ALL My Favorite Books of 2017!

Prepare for a long post guys because there’s quite a few books I loved reading this past year! I will also be doing posts for all of my “meh or liked but not loved” books as well as all of my least favorite books of 2017, so keep an eye out!

These are in no specific order and I will link reviews if I have them!

Night Film by Marisha Pessl

This book was AMAZING! It was the perfect blend of horror, suspense, and mystery and for being such a long book I absolutely flew right through it. I really loved how dark it became and the mystery was very unpredictable as well, it was interesting learning more and more about the cult horror director that went off the grid and whose daughter committed suicide….or something worse happened to her. This is the perfect book for a rainy day, you won’t be bored!

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The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

I loved Chupeco’s other book “The Girl From the Well” and was super excited to read her new dark fantasy book, which didn’t disappoint. The world building was insanely creative with the different magics, Tea’s necromancy, and of course the dangerous monsters! It could get slow in some parts but I thought the world was just so interesting I had to keep reading.

You can read my full review here. 

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The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

One of the most popular books ever and one that everyone has been telling me to read forever too! This was such a magical and atmospheric books I have ever read, it was simply beautiful. I loved all of the acts of magic displayed in the story and usually I don’t enjoy more romance driven books but this was just amazing.

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The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes

I have a sort of morbid curiosity about cults which is what this book is more or so about. I thought Minnow was a great, strong character and the bits of flashbacks she had back to her time with the cult were interesting as well.

You can read my full review here. 

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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

I don’t think I need to really hype this book up any more than it already is but trust me when I say it’s powerful and 100% worth ALL of the hype.

You can read my full review here. 

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Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

I’m always up for “Peter Pan” retellings and this one is excellent. It’s about the romance between Tiger Lily and Peter before Wendy shows up and it’s told from the perspective of Tinker Bell. It’s a very dark, grim, and sad version of Neverland but incredibly well done.

You can read my full review here. 

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Red Rising by Pierce Brown

I finally read this! It was perfection! It’s got both fantasy and sci-fi elements and the action, twists, and characters are all amazing! I seriously have nothing bad to say about this book.

You can read my full review here. 

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An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

This is actually really comparable to “Red Rising” it’s set in a very brutal and Roman inspired world that’s also filled with bits of magic. The twists are crazy in this story and I absolutely loved Elias and Laia.

You can read my full review here. 

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Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire

This is probably one of the most diverse and relatable books I’ve ever read. It’s about children that come back from magical worlds and go to a home to cope with being back in reality. It’s a quick read as well.

You can read my full review here. 

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Alice: The Wanderland Chronicles by J.M. Sullivan

A very Resident Evil style Alice in Wonderland retelling that’s fast paced and creative. It’s also pretty underrated I recommend checking it out!

You can read my full review here. 

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You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott

While not something I would normally read it’s a great fast paced mystery/thriller about a family entangled within the web of gymnastics politics.

You can read my full review here. 

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Paper Girls Volumes 1 & 2 by Brian K. Vaughan

An interesting graphic novel series about a bunch of paper girls who end up facing some alien type creatures as well as time travel. It’s kind of reminiscent of Stranger Things.

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The Hundredth Queen by Emily R. King

This was actually surprisingly good, it’s full of magic, badass women, and it’s very fast paced.

You can read my full review here.

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Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook by Christina Henry

I am a HUGE fan of Henry’s horror retellings and this one was no exception. It’s a Peter Pan retelling from James Hook’s POV and it gets very dark but it’s also incredibly creative.

You can read my full review here.

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The Wicked + The Divine Volumes 1-4 by Kieron Gillen

Gods reincarnated every 90 years in the forms of pop stars, how can this go wrong? These graphic novels are amazing and the art is absolutely gorgeous.

You can read my series review here.

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Dreamfall by Amy Plum

Another surprise for me this year! This was a horror/sci-fi book about a group of teens with sleeping disorders becoming trapped inside their nightmares.

You can read my full review here. 

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Alex + Ada Volumes 1-3 by Jonathan Luna

A short little series of graphic novels about a man and an android and a forbidden romance.

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Pretty Deadly Vol. 1 by Kelly Sue DeConnick

A western graphic novel about the daughter of Death himself. The art was pretty and the plot, while confusing at times, was very interesting and fast paced.

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Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde

A very diverse book about romances and friendships at SupaCon. I loved the anxiety rep and the characters were amazing.

You can read my full review here. 

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Monstress Volumes 1 & 2 by Marjorie Liu

AMAZING art and plot, these graphic novels are seriously perfection. I loved the world building the most I think, there’s so much going on and it’s all interesting.

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The Gentleman’s Guide To Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

This story is fast paced, well written, and hilarious. I also loved Percy and Monty’s relationship plus the multiple European settings didn’t hurt either!

You can read my full review here. 

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Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller

A fast paced fantasy story featuring a genderfluid thief who enters a competition to become one of the queen’s assassins. It’s so freaking good too!

