Waiting on Wednesday: Book of Night by Holly Black

 

Book of Night by Holly Black
Publisher: Tor Books
Publication Date:  May 3, 2022

Synopsis:  

#1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black makes her stunning adult debut with Book of Night, a modern dark fantasy of shadowy thieves and secret societies in the vein of Ninth House and The Night Circus

In Charlie Hall’s world, shadows can be altered, for entertainment and cosmetic preferences—but also to increase power and influence. You can alter someone’s feelings—and memories—but manipulating shadows has a cost, with the potential to take hours or days from your life. Your shadow holds all the parts of you that you want to keep hidden—a second self, standing just to your left, walking behind you into lit rooms. And sometimes, it has a life of its own.

Charlie is a low-level con artist, working as a bartender while trying to distance herself from the powerful and dangerous underground world of shadow trading. She gets by doing odd jobs for her patrons and the naive new money in her town at the edge of the Berkshires. But when a terrible figure from her past returns, Charlie’s present life is thrown into chaos, and her future seems at best, unclear—and at worst, non-existent. Determined to survive, Charlie throws herself into a maelstrom of secrets and murder, setting her against a cast of doppelgangers, mercurial billionaires, shadow thieves, and her own sister—all desperate to control the magic of the shadows.

With sharp angles and prose, and a sinister bent, Holly Black is a master of shadow and story stitching. Remember while you read, light isn’t playing tricks in Book of Night, the people are.

Why I Am Waiting:

I love Holly Black. When I was young I fell in love with her Modern Faerie Tales series and this one looks great. Black has a way with the dark and sinister that I really enjoy. 

Recent Reads: The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes  

Series: The Inheritance Games #2
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date:  September 7, 2021

 

Format: Audible Audiobook
Source: Bought/Own

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Intrigue, riches, and romance abound in this thrilling sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Inheritance Games perfect for fans of Karen McManus and Holly Jackson.

The Inheritance Games ended with a bombshell, and now heiress Avery Grambs has to pick up the pieces and find the man who might hold the answers to all of her questions - including why Tobias Hawthorne left his entire fortune to Avery, a virtual stranger, rather than to his own daughters or grandsons.

Thanks to a DNA test, Avery knows that she's not a Hawthorne by blood, but clues pile up hinting at a deeper connection to the family than she had ever imagined. As the mystery grows and the plot thickens, Grayson and Jameson, the enigmatic and magnetic Hawthorne grandsons, continue to pull Avery in different directions. And there are threats lurking around every corner, as adversaries emerge who will stop at nothing to see Avery out of the picture - by any means necessary.

With nonstop action, aspirational jet-setting, family intrigue, swoonworthy romance, and billions of dollars hanging in the balance, The Hawthorne Legacy will thrill Jennifer Lynn Barnes fans and new readers alike. 

Review: 

I am really enjoying this series. It is full of mystery, riddles, and a strange game the family plays. In this installment, we follow Avery as she learns more about her inheritance and her background. A lot of things start coming to light and many of her mothers secrets are revealed. 

After the first book, I had a lot of question about why Avery did certain things and about the decsriptions of people and places, again this book is light on the people/place descriptions but heavy on the clues, secrecy, and games aspects. Still curious if any of the physical copies have maps (since I was listening to the audiobooks). 

Overall, this book continued where the other left off, there were still a lot of questions that Avery has about the inheritance and Henry and her mom and the lost Hawthorne son. With the money and power come a lot of lies, deflection, and strangeness and she finds that out pretty quickly. Like the last book, this one also has an element of romance, although the story really centers on the plot which has the game to focus on. 

This book is a second book in all its glory, while there is a lot going on, it is pretty convoluted and the pace is a lot slower than book one. It is a filler book. I am hoping that all this information helps to drive the final installment

I was so convinced that the final installment for this series was already out and I am so sad that now I have to wait until August for it. I have pre-ordered the audiobook so I am all set, but wow that was a disappointing revelation. I can't wait to find out how it all ends and hopefully learn more about Avery's fortune. 

