also has a few spoilers for Dark Shores towards the end whereas I do not feel Dark Shores spoiled anything in this book.

I actually thought this story was going to be a trilogy since the remaining characters from both first two books are supposed to regroup in the third but it turns out there will be more!!! I seriously cannot wait to see what Jensen does next with all of these moving pieces.

Synopsis:

A RUNAWAY WITH A HIDDEN PAST
Lydia is a scholar, but books are her downfall when she meddles in the plots of the most powerful man in the Celendor Empire. Her life in danger, she flees west to the far side of the Endless Seas and finds herself entangled in a foreign war where her burgeoning powers are sought by both sides.

A COMMANDER IN DISGRACE
Killian is Marked by the God of War, but his gifts fail him when the realm under the dominion of the Corrupter invades Mudamora. Disgraced, he swears his sword to the kingdom’s only hope: the crown princess. But the choice sees him caught up in a web of political intrigue that will put his oath – and his heart – to the test.

A KINGDOM UNDER SIEGE
With Mudamora falling beneath the armies of the Corrupter, Lydia and Killian strike a bargain to save those they love most—but it is a bargain with unintended and disastrous consequences. Truths are revealed, birthrights claimed, and loyalties questioned—all while a menace deadlier and more far-reaching than they realize sweeps across the world.

Book Boxes, Bookish Merch, Products I love!!

Hagrid’s Trunk Dark Arts- Unboxing and Review

Megan Nicole
  • Theme: Dark Arts
  • Overall: ***
  • Cost: $37 USD including shipping
  • Quality of Items: **** All but one of the products were really high quality, it was just a high price to pay for a box with no book for me.
  • Value for the Money:***
  • Shipping: * Since they are based out of the UK they ship untracked and to get to the U.S. it takes about 3 weeks… so the next month is about to ship before you receive the one before.

This was my very first Hagrid’s Trunk. I watched an unboxing online and decided to give it a try. Admittedly if I knew about shipping prior to trying I probably would not have given them a shot at all (hopefully they can find a better option soon).

Their themes and months also run a little strange. The February theme was Dark Arts for example, but does not ship until early March, so for the US we get it about the first of April. I do have to say the items were extremely unique and high quality with the exception of the notebook. If I were in the UK I would 100% be getting this box every month as the in country price is fairly cheap compared to other sub boxes.

  • Because of this I was charged for a second box before I received the first one to decide how I felt. So I will be getting another box to give another chance.

Whats in the Box:

  1. Death Eater T Shirt- This shirt was great material and the art work is amazing! Personally wish it were black or green (not a purple fan) so will most likely rehome.
  2. Diary of Tom Riddle Notebook
  3. Draught ofLiving Death Candle- I love the container and the little wooden spoon!
  4. Drink of Despair “Potion”- This company seriously goes over the top on their small details!
  5. Death Eater Mask Wooden Pin

Hagrids Trunk Dark Arts Unboxing and Review