You can read my full review here. 

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The Hollow Girl by Hillary Monahan

A revenge tale about a Romani girl who was brutally assaulted and must collect the body parts of her assailants through witchcraft in order to save her friend’s life.

You can read my full review here.

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The Hanging Girl by Eileen Cook

This is a pretty fast paced mystery thriller full of twists about a girl who fakes being psychic and ends up helping the police try to find the town’s missing golden girl.

You can read my full review here. 

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The Tiger’s Daughter by K. Arsenault Rivera

This is a slower book that concentrates more on the characters but there’s a F/F romance and the world building was very interesting.

You can read my full review here. 

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Mary: The Summoning by Hillary Monahan

A surprisingly scary story about some girls facing off against Bloody Mary! It’s a quick read and actually very entertaining.

You can read my full review here. 

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Gray Wolf Island by Tracey Neithercott

This is sort of magical realism and while I felt a few things weren’t explained it was a great coming of age adventure with some great characters and a great mystery.

You can read my full review here. 

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The Empress by S.J. Kincaid

An amazing sequel that was just as fast paced and twisted as the first! I was not fully prepared for all of the plot twists!

You can read my full review here. 

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Down Among The Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire

I loved learning more about Jack and Jill and their world, the Moors. I’m excited to read more of these short novels as the world building and characters never seem to disappoint!

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An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

The writing in this story was just gorgeous as was the world building and romance, it’s such a fun book! Also if you love the Fae you’ll probably love this one as well!

You can read my full review here. 

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Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Just as amazing as “The Hate U Give” about a boy who writes letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in order to deal with the issues and difficulties he faces every day as a young African American man. Very powerful and very important.

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Between the Blade and the Heart by Amanda Hocking

This was actually a lot of fun! There are lots of different mythologies included in the world building along with the main mythology of the Valkyries, it’s also very fast paced.

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A Conspiracy of Stars by Olivia A. Cole 

While this book was a tish bit on the slower side I thought it was still so, so good. It’s very much like Avatar (the movie not the show) and the planet of Failov is full of amazing creatures and peoples. It’s so freaking interesting!

Have you read any of these books as well? What did you think?

What were some of your favorite reads of 2017?

Let me know in the comments! 

Favorite Book Covers of 2017

Everyone sit back because this is going to be a pretty long post! I’ll try not to spend too much time on each book individually because then it’ll be even longer but I’ll do my best. I will be linking reviews to the books I have read but there are a lot more on my TBR for sure.

And of course there a LOADS of other gorgeous covers that were released this year but these are my favorites!

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

A book cover that is as gorgeous as it’s story, I’ll have a review up soon for this one!

Black Bird of the Gallows by Meg Kassel

I just love the crow on the cover, it’s also a pretty decent book as well! (You can read my full review here)

The Gentleman’s Guide To Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

I just love the font and little doodles over the picture! (You can read my full review here)

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde

I love, love, love the pink hair of this cover. (You can read my full review here)

The Hundredth Queen by Emily R. King

The colors and little glittery/sparkly/magic bits just make this cover so neat. (You can read my full review here)

One of Us is Lying Karen M. Mcmanus

While I didn’t enjoy this book I do think the cover is really cool. (You can read my full review here)

The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

Such pretty purple and gold designs….(You can read my full review here)

The Beast is an Animal by Peternelle van Arsdale

The colors on this cover are seriously gorgeous I love that blue and red combo! Although the book didn’t end up as pretty on the inside for me. (You can read my full review here)

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones

The flower and the snow globe is just so beautiful as for the rest of the book it was kind of “meh”. (You can read my full review here)

Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh

I think it’s a Phoenix. It’s a Phoenix, right? Either way it’s gorgeous and the little throwing stars that change from purple flowers are great too.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

I love the dark blue and the font is gorgeous.

Warcross by Marie Lui

I like the rainbow of colors and the video game style font.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

This might be cheating since it’s the UK cover but I love the blue and gold plus there’s a little design on the back that’s like a galaxy.

Roseblood by A.G. Howard

Normally I’m not a fan of faces on my covers but I like that it’s based off of The Phantom of the Opera and the thorns add a lot as well.

The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo

This one is simple: I like the intricate designs all over this cover.

Because You Love to Hate Me by Various Authors

The different shades of purple are great as well as the metal rose!

The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell

It’s like a really neat skeletal ouroboros. Plus the font is great too.

Retribution Rails by Erin Bowman

Normally I’d say there’s too much going on with this cover but I like how busy it is and the old fashioned western look is fantastic.

Bad Romance by Heather Demetrios

Is it weird to say that the dead flowers coming out of the picture frame is actually really pretty?

Wild Beauty by Anne Marie McLemore

Love all of the beautiful flowers.

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao

I actually really like the bright green background and the black snake wrapped around the flower is just very appealing to my eyes, haha.