Waiting on Wednesday: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

 

Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date:  May 3, 2022

Synopsis:  

One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn’t see coming…

Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.

Why I Am Waiting:

A book about book lovers, rivals, with romance ... by Emily Henry. I'm in. I enjoyed People We Meet on Vacation and could always use a good cozy romance in the mix of all the dark, mysterious fantasies that I love.

Blog Tour: Excerpt - Recursion by David Harrison

Recursion by David Harrison 
Publisher: The Book Guild Ltd
Publication Date: October 28, 2021

 

About the Book 

Everything that is going to happen already has. 

During a disruption in the timeline of a sleepy Lake District village, the erratic and strung-out artist Haruki Kensagi cannot help but feel that he’s been here before, either in his past or in his future. 

Haruki, struggling with both his painting and his mental health, disappears. 

His long-suffering wife Jane Kensagi, herself a brilliant musician, interrupts her career to look for him unaware that a malignant and ageless entity awaits them both under the dark fells of the Lake District. 

The estranged couple becomes caught up in a dangerously recursive series of events surrounding a dormant cosmic force. 

They encounter a cabal of enigmatic characters who may hinder or help in equal measure. And over all this madness, the monstrous but charismatic Captain presides; part faith healer, part cult-leader, all saviour. 

Haruki and Jane are taken to the limits of sanity and beyond in their attempt to escape from the evil that has been unleashed.

As far as Haruki Kensagi was concerned, the Captain didn’t need to say anything twice. His words were precious, and the congregation cherished every one of them.

‘With my voice I am calling to you,’ the Captain’s words hung over the crowd, they drifted slowly along the hillside and ambled through the valley. The atmosphere was still and bated.

He’d been chosen for this. That’s how the Captain had put it, and that’s how the other villagers saw it too. They looked annoyed when Haruki took centre stage in his attentions. They were clearly jealous, and muttered darkly to each other, as he passed them.  

But to his face they were open and welcoming. Each of those he’d met so far had intimated that something momentous was going to happen tonight. Haruki didn’t see that he had any choice but to wait and see. Besides, there was no denying that the Captain had captured his attention. 

Behind him was the dramatic slope of the hill the locals knew as ‘Noonday Sun’. Haruki and the others were gathered on its sister, ‘Midnight Moon’. From the position and colour of the sun, Haruki guessed the time to be six in the evening. The grasses that furred the slopes shone bright amber as the light raged hard against the oncoming evening.  

The Captain’s golden hair was loosely tied at the back of his head into a bun with a bright blue ribbon. Haruki always paid attention to colour and he knew it to be the same blue as the tarpaulin he’d found at the bottom of his pit. 

And the Captain’s eyes were the colour of the pit itself, dark and deep. Looking more closely he saw they were ringed with silver. 

Haruki had eventually climbed out of the pit, but it seemed to him that it was harder to escape the Captain’s dark and bottomless stare. 

Wearing jeans that accentuated his slim frame, the Captain’s denim shirt was open almost to the naval. A rosary hung around his neck. Christ dangled between his pectorals.

‘I call each, and every one of you, but only one will answer.’

One did answer. A lovely young woman stepped forward. She had braided blonde hair and wore a white cotton dress. ‘I answer you with my voice,’ the girl said. It was Judy. Haruki recognised her from the day before.  

‘Why have you come?’ the Captain said.

‘I seek the truth, and to put an end to the lie.’ Judy said.

‘Which lie?’ 

‘The beautiful lie. The falsehood of living.’

 

About the Author

David J Harrison only realised that Lord of the Rings had been read out to him as a sleeping child when as a teenager he sought an explanation for its familiarity. On a more conscious level, he was brought up on a diet of classic science fiction and fantasy, most notably the stories of Robert E Howard, Lin Carter and L. Sprague de Camp. Little wonder that he chose psychology as his degree subject. He works in biotechnology, specialising in medical devices and is excited to have contributed towards several important new medicines. He lives in Cambridge with his wife and children who he stops reading to when they fall asleep.

