Sunday, April 12, 2015

Stacking the Shelves (50)


Welcome to this week's Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga`s Reviews. It features books I bought or received for review each week. It is about adding books to my book shelf whether it by physical or virtual. Thanks for stopping by!

Bought from Chapters/Indigo:

Confess by Colleen Hoover
Wait For You by J. Lynn
Effortless by S.C. Stephens
The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

Raquel
xoxo

Friday, April 10, 2015

Review: Endless Knight by Kresley Cole

Title: Endless Knight (The Arcana Chronicles #2)
Author: Kresley Cole
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 320
Source: Bought from Chapters Indigo


Synopsis: 
In this seductive follow-up to Poison Princess, #1 New York Timesbestselling author Kresley Cole takes us deeper into the dark world of the Arcana Chronicles.

Shocking secrets 
Evie has fully come into her powers as the Tarot Empress, and Jack was there to see it all. She now knows that the teens who've been reincarnated as the Tarot are in the throes of an epic battle. It's kill or be killed, and the future of mankind hangs in the balance.

Unexpected allies 
With threats lurking around every corner, Evie is forced to trust her newfound alliance. Together they must fight not only other Arcana, but also Bagmen zombies, post-apocalyptic storms, and cannibals.

Gut-wrenching treachery 
When Evie meets Death, things get even more complicated. Though falling for Jack, she's drawn to the dangerous Endless Knight as well. Somehow the Empress and Death share a history, one that Evie can't remember--but Death can't forget...

My Thoughts:
I loved, loved, LOVED this book. It was an electrifying read. Endless Knight picks up where Poison Princess leaves off; Evie has made her first kill by turning into the Red Witch. Evie and her friends are continuously on the run from bagmen, militia and cannibals. It is very interesting how the flash changed the world and fascinating why there aren’t many women left. I definitely liked this installment better that I did Poison Princess.

In Poison Princess, we see flashes of Death and how evil he was from what Evie can remember or told by Matthew. But in Endless Knight we learn a lot more about Death and his hardships (and of course his first name) and I must say I fell head over heels for him.  I am officially on Team Death! Don’t get me wrong, I still like the Cajun but there is something about Death that made me fall for him; he is complicated and misunderstood among many things. I loved the chemistry between Death and Evie. It is heart pounding and electric, like you never know what is going to happen next in their relationship. One thing I must say is that both Death and Jack are 100% devoted to Evie so it will interesting to see what happens in the love triangle.

We also learn more about the Arcana and the Tarot Cards in Endless Knight. To me, this aspect of story makes the book so unique. This installment was fast paced, and consuming and I just wanted more. I was so impatient sometimes with the pace of my reading that I would peak and try to see what would happen next (I know very bad of me). But I just needed to know what was going to happen. As time passes, we see Evie slowly getting stronger and it shocks me still the things she can do with her powers. If I were one of the Tarot Cards, I definitely would want her to be one of my allies.

The third book, Dead Winter, is already out and I am afraid to read it because I know there will be a cliffhanger at the end of it. I’m not sure I can wait another year to read the fourth book. Kresley Cole (please if possible) write faster. This is such an awesome series!

My Rating:
5 out of 5 stars

Raquel 
xoxo

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday (57)

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Expected Publication Date: September 29, 2015

Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads)
Game of Thrones meets Ocean's Eleven in this brand-book in the world of the Grisha by New York Times-bestselling author Leigh Bardugo.

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.
 


Raquel
xoxo

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Review: Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

Title: Poison Princess 
Author: Kresley Cole
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 369
Source: Bought from Chapters Indigo


Synopsis:
She could save the world—or destroy it.

Sixteen-year-old Evangeline "Evie" Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they're still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can't do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can't totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it's not always clear who is on which side.

My Thoughts:
I started reading this book in audiobook version since August 2012 (at least this is what Goodreads told me, lol). I originally starting listening to this book and I found the first part, the part with Arthur, so unbelievably creepy I could not continue with the story so I stopped. It wasn’t until the 3rd book was being released that I decided to buy the hard copy of the book and realized that I should have continued reading it. I don’t even know how to begin this review other than it is so unbelievably good. I honestly could not wait for the times I was able read. This book was addictive, haunting, adventurous and utterly unique.

 In Poison Princess, we see zombies, militia and the apocalypse. It is like a fight to the death where the strongest and smartest will prevail. It kind of reminded me of The Hunger Games where 24 teens had to battle to the death and let me tell you, Poison Princess was utterly captivating. I have to say my favourite thing about this book is Jackson Devereax. That Cajun is one HOT boy. I love the interactions and the intense chemistry between him and Evie. It was electric and sizzling off the pages.

I loved the concept of the novel and the world the author, Kresley Cole, created. This is my first book by the author and it was spectacular. The novel was easy to read and descriptive. I found I always had a clear image of where the characters were and the surrounding area. Most importantly, I believed in the world building the author created. When I opened Poison Princess I truly believed I was in a world where there were hardly any women, bagmen and no food.

 I really enjoyed Evie’s progression in this story. In the beginning, she was very weak but by the end she grew into her own and continued to grow in strength. I think it was necessary for Evie to become stronger with how the world changed and for her to come into her powers.. There are so many lines I loved in this book; I swear half the book has a book tag on it. 

Some of my favourite lines are:
“W-we both know your life would be so much simpler without me! I am just a thorn in your paw."
He nodded easily. "And it reminds me of you - every move I make, I think of you."
My lips parted. Again I realized that he was the only thing in my life that made me feel sane, made me want to fight for a future.
"Evangeline, I've got to feel you with my every step." His shaking hand closed over my nape, squeezing. "Or I go a little crazy, me.” 

“If you touch me like that again, Evangeline,” he began in a husky tone, dropping to his seat once more, “in the space of a heartbeat, I will have you off this bike and onto the closest horizontal surface. And I woan be picky, no.” 

“Damn, cher, you still smell like a blossom. Been so long since I've seen a flower that I'd nearly forgotten what they smelled like." He took a lock of my hair, rubbing it between his thumb and forefinger. "You're dressing up and using expensive perfume? Ole Jack senses a trap. Consider me snared.” 

With lines like these, I know this series is only going to get better and better and I must say I really can’t wait to read the rest.

My Rating: 
4 out of 5 stars

Raquel 
xoxo

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday (56)

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This books sounds so intriguing and I love the cover. I am so excited for this book to be released. 

Expected Publication Date: May 12, 2015

Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads)

A sumptuous and epically told love story inspired by A Thousand and One Nights

Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi's wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.

She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all.

Raquel
xoxo