The Library of Fates by Aditi Khorana

I love the sunset shaded colors and the girl sitting on the throne is beautiful.

Violet Grenade by Victoria Scott

The cover actually matches the title perfectly and I love the violets inside the grenade and the black background really makes it pop.

Defy The Stars by Claudia Gray

Gorgeous colors and I like that it looks like it’s all shattering.

Song of the Current by Sarah Tolcser

Okay the cover is just straight up gorgeous BUT on the hard covers the title is actually glitter. Straight up glitter. I love glitter.

The Arsonist by Stephanie Oakes

It’s a very unique cover and I like the colors with the white background, the “flames” consuming the house inside the picture of the woman is all really interesting too.

The Wood by Chelsea Bobulski

Creepy and beautiful with the leaf dripping blood.

The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed

Love the bright yellow against the black background with the flowers in there as well.

Little Monsters by Kara Thomas

I like the pops of color against the black background

This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada

The red bursting cloud is just really cool and I like that it’s the focus of the cover. (You can read my full review here)

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

I like that her hands are all paint covered and she’s holding her art/characters in her hands.

Gray Wolf Island by Tracey Neithercott

I love that in the title font the A in island looks like a compass arrow and i like all of the fog covering the characters and island. (You can read my full review here)

Do you like any of these covers as well? 

What are some of your favorite book covers of 2017?

Have any least favorite covers?

Let me know in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Books of 2017!

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

This week’s theme is your favorite books of 2017 and you can put any kind of spin on it that you want but since I have similar posts planned already I’m just going to do some of my favorites I’ve read this year! There will be another post with the rest of the books I enjoyed since it wasn’t ONLY ten so be on the look out for it!

These aren’t in any particular order and I will be linking my reviews if they are available.

Night Film by Marisha Pessl

There are only two books on this list that were just so amazing I couldn’t even put together a review to describe how awesome they were, this is one of them.

It’s a very fast paced, suspenseful and thrilling. I was addicted to this story while reading! It combines a sort of classic mystery but also combines it with horror and supernatural elements as well which was fun for me especially since you don’t know what to believe or not. One of the best books I’ve ever read and very unique, I highly recommend checking out too by the way.

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The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

And this is the other book that was just so good and so amazing that I couldn’t form a coherent review for it! Lots of people rant and rave about “The Night Circus” and for good reason too it’s simply a magical wonderful book full of great characters and a great romance. Plus the circus setting was one of the best and most interesting settings I’ve ever had the pleasure of being transported away to via reading.

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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

I’m not usually a big contemporary reader but this book is perfection, seriously. Not only is it incredibly powerful but it’s also extremely well written and full of the most endearing characters. If I was rich enough to buy everyone in the world a copy to read, I would.

You can read my full review for “The Hate U Give” here.

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Red Rising by Pierce Brown

THIS BOOK! Why did it take me this long to finally read this treasure? It’s everything I wanted in a book and didn’t even know! There’s fantasy and sci-fi elements both present along with the BEST characters ever, revenge, betrayals, plot twists, and some pretty brutal violence. It’s been a long time since a book has made me feel so many different emotions from sadness to pretty much screaming in outrage. And yet it was great.

You can read my full review for “Red Rising” here.

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An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

This one actually reminded me a lot of “Red Rising” except set in a fantasy world that’s very Roman inspired. There’s fantastic characters, magic, and the world itself is actually very dark and brutal. So many plot twists though I couldn’t stop reading!

You can read my full review of “An Ember in the Ashes” here.

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Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire

While this happens to be a pretty short book it still managed to pack a lot of punch. It’s about a home for children/teens who have returned from other fantastical worlds (very much like Alice in Wonderland or Narnia) and learn to cope with being back in reality. The characters were extremely diverse and learning about all the different worlds they have visited was the most interesting part, I’m really hoping Seanan McGuire writes like fifty of these books.

You can read my full review for “Every Heart A Doorway” here.

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Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook by Christina Henry

It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of Christina Henry’s horror retellings and that’s because they never fail to amaze me. The creativity she puts into them is just awe-inducing. This one happens to be about my favorite fairy tale “Peter Pan” and is told from James Hook’s perspective, it’s definitely not the Neverland we all know and love. It’s a very vicious island full of deadly creatures and beings. If you’re a fan of horror and “Peter Pan” I highly recommend checking it out.

You can read my full review of “Lost Boy” here.

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Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde

This book is just amazing, full of diversity, and FUN. I loved the Comic Con-esque setting and the characters were amazing, I especially related to Taylor who suffers from anxiety I thought the anxiety rep was pretty spot on.

You can read my full review “Queens of Geek” here.

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A Gentleman’s Guide To Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Another genre I don’t read to often, historical fiction, but man was this a treat! It was very fast paced, the writing was fantastic, and the characters were great. If I was going to pick just one word to describe how I feel about this book it’d be: fun!