Find the Author

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Website 

Early Reader Review: Tiny Fox and Great Boar: There by Berenika Kołomycka

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Tiny Fox and Great Boar: There by Berenika Kołomycka 
Series: Tiny Fox and Great Boar #1
Publisher: Oni Press
Publication Date:  April 13, 2022 (Today!)

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Tiny Fox lives alone beneath his apple tree in the distant hills. He is a happy little animal, busy looking after himself and his foxy things. Then one day, a Great Boar appears and moves in under the apple tree, bringing with him a time of change and adventure. Is Tiny Fox ready?

Review: 

Tiny Fox and Great Boar is about two animal friends. The story is about a delightful friendship, learning to share, compromise, and live together. The overall moral being that with a friend you can accomplish just about anything. 

Tiny Fox lives along under the apple tree, but soon Boar comes along and Fox has to learn how to share and adapt to this new presense. He realizes that he is lonely without Boar and they become friends. Through the seasons they help each other and go on an adventure to find warmth and food... from here to There. 

This book had charming illustrations and the story was very cute. It was a pretty normal theme for a kids book but I liked the strange friendship pairing and think that young readers will enjoy the animals and their adventure together.

Blog Blast w/ Giveaway!: The Sisters of Luna Island by Stacy Hackney

The Sisters of Luna Island by Stacy Hackney

ASIN: ‎B09841SCGN
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 
Publication date: ‎April 12, 2022
Language: ‎English

  

Praise for THE SISTERS OF LUNA ISLAND

“This is a captivating fantasy with a touch of mystery centered around family. Readers will connect with Marigold’s thoughts and emotions as she deals with her parents’ separation, sibling conflicts, and middle school drama…A charming story of magic and sisterhood.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Blooms with heart—steeped in splendiferous scents and in the poignant complexities of magic and family.” —Ingrid Law, Newbery Honoree and New York Times Bestselling Author

About the Book

Little Women gets a Nevermoor twist in this bewitching novel about a young girl tasked to break a centuries-old curse or risk losing her beloved sisters.

Twelve-year-old Marigold Lafleur is the last of a long line of aromages: witches who blend scents into practical charms using aromagic. But ever since a terrible accident injured her father and damaged Luna Island, Marigold and her sisters, Birdie and Lou, have vowed to abandon their family legacy and mama’s way of life. Shunned by their neighbors and overlooked by their parents, Marigold relies on her big sisters above all else.

But when Marigold discovers a secret curse that threatens her family, her sisters can't stop the impending danger. It’s up to Marigold and her best friend, Sam, to uncover the origins of the curse and break the spell. To do so, she must learn to trust her instincts and believe in her own unique magic or risk losing her beloved sisters forever.

You can purchase The Sisters of Luna Island at the following Retailers:

 

About the Author

Stacy Hackney grew up in Virginia where she spent her early years forcing the neighborhood kids into performing plays she wrote, reading everything she could get her hands on, and singing in the school choir. She graduated from Wake Forest University with a BA in English literature and received a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law. She currently lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband, four sons, and their rescue dog named Albert. Stacy is the author of Forever Glimmer Creek and Sisters of Luna Island.

Find the Author

        

Giveaway is open to International. 

Must be 13+ to Enter

- 5 Winners will receive a Copy of THE SISTERS OF LUNA ISLAND by Stacy Hackney.

- 1 Winner will receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card.

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Building the Book Pile #394

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Happy Sunday evening all! A week of work and now another week off to use up some of my vacation time since we are slower right now. I am very excited to have more time off now that I am not sick anymore... I hope to do some work building my gardens and in my greenhouse and get some reading/audiobook listening done too!

I am YouTubing my garden/greenhouse time if you wanna hang out

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKzlFBDzGy_jUhRPiLh_uog

I hope you are all well!

If you are interested in supporting my ability to stay awake and read please consider dontating - Coffee  is appreciated ... Ko-fi

 

Coming up on the Blog

Blog Blast: The Sisters of Luna Island by Stacy Hackney (MG) 

Early Reader Review: Tiny Fox and Great Boar: There by Berenika Kołomycka (Youth)

Blog Tour: Excerpt - Recursion by David J Harrison (Adult)

Recent Reads: The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Game #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (YA) - I keep meaning to finish this audiobook but I am getting distracted. I promise to try to have my review up this week though!

