New, Intriguing Young Adult Books (March 2015)

I absolutely cannot wait for the books in this list to release. My favorite out of these? THE ORPHAN QUEEN. Who doesn't like a good story about a princess fighting back for her throne? 

Comment below on which books releasing in March you're looking forward to! 

Title: Confess

Author: Colleen Hoover

Publisher: Atria Books

Date: March 10^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb: 

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.
The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…

Title: The Orphan Queen (The Orphan Queen #1)

Author: Jodi Meadows

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Date: March 10^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

Wilhelmina has a hundred identities.

She is a princess. When the Indigo Kingdom conquered her homeland, Wilhelmina and other orphaned children of nobility were taken to Skyvale, the Indigo Kingdom’s capital. Ten years later, they are the Ospreys, experts at stealth and theft. With them, Wilhelmina means to take back her throne.

She is a spy. Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate Skyvale Palace to study their foes. They assume the identities of nobles from a wraith-fallen kingdom, but enemies fill the palace, and Melanie’s behavior grows suspicious. With Osprey missions becoming increasingly dangerous and their leader more unstable, Wil can’t trust anyone.

She is a threat. Wraith is the toxic by-product of magic, and for a century using magic has been forbidden. Still the wraith pours across the continent, reshaping the land and animals into fresh horrors. Soon it will reach the Indigo Kingdom. Wilhelmina’s magic might be the key to stopping the wraith, but if the vigilante Black Knife discovers Wil’s magic, she will vanish like all the others

Jodi Meadows introduces a vivid new fantasy full of intrigue, romance, dangerous magic, and one girl’s battle to reclaim her place in the world.

Title: Shadow Scale (Seraphina #2)

Author: Rachel Hartman
Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Date: March 10^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

The kingdom of Goredd: a world where humans and dragons share life with an uneasy balance, and those few who are both human and dragon must hide the truth. Seraphina is one of these, part girl, part dragon, who is reluctantly drawn into the politics of her world. When war breaks out between the dragons and humans, she must travel the lands to find those like herself—for she has an inexplicable connection to all of them, and together they will be able to fight the dragons in powerful, magical ways. 

As Seraphina gathers this motley crew, she is pursued by humans who want to stop her. But the most terrifying is another half dragon, who can creep into people’s minds and take them over. Until now, Seraphina has kept her mind safe from intruders, but that also means she’s held back her own gift. It is time to make a choice: Cling to the safety of her old life, or embrace a powerful new destiny?

Title: Tether (Many-Worlds Trilogy #2)

Author: Anna Jarzab
Publisher: Delacorte Press

Date: March 10^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

Tether, the sequel to Tandem, continues the captivating tale of rebellion and romance that spans parallel worlds.

Everything repeats.

Sasha expected things to go back to normal once she got back on Earth. But now that she knows parallel worlds are real, and that an alternate version of herself exists in a world called Aurora, her old life no longer seems to make sense . . . and her heart breaks daily for Thomas, the boy she left behind. Troubled by mysterious, often terrifying visions and the echoes of a self she was just beginning to discover, Sasha makes the difficult decision to journey once more through the tandem.

Thomas is waiting for her on the other side, and so is strange, otherworldly Selene, Sasha’s analog from a third universe. Sasha, Selene, and their other analog, Juliana, have a joint destiny, and a new remarkable power, one that could mean salvation for Selene’s dying planet. With Thomas’s help, Sasha and Selene search for the missing Juliana. But even if they can locate her, is Sasha willing to turn her back on love to pursue a fate she’s not sure she believes in?

Book Review: Save Me by Jenny Elliott

Title: Save Me

Author: Jenny Elliott

Publisher: Swoon Reads - Macmillan

Pages: 309

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Rating: 3/5

Source: Review Copy from Publishers

Goodreads Blurb:

Debut-novelist Jenny Elliott’s thrilling romance, chosen by readers, writers, and publishers for the first list in the new Swoon Reads imprint, pours on the tension and danger in an addictive combination that will keep you turning pages!

Something strange is going on in the tiny coastal town of Liberty, Oregon. Cara has never seen a whale swim close enough for her to touch it—let alone knock her into the freezing water. Fortunately, cute newcomer David is there to save her, and the rescue leads to a bond deeper than Cara ever imagined.

But then she learns something about David that changes everything, and Cara is devastated. She turns to her best friend for support, but Rachel has changed. She’s suddenly into witchcraft, and is becoming dangerously obsessed with her new boyfriend….