You can read my full review of “A Gentleman’s Guide To Vice and Virtue” here.

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 The Hollow Girl by Hillary Monahan

Probably one of the best YA horror books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading! It’s about a Romani girl who is brutally assaulted and her friend is left at the edge of death, in order to save him she must collect “ingredients” and take revenge on the boys who are responsible. It’s brutal, violent, gory, and full of witchcraft. It’s truly a fantastic book but definitely not for the faint of heart.

You can read my full review of “The Hollow Girl” here.

Have you read any of these books as well? What did you think?

What were some of your favorite reads of 2017?

Let me know in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of 2017!

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

This week’s theme is pretty self-explanatory: our most anticipated releases for the second half of the year! There are so, so many wonderful ones that are coming up but these are a few of the ones I’m the MOST excited for!

10.) The Hanging Girl by Eileen Cook

Skye Thorn has given tarot card readings for years, and now her psychic visions are helping the police find the town’s missing golden girl. It’s no challenge—her readings have always been faked, but this time she has some insider knowledge. The kidnapping was supposed to be easy—no one would get hurt and she’d get the money she needs to start a new life. But a seemingly harmless prank has turned dark, and Skye realizes the people she’s involved with are willing to kill to get what they want and she must discover their true identity before it’s too late.

I really enjoyed Eileen Cook’s “With Malice” and so of course I’d like to check out her newest book especially since it sounds just as thrilling and maybe even a little spooky.

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9.) The Tiger’s Daughter by K. Arsenault Rivera

Even gods can be slain….

The Hokkaran empire has conquered every land within their bold reach―but failed to notice a lurking darkness festering within the people. Now, their border walls begin to crumble, and villages fall to demons swarming out of the forests.

Away on the silver steppes, the remaining tribes of nomadic Qorin retreat and protect their own, having bartered a treaty with the empire, exchanging inheritance through the dynasties. It is up to two young warriors, raised together across borders since their prophesied birth, to save the world from the encroaching demons.

This is the story of an infamous Qorin warrior, Barsalayaa Shefali, a spoiled divine warrior empress, O-Shizuka, and a power that can reach through time and space to save a land from a truly insidious evil.

First of all the tag line just grabs my attention immediately! I also really love the unique and Asian-esque fantasy theme, there’s demons, and sounds like the female characters are going to be BADASS!

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8.) There’s Someone In Your House by Stephanie Perkins

One-by-one, the students of Osborne High are dying in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasing and grotesque flair. As the terror grows closer and the hunt intensifies for the killer, the dark secrets among them must finally be confronted.

International bestselling author Stephanie Perkins returns with a fresh take on the classic teen slasher story that’s fun, quick-witted, and completely impossible to put down.

It is being marketed as a sort of YA version of the Scream movie franchise which has me 100% sold right there because I love those movies…. plus there really aren’t enough YA horror books out there and especially not that many slasher stories!

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7.) The Arsonist by Stephanie Oakes

Molly Mavity is not a normal teenage girl. For one thing, her father is a convicted murderer, and his execution date is fast approaching. For another, Molly refuses to believe that her mother is dead, and she waits for the day when they’ll be reunited . . . despite all evidence that this will never happen.

Pepper Yusef is not your average teenage boy. A Kuwaiti immigrant with epilepsy, serious girl problems, and the most useless seizure dog in existence, he has to write a series of essays over the summer . . . or fail out of school.

And Ava Dreyman—the brave and beautiful East German resistance fighter whose murder at seventeen led to the destruction of the Berlin Wall—is unlike anyone you’ve met before.

When Molly gets a package leading her to Pepper, they’re tasked with solving a decades-old mystery: find out who killed Ava, back in 1989. Using Ava’s diary for clues, Molly and Pepper realize there’s more to her life—and death—than meets the eye. Someone is lying to them. And someone out there is guiding them along, desperate for answers.

I read and loved Stephanie Oakes’ novel “The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly” and so I’d really love to read her new books just because it’s her. I’m very curious to see how all of these different timelines and characters will interconnect though, sounds very intriguing. Plus look at how gorgeous this cover is!

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6.) Final Girls by Riley Sager

Ten years ago, college student Quincy Carpenter went on vacation with five friends and came back alone, the only survivor of a horror movie–scale massacre. In an instant, she became a member of a club no one wants to belong to—a group of similar survivors known in the press as the Final Girls. Lisa, who lost nine sorority sisters to a college dropout’s knife; Sam, who went up against the Sack Man during her shift at the Nightlight Inn; and now Quincy, who ran bleeding through the woods to escape Pine Cottage and the man she refers to only as Him. The three girls are all attempting to put their nightmares behind them, and, with that, one another. Despite the media’s attempts, they never meet.

Now, Quincy is doing well—maybe even great, thanks to her Xanax prescription. She has a caring almost-fiancé, Jeff; a popular baking blog; a beautiful apartment; and a therapeutic presence in Coop, the police officer who saved her life all those years ago. Her memory won’t even allow her to recall the events of that night; the past is in the past.