Books Received Recently...

N/A

Have you missed anything lately?

Recent Reads: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab (Adult) - 5 stars

Comment or leave me a link and I will see you online again soon.

Happy Reading!

Recent Reads: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab 
Publisher: Tor Books 
Publication Date:  October 6, 2020

 

Format: Hardback, Physical Copy
Source: Bought as an Add-On from Book of the Month

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

A Life No One Will Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget.

France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.

Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.

Review: 

This book has been on my to read pile for far too long. I have heard all the love for it and I enjoy Schwab's writing so I finally picked it up. I took my time reading it over the course of about a month and I adored this book.

Addie LaRue is about a woman that makes a deal with the dark and is cursed to live forever but no one will remember her, until one day there is someone that does. The story is told not only from different point of view but also merges the past and present, retelling Addie's life through the centuries building up to the present. 

I found this book to be poignant, lingering, and in a way ...wispy. It was beautufully composed and morally grey at times and it was wonderful. Schwab created a book without a big climax/ conflict instead focusing on passing relationships and falashbacks, all Addie' encounters and snippets of her time here on earth. The love/relationships/ regret/ saddness of this story is overwhelming and I think that will sit with me for years to come and not many books can say that. 

While reading this book, it felt just like Addie, like a fog through your fingertips, wispy and flighty but with purpose. 

Building the Book Pile #393

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

The last two week have been meh. I caught the plague and Charlie was neutered and essentially had a nose job (common procedure for Frenchies to help them breathe). So we were both laid up fo a while feeling icky. I was so tired that I really didn't get much reading or reviewing done. I watched a lot of YouTube and TikTok instead and slept as much as I could.

I am feeling more myself again and I was able to finish Addie LaRue and am working on another book that I started too.

If you are interested in supporting my ability to stay awake and read please consider dontating - Coffee  is appreciated ... Ko-fi

 

Coming up on the Blog

Recent Reads: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab (Adult) 

Recent Reads: The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Game #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (YA)

Books Received Recently...

  

Unicorn Selfies by Dana Simpson - from Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for review

The Beautiful Ones by Julia Sutton - for review for Blog Tour.

Have you missed anything lately?

Recent Reads/ DNF Review: We Used To Be Friends by Amy Spalding (YA) - 0 star/DNF

Early Reader Review: Season of the Bruja by Aaron Duran (YA,Comic) - 4 stars

Monthly Re-Cap (March 22) and TBR Pile (April 22)

Comment or leave me a link and I will see you online again soon.

Happy Reading!

Monthly Re-Cap (March 22) and TBR Pile (April 22)

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Here is the progress from March

Still reading Addie - I am really enjoying it but taking my time with it.

~~Books I Read in March 2022~~

             

       

~~Links to Some Reviews~~

1.  Season of the Bruja by Aaron Duran (YA, Comic)
2. We Used to be Friends by Amy Spalding (YA)- DNF review
3. Gallant by V.E. Schwab (MG) 
4. Listen to the Language of the Trees: A Story of How Forests Communicate Underground by Tera Kelley (Youth)
5. Spectacle Volume 1  by Megan Rose Gedris (YA, GN)
6. Spectacle Volume 2  by Megan Rose Gedris (YA, GN) 
7. Spectacle Volume 3  by Megan Rose Gedris (YA, GN) 
8. Spectacle Volume 4  by Megan Rose Gedris (YA, GN) 
9. Chef's Kiss by Jarrett Melendez, Danica Brine (Illustrations), Hank Jones, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (Adult, GN)

Thanks so much for reading!
Support late night reading by sending caffeine 😴

 TBR for March

1. Unicorn Selfies by Dana Simpson
2. The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
3. The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by VE Schwab
4. The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
5. Paybacks a Witch by Lana Harper
6. The Book of Secrets by A. L. Tait

How was your March reading? Anything I should add to my TBR?

Feel free to share it in the comments below! I would love to know what you are reading!