Cara has lost her best friend, discovered that her soul mate is off limits, and has attracted the attention of a stalker. But she’s not completely alone. Her mysterious, gorgeous new friend Garren is there to support her. But is Garren possibly too perfect?

Hmmm. This book. To start off with, this book is a book for middle school student getting into young adult novels. And, don’t get me wrong, as a high school student I still liked this book and I could definitely see myself reading it in the future. But I’d have to say that I would have liked it more if I had read it a few years ago.

So, now onto the actual review.

‘Save Me’ is a light, interesting contemporary romance that takes place in the small town of Liberty, Oregon. This book isn’t so deep and intense that I had to actually focus, but it wasn’t light either, so I wasn’t instantly bored. It was more of a beach read - a book you would read if you were looking to fill your time pleasantly.  

This was, overall, an average book. There were good characters and a good plot, but there were quite a few things I didn’t like about this book. Let’s start off with the good things, such as the characters.  I’d have to say that these characters were incredibly cute. Cara was just another ordinary girl, definitely not looking for the love of her life. She was smart, nice, one of those girls who would make a good friend. And David was absolutely handsome. He was like a knight in shining armor, even after his true identity was discovered. But while the characters were adorable and all, I still had a few problems with Cara. For one, while she was book smart, she definitely didn’t seem all that street smart. The way she approached the problems she faced seemed a bit senseless, as if she hadn’t given it a single thought. On the other hand, there was David who was the epitome of rationality and thoughtfulness. The stark difference between the two of them made it extremely easy to see the areas where Cara was lacking that David excelled in.

Then there was the romance plot. There were a few good parts and a few bad parts about this section of the book. One good thing about this book would be how cute it was. The devotion that Cara and David had for each other was adorable to read about. Not only that, but reading about the struggles the two faced to deal with their feelings was incredibly sweet. It was one of those books where you have a good idea of how the book is going to end up but any expected change makes you gasp in shock. Basically, I was hooked. But then, I really didn’t like the fact that the obstacles in the way of Cara and David’s love were very ordinary. There was nothing extremely different about these challenges, which was most definitely a letdown.

I could say the same for the whole “witch” idea. Because there are so many of them, books that have witches have to meet a certain standard. A standard that if they fail to meet, aren’t a good book. And while this book had interesting paranormal creatures, that was the main focus. There wasn’t anything else besides them. And while the paranormal creatures were intriguing, they weren’t good enough to be truly riveting. Quite often I felt that the events occurring were was too popular. There were moments when I couldn’t help but think the events incredibly clichéd.

But, the book began to pick up again in the conclusion. It was towards this part of the book that, even with the over-the-top witch idea, the book began to get more interesting. Cara, Garren and David were finally taking a stand to protect each other and rid the evil spirits that were plaguing them. I’m happy that the book was able to conclude with a fast pace and good ending. And though it was a bit cheesy, it was still a sweet ending that I liked.

‘Save Me’ by Jenny Elliott was an average book that is a decent time-passer. It’s a book that I would reread if I was looking for a quick read. If you’re interested in books that include fantasy creatures this is the book for you.

Looking for other books to check out releasing in January 2015? Click here to check it out!

What You Need to Read Next! (March 2015)

Ooh more books are releasing soon! It's hard to say which book I'm looking forward to the most. They all seem really good! If I had to choose I would most likely have to say is MY BEST EVERYTHING. 

Comment below on which books from this list you're looking forward to! 

Title: My Best Everything

Author: Sarah Tomp
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Date: March 3^rd, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

Luisa “Lulu” Mendez has just finished her final year of high school in a small Virginia town, determined to move on and leave her job at the local junkyard behind. So when her father loses her college tuition money, Lulu needs a new ticket out.

Desperate for funds, she cooks up the (definitely illegal) plan to make and sell moonshine with her friends, Roni and Bucky. Quickly realizing they’re out of their depth, Lulu turns to Mason: a local boy who’s always seemed like a dead end. As Mason guides Lulu through the secret world of moonshine, it looks like her plan might actually work. But can she leave town before she loses everything – including her heart?

The summer walks the line between toxic and intoxicating. My Best Everything is Lulu’s letter to Mason – though is it an apology, a good-bye, or a love letter?