That is, until Lisa, the first Final Girl, is found dead in her bathtub, wrists slit, and Sam, the second, appears on Quincy’s doorstep. Blowing through Quincy’s life like a whirlwind, Sam seems intent on making Quincy relive the past, with increasingly dire consequences, all of which makes Quincy question why Sam is really seeking her out. And when new details about Lisa’s death come to light, Quincy’s life becomes a race against time as she tries to unravel Sam’s truths from her lies, evade the police and hungry reporters, and, most crucially, remember what really happened at Pine Cottage, before what was started ten years ago is finished.

I know I JUST said I don’t think there are enough YA (this may be considered more new adult or adult though….) horror stories including slasher stories? Yeah, definitely excited there’s another one coming up! This one sounds very suspenseful as well as terrifying and I’ve always found the “Final Girl” concept really interesting!

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5.) Retribution Rails by Erin Bowman

REDEMPTION IS NEVER FREE
When Reece Murphy is forcibly dragged into the Rose Riders gang because of a mysterious gold coin in his possession, he vows to find the man who gave him the piece and turn him over to the gang in exchange for freedom. Never does he expect a lead to come from an aspiring female journalist. But when Reece’s path crosses with Charlotte Vaughn after a botched train robbery and she mentions a promising rumor about a gunslinger from Prescott, it becomes apparent that she will be his ticket to freedom—or a noose. As the two manipulate each other for their own ends, past secrets are unearthed, reviving a decade-old quest for revenge that may be impossible to settle.

In this thrilling companion to Vengeance Road, dangerous alliances are formed, old friends meet new enemies, and the West is wilder than ever.

I did enjoy “Vengeance Road” although I did still have some issues with it, the romance in particular but I’m definitely not going to deny I’m still excited for a companion novel! YA westerns are another genre that isn’t very common so I’ll take what I can get and especially with a cover that dang pretty!

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4.) The Ravenous by Amy Lukavics

From the outside, the Cane family looks like they have it all. A successful military father, a loving mother and five beautiful teenage daughters. But on the inside, life isn’t quite so idyllic: the Cane sisters can barely stand each other, their father is always away, and their neglectful mother struggles with addiction and depression.

When their youngest and most beloved sister, Rose, dies in a tragic accident, Mona Cane and her sisters are devastated. And when she is brought back from the dead, they are relieved. But soon they discover that Rose must eat human flesh to survive, and when their mother abandons them, the sisters will find out just how far they’ll go to keep their family together.

It’s no surpsie that I’m excited for Amy Lukavics’ newest novel since I really enjoyed both of her previous ones. These are usually very short, terrifying YA horror novels that are also always very unique in one way or another and a new one with …..zombie sister sounds amazing!

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3.) Godsgrave (The Nevernight Chronicle #2) by Jay Kristoff

Assassin Mia Corvere has found her place among the Blades of Our Lady of Blessed Murder, but many in the Red Church ministry think she’s far from earned it. Plying her bloody trade in a backwater of the Republic, she’s no closer to ending Consul Scaeva and Cardinal Duomo, or avenging her familia. And after a deadly confrontation with an old enemy, Mia begins to suspect the motives of the Red Church itself.

When it’s announced that Scaeva and Duomo will be making a rare public appearance at the conclusion of the grand games in Godsgrave, Mia defies the Church and sells herself to a gladiatorial collegium for a chance to finally end them. Upon the sands of the arena, Mia finds new allies, bitter rivals, and more questions about her strange affinity for the shadows. But as conspiracies unfold within the collegium walls, and the body count rises, Mia will be forced to choose between loyalty and revenge, and uncover a secret that could change the very face of her world.

I NEED this sequel like I need oxygen! It’s no secret I practically worship the ground Jay Kristoff walks on when it comes to amazing storytelling so I’m super pumped to see where this series is going to go next, especially after all the hell that went down in the last book!

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2.) Little Monsters by Kara Thomas

Kacey is the new girl in Broken Falls. When she moved in with her father, she stepped into a brand-new life. A life with a stepbrother, a stepmother, and strangest of all, an adoring younger half sister.

Kacey’s new life is eerily charming compared with the wild highs and lows of the old one she lived with her volatile mother. And everyone is so nice in Broken Falls—she’s even been welcomed into a tight new circle of friends. Bailey and Jade invite her to do everything with them.

Which is why it’s so odd when they start acting distant. And when they don’t invite her to the biggest party of the year, it doesn’t exactly feel like an accident.

But Kacey will never be able to ask, because Bailey never makes it home from that party. Suddenly, Broken Falls doesn’t seem so welcoming after all—especially once everyone starts looking to the new girl for answers.

Kacey is about to learn some very important lessons: Sometimes appearances can be deceiving. Sometimes when you’re the new girl, you shouldn’t trust anyone.