Title: Sorceress (Spellcaster #3)

Author: Claudia Gray
Publisher: HarperTeen

Date: March 3^rd, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

To save the lives of countless people in Captive’s Sound, Nadia has sworn herself to the One Beneath, to black magic. Her plan, and the town’s only hope, is for Nadia to learn enough sorcery to strike back against the forces of darkness. But now that she’s separated from her friends, her family, and her Steadfast, Mateo, Nadia is more vulnerable than ever to darkness. And as the sorceress Elizabeth summons torrential rains and brings the One Beneath closer to the mortal world, Nadia is running out of time to stop her. The final battle lines are drawn, surprising alliances are made, and true love is tested in the action-packed conclusion to the breathtaking Spellcaster series. 

Sorceress is richly woven with New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s signature dark magic, captivating mystery, and star-crossed romance.

Title: Vision in Silver (The Others #3)

Author: Anne Bishop
Publisher: Roc

Date: March 3^rd, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

The Others freed the  cassandra sangue  to protect the blood prophets from exploitation, not realizing their actions would have dire consequences. Now the fragile seers are in greater danger than ever before—both from their own weaknesses and from those who seek to control their divinations for wicked purposes. In desperate need of answers, Simon Wolfgard, a shape-shifter leader among the Others, has no choice but to enlist blood prophet Meg Corbyn’s help, regardless of the risks she faces by aiding him.

Meg is still deep in the throes of her addiction to the euphoria she feels when she cuts and speaks prophecy. She knows each slice of her blade tempts death. But Others and humans alike need answers, and her visions may be Simon’s only hope of ending the conflict.

For the shadows of war are deepening across the Atlantik, and the prejudice of a fanatic faction is threatening to bring the battle right to Meg and Simon’s doorstep…

Title: The Winner’s Crime (The Winner’s Trilogy #2)

Author: Marie Rutkoski
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux

Date: March 3^rd, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement…if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

Have You Read These Books? (March 2015)

Have you read these books? Of course you haven't! Here's a few books that are releasing soon! Out of all these books I'm most drawn to CHARISMA - the Goodreads Blurb is just incredibly intriguing. And the cover is gorgeous as well. 

Comment below about which book from this list you're excited for!


Title: Bone Gap

Author: Laura Ruby
Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Date: March 3^rd, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

Everyone knows Bone Gap is full of sgaps—gaps to trip you up, gaps to slide through so you can disappear forever. So when young, beautiful Roza went missing, the people of Bone Gap weren’t surprised. After all, it wasn’t the first time that someone had slipped away and left Finn and Sean O’Sullivan on their own. Just a few years before, their mother had high-tailed it to Oregon for a brand new guy, a brand new life. That’s just how things go, the people said. Who are you going to blame?

Finn knows that’s not what happened with Roza. He knows she was kidnapped, ripped from the cornfields by a dangerous man whose face he cannot remember. But the searches turned up nothing, and no one believes him anymore. Not even Sean, who has more reason to find Roza than anyone, and every reason to blame Finn for letting her go.

As we follow the stories of Finn, Roza, and the people of Bone Gap—their melancholy pasts, their terrifying presents, their uncertain futures—acclaimed author Laura Ruby weaves a heartbreaking tale of love and loss, magic and mystery, regret and forgiveness—a story about how the face the world sees is never the sum of who we are.

Title: Charisma

Author: Jeanne Ryan
Publisher: Dial

Date: March 3^rd, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

Aislyn suffers from crippling shyness—that is, until she’s offered a dose of Charisma, an underground gene therapy drug guaranteed to make her shine. The effects are instant. She’s charming, vivacious, and popular. But strangely, so are some other kids she knows. The media goes into a frenzy when the disease turns contagious, and then deadly, and the doctor who gave it to them disappears. Aislyn must find a way to stop it, before it's too late.

Part medical thriller, part social justice commentary, Charisma will have readers on the edge of their seats.

Title: Dead to Me

Author: Mary McCoy
Publisher: Disney Book Group

Date: March 3^rd, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

"Don't believe anything they say."

Those were the last words that Annie spoke to Alice before turning her back on their family and vanishing without a trace. Alice spent four years waiting and wondering when the impossibly glamorous sister she idolized would return to her--and what their Hollywood-insider parents had done to drive her away.

When Annie does turn up, the blond, broken stranger lying in a coma has no answers for her. But Alice isn't a kid anymore, and this time she won't let anything stand between her and the truth, no matter how ugly. The search for those who beat Annie and left her for dead leads Alice into a treacherous world of tough-talking private eyes, psychopathic movie stars, and troubled starlets--and onto the trail of a young runaway who is the sole witness to an unspeakable crime. What this girl knows could shut down a criminal syndicate and put Annie's attacker behind bars--if Alice can find her first. And she isn't the only one looking

Evoking classic film noir, debut novelist Mary McCoy brings the dangerous glamour of Hollywood's Golden Age to life, where the most decadent parties can be the deadliest, and no drive into the sunset can erase the crimes of past.

Title: Death Marked (Death Sworn #2)

Author: Leah Cypess
Publisher: Greenwillow

Date: March 3^rd, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

A young sorceress’s entire life has been shaped to destroy the empire controlling her world. But if everything she knows is a lie, will she even want to fulfill her destiny? The sequel to Death Sworn is just as full of magic and surprising revelations, and will thrill fans of Leigh Bardugo and Robin LaFevers.

At seventeen, Ileni lost her magical power and was exiled to the hidden caves of the assassins. She never thought she would survive long. But she discovered she was always meant to end up, powerless, in the caves as part of an elder sorcerer’s plan to destroy the evil Empire they'd battled so long. Except that Ileni is not an assassin, and she doesn't want to be a weapon. And, after everything, she’s not even sure she knows the truth. Now, at the very heart of the Empire—its academy for sorcerers—the truth is what she seeks. What she finds challenges every belief she holds dear—and it threatens her fledgling romance with the young master of assassins.

Leah Cypess spins an intricate and beautiful conclusion to Ileni's story. In the end, it may not be the epic decisions that bring down an empire, but the small ones that pierce the heart.

Book Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee (3.5/5)

Title: Angelfall

Author: Susan Ee

Publisher: Feral Dream

Pages: 283

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Dystopian, Romance, Fantasy

Rating: 3.5/5

It has been 6 weeks since the angels have taken over. 6 weeks of living in constant danger.

Penryn Young’s whole life has changed. Instead of planning for college years, she’s desperately protecting her family from the dark creatures that have taken over her world. But things haven’t stabilized yet: her life is tossed once again into confusion when she witnesses a fight between angels which results in an injured angel left behind and her sister, Paige, kidnapped. Now the only thing Penryn can do is help the wingless angel in hopes that he’ll be able to help rescue Paige.

Raffe was always the strongest of the angels. But when he finds himself on the verge of death, he can do nothing but accept a strange girl’s help. Now Penryn and Raffe have one thing in mind – attack the angel headquarters. But even though they share the same goal, they both have different motives. With Penryn aching for her sister and Raffe yearning for his wings, the two must fight together if they have any chance of succeeding – or even surviving. 

Even though the whole story was centered on Penryn’s travels, Raffe was my favorite character. For one, he was kind and caring. In the beginning it seemed as if he had a hard outer shell but as the book progressed, I was able to learn more about Raffe. Another thing is, though this might sound cheesy,  Raffe is a hero. Plain and simple. Rescuing Paige and saving her from harm really helped build up his character. I’m all for a girl fighting for herself, but good ol’ fashioned gallantry never gets old and is quite charming. And to top it off, it doesn’t really hurt that Raffe’s gorgeous. He’s tall, handsome and has wings – or is trying to get them back anyways. With all these characteristics and more, Raffe was definitely a character I had fun reading about.  

Then there was Penryn. She did have her moments, but most of the time I was annoyed with her. Some of the decisions she made just seemed so infuriatingly stupid. As in, nobody in their right mind would actually make those decisions. And it isn’t as if it’s only this heroine who makes these stupid mistakes. No, Penryn is just one of those ditzy girls who makes stupid choices. But despite this flaw, she was a well-built character: she had a great backstory, had a (somewhat working) ability to differentiate between the right and wrong thing to do, and her cunning wit, or lack of, was absolutely hilarious to read. But, in the end, Susan Ee could have definitely made Penryn’s character pop a bit more.

Now on to the actual book. So, when I first read the summary I wasn’t that excited. Sure, a bit of me was intrigued, but there was an overwhelming groan of disappointment: there didn’t seem to be anything special about this book!! Yet, as I continued to read, I was continuously surprised by how exceptional the plot and writing was. There was a captivating adventure, romance, and (as described above) interesting characters.