Kara Thomas’s debut novel “The Darkest Corners” was one of the best psychological thrillers I have ever read, it was dark, gritty, and very twisted! I could not see any of the twists coming at all and it was very suspenseful, I’m expecting her newest book to be exactly that too!

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1.) Now I Rise (The Conqueror’s Saga #2) by Kiersten White

Lada Dracul has no allies. No throne. All she has is what she’s always had: herself. After failing to secure the Wallachian throne, Lada is out to punish anyone who dares to cross her blood-strewn path. Filled with a white-hot rage, she storms the countryside with her men, accompanied by her childhood friend Bogdan, terrorizing the land. But brute force isn’t getting Lada what she wants. And thinking of Mehmed brings little comfort to her thorny heart. There’s no time to wonder whether he still thinks about her, even loves her. She left him before he could leave her.

What Lada needs is her younger brother Radu’s subtlety and skill. But Mehmed has sent him to Constantinople—and it’s no diplomatic mission. Mehmed wants control of the city, and Radu has earned an unwanted place as a double-crossing spy behind enemy lines. Radu longs for his sister’s fierce confidence—but for the first time in his life, he rejects her unexpected plea for help. Torn between loyalties to faith, to the Ottomans, and to Mehmed, he knows he owes Lada nothing. If she dies, he could never forgive himself—but if he fails in Constantinople, will Mehmed ever forgive him?

As nations fall around them, the Dracul siblings must decide: what will they sacrifice to fulfill their destinies? Empires will topple, thrones will be won . . . and souls will be lost.

I didn’t think I could wait a year for this sequel! This is a series that is a very dark, dramatic retelling of the history around Vlad the Impaler except in this he a female known as Lada who is just as vicious and fierce. I am practically screeching in excitement for the next book because it’s sure to be just as entertaining as the first!

Are you excited for any of these releases as well?

Have you read any of them yet/ did you receive an ARC?

What are some of YOUR most anticipated releases for the second half of the year?

Let me know in the comments!

Most Anticipated Releases: First Half of 2017 (Part 2)

Part 2 is finally here! I honestly forgot that I broke these posts up in half in order to fit all of the books I’m anticipating for the first half of the year but it’s done now! So this part is going to be releases for April – June.

I’m going to be summing up all of these books shortly and to the best of my ability (so please excuse the crappy summaries) as I did in the other post. So I’m sorry but there are a lot of books and some of their real summaries are SUPER LONG I will also link up each book’s Goodreads page so you can read the full descriptions!

Defy The Stars by Claudia Gray (April 4th, 2017): People from the planet Genesis fight robotic armies from Earth for their independence, then the main character finds herself stranded on an abandoned ship with one of the robots.

The Freemason’s Daughter by Shelley Sackier (April 11th, 2017): This is being marketed as “Outlander” for Young Adult so, there’s that.

Given to the Sea by Mindy McGinnis (April 11th, 2017): This has many different POVs and the main theme is about a girl that’s born to be “given to the sea” in order to prevent a wave that will destroy their city, there’s also royal schemes etc.

Spindle Fire by Lexa Hillyer (April 11th, 2017): This one is a Sleeping Beauty retelling.

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Dreamfall by Amy Plum (May 2nd, 2017): A girl suffers from insomnia and decides to take part in an experimental procedure to fix it. However, something goes wrong and she finds herself and six other patients trapped in a dreamworld along with their worst nightmares.

The Black Witch by Laurie Forest (May 2nd, 2017): A fantasy world where the main character attends a university for witches and others with magical abilities.

The Seafarer’s Kiss by Julia Ember (May 4th, 2017): A lesbian retelling of The Little Mermaid.

A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge (May 9th, 2017): In a fantasy city where people’s faces show no expressions they must learn to show them from Facesmiths for a price. The main character must wear a mask because hers is a face most terrifying…..one that shows emotion even better than the Facesmiths.

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The Traitor’s Kiss by Erin Beaty (May 9th, 2017): A girl that is deemed unfit for marriage is an apprentice matchmaker that must spy on the girls and marry them off for political alliances. She is then tasked to infiltrate the enemy ranks and spy, but then she calls into question who she can really trust.

Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh (May 16th, 2017): The daughter of a samurai is arranged to marry the son of the Emperor’s favorite consort but is ambushed by the Black Clan on her way to the city. She then sets out to infiltrate the Black Clan and is captured but they warm up to her and she learns information that changes everything.

Also it’s Renee Ahdieh so of course I want it…..

The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich (May 16th, 2017): A secret organization of teenage spies are trained as Love Interests to get close to people in power and learn secrets. Caden and Dylan play good and bad and are competing for the same girl but what they didn’t expect was to fall for each other instead.

Dark Breaks The Dawn by Sara B. Larson (May 30th, 2017): On her 18th birthday Princess Evelayn will finally come into her magical powers but with her mother the queen on the war front and the Dark Kingdom plotting against her she will be put onto the throne before she is ready. In order to defeat them she must master her ability to shapeshift.