Reading about Raffe and Penryn’s ventures was quite interesting. The 283 pages in this book were chock filled with different activities the two did. Seeing how the two travelled to their final destination and how much they had changed in the short amount of time was astounding. But there was more than one lull in the book where I had to skip a few pages because I was completely and utterly bored. The problem was that the author kept going on and on about the most pointless of details. There was a lot of futile information, which could have been replaced with more relevant details.

But on the other hand, I loved the romance plot. Sure it was more than a bit clichéd, but I thought it worked pretty well that Raffe was unable to get involved with Penryn because she was a “Daughter of Man”. Besides that, the two of them had a great chemistry. One part of the romance plot that I greatly enjoyed was that it never stopped building. In fact the climax of the love story was at the end, which created an amazing cliffhanger for what was to happen in the next book.

All in all, ‘Angelfall’ was a read I won’t regret. Filled with adventure, romance and wings, this book is definitely one of the more interesting ones I’ve read in a while. I recommend this book for teenagers 14+ mainly because of the gore and romance in this book. If you like young adult, romance or any dystopian novels, this is one you will want to try out. Don’t miss the second book ‘World After’ and the third book in this series which is expected to be released in 2015. 

You Must Read These 5 Books! (February 2015)

The last week of February is upon us, and with that come the last books releasing in Feb 2015. The book that I'm most looking forward to from this list is SHADOW STUDY because Yelena and Valek are back! I can barely contain my excitement. 


  
Comment below about which book from this list you're most looking forward to! 


Title: Shadow Study (Soulfinders #1)

Author: Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: Mira

Date: February 24^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

Once, only her own life hung in the balance.

Oddly enough, when Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. But she'd survived to become a vital part of the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia. Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands and protect her relationship with Valek.

Suddenly, though, they are beset on all sides by those vying for power through politics and intrigue. Valek's job - and his life - are in danger. As Yelena tries to uncover the scope of these plots, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked. She must keep that a secret - or her enemies will discover just how vulnerable she really is - while searching for who or what is responsible for neutralizing her powers.

Yes, the days of tasting poisons were much simpler. And certainly not as dangerous,

Title: The Third Twin

Author: C.J. Omololu
Publisher: Delacorte

Date: February 24^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

Identical twins. Identical DNA. Identical suspects. It's Pretty Little Liarsmeets Revenge in this edge-of-your-seat thriller with a shocking twist.

When they were little, Lexi and her identical twin, Ava, made up a third sister, Alicia. If something broke? Alicia did it. Cookies got eaten? Alicia's guilty. Alicia was always to blame for everything. The game is all grown up now that the girls are seniors. They use Alicia as their cover to go out with boys who are hot but not exactly dating material. Boys they'd never, ever be with in real life.

Now one of the guys Alicia went out with has turned up dead, and Lexi wants to stop the game for good. As coincidences start piling up, Ava insists that if they follow the rules for being Alicia, everything will be fine. But when another boy is killed, the DNA evidence and surveillance photos point to only one suspect: Alicia. The girl who doesn't exist. As she runs from the cops, Lexi has to find the truth before another boy is murdered. Because either Ava is a killer…or Alicia is real.

Title: Unchanged (Unremembered #3)

Author: Jessica Brody
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux Books for Young Readers 

Date: February 24^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

So many secrets are buried within these compound walls. 
I used to be one of those secrets. 

After returning to the Diotech compound and undergoing an experimental new memory alteration, Seraphina is now a loyal, obedient servant to Dr. Alixter and the powerful company that created her. Happy and in love with Kaelen, another scientifically-enhanced human designed to be her perfect match, Sera’s history with a boy named Zen is just a distant memory from a rebellious past she longs to forget.

But as Sera and Kaelen embark on a nationwide tour to promote Diotech’s new product line—a collection of controversial genetic modifications available to the public—Sera’s mind starts to rebel. She can’t stop the memories of Zen from creeping back in.

As more secrets are revealed, more enemies are uncovered, and the reality of a Diotech-controlled world grows closer every day, Sera will have to choose where her true loyalties lie, but it’s a choice that may cost her everything she’s ever loved.

Title: Vendetta (Vendetta #1)

Author: Catherine Doyle
Publisher: Chicken House LTD

Date: February 24^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

For Sophie, it feels like another slow, hot summer in Cedar Hill, waitressing at her family’s diner and hanging out with her best friend Millie. But then someone moves into the long-abandoned mansion up the block--a family of five Italian brothers, each one hotter than the last. Unable to resist caramel-eyed Nicoli, Sophie finds herself falling for him -- and willfully ignoring the warning signs. Why are Nic's knuckles cut and bruised? Why does he carry an engraved switchblade? And why does his arrogant and infuriating older brother, Luca, refuse to let her see him? As the boys' dark secrets begin to come to light, Sophie is confronted with stinging truths about her own family, too. Suddenly, she's torn between two warring dynasties: the one she’s related to and the one she's now in love with. She'll have to choose between loyalty and passione. When she does, blood will spill, hearts will break. Because in this twisted underworld, dishonor can be the difference between life and death.

Title: A Wicked Thing

Author: Rhiannon Thomas
Publisher: HarperTeen

Date: February 24^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

One hundred years after falling asleep, Princess Aurora wakes up to the kiss of a handsome prince and a broken kingdom that has been dreaming of her return. All the books say that she should be living happily ever after. But as Aurora understands all too well, the truth is nothing like the fairy tale.

Her family is long dead. Her "true love" is a kind stranger. And her whole life has been planned out by political foes while she slept. 

As Aurora struggles to make sense of her new world, she begins to fear that the curse has left its mark on her, a fiery and dangerous thing that might be as wicked as the witch who once ensnared her. With her wedding day drawing near, Aurora must make the ultimate decision on how to save her kingdom: marry the prince or run.

5 Books Releasing Soon (February 2015)

I absolutely cannot wait for the books releasing in this post. All these books are going to be fantastic. Definitely looking forward to BETTER THAN PERFECT and A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC, but SALT & STONE is the one that I'm looking forward to the most. Hope you all enjoy! Comment on about book from this list that you're looking forward to. 

Title: Better Than Perfect

Author: Melissa Kantor
Publisher: HarperTeen

Date: February 17^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

Juliet Newman has it all. A picture-perfect family; a handsome, loving boyfriend; and a foolproof life plan: ace her SATs, get accepted into Harvard early decision, and live happily ever after.

But when her dad moves out and her mom loses it, Juliet begins questioning the rules she’s always lived by. And to make everything even more complicated there’s Declan, the gorgeous boy who makes her feel alive and spontaneous—and who’s totally off-limits. Torn between the life she always thought she wanted and one she never knew was possible, Juliet begins to wonder: What if perfect isn't all it’s cracked up to be?

Melissa Kantor once again delivers a tale that is equal parts surprising, humorous, heartbreaking, and romantic. Powerful and honest, Juliet’s story brilliantly portrays the highs and lows of life in high school and will resonate with any reader who has experienced either.

Title: A Darker Shade of Magic (A Darker Shade of Magic #1)

Author: V. E. Schwab
Publisher: Tor Books

Date: February 24^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit. 

Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London - but no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her 'proper adventure'.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive — trickier than they hoped.

Title: Haunted (The Arnaud Legacy #1)

Author: Lynn Carthage
Publisher: Kensington

Date: February 24^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

Sixteen-year-old Phoebe Irving has traded life in San Francisco for her stepfather’s ancestral mansion in rural England. It’s supposed to be the new start her family needs. But from the moment she crosses the threshold into the ancient estate, Phoebe senses something ominous. Then again, she's a little sensitive lately—not surprising when her parents are oblivious to her, her old life is six thousand miles away, and the only guy around is completely gorgeous but giving her mixed messages.

But at least Miles doesn’t laugh at Phoebe’s growing fears. And she can trust him…maybe. The locals whisper about the manor’s infamous original owner, Madame Arnaud, and tell grim stories of missing children and vengeful spirits. Phoebe is determined to protect her loved ones—especially her little sister, Tabby. But even amidst the manor’s dark shadows, the deepest mysteries may involve Phoebe herself…

Title: Mark of the Thief (Mark of the Thief #1)

Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen
Publisher: Scholastic

Date: February 24^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

When Nic, a slave in the mines outside of Rome, is forced to enter a sealed cavern containing the lost treasures of Julius Caesar, he finds much more than gold and gemstones: He discovers an ancient bulla, an amulet that belonged to the great Caesar and is filled with a magic once reserved for the Gods -- magic some Romans would kill for.

Now, with the deadly power of the bulla pulsing through his veins, Nic is determined to become free. But instead, he finds himself at the center of a ruthless conspiracy to overthrow the emperor and spark the Praetor War, a battle to destroy Rome from within. Traitors and spies lurk at every turn, each more desperate than the next to use Nic's newfound powers for their own dark purposes.