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House of Furies by Madeleine Roux (May 30th, 2017): A girl works at a boarding house that deals in more than just lodging, they deal in judgement for those who are past saving.

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus (May 30th, 2017): Five students go into detention and only four come out. The Breakfast Club with a criminal twist!

Dividing Eden by Joelle Charbonneau (June 6th, 2017): After the king and crown prince are both assassinated, twin heirs to the throne of Eden must compete with each other in order to see who will rule.

Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts (June 6th, 2017): Bastards of the king try and protect their half sibling Princess from an assassination attempt.

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Midnight at the Electric by Jodi Lynn Anderson (June 13th, 2017): Three different POVs from 2065 with a girl going to live on Mars, 1934 as the Dust Bowl goes on a girl seeks immortality from a professor at the traveling show the Electric, and 1919 Post WWI England where a girl grieves her dead brother and plans to sail to America in search of a friend.

Now I Rise by Kiersten White (June 27th, 2017): The sequel to “And I Darken” which is AMAZING!

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee (June 27th, 2017): This one is part of the Goodreads description since I had no idea how to describe it quickly on my own!

An unforgettable tale of two friends on their Grand Tour of 18th-century Europe who stumble upon a magical artifact that leads them from Paris to Venice in a dangerous manhunt, fighting pirates, highwaymen, and their feelings for each other along the way.

So what books are on your radar for 2017?

Are you excited for any of these books as well?

Which ones do you think sound the best or have the most gorgeous covers?

Let me know in the comments!

Most Anticipated Releases: First Half of 2017 (Part 1)

I was surprised that I hadn’t actually done one of these posts yet! Of course I’m trying to keep my mind off of new releases because I’m currently putting myself on a book buying ban, after my last book haul I have far too many books that already need to be read.

There are so many wonderful books being released in 2017 so this is my list of anticipated releases for the first half of the year meaning from January through June ( I just cut it right in half)! There are way more books on this list than anticipated so I’ll be breaking this down into 2 parts so for this post it will be releases for January through March and the next part will be April through June!

I’m going to be summing up all of these books shortly and to the best of my ability (so please excuse the crappy summaries). So I’m sorry but there are a lot of books and some of their real summaries are SUPER LONG I will also link up each book’s Goodreads page so you can read the full descriptions!

The Book Jumper by Mechthild Glaser ( Jan. 3rd) – A girl named Amy finds out she is a Book Jumper who can enter the stories she reads and interact with the characters and worlds. She finds out someone has been stealing from one of the books and is determined to find out who.

Who doesn’t love books about books? I loved the “Inkheart” trilogy and this sounds reminiscent of that.

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The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherin Areden ( Jan. 10th) – A Russian fairy tale type of book about a girl who must save her family from the negative effects of not performing rituals for the spirits.

Russian fairy tale/fantasy book? Sold.

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Frostblood by Elly Blake ( Jan. 10th ) – A girl with fire magic (fireblood) tries to avenge the death of her mother by joining rebels with frost magic (frostbloods) to try and overthrow their king. She is then captured and forced to compete in a tournament against the frostbloods.

Not only do I love fantasy books with magic systems but also good old fashioned revenge stories.

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Roseblood by A.G. Howard ( Jan. 10th ) – A Phantom of the Opera retelling, need I say more?

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Caraval by Stephanie Garber ( Jan. 31st ) – Two sisters dream of seeing Caraval the once a year performance where the audience participates but when they get there one of them is kidnapped as a part of the game.

This is a super hyped book and it sounds awesome so hopefully it lives up to everyone’s expectations.

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Carve The Mark ( Jan. 17th ) – Okay honestly I’m not even sure what this is supposed to be about other than it’s science fiction, they have some powers, and two groups of people feud with each other. That’s about all I got out of it, sorry! It sounds badass though and the cover is to die for .

*Quick, Last Minute Update* I’m actually not 100% sure about this book at all anymore, if I’m excited or even wanting to read it. There have been TONS of issues brought to light with it and I’m just not confident I want any part of it.

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Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza (Feb. 7th) – Rhee, heir to a dynasty, and Aly, a TV star accused of killing Rhee, are thrown together to face a nameless evil that threatens their galaxy.

I’m seriously just loving all of the new YA science fiction books and this one sounds awesome, I’m also curious about what/who the antagonist really is.

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To Catch A Killer by Sheryl Scarborough (Feb. 7th) – Erin Blake survived for 3 days as a toddler alongside her murdered mother. 14 years later her biology teacher is murdered similarily and Erin decides to put her forensics hobby to good use and try and catch her mother’s killer.

I don’t know what it is about gruesome murder stories that always catch my attention but I swear I’m not a serial killer, I’m just kind of weird!