In a quest to stop the rebellion, save Rome, and secure his own freedom, Nic must harness the magic within himself and defeat the empire's most powerful and savage leaders.

Title: Salt & Stone

Author: Victoria Scott
Publisher: Scholastic

Date: February 24^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

What would you do to save someone you love?

In Fire & Flood, Tella Holloway faced a dangerous trek through the jungle and across the desert, all to remain a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed for a chance at obtaining the Cure for her brother. She can't quit--she has to win the race, save Cody, and then fight to make sure the race stops before it can claim any more lives. In the next legs of the race, across the ocean and over mountains, Tella will face frostbite, sharks, avalanche, and twisted new rules in the race.

But what if the danger is deeper than that? How do you know who to trust when everyone's keeping secrets? What do you do when the person you'd relied on most suddenly isn't there for support? How do you weigh one life against another?

The race is coming to an end, and Tella is running out of time, resources, and strength. At the start of the race there were one hundred twenty-two Contenders. As Tella and her remaining friends start the final part of the race, just forty-one are left--and only one can win. 

5 Books You Don't Want to Miss (February 2015)

The first week of February has come and gone. But never fear! There are still quite a few new books releasing this month. Here are a few other books that I would recommend reading. Enjoy!

Title: My Heart and Other Black Holes

Author: Jasmine Warga
Publisher: Harper Collins

Date: February 10^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

Sixteen-year-old physics nerd Aysel is obsessed with plotting her own death. With a mother who can barely look at her without wincing, classmates who whisper behind her back, and a father whose violent crime rocked her small town, Aysel is ready to turn her potential energy into nothingness.

There’s only one problem: she’s not sure she has the courage to do it alone. But once she discovers a website with a section called Suicide Partners, Aysel’s convinced she’s found her solution: a teen boy with the username FrozenRobot (aka Roman) who’s haunted by a family tragedy is looking for a partner. 

Even though Aysel and Roman have nothing in common, they slowly start to fill in each other’s broken lives. But as their suicide pact becomes more concrete, Aysel begins to question whether she really wants to go through with it. Ultimately, she must choose between wanting to die or trying to convince Roman to live so they can discover the potential of their energy together. Except that Roman may not be so easy to convince.

Title: Rebellion (Extraction #2)

Author: Stephanie Diaz
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Date: February 10^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

It's been seven days since Clementine and Logan, along with their allies, retreated into hiding on the Surface. The rebels may have won one battle against Commander Charlie, but the fight is far from finished. He has vowed to find a way to win—no matter the cost. Do the rebels have what it takes to defeat him...and put an end to this war?

As Clementine and Logan enter a desperate race against time to defeat Commander Charlie—and attempt to weaken his power within his own ranks—they find themselves in a terrifying endgame that pits them against a brutal enemy, and each other. With every step, Clementine draws closer to losing Logan...and losing control of herself.

Continuing with the mesmerizing saga that started with Extraction, Stephanie Diaz blends science fiction, epic romance, and heart-stopping adventure to create a world that no reader will soon forget.

Title: Red Queen

Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publisher: Harper Teen

Date: February 10^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

Title: Seeker (Seeker #1)

Author: Arwen Elys Dayton
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Date: February 10^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

The night Quin Kincaid takes her Oath, she will become what she has trained to be her entire life. She will become a Seeker. This is her legacy, and it is an honor. As a Seeker, Quin will fight beside her two closest companions, Shinobu and John, to protect the weak and the wronged. Together they will stand for light in a shadowy world. And she'll be with the boy she loves--who's also her best friend.

But the night Quin takes her Oath, everything changes. Being a Seeker is not what she thought. Her family is not what she thought. Even the boy she loves is not who she thought.

And now it's too late to walk away.

Title: When Reason Breaks

Author: Cindy L. Rodriguez
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's

Date: February 10^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

A Goth girl with an attitude problem, Elizabeth Davis must learn to control her anger before it destroys her. Emily Delgado appears to be a smart, sweet girl, with a normal life, but as depression clutches at her, she struggles to feel normal. Both girls are in Ms. Diaz’s English class, where they connect to the words of Emily Dickinson. Both are hovering on the edge of an emotional precipice. One of them will attempt suicide. And with Dickinson’s poetry as their guide, both girls must conquer their personal demons to ever be happy.

In an emotionally taut novel with a richly diverse cast of characters, readers will relish in the poetry of Emily Dickinson and be completely swept up in the turmoil of two girls grappling with demons beyond their control.