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The Valiant by Lesley Livingston (Feb. 14th) – Fallon is the daughter of a Celtic king and when her sister is killed in battle by the invading armies of Julius Caesar she finally gets the chance to join the war band. However, she is captured and sold to a training school for female gladiators.

Okay first of all who doesn’t think this era is interesting? Also FEMALE GLADIATORS!

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Beautiful Broken Girls by Kim Savage (Feb. 21st) – Two sisters commit suicide together and the lover of one sister gets a note from her that sends him on a quest to collect all of the notes she left behind for him.

Sounds interesting enough and I also have Kim Savage’s debut book as well….which I still haven’t finished…..

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Long May She Reign by Rhiannon Thomas (Feb. 21st) – Freya, twenty third in line for the throne, suddenly finds herself the queen after the king and everyone close to him are poisoned. She must survive and find the murderers before she’s next.

I absolutely love YA fantasy especially when there’s a lot of political intrigue which this book sounds like it will have since Freya can trust no one and they all have their own agendas!

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Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller (Feb. 28th) – A 17 year old pirate captain searching for a treasure map allows herself to be captured by enemy pirates in order to search their ship.

YA PIRATE BOOK!!!!!!!!!!! Pirates definitely need to be done more in literature especially YA literature so I’m 100% in for this book.

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The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel (Mar. 7th) – After her mother commits suicide, Lane, goes to live with her grandparents and cousin, Allegra. Eleven years later her grandfather calls to tell her Allegra has gone missing and Lane must return home to help them search for her.

I like mystery/thrillers especially when there’s family drama and secrets involved!

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The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco (Mar. 7th) – After Tea resurrects her brother she discovers she has the powers of necromancy making her a bone witch and is outcast from her community. An older bone witch then takes her and her brother in for training in an other land.

I have an ARC of this and I’m super excited to read it since it sounds amazing! I also really loved Chupeco’s other book “The Girl From The Well”.

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The Beast Is An Animal by Peternelle van Arsdale (Mar. 7th) – A girl with a secret ability must save her village from the darkness that lurks in the forest.

There’s evil, darkness, soul eaters, a beast, and magic! It sounds dark and fantastical and the cover is so gorgeous.

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Bad Blood by Demitria Lunetta (Mar. 14th) – Heather is sent to spend the summer with an aunt in Scotland to help her mental state. However, instead of having loads of fun she can’t stop dreaming about two girls who lived centuries ago….

First of all I like that the protagonist is named Heather (*cough* totally not full of myself *cough*) and I loved books set in Scotland, I’m interested to see what the plot is kind of all about if it’s paranormal or what!

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Hunted by Meagan Spooner (Mar. 14th) – Yeva’s father goes missing in the forest and she sets out to find him by tracking the creature he was seeking. She follows the Beast back into his own cursed valley full of fairy tale creatures.

Of course this is a Beauty and the Beast retelling and it actually sounds like it may have a few really good, unique twists to it!

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Shadow Run by Adrianne Strickland & Michael Miller (Mar. 21st) – Nev, a prince, joins a starship crew in order to get to it’s captain, Qole, who he believes holds the key to changing galactic civilization. She is then kidnapped by a rival royal family who is interested in her abilities and Nev finds himself trying to save her instead of use her himself.

Okay I’m a sucker for YA sci-fi especially with all of the great ones recently! Also it’s marketed as Firefly meets Dune and anything compared to Firefly, I must read.

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Overturned by Lamar Giles (Mar.28th) – Nikki’s dad has been in prison on death row in Las Vegas for a crime he says he’s innocent of but all she cares about his raising enough money gambling to get out of town. Then her dad’s case is overturned and he’s determined to find out who framed him.

I really like Vegas themed stories, I have no idea why really I just do. I like the politics of the gangs/mafias that are usually involved and of course any heists (Ocean’s Eleven anyone?).

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Nemesis by Brendan Reichs (Mar. 21st) – I’ll just have you read the actual description because this one is way too hard to sum up, there’s murders and an asteroid threatening Earth basically.

Sounds like a lot of weird stuff crammed together and I love weird.

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Strange The Dreamer by Laini Taylor (Mar. 28th) – Dreams, dreamers, a hero called the Godslayer, legendary warriors, a city cut off from the rest of the world (Weep), and a mysterious blue-skinned goddess.

How does this not sound fantastical and amazing? Plus it’s Laini Taylor so…come on.

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Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves (Mar. 28th) – Anna lives in high society where everyone has a magical ability except her, one day she breaks a spell cast by her sister and is sent (in exile) to Hungary. Rebellion breaks out and suddenly everyone is seeking her unique ability of spell breaking.

1850’s Hungary and a magic system? I’m in, although I’m not expecting anything game-changing since this sounds like a lot of other YA fantasy books.

So what books are on your radar for 2017?

Are you excited for any of these books as well?

Which ones do you think sound the best or have the most gorgeous covers?

Let me know in the comments!